Ashland County, Ohio - Biographical sketches, 1880 (part 19 of 19)

Cal lain Emanuel Finger was born in Orange township, Ashland county, November 6, 1834. He has served as auditor of the county two terms, in addition to six months to which he was appointed by the county I commissioners. At the present time he is the com- I manding officer of company C, in the Seventeenth regi- ; merit of Ohio National Guards, of Ashland, which, under | the drill of himself and the junior officers of the cornl pany, has reached a high degree of proficiency. The !' following is a list of the officers and members of eorn- ! pany C: captain, Emanuel Finger; first lieutenant, John | Vantilburg; second lieutenant, William Drumhelier; ser ! geants, William H. Ambrose, Peter Bechtel, Aden ! Thomas, J. P. Kosht, At. J.. Wiest; corporals, Frank | Whitmore, John McCombs, Reuben Davis. Ralph Smith, j J. W. Brown, George Uric, Martin Grin die; privates,

James Ferguson was born in Beaver county. Penn-yl- | vania, June 31, 1830. In 1867 he removed to Ashland | county, where he now resides. He has three children - Ruth, James, and William P. His first wife, and the mother of his children, died and he lias been a second 1 time married.

| Jesse Wf.rtman was born in Columbia county, Penni sylvania, May 1 8, iSio, and there lived until 1838, j when he came to this county. He was married December to, 1833. to Ann Pursell, who was a native of Hu ; same county, where she was born June 30, >810. To I them have been born twelve children, two ot whom died in infancy. Those living are Charles X , William E. Mary E., M.uia C., Daniel, Harriet, Jacob, Nuah M., were born five children, two of whom died in infancy 1 and childhood, and on.:, Jacob B., died when twenty - years of age. The two now living are John K. and Christian C. Mr. Staman built a saw-mil! on his property, which has since been several times repaired and J added to, and is yet in use. His wife died in 1S77, and ! he now lives. with his son John K. After he had been j here some time lie bought a portion of the Zimmer or j Seymour place, which he still retains. John K. Staman, , his son. was born March 8, 183.0 and was married February 25, i860, to Elizabeth A. Grabili. They have had 1 five children : Anna E., Clara Lb, Cyrus B. (who died j when seven months of age), Willard and Frank, Christian C. Staman was born June 25, 1838, and was mar- i l ied in 1862 to Elizabeth Groningen They have- had | two children, Nettie and Hu Ida--. The latter died in i infancy. Both John K. and C. C. Staman have fine \ always been a hard working firmer. Upon reaching manhood, he mavied Miss Sarah Brink, who was born I >eccn»ber 12, 1807, and dvr eased in 1875. aged about sixty-eight years. By this union there were ten children, of whom Nancv A., Jonathan M., Hannah J , Delia,

George W. and William survive. In October, 1877, he married Hannah Rubenau. Mr. East has resided on the homestead about sixty- five years, and is one of the oldest pioneers in the township. He has always been a plain farmer, and possess a valuable property. He is yet vigorous in mind and bod}'. He was the eleventh child of the late Christian Fast, the old captive, who formerly lived with the Delaware Indians, and of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

Susannah C. Hoi iowan was born on the thirteenth of March, 1815, in Jefferson county, Ohio, and died j August 24, iSSo, in Ashland, Ohio. At the time of her ! birth her father was clearing up the farm now occupied by Edward Wallace in Clearcreek township, whither the i family soon moved. She spent her entire life of over ! sixty-five years in this immediate vicinity. When about twenty years of age she united with the Methodist Episcopal church, which then worshipped in the old stone house on Court square. Her life has been one of quiet, intelligent, consistent piety. Infirmity, resulting from disease more than age, has kept her closely at home for some years. But she has been cheerful, though much alone and often afflicted.

