The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 168

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 168

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

SOLOMON WALKER, farmer, P. O. Richwood, is a son of Alexander and Margaret (Cane) Walker, the former a native of Pennsylvania of Irish descent, and the latter a native of Virginia of Scotch descent. He was born in Delaware County, Ohio, March 14, 1824, and being left an orphan at the tender age of three years, was raised by his eldest sister, who was the wife of Rev. Levi Meredith. He was raised on a farm, and followed farming until twenty-six years of age. He began life by farming rented land, and was soon able to purchase a small farm of forty acres, which he has since increased to 106 acres. He came to Union County in 1851, and has since made it the place of his residence. He is a dealer in French Norman horses, and is said to be a first-class horseman, but makes a specialty of draft horses. In 1870, he purchased an interest in two horses imported by the Union County Importing Company. He has sold horses of his own raising as high as $1,000 per head. He is a successful business man, charitable in his dealings with the poor, and a liberal supporter of all worthy enterprises. He is a Democrat in politics, and has often represented his township in the county conventions of his party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows society, and a charter member of the lodge at Richwood. On Sep- tember 17, 1846, he married Elizabeth Winchell, a native of New York, and a daughter of Thomas Winchell, who settled in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1828. Mr. and Mrs. Walker have never had any children of their own, but they have adopted and raised six children.

WILLIAM WALLACE, deceased, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, April 12, 1820. He was a son of John and Mary ( McFadden) Wallace, natives of Ireland, who entered Harrison County at an early day and located on the farm where our subject was born. He was raised on a farm, and followed farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred January 3, 1869. In 1850, he married Miss Martha Ross, who was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1827; she is a daughter of William and Elsie (Cooper) Ross, the former of Scotch, and the latter of Dutch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace were the parents of five children, viz .: John W., Thomas B., Ross H., S. May, the wife of Albert Baker, and Mattie J. In 1852, Mr. Wallace came to Claibourne Township, where he was engaged in farm operations; his widow resides on a farm of 140 acres in that township.

REUBEN W. WEISZ, retired, Richwood, was born at Lancaster, Ohio, June 20, 1820; he is the son of George and Catharine E. (Shuman) Weisz, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They clung to the habits of the fatherland in their family, speaking German exclu- sively and teaching that language to their children before they did English. The subject of this sketch could speak two languages at the age of twelve years, and later in life learned a third. When about thirteen years of age, he left home and until 1843 clerked in a dry goods store. He resided in Hocking County a number of years, and while there was engaged as a merchant and hotel-keeper and also as a dealer in lumber. In 1855, he came to Richwood and has since been varionsly engaged, but latterly he has retired from active business life. In 1844, he mar- ried Mary A. Abbott, a native of Fairfield County, and a daughter of Orrin and Rosanna (Hayes} Abbott. She died in 1856, leaving three children, and in 1857 he married Mary H. Thomp- son, a daughter of Hugh and Mary W. (Cotton) Thompson. His second wife died in 1874, also leaving three children. In 1875, he married Miss Nancy M. Waters, a native of New York State and a daughter of Nathan P. and Susan D. (Perry) Waters. She died in 1879, leaving one child. Mr. Weisz takes a great pride in his home, which is presided over by his youngest child by his second marriage, while he superintends his business affairs. He has met with suc- cess in all of his business operations, has always enjoyed a comfortable portion of this world's goods and now has a competency sufficient to support him in his declining years. He was for twenty-six years a member of the German Reformed Church, of which his father was a minister for forty years, but there being no church of that denomination in Richwood, he has since his residence here been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOIIN WERRICK, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Greene County, Penn., April 16, 1822, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Armstrong) Werrick, natives of Maryland, the former of English and the latter of Dutch descent. His father emigrated to Ohio in 1824 and located in Knox County. lle was a shoe-maker by trade, but, after his settlement in this State, fol- lowed farming. Our subject was reared on the farm, receiving a common-school education, and

655

CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

later in life learned the carpenter's trade. In 1847, he enlisted in Company H, Col. Roll's Reg- iment of Missouri Infantry, for service in the Mexican war, and was detailed to assist the Sur- geon. In this way he gained some knowledge of medicine, which he found most useful while crossing the plains to California. In 1856, he came to this county, and on October 8, 1858, he married Elvira Cameron, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Reed) Cameron, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. By this union six children were born, viz., W. W., Thomas J., Sarah J., Charlotte B., J. A. and Carrie E.

N. P. WESTHEIMER, of the firm of Westheimer & Taylor, grocers, Richwood, was born in Germany September 22, 1837, and at the tender age of three years was thrown upon the care of strangers by the loss of his parents. At the age of nineteen years, he emigrated to America, and, after spending two years in the State of New York, he came to Ohio and settled in Logan County, where he embarked in the mercantile business, which he has since followed in different parts of the State. He has been in business in Richwood since 1859, and is the oldest surviv- ing business man of that place. He has built several buildings in the village, and has aided very materially in the improvement of that place, having also built a handsome brick dwelling in which he resides. In 1875, he was engaged in the dry goods and grocery trade, but is now dealing entirely in the latter. He had his store burned to the ground at a very considerable loss to himself, but being a man of unusual energy and ability, he was soon enabled to over- come his reverses. He is an earnest advocate of total abstinance and, though formerly a Re- publican, now supports the Prohibition party. IIe is a member of the Odd Fellows. society, and a charter member of the lodge at Richwood. In 1861, he married Sarah E. Irwin, a native of Union County, and a daughter of Richard M. and Eliza B. (Duckworth) Irwin. By this union one child was born, viz., Ida May, who graduated from Delaware University in 1882.

PENROSE WILEY, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in this State February 17, 1839. His father Absalon Wiley, son of Solomon and Maria (Messler) Wiley, was born in Pennsyl- vania August 15, 1808, his father being a native of the same State, and his mother of New Jersey. He was educated in the common schools of his time, and followed tasming all his life, with the exception of two terms of service as Sheriff of Union County. He was the Commander of the Second Brigade, Fifteenth Division of State Militia, in 1840, and was with Ohio's states- man Tom Corwin on his "water-melon raid." He came to Union County in 1844, and settled in Claibourne Township, where he followed farming. llis father, Solomon, was a soldier of the war of 1812. Our subject was raised on a farm and has devoted his life to that honorable avo- cation, now owning 130 acres of good land. In 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Thirty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. In 1872, he married Joanna, daughter of C. E. Fish, and by her has two children-Wilbert and Delphia. Mr. aud Mrs. Wiley are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been a Trustee. He is a Republican, in politics, and has served as Trustee of his township. His brother John was at one time Auditor of the county.

TIMOTHY J. WILLIAMS, grain dealer, Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, September 6, 1844; he is a son of David and Elizabeth (Lewis) Williams, natives of Wales, who emigrated to America in 1817, and in 1830 settled in Delaware County, Ohio. His father was born in 1807, and died in 1876 ; he was a life-long farmer, and resided until his death in Dela- ware County. Our subject received the advantages of the college at Delaware, and when twenty years of age began teaching school, an occupation he followed for ten years, six of these years being spent in one school of his native county. He came to Richwood in 1875, and has since made this the place of his residence. He was married in 1870 to Miss Margaret C. Kyle, a native of Delaware County, and a daughter of James Kyle. By this union two children were born, viz., Ila May and Guy. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Williams is a Democrat in politics. In 1864, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was also a member of the State Guards, and with his command was called out to repel Morgan in his raid through South- ern Ohio.

DAVID H. WILLOUGHBY, tailor, Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, January 7, 1848, and is a son of Birdsey and Nancy (De Wolf) Willoughby, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Connecticut, both of English descent. He was raised on a farm, and in early life learned the tailor trade, which he has since followed. He is a man of steady habits and a good workman, and for the past seven years has been engaged with W. H. Richards, at Richwood, where he resides. He was married in 1874, to Civilla Cain, by whom he had one child-Harvey, who died in 1877. Mrs. Willoughby died in 1878, and on January 1, 1882, Mr. Willoughby married Lillie B. Frye. They are both members of the Richwood Baptist Church.

JAMES W. WOODRUFF, drayman, Richwood, was born in Licking County, Ohio, Novem- ber 22, 1835 ; he is a son of John and Julia (Cunningham) Woodruff, natives of Licking County, of German and English descent. His father was a shoe-maker and farmer, and settled in Clai- bourne Township in 1841, and at that late day is said to have shot deer and wild turkeys from his cabin door. Our subject was raised on the farm, receiving a common school education, and remained on the farm until 1881. In 1855, he married Emily Collier, a native of Licking

656

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

County, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Mary (Ford) Collier. By this union three children were born, viz .: Minerva Ann, wife of F. Merritt, Benjamin (deceased) and Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Woodruff are members of the Baptist Church of Richwood.

G. H. WOODS, Richwood, was born at Richwood, Ohio, August 8, 1834; he is a son of John and Sarah (Brookins) Woods. His father was born in Ireland, in 1799, and came to Pennsyl- vania, with his parents, in 1801 ; he was a tailor by trade, and conducted a tailor shop for several years in Richwood, where he died in 1874; he devoted a large portion of his life to farming, in which he was very successful. Our subject received his education in the schools of his native village, and started in life as a farmer boy ; he engaged in the drug business in Rich- wood in 1868, and after following it for three years, embarked in the dry goods business, which he followed ten years, selling out in 1882 to J. B. Miller. In 1870, he married Lovina Siples, who was born in Marion County in 1844. They have four children, viz .: Minnie Francis E., Wilke Gaylord and Anna L. Mr. Woods is a Republican, and the owner of ninety-three acres of land in this township. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge in 1878 and 1879; he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity.

P. G. WYNEGAR, pike contractor, Richwood, was born in Highland County, Ohio, March 18, 1826, and is a son of David and Catharine (Grim) Wynegar, natives of Virginia, of Dutch descent. He was raised on the farm, receiving a common school education, and followed farm- ing until twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in the manufacture of brick, which he followed four years in Springfield. He then came to Richwood, and for eight years followed farming and brick-making. In 1876, he commenced taking contracts for building pikes, and now has a contract for $19,000 worth of work. He usually employs about thirty teams, and has employed as high as eighty-two. He owns 100 acres of land in Leesburg Township, where his father settled in 1838. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Ross, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, and a daughter of Dr. J. N. Ross. This union has been blessed with ninc chil- dren, four living, viz .: William C., Ida J., Philota and Estelle. Mrs. Wynegar died February 9, 1874.

MORGAN YOUNG, farmer, P. O. Richwood, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, Septem- ber 27, 1837, and is a son of Elijah and Amy (Larkins) Young, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and early settlers in Delaware County. He was reared on a farm and re- ceived a limited education, after which he began life for himself as a hired hand, working by the month. He also followed mining in California for two years, but since 1861 he has been a resi- dent of this county, now owning 118 acres of land, made entirely by his own efforts. He is a. Republican in politics and a member of the Odd Fellows society of Richwood. He was married August 26, 1862, to Elenora Finch, by whom he had five children, viz .: Frank, Ed., Vinnie, Vellie and Otis M.

CHAPTER XIII.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

W ASHINGTON TOWNSHIP occupies the northwestern corner of Union. County. Unlike most townships in the county, its outlines are com - paratively regular, as it is bounded by four straight lines. To the west of it lies Logan County and Hardin and Marion Counties to the north. Jackson Township bounds it on the east, and York Township on the south. The boundary line between it and York is the Greenville Treaty line of 1795.

The township was erected a civil subdivision of the county in 1836. The Commissioners' journal under date of June 6, of that year, contains the follow- ing entry:

The Board considered a petition handed in by John Dysert, praying for a new township to be taken from the north part of the township of York. Whereupon it was agreed that a township be formed, to be called Washington, to be bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of the township of Claibourne, thence running west parallel with the northern line of the county to the western boundary line of the county, thence north with. said line to the northwest corner of Union County, thence east with the north line of the county to the northwest corner of Jackson Township, thence with the line of said township south to the place of beginning.

657

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

As its date indicates, Washington was one of the later townships organ- ized in Union County. Its boundaries as originally constituted have perhaps been less subject to change and alteration than almost any other township in the county.

Topographically, the township is nearly uniform in its several parts and also strongly resembles adjacent townships. It embraces a level stretch of coun- try, broken in the western part and to some extent along the streams by gentle undulations. The most important stream is Rush Creek, which enters from Hardin County close to the northwestern corner of the township, but soon bends northward and passes back into Hardin County about a mile east of its entrance into the township; it soon after re-enters and pursues a southeasterly course through the township, crossing the eastern boundary line near its cen- ter. Rocky Fork, a tributary of this stream, rises in the southwestern part of the township and meanders in a northeasterly direction through the central portion of the township until it mingles its waters with those of Rush Creek. The North Branch of Bokes Creek cuts across the southwestern corner of the township separating portions of several farms from the main body of the township. Rush Creek has several small tributaries in the northwestern region of the township, and in the southeastern part three or four runs flow south- ward and eastward into Fulton Creek. The composition of the soil is argil- laceous, except along the streams, where sand and gravel prevail to some ex- tent. Ponds were not uncommon in early times, and a considerable portion of the township was swale land. The most of this, by systematic drainage, has, however, been converted into productive fields. Sugar, beech, ash, oak, hickory, elm, black walnut and cherry were the most important woods that covered the ground when the first settlers arrived. Walnut, red elm and buck- eye were found along the creeks, and burr oak in the low lands. Consider-

able underbrush also flourished. Some small tracts of timber were deadened by forest fires, which often raged in dry weather, and there were places, usual- ly wet where the fires in extremely dry weather had burned a kind of peat which covered the surface of the ground and with it the roots of the trees, un- til one after another the sturdy monarchs of the forest fell crashing to the earth. Several tracts, acres in extent, were thus entirely denuded of their forest covering. The land along the streams was a little higher and drier than the rest, and deemed more fertile, consequently the first settlements were made there.

SURVEYS.

The township contained one survey-in the north-central part-of 2,666g acres, and one in the northeastern part of 1,555} acres. There are a number of 1,000 acres, but the majority are of a lesser extent. The following is a list of surveys: Squire Grant, No. 7,373, 200 acres, lying in and north of Byhalia, surveyed October 30, 1822, by Thomas J. McArthur; Maria and John C. Ransdale, heirs, and James Taylor and Charles Scott, assignees, No. 9,893, 528 acres, southwest corner of township, partly in Logan County, surveyed January 6, 1820, by Samuel Forrer; John Swan and James Taylor, No. 9,894, 1,000 acres in the southwestern part of the township, surveyed January 7, 1820, by Samuel Forrer; James Wallace and John McPherson, No. 9,895, 1, - 000 acres, southwestern part of the township, surveyed January 7, 1820, by Samuel Forrer; Thomas Scott, No. 9,896, 364 acres, south of Byhalia, surveyed November 5, 1821, by Thomas McArthur; James Fitzpatrick, No. 9,896, 100 acres, southeast of Byhalia, surveyed November 5, 1821, by Thomas Mc- Arthur; Robert Sayer, James Taylor, Nicholas Tallioferro and James Taylor, No. 9,897, 1,000 acres east of Byhalia, surveyed January 8, 1820, by Samuel Forrer; William Dark's representatives, No. 9,916, 833 acres,

658

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

south-central part of the township, surveyed by Thomas J. McArthur, Novem- ber 3, 1821; Rowland Madison's representatives, No. 9,917, 1,000 acres, east-central part of township, surveyed January 15, 1820, by Samuel Forrer; James Berwick, No 9,918, 6663 acres. eastern part of township, surveyed February 14, 1826, by Thomas J. McArthur; Michael Rudolph's representatives, Nos. 9,960 and 10,042, 2,000 acres, northwest corner of town- ship and partly in Logan and Hardin Counties, surveyed November 10, 1821. by Thomas J. McArthur; Presley Davis, No. 10,383, 200 acres, northeastern part, mostly in Hardin County, surveyed by Thomas J. McArthur December 16, 1823; Richard Davis, No. 10,938, 200 acres, southeastern part, surveyed April 30, 1824, by Thomas J. McArthur; Robert Dugan, No. 10,938, 200 acres, southeastern part, surveyed April 30, 1824, by Thomas J. McArthur; John Lipscomb, No. 10,938, 200 acres, southeast corner of township, surveyed April 30, 1824, by Thomas J. McArthur; George Winchester, No. 10,971, 2,666; acres, surveyed by Thomas J. McArthur October 29, 1822; Richard Dorsey, No. 12,105. 1,000 acres, western part of township, surveyed by Thomas J. McAr- thur November 8, 1824; Elizabeth R. Worthington's heirs, No. 12, 112, 1,333} acres, western part of township and partly in Logan County, surveyed by E. P. Kendrick July 1, 1840; George Lambert, No. 12,281, 500 acres, mostly in Hardin County, surveyed by Thomas J. McArthur December 15, 1823; Eliza- beth A. P. Scarborough, No. 12.289, 1,5553 acres, surveyed by Thomas J. Mc- Arthur April 29, 1824; James J. Teackle, No. 12,360, 9163 acres, mostly in Hardin County, surveyed by Thomas J. McArthur April 30, 1824; John Evans, No. 13,320, 160 acres, west of Byhalia, surveyed by Cadwallader Wal . lace July 10, 1832; James Gallaway, Jr., No. 13.427, 89 acres, eastern part of township, surveyed by James Gallaway, Jr., November7, 1833; Cadwallader Wallace, No. 13,748, 260 acres, northern part, surveyed by Cadwallader Wal- lace March 21, 1836; Allen Latham, No. 14,639, 330 acres, southeastern part, surveyed by E. P. Kendricks, December 25, 1843; Thomas Paisley, No. 12, - 189, 200 acres, partly in Hardin and Madison Counties, surveyed by Thomas J. McArthur December 16, 1823; Abraham J. Williams, No. 10,177, 523 acres in northern part of township; W. and J. Tibbs and others, No. 9,915, 959 acres, mostly in Logan County, surveyed by Samuel Forrer January 14, 1820; Robert Green, No. 10,945, eastern part of township, 166 acres. The surveys were usually found to contain more land than the quantity for which they were surveyed, and in some cases the excess was considerable.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The first white occupants of Washington Township were mainly a class of men who were attracted thither by the game, which abounded in the deep solitudes of the region. They were usually men who enjoyed hunting and trapping better than anything else, who possessed no land and who did not care to possess any, but preferred ranging over large scopes of country at will to owning and tilling a limited tract of land. The proprietors of the land here were mostly non-residents of Ohio, and the first squatters would pitch their tents at desirable localities without attempting to find the owner and ob- tain permission, and in this they were seldom molested. The owners rarely knew of the squatter occupancy, and when they did were usually not disposed to remove the occupants as the cabin that would invariably be erected and the little clearing that would be made enchanced the value of the land. But few traces remain of these primitive settlers, although it is scarcely more than a half century since the land was first occupied. Almost all the pioneers. both those whose title to possession was only the frail squatter's claim and those who purchased and improved land, have long ago emigrated to other parts.

659

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

Before tiling was introduced to reclaim the lands from swales and swamps, agricultural pursuits were attended with serious obstacles and meager results and the discontent thus produced promoted emigration to other localities. The darkest period in the township history was after game had disappeared from the forests and before the improved system of farming was adopted. To those who loved the free and roaming life of a huntsman, Washington Town- ship invited a sojourn for many years. Game was abundant and the product of the chase found an easy market, sufficient to provide for the few, simple wants which the position of the squatters required. For a few years after the first settlers came, the Wyandot Indians shared with the whites the occupancy of the hunting grounds in this vicinity. The Indians engaged in trapping and

also in sugar-making to some extent. Their relations to the whites were al- ways of a friendly nature, and the two races sometimes pursued their favorite pastimes in company, and the young emigrants learned many a valuable fact in hunting from their swarthy neighbors.

Edward, or Ned Southworth, as he was familiarly known, is reputed to be the first settler in the township, but the date of his arrival is not known. It was probably not far from 1830. He came from Logan County and owned a piece of land on Rocky Run. His brother, William Southworth, also moved to this township, but died a few years later.

Stephen Davis, a prominent pioneer, moved to a little place he had pur- chased on Rocky Run in the eastern part of Survey No. 9,917, in 1832. He was born in Maryland and removed when a young man to Bourbon County, Ky. There he remained until 1808, when he came to Ohio. He first lived in Brown, then Pickaway County, and from the latter place came to Washing- ton Township with his wife Sarah. He remained on his farm here the re- mainder of his life. He was influential among his neighbors and highly es- teemed. Of a large family of children, Ebenezer was the only one who emi- grated to this township. He came in 1832 from Pickaway County to Jackson Township, and to Washington Township in 1837. He succeeded his father in the possession of the farm and also succeeded to the esteem with which his father had been regarded. Ebenezer died May 2, 1867; his widow still sur- vives.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 168

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