The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 117

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 117

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ents. He was united in marriage with Belinda Bozarth January 9, 1830. She was born in Madison County, Ohio, October 14, 1814. To this union have been born thirteen children, of whom six are living-John M., Will- iam E., Mary E., Elihu, Joseph and Daniel. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were members of the Christian Church for thirty years. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. He died in 1882.

WILLIAM THOMAS, retired, South Solon, was born in Virginia December 18, 1813, and is a son of Moses and Catharine (Williams) Thomas, who are mentioned in the sketch of B. Thomas. William was twenty years of age when he engaged in farming for himself as a renter; thus he continued for sixteen years, when he bought 152 acres of land where he resides, and has since added to it until he nows owns 367 acres of land in a high state of cultivation. He acquired a common school education, and has been Treasurer of Stokes Township. He has been engaged in farming and raising stock all his life. He was united in marriage with Levina Beacham, who was born in Clark County, Ohio, in 1815, and to this union have been born twelve children, of whom eleven survive-Noah, Moses, Will- iam, Jeptha. John Wesley, Robert L., Huston, Jasper, Eliza, Oscar and Floristine. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been members of the Christian Church for over twenty years.

WILLIAM H. THORNTON, farmer, P. O. South Solon, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, August 16, 1840, and is a son of Thomas B. and Mahala (Harper) Thornton. Thomas, a native of Ohio, was born in 1811; Mahala was a native of Virginia, born in 1814. They were married in Fayette County, Ohio, where they reside, in 1830. He is a farmer and stock dealer. William was united in marriage with Matilda Carr August 28, 1865; she was born in Fayette County, Ohio, March 16, 1843. He has been engaged in farming and trading in stock through life. He acquired a common school education; has filled the office of Township Trustee of Stokes Township six years. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are a very pleasant and agreeable couple, loved and respected by all who know them.

RANGE TOWNSHIP.

MALISSA ALLEN, P.O. Range. The lady whose name heads this sketch is a daughter of Coleman Hays, and the widow of Horace Allen, deceased. She was born February 5, 1853, and now occupies 273 acres of land, which she owns, in this township. She is one of a family of nine children born to her parents, of whom four are now living, viz., Margaret L., Calvin, John and Malissa. The latter was married when quite young. and by her mar- riage had five children, viz., Coleman, Robert, Samuel, Rarus and Orth. Mr. Allen was born November 9, 1834, and died while a resident of this county.

WILLIAM JACKSON BONHAM, carpenter, Cross Roads P.O , was born in Ross County, Ohio, and is a son of John and Ann Bonham. His paternal grandparents were natives of Wales and England, respectively, and his ma- ternal grandparents of Scotland and Ireland. They all emigrated to America, and settled near Lancaster, Penn. Our subject s father was a blacksmith in early life, but afterward engaged in milling, which he followed until

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180S, when he came to Ohio and located in Franklin County. . He after- ward returned to his native county. Our subject remained at home with his parents until of proper age, when he began learning the trade of a car- penter, which he has since followed. He owns 233 acres of land in Stokes Township, and the property in Midway, where he resides. On September 27. 1857, he married Lucinda Hays, a daughter of John Hays, who was born in 1810, and died August 10, 1859. Mr. Bonham has had by his marriage two children-Scott B., born January 25, 1858, and Katie M., born April 1, 1859. Mr. Bonham is a man of considerable prominence in his township, and for a number of years occupied the office of Justice of the Peace.

SIMON BOUGHN, farmer, P. O. Range. Joseph Boughn, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia June 6, 1810. He came to Ohio at an early day, and here married Elizabeth Boughn, who was born near Washingtonl, Ohio, August 24, 1819. Our subject was reared on the farm, and remained at home with his parents until his marriage. He received the benefits of the schools of the township and from them obtained his education. In 1866, he married Catharine Hay, by whom he had seven children, whose names and the dates of their birth were as follows: Ida May (deceased). November 16, 1867; Charles, October 26, 1869; Austin, May 15, 1871; Otis, December 26, 1873; Alma, February 5, 1875; Louis Fremans (de- ceased). April 19, 1877, and Carl, February 25, 1881. Mr. Boughn, after his marriage, engaged in farming, and he has since followed that honored avocation. He now owns 305 acres of good land on the Bloomingburg road, where he resides with his family.

