Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/907

 J^.

��SPRII^GFIELD TOWNSHIP.

��895

��FINNEY, JOHN, a resident, of Springfield Township, and well known throughout the county, came into Ohio in 1804. He was born in Fayette Co., Penn., in the year 1801 ; three years later, his father constructed a flat- boat, and with his family and possessions, floated down the river to Wellsburg, bought a section of land in Harrison Co., Ohio, and put up a cabin 18x20 feet ; there Mr. Finney had his first experience in pioneer life. The country was wild and unimproved ; wild animals and game of all kinds were plenty, and the comforts and conveniences of life scarce ; especially was this the case with schools ; Mr. Finney at one time went to live with his grandfather, six miles from home, that he might go to school ; but, as he was the oldest one of the children, he was needed at home, and his educa- tion was neglected to such a degree, that when at the age of 24, he was married, he could not read a news- paper. His father moved to Richland Co. in 1820, and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Finney ; in 1823, the family moved to Madison Township, but con- tinued to farm the place in this township ; three years afterward, they returned to Springfield Township, where Mr. Finney has continued to reside since. On the 26th of September, 1825, he was married to Elenor Marshal ; by this union he had twelve children, only four of whom are now living; Mr. Finney was married, the second time, to Isabelle Alban, July 14, 1858, his first wife having died Dec. 22, 1857 ; his second wife died Jan. 9, 1874. Mr. Finney has heen a great reader in his life, and an active worker in such causes as he conceived were for the public good. He signed the first temperance pledge in the township, and in company with David Trimbal inaugurated the first temperance movement. He was an active Antislavery man, and has labored con- tinually in opposition to secret societies. As a member of the United Presbyterian Church, he has always en- deavored to live consistent with his professions. A more extended account of his work may be found in the his- tory of this township.

FREED, JOSEPH, deceased, came to this county in 1833 ; formerly lived in Pennsylvania, where he was born 1808. In 1827, he married Hanna Snider; they had fifteen children, seven of whom are dead. The young- est son, Isaac Freed, was born in 1849, and lives on a farm of 123 acres, a pari of the southwest quarter of Sec. 19. Joseph Freed died Feb. 6, 1873.

FURGESON, JOHN P., farmer ; P. 0. Mansfield.

HOUT, CHARLES, farmer; P. 0. Crestline; he was born in Springfield Township March 22, 1841. He was married in 1872 to Hester S. Barnes, who was born in this county. They have the following family : Harlon Wesley, born May 25, 1875, and one infant child. He owns an improved farm with good buildings.

HOUT, JOSEPH, farmer; P. 0. Crestline; he was born in Mifflin Township Feb. 9, 1845. He was mar- ried in 1866, to Amanda Kurtz ; they had the following family : Eddie C.,Ellie,Levi and Charles. Mrs. Amanda Hout died in 1878. Mr. Hout married Jennie Pool, who was born in this county.

LAMBERT, WILLIAM, was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1850 ; in the spring of 1879, he removed to the south- ern part of Springfield Township. He was married in the year 1877, to Caroline Jackson ; they have three children.

��HOUT, JOHN (deceased) ; he was born in Jeflferson Co., Ohio ; he came to Mifflin Township April 4, 1820, Married, April 30, 1844, to Fanny Boals, who was born in Harrison Co. Oct. 30, 1816. They have a family of three children— Joseph, born Feb. 9, 1845 ; Charles, born March 22, 1847; John, born .Jan. 2, 1855, Mr, Hout died April 3, 1878, in Springfield Township, at his residence ; in the spring of 1846 he removed to Springfield Township, and remained there until his death. His sou, John Hout, Jr., remains with his mother, and is engaged in farming ; during the winter season, he is engaged in teaching.

McCONNELL, CURTIS, farmer ; P. 0. Ontario.

MATSON, J HN, S. B., was born in the year 1828 in Jackson Township, one half mile north of his present residence. His father, Uriah Matson, was one of the early pioneers, having come into the county in 1815. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. He came from AVest- moreland Co., Penn., to the vicinity of Lebanon, Ohio, in 1812, and three years later to Richland Co., where he spent the remainder of his life. As a woodsman he had, probably, no equal in the county, and did a great deal of work at chopping and clearing. It ia said to have been the custom of a firm of Mansfield, which manufactured axes, to give, at meetings of the citizens of the county, an ax as a premium to the oldest man, the oldest pioneer, etc. At one of these meetings, it was suggested that an ax be given to the man who had done the most work with an ax. It was decided that Uriah Matson was entitled to the award, which he accordingly received. Although he was a great worker, he was very fond of books, and did a great deal of reading. He was born in 1793, and died in 1873, His wife was Elizabeth Beech, whom he married in 1822. She is still living at the age of 81 years. Their children were six in number and were born as follows ; Albert F., in 1824 ; U. J., in 1826; John S. B., in 1828 ; Araminta, in 1831 ; Charles C, in 1833 ; Mel. vina, in 1836. Albert, Araminta and Charles are now dead. John S. B. Matson was brought up in the neighborhood of where he now lives ; and when 21 years of age, began work on the railroad. In 1856, he married Mary A. Finfrock, and moved on his farm in 1860. In 1862, he enlisted in the 120th 0. V. I., and was out nearly three years, over one year of which time he lay in a rebel prison. He has one daughter who is now married. Mr. Matson has taken great pains in collecting archaelogical specimens and Indian relios, and has a large, rare and valuable collection, of which he may justly be proud. Many of his best specimens were on exhibition at the Centennial, in the archtg- logical exhibit from this State.

MARSHALL, JAMES, Sr. (deceased). He was born Feb. 22, 1796, in Pennsylvania. He was married June, 18, 1828, to Jane Edgington, who was born July 28, 1805 ; in Jefferson Co ; they had the following family ; David, born April 6, 1830; Thomas, 1832; Alexander T. 1834; John, March 22, 1835; George, Nov. 7, 1837; James, June 21, 1839; William Franklin, April 16, 1842; Samuel, April 22, 1844; Gilbert, Feb. 1, 1847; Amanda Jane (deceased), 1849, James Marshall, Sr., died Feb. 11, 1877; Mrs. Jane Marshall, Jan. 21, 1876; Thomas, died in 1833: Alexander T., died in 1856. David Marshall was

��■^c

�� �