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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

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  JUDGE WILLIAM H. SAFFORD

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 669

  AUGUSTUS SANTO

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 691

  GEORGE W. SANTEE

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 672

  MICHAEL SCHILDER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 673

  AUGUST SCHMIEDER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 674

  J. WOODBRIDGE SCOTT

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 675

  MILTON J. SCOTT

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 675

  SAMUEL FREDERICK SECREST

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 676

  CHARLES SEIP

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 677

  JOSHUA SENEY

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 679

  MICHAEL SENFF

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 679

  WERTER M. SEYMOUR

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 680

  HORACE E. SHEPLER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 681

  WILLIAM E. SHEPLER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 682

  JACOB SHIVELY

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 682

  SAMPSON SHOEMAKER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 684

  WESLEY SHOEMAKER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 685

  DAVID C. SHOTTS

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 686

  GEORGE SIGLER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 687

  LUTHER C. SKINNER, connected with the agricultural interests of Deerfield township for over thirty-five years, is justly regarded as one of the most substantial of Ross county’s farmers.  Like so many other Ohioans, he comes of old Virginia stock and his ancestry have been cultivators of the soil from time out of mind.  William Skinner came with his wife from the Old Dominion when Ohio was quite new as a state and sought a settlement in the county of Belmont.  This location not proving satisfactory they removed shortly afterward to Muskingum county, where the head of the house secured land and entered into the business of cultivating the same.  This Virginia couple had nine children, all now dead, named as follows: Lucy, Nancy, Eliza, William (who was a soldier in 1812), Charles, John, Madison, Joseph and Philip.  The father ended his days in Belmont county, Ohio, and the mother while on a visit to Virginia.  Philip, the youngest of their children, was born in 1804 near Richmond, Va., and after the death of his mother was reared by his elder brother Charles.  When he reached the proper age, he went to Moorefield, in Hardy county, to learn the tanner’s trade, and spent several years in mastering the details of that business.  While living at this place he married Mary Ann Collins, after which he worked at his trade in Moorefield for some time and then removed to Dresden, Ohio.  He resumed the tanning business in that town and continued it two or three years, but was eventually compelled to give it up on account of failing health.  Hoping relief from a change of occupation, he undertook farming and prosecuted that work a few years, after which he went to Athens, Ohio, and resumed his old calling as a tanner.  Again he was forced to quit by persistent illness, and as soon as strong enough took up farming for the second time.  Both he and wife lived to the age of eight-four years, the last fifteen of which were spent in Ross county, where in the fullness of time they found their graves.  This pioneer pair realized in full what the ancient Hebrews regarded as the greatest blessings - length of years and abundance of children.  The latter were twelve in number and scattered throughout various states and places: James lives in Missouri; Luther C. is the subject of our sketch; Harrison and William are dead; Mary is in Florida; Joseph resides at Clarksburg, Ohio; Adolphus and Anna are in Pickaway county; Nancy lives at Loveland, Ohio, Charles in Missouri, Philip at Clarksburg, Ohio, and Charlotte in South Carolina.  Luther C. Skinner, the second of the family, was born near Dresden, in Muskingum county, July 29, 1829.  He remained at home until he attained legal age, when he began working by the month for neighbors, continued this occupation for several years and then married Elizabeth Lowery, of Athens county.  Securing possession of some land in the county just mentioned, Mr. Skinner cultivated it until 1866 when he came to Ross county which has since been his place of residence.  With the exception of one year spent in Iowa, he has lived all this time in Deerfield township, and since 1870 has resided at his present home.  Mrs. Skinner, who has so long been the faithful companion and helpmate of her husband, died in 1895 after having become the mother of the following named children:  William, of Chillicothe; Charles (deceased); John, of Pickaway county, Dudley, at home; Frank, of Concord township; Elmer (deceased), Hooker (deceased), Amy, Anna L., Robert, Nancy, Elizabeth and Luther.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 688
  DIAS S. SMITH, M. D., of Bourneville, is a native of Adams county, Ohio, born June 8, 1854.  He is a son of John M. Smith, who was born in Adams county Sept. 30, 1822.  About 1847 John M. Smith married Margaret Edgington, and soon thereafter bought a farm, on which he lived for several years.  By this marriage he had three children, of whom Asenath and Calvin are dead and Jason M. is living in Clinton county.  Their mother died about 1850 and in 1852 John M. Smith was remarried, to Mrs. Harriet G. Pence, nee Greenlee, widow of Philip Pence.  By this union there were two children, Dias S. and Grafton P., the latter living in Missouri.  The father continued to farm his place until 1885, when he sold out and went to Missouri, where he died in May, 1901.  Dr. Smith attended the district school and remained at home until he was about twenty-two years of age.  In September, 1875, he entered the office of Dr. Arthur Noble, of Winchester, Adams county, and studied medicine for three years.  He also took courses of lectures at Miami Medical college, in Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated in the spring of 1879.  Shortly afterward he removed to Bourneville, where he still resides and enjoys an extensive practice.  The Doctor is a member of Paint Valley lodge, No. 808, I. O. O. F., at Bourneville, and of lodge No. 5,754, Modern Woodmen, at South Salem.  On May 3, 1882, he was married to Anna M. Ritter, daughter of John G. Ritter, of Chillicothe.  They have two children, Maud M. and Arthur N.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page  689
  GEORGE J. SMITH, coroner of Ross county and one of the most popular of the county officials is of Pennsylvania nativity and German parentage.  His father, George Smith, crossed the Atlantic in 1836 and lived in Pennsylvania ten years, removing to Covington, Ky., in 1846.  In that city and Cincinnati he was occupied for some years with his trade as a tanner, which he resumed at Chillicothe after his removal there in 1855.  He removed in 1863 to Zaleski, Ohio, where he died in 1879 at the age of seventy-three years.  About the year 1840 by the name of Renner, who died of cholera during the epidemic of that disease in 1848 at Cincinnati.  She had three children, one of whom, a daughter, perished of the same malady that carried off the mother.  Another daughter, named Mary, is the wife of Jacob Summers, of Chillicothe.  George J. Smith, the only son, was born in Pennsylvania, Apr. 7, 1844, attended school two years in Cincinnati and obtained his subsequent education after his father's removal to Chillicothe.  Aug. 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Sixth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, organized in that State.  The first engagement of this command was the unfortunate affair at Hartsville, Tenn., where after a spirited fight they were compelled to surrender.  they were detained as prisoners of war about four weeks and then exchanged.  The subsequent work of the regiment was principally devoted to guard duty of different kinds, though they occasionally had a skirmish with guerrillas.  After his command was mustered out of service, June 29, 1865, Mr. Smith located at Zaleski, where his father then lived, and learned the tanner's trade, which he followed for two years.  Removing at that time to Chillicothe he secured employment in a tannery and continued at that work for twenty-one years, after which he spent some time in market gardening.  In the fall of 1898, Mr. Smith was elected coroner of Ross county, being one of the only two candidates on the Republican ticket that year who escaped defeat.  In 1900 he was elected for another term and received the second highest vote for any man on his party's ticket.  It so happened that during Mr. Smith's incumbancy the coroner's office was called onto do an unusual amount of work in its line, more in fact than had fallen to any predecessor, and the general verdict is that he has performed the duties devolving upon him with a promptness and discretion that has won the commendation of all parties.  Jan. 8, 1866, he was married to Susan Hess, a native of Germany who came with her parents to this county in infancy.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had eight children, of whom five are living: George J., Jr.; Mary, wife of George Wymer, of Dayton; Carrie, wife of Henry Hill, of Chillicothe; William, of Washington Court House, and Susan.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 689
  ISAAC N. SMITH, M. D.

