1883 History of Hocking Valley, Chap. 41

HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY

CHAPTER XLI.

 
     John Geiger, a native of Maryland, born in the city of Balti-
more, Dec. 19, 1810, was a son of John Geiger, a native of France.
In 1821 his parents came to Ohio and located in Morgan County,
where he was reared.  He was married when twenty-seven years
of age to Mary T. Burgoon.  They have six children---James,
Phillip, William, Mary Ann, Julian and Francis.  Mr. Geiger
came to Laurel Township in 1848 and located on section 24, where
he still resides.  He has 200 acres of highly cultivated land, with
a good residence and farm buildings.  Politically he is a Demo-
crat.  He has been Justice of the Peace six years.  He is a mem-
ber of the Catholic Church.

1136

 
ied in the Antioch cemetery. Our subject remained with his par-
ents until he reached his majority and received a common-school
education. He taught his first and last term of school in the Kline
district during the winter of 1860. At the breaking out of the late
civil war he was engaged in learning the carpenter's trade, but
Oct. 5, 1861, enlisted in Company H, Sixty-first Ohio Infantry, as
a private; was soon elected Second Lieutenant, and Oct. 2, 1862, was
promoted to First Lieutenant, and Jan. 1, 1864, to Captain, which
commission he held at the close of the war. During his service in
the army he participated in several hard-fought battles, among
which were Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Johnson's Landing, Miss.,
and was on the gun-boat Pittsburg when she ran the blockade of
Vicksburg. He was mustered out of the service at Columbus
Ohio, Jan. 14, 1865, after serving four years and three months.
On leaving his company he came to Rockbridge where he now re-
sides. He was married June 30, 1864, to Miss Elizabeth Weltner.
They have six children---A. Eugene, Iola Bell, Winona E.,William
M., Eva J. and Bertha E. Mr. Huls was appointed notary public
in April, 1882. He and his wife are active members of the Advent
Christian church.
     Henry Troxel, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Hocking
County, Ohio, Jan. 1, 1825, the son of Jacob and Catherine
Troxel, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio in June, 1808,
and settled in what is now Good Hope Township, within a half
mile of where our subject now resides. They remained here about
five years, then moved to Fairfield County, where they remained
until the father's death. The mother was again married and went
to Illinois, and there remained until her death. Our subject was
reared on the farm and received his early education in the common
schools, but this was very limited on account of his father's death,
which occurred when he was only eight years old. He was mar-
ried in 1852 to Miss Annie Housman. His wife died about two
years after their marriage. He was again married, in 1865, to
Miss Susan Fimfrock, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Fimfrock,
residents of Fairfield County. They have four children---Charles
L., Eva E., Annie R. and Henry Boyd. Mr. Troxel has a fine
farm containing 496 acres of improved land, on which is a pleasant
residence and substantial farm buildings. He also owns a tract of
land in Fairfield County containing 160 acres. He is a man pos-
sessed of great native mental vigor, and a liberal share of good,
sound judgment, as is shown by his success through life. He has

