Richland County Biographies: S-Z

Richland Co., Ohio

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Richland County Biographies: S-Z

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Sargent, Jacob -- Jacob Sargent was engaged for many years in the boot and shoe business [in Bellville]. He was the father of C.D. Sargent and Mrs. Florence Comin and Mrs. A.L. Cameron of Mansfield. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 28 May 1903, Vol. 11, No. 21]

Seymour, Charles Wolds -- Charles Wolds Seymour, was born 31 November 1860 at Crestline, Sandusky Twp., Richland County, Ohio, son of George Seymour (Born ZIMMER) and Christianna Merrill. George worked on the railroad from ca 1860 -1876. Charles had one brother named William Edwin Seymour, born 1864 at Crestline also, who worked in the grocery store of his paternal Uncle in law, Mr Blocker at Sandusky, Erie Co, Ohio and migrated to Pittsburgh, Kansas. George Seymour was born 1839 at Kent, Franklin twp, Portage County, Ohio son of Joseph Walter Zimmer born Steinhaus, Hess Darmstadt, Germany, and his wife he married 1837 Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, who was Francis Brick/Brisk/Frick/Frisk born in Germany. Joseph Walter and family moved to Peru and subsequently to Ridgefield twps, Huron County, Ohio. During the Civil War Joseph and George sold horses to the US Cavelry. Family lore says that while doing so George met Christianna and fell in love with her. George married Christianna about 1860 probably in Richland County where her mother Rachel Merrill resided but this is a guess. Sadly, Christianna's father, John Merrill born 1805 in Maryland, died 1848 and her mother Rachel Slusser Merrill, then residing in Mercer County, was forced to adopt her children out. Christianna as adopted by a LaPar family. Grandma said her father was a voyajour. By 1860 Christianna is married to George and Rachel had moved back to Bellville. When Charles was 4 years old his mother, Christianna Merrill Lapar Seymour, died April 1864. Christianna is buried in the St Joseph Roman Catholic Church Cemetery. According to the St Joseph's Church records, the lot of her burial is unknown. There is no gravestone there now. She was age 22 years old when she died. Charles went to live in Bellville with his maternal grandmother Rachel Merrill where he remained till about 1883. He is listed on the census as a newsboy for the railroad and with his father was on the Pacific Express train of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad during the tragic Ashtabula Bridge Disaster of 1876 where he suffered a broken arm and scar to his face (which my mom never noticed). Of the 159 passengers on the train, 92 died by drowning, fire and fatal injuries due to the bridge collapse, which was deemed by a special commission, due to the railroad. On 3 February 1884 Charles married Miss Lydia Kathryn Richards of Utica, Oneida County, New York. Lydia was the daughter of John Richards and his second wife Mrs. Mary (Jones) Jones of Utica, and a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Utica. The newlyweds moved to Plattsburgh, Clinton County, NY and raised a large family. Only three daughters survived the diphtheria, scarlet fever and small pox which killed 5 brothers and an infant sister. Charles was owner of a fine grocery catering business and Lydia owned a millinery store until about 1903 when they moved to Utica where Lydia opened a millinery store at 1025 Bleaker Street and Charles was a conductor for the railroad and a chief at the Utica State Hospital. The 6 deceased children of Lydia and Charles were re interred, from Plattsburgh, at Forest Hills Cemetery in Utica where their parents also lay in eternal rest. Lydia died 20 May 1924 and Charles died 30 December 1936. Their last residence was 1000 Churchill Avenue in Utica. Three surviving daughters were Mrs. (George) Marjorie Alice Smith of Utica, Mrs. Mary Dorothy Bond of Battlecreek, Michigan and Mrs. (Willard) Lillian Irene Doty of Cleveland, Ohio. Surviving sisters to Lydia were Mrs. (Leanzer) Alice Richards Sweet of Northville, Franklin County, NY. Submitted by Nancy.

Shaw, Esther (Pearce) -- Mrs. Esther Shaw was born in Columbiana County, this state, July 20, 1807, and came to Washington Township, Richland County, in the autumn of 1814, and is, no doubt, the only person living in Richland today whose continuous residence in the county dates back prior to 1815. Mrs. Shaw is familiarly called "Aunt Hetty". She makes her home with relatives at No. 129 North Mulberry Street, Mansfield, and is in excellent health for a lady of her age and the accuracy with which she narrates incidents of the past as well as her quotations of scripture show that her mind is unimpaired. The psalmist said that "the days of our age are three score years and ten", but some are so strong that they come to four score and even more, as "Aunt Hetty" has, for she has lived more than four score years and ten, being now in her 92d. year. The historical associations of Mrs. Shaw's life, and her family lineage and connections are most remarkable. Historically, she was born when Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States, and she came to Richland County when our country was engaged in the war with Great Britain, known as the war of 1812. A few months later the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent. There were no cables and telegraph lines then to carry the news through the sea and over the land with the rapidity of the lightning's flash, as it is carried now, and by the sail and stage means of communication in those days, the news of the signing of the treaty of peace on the 24th. of December, 1814, did not reach Washington for nearly two months, and in the meantime, General Jackson won his decisive battle over the British at New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815. Peace was not proclaimed until Feb. 18. The next morning (Sept. 20, 1814) after "Aunt Hetty" ate her first meal in Richland County, the "sleepers" of their unfinished log cabin being used as tables, Francis Scott Key gazed in the dawn's early light over the bay at Baltimore and saw that the American flag still waved over Fort McHenry, and in the inspiration of the occasion wrote that immortal ode -- the "Star Spangled Banner" -- which will ever be sung by the American people to voice the patriotic sentiments of their liberty-loving hearts. In 1814 when "Aunt Hetty" came to Richland County to make her home on a Washington Township farm, which is still in the possession of the (Pearce) family, Return Jonathan Meigs was governor of Ohio, and the total vote of the state was but 22,050, and now at the last general election (1897) it is 864,022. And Mansfield, which now boasts of a population of 20,000 people, was then a village of about 20 houses, principally log cabins. Mrs. Shaw is a daughter of Stephen and Mary (Kinney) Pearce, who came to Ohio from New Jersey, and were the parents of 10 children. Mrs. Pearce's mother's maiden name was Mary Williams, who was a lineal descendant, through the Webber family, of William, Prince of Orange, who when he saw his country assailed by enemies from without, and torn by internal dissensions, in high and inspiring language suggested a scheme, which, if accomplished, would have been the noblest subject for epic song to be found in the whole compass of the world's history. The Philippine Islands questions brings his words again to the mind, for, although under different circumstances and purposes, in the "fair isles of Asia" under the Southern Cross, there may spring up a new Columbia and the "schools of a more learned Leyden". Louis Kinney, Mrs. Shaw's grandfather, was the grandson of Louis the XIV, of France, who promoted the industries of his country, but whose desire for conquest and dreams of a French universal monarchy embroiled him in numerous wars; who annexed Alsace and Strausburg to France, won victories in wars with Spain and finally placed his grandson upon the Spanish throne. The Kinneys were prominent in the pioneer times of Richland County. Peter Kinney -- "Aunt Hetty's" uncle -- was the first judge of the common pleas court of the county. Another uncle -- John Kinney -- was a great trader among the Indians. Esther (Irvin) Ernsberger, a granddaughter of Judge Kinney -- owns the old family homestead, near Greentown. "Aunt Hetty" was married to Stephen Shaw, Aug. 23, 1847. Shaw was also a pioneer. He came to Richland County with Gen. Robert Crook's army in Oct., 1812, being then 19 years old. He was a nephew of Michael Beam, for whom Beam's block-house was named. Crook's army remained six weeks in Mansfield, encamped "on the east side of the public square in the woods". While piloting this army to Upper Sandusky, Jacob Newman, one of the founders of Mansfield, contracted a cold, resulting in his death the June following. Stephen Shaw died Feb. 12, 1883. Among the descendants and relatives of the Kinneys in the Black Fork valley, the names of Guthrie, Vanscoyac, Oliver, Tannehill, Davis, Oswalt, Miller, Jones, Irvin, Ernsberger and Glasco families are given, and among the old neighbors of the Pearce families in Washington Township were John Ford, David Stewart, Samuel Douglass, Thomas Pollock, Peter Altgeld, John Charles, Andy Hunter, Solomon Shoup, John M. Swigart, Peter Maglott, Simon Armstrong and Benjamin Dean. Among other noted products and importations, Richland County once had a modern Sampson, Christopher Burns by name, and he married a Miss Sarah Pearce, a cousin of "Aunt Hetty". Burns was over six feet in height and about 225 pounds in weight. While attending the brick-masons in building the Wiler House in 1828, Burns, it is said, performed extraordinary feats of agility and strength. According to a statement made by Judge Coffinberry and corroborated by the late Robert Cairns, Burns, after winning a foot-race, jumped over an iron rod, laid upon the heads of two men. Again, a number of strong men were testing their strength lifting at a wheel of a heavily-loaded six-horse wagon. Burns requested three men to stand on the hub and felloes of one of the hind wheels, which he easily lifted with their added weight. Upon another occasion he leaped over the top of a Pennsylvania covered wagon of the style used from hauling freight in those days. Aaron Kinney, deceased late of Seattle, Wash., was a son of John Kinney, the Indian trader. In his last visit to Ohio, in 1873, Aaron Kinney walked from Newville on the Mohawk Hill, hoping to find the cave containing the reputed treasures of the Mohawks, so frequently spoken of by his father. There is an Indian tradition of silver and lead-mines and salt springs along the forks of the Mohican. One of these salt springs, as stated by Kinney, flowed from under the Mohawk Hill, in Monroe Township, near the farm of the Rev. Grau, the financial agent of Wittenberg College. It is further stated that the Indians, ere they left Greentown, caused this spring to "sink", by the use of quick-silver, or some other means, and that all traces of it have ever since been lost. It is also stated that when the Indians were encamped on what is now the Cline farm, south of Shenandoah, they became short of lead, and that two of their number mounted their ponies and road up the Black fork and that they returned the same day with a quantity of lead in a crude state, but whether it had been stored away up by Ganges, or had been mined in that locality, was matter of conjecture among the white settlers. The Pearce settlement was known in the olden time as "The Beech", on account of the abundance of beech trees in that locality. The Pearce's were strong athletic men in their day, and at musters and other gatherings engaged freely in the sports of the occasions, which sometimes wound up in a rough manner, but the Pearce's did not object to that, for they generally held their own with the best of the crowd. Mrs. Shaw is a member of the Christian church and has the affectionate regards of a large circle of friends. -- A.J. Baughman. Submitted by Amy. [Semi-Weekly News (Mansfield): 23 August 1898, Vol. 14, No. 70]

Sheidley, Mrs. M.M. -- Mrs. M.M. Sheidley of Chicago Junction, the owner of the Hotel Sheidley, was born and reared at Bellville. Her son-in-law, Dr. Lydy, and her son, Jay W. Sheidley, also of Chicago Junction, formerly lived in Bellville. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 28 May 1903, Vol. 11, No. 21]

Sherman, Cecilia (Stewart) -- In my Saturday's communication, I gave a sketch of Sherman's home and improvements in Mansfield. After he shall have passed away he will become the property of the State. Present party differences will not be to his disadvantage. His long success and nearly even tone and quality through many occurrences, and the absence of any real scandals in his life, will probably hush dissent at his decease, and awaken attention to his general services. Even at the present it is wise to consider a man fairly who has been in many things the public servant and steward of us all. I have not said anything with reference to Senator Sherman's wife, a lady who has been unusually prudent and modest during her husband's long career, and, although known to his circle of intimate friends and constituents, has seldom been described in the newspapers. Everybody speaks of her as an excellent, capable and devoted woman, who, in the absence of children, has supplied a charity, counsel and assistance to the public man whose name she bears recognized by Mr. Sherman and all his family. Cecilia Sherman was the only daughter of Judge James Stewart and of his wife Margaret Lougheridge, to whom he was married in 1826. These names will at once be recognized as Scotch or Scotch-Irish. Mrs. Stewart lived only two years after her marriage, leaving this only child to her husband, who subsequently married Mary Mercer, a lady who lived to 1860, and survived her husband about two years. Judge Stewart was one of the ablest men by nature and grace ever seen in that part of Ohio. He was of an old Irish family, which came to Pennsylvania about twenty-five years before the American Revolution. He was born in York County, Pennsylvania, at a place called Chanceford. This old region of the country has been noted for its Scotch-Irish jurists and its staid, industrious German population. Judge Stewart's mother was named Jane Duncan. He was born at the beginning of the century, and first removed to New York State, where he lived in a log house. While still in his youth he came to Ohio, and taught in an academy, I think, at Mansfield, probably the first academy in the town. Mansfield must have been then a very small place, for it was started in 1809 by Jared Mansfield. Judge Stewart taught himself to read, and, it is said, could not read and write till he was a man. If such was a fact, no sign existed on his noble and intelligent countenance of any want of education or sense. A picture of him hangs in the Sherman family library, and in some of its characteristics so much resembles the late Judge Charles Sherman that I mistook it for him awhile. Mr. Stewart rose to high consideration in Mansfield, and in 1850 was put on the bench, where he sat six years amid great satisfaction, till he was beaten by Judge Geddes, the present Democratic Member of Congress, and he died two years after that. We may suppose that the young John Sherman had no sooner seen his way clear to a settlement in life than he attached himself to the interesting daughter of James Stewart, who at that time bade fair to be a man of property, and had a farm in the vicinity of Mansfield. His elevation to the bench was not of advantage to his worldly estate, and it is said that this property was embarrassed, and that John Sherman, in respect to his wife and her father, paid off the mortgages, and that it remains in the family. Mr. Sherman has considerable farm and town property in the Mansfield region, and he has uniformly given his attention to business so closely that he has little trouble in keeping up improvements and collecting his rents. The principal practice of his brother and law tutor was in making collections. John Sherman spent a good deal of his youth collecting money for the firm. Some of the people in Mansfield say that Mrs. Sherman, being the daughter of a lawyer and the wife of another, paid considerable attention to the forms and theory of law, and that she can draw a legal paper as accurately as her husband, and has often done so. She has the instinct of property and of husbandry well defined, and is amply capable of taking care of her husband's estate. She has been a mother to the children of other people, not only with the family of her husband, but to strangers, and the Senator and his wife have adopted at least two children and brought them up. Mr. Sherman's friends say that it would have been of advantage to his temperament and made him a more sociable man if his own children had been around his household. The Sherman family at large has been quite prolific as Ohio families of thrifty stock, but in this one instance there is no prosperity. John Sherman, however, has been attending to the needs of his brothers and sisters, and has been a general adviser and friend of them all. He may be called the old man of the family, having been a sort of overseer of all the rest. Indeed, he has been the architect of the whole family, particularly of his brothers. Charles Sherman owed his appointment as United States Judge to his brother John, and Tecumseh Sherman had not only been a business failure up to the beginning of the war, but when the war broke out he was of a disturbed and wavering mind, not on the subject of union or disunion, but he thought the Abolitionists as much as the disunionists were responsible for the hostilities, and that his brother, John Sherman, had been too much of an Abolitionist. I think it probable that letters were written about that time arraigning John Sherman for having departed from the Conservative Whig precepts of his father and friends and gone into the black Republican camp. John Sherman, however, believed that Tecumseh had ability, and after trying to secure him some place on the staff at Washington, got him the offer of a whole regiment, which was a great promotion for Sherman, who had never been above a First Lieutenant or Captain in the Regular Army, and had with avidity seized upon the offer of chief of a military academy in Louisiana. John Sherman's connections, brothers-in-law, &c., have also derived influence, and perhaps advantage, from his public promotions. In nearly all these cases the appointments of his people to place have been to the public advantage. The selection of General Sherman to be a Colonel; and his subsequent promotions, attest good discernment and have brought ample return to the United States. When General Sherman was notified of his appointment to a regiment he was merely President of a horse-car company in St. Louis, probably with a salary of $2,500 a year. His ambitious, determined and almost sleepless mind was just what was needed to be united with Grant's steady yet somewhat phlegmatic temperament. These two men early united their fortunes, and without any waste of affection have understood each other, co-operated without friction and closed the war out gloriously together. If John Sherman ever made mistakes in the appointment of any of his people to place they were far over compensated by the gift of General Sherman to the Government. The Sherman family of Ohio is a branch of the Connecticut Shermans, who are said to have come from Dedham, in Sussex County, England, and one of the earliest recorded is Sir Henry Sherman, of Yoxley. The first Sherman, Edmond, came to this country with the proverbial three sons, and settled in Massachusetts, at Watertown. Roger Sherman, the celebrated Connecticut Senator, was of this stock, a man who took position at home and at the Capitol for his distinctive good sense, as contrasted with the more courtly and showy qualities of the colonial gentry who about that time had given tone to the Senate. Roger Sherman had been a mechanic, a shoemaker, I think, and became a lawyer, and when he arrived in the Senate he was, perhaps, the first representative in it of the American mechanic, the grim, listening, criticizing business man, who had not been brought up as a shipping merchant, like Robert Morris, nor as a lawyer or planter, but as a craftsman accustomed to weigh his leather. Roger Sherman started the Senate in the line of its present business, looking out for the revenue, watchful over the trades and the prosperity of the country; and there is something of his stamp in John Sherman's countenance and work. Charles R. Sherman, the Senator's father, was a lawyer of Norwalk, Conn., and an office-holder there. His deputy-collector, it is said, robbed him, and he had to be sold out, and, therefore, came out to Ohio soon after his marriage, in 1810, to Mary Hoyt. His eldest son, it is believed, was born at Norwalk in 1811. Somewhat later, Mr. Sherman assisted to located fire lands in the northern part of the State to compensate the Connecticut towns which had been destroyed by the British in the second war with England. Settled in Ohio, at Lancaster, this young Connecticut mother produced children without intermission. When Judge Sherman died, at Lebanon, while holding Court, of an attack, it is said of Asiatic Cholera, he left eleven children with the smallest amount of money to provide for them, some say only $200 to $400. The oldest of these children was only sixteen, and the youngest was only six weeks old. John Sherman was the eighth child. The little frame house yet stands in Lancaster where the young mother, with a child at her breast and this formidable family around her, faced the world. Her husband had been regarded, however, as one of the most creditable men in the state, and had many friends at the Bar and among his prosperous neighbors. Consequently, Thomas Ewing, one of his friends, asked to have one of the children, and Tecumseh fell into his hands and so was sent to West Point and became the son-in-law of Mr. Ewing. Some of the girls, I think, were also sent to distant connections and friends and so married in other portions of the state. How few rich families have ever had the success that came out of this huddle of eleven poverty-stricken children in an Ohio town. But their father had really not left them poor; he had left them his name and the recollection of his character. He had been one of the Judges of the state, and in those early days a Judge in America stood as high as a Judge in the Pentateuch. His children seemed to become wards of the Bar. John Sherman at the ate of eight, was adopted by his father's cousin at the town of Mt. Vernon, which is but a few miles below Mansfield, in the same general valley. He remained at Mt. Vernon until 1831 and was sent back to Lancaster to school, the home of his childhood. At school he was a little sharp and testy and stood a good deal of flogging. His first occupation was to carry a rod in 1837 on the Muskingum Canal, an improvement work. This open-air occupation was a benefit to him, and though he had always been a thin man, he has never since been a sickly one. He was not presented with the fine round stomach and bodily gifts of his older brother Charles, and hence has always had entire possession of his head to work with, whereas if he had been a high-liver the blood which has propelled his brain might have been wanted in his stomach to assist digestion. It is a well-known law that when the stomach is full the blood goes there to assist assimilation, and those who eat frugally have more use for their brains. It was about 1840 that Mr. Sherman went to Mansfield to enter the law office of his brother Charles D., and be a lad of all work. He made up his mind to settle right there, and he has, therefore, lived in Mansfield within a few years of half a century. Considering this length of time to occupy one town and grow up with it, what is said against Sherman in Mansfield is extremely slight and thin. Some of his Democratic neighbors say that he is a cold man. That remark has been adopted over much of the country. In one sense it is true -- he is as frank a man in is momentary enjoyments and repulsions as can be found. His temper is without disguise. He has learned through a long public career, to keep still, though his disposition is generally to retort immediately in kind, and not to maintain vindictiveness. There has hardly ever been a case where one of his friends, encountering any particular hostility, could not count on John Sherman not only standing by the friend, but fighting the enemy.   Submitted by Amy. [MANSFIELD HERALD: 06 March 1884, Vol. 34, No. 16]

Sherman, Charles T. -- Brother of the Senator -- Charles T. Sherman was my father's friend and my father his friend, and so when it happened to me that my course of allotted study in college was ended, though meager it was, it was suggested by my father that I take up study in the office of his friend, Charles T. Sherman, and while Charles was in my father's eye I may as well confess that the junior partner of the firm of C.T. and J. Sherman was in my own. They were my preceptors. For three years and more I was associated with them as student and thereafter for some years in more close relationship. I ought to know Charles T. Sherman if close association, week in and week out, as the moons waxed and waned and the sun made annual cycles, enables one to know. But it is not of my personal attachment or individual estimate of his character and capabilities that you, dear SHIELD, would have me write. But the broader estimate, that which was thought of him in the wide field of his acquaintance in old Richland for the quarter of a century in which he was an active factor. As is quite well known by many, he was the eldest of the six sons of his father, Charles R. Sherman, whose birth place was in New England, but who came early to Ohio and settled at Lancaster, and from which the father traveled out on the circuit attending the courts of Ohio, east and west, north and south, of Lancaster. The father, Charles R. Sherman, was the contemporary of Ewing, Beecher, Hammond, Burnett, Pease, Peter Hitchcock, of the giants in the profession in the early years of Ohio's settlement, and his measure as man and lawyer was as full and complete as any as I have named. I have heard my father and others say that he was not only a great lawyer but also a marvelously eloquent man, superior in that regard to any of his gifted sons.  Under the constitution of 1802 the judiciary of Ohio was appointed and not elective by the people, as under our present constitution, and it was possible to have the best equipped men made judges. It is no reflection on the incumbents now of judicial places in Ohio. But then the Governor of Ohio appointed, and the Senate of Ohio confirmed, and if we consider the line of Supreme Judges of Ohio up to 1852 no one will gainsay the fact that each and all were able and eminent in the profession, and pure and spotless was the ermine, and broad and basic were their opinions, as enunciated on the circuit and in bane, and Charles R. Sherman when he reached the Supreme Bench was not an exception to the general rule and remark, but he died a young man while in the discharge of his duties on the circuit, and if I recollect right at Lebanon, Warren County. He was the father of Charles T. Sherman, of whom I write. The father, as I have before said, had six sons and also five daughters. How full was his quiver; and when he died he was poor in property; a little homestead in Lancaster. Nothing more was left for widow and sons and daughters. But he possessed friends in the persons of each and every lawyer of any standing throughout all Ohio. Charles T. was cared for by Henry S. Stoddart, of Montgomery County; William Tecumseh by Thomas Ewing; Sampson Parker by Charles Hammond; James by William J. Reese; and John and Hoyt, too young to immediately go out from under the roof three of their mother, remained with her awhile. Then John went with Samuel R. Curtis, the engineer of the Muskingum River improvement, and later both came to Mansfield, where Charles had established himself. Of the daughters, one was the wife of a Supreme Judge of Ohio. One may readily see what manner of man Charles T. Sherman was when we consider heredity; as easily as we see what manner of men were and are his more distinguished brothers, Wm. T. and John. Charles T. was educated at the Ohio University, located at Athens. His early advantages were therefore good. But what of him as a lawyer? What of him as a judge? He was well grounded in the principles of the law, and was a safe, wise and able counselor. An advocate, he was not. A certain timidity restrained him; if he had conquered that he might have been very strong as a trial lawyer. His was a fine form, and as he advanced in years he became somewhat portly. His mental faculties were very active, and he could and did endure much and prolonged work. He, like Jacob Brinkerhoff, in the early years, took a prominent part in the government and management of the local affairs of Mansfield. He was village recorder and mayor, but aside from such official places he had none other save that he was appointed and confirmed U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, and worthily and ably filled the place for nearly, if not quite ten years; resigning the same he did not long survive. He was a genial man, strongly attached to friends. One of his daughters is the wife of a U.S. Senator. Another, the wife of him who in a few years will command the Army of the Republic. A third is the wife of Colgate Hoyt, an eminent citizen of New York, and his eldest son, Henry S. Sherman, was my pupil, even as I had been his father's. He, the son, stood high at the Cleveland bar, but death met him on the ocean's waves and conquered him as he was making his first trip to Europe. I write at some length of Charles T. Sherman. Save his brother John, I was nearer to him than to any of the illustrious men whose good names and great fame is part of the heritage of the sons and daughters of Richland. -- H.C.H. [Richland Shield & Banner: 08 September 1894, Vol. LXXVII, No. 17]

Sherman, John (external link)

Shults, Martin G. -- Martin G. Shults, son of Sanford Smith Shults, Sr., deceased, was born on the Shults farm in northeast Madison township, Richland county, in 1844. His early life was spent on the farm and in the immediate neighborhood, where he was known as an active, industrious boy of generous nature, open countenance and quick perception. Early in life he qualified himself for the responsible profession of teaching, in which he achieved more than ordinary success, having taught sixteen terms, mostly in the districts of his native township. He was four times elected township assessor on the Republican ticket over a party majority of sixty to eighty in favor of his competitor. As an evidence of his fidelity as an officer and his popularity with his countrymen, it may be said he was the only Republican ever elected to that office.   In early life he was exposed by his associations to more than the ordinary allurements and temptations to wrong, and while he did not always come out of the conflict unscathed, yet in the end he was victorious. About eight years he removed to a farm in Williams county, Ohio, where he died on the 8th. of June, 1890. He met the king of terrors in the full enjoyment of rationality and reason, and calmly and cheerfully submitted to his fate. With his last breath he bade good by to wife and daughter and in the next moment was in the spirit world. "Beyond the flight of time, Beyond the vale of death, There surely is some blessed clime Where life is not a breath." The funeral services were held at the old Shults home, where Rev. D.W. Smith delivered an instructive discourse on the ministry of sorrow, to an unusually large audience of friends and neighbors. S.N. Submitted by Amy. [MANSFIELD HERALD: 03 July 1890, Vol. 40, No. 33]

Shupe, Walter H. -- The late Walter H. Shupe built a steam grist mill at Rome and resided there for awhile. Mr. Shupe was prosecuting attorney of Richland County in 1854-55. He afterwards engaged in the newspaper business in New York City, and later instituted an order known as the "Son of Columbia" of which he became the president or "father" was their executive officer was called, and which led him to finally have hi named changed from Walter H. Shupe to "Father Columbia". He was talented but somewhat visionary. He died at Cleveland a few months ago. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 02 October 1903, Vol. 11, No. 39]

Sickinger, Grace -- Insanity papers have been filed in probate court against Grace Sickinger, who is thought to be insane. Action in the case has been deferred for the present as it is thought she may become all right again. [Semi-Weekly News: 01 December 1896]

Slocum, Willard -- A brief article appears in the 24 November 1894 issue of the Richland Shield & Banner regarding William Slocum and two other gentleman, under the title "Illustrious Dead". You may wish to obtain photocopies of this article from the Sherman Room at the Mansfield/Richland Co. Public Library for a modest fee.

Slough, Edwin G. - BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF EDWIN G. SLOUGH - Today is the birthday anniversary of Edwin G. Slough, who was born March 21, 1867, in Lancaster county, Pa. Mr. Slough has been engaged in the real estate business in Mansfield for a number of years and as secretary of the chamber of commerce for the past several years he has taken a decidedly active part in matters looking to the growth and advancement of the city. Earlier in life Mr. Slough was engaged for some time in newspaper work and conducted a newspaper in Galion for several years. During the time McKinley was governor Mr. Slough was in the adjutant general's office in Columbus, ranking captain. Submitted by Jean and Faye. [The Mansfield News, Page 4: Monday, March 21, 1910]

Smart, Louisa (Zody) -- Mrs. Louise Smart has been a lifelong resident of Monroe Township, and her relatives are among the well-to-do people of that part of the county. She is a member of the Richland Pioneer Association and takes an interest alike in the events of the present and the associations of the past. In about 1846 she was married to Perry Smart, who is now deceased. The Smart Farm is about a mile and a half north of Lucas, and there Mrs. Smart and her son, Harland, now live on the same old place, which had been the home of her husband's father. About four years ago their house was destroyed by fire, but a new dwelling soon arose Phoenix-like in its place. The Smart Farm is about a half mile from the old-time Gledhill Woolen factory. The main building still stands and is now used as a barn. Walter Gledhill operated this factory for a number of years quite successfully, but in 1870 removed the machinery and fixtures to Mansfield into what is now known as the Baltimore block, which he rebuilt and operated for some time. But a new page had been turned over in the book of the world's industries relegating the smaller factories to the past, leaving the field to the large establishments, which under the fostering care of trusts and combines occupy the field today. The Painter Woolen mills, a half mile east of Mansfield, the Lonsdale and France factory, on the Rockfork, below Lucas, the woolen mills at Newville, Watt's carding and fulling mills, near Hemlock Falls, the large woolen factory of Clapper & Orewiler, at the old town of Winchester, between Butler and Newville, the Frary mills, west of Bellville and others that might be named, all shared the same fate. This was not only true of woolen mills, but other industries were included in the same category and shared the same fate. The world moves and people must adjust themselves to the situations and times in which they live. Mrs. Smart's maiden name was Zody, and her father owned a fine farm on the road leading from Lucas to Perrysville, about midway between the Mohawk Hill and the latter place. Walnut Hall school house stands upon the southwest corner of the Zody farm. This school house deserves a passing notice, as Judge Wolfe and others, now residents of Mansfield, there received their primary education. In 1852--4 George W. Ridge taught at Walnut Hall. As a teacher, Ridge was a composite of the old and the new. In his teaching he used blackboards and outline maps and other improved methods of instruction which were not entirely approved of by many heads of families in those days, who considered that reading, writing and "figuring to the rule of three" were educational attainments sufficient for the ordinary business life. But while Ridge was considered new and modern in his modes of teaching, he was assertive in his manner and as a disciplinarian the government of his school was upon the lines of the old school master and he never spoiled a scholar by sparing the rod. In time the rod was succeeded by a leather strap and if it's marks cannot be traced upon the backs of some people today it is because time kindly heals all wounds. Mr. Ridge married one of his pupils, Miss Catharine Zody, a sister of Mrs. Smart, and an estimable lady of domestic taste. Mr. Ridge and wife followed Horace Greeley's advice to go west and located at Vinton, Ia., where they prospered. The next teacher at the Hall was George L. Reed, a half-brother of our J.M. Reed. But George long since gave up the rod of the pedagogue for the tripod of the sanctum, and is editing a newspaper out in Kansas. But the rod in Reed's case was only a figure of speech, for he governed by moral suasion. He was modest, gentle and persuasive, and as an instructor had but few equals. Like Ridge, Reed is a man of sterling worth and spotless character. Each did his duty as he saw it, and many of their old-time pupils acknowledge today the debt of gratitude they owe their former teachers. Mr. Reed married Mary Ellen Wigton, daughter of 'Squire William Wigton, one of the early settlers of Monroe Township, and one of its most respected citizens. Of the farms cornering at the Hall, that of Crawford's has been sub-divided and is now owned by Mr. Yarnell and Mr. Mowry, and that of Adam Wolfe by Gould Tucker. The Baughman farm passed into the hands of the Dome family, but the Zody farm has not changed ownership for many years. William Crawford, is pleasantly spending the autumn of his bachelor life at Perrysville. Mrs. Smart raised two sons -- Leander and Harland. The former is now deceased, but his daughter resides in Mansfield, and is the wife of Christian Baer, a son of the late ex-commissioner.   -- A.J. Baughman. Submitted by Amy. [Mansfield Semi-Weekly News: 06 September 1898, Vol. 14, No. 74]

Smiley, Jay -- JAY SMILEY -- The family of Mr. Smiley are of Scottish origin; his grandfather, Wm. Smiley, being born in Scotland, and emigrating to America in the first half of the last century, settling in the colony of New Hampshire. John Smiley was born in Jeffrey, N.H., August 21st., 1754, but removed in 1785 to Rutland Co., Vermont, where Jay Smiley, his twelfth child, was born, on the 4th. of October, 1794. Soon after this, in the same year, he moved to Augusta, Oneida Co., N.Y., where another child was born. Out of this large family of thirteen, all but one lived until years of maturity. In 1807 the family again removed to Jefferson County, N.Y., where the death of Mr. John Smiley occurred in March, 1813. The subject of our sketch remained at home until 1817, when he was twenty-two years of age, and then, in company with his brother David, he started out to seek his fortunes in the undeveloped western country. Their first stop was made in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, and their first engagement was made with William and George Reynolds, who lived in Mifflin Township, half a mile south of the present town of Windsor. Here David remained two years, and Jay three years and a half, during which time they purchased the S.W. quarter of Section 5, Township 22, Range 19, and in 1820 Jay bought out his brother's interest in the property. We next learn of Mr. Smiley returning on a visit to the old home in Jefferson County, N.Y., and there he was married on the 10th. of April, 1822, to Miss Dolly Johnson, of that county. In May of that same year they came out to Ohio, stopped in Stark County until November, 1823, then moved to Sharon Township, Richland County, and on the 1st. of January, 1824, they took possession of their new log cabin on section five, and on the 15th. of February following, their first child was born there. This place has been their home ever since. Here have been born to them seven children, four sons and three daughters, named in the order of their birth, Rosanna, Henry J., Sarah J., David, Louisa, Andress E. and John Jay, of whom two sons and two daughters are still living, in 1873. On the 11th. of May, 1873, Mrs. Smiley departed this life, in the 73d. year of her age, after more than half a century of wedded life, of joys and sorrows, of early privations and later competence. In the year 125, Mr. Smiley was elected Justice of the Peace, at the fifth election ever held in this township. He held this office six years at that time, and in 1848, being again elected, continued to serve for nine years. Among other acts of Mr. Smiley's official life, he reports the marriage by him of forty couples. He is passing his declining years in ease and comfort, upon the spot that first became his home at Shelby nearly fifty years ago. His powers of mind remain almost unimpaired, as is shown by his furnishing us, in his seventy-ninth year, the circumstances and the dates of this article with readiness and accuracy, entirely from memory. Henry J., the eldest son, was married November, 1856, to Miss Cordelia Craig, who died February, 1864, leaving him one daughter, Mary. He now resides in Marion County. Rosanna, the eldest daughter, was married in December, 1845, to George W. Moore, who was engaged in the drug business in Shelby for some years, and who died in August, 1858, leaving two sons, Albert and Wallace, who live in Shelby at the present writing, in 1873. His daughter, Louisa, was married October 22d., 1858, to Lemuel Fite, now living in Marion County, Ohio. Sarah J., the second daughter, died in the 23d. year of her age. She was educated at Berea, Ohio, and prepared in mind and heart for a sphere of usefulness. She is now remembered among her friends chiefly for the modest purity that adorned her daily life, and endeared her to all. David, the second son, was married to Miss Jennie Mickey, in September, 1855, and died April 8th., 1857. He was educated at Baldwin Institute, Berea, and at the Ohio Wesleyan University. In the Fall of 1856, he took a great interest in the political campaign, and his Republican friends availed themselves of his talents as a speaker, and put him forward in the canvass of the county. His exertions in this direction probably laid the foundation of the malady which attacked him shortly after, followed him through the Winter, and ended his life in the following Spring. His friends and enemies, in politics (for he had no enemies outside of politics), mourned his loss, as the taking off of the most promising young man in the community, and to this day he is named as the most talented of the sons of Shelby. John Jay, the fourth son, was married to Miss Amelia Tucker, December 2d., 1865, and they are now living on the old home place. The closing lines of this brief sketch we dedicate to the memory of one who gave his life to his country. Andress E. Smiley, third son of Jay Smiley, graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University in June, 1858. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company "I", 15th. Regiment Ohio Vols., and on the 24th. June, 1863, was killed at Liberty Gap, Tennessee, while acting as Lieutenant of Company "A", to which office he was appointed in April, 1863. His remains were brought home in March, 1864, and interred in the old cemetery. He was prepared by nature and education for a useful and honorable life; alas! he is numbered now among -- " * * * * The brave, "Who sink to rest, "By all their country's wishes blest."   Submitted by Amy. [ATLAS MAP OF RICHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. By A.T. Andreas. Chicago, Ill., 1873, p. 23]

