OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

 

Ashland County, Ohio

BIOGRAPHIES

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M
N - OP - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

(Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published by Williams Bros. 1880.)
( Source: A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County from The Earliest to the Present Date, by H. S. Knapp, Publ. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. - 1863.)

< BACK TO BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >

THOMAS EAGLE arrived in the township of Mohican on the 2d day of May, 1809, having succeeded the family of Alexander Finley a few weeks.  His family then consisted of his wife and daughter Amelia.  He first opened a small farm on the land now owned and occupied by Henry Treace.  In the early part of the war, he, together with several of his neighbors, removed their families to the fort, at Wooster, as security against attacks by Indians.
     Mr. Eagle was well acquainted with Baptiste Jerome, who often related to Mr. Eagle circumstances connected with the Indian war against General Anthony Wayne - among other "yarns," one running to the effect that himself and a party of eight Indians came upon a reconnoitering party near the Maumee River, led by Wayne, and that he, (Jerome), and the Indians leveled and discharged their rifles at "Mad Anthony" without any effect.  Several years after the war of 1812, Jerome lost his Indian wife and daughter, and subsequently married a white woman, and removed to the mouth of Huron River, where he soon after died, it is said, in a drunken revel.
     The fort at Jeromeville, Mr. Eagle says, was built under the authority of General Bell.
    
The fort at Wooster was under the command of Captain George Stidger whose force amounted to about one hundred and sixty men.
     A few days prior to the massacre on the Black Fork, Mr. Eagle left Wooster in charge of a company of men for the defense of his neighbors, who had remained in Mohican Township, having received information that they were threatened by an attack from the Indians.  Some hours after arriving at the fort on James Collyer's place, the Indians, appeared and made some hostile demonstrations; but it is supposed came to the conclusion that Eagle's force was too formidable and too well secured, and they retired toward Jeromeville, on their route killing all the hogs that came in their way.
     Mr. Eagle says that he piloted Bell's army from Wooster to Jeromeville, and from thence several miles west.  He is now about eighty-one years of age, and in feeble health.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page 407)
PATRICK ELLIOTT was born in Donegal county, Ireland, in 1788, and emigrated with his parents, and located in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1803.  He grew up in that county, and married Nancy Morrow, of Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1813, and removed to Clearcreek township, Richland county, and located on the southwest quarter of section twelve, in the spring of 1817.  He resided on his farm until 1826, when he deceased.  He was a member of the Episcopal church from his youth.  At his death his family consisted of his wife, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Hugh, Jane, George, and Moses, of whom only Hugh and Moses survive.  Mrs. Elliott died in 1847, aged about sixty years.
     Mrs. Elliott  is believed to have taught the first subscription school, in her own cabin, in Clearcreek township, in 1817, the parties sending scholars assisting Mr. Elliott to clear his land in payment for tuition.  Noble woman!
     Hugh, the oldest son, fifty-six years of age, and Moses, the youngest, reside on the old homestead.
Troy Twp.
PATRICK ELLIOTT removed from Washington County, Pennsylvania, to the southwest quarter of section 12, Clearcreek Township, where he arrived in the spring of 1817 - having made the entry of the land in 1816.  His family then consisted of his wife and daughters, Sarah and Mary A.  This farm is now occupied by his sons, Hugh and Moses.  Mr. Elliott died in December, 1826, aged thirty-eight years.
     Mrs. Elliott taught, in her own house, in the winter of 1817 and 1818, the first school in Clearcreek Township.  Among her scholars were the children of Rev. Mr. Haney, William Shaw, and John Hendricks.
( Source *2: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page 137)
REV. RICHARD DUMONT EMERSON was born in Fairfax county, Virginia, near the city of Alexandria, Aug. 14, 1794.  His mother was a highly educated French lady, whose maiden name was Louis, a branch of the royal family, and his father also of French birth.   A brother of his mother accompanied General Lafayette to this country, and fell in the battle of Brandywine, during the Revolutionary war.
     In his youth, Mr. Emerson attended school near Alexandria, and acquired a fair English education.
     When about eighteen years of age he entered the army of the war of 1812, as a volunteer, and was at the battle of Crany Island, where he was honorably mentioned for his conduct on the field, and promoted to captain.  At the close of the war he returned ot Alexandria, and engaged in business as a manufacturer and dealer in shoes and boots.
     In 1824-5, when General Lafayette visited Alexandria, and Mt. Vernon, Captain Emerson was one of the marhsals who commanded the guard that received and conducted the general to that "Mecca of American freemen," the tomb of George Washington.  HE was a fine horseman, and was highly complimented by General Lafayette for his fine military bearing on that occasion.
     While a young man he became an active member of the local minister in, the Methodist church.  In 1840 he removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, and became a Lutheran minister.  He subsequently removed to Ashland county, and preached for Lutheran congregations at Rowsburgh, Hayesville, Mifflin, and Orange.  He was regarded as a forcible and fluent speaker, and made a fine appearance in the pulpit.  In 1852 he was elected a member of the Ohio legislature from Ashland county, and served one term, declining to be a candidate for re0eection.  In 1854 he was appointed postmaster at Hayesville, and retained the position to the close of administration of Franklin Pierce.  In 1860 he removed to Missouri, but subsequently located and took charge of a Lutheran congregation at Bardstown, Kentucky, where he remained until May, 1876, when he removed to Clark county, Missouri, where he deceased after lingering illness, September 10, 1876, at the advanced age of eighty-two years and twenty-seven days.  Mr. Emerson had served his church, as minister, about forty-six years, and was regarded as an able and influential exponent of creed and teachings of Martin Lutehr, the great German reformer.
     He was enrolled among those who drew pensions for services in the war of 1812, and it may be truly said, "he served his country as a patriot, and his church as a Christian."
     Mr. Emerson was above medium in size, very erect, had black hair, large gray eyes, and was impressive and dignified in his bearing.  He was exceedingly fond of fine horses, and rode with all the grace of a marshal of France.  His tastes were largely military, and if he had been reared in a country like France, he would have risen to distinction in military life.
     He was married three times.  His family consisted of Rev. William A. G. Emerson, of Kentucky; Colonel Richard D. Emerson, of Iowa; John Emerson, deceased; Mrs. Martha White, of Kansas; Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, of Canal Dover, Ohio; Mrs. Virginia Crellen, of Missouri; and Mrs. Caroline Ewing of Illinois.
WILLIAM A. G. EMERSON was born near Alexandria, Virginia, July 12, 1816.  He grew to manhood in Fairfax county, Virginia.  In 1836 he came to Ohio, having married Miss Catharine Atkins in 1835, when he was but nineteen years of age.  His father, Rev. Richard Dumont Emerson, had preceded him to Ohio, and exercised great influence over him.  In the meantime his father had connected as a minister with the Lutheran church.  William, although from boyhood a member of the Methodist church, and recently licensed as a local preacher, was urged also to unite with the Lutheran church, which he finally did in 1845.  He evinced a talent that at once attracted attention, and was soon employed to preach at Bridgeport, Wayne county, and from thence, about 1847, came to Ashland, Ohio, and was employed to preach at the Lutheran church, a little frame, on the corner of Third and Orange streets.  He was then thirty-one years old, and possessed all the enthusiasm of youth, and an imagination and zeal that glowed with fervid eloquence.  We remember, right well, his appearance in the pulpit.  He attracted a great deal of attention, and exerted a wonderful power as a young but gifted minister of the Lutheran church.  It will be remembered that many of the leading young lawyers - General John S. Fulton, Professor John Rankin, James Sloan, and many of the brightest students from the old academy, were accustomed to crowd into the little frame church on the corner, on Sunday evenings, to hear the eloquent young preacher.  This little church had been purchased from the Universalists about 1842, and the membership quite feeble.  In a few years such had been its increase in members under the preaching of this remarkable young man, that the place of meeting had to be changed, and resulted in the erection of the present church on Third street, which was built in 1852.  Mr. Emerson laid aside his robes, and toiled like a day laborer to secure the completion of the church.  His salary was small, yet he contributed, in toil and money, as much as many wealthy members toward the work.  Often have we seen him with one horse and wagon, clothed like a laborer, engaged in hauling bricks and mortar for the work.  It went rapidly forward, and in due time was dedicated.
     Soon after, for some unknown reason, he was permitted to engage in his ministerial services to the congregation at Wooster, where he remained until 1854.  In 1855 he removed to Hayesville, where he preached about one year, and was then employed by the congregation at Mt. Zion, Richland county, where he remained until 1859, and then preached one year at Newville.  From thence he went to Independence and Bellville until 1861, when he returned to Ashland, where he was appointed chaplain of the One Hundred and Twentieth regiment of Ohio independent militia, and was at Vicksburgh, Mississippi, during the winter of 1862-3, and in consequence of enfeebled health, returned to Ashland, and in the fall of 1863, was elected probate judge of Ashland county.  His election was contested, and early in 1864, the court awarded the office to the contestant.  The contestor and contestant have now removed the case to that court where neither judge nor jury err, and where equal and exact justice will be awarded all men.
     In 1855-56 he remained in Ashland, frequently preaching to his friends in various parts of the county.  In 1866 he was employed by the Lutheran congregation at Brookville, near Dayton, as their pastor, and remained there about two years.  In 1868 he removed to Florence, Kentucky, and connected with the Methodist conference of that part of the State, and was assigned to a circuit, where he preached two years.  In 1869070 he preached upon a circuit at Germantown.  In 1870 he was assigned a circuit at Bryantsville for one year, and, at the expiration of that time, removed to Mercer, where he remained until 1872, and, in 1873, was sent to the station at Augusta, where he labored two yeas, and, in 1875, worn down with hard work, enfeebled in health, and much discouraged, he returned to Ashland, where he made his home at the residence of his favorite daughter, Irene, and son-in-law, Mr. DAniel Folk, where he died on Tuesday, November 11, 1879, of acute pneumonia, aged sixty-three yeas and five months.  Mrs. Folk and her husband did all they could to render his situation comfortable, peaceful, and pleasant.  He passed away without a struggle, so calmly, sitting upon a chair and resting his head upon the back of another, that it was some moments before it was noticed that he had departed.  He looked so natural that it was difficult to realize that he slept not.  In his last conversations, he expressed a readiness for the change.  The case was indeed a sad one.  His whole life had been full of turmoil, disappointments, and hardships.  The storm is now over, and he has gone home, where critics and censorious people can no longer add a pang to his grief.  God is just and will reward.
     Mr. Emerson was not well adapted to the accumulation and retention of wealth.  The science of finance was no part of his study.  He had not a venal breath in his whole nature.  He was genial, and moved by the warmest impulses.  In his address he was earnest and amiable.  He loved his friends and treated all men kindly and courteously.  He spoke truly to the poor, and never shunned them in their distress.  In his last days has wardrobe was greatly neglected.  Naturally fastidious and tidy in his dress, he felt this apparent neglect most keenly, and had nearly disappeared from a curious public.  He was unable to toil as a common laborer, and too much prostrated physically and mentally, to labor in the pulpit; in his extreme sensitiveness and humiliation, he said to the writer, a short time before his decease: "I am very poor - have always been poor.  I never had money to give the rich.  I always labored for the poor, and when my work is done, I hope, like the poor man mentioned in Sacred Writ, I may find a place of rest in the paradise of God."  He was naturally hopeful and buoyant in spirit, and every expression of cheerfulness and geniality was criticised and turned to his injury.  This was all wrong.  True, a minister should be careful and guarded in his intercourse and conversation, but we are too apt to be severe in our criticisms.  A preacher is but a man, and often has to govern his own frailties.  It is certainly proper that a minister cultivate a cheerful, hopeful, and sprightly habit, casting aside the gloomy deportment of the hermit.  His usefulness largely depends upon his friendliness, sympathy, and his cheerfulness.  The Saviour did not hesitate to dine and associate with sinners.  He did so because he could the better impress his character and teachings upon his hearers.  Many remarkable teachers have been crushed or pushed into obscurity by a fault-finding and captious public.
     Mr. Emerson had none of the early advantages of collegiate training, neither was he permitted to spend years of study in some theological seminary.  Nature had done all for him.  He was endowed with fine ability, and an uncommon versatility in the use of words.  He never hesitated, even during the glowing flights of imagination, for words to fitly, fully, and elegantly express his ideas.  When addressing an audience, the spirit of genius awakened his whole countenance.  Tall in person, spare in form, with a voice musical and impressive, and great earnestness and energy in the delivery of his discourses, he always spoke with the utmost effect.  He threw such a force and power into his sermons, that the magic of his address seemed to electrify the hearer as if touched by sacred fire.  His clear, strong voice and energetic manner carried an audience along, and moved it to pity or thoughtfulness.  He was sympathetic in manner, and clothed his words in beautiful images, and painted to the mind and heart the wonderful majesty and goodness of the Supreme Father of all.  Large audiences crowded to hear him in the South, and the presence of so many faces seemed to electrify him and call forth his wonderful powers as a pulpit orator.  He is gone, and we shall never hear his eloquent voice again.  He has gone home until the summing up of all things.  It will be a long time before the impress of his preaching will fail to be remembered in this and other communities.
     Mr. Emerson was of French descent, and possessed many of the genial traits of that most polite and remarkable people.  He had eight children, four boys and four girls, all grown and married.
     His friends secured him a nice metallic case, in which his body now reposes, in the Lutheran cemetery lot.  A funeral discourse was delivered at the church by Rev. Wilhelm, and brief addresses made by Revs. John Robinson, Miller and Moody, after which he was conducted by Captain Finger and company to the cemetery, and buried with military honors, Thursday afternoon, November 13, 1879.
BENJAMIN EMMONS entered a quarter section of land in Perry Township, in 1810; and from thence removed, in 1819, to Montgomery Township, on the farm recently occupied by his sons, (now owned by Matthias Boffenmire,) about one and a half miles north of Ashland.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page 461
WILLIAM EWING immigrated to Mohican Twp. in the fall of 1814, from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and removed to the farm which had previously been entered for him by his father, John Ewing - which farm is situated about two miles southeast of Jeromeville, and is now occupied by the family of the late Michael Heickle.  His immediate neighbor was John Bryan.
Source: History of Ashland County, Ohio - publ. 1863 - Page 408)
 

 

CLICK HERE to Return to
ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO

CLICK HERE to Return to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

This Webpage has been created exclusively for Ohio Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights