The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 144

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 144

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The Rush Creek Christian, or Disciple, Church was organized June 18. 1865, by Rev. Michael Riddle. The first members were John Stanard, Joseph Cameron, Sarah Cameron, William Allen, William Sprague, W. D. Cameron, Ann G. Sprague, Mary Burnett, Temperance Osborne, Catharine Chambers, Jane Blue, Mary Bailey, Susan and George W. McLain, Shannon Bailey, Abraham McLain, James Stanard, John Bazard, Eliza and Elizabeth Price, Anthem Bailey, Benjamin Temple, Sarah Smith, Elenora L. Cheney, Sarah A. Allen, Lucretia Price, Jane Stanard, M. M. Stanard and Phoebe Merrit. John Stanard and William H. Allen were elected the first Elders; G. W. McLain first Deacon; and W. D. Cameron and Shannon Bailey, Assistant Deacons. Subsequent Elders have been William D. Cameron, G. W. Merrit, J. M. Blue, T. W. Bridge and Joseph Price; Deacons, Thomas L. Poulk, Emery P. Bridges, John M. Blue, John Moore and Frank Cameron. The meetings were held in a schoolhouse until 1875. A frame church was then erected. It is 38x45 in size, and cost about $2,200. It contains a gallery and a reception room, is surmounted by a belfry and bell, and is finely furnished. Taken all in all, it ranks among the finest country churches. The building was dedicated by Rev. William Dowling, then of Kenton, Ohio. Rev. Dana Call was the pastor in charge during its erection. Other recent ministers are Revs. John Stanard, G. W. Kline and R. T. Davies. At present the society has no regular minister. The membership includes 108 souls. A Sunday school is in operation during pleasant weather.

A noted revival occurred in 1856, which is usually referred to as the " Wiley Schoolhouse Meeting." It began with a little Methodist prayer meet-

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

ing, conducted in Wiley's Schoolhouse, Claibourne Township. The meetings increased in interest, under the preaching of Rev. William Boggs, and were transferred to the Swartz Schoolhouse, in this township, where the Methodist Episcopal society then held services. Again the place of meeting was changed; this time to Essex, where, night after night, for weeks, the meeting house was filled to overflowing, and between one and two hundred conversions professed. Among the number were five young men, who afterward became ministers of the Gospel, viz., Hamilton J. Bigley, Ebenezer Cheney, Thomas B. Cheney, Thomas J. Mather and David Wynegar, the latter of Claibourne Township. At Essex, the meetings were conducted jointly by the Methodist Episcopal and the Methodist Protestant societies, and large accessions were made to both churches.

The first burial-place was on the farm of Ebenezer Cheney. In 1828, only three families resided in the township, and that year each family lost a member. The first death was that of little Johnnie Carter, the son of Benja- min Carter. Mary Allen and Elizabeth Cheney were the other two victims of the fell destroyer. All three were buried on the farm of Ebenezer Cheney. This graveyard is still small, but has been used, to some extent, ever since it was first dedicated to this sacred purpose. Price's Cemetery, about a mile north of Essex, is the largest, and the one most generally used. It is finely located on rolling ground. There are, besides these, several private burying- grounds within the limits of the township.

ESSEX.

The village of Essex was surveyed September 2, 1836, by William C. Lawrence, Deputy Surveyor, for John Cheney, the proprietor. The lots were forty in number. The streets running east and west were named Water and Essex; those running north and south, Mulberry and Marion. At the time the village was platted, it was hoped by those interested in its welfare that a new county would be formed, and Essex made the seat of justice. Some efforts were put forth for the accomplishment of this enterprise, and the expecta- tion of success was given circulation, but had little effect in building up the village. For a year or two no houses were erected. Dr. David Welch is said to have built the first cabin, about 1838. The name of the village was selected by the surveyor, at the request of the proprietor. Tabor Randall was the first

Postmaster, the office taking the name of Rush Creek. £ M. M. Camp suc- ceeded him in the office. Subsequent Postmasters have been Sidney Hogden, John A. Peasley, Richard Davis, S. E. Williams and Richard Davis again, the present incumbent. The first store consisted of a few goods sent to the place by L. H. Hastings, then a merchant of Richwood. It was placed under the management of Thomas Cheney, and continued eighteen months. James Stout was the next merchant; Jacob Reed followed; then William Wurl, Camp & Search and others. For a time, two stores of general merchandise were in operation; at present there is but one, conducted by Richard Davis. There is also a grocery, owned by Cheney & Hoffman, the flour and saw mill of W. A. Hall & Son, a blacksmith shop, a repair shop and a shoe shop. The population consists of sixteen families; formerly there was a larger number. Early mechanics in the village were Jacob Honaker, a gunsmith and black smith, and Absalom Carr, a wagon-maker. Lewis Hack, the son in-law of Dr. Welch, was engaged for some time in making potash.

