In many respects he was more than an ordinary man. He was of medium height, but possessed of an iron constitution and wonderful endurance; he was thought to be a man of excellent judgment and unspotted integrity. He was a peacemaker, and was consulted on all important matters. He was one of the early Methodists, and contributed liberally to religious and educational projects. He built saw-mills and instituted many substantial improvements, especailly the opening and development of roads. He died in 1873 and was buried on the old farm. He had a family of ten children: James, Ann, Rebecca, Jacob, William, Mary, Thomas, Abraham, Mehitable and Elvira A. The latter died in infancy. Jacob, the oldest son of Abraham Rich now living, was born in a log cabin in Seneca Township in 1824. Early in life he was inured to all the privations and hardships of pioneer life.
After the death of his mother he was the eldest of the children, and the care of the family devolved upon him. In this school of toil and hardship he was reared. At the age of twenty-six he married Miss Jane, daughter of Abraham Miley, one of the pioneers of this township. His children are Mary I. (Miley), William H., Rachel (Talbott), and Abraham M. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Rich has bee class-leader for forty years.
Mr. Rich commenced upon 120 acres, which is a part of his present farm. The land was only slightly improved, all of which he was in debt for. To this he added from time to time until he was the owner of 600 acres of valuable land. In 1862-3 he made an extended trip to the far West, visiting Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington Territory, Idaho, Montana, British America and California. He traveled
over 3,000 miles and had some lively adventures. On one occasion he was captured by Indians, and came near losing his life. On the Borsha River his boat was capsized, and by his presence of mind and courage he rescued some of the party that otherwise would have been lost. He had a similar experience on the Platt River, where he again came near losing his life. The culmination of his misfortunes was a shipwreck on the Pacific Ocean. He is a Republican in politics, and one of the representative men of Seneca Township.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Seneca
Robert R. Danford, a representative of one of the early and prominent families of Noble County, was born in this county in June, 1828. In 1850 he married Mary A. Grove, of this county. Their children are Ellis J., Eliza A. and Arizona R., living, and Osceola C., deceased. Mr. Danford is a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He served as justice of the peace of Morgan County six years, and, although living in a Democratic township, was chosen township assessor by seventy-five majority. Mr. Danford was in the late war as first lieutenant of Company F, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, resigning in 1862, on account of rheumatism. In 1864 he was in the One Hundred and Sixty-fist Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in the one hundred days' service.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
David D. Jennings, who for fifty years was a prominent citizen of this township, was a pioneer on section 31, Center Township. He was originally from western Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Ruth Wright. He was a successful farmer and accumulated a fine competency, under rather adverse circumstances. It is related of him that the first winter after his arrival in Center he was obliged to thresh grain with a flail for one-half the straw, in order to provide food for his only cow. He was one of the pioneers of the Methodist church of the county. For many years the "meetings" were held at his house, and all religious projects had in him a firm friend and patron. He died April 22, 1879, aged eighty-three. He reared a family of ten children - four boys and six girls.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
John McCleary was born in 1839, in this county, as now constituted. His father was a drummer boy in the War of 1812, and his grandfather was killed in the same war. John McCleary enlisted September, 1861, in Company K, Thirtieth OhioVolunteer Infantry, and was discharged in September, 1865. He participated in the battles of Carnifex Ferry, Vicksburg, Jackson, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, and the engagements during the "march to the sea."
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
William P. Willey, one of the early settlers of what is now Noble Township, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to this county about 1870. His first location was on a small tract of land which he bought from his brother-in-law, George Dye. He was identified with the township as a pioneer farmer, and was one of the early and prominent members of the Protestant Methodist Episcopal church and helped to build one of the first churches of this society. He married Sarah Dye, and had a family of thirteen children, eight of whom were born in Pennsylvania.
