The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 136

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 136

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).

REV. I. N. MCVAY, pastor of the M. P. Church, Pharisburg, is a son of Luther and Jane (Patterson) McVay, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Washington County, Penn., June 30, 1810. On July 19, 1832, he was married in Clinton County, by William Au- tram, J. P., to Belinda, daughter of Robert and Henrietta (Fairfax) West, and a native of Brown County, Ohio, born January 30, 1811. They had eleven children, viz .: Jane, deceased, Robert, John, Polly Ann, Nancy C., deceased, Harrison W., Henrietta, Sallie, deceased, Martha Etta, Lavina aud Isaac. Mr. McVay was raised as a farmer, but also worked at blacksmithing, carpentering, wagon making, boot and shoe making, coopering, masonry, etc. He has been a minister of the M. P. Church two score years, and in Pharisburg twenty-three years. He was a local preacher sixteen years. He cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson, for President, after which he was a Republican until recently he has become a Prohibitionist. He is a member of Mt. Carmel Lodge, No. 303, at Richwood.

DARIUS McINTIRE, retired farmer, P. O. Pharisburg, was born in Clark County, Ohio, May 15, 1823. He is a son of James and Nancy ( Roback) McIntire, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of Dutch descent. They had ten children, five boys and five girls of whom two boys and one girl survive. Our subject, who was the ninth child, was brought up on the farm, and has followed farming until recently, when he retired from active life. His wife Betsey was born June 11, 1828, and was married June 27, 1848. They have three children- Elatla Ann, born January 12, 1851, wife of Francis M. Clevenger, by whom she has one child, Sarah Jane, born November 25, 1872; Clarissa J., born April 30, 1858, wife of Francis M. Loy ; and James I. born July 4, 1860. . Mr. McIntire enlisted on September 14, 1861, in the Six- teenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served fifteen months ; he was also a member of the One Hundredth Ohio Cavalry.

JOIIN MCALLISTER, farmer, P. O. Magnetic Springs, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, November 4, 1829. Ile is the sixth son of John McAllister, deceased, a native of Pickaway County, of Scotch-Irish descent, and Mary (Grattan) McAllister, a native of Virginia, of Dutch and Irish descent. They had eleven children, of whom six survive. Our subject was married March 1, 1853, to Hester Ann, fifth child of ten children born to John and Keziah (Johnson) Bird, the former of Dutch descent and now deceased, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent. She was born in Knox County, Ohio, February 17, 1833, and by her Mr. McAllister has had ten children, viz .: Zoa Z., born May 12, 1854, wife of H. D. Wright ; Oscar R., born September 7, 1855, died October 28, 1855 ; Silva Z., born December 22, 1856, wife of Frank Bruce ; John W., born December 15, 1858, died December 13, 1879; Orin K., born April 20, 1861, died May 20, 1862; Emma R., born August 8, 1863 ; Elva B., born March 28, 1866 ; Dillon, born January 30, 1868 ; Owen C., born March 27, 1870 ; and Frank, born August 12, 1873. Mr. McAllister is a farmer and a Republican and has been Township Trustee several years. His father served in the war of 1812.

D. McLEAN, farmer, P. O. Magnetic Springs, was born at Washington C. H., Fayette County, Ohio, January 3, 1838, and on October 23, 1859, married Joanna Degood, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Thomas and Joanna Degood, the former of English and the latter of Scotch descent. By this union three children were born, viz .: Orville, born February 10, 1861; Rosetta, born March 6, 1863, and Lewis, born April 1, 1865. Mr. Degood owns 108 acres of good land two miles southeast of Magnetic Springs, on which he resides. Ile is also the holder of a one-fourth interest in the bath-house at the Springs. In politics, he has es- poused the cause of the Prohibition party, and is an earnest advocate of all works of reformn. His grandmother Degood was a niece of Admiral Nelson. His parents, Daniel and Helen (Boyd) McLean, were natives of Ohio, of Scotch descent. The name McLean is traceable far back among the old Scottish clans, one of that name having been the chief of a powerful clan during the fifteenth century.

