HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

STARR TOWNSHIP---A TOWNSHIP THAT HAS A HISTORY. BOUNDARY---NAME---WATER COURSES---TIMBER---PIONEERS---WHEN THEY CAME---WHO THEY WERE---STARR POSTOFFICE---NEW CADIZ ---HAYDENSVILLE---SCHOOLS---MILLS---SOCIETIES---POLITICAL--- GOD'S ACRE---RELIGIOUS---CHURCHES---TOWNSHIP OFFICERS---BIO- ORAPHICAL.

BOUNDARY, NOW AND THEN. Starr Township is bounded on the north and east by Athens County, on the south by Vinton County, and on the west by Washington Township. Prior to 1850 the township was twelve miles long by three miles wide, containing the west half of its present territory and the west half of what is now Brown Town- ship, in Vinton County. All that part which now forms the east half constituted prior to 1850 a part of York Township in Athens County. The entire township is underlaid with coal, fire-clay and iron ore. The surface is rough and hilly and not so well adapted to agriculture as other portions of Hocking and Athens counties. The soil is best adapted to grazing and fruit culture, especially to the growing of peaches. NAME. In 1811 Joseph Starr wrote a personal letter to Henry O'Neill asking him to petition the Legislature to organize town 12, range 16, in Hocking County, and name it Starr. It seems that Mr. O'Neill complied with Mr. Starr's request, but the exact date of his petition it has been impossible to ascertain. However, as early as July, 1812, the township transacted business under its present name. STREAMS. The first and largest stream which intersects this township is the Hocking River. It enters the township at the middle of the north line of section 18, flows a southeasterly course and leaves near the middle of the east line of section 5. 1036

Raccoon Creek rises on section 16, takes a southerly course to its junction with the Buffalo Fork on the northeast quarter of section 14, thence southwesterly and west to its point of exit on the southeast quarter of section 31. The fountain head of Buffalo Fork of Raccoon Creek is on sec- tions 3 and 4, and flows a southwesterly direction to its confluence with the main branch of Raccoon. Five-Mile is composed of two main forks, one, originating on sec- tions 21, 22 and 28, flows north by Union Furnace and New Ca- diz, forming a junction on section 30 with the other main branch which originates in Green Township, enters Starr on the north- west quarter of section 30, and flows southeast to the point of confluence with the other branch, then flows north, leaving the township on the northeast line of section 30, and enters Hocking River in Green Township. TIMBER. The timber of this township, now very scarce, is principally oak, maple, poplar and hickory, in their various species. OLD SETTLERS. In the summer of 1810 Henry O'Neill and two of his sons, James and Thomas, came from Portage County, Ohio, to where Starr postoffice now is, and erected a small log cabin in the pea- vines on the south bank of the Raccoon. The father returned to Portage County late in the fall, and brought his family to their new home the following spring. Henry O'Neill was born in Ire- land, May 26, 1753. He was a highly educated school-teacher, and came to America in 1791; first settled at Carlyle, Pa. In 1796 he removed to Portage County, Ohio. In 1808 he was ap- pointed Justice of the Peace in that county by the Governor and, as before stated, he made the first settlement of Starr Township in 1810. He was Justice of the Peace many years in this township, and was the first Postmaster here. He married Nancy Lee, also a native of Ireland, and reared a large family. His wife died in 1831, at the age of eighty years. John Clapp emigrated with his family to Starr Township in 1816. He was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y. He was the father of thirteen children. James Lee came to Starr (now Brown) Township, Vinton County, in 1816. 1037

Joseph Sudlow settled on section 19 in 1817. He built a cabin where the Pleasant Point Methodist Episcopal church now stands. He was born in Connecticut and married Hannah Clapp, who came with her parents to this township in 1816, and was the first to teach school in the township. Seth Morse came in 1818, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 13. He was born Dec. 12, 1776, in Connecticut. He married Polly Patterson in 1809, and was the father of six children, three of whom are still living. Mr. Morse died March 16 1868. Isaac Lewis came in 1818. He was a native of Connecticut. He died here May 8, 1861, aged sixty-two years. Edward Terry came in 1821 and settled on the southeast quarter of section 15. Zina Ferris was born in Vermont, Aug. 4, 1795. He worked at chair-making several years, and came to Columbus, Ohio (which was then a village), in 1817, where he worked at manufacturing surveyors' instruments, and in 1822 he came to Starr Township and settled on the northwest quarter of section 20, where he still resides, and is the oldest man in Starr Township. He married Alma Morse, daughter of Seth Morse, Jan. 23, 1823. STARR POSTOFFICE was established as early as 1815, with Henry O'Neill as Post- master. He was succeeded by John Wright. In 1846 Wright was succeeded by Isaac Lewis, at whose death Lafayette Eggleston be- came Postmaster. The office was discontinued for about two years during the war, and then re-established with Mr. Eggleston as Postmaster. It is now kept in the railroad depot. The first store was established at Starr in 1838, by Bennett & Stockton, of Nelsonville. A blacksmith shop was built here in 1848. There is one church---the property of the Methodists. NEW CADIZ is situated on the northwest quarter of section 23, and was laid out in February, 1854, by James Blackburn and Melissa Butin. It was surveyed and platted by Colonel Levi Davis, of Logan. The main street is sixty feet wide and runs north and south. Water street is also sixty feet wide, runs east and west. For some years there was a store there, but none at present. It has a doctor, a blacksmith shop, and a Presbyterian church. They never had a 1038

