Biographies

Source: 
History of Morgan County, Ohio
with
Portraits and Biographical Sketches
of some of its
Pioneers and Prominent Men.
By Charles Robertson, M. D.
 - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co.
1886

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A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

ARTHUR TAGGART.   Arthur Taggart was one of the most prominent and valuable citizens of Morgan County and died at Windsor in November, A. D. 1864, aged sixty-seven years.  He was the son of Patrick Taggart, and was born near the village of Drumqueen, County Tyrone, Ireland, he left Ireland when he was about eighteen years old, accompanied by his sister, Mrs. McAleer, and her husband, and they all settled at Little York, Pennsylvania.  From thence he walked to Pittsburgh, making his living by honest labor as well as he could until about the time of the construction of the National Pike, when he came to Pittsburgh and thence to Wheeling.  There he became a contractor on the National Turnpike Road in some small part of the line.  The contracts had been taken too low and the contractors generally were not able to execute their contracts and abandoned them without paying the laborers.  Taggart refused to abandon his contract until his hands were paid, though it exhausted his means and almost his credit.  The result was that he was placed in charge of the abandoned contracts at a remunerative price, his contracts extending at different.  points from St. Clairsville to Columbus.  Subsequently he settled at Norwich, Muskingum County, and was thereafter largely engaged in public contracts, until he finally settled at Windsor in 1837.  His motive in coming to Morgan County was to engage in the Muskingum River improvements.  He constructed the dams and locks at Windsor and Duval’s, five miles from Marietta, and was interested in other parts of that improvement.  Gen. Samuel Curtis was engineer of the improvements, and during the rest of their lives he and Arthur Taggart were strong personal friends.  After the completion of these contracts he invested largely in lands, and for a time was the largest land-owner in Morgan County.  For a long time after, he was engaged in buying and shipping, doing a very extensive milling, shipping and speculating business in all the large and heavy products of the country—his principal shipping point being New Orleans.  It was before the day of railroads, and the Muskingum River, thus placed as it now is, gives us direct water communication to the ocean world.  At the time of his death he was engaged in farming and milling.      While living at Norwich he was married to Margaret Cornyn, daughter of Peter Cornyn.  She died in 1852, leaving six children—two sons and four daughters—all of whom are still living.  Four reside at Omaha, Nebraska, one is a nun at Columbus, Ohio, and the oldest daughter, Mary, resides at New Lexington, Ohio.      About 1859 he was married to Mrs. Hannah Shields, by whom he had one son, who also resides at Omaha, Nebraska.  His widow still survives him and resides at Zanesville, Ohio. Source:  Chapter __ - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 422   JOHN E. THOMAS.   John Thomas, the father of the immediate subject of this biography, was born in Wales, England, and came to this country in the same vessel that brought Gen. La Fayette.  He settled in Virginia, where he married Miss Sarah Partridge.  They resided in Charlestown, Virginia, where John E. was born in 1808.  Mrs. Thomas was a daughter of one of the prominent men of that section and a slave-holder.  This fact in connection with business disasters induced them to emigrate to Ohio, hoping that in the new country they might be able to retrieve their shattered fortunes.  John E. was a lad of eight years at the time of the family's emigration, and still retains a vivid recollection of the struggles of his father in the new country.  Just as better times began to dawn, the mother died (1820), and about two years later the father also died leaving their children to care for themselves.  At the age of fifteen John E. was apprenticed to the trade of a woolen manufacturer, with the provision that he was to have three months schooling each year.  After the expiration of his term of apprenticeship (five years and six months) he engaged in business with his brother in New Lexington where they operated a grist and woolen mill.  In 1835 Thomas E. came to McConnelsville where he formed a co-partnership with General Robert McConnel in the business of manufacturing woolen goods.  They continued in business for nine years.  He next purchased the Malta Mill in company with Messrs. Stone and Brown.  Two years afterward Mr. Thomas sold his interest and in company with Mr. Seaman engaged in the dry goods business in the building known as the Thomas and Rogers store-room.  In 1852 he purchased the Windsor Flouring Mill which he operated very successfully.  He retained, however, his interest in the store, and soon after purchased Seaman's interest.  The firm was afterward known as Sprague & Co.  In 1855 he bought the farm where he now resides.  Since this time he has devoted himself to the improvement of the property.  The life of Mr. Thomas has been a successful one.  He has identified himself with all the leading enterprises of his time.  He was one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of McConnelsville and was interested for many years in its management.  He was also prominent in the construction of the bridge and was president of the company before its sale to the county.  He has been active, thorough, and progressive in all matters.      Mr. Thomas has been married three times.  His first wife, whom he married in 1832, was Miss Elizabeth Comly.  He was married to his second wife, Miss Mary Ann Sprague, in 1848.  In 1879 he was married to his present wife, nee Mrs. Frankie Webb.   HON. THOMAS W. TIPTON, one of the first United States senators from the State of Nebraska, was a McConnelsville lawyer for about three yeas, commencing some time during the war.  He was the son of a Methodist preacher, Rev. William Tipton, and was admitted to the bar in Guernsey County.  He was somewhat noted as a temperance lecturer.  From this county he went to Nebraska, where he soon rose to prominence as a lawyer and politician. Source:  Chapter XV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 264   HON. CYDNOR B. TOMPKINS was a native of Belmont County.  With his father's family he came to Morgan County at an early day.  He was a graduate of the Ohio University and read law with George James at Zanesville, after which he opened an office in McConnelsville.  He was subsequently elected prosecuting attorney, and was a member of Congress from 1857 to 1861.  Possessed of a tenacious memory, he seldom if ever, forgot anything he read or that came under his observation.  He was an able advocate, and eloquent speaker, of ardent temperament, a warm, personal friend and genial companion.  He died in McConnelsville July 22, 1862. Source:  Chapter XV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 258   JOHN S. TORBERT, now a farmer in Union Township, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Morgan County about 1879.  After practicing a short time in partnership with Judge Hanna he removed to a farm in Windsor Township whence he recently moved to Union. Source:  Chapter XIV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 269   DR. HIRAM L. TRUE is the only physician of the eclectic school in the county.  He received an academical education and studied medicine under Thomas W. Sparrow, M. D., of Athens, and graduated from the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1870. Source:  Chapter XV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 276

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