The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 159

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 159

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About the year 1841, I chanced to go to Marysville on an errand. I went across the square, to the southwest side, to Rodney Picket's store, where I heard some men indulging in loud laughing. I was a timid boy, but got close enough to overhear the cause of laughter. A man, whose name I did not learn, had taken a contract to paint the court house, and had prepared bis paint by mixing in buttermilk, in order to save money; but when he carried it to the building to commence work he left it for a short time, and some hogs drank it up-and this was what the men were laughing about.

In early times, there lived on the knoll east of the present residence of G. B. Hamilton, a person of some notoriety known by the name of "Dick;" and such we will call him in this history. Dick was an innocent kind of a fellow, whose lies were not of the kind to make mischief, and whose stealings were on a small scale, and of such things as he stood in need of. It was said of Dick that if he borrowed a horse he would feed it well, if he had to steal the grain from its owner to do so. He was always ready to do a kind act, and was looked upon as rather a good kind of fellow, in spite of his weakness. Ho was a man of some talent, had a passion for polemics, and was fond of talking of his skill as a debater. He had one besetting sin, that was not offset by a

* Contributed by Capt. H. C. Hamilton.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

virtue sufficient, in the eyes of his neighbors, for the wrong; it was that of whipping his wife, whose name was Hannah. The old men of the community tried to scold and shame him out of so bad a habit, but it was of no use. Very frequently Hannah's screams would be heard all the country round, and the neighbors would be disturbed by his efforts to correct his wife. It was finally proposed that the young men of the neighborhood should take the mat. ter in hand, and try the effect of a debate on " Poor Richard." The matter

was duly considered, and plans matured.

It was arranged to hold the debate in the upper room of Samuel Hamilton's house, which was the best room of the kind in the country, save the two churches in Richwood. The time for meeting was set at 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, that all might attend. First, there was to be a question discussed such as Dick was fond of, and he was to be one of the principal disputants. John Graham was to be President Judge of the first debate, and when it closed, and the decision of the judges was given, he was to retire from his chair and name his successor. Upon doing so, he chose Dick as the President Judge on the debate to follow. The

first one was cut short, to give time to the second. Richard, upon taking the chair, returned thanks for the honor done him, and stated that the next thing in order was to choose the Assistant Judges; whereupon Samuel Graham and Eleazer Rose were appointed-they being in league with the others in the scheme to give Dick a scorching. The three were placed on the seats of

honor, with Richard in the center. It was further agreed that the question should be, "What crime should sink a man the lowest in the estimation of the community ?" James C. Dobie and C. S. Hamilton were appointed leaders in the discussion. Dobie chose J. H. Hamilton and B. Graham as his assistants, while Hamilton chose John Graham and John Wells. Each leader was to choose for himself whatever crime he saw fit, as being the one that should sink a person the lowest in the esteem of his fellow-men, each speaker to be al- lowed two speeches. Dobie opened the discussion by choosing lying and steal- ing, as being the worse of all crimes. He was a fluent speaker, and made a good address, scoring Dick pretty heavily. He was followed by Hamilton, who had great difficulty in finding a crime that was as degrading as lying or stealing. After naming over all the crimes he could think of, he finally con- cluded to select "wife-whipping" as the one which, above all others, should sink a man the lowest in the scale of human existence. Poor Richard now saw that he was caught, but it was too late; for if he had attempted to leave, the two assistant judges would have held him to his post. Hamilton opened for his side, by admitting all that Dobie had said as to the meanness of the liar and thief, but argued that the man who would whip his wife was meaner still. When it came John Graham's turn to speak, he made a fine argument, tending to show that in the single act of whipping a wife were found all the crimes in the list-that the wife-whipper was a liar and a perjurer as well as a thief. Dobie's side made an effort to ward off some of the blows, and did well for some three hours, until it came Hamilton's turn to close the debate. He, no doubt, then made the best speech of his life; taking the position that a man might be a liar, a thief, a robber, a pirate, a murderer, and yet, if he had manhood enough left in him to live true to his marriage vows, he was entitled to some respect from his fellow-men; but that when he was so far gone as to beat his own wife-the mother of his children-he was so low down in the scale of existence that he was not entitled to any respect from either men or devils; and the wife-beater was to be shunned and scorned in this life, as one would shun a viper; even in hell he would not be accounted worthy to asso- ciate with the lost, but that in one corner there would be a place by itself, in which to confine none but wife-whippers, for the reason that they were so low

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it would be unjust to compel others to associate with them, even in the regions of the damned. He then appealed to the judges to decide, without hesitating one moment, that wife-whipping should, of all crimes, sink a man lowest in the estimation of the community.

