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 107

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 107

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

he has been an Elder for the past five years. His wife is also a member of the same organization.

HENRY QUAIL (deceased) was born in Pennsylvania, January 2, 1804. He was the son of John Quail, of English parentage. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, never returning. Mr. Quail received but a lim- ited education, beginning life for himself at the age of fourteen. He was married, March 17, 1836, to Miss Barbara Pepple, daughter of John and Mary Pepple, natives of Maryland, and of German lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Quail are the parents of seven children-five living --- Lydia (wife of Charles Rall), Henrietta (wife of David Whittaker), Laura A. (wife of David Mc- Cleary), Asa and John. Sophia and an infant are deceased. After spend- ing two or three years in daily labor, in 1841, Mr. Quail emigrated to Ohio by wagon, settling where the widow now resides. He entered eighty acres of land, and afterward owned 320 acres-owning 280 acres at his death, much of which he himself cleared of the timber. He died March 10, 1882, leav- ing an estate of $15,000. He was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an honest, liberal and well-respected citizen. Mrs. Quail was born November 5, 1811, and has endured many of the hard- ships of pioneer life. Notwithstanding the long years of toil, however, she is still able to do her own work. She is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and highly esteemed by all who know her.

WILLIAM SELIGMAN, an influential farmer, was born December 18, 1817, in Lehigh County, Penn. He is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Stableton) Seligman, natives of the same State, and of German lineage. Their entire lives were spent in Pennsylvania. Seven children were born to them-Daniel, Charles, William, Henry and three daughters, whose names are unrecorded and forgotten. His parents dying when he was a mere child, Mr. Seligman has been unable to obtain either their names or the dates of their births. Being bound to John Foos at the age of six years, his educational privileges were few, receiving most of his instruction from private tutors in dwelling houses. He remained with Mr. Foos till his twenty-first year, and then engaged as an apprentice to the cabinet and carpenter's trade, working in this capacity three years, and subsequently in an independent business until 1860. He came to Ohio in 1842, and set- tled near Bucyrus, doing an extensive business in contracting and building, employing from six to ton hands, and, as a result of his success, accumu- lating considerable property. On January 1, 1843, he married Miss Savina Boyer, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German parentage. Eleven children have been born to them, eight of the family still surviving-Lewis A., Amandes M., Edward H., William E., Lydia A., Dilly E. (wife of H. S. Gates), Annie M. (wife of J. D. Barr). The deceased are Moses F., Angelina, Charles and an infant. Mrs. Seligman was born in 1823, and passed away Novem- ber 29, 1879. In 1860, Mr. Seligman purchased his present farm and resi- dence, at a cost of $9,000, the original number of acres being 400, which he has increased by subsequent purchases to 506, all in a splendid condi- tion. Eighty acres of this Mr. Seligman cleared with his own hands. In 1864, he erected a handsome and commodious dwelling, costing $3,000, and also three excellent barns that are a valuable addition to the premises. The farm is also well drained, there being nearly two miles of tiling buried within its limits. His wealth is estimated at $80,000. Before the war he voted the Democratic ticket, but has since been identified with the Tem- perance wing of the Republican party. He has served six years as Trustee

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MARSEILLES TOWNSHIP.

of his township, is a member of the I. O. O. F., at Marseilles, and withal one of the most highly respected and benevolent citizens of his community. Beginning life a bound boy, his life is well worthy the emulation of any who may become acquainted with its history.

LEWIS A. SELIGMAN was born in Crawford County, Ohio, De- cember 24, 1847, to William and Lavina (Boyer) Seligman. He was edu- cated in the common schools, ceasing his schooldays at the age of eighteen. He remained with his parents till the period of his majority, and subse- quently engaged as fireman on a saw mill for eighteen months, for the Stu- debaker Brothers. He then purchased a third interest in a circular mill at Upper Sandusky, continuing in a successful business three years. In 1872, he entered B. F. Kennedy's dry goods store as a clerk, serving in this ca- pacity over four years. At the expiration of that time, he bought a half in- terest in a flouring mill at Marseilles, paying $3,000 for the same, and began business under the firm name of Hartle & Seligman. This partnership lasted four months, when Hartle's interest passed into the hands of B. F. Kennedy, and eight months later, 1879, into the possession of William Sel- igman, the firm then taking the title of Seligman & Son. They did a flour- ishing business until their mill was destroyed by fire in June, 1883. Mr. Seligman was married, December 23, 1869, to Miss Ella Atkinson, daughter of Andrew and Mary (McKnight) Atkinson. Mr. and Mrs. Seligman have three children-Charles W., born February 28, 1871; Guy A., October 22, 1877, and Kay W., March 15, 1882. Mr. Seligman is a strong temperance Republican and a member of the A., F. & A. M., and K. T., of Marion Com- mandery, No. 36. He owns an attractive home on Main street, valued at $2,000, and is one of the influential citizens of the county.

SAMUEL SIMPSON was born July 8, 1815, son of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Knowles) Simpson, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania respectively, and of Irish blood. Mr. Simpson was educated in the poorly organized schools of his day, closing his work in this direction at the age of eighteen, and engaging to " drive stage" from Cincinnati to Portland and from Springfield to Columbus. After two years spent in this occupation, he came with his parents to Marseilles in 1821, being one of the first settlers in the locality, and established himself on the Addison Heath farm, two miles south of the village. Later, he engaged in the flour mill with John Fehl, remaining in the business eleven years. He was married January 25, 1844, to Miss Ann Kennedy, daughter of John and Margaret (Wolf) Kennedy. They were the parents of three children-William C., John F. and Samuel S. The first is deceased. In 1842, Mr. Simpson purchased a farm of sixty-four acres in Grand Township, Marion County, where he remained ten years, selling out in 1852, and purchasing a grist and saw mill at La Rue, and operating the same until 1858. Disposing of this property in 1860, he removed to Marseilles and purchased a residence and eight lots, which he still owns and where he still resides. By his own efforts he has cleared 150 acres of forest land, which has materially affected his health. In politics, Mr. Simpson is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. He is familiar with much of the Indian history of the county and is able to speak the Indian language quite fluently. He has been a resident of the county sixty-two years. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN O. STUDEBAKER was born in this county June 22, 1840, son of Samuel and Delilalı (Fehl) Studebaker, natives of Pennsylvania and of German parentage. His mother was born in 1822, and his father about 1816. They were married in this county in 1838. He was a shoe maker

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

by trade. They were the parents of three children-Flavius J., Mary and John O. The father died in February, 1845; the mother is still living, in Marion County, sixty-two years of age. Our subject attended the common schools till his eighteenth year and was subsequently engaged in farm labor till 1861. May 28 of that year, he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Regi- ment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged at. Rich Mountain, Laurel Hill, Romney, Winchester, Edinburg, New Market, Port Republic and Chancellorsville; captured at the latter place and taken to Richmond, and, after sixteen days, paroled; thence to Annapolis; thence to Washington; on Gen. Auger's staff as clerk till discharged, July 11, 1864. He returned to farm, and married, April 16, 1867, Ivy, daughter of William and Jane N. Renick, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively, of German de. scent. They settled in Wyandot County (then Marion) in 1823. Their one child, Ivy E., was born March 28, 1843. The father died in 1876, aged sixty-five years; the mother died in 1875, aged fifty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Studebaker have two children living-Renick, born January 28, 1869; Bertha E., January 3, 1880. Lorin V., August 3, 1875, died January 28, 1879; George V., born January 19, 1882, died January 10, 1883.

ENOCH THOMAS was born in Hardin County, Va., July 30, 1814, son of Owen and Sophia (Hansom) Thomas, natives of Wales and Virginia respectively-she of mixed nationality. His father enlisted in the Revolu- tionary war, but did not serve; was a carpenter by trade and the father of twelve children-two living-Rebecca and Enoch. He died in 1838, aged seventy-nine years; the mother in 1836, aged fifty-six years. Our subject was educated in the very common schools of the Old Dominion, attending one year, there being no free schools at that time. He resided with his father till March 1, 1838, when he came West, traveling on horseback a dis- tance of 450 miles, crossing the Alleghanies without any roads, and arriv- ing in Franklin County, Ohio, in fifteen days. He came to Marseilles, Marion Co., Ohio, at once, and purchased eighty acres, where he now resides; has bought and sold till he now has 119 acres of good land, well improved, drained by Tymochtee River, valued at $60 per acre; made all the improve- ments, and has cleared over one hundred and twenty-five acres of forest land. He married, in 1842, Mrs. Jane Thomas, widow of David M. Thomas, and daughter of John and Sarah Farmer. They were the parents of four children- William C., George C., David M. and Margaret (deceased), wife of Levi Hildebrand. His first wife dying, Mr. Thomas was married again, in 1857, to Mrs. Sarah A. Bates, by whom he had two children-Owen and Osweld, the former now deceased. Mr. Thomas was born with but one arm, began life with $125, but by his industry has gained a competence of $8,000. He is a Republican. He and Mrs. Thomas are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to whose support they contribute liberally. Mr. Thomas has served as Trustee several years; also as Assessor and Land Appraiser, in 1870.

