USA > Pennsylvania > Erie County > A twentieth century history of Erie County, Pennsylvania : a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume II > Part 89
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he was unconscious of the storm, until he awoke with only his raised head out of the water and his skin parboiled like a chicken's. At Port Gibson Mr. Thornton had his horse shot from under him, a bullet passed through his hat, and his duties with the Second Ohio Independent Battery (P) brought him so thoroughly into the din of the battle that he was deaf for three days thereafter. At the bloody battle at Champion Hills the company of which he was a member was assigned to bury the dead of the division, and a gruesome task it was. The next battle-that of Black River-resulted in the com- plete investment of Vicksburg. At the battle of Jackson, on the 15th of June. 1863, Mr. Thornton was laid low by an attack of typhoid fever and taken back to Vicksburg, but at the fall of the Confeder- ate stronghold on the 3rd of July was sufficiently recovered to ac- company his command to New Orleans, where it was incorporated into the army of General Banks and formed a portion of the forces in the famous Red river expedition. The journey was one continu- ous series of skirmishes and engagements and the Union troops were in such sore straits for rations, during the later portion of the expe- dition, that the last five hundred miles of their retrograde movement were completed by each soldier on the strength of a cracker a day- that is, this was Mr. Thornton's daily ration. At the time of his honorable discharge from the service his regiment was guarding sixty thousand Confederate prisoners on Ship Island. Just before his discharge he had smallpox on Ship Island and suffered also with scurvy. He is a true blue Republican and he and his estimable wife are firm advocates of temperance.
COLONEL HIRAM N. RANSOM. Among the more prominent and in- fluential citizens of Corry, is Col. Hiram N. Ransom, who was for- merly actively identified with the military affairs of Erie county, and for many years past has served his fellow-citizens most ably and ac- ceptably in an official capacity. A native of New York, he was born, September 19, 1840, in Nashville, Cattaraugus county, a son of Rev. Orrin Ransom.
The son of one of the early pioneers of Oneida county, New York, Orrin Ransom was born in what is now the city of Utica, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits. Uniting with the Methodist church when young, he subsequently became a preacher in that denomination. Locating in Cattaraugus county at a time when all of the western part of New York was a wilderness, he bought a tract of land on the line of the old stage road. about one mile east of Nashville, and there began the improvement of a homestead. A man of versatile talents, he followed both farming and blacksmithing, in the latter occupation having at times to work nights in making the shoes and nails that he used. He likewise remained faithful to his ministerial duties, preaching to both the Indians and the whites, his circuit extending forty miles, requiring much horse back riding. On the farm that he improved, he resided until his death, in 1853. His wife, whose maiden name was Chase, died in 1851, leaving two chil- dren, Seth and Hiram N. Seth served in the Civil war, after which he settled in Minnesota.
About thirteen years old when his father died, Hiram N. Ran- som made his home for awhile with an uncle. The uncle proving a
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hard taskmaster, he took French leave of him one night. With empty pockets, but an unlimited amount of energy and American grit, he walked several miles, and then boarded a passenger train westward bound. When about a mile from Conneaut, Ohio, the conductor dis- covered him, and as he had no money put him off the train. Wend- ing his way to the village he walked into a store, applied for the po- sition of a clerk, and was immediately hired by the merchant, who liked his appearance. Having had but little opportunity for attend- ing school in his youthful days, his uncle having kept him busy on the farm or at the forge, he was sadly handicapped by his lack of an education, and so made such arrangements with his employer as to enable him to attend school, working in the meantime out of school hours for his board and clothes. Mr. Ransom acquired a practical education, and in the course of time worked himself upward until he became an efficient and trusted clerk, remaining with his employer until 1861. Wishing then to establish himself in business on his own account, he came, in 1861, to Erie county, locating at Boston Corners, now Corry, purchased a frame building on the hill, moved it to West Main street, and in it opened a clothing house, calling it the "Boston Store." At that time the greater part of Corry was then covered with timber or stumps, but during the next few years its growth was almost marvellous, and in 1866, it was incorporated as a city. Sell- ing his store in 1865, Mr. Ransom entered the employ of a New York woolen house as commercial salesman, and was in the employ of that company, and its successor, for upwards of thirty years, traveling through western New York, Western Pennsylvania, and Ohio, his home being still in Corry. On June 16, 1871, Mr. Ransom joined the Pennsylvania National Guard, and on June 10, 1876, was made Reg- imental Commissary, with rank of Captain, as such going with the Seventeenth Regiment, P. N. G., to the Centennial Celebration at Philadelphia. The following year, in 1877, he was appointed acting Brigade Commissary of the Seventh Brigade, and with his comrades assisted in quelling the Railroad Riots of that year. On March 5, 1880, he received from Gov. Hoyt, his commission as Lieutenant- Colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment, P. N. G., and served in that capacity until his regiment was consolidated with the Sixteenth, be- coming the Sixteenth Regiment, P. N. G.
Colonel Ransom married first, in 1862, Carrie Jefferson, who was born in Conneaut, Ohio, and died in 1865, in Corry. The Colonel married second, in 1866, Clara Alexander, a daughter of James Alex- ander. She was born in Sandusky, Ohio, but was brought up and educated in Erie county, Pennsylvania. James Alexander, a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, learned the carpenter's trade in early life, and as a young man followed his trade in Erie county. He subsequently lived for a few years in Sandusky, Ohio, but in 1848 returned to Erie county, settling with his family in Wayne township. Buying a tract of land lying about six miles from the present site of Corry, he worked at farming and carpentering until his death, in March, 1849. The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Alexander was Carrie Yeager. She was born in Otsego county, New York, a daughter of Daniel and Polly (Cole) Yeager, both of whom lived to a ripe old age. A native of Chenango county, New York, Daniel Yeager migrated from there to Pennsylvania, journeying hither by
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teams, oftentimes making his way by means of blazed trees. Buy- ing a tract of land in Wayne township, Erie county, he and his family lived for some time in a log cabin. Meeting with good results in his agricultural undertakings, he subsequently erected a frame house on the turnpike leading from Waterford to Columbus, the latter, then a small hamlet, being the nearest market. There he and his faithful helpmate spent their remaining days. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander reared six children, as follows: Mary J .; Robert; Daniel; Nancy ; Clara, wife of Col. Ransom; and Alice. Five children have been born to Col. and Mrs. Ransom, namely: Aura C., wife of Charles Fonda; Frank H., of Pittsburg; Murry died at the age of twenty- two months ; Harry F., deceased; and James A. Harry F. served as a corporal in Company A, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, went with the regiment to Porto Rico, and there died Septem- ber 30, 1898. He was highly esteemed and beloved by his comrades, and the Spanish War Veterans of Corry have honored his memory by naming their camp for him.
Casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, Col. Ransom has since been an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and has filled various offices of importance to the public. For six years he was assessor of the second ward, Corry; was a member of the first City Council ; was the first treasurer of the borough of Corry ; was a member of the first election board, being appointed to the position by Judge Johnson, of the circuit comprising Warren and Erie counties; and, with the exception of one year, has been tax collector of Corry since 1898. Mrs. Ransom is a member of the Presbyterian church.
WILLIAM HENRY GREEN. During many years William H. Green has been a resident of Erie county, identified with the agricultural interests of Elk Creek township, and he is now spending the evening of a long and useful career in quiet retirement at his homestead. He was born in this state September 13, 1834, and is a grandson on the paternal side of Job Green, who was born in the mother country of England May 19, 1756, and coming to the United States located in the state of New York, where he died on the 26th of February, 1803. His wife Johanna, born May 5, 1756, died on the 28th of November, 1844. Among their children was William Green, who became the father of William Henry. He was born in New York January 13, 1790, and died on the 9th of January, 1883. He was a carpenter by trade, but coming to Erie county in 1835 he secured a farm here of seventy acres. In politics he was a Democrat, and he served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812. On the 5th of January, 1813, William Green was married to Lydia Ford, who was born in Colum- bia county, New York, January 12, 1794, a daughter of Benjamin Ford, a carpenter, who died on October 20, 1824, while his wife died April 6, 1826. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Green were: Amanda, deceased, born August 25, 1814; Lydia, deceased, born January 8, 1819; Andrew J., deceased, born January 11, 1822; Barbara N., the widow of George Bowman, and living in Beaver township ; and Mary E .. the widow of William Alderman, who was a farmer in Crawford county.
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William H. Green, the youngest member of this family, left the school room at the age of twenty-one, and thereafter farmed the old homestead and took care of his parents until their death. He married on the 27th of January, 1859, Lydia Wells, who was born March 18, 1838, a daughter of Samuel and Lucevia (West) Wells, and it was in honor of this family that the town of Wellsburg was named. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wells are: Oren, who is living at the age of eighty-two years; Adeline, deceased; Permelia (Mrs. Hoag), who is mentioned elsewhere in this work in the sketch of Fred Hoag; Hudson, a farmer in Michigan; Henry, deceased ; William, deceased ; George R .; Sylvia ; and Cyrus, whose home is in Ohio. Six children have blessed the marriage union of William and Lydia Green. Sam- uel W. Green, the firstborn is an agriculturist. He married Frances Gabler, and their children are : Grace, the wife of J. Salsbury ; Walter, who is an agent in the state of New York; Lena and Nora, who also reside in that state. Elmer Green married May Thrasher, and they reside in Tacoma, Washington. Their only child is Edith, who mar- ried John Coughlin, and they are also the parents of one child. Jen- nie Green became the wife of E. C. Hussey, also of Tacoma, Wash- ington, and they have a daughter Frances. Sylvia Green married R. Fritzges, a farmer in Elk Creek township, and their three children are Rinehard, Harold and Sylvia. Charles Green, a carpenter at Cor- ry, this state, married Celia Edwards, and their two children are Edna and Harold. Fred Green, the youngest of the six children, is at home with his parents. Mr. Green, the father, is a charter mem- ber of Elk Creek Chapel of the United Brethren church. He was also one of the builders of this chapel in 1896, which he is now serving in the capacity of trustee and steward, and he is the only one living of its charter members. In politics he votes with the Republican party. Mr. Green was married three times, his last wife being Miss Lovina Gunderland, a native of New York. Like her husband she is a mem- ber of the United Brethren church.
FRANKLIN PIERCE JONES. Holding a position of note among the esteemed and valued citizens of Erie county is Franklin P. Jones, for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in Springfield township, but now living retired in West Springfield, where he is serving as justice of the peace. A son of Zenas Hutchinson Jones, he was born, February 29, 1852, in Wellsville, Allegany county, New York. He comes of substantial New England stock, his grandfather, General Benjamin J. L. Jones, having been born and brought up in Connecti- cut. His great grandfather, Benjamin Jones, born in 1726, died May 14, 1814, while his wife, whose birth occurred in 1737, survived him but a few days, dying May 25, 1814.
General Benjamin J. L. Jones was born in Coventry, Tolland county, Connecticut, January 21, 1757, and died in Willing, Allegany county, New York, October 20, 1840. He was a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war. At Coventry, Chenango county, New York, on Jan- uary 17, 1802, he married Sally Miles, who was born in New Haven, Connecticut, February 3, 1783. She subsequently married for her second husband Caleb Farnum, of Wellsville, New York, whom she survived several years, passing away May 12, 1874, in Wellsville. Nine children were born of the union of Benjamin J. L. and Sally
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(Miles) Jones, as follows: Sally Lydia, born May 27, 1803, married, February 1, 1824, M. Ozias Yale, and died November 15, 1830; Ben- jamin J. L., Jr., born October 1, 1805, married, April 30, 1827, Sylvia Benedict, and died June 22, 1858; Roxey Mahitabel, born May 6, 1807, married, April 12, 1832, M. Ozias Yale, and died February 26, 1875; Zenas Hutchinson, father of Franklin P .; Luman Parker, born September 24, 1811, married, January 13, 1833, Elvira Manderville, and died June 26, 1885 ; William B., born April 10, 1813, died October 8, 1813; Lomanda Miles, born July 18, 1814, married, November 6, 1831, James C. Fosbury, and died February 8, 1855; Louisa, born September 29, 1820, married, November 22, 1842, Seth Ames Spicer, and died June 11, 1858; and Clarissa Melissa, born September 29, 1823, married, September 29, 1839, William Gifford.
Zenas Hutchinson Jones was born in Coventry, Chenango county, New York, May 12, 1810, and was there reared and educated. In 1830 he moved with the family to the town of Willing, Allegany county, where he resided about ten years, in the meantime being ad- mitted to the New York bar. Locating in Wellsville, in 1840, he was there engaged in the practice of law until his death, September 14, 1884, being one of the most prominent attorneys connected with the Federal courts.
On March 7, 1833, Zenas H. Jones married Eliza Maria Wood- cock, who was born in Swanzey, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, June 13, 1814, and died at Wellsville, New York, March 17, 1887. She was a descendant in the sixth generation of John Woodcock, the emigrant ancestor, who came from Weymouth, England, to this country at the age of twenty years, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, March 20, 1635, the line of descent being thus: John, Jonathan, Ben- jamin, Nathan, David and Eliza Maria.
Going to Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1638, John Woodcock helped build the first house erected there, and assisted, before re- turning to Boston, in establishing a colony at that point. In 1642 he settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and there married, in 1649, Sarah Selling his house in Roxbury in 1651, he moved with his family to Attleboro, where both he and his wife spent their remain- ing years, her death occurring November 29, 1676, and his October 20, 1700. He was a man of importance in that part of the state, and was one of the grantees in the North Purchase, on the Ten Mile river, owning quite a tract of land. He was captain of the troops raised in that locality to fight the Indians, in 1676 ; was for many years a se- lectman ; and from 1691 until 1696 was a representative to the Gen- eral Court. Among the probate deed records of Taunton, the county seat, may be found many references to John Woodcock and his fam- ily, among others being the original agreement among his heirs for the division of his property, bearing the date March 6, 1703. His children were as follows: John; Israel, who married Elizabeth Get- chell ; Nathaniel, killed by the Indians, April 28, 1676; Jonathan, next in line of descent ; Thomas; Mary, married, November 29, 1676, Sam- uel Guild, of Dedham ; and Deborah.
Jonathan Woodcock died in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 7, 1736. He married, in 1698, Mary Williams, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: Deborah, born January 24. 1700, married John Capron ; Phoebe, born January 17, 1701; Jona-
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than, born March 9, 1704; Thomas, born April 8, 1706; Benjamin, through whom the line of descent was continued ; and William, born September 30, 1712.
Benjamin Woodcock, born in Attleboro, June 12, 1707, was a life-long resident of that place, dying there October 25, 1791. In 1734 he married Margaret White, by whom he had ten children, namely : Benjamin, born December 31, 1735; Nathan, next in line of descent ; Margaret, born August 26, 1740; David, born June 4, 1742; John, born June 15, 1744; Mary, born March 13, 1746; Ruth, born Febru- ary 27, 1748; Hannah, born April 29, 1752; Jonathan, born April 28, 1153 ; and Hepzibah, born June 4, 1758.
Nathan Woodcock, born in Attleboro, January 20, 1738, moved to Swanzey, New Hampshire, in 1758, joining his uncle, Jonathan Woodcock, who settled there in 1753, being one of the incorporators of the town. A son, and also a grandson, of this Jonathan Wood- cock, both named Jonathan Woodcock, served in the Revolutionary war, as did Nathan Woodcock, all enlisting in a company raised in Swanzey. Nathan Woodcock subsequently owned a large farm a mile and a half from Swanzey village, and this estate having been divided, was owned in 1890 by Joshua Holbrook and Sylvander Whit- comb. Not far away is the beautiful home of Denman Thompson, the noted actor, who named his famous play "Josh Whitcomb" from these two friends of his, taking the Christian name of one, and the surname of the other. Nathan Woodcock married, in Swanzey, in 1767, Lovina Goodnow, and there they both resided until their deaths, his death occurring May 17, 1817, and hers September 15, 1836, at the age of ninety years. Their children were as follows: Martha, born February 14, 1768; Azubah, born November 5, 1769; Nathan, born in November, 1772, died July 17, 1777; Lovina, born September 3, 1777, died September 5, 1831; Levi, born December 1, 1780, died in March, 1836; Polly, born March 1. 1782, died November 10, 1842; Sally, a twin sister of Polly, died in 1841; Nathan, born March 19, 1186, died in July, 1870; and David, father of Eliza Maria.
David Woodcock, born January 23, 1791, in Swanzey, lived there until twenty-eight years old, when, in the spring of 1820, he migrated with his family to Independence, Allegany county, New York. He subsequently moved with his family to Hallsport, New York, where his death occurred, May 15, 1860. He married Patty Osgood, who was born April 8, 1793, in Swanzey, New Hampshire, their marriage being solemnized December 30, 1812. She was a daughter of Elijah and Elizabeth Osgood, the former of whom was born March 21, 1765, and died March 23, 1847, while the latter was born July 11, 1771, and died June 13, 1829. David and Patty (Osgood) Woodcock became the parents of eight children, namely: Eliza M., wife of Zenas H. Jones : George F., born at Swanzey, September 10, 1815, died at In- dependence, New York, October 21, 1834; Harry E., born in Swan- zey. November 6, 1816; Mary Ann, born at Swanzey, August 30, 1818, died in Independence, New York, November 10, 1834; Rachel W .. born at Almond, New York, June 25, 1820, married John Cline, and died at Hallsport, New York, December 23, 1903; Lucy A., born June 16, 1822, died August 3, 1876, in Wellsville, New York ; John Q. A., born July 25, 1824 ; and Hugh A., born September 26, 1826.
Of the union of Zenas Hutchinson and Eliza M. (Woodcock) Jones, eight children were born, namely : Mary Ann, born March 3,
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1835, married, May 20, 1858, Samuel J. Tallman ; George Benjamin, . born February 7, 1837, married first Gemilia N. Proctor, and married second Mrs. Ann Proctor; Lewis Edwin, born November 7, 1839, died April 21, 1841; Miles Tyler, born April 26, 1842, married Mar- garet O'Connel, and died June 20, 1897; Hugh Higgins, born August 13, 1844, married Sarah Coykendall, and died August 22, 1893 ; Sarah Eliza, born March 5, 1847, died August 17, 1848; Ira Edwin, born May 17, 1849, married Flora Agnes Thurber; and Franklin Pierce, whose name appears at the head of this sketch.
Beginning life for himself at the age of eighteen years. Frank P. Jones taught school winters a number of seasons, working in the harvest fields in the summer time, likewise being engaged to some extent in mining operations, which he has since followed largely. In 1884 he purchased, of his father-in-law, his present farm in Spring- field township, and there carried on general farming, including dairy- ing and stock raising until 1904, when, owing to ill health, he rented his land, and has since resided in West Springfield, retired from ac- tive pursuits. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, actively interested in local affairs, and in 1906 was elected justice of the peace. During his official career Mr. Jones has had the pleasure and satisfaction of settling the majority of the cases brought before him in a most ami- cable manner, without appealing to higher authorities. He belongs to the Baptist church, of which he is a deacon, and the clerk, and is a member of the State Police Association, No. 42, and of Springfield Grange, No. 1257, P. of H.
Mr. Jones married, May 10, 1876, Nellie L. Merritt, who was born March 31, 1858, in Genesee Village, Allegany county, New York, a daughter of Charles H. Merritt, a pioneer settler of Allegany county, who came to Erie county from New York state. Mr. Mer- ritt first worked at his trade of a shoemaker, then as an agriculturist, but was afterward interested in the New York oil fields. He was born in 1822 and died June 6, 1894, aged seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah N. Courter, was born in 1836, and now, a woman of venerable years, is living in West Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two children, namely: Blanche E., born June 12, 1883, is head book-keeper for the Sims Company, in Erie ; and Helen S., born July 11, 1896.
ABNER P. SALSBURY. The justice of the peace of a rural commun- ity enjoys relations of peculiar intimacy with its people, coming very close to their daily joys and vexations and, if he is of the true human material, becoming a general adviser and a pacific father. To retain one persistently in such an office is the best possible compliment to his warm sympathy, as well as his wise judgment of human nature. These statements may be most appropriately applied to the character and experiences of both Abner P. Salsbury of Conneaut township and Howard Salsbury, his patriotic, beloved and revered father, who passed away when he himself was far too young to appreciate his virtues.
Abner P. Salsbury was born September 2, 1825, in West Tin- mouth, Rutland county, Vermont, and is a son of Howard and Re- becca (Pratt) Salsbury. As he comes of Welsh-English descent on his father's side and Scotch-English, on his mother's, he is about as
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sturdy a British-American as can be conceived. Long before the Revolutionary war Nathan, John and Howard Salsbury emigrated from Wales, settling respectively in Vermont, Delaware and Virginia. The Delaware branch is honored by Senator Salsbury and the fam- ily numbers leaders in the politics and public life of each of the com- monwealths mentioned. The Vermont representatives were the first to omit the "i" from the family name. Nathan Salsbury, the grand- father of Abner P., was born in Rutland county, Vermont, but resided at Danby when he served as a soldier of the Revolution and married Mary Sprague. By her he had seven sons and one daughter, of whom Howard (father of Abner P.) was the fifth. Five of these sons came to Conneaut, Pennsylvania, when young men, and as they were of a hardy, intelligent stock, born and reared among the invigorating highlands around old Dorset mountain, Vermont, they were specially fitted to cope with the hardships of the Pennsylvania wilderness. Elias, John and Nathan located in the township in the winter of 1795, penetrating the New York wilderness to Buffalo, and there loading their baggage on a hand sled, traveling on the ice by lake to Spring- field. Thence they proceeded to Conneaut township and located sev- eral hundred acres of land in and around Springfield. Elias and John setttled first on what is known as the King Brown farm, and Nathan on the Fichengee place at East Springfield. The last named kept what was known as the Vermont tavern. He finally died at Warren, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, more than eighty years of age. One of his grandchildren was the famous showman, Nate Salsbury, Buffalo Bill's partner. Howard and David, the other two sons, came to Conneaut about 1800.
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