| JACOB BACORN,
father of Mrs. Joseph Jones, was born in
New Jersey, in 1785, and came to Ashland county in 1829, and
settled on the farm now owned by Anderson Byers.
He is a member of the Baptist church, and in politics is a
Democrat. He married Phebe Harris, and is the
father of eleven children, viz: Elizabeth, deceased,
Mary, Sarah, deceased, Phebe Hannah, Nancy,
Alcinda, wife of Joseph Jones, Jacob,
deceased,
Rebecca, William and John. |
ABEL
BAILEY was born in Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, July 24, 1799. In 1806, his
father, in company with other emigrants, came down
the Youghiogheny on a small faltboat to Pittsburgh.
The family of Mrs. Bryte, mother of John
and the late David Bryte, were also in the
company. On departing from Pittsburgh, they
attached the flat boat to one of the river boats,
and descended the Ohio to Steubenville, and located
about eight miles northwest of the village, where
they remained until 109, when John Bailey and
family located near New Lisbon and remained until
1816, and removed to Green township, Richland
county, and settled near Honey creek. Here the
family remained until 1818, when John Bailey,
father of Abel, purchased the southeast
quarter of section fourteen, in Clearcreek township,
and located upon it. John Bailey and
his son, Abel, visited and selected the
quarter in 1817, one year prior to the removal.
John Bailey, sr., father of
John Bailey, jr. who was the father of Abel
Bailey, was of English descent, and served
during the Revolutionary war, from Rhode Island, and
located with his family in Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania, where he deceased. John
Bailey, father of Abel died in Richland
county, whither he had removed, about 1850.
Mrs. Bailey died in Clearcreek at an advanced
age. Abel married Miss Acsah,
daughter of John Murphy of Green township, in
1821, and in 1830 purchased the homestead in
Clearcreek township of his father, and still resides
thereon. When the Baileys removed to
Clearcreek in 181, they found the following pioneers
in the township: Nathaniel Bailey, a brother
of John who located in 1817, Abraham
Huffman, John McWilliams, David Barnes, Isaac
Vanmeter, Peter Vanostrand, Robert McBeth, James
Haney and his sons, Richard, John and
Thomas, Richard and john Freeborn, Thomas
Munholland, Patrick Elliott, Jacob Foulk, Thomas
Ford and his sons, Elijah, Elias, Thomas
and John and John Bryte. These
settlers were much scattered. The roads were
mere paths, ill-worked, and, in set seasons,
difficult to travel. There were no churches or
school-houses. There were a few Baptists and
Methodists. Their meetings were held in the
cabins of the pioneers for several years. The
meetings were held in the cabins of the pioneers for
several years. The forests of Clearcreek were
very dense, and the timber very tall and off unusual
size. The first settlers performed a prodigy
of labor in its removal. Mr. Bailey
says, "The task was absolutely disheartening."
By perseverance, however, fine farms were prepared,
and many of the pioneers, now well advanced in age,
are living in comfort and plenty. He remembers
vividly the scenes, ludicrous and otherwise, that
occurred at the early cabin raisings, log rollings,
and making roads. Fired by corn whiskey, and
an exuberance of animal spirits, the rugged pioneers
were ambitious to excel in all that tested physical
endurance and courage. Very few of the first
settlers remain. Many of them have long since
been gathered and garnered by the remorseless
reaper. Mr. Bailey has long been a
member of the Baptist denomination, and assisted in
the erection of the first church in Savannah, in
1840. It is a neat frame, and in a good
state of preservation. Upon the introduction
of the reform of Alexander Campbell, the church was
greatly weakened, many of the members having
connected with the new church. The Baptists
have no regular minister at present. The
members number about thirty. The family of
Mr. Bailey consists of Eli, of Van Wert,
Ohio, and John of Savannah. The
daughters are Jane, wife of David Andrews,
Ellen, wife of John Smith, and 'Aletha
wife of Simon Stentz. Mrs. Bailey died
in 1873. Mr. Bailey resides on the
homestead. He is in good health, and his
memory unimpaired.
Mr. Bailey relates that when he came to the
township in 1818, deer were very plenty, and the
hunters could easily procure an abundance of wild
meat. The most noted hunters of what is now
Ashland county were Edward Wheeler, Elias Ford,
James Kuykendall, Christopher Mykrants, Solomon Urie,
John McConnell, and Jacob Young, most of
whom are now deceased. They hunted along the
Vermillion river, the Black river, and on the Fire
Lands of the Reserve. At that time, large
encampments of Wyandots and Delawares
hunted annually along those streams, and frequently
met and conversed with the white hunters. The
last deer was killed as late as 1845, within the
present limits of Troy township.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio, by George
William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros.
1880 - Page 154 |
Troy Twp.
ABEL BAILEY immigrated, with
his father's family, consisting of five brothers and
two sisters, to section 16, Green Township, in the
spring of 1816. The family originally
emigrated from Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania,
and, prior to their removal to Green Township, had
resided two years in Jefferson, and seven years in
Columbiana County, Ohio.
From Green Township, the family, in 1818, removed to
the southeast quarter of section 14, Clearcreek
Township, which they purchased at the government
land office. In the fall of 1819, Mr. Abel
Bailey (having in the mean time married) removed
with his wife to the farm now owned by Mr. Stout,
in Vermillion Township, on teh head waters of Honey
Creek. This land (being a quarter section) he
purchased of his brother-in-law, John Murphy;
and after having remained upon it four years, sold
to George Hendrickson, and returned to
Clearcreek Township upon the farm which he and his
father originally purchased, and which he has since
made his home. This land was entered in the
name of John Bailey (father of Abel),
in the fall of 1815, several months prior to the
residence of the family in Green Township.
Mr. Bailey's family, therefore, is identified
with those who composed the very first settlers of
Clearcreek.
When Mr. Bailey first came to the township, the
nearest mill was Shrimplin's, on Owl Creek,
between thirty and forty miles distant, where all
his breadstuffs were obtained. Occasionally
the stock of the neighborhood would become
exhausted, when they would be compelled to boil the
wheat and eat it in milk.
(
Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ.
1863 - Page 120) |
|
BAPTISTE
JEROME. After he removed from
Jeromeville, Mr. Jerome
and Mr. Palmer were neighbors - the former
being some three years and owner and occupant of the
farm upon which was afterward the mill of Constance
Lake, now better known as "Goudy's Mill." He
represents Mr. Jerome as a well-informed
quiet, and orderly man.
(
Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ.
1863 -
Page 287) |
GEORGE
W. BASFORD emigrated from Maryland to Mohican Township,
in October, 1824, and established himself in a clothing
establishment in the township of Jeromeville. At this date
his family consisted of his wife and an infant daughter.
Source #2 - : History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 -
Page 405) |
HENRY
BAUGHMAN removed with his wife and one child to
Montgomery Township, Apr. 1, 1814, and settled upon the
southwest quarter of section 3, now owned by Michael Myers.
His nearest neighbors at this date were Messrs.
Chandler and Naylor, the former of Perry, and the
latter of Mohican Township. In 1819, he purchased of
Moses Riddle the farm he now occupies in Orange Township.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page
179 |
| DANIEL
BEACH was born in Warren, Litchfield county, Connecticut,
March 16, 1785. In 1805 he came on foot to Canfield, Mahoning
county, Ohio, and worked .one year, then returned and married
Lorinda Sacket, January 1, 1810. He purchased two
hundred acres of wild land in what is now Summit county, Ohio,
to which he removed in 1811, coming the entire route with a yoke
of oxen and one horse. In 1812 he was drafted in the. military
service, and served near Fort Croghan six months. In 1823 he
disposed of his farm and accompanied Bradford
Sturtevant
in search of a new home to Ruggles township, Huron, now Ashland
county, and purchased, of Jessup & Wakeman, of
Connecticut, one mile square of land in section three, he taking
the west and smallest part. He returned, and in July, 1823,
removed with his wife and five children—Cyrus, Reuben,
Cordelia, Harriet, and Daniel, to his new
home in the forest, about one mile west of what is now known as
the corners. The paths in the forest were narrow, and required
quite an effort to get over by teams. He had two yoke of oxen to
haul his goods. He encamped one night in Medina county, and one
night at Sullivan center. A man—Mr. John Soles—piloted
him thence by way of New London. He encamped one night on the
route in what is now Troy, and again at New London, and was just
one week in reaching his forest home. Their first supper was
cooked at the fire of a deserted Indian camp on the premises.
The forest was dense, and it required years of unremitting toil
to prepare the lands for culture. Mr. Beach was
accompanied in his removal by Eleazer Sacket, a
brother-in-law. He built a pole cabin, ten by fifteen feet, in
which he resided until he built a log cabin. By fall he had
cleared five acres, which he put in wheat. Other pioneers began
to select lands, and Mr.
Beach's cabin was frequently visited. In the winter of 1824
he hired hands, and cleared the timber from one hundred acres.
In the spring he and Bradford Sturtevant returned
to Tallmadge and purchased apple-trees for new orchards, some of
which yet bear fruit. Mr. Beach, by industry and
economy, accumulated a handsome property. In 1854 he divided his
homestead between his two sons, Wakeman and William,
and removed to Kent county, Michigan. Mrs. Beach
died on a visit to Ruggles, at the residence of her son, Cyrus
Beach, in November, 1856. Mr. Beach
subsequently married Mrs. Frances Peck, widow
of Tylor Peck. He died at his residence in Ruggles in May, 1862.
He was remarkable for his habits of industry and enterprise. He
was exact and careful in all his business transactions, and his
integrity was never questioned. His children were Cyrus S.,
Reuben K., Harriet L., married to Rollin Curtiss, Daniel,
deceased, Wakeman J., and Cordelia M.,
married to Isaac Cowell. Most of the family reside within
Ruggles township, and are noted as farmers and stock growers.
Wakeman Beach, born January 11, 1825, is believed to
have been the first child born within the township. He resides
on the old homestead west of the corners. I am indebted to him
for the foregoing sketch. |
Ruggles Twp.
DANIEL BEACH immigrated to Ruggles
Township on the 2d of August, 1823. He died in 1862.
His was the first family that settled in the township. He
was born in Connecticut..
(
Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page
540) |
JOSEPH
BECHTEL was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, Aug.
28, 1811, and came with his father's family, Peter Bechtel,
sr., to Milton township, Richland, now Ashland, county, in
1824. His father located on the southeast quarter of section
eighteen. There were but fifty or sixty families in the
township at that time. The mother of Joseph Bechtel
died in 1822 in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and his father
remained single. He died in 1861, aged about eighty-five
years. His family consisted of Joseph Barbara, wife
of Jacob Storer, and Jacob, who resides in
Indiana. Joseph married Magdalena Bauer in
1831, by whom he had the following children: Susannah, Peter,
Mary, Catherine, and two sons and one daughter deceased.
One son died in Company K, One hundred and Second regiment, Ohio
volunteer infantry, in the late war. When the Bechtels
located in Milton wild game, such as deer and turkeys, was
abundant. There was an occasional black bear to be found,
and the shrill shriek of the panther was frequently heard in the
forest. Wolves were plenty, and very destructive upon
sheep. Wild hogs, springing form the domestic race, and
escaping from their owners in search of mast were quite
numerous, and when disturbed, very ferocious. Mr.
Bechtel states that about 1830 he was pursued in the night
season through the forest by a panther, and it did not desist,
although he carried a torch a good part of the way, until he was
safely in his father's cabin. He had, also, a fight in
which he was severely wounded in the knee by a frantic boar, and
will carry the scar to his grave. He is now sixty-five
years old and quite vigorous. He states, in 1829, while
wild game was yet plenty, he offered Frank Graham, then
the principal merchant in Ashland, sixty pounds of good wheat
for one-fourth of a pound of powder, and was refused.
Wheat had no market, but ammunition was cash. About the
same time, he hauled twenty-four bushels of good wheat, with a
wagon and three horses, to Portland, now Sandusky, and was gone
seven days, and stuck in the mud eight times, and obtained but
three shilling - thirty-seven and one-half cents per bushel for
his wheat. About 1870 he sold his homestead and removed to
Ashland, where he now resides. He has been an active
member of the United Brethren church about twenty-two yeas.
As a citizen, he is industrious, frugal and upright. He
has passed through all the states of pioneer life, and is now
ready to be garnered with his fathers. In 1879 Mr.
Bechtel and lady removed to the State of Kansas to reside
with a married daughter, and are enjoying fine health at the
present writing, 1880.
(Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations
and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. -
Published by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 262) |
RICHARD
BEER was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania,
November 21, 1796. His father, Thomas Beer, of
Irish extraction, settled in that county in 1764. In 1800 he
located in Allegheny county, where he resided, engaged in
farming, twenty-one years. During this time he aided in clearing
the Ohio river of drift, and other obstructions, to the mouth of
the Beaver. In 1821 he located in Montgomery township, about two
miles southwest of Uniontown, now Ashland. He was accompanied by
a cousin, Richard Aten. He and
Mr. Aten kept bachelor's hall about six years, doing
their own cooking and housework. In the meantime, he made
considerable improvements on his homestead, by erecting a
comfortable dwelling, a barn and out-buildings, and clearing
some forty acres of land.
In 1827 he married Miss Jane Anderson,
by whom he had seven children: Emma, Adeline, William
A., Amanda, Thomas M., James, and Kate. James
was killed in Virginia during the late war. The remaining
members of the family, most of whom are married, reside in the
vicinity of Ashland.
When Mr. Beer arrived, in 1821, his nearest
neighbors were Michael Thomas, C. Wheeler, Benjamin
Shearer, Henry
and Daniel Vantilburg, Joshua Brown, and Daniel
Carter. Log-rollings, cabin-raisings, corn-huskings,
flax-pullings, and scutchings, as well as linsey-woolsey
clothing, corn-bread, pork, and venison, were the occupations,
the clothing and the food, of the hardy pioneers. It was not
uncommon, the first few years, to be so occupied five or six
days each week at such gatherings. The nearest mill was
Newman's, on the Black fork, to which Mr.
Beer
often resorted. He occasionally visited a mill, subsequently owned
by Armstrong Meaner, in Green township. For many
years wheat was cut with a sickle, and all the pioneers were
expert in its use. In fact, it was not uncommon to find women in
the field using the same instrument. In those days the fields
were carefully gleaned and very little grain was left standing.
When the stumps began to disappear, sickles were invaded and
were gradually substituted by the grain-cradle. Mr.
Beer says he owned the first grain cradle used in Montgomery
township, over fifty years ago, on the farm of
Joseph Sheets, where South Ashland now stands. It
created quite a sensation among the old reapers, because he
could cut a swath, equal to that of three reapers, with much
ease. The surplus grain of this region was hauled to Milan for a
market until about 1861, when the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio
railroad was completed, and a home market furnished.
Mrs. Beer died in 1859, and Mr.
Beer, now (1875,) aged seventy-nine years, resides in
Ashland. He is quite vigorous; his mind is clear and vivacious;
he loves a joke and abounds in humor. Like all his Scotch-Irish
ancestors, he is much attached to the Presbyterian church, of
which he is a member. |
CAPTAIN
ROBERT BEER. In the correspondence of the Pittsburgh
Herald, we find the following concerning Captain Beer,
who accompanied the expedition of Colonel Robert
Crooks, in the war of 1812, to Upper Sandusky. The captain
died about May 4, 1880, aged nearly ninety years.
I've just had a conversation with Captain
Robert Beer, one of our oldest and most respected
citizens, who served his country in the war of 1812. In answer
to my inquiries, he gave the following account of his trip from
this city to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and his return on foot the
following winter of 1813-13:
"About the first of November, 1812, the Government
advertised for volunteer teamsters, having some thirty carriages
(without cannon, however) and forty covered wagons to supply
with drivers. As soon as a volunteer would sign the roll, he was
ordered to go into a large yard, on Garrison alley, and bridle
four horses. I was among the volunteers, being then an
unsophisticated country boy of twenty years. (You will observe
that I am now old enough to vote.) I was directed to hitch a
team to a cannon-carriage, and drive over to the ground where
the western penitentiary now stands. Here we were encamped for
three weeks before we were ready to start. The road wagons were
loaded with cannon-powder, clothing, and all kinds of government
stores. These wagons were drawn by five, and sometimes by six,
horses. All being in readiness, we started for General
Harrison's
winter quarters, at Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Colonel James
Anderson was wagon-master; James McHenry, a
bricklayer of our city, assistant wagon-master; Paul Anderson,
forage-master; and Captain Gratiot had command of
the train. To guard the teams and property, we had Captain
Johnson and his company, from Greensburgh, now called
Darlington, and half a company from Beaver county, under command
of Lieutenant Walker, who was subsequently killed
by the Indians.
"The journey was through an almost unbroken wilderness,
and its difficulties cannot be appreciated by the people of
to-day. Ten miles was considered a good day's travel, and when
the route was bad, as was frequently the case, we did not make
more than six miles. It took us three days to go through
Hahn's
swamp, and had hard work to do it in that time. We would often
stop for a day, and, mounting our horses, go miles away along
paths, there being no wagon road, and return with our horses
loaded with forage.
"At Canton we lay a whole week, repairing the wagons, shoeing the
horses, and giving them much needed rest, and procuring a supply
of foliage.
"From Canton to Wooster it was thirty-five miles. At
the latter place we found the first picketed fort. Mansfield, it
may be said, ended the settlements in this direction. The only
buildings were a fort, one tavern, one store, and one private
house; We remained three days in Wooster to recruit our horses,
repair damages and gather forage. Between Wooster and Mansfield
we had a good deal of new road to cut, the old one being
impassable for the train. This was slow work, as you can judge.
"We were about two months on the road, and finally
reached Upper Sandusky on New Year's day—and as cold a. day, by
the way, as I ever experienced. We never saw a fire from sunrise
till sunset, and to make the matter worse, we were but thinly
clad at best. On our arrival we were ordered to ungear our
horses and start with them for a small town on the Scioto river,
called Franklinton, just across the river from Columbus. Corn
was plenty and cheap in that neighborhood, and they wanted their
horses to recruit there for the spring service.
"Next day we started back to Upper Sandusky to get our
money and be discharged from the service. There was no money
thereto pay us with—not a dollar in the treasury—so they
furnished us with tents and rations. We pitched our tents just
outside the military lines, and for three weeks had nothing to
occupy our time but eating and sleeping. At the end of this time
Colonel Piatt, of Cincinnati, who was treasurer of the army,
gave us our discharge and an order for our pay at the barracks
in Pittsburgh. We hadn't a dollar towards paying our way home.
They gave us rations to put in our knapsacks, but they got stale
and unfit for use.
"Of course, after we left our horses at Franklinton, we
did all our traveling on foot. I cannot tell the distance from
Franklinton to Upper Sandusky, but from the latter place to
Mansfield was thirty-five miles. We all arrived in Pittsburgh
safe and well, after a very fatiguing journey.
"The Captain Gratiot I have mentioned was one of
the engineer corps of the regular army, and an officer of high
standing. Captain Wheaton was the paymaster; and a cross
old chap he was. He carried a canteen of brandy slung round his
neck, and sometimes he absorbed the brandy too freely.
"I suppose I am entitled to a pension for my services
in 1812, but I have not yet applied for one. I observe that some
are drawing pensions whose term of service lasted only fourteen
days. In "1856 I got a land warrant for one hundred and sixty
acres of land."
During a great part of his life he was engaged in
building and running steamboats, and it is hardly necessary to
say that his long record was spotless and unblemished. He
retired from active business several years ago, and since then
devoted his time to his private affairs. |
WILLIAM BEER
was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, near the New
Jersey line, in 1794. His father, Thomas Beer,
served as a soldier in the American Revolution, and brought home
from new Jersey a relic highly prized by his children, and
exhibited by Mr. Beer with especial interest. It
was an English bayonet, and had the words, "29 reg. 5 division,
King George III," engraved on it. It had
evidently been left by one of the British soldiers, who fled or
was killed during the battle. His father removed with his
family to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1800,
where he resided twelve miles below Pittsburg, about thirty
years. Mr. Beer was of Irish descent.
In 1825 he married Miss Mary Mann, and removed
to Montgomery township, Richland (now Ashland) county, in 1832,
and located on a quarter of land adjoining his brother
Richard. Here he resided about forty years and
cheerfully submitted to all the toils of a pioneer in clearing
up his homestead. In 1867, he had the misfortune to lose,
by death, his excellent lady. His family consisted of
Thomas, Quincy, Henry, Calvin, Serena,
Sherman W. and B. F. Beer. Mr. Beer
died Oct. 3, 1879. The entire family, except Sherman W.,
preceded Mr.
Beer to the grave.
Mr. Beer possessed, to the last, all his
mental faculties. He was noted as retaining a most
retentive memory for dates and events, and loved to dwell upon
the border scenes of seventy or eighty years ago. From the
gravity of his manner and personal dignity, he was familiarly
called "Judge." Indeed, he was much more worthy such a
promotion than many "limbs of the law," who preside over our
courts. He had long been a zealous and worthy member of
the Presbyterian church, and illustrated the goodness of his
heart by many acts of kindness to the poor and the orphan.
Though called suddenly to bid adieu to time and the scenes of
earth, we cannot doubt his fitness for another and, we trust, a
better world. His cheerful face and kind words will greet
us no more, but be embalmed in memory. The tide waits for
no man. Soon the bell will toll a last farewell to the
aged pioneers. May they rest in peace. |
PHILLIP
BIDDINGER immigrated, with his family, consisting of his
wife and one child, to Orange Township, in February, 1823.
He had several years previous emigrated from Virginia to
Harrison County. He now resides in Troy Township.
Source: History of Ashland Co., Ohio - Publ. 1863. - Page 505 |
JOHN
BISHOP, in February, 1814, adopted Orange Township as his
future home. He was without wife, children, or money, and
relied solely upon industrious and economical habits, and a
vigorous constitution, for future success in life. In 1817
he had accumulated sufficient to enable him to purchase the
southeast quarter of section 21, now owned by John Finger.
This quarter he improved and occupied seven years, and, in 1824,
purchased the farm now owned by Enos Rowley, and
subsequently the farm upon which he at present resides, being
two hundred acres, formerly owned by the late Daniel
Campbell. In 1819 Mr. Bishop married Miss
Catharine, daughter of the late Jacob Hiffner, Sr.
The three white families residing in the township,
in 1814, were those of Jacob Young, Amos Norris, and
Vachel Metcalf. There had not been a surveyed road in
the township. He carried the chain for the surveyor who
established the first road, which led from Sheet's
saw-mill, on the east line of Montgomery Township, via of
Jacob Young's and Leidigh's mill to Savannah -
although at that time there was no Sheets's or Leidigh's
mills or town of Savannah. Mr. Bishop was elected,
at the first election held in Orange, constable for the
township. Where the town of Orange now stands, at a
log-rolling he saw a span of horses, which had started for a
runaway, arrested by the end of the chain, which was thrown into
the air, striking a sapling so as instantly to enwrap its body
and bring the team to "a dead halt."
Source: History of Ashland Co., Ohio - Publ. 1863. - Page 505 |
| GEORGE W.
BOWERICE, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, Nov.
15, 1818, and came with his father, Christian Bowerice,
to Orange township, Richland (now Ashland) county, in 1829.
He removed to Troy township in 1845. He married Eva
Stober, daughter of Jacob Stober, of Clearcreek.
Christian Bowrice, his father, also settled in Troy, and
deceased September 3, 1866, aged seventy-three years.
Mrs. Bowerice died in October, 1869, aged seventy-two years.
George W. is their only son. His family consists of
six boys and three girls. Mr. Bowerice is an
intelligent farmer, and may be regarded as one of the pioneers
of Troy. |
Mifflin Twp. (Formerly
the town of Petersburg)
DAVID BRADEN, an emigrant from Washington
County, Pennsylvania, removed to Mifflin Township in the fall of
1815, and died the year following, at the age of 52. His
son, Solomon Braden, now resides in Green Township.
(
Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page
534) |
Troy Twp.
JOHN BRYTE immigrated to Clearcreek
Township in April, 1819. He was at this time a boy of
nineteen years of age, and had emigrated from Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania. He tarried a few days with his
uncle, Nathaniel Bailey. He worked four years as
a jobber or laborer, and in this time cleared, unaided, one
hundred acres of land, besides accomplishing considerable
other labor. The proceeds of this four years' of toil were
one hundred dollars in cash, and a horse, saddle, and bridle,
valued in those times at about forty dollars. In 1824, he
married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Ford.
With his brother-in-law, Elijah Ford, he conducted a
distillery on section 16, and continued in this business two
years, ending April, 1826. This enterprise proved a
failure, and he purchased of Patrick Miller, Washington
County, Pennsylvania, fifty acres in section 26, (forming part
of the farm upon which he now resides,) and in one day erected
his cabin, and on the day following removed with his family into
a house without floor or chimney. Mr. Bryte was the
first clerk of Clearcreek Township, and has since held several
official positions of responsibility derived from his
fellow-citizens, and from the Executive of Ohio, twice receiving
the appointment of Director of the Ohio Central Lunatic Asylum.
(
Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page
121) |
Perry Twp. -
HENRY BUFFAMYER imigrated to Perry
Township in May 1826, and purchased of Joseph Carr the
half section of land, parts of which are now owned by David
and Matthew Buffamyer. He died on the last day of
March, 1849, aged eighty-six years. His widow is at this
time (January 23d, 1862) residing with her son, David,
and although she has attained the age of eighty-one years, her
health and faculties are but slightly impaired.
Source: History of Ashland Co., Ohio - Publ. 1863. - Page 440 |
THE BULL
FAMILY.
HEZEKIAH BULL, born in Dublin, Ireland, came to America
before the Revolution, and first settled in Hartford,
Connecticut. He served one year in the Revolution, and after the
Revolution engaged in business in Hartford, Connecticut, and
became the owner of a vessel in the West India trade, in which
business he continued until 1815, when he sold out his business,
and in 1816 came to Canton, Ohio. Here he remained one year,
then moved to Massillon, where he settled on the farm now owned
by Kent Jervis, or his heirs, where he died in 1818. He
married an English lady, and was the father of eight children,
seven of whom came to Ohio. Caleb on the Spanish main;
Hester, Maria Louisa, Jefferson and G. W. settled in
Loudonville; Hoyland, in Tennessee, and Emily in
California.
G. W. BULL was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in
1799, and there received his education. When only eleven years
old he went to sea, and followed a sailor's life about ten
years, with an interval of one year. In 1820 he gave up a
sea-faring life arid came to Ohio, and settled on a farm for a
short time. In 1821 with Thomas Taylor, he built a
flat-boat, loaded it with pork, hams, bacon and whiskey, then
the products of the country, and started for New Orleans from a
point near the iron bridge across the Black fork in Loudonville.
The round trip took about three months. These trips he continued
to make at intervals until 1832, when he abandoned the business,
and settled on the farm now owned by Hon. J. W. Bull, in
Hanover township, where he held the office of justice of the
peace fifteen years, and was township trustee, clerk, and
treasurer for a number of years. In politics he was a Democrat.
In December, 1852, he died. In 1822 he married Nancy
Farrquhr, who died in 1877. He was the father of ten
children, seven of whom are still living, viz: John W.,
who married Nancy Watson, afterwards married Eliza J.
Pippit; George F., who married Ann Menor, and lives
in Ashland county, Ohio; Sarah J., wife of
Abner Stutes, living in Cleveland, Ohio; Hester M.
and Nancy E., both living in Ashland county; Emily
U., wife of Mr. Hazelett, living in Michigan; and
Phebe E., who lives in Loudonville.
HON. JOHN W. BULL was born in Loudonville,
Richland county, Ohio, August 16, 1824, and received a common
school education. He worked on a farm until his twenty-seventh
year, when he accepted a position as route agent on the
Bellefontaine & Indiana railroad, and traveled between Galion
and Indianapolis for nearly two years, when, in 1854, he was
transferred to the Ohio & Indiana road, and traveled between
Crestline and Chicago for four years. In 1861 he resigned his
position as route agent, to accept the appointment of passenger
conductor on the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne & Chicago railroad. This
position he resigned to take charge of the Meyer house,
in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He gave up this business on account of
the ill health of his wife, and in 1872 returned to Loudonville.
In 1872 he served as mayor of the village, and as justice of the
peace. He was elected to the Sixty-third general assembly by a
majority of six hundred and seventy-two. He has always been an
ultra Democrat, and from present indications will die in that
faith. In 1847 he married Nancy Watson, of Loudonville,
who died in 1851. In 1859 he married Eliza J. Pippet, and
is the father of two children—one died in infancy, and Anna E.
died when two years old. |
Troy Twp.
JAMES BURGAN emigrated from Fayette
County, Pennsylvania, and reached Vermillion, Clearcreek Twp.,
on the 12th March, 1826. He was then without a family, and
prosecuted his trade of black-smithing. His prices for
work were about the same, when he found the material, as those
charged at present- but his iron cost him about double the rates
at which it may now be obtained - his iron then costing him 12
1/2 cents and English steel 37 1/2 cents per pound; and his cash
receipts for work were scarcely sufficient to pay for his stock.
Mr. Burgan discontinued his blacksmithing business in the
spring of 1859, and purchased a farm of one hundred and
forty-three acres, two miles south of Savannah, where he at
present resides.
(
Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page
121) |
Troy Twp.
DAVID BURNS purchased, in the year 1815,
the land upon a portion of which he now resides. This farm
is the southwest quarter of section 23, Clearcreek Township.
At the same time, however, he entered the quarter which he
subsequently sold to Thomas Carr, and which is now owned
and occupied by David Shriver.
During the war of 1812, Mr. Burns served
under Captain Abraham Martin, for a term of about six
weeks, and was stationed at the Block House near Beam's
Mill, on the Rocky Fork, abut three and a half miles east of
Mansfield. Having served the period above named, he was
relieved by his brother Samuel, and David returned
to his home in Guernsey County.
In the spring of 1816, Mr. Burns, accompanied by
his mother and sister, performed the journey on horseback fro
Guernsey County to the land above described. Here, in a
small camp-house, one side being open, they made it their abode
until after harvest. On the morning following their first
night's rest, the family, on rising, were greeted by an immense
Indian near their door-way, who had apparently been waiting to
make the acquaintance of his new neighbors. The dogs, on
discovering the strange man, assailed him with savage ferocity,
and it was with difficulty that the united efforts of the family
could restrain them from the palpably "overt act" upon the
person of the visitor.
When Mr. Burns removed hither, he had buried a wife
and two children in Guernsey County - the three having died
within eighteen months of each other. In November, 1818,
he was again united in marriage to Miss Mary Buchanan, by
whom he has had four sons, namely: John, Denny, William,
and James. This family are all living, except
John and Denny.
The nearest mill, from which he could obtain supplies
of ground grain, was Odell's in Wayne County - a distance
of thirty miles, which was performed on horseback, and the grain
and flour being conveyed on pack-horses. Some years later
he was accommodated at Mason's (Leidigh's) mill.
(
Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page
122) |
Vermillion
Twp. -
STERLING G. BUSHNELL immigrated to the
farm now occupied by his son Thomas, one mile east of
Hayesville, May 20, 1821. The family of sons and daughters
then consisted of William, Sedelia, Collins, Jotham, Huldah,
Rosella, Homer, Olive, and Thomas.
At this date (1821) the place now occupied by the
original town of Hayesville was an entire wilderness, without a
dwelling or family. Linus Hayes dwelt in a log
cabin on the site now occupied by his widow on the main street,
and which was subsequently embraced in addition to the town.
About 1823 or 1824 a very small cabin and
blacksmith-shop were erected on the lot now owned by Dr.
Armstrong, on the northwest corner of the principal streets.
These buildings (if they could be dignified with the name) were
the first erected within what was the original town. The
first building in which goods were sold was upon the same lot,
erected by Mr. John Cox, who filled it with the first
stock of goods that were brought to the town.
The first wheat, within the recollection of Mr.
Bushnell, offered for cash, was about 1822 or 1823, at the
mill built by Lake and Bentley, and at the time
referred to owned by Lake and Larwill, and which
mill was better known in recent times as Goudy's mill, in
the southeast part of Vermillion Township. One hundred
bushels were offered on this occasion for twenty-five dollars,
but Mr. Bushnell is not positive whether the offer was
accepted.
(
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page
274) |
|