Dr. David Welch was well advanced in life when he settled at Essex. After a practice of perhaps fifteen years, he retired. Dr. S. E. Williams, hailing from Licking County, located in the village in 1848, and has been in continuous practice since. Drs. Virgil Anderson and J. C. Corruthers each

Fond Gabriel

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had an office for a short time. Dr. P. W. Lee practiced for about two years during the war. Dr. G. J. Skidmore, in 1882, terminated a practice of seven or eight years in Essex, by removing to Pharisburg. Several other physi- cians have transiently stopped at the village in quest of a good location, but their stay was usually of brief duration. Dr. Williams is now the only resi- dent practitioner in the township.

Dennis Welch taught one of the first schools in the village. For a num- ber of years, the youth of Essex received their instruction in the districts to the east and west of the village. A schoolhouse was then built. Tabor Ran- dall, Margaret Chapman, Peter Smith, Jesse A. White and Caleb Roberts were early teachers.

Rush Creek Lodge, No. 629, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Essex June 20, 1876, with sixteen members, viz .: E. L. Randall, S. H. Grant, G. S. Robertson, M. M. Mather, D. D. Mather, J. D. Mather, Levin Price, Levi Roseberry, Asbury Cheney, E. D. Horton, Richard Davis, Philip Bender, . Simpson Price, C. W. Burgoon, John Price and John Vestal. The first officers were M. M. Mather. N. G .; E. L. Randall, V. G .; Levi Roseberry, Sec .; R. Davis, Per. Sec .; P. Bender, Treasurer. The hall in which the lodge conducts its meetings was built during the autumn of 1875, by a joint-stock company, in anticipation of the organization of the lodge. It cost about $500. The shares were purchased, from time to time, by the lodge until it acquired the sole ownership of the hall. Meetings are held every Saturday night. The present membership is fifty-two; the present officers are J. D. White, N. G .; D. D. Mather, V. G .; Jonathan Cheney, Sec .; C. W. Burgoon, Per. Sec .; E. D. Horton, Treasurer.

Rush Creek Grange, No. 710, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized at Essex in the spring of 1874. It continued in active operation only a few years.

Woodland is a post office and a station, in the northeastern corner of the township, on the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad. It contains a large planing mill, operated by Henry Hazen, and a store, started about 1866, and still owned by Ed Hazen.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MRS. ANTHEM BAILEY, P. O. Richwood. The subject of this sketch was born January 27, 1842, in Morrow County, Ohio. Her parents were Nathan and Eleanor Clark, natives of the Empire State. On November 1, 1860, in Delaware County, Ohio, she married David Har- den, with whom she came to Jackson Township, this county. He was a son of Isaac and Lydia Harden, and by her there was an issue of four children-Josephine, Clara J., Charles E. and William N. He died in August, 1867, and September 2, 1869, she was united in marriage with Manoah Blue, son of Michael and Ellen Blue, early settlers of this county. To them were born four children, of whom two are now living, viz .: Cora E. and Elva A. He departed this life in March, 1881, and in November, 1881, she was again married, this time to Mr. Anthem Bailey, who was born in this county in March, 1845. His parents were Edward and Mary Bailey, who also were among the early settlers of Union County. Our subject is a lady of rare intelligence and of a social, conversational disposition. She is esteemed by all, and is the owner of 100 acres of valuable land.

