HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "L"

LAMB, JOHN, retired Walnut township. He was born in this township February 26, 1812; the eldest son of Peter and Mary (Walters) Lamb. Peter Lamb settled in Walnut township about 1801. John was raised and educated in this county. In 1834 he was married to Maria, daughter of J. McNamee. In 1836, Mr. Lamb settled on the place now owned by T.J. Gafford, then but partially cleared. He 320

made many improvements, and in 1840 built & handsome residence, where he resided until 1876. He is a successful farmer and stock raiser, and owns one hundred and ninety-five acres. For several years he was township trustee. To his first marriage were born seven children, four of whom are living. Peter J., a resident of Illinois; John L., also of Illinois; Mary J., wife of T .J. Gafford, of Walnut township; Susan Virginia, wife of William Bope, of Walnut township. Mrs. Lamb died April 26, 1861. Mr. Lamb was again married in November, 1862, to Mrs. Parthene Gafford, a daughter of Abraham and Parthene (Webster) Babcock. Mrs. Lamb was born in New York, July 1, 1803. She came to Ohio in 1812, settling at Newark, Ohio. Mr. Lamb moved to Baltimore about 1876, where he lives a retired life. Mr. Lamb was wagonmaster under General Taylor, for one year. Mrs. Lamb has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church over forty years. LAMB, HENRY F., farmer, Walnut township. He was born in this township, September 25, 1832; the youngest son of Peter and Mary M. (Walters) Lamb. Peter Lamb was a native of Virginia. He was born in 1781, and came with his parents to Ohio in 1802. They lived for a short time in Pleasant township. Peter Lamb purchased a half section of land which is now owned by his son, Henry F. His father, Peter Lamb, Sr., died in Walnut township in 1804.; his widow, September 22, 1822, aged seventy-four years. Peter Lamb, Jr., did much to promote emigration to that township, giving assistance wherever needed. At that time the Indians were numerous, but rarely troublesome. As a hunter he was famous and indulged in this pleasure to a great extent. At one time he was one of a party, who, when out on a bear hunt, mistook for a bear an Indian squaw, and she was shot in the arm by David Ewing. An explanation by the hunters to the Indians settled the affair satisfactorily. Mr. Lamb raised twelve children, of whom eight are living. He died May, 1867; his widow in 1879. Henry F. attended the Antrim University; was also a student at Westerville. He chose farming for an occupation, and resides on the home place. In 1867 he married Elizabeth C. Laney. They are the parents of three children, viz.: Honora F., E. C. and Earl L. The farm on which they live is finely cultivated, containing one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Lamb served nearly three years in the Eighty-eighth, O. V. I. He was detailed as clerk in the prison office at Columbus, Ohio; here he served until the close of the war and was mustered out at Camp Chase, July 3, 1865. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. He has held the office of township trustee eight years. LAMB, WILLIAM W., farmer, Walnut township. He was born in this township, August 29, 1834; the son of William and Catharine (Cupp) Lamb. William Lamb was born in Virginia in 1794. He came with his father, Peter Lamb, to Ohio in 1803 or 1804. William Lamb was married about 1815, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, William W. He cleared one hundred and sixty acres and built a log house in which the family resided until the present brick residence was built, about 1824 or 1825. He was the father of eight daughters and two sons, all now living. He was county commissioner one or more terms. In politics he was a Democrat. He engaged in packing and 321

