Biography of John F. Chenoweth
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Page 863
JOHN F. CHENOWETH, retired farmer, P. O. London. The parents of our subject were Elijah and Rachel (Foster) Chenoweth, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia. They were married in Virginia, and about 1790 emigrated to Kentucky, and settled in Mason County; thence, about 1799, they came to Ross County, Ohio, and the next year, 1800, they located in Franklin County, on the Big Darby, where his wife died about 1820. He died in 1830. They had five sons and four daughters, all deceased but two — John F. and Elijah. They were among the early pioneers of Franklin County, as they had been prior of Mason County, Ky., where John F., our subject, was born September 15, 1793. He was a child of about six years when brought to Ohio, where he grew to manhood fully inured to the wildest and roughest of pioneer life, where he says he had many a race and wrestle with the Indians, who were then in plentiful numbers in this vicinity. He was married, March 21, 1811, to Margaret Fergurson, by Rev. Simon Cochran. They settled on his father's place and lived until about 1820, when he located in Madison County, where he purchased 133 acres of land, which is now embraced in the tract of land owned by his son Elijah. He says that at the time he purchased that tract of land, he thought if he could succeed in paying for it, he should feel satisfied; but before that was paid for, he saw another piece he desired, and he bought it. He early engaged in stock-raising, and soon was largely engaged in buying and driving stock over the mountains to the Eastern markets. In this trade he prospered, and from time to time purchased more land, till finally he owned about 3.000 acres, all in one body, extending from California westward for two and one-half miles, constituting him one of the largest land-holders in Madison County; and all this was accomplished through his industry, energy and financial ability. He not only raised from poverty to wealth and affluence, but was also placed by the people into many public offices of trust. He served in the Legislature in the session of 1829-30, as County Commissioner twelve years or more, and as Justice of the Peace about the same length of time, besides filling most of the offices of his township. In his boyhood days, his school-privileges were of the most meager kind; when they settled in Franklin County there were no schools there, but by going to Chillicothe, in Ross County, he obtained some of the first rudiments of an education; finally a round-log schoolhouse was built in Madison County, on Opossum Run, near the Franklin County line and here he finished his education. Such was the beginning of this worthy old pioneer, who arose to wealth and distinction by his own unaided efforts. Mr. Chenoweth and wife had fourteen children, of whom six now survive -- Rachel, wife of Moses Bales; Hezakiah, Elijah, Francis, Marion, and Mary, wife of Dr. Dennis Warner. This worthy couple were not only pioneers in the secular affairs of this country, but most truly pioneers of the church, joining the Methodist Episcopal Church while young, he about 1809 and she about 1812; thus he has spent a life of labor in the church of threescore and ten years. the allotted period of man's life. A few years ago Mr. Chenoweth bought property in London, where in his advancing years he has retired from the farm and active business life, and where he can be convenient to church and the means of grace, desiring to spend the remainder of his days in quiet and rest. He is now ninety years of age, and enjoys good general health.
From Atlas of Madison County
J.A. Caldwell [Condit, Ohio, 1875]
The subject of this sketch was born near Marysville, Mason County, Kentucky, on the 15th day of September, 1793, where he remained until 1798; he then came to Ross County, Ohio, where he located for one year, then removed to Franklin County, near Harrisburg. He was married to Miss Margaret Furguson, on the 21st day of March, 1811. They lived in said county until 1820, then removed to Madison County, five miles south-east of London on Deer Creek. He is the father of fourteen children — nine boys and five girls, six of whom are dead, and the remaining ones are living in Madison county, except one of the boys, who is in Kansas. Mr. Chenoweth served as Justice of the Peace for a number of years; then as representative of the county in the session of 1829 and 1830, and also as County Commissioner for eight years. He also followed farming and real estate dealing. He at one time was the owner of between two and three thousand acres of land; but a few years past he divided his property among his children, excepting fifty-eight acres (which he retained), located near London, on the Jefferson pike, and has retired from all worldly business, to spend the remainder of his days in peace; and now, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, nature is blessing him with extremely good health, and the respect and esteem of all who know him.
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