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Belmont County, Ohio
History & Genealogy

BIOGRAPHIES
(Transcribed by Sharon Wick)

Source: 
Centennial History of Belmont County, Ohio
and Representative Citizens.
Publ. Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois -
1903
 

JAMES TAYLOR, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Wheeling township, Belmont County, Ohio, is a representative of two old and highly regarded families of both Pennsylvania and Ohio.  He is a son of William and Margaret (Gillespie) Taylor, formerly of Pennsylvania, later of Guernsey County, Ohio.
     The Taylors came originally from Ireland, the great-grandfather of James Taylor of this sketch having been born in that land and later becoming the founder of the family in Washington County, near Burgettstown, Pennsylvania. The Gillespies also came from Ireland, Grandfather James Gillespie either having been born in that land or upon the ocean during the voyage to the United States. The Taylor family settled in Knox County, Ohio, at a later date, and there the children of Grandfather John Taylor were born, removal being made to Belmont County in 1824.
     Grandfather John Taylor married Mary McNaught prior to leaving Pennsylvania, and in 1824 they came to Wheeling township and in 1825 settled upon the farm which our subject now owns.  This farm was entered by William McWilliams under a patent deed and was sold later to John Taylor, by whom it was cleared with the assistance of his sons.  At the time of location, the country was still unsettled, wild animals still being seen in the forests and equally dangerous savages still menacing life and property.  Those were days in which men went prepared to meet a foe in every stranger.  A little incident, which remained fresh in the mind of Grandfather Taylor through life, exemplifies this in a marked degree.  He was a man of powerful physique, and was always alert and watchful for attacks from Indians, which were still frequent.  One day he sat in his house cobbling a pair of shoes, in which business he was using a sharp leather knife, when a rap at his cabin door was heard and when, with knife in hand, he unfastened the latch he was confronted with a rifle in the hands of an individual dressed in coon skins.  Taken completely by surprise, when the stranger lunged at him Mr. Taylor sprang upon the supposed Indian and slashed his coat from one side to the other, barely escaping making a serious wound.  However, no copper-skin appeared under the clothing, and he was horrified to find that he had almost killed a cousin, Thomas Raiffe, who had played a rather dangerous practical joke.  He lived to see the savages disappear from his lands and to see a part of the wonderful development of this garden spot of Belmont County.  John Taylor was born October 1, 1783, and died in 1861.  His children were these: Thomas, born April 21, 1807; Elizabeth. born January 20, 1809; John, born October 5, 1810, died March 30, 1896; Margaret, born January 26, 1813; Nathaniel, born December 15, 1814, died September 3, 1889; William, born August 1, 1817; Henry, born April 5, 1822, and Sarah Jane, born October 7, 1825.
     William Taylor, the father of our subject, was a man of high moral character and was well educated for his time and locality.  On March 11, 1840, he married Margaret Gillespie, and they had three children born to them, namely, John, who died at the age of six years: James, the subject of this review, and Henry, born May 16, 1845.  Both he and wife were members of the Associate Reform Church in which he was an elder, as his father had been before him, later becoming attached to the United Brethren religious body.  The farm of 160 acres which had been the property of John Taylor is now owned by Henry and James Taylor.  The father and his two sons lived on and operated the old farm of nearly 300 acres, Henry remaining at home after marriage.  William Taylor died August 28, 1893, his wife dying many years previously, on February 18, 1882. 
     James
Taylor was born on January 4, 1843, and on September 1, 1864, at the age of 21 years, he married Sarah Louisa Thompson, daughter of Samuel L. Thompson, of Morgan County, Ohio. The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are: Emmet A., born August 24, 1865, was married May 14, 1899, to Nellie Coleman, and resides near his father, engaged in farming; William, born October 6, 1868, on March 18, 1896, married Maggie I. Walker, and has three children; Mary, born December 25, 1875, died June 5, 1883; and Nannie L., born November 23, 1879, who resides at home.  Mr. Taylor's farm is located in the coal and oil belt and is regarded as one of the most desirable in Wheeling township.  He engages in farming and stock raising and has been very successful in both lines.  The family is one which has commanded respect and esteem for many years, and Wheeling town ship has no more useful citizen than James Taylor.
Source:  Centennial History of Belmont County, Ohio and Representative Citizens. Publ. Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1903 - Page 658