William, one of the sons, was born in 1822; he married in 1849 Miss Ruth, daughter of Daniel Belford; they have had five children.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
George Willey was born in Pennsylvania, in 1804, and came with his parents to Noble County about 1817. He was a carpenter by trade, and several years after his immigration bought a mill near Belle Valley, which he operated until 1848, when he removed to Hoskinsville, and engaged in trade. He died in 1856. In 1828 he married Miss Nancy Westcott. They had seven children. Sylvester, one of the sons, was born in 1835. In 1864 he enlisted in the Twenty-Second Ohio Light Artillery and served until the close of the war. He and his wife, nee Ellen Moore, are members of the Protestant Episcopal church.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
J. W. R. Newton, a prominent farmer and a leading citizen, is the son of an early settler. His father, a native of Maine, came to this township in 1818. Mr. Newton was born in 1834. In 1856 he married Miss Mary McKee, and is the father of two sons and one daughter. His wife died in 1880; in 1885 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Sipe. Mr. Newton is a Republican.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
J. C. Campbell was born in Noble Township, in 1832, and is by occupation a farmer and merchant. His father, a native of Ireland, settled near Philadelphia, in the latter part of the last century, removing thence to Ohio. He died in Noble Township in 1847. On his mother's side Mr. Campbell is of German descent. J. C. Campbell was married in 1860 to Martha Noble. He has always been a Democrat. For six years he served as postmaster at Hoskinsville under a Republican administration.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Samuel McFerren was born in Pennsylvania in 1776. In 1836 he settled in Noble Township, where he died in 1866. He married a Miss Needham, whose father, J. Needham, settled in Morgan County. Mr. Needham was the only survivor of a family of several members. The rest were killed by the Indians on their way from Pennsylvania to Ohio.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Richard C. McFerren is of German and English descent. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in 1808, in Jefferson County, Ohio, where Richard was born in 1821. In 1835 he came to the vicinity of Hoskinsville, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. Mr. McFerren was married in 1841 to Louisa Jennings, and is the father of two sons and three daughters, all living and all married. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist church. He served as township treasurer fourteen years.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Harrison Jones is of Irish and Welsh descent. His father, an 1812 soldier, was born in Pennsylvania. He was an early settler in Muskingam County, Ohio, where the subject of this notice was born in 1821. In 1840 Mr. Jones settled in Noble Township, where he has since resided. He married Anna McKee, a native of this township, in 1845. They have had four children, two of whom, Joseph and Margaret, are still living, both married. Mr. Jones is a Methodist and a Democrat. He has held some township offices. His maternal grandfather was a soldier of the American Revolution.
Joseph W. Jones, son of Harrison Jones, was born in Noble Township, October 6, 1846, and has resided in this vicinity. He was educated at Sharon College, and was a teacher for some years. He is now engaged in the mercantile business at Hoskinsville. Mr. Jones is a prominent Democrat. He has served thirteen years as justice of the peace. In 1870 he married Tryphena R. Walters, of this county. They have two daughters living and one deceased.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Elijah Fogle, a descendant of one of the old families of this county, was born in Noble Township in 1842. In 1861 he entered the service of his county in the Seventy-eighty Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the engagements at Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing. In 1862 he was honorably discharged by reason of poor health. In 1865 he married Maria Oliver, of Center Township; six children living, one deceased.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Peter J. Walters was born in Noble Township in 1838. His father was born in Belmont County, and came to this township quite early. The family consisted of nine children, six of whom are living. In 1865 P. J. Walters married Miss Teresa A. Brown, of this township. They have one child, a son. He is a member of the Baptist church, and of the Republican party. He enlisted in June, 1863, in Company I, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served for two years, being honorably discharged at Knoxville, Tenn.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
L. W. Palmer was born in Chester County, Pa., October 14, 1835. His parents were natives of the same county; came to Harrison County, Ohio, in 1838, and to Noble County in 1839. The subject of this notice has always followed farming. He was married to Nancy Harkins in 1836, and has had seven children, all living, except one - Lydia J. He is a Republican and has held several township offices, although the township is Democratic.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
L. C. Westcott was born in 1820, on the farm where he now resides. His father was among the early settlers, coming from Rhode Island, and settling here in 1816. L. C. Westcott married Cordelia F. Howland in 1844, and is the father of five children, all living. He is a farmer and a Republican.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
