The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 123

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 123

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).

1040

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

Mary J. Mr. Clark and his wife are connected with the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Clark is a member of a Masonic order. In politics, he is a Republican, and for one year was Trustee of Buck Township, and several years of Richland Township, Logan County.

ISAAC COOK (deceased) was born in New Jersey May 3, 1801; he was a son of Mordecai and Sarah (Havens) Cook, natives of New Jersey and New York respectively. In 1802, his parents removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, purchasing near Lancaster over 300 acres of land. Of this land Mr. Cook cleared a portion, then sold the greater part, retaining forty acres ; he died in the fall of 1847, aged seventy-five years ; his father was an emigrant from France before the Revolution. Mrs. Cook, the wife of Mordecai, died about 1852. Isaac served a three years' apprenticeship at the wagon-maker's trade in Newark. He then married and settled on a farm in Fairfield County, where he farmed till 1830; then removed to Har- din County, and the following year to Marion County. He was there three years, and in 1848 removed to Kenton, where he resumed his trade, follow- ing it to within two years of his decease ; he died December 28, 1871. He was married, in 1825, to Sarah, a daughter of John and Mary Ice, and born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1804. Mr. and Mrs. Cook were the par- ents of ten children, six living, viz .: Nathaniel, John P., Isaac, Emily, Lila (the wife of Warren Kellogg) and Samantha L. Nathaniel was born in Marion County, Ohio, October 14, 1835; was brought up on a farm until thirteen years of age ; he followed milling for four years, then learned the trade of a blacksmith, followed it for one year, and was subsequently em- ployed as foreman on the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railway. He continued in that position till March, 1873, when he removed to his pres- ent farm in Buck Township. He was married, October 14, 1862, to Hul- dah, daughter of Leonard and Mary Richards, and born in Ross County, Ohio, July 16, 1841. Of the three children born, one is living- Willie L., born December 28, 1863; Eddie and Katie are deceased. Mr. Cook is en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, and owns eighty-six acres of land. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Kenton. Mr. Cook has filled the office of Township Trustee for two terms, and is politically a Democrat.

CAPT A. P. CUTTING, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, December 18, 1832, and is a son of Linus and Eliza (Conk- lin) Cutting. His father was born in Shoreham, Vt., April 20, 1794, and his mother in Fort Hamilton, now Cincinnati, Ohio, December 18, 1802, and died January 13, 1871. They were married January 14, 1821. Linus Cutting's parents, Elijah and Lucy (Douglas) Cutting (the latter an aunt on the paternal side to Stephen A. Douglas), were natives of Vermont. On the death of Lucy Cutting, Elijah Cutting married Betsey Hale, whose mother died at Fort McArthur and was the first white person that died in Hardin County. Our subject's father came to Miami County, Ohio, where he followed his trade of millwright. He was a member of Capt. James Bigger's Mounted Rangers Company, and served one and a half years, principally in the frontier service. He then returned to Miami County, lived there two years, and then removed to Wyandot (then Crawford) Coun- ty in 1823. At this time he was employed by the Government to construct the Indian Mills on the Sandusky River. He subsequently bought 160 acres of land, on which he built a mill of his own. In the fall of 1833, he removed to Logan County, and in March, 1854, to Buck Township, Hardin County, where he died February 19, 1874. He and wife had reared eight

1041

BUCK TOWNSHIP.

out of their nine children, all still living. Four of the six sons were Union soldiers. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, receiving a com- mon school education. On November 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served two years in the Army of the Potomac, and one and a half in the Cumberland Army. He was at first Second Sergeant, the following year First Sergeant; on July 15, 1863, was promoted to the Second Lieutenancy, then First Lieutenancy, and finally reached the rank of a Captain. He fought at McDowell, Va., Chancellorsville, Wauhatchie, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek; at the latter engagement, he received a bullet wound in the right shoulder, July 20, 1864. He was confined in the officer's hospital at Nashville, Tenn., and received his discharge April 4, 1865. He is now drawing a pension. On October 2, 1860, he was married to Mary A., a daughter of Henry and Anna (Hayward) Thew. To this union there have been born nine children, five living, viz. : Henry T., Emma B., Don D. and Mary A. and Clara E., twins. The deceased are Martha J., James H., Luella M. and Daisy A. Mr. Cutting and family are members of the Universalist Church of Kenton, and Mr. Cutting is a member of the Masonic order. He is now retired from business, and is the owner of 123 acres of land. He is a Republican in politics, and has filled the office of County School Examiner of Hardin County six years.

