OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 44 *********************************************************************** 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 00 : Issue 44 Today's Topics: #1 Fwd: Life in the 1500s [JHuecker@aol.com] #2 Elijah Johnson / Rich Hill Twp., M [Sli1031@aol.com] #3 Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Frank [Betty Ralph ] #4 OBIT: Haskell, 1889, Madison Co. ["david piatt" Subject: Fwd: Life in the 1500s You may have seen this, but thought it worth passing along. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock them out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake." England is old and small, and they started running out of places to bury people. So, they would dig up coffins and would take their bones to a house and reuse the grave. In reopening these coffins, one out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on their wrist and lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night to listen for the bell. Hence on the "graveyard shift" they would know that someone was "saved by the bell" or he was a "dead ringer." Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and were still smelling pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the b.o. Baths equaled a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." Houses had thatched roofs. Thick straw, piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the pets... dogs, cats and other small animals, mice, rats, bugs lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, "It's raining cats and dogs." There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really mess up your nice clean bed. So, they found if they made beds with big posts and hung a sheet over the top, it addressed that problem. Hence those beautiful big 4 poster beds with canopies. I wonder if this is where we get the saying "Good night and don't let the bed bugs bite." (Don=E2=80=99s note: No, the saying came from mattresses being made from hay brought from the barn, and the bugs coming awake in the warmth of the bed.) The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt, hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors which would get slippery in the winter when wet. So they spread thresh on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on they kept adding more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed at the entry way, hence a "thresh hold." They cooked in the kitchen in a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They mostly ate vegetables and didn't get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been in there for a month. Hence the rhyme: peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old." Sometimes they could obtain pork and would feel really special when that happened. When company came over, they would bring out some bacon and hang it to show it off. It was a sign of wealth and that a man "could really bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat." Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with a high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food. This happened most often with tomatoes, so they stopped eating tomatoes... for 400 years. Most people didn't have pewter plates, but had trenchers - a piece of wood with the middle scooped out like a bowl. Trenchers were never washed and a lot of times worms got into the wood. After eating off wormy trenchers, they would get "trench mouth." Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the "upper crust." ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 10:50:39 EST From: Sli1031@aol.com To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <97.190212b.25d1954f@aol.com> Subject: Elijah Johnson / Rich Hill Twp., Muskingum Co., OH / 18 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Elijah Johnson b. ca 1805 in CT lived in Rich Hill Twp., Muskingum Co., OH. He md. Jane Chess b. ca 1811 in OH who also lived in Rich Hill Twp., Muskingum Co., OH and was the daughter of Noble and Susannah Chess (both born in Ireland). They married February 10, 1831 in Muskingum Co., OH. The Johnson and the Chess family both owned land in Rich Hill Twp. Elijah, often listed as Elisha, Johnson and his wife, Jane, had several children: Susannah Johnson b. July 18, 1836 md. John Mercer of Rich Hill Twp. s/o of Abigail (Mercer) Randall. Abigail Curry first md. James Messer November 09, 1837 in Muskingum Co., OH and then later md. John Randall September 02, 1847 in Muskinugm Co., OH. the following three siblings also md. in Muskingum Co.: Nancy Johnson b. ca 1838 md. John W. Stiers, Jr., May 30, 1867 ???????? Elisha Jonson b. ca 1840 md. Ann Rody February 23, 1857 James W. Johnson b. 1842 md. Salevina P. Kelso April 05, 1866 ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Tue, 08 Feb 2000 11:22:45 -0600 From: Betty Ralph To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-Id: <2.2.32.20000208172245.006e0240@HiWAAY.net> Subject: Bio - 1885 - Portage Co, OH, Franklin # 5 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Bios: Clapp - Portage County, Ohio, from "History of Portage County, Ohio" published by Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885 Copyright © 2000 by Betty Ralph. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. bralph@hiwaay.net ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any 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. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ SELAH CLAPP, a pioneer of Portage County, Ohio, was born June 7, 1775, in the town of South Hampton, Hampshire Co., Mass., and was a son of Selah Clapp, a lineal descendant of Sir Roger Clapp, who came from England, his native country, to America in 1630, and settled in the colony of Massachusetts. June 28, 1820, the subject of this sketch, being then married, started from his native town with his wife and family of six children for Ohio. Their means of conveyance was by horse team, which he drove the entire distance, arriving at Franklin Township, Portage Co., Ohio, August 8, 1820. In this township on Lot 23 he bought a farm of 163 acres, and moved with his family into a log house then standing on the land 16x18 feet in size, which stood about 100 rods southwest of his son's, S.S. Clapp's, present residence. About the same time he purchased 250 acres of land in Avon Township, Lorain Co., Ohio. Mr. Clapp was a man of sterling worth, and soon began taking an active and prominent part in the affairs of the community where he had established his new home. He was a Whig in politics, and served his township in various public capacities, being a Trustee for several terms. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a liberal supporter of the religious and educational interests of the township. He was married in Montgomery Township, Hampden Co., Mass., March 1, 1804, to Diana Sheldon, who bore him eight children, all in Massachusetts except the youngest, as follows: Silas W., born December 24, 1804; Susan, born October 13, 1807, now deceased; Spencer, born December 21, 1809; Selah S., born January 9, 1812; Samuel, born November 1, 1814, now deceased; Achsah, born March 16, 1817, now deceased; Diana, born January 5, 1820; Delana, born November 13, 1822, now deceased. The father of this family died June 4, 1840, and the mother August 29, 1850. Their remains rest in the cemetery at Kent. SELAH S. CLAPP, son of Delah and Diana (Sheldon) Clapp, was born in Montgomery Township, Hampden Co., Mass., Jan 9, 1812, and was brought by his parents to Franklin Township in 1820. He was reared to the life of a farmer, in the meantime receiving a limited education in the schools of his day. At his father's death he purchased the old homestead, eighty acres of which he still owns and occupies, thus making him a continuous resident on this farm for sixty-five years. He was married at Ravenna, Ohio, March 10, 1835, to Mary Brown, who was born in his native town, and a daughter of Nicholas and Fanny (Phillips) Brown. Her parents having died in Massachusetts, she came to Portage County, Ohio, with her uncle, Benjamin Phillips, who settled in Franklin Township in 1832. To the union of our subject and his wife were born four children: Fanny Eliza, born July 7, 1836, and died January 1, 1855; Mary Adelia, born November 17, 1837; William Henry, born February 16, 1842, married Mary Richardson, and now resides in Franklin Township; Lucy Florilla, born September 2, 1845. Mary A. and Lucy F. both reside at the homestead with their father. The wife of Mr. Clapp died January 27, 1875, aged fifty-eight years, and lies buried in Standing Rock Cemetery at Kent. Mr. Clapp is one of Franklin Township's oldest as well as one of its most substantial citizens. He is at present the owner of 238 acres of valuable land, besides other property. He is a Republican in politics and although not an office seeker has been elected to and has served his township in various local offices, and once as Trustee. For the past forty-four years he has been a member of the Church of the Disciples, the first four years serving a Deacon and for the past forty years as Overseer, and Church Trustee thirty years. Mrs. Clapp was also a member of this church for many years. At the erection of the stone church building in Kent for this denomination, Mr. Clapp contributed $1,000. He also assisted in the erection of the Presbyterian Church of Kent. CHARLES K. CLAPP, Cashier Kent National Bank, Kent, was born in Ravenna, Ohio, January 15, 1838, son of Charles and Harriet (Kent) Clapp. His father was a native of Turin, N.Y., a son of Ezra Clapp, born January 2, 1807, and settled in Ravenna, this county, in an early day. There he embarked in mercantile trade, which he followed for several years, after which he located in Franklin Mills (now Kent), this county, and engaged in the same business, and later still in Akron, Ohio, He is now a resident of Warren County, Ohio. He was married in Ravenna, Ohio, September 1, 1831, to Harriet, daughter of Zenas and Parmelia (Lewis) Kent, by whom he had six children: Harriet L. (deceased), Charles H. (deceased), Charles K., Ella M. (Mrs. John C. Southwick), in New York City; George A., in New York City, and Edward L., in San Francisco. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county, where he attended the common schools, thence went to the Leicester Academy, Mass., where he remained two years, which comprised his educational advantages. Leaving there at the age of sixteen, he went to New York City, and for twelve years was employed in the wholesale grocery house of Kent & Co. (the last four years a partner in the house), after which he removed to Minneapolis, Minn., where he resided twelve years, being engaged six years in the manufacture of woolen goods, and the balance of the time in the agricultural implement business. In the fall of 1877 he returned to Kent, and in January, 1878, accepted the position of Cashier of the Kent National Bank, which he has satisfactorily filled to the present. He was married, November 26, 1872, to Mary E., Wood, of Mankato, Minn., by whom he has four children: Charles W., Frank S., Leon K. and Harold M. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1981 15:11:08 -0500 From: "david piatt" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001101aa25c0$037fdfc0$b2fcb7ce@randalro> Subject: OBIT: Haskell, 1889, Madison Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" This obituary is from the London Vigilant, August 20, 1889. David HASKELL died last Wednesday afternoon, very suddenly, at his home in Range township. He was one of the most prominent democrats and best known citizens of Madison County and his death is a shock to all his friends. He was seventy-seven years old, having been born in Oneida county, New York, June 16, 1812. In 1835 he located in Madison county and in 1838 in Range township where he has since resided. In 1837 he married Ann KENTON daughter of Simon KENTON, who survives him with two children. The funeral services were held on Friday under the auspices of the Masonic order, of which he was a prominent member, Rev. J. W. DILLON preaching the funeral sermon. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #5 Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1981 15:17:33 -0500 From: "david piatt" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001901aa25c0$e89a14e0$b2fcb7ce@randalro> Subject: OBIT: Mowell (nee Stroup), 1978, Madison Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" This obituary is from the Madison Press, February 10, 1978. Marie S. MOWELL, 82, Payne-Thompson Rd., Rt. 4, London, died at 9:45 a.m. Thursday morning at the home of her daughter. She was born in Range Twp. of Madison County, Sept. 13, 1895, the daughter of Haskell and Ann MANTLE STROUP. She was a member of St. Patrick's Church, London and Altar and Rosary Society. She was preceded in death by her husband, Pearl, June 1959, and daughter, Mrs. Evelyn MACLEOD, August, 1968. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Butch (Mary) Bauerle, London; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral Mass will be on Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick's Church, London. Burial at Kirkwood Cemetery. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #6 Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1981 15:30:41 -0500 From: "david piatt" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001101aa25c2$be64ce20$9afcb7ce@randalro> Subject: BIO: Stroup, 1915, Madison Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" FROM THE BOOK "HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, OHIO 1915", Chester E. Bryan Supervising Editor, BF Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, IN; Pages 780-781. JAMES RANKIN STROUP. Range township, Madison County, enjoys the distinction of having furnished to the various municipalities of the United States five different mayors. Judge D. C. Badger was mayor of Columbus, Ohio; John B. Koontz served as mayor of Washington C. H., Ohio; M. C. Allen, as mayor of Nevada, Iowa; W. S. Stroup, as mayor of Dunkirk, Ohio; and James Rankin Stroup, the subject of this sketch, is now serving his fifth term as mayor of South Solon. Mr. Stroup is a familiar personage to every man, woman and child of South Solon. He is widely known for miles around as the mayor of South Solon, as the founder of the South Solon Advance, and as an all-round business man and farmer. He has been a familiar figure in both the political and social arena of this section, and has made himself popular among the inhabitants by kind deeds, willing hands and active support to all worthy projects for the benefit of the community and those around him. He is the one man needed in every community to fall back upon when energy and willingness are needed to promote the general welfare. James Rankin Stroup was born in Range township, Madison county, Ohio, March 9, 1844, and is the son of William and Caroline M. (Rankin) Stroup, the former of whom was born in Madison county, Ohio, and was the son of John and Rebecca (Grimes) Stroup. John and Rebecca (Grimes) Stroup were natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively, and among the first settlers in Madison county, Ohio. They established a pioneer home in Paint township, and spent the remainder of their lives there. William and Caroline M. (Rankin) Stroup had eight children, five of whom are living. The deceased children are Rebecca F., who married William McCune, of Columbus; John M., who died in Midway, Madison county; and Joshua, who died in California. Both William McCune and his wife are deceased. The living children are: James Rankin, the subject of this sketch; William Edwin of Dunkirk, Ohio, who has been in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad for the last thirty-five years; Sarah E., who lives in Chicago; Margaret C., who lives in California; and Harry L., who is train dispatcher in New York city. William Stroup was engaged in the mercantile business at Midway for many years. During the latter part of his life he was engaged in the grain business at Lima, where he died in 1885. His wife died ten years previously. Born in Range township and educated in the common schools at Sedalia, James Rankin Stroup clerked in his father's store until 1861. When he was seventeen years old he enlisted in Company D, Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was one of the first of the young men to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers. He participated in James A. Garfield's first battle at Middle Creek, Kentucky. Colonel Garfield was commanding a brigade at the time, January 10, 1862. After the war Mr. Stroup came back to his native county, and for several years was engaged in farming and selling farm products. During that