JOHN B. BENEDICT (deceased) was born in October, 1820, in Herkimer County, N. Y. His parents were Jeremiah and Elizabeth Benedict, with whom, when a child, he came to Champaign County, Ohio, where they remained till their decease. On March 4, 1843, in Union County, he married Miss Julia A. Chapman, who was born in Harrison County, Va., February 22, 1822. She was a daughter of Jason and Sarah Chapman. By this union there has been an issue of four children-Sarah M., William H., Mary E. and Arthur F. About the year 1846, he settled in Jackson Township, where his widow now resides. Having settled in the woods like all early settlers, he endured many hardships and self-denials. In September 1861, he enlisted in the Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry and subsequently saw considerable

active service. He died in March, 1862, at Lebanon, Ky., having succumbed to the dreaded typhoid fever. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, and his widow is also a member of the same denomination. In his death, Jackson Township lost an upright man and

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY,

worthy citizen. Mrs. Benedict, who is now more than sixty years of age, is a lady of intelli- gence, and is very active for one of her age.

COLUMBUS W. BURGOON, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born November 15, 1837, in Knox County, in this State. He is a son of Upton W. and Mary ( Lash) Burgoon, his father a native of Germany and his mother of North Carolina. In 1854, with his parents, he came to Claibourne Township, this county ; he received a liberal English education, and for several years taught school. On July 27, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah M. Benedict, who was born March 6, 1846; she is a daughter of John B. Benedict (deceased) and Julia A. Ben- edict, of whom we have made mention in this work. To them have been born three children- Wilson S., born June 5, 1868 ; Annie E., born November 4, 1870, and Clara E. (deceased). In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being a resident of Illinois at that time. His regiment operated principally in Missouri and Kentucky, and he continued in the service until the following September. lIe has served as Trustee of Jackson Township, and at present officiates as Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and F. & A. M. fraternities.

JOSEPH CAMERON (deceased). Among the pioneers of Union County there are none whose memory is more worthy of perpetuation in the history of our county than the subject of this sketch. He was born in Pennsylvania January 3, 1807, and was a son of John and Dorotha Cameron. His father and two brothers were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. On March 26, 1829, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Reed, who was born April, 1809, in Virginia. She was a daughter of Jesse Reed, a soldier of the war of 1812, and Christiana Reed. When nine- teen years of age, accompanied with her two brothers, Jacob and William Reed, she rode on horseback a distance of 250 miles, from Virginia to Champaign County, Ohio, where, in the fol- lowing spring, she wedded our subject. By this union there has been an issue of thirteen children, seven of whom are now living, viz., Erastus R., Eliza O., Elvira M., William D., Jesse L., Frank M. and Carrie ; Harvey A. (deceased), one of their sons, was a soldier in the late war of the rebellion, and the first white child born in Jackson Township. In 1830, they came to Union County and located in the southern portion of Jackson Township, until 1852, when they settled where the widow now resides. Our subject had seen much of pioneer life, and endured many hardships and trials. It is said that the first public prayer in Jackson Township was offered in his cabin home in the southern portion of the township. He was deeply imbued with the spirit of uprightness and Christianity, having been a zealous member of the Christian Church, with which denomination he also officiated as local preacher. After devoting a life of usefulness to both church and State he quietly and peacefully, on June 20, 1872, passed away. By his death, his family lost a faithful husband and father, and Union County one of her best citizens. He left to his widow, now in her seventy-fourth year, eighty-seven acres of land.

JAMES CHAMBERS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Au- gust 29, 1828. His parents were John and Elizabeth Chambers, natives of Ireland, who emi- grated to America about the year 1801, and for a short period located in Pennsylvania. They subsequently came to Fairfield County, Ohio, where they settled and remained until their de- cease. Of their family of five children. four are now living, viz .: James, Alexander, John and William. On November 30, 1852, in Hocking County-formerly Fairfield County-he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Brown. She was a daughter of John and Mary A. Brown, of IIocking County. To them were born fourteen children, twelve of whom are now living, viz .: George A., Emma A., Mary L., Viola C, Ida E., Inez L., Myrta E., John W., Ed- ward F., Edwin F., Oliver L. and Edith A. In 1859, with his family, Mr. Chambers came from Hocking to Union County and located in Claibourne Township until the spring of 1869, at which time he came to Jackson Township and settled where he now resides. He is the owner of 100 acres of tillable land, and an ardent member of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi.

