The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 122

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 122

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J. F. MILLIKIN, farmer, P. O. West Jefferson. The subject of this sketch was born in Washington County, Penn., August 18, 1842; he is a son of John and Rachel (Bane) Millikin. He came to Darby Plains, Madison County, in 1856. His father was born August 15. 1807, and died in February, 1882. He owns ninety-one acres of land five miles northwest of Jefferson and a half mile from the Alder farm. He makes farming his business, and in politics is a Democrat. lle has filled several township offices. He was married, March 27, 1873, to Elizabeth M., daughter of Rowland and Almira (Hall) Thomas, a native of Ohio, born November 28, 1850. Her father was a native of Wales, her mother of Ohio. By this union there were three children, viz .: Charles Rowland, born June 28, 1874; Wyat Lester, born September 28, 1875, and Marvin Stanley, born August 27, 1877. Mr. Millikin's grandfather. James Millikin, emigrated to Ohio at an early day and died at the age of eighty-eight years.

FRANCIS NUGENT, farmer, P. O. West Canaan, was born in Ireland about sixty years ago; he is a son of Michael and Christinia (Broadburn) Nugent. He came to Ohio at the age of nineteen years, and engaged in farming, which occupation he has since followed. He owns 180 acres of land in Canaan Township, one half mile from Amity, on the lower pike. Heis a member of the Catholic Church, and in politics is a Democrat, and has served as Trustee and member of the School Board. He was married in December, 1859, to Isabel Gallaher, a native of Ireland, who was born in 1825, and died August 27, 1865. She was a danghter of John and Sarah Gallaher. Mr. Nugent has had eight children, one son and seven daughters, of whom three survive.

JOHN PRICE, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Plain City. The subject of this sketch was born in Clark County, Ohio, July 1, 1833; he is the son of James and Margaret J. (Ryan) Price, his father a native of Wales. His paternal grandfather was James Price, and his maternal grandmother was Mary Harvey. Our subject was married, December 8, 1859. to Sarah Wilson, a native of Madison County, Ohio, born March 10, 1844, and daughter of William D. and Nancy (Moore) Wilson, her mother a native of Clark County, born 1808, nationality English, and her father born February 27, 1807. Mr. Price's wife's grandfather, John Moore, of Kentucky, emigrated to Ohio in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Price have had four children, viz., Flora, James W., Rosa (died March 25, 1877) and William (died May 25, 1873).

MATHIAS SLYH, farmer, P. O. West Canaan. The subject of this sketch was born in West Virginia April 12, 1800; he is a son of Mathias and Mary (Drill) Slyh. His father emigrated to Ohio at an early date, and was of German descent; his mother died in Maryland about 1817. His grandfather, Mathias Slyh, was born near Little York, Penn., and was through the Revolu- tionary war, serving as Major or Colonel. Subject's father was also in the

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battle of Brandywine when only fourteen years of age; he served as wagon master for three years. Our subject's grandfather on his mother's side was named Jacob Drill. His grandmother's name was Eva Drill. Mr. Slyh owns 505 acres of land in Franklin and Madison Counties, and is a successful farmer by occupation. In politics, he is a Democrat. He was married, August 10, 1819, to Sophia Martin, who died October 17, 1827, and by her he had four children, viz .: Phebe, John, Rebecca and F. Richard. His second marriage was celebrated March 17, 1830, to Sarah Patterson. He has served as Town- ship Trustee, Constable and School Director, and is one of the Trustees in the Baptist Church, of which he is a member. He has had thirteen children.

CHARLES SLYH, farmer and horseman, P. O. West Canaan. The subject of this sketch was born March 26, 1848, in Madison County; his parents were Matthias and Sarah (Patterson) Slyh, natives of Virginia. He was married, March 26, 1874, to Eliza, daughter of William and Mary (Boyd) Kilgore, and by this union has had born to him three children, viz .: Ora, Alma, and Rodney. In politics, Mr. Slyh is a Democrat. He has served as Assessor for four years, and also as School Director. A more extended sketch of his ancestry appears elsewhere in this work.

CHARLES B. SMITH, banker, Plain City, was born in Delaware County. Ohio, July 16, 1840; his parents were of English and German descent; Alvah and Catherine (Moore) Smith, who settled in Madison County July 16, 1843. The former is a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio with his parents when small. He is President of the Plain City Bank, of which our subject has been cashier since 1876. Mr. Smith was married, September 5, 1861, to Melissa, daughter of Alvin nd Polly (Barlow) Dominy, and by his marriage has six children, four living, viz .: Katie, Alvin, Emery, Lawrence, Charles B., deceased, and an infant, deceased. Mr. Smith owns 132 acres of land in Canaan Township, six and a half miles south of Plain City. He carries on farming, and deals extensively in stock. He is a pleasant gentleman, a man of good business qualifications and a useful citizen.

G. E. SPRING, farmer, P. O. West Canaan, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, November 21, 1844; he is a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Foland) Spring, natives of Harford County, Md., who emigrated to Carroll County, Ohio. The father of our subject was a native of Loudoun County, Va. His grandfather on his mother's side was Benjamin Foland. His grandmother on his mother's side was Elizabeth Denbow. Our subjeet owns seventy-eight acres of land one mile east of Amity, and is a farmer by occupation. He is a Republican in politics, and has been Township Clerk, Assessor four years in Tuscarawas County, and taught school seventy-two months. He was in the Fifty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company G, and participated in several battles. He was married, August 19, 1869, to Catharine, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Heater) Lehn, natives of Warwick Township, Tusca- rawas County. She was born in 1858, and died April 21, 1877. By this union there were four children, viz .: Laura E., Roy E., Arthur R., and a daughter, deceased. Mr. Spring was again married, April 22, 1880, to Margaret (Worth- ington) Andrew, widow of James Andrew, and daughter of Israel and Margaret (Lane) Worthington. By this marriage there is one child, Bertha, born Jan- uary 14, 1882. Mrs. Spring is a member of the Baptist Church.

JACOB TAYLOR, farmer, P. O. West Canaan, was born in Canaan Township, February 20, 1819; he is a son of William and Elizabeth (Casto) Taylor, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of New Jersey. The father was born in 1774, and died in 1838, and the mother was born in 1794, and died in 1838. Our subject owns 545 acres of land in Canaan Township, and is a farmer by occupation. In politics. he is a Republican. He was mar- ried April 8, 1847, to Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Jane Patterson; she

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was born February 6, 1827, and by her he has had five children, viz .: Sarah, deceased, wife of Robert Carey; Zachariah, married to Taylor Wilson's widow; William, Jenny and Sarah (deceased). Mrs. Taylor's grandfather, William Patterson, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

WILLIAM M. WILSON, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. West Jefferson, was born in this county and township August 10, 1841; he is a son of William D. and Nancy (Moore) Wilson, natives of Ohio. His father, who was born Febru- ary 27, 1807, and died March 25, 1873, was of Irish descent. His mother, who was born in December, 1808, and died in October, 1882, was of German de- scent. They were married December 29, 1829. Our subject is a farmer and stock-dealer, and owns 1,385 acres of land midway between Plain City and Jefferson. He was married, January 10, 1867, to Mary S. Slyh, a native of this county, where she was born, March 8, 1845. She was a daughter of Matthias and Sarah (Patterson) Slyh, and by her Mr. Wilson had one child, Ellen A., born October 14, 1867. Our subject pays considerable attention to stock-raising, and has at present about 150 head of nice cattle. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church. In politics, Mr. Wilson is a Republican.

FAIRFIELD TOWNSHIP.

JOSEPH BENJAMIN, farmer, P. O. Big Plain, a native of this county and township, was born January 31, 1832, and is a son of William and Clar- rissa Benjamin, he a native of Maryland, and she of the State of New York. The grandparents were Jonathan and Elizabeth Benjamin. He was born in New Jersey, but became a resident of Maryland, where he married Elizabeth Barnes, and ahout 1803 removed to Ohio and settled near Chillicothe; thence about 1807 he became one of the pioneer settlers of Madison County, locating on the land now owned by D. D. Downing, where he purchased a large tract of land, and had it nearly paid for, when another owner presented himself with a bona- fide title to the land, and Mr. Benjamin was compelled to leave it; he, however, remained a resident on the land till his death. William, the father of our sub- ject and the eldest child of his father, was born March 4, 1790, being thirteen years of age when their family came to Ohio. Here he grew to manhood, and was seventeen years of age when they became settlers of Madison County. After he arrived at manhood, and after his father had lost his land by a defect- ive title, he purchased 150 acres where Joseph, our subject, now lives, and here cleared up his farm, and made a home right from the woods; and here he resid- ed till his death, May 28, 1877. He married Clarissa Waldo, with whom he lived till his death. She survived him till in November, 1881. She died from being burned by her clothes taking fire in front of their fire-place, in her eighty- first year. They had two children-Herrick (deceased) and Joseph. The for- mer grew to manhood, and enlisted in the war of the rebellion, in the Twenty- sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. (Company K), and died of camp diarrhea at Gallipolis, Ohio, November 12, 1861, in his thirty-second year. The subject of this sketch was raised and grew to manhood on the old home place, where he still resides. On August 13, 1856. he was united in marriage with Margaret Perigo, a native of this county, who was born February 22, 1835. By this union they had five children. William II., born October 27, 1858; Alfred H., born May 23, 1860; Herrick J., born August 1, 1863; Thomas J. T., born April 22, 1865; and Clarissa, born September 3, 1868. Mrs. Benjamin died November 27, 1880. Mr. Benjamin has heeded the old motto, " A rolling stone

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gathers no moss, " and has spent his life upon the old home place of his father, which has now been in possession of the family forty-seven years-nearly half a century.

JOEL M. BYERS, farmer, P. O. Lilly Chapel, was born in this county May 26, 1841, and is a son of John W. and Sarah J. Byers, natives of Penn- sylvania. The grandfather, James Byers, a native of Pennsylvania, emigrated to Ohio with his family, and settled in Ross County, in 1806. In 1826, he re- moved to Madison County and located in the north part of Fairfield Township, where he died, being one of the first settlers of that neighborhood. His house was one of the first places where preaching and worship was had, long before any church existed in this vicinity. His " latch string" was ever out to the ministers of the Gospel. Among the first preachers were Rev. Dr. Hogue, of Columbus. a Presbyterian, and Rev. William Dickey. John W., the father of our subject, was twenty-six years of age when they settled in Madison County, and here he married Matilda Hunter, a native of Franklin County. Ohio, by whom he had three children, one now living-Matilda, wife of Samuel Truitt. His wife died and he married for his second wife Sarah J. Painter, by whom he had four sons and six daughters. Eight now survive, viz .: Rosanna, wife of N. P. Gardner, resides in Iowa; Jane, wife of T. J. Price, resides in Emporia, Kan .; Flora, Kate, Joel M. and James W. (twins), John C., and Andrew T., now a practicing lawyer of Springfield, Ohio. Mr. Byers was a very successful farmer. He commenced life here when the country was in its wild, primitive state; when the stock roamed at will over the prairies and through the woods; and often he would early in the morning start out on horseback and ride over prairies with the wild sedge grass higher than his head, to bring up their horses for work, a picture which can now only be seen in imagination. Mr. Byers became owner of more than 600 acres of excellent land, with good im- provements. The last years of his life he spent in London, having retired from the active labors of the farm to pass in quiet and rest the declining years of his life. He died February 2, 1881, aged nearly eighty-one years. He had lived a devoted Christian life, having been a member of the Presbyterian church more than half a century, and an Elder in the same many years. In business he was prompt and reliable, and filled the offices of Trustee and

Treasurer of his township many years. His widow still survives and resides in London. The subject of this sketch was married November 23, 1864, to Louisa M. Fitzgerald, a native of this county, where she was born June 6, 1841, and a daughter of Judge Edward O. and Lacy Ann Fitzgerald. By this union they have three children: Luella, born September 18, 1865; John E., born March 20, 1872, and William G., born January 24, 1878. In the spring of 1865, Mr. Byers located on the farm where he now lives and has since resided. The farm contains 152 acres of excellent land with good improvements. Mr. Byers is a very congenial and agreeable gentleman, and inherits many of the excellent qualities of his father, and is highly esteemed and respected through- out his circle of acquaintances.

JOHN C. BYERS, farmer, P. O. Lilly Chapel, is a native of Madison County, where he was born January 18, 1845; he is a son of John W. and Sarah J. Byers, whose history is given in the sketch of Joel Byers. The sub- ject of this biography was raised in this county. On November 2, 1871, he was united in marriage with Josephine Rickabaugh who was born in Ross County July 10, 1849, and was a daughter of William and Sophia Rickabaugh, natives of Gallia County, Ohio, where they were married and soon after removed to Ross County, Ohio. In the spring of 1869, they removed to Mad- ison County and located in Fairfield Township, where they have since resided. They have three children: Mary. wife of Thomas MeFarland; Francis M., and Josephine. Mr. Byers and wife have one child, Jessie, born September 14,

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1872. Mr. Byers located on the old home place where they lived six years, and then in the fall of 1877 they located at their present place of residence. This was known as the Joel Painter farm. In the summer of 1877 Mr. Byers erected his present large frame house, and now has a pleasant home and farmer's residence. He is one of the Township Trustees and one of the prominent and reliable farmers of Fairfield Township.

ALFRED CARTMILL. farmer, P. O. Big Plain, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, February 9, 1819, and is a son of William and Isabel Cartmill, natives of Virginia, who, when quite young, with their parents emigrated to Kentucky among the early settlers of that State, when they had to be protected in block-honses from the savages. Under those trying ordeals. they grew to maturity, were married, and, about 1813, in the spring, removed to Ohio and located on the Darby, near Georgesville, in Franklin County. About 1824 or 1325. they removed to Madison County and settled on land now owned by Elijah Chenoweth, where they remained through life and where Mrs. Cartmill died, after which Mr. Cartmill made his home with his children till his death in November. 1875, in his ninety-seventh year. They had five sons and two daughters, of whom six now survive: Thomas; Fidelia, wife of M. Y. Patrick ; John C., Alfred, William F., and Margaret, wife of Daniel Rhodabaugh. The subject of this sketch was raised and grew to manhood in Madison County, and at nineteen years of age commenced teaching school, which occupation he followed abont nineteen years, when he purchased a tract of land just below where he now lives and entered upon farming which he has since followed. Mr. Cartmill has been twice married; first to Catharine Keller, a daughter of Peter and Rebecca Keller, natives of Pennsylvania; this union was of but brief duration, as in the fall of 1861 she died. On February 22, 1865. he was mar- ried to Mrs. Margaret Freeman, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 9. 1837, and was a daughter of Reuben and Emza Chaffin, natives of Pennsylvania. By her he has had eight children, six now surviving: Grace, born May 31, 1867; Clyde, born November 20, 1868; Marcia, born March 1, 1872; Gale Forest, born April 8, 1874; M. Dell, born April 5. 1877, and Alfred Pearl, born December 14, 1881. Since the first tract of land which Mr. Cart- mill bought, he has added more by purchase till he now owns 400 acres of good land. In 1880, he erected a large brick house and has made various improve- inents in buildings, ditching and draining, till he now has an excellent farm and a fine home. He never desired puhlje office, although he has served as Township Clerk and a Justice of the Peace. He commenced in life without means, and by his own industry has acquired a comfortable competency, and is now one of the prominent farmers of Fairfield Township.

JOHN R. CHAMBERLAIN, farmer, P. O. Big Plain, was born in Gallia Connty, Ohio, May 3, 1842, and is a son of Nicholas H. and Susan Chamber- lain, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia. The maternal grand- parents (Bishops) were natives of Virginia, but hecame early settlers of Gallia County, Ohio, where they lived and died. Nicholas HI., the father of our subject, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio when a young single man, and married Susan Bishop in Gallia County, where they located and lived till about 1850, when they removed to Jackson County, where they resided till the war of the rebell- ion, when he enlisted in the army and served till the close of the war, after which they lived about two years in Madison County. They then removed to Clark County, where on June 10, 1870, Mrs. Chamberlain died, after which Mr. Chamberlain spent the balance of his life with his children in Clark and Jack- son Counties, and died in the latter county March 25, 1880. They had a large family of children, of whom five now survive-William II .; John R .; Mary Ann, wife of Moses Rider, of Clark County; Martha, wife of John Betts, of Jackson County; and Sarah, wife of John Jones. Mr. Chamberlain was a shoe-

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maker by trade, which business he followed through life. John R., the subject of this sketch, was raised in Jackson County, and when about eighteen years of age came to Madison County, and on February 13, 1867, married Martha E. Gill, who was born in this county January 2, 1850. She was a daughter of Henry and Sarah Ellen Gill, natives of Ohio. By this union they have had nine children-eight of whom now survive-James, born August 12, 1867; Sarah E., December 27, 1870; Lucetta, December 10, 1872; Alphretta, December 27, 1874; Minnie, February 6, 1877; Kinnie and Lena (twins), March 4, 1879, and John H., July 17, 1881. Mr. Chamberlain has devoted his life to farming, and all within this county but two years, during which he lived in Franklin County. He started out in life at eighteen years of age depending upon his own industry and economy to make a livelihood, and has fought his way through life, step by step, till now he owns a good farm of eighty-three acres, with improvements.

ELIJAH CHENOWETH, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Big Plains, was born in this county March 15, 1831, and is a son of John F. Chenoweth, whose sketch appears in the biographies of London City. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, December 16, 1858, to Susan A. Pringle, whose ancestors are given in the sketch of William D. Pringle, in this work. By this union they have three children-William D., born November 5, 1859; Elmer J., born October 3, 1861, and Mary C., born May 6, 1876. Mr. Chenoweth has devoted his life principally to farming, and raising and dealing in stock, the latter receiving his main attention. From 1864 to 1869, he resided near West Jeffer- son, and engaged in a general trading business-dealing in fruit and wool, and buying and shipping stock; thence he returned to his farm in Oak Run Township, and thence in the fall of 1875, having previously erected his present fine brick house where he now lives, he moved into it where he has since resided. He is one of the extensive farmers and stock-dealers of Madison County. In April, 1882, he purchased the old home place, where he was born and raised. He now owns 1,150 acres of land, all in one body, and has over 3.000 head of sheep. During the season, he usually buys and sells several thou- sand sheep and several hundred cattle. He has held but few offices of his county or township, as his whole interest, taste and energy are devoted to his busi- ness, and in this he ranks among the leading men of Madison County.

THOMAS COX, farmer, P. O. Big Plain, was born in Ross County, Ohio, December 25, 1831, and is a son of Noah and Mary Cox, he a native of Mary- land and she of Delaware. He was about three years of age when his father died, and was brought to Ohio by his mother, who settled in Ross County, where she married again, and became an early settler of Madison County, where she died. They settled in Ross County about 1803, and there Noah grew to manhood and married Mary Cook. They settled in Ross County, where they resided till 1850, in the fall, when they removed to this county, and located on the place where our subject now lives, and here remained till his death, September 15, 1881, aged eighty-one years. His wife still survives, and resides on the old home place with her son, now about seventy-seven years of age. They had five sons and three daughters, four of whom now survive -- Sarah, wife of Wiley Creath; William, Thomas, and Maria, wife of William C. Cook. Mr. Cox was one of Ohio's pioneers, settling early in Ross County, where he helped to clear up two farms; then he came to Madison County and cleared up his farm here, mostly from its wild, unimproved state. Notwith- standing his npright, moral life, he had lived to the faith of Universalism, and a few days before his death he felt dissatisfied with his faith, and told his family that Universalism would do very well to live by, but did not reach far enough, and he then and there accepted Christ as his only salvation, and died with a full hope of a blessed immortality. The subject of this sketch was mar-

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ried, February 25, 1853, to Nancy Ann Robey, who was born in this county in June, 1829, and who was a daughter of Michael and Matilda Robey, he a native of Virginia and she of Kentucky, who became early settlers of Madison County, where they resided till his death in the fall of 1880; his wife still survives and resides near Mechanicsburg. They had eight children, six now surviving -Thomas, Nancy Ann, John, David, Mary Jane (wife of William Diehl), and Michael. Mr. Cox and wife have had six children, four now surviving- Courtney, Malissa Jane, Austin R. and Debbie Ulaly. Mr. Cox has made farming his occupation during life, and mostly on rented places within this county, till in January, 1882, he located on the old home place of his father, where he expects to remain through life. Here he has fifty-three acres of land with good improvements. He and wife are members of the Christian Church, to which they have belonged ten years.

WILEY CREATH, farmer, P. O. Big Plain, was born in this township September 4, 1825, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Creath. The former was born in Bourbon County, Ky., September 11, 1797, and the latter in Virginia September 13, 1794. The grandparents were William and Margaret Creath : he was of Irish descent and became an early settler in Kentucky. In 1811, they removed to Ohio and settled in Madison County, near Mount Sterling, where they died. John was about fourteen years of age when his parents came to Madison County. On March 25, 1823, he married Elizabeth Robey, a daughter of Notly Robey, by whom he had seven children, five now surviving -Wiley, Samuel, Margaret (wife of Thomas Hume, residing in Kearney, Neh.), Elijah (living in Logan County, Ohio), and George (living in London). Mr. Creath lived several years near Mount Sterling, thence he moved to the Dun farm, thence about 1838 he bought and located on the traet of land in Fairfield Township, now owned by his son Samuel, where he remained till his death. This land was then nearly all in its wild, umimproved state, and here he lived about forty-three years. He died January 15, 1881, at the ripe age of eighty- three years. He served as a Captain of the militia seven years. He was raised a Presbyterian, but at the age of sixty years he united with the United Breth- ren Church, in which he remained a devoted member till his death. He was one of the honored and reliable citizens of Madison County, served as Township Trustee several years, and died esteemed and respected by his many friends. His wife died in December, 1873. The subject of this sketch has been thrice married; first on February 22, 1855, to Susan Alkire, a daughter of John and Susan Alkire, by whom he had two children-Laura Jane, born January 10. 1856, and Susan, born February 18, 1862. Mrs. Creath died February 21, 1862, and on November 29, 1863, he married Elizabeth Alkire, a sister of his first wife; by her he had four children-Charles, born May 5, 1864; Mary E., born April 1, 1866; Armilda, born December 13, 1868, and Josie, born March 1, 1870. His second wife died November 29, 1874, and on April 14, 1877, he married Mrs. Sarah Collins, daughter of Noah and Mary Cox. Mrs. Creath had by her first husband, Noah Collins, three children, who now survive-Albert. John Wesley and Ransom. During the war of the rebellion, in August, 1862, Mr. Creath enlisted in the defense of his country in Company G, One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till June 24, 1863, when he received his discharge on account of sickness and disability. Ile has made farming his occupation through life; he first located near Mount Sterling where he resided seven years, till his enlistment in the war. After his return, he located upon the old home place, where he has since resided, a period of eighteen years. He and wife are worthy members of the United Brethren Church at Dennison Chapel, to which they have belonged many years.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 122

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