regular postoffice, but had what they termed the Five-mile box in the Logan postoffice, and when any one of the citizens went to town he brought the mail for the entire neighborhood, and left it at Car- rick's. They now get their mail at Union Furnace. The popula- tion of Cadiz is about 100. HAYDENVILLE. This little village is in Green Township, but the railroad station and postoffice are in Starr. The first marriage in Starr Township was James O'Neill to Ruth Donaldson. The first birth was Henry O'Neill, son of John and Abigail O'Neill. SCHOOLS. The first school was taught by Hannah Clapp, on the O'Neill homestead, section 25. At present, there are ten school districts and school-houses in the township. The school fund for 1882 amounted to $1,768.58. The first brick house in Hocking County was erected in 1825 by Joseph Sudlow on the northwest quarter of section 19. The old Woodard House was built late in the fall and winter of 1824. It was built for Ichabod Woodard, Sr., and still stands on the old place, on the east half of section 15. MILLS. The first mill was a hand mill on a small stream which flows into the Raccoon from the south at Starr postoffice, and was run by water-power. It has since been known as Mill Run. In 1815 James O'Neill erected a saw-mill and constructed a dam on the O'Neill farm. In later years it was rebuilt, but on the opposite bank, and is still standing. In 1838 Christopher Wolf, Sr., built a dam across Hocking River on section 11, and erected a saw-mill there the same fall. In 1848 he sold to James O. Austin, who ran it until his death in 1852. It afterward became the property of Ohio Patton, who has added a set of corn burrs. Wolfs Lock Mill was built by George W. Benedict in 1855, at the lock on the Hocking Canal, known as Wolf's Lock. In 1859 it was purchased by Wilford Stiers, who sold a half interest .to George Carter in the fall of the same year, and in 1861 Mr. Stiers sold the rest of his interest. After passing through various hands it finally went down several years ago. 1039

forts Sumner, Carney and Reno respectively, and was present when Breckenridge made his charge upon Washington. He was married Sept. 9, 1869, to Abigail E., daughter of John Mason of this township. She was born Jan. 1, 1842, in Greene County Penn. They have two children---Amos O. and Mary Ethel. Our subject is engaged in general farming on section 22. Darius Bennett, a prominent mechanic of New Cadiz, was born in Starr Township, March 22, 1841, and is a son of Jacob Bennett a native of Madison County, N. Y., who came to Starr Township nearly sixty years ago and settled in the woods. Our subject was brought up on the old homestead and received a common-school education. He possesses much ingenuity and early learned the use of mechanical tools. He mastered the carpenter's trade while yet a boy without an instructor. He also possesses a knowledge of machinery. He erected the machinery and operated a steam en- gine at Straitsville for three years. For the past two years he has been erecting coal-hoppers and screens. He was married in the fall of 1860 to Frances A., daughter of Wesley Campbell, of Cadiz. They have four children---Warren, Josephine (Thompson), Cynthia L. and Herman. Mrs. Bennett died July 10, 1878. Mr. Bennett was married July 19, 1882, to Charlotte Stemler. His father, Ja- cob Bennett, was born Feb. 1, 1788, and married Mrs. Rueann Harper, April 22, 1840. She is a daughter of John Matheny. Jacob Bennett died April 12,1861. Lemuel Tobias Bethel, a farmer of Starr Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, was born in Hampshire County, Va., Nov. 9, 1818, a son of Joshua and Nancy (Kidwell) Bethel. His parents moved to Ohio and settled near Senecaville, Guernsey County, when he was seven years of age. When he was twenty-two years of age he purchased a farm near Senecaville and carried it on till 1855, when he came to Athens County and settled in Trimble Township, living there till 1868. He then removed to Harrison Township, Vinton County, and in 1880 purchased his present farm in Starr Township. In February, 1842, he married Rebecca Slater, of Guernsey County. They have eight children---Caroline, now Mrs. John Maxwell; Albert S., of Nelsonville; Joshua C.; Nancy M., now Mrs. J. H. Anderson, of Vinton County; Lettice Ann, now Mrs. D. Ogg, of Vinton County; George William; John Lemuel; Mary I., now Mrs. Charles Collins, of Pike County. They have lost one daughter, Rebecca J., wife of Levi Collins, who died Dec. 14, 1881, aged twenty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Bethel 1046