Smith, Hiram R. -- Hiram R. Smith yesterday completed the eighty-first year of his life upon this mundane sphere, as was announced in Sunday's Shield. A short sketch of the life of the venerable gentleman who is hale and hearty and remarkably active for one of his years, will be of great interest to the Shield's many readers. Mr. Smith was born on a farm on the site of the present village of Huron, O., where his parents, Asa Smith and wife (nee Hannah Richmond) had located just before the war of 1812. In 1824 he came to Mansfield and lived with Hugh McFall, tending store mornings and evenings and going to school during the day. For fifteen years he lived with Mr. McFall as salesman of a general stock of goods and, during this time, he served as deputy postmaster for eight years and a half, doing all the business in the post office and, through his fidelity, economy and energy, succeeded in accumulating enough capital to warrant his engaging in the general merchandise business for himself. In 1839 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Ann C. Leiter, who died in this city, June 7, 1850, and who bore him the following children: Henry, born March 31, 1840, who enlisted in the army during the rebellion and died in Arkansas in 1862; Mary Felicia, born June 25, 1842, died July 20, 1876; Richmond, born December 14, 1844; Clara Ann, born February 8, 1848, died July 26, 1875. Mr. Smith's second marriage was to Ann Ward, May 16, 1854. Of this marriage, two children were born: Ward Smith, October 1, 1856, and Rena May, born August 8, 1860. Mr. Smith has always encouraged every public enterprise that would benefit the community, and has seen the growth of Mansfield from a village to the city of the present. The Shield wishes him many happy returns of the anniversary of his birth. Submitted by Amy. [Richland Shield & Banner: 13 January 1894, Vol. LXXVI, No. 35]

Smith, Hiram R. - HIRAM R. SMITH ENTERS NINETY-EIGHTH YEAR - This is the birthday anniversary of Hiram R. Smith, Mansfield's oldest resident, who now enters upon his ninety-eighth year, having been born in Huron, Erie county, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1813. He came to Mansfield in 1824 and has resided here ever since, having been prominently identified with the early history of the city. Mr. Smith is still able to get up street quite frequently and is remarkably active and spry, considering that in two years time he will enter his one hundredth year. Submitted by Jean and Faye. [The Mansfield News, Page 3: Friday, January 7, 1910]

Smith, Robert C. -- With them entered the lists Robert C. Smith, whom we laid away also only a few years ago. Smith was born in Pennsylvania, was educated at an academy where Caleb J. McNulty and Clement L. Vallandigham were early schooled. His father removed to Ashland when that village was still a part of old Richland. He came hither and also became a student of Judge Stewart and General Newman. He was very vigorous, and gave promise of great growth. His voice was powerful and I have heard Judge Stewart foretell for him a brilliant future. And I remember well, once when Mr. Delano was associated with him in the defense of one accused of crime, and accused wrongfully, a case in which both Delano and Smith made arguments to court and jury, that at the close of the trial Mr. Delano greatly complimented Smith on his conduct of the case and his brilliant rhetoric and forceful argument. That Smith had gifts, was not questioned; but he lacked method, both of study of life, and he despised the weakness of some who gain fame and fortune by fawning. Disuse of the gifts given him also caused him to lose confidence in himself. Robert C. Smith was a true friend, and was the soul of honor, yet his life was in a measure sad and less of a success than it might have been. He also at the outset of his career, was a member of the Democratic party, and left it when Kirkwood and Dr. Henderson did. When the war for the Union was waged, he became a soldier and served as a lieutenant in the 1st. Ohio Independent Battery. For a number of years he was connected with the Internal Revenue service, and was a faithful public officer. Submitted by Amy. [Richland Shield & Banner: 01 December 1894, Vol. LXXVII, No. 29]

Snyder, Kimble P. (external link)

Spaulding, Alma (Beverstock) -- Lexington. The venerable Mrs. Alma Spaulding recently attained the age of 79 years. Mrs. Spaulding, whose maiden name was Beverstock, was born in Vermont, among whose historic vernal hills she passed her girlhood days and later she lived in Lowell, Mass., and knew Gen. B.F. Butler, deceased, when he was a young barrister without brief or fame. For 42 years Mrs. Spaulding has given prestige to Lexington's social circles by her cultured presence. She taught school here in the correspondent's juvenile days and he has felt the impress of her wisdom, but never the impress of her rod. The correspondent was, the lady says, one of her good little boys and he regrets that he has not practiced the virtues which she so kindly inculcated in him. Time has not dimmed the bright radiance of her intellect and as a member of the Ladies' Literary Club her productions show that she possesses the bright perceptions, the happy flow of spirits of her pristine days. Submitted by Amy. [Mansfield Semi-Weekly News: 20 December 1898, Vol. 14, No. 104]

Spohn Family -- The Spohns are entitled to a family sketch, for they were early settlers, exemplary people and the founders of Butler. Martin Spohn, Sr., was a Pennsylvanian by birth. He was a Dunkard preacher, who according to the rules of his sect, worked for a livelihood instead of receiving a salary from his congregation. He located in Ohio in an early day and took what was called the "tomahawk right" to 160 acres of land. This "right" consisted in marking or "blazing" trees so as to encircle the land, for which after a specified time he was to pay the government a small price. His son, Daniel, was the founder of Butler. Martin Spohn, Jr., was born in Washington Co., Pa., in 1804, came to Ohio when young and resided in Worthington Twp. many years, dying at an advanced age. The elder Spohns wore the Dunkard garb and were hard-working, honorable men. Mrs. Sarah Bevington, of 486 West Fourth Street [Mansfield], is a daughter of Martin Spohn, and the maiden name of the widow of the late Joseph M. Manner was Spohn. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 04 June 1903, Vol. 11, No. 12]

Starkey, Sarah -- There seems to be a lot in a name, for who would recognize the girl called Sarah Starkey? However, "Peg" Starkey brings as many memories to almost all of us as a yard stick does to any freshman. "Peg" is an almost absolute example of the expression "Children should be seen and not heard". Her energy and "pep" are expressed in her hobbies, which are playing tennis and dancing. After finding out "Peg's" ambition, which is to go to Europe, one is very much opposed to Emerson's idea that "Traveling is a fool's paradise". "Peg" has been a member of Blue Tri (1) (2) (3), Latin Club (3) and General Music (1) (2). Submitted by Amy. [THE HYPHONERIAN: 08 October 1926, Vol. IX, No. 2]

Starr, M. -- Dr. M. Starr was a Butler Township boy, whose parents were pioneers in that part of the county. Dr. Starr began the practice of medicine in Shenandoah in 1851, and never changed location. He served as assistant surgeon of the 174th. O.V.I. in the civil war. He was always regarded as an able physician and a worthy citizen. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 02 October 1903, Vol. 11, No. 39]

Stelts, Abraham -- Last week, Abraham Stelts, aged about 84 years, split over 1,000 rails. One half of a large cut rolled back, when it opened, and caught him under it. He undertook to dig out with his hands, and succeeded very well, until he came to frozen ground. He then hallooed about twice at once, when two men came to his rescue and extricated him, when he deliberately went to his work and finished his job. "How's that for high?" Mr. Stelt's was a soldier in our last war with England, came to the site of Bellville in 1812, and has resided in the vicinity ever since; has probably done more hard, pioneer labor than other man now living in Jefferson Twp., and his physical strength and vigor, after his long and laborious life, is a subject of wonder. -- E. Submitted by Amy. [BELLVILLE DOLLAR WEEKLY: 11 April 1873, Vol. 2, No. 6]

Stevens, William -- Stevens was the brother-in-law and partner of Thomas W. Bartley; his wife the sister of our townsman, Mr. John C. Larwill. His first home in Mansfield was on the corner of Third and Water Streets (Adams newly named), in a dwelling house built by Adam Poe, one of the great preachers of northern Ohio. Selling that, Mr. Stevens built a new residence on Main Street, west side, between First and Second Streets. It was in its day a beautiful home. Mr. Stevens was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, having defeated Geo. W. Geddes, who was the Whig candidate. He was not a great lawyer nor a great man, not as industrious as Judge Bartley, nor gifted in any measure approaching the gifts of Bartley. Kirkwood succeeded him as the partner of Bartley and Stevens succeeded Kirkwood as prosecuting attorney. Still I remember the fact that when I was first a student-at-law Stevens was in full practice, and was at times associated with John Sherman in the trial of cases. He was negligent in his personal appearance, careless in his dress and indifferent in his manners, and not ambitious even for the acquirement of fortune. In 1873 I made a trip to Kansas City with Mr. John Wood on professional business, which made necessary a call on one of the leading merchants of that busy, growing city. It so happened that the day we arrived there was one day after a municipal election, and it developed in our call that the merchant was the successful candidate for the mayorality, and a Democrat. As we entered the counting room of the merchant we spied our old friend, Wm. Stevens, Esq., with hat all battered, minus a shirt collar, coat worn thread-bare and his tout-ensemble was any thing but inviting. You see, dear SHIELD, there had been a Democratic victory. As Mr. Stevens took us in, quickly recognizing old friends, grasping our hands in turn, and with warm words of welcome, yet possibly conscious that two pairs of eyes were scanning his foot-gear and head-gear and clothing generally, he doffed the stove pipe hat and remarked: "I am still one of the unwashed Democracy." He had every opportunity in the west for abundant success. Friends east in Ohio who commanded large resources, were at his service, but he was content to live without making great effort or seeing great results. Had Wm. Stevens been thrown wholly from the first on his own resources, compelled to face poverty or win wealth, I verily believe he would have achieved a great success. He was in the days of his residence at Mansfield an author and wrote and published a book, now out of print, entitled the "Unjust Judge". He quarreled with Stewart, with Kirkwood, and in his book he delineated Stewart to his own estimate and measure of the man as the "Unjust Judge" and one of the personæ of his story he nominated "Old Yellow Coat" and that appellative fitted none save Kirkwood. There may be some stray copies of the book in some of the libraries of Mansfield, I know not, but it is a fact, and should not be lost in history, that in the bar of Richland in the olden time we find authors and painters, doctors and preachers, yet all at one time disciples of Blackstone and devotees of the law. Mr. Stevens might have taken rank and position in the profession in Missouri and Kansas and reached the bench had he been more industrious and energetic. He lacked not brains, but orderly brains; not knowledge, but the disposition to use that knowledge to the utmost. I may express myself too freely, but if he were alive and would read this sketch he would not regard the criticism as unjust or unwise. -- H.C.H. Submitted by Amy. [Richland Shield & Banner: 17 November 1894, Vol. LXXVII, No. 27] Later in the article it states "My friend Mr. Larwill, as I finish this sketch, informs me that I am mistaken, that Mr. Stevens now an old man of eighty and upwards, still lives in his western home in Kansas City, Mo.; but let the sketch stand."

