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| DAVID
K. BAGGS, farmer; P. O. Corsica; is the seventh child of
John and Isabel Baggs and was born May 28, 1840; he
worked on the farm until 21 years old, when he enlisted in the
service of his country; he was in Co. C., 15th O. V. I., and was
wounded at the battle of Stone River; he lay in the hospital for
many months and was afterward placed on the First Kentucky
Battery. Having taken cold in his wound he was again laid
up and did nothing more during the war. On receiving his
discharge he came home, but has been troubled a great deal with
his wound, not doing anything for three years. He was
married June 6, 1867, to Sophronia, daughter of Aaron
and Angeline Baird. She was born March 14, 1845, and
died March 2, 1880, leaving two children - Angie M., and
Ethel. He owns 100 acres of land, partly in this,
and partly in Richland Co. He has always been a Republican
and still advocates the principles of that party. |
| GEORGE
BAGGS, farmer; P. O. Corsica, is sixth of a family of
eight children, and was born Dec. 12, 1837, in what is now
Morrow Co. His father (John Baggs) was born in
Dauphin Co., Penn., in 1785, and moved to Virginia in 1811; his
mother, Isabel (Kilgore) Baggs, was born in Pennsylvania
and her parents were among the first settlers of this county;
they located on the farm now owned by John Worcester,
building their house one day, and moving in the next; it had no
floor, door, nor window; inside was a large stump on which the
children played for many days. Mr. Baggs' father
served in the war of 1812, and marched through Ohio when going
to Fort Meigs; admiring the country, he came here soon after the
war closed, and entered a quarter section of Government land.
He would work on this during the summer and in the fall walk
back to Virginia to take care of his parents (his father having
been crippled in the Revolutionary war, and was unable to work).
He worked this way for two or three years, when he moved them to
his new home in this State. He supported his parents and a
brother and sister who were deaf and dumb. He died in
1863, after a career of honor and usefulness seldom excelled.
George always had the privilege of doing for himself, his
father being anxious for his boys to cultivate the principle of
self-reliance. He was married May 29, 1860, to Amanda,
a daughter of Aaron and Angeline Baird. She was
born June 24, 1841. They have four children - Dora B.,
Idell A., Ell Florence and Dick C.; the eldest, a
school-teacher of promise, having, with her sister, attended
school at Lexington, in Richland Co. He is a member of the
I. O. O. F., and has passed through the chairs. Both he
and wife are members of the M. E. Church. He owns a nice
farm and has an attractive home. |
|
MARGARET BAGGS,
farmer; P. O. Corsica; is the eighth of a family of nine
children; was born Dec. 9, 1810, in Westmoreland Co., Penn.; her
father, Hugh White, was born in Ireland, and her mother,
Sarah (Moore) White was born in Pennsylvania. Her
father emigrated to this State in 1824, and entered a quarter
section of government land in what is now Ashland Co.
Margaret performed out-door labor most of the time until
April 25, 1833, when she was married to James Baggs, the
youngest son of James and Susan Baggs. He was born
in Pennsylvania, but reared in Virginia; he came to Ohio at an
early day, and soon entered eighty acres of government land, on
which he ever after lived. They have had eight children,
all of them arriving at maturity; four are now living: Sarah
J., Susan, Martha A. and John W. All but the youngest
are married; he is living on the old homestead, and supporting
his widowed mother, his father having died May 27, 1874.
Mrs. Baggs has been a member of the U. P. Church for many
years, as was also her husband. |
| DAVID
BAILEY, farmer; P. O. Mt. Gilead; was born in Bedford Co.,
Pa., Mar. 5, 1820, and lived there until he was 12 years of age,
when, with his grand-parents, he came to Marion, now Morrow Co.,
Ohio, and settled on his present place. He lived with his
grand-parents until their death in 1841 and 1838 respectively; he
then worked by the month on the farm and in driving team to
Baltimore, Md. Sept. 8, 1843, he married Miss Sarah,
daughter of John and Catharine Weaver; she was born in
Belleville, Ohio, Dec. 24, 1821; he teamed after his marriage for
six years, driving to Cumberland, Md., and Pittsburgh, Pa.; he
also had a farm rented during this time, he teaming in the winter.
He then bought 80 acres of land, and moved on same; and though he
has never had any educational advantages, nor acquired
anything outside of legitimate farming, he has been successful,
and has increased his property from time to time, until now h owns
640 acres here, and 130 in Kentucky. By the marriage there
have been fifteen children; thirteen of whom are living - Mary
Ann, now Mrs. Fagley, lives in this county, John,
Andrew, Samuel and Nelson, live in Medcalf Co., Ky.;
Jane, now Mrs. Baker, lives in this county; Hiram
lives in this county; Amanda now Mrs. Truex, this
county; George lives at home; Viola, now Mrs.
Baker, this county; Levina, Joseph and Sarah T.
live at home. |
| ISAAC
BAKER, farmer; P. O. Chesterville, this well-to-do
farmer was born February 20, 1830, in Knox Co.; his father,
Morris, was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio in 1795, and his
mother Phoebe Biggs, was born in Knox, in 1797, in the same
county. They were married in 1824, and sometime afterward
settled in Harmony Township. There the mother died in 1855,
leaving Jerry, Mary, Isaac, Ezaon Harod, Susan, Lydia, John
Morris, and Francis. The father was again married
to Sarah Purvis. The father died in 1863, and was a
Universalist. Isaac attended school in the pioneer
school house, and endured the hardships of pioneer life. AT
the age of twenty-one he began carpentering with Lewis Biggs,
and in three years he formed a partnership with him which
continued eight years, in which they were successful; he was
married in 1859 to Margaret, daughter of Thomas and
Mary (Rees) Jones, natives of Wales, and came to Ohio in
1843; both are deceased. They had seven children; two
survive: Evan and Margaret; they were Presbyterians.
He bought the present farm of ninety-eight acres in 1874, of
Levi Powell; he also owns fifty acres in Harmony Township, all
well improved, and procured by hard labor. He and his wife
are members of the old school Baptist church; he votes the
Democratic ticket; they have two children; Thomas and
William. His three brothers, Moses, Francis and
John, were in the war of the rebellion; the two former
enlisting in the O. V. I., and the later L. V. I. John had
one finger shot off. |
| LEWIS
BARGE, SR., retired, Cardington; was born on a farm in
Chester Co., Pa., March 7, 1810, and lived there six years; he
then with his parents moved to Ohio; they stopped one year in
Harrison Co., then moved to Belmont Co., and engaged in farming.
Lewis remained at home until he was 17 years of age; he
then was apprenticed to the wagon-makers' trade, to Mr. Aaron
Mendenhall, of Harrison Co., and served for three years; he
then worked as journeyman a few months in Jefferson Co., when he
came to Cardington, and soon after married an old acquaintance of
Harrison Co., Miss Susannah Merrick, who came to Cardington
with her parents in 1829, and married Dec. 13, same year.
After his marriage he occupied a residence within the present
limits of Cardington, and worked at his trade for three years; he
then entered eighty acres of timber, the same being part of his
present place; it never changed hands; he erected a round log
cabin, which was hewed down inside and plastered with mud; it
contained one room, stick chimney, clapboard roof, etc., etc.
His stock consisted of one Indian pony and a cow; he began burning
the timber and clearing the place; they made their own clothes,
and have hauled wheat to Sandusky, and sold the same for fifty
cents per bushel; in those days the wages for hauling was one-half
the load. April 10, 1853, is the date of Mrs. Barge's
death. They had ten children, but four of whom are living -
Eli, married Eliza Moss, and lives in Marion Co.,
Iowa; Robert, married Jane Harrod, and lives here on
the old homestead; they have two children- Willis and
Fannie; Slocum, married Cynthia Ann Conwell; they also
live on the old homestead, and form the same; they have two
children - Lillie L. and James P.; Hulda Ann lives
at home. Feb. 8, 1854, he married Mrs. Bunker,
formerly Sibbia Purvis; she was born in Seneca Co., N. Y.,
and came to this vicinity with her parents in 1824. They
have no children. Mr. Barge had three sons in the
late war - Morris enlisted in Iowa, and died at New
Orleans, about two years after his enlistment; Robert
served three years in the 96th Ohio, and Slocum served
during the war in the 31st Ohio. Mr. Barge's parents,
Robert and Elizabeth (Taylor) Barge, were natives of
Pennsylvania; they came to Ohio in 1816, and later settled in
Belmont Co., where they died. Of their nine children, four
are living - Lewis, Taylor, Sarah, Bendure and Keziah
Blazer. His grandfather and wife, Sarah, were
natives of Nova Scotia; they came to the colonies previous to the
Revolution, in which he took part, and was killed at the Battle of
the Brandywine. |
| A.
