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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to
July, 1880 :
embracing many personal sketches of pioneers, anecdotes,
and
faithful descriptions of events pertaining to the organization of the
county and its progress
Published: Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co.,
1880
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| JOHN M'CAULEY
was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, December 10th, 1834. He was
educated at the university at Delaware, where he finished his course in
1859. He was admitted to the bar in 1860, when he located in Tiffin.
He was elected prosecuting attorney in 1865, and held the office four
years. He was elected a member of the late constitutional convention
to fill the vacancy created by the death of Dr. O'Connor. In
October 1879, he was elected judge of the court of common pleas for this
district. * Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 383 SHARON WICK'S NOTES: |
| WILLIAM M'EWEN -
Mr. James McEwen says: My father, William McEwen, was born in Berwick, Pennsylvania. He went to Northampton county, Pennsylvania, to learn the trade of a blacksmith, and was married there to Sarah Johnson. We came here in the fall of 1823 and brought with us one half ton of hay, which we made at New Haven. With this hay we kept four horses and two cows all winter. There was plenty of picking in the woods all winter in 1823. Father entered the southwest quarter of section twenty-seven, in Clinton, and put up a cabin there and a blacksmith shop. Leverett Bradley settled on the southeast quarter of section twenty-eight right west of us. Asa Crocket built the first barn on that farm. Cal. Williams lived north of us, on the place where old father Schwander lived and died, on the Morrison road, in section twenty-two. He was an old bachelor, had a dog and cat, and all three took their meals together. Joseph Herrin's father and mother, with their families, came in 1826; the children were all single then, except Mrs. Hines; the rest were married here. When the Herrin's folks came they stopped at our house, and we were so crowded some had to sleep in wagons. My parents had twenty-one children altogether, of whom sixteen were then living. I am the youngest of the family. Mrs. Rachel Frees was also married. She was a sister of the Herrin boys also. Thomas Vanatta came two years after and settled where some of his daughters are still living. Peter Schuk lived there once. The first school house was built on the Bradley place, and Jonas Doan taught it. Another log school house was put up north of the road and opposite the church on Rocky creek. Hugh Welsh settled on the Richardson farm and lived there when we came. Birnsides were also here before us and lived on section twenty-eight. We had to go clear to Columbus for flour, and cut our way through the woods. We lived on milk and potatoes for a good while until we could do better. I used to plough with a wooden mold-board and wore buckskin pantaloons. Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 522 |
| WILLIAM M'PHERSON. This venerable pioneer
came from the highlands of Scotand, where he was born at Vernesshire, on
the 6th day of Feb., 1793. He is a descendant of the family of
William Wallace, who were so justly celebrated for their love of
country and liberty, and for their bravery. His family being
educated people and of the nobility, young William had the advantage of
refinement in education, morals and religion. Mr. McPherson became dissatisfied with both country and government, despising England's rule, and being of an adventurous turn of mind, at the age of twenty-three years, he followed his inclinations to visit America. In the year 1816, in company with a young friend of about his age, they set sail and arrived at Halifax on the 11th of September of that year. Finding no suitable employment here, they went to Baltimore, where they arrived in October and engaged in the mercantile business, which they conducted several years with success, but Mr. McPherson becoming tired of the confinement of a store, sold out and started for the west with a view of speculating in land. The Indians had sold their reservations and the new purchase had come into market. Mr. McPherson arrived in Tiffin in October, 1828, and by the advice of Abel Rawson and Joseph Howard, the land agents, he followed up Honey creek and selected a tract on the south bank and where the Columbus and Sandusky turnpike was then being built, and where the Columbus and Sandusky turnpike was then being built, and purchased it. It contained 800 acres and embraced the present village of Caroline. Fearing the effects of miasma along the creek, he built his cabin one mile farther south. The cabin, however, was a very large house built of hewed logs, intended for a tavern and was the third house in the township. There was one shanty in Attica and one in Caroline, built by John Gilmore, for the purpose of boarding the hands that worked on the pike. After the turnpike was finished, the company put a tollgate in front of McPherson's hotel and arranged with him to keep it' which he did until the time when it was destroyed by a mob that cleaned out the gates all along the road. The traffic on railroads had now supplanted