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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Noble
County, Ohio
with portraits and biographical sketches of some of
its pioneers and prominent men.
Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co.,
1887
For Reference: Noble County was formed in 1851
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JOHN LEE, Sr.,
was born at "Cassel on the Fulda," Germany, in 1788.
In 1836 the family embarked for America and after an
uneventful voyage landed in Baltimore, Md.; thence they
moved by teams to Pittsburg, Pa., where he and three of his
sons found employment in a glass factory. In 1839 they
came to what is now Elk Township, where the elder Lee
located a quarter section of land one half mile northeast of
the village of Harriettsville, where he resided until his
decease in 1871. He was a thrifty farmer and a valued
citizen. His wife, nee Martha A. Braham,
whom he married in 1817, died in 1852, at the age of
eighty-three. Their children were Henry A., John,
Christian, Barbara, Benjamin and William.
Henry, the elder was born in Bradenburg, Germany, in
1818. He followed the fortunes of the family, and in
1840 married Miss Elizabeth Enochs,
daughter of the pioneer whose history is given elsewhere.
Twelve children were the result of this union: William,
Louisa, John, Martha, Frederick, Mary, Russell, Sarah,
Henry H., Hannah E., Edgar Earlwine and
Albert S. He is a prosperous farmer and one of the
most extensive tobacco growers in this region.
William, son of Henry Lee, was born in
1841, and married Jane Carmichael in 1864.
Their children are Arminda C., Ellsworth, Columbus,
Emerson B., Mary E., Rilla A., Wilbert, Evert, William,
Floyd and Clarence. William is one
of the prominent citizens of the township, and is a large
tobacco grower. Louisa was born in 1842,
married Thomas Pyles, who at the age of
sixteen entered the service as a member of the Ninety-second
Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Their children are
William H., Wesley, Minnie, Mary,
Nancy, Martha, George, Thomas,
Arthur and Bertha. They reside in West
Virginia. Martha Lee became Mrs.
Frank Shaffer. He died in 1884. He was a
soldier in the late war. Frederick Lee
is a resident of Ritchie County, W. Va. He married, in
1870, Miss Mary A. Haught. They have seven
children: Verne, Henry D., Alverde, Clinton T.,
George W., Preston and Dessie.
Mary Lee married William, son of the
pioneer, Frederick Miller. They children
are Arthur W., Ada M., Harkass and John.
The children of Russell Lee and his wife,
Caroline (Miller) - are Lily, Wesley,
Willard, Francis, Alberteen, Martha
and Nora B. He resides on the old homestead.
Sarah Lee became Mrs. Philetus Miller.
Their children are Winona, Tunny, Mary, Nellie and
Henry W. Henry H., one of the rising young farmers
of Jackson County, W. Va., married Flora A.
Thompson. Their children were Debert,
Walter and Henry. Hannah E. married W.
J. Kelby. They have one child, Shella.
Albert S., youngest child of Henry Lee,
is a promising young teacher and bids fair to become a
useful citizen. Martha Lee, daughter of John
Lee, Sr. was born in 1829. She married Charles
Huffman and reared a family of eleven:
Margaret (died in 1860), Martha (Williams),
Barbara (died, 1850), John W., Frank, James B., Miles
S. (died in 1886). Lovina R. (Morris),
Philo T., Allen (died in 1873) and Ernest.
Edgar Earlwine Lee was born near Harriettsville,
Ohio, in 1861. He received an academical education,
and at the age of eighteen began teaching and is one of the
prominent teachers of the county. He takes an active
interest in political matters and is at this time (1887)
clerk of the township. He is an active member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, and an efficient Sabbath school
worker. In 1886 he was married to Miss Mannie A.,
daughter of Vincent and Emily Bonar.
His future is full of bright promises.
Source:
History of Noble County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: L. H.
Watkins & Co., 1887 |
John Lemmax |
JOHN LEMMAX -
It is always a pleasure to sketch the career of a
prominent and successful man of business, who has attained
his position in life solely through his own well-directed
industry, his persevering efforts and his unswerving
honesty. Such a man is John Lemmax. He
was born in Pittsburg, Pa., Dec. 30, 1820. His father
was of Welsh and his mother of Irish descent. In the
spring of 1821 the family came to Ohio, settling in the
vicinity of Summerfield, where they remained until 1825.
Becoming dissatisfied with pioneer life, they then returned
to Pittsburgh, and continued to reside there until
September, 1830, when they returned to the farm in what is
now Noble County, which was thenceforth their permanent
home. In Pittsburgh the subject of this notice
attended school, and being an apt scholar, received the
rudiments of a sound education in the common branches.
After his removal to the farm, John was put to work,
and all of his attendance at school after he was eleven
years of age, amounted to but fourteen days. Money was
scarce, and it was difficult to make both ends meet;
therefore the services of our subject were necessary to
contribute to the family's support, there being five
children younger than himself. He had no money except what
he earned himself, by working out among his neighbors, and
what he could save in this way he devoted to the purchase of
books. He also borrowed and read all the books he
could obtain in the neighborhood. Early in life he
became possessed of Brainard's "Life Among the
Indians," Rollin's "Ancient History" (eight volumes), and
the works of Josephus. He took art in the
pioneer debating societies and thus strengthened his
knowledge and acquired experience in public speaking.
In his sixteenth year he began learning the carpenter's
trade, returning to the farm to assist in busy seasons.
During the first year at this work he received $7 per month;
the second year he began at $12 per month, and his wages
were increased to $18. In this way he continued to
work at his trade, receiving from $20 to $28 per month.
Afterward he began taking contracts, hiring a man and
working himself. In his nineteenth year Mr. Lemmax
went to Woodsfield and made arrangements to enter the
law-office of Edward Archibald as a student.
His father hearing of this, and having a strong prejudice
against lawyers, persuaded John to abandon his
intention. This Mr. Lemmax always regretted,
and believes that he made a serious mistake.
Early in life he became a pronounced temperance society
at Summerfield, and soon became prominent among its workers.
At the solicitation of Mr. S. H. Rownd, president of
the society, he visited different places in Morgan,
Washington and Guernsey Counties to make temperance
addresses. On one occasion, in the winter of 1841, he
was sent to a place about eight miles distant to deliver an
address. Arriving there he found the church in which
he was to speak so full of people that it was with
difficulty that he forced his way to the pulpit. He
became confused and forgot his subject. A Bible lay
upon the pulpit, and opening it, Mr. Lammax read the
first words that met his eye: "What is man that thou
art mindful of him?" Taking this as a text, and
beginning his remarks with the history of ancient Greece, he
talked with ease and freedom for an hour and three-quarters.
On looking at his watch he again became embarrassed and made
an apology for speaking so long, but was urged to continue.
He circulated the constitution and by-laws of his society,
and was gratified in obtaining eighty-six signatures.
After several earnest invitations, he again visited the same
place and lectured, this time securing sixty-eight more
names.
Mr. Lemmax continued to work at his trade until
1845, and in the meantime had saved between $600 and $700.
He then made arrangements with Charles Hare, of
Summerfield, to start a store in Freedom. Mr. Hare
advised him to invest in tobacco, and he did so. The
result was the loss, in the fall of 1846, of $800.
Returning from Baltimore to Freedom, he again engaged in
building. He also bought hogs and made some money on
them. In 1848, in partnership with A. Franklin,
he bought a small stock of goods in Zanesville and again
embarked in the mercantile business. Two years later
he increased his stock largely, buying in Baltimore, and was
soon doing a successful business. He again began
buying tobacco and continued that business for thirty years
with varying success, sometimes gaining and sometimes losing
heavily by his operations. In 1864-5 his losses were
about $23,000. It required thirteen years to recover
this amount. He dealt extensively in hogs and cattle
for several years. In 1848 he began buying and feeding
hogs, marketing them at home. Four years later he
began shipping hogs, and this business he continued
successfully for twenty-four years. He began dealing
in cattle in 1851, both buying and shipping, and continued
twenty-five years, then quit shipping. During this
time he handled an average of 3,500 hogs and two hundred
head of cattle per year, with a satisfactory profit, and in
the meantime gathered up 543 acres of land, four hundred of
which were cleared. His many business interests kept
him too busy to devote much attention to farming, and he
used much of his land for pasturage. In business
matters he wasted no words but was always fair and
honorable, and never would he take advantage of another's
ignorance in order to secure a profit for himself. For
a period of twenty years he handled about $50,000 worth of
live stock, tobacco and merchandise per year, without
failing to meet every obligation promptly. This gave
him a prestige as a buyer that but few have, and a credit
that answered instead of larger capital.
Frank in avowing his sentiments; bold, fearless
and consistent in maintaining them, Mr. Lemmax laid
the foundation of a character of sincerity and honored,
which amidst the vicissitudes, the profits and losses of
business transactions, the shocks of political changes and
the scurrility of partisan warfare, has never been shaken or
tainted with insincerity. In the possession of these
attributes, beyond the reach of cavil or question, is to be
found the secret of that inalienable attachment which to day
exists among the vast body of his friends and
fellow-citizens, and which has followed him throughout his
business career. Here he wishes to offer a grateful
tribute of respect to the names of three of his friends who
stood by him in the darkest hour of his mercantile career:
To Morris Danford, who furnished him $3,500; to
John O'Neill, who furnished $2,500; and to "Uncle"
Samuel Craig, who furnished $2,300 at six per cent,
payable at his pleasure, on his individual note without
security. These sums were used in the liquidation of
his indebtedness entailed by the losses on tobacco in 1864
and 1865.
