Judson Redmond

As printed in 1881

JUDSON REDMOND, miller, Springfield; proprietor of the Junction Mills, situated five miles east of Springfield, near Harmony, where he is doing an extensive business; he is the second son of Peter and Sarah (Curtiss) Redmond, and was born in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Aug. 16, 1824, where he lived with his parents until 18 years of age; he then began the trade of wagon-making, at which he worked two years, then one year at carpentering. At the age of 21 years, he left his native State and came to Ohio, locating in Lucas County; here he began the trade of millwright, which he followed some ten years; after living two years in said county, he moved to West Libery, Logan Co., where he remained about five years, when he rented a mill near Bellefontaine and began his first work as miller; but, having a wide experience in millwrighting, he was well prepared to execute every branch of the trade; he continued milling in three different mills, when he purchased a farm in Logan County, and, after farming it for two years, traded the farm for the Stony Creek Mills, which he sold after running the same a short time, and purchased the mills he now owns. He was married, Oct. 10, 1547, to Harriet Hinman, daughter of Justice and iuth (Buell) Hinman; their issue has been six children—Francis, Edgar L, Sarah O., Clara E., Inez I. and Harry G.; Francis died when but 10 months old; the others grew to manhood and womanhood. Edgar was married, in November, 1872, to Maria Meade, and at his death left a wife and two children; Clara was married, Oct. 10, 1874, to Frank Gillett; she, too, has gone to the spirit land, leaving one child; Sarah Orella was married, March 4, 1875, to Samuel Taylor, proprietor of Taylors Mills; Inez was married, Nov. 26, 1877, to Edmond H. Ogden. When Mr. Redmond began business for himself, at the age of 21, he had only $20, but, by his perseverance and integrity, and his good wife's encouragement and help, he has accumulated property to the value of $20,000. He and his wife united themselves with the Baptist Church in 1871,

.and since then have lived consistent lives, in harmony with the teachings of that denomination. In politics, he has always been a stanch Republican. Mrs. Redmond was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 10, 1829; when she was 6 years

.old, her parents moved to Michigan, where her father died, when she returned to New York, where she remained until her marriage to Mr. Redmond.

MARGARET (KESLER) REID. Springfield; widow of James Reid, deceased, who was born Sept. 8, 1785, died 1857; when James was a young man, his father sold the farm in Virginia, receiving Continental money as pay, preparatory to his coming to Ohio; but, about the time they were ready to start, he took sick and died, which deferred their coming. Mrs. Reid, being left a widow, with nine children—seven boys and two girls—was at a loss what to do, keeping the money until she would determine whether to come to Ohio or remain in Virginia; during the time, the Revolutionary war closed, and the money became worthless, leaving them destitute, having sold everything but their team, and, in 1802, two of the boys came to Ohio, locating in Springfield; during that year, they pre-empted the farm now owned by Margaret and her chil. dren; on this farm they, during the summer, raised a crop and erected a cabin, and in the fall went back to Virginia, and returned to this county with the rest of the family. In 1846, James was married to Margaret Kesler, the subject of our sketch; she was born in Bavaria, Europe, in 1819; her mother died in 1831, and in 1833 her father, with Margaret and her two brothers, emigrated to America, coming direct to Springfield; they were shipwrecked on the ocean, losing everything they had except the clothes they had on; the wreck was occasioned by the Captain of the ship, in company with others; being down below drinking wine, and not paying attention to the direction the ship was going, and ran on a sand-bank. To Margaret and James four children have been born— William J. (who died young), George H., James A. and Sarah J. George was married, Jan. 4, 1870, to Eunice E., daughter of Silas and Margaret Byrd; they have one child— Sarah J.—and live with his mother on the farm; George is an active, enterprising young man, of excellent character. James A. was married, Oct. 11, 1877, to Harriet A., daughter of John and Mary Oxtoby; they live on the farm, in sight of his mother’s house; he is also an energetic young man, of good habits. Mrs. Reid, although 61 years old, is in excellent health, and is almost as active as when a young girl, and devotes great care to her daughter, Sarah, who is helpless, being afflicted with rheumatism.

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.