MEIGS COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: Chester Township (Hardesty's published 1883) [2] *************************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Merry Anne Pierson tfsengnr@worldnet.att.net May 31, 1999 *************************************************************************** Chester Township Part 2 Hardesty's biographies. Hardesty's biographies Part Two: Austin Hecox: a farmer and stock raiser in Chester Township, Meigs county, Ohio, was born in this township August 26, 1831. he was a volunteer in the war of the Rebellion, serving in the 140th Ohio National Guards, and his brother Sardine was in the same service. In Orange township, Meigs county, January 15, 1856, Austin Hecox was joined in wedlock with Marinda Dains, and in the years that have followed have been recorded four births and one death of children born of their union: Arli A. was born march 25, 1857, died may 25, 1858; Emery C. , born 25 July, 1865, now attending Chester high school; Omer E., December 14, 1869, and Linnie A., August 27 , 1875, living at home. Marinda, wife of Mr. Hecox, was born in this county and township, September 14, 1835, and her parents were Abial and Rebecca (Shumway) Dains. Her father, born August 7, 1792, was a pensioner for services in the 1812 war, at the time of his death, March 3, 1851. Her mother was born July 6, 1797, and came from Dutchess county, New York, to Meigs county, Ohio, in 1809. Asa Dains, father of Abial, was a soldier of the Revolution. Jeptha and Merilla (Thorn) Hecox, parents of Austin Hecox, died in Chester township, where he settled in 1800 and she in 1814. He was born in New York October 14, 1792, served in the 1812 war and received pension therefore, and died August 11, 1873. She was born in Watertown, new York, January 2, 1795, and died March 13, 1877. Austin Hecox is the owner of 340 acres of land in Chester and Orange townships, and receives his mail at Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. Martin Hecox: born in Chester township, Meigs county, Ohio, September 14, 1819, was united in marriage with Elmina Hitchcock, in Washington county, Ohio, January 30, 1860, and they have two children living at home with them. These children were born: June 8, 1861, and August 10, 1862. The elder is named M. Lillian and the younger Myron H. By a former marriage entered upon with Nancy W. Stark, September 29, 1846, Martin Hecox became the father of: Mary M., born August 27, 1847, died 15 July, 1848; Arthur E., May 15, 1849, resides in Chester township. The first wife of Mr. Hecox died February 11, 1850. His present wife was born in Franklin county, Massachusetts, march 13,1830, a daughter of Quarters and Ardelia (Bond) Hitchcock. Her father was born December 31, 1797, and her mother December 2, 1803. Both are now living and smart, having been the parents of two sons and two daughters, of whom two are living and two deceased. One of these children was Myron R. Hitchcock, who entered the 1861 war as a member of the 116th Ohio infantry, Company B, and served nearly through the war, dying from wounds received in the last battle fought before Petersburg. The record of Jeptha and Merilla (Thorn ) Hecox, parents of Martin, and the war records of his brothers, Sardine and Austin, will be found in the sketches preceding and following this one. Martin Hecox has a beautifully located farm on mile southwest of the village of Chester, and in its cultivation and in stock raising is occupying his time. he may be addressed at Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. Sardine Hecox: was a son of Jeptha and Merilla (Thorn) Hecox, whose record is given above. he was born in Chester township, June 21, 1826, and in this township makes his home, carrying on a good farm of 300 acres, and largely engaged in stock raising. He was married in Athens county, this State, Fannie Stout, born in that county, February 23, 1829, becoming his wife on the 25th of March, 1855. They have one son, Dudley A., who was born November 20, 1959, and makes his home with them. George and Eliza (Bussard) Stout, the parents of Mrs. Hecox, came to Ohio and settled in Athens county, where they lived many years, respected of all who knew them. They were great readers of the Bible, and steadfast believers in the Christian faith. he was born near Trenton , New Jersey, March 17, 1792 , and died April 21, 1875, aged 84 years. His wife, born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1797, died August 17, 1869, at the age of 72 years. Sardine Hecox was a soldier of the 1861 war, enlisting in 1863 in the 140th National Guards of Ohio, and in the service was seriously injured in his health, to such an extent that he never recovered therefrom. His address is Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. Peter Hobstetter: born in Bavaria, Germany, October 18, 1818, was a son of Philip and Margaretta (Bycecker) Hobstetter, now deceased. He came to America in 1836, landing in New York, whence he went to Wheeling, West Virginia, and from there , after two months, to Pomeroy, Ohio, where for four years, he worked as a blacksmith. In 1842 he moved to his farm in Chester township, and has since been always identified with the best interests of the township. He has filled the office of school director five terms, and township trustee one term. On July 9, 1840, in this State and county, he was united in marriage with Anna M. Ihle. She was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 1 , 1821, a daughter of Christopher Ihle, who died in Germ,any, and Margaretta (Kalb) Ihle, who came to Meigs county in 1836, where she died in 1854. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hobstetter were born: peter, January 5, 1841, lives in Meigs county; Elizabeth (Eiselstein), July 1 , 1842, lives in this county; Anna M. (Geier), April 25, 1843, lives in Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacob, January 6, 1846, lives in Meigs county; Conrad, August 23, 1847, and Christina E. (Willar), March 4, 1849, lives in Cedar county, Iowa; Charley, January 22, 1851, died march 7 , 1862; Mary C., May 17, 1853, lives in Indianapolis, Indiana; Margaretta (Partlow), June 12,1857, lives in this county; Philip C., December 20, 1859, died March 25, 1867; Susan E.(Bader), July 18, 1862, lives in Mason City, West Virginia. Peter Hobstetter receives his mail at Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. Peter Harroway Jeroleman: is a native of New York, born on the Bowery, corner of Leonard street and Broadway, New York, City, September 15,1817. In 1836 he settled in Meigs county, Ohio and in Pomeroy, Meigs county, November 2, 1847, he entered into the marriage state with Sarah Van Meter for his life's companion. Their children have the following record: Elizabeth, born July 1, 1848, lives in Mason county, West Virginia; Alexander, April 1, 1850, lives at Council grove, Morris county, Kansas; Henry Washington, April 15, 1851, lives in Fayette county, Ohio; Mary Frances, May 4, 1852, died July 15, 1881; Charles H., march 31, 1854, resides at home; Margaret J., September 19, 1855, died October 17, 1856; Sarah J., July 9, 1857, died September 9, 1882; Thomas A., February 19, 1859, resides in Fayette county, this State; Joseph, July 15, 1860, died September 20, 1860. The wife of Mr. Jeroleman was born in Mason county, now part of West Virginia, July 31, 1833, and her parents are Henry and Elizabeth (Peck) Van Meter, the former born in the Blue Ridge country, Pennsylvania, and the latter in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia. Peter H. Jeroleman was a son of Alexander and Frances (Harroway) Jeroleman. His father was the third son of Jacob Jeroleman, and was born in New York City, January 17, 1782, and died in the same place, August 12, 1869. Peter H. Jeroleman was a volunteer in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting April 20, 1861, in the 18th Ohio Infantry, and serving three months without receiving any recompense from the government. He reenlisted for three years, September 1, 1862, Company A 2nd Virginia (Federal) Calvary, and after receiving honorable discharge, again reenlisted in Company K , of the Ohio Heavy Artillery, where he served until mustered out, August 23, 1865. By occupation he was a manufacturer of all kinds of boots and shoes, but he received injuries in the service which unfitted him for labor, and he now draws a pension. His address is Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. Alexander R. Johnson: born Washington county, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1839, has lived in Meigs county, Ohio, since he was two years old. In this county, in Chester township, he was married, April 28, 1860, when Zidana Robinson became his wife, and in the years that have succeeded eight children have blessed their union. These children were born: Samuel A., September 16, 1860; Alice M., November 25, 1861; Etheled A. , November 16, 1870; Edith A., November 16, 1870; Guy A., December 31, 1875; James W., February 25, 1877, died March 24, 1877; Alfred R., January 20, 1880; and the baby, born September 29, 1882 - all living children are at home. The wife of Mr. Johnson was born in Chester township, August 9, 1842, a daughter of Eli and Cynthia (Curtis) Robinson. Her father, born in New York, died in Chester township, August 18, 1881, at the age of 75 years; her mother, also born in new York, is still living in Chester township. Her brother, Lewis Robinson, enlisted in the war of 1861, and was reported missing and has never been heard from. James Johnson, father of Alexander R., was born in Sussex county, New jersey, June 24, 1806, came to Meigs county in 1839, and here died July 10, 1882. The mother of Alexander R., whose maiden name was Rachel Heaton, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1806, and is now living with her son, enjoying a good old age. One of her sons, W.L. Johnson, was a soldier of the 1861 war, serving three years, and was a prisoner at Belle Isle and Andersonville more than a year of the time. Alexander R., Johnson has 405 acres of land, beautifully located in Bedford and Chester townships, and for the past four years has been and at present is trustee in the latter township. His address is Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. John Wendal Kautz: was born in Germany, in the province of Bavaria, December 16, 1806, a son of Wendal and Catherine (Pfarr) Kautz. His father died in Germany in 1843, and his mother in 1848. In 1833 the subject of this sketch emigrated to America, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, whence he went to Wheeling , Ohio county, West Virginia, where he remained two years. In that State and county, on the 3rd of June , 1834, he married Magdalena Roll, and in 1835, took up their residence in Chester township, Meigs county, and Mr. Kautz entered upon the cultivation of his present farm, working, also at his trade of blacksmithing. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Kautz present the following record:Elizabeth, born April 1, 1835, died the same day; Maria C., April 7, 1836, lives in Pomeroy, this county; Henry, April 5, 1838, lives in Chester township; Joseph, November 1, 1839, lives in Kansas; John, October 17, 1841, died September 10,1862; George, August 3, 1843, lives in Kansas; Wendal, March 29, 1845, lives in Chester township; Abraham, November 18, 1846, lives in Pomeroy; Elizabeth (Dorst), June 3, 1849, lives in this township; Magdalena (mast), April 2, 1851, resides in Muskingum county, Ohio; Sophia, November 14, 1854, died December 6, 1855; Anna E. (Schlagel), October 20, 1856, lives in Missouri. Wendal and George served 100 days in the Ohio National Guards during the 1861 war. The mother of these children was born in Alsace, France, September 25, 1813, and her parents were Ignatius and Elizabeth (Hanns) Roll; her mother died in Germany , and her father in Muskingum county, Ohio, January 12, 1864. John W. Kautz has been school director in Chester township twenty years; township assessor, three terms; township treasurer, one term. His post office address is Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. Benjamin F. Knight: is the owner of 370 acres of land, located in Chester township, Meigs county, Ohio, and his birth was in this county, August 31, 1840. here was consummated his marriage, May 6, 1869, when Mary C., Copen became his wife. Their children are four: Arthur D., born march 9, 1870; Elma, September 3, 1872; Burt N., June 24, 1875; Ernest B., October 12, 1878 - all living at home. Benjamin F. Knight enlisted in Company C, 63rd Ohio Volunteers, September 3, 1861, and was discharged for disability in 1862. His brother Daniel was killed in 1864, while a prisoner to the Confederates at Jackson, Mississippi. His father was Benjamin Knight, born in Garland < Maine, march 3, 1806, who came to Meigs county in 1817. he married Dolly A. Newell, who was born February 12, 1807 , in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, and came to this county, when twelve years of age. Benjamin knight enlisted in the 63rd Ohio Infantry in 1861, and was lieutenant of Company F, and served about one year, resigning on account of ill health. He was in the battles of New Madrid, Corinth and Iuka, and several other heavy engagements. When he and his wife settled in this county it was just being redeemed from a wilderness, and they were often called upon to drive the bears and wolves from the yard to protect their stock. Benjamin Knight died February 16, 1872, and his widow id now living with her son, at the age of 76. From her memory much of the data for this sketch was received. Luther C. and Margaret (Spencer) Copen are the parents of Mary C., wife of Benjamin F. Knight, and she was born in Parkersburg, Wood county, West Virginia, November 3, 1817, and her mother, now living in this township, and enjoying good health, was born in West Virginia, February 10, 1819. Benjamin F. Knight's address is Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. James G. Miller - was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, September 2, 1840. In the war of the rebellion he served in the Union Army, under General Crook in his West Virginia campaigns, and under Sheridan in the Shenandoah campaigns. He enlisted in September , 1861, and received honorable discharge in November, 1864. In 1864 he became a resident of Meigs county, Ohio, and his parents, Samuel and Abigail (Miller) miller, settled in this county the same year. In Meigs county, October 12, 1876, James G. Miller was united in marriage with Lois J. Ross, and their union was blessed with the birth of one son, on the 19th of September, 1877, whom they named Frank F. The wife of Mr. Miller was born in Meigs county, July 24, 1852, and she was a daughter of John E. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Ross. Her father and mother came to Meigs county in 1848, and here her father died, September 10, 1865. The father of James G. Miller died in this county, October 6, 1872, and his mother died February 12, 1871. Jared C. Ross was a brother of Mrs. Miller, who served in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting in 1863, in the 174th Ohio Infantry, and serving until honorably discharged at the close of the war. The business of James G. Miller is farming, his location in Chester township, and his address at Bashan, Meigs county, Ohio. Thomas Parker - born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, June 6, 1831, and Olive Branch, born in Meigs county, Ohio, October 16, 1832, were in Meigs county joined in wedlock, July 3, 1856. Of their union eight children were born: Caroline (Cowdery), July 2, 1857: Leslie, February 11, 1859; Vietta, August 8, 1861; Edrilla, October 20, 1863; Nevada, January 29,1866: Herbert, march 27, 1868; Bertha, May 30, 1870; Pearl, October 21, 1874. The oldest is married and lives in a home of her own in this county, and the others live with their parents. Hiram and Nancy A. (Heaton) Parker took up their residence in Meigs county, April 4, 1854, and their son, the subject of this sketch, came with them. Here the father died September 10,1864, and the mother is still living, at the age of 86 years. The parent's of Mr.. Parker's wife were Josiah and Sarah (Teaple) Branch, and they made their home in this county in 1815, and here died; the former dying march 10, 1856, and the latter, January 20, 1873. Thomas Parker had two brothers who served in the war of 1861, and he was himself a member of the 140th Ohio National Guards, serving about five months, and receiving an honorable discharge. He is a farmer in Chester township, and in this township has served as trustee four terms, six terms as school director, and has held other offices. He receives his mail at Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. David Radford : deceased - was a native of Ireland, born in County Wicklow, in April , 1815, who came to Meigs county, Ohio, in 1819, with his parents, William and Ellen (Ashworth) Radford. They have both ended their days in this county. In Meigs county, Ohio, November 6, 1839, David Radford was united in marriage with Theresa, daughter of Josiah and Ursula (Hicox) Rice, who settled in this county in 1803. She was born in Meigs county, May 12, 1821, and has lost her parents by death, her fathers' death occurring in 1870 and her mother's in 1868. Her father was born in Massachusetts, and was a veteran of the 1812 war, and her mother was a native of New York State. The children of Mr. and Mrs. David Radford were three: Sarah E., (Cummings), born August 21 , 1840 , lives in Bedford township, this county; Electe, November 6, 1842, lives in this township; William H., December 10, 1845, lives in Chester township. William H., served 100 days in the Ohio National Guards, during the 1861 war. December 21, 1861, he married Harriet L., daughter of William and Rachel (Anderson ) Smith. Her father, for many years a justice of the peace in Bedford township, this county, was born in Sussex county, New Jersey, march 22, 1798, and died in Meigs county, Ohio , February 19, 1880. Her mother was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia, in 1806, and is still living in Bedford township. William H. Radford is township trustee in Chester township, where he is largely engaged in farming. Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio, is his post office address. William Reibel- was a son of Peter and Catherine (Gyer) Reibel, who became residents in Meigs county, Ohio, in 1837. Here he was born, March 8, 1849, and here his marriage occurred, December 5, 1892, when Elizabeth S. Ridenour became his wife. She was born in this county, October 2, 1853, her father, John Ridenour, one of the pioneer settlers of Meigs county. Her mother's maiden name was Hannah Osborn. The children of Mr. and Mrs. William Reibel are four, all living at home, and born on the following dates: John W., April 15, 1874; Charles E., November 5, 1875; Zelda L., October 2, 1877; Ira M., November 3, 1879. The father of William Reibel was of German birth, and settled in Meigs county in 1837. Here he died December 12, 1880, at the advanced age of 72 years, respected and regretted by all who knew him. He was a devout Christian, a member of the German methodist Episcopal Church for more than forty years . He had lived in Meigs county for forty-three years, spending the most of the time on the farm in Chester township, which is now the residence of his son, William. Chester, Meigs county, Ohio, is the post office address of William Reibel. Elihu D. Robinson - a prosperous farmer and stock raiser in Chester township, Meigs county, Ohio, was born April 25, 1841, in the house in which he now resides. His entire life has been passed in this county, with the exception of the years he gave to the cause of his country, during the war of 1861. He served in the 18th Ohio Infantry, and afterwards in the 2nd West Virginia Calvary, enlisting first April 23, 1861, and remaining in the service until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was in the engagements of the Second Winchester, Fishers Hill, Cedar Creek, Five Forks, and others. In the last named battle he was severely wounded. He was mustered out with the rank of first lieutenant, June 30, 1865. In Chester he was joined in wedlock with Emily F. Hoyt, and seven children were born of their union. The eldest, a son, died on the day of his birth; Rameal D. was born November 1, 1869; Nellie M., March 12, 1872; Edna and Dana E., September 17, 1874; Leonora E., February 12, 1877; Lucy P. , August 4, 1882. Edna is deceased; the other children are living at home. Mrs. Robinson is a native of Illinois, born March 23, 1845, a daughter of Jeremiah and Emily (Dudley) Hoyt. She had one brother, Royal Hoyt, who died in Andersonville prison. Her father's birth was on the 31st of October, 1815. Phineas C., and Sula M. (Torrence) (Elliot) Robinson are the parents of Elihu D. The subject of this sketch has held many important township offices, and is at present township trustee. He is an earnest worker in the Methodist church, and highly esteemed by all who knew him. His address is Chester, Meigs county, Ohio.