| 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. |
|
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) |
| 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. |
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. |
| 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. |
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. |
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) |
|