Mrs. Nancv Sheets, whose name before marriage was Nancy Harper, was bom in Fairfax county. Virginia, June 1796. Her parents emigrated to Jefferson county, Ohio, in the summer of 18:2. While residing there in November, 1814, she married Mr. Jc- ;ph Sheets, and removed to Uniontown, now Ashland, in November, 1817, whcie she has resided almost cc.n'inuousiy ever since. It was then a mere village, and hu 1 but three families residing in it. These were the families of William Montgomery, David Markley and John Croft. Mr. Markley owned a small stock of goods, Mr. Montgomery had a small tavern, and Ivlr. Croft a seed: tannery where Whiting N Shearer's manufactory now stands. Its population did not exceed one Bo cm Since that time groat changes have taken piece, as this was sixty-three years ago. The human mind can hardb' comprehend it. Veslerday, a wilderness full of wiM animals and red men. now the Indian ins gone, and luxuriant fields occupy his place in the forest. Mrs. Sheets lived through the administ r.n .ion of se ornieen pvesidi from 'Washington to Hayes. At her Id: dr we had i i a i * - teen States in die Union, and a population of t'nrei a half millions; now wc have thirty-seven Stares and a population of fifty millions in this great ic-public. Its internal improvements : canals, railroads, pike.*., * telegraphs, and the like, fib the 'land. The red man that often visited our village then, now finds a koine in tuc far west; web cultivated fields are now found where the native forest then was. Ashland, will, slight van a. a. ns, is what the pioneers have made it, and will continue through tile generations to come, unf'l. by some catas trophe, chaos and the wilderness sh ill return again. 1 licse 1 1 iiv. s a a - t.~ted tin. a ; t cut mu a ' d ; - . r aec I s <1 w ir.g her lifetime, and she often .vrv "dated t'a.-.m m h r dear way. Sue often rh eh. up. m the limes o! the ; so - nec 1 ?; and their hardships, and seemed to take a '- -p interest in ti e welfare of their posterity.

She possessed a clear mind to the last. On the afternoon of June i 2, 1 88o, her eighty-fourth birthday, many of her old neighbors assembled at the residence of Mr. Samuel Sheets and congratulated her upon her great age | and fine health. Tears were expressed that it would be | the last meeting of many of her aged friends. The | party proved to be a very cheerful assemblage, and was I very gratifying to the old lady. She again met the pioneers at their meeting August 19th, and was in her usually cheerful temper. It was not then supposed that she would never meet with the society again, but in less than a week she was borne to her grave. She died after a brief illness at the residence of her son, Mr. Samuel Sheets, in Ashland, August 26, 1S80, aged eighty-four years, two months and fourteen days.

Mrs. Sheets was a Christian lady. She had many j friends among the pioneers. She had been a member 1 of the Presbyterian church since 1816, and lived an ex- 1 emplaiy life. Her funeral was preached by Rev. John i Robinson, D. D., assisted by Rev. Mr. Persons. The j members of her family were: Elizabeth, Joseph, Will- j jam, Maria, Martha, Alfred, Samuel, Mary and Sarah; | all living but Joseph and Alfred, who died young.

D. B. Gray was born in Columbia county, Pennsylva- ! nia, July 9, 1813. In 1847 he came to Ohio and settled I in Ashland, from which point he run a stage line to I Mansfield, Wooster, Oberlin, New London, and Shelby, J for some twenty years, during the same time conducting j a livery business at Ashland, at which he is still engaged, j He was married in 184910 Catharine Stentz, of Ashland | county, and has raised a family of seven children, all of j whom are living. They are Mary, Hattie, Nellie, Jennie, Will, Burr, and -Addison. Two are married - Hattie, who lives in Texas, and Mary, who lives in Illinois. Will is a telegraph operator.

Michael Miller. was born in Alsace, France, September 38, 1818, and came to this country in 1840, locating at Wooster, where he remained until 1846, i when he came to Ashland. For several years he followed ' the bakery and confectionery business, and in 1S53 built I ihe hotel known as the "Miller House v in Ashland, over j which he has since presided, with the exception of one ( year. In 1873 he was elected treasurer of Ashland j county, and held that office two terms. March 20, 1845, j he was married. His wife, Mrs. Susan Miller, was born | in -York county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1825. They have 'raised a family of four children, Hulbert, Charles, j Snyder, and Delia. Hulbert was a soldier in the reg- j ular army three years, and during that time contracted 1 rheumatism and was discharged. He never recovered j his health, and died from this disease. Charles is also 1 deceased.

Don F. Taylor, son of Judge John Taylor, was born July 6, 1849, in Green township, Ashland county. He obtained an education at Green town academy, and read law in 1S73 witli Andrew Stevenson of Mansfield, completing his studies with R. M. Campbell, of Ashland In 1875 he was admitted to the bar in Henry county, and soon after formed a partnership with Mr. Campbell, which continued about one year. . At the time he was admitted to the bar he was a candidate before the county convention for the office of prosecuting attorney, but did not secure the nomination. At the termination of his partnership with Mr. Campbell he went to Perrysville. where he had an office for a short time, but his father being elected probate judge of the county, he returned to Ashland and became probate clerk, which position he now fills. He was married to Normanda F. Robinson, and has a family of three children - May Belle, Don R., and an infant.

Robert W. Smith was born near Sudbury, Vermont, December 1, 1799, ar>d went with his parents, Elisha and Amy Smith, first to the State of New York, and afterward moved to Ohio about 1817 or 1818, first settling on the farm of Major Tyler in what is now Plain township. Wayne county, Ohio.

