OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 573 Today's Topics: #1 DULING -VIRGINIA/OHIO/INDIANA [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #2 JOHN B. HOLLINGSWORTH - HUDSON COU [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #3 HENRY SIMONS- PA/DARKE COUNTY/INDI [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 15:28:04, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <199908011928.PAA06960@mime3.prodigy.com> Subject: DULING -VIRGINIA/OHIO/INDIANA Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=US-ASCII THE MAKING OF A TOWNSHIP Being an Account of the Early Settlement and Subsequent Development of FAIRMOUNT TOWNSHIP GRANT COUNTY, INDIANA 1829-1917 Edgar Baldwin Printing Company, 1917 Page 220, 221, 222, 223 with photo of Thomas D. Sr., Edmund, William and Thomas D. Jr. THOMAS D. DULING, Sr., was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, November 22, 1811. With his parents, Edmund and Mary (Dean) Duling, he moved in the fall of 1815 to Coshocton County, Ohio. On February 4, 1836, he was married to Nancy Meskimen, daughter of William and Anna (Shryock) Meskimen, her father, a merchant of Baltimore, Maryland, where she was born. John Meskimen, great-grandfather of Thomas D. Duling, Jr., was a soldier under Gen. George Washington, serving through the entire period of the Revolutionary War with a regiment of Maryland colonial troops. Thomas D. Duling, Sr. came to Fairmount Township in the spring of 1845. He bought of Nathan Dicks eighty acres of land located about one-half mile north and west of Fowlerton. Here he built a hewed-log cabin eighteen by twenty feet, with one door, two windows and a fireplace. Having made preparations for a home, he returned to Ohio, and on October 3, 1845, with his wife and family, namely, William M., Mary, John and Barbara Ann, came in a two horse wagon to settle in the wilderness. This wagon Duling traded to George Nose for clearing twelve acres of ground. Here Elizabeth, Thomas D., Jr., Joel O. and George E. W. Duling were born. Elizabeth passed away at fifteen years of age, and George died September 2, 1894. The father and his family shared the hardships common to pioneers of that day. The first season he cleared six acres of land out of the green woods and planted a crop of corn. Each season he added more acreage to his cleared ground. Being industrious and thrifty he began to accumulate. He bought, in 1849, another eighty of Aaron Vestal, and about 1860 he purchased of the William Chamness estate eighty acres more. In politics Mr. Duling was a Republican and a pronounced Abolitionist. The Dulings are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, and have given liberally of their means and have devoted their activities to the firm establishment of this denomination in their neighborhood. THOMAS D. DULING, SR., to whom extended references have been made in former articles, came to this Township in 1845. He taught two terms of school in the early day, the attendance one winter being so large that he was obliged to employ an assistant, who was Oliver Meskimen, of Linton, Ohio. In 1846 Mr. Duling was named one of the Township Trustees for a period of three years. On October 31, 1846, he gave bond for the faithful performance of his duties, with Henry Simons as his surety. Mr. Duling continued to serve in this position until 1860. The old log school house having burned in 1855, steps were taken at once to build a new one in his district. He offered one half acre of land free as a site. This site was situated on the northeast corner of the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 25. He provided that this school house, which was known as the Liberty school house, should be open for all religious meetings, no denomination barred, when not occupied for school purposes. This building was completed in 1855. It was in this building that Mary Ann Taylor taught when a very young woman. Mr. Duling's home was the scene of much hospitality. It was here that teachers usually made their home, and itinerant ministers of all denominations found a characteristic pioneer welcome. Thomas Duling was a man of considerable education for his day, and in a few instances young men would not undertake to teach school in his neighborhood unless first assured of Mr. Duling's assistance and advice. It was he, with the help of his sons, William M. and John W. Duling, who got out the huge timbers, sills, posts and beams that were used in the construction of the old Duling home which was burned last winter. In finishing the interior of this house the best walnut lumber obtainable in that day was used. WILLIAM M. DULING, son of Thomas D. and Nancy (Meskimen) Duling, is a native of Coshocton County, Ohio, where he was born on May 22, 1837. He came with his parents to Fairmount Township in 1845. He was educated in the common schools of Coshocton County, Ohio, and Grant County, Indiana, being a pupil at different times of William H. H. Reeder, George W. Bowers and Columbus Lay. Mr. Duling has all his life been engaged in agricultural pursuits and has been quite successful. In politics he first affiliated with the Republican party, later identifying himself with the Prohibitionists. He has been for many years a prominent member of the Methodist Protestant Church. During the Civil War he served from 1864 to 1865 as a private with Company I of the Seventy-ninth Indiana Volunteers. On September 3, 1862, he was married to Miss Matilda J. Wilson, born in Jefferson Township, June 30, 1844. She was the daughter of John M. and Mary Ann (Lucas) Wilson, early settlers in Grant County. Mr. and Mrs. Duling are the parents of seven children, namely: Mary, John M., Flora L., Frank, Eva, Oliver and Effie, all living. They have sixteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Much of the information appearing in this story regarding the Lake Galatia neighborhood was supplied by, or has been verified by Mr. Duling, who is still hale and hearty, though eighty years old. THOMAS D. DULING, JR., son of Thomas D. Duling, Sr., was born in Fairmount Township October 22, 1849. His paternal grandparents were Edmund and Mary (Dean) Duling, and his maternal grandparents were William and Anna (Shryock) Meskimen. Thomas D. Jr., was educated in the common schools of Fairmount Township, one of his teachers being William H.H. Reeder, frequently mentioned as a highly efficient teacher of the pioneer period. Mr. Duling has lived his entire life in his native Township. He owns a splendid farm of eighty acres, and has served as director, part of the time as treasurer of the Barren Creek Gas Company, which he helped to organize and became one of the first stockholders. In politics he identified himself with the Republican party when he attained his majority, later joining the Prohibitionists. He is an active and influential member of the Methodist Protestant Church at Fowlerton. On February 13, 1875, he was married to Miss Laney Ellen Dean, born in Owen County, Indiana, July 29, 1850. Mrs. Duling died December 25, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Duling were the parents of three children, namely: Melissa H., now the wife of Milton A. Rich; Sina Emily, wife of Lowery Glass and Barbara L., who died February 27, 1891, aged about five years. Mr. Duling remembers many of the pioneers who have been mentioned in this story, and has lived his entire life in Fairmount Township. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 15:27:55, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <199908011927.PAA06948@mime3.prodigy.com> Subject: JOHN B. HOLLINGSWORTH - HUDSON COUNTY Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=US-ASCII MAKING OF A TOWNSHIP Being an Account of the Early Settlement and Subsequent Development of FAIRMOUNT TOWNSHIP GRANT COUNTY, INDIANA 1829-1917 Edgar Baldwin Printing Company, 1917 Page 254 with photo JOHN B. HOLLINGSWORTH. Retired monument dealer, was born in Hudson County, Ohio, August 5, 1836. His grandparents were natives of Pittsburgh, as were his parents, William Hollingsworth, born June 25, 1811, and Lucinda, born May 8, 1814. William and Lucinda Hollingsworth were the parents of six children, namely: Wesley B., John B., Gilmore, Mariah, Isabel and William. In 1856 John B. Hollingsworth came to Fairmount Township with his parents, locating in Fairmount, then a village of about a dozen houses. The father opened the first cabinet shop in the township, making household furniture, of all kinds by hand, and supplying pioneers with coffins for their dead. John B. went to school at White Hall and also at Summitville, He started to learn the carpenter trade with his uncle, William Wellington, then living at Summitville, remaining with his relative about one year, then returning to Fairmount and working at odd jobs until the spring of 1861. On april 23, 1861, he enlisted Company K, Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for the three months' service, remaining with this regiment until the command was mustered out on August 6, 1861. He, with Smith Kelsay and Isaac Smithson, were the first three Fairmount Township men who at the outbreak of war responded to President Lincoln's call for troops. October 1, 1861, Hollingsworth enlisted in Company H, Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three years, or until the close of the war. The Eighth was mustered out June 14, 1865. He was with his regiment at the battle of Rich Mountain, West Virginia, July 12, 1861. During his second enlistment his regiment was on guard duty, being stationed near Sharpsburg, Maryland, guarding the Potomac River. During his third enlistment he saw hard service with the Eighth Indiana Infantry, participating with his command in the battles of Blackwater, Missouri, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Jackson, Big Black, Vicksburg, second battle of Jackson, Hall Town, Oppequon, New Market, Cedar Creek and Fisher's Hill. At Cedar Creek, on October 19, 1864, just before Gen. Phil Sheridan arrived to rally his demoralized army, Hollingsworth met Harry Norton, who was then sick. Hollingsworth helped his comrade along as far as Norton was able to go. The Confederates had at this point flanked the Union forces and it was a case of every man for himself. Norton insisted that Hollingsworth go on and take care of himself, explaining, after much effort, that he was too sick and too weak to go farther. Hollingsworth reluctantly left his comrade. The Confederates were upon them. Hollingsworth wheeled around, fired at his pursuers as he retreated, and took to his heels, making his escape to the Union lines as bullets were "throwing up dirt all about him." Norton fell into the hands of the Confederates, and was taken to Libby Prison, where he died. In June, 1865, Hollingsworth returned home and for many years successfully carried on a monument business in Fairmount. On February 17, 1876, he was married to Mrs. Hary Hall Hathaway, daughter of William and Hannah (Stanfield) Hall, who was born February 11, 1844, in Fairmount Township. To this union four children were born, namely: Martin L., Morton, Joseph B. and Sarah L., all deceased except Morton. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 15:28:10, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <199908011928.PAA06968@mime3.prodigy.com> Subject: HENRY SIMONS- PA/DARKE COUNTY/INDIANA Content-Type: Text/Plain; charset=US-ASCII THE MAKING OF A TOWNSHIP Being an Account of the Early Settlement and Subsequent Development of FAIRMOUNT TOWNSHIP GRANT COUNTY, INDIANA 1829-1917 Edgar Baldwin Printing Company, 1917 Page 232, 233, 234 HENRY SIMONS. Pioneer farmer, was a native of Bradford County, Pennsylvania. His father, Adrial Simons, was born April 9, 1792, and died February 26, 1876; his mother, Patsy (Merit) Simons, was born September 30, 1795, and died March 21, 1863. Henry Simons was persevering, industrious and thrifty, and at the time of his death, March 31, 1902, owned one hundred and sixty-five acres of good land. In politics he was a Republican. he was a member of the New Light Church, and did much in the early days of the Township, toward the organization and establishment of this denomination. The influence of Henry Simons in his neighborhood was always exerted for the best interests, both material and moral, of the community. SIMONS FAMILY (By John H. Simons) My father, Henry Simons, was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1815. He moved, with his father, about the year 1819, to Darke County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. In the summer of 1837, probably July, he started West, on foot, to find some place to locate, where he could make himself a home for the future. He walked to Grant County, where, after spending some time looking for a location, he found eighty acres in Section 36, Fairmount Township, which had not been taken of the Government. Most of the land at that time which was thought to be of much account had been entered or bought by people hunting for homes. It was so wet and swampy that it was supposed to nearly worthless for agricultural purposes. After getting the description of the eighty acres, he started on foot to the Land Office at Ft. Wayne. He went north through the wilderness, traversing Grant and Huntington Counties, striking the canal at Lagro or Huntington, after which he walked along the towpath used for the mules and hoses pulling the canal boats. These boats conveyed the products of the settlers to market, and bringing back such things as they could use. It took about three days to make the trip from southern Grant County to Ft. Wayne. Father said he never suffered from thirst more than he did while walking on the towpath on his way to Ft. Wayne. There was plenty of water in the canal, but it was not fit to drink, and the settlements, where he could get a drink, were a great ways apart. After reaching Ft. Wayne, he found the Land Office and closed up the deal for the eighty acres. He left as payment for the land $100 in gold, which he had carried all the way on his trip from Ohio. After his purchase was made, he started on the return trip to Grant County, covering practically the same ground. Reaching the farm, he put out a deadening, after which he returned to Ohio to earn money and prepare to move to his newly acquired possessions. By the summer of 1840 he was prepared go go West, he having previously married Phebe Thomas, who set out with him for Fairmount Township. Their mode of travel was by horses and wagon. They brought all of their possessions with them. They arrived at the home of their uncle, Bingham Simons, who lived a mile north, in the edge of Jefferson Township. Leaving their goods at the home of their uncle, with the help of the early settlers he set out to cut logs and build a house in which to move his belongings. After three or four days they had logs cut and the house built and a door cut through the wall. Then they were ready to move into their own home. They were obliged to prop up clapboards to close the doorway at night while they slept, the wolves howling on the outside of their cabin. To Henry and Phebe (Thomas) Simons were born six children, five sons and one daughter, namely, Jonathan, Martha Ann, Ransom Ellis, William and Adrial. One infant child was buried in the Fankboner Graveyard in 1841. Three others died of scarlet fever within one month of each other. William and Adrial Simons are still living. William resides in Fairmount and Adrial lives on his farm near the old home. Phebe Simons was born in 1820 and died February 3, 1852. In February, 1854, Henry Simons was united in marriage to Elizabeth Ann (Walker) Parrill. To this union were born seven children, five sons and two daughters, four of whom are living, namely, John H. Simons, Levi P. Simons, Mata M. Buller, and D. Wilson Simons, Morris, Arthur, Walker and a daughter having passed away in infancy. Mata Buller and her husband, Oliver buller, own the eighty acres bought of the Government by my father. There never has been but the one transfer made -the conveyance to Oliver and Mata Buller. Elizabeth (Parrill) Simons died on March 29, 1899. Henry Simons died March 31, 1902. He was the grandfather of twenty-three children, seventeen still living. Donna Jean Simons, first great-grandchild, daughter of Harry L. and Jessie Simons, was born on his one hundredth anniversary. My great-grandfather, Adrial Simons, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. One of the first churches, if not the first, organized in the east end of the Township was organized at my father's house in 1842. Among some of the old records I have in my possession I find the following: "September the 26, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-two. We this day at Henry Simons', unite ourselves together as a branch of the Christian Church to take the Holy Scriptures as our only rule of faith and practice, as we have hereunto set our names. E.S. Parks Samuel Todd Elizabeth Todd Sarah Ann Ervin Henry Simons Abraham Rader Christopher Mittank Anna M. Simons Martha Jane Rader Elizabeth Mittank William Ervin This organization was called Barren Creek Christian Church. They built a log church on my father's farm soon after this organization. The pews were made by taking logs and splitting them and then they were hewn off smooth on the flat side, then a hole bored on the rounding side and wooden legs put in. They were then turned over and set in position ready for occupancy. This organization was kept up for a number of years, until better churches were built in the country nearby. Then the organization was abandoned, but the old log church stood near a half century. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #573 *******************************************