Dudley Township (part 3 of 3)

DAVID OBENOUR, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Stark Coun- |i ty, Ohio, December 2, 1826. His parents, Harmon and Christina (Acre) if| Obenour, both natives of Pennsylvania, came to Ohio about the year j: 1820, and settled in Hardin County in the fall of 1837. Our subject was ij. married, February 10, 1848, to Hannah Clapham, born in England, Decern- 1. ber 13, 1827, and a daughter of William and Sarah Clapham, of Yorkshire, | England. Her father was born about the year 1793, and was married to Sarah Powell in 1826. They came to America in 1830, settled in Marion County, ij Ohio, and subsequently located in Hardin County, where they have since remained. When first living in Hardin County, they passed months with- i out seeing a white person outside of their own family. Mr. Clapham's j, family consisted of nine children, eight living, two of whom are natives of f England. Mr, and Mrs. Obenour have six children, viz., Melodia Ann, t wife of John M. Reid, residents of Brown County, Kan. ; William Harmon, jj married to Maria M. Darst, of Washington Township; George Washington, |l of Washington Township; Sarah Genevra, wife of Austin Wilbur Math- a ews, of Cessna Township; Robert Elmore, married to Eva Gertrude Gould, Cessna Township; and Minerva Estella. The latter is an intelligent and li accomplished young lady, who left home for Kansas August 2, 1876, and B taught in a normal school in Pardee; on July 2, 1879, she was in Minnesota, teaching in Howard, Wright County, and August 8, 1880, she engaged to teach in Morrill, Kan. She is now living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Obenour are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which the former has been a Steward for a considerable time. He is a member of the Grange, is Republican in politics, has held offices of trust, and for five years past has been serving as Infirmary *Direc tor.

JOSIAH OBENOXJR, farmer, P. O. North Washington, was born in Hardin County, Ohio, January 24, 1850. He is a son of Harmon and Elizabeth (Fultz) Obenour, both natives of Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was educated at the common schools of Hardin County. He has been a lifelong farmer and owns eighty acres of land on Section 4, Cessna Township. On November 20, 1873, he was married to Susan, a daughter of John G. and Susan (Neaunt) Smith, of Hardin County, Ohio. Two children have been born, Nora May, born in 1874; and Melvin Perry, born in 1876. Mr. 'Obenour and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Obenour is a Democrat in politics, and one of the present Trustees of Cessna Township. ^

WILLIAM BENJAMIN POOL, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Pennsylvania February 28, 1838. He is a son of George and Emily (Carroll) Pool, his father a native of Pennsylvania and of Welsh descent, and his mother from Delaware, of English ancestry. Our subject obtained a fair education from the common schools of Pennsylvania, and moved to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1854. On the 1st of December, 1863, he was married and Carrie Leito, Mr. Pool volunteered, September 4, 1864, in the One Hundred and Seventy- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving about ten months, and was in the battle at Nashville. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Pool is a Republican in politics, and has served his township as School Director and as Supervisor.

FRANKLIN JONAS POST, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 10, 1831, and is a son of Jonas and Lorain (Lindley) Post, both natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject came to Hardin County, Ohio, in 1853, and settled on Section 12, Cessna Township. During the war, he paid $220 for a substitate. On December 12, 1850, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Peter D. and Mary (Clutter) Jones, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter ot Pennsylvania. Three children were born, viz., John Andrew, born September 20, 1855; George E. Wallace, born November 21, 1863; and Mary Elmina, born April 20, 1866, died August 18, 1866. Mr. Post lost his wife August 9, 1866, and still remains a widower. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics, Mr. Post is a Democrat, and has filled the offices of School Director and Supervisor for several years. His well-kept farm shows his energy and enterprise.

WILLIAM A. REED, farmer and carpenter, P. 0. Kenton, was born in Ross County, Ohio, January 3, 1845, and is a son of Alexander and Eliza (Bowdle) Reed. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Ohio. Our subject was educated at the common schools of Ohio, reared on a farm and learned the trade of a carpenter, at which he sometimes works, but is chiefiy employed iu farming. He came to Hardin (ffiunty in 1866, and married, February 15, 1870, Lucinda, a daughter of Asa and Nancy Cooney, and a native of Champaign County, Ohio. They have but one child, Leona. Mr. Reed volunteered in the One Hundred and Fifty- fifth Ohio National Guards, and served a hundred days' campaign in Virginia. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Reed was a member of the Patrons of Husbandry, which Grange is in a flourishing condition. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served as School Director.

