The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 106

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

USA > Ohio > Madison County > The history of Madison County, Ohio > Part 106

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DARBY TOWNSHIP.

One; the oldest son, is engaged in a lucrative business in New York City, a married daughter resides in Columbus, Ohio, and the others of his family are living at home or in its immediate neighborhood. Thus, after a quarter of a century administering to the sick over an extensive scope of country, the Doctor felt himself to be breaking under the physical tax imposed by so much horseback-riding. His routes took him over mud roads, pole bridges and unbroken forests and fields, for gravel pikes were yet far in the future, and so, as far as possible, he withdrew from these exacting duties, impressed with the idea that he could render still greater services to the public by en- gineering labor and becoming actively instrumental in establishing pikes and ditch draining of the plains. The preventative of prevailing diseases he believed to have been better than the cure, and since the time of his withdrawal from practice, save as consulting physician, he has been closely identified with those vast improvements which, through brain. energy and " back-bone," have made our waste lands the garden spot of the Buckeye State. During these years the Doctor has also served Darby Township for many terms as Clerk and Trustee, and was elected Assessor ten years in succession. In 1860, he was elected to the office of County Commissioner, and, at the expiration of a three-year term, was re-elected. In all his pub- lic affairs, as in private life, his acts have been characterized by that rare spirit of impartial judgment which impressos communities with its intrinsic value above those who court public trust and nurse it solely for the emolu- ment of office. Had the Doctor's highest aim in life been one of wealth and self-aggrandizement, we might now write of him as a man of broad acres, grazing herds and ponderous bank account. His modest independ- ence, however, assures us that his personal aims have been subservient to the public good, and no doubt the richest blessing he now enjoys, outside the possession of home and family, is his own knowledge and approval of the gifts of prosperity which he sees bestowed upon those around him through the agency in some measure of his wisdom, forethought and self- sacrifice. The Doctor is a man of pleasing presence, with a genial, honest handshake for all who meet him. That softer and finer part of humanity, common in some measure to all, but liberally bestowed upon him, has not been perceptibly blunted by the wear of professional experience and hard- ships, and his home is one in which the light of hospitality never grows dim, and from which no one turns away hungry and uncared for.

L. D. CONVERSE, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Darby Township January 31. 1826. He is a brother of Dr. J. Converse, whose sketch appears in this work. He attended the common schools and had the advantages of a select school taught in the vicinity. He remained on a farm until he reached his majority, when he commenced teaching school. He was married, in IS51, to Laura Thomas, a native of Champaign County and a daughter of A. H. Thomas. They have four children, viz., Marcia L .. J. L. H., Carrie C., Pearl D. and Ruby N. Mr. and Mrs. Converse are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been a Class-Leader, Steward and Trustee, and an active worker in the Sunday school. He is a member of the Greenback party in politics. In 1845. he was elected Lieutenant of the First Squadron, First Brigade, Thirtieth Division, Ohio State Militia. He is an active worker in the cause of education, and has served as a School Director for some time.

ASA CONVERSE, merchant, P. O. Plain City, was born in Vermont February 9, 1814, and is the son of Squire Converse and Anna (Rand) Converse, of English descent. They came to Darby Township in 1814, and

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located in what is known as the " Converse Settlement." Our subject re- mained on the farm until sixteen years of age, when he began learning tan- ning, and soon taking up the shoe-making trade, he followed both with more than average success for several years. He then opened a general store, which he has conducted over twenty-one years, from 1861. He also owns 1333 acres of good land. In 1835, he married Thankful McCloud, daughter of Charles McCloud. They have three children, viz., Candice. wife of J. J. Morelock, of Marysville; Albert N .; and L. Jennie, wife of Dr. Carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. Converse are members of the M. E. Church, of which he has been a Trustee. He is a Republican, and has acted as a dele- gate to the State convention.

RUSSEL B. CONVERSE, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Dar- by Township January 15, 1828, and is a son of Charles and Phebe (Norton) Converse, natives of Virginia, of English descent. Our subject was reared on a farm and received his education in the country schools. He has been a farmer and stock-raiser all his life, and has met with success in most of his undertakings. In 1849, he married Anna Lombard, a native of Ken- tucky, and a daughter of Jesse Lombard. This union has been blessed with four children, viz., Amelius K., deceased; James L., Elmer E. and Charles D. Mr. and Mrs. Converse are members of the Universalist Church, in which he is a Deacon and Trustee. He has helped to build six churches in his day. He is a Republican in politics, and has been Trustee and Treasurer of the township. He now owns a fine farm of 385 acres.

