OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

Welcome to
Wayne County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

Source:
History of Wayne County, Ohio
from the days of the pioneers and first settlers to the present time
Indianapolis, Ind.: R. Douglass, 
1878

CHAPTER XXII.

EAST UNION TOWNSHIP
Pg. 614

(Contributed by Sharon Wick)

     EAST UNION TOWNSHIP was formed  Sept. 5, 1814.  According to the best information it was named by Simon Chaffin, Sr., who was a native of union, Main.  The population of this township in 1870 was 1,865.  We append the official record from 1846: *
 

1846 - Trustees - Bethuel Munn, John L. Cheyney, Josiah Milbourn; Clerk - Henry Bevington; Treasurer - Alexander Ramsey; Assessor - William Blackwood.
1847 - Trustees - Conrad Franks, John L. Cheyney, Joshua Kelley; Clerk - Henry Bevington; Treasurer - Alexander Ramsey; Assessor - H. Bevington.
1848 - Trustees - Conrad Franks, Joshua Kelley, Joseph Hunter; Clerk - Henry Bevington; Treasurer - Alexander Ramsey; Assessor - Henry Bevington.
1849 - Trustees - Joshua Kelley, Josiah Milbourn, George Hackett; Clerk - H. Bevington; Treasurer - James McClure; Assessor - Henry Bevington.
1850 - Trustees - Jacob Knight, Robert Sweeney, G. S. Franks; Clerk - H. Bevington; Treasurer - John Hindman; Assessor - John J. Brown.
1851 - Trustees - Jacob Knight, Joseph Hunter, Robert Sweeney; Clerk - Henry Bevington; Treasurer - John Hindman; Assessor - H. Bevington.
1852 - Trustees - Alexander Ramsey, Joseph Hunter, Leonard Langell; Clerk - H. Bevington; Treasurer - John Hindman; Assessor - H. Bevington.
1853 - Trustees - Alexander Ramsey, Joseph Hunter, Henry Hoover; Clerk - H. Bevington; Treasurer - John Hindman; Assessor - Joshua Kelly.
1854 - Trustees - Alexander Ramsey, Henry Hoover, Andrew Milbourn; Clerk - H. Bevington; Treasurer - John Hindman; Assessor - A. H. Bevington.
1855 - Trustees - J. H. Hitchcock, George Hacket, George T. Hughes; Clerk - A. H. Bevington; Treasurer - David Clark; Assessor - H. Bevington.
1856 - Trustees - Joseph Hunter, George J. Barnhart, Samuel Jewell; Clerk - Levi Reiter; Treasurer - John Hindman; Assessor - J. W. Crumly.
1857 - Trustees - George Steel, G. T. Hughes, J. S. Eshelman; Clerk - H. Bevington; Treasurer - John Hindman; Assessor - J. W. Crumly.
1858 - Trustees - Robert Cook, G. J. Barnhart, Andrew Moore, Jr.; Clerk - Levi Reiter; Treasurer - Amos Brown; Assessor - George Steel.

     Justices of the Peace - J. J. Brown, Apr. 23, 1831; Samuel Orr, Apr. 27, 1832; J. J. Brown, May 6, 1834; Samuel Orr, Apr. 18, 1835; J. J. Brown, Apr. 28, 1837; Samuel Orr, Oct. 25, 1838; William Salsbury, Apr. 16, 1840; Josiah H. Hitchcock, Oct. 27, 1841; William Salsbury, Apr. 13, 1843; Josiah H. Hitchcock, Oct. 16, 1844; William Salsbury, Apr. 21, 1846; Samuel Orr, Apr. 14, 1847; George Hacket, Oct. 2, 1849; Samuel Orr, Apr. 11, 1850; Crooks Hindman, Nov. 5, 1852; Josiah H. Hitchcock, Apr. 19, 1853; James Trusdall, Apr. 28, 1856; John E. Brown, Apr. 28, 1856; John E. Brown, Apr. 19, 1859; James Trusdall, Apr. 19, 1859; John E. Brown, Apr. 21, 1862; James Trusdall, Apr. 21, 1862; John E. Brown, Apr. 12, 1865; James Trusdall, Apr. 12, 1865; Isaiah Byall, Apr. 8, 1867; James Trusdall, Apr. 11, 1868; George J. Barnhart, Oct. 20, 1869; Isaiah Byall, Oct. 18, 1870; George J. Barnhart, Oct. 12, 1872; Amos Walter, Oct. 22, 1873; I. K. Jameson, Jan. 6, 1875; Amos Walter, Oct. 18, 1876.