JOSEPH O. DODDS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Union County, Ohio, July 7, 1845; his father, John Dodds, was born in Erie County, Penn., February 3, 1806; his mother, Nancy Gary, was a native of Cham- paign County, Ohio, born April 17, 1820. James Dodd, the grandfather of our subject, moved with his family in 1818, to Delaware County, Ohio, where he died. John Dodd subsequently went to Union County and mar- ried Nancy Gary at North Lewisburg. Her father, James Gary, was the founder of Lewisburg, the name of which town had been formerly Garys- ville. Our subject's parents were married, December 3, 1840, and resided in Union County till 1847, when they removed to within three and a half miles south of Kenton. Mr. John Dodds owned a small farm, now belonging to George P. Frame, and died in McDonald Township, Hardin County, in October, 1872; his wife died November 4, 1868. They had eleven children, of whom our subject is the third son. He enlisted, October 16, 1861, in Company K, Thirty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Cum- berland Army. He fought in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chick- amauga, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He received a slight flesh wound at Mission Ridge, which disabled him for six months; he veteran- ized February 3, 1864; came home on a furlough, and then rejoined his regiment at Camp Dennison, and returned to the South; he was disabled from duty and was detailed to guard the baggage. On July 8, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Camp Dennison, Ohio. On his return home, he resumed farming, which he has since followed. In 1870, he settled on his present farm, which, at the time, was in the woods, and has cleared and improved the land. Under his farm he has 360 rods of tiling. On March 17, 1870, he married Amelia, a daughter of Henry and Anna E. Battles, and a native of Germany, born January 1, 1851. The four children that resulted from this union are as follows: George H., James O., William O. and Anna M. Mr. Dodds and his wife are members of the United Presby terian Church of Kenton. He is politically a Republican. His father was Treasurer and Clerk of Buck Township two years and one year respectively.

LEWIS DUNSON, farmer, P. O. Mount Victory, was born in Logan

1042

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

County, Ohio, September 22, 1828; he is a son of Thomas and Beulah (Patrick) Dunson, natives of Virginia and New Jersey respectively, and married in Logan County, Ohio, of which their parents were the earliest pioneers. Our subject is the eldest son and second child of a family of eleven children, six living; he was reared principally on a farm in Hale Township,. Hardin County, to which his father had moved when the former was six years old; his education was derived from the common schools. On August 22, 1862, he enlisted in the Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F; served in Tennessee, and fought in the battle of Stone River and sev- eral other minor engagements; he was wounded at Stone River, and dis- charged on that account February 20, 1863. He received a gunshot wound in the right knee, and is now drawing a pension of $6 per month. In the- spring of 1865, he purchased his present farm, and has cleared and im- proved it. Besides farming, he raises stock and keeps Poland-China and Chesterwhite hogs. He was married, in June, 1849, to Miss Margaret Plews, born in Northumberland County, Penn., July 16, 1827, and a daugh- ter of William and Mary Plews. Of the nine children born, eight are liv- ing-Beulah, wife of John W. Thompson; John O., Benair W., Thomas, Alice M., Temperance, W. Mark and Rush. Mr. Dunson's paternal grand- father, Thomas Dunson, served in the Revolutionary war, in which he was wounded; he removed from Virginia to Logan County, Ohio, before the war of 1812; married Miss Corbing, and both died in Logan County; Johnson Patrick, the maternal grandfather of our subject, came to Logan County shortly after the war of 1812. Mr. Dunson and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is now serving his second term of of- fice as Justice of the Peace.

JOHN ESPY was born in Beaver County, Penn., March 2, 1811, there grew to manhood, and in August, 1836, was married to Miss Jane Ander- son, a native of the same county. To this union one son, Thomas, was born, who for many years has been one of the leading business men of Kenton. From Beaver County, Penn., Mr. Espy and family removed to Taylor Creek Township, Hardin Co., Ohio, arriving at their destination September 1, 1838. Here he lived upon a farm until the autumn of 1840, when he removed to Kenton, and engaged in the manufacture and sale of wooden pumps until the year 1844, when he entered a distillery on the present site of the Snow Cloud Mills. During the ensuing year the grind- ing for the distillery was done by the old Ross horse mill, which was oper- ated, as its name implies, by a horse tread-wheel. The insufficiency of this. mill for the growing demands of the day was soon recognized by Mr. Espy, and in 1846 he erected the present Snow Cloud Flour Mill in connection with the distillery. The erection of this mill marked a new era in the mill- ing operations of the community, for this was the first steam flour mill erected within the county. Mr. Espy continued the operation of this mill about eight years, when he sold it, and purchased a saw mill on the south side of the town. With this enterprise he was connected about twelve years. In 1865, the Marseilles Flouring Mill was purchased, but at the ex- piration of the first year Mr. Espy returned to Kenton, and at once erected the present Espy Mill, which went into operation March 30, 1867. To this enterprise he devoted his attention until 1872, when he withdrew from all connection with milling operations. From this date up to within about a month of his death, his whole time and attention were devoted to the im- provement of the home farm on the south side of town. During the last month of his life, he had purchased the old woolen mills property, and

je h T

ac S da cem two In crat C.

