The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 125

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 125

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MILTON H. BORST, laborer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Ashland County, Ohio, June 10, 1848; his father, Michael Borst, was born April 15, 1818, in the neighborhood of Munich, the capital of Bavaria, Germany, and his mother, Catharine (Fisher) Borst, was a native of Cumberland County, Penn., where she was born October 18, 1820. They were married April 14, 1843, in Ashland County, Ohio, and had a family of eight chil- dren, six sons and two daughters, viz. : Andrew J., born in Ashland County, Ohio, August 12, 1846, died in Lynn Township January 2, 1861 ; Milton H., our subject ; John W., born October 3, 1851, in Lynn Township ; Emily E., born March 31, 1854, died December 25, 1860; Martha E., born in Lynn Township August 10, 1857 ; Michael F., born October 31, 1859 ; Nathaniel J., born March 19, 1862, and David G., born March 21, 1864. The parents came to Lynn Township in the spring of 1849, and purchased there forty acres of land, subsequently adding to it, which Mr. Borst cleared and improved. Mrs. Borst died November 7, 1866, and was followed by her husband August 3, 1874. Both are buried, along with a son and daughter, in the Norman Graveyard of Lynn Township. Our subject, who still remains a single man, was brought up to be a farmer, but is now a laborer.

WILLIAM BRADLEY (deceased) was born in West Virginia Novem- ber 11, 1804. His parents, David and Nancy A. (Lawson) Bradley, natives of Old Virginia, removed to Madison County, Ohio, in 1807, and settled in Monroe Township, where they both died. Mr. Bradley was a soldier in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch lived in Madison County until 1857, when he sold the 108 acres of land he owned there and came to Hardin County, purchasing 150 acres of land, on which he resided until his decease on January 1, 1862. He was married, July 17, 1827, to Miss Anna, daughter of Peter and Mary R. (Baker) Bradley, born in Chillicothe, Ohio, January 19, 1811. To this union there were born eleven children, five now living, viz., Cornelius O., Jeremiah, Casander, Henry N. and Lewis M. The deceased are Martin S., Mary R., Lovina, Sarah J., David W. and James L. Mr. Bradley and wife were members of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he was a Steward. He was an active, energetic man, and gen- erally succeeded in his undertakings. Henry N., the sixth son, was born in Madison County, Ohio, March 11, 1850. When seven years of age, he came to Hardin County with his parents, and has been chiefly reared here. He was married, April 17, 1879, to Miss Mary R., daughter of Francis D. and Mary J. Kinnear. She was born in Hardin County in August, 1857, and died February 1, 1883, leaving two children-Harry E. and Delmer H. Since the spring of 1876, Mr. Bradley has had charge of the old homestead. His mother is living with him, and they both attend the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Mr. Bradley is a member of the Board of Trustees.

MARTIN LEWIS BRIDENSTINE, saw miller, Kenton, was born in Hardin County September 15, 1843, and is a son of Solomon and Lucretia (Lewis) Bridenstine. His father was a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, of German descent, and came to Hardin County in 1840; his mother

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was a daughter of Francis Lewis, who was a soldier under Gen. Harrison during the Indian wars in the Northwest Territories. His maternal grand- mother was Mary Magdalena Raphsnider. The name of Raphsnider is entirely lost, as there is not a known relative of that name living. The sub- ject of this sketch was reared on a farm and received a fair education at the common schools. On December 23, 1868, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane, daughter of John and Anna Obenour, and a native of Seneca County, of German ancestry. Four children resulted from this union, viz., Lester Francella (born September 7, 1869), Leonard Lorain (born March 25, 1871), William Ellsworth (born April 26, 1876), and Lorena Lucinda born November 17, 1879. Mr. Bridenstine enlisted September 17, 1861, in the Third Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, serving with that regiment through all the trying scenes through which it passed until January, 1863, when he re-enlisted, and was discharged August 15, 1865. His wife's father, John Obenour, a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio National Guards, was killed at Maryland Heights July 6, 1864. Mrs. Bridenstine is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bridenstine is a Republican in politics, has filled the offices of Supervisor and School Director, and is one of those energetic men sure to make a way in life.

