The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 107

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 107

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BENJAMIN H. MARSHALL, blacksmith, Plain City, was born Au- gust 24, 1824. He is a son of Joshua and Sarah (Hague) Marshall. natives

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of Loudoun County, Va., the former of Scotch and the latter of Irish descent. Our subject has plied his trade in Madison County nearly half a century, and has operated a shop in Plain City for thirty-five years. He has made a study of horse-shoeing and other important parts of his trade, and does his work on purely scientific principles. He was married, in 1846, to Abigail Ann Adgate, a native of Boston and a daughter of Theodore Adgate, a mer- chant in that city. They have three children-Malinda A., Willie C., who married Sally Wiley, in 1876, and Minnie M. Mrs. Marshall is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Marshall is a Democrat and a member of the M. E. Church, in which he has been Trustee. He stands at the head of his trade in this vicinity, and enjoys a liberal patronage.

L. M. MARSHALL, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Madison County June 20, 1838. He is a son of G. W. Marshall, a native of Vir- ginia, of English descent. Our subject attended the common schools of his native county, and early adopted the occupation of a farmer, which he has followed all his life, with the exception of a few years spent in Illinois as a merchant. He now owns 164 acres of good land. which he cultivates in the most approved manner. In 1858, he married Melissa Domminy, a na - tive of Madison County, by whom he has four children-Electa (wife of George Van Doren), Etta May, Jerry H. and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Mar- shall are members of the Universalist Church. Mrs. Marshall's parents came to this county from New York in 1811. Her father was a prominent Whig, and for twenty years a Justice of the Peace. He was the parent of twenty children, twelve by his first wife and eight by his second. He owned 1,500 acres of land. Mrs. Marshall was one of the youngest by his second wife.

ANDREW JACKSON MARTIN, attorney at law and Mayor of Plain City, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, December 8, 1826. He is a son of John and Sally Martin, natives of Virginia, the former of English and the latter of German descent. He received his education in the common schools of his native county, and, until of age, worked with his father at farmning and carpentering. After he reached his majority, he purchased a small farm, which he operated until forty-five years of age, when he became connected with the railroad and superintended the construction of the Co- lumbus Dummy Railroad. On Independence Day, 1852, he married Sarah Ann Stagg, a daughter of Abraham and Rebecca Stagg. They had six chil- dren, four now living-Mary L., Florella J., Charles and Frank. of whom three are married and one is in Mexico. Mrs. Martin died in 1872, and, in 1878, he married Margaret (Shafer) Davis, widow of Henry Davis; she is a devoted member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Martin has been through life a hard student. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Columbus, where he practiced for some years. In 1879, he came to Plain City, and, in 1882, was elected Mayor of the village. He is a Democrat in politics, and for several years was Justice of the Peace in Columbus.

A. McCAMPBELL, baker, Plain City, was born in Union County Oc- tober 1, 1840. He is a son of John and Margaret (Tate) McCampbell. His father was born in Virginia January 19, 1812, aad his mother in War- ren County, Ohio, January 1, 1812. His father was the fourth child of a family of thirteen children, and was a cooper until his arrival in Union County, since which he was a farmer. His parents were married in Jerome Township, in 1835, where his father died January 4, 1878. Our subject is one of a family of nine children, eight of whom reached their majority and six became school teachers. It is said of them that they never applied for

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schools, but always had them proffered to them. Two of the boys served iu the late rebellion-J. L., enlisted in 1862, in the Ninety-sixth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, but after ten months' service, was discharged on account of disability; he re-enlisted, February 4, 1864, in Company C, Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was finally mustered out of the service in 1865. Our subject enlisted in the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for one year, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service. His father during life was a strong friend of education, and was the prime-mover in having the High School established at California. He was an Old-Line Whig until the formation of the Republican party, after which he espoused the cause of Republicanism. He was a good Christian. and for many years an active member of the United Presbyterian Church.

