The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 162

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 162

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to the church. Ile and his co-laborer worked harmoniously together, and ever afterwar ! were friends. From Kalida, our young minister went next to Stillwater Mission, which included Fort Recovery and the region round about. This was a hard field of labor ; the country thinly settled, roads bad, rides long, exposure great, health not good and pay very small. Still there was some enjoyment, and some success. Rev. R. D. Oldfield was his colleague in this work. During this year, 1848, he became acquainted with Miss Jane G. McKee, of Hillgrove, Darke Co., Ohio, who afterward, on August 25, A. D. 1850, became his wife. Their marriage con- tract was solemnized by Rev. Joseph Wykes, in the church in Hillgrove, in the presence of the congregation, on Sunday afternoon of the above date. This union proved to be a happy one ; and now. after thirty-two years of married life, they both approve the choice they made. From Stillwater Mission, Mr. Graham was appointed, in August, 1848, to Lima Circuit, with Rev. S. Fant, as his senior in office. This was a pleasant year in his life, and his labors, with those of his colleague, were very successful. Almost two hundred were converted to God, and united with the church. But I find, if I undertake to give the most condensed sketch of this minis- terial life of thirty-nine years, and more it will be extended to too great a length for the pres- ent purpose I will therefore close this account by giving a summary of work: He spent one year as a local preacher ; fifteen years on circuits ; twenty years on stations and half-stations ;

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CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

and four years, from 1860 to 1864, on Findlay District, as Presiding Elder In all of which places he enjoyed the blessings of God. And now, when gray hairs are upon him, and more than sixty years of his life are past, he feels not a single regret that he entered the work of the Christian ministry when he did, and that he has continued in it till the present.

I. H. GRAIIAM, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Union County, Ohio, April 26, 1842; he is son of J. P. and Eliza (Healey) Graham, natives of Washington County, Penn., who were among the early settlers of Claibourne Township. Our subject was raised on his father's farn and received a good English education. He learned the trade of a tanner, which he followed for seven years, during early life, but since that time he has devoted his time exclusively to farming. He owns a good farm of 106 acres, on which stands a nice brick residence and other improvements, all of which he has accumulated by his own industry. He is a cultivated gentle- man of pleasing manners and a good farmer. In 1862, he married Emma Lowe, a native of Vir- ginia, of English descent, by whom he has three children, viz .: Isaac E., Eliza B. and Emery E. The parents are members of the Disciples Church, in which Mr. Graham is a Deacon. During the war, he was a volunteer to assist in repelling Morgan in his raid through Ohio.

REV. WILLIAM HAMILTON, deceased. The subject of this sketch was so interwoven witlı the history and development of the northeast part of Union County, that a history of the county would not be complete without a somewhat extended notice of his career. It is ascertained, without question, that he descended from a family of Hamiltons in Scotland, who for centuries have been prominent in giving shape to the politics, religion and literature of that far-famed part of Christian civilization. At what particular time his ancesters moved to America is not known. When they did, they settled in the State of Maryland, near the city of Baltimore, in Baltimore County. The name is still familiar in that State. Its present Governor is a Hamilton; whether he is of the same family has not been ascertained.

William Hamilton, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born near Baltimore about the year 1760, and married Susanna Brown, who was connected with an old pioneer family of the State of Maryland.

In the year 1789, the two last named moved from the State of Maryland to Virginia, and settled near Morgantown, Monongalia County (now West Virginia), and in moving passed through a part of Pennsylvania, and while on this journey, and passing through Pennsylvania, the subject of this notice was born May 1, 1789. In the year 1806, in company with his parents, he moved to Ohio and settled in Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, and took an active part in clearing a farm in what was then a wilderness country. Ile remained with his parents until the year 1810, when he married Hannah Ewing, who lived near Zanesville, and moved to land in Licking County, where he cleared a farm that proves to be the spot where the village of Gratiot has been built.

