The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 166

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 166

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NELSON MCALLISTER (deceased) was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 4, 1827, and was a son of John and Mary (Grayton) McAllister, who were among the pioneers of Union County. Our subject grew up on the farm, with no educational privileges, except three months' attendance at a school which was taught in his father's corn-crib. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation until the rebellion, when he enlisted in Company E, Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in 1865. He was a brave and faithful soldier, a kind and indulgent father and an affectionate husband. He was married January 16, 1850, to Lany A., daughter of James H. Langstaff, whose sketch appears in this work. They had four children, viz .: Olintha E., born January 29, 1851; Luther E., born May 21, 1854; Cassius R., born March 24, 1856 ; Ida V., born October 18, 1861. Mr. McAllister was a Republican in politics. He owned 125 acres of land which his family has improved and increased to 350 acres. At the death of her husband Mrs. McAllister assumed the management of the farm affairs and under her every- thing has prospered.

R. T. MCMILLIN, retired farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 4, 1818 ; he is a son of Robert and Nancy A. (Mitchell) McMillin, natives of Pennsyl- vania, of Irish descent. The former was a commissioned officer in the war of 1812. Our sub- ject is a farmer by occupation, as was his father and grandfather, and he has been successful in all of his farm operations. He opened and improved his present place of residence and on it has raised a family of children, who are all well-to-do citizens of the county. He is a liberal, high-minded gentleman, and speaks his opinions openly and freely, without regard to the feelings of others. He was married in 1839 to Margaret A. Moore, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born in 1820, and a daughter of Samuel Moore, a prominent farmer of that county. By this union eight children have been born, viz .: Rachel A., wife of J. B. Thompson ; Robert G., who

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

was born in Harrison County, Ohio, October 4, 1847, and, having received a limited education, has devoted his life to the farm ; he was married in 1874 to Mary Ellen Coffman, who was born in this State October 1. 1849 ; she is a daughter of Samuel and Ellen (Thompson) Coffman, of English descent. By this marriage two children were born-David B. and Matilda. The third child, Andrew, was born in Harrison County in 1850, and in 1880 married Amanda Hedge, a daughter of Absalom Hedge ; she was born in Union County in 1856. They have one child- Nettie May. He has been a life-long farmer and now owns fifty-five acres of land. The fourth child, Margaret J., is the wife of A. C. Staneard. The fifth, Mary M., is the wife of James Trimble. The sixth, John, is at home. The seventh, Martha, is the wife of J. D. Powell, and the eighth is Amos, who lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. McMillin are members of the Presby- terian Church, in which he is an active member and has been a Trustee. He is a Democrat in politics and a firm friend of education, having been a School Director twenty years. He has recently retired from the active labor of the farm and in his latter days is enjoying the rest he so well merits.

P. R. MILLS, Superintendent Public Schools, Richwood, was born at Reynoldsburg, Franklin County, Ohio, August 23, 1850; he is a son of Nelson T. and Eleanor (Rhoads ) Mills, the former native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. His father was a saddler by trade, and came to Ohio in 1830. His mother died when he was but six months of age. He was educated prin- cipally at the Reynoldsburg Union Academy, from which he graduated in 1874. During the winters of six years previous to his graduation, he taught school to obtain the means necessary for completing his education. After leaving the academy, he taught at ÆEtna, Licking County, Ohio, one year; Pataskala, one year, and Canal Winchester three years, resigning his position at the latter place on account of ill health. He afterward accepted the position of Superintendent of the South Grammar School at Lancaster, Ohio, which he resigned one year later to assume the duties of his present charge. Since leaving school, his entire time has been devoted to the public schools, both in self-education and management, and his vacations are spent in visiting metropolitan and other schools, to obtain ideas for the better management of his own school. His success as a Superintendent is partly due to a meeting of his teachers, which he holds each week with some definite object in view. One year ago he engaged, with marked and promising success, in conducting a teachers' normal school during the summer vacation. In the fall of 1882, he was instrumental in organizing a lecture association that has given Richwood a higher order of lectures, and has enabled the people to enjoy entertainments that would otherwise have been denied them. In 1874, he married Zoda Howard, a daughter of William and Mary J. (Reynolds) Howard, and a native of Reynoldsburg. By this union two children have been born, viz., Glennie and Bertha. Mr. Mills is a member of the Odd Fellows society, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W. C. MOORE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in lIamilton County, Penn., Octo- ber II, 1806 ; he is the son of Christian and Ann Moore, the former a native of Maryland, of German descent, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania, of Welsh descent. Our subject was reared on his father's farm, and early adopted the occupation of a farmer. After reaching his majority, he attended school 100 days, which was the most schooling he ever had. Ile is now the owner of 125 acres of good land, which he has made by his own industry, having worked himself up from a penniless young man to a well-to-do freeholder. He was married, January 28, 1828, to Anna Long, a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch descent, and a daughter of Ben- jamin Long. After their marriage, he emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, and followed farming until 1854, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have had the following children: John, born December 11, 1830, now farming in this township ; Ellen, born August 10, 1832 ; Thomas (deceased), born August 22, 1834; James, born Novem- ber 15, 1841, and now farming in Jackson Township; W. W., born August 1, 1849; and Henry , born August 21, 1853. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; Mr. Moore has been a member sixty years, and for forty years has been a class leader and eight years Superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Moore is a Republican in politics. Thomas, the third son, lost his life in the service of his country.

