The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 146

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 146


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).


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JOHN MOORE, farmer, l'. O. Richwood. The subject of this sketch was born in Union County, this State, September 22, 1836. His parents were llarvey and Magdalena Moore, early settlers of this county. On April 3, 1859, he married Miss Catherine Markley, who was born in May, 1842, in Marion County ; she was a daughter of Aaron and Margaret Markley. To them have been born six children, five of whom are now living, viz .: Emma M., Thomas C., Cyrus A., Margaret A. and Ida M. In 1870, he settled in the northwestern portion of Jackson Town-hip, where he now resides. He has served as Trustee of Jackson Township. He is the owner of 240 acres of land, and a zealous member of the Disciple Church.


John Maskill


511


JACKSON TOWNSHIP.


ISAAC NOGGLE, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born in Hocking County, Ohio, June 14, 1835. He is a son of John and Hannah (deceased) Noggie, of this county. In his youth he received but a rudimentary education. In November, 1861, he enlisted in the Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the seige of Corinth, the capture of Island No. 10, the battle of Iuka and numerous other engagements. He was discharged, and re-enlisted in December, 1863, in the Forty-third Ohio Veteran Infantry. He subsequently was engaged in the battle of Decatur, siege of Atlanta, siege of Savannah, the grand march to the sea, and the surrender of Johnston's army. He continued in the service until July, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. In February, 1867, he married Miss Jane E. Matteson, daughter of Joseph K. and Mary (deceased) Matteson. To them have been born four children, viz .: Minnie D., Annie M., William F. and Joseph A. (deceased). He is the owner of sixty seven acres of land, and resides in the northern portion of Jackson Township.


FRANCIS M. PARISH, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek. The subject of this sketch was born February 5, 1848, in Madison County, Ohio. He is a son of George Parish, a native of Eng- land, and Rachel Parish. About the year 1853, with his parents, he came to Jackson Town- ship, this county, where they settled and still reside. He was, from his youth up, trained to the pursuits of farming, and received but a rudimentary education. In January, 1868, he married Miss Sabrina Randall, who was born April 24, 1851, in Delaware County, Ohio. She is a daugh- ter of Rodney R. and Louisa Randall, now of Jackson Township, this county. To them have been born four children, three of whom are now living-Elva A., born November 1, 1869 ; Lou- isa A., born September 6, 1872; Lelia A., born December 4, 1874 ; and Blanchard F., deceased. He resided in Jackson Township until the spring of 1876, when he moved to Marion County, and resided one year, at the expiration of which time he returned to Jackson Township. In November, 1881, he moved to Columbus, where he was employed by the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railway Company. In October, 1882, he again returned to Jackson Township, this county. He has been moderately successful in business, is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, and the owner of eighty-nine acres of land.


SAMUEL T. PATTERSON, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born March 22, 1837, in Bel- mont County, Ohio. His parents were John and Hannah A. Patterson, his father a native of Maryland and his mother of Virginia. They came to Belmont County at quite an early day. When seven years of age, his father died, and when fifteen years of age, with his mother, he moved to Franklin County, where she died in November, 1877. Four of a family of five chil- dren are still living, viz .: Samuel T., James, Sarah A., and Martha A. On January 27, 1857, in Franklin County, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Lott, who was born De- cember 28, 1836, in New Jersey. She is a daughter of Elijah and Anna Lott, who came to Franklin County, this State, about the year 1856. This union has been blessed with nine chil- dren, six of whom are now living, viz .: Chester W., born December 18, 1864; Charles E., born July 4, 1867; Harry E., born September 6, 1869; Lillias G., born July 15, 1874; Alvin, born August 3, 1875; and Blanche M., born May 19, 1880. In November, 1874, with his fam- ily, Mr. Patterson came from Franklin to Union County and settled in Jackson Township. He and his wife are both members of the M. P. Church. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge and the owner of a fine farm of seventy-two acres, pleasantly located in the northern portion of the township.