are members of the Methodist church. He is a member of Hock- hocking Lodge, No. 339, I. O. O. F., Nelsonville. While a resi- dent of Trimble Township he served as Trustee and Justice of the Peace. William D. Buckingham, section 29, Starr Township, was born in Vinton (then Hocking) County, Ohio, March 29, 1842. He went with his parents to York Township in 1856 and came to this township in 1861. He was a soldier in the late war in Company E, Ninetieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Angle, who was killed at the siege of Nashville. He participated in the battle of Stone River, where he was wounded and thereby rendered unable for duty, and nine months later was discharged and now draws a small pension from the United States Govern- ment. Since the war his business has been for the most part that of a teamster. He was married July 31, 1862, to Almira McCallis- ter (her father, however, spells the name McCollester), a daughter of Abram McCollester. They have five children---Frank E., Charles G., Mary D., Martha J. and Abram Curtis. Mr. Bucking- ham owns thirty acres of land. William Curtis Buckingham, the father of the above, was born in Starr Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, March 8, 1819, and is a son of Philo Buckingham, a native of Con- necticut, who came to Starr Township in 1817, and settled in the woods. He resided here about twenty-seven years, then went to Jackson County, Ohio, and in 1850 removed to Edgar County, Ill., where he died in the spring of 1851. He was brought up on the farm and received a limited common-school education. He was married Jan. 7, 1841, to Frederica D., daughter of August Schaal. She was born in Germany, and brought to America at the age of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Buckingham had six children, four now living---William D., Caroline M., John A. and Andrew B. One son, George P., died at the age of seven years, and an- other, Charles W., a promising young man of twenty-two years, was killed by falling coal in the mine at Straitsville, this county. Our subject removed to York Township, as above stated, in 1856, and to Starr in 1861, where he now resides on section 29. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. James Conaway was born in Steubenville, Ohio, Sept. 25, 1826. His father, George Conaway, was a native of County Derry, Ire- land. He married Mary Kilpatrick, also a native of that county, and in 1826 emigrated to America and settled in Steubenville, Ohio, where they remained until 1828, when they removed to Mus- 1047

in 1876, by Elder H. A. Gortner. He traveled for five years as a supply in the regular work. Mr. Craig is now extensively engaged in fruit culture, making a specialty of fine budded peaches. As a fruit-grower he is eminently successful. His fruits command the highest prices in the Cincinnati, Columbus and Baltimore markets. He was married Oct. 25, 1866, to Miss Cynthia A. Mathews, daughter of Ephraim Mathews. They have five children---Frank L., Minnie M., Eugene N., Linnie A. and Emma Grace. Hugh Craig, father of the above, was born July 8, 1812, in Washington County, Pa., and is of Irish parentage. He came to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1822, and to Hocking in 1848. He married Jane Jenkins. They had nine children, four now living---Mary, Martha Jane and William M. Nathan H. Essex, deceased, late of Starr Township, was born in Jackson Township, Morgan Co., Ohio, a son of Nathan Essex, a native of Maryland. He was reared on a farm and received a common-school education. He was married in January, 1849, to Elizabeth Jane Morris, daughter of John Morris, born in Morgan County, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1829. They have had eleven children, of whom ten are living---Charity A. (now Mrs. Rogers), Calvin, E. Almira (now Mrs. Cook), Winfield S., Zelda V. (now Mrs. Wolf), Amne (now Mrs. Wolf), Hannibal H., Sherman S. and Nelson S. Mr. Essex removed to Hocking County in April, 1863, and settled on section 3, Starr Township, where he resided and was engaged in farming and clearing his land until his death, March 21,1873. He was a member of the Christian church at Mt. Zion. Mrs. Essex afterward married P. C. Blackburn, of Athens County. Freeman W. Frey, section 21, Starr Township, is a native of Fayette County, Pa, and was born Sept. 19, 1825. His father, Jonathan Frey (deceased), was a native of Greene County, Pa., and emigrated to Morgan County in 1836. He came to this county in 1865 and died here March 1, 1866. There were nine children in the family of whom seven are living---Elizabeth, Eve A., (Mrs. Atkinson), William H., Freeman W., Maria (Mrs. Williamson), Phoebe J. (Mrs. Wany), and Isabell. Rachel was married to Benja- min Stead and at her death left several children. John died at Pittsburg Landing while in the service of the Union during the late war. Mr. Frey was brought up on the farm, and while a young man learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. He built many of the best dwellings and school-houses in Starr Township and vicinity, and the trestles on the railroad be- 1050

tween Hocking River and Starr postoffice. He served in the late war in Company F, Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry one year, and partici- pated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and others. He was married in Morgan County, Ohio, Nov. 24, 1850, to Jane, daughter of David Archibald (deceased), a native of Belmont County, Ohio. She was born in Morgan County, Ohio. They have seven children---Robert E., M. Ann (Mrs. Mason), Lizzie A., Emma E., David A., George B. M. and Ida M. For the past few years Mr. Frey has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. Alford Gray, section 33, Starr Township, was born in Fairfield County, Conn., Jan. 14, 1809. His father, Eli Gray, brought his family to the head of Seneca Lake in New York State in 1818, and to Tioga County, Pa., in 1820, and there settled in a wilderness. Our subject came to Hocking County in 1853 for his health, and has since resided here. He was married Feb. 18, 1830, to Anna, daughter of Ira Pettibone. They have seven children---Alva, Au- rinda, Aaron, Albert, Adaline, Dexter and Marietta. Mrs. Gray's grandfather, Seth Pettibone, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and fought in the battle of Bennington. Mrs. Gray was reared within twenty miles of that battle-ground. Mr. Gray's Grandfather Wood was also a Revolutionary soldier, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis and saw a colored man step up to the former and hold the following interview: "Is this General Cornwallis ?" " Yes," said Cornwallis, bowing very low. " But it must be Cobwallis now, 'case General Washington has shelled all de cohn off," replied the darky earnestly. One daugh- ter of Mr. Gray, Adaline, married Napoleon Stout, and had three children---Frank M., Frederick A. and Edward A. Marietta mar- ried William Dishennet and had two children, one living---Anna M. Mr. Dishennet's first wife was Eliza A. Harter. They had one child---George L. Henry Groves, section 19, Starr Township, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, Dec. 30, 1835. He was reared on the farm and re- ceived a common-school education. He came with his parents to this township in April, 1856. He was married April 23, 1863, to Mary A. Rose, daughter of Rev. William Rose, a Baptist preacher (old school), who was born in Pennsylvania in 1794. They have had eight children, seven now living---James W., Clarinda, Parthena, Ida B., Jesse B., William N. and Frank L. One son, Alfred, died at the age of five years. Mr. Groves owns 177 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. On 1051