Elisha and Amy Smith were natives of the State of Massachusetts, and Asa Smith, father of Elisha, was in the French war and Revolution, at the battle of Bunker Hill, etc.

Robert AY. was the oldest son of a family of eleven children, and the first winter, on coming to Ohio, his father being sick, and unable to do anything, the care of the family and all the heavy labor fell upon him. During the first fall and winter he and his brother, Asa, a lad of fourteen, cut off, cleared, and fenced twenty acres of heavily timbered land, and also with a few neighbors' help, built and covered a double iog barn. About this time Elisha, his father, entered a quarter section in Mohican township, Ashland county, Ohio, some three miles from their home, and all extra time was improved to first build a hut where the men could cook and sleep while clearing, and building a cabin for the family to move into a few years later. This was the homestead to which the family moved, and where Elisha and Amy Smith lived and died; the first in January, in 1851. and the second in August, 1856.

Robert AY. Smith was married to Priscilla Hatch about January, 1823. She was a native of New York, born March 25, 1799, and died March 3, 1S37. The family consisted of eight children: A\ iibur R., Julia A., Elisha, Adeiia, Lydia., Asa, Edmund 1\, and Harriet Smith, all deceased, save Edmund P. Robert AW Smith's life was full of the hardships, privations and dangers of pinnocr life. At one time returning late to his hut w ilh provisions, and night ovcriaki\_ him, he was chased a long distance by a pack of hungry. wolves, and only escaped by throwing a ham of fresh pork to them as he sprang into the hut whirl) was opened and quickly > Insod i>\ a comrade inside. He was full of energy, and amongst his first successful enterprises, was buying cattle and oxen, and driving them to Detroit, Michigan, to sell, passing through "Black Swamp" where there were twenty miles without a habitation, and often compelled to return to his starting point at night for accommodations for himself and horse. In later years his son, 1 Edmund P., often accompanied him to Michigan to j buy cattle to bring home to graze and fatten on his : farms. Pie bought horses, and travelled them to New j York city to sell, and sold dry goods in the town of j Mohicanvulle. i he latter business proved very unprof- : stable, but he died worth a handsome competence, 1 leaving a name of stainless integrity to community, and a sacred memory of unfailing tenderness and affection ; for his family and friends. He died fuiy 16, 1 86 a. About 1844 he married a worthy and estimable inch', j Mrs. Isabella Cliffe, a native of Scotland, who still sur- 1 vives at the ripe age of eighty years. She passes her de- 1 dining years with her son, Dr. D. B. Cliffe, of Franklin, Tennessee, a very prominent physician, and noted dur- ! ing the civil war for his unwavering devotion to the ! Union.

Judge Tuli.y C. Bushnell was born in Vermillion I township, Ashland county, May 5. 1826. His grand- j father, Sterling G. Bushnell, was one of the early j pioneers of this county; a sketch of his life will be found j in another part of this work. His father, Collins Bush- ! lie!!, lived in Vermillion township during his life. In i 1832 or 1833 business called him to New Orleans, where | the cholera was raging; he was attacked by the disease, j and died at Fort Adams on his return trip. Collins j Bushnell 'eft a widow, Eliza Potts Busline!!, who after- I ward married Mr. Janette Purdy, and died in 1S42. She | was the mother of three children by her first husband; I T idly Ck, Sterling G., and Collins W.

Judge 'Fully C. Bushnell obtained an education at the ! old Ashland academy, under the instruction of Lorin j Andrews, and before reaching his majority in 1846, en- J gaged in the mercantile business, which he followed until . ! the breaking out of the war. In August, iS5i, he en- | tcred the service as captain of company C, Forty -second i Ohio volunteer infantry, General Garfiek :s regiment. He was also largely instrumental in recruiting company 11 of the same regiment. He was in the service fifteen months, and in the Cumberland Gap campaign planted the first flag on the enemy's works. He was in several ' engagements, and was specially mentioned by the commanding general, George W. Morgan, for gallant conduct in resisting the attack ol General Stevenson's division for two hours, with but forty men under his command. On ! account of disability lie was discharged from the service, and returned to his home in Ashland, where he was con- ' fined to the house for nine months. After his recovery lie entered the quartermasters department at Nashville, as chief clerk, and remained at that post some six month;. In November, r o 6 6 , he was .appointed b\ Governor Cox to lilt the unexpirod term of fudge Ing maud, as probate judge ol tire county, and was after ( wards looted to hll the balance of the short term, and one full term of three years, on tire Repubhca.i ticke., in a strong Democratic county. Since the expiration of his term in the probate office he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits and tire produce business, aiui at present, attends to the wool trade. He was maur.ee P.nuan 4, 1848, to Nancy C. Willson, and has raised a family of five children - 080 son and four daughters. The eldest, Allic \V., married S. D. Willson ; Frank T. C. married Miss Oilie Corbus; Garie married Daniel Smith; Emma Grace and Nettie Maud remain at home.