Stough, William & Sarah A. (Redding) -- Madison Township. Stough, William, Insurance Agent, Justice, and soldier, was born, January 22d, 1821, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, of American parentage of German descent. He was educated in the common schools and when quite young was apprenticed to learn the cabinetmaker's trade in Mansfield, Ohio. Having perfected himself in his calling he entered into the business himself, and removed to Williams County, Ohio, where he also followed the lumber business in connection with cabinet making. After twelve years, he engaged in general merchandise in Pulaski and Bryan, where he continued for five years. In 1861 he entered into the army as Captain of Company H, 38th Ohio Volunteers, and served with that command for one year resigning in consequence for ill health. He returned home, where he remained for a year, and then returned to the service as Captain in the 9th Ohio Calvary. In September, 1864, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and fifteen days thereafter again promoted, receiving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for efficient services, and held that rank at the close of the war. He holds brevet Colonel and Brigadier-General commission for meritorious conduct, March 10th, 1865; these are for services rendered at the surprise of Kilpatrick's command by Wade Hampton and Wheeler at Monroe Cross Roads, near Fayette, North Carolina; and in the "History of the Ninety Second Illinois Infantry" he is highly complimented for the efficient services he then rendered. He was honorably discharged from the service in August, 1865, and returning home was elected Justice of the Peace for three terms in succession, and still holds that office, and has held that office sor six terms in Williams County. In 1870 he was chosen Mayor of Bryan. He is also engaged in the insurance business. He has been connected with the Republican party since its foundation. He was married in 1840 to Sarah A. Redding, of Richland County, Ohio, who died in September, 1864. [1.The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century, page 600, Galaxy Publishing Company, Cincinnati and Philadelphia, 1876, S.A. George & Co., Stereotypers & Electrotypers]

Stout, James -- James Stout, a New Jerseyman by birth and a Hollander by descent, entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 22 [Monroe Twp.] upon which he located in 1829, and upon which he lived until his death, Aug. 30, 1864. There were but few settlers in that part of the township at that time. There were heavy forests, and wildcats, deer and wild turkeys were numerous, and bears were frequently seen. Mr. Stout was fond of hunting, and his wife could shoot squirrels and other small game equally well with her husband. The Stouts were industrious people and good neighbors. Hiram Stout, the survivor of the family, lives at the old home. He is 84 years old, and a bachelor. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 02 April 1903, Vol. 11, No. 13]

Straub, Jacob -- After a long, lingering illness, the gradual wearing out of a strong constitution after years of industry, Jacob Straub, passed into the eternal life at 9 o'clock this morning at the home of his son-in-law, R.M. Yardly, 72 North Diamond Street. Mr. Straub was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1826. The following year his grandfather, Jacob Markley and father, George Straub, moved to Mansfield and this was the home of Jacob Straub all his days.   At the age of seventeen years he was apprenticed to William Bessinger a wagon maker. The apprenticeship expired when he became of age and he at once went into business for himself on East Fourth Street, near the corner of Adams, where he remained several years. He then purchased the property on North Main now occupied by George Schuler, where he had his shop until eleven years ago when he tore down the shop and erected in its stead the present brick building. Mr. Straub was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Christman, the mother of his only daughter, Mrs. Yardly. The second wife was Mrs. Henry Lehr, who died four years ago, the mother of his only son, Harry Straub. Mr. Straub was three times appointed to make the decennial land appraisements of the old Third Ward; was several times elected assessor of that ward and represented the ward in the city council. He also served a number of years as a member of the city board of equalization. Three years ago he was elected water works trustee and it was only on account of failing health that he was not a candidate for re-election. Funeral from the residence Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Submitted by Amy. [RICHLAND SHIELD & BANNER: 01 June 1895, Vol. LXXVIII, No. 3]

Strong, William L. -- A biographical article appears in the 03 November 1894 issue of the Richland Shield & Banner (Vol. LXXVII, No. 25, p. 6). Due to its' length, it is not being published here. Interested parties may contact the Sherman Room of the Mansfield/Richland Co. Public Library for print-outs of this article for a very modest fee.

Sturges, Eben Perry -- We reprint from the recently published volume containing the proceedings of the Society of the Army of the Cumberland, at its' fourteenth reunion, held in September, 1882, at Milwaukee, Wis., the following memoir of our late citizen, Major Eben P. Sturges, deceased, contributed at the request of the Committee on Memoirs of that Society, and prepared by the Rev. Dr. S.A. Bronson, of this city. STURGES -- Born in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, August 19, 1840, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 22, 1882. Thus he was taken away in the very prime of manhood. His native place having been his home during all his life of forty-two years, can not be expected to furnish many incidents to fill up a memoir, without going into details of little general interest. His life may be divided into: 1. His childhood at home; 2. The youth at school; 3. The soldier on the field; 4. The man of business after the war; 5. His illness. His Childhood at Home -- Major Sturges was the second son of Edward Sturges, Esq., a leading and very successful business man. Though born to wealth, his parents had the good judgment and persevering energy to train up their children "in the way they should go", that is, in habits of morality, industry and economy. While they were subject to all proper restraint it was the unwearied effort of a watchful mother to see that home should furnish amusements at least as attractive as the streets. Eben, it would seem, scarcely needed discipline; for among a family of nine children, who have not failed to honor their parents in their subsequent lives, he was called one of his mother's good boys. Instead of running in the streets as some do, he was under careful culture at home. It does appear that he had any wild oats to sow nor any bad habits to correct.   As a Youth at School -- Mr. Sturges showed the good effects of his careful and judicious home training. Though there is no direct testimony at hand from fellow-students to show the degree of attainment and manner in which he sustained himself while a student of Kenyon College, yet there is the satisfactory testimonial that nothing appears against him. He came home with a clean record, and his correspondence afterward with fellow students shows a very high regard for him. This memorial, ere it closes, will show that his intellect was of a high order and his mental culture such as to do honor to his own industry and to the institution of which he was a member. As we have no speeches nor essays from which to form an estimate of his intellectual capacity, and none of his letters are at hand, there is but a slender opportunity to form an estimate. It was his habit only to speak or write when the occasion required, and when he did so every word was to the point. As a Soldier -- Mr. Sturges received his commission as Second Lieutenant of Battery B, First Regiment of Ohio Light Artillery, in October, 1861, and that of First Lieutenant of Battery M in March, 1863. He served gallantly in the battle of Mi'l Spring in Kentucky, the battles of Shiloh, of Murfreesboro, of Perrysville, Tuliahoma, Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. From there, in the hundred days' fight all the way to Atlanta, he was on General Brannon's staff. From Atlanta he was assigned to General Thomas' command and returned by way of Franklin and Nashville, in which terrible conflicts he participated and won the highest regard of his fellow officers and the esteem of all. Lieutenant Eben P. Sturges remained in the service till the close of the war, and received the well deserved tribute of his brevet rank of Major. During his four years in the Army, he kept a daily record of events that occurred with which he was more or less connected. Parts of his diary are still preserved. An extract from it may be of some general interest as with the history of the great battle, and of special interest to his friends, as a more vivid picture of Major Sturges than this pen is able to draw. Extract from His Diary -- Diary -- December 29, 1862. To-day rose early and prepared to march. Our progress was slow, as our advance had to clear the road occasionally of the enemy's rear-guard. Every once in a while the latter would send a round shot spinning along the road. At night we encamped in an open field, two and a half miles from Murfreesboro. The other troops encamped on either side along the road and in the heavy cedar groves all around us. Commenced to sleep in the open air; but it having begun to rain, put up a tent and slept more comfortably. Diary -- December 30, 1862. About daylight we took the battery through a grove of cedars, on and along a road, and came into battery to the right. The ground on which we posted the guns was very rocky and covered with cedars. Our skirmishers were advanced a few hundred yards in front of us, and kept up a brisk fire with those of the enemy. A ball from the latter would at times whistle by us. Our artillery on our left about a quarter of a mile, opened on the enemy in front about 9 o'clock and were replied to. Artillery opened on our right and kept up all day. Our brigade was on an angle formed by the junction of our right and left lines. Late in the afternoon our battery was ordered to the vortex of this angle. Here we came into action, and, with the batteries on our right, poured a concentrated fire into the enemy's skirmishers and into his camp, as was supposed. Their sharpshooters endeavored to pick us off. One fired a shot, evidently for me, into the breast of a wheel-horse of my left piece. The jugular vein being cut, he bled to death very soon. A few shells sent right into their pits, sent these sharpshooters skedaddling. Darkness coming on we ceased firing, having sent them about thirty rounds per piece. Occupied our old camping ground. Diary -- December 31, 1862. In the morning first went to the position which we had yesterday morning. Soon changed to the spot whence we had fired last evening. Heard heavy fighting on our right. Opened our guns to shell the woods in front of us. We were on the edge of a cedar grove, the trees of which would once in a while be shattered by the enemy's artillery. They seemed to be driving us on the right. I was ordered by Lieutenant Wright, of Cruft's staff, to take my section around to the left of the angle upon which we were fighting. Found hot fighting going on there. Unlimbered and ran my pieces down, almost to the line of infantry, by hand. The enemy were about three hundred yards distant on a ridge, under cover of corn-fields and bushes. Gave them for about three-quarters of an hour shrapnel and Schenck shell. By that time the action was very hot, and I advanced the pieces a few rods and changed shrapnel for canister. By this time also their batteries had answered, and rattled the projectiles of all kinds through the cedars around us. Sam. Earl, my rifled piece's gunner, put his shells right into their battery. The canister I could not see the effects of, for the smoke and cover. Our right seemed to be being driven. We saw the enemy being reinforced by solid columns of infantry, proudly bearing the stars and bars. I directed my fire at the latter, and they went down. The ammunition for my rifled piece was all gone, and I sent it to the rear. My smooth-bore I had previously ordered into a new position, in order to get them out of a shower of canister that was cutting them. They themselves had fired twenty rounds of canister. All this time the right of our line had been driven, and we were in a short of horseshoe; and as our reserves had gone to help the right, we had to retire before the largely superior forces of the rebels. I found my smooth-bore with but man by it. The rest, however, were near. I rallied them and helped them to limber up and sent them out. A careless driver (a new man) ran the pole up against a tree and broke it. We ran the piece back by hand and started it again. I followed upon foot. Early in the engagement I gave my horse to a spy whom I knew with Negley, who was sitting by a tree holding another horse. During the heat of the action he was lost. I lingered some to look back. Our infantry were beginning to rally, and at length retired from the woods in good order. Old Rosey was here on the ground, and I heard him say something to encourage the men and add: "We're Meeting Them." I saw him several times afterward on the field, giving directions and encouragement. Our line fell back in the center about half a mile. I found the battery on a hill about a quarter of a mile from the advance line. We were ordered to form in battery here. While doing it Sergeant Thompson was badly wounded by a spent over shot -- James sold shot. It grazed his spine. After once changing front, S.B. Ruple, of my smooth-bore detachment, was badly wounded in the neck by a ball, I think, from spherical case. He has since died. We remained here till night, when we encamped in a hollow a few rods distant. The loss to-day foots up as follows: Detachment No. 3 -- Seargeant Wolf killed by his own piece; John Elliott wounded and missing afterward found dead. No. 4 -- Jack McLaughlin wounded and missing; Sawtell grazed by a musket ball on the head. No. 5 -- (my rifled piece) -- Hayes graced by a canister on the head. No. 6 -- (my smooth-bore) -- Brough wounded in the leg by canister; Ben. Searles wounded in leg by canister; French wounded in arm by canister, the doctor says by musket ball; Ruple wounded in neck by shrapnel. I lost in my section two horses. After we had had a little coffee, I went to the hospital. Found Thompson asleep; Brough, French, Ruple, Shankland, the latter was wounded in No. 2, were as well as could be under the circumstances. About 10 o'clock took the caissons to the ammunition train to fill the chests. About 12 went to bed without my blankets, wagon having taken them off somewhere. This, it must be remembered, was written when he was little past 23 years of age, but a boy as it were, just out of college, and only a little over a year in the service; yet here is evidence of the coolness and courage of a veteran, and of the clearness of thought, precision of language, freedom from verbiage and liveliness of description, that distinguished Lieutenant Sturges as possessed of unusual abilities. Then, the thought and care bestowed upon his men, the minute attention given to the manner in which they were wounded, and the severity of their wounds, and accounting no less minutely for his horses, shows the exactness, the kindness and the diligence, with which he performed all his duties. The writer of this memoir can neither find nor hear of anything during his four years' service that is not fully up to this standard of military duty. Major Sturges as a Citizen -- After the close of the war Mr. Sturges engaged in business in the purchase of cotton at the South. This not proving successful, he engaged with his father in the wholesale grocery business, in Mansfield. In this business he continued until the death of his father, in the fall of 1878, in the settlement of whose estate his whole time and attention were then absorbed as long as his failing health permitted. A leading characteristic of his life was industry, not from any thing like an avaricious disposition, but because he loved to be usefully employed. It was his habit. So closely indeed did he confine himself to business that it probably shortened his life. Strict frugality and economy were habits of life with him equally with industry. Without bordering on penuriousness, he never encouraged useless expenditures of money or time, but was generous and liberal toward every good word and work. Having been his pastor for more than ten years, the writer had a good opportunity to know much of his inner life. He never left a kindness unrequited, nor a petition for a worthy object unanswered. He was so severely conscientious that he did not dare become a communicant of the church, although his whole life would have done honor to such a profession. But he was no less diligent and attentive to the worship of God, and no less ready to do his part than if he had been a member. The conscience of no little child was ever more tender, and yet no one was ever more fearless to rebuke an insult. Though modest and retiring, there was no lack of genuine and courtly hospitality. It was remarked, by those who knew him well, that he was very deliberate in making up his mind, but, when made up, he was unalterably fixed. This reveals the grounds of his moral stamina. He could say no, though he was more accustomed to act it than to say it. His sense of justice was exceedingly acute, and it mattered not whether it was for or against himself, it must prevail. The native strength of a man's character is most clearly evidenced by the force and variety of the temptations to which he is exposed. When it is considered how many of Major Sturges' early associates were ruined by the vices which he escaped; also the besetments that must have assailed him during four years of terrible war; that when he enlisted he was but a boy, just past his majority; and that, under these circumstances, he sustained an unblemished character; he is at once exalted, in our estimation, to the eminence of a moral hero. On the 6th. of June, 1871, Major Sturges united in marriage with Miss Kate R. McKenzie, a lady with whom he had long been acquainted, and who was in every respect admirably suited to him. Her bright, genial face, and cheerful voice, were well adapted to rouse up the spirits of one worn down with the cares of business. Their well appointed and well kept home lingers in the writer's memory as a miniature paradise. Three little ones, two sons and daughter, were the life and joy of that delightful household. We come, now, to the Closing Period of His Life -- While faithfully attending to his duties as the elder of the administrators of his father's estate, caring for his household, and for the moral and religious culture of his children, first his wife's health failed. Benefit was expected from a sojourn in Florida. It soon after appeared that a Southern clime was as needful for him, and arrangements were made for the whole family to remove; but, on the day which had been set for their departure, his noble, genial and patient wife breathed her last. She was buried in the Mansfield Cemetery, February 24, 1881. Thus, after ten years of wedded life, Mr. Sturges was now left, in feeble health, with three little children. After making, for their care, all possible arrangements, he went to Florida and there remained for some months. In the summer of 1881, he returned to Mansfield, with some hopes that by spending the winters South his health might be regained. With this in view, he moved to Florida with his family the next Fall. During the winter his health gradually failed until his decease May 22, 1882. He was buried in the Mansfield Cemetery just fifteen months later than his wife. Sad as their great loss is, it is some mitigation to know that the orphan children are tenderly cared for by loving friends. These few notes will show that our deceased comrade was a dutiful child, an unsullied and studious youth, had a clear and discriminating mind, was an honest and honorable business man, an industrious and public-spirited citizen, a well-tried soldier of distinguished bravery, a kind husband and a tender parent. He leaves behind a cherished memory and an untarnished name. Submitted by Amy. [THE MANSFIELD HERALD: 08 November 1883, Vol. 33, No. 51]