his farm there are two strata of coal, one four feet and the other six feet in thickness. Mrs. Groves is a member of the Bible Chris- tian church at Mount Zion. Henry Groves (deceased), the father of the above, was born in Hampshire County, Va., Dec. 7, 1795. At the age of sixteen years he began to learn the tanner's trade which he followed for a few years. In 1825 he came to Morgan County, Ohio, and to Starr Township in April, 1856. He was married in 1819 to Rebecca Devault, a daughter of Andrew De- vault. She was born Jane 16, 1795. They had ten children, six now living---Mary, Eli, Elizabeth, Eliza, Henry and Margaret E. Mr. Groves was for many years a member of the Protestant Meth- odist church. He died June 21, 1869, respected by all. Mrs. Groves' nephew, Andrew Jackson Devault, has resided with the family for the past thirty-nine years, and now resides with Henry Groves. He was born in June, 1829, and has been a cripple since he was twenty-one months old. Mrs. Groves died in 1869. J. Foreman Guthrie, section 34, Starr Township, was born in Fayette County, Pa., Nov. 2, 1851. His father, Absalom Guthrie (deceased), was a native of Preston County, Va., and brought his family to Starr Township in March, 1866. There were eleven children in the family, our subject being the fifth. Nine are now living---Isaac, Mary F., Rachel A., James M., J. Foreman, Martha, Virginia A., Sarah L. and William N. The father died in Feb- ruary, 1869. Our subject was married Dec. 27, 1881, to Hannah Grimes, daughter of Josiah Grimes, of Perry County, Ohio. They have one child---Charles W. Mr. Guthrie owns 300 acres of land, and is engaged in .farming and stock-raising. He also deals extensively in stock. Mrs. Guthrie was born Jan. 6, 1859, in Perry County. Her grandfather, John Grimes, settled there fifty-five years ago. Joseph W. Harned, section 28, Starr Township, was born in Preston County, W. Va., July 26, 1836. His father, Edward Harned, deceased, was also a native of Preston County, and re- moved his family to Fayette County, Pa., in 1839. Our subject came to this county in 1864. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment, Ohio National Guards, for four or five months, and was present when Brecken- ridge made the charge on Washington City. He married, Nov. 26, 1859, Miss Mary F. Guthrie, daughter of Absalom Guthrie, de- ceased. They have had seven children, only five now living---Annie L., Walter, Jennie B., Lucy and Estella May. Mr. Harned owns 1052

207 acres of land and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was Trustee of Starr Township for three years, and Ministerial Trustee the past two years. He and family are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Harned is a member of the I. O. O. F. Benjamin A. Hosom, of Belpre Township, Washington Co., Ohio, was born in Bristol Township, Morgan County, Jan. 24, 1825. His father, Andrew Hosom, was born near Augusta, Maine, in 1777. He was the father of eleven children, seven girls and four boys, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. Six of this number are living---Martha, Sarah, Andrew J., Elbridge G., Lydia and Benjamin A. Andrew Hosom came to Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1815, and to Bristol Township, Morgan County, in 1816, and settled in the woods. He died in Morgan County in 1867. Our subject was reared on the farm, and received a common- school education. For ten years he sold goods over the Southern part of Ohio, but for the past twenty-five years has been selling fruit-trees in Central and Southern Ohio, and West Virginia. As a fruit-tree man Mr. Hosom has been eminently successful. His motto has always been fair and honest dealing, and his business has constantly increased. In 1872 be sold trees for a few orchards in the neighborhood of Nelsonville, to the amount of $1,100, and in the past two years he has sold 4i,000 worth on the same terri- tory. He makes budded peaches a specialty, and has all the latest varieties, and one of the largest collections. He has planted some of the best orchards in the State of Ohio. He was married July 4, 1850, to Mary A. Beckett, by whom he has had ten children. Of these eight are living---Andrew J. M., Henrietta A., Mary E., Clara A. and William B. (twins), Elmer E. and Everett E. A. (twins), and Eva Delle. Joseph Ingmire, deceased, late of Starr Township, was born in the State of Maryland, July 21, 1802, and was a son of Snoden Ingmire, who brought his family to Muskingum County, Ohio, when the subject of this sketch was a small boy. Joseph came to Starr Township in 1849, where he cleared out a farm, working very hard until his death, Aug. 21, 1873. He was married June 25, 1835, to Susanna Williams, by whom he had twelve children; of these ten are living---Eliza J. (Mrs. Hutchinson), John, Snoden, Abraham, Mary (Mrs. Boyles), George, Martha (Mrs. Bucking- ham), Addison, Lizzie and Susanna. Snoden and Addison, with the two younger girls and their mother, reside on the old home- stead, of which there is 132 acres, situated on section 36. The boys are engaged in farming and stock-raising. 1053

