ROBERT
TAYLOR, of Prairie Township, is one of the prominent citizens
of Holmes County. He was born in Mifflin County, Penn., Sept.
8, 1826, a son of Henry and Jane (Barfort) Taylor, natives of
Ireland, who came to America in their youth. In April, 1839,
they came with their family to Holmes County, where the father died
the following November, leaving his wife with a large family to rear
in a new country, and with but limited means. The mother died
in 1864. Of a family of twelve children, but three are living;
Sarah, wife of Joseph Thompson, of Wayne County;
Martha, wife of Mr. Ditmars, of Holmes County, and
Robert.
Robert Taylor has always given his attention to
agricultural pursuits. In early life he had to work for his
own livelihood and assist his mother in the care of the younger
children, and his education was necessarily limited. When he
started for himself, he rented some land, and as soon as able bought
a few acres. He made subsequent small purchases until now he
has 492 acres, 172 being in his homestead, 160 acres in other parts
of the county, and 160 acres in Wayne County. His improvements
on his homestead are among the best in the township. His
residence was erected at a cost of $2,000, and his barn at a cost of
$1,100. Mr. Taylor has been an influential man in his
township, and has held several offices of trust. He served
fifteen years as treasurer, and ten as trustee. He is public
spirited, always taking an active interest in the establishment of
schools and churches. He is a member of the United
Presbyterian Church; in politics, a Democrat.
Mr. Taylor was married Mar. 5, 1857, to Eliza
Herron, a native of Indiana County, Penn., born in 1838, a
daughter of William and Hannah (Wells) Herron; the former a
native of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, the latter a native of
England. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had eleven children,
five of whom are living: Jessie (who married Elmer Ditmore,
and has one child, Blanche), William, Edgar, John and
Blanche H.
~ Page 643 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
CHARLES
C. THOMPSON, attorney at law, Killbuck, Ohio, is a son of
REV. HARRISON and Eunice M. (Goodrich)
THOMPSON, and a grandson of Robert and
Martha (Torence) Thompson, of Irish descent, and natives of
Westmoreland County, Penn. Robert was in the War of
1812, and soon after its close settled in Guernsey County, Ohio,
where Harrison Thompson was born and reared on the homestead
farm. He and three brothers graduated from Marietta College,
of which their father was one of the founders. after finishing
his education he took charge of a congregation in Knox County, Ohio,
for ten years, and then returned to Guernsey County, where he
purchased a farm, which he conducted in connection with his
profession. For about eight yeas he had charge of a circuit in
Coshocton, Ashland and Holmes Counties. He afterward moved to
Spring Mountain, and was one of the founders of the Spring Mountain
Academy and Oberlin College. He was also the organizer of the
Free Presbyterian Churches throughout this section of the State.
He was a prominent Abolitionist throughout his life, and when but
seventeen years of age, was mobbed at Marietta, while making a
speech in favor of the freedom of the slave. He died Mar. 10,
1863, his wife following him to the grave in July, 1864. Their
family consisted of six children, four of whom are living:
Charles C., the eldest; Lucinda, wife of Joseph
Rhinehart, of Columbus, Kas.; Mary Ann, wife of John
Byers, of Independence, Ore.; Eliza, wife of Thomas
Frost, of Columbus, Ohio.
Charles C. Thompson was born in Knox County, Ohio,
Aug. 29, 1840, and was educated at Spring Mountain Academy.
Sept. 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, Fifty-first Ohio Infantry
under Col. Stanley Mathews, and served until July 25, 1862. He
then re-enlisted in Company I, Fifty-first Ohio Infantry under
Col. Stanley Mathews, and served until July 25, 1862. He
then re-enlisted, in Company E, Forty-third Ohio Infantry, and held
the commission of first sergeant. He was afterward appointed
drill master, and drilled four negro regiments at Washington, D. C.,
Petersburg and Richmond. In 1865 Mr. Thompson came to
Killbuck and entered the office of Dr. John L. Riggs, where
he read medicine for about one year. In 1866 he engaged in
mercantile business, and continued same until 1878, since when he
has been engaged in studying and practicing law. Mr.
Thompson has always been an ardent Republican, and about 1880
was their candidate for Representative, polling the largest number
of votes of an man who ran on that ticket in the county.. He was
also a candidate for assistant adjutant-general of the State,
carrying fourteen counties, and has served as chairman, the
Republican County Executive Committee. In 1866 Mr. Thompson
was united in marriage with Miss Jane, daughter of William
Shrimplin, of Killbuck township, and they have three children:
Mary Kate, William H. and Darwin G. Mr. Thompson is
a member of Spartan Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M., of Millersburgh.
He was appointed a notary public in 1886
~ Page 713 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of
Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio,
Illustrated – Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
J. E.
THOMPSON is the eldest son of James and Mary A. (Jeffries)
Thompson. His father was born in Centre County, Penn., in
1818, and immigrated to Ohio in 1836, locating in Washington
Township, Holmes County, where he bought a farm and made it his home
until his death, Mar. 12, 1884. His wife died May 5, 1882.
They had a family of four sons: J. E., born Feb. 4,
1843; W. J., a druggist of Pittsburgh, Penn., born Sept. 11,
1846; James W., a minister of the Presbyterian Church in
Kansas, born Aug. 23, 1848, and Taylor V., an eminent
physician, born Jan. 20, 1851, died Jan. 26, 1879. The father
was in early life a Whig, and later was identified with the
Republican party. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
J. E. Thompson bought in September, 1873, the
farm where he now lives, which contains 170 acres of valuable land,
and he also owns a third interest in another tract of forty acres.
He has acquired his property largely by hard, unremitting toil, and
is now one of the prosperous men of the township. He is very
popular in political circles, and was elected trustee of his
township three years, where the opposing party numbered two to one
of his, but he continually carried the election, his efficiency
being recognized not only by his own party but also by those on the
other side. He is now serving his third term as justice of the
peace. He is positive in his political opinions, supporting
the principles of the Republican party, but is careful to give
offense to no one. Allowing all the same privilege he claims,
of deciding for himself. He is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and of the Royal Arcanum, in both of which he is an
active worker. Mr. Thompson was married, Jan. 10, 1867,
to Elizabeth, daughter of John Rainey, of Wayne
County, and they have five children: James E., born Mar. 10,
1868; Asa R., born Dec. 25, 1870; Mary L., born Feb.
26, 1874; John O., born Jan. 9, 1879, and Taylor D.,
born Feb. 5, 1881.
~ Page 692 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
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Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
R.
R. THOMPSON. Among the notable families who have become
identified with the interests and welfare of Holmes County appears
the name of Thompson, one of the oldest and best known
families in the county, and one of the most prominent in all
enterprising movements which are started for the benefit of the
county. William Thompson, the father of R. R.,
was born in Union County, Penn., Aug. 5, 1793, and, Oct. 30, 1817,
he married Matilda Heard. He was by trade a hatter, but
after his marriage abandoned his trade and began to farm on rented
land. In the spring of 1835 he came to Holmes County, but
before moving his family he walked from Centre County, Penn., to
Holmes County, and back again to Centre County. When he came
to this county he was in limited circumstances, but at the time of
her death he owned three farms of eighty acres each. His
family consisted of eight children - five sons and three daughters -
of whom two sons and three daughters - of whom two sons and one
daughter are living. Mr. Thompson was a Democrat in his
political views, but his sons affiliate with the Republican party.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
~ Page 723 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
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Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
R. A. TORBET
was born in Lycoming County, Penn., Nov. 2, 1820, a son of David
and Jane (Allen) Torbet, former a native of the North of
Ireland, and latter of Northumberland County, Penn. David
Torbet was born in 1769, and came to America when twenty-two
years of age. He was given fair educational advantages in his
native country, and was a good mechanic, for a time being engaged in
weaving and selling Irish linens Upon coming to America he
first landed in Philadelphia, from there went to Baltimore, where he
was married in 1801. In 1832 he came to Homes County, Ohio,
where he bought 160 acres of land in Ripley Township, and while he
was employed at his trade his sons cleared the land. He died
in the sixty-ninth year of his age, his wife dying at the age of
fifty-four years. They had a family of ten children, five of
whom lived to manhood and womanhood: John, Hugh, Jane, Ellen
and R. A., the latter being the only one now living.
R. A. Torbet has been a resident of Holmes
County since twelve years of age. He improved such educational
advantages as were within his reach, attending the township schools,
also select schools at Fredericksburgh and Nashville, and was one of
the first teachers in the township, whose education was obtained in
the same. He has taught thirty or forty terms, being one of
the most successful instructors in the township. Although so
much of his time has been given to the school room he has made
farming his principal occupation, and now owns 160 acres of fine
land, eighty acres being a part of his father's homestead. He
is a thoroughly honest, upright man, and this reputation has secured
for him many positions of trust, among the others that of executor
and administrator of estates and guardianship of orphan children.
He has held the office of justice of the peace and other positions.
Mr. Torbet was married in 1843, to Keziah, a daughter of
Robert Scott, of Holmes County, and a lady of fine
intellect, highly esteemed by all who know her. Mr.
and Mrs. Torbet have had ten children, eight of whom are
living: David, now in Virginia; Elizabeth, now
Mrs. Whitney, in Denver, Colo.; James, a
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Frederickstown, Ohio;
Ellen, wife of Prof. Avann, in Albion, Mich.;
Margaret, single, living at home; Robert, a farmer in
Ripley Township (he graduated in the scientific course at the Normal
School in Ada, Ohio); Walter, who is now in charge of his
father's farm, and Albert, a minister, who graduated in the
theological course at Evanston, Ill., and is pastor of a
Congregational church in Michigan. Their son, Hiram,
who was well educated, graduated in a scientific course with bright
prospects. He offered himself as a missionary in the Methodist
Episcopal Church to go to India, and three months after arriving
there he, with other missionaries, was invited on board an American
vessel in the harbor of Bombay, and while there, in the dusk of the
evening, he fell through the hatchway and was killed. Another
son, Howard, died when nine months old. The children
have had some advantages for securing a good education.
