FENTON GARWOOD.  Among the worthy farmers of Hardin County, it is but just to say that Mr. Garwood occupies a conspicuous and honorable place, for he has always been honest, industrious and enterprising, and as a result he has met with more than ordinary success.  He is a man well known in agricultural circles, and is recognized as a careful, energetic farmer, who by his advanced ideas has done much to improve the farming interests of Pleasant Township.  Though with advancing years he has been obliged to abandon much of the manual labor in which he formerly engaged, he still maintains a general supervision of his estate, and its valuable improvements are due largely to his intelligent oversight.
     Born near Zanesfield, Logan County, Ohio, Sept. 26, 1819, the subject of this sketch is the son of Jesse and Sidney (Gregg) Garwood.  His father, who was born in Crawford County, Pa., about 1785, was reared in the place of his birth, and after arriving at man's estate went to visit an uncle in Fayette County.  There he married Miss Gregg about 1814, and after the birth of a child he brought his family to Ohio, in 1816, settling in Logan County, six miles east of Bellefontaine.  In 1832 he moved to Wyandot County, making his home near Upper Sandusky for three years.  Thence in 1835 he came to Hardin County and settled in Marion Township, but after ten or twelve years he moved to Henry County, where he died at the age of seventy-six.  His life occupation was that of an agriculturist, in which he met with success.  During the War of 1812 he rendered loyal service as a soldier, enlisting in Crawford County, Pa.
     The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Garwood, was born in Pennsylvania, probably in Fayette County.  He was a skilled sportsman, and retained his mental vigor and physical strength to an advanced age.  About 1824 he visited his son Jesse in Logan County, Ohio, and bought some land there, but never settled in this state.  During the Indian War he served as Captain.  His death occurred in Lake County, Ill., where he had moved  His body was taken to Pennsylvania for interment, and our subject has seen his grave when on a visit there.  The lady whom he married was Miss Hannah Fenton.  She accompanied her parents to this country, settling in Kentucky.
     The great-grandfather of our subject, Obed Garwood, was a descendant of one of the three Garwoods who came from England to America in company with William Penn.  The family for many generations was identified with the Society of Friends, and our subject's parents worshiped with the Quakers in Logan County.  The mother of our subject was born in Fayette County, Pa., Jun e17, 1787, and died May 6, 1831.  She was a daughter of Nimrod and Catherine (Johnson) Gregg, who spent their entire lives in Pennsylvania and there died.  Of their family of eight children, Sidney was the next to the eldest.
     The parental family numbered nine children, named as follows: Bani G., who died in Marion Township, Hardin County; Isaac, who died in Kansas about 1883; Fenton; Acenity, who died in Iowa; Hannah, a resident of Ada, Ohio; Joseph who passed away in Minnesota; Lydia, wife of Jacob Snyder, of Iowa; Catherine, widow of James Williams, and a resident of Ada, Ohio; and Cynthia, wife of Havilla Bowles, a veteran of the Civil War.
     In youth our subject attended school in Logan County.  At the age of sixteen he accompanied his parents to Upper Sandusky, where he worked on a farm until twenty-three yeas of age.  After his marriage he began farming upon an eighty-acre tract belonging to his father, and situated in Marion Township, Hardin County.  Six or seven years were spent on that place, and he then moved to Iowa and purchased a farm sixteen miles above the city of Des Moines, on the river of that name.  He engaged in tilling the soil there nine years, and in the summer of 1862 returned to Hardin County and bought a farm in Lynn Township.  In 1874 he purchased the farm where he has since resided.  This consisted originally of one hundred and sixty acres, but he has disposed of a portion of the property to his son, an intelligent and capable young farmer, who superintends the home place.
     Nov. 15, 1842, Mr. Garwood was united in marriage with Miss Lyons, their wedding being solemnized in Marion Township.  This estimable lady was the elder of two daughters born to William and Sarah (Garver) Lyons.  She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in June, 1825, and died in Lynn Township, Hardin County, Feb. 16, 1873.  In religious belief she was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in that faith she reared her children.  In politics Mr. Garwood is a Republican, having supported the principles of that party since its organization.  Among the local offices which he has filled are those of School Director and Supervisor.
     The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Garwood resulted in the birth of eleven children.  Sidney, a daughter, and the eldest of the family, died in infancy.  Sarah Ann married Silas Rohr of Holt County, Neb.  Jesse passed from earth when an infant.  Eucebia, Mrs. Joseph Kahley, lives in southwestern Iowa.  Nancy, wife of Robert Bennett, makes her home in Lincoln County, S. Dak.  William lives on a farm adjoining the old homestead.  Sibyl is the wife of Henry Gordon, of Loup County, Neb.  Usher, who was born Jan. 19, 1857, is a successful agriculturist, and is assisting his father in the management of the home place; he married, Jan. 21, 1886, Miss Minerva Obenour, who was born in Hardin County, Ohio, Jan 21, 1862.  Lydia died in girlhood.  Harriet is the wife of John Wass, of Lincoln County, S. Dak.  Obed, the youngest of the family, lives in Kenton.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Marion and Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895 - page 435

Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Marion and Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895 - page

Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Marion and Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895 - page 211

JOHN O. GORDON, who is greatly honored as a veteran of the Civil War, is an extensive and land-owner of Marion Township, Hardin County, his home place being located on section 2.  Throughout the county he is regarded as an enterprising and practical agriculturist, one who has succeeded in his various undertakings far beyond his expectations.
     Mr. Gordon was born in Ashland County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1833.  His father, George Gordon, was of Scotch descent, and died in Pennsylvania, a few months prior to the birth of our subject.  Mrs. Gordon soon afterward came to this state in company with a brother, and lived here until  her decease.  She was known in maidenhood as Hannah Clinker, and was born in Monroe county, Pa., in 1801.
     To George and Hannah were born five children, those besides our subject being Joseph, George W., Harrison and Mary Elvira.  Mrs. Gordon was married a second time, and by this union had two children.
     Our subject grew to mature years in Ashland County, and until fourteen years of age prosecuted his studies in the subscription schools.  About this time occurred an unpleasant scene with his stepfather, and he decided to leave home, which he did, bare-footed and without a hat.  He hired out to work for a tanner at Ashland, receiving $6 per month, his duty being to grind bark.  He remained in his employ for two months, after which he worked for a stepbrother for two seasons, driving a span of horses hitched to a threshing-machine.  After that he continued to live with his stepbrother, working at farming for several seasons, and when there was no longer need for his services hired out by the day to other farmers in the neighborhood.
     Apr. 3, 1854, our subject left Ashland County, bound for California.  He crossed the plains with a wagon train, reaching Sacramento City August 29.  He joined his stepbrother and worked for him for a time; then the two entered into partnership and farmed for one season.  After disposing of their crop they started for the mines in Nevada County, Cal.  They had very fair luck, and continued in one place for four years, engaged in placer-mining.  Then they returned home, remaining for one winter, when they retraced their steps to the Golden State, and spent the following year in buying and selling ponies.  At the end of that time they again came to Ohio, and in December, 1860, our subject settled in Cessna Township, Hardin County, purchasing seventy-one acres of land.  He made his home there until after the close of the war, when he disposed of his property, and became the owner of another tract in the same township.  In September, 1867, he bought eighty acres on section 2, and lived upon it until 1894, when he added to it fifty-five acres adjoining. This estate he occupied until the fall of 1894, when he removed into a large brick house which he had just built.  Mr. Gordon owns besides this tract twenty acres adjoining, and a tract of one hundred and twenty acres, near which place his wife also owns a farm of eighty acres.
     In the fall of 1864 our subject enlisted in the Union army, as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio Infantry.  The regiment was first assigned to guard duty in Tennessee, thence was ordered to Washington, then through Virginia to Kingston, N. C., where occurred the first battle in which it participated.  It later went to Washington, D. C., and passed in review before President Lincoln, after which the One Hundred and Eightieth was mustered out and discharged at Columbus, Ohio.
     Mr. Gordon was married, Apr. 7, 1864, to Miss Sarah, daughter of John L. and Nancy (Brown) Snider.  She was born in Hardin County, Ohio, Feb. 4, 1843.  Her father was the son of John and Mary (Antebus) Snider, natives of Pennsylvania.  Nancy Brown was the daughter of John and Martha (Carpenter) Brown, Virginians by birth.  Of their family of five daughters, Mrs. Gordon was the youngest.  The others were Minerva Jane, Margaret Ann, Parmelia Elizabeth and Mary Dorinda.
     Mrs. Gordon is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.   In politics our subject is a Democrat, and has been Director of his school
district.  They took into their home to rear Sadie Artist, who was born in this county, Nov. 14, 1873.  She is now the wife of William Henry Hetrick and they reside on a farm belonging to our subject.  The father of the latter was a soldier in the War of 1812, holding a commissioned office.  He died later from the effects of a wound received while in the service.  He was a noted teacher in his district and was engaged at that vocation the day of his death.  His wife departed this life Feb. 7, 1862.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Record of Marion and Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895 - page 312