The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 82

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 82

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Of the surface, we may describe the southern part of the township as quite rolling, while the central and northern portions are level or slightly undulating.

The soil is a loam and clay, and is rich and productive, capable of yielding abundantly large crops of wheat, oats, corn and hay. The great portion of this township is yet new, and much hard labor is necessary to

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remove the heavy forests and ditch and drain the land; yet there are now many good and well cultivated farms with fine improvements. And in pass- ing over some of the more recently settled portions, one will observe many hundreds of acres upon which the woodman's ax has thoroughly done its work, and the black and decomposing stumps stand thickly, like so many dark specters, over the surface, but which in a few years more will entirely disappear and leave the land free and easy of cultivation. The soil is of that clay nature by which it holds a remarkable amount of water, and the great important feature or necessity is to thoroughly ditch, tile and drain it, and it then constitutes the most productive of lands; and to this work the people are now rapidly giving their attention.

This land was originally very heavily timbered, embracing principally the following varieties: Oak, ash, lynn, beech, maple, walnut, elm and hickory. Of the three first mentioned, many fine logs and much beautiful lumber have been obtained, and great quantities still remain and are be- coming very valuable, from the nearness and increase of the markets now existing. A large amount of the smaller lynn timber is being cut and worked into staves for barrels.

From the above description of the soil, it is evident that mud roads were prevalent and difficult to travel; but the citizens are entering with much interest and enterprise upon the work of building pikes, and already several are completed and others proposed and in process of construction. The first one built was the Round Head & Kenton pike, and the next the Yelverton & Kenton. The south part of the township appears to be well supplied with gravel and material, while the central portion will have further to haul their material. But a few years' time, with attendant pros- perity, will enable the citizens to have all the principal and most important roads well graveled and in good condition.

· The Chicago & Atlantic Railway runs through the north part of the township. A station named Oakland has been located near the northwest corner.

The old Hull trail from Bellefontaine to Fort McArthur passes through this township, entering it through the land of William Koons, on the David Wallace Survey, No. 10,037, thence through the William Stewart farm, the A. A. Piper and E. G. Gunn lands in the Walter Dun Survey, No. 9,935, and northward to Fort McArthur in the northwest corner of Buck Township. In some places, remains of the old corduroy bridges which were constructed seventy years ago, are yet visible.

A very ancient and peculiar gun barrel was found in Lynn Township in March, 1877, on lands owned by L. T. Hunt and James S. Robinson, four miles above old Fort McArthur, on the south side of the Scioto River, about ten rods from the bank, between it and a former spring, where for many years was a hunter's camp, being about due east of the Scioto Marsh and on the west side of a new road opened out in 1877-78 at Hunt's Ferry. It was found partially under an old stump, at the side of which a tree a foot or more in diameter had grown. The gun barrel is in possession of Mr Hunt at Kenton. It is three feet four inches long, heavy at the breech, smaller at the middle and heavy toward the muzzle, has a large bore nine -. sixteenths of an inch, with deep rifles. It is evident it had been lost for a long time, as there was not a vestige left of either the lock or the stock, they having completely rusted or rotted away. It was probably an old " flint-lock " of the French traders, who frequented the Maumee and Blanchard over one hundred years ago, as that style of gun has long since gone out of use.

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLERS.

As nearly all of the first settlers are deceased, and as in this township it appears that in many instances their descendants, who still survive, have all moved away, thus making it more difficult to obtain as definite information, in some cases, as we would desire, yet we have endeavored to make use of all the remaining sources from which to obtain a knowledge of them, and from what we have gathered it seems very probable that John Canaan was the first permanent settler in what is now Lynn Township. He came here from near Hanging Rock, on the Ohio River, about 1828, and settled near where Henry Norman now lives, where he resided many years, and perhaps till his death. His children are all deceased or moved away. Of his chil- dren were Miritta, William, Jehu, Washington, and it is believed some others whose names we could not learn. Washington was killed in a well, which accident is mentioned on another page. One grandson, a son of Jehu, now resides in Kenton, this county.

William Haines was probably the next settler, who located here near where Mrs. Canaan settled at about the same time. It appears that he married Miss Nancy Hatfield in Logan County, Ohio, and removed from there here and remained a resident here till his death. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812. They had the following children: Elizabeth, Sarah, Matilda, Jackson and Thomas.