David and Ellen are classical graduates, and for
six years the latter has been preceptress of a seminary.
Walter studied law, and was ready to practice, but later turned
his attention to agriculture. Three sons studied for the
ministry, and two are successfully engaged in that work. Mr.
and Mrs. Torbet are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and for many years have taken an active interest in the work of the
same. In politics he is a Republican.
~ Page 635 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
SETH TROYER
is one of the well-known farmers of German Township. He was
born on his present farm June 27, 1832. His great-grandfather,
Michael Troyer, was brought to this country between the years
1745 and 1750 when a boy of probably eight years of age by his
stepfather, Holly. They settled in Somerset County,
Penn., where the grandfather of our subject, Michael Troyer,
was born and afterward married. In 1816 Michael Troyer
moved his family to Holmes County, where he purchased six
quarter-sections of land in German Township. He was twice
married, and reared a large family of children, all of whom are
dead. They were all prominent members of the Amish Church.
Daniel Troyer, the father of our subject, was born in
Somerset County, Penn., in 1802, and came to Holmes County, Ohio,
when fourteen years of age. He obtained but very little
schooling, as he had to assist his parents in clearing the homestead
and cultivating the frontier farm. He first married Miss
Annie Bontrager, who bore him two daughters, who are dead, and
one son, Seth. Daniel was subsequently married
to Miss Elizabeth Yoder, of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and by
this second marriage had five children: Martha, wife of
Christian Garver, of Walnut Creek Township; Daniel D., in
Tuscarawas County; Leah, wife of Abram Troyer, in
Elkhart County, Ind.; Levi, a druggist in Shanesville and
Barbara, wife of Jacob Leighty, in Champaign County,
Ohio. His third wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Garver, who
bore him no children. Daniel Troyer was one of the
representative farmers of German Township, a strong supporter of the
Democratic party, and a very prominent member of the Amish Church.
He died in 1881, at the age of seventy-nine years.
Seth Troyer was reared on the farm where he has
since resided. In 1855 he married Miss Mary, daughter
of John Garver, and they have seven children: Elizabeth,
wife of John H. Miller, living with her parents; Daniel,
at home; Lydia, wife of John Hochstetler of Tuscarawas
County; Martha, wife of George W. Miller, of
Tuscarawas County; Malinda, Mary and Sarah Ann, at home.
Mr. Troyer is a Democrat in politics, and for four years has
served as township trustee. He and his family are members of
the Walnut Creek Amish Church.
~ Page 660 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
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Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
AARON
TURNER is a son of Joab Turner, a native of Maryland,
who was married to Miss Ary Johnson, a native of Harrison
County, Ohio. They settled in Coshocton County, where the
father died; the mother then moved to Illinois, where she
died.
Aaron Turner was born in Harrison
County, Ohio, June 10, 1832. He was reared in Coshocton
County, receiving a common-school education, and has always followed
farming as an occupation. In 1855 Mr. Turner was united
in marriage with Miss Mary J., daughter of Jesse Smith,
of Killbuck Township, Holmes County, and in 1868 they settled on
their present farm, which is one of the best in the township.
Their family consists of five living children: Elisha,
a farmer of Killbuck Township, married to Miss Catherine,
daughter of Abraham Brink, and has five children:
Tacey, Claude, Bessie, Clyde and Halley; Mary Frances,
wife of John Roby, of Richland Township, has one child,
Abigail; Maggie, wife of Armstrong Harford, of Killbuck
Township, has two children: Jay and Velma; Isaac and
William are at home. Mr. Turner formerly took an
active part in Republican politics, but of late years has been a
strong supporter of the Prohibition party. He has served in
many of the township offices, and he and family are prominent
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is trustee
and class leader. He served as leader for nearly a quarter of
a century, his services being always in demand; has served as
steward, recording steward of the church and Sabbath school
superintendent several times. He is a true Christian, untiring
in his efforts for the cause of the right, and his charity is
manifested by his acts of benevolence.
Mr. Turner when he became of age had not a penny
in the world, but by integrity of character and the aid of a strong
physical body he has, by his own efforts and the help of a good
wife, reared his family well, and accumulated what he now possesses.
He lived in the days when the sickle was in use, and learned to
handle one well; he was here before the threshing machine, and
remembers well selling the first one introduced in the community,
also the separator, mower and reaper; he also claims a place among
the pioneer fathers in removing the forest, as he has cleared some
sixty acres of land. Mr. Turner cast his first vote for
Fremont, saw the downfall of slavery, voted for the XIVth
Amendment, and was among the first to take the stump for the
Prohibition party in his township, and he hopes to live to see that
party triumphant.
~ Page 671 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of Wayne
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Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
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