M. BARTLETT, farmer; P. O., Mt. Gilead; is a native of
Delaware Co., O.; he was born on his father's farm, April 16,
1816, and lived there sixteen years, when with his parents he
moved to Columbus O., and in 1833 he was apprenticed to the
edge-tool trade at Mt. Gilead, and followed the business for
sixteen years; he then engaged at farming in this vicinity, and
has followed the same since. In all he has served as School
Director for 27 years, and has been President of the Board of
Education for ten years; also served six years each as Township
Trustee and Justice of the Peace here, and in North Bloomfield Tp.;
Nov. 9, 1837, he married Miss Sarah Nichols, a native of Virginia,
she died Mar. 19, 1856. Of their eight children six are
living - R. F. Juliet, Althea, Marcella, Albert W., and
N. H. Jan. 4, 1857, he married Miss Eliza A. Adams,
a native of New York; she died July 29, 1874. They had five
children three of whom are living, viz.: Fred W., Annetta M.
and Alice P. Oct. 15, 1874, he married Mrs. Helt,
formerly Miss Emily Sweetland. She was born in South
Bloomfield Tp., this Co., Oct. 6, 1830. She was married to
Mr. J. C. Helt, July 2, 1848; he died Aug. 4, 1871. They
had four children, viz: Morrilla V., now Mrs.
Wright, of Knox Co., Winfield C., now at school in Boston,
LaGrande and Nellie F. Of the two deceased children by the
first marriage of Mr. Bartlett, one died in infancy, and
the other, John O., enlisted in the 65th O. V. I. and
served with the regiment until his death at the battle of
Chickamauga. |
| LESTER
BARTLETT, retired; Cardington. This gentleman was
born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Oct. 28, 1805; he worked upon a farm
until 18 years of age, when he served an apprenticeship of three
years at the hatter's trade, in the town of Pompeii. He then
embarked in the business in the town of Delphi, his native county.
Here he plied his energy and talents for about one year and a half
when the business became unsuited to him, and with a little
fortune of three hundred dollars, accumulated by his great economy
and industry, started for the West. He traveled on foot to
Manlius, where he took passage on a canal boat for Buffalo; thence
across Lake Erie to Cleveland, and from there to Columbus,
traveling on foot through the wilderness up the Olentangy to
Westfield Twp., Morrow Co. Here he selected a tract of 160
acres of land, footed it to Chillicothe and entered the same.
On his way back he stopped at Collumbus and purchased a horse,
which he brought with him to his wilderness home. After
erecting a log cabin and clearing about four acres of ground, he
started on horseback for his old home in New York, a distance of
700 miles, where he had left his young wife, (Bolinda Scofield)
whom he had married the year before. He returned to his
forest home with his wife the following spring. Here he
passed through the various scenes and vicissitudes of pioneer
life, working and economizing until he became one of the
wealthiest farmers and largest land owners in Morrow Co. His
wife died Feb. 8, 1850. He was again married to Mrs.
Nancy Wicks. By his first wife there are nine children, viz.:
Hannah, Lorin, Lorinda, Emeline, Louisa, Henry, Lorenzo,
Loretta and Lester. By his second marriage are
two children, viz.: William W. and Alice.
All his children are living, and all married except William W.
Mr. Bartlett held while living in Westfield the office of
Justice of the Peace for 20 consecutive years. In quite an
early day he established a wheat fan manufactory, where hundreds
of mills were made and sold in Morrow and adjoining counties.
One incident in connection with his milling enterprises is worthy
of mention. Near Mr. Bartlett lived a man by the name
of Clymer, who contemplated building a gristmill on the Whetstone,
and began its erection. Mr. Bartlett had long thought
of doing the same thing, and as only one could successfully do so
on account of back water, the neighbors thought Clymer had the
start and would run Bartlett out; but imagine the
astonishment of the natives when they learned that the timbers
Mr. Bartlett had gotten out were not for mill, but a
mill dam, securing to him the present site of Bartlett's
Mill on the Whetstone. Mr. Bartlett is one
of Morrow County's most respected citizens. |
ROBERT
FRANKLIN BARTLETT. Ralph Waldo Emerson has said that
"The true history of a state or nation is told in the lives
of its people." It is probable that no one will take issue
with this and thus is apparent the value of a work of the
character of the "History of Morrow County," for it is
purposed that in its genealogical department be published
true and authentic reviews of the lives and achievements of
those good and worthy citizens who have been builders of
this great commonwealth. With Robert Franklin Bartlett is
presented as one of Morrow county's most prominent and well
esteemed citizens, one of the seniors of the legal
fraternity as well as patriot who enlisted his services in
the cause which he believed to be just at the time of the
great civil strife which disrupted the country, and he shed
his blood on Southern battlefields.
Robert Franklin Bartlett is a genial, cordial, scholarly
gentleman of the so-called old school, a man of fine
character, venerated by all. Everywhere known for his
upright, honorable Christian life, his influence is one of
the most valuable and beneficent in the community and no
praise from the biographer can add to the honor which he
enjoys. The fine old Buckeye state has furnished her full
quota of brilliant men who have reached an exalted place in
the affairs of the nation and Morrow county puts forth Mr.
Bartlett as a part of her offering to the galaxy. He is a
native son of the country, his birth having occurred April
8, 1840, in Mt. Gilead, and he is the second in order of
birth in a family of nine children, five of whom were sons
and four daughters. Three sons and one daughter survive, and
Mr. Bartlett is the eldest of this number. The parents were
Abner M. and Sarah (Nickolas) Bartlett. Concerning the
surviving members of the family the following data are
entered. Juliette is the widow of John B. Gatchell and
resides in Pomona, California. Her husband served from April
20, 1861, until August 15, 1865, in the Union army and was
wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. She was
educated in the Mt. Gilead schools and afterward taught in
the county. Albert W. is likewise a resident of Pomona,
California, where he is engaged in citrus culture and where
he has met with success in life. The maiden name of his wife
was Anna Graham and she was originally from Morrow county;
Nathan H. is a citizen of Winfield, Kansas, and for a
quarter of a century he has engaged in the pedagogical
profession. He was educated in the Mt. Gilead schools, in
Baldwin University, at Berea, Ohio, and in the normal school
at Lebanon, Ohio, from which later he was graduated in the
class of 1884. He now holds the office of principal of the
schools of Burden, Kansas. His wife's name was Cora Bartlett
before marriage, but they were not related.
The father of him whose name initiates this review was three
times married, and the children mentioned are all of the
first union. His second marriage was with Miss Eliza Annett
Adams, and three of their children are living at the present
time. The eldest, Fred W., is a resident of Trenton,
Missouri, where he is a dealer in real estate. He received a
practical education and has proved successful in life. His
wife's name was Ella Cox. Annette May is the widow of Joseph
Scott, and makes her home in Spokane, Washington. She is a
woman of fine capabilities and has filled a number of high
positions, fuller mention of her career being made on other
pages of this work.
M. Bartlett
traced his lineage to the English people. He was born,
however, in Delaware county, Ohio, April 16, 1816, and died
August 31, 1885. In early life he received a thorough
training in a two-fold capacity, that of an agriculturist
and a skilled mechanic. Living in pioneer days, his
educational advantages naturally were meagre, but he
improved his time with self conducted study and he became
one of the well informed men of his day and locality. In the
matter of politics he was a Jackson Democrat, and remained
such until the formation of the Republican party in 1856,
and he cast his vote for the first presidential nominee of
that party, General John C. Fremont. He was a zealous member
of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife, Sarah Nickols
Bartlett, was a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, her
birth occurring there January 7, 1819, and she died March
27. 1856. Her parents were Nathan and Sarah (Thomas) Nickols
and her father was of English lineage). Her maternal
grandparents were Owen and Martha (Davis) Thomas, both of
Welsh extraction, and both born in the state of
Pennsylvania, the former on May 12, 1754. The father of Owen
Thomas was David Thomas, born at London Tract, Pennsylvania,
August 16, 1726. He was educated at Hopewell, New Jersey,
and in Brown University, of Providence, Rhode Island, where
in 1769 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him.
He was a Baptist minister and his ecclesiastical duties
brought him to Piedmont Valley in 1765 or previous to that
date. A champion of civil and religious liberty he suffered
severe persecutions. He was a contemporary of Patrick Henry
and Thomas Jefferson and .was held by both of these patriots
and statesmen in high esteem, and as their senior he was
venerated by them as the friend of liberty and justice. The
death of this worthy man occurred in Jessamine county,
Kentucky, July 5, 1796. David Thomas was the son of David
Thomas senior who left his native country, Wales, in 1700,
and upon arriving in America located at Guinead, Bucks
county, Pennsylvania. His son, David Jr., the preacher and
patriot, was one of the Revoltionary heroes and through him
and through Owen Thomas, his grandson, who was a soldier in
the Revolution, the subject is elegible to membership in
that august organization, the Sons of the American
Revolution.
Robert Franklin
Bartlett, the immediate subject of this review, received his
elementary education in the common schools of the county,
and subsequently entered the Mt. Gilead high school. It was
his ambition to supplement such training as was afforded by
the state, and in October, 1860, he entered the Ohio Weslyan
University as a student in the literary department. Soon,
however, the tocsin of war sounded and Mr. Bartlett, like so
many of the Buckeye state's noble youth, responded to the
call, enlisting in Company D, Ninty-sixth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, under Captain William M. Dwyer, at Mt. Gilead,
Ohio. He assumed the blue August 2, 1862, and the regiment
rendezvoused at Camp Delaware. The regiment, which was at
first a part of the Army of Ohio, was ultimately merged with
the Army of the Cumberland and placed in command of General
A. J. Smith. In November, 1862, they were transferred again
to the Army of the Tennessee, Thirteenth Army Corps,
commanded by General U. S. Grant. At that time there were
about eighty thousand men in the Thirteenth Army Corps.
On Christmas Day, 1862, General Stephen G. Burbridge's
brigade, marched from Millikens Bend, Louisiana, thirty
miles from Vicksburg, and advanced twenty-eight miles in a
southwesterly direction, destroying the railroads and
bridges for miles. The first engagement in which Mr.
Bartlett participated was at Chickasaw Bayou, northwest of
the city of Vicksburg, on December 28 and 29, 1863, in which
the Federal army was repulsed. Probably the most important
action in which he figured was that of Arkansas Post,
January 11, 1863, and it was upon this occasion that he came
very near to death. He was acting at this time as first
sergeant of his company. The Rebels were engaged in shelling
the Federals and the men were lying down to escape the
shells, when one burst over Mr. Bartlett and his comrades
and killed the second sergeant of Company F, B. F. High, who
was just behind Mr. Bartlett. The next shell burst so
closely to his head that the concussion injured his right
eye and so seriously that he was completely disabled and to
this day he carries such memento of the Civil war. That same
afternoon the Federals captured Arkansas Post. Disabled as
he was Mr. Bartlett remained with his company, and the next
expedition was February 14, 1863, to Greenville,
Mississippi, the regiment making a two weeks' trip with one
weeks' rations, and experiencing much artillery skirmishing.
Mr. Bartlett 's regiment and the Sixth Indiana were left at
Perkin 's Plantation on March 31st, to guard Grant's
supplies and they later, on May 28, joined the investment
line and assisted in preserving a state of seige at
Vicksburg until July 4, 1863, when General Pemberton
surrendered to General Grant, and of this interesting period
of the war Mr. Bartlett has many entertaining incidents to
relate. After the seige of Vicksburg the Thirteenth Army
Corps was detached from the Army of the Tennessee and sent
to join the Army of the Gulf under General Banks, leaving
Vicksburg for this purpose August 25, 1863, and going by
transports to New Orleans. On November 3, 1863, Mr. Bartlett
was wounded in the left forearm and elbow by a gun shot, the
engagement being that of Grand Coteau, Louisiana. For some
weeks he carried the minie ball in his arm, but the member
was finally amputated at St. James Hospital, New Orleans,
December 3, 1863. On January 25, 1864, he received his
honorable discharge at New Orleans, and returned to Ohio,
making the journey via the Atlantic ocean to New York city
and thence across country. At Grand Coteau he had his sole
experience as a prisoner, but was exchanged the day after
his capture. The Rebel and Federal prisoners were housed in
a Southern mansion, whose mistress was a Mrs. Rogers, and no
matter what uniform was worn, they were equally well cared
for by the servants on her orders.
After his return to Morrow county and the pursuits of peace
Mr. Bartlett for a time engaged in school teaching, acting
as pedagogue for the home school in the winters of 1865 and
1866, in Sunfish district. In the spring of 1866 he assumed
the office of deputy clerk in the office of Dr. James M.
Briggs and he remained in such capacity until October, 1866,
when he was elected clerk of courts. He succeeded himself in
1869 and again in 1872 and each time received the nomination
by acclamation in the Republican convention. In 1876 Mr.
Bartlett began upon the gratification of a long cherished
ambition, beginning the study of the law with Thomas H.
Dalrymple in 1877 and in June, 1878, was admitted to the
bar. In October of the year last mentioned he removed from
Mt. Gilead to Cardington and there spent sixteen and one
half years in the practice of the law. In April, 1895,
however, he returned to Mt. Gilead, and here resumed the
practice begun here so many years before, winning
recognition over a wide teritory and enjoying high prestige
in his profession both among the fraternity and the laity.
His gifts are of the highest character and his legal career
is an ornament to the pages chronicling the history of
jurisprudence in the state. He has been practically retired
since 1909, but still does some office work, many of his old
patrons coming to him for legal advice. His pretty
hospitable home is situated upon Main street (north) and is
one of the most popular abodes in the place.
Mr. Bartlett is a sound and true Republican and cast his
first vote for the martyred Lincoln, and is proud of the
fact that he has supported every candidate put forth by the
"Grand Old Party" since that time. In 1865 he was elected a
delegate to represent his regiment as a Republican in the
State Convention. He is one of the most enthusiastic of
Grand Army men and has been a delegate to the national
encampment at Milwaukee in 1889, and also to the state
encampments at Akron, Sandusky, Cincinnati, Zaneville and
Belfountaine. He was a charter member of the James St. John
Post, No. 82, Grand Army of the Republic, at Cardington, and
at the present time is quartermaster of the Hurd Post, No.
114, of Mt. Gilead. He has served as post commander of both
Knights of Pythias, at Mt. Gilead, and of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, No. 194, at Cardington, and in both
orders he has passed all the chairs. Although reared a
Methodist, both Mr. Bartlett and his wife are members of the
Presbyterian church.
Mr. Bartlett wedded Miss Martha M.
Miller April 8, 1867, their union occurring at her father's
home near Mt. Gilead. She is the second in order of birth in
a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters,
born to Nehemiah and Rachael (Straw) Miller. Of the number
six are still living. Elwood Miller is a resident of
Portland, Oregon. His wife previous to her marriage, was
Miss Harriet McCurdy. He is an honored veteran of the Civil
war, having served for three years as a member of the
Sixty-fifth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry. John F. is
a citizen of Wisconsin, where he is engaged in railroad
work. He married Philothea Bruck. Parker J., who resides
near Mt. Gilead, married Miss Luzilla McCullough. William
Edwin resides in Mt. Gilead and is superintendent of its
electric light plant. His wife previous to her marriage was
Sarah Lucretia George. Melville D. makes his home on a farm
one-half mile from Cardington, and is a successful
agriculturist and former teacher in the Morrow county
schools. He married Miss Emma Adams. Lucinda is the widow of
Lemuel H. Breese and a resident of Mt. Gilead, Ohio. Her
deceased husband served three years in Company D,
Ninety-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Mrs. Bartlett 's father was a native of Washington county,
Pennsylvania, born there October 27, 1831, and he died July
5, 1902, at Mt. Gilead. He was a carpenter by trade and
later in life a farmer. He received his education in the
common schools and politically was first a Free Soiler and
later in life a Republican. He was an elder in the
Presbyterian church, as were also his father and four of his
brothers. Mrs. Bartlett 's paternal grandmother's name was
Pamelia Harris and her father, George Harris, as well as two
of his brothers, were soldiers in the battle of Monmouth in
the Revolutionary war. Many a time George Harris saw the
great and good Washington and he was one of the brave
soldiers to whom the presence of the General gave strength
to bear the ordeals of the terrible winter campaign of
Valley Forge. Her paternal grandfather, Joseph Miller, was a
soldier in the war of 1812. For ten years Mrs. Bartlett has
been a member of Mary Washington Chapter of the Daughters of
the American Revolution, at Mansfield, Ohio. Her mother was
a native of Morrow county, formerly of Knox county, her
birth having occurred there December 18, 1817, and her
death, July 23, 1862. She was educated in the common
schools, was a strict member of the Presbyterian church, and
she was known far and wide for her nobility of life. To the
local public schools is Mrs. Bartlett indebted for her
preliminary education and she was subsequently enrolled as a
student in the Young Ladies' Seminary of Mt. Gilead,
presided over by Mrs. Spalding. In young woman hood she was
a successful teacher in the Morrow county schools for two
years and then took up clerical work in the office of the
clerk of court, of which her husband was incumbent. His
eyesight was poor and for nine years she gave him excellent
assistance in the duties of his office. This estimable lady
plays a leading role in the many-sided life of the
community. She holds membership in the Women's Christian
Temperance Union and she was one of the organizers of the
Mt. Gilead Free Library Association, while at the present
time being a trustee. She likewise is a valued member of the
Ladies' Twentieth Century Club of Mt. Gilead. Both she and
her husband are members of the Presbyterian church and are
active in its good work.
Mr. and
Mrs. Bartlett are the parents of one daughter, Mary Francis,
the wife of William A. Jolly, one of Mt. Gilead 'a
progressive and estimable young men, who is engaged in the
retail shoe business.
Source: History of Morrow
County, Ohio: By Abraham J. Baughman, Robert Franklin
Bartlett - Publ. The Lewis publishing company, 1911 - Page
477 |
| B.
A. BARTON, of Miles, Barton & Miles, Mt. Gilead; dry
goods; was born in Morrow Co., O., Sept. 21, 1852; he lived on his
father's farm until he became of age, and then engaged as a clerk
with Mr. B. Fogle, in the general merchandise business, and
continued one year. He then formed a partnership with Mr.
J. L. Swingle and conducted a millinery and notion business,
which they continued one year, and sold out. Mr. Barton
then became a partner in the present firm. April 19,
1877, he married Miss Elma Talmage, who was born in this
county. They have two children - James and Frank. |
| ELZY
BARTON, contractor; Mt. Gilead; was born in Belmont Co.,
Ohio, Sept. 18, 1813, and lived there four years, when they moved
to Knox Co., and farmed there for eight years; during their stay
there, his parents died. After the father's death the
children lived with friends in the neighborhood; at the age of 16,
Elzy was apprenticed to the tailoring trade; in 1833 he
came to Mt. Gilead and carried on a tailoring shop for seven or
eight years; He then farmed in the county until 1873, when
he began contracting R. R. work, and in the fall of 1874, he moved
to Mt. Gilead and occupied his present place, in the spring of
1875. Mr. Barton served as Constable in Marion, now Morrow
Co., for seventeen years, and was Sheriff of this county from 1859
to 1862, also Deputy Provost Marshall part of that time; he has
also acted as auctioneer for the past thirty-five years.
April 17, 1837, he married Miss Nancy Ann Adams; she was
born in Va., and came to Ohio in infancy with her parents; they
had seven children, five living - Victoria, now Mrs. W.
S. House, of Mt. Gilead; Walton C., Flora, now Mrs.
M. L. Ryan, of Piqua; Berwick, of Miles, Barton &
Miles, Mt. Gilead, and Gertrude. |
| JACOB
BAUGHMAN, Prop. American House, Mt. Gilead. The
genial proprietor of the American House of Mt. Gilead, O., ranks
among the few who really know how to keep a hotel. Having
been in the business for nearly twenty-six years, he knows
precisely what to do and how to do it. He was born in Adams
Co., Pa., July 2, 1808. His father, Joseph Baughman,
a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1767. His mother,
Rebekah (Reynolds) Baughman, also a native of Pennsylvania,
was born in 1771, both deceased. In 1828, his mother with
her three children, removed to Lexington, Richland Co., O.;
Jacob being then 20 years of age. He remained at home
until he was 25, then worked as an apprentice for one year, in his
brother's shoe store. He then set up in business for
himself, continuing in the business for thirty years. In
1854 he bought a hotel, carrying it on in connection with the shoe
store, until 1866, when he closed out his interests and moved to
Mt. Gilead, O., where he bought the American House, April 1, 1866.
Mr. Baughman has been married twice; April 30, 1833, was
married to Mary A. Woods, by whom he had eleven children -
Joseph, Rannels, David W., Agnes, L. Harvey, Charles P.,
deceased; Elijah J., Amanda, Alexander, Henry H., and
Owen. He married for his second wife Nancy J.
Patterson, April 26, 1856, daughter of Thomas Patterson.
They have one child, Hattie, born in the spring of 1861. |
| J. Y. BEERS,
farmer, P. O. Sparta; was born April 24, 1820, in Knox
County; his father, Byram, was born in Morris
Township, Sussex Co., N. J., also his mother, Elizabeth
Pittney; they came to Ohio by team, in 1818; they
endured many hardships, but by careful management have
obtained quite a little fortune. The fruit of their
union was eleven children - Sarah, Aaron, Abigail, J. Y.,
Daniel, Tryphena, Hannah, Catharine, Elizabeth, James
and Margaret; his father was commissioner of this
county two terms, and justice of the peace for over 20
years; he also practiced law in his early days; J. Y.
attended school in his younger days in the old pioneer log
cabin; his father was a tanner, as was the son; he was also
engaged in making shoes for a period of 20 years; J. Y.
Beers was married in 1849, to Rachel, daughter of
Elias and Mary (Evans) Howard; she was of
Welsh descent; her parents had 12 children, four
of whom survive - Martha, Esther, Madison, Catharine;
his wife was born Jan. 17, 1830; they had six children -
Retha, deceased, Eolia B., deceased, Emery P.,
Elizbeth, Millie, Essie; his wife died Dec. 16, 1877;
she had been a member of the Baptist Church from childhood;
he has belonged to the same church for 22 years, and was for
12 years prior a member of the Methodist denomination; he
held the office of deacon in the former for 16 years; he
settled on teh present farm of 100 acres in 1850, buying
first 50 acres of Thomas McCreary, for which he went
into debt; he now possesses 200 acres of finely improved
land, which he has obtained by his own labors; his first
house on the said farm was an old wagon-shop; his life has
been spent in useful avocations; he taught school at $10 per
month, at which he was successful; he made the first
blackboard ever used in this township; on his farm yet
remains the old oak log, from which many moldboards were
made for the pioneer farmers; he has always taken deep
interest in all county enterprises, and is an upright,
well-to-do farmer. |
| G.
W. BELL, dealer in wool; Cardington; this gentleman
was born in Georgetown, District of Columbia, July 17, 1826; he is
a son of Elijah and Mary E. (Hart) Bell, both of whom were
natives of Maryland, and the parents of four children. The
Bells were among the first settlers of Montgomery Co., Md.;
and their descendants are today among the most honored and
respected citizens of that county. The father of G. W.
Bell was a farmer, a business he followed for the most part
during his lifetime. During the war of 1812, he assisted in
the defense of Washington, D. C. In 1837 he removed to Ohio
and located in Harrison Co., where he remained sometime when he
moved to Franklin Co., and there passed the remainder of his days.
His father dying in 1876, and his mother in 1864. G. W.
Bell remained at home, assisting his father upon the farm, and
attending school until sixteen years of age, when he learned the
tanners and curriers' trade, after which for a number of years, he
traveled through a great portion of the East and West, working at
his trade. Mr. Bell came to Morrow Co. in 1851, and
in 1855, Sept. 26, was united in marriage with Miss Mary
McMahan; she was born in Virginia, Sept. 2, 1828; and when but
one year old, her parents removed to what is now Morrow Co., Ohio.
From his marriage with Miss McMahan, there are two
daughters - Ada T. and Maggie R. In 1854,
Mr. Bell came to Cardington, and engaged in mercantile
pursuits, in which business he continued about three years, when
he sold out, and engaged in the wool, seed and grain trade, a
business he has since followed. For the past 25 years, he
has been actively engaged in the wool trade at Cardington.
He has held several positions of honor and trust in the City
government, and is a highly respected and influential citizen; he
was one of the charter members of Cardington Lodge, number 384, F.
and A. M. Politically he is a democrat, though liberal in
his views, always voting for the man and measures, and not for
party. He owns a great deal of valuable property in
Cardington, and 220 acres of land near the city of Toledo.
He has an interesting, intelligent family, a comfortable and
nicely improved home property on Main St. Upright dealing
and close attention to business, have placed him among the most
respected and honored citizens of Morrow co. |
Troy Twp. -
DAVID R. BENDER,
farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; was born in what is now Morrow
Co., Nov. 13, 1841. He is the fifth child of George
and Elizabeth (Reath) Bender, and passed his life under
the parental roof until the commencement of the war, when he
was among the first to respond to his "country's call,"
enlisting in Company C., 15th Regiment, O. V. I., and was
gone year for years, Shiloh, Yazoo Pass and Vicksburg being
among the battles in which he was engaged. He was
transferred to the Veteran Corps at Indianapolis and guarded
prisoners for a short time, when he was placed on General
Hovey's escort. Has since been a farmer except for
five years he owned a half interest in a saw mill, doing
custom work and dealing in logs and lumber. He was
married Sept. 8, 1868, to Anna N., daughter of Jacob
and Judith Stull. She was born Feb. 12, 1848, in
Richland Co. They have had four children - Minnie
M., Wilbur S., Elnora and C. Cookman; both are
members of the Evangelical Association. |
Troy Twp. -
ELIZABETH BENDER,
farmer; P. O., Steam Corners; was born April 12, 1807, in
Indiana Co., Penn., and is the second of a family of four
children, the only one now living. Her father, Adam
Reath, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to this
country in 1801, and was a weaver by trade, and soon after
his arrival he was married to Polly Dorr, of Chester
Co., Penn. They soon moved to Indiana Co., and then to
Pittsburg, where his wife died in 1814, when he moved to
Cumberland Co., where he was married to Peggy Campbell;
and in 1840 he emigrated to this State, where he was killed
on the following Christmas by a runaway horse.
Elizabeth was married June 14, 1832 to George Bender,
son of John and Barbara Bender, who was born Sept. 1,
1799, in Cumberland Co., Penn.; he was a farmer by
occupation, and in 1840, moved to Oho, making a permanent
settlement in what is now Morrow Co., where cleared his
farm, and lived on it till his death in 1868. They had
ten children, seven are now living - Polly, Margaret,
Elizabeth, David R., George W., Sarah J. and James.
All but the youngest are married. Mr. Bender
was a member of the German Reformed Church, and she belongs
to the U. P. Church at Lexington. |
Cardington Twp. -
CYRUS E.
BENEDICT, farmer and stockdealer; P. O. Cardington;
among the prominent and successful farmers of Cardington Tp., is
the subject of this biography; he was born in Morrow Co., Ohio,
May 3, 1831, upon the farm he now owns, and on which he lives; his
schooling was but limited, owning to the fact of the schools being
none of the best at that early day; being the oldest child in the
family, he was kept at home to assist in improving the place.
When 23 he began farming for himself, which has been his
occupation through life. On the 30th of November, 1854, he
was united in marriage with Rosanna Edgell, who was born in
Franklin Co., Ohio, Aug. 9, 1832. Her parents were
Marcellus and Nancy (Blakely) Edgell, who came to Ohio
in a very early day. From our subject's marriage with
Miss Edgell, there were born seven children - Nancy E.,
Marcellus E., Henry W., Robert E., Cyrus A., Barbara A. and
Ada R.; the oldest is the wife of G. J. Peak, and
lives in Cardington Tp. Mr. Benedict owns 250 acres
of excellent farming land; he is a Republican, in politics, and a
member of the United Brethren Church. |
|
JOSIAH BENNETT, farmer,
stock-dealer, wool-grower and bee-keeper; P. O. Bloomfield.
In about 1825 Josiah S. and Lydia (Cook) Bennett, natives
of New York and New Jersey, emigrated to Bennington Tp., Morrow
Co., O., locating in the vicinity of what is now known as Vail's
cross roads. After enduring much hardship and privation
incident ot pioneer life, they secured a comfortable home.
Here they raised a family of nine children - Daniel C.,
Phoebe C., Jonathan, Josiah, Charlotte, A. D., Townzend B.,
Seaner E. and Andrew L. Andrew, Charlotte and
Daniel are dead; the others are living and married.
Josiah was born in Bennington Tp., Sept. 16, 1829.
He lived with his parents until he was 19. He was united
in marriage Sept. 6, 1853, to Eunice Greene, daughter of
Stephen and Rebecca (Sherman) Greene, by whom he has a
family of three sons and two daughters - Rozilla, born
July 9, 1857; Douglass, Aug. 29, 1860; Royal T.,
March 12, 1866; Clara, June 10, 1870. The fifth
child died in infancy. Those living are yet at home.
Mr. Bennett owns 171½ acres
of well improved land, upon which he has just erected the finest
house in Bennington Tp. The house is very handy and
commodious, and is built of the finest materials that could be
secured. The wood-work, for artistic finish and design,
will rival many a house pf greater pretensions in the larger
cities. It was planned by Mr. Bennett himself, who
proves to be an excellent architectural designer. Mr.
Bennett is built like Hercules and weighs 268 lbs.;
he is the largest and strongest man in Bennington Tp. He
is a strong Jackson Democrat, and is the Voltaire of the
neighborhood, having been an infidel for many years. His
wife is a Universalist. Mr. Bennett is a prominent
and successful farmer, and manages his large farm with
consummate sagacity and skill. The family is intimately
connected with the history of Bennington Tp., and much will be
found of them in the body of his work. |
Cardington Twp. -
HON.
JOHN H. BENSON, live stock dealer; P. O. Cardington.
This gentleman was born Sept. 22, 1834, in what is now Lincoln
Twp., Morrow Co., Ohio; he is of Scotch English descent; his
ancestors, who were of good families in their native lands, came
to this country very early, and settled in what is now the "Empire
State." From here his grandfather, Daniel,
accompanied by three sons, Leander - John H. Benson's
father, Almeron and Darious, with their families,
came westward in 1831, and entered extensive tracts of land in
Lincoln Tp., the country at that time being nothing less than an
unbroken wilderness, and its inhabitants few and scattered.
The newcomers went bravely to work, however, and by dint of hard
labor and much perseverance, despite the many obstacles in their
way, in a short time made for themselves what were considered in
those days, comfortable homes; and tide of immigration soon set in
more briskly, and at the time of the birth of our subject the
neighborhood had begun to assume a more civilized aspect.
John H. Benson received the greater part of his early
education in the rude log country school-house. At the age
of twenty he entered, as a student, the Ohio Wesleyan University,
of Delaware, Ohio, where he remained some two years, and then
engaged in the live stock trade, which he followed a number of
years with much success. It was during the time spent as a
stock drover that he became so well and favorably known to the
people of Morrow and adjoining counties. On Feb. 2, 1858, he
was united in marriage to Miss Louisa, daughter of
Lester Bartlett, Esq. a wealthy and
highly respected farmer of Westfield tp. The fruit of this
union was two sons, Austin E., born Aug. 4, 1859, and
Frank B., born May 31, 1866. The elder son now occupies
the position of local editor of the Delaware Herald, a live
and ably edited journal, and the only Democratic paper in that
county. Mr. Benson has always been closely identified
with the best interests of his neighborhood, as well as the public
in general; he organized a stock company, and was instrumental in
building the first and only gravel road ever built in the county;
he was president of this company until his business compelled him
to resign the office. In 1871, together with a number of
other gentlemen, he purchased the old Andrew's warehouse in
Cardington, which was fitted up with all the necessary machinery,
and converted into an extensive steam flour mill, with Mr.
Benson as its Superintendent. This enterprise prospered,
and its success reached far beyond the anticipations of its
projectors; this was due in a great measure to the popularity that
Mr. Benson enjoyed among the farmers for miles around.
In 1875 the mill passed into other hands, since which time Mr.
Benson has devoted the greater portion of his time to dealing
in live stock. John H. Benson, during his life-time,
has been somewhat of a politician; he began his political career
in 1859, and in 1862, when only 28 years of age, he was elected
Sheriff of Morrow Co., by a good, round majority, being the only
Democrat elected to this office in the county in twenty-five
years; in 1868 he was the Democratic candidate in the old English
District for Congress, against Gen. John Beatty. The
district was hopelessly Republican, but Mr. Benson ran away
ahead of his ticket - another proof of his popularity; in 1877 he
was elected to the State Senate, from the Seventeenth and
Twenty-Eighth Districts, by 3,300 majority; Mr. Benson has
been an active and influential Democrat in the county and
district, and his opinions are always regarded as sound in the
conventions and meetings of his party, and his public as well as
his private record, is without a blemish; he is one of
Cardington's most influential and respected citizens. |
| CHARLES
BIRD, retired; Mt. Gilead; was born in Northumberland, Pa.,
Dec. 3, 1810, and lived there eighteen years, being engaged on the
farm and attending school; they then moved to Knox (now
Morrow) Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming in Franklin Tp., where
he lived until he was 21 years old, when he was apprenticed to the
carpenters' trade with Wm. Ely, with whom he remained two
years; he then carried on the business on his own account.
On Feb. 14, 1833, he married Miss Mary Geller; she was born
in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1837 they moved to a farm near Mt. Gilead,
and lived there for three years; he then came to the village, and
followed his trade until 1860, when he engaged in the hardware
business, and followed the same for some six or seven years; he
then resumed his trade, and built many of the principal residences
of the place and surrounding country; in 1870 he retired from
active business; of the ten children, six are living - John,
Charles, Jr., Frank, Sarah, Clem and Sabina. Mr. Bird
has always taken an active interest in all public enterprises, and
he took an active part in securing the forming of Morrow Co., and
contributed liberally to that end. |
Troy Twp. -
WILLIAM BIXLER,
farmer; P. O., Shaucks. The subject of this sketch was
born March 25, 1807, in Frederick, now Carroll Co., Md.
His father, Benjamin Bixler, was born in Adams Co.,
Penn., and raised in the State of Maryland, which was the
birth-lace of his wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth
Stone. His father was a farmer, and a preacher by
profession. He traveled on a circuit for several years
in early life, and afterward was a local minister; he was a
member of the Evangelical Association. He emigrated to
Ohio in 1833, and settled on a farm in this township, where
he passed the rest of his life, and died in 1863.
William commenced for himself when of age, by farming on
the homestead, which has been his only residence since
coming to this State. He was married March 28, 1838,
to Julia A., daughter of Francis W., and Mary
(Beckley) Baughman. She was born April 27, 1818,
in Richland Co. Her parents were among the first
settlers, coming here in 1816; her father was a miller, and
ran a mill for fourteen years in Richland Co., when he
retired to a farm on which he died in 1858. They had
eight children, four now living - Henry, Mary A., Sarah
A. and John. The boys are married; the
youngest is living on the old homestead. Both are
members of the Evangelical Association. He owns over
200 acres land with good improvements/ |
Franklin
Twp. -
CALVIN BLAIR, farmer; P. O. Levering; among
the leading farmers of this township is Mr. Blair, who
stands in the front rank, being a representative of one of its
oldest families. He was born Feb. 15, 1819; his father was a
native of Bedford Co., Penn., and came to this township in the
spring of 1811; his grandfather an old Revolutionary soldier, who
followed the trade of shoemaker, and three aunts, came with his
father and settled on the farm where Calvin now lives.
He is the third son of William and Mary (Cook) Blair, and
is the fourth in a family of nine children - John, Ida,
William, Calvin, Lucinda, Charlotte, Isher, Obediah and
Abigail; Obediah died when a child. When
the news was brought by a friend of the murder of the Seymour
family, the Blair family removed to Mt. Vernon and
remained six weeks. Mr. Blair early showed a
remained six weeks. Mr. Blair early showed a
remarkable skill in the use of tools and a desire for mechanical
pursuits; hence after working a short time on the farm, he entered
into partnership with George Jeffries, in teh manufacture
of wagons at Waterford, O., where he remained one year, he
afterwards worked at wagon-making for a few years at different
places; then emigrated to St. Joseph, Missouri and worked for a
time in the machine shops of that place; he next engaged in
farming in Illinois for five years; then came home on a visit,
when his father was stricken with paralysis, and he remained to
care for him until his death. He purchased the home farm of
160 acres in 1861, and has sine turned his attention to farming
and stock-raising. He makes a specialty of the breeding of
fine mules which are bred from a warm blooded animal of the
Brazilian stock brought from Kentucky. The size and beauty
of his stock is too well known to need further comment.
Mr. Blair has been an extensive traveler - was in Texas during
the Mexican war. He owns 5000 acres of land in eastern
Tennessee, rich in mineral and covered with grasses suitable for
grazing. |
Cardington Twp. -
CAPT. J. G. BLUE,
farmer and stock raiser; P. O., Cardington. David
B. Blue, the father of Capt. Blue, was born in
Northumland Co., Pa., Aug. 5, 1814. When a small boy
his parents moved to Muskingum Co., Ohio. He was
married to Miss Wealthy Bartlett, Feb. 10, 1839.
She was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Nov. 1, 1822. Her
father was a brother of Josiah Bartlett, one of the
signers of the Declaration of Independence, and removed with
his family from Pennsylvania to Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1812.
David B. Blue is the father of nine children, five of
whom are now living - Capt. J. G., his three
brothers, Abner W., John D., and David L., and
a sister, Etna T., now Mrs. C. O. Morton, of
Clinton, Iowa. The deceased were named Mary E.,
Sarepta O., Elum A. and Annie L. Capt. J. G.
Blue, eldest of the nine children, was born near the
town of Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1840; his
parents removed to Wyandotte Co., Ohio, while he was yet a
child, and from there to Mt. Gilead, Morrow Co., in 1848;
and from there to Cardington, seven years later. In
1860, the parents purchased a farm in Cardington Tp., upon
which they located. Capt. Blue remained at home
Assisting his father at his trade - that of carpentering -
until 16 years of age. He then for a period of four
years taught school during the winter months, and was
variously employed during the summer. When President
Lincoln issued his first call for 75,000 men, Capt. Blue
enlisted in Co. I, 3d O. V. I., as a private. At the
reorganization of the company, some three months later, he
was chosen 1st Sergeant of the company, but soon after
commissioned 2nd Lieutenant - a position he held until the
battle of Perrysville, Ky., when by the death of Capt. H.
E. Cunard, he succeeded to the command of the company,
although he did not receive a captain's commission until
after the battle of Stone River. Soon after this
battle, the 3d Ohio, 51st and 73d Indiana, were sent into
Georgia to cut off supplies from the rebel army at
Chattanooga. While here the entire command were
captured and taken to Rome, Ga. Here the officers and
men were separated, and Capt. Blue, with other
officers, was taken to Libby Prison, where they were kept
one year, when they were transferred to Macon, Ga., and from
there, in a few months, to Charleston, S. C., and Columbia.
After an imprisonment of twenty-two months. Capt.
Blue was exchanged, and returned to his home. During
his stay in prison he underwent untold privations and
sufferings. When he was captured he weighed 165 lbs.,
and when exchanged but 92 lbs. He was a brave and
gallant soldier, and is spoken of by his comrades in arms in
the most complimentary manner. After his return home,
for two yeas he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, when he
sold out and purchased a farm of 40 acres. He has
since added to it, until he now owns 320 of as nicely
improved land as is to be found in Morrow Co. He was
united i marriage with Miss Annie E. Johnson,
June 13, 1866. She was born in Morrow Co., O., Nov. 8,
1846. From this union there were two children -
Johnson W. and Mary #. For some years past Capt. Blue
has made a specialty of raising and breeding punish Merino
sheep; he was one of the first men to engage in this
business in Central Ohio, and has fully and clearly
demonstrated that the raising of good sheep is much more
profitable than the raising of inferior ones; his present
flock is second to none in the State, and he finds ready
sale for all he has at good round prices. Capt.
Blue is a stalwart Republican politically, and a
consistent member of the M. E. Church. He is an
intelligent, kind-hearted gentleman, universally respected
by all his neighbors and friends. He is a strict
temperance man and a member of the Masonic order. |
| A.
J. BOLINGER, farmer; P. O., Cardington; is a native of
Pennsylvania; he was born in Bedford Co., Oct. 4, 1832, and lived
there until he was in his second year. The family then came
to Ohio, and settled in Knox Co., his father was a carpenter, and
he also learned the trade, and lived with his parents until he was
25 years of age; May 27, 1858, he married Miss Matilda Linder;
she was born in Ohio. After the marriage he occupied twenty
acres of land, he had previously brought; and which was located on
the neighborhood of the old homestead place, and he farmed the
same until 1866; though in 1864, he enlisted in the 38th Reg. O.
V. I., and remained in the service for ten months, taking part in
the engagements of the regiment, which was with Sherman on his
"March to the Sea," he was discharged at Washington and returned
home, and in 1866, he came to his present place, which contains
twenty-five acres, located six miles northwest of Cardington; of
their seven children, five are living - Emerson R., born
June 9; 1860, Daniel W., born Aug. 17, 1862; Andrew C.,
born Oct. 9, 1864; Lora B., born Oct. 25, 1871; and Glen
D., born Jan. 6, 1875; Joseph E., and infant child. |
| G.
W. BOLINGER, farmer and stockraiser, P. O., Cardington, was
born in Bedford Co., Pa., Aug. 26, 1827, and in 1834 they moved to
Knox Co., Ohio, and settled in Franklin Tp., now in Morrow Co.
They came by wagons and rented a farm; his father also worked at
his trade of carpenter; G. W. also learned the trade, and
lived at home until he became of age; Aug. 26, 1849, he
married Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Samuel and Catharine
(Volentine) Singer; they came to this vicinity about 1824;
after his marriage he found himself $100 in debt, which he paid by
working at his trade, at $16 per month; in 1863 he bought and
occupied his present place, which at that time was mostly timber;
he owns 127 acres in this county, located five miles northwest of
Cardington; of their eight children but two are living - Delora
C., now Mrs. McClenathan, living in this vicinity, and
Cora Iva, at home; he has earned all his property of his
own labor and management; he and his wife have been members of the
Methodist Protestant Church, for fifteen and twenty years; his
parents, Peter and Sarah (Horn) Bolinger, were natives of
Pennsylvania; they married there, and came West about the year
1834, and settled in Franklin Twp., at present in Morrow Co.,
Ohio, he carried on the carpenter business, and lived there until
1850, when he moved to Canaan Twp., where he lived until 1873; he
then moved to Van Wert Co., Ohio, where he now resides with a
daughter, his wife having died about 1863; they had seven
children; all are living - Benjamin, near Caledonia; G.
W., Mrs. Mary Gyer, Van Wert Co., O., Andrew J., this
township, Samuel in Douglas Co., Ill., John,
in Minnesota, and Mrs. Rebecca Miller, Van Wert Co., Mr.
Bolinger lives with the latter, and will be 80 years of age in
Aug. next; his father, Benjamin, was a soldier in the war
of 1812. |
| D.
D. BOOHER, of Irwin & Boober, real estate and
abstract office, also insurance; Mt. Gilead; was born near Weston,
Va., Oct. 17, 1841; his mother died during his infancy and he
lived with relatives in Virginia until he was nine years of age,
when he and his brother came West with their uncle, and settled in
Westfield Tp., near Cardington, and lived there about five years;
in 1853 his father settled near Cardington, and, upon his marriage
in 1855, D. D. and his brother Spencer made
their home with him. D. D. soon hired out by the
month and worked until 1851; in April of that year he enlisted in
the 4th O. V. A. for three month's service, and they were
afterward reorganized and enlisted for three years' service,
throughout which he served, taking part in the battles of Rich
Mountain, Winchester, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville,
Gettysburg, The Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna,
Cold Harbor, etc. At Gettysburg he was slightly wounded, and
at Cold Harbor, just three days prior to the discharge of the
command, he was wounded and confined to the hospital for three
months. He then returned to Cardington, Ohio, and attended
school, commencing in the lowest classes, and, after a year's
course, began teaching in the district schools part of the time
and attending school part of the time. He taught the
Westfield school, and later attended the Norman school at Lebanon,
O., and in the summer of the third year he, with Mr. Brown,
taught the Cardington school. The following January he
resigned his position and entered upon the duties of County
Recorder serving as such for six years. He continued in Mt.
Gilead, after his term of office, until 1877, when he moved to his
farm, located one and a half miles northeast of Mt. Gilead.
Oct. 3, 1872, he married Mary, daughter of Dr. Granger,
of Westfield Tp., this county. They have four children:
Raymond, Edna Dean, Ada and Emma. His parents,
Joseph and James (Devies) Booher, were natives of
Virginia, and married there. Spencer and D. D.
He continued in Virginia until 1853, when he moved to Cardington,
and in 1855 married Miss Amanda Foust. He lived in
that vicinity until his death in September, 1877; she is living
near Cardington. |
| J.
F. BOWEN, grocer; Mt. Gilead; was born on Christmas
day, 1846, in Radnor Tp., Delaware Co., Ohio; he was a son of
Isaac and Ann Bowen; his father was born in Wales in
1801; the mother, also a native of Wales, was born in 1805; they
emigrated to Radnor Tp., Delaware Co., Ohio, in 1838, where they
remained but a short time, when they moved to Columbus, Ohio,
staying some two years, then going to Brown Tp., where they bought
sixty-three acres of land, at that time a wilderness, and built a
home. The father died in 1849, the mother in 1861.
Thee son remained at home during his youth, and was finally bound
out to Francis Jones, a farmer; four months later he
enlisted in Co. D, 95th O. V. I., Capt. Edward Taylor
commanding. The first engagement in which he participated,
ended in the severe defeat at Richmond, Ky.; the forces were
afterwards reorganized, becoming a part of Grant's army; he
was at Shiloh, the second capture of Jackson (Miss.) campaign
before Vicksburg, and was afterward captured by Forrest, near
Memphis, and was in the prison at Andersonville four months, then
exchanged; in 1864 was in the pursuit of Price in Missouri, and
was in the engagement under Thomas at Nashville; afterwards
helped take Fort Spanish, at Mobile, Ala.; in 1872 he was married
to Julia A. Jenkins, daughter of the Rev. Thos. D.
Jenkins, of Chesterville, Ohio; has four boys - Thomas
Davies, William Clyde, Milo Stewart and Charles F.
Mr. Bowen commenced the grocery and queensware business in
1878; and now, in company with John Galleher, has one of
the leading stores of the kind in Morrow Co., situated on Main
street, Mt. Gilead, Ohio. |
Cardington Twp. -
T. D. BRADLEY,
farmer; P. O. Cardington; was born in Chenango Co., N. Y.,
Dec. 15, 1818. He is the son of David and Sarah
(Ketchum) Bradley, both natives of New England.
They were the parents of six children, five of whom are now
living. The father died in 1872, and the mother in
1877. T. D. Bradley remained at the home until
about 33 years of age, when he was united in marriage with
Charlotta M. Knickerbocker, a native of New York, and
a descendent of one of the oldest and most respected
families in the State. There was one child by this
union, who died in infancy. In 1858 Mr. Bradley
came to Cardington, where he has since resided. He
owns 45 acres of land which is nicely improved. He is
a republican and a much respected citizen. |
| EDWIN H.
BREES, farmer; P. O. Mt. Gilead; was born in New
Jersey, Sept. 30th, 1829, and when but six months old his parents
came to Mt. Gilead, Ohio, where his father engaged at his trade of
wagon-making, and was probably about the first in the place.
Edwin H. attended school until he was about 180 years of
age; he also worked at farming some and when 19 he was apprenticed
to the carpenters' and joiners' trade with Townsend & Miller
and followed the business for twelve years. He also served
as express agent for thirteen years, and was for two years in the
livery business, the firm being Corwin & Brees; they ran a
hack line and had the mail route; he then engaged in the grocery
business, and continued in the same most of the time for eleven
years, when , owing to the partial loss of his sight, he retired
from business for four years, when he moved to his present place
and has lived here since. May 28, 1854, he married Miss
Harriet Talmage; she was born in Knox, now Morrow Co.; of
their three children two are living, viz: Lafe B.,
druggist, now in Leadville, Col., and Charles S.,
apprenticed to carpenters' trade at Mt. Gilead. His parents,
Alfred and Rachel (Lyons) Brees, were natives of New
Jersey. They married there, and came here as stated.
He served as Justice of the Peace in the early days of Lincoln Tp.,
and was one of the well known men of that period. By the
marriage there were five children, four of whom are living; viz:
Edwin H. on the old homestead; Stephen, now living
in Chase Co., Kas.; Caroline, married and living in Chase
Co., Kas.; Sidney A., living in Chase Co., Kas. After
the death of Mrs. Brees, he married Miss Hannah Mosher,
by whom he had seven children, six of whom are living, viz:
Asa M., Rachiel, now Mrs. G. L. Wood, of this
Co., Joseph, (Hannah and Alfred), and Bathiah,
now Mrs. Kirk, of Iowa. After the death of his
second wife, he married Eunice Mosher, with whom he lived
until his death. She is living with her father, near
Cardington, O. |
| CHARLES
BREESE, farmer and stock raiser; P. O. Mt. Gilead;
was born in Morris Co., New Jersey, April 19, 1811, attended
school and worked on the farm until he was 17, and was then
apprenticed to blacksmithing with Wm. Ford, at Dover, New
Jersey and served with him until he was 21; he then opened a shop
at Rockaway, New Jersey, and in 1832 came to Ohio and worked in
Mt. Gilead for two years; he then returned to New Jersey and lived
there three years, during which time, July 22, 1836, he was
married to Miss Phebe Bockoven. She was born in the
same place, May 30, 1818. In 1838 he again came to Mt.
Gilead and built a resident and shop on some land he had formerly
bought, and carried on his business there until 1854, when he sold
out and bought his present place, located one mile northeast of
Mt. Gilead, and containing ninety acres. At first he bought
forty-five acres of timber and cleared the same, afterward adding
to it. They had six children; three now living: Emeline,
now Mrs. Mateer, living in Mt. Gilead; Lemuel H.,
blacksmith in Mt. Gilead; and Harriet A., now Mrs.
Barger, living in this vicinity. Mr. Breese came
West in a wagon to Mt. Gilead, using the old Pioneer road, and has
since crossed between here and New Jersey some twelve or fifteen
times. In the early days he took wheat in payment for his work,
and hauled the same to Sandusky. His son Lemuel H.,
enlisted in the 96th O. V. I., Company D., in 1862, and served
during the war, being a prisoner some three months. His
brother served in the Mexican war. His father served in the
war of the Revolution. His parents were Stephen and
Harriet (Ogden) Breese, natives of Morris Co., New Jersey,
and lived there until their death. Mrs. Breese's
parents were George and Margaret (Smith) Bockoven;
they were natives of New Jersey; they died in Morris County. |
| DR.
J. M. BRIGGS, retired; P. O. Mt. Gilead. The subject
of this sketch was born on his father's farm in Washington Co., N.
Y., Oct. 11, 1809, and resided there until he became ten years of
age, at which time the family removed to Franklin Co., N.Y., and
engaged in farming; during his residence there his parents died.
He remained there until the year 1835 and began reading medicine
in 1827, under Drs. Paddock & Bates, and later attended
lectures at Burlington, Vt., graduating at the Franklin Co.,
Medicinal Institute, N. Y. In the year 1835, he came to
Marion Co., Ohio, and practiced medicine in Caledonia for twenty
years; he then moved to Iberia, Morrow Co., and educated his
family, doing but a limited practice, and preferring not to become
actively engaged. After a residence of five and a half
years, he came to Mt. Gilead and served as Clerk of the Courts for
two terms; in 1864, he was elected President of the 1st National
Bank of Mt. Gilead, and retained the office until February, 1880
when he resigned. Nov. 26, 1839, he married Miss Sarah J.
Farrington, a native of Erie Co., N. Y. Of their three
children two are living, Mary A., now Mrs. Rev. A. T.
Rankin, of Kingston, Ind., and Wm. H. of this place |
| G.
O. BROWN, A. M., Cardington; is a native of Tompkins Co.,
N. Y. He is the son of George and Beulah (Sutliff) Brown,
and was born Nov. 28, 1833. The father was a native of
Rhode Island, and is descended from a Scotch family of nobility.
The Browns trace their lineage to Tobias Brown, who
settled in America before the Revolutionary War, and who was the
founder of this family of Browns in the United States.
To George and Beulah Brown was born a family of seven
children, four of whom are yet living. The parents came to
Morrow Co., O., in 1836, settling near Chesterville, and engaged
in farming. G. O. passed his early years on the farm,
remaining there until sixteen, receiving a district school
education. At the above age he began attending select school
at Chesterville, which afforded better facilities for acquiring an
education than the rude country schools in the township. He
finally entered the O. W. University at Delaware, and in 1857
graduated with high honors. Since his graduation, with the
exception of three years, he has been engaged in teaching, and has
a high reputation as an educator, and as one interested in
educational problems. Among his acquirements he studied law,
and was admitted to the bar of Ohio in 1866. He secured his
collegiate education at Delaware by rigid economy, teaching during
the vacations to get means to continue his college course.
Soon after graduating he took charge of the Union School at
Chesterville, remaining there four years. A few years after
this he went to Sedalia, Missouri, and while there organized the
Union School at that place, which under his management became one
of the finest in the West. He then came to Cardington and
for the period of eleven years has had charge of the splendid
schools of that city. This school is one of the best in the
country, having eight teachers, Prof. Brown being the
principal. He is a prominent Republican, a member of the M.
E. Church, and is one of the Board of Examiners of Morrow County.
He has no superior in the county for scholarly attainments, and
is a fine christian gentleman; he was married to Miss Maria
McMahan. |
Franklin Twp.
-
JOEL BROWN, farmer; P. O., Pulaskiville; was
born Nov. 30, 1809, in Loudoun Co., Va.; the son of Issacher
and Hanna (Craven) Brown. His father came from
Pennsylvania to Virginia in the early day; he was a soldier in the
Revolutionary war, and drew a pension for his faithful service, in
his later years. Joel married Mahala, daughter
of Hugh Bar, Dec. 30, 1830. She was born Feb. 28,
1808. They remained in the "Old Dominion" until 1847, when
he came with his family to Ohio, and settled on the farm where he
now lives. They raised a family of ten children - Mary
E., James E., Amanda C., Sarah E., Fenton J., and Zillah J.
are still living, while John W., Thomas M., Hannah S.,
and Charles F. are dead. Realizing the value of
knowledge, which the imperfect schools of Virginia denied him in
his youth, he has given each of his children a liveral education.
One son was educated for the ministry - Thomas M., who died after
preaching one eyar. Mr. Brown is a member of the
Presbyterian Church at Chesterville; has held the office of Elder
in the Church twenty-five years; he owns 85 acres of well-improved
land with good, substantial buildings, made principally by
himself; he is an earnest supporter of the Republican party.
His wife died Dec. 4, 1872, and now in the closing years of a
well-rounded life, he is cared for by two devoted daughters,
Sarah E. and Zillah J., who will watch over and comfort
him in the evening of his life. |
| G.
S. BRUCE, farmer; P. O., Mt. Gilead; was born in Culpeper
Co., Va., Mar. 26, 1813, and lived there until the fall of 1827,
when they moved to Ohio and settled in Knox Co., near Mt. Vernon,
and engaged in farming. While living there, June 1, 1829;
his father was killed by lighting, while repairing about the barn.
They next moved to Knox, now Morrow Co., and later moved to a farm
in Chester Tp., on which a part of the family yet reside.
Mr. G. S. Bruce lived there most of the time until 1839, he
then lived in different townships, teaching school, and, while at
Woodbury, served as Postmaster and Justice of Peace for seven
years. In 1851, he moved to Mt. Gilead, and was elected
Auditor, a position he held for four years. In 1855, he
engaged in mercantile business, which he followed until 1857.
In 1860, he was appointed Postmaster of Mt. Gilead, and served as
such nearly six years, since which time he has chiefly been
engaged in farming. In May, 1839, he married Miss Hannah
Livingston, a native of Washington Co., N. Y.; she died May 7,
1851. They had four children, three now living - Sarah,
now Mrs. Wm. Miller; Libbie, now Mrs. H. G.
Cooper, and Oswell M., living in Iowa; his
present wife was Mrs. Hull, formerly Miss Rachel Adams,
and a native of Knox Co., though raised in Richland Co.
They have one child, William F., now living in Walla Walla,
Washington Ty. His parents, Elijah and Malinda W.
(Browning) Bruce, were natives of Culpeper Co., and came to
Ohio as stated; she died in 1854. Of their nine children;
five are living - J. D., living on the old homestead, near
Chesterville, this Co.; Nancy D., now Mrs. Livingston,
living in Monroe, Iowa; Elizabeth S., now Mrs.
Thomas, living in Albion, Ind.; John A., at same place,
and Mr. G. S. Bruce, of Mt. Gilead. |
Franklin Twp.
-
ANNA BURNS, retired; P. O., Mt. Gilead.
Anna Burns was born June 16, 1812, in Columbiana Co., Ohio,
and is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hawn) Grace.
She received a limited education at the early "subscription
schools," and at the age of 21 married Hezekiah Burns, who
was born in the same county Jan. 17, 1808. After marriage
they moved to Hezekiah Burns, who was born in the same county Jan.
17, 1808. After marriage they moved to Harmony Tp., of this
county, and located on 168 acres of land, now owned by Samuel
Gordon. They raised a family of six children - Ely,
born April 2, 1837; Delilah, June 14, 1839; Delorma,
April 24, 1841; Emeline, March 26, 1844; William P.,
Oct. 24, 1846; Samuel D., Jan. 16, 1849. All are now
married except Ely and Samuel. On the 19th of
Nov., 1848, her husband died, but the widow continued to
live on the farm with her six small children, the oldest being but
twelve, and all the care and responsibility falling upon the
mother's shoulders. The widow moved to where she now resides
in December, 1878; her son, Ely, owns 9 acres, and her son,
Samuel, owns 60 acres, and her son, Samuel, owns 60
acres adjoining his brother's. Hezekiah Burns was a
blacksmith, and always voted the Democratic ticket; he was a
member of no church, but took an active part in all educational
and moral enterprises; he secured his property by industry and
economy, and always had an earnest and sympathizing assistant in
his wife; the family are highly respected citizens. |
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