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BIOGRAPHICAL - Continued
Elizabeth (Degroot) Davis, retired, Jamestown, was born in Canada, November 22, 1808. Came with her parents to Ohio, in April, 1822, where they lived till the mother, Phoebe (Boyce) Davis, died April, 1824; after which the father, Cornelius, went to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and died September, 1880, aged fifty-four years. Our subject was married to John J. Davis, July 24, 1828. Eight children are the result of this marriage: Adelia, David, James, Mary J., Andrew J., Elizabeth, John, and Amanda; Amanda, James and Andrew are deceased. Mr. Davis died November 22, 1877. He was born April 13, 1809. Mrs. Davis has lived in this township since 1822, when there were but four frame houses in what is now Jamestown, whose buildings are largely brick. Then there was no church here, the religious service being held in private houses. There was but few school houses in the township, and they were log. Mr. and Mrs. Davis joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 183l, in which church he died triumphantly - and she is living a consistent life. He held the church offices of steward and trustee. Their lives have proved a financial as well as Christian success. When first married they had but little money; by industry and good management, however, they accumulated a handsome fortune. They gave each child four thousand dollars, and she has a competency for life. Her son, David has a farm in military survey No. 1,084, this township, of one hundred and seventy-two acres, one hundred acres having been bought by his grandfather, David, in 1812. The writer was the deed for this land to David, sr., bearing dated August 4, 1812.
Bridget Dwyer, Jamestown, is a native of Leinster, Ireland, and was born in December, 1834. Lived there until sixteen years of age, which she, with her parents, Thomas and Mary (Bryan) Kavanaugh, came to the United States, and landed in Bowersville, this county, in 1850. Of this family there were seven children: Mary, Bridget, John, Simon, Andy, Ann, and William, all living save Andy, who died in 1868, aged twenty-two years. Our subject was married to Timothy Dwyer, November 10, 1852, nine children being the result of this union: John, Thomas, Dennis, William, Timothy, James, Andy, and Maragret; two have died, William and Margaret. Mr. Dwyer died May 13, 1875, aged about sixty-one years. Mrs. Dwyer has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which she and her family reside. This family are members of the Catholic Church, and well respected citizens.
Samuel F. Evans, grocer, Jamestown, is a son of William H. and Rebecca (Fosbett) Evans, who were natives of Rockbridge County, Virginia, and married in Jamestown. There were three children of the family, Samuel, Milton, and Elizabeth V., all living. The sons are both married: Elizabeth is living with our subject, who married Miss Elizabeth Ballard, a daughter of William, who is a son of Simon, October 17, 1878. He has been engaged in the grocery business about six years - does a business amounting to at least twenty thousand dollars a year. He was born in this township, where he has since resided, except six years of his childhood, when he lived in Marshaltown, Iowa. He is a respected citizen, and a good business man. His mother was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church; taught her children to do right, and to follow her footsteps in Christian Life. The father was in the rebellion - A member of the Seventy-Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; - and took a company of men to Nebraska to fight the Indians; he started as a Captain, but his major being killed shortly after, he was promoted to a majorship. He went into the service in 1863, and remained until after the close of the war. Our subject was elected city treasurer of Jamestown in the spring of 1880, which office he still holds.
James A. Fields, farmer, Jamestown, is a son of John and Mary (Hite) Fields. They were born in Virginia, and married in Ohio. There are ten children: Andrew, Margaret, Alfred, Jane, Lucinda, John, Sarah, James A., William, and an infant; five living, Margaret, John, Sarah, James A., and William. All were born in this county; James May 14, 1832. Was married January 4, 1855, to Miss Pollie Lawrence, of this county. Five children attest their union: Milon L., William S., Mary E., Lucinda S., and an infant, deceased. Mary E. was married, August 19, 1880, to James H. King, of this county. The others are unmarried, and at home with their parents. Mr. Fields has a farm of thirty-eight acres; farms chiefly in grain. He has lived in this county all his life, except about nine years that he lived in Clinton County.
John H. Fields, farmer, a native of this county, born March 15, 1827. His father was married and came to this county, in 1815; located on the farm of seventy-five acres where our subject now lives, and lived the remainder of his life. Mr. Fields has a farm of fifty-one acres, well improved, three miles southwest of Jamestown, on which he lives, and on which he was reared. He also, has a farm of fifty acres, two and one-half miles southwest of Jamestown. He was twice married; first to Miss Mary Turner, a daughter of Henry, who died January 7, 1873, aged forty-seven years. He then married his present wife, Miss Sarah C. Bell, December 24, 1874.
Albert Garinger, farmer, native of Fayette County, Ohio, born March, 1834, and is a son of David and Serene (Yoeman) Garinger. He is a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio when about fifteen years of age; located in Fayette on the bank of Paint Creek, where he and Mrs. G., were married, and where he lived the remainder of his life. He was born in 1803; she in New York, in 1806. They were Married about 1828. They had a family of nine children, all of whom are living, and are healthy, hale people. They never had a doctor to see any of the children while at home. Mr. Garinger died October, 1874. She is still living. Our subject, the fourth child, was born March, 1834. He was married October 31, 1858, to Miss Angeline Little, daughter of Adam and Mary (Blue) Little; ten children are the result of this union: Simon M., William F., Laura M., Oliver O., Albert B., Sophrona A., David A., Ida F., Stephen E., and James W.; all of whom are living save Sophrona, who died at the age of three years and nine months. Mr. Garinger has a farm of eight Hundred acres, well improved, situated three and one-half miles east of Jamestown. When he was married, his father gave him two hundred and fifty acres of land in the woods and swamps, which cost five thousand five hundred dollars. Since then, he has made, and invested in land, at least thirty-five thousand dollars. The first piece he bought, was fifty-eight and a quarter acres, in 1871. When at twenty years of age, he went west; took passage on steamboat at Cincinnati, went down to the Mississippi, thence to St. Joe, thence to Salt Lake, where he saw Brigham Young and his wives marching in a procession; thence to San Francisco, where he took a steam ship to New York, then came home, and has since been content to live a quiet life. He is a natural genius; can make almost anything with tools.
James H. Glass, blacksmith, is a son of Powhatan and Harriet (Wright) Glass, who were native of Virginia. They came to Ohio about the year 1823, and located in Highland County, where they remained a few years, and then removed to Madison County. Returned to Highland, perhaps in same year, where James was Born, February 11, 1828; came to this county, about 1835, where they remained, perhaps, four years; then returned to Highland County, where Mr. Glass died in 1839. Mrs. Glass is still living. There were six children of this family, of whom three are living. Mrs. Glass married a Mr. William Bragg after Mr. Glass’s death, by which marriage she had one child, with whom she is living. James has been a resident of this county since 1839; except, one winter spent in Iowa. He learned his trade in this county, beginning as an apprentice in 1850. Has since been engaged in the business except four years, which time he was engaged in the confectionery business in Jamestown, where he has a residence, blacksmith shop, and business room. He is a good workman, and enjoys a large patronage. He was Married July 11, 1849, to Miss. Hannah Turner, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Cruizen) Turner, seven Children being the result of this union: Pauline A., Hannah A., William P., Vinson A., Martha M., Harriet E., and Catherine V., four of whom are living. William, Vinson, and Harriet are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Glass are members of the Christian Church of Jamestown.
Gideon Harness, farmer, son of Peter and Susannah (Shook) Harness, who were married in this county, in 1810. He died March 21, 1873, aged seventy-one years. She is still living, and was born in Virginia, June 10, 1804; came with her parents to this county, in 1810, where she and Mr. Harness were married, April 19, 1827. They had eight children; seven of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Harness were members of the Methodist Church. He had been a member of this church for thirty years, and died in the faith in which he had lived. When they came to this county it was quite new and wild. They have witnessed and helped to make many changes. Gideon was born December 10, 1827, in this county, where he was reared, educated, and where he married Miss. Eliza J. Smith, daughter of Charles, April 7, 1853. Two children was the result of this union: Marion and Ross, both living. Mr. Harness has a farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres, on which he lives, situated three miles southwest of Jamestown. He is a member of the Methodist Church of New Jasper, also a member the Masonic fraternity of Jamestown. Marion is a member of the Baptist Church of Ceasar’s Creek society.