Summer, Samuel N. (external link)

Swigart, Barbara -- LUCAS ... Among the few old pioneers yet living about here is Barbara Swigart, relict of John Swigart, and mother of the well-known Luther M. Swigart, of Mansfield. Mrs. Swigart is fast verging on to 90, now past 88 years of age. She is indeed one of the early pioneers of Monroe and yet delights in telling her old stories of the Indians and of the trials and hardships she once had to encounter. She raised a large family, all of whom seem well-to-do. Her father, Jacob Young, was the second white man who entered Orange township, Ashland county, having emigrated from Hardy county, Va. Mother Swigart has been a great slave all her life, always possessed of a kind heart and an industrious spirit, and will perhaps ere long find rest in that bright world, where we truly hope that sorrows and disappointments are unknown; where there is no more labor, or tears. UNO. Submitted by Amy. [OHIO LIBERAL: 03 December 1884, Vol. 12, No. 34]

Swigart, John -- Account of John Swigart's life which was printed in the Ohio Liberal. "I was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania in 1793. In the year 1806 my father moved to Stark County , Ohio , then a perfect wilderness. There as only one cabin in Canton and that was a tavern. I was then about 13 years old and remember well the hardships and privations which attended our life in the woods. Wild beasts and wild men roamed the forest in all directions. I helped my father to clear out two farms of about fifty acres on each. I had many encounters with bears and wolves, the howls of the latter being kept up nightly the year round. I have also killed many deer and wild turkeys. Rattlesnakes were abundant, thousands being scattered over the woods. In the spring of 1814, I joined the army under Col. Cotgrove, at Cleveland , and then marched to Detroit through mud and swamp. At night, in many places, we had to build brush heaps for our beds to keep us out of mud and water. At Detroit we got in open boats and rowed up the river, to the mouth at Huron Lake and there helped to build a small fort. On the 13th of July, we entered on board a fleet commanded by Commodore St. Clair, and sailed on Lake Huron till the 4th of August, when we were landed on the Island of Mackinaw , where we had a battle with the British and Indians. The battle was obstinate and bloody and we were forced to retreat with the loss of sixty-seven men killed and wounded. Among the killed were Major Holmes, Capt. Sanborn and Lieut. Jackson, three brave and fearless soldiers, who bared their bosoms to the storm of battle with a gallantry worthy of being held in perpetual remembrance. Poor Fellows! They died covered covered with martial honors. The next day after the battle we sailed down through the lakes and landed at Shargrin River and from thence were marched to Painesville on Grand River , where we were discharged. On receiving my discharge, I immediately set out for home, which I reached in safety.   In the year 1815, I came to Richland County , and taught the first school in Orange township. My wife and myself were the first couple married in this township, which took place in the spring of 1816. We then commenced our life in the woods, surrounded with a dark and interminable wilderness. But, although our home was solitary and alone, yet joy and happiness reigned in our midst. In a few years I had cleared twenty-five acres, when I sold it, and in the spring of 1821 moved into Monroe township, near the mouth of the Rocky Fork and settling down once more cleared forty acres more, besides killing any number of rattlesnakes, as there was a den of them on my farm. I counted at one time twenty of these reptiles lying in the shelving rocks; but I could not get at them to kill them. It was in the spring, and warm sun was shining over head, and the reptiles were leaving their rocky den to bask in its warm rays. I suppose there were hundreds and probably a thousand of these reptiles lying in this den at that time.   In the spring of 1832 I moved into the woods again, on Citizens Run, near Hastings Post Office and cleared 125 acres more, and erected a Saw Mill. In 1852 I sold again and moved to an improved farm one mile further north, and lived there until the spring of 1857, when I moved to my present location adjoining the village of Lucas . I have raised a family of five sons and four daughters, all married but one daughter. I have thirty-five grandchildren and three great-grand children." \\ This account was found among other clippings pasted in a book that appeared to have been some sort of insurance journal. It is in the Ohio Historical Library at Columbus , Ohio , the numbers on it were R 977, 1280OH-3. When John and Barbara first came to Monroe township, they settled on the Southwest corner of Sect. 11. He moved in the morning in the woods without any shelter but the trees and in the evening he had a cabin 16 x 16 feet erected and one half of the roof on: He moved his family into this cabin the same evening. Again in 1832 he moved into the woods, on the farm later occupied by his son, George (in 1977 it was occupied by George's grandson, Walter) it being a part of Sect. 20. Later he moved to Lucas where he died in 1870. \\ Additional notes provided by the submitter: John and Barbara Ann Swigart are buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery on Pleasant Valley Road and McFarland Avenue . Their tall gravestone is quite large and conspicuous as is the War of 1812 Hero Star. The Pleasant Valley Lutheran Church is right across from the cemetery on McFarland Avenue . This is in Lucas , OH , a small town outside of Mansfield , OH . Submitted by Michael.

Swigart, John -- John Swigart, the father of Luther M. Swigart, of Mansfield, was a Monroe Township pioneer. He also served in the war of 1812. He settled in Monroe in 1821. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 02 April 1903, Vol. 11, No. 13]

Swigart, Michael -- Michael Swigart, who was a drum-major in the war of 1812, settled in Monroe Twp. in 1832. One of his sons, Leonard Swigart, was a commissioner of Richland County, 1860-'66. "Aunt Betsey" Chew, of Monroe Twp., and Jessie L. Swigart, of Lucas, are children of the late Michael Swigart. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 02 April 1903, Vol. 11, No. 13]

Taylor, William (external link)

Teegarden, Eli, M.D. -- Prior to the discovery of gold, in the mill race, of Sutter the Swiss, at New Helvetia, the home ranch and fort property, granted under Mexican rule to General S., there lived in the old county of Richland four men, all physicians, all men of mark. These four men left for the time their household Gods [sic.] behind them in the land of the Buckeye, and where the dogwood blooms and blossoms, and journeyed westward to the land beyond the Rockies. In age, in length of practice, in the confidence of the people, the order in which they may be named -- ought to be named possibly, is the following: Eli Teegarden, M.D., Jonathan Bricker, M.D., W.G. Alban, M.D., and E.W. McLaughlin, M.D. The first named in time sent for wife and children and made his permanent home in the gold state, and his body is buried in its shining sands. The second, Jonathan Bricker, for some years followed the practice of his profession to California, then returned to Ohio, thereafter removed to Illinois, and his dust is now commingled with that of the prairies over which waves the tassled corn. The third remains on the Pacific Coast, though now being in Washington, the new-born state of the far northwest. Dr. Alban was a student and son-in-law of Dr. Abraham Jenner, of Ontario.   He belonged to the guild of printers also, and more than forty years ago was the editor and publisher of the Nevada Journal, a newspaper issued in Nevada City, Cal., in one of the richest gold mining districts of that gold producing state. Dr. A. has enjoyed the distinguished honor of having for a devil in his print shop a youth who thereafter became the Governor of California, a Senator in the Congress of the United States and a minister plenipotentiary to a foreign country and court, the Hon. Aaron A. Sargeant. The last of the four was Dr. E.B. McLaughlin, who settled in the Shasta country, north of the Sacremento, and there made and lost several fortunes, but finally returned to Ohio and died in Mansfield a few years ago. It is of interest to write of these four men, all, save one, now numbered with the dead. It may also be of interest to recount some of the successes as well as to outline the peculiarities, mental and physical, of the men who, half a century ago, were known throughout the boundaries of the old county. Teegarden was a tall, large-framed man, tender kindly eyes and face. His medical skill was recognized as fair, his public spirit pronounced, and as he gathered in the shekels he disbursed them in adding to the growth of the town, and the more substantial building thereof, and in '46 when the first railroad, the old Sandusky & Mansfield, first ran into Mansfield, he not only built the Teegarden House, the forerunner of the Welden which preceded in name the Saint James, which later is known as the Vonhoff, but Dr. Teegarden with others built a large grain warehouse north of Fourth Street and east of Sugar Street, and to which a switch track of the Sandusky & Mansfield railroad then extended. The Doctor's business operations were various and some were entrusted to other hands, and he found himself in need of cash-money. So when the glitter and glamour of the gold placers of California cast a promising ray of hope eastward, he embraced the opportunity to rapidly recuperate his fortunes, and he sailed the waters of the two oceans and crossed the isthmus of Darien and entered the Golden Gate. He was physician, hotel-keeper, merchant, miller, law maker, and always a man of affairs in the state of his new home. Thither in time he caused to journey to him his wife and children, and his daughters became the wives of men of energy and activity. His long-time residence was at Yuba City, where he cultivated acres of luscious fruit. His heart was in that beautiful land, and though he returned to Mansfield in the centennial year on a visit, it was only a visit, and California was his home, as it is the place of his burial and his tomb. Dr. Teegarden was of that energetic class, it would have made no difference where his habitation might be established, he would have attained a measure of success. He lived in a realm of hope, and if by human endeavor, life could be made more happy, Dr. Teegarden put forth the effort and wrought on, sure of the accomplishment. One granddaughter is the wife of a distinguished jurist who adjudicates matters of dispute between the Christians and the Mohammedans in Oriental lands. But the old doctor and his wife and the larger number of his sons and daughters sleep the sleep of death, and are buried in the land whose shores are washed by the broad Pacific sea. Dr. Jonathan Bricker was of different mould, dark complected, black-haired, bright-eyed, quick perception. He was born in Pennsylvania, came to Ohio a young man, devoted to his profession, and was very successful. His movements were nervously active and quick, and there was that indefinable something about the man which begat confidence in his knowledge, and in his skill. Of his immediate family none remain in that old county; but the present Dr. W.R. Bricker, of Shelby, was his relative and his student, and, looking back into my boyhood days, my judgment now is that Dr. Jonathan was the superior physicians of the two, yet Dr. William R., in the long run of life, was all around the more successful. Dr. Alban I have met within the passing years at his home in Walla Walla, Washington, still practicing his profession and universally respected and highly regarded. Dr. E.B. McLaughlin so lately passed away that many now living well remember him. He started in life as a builder and worker of wood, but taking up the study of medicine he gained distinction in his profession and the active part of his professional career was in California. He left no immediate descendants, but a number of relatives by blood and marriage. -- H.C.H. Submitted by Amy. [Richland Shield & Banner: 27 April 1895, Vol. LXXVII, No. 50]