James M. Loomis, of Cadiz, born in Starr Township, March 9, 1849, and is a son of Jesse H. Loomis (deceased), and early set- tler of this township. Our subject was brought up on a farm and received a common-school education. For the past thirteen years he has been working at the trade of a carpenter. He was married Jan. 18, 1879, to Emma H., daughter of John W. Shaw. They have had two children, only one living---John W. Mr. Loomis owns forty acres of valuable land one mile east of Cadiz, and prop- erty in Cadiz. He is a member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. George Thomas Mason 1055

William McCue was born in Augusta County, Va., in Upper Shen- andoah Valley, on Middle River, April 4, 1818. His father, John McCue, was also a native of Augusta County. Our subject came to Morgan County, Ohio in 1830, and to Athens County in 1835. The first threshing he did was in Morgan County, in 1832, with an old-fashioned one-horse tramp grubber, which was a great improve- ment on the flail and the tramping floor. The next machine he used was four-horse lever-power grubber. In 1855 he came to Starr Township, which has since been his home. The first separa- 1059

tor he used was a McConnelsville machine in 1858 or '59, built by Mr. Patterson and owned by Edmund Wolf and Joseph Mc- Daniel. Since 1832 Mr. McCue has missed but three seasons from the dusty threshing machine, and he is known far and near as "Billy McCue, the thresher." He was married in 1846 to Eliza Pierce, by whom he had one child---Catharine (now Mrs. Stump). Mrs. McCue died, and in 1856 he married Alma Terry, daughter of Robert Terry. They have had seven chldren, six living---Philene Allen, Minerva, Julia, Robert and Viola. 1060

Thomas O'Neill, deceased, late of Starr Township, was born June 10, 1792, in Pennsylvania, just after his parents and family landed from Ireland. His father, Henry O'Neill, being the first settler of Starr Township is mentioned at greater length in the gen- eral history of this township. Our subject accompanied his father and elder brothers to this township in 1810, and assisted in clear- 1061

ing land and sowing a crop of wheat preparatory to removing the rest of the family here the following spring. Mr. O'Neill was a hard worker, and had many difficulties to encounter. He had to go to Chauncey to get his blacksmithing done and to get his corn ground. He was married in 1817 to Ann Lee, a daughter of James Lee. They have had nine children, only six living---Ros- anna, Elizabeth (Lincoln), George, Lafayette, Lovina and Joseph. The deceased were---Martha, Alvin and Thomas. Rosanna and George are not married, and reside on the old homestead, of which there is 220 acres. George was born June 19, 1822. Rosanna is the oldest of the family, and is a subscriber for this work. Eliza- beth married Albert Lincoln, and has seven children---Elizabeth, Martha, Benjamin, Alvin, George, Thomas, and Charles. Lafay- ette married Patty Eggleston, and has two children---Benjamin and Asahel. Lovina married Lafayette Eggleston, and had four chil- dren---Martha (deceased), Lovina, Lafayette and Ettie. Joseph married Mahala Keeton and has one child---Ettie. Alvin (de- ceased) married Desire Morse and had two children---Lovina and Thomas. Thomas (deceased) married Mary Piney and had two children---George W. and Rosanna. Mr. O'Neill died Oct. 30, 1868, respected by all who knew him. Adam Runyon, section 15, Starr Township, was born in Pike County, March 25, 1824, and is a son of Henry Runyon (deceased), a native of Virginia. Our subject was reared on a farm and attended a subscription school in his native county. He came to Lawrence County, Ohio, in 1856, to Vinton County in 1869, and Hocking in 1876. He served in the late war in Company E, One Hundred and Seventy-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, about one year. Mr. Runyon was married in June, 1856, to Margaret, daughter of John Collins (deceased). She was born in Cabell County, W.Va., and came to Lawrence County, Ohio, soon after their marriage in 1856. Meredith F. Simms was born in Culpeper County, Va..May 24, 1836. His father, John W. Simms, was a native of the same county, and brought his family to Norwich, Muskingum Co., Ohio, in 1838, and to Athens County in 1840, settling in Athens Township. Our subject began to learn the tanner's trade when twelve years old, and followed that business for several years. He came to Starr Township in 1865, where he has since resided. He owns 173 acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. For the past nine years he has held the office of Justice of the Peace. He was 1062