TOWNS IN EAST UNION TOWNSHIP

- pg. 616

     Edinburg was laid out by William Thomas and John L. Cheyney, and surveyed Aug. 16, 1832, by George Emery.  Plat and certificate recorded Aug. 22, 1822; record to be found on page 438, vol. 9, County Recorder's office.  Ira Pratt started the first store, and was the first Postmaster in Edinburg, and was followed as Postmaster in turn by Theophilus Philips, John L. Cheyney, John Hindman, Shuman Kiester, Jacob Reaser, George Messmore, Cornelius Smith, David Clark, Elisha Numbers, Allen Clark.  Prior to the appointment of Cornelius Smith the postoffice was at the old town, and after that at Applecreek Station.

     Applecreek Station - This village is of more recent date, being a growth of the C. Mt. V. & C. railroad.  Andrew Woodruff, a blacksmith, put up the first house in Applecreek after it was laid out as a village.  John Hindman and Elisha Numbers built the next houses.  John Hindman owned the land upon which Applecreek is built.  George Core opened the first hotel, on the Driesbach corner.  David Clark, now of Wooster, opened the first dry goods store.  The new school building was erected in 1874, the first three teachers, Mr. Eberly, Mr. Holcomb and Mr. Caldwell.
     The first settlers of this township located in the northern portion of it, in 1809-10.  Oliver Day, Jonathan Mansfield and Vesta Frary were the first settlers, and were natives of the State of Vermont.  Andrew Lucky was also one of the first.

     Recollections of Simon Chaffin, Jr. - The first white man that died in East Union township was Vesta Frary, and is buried on John Ramsey's farm, where thirty or forty others are buried.  He helped to lay him out and dig his grave.  Oliver Day's wife is buried there, and he on the farm where he lived and died.  William Buckley had a child die, and was buried in the woods.  Thirty year ago he cut musket balls out the trees shot there by members of Beall's army.  On Amos Walters' farm was built one of the first churches  - called the Ebenezer church.  the Methodists, after his father arrived, held services at the houses of Samuel Bodine, Michael Thomas, Oliver Day, and at his father's.  The Presiding Elder on the circuit was Rev. Harry O. Sheldon, a stout, muscular man, who could carry a barrel of salt or cider with ease.  Two drunken men on one occasion disturbed a camp-meeting when he was present, and he choked them into silence.  It was held on Peter Maurer's farm, now owned by Joseph Hoover.  On the farm now owned by John Long the Indians had a sugar camp, and two huts stood there.  John lived too late for the ways that were dark!  On the farm owned by Henry Brenneman was situated what was known as "Punch's Glade," so named for Old Punch, an Indian who secreted himself in the thickets.  The first school-house was upon land then owned by Anson Stillson, and latterly owned by Benjamin Brenne

- pg. 617
man, and was built in 1814.  The teacher was a Mr. Pratt, and spelled door, dore.  Soon after this a second one was built on Daniel Fairchild's place, now owned by Samuel Swinehart, band where in the early days old Colonel Swann taught school.  There was no Massillon then, simply Kendal, and then there were but thirteen houses between Kendal and Wooster.  His neighbors were Oliver Day and family, Samuel Wilford, Cyrus Stouffer, and a Mr. Rine and Rasher.  The first Justice of the Peace was Andrew Lucky, who kept a tavern.

