The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 160

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 160

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JOHN BLAIR, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, Richwood, was born in Bedford County, Penn., May 25, 1831. His parents were Edmond and Esther (Casteel) Blair, natives of Pennsylvania, of English descent, who came to Ohio in 1832, and passed their entire lives on the farm. Our subject was reared on the farm and received a common school educa- tion. He has followed farming during the greater part of his life, and at present is also engaged in the sale of farming implements, at Richwood. He received a liberal start in life, from his father, who was well-to-do, and now owns 300 acres of prime land in this county. He was mar- ried in 1852 to Camellia Hodson, a native of Ohio, by whom he has had three children, viz .: Edmond, deceased, S. Milton and John Frank. Mr. and Mrs Blair are members of the Method- ist Protestant Church at Bethlehem, in which he is a Trustee. He is a Democrat in politics and has held most of the offices of the township. He came to this county in 1872 and settled two miles south of Richwood, where he now resides. He makes a specialty of Norman horses, on which he has taken the premium twice at the State Fair, and has also a fine stock of cattle.

S. M. BLAKE, Richwood. Prominent among the enterprising business men of Union County figurcs the subject of this sketch, who is a member of the firm of S. M. & A. J. Blake, bankers, lumber dealers and proprietors of Richwood Planing Mills, and also senior member of the firm of S. M. Blake & Co., druggists. He was born in Portage County, Ohio, April 3, 1831, and is a son of James and Betsey (Avery) Blake. His father was a farmer, and emigrat- ing to Ohio in 1826, located in Portage County. Our subject was raised on a farm, receiving a common school education and followed farming until 1874, when he moved to Richwood and engaged in the lumber trade and banking, both of which he has since followed with more than ordinary success. He subsequently embarked in the drug business and in 1881, associated himself in this business with C. E. Hill, under the firm name given above. He is a thorough business man, and takes an active interest in everything that pertains to the best interest of Rich- wood. He is a Republican in politics, and though he has no aspirations for official honors, he has been called upon to fill several of the town and township offices. lle was married in 1857 to Harriet Parsons, by whom he has had seven children, four now living, viz .: Bessie, wife of J. E. Robinson, who has charge of the lumber yard of the firm of S. M. & A. J. Blake ; Gracie, Harry and Sylvia.

ADONIRAM JUDSON BLAKE, of Richwood, was born in Brimfield, Portage Co., Ohio, on November 15, 1835. Ilis parents were from Litchfield County, Conn., having emigrated from there in the year 1825; he was the youngest of four brothers. There were also two sisters in the family, one younger and one older. During the first sixteen years of his life, his labors were such as are incident to a farmer boy's life, with only such school advantages as were offered by the district school. For the next two years, he attended a high school a part of each year in an adjoin- ing village. It was while attending one of these schools, known as an "academy," that his father "hired him out," to teach the winter term of school in one of the subdistricts of his native township. He entered upon this work a few days before he was eighteen years of age. His success in this, his first "term," can be measured by a proposition made to him by the School

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Directors of the district to continue the term for another month. In the following autumn, through the influence of himself and several associates, a select school was organized in their own township, and was continued during the fall and sometimes through the winter months for several years. For the next few years his time was divided between teaching in the winter and attending school and institutes in the summer, most of this time in his native township. In 1857, he was asked to take charge of the grammer school department of the Salem, Columbiana County, Union Schools. In this position he remained three years, when he accepted the position of teacher of the high school at Upper Sandusky Wyandot Co., Ohio, which he resigned in the spring of 1861. Desiring to take a rest, he visited several schools in this part of Ohio, and while visiting at Cardington, Morrow County, he was unamimously tendered the superintendency of the union schools of that place, which he accepted, and held for a year and a half, finally resigning on account of ill health. After a few months' rest, he em- barked in the stove and tin ware trade at that place. He was married in Cardington, Ohio, August 20, 1863, to Miss Clotilda W. Shur, second daughter of John Shur, of that place, who was then an Assessor of Internal Revenue under Abraham Lincoln. Desirous of bearing his part in the war, he contributed liberally of his means to furnish men and means, and was only prevented from joining the ranks by Dr. Fisher's examination, which pronounced him "phys- ically unfit for the service." In August, 1865, he came to this place, and engaged in the general hard- ware and stove business. His friends in Cardington believed the venture was an experiment, and that he would soon return to their village. Encouraged by his success, in the spring of 1866, he removed his stock of stoves and hardware from that place to this, thus combining both stocks, and formed the partnership of A. J. Blake & Co., with D. W. Godman as partner. In the spring of the same year, he erected a two-story frame building, twenty feet wide by one hun- dred feet long, on the ground now occupied by Godman & Thornhill's hardware store. In May of that year, he was asked by several of the citizens of the place to accept the appointment as Postmaster, which recommendation was laid before Postmaster General W. Dennison by the Hon. C. S. Hamilton, and, accordingly, on the 26th day of May, 1866, he was commissioned as Postmaster, which office he held until compelled to resign the same by a pressure of business re- lations. He has always taken an active part in the educational interests of the place in which