During all this long debate, of three or four hours, poor Richard sat with his head down, and only now and then made an ineffectual effort to look up. Afterward, he said to one of his associate judges that it was the hardest ques- tion he was ever called upon to decide! Dick was quite anxious to try the same game on some of his neighbors, with a view to their reformation. He would say to his chums, " Let us have a debate over such a fellow, and see if we can't break him of some of his mean tricks." Dick lived and died near Richwood, and, so far as I know, was not known to whip Hannah after the debate.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SIMEON ADAMS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Pennsylvania February 24, 1821. He is a son of Hazard and Elizabeth (Wort) Adams, the former a native of Connecticut, of Eng- lish descent. and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has followed farming through life. He came to Union County in 1341, and located on a farm of 150 acres, which he improved and which he still occupies. He was married, in 1850, to Elizabeth Schechter, who was born in Maryland March 28, 1828; she is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Bond) Schechter. By this union five children were born, viz .: Margaret, deceased; Jennie E., wife of C. McCallister ; Emma, deceased ; Frank L. and Henry H. Mrs. Adams is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Adams is a Republican in politics, and has served as Trustee of his township two terms.

L. G. BAKER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 1, 1836 ; he is a son of William and Lucy (Rowley) Baker, natives of Massachusetts. His father was a farmer by occupation, and came to Ohio in his early life, settling in Knox County, where our subject was raised, and remained until 1847, when he came to Union County. He received a common school education and adopted the occupation of farming, which he has since followed with success, now owning a good farm in this township. He was married in 1861, to Mary E. Monson, daughter of Theodore W. and Hester (Cowgill) Monson, who came to this county in 1826. She is one of five children, all of whom were teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have four children, viz .: Hester A., Wealthy V., Lucina R. and Lyman E. The parents are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which Mr. Baker has been a class leader and trustee. He is a Republican in politics.

PORTER E. BARNES, of Richwood, Ohio, is the senior member of the firm of Barnes & Rosette, agents for Louis Cook's celebrated carriages, spring wagons, buggies and hand-made harness, J. B. Dennison & Co.'s, Lexington, Ky., buggies, United States Carriage Co.'s buggies, of Columbus, Ohio, the McCormick Harvester and Binder, and the Baker Drill, in Union, Marion and Delaware Counties. This enterprising firm is doing an extensive and successful business in Union and surrounding counties, their object being to handle the best articles in the market, and to make rapid and numerous sales, with small profits. They do business in a prompt and honorable manner, give universal satisfaction, and fully merit the liberal patronage they now enjoy. Mr. Barnes was born in the Empire State May 14, 1851, and is a son of Porter and Eliza (Tucker) Barnes, natives of Massachusetts, of English descent. His father emigrated from New York in 1855, and settled at Warren, Trumbull Co., Ohio, where he died in 1864. He was a wealthy and influential farmer, and an extensive breeder of and dealer in fine stock. The sub- ject of this sketch attended Hiram College, where the late James A. Garfield was President, and in 1868 graduated at Baldwin University, Syracuse, N. Y. In 1870, he engaged as shipping clerk for Camp, Randall & Co., in the grain and flax business, at Warren, Ohio, and afterward conducted their branch establishment at Richwood, Ohio, spending altogether eight years in their employ, and in that time superintending the building of the flax mill at Richwood. He is a member of Marion Chapter, and of the Knights Templar, A., F. & A. M., a charter member of Richwood Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and a Republican in politics. He served three years as Township Clerk, and was a member of the Building Committee of the Board of Education when the public school building was erected. He was married in 1870, to Ophelia Herr. of West Salem, Wayne Co., Ohio. She was a danghter of Henry and Sarah (Elgin) Herr, natives of Vir- ginia, where her father owned a plantation and 400 slaves at the breaking-out of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have four children, viz .: Alice D., Porter E., Earl R. and George H. Mr. Barnes owns a handsome residence near the depot at Richwood, in which he and his family reside.

JOB G. BEARDSLEY, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., September 16, 1810. He is a son of William and Eunice (Gardner) Beardsley, natives of Con-

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

necticut. His father was a shoe-maker by trade, but spent most of his life farming. He came to. Ohio in 1814, and settled in Licking County, removing from there to Knox County. He died at the age of eighty-two years; his wife lived to reach ninety years of age. Our subject remained with his parents in Knox County until eighteen years of age, when he began learning the blick - smith's trade, at which he worked ten years in Licking County. In 1843, he began farming, and has has since followed that honorable avocation, until recently, when he retired from active life. In 1852, he came to Claibourne Township, and now owns a farm of 106 acres in this township He was married in Knox County, in 1834, to Patience Webster, a native of New York, by whom he had ten children, of whom six reached their majority and two now survive, viz: Mary. wife of Isaac Cowgill, and James W. Mrs. Beardsley died August 25, 1870, and in 1871 Mr. Beardsley married Nancy (Bell) Sifritt, widow of Andrew Sifritt, who at the time of their mar riage had two children, Lorenzo and Margaret. Mrs. and Mrs. Beardsley are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. fle is a prominent Republican in politics. He had one son, Will- ianı Webster, who enlisted in 1862, in the Second Ohio Infantry, and had his right leg shot off at the second battle of Bull Run, which resulted in his death two years later.

WILLIAM BEATHARD. farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Jerome Township, Union County, March 18, 1820; he is a son of William and Mary (Chappel) Beathard, the former a na- tive of Maryland, of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Virginia, of Scotch descent. Our subject was raised on his father's farm, but in early life he learned the cooper's trade, which. with several other occupations, he has since followed, having been a farmer for the last twenty years. He owns a farm of eighty acres of land, on which he resides. In 1840, he married Dor- otha Wasson, daughter of Thomas and Keziah (Noble) Wasson, and a native of New York. By this union six children were born, four surviving, viz., Thomas M., Charles W., Roxy M., wife of Sanford Wiley, and Cassia J., wife of Norman E. Cahill. Mr. and Mrs. Beathard are mem- bers of the United Brethren Church, in which he has been a Class Leader, Steward and Trustee; he is a Republican in politics.

JACOB BEEM, one of a family of eleven children, was born in Alleghany County, Md .. March 4, 1799, and was the son of Michael Beem, who was born in Germany March 5. 1755 . his father came to America when Mike was six years old. He had one brother, Richard, who was shortly after killed by a mule kicking him, leaving but one of the name in America, and 1 : date we have never met any one of the name except the descendents of Michael. At about the time of the breaking-out of the Revolution, he married Elizabeth Green, niece of Gen. Green. (who was active in the Revolutionary struggle in gaining our independence). IIe enlisted early in the Revolutionary war, was on Gen. Washington's staff and was in service until the close ( t the war, after which he engaged in mercantile business, in Westernport, Md., for a time, the returned to farming. In 1812, he removed to Lieking County, Ohio, where he engaged in fart- ing. On the 15th of November, 1827, Jacob, the younger son, was married to Phobe Rose. tl (- daughter of Rev. Philip Rose, and remained in that county until 1832, in which year he cani to Union County, with the intention of buying 600 acres of land where Richwood now stands, but was a few days too late, the land having been purchased by Philip Plummer. He, however. bought. 400 acres of the Clarks, part of which he retained and lived on at the time of his death in 1878. Ife was a man of strong physical, mental and moral powers, thought and acted for himself, would mold to the ideas of others only when they were consistent with reason and, upon the whole, just such a character as would brave the hardships of a new country an l pioneer life, and awaken energy, enterprise and moral force in the circle in which he moved. He bought, sold and traded in lands and stock, farmed quite extensively and also took con- tracts to clear land. Perhaps he and his boys cleared more land than any other family in the township. He was a Universalist in religious belief, believing that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments contain a revelation of the character of God and of the duty, interest. and final destination of mankind, and that there is one God whose nature is love, revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ by one Holy Spirit of grace, who will finally restore the whole family of mankind to holiness and happiness ; also that holiness and happiness are inseparably connected, and in order to be happy one must practice only such principles as produce the best results, de- nying self of all ungodliness and worldly lust. He was the father of nine sons and one daughter, being the only one in the township who could boast of a "seventh son." He died at the ripe age of seventy-nine years, leaving a wife and eight children to mourn his loss, two of the sons having given their lives in the service of their country in the war of the rebellion.

ORRIN BEEM, pike contractor, Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, July 24, 1830; he is the son of Jacob and Phoebe (Rose) Beem, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Licking County, Ohio, of English and German descent. llis father came to Union County in 1830 and settled in Claibourne Township. Our subject was raised on a farm and fol- lowed farming until thirty-four years of age. In 1855, he went to Illinois, where he was en- gaged in farming until 1864, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry, Company K, under Col. Goodwin, and served as First. Lieutenant of his company until the close of the war. He carried his Christian character with him in the army, did his duty like a good soldier and was highly respected by both officers and men. On his return to civil life he returned to this county and purchased the hotel still known as the Beem House, in Rich -

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wood, which he conducted for some years. He operated a saw mill in 1872 and has since been variously engaged, now being a partner of l'. G. Wynegar in contracting for and building turn- pike rods. He owns forty or fifty town lots and a handsome residence now occupied by his family. He laid off Beem's Addition to the town of Richwood and takes a deep interest in any thing tending to the growth or improvement of his town. On June 11, 1855, he married Ellen B. Woodward, a daughter of Moses Woodward, a native of Vermont, of English and German de- scent. Seven children are the issue of this marriage, viz., Isaac N .; Mary, wife of Dr. M. J. Jenkins; Aurora, deceased; Minnie, a graduate of the Richwood IHigh School in the class of '80; Rose, a junior in the Richwood High School; Jacob and Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Beem are members of the Protestant Church of Richwood.

LEWIS CLEMONS BEEM, of the firm of Beem & Biddle, manufacturers, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Claibourne Township, Union County, November 15, 1847 ; his father, Jacob Beem, was born in Md., in 1799, and came to Union County at an early day, settling in Claibourne Township. He was a life-long farmer, and at the time of his death in 1878, owned 237 acres of good land. His wife Phebe Rose, was a native of Franklin County, Ohio, of English descent. Our subject was raised on the farm, attending the district schools and a select school, and in early life taught school for a time. In 1871, he engaged in the saw mill business with his broth- er, and in 1873 he came to Richwood. In 1875, he embarked in his present business with Mr. Biddle. They begau business with little capital, but now have one of the most successful enterprises in Richwood. In 1881, Mr. Beem married Margaret Graham, daughter of Patterson Graham ; she is a native of Union County, and a member of the Protestant Church. They have had one child, Ada, deceased.

B. F. BEEM, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Claibourne Township October 31, 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Phebe (Rose) Beem. He was raised on a farm, receiving a common school education, and when eighteen years of age engaged in saw milling with his brother, Lewis Beem, following that business in Claibourne and Jackson Townships until he reached his majority. He then began farming and has since followed that occupation, with more than av- erage success, now being the owner of 200 acres of land, on which he has erected a $2,000 resi- dence. He is purely a self-made man. On December 28, 1876, he married Miss Laura .J. Walker, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah (Allen) Walker, and a native of Marion County, Ohio, where she was born September 13, 1855. They have one child, Fannie Belle. Mr. Beem is a Republican in politics.

JOHN W. BELL, proprietor of saw mill and manufacturer, P. O. Claibourne, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, January 5, 1845, and is a son of William and Margaret (Shipley) Bell. the former a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and the latter a native of Wayne County, Ohio, of Scotch descent. Our subject was raised on a farm, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in operating a saw mill for others. Two years later he purchased a half interest in the mill, After several changes he came to Claibourne Village and engaged in saw milling with Mr. Shearer, a pioneer miller of this county, with whom he still continues. They manufacture spokes and felloes for wagons and are doing a good business in the saw mill. Our subject was married October 10, 1878, to Mary Brown, daughter of P. G. and Sarah Brown, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Bell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Bell of the Baptist. He is a Democrat in politics, but always votes for the man and not the party.

HENRY BIDDLE (deceased). Prominent among the early farmers of Union was the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in England August 27, 1829, and in 1832 emigrated to America, with his parents, Joseph and Maria (Williams) Biddle, who settled on a farm of 110 acres, south of Richwood, a part of which is now in the corporation of the village. His father was a heavy set man, weighing over two hundred pounds, active and ener- getic, and before his emigration, had gained considerable fame as a professional wrestler, whichi was a characterstic very much admired at that time in England. He was a millwright by trade, and built several mills in America, among them the mill at Richwood. He died in 1856. Henry received a very limited education and followed the occupation of farming, at the time of his death being the owner of 180 acres of land. He was married in 1850 to Eunice Latson, who was born in New York in 1832, of German and English parentage. Their marriage was blessed with eight children, viz. : George, who was born in Claibourne Township, August 10, 1852, and on October 15, 1879, married Ann Lake, a sister of John Lake, by whom he had two children, Harry and Carrie Bell. He has been a life-long farmer. The second child, Seneca, is deceased. The third, Thomas H., was born in this township December 12, 1856, and is likewise a farmer, now own- ing eighty-three acres of land. In 1876, he married Lydia A. Hamilion, a daughter of Benja- min and Abagail (Graham) Hamilton, and a member of the Deciples Church. They have three children-Maggie, M., Pearl C., and Florence Abagail. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Richwood. The fourth child, Annie M., is now the wife of M. B. Hill. The fifth, Em- ma is deceased. The sixth, Sarah E., now a resident of Columbus. The seventh died in in- fancy. The youngest child, Jennie May, born in 1871, is now attending school. Mr. Biddle was a charter member of the I. O. (). F. Lodge at Richwood, and a faithful member of the fra- ternity until death. He died December 15, 1877. His widow resides on the old homestead at Richwood.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

CHARLES BIDDLE, of the firm of Beem & Biddle, manufacturers, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 8, 1849, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Perry ) Biddle. His father built a planing mill in Columbus, in 1849, which is said by him to have been the first built in the State. Our subject worked in the planing mill until nineteen years of age, when he worked on the railroad as a fireman for a short time ; after which he took charge of the railroad round house and held it till the strike of 1873. He did not join the strike, as he does not be- lieve in them, but resigned his position because he thought it policy to do so. In 1874, he went to work in the planing mill at Columbus, and in 1875 came to Richwood and embarked in his present enterprise with Mr. Beem. They employ about thirty hands, do an extensive business and ship goods of their production all over the world. Mr. Biddle has ingeniously contrived several inventions that have materially increased their capacity for production. They manufact- ure wheelbarrows that have an extensive sale throughout the United States, single orders being sent in for as many as 100,000 at one time. Mr. Biddle, was married, in 1874, to Anna Fisher, a native of Union County, and a daughter of William Fisher, and by her has had two children -Laura and William. Mr. Biddle is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

CHARLES O. BISHOP, of the firm of Loveless, Howe & Bishop, proprietors of the Rich- wood Woolen Mills, and dealers in wool, grain, hides, furs and staves, Richwood, Ohio, was born in Logan County, Ohio, October 10, 1843 ; he is a son of Thomas and Sabina (Schenck) Bishop, natives of New Jersey. His father died when Charles was twelve years old and his mother lived a widow until her death in 1875, at the age of seventy-six years. Our subject was the fifth of a family of eight children. He was raised on the farm, receiving a common school education, and worked at farming until 1871, when he came to Richwood and embarked in the stave trade. In 1880, he combined his business with his present partners, and established the firm as it now exists. In 1870, he married Adelaide Fawn, a native of Union County, and a daughter of Edward Fawn, who was a farmer of this county for forty-six years of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Bishop one child has been born, viz., Newton Otto. Mrs. Bishop is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 159

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