Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/856

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��BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

��few. He remained with his father, assisting him in improving and cultivating his farm, till the 17th of March, 1825, when he was united in marriage to Miss Ruth J., eldest daughter of Benjamin and Susannah Barnes, of Washington Township. Her mother's maiden name was Jones. Her parents were both born in jNIary- land, and were of English descent; they came to the county at a very early day, and settled in Washington Township, on the farm now owned by the heirs of John Ford. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. McBride pur- chased 50 acres of land in Sec. 7, Monroe Township, which farm he improved and cultivated, and, by dint of hard labor and rigid economy on the part of himself and wife, he was enabled to add piece by piece, until he had a farm consisting of 100 acres. He subsequently purchased 108 acres, situated in Sees. 7 and 19 of this township. Mr. and Mrs. McBride ai-e the parents of eleven children. The names of those who survived the period of infancy are as follows : Jackson, Thomas, Benjamin Franklin, Union, Susan M., John A., James J. and Wilson S. Jackson was married to Susan Doug- las, by whom he had four children, two sons and two daughters. He was a teacher and farmer by occupa- tion. He died April 28, 1859, and was buried with the honors of Odd Fellowship, in their cemetery near Lucas. John A. died Aug. 13, 1841, and is buried in the same cemetery. Thomas is one of the most prominent law- yers in this county. Mr. McBride, in his younger days, was a man of great energy, as also a man of more than ordinary intelligence. He took a very active part in the improvements that were then being made in his town- ship and county. He was one of the leading men of that early day. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for nine years in his township. He also held several other township offices for several terms. At that early day. Uncle Sam was not as wealthy as he subsequently became. The coifers of the Township Treasurer of Monroe were empty. Orders had accumu- lated in the hands of her officers, and there was no prospect of their beipg paid. A number of these officers (among whom was Mr. McBride) assembled at Lucas one day, to consult over this financial question. It was proposed by one of their number that John Her should load their orders in his gun and shoot them away. This was accordingly done, and in this sum- mary manner the township was freed from debt. Mr. McBride served as Township Clerk for eight years, and found his own stationery, without any compensation whatever. The ninth year he received a very inade- quate remuneration for his services. He was a candi- date the tenth year, but the office was then beginning to pay ; he had competition, and was defeated. Mr. McDride united with the United Presbyterian Church at Mansfield, in the year 1841. He still retains his membership there, though of late years he has not been able to attend, owing to his advanced age, aijd the dis- tance to be traveled. About twenty-five years ago, Mrs. McBride united with the Lutheran Church at Lucas. About the year 1870, Mr. McBride sold his real estate, and made a distribution of his property among his chil- dren, reserving a portion for the support of himself and wife during their declining years. From that time till the present, they have resided with their children. For the last seven years they have lived with their son-in-

��law, Samuel Barr. Mr. McBride hauled the poles to make a shed to cover the bricks that were used in build- ing the first brick church in Mansfield. This was about 1821. His father subscribed |50 and his mother $10 to the building of this church. He signed the pros- pectus for the first paper printed in the county. It was called the Olive, and was published by Robert Cros- thwart. It was first published about the close of the year 1818, or the first of the year 1819. It subsequently changed names and proprietors several times, and finally passed into the hands of John Y. Glesner, who christened it the Shield and Banner. Mr. McBride continued to take this paper till the year 1871. There is, perhaps, no man living in the county to-day, who came as early as Mr. McBride, who had attained man's estate when he came here. He and his good wife have shared the joys and sorrows of married life for a period of fifty-five years. He is 82 years old, quite hard of hearing, but intelligent for a man of his years. She is 73 years old, hale and hearty, and in full possession of her mental faculties.

McDANEL, JOHN R., farmer; P. 0. Newville. AVill- iam McDanel, father of John R., was born in Middle- sex Co., Del., Oct. 23, 1771; his parents, Archibald and Rachel McDanel, were of Scotch-Irish descent. Will- iam McDanel was married to Miss Mary Richey, daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Richey, of his native county, Jan. 27, 1795; Miss Richey was born March 18, 1777, in the same county ; her parents were of German descent. William McDanel removed to Beaver Co., Penn., with his family, in 1806, and from there to Richland Co. in 1826 ; he entered the south- east quarter of Sec. 26 in Monroe Township ; he la- bored very hard to clear and improve this farm, as it was covered with a very heavy growth of timber ; when he purchased it, Mr. McDanel was possessed of a strong constitution and iron nerve, and was naturally well-fitted to brave the dangers and endure the toils and privations of pioneer life. He and his wife were both active members of the Baptist Church for many years ; they were quite liberal in their contribiitions for religious and benevolent purposes ; they were the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters; the sons were named Archabald, Abraham, James, William, Simon and John R.; names of daughters, Phoebe, Elizabeth, Margaret, Mary and Rachel. Will- iam McDanel departed this life May 26, 1854; his widow died Aug. 20, 1861 ; they were both interred in the family graveyard, on the farm. John R., youngest son of William and Mary McDanel, was born in Beaver Co., Penn., Sept. 8, 1821 ; he was but 5 years old when his parents brought him to this county ; he has lived on the farm his father entered from that time to the present : owing to the limited facilities for obtaining knowledge at that early day, his education was some- what limited ; he learned to read and write, however, and acquired a tolerably fair knowledge of arithmetic ; as soon as he was old enough to be of any service to his father, he was kept from school the greater part of the time to assist on the farm. Jan. 22, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy, daughter of Henry and Catharine Keller ; Miss Keller was born in Stark Co., Ohio, Dec. 10, 1824; her parents were of German descent ; they were natives of Pennsylvania ; they re-

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