SANFRED H. DULIN, farmer. P. O. Kenton, was born in Concord Township, Delaware Co., Ohio, April 14, 1847, and is a son of Edward and Sarah (Diltz) Dulin. His father was born in Fauquier County, Va., April 29, 1802; his mother in Sussex County, N. J., January 19, 1808. They were married April 29, 1825, in Muskingum County, Ohio, and had eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, all attaining maturity, of whom four sons and two daughters are deceased. Three of the boys, Lorenzo, Garrettson and Freeman, were in the rebellion. Freeman was killed at

the battle of Kenesaw Mountain June 27, 1864. Mr. Edward Dulin set- tled in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1816, and was a cooper by trade. He purchased a tract of woodland in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1837, cleared the land, remaining there until about 1866, when he came to Lynn Town- ship. He has since been a resident here, and owns 100 acres of improved land. While in Delaware County, he dealt in stock-a specialty of cattle and hogs-having as high as four hundred head of hogs in the fall; he also devoted some of his time to merchandising. He has held several offices of trust, and has always been identified with the schools, in which he takes great interest. He has been a member of the United Brethren Church for a number of years, and in politics is a strong Republican. The subject of this sketch acquired a common school education, and has always worked on his father's farm in Lynn Township. He was married, December 1, 1872, to Mary J., daughter of Humphrey and Mary Emfield; she was born in Groveport, Franklin Co., Ohio. The result of this union has been four children, viz., David (born January 2, 1874), Eldora V. (born October 1, 1875), Henry E. (born September 15, 1878), and William G. (born Decem- ber 7, 1880); all born in Lynn Township.

GEORGE FAUROT, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Rush Town- ship, Champaign County, Ohio, April 20, 1822. He is a son of James and Rebecca (Tucker) Faurot, of Orange County, N. Y., and Harrison County, Va., respectively. Our subject's grandparent, Henry Faurot, served during the Revolution and in the war of 1812. He removed to Champaign County, Ohio, about 1820, and died in Rush Township; his wife died in Hardin County. Our subject's parents were married in Champaign County in 1821, and in 1848 removed to Hardin County, settling in McDonald Town-

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ship, where Mr. Faurot died June 8, 1872, being preceded by his wife May 17, 1867. They had eleven children, of whom our subject is the oldest. When twelve years of age, our subject started out working by the month, continuing until 1848. He aided in the support of his father's family. On November 4, 1848, he came to Hardin County and bought thirty acres of land in McDonald Township, which he cleared, and in 1859 purchased his present farm of fifty acres, settling on it in 1872. He has always fol- lowed farming and stock-raising. He was married, November 3, 1847, to Martha B., daughter of William and Rosanna Ballard. She was born in Preble County, Ohio, and has had two children, one living-George W. B. (born September 12, 1848). Mrs. Faurot's father was a Methodist minister, and preached to the Indians through Ohio and Indiana. He was an itiner- ant, and died from hemorrhage of the lungs in Logan County, Ohio. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and was Trustee of Lynn Township for two years, and Trustee of McDonald Township for three years.

THOMAS M. FINCH, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born near Pleasant Valley, Madison Co., Ohio, November 21, 1846, and is a son of John B. and Emily O. (Kilbury) Finch. His grandfather, Ira Finch, came from New York State to Ohio, in 1815, settling in Madison County. The father of our subject was born in Canaan Township, Madison County, where he was married, having a family of seven children, three sons and four daugh- ters, viz. : Nancy, James E., Samantha A., Sarah E., Thomas M., Electa and Joshua D. He erected a cabin in the woods, cleared the farm and died June 9, 1864; the widow is still living on the pioneer home. Our subject acquired a common school education, and remained at home until twenty-one years of age. He was married, December 22, 1871, to Miss Alice, daughter of John and Caroline Zachariah; she was born August 22, 1854. Her father was a German by birth, and came alone to this country when about twelve years old, becoming an early settler of Seneca County, Ohio. After marriage, our subject started out in life in Madison County, working at carpentering, although his chief occupation has been farming. He came to Lynn Township, Hardin County, in the spring of 1873, pur- chasing fifty acres of land, on which he built a log cabin, and on July 11, 1879, a terrible cyclone passed over the township, taking his farm in its course, and making a general wreck of his home. Mrs. Finch, who hap- pened at the time to be in the loft, was carried along with the roof, timbers, rafters, etc., for a distance of 125 feet. Wonderful to relate, she escaped with her life, suffering no serious injury.

