The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 119

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 119

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

JACOB MOONEY, farmer, P O. Jerome, was born in Washington County, Penn., Decem- ber 20, 1816. Ile is a son of John and Mary ( McVey) Mooney, natives of Maryland and Penn- sylvania, respectively, and a grandson of a Mr. Mooney who came from Ireland before the Rev- olutionary war. Jacob's parents removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1824, and resided there till 1-62. when they came to Jerome Township. Mr. Mooney died October 12, 1869. His wife died in 1836. Jacob was reared principa ly in Jefferson County, and in 1854 came to Jerome Township and bought eighty acres of land. October 4, 1841, he and Miss Rosanna Winters, daughter of Isaiah and Elizabeth Winters, were married. Mrs. Mooney was born in Jefferson Coun- ty, May 2, 1822. They have six children. viz .: Johnson, born July 26, 1842, married Susan C. Freshwater; Rhoda W., born April 20, 1844, wife of George Wolipert; Mary J., born Sep- tember 10, 1846, wife of Luther Lane; Rosa W., born March 4, 1850, married Emily Bigelow; Catharine E., born July 3, 1857, wife of William Stewart ; and Olive E., born December 4, 1863, and died April 6, 1865. Mr. Mooney owns a farm of eighty ncres, and pursues the avocation of farming and rearing fine sheep.

323

JEROME TOWNSHIP.

JOHN MOSS, farmer, P. O. New California, a native of Lancastershire, England, was born April 6, 1806. His parents, Robert and Margaret (Kelsey) Moss, were natives of the same " shire." Our subject was reared principally in Yorkshire. In 1830, he crossed the waters and settled in Chester County, Penn., and afterward removed to Allegheny County, where he lived till he came to Union County in 1853. Ifc purchased 165 acres of land, and subsequently added thirty acres, which constitutes his present farm. His marriage. in 1836, to Miss Dorcas Huston, was blessed with three children: David, Amanda and Margaret A. Mrs. Moss is a daughter of William and Nancy Huston. She was born in Chester County, Penn., March 11, 1812. Mr. Moss owns a well-improved farm, most of which he cleared himself. He is engaged in agri- culture and stock-raising. For the last twenty-five years he has made a leading pursuit in keep- ing Spanish merino sheep, and has had fair success.

DAVID MOSS, farmer, P. O. Plain City, only son of John and Dorcas Moss, was born in Allegheny County, Penn., Angust 7, 1838. In 1853, he accompanied his parents to Union Coun- ty, where he grew to manhood. His education he received in the select schools of Frankfort. The spring of 1875, he located on the farm he now occupies. He owns a valuable farm of 200 acres, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. The leading pursuit of his occupation is keeping Spanish merino sheep, in which he does rather an extensive business. Ile has a flock of from 300 to 400 head, and has been successful. April 8, 1873, he was married to Margaret Neill, daughter of Samuel and Mary Neill. Mrs. Moss was born in Washington County, Penn., January 13, 1835. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Moss is Re- publican.

ROBERT NORRIS, farmer, P. O. Jerome, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, August 4, 1831. His father, John G. Norris, came from England in 1817, and settled in Harrison County, where he married Sarah McMillen, who died in that county September 11, 1842. In 1867, Mr. Norris came to Jerome Township, where he died Miy 16, 1874. Ile was a local minister in the Protestant Methodist Church, and subsequently of the Wesleyan Methodist, in which belief he died. The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood on the old homestead, and edu- cated in the common schools ; he was married Warch 9, 1856, to Phebe Armstrong, by whom he had two children ; one, John W., is living. Mrs. Norris departed this life December 31, 1859, and July 4, 1861, Mr. N. was married to Susan, daughter of John and Elizabeth Hass. Two children-Edward H. and Matilda J .- were born to this union. In 1860, Mr. Norris moved to this county and purchased his present farm which contains ninety acres. August 15, 1862, he entered the ranks of the Union army in Company E, Thirtieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infan- try. He was active in the battles before Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, and in all the engage- ments on the Atlanta campaign except Resaca. Ar the close of the war, he was honorably dis- charged and returned home. Mr. and Mrs. Norris are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. N. is of Republican sentiment.

