The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 92

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 92

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ISAAC G. WILLIAMS (deceased) was born in Grayson County, Va., May 29, 1810. He was first married at Zanesfield, Ohio, having settled there with his father, John Williams, at or near a town called Mingo. His wife's maiden name was Lydia Wright, by whom he had two sons and three daughters, four of whom are now living, viz., Granville S., at Kenton, Ohio; Eliza J. Mastin, widow of John Mastin (deceased), residing in Washington County, Miss .; Mary E., wife of E. Brown, Cincinnati, and Eudora H., wife of Adam Stewart, Bellefontaine, Ohio. His wife died in Zanesfield, Ohio, in 1839, and he was subsequently united to Miss Margaret Brown, a native of Baltimore, Md. They were married in Zanesfield, Ohio, and moved to Walnut Grove, Logan County, where he carried on a dry goods and grocery business. He moved from there to Hardin County in 1851, and located on a farm south of Kenton, Ohio, in 1857, engaging in the dry goods business for twelve years. He afterward established the " Williams Bank," under the firm name of J. G. Williams & Son, which he conducted successfully to the close of his life, which occurred in Kenton September 16, 1868. He was for twelve years a Justice of the Peace in Zanesfield. He was brought up in the Quaker persuasion in his native place, and lived and died in that faith. By his second marriage there are eight children, five girls and three boys, all living, viz., Charlottie A., wife of S. B. Detray, Kenton; Hester A., wife of Frank Deakin, South Bend, Ind .; Ruth A., wife of L. W. Barr, Kenton; Eda A., wife of John A. Givney, St. Louis, Mo., and Marie L., wife of K. L. Steiner, Allegheny, Penn. The three boys are Isaiah N., Oran Otis and Eugene V. Oran O. married Ida Feiring, by whom there are two children-Isaac G. and Oran Otis. Eugene V. married Louisa Knapp, and lives in Kenton. Isaac N. Williams was born at Walnut Grove, Logan County, was reared in Kenton and studied dentistry with Dr Satzman, with whom he worked five years. He then opened his present office, in February, 1883, and continues to practice his profession.

NATHANIEL WILLIAMSON, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Richland County, Ohio, in 1828, and is the eldest son of William and Cath- erine (Bryte) Williamson. They emigrated from Virginia at an early time, and after living in Richland and Ashland Counties, Ohio, for a number of

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years, came to Hardin County, arriving March 13, 1834. They were eight days on the road, a distance of only seventy-five miles. Mr. Williamson settled on the homestead now occupied by our subject, where he entered 160 acres of what at that time was a wilderness. He erected a small cabin, where he lived until his decease in February, 1836. He left a wife and four children (the oldest being ten years of age), three now living, viz., our subject; Hannah J., widow of Thomas Davis, residing in Kenton, and Bar- tholomew, a resident of Buffalo, N. Y., formerly a stock-dealer of Hardin County. The widow subsequently married John Gunn, a resident of Wash- ington Township, by whom she had one child, John, who died while in the army; she lived to be seventy-one years of age. With the exception of eight years, our subject has always resided on the homestead, which is now one of the most productive farms in the township. He and his brother worked diligently in clearing this land and making it what it is. Mr. Williamson was married, in Marion County, Ohio, in 1855, to Miss Serena, daughter of Walter Davis, a pioneer of Marion County, where she was born. To this union eleven children have been born, ten living, namely, Ida, wife of George H. McFarland, residing in Buck Township, this county; Florence R., Walter D., Mamie E., Belle O., Lillie M., Nettie V., Willie, Sheridan E. and Edna A. Mr. Williamson and family are connected with the Dis- ciple Church, he being one of the Elders, and are among the esteemed fam- ilies of Kenton. Mr. Williamson was for eighteen years engaged, during the winter months, in teaching. His second daughter -- Florence-gradu- ated in the scientific course of the Ada Normal School, and has taught in the public schools at Kenton and in various parts of the county. Three of the daughters have been teachers, giving their time to educational advance- ment.

LEMUEL WILLMOTH (deceased) was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1805. His parents were of German descent, and both died when he was quite young, leaving him to know but little of the family history. He was a member of a family of six children, five sons and one daughter, one brother and sister surviving, the former living near Neville, on the Ohio River, in Ohio, the latter is the wife of Mr. Badley, who keeps a provision store. Our subject came to Hardin County in the spring of 1831, having been preceded by two brothers, and bought forty acres of land, now in- cluded in the town of Kenton, on which he built his cabin. In 1838, his wife died. They had a family of seven children, three sons and four daugh ters, six living, viz., Nancy J., John, Rachel, Melvina, Levin G. and Lydia A. He assisted in the laying of the public square, and his cabin was often frequented by the Wyandot Indians, it being directly on their way from Upper Sandusky to Chillicothe. Nancy J., the oldest child of Lemuel, was born in Union County, Ohio, November 11, 1825, and married, in October of 1845, Newton Howell. The latter was the son of Israel and Sarah Howell, and was born in Logan County. He served a four years' appren- ticeship at harness-making and opened in the business at Kenton, remain- ing there until 1854. He was then engaged in business at Waterloo, Iowa, and, in 1865, moved to Chillicothe, Mo., where he served for six years as Commissioner, returning, in 1871, to Russell, Iowa, where he opened a shop. He had a family of five daughters and two sons, viz., Lydia V. (wife of George W. Plotts), Julia A. (wife of John Chriswell, farmer), Staley L., William C., Mary A., Hattie J. and George E. John Willmoth, the second child of Lemuel, was born March 2, 1827, in Union County, Ohio, and married Maggie Rough in 1856. He left Kenton in that year; went

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West, living in Missouri until 1882, removing to Marshall County, Kan. His wife was the daughter of Thomas Rough and Grace Collins. Rachel Willmoth was born in Union County, Ohio, and married, in the spring of 1854, O. Osborn, a farmer of Hardin County, and had eight children, three daughters and five sons. Her husband and four children are deceased, and she now resides in Kenton. Melvina Willmoth was born in Union County, Ohio, and is the wife of L. D. Longman, dry goods merchant, of Kenton, moving in the spring of 1856, to Newton, Iowa, where she died December 27, 1856. They had two children, one daughter, and a son named Benson. . Benson was born in Union County, Ohio, February 12, 1831, and came to Kenton with his parents in the same year. He was married, September 3, 1857, to Miss Sarah J. Dunlap, by whom there were five children born, viz., William E., born October 18, 1858; Gustine R., born September 4, 1863; Maurice L., born September 28, 1866; Josephine Maud, born September 12, 1868; Mattie, born August 19, 1871. Mrs. Benson Willmoth's parents were of Scotch and Irish descent. Her father died April 13, 1862; her mother died October 19, 1860. Levin G. Willmoth, the fifth child of Lemuel, was born in Hardin County August 12, 1834, and married, in 1858, Miss Elizabeth A. Hosman. He moved to Chillicothe, Mo., in 1866, and is now living in Marionville, Mo. He has a family of five children, three, born in Hardin County. Lydia A., the sixth child of Lemuel, was born in Hardin County in 1835; married, in 1862, Jacob A. Holmes, carpenter, and has two sons. Mr. Lemuel Willmoth married, a second time, May 29, 1840, Miss Mary M. Davis, and the same year moved on a farm of eighty acres, one mile and a half north of Kenton, where he resided for twenty-seven years. His wife was born in Adams County, Penn., in 1814. Her father. a miller, was a native of Ireland and was married to Mary McGrew, moving to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1817. They were the parents of nine chil- dren. Mrs. Davis died December 29, 1848, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having joined when she was nine years of age. Mrs. Lemuel Willmoth united with the church in 1838, under the prestige of Rev. Mr. Welch. Our subject, by his second marriage, had a family of seven children, all born on the old homestead. The home place was sold in 1867, the family moving to the present farm, where Mr. Will- moth died February 3, 1879, after a protracted illness; and thus passed from the ranks one of the early pioneers of Hardin County. The children born to him are as follows: Mary W., born in Hardin County May 29, 1842, wife of John A. Holmes; Wellington L., born May 6, 1844, married, in 1869, to Anna C. Girod, residents of Hardin County; William A., born March 17, 1846, married to Anna Yauger in 1872; Amina J., born July 17, 1848, married to John Woods in 1869; Elizabeth L., born April 28, 1851, married to George W. Charlton in 1874; Eugene D., farmer, born Septem- ber 5, 1853, bachelor; Mattie C., born July 21, 1856, wife of William H. Roger, farmer.

I .. H. WILSON, real estate dealer, Kenton, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, on December 5, 1818. He is a son of Joseph and Patty (Holmes) Wilson. His father was a native of Brownsville, Penn., and came to Tuscarawas County with his father, Amos Wilson, when he was eighteen years of age. Amos Wilson and his wife Mary had a family of four children, all deceased. After the death of his wife, he followed his son Joseph to Hardin County in the fall of 1835, where he died shortly after, and was the first one to be buried in the Cessna Cemetery. Joseph and his wife and seven children settled in Cessna Township, which town.

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ship he named and organized and of which he was the first Justice of the Peace. He cleared here a farm of 160 acres, on which he lived for seven years, his demise occurring in 1841. Six of his children, four sons and two daughters, are living, viz., Thomas, a Methodist divine, residing in Fremont, Ohio; our subject; Amos; resident of Carker City, Kan .; Eliza- beth, wife of Thomas Richey, resident of Cadiz, Ohio; Mary, wife of Will- iam Deming, of Kenton; and Samuel C., of Ada, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm and, in 1842, removed with his mother to Harrison County, Chio, whence, after a residence of fifteen years, they re- turned to Hardin County, settling on a farm near Huntersville, in Cessna Township. He lived there for about eight years, removing to a farm in Pleasant Township, thence coming, three years after, to Kenton, where he has since remained. He has here been occupied in real estate transactions. His mother is still living, and has attained the eighty-eighth year of her age. In 1843, Mr. Wilson was married in Hardin County to Miss Mary A., daughter of William Cessna. She is a native of Pennsylvania, whence she removed with her father and mother to Holmes County, Ohio, and at the age of fifteen came to Hardin County. Mr. Wilson and his wife have a family of eight children, viz., Dr. J. H., of Bellefontaine, Ohio; Martha E., Maud K., Sallie J., wife of David Watt, of Ada; William C., Dr. A. L., of Belle Centre; Meredith B., of Bellefontaine, Ohio; and Carrie. The elder son, Joseph, was a soldier during the rebellion, serving four months. Mr. Wilson has been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church since his boyhood.

ISAAC E. WILSON, Superintendent of the County Infirmary, Kenton, was born in Pleasant Township, Hardin County, Ohio, September 20, 1842. He is a son of John and Phebe (Osborne) Wilson, natives of Rich- land County, Ohio. John Wilson came to Hardin County in 1838, entered eighty acres of land in Pleasant Township, where he lived until 1865, re- moving to Hancock County, where he is still residing. During his resi- dence in Hardin County, he was of a strong, robust constitution and con- sidered superior, in his physical attributes, to the neighboring men of the county. He raised a family of seven children, two living, our subject and Eliza, the latter, wife of John E. Jackson, of Chillicothe, Mo. Isaac E. was reared on a farm, where he lived until the breaking-out of the rebell- ion. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years. He fought in the battles of Rich Mount- ain, W. Va., July 11, 1861, under Mcclellan; Romney, W. Va., June 11, September 23 and October 26, 1861; Winchester, Va., March 23, and May 25, 1862; Chancellorsville, Va., May 1 to May 5, 1863, covering the retreat to Port Republic, Va., June 9, 1862; Port Royal, Va .; June 30, in battle one day at Harrison's Landing on James River, after the seven-days battle, June 26 to July 1, 1862; second Bull Run, August 30, 1862; Harper's Ferry, April 18, and October 11, 1861; Antietam, September 16 and 17, 1862; Gettysburg, July 1, 2 and 3, 1863; battle of the Wilderness May 5 to May 7, 1864, and Spottsylvania Court House, May 12, 1864. In the last-named battle he was wounded in the left shoulder and was confined for one month; was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio, June 20, 1864, and re- enlisted April 5, 1865, in the One Hundred and Ninety-eighth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry; but the war closed before they entered the field. On his re: turn home he engaged in farming. In 1867, at Kenton, Ohio, he was mar- ried to Miss Kate, daughter of John and Harriet Hufnagle, natives of Ross County, to which union there have been four children born, two liv-

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ing, Willis H. and Hattie B. Mr. Wilson was appointed Superintendent of the County Infirmary in April, 1872, re-appointed in 1879, and is still discharging faithfully the duties of that office. He owns a farm of 100 acres in Buck Township, but has made his residence in Kenton since 1867.

JOHN WINEBRINNER, deceased, was born in Germany April 7,1817. In 1849, he was united in marriage with Louisa, daughter of George and Katie (Kaufman) Hummel, by which union there were four children, viz., Milton, the oldest, born in Germany, May 18, 1846, died in Pleasant Town- ship December, 1868; Martin. born in New York February 27, 1852;

- George M., born in Hardin County, Ohio, July 21, 1852, and Nicholas B., born May 23, 1855. Mr. Winebrinner came with his wife and one child to America in 1849, and remained for a time in Port Jervis, N. Y., moving to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1851. He purchased forty acres of woodland in Section 13, Pleasant Township, which land he cleared and subsequently sold, buying eighty acres of woodland of the present home, located in Sec- tion 1, same township, and afterward 234 acres across the road in Goshen Township. He died on the home where the widow now lives, October 26, 1873, aged fifty three years. He commenced life in this country without capital and among total strangers, and accumulated his home and lands after a life of hardship and toil, practicing the greatest economy.

JAMES AND WILLIAM H. YOUNG, manufacturers, Kenton, are na- tives of Lancaster County, Penn., where the former was born in 1829, the latter in 1832. Their parents were Archibald and Ann (Huey) Young, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Chester County, Penn. James was the first of the family to come West, the family being prepared to follow in 1856, just when the mother died. The father died in Cherokee, Logan County, Ohio, in 1864. Of the children, there were five sons and five daughters, all living to attain maturity, six now surviving, viz., James, the eldest; William H. ; John, a hotel proprietor, in Piedmont, Mo .; Thomas, a resident of Belle Centre, Ohio; Ann, the wife of John McPherson, of Belle Centre, and Maggie, wife of L. T. Hunt, of Kenton. Robert, fifth in the family, was killed in a railroad accident on the Island of Cuba in 1866; James Young came to Ohio in 1851, and located in Huntsville, Logan County, having in his possession but $7.50 and a kit of carpenter's tools. Being possessed with good health and an abundance of energy and perseverance, he set to work at his trade of carpenter- ing, which he had learned in Pennsylvania. He was followed in the ensuing year by his brother William, and, in 1869, they both came to Ken- ton, building that same year the present saw mill, in which they have since been successfully engaged. They cut from 8,000 to 13,000 feet of lumber per day and are engaged in the purchase of lumber, which they ship to various States West and South. They , buy in Tennessee and Ken- tucky, but mostly in this State. Their annual business ranges from $200,- 000 to $300,000. The tax on the mill and the land adjoining, covering some 2,000 acres, is from $1,300 to $1,400. They are also associated with the Champion Fence Company, purchasing one-fourth interest in August, 1875, and which is still maintained. Since 1879, they have been connected with the Kenton Scroll Company, and are also stockholders in the Scioto Straw Board Company. The brothers, with others, organized the Hardin Savings (now the First National) Bank, in 1875, but have withdrawn their interest; James was its President at one time, but resigned on account of the pressure of other business. The brothers have also an interest in the stock of the water works, in which company James was Treasurer for one year.

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They were large stockholders in the Chicago & Atlantic Railroad and in the Springfield & Southern Railway. In 1854, James was united in mar. riage in Logan County, Ohio, to Lydia, daughter of George Ansley, of that county, which was also her birth-place. From this union one child has resulted -- Alice, now the wife of George W. Russell, of Maroa, Ill. James has also reared William, Jr., a son of William H. Young, from his infancy, his mother having died at that time. William, Jr., is the book- keeper of the firm. James Young has also raised two daughters of his sis. ter, Rebecca J. McNeal, who died, leaving them to his care. Their names are Hannah A., now the wife of George Herrod, of Logan County, Ohio; and Mary J., residing with him at home. James Young served in the ranks of the Union Army during the rebellion, raising a company of me- chanics for the purpose of constructing buildings at Nashville, Tenn., where they erected hospitals and many large store houses. He was out six months, and at the commencement of his service was engaged with the Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad. He has served in the City Council for two terms of two years each, and superintended the building of the Scioto Straw Board Mill and has been President of the company since its organization, and is one of the active and popular busi- ness men of Kenton.

D. P. ZEARING, boot and shoe dealer, Kenton, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1832. He came to Kenton in March of 1851 and worked for some years at his trade, and, in 1860, established business on the east side of the city, where he has since remained. He has occupied his pres- ent premises for five years, erecting the building in 1878 and occupying it in the fall. This edifice is a substantial brick structure, two stories in height, the front composed of Philadelphia double pressed brick. He car- ries a stock of from $8,000 to $14,000 and has a large and lucrative trade, much of it coming from long distances in the surrounding country. Mr. Zearing was married in 1854 to Miss Martha Gilmore, a native of Cham- bersburg, Penn. This union has resulted in two children, viz., Ella, wife of H. C. Stimson, of Kenton, and Ida, living at home. Mr. Zearing was a member of the City Council in 1867, serving two years.

LAZARUS ZUGSCHWERT, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1815, and is a son of Clements and Catherine (Werle) Zug- schwert. The subject of this sketch emigrated to America in 1836, and, after a few years spent in New York City, came to Kenton in 1842. He was engaged as a house painter, besides following various other pursuits. For three years he acted as salesman, and served for eight years as Dep- uty Postmaster, being appointed under President Pierce, during which time he was engaged in merchandising, and finally settled on his present farm in 1862. He has filled continuously the office of Justice of the Peace for the last twelve years, still serving in that capacity, and also served as Con- stable and Collector, from 1845 to 1850, one term as Coroner, and five years as School Director. In 1845, he was married in Hardin County to Miss Lena Reese, a native of Germany. To this union five children have been born, four living, viz., Henry, married to Ollie Kelley, residing in Kenton; Albert, an attorney at law, married to Augusta Cass and residing in Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio; John L., in Polo, Ill., and Elizabeth, at home with her parents. Mrs. Zugschwert is a daughter of George Henry and Mena (Kaiser) Reese, whose family came to America in 1834, and a sister of Henry Reese, in Kenton.

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JOHN ANSTINE, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania, May 20, 1842. When quite young, his father, Henry Anstine, removed to Champaign County, Ohio, where they remained some time, when they moved to Logan County, where John was reared and educated. He was a farmer by occu- pation, and, in 1872, came to Round Head Township, and, on February 11, same year, was married to Maggie Pfeiffer, a native of Kenton, Ohio. His farm contains 250 acres of land. He was a very industrious man and a good financier, and was engaged in farming until his death, which oc- curred October 13, 1880. He is buried just opposite the farm residence, where his widow has erected over his grave a handsome monument. Mr. Anstine was a Democrat in politics the greater part of his life. Two chil- dren were born to him, both living -- John H. and Willis. Mrs. Anstine is a consistent member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Kenton. John Pfeiffer, Mrs. Anstine's father (deceased), was born in Germany, Septem- ber 17, 1813. When seventeen years of age, he emigrated to Pennsylvania, and six years after returned to his native land and brought over his parents and family to this country, locating at Kenton, Round Head Township. He was a millwright by trade, and ran a steam grist mill at Kenton for about fifteen years. In 1863, he came to Round Head Township, pur- chasing 363 acres of land on the Kenton pike. He afterward bought 172 acres more. He farmed until 1872, during which time he served several years as Township Treasurer. In the latter year he returned to Kenton,

where he died October 12, 1880. He was a Republican in politics. He was married to Eva Elsassar, also a native of Germany, by whom he had nine children, six living. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer were members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Pfeiffer still resides in Kenton.

SOLOMON ARBOGAST, deceased, was an early settler of Round Head Township, and was born in Green Brier Township, - County, Va., August 10, 1804, and died in Round Head Village, April 24, 1870, aged sixty five years. His father, Adam Arbogast, was a native of Germany, and emigrated to Virginia at an early day, he was married to a Miss Buz- zard, also a native of Germany. They came to Ohio about 1818, and lo- cated on Buck Creek, Clark County, where they both died. They were the parents of probably six children, one now living, Betsy, wife of Thomas Mckinnon, of Somerford, Madison County, Ohio. Solomon Ar- bogast was fourteen years of age when his parents came to Ohio, and was reared mostly in Clark County. He came to Round Head Township with John F. Henkle, and settled on the Scioto Marsh. He did not enter any land, but resided there eight years. He then rented the Mathew Mahan farm for ten years, and subsequently took a ten years' lease of a farm in the Bowdle settlement, owned by Wesley Yoe. At the expiration of his lease he went to Round Head Village, and was there engaged in teaming until his death. He was a member of the Bowdle Society and of the Bow- dle Church, and connected with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He was a Whig and Republican in politics, but no office-holder. He was of robust constitution and had splendid health. He married Mary Bar- rington, a native of. Virginia, who was the mother of four sons and five daughters, seven now living, four in Round Head Village. Mrs. Arbogast

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died November 25, 1879, aged sixty-nine years. Both are buried in Pleas- ant Hill Cemetery. G. W. Arbogast, contractor and builder, and a farmer in the southwest part of this township, was born in Clark County, Ohio, October 5, 1837. He was one year old when his parents came to this town- ship, and obtained but a limited education. In 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany G, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served four years and twen- ty-one days. He was taken prisoner at Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 12, 1864, and was sent to Andersonville Prison, where he remained until March 1, 1865. During this time his health was good, but when re- leased, he was so worn and starved that he could not walk. He received an honorable discharge at Annapolis, Md., June 21, 1865. Previous to the war he had partly served an apprenticeship with John Wilson at the carpenter's trade. After the war, he finished his apprenticeship with Jo- seph Martin, at Round Head, and worked with him until 1873. Since that time he has been engaged in contracting and building, and has met with good success. In June, 1873, he bought his present farm of forty acres, then all in timber. He has cleared about thirty acres of this in his leisure time. On the 8th of May, 1873, he was married to Sarah A. Warren, a native of Champaign County, Ohio. They have three children, two living, Gurney and Leander; Charlie is deceased.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 92

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