Morgan County, Ohio - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1886

Biographical sketches

Forster Edwards was born in Manchester, Mass., in 1793. During the war of 1812, for prudential reasons, his father removed his family to the State of Maine. Here young Forster remained until about 1816, when, learning of the fertility of the " Ohio Country," and of the advantages to be secured by settlement, lie determined to visit the new Eldorado, which he did in the autumn of that year. While crossing the mountains he had an adventure with a robber who tried to waylay him with a stone. Mr. Edwards being armed, the robber was repulsed, and he continued his way unmolested. He was favorably impressed with the new country and selected the northeast quarter of Section 10 as his future home. Making a brief visit to his old home, he returned the following year and commenced the improvement of his property. August 15, 1819, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas Rees, one of the early settlers of Muskingum County. Both were residents of the township until their deaths - the former in 1871, the latter in 1885. They reared a family of three daughters - Mary J., Hannah and Susan E. Mary J. became Mrs. James Southard, Hannah married Thomas Holcomb, and Susan B., James Cunningham. Mr. Edwards was a man of strong religious convictions. lie identified himself with the Protestant Methodist Church, and for many years he was a minister of that faith.

William Massey

The genealogy of the Massey family in America dates back to the advent of William Penn, at which time the first of the name is supposed to have come from England. Levi, the father of William Massey, was born in Chester County, near Philadelphia, and learned the saddler's trade, which he followed as his principal occupation through life. He married Catherine Evason, who was of Welsh descent, but born near Philadelphia. Seven children were born of this union - George, Thomas, John, Mary, Sarah (Baker), Phebe (Mellon) and William. The parents were members of the Society of Friends and the children were reared in the faith of that society.

William Massey was not only one of the pioneers, hut also one of the best known citizens of Morgan County, lie was born in Chester County, Pa., Nov. 28, 1785. lie learned his father's trade and pursued it until nearly twenty years of age. He then engaged for a time in mercantile pursuits. But tailing health warned him that he needed employment which would give him more exercise in the open air, and he wisely decided to become a farmer. As the field of his future labors, he looked to the new and remote West, and decided upon locating in the " ( Him Country." Sending on his goods by wagon, he came on horseback, and in the year 1816 arrived in Deerfield Township, Morgan County, where he entered three quarter-sections of land. He at once entered upon the work of the pioneer settler, erected his cabin and began his dealing on the farm now owned by William Kent. The following winter he taught school, having pupils who came from far and near, some of them residing as far away as Triadelphia. Working earnestly at bis clearing, he made considerable progress, and each season saw his fields extending wider. January 14, 1819, he married Miss Sarah Gay. She was born in the State of Maine and came to Ohio in 1813, settling at Brownsville, Muskingum County. William Massey and wife led the quiet, uneventful life of pioneer settlers, bravely doing their duty, though oft encountering hardships, but, ou the whole, prospering reasonably well. They had seven children : Levi, Nancy, Mary, Asa, John. Caroline and Sally. Levi married first. Harriet Stanberv ; second, A bio-ail Cope; he resides in Malta Township. Nancy died at nine years of age. Mary is the wife of Joseph Nixon and resides in Deerfield Township. Asa was in the army and died at Lake Providence. He married Abigail Cra wford. John married Mary Crawford and lives in Deerfield Township. Caroline (Vest) resides in Worthington. Ohio. Sally (('ope) is dead. Mrs.

Massey died Nov. 3, 1853. She was reared in the Society of Friends, but early united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and continued a consistent member of that denomination through life. Her husband, though reared in the faith of the Friends, did not publicly connect himself with any church until after her decease. He then joined the Friends, and during the last twenty years of his life he was a faithful and active member of the Hopewell Meeting. He was one of the early temperance workers of the county, taking a prominent part in the Washingtonian movement. As is attested by his success in life, William Massey was a man of systematic and methodical habits. He was charitable and always ready to assist the deserving. He was hospitable and generous in his treatment of strangers, and jovial, good-natured and courteous toward all. His mind was strong and active, and he was unusually well-informed upon matters of current interest. He was a republican in politics and was always warmly interested in the success and welfare of his party. The last five years of his life were spent in Malta, where, on the 5th of October, 1876, at the age of ninety-one, his earthly journey ceased.

Hugh Nixon was born in Ireland about the year 1785, whence he came with his parents at about ten years of age, locating in Pennsylvania. Thence he removed to Ohio County, Va., where he married Miss Rachel Wood. They had six children, two of whom, Robert and Eliza Ann, were born in Morgan County. Their names were Frances Shutt (dead); Ann Jane (Hopkins) resides in Deerfield Township; Joseph W. resides in Deerfield ; John resides in Zanesville; Robert, in Wisconsin, and Eliza in Deerfield. Mr. Nixon served as justice of the peace in Deerfield Township nine years. He was a very prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from the time of his marriage.

He held several prominent positions in the church during his membership, which lasted during his lifetime. lie was a devout, sincere and consistent Christian. He died at fifty-nine years age.

Joseph W. Nixon was born in Ohio County, Va. (now West Virginia), August 9, 1811, where he resided until about eight years of age, coming with his parents into Deerfield Township in the year 1819. He married Miss Eliza Hopkins May 12, 1835. Three children were born of this union: James II. and John E., residents of Deerfield Township; William II. (dead).

Mrs. Nixon united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when only fifteen years of age, her future husband joining the same day. She lived a consistent Christian life until called to higher usefulness July 24, 1879. He married for his second wife Miss Mary Massey, daughter of the venerable pioneer, William Massey. Mr. Nixon being one of the pioneers, his education was necessarily limited, but by industry and perseverance he acquired a fair education, and we find him now in the evening of life well posted on current topics. By industry, honesty and frugality he has acquired a competency and is now enjoying the fruits of his labor. Mr. Nixon has been a stanch republican ever since the organization of that party. On all questions of public im- port lie has always been found on t lieside of right and justice. The nobler traits of character, such as generosity, magnanimity and Christian forbearance, are innate with him. He is generous almost to a fault, courteous toward strangers, and evinces the most cordial Christian forbearance toward those who cherish opinions different from his own.