JOSEPII MOREY, farmer, P. O. Magnetic Springs, was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 5, 1823, and remained in that county until fourteen years of age, after which he lived several years in Indiana and in Shelby County, Ohio, his mother dying in the latter place. He also re- sided six years in Delaware County, after which he came to Union County. He was married in Knox County, Ohio, October 8, 1846, to Elizabeth, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Ports) Gossage, and a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, where she was born March 28, 1826. By this union ten children were born, viz .: Cordelia A., Sarah M., Hannah A., Joseph G., Adam L., Benjamin F., Mary E., William S., Laura D. and Hattie. Of these, eight are living and four are married

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and have families. Mr. Morey is a farmer and owns 125 acres in this township, on which he resides. He is a Prohibtionist in politics, and for forty years has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which his wife has been a member thirty years; he has acted as a class-leader and steward. His parents were John and Hannah (Gosnell) Morey, natives of New York State, the former of English and Scotch and the latter of Dutch and English descent.

GEORGE MAY, farmer, P. O. Magnetic Springs, son of James and Mary (Moore) May, was born in Pennsylvania May 9, 1848, and came to Ohio at the age of fifteen years. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the district schools of his native State. He has adopted farming for a life occupation and now owns land near Magnetic Springs. On March 22, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Ann Morey, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Gossage) Morey, whose sketch appears in this work. She was born July 22, 1847, and by her Mr. May has had five children, viz .: Roselby, born January 19, 1872, and died January 4, 1880; Ora, born September 22, 1876, deceased ; James R., born October 16, 1872 ; Mary Ann, born May 7, 1877, and Jennie, born April 2, 1880.

H. S. MAY, farmer, P. O. Pharisburg, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, January 9, 1830. Ile is a son of William and Sarah (Burchfield) May, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of German descent. Our subject early commenced the life of a farmer, and has spent his life in that occupation. He occupies a farm of fifty-three acres of land, one and one-half miles south of Pharisburg, which he cultivates in a successful manner. In 1867, he married Virginia (Evans) McAdow, widow of James W. McAdow, deceased ; by this union one child has been born, viz .: Frances Lena, born February 12, 1870. Mr. May is a Demo- crat in politics, and a member of the M. P. Church. Mrs. May is of Irish and English descent, her parents both being natives of the "Old Dominion," the father of Irish and the mother of English parentage.

RICHARD MAYFIELD, farmer, P. O. Pharisburg, was born in Licking Connty, Ohio, Octo- ber 24, 1837, and is a son of William and Eleanor (Conaway) Mayfield, natives of Ohio, and the latter a daughter of David Conaway. At the age of nine years our subject went to Delaware County, where he lived until January 20, 1860, when he married Malinda, a daughter of Daniel and Catharine (Thompson) Ross, and a native of Ohio, born October 20, 1840. After their marriage they moved to Marion County and thence to Union County, where they have since re- sided. They have had five children, three boys and two girls, viz .: Edward S., Jennie O., Emma C., Richard and William. Mr. Mayfield is a Republican in politics and a farmer by oc- cupation, now owning 115 acres where he resides. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He enlisted for three months during the rebellion, in Company C, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Wallace, and was in service nearly five months. He is a member of Pharisburg Lodge, No. 664, I. O. O. F.

JOHN Mc. HAMILTON, farmer, P. O. Pharisburg, was born December 9, 1807. IFis father was James Hamilton, son of Thomas and Lydia Hamilton. His mother was Margaret ( McClain) Hamilton. Our subject received his education in Holmes County, Ohio, and came to his present residence when the whole of the surrounding country was covered with forest. In 1838, he married Lucinda, daughter of Lewis and Jane (McClain) Bonnett. By this union seven chil- dren, two sons and five daughters, were born, of whom the following survive: Margaret Jane, Isabel and William. The latter married Ellen Fogal and has four children-Lewis L., Mary C., Nettie J. and Frederick D. Josiah, a deceased son, enlisted in Company D, Thirteenth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was taken prisoner at Stone River, but was paroled and again captured at Kenesaw Mountain. He was confined in Andersonville Prison, where he died September 22, 1863. He was a good soldier, and took part in several hotly contested battles during his term of service.

HUGH E. MOORE, farmer, P. O. Marysville, was born in Union County, Ohio, March 12, 1856. He is a son of Jonathan and Mary Ann (Scott) Moore, the former a native of Warren County, of English descent, and the latter a native of Knox County, of Irish descent. His mother came to Union County when four years of age, with her parents, William and Fanny (Barcus) Scott. They settled on 103 acres adjoining what is now known as the "Scott farm" which consists of 113 acres, both farms being occupied now by our subject. On this land there is a church, schoolhouse and graveyard. Mr. Moore was married May 4, 1880, to Mary J., daughter of Eli and Jane (Lee) Hildebrant ; she was born August 29, 1860, and by her Mr. Moore has one child, William Curtis, born June 17, 1881. Mr. Moore is a Democrat in politics. Though young in years he is a thorough farmer, well posted in all that pertains to his occupa- tion and very successful in all his farm operations. He makes a specialty of raising sheep and cattle.