JOHN W. TERRILL, ex-postmaster of Martin's Ferry, Belmont County, is now engaged in newspaper work at No. 512 West Washington street in that city. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, August 28, 1858, a son of George W. and Amanda (Hopkins) Terrill, the former a native of Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio, where his birth occurred February 11, 1831, and the latter a native of Florence, Pennsylvania, born May 11, 1837:
     Our subject's father was united in marriage with Amanda Hopkins September 24, 1857, and they had eight children, John W. being the eldest. The others were: Walter, now of Homestead, Pennsylvania; Carrie (Mrs. Henry Kries), who resides with our subject's mother; Lida, a saleslady in the store of George E. Stifle, of Wheeling, for many years; George, still single, who resides with his mother and is a glass worker; Mollie, the wife of Irwin McKelvey, a son of A. T. McKelvey; Aldin, living at the old homestead, a steel worker by occupation; and Wilbur, also living at home, timekeeper at the steel works. The father of these children died September 15, 1891, but his widow still survives.
John W. Terrill, our subject, obtained his education in the schools of Covington, Kentucky, and subsequently engaged in work at the rolling mills at Wheeling and Martin's Ferry, and also in Pittsburg, his first position being secured at the last mentioned place, He was in the rolling mills until 1887 and then for some time followed painting, which trade he learned during the time he worked at the mills. After abandoning this, he took up newspaper work, and has continued along journalistic lines to the present time.
     In 1890 Mr. Terrill became interested to some extent in politics, and his first office was clerk of Pease township, in which he served two terms,—from 1890 until 1894. During President Cleveland's administration he was appointed postmaster of Martin's Ferry, and served from 1894 until 1898, the last two years under President McKinley. Mr. Terrill always takes an interest in the actions of the Democratic party, with which his preference lies. Since 1898 he has been engaged in painting, and later in newspaper work to the present writing. He was a resident of Wheeling from 1870 until 1880, the date of his removal to Pittsburg, and spent but two years in the latter city before making his home permanently in Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
     April 3, 1879, our subject was united in marriage with Margaret McHenry, a daughter of Josiah and Angeline (Coss) McHenry, and a granddaughter of David Coss. The McHenrys are one of the old families of Belmont County, and were contemporary with the Zanes.  Mr. McHenry was proprietor of the ferry for years after Mr. Martin had ceased to run it, and was marked as a man of integrity and ability. Mrs. Terrill's father was a native of West Virginia, and was for many years foreman and manager in the mills of Martin's Ferry. . His wife was born in that city and both were honored by all in their community. They reared a family of six children, Airs. Terrill being the eldest child.
     Mr. and Mrs. Terrill have been blessed with nine children, namely: Nellie M., still at home; Mary Angie, a clerk in the Post Office; Chester W., a graduate of Parkview School, West Virginia, in the class of 1901; Jennie G.; Walter L., a painter; Percy M., a clerk; John Ross, Lida Marie and Margaret A.   Mary Angie became a clerk in the Post Office during her father's term of office there, having just been graduated from the Martin's Ferry High School at the age of 16 years, completing both classical and scientific courses. At the present time she is money order clerk, and is efficient in her work. Walter L. is now engaged in the painting business. Percy M. is now a salesman in one of the stores of Pleasant Valley
     Mrs. Terrill is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the family also attend that church. In fraternal circles Mr. Terrill has passed through all the chairs of the Knights of Pythias organization, and is one of the charter members of Welcome Lodge, A. O. U. W. Both our subject and his wife are widely known and well respected in Belmont County.
DR. WILLIAM ESTEP THOMPSON was born Jan. 2, 1855.  He graduated at Cleveland, Ohio, from the medical department of the University of Wooster in 1887.  For four years after his graduation, he practiced medicine at Loydsville, Ohio.  He then took a course at the New York Polyclinic, and removed to St. Clairsville, where he practiced until 1900.  Dr. Thompson is a conscientious and faithful practitioner.  He seeks to do the best he can for those under his care.  He is a great lover of farm life, and, having capital invested in farm lands, he devotes much time to agricultural affairs.
Source:  Centennial History of Belmont County, Ohio and Representative Citizens. Publ. Biographical Publishing Co. - Chicago, Illinois - 1903 - Page 149

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