OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

A Part of Genealogy Express
 

WELCOME TO
ROSS COUNTY, OHIO
History & Genealogy

BIOGRAPHIES

The following biographies are extracted from:
Source: 
The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio

By Henry Holcomb Bennett
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis.,
1902

A B C D EF G H IJ K L M N OPQ R S T UV W XYZ

< CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE 1917 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< CLICK HERE to RETURN to LIST OF BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES & HISTORIES >

  WEDEN KELLEY ORR, breeder of registered swine, Shorthorn cattle and other fine stock in Green township, is connected by his family history with some of the strongest and earliest established of Ross county’s citizenship.  The ancestral tree first took root in the “Emerald Isle,” the land whose brilliant and devoted children have made it famous both in story and in song.  During the latter half of the eighteenth century, five brothers were born and bred near Belfast, whose names were James Thomas, Alexander, William and John.  William became involved in the rebellion of the Irish against English tyranny, which took place in the closing years of the century, and was the first of the patriots executed in 1797.  He was falsely charged with treason, found guilty by a drunken jury and sentenced to die by a hypocritical judge.   His accuser afterwards acknowledged that he swore falsely, and Orr was offered a reprieve if he would confess his guilt.  This he scornfully declined to do and was accordingly executed.  This excited such indignation that “Remember Orr!” was the rallying cry of the united Irishmen in the struggle that followed.  “The Wake of William Orr,” by one of the standard authors, is a beautiful poem which this cruel execution inspired.  Thomas Orr, another of the brothers, by taking a position less radical managed to save his property from confiscation.  He owned an extensive bleaching green and linen factories near Belfast.  Preferring to live in America and enjoy freedom he came here, and it is supposed that his property in Ireland reverted to the church, and to this day it is believed to be in the possession of the same.  James Orr left his native land about 1770 and made his way across the ocean out of reach of the oppressors of Ireland.  He located in South Carolina, went into business and accumulated some property, but his health became poor and hoping to improve it he removed to the mountainous regions west of Virginia.  He settled near Moorefield, in Hardy county, at a place still called Orr’s mountain and there remained until 1797.  In that year he decided to emigrate farther west, and came with his family to Ross county, where they settled first near the High Banks prairie and afterward on Dry Run about six miles above.  James Orr was a man of good education, as well as an accomplished surveyor, and these qualifications made him very useful in the newly settled and poorly organized communities.  For a number of years he kept a private school and the ancestors of some of the most prominent families in Ross county were taught by this Irish immigrant.   The maiden name of the wife of James Orr was Sarah Eyemon, and her sister Deborah was also a member of the family.  All three of these pioneers died in 1802 and their remains were deposited in one of the rude cemeteries of that early day, since known as the Schooly graveyard.  James Orr and wife left four children, Zebulon, William, James and Thomas, but this chronicle is principally concerned with the last mentioned.  Thomas Orr was born in Virginia and was with his father in the emigration to Ohio.  He and his brother Zebulon did the first plowing in Liberty township, which entitles them to rank as the first agriculturists of that community afterward so famous as a farming region.  Thomas acted as a chain-carrier when the road from Chillicothe to Gallipolis was being surveyed by the famous Nathaniel Massie.  The chain used on the occasion was presented by Colonel Massie to the faithful Thomas Orr, and this is now in the possession of his grandson, Weden K. Orr, who cherishes it as a precious heirloom.  Thomas Orr was a farmer by occupation and noted for his strict integrity in all business transactions, preferring the solace of a. good conscience to any pleasures to be derived from money made by questionable methods.  A Democrat in early life, he was converted by a speech of William Henry Harrison and ever afterward voted the Whig and Republican tickets.  His first Wife was Rebecca Alexander, who died two years after marriage, and the second was Mary Jones, a native of New Jersey of Welsh descent.  By this last marriage Thomas Orr had eleven children: Rebecca, Elizabeth and Thomas (deceased), Sarah, William, Jeremiah, Presley, Zebulon, Simeon (deceased), Wesley and Mary A.  Jeremiah Orr was born in Springfield township, Ross county, Nov. 22, 1825.  He had poor educational opportunities in youth, but was fond of study and by much reading became in after life a well informed man.  He became one of the representative farmers of Ross county and at one time owned 200 acres of good land which was obtained by his own exertions.  He was appointed treasurer of the school land fund for Green township, and though not a seeker after office, was always to be relied on in every movement that promised to improve conditions and make for progress.  He enlisted under the call for what was known as the “hundred days’ men,” and draws from the government a liberal pension in recognition of his services.  In 1854, he was married to Maria, daughter of John and grand-daughter of William Kelley, the latter a pioneer of Ross county.  Three children resulted from this union.  The eldest, Harriet, who was educated in Chillicothe and at the National Normal university of Lebanon, married Professor A. L. Ellis, and has one child, A. Dane.   Mary N., second of the daughters, after her education at Kingston and the National normal, became the wife of J. M. Spence of Cleveland, and has four children: Weden O., Mary B., Dorcas M and Harry W.
     Weden Kelley Orr
, only son of Jeremiah and Maria (Kelley) Orr, was born in Liberty township, Ross county, Apr. 16, 1862.  Like the other children, he was given a good education, taking a preparatory course at Kingston, followed by attendance in the scientific department of the National Normal university of Lebanon, where he was graduated with the class of 1881 and received the degree of B. S.  In 1882, Mr. Orr located on the old homestead, where he has since resided, engaged in the cultivation of his farm and the raising of stock.  He has charge of 245 acres of well improved land and makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle, Poland-China and Duroc Jersey swine, in the breeding of which he has achieved flattering success and an enviable reputation.  Mr. Orr is a member of the Methodist church, president of the Green township board of education and quite prominent in Masonry, holding membership in Pickaway lodge, No. 23; Circleville chapter, No. 20, B. A. M., and Scioto commandery, No. 35, Knights Templar.  In 1889 he was married to Elizabeth Lutz and they have five children: Stanley Lutz, Mary Florence, Helen Harriet, Irene and Loren KelleyMrs. W. K. Orr is the daughter of Col. Isaac Lutz, one of the most prominent farmers and largest landowners in Ross county.  He was born in Salt Creek township, Pickaway county, May 10, 1823, son of Hon. Samuel Lutz, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1802.  The latter bought and cleared a fine tract of land in Pickaway county where he spent all of a life, as remarkable for its length of years as for its activities and usefulness.  He possessed great influence in his county and held many positions of trust, such as surveyor, land appraiser and justice of the peace, besides membership in the legislature for several terms.  He was a man of strict habits and much integrity of character, being for many years a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.  He married Elizabeth Fetherolf, of Pennsylvania, by whom he had a large family of children, and it is remarked as a noteworthy fact that nine of these had grown up and had grandchildren and some of them great-grandchildren before the death of their father.   The latter enjoyed remarkable vigor, both of mind and body, during a long period, and died in 1890 at the advanced age of one hundred and one years and six months.  Isaac Lutz, whose own career was also destined to be long and conspicuous, was the fourth born of his father’s family.  As soon as he reached his majority he began driving cattle to the Eastern markets, making eight trips to New York and Philadelphia.   In 1846, he located on the farm in Union township, Ross county, which from that time until this has been the place of his residence.  In January of the same year he was married to Mary Spangler, who died in February, 1847.  Sept. 13, 1855, he took for his second wife Susan J. Barton, of Union township, by whom he had six children: Ada J., wife of Ira L. May, a farmer of Pickaway county; Mary E., wife of Philip M. Dunlap, of Union township; Freeman B., who died at the age of nineteen years; Fred L., married to Miss Maudane Dick of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, and living on the old homestead; Elizabeth L., now Mrs. Orr, and Susan Florence, the wife of Clark Beale, of Mt. Sterling, Ohio.  Colonel Lutz has been quite active in politics during his life, being first a Whig and afterward a Republican, often acting as delegate in the county, district and state conventions of his party.  At the age of eighteen he joined a company of cavalry of which he was soon elected second lieutenant, later made captain and finally lieutenant colonel.  This title was conferred on him in 1845 and he was engaged several years in training in militia company, his military attainments subsequently procuring him appointment as enrolling officer during the civil war.  Colonel Lutz's landed possessions embrace holdings in three states, including 160 acres in Iowa, 720 in Kansas and all Ohio.  He cultivates 200 acres of wheat and the same number in corn, the remainder of the arable land being rented to tenants.  The Colonel and his wife have traveled extensively, visiting and spending more or less time in twenty-eight states between the coast of New York and California.  No citizen of Ross county has been more intimately connected with her agricultural development than Colonel Lutz and none stands higher in the public regard as a man of integrity and worth.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 624
 

