Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/946

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��BIOGKAPHICAL SKETCHES:

��he and wife have had six sons and four daughters ; he owns 356 acres of land ; he has been Land Appraiser twice ; has been Commissioner six years.

WILLIAMS, JAMES, minister, Butler. Matthew Williams, father of James Williams, was born near Wellsburg, Va., in 1774: he was of Welsh descent, and a farmer by occupation ; became to Richland Co. either ill the fall of 1811 or the spring of 1812; he was mar- ried to Susanna Carr, by whom he had three sons and seven daughters, two sous and three daughters of whom are yet living ; on coming to this county, he entered a quarter-section of land in Montgomery Township, near the eastern line; erected a log cabin thereon, into which he moved his family, and proceeded at once to clear and otherwise improve and cultivate his farm ; erelong the log cabin was superceded by a hewed-log house, and many other valuable improvements made; lie and his family, Thomas Carr and family, John Carr and family, Robert Hewland and family, Daniel Carter and family, and a family by the name of Jerome, lodged together in the fort or blockhouse at Jerome- ville for some time during the war of 1812; Jerome was married to an Indian girl ; the village was named for him. Mrs. Williams died at Jeromeville in 1820, and was buried there ; Mr. Williams departed this life in 1835, and his remains were deposited near those of his deceased wife. James Williams, their youngest son, was born in Tuscarawas Co. in 1811 ; he was brought to this county by his parents before he was 1 year old ; he was reared, partially at least, in the woods, and inured from infancy to the hardships of pioneer life ; he assisted his father in clearing and cul- tivating his farm, during which time he received such education as the common schools of that early day af- forded. He has been twice married ; the maiden name of his first wife was Eliza Smith ; they were married by Rev. Thomas Thompson. In ten months after their marriage his wife died. In two years after the decease of his first wife, iie was united in marriage to Miss Vanluah Whitten, daughter of William Whitten, by whom he had eleven children, eight of whom are now living. In 1830, he united with the Methodist Church, and in 1840 commenced the study of theology ; he served in the capacity of a local preacher for several years; in 1860, he entered the regular ministry, and officiated in that capacity from that time till 1876, when he left the Methodist and united with the Lu- theran Church ; the labors of Father Williams have been extended into many parts of the State, and, as a laborer in his Master's cause, he has met with fair suc- cess. Father and Mother Williams are the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters. Their oldest, a daughter, was born in 1887, named Martha A.; she married Levi Gamber; he died in 1875. Their second, a son, was born in 1839, named Thomas W., was a member of the home guards during the late war; he died in 1863. Their third, a son, born in 1840, mar- ried in 1862 to Sarah E. Smith, was a member of the national guards in the late war ; served at Johnston's Island and near Washington City; now resides in Delta, Fulton Co., Ohio. Their fourth, a son, named Russell S., born in 1843, enlisted in 1861 for three years or dur- ing the war; veteranized at the end of second year; was killed in a charge at Bentonville, N. C, in 1864,

��while storming the rebel breastworks. Their fifth, a son, born in 1844, named James T. was a member of the 25th 0. V. I. in the late war ; enlisted in 1861 ; veteranized at the end of two years ; returned home in safety ; was married to Sarah Croxton, and lives in Reed Township, Seneca Co., Ohio. Their sixth, a son, born in 1846, named William B., was a soldier in the late war; enlisted in 1863; was captured by the rebels; was confined in Andersonville Prison eight months and in other places three months ; was discharged at the close of the war ; returned home, and, in 1866, was married to Miss Lorena Hall ; lives in Floyd Co., Iowa ; his first wife dying, he was married to Miss Malinda Herring. Their seventh, a daughter, born in 1848. Their eldest, a daughter, was born in 1837, and was christened Martha A.; she was married to Levi Gam- ber ; she died in 1875. Their second child, a son, was born in 1839. was christened Thomas W.; was a mem- ber of the home guards during the late war ; he died in 1863. Their third, a son, named Isaac V., born in 1840, was a soldier in the late war — a member of the national guards.

PLANK, JONATHAN, miller; P. 0. Butler. This industrious and energetic man was born in Mifflin Co., Penn., Dec. 4, 1816 ; his father, Jacob Plank, was born in the same State about 1796 ; was a carpenter by trade, and married Barbara Zook, by whom he had four sons and three daughters ; all are alive and married except one daughter, who has died since her marriage. Jacob Plank came to Ohio and settled near Wooster, Wayne Co., in 1822 ; he lived here till his death in 1856 ; his widow lives with one of her sons in the State of Indi- ana. Jonathan, the eldest son, learned the trade of mil'.er under his uncle, Abraham Plank, in Wayne Co.; served nine years, then worked in various mills in the county till the spring of 1846 ; then went to Prairie Township, Holmes Co., stayed till the fall of 1856, when he came to Richland Co.; he run the Baird mill till the spring of 1862, then bought half-interest in the Kanagamill property one mile west of Independence ; he owned this till 1869, when he traded for the Pearce farm, east of Independence ; owned it eighteen months, then bought the entire interest of the same mill property back again in 1873 ; he sold a half-interest to his son, E. A. Plank ; there are 60 acres of land connected with the mill ; their flour has the highest reputation of any in this part of the county; people often come with their wheat from surrounding counties to have the same converted into flour. Jonathan Plank was mar- ried to Lydia King February, 1837 ; the result of this marriage was six daughters and four sons ; three sons and one daughter are dead ; his wife died in March, 1859 ; was married to Mrs. Teeter, daughter ofSamuel G. White, by whom he had two sons; he united in Wayne Co. with the Church of God ; there being none of that denomination near, he joined the Evangelical Association of Independence ; he is Trustee and Class- leader of the same. Mr. Plank was Township Trustee in Holmes Co.; also served here one term, when he re- fused to be re-elected, having plenty to see to and no desire to occupy an official position. His son E. A. Plank was in the one hundred-day service dur- ing the late war ; at present he has charge of the mill.

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