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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Guernsey County, Ohio
by Col. Cyrus P. B. Sarchet
- Illustrated -
Vols. I & 2.
B. F. Bowden & Company,
Indianapolis, Indiana -
1911
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JOHN OGIER, JR. Source: History of Guernsey County, Ohio by Col. Cyrus P. B.
Sarchet - Illustrated - Vols. I & 2. - Publ: B. F. Bowden &
Company, Indianapolis, Indiana - 1911 - Page 541 |
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ISAAC A. OLDHAM. The
record of the gentleman whose name introduces this article
contains no exciting chapter of tragic events, but is replete
with well defined purposes which, carried to successful issue,
have won for him an influential place in business circles and
high personal standing among his fellow citizens. His life
work has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the
systematic and honorable methods which he has ever followed have
resulted not only in gaining the confidence of those with whom
he has had dealings, but also in the building up of a large and
profitable industry and the accumulation of a handsome
competency.
Isaac A. Oldham, of Cambridge, Guernsey county,
was born Dec. 7, 1837, in this city, and he is the son of
Samuel M. and Mary (Sherrard) Oldham, both born in Guernsey
county, Ohio, both these families representing honored pioneers
of this county, the Oldhams having originally come from
near West Alexandria, Virginia, and the Sherrards from
the same section. The former were Mayflower stock and have
thus been American citizens since 1620. Samuel M.
Oldham, father of Isaac A. of this review, was a
tanner by trade, but later he engaged in the shoe business in
Cambridge, in which he continued until he retired. He is
dead and his first wife died in 1844. He was twice
married, his last wife being Mary Wilson, of
Cambridge, and a member of a prominent family. Her death
occurred several years ago. Mr. Oldham was a
man of sterling integrity and highly respected. He was a
member of the United Presbyterian church and a devout Christian.
Isaac A. Oldham was educated in the public
schools of Cambridge and he also spent one year as Muskingum
College, at New Concord. After leaving school he engaged
in the shoe and leather trade with his father, under the firm
name of S. M. Oldham & Son. In February, 1864, he
proved his patriotism by enlisting in tbe Union army, Company F,
Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, seeing some hard service, but
he escaped without a wound and was never taken prisoner.
He performed his duty most faithfully and returned to Columbus,
Ohio, Christmas morning, 1865, and was mustered out and paid off
at Camp Chase. His regiment participated in the Atlanta
campaign and was in the battle of Nashville.
After his career in the army Mr. Oldham
returned to Cambridge, Ohio, and engaged in the shoe and leather
business, continuing this for four years when he engaged in
floriculture. He had always been a lover of flowers and
his taste for them grew until he decided to engage in the
business and he began plant culture and raising flowers.
His first greenhouse had about seven hundred feet of glass, but
his business has steadily increased under judicious management
until he now has fully twenty thousand feet and even this does
not furnish enough for his rapidly growing business. His
business is general and his cut-flower business has become a
large department and is increasing every year. He has a
beautiful and well equipped place and his greenhouses are as
good as any in the state and far ahead of many cities of larger
population. He gives his entire time and attention to his
business and is deserving of the large success that has attended
his efforts.
Mr. Oldham was married, first, on Sept.
14, 1859, to Sarah P. Brown, of New Concord, Ohio,
daughter of John and Elizabeth Brown. One daughter
was born to this union, Mary, now Mrs. John N.
McCortney, of Cambridge. Mr. Oldham’s first
wife died in June, 1865, while he was with his regiment in the
field. He was married a second time, on Sept. 7, 1866. to
Mary Zahniser, of Cambridge, and to this union
five children were born, namely: Howard lives in St.
Mary's, Pennsylvania; Charles lives in Cambridge and is
engaged in the floral business with his father; Sarah is
a milliner in Cambridge; Roberta married Mr. W.
Cowgill, a physician of Cleveland, Ohio.
Politically, Mr. Oldham is a Republican, but he
is not an active party man, though he is always interested in
public matters. His father was an abolitionist and
interested in the “underground railroad" work, aiding escaping
slaves. The subject has served as a member of the city
council; he was coroner of the county for four years and health
officer of the city of Cambridge for seven years. He is a
member of Cambridge Post No. 343, Grand Army of the Republic,
and bas been an active member of the same for many years.
He and his family belong to the First United Presbyterian church
and are active church workers. The family residence is one
of the most attractive in Cambridge, being well kept and modern
and it is surrounded by an abundance of floral works, the lawns
and grounds being well kept and attractive at all times, and
this home is widely known as a most hospitable place for the
many friends of the family.
Source: History of Guernsey County, Ohio by Col. Cyrus P. B.
Sarchet - Illustrated - Vols. I & 2. - Publ: B. F. Bowden &
Company, Indianapolis, Indiana - 1911 - Page 885 |
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ISAAC J. OLDHAM.
Isaac J. Oldham, of Cambridge township, son of Marling
and Isabelle (Marling) Oldham, was born Sept. 7,, 1857, on
the old Oldham farm in the above township. He came
of pioneer stock. His grandfather, Isaac Oldham,
came first to Guernsey county in 1806 and took up one hundred
and sixty acres of government land. After this he went
back to his home in Pennsylvania, but returned to Guernsey
county and settled permanently, in 1808, on the farm where
his grandson now lives, and where he reared a family of twelve
children. All of these are now dead. The son,
Marling, father of Isaac J., who was born where the
latter now lives, was a prosperous farmer and accumulated a
large estate in the beautiful Wills creek valley. He had a
family of two daughters and one son. Elizabeth, now
the widow of John S. Campbell of Cambridge township, died
in October, 1910; Ellen, now Mrs. David Linn,
of of Westland township, and Isaac J. The father,
first a Whig and then a Republican, cast his presidential vote
for William Henry Harrison in 1840 and for
Benjamin Harrison in 1888. Though never an
office seeker, he was always active in public affairs and in
movements for the general good. He and his family were
members of the old Seceder church prior to 1858, but with
the organization, at that time, of the United Presbyterian
church they joined the latter. He died Mar. 18, 1894, and
his widow Mar. 9, 1896, and both are buried in Cambridge
cemetery.
Isaac J. Oldham, the subject of the present
sketch, grew up on the old home farm and was educated at the
district school of the neighborhood. He was married May 4,
1881, to Margaret E. Lord, daughter of Robert K. and
Margaret (Workman) Ford, of Cambridge township. The
Fords were a pioneer family that came from Washington
county, Pennsylvania, in 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Oldham
had six children: Merle, now Mrs. Oliver King,
of Cambridge township; Clare Ethel, at home;
James Paul, married and now living on an adjoining
farm; Chauncey M., a progressive teacher of the county;
Ira F., at home, and Margaret E., at home.
Mrs. Oldham died Feb. 15, 1893, and is buried in
the Cambridge cemetery, Mr. Oldham was married
again June 13, 1895, to Esther Ford, a sister of
his former wife. There are no children from this union.
A lifelong farmer, Mr. Oldham now owns
three hundred and sixty acres of fine Wills creek bottom land,
under a high state of cultivation and well improved. This
includes both of the old homesteads—the Oldham and the
Ford. On the former still stands the original log
barn, built in 1820 from trees that stood on the lot now
occupied by the barn. It was quite large for those days,
being thirty by sixty feet. A stone house, still standing
and occupied as the Oldham home, was built in 1822
of stones taken from the top of an adjacent hill. This was
the first house other than a log cabin that was built in the
township. An apple tree standing in the yard was planted
in 1808 by Grandmother Sarah Oldham, who
came here that year with her parents, the Marlings.
She had brought along as riding whips two apple sprouts cut from
a tree at the Virginia home. After arriving here she
planted these anrl, strange to say, both grew and bore apples
for many years. One still lives and has an apple on it
this year (1910).
Mr. Oldham is an active
Republican, has served ten years as township trustee, and for
several years has been a school director. He and his
family are members of the First United Presbyterian church of
Cambridge and take their part in church and Sunday school work.
He is known as a man of character and integrity, and is
influential in the community where he lives.
Source: History of Guernsey County, Ohio by Col. Cyrus P. B.
Sarchet - Illustrated - Vols. I & 2. - Publ: B. F. Bowden &
Company, Indianapolis, Indiana - 1911 - Page 669 |
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CHARLES A. ORR Source: History of Guernsey County, Ohio by Col. Cyrus P. B.
Sarchet - Illustrated - Vols. I & 2. - Publ: B. F. Bowden &
Company, Indianapolis, Indiana - 1911 - Page 508 |
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JAMES CLINTON ORR Source: History of Guernsey County, Ohio by Col. Cyrus P. B.
Sarchet - Illustrated - Vols. I & 2. - Publ: B. F. Bowden &
Company, Indianapolis, Indiana - 1911 - Page 507 |
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