Daniel S. Vermillion was born in Monroe County, W. Va., October 7, 1807. He married Priscilla Hisey in 1830. He removed to Ohio and set- tled in Lynn Township in 1834, upon the tract of land where he still lives, having made a continued residence here of nearly half a century. He was one of the first Trustees of the township, and has been one of her enterpris- ing and useful citizens whose biographical sketch appears in this work, giv- ing a more full account of his wife and family.

William Koons, it is believed, was a native of Virginia, where he mar- ried Martha Shepherd, but early removed to Ohio and settled near Belle- fontaine. About 1836-37, he removed to this township and settled on the David Wallace Survey, and remained near where he first located till his death. His children were Martha and Mary (twins), William and Jacob.

Edward Wilcox was twice married; his second wife was Mrs. Jane Monroe, whom he married in Ross County, and, about 1836-37, removed to this coun- ty and settled on land where his son James now lives, and there resided till his death. He was a quiet, unassuming man, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen. Their children were Anna, John, Aaron, William, Sarah, - Jane, James, Edward, Gordon and Thomas. Joseph Brown married Eliza- beth Koons and removed here from Logan County soon after Mr. William Koons settled here, and located just west of him on the Wallace Survey, where it is believed he remained till his death. His children were Martha, Jacob and John.

Jonathan Wilcox, a brother of the above Edward Wilcox, married Roxa- line McConkey; settled here about 1839-40, was a blacksmith by trade and | carried on that business through life; he was, it is believed, the first mechanic of that trade in this township. He seemed to possess a natural mechan- ical genius, and was an excellent workman. Subsequently he removed to Belle Centre. His children were Anna. Eliza, Sarah, George W. (now a blacksmith at Round Head), John and Alexander.

Clement Rice was a native of Pennsylvania, where he married Eliza McCracken, and at an early day removed to Muskingum County, Ohio; thence, in 1832, he removed with his family to this county and settled where

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LYNN TOWNSHIP.

Mrs. Mary Rice now lives in Lynn Township, and here resided till his death. Of his children, James, John, Robert, Richard, William, Rebecca and Margaret are deceased; George resides in Fayette County, Ohio, and Thomas in Taylor Creek Township, this county. John, who was the oldest child who came to this county, married Eliza Seaton and settled near his father, where he resided till his death. He died December 20, 1861, aged fifty- nine years. He was a man of undoubted integrity and held many of the most important offices of his township; he was several years Treasurer of Taylor Creek Township, and at the organization of Lynn Township was elected its first Treasurer and held the office by continued re-election up to the time of his death. In an early day he served as a Captain in the militia, and at one time served as County Assessor. He was a worthy member of the United Presbyterian Church, and a useful and worthy citizen. His chil. dren were Calvin (deceased), Robert, Rebecca, John S., Thomas, Adam M., Nancy Jane, Albert N. (deceased), and Martha A. All those surviving are residents of Hardin County, except Thomas, who resides in Fayette County, Ohio.

Robert Stewart, a native of Virginia, married Isabella McDonald, and, in 1841, removed to Ohio and settled in this township on land now owned by the heirs of Davis Derr. After a residence here of many years, and having cleared up and obtained a good farm and home, he removed to Illi- nois, but remained there but a short time, when he removed back to Hardin County; thence he removed to Kansas, remaining there only two or three years; he again returned to this county, where he died, January 25, 1868, aged seventy years. His wife survived him and died May 1, 1876, aged eighty. Their children were as follows: William, Mary, Martha Jane (deceased), John, Rebecca (deceased), James (deceased) and Robert, who died in infancy.

William Wilkin married a Miss Holmes and removed from Highland County, Ohio, to Hardin County about 1844, and settled on land on the A. Walke Survey, where he resided till his death. Of his children, two are remembered, Mary and Curtis.

Henry Albert was born in Switzerland, but emigrated to America in an early day and became a resident of Clark County, Ohio. In 1845-46, he removed to this county and settled on the Walter Dun Survey, No. 9,935, where he resided till 1881; he removed to Illinois. He was a kind neigh- bor and a good citizen. His children were Martin, Frank, William, Philip and John.

