Elizabeth C. Baughman

ELIZABETH C. BAUGHMAN.

Mrs. Elizabeth C. Baughman, daughter of Captain James and Hannah (Stateler) Cunningham, was born near the Black Hand, Licking county, Ohio, March 8, 1805. Her father, Captain James Cunningham, was well known to the early settlers of Licking, Knox and Richland counties. The mother of Mrs. Baughman died when Elizabeth was only six months old, and her grandparents on her mother’s side took the little child to rear. Major John Cunningham, Mrs. Baughman’s grandfather, was of the nobility of Ireland, and his coat-of-arms is greatly prized by his descendants.

Captain Cunningham, marrying the second time, removed to Richland county in 1809, and settled near Beam’s Mills, on the Roekyfork, two miles below Mansfield. In the winter of 1819-20 he returned to Licking county for his daughter, whom he brought to his new home in this county. The trip was made in a sled and took two days. The family lived at that time near the St. John’s church, in the Darling Valley, below Newville. The change from the home of her wealthy grandparents to a cabin in the Richland wilderness could not have been a pleasant one, but the daughter, with filial devotion, obeyed her father’s command without a murmur.

On September 27, 1825, Elizabeth Cunningham was married to Jacob Baughman. Four daughters and one son blessed their home. Jacob Baughman died March 19, 1855, and Mrs. Baughman remained a widow from that time until her death, November 23, 1894, — nearly forty years. Mrs. Baughman’s son, Abraham J., and her youngest daughter, Sade Elizabeth, remain single and always lived with their mother, and the Baughman home was noted for its hospitality.

After her husband’s death Mrs. Baughman removed from Monroe township to Bellville, and when her son established himself in Mansfield a family home was secured, and here she resided for thirty years, or until her death.

Mrs. Baughman’s grandfather, John Cunningham, served through the war of the Revolution; her father, James Cunningham, was a captain in the war of 1812, and her son, A. J. Baughman, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion.

We copy the following article from the Cincinnati Christian Standard, relative to Mrs. Baughman’s life and death:

“Died, at her home in Mansfield, on Friday, November 28, 1894, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Baughman, in her ninetieth year. She was born at Black Hand, Licking county, March 8, 1805. She came with her father to Richland county in 1819, and was one of the pioneer women of the county. She saw it when it was a wilderness, when the Indian was a frequent visitor at her door. She saw the forests disappear before the sturdy blows of the woodman’s ax, and in their stead towns and villages spring up. As Miss Elizabeth Cunningham she married Jacob Baughman, September 27, 1825. He died March 25, 1855, leaving her a widow with five children — four daughters and one son. Two daughters have preceded her to the Father’s house. She remained a widow nearly forty years, and devoted her life to the training and comfort of her children, all of whom early gave themselves to the Lord, and who have ever shown their high appreciation of their mother’s Christian worth. Over sixty years ago she embraced the Christian religion. She was baptized by Elder Newmyer, near Newville, and the remembrances of the occasion have ever been most precious to her. When the congregation feelingly sang,

Tome, humble sinner, in whose breast A thousand thoughts revolve;

Come with your guilt and years oppressed And make this last resolve,’ she arose and went, and as they descended the banks of the beautiful stream for the typical burial they sang,

‘How happy are they who their Saviour obey and as they came up out of the water her ear caught the strain, ‘Now, my remnant of days shall be spent to His praise,’ when she exclaimed, ‘By the help of the Lord they shall be so spent,’ and through all these sixty years she has never wavered nor doubted. Her pastors have received as much spiritual comfort from her as they have been able to impart to her. While her son, A. J. Baughman, and her daughter, Sade E. Baughman, filled positions at Washington, D. C., during the first administration of Grover Cleveland, Mrs. Baughman was with them, and while a resident of the capital city she worshiped with the Vermont Avenue Christian church, of which the Rev. F. D. Power is pastor. By her simplicity of manner and her beautiful Christian spirit she won her way to all hearts, and since her return to Mansfield each year upon the anniversary of her birth, she has received a congratulatory letter from Brother Power, which she esteemed most highly. The next mutual greeting will be on the other shore. Her death was peaceful and sublime. The day before, the writer, with the family and friends present, partook with her of the emblems of the Lord’s body and shed blood. Shortly after this she repeated the well-known stanza:

‘Jesus can make the dying bed Feel soft as down pillows are;

As on Flis breast I lean my head

And breathe my life out sweetly there.5

When the farewell moment came, her son and daughter kneeling by her side, each with a hand clasped, she opened her eyes and looked into their with a supernal light. Her radiant orbs flashed forth the intelligence, ‘The Lord is with me.5 And thus gloriously and triumphantly passed away another faithful servant of the Lord.55

As printed in History of Richland County, Ohio, from 1808 to 1908 : also biographical sketches of prominent citizens of the county (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.