The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 93

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

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JOSEPH W. BOWDLE, deceased, was a native of the eastern shore of Maryland, and moved to Ross County, Ohio, in June of 1800. This was originally the Northwest Territory, out of which Ohio was formed in 1802. He there married Lucretia Brown, a native of Delaware. In October, 1831, he came with his family to Round Head Township and took up one section of timber land, half of it being what is now Wayne Township, Auglaize County. This land Mr. Bowdle labored the greater part of his life in clearing and cultivating. He was one of the pioneer settlers of his town- ship and died in November, 1855. In early life he was a Whig, but no politician. When Hardin County was organized in 1833, he was elected one of the three Associate Judges of the county (under the old constitu- tion), and served seven years. He was licensed exhorter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was the organizer and Class Leader of " Bowdle Society," which met for worship at his own house near Round Head, and was a member of that society up to the day of his death, in 1855. The old log church was burnt in 1860, nearly five years after Mr. Bowdle's death, and the present church, which is called Fletcher Chapel, was built on the same site during the same year. His wife departed several years previous to his decease. Judge Bowdle and his wife were the parents of ten chil- dren, seven sons and three daughters, five living. The eldest, Squire J. B. Bowdle, residing on Section 19, was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 8, 1808. He was reared to manhood in his native county, obtaining a lim- ited education. On February 17, 1831, he was married to Elizabeth Reed, a native of that county, and, the following October, accompanied his father's family to Round Head Township. He was presented by his father with eighty acres of land, and after the death of the latter he purchased the old homestead of 160 acres. Squire Bowdle is one of the honored and re- spected pioneers of Round Head Township. He is a member of the Hardin County Pioneer Society, and was its President for one year. He was for- merly a Whig and is now a Republican in politics. When the county was first organized, he was elected Constable of his township, serving one year. He was subsequently elected Township Treasurer, which position he held for about twenty years; was Justice of the Peace for six years, and Town-

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ship Trustee for two years. He has been a member of the Bowdle Church and Fletcher Chapel, and is now a Trustee of the latter. He was once a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. Eleven children were born to Squire Bowdle and wife, only three living, Joseph, a farmer in Missouri; William T., residing in the Bowdle settlement, and Mary F., at home with her father. The deceased children are Sarah Jane, Margaret Ann, John W., David, Nancy, Serepta, Caroline M. and twin infants. Mrs. Bowdle died September 14, 1856. She was also a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. W. B. Bowdle, the other son re -. siding in this township, was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 15, 1830. He was brought to Hardin County by his parents and has always resided in Round Head Township. He assisted his father on the farm until the death of the latter in 1855. On February 22, 1856, he married Miss S. J. Thompson, a native of Maryland, but raised in Hardin County. He lived on the old homestead till the winter of 1861 or 1862, and then removed to his present farm. Like his brother, he was given eighty acres of land by his father, and has since added 160 acres. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was elect- ed, Corporal and, in the spring of 1865, was made Sergeant. He was taken sick in East Tennessee in September, 1863, and was subsequently sent to Louis- ville, Ky., where he remained till February 22,1864. He was then trans- ferred to Company H, Sixteenth Regiment Veteran Reserve Corps, and remained with them until his discharge at Harrisburg, Penn., July 5, 1865. Mr. Bowdle has served as Constable of the township for one year, also as Road Supervisor; he has frequently been offered more trustworthy posi- tions, but has declined acceptance on account of lack of time and a disin- clination for office holding. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Fletcher Chapel and Class Leader in the latter body. Six children have been given Mr. and Mrs. Bowdle, three of whom are living, viz., Eva J., wife of Lorenzo D. Davis, a farmer of Round Head Township; John A. L. and Edwin T. Mrs. Bowdle and her eldest son are also members of the Fletcher Chapel.

JESSE BOWDLE, deceased, one of the first settlers of this township, was born in Maryland March 28, 1787. His parents, Henry and Sarah Bowdle, came to Ohio about 1799, locating on a farm near "Dry Run," seven miles from Chillicothe, Ross County. They died on that farm. They were the parents of three girls and four boys, all now deceased. Jesse Bowdle was raised on the farm in Ross County, receiving a limited education. He remained with his father until November 3, 1811, when he was married to Lillie Bowdle, a second cousin. He became a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, but carried on farming in Ross County until the fall of 1832, when he loaded up his family and furniture in a large four or six horse wagon and came to Round Head Township. He went to Bucyrus and bought 160 acres of land on Section 18, at $1.25 per acre, where he lived the rest of his days. He preached on Sundays when able to do so, and was well known and respected by all. He died Decem- ber 10, 1862, and was buried in Allen (now Auglaize) County. He and his wife were the parents of four boys and one girl, two sons living, David and Henry S. The former resides at Rockport, Allen County, Ohio. Mrs. Bowdle was born March 28, 1789, and died August 8, 1850, aged sixty- one years. Jesse Bowdle was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was a Whig and Republican in politics, and assisted in the organization of both the Bowdle Society and Bowdle Church. Henry S.

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Bowdle, the youngest surviving child and son, and the fourth child and son, was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 21, 1822. He was but eleven years old when his parents came to Round Head Township, and has resided on the home farm all his life, inheriting a farm of eighty acres north of there and trading this for the homestead with a sister now deceased. He was taught to read at home, and never attended school but one quarter. He was married, April 12, 1849, to Jane Martin, a native of Carroll County, Ohio, and daughter of George and Mary Martin. Mr. Bowdle was for- merly a Whig and " Know Nothing," but is now a Republican. He has been Supervisor and School Director; is a member of Fletcher Chapel, also a Trustee of the latter, and is connected with the patrons of Husbandry. He has four children, as follows: George M., married to Hattie Graham, and residing in Johnson County, Mo .; Jesse T., at home; Mary C., wife of John May; and Alice J., wife of Edward Mertz. Both sons-in-law com- pose the firm of May & Mertz. Mrs. Bowdle died March 16, 1857, aged twenty-eight years four weeks and nine days, and is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Jesse T., youngest son of Henry S. Bowdle, was born on the old homestead June 1, 1852. He attended the Hill Schoolhouse in early life, and has always lived on his father's farm. He was married, January 8, 1879, to Ella T., daughter of James Ford, of Round Head Town- ship. They have one daughter, Florence Gertrude Pearl. Mr. Bowdle and wife are members of the Fletcher Chapel.

SAMUEL P. BOWDLE, deceased, an early and well respected farmer and pioneer settler of Round Head Township, was born in Ross County, Ohio, November 4, 1815. He was a son of Jesse and Lillie Bowdle. (See sketch of Jesse Bowdle.) The subject of this sketch was one of five chil- dren, four boys and one girl, and was sixteen years of age when he came to this county. He resided with his father until twenty-seven years of age, and, on February 24, 1842, was married to Harriet, daughter of Richard and Mary Rutledge. After marriage, he settled on the farm given him by his father, and succeeded in clearing about forty acres of it previous to his death, which occurred November 26, 1866. He is buried on the G. W. Rutledge farm, in Round Head Township. In early life he was a mem- ber of Bowdle Society, Bowdle Church, and afterward of the Fletcher Chapel (all of the Methodist Episcopal Church). He officiated as Steward, Class Leader and Superintendent of the Sunday school, and for ten or twelve years previous to his death was a local preacher. In his younger days, he was a Whig in politics, and subsequently a ."Know-Nothing " and Re- publican. He once filled the office of Assessor of Round Head Township. Mr. and Mrs. Bowdle were the parents of five daughters and seven sons, five of whom are living. viz., John R., an attorney at law, Columbus, Ohio, married to Clara Cummins, October 12, 1880; Lewis H., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, residing in Bates County, Mo., married May 18, 1883, to Dora Graham; Mary I., married January 16, 1883, to J. Lincoln Walters, a farmer of Round Head Township; Charles Wesley, mar- ried January 18, 1883, to Lavinia Kellar, a native of Wyandot County, Ohio, and Martha Caroline, single. Of the seven deceased, six died in in- fancy and one, Richard W,, in mature years. When twenty-two years of age, he enlisted in the service of the Union and returned home at the close of the rebellion, where he married Elizabeth Shockey, January 1, 1870. He died April 21, 1879. Mrs. Bowdle still resides on the home farm with her son Charles, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. Her Jiving children are also members.

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ROBERT BREECE, deceased, was born in Wales August 1, 1794, When three years of age, his parents came to this country, located in Bal- timore, Md., and subsequently in Logan County, Ohio. Our subject was raised in the latter county, and there married Lydia, daughter of George and Permelia Henry. About 1828 or 1830, Mr. Breece removed to Shaw- neetown, near the present site of Lima, with his wife and five children, lived there about one year, and then came to Round Head Township. He went to Bucyrus May 28, 1835, entered eighty acres of land three-fourths of a mile west of Round Head Village, on the Scioto River. He also bought thirty-seven acres of one Carrington and located on the latter place, where - he resided until his death. He died July 19, 1849, aged fifty-four years eleven months and twelve days. He was the father of nine children, their names and dates of births as follows: Jane, August 11, 1823; Nancy, March 8, 1826; John, May 9, 1828; George, June 24, 1830; William, May 12, 1832; Griffith, April 4, 1834; Margaret, September 29, 1837; Mary, February 15, 1840, and Amanda, May 14, 1846. Mrs. Breece died November 9, 1866, aged sixty-three years seven months and thirteen days. Mr. Breece was a Whig in politics, and served as Trustee of Round Head Township. William Breece, the fifth child, was quite young when his parents came to this county. He was reared on the old homestead and lived with his father until the latter's death. He learned the cabinet- maker's trade at Urbana, Ohio, and subsequently traveled extensively over Ohio, parts of Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, part of the time engaged in mer- cantile pursuits and in trading. Some years after the war closed, he came to Round Head Township and settled on the home farm. He inherited one- ninth of his father's land, and purchased the remainder of the homestead of the other heirs. Since that time he has added to his possessions, and now owns nearly 600 acres, and is the largest land owner in Round Head Town- ship. He was married in March,'1847, to Sarah Axtell, a native of Knox County, Ohio. Of the six children born to them two are living, Fannie B. and Lydia E. Mr. Breece is a Democrat in politics, but has never held public office.

JESSE CLAYPOOL, farmer, P. O. Round Head, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, May 10, 1826. His father, Jacob Claypool, was a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and a soldier in the war of 1812. He was married in Campaign County, Ohio, to Elizabeth Logan, a native of Mason County, Ky. After marriage, he farmed in Champaign County until March, 1838, when he came to Round Head Township and took a " squatter's right " on the Huntsville road, where he lived about two years, and died in 1840. He was the father of eleven children, eight living, two in this county, Jesse and Martha. The latter is the widow of George C. Borders, deceased, of McDonald Township. Mrs. Claypool died suddenly of heart disease, about 1852, and both parents are buried in Round Head Cemetery. The subject of this sketch was but eleven years of age when his parents came to this township. After the death of his father, he accompanied his mother to a farm in Logan County, owned by H. Stamats, and subsequently to McDon- ald Township, where his mother died. In early manhood, he engaged in wood chopping in winter and farming in summer. He finally rented the John Ward farm, one mile east of Round Head Village, and two sisters kept house for him until September 23, 1855, when he was married to Nancy Breece, daughter of Robert Breece. He afterward rented the Breece farm, where he lived for six years. He then bought 111 acres of land, his pres- ent farm, on the "J. Smith Survey," No. 10,300, Wapakoneta pike, and

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moved thereon. He paid $8 per acre for his tract, and has since added to it until now he owns 189 acres, 165 of which are under cultivation. He had just $100 in cash to pay down on his purchase, and his present farm is the result of his own and wife's labor and energy. He resides in a com- modious and neat dwelling, everything about proclaiming the owner to be a thrifty and enterprising farmer. Mr. Claypool was a member of the Sons of Temperance for fourteen years in early life, and is now connected with the Prohibitionists. He was Trustee of this township for several years. Mr. Claypool has two children, Clementine, wife of Oran Colter, on the home farm, and Robert. Mrs. Claypool and daughter are members of the United Presbyterian Church at Round Head.

D. C. McCOMSEY, farmer, P. O. Round Head, was born at Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, June 19, 1836. His grandfather, Alexander McComsey, a native of Scotland, located in Pennsylvania and subsequently in Kentucky. He was married to a Miss Mercer Gray, who died in 1858, aged eighty-seven years. One son, Mathias, the father of our subject, was born in Mill Creek, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was a carpenter by trade. He was married to Phebe Logan, a native of Champaign County, Ohio. Her father was Samuel Logan, a native of Bourbon County, Ky., and son of Col. Logan, of Virginia, who went to Kentucky with Boone and Herod. Mathias McComsey and his wife had nine children, three living, two resi- dents of Hardin County, Cyrus B, a farmer of McDonald Township, and our subject. The latter was reared and educated at Urbana, Ohio, and, when twenty-one years of age, learned the trade of a plasterer, which he followed for about fifteen years. In 1858, he came to Round Head Town- ship, rented a farm of William Breece, resided there two years, thence back to Urbana, lived there eight years, and returned to Round Head Town- ship, where, in 1868, with George Breece, he erected a saw mill on the Scioto River, which he operated till 1871. His wife then died and he went. back to Urbana; but, in 1876, returned again to Round Head Township and bought seventy-six acres of his present farm. He afterward sold thirty-six acres. His wife's father had given her twenty-two and one-half acres just across the pike, which makes his entire farm of sixty-two and one half acres. Mr. McComsey still works at his trade in summer time, only stopping to har- vest his crops. He is a member of the Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church and Superintendent of the Sabbath school. In politics, he is a

Democrat. He was married, December 28, 1858, to Mary Breece, of Round Head Township. This union has resulted in five children, three living, Fannie B., Gertrude and Mary. His wife died April 9, 1871, and Mr. McComsey was again married in May, 1872, to Lydia Ritchey, youngest daughter of Andrew Ritchey, an aged pioneer settler of Round Head Town- ship. Five children have been born to them, Melinda, Sarah, Rebecca and Davidson C., Jr. Mrs. McComsey is also a member of the Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN W. DETWILER, farmer, P.O. Round Head, was born in Cessna. Township, Hardin County, Ohio, October 24, 1857. He is a son of Sam- uel and Elizabeth (Nessley) Detwiler, the former a native of Franklin Coun- ty, Penn., the latter, who died in 1865, of Seneca County, Ohio. In April of 1850, they came to Cessna Township, Hardin County, where they have since resided. Mr. Detwiler, Sr., is a Republican in politics and served one term as County Commissioner. He was the father of twelve children, eight now living. Mrs. Detwiler died about 1858. The subject of this sketch was raised on the home farm, and lived with his father until twenty

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years of age. He then went to Seneca County, Ohio, where he farmed for a year and a half and then returned to Hardin County, and, in 1880, rented 120 acres of land of Theodore Shendewolf. He subsequently rented 130 acres of Margaret Anstine, carrying on altogether about 250 acres. He was united in marriage March 4, 1880, with Rosa Buckingham, a native of Seneca County, Ohio. They have one son, Samuel Nathan. Mrs. Det- wiler is a member of the Disciple Church. Mr. Detwiler is an earnest worker, and bids fair to prosper with this world's goods. He is a member of the Church of the Disciples, and Republican in polities, but has never. held an office.

W. M. DOWNING, auctioneer, Round Head, was born in Logan County, Ohio, on August 14, 1840. He is a son of Timothy Downing, a native of Muskingum County, Ohio, His father owns three good farms in Logan County, whence he removed to Round Head in 1882, where he now resides, aged sixty-four years. He married Rebecca Taylor, a native of Pennsyl- vania, now in her sixty-second year. They are parents of ten children, eight living, two, our subject and Zachery T., residing in this township and county. Our subject was reared on a farm in Logan County, obtain- ing a fair common school education. Upon coming of age, he and his father rented the McBride saw mill, in Stokes Township, Logan County, which they operated for twenty-eight months. Mr. Downing then enlisted, in 1861, in Company E, Eighty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served four years and four days, being in charge the greater part of this period of a wagon train. After the war, he returned to Logan County, and was married September 11, 1865, to Angeline Colter, by whom he has had five children, viz., Ira, William, Ida A., James and Ray. Mrs. Dow- ning is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Huntsville, Logan Coun- ty. After his marriage, Mr. Downing removed to Auglaize County, where he farmed for a year, and, in the spring of 1867, he came to Round Head Village and was engaged in the grocery business for two years and a half. He then kept a hotel for six months and afterward took the agency of the Milburn wagon and a variety of agricultural implements. About this time, he commenced auctioneering, and succeeding beyond his expectations, has since followed it for his occupation. He travels over the greater portion of Hardin, Allen, Auglaize and Logan Counties, and is well known. He probably makes more sales than any other man northwest of Columbus in this State, and is highly esteemed by all of his acquaintances. Mr. Dow- ning is a Republican in politics; has been Deputy Sheriff of Hardin Coun- ty for six consecutive years and also Constable of Round Head Township for thirteen years.

JACOB FORD, farmer, P. O. Round Head, was born in Maryland, De- cember 23, 1811. His father, Charles Ford, native of Maryland and farmer by occupation. removed to Perry County, Ohio, in 1832, and lived there until his death. He died June 6,1848, aged fifty-eight years and two months. He was married to Harriet Fling, a native of Maryland. They bad six boys and three girls, all living except the youngest child. Mrs. Ford died April 19, 1857. Jacob was reared in Maryland, received a common school education and lived with his father until November 18, 1833, when he married Nancy Bowers, a native of Perry County, Ohio. He then engaged in farming for himself, and, in 1864, came to this township and purchased 170 acres of land in the Bowdle settlement, which he sold ten years after, and in the spring of 1875 bought his present farm. This farm consists of 120 acres on Section 8, Ada and Round Head pike. He has bought and distributed

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among his children over 200 acres more. He had nine children by his first marriage, seven living, viz., Jacob, an independent citizen, of Forest City, Mo .; Hester, wife of Robert Lyle, of Round Head; John H .; Harriet E., wife of Joseph Ward; William A., farmer, of McDonald Township; Jasper, farmer, of Round Head Township, and Nancy J., wife of John W. Ward. Mrs. Ford died April 25, 1849, and is buried in the Methodist Episcopal Churchyard, Uniontown, Ohio. Mr. Ford was again married, July 25, 1849, to Rachel Rockhold, a native of Maryland. Of their three children, only one survives, Robert M., married to Luella, daughter of J. R. Hill, residing on the farm with his parents. They have two children, Rachel D. and Jessie P. Mr. and Mrs. Ford are members of the Pleasant Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Ford has always been an admirer of Andrew Jackson and his party. Was Justice of the Peace of Round Head Township for two terms (six years) and Director of School District No. 6.

WILLIAM FORD, deceased, was born at Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, November 6, 1825. He was a son of Thomas Ford, born probably in Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early day. He was married to Rebecca McGill, now resident of Champaign County, by whom he had fifteen chil- dren, nine surviving. Thomas Ford died in 1854, at a ripe old age. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm, in Champaign County, receiv- ing a limited education. He was married in his native county, September 1, 1853, to Mary J. McCroskey, also a native of that county, born October 4, 1833, and a daughter of James and Nancy (Clark) McCroskey. In the spring of 1859, Mr. Ford came to Round Head Township, buying eighty acres of timber land on Section 5, clearing about fifty acres, and resided there until his death, December 30, 1867. He was a Republican in poli- tics, but no politician. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, Adams Township, Champaign County, but is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Round Head Township. Mr. Ford and his wife were the parents of three children, two now living, Clarissa A., wife of Oscar Thatcher, head sawyer in a saw mill at DeGraff, Logan County, Ohio, and Daniel Webster, married October 15, 1882, to Emma Barger, a native of Champaign County, Ohio. Mrs. Ford and son carry on the farm.

FRANK GIVEN, farmer, P. O. Round Head, was born in McDonald Township, within sight of his present residence, April 28, 1846. He is a son of Alexander Given, native of Ross County, Ohio, who located in Round Head (now McDonald) Township as early as 1831, where he has since resided. He was the first white man married in Round Head Town- ship. His wife's name was Mary A., daughter of David Campbell, an early settler of Hardin County. Our subject, the youngest of five chil . dren, three living, was reared on the homestead, receiving a fair education. He assisted his father on the farm until May 11, 1865, when he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Mormon, a native of Hardin County and daughter of Solomon Mormon. After marriage, he located on his present farm of 130 acres, situated on Sections 21 and 28, adjacent to the Kenton and Round Head pike, which he had previously bought. Mr. Given is a member of Bell Center Lodge, No. 347 (Masonic) and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, at the same place. He has always been Republican in politics, and, in April, 1868, was elected Township Clerk, serving two terms, and then was Treasurer for a like period. He has since officiated as Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds. By his first marriage, Mr. Given had seven children, four living, viz., Walter, Boyd, Eva, Blanche and Rob-

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ert A. Mrs. Given was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and departed this life April 2, 1879. Mr. Given was married for the second time, January 8, 1882, to Melinda Slaybaugh, a native of Har- din County, and reared in Indiana.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 93

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