1043

BUCK TOWNSHIP.

planned the erection of another large flour mill which should supply the growing demands of the old mill, whose increased patronage had outrun its capacity. The death of Mr. Espy, November 28, 1878, brought this undertaking to a close for the present. Such were the leading events in the business affairs of Mr. Espy that he justly earned the title of "the pioneer miller of Hardin County." Beginning with empty hands, by per- sistent application to business, he was enabled to achieve some of the great- est milling operations of the county and period. In his capacity as a pio- neer, he contributed to the development of the public interests of the community, always an advocate of all measures of advancement, and a champion of every project of improvement. Although deeply interested in public affairs, he would never allow his name to be used in connection with any office beyond those of his own township, always giving as a reason for his aversion to office -- the urgent demands of his private affairs. Thus, while a partisan of strong convictions, and deeply devoted to the interests of the Democratic party, he would never sacrifice his personal interests "by attending to the business of others." His party received his sympathy and influence; his private affairs, his energy and time. In business he was a man of strict integrity, rigid in exaction of all obligations, and unswerving in his plans. Possessed of a high sense of justice, and an indomitable will, no question of expediency could allure him aside from what he consid- ered the line of duty. In private life he was kind, forbearing and affable. With a plan unwavering, an energy untiring, and a will unflinching, he rose to affluence; but this success not only failed to produce pride or cold- ness, but rather served to enlarge its sphere of usefulness, as generosity and liberality were prominent traits of his character. Although having reached the advanced age of sixty-eight, his death came suddenly and unexpectedly and was deeply deplored by the whole community, for the public recog- nized in his demise an almost irreparable loss.

JOHN EVANS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Cardigan, Wales, February 12, 1803. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Davis) Evans, both natives of Wales. His father was born in October, 1782, his mother on February 12, 1783, and were of Welsh stock. In 1818, they emigrated from their native country in a sailing vessel, and were fifty-two days on the voyage. They landed at Baltimore in June, and then went to Pittsburgh. They subsequently proceeded down the Ohio River in a flatboat, to Gallip- olis, Ohio. Mr. Evans entered eighty-four acres of land in Gallia County, lived there till 1824, then removed to Delaware County, purchasing a farm of 200 acres in Thompson Township. He died in October, 1828. For seven years he was a sea captain. He started out a poor boy, and with energy, combined with a good practical business mind, acquired bis large and val- uable property. His estate was estimated to be worth $40,000. The sub- ject of this sketch inherited 100 acres of land in Delaware County, of which he cleared sixty acres. He then sold out, and bought 207 acres in Buck Township, Hardin County, to which he added until he had acquired 477

acres. He divided this land among his children, retaining 217 acres, worth $75 an acre. He was married, January 29, 1829, to Maria Cochran, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Cochran, and a native of Ohio, born De- cember 3, 1809. Mrs. Evans died July 28, 1860, leaving a family of twelve children, four living-Thomas, John E., David C. and William E. In politics, Mr. Evans was formerly a Whig, but now belongs to the Demo- cratic party. He held the office of Township Trustee for five years. David C. Evans, the third son living, was born in Thompson Township, Delaware

1044

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

County, Ohio, January 7, 1847. He was reared on the homestead. and ob- tained a limited education from the common schools. On April 25, 1871, he was married to Miss Varena, a daughter of John and Mary Fry. She is a native of Switzerland, born December 17, 1851. The four children born are Emery D., Willis J., Charles E. and Earl. Mr. David Evans owns ninety-six acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs.