JOHN W. FLINN, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Morgan Coun- ty, W. Va., May 21, 1823. His parents were John and Mary, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Delaware. They were married, and set- tled in Virginia, and reared a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The subject of this sketch, in the spring of 1847, came to Scioto County, Ohio, and clerked in a store until the spring of 1849, when he went to Pickaway County, and was there married to Eliza A. Henderson, December 16, 1849. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and had a family of three children, all of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Flinn died in 1853, and our subject was again married, July 16, 1854, to Miss Catharine, daughter of John and Mary Fuls. She was born February 1, 1835, in Lo- gan County, Ohio, and in March of the same year was brought by her par- ents to Hardin County. Her father was born in Ross County, her mother in Fayette County, Ohio, and both died in McDonald Township, Hardin County. Mr. Flinn removed to Hardin County in the spring of 1855; lived

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for about four years in McDonald Township, and removed in 1859 to Lynn Township, where he purchased 100 acres of land and erected the first cabin after the township was organized. He was Township Assessor in 1863 and 1864, and was a member of the Board of Education for eight or ten years. In 1861, he enlisted in Company B, of Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and re enlisted in 1864, in the One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Regiment, as Sergeant, receiving an honorable discharge at the close of the war. By his last marriage, he has had eleven children, six sons and five daughters, of whom one is deceased, Josephine V., late wife of N. D. Bailey.

JOHN GUNN, SR., was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1770. He was educated and intended by his parents for a military career, but finding that life distasteful, he engaged with the fur company by the name of "In- nocent Grant." to trade in the Northwest with the Indians; he had a trad- ing post at Wapakoneta in 1806. He was engaged in fur trading, buying and selling hogs, cattle and horses, until the war of 1812, when he enlisted in Capt. Black's company, serving to the close of the war. In 1805, he married Isabella, daughter of Col. Southerland, of Inverness, Scotland. After the war, John Gunn removed his family to Bellefontaine, Ohio, where he was engaged in various kinds of business, until the time of his death, which occurred in 1842. He had three sons and four daughters-Walter D., John R. and Robert G. First came to Hardin County in 1843, and made a deadening of twenty acres, part of the farm on which the family of John R. now resides, calling same the "Forest Farm," the name it still bears. In 1845, he removed to his farm, where his family now reside, and where he lived till his death. He never took a collegiate course, but hav- ing a natural turn for mathematics, studied surveying and engineering. His theory was " for one to find what they were best fitted for, then apply themselves to that calling."

Robert and Walter Gunn graduated at Ox- ford in 1842. The three brothers loved each other dearly, were always together, and in their business transactions were as one. John R. and Robert G. were agents for lands in Hardin and Logan Counties, held by parties living at a distance. John R. was once elected Justice of the Peace, twice County Surveyor, the last term of which had not expired at the time of his death. His last work was the straightening of the Scioto River chan- nel for draining the surrounding marsh. He was so anxious for the work to progress rapidly, and winter being the only time when it could be done, he took a violent cold which settled on his lungs and ended in death. He was often called on to settle disputed territory, while holding the office of County Surveyor; he surveyed and settled the disputed line between Hardin and Logan Counties, which had been a bone of contention for a number of years, both counties claiming the right to tax the land along the line. The brothers were stanch Democrats, and leaders of their party. John R. Gunn married, in 1844, Emily Garrett, daughter of Tira Garrett, a Virginian by birth, who came to Hardin County in 1842. The latter bought 300 acres of land, where the County Infirmary now stands, and lived but three years after coming into the county .. His wife was the daughter of Charles White, of Kentucky, a Revolutionary soldier who drew a pension, and died at the age of ninety-nine years. Robert G. never married; he died in Hardin County in 1850. Walter D. died in Hardin County in 1863, leaving a wife and four girls. Isabella Gunn, wife of John Gunn, Sr., made her home, after her husband's decease, with her son, John G., for several years, then bought a farm of 160 acres, to which she removed with her youngest daugh- ter, Eliza, and remained until the time of her death in 1869. Her daughter

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Eliza remained on the farm, having never married, until 1882, when she left for New Mexico, where her two nephews and one of John R. Gunn's sons are engaged in surveying and dividing the Indian Territory. Isabella Gunn's remains were interred on Forest farm with her three sons and one daughter. Of the seven children remaining are Eliza, already named, and Isabella, who married Alexander Given, residing in McDonald Township, Hardin County, Ohio.

ROBERT HELVERSON (deceased) was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, September 3, 1820. His parents, Henry and Nancy Helverson, were natives of West Virginia, and early settled in Lawrence County, Ohio. In 1835, they removed to near London, in Madison County. Henry Helverson was a soldier in the war of 1812. Our subject's grandfather was a Major General in the German brigade in the Revolution. He received a mortal wound, and died at home. For his services, there were given large tracts of land in Madison County, but these were never divided among the heirs. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Madison County, Ohio. On January 10, 1843, he was married to Miss Sarah L., daughter of James and Nancy Bradley, of Loudoun County, Va. She was born in Madison County, Ohio, November 16, 1817, and had a family of six chil- dren, four of whom are living, viz., Marsalina, widow of Joseph Young (deceased); Pendleton L., Alonzo M. and James W. The two deceased are Moses C. and Marshall M. Moses was a member of Company K, Thirty- third Regiment, and was killed at Chickamauga September 20, 1863. Marshall M. was a member of Company D, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a recruit. He served seventeen months, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He died September 5, 1872, from the effects of his military life. Mr. and Mrs. Helverson came to Hardin County in March of 1857, and settled on the present farm. He purchased sixty-eight and one-half acres of woodland, which he cleared before his decease. He died March 2, 1880, of pneumonia. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, of which he had been an exhorter and trustee for up- ward of twenty years. In politics, he supported the Republican party.

HENRY HURTER, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Kenton, was born in Allen County, Ohio, June 11, 1847, and is a son of John and Mary A. (Schoenmann) Hurter. His father was born near Zurich, his mother near Berne, Switzerland. They came to America when they were young, and settled at Beaver Dam, Allen County, Ohio. They were married in Kenton, in 1845, and soon after moved to Allen County, where they both died in December of 1847. Our subject was then brought by his uncle, Durs Schoenmann, living near Kenton, and in 1852 removed to Sauk County, Wis., where our subject remained until of age. After his majority, he sold seventy-five acres of land in Allen County, left him by his father, and bought 200 acres in Sauk County, Wis., selling it in 1877. He came to Hardin County in 1875, and settled on a purchase of 110 acres in Lynn Township. On the 4th of January, 1870, he was married in Kenton to Louisa R., daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Wies, born in Hardin County June 9, 1851. To this union have been born five children, four living- John H., Emma E., Ella M. and Tillie A. The deceased, Edward D., died September 9, 1881, aged nine months. Mr. Hurter owns 107 acres of well- cultivated land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. In politics, he is a Republican.

HENRY W. NORMAN, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Brooke County, W. Va., December 29, 1830, and is a son of Nathaniel and Tabitha

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(Perry) Norman, of Jefferson County, Ohio, and Brooke County, W. Va., respectively. His father was born October 30, 1805, his mother June 29, 1804; they were married October 30, 1829, and settled in Brooke County, W. Va., removing thence in November, 1847, to Hardin County, Ohio, settling in Taylor Creek, now Lynn Township. Nathaniel Norman bought 262 acres of land, of which fifty were improved, and which he farmed until his decease, February 11, 1872 ; his wife died February 8, 1868. He had a family of six children, two living, Henry W., and Eldorado, wife of Martin Albert, and residing in Macon County, Ill. He was Justice of the Peace for eighteen years, being the first of Lynn Township, serving part of the time in Taylor Creek. He also served for two years as Township Treasurer, and was Trustee of Lynn for about three terms, and of Taylor Creek Town- ship for one term. Our subject is the eldest child. He was reared in Wellsboro, W. Va., until his sixteenth year, and there educated at the common schools. He then came here with his parents, and has since pur- sued farming and stock-raising. His father was an Ohio River boatman, and followed transporting merchandise to New Orleans by flat boat for twenty-five years. Our subject made three trips with him when a boy. On January 24, 1856, our subject married Rebecca, daughter of John and Eliza Rice, born in Taylor Creek Township, May 23, 1836. By this union there have been five children, viz., Albert Brice, born November 7, 1862; Elliot B., born May 23, 1867; Sarah D., Campbell W. and John N. are deceased. Mrs. Norman is a member of the M. E. Church. Mr. Norman had been identified with the Grange since its organization; he served in the position of Overseer and other offices. In politics, he is a Republican. He enlisted in the war September 25, 1864, in Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Cumberland Army, and was a witness at the battle of Nashville. He was honorably discharged June 23, 1865, and returned home, resuming farming. He owns 150 acres of land of the homestead, most of the improvements having been made by himself. For ten years, Mr. Norman served as Trustee of Lynn Township.

JOSEPH M. PIPER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Grafton County, N. H., March 1, 1821, and is a son of Amos and Betsey (Caldwell) Piper; his father was born near Lowell, Mass., July 31, 1792; his mother in London- derry, N. H., March 27, 1792. His father's parents were Simon and Harriet Piper, natives of England, and who came to America before the Revolution. Simon was a minuteman in that war, and fought in the first battle at Lex- ington and at Bunker Hill; he died in New Hampshire. In 1834, our sub- ject's parents removed to Ashland County, Ohio, and on January 7, 1848, came to Lynn Township, settling on the farm now belonging to Joseph M. in March, 1850. This farm consisted of 110 acres of Woodland, on which Amos Piper erected a rude log house; he died here on January 1, 1868, having been preceded by his wife, February 8, 1855. He served for one year in the war of 1812, receiving a land warrant for his services. He had a family of six children, five sons and one daughter, four living-Jo- seph M., Andrew A., William W. and Mary E., wife of Philip H. Hisey. The deceased are Oliver W. and Charles W. Our subject, with his brother Andrew, cleared and improved the farm, remaining on it till he was of age. He then started out, working at $10 a month, receiving a wagon from his father, and helped to cut out and make nearly all the roads in this part of the township. On September 18, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, One Hun- dred and Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; served in the Army of the

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Cumberland, and was held in reserve for four days and nights at the battle of Nashville, but was not active; he was honorably discharged June 23, 1865; he was married, April 30, 1851. to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Monroe. She was born in Ross County, Ohio, July 7, 1832, and has had a family of seven children, three living-Howard, Nathaniel and Mary M. The deceased are Laura, Lua and William W. Mrs. Piper is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Piper is a Repub- lican in politics; he was Township Trustee, Treasurer and Assessor, each two years, Township Clerk for eight years, and for the past year has been Chair- man of the Board of Education. He is engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing, and owns fifty-five acres of land, besides ninety-six and one-fourth acres one mile west of his farm.

JOHN C. RAINSBURG, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Kenton, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, January 27, 1827; he is a son of William and Margaret (Maxwell) Rainsburg, of Steubenville, Ohio, and Brooke County, W. Va., respectively. The first of his ancestry to settle in Amer- ica were his great-grandparents, John Rainsburg and John Maxwell, the former emigrating from Germany, the latter from Scotland, both coming before the Revolution. John Rainsburg, the grandfather of our subject, served in that memorable struggle. Our subject's parents were married in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1824, settling in Carroll County, and, in the spring of 1827, removed to Holmes County, where they remained to the end of their days. Our subject is the eldest son and second child of a family of eleven; he was brought up on a farm and acquired a common school education.

On July 7, 1849, he was married to Catharine McKnight, who died February 23, 1872, leaving seven children-John M., Thomas W., Margaret S. (wife of George W. Thomas), William, James L., Robert M. and David A. Be- sides these, were three deceased, Sarah, Mary C. and Ruth I. Mrs. Rains- burg was born in Carroll County, Ohio, August 25, 1832, and was the daughter of John and Susanna McKnight. Mr. Rainsburg formed a sec- ond union, August 7, 1873, marrying Charlotte Wilkins; she was born in Carroll County, Ohio, May 27, 1850, and has a family of four children- Cypherd B., Anna E., Archibald E. and Tennie E. Mr. Rainsburg resided in Holmes County until October of 1853, coming thence to Hardin County; he purchased sixty acres of woodland, part of his present farm, which he has since cleared and improved, and now owns 245 acres of well-cultivated land; he pursues farming and stock-raising; he helped to cut and make the Piper & Wilkin pike road, and aided in most of the other public improvements. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is a Deacon; he is politically a Democrat, and has served his township as Trustee for six years, and as Clerk for two years, and Assessor two years.

WILLIAM RUHLEN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Kenton, was- born in Wurtemberg, Germany, January 21, 1842. His parents, George and Dorotha J. Ruhlen, emigrated from Germany in December, 1852, and settled in Jerome Township, Union Co., Ohio, where Mr. Ruhlen died in. February of 1878. The widow is residing with her son Henry, in Union County. Our subject is the third son of a family of six children, of whom five are living. He was reared on a farm, and educated at the common schools. His brother George is a First Lieutenant in the Seventeenth Regiment of the United States Infantry, a Professor of Military Tactics and Assistant Professor in Mathematics in the State Agricultural College- of Columbus, Ohio. William entered the army April 1, 1861, in Company I, Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; served three months in Virginia.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 125

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