married in 1864 to Emeline, daughter of Alex. Kinnear. They have ten children---Mary, William T. S., Thomas S., Lucy M., Lenora, Susan, John W., James M., Lewis Deen and Nancy. Mr. Simms is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Captain Wilford Stiers, leading farmer and breeder of fine short- horn cattle and fine sheep, Starr Township, was born near Seneca- ville, Guernsey Co., Ohio, May 31, 1824. When thirteen years of age he came with his parents to Hocking County and settled on what is known as the Myers farm near Logan, at that time a very small place. He remained during his boyhood on his father's farm attending school. When twenty-two he taught one term of school, and in the spring of 1846 he helped raise Company D, Second Ohio, for the Mexican war. The regiment was commanded by Colonel G. W. Morgan; Simeon Tucker was elected Captain of the company; he resigned and Captain Abram Siford succeeded him. Captain Stiers was first appointed Sergeant of the company and afterward promoted to Orderly. The company left Logan in June, 1846; went to Mexico via New Orleans and Brazos Island, returning home at the expiration of the service, in July, 1847. Mr. Stiers then remained on his father's farm until fall, when he made up his mind either to get married or to go to California. He began first to look for a wife and was fortunate in finding a most estimable young lady, Miss Elizabeth Wolf, to whom he was married Dec. 9, 1847. She was born at Wolf's Plains, Athens Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1827, the daughter of Christopher and Rhoda (Dorr) Wolf, who were among the earliest settlers of Athens County. They had a family of seven sons and three daughters, Mrs. Stiers being the youngest. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stiers settled on the old Wolf farm in Starr Township, Hocking County, where they still reside. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have had ten children, all living---Vernon C., born March 21, 1849, was married March 18, 1875, to Leah Rannells, the daughter of Thomas and Mahala Rannells, and resides on a farm near Creola, Vinton County. Irene was born Feb. 4, 1851, and was married Sept. 6, 1871, to O. C. Pierce, a native of Underhill, Chittenden Co., Vt. He is agent and telegraph oper- ator for the C., H. V. & T. R. R., at Haydenville. Stephen Stiers was born Nov. 31, 1852, and was married Dec. 31, 1877, to Kate Russel, a native of England, and resides in Jefferson County, Kas. Wilson Homer Stiers was born Aug. 5,1856, and was married May 3, 1882, to Cora Saumenig. a native of Logan, and resides on the 1063

old homestead. Flavius J., born Nov. 16, 1858; Ada May, May 23,1861; Lizzie, Jan. 31, 1864; Wilford M., Aug. 21,1866; Zoa, Jan. 20, 1873; , Albert H., Oct. 29, 1876, reside on the old homestead with their parents. Captain Wilford Stiers is not only one of the old settlers of Hocking County, but is also one of her leading farmers and citizens. At the outbreaking of the late war he assisted in raising Company F, Fifty-eighth Ohio Infantry. He enlisted as a private but was appointed Lieutenant, and was afterward elected Captain of the company; remained in the ser- vice eighteen months, when he was compelled to resign on account of poor health. He then returned home and has since confined his attention to farming and breeding fine stock, paying especial attention to fine Spanish Merino sheep, and has one of the finest and best-bred flocks in the State. The Captain has some of the finest-bred and best-trained sheep and cattle dogs in the country and has sold dogs to leading farmers and stock-men in this and other States. James W. Thompson, section 29, Starr Township, was born in Lodi Township, Athens Co. , Ohio, Nov. 6, 1837. His father, John Thompson, deceased, was a native of York Township, Athens County. Our subject's grandfather, Jeremiah Thompson, came from England to Athens County prior to the year 1800. Mr. Thompson's grandfather, Josephus Carpenter, used to run foot races with the Indian boys. Mr. Thompson was reared on the farm and received a limited education. For some years he worked on public works. He served as a soldier in Company I, Seventy- fifth Ohio Infantry, for three years, and participated in the battles of' Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Freeman's Ford, second Bull Run, Camp Baldwin, Gainesville, Pocataligio and others. He was wounded at the battle of second Bull Run and now draws a pen- sion. During the last eighteen months of service be was a Cor- poral. He was married Sept. 6, 1865, to Mary C. Buckingham, daughter of Curtis Buckingham, of this township. They have three children---Ellenora, William and Charles W. Mr. Thomp- son owns eighty-four acres of land and is engaged in general farm- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is an Odd Fellow in good standing. Samuel Thompson was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, Sept. 18, 1818. His father, James Thompson, was a native of Mary- land and an early settler of Coshocton County. His early life was spent on the farm and in attending school. He came to Hock- 1064

ing County in 1841, where he has since resided. Mr. Thompson was married in 1842 to Elizabeth Avery. She was born in Bel- mont County, Ohio, in 1822, and came with her parents to this county in 1841. Her father, Philip Avery, came from Virginia to Belmont county in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of nine children, six of whom are living---George S., Hannah J., Samuel O., Charles, Clara and Wesley. One son, James C., was shot accidentally while out hunting with Harvey Mitchell, June 19, 1857, at the age of thirteen years. Mr. Thomp- son has been a stone and brick mason for the past twenty-six years. The first chimney he built was for Ed Skinner in the fall of 1856, and the second was for John Mason the same fall. He was Justice of the Peace for Starr Township twelve years. Mr. Thompson in 1841 introduced the first blue-stem wheat in Hock- ing County, importing it from Coshocton County. Lewis White, section 2, Starr Township, was born in Morgan County, Ohio, Aug. 29, 1834, a son of Delworth White, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Morgan County in boyhood and re- moved his family to Starr Township in 1848. His wife was Miss Aley Nickols. They had nine children, but three now are living ---our subject, Henry and Rachel. The deceased were: Delila (Young), Dilworth ( who died in the late war), Elizabeth and three that died in infancy. The father died Dec. 2, 1873. Mr. White was married Sept. 3, 1857, to Elizabeth, daughter of Joshua Hurd, who came to Hocking County in 1847 and settled in Starr Town- ship, where he died April 26, 1879. He was born in 1803 in Monroe County, Ohio. Mr. Hurd was the father of twelve chil- dren---Jacob (died in the late war), Mary, Nancy, Maria, Nathan (deceased), Elizabeth, Losetta, William, Amanda, Almira, and John, who died in infancy. Nathan was also a soldier in the late war. Mr. and Mrs. White have had eight children, seven of whom are living---Jesse, Henry, Sarah, James William, John, Minnie B. and Lewis. Charity is deceased. Mr. White owns 150 acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. White belongs to the I. O. O. F. fraternity. Richason Williams, section 20, Starr Township, was born in Bradford County, Penn., Feb. 23, 1818, a son of Chester Williams, a native of Vermont and of English descent. Our subject came to Hocking County in 1841. He was married in June, 1842, to Charity E., daughter of Benjamin Eggleston. They had six chil- 1065

