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 Daniel.
Leonard 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.
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