|
OXFORD TOWNSHIP - 785 OXFORD TOWNSHIP. ELIJAH T. BISHOP, farmer; P. O. Ashley; was born July 1, 1818, in Oxford Township; he was the son of Elisha and Pheraby Bishop, who came from Powell Valley, Tenn., to Ohio, and built them a cabin on the banks of the Whetstone, in Marlborough Township, where they lived about six years ; they then bought a farm in Oxford Township, where they lived at his father's death, Aug. 11, 1854. Elisha Bishop, Sr., was born April 9, 1789, and Pheraby Bishop was born Feb. 24,1790. Elijah T. Bishop lived with his father until he was 22 years of age, when he was married, Sept. 6, 1838, to Melinda Burch, daughter of Adriel Burch, of Meigs Co., Ohio; he then bought a farm in that part of Oxford Township now Westfield Township, Morrow Co., on the Whetstone River; two years afterward, he went to Old Eden, Brown Township, Delaware Co., and engaged in the ashery business for three years, when he moved back to his farm ; in 1847, he sold his place on the Whetstone, and bought the farm of 110 acres where he now lives, one and one-half miles west of Ashley ; he sold fanning mills for six years after buying this place, receiving $30 and $40 per month wages, and in this way finished paying for his farm. He has been Supervisor and School Director, and has been a member of the Old School Baptist Church since he was 17 years old; Mrs. B. has held membership in the same church for thirty-seven years. They have had born to them seven children-Minerva, born July 24, 1839 ; Mary G., Aug. 11, 1844 ; Elisha A., Sept. 1, 1846 ; Amanda E., Nov. 23, 1849 ; Elmer H., Feb. 6, 1853 ; John L., Jan. 8, 1857 ; Lily M., May 21, 1864-all living in Delaware Co., and four of whom are married. ELISHA A. BISHOP, dealer in agricultural implements (Bishop & Owen); P. O. Ashley; was born Sept. 1, 1846, in Oxford Township, on the Whetstone River, in what is now Morrow Co., but then Delaware ; at 21 years of age, in the spring of 1867, he took a trip to Central Iowa, and 786 - BIOGRAPHICAL. SKETCHES: bought 40 acres of land; his father becoming dangerously sick, he sold the land, returned home, and remained until he was 23, when he was married, Dec. 30, 1869, to Miss America Dix, daughter of Squire David Dix, of Troy Township ; she was born Sept. 16, 1849, in Troy Township ; they had one child, which died in infancy. Mr. B. built a house on a farm which he bought, adjoining his father's place ; he at length engaged in the agricultural implement business, and has made it a success; in 1876, he formed a partnership with H. F. Owen, under the firm name of Bishop & Owen ; this firm is well known over the county. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Old School Baptist Church, in which they have held membership seven years. MARY BELL, widow, Sec. 4; P. O. Ashley; is a daughter of Jesse and Mary Miller ; her parents had seven children-Martha, Mary, William, Elizabeth, Sarah, John A., Catharine. Our subject was born in 1812. in Zanesville, Ohio. Was married in 1831, to Henry, a son of John and Nancy Bell. His father was born in England and emigrated to Pennsylvania when a boy, and raised a family of three children-Henry, John, Mary A.; her husband was born in 1804, in Delaware, and emigrated to Ohio about 1828 or 1829, and settled at Zanesville, and there married our subject; they settled after marriage on a farm of sixty acres owned by her which they sold to Prosper Rich, and bought sixty-three acres where she now lives; they added to it and have 163 acres in Oxford Township, and have also forty acres in Henry Co., all of which has been obtained by their own labors; they had twelve children-John, Martha, Sarah, Henry, Mary, Stanley, Elizabeth, Robert, David, William, Celia E. (infant); her husband died May 5, 1867 and was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, in which he had been steward ; he was the leader of the Wesleyan organization of this place ; he was a temperance man in every respect. Mr. Bell's father died when he was young, and he was raised by his grandfather Clifton ; their son John served in the war nearly four years, and Stanley served nearly one year. The Bell family have always been Republicans; the father, however, was once a Democrat; they have generally been healthy, and have passed a pleasant life, and have done their part in the interests of the county. JOHN BRINES, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Leonardsburg; our subject is a son of Catharine and William Brines ; his father died when he was 3 years old, and he was thrown into the poorhouse ; he was taken by Philip Miller, at the age of about 4, and was with him, attending school and working on the farm, until 18, when Mr. Miller put him to learning the blacksmith's trade in Pennsylvania, with a man by the name of Shultz, with whom he worked over three years; he then worked on a farm for Martin Shellebarger at $18, with whom he continued about one year ; he next came in 1844, by stage, to Sunbury, Ohio, and from there he came to Oxford Township and worked for Joseph Cole, with whom he continued but a short time, and then worked for Elijah Main, and next for James Main. In 1847, was married to Elizabeth, a daughter of John and Jane McCleary; her parents were born in Virginia; her mother died there, and her father again married Polly Siford, and emigrated to Ohio in 1833 ; she was born June 6, 1826 ; she was one of seven children-and is the only one living; they settled after marriage in Troy Township, on land which he bought of Elijah Main, and in 1858, he sold the same to James Main, and bought fifty acres of the present farm of 100 acres, where he has since been located; it was mostly timber land, probably worth $60 per acre; his father was in the Revolutionary war ; he helped to build the first schoolhouse in the south part of the township ; in 1850, he went in company with Dr. White, of Delaware, and many others, to the West, and Mr. Brines spent the winter at Salt Lake City among the Mormons; he then went to California, working his passage driving an ox team for Augustus Bray; while there he worked at mining, and in three years returned by water to his home. ELDER J. H. BIGGS, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Ashley; son of John and Sarah (Wright) Biggs. His father was born in Virginia, and died in 1829, in the same State. His mother emigrated to Ohio in 1835, settling in Alexander, Licking Co., and, in 1843, she was married again to Christian Kaufman ; she died in 1876. Our subject was born in 1819 in Virginia; his educational advantages were as good in his younger days as could be, considering the chance ; at the age of 19, he began working on a farm at $10 per month. Was mar; ried, in January, 1831, to Rebecca, daughter of Andrew Kreager, of Fairfield Co., Ohio. She was born in January, 1816. After marriage they settled in Fairfield Co., renting for some time, and then moved to Delaware Co. (now Morrow) ; rented for some time, and then bought land and OXFORD TOWNSHIP. - 787 lived some five years on it, and sold to Isaac Pipes, and bought the present farm of George Housworth ; it then contained 50 acres, to which he has added, and now has 94 acres, well improved, attained entirely by their own labors. He joined the Baptist Church when 19 ; was ordained as a minister in 1845, and still continues the work for the Master; he has the regular care of four churches. They have eleven children-Washington, Sarah, John (is a Baptist minister, as is also Washington), Andrew, James (deceased), Rachel, Rebecca and Christian (twins, the latter dead), Mary, Benjamin and an infant. Mrs. Biggs is also a member of the Baptist Church. His success in the ministerial department has been excellent. Mr. Biggs was one of the first Directors of his present school district, serving the people for fifteen years ; he helped to lay off the district and helped to build the first schoolhouse; he mostly superintended the hiring of teachers during his career for the public district. Mr. Biggs has been a hard worker ; to illustrate this, we mention that, when they started housekeeping, they had one Horse, saddle and bridle, cow, bed and chest ; he soon began work at making sugar to buy dishes and household articles ; he got 5 cents per pound for the sugar; they began in a log cabin, and enjoyed the comforts of a pioneer fireplace; he once cleared three acres of land and fenced the same for $30, taking for pay a colt, which died soon after ; he has generally been stout, and would work for other people during the spare time from his own home duties ; his amiable wife has always lent a helping hand; she received about $400 from her father at one time ; she once bound wheat after him, for which she received in compensation a new dress ; her grandfather Kreager was a Revolutionary soldier. Some of Mr. Biggs' mother's brothers were in the war of 1812. He is a Democrat ; he was one of seventeen voters of the party in this township at his. time of settlement, and has since continued in the party. Mr. Biggs remembers seeing the President drive the last spike on the C., C., C. & I. R. R., when it met near his house, and on that road he took his first ride on the cars. Mr. Biggs has in his house a clock which was ordered by Dr. Kaufman, of Fairfield Co., which changed from him to Elder Kaufman, and then fell into his hands; it has seen ninety winters, and is yet a faithful servant. H. V. COOMER, M. D., Ashley; was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., March 6, 1817 ; he came to Ohio with his parents, Jonathan and Amanda Coomer, in 1834, and settled in Marlborough Township, Delaware Co. He was married, in 1837, to Miss Joanna Roberts, of Marlborough Township and soon after went to Western Indiana, where he began teaching school, and, at the same time, studying medicine with Dr. Samuel Butler; on completing his medical course, he commenced practicing as a partner with his preceptor ; he built up a good practice, which he held for seven years; in 1852, he returned from the West. and began practicing medicine in Ashley. April 8, 1852, he lost his wife. He was married again, Jan. 5, 1855, to Mrs. Nancy Pennell. Dr. Coomer had by his first wife six children, three of whom died in infancy; his sons, Jerry E. and George W., and his daughter, Ervilla, returned with him from the West. He had by his second wife one child, Harry, now 15 years old. Dr. Coomer is a member of the Medical Association of Delaware Co., of which he is now Secretary, having held the office of Treasurer; he was an old member of the Delaware Co. Medical Institute, before it joined with the Medical Association. He has now a good practice in Ashley, and goes a good distance to visit his old-time patients. His son, Jerry E. Coomer, was born Sept. 23, 1843, at Perrysville, Ind.; received his early education at Ashley ; at the age of 18, he enlisted in the 26th O. V. I., and served as a private till discharged to enter the service as a veteran in East Tennessee ; after the battle of Nashville, he was appointed Captain of Co. D, of his regiment, and served until June, 1865, when he came home and began the study of medicine ; after graduating, he commenced practicing at Scottown, Marion Co.; he practiced there three years, and in Westfield, Morrow Co., three years; in 1878, he came to Ashley and practiced with his father. He died of consumption Sept. 27 , 1878, leaving a widow and three small girls. HUGH COLE, farmer; P. O. Ashley; was born in Washington Co. Va., June 16, 1807 ; he was the son of Joseph and Mary Cole, and came with his parents and landed in Delaware Co. in 1808, in the month of December. His father bought a farm of 640 acres on the Whetstone River, in Troy Township; he remembers the war of 1812, distinctly, and saw Harrison's army pass through to Fremont; his father joined a company under command of one Win. Drake, an account of which is given in the general history. At the time Mr. Cole's father settled in Delaware Co., there were not more than a dozen houses in Delaware, and not a house between his father's and that 788 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: place ; there were a great many friendly Indians in the county, who came in parties to trap and hunt; Mr. Cole, at the age of 16 years, began to carry the mail between Delaware and Mansfield, Ohio, and continued for four years, going on horseback; at the age of 20, he took a trip down through the State on horseback to Cincinnati, thence to Indiana and into Kentucky, and thence to the place of his birth ; after returning home, he went to milling with his father in Troy Township and remained in this business about six years. He was married, Feb. 10, 1830, to Mary Main, daughter of Timothy Main, Sr., of Troy Township; they had four children, three of whom died in infancy ; a son, Elias, only reached manhood, and is now living in Marlborough Township, this county; his first wife died in September, 1837 ; he was married again in December, 1839, to Patience Main, daughter of John Main, of Troy Township, and this union was blessed by the birth of three children, John, James and Amanda; James was killed by an accidental discharge of a musket in Western Virginia; he was a member of Co. C, 26th O. V. I.; John died near Washington, D. C., Aug. 12, 1862, a member of Co. C, 145th O. N. G.; Mr. Cole's second wife died Sept. 30,1855. He was married, Nov. 8, 1860, to Miss Sarah Trindle, of Morrow Co., Ohio; they have no children of their own, but have befriended a number of orphans. and given them homes with them. Mr. Cole's business has been that of a farmer since his abandoning the milling business; he bought 153 acresof land in Marlborough Township, and lived on that until 1873, and in April of that year, he came to Ashley and bought the property where he now lives. He has held the office of County Commissioner for nine years, and was Justice of the Peace of Marlborough Township, for twenty-one years', was real estate appraiser in 1860 and 1870. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. JONATHAN M. COOMER, railroad and express agent; P. O. Ashley, was born at New Fane, Niagara Co., N. Y., Feb. 17, 1826, the son of Jonathan and Amanda Coomer, who came to this county in June, 1834, and settled on a farm in Marlboro Township ; Jonathan, in 1841, went to Delaware, to learn the tailor's trade, at which he afterward worked in Newark, Ohio; in the spring of 1845, he went to Michigan and worked one year at his trade ; then to Park Co., Ind., where he remained till June, 1851, then came to Ashley, which pas since been his residence; in 1852, he, with Jas. P. Clark, opened a grocery store, and afterward succeeded J. S. Broomback, in the drygoods -business; which they continued till 1856 ; he traveled for a Philadelphia house during the years of 1857-59. Mr. Coomer was one of the incorporators of the village of Ashley; has served a number of terms as Mayor, and held the office of Township Clerk and Assessor; was the second Postmaster of Ashley, serving under three different commissions a term of fourteen years, and was and Appraiser for 1870 ; in 1869 he was appointed freight and ticket agent for the C., C., C. &, I. R. R. Co., having previously held the agency for the American Express Co., which he continued. He was married, Feb. 17, 1848, to Miss Margaret Holaday, daughter of Win. Holaday, of Portland Mills, Ind.; they have three children, Alma Alice, Allen Usher and William Ashford, all living; Allen Usher is with his father in the depot and freight office; William Ashford has charge of the railroad office at Eden Station. Mr. Coomer has always been an ardent opposer of intemperance, both in his official capacity and from principle ; he was one of the founders of the M. E. Church at Ashley, and is now a member. T. CHAPMAN, tinner, Ashley; was born in Bennington Co., Vt., in 1818 ; he lived with his parents until he was 20 years of age, when he went to New Jersey, and learned the tinner's trade with his brother. He came to Ohio in the fall of 1848, and settled at Twinsburg' Summit Co., and engaged at his trade. Mr. Chapman came to Delaware Co., and lived two years in Sunbury, working at his trade; he remained in the county two years at this time, when he removed to Stark Co.; two years afterward he returned and engaged in business at Ashley, keeping a stove and tin store. He was married in 1844 to Miss H. A. Lippincott, of Burlington Co., Vt.; they have had five children, three of whom are living-John Chapman, now County Clerk of Delaware Co.; O. T. Chapman, a jeweler at Ashley; Hiram Chapman, a farmer in Liberty Township. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Presbyterian Church. J. C. CHADWICK, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Ashley; son of James and Catharine (Slack) Chadwick; his father was born in 1792 ; emigrated to America when about 30 years old ; settled finally in Oxford Township, where he did in 1854; mother was born in Ohio July 17, 1812, and died May 10, 1859 ; they had ten children -Sarah, John, Margaret, Mary, James, Joseph, Nancy, Maria, Charlotte, William W. They were church mem- OXFORD TOWNSHIP. - 789 hers. Our subject was born in 1834, in Oxford Township, and at the age of 20 he began working by the year, at $162 to $200, working in a saw and grist mill; continued for two years. In 1858, was married to Irene, a daughter of Lewis and Martha Page; they settled finally in Oxford Township, on the old homestead, near Ashley, and remained there until 1862 ; he enlisted in the 85th battalion, for one year, which was then filled up into a regiment; having remained three years, he returned from the war, and in 1865, bought his present farm, now comprising 44 acres, of Henry Foust, and has since lived on the same; it is probably worth $60 per acre ; he bought the land while in the green woods, and by his labors improved it greatly. They have four children-Oscar, Mattie, Dow, one dead and Ellmore. Mr. Chadwick has been Township Assessor two terms, and connected with schools. They attend and help to support the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Chadwick's father was in the war in the old country. Her father was from New York, and mother from Vermont. He has taught school. HENRY COLEMAN, farmer; Sec. 2 ; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of John and Catharine (Snyder) Coleman; his father was born in Pennsylvania about 1787, and emigrated to Ohio in 1827, settling in Crawford Co., and, in 1837, came to Delaware Co., where he died Dec. 17, 1873 ; his mother was also born in Pennsylvania, and died in 1827, just before he emigrated to Ohio; they had four children-Valentine, Elizabeth, Henry and Ellen. His father again married Barbara C. Criss, by whom. he had seven children-John, Barbara, Susan A., Fred., Lettie ; the rest died unnamed ; she died about 1864. Henry was born Feb. 9, 1817, in Pennsylvania, and came by team to Ohio with his father. He was married, Dec. 14, 1841, to Sarah, a daughter of Peter and Theresa Schultz; her parents were born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio about 1831, and had the following children-John, Susan, Mary M. Elizabeth, Sarah, Peter, George P ; she was born in 1821. They rented for some time; in 1852, they bought fifty-five acres, a part of the present farm of 166 acres; he has in all 191 acres, mostly improved, and the greater portion attained entirely by his own labors. .They have seven children-Alcina A., married George Bergstresser ; Absalom married Sarah J. Willey ; Theresa, married Ed ward Houseworth ; James S. E., married Nancy A. Holt, whose father's sketch appears elsewhere Lucinda J., married - Sarah, married John S Waddle; Eva C. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of the Lutheran Church in Delaware Co., in which he has been Deacon. He cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren, and has voted the Democratic ticket since. Mrs. Coleman's grandfather Schultz owned the team that drew the cart which bore Braddock off the battlefield at Fort Du Quesne. Mr. Coleman's father was pressed into the war of 1812, and served as a teamster. The Coleman family will be found prominently identified with the history of Oxford Township. JOSEPHUS F. DOTY was born March 16, 1843, at South Woodbury, Morrow Co., Ohio; in the spring of 1857, he went to Ashley to learn the blacksmith trade with S. B. Morehouse ; in the winter of 1858, and until the fall of 1860, he attended school at Mount Hesper, in Morrow Co.; the following winter taught school in Delaware Co., Ind. In the spring of 1861, he returned to Ashley, and upon the first call for troops enlisted as a private May 1, 1861, in Co. C, 26th O. V. L, under Capt. Jesse Meredith, and was made Corporal at the organization of the company, and promoted to Sergeant after the battle of Stone River, where he was slightly wounded. On the 20th of September, 1863, at the battle of Chickamauga, he received two wounds ; one of the balls he still carries in his body; being unable to perform service in the field, during the winter of 1863-64, he was on recruiting service at Todd Barracks, at Columbus, Ohio. In April, 1864, he joined his regiment, when he was made color-bearer, and served as such during the Atlanta campaign. July 25, 1864, he was discharged, having served three years and three months, lacking five days. On the 11th of April, 1865, he again enlisted in the 9th U. S. V., under Maj. Gen. Hancock, and on the d 16th, arrived at Washington, D. C. On the 8th of the following June, he was appointed First Sergeant of Co. B, and on the 10th day of July, Sergeant Major of the regiment, and on the 17th day of same month was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the regiment, and promoted to First Lieutenant the 1st of the following November. The 24th of March, 1866, he was appointed by the Secretary of War Regimental Quartermaster of the same regiment, having served as such from the December previous by special order. The 2d of May, 1866, he was mustered out of the United States service, and settled at Ashley, Ohio. On the 20th day of August, 1865, while in the service, he was married to Miss Millie Baxter. 790 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Oct. 15,1867, he was appointed Assistant Revenue Assessor of one of the divisions of Delaware Co., which he held one year. At the spring election of 1868, Mr. Doty was elected Justice of the Peace in Oxford Township, and resigned the position the following fall. At the October election of 1868, was elected Auditor of Delaware Co; entered the office March 1, 1869 ; was re-elected in 1870, and again to the same office in 1871. November, 1873, returned to Ashley, and in a few weeks buried his wife. In April, 1874, was elected Mayor of Ashley. In January, 1875, purchased of M. B. Shoemaker his hardware store in Ashley, which he is still managing. June 24, 1875, was married to Miss Mary E. Pierce. HARRISON DOTY, runs a planing mill in Ashley; was born at Woodbury, Delaware Co., Ohio, Nov. 6, 1840 ; when 14 years old, he became an apprentice of H. L. Cross, at Ashley, Ohio, learning the wagon-maker's trade ; in 1858, he purchased an interest in Lincoln Township, Morrow Co., where he remained until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. C, 96th O. V. I, and entered the army of the Mississippi; he was in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post ; in 1863, he was placed on detached duty, and given charge of a saw-mill to saw lumber for pontoon bridges for crossing the swamps west of Vicksburg ; he was at the battle of Port Gibson, and helped to construct the floating bridge over Bayou Pear, from the dwelling-houses of Port Gibson, and was at the battles of Champion Hills, Black River Bridge ; the charge of Vicksburg from 11 A. M. to sunset ; he also participated in the siege and capture of that place; at the battle of Grand Chateau he was taken prisoner, and was held fifty-three days; he afterward took part in the capture of Forts Gaines and Morgan, at the mouth of Mobile Bay, and unfurled the first regimental colors in front of the last-named fort ; he was with Gen. Banks up Red River ; his brigade fought in the last engagement of infantry at Whistle Station. In July, 1866, he married Miss Phoebe Benedict, who died in December, 1870, leaving one son. Dec. 21, 1871, he married Miss M. E. Carpenter, and in 1873 moved to Ashley, and engaged in the saw and planing mill business. His parents were of the first pioneers of Delaware. Co. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. JOSEPH S. DIXON, cooper, Ashley; was born Jan. 25, 1832, in Rockingham Co., Va., the son of Wm. and Elizabeth Dixon ; his father was born in Virginia, and his mother came from England; Mr. Dixon came with his parents to Ohio in 1842, and settled in Gallia Co., near Gallipolis ; when 16 years of age, he went to Ironton, Ohio, and worked in a brickyard ; at the age of 18, he went to Gallipolis and learned his trade, working two years ; he afterward ran on the steamboats of the Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas Rivers in various positions; worked at his trade several years at Chillicothe, and then as a journeyman cooper in Cincinnati, St. Louis, La Salle, Peoria; Beardstown, Naples, Milwaukee and Chicago, back to Cincinnati, then to Columbus, and back to Chillicothe-this took about three years. He was married, May 12, 1854, to Sarah A. Campbell, and remained in Chillicothe until 1861 ; then came to Ashley, opened a shop and bought town property. Enlisted in August, 1864, in the 176th O. V. I., and went to the Army of the Cumberland; he remained with the regiment until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., the regiment took part in the battle of Nashville. In the spring of 1868, he sold his property in Ashley, and moved to Stanton, Ohio, and went into the huckster business on a large scale; he failed and came back to Ashley, bought lots in town, built him a house and soon after a shop. He has been Constable and Councilman, member of the School Board, Street Commissioner, and is now Marshal of the town. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have had five Children - William Fullerton, born Feb. 12, 1855, and died Jan. 19, 1875 ; Sarah Elizabeth, born Sept. 10, 1857 ; Charles Roney, born April 20, 1859 ; Josephus, born Dec. 7, 1860 ; Alice Belle, born Jan. 12, 1873, but died the same day. Sarah Elizabeth was married, May 24, 1874, to Frank H. Clay, now with G. O. Griswold, of Warren, Ohio, as book-keeper. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the orders of Masons and Odd Fellows. JOSEPH EVANS, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Ashley ; son of Maurice and Susannah (Thomas) Evans; his father was born in Wales about 1790, and emigrated to America about 1840, and settled in Franklin Co.; he died in Newark ; they had ten children-Jane, Maurie (deceased), Elizabeth (deceased), Evan (deceased), Joseph, Sarah, Susannah, Maurice, two infants (deceased). Our subject was born in Aug. 1, 1829, in Wales, and came with his father to America; he was married in 1855, to Elizabeth J., a daughter of Rev. Owen and Mary (Evans) Thomas ; her father was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, and emigrat- OXFORD TOWNSHIP. - 791 ed with his wife to America at an early day they settled in New York City for some time, and then came to Columbus, Ohio where they remained some time, and then finally made their settlement in Radnor Township, Delaware Co., where he died in 1868 ; her mother is still living on the same farm they settled on, and is hale and hearty at 66 years; they had ten children-Mary (deceased), Elizabeth, Ebenezer (deceased), David, enlisted in the army and was killed during the siege of Vicksburg; Joseph, enlisted in Co. E, 66th O. V. I., was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg in the left arm ;Margaret, Sarah ; three died when small; she was born in 1832 in Columbus, Ohio; she has six children by her marriage with Mr. Evans-Mary M., Joseph O., David M., Owen W., Edwin T., Lulu E. They settled after marriage in Franklin Co., and in 1876 they bought the present farm of fifty acres of Joseph Horr, and have since been on the same ; they are members of the Presbyterian Church of Ashley ; he votes the Republican ticket ; the family have generally been healthy. HUGH M. ECKELS, farmer; P. O. Ashley; was born at Milltown, near Harrisburg. Penn., June 11, 1837 ; the son of James M. and Catharine Eckels ; came with his parents to Ohio in 1841 ; he attended Mt. Hesper Seminary, and in 1857-8 the O. W. University at Delaware; he was married, Oct. 14, 1858, to Ervilla Coomer, daughter of H. N. Coomer, and lived at Ashley for several years and taught the school; then purchased a farm in Morrow Co., near Mount Gilead, which he sold in 1868, and lived north of Mount Gilead, where he engaged in the stock business ; in 1871 he bought a firm in Westfield Township, Morrow Co., where he remained until 1874 ; in 1875 he came to Ashley; they have had ten children-Allen E., James H., Artie M., Jerry C., Lena B.. Joanna J., Harry W., William B., Arthur P. and a babe, two of whom are deceased ; Mr. and Mrs. Eckels are members of the Presbyterian Church. JAMES M. ECKELS, retired, Ashley ; was born in Cumberland, Penn., Dec. 5, 1819 ; the son of Samuel and Agnes Eckels, natives of Pennsylvania ; he learned the cooper's trade when a boy with his father, which he followed until 1841. March 2, 1835, he married Catharine Livingstone, of Pennsylvania; he then went to Milltown, which was his home for six years ; during this time, he came to Ohio on horseback, and bought a firm on Alum Creek, in Oxford Township; in 1839, he came out to Ohio again on horseback, and paid for his farm of eighty-nine acres ; in 1841, he moved to Ohio in a wagon, and put up a hewed-log house on his farm; in June, after he came, Mr. E. organized the first Sabbath school in Oxford Township; after he came to Ohio, he joined the society of Presbyterians at Ashley, and, in 1854, built the Presbyterian Church-the first built at Ashley ; in 1859, he engaged in the mercantile business at Ashley, and kept a variety store ; his wife died in the spring of 1863, and he lost his dwelling-house by fire in the fall of the same year. In May, 1866, he married Mrs. Sarah Clifton, daughter of Jesse and Mary Miller, of Zanesville ; he purchased the Ashley Hotel and kept it for seven years, and then built him a comfortable house, where he now lives a retired life. Mr. E. had by his first wife nine children-Hugh L., Agnes (deceased), Sarah R., Margaretta, Mary (deceased), Joseph C., Elizabeth B., Emma and William deceased. Mrs. Eckels, nee Mrs. Clifton, has five children living-David H. Clifton, Mrs. Kate Sharp, Mrs. Augusta Martin and Mrs. Isabella Coomer. EDWARD EVANS, farmer; Sec. 3 ; P. O. Leonardsburg ; the subject of this brief biography was born in 1816, in the province of Wales, and emigrated to Columbus, Ohio, in 1841, and there worked at any honest work he could get to do, continuing under such disadvantages until he married, in 1845, Mary, daughter of John Lewis; she was born in 1825, in Wales, and came to America when 9 years old. Mr. Evans and his companion began a lonely life:--financially poor -in Morrow Co., Ohio, soon after marriage, and, in 1847, they had concluded to risk their means on a wider field of labor, and bought fifty acres of land in the green woods, which received the strictest attention of their willing hands, until now, in their old days, it presents a beautiful little, arable farm which blesses them yearly for their early days' labors. Perhaps but few have undergone the trials, that this old couple have ; they have devoted almost a lifetime to Christianity, having joined the Baptist Church at an early day, to which they have devoted their lives and their share of finances. Mr. Evans has been Township Trustee and Supervisor, and held many other offices ; they have had one child-John F., mar ried Rose N. Shultz, daughter of Benjamin Shultz, he died April 10, 1877 . JOHN FORD, farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. O. Leonards burg ; is a son of Timothy and Mary Ford ; his par- 792 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ents were born in County Kerry, Ireland, and emigrated to Ohio about 1859, and settled in Delaware City one year, and then moved to a farm; his father died in 1865, and his mother died March 16, 1874 ; they had ten children-William, John, Michael (dead), Thomas, Hannora, Mary, Kate, Julia, Sarah, Timothy; subject was born in 1831, in Ireland, and emigrated to Delaware, Ohio, in 1852, and engaged in working on the railroad, and then worked on a farm for Joseph Dunlap for about three years; was married in 1861 to Joanna, a daughter of John and Mary (Flaherty) Farris; she was born in 1834; Mr. and Mrs. Ford have had six children-Thomas, John P., Hannora, Timothy; two deceased. After marriage they settled on the present firm of 52 acres, which he bought of William Blair, and has improved the same; he has in all 78 acres of well-improved land, attained entirely by their own labors. He takes an interest in educating his children. He votes the Democratic ticket. A. L. FOUST, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. O. Ashley, is a son of Henry and Mary (Olds) Foust ; his parents were born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio in about 1800, and finally settled in Delaware Co., and had sixteen children, nine of whom grew up Mr. Foust was born in this county, in 1839, where he has always remained, and assisted in the welfare of the community in which he lived. He was married in 1871 to Loretta, a daughter of Sullivan Smith, by whom he was blessed with three children-Arcbie H., Mabel R. and Claude C. His wife was born in 1851, in Morrow Co. They are now living on his brother's farm of 52 acres, which is well improved; he has been Constable for several years, but the most of his life has been devoted to rural labors. Farther mention of the Foust and Olds families will be made in this township history. MAHIEL GALE, farmer; P. O. Leonardsburg ; is a son of Nathanael C. Gale, who was born in 1807, in Pickaway Co., Ohio, where remained but a short time, and then moved with his parents to Franklin Co., settling north of Worthington where they farmed; soon after settling there the grandfather of our subject was drowned while crossing the Whetstone River, the canoe being thrown over the dam. At the age of 13, Nathanael began working at $4 per month, and was married June 12, 1828, to Chloe Smith ; they rented for awhile, and in 1843 bought 50 acres, where they now live, which is the fruit of his own labor. This union blessed him with eleven children-Mahala, Sylvester, Mahiel, Phoebe, Harriet, Lorenzo, Eliphalet, Sophronia, Naomi, Sophia, (infant died unnamed) ; Nathaniel and wife are Methodists; she died Sept. 12, 1879. Our subject was born in 1834, in what is now Morrow Co., and was married in 1858 to Elizabeth, a daughter of John Sherman. Her father was born at Norfolk, Va., and emigrated to Ohio about 1830 and settled in what is now Morrow Co.; her mother's maiden name was Martha Herold; they had thirteen children. Mrs. Gale was born May 30, 1839 ; she has blessed her husband with twelve children-William, Robert S., Leroy, Elsie K., Chloe A., Mary E., Matilda E., Harriet R., Samantha C., Martha H., Charlie M., John. They settled on their present farm in 1870, buying the same of Enoch Henry ; he has brought the same to a fine arable quality. D. H. HINDMAN, lawyer; P. O. Ashley; was born in Indiana Co., Penn., July 31, 1827, the son of David and Margaret Hindman, who were natives of same State. He learned the carpenter's trade when he was 15 years of age, at which he worked until 1850, when he married and began farming. Mr. Hindman came to Ohio in 1854 and settled in Morrow Co., near Iberia ; he lost his wife in the same year. In 1858, he moved to Cardington and completed the study of law and practiced there two years, when he went to Kosciusko Co., Ind., and returned to Cardington in 1870; in April, 1878, he came to Ashley. Mr. H. has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee, and is now the only lawyer in Ashley. He has been twice married; his first wife was Sarah Arnold, of Wayne Co., Ohio, by whom he had three children-Joseph and David, deceased, and a daughter, Eliza, living. He was married, May 3, 1866, to Margaret A. Stewart, of Morrow Co.; they have had three children, only one of whom is living-Catharine A. Mrs. Hindman is a member of the Baptist Church. AMASA HOLT, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of Iven and Nancy (Meredith) Holt. His father was born in Ohio, and mother also ; they had nine children-John, James, George, Amasa, Frank, Louisa, Charles, Mary (dead), Lucretia. His father is dead and mother is still living. Our subject was born March 15, 1834, in Morrow Co.; at the age of 11, he went to live with his Uncle Meredith, with whom he lived for eleven years. He then went to Steuben Co., Ind., where he engaged in painting fanning-mills for his brother John. He returned in one year to Mor- OXFORD TOWNSHIP. - 793 row Co., where he farmed for his father. Was married, Jan. 12, 1859, to Delight, a daughter of Jacob and Almira (Birch) Vanbrimmer. Her parents had five children-John, Delight, Levan, Amanda, Martha. She was born in 1840 in Indiana. Mr. Holt's union blessed him with three children-Nancy, married James Coleman ; Edward, Walter. They settled after marriage on a farm, renting of the Shoemaker heirs. In 1861, they bought forty-three acres of Lewis Wornstaff, and afterward a small tract of Nelson Houseworth, and at another time he bought twelve and one-half acres of William Brown-making in all about fifty-seven acres, attained entirely by their own labors, except $150 from his father; he has lately built a house on the same worth about $1,000. He has taken interest in educating his children ; he has been School Director and Supervisor of Roads. Politically, he is a strict Republican, having cast his first vote for that party. Mr. Holt's grandfather Holt was a drummer in the Revolutionary war, and his brother Charles served three years in the war of the rebellion. His wife had two brothers in the late war; one died from exposure and the other had his arm taken off by a shell. SILAS JENKINS, farmer, See. 1 ; P. O. Ashley; is a son of Martin and Mary (Brown) Jenkins; his parents were born in Virginia, and emigrated to Delaware Co. among the early settlers and made his first settlement in Oxford Township, where the subject now lives, and bought eighty acres of land at 12 ½ cents per acre; his father died May 24, 1862 ; his mother is still living; they had four children-John W., Silas, Jonathan, Benjamin; Silas was born May 5, 1840, on the present farm where he has always remained. Ile was married, Dec. 15, 1862, to Emeline, a daughter of William and Marilla Smith ; her parents had eight children-Lorenzo, Winfield, Leroy, Genoa, Luseta, Mandana, Jennetta, Emeline; -Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have had five children-Elmer M., Gladdes, Olive, Addie; they came in possession of the present farm in 1865, by buying out the heirs; he now owns 150 acres of well-improved land among the best land in the country. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he has taken quite an interest. BENJAMIN LEA, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Ashley; is a son of Jacob and Mary (Hadley) Lea ; his father was born in Worcestershire, England, also his mother; they had five children-William, Anna, Sarah, Esther, Benjamin. Our subject was born in 1807, in Worcestershire, England, were he remained engaged in weaving carpet and attending school until he was 19 years old, when he enlisted in the British service, and served over a year ; he then returned home and engaged at weaving until 1832, when he came to America with Thirza Holmes, to whom he was married the day prior to his starting; they made their settlement in Westchester Co., N. Y., where he remained about seventeen years, and then moved to Delaware Co., settling in Porter Township, where he remained four years, and then, in 1855, he came to Oxford Township, where he has since lived ; by his first marriage, he had six children, but two now survive, George B., Thirza A.; his first wife died while he was in New York, and he was again married to Mary A. Allison, by whom he had one child, Alexander; she died while he was in Porter Township, and he was again married to Nancy, a daughter of Rev. Thos. W. Wigton, who is mentioned in the history of Berkshire Township, by whom he has two children-Thomas W., Eurania A.; she was born in 1817 in Sunbury, Ohio; Mr. Lea now possesses 180 acres of well-improved land, attained entirely by his own labors; while in New York, he was engaged in weaving, and was a member of the Putnam Lodge, I. O. O. F. He holds an interest in the Presbyterian Church; he has always advocated the temperance movement. His first vote was cast for Jackson, and he afterward voted the Whig ticket until the organization of the Republican party, to which he has since given his aid; his son George B. served three years in the 96th O. V. I. ALEXANDER MARSH, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. O. Ashley ; was born in 1820, in Franklin Co., Ohio ; his father, Josiah, was born in the State of New York, and emigrated to said county in 1812, where he farmed, and in 1857 he transferred to Concord Township, where he is now living. His mother's maiden name was Jane Simmons. Mr. Marsh remained with his parents until married, which was in 1842, to Catharine, daughter of William Evans; she was born in 1820, in Virginia, and emigrated to Ohio at an early day, with her parents ; she and her husband began farming by renting of his uncle, J. Marsh, for five years; they then moved to Grundy Co., Ill., and there farmed for one year, after which they returned, like all the rest of those who leave Delaware Co. "We bid them good-by, knowing that we will soon hail their return." They then farmed 794 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: one year in Concord Township; afterward settled on their present farm of 210 acres, which is the fruit of their own labors; they have improved their farm from the green woods. They have five children-Cornelius, Viola, Monroe, Purlyett, Jasper. Cornelius enlisted in the 184th O. V. I., and Monroe in Co. E, 174th O. V. I. Mr. Marsh has been Township Trustee two terms and has held his share of other offices. He has chopped wood at 37 1/2 cents per cord. He started in life with but little resource; as an exemplification of this fact, we may mention his first tax-receipt was 10 cents. ANDREW MYERS, stock-dealer, Ashley; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn.; he was the son of Frederick M. Myers, and came to Ohio in September, 1865, when he settled in Oxford Township, this county ; in 1871, he opened a meat store in Ashley and also in Delaware. He has held the office of Councilman ; was Mayor of Ashley tree terms, and is at present a candidate on the Republican ticket for County Infirmary Director. He was married to Elizabeth Killinger, of Pennsylvania, Feb. 28, 1747 ; they have had eight children, two of which died in infancy, and one, Samuel, after reaching manhood, was killed by the bursting of the ring used in firing an anvil, on the 4th of July, 1878. Mr. Myers is a stanch Republican. J. C. MALONEY, farmer; P. O. Leonardsburg; is a son of Cornelius and Joanna (Sullivan) Maloney ; his father was born in Ireland and emigrated to America in 1850, and died in Quebec, soon after landing. Our subject was born in June, 1824, in Ireland, and emigrated to the State of New York in 1847, and remained there until 1849. He was married in 1847, to Mary, a daughter of Philip and Ellen (McCarthy) Ferris; her parents were born in Ireland and emigrated to Canada in 1841 ; she was born July 22, 1827. Mr. Maloney began steamboating at the age of 20, from Toledo to Detroit and Buffalo, continuing the same for over three years, and then worked some time on a canal-boat. After marriage, he kept boarders, and he worked by the month. In 1852, they came to Ostrander, and Mr. Maloney worked on the Springfield Railroad; in 1853, they moved to Olive Green, where he worked awhile on a proposed railroad; they then went to Kentucky, where they again worked on a railroad; in 1854, he worked at the iron works, hauling for the company, and continued until December, when they moved to Ashland, Ky., and there bought property and erected a house, where they lived sometime, during which he was hauling ; they subsequently transferred to Clark Co., Ky., where he worked for a railroad, which sometime afterward became insolvent, and Mr. Maloney lost $2,200 ; he then began working on a turnpike, continuing at that some two years, and then moved to Madison Co., and there worked on another pike; until 1863, when they moved to Oxford Township, where he had bought fifty acres of woodland. Mrs. Maloney came back from Kentucky by railroad, and Mr. Maloney managed to bring three teams through in a period of twenty-one days. The only company he had was a daughter, 11 years old, and a younger son ; the father managed the ox team, the daughter the horses, and the son the single buggy. They began on the present farm of 175 acres, as soon as they returned ; Mr. Maloney was very industrious, and wished to meet his payments, which he did by hauling 1,449 cords of wood for a man, which paid for all of the first fifty acres of his said farm, except $9. He now makes a specialty in raising stock and grain. The union of this industrious old couple blessed them with ten children-Cornelius, born Nov. 15, 1850, deceased; Mary E., June 11, 1852 ; Kittie A., 1853 ; Cornelius, deceased, Sept. 2, 1854 ; Mary M., deceased, Oct. 20, 1855 ; John P., Aug. 20. 1857, is one of Oxford Township's best teachers ; Margaret A., born Sept. 16, 1859, deceased ; Thomas S., Dec. 23, 1860 ; James D., July 6, 1862 ; Ellis M., Aug. 22, 1865. ALBERT OLDS, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. O. Ashley ;son of Ezra and Theda (Washburn) Olds ; his father was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., in 1790, and emigrated to Ohio in the spring of 1808-09, settling, for two years, near Galena, and then settled on the farm now owned by Albert ; his father was in the war of 1812 ; he died Nov. 18, 1848 ; his mother is living with Mr. Olds, and is 76 years of age ; they had twelve children-Charles, Miles, Albert, Abigail, Sarah, Mary (infant), John, Benjamin, Eliza, Milo, Madison ; they were members of M. E. Church ; his father was once Commissioner of Delaware Co., and was Justice of the Peace for many years; his first election to this office was in 1813 ; his mother was from New York State; her father emigrated to Ohio about 1814, settling at Delaware City ; she was one of nine children. Our subject was born in 1828, in Delaware Co., where he has always remained. He was married, Dec. 3, 1857, to Louisa, daughter of Joseph and Charlotte (Loofbourrow) Thurston ; her parents had ten OXFORD TOWNSHIP. - 795 children-Wilson, Alfred, Fannie, John, Elmore, Louisa, Jerusha, Lucretia, Della, Clara ; they are now living in Delaware City; his wife was born Aug. 6, 1839 ; they have seven children-Willard (deceased), Charles, John, Bertie, Fannie (infant, deceased), infant born in 1880 ; he has seventy acres in the present farm, the old homestead of his fathers, and seventy-seven acres in another tract, attained partly by his own labors and management. They are members of the M. E. Church, in which he has taken great interest financially as well as spiritually. He makes a specialty in stock-raising ; his fathers house on this place was used for the first church spire in this part of the township. The Olds family will be prominently mentioned in the township history. WILLIAM PETTIT, milling, Leonardsburg; is a son of William and Mary A. (Rhineer) Pettit ; his father was born in Ohio ; he was thrown out on his own efforts by his father's early death ; his first labors were at rural life, at $10 per mouth ; a part of the time he was making rails ; he has cut the timber and split 250 rails per day ; at the age of 26, he began working at carpentering with Moses Kale, of Salem, Columbiana Co. Was married, in 1861, to Mary J., daughter o George and Catharine Richmond ; her parents were from New Jersey ; they have seven children -Florilla, Elizabeth J., Dora, Hattie, Martin, Charlie, Stella. He worked for a man by the name of Martin for some time, and then worked over one year for R. Doty, at Eaton Station, in the saw-mill business ; he then built a house, and afterward sold the same to Jeremiah Woods for $800 ; he then farmed in Troy Township for some time, after which he bought twenty acres, which he traded in 1878 to L. M. Cackler, for his present mill property, which he now has in good running order ; he and wife manage the mill, and last year cleared over $800 ; they sawed, from Oct. 1, 1878, to Oct. 1, 18 79, 331,442 feet of lumber, netting them, for sawing, $1,325.76. Mrs. Pettit's parents had twelve children-Martin, Peter, Henry, Mary J., Cyrus, Amy, Augusta, Elvira, Albert, Letta, Nettie, Lester; she was born Dec. 12, 1844. Mr. Pettit's first tax receipt was 10 cents. SOLOMON ROSEVELT, retired; P. O. Ashley, was born April 27, 1807, in Clinton Co. N. Y.; he was the son of Solomon and Elizabeth Rosevelt, natives of New York State ; he received his early education at a district school ; when he was 18, he bound himself out. for three years to Webb, Allen & Eckford, the most extensive ship-builders of New York at that time ; after serving his time, he filled the position of foreman of the ship-yard for several years, and, when Brown & Bell, in the same business, contracted to build the steamers Baltic and Pacific, Mr. Rosevelt contracted with them to do the work ; thus, by subcontract, he was the builder of the first two steamers that crossed the Atlantic ; he also built a line of sailing vessels for William H. Platt to go to San Francisco ; Brown & Bell dying, he formed a partnership with Joice & Waterberry about 1850, and leased the yard formerly owned by his old employers; they built the ships "David Brown" and " Jacob Bell," also seven vessels for A. A. Lowe to go to China and Japan, and the two steam propellers, "George Cromwell" and "George Washington" to go to New Orleans; the last four vessels built by him were the Star Line for James Raner ; he then sold his ship-yard and came to Ashley, where he bought two farms containing 500 acres, and built a residence on the one in Oxford Township, near Ashley; he built two large brick store-rooms with office rooms above, in Ashley, afterward "Rosevelt Hall" in 1874; he sold his town property and went to Columbus, and engaged with his step-son in the manufacture of society emblems ; he was married Dec. 7, 1828, to Elizabeth Morris, of New York; they raised a family of five children-Maria, William, George, Margaret and Charley, all now living; his first wife died March 6, 1859 ; Nov. 2, 1859, he was married to Mrs Mary Ann Stratton, widow of Joseph Stratton ; Mrs. S. had four children when married to Mr. Rosevelt-Elizabeth. William, Mary and Samuel, all now living : Mr. Stratton was a ship carver at his death in 1847 ; she continued his extensive business alone, doing the greater part of the work of the City of New York ; he carved the figure of Justice on the City Hall of New York. GEORGE SHOEMAKER, farmer; P. O. Ashley; is a son of Adam and Jane (Baker) Shoemaker; his parents emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio at an early day, and settled at Zanesville, for some time, and in 1820, they came to Delaware Co. (now Morrow Co.). They are both dead, and had eleven children - John, Jacob, Daniel, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Joseph, George, Samuel, Sarah, William and Solomon. Mr. Shoemaker was born in Pennsylvania in 1813, and emigrated with his parents, by team, to Ohio; he remained with his parents until 1836, when he 796 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: was married to Margaret, a daughter of William and Catharine (Wyon) Fleming; she was born in 1819, and was one of thirteen children- Lovica, Mary N., Keziah, Margaret, Drusilla, Louisa, Anthony, Catharine, William, David, Martha, Elizabeth ; Maria died when small. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have had eight children-Leander (deceased), Solomon, William, Lovica, Catharine, Keziah, Lilly, Jasper (deceased). They bought twenty-five acres, apart of the present farm, of his brother Daniel, paying $5,700 for the lot ; he kept on adding, and now has seventy-eight acres of wellimproved land, attained entirely by their own labors and management ; they built a small cabin, and began their future in the dense forests. He has been willing to serve in some of those township offices where it is all work and no pay. They have been members of the M. E. Church. He has bound wheat at fifty cents per day. His industrious wife has spun for seventy-five cents per week. He had no advantages for education, there being no schools at his time of settlement, and, as years advanced, he had to labor for the necessities of life; but he now possesses a handsome little fortune, the fruits of their early days' labors. CALVIN SMITH, farmer; Sec. 2 ; P. O. Ashley; is a son of David and Catharine (Willey) Smith; his father was born in Connecticut, and emigrated to Ohio when 16 years old, settling in Fairfield Co., and there married, and soon after moved to Delaware Co. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio with her parents, making their settlement in what is now Marlborough Township, and afterward in Morrow Co. where her father died in 1871, and her mother still lives on the farm. She was one of eleven children-Chloe N., Samuel, James, Henry, Calvin, William, Margaret, Elizabeth, David, Almira, Caroline. Mr. Smith was born Dec. 9, 1827; at the age of 21, he attended three months of school at Waldo, Morrow Co.; afterward, attended six months at Marion, Ohio, and then began teaching, which he continued for the winters of eight years, and farmed during the summers. He was married in 1852, to Elizabeth, a daughter of John W. Daily; she was born in 1830 ; her parents are natives of Virginia, and had nine children-William, Phoebe, Almeda, Sarah, Jane (was killed by a well-sweep), Isabel, Leander, Ellen, Rebecca. Mr. Smith was blessed with five children-Napoleon B., Sarah J., Eva B., Ida W., Cassius. They settled, after marriage, on thirty acres, which he had bought of Benjamin Clayman. In 1858, he sold the same to George Peak, and bought seventy-seven acres of Jesse Shaw, W. N. Clark and B. N. Martin, and in 1877, he sold the same to John Leidheart, and bought. his present farm of ninety acres, in Sec. 2., of A. A. Wood, which had been owned prior by James Clark. Mr. Smith has held his share of school offices, as Director. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church. They formerly belonged to the U. B. Church. He was a local minister of the U. B. Church, for ten years. He has also held office in the same. His grandfathers, Smith and Willey, were in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Smith takes great interest in educating his children, and now devotes his special time to his farm, having one of the finest in this part of the county. SETH SLACK, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. O. Ashley; is a son of Ralph and Margaret (Riley) Slack ; his father was born Feb. 17, 1777, in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio about 1795, settling in Franklin Co. and some time afterward emigrated to Delaware Co., settling in Berkshire Township; he settled in Oxford Township about 1815, and died in 1855 ; his mother was born in Virginia in 1783, and emigrated to Ohio about 1800, she died Sept. 1, 1846 ; they had four children - Ralph, .Jacob, Seth, Margaret; there were seven children by the father's marriage with Nancy Still prior to his marriage with Seth's motherHenry, Annie, William, John, Lewis, Ezekiel, Catharine ; Seth was born June 6, 1819, in this township, where he has always lived. Was married in 1841 to Sarah J., a daughter of Thomas and Eunice (Lane) Dodd ; her parents were born in the State of Delaware; she was born Aug 7, 1822, and emigrated with her parents to Delaware Co. in 1835 : she was one of seven children -Mary, Rachel, Sarah J., Nancy, Susan, Jacob, Elizabeth ; Mr. and Mrs. Slack have eight children-Albert, married Miss P. Marsh ; Thomas, married Minerva Barton-, Margaret, married Lewis Hyatte ; Charles, married Marcella Freshwater ; Nancy, married Monroe Marsh; Wellington ; Elizabeth, married Thomas Lea ; Eunice. They settled on his father's farm for some years before they bought, and then purchased 180 acres of H. G. Andrews, and have since bought 41 acres of John Dodds, and 40 acres of Henry Foust, making in all about 261 acres, attained entirely by their own labors ; they began life in the woods in a cabin ; he has been Township Trustee some four years, and has held his share of small offices. He OXFORD TOWNSHIP. - 797 cast his first vote for William H. Harrison, and has since voted the Republican ticket. His father once made a hand-mill to grind corn in ; it was constructed with two stones fastened so as to circle upon one another, and was turned by hand; it served the people for many years; he has had many a joyous sport, with the neighbors' boys, killing squirrels and raccoons that were devouring the grain. ELDER L. B. SHERWOOD, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Ashley; is a son of Daniel and Margaret (Bishop) Sherwood. His father was born in Smiths Co., Va., in 1802, and emigrated to Ohio in 1830 ; this trip was made by an ox-team. Their first location was made in Troy Township, where he began enlarging on his only treasure (62 cents). His other property was one horse and one-half interest in a wagon. The grandfather of our subject, whose name was Adaiah Sherwood, emigrated here from near New York. The great-grandfather, together with two other brothers, emigrated to America from England. The father of Mr. Sherwood died January, 1872, and the mother died 1876. They were the parents of ten children-L. B., Lewis, James, Catharine, Rachel, Jonathan, Jesse H., David E., Margaret A. H., Sarah E. Mr. Sherwood was born Sept. 16, 1827, in Smiths Co., Va., and was married in 1849 to Julia A., daughter of Daniel Wornstaff. Her father was a soldier of the war of 1812. Her grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and drew for service a portion of land in Ross Co., Ohio. Mrs. Sherwood was born in 1829, in what is now Morrow Co. This union resulted in five children-Joseph, deceased when young; Rosetta, married H. F. Owen; William, married Rachel, a daughter of Gabriel Walker; Amanda, deceased:, George L. Mr. Sherwood bought fifty acres of the present farm soon after his marriage, which they have improved from the green woods ; by strict economy and careful management they have added, and now have 134 acres of well-improved land, which is the fruit of their own labors. When 12 years old, Mr. Sherwood joined the Baptist Church, and has given the most of his time to the cause of the -Master; at the age of 31 he began in the ministry, and in one year was ordained ; he now has four regular appointments ; he preached, during a period of two years, the funerals of six different men's wives, and during the same period married those six men to their second wives. Were we to judge from the amount of marriage reports shown us by the Elder, we would be compelled to believe that a greater part of his efforts had been on the noon of life. Mr. Sherwood has served in some small township offices. His amiable wife is a member of the same church, and has done her part in its sustenance. Mr. Sherwood's brother John was in Co. C. 26th O. V. I., and was wounded at Stone River, and soon afterward died. The wife of John died soon after, leaving two little girls. By the request of their father, in case he fell in the war, L. B. acted as guardian and settled up the estate without the help of at, attorney. He is now guardian for a son of his brother James. Our subject's parents were Baptists; father was a deacon for a long time. Elder Sherwood takes great interest in Christianity, irrespective of denomination ; he never refuses to attend a funeral on account of poverty. Were we to pen here what other people have said to us of the family of L. B. Sherwood, j it would partake too much of flattery for these pages, in which we purpose to only record facts. But the result of his labors will only be known in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. FRANK SHOEMAKER, farmer; P.O. Leonardsburg ; is the fourth son of a family of seven children, all of whom are living; he was born Nov. 17, 1833, in this county ; his father, John Shoemaker, was born in Bedford Co., Penn., in 1801, and accompanied his parents to this State during his boyhood ; farming was his chief occupation, and this was attended by all the privations that usually fall to the lot of early pioneers ; he was married to Jane Jenkins, who was born in Virginia in 1809, and came to this State in an early day ; while yet in the prime of life, he was killed accidentally by a falling tree ; his wife, by her own labor and the income of a small farm, reared her family to maturity, and is now living with one of her children ; she has been deprived of sight for many years. After his father's death, Frank being the only son, many cares and duties devolved on him for one so young; he devoted his time and wages to the family support until his marriage, Nov. 18, 1855, to Chloe Smith, who was a daughter of Almond and Maria (Rodman) Smith; she was born Nov. 5, 1836, in this county ; her father died when she was quite small, and her mother, being left alone with a large family to support, had recourse to weaving, which she followed steadily for many years. By this union five children have been born; all are yet living-John A., Orrie E., Dells C., Oscar W. and Charley 798 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Guy; all have received a good common-school education, the eldest having taught school for several years; the daughters are married and have homes of their own to preside over. Mr. Shoemaker commenced for himself after marriage, and for several years supported his family by day labor. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 88th O. V. I., and served for nearly three years ; soon after being discharged, he bought a small farm, about one mile north of Eden Station, and has ever since had a comfortable home of his own. Both he and his wife united with the Wesleyan Methodist Church a number of years ago. He has always been identified with the Republican party. And thus independently situated, and pleasantly surrounded with a bright and intelligent family, Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker can enjoy the fruits of their industry and devotion to home interests. JOHN W. SHOEMAKER, local preacher, Ashley ; was born March 12, 1842, in Morrow Co., Ohio ; he was the son of Jacob and Elizabeth Shoemaker, who came with their parents from Pennsylvania about 1813, and settled in this county ; he bought a farm in Morrow Co., where he now lives; he has raised a family of ten children. Mr. John W. Shoemaker remained with his father until June, 1861, when he enlisted in Co. C, 26th O. V. I., and served three years; he was in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga; his regiment marched through the States of Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and West Virginia, generally in pursuit of rebel cavalry ; he was wounded at Chickamauga, losing two fingers off his left hand ; Mr. Shoemaker was then transferred to the Invalid Corps, and remained at Nashville until his time expired, when he came home. He was married to Miss Patience Inskip, daughter of J. J. Inskip, of Troy Township, Ohio, July 23, 1865. He bought a farm near Ashley of 100 acres, on which he lived until March, 1879, when he sold it and bought a residence in Ashley, and also a share in the Ashley Flouring Mills. He has been a member of the M. E. Church about nine years; for the past two years he has been preparing himself for the ministry; in 1878, he attended school at Oberlin, and has taken a great part in the temperance work. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker have had eight children-James, Harry, Ethel, Edward, Jerry, Roland, Jesse and William. BENJAMIN SHULTS, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Leonardsburg; is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Shaffer) Shults ; his father was born in Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Ohio in 1809, settling in Knox Co., on a farm in the green woods, having scarcely any neighbors save a number of red men of the north; his death occurred in 1859, and mother's in September, 1843. They had eleven children-Manuel, Rosan, Simon, Marianne, Benjamin. Joseph, Jacob, Eliza, Zachariah, Catharine, John. His father was married a second time, by which union he had the following children-Phoebe A.. George, Sarah A., Solomon and Rebecca. Mr. Shults was born in 1819, in Knox Co., this State : at the age of 24, began business for himself on a farm in Concord Township ; he rented for over one year, and then went to Millville and farmed near there for one year; he farmed a while on his father-in-law's farm, and then moved to what is now, the Watts farm ; in 1858, he moved to his present abode, buying, at that time, 100 acres. and has added and now owns 200 acres of well-improved land, which he has cleared; was married Jan. 20, 1843, to Malinda, a daughter of Christopher Freshwaters, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; she has labored with him through life, and has blessed him with nine children-Elizabeth, Mary, John, Thomas, Rosanna. Christopher, Sarah, Clara and Joshua. Mr. Shults has been connected with township offices his educational advantages were very poor; his wife never went one day to school until 15 years old of the hardships of the pioneers he has had his share ; he split 610 rails in one day. In 1858, he cut the timber and split 2,160 rails in eight days. His amiable wife has assisted him in the farm duties. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Leonardsburg. MRS. H. L. UTTER, dry goods ; P. O. Ashley ; was born at Limaville, Stark Co., Ohio, Sept. 18, 1835 ; the daughter of Robert and Rosetta Morrison ; her father came from Hartford, Conn., and her mother from Portage Co., Ohio; when Mrs. Utter was about 9 years of age, her parents moved to Delaware Co. She was married March 12, 1851, to Adam Sherman, by whom she had two children-one of whom died in infancy ; her son, Robert M. Sherman, engaged in business with his mother now, was born Jan. 31, 1854, in Delaware Co. Mr. Sherman died in Ashley the 10th day of May, 1876, having been engaged in farming and the dry-goods business ; his wife has since carried on the store in her own name. She remained a widow until Nov. 22, 1879, then married Joseph J. Utter, of Morrow Co.; Adam Sherman was born Feb. 27, 1823, at Zanesville, O.; his parents, John and Martha, came to that part of Del- OXFORD TOWNSHIP. - 799 aware which has since become Morrow Co.; he was one of thirteen children ; in 1850, he went with Josephus McLeod overland to California, arriving there in July ; in October, he started for Central America ; in January, 1851, he crossed the Isthmus, and came to New Orleans, and took passage to Vicksburg on the steamer John Adams ; she was overloaded and sunk near Vicksburg; Mr. Sherman was twelve hours in the water, clinging to parts of the vessel ; he lost all of his clothing and the greater part of his gold, saying only about $2,000, which he carried in a belt, reaching home in February, 1851. The village of Ashley owes much to him for its present state of improvements. The ground on which it stands was his father's sugar-camp; he raised the second, fourth and fifth buildings in the town, and built thirty-five in all. Robert M. Sherman was married to Miss Rosa Leeds, of Ashley, Dec. 24, 1874; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Adam Sherman were members of the M. E. Church; he was honest in his dealings a kind husband and a friend to the homeless. J. I. WHITE, firmer ; P. O. Leonardsburg ; is a son of Nehemiah and Sarah A. (Fleming) White; his father was born in the State of New York about 1798, and emigrated to Ohio when 15 years old, settling in Cardington ; his mother was born in 1818, in Morrow Co.; she died in 1848, when the subject of our sketch was 9 months old ; he was one of three children-Elizabeth, William and James I. His father was married prior to his marriage with his mother, and had two children-Abigail and Margaret; his second marriage was to James L's mother ; later to Sarah Van Sickle, by whom he had two children-Horace and Hannah. The subject of our sketch was born Nov. 4, 1848, in Delaware City, and was raised by Isaac Fleming, of Delaware; at the age of 21, he began working for Israel Potter. On Oct. 8. 1868, he was married to Malinda, a daughter of Edmond and Mary Scott ; her parents had five children-Charles, Amy A., Omar, Malinda and Gela ; his wife was born March 14, 1851 ; they have three children-Stella, Nora and Amy. June 10, 1868, he bought seventy-four acres of land of John Potter, and twenty acres of John McCurdy, which he now owns, and has improved by building a fine brick house worth $1,500. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. JOHN WALLACE, farmer ; Sec. 3 ; P. O. Ashley ; is a son of Robert and Esther (Wakenshaw) Wallace; his father and mother were born and raised in Ireland, and emigrated to Pennsylvania before the war of 1812; the subject of whom we write was born in 1808 in Pennsylvania; he moved with his parents to Virginia in 1818 ; in 1832, he came to Licking Co., Ohio, where he married, the same year, Eliza Barnes, by whom he has five children-Mary J., George W., John and two that died while small ; he settled in Delaware Co. in 1864 ; in 1868, they bought his present farm of eighteen acres, obtained by their own labors. When Mr. Wallace was 16, he began learning the blacksmith's trade, which he followed at intervals for seven years. He has been School Director, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the M. E. Church. He has generally been healthy, having lost but four weeks by sickness. He assisted the engineers in laying off the road from Zanesville, Ohio, to Indianapolis, Ind.; was over three years on the road. When he came to this county from Virginia, he brought some race horses through for his cousin. A. E. WESTBROOK, physician and surgeon, Ashley ; was born in South Woodbury, Morrow Co., Ohio, Dec. 17, 1840 ; he was the son of Solomon and Mathena Westbrook, who came to Ohio in 1816 ; he received his early education at Mt. Hesper Seminary ; afterward attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio; he read medicine with Dr. I. H. Pennock, of Morrow Co., and completed the medical course at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, February, 1863 ; he began practicing medicine at Ashley in 1865. In August, 1863, he entered the 106th O. V. I., as Sur-eon, in which position he served until 1865 ; during the war, he was oil detached duty at Gallatin, Tenn ; he had charge of the Post Hospital, and was Medical Director on the staff of Brig. Gen. E. A. Payne, at Gallatin, Tenn.; he had charge of Forts Negly, Huston, and Morton, at Nashville, and was on duty at the hospital in Stevenson, Ala.; for a time was Surgeon in the 68th N. Y. V. I. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Society, and the Delaware County Medical Association, of which he was Vice President in 1876, and was elected President in 1878. Dr. W. has always taken a great interest in the public schools of his town, which, through his efforts mainly, was changed from a district to a union of graded school, in 1879 ; he is at present a member of the School Board. He was married, in 1866, to Amanda E., daughter of Judge Cunard, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, and has three children 800 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Edward Cunard, Blanche Alberta and Grace Sumner. DANIEL WORNSTAFF, farmer, Sec. 3; P.O. Ashley; was born, in 1840, in Morrow Co., Ohio; his father, Daniel, was born about 1794, in Virginia ; his mother, Rhoda (Sperry), was born about 1798; they emigrated to what is now Morrow Co. about 1826, and were the parents of ten children. Mr. Wornstaff was married, in 1860, to Melissa, daughter of Almon and Maria Smith, both of English descent ; she was born in 1843, in the same county her husband was, and has given hi six children-Allie, married E. Martin; Newton, Essie, Martha, Noah (deceased), Wesley. He bought and settled the present farm in 1862, obtaining it of John Stephenson ; it now contains fifty acres, well improved by his labors. Mr. Wornstaff has held some township offices. He is now in the poultry business, buying and shipping. He voted first for Vallandigham, and has always voted the Democratic ticket. He followed a thrashing wheat six years ; he caught a wildcat in 1869, perhaps the last of this species ever captured in this county ; he has hunted a great many m "coons," having followed that business for twenty years. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) |