The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 103

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

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NOAH THOMAS, P. O. London, Warden Ohio Penetentiary at Co- lumbus, residence London, was born in Fayette, near the Madison County line, Ohio, August 1, 1834. He is a son of William Thomas, a native of Virginia. He was a farmer by occupation, and upon coming to Ohio, lo- cated in Fayette County. About 1835, he came to Madison County, and has since lived there. He now resides in Stokes Township, and is about sixty-nine years of age. He married Lavina Beauchamp, a native of Clark County, Ohio. They are the parents of thirteen children, eleven now living. Mrs. Thomas is still living in her sixty-eighth year, and both parents en - joy reasonably good health. Our subject is the oldest of this large family of children, and obtained only a limited education in his earlier life. He remained with his parents until twenty-five years of age, and then entered Antioch College, at Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he was in attendance

when the war broke out. He returned home, and in December, 1863, en - listed in Company C, One Hundred and Tenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Gen. J. Warren Keifer, commanding, and served until June 2, 1864, the date of the battle of Cold Harbor. In that affray he received a musket ball in the left arm, which caused the loss of that valuable member. He lay in Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D. C., from June 10 to July 29, of that year, and during that period was no ninated for County Auditor, on the Republican ticket, by his admiring and sympathizing friends in far away Madison County. He was triumphantly elected, and re-elected three times in succession, serving eleven years in all (lacking a few months). At the expiration of this time, he was employed in a clerical capacity in one or two of the county offices, and also served as Justice of the Peace of Union Township. In April, 1880. he was elected Mayor of London, and two weeks later was appointed to his present position by the Boards of Directors of the Ohio State Penitentiary for a term of three years from April 1 after appointment His term will there end April 22,

1884. Warden Thomas has made a faithful and efficient public officer, and has made a host of friends throughont every part of the State. He is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 70 (I. O. O. F.), Knights of Honor and American Legions of Honor, all of London. He was formerly a member

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of the Christian Church, but of late years has been connected with the Presbyterian denomination. He has always been an advocate of Repub- lican principles. Mr. Thomas was married in February, 1966. to Geneva, daughter of James Smith, and sister of Auburn Smith, deceased, of London. One child was given them - Mand. Mrs. Thomas died May 25, 1871. He was again united in marriage September 16, 1874, to Alice Dorris, a native of Muskingum County, and residing at Zanesville, Ohio. Four children have been born to this latter union, three living. They are John D., Alice and Helen J. Mrs. Thomas is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Lon- don. During his army career, Warden Thomas was successively offered the position of First Lieutenant and Captain, but declined both honors, prefer- ing to serve in the ranks.

OWEN THOMAS, buyer and dealer in grain and hay. London, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, June 18, 1935. He is a son of Jere- miah Thomas, a native of Virginia, who became a pioneer settler of Fay- ette County, Ohio. He was a farmer by occupation, and came to Madison County about 1856. Our subjeet was reared in Fayette County, obtaining only a moderate education. He came to this county when twenty-one years of age, and for two years was a farmer of Oak Run Township. In 1859 or 1860, he removed to London, and was in the wholesale and retail grocery business for ten years. Since that time, he has been engaged in his present occupation, which has proven fairly successful. Mr. Thomas is Demo- cratic in politics; servel two years in the Village Council, a like number as Village Treasurer, and one year as Treasurer of Union Township. He was married February 14. 1859, to Miss M. G. Farrar, daughter of Henry Far- rar, now resident in Marshall County, Kan. Eight children have been given them-Byron. married Jennie, daughter of S. P. MeLain, of Range Township: Minnie. Georgie, Nattie, Walter, Farrar, Mary and Glenn H. Mrs. Thomas and the three eldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Churchi.

SIMON TINGLEY, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Union Town- ship January 26, 1831. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Wilson) Tingley, of German descent, the former a native of New Jersey, and the lat- ter of Ohio. His father died when our subject was a child, and he was de- prived of most of his school privilege. He has been a life-long farmer and is now dealing in cattle. He is a Democrat in politics, and has twice been sent as a delegato to County Conventions. He was married in 1880. to Dora Andrews, of Clark County. She was of French descent. They have had one child -Mary G. Mr. Tingley is a member of the Christian Church.

AQUILLA TOLAND (deceased), was born in Harford County, Mary land. September 26, 1793. His early opportunities afforded him only the common branches of an English education, but later in life he obtained a fair knowledge of Latin. When quite young, he became a pupil of Dr. Luckey, of Baltimore, Maryland, and in 1818 he attended one course of lectures in a University of Maryland. In the same year, an under graduate, he started West to seek a fortune through labor in his profession. After a short tarry in Franklinton, now a part of the City of Columbus, he came to the then new town of London. in the fall of ISIS, and where he continued to reside until his death. On the 11th of April, 1822. Dr. Toland was united in marriage with Elizabeth daughter of Col. Philip Lewis, a full sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, and to the union were born Francis A. Harford, Aquilla and Jane D. The mother, Mrs. Elizabeth

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(Lewis) Toland, was born in Adams County, Ohio, October 14, 1805, and is yet numbered among the venerable citizens of London. Although very young. Dr. Toland did duty as a soldier in the war of 1812, serving as a volunteer in the defense of Baltimore, and was in the battle of Stony Point. In the winter of 1836-37, he attended a course of lectures at the Cincinnati Medical College, and received a diploma from the Institution. His practice was not limited to Madison County alone, but extended beyond its boundaries. In the years of 1823-24-25, he undoubtedly had the largest practice of any physician in the county, or perhaps in Central Ohio, and with a supply of instruments superior to that of any other physician in the county, and with a strong liking for that branch of the profession, his superiority as an operative surgeon was soon recognized and conceded. In 1843, he was elected as a Whig, a member of the Lower House of the Leg- islature. He became a member of the Ohio State Medical Society soon after the organization, and always manifested a lively interest in its meet- ings. Dr. Toland was not in the ordinary sense of the word a brilliant man, but he was a strong one. His natural good sense, his habit of careful preparation for anything to be undertaken. his pertinacity in following an enterprise to success, together, with his unswerving integrity, were, perhaps, the only principal traits of character that distinguished him. As a phy- sician, he relied greatly upon his own judgment, and while he listened cantiously to suggestions from others, yet rarely adopted any measures that did not correspond with his views of the case. It common with other phy- sicians of his day, he was a strong believer in the use of the lancet in sthenic diseases, and persisted in its use long after the profession generally had to a great degree discarded it. As a surgeon, he was cautious, using great care in determining the propriety of an operation, making no preten- sion to rapidity or brilliancy as an operator, but rather looking to ultimate success. He had a feeling of fear in the use of chloroform, much stronger than was shared by the profession generally, and rarely consented to submit his patients too complete anæsthesia. Although devoted to the profession, Dr. Toland was always interested in every question affecting the interests of his town or neighborhood, and it was mainly through his exertions that the L. M. R. R. was secured to London-a straight line from Xenia to Co- lumbus, and a favorite route with the projectors, carrying it some miles south of that place. He also took an active interest in the building of the Springfield and Columbus Railroad, and was its first President. Ho was closely identified with the growth of London, and built the first and only public hall in the town. His active life would not seem to have left him much time for literary labors, and yet he has left some valuable contribu . tions in the medical journals. In the "Medical and Physical Societies " for February and March, 1837, then conducted by Daniel Drake, we find an interesting caso of wound of the intestines and omentum, reported by Dr. Toland. In his long and extensive practice, he acquired a competency. He was economical, and by judicious investment of his early professional profits in real estate, which in later years appreciated rapidly, he died possessed of a large estate. While he was a thorough business man, and attended well to collections, yet he gave liberally of his time and profes- sional skill to the indigent. In fact he never seemed to make any dis- tinction in his attentions between rich and poor. In person. he was tall, and with a bearing that at first impressed one with the idea of haughtiness. He had a massive head, a solid, strong lower face, with heavy brows shading rather small blue-gray eyes -- altogether, a head and face that would attract,

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attention in any group. He was mild and even in his temper, cheerful, fond of society, and of genteel, but rather awkward, address. He was a man of strong attachments, and yet a " good hater," or in other words he cher- ished his friends, and did not forget his enemies. He was a good conver- sationalist, but a very ordinary public speaker, in fact we think he very rarely attempted public speaking. His death occurred in London, Ohio, December 30, 1866, at the age of seventy-three years, caused by erysipelas of the face and scalp.

JAMES A. TREHEARNE. farmer and teacher, P. O. London, was born in Maryland June 23, 1841. He is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Hazzard) Trehearne, natives of Maryland, the former of German and En- glish descent, and the latter of Irish descent. He received a common school education, and from the age of seventeen until 1861 worked out by the month. On July 4, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Capt. W. H. Squires, and acted in the Commissary Department on detached duty most of the time. He served three years, and in that time was only one week on the sick-list. After the war, he located a soldier's claim of 160 acres in Kansas, but not liking the country, returned to Ohio and has turned his attention to gardening. Since 1864, he has spent his winters in teaching, and is never better satisfied than when he has a good school. In 1868, he married Elizabeth Cryder, a daughter of William and Susan Cryder, and by her has two children-William S. and Annie. Mr. Trehearne is a Freemason and a Republican, and has served as Township Assessor.

JOHN TROUD, farmer, P. O. London, son of Ansel and Elizabeth (Schwartz) Troud, was born in Germany January 22, 1822, and in 1846 emigrated to America, locating in Cincinnati, where he followed his trade, tailoring, three years. He subsequently worked at his trade one year in St. Louis, and then moved to Illinois, where he conducted a business for him- self in Mt. Pulaski for eight years. In 1857, he came to London, and for three years was engaged in business. In 1862, he commenced farming on the place now occupied by him, which consists of 132 acres. In 1840, he married Sarah Brown, who died two years after marriage. He then married Sarah Fletcher, who lived only three years after marriage, and he then mar- ried Ameha Ann Porter, a sister of James G. Porter, who has since died. Mr. Trond is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He received a fine classical education in his native country, where he also learned his trade, and is familiar with four languages-Hebrew, French, German and English.

SAMUEL F. TRUMPER, Recorder of Madison County, London, was born in Bloomingsburg, Fayette County, Ohio, May 10, 1838. He is a son of Lewis Trumper, a native of New York, who located in Fay- ette County, Ohio, in 1818. He was a farmer by occupation, and died June 10, 1869, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His companion for life was Margery Boggs, a native of Pennsylvania, but roared in High- land County, Ohio. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom yet survive -- Mrs. Trumper is still living, and resides with her oldest son Joseph, at Bloomingsburg. Ohio, being eighty-seven years of age. Our subject is the youngest child and fourth son of this family, and remained on the farm until twenty years of age. He enjoyed the then rare blessing of a good common school education, and subsequently taught school for two years. He then took a course of study at Duff & McCoy's Commercial College at Columbus, Ohio, and afterward resumed teaching until the com-

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mencement of the civil war. He was then anxious to respond to duty's call, so resigned his position as teacher, and enlisted as a private in Company C, Capt. George B. Gardner, of the Sixtieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. A short time after enlistment, he was made Sergeant, and sub- sequently Orderly Sergeant. Upon the death of the Second Lieutenant three months later. he was elected to that position by a unanimous vote of the company, and served as such till the close of the war. The Sixtieth was under Gen. Fremont, in the noted Shenandoah campaign, and in the ad- vance brigade. Mr. Trumper was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, Sep- tember 15, 1863, and placed in a parole camp at Annapolis. He was af- terward transported by rail to Camp Douglas at Chicago, Ill., where he was honorably mustered out with the regiment at expiration of term of enlist - ment. Going back home, he resumed teaching for two years. He then en- gaged in agricultural pursuits until 1874. when he came to Madison County. He was engaged in farming for a short period, and then was engaged in teaching again for three years. In the fall of 1880, he was nominated and elected Recorder of Madison County, on the Republican ticket, for a term of three years. Mr. Trumper is a member of Lyons Post, No. 221, G. A. R., of London. and of Leanore Lodge, No. 512 (Masonic), of Midway. Ohio. He was married, May 16, 1867, to Maria L. Hidy, a native of Fay- ette County, Ohio. They have five children-Frank E .. Lena M., Minnie L., Samuel O. and Bessie H. A very singular coincident connected with this family is that the second and fourth children were each born on their father's birthday.

DAVID TURNER, farmer, P. O. Somerford, was born in Clark Coun - ty, Ohio, October 1, 1826. He is the son of William and Lydia (James) Turner, natives of Maryland, of German descent. The former was a wagon maker, and died at the residence of our subject in 1876. David received a common school education, and, being of a mechanical turn of mind, soon partially acquired the trade of his father, which, however, he never followed. He rented land for a time, but now owns a place of his own. He was married in 1850, to Margaret Cornwell, a daughter of Addison Cornwell. By this union seven children were born, viz .: J., May Ellen, J. W., Eliza J., Viola. Charles and Florence May. Mr. Turner is a Republican, and his wife is a member of the Christian Church. He was the seventh child of a family of eight children.

THOMAS D. TURNER, dealer in fresh and salt meats, London, was born in Richmond, Ind., September 1, 1833. He is a son of James Turner, a native of Lancastershire, England, who came to America with his brother when but ten years of age. He first located in New Jersey, and sub - sequently in Indiana, and Warren County, Ohio, now residing in the latter place. He was a tallow chandler by trade, and also served as foreman in woolen factories Mr. Turner is eighty years of age, and still in the enjoy - ment of good health. He married Lydia Dixon, a native of Yorkshire, En . gland, now seventy eight years of age. Our subject is the second of eleven children, nine of whom are living. He was reared in Warren County, and in early life was a farmer. He resided in Licking County a num- ber of years, and was there married, August 17, 1856, to Harriet Lees, a native of that county. Mr. Turner resided with his father some time after marriage, and was a farmer till 1864. He then engaged in butchering, at Granville, Ohio, and remained there six years. In the spring of 1870, ho came to London, and opened out in business. His trade increased rapidly, and he now runs two shops-one on East High, and the other on South

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Main-where he supplies his many customers with the best of fresh and salt meats. Mr. Turner is connected by membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Chandler Lodge, No. 138 (Masonic), Madison Lodge, No. 70 (I. O. O. F.), American Legion of Honor, and an advocate of Democratic principles. He has never been a politician or aspired to office. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have eleven children, seven sons and four daughters- Samuel L. (in business with his father), Ida M., Clara B., Mary F., Hattie, Nellie, Annie, Orin, William, Robert and Grace. Mrs. Turner is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DAVID TWAY, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O London, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, August 24, 1834. He is the son of Nathaniel and Sophia ( Salmon ) Tway, natives of Ohio, the former of scotch-Irish and the latter of Dutch descent. Our subject received his education principally in the high schools of Shelby County, and early commenced farming, an occupation which he has since followed. He is the owner of a 300 acre farm, formerly known as the "Watson farm," but latterly as the " Spring Branch Farm." It is well improved, thoroughly cultivated, and graced with a good and substantial brick residence, which our subject has built since his residence there. Mr. Tway is one of a family of thirteen chil- dren. He was married, October 20, 1864. to Miss Maria Louise Hidey, a na- tive of Fayette County, and a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Carr) Hidey, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio, of Dutch and En- glish descent. Six children have been born to bless this union, viz: Albert, Joseph H., Mary S., Eliza, David Ross and Margaret. Mrs. Tway is a member of the Universalist Church. Mr. Tway is a stanch Republican and takes a great interest in the political welfare of his party. His grandfather was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and he had a broth- or Nathaniel, who fought in the late rebellion as Orderly Sergeant, in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served through the war. Mr. Tway is a live, energetic business man, and has made his property by his own personal efforts.

JOHN WALLACE, editor and proprietor of the London Enterprise, London, was born in London June 4, 1838. At the age of twelve years, ow- ing to the want of means, he was compelled to leave school, and entered the office of the London Sentinel, then published by G. W. Sprung, where he remained until the winter of 1855-56, when through the influence of friends, he was appointed as page in the Ohio Senate by Lieut. Gov. Myers. At the organization of the Senate, in January, 1860, through the influence of Hon. R. A. Harrison, he was elected Second Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, and given the post office department. On May 26, 1862. he was married to Miss E. F. Baker, of Franklin County. In 1863, in connection with J. B. Stine, he bought out the London Union, now the London Times, and oper- ated it one year, which embraced the famous Brough-Vallandigham cam- paign. On January 1, 1872, Mr. Wallace established the London Enter- prise as an independent newspaper. In April, 1879, the Enterprise was made Republican at the solicitation of the Republican County Executive Commit- tee, and is to-day the Republican organ of Madison County. Mr. Wallace has printed the paper eleven years, three of them under the disadvantage of loss of sight. During the eleven years. the paper has neither changed hands or name, or missed a publication.

W. C. WARD, freight agent Little Miami Railroad, and agent Adams and American Express Companies, London, was born in Range Township, this county, June 15, 1841. His father, Cyrus Ward, was a native of Mary-

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land, and came to Ohio when a young man. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and resided in Range Township until the date of his death. He married Maria Linton, a resident of this county, and daughter of William Linton, a native of England. They were the parents of three children, our subject being the last and only living member of the family. Mrs. Ward departed this life in 1852. W. C. Ward was reared in Range Town - ship, and when still a lad was employed as a clerk for A. & D. T. Johnston, merchants of Midway. He remained with them two years and then went to Cuba, Fulton County, where he was employed in a like capacity for one year. He then returned to Range Township, and alternately went to school and clerked until the commencement of the civil war. Ohio answered the President's call for 75,000 men in a very short time, and as her quota was filled, Mr. Ward went to Kentucky, and enlisted in the First Regiment Ken - tucky Volunteer Infantry, serving the three months' term. He then re-en - listed in Company C, of the same regiment, but impaired health caused him to be discharged while in West Virginia. He returned to Madison Coun- ty, and subsequently re-enlisted again, this time in Company A, One Hun- dred and Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, nuder Capt. Toland Jones, Col. William Jones, commanding. He remained with the regiment until the war closed. He then went to Missouri, and for a year was en- gaged in the stock trade. He returned to London, and for eleven years was engaged in the boot and shoe trade, eight years of the time with John Stahl. On March 1, 1877, he was made freight agent of the Little Miami Railroad; March 10, 1877, agent of the American, and November 1, 1881, of the Adams Express Company. Mr. Ward is well-known by everybody in Madison County, and equally well-liked for his genial manners, and good business qualifications. He is a member of Chandler Lodge, No. 138 (Masonic), and Democratic in politics. He was married February 14, 1867, to Laura Huston, a native of Fayette County, Ohio.

WILLIAM WARNER, retired, London, Ohio, was born in Fairfax County, Va., about nine miles from Alexandria, March 15, 1793. His parents were William and Betsy (Denty) Warner, both natives of Virginia. William, Jr., was reared to farm life, residing on his father's farm in Vir- ginia until in the spring of 1805, when he came to Ohio with his parents, who settled in Belmont County, where they remained until the fall of 1812, engaged in farming, and then removed to Madison County, purchasing land adjoining the town of London, on the east. The parents resided in the county a number of years, raised a large family and removed in town, where both died. Our subject had only meager educational advantages; having a stout and robust physique, his labor was required on the farm. After becoming of age, he learned the tanner's trade with William D. Pickard, of London, but only followed it a few years. On the 29th of Feb- ruary, 1819, Mr. W. was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Kelley, a na- tive of Virginia, and to them have been born the following-named children : Mary, Nancy, Adaline, John, Kate. Anna E., Josephine and Helen Mr. Warner has been variously occupied during his long life in London and vi- cinity; and as farmer, tanner, carpenter, merchant and public officer, hav- ing been Sheriff of the county twelve years, and for a period of four years Deputy Sheriff, beside filling several minor offices, his honesty and integrity were never questioned. Early in life both himself and wife united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his early life, Mr. W. was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He being a liberal man and of an easy turn in busi- ness matters, has not accumulated wealth, but has lived a life highly com-

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mendable, and is greatly esteemed and respected by all. In politics, he 18 Republican. "Uncle Billy," as he is familiarly called, is the oldest citizen of the town. and the oldest person in the county, where he has passed near- ly seventy-one years. He is now nearing the goal of ninety years, and the venerable couple who have lived in the marriage relation nearly sixty-four years are now passing the evening of their life together in a comfortable house in London, where they are only awaiting the final summons.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 103

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180