BETHEL TOWNSHIP
The following biographical sketches of early settlers in
Monroe County as reproduced from a book titled, the "Combined History and Atlas
of Monroe County, Ohio." The material for this book was taken from two
nineteenth century books: (1) 'History of Monroe County Ohio,' a product of the
H.H. Hardesty & Co., publishers, Chicago and Toledo, 1882 and (2)
'Caldwell's Atlas of Monroe County, Ohio,' a product of Atlas Publishing
Company, Mount Vernon, Ohio, 1898. The "Combined History and Atlas of
Monroe County, Ohio" was reprinted and is available from the Monroe County
Historical Society.
ALEXANDER CRAWFORD – was born in Guernsey county, OH, Nov 28 1830. His parents were James CRAWFORD &
Sarah ADUDELL, the former of whom still survives. Mr. CRAWFORD was married in Lebanon,
Monroe county, Jun 27 1857, by Thomas MILLER, to Jane MORGAN, who
was born in Guernsey county, OH, Nov 20 1824.
Her father was George MORGAN and her mother Margaret PIERCE
of Washington county, OH. The children of Mr. & Mrs. CRAWFORD are:
Margaret E., born Apr 26 1859, lives in Bethel township; George D. P., Jan 23
1861, lives in Iowa. Mr. CRAWFORD
was a member of the 63rd OVI.
His first wife was Nancy Ellen MEREDITH, daughter of David MEREDITH,
by whom he had one child, Sary Ramantha, born Oct 19 1854, is at this time in
the State of IA. Mr. CRAWFORD is
engaged in the undertaking business and is also a cabinet maker, and always
ready to do all kinds of work in his line.
Address, Masterton, Monroe county, OH.
WILLIAM DILLON, M. D.
–
settled in Monroe county on Apr 26 1855.
He was born in Loudoun county, VA, Apr 15 1827. His father was William DILLON and his
mother Sarah SPENCER. His father
died in Monroe county, and his mother in Belmont county, OH. He was married in Monroe county, Oct 19
18—to Elizabeth J. ODEN, who was born in Tuscarawas county, OH, Dec 8
1847. Her father was William ODEN;
her mother, Kitty Ann ELLIS. The
former died in Monroe county, Mar 26 1880; the latter is still living in Monroe
county. Mr. & Mrs. DILLON
had but one child, Sarah M., who was born Mar 26 18--, and lives at home. Mr. DILLON was in the war of the
rebellion, enlisting in the 116th OVI, in 1862, and was discharged
in 1863 at Camp Dennison. He was
offered promotion, but refused. Not
being accustomed to marching he contracted disease in the shape of rheumatism
and disease of the heart, so that he is not able to work or follow his
profession as actively as he would wish.
The doctor’s wife is a member of the Baptist Church. Dr. DILLON’s first wife was Rachel A.
BYERS, a daughter of Garret BYERS and Nancy MANN. Their children were: Elam, born Jun 5 1849; Abner
(or Abram), Sep 10 1851; Jonathan, Oct 14 1853; William, Mar 10 1855; Isaac A.,
1857, died 1858; James H., Sep 16 1860.
William DILLON is a physician of the allopathic school. His parents were poor, and the doctor is a
self-made man, and is fond of his profession and has been successful. Has a fine farm of 120 acres of land in
section 25. Address, Mars, Monroe
county, OH.
SAMUEL P. GEBHART –
is a school teacher of Bethel township, and was born in Monroe county, OH, Mar
27 1853. His father was George W. GEBHART
and his mother Mary A. SHADWELL, both of whom came to Washington
township in the year 1850. His father
is now dead. Mr. GEBHART’s wife
was Mattie E. FAWCETT, who was born in Monroe county, Oct 29 1852. Her father was Samuel FAWCETT, and her
mother Sytha M. BEACH. Samuel
& Mattie were married at Graysville, Monroe county, Jan 1 1871. The children of Samuel & Mattie GEBHART
are: George A., born Jun 15 1872; Lucretia M., Jul 25 1874; Austin, Jul 2 1877;
Odessa, Aug 26 1879, died Jun 13 1881.