ZACHARIAH NOTEMAN, farmer, P. O. Phin Citv, one of the oldest pioneers of Jerome, was born on the farm where he now resides January 29, 1811. Ilis father, Andrew Noteman, was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., June 1, 1773, and his mother, Elizabeth Brown, was born in Ireland September 13, 1773, and brought to America by her parents when a child. Mr. Notem in was first married in Maryland and became the father of one daughter-Jinsie, who married John Taylor and subsequently died. After the death of his wife, Mr. Not man went to Ross County, Ohio, where he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth McCune, nee Brown, by whom he had two children. In 1801, the year before Ohio was erected as a State, he removed with his fanily to Union County and settled on the farm which is occupied by the subject of this sketch. He bought. 100 acres and cleared a site for a honse. Hle cleared his farm and among other im- provements he made was an orchard of one hundred apple trees which he p'anted. Of this number but three of the trees are now living. One of the trees was remarkaby thrifty, and at- taine I a circumference of nine feet and two inches. Mr. Neteman afterward added eighty acres to the original purchase and partially cleared it. He was one of the organizers and founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church, known as the Noteman Church, and was an active worker in it till h's death. Our subject was reared and brought up to the pursuits of the farm, and was educated in the common schools of the day. Ile well remembers seeing the Indians who then dwelt here in roving band. In 1818, he made a trip to Lower Sandusky with his father to procure salt and provisions. He aidel his father in clearing up the farin and remained with him till his death. , In January, 1835, Mr. Notem in was joined in marriage with Ann G. Mor- rison. a daughter of Samuel and Agnes Morrison, by whom he had nine children. Of these but three survive-Nancy E., wife of R. McCloud, Lucretia and William M. Mrs. Noteman de- parte l this life March 18, 1858, and March 1, 1860, Mr. N. was married to Mrs. Amanda Hom- sher, widow of David Homsher, and daughter of William and Mary A. Sprout. Mrs. N. was born in Lancaster County, Penn., Der ember 2, 1834. Of seven children by this marri ge, five are living-John, Otway C, Eva D, Myrtle and Aaron N .; Harry and James a e deceased. Mrs. Noteman had two children by her first husband-Margaret A. (now deceased) and David W. Mr Noteman was identified with the Whigs till the formation of the Republican party, when he united with its rank". He acted in the capacity of Township Trustee about ten years, besides other local offices which he filled. He owns 103 acres-the old homestead-and follows the avocation of farming.

324

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

B. H. PICKETT, farmer, P. O. Jerome, a native of Moorefield Township, Harrison Co., Ohio was born May 7, 1822. His father, Peter Pickett, was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y. ; he went as a sailor boy when eighteen, and followed the water for thirty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Commodore Perry, and participated in the battle of Lake Erie, where he was seriously wounded. He died January 13, 1854, aged seventy-four years. His mother, Elizabeth Mills, was born in Montgomery County, Md., and moved to Harrison County, Ohio, with her parents, Elias and Nancy (IIarris) Mills, when she was eighteen years old ; she died October 31, 1857. Our subject is the eldest of nine children. In September, 1858. le purchased and located on his present farm, where he has since resided. May 12, 1846, he was married to Eliza A., daughter of John and Sarah (McMullen) Norris, and a native of Harrison County, where she was born November 26, 1827. Of nine children by this union, seven are living- Sarah E., wife of Alexander I all; Harriet A., wife of Sylvester Kent ; John R., James F., Rhoda J., deceased, Hardin, Isabel E .. Clara M., deceased, Hollaind L. and Allie E. Mrs. Pickett died May 20, 1874, and May 11, the following year, Mr. P. married Mrs. Rachael A. Beach, widow of Amos Beach, and daughter of Jacob Frederick. One daughter-Jessie L., was born to this marriage. Mrs. Pickett had five children by her former husband-Ella, wife of L. Preston, Emory, Martha, Mary, wife of Daniel Andrews, and Matilda. Mrs. P. was born in Union County February 5, 1835. Mr. Pickett owns a farm of sixty-three acres.

JOHN H. PRESTON, farmer, P. O. Jerome, a native of Licking County, Ohio, born October 7, 1816. His parents, Jonathan and Harriet ( Homer) Preston, were respectively natives of Wash- ington and Fayette Counties, Penn. The former was born February 26, 1791, and the latter February 5, 1796. They married December 5, 1813, and in 1816 migrated to Licking County, Ohio, where they both died, Mr. P. September 29, 1856, and Mrs. Preston July 17, 1881. They had born to them twelve children, of whom our subject is the second child. April 7, 1847, he came and located on his present farm. May 27, 1841, he was married to Miss Eliza Wagner, daughter of John and Nancy (Cross) Wagner, and a native of Licking County, where she was born September 12, 1820. Their children are as follows : Thomas H., born December 23, 1842 ; Milligan A., born March 28, 1844 ; Loammi R., born July 26, 1846; Harriet M., born July 22, 1852, wife of J. C. Barker; and Martha J., born January 3, 1858, wife of James Andrews. Mr. Preston owns eighty acres of land, which he cleared up. He and wife are members of the Meth - odist Episcopal Church.