dren---Marcus D. L., Obadiah P., W. Scott (deceased), David Wes- ley, Bruce D. and Mary M. Obadiah's son, Abraham L., and Scott's son, Thomas W., are living with their Uncle Richason. Abraham is a promising young man. In 1859 Mr. Williams was elected Constable, which office he has since held with the exception of one year. Soon after he came to this county the bank failed and left him but $2 to start on. Joseph D. Wolf, deceased, was born on Wolf's Plains, Athens Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1822, a son of Christopher C. and Rhoda (Dorr) Wolf among the earlier settlers of Athens. Christopher C. was a live business man---owned and ran a grist and saw mill and dealt largely in stock, he and wife had seven sons and three daughters. Joseph D., the subject of this sketch, was the sixth son. He was reared on his father's farm on Wolf's Plains until seventeen, when he came with his parents to what is now Hocking County, and settled on the farm where his wife still resides, in Starr Township. He was married to Mary V. Price in Logan, May 22, 1844. She was born in Dover Township, Athens County, a daughter of Jonas and Tamar (Culver) Rice. Her father was one of the early settlers of Athens County. He was a Colonel in the war of 1812. When a young man he went among the Chickasaw Indians and lived with them some years. He and his brother Ambrose were afterward sent by the Government to survey lands in Ohio. Jonas Culver built one of the first mills in Athens County, and also assisted in building the Ohio University at Athens. He died with yellow fever at Memphis, Tenn., in June, 1829, while returning from New Orleans, where he had taken a boat-load of provisions, he being Captain of the boat. He and wife had five daughters; four daughters lived to be grown. Mrs. Joseph Wolf (now Mrs. Jona- than Stirling) was the eldest. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have eight children, seven now living---Sarah M., wife of George Fry; Louis H., farmer of Green Township ; Mary M., wife of William N. England; Helena T., wife of Samuel England (deceased); Andrew J., residing in Washington Territory; Fannie L. and Effie H., re- siding with their mother. Mr. Wolf died Aug. 10, 1858. Mrs. Wolf married Mr. Jonathan Stirling March 26, 1865. He was born in Hocking County and is one of the leading farmers and coal men of Hocking Valley. Lafayette W. Wolf, son of Mathew D. Wolf, of Starr Township, was born in this township May 23, 1853. He was reared on his father's farm and attended the common district school. He en- 1066

gaged a short time in mining but has given the most of his at- tention to farming. He was married Sept. 3, 1874, to Harriet L. Paffenbarger, daughter of George Paffenbarger. She was born in Vinton County, Ohio, and died April 20, 1875. March 7, 1878, Mr. Wolf married Florence, daughter of Elias Boudinot, of Ward Township. She was born in Dover Township, Athens County, and was a prominent school-teacher. They had one child born to them ---Willis D. Mrs. Wolf died June 25, 1882. Mr. Wolf is now en- gaged in selling fruit trees with B. A. Hosom, well known in the Hocking Valley. Mathew D. Wolf, section 4, Starr Township, was born in Ath- ens County, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1812, a son of Christopher Wolf, who came to Ohio from Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1797, and located in Marietta, removing the next year to Ames Township, Athens County, where he helped Judge Ephraim Cutler clear his first land. He was married in 1803 to Rhoda, daughter of Mathew Dorr, who came from New York to Athens County in 1798. They reared nine of their ten children to manhood and womanhood. Mr. Wolf died in September, 1846. Mathew D. bought the farm now owned by Peter Hayden, in 1837, and in 1850 bought the one where he now lives, which at that time had not an acre cleared. He now owns 324 1-2 acres of valuable land. He was married Jan. 1, 1839, to Chloe G. Brown, daughter of Perley Brown. Of the fifteen chil- dren born to them, thirteen are living---Edmond D., Rhoda, Lydia M., Perley B., Joseph W., John L., Lafayette W., Corrinda A., Christopher C., Phedora F., Andrew F., Charles P. and Finley H. A daughter, Loraine L., the twin sister of John L., died in Nel- sonville, Ohio, May 31, 1878. She was the wife of W. G. Hick- man. William Wolf, Jr., section 10, Starr Township, was born in this township, Nov. 3, 1838, a son of William Wolf, of Athens County. Our subject was reared on a farm, and attended the common schools. He married Mary Jane Parker, Dec. 5, 1865. At that time he had $13 in money and two horses, and worked for 50 cents a day and his dinner. During the construction of the Hocking Valley Railroad he was employed as foreman on the grading of one of the divisions, and received $2.00 a day, afterward advanced to $2.50 and board, then to $65 a month and expenses. During the panic his salary was reduced to $55 a month, and afterward advanced to $60, then to $70. He was one of the contractors who built the grade for the Lick Run branch of the Hocking Valley Railroad, in 1067

