BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
COMMEMORATIVE
BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
of the Counties of
HARRISON AND CARROLL, OHIO
Containing
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, and of Many of the Early
Settled Families.
ILLUSTRATED
Publ.
CHICAGO:
J. H. Beers & Co.
1891
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JAMES BAXTER, one of the
oldest living members of the Baxter family who have played so
important a part in the educational, religious and financial development of
Carroll County, was born Aug. 15, 1825, in Harrison Township, that county,
in the neighborhood of the farm on which he now resides. His parents
were Cornelius and Rebecca (Pillars) Baxter, former of whom was born
near Baltimore, Md., in 1784. Grandfather Pillars lived
in Pennsylvania, where he was captured by Indians, and when he returned to
his home he was so ravenously hungry, having been nearly starved, that he
eat his shoe strings and the tops of his shoes, averring that he thought it
the sweetest morsel he had ever tasted. He again went away and never
returned, nor was he ever heard of again.
Benjamin Baxter, grandfather of James,
was a native of England, where he was married to Mary Durbin,
who was born in the village of his birth. Shortly after their marriage
they immigrated to America, settling near Baltimore, Md., where he passed
from earth. Their children were as follows: Cornelius, James,
Nicholas, Benjamin, John, Mary, Elizabeth, Rachel and Sarah.
Cornelius Baxter, father of our subject,
moved from his native State to Washington County, Penn., where he remained
till 1814, in which year he and his family came to Ohio, and entered a tract
of land on what is now known as Baxter's Ridge, in Carroll County.
This, with the assistance of his family, he cleared, succeeding in making
excellent improvements. While a resident of Pennsylvania he had
married Rebecca Pillars, who bore him the following named children:
Elizabeth, Bethel, Rachel, Hester, Lydia,
Sarah, Ruth, Cornelius, James, John and
Elias. The father passed from earth in 1840, the mother in
1862, and they sleep their last sleep, side by side, in Baxter Church
Cemetery. Mr. Baxter was one of the organizers of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, donating the land on which stands the church
building, in the erection of which he did a large share of the work.
He was an active member of the society, and held all the offices in the same
at different times. He was a firm Republican, an enthusiastic friend
to the cause of education, and for many years served as justice of the
peace. Coming into Carroll County with but little means, he here
succeeded in accumulating a comfortable competence by industry, perseverance
and sound judgment.
James Baxter, whose name opens this
biographical sketch, passed his youth on the home place, where he was early
instructed in those principles of economy and work that have largely aided
him in achieving success. Although in his boyhood days the schools
were of a most primitive character, yet he acquired a fair knowledge of the
English branches. On Nov. 6, 1851, he was married to Iantha,
daughter of John McCreery, of Rose Township, Carroll County,
and they at once settled on the farm where they now reside, in Harrison
Township, and which they have succeeded in improving to a marked degree.
The following named children have been born to them: Findley,
Amelia, Clarissa, Miner, Jefferson, Palmyra,
Grant (deceased), Ruth, James M. and Elizabeth C.
Mr. Baxter has, since his early manhood, held a deep interest
in religious matters, and has always taken active part in the management and
support of the society of which his father was one of the founders, giving
liberally both of his time and means. Politically he was first a Whig,
and, since the formation of the party, has been a zealous Republican.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Harrison and
Carroll, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co.
- 1891 - Page 993 |
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PHILIP BEAMER, (deceased)
in his lifetime commanded the respect of the community at large, on account
of his well-known traits of honesty, integrity and virtue. He
was born Apr. 22, 1822, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, to which county his
father, Adam Beamer, had come from Maryland, where the
Beamer family had long made their residence, and where the father
was married to Catherine Stoody, a member of the Stoody
family of Monroe Township, in this county. After his marriage be
located in Tuscarawas County, and there remained until his removal to
Indiana, where be died in 1866. The children born to him were as
follows: Philip, Morris, Barbara (Mrs.
William Roof), Samuel, George, Solomon,
Jeremiah, Elizabeth and Catherine. In politics be
was a Democrat, one of the quiet thinkers of the party, and be steadfastly
refused to accept any official position, although repeatedly pressed on him.
Philip Beamer, of whom this biographical
sketch more particularly treats, passed his early life in Tuscarawas County,
Ohio, where be attended the district schools, devoting his entire attention
to the cultivation of his mind. He also took an active interest in
farming, making himself thoroughly conversant with all the details of
agricultural pursuits, which afterward became his life work. On Nov. 1,
1849, Mr. Beamer was married to Sarah,
daughter of Peter
Eick, and soon thereafter the young couple took up their residence
in Monroe Township, Carroll County, where they remained until 1864, in which
year they purchased the property in Harrison Township, where Mrs.
Beamer yet resides. Mr. Beamer departed this life
Mar. 18, 1871, his death resulting from injuries received from the kick of a
horse. His funeral was largely attended, showing the respect and
esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens, and he was laid to rest
in Big Springs Cemetery. In his death the family lost a kind and
affectionate husband and father, and the county one of its most enterprising
citizens. He was largely a self made man, his first business venture
being the entering of 120 acres of land in Indiana, which he held for some
time, and finally sold, after which he purchased the farm in Harrison
Township. In youth he united with the Presbyterian Church, of which he
was a member at the time of his death, and for a long time he filled the
position of trustee of same. Politically be was a Democrat.
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Beamer had the following
named children: Adam; Mary R. , Mrs. Samuel Westfall;
Ella, Mrs. Cadmus Tope; Peter, deceased,
and Wallace. Of these Adam was married, Sept. 14, 1880,
to Ruth A., daughter of William C. Scott, of Union Township,
Carroll County, and the children born to them are William E.,
Sarah and Mary. Adam is a member of the Presbyterian
Church at Dell Roy, and in his political preferments be is a Republican.
Wallace, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Beamer,
was married Oct. 27, 1887, to Mary, daughter of James
McCausland, of Lee Township, Carroll County. He is a member of the
United Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Republican.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Harrison and
Carroll, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co.
- 1891 - Page 888 |
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BAZELEEL BLAZER,
a substantial and worthy farmer of Monroe Township, Carroll County, was born
in Lee Township, in the same county, Nov. 8, 1846. His grandfather,
also named Bazeleel, the progenitor of the Blazer family in
America, came from Germany and located in eastern Pennsylvania. About
the same time there came also to the region another pioneer family, named
Burgett, whose place of settlement is to this day commemorated as
Burgettstown, and to Jane, a daughter of this family, Bazeleel
Blazer was married, to which union were born ten children, viz.:
George, Bazeleel, John, William, Joseph, Hamilton, Mary A., Elizabeth,
Sarah and Philip Burgett. Just before the War of 1812,
Bazeleel and his wife came to Ohio, and located in that part of
Jefferson County now known as Lee Township, in Carroll County, and here they
ended their days.
Philip Burgett Blazer, one of the children
enumerated above, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, June 20, 1817.
His early life was passed on the pioneer farm of his father, on which he
endured all the hardships and suffered the privations common to the period;
but the lessons he learned in facing dangers and surmounting difficulties
laid the foundation for his success in after life, and developed the habits
of economy and industry, and, above all, the sterling integrity which were
characteristic of him throughout his later career. In 1840 Philip
B. married Miss Mary Allmon, a native of Jefferson County, Ohio,
and daughter of James and Anna (Preston) Allmon, pioneers of the
county. The young couple at once located in Lee Township, Carroll
County, where they began life for themselves on a limited capital,
consisting chiefly of energy and determination. They remained in Lee
Township until 1850, when they removed to Centre Township, where, Feb. 6,
1853, Mrs. Blazer passed away, leaving five children, viz.:
William, now of Jefferson County; James (deceased); Bazeleel,
whose name heads this sketch; Silas P., of Carroll County, and
Anna, deceased wife of Matthias Roudebush. On June 29,
1854, Mr. Blazer took for his second wife Miss Mary Bothwell,
a native of Pittsburgh, Penn., and a daughter of George and Jane
(Armstrong) Bothwell, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1820
and 1822, respectively, and were married in Philadelphia. George
Bothwell was a weaver, and for a number of years followed his trade in
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In 1832 he came with his family to Lee
Township, Carroll County, Ohio, then removed to Harrison County, where
Mrs. Bothwell died, Dec. 2, 1868, in the sixty-seventh year of her age,
and Mr. Bothwell in January, 1877, at the ripe age of Ninety.
Following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Philip B.
Blazer located on the magnificent Blazer farm in Centre Township,
Carroll County, where Mr. Blazer died May 9, 1889, the father, by his
second marriage, of eight children, viz.: Hamilton R., Thomas A., David,
Joseph, Philip H., Morris B., John C. and George W. In the
death of Philip Burgett Blazer the county lost one of its best
citizens. A man of modest, unassuming disposition, he sought
retirement, rather than public position. He gave liberally of his
means, yet so unostentatious was he in his charity that many of his noble
deeds were never heard of until after his death. In all public
enterprises tending toward the improvement and advancement of the county he
was always prominent, and devoted to such measures liberally of his time and
means. A Republican, politically, he sought no office, but was always
willing to perform his duty as a citizen and filled only those positions
which called for labor that was without recompense. Twice he was
elected a director of the Carroll County Infirmary, and faithfully
discharged the duties of the position. He was in all respects a
self-made man, having worked out his own success. He was a consistent
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and won for himself the respect of
all who knew him; his widow, who resides upon the estate near Carrollton, is
also a member of the same congregation.
Bazeleel Blazer, son of the above, grew to
manhood in Centre Township and was educated at the district school. On
Oct. 27, 1870, he married Miss Susan M. J. McCausland, who was born
Mar. 25, 1849, a daughter of Thomas McCausland, of Lee Township.
By this happy union there are two sons: Thomas W., born June 2, 1878,
and Robert W., born Sept. 6, 1881. For some years after his
marriage Mr. Blazer made his residence in Lee Township, same county,
where he remained until Mar. 21, 1882, when he purchased and moved upon his
farm of 162 acres in Monroe Township. This land was entered by
Samuel Hayes, Dec. 12, 1815, the original patent for which Mr. Blazer
has now in his possession. Politically, our subject is a Republican
and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Dell Roy, both
honored and esteemed for their uprightness of walk through life.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Harrison and
Carroll, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co.
- 1891 - Page 1132 |
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JAMES B. BRANN.
The Brann family are among the best
known of Orange Twp., Carroll County. Alexander Brann father of
William Brann, was born in Ireland, as was also his wife, Ann
Brann. They came to America and settled on eighty acres of land in
Monroe Township, Harrison Co., Ohio, in the year 1828. They entered
the land which was at that time a wilderness, built themselves a log house,
where William was born, and also Jane (Mrs. Sylvester Wallace).
Mr. Brann was a Democrat, one who always took a leading part in all
public movements, and was a man of much energy and skill. He died in
May 1885, his wife in Sept. 1864.
William Brann spent his life on the home place,
was educated in the schools of New Hagerstown, Ohio, and followed farming.
In 1852 at the age of twenty-four years, he was married to Miss Margaret
J. Lenhart, to which union the following named children were born:
Mary A., Alma J., James B., Peter A. and Laura A. Mr.
Brann, like his father, took a leading part in county and township
matters, never neglecting to do his duty, but always ready to advance a good
cause.
James B. Brann was born Jan. 10, 1857, in
Carroll County, but, imbued with a natural desire to see the world and not
contented to remain at home, left his native State and traveled through many
of the western States, among them being Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and
Indiana. He was educated at New Hagerstown, Ohio, where he
learned the lessons necessary to fit him for future usefulness. He
inherited that rush and restlessness which characterized both his father and
grandfather. It was this character that prompted his ancestor to break
away from the many ties which naturally held him to his own country and to
seek his home and fortune among strangers in the New World; it is this
character, when rightly used, that is the mainspring of future success and
greatness. With this invaluable feature indelibly stamped upon
his nature, James B. Brann will meet with success and fortune.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Harrison and
Carroll, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co.
- 1891 - Page 980 |
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JOSEPH BOOTH,
a respective and worthy farmer of Monroe township, Carroll County, was born
in Harrisville, Harrison Co., Ohio, Feb. 18, 1829. His father,
Isaac Booth, was born near Philadelphia, Penn., Dec. 25, 1779, and his
grandfather, Thomas, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and served as
a private in the Revolutionary War. Isaac Booth grew to manhood
in his native State, and married Miss Leah Arbuckle who was born in
Washington County, Penn., Jan. 24, 1798, to which union were born the
following named children: Hannah Tripp, of Orange Township, Carroll
County, and Joseph. In an early day Isaac Booth removed
to Short Creek Township, Harrison County, entered 160 acres of land, and
erected a log cabin which he occupied till 1835, when he sold his place and
came to Monroe Township, Carroll County, and purchased the farm now owned by
Thomas M. McLaughlin, which farm then contained 236 acres. He
resided on this land until 1853, when he sold out and removed to Union
Township, to a farm he had purchased some years before, on which farm he
remained a few years; then removed to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and purchased
a farm, where he remained till his death, which occurred Nov. 23, 1853.
His wife survived him until 1876.
Joseph Booth, the subject proper of this sketch,
grew to manhood in Carroll County, and received a common school education.
On Nov. 23, 1854, he married Miss Agnes Workman, who was born Mar. 8,
1836, and to this union were born eight children, as follows:
William M., a resident of Monroe Township, Carroll County; James H.,
of Centre Township; Martha J. Garrett, of Perry Township; David W.,
of Stark County, Ohio; Leah B., Hannah E., Sarah A. and Annie M.,
at home. Mrs. Booth died Aug. 3, 1879, a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and Dec. 7, 1882. Mr. Booth married
Miss Mary McDonald, who was born Sept. 29, 1858. To this union
have been born four children, viz.: Joseph Mc., Isaac N., Ellsworth
and Luella. Mr. Booth, after his first marriage, purchased his
father's farm in Tuscarawas County, in company with his brother James,
remained on the place about two years, and then bought a farm in Fairfield
Township, Tuscarawas County, where he remained till 1861, when he bought the
farm he now owns, which contains 120 acres, and here he has erected a fine
dwelling. Politically Mr. Booth is a Republican, and has held
several offices of trust in the township; he and wife are members of the
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Booth is well known to the people of
Carroll County, and is highly respected by all.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Records of the counties of Harrison and
Carroll, Ohio - Illustrated - Published: Chicago - J. H. Beers & Co.
- 1891 - Page 1130 |
NOTES:
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