JOHN CHAPMAN, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born November 5, 1816, in Harrison County, Va. His parents were Jason and Sarah Chapman, and with them, when twelve years of age, he came to Champaign County, Ohio, where they located a few years. In 1834, they came to Union County and settled in Jackson Township. Two sons and two daughters, viz., John, Mary, Julia A. and Jason N., are all that remain of his father's family of ten children. In November, 1836, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Dysert, daughter of John and Mary Dysert. By this union there has been an issue of ten children-Joseph H., Jason D., John W., Mary A., Thomas, Francis M., Lorenzo C., Sanford F., Sarah E. and Amanda (deceased). Having lived a quarter of a century, with his faithful consort, and enjoyed the comforts of wed- ded life, in December, 1861, she peacefully passed away. In March, 1863, he married Rebecca Wade, daughter of Garland Wade, and with her he lived until June, 1882, when she, too, depart- ed this life. He has served as Trustee of Jackson Township, is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and of the F. & A. M. society, and the owner of 230 acres of land in a fine state of cultivation.

JOHN W. CHAPMAN, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek. The subject of this sketch was born October 29, 1842, in Jackson Township, Union County, this State. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (deceased) Chapman, of whom we have made mention in this work. From his youth up, he has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and subsequently was engaged in

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the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Goldsboro, Kenesaw Mountain and many other minor engagements and skirmishes. He continued in the service until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. In March, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Munson, daughter of Theodore and Hester Munson, of Claibourne Township, this county. By her he had one child-John T. She departed this life in October, 1878, and in September, 1880, he was married to Miss Maggie Berry, daughter of Jacob and Hannah Berry. This union has been blessed with one child-Sumner G. Mr. Chapman is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and of the F. & A. M. society. He is the owner of ninety-eight acres of land in a good state of cultivation, and resides in the northern portion of Jackson Township.

JASON N. CHAPMAN, farmer, P. O. Richwood, son of Jason and Sarah Chapman, was born April 10, 1842, in Union County, this State. In his youth he received a fair English edu- cation, and for perhaps one year taught a district school. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was attached to the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in numerous battles and engagements, some of the principal ones of which were Perryville, Franklin and Shelbyville, was in Sherman's grand march to the sea, and at the siege of Savannah, and the surrender of the confederate Gen. Joe Johnston's army. He was honorably discharged in June, 1865. In 1866, he married Miss Mary O. Hodgden, a lady of rare intelligence, born October 14, 1849, in Delaware County. She is a daughter of Charles Hodgden (deceased) and Annie Hodgden. To them have been born four children-Annie F., born April 4, 1867 ; Minnie E., born July 31, 1869 ; Earl, born October 15, 1876; and Clyde (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Chapman are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and honored members of the society. He is also a menber of the F. & A. M. society, and the owner of 100 acres of land.

LORENZO CHENEY, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek. Thomas Cheney (deceased), a pioneer and the father of the subject of this sketch, was born May 3, 1804, in Virginia. His parents were Ebenezer and Elizabeth Cheney. When four years of age, with them he came to Champaign County, Ohio, where they located until about 1826, when they came to Union County. In March, 1829, he married Martha Carr, who was born May 16, 1813, in Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of Absalom and Dorcas Carr, with whom, when four years of age, she came to Cham- paign County, this State. To them were born fourteen children, of whom seven are now living, viz .: Lorenzo, Absalom, Asbury, Dorcas, Mary J., Emily E. and Christiana. In 1829, he set- tled near where our subject now resides. Ile was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and departed this life in March, 1865. Our subject was born September 27, 1831, in Jackson Township, this county. He was reared amid the scenes of pioneer life, and received a common school education. On February 27, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna M. White, an estimable lady, born October 9, 1837, and daughter of Albert R. amd Amy (deceased). White. This union has been blessed with eight children, viz .: Charles S., Eva, Elva, Martha, Alona, Wesley G., Sylvester S., and Rush. Mr. Cheney is at present serving his fourth year as Treasurer of Jackson Township. In October, 1872, he was elected a County Commissioner and entered into the duties of this office on the first day of January following, and served three years. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is the owner of 671 acres of land, and a member of the I. O. O. F. society. He is recognized as one of the lead- ing, substantial agriculturists of Union County.