     Simon Chaffin, Sr.,  was a native of Lincoln county, Maine, where he was born, 1765.  He removed to Ohio in the fall of 1811, coming in a four-horse wagon, traveling a distance of 1,050 miles, which occupied fifty-seven days, never unloading the wagon until he arrived at Poland, Trumbull county, Ohio.  He remained in Poland until the winter of 1812-13 when he removed to the farm in East Union township where his son now lives.  He brought with him his wife and six children, and Obadiah Luce, his brother-in-law.  The lands that he entered he took off the hands of Isaac Poe and John Nangle.  He lived upon his farm, though his regular trade was that of scythe and hoe maker.  He was married to Mercy Saunders, of the State of Maine, he dying Aug. 8, 1837, and she Jan. 13, 1854.  They were both members of the Methodist church.
     Among his old papers appears the following:

     Union, State of Maine, Sept. 18, 1811.  This may certify, whom it may concern, that Mr. Simon Chaffin has lived in this town for eight or ten years past, during which time he has, so far as ever came to our knowledge, sustained the character of an upright, fair dealer, and of a good moral character, and very industrious and good blacksmith.    (Signed)  NATHAN ROBBINS, JOEL ADAMS, Selectmen of Union.

NOTE:  Per Email from Richard Patterson, a correction to the above notice is That Simon Chaffin's daughter, Mercy and son in law Obediah left for Ohio way back then not with Samuel Chaffin.  The correct published version is on page 617 from the book "History of Wayne County, Ohio from the days of the pioneers and first settles to the present time."

     Simon Chaffin, Jr., a native of Maine, was born in the same county and State of his father, Mar. 1, 1808, with whom he came to East Union township.  He was married Nov. 12, 1835, to Catharine Maurer and has had eleven children and is a member of the East Union Evangelical Lutheran church, which was built  about 1836 and among whose early preachers was Solomon Ritz.  Mr. Chaffin is an esteemed citizen and worthy gentleman, with sound mind and memory, and we are especially indebted to him for valuable kindness and aid.

     Frederick Brown was a native of Pennsylvania, and removed with his family to Wayne county in the spring of 1814.  He had,

- pg. 618
however, with his son John J., been here previously, in 1812, and considerably improved a portion of the twelve hundred acres of land he had entered from the Government.  He was the first of the name of Brown to settle in Wayne county; married Christina Smith, by whom he had two sons, John J. and George, and six daughters, who married at maturity, viz:  Mrs. Hannah Alexander, Mrs. Elizabeth Worley, Mrs. Abigail Thompson, Mrs. Mary Bergen and Mrs. Anna McKee.  He died in August, 1816, aged sixty years.  His will is the first on record in Wayne county; is dated Aug. 23, 1816, attested by Samuel Hindman and Daniel Kirkpatrick, and was admitted to probate Oct. 1, 1816.

     John J. Brown, oldest son of Frederick, was a lad when he first accompanied his father to Wayne county, but was able to be of service to him in clearing the land.  In April, 1820, he married Miss Sarah Mercer, and settled down the same  year in East Union township.  He had two sons, Milton and Levi, and six daughters, who married and became Mrs. Matilda Hindman, Mrs. Mary J. Anderson, Mrs. Lucinda Johnston, Mrs. Hannah Liggett,  Mrs. Melinda Jones and Mrs. Ella Lysle.  He gave each of his children a good education, graduating his oldest son, Milton, at Jefferson College, now a minister in charge of the Presbyterian church at Mt. Eaton.  For many years he was a Justice of the Peace in East Union township, and in all ways was a very prominent citizen, himself and family held in highest respect.  He was a Presbyterian and served as an Elder in that church for some time, previous to his death, which occurred in the sixty-seventh year of his age.

     In connection with the Brown family, and to show the uneasy and excited state of the public mind for some tie subsequent to Hull's Surrender, we relate an incident that occurred in what was called Smith's settlement, near the site of the present County Infirmary.  One afternoon two of the Smith women heard what they supposed to be guns firing in the direction of Wooster, "at the rate of five hundred in a minute."  The neighborhood was soon assembled, numbering between thirty and forty persons, men, women and children.  There were but eight guns in the party, one of which belonged to John J. Brown, then a boy and small for his age.  After consultation, it was decided that James McIntire should approach Wooster cautiously to ascertain the exact state of affairs there, and that the balance of the company should at once set out for Steubenville, by way of the Indian trail, the women and children on horseback, the men on foot, with their guns.  Young Brown's gun was transferred to an older man, and two children committed to his care - Waits Smith, a small boy, whom he carried behind him on a very spirited horse, and Jonathan, a younger brother of Waits, who was placed in his arms.