John R. Gunn was born in Logan County, Ohio, October 24, 1814. He had two brothers, Walter D. and Robert, and one sister, Isabella S. Their father, John Gunn, was born in Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1770; emi- grated to Canada in 1800 with the English Army, in which he served sev- eral years. He finally settled in Montreal, thence at Malden, and from there went to Wapakoneta, as a trader among the Indians in 1804. In 1808, he removed to Logan County, Ohio, and settled on Mckees Creek, where, during the war of 1812, he kept a tavern and rendered aid to the United States in the Commissary Department, for which services, after his decease, his widow received a warrant for 160 acres of land. He died in 1842. His widow survived him many years and died in 1864. John R. married Miss Emily Garrett in 1844, about two years after having settled in this county. He became a resident of Lynn Township in 1842, with his two brothers, Walter D. and Robert, all of whom followed surveying, and many lands of Union, Logan, Hardin and Champaign Counties were sur-

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PART V.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

NATHAN AHLEFELD, Kenton, was born December 19, 1833, and is a son of Rhinehardt and Phoebe (Young) Ahlefeld. His father was a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1800, living for seven years in Baltimore, Md. In 1808, he moved to Rich- land County, Ohio, where he was married, and then proceeded to Allen County in 1849. In 1859, he came to Hardin County, selecting his home in Liberty Township, where he died in 1871. Mrs. Ahlefeld was a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob Young, one of the early pioneers of Richland County. She reared a family of seven children, all living. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm. He and his brother, Peter, and William Cary, of Kenton, were the original founders of the Citizens' Bank of Ada, founded in the year 1873. He was engaged in this bank until 1878, when he disposed of his interest to his brother and, in the spring of 1881, took up his residence in Kenton. In 1856, he was married to Miss Celia Wiley, a native of Franklin County, Ohio, to wbich union there have been born five children, four living, viz., Ida (wife of John F. Andrews, Hardin County), Albert, Effie and Corena.

ABEL L. ALLEN, attorney, Kenton, was born on the homestead, two miles east of Kenton, Ohio, in 1850, and is a son of Abel H. and Rebecca (Mackey) Allen. Abel H. Allen was among the early pioneers of Hardin County. He was born in the year 1803, in Hardy County, W. Va .. and when seven years of age came with his widowed mother and family to Ohio, and settled in Coshocton County, where a portion of his boyhood was spent. He afterward moved to Pickaway County; thence to Franklin County, re- maining there until 1832. He was married in 1831, and, the following year, came to Hardin County, residing for a few months on the Wheeler farm, six miles east of Kenton. In the spring of 1833, he made his per- manent settlement two miles east of Kenton, on the farm now owned by Fenton Garwood. Here he lived a quiet and industrious life for nearly twenty years, assisting, by his industry and influence, to develop the re- sources of the county. In the spring of 1852, he removed east to the ad- joining farm, where he died on the 24th of December, 1873. He had a family of six children, three boys and three girls, who still reside in the county. His widow resides with her son, A. L. Allen, our subject, in Ken- ton, and attained her seventy-third year in May, 1883. Abel H. Allen en- dured and bore patiently the hardships of pioneer life. He was small in stature, and made up in energy and activity what he lacked in physical strength. He was modest, honorable and unyielding in his convictions of duty and honesty, and was known as a man of few words but prompt action.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

The subject of this sketch obtained the rudiments of his education from the schools of Kenton, entering, in the fall of 1871, the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity at Delaware. He graduated in 1875, and the following year began the study of law in the office of John Stillings, of Kenton. In October, 1876, he entered upon a course of studies at the Cincinnati Law School, graduating in May, 1877. He was admitted to the bar in Hamilton County the same month, and, returning home, formed a partnership with his precep- tor, with whom he is yet associated. He has been a member of the Beta Theta Pi, a college fraternity, since during the years of his collegiate studies. He and his partner are among the active and influential attorneys of Hardin County.

FRANK D. BAIN, physician, Kenton, was born in Kenton, Ohio, in 1850, and is the youngest son of Judge James Bain. The latter was born near Xenia, Ohio, September 19, 1817. He first learned the cooper's trade, but abandoned it for school teaching, employing his leisure moments in the the study of law. He decided on law for his profession, and after being admitted to the bar removed to Kenton in 1848, spending there the re- mainder of his life. His death occurred while on a visit to his son, our subject, at New Texas, Penn., May 31, 1879. He was first a partner in law with Col. Thompson, and subsequently with Col. Strong. He filled many positions of trust, discharging all with fidelity, credit and ability. He was the first Probate Judge of Hardin County under the new constitu- tion of 1852, and, in 1859, was chosen County Auditor. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1865. He was interested in educational advance - ment, and took a leading part in the organization of the union schools. For twenty-five years he was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was an ardent and consistent Christian. The subject of this sketch was educated at the schools of Kenton, and entered the drug store of J. N. Mc- Coy, preparatory to the study of medicine. He spent five years in the store, and then studied under Dr. W. H. Phillips, of Kenton. In 1872, he graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, and then opened his practice at Oakland Cross Roads, Westmoreland Co., Penn., and at Saltsburg, Indiana Co., Penn. He returned to his native city in 1878, where he has since remained in constant practice. For two years past, he has been Physician to the infirmary, and at the present time is the City Physician. In September, 1875, he was married to Miss Kate Purdy, of Mansfield, Ohio, who died two months after. She was a daughter of James Purdy, a prominent banker and lawyer of Mansfield. In June, 1877, Dr. Bain married Miss Ella, daughter of Wilson Armstrong, a contractor and builder of railroads, residing in Galion, Ohio. Dr. Bain is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, with which his father had been con- nected.

JOHN BAKER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1840. He is a son of E. C. Baker and Barbara Poont, both natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. They were married in Maryland, whence they emigrated in 1847, settling in Pleasant Township, Hardin County. In 1852, Mr. Baker, Sr., occupied the farm now owned by our subject, where he died in 1862; his widow is also deceased. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of seven children, and has always lived on the home farm. He was married, in 1873, to Miss Margaret Reefer, a native of Germany, to which union there have been born two sons-George A. and Harry (de- ceased). Mr. Baker's father was a miller, following that occupation con- tinuously through life. In his political sentiments, he was a 'Democrat.

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PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.

Our subject enlisted, in 1865, in the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company B, but the war closed soon after and he was discharged. He is connected with the Protestant Evangelical Church.

EDMUND BOULTON, book-keeper, Kenton, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1853. He is a son of Richard and Jane (McCauley) Boulton, na- tives of Lower Canada, who moved from Buffalo to Lapeer County, Mich., where our subject was reared and educated. His father was a lumber mer- chant in Almont and Burnside, Mich., for many years. He, with his fam- ily, returned to Canada, where they are now residing. The subject of this sketch has been engaged in the lumber business all his life. He was em- ployed as a lumber inspector at Saginaw for four years prior to his coming to Hardin County. In 1874, while in Saginaw, he became associated with Mr. Callam, of the Michigan Lumber Yard, in Kenton, preceding the latter's coming to this city to look after his interests and to make purchases. He is the book-keeper in Mr. Callam's establishment, and has filled that position with efficiency. On December 24, 1878, he was married, in Ken- ton, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Anthony Banning, of Kenton, which city was also her birthplace. By this union there has been one child-Kate. Mr. Boulton is Secretary of the water works in Kenton.

JOHN W. BROWN, marble dealer, Kenton, was born in Licking Coun- ty, Ohio, January 11, 1831, and is a son of John and Jemima (Beaver) Brown, natives of Shenandoah County, Va. His parents came to Ohio about 1815. They were married in Licking County, in 1818, and had a family of seven children, our subject being the only surviving member. His father died in 1835, aged forty years, and was buried in the South Fork Graveyard, in Licking County, where also lie one brother and one sister. The widow died in 1855, aged fifty-five years, and was buried in Illinois, where are two sisters of our subject. One brother is buried at New Madrid, Mo., and one sister near Fort Scott, Kan. After the death of his father, the family were thrown on their own resources, and John, when a mere lad, followed the plow many a day, receiving for the work 163 cents per day; husked corn for 35 cents, and harvested for 37} cents a day. As time passed, the burden of the family fell upon his shoulders. In the fall of 1853, he came to Hardin County, bringing with him his widowed mother, and, with one exception of a short interval spent in Union County, Ohio, has al- ways remained here. He was married, September 26, 1853, to Margaret, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Woodard, near Granville, Ohio, and located on a farm three miles east of Kenton. Seven children were born of this union, viz., S. Emma, died October 1, 1863, aged nine years two months and twenty-five days; Maggie Luella, wife of William B. Corwin, of Hastings, Neb .; Charles W., died October 3, 1863, aged five years seven months and two days; Laura A., died September 30, 1863, aged four years and eleven days; Ovitt, died November 5, 1863, aged five years and six months; Hattie Bell, died November 18, 1869, aged three years seven months and nineteen days, and Fannie, unmarried, living at home with her parents. Of this family of seven children, four were called away in the space of six days. Mrs. Brown died April 30, 1867, and Mr. Brown again married, December 29, 1868, Miss Fannie, daughter of Samuel and Catharine Bretz, of Marion County, Ohio. Mr. Brown, being a carpenter by trade, followed that business in connection with farming until 1873. when he bought a third interest in the marble business in Kenton, the firm's name being John Howe & Co. He afterward bought out Howe, and the firm became White & Brown until 1878, when Mr. Brown went to Rich-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