GEORGE M. RICKARD, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Loudoun County, Va .. Sep- tember 24, 1816. His parents, Simon and Mary M. (Sanbower) Rickard, were also natives of Loudoun County. The former was born June 9, 1790, and the latter April 16. 1793. His grand- father, Simon Rickard, Sr., was born in the same county, and was a soldier in the American Revolution. He died some years after in his native place. The parents of our subject were married November 20, 1813, and in 1818 removed to Culpeper County, where they resided till 1828, and migrated to Union County, Ohio, locating in what is now Darby Township. In April of the following year, Mr. Rickard rented a farm in Jerome Township, of Frederick Sager, and occupied it ten years. At the expiration of this time he purchased 120 acres of land, which was mostly in woods. He died January 5, 1844, and his widow August 5, 1862. Mr. Rickard was a private in the late war with Great Britain, having enlisted when a resident of Virginia. lIe served Jerome Township as Trustee for several years and filled various other local offices. He aided in founding the Lutheran Church of his township, and was prominently connected with it till his death. Mr. Rickard had three brothers-Peter, Michael and George. Peter moved to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1830, and died in 1860 ; Michael settled in Hancock County, III., and was Ju Ige of the Common Pleas Court during the Mormon troubles, and died in 1857 ; George died in Virginia in 1880. Mr. Rickard, the subject of this notice, is the second son. He was reared to manhood on the farm his father located when he (George) was a boy, and received his education in the district schools of his native place. In early life he formed strong tastes for the farm, and has always followed that avocation on the most thoroughly scientific principles. His farm, which contains 600 acres, is one of the best improved and finely cultivated in the county. Mr. Rickard is also engaged in rearing and dealing in live stock of a good grade, and has ac- quired a marked success in keeping Spanish merino sheep, and Norman, Clydesdale and Belgium horses, which he has exhibited at both the Union County and Ohio State Fairs. In the pursuits of lite, Mr. Rickard has been very successful and ranks second to none in the county as an agri- culturist. Although not an aspirant for official honors, he has been chosen to the office of Town- ship Trustee ten consecutive terms, and performed its duties with credit to himself. His mar- riage, February 11, 1845, to Miss Eliza Carey, was blest with three children ; of these two are living-John, born April 22, 1853, and Clark, born October 12, 1855. Mary F., the only daughter, was born June 9, 1851, and died September 9, 1872. Mrs. Rickard was born in Madi- son County January 15, 1821. She is a daughter of Abijah and Catharine (Johnson) Carey, and a granddaughter of Luther Carey (originally Cary), who emigrated from Ireland before the Rev- olutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Rickard are associated as members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an Elder and Trustee.

JOHN M. ROBINSON, farmer, P. O. New California, was born in Darby Township, Union County, Ohio, February 29, 1820. He is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Moderwell) Robinson, the former a native of Lancaster County and the latter of York County. They were married and

325

JEROME TOWNSHIP.

emigrated to the West in 1805, settling in Darby Township, where they were among the earliest pioneers. The country was heavily wooded and populated with its original inhabitants-Indians and wild animals. Mr. Robinson located 200 acres of this woodland about three miles from the Mitchell settlement, where resided his nearest neighbors. Mr. Robinson cleared up most of this farm, and afterward added 100 acres, which were situated on the opposite side of the stream. About the same time he entered 160 acres of land in Henry County. He was for several terms Trustee of Darby Township, and was prominently connected with the United Presbyterian Darby Church for over fifty years. He died near New California. His marriage to Miss Sarah Moder- well was blest with six children, viz .: Adam P., Sarah J., James D., Thomas, John M., the sub- ject of this sketch, and Alexander C. Our subject was reared on the old home farm, and re- mained with his father till 1847, when he came to Jerome Township and bought fifty acres of land, to which he added sixty-nine acres more. In 1864, he purchased and located on his pres- ent farm. He was first married in January, 1845, to Miss Mary J. Roney, a daughter of James Roney, and a native of Chester County, Penn. Of nine children by this union, seven are living: Chester L., Elvira, wife of David McKitrick, Delbert, Maria, Oscar and Olive (twins) and Anna. Mrs. Robinson died January 28, 1864, and Mr. R. was married'the second time, June 8, 1865, to Miss Harriet E., daughter of William and Elizabeth Taylor. Mrs. Robinson was born in Campaign County, Ohio, June 11, 1832. Hattie M. and Bert S. were born to this marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are respectively connected with the Presbyterian and Baptist Churches. Mr. R. is an Elder. Ile is connected with the I. O. O. F., and in politics is a Republican. He has served Jerome Township as Assessor thirteen years. For the past four years Mr. Robinson has been contractor in the construction of pikes, with the exception of which time, he has pursued the avocation of farming and stock-raising.

SAMUEL H. RUEHLEN, farmer, P. O. New California, one of Union County's veterans, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, November 23, 1842. His parents, John and Christina (Bride- ham) Ruehlen, were natives of Germany and Pennsylvania respectively. His father was born February 28, 1802, and crossed the Atlantic iu 1828, settling in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he married. Mrs. Ruehlen was born in 1810, and, in 1826, removed with her parents to Fair- field County. Mr. Ruehlen came to Union County in 1847, and, in 1871, moved to Logan County, where he died, August 28, 1878. His widow followed him to the spirit land November 5, 1881. They reared eight children, of which our subject is the third. He was reared to manhood on a farm. In May, 1861, he shouldered his musket and entered the ranks of the Union army, in Company K, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served four months, and re- enlisted December 1, the same year, in Company K, First Ohio Cavalry. He was engaged with the cavalry in the following leading battles: Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Rome, Ga., Moulton, Atlanta and Nashville, and a number of minor engagements. Mr. Ruehlen served three years with signal bravery, and was honorably discharged December 6, 1864. He returned home, and, December 31, 1865, married Susanna, daughter of James B. and Martha A. Dort. Mrs. Ruehlen was born near New California April 10, 1843. They were blessed with seven children, six of whom are living, viz .: George W., born March 1, 1867; Martha A., March 9, 1869 ; Frank, February 3, 1873 ; Diadama, April 30, 1875 ; Charlie, August 2, 1877, and La Motte, October 9, 1880. Mr. Ruehlen located on his present farm, which now contains 171 acres, in 1869. He is a successful farmer and stock-raiser. He and wife are connected with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He is connected with the G. A. R. of Plain City, and, in politics, is a stanch Republican.

SAMUEL C. RYAN, farmer, P. O. Jerome, a native of Warren County, N. J., was born Sep- tember 6, 1842. IIe is a son of Patrick and Martha (Cornell) Ryan, the former a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland, and the latter of Warren County, N. J. His father was born March 17, 1810, and came to Quebec in 1823-25, and in 1828 came to the States. In 1842, he came to Columbus, and to Jerome Township in 1850, where he died August 2, 1863. He was married, in 1834, to Martha Cornell, by whom he had two sons and two daughters, viz .: Joanna, born March 5, 1835, died April 24, 1836; William T., born May 4, 1837, died -; Ellen, born June 14, 1839, died January 4, 1870, and Samuel C., the subject of this sketch. Our sub- ject was reared to manhood on the farm, and educated in the common schools. He has always occupied the homestead, and now owns 134 acres of highly cultivated land.

H. B. SEELY, merchant, P. O. Jerome, was born in Monroe County, N. Y., December 5, 1835. In 1849, his parents, T. O. and Caroline Seely, removed from York State to Delaware County, Ohio, Mr. Seely was brought up on a farm, and educated in the district schools. He followed the vocation of a farmer up to 1865, when he came to Jerome Township and worked at carpenter- ing one year. He entered the store of II. Lewis as clerk, and occupied that position till 1869, and the following year bought a stock of goods for himself, and has since been engaged in mer- chandising, doing a successful business. His marriage with Miss Lurinda Wells, daughter of James and Lovina Wells, which occurred June 24, 1862, was blessed with seven children-Sher- man B., Albert L., Clifton, Anna, Jean, Mabel and Effa. Mr. Seely erected a store building in 1882, 24 feet by 70 feet in size, at a cost of $1,500. He carries a stock of goods amounting to $2,500, and enjoys an annual sale of $12,000.

JOHN J. STEWART, farmer, was born in Shenandoah County, Va., July 12, 1825, and is a son of James and Wierlinda (Rutter) Stewart. His mother died when he was a year and a

326

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

half old, and in 1838 his father removed to Dublin, Franklin County, Ohio, in which he lived till 1840, when he came to this township. He was a cabinet maker, having learned his trade in Virgini ,, and followed the same for a livelihood until his death, which occurred in August, 1849. Our subject is the youngest of eight children, three of whom are living, viz .: James M., Delaware County, Ohio ; Ann R., wife of James W. Taylor, and resides in the West.' Our sub- ject was early put at his father's trade, which he followed till 1860, at which time he bought twenty-seven acres of land, to which he has added by purchase, and at present owns 141 acres of valuable land, the greater portion having been cleared off by himself, besides making all the improvements. May 15, 1849, he was married to Lucinda C., daughter of William B. and Cath- erine Stone, by whom he has had five children, viz .: William T., who married Katie Mooney ; Candace, wife of William P. Neal ; Emma M. and Amanda M., prominent and successful teachers, and Olive M. Although Mr. Stewart had only the advantage of attending school in log school- houses, and the instructions of incompetent teachers, he fully realizes the force and culture of education, and has accordingly spared no pains or expense in educating his children. Mr. S. started in life with a capital not to exceed $300, and his present possessions attest undisputably his great success in life. He has always manifested public spirite ness in all worthy en- terprises, having given $800 for the building of pikes. He is a zealous member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Formerly he was a Democrat, but in 1856 he joined the Repub- lican ranks.

JAMES SWEENEY, farmer, P. O. Dublin, Franklin County, was born in Greene County, Penn., November 20, 1829, and is a son of Hiram and Mary (Cosgay) Sweeney, of Pennsylva- nia, who removed to West Virginia in 1831, and settled in Tyler County, in which he died in 1870. His mother is living near the old homestead at an advanced age. Daniel Sweeney, father of Hiram, was born in Maryland, and served with a scouting party during the Revo- lutionary war. His maternal grandfather, Tyrenes Cosgay, was born in Ireland, and came to America and settled in Maryland after the war of 1776-1783, and subsequently removed to Pennsylvania, where he died. Our subject is the fifth child of a family of [eight children, six of whom are living. He was reared upon a farm, and in the mills which his father operated, which latter he had charge of from 1846 to 1865. July 1, 1865, he located in this county, buy- ing at the time 142 acres, to which he has since added by purchase, and now possesses 175 acres, and his son, J. C., fifty acres. February 8, 1859, he was married to Anna, daughter of Archi- bald and Ruth Waters, who has borne him six children, five of whom are living, viz .: Joseph C., Emma J., Mary L., Anna L. and Hiram. An infant son deceased. Mrs. S. was born in Greene County, Penn., in September, 1833, and is a consistent member of the United Brethren Church. Mr: Sweeney is one of our self-made men, having carved out his fortune by economy and indus- try. He is a Democrat in political principle, and has held some of the minor offices of the township

WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Jerome Township, Novem - ber 8, 1805. He is the eldest son and third child of Richard and Polly (Cox) Taylor. His early life was passed upon his father's farm, and his training received in the common schools. In 1835, his father gave him sixty acres of land, on which he located at the time of his mar- riage. This farm was all woodland, and by his energy and unremitting toil he cleared and im- proved it to a good condition. November 10, 1830, he was joined in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Burdick, a daughter of Hezekiah and Polly Burdick, and a native of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where she was born February 28, 1810. Of six children by this marriage five are living-l'olly, wife of Orson Scribner ; Rachel C., deceased, formerly wife of H. Lawrence; Nancy L., wife of J. Cottran ; Cilicia, wife of George Motlar; Levi F .; Susanna, wife of II. Smith ; Rhoda, de- ceased, and Hezekiah deceased. Mrs. Taylor departed this life August 16, 1881. Mr. Taylor is a member of the United Brethren Church, and in politics is a Republican. He owns a farm of sixty acres.

JEPHTAH H. TAYLOR was born near Plain City, in Madison County, December 17, 1814. His parents, Richard and Polly (Cox) Taylor were natives of Berkeley County, Va., and Washing- ton County, l'enn., respectively. They were married in Cynthiana, Ky., in February, 1800, and two years later removed and settled in Jerome Township. In 1803-4, they went back to Ken- tucky, where they resided till 1811, and returnd to Ohio, effecting a settlement in Darby Town- ship, Madison County, where Mr. Taylor bought a farm of 200 acres. His death occurred in July, 1864. The subject of this notice is the third son and sixth of a family of seven children. At the age of thirteen he learned tailoring in Bellefontaine, and followed it in that place and Plain City for sixteen years. In 1847, his father gave him eighty acres of land, to which he made an addition of forty-seven acres. He cleared and iprincipally improved these farms. December 19, 1839, he was married to Angeline, a daughter of Calvin and Eunice Allen, by whom he had eleven children. Of these seven are living-Richard, born October 17, 1840, died September 26, 1866 ; Edwin, born May 14, 1842; Benjamin, October 15, 1843 ; Robert, April 12, 1845; Jephtah, March 18, 1847; Fielding, January 25, 1849 ; Laura A., October 16, 1851; Celinda E., June 7, 1853; Mary A., March 20, 1859; Anthony M., February 6, 1864. An infant is deceased. Mr. Taylor is of English descent on his father's side, his great-grandfather and two brothers having emigrated to America long before the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Taylor is of Scotch ancestry.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 119

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1254

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254