The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 84

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 84

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N. H. COLWELL, County Surveyor, Kenton, was born in Lima, Ohio, December 29, 1857, and is the youngest child of Nicholas and Evaline (Cottrell) Colwell. His parents were both natives of Ohio, and both died

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when our subject was a child. His father was a tanner by trade, working at it in Lima, Ohio, until the breaking-out of the war, when he enlisted in the ranks of the Union army. He enlisted from Fremont, Ohio, in 1860, in the Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F, and held the rank of Drum Major until his death on April 23, 1863. The subject of this sketch is the only son of a family of four children, and lived in Lima, Ohio, until 1875, when he went to Fremont, Ohio, and taught school. In 1877, he entered the Northwestern Ohio Normal School, at Ada, Ohio, graduating in 1880, and part of the time taught in the school. In the fall of 1881, he went to the Republic of Mexico, and was engaged as Civil Engineer on the Mexican National Railway, which was being constructed from Mexico City to the Pacific coast, and was represented by Palmer, Sullivan & Co. He left Mexico in March, 1882, and came to Kenton, where he was elected to the office of County Engineer and Surveyor on October 10 of the same year, and still holds that position, being regarded as an efficient officer.

WARREN F. DAMON, furniture and carpet dealer, Kenton, was born in Lowell, Mass., November 10, 1832. He is a son of Luther Damon, a na- tive of New Hampshire, who came to the West in 1835, locating in Kenton in May of that year. He was without capital, and began by working at odd jobs in furniture repairing, having a natural taste and ability for wood work, and soon became a necessity to the small population of Kenton of those days. He erected a small house on the site now occupied by the residence of our subject, where he pursued his vocation.

GEORGE W. DARST, real estate dealer and insurance agent, Kenton, was born in Washington Township, Hardin Co., Ohio, February 8, 1840. He is a son of Harrison P. and Catherine (Teegardin) Darst, the former a native of Woodstock, W. Va., the latter of Pennsylvania. His father left home when twelve years of age, and went to his brother, Joseph Burke, in Pickaway County, Ohio, remaining with him until March, 1837, when he came to Hardin County. Here he entered, at different times, 160 acres of land, in Washington Township, near Blocktown. He became a local preacher, following that profession up to the time of his decease in 1860. He had a family of nine children, five of whom attained adult age. Mrs. Darst is now residing on the homestead, and is in the seventieth year of her age. The subject of this sketch was born and reared on the home farm. When twelve years of age, the care of the whole farm devolved on him, by reason of his father's failing health and the duties of his profession. This work he discharged faithfully until September, 1862, when he enlisted in the Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was then in the field. He joined the forces at Stafford Court House, Va., and was assigned to Company A. He was tendered the rank of a non- commissioned officer, but declined and remained a private. He took part in the battles of his regiment, and was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, in June, 1865. Returning to peaceful pursuits, he resumed his work on the home farm. He was married, October 22, 1865, to Miss Hannah E., daughter of J. P. Eulin, a pioneer of Hardin County. She was born in Washington Township, and has had a family of five children, two living- Adam F., the eldest, and Autie Custar. Mr. Darst remained on the home- stead until January, 1878, having been elected Sheriff of Hardin County in the fall of 1877. He was re-elected in 1879 and served two terms. Since then, he has been engaged in his present business, and represents the Louisville Underwriters, a consolidation of the Franklin, Louisville and

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Union Insurance Companies. Mr. Darst has for many years been con- nected with the Christian Church of his native township. He has been a member of the Masonic order for the past ten years, and is widely known throughout the county, being regarded as an upright and respected citizen.

A. J. DAVIS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Woodbridgeton, Fayette Co., Penn., October 12, 1833. He is the youngest child of Philip and Mary (Bary) Davis, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a son of Philip Davis, who emigrated from Wales, settling in Pennsylvania. Philip, Jr., came to Hardin County in 1836, and entered the present farm of 160 acres, to which he brought his family, consisting of his wife and six children, in the fall of 1838. His family originally numbered nine chil- dren, all born in Pennsylvania, seven of whom are now living, viz., Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Owen W., Philip, George W. and Andrew J. Philip Davis was widely known as Capt. Davis, the name having arisen from his career as a Captain in the militia in Pennsylvania. He died in Hardin County in 1865, aged seventy-three years, having been preceded by his wife in September of 1859. The subject of this sketch has always lived on the homestead, excepting two years he traveled in the West. He was married, December 15, 1859, to Miss Sarah J., daughter of William and Jane (Crooks) McCormick, both Pennsylvanians. She was born in Richland Coun- ty, near Mansfield, Ohio, where the family were noted pioneers. Her grandfather, John McCormick, was born under a tree in Delaware, and was the youngest of a family of four children. His father was a Government spy, who was shot by the Indians. John McCormick served under Gen. Washington during the Revolution. He crossed the mountains to the West on horseback and suffered all the hardships incident to pioneer life. He died on the homestead in Richland County at the age of ninety years. Mr. and Mrs. McCormick also died in that county, after attaining an advanced age. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living, one son and three daughters-Mary, William, Maggie and Sarah J. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have had born to them three children, all living-Elmer C., Ettie and Maggie. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and number among the old and respected pioneer families of Hardin Coun- ty. Their residence was erected in the fall of 1878, and is a handsome and substantial building. It is a three-story brick, with slate roof, and is said to be the best finished farm house in the county. Mr. Davis remem- bers when the home farm abounded with deer and wild turkeys, it being a common thing to shoot game from his house door. There were but two cabins between his and those of Kenton.

S. K. DAVIS, photographer, Kenton, was born in Marion County, Ohio, January 30, 1849, and is a son of Walter and Caroline M. Davis, natives of Washington County, Ohio. His parents were among the earliest pioneers of Marion County, where his father died in 1859, and his mother in March of 1883, the latter in the seventy-third year of her age. They were the parents of eight children, two living-Serena, wife of N. William - son, of Hardin County, and our subject. The latter was reared on a farm, and married in Kenton, in 1880, to Miss Emma, daughter of George Merri- man. One child has resulted from this union, Blanche S. Mr. Davis es- tablished business in Kenton in 1879, succeeding I. N. Hayes, with whom he was associated for four years previous to the purchase of his establish- ment, and with whom he was a student. He is a thorough artist in pho- tography, and, having a large city and country trade, turns out satisfactory work. The establishment is furnished with cameras of the best manufact-

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ure; the operating room has a large north side and sky-light, and is fitted up with screens, back-grounds, etc., and is fully equipped with all appur- tenances necessary for successful work.

W. D. DEAN, druggist, Kenton, was born near Columbus, Ohio, in Novem- ber, 1835. He is a son of Albert Dean, a native of Connecticut, and Jane Dean, née Dalzell, a native of County Down, Ireland, from which country she emigrated with her parents when nine years of age. Albert Dean is a son of Lebbius Dean, a descendant of one of the early pioneers of the New En- gland States. He came to Ohio in 1821 and settled near Columbus. When our subject was three years of age, his parents moved to Delaware, Ohio, and, in 1844, to Hardin County, settling on a farm in Dudley Township, removing thence in March, 1849, to Kenton, where his father died in 1859. Our subject secured an education from the common schools of Kenton, and began the drug business as a clerk, continuing until 1858. He was ap- pointed Deputy Clerk of the Courts in 1861, serving in that capacity until 1864. He was elected Clerk of the Courts in 1863, and was re-elected in 1866, serving until 1870. He has filled the office of Deputy Clerk contin- uously since 1874. In 1879, he entered the drug business, which he con- tinues at the present time. In February of 1869, he was married to Miss Anna L., daughter of Dr. Stewart, of Cincinnati. Mrs. Dean is a native of Middletown, Ohio. A family of three children are living, viz., Guy, Em- mazetta and Georgina: one died in infancy.

HENRY DICKSON, merchant, and proprietor of the Grand Opera House, Kenton, Ohio, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in the year 1837. He is the eldest son of Robert and Ann (Joseph) Dickson, the for- mer a native of Ireland, the latter of Welsh descent. They were among the early pioneers of Muskingum County, moving thence to Hardin Coun- ty in 1847, and settling on a farm in Pleasant Township, coming ten years later to Kenton, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The subject of this sketch began a clerkship with Jeremiah Crowley, with whom he became a partner, and after a continuous business for some years, he became the sole proprietor. He purchased the store in the opera house building, and, in 1879, remodeled the opera house, of which he is now the sole proprietor. He was married in Pleasant Township, Hardin County, in 1857, to Miss Rachel, daughter of John and Edith Looker. She is a native of Rocking- ham County, Va., and her parents were among the early pioneers of Hardin County in 1839, where they passed the remainder of their lives.

WILLIAM DOUGHERTY, merchant tailor, Kenton, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, February 12, 1815, and moved to Hardin County in 1848. He commenced business soon after his arrival, and has since been continuously engaged as a merchant tailor and clothier. On December 13, 1849, he was married to Helen Cessna, oldest daughter of Jonathan Cessna, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this work. To this union five children were born, viz .: Frank Cessna. born September 14, 1851; James Wallace, born April 28, 1854; Howard Perry, born July 28, 1856; Charles, born October 22, 1858, died March 18, 1859, and Kate May, born March 24, 1861. Frank Cessna Dougherty received his early education in the Kenton Union Schools, and, in 1867, went to the Ohio Wesleyan University at Del- aware, where he graduated in June of 1870. In September of 1870, he went to Galion, Ohio, where he was Principal of the Galion High School for the ensuing two years, during which time he was studying law. In the fall of 1872, he went to Cincinnati and attended there the law school, graduating in the spring of 1873, and was admitted to the bar by a com-

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mittee of the Legislature at Columbus. In 1873, he became a member of the law firm of Cessna, Kernan & Dougherty, at Kenton, Ohio, where he remained until the fall of the same year. In September, 1873, he was elected Principal of the High School at Wooster, Ohio, and filled that posi- tion until June of 1875, when he was elected Superintendent of the Woos- ter Schools. Resigning the last position, he returned to Kenton in the summer of 1875, and opened here a law office. On the 15th of September, 1875, he and Louella Merriman, daughter of Louis Merriman, were united. in marriage. In the fall of 1875, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of. Hardin County, holding that position for two years, declining a re-nomina- tion. In 1881, be was Democratic candidate for Attorney General of Ohio. He has been a member of the Board of Education in Kenton since 1880; he

bas also been a stockholder of the Kenton Savings Bank and of the Cham-

pion Iron Fence Company since their organization. He has been contin- uously engaged in the practice of law up to the present time. James Wal- lace Dougherty obtained his early and preparatory education from the union schools of Kenton. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, Ohio, in the fall of 1872, graduating in the spring of 1876. In the fall of that year he was elected Superintendent of the Union Schools at Orr- ville, Wayne Co., Ohio, which position he filled for two years, resigning, in June of 1878, to resume the study of law, in which he had previously en- gaged. He was admitted to the bar on March 4, 1879, by a committee ap. pointed by the Supreme Court of Ohio. He immediately entered into partnership with his brother, Frank C., in the practice of law at Kenton. In this relation he has continued in active practice up to the present time.

GEORGE DRUSCHEL, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born May 23, 1841, in Wallroth, Hesse, Germany, where his parents, Nicholas and Cathe- rine (Winebriner) Druschel, were born and buried. He is a member of a family of seven children, viz .: Catherine, Nicholas, Martin, Casper, George, John and George B., all of whom excepting Catherine and Casper emigrated to America. The subject of this sketch came to America, ac- companied by his brother John, in the winter of 1858, and was forty-six days on the voyage. He came immediately from New York to Kenton, Ohio, arriving about Christmas time. When the rebellion broke out, he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and veteranized in the same company, receiving honorable discharge July 24, 1865. He passed through many hard-fought battles, namely, Culpeper Court House, Second Bull Run (where he was badly wounded in the leg), Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain, Resaca (where he was wounded in the arm and side), Peach Tree Creek, Bentonville, and was under heavy fire with Sherman all through the march to the sea. His brother John was in the same company and regiment, passing through with only trifling injuries. His brother Martin was in service for about a year. Our subject was married, April 16, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of George and Catherine (Wetman) Beltz, natives of Germany. She was born January 20, 1845, in Germany, in the same town as her hus- band. She had one brother, George, who died in the service of this coun- try at Strasburg, Va., during the late rebellion. Mrs. and Mr. Druschel have had a family of two children, viz., Carrie, born June 24, 1868; and William G., born March 15, 1870, died September 13, 1871. Mrs. Dru- schel's parents emigrated to this country in 1853, settling in Pennsylvania.

PATRICK DUGAN, proprietor of the Dugan House, Kenton, was born in the Parish of Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland, March 17, 1831,

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and is a son of John and Mary (McNeelus) Dugan, natives of the same place. Patrick emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1852, and, after one year's residence in Pennsylvania, came to Delaware County, Ohio, where he purchased a farm and engaged as a traveler in the sale of dry goods throughout the different States of the West. He was married in Xenia, Ohio, April 7, 1863, by Rev. Thomas Blake, to Miss Mary J. Johnson, a daughter of John and Susan (McNeelus) Johnson, natives of Ireland. Mrs. Dugan was brought to this country during infancy and reared in New York City and Mansfield, Ohio. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Dugan set- tled on his farm in Delaware County, where he lived for about one year, returning to Xenia, Ohio, thence back to Delaware County, and in April, 1867, locating in Kenton. He kept a boarding house until the erection of the "Dugan House" in 1872. This hotel is the largest public house in the county; it is a fine, three-storied brick building of forty room , containing high, airy ceilings, and is well furnished throughout. The cost of the hotel with furnishings was about $25,000, and it has had a successful run of business under Mr. Dugan's management. When he came to the United States he had no capital, but by his energy has won for himself a comfort- able competence. Much of his success he attributes to his wife, who, for twenty years, has been a prudent and loving helpmate. They have had ten children, of whom four sons and four daughters survive, viz .: Mary E., Katie T., John P., Daniel, James B., Francis O., Annie I. and Margaret E. The deceased were named Daniel and Hugh. Mr. Dugan and family are members of the Catholic Church. He is well known as a man of honest, upright character, whose word is considered as good as his bond.

JOHN A. ELDER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1827, and is the second son of Thomas and Margery Elder née An- derson, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Scotland, whence she emigrated when a child with her parents. The grandfather, Robert Elder, moved with his family to Clark County, where he spent the re- mainder of his years, being a distinguished pioneer there. Thomas raised a family of seven sons and two daughters, seven of whom are still living. The subject of this sketch was reared in Clark County, Ohio, where he was married in 1855 to Miss Sarah J., daughter of John Funston; the latter is a native of Ireland. This union has resulted in three children, all of whom are living-Thomas H., James A. and Maud. Mrs. Elder is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1854, Mr. Elder came to Hardin County, settling on a farm in Pleasant Township, where he resided until the fall of 1880, in which year he occupied his present home near the city of Kenton. He has a fine residence, and is engaged in stock dealing, principally in hogs and sheep.

WILLIAM M. ELLIS, grocer, Kenton, was born in Jackson Township, Hardin County, Ohio, in 1845. His parents, Richard Ellis, and Mary Slover, are both natives of Cayuga County, N. Y., and settled in Jackson Township, being among the pioneers of Hardin County. His father followed farming for a while, then went to the gold regions of California, prospect- ing. where he remained two years. He died at his brother's residence in Indiana, on his way home. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family of four boys and three girls; four of the children are now living. After his father's death, he removed to Marseilles, Ohio, and in early life engaged in a woolen factory. He then followed clerking up to the time of the rebellion, when he enlisted, in 1861, in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He fought

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in the battle of Winchester, June 13, 1863, where he was wounded in the breast, the ball passing through a testament. He was sent to the hospi- tal and next day was taken prisoner by the enemy, conveyed to Richmond and confined in the Libby Prison, from which he was sent to Belle Isle, where he remained in confinement for thirty-three days. He was among the last squad of men that were paroled for eighteen months. He was taken to Annapolis, Md., and there exchanged, after which he returned home. He rejoined the regiment in October, 1863, at Martinsburg. Va., where the regiment was re-organizing. He afterward participated in the battle at- New Market, May 15, 1864; Snickersville, July 18, 1864; Opequon, Sep- tember 19, 1864; Round Top Mountain, September 24, 1864; Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864; Hatcher's Run, April 1 and 2, 1865, and High Bridge, April 6, 1865. The troops thence went to Appomattox Court House, where the rebel army surrendered, after which our subject was mus- tered out at Columbus, Ohio. On his return to Hardin County, he went to Dunkirk and clerked in a dry goods store for six months, when he moved to Marseilles, where he remained four years, and thence came to Kenton. In 1871, he engaged as salesman in Kenton for Merriman & Norton's dry good store, in which he remained until 1875, when he represented that firm at Forest, Ohio, pursuing a branch of busi- ness there for eighteen months. Six months after, he returned to Kenton and engaged with W. Dorathy in the clothing business, and during the en- suing year returned to the service of L. Merriman. He severed connection with this firm in 1880 and went into business at Sidney, Ohio, but soon after came back to Kenton and was employed in a clothing house until January, 1882. At this time he formed a copartnership with R. D. Alter in the grocery business, succeeding John Pfeiffer. This firm dissolved on November 28, 1882, and Mr. Ellis has since carried it on alone, and con- ducts a first-class trade. He was married in 1869, at Niles, N. Y., to Miss Margaret Keyes, by which union there have been six children, five living, viz., Viola, Minnie M., Lena A., Katie and E. F. Mead. Mr. Ellis is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

W. H. FLEMING, stock-dealer, Kenton, was born in Beaver County, Penn., in 1842, and is the eldest living child of Samuel and Sarah (Laf- ferty) Fleming, natives of Allegheny County, Penn. They were married in Beaver County, and came to Ohio in 1854, settling in Blanchard Township, Hardin County, where they died. Mr. Fleming was a farmer, and reared a family of five children, four living, viz., John, who enlisted in the Sixty- sixth Illinois Sharpshooters and died from exposure at Corinth; Jane, wife of Nelson Kidney; W. H., James S. and Samuel W. The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm. In 1864, he enlisted in the One Hun- dred and Seventy-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company F, and served to the close of the war. For a few years he dealt in stock, and from 1867 to 1869, was engaged in the dry goods trade at Dunkirk, Ohio. He was married in December, 1870, to Miss Maggie, daughter of John Jones, a pioneer of this county. She is a native of Knox County, Ohio. After marriage, Mr. Fleming returned to his former business of stock-dealing, which he followed until his election to the office of Clerk of Courts in 1872. He was re-elected in 1875, and served two term ;. Since his retirement from public duties, he has successfully pursued his old occupation of stock dealing. He has resided in Kenton since 1873. His farms in Pleasant, Dudley and Blanchard Townships embrace over four hundred acres of land. He is the father of three children, all living, viz., Olga, the eldest, Dean and Dow, twins.

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J. B. FLETCHER, merchant tailor, Kenton, was born in England November 23, 1847. When he was eight years of age, he came to Ohio with his parents, William and Sarah Fletcher, who settled in Hardin Coun - ty. The latter died here September 28, 1861. Mr. Fletcher is still living and is a resident of Washington Township, Hardin County. The subject of this sketch was the eldest of seven children. He first established his busi- ness in Kenton in 1873, under the firm name of Fullerton & Fletcher, con- tinuing for two and a half years, when his partner withdrew and was suc- ceeded by George Carey. The firm then pursued business for two and a half years longer, and then sold out to A. A. Strong & Co. But six months after, in 1878, Mr. Fletcher again opened in the business, and has since conducted it alone. He has a first-class establishment, and carries a stock of about $4,000. He was married in Kenton, in 1870, to Miss Mary A. Hoon, a native of Kenton, by which union two children have been born, Ella and Kate. Mr. Fletcher is connected with the Knights of Pythias, and ranks among the young, enterprising business men of Kenton.

JACOB FORBING, manufacturer, Kenton, was born near Fort Wayne, Ind., September 19, 1841. He lived in his birthplace until the breaking- out of the war. when, in September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Thir- tieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted as Sergeant and served three years, participating in the engagements at Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Triune, Stone River and Chickamauga, in which latter battle he was wounded and confined for six weeks in a hospital at Nashville, Tenn. After a furlough of sixty days, he rejoined his troops and was in the bat- tles of Chattanooga, Atlanta, Resaca and all the engagements of the At- lanta campaign. · Returning to Indiana, he followed his trade of carpenter and builder in Fort Wayne, coming to Ada, Ohio, in 1869. The same year he became associated with the Young Brothers in the scroll and lum- ber business, the firm dissolving in 1873, after which he came to Kenton and built a mill, carrying it on in partnership with his brother Peter for three years. The building was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Forbing then erected his present mill, in which he has since been successfully engaged. He employs on an average a force of twenty men, the work all being sawed from black walnut, for chair stock, and shipped wholly to the Eastern mar- kets. Mr. Forbing was married in Fort Wayne, Ind., February 14, 1865, to Miss Anna M., daughter of George J. and Anna M. Young. She was born in Allen County, Ind., and has reared a family of six children, viz. : Irvin, Cecilia, Earl B. A., Guy, John W. and Leo V. Mr. Forbing has also an adopted daughter, Addie. The family belong to the Catholic Church. Mr. Forbing has filled the office of City Councilman for two terms, and is one of the progressive citizens of Kenton, thoroughly iden- tified with the interests of Hardin County.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 84

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