period he raised pure-bred jersey cattle and hogs. In 1889 he removed to South Solon, and in 1902 founded the South Solon Advance, an enterprising newspaper of that section. In 1902 he was elected mayor of South Solon and served eight years, until 1910. In 1914 he was re-elected mayor and is now serving his fifth term. Mr. Stroup is also justice of the peace and a notary public. He is likewise engaged in the real-estate and loan business. As mayor of South Solon his efforts have ever been for the benefit of the town, and as the result of his election the town has many needed improvements. His projects for benefiting the community have been entirely impartial. He is a newspaper man of considerable note, and has built up the South Solon Advance until it is a thriving and newsy sheet, well patronized and widely read. Among his other interests, Mr. Stroup owns a farm of fifty-eight acres in Range township. He also owns a splendid modern home in South Solon. On October 20, 1863, James Rankin Stroup was married to Martha Haskell, a daughter of David and Ann (Kenton) Haskell. Mrs. Stroup's mother was a daughter of Simon Kenton, a nephew of the famous Kenton of pioneer times. Mr. Haskell was born in Utica, New York, and his wife at Xenia, Ohio. They were married at Xenia. The Haskells were farmers and stockmen throughout his life and lived in Range township after their marriage. Mr. Haskell died in 1893, and his wife died in 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup have had three children, as follow: Haskell, born on September 3, 1864, lives in Range township, near Danville; Grace, born in 1879, died in 1901; Anna C. died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Stroup celebrated their gold wedding anniversary on October 20, 1913, at their home in South Solon. There were about eighty guests and they received many presents. The Springfield News mentioned the event as one of the most interesting in the history of Stokes Township. Mr. Stroup resides with his wife and granddaughter in a fine residence in South Solon. He is as active, as quick in wit and conception, and as deft in his literary work as a young man. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of South Solon, and is quartermaster of the post. He is also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, at Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Stroup is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at South Solon. James Rankin Stroup is identified with the Democratic party. ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #7 Date: Sun, 8 Feb 1981 15:40:53 -0500 From: "david piatt" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <001b01aa25c4$2b298ae0$9afcb7ce@randalro> Subject: OBIT: Bowman, 1896, Pickaway Co. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" This obituary is from the Circleville Democrat and Watchman. Samuel Bowman departed this life in peace and in hope of eternal life, Dec. 30th 1896, age 87 years, 9 mos., and 25 days. Father Bowman was born Mar. 5, 1809 in Shenandoah County, Virginia, and when at the tender age of about one year his parents moved to Ohio, locating in the Northwestern part of Fairfield county, from whence, 5 yrs later, they moved to Pickaway county, locating in Washington township, on the farm which is now owned and occupied by John Morris, and in which county he has since continuously resided. He may be truly termed a landmark, having lived in the county eighty-one years, an honored, respected, and upright citizen in the true meaning of the expression. Father Bowman was twice married. On Aug. 28th 1836, he was united in holy matrimony to Elizabeth Martin. To this union there were born 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Of this marriage, the wife and 1 son, Henry, preceded him to the spirit world. On Mar. 8th 1846, he was united in marriage to Mary Oman. This union was blest with 12 children, six of whom with the companion have also preceded home to that country from whose bourne no traveler returns. Three sisters, four sons, five daughters, thirty-nine grandchildren and twelve great-grand children, together with a large circle of friends, mourn his demise. Father Bowman, at the age of 16 was, by the hand of death, deprived of the counsel of a father, so necessary to properly fit a young man for a successful business career in a new country, but possessing the necessary ambition and traits of character he pursued an honorable and successful business career which for honest purpose may be taken as a model. He never held a public office but once, that of school director. He would have been an honor to any public office and a credit to the people who placed him there, but he firmly refused all requests to allow himself to be placed in public positions. He was a man of retiring, yet firm character, and having determined on the right, no persuasion could tempt him to waver. Father Bowman has been an active and conscientious member of the United Brethren church for about 60 years, never in all that time neglecting an opportunity to do the will of his Master and leading others by act and example to do the same. He was a model husband, father, grandparent, Christian, and friend and had many stars in the crown of glory which was waiting for him in his Father's Kingdom. It is well. He has fought a good fight. The funeral occurred Sat. at 10 am at Bethany U.B. Church. Services conducted by his former pastor, Rev. Mark Hart. Interment in Reber Hill cemetery. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V00 Issue #44 ******************************************