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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LARIMER-CHANEY
pg. 352

     The LARIMER FAMILY were citizens of Rushcreek township as early as 1802.  Robert Larimer was the first resident to die and Phoebe Larimer the first to marry.  Her husband was William Martin, the son of a pioneer.  Ebenezer Larimer was a prominent man among the first settlers; Isaac, Sr., James, Joseph and John Larimer were other members of the family.  Isaac and James were in Capt. Sanderson's company in 1812, and with their comrades were surrendered by by General Hull at Detroit.  Joseph and John were in the second company raised by Capt. Sanderson.
     Wright Larimer and Isaac Larimer were well known, popular, useful and honorable men of a late period.  Fifty years ago they were the prominent Democrats of the township and received favors at the hands of their party.  Isaac Larimer was a member of the Ohio General Assembly in the years 1848 and 1849, representing Fairfield, Hocking and Perry Counties.  The Whig and Democratic parties were so nearly a tie that two Freesoilers held the balance of power and dictated legislation.  They knew their power and ruled with an iron hand.  They proposed to the Whigs to repeal the Black Laws and elect Salmon P. Chase United States Senator and that they should have the Supreme Judge.  The Whigs declined the offer.  It was made to the Democrats and accepted.  Daniel Keller, Isaac Larimer and H. C. Whitman, Senator, voted with the Freesoilers.

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     All that the Democrat got out of this combination was a Judge of the Supreme Court and the satisfaction of defeating the Whigs and Thomas Ewing for Senator.
     They builded better than they thought; they drove the entering wedge that finally disrupted parties.  The election of Chase gave new life and strength to the Freesoil sentiment throughout the north, and it soon became apparent that the watchword of parties would be slavery or anti-slavery.  The Whig party went down before it and he result was the formation of the Republican party.  Chase led in this preliminary skirmish, and from that day to the present, fifty years, Ohio statesman have been influential leaders in public affairs.
     The vote of Keller, Larimer and Whitman was denounced in unmeasured terms by the Democrats of this county, both in public and in private; indignation meetings were held in some townships.
     Larimer became disgusted with the treatment he received and ever after followed the fortunes of Senator Chase. He became a leading and active Republican and voted for Chase for Governor of Ohio, and for General Fremont and Abraham Lincoln for President.
     Chase had him appointed a mail agent from Zanesville to Morrow in 1861, but the work proved too hard for him and his eyes gave out.  He resigned and returned to his farm.  In a year or two he sold out and moved to Darke County, Ohio, where he died a few years since.  He left two daughters in this county who are highly esteemed - one, Rebecca, is the wife of William Rowles, the other, Elizabeth, is the wife of

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a relative of William, John S. Rowles.  William Rowles is the present owner of the old homestead of John M. Ashbrook, a beautiful farm of good land.  Mr. and Mrs. Rowles have about reached three score and ten years.  They are the happy parents of ten children.
  

JUDGE CHENEY
Pg. 354

     JUDGE CHENEY was one of the brainy and enterprising pioneers of Fairfield County.  He was always a leader in his township and for his opportunities one of the foremost men of Fairfield County.  He was blessed with good common sense, good habits, good morals and was in all respects an exemplary citizen.  He was born in Washington County, Maryland, January 12, 1790.  When four years of age his father moved to Bedford County, Pa.  There he died when his son John was fourteen years of age.  Soon after his father's death, his only brother died, leaving the mother and three sisters in very poor circumstances.   His father owned a good farm but lost it by endorsing for friends.  From the age of fourteen to twenty he supported his mother and sisters.  In the fall of 1810 he bade adieu to his family and made his way to the West, and landed in Fairfield County, near the site of Waterloo.  He did not remain, but went over to Pickaway County, where he remained two years and then returned to his Pennsylvania home.  In the year 1815 he returned to this county and settled in Bloom township.  In the fall of 1816 he married Mary Ann Lafere and went to housekeeping in a log cabin fourteen feet square.  He said that he was poor, but did not doubt the future, as he intended to live a correct life.  He made rails for fifty cents per hundred and cut cord wood for twenty-five cents per cord.

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     Notwithstanding his poverty, having learned of the serious illness of his mother, he went to Bedford, Pa., and remained with her to the end and buried her by the side of his father.  "Honor they father and mother that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."  He returned to his home and began anew the struggle of life in the new country with undaunted courage.  The country rapidly improved and every year saw a change for the better.  He met with many discouragements and sometimes longed for the old home, but poverty kept him in Ohio.  He was too poor to move.
     A few of his early neighbors were Henry Dove, Chaney Ricketts, Abraham Pickering, Jacob Pickering, Mordecai Fishbaugh, Isaac Meason, the Courtrights, all were living near him, previous to the year 1812.  He was soon able to purchase a mill, saw-mill and a distillery and the business brought him in contact with people over a wide extent of country.  This property was on Spring Run, about one and one-half miles west of Carroll.
     He was elected a justice of the peace for 1821, 1824 and 1827, serving nine years.
     He was trustee of Bloom township for a period of twenty-three years.  He was also a major, colonel and paymaster in the old style Ohio Militia.
     In the years 1828, 1829 and 1830 he was elected to the lower house of the Ohio Legislature where he served the public with distinction and honor.  In 1831 the legislature elected him as associate judge of Fairfield Common Pleas Court.
     In 1832 he was nominated as candidate for Congress.  Judge Irvin was his competitor.  The preliminary work was done at the general muster, three fourths