During the war of 1812, he was drafted, but having a wife whose health was feeble, he hired a substitute and raised the money to pay him by selling oats at 6} cents per bushel. About the year 1815, he moved into Muskingum Township, Muskingum County, on lands uncleared, but by his own hands he soon surrounded himself with a well-improved farm. It was here his first wife died, October 2, 1819, leaving four children. She had been a faithful companion, a good Christian and died in peace. and is buried near the village of Irville in the same county.

March,9, 1820, he married Lydia Springer, who belonged to a family that moved from the State of Delaware to near Zanesville, in Muskingum County, in the year 1806.

His residence on this farm continued until the year 1836, when it was sold and in the fall of that year he moved to a farm six miles east of Newark, in Licking County. While residing here, he purchased of Cadwalader Wallace, of Chillicothe, an unbroken tract of land in the north- east part of Union County, situated near the village of Richwood, in Claibourne Township. The purchase was to be a thousand acres more or less, and when it was surveyed there proved to be fifteen hundred and ten. In the spring of 1838, he moved with his family to this land. It seemed like a formidable undertaking to subdue as heavy a forest as covered it, but a man that had so often and long contended with the forests of Ohio could not he discouraged. His family had in- creased until he had ten sons, strong and well, not all grown it is true; but he could furnish in his own family what was equal to five hands. With these and some hired assistance from the first, he cleared ground sufficient, as the seasons rolled round, to produce enough to support his large family, and have something to spare for the support of others.

In a few years, he raised sufficient corn to supply destitute families for miles around. So numerous were the applications for it, that his excellent wife used to say that it made her think of the time of Joseph disbursing corn in Egypt. A circumstance occurred about this time that caused some anxiety in the family. John W., now of Columbus, was sent to Millville on the Scioto with the last grist of wheat before harvest. Some 25 bushels were placed in a wagon drawn by a span of two large oxen. John had arrived at the mill in the evening and spent the night at the mill, fastening the oxen to a tree. During the night, his grist was ground, so that on the com- ing morning he started homeward. Ile had fed the oxen, but had not watered them. All went well until he arrived a few hundred yards above the breast of the dam, when the oxen saw the water, and in spite of all efforts of the driver to prevent it, plunged down a steep bank into the river, and the force in running down the bank pushed the oxen into deep water, where the

624

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

wagon came uncoupled and they swam out with the fore wheels, leaving John and his grist in the river. It was an unpleasant position for a boy, and one that, without help, he could not ex- tricate himself. Charles Arthur, as noble a man as lives, was in hailing distance, who soon mus- tered a force of men that relieved John from his trouble and started him homeward. He arrived in due time, and reported his misfortune. It was supposed that all was ruined, and a feeling of gloom rested upon the family, as much as was embraced in that grist could not be obtained nearer than Delaware County, and money was scarce, and so many to be fed. It was a great re- lief when an examination showed that the flour was safe; not more than one pound to the sack was spoiled.

The great desire of Mr. Hamilton was to have his family settled around him, and he now had enough land to give them all a portion, and have as much for himself as he cared to have, but such plans are like to be overthrown, and so they were in this case as the history will show.

The country being new, there was no hotel near, hence his house was the home of friends and strangers who came into the country, for years. He entertained all who came, without com- pensation. He was a surveyor, and would take his compass and chain and spend day after day with men, helping them determine the boundaries of their lands, and many times without com- pensation.

Few men have ever shown less selfishness than he did. He was a pioneer in the true sense of the word. The whole of the former part of his life had been that of a pioneer, and he brought the same spirit to Union County.

About the year 1815, he had been authorized to preach the Gospel in the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and labored extensively as a local preacher in Muskingum and Licking Counties. In the year 1828, he became an uncompromising advocate of reform in the government of that church, and when expulsions occurred in Baltimore, Lynchburg, Cincinnati, and at other points simply for advocating lay lelegation in the Annual and General Conferences of the church, his sympathies were with the reformers, and when the expelled petitioned in vain for re-admission into the church, only asking the right of free discussion, and were forced to organize a new church, he united with them, and came into the Methodist Protestant Church with its organization. This change made him a pioneer in the new organization and with firm resolution and determined spirit he entered upon the work of planting the new church in the counties of Muskingum, Licking, Knox and Coshocton. He preached almost every Sabbatlı, sometimes traveling long distances to meet his appointments. In the year 1830, for a part of one year he traveled a circuit reaching into Licking and Knox Counties, with Rev. W. B. Evans, and the savor of his Christian influence still remains with the few now living who still have a recollection of him. When he moved to Union County, there was a wide opening for his services. He, besides preaching at times in Rich wood, where his family attended divine serv- ice, was often called to preach on the Scioto, Rush Creek, Fulton Creek, Boax Creek and some- times into Logan and Clark Counties.

His commanding form, his distinct and warm utterances, and his genial, social spirit, male him welcome wherever he went as a preacher. His services were often in demand to preach at funerals and perform marriage ceremonies. He traveled at one time on horseback, from near Zanesville to Cincinnati, to attend one of the first conferences of his denomination. And a num- ber of times served as delegate to the Ohio Annual Conference.

lle traveled thousands of miles and preached thousands of sermons, and performed all his ministerial duties except marrying without a cent's compensation. And during all this time gave to the support of other ministers. In the erection of a plain hewed-log church in Richwood, he took a prominent part. When stoves were needed, it was an impossibility to raise money with which to purchase them. He and his neighbor, Samuel Graham, each took a load of wheat to Granville, in Licking County, and exchanged the wheat for stoves.

When it was determined to build a new church, he was foremost in his contributions for that purpose. The improvement and development of the country greatly improved his circumstances. For years, in order to raise money for tax and other absolute necessities, he journeyed to Lake Erie to find a market; this would require a week's steady travel. In the course of time, with three hundred acres of improved land, he found at his door one of the best markets in Central Ohio for all his products. With these advantages, he was prepared for the enjoyment of life, so far as worldly advantages were concerned, but advanced years brought with it affliction that caused at times a great deal of suffering.

His affliction of mind was augmented by death entering the family and removing Benjamin, Susan and Thomas. June 12, 1864, his wife died, after faithfully sharing the trials of life with him for forty-four years. After the death of his wife, he lived with Horatio and George at and near the old homestead, occasionally making visits to other members of his family in Illinois and in different parts of Ohio. He loved company and was usually cheerful and happy. When alone, he would think of the dear friends that had died, and long to be with them.

Ile closed his earthly career calmly and peacefully, August 8, 1867, in his own home, sur- rounded with the families of Horatio, George and Newton.

Thus closed the career of a man of more than ordinary intellectual powers and force of char- acter. llis father had been a man of deep piety and strong mind. ITis oldest brother, Benjamin

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Hamilton, was a Lieutenant under Capt. Brady, the great Indian scout, when he explored the Muskingum Valley. The husband of his oldest sister, Rev. Robert Manly, is spoken of by Rev. James Quinn, in the Western Christian Advocate for 1835, as the first Methodist preacher that ever preached the Gospel in what is now the State of Ohio. A younger brother, Rev. Samuel Hamilton, was a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of marked ability. These facts in- dicate an origin and surrounding that furnish an idea of the elements that entered into his char- acter. William Hamilton, in the prime of his manhood, showed powers that under more favorable circumstances for their development would have placed him by the side of the strongest men of the country.

He was a man of decided convictions in politics, and as an old Whig had been elected, in the year 1830, Commissioner of Muskingum County. In the year 1846, he was elected as a Repub- lican Commissioner of Union County. He served as magistrate a number of years, and filled all public trusts committed to his care with fidelity.

As a preacher, he declared with coldness his convictions. At one time he was called upon to preach the funeral of a lewd woman that had died. He asked to be excused, stating that a sense of duty would prompt him to be very plain, if he did ; the relatives said they would receive what he said without offense, and insisted that he should preach. He did so, using as a text Rev., ii, 21: "I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not;" the truth was plain- ly presented, but a tenderness of feeling and sympathy always attended his utterances, so that he seldom gave offense. He was a man that often labored in communities, where there was but little respect for religion or its teachers, but his boldness and suavity of manners would soon command the respect of the most uncultivated hearer. In dealing with his fellow-men, he was honest to the cent, and never did any man more fully despise deception and dishonesty than he. When he detected men in dishonest acts, he had the courage to confront them, and tell them plainly of it. He said to a man in his employ, and living on his land, "You kuow that I know you stole my corn, and that you stole your neighbor's ax."

This he would do in a plain, emphatic manner, and his appearance would disarm the man of resentment. He was possessed of excellent conversational powers; many homes were made cheer- ful by his rich store of anecdotes, and when friends visited him, he would entertain them in a style not easily forgotten. When Salmon P. Chase was a candidate for Governer of Ohio, on his way from Marysville to Marion, he spent a night at Mr. Hamilton's, and so well was he enter- tained with his hospitality and conversation, that ever after, when he would meet any of the fam- ily, he would make diligent inquiry as to the health of his friend, and then speak of the pleas- ure he experienced in his company.

His example impressed men. In cases where he needed help from neighbors, he never sup- plied spirits as an inducement. Others maintained the same position, and the example was fol- lowed throughout the entire community, so that for years no encouragement was given to the sale of liquors in Richwood, and it was not to be procured for miles around.

A communion service was to be had in Richwood, and the writer, when a boy, was sent to Millville, in Delaware County, to procure wine for the occasion, because it could not be obtained nearer.

His example on this question had great influence with his family. He had ten sons; all Jived to mature years; not one of them ever used liquor as a beverage, but all became strong advocates of temperance, and not more than three of them ever used tobacco.

We might add page after page in placing before the reader traits of character and interest- ing incidents in the life of this pioneer citizen and preacher, but space will not allow. It has now been over fifteen years since he passed away from earth. Anew generation has largely come up- on the stage with a tendency to forget the men and women who cleared away the forests and pre- pared the way for the homes they now occupy. It is true his resting place in the Richwood Cemetery, near the Bethlehem Church, in Claibourne Township, is marked by a humble marble slab, but as a token of regard for one deserving to be had in everlasting remembrance for a worthy Christian life and for the many heroic deeds that life presents, this tribute to his mem- ory is offered.

William Hamilton was the father of twelve children, two daughters and ten sons; the oldest and youngest were daughters.

Elizabeth, daughter of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born in Licking County March 5, 1812, and with her parents moved to Muskingum County when a child. She married Jacob C. Sidle in 1834, and about the year 1850 moved to Union County, and, with her husband, set- tled in Claibourne Township, where they became extensively known, and had many friends. She is the mother of seven children, one remarkable feature is that she had three sets of twins. Jacob Sidle died June 10, 1876.

After the lapse of some time, she married Gideon Wickham, of Newark, Ohio, and is now living in that city, at the age of seventy years. Two of her children are dead, and five living.

Samuel, oldest son of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born in Licking County April 5, 1814. He was reared in Muskingum County, at farming as a pursuit, married Nancy McMorris, of same county, moved to Union County in the year 1840, and settled on a part of the purchase made by his father, and remained until the year 1854, when he moved to the State of Illinois

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

and is now living in Marshall County, that State. Ile has been married the second time, having by his first wife seven children, four sons, and three daughters; one son is dead, one a farmer, and two lawyers ; John M., is at this writing Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. His second wife, formerly Harriet Gray nee Rodman, died May 16, 1882, and was buried near Zanesville. He is now in his sixty-ninth year.

William McKendre, second son of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born in Muskingum County October 13, 1816. At an early period, he went to Zanesville, to learn the tailoring trade, where he spent six years and became an accomplished workman in his line. He continued this business for a number of years, but at length he became interested in trade.

For some years he did business for Daniel Brush as a partner. This partnership finally closed, having given perfect satisfaction to Mr. Brush, and been the means of greatly increasing the property of both. He is living in Wenona, Marshall Co., Ill., in good circumstances, and is actively engaged in the business of life. His latest enterprise is that of sinking a shaft for coal, at a heavy expense. He is plain and unassuming in manner, but understands the laws of trade, and has been remarkably successful. He married Rebecca Burns, of his adopted State, and has a family that is greatly respected. He gave at one time $10,000 toward the endow- ment of a college at Adrian, Mich. He is well preserved and has a fair prospect of living many years to enjoy life and bless his fellow-man. He is now in his sixty-seventh year.

Benjamin Manley, third son of William and Hannah Hamilton, was born January 2, 1819, in Muskingum County. His mother died October 2, following, leaving him an infant of less than ten months ; helpless it is true, but he was tenderly cared for and grew to manhood, and was the oldest of the ten sons of William Hamilton that moved into Union County, and shared in opening the farm so widely known as the Hamilton farm.

About the year 1812, he married Abigail Graham, daughter of John Graham, Sr., for many years a resident of Union County. Soon after his marriage, he moved to land received from his father, and had himself to reclaim the wilderness and male it a fruitful field. He continued this work until February 7, 1859, when he was suddenly killed by the running away of a team of horses. He left a family of five children ; the oldest, William, is now living in Van Wert County, Ohio, and has authority to preach in the United Brethren Church. Benjamin, was a con- scientious Christian man, and died at the age of forty years. This was the first death among the children of William Hamilton.

Cornelius Springer. (See biography in this book.)

John Waterman, second son of William and Lydia Hamilton, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, June 7, 1823, and was fifteen years old when his father moved into Union County. Hfe shared in the labors and trials endured by the family consequent upon making a home in the wilderness. llis habits were studious, and though denied the privilege of any other school ad- vantages, except one term in Granville College, than such as were afforded in three or four months school in winter, he had advanced far enough to teach school at the age of sixteen. This he did successfully in the village of Richwood, in the winter of 1838-39. He afterward taught a select school in Marysville, in the basement of the old Presbyterian Church, and taught at different points in Muskingum County. The object was to supply himself with means for the prosecution of studies in the medical profession. He commenced the study of this profession, under Dr. Beal- mear, in the village of Irville, Muskingum County, and continued it under the instructions of Dr. Knight, of the same county. He taught school and studied medicine until his means were sufficient to enable him to attend lectures. This he did at Willoughby Medical College, near Cleve- land, where he graduated, in the year 1847. In the year 1848, he married Rachel Werden, who resided near Cleveland, and commenced the practice of medicine on the Scioto, a few miles above Columbus. He continued here a few years, and moved to Akron, where he remained but for a short time, and went to New York City to obtain hospital advantages. After remaining there for some months, he returned to Columbus in the year 1853, and now for thirty-three years he has devoted himself entirely to his profession. For twenty-five or more years he has filled a professor's chair and most of the time the chair of surgery. This position he now occupies, and is the acknowledged au- thority on surgery in all Central Ohio. He has performed some of the most critical operations ever performed in the State, and is justly placed by the profession in the front rank. In early life, he was tall and slender in form, but has increased in flesh until he now weighs 300 pounds. With his own means, he erected what is known as Columbus Medical College, near his spacious dwelling in the city of Columbus, and so lucrative has been his profession, and is at the present time, that he has ample means of enjoying ease and comfort; but such are the demands for his services that he could not lay aside his work if he should desire to do so. He has two sons, one a graduate of Gambier College, and the other a student at Princeton, that he is training for same profession. He is now in his sixtieth year.

Joseph Harrison, third son of William and Lydia Hamilton, was born in Muskingum County July 23, 1826, and moved to Union County at the age of twelve years. Though not full grown, he could render material help in the work of clearing up the farm. He could drive the oxen, burn the brush, plow and hoe the corn, bring the cows from the forest pasture, and was the first to carry the mail from Richwood to Marysville and return. In the winter of 1841, he and a number of associates made a profession of religion, and united with the Methodist Protestaut

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 162

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