- pg. 619 -
     The party traveled in silence during the entire night, not a child giving the least sign of fretfulness.  In the morning they were overtaken by McIntire, who brought the welcome news that Wooster was resting in Quietude, and that the noise that had frightened the two women was the sound made by men cutting straw with axes in a trough for feed.  At this intelligence the main part of the fugitives returned, hungry and weary, to their cabin homes in the forest.  A few, however, continued on their flight to the old settlements in Pennsylvania.
     Nevertheless, this stampede of the settlers was not without thrilling incident.  When the party in its flight was crossing the Big Sugar creek, they discovered a camp fire close to the trial - the Indian dogs barked, and immediately Indians raised the whoop.  At this the company took shelter in the brushwood as best they could.  All became quiet in a short time, when those with guns began to scout around in order to ascertain the character of the Indians in the camp.  They proved to be Chief Johnnycake and his tribe.  The story the whites told alarmed them, and they said they would also flee the country, as they were, as friendly Indians, equally in danger from the hostile tribes, but that they must have their supper first off the  deer that was then roasting at the fire.  Afterwards McIntire passed their encampment blowing a large tin horn and riding at full gallop to overtake the flying settlers and apprise them of their groundless apprehension of danger, at which Johnnycake and his braves evidently fled supperless, as the returning settlers next day found the camp entirely deserted, and the deer, burned to a crisp, still suspended over the smouldering embers.  Johnnycake and his people were never seen again by the whites in that settlement, although they had heretofore been inconveniently familiar.

     Josiah Milbourn was born in Loudon county, Virginia, Mar. 3, 1799.  He removed to Wayne county with his mother, and settled on the east half of the northwest quarter of section three in East Union township.  He was married Dec. 28, 1819, by Oliver Day, to Eunice Pratt.  In 1827 he settled on the farm where he now lives.  Mr. Milburn, though nearly ninety years of age, is hale and hearty, and one of the best preserved men in the county.  He is a good citizen, and can, in his old days, revert to a life of usefulness and honor.  He is a man of integrity, excellent character, held in high esteem by all who know him.

     David Hunter located in East Union township in 1813-14.  He was born in Washington county, Pa., about 1770.  At the age of thirty he married Jane Wilson, of Beaver county, Pa.  He had ten children, to wit:  Mary, Esther, John, Joseph, Nancy, Wilson, David, J. H., Daniel and Jane.  He lived on the farm upon which he settled, until his death, in March, 1848.  His wife died in 1864.  Joseph married Elizabeth Keister, Sept. 2, 1834, and has had seven children.

     Rodney Carr's Family - Rodney Carr, son of David Carr, Sr., was born Apr. 2, 1790, in Grafton county, N. H., where he was

- pg. 620
married Nov. 17, 1817, to Miss Nancy B. Swann.  He visited Wayne county in 1824, and in the spring of 1825 brought out his wife and three children.  His brother Hubbard, had preceded him to Wayne county, but had died, and Rodney bought his farm at administrator's sale, and continued on keeping hotel, or "Carr's Tavern," at the same place his brother had commenced that business several years before.  It was for many years a great resort for travelers and wagoners, from the solitary horseman to the six-horse team.  Rodney's children were: Rodney, Charles and David (twins), Horace, Caroline, Lucius, Hubbard, Edward.
     David Carr
now occupies the old homestead, and has made it one of the best in the county.  Feb. 24, 1857, he married Miss Sarah E. Boydston, sister of Charles Boydston, and has two boys and two girls, as fruits of the union.

     George Firestone was born near Frederick City, Maryland, Apr. 22, 1784.  His wife, Rebecca Carroll, was born  at Elizabethtown, Pa., Aug. 6, 1786.  They were married in June, 1812.  He came to Wayne county in 1812, on a prospecting tour, and entered the south-west quarter of section 33, in East Union township.  He then went home for his family, and returned July 6, 1813.  He died Apr. 22, 1851, his wife dying Nov. 24, 1869.

     John Moore was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and was married in Beaver county, to Hannah Bevard.  They emigrated to Wayne county, in 1814-15, bringing with them their daughter Jane.  They settled in East Union township on a farm which Andrew Moore, father of John, several years previously had entered.

     Charles Boydston was born Oct. 25, 1816, in Greene township.  He was raised on the farm with his father, and remained with him until he was 21 years of age.  He made a trip to Missouri, remaining there about 15 months, when he returned, and, Oct. 8, 1840, married Sarah Milbourn, of East Union township.  In 1852 he removed to the farm on which he now lives.  He has had nine children.  Orrilla, his third daughter, is married to J. E. Barrett, M. D., a thoroughly educated and scientific physi8cian of Wooster.  Mr. Boydston is a conscientious, earnest man, whose integrity is unimpeached and whose life and example are worthy of imitation.

     Emanuel Brown immigrated to East Union township from

- pg. 621
Fayette county, Pennsylvania, reaching his destination Oct. 14, 1814, settling on the farm now owned and occupied by Smith Orr.  The farm consisted of 160 acres, which he purchased of William Thomas.  He had previously visited the county and entered 320 acres of land.  He was married to Elizabeth Baker, of Fayette county, and had five children, all of whom were born in Fayette county - John E., Abraham, Noah and Eliza Ann  He was a farmer, and built the first saw-mill in the township, his neighbors, when he removed to Wayne county, being William Thomas, Robert Marcus, John Cheyney, Conrad Franks, Hugh Orr, George Firestone, David Clark, Robert Armstrong, Isaac and John Burnett, Abner Pratt, Daniel Fairchild and others.  Noah Brown, son of Emanuel Brown, was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, Mar. 27, 1807, and removed to Ohio with his father in 1814.  HE was married July 16, 1829, to Ana Stinger, of Columbia County, Pennsylvania.  He removed to his present residence about 1862, where he and his wife live.  HE has had nine children.  Levi and Amanda, two small children, were burned to death, Oct. 21, 1845.

     Reminiscences of Noah Brown - The first election was held in Section 16, at Smith Orr's house.  Andrew Lucky was the first Justice.  The first school-house that he recollects of was built on Section 21, although a log house built previously for the Presbyterians to hold service in was used for a school-house.  The earliest teachers were George Hackett and George McConnell.  The first burial was upon John Ramsey's farm, and two are buried on the Smith Orr place, a Mr. Miller, and a child that was scalded to death.  The places of burial were much scattered..  He thinks a Mr. Bigham, an elder in the Presbyterian church, and a Mr. Dunlap, were the first buried in that graveyard.  Old Aaron Rambo had the first grist mill in the township, near the residence of David Carr, and turned the bolt by hand.  After Rambo, Garrett Albertson erected another, and here he got grinding done.  South of Cross Keys at a spring a Mr. Pratt had the first distillery.  There was an Indian camp at the head of little Apple creek.  He has a grindstone in his possession that his father bought in Canton when he came west, and he says the whole neighborhood for miles came to grind on it.

    CHURCHES

     Applecreek Presbyterian Church. - This church was formally organized in the fall of 1815, by Rev. Thomas Hughes and Rev. James Adams.  There were thirty members.  Four of them, Messrs. James Bigham, Daniel Kilpatrick, Jonathan Peppard and Moses Dunham, were elected Ruling Elders.  In 817 the congregation built a church edifice.  The church had occasional supplies until 1819, when Rev. Harper became stated supply.
     In February, 1820, Rev. Thomas Barr settled as pastor of the Wooster and Apple Creek churches, and continued in charge until 1829.  Early in his ministry a Sab-