travel on the public roads and hotel keeping in the country becoming slow business, Mr. McPherson removed to Caroline, and again engaged in the mercantile business. Here he practiced that strict honesty and correctness in dealing that have characterized his whole life. He bought for cash and sold for ready pay only. He was so careful in giving proper measure that it was said of him, "he would bite a grain of coffee in two to balance the scale." He never changed the price of his goods, and sold them as they were marked, often holding them until they were out of fashion. His old tavern is still standing and was used as a residence in 1879, but Mr. Ph. Schimp, its present owner, has built a fine residence near to it, and the old house is destined to go into decay. It is now used as a shop and tool house. It should be preserved as the first house built in Venice township, being erected in 1828. After he kept store in Caroline eight years, he sold his stock of goods and moved about five miles further south, to near the edge of Crawford county, where he owned large tracts of land and which he wished to bring into market. He lived here eight years and until he had sold all his land, when he again returned to Caroline and took his old storeroom. The Seneca County Academy was then in a prosperous condition, and the children of Mr. McPherson being of such an age that required attention to their education, he moved to Republic and placed them under the tutorship of Professor Aaron Schuyler, whose name has become celebrated among educators since. He resided in Republic until about 1860, when he again returned to Caroline, where he had built for himself a new house. Here he still resides (July 29, 1880) and will stay until called to go higher. He is quite feeble now, but for a man of 88 years, his mind is still vigorous and clear. He divided his handsome fortune among his children, reserving enough to retire into a warm corner while the shades of evening chill the atmosphere around. My friend, McKitrick, was so kind as to furnish the author with the following additional statement pertaining to Venice township in relation to the war of the rebellion and matters pertaining to the general charity of the people: CLICK HERE Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 625 |
| PETER
MARSH Was also a Clinton
township pioneer. He settled in the northwest quarter of section
twenty-seven, about the time the McEwen family came here. He was
then a young man but recently married. He, his wife and his wife's
sister, who came with them, were all three excellent singers. They
all belonged to the Presbyterian church, and were very nice, kind and
quiet people. Mr. Marsh used to teach singing school and soon became
very popular in the neighborhood. He started a Sabbath school and a
prayer meeting in the vicinity and took a great interest in church affairs
generally. When the first railroad from Sandusky, by way of
Republic, was being built, he took a job of grading a mile, including the
fill over Willow creek. The company failed in making payment as it
was agreed, and Mr. Marsh broke up, losing nearly all he had. He
left and located in Kenton, Ohio, where he recuperated to some extent, and
where he and his wife both died. Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 523 |
| DANIEL MARTIN,
retired farmer, P. O. Bettsville, was born in Frederick County, Md.,
Oct. 19, 1814, son of Jacob and Elizabeth Martin, natives of
Maryland, of German descent, who removed early in 1816 to New York
State, where our subject learned the miller's trade, which he followed
in New York State and Pennsylvania until 1837. In 1838 he and his
brother, Peter, built the first house in Bettsville. The same year
he embarked in general merchandise, in which he continued several years,
and then engaged in agriculture; for several years, however, he ahs led
a retired life. Mr. Martin was married, in May, 1846, to
Mary Betts, daughter of John Betts, and by this union he has
one son, John A., who served in the late war of the Rebellion,
and is now engaged in buying and shipping horses. Mr. Martin
at one time owned all that part of Bettsville west of Emma Street.
He has been active in the various enterprises of the village, and is a
most affable and pleasant gentleman. Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 533 |
| ROBERT
M'CANDISH
MARTIN was
born in Perry county, Ohio, September 18, 1822, and died April 4, 1879,
and was therefore aged fifty-six years, and six months and sixteen days.
In the spring of 1829 he came here with his father's family, Samuel S.
Martin, noticed above, and has resided in Eden township to the time of his
death, except only a few years, as hereafter noticed. In his youth
he taught school in the winter and labored on his father's farm during the
summer and fall until 1846, when he was appointed to the office of county
recorder by the county commissioners, to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation of William H. Kessler, who had accepted a clerkship in some
department at Washington. In 1846 Mr. Martin was elected to his
office and re-elected in 1850, making his aggregate term of service about
seven years. His official administration was characterized by a high
degree of capacity and singular punctuality at his post of duty.
On October 12, 1848, Mr. Martin was married to Barbara Kagy, daughter of
Abraham Kagy, Esq., who still resides in Bloom township. Thirteen
children resulted from this union, ten of whom, together with their
bereaved mother, survive to lament their loss. The funeral cortege
which followed the corpse to the burial was the largest ever known in the
township, being nearly a mile in length. During his prostrated
illness of more than two years, Mr. Martin manifested an almost heroic
fortitude, and at the trying end of his earthly race he met the
remorseless "King of Terrors" with such calm resignation that seemed to
mock his power. The family of the deceased realized the fact that he
must leave them, only a few minutes before the end, and the wildest
manifestation of grief prevailing, Mr. Martin essayed to calm their sorrow
and counsel them for the future. He retained his reason and spoke up
to within a minute or two of his death, and thus peacefully and calmly he
closed his timely career. To Robert Martin, all who ever knew him
record the highest and noblest tribute to his memory. He was an
honest and upright man and an exemplary citizen. The foregoing is taken from an obituary notice, slightly changed; and if there is anything to be added to describe Robert as he looked and walked, let me say that he was about five feet, seven inches in height, well proportioned, and a high and noble forehead, dark eyes, fair complexion, regular, delicate but manly features, and always met you with a smile. His friendship was warm and firm and his notions of honor high and sound. While he was decided in everything he had put through the crucible of his own thoughts, he had great respect for the opinions of others no matter how widely they differed. A son of nobler impulses and warmer friendship than Robert Martin the writer never knew. Among the enterprising farmers of forty hears ago may be remembered also: Richard Baker, George Denison, Thomas Baker, Selden Graves, Sylvanus Arnold, John Baker, James Watson, Jesse Koler, William Watson, David Olmsted, Benjamin Brudage, Daniel W. Eastman, Philip Bretz, John Kagy, Adam Pennington, Hezekiah Searls, John Bretz, Jonah Brown, John Gibson, John Crum, Jacob Price, John Downs, Philip Springer, Jacob Andrew, Samuel Kennedy, James Gray, William Ireland, Dr. Bates and John Lamberson. James Stevens, Jacob Buskirk, the Arnolds and others, were among the early settlers of Melmore, also. Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 534 |
| SAMUEL S.
MARTIN. Of
this distinguished old friend of mine I here insert an obituary notice I
found in one of the Tiffin papers, and which is short but a very faithful
picture of him: DEATH OF AN OLD CITIZEN OF SENECA COUNTY. Samuel S. Martin was born in the town of Mifflin, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, October 24th, 1795, and died April 10th, 1864, and was therefore sixty-eight years, six months and seventeen days old. His father died when he was quite young, and he was obliged to depend upon his own energies to carry him through the vicissitudes of life. He removed to Ohio in 1812, and in 1821 bought land in Eden township, to which he emigrated in 1829. In common with the early settlers of the county he was subjected to the hardships and privations of a pioneer life. He was a man of good natural endowments, which soon made him prominent in the community; he was twice elected assessor of the county, under the then existing laws, and held the office of justice of the peace for many years in Eden township. He scrutinized every measure propounded to the public with great care, and when his conclusions were reached, he never departed from them. Politically, he was a Democrat, and felt great interest in the success of the great conservative measures of his party. Few men can boast the coolness and serenity of temper which Mr. Martin always exhibited. Affable in his intercourse with men, scrupulously honest in business, moral and high-minded in character, he challenged the esteem of all who knew him, and left this bitter world without an enemy. Mr. Martin quietly entertained his own views of religion, but upon his dying bed professed a hope in the saving pardon of God, and frequently said that he was going to the realms of endless glory. He has left behind him a record of virtue worthy of our imitation. His disease was chronic asthma. It is not singular that in writing up a short history of a township, obituary notices of father and son, both distinguished and good men, and both special dear friends of the writer, should follow each other so closely in succession? But we all follow each other in close succession, and one has scarcely time to tell the tale of his friend before he is himself called away to realize the scenes of another mission. Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 533 |
| MAURICE MOORE was born in Germantown, Huntington county, New Jersey, July 15,
1798, and is therefore eighty-two years old. He has raised on a
farm, and when twenty-five years of age, he was married and then moved to
Harrison county, Ohio, where he located near the county line of Tuscarawas
in 1823. Here he lived three years, and being dissatisfied with this
hilly country, he left it in the spring of 1834, and packing his household
into a covered wagon, he arrived in Venice township with his wife and two
children early in June, the same year. Here he immediately entered a
quarter section of land in the east part of the township, where he pitched
his tent. On the 19th of June he moved into his cabin, and on the
following night a heavy thunderstorm drove the rain through the
clap-boards and the open spaces between the logs, drenching the family in
their beds, spoiling their goods and making them wish to be back on the
sand lots of New Jersey. On the next morning the woods were a lake.
Intercourse with neighbors was completely cut off, and there were none
nearer than three miles. During this summer one of the children died
of billions fever, then very common among the new settlers. They
raised twelve children, six boys and six girls, who, together with grand
and great-grand children, number about seventy at present. Among
this number are some of the most valued of the citizens of the township
and their interests in business affairs are so much interwoven with the
progress of the township, that to separate them now from Venice township,
would be a great and serious loss to the community. Mr. Moore and his wife are still in the enjoyment of good health, and promise fair to remain with us many years yet to come. Source: History of Seneca County : from the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield, Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 624 |
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