Chaus i:s Hoy, sic, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Stark county, Ohio, some time prior to the war of 1812, in which lie served as a soldier three months. In May, 1S17, he came to Jackson township, then in Wayne county, in company with John Mason, and located on section two, in the forest. His family consisted of his wife and son Joseph, then a child, now of New Orleans, Louisiana. The first set tiers in the township who had preceded him were: Isaac Lyons, John Jackson, Daniel and John Davault, and Noah Long, with their families. Of these, Noah Long is believed to have located as early as 1816. These pioneers are al! deceased. In 1S19 Mr. Hoy purchased a quarter in section twenty-seven, upon which he raised a cabin. It was built in the winter and had at first a ground floor, and was not daubed with clay. A tent was put up within the building to protect Mrs. Hoy arid the children from the cold. Mr. Hoy felled a large tree out of which he split and prepared puncheons for a floor. Mrs. Hoy assisted him in conveying them to their place in the cabin. These were hard times, yet Mr. Hoy often staled that they were the most agreeable of his life. Tire settlers for many miles around willingly assisted each other in raising cabins, roiling logs, and clearing fields for culture. At this time tire forests abounded in game of every kind, and the Delaware and Wyandot Indians often camped and hunted alt around him. They were, at that time, a harmless people, and never disturbed him or his property; in fact were honest and trusty as neighbors. Mr. Hoy was a full cousin of Adam and Andrew Poe, and was a stout, vigorous man. His weight was about two hundred pounds, and his height about six feet: hence, he feared no man, 1 . d or white, in a peisonal contest, though always noted as a man of peace. In 1S21 he was elected a justice of the peace, but declined to serve, not desiring to fill any office, though eminently qualified. He was ambitious only to be a successful farmer. He cleared and improved his fine .homestead and engaged largely in improving and raising fine stock, at which he was very successful. T 1 is home farm was valuable and handsomely located, and the toil thus spent on it rendered him comfortable and independent is old age approached. In the fall of 1S67 he visited friends in the State of Illinois, and while there he became suddenly ill, and deceased aged seventy eight years. Hi-, remains were brought to Ashlar 1 and deposited in the cemetery, where they now repose. His family coa.Tvd of Joseph, of New Orleans; Chailes, of Coshocton ; Dawson, of Jackson township; Mrs. F. Ik Smith, of Ashland, and Mrs. Rachel, wife of Rev. I yens Mrs.

Mary Hoy survived until August, 1871, when she died aged seventy-seven years, and was buried in the cemetery at Ashland, beside her esteemed husband.

Daniel Folk, the subject of this sketch, was born in Crawford county, Ohio, March 6, 1S45. When about ten years old, his parents removed to this (Ashland) county, where he has since resided. He was married February 20, 18667 to Miss Virginia I., daughter of Captain W. A. G. Emerson, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. Folk's occupation is that of saddle and harness making, having been engaged at that ' business for the past fourteen or fifteen years, and he is considered by all to be a very proficient workman in all i the different branches pertaining to the trade. For the ; past few years he has been foreman for the firm of J. \V. ; Davis, at Ashland.

Jacoii P. Cowan, M. D., was born of Scotch-Irish parents, in the village -of Florence, Washington county, -; Pennsylvania, March 20, 1823. He attended the schools of that place until thirteen years of age, when he re- ; moved with his parents to Steubenville, Ohio, in 1835, and ; was engaged in manufacturing until 1S43, when he com- j menced the study of medicine and removed to Jeromeville, Ashland county, Ohio, in 1S46, and engaged in the practice of his profession ; attended lectures and graduated at Starling Medical college, in Columbus; was elected a member of the State legislature in 1855, and re-elected in 1S57. At the expiration of his term in 1S59, he removed to Ashland and engaged in the practice of ivs profession. In 1874 he was nominated and elected to Congress from the Fourteenth district, composed of the counties of Ashland, Holmes, Richland, Wyandot, and Crawford. While a member, he served on several standing committees and was chairman of the committee on militia. The doctor was married in June, 1846, to Miss Mary J. Hooker, of West Virginia. He has had, by this union, nine children: Randolph and Darwun S.; Dr. Frank, of Jeromevillc; Samantha (Mrs. Dr. Benjamin Myers), William F.; Lucy and Edgar; Harry and Emma. Of these, Mrs. Myers, Harry and Emma, Randolph and Darwin Stanton, are deceased. In political opinion the doctor is a Democrat. At present he is the senior member of the medical firm of Cowan & Myers, of Ashland, Ohio.