SIMON ADIS REID, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, July 26, 1820. His father, Manly Reid, a native of Monmouth County, N. J., was a son of John and Charity (Manly) Reid. The latter was a daughter of John Manly, who was a Captain of the Minutemen of New Jersey during the Revolution, and whose family came originally from Holland. John Reid, the grandfather of our subject, was a son of John Reid, of England, and Margaret Miller, of Scotland. He was a soldier in the war of independence, and served part of the time as one of Washington's scouts. Manly Reid, the father of our subject, fought in the war of 1812, and about 1817 came to Ohio, where he was married in 1819 and settled down in Columbiana County. The subject of this sketch was raised on a farm, had a little common school education and by dint of hard study at nights, and the exercise of perseverance, he qualified himself to teach in after years. At the age of twenty-four years, he emigrated to the backwoods of Hardin County, to take a share in reducing her fertile lands to cultivation. On March 18, 1845, he was married to Eliza, daughter of John H. and Barbara (Bibler) Houser, born in Union County, Ohio, August 25, 1825. She came with her parents to Hardin County in 1828, Her parents were pioneers of Hardin County, and the first election was held at their residence on the Scioto River below Kenton. Mr. and Mrs. Reid had a family of nine children, viz., an infant, born December 23, 1845, died the day following; John Manly, born November 4, 1847, married to M. A., daughter of David aud Hannah Obenour, and now Principal in the Normal School at Morrill, Kan. ; George Houser, whose sketch is given elsewhere; an infant, born January, 1852, died same day; Mary Adelaide, born. October 6, 1854, wife of Peter J. Bryan, of Adams County, Ind. ; Charity Ann, born August 22, 1857, wife of John J. Macklin, of Hardin County, Ohio; Simon xidis, born June 19, 1861, at home; Emma Eliza, born August 26, 1864, at home; and Thomas Hiram, born March 15, 1869, died September, 1869. Mrs. Reid died April 4, 1869, and Mr. Reid remarried February 17, 1870. His second wife is Rebecca E., daughter of Allen and Mary (Bell) Deeper, a native of Richland County, Ohio, born October 9, 1818, and an emigrant to Plardin County in March of 1833. Her father was born in New Jersey, but removed with his father, James Deeper, to Pennsylvania at an early day. James Deeper returned to New Jersey for the rest of his plunder, and died, leaving his wife with a family of little children in a wild, new country. Mr. Deeper, while a small lad, while hunting cows one evening, was standing on a log to look for them, when he was shot in the arm by an Indian. He dropped off the log, taking to his heels, and made his escape. In the winter of 1844, and for four or five years following, our subject taught school in an old log house in District No. 1, Cessna Township. He and his wife are members of the Church of Christ, of which he has been Elder for twenty years. He is a Republican in politics and is now serving his third term as Justice of the Peace, his first two terms having been filled before the war. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-fifth Ohio National Guards, and served a campaign in Maryland and West Virginia, having previously enlisted in the Eighty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from which he was discharged for disability. Mr. Keid has always followed farming, and still resides on his farm of 160 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. Although sixty-two years of age, he is still robust and hearty, his even life and temperate habits having contributed to his good health. Eespected by all, he stands out a bold beacon light to the young, saying " Go thou and do likewise. "

GEOEGE HOUSE E EEID, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Hardin County, Ohio, December 31, 1849. (For his parentage see sketch of S. A. Eeid in this volume.) He was educated in the common schools and brought up to farming. He was married to Mary ^Elizabeth Bryan, born October 5, 1849, and a daughter of John and Flannah (Huey) Bryan, of Jay County, Ind. Her father was born in Allen County and was one of the first settlers of Jay County, Ind.; her grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, and also a pioneer of J ay County. Both of her parents helped to give decent burial to the soldiers' bones collected around Fort Eecovery. Mr. Eeid and his wife are the parents of tw'o children - Lewis Eugene, born September 13, 1875, and Eva Loraine, born October 27, 1877. Mr. Eeid is still young and occupied in farming, but so afflicted with rheumatism that he is often unable to do a good day's work.