R. T. McALLISTER, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Marysville. Ohio, was born, of Scotch- Irish parentage, in Adams County, Penn., in 1827. His parents removed in 1830, to Delaware County, Ohio, where he was raised near Sunbury, receiving a common school education only. In October, 1851, he married Martha C. Gale, a daughter of William Gale, at Delaware, Ohio, they have six children, viz .: Mary, who is married to James B. Cole, an attor- ney at law, of Marysville, Ohio; Abdiel T. ; William G., who married Josephine McFadden ; Lemington W., R. T., Jr., and Emma. Abdiel T. is in the United States service, in the Pension

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

office at Washington, D. C .; William G., Lemington W. and R. T., Jr., are farmers near Marys- ville; Emma resides with her parents. Mr. McAllister resides in Leesburg Township, Union County, Ohio, where he owns a fine farm of about 900 acres, which he has by industry and energy reclaimed from the forests and put in a high state of cultivation and improvement. Mr. McAllister has been honored by election by his fellow-citizens to various public offices. While yet very young, he was for five years Assessor of Berkshire Township, Delaware County, and afterward was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners of that county. In the latter position, he was an efficient instrument in recovering a large sum of money for the county, which had been lost by default of one of the county officers; also in collecting their part of the "Surplus Revenue Fund," which had long been neglected. At the breaking-out of the rebell- ion, he offered his services as a private in defense of the Union, but was rejected on account of physical disability. He afterward was elected Colonel of one of the " Home Guard " regiments, and went into the camp of instruction at Piqua, Ohio, but their services proving to be unnecs- sary they were soon discharged. The services of the regiment were then tendered to the Gov- ernor to go out of the State, but were declined. In 1865, he removed to his present residence in Union County. He has served three years as Commissioner of Union County, during which time he was largely intrusted with the superintendence and management of the gravel road- building, which was then being most vigorously carried on throughout the county, and dis- charged said duties with marked ability, being noted for the thorough and substantial work he insisted upon and obtained in the interest of the tax payers. In 1880, he was elected by the Re- publicans of the Thirteenth District, composed of Union, Logan, Hardin and Marion Counties, a member of the State Board of Equalization, in which capacity he served his full term, and secured for his district material benefits in reduced taxation. He was noted as one of the most indefatigable workers on the board. Mr. McAllister's chief characteristics for which he is most widely known, are strict integrity and high busines ability, courageous independence of spirit. as a public man, and keen, clear and comprehensive perceptions in regard to public interests and affairs, for which and many other good qualities he is highly esteemed in the community.

ALEXANDER NEEL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Pennsylvania, and lived in Greene County, Ohio, until eleven years of age, when he moved to Knox County, with his parents, and from there they went West. His parents were both of Irish descent. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and his mother one year later. Our subject was married September 26, 1844, to Charlotte Warwick, a daughter of Thomas Warwick, and a native of Licking County, Ohio. By this union six children were born, of whom five survive, viz .: Thomas, Rhoda Ellen, wife of Jonathan Fayman; Mary, wife of William Hite ; William A. and John H. Mr. Neel owns about 119 acres of land in this township, on which he resides, and which lie is engaged in cultivating. He and his wife are members of the Deciples Church. His grandparents were Barnett and Martha (Hughes) Neel.

J. C. NEVILLE, plasterer, I'. O. Pharisburg, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, September 20, 1835. His parents were William and Mary (Smith) Neville, the former of French and the lat- ter of English extraction. Our subject received his education in the public schools of bis na- tive State, and upon reaching a proper age learned the trade of a plasterer, which he is now following and at which he has worked for twenty-seven years. On July 27, 1857, when about twenty-two years of age, he was united in marriage with Miss Diana Baldwin, by whom he has had born to him four children, one deceased, viz .: Martha R., Ida, deceased, Alice and David W.

