The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 124

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 124

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Elizabeth, wife of H. N. Smith; John C .; Sophromia, wife of P. F. Lati- mer; George F .; M. Micajah; Jane, wife of Milton Davis; Margaret, wife of Milton Lee; Peter F. and Mollie C. Henry G. died at the age of two years. In 1850, Mr. Johnson removed to his present farm and bought 100 acres, to which he has since added, until he is owner now of 540 acres ; the homestead contained 330 acres. He has given 200 acres to his sons, George and Micajah. In politics, he was formerly a Whig, but now belongs to the Republican party.

JOHN C. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Union County, Ohio, August 26, 1843. He is a son of Hosea and Nancy Johnson, who removed to Logan County, Ohio, when our subject was one year old. In 1850, they settled in Buck Township, Hardin County, where John was reared and educated. On January 17, 1864, he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Army of the Cumberland. On May 2, he started on the Atlanta campaign, and fought in the battles of Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and all the battles on the approach to Atlanta, including the bombardment of that city. He was taken sick at Atlanta, of typhoid fever, and was subsequently transferred to Nashville, where he participated in the battle there. He followed Hood's army to Florence, Ala., and was then formed into a battalion of Sherman's soldiers, and rejoined his regi- ment at Goldsboro. He then marched to Raleigh, and was finally taken by water to Fort Schuyler, N. Y., where he was mustered out, and was dis- charged at Columbus July 7, 1865. On his return home, he resumed his occupation of farming. He rented land until 1872, when he bought sixty- five acres in Buck Township, to which he has since added, and now owns 224 acres, on which he has made improvements and cleared nearly the whole of it. He built his residence in 1877 at a cost of $2,000, and has also added all the barns. He is employed in farming and stock-raising, keeping a good grade of cattle. On November 23, 1869, he was united in marriage to Anna E. Rarey, born in Franklin County, Ohio, January 10, 1848, and a daughter of Nicholas and Sarah Rarey. This union has resulted in six children, five living, viz., Nora I., Annetta, George P., Nicholas P. and John W. Walter A. died when four years old. Mr. Johnson and his wife are connected with the M. E. Church. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Grange, and has filled the offices of Master, Overseer and Chaplain, each two terms. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served as Township Trustee for one term.

FRED MACHETANZ, tanner, Kenton, was born in Auglaize County, Ohio, in 1849. His parents, Gotleib and Catherine (Freyman) Machetanz, are natives of Germany, whence they emigrated in 1826, settling in Au- glaize County, Ohio. His father died there when our subject was but seven years of age. The mother again married, and is still residing there. Our subject came to Kenton in 1878, and, in the same year, erected his present business house, situated on the south side of the Scioto River, in South Kenton, where he has established and built up a successful trade. He em- ploys a force of three men, and his business is rapidly increasing. He was married, in 1876, to Miss Minnie, daughter of A. Traeger, of Kenton, to which union there have been born two children-Charles and Augustus. Mr. Machetanz was elected Clerk of Buck Township in the spring of 1883, where he is how residing, and the same season was elected to the City Council. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church, and he is one of Kenton's busy manufacturers.

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SAMUEL MENTZER, deceased, was born August 3, 1806. In 1834, he removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where he wintered, and then came to Ken- ton and engaged in merchandising, following it for two years, and then took a contract for building the Erie Feeder. This was not successful, and, after a year and a half, he returned to Kenton and built the National Hotel, where now stands the Bank Block. Two years after, he traded the hotel for 100 acres of land, and got $1,000 besides. He then moved on his farm, and, in 1847, was elected Auditor of Hardin County, by a majority of one vote. After serving one term, he was obliged to decline a re-election on account of his ill health, and returned to his farm, which he worked up to within twelve years of his death. He added to his farm until he owns 222 acres, besides sixty acres adjoining, all of which he cleared and improved. He was married to Susan Lipley, by whom he had seven children, three living-Lydia, wife of James Baker ; David and John. Mrs. Mentzer died, and he then married Eliza Whiteman, deceased, by whom there was one child, also deceased. For his third wife he took Sophia A. Benjamin, daughter of Nathan and Mary (Nulse) Benjamin, and a native of Athens County, Ohio, born Ootober 1, 1848. Of the six children that blessed this. union, four are living-Mary C., wife of Hezekiah Roby ; Louisa D., wife of Isaac Cock ; M. D. L. and William M. Mrs. Mentzer's maternal grand. parents came from Holland, and were eighteen weeks on the voyage, during which her mother was born. Her paternal grandparents were Rebea Clen- denen and John Nulse, her grandfather a native of Scotland, and her grandmother of Ireland. Her grandfather, while holding her father in his. arms, was shot by the Indians, who took her grandmother and seven chil- dren prisoners, retaining them for eight months, when peace was declared. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin, grandparents of Mrs. Mentzer, on first coming to this country, located in New Jersey, thence moved to Pennsylvania, and from there came to Muskingum County, Ohio. Mr. Samuel Mentzer and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. He served several terms as Township Trustee and Township Clerk, and died August 10, 1882. He was a man of great enterprise, and did much for the public improvements of Hardin County. He laid out Mentzer's Addition to Keuton, consisting of five acres.