1869. He then engaged in lumbering for one season in Vinton County, for Gould, and afterward for W.W. Brooks, a short time, when he was hurt by a falling tree. He then built the grade for Peter Hayden's narrow-gauge railroad which extends from his hop- pers to his mines in Green Township, and then was foreman for Mr. Hayden over ten years, when, on account of failing health, he resigned his situation. During the spring and summer of 1883 he erected a neat two-story fame dwelling on his farm, at a cost of $1,000. It is 34x28 feet, with a drop-roof kitchen. Mr. Wolf now owns 199 acres of land, with good farm buildings. He is the father of six children---Dora B. (deceased), Albert P., Fannie P., James C., Robert V. and Lillie M. Mr. Wolf has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church twenty four years, a mem- ber in good standing of the Odd Fellows fraternity over twenty years, and a member of the Masonic fraternity three years. Mrs. Wolf is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ichabod Woodard, Sr., deceased, was Born in Essex County, N. J., Oct. 12, 1782, and was a son of William Woodard, a Revolu- tionary soldier, who lost his life in that great struggle for liberty. At the age of twenty years our subject went to New York State, and ran rafts of logs to Philadelphia. He afterward owned a mill on the Delaware River, which was destroyed by a freshet. Then, in 1812, he placed his wife and children and effects in a one-horse wagon and came to Zanesville, Ohio, where he stopped to rest a day or two, turning his horse into a pasture field. There was one tree (or stub) in the field, and when the horse was grazing near by it fell on him, killing him instantly. Mr. Woodard was completely broken down by this misfortune, for he was left with a family, a wagon, and only $6 in money. He traded his wagon for a horse, and managed to get his family to Fairfield County in the fall of 1813. He there engaged in farming until 1824, when he removed to McArthur, in what is now Vinton County, Ohio. In February, 1825, he removed to the old Woodard homestead, in Starr Town- ship, on section 15. The house he had built there in the fall of 1824 is still standing, and is occupied by his grandson, Webster Woodard. He was married Dec. 16, 1804, to Sarah Bennett. She was born on Long Island in 1785, on a place given to her mother, Mary Beers, by Mrs. Woodard's Grandfather Beers. It is situ- ated where a part of Brooklyn now stands. The deed was lost and other parties unjustly own the land. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard were the parents of twelve children, eight now living---Martha, 1068

Nancy, David and William (twins), Nathan B., James G., Ephraim and Isaac. Mr. Woodard was for many years a Methodist, and was the father of the class at Woodard's (now called Morris) Chapel. His house was for many years the home of the itinerant minister. June 2, 1868, he read a few chapters as usual in the Bible, laid in a chair near the bed, and expired in a few minutes. Ichabod Woodard, deceased, late of Starr Township, was born in Delhi County, N. Y., Aug. 18, 1812, and was a son of Ichabod Woodard, Sr. Our subject was brought to Zanesville, Ohio, by his parents in 1812, and to Fairfield County in 1813, where they remained until 1824, then removed to McArthur, Ohio. He and his brothers William and David came to Starr Township in Decem- ber, 1824, to build a cabin and prepare for the family by the fol- lowing spring. Mr. Woodard was always characterized by his industry and integrity. When a mere boy of sixteen summers he did the work of a man on the public works near Lancaster, Ohio. He sometimes worked all day and half of the night. The money he earned by working at night he kept, but the rest he gave to his father. He became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1831. He was married April 21, 1836, to Eleanor Nel- son, daughter of Hon. Daniel Nelson, the founder of Nelsonville. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard had eleven children born to them---Sarah (Mrs. Parker), Mary (Mrs. Moore), Ward, James, H. Clay (de- ceased), Clinton, Ella (deceased), Ida (deceased), H. Leroy and two that died in infancy. Clay was married to Huldah Tomlinson and left one child---James V. Our subject died March 16, 1868. He was a kind husband and affectionate father, an obliging and agreeable neighbor. His life was marked by acts of charity and benevolence. His purse was ever open to assist the poor and in building up churches, schools and benevolent and charitable insti- tutions. Mr. Woodard and family removed to their farm on sec- tion 16, Starr Township, in 1837, where Mrs. Woodard and the youngest son, Leroy, still reside. The latter was born March 1, 1854. Nathan B. Woodard was born near Lancaster, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1815, and is a son of Ichabod Woodard, Sr., deceased. He was brought up on a farm and received his education in a subscription school. He was married April 21, 1836, to Sarah M. Nelson daughter of Daniel Nelson, the founder of Nelsonville, Ohio. They have had eight children---Silas, in San Francisco, Cal. ; Daniel, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga during the late war; 1069

Lizzie, Supervisor of the female department at the new insane asylum at Athens, Ohio; Lydia A., now Mrs. Milton Parker, of Nelsonville; Lucy, Mrs. Thompson, now deceased; Amos F., of Union County, Iowa; Nathan Webster, of Starr Township; and Ephraim R., at home. For the past eighteen years Mr. Woodard has been a licensed local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member fifty-two years. He has filled appointments nearly all over the New Plymouth circuit, and has been successful in winning souls to Christ. He has always given of his means largely to support the Gospel, and for other philanthropic and charitable institutions. He was a Class-leader in the church for seven years, and an exhorter seven years. He was Justice of the Peace for Starr Township six years, and had, during his term of office, nearly all of the business of that office in the township. He was also Clerk of the township for some time, but resigned. 1070

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