Source:
Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of
Fairfield Co., Ohio. by C. M. L. Wiseman Publ. F. J.
Heer Printing Co., Columbus, O. 1901
Transcribed by
Sharon Wick
REMINISCENCES
of Several Families Prominent in the Early
History of Fairfield County.
pg. 176 -
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THE RUFFNER
FAMILY
pg. 229
One of the famous old pioneers
of Fairfield County was Emanuel Ruffner. He
was born and brought up in Shenandoah County, Va., and
there he married Elizabeth Grove.
He belonged to a very large and highly respected
Virginia family - a family more or less distinguished in
that state. One of the Ruffner's was a man of fine
education and culture, and an author of some repute and
was well known at Richmond.
One of the family was in early times a proprietor of
the great salt works at Charleston, the same where
Senator Ewing earned the money to put himself
through college. The descendants of this man still
live in Charleston, and two of them are large wholesale
grocers of that city. The principal hotel is
called the Ruffner.
Emanuel Ruffner came with his family to Ohio in
1805 and settled on the land now owned by his grandson
and daughter, William Friend and wife, one and
one-half miles form West Rushville, Fairfield County.
He came there when the Murpheys, Ijams, Wilsons,
Rowles, Teals and Stevensons were his only
neighbors - all distinguished as early pioneers of that
vicinity. He was a teamster in the Revolutionary
War and his son John drove a team for him in the
war of 1812.
Emanuel Ruffner was a man of force and
integrity, a good citizen and a very useful member of
society. He reared a large and interesting family;
his daughters were exceptionally fine women and married
good men and reared large families.
His son John married Mary Rhodes and
settled on a farm on the south fork of Licking, in
Licking County, Ohio, where he lived and died. His
sons were farmers. David has been dead some
years; John still resides upon a farm near
Hebron, O. He had but one daughter and she resides
in the same vicinity. John Ruffner's farm
contained five hundred acres.
Jacob Ruffner, son of Emanuel, married
Magdalene Bibler. He lives upon a farm near
the Stevenson camp ground. His son Jonas
married Susan Rhodes and they lived upon a
portion of the home farm. His sons were Jacob,
Joseph, Levi and Noah. Jacob was
the famous soldier of the 17th Ohio, known to all the
old boys as "Kate" Ruffner, a name not
soon to be forgotten - not while a 17th veteran lives.
Joseph resides upon the old home farm.
A daughter of Jonas married A. M. Stewart;
Sarah Stuart of Rushcreek township. His son
David married a Miss Harman and
they moved to Mercer County, O. Stewart Ruffner,
the teacher, married a daughter of Hiram McNaughton
and lives in Richland township, a respected and useful
man. Thomas Ruffner, son of Isaac,
is a hopeless invalid. Edward married
Minnie Shaw, daughter of J. W. Shaw, and
lives on the old home farm. Mary, daughter
of Isaac, married Caleb Copeland's
son.
Jacob Ruffner, son of Jacob Sr., married
a daughter of Caleb Copeland. Their son
Caleb married a daughter of Reuben Phillips.
Maria married in Delaware County, Ohio, George
Ruffner married in Perry County, Ohio.
William married a Miss Zink and they live in
Sugar Grove, Ohio; Clara married Jacob Biggs,
and they live in Morrow county, Ohio; Eliza
married William Geiger and they live in Licking
County, Ohio. Margaret married Thomas
Beery and they live in Pleasant township, Ohio.
Ola married Ira Spitler and they live on
the Freed farm in Pleasant.
Barbara, daughter of Jacob Ruffner, Sr.,
married David Tussing and they moved to Findlay,
Ohio; Magdalene married John Holliday of
Rushcreek; Anna married William Cruit of
Perry County, Ohio; Rebecca married Samuel
Swartz; Mary married John Henthorn; Emily
married Jesse Rowles and recently died in Bremen,
Ohio.
Emanuel Ruffner, son of Emanuel, married
Barbara Harshbarger. He was a fine
blacksmith and lived many years near New Salem.
His weight was far in excess of 300 pounds. Late
in life he moved with his family to Cumberland County,
Ill., near the town of Greenup.
Colonel Joseph Ruffner, son of Emanuel, Jr.,
married Rhoda Davis of Licking County, Ohio.
He lived a long life on the old Ruffner farm in
Richland. He was one of a half dozen old Virginia
gentlemen who often met in Lancaster and spent a social
afternoon. No one who ever knew him can forget his
courtly manners and gentlemanly bearing. He was
every inch a gentleman and a good and useful man.
He reared two daughters. They married brothers,
John and William Friend, who were the sons of
another grand old man of Richland, Jonas Friend.
They inherited the old Ruffner homestead and
have lived upon it and are prosperous farmers. An
old elm tree is one of the landmarks of this old place;
its spreading
START ON PAGE 232 THE ROWLES FAMILY
pg. 237 THE DAUGHTERS
pg. 238
RUSH CREEK
PRESBYTERIANS
pg. 244
Rev. Charles Work and his brother, distinguished
Presbyterian clergymen, were brought up at old Bethel.
A plow boy at the head of the first church of Cincinnati
is something for Bethel to be proud of.
Distinguished lawyers, distinguished clergymen and
merchants honor the names of both Bethel and Rushcreek -
Leib, Work, Davis and Beery.
We must refer more fully to the Presbyterians of
Rushcreek. In 1803 missionary workers of the
associate Reform Presbyterians came from Kentucky and
held services in a tent. A church was soon built
just over the line of Pleasant, two and one-half miles
west of Rushville and south of Maysville pike one-half
mile. In later years this society was known as the
United Presbyterians, most of its members were Rushcreek
people. They still sing Psalms, but have
introduced modern music on account of their children.
Rev. John Wright, organized the Rushcreek
society in 1806 and in 1870 a two story hewed log house
was built in what is now Jockey Hollow on Joseph S.
Shaw's farm, two miles south of West Rushville.
This society worshiped here until 1830. William
Larimer and William Trimble were elders, when
a brick church was built in West Rushville. The
church (the old log) was abandoned and part of the
society went to West Rushville. Of this society
David Y. Davis was an elder, a part to Bethel and a
few to the United Presbyterians. The logs of the
old church were used to build a shop in the village.
The Bethel church building was erected in 1828.
Amos Davis, a public spirited man, furnished the
lumber and was a liberal contributor. The
subscriptions were mostly in produce. One man
subscribed so much wheat to be delivered at Leib's
mill. Jacob Moyer, father of John
and Thomas of Pleasant, and David Miller
were the contractors. Moyer died here;
Miller in Iowa. Jacob Moyer, John Larimer
and Amos Davis were the first elders.
Rev. John Wright preached for them once each month.
Rev. Francis Bartlett became the regular pastor
in 1832. Many of the members were Scotch-Irish,
they were strict with their children and almost
invariably raised good families.
As previously stated Wm. Rowles married Maria
Stuart. She was the daughter of pioneer
parents, William Stuart and Maria Henderson,
known as Scotch-Irish. Stuart's mother was
a Thompson. They were both born in Ireland.
The father came to the United States in 1796 when twenty
years of age. The mother came in 1797. Their
parents settled in Pennsylvania.
Here they became acquainted and were married Feb. 18,
1801. A few years after their marriage they came
to this county and settled near what is now Bremen.
In a few years they were owners of a half section of
land, a part of which is now within the corporation of
Bremen. They built a comfortable home on the bluff
just north of the present village, where they spent a
peaceful, honorable and useful life, rearing a family of
children. One of their best known sons,
Thompson Stuart, highly esteemed and useful man, was
born Mar. 20, 1816. He married Rebecca C.
Holliday, daughter of Zebulon Holliday,
another sturdy and vigorous man of Rushcreek township.
The wedding occurred Apr. 20, 1845. He purchased a
part of the old Stuart homestead and lived the
life of a farmer to the end of his days in sight of
Bremen. They reared a family of seven children.
Mrs. Charles Perrin of Columbus, Mrs. W. B.
Henry of Lancaster, Mrs. N. W. Good of Logan,
W. J. Stuart of Springfield, Mrs. W. C.
McCandish, Zebulon and Wesley of Bremen.
Thompson Stuart was an honored member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. The writer has known
him to attend a quarterly meeting twelve miles from his
home. Fifty years have come and gone since that
occasion.
The brothers of Thompson Stuart were Charles,
William and James Stuart of Lancaster, who
married a daughter of Christian Rudolph, is a son
of James Stuart.
Alexander T. Stuart the great merchant of New
York is claimed as a cousin of William Stuart the
pioneer. Both were born in the same neighborhood
in North Ireland.
We cannot close without referring to the early schools
of Rushcreek. The first was taught by
Christopher Welty and George Beery's kitchen.
The second by Joseph Osborn in the kitchen of
Joseph Leib, Sr. The late David Y. Davis
attended the last named. THE WILSON
FAMILY OF RICHLAND
pg. 247 THE MURPHEY FAMILY
pg. 253
CHILDREN OF JOHN MURPHEY
pg. 255
MURPHEY FAMILY SUPPLEMENT
pg. 257
THE HOLMES FAMILY
pg. 258
TONG THEIR CHILDREN
pg. 262
THE WELLS
FAMILY
pg. 268
WELLSVILLE, OHIO
pg. 278
THE WELLS BURYING GROUND
pg. 278
McCLEERY
pg. 280
TALLMAN SKETCH pg. 282
THE WILSONS pg. 283
THE CRUMLEY
FAMILY pg. 289
THE GRAHAM FAMILY pg. 292
THE CLAYPOOL FAMILY
pg. 296
THE MEASON, CHERRY AND BEAR FAMILIES
pg. 304 CHERRY FAMILY pg. 308
BEAR FAMILY pg. 309
WINTER FAMILY pg. 310 SKETCH OF THE HOOKER FAMILY
pg. 312 SOME
MARRIAGE RECORDS
pg. 320
George
Tallman married Jane Douglas, and
they were the parents of Mrs. B. N. Spahr.
Jonathan Hays married Elizabeth Hooker in
the year 1809, Richard Hooker, J. P.,
officiating. We can't state to what
family Elizabeth belonged.
James Tallman married Polly Bell, March
16, 1808, and moved to the Cove, Brook
County, Virginia.
Thomas Tallman married Eleanor Cole,
August 14, 1823, by Rev. Henry Matthews.
Benjamin Tallman married Rebecca Hodges,
October 5, 1823, by Rev. Henry Matthews.
William Tallman married Rachel Rush, of
Amanda township, April 17, 1834. This
was doubtless the father-in-law of
Richard Hooker and his second wife.
Benjamin Tallman married Sarah Glanville,
December 24, 1833.
Hinton Tallman married Amanda M. Thompson,
May 5, 1836, by Rev. Solomon Mineer.
Hinton and his brother George
were able business men, of high character,
and were greatly esteemed wherever known. |
THE REBER
FAMILY and the Bright Family - Pioneers all. pg. 320 THE REAM FAMILY pg.
THE VAN METRE FAMILY pg.
THE COURTRIGHT FAMILY pg.
THE
WILLIAMSON FAMILY
pg.
THEODORE WILLIAMSON, the pioneer and the ancestor
of the large family in this county, was born in Berkeley
County, Virginia, in 1774. He came to Ohio and
settled in this county hear Royalton in the year 1807.
He died April 15, 1870, aged 96 years. His wife
was Miss Rhoda Prater, of Virginia. She
died Sept, 1857, aged 79 years. They were the
parents of a large family of sons and daughters, all of
whom were farmers and reputable citizens. The
oldest son, George W., married Elizabeth Kemp.
They lived on the farm now owned by Albert Williamson,
near the upper falls of the Hockhocking. He died
December 10, 1879. His wife died January 19, 1889.
Their oldest son, Theodore Williamson, married a
sister of Henry Alspach. He lived for years
on a fine farm near Hooker, and was known as the
neatest and best farmer of that vicinity. He sold
his farm and moved to Omaha, to which city his sons,
Seymour and Charles, had preceeded him.
He now lives near Columbus, Ohio. Seymour
married a Bookwalter; Charles married
Miss Annie Wiseman of Lancaster, Ohio.
Henry, son of George, married a Miss
Tipton. He owns a good farm in Bloom township,
but makes his home in Lancaster. He was a Union
soldier, and left his right arm in Southern soil.
Albert, son of George, married Rose
Dysinger. He owns the home farm, but rents and
conducts an implement store, or warehouse, in Lancaster.
Sarah married Zephaniah Courtright; Zona
married William Coffman; Lorinda, married
John E. Courtright; Elizabeth married Isaac
Bollenbaugh, and Amanda married John
Coffman.
A good family of children survive Zephaniah
Courtright and wife.
Abraham Courtright
and his sister Mary reside upon the home place of
300 acres. One of his daughters married H. J.
Knisely, a farmer and grain dealer of Carroll, Ohio.
Another daughter married Reber Allen, and another
daughter married Andrew J. Musser, late treasurer
of this county. Silas, a son of
Zepheniah Courtright, lives near the upper falls of
Hockhocking.
Joseph P. Williamson,
son of Theodore, was born in 1804. He died
March 165, 1876, aged 72 years. He married
Elizabeth Odell and lived upon the home place of the
pioneer, Theodore. William, his son,
married Flora Dysinger and moved to Indiana.
Silas J. Williamson,
son of Jacob, was born December 14, 1831.
He married Susannah Kiger. He lives on the
old pioneer farm. John, son of Jacob,
married Hannah Cruit. George, son of
Jacob, married Anna Kiger and moved to Wells
county, Indiana.
Alonzo, son of
Jacob P., married Dora, daughter of Daniel
Kellerman, and moved to Bluffton, Indiana, where he
is a very prominent banker and citizen.
Rhoda, daughter of Jacob, married John
Madden; they live on Muddy Prairie, near Amanda.
Cholista married James Robinson and died
some years since. Etta married David
Cole, and they moved to Wells county, Indiana.
Catharine married George Otis. Emma
married Robert Cruit, one of the prominent and
successful farmers of Hocking township.
Isaac Newton, son
of Theodore, a pioneer, married Elizabeth
Peters, daughter of Samuel Peters. She
is living at a very old age, but is well and hearty,
bright and happy, in the home so long endeared to her by
toil and happiness. Mr. Williamson died
December 16, 1890, aged 82 years. Mr.
Williamson was a good farmer and a lover of and a
judge of good fruit.
His son Theodore
married a daughter of Henry Alspach. Rufus
was a Union soldier and was killed in battle.
Joseph married a Miss Harrison.
Tunis married Ella Alspach, daughter of
Joseph Alspach. Samuel died young and did not
marry. Mary married G. Stanbery; Althea
married Frank Philbrick; Anna married Clay
Johnson; Emma never married. John
Williamson, son of Theodore, married a
Miss Ingman. He died recently. His home
was on a farm near Royalton. His son, Clark
Williamson, married a daughter of
Valentine Reber. His daughter married Dr.
Silbaugh of Lancaster, Ohio. Milton
Williamson married a Miss Groff and they live
on the home place of John Williamson.
Henrietta married George Ward, Sophia and Maria
are single women.
Silas, the son of
Theodore, married Lucinda Shawan, a sister or
niece of R. W. Shawan, the great merchant of
Tiffin, Ohio. Shawan, in early life, worked
upon a farm in Amanda township, and fed cattle in the
winter for a small sum of money per month. He went
to Tiffin at an early day, prospered and was rated a
millionaire.
We know but little of the family of Silas
Williamson. His son Thomas married a
Miss Hooker. William Williamson, a son
of Theodore, married Catharine Griffith
and moved to Missouri, where they died. Levi
Williamson, son of Theodore, married a
daughter of James Grantham, and moved to Iowa,
where George Creed now lives. They moved to
Shelby County, Illinois. Zero married
Enos Prater and they moved to Ross county, Ohio.
Both now dead.
This completes the record
of the children, and grandchildren of the old pioneer so
far as we have been able to trace the family.
On the farm near the house
of Silas J. Williamson, in sight of the Royalton
road leading from Lancaster, there are two very
remarkable elm trees. They were found there by the
pioneer, Theodore Williamson, and preserved.
Eighty-two years ago they were 15 inches in diameter.
One of them measures 2½
feet from the ground, 20 feet in circumference.
The other 23 feet. Their tops cover a space of
ground 90 feet in diameter. Apple trees planted 75
years ago still bear fruit.
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