- pg. 622
bath-school was organized.  In 1829 a larger and more commodious house of worship was erected.  Early in 1830 Rev. William Cox became stated supply for the two churches, but in 1832 gave his whole time to the Apple creek congregation, remaining with it until succeeded, in 1837, by Rev. William Hutchison, who continued pastor of the Apple creek church eighteen months.  In April, 1840, Rev. Richard Graham became its pastor, continuing about a year.  He was succeeded, in 1841, by Rev. Joseph S. Wylie, who held the pastorate until the winter of 1849.  During his ministry the present church edifice was built.  In the summer of 1850 Rev. T. E. Carson became pastor, and remained until the spring of 1859, succeeded in January, 1860, by Rev. Andrew Virtue, who took charge of the church, retaining a pastorate until the spring of 1868.  In January, 1869, Rev. A. E. Thompson, began his labors, serving until 1874.  Rev. W. Eagleson was his successor, taking charge of the Apple creek congregation in January, 1875, and continuing until May, 1876.  The present pastor of the church is Rev. S. C. Ferris.

     Reformed Church - Wooster and neighboring churches of this denomination were included in one charge, and in 1864 had Rev. J. H. Derr for pastor.  In that year he began services in Apple creek, in what was then called Gashat's Hall.  This place proved inconvenient, and the project of building a church was started, and a building committee was appointed, consisting of Rev. J. H. Derr, George Phillips and G. W. Barnhart.  The matter successfully progressed, and on the 10th of May, 1867, the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies.  There was some delay in raising means to complete the building, so that it was not until Oct. 10, 1870, that the church was finished and dedicated.  It is of brick, Gothic in architecture, slate roof, and very nearly as fine a church as there is in the county.  The committee that pushed matters to a successful issue were Louis Reichenbach, Henry Bott and Benjamin Sauers.  The ministers present at the dedication were Rev. Kammerer, D. D., G. W. Williard, D. D., President of Heidelberg College, Revs. F. K. Levan, J. B. Shoemaker, Philip Becker and Spreng.  Dr. Williard preached the dedicatory sermon in the English language, and Rev. Levan in the German.  Rev. Philip Becker was the first regular pastor.  In 1871 Dr. Kammerer officiated.  In 1872 Rev. Zartman commenced supplying the pulpit each alternate Sabbath in the English language, all services having been in German prior to that time.  In 1875 Rev. Edmund Erb, the present pastor, gave his services in English, Dr. Kammerer conducting German services from the establishment of the church until 1876, when he discontinued his labors, and Rev. Erb officiated in both languages.  The congregation numbers ninety members.

     Leonard Langell was born in Berks county, Pa., in 1799, his father Casper Langell emigrating to Ohio in 1802, and thence to East Union township, settling where Edinburg now is in 1814-15.  He purchased lands from John Rider and gave the west quarter to Leonard, who at the age of eighteen built the grist mill in 1817, now known as the old factory.  Casper built a brick house in Edinburg in 1816, which was the first hotel between Wooster and New Philadelphia.  He had seven children, two of whom were sons, named Leonard and DanielLeonard came to Wayne county with his father who was a farmer, and was married to Catherine Rhinehart, of Jefferson county, about 1823, and had five children, to

- pg. 623
wit:  John C., Susanna, Elias, Daniel and Henry.  Susanna, the wife of Daniel Snyder, died Mar. 24, 1868.  John C. Langell lives on the old farm and is married to Delilah Smith; Elias was married to Eliza Weber and lives near Apple creek; Henry married Ann Seacrist and lives in Franklin township.  He died on the morning after the June 4th frost, 1859.  His sister Mary married Henry Swart, of Blackleyville, Plain township.

     Daniel Langell, Sr., son of Casper and brother of Leonard, came to Wayne county with his father, and was the youngest of the family.  Here he remained until 1824, when after some changes, he removed to Williams county, Ohio, where he was elected Sheriff, and while serving in this capacity superintended the hanging of old Tyler, a fortune-teller, for murdering a boy.  He died in that county.

