Kenton, Ohio

JACOB FOBBING, manufacturer, Kenton, was born near Fort Wayne, Ind., September 19, 1841. He lived in his birthplace until the breakingout of the war, when, in September, 1881, he enlisted in Company E, Tliirtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He enlisted as Sergeant and seiwed three years, participating in the engagements at Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh, Triune, Stone River and Chickamauga, in which latter battle he was wounded and confined for six weeks in a hospital at Nashville, Tenn. After a furlough of sixty days, he rejoined his troops and was in the battles of Chattanooga, Atlanta, Resaca and all the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. Returning to Indiana, he followed his trade of carpenter and builder in Fort Wayne, coming to Ada, Ohio, in 1869. The same year he became associated with the Young Brothers in the scroll and lumber business, the firm dissolving in 1873, after which he came to Kenton and built a mill, carrying it on in partnership with his brother Peter for three years. The building was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Forbing then erected his present mill, in which he has since been successfully engaged. He employs on an average a force of twenty men, the work all being sawed from black walnut, for chair stock, and shipped wholly to the Eastern markets. Mr. Forbing was married in Fort Wayne, Ind. , February 14, 1865, to Miss Anna M., daughter of George J. find Anna M. Young. She was born in Allen County, Ind., and has reared a family of six children, viz. : Irvin, Cecilia, Earl B, A., Guy, John W. and Leo V. Mr. Forbing has also an adopted daughter, Addie. The family belong to the Catholic Church. Mr. Forbing has filled the office of City Councilman for two terms, and is one of the progressive citizens of Kenton, thoroughly identified with the interests of Hardin County.

Passage source: The History of Hardin County, Ohio, published 1883.

E. K. GEAVELL, carriage manufacturer, Kenton, was born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, in 1848. He is a son of Thomas and Mary (Keyes) Gravell (both deceased), natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in 1842, settling in Upper Sandusky. In 1864, when fifteen years of age, our subject enlisted in the ranks of the Union army as private in Company A, One Hundred and Forty- fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the four months' service. Serving this call, he again enlisted in Company I, of the One Hundred and Ninety-first Eegiment, serving to the close of the war. He participated only in the engagement at Perry vi lie, the regiment prefer-, ring detailed service most of the time. At the close of the war, our subject learned the trade of blacksmith. In 1871, he established business in Kenton, under the firm name of Schrader & Gravel 1, and was located on the corner of Ohio and Maine streets. This firm built up a large trade, and were the most extensive manufacturers of light work, but were obliged to succumb to the hard times of ' 1874, when they dissolved. Mr. Gravell, by dint of energy and perseverance, rented a fire of Magoy and began ironing some work, commencing at the forge himself. His brother O. E. came to Kenton at this time and assisted him in his work, soon becoming proprietor of a new establishment, our subject continuing in work for him. O. E. Gravell subsequently removed to Bucyrus, and E. K. Gravell succeeded him in the business. He occupied his present premises in 1875, which was then an old livery stable, occupying one -half of the present building, which was erected in 1880. The building is two stories high, the upper floor being used for painting and trimming. Here he carefully superintends all the work, and is making a specialty of spring wagons. In 1876, Mr. Gravell was married to Miss Letty Einehart, a native of Hardin County, and who died in 1878, after one year and a half of wedded life. She was a daughter of Adam E. Einehart, who was a pioneer of Hardin County. Mr. Gravell chose for his second wife Miss Jennie Maddux, to whom he was married June 6, 1883. She is a native of Upper Sandusky, Ohio, and only child of the late Henry Maddux, who, in his lifetime, was a prominent attorney of Upper Sandusky, and one of the most substantial business men of that State. Mr. Gravell is among the active business men of Kenton.

Passage source: The History of Hardin County, Ohio, published 1883.

JOHN McGUIGIN, liveryman, Kenton, was born in Goshen Township, Hardin County, Ohio, May 20, 1837. He is the oldest and only living son of Edward and Ellen (Tally) McGuigin, natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, who emigrated to Hardin County in July of 1834, settling in Goshen Township. Edward McGuigin entered 160 acres of land, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1864. He was among the early pioneers of the county. He had two sons, our subject and Edward. The latter died in 1863. Mrs. McGuigin died in 1849. The subject of this sketch was reared on the homestead, where he lived until 1875, when he sold the place and removed to Kenton. He is proprietor of the livery stable purchased from Mr. Vance, whom he succeeded in the spring of 1883. He was married in this county in 1873 to Miss Mollie A. Toner, a native of Goshen Township and a daughter of Michael and Mary Toner, pioneers of this county. To this union has been born one child - Ellen M. Mr. McGuigin is a member of the Catholic Church of Kenton, and is one of the oldest citizens here.

Passage source: The History of Hardin County, Ohio, published 1883.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Pleasant Township - it names this place 69 more 69 times.