Mr. Lemmax was married in 1846 to Margaret,
daughter of Alexander Franklin, one of the early
settlers of Marion Township. They have reared four
children. Mary Rose, now the wife of Charles
Craig, of Marion Township; Violet J., Lillie W.
and John A., single and residing at home. The
family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In politics Mr. Lemmax is a firm, uncompromising
Republican, and for many years has taken a deep and
intelligent interest in both local and national political
affairs. Early in life he became an adherent of the
Whig party. In September, 1840, he attended a
Democratic mass meeting at Carlisle, addressed by leading
Democratic politicians of Monroe County. After they
had finished, John McMahon took the platform on the
Whig side, and made a telling speech. Hon. Joseph
Morris, representative in Congress, who was one of the
speakers present, went home with Mr. Lemmax and spent
the night at his father's house. In conversation with
him, the question was asked, What would take the place of
bank-notes? Morris replied, "Sub-treasury notes."
On being asked what they were, he admitted that he did not
know. "Well, it is not good policy to destroy the
bank-notes unless you have something better to take their
place." Mr. Morris said: "John, I am
afraid you won't make a good Democrat. To be one, you
must stick to the party, right or wrong." And John
did not become a Democrat. He voted first for Henry
Clay, and acted with the Whig and Free-soil parties
until the campaign of John C. Fremont, since which
time he has been a Republican. Mr. Lemmax has
been several times a delegate to State conventions. He
was a delegate to the National Convention of 1876. He
was the first delegate to propose Hayes' nomination,
and, in a conference of the Ohio delegation, secured the
passage of a resolution pledging a solid vote for him, and
that no delegate should vote otherwise without first
conferring with the remainder of the delegation.
Mr. Lemmax held the office of county commissioner one
term and declined a renomination. He was a candidate
for representative to the legislature in 1884, but was
defeated by a small majority, owing to the hostility of the
Greenback element, who at this time were energetically
preaching the doctrine of "flat money," claiming it as the
"poor man's money." Mr. Lemmax vigorously
opposed this craze and took a decided stand for resumption
and a stable currency. He took a prominent part in
securing the extension of the B. Z & C. Railroad, from
Woodsfield to Zanesville, subscribing liberally to further
the scheme, giving it much of his time and attention for
over a year, besides furnishing a building for a depot at
his own expense. The road runs through his land for a
mile and a half. After the completion of the road, on
the resignation of one of the directors, he was unanimously
chosen to fill the vacancy and has since been thrice chosen
to fill the same position. In the spring of 1883, with
twelve others who paid a like sum, he advanced $2,000 to
secure the opening of the road and the running of trains.
He has had contracts for furnishing the road with over four
hundred thousand feet of trestle timber, besides a large
quantity of cross-ties. Mr. Lemmax has been a
stockholder and director of the Noble County National Bank
at Caldwell since its organization. He has held the
office of postmaster, at Freedom (Whigville Postoffice), for
twenty eight years, without any complaints from patrons or
the Department.
Source:
History of Noble County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: L. H.
Watkins & Co., 1887 - Page 412 |
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LLOYD
L. LOVETT, one of the
prominent farmers and best citizens of Elk Township, was
born in Allegheny County, Md., February 10, 1837, and came
to this township in 1854. He located on the farm of
John Howald, the German pioneer, whose daughter, Mary
Ann Louisa, he married in 1856. He has resided on
this farm ever since, and has added to the old homestead
until he now has 352 acres of good land. Mr. Lovett
is the father of eight children: Cary E. (Bote),
Lola N. (Kirchner), Elmer E., John T., William B., Mr.
Lovett has served as township trustee four terms.
He is a leading trustee four terms. He is a leading
member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has served as
trustee and steward of that organization for twenty years.
Source:
History of Noble County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: L. H.
Watkins & Co., 1887 |
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NELSON C. LOVETT, son of
John Lovett, was born in Allegheny County, Md., in 1840,
and came to this county in 1857. In 1866 he married
Cynthia S. Hallett, of Washington Count. They have
one child, a daughter. Mr. Lovett enlisted in
June, 1861, in the Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
was discharged in December, 1862, from disability caused by
a wound. He was in Many severe engagements.
After being wounded at the second battle of Bull Run, he was
captured and paroled. He was left on the field two
days without food or care and was two days more in the
ambulance before reaching the hospital at Alexandria, Va.,
where he could receive treatment. He was among the
best of the many brave soldiers furnished by Noble County.
Source:
History of Noble County, Ohio - Publ. Chicago: L. H.
Watkins & Co., 1887 |
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BENJAMIN
LYONS
was born near Hartford, Guernsey County, in 1816, and came
to this township (Buffalo twp) with his parents about two
years later. He married Mary E. McCarty, and
they had seven children. Mr. Lyons was in the
mercantile business at Rochester, Noble County, from 1849 to
1857, and has sine been a farmer. |
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LEVI
LYONS
was born near Harper's Ferry, Va. He married Rachel
Kackley. Their children were James,
Margaret, Jacob, Benjamin, Elizabeth
and Rachel. He was afterward twice married -
first to Elizabeth Spillman, and second to
Lydia A. Rhodes. Of the second Marriage two
children are living. William and Sarah J.
(Buffalo Township, Noble Co., Ohio) |
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