E. W. BUSICK, farmer, P. O. Range, was born in Hanover County, W. Va., in 1827. His parents, Samuel and Rhoda (Grubs) Busick, married in West Virginia, and, coming to Ohio, settled in Licking County. Our subject commenced life for himself when very young by working for $6 per month. continuing three years. At the age of twenty-one, he married, and rented land of James Foster, on which he continued thirteen years. He then pur- chased a farm on the Yankeetown road, sold it three years later, purchased 146 acres in Fayette County; sold it six years later; then rented for two vears: and in 1879 came to his present farm. He has had ten children, viz., Mary Alice, Rhoda Ellen, Sarah F., George Franklin, John S., Jo seph B., Harriet E., Theodore S., Urias Clyde, and Charles W., deceased. Mr. Busick is a sturdy, practical farmer, and in the past has been success ful in all his business transactions.

JEREMIAH B. CHENOWETH, farmer, P. O. Range, was born in Frank lin County, Ohio. September 22, 1816. and was married September 23, 1840, to Eliza Foster. His father, John F. Chenoweth, was born in Kentucky Sep- tember 15, 1783, and married Margaret Ferguson, a native of Kentucky by whom he had fifteen children, eight living, viz., Rachel, wife of Moses Bales, of Fairfield Township; Hezekiah; Lewis F., married Martha Morgan and lives in Kansas; Isabelle J., wife of Charles Warner, of Fairfield Township: Elijah, married Susan Pringle, and lives in Fairfield Township: Mary, wife of Dr. Donnis Warner, of London: Francis Marion. married Margaret Ray, and lives in Fairfield Township. The deceased were Thomas, Melinda, John F., Samnel D., Jeremiah, and two that died in infancy. Our subject has had born to him nine children, six living. viz., John W., born September 9, 1846, married Alice Henry, who died in 1874, and in 1878 ho married Kate Creath, by whom one child, Mary. was born, February 12, 1882: Daniel B., born January 10, 1849; Nelson, born April 26, 1851;

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George Washington, born October 3, 1853, and married Mary Roland; W. Scott, born December 11, 1855, married Annie Roland, and has one son; Newton M., born December 25, 1857. The deceased are Martha Jane born August 2, 1842, died October 22, 1847; James Foster, born September 7, 1844, died August 4, 1866, and an infant. Our subject remained at home until twenty-five years of age, when he began renting and leasing, and finally purchased 200 acres. In 1851. he bought the farm where he now lives, which consists of 1,296 acres. Mr. C. has voted the Republican ticket twenty-five years.

PEYTON R. CHRISMAN, deceased. was born in Virginia, and emi- grated to Ohio with his parents, who located in Madison County. He re- ceived a limited education in the public schools, and followed farming through life. In 1847. he married Clara Kenton. a daughter of Simon and Phobe (Baker) Kenton. The former was a saddler by trade, and a native of Kentucky, but was not the celebrated Indian-fighter of the same name. Mr. Chrisman died on Easter Sunday, in April, 1877. leaving four children, viz .: Caroline, wife of Benjamin Emery, a farmer; Richard. Edward and Harry. The children are all married and doing well. Mrs. Chrisman re- sides on 1,300 acres of land which she inherited from her father.

JOHN CORSON, deceased, son of Richard and Mary (Baldwin) Corson. was born in Virginia in 1809, and died in Range Township August 31, 1875. He came to Ohio when four or five years old. with his parents, who located in Fayette County, where the father died. The mothier, with her children, then moved North, where she died. Our subject came to Mad- ison County, in 1862, and located in the neighborhood of where his wife now lives. In 1837, he married Elizabeth Blizzard, daughter of Burton and Amelia (Willoughby) Blizzard, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. They came West at an early day and settled in this county. Mrs. Corson was born where she now lives, November 8. 1813. By her Mr. Corson had eight children -- Richard, Mary, William. James, Benjamin, Hester, Sarah B. and Amelia. Mrs. Corson was the third child of a family of nine children. Mr. Corson was a carpenter and farmer by occupation. He was a prudent. industrious and frugal man, and at his death owned 100 acres of good land.

DANIEL A. COUNTS, farmer and miller, P. O. Range, is a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Walker) Counts, of Rockingham County, W. Va. The former was born December 1. 1780, and died January 22. 1873; and the latter was born in 1791, and died April 2. 1867. Of their thirteen children, six survive. Our subject was educated at the public schools and remained at home until 1863, when he moved onto his present farm, which consists of 328 acres. He also owns 160 acres in Southern Missouri. In April, 1863. he married Rachael Francis, by whom he has had the following children, viz. : Laura, born November 18, 1863; Jennie, born November 28, 1867; Charley, born in 1870; Edward, born in 1871; Angeline, February 3, 1872; Harry, in 1876; Orestus, in 1878: and Lewis, October 9, 1879. Mr. Counts is a genial gentleman, a practical farmer and miller, and in politics a Republican.

JOSEPH GILLASPIE. P. O. Range. was born January S. 1807, and came to Ohio when a child. His father was a native of " York State," and his mother of Ireland. He remained at home until seventeen years of age, when he went away to learn blacksmithing. After serving three years and six months as an apprentice, he began working as a journeyman, but soon relinquished his trade and began farming. Not meeting with success on

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the farm, he again took up his trade, after which he alternated between his trade and farming, until he finally purchased seventy-five acres, twenty - seven years ago, on which he now lives, having increased it to 710 acres. On April 8, 1838, he married Sarah Shepherd, by whom he has had nine children. viz. : James, born September 19, 1840; Isaiah, born February 11, 1844; Samuel born November 2, 1848; Francis, born February 16, 1850; Ruth Ann, born April 3, 1854; Washer, born November 15, 1856; Joseph, born March 28, 1859: Eliza, born April 28, 1839, and died August 11, 1840; and Margaret, born July 19, 1846, and died November 21, 1849.

ISAAC T. GREEN, farmer, P. O. Cross Roads, was born in Clark County. in 1846, and remained with his parents until 1873, when he rented the land on which he now resides. He also has eighty-six acres in Clark County. His parents were both natives of Clark County. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Atkins. They had six children, viz. : John W .. who married a Miss Bostwick; George L., who married Mary L. Brock; Mary M., wife of John Salmon; Nancy J., wife of John Peters; Lucinda, wife of W. R. Thomas; and Isaac T. The latter married Sarah Hidey, in 1870. and by her has had two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. Green has served his township for some time in the capacity of a School Director. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a pillar in the church. He occupies a good farm, well improved, on the Lon- don & Midway pike.

BENJAMIN HARRISON, farmer, P. O. Range, was born February 8, 1815. He was a son of Batteal and Elizabeth (Scott) Harrison, natives of West Virginia. The former came to Ohio with an uncle and aunt in 1797, and located in Belmont County, where he remained until the breaking-out of the war of 1812, when he enlisted and served until the close of the war. He married Miss Scott in Chillicothe, while acting as a United State re- cruiting officer. In the fall of 1815, he moved to Fayette County and engaged in raising stock until his death. He was a Colonel of the militia in 1857, and in 1828 and 1836 represented Fayette County in the State Legislature. He had six children, viz. : Benjamin; Walter Scott, born Feb ruary 13, 1817. and is deceased; William, born October, 1819; David G., born in January, 1822; John Joseph, born in 1824, died in Georgia while in a rebel prison in 1861; and May, born April 11. 1828. Our subject married on March 9, 1837, and has five children, all living. Mr. Harrison now owns 1.550 acres where he lives. He was twice elected County Commissioner, and has filled minor township offices. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church.

BATTEAL HARRISON, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Range, was born November 6, 1839, and on December 24, 1861, married Lida A. Rogers, by whom he has had six children, as follows : Ettora B .. born December 30, 1864; Alvin M., born June 13, 1867: Benjamin, born March 8, 1969; Massie, born December 31, 1872: Martha D., born February 15, 1881, and Sherman, born April 21, 1863, and died November 6, 1870. Mr. Harrison is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has risen to the thirty-second degree. He was raised on a farm and has devoted his life largely to that occupation. He is a good farmer, a practical stockman and a whole souled, genial citizen.

DAVID HASKELL, farmer and stock-raiser, P. (). Range, was born in Oneidla County, N. Y., June 16, 1812. He is a son of James P. and Sarah (Carpent ." Haskell. The Haskells originally came from England and Wales n 163 ). anl lanlel in Missichusatts. Mr. Haskell's grandfather, Jona -

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than Haskell, moved to near Utica, N. Y., where he died in 1832, at the exceedingly old age of one hundred and three years. Mr. Haskell's father was born, lived and died in New York State. Mr. Haskell remained at home until August, 1832, and in 1835 he came to Ohio and located in Madison County, having spent the intervening years traveling through the South. In 1838, he moved from London to where he now resides. He has always been engaged in farming and stock-raising, and has met with well- deserved success in his business transactions. On October 9, 1837, he married Ann Konton, a daughter of Simon and Phoebe (Baker) Kenton. The former was a nephew of Simon Kenton. the celebrated Indian hunter. Mr. Kaskell has had by this marriage four children, viz .: Sarah, Louisa (deceased), Martha and Clarissa (deceased). Mr. Haskell was the only one of his father's family who came West. He is a stauch and enthusiastic Democrat, and takes a deep inierest in all the public issues, and in all mat- ters pertaining to the welfare of his county. He served three years as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, and for twelve years was a Justice of the Peace.

JAMES HENRY, farmer. P. O. Range. Hugh Henry and Mary Henry, his wife, parents of James Henry, came from Virginia to Ohio in 1801. They had eight children, of whom two sons and two daughters sur- vive. Our subject was the oldest son. He was raised on the farm, and has chosen farming as the occupation of his life. In 1863, he married Mary A. McClemons, and by her has had four children, viz. : Beatrice, born January 19, 1865; Ella M., born May 15, 1868; William, born March 23, 1870, and Nettie, born September 14, 1874. Mr. Henry , lived with his parents until twenty-three years of age, when he farmed as a renter for four or five years, after which he moved onto his present farm of 194 acres. He is a promi- nent member of the society of Grangers, with which he has been con- nected since 1875. He is a Republican in politics. and for some time acted as School Director.

WILSON A. HOUSMAN, merchant, Danville. George M. Housman, the father of our subject, was born in Madison County, where he was engaged in merchandising for eight years prior to his death. He married Rebecca Cox, by whom he had five children. viz .: Isaac Taylor, born November 29, 1846; Sarah J .. born in 1850. and married Dr. T. R. McClintick, of Karns City; John L., born in 1852, and married Fanny Fletcher; Rebecca J., died aged eight years, and William A. The latter remained with his parents until he reached-his majority, when he rented a farm, which he operated eight years, and at the death of his father he carried on merchandising in connection with his farming. In 1878, he married Eliza McLean, by whom he has had two children. In connection with his brother, he operates a large tile factory at Danville. which they built in 1882, and in which they manufacture ex- tensively drain tile of all sizes. They also carry on a store in Danville. Mr. Housman is a Democrat in politics. His grandparents emigrated from Virginia at an early day, and located in Madison County.

JOHN JOHNSTON. farmer, P. O. Range, was born in Ross County, near Chillicothe, Ohio. March 13. 1806. His father, William, was born in Pennsylvania in 1781, and came to Ohio with his parents in 1804. His mother, Margaret McClimons, was born in 1872, and lived in Ross County, eight miles from Chillicothe. Our subject came to Madison County about the time of the last war with England, and located in this township. He was the oldest son of a family of ten children, of whom seven-George, William, Henry, Hannah. Joseph, Margaret and John, survive-John has been a farmer

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during the whole of his life, and now owns 300 acres of land. On October fi, 1831, he married Elizabeth Myers in this county, and by her has had eleven children, viz., Margaret, born November 3, 1832, and died February 11. 1862; Sarah, born June 3, 1834; Ruth, born February 29, 1836; May, born November 21. 1837; Martha, born April 9, 1841; William, born March 27, 1842; John F., born June 15. 1844; James, born October 29, 1846: George W .. born March 3. 1848: Luther M., born June 8, 1851, and an infant, deceased. Mr. Johnston is a hardy aud vigorous old gentleman, whose lease of life seems not nearly ended. He has served the township in the past as Trustee for several years.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON, farmer, P. O. Range, was born in Ross County. Ohio, in 1812, and lived with his father until he was twenty years of age, attending the public school when opportunity offered. He married Felicity Hummels, and. for a time after marrying. he continued on the farm of his father, after which he rented land. His first purchase was 236 acres, which he bought in 1848, at $10 per acre. He has continued purchasing from time to time, until he now owns 1.400 acres. having, since 1848, paid over $60,000 for land alone. He has had ten children, of whom six sur- vive, viz., Ebner, born January 11, 1836; Isaac, born March 12, 1838; Arthur Taylor, born February 11, 1843; Bryant Kimball, born December 18, 1850; W. D., born August 15, 1853; and Clarence Lee, born March 16. 1856. The deceased are Rebecca Jane. died April, 1865; Martin Van Bu -. ren, died April 10. 1842: Henry D., died January 29, 1865, and Luther D., died December 18, 1850. Clarence married Ella Manning and has two children-Harvey Clarence, born November 3. 1878, and William Floyd, born December 29, 1881.

WILLIAM A. KOONTZ, banker, farmer and stock-raiser. Danville, was born in Rockingham County. W. Va., November 13, 1821. He was a son of Philip and Mary (Crumley) Koontz, the former of whom died in 1825, and the latter at Fort Scott, Kan., September 7. 1877. Our subject, being left fatherless at the tender age of four years, had few educational privileges. He early began life for himself, and in all of his undertakings he has been eminently successful. He now owns nearly 1,500 acres of land in tracts of different size, in the States of Texas, Illinois, Nevada, Missouri and Kansas, and a fine farm of 535 acres in this township, on which he re- sides. On April 5, 1848, he married Louisa Counts, whose father was born in Rockingham County, W. Va., and died January 22. 1873, aged ninety-four, and whose mother emigrated from England when a girl, and died April 2, 1867, aged nearly seventy-seven. They settled in this county and were among its earliest settlers. Mrs. Koonts was one of a family of thirteen children. of whom six now survive, viz .: Mary. wife of Frank Thompson; Joseph; Christina, wife of James Williamson; Louisa, Daniel A. and Levi. Mr. Koontz by his marriage has two children, viz. : Alice V., born September 8. 1857, and married John Stroup June 26, 1877; and Philip, born April 21, 1849, married Emma Marrs, who died, and he married Fannie Orbaugh. Mr. Koontz resides in a spacious and comfort- able residence, and now gives some attention to discounting notes, cashing checks and doing other legitimate banking business.

REV. ISAAC MACKEY, minister, P. O. Cross Roads, was born in Ross County. Ohio, November 28, 1834, and remained with his parents until he was twenty years of age, when he entered a school in Pike County, near Waverly, which was known as James Davis' Schoolhouse. Previous to this and while very young, he worked at carpentering with his father. In 1862. he en-

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listed in the Ninety-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. as a member of the cornet band. and served three years. In 1867, he entered the min- istry. his first ministerial charge being Athens Circuit, on which he labored faithfully and successfully for one year. He then spent twelve years min- istering to different circuits in Ohio, and in 1882 accepted his present charge. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1812, and emigrated to this State when a child of two years of age. He located in Ross County, where he worked at carpentering. His father enlisted in the war of 1812. and while in the service. his family moved to the West. he joining them at Chillicothe at the close of the war.

ALEXANDER MANTLE, farmer. P. O. Range, was born in Madison County, October 10. 1840. He is a son of Richard and Ann Mantle, the latter a native of Pike County. When two years of age his father died, leaving him to assist in the support of the family. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age. In 1869, he married Keziah Shephard in this township. where she was born March 10. 1845. They have had four children, viz .: George S., born December 13, 1870: Nancy Jane, born Sep- tember 13, 1872; John, born September 26, 1874; and Annie L., born April 23. 1877. Mr. Mantle was one of a family of eight chilren, of whom six survive, viz .: Mary, Matilda. Jane. Margaret, Jenette, William and Alex- der. Mr. and Mrs. Mantle reside on 207 acres of land, which they own, situated on the London & Danville Turnpike.

JOSEPH SPENCER MARTIN, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Range, was a son of Jacob Martin, a minister, who was born near Marietta April 3, 1806, and a grandson of Charles H. Martin, who emigrated from En- gland during the Revolutionary war. The latter was pressed into service; and placed on board a man-of-war, from which he deserted and joined the Federals. He was twice captured by the enemy, but succeeded in making his escape both times. In 1800, he emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and located near Marietta, where he remained until 1814, when he moved to Licking County. He raised a large family of children. Jacob, the father of our subject, had three children. all sons, viz .: James Douglass, born July 10, 1837, was a Colonel during the rebellion, opened the post office at Charleston, S. C., after the war, and now resides in Washington, D. C .; John W., born in 1843, and died in 1845; and Joseph Spencer. born Octo- ber 22, 1839. The latter married Elizabeth Harrison, March 5. 1873, and has has had five children, viz. : James Foster. born January 23, 1875; Ben- jamin H .. born October 9, 1876; Joseph, born February 7. 1878; John Ja- cob, born February 3. 1880, and died in infancy: and an infant, deceased. Mr. Martin lived at home until nineteen years of age, and attended the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. In 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and after serving three years was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. He was taken prisoner at Rich- mond, Ky., but was paroled. He was in the sieges of Vicksburg and Mobile, the battle of the Cross Roads. Sligo, Oldtown and many other hotly- contested engagements, and in the march through Kansas and Missouri. Since 1866, he has been farming. He is a Republican in politics, and, since eighteen years of age, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ISAAC McCLIMANS (deceased) was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 23, 1805. He came to Madison County when five years old, with his parents. John and Mary (Craveson) McClimans, who were natives of Pennsylvania or Virginia, and who settled where Isaac lived and died, and where his widow lives. He farmed that place during the whole of his life,

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 117

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