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BIOGRAPHIES
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)
 Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio
with Illustrations and Biographical
Sketches,
by George William Hill, M.D. -
Published by Williams Bros.
-1880 -
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1880 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
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Vermillion Twp. -
JAMES M. ECHELBARGER was born in
Vermillion township, Oct. 17, 1846, and was married Jan. 12,
1871, to Arminda Kyle, daughter of Samuel and
Elizabeth Kyle, of Vermillion township. They have four
children: Nellie Jane, born Nov. 19, 1871; Cora Almina,
born Sept. 17, 1874, died Oct. 23, 1876; Hiram Martin,
born Apr. 22, 1876; Ralph, born Apr. 14, 1880.
Mr. Echelbarger is a farmer; he has sixteen acres of his
own, and farms about forty acres on shares for Martin Kramer.
In politics, he is a Democrat.
Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published
by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 301 |
Vermillion Twp. -
MR. SAMUEL ECHELBARGER was born in
Vermillion township, Oct. 23, 1843. His parents emigrated
from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1823 with
their parents. His father was then a boy about fifteen
years old, and his mother a girl of thirteen summers. They
were married on the seventeenth day of May, 1829. They
moved at once to a farm in Vermillion township owned by his
father, and which is now owned by Mr. William Goard.
This farm fell into his possession at the death of his parents
for the care he had of them in their old age. This farm,
which consisted of forty acres, he traded by giving some boot
money for eight acres known as the Ferry farm.
About the year 1850 he sold this farm and purchased the farm on
which Samuel and his mother now live. On July 9,
1877, Mr. Echelbarger died. Mrs. Echelbarger
is still living with his son Samuel, aged seventy years.
On Feb. 9, 1868, the subject of this sketch was married to
Miss Eliza Ann Kyle. She died May 10, 1877. They
had four children - three daughters and one son. The son
is all the child now living. One daughter died in infancy,
one at the age of fifteen months and one at the age of four
years. On Dec. 3, 1878, Mr. Echelbarger married
Miss Elizabeth Endinger, a sister of Mrs. N. D. Ryland.
By this union there have been no children. Mr.
Echelbarger is a Democrat in politics.
Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published
by Williams Bros. 1880 - Page 302 |
Vermillion Twp. -
JACOB EICHELBERGER was born in Vermillion
township Mar. 21, 1831. On Sept. 4, 1851, he married
Susannah, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Conn,
early settled of Ashland county, both of whom are dead.
They have had children as follows: Louisa, born
July 22, 1852; Elizabeth, born Nov. 29, 1854; Mary,
born Nov. 6, 1856; Rosanna and Barbara, born May
25, 1858; Samuel, born Nov. 12, 1861; Clara, born
Apr.9, 1863; Elmer E., born May 4, 1866; Benjamin,
born May 22, 1871. Of these, two are dead - Elizabeth,
who died Feb. 17, 1864, and Benjamin, who died Nov. 5,
1872. Louisa is a wife of Cyrus Miller, and
lives in Mifflin township. They were married in 1870, and
have three children. Rosanna is the wife of
Henry Daubenspeck, and lives in Vermillion township.
They have three children. The other four are at home
assisting the father on the farm, and the mother in the
household duties. In politics Mr. Eichelberger is a
Democrat, but in home elections casts his vote for the man he
considers most worthy of the confidence of the public, and best
fitted to take care of their interests, regardless of political
views. He is not connected with any church, but recognizes
the importance of churches and schools as a public
benefit, and the contents of his purse are used to their benefit
many times.
Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published
by Williams Bros. 1880 - Page 300 |
PATRICK
ELLIOTT was born in Donegal county, Ireland, in 1788, and
emigrated with his parents, and located in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, in 1803. He grew up in that county, and
married Nancy Morrow, of Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1813,
and removed to Clearcreek township, Richland county, and located
on the southwest quarter of section twelve, in the spring of 1817.
He resided on his farm until 1826, when he deceased. He was
a member of the Episcopal church from his youth. At his
death his family consisted of his wife, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth,
Hugh, Jane, George, and Moses, of whom only Hugh
and Moses survive. Mrs. Elliott died in 1847,
aged about sixty years.
Mrs. Elliott is believed to have taught
the first subscription school, in her own cabin, in Clearcreek
township, in 1817, the parties sending scholars assisting Mr.
Elliott to clear his land in payment for tuition. Noble
woman!
Hugh, the oldest son, fifty-six years of age,
and Moses, the youngest, reside on the old homestead.
Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published
by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 182 |
REV.
RICHARD DUMONT EMERSON was born in Fairfax county,
Virginia, near the city of Alexandria, Aug. 14, 1794. His
mother was a highly educated French lady, whose maiden name was
Louis, a branch of the royal family, and his father also of
French birth. A brother of his mother accompanied
General Lafayette to this country, and fell in the battle of
Brandywine, during the Revolutionary war.
In his youth, Mr. Emerson attended school near
Alexandria, and acquired a fair English education.