M. B. NEWHOUSE, carpenter and builder, Magnetic Springs, son of John and Rebecca Newhouse, whose sketch appears in this work, was born in Union County, Ohio, in January, 1855. He was raised on the farm and received his education in the district schools. He re- mained on the farm until twenty years of age, in the meantime learning carpentering with his brother, which trade he has followed for the past twelve years. He owns a residence at Mag- netic Springs, which he built in 1880 and which was one of the first houses on the village plat. He also built a second house in 1881, which is valued at $2,000. On September 1, 1882, while engaged in hoisting a derrick to be used in sinking a drive well, he was crushed to the earth by by a part of the derrick falling on him, but miraculously escaped without serious injury. His first contracting was done in Iowa in 1876, and he has also been as far west as Nebraska. On July 1, 1877, he married Eliza J., a daughter of William and Jane (Williams) McGee, and a native of Delaware County. They have two children-Cora Belle, born April 10, 1878, and Alice Nevada, born in July, 1880. Both parents are members of the Christian Church.

J. E. NEWHOUSE, the leading business man at the village of Magnetic Springs and the originator of the water-cure establishment at that place, is a son of John and Sophia (McCune) Newhouse, whose biography appears in this work. He was born in Union County, Ohio, in February, 1845, and was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the district schools of his county and at Marysville. At the age of twenty years, he began the cultivation of grapes and small fruits, and in one season raised as many as 14,000 pounds of grapes, part of which were made into wine and the rest shipped. In 1879, he discovered the medical properties of the Magnetic Springs, and at once began preparing accommodations and opening facilities that would induce the health and pleasure seeking public to make it a place of resort. A village charter

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was applied for and obtained and a village of considerable size platted, with spacious lots, broad and straight streets and wide alleys. For the first six months after the plat of the village was made, it received but about a half dozen additional buildings, and, while every one who tested the waters were satisfied of their medicinal worth, but few had confidence in the success of the enterprise. The next year, however, marked an evident increase in the settlement, and the success of the enterprise became a certainty. The place has now become a thriving village, and hundreds of the afflicted visit it annually to receive the benefit of its pain-destroying waters. These waters are so strongly charged with magnetism that a knife submerged in them for an instant becomes imbued with loadstone qualities in a marked degree. A flow of nearly 18,000 gallons of water are obtained in twenty-four hours, and the bath-houses of Newhouse, McClain & Co. furnish facilities for 400 baths per day. The water is used for drinking, bathing and toilet purposes, and large quantities are annually shipped for outside consumption. The first well sunk was seventy-seven feet deep, and soon another was sunk of like depth and a pumping capacity of five barrels per minute furnished. Many people of wealth have purchased lots in the village and on them erected neat and comfortable residences, and it has been estimated that fully one hundred additional buildings will be erected during the spring of 1883. A very strong sulphur spring was discovered recently about one mile from the village, and fourteen acres of ground surrounding it have been purchased by the proprietors of Magnetic Springs, with a view of converting it into a park and connecting it with the Magnetic Springs by an avenue, using it as a pleasure ground for the patrons of the latter resort. The gentleman who is the principal factor of these enterprises and whose name heads this sketch was married to Francis E. Brown, a daughter of A. C. and Nancy (Steel) Brown, and by her has three children, viz .: May, born in September, 1868, Ray, born January 1, 1874, and Laura Lee. born in De- cember, 1876. Mr. Newhouse began life with one acre of ground, and now by dint of bis in- dominitable energy he has become the head of one of the most enterprising and successful firms in the State.

JOHN NEWHOUSE, retired farmer, Magnetic Springs, was born in Salt Creek Township, Pickaway Co., Ohio, December 14, 1806. He is a son of Anthony and Nancy (Coons) Newhouse, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of English and the latter of German descent. They emi- grated to Ohio in 1798, and settled in Pickaway County, where they lived until 1814, when they moved to Delaware County, in which both died. Our subject was married, June 4, 1830, to Sophia McCune, a daughter of James and Polly (Junk) McCune, and a native of Delaware County, born April 10, 1810. By this union, eight children were born, three sons and five daughters, of whom two sons and one daughter survive, viz., James M., Martha, widow of Jacob Hoskins, and John E. Mrs. Newhouse died, and on September 29, 1851, Mr. Newhouse married Rebecca McAllister, who was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 29, 1820 ; she is a daughter of John and Mary (Gratton) McAllister, who came to this county in 1834. By this second marriage two children were born, Marshall, who married Jane McGee, and Celinda, wife of James C. Brown. Mr. Newhouse is a member of Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M., and an old Jacksonian Democrat in politics, having cast his first vote for "Old Hickory," the leader of the party. He has acted as Township Trustee for many years in his township, but about ten months ago he retired from business, and is now enjoying life in a comfortable home at Magnetic Springs. He came to this township when there were but twelve voters, and resided on the farm from which he has retired, since 1834. He is a member of the Pioneer Association.

J. K. NORRIS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in IIarrison County, Ohio, February 16, 1837. His parents were Jeremiah and Margaret (Harris) Norris, natives of England. The former came to Ohio after he was grown; the latter emigrated from England to New York, thence to Virginia and to Ohio, when twelve years of age. They had a family of four boys and five girls, of whom four boys and two girls survive. Our subject was married, March 4, 1859, to Ann L., daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Scofield) Pennypacker. She was born in 1836 and died April 18, 1870. They had six children-Margaret, deceased; Alexander, Sarah, Eleanor, deceased, James, deceased, and Jeremiah. On March 5, 1875, Mr. Norris was again married to Elizabeth, daughter of William and Betsey (Scott) Ports. She was born in Delaware County in 1849. By this union two children were born-Charles, born October 24, 1878, Iva, born February 8, 1876. Mr. Norris is a farmer and owns ninety-three acres of land, on which he resides. He is a Republican and a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. Mrs. Norris is a member of the M. P. Church.

LESTER OLIVER, farmer, P. O. Magnetic Springs, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, July 31, 1842. His parents were Reuben Oliver, who was born January 1, 1812, and died April 9, 1862, and Zura Ann (White) Oliver, a native of New York State. He was a member of Company D, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the late war. Mr. Oliver resided in Fulton and Henry Counties for a time and from 1880 to 1882, was engaged in the livery business with J. H. Trickey at Magnetic Springs. He now owns two good buildings well adapted to that business, and is still an ardent admirer of fine stock, horses especially. He owns a good farm of ninety-five acres, north of Magnetic Springs, on which he resides, and where he is engaged in farming. He is a member of Mount Carmel Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M.

J. R. OWEN, harness-maker, Magnetic Springs, was born in Union County, Ohio, October 5, 1848. He is a son of Warrett and Emily (Farnham) Owen, the former a native of Ohio, of Welsh

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descent, born in 1828, and the other a " Yankee." Our subject was married June 6, 1872, to Anna C., daughter of Benjamin and Matilda (Spout) Gamble; she was born in Watkins May 26, 1852, and by her Mr. Owen has two children-Emma, born April 11, 1873, and John W., born January 7, 1876. Mr. Owen is a harness-maker by occupation, and has plied his trade for the past fourteen years. lle was educated in the district schools and at Marysville. He was burned out at Watkins, Ohio, in 1881, and afterward came to this place. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. He owns a nice residence at the Springs, in which he and his family live.

HENRY K POWELL, farmer, P. O. Rockwood, was born in Marion County, Ohio, Decem- ber 14, 1839. He is a son of John and Hannah (Crawford) Powell, natives of Ohio, the latter deceased. Our subject was educated and raised in Marion County. He owne I and operated a saw-mill and thresher for more than a quarter of a century, and now devo es his time to farm- ing. He was married April 5, 1860, to Cynthia A. Thatcher, who was born March 15, 1842, and died March 10, 1868. They had two children, John H., deceased, and Joseph W. On June 10, 1869, Mr. Powell married Melissa, daughter of Charles and Jane (Graham) Crouso. By this unio 1 they had four children-Francis E., Charles, deceased, Henry W. and Eva Leah. Mr. Powell enlisted in 1861, in the Ninth Ohio Civalry, but was transferred to Company B, of the Tenth, and served three years. He took part in the battles of Chickamauga, Atlanta, Buz- zard's Roost, Smithfield, Blue Ridge, Jonesboro, and other engagements. He is a Republican, and a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities.

A. T. PERRY, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born at Delaware, Ohio, August 18, 1847. His parents were Henry Perry, a native of Delaware Conuty, of Welsh descent, and Martha (Laven- der) Perry, the latter born en route while her parents were emigrating to this State. They had four children, viz .: Oliver, Maggie, O. E., wife of G. W. Stevens, and our subject. The latter was married at Prospect, Marion County, by Rev. C. B. Hill, to Laura, daughter of William and Sarah (Rhodes) Irving, the former a native of New York State. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, November 23, 1842, and was one of seven children, the others being Jacob, John, Joseph, Frank, Mary and Catharine, wife of S. B. Dilsaver. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have four chil- dren, viz. : Platt, born October 20, 1869 ; Rolin P., born June 20, 1871 ; Jennie, born Septem- ber, 20, 1873, died September 3, 1877 ; and William H., born July 6, 1880. Mr. Perry owns 100 acres of land on which he has resided since his marriage, and which he has successfully culti- vated since then.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 136

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