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Highland County,
Ohio BIOGRAPHIES |
Source:
History of Highland
County, Ohio
by Rev. J. W. Klise -
Publ. Madison,
Wis.,
Northwestern Historical Association
1902
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THE
FARIS FAMILY is one of the oldest, as it is
certainly one of the most numerous and influential
of all the family connections in Salem township.
The first of the name to settle in America was
James Collins Faris, born in Scotland in 1715,
and an emigrant to Virginia in 1740. His son
James was born in Virginia in 1742 and there
reared a large number of children, among them being
John Faris, who was born in 1770 and married
Jane Watson, whose father was a native of
Glasgow, Scotland, who had come to Virginia about
1740 and later served in the Revolutionary war.
It was from the last mentioned couple that all the
Highland county Farises descended. In
1813, John and Jane Faris located in New
Market township and reared a family of sons and
daughters which in numbers as well as sturdy
qualities was one of the strangest of the pioneer
period. Every one of the entire thirteen grew
to maturity, married, and reared children of their
own. By the inexorable law, from which no
mortal can escape, all have long since paid the debt
of nature, but they left upon the communities in
which they resided an impress for good which still
remains as a precious heritage to their descendants.
A few brief biographical details of each one will
prove of interest: Elijah married
Mary Miles, settled on one hundred acres of land
where Pricetown now is, and had six children.
Catherine married Samuel Sweinhart in
1815, and first lived south of Pricetown, in a rough
shanty enclosed on three sides only, from which, in
her husband's absence, she had to fight away the
wolves with an axe. They had seven children.
Beniah had eight children and lived west of
Pricetown. Mary married Jacob
Cochran, settled in New Market and had eight
children. Sarah married Abraham
Wilkin, settled near Sonner's Mill in
White Oak township and had eight children.
Rachel married Daniel Scott, lived east
of Pricetown in Salem township and had three
children. James W. married Mary Hoop,
settled east of Pricetown and had three children.
John B., eighth of the family, is sketched
more fully below. Jesse married
Nancy Davidson, a woman of remarkable character,
by whom he had eleven children. Jane
married Samuel Gibler and settled in Liberty
township. Eli S. married Lucilla
Pulliam and settled in New Market.
Andrew F. married Susan Hoop, lived on a
farm south of Pricetown, and had eight children.
Uriah married Eliza Couch, settled
south of Pricetown and had seven children.
John Faris, the patriarch of this interesting
family, soon after his arrival in the county, bought
about 600 acres of wild land in New Market township,
but after purchased 1,000 acres in Salem township
which became the basis for his children's homes.
He was a man of prominence and influence, and active
in the promotion of good enterprises. He and
his wife were members of the Christian church at
Pricetown and for many years interested in religious
work. He died in 1850 at the age of eighty-one
and his wife one year later in the eightieth year of
her age. John B. Faris, eighth
in age of the thirteen children above described was
born in Virginia Jan. 2, 1802, and hence was about
eleven years old when his parents arrived on the
banks of the Scioto. In 1823 he married
Catharine, the seventeen-years-old daughter of
David Welty, who came from Kentucky to Hamer
township in 1811. The newly married couple
settled on a farm in what was known as the Bowyer
Survey in Salem township, north of Pricetown,
where they retained their residence to the end of
life. About 1824, Mr. Farris
constructed on White Oak creek the first gristmill
in Salem township, which he conducted in connection
with a sawmill until his death, which occurred
in1837 at the comparatively early age of thirty-five
years. This ended prematurely a life of
usefulness, as his business enterprises were at that
time the most important in the township and he
himself one of its most progressive men. After
his death his wife showed unusual business ability,
by superintending and carrying on all the industries
in which her husband had been interested. She
married Matias Gibler, who, however, only
lived a year afterward, and she herself passed away
Sept. 2, 1889, aged eighty-two years. This
good woman had eight children, all by her first
husband, of whom Eliza, Mary N., Sarah and
Elizabeth are dead. The four still living
are David, a resident of Illinois;
Josephus and Levi, of Pricetown, and
John B. Faris, Jr. The latter was born in
Salem township, Highland county, Ohio, July 27,
1837, and in early manhood went to Pike county,
Illinois, where he spent some time in work for
monthly wages. Returning to his Ohio home he
was married to Chaffalio, daughter of
Jacob and Anna Fender, of Clay township, located
at Pricetown and four thirty-two years, followed the
profession of teaching. This, however, was
interrupted in 1864 by his military service with
Company E, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth regiment
Ohio infantry. This command was first sent to
Robinson Station, Ky., where they did guard duty and
later part of the regiment was captured after a
fight near Cynthiana with General Morgan.
Subsequently they were sent back to Cincinnati,
where they did guard duty, afterward a Camp Dennison
and there they were mustered out of the service
Sept. 13, 1864. After this brief but rather
rough experience of war, Mr. Faris returned
to Pricetown and resumed his occupation as a teacher
, which he did not again abandon for many years.
In 1872, he was ordained as a minister of the
Christian church and held several charges, but of
later years has given up regular work on account of
his health. He lives a retired life at the
same home he has occupied since his marriage, with
the exception of two years spent in Liberty
township. His estimable wife passed from
the scenes of earth April 4, 1901, and was laid away
in the Plainview cemetery. The living children
are John S., who is postmaster of Pricetown;
Laura B., widowed wife of J. W. White;
and Anna, at home. Mary and
Moody, the first born and twins, and J.
Walter, next in order of birth, are dead.
Josephus Faris, fourth of the children of
John B. and Catharine (Welty) Faris,
was born in Salem township, Highland county, Ohio,
July 21, 1829, and remained at home until his
marriage to Millie, daughter of Philip and
Rachel Baker. He enlisted in Company E,
One Hundred and Sixty-eighth regiment Ohio infantry,
and shared the service of that command, above
described. Shortly after his return home from
the army, he removed with his family to Illinois,
where he spent sixteen months and then came back to
Highland county. For twenty years he followed
the occupation of teaching school, during which time
he has held the positions of assessor, clerk,
supervisor, notary public, and member of the school
board. In the spring of 1902 he was elected
justice of the peace for Salem township, to take
office in November. Like most of his family
connection, he is a member of the Christian church
and is a most excellent citizen in all the relations
of life. He has had eleven children, of whom
Lucilla C., John P., Eliza J., William C. and
Flavius J. are dead. Those living are
Sarah E., wife of William T. Wardlow,
of Salem township; Levi S., Rachel B., and
Rosa N., at home, and Evadean, wife
of E. L. Gomia, of Salem township. In
1889 was held the first Faris family reunion,
which has been kept up annually ever since.
John B . Faris is president and historian of his
reunion association. As many as four hundred
of the descendants of John and Jane (Watson)
Faris have attended a single reunion, and this
annual event has now become a fixture among the
annual entertainments of Salem township.
Source: History of Highland County, Ohio by Rev.
J. W. Klise - Publ. Madison, Wis., Northwestern
Historical Association - 1902 ~ Page 294 |
BENJAMIN
F. FARIS, well known in the farming
circles of Dodson and Union townships, is a
great-grandson of the pioneers, John and Jane
(Watson) Faris, mentioned in the foregoing
family sketch. The ninth of their children,
Jesse, in 1825 married Nancy Davidson,
born in 1805. She was the only daughter of
John Davidson, a native of Pennsylvania, one of
the strong characters of that rugged period and the
earliest settler within the limits of the present
township of Salem. He was also the first
shoemaker of that neighborhood, volunteered in
Captain Barrere's company for the war of 1812,
was elected lieutenant and surrendered with
General Hull at Detroit. After their
marriage, Jesse and Nancy (Davidson) Faris
settled a mile southwest of Pricetown, but a year
later removed to a farm which the widow Long
owned. This pioneer couple used to tell
amusing stories of the hardships connected with
their honeymoon days. Their household goods
were so meager that they placed them all in the
front end of the wagon-box. On their way they
stopped at the mill and got a peck of corn ground
which, with two hams, constituted all their
provender. Mrs. Faris soon made five
pounds of butter, which she exchanged for one pound
of coffee. This was "putting on style," as
before that the family had been content with
sassafras tea. Their first soap was made by
Mrs. Faris from the fat of two opossums.
John Faris, the patriarch of the Highland
county family, and his wife, were members of the
Christian church at Pricetown. He died in 1850
at the age of eighty-one years and his wife in 1851
when eighty years old. Jesse and Nancy
(Davidson) Faris had eleven children, among the
number being Carey C. Faris, who was born in
Salem township Oct. 30, 1831, and married Eliza
King, born in Hamer township in 1839, In 1863,
Carey C. Faris enlisted in Company B, Second
regiment Ohio heavy artillery, with which he served
fifteen months and was eventually discharged for
disability, by virtue of which a $30 per month
pension was granted. He owns a small farm and
for some time has been living in retirement.
He has eight living children, among them Benjamin
F. Faris, who was born in Salem
township, Highland county, Ohio, Feb. 6, 1861.
With a view to fitting himself as a teacher he
attended the National Normal university at Lebanon,
Ohio, where he went through the regular course.
After leaving this institution, Mr. Faris
spent the next seven years as a teacher in the
district schools, but was eventually forced to give
up0 this employment on account of failing health.
March 5, 1887, he was married to Electa Roush,
daughter of N. W. and Martha Roush, and a
member of one of the leading pioneer families of
Hamer township. As early as 1806 her
great-grandfather, Philip Roush, cleared a
farm in the north part of Hamer, which was
subsequently owned by his son John. By
this marriage Mr. Faris has three children:
Bertsyl W., Otis G., and Isma Anna.
Mrs. Faris died May 17, 1901. For the
past twelve years Mr. Faris'time has been
taken up in agriculture and stock raising. He
is now and has been fir five years past a member of
the school board and takes much interest in
educational affairs. He is prominent in
Knights of Pythias circles and connected with the
Masonic fraternity at Lynchburg.
Source: History of Highland County, Ohio by Rev.
J. W. Klise - Publ. Madison, Wis., Northwestern
Historical Association - 1902 ~ Page 298 |
JOHN S.
FARIS, postmaster at Pricetown, is one of the
younger generation of the old and long established
Highland county family of that name, whose history
is sketched at length above. He is a
great-grandson of John and Jane (Watson) Faris,
and grandson of John B. Fairs, mentioned in
the foregoing. John B. Faris had eight
children and among the number a son and namesake who
married Chaffolio Fender. This couple
were the parents of John S. Faris, who was
born at Pricetown, Highland county, Ohio, Oct. 20,
1868, and educated in the district schools. At
an early period he evinced a strong inclination to
teach, an occupation in which his father had met
with success, and he devoted fourteen years to this
honorable profession. In 1901, he engaged in
mercantile business at Pricetown and at the same
time was appointed postmaster of the village, which
position he has since retained. He is also
township clerk, was chairman of the township central
committee several years, and in 1900 was appointed
to take the census of Salem township. Like
most of his family connections, he is a member of
the Christian church and is regarded as a young man
of bright promise for future usefulness. He
married Flora B., daughter of Jonathan and
Elizabeth Foust, of Pricetown, and has two
children, Madge and Glenn.
Source: History of Highland County, Ohio by
Rev. J. W. Klise - Publ. Madison, Wis., Northwestern
Historical Association - 1902 ~ Page 298 |
LEVI
FARIS, of Pricetown, is a grandson of that
remarkable pioneer couple, John and Jane (Watson)
Faris, mentioned above, who located and bought
large sections of land in Highland county a few
years after the war of 1812. One of their
thirteen children was John B. Faris, who
built the first grist mill in Salem township and
became one of the most influential and enterprising
citizens of his day. HE married Catharine
Welty, a daughter of an old Kentucky pioneer,
and a woman of great ability and strength of
character. After her husband's death, she
carried on his farming and milling business, besides
looking after the needs and education of her
children. Among the latter was Levi Faris,
born in Salem township, Highland county, Ohio, July
11, 1831, and educated in the district schools.
In early manhood he was married to Margaret,
daughter of Albert and Elizabeth Malcom, of
New Market township. Her mother is yet living
and is in reasonable health, although ninety-two
years of age. Immediately after this marriage
Mr. Faris moved to Illinois, where he was
employed for a while, but not liking the outlook he
returned in a short time to Highland county and
settled on a rented farm in Salem township.
Later he bought a small place in the township on
which he resided some time, and in 1872 purchased
property in Pricetown which has since been his home.
His military service during the civil war was with
Company E, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth regiment
Ohio volunteer infantry, which was organized in May,
1864, and subsequently sent into Kentucky.
This command rendered valuable service as protector
of railroads and government property and in checking
incursions of raiders from the Kentucky side of the
river. They came in collision with Morgan near
Cynthiana in June, 1864, and after spirited fighting
suffered considerable loss in the way of prisoners.
Later the regiment was sent to Cincinnati, where it
did guard duty until mustered out of the service at
Camp Dennison in September, 1864. For several
years after the war, Mr. Faris followed the
business of carpentering and bridge contracting, but
lately has retired from regular work on account of
failing health.
Source: History of Highland County, Ohio by Rev.
J. W. Klise - Publ. Madison, Wis., Northwestern
Historical Association - 1902 ~ Page 297 |
GEORGE
W. FOX, one of the industrious and
enterprising farmers of Liberty township, is
descended from an old Pennsylvania family long
resident in the "City of Brotherly Love."
There dwelt Conrad and Charlotte Fox, who had
nine children and among the number a son named
Christian, born Oct. 26, 1811, and later an imigrant
to Ohio where he died at the age of seventy-three
years. He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Weber)
Wurtz, whose two children by her first husband,
Conrad Wurtz, were Mariah Elizabeth,
at present engaged in the dressmaking business at
Dallas postoffice, six miles northeast of Hillsboro;
and John Jacob, who served as a soldier in
the civil war, was held in prison for some time and
died in 1865 at Hillsboro. The children of
Christian and Elizabeth (Wurtz). Fox
were Emma, a dressmaker with her
half-sister at Dallas; George W., further
noticed below; Caroline B., who died at the
age of twenty-eight years; Charles M. and
Charlotte M., twins; Carrie B., deceased
wife of Albert Depue of Knoxville, Tenn.;
Francis A., who died at sixteen years of age;
and Lewis A., superintendent of a lead
mine at Carthage, Mo. George W. Fox,
eldest of his mother's second family of children,
was married Feb. 28, 1890, to Emma, daughter
of Samuel and Mary (Black) Lyle, members of
old and long established Highland county families.
Samuel Lyle came with his parents to Ohio in
1815 when he was an infant. His father first
bought land in Concord township, which he gave to
his eldest sons, and subsequently settled on the
Rocky fork in Liberty township, about five miles
east of Hillsboro. Here he died and here his
son Samuel grew to maturity and spent all the
days of his life. In 1841 he married Mary
Black, of Virginia, by whom he had seven
children, including the present wife of George W.
Fox. For many years Mr. Fox has
been one of the industrious and thrifty farmers of
Liberty township. He owns a small tract near
the Brouse chapel, but resides on the Spargur
farm of 244 acres opposite the old Heistand
homestead. this place was rented by Mr.
Fox about twelve years ago and since then has
been skilfully cultivated and greatly
improved under his energetic supervision.
Source: History of Highland County, Ohio by Rev. J.
W. Klise - Publ. Madison, Wis., Northwestern
Historical Association - 1902 ~ Page 308 |
MAJOR
ANTHONY FRANKLIN, a notable Ohio pioneer, was
born in Amherst county, Va., July 17, 1778, of a
family that was honorably represented among the
officers and soldiers of the Revolution. On
account of the early death of his father he was
apprenticed in youth to the carpenter's trade, with
General Nathaniel Massie, and
came to Massie's frontier station,
Manchester, about 1795. He also assisted
General Massie in his surveys in Ohio,
and in compensation received several tracts of the
wild forest land, upon one of which he made his
home, early in the last century, in Brush creek
township, which he occupied for sixty years, and
which after him was owned and occupied by his
son-in-law, JAMES P. KEECH.
Upon selecting his "Franklin farm" for his home, Mr.
Franklin married Polly, daughter of
Captain Nelson, of Kentucky, and they
began their home in the wilderness, with George
W. Barrere, at the site of New Market, twelve
miles away, as their nearest neighbor. Mr.
Franklin also kept open house for travelers
on the road from Chillicothe to Cincinnati, and
entertained many noted men. In the militia he
had the rank of major, and he was the first sheriff
of Highland county elected by the people. Of
his ten children, Nelson A. served in the
legislature from Pickaway county and afterward moved
to Missouri; Maria married John W. Spargur;
Joel was a business man at Circleville, Larue,
and Lincoln, Neb.; Thomas Wingfield went west
and settled in Illinois; Patsey married
James P. Keech; Polly married and went to
Illinois; Cyrus served in General
Morgan's regiment in the Mexican war, afterward
moved to Iowa and later to Missouri, and was a
gallant cavalry officer in the service of the
Confederate States; while the youngest child, John
Nelson, who also made his home in Missouri,
fought for the Union, as did several of the
grandchildren of Major Franklin.
James P. Keech, who resided for many years on the
Franklin farm, was born Sept. 9, 1820, in Lancaster
county, Pa., son of William Keech, also a
native of that state, who came west and settled near
Larue, Marion county, following his trade as a
blacksmith, an important function in that day, until
his death, which occurred at a comparatively early
age. His six children were, James P., Mary,
Ann, Jane, David H. and Margaret M.
James P. learned the trade of his father in
youth, but in early manhood was married to Martha
E. ("Patsey") Franklin, as has been noted, and
they began housekeeping and farming on a tract of
land belonging to Major Franklin in Marion
county, where they lived until they came to the
Brush creek farm in 1852. His wife, born on
this farm July 9, 1817, and died there in November,
1894, was the most estimable woman. She was
the mother of six children; John H.,
deceased; William A. of Hillsboro, Ohio; and
Cyrus F., of Lincoln, Neb.; James L.,
subject of this sketch; Mary M., of East
Monroe, and Robert, the latter deceased.
James P. Keech is yet living, in the latter
years of a successful and honorable life. He
is the owner of 300 acres of land, and has served
several terms as township trustee. His son,
James L. Keech, was born Aug. 2, 1852, and now
resides upon the old homestead, or Franklin farm.
He is one of the prominent younger men of the
township, highly respected and trusted by his
neighbors. He has in his hands the management
of the farm, and has demonstrated skill as a farmer
and ability in business.
Source: History of Highland County, Ohio by Rev. J.
W. Klise - Publ. Madison, Wis., Northwestern
Historical Association - 1902 ~ Page 308 |
JOHN
FRUMP, of Jackson Township, formerly trustee
of Marshall township, was born in Brush Creek
township, Oct. 7, 1841. He is a grandson of
John Frump, a native Delaware, who was twice
married in that state, and with his second wife came
to Highland county and settled on Rocky fork, and
afterward bought a farm in Marshall township.
A few years later he died, but his wife lived to the
great age of ninety-four years. Their children
were Betsy, Ann, Harriett, Cassie and
William. William, the youngest son, and
father of the subject of this sketch, was born on
the Rocky fork farm in to Julia Wolf, a
native of Highland county, after which he lived at
the home place in Marshall township, until he died
at the age of seventy-five years. His widow
survives, at the age of eighty-six. He was a
man of high character, a steward and class leader in
the Methodist church, and prospered in worldly
affairs, so that he was able to leave a good
property. His children were ten in number:
Joel, deceased; John; Nancy, deceased;
Mary, wife of R. G. Setty, of Adams
county; James, of Marshall township;
William, of Paulding county; Milton, of
Marshall township; Harriett, of Oklahoma;
Frank, deceased; Daniel, of Paulding
county. John Frump became twenty-one
years of age in the midst of the great civil war,
and being of a patriotic nature, his energy was
first turned in that direction. Enlisting as a
private soldier in Company B of the Hundred and
Seventy-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, he was
mustered in at Camp Dennison, and sent with his
command to Nashville, Tenn. When that state
was invaded by Hoods rebel army, he participated in
the battle of Franklin and several minor
engagements, and he continued in the survive until
his regiment was mustered out in 1865. On
October 15, of the same year he was married to
Louisa A. Hall, daughter of Jacob and
Mary Hall, and they first made their home near
Pisgah church in Marshall township. Three
years later he bought the farm now owned by J. A.
Burnett and fifteen years after that they moved
to the farm he now owns. He has 173 acres of
valuable land, to which he now gives his attention,
and to raising and dealing in live stock.
Formerly, for twenty-four years he gave his time in
the harvest season to the operation of the threshing
machine. He held the office of trustee of
Marshall township five years, and is at present
justice of the peace in Jackson. Since
seventeen years of age he has been a member of the
Methodist church, and for many years he has been an
active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
In politics he adheres to the Democratic party.
"Mr. Frump has had six children, of whom two
died in infancy. The survivors are Mary L.,
wife of W. E. Roberts, of Adams county; W.
J., of Marshall township; and Francis S. and
Sally E., at home. Mrs. Frump is
also a member of the Methodist church.
Source: History of Highland County, Ohio by Rev. J.
W. Klise - Publ. Madison, Wis., Northwestern
Historical Association - 1902 ~ Page 314 |
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