Aaron Maple (1866)

Born 20 May 1866 in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

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Biography

Biography by John E. Hopley^[1]

Aaron Maple, a general contractor and builder at Galion, O., whose activities in this direction have covered a period of 18 years, was bom near Richmond, Jefferson county, Ohio, May 20, 1866.

The first Maples came from England to Princeton, N. J. Six brothers emigrated to Huntington, Pa., in the year 1761. William Maple and his brother Thomas came from Port Homer, Jefferson county. Ohio, they being two of the six brothers above mentioned, coming here from Huntington. William Maple married Kessiah Larrison in the year 1791. When the state was admitted to the Union in 1803 he bought a farm, paying for it with Continental money. He was a farmer and veterinary surgeon by occupation. To this union were born four sons—William, George, Benjamin and Jacobs, and five daughters—Abbie, Polly, Sarah, Clara and Kessiah. William emigrated to Bourbon county, Kentucky. George emigrated to Coshocton county, Ohio. Benjamin married Mary Rich and was the father of 23 children and was captain on the northem lakes in the War of 1812, but still retained his residence in Jefferson county, Ohio. Jacob married Catherine Adams and lived in Jefferson county, Ohio. Polly married Robert Maple and lived in Jefferson county, Ohio. Sarah married John McClain and also lived in Jefferson county, Ohio, of which marriage there were eleven children bom. This John McClain was the grandfather of the mother of the subject of this sketch, consequently a maternal great grandfather. Clara married James McClelland. Kessiah married George Culp. Abbie, who was the eldest daughter, married her cousin, Aaron Maple, son of Thomas, this Aaron being our subject's great grandfather in the direct paternal line. To them were bom two sons—Thomas, who died in infancy, and Aaron (2nd), the latter being the grandfather of the present Aaron Maple.

Aaron MapIe (2d), above mentioned, was born May 19, 1798. In 1822 he married Catherine Bowers, who was of German descent and born in Jefferson county. In 1826 he secured land from the Government, the deed being dated Oct. 6th and signed by President J. Q. Adams. This document is now in the possession of his grandson, Mr. Aaron Maple of Galion. Aaron Maple (2d) died in 1873, having attained his 75th year. His wife Catherine lived to the advanced age of 86, dying in 1888. They were good people in every relation of life and worthy members of the English Lutheran church. To them were bom three sons and three daughters: Abbie died June 6, 1850. Thomas Maple married Elizabeth Wright of Jefferson county, Ohio and moved to Alexandra, Kansas in 1878. William B. Maple married Anna Maple and moved to Pawnee, Kansas in 1881 ; to them were born nine children. Sarah Maple married William Heisler and moved to Harrison county. Ohio; to them were born two sons—John T. and Henry A. Anna Maple married George Maple and to them were born ten children. Tillie Maple moved to Columbiana county, Ohio and resided with her niece, Mrs. Thomas Randolph.

George B. Maple was born January 4, 1826. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, of which he came into subsequent possession and where he continued to live until his death, which took place in 1893, when he was 67 years old. He was married Sept. 10, 1857 to Jane McClain, by the Rev. L. Grier, a United Brethren minister. She was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, her people having been early settlers in Jefferson county. She died there in 1889, when aged 57 years. Both she and her husband were members of the Lutheran church. To them were born four sons and one daughter : Lewis H. Maple married Moody McClain of Harlem Springs, Carroll county; in 1888 they moved to Galion, O., where he worked on the Erie Railroad for 22 years in the carpenter and interlocking department. In 1911 he resigned, to take a position with his brother Aaron in the building line. To them were born five sons—John R., Lewis M., Dean P., Joseph D. and Roderick W. Etta Maple married George W. McClain and lives on the old homestead. William M. and Olive C. died in infancy.

Aaron Maple, the direct subject of this sketch, whose nativity has been already given, attended country school and worked on the farm for his father until he was 21 years old. He then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he was employed until 1891, when he went to Galion, O., and worked four years there for the Erie Railroad in the carpentering department. In 1895 he resigned this position and 'entered into his present occupation as contractor and builder. He is a competent and reliable contractor and for many years has done a large share of this work in Galion.

Mr. Maple was married at Galion, May 21, 1896, to Miss Bertha M. Aukerman, of Galion, who was born in this city and graduated from the Galion High school in the class of 1895. Her parents, James L. and Sarah C. (Cockrell) Aukerman, were natives of Wayne county, Ohio, where they lived before coming to Galion. Mr. Aukerman was identified with the Erie Railway from the time it was built until his death in 1898, at the age of 53 years. Mrs. Maple's mother resides in Cleveland, O., and is now in her 66th year. A brother of hers, Clayton E., succeeded his father with the Erie and resides at Galion, with wife and son, James McClure. Mrs. Maple has one sister, Winifred, now the widow of William Ritzhaupt, who left five children—Roy, Laura, Catherine, Mary and Hazel.

Mr. and Mrs. Maple have one daughter, Georgetta, who was born March 26, 1899. They are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Maple is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen and the Order of Ben Hur, and he belongs also to the Commecrial Club.

Sources

1. ↑ John E. Hopley, "History of Crawford County, Ohio and Representative Citizens", Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1912, pages 1156-1157.