he resides. After resigning his position as superentendent in Cardington, he was chosen a mem- ber of the School Board. Soon after coming to Richwood, he drafted a petition for what is now the Richwood Village District, to withdraw from the township subdistrict plan, which was adopted, and out of which has grown our system of union schools. Most of the time since, he has been a member of the School Board, having been selected as its Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer at different times. He has also assisted in preparing the course of study for the high school, and in conducting its examinations. His love for the profession of teaching has not died out yet, as nothing gives him greater pleasure than to meet a body of teachers, either in a school room or at his own residence. He thinks it no discredit that, out of his father's family of six children, five of them were school teachers. While in the hardware trade in this place, he saw the necessity of a planing mill and lumber yard, and the firm of A. J. Blake & Co. associated with them Mr. S. Carter, under the name of S. Carter & Co., and built the building, and stocked the yard, which is now owned by S. M. & A. J. Blake. In January, 1873, he disposed of his interest in the hardware business to Mr. F. H. Thornhill, and proceeded to the erection of the dwelling house, which he now occupies. In Januarry, 1874, he, with his brother, S. M. Blake, and others engaged in the banking business, under the name of "' Union County Bank," in which as cashier he has continued to the present time. In politics, he has always been a stanch Re- publican, having cast his first Presidential vote for A. Lincoln. He has a personal acquantance with President Garfield, and took an enthusiastic interest in his election. He had been honored by his fellow-townsman by township and corporation local offices, the positions having been ten- dered him without solicitation. He is a strong believer in that feature of civil service reform that "the office should seek the man, and not the man seek the office." He and his wife are both mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a lay delegate to the last lay delegate con- ference. His family consists of three sons and one daughter. The two older sons, aged respect- ively sixteen and eighteen, are editors and publishers of the Richwood Reporter, a local newspaper started in January, 1882. Although taking an active interest in public measures and busy with private affairs, he is happiest in the presence of his own family, or with a friend or two at his comfortable residence, where his hospitatity is without measure.

JOSEPH P. BROOKS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, May 29, 1831; his parents were J. P. and Sarah Brooks. His father, who was a sea-faring man, and for fourteen years Captain of a vessel ; left the sea, and, coming to Ohio, engaged in the pork traffic. He afterward moved to Licking County, and engaged in farming. Our subject received his education in the graded schools of Columbus, which he attended until his family moved away. He chose the occupation of farming and has made that the principal object of his life. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-sixth Ohio Infantry, and partici- pated in the battle of Fort Donelson, siege of Vicksburg and other important engagements. He was three times wounded, but not seriously. He was in command of Mortar Boat No. 2, that shelled Island No. 10, on the Mississippi. He was married in 1853 to Christina Duhl, who was

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

born in Pennsylvania January 3, 1831. They have three children-Henry J., C. and Ella F. Mr. Brooks is a Republican and the owner of sixty acres of land.

OLIVER D. BROWNING, of the firm of Williams & Browning, grain dealers, Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, January 20, 1844, and is a son of William and Sally Ann (Grove) Browning, the former a native of Ohio, of English and German descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of English descent. His father was a life-long farmer and resident of Ohio ; he came to Union County in 1875, and died in Richwood in 1877. Our subject was raised on a farm and received a common school education. In 1872, he sold his farm and came to Richwood, where he has since resided. He was married, in 1872, to Almeda Charles, a native of Licking County, Ohio, and a daughter of Simon and Amanda (Seymour) Charles. They have one child, Ida E. Mr. Browning has acted in his present capacity, as agent for Camp, Randall & Lyons, grain dealers, of Warren, Ohio, for the past seven years. He is a Republican in politics.

ISAAC CAHILL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Union County, Ohio, March 31, 1850, and is a son of J. E. and Hannah ( Brisben) Cahill. His father was a native of Pennsyl- vania, where he followed farming until 1839, when he came to this county and engaged exten- sively in farming and stock dealing. Our subject was raised on the farm, but received all the advantages of a collegiate education in the colleges at Marysville and Delaware. He has chosen farming for an occupation and in it has been very successful, now owning 217 acres of land. He and his brother, Benton, have farmed in partnership and are now partners in everything but their real estate. Mr. Cahill was married, in 1876, to Tillie Figley, by whom he has one child, John E. Mrs. Cahill is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cahill is a stockholder in the Richwood Bank, a Democrat in politics and a member of Richwood Lodge, No. 303, F. & A. M. He occupies a neat and comfortable residence, built at a cost of $4,500, and is very much attached to his home and family.

BENTON CAHILL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Claibourne Township, Union County. Ohio, March 16, 1854 ; he is a son of J. E. and Hannah (Brisben) Cahill. His father was a carpen- ter by trade, and followed that occupation in early life. He came to Claibourne Township Septem- ber 16, 1839, and, improving a farm, engaged in farming, which he followed with more than ordi- nary success until his death, which occurred February 3, 1874. He also dealt largely in stock, buying, selling and trading, and at his death owned 841 acres of land, which he had accumu- lated during a life of industry and thrift. lle was twice married, having by his first wife, who only lived two years after marriage, one child, that died young. By his second wife he had eight children, six of them now living and all, with one exception, residents of this county. Our subject, the youngest child, was raised on the farm and has followed the occupation of a farmer during the whole of his life, now owning 185 acres of land in this township. He was married, in 1874, to Lavina IIowland, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of J. Howland. By this union three children were born, viz., Sylvia Belle, Laura J. and Emery Uriah. Mr. Cahill is a Democrat in politics. as was his father, the latter at one time having been nominated for Representative by his party in this county.

GEORGE W. CANAN, miller, P. O. Richwood, was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 17, 1830, and is a son of Robert and Jane S. (Rigur) Canan, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Irish and the latter of English descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1820, and settled in Licking County. Our subject early learned milling in his father's mill, and when he was seventeen years of age he moved with his parents to Delaware County, where he and his father purchased a mill in partnership, which they operated until they purchased the Richwood Mill in 1864. His father died in 1865, and since that time he has been in business by himself. His son-in-law, D. H. Rowland, owns and operates the mill and warehouse adjoining him, and deals in grain, seed, etc. Mr. Canan was married, in 1852. to Sarah M. Cutcheon, a native of Ohio, of German descent, by whom he has four children liv- ing, viz .: Mary (wife of D. II. Rowland), Anna E., Florence A. and Sarah M. Mr. and Mrs. Canan are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has been steward, trustee and class-leader of the church at Richwood. He has occupied the offices of Township Trustee, Cor- poration Treasurer, member of the Village Council and for twelve years a member of the Board of Education. He is the owner of the house and lot in Richwood, in which he resides.

D. P. COOK, furniture dealer, Richwood, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, August 24, 1829, and is a son of Rodney and Laura (Cales) Cook, natives of Connecticut, of English descent. He received a common school education, and has spent his life in the pursuit of several occupa- tions, never having learned any trade. He kept a livery stable in Columbus ten years, and, in 1852, went to Omaha, Neb., and the Western States and Territories. Returning to Ohio, he en- gaged in farming for ten years, after which he went to Morrow County, where he followed buy- ing, selling and shipping horses, and for two years operated a flax mill. In 1880, he came to Richwood and embarked in the livery business, which he discontinued in 1882, to engage in his present enterprise-furniture selling. He has been three times married, his first wife having been Lucy Smith, by whom he had one son, Emmet R., born in 1863, and owner of the store in which his father does business. Mr. Cook is a Republican, and a member of Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 194.