shipping pork about fifteen years. He was a member of the Baptist church. He died in 1876; his widow in 1878. William W., after obtaining an education, turned his attention to farming, always residing on the home place. In 1866 he married Miss M. E., daughter of Richard Buffington, an early settler in Walnut township. Mrs. Lamb was born here, April 12, 1841. They are the parents of six children, four are living. Lineaus E., who died in infancy; Cora Bell, in 1879, in her twelfth year; Clarence R., Inez Myreth, Ernest A. and an infant. Mr. Lamb owns a fine farm of one-hundred and sixty-seven acres. LAMB, W. M., farmer. Walnut township. Mr. Lamb was born in Pleasant-township, May 14, 1836: the second son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Lamb. Frederick was a native of Virginia; born in 1796, and came to Ohio in 1802, with his father, Peter Lamb. He was a successful farmer and settled in Pleasant township, where he owned, at his death, thirteen hundred acres of land. Mr. Lamb reared a family of five sons and one daughter. Mr. Lamb was a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He died September 1, 1868, in his seventy-first year. W. M. Lamb received a fair education, and turned his attention to farming, in which he has been very successful, being the owner of three hundred and twelve acres. Mr. Lamb is also engaged in buying and shipping live stock. . He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is well known as a substantial and esteemed citizen. Mr. Lamb has never united with any church, though contributing largly for its maintenance. Mr. Lamb was married January 2, 1859, to Miss Louisa Fink, born in Pleasant township, April 19, 1839. They are the parents of eight children, seven of whom are living, viz.: Emma D., the wife of Jacob Schrader, a merchant of Baltimore; Charles F., Ida J., Mary C., Worthington, who died in 1876, in his seventh year; Blanch L., William H. and Floyd Granville. Mrs. Lamb and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. LANEY, MRS. CATHARINE, Liberty township. She was born in Fairfield county, February 11, 1811; daughter of Benjamin and Elonore Swartz. She was married in 1834 to William Laney, who was born in Ohio, March 6, 1813. For a number of years he was employed by William Lamb, until his marriage, when he purchased a farm in Hocking township, residing there about four years. He returned to Baltimore in 1859, and purchased a family home of twenty acres, and engaged in brick-making. In 1861 he enlisted in Company G, Eighteenth O. V. I., serving over two years. He participated in all the battles, including Chattanooga, where he was captured and taken to Danville Prison; was there six months. He died March 6, 1864. He was an active member of the M. E. Church. They were the parents of five daughters and four sons---Sarah, wife of Moses Knepper, of Violet township; John S., a resident of Dakota; William S., a resident of Baltimore; Elizabeth C., wife of Henry F. Lamb, of Walnut township; Franklin T., enlisted in the First Ohio Cavalry, in 1861, and served through the war; he died at Indianapolis in July, 1871; Joseph C., engaged in the sewing machine business at Springfield, Ohio; Catharine C. is a dressmaker, and resides with her mother; Susan resides with Mrs. Lamb in Walnut township; Elonore is the wife of Thomas J. Kirk, of Baltimore. After the death of her husband, 322

Mrs. Laney, with the assistance of her sons, continued to conduct the brick business some eight years. She is a member of the M. E. Church and an estimable lady. LARIMER, WILLIAM R., farmer, North Berne, Fairfield county, Ohio; was born June 9, 1847, in.Jackson township, Perry county, Ohio; son of Abraham and Jane (Beck) Larimer, and grandson of Robin and Margaret (Ray) Larimer. His parents both died when he was but a small child, and so his protection lay at the hands of his friends and relatives. He was first placed under the guardianship of his uncle, George Beck, and remained in his family until he was nine years old, after which he was adopted into his uncle's (William Larimer) family, and remained a member of that family until he married. Mr. Larimer enlisted in February, 1865, in the Army of the Cumberland, and participated in several prominent battles. He was married to Miss Lucy J. Price, daughter of James and Julia A. (Meteer) Price, and grand- daughter of James and Nancy Price, and Robert and Esther Meteer. Mrs. Larimer was born in Maxville, Perry county, Ohio, March 22, 1850. Their union has been blessed with two children, viz.: Annie L. and Clarence W. Mr. Larimer came to Fairfield county in 1870, and has lived in this and Rush creek township ever since. He is now living in Berne township, and is engaged in selling mowers, self-binders, reapers, plows, fine buggies, etc. LANGEL, DANIEL, farmer, Liberty township. He was born in Pennsylvania, October 16, 1821; is the son of Philip and Elizabeth W. Langel. He improved his educational advantages, and in 1836, came with his parents to Ohio. Philip Langel settled in Violet township, where he reared a family of eight children, four now living. He died in 1852. David resided on the home place until his marriage, to Susannah Bright, daughter of John Bright, a former well-known resident of Liberty township. They raised a family of eleven children, ten of whom are living. Jesse B. was a member of Company K, O. V. I., and took part with his regiment in the battle of Mission Ridge, and Chattanooga. He died of measles, March 2, 1864, in his twenty- first year. Melinda E. is the wife of John VanArsdale, a resident of Liberty township; John, also of Liberty township; Esther, the wife of John Slanger, a resident of Tomkins county, Ohio; Enoch is a resident of Liberty township; David P., also of Liberty; Oliver, of Kansas; Isabel is the wife of Newton Smuck, of Basil; Mary Ann, Sarah Alice and Daniel, at home. After his marriage Mr. Langel purchased a farm of two hundred and forty-five acres, of which but ten acres were improved. In addition to this he owns seventy-five acres in the town- ship where he resided until removing to his present residence, an elegant place between Basil and Baltimore. He is a member of the Evangelical Association, and the I. O. O. F. LEITH, JOHN, deceased. The following account of the life and career of John Leith is from his grandson. Judge J. W. Leith, now of Nevada, Wyandot county, Ohio: John Leith was a Scotchman, and was one of two white men keeping an Indian trading post at the foot of Mount Pleasant, in the year 1763, now one hundred and nineteen years ago. Leith was a youth at the time, and was left by his employer in charge of the post, while the latter went to Pittsburg to dispose of his 323

stock of furs and peltries, and bring back a fresh stock of goods and trinkets. During his absence the Indians confiscated his goods, captured young Leith, and left the country. He was, very much against his will, adopted into an Indian family, and remained with the tribe many years. He married a white captive girl he found with the tribe. Subsequently, and when he had two children, he got his family away and made a perilous journey through the wilderness to Pittsburg, arriving there greatly exhausted from hunger and fatigue, and only an hour or two in advance of his savage pursuers, who would have tortured them if they had been captured, In after years, and when Fair- field county was filling up, Leith removed with his family and settled in Walnut township, where he lived to a good old age, and was buried in the Methodist grave yard, at New Salem. LEONARD, DANIEL, the ancestor of the Leonards in Liberty town- ship, came from Switzerland in 1809, being then a widower with three children. The voyage occupied sixteen weeks. They all remained in or near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, three years; and in 1809 moved to Ohio, and purchased ninety-four acres of land, on which Daniel Leonard lived and died. There were born unto Sebastian Leonard, the son of Daniel Leonard, three sons and one daughter, Henry, John, Sebastian, and Barbara. The father and grandfather were both stone masons. Sebastian Leonard helped to build the first brick house in Lancaster, Ohio, part of which yet remains; formerly known as Scoffield brick. It was afterwards occupied as a gunsmith shop, and the front was changed. Sebastian Leonard was drafted in the War of 1812, the same year his son, Henry, was born. LEONARD, REV. GEORGE H., minister, Liberty township; the grandson of Sebastian Leonard, who was one of the pioneers of Fairfield county. George H. was born in Liberty township, September 20, 1837; the oldest son of Henry and Ann (Kerns) Leonard. Henry commenced a mercantile business in Basil, as early as 1828, conducting it successfully about twenty-eight years, until accepting the position of financial agent of Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, Ohio. Although in his seventy-first year, he is still actively engaged in the duties of that office. He is an elder in the German Reform church; a vigorous and intellectual gentleman. His eldest son, George H., received a liberal education, entering Heidelberg College in 1855, and graduating from the literary department of that institution in 1859; subsequently entered the theological seminary, connected with the same college. Mr. Leonard was ordained to the ministry September 15, 1861, at Danville, Ohio, serving the Highland charge near Hillsboro, three and a half years. In January, 1865, he was placed in charge of the church at Basil, where he has since continued. At that time the membership numbered eighty-five; it now consists of nearly three hundred. A similar gratifying increase has taken place in another church a short distance in the country, of which Mr. Leonard is also pastor. LEHMAN, CHRISTIAN, deceased. He was born in Baden, Germany, August 1, 1811. He received his education in Germany and learned the boot and shoemaker trade before coming to America in 1832. He located in Baltimore, where he engaged in his trade, remaining there eight years. In 1840 he came to Lancaster, and engaged in the same 324