ANDREW UNCAPHER (deceased) was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., February 24, 1811, son of George and Catharine Uncapher. He obtained a good education, and was for a time book-keeper for a firm in Pittsburgh. He afterward learned the tanning trade, and pursued this busi- ness till 1860, at which time he moved to this township and purchased 400 acres of land. In 1836, he married Miss Mary Horrel, daughter of John and Margaret (Trimmel) Horrel, natives of Pennsylvania, and parents of ten children, Mrs. Uncapher being the youngest. Her parents are both de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Uncapher were the parents of ten children-eight

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MARSEILLES TOWNSHIP.

living -- Theodore, Philip, Joseph, Jackson, and Mary, wife of George Everts. The deceased are George, John, John T., Sarah E. and Thomas M. Mr. Uncapher died in the fall of 1861; he was a stanch Democrat and a member of the Lutheran Church, highly esteemed by all who knew him. His widow, born 1820, still survives him, owning eighty acres of good land. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has successfully reared a family of six children to the years of their majority.

PHILIP UNCAPHER. This enterprising farmer was born in West- moreland County, Penn., December 27, 1846. He is the son of Andrew and Mary A. (Horrel) Uncapher, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch- Irish descent. (See sketch). Our subject received his education in the district schools, remaining on the farm with his father. He was married August 21, 1873, to Elizabeth Modd, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Wing) Modd, natives of England, who married there and came to America in 1851, settling in Logan County, Ohio, for a number of years, where Mrs. Modd died. He is at present a resident of Linn Township, Hardin County, in his fifty-sixth year. They were parents of three children-two living. Mr. and Mrs. Uncapher have three children-Ernest M., born December 2, 1874; Philip, Jr., September 4, 1876; Chastina B., May 10, 1880. Mrs. Uncapher was born October 30, 1853. Mr. Uncapher received eighty acres from his father's estate, to which he has added forty acres, all well im- proved, with a neat residence built in 1874, costing $500. Mr. Uncapher is a Democrat; served as Trustee three years; as Justice of Peace one year, and is a substantial citizen.

A. ROYAL WEBBER, born in Whittingham, Vt., March 6, 1838, is a son of Lyman J. and Mary A. (Goodnow) Webber, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont respectively. Lyinan Webber's father died when the former was but eighteen months old, the family being of English ancestry. Lyman was born in 1810; his wife (Mary A.), in 1809, and they were married about 1832. They lived in Vermont till 1855, manufacturing hoe-handles, wag- on shafts, etc. Being a millwright by trade, he moved to Delaware County, Ohio, in the above year, purchasing a saw mill and grist mill. Later he was engaged in cabinet work, and moved to Wyandot County in 1866, where the mother died in 1867, age fifty-seven years. The father is a resident of Morrow County, at the present time, in his seventy-fourth year. A. R. Webber was virtually bound out when nine years of age to learn the shoe-maker's trade, and was to receive $100 at the age of twenty-one; at eleven, he " declared independence," and two years later emigrated to Massachusetts, there learning the cutler's trade. This occupation he fol- lowed till his nineteenth year, when, becoming proficient in the use of brass and stringed instruments, he engaged in giving instructions in their use, and in the sale of instruments, following these occupations sixteen years. Came to Ohio in 1857; went West, and in 1859 returned, living in the various counties of Delaware, Morrow and Wyandot, till 1862; thence to Cincinnati, till 1865, selling pianos and organs. In 1865, settled on present farm, which is well stocked with best grades Durham cattle, merino sheep, and provided with four and one-half miles of tile drains, Mr. Webber being the first man in the township in adopting the tile system. November 3, 1864, he married Caroline Terry, daughter of Ethan and Barbara (Heckathorn) Terry, natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively, . and of German and English descent. Ethan Terry crossed the Ohio River in a skiff when but three years of age, his parents settling in Marseilles Township in 1826. He died aged sixty-five; the mother aged fifty-nine.

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

Mr. and Mrs. Webber have two children-Edgar K., born October 23, 1865; Ernest R., born August 25, 1871. In politics, Mr. Webber is Independent, Temperance, the entire family being members of the Presbyterian Church.

WILLIAM E. WEBBER was born in Windham County, Vt., October 9, 1842, son of Lyman J. and Mary A. (Goodnow) Webber (see A. R. Web- ber). He was educated in the high school in Delaware County, Ohio, tak- ing a commercial course in the Columbus Business College, graduating in 1865. His marriage to Miss Mary E. Terry, daughter of Ethan and Bar- bara Terry, occurred October 25, 1870. Two children have been born to them-Winferd P., August 7, 1872; Walter Owen, August 17, 1877. Mr. Webber was engaged in teaching school ten years; enlisted in three months' service, Company C, Eighty-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry; re- enlisted at end of three months in Eighty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, doing camp and guard duty one year, when he was promoted to Corporal, and subsequently to Sergeant; served on the recruiting commis- sion, raising thirty men for Company H, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and became Second Lieutenant of same company, and was mustered out as First Lieutenant. He was engaged in the battle of the Cedars, Nashville, Franklin, Newbern, and in many skir- mishes, receiving his discharge July 5, 1865. In 1866, he purchased an interest in a woolen mill, which he successfully operated six years. He and family are living at present on their farm of 200 acres, which is well im- proved and valued at $60 per acre, stocked with good grades of Durham cattle, merino sheep and horses. He built this year one of the finest frame residences in the township, costing about $3,000; also owns 150 acres of good grazing land in Tennessee. He and Mrs. Webber are both members of the Presbyterian Church, he being a Trustee of the same. In politics, Mr. Webber is a Republican, of the temperance persuasion. Mrs. Webber was born and principally educated in Wyandot County, Ohio, receiving in addition to a good common school education a thorough course in the Young Ladies' Seminary, Springfield, Ohio. She inherited from her parents the farm on which the family now reside.

DAVID WILKIN is a native of Hardin County, Va., born March 31, 1822. He is the son of David and Mary (Wilson) Wilkin, natives of the same county, of German parentage. They emigrated to Ohio in 1827, set- tling in Licking County, where they resided twenty-five years. They then moved to Van Wert County, and shortly after to Michigan, where they re- sided about four years, and thence to Indiana for about the same length of time. The father died at the home of his son David, March 28, 1882, aged eighty-five years. He was the father of fourteen children, seven by his first wife-Benjamin, David, John A., Joseph, Jonathan, Isaac and Mary A. By his second wife-Hayden, George, William, Cora, Lucinda and Amanda. The mother of the first family died in 1849, aged fifty-three years. Our subject obtained a common school education in Licking County, and worked at home and elsewhere until his marriage, December 23, 1847, to Barbara E. Losh, daughter of Jacob and Eve (Shular) Losh, natives of Pennsylvania, of German lineage. They were early settlers of Perry and Licking Coun- ties and were the parents of nine children, five living -- Czar H., born March 28, 1852; Lucinda D., November 20, 1854; Lydia S., July 20, 1858; Lucy, December 7, 1861; Flora B., June 14, 1864. The deceased are John A., Mary A. and two infants. Mr. Wilkin came to Marseilles Township in 1851, renting the old Wilkin farm twenty-two years; he bought eighty acres of his present farm in 1855, and has since added forty acres more; fifty

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MARSEILLES TOWNSHIP.

acres of this was forest land cleared by himself. In his lifetime, Mr. Wil- kin claims to have put 100 acres of forest land under cultivation. He began life with nothing, and now has a farm well improved. valued at $8,000; has ever been a hard worker, himself and another young man (Drum) having cradled 240 dozen of wheat and shocked sixty dozen of the same in one day; reaped with a sickle thirty-five dozen in one day. In politics, Mr. Wilkin is a Democrat, voting first for James K. Polk. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M. at Marseilles; his wife of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

