THE early
settlers were principally from Jefferson and Belmont
Counties. They were generally Friends, or with a
leaning toward that faith. They were an unusually
upright and worthy class of settlers, and their
posterity are likewise honorable, honest and good
citizens. The first farms taken up were those
along Wolf Creek and on or near the old Harmar and
Lancaster road.
Among the earliest settlers were Samuel Howard,
William, Abner and John Widger, David Winnor,
Sr., David Winnor, Jr., James McLain, Samuel King,
Robert Todd, Isaac Davis, Joseph Mills, Thomas Nash,
Asahel Tompkins, Joseph King, James Harris, John
Simpson, Thomas Ackerson, Michael King, William Hawkins,
Richard Stilyeas, Samuel Work, John Harris, Jacob
Hummel, James Ackerson, Abel Gilbert, Charles Howard,
Nathan Sid well, John Sid well, Nathan Sidwell, Jr.,
all of whom were voters at the first election held on
the 24th of July, 1819. This first election was
for the purpose of choosing a justice of the peace, and
was held in obedience to the following
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order of the court of common pleas, made and recorded
July 7th, 1819:
“ Whereas, it appears that our commissioners of Morgan
County have set off a new township by the name of Penn:
Ordered, that said township be entitled to two justices
of the peace; and that the qualified electors of said
township be authorized to assemble at the house of
John Harris, in said township, on Saturday,
the 21th instant, for the purpose of electing one or
more justices of the peace.”
The voters availing themselves of the privilege, met
and chose Charles Howard as justice. Michael
King, James Harris and Thomas
Nash served as judges of the election; and Samuel
Harris and Charles Howard clerks.
Twenty-nine votes were cast, twenty-seven of them for
Howard.
James McLain, Isaac
Davis, James Warren and John Harris, Jacob
Hummel, Jonathan Pierpoint, Abel King and others
were pioneers along Wolf Creek. Others, scattered
through the township on the lulls and among them, were
the following early settlers whose names are not
included in the foregoing list of voters: James
Campbell, Benjamin Jennings, John White, John Shaw,
Samuel Smith, James Gribb, Anthony Hamble, Nimrod
Williams, Caspar Strahl, John Plummer, Samuel Embree,
Isaac Clendenin, Joseph Barclay, John Rusk, Jesse
Howard, Alexander Gifford, Marvin Gifford, William
McPeak, Richard McPeak, Wells White, John R. Collins,
John Baker and Zachariah Nash, all prior to 1825.
The next decade brought the Penroses, Matsons,
Pidgeons, Harmers and many other families which are
still well represented in the township.
The county commissioners at their June session in 1828
ordered “that sections
25 and 26 in township number 8, range 13, now attached
to Penn township, be attached to and constitute a part
of Union township; also that the west fraction of
section 31 in township 10, range 11, be attached to and
constitute a part of Penn township.”
Richard McPeak
was
somewhat peculiar in his manner of speech, having a
perceptible lisp. One day he was out looking for
some stray swine, and meeting a hunter, the following
conversation took place:
“ Good morning, Mr. McPeak.”
“Good morning, thir. Have you theen any thin' of
two thowth and pigth?" "Two thousand pigs!
Why, McPeak, I never saw so many in my life, at
one time." "I didn't thay two thousand pigth; I
thaid two though and pigth" But the hunter
could not or would not understand that less than two
thousand pigs were being asked for.
Nathan Sidwell, the founder
of
Pennsville, was among the earliest permanent settlers locating in the township
in 1813. He was in good circumstances
and entered a large tract of
land lying adjacent to the town of
Pennsville, upon which are now some
of the best improved farms in the township.
Like most of the early settlers,
he was a Friend. He died in the township. His sons were
John, Gabriel, Nathan and Jesse. One of his daughters
was Rebecca (Llewellyn).
John
Plummer, who came at about the same time with
Sidwell, was another prominent pioneer. He died
quite early. He also had quite an extensive tract
of land which lay to the north of Pennsville.
About the year 1813 John
Simpson, originally from Frederick County, Md.,
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in the vicinity of Baltimore, brought his wife from
Belmont County and settled upon an unimproved tract of
land adjoining the present village of Pennsville.
This family had their full share of pioneer experiences,
and endured all of the inconveniences incident to life
in a new country. Mr. Simpson lived
to the age of 87, and witnessed wonderful changes in the
country which he first saw as a wilderness. He
died in 1873. He was married in Belmont County in
in 1811 to Sarah Elmore, a native of North
Carolina. The children of John and Sarah
Simpson were Robert, deceased; Ann (Bain),
still a resident of Penn Township; Austin E., who
died in Indiana; William, who died in Nebraska;
Sibilla (Dodge), who died in Vinton
County, Ohio; two daughters, each named Asenath,
who died young; Gorilla, who died in Penn
Township; and Mary J. (White), now living in
Pennsville. Mrs. Simpson died in
1861.
Robert Simpson
was a farmer and died in this township about 1858.
He married Ann Bain and was the father of
Sarah, Harriet, Rhoda, William,
Almeda, Luther B., John S., M. Fillmore,
Elmore and Robert E. Of these
Sarah, Luther, John and Fillmore are still
living.
J. S. Simpson
has been in the mercantile business in Pennsville
since 1870. He was born in 1848, and married
Jane Penrose. Children: Robert J., Mary P.,
Anna (deceased), Ethelyn G., Charles O.
and Janet.
John Pierpoint
was an early settler. Prior to 1830 he erected on
Wolf Creek the first mill in the township, where Abie’s
mill now is. He was a Friend and a man of great
benevolence. It is said of him that in times when
money was scarce he would ask those who came to buy meal
of him if they had money, and if they had he would
refuse to sell to them, preferring to supply instead
those who were poor and whose needs were greater.
He was the father of Benjamin, William,
John and Eli Pierpoint. Later
Samuel King had a horse mill near Pennsville.
In 1817
James
McLain settled in this township near
Pennsville. He afterwards moved to Homer Township,
where he is still living at an advanced age. His
father-in-law, Charles Howard was the
first justice of the peace in Penn township.
Daniel McIntire,
an
early settler, sold out to Thomas and Joshua Plummer.
Wells White, Simeon Evans
and the Kings were early settlers.
Guernsey County furnished its
quota of the early settlers of Morgan, and among those
who came in the year 1821 was Michael King and
family, who settled in Penn Township about one mile and
a half from the village of Pennsville, where he
purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land.
His location was evidently very satisfactory, indeed,
for he died upon the farm on which he was the original
settler. He had a family of nine children who came
into the county. Abel was twelve years of
age. He was reared in Penn and resided there until
the year 1839, when he went to Washington County.
He married, in 1831, Miss Mary Doane. She
was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Muskingum
County with her people in 1824. They have reared a
family of eight children, four of whom are residents of
the county. Six of the sons served their country
in the war of the rebellion. John was a
member of the 36th O. V. I.; Milton and Nathan,
39th O. V. I. Abel was a member of
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the 7th West Va. cavalry; Benajah, Co. H., 148 O.
V. I.
Eli Matson
settled
near Pennsville in 1830. For many years he was
class leader in the M. P. Church.
Robert Kirby
settled on the farm now known as the Garrison farm in
1831. His son Finley is one of the old
residents.
Nimrod Williams
who left the township in the early years of its
settlement, was a noted character. He was a
practical joker, and at raisings, log-rollings,
corn-huskings and other similar gatherings, contributed
largely to the merriment and jollity incident to such
occasions.
Eli Smith,
one of the
pioneers of this township, came from Fayette County,
Pa., and settled in Penn in 1821. He died in 1885
at the ripe old age of 93 years.—See
biography.
James Hummel one of
the early settlers, came to this township in 1816, and
died in 1852. He married Lavina Smith and
they had eleven children — Isaac, Julia A.,
Elizabeth, Sarah, Ellen, William, Mary, Alfred, Jane
and Lewis.
Amos Pidgeon
settled on the farm now occupied bv his son, J. W.
Pidgeon, in 1832. He was a native of Maryland,
and came to this county from Jefferson County. In
Jefferson County he married Ann Plummer,
also a native of Maryland. Mr. Pidgeon
took up a farm on which a slight improvement had
previously been made by Robert Todd. He
died in 1861 in his 69th year; and his wife in 1885 in
her 94th year. They had three children, all born
in Jefferson County—Harriet (Hammond),
residing in Jefferson County; Joseph W., Penn
Township; John, deceased. Mr. and Mrs.
Pidgeon were members of the Friends’ Society.
J. W. Pidgeon
was born in Jefferson County in 1824, and
came to Morgan County with his parents. He is a
prominent and successful farmer. He was engaged in
mercantile business at Chester Hill and Stockport for
about twelve years, but has been a farmer for thirty
years. He was married in 1851 to Elizabeth
Bye, a native of Belmont County, daughter of
Jonas Bye, who came to Morgan County in 1839.
Children: John S., Amos, William A., Charles
E. b is a republican and a Friend.
At present he is one of the trustees of the Children’s
Home. Mr. Pidgeon plainly remembers the
days of his boyhood when deer and wild turkeys were
frequently seen around the house; also the trips to mill
at Little Ludlow ; and the rude agricultural implements
in use fifty years ago. He owned the first single
mower in Morgan County, purchasing it about 1848.
In 1832 butter was
worth but a “fi’penny bit” (6¼
cents) per pound; eggs three or four cents per dozen;
calico cost fifty cents per yard, and a dress of that
material was more valued by a farmer’s daughter of that
day than the finest silk would be to-day.
In the neighborhood of the Pidgeons in 1832,
lived Thomas Penrose, Jacob Rogers, Thomas Bundy,
William Geddis, a veritable pioneer and hunter.
The first schoolhouse in the same neighborhood was of
round beech logs, daubed with clay. It was
furnished in the old style. Jesse Webster,
an early teacher, carried a hickory stick under his arm
continually, and used it freely.
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The
name of Penrose is common in Morgan County and
everywhere of good repute. The Penroses are
descended from Thomas and Sarah Penrose, natives
of Pennsylvania, the former of English and the later of
Irish descent. They were Friends who came to
Jefferson County, Ohio, and thence, in 1830, to Morgan
County. They had a large family all born in
Jefferson County: Mahlon, Richard, James,
Thomas, John, and Joseph; Mrs. Stanton and
Sarah A. (Griffin). All the above, except
Mahlon and Mrs. Stanton, settled in Morgan
County. All are now deceased, except Joseph,
who is at present a resident of Washington County.
All were farmers except John, who became a
prominent business man of Pennsville.
Richard Penrose, son of Thomas, came in
1829, settling on eighty acres of land. He first
came out with his brother and built a cabin, being
occupied
a week in that labor, then removed his family, consisting of his wife and
one child to it. He was married in
Jefferson County to Elizabeth Swickard.
He first settled on a farm near Wolf
Creek, now owned by T. E. Penrose,
afterwards moving to a location south
of Pennsville. He died in 1883, in the
eighty-second year of his age. His
five children are all living: Joseph, Jason,
Barclay, Hannah (Steer) and Mary (Santee).
Jason Penrose, a
farmer, living near Pennsville, was
born in this township in 1832. He
married Martha Harmer and they
four children: Charles B., Rachel, William H. and
Hannah S.
John Penrose was born in Jefferson County, in
1807 and died in Pennsville in 1856. He learned
blacksmithing in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and worked at his
trade for some years in Pennsville, where he settled in
1830.
Afterwards he engaged in the
mercantile business, at first having
his former employer, Joseph Lawrence,
for his partner. Later he bought Mr. Lawrence’s interest and conducted
the business successfully until his death.
He was a good man and much esteemed.
He married Anna Crew in Jefferson
County. Children: Sarah E. (Halaman),
Hannah (Maule), Thomas E. and John
A. The name of his second wife was Hannah Lightfoot, and their children
were Mary (Simpson,) deceased; Jane (Simpson,) and
Charles. The latter is
a prominent merchant of Chester Hill.
Thomas E. Penrose is the oldest male resident of
Pennsville, in which place he has resided since his
birth in 1837. He early became acquainted with the
mercantile business, clerking in his father's store.
After the decease of his father he took charge of the
business (1856) and has since conducted it. In
1859 he married Susan Metcalf, of the county,
daughter of Jesse Metcalf, an early settler.
She died in 1862; and in 1864 he married Mary R.
Griffith, a native of Pennsylvania. Children:
Jessie and Edith. Mr. Penrose has
probably held the office of postmaster longer than any
other man in MOrgan County, having been continuously in
that position since he was first appointed in 1859.
The pioneers managed to get along against disadvantages
which no modern farmer could tolerate. When
John Penrose erected his blacksmith shop in
Pennsville, there was only one team in the neighborhood
- that belonging to John Simpson He and his
assistants carried all the timbers they could
conveniently to the spot where the shop was to be
erected, then procured Simp-
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son's team to move some of the heavier logs.
William Foulke
was a prominent early settler, and a member of the
Society of Friends. He was the father of J. R
and William Foulke, formerly lawyers and editors of
McConnelsville, but now of Minneapolis, Minn.
John Bain was
comparatively an early settler and is still a resident
of the township. He has represented the county in
the legislature and been otherwise prominent in public
affairs.
William Milhous
was born in Belmont County, Ohio in 1811, and came to
Morgan County when it was still wild and sparsely
settled. He first settled in Malta Township and
afterwards moved to a location between Pennsville and
Chester Hill, where he engaged in making threshing
machines, the first ever built in the neighborhood, and
perhaps the first in the county. He studied
medicine with Dr. Huestis, of Chester
Hill, engaged in practice at that place, and continued
for several years. He next became a clerk and
afterward a captain on steamboats navigating the
Muskingum and Ohio rivers. The next move in his
varied career was when he became a traveling salesman
for a Philadelphia wholesale house, and while in that
position he enlisted in the late war in Company C, First
(West) Virginia infantry, of which he was chosen
captain. He was taken prisoner and exchanged
sometime afterwards. In 1864 he returned to Morgan
County and located in McConnelsville. In 1866 he
removed to the vicinity of Pennsville. From 1876
to 1871 he was a resident of Zanesville. He then
returned to Pennsville, where he died Aug. 31, 1884.
He was one of the early abolitionists and an engineer on
the underground railroad. He was a republican and
a Universalist. He was married in Belmont County
to Mary Lightfoot. She died Dec. 25,
1881, aged 67 years. They had four children, only
one of whom—Jane—lived to mature years. She now
resides in Pennsville.
William Llewellyn
came from Delaware County, Pennsylvania, to
Muskingum county Ohio, and then in 1830 to Penn
Township, Morgan County. His son Thomas,
one of the oldest residents of the township, now resides
in Pennsville.
Perry Llewellyn
came a little later to this township, where he died in
1879. The Llewellyns were Friends.
Parry married Rebecca Sid well, and was the father
of Elizabeth (Coler), Baker,
Sidwell (dead), Mary (Hooper),
Caroline (Hooper), Melissa (Parsons),
Jesse and Maggie A. (Waterman).
Isaac Harris, a
native of Pennsylvania, was of English and German
descent. He emigrated from Pennsylvania to
Williamsburg, West Virginia, and from thence to Licking
County, Ohio, about the year 1808. After a
residence of about twelve years in Licking County, he
came with his family, which consisted at the time of his
wife and six children—William, John,
Edward, Sarah Anna, Samuel and
Elizabeth— to the southeast quarter of Union
Township, where he entered a quarter section of land,
which lie improved and upon which he built a mill which
was so constructed that it could be run by horses when
there was not a sufficient quantity of water. In
1829 he went to Illinois, but returned the following
year and purchased a tract of new land in the western
part of the township. He died in Penn in 1831.
He was one of the most prominent pio-
Page 384 -
neers in this section of the township. Of his family
only three are living in the county— John, Samuel
and William. William, the older of
the sons, resides in Pennsville. John and
Samuel are among the prominent farmers of the
township, and reside upon land purchased by their father
in 1830. They have identified themselves
prominently with the township. Both were born in
Licking County.
In 1830
Aaron Mendenhall
came to
Morgan County, and settled on the farm where his son
Joseph now resides. With him came his family,
consisting of his wife and eight children—Elizabeth,
Isaac, Joseph, Rachel, Thirza,
Lydia, Naomi and Edith. Israel
and Lewis were born in Morgan County. The
farm was entered by Jacob Hummel, one of
the pioneers of the township, who made a little
improvement. On this farm the elder Mendenhall
resided until his decease, which occurred in 1864 in
the eighty-eighth year of his age. Joseph
was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1817, and married
for his first wife Miss Rosanna Kane.
She was born in Harrison County, and died about 1844.
Three years later Mr. Mendenhall was again
married to Miss Mary Thorp. They
have nine children living. Mr.
Mendenhall has been identified with the development
of the township for over half a century. For
sixteen years he has been one of its magistrates.
He is a member of the Society of Friends.
James Michner
was one of the early settlers of Penn
Township. He was a Friend, and came from
Pennsylvania, of which state he was a native, to
Muskingum County in 1832. In 1837 he came to Penn
Township, and bought the farm on which his daughter,
Mrs. Rebecca Manly, now resides. He married
Miss Margaret Foulk, and reared a family of four
children—Rebecca, Sarah, Mary and Aseneth.
Rebecca was born near Stroudsburgh, and came to Ohio
with her parents. In 1845 she was married to
William H. Manly. He was born in 1804, in
Cecil County, Virginia, and came to Morgan County about
1838 and settled in Penn Township, where he died in
1879. He was a miller by trade and an exemplary
man in every respect.
Marvin Gifford
came from Kennebec County, Maine, and settled
in Marion Township about 1818. The journey was
made by wagon and was attended by many hardships.
His first location was on the farm since known as the
Calvin Parker farm. After a
residence of two years he came to Penn Township and
purchased the farm now owned by his son Jesse.
The original settler on this land was a man by the name
of Moses Campbell; Mr. Gifford,
however, improved it and became one of Penn’s most
prominent citizens. He died in 1867, aged
seventy-eight years. In his religious convictions
he was a Friend and exemplified in his daily life the
tenets of this faith. Although in limited
circumstances when he came to the county, he accumulated
by industry and economy a well-won competency. He
was a native of Massachusetts. His wife,
Abigail Bailey, was born in Virginia.
Edwin Newsom
came
from Belmont County when a young man and settled on the
north half of section one. He kept “bachelor’s
hall,” improved his farm and after having made the
necessary preparations for the reception of a bride he
married Miss Anna M. Barlow, a native of
Richmond, Va., but
William H. Manly
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residing at the time in Penn. They reared a family
of ten children. William is living on the
old homestead where he was born in 1840. In 1866
he married Miss Sarah Vincent for
his first wife. His present wife, nee Emma Van
Fossen, was born in Bristol Township, in 1844.
Among
the early settled farms in Penn Township is that
formerly known as the Thompson farm. Its
present owner, Mr. Amos A. Hotchkiss, is the son
of Calvin Hotchiss, who settled in Union Township
in 1837, where his son Amos was born in April, of
the following year, and where he lived until 1855, when
he went to Malta Township. He married Miss
Sarah M. Manly, daughter of William H. Manly,
one of the prominent farmers of this county. They
have been blessed with a family of nine children, eight
boys and one girl. Mr. Hotchkiss is classed
among the leading and successful farmers of the
township.
Calvin Hotchkiss
residing at the time in Penn. They reared a
family of ten children. William is living
on the old homestead where he was born in 1840. In 1866
he married Miss Sarah Vincent for
his first wife. His present wife, nee Emma Van
Fossen, was born in Bristol Township, in 1844.
Robert
Wetherell and his wife, nee
Elizabeth Winn, were the first settlers on the
southeast quarter of section thirty-six. Ho came
from Durham County, England, and for a time resided in
Jefferson County, where he was married in October of
1836. Just previous to his marriage he had visited
Morgan County and entered his land, which he improved.
He led a successful and useful life, and identified
himself with the best interests of the county. His
decease occurred Dec. 20, 1875. His wife survived
him nearly four years. They left a family of three
children, Joseph, Alice and Mary.
The latter is deceased.
Benjamin Bailey
came from Belmont County, O., and settled in the
northeast corner of the township. With him came
his family, consisting of his wife and children, some
twelve in number, all of whom settled around him and all
ultimately became heads of families. He died in
1866, aged seventy-six years. Two of his sons,
Alexander and Benjamin, reside on the old homestead.
Alexander married Harriet Clemens, of
Malta, where she was born in 1834. Her mother was
one of the pioneer women of the county and at this time
one of its oldest living residents; something of her
history will be found in the history of Malta Township.
Samuel Fawcett
was born in Belmont County, O., in 1817; his parents
were natives of Georgia and reared a family of fifteen
children. In 1838 Samuel was married to
Miss Mary A. Harmer, and two years later came to
Morgan County and settled three miles south of
Chesterfield; after a residence of eight years he
removed to Iowa, from whence he returned to Morgan
county and purchased the far on which he now resides
In 1876 his first wife died and in the following year he
married Miss Patience Gifford. Mr. Fawcett
is a Friend, and has been a successful business man and
is numbered among the prominent citizens of Penn
Township.
Page 386 -
ness man and is numbered among the prominent citizens of
Penn Township.
The Embree Family
were originally from Chester County, Pa. About the
year 1800 they removed to the State of Maryland,
Baltimore County, where Jesse Embree was
born in the year 1808. In 1812 the family came to
Jefferson County, O., where the elder Embree
purchased a farm, upon which he resided until 1825. When
he came to Morgan County he purchased the farm now owned
by Samuel King, in Malta Township, upon
which he resided until his decease, in 1838. He
was a member of the Society of Friends and an exemplary
man in every respect. In 1835 Jesse married
Miss Mary Dennis and in 1851 moved
to Penn Township and settled on the farm now owned by
his son James, who was born in Malta in 1849.
Mrs. Jesse Embree was born in
Baltimore County, Md., in 1810. In 1833 her father
settled in Marion. He was the original purchaser
of the land upon which he lived until his death, which
occurred in 1838. He was a Friend and a gentleman
highly esteemed by all who knew him. They reared a
family of nine children: Philip D., Lydia A., Hannah
D., Sarah J., Phebe P., Maria B., Rebecca J., James
and Charles R.
Levi Thompson
was one of the early settlers in Marion Township.
He entered eighty acres of Government land, on which he
resided until his decease, which occurred in 1854.
His wife, Mary, was a daughter of Robert
Wood, one of the early settlers of Penn Township.
Wood was a Quaker, and is still remembered for
his many acts of kindness.
John Hann
was the pioneer on section four. In the year 1828
he came from Loudoun County, Va., with his family, which
consisted of his wife and five children, four boys and
one girl. His purchase consisted of two hundred
and forty acres, for which he paid $1.25 per acre.
He was a typical pioneer and well qualified for the
arduous duties of that life. He served his country
in the
war of 1812. He died in 1870 at an extreme old
age. Mathias Hann, one of his sons,
now resides an a part of the original estate. He
was born in Virginia in 1812. He married Miss
Mary Drake and reared a family of nine children,
four of whom are deceased.
The Williams Family
came to Morgan County and settled where Stockport now is
in 1830. Owing to the prevalence of fever and ague
the family removed to Penn Township and settled on the
farm now owned by Thomas Dewees. David
was a blacksmith by trade. He was born in Belmont
County, Ohio, and married Miss Melinda Wood.
She was born in Monroe County in 1824. He died in
1881 in Marion Township, leaving four children—
Malvitas, Annie R., Eunice and Sylvanus.
Benjamin Hooper
was one of the early settlers of Penn Township. He
entered two sections of land on what is known as the
Todd Ridge. He married Harriet Choguill.
She was born in Marion Township. After their
marriage he returned to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he
died. In 1855 William F. came to Morgan
County. He returned, however, in 1858, and in 1862
came back and engaged in merchandising in what is now
known as Hooperstown. Five years later he
purchased the farm on which he now resides. He was
married to Miss Elizabeth Wildman in 1858.
She was born in Jefferson County, June 25, 1838.
Four children
Page 387 -
have been born to them - Martin, Francis M., Cora A.
and Warren. Mr. Hooper is a republican in
politics and a member of the M. E. Church.
In the spring of 1847,
Thomas Yocom and his son, Samuel B., came
from Somerset, Belmont County, Ohio, and settled in
Malta Township, where the elder Yocom purchased a
farm, upon which he resided until his removal to
Pennsville, where he died in 1877. His wife, whose
maiden name was Sarah Dewees, was born in Center
County, Pa., and died in 1885. Samuel B.
was born in Belmont County in 1828. He was reared
on a farm and in 1857 engaged in merchandising in
Pennsville. He prosecuted a successful business
until 1867, at which time he was elected to the office
of county treasurer. He was reelected to the same
position, and upon the expiration of his official duties
he reentered mercantile life.
For the last decade he has been the magistrate of
Pennsville. In 1855 Mr. Yocom was
married to Miss Hannah J. Dewees. She died
in the following year, and in 1861 he was again married
to Miss Sarah King, a native of Pennsville.
By the first marriage there was one child Lydia A.;
by the last, four sons: Eli K., Charles P., Frank R.
and Joseph D. Mr. Yocom is one of
Pennsville’s most reputable citizens and is entitled to
the envious position he holds among his fellow citizens.
He is a member of the Society of Friends and a
republican.
The
Millers came from came from Guernsey County and settled
in Penn in 1850. The family consisted of the
widowed mother and thirteen children. They settled
on the farm now owned by James Dougan.
William Miller, one of the sons and one of the most
prominent farmers of Penn Township at this time, was
born in Guernsey County in 1832. He purchased the
farm where he now resides in 1855. It comprises
three hundred acres and is regarded as one of the best
in the township. He married Sarah Hummel
and has a family of six children.
William H. Young
was born in Portage County, in 1837. In 1858 he
came to Morgan County and settled in Penn Township.
In 1862 he enlisted in Company F, 86th O. V. I., a three
months organization. He reenlisted in Company G,
161st O. V. I. He did his duty unflinchingly, and
from exposure became crippled for life. After his
discharge from the service he returned to Penn, where
for eight years he officiated as township treasurer,
besides holding many other minor positions. In
1884 he was elected to the office of register and
recorder, the duties of which he has discharged with
credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the
people.
The politics of Penn
Township are a very certain and reliable quantity.
Out of over 300 voters there are about 50 democratic
votes, on an average. Thus it has been for several
years. At present the honor of casting the
democratic vote of the village is enjoyed by one
individual.
PENNSVILLE.
This is a small
but very pleasant village, situated in the central part
of Penn Township. It is among the oldest of Morgan
County villages, and is quiet and old-fashioned.
Nevertheless, it is a good trading point, containing
four well-stocked stores, which supply the inhabitants
of an extensive tract of farming country with groceries
and
Page 388 -
dry goods. Pennsville is of Quaker origin, and has
always been what it is to-day - moral, quiet,
well-behaved.
The first plat of the town
was made in 1828 for Nathaniel Sidewell,
proprietor. A few years later additions were made
by Samuel Spurrier and Nathan
Sidwell, and by Joseph Stahl.
The village was settled quite rapidly, and during the
first decade of its existence its population probably
was as great, if not greater, than it is to-day.
Samuel King opened
the first store. William Foulke was another
early merchant. John Penrose settled in the
village in 1830 and opened the first blacksmith shop.
Shortly afterward his wife began selling a few goods,
and as business grew Mr. Penrose turned
his attention to it, opening a store with Joseph
Lawrence as his partner. He continued the
mercantile business until his death, and was widely
known and very popular.
Jesse Sidwell,
blacksmith, was an early comer.
John and Samuel
Rogers, from New Jersey, started a tannery in 1831.
They carried on the business on quite an extensive scale
for several years, and after gaining a competency, sold
out and went to Illinois.
Dr. E. G. Coulson
came to the place in 1811. He thinks the village
had between 200 and 300 inhabitants. John
Penrose and John Spurrier were then
the leading merchants. The Rogers’ tannery
was in operation. John Dunn, father
of ex-Sheriff Dunn, was a shoemaker
here, and Abraham Naylor a cabinetmaker.
John Wood carried on mercantile
business. William Lent was Justice
of the peace then and for some years after. Dr.
Williams was the village physician. Soon
after came Dr. Spurrier and Dr.
McNichol. Jehu Coulson, father
of Dr. Coulson, was a mason and
bricklayer, and worked on many buildings which are still
standing.
John McLain
now of St. Joseph, Mo., and Flavins Waterman kept
the first tavern in Pennsville. Other early
tavern-keepers were Bob Kirby, Lep
Tompkins and Squire Lent. Though some of the
hotel-keepers in former years have sold liquor, there
has never been a bar-room in Pennsville.
The first temple of
education in Pennsville was a primitive log schoolhouse,
which served for several years. The present school
building, a two-story frame structure, was erected about
1863. Two schools are now maintained.
This village, like other Quaker communities, was
strongly abolitionist, and figured prominently in the
management of the Underground Railroad. Fugitive
slaves who succeeded in reaching Pennsville or the
neighboring village of Chester Hill, were reasonably
safe from recapture, and were sent on their way
rejoicing. The first brick house in the village
was erected on the lot where the store of T. E.
Penrose now stands. It was of sun-dried brick.
In the early years of the village it was the residence
of Joseph Lawrence, and later Joshua
Wood kept store in it.
Anthony
Fowler was an early settler in the village.
He was a clock maker and worked at his trade here.
Several old-fashioned eight-day clocks of his
Page 389 -
manufacture are still in use. The works are of
wood and they are said to keep accurate time. The
house in which Fowler lived, a brick one, is
still standing, and is the oldest brick building in the
village.
The Dr. Williams property, a log house,
weather-boarded, still stands on its original
foundation, and is probably the oldest house in town.
The principal business interests of Pennsville in 1886
were as follows:
General stores: T. E. Penrose, E. R. Hilaman & Son,
J. S. Simpson, James Dewees.
Hardware: M. Penrose.
Drugs: L. J. Harmer, Dr. E. G. Coulson.
The usual variety of minor industries are to be found
here. There are three physicians—Dr. E. G.
Coulson, Dr. L. S. Holcomb, and Dr. Herman
Choguill.
CHURCHES*
Friends'
Meeting - Was established in 1827. The first
meeting house was a log building. Next a brick
house was erected, which owing to some defect, served
only a few years. Two other meeting houses have
since been erected, that now in use being the fourth one
erected.
The
Methodist Protestant Church - At Pennsville was
organized by Eli Matson and Isaac Davis
about 1883. Matson was class leader and
Davis a prominent member. Other early members
were William Hann, John Spurrier
and Dr. Samuel Spurrier.
Revs. Daily, Potter, McFarland
and Austin were early preachers. The first
meetings were held in a log school house west of
Pennsville; afterwards the class met in shops and
dwellings in the village until a church was erected.
The present church was erected about 1866 during the
pastorate of Rev. J. G. Ogle. The church has a
fair membership.
The Baptist
Church - In the western part of the township is one
of the oldest religious organizations in Morgan County.
Though now reduced inmembership, it was formerly largely
attended and very thriving. All theold members
having died or removed, little information can be
obtained regarding it. The Joneses, Hickersons,
Moodys, and Shepards were among the early
members.
The other churches of the township are a Methodist
Church, in the northwest corner, and a Christian Church,
in the southwest part.
Antioch
Church - This church, locatedin the southwestern
part of Penn Township, was organized by E. E. White
and Hathan Moody in 1867. The first
church officers were Isaac Hummell and William
Miller, elders; Martin Bingman and David
Kennard, deacons. The above and the following
comprised the original members: Sarah Miller, Hannah
Hummell, Mary Kennard, Mary A. Bingman, J. F. Moody,
Lavina Moody, Lewis Bingman, Eliza A. Bingman, Ellen
Parsons. The house of worship was erected in
1867 at a cost of $500. The pastors have been
Revs. E. E. White, Nathan Moody, R. Harvey, J. F. Moody,
A. R. Pickens and G. B. Sturgeon. The
church now has 100 members and the Sabbath school sixty
scholars.
Mt. Zion
Church - Mt. Zion Church, in the northwest corner of
Penn Township, was organized by Rev. John Wilson
about 1830. Among the original members were
James Ady, Sr.,
---------------
*For a sketch of the Friends' Meeting in Pennsville,
see the chapter on
Marion township
Page 390 -
Mary Ady, Joshua Ady, Thomas Seares, Mary Seares,
Margaret Pipe, Mrs. Mary Baird, Samuel Aikens; Joshua
Ady and Thomas Seares, trustees.
The first church, 18x24 feet, was erected in 1832 at a
cost of $150, which sum also included the price of the
churchyard. The present church, a frame building,
32x36 feet, was built in 1858 and cost $500. The
pastors have been Revs. John Wilson, Herbert and
Hicklin, Palferman, Warren, Parrish,
Ostrum, J. C. Seares, Tracy, Southard, Scott, Lawson,
Warren, Ogle, Bowden, Samuel Lancaster, King, Morphy,
Thomas Potter, William Dye, W. S. Seares, William
Hatfield and Thomas Orr.
LODGE.
Morgan Lodge,
No. 363, I. O. O. F. Was instituted July 11, 1860.
The charter members were A. W. Stewart, Joab Holt,
William S. Seares, George Cain, George Matson, Joseph A.
Matson and Reuben Brenneman. Three of
this number, Joab Holt, George and J. A.
Matson were still members in 1886. The first
officers were George Cain, N. G.; George
Matson, V. G.; A. W. Stewart, P. S.; W. S.
Seares, R. S.; Joab Holt, treasurer.
Since its organization 169 persons have been admitted to
membership in the lodge. The membership in 1868
was ninety-one. The lodge property is worth about
$2,000. The hall is a large one and probably
better furnished than any other lodge room in Morgan
County. Present officers: Draper Van Fossen,
N. G.; A. S. Brown, V. G.; E. K. Yocom, R.
S.; S. B. Yocom, P. S.; John S. Simpson,
treasurer.
John McDermott
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