|
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
|
Welcome to
Fulton County,
Ohio
BIOGRAPHIES |
Transcribed by
Sharon Wick
|
|
CALVIN ACKLEY, Gorham, Fayette p.o., a
retired pioneer farmer, was born in Winfield, Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1815,
and was a son of
Sterling and
Lydia
(Bronson) Ackley, of Connecticut.
Lydia died in
Fairfield county, O., in 1837.
They had a family of nine children, but two of whom are now living,
Nancy and
Calvin.
Calvin was married in 1837 to
Gertrude Walker, who was born in New Jersey.
She died in 1865, leaving a family of five children:
Leman, Ellen, Winfield, Edward and
Josephine. He married for his present wife,
Ellen Van Arsdalen, in 1868. She was born in
Fairfield county, O.
Mr. Ackley settled in
Fairfield
county in 1836, and in 1837 he purchased a farm of one hundred acres for which
he paid two and one-half dollars per acre.
In 1840 he settled with his family in Mill Creek township, which was then
Williams
County, but now Gorham,
Fulton
county, where he now resides. He
purchased one hundred and fifty acres for three hundred dollars in 1842, which
he has now cleared and under cultivation.
He was the first postmaster of the town and held that office for several years;
was also a justice of the peace and a member of the school board for many years. He was agent for the Greenland Company for
several thousand acres and was one of the active, influential men of the town. His father resided with him until 1855
when died.
Ellen Ackley married
William Acker and
Josephine Ackley C. A. Snow.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio
Publ. 1888 643 |
THEOPHILUS
AESCHLIMAN, a well-to-do retired farmer, now
living in York Township, and well-known in German
Township, comes of one of the old families of the
county.
He is a son of Christian and Fannie (Fry_ Aeschliman
who were pioneer residents in German Township.
Christian Aeschliman was born in Switzerland, but
his wife was of French birth and ancestry. They
came to America, and for a while lived in Wayne county,
Ohio, and eventually entered a tract of government land
in German Township, Fulton county. It was all in
timber, and the surroundings were wild. There was
an old log cabin upon the place, and it had evidently
been used as a stable, but in that hut Christian
Aeschliman and his wife had to make their abode for
a while. He was a typical pioneer, and resolutely
applied himself to the great task of clearing his
property of timber. Eventually he owned 160 acres,
most of which he cleared, adn upon which he erected
adequate out=buildings, and a commodious, comfortable
residence. He died in about 1886, but his wife
lived a widowhood of more than twenty years, her death
not coming until the fall of 1909. They were the
parents of twelve children: Pollie, now deceased;
Katie, deceased; Joel, deceased; Leah,
who married David Krepf, and now lives in
Schuyler county, Missouri; Jonathan, deceased;
Rebecca, now living in Clinton Township, Fulton
county; Nathaniel, also of Clinton Township;
Levina, who married Andrew Vonier, of Jasper
county, Missouri; Theophilus, regarding whom more
follows; Emmaline, who now lives in Schuyler
county, Missouri; Eli, now a resident in Wauseon,
Ohio; and Eliza were twins.
Theophilus, ninth child of Christian and
Fannie (Fry) Aeschliman, was born in German
Township, Fulton county, Ohio, on Apr. 17, 1861, and was
reared under somewhat primitive conditions that obtained
in the township at that time. He attended the
district school, and after leaving school took good part
in the work of the home farm. He was almost
twenty-two years old when he married, and for two years
thereafter he and his wife lived in the log cabin on his
father's property. During that time he worked for
wages, but at the end of two years, he joined his
brother Eli in purchasing a farm of eighty acres
to the southward of Archbold Village, Fulton county.
The brothers jointly farmed the acreage for four years,
and then sold the property to advantage, Theophilus
soon afterward going with his wife Schuyler county, of
that state. They were only there for a few weeks,
however, and did not purchase a property. Instead,
they returned to Ohio an to Fulton county, taking up
residence on the old Aeschliman homestead, in
German Township. Theophilus farmed the
property for seven years, and then went to Chesterfield,
Ohio, where he purchased a partly improved farm of one
hundred acres. He greatly improved the property
during his occupancy of it, bringing all excepting
twelve acres under cultivation. In the fall of
1906 he sold the farm to good advantage, and returned to
his native county, buying an improved farm of eighty two
situated in section 19 of York Township, upon which
property he has since lived. During the last
decade he has made extensive improvements, remodeling
the barns and outbuildings. The dwelling is of
brick. He experienced good success in general
farming, and maintained a high degree of productivity,
holding steadily to the farm management until 1917, when
he decided to take things somewhat less strenuously than
he formally had. He rented the farm to his son,
which condition has held to the present, to mutual
satisfaction, but he has continued to live on the farm.
Theolphilus Aeschliman on Apr. 10, 1883, married
Fannie Vonier, who was born in France, the
daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Guyman) Vonier,
who settled in German Township, Fulton county, in about
1872, and continuing to reside there until their deaths.
Mrs. Vonier died Sept. 15, 1884, but Andrw
Vonier lived to reach the venerable age of
ninety-two years, death not coming to him until 1914.
To Theophilus and Fannie (Vonier) Aeschliman were
born five children: Jemima, who married Aaron
Klepfonstine of Clinton Township, Fulton county;
Mary, who married Henry Richer, of the same
township; Enos, a successful farmer, also of
Clinton Township; Lucinda, who married Samuel
Richer, of York Township, and is cultivating it with
good success.
The Aeschliman family in its three generations
of Fulton county residence has appreciably aided in the
development of the agricultural land in the county.
Source: Standard History of Fulton County, Ohio - by The
Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago & New York - 1920 -
Page 206 |
|
ANSON MASON
ALDRICH, Gorham, Ritters p. o., was a son of David and Freelove
(Mason) Aldrich who were born and married in
Farmington, Ontario
county, N. Y. They had a family of
eight children, four sons and four daughters, four of whom are now living:
George, Anson M. (born Aug. 5, 1820),
Harriet and
Eliza.
One son, William, enlisted
from Illinois,
served during the war and died at the close;
Angeline (Mrs. James Baker), Laura (Mrs. Phillip Clapp) and
Homer are deceased.
David, the father, died in 1859, and
his wife in Cayuga county, N. Y&., in 1861.
Anson Mason Aldrich was married in 1847, to Mary Holrook, who was born in Wayne
county, N. Y. They have had a family
of three children: Huldah S., William B.,
Frank G. Mrs. Aldrich was a
daughter of Samuel and Martha Holbrook,
who died when Mary
was an infant. She was brought up by
Samuel Paul, of Sodus, N. Y.
Mr. Aldrich settled in Gorham, coming there from
Ontario
county, N. Y., in 1854, and became engaged in manufacturing lumber. He erected a steam saw-mill in
company with James Baker, and in 1856
purchased his present homestead of eighty acres for which he paid $1,600, and
which is now finely improved and well tilled.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos.,
Ohio Publ. 1888 643
|
REV. BENJAMIN F. ALDRICH.
As noted elsewhere in the sketch of the Aldrich
family of Fulton county, Rev. Benjamin F. Aldrich
at the time of his death was pastor of the First
Congregational Church of Chicago. In an official
publication of that church devoted to the history of the
church and its successive pastorates, his successor in
the ministry published a tribute to the character of
Dr. Aldrich and particularly his influences and work
in the ministry of Chicago, a brief sketch that may
appropriately been entered as a part of the records of
this history of Fulton County.
The late Benjamin F. Aldrich, D. D., was born at
Wauseon, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1863, and passed to his eternal
rest on Sunday evening, Nov. 5, 1916.
If Dr. Moses Smith (one of the earlier ministers
of the First Congregational Church of Chicago) had many
of the qualities of St. Peter, and if Doctor Noble (also
a predecessor of Doctor Aldrich) reminded one of
the apostle Paul, Doctor Aldrich's
character and disposition were finely suggestive of the
beloved disciple, John, or rather, perhaps, some
would say both of John and of his Divine Master.
The foundations of his sturdy and gentle character were
laid amid the hardships and simplicities of the old farm
life of Ohio, where his mother prayerfully moulded him
towards the holy ministry. Though he studied law
and was admitted to the bar, the essential quality of
his life was that of a pastor and he gladly resigned the
emoluments of the lucrative profession of law in order
that the whole tendency of his life might be heavenward
and that making the complete oblation he might render a
whole-hearted, undivided service to men in the Spirit of
Christ.
Having diligently served in other churches at Ironton,
Sault Ste. Marie, Lancing, Pontiac, Ypsilanti, Aurora
and Wellington avenue, he brought the fruit of his large
natural endowment, varied experience and whole-hearted
consecration to the service of "New First" in the heart
of the great west side. He had a genius for
friendship, and the time had come when consecrated and
unselfish friendship was a gift most needed in this
parish. In some ways he stood in strong contrast
to the two men of whom we have been speaking.
While Doctor Smiths preaching had a dogmatic and
prophetic flavor, and Doctor Noble's preaching
was highly intellectual and strongly individualistic,
the heart of Doctor Aldrich ached for this needy
wayward and suffering community. So in its utter
simplicity and great practical helpfulness his preaching
was a veritable breaking of the Bread of Life to hungry
hearers.
He had a large and sure vision of the place this church
should occupy in the midst of a great unchurched
community, and with an ardor greater than his strength
he threw himself into the splendid task of adjusting
this historic and influential congregation to the needs
of a modern and sinful city. Like Timothy
he "naturally cared" for men's state. He well knew
the needs of the hungry soul and the perils and pitfalls
of the great city. So in regard to the summer
services on the lawn, and in the development of the
Union Theological College, which was born in the vestry
of this church in the brain of Professor Jernberg
and in the heart of Doctor Aldrich also in regard
to the potentialities of Carpenter Chapel and Hooker
Hall, in the development of our Sunday School work and
summer camps, in the whole social life of the church and
especially in the intense and practical pastoral work,
he caught the vision, followed the gleam, lived on a
high plane and at a high tension until he had
prematurely worn himself out with unselfish abandonment
in the service of Christ, of this church and this
community, but not before he had proven himself an
efficient, wise, foresighted and great-hearted leader,
and had widened and deepened the scope of the ministry
of New First Church.
Slowly he had become an epitome and practical
interpreter of that democracy men hear so much about and
understand so little because its keynote in service -
unselfish service even until death. He laid down
the pathways of service in thsi community which New
First will probably follow for many years to come.
He touched all sorts and conditions of men. While
developing loyal and loving contact with rescue and
reclamation agencies, he stood between men and the
prison walls, stood between the hungry and want, and was
looked up to by hundreds for guidance in their hour of
trouble and was beloved by hundreds more who seldom
entered the church but were the better for this church
and his ministry in it.
His house was known to all the vagrant train:
He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain.
He loved unselfishly, sympathized with and suffered
vicariously with and for those lives he touched and
touching lifted toward the crystal purity of his own
trustful, hopeful soul.
And he gave so unstintedly so he grew into mastery and
in the subtle power of his appeal to men. Honors
sought him, but he sought them out.
For other aims his heart
had learned to prize.
More skilled to raise the
wretched than to rise.
He looked out at this multitude scattered abroad and
going astray because they had no Shepherd, so he made
the pastorate the crown of all his work. He could
not rest while these multitudes were away on the wild
mountains of sin. He longed to see them safe in
the fold of the Good Shepherd. So he went out
after them, carried them on his strong shoulders,
literally bore their burdens, shared their sorrows and
poured out his life's strength for them until one Sunday
two short years ago, about the time of the evening
sacrifice, God said: "It is enough, come up higher."
Then "God's finger touched him and he slept."
But the scene in this church when thousands passed his
bier with eyes blinded by tears was eloquent of the
people's love for the beloved pastor and will never fade
from the memories of those who were privileged to be
present. The tablet unveiled now by his son
Baldwin bears the legend Psa. 78:22: "So he was
their Shepherd according to the integrity of his heart,
and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Source: Standard History of
Fulton County, Ohio - by The Lewis Publishing Company -
Chicago & New York - 1920 - Page 329 |
|
ARTHUR ALLEN,
Gorham, Fayette p. o., a member of the firm of J. O. Allen & Co.,
proprietors of the Fayette Roller Mills which were erected in 1858, and now have
all the modern improvements and improved mill machinery, was born in Clarkson,
Monroe county, N. Y., in 1842, and was a son of
Isaac and Mary (Terry) Allen, who
were born in Enfield, Conn., married in 1818, and settled in Monroe county, N.
Y., where they died, she, in 1876, at the age of sixty-nine years and her
husband, Isaac in 1884, at the age of
ninety years. They had a family of ten
children:
Chauncy, Isaac, Mrs. Harriet Little, Mrs. Mary Hobbie, Mrs. Julia Aldridge, Mrs. Emily Phillips,
Charles L. and Arthur. Arthur Allen spent a portion of the year 1862 in Fulton County, O., but returned to
assist his parents in Monroe
county, N. Y. In 1865 he joined his
brother, Charles L., in the
mercantile business at Fayette. The
year 1866 he spent in Bloomington,
Ill., and in 1867 returned to Fayette where he purchased an
interest in the flour mills. He was
married in 1869, to Frances Dubois. They have had four sons:
George, born 1872; Harry, born 1875;
Edwin, born 1877;
Terry, born 1884, and one daughter,
Delle Marie, who died in infancy. Frances
was a daughter of George F. and Amelia
(Deming) Dubois. George was born
in Cayuga county, N. Y., and Amelia
in Litchfield, Conn. They settled in Gorham, in 1847.
Mr. Allen has held most of the
township offices. He has been
justice of the peace, township clerk for a number of terms and a member of the
school board and council. He is also
a member of the firm of Perry & Allen, now engaged in the general hardware
business.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos., Ohio Publ. 1888 643
|
ARTHUR ALLEN is
a retired business man of Fayette, has lived there
continuously for over a half century and is a brothers of
Mr. Charles L. Allen, also of Fayette, whose individual
record will also be found in this publication.
Arthur Allen was born in Monroe county, New
York, Feb. 8, 1842, and was the youngest of the large family
of Isaac and Mary (Terry) Allen He was well
educated, attending district schools, the Brockport
Collegiate Institute and by a commercial course at
Poughkeepsie. At the age of twenty Mr. Allen
left home and went out to Bloomington, Illinois, where he
became an employe of the United States Express Company, and
part of the time was also located at Springfield and Peoria.
About 1865 Mr. Allen engaged in the merchandise
business at Fayette, Ohio, but soon returned to Illinois,
and since 1867 has made Fayette hsi permanent home. He
was in the grist and sawmill business here for thirty-one
eyars, finally selling out his interests, and has since
lived retired in a beautiful modern house at Fayette.
Mr. Allen also served as mayor of Fayette
several terms, ahs held the offices of township clerk,
justice of the peace, member of the School Baord, and has
always acted with that groups of citizens working for the
best interests of the community. He is a democrat in
politics.
In June, 1869, he married Francis H. DuBois, who
was born at Orange in Ashland county, Ohio, a daughter of
George and Amelia (Hoadley) DuBois, the former a native
of New York and the latter of Connecticut. Her parents
settled in Gorham Township of Fulton county in 1847, living
on a farm there. Mrs. Allen's mother died in
1904, having been born in 1803, and her father died in 1908,
having been born in 1814. Both parents therefore lived
to extreme age. Mr. Allen has four sons, all of
whom have made places for themselves in modern industry.
George, the oldest, is a mechanical engineer at
Cleveland and is district manager for the Heffenstall Forge
Company of Pittsburg. Harry L., also a
mechanical engineer, is with the Bruce- McBeth Engine Works
at Cleveland. Edwin, a graduate civil engineer,
is now district manager at Chicago for the Lakewood
Engineering Company of Cleveland. Terry Joe is
purchasing agent for the Firestone Steel Products Company of
Akron, Ohio.
Source: Standard History of Fulton County, Ohio - by The
Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago & New York - 1920 - Page
325 |
HON. CHARLES L. ALLEN.
This gentleman, who for several years has been filling an
enviable career of official life, is a well-known useful
member of the Republican party in northwestern Ohio, and is
a resident of Fayette, Fulton county.
A native of New York State, he was born November 16,
1838, in Monroe county, and received his education in part
at the public schools of Monroe, in part of the State Normal
of that county, later, in 1858, graduating from the Eastman
Business College at Rochester, New York. At the
village of Fayette was known as Gorham, a mere hamlet
consisting of one store (Thompson & Caldwell's) and a
blacksmith shop. Here our subject entered this store
as a clerk, remaining in that capacity until the fall of
1861, at which time he enlisted in Company K.
Thirty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and
resigned in January, 1864, on account of disability, his
resignation being accepted. On the organization of the
company he was made second lieutenant, from which he was
subsequently promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant,
which rank he held up to his resignation. He then
returned to Fayette, and soon afterward embarked in
mercantile business there, in which he continued from 1865,
to 1877, and for four years thereafter he conducted a
produce business in the same locality. In 1885, he
aided in the organization of the Bank of Fayette, of which
institution he has been cashier and manager ever since.
In 1867 Mr. Allen was elected a justice of the
peace of Gorham township, the first to hold the office in
that township as a Republican, Gorham being at that time
Democratic by a majority of fully eighty; and he was
reelected three times. In 1878 he was elected to the
Ohio Legislature, on the Republican ticket, to represent
Fulton county, and after serving one term (two years)
was, in 1880, re-elected. During his career in the
Legislature he served on the following committees:
Military Affairs; Roads and Highways; and Ditches, Drains
and Watercourses. The bill for the location of the
Insane Asylum in Toledo received much of Mr. Allen's
attention, and his constituents are loud in their praise of
his work in that line.
Mr. Allen also served for six years on the
county board of school examiners of Fulton county, and was
postmaster at Fayette for twelve years - 1865 to 1877.
He is usually a delegate to State Republican conventions,
and altogether takes an active part in political matters,
generally, in the county; in which connection it may be
mentioned that he is the only Republican among six brothers
in the Allen family.
In 1865 Charles L. Allen was married to Miss
Susan Gamber, a daughter of Henry Gamber, one of
the first settlers in this section, who platted the first
"lay-out" for the village of Fayette. She was born in
1847, in New York State, coming to Ohio when a child and was
educated in the public schools in Gorham township. Two
children were born to this union; Carrie B., at home;
and Elsie E., wife of Doctor Clare Campbell,
of Tedrow, Fulton county, Ohio.
As already intimated, Mr. Allen is a pronounced
Republican and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham
Lincoln in 1864. Socially, he is a charter member of
Gorham Lodge, No. 387, F. and A. M., and has filled most of
the chairs therein; also is connected with the K. of P. and
with Stout Post, No. 108 G. A. R., both of Fayette. He
and his wife are identified with the M. E. Church, and,
although non-communicants, give liberally of their means
towards its support.
Isaac Allen, father of our subject, was born, in
1794, in Enfield, Connecticut, and died in New York State in
1884. He was married in Connecticut to Miss Mary
Terry, a native of the same locality, who died in the
year 1876. The father traveled from Connecticut to
western New York State on foot, prior to the building of the
Erie canal. He served in the war of 1812. To
this honored pioneer couple were born ten children:
Chauncey, Isaac, Harriet, Mary, Julia, Joseph, Emily, Henry,
Charles and Arthur; of whom Harriet
died in 1898 and Emily in 1880. Henry
served during the war of the Rebellion in the One Hundred
and Fortieth New York Volunteer Infantry, entering his
company as sergeant, and after participating in all the
hard-fought battles his regiment was engaged in, returned
home with the rank of captain. |
|
RELMON D. AMSBAUGH, Gorham, Fayette, p. o., was born
in Richland county, in 1855 and was a son of
George I. and Lavina (Hopp) Amsbaugh, who were born in
Richland
county. Their parents were natives
of Pennsylvania.
George settled in Gorham in
1855, as a farmer. He had a family
of five children:
Rissa, Relmon D., Frances L., Cassius O.,
Jannie D. George and
Lavina were married May 3, 1851.
George was born Oct. 15, 1825, and
was a son of Adam and Tenia Amsbaugh, who were from Indiana
county, Penn.
Relmon D. was married Mar. 16, 1881,
to Estella E. Gay, who was born in
Gorham township, in 1858. They have
two children:
Willard Mace and
George L.
Estella was a daughter of
Willard E. and Adelia (Mace) Gay.
Adelia was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., in 1823, and her husband in
Herkimer county, N. Y., Mar. 27, 185.
They were married in 1842.
Mr. Gay settled in
Ohio, in 1841 and purchased his
farm and was married in Gorham township.
They two children: Theodore L. and Estella E. Mr. Gay died Dec. 2,
1880, and his wife, June 16, 1883.
Mr. Gay was an influential citizen. His parents settled in Gorham
township in 1839. His father was
born in 1778 and died in 1840, and his mother was born in 1785 and died in 1867.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos.,
Ohio Publ. 1888 644
|
|
ADAM ANDRE, Franklin, Tedrow p. o., one of the pioneer of Franklin, Fulton county, was bornin Luzerne county, Penn., in 1815, and was a son of Jacob and Mary (Bridinger) Andre, of Pennsylvania. They were of
German parentage and settled in Seneca county, O., in 1834, with a family of ten
children, where the parents died.
Six of the children are now living: Adam,
Jacob, Elizabeth, Edward, Susan, and
Rebecca. Those deceased are
Catharine, Peter, John and Mary. Adam settled in
Franklin township in 1845 and purchased a farm of eighty acres, for
which he paid four hundred and fifty dollars.
He now owns two hundred acres of the best farm land, and one hundred and
forty acres of well improved. He was
married in 1848 to Sarah Jane Provines,
who died in 1850, leaving one son, Thomas
J. He was married the second
time, Aug. 12, 1852, to Laura E. Rogers,
of Elmira.
They have had one son, Valorous P. Mr. Andre has held all of the
township offices; was justice of the peace for six years, treasurer, trustee,
supervisor, etc. His brother,
Edwin, served in the late war as a
first lieutenant.
Mr. Andre is a grower of graded stock
and makes a specialty of registered hogs.
He was an early carpenter and builder but now has retired.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio Publ.
1888 644
|
|
STEPHEN S.
ATKINSON, Dover, Ottokee p.o., superintendent of the county informary,
was born in Piscataquis county, Me., in 1824, and was a son of
Amos and Dorcas Ann Atkinson, who
settled in Medina county, O., in 1841, where they died,
Amos in 1884, at the age of ninety-six years. They
had a family of nine children, five of whom are now living:
Stephen S., Amos G., Celia A., Sarah J.
and Olive C. Stephen S. was
married in 1853 to Nancy
Bachelor, of Milan, Erie county.
They had a family of four children, two of whom are now living:
Mary Jane and
Fred Nathaniel. Mr. Atkinson settled in
Fulton county in 1860, came to Swan Creek and
served as justice of the peace for one term, and settled in Dover in 1886.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio
Publ. 1888 644
|
DAVID AYERS,
Dover, Tedrow p.o., one of the pioneers of Dover
township, was born in Wayne county, O., in 1828 and settled
in Dover in 1836 with his parents, Moses and Elizabeth
(Chrisman) Ayers. Elizabeth was born in Maryland
and her husband, Moses, in Pennsylvania. They
were married in Wayne county, O., in 1826, and had a family
of seven children: Solomon C., David,
Saphrona, Isabel, Gideon, Isaac and James P.
David and Gideon are the only ones now living.
Solomon C. was a physician and died Jan. 18, 1885,
leaving a widow and two children. Gideon
enlisted and served through the war, was wounded in an
Indian engagement. The mother Elizabeth, died
in 1855,and Moses died in Lenawee county, Mich., in
1884, at the age of seventy-nine years. Moses
was a justice of the peace for many years and also held
other town offices. His second wife was Altha
Southworth. David Ayres was married in 1858 to
Elizabeth Ann Bayes, who was born in Holmes county, in
1835. They have had three children: Aylett
W., Nettie O. and Merritt. Elizabeth was a
daughter of William and Mary (Tedrow) Bayes. Mr.
Ayers has been county treasurer for years, justice of
the peace for seventeen years, town clerk, town treasurer
and also held other minor offices. He is engaged in
general farming and now has a farm of two hundred and twenty
acres purchased on settlement in 1838, at one dollar twenty
five per acre.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos.,
Ohio Publ. 1888 644 |
DAVID AYERS, ESQ.
Among the pioneers of the territory that is now embraced
within the boundaries of Fulton county, was the family of
Moses Ayers, a former resident of Wayne county, but who
came to this locality in the year 1838. To the older
residents of this county the name of Mr. Ayers is
well known. He was a thorough, honest, intelligent and
respected farmer and one that contributed his full share in
the development of Dover township. His wife was
Elizabeth (Chrisman) Ayres. They had a family of
seven children, five boys and two girls.
Moses Ayres built a small tannery and conducted
it in connection with his farm work for some time.
This event is probably forgotten by many of the old
settlers, as it was done some fifty years ago. AT that
time Dover was a wild and uncultivated country, and Indians
were more numerous than whites, but they were quite friendly
and peaceable. The old tannery has long since gone to
decay, and the farm is now occupied by David Ayres,
who was the second child of this pioneer family.
David Ayers was born near Shreve, in Wayne
county, this State, on the 2d day of April 1828, and, at the
time of his father's settlement in this locality, was but
ten years of age. There was no school in Dover at that
time, so David, when old enough, was put at work in the
tannery, but the damp and unpleasant atmosphere told
severely against him, in fact, it was then thought that he
had not long to live. At the age of twenty years he
went to Adrian, Mich., and attended school for about six
months, after which he entered the Bethany College, in West
Virginia. Here he remained two and one-half years,
when his health failed and compelled him to return home.
It should be mentioned that the father of this young man was
very generous toward his children, and encouraged them in
every industrious effort; he gave them land to cultivate,
and a share in the profits of the tannery, and it was from
the sale of his share that David acquired means with
which to pay for his education.
In 1853 he went to California, induced to make the
journey in the hope of restoring health and strength, and,
in part, to acquire a fortune. The first, and perhaps
the most important, of these desires was realized, for his
physical strength was recovered, but in the acquisition of a
fortune his efforts were not so fully rewarded. He
worked a claim on the Yuba River for one fall season, and at
its close was just $500 out of pocket. He then engaged
in shingle making at $9 per thousand, but this price soon
declined. Still later he worked on a farm until the
year 1856, when he returned to Fulton county to reside.
Two years later, on the 18th of March, 1858, our subject was
married to Elizabeth Anna Bayes,
daughter of William W. Bayes, of Clinton
township. Of this marriage three children have been
born, all of whom are still living.
From the time of his return home from the far west to
the present day, David Ayers, has been a respected
resident of Dover township; but from this time must be
excepted the four years of his incumbency of the office of
county treasurer, during which he lived at Wauseon.
His farm is one of the best in Dover, and it was here that
his parents settled fifty years ago.
Mr. Ayers is a man of modest, quiet disposition
and temperament, yet possessed of firm convictions in
political and civil affairs. He has been, in no sense,
a seeker after office, still there are but few, if any, of
the offices of the township that he has not filled at the
request of his fellow-townsmen; and, in each and every
capacity in which he has been elected to serve, the people
have had the assurance of the selection of a faithful
official, one in whom they had confidence, and one by whom
no trust was ever violated. Such a reputation does
David Ayers bear among his townspeople, and throughout
the county. In the year 1871 he was a nominee of the
Republican party for the office of county treasurer, and at
the polls was elected by a good majority. His
administration of the affairs of this office showed that teh
honor was worthily bestowed, and upon its incumbent there
was no breath of suspicion. He proved a faithful
public servant, and discharged his duty to the entire
satisfaction, not only of his party, but of the people of
the whole county. Upon the expiration of his second
term, for he was re-elected in 1873, Mr. Ayres
returned to his comfortable farm home where he now resides.
In matters pertaining to religion Mr. Ayres is
connected with the Christian Church, of which he and his
family are members. He has been frequently chosen for
various church offices, and of his means has contributed
liberally toward defraying the expenses of building the
church edifice, and maintaining the good work of the
society.
Source:
Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton. Published at Chicago:
J. H. Beers & Co. 1899 - pgs. 599 & 600 |
|
FRANCIS M. BARNES, Clinton,
Wauseon p. o., a veteran soldier, was born in Holmes county, in 1843, and
enlisted in Company F, 68th
Ohio, in 1861, under
Colonel Steadman, served for three
years and one month. HE was wounded
and discharged and receives a pension for injuries received. He was married in 1863 to
Nancy F. Ditto. They have had a family of six
children: Clara Etta, Jennie O., Minnie
M., Mary C. F., Carrie E. and Emma Gertrude.
Nancy F. They had a
family of ten children, nine of whom are now living.
Francis M. Barnes was a son of
Leonard P. and Mary Ann (Day) Barnes
who were born in Harrisburgh,
Penn., and settled in
Clinton township, Fulton County,
O., in 1849.
Leonard P. died in 1880. They had a family of
twelve children, nine of whom are now living.
Three of the sons enlisted and served in the late war of the Rebellion. They were
W. C., Oliver P. and
Frances M.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio Publ.
1888 645
|
|
W. C. BARNES, Clinton, Wauseon p. o., was born in Holmes county in 1838, and settled in
Fulton county with his parents,
Leonard and Mary Ann (Day) Barnes,
who were born and married in
Harrisburgh,
Penn., and settled in Holmes county in 1846. They had a family of twelve children,
nine of whom are now living.
Leonard died in1880. Three of his sons enlisted and served
in the War of the Rebellion.
W. C. enlisted in the 14th
Ohio Regiment, in 1861 and served for five months. At the end of that time he was
discharged and enrolled in the home guards, furnished a substitute for the one
hundred day call. He was married in
1862 to Mary Jane Scott. They had a family of three children:
Henry A., Anna B. and
Jennie D.
Mary Jane was a daughter of
Henry and Amy (Graham) Scott, who were early settlers in Clinton, Fulton county, O.
Leonard Barnes purchased his
first homestead of eighty acres, for four hundred dollars. His son, W. C. new resides on this
old homestead of eighty acres, for four hundred dollars. His son,
W. G., now resides on the old
homestead.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio
Publ. 1888 645
|
JACOB
BARTLETT
Jacob Bartlett, farmer, post
office, Wauseon, Fulton County, Ohio
Source:
Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton. Published at Chicago:
J. H. Beers & Co. 1899) |
|
ELLIOTT BAYES,
Clinton, Wauseon p.o., a pioneer, was born in Clinton
township in 1840 and was a son of William
T. and Mary (Tedrow) Bayes, who
were born in Somerset county,
Penn., and married in Holmes county, O., and settled in Clinton, Fulton
county, in 1837, with one daughter,
Elizabeth. They had a family of
eight children, seven of whom are now living:
Elizabeth A., Jane, Elliott, Isaac F.,
Meek, Mary and Melissa. Two of the sons,
Elliott, and Isaac F., enlisted.
Mary died in 1869 aged fifty-four years and William W. died in 1885 aged seventy-six years.
William W. purchased farms from the
government, one of 160 acres, he paid $1.50 per acre. He owned 240 acres in all.
William W.s father, was
Thomas, who settled in
Clinton
and was a justice of the peace and also held other minor offices.
William was a prominent and
influential man, very active in all church affairs, services being held in his
house until they could find larger quarters.
The town elections were also held at his log house for several years,
such was the public spirit of the man.
Elliott Bayes was married in
1871 to Frances M. Bayes, a daughter
of Squire William and Nancy A. (Krutzer)
Fraker, of Clinton township. They have
a family of four children: Nellie Inez,
Harry M., Blaine G. and Mamie. Mr. Bayes has a farm of 85 acres
and owns a part of the old homestead farm.
He enlisted in the 130th Ohio Regiment on the one hundred days
call and served for five months, at the end of which time his regiment was
discharged.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio Publ.
1888 646
|
|
STEPHEN BAYES,
Clinton, Wauseon p.o., an early settler in Clinton township, was born in Holmes county, in 1829, and was a son of
James Wright and Elizabeth (Zeigler)
Bayes. Elizabeth was born in
Cumberland county and her husband in Somerset county, Penn. They were married in Holmes county in
1828, and with a family of five children settled in
Clinton in 1844. They had
eight children in all, six of whom are now living:
Stephen, Harriet, Sarah S., Parker, Margaret and
Philip. James died in 1886 at
the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife,
Elizabeth, died the same year aged
seventy-one years.
James was township treasurer and also held other minor offices.
He purchased his farm of 160 acres on settlement for $1.25 per acre, and
Stephen now occupies 110 acres of the same, and which is one of the best farms in the county.
Stephen
was married in 1858 to
Margaret Pocock who died in 1868 leaving a family of three children:
James A.,
Cora and
Carrie. He married his second wife,
Mrs. Phebe (Cornell) Teadrow in 1867. They have had two children,
Elizabeth M. and
Eliza Jane. Phebe had by her first husband,
Mr. Tedrow, two sons,
Myron B. and
Reasin L. The grandfather,
John Bayes, died in Holmes county; he
was born in Somerset county,
Penn.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio Publ.
1888 646
|
HENRY BECHSTEIN.
While Henry Bechstein was born in Swan Creek
Township in Jan., 1862, his parents were immigrants from
Germany. He is a son of Jacob and Anna (Goodlock)
Bechstein The father was born in 1833 in
Germany, but when he was about twenty years old he
immigrated to America. When he first came to the
United States he worked in a clay pit in Pennsylvania.
Later he worked eight years in Erie county, Ohio, where
he married and in 1858he bought a farm and removed to
Swan Creek Township.
In 1888 Henry Beckstein married Ella Biddle,
a daughter of Henry and Hannah Biddle.
There is one daughter, Florence, the wife of
H. T. Krauss, of Swan Creek. Another daughter,
Bertha, died in childhood The wife died in
1897, and Mr. Beckstein married again in 1899.
The second wife was Emma Wilhelm, a daughter of
David Wilhelm of Seneca county, Ohio. From
this marriage there is one daughter, Carmen.
For two years Mr. Bechstein lived on rented
land, then he bought thirty acres in the brush and
cleared it all but two acres, and from time to time he
has added to the farm until he now has 100 acres,
thirty-four acres still in timber. Mr.
Beckstein has good farm buildings, making all the
improvements himself. For a number of years he
worked as a carpenter, and for eight years he did mason
and cement work. In politics he is a democrat.
He has served the community as road supervisor, and the
family in identified with the Christian Union Church.
The outstanding facts in the career of Mr. Beckstein
are the industry and perseverance that enabled him to
perform the heavy work of clearing up new land in Fulton
county, making a fine farm, and, nevertheless, finding
time to serve his community in behalf of its good roads
and other matters connected with the general welfare.
Source: Standard History of Fulton County, Ohio - by The
Lewis Publishing Company - Chicago & New York - 1920 -
Page 325\\ |
|
JOHN H. BEILHARZ,
Gorham, Fayette p. o., was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1835, and was a son of
Tobias and Agatha (Smith) Bielharz, who emigrated to
America in 1846, and settled in
Fulton
county, which was then Williams.
They had a family of seven children, six of whom are now living:
Barbara, Margaret, Christina, John H.,
Eva and John H., was born in Fulton county.
They buried two sons at sea.
They were seventy-five days making the voyage over on the sailing vessel, and
nine deaths occurred on board.
John H. was married in 1863, to
Amanda Kingery, who was born in
Indiana, in
1843. They have had a family of
three children:
James I., Ninia Eva, and William T. Amanda wa a daughter of
John H. Kingery.
James I. graduated from the
commercial college, and Ninia E., is a student at the Normal School.
Tobias died in 1881 and his wife, Agatha, in 1882.
John H. now resides on the old homestead farm of sixty acres, which was purchased in 1856, at
which time they paid $5 per acre for it.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio Publ.
1888 647
|
|
EUGENE A. BELDING,
Gorham, Fayette p.o., was born in Gorham township, in 1854, and was a son of
William B. and Althea W. (Cottrell)
Belding. She was born in
Hampshire county, Mass., and settled with her parents in Gorham
township, in 1835. She wa a daughter
of Gorham and Althea (Whitmarsh) Cottrell,
who were married in 1810. They had a
family of eight children.
William B. was born in
Massachusetts,
and was a son of Amos and Marion (Fuller)
Belding, who were early settlers in Gorham, where
Amos and his wife died. They had a family of eleven children,
five of whom are now living: Charlotte,
Arthur W., Decatur, Mortimer, Benjamin F.
William B. was married in 1853 to
Miss Cottrell, who died in 1857, leaving two children,
Eugene A. and Florence I., now
Mrs. Miller. William B. settled in Gorham, in
1846, and died in 1878, leaving a widow by a second marriage.
Eugene A. was married in 1874, to Melissa M. Sweatland, who was born in 1854. They
have had four children: Althea M., Leola
E., Rial B., and Arlo V. Eugene A. now owns and occupies a
part of the old homestead of 40
acres, which was purchased in 1864.
They purchased a farm of thirty acres in 1846.
Melissa was a daughter of
Rial and Harriet Sweatland, early
settlers.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos., Ohio
|
|
JOHN H. BENIEN,
Oklona p.o., a general merchant, graindealer and shipper and engaged in farming
at Okolona, was born in
Hanover,
Germany in 1842. He emigrated to America in 1860, and settled in Henry county, where he became engaged in
teaching, having graduated in Germany.
In 1869 he took charge of the Okolona post-office, also was appointed
agent of the Wabash Railroad and the U. S. Express Company at the same place, in
connection with the general store business.
Complying with the demands of the citizens, he also built a steam
elevator of 12,000 bushels capacity, which is as yet in full blast under his
management.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio
|
|
BENJAMIN BIDDLE,
Wauseon, Wauseon p.o., a general hardware merchant and dealer in farm tools and
machinery; was born in
Wayne
county, O., in 1840; and was a son of
George and Nancy (Biddle) Lawrence, who were born in Pennsylvania, and
married in Wayne county, O. They
settled in Fulton county, in 1861, and in 1865 went to Clinton township, where
George died in 1877, leaving a widow
and eight children:
Henry, Benjamin, Jacob, John, George W., Nancy, Rachel and
Mary E.
Benjamin was married in 1863 to
Hester A. Trobridge, of Delta. They had a family of three children,
two of whom are now living: Cora and Harry.
Mr. Biddle served two terms as councilman. He settled in Wauseon in 1879, and
became engaged in the hardware business in 1881.
He was engaged in the mercantile business in Cleveland in 1867 and 1868, and in farming from 1869
to 1880.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos.,
Ohio
|
|
FLETCHER J. BISHOP, Chesterfield, Morenci, Mich. p.o., was born in Northumberland county, Pa., in1837, and was a son of
Cornelius and Catharine (Jones) Bishop. They had a family of ten
children, four of whom are now living:
William, Jeanette (now Mrs.
Mansfield) Fletcher J., Cordelia (Mrs. Baldwin). Catharine died Jan. 3, 1851.
Fletcher enlisted in Co. H, 3d Ohio Cavalry, in 1861, under
Colonel Zan, and served three years
and six months. He was married Aug.
22, 1865, to Julia A. Smith, who was
born in Suffolk
county, N. Y., in 1842. They have
had a family of seven children: Arthur
C., William H., Charles F., Birton J., Blanch S., Ralph C., Ernest E. Julia A. was a daughter of
Henry L. and
Eunice W. Smith, of New Jersey.
Henry L. died in 1865, leaving a
widow and nine children.
Mr. Bishop purchased his present homestead farm of 164 acres for which he paid $40 per acre,
and has erected a fine residence and farm buildings thereon.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos., Ohio
|
|
FRANK G. BLACKMAN, Clinton, Wauseon p.o., was born in Adrian, Mich., in 1847, and was a son
of Demmon and Jane (Shepard) Blackman,
of Connecticut, who settled in Michigan, where they died, leaving a family of
six children: Luther, Mary, Electa, Wilbur, Emma, and Frank G. Frank G. Blackman was married in 1881 to
Mary Woodward, who was born in
Liberty
township. They have had two
children, Wave and June. Mr. Blackman acquired the
photographers art and became engaged in the business, settling in Wauseon in
1879, where he opened his art gallery.
Source: History of Henry & Fulton
Cos., Ohio
|
|
ANGELO W.
BLAKE, Clinton, Wauseon p.o., was born
in Portage county, O., in 1836, and was a son of
Orrin and Caroline (Thomas) Blake,
who were married in Connecticut, and settled in
Portage
county, in 1826.
Orrin was born in 1802, and Caroline was born in
18__, and died in 1846, leaving a family of six children.
Orrin on settlement here purchased a
farm of 160 acres, and in 1859 Angelo W.
Blake settled in Clinton township on 80 acres of the tract, and which
is now one of the pleasant home farms in the county, being well improved and
having fine farm buildings. He was
married in 1861 in Esther Goodrich,
who was born in Lenawee county, in 1840.
They have had four children: Adah,
Hudson, Alice and Ella.
Source:
History of Henry & Fulton Cos., Ohio
Publ. 1888 648
|
LEANDER
BUXTON.
This truly representative citizen of Fulton county a
scientific farmer, a man of marked individuality and wide
experience, has for several years made his home in Section 3,
Town 10 S., Range 1 E., Franklin township.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Buxton was born October 1, 1842,
in Knox county, a son of John and Elizabeth (Todd) Buxton,
both natives of Maryland, the father born in June, 1804, the
mother on September 4, 1803. When John was a boy his
father moved the family from Maryland to Coshocton county,
Ohio, where they became pioneer settlers: Sons- Alvin,
Francis, John William, Noah and Thomas; daughters -
Susan and
Mary - all now deceased. The mother of these died in
Knox county, in 1858.
John and Elizabeth (Todd) Buxton were married in 1825,
in Coshocton county, and had a family of eleven children,
to-wit: (1) Francis married Rosana Pearson, and they live in
Knox county, Ohio, where he follows agricultural pursuits;
they have two children, Rev. E. O. Buxton, of Cincinnati,
being one of them. (2) Rebecca Ellen is the deceased
wife of S. A. Larason, of Delaware, Ohio; she left five
children - John (since deceased), Enseba M. (wife of a
Mr.
Parsons), of Delaware, Ohio; Almira E. (also married) is an
old school teacher; Alfred A. is also married; Sarah
Ellen is
a school teacher; and Edward (married) makes his home in
Xenia, Ohio. (3) Sarah Ann married Jacob Long, late of
Knox county, now deceased; she lives in Kansas; children -
John, Noah W., Benjamin, Newton and
Almira. (4) Noah W.
married (first) a Mrs. Butler, by whom he had two sons -
Dr.
John Butler, of Homer, Licking county, Ohio; and James, a
resident of Mt. Vernon; by his second marriage, with Miss
Candis Buxton, Noah W. had four children -
William, Ollis,
Mary (deceased) and Gertrude. (5) Mary
Jane wedded a Mr.
Frazier. (6) Minerva is deceased. (7)
John W.
(Rev.) is a minister of the Gospel at Yuba City, California.
(8) Louisa married (first) a Mr. Montour, and (second)
Erastus Bell, of Xenia. (9) Thomas
W. lives in Utica,
Ohio. (1) Leander is our subject. (11) Elizabeth
(twin of Leander) died in infancy. The father of this
family is his younger days was a blacksmith by trade, later
following farming in Knox county, Ohio, where he settled in
1839. He was ordained a minister of the M. E. Church,
and preached on Sundays, the rest of the week being devoted to
labor. Politically he was first a Whit, later a
Republican.
Leander Buxton received his education in Knox county,
Ohio, and at the age of sixteen commenced life for his own
account, working on farms at thirteen dollars per month.
After his marriage (which will presently be referred to) he
and his wife located temporarily on a farm in Knox county,
thence moving to Morrow county, where he enlisted, in 1863, in
Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, one of the regiments that did guard duty near
Washington. At the close of the war, in 1865, Mr. and
Mrs. Buxton settled on their present farm in Franklin
township, Fulton county, which he cleared and improved with
good substantial buildings. He now owns ninety acres,
having sold eighty.
On Christmas Day, 1861, Leander Buxton was united in
marriage with Miss Mary J. Brown, a native of Knox county,
Ohio, born in 1837, a daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Larison)
Brown, highly respectable farming people of Knox county, both
now deceased. To our subject and his wife have been born
three children, a brief record of them being as follows:
(1) Florence A., born July 18, 1862, was married to Rev. D. L.
Woods of Ohio, and they have two children - Homer E. and
David
Elmer. (2) Xalia A. married Robert R.
Johnson, of
Detroit, Michigan; have one son - Harvey Leroy. (3)
Elmer E. wedded Rhoda Prickett, and they have two children -
Henry Leland and Florence; they live in Detroit, Michigan.
In his political preferences our subject is a
Republican, has served in various township offices; was a
justice of the peace some eighteen years; and in 1896 was
elected county commissioner for a three-years' term.
Socially he is affiliated with the K. of P. and G. A. R.
In religious faith he and his wife are members of the Baptist
Church, and they rank among the leading and most influential
citizens of Fulton county.
Source:
Commemorative Biographical Records of Northwestern Ohio
including the counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams & Fulton. Published at Chicago:
J. H. Beers & Co. 1899) |
| |
| |
| . |
| . |
|
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
FULTON 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 |
|
|