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of the militia voting for him.  This ended the contest, Irvin retired and Chaney was elected in October.  The district was Fairfield, Perry, Hocking and Morgan.  He was re-elected in 1834, and again in1836.  Having served three terms in Congress he returned to his farm and the stern duties of life.  In 1842 he was again elected a member of the legislature and in 1844 he was elected State senator from the Fairfield district.  In the year 1855 he was again returned to the lower house of the legislature and served one term.  In 1832 he was a presidential elector and voted for Andrew Jackson.
     In 1851 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention that formed our present constitution.  His associate was Col. Wm. Medill.  His public career closed as a legislator in 1855.  A wonderful career, when we consider his situation and prospects in 1816.  He lived a correct live, improved his opportunities and made friends and success followed - and the fortune that looked so dark and gloomy became bright and brilliant.  There is no instance in this county of so many distinguished honors being conferred upon a plain, unassuming farmer.
     It is said of John Chaney that he never solicited office, they came unsought.
     When ninety years of age, he, with the writer, made his last call upon some old friends.  He said to John T. Brasee that he had all his life been opposed to slavery.  That he learned to hate the institution from what his mother told him of it.  It was an interesting interview to witness, but sad to see the old men part, never to meet again.  Brasee soon bid adieu to earth and Chaney died in two or three years at Canal Winchester.  Both began life as penniless orphans, both

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achieved distinction and honor and both accumulated wealth.  Both were honest, fearless, just men.
     Judge Chaney reared three sons who have been quite prominent men in this and Franklin County.  James was all his life a farmer of Bloom township.  Dr. Chaney, of Canal Winchester, has represented Franklin in the Ohio legislature.  Oliver P., in his young days was a clerk for Reber & Kutz, in Lancaster.  He made the trip to Europe with his friend.  John Reber.  Since that time he has resided in Canal Winchester, where he dealt in grain and bred fine horses.  He owns the old home farm in Bloom township.  He is an intelligent man and a worthy son of the old Judge.

REED, DENNISON AND SLAUGHTER
pg. 357

     The Reed and Dennison families were among the early pioneers of Greenfield Township, Fairfield County, Ohio.
     There were three of the REED BROTHERS, viz.,  James, William and Huston.  The land first owned by the Reeds lies just west of the farm of James W. Wilson.  James, whose children resided on the farm until quite recently married Nancy Hood, a girl of the neighborhood, but whose family is now unknown in the township.  James and William Reed were among the very early settlers of the township.  They built and operated one of the first salmills on the Hockhocking River at a very early day.
     Huston Reed came out from Pennsylvania with an only daughter and only child, and made his home with his brother William.  The girl grew to womanhood and became the wife of John M. Schoch, a German, who at that time worked at the Barrett Woolen Mill, near the upper falls of the Hockhocking River. 

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After marriage he moved to near Canal Winchester, where he again worked in a woolen mill.  He soon exchanged this business for that of a tavern keeper in Canal Winchester, and was long well known to Lancaster people as the landlord of the stage station.  His son, John M. Schoch, still keeps open the old-time tavern.
     The family of James Reed has been well known in their township for one hundred years, retaining the old home farm until within a year or two.
     William Reed married a Miss Black in Pennsylvania before emigrating to Ohio.  When war was declared in 1812, he enlisted in the company of Captain Sanderson and served until his death, which occurred in camp at Upper Sandusky, Ohio.  He died of the measles and necessary exposure incident to a camp and army life.
     His wife, finding herself a widow with two children, determined to return to Pennsylvania.  Twenty-five acres of land was set off as her share of the estate of the Reeds, and her brother-in-law, James Reed, assisted her to return to her old home.  He secured the services of Hiram Owens to accompany her, and the two made the long journey on horseback, each carrying a stout boy before them - Rufus Reed and John B. Reed.  In future years Rufus was a prominent merchant of Tiffin, Ohio, and John B. a prominent mechanic of Lancaster, and a brother-in-law of H. H. Hunter and George H. Smith, and father of the late Rufus Reed.
     Richard DENNISON was an Englishman, and in his young days a British soldier, a member of the King's Guard.  He understood the tactics, and often gave his

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young neighbors lessons.  He was a shoemaker by trade.
     In what year he came to the United States is not known; when he did come he settled in Pennsylvania.  There he met, wooed and won the widow of William Reed.  After their marriage they moved to Ohio and settled on the widow's share of the Reed farm, now owned by Mr. Markwood.  The year of their coming is not known, but it was prior to 1818, in which year their son, James was born.  A second son, Nelson studied and practiced law in Lancaster, but he died while yet a young man.  Nelson married Amanda Manson and moved to Iowa.  A daughter married a Tarlton merchant.  This merchant was a Mr. Julian, late of Circleville.  This couple in their old age moved to Tarlton, where they died and where they were buried.
     James Dennison grew up in Greenfield, and received such education as the county afforded.  At the proper age he went to Lancaster and was soon apprenticed to the business of a tanner, with William V. Thorne and James M. Pratt, who conducted a large tannery at the foot of Broad street.
     Having completed his apprenticeship, he went to Tiffany, Ohio, and became a partner of his half-brother, Rufus Reed.  After a few years they failed in business and he returned to Fairfield County.  He soon formed a partnership with a young tanner in Tarlton, Allen Hamilton, brother of Col. William Hamilton.  Their business was a success and was continued for some years.  William Lynch worked for them in 1852, and Captain Roby in 1855.  Both at the time were single men, but not long so to remain.  They courted sisters, Maria and Ann SLAUGHTER, daughters of Judge Robert

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F. Slaughter.  The young ladies at that time lived on the hill just this side of Clarksburg.  The gallants were accustomed to make the trip from Tarlton on horseback and remain during their convenience.  There were no buggies and moonlight rides in those days.
     Dennison married Maria and took his bride to Tarlton.  Later, Hamilton married Miss Ann and took her to Tarlton.  Some years later Hamilton moved to Columbus where he made investments that made his widow a fortune.
     James Dennison moved to Kansas City in 1859, when it was a mere river landing.  He followed his business for a year or two, when he became a leather merchant, which business he followed successfully, making a small fortune.  It is said that his wife traded a good cow for an acre of land.  That acre is now in the heart of the city.
     Dennison lived in Kansas City during the civil war, and being a northern man of pronounced principles, he was often in danger of his life, the same having been often threatened.  About the year 1884 he closed up his business, disposed of property and moved to Los Angeles, California, just in time to make investments that made him another fortune.
     Dennison and wife lived a delightful life for fifteen years in the land of sunshine and flowers.  He died Oct. 7, 1899, leaving his wife and three children.  Mr. Dennison had a long, varied and useful career.  He was a prominent and honored citizen in Lancaster, Tiffin, Tarlton, Kansas City and Los Angeles.  He was an intelligent, honorable, courteous gentleman, highly esteemed and respected where he died.  He was one of the many distinguished men, born in Fairfield County, who made fame and fortune in the west,

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and who to the day of his death remembered, with pleasure and affection, the fair fields over which he roamed in early life.  His widow was recently killed in Kansas City by a street accident.   

THE BRANDT FAMILY OF THE EARLY DAYS
A NUMEROUS AND HONORABLE ONE
Pg. 361

     "The brief duration of our families, as a hereditary household, renders it next to a certainty that the great-grandchildren will not know their father's grandfather."  Thus wrote Nathaniel Hawthorne.  But since his time, in many parts of our country, especially in Pennsylvania and New England, people are waking up to the importance of family history.
     "In this the closing year of the nineteenth century it is fitting to write up the events of the past," and especially the history of the families that settled and cleared up this country and brought it to its present state of civilization.  Among the early settlers there were but few families if any, who stood higher than the Brandts.  Three sons and one daughter of the original stock came to Fairfield County from Pennsylvania.
     Ludwig Brandt in 1745 left his home in Germany and came in a sailing vessel to America.  He had a long, stormy and perilous passage, but the time passed away pleasantly in the society of a pretty German girl, Catharine Mueller, who he met on the vessel.  They landed in Philadelphia June, 18745, were married July 4,  and settled at Hummelstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.  To this union came five sons and four daughters.  Adam, the second son, was the father of Jacob, Adam and David Brandt, and their sister, Mrs. Jacob Pence.
     Ludwig Brandt, a relative of Adam Brandt, founder of the Fairfield County family, came to this

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county as early as 1800.  He purchased about 500 acres of land, since known as the Pence and John Brandt farms.  On this land he paid taxes up to 1806.  About that time he returned to Pennsylvania and sold his land to Adam Brandt and Isaac Pence, who in time settled his son-in-law, Jacob Pence and his sons Jacob and Adam upon it.
     Jacob PENCE and wife, in May, 1802, left Pennsylvania, came through an unbroken wilderness to this county, and settled upon a part of this land - the tract now owned by Geo. B. Brasee, for more than 50 years known as the Pence farm.  Mrs. Eve Metzler Brandt, mother of Mrs. Pence, with the sons, Jacob and Abram, came out on horseback and made a visit of two weeks in 1805, and the long journey homeward was made in the same way.
     Jacob Brandt married Frances Baughman, of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Sept. 8, 1808, and departed the next day in a two-horse wagon for Ohio, making the trip in two weeks, about as soon as it could be made now.  They settled near Mrs. Barbara Pence's, now the Reefe farm.  Adam Brandt was married to Rachel Dunlap in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, April 14, 1812, and on the day of his marriage started in a two-horse wagon for the west.  They did not make the quick trip recorded of Jacob.  Their trip was a tedious one.  They took a farm near their brother Jacob, where they spent their lives, the farm now owned by H. M. Brandt.  David Brandt, the oldest of the brothers, came to Greenfield in 1814, and settled upon 80 acres of land, on what is now the Baltimore road, the Brooks farm, six miles north of Lancaster.  Besides being farmers.  Adam was a shoemaker and David a saddler and school teacher.  He taught school

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in the winter season from 1815 to 1838, in both the German and English languages.  He took an interest in politics, and served as a Justice of the Peace for several years.
     The son Isaac inherited many of the good qualities of this old scholar and has been recognized in Iowa as a good politician and distinguished citizen for many years.  HE was a member of the Iowa Legislature, Deputy State Auditor and Postmaster of Des Moines under Harrison. He has kindly sent in for this sketch an old Whig song of 1840, from which we make an extract:

"THE HERO OF TIPPECANOE"
"Ye jolly young Whigs of the nation,
And all ye sick Democrats, too,
Come out from amongst the foul party,
And vote for old Tippecanoe."

CHORUS -
And vote for old Tippecanoe,
And votes for old Tippecanoe,
Come out from amongst the foul party,
And vote for old Tippecanoe."

     He sends also a brass medal or badge, with likeness of General Harrison, which was worn by himself in 1840.
     "When parties were formed David Brandt became a Whig and was a close friend of Thomas Ewing, Sr., Henry Stanbery, John M. Creed and Col. Van Trump, all of Lancaster.
     In the presidential election in 1828, Fairfield County was almost unanimous for General Andrew Jackson.  In Greenfield township, in which David Brandt lived and voted, there were but two votes cast for John Q.

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Adams, and they were cast by David Brandt and Jacob Graybill.  When the votes were counted out the Jackson men said that the two Adams men must accompany them to Lancaster - they wanted to exhibit them as curiosities.  They went and had a grand good time.  General Sanderson and Thomas Ewing said they were jewels found in Greenfield township.
     In 1836 the political campaign assumed a wider range.  Parties had been organized.  The Democratic party nominated Martin Van Buren as their candidate for president, and the Whig party nominated General William Henry Harrison.  Fairfield County cast 2,906 votes for Van Buren and 1,846 votes for General Harrison.  Greenfield township nearly divided her vote between the two candidates.  In 1840, the memorable political campaign in the history of our country, the Democratic party placed Martin Van Buren in nomination for the second term, and the Whig party nominated General William Henry Harrison for the second time and dubbed him the hero of Tippecanoe.  In June, 1840, General Harrison visited Lancaster.  There was a wonderful gathering of the people.  It seemed as if the hills and valleys, and the highways and byways were alive with people, with coons and coonskins, buckeyes and log cabins.  It was the largest gathering ever held in Lancaster up to that date.  It was soon followed by a monster gathering of the Democrats, which excelled that held by the Whigs.  The speakers were Governor Wilson Shannon and William Medill.  In September there was a joint discussion on the political issues of the campaign between Richard M. Johnson, the Democratic candidate for Vice President, William Allen, on the Democratic side, and Thomas Corwin and Samuel F. Vinton in behalf of the Whigs. 

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The meeting was held in the woods near the foot of Mt. Pleasant.  This meeting eclipsed all other gatherings held in the county, and the friends of each party returned to their homes satisfied that they would win the day.  Fairfield County cast 3,318 votes for Van Buren and 2,463 votes for Harrison.  Greenfield township, in which the Brandts were numerous, gave a small majority for General Harrison.  The ticket voted at the presidential election in 1840 was only for electors.  Ohio was then entitled to 21 electors.  Their names were:
     

WHIG TICKET, 1840
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     William R. Putnam, Resin Beall, Alexander Mayhew, Henry Harter, Aurora Spafford, Joshua Collett, Abram Miley, Samuel F. Vinton, John I. Van Meter, Aquilla Toland, Perley B. Johnson, John Dukes, Otho Brashear, James Ruguet, Christopher S. Miller, John Carey, David King, Storm Rosa, John Beatty, John Augustine, John Jamison.
     This ticket in Greenfield township was voted by David Brandt, Sr., and David Brandt, second; Adam Brandt, second; Adam Brandt, third; Jacob Brandt, Sr. and Jacob Brandt, second; John Brandt, first; John Brandt, second; George Brandt, Martin Brandt, Jesse Brandt, and Henry M. Brandt, Jacob Pence, Adam Pence, Philip Pence, Joseph Pence and Henry Pence.  These, with eight sons-in-law, made 21 straight votes for Tippecanoe and Tyler, too, from the Brandt families.  Adam Brandt, Sr., voted for Van Buren.
     David Brandt, Sr., was the father of seven sons and five daughters.  David Brandt, Sr., died Oct. 27, 1851, aged 78 years.  On Apr. 1, 1899, his children were all dead except David Brandt, second, who lives in Eaton, Delaware county, Indiana, aged 84 years,

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and Isaac Brandt, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa, aged 72 years.
     Barbara Brandt Pence was the mother of seven sons and four daughters.  Barbara Brandt Pence died Apr. 7, 1850, aged 72 years. All her children were dead on Apr. 1, 1899, except Henry Pence, who lives in Nodaway County, Missouri, aged 79 years.
     Jacob Brandt, Sr., was the father of five sons and five daughters.  Jacob Brandt, Sr., died Dec. 15, 1849, aged 67 years.  All his sons and daughters were dead on Apr. 1, 1899, except Adam Brandt, third, who lives near Lancaster, Ohio, aged 88 years; John Brandt, who lives in Barnes, Kansas, aged 82 years, and Jesse Brandt, who lives near Carroll, Fairfield County, Ohio, aged 80 years.
     Adam Brandt, Sr., was the father of seven sons and six daughters.  Adam Brandt died Mar. 26, 1844.  On Apr. 1, 1899, all his children were dead except Henry M. Brandt, who lives near Carroll, aged 80 years, and Elizabeth Brandt Martin, aged 72 years, who lives near Carroll, Ohio.
     The families of the Brandts were generally large.  There were two, however, that were very large, of the second generation.  Adam Brandt, second, the oldest son of David Brandt, Sr., married Rebecca Cooper, in Greenfield township, on Sept. 10, 1821.  They raised a family of seventeen children, nine sons and eight daughters.
     Adam Brandt, the third, the oldest son of Jacob Brandt, Sr., married Elizabeth Rugh, on Mar. 7, 1833.  They raised a family of fifteen children, six sons and nine daughters.
     The second, third and fourth generations are now living in all parts of this great country, in the east.

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west, north and south, some in Cuba and some in the Philippines.
     There are two traits of character that predominate in the Brandt families—that of Christianity and patriotism.  Ninety-five per cent, of the Brandts and their descendants are members of Church.  Ludwig Brandt, who came to America in 1745, was a member of the Dunkard Church, and also his grandsons, who came to Fairfield County in the first years of the nineteenth century.  The younger generations, however, have not remained in the faith of their fathers, for now they are members of a great many different religious denominations.  Several of them are ministers and have taken high rank as evangelists and ministers of the Gospel.
     Their patriotism was developed in the revolutionary war.  Adam Brandt and Martin Brandt were with General Washington during America's great struggle for independence.  In the war of 1812 many of the Brandts were under the command of General Wayne and General Harrison.  In the Mexican war in 1846 the third generation of Brandts were with General Taylor and Scott, when they entered the halls of Montezuma.
     In the war of the rebellion the name of Brandt was upon the muster rolls in ten of the northern states.  They marched with Sherman to the sea and were with General Grant at the surrender of Appomattox.
     In the late Spanish-Cuban war the Brandts were among the first to enlist in the war for humanity's sake.  The blood of the Brandts has stained the battle fields from 1776 to 1899.
     The Brandts as a general rule were farmers, mechanics, merchants and business men.  Some became

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quite noted as horticulturists, particularly in the line of having fine orchards of apples, peaches, pears and cherries.  On the farm that was settled first by Jacob Brandt, in 1808, is a pear tree that is among the oldest fruit bearing trees in the state of Ohio.  The main stock is a white thorn.  It was grafted with pear in April, 1809, by Jacob Snyder.  It has been bearing now for 85 years.  It is 50 feet in height and covers an area of about 40 feet.  It has yielded in one year as high as 35 bushels of pears.
     Adam Brandt, second, had in 1850, one of the largest and best apple and cherry orchards in the county.  From 1840 to 1860 a large number of the second generation emigrated, going to Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin.  The third and fourth generations are still more widely scattered, while quite a number still remain in Fairfield County, and are classed among our best citizens.
     Adam Brandt, son of David Brandt, and long known by his neighbors as Boss Brandt, lived and died in Greenfield.  He was born in Pennsylvania, June 24, 1800.  His wife, Rebecca Ann Cooper, was born in Virginia, Aug. 5, 1802.  Her father emancipated his slaves and was forced to leave Virginia.  He brought his family to Lancaster as early as 1806, and followed the business of harness maker.  The young people were married Sept. 10, 1821.  To this union were born 17 children, nine sons and eight daughters, 14 of whom grew to manhood and womanhood.  Six sons and three sons-in-law were in the Union army.  Captain O. B. Brandt, who enlisted as a private, was captured and taken to Richmond, and endured for many months the horrors of Libby prison.  He married Elizabeth Holmes.  Henry C., Jonathan C., Isaac C.,

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William H. and Wesley L. were the other soldiers.  The soldier sons-in-law were Samuel Radebaugh, who died in the service; Samuel Apt, and S. S. Wiest.  Nine good soldiers for one family is a record unapproachable in this county or any other.  At the close of the war they returned to their homes and usual occupations, and are among our best and most respected citizens.  Adam Brandt died in June, 1874, his wife having preceded him to the grave, dying in 1870.  The descendants of the pioneer brothers are divided into many large families.  The two Adams, one a son of Jacob and the other of Daniel, being the largest.  A daughter Harriet, is the wife of N. S. Ebright.  Of the children of Adam Brandt and his wife Elizabeth Rugh, daughter of Solomon Rugh, Jacob R. Brandt is the most widely known member, a good citizen and a popular man.  He reared and educated a large family of children.  Mr. Brandt, besides being a good farmer, is a splendid mechanic — a famous bridge builder.  He is the legitimate successor of Jonathan Coulson in that line.  A few years since he was the Republican candidate for County Commissioner, and came within 265 votes of an election.  Jesse H. Brandt, of Bloom, a good man, and once a brave soldier, is a brother of a Rev. John Brandt, of St. Louis, Missouri.  He, too, was a good soldier.  Mrs. Madison Kemerer is a sister, with whom Adam Brandt resides, aged 88 years.
     Willliam Brandt, of Basil, is a son of this Adam.  James Brandt, a justice of the peace in Cincinnati, is a grandson. 
     The descendants of Adam Brandt, of Pennsylvania, who purchased 500 acres here in 1800, and sent out his daughter,  Mrs. Jacob Pence, and his sons, Jacob, Adam

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and David, to subdue the forest and till the land, are more numerous than any family we can recall.  They are not like the sands of the sea, too numerous to be counted, but it would be a very tedious job.
     The family of Adam Brandt, second, "Boss," alone numbered 17, 11 of whom married and reared familes.  The Brandts were plain, quiet, intelligent, and industrious farmers, discharging every duty pertaining to good citizenship.
     The word of a Brandt was always good, and their integrity beyond any question.  This is a family of good old Scripture names.  Their parents were familiar with the Bible, and they have certainly fulfilled one injunction of the Scriptures, "increase, multiply and replenish the earth."
     For this sketch we have quoted largely from a manuscript of Isaac Brandt, of Iowa, kindly furnished by him for the purpose.

COLONEL SAMUEL SPANGLER

     Colonel Samuel Spangler was one of the very distinguished men of Fairfield County.  Distinguished for great ability, integrity and in a rare degree as a Democratic politician and legislator.  From 1825 to 1850 his influence in his party was second to no man in this county.  He was consulted by all of the party leaders, including Governor Medill, and in many things his wish was law, and in all things his opinions were weighty and influential.
     Eight or ten years before his death the township in which he had spent his life.  Perry, was cut off from this county and added to Hocking.  This embittered the closing years of his life and made him unhappy, for Page 371 -
he loved old Fairfield, the county he so long served and helped to make famous.
     Samuel Spangler was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Mar. 30, 1783. His father was a farmer, and when Ohio was attracting the first settlers he sold his farm, intending to move west, but before he was ready to start his money became worthless and he abandoned the trip and apprenticed his son Samuel to a cabinet maker in Harrisburg.  He was to have received three months schooling each year during his term of service.  He had a hard master, and received but three months schooling during the whole term.
     When twenty-one years of age he bid adieu to his parents, and with the family of George Defenbaugh emigrated to Ohio; after leaving Lancaster they cut a road through brush and timber to Perry township.  This was in the year 1801.  Cabinet makers were undertakers, and he was soon called upon to bury a woman on Clearcreek.  There were then no saw mills in Fairfield County.  He cut down a dry walnut tree, split it into puncheons, and with ax and adz dressed them down sufficient to make a rude coffin.
     In 1807 he married Miss Susan Fogler of the neighborhood.  She was born in Pennsylvania Sept.  25, 1788.  Both she and her husband were of German descent.  To them were born one son who died in infancy, and three daughters.  The daughters were:  Barbara, who married Ezra Wolfe; Minerva, who married Alexander McClelland; they settled near Adelphi and reared seven sons and one daughter.  Elizabeth married John Karshnor and they settled near Adelphi, To them were born five sons and five daughters.
     Up to the time of his marriage Colonel Spangler had a very poor education, but thirsting for knowledge Page 372 -
he began at the foot and purchased Cobb's speller, a grammar, geography and an arithmetic.  He possessed fine natural ability and soon became thorough master of these rudimentary books, and throughout his life he was a student and reader, and a thoroughly well informed man.  In the first twenty-five years of his life in Ohio he had a few very intelligent neighbors, the most prominent being Dr. Ballard, of Tarlton, Joseph Shumaker and Esquire Foust.  Otis Ballard, now of Toledo, sold goods in Tarlton in an early day, and speaks in high praise of Colonel Spangler at that time.  He served as a justice of the peace m Perry township for twenty-one years.  In 1826, 1827, 1828, 1829, he was a member of the lower house of the Ohio Legislature, and again in 1831.  In 1832 he was elected a State Senator and was re-elected each year for nine years, closing his public career in 1842.
     As a legislator he took part, and a prominent part, in the legislation that secured for us the Ohio Canal and our common school system.  This was the most interesting period in the history of Ohio, and this legislation so ardently and ably supported by Spangler was the turning point in the history of Ohio.  When reference is made to the real beginning of Ohio, we go back to the canals and the common schools.
     At the Democratic State Convention in 1836, and again in 1838, his friends presented his name as a candidate for Governor.  One authority states that he came within two votes of securing the nomination.
     He was the special friend of our benevolent institutions and gave them his special care and support.  During his public career he was the friend and intimate of such Democrats as Governor Medill, John Brough, Sam Medary and Micajah T. Williams, one

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of the fathers of the public works.  In 1843 Colonel Spangler retired from public life and gave his attention to his farm and his family.  About this time both he and his wife became members of the Lutheran Church, and lived consistent Christian lives.  Colonel Spangler was a Christian in every sense of the word, both at home and abroad.
     For the war of 1812 he raised a rifle company and served his country in two campaigns as Captain of his company.  During the sickness of his Colonel he was the acting Colonel of the regiment.  His service in the army was such as to receive special complimentary mention by his superior officer.
     Colonel Spangler was a successful farmer and business man for his day, and gave each of his children a farm, and some money was left them at his death, Dec. 13, 1863.  His body was buried at the Adelphi cemetery, a few miles from his home.  His wife died July 7, 1871, and was buried by his side.
     Colonel Spangler was six feet, one inch in height, straight as an Indian, finely proportioned, and a man of commanding presence.  He loved a fine horse and was a splendid horseman.  He was a great hunter, and in the early days was very successful, killing as many as seven deer in one day, and shooting plenty of game from the windows of houses he was finishing.  Samuel Spangler Wolfe has his watch, books and cane.  The cane was cut on the Mt. Vernon estate, Virginia, by Governor Medill, and presented to Colonel Spangler.  The men of this county, who have come down from the period in which Colonel Spangler lived, speak of him in the highest terms.

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     Like Dr. Williams and Dr. Hyde, he educated himself without a teacher, and while not so great a scholar, he was great in many things, self made and self reliant.  The writer is indebted to Salem S. Wolfe for valuable information.
     Valentine Wolfe, one of the honored pioneers of Madison township, was born and raised near Frederick, Maryland . About the year 1814 he, with his family, emigrated to Ohio, and cast his lot in Madison township, where he raised his boys and sent them with good habits and strong constitutions out into the world.
     His sons were Ezra, Salem and Isaac.  James Rice, long an honored and esteemed business man of Lancaster, was a step son.  James Rice was for quite a number of years a partner of George Ring in the woolen mill business, at the foot of Broadway, Lancaster.  He was also a partner of Silas Hedges for a short time in the dry goods business, and in his old age was the clerk of John Work in the tin and stove business.  He was the father of William P. Rice, who died in California, and whom John Sherman mentions as one of his schoolmate at Howe's Academy. He is mentioned by the Grand Duke of Saxe Weimar, who visited his factory and complimented his goods in the year 1825.  Ezra Wolfe married Barbara, daughter of Colonel Samuel Spangler.  He settled on a farm, two miles south of Clearport, where he lived a prosperous, useful life, and where he reared a large family of children.  His sons were Salem Spangler, Samuel V., Dr. M. F. Wolfe, of Parsons, Kansas; Charles F., of Ottawa, Kansas, and John L., of Humboldt, Kansas.  Salem S. Wolfe is a very prosperous man, and a highly esteemed and respected citizen of Adelphi, Ohio.  He at one time represented Hocking County in the General

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Assembly of Ohio, serving two terms.  Samuel V. Wolfe, of Clearport, is one of the very successful farmers of this county.  He is intelligent, a good citizen, a leading man of his neighborhood and of the Methodist Church.  He lives in good style and dispenses a generous hospitality.  The other brothers are unknown to the writer, but it is known that they stand well in the communities in which they live. 
     The daughters of Ezra Wolfe were Mrs. Jacob Beck, Mrs. Charles Eversole, Mrs. Jacob Miller and Mrs. Salem Shaeffer.
     Salem Wolfe was born near Frederick, Maryland, in the year 1809.  He came to Ohio with his father in 1814.  In the year 1830 he was married to Jane Young, a daughter of William Young, one of three brothers who were pioneers of Madison township.  She was a cousin of Mrs. Isaac Strickler.  He early moved to Lancaster, and served an apprenticeship to the tanning business with Pratt & Thorne. In 1849 he bought the tannery at the foot of Main street, and conducted it for a few years.
     In 1853 he sold his tannery and purchased a fine farm in Madison township, to which he removed his family.  He continued to live there, farming, serving as justice of the peace and township clerk, and performing other duties devolving upon a good citizen, for seven years.
     In 1854 he sold his farm and purchased the old home place of Judge Irvin, just south of Lancaster.  To this farm he brought his family and continued to reside there until 1869, when he sold out and moved into Lancaster.  Here he spent a quiet old age among old friends, and departed this life in the year 1875.  His body was buried at Clearport.

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     His son Ezra is a resident of Lancaster.  During most of his life he has been an accomplished teacher of instrumental music.  Band was his specialty.
     John N. Wolfe, son of Salem, is a resident of Lancaster.  He is an engineer by profession, devoting his time principally to surveying.  He is the present very competent city engineer.
     The youngest daughter of Salem Wolfe married H. W. Griswold, now of the Gazette. She died several years since.  Two daughters live in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Jessie and Jennie Griswold are grand daughters.
     Isaac Wolfe, son of Valentine, came with his father in 1814.  He married a sister of Martin Landis, and lived for many years on a farm near Clearport, where he also operated a flouring mill.  He moved from Madison to Pleasant township, where he spent a few years of his old age.  He died in Lancaster at the home of Mrs. Jacob Giesey, his daughter.
     Isaac Wolfe was a most excellent man, and was highly esteemed where he lived.  A grandson, Perry Wolfe, lives in Lancaster, devoting most of his time teaching school.
     The Spangler-Wolfe families are connected with many honored people of Madison — the Youngs, Shaeffers, Millers, Stricklers, Landis, Hay and Becks of Hocking.

JOHN AUGUSTUS
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     One of the early associate judges of the Court of Common Pleas was John Augustus, of Clearcreek township.  He was on the bench as early as 1825 or '26, and served five years.  He was a prominent man in his day, and highly esteemed. He spent the greater

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part of his life in Clearcreek township.  His farm was a little south of the old Shartle tavern, this side of Tarlton.  He was buried in the Augustus graveyard, which was on or near his farm.  His family consisted of two sons and five daughters.
     His son David was a farmer, but for a few years of his life he lived in Lancaster.
     His son John was a merchant for some years in Tarlton.  He failed in business and moved west, where he died.
     Col. Wm. Hamilton, surveyor of Amanda township, married his daughter Rebecca.  Col. Hamilton was a first-class surveyor and a good farmer.  Mrs. S. J. Wolfe (Mary Hamilton) is a granddaughter of Judge Augustus.
     Daniel Ream of Madison township married Sarah Augustus.  Late in life he moved to Jackson County, Mo., where he died.  What relation he was to the Abraham Ream family we cannot state.  He had a brother named Samuel and another named John, who in his old age made cigars in Lancaster.
     The father of Daniel Ream was Samuel, who came from Germany.  His mother's name was Susan Wunderlick, daughter of Count Wunderlick.  His mother died, and was buried at Carlisle, Penn., Samuel Ream, the father, died at Daniel Ream's home, and was buried at Mechanicsburg, this county.  Ream had a sister, Polly, who married Moses Wetzel.  Mrs. Mary Summers, daughter of Daniel, lives in Kansas City, Mo.
     Robert Barnet of Madison married Elizabeth Augustus.  She died in a short time after her marriage.
     Rev. Thomas Drake, once well known in Lancaster, married Hannah Augustus.  Drake was a provost

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marshal here during the war.  He went from here to Somerset, O., and engaged in merchandising.  So far as we know he is now dead.
     John Earhart, a miller by trade, married Mary Augustus.  Both are now dead.
     There are children of Daniel Ream living, but we do not know of any one bearing the name of Judge Augustus.
     Ream, Hamilton, Drake and Barnet were men of the highest respectability, and in all respects good and useful men.  So little attention has been paid in this county to family or pioneer history that but few people now living ever heard of Judge Augustus.
     Forty-five years ago Col. Hamilton was the county surveyor of this county.  We venture to say that not five men in fifty are aware of that fact to-day.  Daniel Ream was a splendid man.  How many men in the county remember him?  Thomas Drake cut quite a figure here 38 years ago.  He is now forgotten.
     Such is fame!

THE SHARP FAMILY
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     The political history of the family of Joseph Sharp, Sr., one of the first settlers of Belmont County, Ohio, is one of the most remarkable in the history of the state.
     Robert H. Sharp, of Sugar Grove, was on Saturday nominated by the Democrats as their candidate for representative.  Conceding his election in November, and that he will serve the usual two terms, his family will have served the state as members of the house and senate of the general assembly of Ohio in an unbroken line of succession from the first legislature to the end of Ohio's first century.
     Joseph Sharp, Sr., was one of the prominent men of Belmont County in its early history.  He was a member of the first Ohio legislature, and in 1804 and 1805 a member of the senate.  He was returned to the house in 1807 and was re-elected for the years 1808, 1810 and 1813.  Joseph Sharp, Jr., reared a family in Belmont County, and about the year 1838 settled in this county on a fine farm just below Sugar Grove, where his son, William, now resides.  He soon became a contractor on the Hocking Canal and built for the state what has always been known as Sharp's dam on the Hockhocking.  He was a man of energy and force of character, and soon became prominent in his new home.  In 1842, just six years after coming to the county, he was elected a member of the Ohio legislature.  He served but one term and returned to the management of his farm.  He lived to a good old age, rearing a large family.  One of his daughters is the wife of Daniel Stukey.  His sons, William and George, are farmers; his son James studied medicine and practiced his profession for years in Sugar Grove and later in Lancaster.  From here he went to Kansas City Mo., where he lived a few years and then returned to Sugar Grove broken down in health.  He was recently killed by a railroad accident near his home.  Robert L. Sharp, son of Joseph, Jr., was also a farmer near his father.  He was a man of more than ordinary ability, of good habits and good standing in his neighborhood.  He was a good business man and wise enough to invest early in Kansas City property, which became valuable.  He was elected a member of the Ohio legislature in the years 1864 and 1865, and served with credit to himself and honor to his constituents.  His son, Robert, just nominated for the same office, will doubtless be elected.  He is a young man of good habits and good character.  He resides upon his father's old farm.  In addition to his farm he manages, with profit, a good stone quarry.  There is everything in the past history of his family to stimulate him to an honorable and useful career.  A century of honorable living and precept is behind him, and a future, such as he may make it, is before him.  That he may prove worthy of the high honor conferred upon him and of the esteem in which he is held, is the wish of all who know him.