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 690

  JOHN W. SMITH,

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 694

  OTHO LYONS SMITH, stock-raiser and general farmer in Concord township, is a worthy representative of the younger generation of Ross county agriculturists.  His grandparents were natives of Germany who crossed the ocean in 1827 in a sailing vessel and landed in New York after a tedious voyage of six weeks.  The immigrants made their way to Ross county, bought a farm in the south part of Union township and spent the remainder of their days in cultivating the land.  Their son, Lewis Smith, was born in Germany in 1819 and accompanied his parents to America when eight years old.  In youth he spent several years in his native country, where he obtained the principal part of his education, and on returning to Ohio remained at home until his marriage to Jeanette Lyons, a native of Tennessee of Scotch-Irish descent.  He settled with his bride in Pickaway county, where several years were spent, and from there returned to Ross county, where a farm was purchased in the northern part of Union township on which the family resided until the death of Mrs. Smith in 1886.  Of the nine children born to Lewis Smith and wife, four are dead:  Lewis, George, Louisa, and Nettie.  Those living are John, Otho L., Edward, Albert, and Emma, now the wife of Cary Brown.  Otho Lyons Smith, sixth of the children, was born in Union township, Ross county, June 13, 1863, attended the district schools and assisted his father on the farm until his marriage to Laura B., daughter of Hon. Byron Lutz.  After ten years spent at different places in Deerfield and Union townships.  Mr. Smith finally settled in Concord township on the farm which he now occupies.  It consists of 334 acres and is cultivated in modern style by Mr. Smith, who also raises and handles stock.  A Democrat in politics, he is in no sense an office seeker, but he has held the position of assessor for one term.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children:  Cloude S., Warde Byron, Harry Neal, and Glenn Lutz.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 691
  WILLIAM H. SMITH, of Frankfort, is a native of Pickaway county, born Jan. 5, 1859.  He is the son of William Smith, an old resident of Pickaway, living near the Ross county line, and a farmer by occupation.  William H. received his education in the Pickaway common schools, and when he arrived at the age of eighteen concluded to strike out for himself.  His first venture was in the farming business, which he followed until 1888.  In that year he went to Springfield, where he secured employment in a fish store and remained there for eight years.  After giving up his job, he worked for eighteen months in the fish business at Dayton, Ohio.  In 1897 he removed to Frankfort, Ohio, and engaged in the liquor business, and there he has ever since made his home.  In 1899 Mr. Smith was married to Daisy B. daughter of George Santee, a prominent farmer of Ross county.  They have one child, whose name is Bernard R.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 692
  VAL SOUTHWORTH

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 693

  DAVID A. SPEAKMAN, a well known farmer of Deerfield township, comes of Maryland stock westernized by long residence in Ross county.  The first of the name to cross the mountains in search of an Ohio home was Joshua Speakman, and on arrival he fixed his abode in that part of Ross which afterward became Vinton county.  Here his son Ebenezer was born Apr. 18, 1820, and, just twenty-one years after, he left the paternal domicile to seek a residence in Ross county.  He located in Harrison township, where he cultivated land and eventually rose to prominence and prosperity.  Being a man of excellent business judgment and prudent in financial affairs, the people often called on him to hold the important position of township trustee.  Aug. 18, 1839, Ebenezer Speakman married Margaret Strawser, of Vinton county, who died in December, 1900, leaving ten children:  Jacob, of New Holland; David, subject of this sketch; Joshua, of Fayette county; George W., of Hocking county; Samuel, of Madison county; William, of Indiana; Rhoda Ann, wife of Oliver Childers, of Hocking county; Mary wife of Jackson Morrison, of Hocking county; Ebenezer, of Ross County, and Frank, of Fayette county.  David A. Speakman was born in Harrison township Ross county, Aug. 20, 1842.  He had finished school and was getting ready to establish himself in farming when all regular business was interrupted by the shock of the civil war.  Aug. 9, 1863, he enlisted as a private in Company B, Sixty-third regiment Ohio infantry, with which he served until July, 1865, when the termination of hostilities led to a general discharge of troops.  Mr. Speakman took part with his regiment in the battle at Decatur, Ala., and all the marching and fighting incident to Sherman's campaigns in 1864 until the surrender of Johnston in North Carolina.  At Atlanta, July 22, 1864, he received a wound in the neck from a musket shot which disabled him for two weeks, but aside from that he escaped serious injury.  Aug. 26, 1866, he was married to Eliza Ann, daughter of Thomas Kearns, an old resident of the county, as the result of which union the family records make the following register of children, all of whom are living:  Alice, wife of Charles H. Noble, of Deerfield township; Flora Etta, wife of William Lawrence, of Ross county; George W., of Deerfield township; Samuel and Wallace N., of Ross county; Della, wife of William Noble, of Ross county; Margaret, wife of Omer Ater, of Pickaway county; Frank, John, and Ethel.
Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 693
  BENJAMIN F. SPICER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 694

  AMASA DELANO SPROAT

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 695

  JOHN STANLEY

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 696

  SHEPHERD STAUFFER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 698

  JAMES GLADSTONE STEEL

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 698

  JOHN SUMMERVILLE STEEL

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 701

  SAMUEL S. STEEL

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 702

  WILLIAM L. STINSON

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 703

  WILLIAM C. STOKER

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 704

  ELIAS STOOKEY

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 705

  THOMAS SUMMERS

Source:  The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis., 1902 - Page 706

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