GEOEGE D. EOBEETS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born February 6, 1847, and is a son of John and Ann (Mahan) Eoberts. His father was. born October 17, 1817, in Virginia and came to Carroll County, Ohio, in

1828, and was one of the pioneers of that county. He was a member of the Church of Christ, and died September 30, 1882, after a life of service to God and his fellow-men. Our subject was married, August 30, 1873, to Miss Eva Thorpe, born April 1, 1854, daughter of Milo and Mary (McCord) Thorp, of Sandusky County, Ohio. Mr. Eoberts was educated at the common school of the county, and he and his wife are members of the Church of Christ. Thej/ have four children - Myrbie B., born July 15, 1874; Eddie, born January. 25, 1876; Clarence Emmet, born April 20, 1878; and George Elgin, born June 16, 1883. Mr. Eoberts follows farming for an occupation, and owns eighty acres of land. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as Trustee of his township. He is a man of sterling worth and reliable character, well worthy of the estimation in which he is held by the community where he resides.

ELLIS SAMS, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born in Brown County, Ohio, May 30, 1827. His mother, Elizabeth Gatts, was a daughter of Martin and Sarah Gatts, of German descent, who came to Brown County, Ohio, at an early day. ' Her father owned a mill and three farms near Newhope, and was Justice of the Peace in his township for several years. Our subject's father was Levi Sams, born September 6, 1798, died May 9, 1855; his mother was born October 12, 1800, died January 10, 1870. They were married August 3, 1825. Our subject was united in marriage, April 9, 1850, to Delilah Hendriexson, born in Brown County, Ohio, March 19,

1829, and a daughter of George and Alley (Courcs) Hendriexson. Her father was born January 31, 1803, died September 23, 1854; her mother was born January 13, 1801, died September 6, 1854; they are buried on the homestead in Scott Township, Brown County, Oliio. George Hendriexson was a Methodist Episcopal exhorter and class leader, a pattern of Christian piety, and was respected and beloved by all. He served several years as Justice of the Peace of his township. Mr. Sams and his wife have had nine children, as follows; Eliza Jane, born March 9, 1851, married to Wilson Cole September 22, 1870, .by whom she has had four children;

Sarah Elizabeth, born April 14, 1852, died February 20, 1853; "William Levi, born July 25, 1853, married to Emma Bell Draper, March 15, 1876; Emeline, born January 23, 1855, married INIarch 11, 1873, to Samuel Strahm; George Farris, born July 27, 1857, married October 5, 1880, to Mary Martin; Melissa, born May 29, 1859, married October 7, 1880, to David C. Hively; John Alonza, born March 24. 1861; Charles, born January 31, 1863; and Francis Marion, born December 11, 1867. Mr. Sams and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Sams is an old-fashioned Jackson Democrat, has served as Justice of the Peace of Cessna Township, and has also filled several minor offices.

JOHN SCHWEMMER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, is a native of Germany, born in the year 1820, and is a son of George and Christine (Steve) Schweminer. His parents emigrated to America in 1842. Our subject married, in 1855, Mary Eliza Wedertz, a native of Germany, who came to America when about twenty years of age. They have eight children, viz., Mary Eliza, born January 12, 1857, and wife of Michael Bush, of Kenton; Wilhelmina, born February 19, 1859, wife of George Henry, of Kenton; William Oscar, born January 7, 1861; John Noah, born May 13, 1863; Charlie Ellsworth, born November 13, 1866; Andrew J., born April 25, 1870, and Caroline, born April 25, 1872. Mrs. Schwemmer died March 14, 1874. At the time of the rebellion, Mr. Schwemmer was drafted in 1864, but hired a substitute. He belongs to the Lutheran Church. tie a fine farm of 105 acres of land, located on Section 11, Cessna Township.