W. F. Jordan is a descendant of one of the pioneer families. Both his father and mother were born in this county. Mr. Jordan was born in 1854. In 1877 he married Mary E. Glass, who died in 1878. In 1881 he married Maggie L. Archibald. They have had three children, two of whom are living. Mr. Jordan is station agent and telegraph operator at Belle Valley.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Thomas Racey is of English and German descent. His father, Landon Racey, was born in Frederick County, Va., and his mother, nee Susannah Barnhouse, in Loudoun County, Va. They were married in Harrison County, Ohio, and came to Noble County in 1828, settling on Duck Creek. Landon Racey was a farmer and school-teacher. He died in this township in 1855. Of his children six sons and two daughters are living: George A., Arthur W., Thomas and Rosanna (Cain) live in Noble County; Rachel (Engle), in Morgan County; James F., in Missouri; Peter A., in Kansas; and Samuel, in Iowa. Thomas Racey was born on the line of Jefferson and Harrison Counties in 1826, and has resided in Noble County since 1828. In early life he followed teaching. He is now engaged in farming and the insurance business. He is a Democrat, and a deacon in the Presbyterian church. He has served as justice of the peace. He was married in 1847 to Matilda A. Marquis, and is the father of seven children, four of whom are living.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
P. D. Jordan is a descendant of one of the early families and is a son of John Jordan, of Brookfield Township. Mr. Jordan has resided at Ava since 1877 and is engaged in mercantile business and farming. He was married in 1867 to Sarah A. Fair, of Washington County, and has three children living, one deceased. He is a member of the Baptist church and a prominent merchant at Ava.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
B.W. Clark was born in Washington County in 1843. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Guernsey County. His grandfather was an 1812 soldier. B.W. Clark came to Noble County at the age of three years. He is a Republican and a prominent farmer. In 1863 he married Sarah A. Buckey. They have six children, all daughers. In 1864 he volunteered in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until honorably discharged in September, 1864.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Elijah Davis, second, was born in Virginia in 1810, and came to Noble Township with his parents in 1822, and has since resided here. In 1831 he married Mary Buckey, whose father lost his life in the War of 1812. They have had two daughters and nine sons. Six of the children are yet living. Five of the sons enlisted in the Union army in the late war. Eli Davis, son of Elijah, was born November 2, 1846, on the place where he now lives. He enlisted when seventeen years of age, and served until 1865. He was first with the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and afterward with the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth, until the close of the war. He was married in 1873 to Mary Russell. They have had five children: four are now living. In politics he is a Republican.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Bartholomew Davis was born in 1821 on the place where he now lives. He married Hannah Cox and is the father of eight sons and four daughters. Benjamin F. and Thomas J. were in the service in the late war, the former in the Twenty-second Ohio Battery, and the latter in the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Benjamin was captured, and died of starvation after seven months in Libby prison.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Benjamin Clowser was born October 29, 1827, on the farm where he now resides. His parents were from Virginia, and came to this township about 1820. In 1853 Benjamin Clowser married Sarah Anderson. They have had two sons and six daughters. Five of the daughters are still living. Three of them are married - E.C. Westcott, I.L. Archer and W.L. Archer, respectively. Mr. Clowser was in the service in the late war as first lieutenant, in Company H, One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Protestant church.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
John Russell was born in Belmont County, February 2, 1813. His parents were Virginians, and emigrated to Ohio about 1800. In 1820 the family came to Noble County, settling on the farm where John Russell now lives. The latter was married in 1837 to Nancy Anderson, who died in 1851. In 1853 he married Rachel Anderson. He is the father of ten children, seven of whom are living. Two sons, Joseph and Ezra, were in the late war. The former enlisted in the Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, and served in that and other organizations until the close of the war. Ezra served in the One Hundred and Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Mr. and Mrs. Russell are members of the Baptist church. He is a Republican, and a man of excellent reputation.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
W.B. Secrest was born in Hartford, Guernsey County, and his parents were natives of the same county. The family came to Noble County in 1854, and settled in Noble Township. W. B. Secrest married Fannie Westcott in 1870, and is the father of three sons and one daughter. He is a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and a Republican in politics. He has held the office of township clerk and church trustee.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
W.H.H. Burlingame is of New England descent, and was born in Noble County in 1838. His father came from Rhode Island to the vicinity of Hiramsburg in 1818. W.H.H. Burlingame has followed farming and mercantile business. He enlisted in October, 1861, in the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served four years. He was wounded at Fort Wagner, and saw much active service.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
John R. Gorby, son of David Gorby, an old resident, was born January 2, 1848. His father settled in Noble County in 1823, being then fourteen years of age. J.R. Gorby has been engaged in farming and the lumber business. He spent some time in Illinois and Alabama. He married Rebecca Davis, in Illinois. Mr. Gorby is a Republican, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has held several township offices, and is now serving as a county commissioner.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
John Preston, of Belleville, was born in Belmont County in 1837, and came to Morgan County in 1840. In 1861 he enlisted in the Seventy-seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the engagements at Pittsburgh Landing, the battle and siege of Corinth, the battle of Holly Springs, and many others of less note. In 1864 he settled at Sharon, and engaged in shoemaking. In 1873 he came to Belle Valley, where he still follows his trade. Mr. Preston is a Democrat in politics, and in 1867 was a candidate for the office of county auditor.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
V. E. Harkins, of the firm of Harkins & Co., merchants, Belle Valley, was born in Noble County in 1856, and has followed mercantile and other occupations in Belle Valley and vicinity since attaining his majority. He married Miss Emeline Ginn, of Noble Township, in 1880. In politics he is a Democrat. He is the present postmaster at Belle Valley.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
James Stevens, ex-clerk of courts of Noble County, is the son of Elijah Stevens, formerly of Morgan County, and was born June 4, 1836. The family, consisting of James and five sisters, settled in Sharon Township in 1847. In 1857 James began the mercantile business. He is at present a member of the firm of Harkins & Co., Belle Valley. In 1857 he married Miss Mary McMahon, and in 1870 was again married, to Miss Sarah A. Tolbert. One child was born of this union, and is now deceased. Mr. Stevens is a Methodist, and a Democrat. He was elected county clerk in 1862.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
Joseph Parmiter was born in Bristol Township, Morgan County, in 1818. His parents came from Maine, and were among the pioneer settlers of that locality. In 1885 he came to Belle Valley, where he follows his trade, carpentry. He married Elizabeth Shuster in 1841, and is the father of two sons and two daughters. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Christian church.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
J. B. Perry is of Scotch descent. His grandfather was a brother of the father of Commodore Oliver H. Perry, of naval renown. Both his grandfathers were in the Revolutionary War, and his father served in the War of 1812, and was on board the brig "Enterprise" when she captured the English vessel, "Boxer." J. B. Perry was born in Phippsburg, Me., January 10, 1816, and is one of a family of five sons and five daughters. The sons all became sea-faring men. One of Mr. Perry's brothers was a celebrated sailor, and twice circumnavigated the globe. J. B. Perry came to Noble County in 1846. In 1848 he married Olive Blake, of Olive Township, a representative of one of the early families. They had a son and a daugher, both of whom are dead. Mr. Perry is by occupation a farmer and a mason. He is a member of the Congregational church. He served fifteen years as clerk of Olive Township and the same length of time as postmaster at South Olive.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
John Noble, Sr., was a native of Lancaster County, Pa., and his father served through the Revolutionary War as a soldier from that State. The family were among the early immigrants to Ohio, and located in Washington County, where they remained several years. In 1811 Mr. Noble came to what is now Noble Township, Noble County, and selected land in the valley of the West Fork of Duck Creek. He began an improvement, erected a camp on the bottom, in which he and his sons, Samuel and James, passed the winter, their sister Polly keeping house for them. In 1812 the whole family moved to their new home and took up their abode in a cabin made from the logs of sugar-maple. The family came in wagons, through the trackless woods, following along the ridges. John Noble, Sr., was an industrious honest man and a worthy citizen. He died in 1831 at the age of sixty-eight years. His widow died in 1849. They were the parents of seven children - James, Elizabeth (Reed), Sarah (Burlingame), Mary (Bates), Samuel, Rachel (Reed), and John, all now dead except John. James, the oldest son was a man of great force of character, and was a pronounced anti-slavery man, when the word "abolitionist" was regarded only as a term of reproach.
John Noble, son of the pioneer above mentioned, was born in Washington County, in 1802, and is today one of the best informed men regarding pioneer events that it has been the pleasure of the writer to meet. He is a remarkably well-preserved man, and in spite of his four-score and five years, is still as active as many a man of sixty. Having been accustomed to hard work from boyhood, even now he busies himself chiefly in the performance of self-imposed tasks about the farm. He ranks among the best of the many excellent farmers in Noble County. Mr. Noble has lived in three counties - Guernsey, Morgan and Noble, without moving from the homestead to which he came in 1812. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners elected in Noble County in 1831, and has always been an active, public-spirited citizen. In his dealings with his fellow men he has always been found obliging, upright and honest. His thrift and diligence have gained for him a competency and throughout his long life he has enjoyed that greatest of human possessions - an unsullied reputation.
Mr. Noble was married in 1825 to Rebecca, daughter of Robert Caldwell, a prominent early settler. After more than half a century of happy, wedded life, Mrs. Noble quitted the scences of this earthly career in October, 1878. Two children were born of this union - Samuel, now a resident of Richmond County, Wis., married to Mildred Ackley, daughter of an early settler of this county; and Martha J., now Mrs. James Carr, residing on the homestead.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Noble
John Vorhies was the first permanent resident of the township, and if the date fixed by his descendants is correct, the first in the county. As nearly as can now be determined the date of his settlement with his family was in 1802. He located on land now owned by Millhorn and others. His children were Aaron, Deborah, Daniel, Isaac, John, William, Ephraim, Dolly and Susan, all of whom are dead. Aaron and Ephraim were early settlers of Seneca Township. Mount Ephraim was named for the latter.
History of Noble County, Ohio Published by L.H. Watkins & Co. of Chicago 1887
Wayne