Noble County Biography Ref. Page

Henry Large, one of the successful financiers and early settlers of Marion Township, was born near the city of Dublin, July 21, 1817. His parents, George and Eliza Large, were farmers, and came to America in 1825. They landed in Quebec, where the elder Large died some three weeks after his arrival, leaving the family in rather destitute circumstances. They removed to Montreal, where they lived about three months. Thence they went to a little village called Beaver Dam, near Niagra Falls, where Mrs. Large bought a piece of land and where Henry found employment as a boy-of-all-work in a store. A sister of Mrs. Large, Mrs. Dr. Craig, had settled near Summerfield some time in 1818, and by her advice Mrs. Large disposed of her little property and came to the new country in February of 1828, with her little family of six children. She entered from government eighty acres of land near the village of Freedom, which she improved and on which she resided until 1839, when Henry became the owner.

The early life of Mr. Large was one of toil and hardship. At the age of sixteen he made his initial effort in business by taking a job of splitting rails at thirty-one cents per hundred. At eighteen he began life as a farm laborer at $8 per month. These facts, although seemingly trivial, show what can be done from small beginnings. By dint of industry and close economy he accummulated a sum nearly sufficient for the purchase of the homestead farm, which he still owns, he laid the foundation of his fortune. Never at one time has he owned more than 155 acres. The life of Mr. Large has been a busy and successful one, in fact it may be said that, considering his opportunities, no resident of Noble County has been more so. He has devoted his time to farming, tobacco raising and loaning his net earnings, and is thought to be the wealthiest man in the county. Many are curious to know how it was possible for him to acquire so fine a competency under such adverse circumstances. His answer to the question is, "By the rigid practice of industry, economy, promptness and the avoidance of debt," and we might add, shrewd management and a desire to excel. Mr. Large is quiet and reserved in manner, and possessed of no distinguishing characteristics, excepting his financial ability and his extraordinary mathematical acquirements; his gift in this respect is wonderful, and like that of Pascal and Colburn, is a God given faculty, and his education was almost wholly confined to that school in which the teachers are observation and experience.

In politics he is a Republican; in religion a Methodist, although not a member of any church. He is classed among the foremost men of the county in wealth, brains and intelligence.

Mr. Large was married early in life to Miss Maria, daughter of Edward Cleary. She was born in King's County, Ireland, in 1823. She has been to Mr. Large a helpmeet in all that the word implies. They have had nine children: Mary A. (McClintock), John, Sarah H. and Emma (died infancy), Eliza H., Clara I. (Guiler), George E., Emma J. and Joseph H.

History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Marion

Hon. L.W. Finley, one of the prominent agriculturists and representative men of the county, was born near the village of Mt. Ephraim, Noble County, Ohio, March 11, 1844. Like most other farmer boys of that day, his opportunities for education were quite limited. He succeeded, however, in obtaining a good English education, and at the age of eighteen commenced life as a teacher. Soon after he enlisted as a private soldier in the Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service with the regiment, which for the greater portion of the time was stationed at Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio. The last year of the war he was detailed as clerk at the headquarters of the northern department, commanded by Generals Hooker and Heintzlemein. He remained in the service until the close of the war, when he resumed his former vocation. In 1867 he began merchandising in Sarahsville, which he followed successfully for six yeasr, when, in consequence of failing health, he sold out his stock and engaged in farming in Center Township, where he remained until the purchase of the farm on which he now resides, in Marion Township, to which he removed in 1880. Mr. Finley has been quite prominently identified with State and county politics. In 1876 he received the nomination for auditor of the county on the Democratic ticket, but the county being largely Republican, he as defeated by J.F. Knouff.

In 1883 he was again complimented by a nomination for representative, and was elected by a handsome majority over one of the strongest men in the Republican ranks. In the legislature Mr. Finley made an enviable record, and in 1885 was renominated, but the question of the election of a United States senator being prominent in the canvass, and the Republicans having the majority of about three hundred, he was defeated by Hon. T.C. Williams by a small majority. While a member of the legislature he framed several important measures; notably among the number were two affecting railway corporations, one an amendment of the law governing liens, the other a law compelling railroads to use "spark arrestors" to prevent fires along their lines. But perhaps the most valuable bill introduced by Mr. Finley was one providing for the clothing of the indigent poor in the various elecmosynary and penal institutions of the State, which passed both houses with but little opposition. While comparatively a young man, but few gentlemen in the county have a larger personal following, or wield a stronger influence in matters of public import. He is possessed of marked social qualities, which with an unexceptional record as a businessman and politician, gives him a conspicuous place among the best citizens of the county.

In November of 1866 Mr. Finley was married to Miss Jane, daughter of Hon. William J. Young, whose biography will be found in the chapter devoted to Center Township. The union has been bless with six children, three boys and three girls, all of whom are living but one.

History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Marion

The first permanent settlement in the township was made in 1806, by the sons of Ezekiel Dye. Dye's Fork, of Meigs Creek, takes its name from this family, and the "Dye settlement" was well known to the pioneers of the territory now forming the counties of Guernsey, Muskingum, Morgan and Noble. Ezekiel Dye, Sr., was a native of New Jersey, and a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, and in 1804 followed westward to Chillicothe the path known as the old Federal trail, seeking lands on which to locate. He was best pleased with the Meigs Creek location, and entered several hundred acres, situated in the vicinity of Renrock, upon which he and his sons located and passed their lives. They were good citizens - honest, industrious and straightforward men; courageous and hardy, well fitted to endure the hardships of pioneer life.

Ezekiel Dye, Sr., came in 1807 to the lands which he had purchased; but his sons, Thomas, Ezekiel, Vincent, William, John and Amos, came the year before and inaugurated the work of improvement. Their nearest neighbors were on Duck Creek and in the vicinity of Cumberland, and on the Muskingum River. The Dyes were all young men, and at the time of their coming only Thomas was married. He and his father located on the farm now owned by John L. Reed. Thomas' first wife was Nancy Davis. He married again after her decease, and was the father of a large family. Benjamin Dye, born in 1810, is stil living. He is the sone of Thomas and Nancy Dye, and is said to have been the first white child born in Brookfield Township.

Ezekiel Dye, Jr., settled on the east side of the creek on a farm adjoining his brother Thomas'. He married Nancy Sprague, lived and died here, and reared a large and respectable family. William, his brother, lived near the others, in Muskingum County. John, another brother, married Catherine Sears, and settled on the creek, above the farms of Thomas and Ezekiel. Amos Dye married Sophia Dye, of Washington County, resided here some years, then returned to Washington County, where he died. Two daughters of Ezekiel Dye, Sr., came to this township with the family, but returned to the East after a few years. The second wife of Ezekiel Dye, Sr., was Sarah Paul; she bore twelve children, of whom two, Firman and Elizabeth (Maxwell) of Morgan County, are still living. Joseph, Lewis, James and Firman were the names of the sons.

Vincent Dye, son of Ezekiel, Sr., was born in Westmoreland County, Pa. He married Anna Waddle, whose parents came from Pennsylvania and located in the vicinity of Cumberland early in the present century. To them were born thirteen children - E.J., Isabella, Elah, James, Elizabeth, Melinda, Cassie, Miner, Madison, Wesley, Johnson, Robert and Polly. Of these E.J., Elah, Miner, Isabella, Elizabeth, Melinda and Cassie are still living, only E.J. Dye in Noble County at present.

E.J. Dye was born in Brookfield Township November 19, 1812. In 1836 he married Mahala Smith. Three sons and six daughters were born of this union. Two of the daughters are dead. Johnson L. Dye, one of the sons, enlisted in Company B, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, October 22, 1861; re-enlisted January 1, 1864. He was in the engagements at Winchester, Deep Bottom, Chapin Farm, Petersburg, Appomattox, etc. After being mustered out at the close of the war, and remaining at home a year, he went to Kansas and thence to Fort Saunders, Dak. The family has never heard from him since, and it is supposed that he was killed by the Indians. E.J. Dye is a farmer and stock-raiser. He is a member of the Methodist Episcoal church, and has served eighteen years as justice of the peace. He had all the experiences incident to life in the backwoods, and remembers when the whole township was sparsely settled. When he was a boy his father used to send him into the woods to hunt for cows, tying a bell upon him so that he might be found in case he lost his way.

When the Dyes came to Brookfield they were obliged to go to Waterford, on the Muskingum, for milling. Salt was very hard to procure, and very high. Much of it used in the southern Ohio settlements was brought across the mountains on horseback by means of pack saddles. "Alum salt" was salt mixed with red pepper, that it might be used more economically. The first mill in the neighborhood of Renrock was a horse-mill, owned by Thomas Dye. There were no early water-mills in this part of the township.

Dye's Fork of Meigs Creek was once a favorite hunting ground for the Indians. When Ezekiel Dye, Sr. began his clearing he was visited by two Indians. As he saw them approaching, he heard them muttering in their own language, and from their looks and tones he concluded there were not at all pleased at his intrusion. He feared they might attach him and kept a firm hold on the handspike with which he was at work until his visitors had departed, intending to use it over their heads in case of hostile demonstrations.

When the Dyes came to the country, they had to go to Duck Creek, Bates Fork and Waterford to get help to raise their cabin. When the first barn was raised, settlers were summoned from many miles to assist. They came a day in advance of the raising, and remained three days before they had finished their work.