M. D. L. MENTZER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio, February 23, 1848. He is a son of Samuel and Sophia (Benjamin) Mentzer, whose sketch we have given in this history. Our subject was reared on the homestead and educated at the common schools. On September 29, 1870, he was united in marriage to Rhoda A., daughter of William and Rebecca Smith, and a native of Union County, Ohio, born December 24, 1850. Three children have resulted from this union-Iona, born December 29, 1871 ; Anna M., born May 26, 1873, and George A., born March 31, 1883. Mr. Mentzer owns 216 acres of land of the home- stead, and fifteen acres adjoining. He is a thoroughly scientific and suc- cessful farmer and stock-raiser, and in connection with his business keeps a system of book-keeping, in which he has a full account of his receipts and expenditures, and at the end of the year is able to ascertain the profits and losses. He weighs his cattle every month, and records the gain or loss. Politically, he is a Democrat. He served as Township Clerk the first year after his majority.

JAMES PAVER. deceased, was born in Maryland November 18, 1801. When about two years old, his parents, John and Betsy Paver, removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, and settled near Lancaster, where they lived one

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year, thence removed to Union County, where they died. James was the eldest of a family of nine children, and was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1826, he came to Hardin County, bought land in Dudley Township, where he settled in 1827. He added to his farm until he owned 320 acres, having cleared about half of it himself. In 1847, he removed to within two miles of Kenton, on the farm now owned by Joseph Hoover, and, about 1858, located on the farm belonging to John Paver, which contained 312 acres, and on which he lived until his death, June 22, 1880, aged seventy-nine years. He was married, and had three children- Harvey, Mary (wife of Alpheus McConnell) and John. Mr. Paver was one of the three or four men who built the first schoolhouse in Buck Township. John Paver, the youngest child, was born on the Hoover farm March 25, 1850, and was brought up on a farm and educated at the common schools. On January 19, 1873, he married Mollie Cline, born June 10, 1849, in Fairfield County, Ohio. Five children have been born to them, viz. : Jim- mie, Orie, Dora, Charlie and Anna May. Mr. Paver owns 104 acres of the old homestead, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He cleared up most of his land, and also aided his father on his farm.

JOHN PFEIFFER, deceased, son of Michael Pfeiffer, was born in Germany in 1813, and, at the age of seventeen, left his native land to avoid going into the army. Emigrating to Pennsylvania, he remained there two years, thence came west to Springfield, Ohio, where he followed his trade of boot and shoe making. In 1834. he removed to Hardin County, bought a piece of land east of Kenton, and while spending his days in clearing off the timber, much of the night was put in working at his trade. In 1836, he went back to Germany, and brought out his father, five brothers and two sisters, his mother dying ere starting for the New World. He settled on his farm east of town, and, in 1839, was married to Eva Elsasser, who came from Germany with the Pfeiffer family. They resided on the old homestead until 1852, when he removed to Kenton, and purchased the grist mill and distillery of Nelson Miller, which he operated until 1865, then sold it, and settled on a farm in Round Head Township, where he followed farming, piking and mercantile business until 1872. He then returned to Kenton, but, in the spring of 1877, removed to a farm in Buck Township, where he died October 12, 1880. To John and Eva Pfeiffer were born the following children: Elizabeth, George (deceased), Barbara, Margaret, John, Henry (deceased), Lewis, Henry, and George (deceased), being nine in all, two having been called after those previously deceased. Mr. Pfeiffer left an estate of over 800 acres of land, besides town and much personal property. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and Druid societies, and adhered to the Lutheran Church.