wood, Union Co., Ohio, and there started a shop under the name of Brown & Deveraux; remaining there about one year, he returned to Kenton and started a shop with G. W. Steinhaner, known as Brown & Steinhaner. In 1881, M. D. Cunningham entered the partnership, and the firm is now known as Brown, Steinhaner & Co.

BENJAMIN F. BRUNSON, merchant and express agent, Kenton, was born in Patch Grove, Wis., in 1842. The Brunson family are of English origin, and are descended from two brothers, who bore the family name of Brownson, and emigrated from England, settling, one in Hartford and the other in the New Haven Colony, Connecticut. Some of their descendants retain the original spelling of the name, while others spell it Bronson or Brunson. Rev. Alfred Brunson, a Western pioneer, was born February 9. 1793, and was a son of Ira Brownson and Pamelia Cozier, the former born in Berlin, Hartford County, in 1771, and was the youngest of fourteen chil- dren; the latter born in Danbury, Conn., in April, 1772. His grand- mother Brunson was originally Abigail Beach, and was married to a Cook, who was killed in the old French war. Rev. Alfred Brunson was the eldest of six children, viz., Rev. A., Hiram, Betsy, Emily, Benjamin R. and Ira, the latter the father of our subject. Ira and Benjamin, the only ones living, were twins, and were born at Sing Sing, N. Y., in 1805. After their father's death, the widow removed to Danbury, Conn., where they were ap- prenticed to the hatter's trade. When Ira came of age, he started west- ward, followed soon after (in 1826) by Benjamin, and the two opened a small hat and cap stand in Columbus, Ohio, remaining in that business five years. In 1837, Benjamin went to Galena, Ill .; thence, three years after, to Reynoldsburg, Wis., where he pursued merchandising, coming to Ken- ton in May of 1845. Here he was in partnership in a general line of goods with J. M. McClaim, pursuing business for four years in Kenton and four more in Columbus, dissolving partnership in 1849. Benjamin Brunson was then railroad agent of the I., B. & W. Railroad, then called the Mad River Railroad, and for many years had the only warehouse in Kenton. He was agent from the opening of this road until October, 1866, when he com- menced the erection of the Brunson Block, which yet stands a monument to his enterprising spirit. He served three years as County Commissioner, and during the war was Chairman of Military Committee, assisting in rais- ing money and men for the army. He had the first church bell hauled by wagons from Cincinnati, but it was accidentally broken before being hung in the belfry of the Presbyterian Church, its destination. He did the grading from the square west to Leighton street at his own expense. In 1829, Benjamin Brunson was married to Miss Jane, a daughter of Jerry McLane, who for twenty-one years was Secretary of the State of Ohio. This union bore to him four children, three sons and one daughter, two of whom are living, viz., Henry and Jerry. He left Hardin County in 1875, moving to La Fayette, Ind., and subsequently to Indianapolis, where he is now residing. Ira, the father of our subject, went from Columbus, Ohio, on horseback to Patch Grove, Grant Co., Wis., where he is yet living at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. He married 'Miss Henrietta, a daughter of Henry Foster, by whom there were fourteen children, of whom nine are living, viz., Alfred, Mary, B. F., Emily, Ida, Delford, Flora, Jennie and Alice. The subject of this sketch lived in his native place until twenty years of age, when he came to Hardin County in 1862, and became an assistant in his uncle's railroad office. In 1866, he became engaged as a salesman for two and a half years, and soon after conducted a saw mill

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 82

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