SANFORD CONVERSE, livery, Plain City, was born in Darby Township, three miles west of Plain City, August 11, 1841, and is the son of Silas and Diadama (Phiney) Bowers Converse, natives of Vermont, the latter being the widow of Daniel Bowers. Our subject was reared on the farm and attended the district school of his neighborhood. In 1877, he began butchering, which he followed until 1880, when he engaged in his present business, with Z. Taylor, whom he has since bought out. He keeps good stock and plenty of it and is doing a thriving business. In 1860, he married Sarah J. Sherwood, a daughter of Andrew A. and Irene (Beach) Sherwood. They have two children, Silas D. and George A. Mr. Converse is a Republican and he has been a Constable for twenty years. He is a prominent Odd Fellow and for seven years was Secretary of that body at Plain City. His father died in 1879, aged eighty-six years, two months and twenty-two days. His mother died October 6, 1882, in her eighty-sixth year.

J. QUIN CONVERSE was born in Champaign County, Ohio, Novem- ber 8, 1844, being the sixth heir to C. H. Converse and Louisa L. (Ketch) Converse, both from the State of Vermont. At the age of four years, he moved into Union County, Ohio, near Unionville Center, where he resided, working on his father's farm and going to the village school six months in the year, until he was eleven years old, after which he went but three months in the winter, until he was seventeen, which was all the schooling he ever got. On September 11. 1862, he was mustered into the service as a private, in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years, unless sooner discharged, Capt. A. B Robinson commanding the company, and Col. W. P. Reed commanding the regiment. The regiment was hurriedly pushed through with inferior arms (Austrian rifles) and poorly equipped, were put into the field and took the baptism of fire at Perryville (or Chaplin Hills), Ky .. October 8, 1862, less than a month from the date of muster. During that fall and winter, he

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served in all the marches and countermarches over Kentucky to protect sup- plies from the depredations of the raider Morgan. In February, 1863, he went aboard the "Jacob Strader," at Louisville, and made the trip down the Ohio and up the Cumberland to Nashville, being thirteen days on the boat, in a very crowded condition. there being the two regiments with all their supplies on the one boat. Here he experienced the only sickness of his army life, being for eleven days confined to his bunk. They arrived at Nashville and marched to Franklin, where they stayed for several months and completed the splendid line of defenses which were used with such ter- rible effect by Gen. Thomas against Hood in the fall of 1864. Mr. Con- verse served in all the raids and skirmishes that ended in the battle of Chickamauga, on the 19th and 20th of September, 1863, at which battle more than half his comrades were killed or wounded. but he came through with the toe of his shoe cut open with a rifle-ball. He was with Gen. Sher- man in the winter march to the relief of Gen. Burnside at Knoxville, and served on the famous Atlanta campaign, in 1864, up to Kenesaw Mountain, when, in an assault, on the 27th of June, he was wounded by a musket ball passing through his cap-box and into his right side, lodging against the right hip, from where it was cut that evening on the field. In this bayonet charge more than half his comrades were killed or wounded. He now went to the rear, and was absent from the regiment four months, thirty days of which he spent at home, where he made the acquaintance of his future wife. He rejoined the regiment in time to make the march to the sea with Gen. Sherman, then up through the Carolinas, ending with the battle of Benton- ville, March 19, 1865, where he was at one time cut off and thought it best to surrender, but in the confusion got away. He was at Raleigh, N. C., when Johnston surrendered; marched from there to Washington; partici- pated in the grand review, May 23, 1865; was discharged as Second Duty Sergeant June 9, 1865, and reached home June 17, having served near three years, never missing a single trick of duty, and never being under ar- rest or reproved by a superior officer. On March 28. 1866, be was married to Miss Mary I. Baxter, oldest daughter of William H. and C. D. Baxter, of Urbana. Ohio. He then bought land in York Township, Union County, and worked it several years, but his old wound was a constant drawback on him, and he sold his land and moved to Urbana and worked at the watch- making bench on repairs for two years, after which he located in Plain City in the jewelry business; has now been here over seven years, and has, by close application, brought his business up from a very small beginning to its present comfortable proportions. He owns real estate in the corporation to the value of $2,500 to $3,000. He has but two children living. In politics, he is an Independent Republican, always supporting the best man in all local elections, regardless of party. He has never held any official position whatever. He was Captain of a company of Ohio National Guards for three years. 1878, 1879 and 1880, but the company was disbanded in 1881. He is a member of no religious denomination, being free to admit the good that is in all, but too broad in his ideas of religious liberty to ac cept the tenets of one to govern him in all things.

