Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/947

 AUBURN TOWNSHIP, CRAWFORD COUNTY.

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��BROWN, "WILLIAM, farmer ; P. 0. Tyro, Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio ; he was born in Indiana Co., Penn., July 13, 1807 ; he remained with his father until December, 1829, when his father died ; he emigra- ted to Ohio in May of the following year, and located on the southeast quarter of Sec. 8, Vernon Township, in the unbroken wilderness ; here he remained thirty-four years; disposing of his land to Mr. H. Thoman, he purchased what is usually termed the William Cum- mins farm, about the year 1864, where he now lives ; it is a magnificent farm, nicely located. He married Miss Sarah Ellis, from near Steubenville, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1830 ; had ten children, six of whom are living— Joseph D., married to Miss Dixon ; George C, married to Miss Richards ; Elizabeth, married to W. Morton ; Martha J., married to Rev. Miller; Mary, married to A. D. Sibert ; and Amanda, married to Joseph Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have enjoyed excellent health, and bear their age well ; are respected by their neighbors and all who know them. They are members of the M. E. Church.

CUMMINS, WILLIAM, one of the leading farmers and stock-growers of Auburn Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, was born in Indiana Co., Penn., March 28, 1834; he was brought up by his parents on a farm, receiving his education in the district school, until he became of age, when he took charge of a general line of merchan- dise, such as was kept in a country store, conducting the business about one year, when he disposed of the goods and went on the farm, where he remained one year, when he again engaged in business at Chambers- ville, Indiana Co., Penn., where he remained until Aug. 31, 1861, when he volunteered in a military or- ganization. Mr. Cummins ranked as Captain of the company, and was placed in the 14th Army Corps, com- manded by Gen. Thomas. Capt. Cummins resigned his command about Aug. 1, 1863, returning home sick. He emigrated to Ohio in August, 1864, locating on the D. C. Morrow farm, where he now resides, on a beautiful site, consisting of 600 acres in one body, a portion of .which lies in Plymouth Township, the balance in Au- burn Township, Crawford Co. The Captain married Miss Mary J. Morrow Aug. 24, 1864, and by their union had nine children, five of whom are living, viz.: Cora Elizabeth, David William, Joseph Dick, Julia Brown Mateer, Nancy Susan Clark. Mrs. Cummins was born Aug. 3, 1836, on their present farm ; she at- tended school at Plymouth until she was about 18 years of age, finishing her education at Delaware, Ohio. Mr. Cummins was elected Treasurer of Auburn Town- ship in April, 1877, and Land Appraiser in Octobtr, 1879. As a family, they incline to the Presbyterian Church, and are respected by all who know them. Mr. Cummins is an active, energetic man, taking an interest in all public affairs, and has an interesting family, in which he takes a fond father's pride.

CUMMINS, WILLIAM, deceased. William, son of David and Mary (Trimble) Cummins, was born on the

��5th day of February, 1809, in Indiana Co., Penn.; about the 9th year of his age, he removed with his parents to Richland Co., Ohio, his father having pre- viously, in 1816, located a tract of land some five miles west of' Shelby ; his boyhood and early manhood were passed in assisting to hew out a home in the then un- broken wilderness; sixty years ago, the facilities for acquiring an education in this county were compara- tively meager; but such as they were, the subject of this sketch made the most of, lor, in after years, he showed a thoroughness in the branches then taught, and a familiarity with the forms of business, that made him a man of mark in the community in which he re- sided ; in speaking of his early struggles to acquire an education, he always gave great credit to Rudolphus Morse and Benjamin Griffith, two of the most accom- plished teachers and best-informed men of their day ; upon arriving at his majority, he was elected Justice of the Peace, a position he held continuously until he re- moved from the township ; the official business of that day was largely in collections, and many who have since acquired a competency, will remember his large-hearted leniency, when they were struggling to get a start in life. In March, 1831, he was married to Jane, daugh- ter of Abraham and Agnes (Wallace) Cahill, and the issue of this union was three sons and four daughters, to wit : Nancy, David, Abraham Cahill, George Wallace, Mary Eliza, Jane and Rebecca; Nancy, George W. and Mary are deceased. His wife died Dec. 17, 1853, and in 1855, he married Mrs. Matilda Dungan ; no issue by this marriage. About 1842, he united with the M. E. Church, and ever afterward was a consistent member, taking a deep interest in its welfare and prosperity. In politics, he was a Democrat of the old school, but love of country rose above party fealty, and he was among the first in Shelby, at the breaking-out of the late war, to insist that party lines should be obliterated until we had a united country. He was called to pre- side over the first war meeting held in Shelby, and. among the very first held in the State, and always gave his time and money freely to further the cause of the Union and care for the families of the soldiers. In 1868, he removed to Tuscola, 111., and purchased a tract of land, and gave himself strictly to its cultivation ; the success that had followed him through life did not desert him here, and his business continued prosper- ous. Some five years ago his bodily health failed, and the infirmities of age coming on, compelled him to seek a quiet and retired life. He spoke frequently and with- out fear of his fast-approaching end. Though long ex- pected, the final summons came suddenly to his surviv- ing friends ; he was stricken with paralysis and only survived a few hours ; he'left a widow and four children to mourn his loss. He w'as the father of David .um- mins, of Shelby, and A. C. Cummins, of Mansfield, who were with him for several days prior to his death. iHe I F of which fraternity he was an honored member, performed the last sad rites at his obsequies.

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