OHIO PIONEER; of AMISH ANCESTRY; MOTHER OF FIFTEEN CHILDREN

Sophia was a daughter of George B. FURRY and Elizabeth LAVENBURG, both of Pennsylvania Dutch (German) ancestry. Her father served in the War of 1812.

Sophia relocated with her parents and family from Pennsylvania to Perry County, Ohio in 1824.

Sophia married Richard Pierce NUZUM at Somerset (near Zanesfield), Perry Co., Ohio on 4 December 1831 [Perry Co., Ohio, Vital Records, Marriages].

Sophia and Richard raised fifteen children in Perry Co., Ohio, all are linked in Find-A-Grave.

Sophia and Richard were enumerated by the 1840 US Census at Somerset, where they had married.

Sophia, a Lutheran, encouraged her husband to join the Lutheran church and to raise their children as Lutherans. Their son George W. attended a Methodist Meeting in 1850 and was quickly converted to Methodism. Richard, who was a stern and exacting man, and George became estranged. Sophia had to mediate their serious rift.

Sophia and Richard were enumerated by the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 US Censuses at Monroe, Perry Co., Ohio. There they operated a family farm.

She was survived by her husband and nine of her children.

Children (all born in Perry Co., Ohio); surname Nuzum:

1. George Washington (1832-1912). He married Mary Fletcher GROVES.
2. Joseph, twin, was born in 1833; died 3 days later.
3. Henry, twin, was born in 1833; died 3 days later.
4. Elizabeth Jane, (1835-1853). She was engaged to Eli McDowell GROVES.
5. Cynthia Ann (1837-1894). She married John Nelson POST, a Civil War Veteran.
6. Joel Martin (1839-1925); Civil War Veteran. He married Frances SHOTWELL.
7. David P. (1841-1895); Civil War Veteran. He married Hannah GRIMM.
8. Benjamin Franklin (1842-1855).
9. Ruth Manena (1844-1847).
10. Rebecca Frances (1847-1849).
11. Ottoria Almeda (1848-1937). He married Benjamin MAXWELL.
12. Charles Richard Lehman (1852-1899). He married first Mary Frances WARD. He married second Caroline A. ELLIOTT.
13. William F. (1854-1930). He married Amanda B. RODGERS.
14. Anna (1856-1939). She married David S. WEAVER.
15. Thomas Benton (1862-1939). He married Amanda Lucinda MARSHALL.

Source: Charles E. Haggerty, The Nuzum Family History Revised, David G. Nuzum, Publisher, Keyser, West Virginia, p. 219-222, 1983.

Biography by Tom Brocher, last updated on 25 August 2022.