GRANVILLE S. ROBERTSON, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born May 19, 1826, in Vir- ginia. He is a son of Joseph R. and Nancy Robertson. When sixteen years of age, his mother died, and shortly after, with his father, he came to Union County, this State. From his youth unto the present time, he has been engaged in farming. In February, 1851, he was united in marriage with Louisa Andrews, daughter of Horacc and Ann Z. Andrews, and by her he had one child-William H. (deceased). She died in September, 1853, and in March, 1856, he was married to Elizabeth Bell, of Marion County, this State. To them have been born cleven children, nine of whom are now living, viz .: Joseph S., Isaac N., Jesse B., IIannah M., Marga- ret E., John H., Samuel S., Mary E. and Robert R. He has served as Trustee of Jackson Township many years, and also as Assessor. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in which denomination he officiates as a local preacher. In 1865, he settled in Jackson Township, where he still resides, and where he is the owner of 171 acres of land.


ANDREW SCHMELZER, farmer, P. O. Richwood. The subject of this sketch was born in August, 1813, in Prussia, Germany. He was a son of Andrew and Catherine Schmelzer. In 1844, he emigrated to America, and spent several years in New York and Newburg Cities, and then came to Ohio. About the year 1854, he came to Union County. In 1848 married Caroline Kircher, by whom he has ten children, viz .: Andrew, George W., Charles, Jacob, Lewis, Alice, John L., Henry G., Frank and William. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and the owner of 137 acres of land. He is industrious and energetic, qualities which have secured for him success, and resides on the western portion of Jackson Township.


SAMPSON H. SNOWDEN, farmer, P. O. Richwood. The subject of this sketch was born in Greene County, Ohio, March 11, 1841. He is a son of James Snowden (deceased), and Mary A. Snowden. He was reared to man's estate on a farm, and received but a limited edu- cation. In August, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer


512


HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.


Infantry, and participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Kingston and other lesser engage- ments, and continued in the service until June, 1865. On March 14, 1867, he married Miss Mary F. Flesher, who was born in December, 1847; she is a daughter of John and Lena Flesher, of this county. By this union there has been an issue of four children, viz .: Albert E., William A., Cora M. and John A. In 1872, he came to Jackson Township, and settled in the southern portion of the township, where he owns ninty-six acres of land. He is a member of the M. E. Church.


GEORGE W. STEPIIEN, farmer, P. O. Richwood. George W. Stephen is a prominent farmer of Jackson Township; was born in Delaware County, this State, October 30, 1850. He is a son of Zachariah Stephen (deceased) and Mary A. Stephen. Of their family of ten chil- dren, seven are now living, viz .: Ephraim, Hugh M., Elizabeth A., Joseph Z., William C., George W. and Nancy J. His father died in September, 1877; his mother still resides in Dela- ware County. On October 21, 1873, he married Miss Olive E. Perry, daughter of Henry and Martha Perry, of Logan County. To them have been born four children-Bertha, Effie L., Jessie M. and Grace. He has been moderately successful in business, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is the owner of 114 acres of land, and resides in the northwest por- tion of Jackson Township.


DAVID SWARTZ, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek. The subject of this sketch was born in Dela- ware County, Ohio, December 26, 1839. He is the youngest child of Abraham and Hettie Swartz. In his youth he learned the trade of carpentering, which he followed for several years. In September, 1874, in Delaware County, he married Miss Lovina Smith, daughter of William W. and Polly (deceased) Smith. To them have been born two children-Mary E., born July 17, 1876, and William A., born August 21, 1879. In August, 1862. he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Perryville, the siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, the grand march to the sea, and the surrender of Jolinston's army. Ile received an honorable dis- charge in June, 1865. In 1874, he come to Union County, and located at Richwood until the spring of 1878, when he came to Jackson Township. lle has served as School Director, and is a member of the Christian Church. He is the owner of forty acres of land.


