Site Navigation

Home Advertising Biographies Business Directories Cemeteries Census Class Reunion Family Bibles Family Links History of Madison County Location Lookups Maps Madison County Links Marriages Mortality Schedules Newspaper Clippings Obituaries Ohio County Formation Perpetual Calendar Photo Album Queries Surnames Who Are They? Wills Contact us

Search Engine


Member
U.S. Genweb Ohio Genweb
U.S. Biographies Ohio Biographies
American Local History Network
Ohio History
American History & Genealogy Project
Ohio History & Genealogy Project

Stokes Township Early Settlers

From History of Madison County, W. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1883

Jessie Pancake was born in Virginia in 1801. He emigrated to Ohio and settled in Ross County in 1812; thence, about 1820 or soon after, located in this county, in Stokes Township, where he married Martha Cooper, who was born in this county in 1814, of a true pioneer family. Mr. Pancake spent his life here, and became one of the honored and well-known citizens of this township, and held many of its offices, and was a most worthy citizen. His wife died in 1839, just in the bloom of womanhood. He died in 1877. He made farming his business through life, and became owner of 1,200 acres of good land. His son John resides in Stokes Township, and is a large and respected farmer, owning 700 acre of land. Thomas Cooper, a native of North Carolina, whom we have here placed among the list of early settlers, we believe to have been a pioneer, and perhaps settled here as early as 1810 or 1812, and should have been classed with the pioneers, but, from lack of certainty about the date of his locating, we have placed his record here. We find he located on land now owned by John Pancake and Mr. Slaughter. He was a man possessed of a very limited education, but of a sprightly, active mind and good business tact, but died early in life, yet owned about one thousand acres of land, and doubtless, had he lived, would have become wealthy. He died about 1840.

Peter Slaughter, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Highland County, Ohio, in an early day; about 1820-25, removed to this county and settled in Stokes Township, on Paint Creek, where he resided till his death, in the fall of 1864. He married Elizabeht Cooper, by whom he had eleven children. Ten grew to maturity, and four now survive -- Mary, Abigail, Matilda and Nancy. The last three reside on the old homestead place. Mary resides in Illinois. Mr. Slaughter married for his second wife Anna E. Lynch, by whom he had three children, one now living -- Henrietta. Mr. Slaughter commenced life in very limited circumstances, but was possessed of a business tact of mind, full of energy and activity; entered largely the stock business, and became one of the largest stock-dealers of the county, and was well known in others as well as in Madison County. He probably bought and sold one thousand head of cattle yearly. In an early day, he took may large droves of cattle over the mountains to Lancaster, Penn. He was a man who loved hunting, and enjoyed life well. He was soon posssessed of an extensive acquaintance and an unlimited credit, which he maintained through life, and died wealthy, owning 3,000 acres of land.

Moses Thomas was a native of North Carolina, and married Catharine Williams, a native of Virginia; were married in the latter State, and emigrated to Fayette County, Ohio, in 1825, and soon after to Madison County and settled in Stokes Township, where they remained till death. Two of their sons, Benjamin and William, have remained residents of this township, and are among its most prominent and reliable farmers; have held many of the offices of the township, and are highly respected citizens. William Cooper, a native of North Carolina, emigrated to Fayette county, Ohio, when a young single man, and in 1828 married Elizabeth Merriman and settled in Stokes Township, where he has spent his life, and is an upright and honored citizen of the community. His wife died in 1865. Jacob Smith was the eldest of six children of Mathias and Margaret Smith, who emigrated to Cincinnati in 1806, and in 1807 removed to Greene County and settled on Beaver Creek, where they died. Jacob was born in Maryland in 1803, and was reared in Greene County, Ohio, and married Amanda Herrond; settled in Stokes Township, this county, in 1836, on the place now owned by Mr. Clemons. Here he opened out in the woods, and has performed his full share in the improvement of the country. The west and north part of the village of South Solon is built on his land. He is now quite aged, having resided in this township fifty-six years, and is an honored and respected citizen. Joel Ervin, born in Ohio in 1811, settled in this township in 1830-35.

Back to Stokes Township index



This is a volunteer project. We depend upon feedback from our visitors. If you have information to share or have resources relating to Madison County, we would love to hear from you.