JOHN ORTMAN, of Harrison township, was born on the farm he now owns in that township in Ross county, March 27, 1822.  His parents were John and Catharine (Baker) Ortman, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland.  John was a son of Jacob Ortman, a native of Germany who came to Ohio in the early days of its settlement and there spent the balance of his days.  John Ortman, the father, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1810, and settled on the farm in Ross county now owned by his son and where he died July 17, 1879, at the age of ninety-eight.  His wife long preceded him to the grave, her death occurring in 1867, when she was eighty-eight years old.  They had a family of nine children, of whom only three are now living, and of these John Ortman is the youngest.  He was reared on the old home place and received his education in the common district schools.  Mr. Ortman has always been a farmer and now owns 157 acres of land which he cultivates in the general way.  In 1864, Mr. Ortman enlisted in Company D, of the One Hundred Forth-ninth Ohio regiment, mustered in as National Guards in the one hundred days' service.  He served seven months; three he spent as a prisoner in Danville, Va.  He was in the battle at Monocacy Junction, fought in July, 1864, between Early's army and the Federal forces commanded by Gen. Lew Wallace.  For some time Mr. Ortman has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.  Though not an office seeker, he has held the position of trustee of his township.  August 9, 1846, he was married to Margaret Bower, and the result of the union was a family of seven children, five of whom are living:  Mary E., at home; Caroline, the wife of S. W. Clyde, of Franklin county, Kan.; Margaret A., at Hallsville, Ohio; Jacob W., at Chillicothe; and Charles E.  Those dead are J. W. and LymanMrs. Ortman, the mother, died May 5, 1899.  Mr. Ortman is one of the substantial men of Ross county and in all the duties of life, both in war and peace, has proved him self a good citizen.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 628

