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MILTON TOWNSHIP.
Milton was one of the three
original townships of Jackson County, the other two being Lick and
Franklin. In July, 1816, the inhabitants petitioned the county
commissioners that the township be reduced to and remain
co-extensive with congressional township 9, range 17. The
additional tier of sections on the north, belonging to township 10,
was added afterward. This addition of six sections gives the
township a surface of forty-two square miles - 26,880 acres.
With reference to Jackson County, this township
occupies the northeastern corner, although Washington Township
extends two and one-half miles further north on the west. It
is bounded on the north by Clinton Township, Vinton County; east by
Wilkesville Township, Vinton County; south by Bloomfield Township,
and west by Lick, Coal and Washington townships.
TOPOGRAPHY.
SETTLEMENT.
This was one of the earliest
settled townships in the county, although at the first assessment
for taxation, in 1816, it ranked the lowest in taxable property.
The first Lister was Joshua Scurlock. In 1817 Joseph
Crouch was Lister; tax assessed, $39.50. In 1818
Henry Jones was Lister; tax, $43.50. In 1825 the township
polled sixty-six votes. At the present time the township polls
about 1,000 votes.
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Population in 1840, 912; in 1850, 1,472; in 1860,
2,367; in 1870, 2,372; in 1880, 3,404.
SCHOOLS.
The township has 879 pupils
and thirteen public schools. The average price paid to
teachers is about $40 a month. The attendance is about the
same as in other parts of the county, and the schools rank about
with the average.
FURNACES.
Buckeye Furnace
Cornelia Furnace
Latrobe Furnace
Milton Furnace
Wellston Furnace
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began the operation of coal miens in 1881 and are now putting out
about ten car loads a day besides the sixty-two tons consumed daily
by the furnace.
Eliza
Furnace
WELLSTON.
POSTOFFICE.
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PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
CHURCHES.
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SOCIETIES.
Lodge No. 701, I. O. O. F.,
Wellston Lodge, No. 170,
K. of P.,
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sentative to Grand Lodge, F. W. Evans. The lodge starts
out with a fine list of officers and nineteen members.
NEWSPAPER.
Welston Argus -
The Argus was started in Wellston in the spring of 1883 by
Messrs. Smallwood & Cameron. May 7, 1883, the partnership
was dissolved, Mr. Smallwood
PROFESSIONS.
The practicing physicians at
Wellston are
Drs. G. L. Monahan, W. J. Jones, Wm. Sylvester and E. B.
Merrill; lawyers, E. B. Bingham and
M. T. Vanpelt.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
A stranger approaching
Wellston would be at once attracted by the din and stir of its
active business. The active work about the coal mines and the
seething and rattling noise of the furnace and its machinery is ever
present to the ears of the inhabitants. The most extensive
business is that of the furnace, described in another place.
The Theo. Fluhart & Co. Limited Coal Works.
Planing Mill and Lumber
Yard. -
STORES.
The following are the
mercantile houses doing business at the present time:
J. G. Vandervort, dry goods;
Atkinson & Evans, dry goods;
R. W. Goddard, general store;
M. W. Mills groceries;
Evans Bros., groceries;
Harper & McCartney, groceries;
J. H. Roop tin and hardware;
Johnson & Co., hardware;
W. J. Jones drugs;
A. Brooks, drugs;
J. W. Patridge jewelry;
H. T. Stoneburner, stationery and books;
C. M. Richards, furniture;
A. Hobt, saddles, etc.;
M. Remby bakery and restaurant;
Mrs. L. E. Roop and
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Mrs. Jones, millinery;
J. B. Payne and Frank Kelly,
meat shops;
F. F. Swanson machine agent.
Besides the above are the supply stores
of the furnace and coal companies.
Their are two hotels in Wellston, the
Walker House & Bundy House.
The Walker House
was built in 1874, by J. C. Elliot, at a cost of about
$3,600. It was run a while by Mr. Elliot, then by
Mr. Jeffreys, then by
Dr. Monahan. In 1879, A. B. Walker, bought the
house and still runs it.
The Bundy House
was built by
Harvy Wells at a cost of $10,000 and afterward bought by Hon.
H. S. Bundy. In 1883 it was rented by John Glanville,
who now runs it successfully.
BERLIN.
This little hamlet, formerly
known as Berlin Cross-Roads, has been in existence since 1842.
It is situated in the western part of the township, at the crossing
of the C., W. & B. and T., C. & St. L. railroads. The plat was
made by Charles Kinnison on what was then known as the
Kinnison farm. The first house erected was that of J.
E. Whitman
for a dwelling and store. The number of inhabitants grew to
about 200, at which it has remained with slight variations for a
great many years. There are at present three stores, a
postoffice, church and one physician in the village.
The M. E. Church
at this place was established in 1854, with but a very small
congregation, but it became strong enough in the following year to
build their present fine church building, which cost about $2,000.
The congregation now numbers about fifty members. Trustees at
present; Henry Kissenger, David McGiffin, M. C. Keenan, Dr.
Sylvester and Wilson Hawk; pastor,
Rev. L. L. Magee.
MIDDLETON.
This hamlet, though smaller,
is older than Berlin. It was laid out as early as 1827 by
Oliver Tison
and consisted of only a few lots. In early times the location
was a collecting place for travelers, being near a mill known as the
Dawkins Mill.
The town is about midway between Jackson and
Wilkesville, hence was called for many years, Middle-town. The
office retains the name of hte old mill, being Dawkins Mills
Postoffice. In 1870 the census returns showed a population of
seventy-one in Middleton. The number has remained about
stationary since that time. Middleton is situated very near
the center of Milton Township.
Salem Church,
situated one-half mile west of Middleton,
was built in 1838, although the organization had been formed some
time prior to that date. The Hawk and Lott
families were among the first members. The membership at
present is about sixty. Present Trustees, W. J. Kirkendall,
W. Hawk, A. Pettinger and C. S. Kinnison;
pastor, Rev. L. C. Haddox, of Wellston.
Mt. Carmel U. B. Church. -
The society was formed as early as 1825, but for a great many years
held meetings in dwellings and school-houses. In 1865 money
was raised and the present neat frame church building was built on
section 11, at a cost of $1,200. The present congregation
numbers about fifty members; pastor, Rev. Mr. Lower.
The land valuation of the
township is given in the assessment of 1882 at $256,923, and the
chattel property at $168,439; total $425,362. The personal
property assessment is put down at a very low figure, certainly not
over twenty-five per cent. of its valuation, as there are no less
than six furnaces in blast at this time (1883).
BIOGRAPHICAL
A. A. Austin,
farmer and dealer in stock was born in Jackson
County, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1836, a son of William and Sarah (Irwin)
Austin who were natives of Maryland and of
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English descent. He received his education at the public
schools of his native county till fourteen years of age, after which
he went to school at Madison, Ind., and after a time entered
Marietta College, which he attended one year. He then attended
the Ohio University two years and graduated in December, 1856.
He then dealt in real estate in New Orleans till the following
spring. He enlisted in 1863, in Company h, Eighty-seventh Ohio
Infantry, and was captured and held prisoner for a time at Harper's
Ferry, and was then paroled. Soon after he was commissioned
First Lieutenant of the Ninety-first Ohio Infantry, and served till
he was mustered out at Delaware, Ohio. He then engaged in
farming and dealing in stock, and has at present 160 acres of land
near Berlin. He was married in September, 1864, to Mary
Montgomery, a native of Ireland. They have had nine
children, of whom seven are living - Irwin M., Charles H.,
William A., Robert D., Benjamin G., John C. and Agnes S.
David L. and Francis R. are deceased. Mr. Austin
is now United States Storekeeper of the Eleventh District of
Ohio. HE is a member of Mineral Lodge, No. 701, A. F. & A. M.,
and is a charter member of Colonel Dove Post, G. A. R.
E. B.
Bingham was born Aug. 26, 1844, in
Morgan County, Ohio, and is a son of Solomon and Susannah (Weeks)
Bingham. He worked on the farm till he was eighteen year
old, and attended the schools during the winter months. Sept.
13, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Seventh Ohio Cavalry, under
Captain John A. Ashberry, and was in the battle of Somerset,
Ky., and in the siege of Knoxville, Tenn. After serving over a
year he was appointed Mail Carrier for the Department of the Ohio,
which position he held till he was mustered out July 9, 1865.
He then farmed three summers and attended school in the winters, and
afterward taught in the public schools. In 1870 he began the
study of law in connection with his duties as a teacher, and was
admitted to the bar at Ironton, Ohio, Apr. 22, 1873. He
immediately began the practice of law at Wellston, and is now known
as one of the leading attorneys of the county. He was elected
Justice of the Peace of Milton Township, Jan. 1, 1879, and
re-elected Jan. 1, 1882, for a term of three years. He is at
present Mayor of Wellston, having been elected Apr. 2, 1883.
He was married Sept. 16, 1869, to Susan M., daughter of D.
D. and C. A. Evans, of Wellston. Their children are -
Eadfred, Loueva and
Cara G. Freddie M. died at the age of seven months.
Mr. and Mrs. Bingham are members of the Methodist church, of
Wellston, he being Trustee and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.
He was elected a member at the School Board in 1883 for a term of
three years. In politics he affiliates with the Republican
party. He is a member of I. O. O. F. fraternity, No. 101, at
Wellston, and is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. His
grandfather came from Vermont and settled in what was then Guernsey
County, now Noble County, in an early day. His mother died in
1881, aged seventy-one years.
L.
H. Bingham, a
son of Solomon and Susannah Bingham, was born Apr. 13, 1846,
in Milton Township, Jackson Co., Ohio. His grandfather came
from Vermont in an early day and was one of the early settlers of
Southern Ohio, where he made a good farm out of the wilderness.
Our subject's educational advantages were limited, he being able to
attend school only a few months during the winter and afterward
attended the Ewington Academy in Gallia County, Ohio. He
worked on a farm till he was seventeen years old, when he enlisted
June 23, 1863, in Company H, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, under
Captain W. J. Evans. He served till he was mustered out
July 29, 1869, he was married to Mary E.,
daughter of Rufus and Lucinda White. They have had six
children, of whom
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five are living - Mary L., Annie M., Algeria G., Rufus E. and
Linnie M. William L. died at the age of two months.
Mr. Bingham and wife have been members of the Methodist
Episcopal church about seventeen years. He was elected Clerk
of the Corporation in 1878 and served two and a half years.
Apr. 1, 1879, he was appointed Postmaster and still holds that
position.
Rufus Braley,
was born in Milton Township, Jackson Co., Ohio, in 1834, a son of
Newell Braley. His education was received in the
old-fashioned log school-house. He is an esteemed and
influential citizen of his township, public spirited and liberal in
forwarding all enterprises of interest to his township. He was
married in November, 1858, to Euclid McClintick. They
have a family of five children— Eva, James, Newell,
Maggie and Ripley. In religious faith Mr.
Braley is liberal and he is not connected with any church.
Albert Brooks,
was born May 22, 1856, in Athens County, Ohio, and is a son of
John, Sr., and Emily Brooks, who came from Pennsylvania
to Athens County in 1853. He attended the public schools of
his native county till he reached the age of fourteen years, when he
commenced to learn the carpenter's trade. He worked at his
trade till he was twenty-two, after which he engaged in the drug
business with Dr. G. L. Monahan in Wellston, the firm name
being Monahan & Brooks. At the end of a year Mr.
Monahan sold out to Mr. Brooks, who still carries
on the same business on Broadway, east side of the railroad.
On Oct. 12, 1878, he was appointed Marshall of Wellston, and
re-elected the following spring, and also elected to the office of
Constable at the same time. He was elected Mayor in1881,
serving two years, and in the spring of 1883 was elected Clerk of
the village. Feb. 11, 1882, he was married to Mary,
daughter of L. D. Hutchinson, of Centerville, Ohio.
One child has been born to them, called Maudie.
Hon. H. S. Bundy,
Wellston, Jackson County, is a son of Nathan and Adah M. (Nichelson)
Bundy, his father a native of Hartford Conn., and his mother of
Dutchess County, N. Y., where they were married, but soon after,
in1816, settled in Marietta, Ohio. Two years later settled
near Athens where he leased college land, and took it from a dense
wilderness to a good degree of improvement, and then learned that
the title was worthless. He was one of the pioneers of Athens
County, coming here in 1818. He was killed in1832 by the
falling of a tree. His wife died in Jackson County, Ohio, in
1880, aged eighty years, three months and nine days. Of their
three children, H. S. is the eldest and the only one who
reached maturity, the others dying in infancy. He was born
Aug. 15, 1817, in Marietta, Ohio. In 1834 he came to
McArthur, and soon after went to Wilkesville, where, in 1837, he
married Lucinda, daughter of Zamri Wells. In
1839 they moved to McArthur, where Mrs. Bundy died in
December, 1842, leaving three children - William E.; Sarah A.,
wife of Major B. F. Stearns, of Washington, D. C., and
Lucy J., now Mrs. J. C. H. Cobb, of Jackson County, Ohio.
From 1839 to 1846 he was engaged in the mercantile trade in
McArthur. In 1844 he married Caroline, daughter of
Judge Paine, of Jackson County, and in 1846 moved on the Judge's
farm, which he afterward bought and still owns, being his present
beautiful residence. His second wife died in 1868 leaving two
daughters - Julia P., wife of Jduge J. B. Foraker, of
Cincinnati, Republican candidate for Governor of Ohio, and Eliza
M., wife of Harvey Wells. Mr. Bundy was married in
1876 to Mary M. Miller. In early life Mr. Bundy
attended a short term of private school under the tutorship of
David Pratt, of Athens, but his educational privileges ceased
when he was fourteen years of age. His natural talent and home
study combined with his uprightness of principles
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and enterprise have given him a place among the eminent men of
Southern Ohio. Soon after locating on the farm, in 1846, he
commenced the study of law at home, and in October, 1850, was
admitted to the bar. In 1848 he was elected to the State
Legislature to represent the counties of Gallia and Jackson; during
the term voted to repeal the “Black Laws." In 1850 he was a
candidate to represent the counties of Jackson, Gallia, Athens and
Meigs, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. In 1855 he
was elected to the State Senate from the direct composed of Jackson,
Pike Scioto and Adams counties, where the Democratic majority of his
predecessor was 1,800, and Buchanan's majority in 1856 was
2,500, and Mr. Bundy as a Republican was favored with a
majority of 376. In 1860 he was a Presidential elector from
his congressional district, and stumped the entire district.
In 1862 he was a candidate for Congress, but was defeated by the
Hon. W. A. Hutchins by a majority of 1,900. Two years
later they were both again candidates in the same district, and
Bundy received a majority of 4,000 to the Thirty-ninth Congress.
During this Congress he voted for colored suffrage in the ‘‘District
of Columbia” and the reconstruction measure adopted by that Congress
which seemed to make it improper to be a candidate for re-election.
In 1872 he was again a candidate from the same district for the
Forty-third Congress, against the Hon. Samuel A. Nash, and
received a large majority; while in this Congress he supported and
voted for the ‘‘Civil Rights Bill,” and was unanimously renominated
for the Forty-fourth Congress, and was defeated by a majority of
1,900 by Colonel Vance. In 1842 he became a member of the
Methodist church, and in 1872 was one of the first two lay delegates
for the Ohio Annual Conference that convened at Brooklyn, N. Y.
He was again a delegate to the General Conference that met at
Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1848 he bought his present farm, and has
since been extensively engaged in the furnace and mineral interest
of his county, now owning the Latrobe and Keystone Charcoal Furnace
with 10,000 acres of land; also owns the Eliza Furnace with over 300
acres of the best coal and ore lands. His son William E.
first served three months in the late war; then in 1862 re-enlisted
in the Seventh Ohio Cavalry, and on Dee. 14, 1863, was severely
wounded near Bean’s Station, Tenn. In January, 1864, he
returned home, and after a severe illness he rallied and married.
He became engaged in business, but Jan. 4, 1867, he died, leaving a
wife and one child. The former was killed by being thrown from
a horse in 1868, and the child, William E., is now a bright
student at Athens.
J.
A. Calhoun,
son of Benjamin Calhoun, a native of Maryland, was born Jan.
13, 1847, in Harford County, Md. He was reared to hard work
such as chopping cord-wood, burning charcoal and farming during the
summers, and attending school in the winter months. when
twenty-one years of age he began to teach school. During the
summers of 1871 and '72 he was engaged in the lumber business in
Pennsylvania and in 1873 was bookkeeper for the McCullough
Iron Company in the town of Northeast, Md. He then resumed
teaching and taught in Maryland till 1881, with the exception of
teaching one year in Delaware. He came to Ohio, July 4, 1881,
and taught one year in the Wellston public schools, having taught
altogether about fourteen years. He is at present engaged as
bookkeeper for the Coment Coal Company at Wellston.
Henry Camink,
son of John and Gertrude Camink, was born Mar. 23, 1830, in
Holland and when seventeen years old came to America with his
parents. He lived in Pennsylvania seven or eight years when he
came to Vinton County, Ohio, remaining there about ten years, and
since then has resided in Mid
[Page 626]
dleton, Ohio. He came to this country a poor boy, but by industry
and economy has accumulated some property. He has 240 acres of
land on which are found large quantities of fine iron ore.
Mr. Camink was married Dec. 13, 1860, to Frances,
daughter of John and Sarah Toy who were natives of
Pennsylvania but now reside in Jackson County. Of their eleven
children eight are living - John, William, Charles, Frederick,
Carl, Mary, Sarah and Louella K. Those deceased are
- Laura, who died Oct. 21, 1866; Nora, wo died May 17,
1870, and Nettie who died Oct. 10, 1879.
J. C. H. Cobb,
son of Nathan and Lucy (Hascall) Cobb, was born Jan. 26,
1830. He was reared on the farm and educated at the common
schools, and at the Ohio University. In 1859 he was married to
Miss L. J., daughter of Hon. H. S. Bundy. This
union was blessed with eight children, of whom six are living -
L. Jennie, Callie M., Edward H., Ellena E., Nellie and Howard.
Minnie died in November, 1874, and John died in March,
1875. Mr. Cobb enlisted in the late war in 1862, and
was elected Lieutenant of Company G, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio
Infantry. While in the army he and his wife were taken
prisoners two or three times but always managed to escape. He
was discharged in July, 1865, at Richmond, Va., and returned home.
He was a partner with H. S. Bundy in the Latrobe Furnace and
has also been connected with other furnaces of Jackson County, and
is at present engaged in farming and in operating the Meadow Run
Coal mine. He has done much toward building up the town of
Wellston. He is a Master Mason and member of Orphans Friend
Lodge, No. 275, at Wilkesville, Ohio.
W. L. Evans,
was born in Jackson County, Ohio, Aug. 20, 1854, and
is a son of David D. Evans, who was also born in Jackson
County, Nov. 19, 1818, and of Welsh descent. Our subject spent
his early life in farming and going to school, and began teaching
when very young and taught five years. During the years of
1877, '78 and '79 he read law with Judge Tripp, of Jackson,
and was admitted to the bar Sept. 19, 1879, at McArthur, Ohio.
Immediately afterward he located at Le Mars, Iowa, where he
practiced his profession in connection with Hon. H. C. Curtis.
In 1880 he was admitted to the Supreme Court. During the
winter of 1880-'81 he was afflicted with bronchial trouble to such
an extent that he deemed it best to return East and give up the
practice of law until he fully regained his health.