1146

always taken a lively interest in the matter of education, and one
of his principal aims is to give to his children what he was de-
prived of---a good, thorough education. He and his wife are mem-
bers of the Advent church.
   John Weltner, farmer, was born in Fayette County, Pa., Sept.
13, 1816, and is the son of John and Mary (Blosser) Weltner. He
came with his parents to Wood County, Va., when an infant, and
at the age of sixteen came to Ohio and located in Fairfield County,
engaged in teaching school, which he continued for about twenty
years. He was married Jan. 16, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Beery.
They have had thirteen children, nine of whom are living---Christian
H., Elizabeth R., Joseph C., Sarah E., John W., Daniel C., Will-
iam D., Effie A. and Clara C. Mahala C., Mary F., Martha J. and
Lydia A. are deceased. Mr. Weltner came to this township in
the spring of 1841 and located on the farm where he now resides,
which contains 600 acres of improved land, with substantial farm
buildings. He has held the office of Township Clerk for six years,
and has been Justice of the Peace nine years. He is politically a
Republican.
     David Zeller, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Good Hope
Township on the place where he now resides, Aug. 4, 1836, and is
the son of Jacob and Catherine Zeller, who were among the pio-
neers of this township. He was reared on the farm, received his
early education in the common schools, and has always remained
on the place of his birth. He was married Feb. 24, 1859, to Miss
Mary Fulmer, daughter of John and Rickey Fulmer, residents of
Fairfield County. They have eleven children---Daniel H., Jacob
I., Ellen S., Lina M., Addie C., Cora C., Harvey E., Alice E., Charles
H., Homer W. and Orion E. Mr. Zeller has a fine farm contain-
ing 157 acres of improved land on which he has erected a very
pleasant residence. He has held the office of Township Trustee
several years. He has ever taken a lively interest in the matter of
education. Mr. Zeller and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. He is a member of I. O. O. F., Hocking Val-
ley Lodge No. 262, located at Logan. Politically Mr. Zeller is a
Republican.
     Jacob Zeller was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 6, 1801, and is the
son of John and Elizabeth Zeller, who came to Hocking County
in 1804 and located at Enterprise. At that time there were only
three families in this vicinity. They remained there until his
mother's death, and shortly after his father came to Good Hope

1147

Township, and at the time of his death was living with his son on
the place where he now resides. Our subject was reared on a farm
and remained with his parents until he was about twenty-three
years of age, then came to Good Hope Township and settled on
the place where he now resides. He was married May 12, 1822, to
Miss Catherine Goss, daughter of Martin Goss, a resident of this
township. They have had ten children, seven still living---Benja-
min, Henry, Margaret, Jacob N., David, Catherine and Sarah.
Mary, Eliza and Asa are deceased. Mrs. Zeller died Jan. 4, 1874.
He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also his
wife. Mr. Zeller retains his strength remarkably for a man of his
years, and by his integrity has always won the respect of his fel-
low citizens.

MARION.
TOPOGRAPHY AND BOUNDARY.

Marion Township is in the north range and second from the east-
ern line of the county, and about two-thirds of it lies further north
than the general northern boundary line of the county. The gen-
eral appearance of the county is extremely broken and rough,
although the soil is usually good and produces good crops. Marion
Township is bounded on the north by Fairfield County, on the east
by Perry County and that portion of Falls Township called Falls-
Gore, on the south by Falls Township proper, and on the west by
Good Hope Township and Fairfield County. It is watered in its
northern part by Rush Creek,which flows nearly across the township
from east to west, and is the principal water-course in this part of
the township, while across the southwest corner flows the Hocking
River, into which empties Crockett's Run, a small creek in that
portion of the township.

AREA.

The township has been exclusively settled by farmers and stock-
raisers, there being no town or village within its borders. It is six
miles square. The inhabitants of this township are generally of
German descent.

FIRST SETTLERS.

     It was about in 1808 that the first white settler made his home
in Marion Township, and this was probably Christian Beery, who
came from Fairfield County about the time mentioned above, and
settled on Rush Creek, section 7. He was soon followed by George

1148

Hansell, George Engle, and perhaps a few others, and in about 1811
came Abraham Beery, George Beery, Jacob Miller, and about two
years later Jacob Good and another Christian Beery. These nearly
all settled on and near Rush Creek, on sections 6, 7 and 8. These
were the pioneers of the township, and they blazed the way for
those who followed.   Mr. Rudolph Scherchel settled in the town-
ship in 1825, and for half a century was a leading citizen of the
township. He was a Prussian by birth, and brought with him a
colony of his countrymen. He died Aug. 25, 1875.

FIRST THINGS.