THOMAS W. CORNWELL, farmer, P. O London, is a son of Addi- son Cornwell, whose biography appears in Union Township. He was born in this county September 25, 1843, and received his education in the rural districts of his native county. He has adopted the occupation of farming, and now owns 107 acres of land. In 1861, he enlisted in Company D, For- ty-fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt .. Watson, and served

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three years. After 1864, he was in the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as First Duty Sergeant. After the war, he came home and again engaged in farming. In 1869, he married Ellen J. Wil- son, a daughter of John Wilson, by whom he has had five children, viz., Otis, Willie, Leroy, Earnest and Esther-the two latter twins. Mr. Corn- well participated in some hot engagements during the war, and can now boast of an unblemished war record.

A. J. DYER, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, December 3, 1849. He is a son of William and Josephine (Norton) Dver, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Connecticut, both of English descent. Our subject attended the common schools of his native county, and finished his education at Kenyon College. He was married, in 1879, to Nora Morgridge, by whom he has one child -- Christine. Mr. Dyer is a member of the Episcopalian Church. He owns 658 acres of land, and deals largely in stock. He is a Republican.

JOSEPH EDWARDS, wagon-maker, Plain City, was born in Bedford County, Penn., January 10, 1838, and is a son of J. P. and Abarilla (Ste- phens) Edwards, natives of Pennsylvania, of English descent. Joseph was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. At the age of nineteen, he began learning wagon-making, which he has since followed with the exception of five years, from 1861 to 1866, spent in the Western States and Territories. In 1866, he came to Plain City and went into busi- ness with Jacob Weaver, and has since been doing a successful business. In 1863, he married Margaret Dunkin, a daughter of Reuben Dunkin, and a native of New York. They have three children-Estella, Curtis and Sherman. Mr. and Mrs. Edwards are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has been Trustee. He is a Republican in politics.

JOHN FINCH, deceased, was born in Canaan Township January 20, 1816. In 1837, he married Emily Kilbury, who was born in this township July 20, 1816. They had a family of seven children, viz., Nancy, James E., Samantha, Sarah, T. M., Electa and Joshua D., all married and doing well. Mr. and Mrs. Finch were members of the M. E. Church. He was a Republican in politics, a successful farmer, an affectionate husband and a kind and indulgent father, respected by all who knew him. He started in life without means, and at the time of his death owned ninety-six acres of land. His widow resides with her daughter, Mrs. Manly Feese. The par- ents of both Mr. and Mrs. Finch were among the earliest settlers of this vi- cinity. His father came in 1800, and raised a family of ten children.

WILKINSON GUY, deceased, was born in the Dominion of Canada March 6, 1813, and died in Madison County, Ohio, April 21, 1872. He was the son of Jacob and Hannah (Bean) Guy, who were early settlers in Canada. He received a common-school education. and adopted the occupa- tion of farming, which he followed through life; in politics, he was a life- long Republican. He served three years and four months in the late rebell- ion, under Capts. Haynes and Hendricks, and was present at and partici- pated in the battles of Mumfordsville, Ky., where he was taken prisoner on the 14th, but paroled on the 15th of September, 1862, and at Hoover's Gap, Tenn., Chickamauga, Ga., and with Sherman through the campaign and in his memorable "march to the sea." On December 24, 1840, he married Rhoda Cary, daughter of Abijah and Catharine (Johnson) Cary, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia; they were married in Ohio, and had nine childron, viz., Polly, Solomon, Absalom, Sally, Rhoda, Abner, Rachel, Eliza and Lucinda, the two eldest being deceased. Mrs.

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Guy was born two miles south of where she now lives. October 7. 1814, and has never lived elsewhere than on the old homestead and at her husband's. By her marriage to Mr. Guy four children were born, viz., Sarah, deceased, wife of Clark Barlow: Catharine, wife of Ezra Pitcher; Sylvester, who marrie | Mattie Davis: and Jasper, who married Ollio Lape.

ROWLAND HILL, carpenter, Plain City, was born in England July 16. 1826. He was a son of Littleton and Elizabeth S. (Storks) Hill, natives of England, who emigrated to Ohio in 1832, and settled in Harrison County. His father was a tanner and currier. Our subject is a mechanic, by trade a carpenter; he first worked at cabinet-making; then at building threshing machines and at house building, being now engaged in the latter branch of his trade. He received a common-school education in Ohio. and has spent most of his time in this State. In 1852, he married Catharine Ann Spring, a native of Harrison County and a daughter of Adam Spring. By this union three children were born, viz., Virginia, John R. and Fannie E. John R. is his father's partner in business; he married Cora I. Barlow, a daughter of E. W. and Irene (Bigelow) Barlow. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has been a Deacon. He is a Republican in politics, and owns eighteen acres of land adjoining Plain City, on which he has built a neat residence. His grandfather was a sea captain, and carried provisions to the British soldiers during the Revolu- tionary war. He was a loyal English subject. His wife's grandfather was in the war of 1812.

GARY HORN, manufacturer of drain tile, Plain City, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, January 6, 1824. He is a son of Moses and Sarah (Longfellow) Horn. natives of New Jersey, of German and English descent. His education was limited to the common schools; he remained on the farm where he was raised until twenty years of age, when he began working in the rolling-mills of Virginia, where he remained six years. He then emi- grated to this county and engaged in farming, which occupied his attention until 1872, when he began the manufacture of drain tile, in connection with his son, who is still his associate. Mr. Horn was married, in 1848, to Sarah Spring, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Adam Spring. They have four children, viz., Carlton A., his partner in business; Armeda and Mah- lon W. and Charles W., twins. Mr. and Mrs. Horn are members of the Plain City Baptist Church, in which he is a Deacon. He is a Republican in politics.

L. G. HUFF, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio. October 24. 1834. He is a son of James R. and Lydia (Austin) Huff, natives of New York, the former of German and the latter of English de- scent. Our subject was educated at the academy in Onondaga County, N. Y., and was brought up to farm life, in which he continued until he reached his majority. On April 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Haynes, and was discharged in the same year. On July 31, 1862. he re-enlisted in Company K, Olio Zou- aves, and while in that command passed through some terrible experiences. He had his right arm torn to pieces by a shot, and endured the agony of his wound nine days before it was dressed; the surgeons then wanted to amputate it, but to this he stoutly objected. He was married, in 1864, to Ellen M. Baker, daughter of E. Baker, of Delaware County, Ohio. They have three children -- Clara. Nettie and Clayton. Mr. and Mrs. Huff are members of the Universalist Church, of which he has been Trustee ten years. He is a Republican in politics.

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RICHARD IAMS, SR., farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Penn- sylvania December 3, 1823; he is a son of Eli and Phebe (Heckathorne) Iams, the former a native of Maryland, of English descent, and the latter a native of Virginia, of German descent. They came to Ohio in 1824, and settled in Dayton, where our subject had the advantages of the graded schools. He began life by engaging in the grain business, and then spent five years in the grocery business. He was also engaged as a railroad man. and later, as a contractor, taking land for pay. In this way, he obtained sixty-four acres at Plain City, in 1854, and, in 1855, began working it. He now has 200 acres. He was married, December 3, 1848, to Phebe Jane Thompson, a native of Montgomery County, a daughter of Isaac Thompson, and a namesake of Mr. Iams' mother. They have five children, viz., Al- fred, Richard, Charles, Alva and Howard. Mr. Iams is a Republican. His sons are all farmers.

HENRY KENT, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Jerome Town- ship, Union County, November 9, 1823. His father, Daniel Kent, came from Virginia with his father, John Kent, in 1800, and married Dilla Shover, a daughter of Henry Shover, who lived in Union County when the Kents came to Ohio. Miss Shover was a native of Germany. Our subject was schooled by subscription in the primitive log schoolhouse, and has been a life-long farmer. On October 15, 1847, he married Melissa Norton, a daughter of John H. and Sarah' Norton, and by her he has had the fol- lowing children: Sylvester C., born September 9, 1848, married Harriett Pickett; Lorenzo C., born June 25, 1851, married Emma Gray, John F., born February 17, 1854, married Lottie Sape; Sarah A., born December 4, 1857; Olive, born August 14, 1860, married Albert Kilgore, son of Harvey Kilgore, of Canaan Township. Mr. Kent owns 1702 acres of land, and deals some in horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.

JAMES A. KILE, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1834, and, in 1839, came to Madison County, where he has since resided. He is the only surviving child of two children born to Enoch and Sarah (Needles) Kile. who were natives of Ohio, of English descent. His grandfather, James Kile, was a native of Kentucky, and be- came one of the first settlers of Jerome Township, Union County; he raised a family of eleven boys. none of whom weiglied less than 190 pounds, and some weighing as much as 265 pounds; they were all temperate men for their day, most of them church members, and when our country's flag was assailed in 1861, seven of them took up arms in defense of the Government. Our subject is a man of about 230 pounds weight, well proportioned and one of the most successful farmers of the township. He is an extensive raiser and dealer in stock, and usually winters from 500 to 1,500 sheep. 150 to 2,000 hogs and 50 head of cattle, and sells on an average twelve horses per year. He was married, in 1856. to Mary Martin, a daughter of David Martin, and by her has five children, viz., the oldest, deceased; R. P., Fred. W. T. and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Kile are members of the M. E. Church. He is a Republican in politics, and owns 227 acres of land.

WILLIAM LEASURE, dentist, Plain City, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 7, 1837, and is a son of William and Polly Swra- der Leasure, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. They came to Ohio in 1827, and settled in Franklin County, where our subject received his education. He was raised on a farm, where he continued until sixteen years of age, when he went to Pennsylvania and studied dentistry. After acquiring his profession, he spent five years in Indiana, and was in Union

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County nine years. While in the latter county, he was engaged in selling groceries and dry goods. He was married, in 1863, to M. E. Brant, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and a daughter of Frederick and Polly Brant. They have one child-Jennie, who is now the wife of Vernou Allen, of Plain City.

ISAAC LEONARD, Vice President of the Exchange Bank, Plain City, was born January 25, 1848. He is a son of Jacob and Lidia (Miller) Leonard, the former a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent, and the latter a native of New Jersey, of English descent. Our subject obtained his education in the schools of Cincinnati, and chose the occupation of a druggist, which he followed in Plain City for ten years. He has latterly devoted his time and attention to banking. He was married, December 23. 1870, to Miss Ada Lane, a daughter of Luther Lane, whose sketch appears in Canaan Township. They have two children, viz., Orlando, an infant who died at the age of seven months, and Iona. Mrs. Leonard is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Leonard is a Republican in politics.

J. H. LOMBARD, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born March 24, 1816, and was a son of Jesse and Olive (Carlton) Lombard, natives of Ver- mont, the former of English and the latter of German descont. They emi- grated to Ohio in 1827, and, in 1829. located in Madison County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Our subject received a common - school education, and at an early age learned a trade which he followed with success until in an accident he lost his right arm. Since then he has devoted his time to farming. In 1828, he married Jane Owen, a native of Ohio, of Welsh descent, by whom he has six children, viz., James, Jesse (a soldier in the rebellion), Olive, Jane, Duncan and Estelle. Mr. Lombard's grandfathers on both his father's and mother's side, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.

H. D. LOMBARD, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Campbell Cou. ty, Ky., August 15, 1822. At the age of five years, he emigrated with his father to Ohio, and settled in Union County. Two years later, his father purchased a farm on the " Plains," as it is called, on which place he now resides. He has a family of eight children, the oldest of whom is Phebe, widow of Harvey Bradley, deceased. She has two sons-Rollin and Harvey. The second. De La Mar, who follows the occupation of teacher and farmer; Samantha Alice, wife of H. C. Riddle, of Plain City: Mary S., wife of J. H. Stewart, of Plain City; Millard T .: Frank E., also a teacher; William A. and Ora I. In December, 1844, he was united in marriage with Samantha McUmber, who was also born in Campbell County, Ky., October 15, 1820. She was the daughter of William and Phebe Kelly McUmber. Her grandfathers, William McUmber and Beriah Kelly, both served as sol- diers in the Revolutionary war. The former was of Irish and the latter of Dutch descent. H. D. Lombard was the son of Jesse, who was one of a family of eight boys. His grandfather was David Lombard, who served in the war for Independence. His mother's maiden name was Olive Carlton. The ancestors of the Lombard family in America emigrated from Italy it an early day. The vessel in which he sailed was wrecked when near the coast. and he saved himself by swimming ashore. He was directly descended from the " Longobards," or Longbeards, one of the tribes of barbarians who overrun the Roman Empire about the year 400 A. D., and founded the Kingdom of Lombardy in Northern Italy.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 106

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