  NEWTON J. OVERLY, the well known gardener and truant officer of Chillicothe, is descended from a pioneer who settled in what is now Springfield township before Ross county was organized.  This was his great-grandfather, Frederick Overly, born in Pennsylvania, Mar. 2, 1765, of parents who came from Wurtemberg, Germany.  The first of the family to locate in America was Martin Oberlin, as the name was then spelled, but since changed to Overly.  He was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, migrated to America in 1757, and settled in the province of Pennsylvania, where he was naturalized and declared to be a British subject Sept. 24, 1764.  This unique naturalization paper is still in the possession of one of his descendants, in Ross county, as are also other documents of considerable curiosity.  We present herewith a copy of the entire language of this boon of citizenship.  It will be noticed that the old English use of the letter “f” instead of “s” prevails in the spelling of words:  (Seal.)  Pennsylvania, S. S. Edward Shippen, Jr., Prothonotary of the Supream Court of the Province of Pennsylvania Do hereby certify, That at a Supream Court held at Philadelphia, for the said Province of Pennsylvania, the 24th Day of September, in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-four, Before William Allen, W. Coleman and Alex Stedman, Esquire Judges of the said Court, between the Hours of Nine and Twelve of the Clock in the Forenoon of the same Day, Martin Oberlin of Bethel, in the County of Lancaster, being a foreigner, and having inhabited and resided for the space of Seven Years in His Majesty’s Colonies in America, and not having been out of the same of the said Colonies for a longer Time than Two Months at any one Time during the said Seven Years.  And the said Martin Oberlin having produced to the said Court, a Certificate, of his having taken the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper within Three Months before the said Court, took and subscribed the Oaths, and did make and repeat the Declaration (appointed by an Act, made in the First year of the Reign of King GEORGE THE FIRST) according to the Directions of an Act of Parliament, made in the.  Thirteenth Year of His late Majesty King GEORGE the Second, intituled, An Act for naturalizing such foreign Protestants, and others, therein mentioned, as are settled in any of His Majesty's Colonies in America; and thereupon was admitted to be His Majesty's natural born Subject of the Kingdom of Great Britain, pursuant to the Direction and Intent of the said Act of Parliament. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand, and affixed the Seal of the Supream Court, the 24th Day of September, in the year first above mentioned.  Edward Shippen, Jr.
     To this pioneer was born five sons, Christopel, Bostian, Martin, Frederick, and one other whose name has been lost to the family records.  The father and his four sons named came to Ross county in 1797, where Martin died and was buried in Springfield Township.  After marrying in his native state, Frederick Overly, in early manhood, migrated to Kentucky, but in a few years crossed the river to Ross county, Ohio, and settled near Hopetown.  It was in 1797 that he arrived in that locality in company with his father and two brothers who joined in building a bark shanty and cultivating a crop of corn.  In the fall, after securing their crop, they returned for their families and brought them out on pack-horses over the Indian trail through the dense forest.  The wife of Frederick Overly, whose name was Mary Ann Hines, and whom he married in 1793, carried on her horse all the way from Kentucky her precious spining-wheel and eight months-old babe.  For a while all lived in the rude shanty, but eventually Frederick Overly erected a hewed log house which was occupied many years afterward by his descendants.  He died in 1848 at the ripe old age of eighty-two years, and his wife following in 1850 in her seventy-fifth year.  Their children, six in number, consisted of two sons and four daughters, whose names in order of birth were John, George, Susan, Rebecca, Mary and the wife of a Mr. Thorp.  John Overly, eldest of the family, was born in Kentucky, and accompanied his parents on their journey to Ross county over the rude Indian trails of that day which constituted the only roads.  He grew to manhood in the vicinity of Hopetown, receiving such scant education as was to be gleaned by irregular attendance at the "old field schoolhouse."  His only occupation throughout life was that of farming and this he followed on his place near Hopetown until his death in July, 1877.  His eight children were Mary Ann, widow of Jacob Rittinger, of Springfield township; Elizabeth, who married Jacob Cryder and afterward died; Evaline, wife of Jack Cryder, deceased; Frederick, deceased; George, of Springfield township; Ellen, deceased; John T., and Sarah, wife of William Wheeler of Liberty township.
     John T. Overly, seventh of these children, was born near Hopetown, Ross county, Apr. 4, 1838, and has followed, the ancestral pursuit of farming since arriving at maturity.  In 1857 her married Katherine Downs and settled on a farm in Springfield township, where they are still living in the enjoyment of general esteem.  Their long and happy married life has been blessed by the birth of four children, two of whom are living, a son and a daughter, the others dying in infancy.  The daughter is Jennie, wife of M. V. Whitcraft, of Springfield township.  Newton J. Overly, the surviving son, was born on the family homestead in Ross county, Mar. 21, 1860 and as soon as he reached manhood began farming on his own account and continued to live in Springfield township for over thirty years.  In 1893 he removed to Chillicothe and undertook gardening, which for some years constituted his regular and only occupation.  In the spring of 1899 he was appointed truant officer for the city of Chillicothe, and he has since held that position, being also ex-officio assistant city librarian.  Feb. 23, 1882,  he was married to Mary Niles, of Gallia county, by whom he has five children:  Laura, Janet, Clara, Marie, and Oliver.  The family are communicants of the Christian church and Mr. Overly is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 629
  JAMES H. PAKE, M. D.,  a prominent practitioner of Bainbridge and vicinity, is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio.  His literary education was obtained at Zanesville and Pageville academy.  In 1880 he entered Starling college at Columbus, Ohio, from which institution he was graduated in 1883 with a degree of M. D.  During the following six years he practiced his profession in Cheshire, Gallia county, and the same length of time in Middleport, Ohio.  In 1896, he located at Bainbridge, in the county of Ross, and that has been his place of business ever since.  Dr. Pake has built up a good patronage, his practice extending over portions of Ross and Pike counties.  He is ambitious as well as energetic, and, desiring to keep abreast of the latest discoveries in medical science, took a post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic in 1889.  He has made a special study of tuberculosis and naturally takes a deep interest in everything which promises a check to that insidious disease.  Dr. Pake is a member of the Ohio State Medical society and also of the Medical association of Meigs county.  His fraternal relations are confined to membership in the orders of Freemasonry and Odd Fellows.  In 1879 he was married to Mary Armstrong, of Downington, Meigs County, O.
Source #1 - The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 631
  BENJAMIN F. PARKER, is a native of Ross county, born at Hopetown, August 12, 1839.  His parents were Job R.  and Eleanor (Longan) Parker, both Pennsylvanians, the former born March 22, 1793, and the latter on December 29, 1800.  The father learned the cabinet-maker's trade, at which he worked until his removal to Ross county.  His marriage took place March 14, 1822, and he came to Ohio in the same year, accompanied by a colony of Pennsylvanians, numbering some ten or twelve families.  Soon after his arrival he rented a farm, and with the exception of a few years spent at Chillicothe as proprietor of a huckster wagon, he devoted his whole life to the business of farming.  He served as constable and member of the school board in Springfield township.  His death took place on February 10, 1862, while he was living on the Judge James McClintick farm, his wife surviving him until August 8, 1886.  They had a family of twelve children.  Of these, Joseph, Nancy, Samuel, James, Job R., Charles D., William and Isaac N. are dead, the last mentioned being killed in the battle of Monocacy.  There were two sets of twins; John L. and Joseph being the first, and the others Benjamin F. and Isaac W.  Thomas S. resides in Chillicothe, and Mary Jane is the widow of William H. Abernathy, of the same city.  Benjamin F. Parker, who was one of the last pare of twins, remained at home helping on the farm until the outbreak of the civil war.  April 19, 1861, he enlisted in the company of Capt. George W. Fisk, but the call being full this command was not accepted but continued in camp drilling.  July 27, 1861, Mr. Parker enlisted in Company A, Eighteenth Ohio regiment, under Capt. H. R. Miller.  During the occupation of Bowling Green, Ky., Mr. Parker was in the hospital with measles, and while on his way after that to join his regiment, he was captured at Pulaski, Tenn.  This occurred May 1, 1862, and he was held prisoner for nine months, being exchanged February 4, 1863.  He rejoined his company at once and with it took part in the Tullahoma campaign, the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Nashville, Decatur and other engagements.  Later the command was sent to Chattanooga, from there to Augusta, Ga., and was mustered out at that place October 9, 1865.  The military record of the Parker family is unusually creditable.  Including Benjamin,  eight of the sons of Job R. Parker served as Union soldiers during the civil war.  Isaac N. was killed, as previously stated, and Job died from the effects of wounds.  Benjamin F. refused several offers of promotion, preferring to serve in the ranks.  Immediately after his discharge he came directly to Chillicothe, where he lived until March 17, 1867.  At time he was married to Eliza Abernathy, after which he removed to a rented farm in Union township, where he lived until he bought the place where he now resides.  He and his wife became the parents of twelve children.  Of these, Anna, Elmer, William F., and Arthur Earl are dead.  Olive L. is the wife of Charles Hibbler, of Fayette county; Mary F. resides in Chillicothe, Thomas J. in Bainbridge, and Job R. in Lancaster; Nellie is the wife of Arthur D. Shafer of Bourneville; David N. is at Washington Court House, and Boyd and Joseph T. are at home.  Mr. Parker, since he has settled down in life, ahs been a general farmer and stock-raiser.  He has served as constable of his township for several terms and ahs been a member of the school board.  His politics are Republican and sine 1853 he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source #1 - The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 631
  JOHN W. PARKER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 632

 

A. FRANK PARRETT, of South Salem, was born, bred and educated in Buckskin township, Ross county.  He is the eldest son of Strawder J. Parrett, whose father, George Parrett, came from the Shenandoah valley of Virginia in 1814 and settled on the second tract of land surveyed in Buckskin township.  Frederick Parrett, father of George and grandfather of Strawder Parrett, served in the Continental army and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.  The founder of the Virginia family of Parretts came from Switzerland to America as early as 1730; settled in the colony of Virginia and raised a family of seven sons, every one of whom served as a soldier in the war for American independence.  Along with this emigrant from Switzerland in 1730 came a man named Wilkins, whose son Henry went from Virginia to Ohio in 1802, just prior to the admission of the state into the Union.  This Henry Wilkins had a daughter named Milly, who married George Parrett, and became the mother of Strawder J. Parrett.  They had seven other children whose biographies are thus briefly condensed:  Rachel married Anderson Wilson, of Buckskin township, went with him to Indiana and settled on a farm near Logansport, where she died in 1843; Maria became the wife of Daniel Kline and they are living in Buckskin township; Henry A. lived in Buckskin township until 1851 when he removed to Illinois and died there in September, 1895; Eliza Ann married Isaac James and died March 18, 1883; Margaret May, now the widow of Thomas Murray, is living in Buckskin township; Alfred A. died in 1854, and F. F. Perrett is a prosperous farmer now living in Buckskin township.  Strawder J. Parrett was educated in the district schools and at the South Salem academy.  After leaving school he embarked in agricultural pursuits and soon established himself as one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of Ross county.  He has long been prominent in the business and political affairs of his community and strongly interested in the public welfare.  He belonged to the sturdy band who took a stand for freedom away back in the trying days and cast his first vote for John C. Fremont, anti-slavery candidate for president; became a charter member of the rising young Republican party, and has always been a stanch advocate of its principles.  As a member of the state militia during the civil war, he took part in the pursuit of John Morgan during that officer's daring raid into Ohio.  Mr. Parrett has several times held the responsible position of trustee of his township.  The family are members of the Presbyterian church and he has been a trustee of the Salem academy for over thirty years.  In 1860, Strawder Parrett was married to Sarah A., daughter of William Latta, a native of Pennsylvania of Irish descent who settled in Ohio about the year 1800.  Mr. and Mrs. Parrett have three living children:  Albina A., married to Thomas A. Rogers; William Latta, living on the home farm, and A. Frank A Frank Parrett received his education at the Salem academy, after which he embarked in farming and stock-raising.  He soon obtained recognition as one of the most successful of the younger generation of Buckskin township agriculturists.  He makes a specialty of stock feeding and understands every feature necessary to make that business successful.  In 1898, he was elected trustee of Buckskin township and was re-elected to the same position in 1901, being now in his second term.  He has made a good officer and conservatively safeguards the interests of the people.  In 1884, he was married to Dora A., daughter of William A. Kerr, member of one of the oldest of the Buckskin township families.  Mr. Parrett and family are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is one of the members of the township school board. 
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 633

  H. C. PARRETT was born in Buckskin township, Ross county, Ohio, in 1825; the son of Joseph F. Parrett and grandson of Frederick Parrett, who founded the family in Ross county.  The earliest known ancestor came from beyond the seas, as far back as 1730, and settled in Virginia.  He left a son named Frederick who raised a large family and had five sons in the Revolutionary war.  It was one of his sons, bearing the same name, who became the early settler of Ross county.  The latter came from the Shenandoah valley of Virginia and settled in Buckskin township in October, 1814, bringing with him four sons, Joseph F., George, Augustus Frederick and Henry, all of whom located in the same neighborhood, became farmers and raised families.  His oldest son, John, had preceded the others to Ohio the year before and settled in Fayette County,  where he spent the remainder of his life and where many of his descendants now live.  Joseph F. Parrett, the second of the sons, lived for many years on the farm now owned by his son, W. J. Parrett, and there his death occurred in 1869.  He left a family of eight sons: John H. (deceased), H. C. Absalom, Aaron, George F., M. J., W. M., and  Augustus F.  W. J. Parrett, the seventh of these sons, was reared and educated in Buckskin township.  In 1862, when twenty years old, he enlisted in Company I, Eighty-first Ohio regiment, and served until he was wounded in front of the Atlanta in 1864.  This necessitated his retirement from the service and prevented any further participation in the war.  In 1867, he was married to Alethea Galloway, of Xenia, Ohio, daughter of James C. Galloway.  They hae two children, Carrie D., and C. Sherman Parrett, both educated at the Salem academy and Wooster university.  The family are members of the Presbyterian church and the father belongs to the Grand Army post at Lyndon.  H. C. Parrett, the second son of Joseph F., was educated in the schools of Buckskin township and then embarked in farming as his life work.  He started without advantages, but by steady industry has succeeded in establishing himself as one of the successful men of his community.  In 1850 he took a wife in the person of Emily Welsheimer, of Pickaway county, who proved to be a most valuable helpmeet in all his future struggles.  She was a loving and devoted wife up to the time of her death, Nov. 5, 1885.  They have five living children: Ostie, wife of John F. Putnam, hardware merchant of Greenfield; Mary and Jennie, at home; W. E., druggist at Santiago, Cal.; Charley, merchant at Greenfield.  Mr. Parrett is a man of patriotic and liberal views, Presbyterian in religion and Republican in politics.  In addition to his farming interests, he was was for thirteen years engaged in the drug business at Greenfield and made it a successful and profitable venture.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 634
  PETER J. PARRETT was born and reared in Buckskin township, Ross county, and has spent his life on the old homestead where he now resides.  His father, Henry Parrett, was one of the four sons of Frederick Parrett who settled in Buckskin township in 1814 and became prominent workers in the development of that section.  Frederick Parrett was the father of a family of nine children, four sons and five daughters, and Henry Parrett was the youngest son.  The Parrett family is numerous and from an early day has been a factor in the progress and growth of Ross county.   Nearly all of the male members became farmers and they have made excellent citizens in every sense of the word.  Peter J. Parrett was educated in the public schools and at the Salem academy.  As soon as he reached manhood he embarked in the useful and independent occupation of cultivating the soil and has achieved a success in his line.  Mr. Parrett has farmed and raised stock on an extensive scale and understands all branches of the business thoroughly.  He is no politician and has never sought office, preferring to devote all his energies and time to his legitimate business.  Like most of the connection of that name, he is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 635
  W. EDWIN PARRETT was born on the old homestead of his family about one mile east of Lyndon, Ross county, in September, 1850.  His father, Henry Parrett, son of Frederick H. Parrett, was born in Virginia in 1806 and came from that state with his father, settling in Buckskin township, Ross county, in 1814.  Henry Parrett became one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of the county and one of the leading citizens.  He was a fine singer and in the early days taught vocal music by the old patent note system.  He was leader in the congregational music in the Presbyterian church, and altogether an influential and notable character of his community.  He spent his whole life in Buckskin township and died in April, 1883, much lamented.  His son, W. Edwin Parrett, was educated in the public schools and at the Salem academy.  After leaving school he returned to the old homestead and engaged in farming, making a specialty of raising Duroc Jersey hogs.  In this branch of live stock business, Mr. Parrett achieved quite a reputation and is regarded a skillful breeder.  Mr. Parrett has taken an interest in local politics and all township affairs but has never been an office seeker.  In 1883, he was married to Henrietta Charlotte, daughter of Charles Christian Rindt, a native of Germany, for several years in business at Massieville, and now a merchant of Chillicothe.  Mr. and Mrs. Parrett have two sons, one of whom, Ray Rindt Parrett, is attending Salem academy, and the other, Charles Edwin, is at home.  The family are Presbyterians and Mr. Parrett is a deacon in the church of that denomination in Salem.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 636
  WILLIAM A. PARRETT was born in Buckskin township, Ross county in 1860.  His father, Col. John Parrett, was a considerable man in his day and active in all matters affecting his community.  At one time he was colonel of the State militia and also filled various civil positions.  Educated at the Salem academy, he studied law and was admitted to the bar, but changed his plans and never practiced the profession.  He was of a restless and adventurous disposition, and, after teaching school for a while, joined the crowds who were seeking fortunes in the distant gold fields of California.  He spent two years at the beginning of the 1850's on that far off coast, but finally wearied of wandering and returned to Lyndon, Ohio; then settled down to farming and stock-raising, and adhered to this employment until the time of his death in 1893.  He married Sophia, daughter of William Cochran, an early settler of Ross county, and she survives.  Their sons, William A. Parrett, the third of a family of nine children, after receiving his education at Salem academy, taught in the district schools for a short time and then embarked in farming.  In 1889, he took charge of the Lyndon flour and feed mills, with a saw mill attached, but still retained his interest in farming.  He was elected treasurer of Buckskin township in 1897, and has been twice re-elected to the same office.  In 1893 he was married to Etta D., daughter of Milton Seal, formerly of Highland county, but now living in Iowa.  The family are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Parrett also belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 636
  GEORGE W. C. PERRY was born in Jackson county, Ohio, Nov. 19, 1859.  His father was Robert Perry, a farmer then living near the city of Jackson, and Mr. Perry's earliest years were spent on his father's farm.  He was the youngest of a family of eleven children, seven of whom, including himself, are now living.  Mr. Perry, senior, was of English descent, his father having come to this country from England, following the footsteps of others of the name, the most notable bearer of it being his cousin, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the victor over the English in the celebrated naval battle of Lake Erie.  An interesting chain of circumstance develops from this victory of Commodore Perry, in that the successes of General Harrison, due, partly, to him, were what made Harrison available for the presidential nomination, and that he was first named for that honor by the Scioto Gazette, the paper with which G. W. C. Perry is now connected.  Another ember of the Perry family who achieved renown was Matthew G. Perry, brother of O. H. Perry.  He served in the United States navy in the war of 1812 and in that with Mexico, and commanded the expedition to Japan in 1852-54, during which he concluded the treaty opening Japan to American commerce.  He became commodore in 1841.  William Stevens Perry, of Rhode Island, of the same family, was bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church and a well known writer on historical subjects, mostly concerned with church matters, such as "Documentary History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States" (1863-4), "History of the American Episcopal Church," etc.  G. W. C. Perry's mother was Sarah Stewart, a descendant of that sturdy Scotch-Irish stock which has had such an influence in this country.  The combination of such stocks as these, Anglo-Saxon and Scotch-Irish, insures energy, perseverance and determination.  G. W. C. Perry, early in life, gave evidence that he had inherited the characteristics of his forefathers.  His original education was obtained in a district school until he was thirteen years of age.  At this time, at an age when most boys are but beginning the path of education, without thought of striking out for themselves, George Perry made a long step toward independence by taking the examination for, and obtaining, a certificate authorizing him to teach school.  At that early age he began a period of successful teaching which lasted for eighteen years.  In the intervals of his work as teacher he attended the high school in Jackson, and a private academy in the same place, kept by Prof. Moses Gilmore, an instructor of the old school.  For twelve consecutive years Mr. Perry taught in Jackson county.  He then taught for six years in Ross county, the last five years at the "Higby School," in the southern part of the county.  In 1892 he gave up teaching to enter the newspaper field, coming to Chillicothe May 2 of that year, to become solicitor and advertising manager of the Scioto Gazette, with George H. Tyler.  He continued in this position after the combination of the Gazette and the Chillicothe Leader, in 1893, until Jan. 1, 1895, when he was appointed chief deputy and bookkeeper by Hugh W. Warner, sheriff of Ross county.  During all this time he was increasing his acquaintance with men, matters, and political affairs, so that when, on Nov. 16, 1896, the Scioto Gazette company was organized, with him as a member of the board of directors, he was the very man for the position of business manager of the paper.  Since that date he has controlled the business affairs of the company, and has managed the paper both wisely and well, how well only those who are associated in the business can fully appreciate.  When he assumed charge of affairs the finances of the paper were by no means what might be desired: it needed building up in all departments, but especially in the business part.  He built it up; made improvements of every sort; increased the circulation of the paper and its consequent value as an advertising medium; and today the Scioto Gazette stands in an enviable position, thanks very largely to Mr. Perry's energy and business acumen.  Besides managing the affairs of the Gazette he has found time to serve as chief storekeeper for the Eleventh revnue district of Ohio, since 1899, and, in May, 1902, was honored with appointment by Governor Nash, as a member of the board of managers of the Ohio Reformatory, at Mansfield.  He is a valued member of the orders of Elks, Odd Fellows and Red Men.  On Jan. 19, 1880, he married Rachel P. Brooks, of Jackson county.  OF this marriage two daughters, Mabel S. and Vivian B., were born.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 637
  PETER PLATTER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 638

  GEORGE W. PLUMLY

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 640

  WILLIAM A. PLYLEY

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 641

  EDWARD J. POHLMAN

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 642

  WILLIAM POOL was born December 3, 1816, in Fayette county, Ohio.  The first of his family in Ohio was his grandfather, a Virginian, who came into the new country to prospect for a home, and having selected it, returned and brought out his son William (father of the subject of this sketch), who was a young married man with one child.  They came over the trails and pioneer mountain roads from their home in Virginia, with the young wife and child mounted on an old horse, which was the only means of transportation that their means permitted them to buy for the journey.  Reaching Ross county, the elder William Pool bought, in 1825, the farm on which his son William now resides.  After living on this place several years he removed to Fayette county, which was his home for a considerable period.  The old gentleman's recollection carried him back to the day when Ohio was still a howling wilderness, and the white and red men were fighting for supremacy all through the trans-Allegheny country.  During the Indian troubles of 1800, he was taken in the general call for men to meet and check the savages of the wild tribe along the Ohio.  He died in 1863 at the age of eighty-six years.  William Pool, son of the foregoing, has always resided on the place his father first bought in Ross county, which he purchased of the other heirs after the death of the father.  He engaged in general farming and the raising of stock.  He is proud of having been a lifelong Democrat, and at the age of eighty-six is a well preserved and companionable man.  He had a sister, named Mima, who lived to the age of ninety-two years.  Pool was married in 1840 to Nancy Houser, who died in 1869, and they had ten children.  Of these, Sidney and Kate have passed away, besides two others who died in infancy; Eliza is the wife of Allen Fletcher, Luthera married Joseph Wonderly, William and Charles are at home,  Everett lives at Londonderry, and Mary is the wife of Abraham Blazer, of Union township.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 643
  JOHN H. PORTER, deceased, was born in Twin township, Ross county, July 5, 1834.  His parents were Joshua and Rachel (Henry) Porter, the former born on December 21, 1802, near Chillicothe, and the latter in February, 1809, in the old state of Virginia.  The pioneer of the family in Ross county was Peter Porter, father of Joshua, who came from Maryland.  He married Isabella McDill, a Virginia woman of Scotch descent, and they settled in Twin township, where they spent the rest of their days, his death occurring October 29, 1821, and hers in August, 1861.   Joshua Porter married Rachel Henry on February 10, 1831, and shortly thereafter the couple commenced housekeeping on part of the farm owned by Peter Porter.  After the residence there of some four or five years, Joshua Porter bought 160 acres of land, which is still known as the Porter farm.  This became his permanent abode until his death which occurred on June 5, 1880, his wife surviving until August 5, 1887.  Their family was composed of the following named six children; Isabella, wife of Alexander Taylor, of Bainbridge; John H. the subject of this sketch; Mary J., wife of William R. Wilcox; William R.; Althea, wife of Samuel Hornback; and Rosa E.  The experiences of John H. Porter in early life were such as usually come to farmer boys in the days of their youth.  He worked on the farm during the busy season and when the long evenings came, an effort was made by reading around the family fireside and attendance at the neighborhood school to lay up some book learning for future use.  When he reached mature manhood and realized the necessity of settling down permanently, he found a valuable assistant in Mary Core, whom he married on January 25, 1860.  This lady is descended from a family who settled in Ross county as early as 1807, finding a permanent location in Twin township.  Mrs. Porter was born in the place where she now resides and where she has spent all the years of her life.  After his marriage, Mr. Porter engaged in earnest work as a farmer and stock-raiser, being regarded as an industrious man and exemplary citizen in all the duties of life.  He voted with the Republican party, but was never a seeker after office.  He was a man of strong religious convictions and a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church, in which he held the position of trustee for over thirty years.  He was a "cheerful giver," being always very liberal toward the support of the church and other good causes.  Mr. Porter departed this life January 7, 1901, much lamented by all who knew him.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 644
  JOSEPH B. POSEY, of Huntington township, is well known as a teacher, farmer and public official in that part of Ross county.  His grandparents were Peter and Sarah Posey, Pennsylvanians of English and German descent, and farmers by occupation, who had six children, now all deceased - Mary, Sarah, Catherine, Louisa, Mark and Samuel R.  Samuel R. Posey was born in Chester county, Pa., February 22, 1821; came to Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1849; married Mary M. Baum, of that county, and lived there three years, after which he removed to Ross county and settled in Twin township.  Two years later he went to Huntington township, where he spent the next eighteen years, then returned to Twin township for a three years' stay after which Huntington was chosen as his permanent place of abode.  He was a good business man and very successful farmer, making a specialty of stock and dealing extensively therein, accumulated over a thousand acres of land, was township trustee for several terms, and member of the school board for many years.  He was about seventy-two at the time of his death.  The widow resides with her daughter, Mrs. K. Hamm at Washington Court House, Ohio.  Samuel R. Posey and wife were the parents of twelve children:  Peter C., Joseph B., Samuel W. Mark L., Sarah E. (deceased), Martha F., Mary A., Louisa A., of Illinois; Katie I., of Fayette county, Ohio; Ida E., of Chillicothe; Isabel M., Huntington township; and Maggie A. of Kingston, Ohio.  Joseph B. Posey, second of the children in regular order, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, May 14, 1851.  With a view to qualifying himself for educational work, he attended the Normal school at Frankfort, Ohio, and the Wesleyan university at Mount Pleasant, Iowa.  Beginning in 1879 he taught school in Huntington township during the winters and assisted on the farm in summer until 1888.  He was married in 1876 to Susie J. Streevey, a native of Huntington township, by whom he had two children, George S., living in Indiana, and Anna J.,  wife of Harry McCandlish, of Indiana.  The mother died in May 15, 1880, and September 30, 1880, Mr. Posey was married to Emily D. Finley, of Ross county, by whom he had five children:  Mamie C., Ollie L., Clara B., Freddie S. and Joseph N.  The second wife died January 24, 1897, after a week's illness with pneumonia, and Mr. Posey was married, for the third time, to Mrs. Barbara Spurrier, a native of Pike county.  He has held various township offices, including assessor, justice of the peace for four consecutive terms, and member of the board of education for several years.  He is a member of the Mount Olivet Methodist Episcopal church and Tecumseh lodge, No. 80, Independent Order of Odd fellows.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 644
  ADAM QUICK, lately deceased, was a good sample of the sturdy race which comes from Germany and so strengthens the population of the United States by their habits of thrift, industry and obedience to the law.  He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, April 5, 1827, emigrated to this country in early manhood and shortly after his arrival settled in Ross county, Ohio.  He brought along with him no capital except a willingness and capacity for work, aided by a natural aptitude for business.  He turned his hand to the first thing he found to do, which happened to be farm work and this he kept at until he saw a better opening at Chillicothe as laborer in a slaughter-house.  As the result of his industry and economy he managed to save money enough to rent a place of his own, and this venture proved to be the turning point in his career.  He got together the necessary equipments and opened a tavern, which soon became popular with the traveling public and made money for Mr. Quick.  The latter proved to be one of those rare geniuses who known how to keep a hotel, and "Quick's Tavern" in time became known far and wide as the most excellent place to get "accommodation for man and beast."  As prosperity smiled upon him, Mr. Quick invested in real estate and when he died was found to be in possession of 126 acres of as good land as the county afforded.  He built a fine residence, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1878, but he soon had another house on the site where he first began business and which is now occupied by his widow.  He was regarded as one of the substantial and reliable men of his adopted city, and fulfilled all the duties of life so well as to obtain the respect of the community both as business man and citizen.  Mr. Quick married Elizabeth Rebstock and they became the parents of three children, of whom the only one now living is Adam Quick, of Columbus, Ohio.  In 1852, Mr. Quick was married to Annie Heap, a native of Pennsylvania who was taken to England when two years old and lived there twelve years.   She came to Ross county in early girlhood and has since made her home there.  By her marriage with Mr. Quick she has one child, Mary E. Valentine, of Columbus, Ohio.  Mr. Quick was a member of the German Lutheran church.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page

.

NOTES:

 

CLICK HERE to Return to
ROSS COUNTY, OHIO
INDEX PAGE
CLICK HERE to RETURN to
OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
INDEX PAGE
FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights