Jeremiah B. Chenoweth
Jeremiah B. Chenoweth, farmer, P.O. Range, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 22, 1816, and was married September 23, 1840, to Eliza Foster. His father, John F. Chenoweth, was born in Kentucky September 15, 1783, and married Margaret Ferguson, a native of Kentucky by whom he had fifteen children, eight living, viz., Rachel, wife of Moses Bales, of Fairfield township; Hezekiah; Lewis F., married Martha Morgan and lives in Kansas; Isabelle J., wife of Charles Warner, of Fairfield Township; Elijah, married Susan Pringle, and lives in Fairfield Township; Mary, wife of Dr. Dennis Warner, of London; Francis Marion, married Margaret Ray, and lives in Fairfield Township. The deceased were Thomas, Melinda, John F., Samuel D., Jeremiah, and two that died in infancy. Our subject has had born to him nine children, six living, viz., John W., born September 9, 1846, married Alice Henry, who died in 1874, and in 1878 he married Kate Creath, by whom one child, Mry, was born, February 12, 1882; Daniel B., born January 10, 1849; Nelson, born April 26, 1851; George Washington, born October 3, 1853, and married Mary Roland; W. Scott, born December 11, 1855, married Annie Roland, and has one son; Newton M., born December 25, 1857. The deceased are Martha Jane, born August 2, 1852, died October 22, 1847; James Foster, born September 7, 1844, died August 4, 1866; and an infant. Our subject remained at home until twenty-five years of age, when he began renting and leasing, and finally purchased 200 acres. IN 1851, he bought the farm where he now lives, which consists of 1,296 acres. Mr. C. has voted the Republican ticket twenty-five years.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Jeremiah B. Chenoweth, a retired farmer and stock-raiser of Range Township, Madison County, was born twelve miles from Columbus, in Franklin County, Ohio, September 22, 1816. His parents were John F. and Margaret (Ferguson) Chenoweth. The father, was born in Kentucky in 1792, and when twelve years of age became a resident of Franklin County, where his wife was born and reared, although her parents were natives of Scotland and were of Scotch-Irish descent. He was drafted for the War of 1812, but sent a substitute in his stead. He started in life a poor man and made rails by the hundred, but as fast as possible, invested his earnings in lands and became a wealthy farmer and stock owner. He was a Democrat up to the time of Jackson's administration, when he became a Whig and in 1856, he joined the Republican ranks. He was a stanch Abolitionist and a prominent citizen. He served as County Commissioner of Highways for many years, was Justice of the Peace for twenty years, and was twice elected to the Ohio Legislature. He took great delight in hunting and was an expert marksman.
Our subject was the fourth in a family of fourteen children, of whom two died in infancy and one at the age of thirteen. The others grew to mature years and had families, while seven are still living, and with the exception of Lewis, who resides in Sumner County, Kan., all are residents of Madison County. Jeremiah remained at home and aided his father in the labors of the farm until twenty-five years of age. He had expected to receive some of the property, but his father had to pay $30,000 security and so our subject claimed nothing and started out in life empty-handed. He was married September 23, 1841, to Miss Eliza Foster, of Range Township, a daughter of James and Margaret (Boyer) Foster, and a native of Ross County, Ohio, born August 2, 1824. They began their domestic life upon a rented farm, which Mr. Chenoweth operated for five years, when he purchased two hundred acres. This he afterward sold and bought a thousand-acre tract. From time to time his landed possessions were increased until the family has fourteen hundred acres, as Mr. Chenoweth has given a part of it to his children.
Unto our subject and his wife were born seven sons and two daughters, but the latter died in childhood. James F., who was born September 7, 1844,enhsted for one hundred days' service in the late war, returned home sick, and died soon afterward, at the age of twenty; John W., born September 9, 1846, is a farmer of Range Township, where he resides with his wife and two children; Daniel B., who was born January 10, 1849, was educated in the common schools and in London, and follows agricultural pursuits; Nelson P., born April 26, 1851, is also a farmer and stock-raiser; George W., born October 3, 1853, was a farmer, and died August 4, 1887, leaving one child; Jeremiah B., born December 11, 1855, is living in Range Township and has four children; Newton M., born December 25,1857, is married and resides in Range Township. He has one son, Earl Hix, born July 7, 1886.
Mr. Chenowetli proudly cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840, and is now a stalwart Republican, as are his sons, with the exception of two who vote the Prohibition ticket. He became a member of the Methodist Church in 1844, and has been Steward, a Trustee and Teacher in the Sunday-school for many years. With the exception of two of his children all belong to the same church. He has aided in the building of churches in this locality, and has given his support to all enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit. He is public-spirited and progressive and a valued citizen. His upright life and sterling worth have won him the confidence and goodwill of all with whom he came in contact.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]