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DR. JOHN R. PHILSON

came from Maryland in 1839, and settled in Racine, Ohio, where in 1841 he married Miss Cynthia Redding, a daughter of Thomas Redding, who kept the pioneer hotel in Graham Station in 1824.  Mrs. Redding married as second husband Jacob Lalance, and their home was made in Sutton township, below Racine, on the river.
     Dr. J. R. Philson was associated with Dr. J. B. Ackley for a while, but subsequently opened up a practice as physician independently.  HE was in a scope of territory the principal doctor, and won distinction for his skill in the treatment of diseases.  He was an army surgeon in the Fourth West Virginia, through the war, and while in the service received injuries that resulted in his death.  Dr. Philson was elected Senator for the Sixteenth Congressional District of Ohio, and filled the position with fidelity to his constituents and honor to himself.  His death was lamented by the community at large, by his many friends, and especially the poor, when he had treated gratuitously.
     He left a widow, two sons and one daughter.  The eldest son, Professor Lewis Philson, followed his father's profession and has a well-earned popularity as a doctor.  A son of Professor Lewis Philson is also a doctor, making three generations in the medical fraternity.
     The daughter, Margaret E. Philson, was married to Charles McElroy, soon after the Civil War.  He was a soldier in some sharp engagements, inducing a loss of vital force that caused an early death.
     The elder Mrs. Philson is living, a marvel of clear mind and memory, and Mrs. McElroy is the faithful daughter and Christian woman.

DR. JOHN McCLINTOCK

came to Letart, Ohio, from Philadelphia, and opened an office as a regular physician in 1839.  He married Nancy Kingree, daughter of Abraham Kingree, of Letart, an old pioneer in 1841.
     They had one son, George M. McClintock, who became a prominent and successful business man, but died in his manhood's prime, honored and lamented.
     Dr. McClintock made his permanent home on a farm at Apple Grove, and followed his profession continuously for more than forty years, chiefly in Letart township, a wise and skillful doctor.  Dr. McClintock was a man of culture and refinement, quiet, yet genial in manner, a good judge of character.  He died leaving a widow and son.  His life commanded respect, and his name is an honored memory.

REV. ISAAC REYNOLDS.

     Isaac Reynolds was born in the State of New York and, with his parents, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Athens county in early days.  He was a student in the Ohio University for some time, and while attending school was converted under the preaching of the Rev. John Stewart, a noted minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Soon after his conversion he began to preach.
     In 1817, Mr. Reynolds traveled Burlington circuit, Rev. Jacob Young, presiding elder.  There was an element of evangelic fervor in his preaching, and among the converts of his ministry was James Gilruth, who became a Methodist preacher of great power and influence, long an active member of the Ohio Conference.
     After traveling circuits a few years, he married Miss Maria Williamson, of Washington county, and located.  He had a difficulty of the throat that caused him to cease itinerant work.
     About 1830 he came to Letart, not certain as to precise date.  He taught school and preached occasionally.  As a teacher he was popular.  He moved to Lebanon township in 1833, and taught the public school several years.  After giving up teaching he settled on his farm and opened a small store, and succeeded in establishing a postoffice, called Great Bend, he being appointed postmaster.  Mr. Reynolds finally moved to northern California, preaching sometimes until 1876, where he soon "fell on sleep" his work done.

MR. LUCIUS CROSS, SR.

      Lucius Cross was born Dec. 30th, 1798, in  Mansfield, Connecticut.  When he was three years old he was brought to Marietta, Ohio, where he grew up to manhood.  He married Thirza Stanley, daughter of Timothy Stanley, a prominent citizen of Washington county, in April, 1822, and came directly to Meigs county, settling on lands back of Racine, in Sutton township.  He cleared his land for cultivation, built a tannery on his farm, erected a saw and grist mill on Bowman's run, built flatboats on the river beach at Graham's Station, as it was then called, had his timber all utilized for lumber, cordwood or tanbark.  He opened a trade in the South with boats laden with pressed hay and farm products, and by his different industries gave employment to many men.  In 1832 he built his large, commodious farm house.  Mr. Cross was a real temperance man, and suffered no whisky to be brought to his premises, and his farm house has the record of being the first building erected in Meigs county without whisky or any intoxicating drink.  The house was noted for its beauty in construction and situation, considered the best house in the country as a farmer's home.  He had some military knowledge and drilled recruits for the army.  He left a valuable estate, a a widow and nine sons and daughters.  He was entirely blind a few years before his death in August, 1883.  The sons have been enterprising men, and all of the family married and settled in Racine and vicinity, except the younger son, Edwin Cross, who became a physician and followed his profession in Chicago with notable success.

THE ALEXANDERS.

     Thomas Alexander, who entered land in Letart township in 1803, died in 1808, aged 80 years.  His wife, Elizabeth, died in 187, aged 77 years.  William Alexander, son of Thomas Alexander, lived on the farm purchased by his father, and married Susan Love.  They had a family of two sons and three daughters.
     Thomas Alexander married Caroline Burns, and their home was on the Alexander farm, where they lived to a great age, having had a family of eleven children, grown up and married.  Moses Alexander married Jane Smith and died early, leaving a wife and four children.  His family lived in the Alexander homestead.
     The daughters were:  Julia, who was married to David O. Hopkins, and whose home was in Racine, Ohio, where she died.  They had several children grown to maturity, but parents and children are all dead but one daughter, Mrs. Reese, of Chicago.  Mary Alexander was the wife of Albert Woodruff, of Mill Creek.  She passed away soon, leaving one daughter.  Isabel Alexander was married to Daniel Bibbee, of Letart and died in a few years, leaving a daughter.
     William Alexander, Sr., was one of the first Commissioners in Meigs, and held that office by re-election several terms.  He was prominent in local affairs, magistrate, merchant and farmer.  He erected the first stone house in Letart, noted in Those days for elegance, the "mansion house" of Letart.  He died in 1877 and his wife Susan died in 1860.
     DR. DAVID C. WHALEY same of Meigs county with his parents in 1832, and has been a resident of Meigs county ever since.  He opened the first dentist's office in Pomeroy, and has followed his profession continuously for more than fifty years.  Possessed of a fine mind and rare mechanical abilities, he acquainted himself with every scientific method available for the perfecting of his skill in dentistry, for besides the setting of teeth, Dr. Whaley is an artist in studying facial effects, as well as the inserting of molars.  He has had also a successful medical practice, limited in extent on account of his proclivities for dental operations.
     He married Miss Amy Smith, a daughter of Benjamin Smith of Middleport, Ohio, who is a direct descendant in the fourth generation from the pioneer James Smith who came to Leading Creek in 1797.  They had a family of three children, one son and two daughters.  The son, a bright young man, was drowned just as his career was opening as a dentist.  The daughters were well educated, and each one has a vocation.  The elder Miss Whaley is a talented literary woman, and the younger sister is a popular singer in operatic circles, is married and resides in New York City.

THE PAINE FAMILY

     Seth Paine, Sr., came with his family to Ohio from Maine in 1816, and settled in Rutland township.  He had four sons, Samuel S. Paine, Bartlett, Seth, Jr., Josiah, and several daughters.  The brothers were engaged in the mercantile business in Rutland.  Mr. Samuel S. Paine held township offices, as Justice of the Peace, Trustee, and was Postmaster in Rutland.  He was elected Recorder of Meigs county when the county seat was removed to Pomeroy, and served in that office for more than twenty years.
     He married Miss Martha Cowdery, a daughter of the pioneer Joel Cowdery, who settled on Shade river in 1807.  They had two children, a daughter dying in childhood, and a son Lewis Paine, who was educated at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio.  He is a lawyer, has been Probate Judge, and practices his profession in Pomeroy.  Mrs. Martha Paine died in 1889, and Mr. Samuel S. Paine died in 1892, both highly esteemed people.
     Mr. Bartlett Paine was married twice and had three children, two sons and one daughter. Mr. Seth Paine, Jr., an expert bookkeeper in Columbus, Ohio, and Dr. Bartlett L. Paine, a noted doctor in Lincoln, Nebraska.
     The second wife was Mrs. Aurelia Branch, a widow.  Seth Paine 2d, was one of the "Buckeye Rovers," who went to California in 1849.  He was fortunate in business and returned to Rutland a rich man.  He married Miss Roxana Rathburn, a daughter of Rev. Elisha Rathburn, a pioneer.  The Paine brothers are dead.  They were good citizens, enterprising, sterling characters.

STILLMAN E. LARKIN.

     Stillman Carter Larkin was born, March 9ty, 1808, in Rutland, Ohio, the son of Abel Larkin and Susannah Larkin (nee Bidges), they having moved from Rutland, Vermont, to Ohio in 1804.  Hi childhood, youth, manhood and old age were all spent in Rutland, Ohio.  He was a self-educated man, with a philosophical cast of mind, with a clear apprehension of public affairs, and a careful student of political events.  A member of the Christian church the greater part of his life, he left the record of a faithful disciple in the performance of religious duties, and the example of an unblemished character.  When his father died, his widowed mother chose to remain in the homestead, and this son to take charge of the estate, and to be her protector.  This duty he fulfilled with filial tenderness and unremitting care, thus holding the Larkin homestead in his name for a long period of years, and, though married most happily, they had no children.  So, when years and infirmities of age were felt, he transferred the "Larkin homestead" - which has now possessed the name for one hundred years -- to his nephew, George B. Larkin.
     Stillman C. Larkin died Jan. 17th, 1899, aged nearly ninety-one years.  Mary Larkin, his widow died May 30th, 1904, in her ninety-second year of age.