Accordingly in the fall of 1881 he returned to Jackson County, Ohio,
where with his brother Ed. E. Evans he engaged in mercantile
business, under the firm name of Evans Brothers. They
have just completed one of the finest business houses in the county
and are adding much to the beauty and wealth of their town.
Robert
Fitzpatrick,
son of John and Ruth Fitzpatrick, was born in Carroll County,
Ohio, July 5, 1824. In 1839 he moved with his parents to
Jackson County where they resided till their death. He was
married Aug. 22, 1847, to Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and
Mary Huston, who were natives of Ohio. They have six
children - John, residing in Vinton County, Ohio; Mary J.,
wife of Lewis Long; Ruth A., wife of James Goddard;
Maria L., wife of Thomas Finley; Robert A., and
Ella, wife of Conrad Kessler. Mr. Fitzpatrick has
620 acres of land which is underlaid with three heavy veins of coal
and an inexhaustible field of iron ore. He takes great pains
in raising good stock, now owning some fine Spanish merino sheep,
Durham cattle and Poland hogs. He has served six years as
Township Treasurer. He and his family are members of the
United Brethren church.
Theodore Fluhart
was born Dec. 22, 1850, at Dayton, Ohio, a son of
John W. and Anna M. Fluhart, who are yet living at Dayton.
At the age of twenty-one years he began
[Pg. 627]
keeping books for the Wayne & Fifth Street R. R. Co., at Dayton,
Ohio, where he remained one year, and the following year was
bookkeeper for the Ogemaw Lumber Co. He then lived in Union
City, Inc., two years when he moved to Wellston and was Secretary of
the Wellston Coal and Iron Co. for six years, after which he
organized the Theo. Fluhart & Co. Coal Company, in 1881, and
has since been operating in coal. He is at present running a
store in connection with his coal bank, carrying a stock of about
$2,500, the sales amounting to about $25,000 per annum. He was
married Dec. 31, 1880, to Florence E., daughter of John
and Ellen E. Strong, of Wilkesville, Ohio. Mr. Fluhart
is a member of the First Reform Church at Dayton.
John
Glanville
was born in Franklin County, Ohio, in 1840. He was reared on a
farm, following that occupation till 1870, when, having an innate
love of music, he turned his attention to giving instructions in the
cultivation of the voice and is well and favorably known in Jackson
County as a vocal instructor. In the spring of 1883 he took
charge of the Bundy House and with characteristic energy has
refitted and refurnished it, making it a first-class hotel in every
respect. He is truly a public-spirited man and is ever ready
to do all in his power for the furtherance of any good work.
Joseph
Gooding,
one of the proprietors of the Wellston Planing Mills,
was born June 28, 1845, in Morgan County, Ohio, and is the son of
William and Susannah Gooding, who were among the first settlers
of Ohio. He was reared on a farm and attended public schools
during the winter months, being engaged on the farm the remainder of
the year. In 1864 he enlisted in Company H, Seventeenth Ohio
Infantry, under Lieutenant Stewart, and participated in the battles
of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesborough, Bentonsville and a number
of others of less importance. He was mustered out July 18,
1865, at Louisville, Ky., and returned to his home. He was
married Oct. 26, 1875, to Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel
and Elizabeth Burns, of Wellston, Ohio. Three children
have blessed this union - Jane C., Harley B., and Tillie
C. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Wellston Lodge, No.
701. He is one of the founders of Coalton, he having, in
partnership with J. H. Wilson, bought a piece of land, and in
November, 1879, laid out the town.
Rev. C. L.
Haddox
was born Nov. 24, 1849, in Tyler County, W. Va., and
is a son of B. H. and N. E. Haddox, of English descent.
His father was born Sept. 18, 1820, and during the war was
Postmaster. His mother was born Mar. 10, 1830. They came
to America in an early day and settled in Virginia, and are still
living. Our subject's educational advantages were limited, but
through industry he has become an excellent preacher, filling the
pulpit of the Methodist Episcopal church of Wellston with credit.
In 1868 he entered the preparatory department of the college at
Marietta, Ohio, attending about eighteen months, when he entered the
collegiate department and graduated July 2, 1873. He then
taught two years in the public schools of Virginia, and in the fall
of 1875 united with the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church, at Portsmouth, Ohio, since which time he has been in the
ministry. In the summers of 1866-'67 Mr. Haddox
traveled as agent for the American Tract Society. Oct. 4,
1876, he was married to Carrie B., daughter of Alexander
and Mary M. Ireland, of Morrow County, Ohio. They have had
three children - Corydon H., Louis H. and Lillie L.
Wilson Hawk
was born Sept. 9, 1829, the son of Reuben and Nancy Hawk.
His father was a native of Virginia, though the German descent, and
was born Mar. 23, 1798. He was a hard-working boy and is now
reaping the benefits of an industrious early life. He
[Pg. 628]
was married in 1828 and had five children born to him. He was
one of eleven brothers, five of whom married five sisters, the
smallest of the women weighing 165 pounds. The subject of our
sketch spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, having but
limited educational advantages. He was married Dec. 26, 1850,
to Samantha, daughter of James and Olive Squires.
Four children have been born to them, only three now living -
Olive L., Charles W. and Effie V. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a strict
prohibitionist, never having even tasted whisky.
S.
W. Henry, M. D.,
was born Jan. 31, 1847, where Ironton now stands and is a son of
Brice and Elizabeth A. (Sheets) Henry. He worked on the
farm at Ironton till 1857, when his father moved to Olive Furnace,
where he still resides. After coming to Ohio our subject
worked around furnaces in summers and attended school during the
winters till his sixteenth year, when he engaged in hawking iron,
charcoal, etc., until he was twenty-two years old. He then
went to school a year at Centerville, Ohio, where he obtained a
certificate and taught school four winters, attending school during
the summer. In 1872 he began reading medicine under Dr.
John S. Henry, of Lawrence County, Ohio, continuing with him at
intervals till 1878. In the fall of 1874 he entered Miami
Medical College at Cincinnati, which he attended during the winter
terms till he graduated Feb. 26, 1878, taking the degree of M. D.
May 10, 1878, he began to practice at Keystone Furnace, and in
November, 1879, came to Berlin, where he has since practiced his
profession and he takes rank with the leading physicians of the
country. Mar. 8, 1879, he was married to Sarah M.,
daughter of Phelix and Melinda (Russel) Graham. They
have one daughter - Edith V.
John Hollingshead,
was born July 12, 1826, in Jackson County, a son of
James and Nancy Hollingshead, who were of French and Irish
descent respectively. Our subject has followed agricultural
pursuits through life and , by his own industry, he now owns 105
acres of land in Milton Township, which is underlaid with the
Wellston vein of coal. He was married Mar. 10, 1862, to
Margaret, daughter of Peter Slusser. Their family
consists of eight children - Amanda, Ellen, Ida, Iva, Harriet,
James F., John and Troy. Mr. Hollingshead
enlisted in the late Rebellion in Company A, Forty-third Ohio
Infantry, and was in the battle of Nashville, and several others of
less importance. He remained in the service till he was
mustered out June 28, 1865.
Robert Hoop,
was born Jan. 30, 1832, at Steam Furnace, Adams Co.,
O. He has been continuously employed at Blast furnaces.
During his boyhood days he worked during the summer months and
attended district school during the winter months, acquiring a good
practical education. His labor at the furnaces consisted in
keeping the books and managing. He has superintended the
erection of three blast furnaces. In the spring of 1882 he
became associated with others under the corporation laws of Ohio,
and formed the Meadow Run Coal and Iron Company, for the purpose of
manufacturing pig iron and mining and shipping coal. He was
elected one of the Directors by the stockholders and of the
Directors by the stockholders and elected by the Board of Directors
General Superintendent to erect coal works. Although the work
was entirely novel to him, he succeeded to the entire satisfaction
of all the stockholders, and in the spring of the present year, at a
general meeting of the stockholders, was re-elected Director, and
the Board of Directors elected him Secretary and General Manager.
William J. Jones, M. D.,
was born Apr. 18, 1841, in Wales. He was left an orphan at an
early age, and in December, 1852, came with his brothers to America,
settling in Alleghany County, Md., where he lived till the spring of
1861. He then went to Pennsylvania and enlisted as a private
in the fifteenth United States Infantry, and was soon after
commissioned to act as Quartermaster Sergeant, holding that position
until he was mustered out of the service May 5, 1863, at Memphis,
Tenn. He went to Nelsonville, Ohio, in 1864, and moved to
Charleston, W. Va., in 1865, where he began the study of medicine
under Dr. Dew. He returned to Nelsonville in 1866,
where he practiced dentistry and studied medicine under Drs.
Primrose and Sheppard, and graduated in medicine at the
Medical College of Ohio, in Cincinnati, March, 1873. He
practiced medicine the following year at Chauncey, Ohio, and moved
to New Straitsville in 1874, where he was engaged in active practice
about nine years. He then, in connection with his professional
duties, engaged in the drug business at Wellston, Ohio, where he now
resides. In 1867 he was married to Louisa, daughter of
John and Caroline Bowers, at Nelsonville. They have had a
family of five children - Willie I., Sylvanus, Allison, Sylvia,
and an infant (deceased). Mr. Jones has been a member
of the I. O. O. F. fraternity, Lodge 503, New Straitsville, about
eight years.
[Pg. 629]
William J. Kirkendoll,
son of Daniel and Lydia Kirkendall, was born
Aug. 15, 1829, in Jackson County, Ohio. After he was fourteen
years of age he went to school during the winters and worked on the
farm in summers till he was nineteen years of age, when he attended
the academy at Albany two years and completed his education at the
Ohio University at Athens. He then bought an interest in the
Iron Valley Furnace, with which he was connected till 1861. He
was engaged some time as bookkeeper and general clerk at an iron
furnace, but at the breaking out of the late war he aided in raising
Company G, Second Ohio Cavalry, of which he was chosen Lieutenant,
and held that position till he was mustered out July 6, 1865.
He then returned home and engaged in farming and teaching. He
has taught in all sixty-nine terms, having begun when a young man
and followed that profession until within the past few years.
He is still engaged in farming and owns a splendid farm of 500 acres
at Middleton, Ohio. He also takes great interest in the
improvement of stock, and now owns some fine durhams and other
stock. He was married Dec. 30, 1854, to Alvira E.,
daughter of Lansen and Frances Smith. They have seven
children - Lanson B. C., who graduated from the Ohio
University in 1880; Charles R. S. and Julia M., who
graduated in the class of 1883, at the Ohio University; James A.
and Ella M., will graduate in the class of 1886; Esther F.
and Fred E. Mr. Kirkendall is a member of Mineral Lodge,
No. 56, A. F. & A. M., and is a Master Mason and is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
H.
G. Lasley,
son of Stewart and Cynthia Lasley, was born Jan. 20, 1833, in
Wilkesville, Vinton Co., Ohio. He attended the common schools
till he was sixteen years old, when he entered the Ohio University
at Athens, remaining there one year, after which he attended the
college at Marietta, Ohio, about two years. after leaving
school he engaged in the mercantile trade, in which he continued
eight years. He then followed the furnace business at Buckeye
Furnace, Ohio, eight years, after which he bought a farm near
Wellston, and followed farming three years. In 1873 he, as one
of the members of the Milton Furnace and Coal Company, began to
build the Milton Furnace. He is still a member of the firm,
and has the general superintendency of the store. He was one
of the four men who found the first shaft coal in Milton Township,
boring for it in 1870. He was married Feb. 8, 1856, to Jane,
daughter of Benjamin and Fannie Radcliff. Five children
have been born to them, one, an infant,
[Pg. 630]
being deceased. Those living are - Nellie, Cynthia, Mattie
and Frank. Mrs. Lasley died Oct. 20, 1871, and
Mr. Lasley was again married Oct. 15, 1873, to Kate,
daughter of B. F. and Martha Scott. This union has been
blessed with one child - Harry. Mr. Lasley is a Master
Mason, and a member of Wilkesville Lodge, No. 275, A. F. & A. M.
His father was engaged in the mercantile trade for thirty years, but
at present, and since then, has been interested in furnaces, and is
also carrying on a bank at Chattanooga, Tenn.
J.
M. Lively,
son of L. D. and Eleanor (Russell) Lively, was
born Oct. 29, 1852, in Jackson County. His father’s ancestors
came from Northern France, and settled in Virginia before the days
of the Revolution, and became leading citizens of that section,
while his mother’s people are of English descent. In the year
1828 John Lively, the grandfather of the subject of this
sketch, moved his family from Virginia, and settled in the wild
woods of what is now Lick Township, Jackson County. L. D.
Lively and Eleanor Russell were married Dec. 31, 1848, and are
the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, all
arriving to maturity except one daughter, who died in infancy.
J. M. is the second child, and the oldest son of the family.
He attended the public schools till he was seventeen years of age,
when he began teaching. He taught for ten years, the last
three of which he was Superintendent of the Wellston public schools.
While teaching he engaged in literary work, writing for different
papers under assumed names. In the spring of 1880 he accepted
the position of weighmaster and stock-receiver of Milton Furnace and
Coal Company. Jan. 1, 1882, he went into the store of the same
company as assistant storekeeper, which position he still holds.
Dee. 24,1873, he was married to Louisa B. Bachus, daughter of
Rev. R. J. and Isabelia (Carrick) Bachus. They have two
sons - Carl V. and Harry A., aged respectively eight
and six years. In politics Mr. Lively is a Republican.
In 1882 he was a delegate to the Eleventh Congressional District
Convention that met at Portsmouth, Ohio. Mr. Bachus,
father of Mrs. Lively, was born in Cincinnatus, N. Y., Dec.
21, 1823, and died in Chautauqua County Kan., Sept. 26, 1880.
He was one of the old pioneer preachers, and laid the foundation of
the Christian church in Southern Ohio. He built up the church
in Jackson and other places, and was an earnest minister of the
gospel for forty years.
John S.
McGhee,
was born Oct. 21, 1823, in Jackson County, Ohio, a son of John
McGhee, a
native of Virginia, who came to Ohio among the early settlers.
Our subject worked on the farm till twenty-one years of age, when he
went to the salt works in Virginia, where he worked one year.
He then returned and was engaged as a teamster three years; then was
employed on the railroad one year, after which he worked at furnaces
ten years, seven years of which he was Superintendent of the
Cornelia Furnace. He has since followed farming pursuits on
the farm where he now resides. He owns 750 acres of land, of
which 520 lie in the great coal field of Wellston. He was
married in December, 1850, to Eliza Bun, by whom he had two
children - an infant (deceased), and Viola, wife of Gaston
Stiffler. Mr. McGhee was again married in October, 1856,
to Electa, daughter of Henry and Phoebe Phillips.
They have had nine children - Henry P., Eliza, Susan,
Ophelia, Lincoln (who died in 1879, aged fifteen years),
Carrie B., Sallie, Grant and Willie. Mr. McGhee has
served as County Commissioner for the past six years, and is still
holding that office. He is a Master Mason and a member of
Mineral Lodge, No. 701, A. F. & A. M.
E.
B. Merrill, M. D.,
son of James S. and Elizabeth Merrill, was born in Warren
Township, Grafton Co., N. H., Mar. 31, 1850. He attended the
public schools during the
[Pg. 631]
winters and worked on the farm till he was seventeen years old.
He then began clerking, etc., attending school about four months out
of the year. In the spring of 1871 he went to the Conference
Seminary and female College at Tilton, N. H., and also attended one
fall term. During the winter of 1871-'72 he taught in the
public schools of New Hampshire, after which he read medicine under
F. L. Gerald, of Nashua, N. H., over three years, and in the
meantime was employed in different places. He attended the
Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati four months during the second
year of his study and also the winter term of 1874-'75, and
graduated Jan. 26, 1875. He then began to practice at
McArthur, Ohio, in partnership with Dr. J. C. Coleman, but at
the end of four months moved to Allenville, where he followed his
profession till January, 1880, when he went to Nebraska to regain
his health, remaining there till July, 1881. Since December,
1881, he has practiced his profession in Wellston. Apr. 22,
1877, he was married to Elizabeth J., daughter of
A. N. and Annie Cozad.
They have three children - Matley J., Bertha and an infant.
G.
L. Monahan, M. D.,
was born July 22, 1849, in Belmont County, Ohio. His parents,
James and Maria Monahan, were natives of Maryland, from which
State they moved to Ohio in 1829, where they spent the rest of their
lives. His father died in 1874, at the age of seventy-seven
years, and Mrs. Monahan died in 1882, aged
seventy-eight years. Our subject spent his boyhood days
attending school during the winter and farming in Belmont and Athens
till he was fourteen years old, when he enlisted in Company F,
Sixty-third Ohio Infantry, under Captain Smith.
He served ten months, when he was discharged for physical
disability. After returning home he attended school in
Coolville one year, and in 1866 entered the Ohio University at
Athens. He soon after began teaching which he followed
till 1873, after which he spent a year at the Ohio Medical College
at Cincinnati. He then practiced medicine in Pike County about
six months, when he removed to Wellston. He again entered the
school in 1877, from which he graduated the following year, after
which he began the practice of medicine in Wellston, where he has a
large practice. He was married June 9, 1875, to Sadie
Liston, daughter of Wilson and Hannah Liston. They
are the parents of two children - Charlie C. and Addie.
Mr. Monahan is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has
belonged ten years to the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and is a Past
Grand. He was Mayor of Wellston two years and Clerk for the
same length of time. He was also County Coroner two years.
J.
O. Patridge,
Jeweler, Wellston, is a son of J. W. Patridge,
of Milton Township, Jackson County, Ohio. He has had a varied
business experience, and is especially fitted for the business in
which he is at present engaged. His brother, J. M. Patridge,
is associated with him. They are located on Liston street, one
door north of the postoffice. They keep a full line of gold
and plated jewelry, silverware, clocks, watches, etc. They
have all the standard movements, with Dueber's gold and
silver cases, and Boss patent filled cases. Mr. Patridge
has filled various local offices of trust in his township, and is a
man of influence in the community.
J.
W. Patridge, son
of John and Elizabeth (Huston) Patridge, was born in Beaver
County, Pa., Mar. 8, 1826. He came to Jackson County, Ohio, in
1846, where he has since lived, and has followed agricultural
pursuits through life. He now owns 120 acres of land underlaid
with a vein of Wellston coal. He was married to Caroline,
daughter of Daniel and Sidney Clark. They have had six
children - Elizabeth (wife of Eli Persons), James
O., Daniel T., John M. and Edmond L., and
one who died in infancy. Mr. Partridge was Township
Trustee fifteen years.
[Pg. 632]
William A. Persons was born in New York. He came
to Jackson County in 1850, and has since been a liberal and
energetic supporter of her enterprises. He received a good
education, and has always made the most of his advantages. All
offices of trust to which he has been called have been filled with a
conscientious integrity worthy the man.
Adam
Scott, son
of B. F. and Martha Scott, was born Nov. 4, 1851, in Jackson
County. He worked on the farm and attended the public schools
till he was twenty-one years old, after which he taught school four
years and aft4erward took a commercial and scientific course at the
Lebanon College. Mr. Scott laid out the town of Eureka,
now Coalton, in Jackson County. He opened the Thornhill and
Molar mines and afterward discovered and opened the Jackson County
Cannel Coal Mine, in which he yet has an interest. Since 1880
he has been operating in coal. He has an interest in the Comet
and Meadow Run coal companies, being traveling salesman for the
latter. He was married in 1880 to Dora, daughter of
Robert and Amena Hoop. They have two children - Arthur
Dwight and Edith C.
F.
M. Smallwood,
editor of the Argus, at Wellston, was born May 20, 1857, in
Marion County, Ohio. His parents, J. M. and Margaret
Smallwood, came to La Rue, Ohio, from the East many years ago, and
are now living in Kenton, Ohio. Our subject lived in LaRue
till he was eight years of age when he went to Iowa, where he
attended public schools and academy till fifteen years old, after
which he attended school at Cardington. During his vacation he
was employed in learning the printer's trade, and after leaving
school he entered the office of the Mirror, at Marion, Ohio,
but after a short time took a trip West, during which time he was
connected with several different papers. At LaRue he edited a
paper for the Citizen Printing Company about one year, and in the
spring of 1883 severed his connection with the Hamden Enterprise
and took charge of the Wellston Argus. July 3,
1877, he was married to Amelia L. J., daughter of William
and Augusta Miller, of Hamden, Ohio. They have had two
children - Pearl and Carlos W., the latter of whom
died Oct. 2, 1881, aged three years, five months and eighteen days.
John
Stanton, a
native of Ireland, was born May 1, 1840. He came to America
with his parents, John and Catherine Stanton, in 1848,
landing in New Orleans and coming direct to Scioto County, where
they stayed only a short time, after which they lived one year in
Xenia, Ohio. They then lived in Springfield, Ohio, two years,
after which they returned to Scioto County, where they were employed
in building the M. & C. R. R. They then lived a short time in
Maysville, Ky., when they moved to Jackson County, Ohio. At
the end of a year they moved to Vinton County. They soon after
moved to Berlin, Jackson County, where our subject is engaged in the
mercantile business. His father died in 1857 or '58, aged
fifty-six years, and his mother died at the age of fifty-six in
1862. In February, 1865, our subject enlisted in Company B,
One hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio Infantry, under Captain
Kendals. soon after he was taken with the measles, which
unfitted him for duty, and he was mustered out May 13, 1865.
He returned home and was engaged in the saloon business one year and
a half. He engaged in his present business in 1867, and
carries a stock of nearly $6,000, with an average sale of $20,000
per year. Nov. 14, 1866, he was married to Ellen,
daughter of Edward and Mary Gallaghar, natives of County
Donegal, Ireland. They have had nine children, of whom five
are living - W. E., John, Mary, Ellen and R. E. Catherine,
Michael, H. H. and an infant son are deceased.
William Sylvester,
physician and surgeon, was born Oct. 8, 1826, in Rutland, Meigs Co.,
[Pg. 633]
Ohio, His educational advantages during his boyhood were
limited, but he afterward attended academy at Albany for a time.
At the age of nineteen he began teaching school, and taught
altogether four years, principally during the winter months.
At the age of twenty-six he commenced the study of medicine, and two
years later he began to practice at Middleton, Jackson County, where
he remained ten years. He then practiced in Berlin till 1883,
when he moved to Wellston, where he has had a large practice
twenty-seven years. He is a member of the Ohio Valley Medical
Association which meets twice a year and has a membership of 140.
He enlisted in three months' service June 1, 1862, but was afterward
detailed to serve as Wardmaster in the hospital. He was at the
battle of Harper's Ferry, and was there taken prisoner by
Stonewall Jackson, but was paroled the next day and returned
home. Apr. 30, 1851, he was married to Rachel Salmans.
They have had six children, of whom four are living - Sarah F.,
John E. (a physician in McArthur), William W. and
Emily P. Two infants are deceased. His father came
to Ohio in an early day and did much toward converting his wild land
to good farms. He also took an active part in the
Revolutionary war.
J.
G. Vandevot, was
born June 30, 1847, and is a son of James and Eleanor Vandevot,
natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Jackson County in 1861.
Our subject's youth was spent on a farm and in attending the public
schools in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 1870 he entered the store
of L. W. French, of Jackson, where he clerked four or five
years. He afterward entered into partnership with James
French, under the firm name of French & Vandevot, and at
the end of two years sold out, and the next six years was engaged as
salesman for the Milton Furnace Company, after which he engaged in
the business for himself under the firm name of Vandevot &
Dempsey. At present the firm is J. G. & J. M. Vandevort,
the stock being about $6,000, with an average sale of about $20,000.
He was married in March, 1875, to Annie, daughter of David
and Elizabeth Roberts, of Jackson County. They have two
children - Bertha and Arthur. Mr. Vandevot is a
member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. He has been Clerk and
Treasurer of Milton Township a number of times.
N.
T. Vanpelt, son
of Jonathan and Polly (Singer) Vanpelt, was born in Highland
County, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1848. His mother died when he was two
years of age. His father was born in 1800, and was one of the
first instigators of the underground railroad of Highland County.
He died in 1879. Our subject attended school during the summer
and worked on the farm the remainder of the year till he was
thirteen years old. Being very large for his age he managed to
get into the army, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company H, First Ohio
Cavalry, under Major Buck, of Hillsboro, Ohio. He was
in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission
Ridge and others, being in no less than 125 engagements. He
had several very narrow escapes, having had four horses shot from
under him. He was mustered out in September, 1865, and
returned home without a wound. In the winter of 1866-'67 he
attended the Ohio University at Athens, after which he spent two
years at the Northwestern University at Indianapolis, Ind. He
then engaged in teaching, after which he traveled West for two or
three years. He was married Sept. 18, 1876, to Kate
McCoppin, daughter of John and Lucy McCoppin, of Highland
County, who died Jan. 11, 1878. Mr. Vanpelt began the
study of law in 1876, under Charles Townsend,
ex-Secretary of State of Ohio, and Mr. Golden, of Athens, and
completed his studies under ex-Senator Shepherd and Cyrus
Newby, of Hillsboro, Ohio. He was admitted to the bar in
1880, and began the practice of his profes
[Pg. 634]
sion in Wellston, and is at present Solicitor of the Town. In
politics he is a stanch Republican.
Harvey
Wells, founder of Wellston, Ohio, was
born May 29, 1846, in Wilkesville, Vinton Co., Ohio, and is a son of
Agrippa and Hannah Wells. He began learning the
carpenter's trade when eleven years old, at which he worked till
1862, when he enlisted as messenger in the army. He was placed
in the harness-making department where he soon learned the trade,
and became foreman of the whole department. He afterward
enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry under
Captain Gillian, and was mustered out in October, 1865, at
Washington, D. C. He then attended the High School in Gallia
County, Ohio, and the commercial College at Pittsburg, Pa. He
was then employed by H. S. Bundy as bookkeeper and general
manager of the Latrobe Furnace store one year, after which he
attended the Ohio University at Athens two terms, and then spent one
term at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. In 1867 he
became the author of a book entitled Well's New System of
Rapid Calculation. He had previously published several books
under the same title, and spent part of three years traveling
through the States and sold about 60,000 copies. He then
engaged in the real estate business very successfully for six or
eight months. In 1873 he was nominated a candidate for a
member of the Constitutional Convention, and was elected by the
Republican party by a majority of 472 votes. He bought 1,000
acres of land from Hon. H. S. Bundy, in Jackson County, for
$100,000, and in 1874 laid out Wellston, and afterward organized a
joint stock company and sold the land for $150,000. He also
built the Eliza furnace. June 22, 1875, he was married to
Eliza M., youngest daughter of Hon. H. S. Bundy.
They have one son- Harvey B., born May 30, 1877.
H.
S. Willard, son
of Henry S. and Lavinia Willard, was born Aug. 31, 1849, in
Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1864 he went to Grand River Institute at
Austinburg, where he remained three years, after which he attended
the Technological School in Boston two years. In the summer of
1870 he went to Kansas where he was engaged in business till 1873,
when he came to Wellston and became manager of the Milton Furnace,
and in 1878 was elected President of the furnace.
W.
H. Williams,
carpenter and undertaker, was born July 1, 1836, in Meigs County,
Ohio, and is a son of John and Jane Williams, who came to
Ohio from Virginia in a very early day. He was reared on a
farm and attended the common schools until eighteen years of age,
after which he devoted his time to farming. He enlisted in
September, 1862, in Company I, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry, and was in
the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, and a number of others. While
at Vicksburg he was taken ill, and came home July, 1864. He
remained a couple of months. He then went to Cincinnati and
enlisted in the Seventh Indiana Cavalry, and was mustered out
September, 1865. He was then employed by Hon. H. S. Bundy
as superintendent of his farms for a few years, when he moved to
Wellston, where he engaged in his present business. He was
married in 1857 to Elizabeth, daughter of John and
Elizabeth Huff. They have five children - Alonzo,
Benjamin F., Waldo F., Edward B. and Dora B. Mr.
Williams has been a member of the Town Council four years and a
member of the School Board two years.
COAL TOWNSHIP.
The rapidly growing mining
interests of this part of the county suggested the formation of a
new township. In the fall of 1882 requisite measures were
taken, and in the following winter the new township was established.
The two northern rows of sections from Lick Township, and the
southern row
[Pg. 635]
with the two western from the next, of Washington - twenty in all -
make up the new township, which, from the great object of its
intrinsic wealth, was appropriately named "Coal." The mining
of the coal is the all-absorbing industry of the inhabitants, and is
also largely entered into by capitalists from abroad.
The topography of the township is very rough and
furrowed by numerous little streams, but none of any size, the
largest being what is known as Pigeon Fork of Salt Creek. The
water in many of the streams is slightly mineral. The rough
surface renders it unsuitable for agriculture, which is followed
only meagerly.
SETTLEMENT.
The territory now forming
Coal Township was, like the remainder of the county, settled by
emigrants from Virginia and Pennsylvania, in about 1810 to 1816.
Among the first was the Star family to which Andrew Starr,
for many years a well-known citizen, belonged. The Starr
faimly
started from Virginia in a wagon in 1809. On the way the
father died and was buried by his children in the unbroken forest.
After this sad halt the family again took up their journey through
the boundless wild, frequented on every hand by treacherous Indians
and wild beasts. The first stopping place was at a place known
as "Buffalo Skull." They afterward moved to Middle Fork, and
from there to the old Star farm, in Coal Township. The
Winfaugh and Darling families were also among the
first settlers.
Two railroads pass through the township - the T., C. &
St. L. and Ohio Southern. On the line of these roads, between
Wellston and Coalton only four miles apart are situated four small
villages, which come nearly making one continuous town. They
are crude mining towns, and, outside of their mining interests, of
but little importance. Beginning at Coalton, the metropolis of
this mineral township, the first is Altoona, laid out by M. D.
Jones; the next is Glen Roy, laid out by Hon. Andrew Roy
in May, 1883. Goldsrow was also laid out in the spring of
1883, and the last, Comet, was laid out by Adam Scott about
the same time.
COALTON.
[Pg. 636]
THE BUSINESS.
THE SCHOOLS.
POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice, established
in 1877, was called Eureka P. O. until 1879, when it was changed to
Coalton.
Adam Winfaugh was appointed Postmaster at the establishment
of the office, holding it until 1879, when he resigned. J.
H. Wilson was then appointed, and still holds the position.
It was made a money-order office July 1, 1883.
VALUATION.
The valuation of the special
school district real estate is $12,453, and the chattel property at
$16,809, for the year 1882. The landed area of the village is
675 acres, with a chattel property valuation of $52,363, and a real
estate valuation of $30,920 for the above named year.
CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church
The Free-Will Baptist
Church,
[Pg. 637]
The Missionary Baptist Church
was founded here in January, 1882, by Rev. J. E. Thomas.
Their church is the other half of the old school-house, for which
they paid $254.25. At first there were eleven members; now
there are forty-nine, which shows good work on the part of the
beginners. The present pastor is Rev. C. A. Price.
The Welsh Methodist Church was
established by Rev. David Jenkins, Sept. 25, 1881. The
organization consisted of twenty-five persons from the Welsh
settlement. In 1882 they built a meeting-house, 28 x 36 feet
in size, costing about $1,100. A good Sabbath-school is
conducted in connection with the church, the attendance of which is
about fifty-five. The church membership is about thirty-six.
Preaching is held every Sabbath, generally furnished by some member
of the congregation. The trustees are S. Llewellyn and
George Rodgers, who are also Elders.
Colonel Dove Post No. 301, G. A. R. -
This organization was formed Mar. 9, 1883, with thirty charter
members. Regular meetings are held in the Baptist church.
The officers elected at the organization were as follows:
Samuel Llewellyn, P. C.; T. J. Evans, S. V. C.; Newton
Kessinger, J. V. C.; Calvin Courtney, O. D.; Job Davis,
O. G.; R. Griffith, Q. M.; Joseph Smith, Adjutant;
J. Dunningberger, S. M.; Daniel Darling, Q.-M. S.;
Nicholas Oaks, Chaplain; A. J. Larned, P. S.
On section 30 is situated Evergreen church. It
was founded in 1855 by Rev. H. Adams. The building was
erected in 1867 at a cost of $1,200. It has a membership of
about eighty-five. Pastor. Rev. C. A.
Price.
The town is thickly settled, but as no census has been taken since
its organization, no number has been given. At the first
election Allen McGhee, George Reese and Marion Walters
were chosen Trustees. The township is Republican by about 100
majority.
The leading mining corporations are: Pimlot &
Hall; Western Coal Company, Garfield Coal Company (successors to
Rittenhouse & Co.), Southern Ohio Coal and Iron Company, J. H.
Wilson & Sons, Sterling Coal Company (successors to Thornhill
Coal Company), Mohler & Kessinger Coal Company,
Jones & Morgan Coal Company and the McKittrick
Brothers. All these companies have begun operating within
the last few years. The hill mines are principally worked,
although the shaft vein is thicker. The coal is of first-class
quality.
The township is bounded on the north by Washington,
east by Milton, south by Lick and west by Liberty and Jackson
townships. Its landed area is 12,00 acres. Since its
organization, the first assessment of its property has been made.
Of this the real estate is valued at 4180,717 and its personal or
chattel property $117, 475; total $298,192.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
J.
K. Darling, an old resident of
Jackson County, was born Nov. 17, 1838, on the old Darling farm,
near Coalton. He is a son of William and Sarah Darling,
who came to Ohio in an early day. He lived at the home farm
till eighteen years of age, when he began farming for himself, which
he followed about three years, when he returned to what is now
Coalton, and when about twenty-three he began dealing in stock,
continuing in the business twelve years. Apr. 19, 1860, he was
married to Jennet, daughter of William and Margaret
Richards. She died Aug. 9, 1867, leaving her husband and
two children - Alice M. and Philona S.- to mourn her
loss.
W. M. Drake, M. D.,
son of D. B. and Elizabeth Drake, was born June 22, 1853, in
Morgan County, Ohio, and when two years
[Pg. 638]
old move to Iowa, where he went to school most of the time till he
reached the age of fourteen years He then returned to Ohio and
attended school till he was twenty years of age, after which he
followed farming two years, when he was engaged as clerk in a
dry-goods store one year. At this time he began the study of
medicine under Drs. Warden and Colston, of Pennsville,
Ohio. After reading under these one year, he came to Jackson
County and studied under Dr. C. H. Burgess some time, after
which he attended three terms of lectures at the Columbus Medical
College, from which he graduated Mar. 2, 1881, receiving his degree
of M. D. Since graduating he has practiced his profession at
Coalton with the exception of having attended the lectures at the
Miami Medical College one term in 1881-'82. He was married
Sept. 20, 1882, to Ella, daughter of D. B. and Mary
Thomas.
C. Dungan
was born in Beaver County, Pa., in April, 1824, and
is a son of Margaraet and Levi Dungan, who were natives of
Pennsylvania. They settled in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1824,
where they remained the rest of their lives. Our subject's
youth was spent on his father's farm in Pennsylvania, and in
attending school during the winters till he was about twenty years
of age. In 1855 or '56 he embarked in the mercantile business,
but two years later sold out and has since been engaged in
agricultural pursuits and now owns 240 acres of fine farming land
which is underlaid with a vein of Jackson Hill coal four feet thick.
He was married Aug. 28, 1856, to Mary, daughter of William
and Mary Findley, who were natives of Ohio. they have
eight children - William F., James M., Levi M., Delia, Blanche,
Harry, Herbert and Homer.
Rev.
D. E. Evans was
born Mar. 1, 1855, in Oshkosh, Wis., and lived on the home farm till
thirteen years of age. He then attended the Oshkosh High
School two years after which he entered the Ripon College at Ripon,
Wis., from which he graduated in June, 1877. He then taught
school two years, when he entered the Theological Seminary at
Cincinnati and graduated from that institution May 25, 1882, since
which he has had charge of the Presbyterian church at Coalton.
He was married Oct. 11, 1882, to Maggie, daughter of David
D. and Margaret Evans, both of Welsh descent.
Captain T. J. Evans,
son of Evan and Mary B. Evans, was born Nov.
10, 1841, in Jackson County. He attended the common schools
till twenty years of age when he entered the Ohio University, which
he attended till September, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, One
Hundred and Seventeenth Ohio Infantry, as a private. He served
till Apr. 9, 1863, when he was discharge on account of disability.
He returned home and engaged in farming and teaching till May 14,
1863, when he was elected Captain of Company I, Ohio National
Guards. In 1867 he and his brother opened a store in
Portsmouth, but in about a year sold out, after which he was
variously engaged till 1871. He then had charge of the
mercantile department of Eagle Furnace four yes, when he was engaged
at Keystone Furnace in the same capacity until April, 1882. He
then took charge of the miners' supply store at Coalton, Ohio.
While at Keystone Furnace he was a Postmaster and Township Treasurer
three years, and is now Township Treasurer of Coal Township.
He is a Master Mason, and is Senior Vice Commander of Colonel
Dove Post. No 301, Grand Army of the Republic, at Coalton,
June 11, 1867, he was married to Ella J. Jones, who is of
Welsh descent. They have had three children - Edgar T.,
Grace and Alice, who died when eighteen months old.
John
Hipple, son of Henry
and Emma Hipple, natives of Germany, was born Nov.
29, 1838. He was educated in Germany till he was
fourteen years old, after which he
[Pg. 639]
served an
apprenticeship of three years at the blacksmith's trade
and became one of the best smiths in the county.
In 1858 he emigrated to the United States, and after
remaining a short time in Baltimore he came to
Cross Roads, Jackson County, and carried on
blacksmithing in that vicinity to Coalton, where he has
165 acres of coal land. He was married Dec. 1,
1860, to Mary C., daughter of Christian Rau,
of German descent. They have had a family of seven
children, of whom six are living - John, Caroline,
William, Jacob, Annie E. and Margaret.
Louis died in 1862, aged ten months.
John F. Hull
was born in England in October, 1826, and is a son of
John and Elizabeth Hull, both now deceased. In 1854 he
came to America, landing at Philadelphia, where he remained one
year. He then came to Jackson County, Ohio, where he has since
made his home. He has been operating in coal since 1858, and
now runs three extensive mines, and owns one-fifth interest in 60
acres of land. He was married in 1857 to Amanda,
daughter of Isaac Stevenson. They have been blessed
with six children - Isaac, Ellsworth, William, Charles, Frank
and Nettie.
Thomas Johns,
son of William and Margaret Johns, was born in
Wales, in November, 1827. His boyhood days were spent mostly
in coal mines. He was married in 1853 to Hannah,
daughter of William and Hannah Davis, natives of Wales.
They have been blessed with two children Mary and
Margaret. In 1858 he came to America, landing in
Philadelphia, where he remained till 1868. He then came to
Ohio and commenced mining ore. He came to Coalton, Ohio, in
January, 1882, and took charge of the Western Coal Works, and in the
following March bought a share in the mines, which has proved very
successful. Mr. Johns belongs to the Congregational
denomination, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has
passsed through the Blue Lodge and the Royal Arch.
Beverly
Keenan was born Sept. 10, 1810, in
Greenbrier County, Va., and is a son of John and Mary (Williams)
Keenan, who settled on the farm where our subject now resides in
1820. John Keenan was a native of Ireland, and was
brought to America when four years old. He received a liberal
education, and afterward engaged in teaching, which he followed many
years. After coming to Ohio he still followed his profession,
and was long known as one of the leading educators of Southern Ohio.
Beverly spent his boyhood days on his father's farm, and was
educated by his father while at home. At the age of fifteen
years he was placed in school under Prof. g. L. Crookham,
where he remained two years, and when seventeen years old began
learning surveying. In 1832 he was elected County Surveyor for
a term of three years, after which he acted as Deputy Surveyor a
number of years. In 1859 he was re-elected Surveyor, and
served in that capacity, with the exception of term, until 1871,
when he refused to accept the office again. He was the father
of seven children - John H., Charles C., Mary, Miriam, Margaret,
Milton, now County Treasurer of Jackson County and Douglas,
who died Apr. 7, 1871. Mrs. Keenan died May 16, 1876.
Mr. Keenan belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He is now
in his seventy-fourth year, and has retired from active life.
A.
B. Leach,
proprietor of the Coalton Planing-Mill, was born Mar. 1, 1850, in
Wood County, W. Va., a son of G. A. and Mary A. Leach, who
were also natives of Virginia. At the age of eight years he
came with his parents of Hamden, Ohio. He attended school till
he was eighteen years of age, and obtaining a good education.
After leaving school he engaged in saw-milling, which he followed)
with the exception of six months, when he was employed on the
Marietta and
[Pg. 640]
Cincinnati Railroad) until 1881. He then built his
planing-mill, which he has since operated. He was married Oct.
28, 1875, to Mary A., daughter of George W. and Matilda
Brohard. Four children were born to them, two of whom are
living - Iva M. and Oscar J. Florence and Cora B.
are deceased. Mr. Leach is a Master Mason, and member
of Mineral Lodge, No. 259, A. F. & A. M., at Hamden, Ohio.
Lorenzo
D. Lively, son of John H. and
Mary (Parker) Lively, was born July 29, 1827, in Monroe
County, W. Va. He was reared on his father's farm, and
received a limited education at the country school, which he
attended till he grew to manhood. He was married Jan. 1, 1850,
to Ellen daughter of Randal and Martha Russel.
They have seven children living - Martha (wife of John
Humphries), James M., Mary E. (wife of Charles Parmer),
Randal R., John E., Lorenzo D., Jr., and Alonzo. Minerva J.
died Apr. 25, 18957. Mr. Lively has followed farming
through life, and now owns 222 acres of fine land which is underlaid
with a heavy vein of coal, which he is having mined. In his
political views he is a Republican. Randal Russel,
father of Mrs. Lively, was a native of North Carolina, and
came to Ohio in 1806, he being then ten years of age, and he became
a prominent farmer of Southern Ohio. His wife, who still
survives him, was born may 12, 1800, in Shenandoah County, Va., and
has lived in Ohio since twelve years of age.
Robert
C. Lucas, one of
Jackson County's wealthiest citizens, was born Dec. 1, 1822, in
Jackson County, Ohio. His father was one of the leading
farmers in his day, and at his death left a splendid farm for his
children, which our subject now owns, and has always made it his
home. He spent his boyhood years by working on the farm,
attending school three months out of the year. April 1, 1849,
he was married to Mary Leach, by whom he had one child, who
died in infancy. Sept. 3, 1857, he was married to Catherine
Musgroves, and to this union were born two children, one of whom
died at the age of three months. His third wife was Mary
McGhee, whom he married Nov. 23, 1865. The result of this
marriage was one child, who died in infancy. He was married to
his last wife, Mary Keenan, Jan. 28, 1873. This
union was blessed with one child - Blanch. Mr. Lucas
has one of the most beautiful farms in Southern Ohio, containing 718
acre of land, on which is found a great deal of coal and iron ore.
Allen McGhee,
was born Sept. 25, 1835, in Jackson County, Ohio, and
is a son of Augustus and Mary McGhee, who were natives of
Virginia, of Scotch-Irish descent. They came to Ohio in
1816, where the father died in 1870, and the mother, Feb. 29, 1874.
Allen was reared a farmer, and attended the common schools
till he was twenty-one years old, where he obtained a good
common-school education. He has made farming his principal
occupation through life. He was married Sept. 5, 1861, to
Lydia, daughter of John H. and Mary Lively. Their
children are - Mary A., John A., James E., Martha J., Allen G.,
Joseph and Charles E. Mr. McGhee held the office of
Justice of the Peace from 1867 till 1870. He is a Royal Arch
Mason and member of Trowell Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M. He
belongs to Knights Templar Commandery, No. 8, Chillicothe, Ohio.
Granville
McKinniss, son of Charles and
Martha (Craner) McKinniss, was born Sept. 23, 1823, in the house
where he now resides. He was reared on the farm and received a
limited education in the subscription schools, which he attended
part of the winter season till he was seventeen or eighteen years
old. He was married July 2, 1846, to Mary P. Cassidy,
whose parents, Asa R. and Nancy

J. H. Brown
[Pg. 641]
Cassidy, died Sept. 8, 1872, and June, 1874, respectively.
Granville and Mary P. McKinniss have been blessed with ten
children - Charles, a merchant at Swiftsville, Ohio;
Martha, clerking in her brother's store; Nancy, wife of
JOHN F. SHOOK; Asa,
farming in the West; Sabrina, widow of Quiller Scott;
Alfred, farming his brother Charles's farm; Clara,
a teacher; Ida and Ada, twins, the former the wife of
Joseph W. Thornhill, and the latter the wife of Truman
Jenks; Frank D., at home with his parents. His
father, Charles McKinniss, moved from Pennsylvania to
Chillicothe, Ohio, about the year 1808, and about four years
afterward moved to Jackson County and entered the old home farm, he
having been about one of the first settlers of that part of the
country. He lived on the farm till Mar. 29, 1837, when he
died, aged ove rfifty-six years. His wife died Aug. 24, 1864,
being eighty-six years old.
Milton McKinniss,
son of Charles and Sophia McKinniss, was born
Oct. 16, 1844, on the home farm, where he still resides. He
attended the public schools during the winter, till he reached the
age of sixteen years, after which he spent six months at the Jackson
High School. Sept. 10, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, Second
West Virginia Cavalry, and participated in the battle of Wainsboro,
Five Forks, Deep Creek, siege of Petersburg, and a number of others,
and was present at Lee's surrender. He was mustered out
June 10, 1865, at Washington, D. C. He was married Mar. 14,
1866, to Martha J., daughter of John and Jane Forster,
natives of Jackson County. They have had four children -
John F., Edward, Effie and Callie. Mr. McKinniss
has served as Assessor and Trustee of Lick Township. He is a
member of Salt Lick Lodge, No. No. 417, I. O. O. F. His
father was born May 10, 1803, in Pennsylvania, and has resided in
Ohio since 1808. He had six children of whom five are living -
Granville, Ellen, Nannie, Milton, our subject, and Sophia
E. Charles D. died Feb. 11, 1883.
Captain S. D.
Morgan was born in Jefferson Township,
Jackson Co., Ohio, Feb. 26, 1843. His parents, David D. and
Rachel Morgan, came from Wales in 1835, and lived in Pomeroy,
Ohio, seven years when they moved to Jackson County, where Mr.
Morgan died in 1868. His widow is yet living at Oak Hill,
Jackson County. They were the parents of five sons - Daniel
D., died at the age of forty-two years, of lung disease;
David, died of typhoid fever, aged twenty-two years; S. D.,
our subject; Evan D. L., a physician, and lives with his
family at Galena, Scioto Co., Ohio, and John, died when ten
years of age of throat disease. Our subject lived on the farm
till he was eighteen years old and in the spring of 1862 enlisted as
a private in Company D, Seventy-Sixth Ohio Infantry, at Newark,
Ohio. After serving two years he was discharged on account of
disability, having contracted a disease of the lungs, caused by
exposure. While in the war he participated in the battles of
Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth and a number of others. After
resting about six months he raised a company of men in Jackson
County, known as Company E, One Hundred and Seventy-Ninth Ohio
Infantry. He was commissioned Captain of the company by
Governor Brough. He served till the war closed and
was in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and a number of skirmishes.
He was mustered out in the fall of 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio.
After the war he engaged in the mercantile trade at Cincinnati,
under the firm name of Price, Morgan & Co. He
sold out in about a year and took charge of his father’s farm in
Jackson County. He continued to run the farm, at the same time
being connected with furnaces about two years, when he sold the farm
and became store-keeper, and afterward assistant manager of the
Cambria Furnace about two years.
[Pg. 642]
He then was employed in the Gallia Furnace as clerk until it was
closed. He then supplied the Thomas Iron Works with
ore, but after a short time sold his ore contract and became clerk
for the same company. He was engaged in the furnaces of the
Hocking Valley three or four years when he resigned and took the
position of general superintendent of the Nelson Furnace or
Iron Works in Indiana, where he remained nearly a year. He
then returned to Jackson County and bought property; built a
business-house, and established a general store and lumber yard at
Coalton, where he has an average sale of $40,000 a year, and
carries a stock of goods worth $8,000. He was married Sept.
20, 1877, to Ellen, daughter of Rev. John Rogers, who
came from Wales about 1840. They have had three children, only
one living - Nellie. Annie, the eldest, died at the age
of eight months, and Willard died at the age of fourteen
months. Mr. Morgan is a charter member of Colonel
Dove Post, No. 301, G. A. R., at Coalton, Ohio. In
politics he has always been a Republican. He is a staunch
Union man, and believes that the reins of Government out to be in
the hands of those who fought for it and saved it.
James
Newport,
coal operator, was born Dec. 13, 1824, in Ireland,
where he received a good education, having attended school till he
was sixteen years old. He was then employed most of the time
till 1850 as weighmaster in the mercantile house, when he came to
America. Shortly after coming he went to Virginia, but is now
living in Jackson County, Ohio, where he owns forty acres of fine
land which is underlaid with the best quality of Jackson Hill coal.
He has been operating his own mines for a number of years. He
was married in 1849 to Miss Simpson. They have had nine
children - Mary (who is married and has five children),
Ellen (wife of John Cline), Kate, Eliza (wife
of John O'Brien), Willie, John,
Simpson, Edward and Maggie.
Rev. John A.
Oiler, son of E. B. and Charlotte
Oiler, was born June 26, 1843, in Monroe County, Va.
In 1861 he enlisted in Southern army, and after serving for some
time was taken prisoner. In 1863 he enlisted in Company D,
Sixty-fourth Virginia Cavalry, and did service for the Union till
the war closed. He was under General Custer and
participated in all the engagements of the Shenandoah Valley, and
was mustered out at Wheeling, W. V., July 4, 1865. He was
married Aug. 24, 1865, to Catherine A., daughter of James
Dew, and in March, 1866, moved to Jackson County, where they
have since lived. In 1883 Mr. Oiler was ordained a
minister of the Free-Will Baptist church, and now has charge of that
denomination at Coalton. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
fraternity at Jackson and is also Justice of the Peace.
Henry Peters,
deceased, was born June 22, 1825, in Brunswick,
Germany. He attended school there till he was fourteen eyars
old, and when twenty-four years of age came to America, landing in
New York, where he remained a short time. He then lived in
Carroll County, Ohio, till 1853, when he moved to Jackson County.
Mar. 20, 1851, he was married to Catherine Rose, born in
Harrison County, Ohio, in 1825, and daughter of Henry and Rebecca
(Kent) Rose. Seven children were sent to bless this union
- A. B., W. A., C. H., F. B., J. A., J. N. and C. D. Mr.
Peters and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church
for many years. At his death he owned a good farm of 280
acres, under which there is a heavy vein of coal known as Jackson
Hill coal. He also owned some fine Merino sheep and was
classed among the best farmers of the county. His death
occurred Aug. 10, 1883, caused by a kick from a horse. His
parents, August and Christina (Raschner) Peters were natives
of Germany and died in that country. Mr. Rose, father
of Mrs. Peters, was born in 1796,
[Pg. 643]
and died July 16, 1876. Her mother, Mrs. Rose, was born
in Washington County, Pa., May 29, 1800. Their ancestors came
from the old country in a very early day and took part in the
inter-colonial wars and the war of the Revolution, one of whom
carried the message from General Yates to Washington
when Burgoyne surrendered.
D. D. Phillips,
was born July 4, 1820, in Carmarthen, South Wales,
and came to America with David Phillips his father, in
October, 1832. They lived four years in Carbondale, Luzerne
Co., Pa., and then lived nine months in Maryland, when they again
returned to Pennsylvania. Our subject was married in Pomeroy,
Ohio, Oct. 31, 1843, to Jane Price, who died Mar. 19, 1855,
leaving three children - William J., who is dealing in coal
in Jackson, Mich; Mary J., who died Mar. 26, 1882, and
John W., who died Mar. 23, 1855. Mr. Phillips went
to Gallia County, Ohio, about 1855, where he remained about
twenty-seven years, and was there married to Mrs. Elizabeth
Morgan, May 9, 1855. They have had five children, only one
living - Alice M., wife of M. K. Glenn; Elizabeth
A., died June 19, 1880; Charles W., died in September,
1857; Martha E. and David G. died in infancy.
Mr. Phillips has resided in Coalton since Dec. 3, 1878, and
since October 1880, he has served as Justice of the Peace, and in
April, 1882, was elected Mayor, and is still holding that position.
He is a member of Good Hope Lodge, No. 1,416, Knights of Labor, at
Coalton. He owns a farm of seventy-five acres in Gallia
County.
W. B. Rice
was born Dec. 6, 1819, in Virginia, and when one-year
old his parents, James and Elizabeth (Ramsey) Rice, moved to
Jackson County, Ohio, where his mother died in 1834 or 1835 and his
father in 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He
was reared on the farm and attended the common schools. Oct.
15, 1840, he was married to Sarah A., daughter of R. C.
and Susan Lucas. They have been blessed with nine children
- Robert B., Susannah, James A., William L., Richard, Mary E., B.
F., Cynthia J. and one who died in infancy. Mr. Rice
owns 120 acres of lalnd, which is underlaid with an excellent
quality of coal three and one-half feet in thickness. He has
served his township as Trustee a number of years. He has
belonged to the Christian church for thirty years.
J. S. Rittenhouse
is a son of Judge Rittenhouse, who was Judge
of the courts of Ross County, Ohio, for many years. He died in
October, 1866, and his wife, Susan, died Apr. 27, 1880.
Our subject was born Feb. 26, 1846, in Ross County, where he was
reared on his father's farm, and attended the public schools till he
was seventeen years old, after which he entered college. He
was employed in the Treasurer's office for a time, and in the spring
of 1864 he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-several battles, when he
was taken sick and lay in the hospital many weeks. He was
mustered out in October, 1864, and after regaining his health began
dealing in stock, which he followed successfully several years, but
is at present keeping a hotel and operating a saw-mill at Coalton,
Ohio. He was married Apr. 3, 1870, to Eliza Day, a
descendant of Captain William Day, of Revolutionary fame.
Christian Row
was born May 12, 1835, in Germany, a son of
Christian and Margaret (Oul) Row, natives of Germany. In
1857 he came to America, and after staying two weeks in Portsmouth
came to Cross Roads, Ohio, where he worked at ore digging one year,
after which he was employed on the railroad in different capacities
for twelve years. He was married Aug. 28, 1859, to Caroline
Baker by whom he has had eight children - John, Philip, Mary,
Kate, Caroline, Margaret, Ida and William. In 1872
he moved to his present farm near Coalton, where he has eighty acres
of good land, of which seventy-five acres are
[Pg. 644]
supplied with a vein of coal about three feet in thickness.
Mr. Row has served as School director four years, and is a
member of the Grange at Sterling School-house.
Andrew Roy,
son of David and Mary Roy, was born in
Lanarkshire, Scotland, July 19, 1834. His father came to
America in 1849 and in 1850 Andrew followed him and landed in
Maryland, where he remained till 1859, when he went to Arkansas.
In 1861 he enlisted in the Tenth Pennsylvania Reserve Infantry,
being engaged in many of the battles of the war. He was
wounded at the battle of Gaines Hill, from which he has never fully
recovered, and was left for dead on the battlefield. He was
then kept in Libby Prison some time when he was exchanged and
discharged in the fall of 1863. July 21, 1864, he was married
to Janet Watson. Seven children have been born to them
- Maggie, D. Y., Flora, William, Dock, Charles and James.
In 1874 he was appointed State Mine Inspector by Governor Allen
which position he still holds. In 1878 he was nominated on the
Greenback ticket for Secretary of State, but was not elected,
although he came out ahead of his ticket. He owns 125 acres of
land where he resides, and in May, 1883, laid out on his farm the
town of Glen Roy, consisting of 200 lots. Mr. Roy is a
member of Colonel Dove Post, G. A. R., at Coalton, Ohio.
B. F. Scott,
one of the prominent citizens of Coalton, was born Dec. 3, 1820,
near Parkersburg, W. Va., and came to Ohio in 1824 with his parents,
B. F. and Celia (Leach) Scott. They settled near Hamden,
his parents living there and in the adjoining settlement till their
death. Mr. Scott died Apr. 3, 1873, and his wife Feb.
4, 1868. Our subject was reared on the home farm and worked
with his father until he was twenty-one years old. Like all
pioneer boys his educational advantages were limited. He
joined the Methodist Episcopal church at an early age, to which he
has belonged over forty years. May 20, 1847, he was married to
Martha Sell, who was has born July 12, 1823, daughter
of Adam and Catherine Sell, of German descent. Mr.
Sell been a member of the Methodist church since childhood.
Six children have been born to this union, four of whom are living -
Winfield, Kate, wife of H. G. Lasley, of Wellston;
Adam, a coal operator, and Hamie. Quillen died Dec.
29, 1881, aged thirty-one years, and Edith died at the age of
twenty years, July 13, 1880. In the fall of 1854 Mr. Scott
was drafted into the army, but not felling able to go here hired a
substitute, paying him $1,000.
Jacob A. Sell,
son of Adam and Catherine Sell, was born
in Ross County, Ohio, about 1818, and in 1822 moved with his parents
to Jackson County, where he still resides on the old home place.
He has followed farming through life with the exception of teaching
school two terms, and now owns a large tract of land in this county
which is underlaid with a fine quality of Jackson Hill coal.
Nov. 4, 1851, he was married to Jane E., daughter of David
and Ellen Mitchell, who are both deceased. They have had
ten children, of whom nine are living - Adam C., George W., