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326 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. WEST TOWNSHIP. Joseph Coulson, a merchant of East Rochester, Columbiana county, Ohio, was born November 4, 1822, in the town where he now resides. He is a son of Jabez and Sarah (Garret) Coulson. His father was born in Fayette county, Va., and when quite small came to the township where our subject now lives. He was born January 17, 1797, and died in 1887. His mother was born in Chester county, Penn., and came to Columbiana with her first husband, whose name was Nathan Pim. He died in 1813, leaving her a widow with six children. Afterward she was united in wedl0ck with the father of our subject, Jabez Coulson, and to this union were born four children, one of whom died in infancy. The mother was born in 1783, and died July 31, 1850. The father was again married to Abigail Regester, which union resulted in the birth of one child, John. The children by his first wife are: Rachel Bowersock, who died in California, and Benjamin, who lives in Iowa. Our subject's stepmother is still living. He got his early education in a log school-house which was kept by the Society of Friends. He attended there at intervals until he was twenty-one years old, when he began teaching, which profession he followed during eight successive winters, receiving from $16 to $20 per month, of twenty-four working days. During the summer he put in his time on the farm. In 1858 he entered the business in which he is now engaged, and has continued at it ever since. In addition he has acted as express and railroad agent, and in 1859 was appointed postmaster, which office he held until about the middle of Cleveland's administration. November 25, 1849, his nuptials were solemnized with Sarah E. Bashaw, who was born in 1830, and died June 29, 1866. The product of this union was four children, two of whom still live, Vesta Vail, who lives in Iowa, and Lizzie. He was married again in 1868 to Sarah L. Bashaw, who was born about the year 1835, in Licking county, Ohio. E. S. De Ford was born in Carroll county, Ohio, and is the son of N. B. De Ford, a native of the same county. He attended college at Mt. Union, Ohio, for nearly three years. As soon as he finished his school course he returned to East Rochester and went into the milling business in partnership with his father. The establishment known as the " East Rochester Mill" is owned by N. B. De Ford & Son, and is located in the town above named. It was built about the year 1848, by D. Davis, and the first power COLUMBIANA COUNTY - 327 used was water furnished by Clear fork. Davis owned the mill off and on about forty years, and other parties had control of it at different periods until it finally fell into the hands of Wilhelm & Stackhouse. Owing to business disagreements and financial embarrassment, the property went through the courts in foreclosure proceedings, and was purchased in 1887 by N. B. De Ford & Son, present owners. The mill is now in excellent condition and can be run by water or steam power, as is preferred. Its capacity is about 300 bushels per day, and it uses the Garden City or Short system, having a full set of rollers. The firm of De Ford & Son is composed of energetic men of business, and they enjoy an extensive patronage. The subject of our sketch, in 1884, led to the matrimonial altar Miss Almeda Cunningham, the popular daughter of Richard Cunningham. The union was blessed with the birth of two children, Mark D. and Gertrude M., both bright and promising. Mr. De Ford is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the K. of P., and takes an active interest in matters concerning them. Harrison Emmons, a well-to-do merchant of New Alexander, was born October 3, 1840, near Bayard, this township. He is the brother of David Emmons, whose sketch is elsewhere given, including their parentage and descent. Our subject received a common school education, and in September, 1861, enlisted in Company I, Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served for three years. His company was attached to the first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, Second brigade, Third division, and Fourth army corps, under Buell, Rosecrans, Grant and Sherman. It participated in the battles of Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and the Atlanta campaign. At Missionary Ridge, where Gen. Hazen was in command, Mr. Emmons' regiment was the first to plant the colors on the works. He made a faithful and dutiful soldier, serving his full time, and was lucky enough not to receive a wound. He was mustered out at Camp Corwin, near Chattanooga, Tenn., after which he went back on the farm, where he remained until the spring of 1867, and then moved to Iowa. After staying there about eight years he came back to the place where he now lives, and engaged in mercantile business. In this he has met with success, and enjoys a large and increasing trade. In the year 1865 he united his fortunes for life with Mary Lower, daughter of Michael and Nancy (Smith) Lower. To this marriage were born ten children, nine of whom are living: William S., Nancy (Chist), Albert F., Delmer 0., Ida M., Harrison, Charles, James and Mary. His oldest son is a graduate of the Michigan university law school. Mr. Emmons and wife are members of the Disciples or Christian church. He holds the position of postmaster at New Alexander, and has been township treasurer 328 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. for nine successive terms. The father of Harrison Emmons was Enos Emmons, who was born near Salem, Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1808. His father moved from Virginia to this county in 1804. He settled near Salem, but about the year 1811 went to West township. There Enos Emmons lived until his death, in 1888, which occurred at the home of his son, Harrison Emmons, and his wife followed him to the grave in 1889. Enos Emmons was one of the oldest and most respected pioneers of Columbiana county, and his long life was one of usefulness. David Emmons is at present postmaster of East Rochester, and also runs a grocery store in the place. He dates his birth from March 28, 1843, and is the son of Enos and Catherine (Reamer) Emmons. His father was born near Leetonia, in Columbiana county, in 1808, and died in 1888. His mother was born near New Alexandria, in 1811, and departed this life in 1889. They had a family of nine children, four of whom still survive: George, Harrison, David and Lucinda. His grandparents on his father's side were Elias and Mariam (Lovinger) Emmons, and those on his mother's side were George and Catherine (Smith) Reamer. His paternal grandparents were natives of Maryland, and the others came from Pennsylvania. The subject of our sketch attended the common schools until he was eighteen years old, and in 1862 enlisted in Company I, Eighty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served four months. In the fall of 1863, he re-enlisted in Company D, One . Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio volunteers, with which he remained until the expiration of his time, when he was transferred to Company D, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. Among other engagements in which he took part with his command, was the hard fought battle of Murfreesboro. He escaped without receiving any wounds, and after the close of hostilities, returned home and resumed work on the farm, in which he continued until about six years ago when he went into the grocery and butchering business. In 1868 he was joined in wedlock with Mary A. Whiteleather, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Firestone) Whiteleather. The issue of the union was five children, of whom four still survive: Van Evert, Frank A., Emmet and Ralph R. Their daughter Mary is dead. Mr. Emmons and wife are members of the Christian church of the town in which they live. Politically Mr. Emmons is classed with the republicans and he is a member of the G. A. R. J. A. Kibler is best known as the proprietor of the Sandy Valley stock farm, which is located a half-mile from East Rochester. This farm was put in shape for stock breeding in 1884 by the subject of our sketch. His specialty is horses and Jersey cattle. He has about fifteen head of cattle at the pres- COLUMBIANA COUNTY - 329 ent writing (1890), and fourteen trotting and pacing horses, which are well bred. He keeps his stock in fine form and the entire surroundings of the farm indicate that the proprietor is a man who understands his business. Mr. Kibler was born in Columbiana county, near Kensington, in 1839. His parents were John J. and Margaret (Phillips) Kibler, who had eleven children, all living but one, namely: J. A., I. N., David, Elizabeth (Watson), Samuel L., Henry, John J., Flora (Kelly), Sherman and Ida (Wickersham). His father was born in Virginia in 1824 and died in 1886.. His mother was a native of Carroll county, Ohio. Our subject got his education in youth in the usual manner attending school in winter and working on the farm in summer. He kept this up until about eighteen years of age, when he went into the stone cutting business, at which he worked about ten years. At that time he took up the breeding of fine stock in connection with general farming. He has met with success in this pursuit as set forth above. He was married in 1871 to Susan L. Neill, daughter of Henry and Martha (Van Meter) Neill. Their union has been blessed with three children: Frank P., Charles F. and Martha P. Mr. Kibler is an intelligent, progressive and popular citizen. Charles Oborn, the popular landlord of the hotel of East Rochester, Columbiana county, was born in the year 1841, at Seneca Falls, N. Y. He is a son of John and Sarah (Chapin) Oborn. His father was born at Bath, England, in 1810, came to America about the year 1837, and settled in New York. His mother was born in Oswego county, N. Y., in 1814, and died in 1878. These parents had a family of seven children, only two of whom are now living, Charles and J. S. Two of the brothers gave their lives to their country during the late civil war. The subject of our sketch, after receiving an ordinary common school education, went through a course of study to qualify himself for engineering. He passed the examination in Green Bay, in 1876, and was given a first class grade. He afterward followed the business of engineering and machinist in which he proved very successful. He bears good testimonials from his employers as to his qualification and character. He continued in this pursuit until about 1888, when he went into the hotel business, in which he has met with flattering success. In the year 1883, he joined his fortunes in matrimony with Nancy A. Hively, a daughter of George and Savannah (Linard) Hively. This union resulted in the birth of five children, three of whom are living: Glen Ervin, Altie Dean and Zelphia. During the war Mr. Oborn enlisted in Company F, Twenty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and during his service received one wound in the left arm. He served faithfully with his command until discharged on account of his disability. After the war, he became a member of the charitable and 330 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER. OHIO VALLEY. patriotic organization known as the G. A. R. It only remains to add that Mr. Oborn and family are very highly respected by all who know them, and his hotel is a popular place of resort for all who visit East Rochester. John F. Whiteleather, a successful teacher and farmer of this township, was born in 1840, on the farm where he now resides. He is the son of David and Elizabeth (Firestone) Whiteleather. His parents had four children, the living ones being Nancy (Foulks), John F. and Alice (Emmons). The father and mother are both dead. Our subject's paternal grandfather was Christopher Whiteleather, whose father was sent to America with the Hessians to fight for King George in the revolutionary war, but he deserted the British army and joined the Americans, with whom he fought until the close of the war, under Gen. Washington. Our subject's grandfather on the father's side, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his maternal grandfather was John Firestone, who was of German descent. Our subject attended the common schools during the winter, and worked on the farm during the summer. He attended college at Mt. Union, Salem, Damascus and New Lisbon. Mr. Whiteleather has devoted his live mostly to teaching, which profession he has followed thirty years. During this time he has taught some forty-two terms and is one of the oldest teachers in the 'county. He has met with remarkable success and never expelled a pupil during his entire career. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served 120 days. In 1863, he united his fortunes for life with Mary Walter, daughter of Rev. Henry and Catharine (Smith) Walter. They became the parents of nine children, eight of whom are living: David V., Thomas N. B., Walter S., Howard G., Minerva E., Mark C., . John and Henry L. |