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COLONEL ELIAS FLORENCE,
was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, Feb. 15, 1797. His
father was William Florence, and his mother Fanny
(Robinson) Florence, both born and raised in Virginia. In
1806 William Florence emigrated, with his family, to Ohio,
arriving in Muhlenberg township, April 9th, of that year. He
located on a part of the original tract owned by General Peter
Muhlenberg, of Revolutionary fame, and purchased one hundred
acres of land of Mr. Wilson, who then owned a part of this
tract. He afterwards added to his original purchase, until he
owned some seventeen hundred acres. He was one of the first
three county commissioners of Pickaway county, and was twice elected
to the State legislature, in 1816 and 1817, serving the first term
that the old Columbus State-house was used. In 1828 he was
elected as associate judge, by the legislature, and served two
terms. His death occurred in 1870, at his residence on the
west side of Darby creek, aged ninety-six years. His children
were Elias, Robinson, William, Nancy, Sally, Betsey, Mary,
and Kittie, who died when in infant.
Colonel Elias Florence obtained a common-school
education, such as the schools of that early day furnished, the
first of which, in the township, was established by his father, on
his farm, at his own expense. His boyhood was spent at the
usual work of those early days; in clearing the land, and roughing
it in a new country. Among his early playmates were teh Indian
boys of the bands that camped and roamed along Darby creek. As
he advanced in years and experience, he became a stock dealer, and
in that business, visited Kentucky and purchased stock, which he
drove to this township and fattened, after which he drove them
across the mountains to Philadelphia and New York.
He was married Mar. 26, 1818, to Elizabeth
Radcliffe, of Kentucky. They had eight children: Ezra,
George, Gustavus, William, Mary, Chrissie, Fanny, and
Isabel. Ezra lived to maturity, and married Sarah
Renick. He died of consumption, leaving three sons and one
daughter. The other boys died young. Mary married
William Scott, by whom she had two sons, the first of whom
was Elias F., who was commissioned first lieutenant of
Company A, Forty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, in May, 1862, and
promoted to captain in December, of the same year; was wounded at
the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864, and died two days
afterwards. Her second son was William, who now lives
on a farm of three hundred acres, near Darbyville. Chrissie,
the next daughter of Col. Florence, married John Williams,
and died in Madison county. Fanny married William
Cochran, and died many years ago. Isabel married
Rev. "Owen Simpson, and died in Circleville.
Colonel Elias Florence was elected to the State
legislature, in 1829 and 1830, in a Democratic district, although
belonging to the Whig party, receiving every vote cast in his own
township. He was again elected in 1834, and again in 1840, to
the legislature, and in 1835, to the State senate. He served
four years in the house and two in the senate. In 1843, he was
elected to congress, and served two years. In 1850, he was a
member of the constitutional convention.
He enlisted in a light horse company during the war of
1812, but peace being declared, and company was not called into
actual service. He was elected colonel of a regiment of Ohio
militia and served as such from 1820 until 1837 or 1838.
From the time he was engaged in business until within a
few years, he accumulated much property, owning, at one time, about
five thousand five hundred acres of land and a large amount of live
stock. His home was always a most hospitable one, and the
occasions were rare when it was free from visitors. The spirit
of old Virginian hospitality pervaded the entire family, and does to
this day. His friends and many, and are not confined to the
limits of the township in which he lives.
Col. Florence has always been regarded as a man
of excellent business qualifications, exhibiting a remarkably sound
judgment and a commendable prudence in all of his dealings and
business transactions. These qualities, however, were combined
with an unusual generosity of nature, which, in the later years of
his life, brought about his financial embarrassment. His first
impulse, on seeing it persons in need of aid, especially of a
pecuniary nature, was to render him all the assistance in his power
to grant. This led him into the generally baleful practice of
endorsing the notes of others, by which he was eventually
financially ruined. He gave up every dollar of his property to
his creditors, not, reserving even a homestead. The farm on
which he now resides, comprising some two hundred acres, was
purchased for his use during the remainder of his life, by a number
of his friends, who were unwilling that one whose life had been so
useful, whose conduct under adverse circumstances had been so noble,
and whom they so much esteemed and loved, should be without a
comfortable home in his declining years.
Col. Florence possesses a vivid recollection of
early events in the settlement and development of the county, and an
inexhaustible fund of anecdote apropos of pioneer times, and
the writer of this has drawn upon him freely, as a source of
information, in the preparation of the history of various townships.
Col. Florence is now in the eighty-third year of his age.
His brother, William Florence; his daughter, Mrs. Scott;
and his niece, Matilda Radcliffe reside with him.
[Pg. 341]
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ALEXANDER McKINLEY was born in Hardy
County, Virginia, Mar. 10, 1800. He spent his childhood in his
native county, and obtained such an education as the condition of
the country could afford, which was exceedingly limited.
Indeed, he may be called a self-made man, acquiring his education in
business in that valuable but expensive school - experience.
His native ability will be readily seen from his
success in the accumulation of a large landed property and in
handling stock. It is said of him that his judgment of the
value of stock was almost unerring.
In 1821 he came to Ohio, purchased and cleared his
farm, and, with his faithful wife, bore the trials and hardships
incident to, and inseparable form, a pioneer life. He married
Miss Mary Ann Williamson, of this State, in 1830, by whom he
had thirteen children, only eight of whom are now living -
Samuel, Robert, Joseph, Cornelius, James, Alexander, Stephen,
and Marcus.
Samuel married Ellen Balan, and lives on a
portion of the homestead. Robert married Susan
Thomas, and lives on the farm also. Joseph married
Miss Lizzie Wilcoxson, and lives in Indiana. James
married Mary E. Davis, who is deceased.
Alexander McKinley died in August, 1873, leaving
his afflicted and faithful helper a large property and family to
manage. Her sons now prove earnest and faithful men, on whom
she can rely in the management of all her business interests.
It would be unjust to close this brief biography of
this family without a mention of a brilliant and dutiful son, who,
only one year since, was summoned to join his father, brother and
sisters who had preceded him. We refer to John.
This has proved a severe stroke to his mother. No mere word of
the writer can property picture the hardships and trials of a woman
who has faced the realities of a new-country life on a farm, nor can
any mere words paint the glories in store for such a mother.
Mrs. Kinley is now sixty-six years old, but is,
to all appearance, in good health; and, for the sake of her
children, it is to be hoped she may survive yet these many years.
[Pg. 338b]
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JOHN McKINLEY was born in Hardy county,
Virginia, in the year 1797. He was three times married.
His first wife was a native of Hardy county, Virginia, where she
spent a portion of her married life; but she died in Darby township,
Pickaway county, Ohio. Nine children were both born of this
union, five of whom are now living - Harriet, Mary, Abel Seymour,
Joseph Hill, and John Wesley.
Margaret Millar was the
second wife of John McKinley. Of this union were
born three children- Russell B., William H., and Sarah
Jane.
His third wife was Sophia Williamson,
of Portsmouth, Ohio, who still survives him. No children were
born of this union.
Mr. McKinley died in April, 1876,
leaving a large property to his legal representatives. The
kindness of his heart is exhibited in becoming surety for so many of
his neighbors and friends, which resulted very disastrously, and
gave him much trouble and anxiety, and is said to have had much to
do with hastening his demise. Mr. McKinley, though a
business man, was also a local Methodist preacher, and perhaps is
more widely known as such than as a dealer in stock. He
was regarded by his neighbors as an honest man, a good citizen, a
faithful christian, and an exemplary member of society. He was
not educated in the schools, but possessed a fair business
education, and was a successful business man and an influential
preacher.
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