GEORGE W. COWGILL (deceased). The subject of this sketch was born in Ross County, this State, July 14, 1811. His parents were Alexander and Mary Cowgill. When about fifteen. years of age with his father, he came to Union County, and settled in Leesburg Township, near what is now known as Magnetic Springs. In 1835, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Smart, by whom he had five children, three now living, viz .: Isaac, Sarah and Martha. Short- ly after, he purchased a farm of 200 acres, on Fulton Creek, in Claibourne Township, on which farm he resided until 1876, in which year he moved to Jackson Township, where bis family now resides. Just when life was becoming pleasant, he was called upon to part with the companion of his youth, leaving him with several small children. In March, 1849, he was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson, widow of the late J. Robinson of Logan County. By her he had four children, of whom three are now living, viz .: Marian, Reuben and George W. Mr. Cow- gill was taken sick in church on Monday evening January 10, 1881-he was stricken down, as it were, almost in a moment, and was carried home only to die on the following day, Janu-

ary 11, 1881. All was done for him that loving hearts and friends could do, but he lingered only about. twenty-three hours, when his spirit took its flight. He had been a zealous member of the Christian Church for thirty years, and from the time of uniting with the church, until the day of his death, he lived a consistent Christian life. He had been a member of the Mason- ic fraternity at Richwood, for many years. During his last hours his brother masons afforded him all the aid in their power, and when life had fled they interred his remains in accordance with the usages of the order. The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Williams of New- ton, this county, to a large and sympathetic andience, after which his remains were interred in the Bethlehem cemetery. He was a loving father; a good and obliging neighbor, and respected by all who knew him. Thus passed away one of Union County's early pioneers. His bereaved widow resides at the home of one of her sons in Jackson Township. George W. one of the sons

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

of our subject was born in September, 1854, in this county. In April, 1881, he married Miss Inez Harraman, daughter of Lafayette and Martha Harraman of Marion County. They have one child Ira E. Reuben Cowgill, brother of the above, was born in Union County, April 18, 1852. He was reared to man's estate on a farm. In July, 1875, he married Josephine Hurd, daughter of William Hurd (deceased) and Jane Hurd, now Mrs. Abraham Linsley of Summers- ville, this county. They have one child-George W. He owns fifty-six acres of land well culti- vated.

LEONARD DAUM, farmer, P. O. Richwood. The subject of this sketch was born in Ger- many, in March, 1838. Ile is a son of Simeon and Catherine Daum. When eighteen years of age, he emigrated to America, and by way of New York came to Ohio. In his youth he learned the trade of shoe-making, which he followed several years. Iu May, 1858, at Marys- ville, this county, he married Catherine Hachendorfer, by whom he had six children, five now living, viz .: Mary M., Barbara' M., Peter G., John S. and Elizabeth. In 1872, with his family he settled in Jackson Township, where he now resides. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and the owner of 224 acres of land.

RICHARD DAVIS, merchant, P. O. Rush Creek. Richard Davis the leading merchant of Es- sex, this county, was born May 10, 1828, in Delaware County, Ohio. His parents were John R. and Margaret Davis. In his youth he received a fair English education and for about four terms taught school. On June 1, 1851, he married in Union County, Miss Euphronius R. Swarts, daughter of William and Nancy Swarts. For several years prior to entering the mer- cantile business, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He deals in general merchandise and dry goods, and since 1870, has served as Postmaster. Mr. Davis has established a good patronage, being courteous and obliging to his customers. Mr. and Mrs. Davis were the parents of eleven children, of whom six are now living, viz .: Arthela A., Ethalynda O., Edith E., Rua V., Ora I. and Richard M. They are both active and useful members of society. Mr. Davis is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, and of the M. P. Church. He has served as Trustee, Clerk and Treasurer of Jackson Township.

JOSEPH B. DECKER, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born March 16, 1852, in Marion County, this State. He is a son of John and Elizabeth Decker, of Marion County. His parents have eight children-Elizabeth O., Lucinda J., Joseph B., James F., William A., John A., Mary O. and Amanda E. His father has served as Trustee and Justice of the Peace in Pleasant Town- ship, Marion County, and is of high standing in the community where he resides. Our subject, in his youth, received a common school education. On December 10, 1873, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary M. Brown, who was born March 24, 1853, in Marion County. Her parents were James M. and Sarah Brown. This union has been blessed with one child, viz .: Emmet G., born October 18, 1874. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Decker came from Marion County to Jackson Township, this county. He is the owner of 100 acres of land in a good state of cul- tivation.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 144

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