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 #4: Portrait and
Biographical Record of Marion and Hardin Counties, Ohio - 1895 -
page 435) |
