The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 74

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 74

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).

William Steele was a young man who was raised in the family of Silas G. Strong, and succeeded the latter as Postmaster at Marysville. He was also elected Sheriff of Union County, and during his term of office succeeded in break- ing up a gang of counterfeiters which included in its membership several of the prominent citizens of the town and county. It was thought by some that the spurious money was obtained in Cincinnati and placed in circulation by this com- bination of sharpers. Mr. Steele finally moved to Hancock County, Ill., and was placed in office by the citizens of that county. He had settled in Marysville about 1832-34.

Dr. S. F. Kinney located at Marysville, with his family, in 1839, when Union County was thinly populated. His death occurred May 31, 1872, when he had reached the age of eighty-three years. His wife, Roxana Kinney, died January 23, 1874, aged over eighty years. She was born in the State of Rhode Island, but removed with her father's family to New York, where she was married to Dr. Kinney. Both were highly esteemed citizens of the town of their adoption.

William C. Malin, a native of Urbana, Champaign Co., Ohio, served an ap- prenticeship in that place in the business of saddlery and harness-making, and on the 19th of March, 1840, came to Marysville and worked as a journeyman for Evans & Jennings, who he thinks owned the only harness shop then in the village. He soon after bought out James W. Evans and became a partner with A. C. Jen- nings, of the old firm. Evans removed to Kansas. Jennings remained here three or four years, finally going to the city of New York and entering into partnership with his brother in the sale of manufactured straw goods. He is now a resident of Champaign County, Ohio. Mr. Malin still resides in Marysville, and since his arri- val, over forty years ago, has been engaged in the same line of business, not re- linquishing it while serving as Sheriff of the county from 1850 to 1854. At the date of his settlement in the town, it contained, according to his recollection, two mercantile establishments, one cabinet shop, by William H. Frank, two blacksmith shops, by William Campbell and Thomas Turner (Alexander Bates also had a

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

blacksmith shop in the place, but moved to Indiana a few days after Mr. Malin's arrival), two tan-yards-one owned and operated by Rodney Picket, just back of where W. E. Baxter's jewelry store now is on West Center street, and the other by Ransom Clark, in the northwest part of the village; onc wagon shop, by Rowland Lee, in the eastern part of town; two physicians, Curl and Hosford; two hotels-the " Union Hall" (now American), by Chester Farnum, and another by Henry Kezartce, where the Continental now stands. The latter was the front part of the present hotel, and had been standing several years. It was, possibly, built by Henry Kezartee, now of York Township. Samnel Cherry. Leonard Geer (a German,) and Harvey Criswell were working at tailoring; the last-named person is now living at Kenton, Hardin County. Mr. Hughes, of the former firm of Hare & Hughes, dissolved in December, 1839, was still carrying on the hat business, his shop being where the Farmers' Bank now stands, at the southwest corner of the public square. Hughes was a very small man, and was familiarly known as " Banta." His partner, Mr. Hare, removed to West Jefferson, Franklin Co., Ohio, and thither Mr. Hughes subsequently followed him. Forman Carel was later engaged in the hat business at Marysville. That occupation was profitable in those days, as most of the hats worn in the locality were manufactured either here or in neighboring shops. In 1840-the year of the Harrison campaign-many of the farmers converted coon-skins into head gear. When Mr. Malin came, a man named Churchill was either keeping tavern or had been engaged in that business, on a lot in the east part of town now occupied by James Field. The building was never completed, and rotted down. Mr. Malin's first wife was a daughter of Dr. S. F. Kinney and a niece of Silas G. Strong.

Jacob Slicer, from Pennsylvania, who came to Marysville previous to 1840, was the father-in-law of William II. Frank and Adamn Wolford, Jr. His home was in a log house on the corner southwest of the Congregational Church, near the present residence of J. H. Kinkade. He lived many years in the town, and is now deceased.

Samuel Johnson settled in Marysville some time before 1840, and became a prominent citizen. He held the position of Justice of the Peace, owned property in town and two farms in the vicinity. Ile is now deceased.

Jacob Catro, a bachelor, with all the eccentricities ascribed to the class, was at one time a resident of Marysville, and boarded with Chester Farnum, proprietor of the Union Hall, now the American Hotel. He was a brother-in-law of Levi Longbrake.

W. T. Brophy, a tailor by trade, came from Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and located in Marysville about 1841-42. He could find no rooms in which to set up a shop, and S. A. Cherry gave him shop room, thereby making of him a warm friend. He died about 1851-52, and his widow, who was his second wife, is now the second wife of Taber Randall, living in Marysville.

John G. Zwerner, who died at Marysville February 7, 1882, aged sixty-one years, had resided in the town over forty years, and was an esteemed citizen.

John Cassil was born in Washington County, Penn., February 19, 1803, and when very small removed with his parents to Jefferson County, Ohio, locating near Steubenville. There he grew to man's estate, and on the 17th of April, 1825, married Drusilla Gladden, with whom he removed to Greene County, Ohio, in April, 1832, remaining one year. In April, 1833, he came with his wife and four children to Union County, settling on the Darby Plains, probably in Darby Town- ship, and remaining in that locality about two years. One child had died in Greene County before the family removed to Union. In April, 1842, they settled at Marysville. Mr. Cassil owned the printing establishment at this place, and was for several years engaged in the newspaper publishing business. He was chosen to fill numerous offices, among others that of Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, from 1839 to 1842. He owned at one time considerable prop- erty in Marysville and the surrounding region, and was always greatly interested

PARIS TOWNSHIP.

in matters looking toward public improvements. The " Cassil Block," which was destroyed by fire a number of years since, was built by him and stood on the northwest side of the public square. It was the first three-story brick building erected in the county. Mr. Cassil lost much of his property when the railroad was built through Marysville. He was a steadfast supporter of the temperance cause, and was for many years a highly respected and honored citizen of the town. He died June 15, 1869, near Carthage, Jasper Co., Mo., while on a visit to his son- settling him on a farm in that vicinity. The son died four years later ; the remains of both lie in the cemetery at Marysville. The lot on which the new court house stands was purchased of Mrs. Cassil, after the decease of her husband. When the family took up its abode in Marysville, the village had a population of some- thing over 300. The southeast corner of Main and Mathiot streets, where Mrs. Cassil now lives, was then in the thick woods; the corner next north of it had then a small house erected upon it, and on that lot Judge Cole lived at one time. The first two fairs of the agricultural society were held in the old court house yard, Mrs. Cassil states, and after that for a time in the timber south of Mathiot street. As fairs were something which many of the inhabitants had never before seen, they scarcely knew how to conduct themselves when in attendance upon them, and, deeming the articles on exhibition were for free distribution, helped themselves accordingly. One man exhibited a large cheese at one of the fairs, and people helped themselves to generons portions thereof. Finally, seeing that it would all be sliced up and carried away if he left it any longer, the gentleman took it to Mr. Cassil's and presented it to him and his family. Mr. Cassil's daughter, Martha Emily, now residing with her mother at Marysville, was born in the village, July 6, 1842, being the first child born to her parents after their set- tlement here.

James Kinkade, a native of the " pan-handle " in West Virginia, settled in Marysville about 1841, and on the 3d of June, 1945, married Hannah Cassil, old- est daughter of Judge Cassil and wife. He was for many years engaged in the mercantile business here, being associated twenty-five years with Philip Snider. By reason of declining health, he removed to a farm, upon which the last four years of his life were spent. His death occurred October 31, 1877. His son, J. H. Kinkade, is the present Mayor of Marysville.

William M. Robinson, known familiarly to almost everybody in the town as " Unele Billy," has been a stanch citizen thereof for many years, and is one of the oldest native born residents of the county. He was born on his father's old farm in Darby Township, in 1808, and was at the time considerable of a curi- osity, from being the only boy in the neighborhood. He married Hannah F. Craw- ford, in 1829, rented a farm, and stocked it with twenty-five dairy cows, and made and sold butter and cheese at 5 to 7 cents a pound. Fat hogs were then worth from $1 to $1.50 per 100 pounds, and calves, when weaned, from 75 cents to $1 each. In a few years, he bought 125 acres of land, in the woods, for which he paid $2 an acre; a few years later he purchased the old homestead of his father, and moved upon it in the spring of 1835. In 1837, he was elected Justice of the Peace, in Darby Township ; in 1844, the electors of the county made him Sheriff, and he removed that year to Marysville, where he purchased a small property. He returned to Darby Township in 1849, but was elected County Recorder in 1852, sold the old farm, purchased land adjoining Marysville (including that on which Robinson's addition has since been laid out), and after his term as Recorder ex- pired, engaged in the grocery and provision business in this place. He figured in railroad building speculations, but did not find it a paying occupation. He was agent for different fire insurance companies for more than a quarter of a century. He raised a family of seven children-four sons and three daughters ; of these three sons are engaged in business in Kansas, and the others reside in Marysville. During his residence here Mr. Robinson has been Mayor of the town, for a long time Justice of the Peace, and has held the chair of President of the County Pio-

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

neer Society since its organization. His wife died in June, 1881, after sharing life with him over fifty-two years.