PHILIP WINSLOW was born in New Castle, Knox Co., Ohio, Octo- ber 4, 1834. He is the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Eli) Winslow, na- tives of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania respectively, and of English and German ancestry. His father's great-grandfather came from England, and his grandfather Winslow was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father came to Ohio when eighteen, walking from Massachusetts. He was married, and moved to Marion County in 1835, purchasing 160 acres in Grand Township, clearing much of it, and rearing a family of eight children, five still living-Patience, Philip, Emaline. David and Orrin. The deceased are Mary A., William and John. The father is still living, aged eighty-six. The mother died May 9, 1875, aged seventy-three. The subject of this sketch was given a common education, and worked by day and month till he enlisted in the service, Company G, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, November 18, 1861. He participated in the battles at McDowell, Cedar Mountain, Bull Run second, Kelly's Ford, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg; was here transferred to the Army of the Cumberland, and subsequently engaged at Lookout Mountain, Knoxville (here veteranized), Resaca, New Hope Church, Buzzard's Roost, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, with "Sherman to the sea," at Bentonville, and Raleigh, making a forced march to Washington, from Washington to Louisville, Ky., and here discharged August, 1865. He was captured at Gettysburg, taken to Belle Isle and kept three months and eight days, where he would have died only for the assistance of Patrick Cayten, of Marion, Ohio. He was at length exchanged, after having marched 2,500 miles, and fought twenty-five to thirty battles. Mr. Winslow was married, December 9, 1860, to Miss Jannett Coffman, daughter of Martin and Lucy (Dickson) Coffman, the former deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow have had eleven children, eight living-Jobn, Elnora, Curtis, Mary A., Alice, Louis, Elvira and Early. The deceased are Lucy B., Montgomery and an infant. Mr. Winslow pur- chased his present farm of eighty acres in 1872. In politics, he is a sound Democrat.

JOSEPH C. WORTHINGTON. The subject of this sketch was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 2, 1827. He is the son of John and Nancy (McDill) Worthington, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, of English ancestry. His grandfather Worthington was a soldier in the Revolution, and his father in the war of 1812. His uncle, Thomas Worthington, of Chillicothe, was at one time Governor of Ohio. They removed to Chilli- cothe, or near that place, about 1815, rearing a family of nine children, six living-Isabel, Robert, Elizabeth, James, Joseph C. and Nancy. The de- ceased are Jane, Mary and John, the latter dying from disease contracted in the late war, in which he served three years. The father died in 1873, aged seventy eight years; the mother in 1848, aged forty-five years. Our subject attended the common school, beginning monthly labor on the farm at six- teen, and continuing in this pursuit two years, since which time he has en- gaged in farming. He married, December 29, 1849, Miss Mary J. Pumphry

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HISTORY OF WYANDOT COUNTY.

(born February 8, 1833), daughter of John W. and Jane (Wright) Pum- phry, natives of Virginia and Ohio, of Welsh and Irish ancestry. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and her grandfather Pumphry in the Revolutionary war. She is descendant of the English Cromwell-her father's mother, Rachel Cromwell, coming from England. Her parents settled in Ohio in an early day. Her mother had seven children, she being the second by the second marriage, her only full brother being J. B. Pum- phry. Mr. and Mrs. Worthington have two children -John A., born June 26, 1852; James R., July 19, 1862. They rented land during the first four years of married life, and purchased his present farm of eighty acres in 1854, paying for the same $765; has cleared fifty acres of his farm, and 100 acres in all. In 1864, enlisted in Company G, Eighteenth Regiment Ohio National Guards; engaged at Monocacy River, and discharged at the expira- tion of 100 days. Mrs. Worthington is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and both Mr. and Mrs. Worthington are industrious and well respected.

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MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER VII.

MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARIES-PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS-ROADS, ETC .- FIRST SETTLEMENTS-INHABITANTS OF THE TOWNSHIP IN 1845-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-MISCELLANEOUS-BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

T' THIS township, which embodies Township 3 south, Range 13 east, was under the civil jurisdiction of Crawford County before the erection of Wyandot, though it was within the reservation. The township assumed its present dimensions in 1845, the sale of the reserve taking place in 1843. It is bounded on the north by Salem Township, on the east by Pitt and Crane Townships, on the south by Marseilles, and on the west by Jackson. The Wyandot Reservation line in Mifflin ran from the north, parallel with and about a mile and a quarter from the western boundary line of the town- ship, through Sections 5, 8, 17, 20 and 29, as far as Tymochtee Creek in Section 32, thence eastward, parallel with and about three-quarters of a mile from the southern boundary of the township through Sections 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36.

The topography of this township and general quality of the soil are much in common with the surrounding townships, and its productiveness in crops and farm stock is in nowise behind, corn, wheat, grass and all root crops being well up to the average, besides abundance of cattle, sheep and hogs, all fully testifying to the prosperity of the husbandmen. More clearing, perhaps, of the timber may have been effected than can be said of some of the neighboring townships, though in the northern part the growth is somewhat heavier.

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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 107

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

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