MICHAEL STEINER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, is a native of Germany, born in 1828, and is a son of George and Margaret Steiner. He emigrated with his parents from his native country in 1846, and was fifty- two days on the voyage. He located in Holmes County, Ohio, and subsequently, in 1858, in Hardin County, where he has since remained. His education was obtained from the common schools of Germany, and by occupation he is a farmer. In 1859, the year following his arrival in Hardin County, Mr. Steiner was united in marriage to Elizabeth Metzger, born in 1831 in CO' lumbiana County, Ohio, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Metzger, of German descent. Eight children have resulted from this union, viz., John M., William F., Mary Eliza, Lucinda Emeline, Joseph Elmore, Aaron and Ames (twins), and Charles F. Mr. Steiner and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Steiner's brother, Enoch Metzger, was killed by a thresher in Hancock County, Ohio. Her father's and mother's death's were just one week apart; the former was aged seventy -five and the latter seventy-four years. George Steiner, the father of our subject, was born in 1796, is still living and resides in Hardin County.

GEORGE JOHN STEINER, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born June 1, 1830, in Germany, whence he emigrated in 1844, first locating in Holmes County, Ohio. In 1858, he moved to Hardin County, Ohio, where he owns a farm of eighty acres in a fine state of cultivation and with good farm buildings. He was married, October 4, 1860, to Julia Ann, widow of Robert Skates, and a daughter of August and Christena Guider. Mrs. Steiner was born in Columbus, November 9, 1835. Her father moved to Hardin County when she was six years old. Mrs. Steiner by her first husband had four children, all of whom died in infancy except one - Mary V. Skates, who is married to James W. Cessna, in Hardin County, but moved to Kansas in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Steiner have been blessed with five children, viz., Henry William, born November 9, 1861, at home; an ini'

I fant, deceased at the age of ten days; John Daniel, born August 26, 1865, i at home; Emma Lavinia, died at the age of five years and ten months; and ! Clarence Wilson, born May 13, 1875, at home. Mr. Steiner and his wife ure both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Steiner is a farmer and has a comfortable home with pleasant surroundings.

ASA WARD, P. O. Kenton, Hardin County, Ohio, was born in j Madison Township, Perry County, Ohio, October 25, 1815. He was married in 1845 to Louisa Gripe, third daughter of Henry and Margaret I Gripe, who emigrated to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1840. Has been a resideDt of Hardin County, Ohio, since 1865. He has six children as follows; John H., married to Mariah Shadly, deceased, and sub- ! sequently to Samantha Grubb; Lucy Margaret, wife of John Daniels,

! of Hardin County; Mary Minerva, deceased, wife of Gilman Houseworth; Sarah Ann, wife of Alexander Daniels, a resident of Cessna Township; Barbary Elizabeth, wife of Elisha Atha, of Allen County, Ohio; and ; David Edwin, at home. Mr. Ward is a fine type of the pioneer farmer;

, honest, intelligent and hospitable. He is very much respected by all that have his acquaintance, and has filled various positions of honor and trust.

JACOB WARMBROD, farmer, P. O. Kenton, is a native of Switzerland, born May 19, 1836, and is a son of John and Barbara Warmbrod. i He came with his parents to the United States in 1852 and settled in Har- ' din County, Ohio, in the same year. On October 2, 1863, he was married to Anna Mary Wagoner, a native of Switzerland, whence she emigrated I with her parents when about two years of age. The three children born to i them are Lee, born in 1866; Mary, and Laura. Mrs. Warmbrod departed ' this life in 1874, and in 1876 Mr. Warmbrod remarried, taking for his second wife Katy Fry, a native of Hardin County, Ohio. This union resulted in three children - Effie, Robert Ingersoll and Neddy. Mr. Warmbrod is an intelligent, energetic farmer, but takes no part either in political or church affairs.