DAVID EVANS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Wales, June 20, 1813. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Jones) Evans. (See sketch of John Evans.) David was the youngest of five children, two living- John and David. The deceased are Mary, Margaret and Magdalena. Our subject was reared on the homestead, and obtained a fair education from the common schools. At an early age, he began providing for his mother and a sister. In April, 1852, he sold his farm in Gallia County. Ohio, and came to Hardin County. Here he bought 202 acres of land at $14 an acre. He has since cleared the land, and has 125 acres under cultivation. He assisted in cutting out and making the roads in his section of Buck Town- ship, and also gave a helping hand in founding churches and schools. H was largely instrumental in the organization of the St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has since been connected. In 1878, he erected his brick residence, at a cost of $2,200. On January 9, 1833, he was united in marriage to Lovina, a daughter of John Price, and born in Union County, Ohio, in September, 1816. This union has been blessed with fourteen children, nine living, as follows: Elizabeth, wife of James Bailey; Margaret, wife of Paul K. Sieg; Bethany, wife of Ira Richards; Mary, wife of Thomas McElree; Thomas P .; Nancy A., wife of Edward Moy; Phebe, wife of Charles White; William H., married to Mattie Weiser; and Magdalene, wife of J. B. Jackson. The deceased are John, William H., Maria and two infants. Mr. Evans and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Evans is a Democrat, but has never sought office. Thomas P. Evans, the eldest son of David Evans, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, March 20, 1845. He was married, March 7, 1867, to Laura E., a daughter of John and Saloma Tyler. She was born in Orleans County, N. Y., March 13, 1846. The six children born are Saloma L., Arthur, Lovina E., Asher T., Gertrude L. and Alta M.

JOHN E. EVANS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born on the old home- stead, in Delaware County, Ohio, January 7, 1847. He is a son of John and Maria Evans, with whom he had come to Hardin County, where they settled. He is next to the youngest son living, and twin brother to David C. Evans. He was reared on the homestead, in Buck Township, and se- cured a fair education from the common schools. On February 22, 1876, he married Miss Jennie, a daughter of Francis B. and Nancy (Conner) Slagle, and a native of Ross County, Ohio, born March 3, 1852. No chil- dren have blessed this union. Mrs. Evans' parents had settled in Pleasant Township when she was three years old, and where she attained woman- hood. Mr. Evans resided on a part of the homestead until November 30, 1881. He owns 160 acres of land, besides eighty-one and a half near Sil- ver Station, given him by his father. He is engaged in farming and stock- raising, making sheep a specialty of the latter. Mrs. Evans is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Grant Station. Mr. Evans is a Demo- crat in politics, and is now serving as Township Trustee and School Di- rector.

P S 2

a P ac ma

res

1045

BUCK TOWNSHIP.

DAVID O. HATCHER, farmer, P. O. Mount Victory, was born near Zanesfield, Logan Co., Ohio, May 15, 1847. He is a son of Daniel and Hopy (Garwood) Hatcher, of Loudoun County, Va. His father died in Lo- gan County, Ohio, when he was eight years old, and his mother when he was thirteen. His mother, when five years old, and a cousin, aged about ten years, were captured in Logan County by the Indians, who carried them into Champaign County, where they were followed by a darkey named Anthony Blanks, who unbound the prisoners while the Indians were asleep, and escaped with them. Our subject lived with his brother, Nathaniel O., in Hale Township, until of age. When sixteen years of age, he worked out by the month until he had reached his twentieth year, then farmed with his brother for one year. In 1869, he married, and the following winter purchased 100 acres of land, most of which was in the woods, which he has since cleared, and now has sixty acres under cultivation. He was married, March 31, 1869, to Louisa, daughter of Conrad and Mary M. (Moore) Har- pel, born September 3, 1843, in Jefferson Township, Logan Co., Ohio. Of the seven children born, six are living, viz .: Alonzo O., Benabille O., George E., Minnie M., Ona F. and Grace E. An infant son is deceased. Mr. Hatcher and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is a Trustee. In politics, he belongs to the Democratic party. His brother, Isaac H., enlisted, September 20, 1861, at the age of sixteen years, in Company C, Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Chickamauga. Nathaniel O. was a member of Com- pany I, One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served from August, 1862, to June, 1865. He was in several battles; was with Sherman on his Atlanta campaign, and was imprisoned a few days in the Andersonville Prison. He returned home, and died from physical disa- bility, March 3, 1881.