DAVID MURPHEY, farmer, P. O. Richwood, the fourth child of nine children, born to Joseph and Rebecca (Geer) Murphey, was born April 2, 1829. Ilis parents, who were natives of Pennsylvania, came to Union County in 1834, and settled in Claibourne Township, where his father died in 1836. His mother was born in 1800 and is still living. Our subject was raised as a farmer, but has spent most of life at the carpenter's trade. In 1858, he married Mary Ellen Cooksey, a native of Virginia, of Irish descent, and a daughter of Simpson Cooksey. By this union, six children have been born, viz .: Frances, Jennie E., Rebecca Ellen, Minnie Ophelia, Wealthy Ann and George W. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Murphey is a Democrat in politics. The family reside on fifty-six acres of Iand belonging to Mrs. Murphey.

LEMUEL MYERS, retired farmer, l'. O. Richwood, is a son of Henry and Rebecca (Stone) Myers, natives of Virginia, the former of German and the latter of English descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1810, and located in Licking County, where they spent their lives, both dying at the age of eighty-two years, on the farm where our subject was born and reared. They

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CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

raised a family of nine children, five boys and four girls. The subject of this sketch was born in Licking County, January 1, 1816, and was raised on a farm, receiving but a meager educa- tion. From the age of fifteen years until he was forty-five, he followed farming, and in winter taught singing school. He has been a student of music all his life, and for forty years has sang in a church choir. He is a large, powerful man, of the old pioneer type, and well remembers the time when roads-even mud roads-were scarce. and log rollings of frequent occurrence. He has helped to carry logs every day, Sunday excepted, for three weeks at a time, and was never known to shun his place at the handspike. He has always been a strong temperance man, and is now an advocate of prohibition. Of a peaceable nature, he shuns quarrels and was never known to be engaged in a fight, although amply able to take care of himself, if assailed. In 1842, he was appointed Captain of a company of militia, and was afterward promoted to the rank of Major. He came to Ohio in 1842, and during his residence here has served as Infirm- ary Director and Trustee of Claibourne Township. He has recently given up active life and re, tired to a neat and substantial home in Richwood, which, with the adjoining farm of 110 acres he owns. He was married, July 1, 1837, to Elenora Gill, a native of Maryland, of English de" scent, by whom he had eleven children, seven now living. The parents are both members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Myers was a Democrat until 1861, after which he was a Republican until he became a Prohibitionist. He had three sons in the rebellion-William S. and O. S. in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Henry in the One Hundred and Eighty-second.

A. K. NEER, dealer in produce, Richwood, was born in Clark County, Ohio, January 31, 1859, and is a son of Joseph C. and Dorotha Ellen (Smith) Neer, natives of Clark County, of English descent. His father was a prominent farmer and an extensive stock dealer for years in Clark County, and still resides on his farm in that county, devoting his entire time to agricult- ural pursuits. His farm consists of 170 acres of fine land, thoroughly improved and under a high state of cultivation. Our subject received a common school education, and remained on the farm until twenty-one years of age, siuce which time he has been in the employ of Edward Thomas & Co., wholesale dealers in butter, eggs and poultry, whose headquarters are at Urbana. They have branch establishments at Richwood, Marysville and New Bremen, the former being under the control of our subject, who is thoroughly conversant with all branches of the business. He was married, January 28, 1883, to Mary O. Ayers, a native of Morrow County, Ohio, and a daughter of Lyman N. and Harriet (Truesdale) Ayers. Mr. Neer is a Republican in politics ; he is also Superintendent of the Baptist Sabbath school.

JOHN OGAN, Village Marshal of Richwood, was born in Allen County, Ohio, May 31, 1846, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Vertner) Ogan, the former a native of Virginia, of English descent, and the latter a native of Kentucky, of German descent. His father came to Ohio in 1830, and settled on a farm in. Putnam County. Our subject received the educational advantages usually afforded to boys on a farm, and chose farming for his occupation, beginning life for himself with nothing. He has been a trader all his life, has dealt largely in farm lands, and for two years in horses, with Solomon Walker, and has been very successful in all his operations. During the rebellion, he offered himself for service seven times before he was accepted, but finally enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He is now Second Lieutenant of the Gibson Guards, Ohio Militia, of Richwood. In 1880, he came to Richwood and engaged in the livery business with H. J. Perry, but has since discontinued that and is now officiating as Mar- shal of Richwood. He is a man of great physical ability, very determined, but cool in judgment, and an excellent officer, of whom the violators of the peace have a wholesome fear. He is a member of the Lodge and Encampment of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias, and a Re- publican in politics. He has made his way in the world unaided, has no debts to incumber him, and owns eighty-five acres of good land. In 1871, he married Rebecca M. Sterling, daughter of David Sterling, of York Township, and by her has one child-David E., born October 8, 1874. Mrs. Ogan is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Richwood.

JOSEPH PARISHI, farmer, P. O. Richwood, is a native of New Jersey, and a son of William and Margaret (Bingham) Parish, the former a native of England, and the latter of Germany. His father, who was a school teacher and artist, came to Ohio more than half a century ago and settled near Zanesville, where he spent the remainder of his life farming. Our subject was raised on the farm, receiving a limited education, and has devoted most of his life to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a farm of 140 acres, and has given his children eighty acres. He was married October 30, 1838, to Keziah Ramey. Her parents were Virginians, of German descent, and her father was a Captain in the war of 1812. By her marriage, she has had six children, viz. : William A .; Daniel; Elizabeth, wife of James Moore; Frances Ellen, wife of D. F. Carr ; Joseph; and Louise, wife of Perry Barker. The parents are members of the Methodist Church. in which he has been a steward and trustee. He is a Republican in politics. He had two sons in the Union army, and both were taken prisoners.

WALTER SCOTT PARK, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Crawford County, Ohio, March 20, 1834 ; he is a son of Thomas and Susannah (Marquis) Park, natives of Ohio, of Scotch- Irish descent. They came to. Ohio at an early day and settled on a farm, where the father died

646

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

in 1845. The mother died in 1882. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has «levoted the whole of his life to that occupation. In 1860, he married Lydia Bretz, a native of Ohio, of Dutch descent. She has a farm of 100 acres, on which they reside. They have four children, viz .: Ida May, Oscar V., Deborah A. and John M. Mr. and Mrs. Park are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which they are active and zealous workers. Mr. Park taught district school for a time in his younger days, but since 1867, when he came to this county, he has been engaged in farming. He is a Democrat in politics.