JOHN ROBINSON WETHERILL, farmer, P. 0.' Kenton, was born in England March 19, 1809. His parents were William Peter and Ann (Fountain) Wetherill In 1821, our subject emigrated from England, land- } ing in New York, and the following year came to Ohio and located in Richland County, remaining there until 1839, when he settled in Hardin County. In 1834, he was married to Betsey Gloyd, of Richland County, Ohio, by whom he had thirteen children, viz., Rebecca F., wife of Henry Groves, both deceased; William P. , married to Martha Irwin, and residing in Allen County, Ohio; Adelaide, wife of J. L. B. Leatherman, and a resident of Allen County, Ohio; Amanda, wife of William Conner; Alexander, married to Lydia Ellen Heath, of Allen County; James G., married to Emily Donelson and living in Hardin County; Thomas F., married to Cordelia A. Rombeau, and resident of Paulding County, Ohio; Eulalia, at home; Harriet Ann, wife of John C. Durbin, of Hardin County; Sarah, wife of Milton Belford, of Allen County; Ira R., married to i Susan Latimer and residing in Allen County; John Franklin, married to Sally White, in Allen County; and Alice, wife of Granville Latimer, of Hardin County. Mrs. Wetherill died in 1865, and Mr. Wetherill subsequently married Phoeba, Ziegler, daughter of John Tankard, of England. Four of Mr. Wetherill' s sons served during the rebellion, James G. , in the Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; Alexander and Thomas, in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment; and William P., in the One Hundred and Eightieth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. Mr. Wotherill and his first wife were members of the j Methodist Episcopal Church, and his present wife of the Disciple Church, j

JOHN WILSON, farmer, P. O. Kenton, was born July 29, 1844, and is ! of Irish parentage, a son of James and Ann (Sutton) Wilson. He came to | Ohio in 1863, and, in the spring of 1869, settled on his present farm of i fifty acres, which he has since been occupied in cultivating. On May 22, j 1861, he enlisted in the New York Second Scott Life Guards, and served j to June of 1863. He took part in the following engagements: Bull Eun, |

Yorktown, Williamsburg, seven days before Richmond, Eredericksburg, ! Chancellorsville, second Bull Run, Chantilla, and at the last named battle he j was slightly wounded. The regiment had started out full and returned with j 138 men, and his company with only eighteen. He was awarded a silver medal | for meritorious conduct. On March 17, 1870, he was united in marriage to i Eliza Jane Bateson, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, by whom he had | four children. He and his wife are members of the Disciple Church. Mr. j Wilson is an F. & A. M. in good standing in Lodge No. 154, in Chapter No. j 119, and in Council No. 65, of Kenton.

OWEN PERRY WILSON, farmer, P. O. Ada, was born in Marion j Township, Hardin County, Ohio, May 3, 1853. He is a son of H. H. and | Mary J. (Cooney) Wilson, of Logan and Champaign Counties, Ohio, re- f spectively. Our 'subject was reared on a farm, educated at the common i schools and completed the scientific course of the Northwestern Ohio Nor- ^ mal School, June 11, 1875, the course including instruction at Mount Union | College, the years 1874 and 1875. Since then he has been teaching; was for five terms in the common schools of the county and one year in the ; Normal School at Ada. He was united in marriage, October 2, 1877, to | Mary Lindsey, born May 6, 1857, a daughter of James H. and Elon Lind- f sey, of Wyandot County, Ohio. They have one child, a son, who was born j March 29, 1880, died April 7, 1880. Mr. Wilson and his wife are mem- ; bers of tlie Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a Class Leader, j and where he has also served as Superintendent and teacher in the Sabbath ^ school. He and his wife visited the centennial of 1876, their trip includ- f ing Washington City and New York, returning via the Hudson River and l| Niagara Falls. Their wedding tour in 1877 included Niagara, with other j Eastern points of interest. \

WILLIAM H. ALLYN, farmer, P. O. Mount Victory, was born in : Litchfield County, Conn., April 4, 1817. His parents, Pelatiah and Amelia j Allyn, were natives of Connecticut, whence they moved in 1822, settling in I Portage County, Ohio, where they remained for the rest of their years. Mr. ; Allyn died about 1855, followed by his widow about 1866. The subject of \ this sketch was united in marriage, October 4, 1838, to Miss Sarah, daugh- j ter of Charles Slayton. She was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., De- | cember 21, 1819. To this union have been born eight children, five living, j viz., Amelia, Julia, Franklin, Mary and Walter. The three deceased are ^ Albin, Homer and Charles W. Mr. Allyn began life as a carpenter. Subsequently engaging in farming, he bought ninety-seven acres of land,.