James and Samuel Robinson, from the region bordering on the Susquehanna River, in York County, Penn., visited Tennessee, in the winter of 1799-1800, look- ing for land; there they met Lucas Sullivant, who told them that if they would come with him to the Territory of Ohio, he would put them in the way of purchas- ing some fine land. They accepted his invitation, came with him to what is now Union County, and purchased of him 600 acres lying on the northeast bank of Darby Creek, in what is now Darby Township. The purchase was made in the name of Samuel Robinson, who was the elder of the two. Neither was then married. James Robinson was not entirely satisfied with his part of the purchase -- the north 300 acres, as it had no bottom land; he sold it to his father, James Robin- son, Sr., and bought 300 acres adjoining on the north, which included some bot- tom land. His father never came West, but gave the property to his other sons, Thomas and John, the former moving out in 1805, and the latter in 1810. James Robinson, after making his purchase, returned, in 1801, to Pennsylvania, married, and in 1805, made the journey through from the old home in Pennsylvania to the new one in Ohio, with his wife, one child, an adopted child, and his brothers Thomas and Samuel. The latter stopped at Columbus, where he was subsequently mar- ried, and did not settle on his land until 1808; he raised a large family, and died on the place. The party who came through in 1805 made the journey with a four- horse team, having in places to cut their road for a considerable distance. Mrs. James Robinson was the only woman in the party. Samuel and James had made their first trip to the neighborhood on horseback. In the spring of 1806, a daugh- ter was born in James Robinson's family, and she became the wife of Stephenson Curry, and mother of Col. William L. Curry, present County Auditor. Her broth- er, William M. Robinson, was born in April, 1808. as before stated.

Philip Snider, from Lancaster County, Penn., came to Union County, Ohio, with his father, Peter Snider, May 1, 1833, the family locating in Darby Township. The elder gentleman died in 1864 at St. Louis, Mo., where he was then living. Philip Snider removed to Marysville in 1846, engaged in the butchering and meat busi- ness, and in the fall of the same year was elected Sheriff, when he relinquished other business to attend to the duties of his office. His home has since that time been in Marysville. In 1849, he purchased the interest of G. A. Cassil in the dry goods business, and took his place as partner with James Kinkade, Jr., this part- nership continning from January, 1849, until August, 1873, when Mr. Snider bought his partner's interest and has since conducted the business alone. The first location of the store was where MeCampbell's shoe shop now is, a little north of the public square, on the west side of Main street, in the Cassil Block. The old firm, Cassil & Kinkade, who had been in business a year or two, purchased the store of James S. Alexander, whose location was near the same site. The latter is now a resident of Rushsylvania, Logan Co., Ohio. Mr. Snider, who was abont fifteen years old when he came to the county, says there was no improvement on the London road between his father's farm and Marysville, a distance of three miles. The village amounted to very little at that date. In 1850, Mr. Snider leased from Joshua Mathiot the land south of Mathiot street, then in the woods, fenced it in and held it about two years, when the property was sold by Mathiot's administrators. At this sale. Mr. Snider purchased three lots on South Main street. now owned by Mrs. T. M. Winget, at a very low figure.

The first tavern in Marysville, kept by Matthias Collins, was a log building which stood north of the public square, on the west side of Main street. about where Philip Snider's store now is. Collins lived afterward abont four miles north of Marysville, and remained many years in the neighborhood; he finally sold out and went West. His brother-in-law possibly kept the old tavern after Collins went out of it. Among the proprietors of the old American Hotel, known by several names at different times, were Chester Farnum, Norman Chipman and Bill Welsh. The old hotel sign-post stood near the center of the public square.

PARIS TOWNSHIP.

At the time Henry Kezartee was keeping the hotel now known as the Continen- tal, a blind man named James Ward, commonly called "Blind Jimmie," kept a tavern on the opposite (north) side of the street, and Mr. Snider remembers that he was keeping there in 1837, or earlier. His was a log building, weatherboarded, and the institution was more of a liquor shop than a hotel. Ward was never known to be cheated on silver money; he would feel of the coin and bite it, and determine accurately in that way whether it was genuine or counterfeit.

Stephen McLain, several times mentioned, lived in the one-story frame liouse which is now standing opposite the store of Philip Snider.

About 1834, before the second court house was built, the trial of a man named David Thornton was held in the Presbyterian Church. Thornton had shot and killed a man named Wilmoth, and was sent to the penitentiary. He was pardoned a few years later on a petition from the citizens. Both men lived in Marysville at the time of the murder.

John B. Coats, Sr., father of Judge John B. Coats, of Marysville, was born December 25, 1785, in Guilford, Windham Co., Vt. He spent a few years in North- ern and Central New York, and in 1849 came to Ohio with his son. He resided in Delaware and Union Counties until his death, which occurred at Marysville March 24, 1866, when he had passed the age of eighty years.

In 1832, three years after the American Hotel was erected, a man who was al- ways known as Robson L. Broome came to Marysville and engaged board at said hotel. He continued a guest of that house until his death, which took place in the early part of 1875. He amassed property to the amount of $50,000 or $60,000, and after his death there was much litigation concerning it. Broome was a mysterious and eccentric character, and was thought to have lived under different aliases during the years previous to his settlement in Marysville. He was over eighty years of age when he died, and will be remembered as one of the " characters " of the town. The mystery concerning him has not yet been cleared up, although numerous parties have endeavored to establish claims to his property.

Col. Noah Orr, the " Union County Giant," died at Marysville July 1, 1882, and his funeral services were conducted by the Knights of Pythias, of which order he was a member. He was a respected citizen and a genial companion. He had a wide acquaintance throughout the country, having traveled with various exhi- bitions for fifteen or twenty years. When in good flesh, he weighed 550 pounds, was perfectly formed, handsome in features, and as active as a man of 200 pounds weight. He was for a time with Barnum's New York Museum, but later with the " Lilliputian Company," in which he was employed as a contrast to the midgets. As active labor was impossible for him, he earned a good support for himself and family by exhibiting his massive proportions over the land, and was everywhere admired. He delighted to relate his experiences in traveling. He was a member, also, of the Masonic fraternity and the Improved Order of Red Men. His final illness was of about three months' duration, and death ensued only after he had been subjected to severe suffering.

Joseph Newlove died at the residence of his son Garrison, this county, on the 30th day of December, 1882. Mr. Newlove was born in Wold Newton, England, October 18, 1806, came to this country with his parents, Joseph and Ann, settled in Clark County, 1821, and was married to Miss Martha Carter by Rev. S. Hinkle on the 6th day of December, 1827. They lived happily together for over fifty-three years, and had eight children, two of which died in infancy, and Mrs. Newlove, Martha, his wife, died December 13, 1880, leaving six children, four sons and two daughters, to mourn their loss. The deceased came with his family to Union County in 1849 and settled on Boke's Creek, Leesburg Township, and in 1853 was elected County Auditor and moved with his family to Marysville, where he remained a resident until his death. He was seventy-six years two months and twenty days old when he died. The deceased was a kind husband, an affec- tionate father and an honest, conscientious and honorable man. He was esteemed

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

by all who became acquainted with him as a very clear head, pure in all his motives and was trusted with public business. He served as County Auditor eight years, gave full satisfaction to the people of the county, and the records he made during his term of office stand as a model for those who may follow him in that office, and since he retired from the Auditor's office he had been cashier of a bank up to death .*

A. F. Wilkins, from Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y., came, when a young man, to Union County, Ohio, with his parents, in 1836; the family settled in York Township. In 1854, he was elected County Surveyor, and removed to Marysville, the better to look after the duties of the office. He was married in 1844 to Harriet Jane Stuart, also a native of Saratoga County, N. Y. Her father had removed to Union County, Ohio, in 1835, and settled in Liberty Township. In the fall of 1858, Mr. Wilkins rented the American Hotel and conducted it two years ; then for a year he was ont of it, and at the end of that time purchased the building and carried on the hotel until the winter of 1874-75. He made many improvements in the house, and was a popular landlord. HIe was Justice of the Peace for many years, and for two years was Deputy County Treasurer and Treas- urer, to fill out the unexpired term of D. D. Welsh, deceased. Mr. Wilkins died in the winter of 1875-76, and his widow and children are still living in Marys- ville. The only daughter is the wife of Col. A. B. Robinson, present Representa- tive in the Legislature from Union County.

Robert Graham, who died at Marysville on the 4th of February, 1882, had come to Ohio with his parents about 1815, when only six years of age. His fa- ther died when the son was thirteen years old, and the latter removed, with the family, to Union County, locating in Mill Creek Township, in which he married Judith Bell, when he was twenty-one years old. He removed to Marysville about 1867-68. His wife died in 1869, and in 1870 he married Mary J. Williams, who survived him. Mr. Graham was seventy-three years of age at the time of his death.

By the tax duplicate of 1825, prepared by Stephen MeLain, Assessor for Union County, the following are shown as owners of lots in Marysville, at that time : James Bell, Samuel W. Culbertson, Matthias Collins, P. Lanphere, D. Witter, Thomas Collins, David Comer, George Harris, Rollin Harvey, Joseph S. Conklin, John N. Conklin. Leonard Kirkwood. Philip Jarbo, John Leeper, Stephen McLain, John McLain, David Miller, Hezekiah Bates, Levi Phelps, Daniel Miller, Thomas Osborn, Silas G. Strong, Joseph Stewart's heirs, Thomas F. Woods, Amos A. Will- iams.

In 1831, the following names appear : Hezekiah Bates, William Campbell, David Comer's heirs, Matthias Collins, Thomas Collins, John N. Conklin (spelled Conkelon on the duplicate), Joseph N. Conklin, Newton Hicks, George Harris, Samuel B. Johnson, Philip Jarbo, Joseph Kiger, Pierce Lanphere, John Leeper, Cyprian Lee, Stephen Mcbain, John R. MeLain, Daniel Miller, Joshua Mathiot, Thomas Osborn, Levi Phelps, Alexander Pollock, Silas G. Strong, Joseph Stewart, George Snodgrass, Thomas Snodgrass, Enos Wood, David Witter, Amos A. Will- iams, Adam Wolford, Ira Wood.

In 1840, the number was considerably greater, as follows : N. and J. Adam- son, Joshua Antrim (not in the county), James S. Alexander, William Alexander, Jacob Bouser, Hezekiah Bates, R. L. Broome (first appears on duplicate in 1834), William Campbell, Ransom Clark, Levi Churchill, Matthias Collins, Dennis Col- lins, Elijah Collins, Philander B. Cole, Otway Curry, Dr. Jeremiah Curl, William A. Denton (non-resident), James W. Evans, Heman Ferris, William Gregg, Christian Gowl, Sidney Gilbert. Joshua Gore (non-resident), James January, Samuel B. Johnson, Henry Kezartee, Benjamin F. Kelsey, Cyprian Lee, William C. Lawrence, Lee & Wasson, Stephen McLain, John R. McLain's heirs, Elizabeth Miller, Joshua Mathiot (non-resident), Rodney Picket, William M. Page, Alexander Pollock, Levi

*From obituary notice in Marysville paper.

Lorenzo . Cheney

PARIS TOWNSHIP'.

Phelps, William Ross, Elisha Reynolds, William Snodgrass, David Sprague, Silas G. Strong, Peyton B. Smith, William Steele, William B. Spears, William Said, James Taylor (non-resident), Robert Thornton, Calvin Winget's heirs, Mains Wasson, William W. Woods. Ira Wood's heirs, James Ward, Adam Wolford, David Wells, David Witter, Felix G. Wingfield.

MARYSVILLE IN 1837.

The " Ohio Gazetteer," published at Columbus, in 1837, contained the follow- ing regarding this town :

"Marysville, a small post town and seat of justice for Union County. It is situated on the south bank of Mill Creek, in Paris Township, about sixteen miles from Delaware, thirty northwest from Columbus, thirty northerly from London, twenty-four northeast from Urbana and twenty southeast of Bellefontaine ; north latitude 40° 17', west longitude 6° 24. It is situated on the western side of the Virginia Military Survey, No. 3351, which was surveyed for Edward Dowse and patented to Stephens T. Mason, of Loudoun County, Va., and that third part thereof, on which the town is laid out, was subsequently transferred to Samuel W. Culbertson, Esq., of Zanesville, who had the town surveyed. It contains a brick court house and a jail, forty-five dwelling houses, one tavern, three stores, one practicing physician, two attorneys and about 250 inhabitants."

From a copy of the first newspaper published in Union County-Our Free- dom und Union County Advertiser-dated March 22, 1839, several interesting items have been taken. The "Marysville Lyceum" was then in existence, and the question for discussion at its meeting Saturday evening, March 23, 1839, was: " Resolved, that the course pursued by the Government of the United States to- ward the aborigines of this country has been and is unjust, and in violation of their natural and civil rights."

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 74

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