When about eighteen years of age he entered the army of
the war of 1812, as a volunteer, and was at the battle of Crany
Island, where he was honorably mentioned for his conduct on the
field, and promoted to captain. At the close of the war he
returned ot Alexandria, and engaged in business as a
manufacturer and dealer in shoes and boots.
In 1824-5, when General Lafayette visited
Alexandria, and Mt. Vernon, Captain Emerson was
one of the marhsals who commanded the guard that received and
conducted the general to that "Mecca of American freemen," the
tomb of George Washington. HE was a fine horseman,
and was highly complimented by General Lafayette for his
fine military bearing on that occasion.
While a young man he became an active member of the
local minister in, the Methodist church. In 1840 he
removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, and became a Lutheran
minister. He subsequently removed to Ashland county, and
preached for Lutheran congregations at Rowsburgh, Hayesville,
Mifflin, and Orange. He was regarded as a forcible and
fluent speaker, and made a fine appearance in the pulpit.
In 1852 he was elected a member of the Ohio legislature from
Ashland county, and served one term, declining to be a candidate
for re0eection. In 1854 he was appointed postmaster at
Hayesville, and retained the position to the close of
administration of Franklin Pierce. In 1860 he
removed to Missouri, but subsequently located and took charge of
a Lutheran congregation at Bardstown, Kentucky, where he
remained until May, 1876, when he removed to Clark county,
Missouri, where he deceased after lingering illness, September
10, 1876, at the advanced age of eighty-two years and
twenty-seven days. Mr. Emerson had served his
church, as minister, about forty-six years, and was regarded as
an able and influential exponent of creed and teachings of
Martin Lutehr, the great German reformer.
He was enrolled among those who drew pensions for
services in the war of 1812, and it may be truly said, "he
served his country as a patriot, and his church as a Christian."
Mr. Emerson was above medium in size, very
erect, had black hair, large gray eyes, and was impressive and
dignified in his bearing. He was exceedingly fond of fine
horses, and rode with all the grace of a marshal of France.
His tastes were largely military, and if he had been reared in a
country like France, he would have risen to distinction in
military life.
He was married three times. His family consisted
of Rev. William A. G. Emerson,
of Kentucky; Colonel Richard D. Emerson, of Iowa; John
Emerson, deceased; Mrs. Martha White, of Kansas;
Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, of Canal Dover, Ohio; Mrs. Virginia
Crellen, of Missouri; and Mrs. Caroline Ewing of
Illinois.
Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published
by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 215 |
WILLIAM
A. G. EMERSON was born near Alexandria, Virginia, July
12, 1816. He grew to manhood in Fairfax county, Virginia.
In 1836 he came to Ohio, having married Miss Catharine Atkins
in 1835, when he was but nineteen years of age. His
father, Rev. Richard Dumont
Emerson, had preceded him to Ohio, and exercised great
influence over him. In the meantime his father had
connected as a minister with the Lutheran church.
William, although from boyhood a member of the Methodist
church, and recently licensed as a local preacher, was urged
also to unite with the Lutheran church, which he finally did in
1845. He evinced a talent that at once attracted
attention, and was soon employed to preach at Bridgeport, Wayne
county, and from thence, about 1847, came to Ashland, Ohio, and
was employed to preach at the Lutheran church, a little frame,
on the corner of Third and Orange streets. He was then
thirty-one years old, and possessed all the enthusiasm of youth,
and an imagination and zeal that glowed with fervid eloquence.
We remember, right well, his appearance in the pulpit. He
attracted a great deal of attention, and exerted a wonderful
power as a young but gifted minister of the Lutheran church.
It will be remembered that many of the leading young lawyers -
General John S. Fulton, Professor John Rankin, James Sloan,
and many of the brightest students from the old academy, were
accustomed to crowd into the little frame church on the corner,
on Sunday evenings, to hear the eloquent young preacher.
This little church had been purchased from the Universalists
about 1842, and the membership quite feeble. In a few
years such had been its increase in members under the preaching
of this remarkable young man, that the place of meeting had to
be changed, and resulted in the erection of the present church
on Third street, which was built in 1852. Mr. Emerson
laid aside his robes, and toiled like a day laborer to secure
the completion of the church. His salary was small, yet he
contributed, in toil and money, as much as many wealthy members
toward the work. Often have we seen him with one horse and
wagon, clothed like a laborer, engaged in hauling bricks and
mortar for the work. It went rapidly forward, and in due
time was dedicated.
Soon after, for some unknown reason, he was permitted
to engage in his ministerial services to the congregation at
Wooster, where he remained until 1854. In 1855 he removed
to Hayesville, where he preached about one year, and was then
employed by the congregation at Mt. Zion, Richland county, where
he remained until 1859, and then preached one year at Newville.
From thence he went to Independence and Bellville until 1861,
when he returned to Ashland, where he was appointed chaplain of
the One Hundred and Twentieth regiment of Ohio independent
militia, and was at Vicksburgh, Mississippi, during the winter
of 1862-3, and in consequence of enfeebled health, returned to
Ashland, and in the fall of 1863, was elected probate judge of
Ashland county. His election was contested, and early in
1864, the court awarded the office to the contestant. The
contestor and contestant have now removed the case to that court
where neither judge nor jury err, and where equal and exact
justice will be awarded all men.
In 1855-56 he remained in Ashland, frequently preaching
to his friends in various parts of the county. In 1866 he
was employed by the Lutheran congregation at Brookville, near
Dayton, as their pastor, and remained there about two years.
In 1868 he removed to Florence, Kentucky, and connected with the
Methodist conference of that part of the State, and was assigned
to a circuit, where he preached two years. In 1869070 he
preached upon a circuit at Germantown. In 1870 he was
assigned a circuit at Bryantsville for one year, and, at the
expiration of that time, removed to Mercer, where he remained
until 1872, and, in 1873, was sent to the station at Augusta,
where he labored two yeas, and, in 1875, worn down with hard
work, enfeebled in health, and much discouraged, he returned to
Ashland, where he made his home at the residence of his favorite
daughter, Irene, and son-in-law, Mr. DAniel Folk, where
he died on Tuesday, November 11, 1879, of acute pneumonia, aged
sixty-three yeas and five months. Mrs. Folk and her
husband did all they could to render his situation comfortable,
peaceful, and pleasant. He passed away without a struggle,
so calmly, sitting upon a chair and resting his head upon the
back of another, that it was some moments before it was noticed
that he had departed. He looked so natural that it was
difficult to realize that he slept not. In his last
conversations, he expressed a readiness for the change.
The case was indeed a sad one. His whole life had been
full of turmoil, disappointments, and hardships. The storm
is now over, and he has gone home, where critics and censorious
people can no longer add a pang to his grief. God is just
and will reward.
Mr. Emerson was not well adapted to the
accumulation and retention of wealth. The science of
finance was no part of his study. He had not a venal
breath in his whole nature. He was genial, and moved by
the warmest impulses. In his address he was earnest and
amiable. He loved his friends and treated all men kindly
and courteously. He spoke truly to the poor, and never
shunned them in their distress. In his last days has
wardrobe was greatly neglected. Naturally fastidious and
tidy in his dress, he felt this apparent neglect most keenly,
and had nearly disappeared from a curious public. He was
unable to toil as a common laborer, and too much prostrated
physically and mentally, to labor in the pulpit; in his extreme
sensitiveness and humiliation, he said to the writer, a short
time before his decease: "I am very poor - have always been
poor. I never had money to give the rich. I always
labored for the poor, and when my work is done, I hope, like the
poor man mentioned in Sacred Writ, I may find a place of rest in
the paradise of God." He was naturally hopeful and buoyant
in spirit, and every expression of cheerfulness and geniality
was criticised and turned to his injury. This was all
wrong. True, a minister should be careful and guarded in
his intercourse and conversation, but we are too apt to be
severe in our criticisms. A preacher is but a man, and
often has to govern his own frailties. It is certainly
proper that a minister cultivate a cheerful, hopeful, and
sprightly habit, casting aside the gloomy deportment of the
hermit. His usefulness largely depends upon his
friendliness, sympathy, and his cheerfulness. The Saviour
did not hesitate to dine and associate with sinners. He
did so because he could the better impress his character and
teachings upon his hearers. Many remarkable teachers have
been crushed or pushed into obscurity by a fault-finding and
captious public.
Mr. Emerson had none of the early advantages of
collegiate training, neither was he permitted to spend years of
study in some theological seminary. Nature had done all
for him. He was endowed with fine ability, and an uncommon
versatility in the use of words. He never hesitated, even
during the glowing flights of imagination, for words to fitly,
fully, and elegantly express his ideas. When addressing an
audience, the spirit of genius awakened his whole countenance.
Tall in person, spare in form, with a voice musical and
impressive, and great earnestness and energy in the delivery of
his discourses, he always spoke with the utmost effect. He
threw such a force and power into his sermons, that the magic of
his address seemed to electrify the hearer as if touched by
sacred fire. His clear, strong voice and energetic manner
carried an audience along, and moved it to pity or
thoughtfulness. He was sympathetic in manner, and clothed
his words in beautiful images, and painted to the mind and heart
the wonderful majesty and goodness of the Supreme Father of all.
Large audiences crowded to hear him in the South, and the
presence of so many faces seemed to electrify him and call forth
his wonderful powers as a pulpit orator. He is gone, and
we shall never hear his eloquent voice again. He has gone
home until the summing up of all things. It will be a long
time before the impress of his preaching will fail to be
remembered in this and other communities.
Mr. Emerson was of French descent, and possessed
many of the genial traits of that most polite and remarkable
people. He had eight children, four boys and four girls,
all grown and married.
His friends secured him a nice metallic case, in which
his body now reposes, in the Lutheran cemetery lot. A
funeral discourse was delivered at the church by Rev. Wilhelm,
and brief addresses made by Revs. John Robinson, Miller
and Moody, after which he was conducted by Captain
Finger and company to the cemetery, and buried with military
honors, Thursday afternoon, November 13, 1879.
Source:
History of Ashland County, Ohio with Illustrations and
Biographical Sketches, by George William Hill, M.D. - Published
by Williams Bros. 1880. - Page 217 |
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