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The names of persons over
seventy-six years of age who were living in the township in
1876 are: Edward Bratton, Thomas Brown, James
Clark, Caleb Canann, John Leeper, Henry McCleary, John
Martin, Stephen Stiles, Andrew Stiles, Robert Speers, Samuel
Stewart, Joshua Smith, Harris Wiley, Jane Adams, Mrs. Brown,
Margaret Culbertson, Hannah Canann, Mrs. Fairchild, Delight
Gunn, Mrs. Kimble, Elizabeth Lanning, Mary McCleary, Nancy
McMillen, Fanny Stiles, Eve Taylor, Mrs. Taylor.
GEORGE LINN
was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1768, and taught
school there until 1813, when he settled here on a farm.
Shortly afterwards he married Pamelia Matthews, who
became the mother of his eight children - Harriet, Cyrus,
Adam, William, Caroline, wife of H. Moore; Rebecca,
wife of John Adams; George, and Augustus.
Cyrus Linn was born here in 1837, and was partly
educated at Athens college. In 1853 he married
Eliza Gordon, who was born in this county in 1827, and
settled on part of the homestead where he now lives.
Five of their six children are living - James G. at
Canal Dover; George, Albert, Mary, and Harriet B.
Mr. Linn has three hundred and twelve acres.
Augustus Linn was born here in 1819. Since his
parents' death he has had possession of the farm. In
1880 he married Margaret Brown, of Guernsey county.
He owns two hundred and sixteen acres.
MRS. MARY A. ADAMS is the
daughter of Isaac Beal, who was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, in 1807. Mr. Beal settled
near Birmingham, Monroe township, when quite young, and nine
years later moved nearer the west end of Monroe township and
still resides there. In 1829 he married Jane,
daughter of William Neal. She was born in this
county in 1812. They had sixteen children - Mary
A., Nancy, Perry, Sarah, Archibald, Rachel J., Thomas,
William, Elias, Elizabeth, Margaret, Martha S., George,
Bersheba, Isaac S., and Asbury B. Mary A. Beal
was born July 10, 1831, in this county, and has always
resided here. Oct. 19, 1848, she married Thomas
Adams, son of John Adams. Mr. Adams
was born Oct. 20, 1824, in this county, and died May 28,
1879. The names of their seven children are: Jane,
Nancy, George B., Mary, and Lafayette L., living,
and William P. and John, deceased.
Mrs. Adams owns one hundred and sixty acres. Her
late husband was a general farmer. He held various
township office, and was a highly respected citizen.
JOHN S.
FORDYCE was born in 1808, and left his native town in
Pennsylvania fifteen years later for Harrison county, Ohio,
where his parents, decided to locate. In 1836 his
acquaintance with Margaret Shipman ripened into a
life-long friendship. This lady was born in
Pennsylvania, in 1812. After marriage they lived in
Harrison county for eight years, and finally located where
their son Joshua resides, in this township, and
died there some years after. They had eight children.
Joshua Fordyce was born in Harrison county, in 1837,
and lived at home until 1867. In that year he married
Hannah Allen, a lady about his own age, and born in
Guernsey county. They settled in Madison township for
two years, and then came to their present home. They
had five children - William, Mary A., George B.,
Anna, and Frank B. His second wife,
Maggie M. Schofield, was born in Belmont county, in
1832. The children by her were: Harry,
Charles Y., and Malvin. Mr. Fordyce is a
general farmer.
ROBERT KIRKWOOD
was born in Ireland in 1762, and while a young man emigrated
to Pennsylvania. He married Jennie Taggert, who
was also born in Ireland, and who died ten years after.
In 1803 he took to wife Mary Stewart, who was born in
Virginia in 1773, and settled in Ohio county, Virginia.
Ten years later he moved to Belmont county, Ohio, and died
there in 1818. Their six children were Jennie,
Martha, Thomas, Sarah, John, and Robert.
Robert Kirkwood was born in 1809 in Ohio county,
Virginia. After his father's death he made his home
with John Taggert until he was seventeen years
of age. In 1833 he married Agnes Clark,
who was born in Pennsylvania in 1809, and died in 1837.
Their three children were John S., Agnes J., and
Sarah. All died in youth. Mr. Kirkwood
married, for his second wife, Mary Thompson, who was
born in Pennsylvania in 1809. Their four children
were: James T., who died in the army; Thomas;
William R.; and Mary A., who died in infancy.
His second wife died in 1846, and he married Rebecca
Robinson, who was born in this county in 1817.
Their only child, Robert, was born in 1850, and died
in 1853. Mr. Kirkwood has lived here all his
life, and has been trustee longer than other man in the
township. He owns two hundred and eighty acres of
land.
JESSE THOMAS was born in
Pennsylvania and lived with his parents until 1813, when he
married Katy Ader, also of Pennsylvania. This
couple spent their married life on the west branch of the
Susquehanna river, where he died in 1822. His wife
then lived in Winchester, in this county, until 1849.
Their children were Samuel, Lewis, Charles, and
Jesse. Samuel Thomas was born in Pennsylvania in
1815, and came to Ohio with his mother in 1823. In
1834 he married Miriam Strain, of Pennsylvania birth,
who died in 1835. His second wife was Julianna
Gillett, who was born in Vermont in 1815. After
his first marriage he settled on Sugar-tree fork, and after
his second marriage he lived in various places until 1843,
when he settled where he now lives, and has since run the
mill here. By his second wife Mr. Thomas
had ten children, viz.: Martha, Juliana, Hannah J.,
Charles W., John, George, Elizabeth, Samuel P., Margaret,
and Albert. Mr. Thomas has lived
where he is now thirty-eight years, and has been infirmary
director and trustee of the township.
JAMES GILLESPIE
was born in Ireland in 1787. At the age of eighteen he
came to this country alone and lived on a farm in
Pennsylvania. In 1809 he married Agnes Gillespie,
who was born in this country in 1790. He moved to
Belmont county, but soon returned to Pennsylvania, and ten
years later settled here. He died in 18747, and his
wife in 1873. Their seven children were named John,
Elizabeth, William, Margaret, Isaiah S., Polly, and
B. K. B. K. Gillespie was born in Washington
county, Pennsylvania, in 1826, and came to Ohio in 1841.
In 1854 he married Susannah Barnes, who was born in
Virginia in 1827, and located on the homestead here.
Their nine children were John A., Nancy, Louisa,
Clarissa, Ethaline, Mary M., Maria, Josephine, and
Henry J. Mr. Gillespie owns one hundred and ninety
acres.
DAVID AND CATHARINE (SNYDER)
SMITH were natives of New Jersey, who spent the first
twenty years of their married life in Pennsylvania, and
then, in 1816, permanently settled in Oxford township, where
he died in 1845, and she in 1860. They had twelve
children, of whom Anna and Joshua alone
remain. Joshua was born in 1804 in the Keystone
State, and came to Ohio with his parents. He and
Anna Henry, of New Jersey, were married and had twelve
children, viz.: Henry, David, Margaret A., Hannah,
Catharine, John, Mary J., Matilda, and Sarah, all
dead; and Elizabeth, wife of James Taylor,
William, and Morton, all living in this township.
Mr. Smith's wife died in 1861, and he married
Elizabeth Maxwell, who was born in this county.
Their five children were: George, Elmer, Emma A.,
Joshua S., Joseph F., and Ulysses Porter.
Mr. Smith is a farmer.
ISAAC McCOLLUM
is one of Jefferson township's most practical farmers.
He was born in Center township in 1842, and remained with
his parents until he reached manhood's estate. In 1873
he was married to Miss Jenny E. Eagleson, who was
born in Center township in the year 1850. After
marriage they made their home in Jefferson township, and yet
live here. Their three children were named: Anna
Mary, Alva A., and Wilburn E. Mr. McCollum
has held the office of trustee in this township.
OAKLEY LANNING was born
in 1834 in Monroe township, Guernsey county, and remained
with his parents until his marriage to Martha Lanning
in 1865. His wife was born in 1842. The first
year of their married life was spent in Monroe township, and
they then permanently located on a farm in Jefferson
township. Their five children are named: Mary
Elizabeth, Lidie Ann, Jerry Jasper, William Oakley, and
Addie Jane. Mr. Lanning is now a member of the
school board, and is also supervisor. He owns one
hundred and eighty-five acres of land, and in politics in a
Democrat. - pg. 535 |