All the rest of the children live at home. Mr. GEBHART had one brother in the war of the rebellion,
who enlisted in the 92nd OVI, and was wounded at Chattanooga, TN, by
a rebel shell in 1863, from the effects of which he died. Mr. GEBHART is a resident of Bethel
township. Address, Masterton, Monroe
county, OH.
THOMAS MARTIN –
is a son of Robert MARTIN & Elizabeth WILGER, who came to
this county in 1819. He was born in
Bethel township, Feb 7 1824. He was
married in the same township, Monroe county, Jan 21 1844, to Abigal WALLER,
who was born in Monroe county, Dec 15 1819.
Her parents were John WALLER & Sarah GREEN. They died in Monroe county. The children of Thomas MARTIN &
wife are: Sarah S., born May 28 1850, residence in Bethel township; Robert A.,
Apr 27 1855, lives at home; Mary E., Sep 18 1857, lives in Monroe county;
George W., Apr 8 1860, married Mary WICKBAUGHER, Apr 4 1882. They reside in Bethel township. Martin had a brother, Henry, in the army,
who died at Chattanooga. He has been justice
of the peace about 18 years; has been clerk of the township for several
years. Mr. MARTIN’s father was
one of the hunters and pioneers of Monroe county, and has endured all the
privations and hardships incident to a new country. In the hunting adventures of himself and others they killed many
bears and wolves. His father killed the
largest bear ever killed in this county; the tree, at the roots of which the
bear lay, stood until a few years ago, when it fell. Truly it may be said that these noble pioneers are gone, but
their good works which they have accomplished, do follow them. Mr. MARTIN’s father was born Jul 4
1796, in Greene county, PA; died in Monroe county, Jul 30 1874. His mother was born Jan 5 1806 in WV; died
in Monroe county, OH, Sep 17 1854. His
father was by birth of Irish descent; his mother of English. Her mother was of Irish descent. His father was a member of the Presbyterian
Church and his mother also. Both are
firm believers of Scripture. Mr. MARTIN
was the last land appraiser of this township.
He and his wife are both members of the Christian Church, and have been
for the last 20 years. Mr. MARTIN
has a farm of 240 acres of land. He
settled on it when in the woods, and has cleared about 160 acres of it. Occupation, farming. Address, Mars, Monroe county, OH.
WILLIAM MARTIN – was born at Clearport,
Monroe county, OH, Dec 10 1827, being the son of Robert MARTIN &
Elizabeth WILSON. Both died in
this county. Mr. MARTIN was
married in Franklin township, Jul 22 1851, to Sarah WALLER, who was born
in Monroe county, Mar 28 1829. Her
parents were John WALLER & Sarah GREEN. They are both dead. The result of this union was: Westerman T.,
born Oct 26 1853, a resident of Bethel township; Mary E., Nov 2 1855, lives in
Franklin township; Janett A., Apr 1 1860; John W., Dec 21 1861; Walter R., Nov
8 1864. The younger three of the
children live at home. Mr. MARTIN
had one brother, Henry T., in the war of 1861, who died since the close of the
war in Columbus, OH. Mr. MARTIN,
the subject of this sketch, has a farm of 250 acres of land, about 160 of which
is cleared, and he experienced a great deal of a pioneer’s life in Monroe
county. When he first came there he
moved right into the woods. He lives on
Indian creek. His occupation is
farming. Address, Mars, Monroe county,
OH.
ROBERT MORRIS – is a son of William MORRIS
& Anna WELLS, both of whom died in Monroe county. He was born in Monroe county, Jun 10
1824. He was married in the same
county, Oct 18 1844, to Rebecca A. CONNOR, who was born in Hardin
county, Sep 15 1825. Her father was
John CONNOR and her mother Charlotte SELVIE, who died in Monroe
county. The children of Robert &
Rebecca MORRIS are: William H., born May 17 1846, resides in Wood county
WV; Mary J., Aug 25 1848, and lives in WV; Levi T., May 2 1852, lives in Wood
county, WV; Charlotte, Sep 1 1856, lives in Bethel township; Leona E., Jan 16
1863, resides at home; Robert W., Jan 21 1868, resides at home. Mr. MORRIS had one son, William H.,
in the late war, a member of the 92nd OVI. His grandfather, Elisha MURRAY, was a soldier of
1812. Mr. MORRIS’ father died
Mar 26 1837, and his mother Jul 17 1867.