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DANIEL S. COPP, farmer and dairyman, P. O. Richwood, is a son of Hayes D. and Dolly (Emery) Copp, natives of New Hampshire, the former of Irish, and the latter of English de- scent. The father was a life-long farmer, and a prominent man among the agriculturists. Our subject was reared on a farm and received an ordinary public school education. In 1877, he came to Ohio and located at Fremont, where he remained until 1881, when he removed to Clai- bourne Township, one mile north of Richwood, where he still resides. He owns fifty-five acres of land, on which he pastures cows, selling the milk and doing a general dairy business in con- nection with his farm operations. He was married in 1874 to Lizzie A. Drew, a native of Ohio, of English descent, and a daughter of Alvin Drew. Mr. Copp is a Democrat in politics.

ISAAC COWGILL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Claibourne Township, one mile from where he now lives, March 24, 1838; he is a son of George W. and Susan (Smart ) Cowgill, natives of the Eastern States, of English descent. His father was a farmer, and to this occupa- tion our subject has devoted his life. He has been successful in his business, and owns a nice improved farm of good land on the Marysville pike. He was married in 1859 to Eunice Mary Beardsley, a daughter of J. G. Beardsley, whose sketch appears in this work ; she was formerly a school teacher, and is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. By this union one child was born-Ida A., who married William S. Bonner, and has two children-C. C. and Fay. Mr. Cowgill is a Democrat in politics.

JOIIN CRAMER, liveryman, Richwood. Our subject was born in Guernsey County, Ohio; his parents were Benjamin and Anna (Speck) Cramer, natives of Maryland, of German descent. His father was a life-long farmer, and one of the early settlers of this State. Our subject was raised on a farm, and has devoted most of his life to the occupation of a farmer. In 1881, he sold his farm and embarked in the livery business at Richwood. Upon the death of his father, he was appointed administrator of the estate, and as such discharged his duties in a most satis- factory manner. He married Eliza Hudson, a daughter of John and Olinda (Ward) Hud- son, and by her has had six children, namely, Leander, deceased in 1880, and 'Samantha, twins, Olinda A., Mary C., Sarah J. and Edward R. Leander, at the time of his decease, was an influential and wealthy farmer of this county.

THOMAS P. CRATTY, merchant, Rich wood, was born in Marion County, Ohio, December, 12, 1830, and is the son of Samuel and Jane (Pugh) Cratty, natives of Ohio, the former of Irish and the latter of Welsh descent. His paternal grandfather is still living at the age of ninety-eight years. Our subject was educated principally at the Delaware (Ohio) University, and pursued his studies with the view of becoming a lawyer. Fearing he would not be able to acquire the profession for lack of funds, he abandoned the idea and resorted to store-keeping and auctioncering to gain liveli- hood. Ile still retains his liking for the legal profession, and has argued a great many cases before Justices of the Peace with marked success. As an auctioneer, he has but few equals, and no superiors in this part of the country. He began his business life in 1859 in the grocery and dry goods trade in Marion County, where he remained until 1863, when he engaged in the same business at Richwood. On the organization of the Union County Bank, he was elected its Presi- dent, and has served in that capacity ever since. He is a Republican in politics, and for a time served as Mayor of the village of Richwood. Prior to engaging in mercantile pursuits, he had taught school from the time he was eighteen years of age. He is a thorough business man, and the owner of 125 acres of land, all of which he has made by his own exertions. He was married in 1861 to Ann Eliza Fish, a daughter of Samuel Fish, of Marion County, and by her has had four children, viz., S. Frank, Nina May, Mina J. and Princess Eva. Mr. and Mrs. Cratty are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a licentiate minister.

CAPT. OTWAY CURRY, grocer, Richwood, son of Stephenson and Sarah D. (Robinson) Curry, was born in Jerome Township, Union Co., Ohio, August 5, 1835, and grew to manhood upon his father's farm. He acquired a common school education, and continued in the pursuit of farm duties until he was twenty-five years of age, since when, with the exception of the time spent in the army during the rebellion, he has been engaged in mercantile business. On the 15th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment formed a part of the Army of the Cumberland. Mr. Curry took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, the first being at Perryville, Ky., before the command had been drilled. At Chickamauga, on the 20th of September, 1862, it won golden laurels for itself, and continued to add to them during its subsequent career-through the Atlanta campaign, the famous " march to the sea," the trip through the Carolinas, and finally participated in the grand review at Washington in May, 1865. April 12, 1864, Mr. Curry was promoted Second Lieutenant of his company, and on the 15th of July following, re- ceived a commission as First Lieutenant. April 20, 1865, he was promoted to the command of the color company (C) of his regiment. His discharge was dated June 18, 1865. His record in the service was excellent. The Curry family and its connections sent thirteen representatives to the war during the rebellion, which fact of itself is glory enough, even without the added fame of a good record while wearing the uniform of the government. Upon his return " home from the war," Capt. Curry embarked in a mercantile venture in company with his brother Capt. William L. Curry, now a resident of Marysville, and Auditor of Union County. Their store was at New California, in Jerome Township. In 1868, Otway Curry established a grocery at Rich-

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

wood, where he has built up a successful business, and is at present located. Since he became & fixture at this point his good management has enabled him to accumulate a fair property, and his prospects for the future are flattering. July 30, 1868, he was united in marriage with Georgi- ana Robinson, a native of Union County, Ohio, who has borne him two children-Lena T. and Ernest S. Curry. Mrs. Curry is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Capt. Curry is a gentle- man to whom a pleasant home offers the greatest attractions, and he is happy in the possession of such an abiding place. He is a stanch citizen of the village in which he resides. His political affiliations is with the Democratic party. He is named for his uncle, Otway Curry, a former prominent and honored citizen of the county, and a gifted poet, whose stanzas won for him the fame of being one of the finest and most accomplished writers of verse in the great North- west.

THOMAS J. DICKS, merchant, Richwood, was born at West Alexandria, Preble Co., Ohio, January 2, 1841, and is a son of James and Margaret (Weaver) Dicks, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, both of English descent. He was educated in the graded schools of Dayton, Ohio, and since 1860, has been engaged almost exclusively in selling goods. During the war, he served in a regiment of three months' men ; he was a member of the State militia for aterm of five years. In 1881, he came to Richwood and opened one of the finest dry goods stores of the village, under the firm name of T. J. Dicks & Co. He carries a large and varied stock of goods, receives a liberal share of patronage and is doing a thriving business. He was married May 26, 1875, to Nanna Deardorff, a native of Ohio, by whom he has had one child, Ella Mary, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dicks are Lutherans and hold their membership in the church at Dayton.

JOHN DILSAVER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 26, 1806, and is a son of Michael and Hannah (Coon) Dilsaver, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania, both of English descent. His father came to Ohio in early manhood, and was one of the earliest settlers of the State ; he was a tanner by trade, and is said to have tanned the first leather that was ever tanned on the west side of the Scioto River. Our subject attended school in the primitive log schoolhouses of pioneer days, and chose the occupation of a farmer, also conducting a tannery for a time. He came to Union County nearly half a century ago and located south of where Richwood now stands, where he still resides. He opened a tannery on this farm, in early days, bnt has long since discontinued it. When he began life for himself he spent five years working out by the month at $8 per month. He now has 170 acres of land on which he resides, and eighty acres in Paulding County. He is an old Jacksonian Democrat and cast his first vote for "Old Hickory," the head of that party. In 1831, he married Sarah Jane Bridge, a native of Ohio, by whom he has had seven children, namely, Almira (deceased), Albert, Edward, Michael, Hannah, wife of Jacob Beem, William (de- ceased) and Lavina. Mr. and Mrs. Dilsaver are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 160

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