     Daniel Langell, discoverer of the celebrated Asthma and Catarrh Remedy, was born in East Union township July 9, 1832.  He was raised on a farm until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Wooster and learned the chair-making business with Spear & Beistle.  He returned to the farm again and was prostrated by asthma, from which for nine years he was a constant sufferer.  He spent all his money and his farm in doctoring it, with little or no relief; and finally by a series of experiments discovered a remedy that cured him, and that since has become a boon to thousands and attained to an almost world-wide celebrity.  Doctor Langell, was married Dec. 3, 1857, to Margaret Sloan of Saltcreek township, and has five children.  He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and is distinguished for the simplicity of his life and his scrupulous honesty, and industry and integrity.

     Herr Driesbach, the Lion-Tamer - This man, greatly distinguished in his profession, lived and died in Wayne county.  He was born in Sharon, Schoharie county, New York, Nov .2, 1807, his grandparents from Germany.  When he was eleven years of age his father died, and the boy in a few years drifted to New York city, where he obtained work in the Zoological Gardens, and soon, youth as he was, made a reputation for control of wild beasts, being the first person ever to make a performing animal of the leopard.  In 1830 he connected himself with the traveling menagerie of Raymond & Co., and soon thereafter went to Europe

- pg. 624
with Raymond, meeting with unprecedented success.  He traveled through England, Scotland and Ireland, then France, Germany, Holland, Russia, etc., exhibiting before all the crowned heads and nobles of Europe, and receiving many marks of their personal favor.  He returned to the United States about 1840, having established a world-wide reputation and become the foremost man in his profession.  From that time he made annual tours of the States of the Union until 1854, when he united in marriage with Miss Sarah Walter, daughter of John Walter, of Wooster township, and settled down to the peaceful pursuits of rural life.  In 1875 he began hotel-keeping at Applecreek Station.  Here, after two days' sickness, on Dec. 5, 1877, he died, leaving a widow and one son.  Herr Driesbach was a very remarkable man, and well won the renown he obtained.  His life was full of perilous incident, adventure and romance, and inasmuch as the history of his life will soon be published, we forbear any presentation of detail of his eventful career.

     Joshua Jameson was born in Kent county, Delaware, Mar. 2, 1771.  He was a farmer in the State of his birth, and a slave-driver for three months, which period of experience forever satisfied him.  From Delaware he removed to Fayette county, Pa., and there he married Rebecca Mackey, and there all of his children were born, save one that died in infancy.  He removed to Wayne county in the spring of 1818, and for a time occupied a vacant house on the old Emanuel Brown farm, until he could build a house on his farm - the south half of section 31, in Sugarcreek township.  The cabin he built was 20x28, and into it he moved in September, and here he resided until his death, Mar. 10, 1826, his wife dying Oct. 17, 1860.  He had eleven children,  viz:  Sarah, Mary, Stephen M., John, Alexander H., Joshua M., Rebecca S., Elizabeth, Joseph, Isaac K., and an infant unnamed.

     Isaac K. Jameson, son of Joshua, was born in Fayette county, Pa., Dec. 3, 1818, and removed to Wayne county with his father.  He worked on the farm until he was about eighteen years of age.  He shortly began teaching school, and followed that profession and going to school until he was twenty-seven years of age.  He was marred Nov. 13, 1860, to Susan Smith, of Smith's Ferry, Beaver county, Pa., and has three children.

     John Cheyney was born in Chester county, Pa., three miles east

- pg. 625
of Brandywine battlefield, June 21, 1765.  His father, Thomas Cheyney immortalized himself in the Revolutionary war, and occupies a glorious page in American history.  It was he that communicated the intelligence to General Washington of the perilous condition of his army at Chad's Ford, near Brandywine, and this simple fact, historians agree, saved the army of Washington from destruction.  J. T. Headley, in his Life of Washington, p. 250, says:

     'Squire Cheyney reconnoitering, on his own responsibility, the movements of the enemy suddenly came the advance as he was ascending the hill.  He immediately wheeled his horse, a fleet, high spirited animal, and dashed away toward head-quarters.  Shots were fired at him, but he escaped and reached the American army in safety.  To his startling declaration that the main body of the army was on his own side of the stream and coming rapidly down upon him, Washington replied that it was impossible, for he had just received contrary information.  "You are mistaken, General; my life for it you are mistaken," exclaimed Cheyney, and carried away by the great peril that threatened the Americans, added:  "By h_ll it is so.  Put me under guard until you find my story true," and stooping down he drew a rough draft of the road in the sand.  In a few moments a hurried note from General Sullivan confirmed the disastrous tidings.  The army was only two miles from Birmingham Meeting-House, which was but three miles from Chad's Ford.  Washington saw at once the fatal error into which he had been beguiled by the false information of Sullivan, and saw, too, that in all human probability the day was lost.