A. RAMSEY, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Pleasant Township, Hardin Co., Ohio, October 8, 1844. He is a son of George and Elizabeth (Pfeiffer) Ramsey, who came to America with their parents when children. His mother was from Pleasant Township, and bore her husband four chil dren, viz., our subject, George, Lizzie (wife of William Shingle) and Mar- garet (wife of Allen Garbow). Mr. Ramsey died in Pleasant Township in August, 1850, and his widow subsequently married Adam Lutz, by whom she had two children-Barbara (wife of Lewis Woods) and Callie (wife of Joseph Felty). Our subject was reared on a farm, received a common school education, and at the age of fifteen left home and worked out by the month, obtaining 25 cents a day. When twenty three years of age, he had accumulated $500, with which he began trading in stock in the States of

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Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He drove and shipped to eastern markets, and has been engaged in that, with other business, ever since. From 1876 to 1879, he was a member of the firm-Kenton Packing Company-which proved to be an unfortunate enterprise, and he has since continued in trading and shipping, doing an extensive business. Up to 1882, he has been the leading stock-dealer and shipper in Hardin County, and he ships annually from 2,000 to 3,000 cattle, and sometimes as high as 25,000 head of sheep. In 1881, he admitted Frank Stewart as a partner, and the firm is now Ram- sey & Stewart. He has also been engaged in the retail meat business for the past five years, and is a member of the firm of Ramsey & Fall. He gives some attention to farming, and owns 190 acres of land adjoining the corporation. Mr. Ramsey has formed two marriages during his life; his first union was with Mary, a daughter of George Stern, who died in 186-, leaving one child-Callie. His second wife is Rosa Huffurgue, a native of Hardin County. They have two children-Hattie and Anna E. Mr. Ram- sey was a member of the Agricultural Society Board for eight years, and in politics is a Democrat.

JOHN P. RICHARDS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Seneca County, Ohio, February 27, 1827. He is a son of James and Matilda (Pearl) Richards. His father was born in New Hampshire August 10, 1791, his mother in Virginia July 27, 1797, and were married in Pike County, Ohio, December 21, 1817. His maternal grandfather, John Pearl, with his family, removed to Pike County, Ohio, in 1800, and died there. The parents of our subject located in Seneca County, Ohio, about 1825, in 1830 removed to Pike County, thence, in 1834, to Ross County, and finally, in 1848, came to Hardin County and lived for two years in Pleasant Township. In 1851, they came to Buck Township and bought fifty acres of land, on

which they resided till their decease. Mr. Richards died December 4, 1868, and his wife on March 31, 1872. Mr. Richards was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church for thirty-five years. He was the father of ten children, five living, of whom our subject is the fifth. Our subject was married, March 27, 1851, to Sarah M. Harbison, born September 18, 1832, a daughter of Matthew and Sarah (McCoy) Harbison. Her father was born in North Carolina December 12, 1796; died in 1849, aged fifty- three years. Her mother was born in South Carolina April 23, 1800, and is still living. They removed to Greene County in 1835, and to Hardin County in 1842, settling in Pleasant Township, where Mr. Harbison died. Mr. and Mrs Richards have had two children, one son living-Marion F., born October 20, 1858, married to Viola Butler, by whom there are two children, Neva Blanche and Pearl; and Jessie B., born January 19, 1873, died May 5, 1879. Mr. Richards and his wife have belonged to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for forty years. Mr. Richards is a member of the Grange, with which he has been prominently connected since its organiza- tion. He has served as Township Trustee and Treasurer for one year.

FRANK SCHWARTZ, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 20, 1839. He is a son of Frank A. and Barbara Schwartz. In 1847, when seven years of age, he emigrated with his par- ents to America, and the following year settled three and a half miles north of Kenton, Ohio. Our subject is the eldest of four living children; was reared on the homestead from his seventh year until he reached his majority, and was educated at the common schools. He learned the alpha- bet in the log schoolhouse with slab seats and puncheon floors. He aided his father in clearing up the land, and in 1863 went across the plains to

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Nevada, where he spent four years in mining and other work. In 1867, he returned to Hardin County, and on September 22, was married to Margaret Bishop, born in Hesse, Germany, March 31, 1843, a daughter of John G. and Catherine E. Bishop, who came to Hardin County in 1850. Nine chil. dren were born, seven living-Frank A., George H., William F., Gustave O., Carl A., Edward J. and Margaret E. John L. and an infant are de- ceased. In August, 1868, Mr. Schwartz bought 100 acres of land, which he has since cleared, and has got half of it well under cultivation. In 1877, he erected his residence at a cost of $1,500. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is generally successful. Mr. Schwartz is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and his wife of the Lutheran Church. He is, po- litically, a Democrat, and has served one term as Township Trustee.

WILLIAM J. SCOTT, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Franklin County, near Columbus, Ohio, September 18, 1824. His father, James Scott, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 10, 1799. His mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Walker, was born in Virginia, Octo- ber 22, 1801. Mr. James Scott's parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Scott, natives of Westmoreland County, Penn., who removed to Franklin County, Ohio, prior to the war of 1812. Joseph Scott served in the war of 1812. He settled eleven miles southeast of Columbus, at which time the capital was a mere hamlet. In 1830, he removed to Hardin County, Ohio, locat- ing on Taylor Creek, Buck Township, and purchased 200 acres of land, a good portion of which he cleared. He died in Fulton County, Ind., in 1853; his wife had died several years previous, in Franklin County. Our subject's father was reared and educated in Franklin County. He married February 17, 1819, and had thirteen children -- Elizabeth J. (deceased), Elias A., Matilda S., William J., Joseph, Cynthia A., Seymour (deceased), Mary A., Nancy J., Charles E., Mark (deceased), Luke W. and Lucy S. L. In April of 1836, he settled on Taylor Creek, Hardin County, and in 1847 removed to Jackson Township, where he bought eighty acres of land. He died April 3, 1850; his widow is still living in Logan County, and has at- tained her eighty-third year. The subject of this sketch is the second son and fourth child, and was reared on a farm and educated at the common schools. His advantages were very limited, as he was obliged to attend school two and a half miles distant. On April 18, 1849, he was married to Elmira J., daughter of Eleager J. and Mary E. Rose, and born in Union County, Ohio, October 8, 1831. Of the seven children born, three are liv- ing-Mary E., wife of W. H. Brown; George W. and Jennie, at home. In 1849, Mr. Scott bought fifty acres on the township line, and lived there until 1872, when he came to his present farm. He owns in all 212 acres of

land, and is occupied in farming and stock-raising. He enlisted during the late war, August 27, 1864, in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy- sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Army of the Cumberland. He was on patrol duty at Nashville, where he witnessed the battle there. At the close of the war, he was honorably discharged June 13, 1865, at Columbus. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served as Township Trustee for two terms, and School Director for twelve years. He is a member of the Grange, and for two years served as its Treasurer.

HON. DAVID SNODGRASS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Mer- cer County, Penn., February 23, 1815. He is a son of Jesse and Jane (Atchison) Snodgrass, natives of County Donegal, Ireland, and Washington County, Penn., respectively. His father was born February 1, 1784, emi- grated to the United States about 1809, and settled in Mercer County,

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Penn., where he was married in 1812, and the same afternoon was called into the military service, to prevent the British troops from crossing Lake Erie. He served six months as private and then returned home and en- gaged in farming. He lived in Pennsylvania until 1825, when he removed to Muskingum County, Ohio; thence, in 1846, located in Monroe County, Iowa, where he followed farming for about ten years, and in 1856, he sold his farm and went to Albia and engaged in merchandising. He died Sep- tember 8, 1876, aged ninety-two years. He and his wife belonged to the United Presbyterian Church, of which he was an active and prominent mem- ber. Mrs. Snodgrass died in August, 1862, aged seventy years. Our sub- ject was the second son of a family of eight children, and was brought up on a farm, and received a common school education. He helped his father in clearing two farms. He was married in Harrison County, Ohio, Decem- ber 20, 1838, to Catharine, danghter of Enoch and Catharine (Anderson) Philips, a native of Washington County, Penn., born March 24, 1817. They have five children, four living-Jessie, Alfred P .; Park, married to Jennie Bebout, of Washington County, Penn., and M. Maud, wife of B. Moore, of Kenton. Otis B. died, aged eight years and six months. In 1845, Mr. Snodgrass came with his family to Kenton, and resided there until 1864, then came to Buck Township on his present farm. He was engaged in the boot and shoe trade in Kenton until 1861. He and William Gilmore started the first boot and shoe store in Kenton. In 1851. he was elected to repre- sent Hardin and Wyandot Counties in the Ohio Legislature, and served one term. He was solicited to be a candidate for a second term, but positively declined to serve. In 1870, he was elected member of the Board of County Commissioners, and served one term. In June of 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany D, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; served as Corporal, and was dis- charged in February, 1862, to receive a promotion. In January previous, he was home on thirty days' furlough, and recruited Company H, of the Seventy-fourth Regiment, going out as First Lieutenant, serving as such until the battle of Stone River, when he was promoted to the rank of Cap- tain for "gallant and meritorious service on the field." He served until April 26, 1864, when he resigned on account of a wound received at Chicka- mauga. While in the Fourth Regiment, he fought at Rich Mountain and Rom- ney, and in the Seventy-fourth Regiment he was at Stone River, and then Chickamauga, where he received his wound by an artillery wheel running over his right foot. On his return home, he took up the occupation of a farmer. He owns 168 acres of land, most of which has been cleared and improved. He and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is, politically, a Republican, and while serving as County Commissioner was one of the principal instigators of the pike enterprise, carrying the first pike petition that was circulated in Hardin County, and where the County Infirmary was being built.

BENEDICT STEINER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, March 6, 1828. His father, John Steiner, was born in June, 1794 ; his mother, Anna Hani, in 1792, died in 1832 ; both were natives of the Canton of Berne, Switzerland. They were married in their native place in the year 1818. On the decease of his wife, Anna, Mr. Steiner married Anna Dick, and, in 1837, left. Berne and crossed France to Havre in wagons, the journey occupying twenty-one days. He then em- barked with his wife on the ship Albany, crossed the ocean, and landed at New York October 31. They went to Pittsburgh, where they remained till spring, then came to Hardin County and settled in Pleasant Township,

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where Mr. Steiner purchased and cleared eighty acres of land. He died in 1860; he had seven children by his first wife, and seven by the second. Our subject is the fifth child by the first marriage, and was brought up on a farm, obtaining a very limited education at the common schools. In the spring of 1850, in company with six others, he went to the gold mines of California. He followed mining, packing and farming in the Trinity Mountains until 1861, when he returned to his home ; he made a trip to Switzerland in 1863, on account of ill health, and returned the same year. The next year he bought 158 acres of his present farm, and added to it until he has acquired 238 acres. In 1878, he built his barn, at a cost of $2,500, and in 1881 his residence, at a cost of $5,000. He was united in marriage August 24, 1865, to Mary A., daughter of Benedict Moy, and born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, December 17, 1833. To this union four children have been born, two living-Carl H. and Olga M. Laura M. and an infant son are deceased. Mr. Steiner is occupied in farm- ing and stock-raising. In politics, he belongs to the Republican party.

SILAS STEVENSON, farmer, P. O. Kenton, is a son of James and Unity (New) Stevenson, and was born in Champaign County, Ohio, October 23, 1822. In 1827, his parents settled on the line between Logan and Hardin Counties. In 1834, they removed to Taylor Creek Township, Hardin County, where he bought a farm and resided until their deaths. Mrs. Unity Stevenson died March 10, 1864. Mr. Stevenson died June 6, 1865. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm. On May 24, 1849, he was united in marriage to Ruby, a daughter of John H. and Selina Tyler. She was born in Orleans County, N. Y., October 27, 1827. Mr. Stevenson was married and lived there four years, and in 1858 removed to his present farm in Buck Township, Ohio. He has acquired good property, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He and his wife have been faithful workers in the Methodist Church for thirty-nine years.

C. A. STEVENSON, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Orleans Coun- ty, N. Y , January 5, 1853 ; he came with his parents, Silas and Ruby Stevenson, to Hardin County in October, 1853, and lived on the homestead until of age; he is the second son of a family of nine children, and re- ceived his education from the common schools. On March 9, 1875, he was married to Miss Annie, a daughter of Clark L. and Sarah (Finity) New- comb, and a native of Knox County, Ohio, born November 28, 1852. She obtained a common school education, and for four years was a teacher in Buck Township. She removed with her parents to Hardin County in 1853. Mr. Stevenson is employed in farming and stock-raising, and is a member of the Agricultural Society of. Hardin County. In politics, he belongs to the Republican party, but has never held office.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 124

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