Thompson, Margaret

Thompson, William

Thornton, A. G. - BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF CAPT. A. G. THORTON - Today is the birthday anniversary of Capt. A. G. Thornton of 43 Park avenue west, who was born in Danville, Pa., Oct. 29, 1839. He has been a resident of Mansfield for the past twenty-seven years, having come here originally as leader of the opera house orchestra. He has been agent of the Mansfield Humane society since its organization in 1884 and has always taken an active interest in that work. Capt. Thornton served in the civil war, having enlisted in Col D. of the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry as a private, being later promoted to sergeant, than to lieutenant and finally to captain. He was in fourteen of the principal battles of the war. He is a member of McLaughlin post, G. A. R. Submitted by Jean and Faye. [The Mansfield News, Page 8: Saturday, September 29, 1910]

Todd, John J. M.D. -- John J. Todd, M.D. and Jacob Y. Cantwell, M.D. are the names of two physicians who forty years ago were in the very prime of life and of their profession. Dr. Todd came to Mansfield from the eastern portion of the old county, that part now of Ashland County. Dr. Cantwell resided from childhood in Mansfield. His father was one of the pioneers, and his father's family was well known. These two young men, Todd and Cantwell, were comrades in their young manhood, close companions and friends, and began their medical studies at the same time, Todd as the student of Dr. Allen G. Miller, while Cantwell's preceptor was Dr. John M. Chandler. Both attended the Cleveland Medical College and graduated. Each became a partner in the practice of his respective preceptor. Miller and Todd associated together and Chandler and Cantwell forming a firm. Todd was slightly taller than Cantwell, but less in breadth of chest. Todd was of more delicate health than his friend, but each was active, energetic, ambitious and rapidly rose in the profession, and being men of sturdy character, won for themselves both standing and position in the medical world. Dr. Todd on a night of storm and sleet was called miles away to relieve a stricken dying man, and being accurate in his diagnosis of the disease and successful in the administration of remedial agents, the patient recovered, and returning to his home in the morning through the beetling storm, was himself stricken down, and though he lived for a year thereafter, his days were numbered and he wasted away. Neither the care of his loving wife or the breath of summer found in the south, whither they journeyed for relief, brought any abatement of the disease, and so, when a young man comparatively, he was called home, dying on January 30, 1856, in his 36th. year. Had he been permitted to live out the average expectancy of life, I doubt not that he would have taken a very high, and deservedly so, place in his chosen profession.   His friend, Dr. Cantwell, greatly grieved over his loss, for the companionship of their early years continued without a break or severance of a single social tie. Dr. Cantwell pushed on, sometimes with a partner, sometimes alone, and prospered as man and physician. Thirty-four years ago, when the tocsin of war was sounded, he entered the service, first in the 4th. Ohio as assistant surgeon, and later in the 82nd. Ohio as its surgeon. His brave, courageous brother, James Cantwell, was first an officer in the 4th. and then as the Colonel commanded the 82nd. from its organization to his death on the battlefield, and Dr. Cantwell gained a reputation as a surgeon in the army, no less honorable than that of his gallant brother as an able, skillful soldier.   The Doctor remained in the service till the close of the war, then settled at Decatur, Alabama, where he became interested in the city, its growth and material advancement, visiting yearly the old home city of Mansfield and maintaining property interests here as well as at Decatur. Later in life, he married, but his wife preceded him to the far-off country. Dr. Cantwell was very much of a man and his skill as a physician and surgeon were recognized, not only in Ohio, but in the army and in the state of his adoption, Alabama. His zeal, patriotism and devotion to the Union were equally pronounced and his service to the Republic and our common humanity was recognized and appreciated wherever his name and fame were made known. The soldiery of the Union army, the men of the 4th. Ohio and the 82nd. Ohio, loved him and measured correctly the value of his services. -- H.C.H. Submitted by Amy. [Richland Shield & Banner: 13 April 1895, Vol. LXXVII, No. 48]

Topper, George -- George Topper's grave, up the valley of the Wilson run, is the grave by the roadside of which a lady in Wooster recently wrote L.C. Mengert to inquire about the descendants of the man buried there. Topper selected that spot for his burial place. Some years after the interment, a road was located there, and the grave seems to be strangely out of place in such close proximity to a public road. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 04 June 1903, Vol. 11, No. 12]

Tracy, John A. -- The Dayton (OH) Herald of Dec. 26, contains an extended obituary sketch of John A. Tracy, father of J.F. Tracy, of this city. The older Tracy was 65 years of age and was for 40 years a resident of Dayton. He enlisted in that city under the first call for troops, in Co. G., 11th. O.V.I., and re-enlisted in the First Ohio Battery and was honorably discharged in October, 1863, for disabilities incurred in the three years campaign. The deceased was buried with military honors. [Semi-Weekly News: 31 December 1896, Vol. 13, No. 1]

Tressel, Leonard -- Sheriff Tressel is known the county over and his home has been in various parts of this county. He was born Oct. 5, 1846, in New Jersey where his father, Nicholas Tressel, a weaver, resided. Leonard was but two years old when his parents removed to Ohio and his father worked several years in the old woolen mill on the Painter farm east of the city on the Ashland road. Nicholas Tressel moved his family to town and lived for awhile in the fourth ward and from there moved to Springfield township near Ontario, where he resided for a number of years.   At the early age of 16 Leonard enlisted for nine months in company E, 102d O. V. I. in October 1862. On account of his youthful age he was transferred to the 120th regiment. At Vicksburg he was attacked by measles on the battlefield and he was sent to St. Louis where he was discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment. He returned home and about three months later enlisted in the 12th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Company D, was transferred to the 6th Ohio, and served until the close of the war. The principal engagements in which he participated were at the Wilderness and Chickasaw Bluffs. About 12 years ago Mr. Tressel located at Lucas and engaged in the hotel business and stock dealing. Nine years ago he built the Tressel House, which is yet the popular hostelry of that village. At the Democratic primaries in May, 1889, Leonard was nominated for sheriff over four competitors, Lewis Faust, Squire Kohler, J. R. Bristor and John Noggle, and he was elected to the office the following November. This year he is a candidate for re-election. Mrs. Tressel is a daughter of George Conn, who resides near Petersburg, Ashland county, and as matron of a county jail she has no superior among the wives of any of the sheriffs in Ohio. Submitted by Jean & Faye. [WEEKLY NEWS (Mansfield): 06 August 1891]

Trux, Abraham -- Abraham Trux was the first settler in Plymouth Township. He built a cabin on the northwest quarter of section 5 in the spring of 1815. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 05 March 1903, Vol. 11, No. 9]

Van den Bergh, J.P.P. -- J.P.P. Van Den Bergh, M.D., who has retired from active practice, is one of the pioneer physicians of California, having been in practice in this State since 1850, most of the time in San Francisco. He was born in Aix-la-Chapelle, on the Rhine, Germany, in 1815, soon after the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo, the son of Casper Lietrio Van den Bergh, who was also a physician, and practiced for many years in Germany and France. He was an army physician with Napoleon I, and in the French invasion to Moscow lost his nose and upper lip.   The subject of this sketch received his early education in the gymnasium of his native city, and later entered the University at Bonn, where he graduated in 1834, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He at once went to Brussels, where for three years he was engaged in medical practice. He was then commissioned as Assistant Surgeon to the British Army in the East India service, but through the influence of a medical friend he resigned his commission and remained in the hospital service in England for three years. In 1839 he came to the United States, where he engaged in the practice of medicine in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and later in Richland County, Ohio. In 1847 he removed to Ohio, where he was among the early settlers, and where he was engaged in his profession until 1850. In the spring of that year he crossed the plains to California arriving in August, and after a short time devoted to merchandising. Dr. Van den Bergh again took up the practice of medicine, which he continued until twelve years ago, when he was disabled by an accident in which his hip was crushed. Since that time he has devoted himself to real estate operations and building. The Doctor has been three times married, and has had twenty-four children, ten of whom are now living. He has had for many years an extensive practice, and is one of the very few men yet living, who was in practice in this State in 1850. [The Bay of San Francisco: The Metropolis of the Pacific Coast and its Suburban Cities, pp. 83-84]

Voegele, Charles H.- LEADER IN BUSINESS AND SOCIAL-CIRCLES CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY -- Sunday will be the birthday anniversary of one of the most successful business men of Mansfield and one who has been closely identified with many of the most prominent industries of the city, as well as finding time to add to the social welfare and outdoor pleasures of Mansfield citizens. Charles H. Voegele was born at Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, on June 12, 1854. He was only a year old when his parents emigrated to Mansfield and he has since made this city his home. He received his early education in Mansfield and remained here until he was eighteen years old, when he went to New York city and for eight years was engaged as a traveling salesman for New York and Chicago firms. In 1880 he formed a partnership with R. J. Dinning and the Voegele and Dinning company was incorporated. This partnership has continued for thirty years, the anniversary of its establishment being on June 15. The success of the concern has been most marked, a branch having been established in Omaha, Neb., in 1884 and another branch was established at Toledo seven years ago. It remains as one of the leading wholesale firms of Mansfield and its business and prosperity continues. Mr. Voegele has numerous other interests in Mansfield and is the president of many of the younger industries which have been organized by Mansfield capital and have become an important factor in the city's growth and prosperity. Despite his numerous business interests Mr. Voegele has been an ardent lover of outdoor sports and he has been instrumental in providing the best of sports for Mansfield people. For twelve years he was one of the backers of the Mansfield baseball club and deserves much credit for the standing of this city in the sporting world. Later he devoted his attention to golf, when that game came into prominence and has been vitally interested in the development of the Westbrook Country club, of which he is president. Mr. Voegele has been closely identified with Masonry in Mansfield, standing high in its circles and having been an important factor in the building of the present Masonic temple. Submitted by Jean and Faye. [The Mansfield News: Saturday, June 11, 1910]

Voegele, Mildred -- Mildred Voegele is one of the best known senior girls and has been very prominent in musical organizations. Last year she was awarded membership in the National Orchestra at Detroit and M.H.S. was very proud of her. However, we are obliged to admit that "Milly" has two decided weaknesses, and both of them are -- chocolate sodas. Most of us are aware that her favorite amusement is talking, but we are ever so glad for when "Milly" talks she says something. She is very much interested in all the sports, but in the spring her fancy turns to tennis, particularly, and in the winter to ice skating. Her activities are Orchestra (1) (2) (3) (4), Hypho (3) (4), M.H.S. Quintet (1), M.H.S. Duet (3), Class Treasurer (2), Orchestra Pres. (3) and Senate (3). Submitted by Amy. [THE HYPHONERIAN: 08 October 1926, Vol. IX, No. 2]

Wagener, Mr. -- Manufacturer and dealer in Boots and Shoes, is next up for consideration, and none are more worthy of notice in this connection. This enterprise was established in 1850 or about 23 years ago, and is one of the oldest business establishments in the place. Every thing in the line of boots and shoes is well represented and from the very best manufactories in the country. In the custom department Mr. WAGENER is doing the leading business in the place. He employs from three to four hands constantly. He is possessed of long practical experience, and is thoroughly acquainted with the wants and requirements of the people of this vicinity. Mr. WAGENER is a clever and agreeable gentleman, and many another could be spared from the business circles of Bellville rather than he. Submitted by Amy. [BELLVILLE WEEKLY: 02 January 1874, Vol. 2, No. 44]

Walker, Charles -- Lexington. Charles Walker returned recently after 14 years' absence in South Dakota and dwells in glowing terms on the prolific soil and salubrious climate of that region. [Semi-Weekly News: 19 January 1897, Vol. 13, No. 6]

Walsh, J.P. -- J.P. WALSH is next on the list as manufacturer and dealer in saddles, harness, whips, &c. and he is conducting an enterprise than which there is none more popular in Bellville. This enterprise, established in 1860, has ever taken a leading position among our best business houses. Every thing pertaining to the saddler trade is well represented. Mr. Walsh is possessed of long practical experience, and none are better acquainted with the wants and requirements of the people of Bellville and vicinity. He is an honorable, fair dealing man, and has gained hosts of friends, and as a business man or citizen, none are better or more favorably known. We cheerfully commend the enterprise to the public as thoroughly reliable in every respect. Submitted by Amy. [BELLVILLE WEEKLY: 02 January 1874, Vol. 2, No. 44]

Walter, Fred - Well-Known Mansfield Resident Eighty-Four Years Old Today -- Today marks the eighty-fourth birthday anniversary of Fred Walter, who has long been identified with the business interests of Mansfield and who is one of this city's substantial and respected citizens. Mr. Walter was born in Huntheim, in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany, Jan. 13, 1826. With his parents he came to America in 1833, arriving in New York after a voyage of forty-seven days on a sailing ship. Coming to Ohio the family settled on a farm in Huron county, on which the young man worked until 1845 where he was apprenticed to learn the brewing trade in this city, in which employment he continued until 1850, when he organized a party of nine men for a trip to California to which state the lure of gold was drawing many men at that time. After two years of indifferent success at mining Mr. Walter decided to establish himself in the brewery business, which he started in a small way at Weaverville, Cal. He and his partner in the business met with success from the start and three years later erected a building in which they installed what was at that time a modern equipment. In 1858 he came back to Ohio to marry Miss Mary Wilhelm of Monroeville, the ceremony having been performed on Dec. 28, and a few days later he and his bride started back to California, where they resided for about ten years, after which they came back to Ohio and have since resided in this city. In 1860 Mr. Walter was elected to represent his district in the California legislature and was one of those who voted to make the first appropriation for the California state house. While still in California, in 1865, he was elected as state and county tax collector for a term of two years, which office requiring all of his time, he disposed of his interest in the brewery which he had conducted up until that time. Soon after returning to Mansfield Mr. Walter went into the wholesale grocery business as a member of the firm of Remy, Hedges & Walter, in which he continued until 1879, after which he went into the wholesale liquor business, establishing the business which is now conducted under the firm name of the Fred Walter's Sons company, with which business he was actively associated until 1891, since which time he has been living in quiet retirement, enjoying his pleasant home surroundings and being assured of the esteem and respect of a large number of friends. Submitted by Jean and Faye. [The Mansfield News: Thursday, June 13, 1910]

Warne, Clarence -- About noon yesterday A.S. Lash, B.& O. car inspector, was walking along the "Y" east of the Union depot when he heard a noise in a box car. The car door was locked and as Mr. Lash approached he could hear the yelling of some one inside the car. he asked: "Who's there," and a voice called out, "I'm here, I'm locked in and can't get out". The door was opened by Mr. Lash and a boy bout 15 years of age with tear-stained face stepped out. The boy gave his name as Clarence Warne and said that he lived in the south part of the city, but it was subsequently learned that his home is on East Third Street. he claimed to Mr. Lash that while the car was on the Bloom Street siding two white men and a negro, had put him into the car after taking 40 cents from him and had then locked the car door. He claimed that this was done Tuesday evening and that he had been in the car since that time and was hungry and thirsty. After refreshing himself the boy started off for home. [Semi-Weekly News: 11 May 1897, Vol. 13, No. 38]

Watson, Amariah -- LEXINGTON -- Amariah WATSON was the first to invade their haunts, fell the progeny of the forests and delve in the virgin soil on its site [Troy Twp.] which was in 1812. This pioneer lived in the quaint old brick house one mile north of this village on the farm now owned by the revered Mrs. Susan SOWERS, relict of Moses SOWERS. Mrs. SOWERS still retains in her possession, and prizes much as a relic, the original deed to her farm, the conveyance being made by the Government to Amariah WATSON in 1816 and the parchment bears the autograph of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. Mansfield's well-known business factor, J.H. Cook, Esq., who bears lightly the burden of nearly seven decades, informs us that at least sixty years ago, when the country here was yet in its primitive grandeur, that he disported around the old mill at the foot of Main street, and that it was erected about the year 1813 by Amariah WATSON, over whose grave the winds of more than twenty winters have chanted requiems, and whose memory is revered by his few remaining co-pioneers.   Among those who with nerves of steel and valorous hearts, soon after the axe of Amariah WATSON had broken the silence of nature and blazed the way to invade the haunts of the wily Indian in the primeval forests of Troy, were Judge GASS, Samuel WATSON, a man named ROBINS and Noah COOK; Judge GASS first making his advent in its trackless fastnesses in 1811 or 1812, and ROBINS and Samuel WATSON about the same time or two or three years later, and Noah COOK first materialized in Lexington in 1814, coming from Washington Co., Pa., and the village was then in embryo, there being but one house within its present limits and that stood on the site of the residence of Mrs. Coleman, opposite the depot. With his rifle at his side, ever alert for the artful aboriginees, whose desire for the scalps of the pioneer was never satiated, he erected a house that was invulnerable to their attacks near where now stands the spacious residence of his son, Col. Thomas COOK, which overlooks a fertile expanse of many acres, contiguous to the western part of the village. Noah COOK was twice married and was the father of thirteen children, and most of his progeny inherited his mental and physical characteristics, being of vigorous intellect and strong and lithe of limb, and like their progenitor amassed a competency by frugality and arduous toil. The family are noted for longevity, several of whom have attained the age of more than eighty years, one reaching eighty-nine years, and at the age of seventy-nine the blood courses vigorously through the veins of this dauntless pioneer and his tenure of life seemed much longer, but when laying out the village in 1834, he engendered a malarial contamination that could not be eliminated and soon the sorrows and felicities of life with him were over. His son Amos lived the life of a recluse in one of the first buildings erected here, and he lived to commune with nature in the wildest fastnesses, and his heart was anguished by the destruction of the primitive forests of Troy, and up to the time of his tragic death about seven years ago, being run over by the cars, he was to be found coursing along the rivulets of the scenes of his pristine days in quest of game, though 82 years had silvered his hair. He was not susceptible to the arts and wiles of females, and was never married. He was a Democrat of strong proclivities, and the only shrines at which he worshipped were the wide and sublime in nature. Submitted by Amy. [MANSFIELD HERALD: 05 April 1883, Vol. 33, No. 20]

Watson, Amariah -- LEXINGTON -- Bloomer Sowers, of Lexington, has a parchment, stained by the dust of time, which he values highly has a relic of the early era of Troy township and because it bears the autograph of James Monroe, fourth president of the United States. It is the original deed or patent to the Mr. Sowers' farm, which lies less than one mile north of here. It was issued to Amariah Watson in 1817 and President Monroe's chirography is neat and legible as a copper plate. Amariah Watson's name should not be lost in fading traditions of this region. It should be written bright on history's pages as the earliest and the most enterprising pioneer here. He came to Lexington 89 years ago and the foot of no white man had before trodden the gloomy solitude of the primitive forest on the site of the town. The forest rang with the loud vengeful howls of wild animals and the savage scalp raisers yet held their blood chilling orgies here. But his brave heart was awed by no danger and his soul was entranced by the voice of nature heard in swaying of the forest foliage, moved by gentle winds or roaring tempests' blasts. He erected a rude cabin on the banks of the Mohican and later a house on the site of the Colman residence. He erected most of the old brick houses that yet stand in or near Lexington. He, in 1831, erected the quaint little octagonal brick school house that once stood here. He was a large land owner here. He was grandfather of Mrs. Emily Sowers. Mr. Watson died in Illinois over forty years ago and all his brave athletic co-pioneers are numbered with the myriad dead. Submitted by Amy. [MANSFIELD NEWS, 29 November 1901, Vol. 17, No. 230]

Watson, Leslie -- Lexington. Leslie Watson, of Omaha, was the guest of relatives in Lexington, his native place after an absence of 42 years. Mr. Watson is superintendent of an Indian mission school. His father, Zale Watson, aged 86 and pioneer of Lexington, is also living in Omaha. [Semi-Weekly New: 16 March 1897, Vol. 13, No. 22]

Waugh, Lorenzo -- Father Lorenzo Waugh is well known by the older citizens of Mansfield and Richland County as a former Methodist pastor here and in recent years he has occasionally made return visits to Mrs. M.E. Aten, his niece, who lives near Lexington, and other relatives in this and adjoining counties. He is now living in California and the Howard Methodist Church of San Francisco recently celebrated his four-score and tenth birthday anniversary at which addresses of congratulations were made by the local pastor and others. Father Waugh is said to be the oldest living Methodist preacher in the world. He was born Aug. 28, 1808 near Greenbriar, West Virginia. In his younger days he knew Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, Thomas H. Benton and other great men who figured in American history. He went to California over the plains with an ox team in 1852. in the early years there Gen. Vallejo made him a present of 350 acres of land which subsequently became very valuable and which he divided among his children. The aged pastor is now living in Los Olivos, Santa Barbara County, California. Submitted by Amy. [Semi-Weekly News (Mansfield): 22 November 1898, Vol. 14, No. 96]

Waxler, John -- John Waxler was born February 15, 1925, in Mansfield, and attended Hedges school his first eight years. His favorite sport is football. Submitted by Amy. [JOHN SIMPSON TIMES: 01 December 1939, Vol. 13, No. 3, p. 4]

Weagley, W.H. -- Captain W.H. Weagley (deceased) was a school teacher and business man and died a soldier's duty in the war of the Rebellion. He was the father of Mrs. Marion Douglass. Submitted by Amy. [Bellville Messenger: 28 May 1903, Vol. 11, No. 21]

Weatherby, T.S. & Mrs. -- GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY -- Of Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Weatherby -- A Memorable and Happy Event -- Mr. and Mrs. T.S. Weatherby, who reside at No. 153 Wood street, are today celebrating that joyous event which occurs in the lives of so few people, their golden wedding anniversary. The celebration is being given in the nature of a reception, from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m. at the home of their daughter, Mrs. S.R. Fisher, No. 149 Wood street, invitations to that effect having been received by their hosts of friends during the past few weeks. The invitations were unique in style and were the creation of their son, E. E. Weatherby, the photographer, of Plymouth. A handsome white, gilt bevel card was used with the date of their marriage, Dec. 14, 1851, and also the date of the present anniversary, printed near the center on either side of which were life-like photographs, on the right that of the bride and on the left the groom of 50 years ago, beneath which was the invitation proper. This venerable and highly respected couple were born in Pennsylvania. Mr. Weatherby in Landisburg, Perry county, June 21, 1826; and Mrs. Weatherby, formerly Miss Margaret Wolff, in Chambersburg, May 6, 1833. They were married at Shippensburg, half a century ago, although their homes were at Chambersburg at the time, in which place they resided for two years. Leaving their home in the east, they came to this city, where they have resided ever since. They united with the First Lutheran church, the Rev. Simon Fenner, pastor and are among the few pioneer Lutherans in this community today. For thirteen years Mr. Weatherby worked in the mechanical department of the A. & T. works and then became janitor of the First Lutheran church and since the organization of St. Luke's church in 1886, has been janitor of that church, which position he holds today. Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby enjoy the love and esteem of a large circle of friends and are most estimable Christian people. Five children were born into the home, one dying in infancy; the others are Mrs. J.K. Johnston of No. 187 West First street; Mrs. S.R. Fisher of No. 149 Wood street; George R. Weatherby of Detroit; and E.E. Weatherby of Plymouth. The NEWS joins in the sincere wish of all their friends that the event of today may only serve to strengthen the bonds of friendship, trusting the happy couple may spend the remainder of their days in continued peace and happiness. Submitted by Amy. [MANSFIELD NEWS, 14 December 1901, Vol. 17, No. 243]

Weaver, William H. -- One of the most prominent citize