HON. RODNEY C. McCLOUD, druggist, Plain City, was born in Madison County March 25, 1842. He is the son of Dr. Charles and Mary Jane (Carpenter) McCloud. His grandfather McCloud came to Ohio in 1814, and settled in Union County; he was a native of England and a local preacher. Dr. Charles McCloud settled in Canaan Township in 1831, and for twenty years was engaged in the active practice of medicine. He was a prominent man in politics and an active worker in the Whig party He represented his county in the Ohio Legislature, in the session of 1844-45. and was a member of the Constitutional Convention that framed the present constitution of Ohio. He was born February 2, 1802, and, in 1832, mar- ried Mary Jane Carpenter, who was born August 29, 1813. They became the parents of four children, viz., Mary, now the wife of Dr. E. C. Robin- son, of Plain City; Smith N., a druggist at Marysville, Ohio; Sophronia, wife of Dr. Milton Lane, of Lincoln, Neb., and our subject. The latter was the second child of the family. He began life as a farm hand, but soon obtained a position in a wholesale hardware store, at Columbus, where he was employed as a clerk for five years. He was then engaged as a traveling salesman for the same firm until he purchased his present business at Plain City, which he did in connection with his brother, Smith N., who is still a partner in the business, the firm owning two stores in different towns, each of which is under the management of one of the firm. Mr. McCloud is a Democrat in politics; he has had the offices of Mayor and Councilman of Plain City, and Trustee of Darby Township. and represented Madison County in the Ohio Legislature in 1874-76. He was married, in 1874, to Nancy E. Noteman, a daughter of Zachariah Noteman.

DAVID McCUNE, retired farmer, P. O. Plain City, is a brother of Dr. John E. McCune, and was born in this county August 20, 1824. He was reared on a farm and received a limited education. In 1847, he married Harriett Kent, a native of Union County, and a daughter of Daniel Kent. a soldier of 1812. In 1861, Mr. McCune enlisted in the army, and served for the full term of his enlistment. He was also in the " hundred days " service. He is a life-long farmer, but has latterly retired from all active work. He is a partner with his brother in the possession of 400 acres of land and in a fine business block of Plain City. He also owns a neat brick house, now occupied by him as a residence. He started with nothing, but is now possessed of a comfortable competency. He is a Republican, and has been Township Trustee. He and wife ace members of the M. E. Church.

JOHN E. McCUNE, M. D., Plain City. was born in Madison County, Ohio. November 14. 1826. He is a son of John and Polly (Hager) McCune, the former a native of Kentucky. of Irish and English descent, and the lat- ter a native of Vermont. of English ancestry. His grandparents came to

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this county in 1802. Our subject attended the common schools of his na- tive township, after which he taught school to obtain the means for further educating himself. His literary education was obtained at the Central Col- lege, in Franklin County, and his professional education at Starling Medi- cal College, Columbus. After leaving college, he located at Plain City, and engaged in practicing his profession. and. with the exception of one year spent in the West, he has remained here ever since. He was married, in 1850, to Anna Barlow, daughter of Edmond W. Barlow, a Major in the war of 1812, who came to this county in 1833. Dr. McCune is a courteous, affable gentleman, of studious habits and an enthusiast in his profession. During his many years of practice at Plain City, be has wrestled very suc- cessfully with some very difficult cases, and has built up for himself an en- viable reputation and a lucrative practice. He is a prominent member of Plain City Lodge, No. 193, I. O. O. F., and a highly esteemed citizen. He is always to be found on the side of morality and temperance, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community. He has a farm of 100 acres of good land, an interest in a fine business block in Plain City and other property. He is a self-made and a well-made man.

GUS A. McDOWELL, carpenter, Plain City, was born in Darby Township January 4, 1832. He is a son of L. and Elitha (Sharp) Mc- Dowell, the former a native of New Hampshire, of Scotch descent, and the latter of New York, of Dutch descent. Our subject received a good educa- tion in the English branches, and being a constant reader, is now a well- posted citizen. He owns two acres of land adjoining Plain City, on which he recently erected his residence. In 1862, he enlisted in the United States Regular Army, and was one of a band of unfortunates captured by the reb- els and inhumanly forced over a precipice, two of them being kilied out- right, and our subject with many others seriously injured. He was dis- charged in 1864. after two years' service. In 1854, he married Miss S. Douglass, a native of Darby Township, and a daughter of Cyrus and Lucy (Sherwood) Douglass. They have had five children, viz., Lucy A., wife of John Truss; Ada L., wife of M. Brown; Hester M. and Elitha. Mrs. Mc- Dowell died October 20, 1874.

A. C. McDOWELL, telegrapher, Plain City, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, May 25, 1844. He is a son of Theodore and Elithia (Sharp) McDowell, natives of Vermont, the former of French and the latter of Ger- man descent. Our subject received a common-school education, and since twenty-one years of age, has been a telegraph operator. He worked on the Pan-Handle Railroad two years, and has held the position in Plain City seventeen years. In the late war, he enlisted in Company C, One Hun- dred and Seventy-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. Robb, and patricipated in several engagements, but was on detached duty part of the time. On February 21, 1875, le married Eoline G. Smith, of Wayne County. Ind. by whom he has two children-Grace F. and Helen G. Mr. McDowell is a member of the Grand Army, and owns a neat and substantial residence where he now resides.

JOHN W. MILLHOLLAND, brick-maker, Plain City. William Mill- holland, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania; he was a son of Thomas and Maria (Overmeyer) Millholland, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Germany. They married in Pennsylvania, and, coming West at an early day, entered 160 acres of land, three miles north- west of West Liberty, Champaign County, where two of the daughters now reside. William remained at home until about 1868, when he came to

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Madison County. He married Rachel Ann Nichols, by whom he had ten children, four boys and six girls, two boys and three girls of whom survive. The parents are both also living. The subject of this sketch was the second child and second son. He was born in Champaign County June 16, 1844, and remained at home until 1865, when he went to the far West and en- gaged in herding cattle in Kansas, at which he continued eighteen months, after which he moved to Illinois and engaged in farming. About fourteen years ago, he came to Jefferson Township, where, in 1871, he married Clara McCauley, who was born, raised and educated in that township; she was a daughter of Edward and Cynthia (Webster) McCauley, the latter a descend- ant of Daniel Webster. By this union four children have been born, one boy and three girls, of whom Edith is the only survivor. In 1875, Mr. Millholland engaged in brick-making at Plain City, at which he still con- tinues. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and in politics formerly a Democrat. but latterly a Prohibitionist.

JACOB MILLIKIN. retired farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Washington County, Penn., October 11, 1809. He is a son of James and Elizabeth (Cook) Millikin, natives of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1830, and settled in Canaan Township, where his father purchased 1.500 acres of land for 75 cents per acre. He was a surveyor, and died in 1870. Our subject received only such education as could be acquired in the district schools, but, by dint of hard study, he succeeded in laying by a good store of information. His father had a family of nine children, viz., Samuel, deceased; Martha. wife of James Boyd; Daniel; John; Jacob; Elizabeth, wife of Henry Alder; Ann, wife of Solomon Cary; James, a retired farmer, and Andrew. Jacob was married in 1835, to Sarah 1. Carey, a daughter of Abijah Carey; she was born where they now live in 1813. They have two children. William and Sarah. Mr. Millikin owns 500 acres of land. He is a Democrat, but has never aspired to official honor of any kind.

WILLIAM MILLIKIN, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Plain City, is a son of Jacob Millikin, whose sketch appears in this work. He was born in Canaan Township and received his education in the common schools of this county. He has chosen the occupation of a farmer, and now has entire charge of his father's farm. He deals extensively in cattle, and sells some of the finest stock brought into market. He is a Democrat in politics, fol- lowing the leadership of his father, who cast his first vote for Andrew Jack- son. Our subject was married, in 1861, to Elizabeth E. Slyh. a native of this county, and a daughter of Matthias Slyh.

R. MOONEY, merchant, Plain City, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 4, 1850. and is the son of Jacob and Rosanna ( Winters) Moon- ey, natives of Ohio, of Irish descent. Our subject was raised on a farm, and followed farming until 1876, when he engaged in his present business in Plain City. He was married. in 1872, to Electa Lane, by whom he had two children -- Ida and Walter. Mrs. Mooney died in 1876, and, on June 20, 1877, he married Emily Bigelow, a daughter of Dr. D. K. Bigelow, and by her has one child-Otto. Mr. Mooney is a Democrat of the old Jackso- nian school. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, of the Scot- tish Rite degree. He is a thorough and successful business man, and stands high in the community where he lives.

J. B. MORGRIDGE, Plain City, was born in Washington County, Vt., August 2, 1814, of parents Richard and Sallie Morgridge. Less than two years later, the parents resolved to emigrate to the West, and, June 4, 1816,

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found them together with their earthly possessions, all of which were con tained in a wagon, especially built for the occasion, formed a mover's wagon, en route for Ohio, which Stato they believed afforded the most promising field of labor and the surest reward for industry, the only legacy they could hope to transmit to their children. The distance was great, being 900 miles, and the roads new, and in some places nhuost impassable, yet with a determined purpose, the pioneer leading the way, the journey was necom plished, and the 18th of September found the family sheltered in a small cabin in Licking County, every member of which was afflicted with the agne. Our subject says that one of his ourliest recollections was his first shake in the above mentioned cabin. A year later, the father, by way of availing himself of the convenience and benefit of Western institutions, Bold all his chattel effects, which, together with some currency, he converted into bills of the Muskingum Bank, located at Marietta, then the leading bank of the State. Four days later, when in N wark, where he had gone to make some purchases, he learned that the bills were worthless, the bank having broken two days prior. It was then that the inheritance above ra. forred to was fully realized and possessed. It had been their intention to locate in Hamilton County, but the sickness referred to prevented. In the fall of 1820, the family removed to Madison County, settling on land upon which the subject now resides, which had previously been bargained for with Walter Dunn, then in Chillicothe, to whom the carly settlers of this county will ever be grateful for the kind and long indulgences extended to them on over-due payments. The father in moving to this county, impover ished as he was, was compelled to contract some debts in procuring an ou fit in the way of a team and implements to begin farming. For two years a general sickness prevailed in this locality, and the seasons were unfavor able for crops, which, together with great scarcity of money in the country at the time, the year 1824 still found him in debt, and with the expenses incident to a large family, unable to pay. Ho was sued by his creditor -. who, in their eagerness to collect, sold him out, letting articles go at far less than their value, thus depriving him of the only means he possessed, and which would have enabled him, in the near future, to have canceled their claims. When all was gone and the creditors unsatisfied (there being then no chattels or homestead exemption too sacred to be attached by expen tion as now), and while explaining to the creditor that he had no more property or money with which to pay, and in the presence of his family the creditor said: " If that be so, I demand that you, Mr. Constable, lay upon the body of this debtor, Richard Morgridge, and take him forthwith into the jail of this county, as is my right and pleasure to do, and there keep him till my claim be fully satisfied." Says the subject of this sketch: " I was then ten years of age, but at Do subsequent time in my life have I ever folt such intense indignation as I did at these proceedings, but whether the officer or the law was at fault was not so clear in my mind then, but that creature, that creditor, from that moment was a bruto in my mind and Hight and of life long abhorrence." The mother passed the remainder of the day and evening with tear in her eyes. At 5 o'clock in the morning on the day following, Richard Morgridge, the debtor, tired, wet and hun gry by walking all the way from London in ind and rain, knocked at the door, and was unexpectedly, but joyfully, admitted. He not having pro vided for the expense to the county, as the law required, was released. Un der the hardships of a new country, the cares and wants of a large family and misfortunes beyond his control. his health and resolution gave way

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that the county has since improved a part and taken steps to improve the remainder by piking and graveling them. The most needed improvement was to drain the lands, which was not so easily accomplished, though quite a large tract of country was similarly situated, including a large portion of three townships, Darby, Canaan and Monroe. the topography of which was little understood, and so peculiarly was this body of land situated that any place or location of ditches less comprehensive than a system that would drain the whole, must have been a failure. To reconcile the views of some 1,600 persons owning not less than 20,000 acres of land, of which some of them were non-residents of the county, but none the less watchful and jeal- ous, but mainly all neighbors, was no easy task. Especially as each one, in justice, law and equity was to contribute or be assessed, if the needed improvement was to be made. Without draining, this large traet of land was not only unhealthy, but almost useless for agricultural purposes. Not- withstanding the difficulty and unpleasantness of the task, the individual, as well as the public or common interest, Mr. M. had in this matter com- pelled him to draw up and present petitions to the Commissioners of the county at different times, though all in aid of the same object, a complete system of this most useful and necessary improvement, and by the co-opera- tion. assistance and topographical observations and the engineering skill of Dr. J. Converse, the work was accomplished, which includes a public county ditch of twenty-two miles in length, with more than that length of tributary private ditches, at a cost of nearly $200,000, which, however. has not been without its benefits, as the lands drained have enhanced in value from $26. - 75 to $90 per acre. and the land has become second to none in any part of the State. All unkind neighborly feeling and difference of opinion and grievances of unequal assessments and benefits have been about reconciled, and this. too, without any deplorable or fatal results, except in one instance. Mr. Morgridge is truly grateful to Providence for what he has received, and proud, too, of the improvement the county has made, but prouder, he says, " of that representative of our county who was mainly instrumental in the repealing of that barbarous law that sent my father to the jail of my county for no crime but debt." He is now reposing in a comfortable home, on an extensive tract of between 2,000 and 3.000 acres of most excellent land, lo- cated in Darby Township, in the northern part of the county, some of which is the reclaimed land, which must be almost sacred to the possessor. He began life under the most trying circumstances, as is seen in this sketch, but with the early and fixed and determined purpose above related, as ex- pressed in early youth: he has become possessed of a large estate. May the evening of his life be passed in happiness.

A. S. MORGRIDGE, retired farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Darby Township September 6, 1822. He was the youngest of nine chil- dren, of whom three survive. He received a rather limited education in a log schoolhouse, and has worked on a farm all his life, with the exception of two winters, in which he taught school. . He has never belonged to any church or secret society, is neutral in politics and now owns about 600 acres of land, which he farms and on which he raises cattle, but unfortunately he is a bachelor. His father, Richard Morgridge, was born in Amesbury, Mass., November 18, 1771; his father died when he was about nine months old, and he lived with his mother and in different places until sixteen years of age, when he was bound to a Mr. Coffin antil of age. While in service, he and some others hired a teacher, and formed an evening school, where Mr. Morgridge obtained his little education. He afterward obtained some

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knowledge of surveying, and followed it a little. When of age, he left Massachusetts and worked at $5 per month in Vermont until he bought 100 acres of land. He married Sallie Emerson May 1, 1800, left Vermont for Ohio June 10, 1816, and arrived in Licking County in August or Septem- ber. In 1819, he came to Madison County, bought land of Walter Dunn, and built a cabin, in which he lived until his death, August 10, 1843. He was the youngest of six children. Samuel Morgridge, our subject's grand- father, was born at Newburyport, Mass., and was the oldest of three sons. He followed ship-building until he fell and was much injured, after which he taught school. He married Ruth Silvers, and died at Amesbury, Mass., June 26, 1772. John Morgridge, the great-grandfather of our subject, emigrated from England among the early emigrants, and settled in New- buryport, where he worked at ship-building. He had three children-Sam- uel, William and John. Sallie Emerson, the mother of our subject, and the eldest of ten children, was born at New Salem, N. H., Angust 18, 1781, and was married at Berlin, Vt. Her father. Jonathan Emerson, was born in Haverhill, Mass., May 7, 1756, and married Rhoda Bailey January 11, 1781. She was a daughter of Joshua Bailey, who married Elizabeth Chase September 4, 1734. Jonathan Emerson was in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner and carried to England, where he was kept fifteen months before he was exchanged. He moved to Vermont in 1787, to Ohio in 1815, and died in September, 1823, in Butler County, Ohio. Sally Emerson's grandfather, Jothan Emerson, settled in Massachusetts and married Eliza- beth Mitchell, daughter of Andrew and Hannah Mitchell, by whom he had one child. He died in the French war. During the three days previous to Richard and Sally Morgridge's leaving Vermont, it snowed continuously; this was the 7th, 8th and 9th of June, 1816.

DANIEL NORTON, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in Darby Township, Madison County, April 7, 1828. His father, John Norton, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1799, and soon afterward came to this county, where he spent his life. His wife, Sarah (Taylor) Norton, was born in 1802, and, in 1803, came to this county, with her father, Daniel Taylor; sho still survives, and is remarkably active for one of her years. She retains full possession of her mental faculties, and often entertains her friends with anecdotes and descriptions of early pioneer days in Madison County. Our subject is a farmer by occupation. and, with the exception of ten years spent in the West, he has given his life's attention to that honor- able vocation. On November 12, 1851, he married Sarah E. Daugherty, a daughter of William and Mary A. (Bigelow) Daugherty.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 107

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