Henry Oxtoby

As printed in 1881

HENRY OXTOBY, retired farmer; P. O. Springfield. "This old and respected. citizen belongs to another generation, having been permitted by Divine Providence to live longer than is usually allotted to man; but while he has grown old in years, he has also grown honored and reverence; and while his hair has been whitened by the frosts of many winters, it is but emblematical of the pure life which he has lived. He was born in Yorkshire, England, Nov. 24, 1801, and is the son of Henry and Elizabetly (Cook) Oxtoby, natives of the same place. In 1803, his parents embarked at Liverpool for the United States, and settled close to Geneva, N. Y., afterward removing to a farm on the Genesee River, where they were living during the war of 1812, also owning at the same time 30 acres on which the city of Rochester has since been built.. In the fall of 1814, they sold the land and came to Clark Co., Ohio, whither Henry's father had previously been, to look at the country. He entered 160 acres of land in See. 33, Harmony Township. upon which he and family settled, and where his wife died April 11, 1836, aged 67, and himself Oct. 22, 1838, at the same age, both dying, as they had lived, faithful adherents of the M. E. Church. There were four children in the family, three daughters and one son, and Henry was but 18 months old wher his parents came to America, and but 13 years of age when they settled in Clark Co., Ohio. He grew to maturity on the old homestead, attending school at the early log schoolhouse four or five winter terms of three months each, which completed his education. He was married, in December, 1825. in Harmony Township, to Harriet. Newlove, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Brown) Newlove, natives of England, who settled in this county in 1821. Mrs. Oxtoby was born in England May 2, 1799, and had the following children: Marianna, the deceased wife of William J. Hudson; Robert and John, who reside with their father. Mrs. Oxtoby died March 10, 1848, a sincere believe in the truths of the Gospel. He was again married, Dec. 12, 1858, to Ann B. Newlove, a sister of his first wife, also a native of England, born Sept. 10, 1804. 1 She joined the M. E. Church in 1817, and remained a true and consistent member until her death, Aug. 24, 1875. She was a kind, charitable woman, and Mr. Oxtoby was fortunate in his married life, as both wives were ever faithful helpmeets. In 1848, Mr. Oxtoby joined the M. E. Church, and has been sexton of “Fletcher Chapel” for twenty-seven years, giving his services, and “ would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than well in the places of kings.” He has now retired from active life, and, with his sons, resides on a farm of 2:0 acres. Robert is engaged in sheep-raising as a specialty, having now 300 ewes on the farm, some of which are thoroughbred merinos. John is at present engaged in the lumber business in Ross Co. Politically, Mr. Oxtoby was a Whig, and afterward a Republican, and has always been in favor of all classes of public improvements, lending his influence and means to the support of schools, churches, and everything the object of which was the benefitting of the community of which he has been so Jong an honest, upright, worthy and respected member.

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.