The first church was erected by the Lutherans on Rush Creek,
near Christian Beery's cabin, and the first good man who had
charge of it as Pastor was Rev. Reefman. This church flourished
for a long time, but finally there was a division among them, and
part of the members formed a new society and built a church
near the old one.
     The first mill was built by Amos Davis on Rush Creek, where
Hite's mill now stands, in 1831, and this gave to the early settlers a
means of converting their wheat and corn into flour and meal
without going to some distant town for this purpose.
     The first school-house was built near Christian Beery's. It was
only a small shanty, built of logs. It bore no comparison to the
nine roomy, comfortable school-houses in the township of to-day,
being built in the homeliest, simplest fashion, and furnished in
the most frugal and primitive style.

POPULATION.

The number of inhabitants in 1840 was 1,370, composed of a
hard-working class of people who exerted their every energy
to transform the dense wilderness into comfortable homes and
productive fields.   After this time the increase in population
was very slow until 1870, when it had only reached 1,561.
In 1880 it had so depreciated in its population as to only reach
1,426. This was probably owing to the fact that the township had
developed no mineral resources, and was thrown entirely upon its
agricultural features, which are not very attractive to the young
people of to-day, and they accordingly went forth into the busy
marts of the world to seek a more pleasant and lucrative way of
obtaining a livelihood than digging it out of the hills of the home

1149

 
on the farm, receiving a common-school education.  In 1865 he
purchased the farm where he resides and has been engaged farming
and wool-growing, making fine stock sheep a specialty. In April
1879, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Marion Township and
re-elected April, 1882. Sept. 29, 1859, he married Mary, daughter
of Peter and Margaret (Pultz) Beery, of Hocking County, by whom
he has three children---Margaret E., wife of John H. Bright; Mary
A., wife of William Risley, of Falls Township; and Almeda. Ma-
linda and Emerson died in infancy. His wife died in 1871 aged
thirty-one years.  She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. May 21, 1872, he married Martha, daughter of Edward
and Jemima (Fast) Tigner, of Hocking County. They have three
children---Charles A., Amanda J. and George W., all at home.
Alice C. died aged two years.  Himself and wife are members
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
     Isaiah Frasure, farmer and wool-grower, eldest son of George
and Mary (Ruble) Erasure, was born in Auburn Township, Fair-
field Co., Ohio, Aug. 9, 1829. In 1831 his parents removed to
Falls Township, Hocking County, and afterward removed to Marion
Township, where he lived until manhood. In 1877 he purchased
the farm where he now resides in Marion Township, and has been
extensively engaged in wool-growing and farming, making fine
stock sheep a specialty. He is a member of Hocking Valley Lodge,
No. 191, I. O. O. F., Logan, Ohio, and has filled all the chairs in
the lodge. He is also a member of the Encampment, No. 262,
Logan, and has filled all the chairs in that body. Oct. 22, 1849,
he married Mary, daughter of John G. and Rebecca (Howser)
Blosser, of Hocking County. His wife died Jan. 17, 1882, aged
fifty-two years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church. Oct. 14, 1882, he married Lydia, daughter of Thomas J.
and Christina (Friesner) Durr. Mr. Frasure is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church. His wife is a member of the Dunk-
ard church.
     Noah Grimm, farmer, second son of Jacob and Margaret (Holt)
Grimm, was born in Rush Creek Township, Fairfield County, Jan.
18, 1822. His parents came from the Shenandoah Valley, Va., to
Ohio in 1818, and first settled on Rush Creek. He lived with his
parents until eighteen years of age. At eighteen years of age he
was apprenticed to Jacob Beery to learn the carpenter and joiner's,
also cabinet-maker's, trade. He worked at the trade a few months
when his health failed and he returned to his father's and worked

1152

on the farm two years. He then worked at his trade till 1848.
From 1848 till 1860 he was engaged in milling. He then returned
to his father's farm and three years later sold his interest and pur-
chased the farm where he now resides. He served as Assessor of
Marion Township one year. Sept. 21, 1851, he married Nancy,
daughter of John and Aseneth (Speer) Hamilton, of Hocking
County, by whom he has five children---Aseneth, wife of Baxter M.
Shaw of Neosho County, Kan.; Israel, a machinist of Indianapo-
lis Ind.; Sarah A., Amos and Phoebe, at home. John died aged
twenty-three years, Jacob aged eight years and William in infancy.
His wife died Oct. 7, 1882, aged fifty-six years. She was a member
of the German Baptist church. He is a member of the same
church.
     David Hamilton, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania, March
19, 1825, and came to Ohio with his Grandfather Hines and lived
with him until sixteen years of age. His grandparents dying,
he worked for his brother until twenty-one years of age. He had
no education until after his marriage. At twenty-one years of age
he began clearing land his grandfather gave him. In 1856 he
sold his farm and purchased land on Laurel Run. Nov. 15, 1861,
he enlisted in Company K, Fifty-eighth Ohio Infantry, as a pri-
vate and was appointed First Sergeant of his company and served
as such until his death. He was engaged in the battles of Fort
Donelson and Shiloh, and soon after the battle of Shiloh was ta-
ken sick with typhoid fever and died on the steamer Tycoon, 100
miles south of Cincinnati, May 13, 1862.   Dec. 21, 1845, he mar-
ried Mary, daughter of Mathias and Hannah (Blosser) Lecrone, of
Fairfield County, Ohio. They have five children---Noah, of Hock-
ing County; Elizabeth, wife of J. N. Shaw, of Neosho County,
Kas.; Minerva, Amos, Jacob, of Neosho, Kas. Mrs. Hamilton
sold the farm and settled the business and has purchased another
farm, and her son Amos lives with her. He is a school-teacher
and manages her farm.
     Nicodemus D. Hufford, M. D., third son of Christopher and
Mary (Reaner) Hufford, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio,
June 14, 1826. When twenty-one years of age he rented land,
and the next two years, in connection with farming, studied medi-
cine. He then began teaching school, and continued reading med-
icine for three years.  He then located at Straitsville, Perry
County, and practiced until 1861. In August, 1861, he was com-
missioned as recruiting Lieutenant and enlisted in Company H, of

1153

 
     Alexander McCune, M. D., third son of  Alexander and Mar-
garet (Mitchel) McCune, was born in Allegheny County, Pa., Dec.
28, 1806.  When six years of age his mother died, and he lived
with John Wilson until seventeen years of age.  He then was
apprenticed to William Crawford, of Pittsburg, to learn the cabinet
trade, and worked with him four years.  He then worked at jour-
neyman work in different places till 1832, when he established a 
shop in Williamsburg, Guernsey County, and there began reading
medicine with W. B. Stotler, M. D.  In 1838 he removed to He-
bron, Licking County, and began practicing medicine.  He practiced
in Hebron, New Salem, Bremen and Geneva till 1865, when he
came to Marion Township and purchased the farm where he now
resides.  He is the oldest practicing physician in the county.  He
was Land Appraiser of Marion Township for the year 1870.  He is
a Master Mason, member of Mingo Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M.,
Logan , Ohio.  June 3, 1832, he married Margaret, daughter of
Archibald and Elizabeth (Doughty) Crawford, of Monroe County,
Ohio, by whom he has two sons---Henry, of Kansas and Alexander
M., Of Fairfield County, Ohio.  John V. was in the late war and
died in 1862.  His wife died in 1841.  She was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church.  October, 1842, he married Amanda,
daughter of Andrew Craiger, of Fairfield County, by whom he has
eight children---Hilas, Rufus, Hiram, Margaret E. (wife of Henry
Jurgensmier), Isabel (wife of Robert Bell), Eliza E. (wife of Will-
iam Palmer), Emily (wife of John Shinniff). His wife died April
14, 1861.  Jan. 14, 1864, he married Mrs. Harriet, widow of Will-
iam Plummer, and daughter of John and Margaret (Rosser) Rosser.
Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

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