business. From Lancaster he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, there engaging in the grocery trade with success. He dealt also in real estate while there and was fortunate in all his business, accumulating a handsome fortune. He returned to Lancaster in 1838, where he engaged in the grocery business, which is still carried on by Mrs. Lehman assisted by her son. Mr. Lehman was twice married; In 1838, to Miss Salome Rushia, of Baltimore, Who died in 1857. To them were born seven children, all of whom are residents of western States. He was again married in April, 1858, to Miss C. Gardner. They were the parents of one son, Christian D. Mr. Lehman was a member of the German Lutheran church; also a member of Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His death occurred June 16, 1860. LEONARD, JOHN, farmer, Liberty township. He was born in this township, October 3, 1814; is a son of Sebastian and Barbara (Goss) Leonard. After acquiring such an education as the schools of his youth afforded, he engaged with his brothers in the grocery business in Basil, where he remained until 1857, when he purchased the farm of one hundred and seventy-eight acres, upon which he still resides. It is now finely improved, the residence being a model of convenience. Mr. Leonard now owns the homestead of his father, his two farms con- taining four hundred and thirty acres. In 1830 he was married to Miss Hannah Reese, who was born in Liberty township, July 30, 1819. They are the parents of twelve children, five of whom died in infancy, and one, Sebastian, died in October, 1869, aged 29 years. Mary Ann is married and lives in Liberty township. Martha is the wife of Mr. McCleery; Minerva, Jessie, William F., and Thomas are still at home. The family are members of the Reformed Church. LINVILLE, DAVID F., druggist, New Salem, Walnut township. He was born in Richland township, May 26, 1823, the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Swazzey) Linville. Benjamin Linville was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, December 17, 1791. He came to Ohio in 1812, returned to Virginia, and came to Ohio again in 1815, and remained in Rush Creek township. He engaged in milling and distilling. He and his brother owned a mill and three hundred acres of land in Rush Creek. He was married in 1820. In 1825 he moved to Zanesville and engaged in milling until the spring of 1838, when became to Thorn township, Perry county. He purchased a farm and engaged in farming, and stock raising, assisted by his younger son. In 1862 he disposed of his farm and removed to Reynoldsburg, Franklin county, where he lived until 1866, when he moved to New Salem, where he lived until the death of his wife in April, 1872, since which time he has lived with his son Daniel F. He raised a family of five children, three sons and one daughter are now living. His youngest son, Francis W. M., was a member of the Seventeenth O. V. I.. for three months. He assisted in raising Company C, Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, September 21, 1861. He enlisted in this company as First Lieutenant, and was at the battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Jackson, and Big Block. He died at Big Block, Mississippi, from disease contracted in the army, July 25, 1863. Daniel F. Linville was educated in the common schools in Zanesville. He was married February 1, 1843, to Miss Mary Ellen, daughter of Jacob and Mary Ortman, who were early settlers in Walnut township. 325

Mrs. Linville was born in Maryland, July 22, 1821. Mr. Linville settled in Walnut township, on the Ortman farm, conducting the same for his father-in-law until October 1849, when he purchased ninety acres of it, and lived there until 1872. In the spring of 1873, he came to New Salem and engaged in the drug business. In 1874 the firm name became David F. Linville & Son, drugs and general merchandise. They are doing an extensive business. Mr. and Mrs. Linville are the parents of ten children, three living, Mary Samantha, wife of Theodore Berry, a resident of Walnut township. Allen H., in business with his father, and Francis C., engaged in the butcher trade in New Salem. He was married in the fall of 1875, to Sarah E., daughter of Henry and Mary Berry. They are the parents of two children. David J. Linville built his present residence in 1874. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. David F., is Mayor of New Salem. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and Knight Templers. LOUCKS, GEORGE, farmer and stock raiser, Violet township; post office, Winchester, Franklin county; son of Samuel and Christena (Alspach) Loucks; born near Waterloo, November 14, 1838; was married to Lydia Swartz, (born February 27, 1840), February 27, 1862; has a family of eight children: Martha J., born January 9, 1863; Charles E., born September 14, 1864; Mary E., born August 11, 1867; Daniel W., born February 18, 1869; Elmer E., born December 3, 1870; Louvina L., born February 4, 1873; Della M., born August 6, 1878; Samuel O., born April 3, 1881. Mr. Loucks has held several township offices, and is a member of the Reform church. 326