     Prior to John Cheyney's emigration to Wayne county he worked at the mill-wright business at old Carlisle, Pa.; he then went to Fayette county, Pa., and was married at Uniontown to Miss Tracy Graves.  He there remained for a number of years, following his trade, and living on the river.  A freshet occurred and swept away all of his property.  He then determined to seek his fortunes in the West, and came to Wayne county with his wife and eight children in 1814, settling upon the present site of Edinburg.  He purchased 160 acres of land from John Miller, and about one year after another quarter east of the first one, from Thomas Mullen, and upon this quarter the Presbyterian church now stands.  He had the following family: Mary, Jesse, Thomas, John, Richard, Nancy, John, Elizabeth, William and Hannah (twins), and Hibben.

     Richard Cheyney, son of John, was born in Fayette county, Pa., Oct. 6, 1803, and came to Wayne county with his father in 1814.  He was married in East Union township, Nov. 13, 1823, by Rev. Barr, to Elizabeth Stinger, of Columbia county, Pa.,

- pg. 626
and had eleven children.  He began at the age of fourteen working at the mill-wright business with his father, at which occupation he continued until he was nineteen years of age.
     Mr. Cheyney, although he has passed his three-score years, is still in the vigor of health, with constitution sound and unimpaired.  He is a man of great kindness and warmth of feeling and disposition.  He is intelligent, hospitable, and is noted for his simplicity and evenness of way.  His integrity is beyond challenge, and his private life worthy of imitation.  Levi, son of Richard Cheyney, was born July 8, 1836, and though dying in almost boyhood, wrote poems of great beauty and indicative of surpassing genius.

     Hibben Cheyney, youngest son of John, was born in East Union township, Oct. 29, 1816, and has been twice married, first to Salomia Shutt, and second, Mar. 14, 1871, to Mrs. Delia Lemmon, of Attica, Seneca county, Ohio.  by the first marriage there resulted the following children:  Mary E., Julius C., Lucy, Cyrus H., Linnaeus and Berzelius; by the second, Ida May and Anson.  He now resides in Indiana.  Hibben Cheyney is a man of thought, culture and brains.  He is self-made, independent, electric, and acts and thinks like lightning, and has a brilliant intellect.  Julius C. Cheyney, one of his sons, is a first-class school-teacher, a man of honor, integrity and promise.  Linnaeus, another son, is a student of medicine, and, if he is not careful, will soon have an M. D. to his name.
     It will be seen that the Cheyney family descends from a gallant old Revolutionary stock, and can boast of an ancestry equal, if not superior, to any other family in Wayne county.  Old 'Squire, the father of the subject of this notice, has passed into American history.  John Cheyney was a most useful man in the early settlement of the county.  He built the first mill in East Union township, and in a space of thirteen years built six grist-mills and nine saw-mills in Wayne county, and was past fifty years of age when this work was done.  His early neighbors were John Knight, Jacob Tracey, George Basil, and others, and he occasionally received visits from old Johnny Appleseed, whom Richard Cheyney frequently saw.  He donated an acre of land for church and school purposes forever, at Edinburg, and in the graveyard of this church is buried a child of Jesse Cheyney, the first interment.  His remains lie in the old Edinburg graveyard.

------------------------------
NOTES:
*
Record lost prior to this time, and a similar deficiency occurs in a majority of the townships.  Record of Justices throughout the county entirely missing prior to 1830.  the names of first Justices given in some instances were obtained from personal recollection of old settles.

-----------------------------------------------

< BACK TO TABLE OF CONTENTS >

 

 



 
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO
INDEX PAGE
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
INDEX PAGE

FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights