The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 133

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 133

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1153

PAINT TOWNSHIP.

months. He returned to the Buffenburg farm, and was united in marriage on December 7, 1865 ("Thanksgiving Day "), to Fannie, daughter of Jesse and Charlotte (Patterson) Curtis, the former an early brick maker, of Lon- don. The latter's grandfather, Patterson, was a glass-blower by trade, and subsequently owned the " Judge Hurt farm," near South Solon, in Stokes Township. After marriage, Mr. Hutson became an assistant to " Major Buff," as he was known, and upon the latter's death was placed in charge of the vast estate, then consisting of 5,200 acres. The farm has since been reduced to 4.100 acres, and is considered the best blue-grass farm in the State of Ohio. Besides being the Superintendent of these many acres, Mr. Hutson rents from 500 to to 600 acres for his own use, which he annually farms. He is very careful in the management of this estate. and during the panic of 1873, when other land-holders suffered from non-payment of rents, Mr. Hutson was fortunate in not losing a dollar. There are some fifty-two tenants on this farm, all of whom have business relations with Mr. Hutson, as Superintendent. Mr Hutson raises a large amount of cat- tle, and handles only the best grades. He is a member of Fielding Lodge,

Polit- No. 192, Masonic, of South Charleston, and the Chapter at London. ically, he is a Prohibition Republican; has been a member of the School Board for many years, and is now one of the Board of Township Trustees. Mr. and Mrs. Hutson have two adopted sons-William Rudel and Austin S. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Hutson are members of Pancake Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal denomination in Stokes Township. the former officiat- ing as Trustee and Recording Steward.

JOHN C. JONES, P. O. London. a prominent and well-known re- tired farmer and stock-raiser, of this township, was born in East Tennessee June 11, 1817. His grandfather, Solomon Jones. was a native of England, and came to the United States at an early day. One child, Zacheus Jones, the father of our subject, was born and reared in Tennessee. He came to Ohio in 1821, locating in Somerford Township, of this county, in the " Arbuckle neighborhood," on Deer Creek. He owned a farm of 110 acres, where he resided till his death, in 1823 or 1824. He was buried in the old Baptist Churchyard," now the present site of the "Link Mill." on the " Wilson land." His wife was Elizabeth Key. also a native of Tennessee, who bore him four children, of whom two are now living-Sarah Ann (widow of John Bradley, now residing on Spring Fork, in Darby Township), and our subject. Mrs. Jones subsequently married Charles Atchison, who died five years later. She departed this life August 24. 1853. "Squire Jones." as he is familiarly known. grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving only a common school education. Having been reared to an agricultural life. he resolved to devote his further time in life to that useful occupation. On October 30, 1829, he married Sarah A .. daughter of Thomas and Isabella Hume, a native of Ross County. Ohio, near Chillicothe. Mr. Jones resided in Deer Creek Township until ten or twelve years after marriage, when he removed to his present farm. He has been an active laborer through life, and has accumulated some property. He is the owner of 390 acres of fine land in this and Union Townships, and 600 acres in Southern Missouri. He was an earnest Whig until the formation of the Republican party, when he united with the latter organization. He served two terms as Infirmary Director of Madison County, and one term each at Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the parents of nine chil- dren, seven of whom are living-Mary E. (wife of David Watson, a mem- ber of the Board of County Commissioners and a very prominent man in

1154

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

agricultural and stock circles), William (married Sallie Minter, and re- sides on a farm near La Fayette, in Deer Creek Township), I. De- witt (an attorney of Columbus, Ohio, who married Laura Harringer), Mar- ion (at home). George (an attorney at law, of Columbus, Ohio, married Eva Lattimer). Ada, Flora and Fannie. John and Thomas are deceased Mrs. Jones is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lon don. Squire Jones and wife are well known throughout the county, and equally respected for their admirable traits of character.

JACOB KULP, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Montgomery Coun ty, Penn., June 18, 1828. He is a son of David and Elizabeth (Shultz) Kulp, natives of Pennsylvania, where they married, lived and died, the former in 1867, and the latter in 1876. Our subject, when eight years of age, was put to work on a farm at $10 per month, and thus he continued until he was married, when he engaged to work for 50 cents per day. Four years later. he began farming as a renter, and twenty years after first renting, he pur- chased 130 acres of land in Delaware, and paid $3,000 on his purchase, but being unable to pay the balance, he had to give up his land. In 1876, he emigrated to Madison County. He married Lavina Longacre, a native of Pennsylvania, February 3, 1849, and by her has had ten children, viz. : Dan- iel, Francis, Virginia, William, Henry, Mary J., Albert, Levi, Webster and Hannah E. Mr. and Mrs. Kulp are members of the Methodist Church. He is an honest, industrious citizen.

BENJAMIN LINSON (deceased) was born in Madison County, Ohio, September 16, 1820. He was a son of George and Elizabeth ( Hutsenpil- ler) Linson, natives of Virginia, where the former was born January 7, 1790, and the latter December 24, 1792. They were married in Virginia, and in 1815, emigrated to Ohio, locating in this county, where they both died, he April 14, 1855, and she June 5, 1845. Our subject, when twenty-nine years of age, purchased fifty acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-rais ing, at which he continued through life, at his death owning 536 acres of good land. He married Maria Anderson, August 7, 1849, and by her had nine children, four living, viz. : Amanda, Benjamin. William and Lizzie Mr. Linson died October 5, 1876. His widow has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church forty years. She now resides on 167 acres of the old homestead farm.

G. LINSON (deceased) was born in Madison County, Ohio, July 17, 1827. He was a son of George and Elizabeth (Hutsenpiller) Linson, who are mentioned in the sketch of Benjamin Linson, deceased. Our subject married Martha P. Latham, on September 2, 1856. She was born Novem- ber 21. 1831. After marriage he engaged in farming and stock-dealing. At his father's death, he inherited 300 acres of land, to which he added un - til at the time of his death, June 6, 1875, he owned 710 acres. He was a man of limited education, but honest, and industrious. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and for a long time served as trustee of Paint Township. His family consisted of seven children, of whom four survive, viz .: Gilbert B., Adda, Molly L. and George T.

CHARLES S. MAXEY, farmer, P. O. London, was born on the farmi where he now resides, April 3. 1856. His father, John T. Maxey, was born in Madison County November 10, 1814, and died on the farm of his birth July 29, 1367. He was a son of Stephen and Fannie (Troxel) Maxey, natives of Virginia. He married Charity Starr a daughter of Abram and Mary Starr, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of South Caro- lina. By this union six children were born, viz., Stephen W., Mary F.,

1155

PAINT TOWNSHIP.

Elizabeth E., Laura, Charles S. and Pearl. The mother died in Madison County January 26, 1882. Stephen Maxey, the grandfather, of our sub- ject, came from Virginia to Ohio at an early day, and located in Greene County, but after a short residence there, located in this county previous to 1814. Our subject grew up on the farm, receiving a common school edu- cation. From 1876 to 1881, he engaged in teaching school. but since that time has devoted his time and attention exclusively to farming. In 1879, he married Susan Reed, of Madison County, by whom he has had one child, a daughter, born September 3, 1880. Mr. Maxey is a Republican in poli- tics, and cast his first vote for Garfield for President. He owns 156 acres of good land, on which he lives. His wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. His father was prominently identified with the Masonic fra- ternity, served the county for a term as County Commissioner, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

DANIEL MULCAHY, farmer, P. O. London, was born in Limerick County, Ireland. August 15. 1829, and emigrated to America in 1852. He was a son of Daniel and Margaret Mulcahy, natives of Ireland, where the latter died. Our subject, when twenty-three years of age, engaged in work- ing on a farm as a " hand," and thus continued one year, at the expiration of which time he commenced working on the railroad. Three years later, he became a renter, and fifteen years after that he purchased 118 acres of land, where he now lives. He married Margaret Sullivan, August 6, 1851, but has had no children. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church. He is an industrious man, and stands well in the community.

ROBERT S. NEIL, P. O. London, a prominent farmer and stock-dealer of this township, was born at Columbus, Ohio, February 23, 1834. His fa- ther, Robert Neil, is a native of Clark County, Ky .. and formerly operated a stage line from Washington, D. C., to Lexington, Ky. He was President of the Little Miami Railroad for some time, and its princi- pal executive officer for many years. He located at Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, in 1S11, and was there during the war of 1812. He removed to Kentucky, and subsequently to Columbus, Ohio, where he has since re- sided. He is probably the oldest living pioneer in that city. He married Mary M., daughter of the Rev. John Hoge, D. D., who preached the first Presbyterian sermon in the village of Franklinton (now Columbus). Ohio. and who officiated as pastor of the Presbyterian Church of that city for over fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. Neil were the parents of eight children, seven living. two in this county. Mr. Neil is still living, in his eighty-seventh year, his companion having departed this life. Our subject carly attended the Ohio University, at Athens, and subsequently spent four years in the scien- tific department of Yale College. He returned from college in 1853, with the expectation of engaging in some manufacturing enterprise, but yielding to the solicitations of his mother, he abandoned that idea. and engaged in banking a short time; subsequently entered the employ of the Little Miami Railroad. He remained in this company's employ for thirteen years, at the end of which period (1866), he located on his present farm of 1,065 acres in this township, which his father had previously purchased. Since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock-dealing. meeting with moderate success. In his political opinions, Mr. Neil is in sympatby with the Republican party. and since his residence in Paint Township he has served one term as Town- ship Trustee. He was united in marriage in October. 1864, to Parmelia. daughter of Joseph Sullivant, and a native of Columbus, Ohio. Of the three children born to them, two are living-David B. and Joseph S., both

1156

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

in attendance at the Columbus High School. Mrs. Neil is in very feeble health, and spends the winter months in Columbus.

NATHAN C. RICE, farmer, P. O. London, was born March 8, 1839, in Paint Township, near Newport. His father, Dr. Rice, was a slave-holder of Missouri, who came to Ohio over forty-five years ago, married Amy Sayles, and returned to the South, where he died. Mrs. Rice, with Nathan, an infant, came North and made her home with her father, David Sayles. She died within a few years at Columbus. Nathan was raised by his grandmother until fourteen or fifteen years of age, when he went to Iowa and there en- gaged in farming for about five years. He then returned to his old home, where he resided until after marriage. On May 29, 1873, he married Sarah A. Hume, daughter of James S. and Rebecca ( McMurray ) Hume, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio, where they both came with their parents when quite young. Mr. Rice by his marriage had five children, viz .: Effie Belle, born June 17, 1874; Frederick Hume, born October 14, 1877; Nettie Cole, born December 22, 1878; Rebecca Maud, died May 6, 18S1, aged three months; and an in- fant son. deceased. Two years after marriage, Mr. Rice became a tenant on his uncle's farm, and in 1878 he purchased eighty-two acres of his present farm, which now consists of 106 acres. He is a farmer and stock-raiser, and in politics a Republican. He served his township two terms as Trustee. Mrs. Rice is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her grandfather, Hume, was an early settler of Paint Township, and owued 1,500 acres, where our subject now lives.

GEORGE SCHURR, P. O. Walnut Run. a prominent farmer in this township. was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, July 31, 1823. His parents. Matthias and Christina (Heller) Schurr, were natives of Ger- many, and came to the United States in the spring of 1829. Mr. Schurr came to Madison County, and in company with his brother John purchased from 100 to 150 acres of land, but sold this soon after and removed to Columbus. A year after, he purchased a tract of land on "Possum Run," lying in Madison and Pickaway Counties. consisting of 100 acres. To this he subsequently added thirty acres more, and resided on that portion lying in Pickaway County until his deatlı. His wife died in 1841 or 1842, and three children at the same time, the fatal disease being the flux and measles. There was a family of eight children born to them, our subject being the eldest and the only living survivor. Mr. S. married for his sec- ond wife Mrs. Catherine (Tipton) Gray, widow of Benjamin Gray. They were the parents of three or four children, only one now living-William, a farmer of Washington County. Iowa. The subject of this notice was reared a "farmer's boy, " and when quite young was sent to school. He soon learned to speak English quite fluently, only using the German language at home. He remained with his father until twenty-two years of age, and then hired out to do farm work in Madison County, and a short time in III- inois, until his marriage, which occurred December 28, 1849. His wife was Elizabeth Carter. a native of this county, and a daughter of James Carter and wife, natives of Eastern Virginia or Pennsylvania, who located here in early times. Ten children have been sent to bless this union, nine living -- Mary E., wife of John S. Bunch, a farmer of Range Township: John A .. married Ida Stroup, and residing in London; William L .; Charles, a fariner of Fayette County. Ohio: James, Esther. George (a school-teacher), Albert and David. Clayton is deceased. Mr. Schurr is the owner of 150 acres of good land. and with his family resides in one of the best and neatest

1157

PAINT TOWNSHIP.

residences in Paint Township. He has been thrifty and enterprising all through life, and by such methods has gained a good name and a comforta- ble competency. He is Republican in politics, and served a term of three years as Justice of the Peace of this township. Mr. Schurr and wife are members of the Antioch Church of the Christian denomination in Pleasant Township, this county.

MARTIN SIFRIT, of the firm of Withrow & Sifrit, proprietors New- port Tile Works, P. O. Walnut Run, was born in Union Township, this coun- ty, May 22, 1852: he is a son of John Sifrit, a native of Union Township, who was a son of James Sifrit, native of Virginia, who came to this county at an early day. His father was reared in Union and Paint Townships, and now resides in Union Township, near the Midway & London pike. He has been a farmer through life, and married Melissa Harper, a native of Clark County, where she was reared. They had three children-Charlotte, wife of a farmer of Hardin County, Ohio; our subject, and John, a farmer in this township. The mother died in 1855, and Mr. Sifrit subsequently married Lucinda Norton, a resident of this county. They have one child. Melissa. Our subject was reared in Union Township, living there nearly all his life. He received a good common school education, farmed on his father's land. and was married, December 13, 1871, to Permestia Webb, a native of this county. After marriage, he engaged in farming, remaining at it until the spring of 1882, and was also engaged in running a threshing machine for eight years. He was moderately successful in that and has been very suc- cessful in his present business. He is Republican in politics and has been Road Supervisor. He has had five children. four living, viz .: Lula May, John M., Clark B., and one infant son, Lee, deceased.

JAMES SIFRIT (deceased), was born in Virginia February 27, 1796. He was a son of Andrew Sifrit, who came to Ross County, and two years later to Madison County, when our subject was ten years old, and located 200 acres of land on the Yankeetown pike, in Paint Township, probably in 1806. He was a soldier from Virginia in the Rev. olutionary war, and obtained a land grant from the Government. He lived there until his death, twenty-five or thirty years. Our subject was reared on the home farm, attending school a short time only. He stayed with his father until twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, when he married Eliza- beth Higgins, who came from Virginia to Pennsylvania, and subsequently to this county. with her father, Martin Higgins. After his marriage, Mr. Sifrit engaged in farming on the home farm and remained there six years. He then located in Union Township, renting land of Jacob Gibson, and stayed there six years. In 1832, he came to his present farm, where he bought 200 acres of land, and subsequently increased it to 314 acres, lying on both sides of the pike. He lived here the rest of his life. He was al- ways a farmer, but for the last eight or ten years of his life was too old to work. He died April 1, 1881. He was a Democrat until Harrison was elected, when he turned Whig, and then became a Republican in after life, but he never held any office. He had six children, three living-Nathan; John, a farmer of Union Township; and Lavina. Nathan and his sister reside on the home farm. He is a Republican in politics, and was formerly a Whig.

JESSE STROUP, farmer, P. O. South Charleston, was born in this county in 1828. His grandfather, John Stroup, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and located in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1798. David Stroup, the father of our subject, was born in Pennslyvania June 18, 1795, and was three

1158

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

years old when his parents came West. In 1805. he moved to Madison County with his parents, and located on a farm. He died April 30. 1876. on the farm in Paint Township, that he had occupied for over half a cent- ury. He married Mary Ray, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Ray. old settlers of the county. She was born September 6. 1804, and died June 30. 1SS1. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four survive, viz .: Jesse: Alfred, born August 11, 1533. married Charity Thompson, and has two sons and two daughters: Rebecca. married Seth MeCollum, and has four children living-one dead: and William L., married Helen King. who died four years after marriage, and in February. ISSO, he married Ida Lemon. with whom he lives in Elk Falls, Kan. The deceased children are: Jacob. born November 24.1822. and died January 31, 1876. married Phebe Dixon: Nancy. born June 4. 1824, married John Linson, and died January. 1SS1: David. born June 15. 1526. married Mary Carns, and died July 19. IS67: Mary G., born February 27. 1830, married Thomas Gain. and died December 16. 1870: and Martha. born February 27. 1835. and died August 21. 1839. In 1866, our subject married Lavina Woosley, daughter of Beu- jamin and Keturah (Hunt) Woosley, and by her has had four children, viz .: Keturah Woosley, born May 4. 1867: Mary Ellen. August 4. 186S: Rebecca Hunt. August 4. 1570: Emma L., born February S. 1874; and Jessie B., born March 20. 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup are members of the Methodist Church. He held the office of School Director for several terms. He has been successful in life, and now owns 668 acres of land in Madison and Clark Counties.

A. M. SURBAUGH. farmer, P. O. Cross Roads, was born in Kane County, Ill., February 3, 1554, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Shafer) Surbaugh, natives of West Virginia. where the former was born May 18. 1821. and the latter January 14. 1522. They were married in West Virginia in 1844. and in 1853 moved to Kane County. Ill. In 1860. they returned to Virginia, and in 1862 came to Ohio. In IS6S. they moved to Missouri, and in 1875 settled in Madison County. Ohio. Our subject. when twenty- one years of age, commenced farming at $20 per month: then began for himself as a renter. and finally purchased the property where he now re- sides. On May 18. 1578. he married Amanda Linson. a daughter of Ben - jamin Linson (deceased), whose sketch appears in this work. By this union three children were born. two living. viz .: Ada May, born June 10. 1879: and Lena L .. born June 25, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Surbaugh are members of the Christian Church.

URIAH THORNBURGH. wagon-maker, Newport. Thomas Thorn- burgh, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Tennessee. He came North and settled in Clinton County. from there moving to West Lancaster, and thence to this county in 1855. He was twice married, first to Rebecca Mann. by whom he had two children. By his second wife he had seven children. Our subject was born near Jamestown, Greene Co., Ohio. August 11. 1527, where he was reared and educated. On June 26, 1851. he mar- ried Mary Cox, who was born in Randolph County. Ind .. February S. 1835. By this union eloven children were born, viz. : Sarah, born August 27. 1852, and married S. Yates, July 1. 1874; Joseph W., born June 10. 1857. and married Ida Hopkins in August, 1874: Lizzie, born December 1. 1861: Mary Belle, born in 1866: Almira, born January 14. 1870: Louella. born March 15. 1855, married in March, 1875, and died at the age of twen- ty-two years two months and seven days. The rest died young. Uriah, the father of our subject, was born in Tennessee. June 17. 1791, and married

1159

PAINT TOWNSHIP.

Sarah Hiett, who came to this country when quite young and died June 18. 1815. He then married Sarah Hill, who was born Angust 17, 1793, and died March 26, 1535. He had the following children, Elizabeth, G. W., Uriah. Margaret. Sarah, and others that died in infancy.

DAVID W. TWITCHELL, farmer. P. O. South Charleston, was born Angust 27, 1831. His father, Luther Twitchell, was born in Vermont in 1802. His grandmother, who was born in Vermont. is still living at an advanced age. Our subject grew up on the farm, receiving such education as his labor and facilities permitted. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Catharine Coons. and by her had born to him two children. By his second wife, whose maiden name was Julia Kennedy, he had born to him five children. two sons and three daughters.

DAVID WATSON. farmer, P. O. London, was born on the farm where he now resides, June 21, 1830. He is a son of David Watson, whose sketch appears under the name of Stephen Watson, of London. Our subject, the ninth child of his father's family, and the youngest of the four survivors. was educated in the country schools and engaged with his father in work- ing the farm. His father divided his property among his -children, and David, in addition to the share that fell to him, purchased the shares of some of the other children, and now owns 500 acres of the old home farm. He also owus 100 acres of prime land lying south of it. On March 16, 1871. he married Elizabeth Jones, a native of this county, where she was born September 11. 1840. She is a daughter of John C. and Sarah (Taylor) Jones. the former a native of Tennessee. and the latter of Ohio. They had a family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Watson was the oldest. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have had three children, viz. : Robert J., born January 23, 1872; Mary, born May 9, 1873, and Louise, born November 5, 1575. Mr. Watson occupied the office of School Director for many years, and in 1579 was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners. He is a Re- publican, and. with his wife, is a member of the Methodist Church. He is prominently identified with the banks of London, and a heavy stock- holder of National Bank stock. He has given his attention principally to farming and dealing in stock, and is also concerned in several business enterprises abroad.

WASHINGTON WITHROW. P. (. Walnut Run, the oldest native resident of this township, was born in Union (now Paint) Township, this county. February 27, IS13. His grandfather, William Withrow, was a na- tive of England, and upon coming to the United States located in Penn- sylvania, where he resided till his death. One son. James, a native of that State. emigrated to Ross County, Ohio. in 1801, and five years later (1806). came to this county. He located 250 acres of land on Walnut Run, where he lived during life, and gained considerable property. He married Mary Stockton, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Robert Stockton. They were the parents of eight children, four now living, and all residents of Madison County. Mr. Withrow died in August, 1823, and his wife (who was born in 1778) in April. 1541. Both were buried on the home farm, the place now being a portion of the Paint Township Cemetery. Our subject was the sixth child and fourth son of their parents, and was reared a "farmer's boy." At this time, schools were not as plenti- ful as at present, and the schooling then obtained consisted only of the three " R's" -- "readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic. " Mr. Withrow attended school whenever it was possible for him to be absent from the duties of the farm, but never after arriving at his fourteenth year. The death of his father in

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 133

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