JOSEPH TEMPLE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born May 6, 1827, in Adams County, Ohio. His parents were Joseph and Margaret Temple, with whom, when fifteen years of age, he came to Union County, and settled in Jackson Township, where he now resides. On July 6, 1849, he was united in marriage to Lucy A. Andrews, who was born August 20, 1825, and a daughter of John H. and A. Andrews. By her he had six children, viz .: John M., Henry G., Louisa J., Surrilda A., Lucy C. and Edith C., deceased. Mrs. Temple died in June, 1871. On July 3, 1872, he was married to Leonora C., daughter of Theron Eastman (deceased) and Nancy Eastman, of Madison County, Ohio. To them have been born three children. Mr. and Mrs. Temple are both members of the Baptist Church, and useful members of society. He has served as School Director, and is the owner of 242 acres of land.


JESSE A. WHITE, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born in Franklin County. Ind., August 31, 1828. Ilis parents are Albert R. White and Amy White, deceased. When five years of age, with his parents, he came to Union County. Ile was reared amid the rural scenes of farm life and received a liberal education, which enabled him for two years to teach school. On April 10, 1851, he was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Angeline Dysert, daughter of John and Mary Dysert. They are the parents of four children-John D., Charles A., Mary F. and Anna M. Mr. White has met with success in a financial sense, being of a stirring, business dis- position, and is the owner of 100 acres of good land. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He has served as Trustee, Clerk and Treasurer of Jackson Township, and for twenty years has been Recording Steward of the Rush Creek Circuit of the Methodist Protestant Church.


DANIEL A. WHITE, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, was born in Franklin County, Ind., February 20, 1830. He is a son of Albert R. White and Amy White, deceased. In 1833, with his parents, he came to Jackson Township, this county. In his youth he received rather a lim- ited education, but by continual reading, and having a love for good books written by standard authors, he has made himself familiar with many of the important topics of this day. In De- cember, 1850, he was united in marriage with Emily Bennet, daughter of Henry and Mary Ben- net, and by her had two children, both of whom are deceased. She died in December, 1853. On October 8, 1854, he was married to Minerva Bennet, by whom he has eight children, six of whom are now living, viz .: Albert S., George A., John W., Mary M., Martha E. and Jesse W. Mr. White is at present the efficient Superintendent of the Rush Creek Gravel Road. He is the owner of 188 acres of land, and a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. In 1854, he set- tled where he now resides.


DAVID R. WHITE, farmer, P. O. Rush Creek, the subject of this sketch, was born Octo- ber 6, 1832, in Champaign County, Ohio. He is a son of Albert R. White ; he received a common school education, and on June 8, 1856, was united in marriage with Miss Alice A. Bosart, who was born November 20, 1838, in Champaign County. She is a daughter of John and Elizabeth Bosart, early settlers of Champaign County. They have four children, viz., Jennie, born


513


YORK TOWNSHIP.


August 29, 1857; Elenor, born January 14, 1862; Emery, bora July 10, 1867, and Mary, born March 28, 1874. Mr. White has served as Assessor of Jackson Township, and is the owner of sixty acres of valuable land, With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and, for seven years, has been the efficient Superintendent of the Essex Sabbath School. Mr. and Mrs. White reside on their farm, which is pleasantly located on the Rush Creek Gravel Road, in the western portion of the township.


SAMUEL E. WILLIAMS, physician and surgeon, P.O. Rush Creek, was born March 4, 1823, in Licking County, Ohio. He is a son of Elias and Saralı Williams, natives of New Jersey, who came to Licking County about the year 1819. After receiving a liberal English education, in 1846, he entered for a five months course, the Cleveland Medical College, and graduated in March of the fol- lowing year. On December 8, 1853, he was united in marriage with Miriam Brookins, daughter of Jonathan I'. Brookins (deceased ) and Murilla Brookins, formerly of Marion County. This union has been blessed with six children, of whom four are living, viz., Jonathan P., William, Sarah M. and Elbert S. After his graduation, for a short time, he practiced at Hartford, Licking County, and then went to Middetown, now Prospect, Marion County, where he located four years, at the expiration of which time he came to Union County, and located at Essex. Mr. Williams is of a courteous and obliging disposition, successful in his profession, and has established a lucrative practice. He is a member of the F. & A. M. society.


CHAPTER XI.


YORK TOWNSHIP.


T HE history of the formation of York Township, as exhibited on the pages of the Commissioners' journal, is as follows:


December 3, 1833-The Board of Commissioners ordered that a new town- ship be laid off on the north end of Liberty Township, to be called York; commencing on the east boundary of said Liberty Township, five miles north of the southeast corner thereof; thence west, parallel to the south boundary of said Liberty Township, to the west boundary thereof; all north thereof to the north boundary of the county of Union to be considered in the said township of York, to be surveyed by Levi Phelps, when it may suit his convenience, previous to March session next.


March 4, 1834-The board took into consideration the report of Levi Phelps, surveyor, on his proceeding in laying off the township of York, and its appearing to said Board that it would be more convenient to the townships of both Liberty and York to remove the line as now run, one mile further north; it is, therefore, ordered that the said Phelps, at some time prior to the next June session, re-survey the said township of York, commencing on the east line of the township of Liberty at the sixth mile tree, being six miles north of the southeast corner of the township of Liberty as originally estab- lished; thence to run west with the southern boundary thereof to the western boundary of the county; all north to be considered as the township of York.


December 4, 1834-A petition was presented by William Hartford, pray- ing for a reconsideration of their order for running the line between the townships of Liberty and York, and an alteration; whereupon it is ordered by the board that the said line shall begin five miles north of the southeast corner of the township of Liberty, on the east line thereof; thence running west, parallel to the south line thereof three and one-half miles; thence north, par- allel with the east line of said township one mile and 242 poles; thence west parallel to the south line of the township to the western boundary of the county.


In 1836, York Township was divided, and Washington formed from the northern division. It would be impracticable to follow the numerous changes that have been made in the boundaries of York. As constituted at present,


514


HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.


its northern and western boundaries are regular. The western boundary is the county line, with Logan County beyond. The northern boundary is the Greenville treaty line, separating York from Washington Township. On the east is Claibourne Township, and on the south Liberty and Taylor. The boundary lines between York and these three townships do not cut any sur- veys, and are, in consequence, irregular.


These are the surveys included within the township: Peter Manifold, No. 2,832, 1,000 acres, near the southwest corner of the township, surveyed by Lucas Sullivant, September 14, 1799; Andrew Tarborn, the heir of Peter Dunn, No. 2,982, 1,000 acres, southwestern part of township, surveyed by Lucas Sullivant, September 11, 1799; John M. Gregory, No. 2,984, south- western part, surveyed by Lucas Sullivant, September 11, 1799; George Bax- ley and Joseph Merriman, six surveys of 1,000 acres each, located in the cen- tral and western parts of the township, Nos. 3,234, 3,235, 3,236, 3,237, 3.238 and 3.439, surveyed by Lucas Sullivant, September 14 and 16, 1799; John Bowen, Nos. 3,468, 3,469 and 3,470, three surveys of 889 acres each, in the southeast part of the township, surveyed by Lucas Sullivant, November 10 and 12, 1800; Thomas Bowyer, No. 5,289, 1,000 acres, northern part, surveyed by Duncan McArthur, November 28, 1808; Thomas Bowyer, No. 5,290, 1.000 acres, northern part, surveyed by Duncan McArthur June 10, 1809; Robert Means, No. 5,387, 1,000 acres, southern part, surveyed November 26, 1808, by Duncan McArthur; Robert Means, No. 6,492, 70 acres, surveyed, November 20, 1809, by Duncan McArthur; Burgess Ball's representatives, No. 6,680, 648 acres, southern part of township, surveyed by Cadwallader Wallace June 11, 1834; Allen Latham, No. 11,346, 1,200 acres, eastern part of township, surveyed December 24, 1843, by E. P. Kendricks; Mary Stephenson and Thomas Holt, No. 12,124, 9043 acres, northern part of township, surveyed by Allen Latham, March 24, 1823; Joseph Miller, No. 12,542, surveyed Sep- tember 10, 1833, by E. P. Kendricks, in the northeast corner of town- ship; Robert Means, No. 6,154, 1,700 acres, mostly in Logan County, sur- veyed March 20, 1809, by Duncan McArthur; Robert Means. No. 5,092, 1,333} acres, mostly in Logan County, surveyed by Duncan McArthur, Novem- ber 26, 1808; T. Chilton, Nos. 775 and 6,155, 1,059 acres, mostly in Logan County, surveyed by Duncan McArthur March 20, 1809; Allen Latham, No. 15,707, 38 acres, northern part of township, surveyed November 24, 1851, by Nathaniel Massie; David Williams, No. 13,506, 500 acres, northern part of township.


The organization of York Township was completed by the election of township officers April 7, 1834. The election was held at the house of Aaron Shirk, and in consideration of this fact, he was permitted to cast the first vote. The record shows that the following persons were unanimously elected to the several offices; to wit: Trustees, Heman Tobey, Joseph Miller and Harmon Patrick; Overseers of the Poor, Charles Miller and John Coons; Fence View- ers, George Coons, Jonathan Miller and Charles Bennett; Treasurer, William Tobey; Constable, Aaron Shirk; Clerk, William Hartford; Supervisors, John Stamates, Hiram Parker and Jonathan Shirk. On the 15th day of April, 1834, the Trustees met at the house of Heman Tobey, and divided the township into three road districts.


The first election for Justice of the Peace was held at the house of Aaron Shirk October 14, 1834, and Jonathan G. Miller was elected to fill that office. The subsequent Justices, with dates of election, are Thomas Milligan, 1837; Jonathan G. Miller, 1839; William Tobey, 1841; Jonathan G. Miller, 1841; William Tobey, 1844, resigned in 1846; Jonathan Sterling, 1844, resigned in 1846; William Hartford, 1846; Archibald G. Brooks, 1846; David Sterling,


515


YORK TOWNSHIP.


1849, resigned the same year; William Hartford, 1849; Samuel Hoover, 1849; J. G. Miller, 1852; James R. Smith, 1852; Alonzo Harvey, 1855; James R. Smith, 1855; Alonzo Harvey, 1858; Washington G. Davis, 1858; Archibald G. Brooks, 1859; Washington G. Davis, 1861; Archibald G. Brooks, 1862; A. E. Knox, 1864; Archibald G. Brooks, 1865; A. E. Knox, 1867; A. P. Harvey, 1868, resigned in 1870; William P. Plotner, 1870; A. E. Knox, 1870; Will- iam H. Plotner, 1873; A. E. Knox, 1873; S. Taylor, 1873; William H. Plot- ner, 1876; A. E. Knox, 1876; William H. Plotner, 1879; A. E. Knox, 1879; L. D. Wright, 1882.


At the first fall election, held October 14, 1834, the township cast twenty- one votes, eleven Democratic and ten Whig. The vote was as follows: For Governor, Robert Lucas, 11, James Findley, 10; for Representative in Con- gress, William Ellsberry, 11, Sampson Mason, 10; for State Senator, John Shelby, 11, Samuel Newell, 10; for State Representative, Nicholas Hathaway, 11, Otway Curry, 10; for Sheriff, Calvin Wright, 21; for Commissioner, James B. Irvin, 18, Thomas Price, 3.


The vote of the township for Governor, from that time to the present, is here given: 1836, Joseph Vance, 16, Eli Baldwin, 17; 1838, Joseph Vance, 27, Wilson Shannon, 26; 1840, Thomas Corwin, 47, Wilson Shannon, 37; 1842, Thomas Corwin, 48, Wilson Shannon, 38; 1844, Mordecai Bartley, 62, David Tod, 39, Leicester King, 3; 1846, William Bebb, 42, David Tod, 31, Samuel Lewis, 14; 1848, Seabury Ford, 55, John B. Weller, 48, scattering, 18; 1850, Will- iam Johnson, 45, Reuben Wood, 37, Edward Smith, 36; 1851, Samuel F. Vinton, 54, Reuben Wood, 53, Samuel Lewis, 26; 1853, Nelson Barrere, -, William Medill, 48, Samuel Lewis, S5; 1855, Salmon P. Chase, 104, William Medill, 15, Allen Trimble, 4; 1857, Salmon P. Chase, 126, H. B. Payne, 62, P. Van Trump, 1; 1859, William Dennison, 132, R. P. Ranney, 35; 1861, David Tod, 161, H. J. Jewett, 39; 1863, John Brough, 250, C. L. Vallan- digham, 43; 1865, J. D. Cox, 192, George W. Morgan, 25; 1867, R. B. Hayes, 214, A. G. Thurman, 47; 1869, R. B. Hayes, 198, George H. Pendleton, 49; 1871, E. F. Noyes, 190, George W. McCook, 43; 1873, E. F. Noyes, 178, William Allen, 62, Gideon T. Stewart, 2; 1875, R. B. Hayes, 255, William Allen, 78; 1877, William H. West, 248, R. M. Bishop, 89, H. H. Thompson, 5; 1879, Charles Foster, 263, Thomas Ewing, 93, Gideon T. Stewart, 6; 1881, Charles Foster, 247, John W. Bookwalter, 68, A. R. Ludlow, 18.


Bokes Creek is the principal stream. It is formed by the confluence of several creeks on the western part of the township, and pursues an irregularly southeastern course. Fulton Creek crosses the northeastern corner of the ter- ritory, and in the southern part are several tributaries of Bokes Creek. The surface is level, or gently rolling. The soil is clay, with sandy bottoms along the streams. The timber consisted of beech, sugar, elm, hickory, oak and other varieties.


One of the earliest pioneers of York Township was Joseph Miller. He was born in Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y., and spent his youthful days in that vicinity. He was married to Jemima Wilkins in 1801, and to them were born three sons and one daughter. Mr. Miller, with his family, removed to Ohio in 1817, and purchased land in Franklin County, along the Scioto River. After making considerable improvement on this land, he lost it by reason of a defective title. After this misfortune, he located a survey in what is now the northeast corner of York Township. He and his two surviving sons, Jonathan G. and James Charles, became the first setters upon this tract. His daughter Evaline, wife of Aaron Everett, remained in Franklin County. Mr. Miller and his son Jonathan G. first came out with their families about February, 1828. There was then no road to guide them to their new home west of the


516


HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.


site of Richwood, and Henry Swartz, of Claibourne Township, who had hunted over this country and was familiar with it, marked out a road for them by hacking trees along the line. By cutting away the underbrush, and winding about a great deal, the Millers reached their destination after a tedious jour- ney. The latter part of their route was the first road-if road it might be called-leading from Richwood westward. The cabin was raised on the site of Benjamin Thomas' brick residence, some little distance west of the Presby- terian Church, by the aid of a few men who accompanied them from Franklin County for this purpose. They brought with them two teams, a scanty lot of household goods and a few sheep, hogs and cows. The sheep soon disap- peared, and were never seen afterward, having probably fallen a prey to the ravenous wolves that infested the forests. For awhile the Millers traded, and bought the groceries they needed at Worthington, Franklin County. Joseph Miller erected a cabin, and lived on the same place with his son Jonathan. He possessed some means, was industrious and performed many acts of kindness to the new settlers who followed him into this settlement. He was modest and unassuming, but the earnest friend of every measure to promote the intel- ligence and morals of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and as such communed with the Presbyterian Church in his immediate vicinity, of which his wife was a member, and to which he gave a cordial support. He died in York Township August 31, 1866, aged ninety two years and nearly eight months.




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