HENRY G. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Fleming County, Ky., April 17, 1813, and is a son of Jacob and Rachel (Green) Johnson. He is next to the youngest of the children living; was reared on his father's farm and educated in the common schools. His first schoolhouse was a log cabin, with no floors, furnished with a fire-place, slab seats and greased- paper window lights. When sixteen years of age, he left home, going twenty-one miles to Champaign County to obtain work at $6 a month, $1 in cash and the remainder in goods. For four years he worked by the month, receiving from $6 to $9 per month; then cropped one year and worked by the job one year ; after which he married, and, in 1841, bought 100 acres of land, where Rushsylvania now stands, paying $1,000. It was largely covered with timber, and he has since cleared half of the farm and lived on it seven years. He then lived on the Mays farm on the old Sandusky road, remaining there one year. He accommodated pioneer travelers, although not keeping a public house. He cleared three farms in Logan County, and on March 25, 1850, purchased his present farm of 100 acres, paying $8 an acre. In 1853, he added 103 acres, paying $6 an acre; sub- sequently, in 1856, he added fifty-four acres more, and is now the owner of 247 acres, 150 of which he has cleared and improved himself. He started a poor boy, and by his energy and ambition secured all he now has, and his pursuits in life have been generally successful. He has been a great reader, acquiring considerable knowledge. On April 28, 1836. he was united in marriage to Martha, daughter of Robert and Isabel (Burnsides) Smith, and a native of Logan County, Ohio, born October 10, 1813. Ten children resulted from this union, nine living, viz., Jacob R .; Isabel S., wife of J.

1046

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

S. Allen; Robert H .; Savilla ; Victoria, wife of Nathan Clark; Henry O., Philip G., Mary E., and Paulina, wife of Kendrick Kennedy. Mr. John- son and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, to which he has belonged for sixty years and she for forty years. Mr. Johnson has also been a local minister for twenty-five years. In politics, he was formerly a Whig, but is now a Republican. He served as Townsbip Trustee for eight years. Jacob R. Johnson, the eldest son of our subject, was the first to enlist in Hardin County; he responded to the call for 75,000 men, and enlisted in Company -, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served in the army of the Potomac, and fought at Romney. After a service of nine months, he was discharged on account of disability. He then returned home, and is now residing in Leesburg, Kosciusko Co., Ind. He was married to Mar- garet J. Pooder.

HOSEA JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Monroe Town- ship, Logan Co., Ohio, December 11, 1817. His father, Jacob Johnson, was born in Monmouth County, N. J., March 15, 1779. His mother, Rachel Green, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1784. His grandfather . was Andrew Johnson, who came from Holland before the Revolution, settled in New Jersey, and in 1786 removed with his family to Boone County, Ky. The following year Daniel Boone left that county. Mrs. Johnson, wife of Jacob Johnson, was of English and Welsh descent. Her father, George Green, worked his way across the ocean on a sailing vessel when nineteen years of age. He settled in Bourbon County, Ky., and, in 1811, came to Logan County, Ohio, where he died. Our subject's parents married July 12, 1802. His father was an old hunter, and followed that occupation in Kentucky, where bears were so numerous that people could hardly keep their hogs, and had to pen them up. Mr. Johnson, early one morning, was aroused by the squealing of some hogs, and suddenly started out in pursuit of the bear. He followed the noise, and soon found the object of his search. The bear was biting and cuffing the hog, which he held up, but on seeing the hunter he fled. Mr. Johnson, knowing the bear would soon return, secreted himself behind a log, and shortly after bruin came back and perched himself with his fore feet on the log, snuffing around, upon which the hunter shot him in the region of the heart. The animal was found to weigh 500 pounds. When Jacob Johnson came to Logan County, he " squatted " on 1,000 acres of land, which he occupied seventeen years. He then bought eighty-seven acres of land at $2 an acre in Rush Creek Township, which land he cleared of the timber covering it. His father's home was used as a church for twenty-five years, and his house was the home of the itinerant. He was first identified with the old Calvin Baptists, and afterward with the Methodist Church, in which he labored until his death. He died in August, 1868, and his wife preceded him, September 18, 1856. They had twelve children, ten sons and two daughters, five living. Our subject, the youngest child, was reared on a farm and given a common school education. He aided his father in clearing the farm, and lived with him until twenty-two years old. On January 2, 1840, he was married to Nancy Rosbrugh, born in Logan County, Ohio, February 11, 1817. Her parents, Hilkiah and Susan (Deardeff) Rosbrugh, were natives of Virginia, whence they moved and settled in Logan County, Ohio, near West Liberty, where their daughter Nancy was reared to womanhood. Mrs. Rosbrugh was born May 18, 1787, died May 2, 1851, in Logan County; her husband was born October 30, 1782, died April 17, 1828, in Bedford County, Va. They had eleven children, ten living, viz., Susan, wife of James Morrison;

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 Hardin county, Ohio, Part 123

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076