They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. MORRIS has a farm of 183 acres in
Elk township, Noble county, OH. He is a
hard-working man and an honest one.
Address, Harriettsville, Noble county, OH. Occupation, farming.
GEORGE OKEY –
was born in Monroe county, OH, Apr 5 1816.
He is a son of Woodman OKEY and Catherine LEMLEY. They both died in Monroe county. Mr. OKEY’s wife was Rachel A. MANN,
whom he married in Bethel township, Apr 6 1876. Mrs. OKEY was born in Belmont county, Sep 14 1837. Her father’s name was David MANN, and
her mother’s Sarah JOHNSON. They
both died in Belmont county, OH. Mr. OKEY
was engaged in the war of the rebellion; served in the 4th CA
Volunteer Infantry. His son was also in
the service, in the 116th OVI.
Mr. OKEY was sheriff in Marshall county, CA, for 25 years. Mr. OKEY’s son, Emanuel, was taken
prisoner and kept in Andersonville until he was nearly starved to death before
he was exchanged. He was blown up on
one of the transports, and thrown into the water; he tried to swim ashore, but
was so blinded by the explosion that he could not reach there, and was
captured. George OKEY, the
subject of this sketch, was in the Indian part of the rebellion, and was most
of the time in Arizona; went to CA in 1850, prospecting. He found some of the best mining country in
the State. He has a farm in Monroe
county of about 80 acres. The first
wife was Elizabeth RUCKER, daughter of John RUCKER and Sarah JENNING. Their children were: Catherine, born in
1841; Woodman, in 1845; Charlie, in 1846; Emanuel, Oct 12 1837, died 1865. Mr. George OKEY, the subject of this
sketch, in politics is a Republican and a true patriot to this country – while
he morns the loss of his son was yet willing to lose all to save the
government. He has traveled quite
extensively, and still likes Ohio, the place of his birth. Has always been a hard-working man, and has
become somewhat afflicted. Has seen all
of the trials and vicissitudes of pioneer life in Monroe county for about 55
years. Occupation, farmer and
stock-raiser. Address, Masterton,
Monroe county, OH.
JOSEPH A. PRICE –
was born in Guernsey county, OH, Nov 13 18--; his parents being Samuel PRICE
& Margaret SMITH, who died in Washington county, OH. He was married in Monroe county, Jan 14
1864, to Alice BROWN, daughter of Perry W. BROWN & Elizabeth ROGERS. She was born in Monroe county, Aug 16 1843,
and her parents are now living in Lebanon.
The children of Joseph & Alice PRICE were: Marion, born Oct
14 1865, and died on the same day; Austine, Sep 3 1867; Minnie L., Jun 18 1869;
Perry, Mar 30 1871; Hattie E., Feb 24 1875.
All of the four children who are living reside at home. Mr. PRICE was a soldier in the war of
the rebellion; enlisted in the spring of 1861, and was discharged in the fall
of the same year. He was a member of
the 77th OVI. He was engaged
in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and was discharged shortly after the
fight. Mrs. PRICE is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was also Mr. PRICE. The latter died Jul 4 1875.
MATHEW WARWICK – was born in Harrison
county, OH, Oct 22 1832. His father was
Thomas WARWICK and his mother Rachel WILLIAMS. They came to Monroe county in Apr 1838. His father died in 1876, and his mother in
1879. Mr. WARWICK’s wife was
Margaret FLAUGH, who was born in Guernsey county, Jun 24 1829. Her parents were John FLAUGH &
Margaret McGRUGAN. Mr. &
Mrs. WARWICK were married in Monroe county, Feb 7 1856. Their children are: Mary C., born Jan 21
1857, residence, Bethel township; John T., May 13 1858, lives in Minnesota;
James A., Sep 14 1860, lives in Minnesota; Rachel J., May 14 1862, lives at
home; Sarah E., Nov 10 1865, resides at home.
Mr. WARWICK is a justice of the peace for Bethel township, and
has held that office for nine years, having been elected in 1873. He is a member of the Methodist Church, a
steward of the society, and also the recording steward of the circuit. Occupation, general blacksmith and
wagon-making, and justice of the peace.
Address, Masterton, Monroe county, OH.
Transcribed by Dr. Shirley A.
Harmon, e-mail: Shirley Harmon
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