D. F. PARSONS, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, Richwood, was born in the State of Maine June 20, 1834; he is a son of Charles and Martha ( Fernel) Parsons, natives of Maine, the former of English and the latter of Scotch descent. His father was a cabinet-maker by trade. Our subject received a common school education, and at the age of seventeen began working at cabinet-making, which he followed during his residence in his native State. After coming to Ohio, he engaged in merchandising, and resided in Knox County until 1864, when he came to Richwood, and for nine years engaged in the furniture business. He also dealt in dry goods in connection with his furniture trade. In 1879, he opened the Commercial Hotel, a neat and commodious building, three stories high, containing twenty-five rooms, a large and well fur- nished dining room, and good sample rooms. He is a generous and thoughtful landlord, particu- lar about the comfort of his guests, and very popular with the traveling public. He owns valu- able property in the business center of the village, and is driving a thriving trade at his hotel. In 1857, he married Mary Swetland, a native of Ohio, of Dutch descent, and a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Parsons is a member of the Masonic order, and a Republican in politics.

HUGH J. PERRY, liveryman, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Novem- ber 25, 1833, and is a son of John and Gwynn (Hughes) Perry, both of Welsh descent, and early settlers of Delaware County, where his father was engaged in farming. Our subject was raised on the farm, and at the age of eighteen years purchased a threshing machine, which he operated during the fall and winter seasons for fifteen years. He has since made several changes in business, but has been a trader all his life, having sold several farms and dealt largely in town property. He has met with success in all of his business operations, and at one time owned 220 acres of very fine land. He deals in the French and Clydesdale horses ; went to France for them in 1871, and in 1874 went to Wales, Scotland and Belgium for the same pur- pose. He sold one horse for $3,000, and another for $3,500. During the late rebellion he was a First Lieutenant in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry. He is a Republican in politics, and at present is serving as a Trustee of his township. He was married in 1866 to Miss Sarah J. Anderson, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, by whom he has had six children, four now living, viz. : Nellie M., Charlie, Lizzie and Allie. Mrs. Perry is a member of the Bap- tist Church.

JOHN A. PHILLIPS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Richwood, Union County, Ohio, March 22, 1836. He is a son of William and Isabella Ann (Woods) Phillips, both of Scotch- Irish extraction. They emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1832, and settled in Richwood, where they remained until their deaths, he in 1880, and she in 1875. The former was a potter by trade, and in 1834 built the first pottery in Union County, which business he followed most of his life. Our subject and two sisters are the only survivors of a family of eight children. He received a common school education and learned the harness-maker's trade inRichwood, follow- ing it seven years. In 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company F, Sixteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and was discharged in 1864, at the expiration of his term of service, as Fourth Sergeant. Heserved under Gen. Sherman, and at the siege of Vicksburg he and over three hundred of his comrades were taken prisoners and confined for three months in two different rebel prisous. Returning to civil life, he embarked in the drug trade in the firm of Phillips & Woods; then in the lumber business two years, dry goods trade one year, drug busi- ness with A. Z. Converse eighteen months, and finally purchased a farm south of Richwood and partly in the corporation, on which he still resides. He was married, October 13, 1869, to Mary C. Fisher, daughter of Benjamin Fisher, and by her has had two children-Lizzie L. and Alfir- etta G. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Phillips is a Republican in politics. His brother, A. G. Phillips, was killed at the battle of Atlanta, Ga., in 1863.

NEWTON PIERCE, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, June 7, 1837, and is a son of J. G. and Celestia (Lusk) Pierce, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New Hampshire. He received an ordinary education in Delaware County, and chose the occupation of a farmer. In 1859, he went to Pike's Peak, and remained in the West ten years. At the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted in the First Colorado Cavalry, for three years or during the war, and at the expiration of his term he re-enlisted in the State Militia. His command was principally engaged in fighting the Indians on the frontier. In 1865, he was wounded in an engagement, but not seriously. After the war closed, he was for two years in the Government employ at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., after which he returned to his native county. In 1870, he married Adelia Flemming, by whom he has four children-John, Howard, Hosea and Melvin. 1u 1877, they settled in Claibourne Township, where he owns 110 acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

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CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, merchant tailor, Richwood, was born in Wales August 19, 1851, and is a son of Henry and Anna Richards. He learned the trade of a tailor in his native coun- try, and, in 1867, came to America, spending the first three months after his arrival in New York City. He then came to Jefferson County, Ohio, and, in 1874, came to Richwood, where he worked as a journeyman until 1878, when he commenced business for himself. On August 17, 1870, he married Anna Evans, a native of Wales, and a daughter of Henry Evans. To this union one child has been born, viz., Mary Tabitha. Mr. and Mrs. Richards are members of the Bap- tist Church. He took an active part in the building of the church at Richwood, was a member of the building committee, and is now a Deacon in the church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Prudential Order of America, an Odd Fellow and a Freemason. He is a thorough master of his trade in all its details, understands several systems of cutting, and is doing a thriving business in Richwood. He employs three or four first-class assistants, giving them good wages and employment all the time, and is thereby enabled to guarantee his patrons satisfaction. His correct workmanship and strong desire to please, coupled with his extensive knowledge of the business, reasonable prices and choice selection of goods, procures for him a very large proportion of the custom of the town and surrounding country.

J. N. RODGERS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, January 12, 1845. He is a son of Joseph and Hannah (Corbin) Rodgers, natives of Vermont, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch descent. Our subject was raised and educated on the farm, and has followed farming through life. He owns 130 acres of land in Claibourne Township, where he has spent most of his life. In 1865, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh .Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a drummer boy, and served until January 20, 1866, when he was discharged at Columbus. He was married, in 1869, to Mary Baumgartner, a native of Ohio, of German descent. They have had four children born to them, viz .: Charles W., Hattie, Dora and Clara. Mr. Rodgers is a Republican in politics.

JOHN E. ROSETTE, of the firm of Barnes & Rosette, of which a description is given in the sketch of P. E. Barnes, was born in Richwood, Ohio, November 22, 1849, and is a son of Charles W. and Mary (Milligan) Rosette, natives of Ohio, the former of French and the latter of Irish and English descent. His father came to Richwood in 1845, where he engaged in the wool trade, and where he died in 1877. He was Assessor and Treasurer of the township, and for twelve years filled the office of Justice of the Peace. He raised a family of six children, five boys and one girl. Our subject was educated in the Richwood Public Schools, and for a time worked in a mill, after which he engaged in buying grain. In 1870, he engaged in selling buggies, and has since continued in that business. In 1873, he married Annie Shelton, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, of German descent, and by her has two children-Iva, and a baby not yet named. Mr. Rosette is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Odd Fellows society, and a Republican in politics. He has served two terms as Clerk of Claibourne Township.

JAMES A. ROSS, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, November 9, 1829, and is a son of Dr. Joseph Ross, whose sketch appears in this work. Our subject re- ceived a common school education, and early adopted the profession of a farmer, which he has followed through life with marked success, now being the owner of seventy-one acres of good land. His farm is well improved and thoroughly cultivated, and has good piked roads on three sides of it. He has made his way in the world entirely without aid, having started with noth- ing but a year old colt. He is a horse fancier, and he and his brother own one of the best Norman horses in the county. He was married, October 27, 1852, to Nancy Headley, who was born in .Coshocton County January 4, 1833 ; she is a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Dial) Headley, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. By this union three children were born -Laura E., wife of L. O. Slemmons ; Lawrence E., deceased, December 18, 1878, accidently shot while out hunting; and Imogene, now attending school.

JOHN RUHL, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Pennsylvania June 6, 1826; he is the son of Michael and Elizabeth (Curfman) Ruhl, natives of Pennsylvania, the former of Ger- man and the latter of Dutch descent. Our subject was raised and educated as a farmer, and has followed that occupation through life. He was married in 1851 to Elizabeth Walters, who was born May 8, 1827 ; she was also of German descent. By this marriage seven children were born, viz., James W., deceased, born March 25, 1854; Mary E., born January 23, 1856 ; D. C., deceased, born December 26, 1858 ; Maria C., born June 5, 1860; John M., born February 10, 1862 ; W. M., born February 7, 1864, and J. F., born November 20, 1865. Mrs. Ruhl died September 29, 1867, and on March 6, 1868, Mr. Ruhl married Julia Ann Snyder, a daughter of Jacob Snyder. Mr. Ruhl came to Claibourne Township in 1861, and now owns a farm of nearly fifty-four acres in this township. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are both 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 166

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