The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc, Part 106

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway
Number of Pages: 1072

USA > Ohio > Wyandot County > The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc > Part 106

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B. F. KENNEDY was born in Marseilles, October 8, 1838. He is the son of Frederick and Alvina (Hull) Kennedy, natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. His parents were married in 1836, at Marseilles, his father having come to that place in 1835, and his mother at about the same time. He was a mechanic, and died in 1841, aged thirty years. She is still living, a resident of Kansas. They were the parents of two children- Jerome and Benjamin F. He was married September 26, 1861, to Miss S. L. Knibloe, daughter of John P. and Kate Knibloe, of Livingston County, New York. They have eight children-Kate, Mary E. (wife of W. M. Kneisley), Frank H., Cora L, Adelbert, Jared, Edna and Charles F. Mr. Kennedy has served as Town Treasurer twenty years and still holds the office. He is a stanch Republican, a strong temperance advocate, and, with his wife, a member of the Methodist Church.

JOHN W. KENNEDY, Postmaster at Marseilles, was born in Adams County, Penn., October 6, 1809. He is the son of John and Margaret (Wolf) Kennedy, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and German ances- try respectively. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father came to Marion County (now part of Wyandot), in 1836. He was the father of nine children, six of whom are still living: John W., Samuel, Moses and Aaron. The girls living are Christina and Mary A. The deceased are Frederick, Henry and an infant. The father and mother both died in Marseilles, the former seventy and one-half years of age, and the latter seventy. Our subject was given but six months in school. At the age of twenty-one years he began work for himself, serving an apprenticeship as millwright two years, and afterward following his trade two years in Adams County, Penn. In 1835, he came to Marseilles, bought a lot and erected a dwelling thereon, being one of the first settlers of the village. Here he plied his trade for twenty years, building over fifty mills in various places, part of the time operating a manufacturing shop at Upper Sandusky. In company with Maj. Long, he sold dry goods in Marseilles, from 1845 to 1852, under the firm name of Long & Kennedy, serving as Deputy Postmaster during that time. He then returned to his trade, at which he was engaged at intervals until 1870; was then employed to man- age his son's store in Marseilles, for three and one-half years, and has since been engaged in various employments. April 17, 1883, he was appointed Postmaster of Marseilles, which situation he still retains. Mr. Kennedy was married July 29, 1834, to Mary Junkins, daughter of James

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

Junkins, by whom he had twelve children ; eight living: Howard, Cordelia, Susan, Oliver, Mary E., Sarah J., Emma and Vilroy. The deceased are Ella G. and Harriet, James K. and Olive K. Mr. Kennedy assisted in organizing the first company at Marseilles for the late war, and offered his own services, but was refused on account of disability. His son Howard was engaged in the service. Mr. Kennedy is Republican in poli- tics, and is identified with the Presbyterian Church, though not a full member. He was member of the I. O. O. F. till the time of the war. He is one of the oldest settlers in the township, himself, wife and Maj. Long being the only ones remaining of the settlers of forty-eight years ago.

LEMUEL KRISHER was born in Richland County, Ohio, August 19, 1839. He is the son of John and Jane (Campbell) Krisher, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish and German ancestry. They came to Ohio in 1831, settling in Richland County, and rearing a family of fourteen chil- dren, of whom eight are living: Maria, Betsy A., Thomas R., Jeremiah, Nancy, Lemuel, Delilah and Lambert. The parents both died in Wyandot County; the father aged seventy-three, and the mother aged seventy-one. Mr. Krisher, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools leaving off at the age of twenty-one, remaining with his father till the beginning of the war. He then enlisted in Company G, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 19, 1861, being the first volunteer from Jackson Township; re-enlisted five months later in the Independent Ohio Battery, and partici- pated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and in every battle in which the Army of the Cumberland was engaged. He entered the ranks as a private and was mus- tered out a Second Lieutenant, being discharged September 1, 1865, having served four years and one month without a scar, and without missing a bat- tle. Returning home, he went to Michigan, and engaged in the lumber business three years; returning home again, farmed two years with his father, in 1875 buying a saw mill located at Marseilles, which he has since successfully operated. June 27, 1883, he purchased a half interest in a grocery and provision store, with Henry Handchy, at Marseilles, doing a thriving business, with a stock of $2,500, under the firm name of Handchy & Krisher. He was married July 19, 1871, to Miss Emma Adams, daugh- ter of S. S. and Abalene Adams, to whom were born three children: Carrie, born March 7, 1872; Jessie B., February 6, 1874, and Charles H., July 2, 1876. Mr. Krisher is a Republican, member of the G. A. R., Senior Vice Commander, Master Mason, F. & A. M., both at Marseilles. He is still engaged in milling.

CHAUNCEY M. LEAR. This gentleman is a native of Delaware, Ohio, born January 5, 1855, son of Daniel and Susan (Pentzer) Lear, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and of German extraction. They wero married January 5, 1854, and lived at Delaware till 1865, when they moved to Marseilles, purchasing eighty acres of land. They had five children -- Chauncey M., Josephine F., Lucinda W., George W. and William D. The father was accidentally killed at La Rue, Ohio, by a runaway team -- being fifty five years of age at the time of his death. Our subject received a good education in the common schools, spending some time at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, and Ada Northwestern Ohio Normal School; began teaching in his twenty-first year, and has since given the profession his whole attention, in which he has been very successful, winning an en- viable reputation and ranking among the leading educators of the county. He purchased the homestead in 1878; was married, February 12, 1874, to

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MARSEILLES TOWNSHIP.

Miss Marian Van Fleet, daughter of Miles and Nancy (Wright) Van Fleet, of Hardin County, natives of New York and Massachusetts. They are the par- ents of five children, three living-Flora May, born April 27, 1878; Charles F., August 17, 1881; Grace E., July 28, 1883. The deceased are two in- fants. Mr. Lear is a Republican, a Granger, a K. of H., and a member of Franklin Cornet Band, and, with his wife, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

BENJAMIN F. LEE was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, November 29, 1825. He is the son of Parker and Elizabeth (Shoots) Lee, natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively, Mrs. Lee being of German lineage. Par- ker Lee emigrated with his parents from Maryland to Kentucky, when but seven years of age, and was engaged in the war of 1812, serving as Captain of a militia corps during the entire war. His marriage to Miss Elizabeth Shoots took place in or near the year 1812, soon after which he removed to the Sandusky Plains, about 1837, buying 800 acres of land in Big Island Township, Marion County. From 1840 to 1842, he lived in Wyandot Coun- ty, but spent the remainder of his days in Salt Rock Township, Marion County. He was the father of twelve children, six of whom are now liv- ing, namely, John, William, Benjamin F., Elizabeth, Sarah and Martin. The deceased are Melinda, Joseph, Henry, Louis, Jacob and Lucretia. He died at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife at sixty-nine. Benja- min F. Lee was educated in the common schools, living with his father until his twenty-eighth year. He was married, November 30, 1853, to Narcissa Sappington, daughter of Elias and Mary (Whitcomb) Sappington, of Big Island Township. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were the parents of nine children, six surviving-Mary E. (wife of Amandis Seligman), Sallie W., (wife of Thomas Heckathorn), Willie E., John S., Carrie F, and Frank G. The deceased are Elias F., Sophrano and James. Taking one crop from his father's farm as a subsidy, he purchased in the fall of 1854, 177 acres in Hardin County, Ohio, moving there in the same year, and remained five years. He then traded this farm for one of 240 acres in Goshen Town- ship, subsequently adding twenty more, remaining there five years and another five years on an eighty- acre farm one and a half miles east of Ken- ton. In 1865, this latter tract was sold, and twenty acres adjoining the 260 acres spoken of above, were purchased. In 1866, this whole tract was ex- changed for the one of 260 acres on which Mr. Lee now resides. His farm is in a high state of cultivation, is valued at $75 per acre, and stocked with excellent grades. It is watered by twelve never-failing springs and eighty rods of the Tymochtee River. The residence, which was repaired at a cost of $600, was consumed by fire, May 5, 1878, and his present handsome dwelling was erected the same season at a cost of $2,000. In politics, Mr. Lee is a stanch Republican. He has served as a member of the School Board of Marseilles, for three years, which post of honor he still retains; he was a member of the Board of Agriculture four years, and is an Elder of the Presbyteriau Church. His wife and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in good standing. Mr. Lee is one of the leading farmers of his township, and is a generous and influential citizen.

JOHN LESLIE, the subject of this sketch, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, December 27, 1842, being the son of John and Esther (Smith) Leslie, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Irish-German descent, his grandfather Leslie born in Ireland, his grandfather Smith in Germany. His people came to Ohio soon after marriage in 1833, lived in Akron and Massillon some time, at the former place when it contained few houses. They then

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

moved to Norwalk, Ohio, and later to Hardin County, while it was yet a " wilderness of wolves," thence to Marion County, buying 100 acres near La Rue. He died October 22, 1851, aged forty-three years, leaving a family of seven children-Louisa, Harriet (deceased), James, John, Martha, Demer and Harmon. The mother died in September, 1861, aged forty- seven years. Mr. Leslie received a limited education in the common schools, and lived on the homestead till enlisting in the United States service, Company F, Eighteenth United States Infantry, October 26, 1861. He . fought at Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, being wounded at the latter place, and compelled to retire six months. He returned to his regiment, and was subsequently engaged at Resaca, Kingston, Snake Gape, Buzzard's Roost, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and many skirmishes, and was discharged at Lookout Mountain, Tenn., October 26, 1864. His marriage to Miss Evaline Craw- ford occurred June 29, 1865. She is the daughter of Rev. Silas and Ann E. (Nicholes) Crawford, who are natives of Ohio, and of German extraction. They are residents of Plymouth, Ind., he being identified with the Baptist Church of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Leslie have four children-W. Thur. man, born September 25, 1867; Lillie B., June 19, 1870; Mary L., Jan- uary 11, 1872; Marven H., September 4, 1878. Mr. Leslie purchased fifty acres in Bowling Green Township, Marion County, 1864, resided there three years, and two years on another farm in same township, rented two years in Medina County, and in 1871 purchased forty acres of his present farm. This he has increased by subsequent purchases to 200 acres-eighty cleared-all valued at $50 per acre. He is a Democrat in politics and a substantial citi- zen, member of the G. A. R. at Marseilles. Mr. Leslie and family are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church.

ROBERT LINDSEY, of the firm of Lindsey & Gates, dealers in dry goods, groceries, etc., was born in Grand Township, Marion County, Ohio, May 30, 1844, son of James H. and Elorn (Stiverson) Lindsey, natives of Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish and Scotch-German descent respectively. They were married about 1835-36 in Grand Township, and were the parents of seven children, four living-Robert, Ann M., Sarah R., and Mary. The deceased are James, John and David, the two latter having lost their lives in the late war. His father died February 19, 1881, the mother October 29, 1882. Mr. Lindsey, our subject, was educated in the common schools, at- tending one term at the Weslyan University of Delaware, Ohio, closing his literary pursuits at the age of nineteen. He remained with his father till May 2,1864, when he enlisted in Company M, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment (Cavalry) National Guards and was engaged at Manassas Junction, and discharged four months later at Columbus, Ohio. He returned to the farm, staying until his twenty-sixth year. In 1870, he went to Kansas, purchased eighty acres of land, and staid three years, when he returned to Ohio, and received 160 acres of land from his father in Grand Township. He tended this farm till 1880, when be purchased an interest in his present store, of B. F. Kennedy, and began business under the firm name of Ken- nedy & Lindsey. They continued this partnership one year, after which time Mr. Lindsey purchased his partner's interest, selling soon after one- half interest to H. S. Gates, with whom he is still in partnership. They carry a $12,000 stock. Besides this, Mr. Lindsey owns 320 acres of land in Kansas, valued at $20 per acre, well situated. His marriage to Miss Re- becca J. Oroke, daughter of Catharine Oroke, occurred February 6, 1871. They have five children-James H., Frank E., Edith L., Charles F. and Jessie M. John is deceased. Mr. Lindsey is a member of the Methodist

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MARSEILLES TOWNSHIP.

Episcopal Church, of the F. & A. M., Master Mason, of Marseilles, of the G. A. R., and a Republican in politics. He is a successful business man and a good citizen.

MAJ. HUGH LONG,* one of the oldest settlers of the township, was born in West Liberty, Va., April 12, 1794. He is the son of John and Catharine (Fry) Long, natives of Pennsylvania. His great-grandmother, Nancy Howard, was kidnapped in London, England, brought to this coun- try and sold for her passage. His grandfather Fry was a soldier in the Revolutionary war three years. His father was reared a farmer, and at the age of twenty-one, went to Pittsburgh and learned the tanner's trade, Gen. Wayne's army being then stationed there. He was married there and moved to St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, and became the father of ten chil- dren. He died in his sixty-fourth year, and his wife in her seventy-fifth. Maj. Long, the subject of this sketch, attended the common schools of his time and enlisted in a Light Horse Cavalry Company in the war of 1812, but, with other volunteers, was not wanted, and was exempted from enter. ing the service. He learned the tanner's trade of his father, and was en- gaged with him in the trade till twenty-five years of age. About that time he married Miss Catharine Trucks, four children resulting therefrom, two living-Mary and Matilda; the deceased are Catharine and Joseph. The mother of these died in 1832, aged twenty-four years. Mr. Long was mar- ried again the same year to Miss Sarah Hinkle, who by him became the mother of fourteen children, six surviving to the present time -- Hugh H., John, Hiram, Orrin, Vincent and Hattie, wife of Lawson H. DeLander. Mr. Long came to Marion County, in 1832, settling in Marseilles, then Bur- lington; the Fitzgeralds, Youngs and Merrimans being the only families in the township; our subject now being the oldest and only surviving resi- dent of those early days. He built his shop and began his trade as tanner in 1834, and continued in this occupation till 1876. He is the owner of thirty acres of land within the corporation and has been largely interested in building up the village. He has held every office in the township except that of the Justice of the Peace, and that he refused. He obtained the title of "Major " through Charles Merriman. For his eighteen days' service in the war of 1812, he receives a pension of $8 per month; also received a title to 160 acres of land, which afterward sold for $140. He was formerly a Whig, but laterly a Republican. His wife died February 9, 1882, aged seventy-three; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and highly esteemed in his old age.

JOHN McCLEARY (deceased) was born in Franklin County, Penn., June 10, 1821; he was the son of Alexander and Elizabeth (McCormick) Mc- Cleary, natives of Pennsylvania and of Irish ancestry. They emigrated to Wy- andot County about 1838, and though the parents of ten children, but three are living-Hanna, Lemuel and Jane. The deceased are Robert, John, Mary, Alexander, James, Thomas and William. The father died in 1865, aged sixty-five years; the mother in 1851, aged fifty-five years. Mr. Mc- Cleary attended the common schools and was married to Miss Susan Han- kins, daughter of John and Mary (Young) Hankins, April 14, 1848. Miss Hankins was born June 26, 1828, her parents being natives of Maryland, and of Irish and German descent. They came to Ohio in an early day and settled in Knox County. They had five children, four living-Timothy, George, Lewis and Susan. Thomas is deceased. Her father died October 18, 1876, aged seventy-nine years; her mother January 4, 1881, aged seventy-

* Since this sketch was written Maj. Long died.

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

eight years. John McCleary, our subject, was the father of ten children, eight living-William, Timothy, Loucetta, wife of Elkana Crossen; Hattie, wife of John Lutz; Daniel, Julia A., wife of Hugh Smith; Ida J., the two latter being twins, Mary E. and Louisa are deceased; the former dying at the age of eight years, and the latter eighteen months. During the first four years of his married life Mr. McCleary rented land, but purchased eighty acres in Mifflin Township in 1853, increasing the tract, by subsequent purchases, to 115 acres; he was always an active Democrat and a well re- spected citizen. He died August 3, 1880, leaving an estate of $8,000; his widow disposed of the farm and purchased her attractive home in Marseilles, April 10, 1883. Two children and a niece reside with her. Mrs. McCleary has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since her fourteenth year. She is pleasantly situated in her new home and is highly esteemed as a citizen.

DAVID W. McCONNEL, M. D., a leading physician of this county, was born in Greene County, Ohio, May 14, 1839. He is the son of Isaiah and Ann (Bain) McConnel, the former born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1800; the latter in Lexington, Ky., in 1799, her parents originally emigrating from Glasgow, Scotland, about 1795. They were married in Xenia, Ohio, January 1, 1828, and resided in that city ten years, after which time they removed to Hardin County, where they settled permanently. They were the parents of six children, four still living-James B., Sarah F., David W. and Martha. The deceased are Rebekah and Samuel J. The father died July 4, 1860; the mother September 12, 1883. The subject of this sketch attended the Kenton schools, and subsequently graduated from Northwood College in 1854. He began the study of medicine under Dr. W. H. Phillips, of Kenton, in 1856, and remained with him nearly four years, and after- ward graduated from the Starling Medical College in 1866, in the mean- time teaching eight terms of school. He enlisted in Company G, Fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 16, 1861; re-enlisted in the Thirty-third in July of the same year as private, and was appointed Orderly Sergeant, serving nine months, when he was appointed Second Lieutenant, after twelve months First Lieutenant, and then Captain of his company till the close of the war. He was engaged in the campaign of Eastern Ken- tucky under Gen. Nelson, and participated in the following battles: Pike- ton, Bowling Green, Bridgeport, Battle Creek, Prestonsburg, Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. At the latter place he was wounded three times, but was not discharged, and after six weeks returned as Aid; was subsequently in the battles at Franklin and Nashville, and continued as Aid till June of 1865, when he received his discharge. Mr. McConnel was mar- ried March 10, 1870, to Miss Martha J. Lacey, daughter of Haman H. Lacey. They have four children-Anna L., James H., John C. and D. Watt (Samuel E., deceased). He located in Marseilles in August, 1865, where he has since resided, building up a good living practice in his chosen pro- fession. He belongs to the regular school of medicine, and favors the temperance element of Republicanism; is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of H. fraternities, and a master member of Marseilles Lodge, No. 515, F. & A. M .; McCutchen Chapter, R.A. M .; member of Ivanhoe Council, R. & S. M., Bucyrus, Ohio; and of Marion Commandery Knight Templars, Marion, Ohio. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and highly respected as a citi- zen. It is worthy of notice that the father of our subject was one of the seven original Abolitionists of Ohio, and his son has always been an active anti-slavery man. Mrs. McConnel departed this life November 25, 1884.

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She was a lady of unusual strength of character, and was greatly admired and esteemed for her many excellent qualities.

SAMUEL PHILLIPS, blacksmith, was born in Salt Rock Township, Marion County, Ohio, June 18, 1834; son of Jacob and Comfort (Martin) Phillips, natives of Massachusetts and Ohio respectively. His father came to Ohio in an early day, and was a shoemaker by trade. He was married in 1830, and was the father of ten children, six still living-William and Edna (by his first wife), Samuel, David, John and Jacob (by his second wife). He died in Michigan when our subject was but four years of age. His wife departed this life about 1870, aged sixty years. Samuel Phillips attended the very ordinary schools of Michigan, giving up entirely his studies at the age of eighteen, coming to Marseilles and beginning his trade as an appren- tice, serving three years with James R. Eaton at 10 cents per day. At the end of three years he had accumulated $16. In 1854, he purchased a half interest in his employer's shop, where he has since pounded the anvil, build- ing up an extensive business. This partnership existed twenty-one years, at the expiration of which time Mr. Eaton retired, Mr. Phillips continuing the business at the present time as sole proprietor. His marriage to Miss Mary A. Ellis, daughter of Richard and Mary P. (Stover) Ellis, occurred in October, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have reared ten children, seven liv- ing-John, Eva (wife of J. L. Hastings), James, Charles, Jennie, Frank and Anna. The deceased are Mary, Harlan and Stover. Mr. Phillips owns his shop and lot; also his house and lot. His wife's mother resides with him, in the seventy-fourth year of her age, in feeble health. He was in the " hundred-day service," Company G, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Ohio National Guards, but sickness debarred him from active duty. He is a mem- ber of the G. A. R., of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a stanch Re- publican. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

JAMES B. POOL was born in Richland County, Ohio, May 14, 1833, son of Alexander and Phœbe H. (Harris) Pool, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German and Irish blood. The former was born July 15, 1799, the latter May 10, 1802; married June 7, 1821. They removed to the farm on which our subject now resides, in 1834, entering eighty acres of forest land, clearing the whole of it. They were the parents of eight children, seven living-Harris, William, John, Elza, James B., Clarissa E. and Charles. Eliza J. is deceased. The mother died May 14, 1878; the father December 24, 1880. Our subject received a limited education, leaving off his educa- tional pursuits at the age of eighteen, and serving an apprenticeship of two and one-half years at the wagon trade in Upper Sandusky, following this pursuit till 1861. April 18, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Fourth Reg- iment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three months, meeting with no engage- ments; re-enlisted in Company C, Second Missouri Cavalry, First Sergeant, and participated in the battles of Pierce's Mills, Moore's Mills, Kirksville, Little Rock, and one south of the latter place. Was wounded at Kirksville, but returned to his company soon after, and was discharged August 3, 1865. He was married, September 15, 1856, to Modestia Woodard, one child --- Oscar-being born to them, November 11, 1857. She died February 1, 1859. Mr. Pool was again married, September 12, 1862, to Mary E. Boyer, daughter of Eli and Lucinda (Banghart) Boyer, natives of Ohio. He in- herited and bought the old homestead, located on the Tymochtee Creek, and valued at $60 per acre. Since the war he has been engaged in farming, though his sight was permanently injured in the service. In politics, Mr. Pool is a Republican, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which

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The History of Wyandot County, Ohio, containing a history of the county, its townships, towns general and local statistics, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men etc, Part 106

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway Number of Pages: 1072

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago, Leggett, Conaway
Number of Pages: 1072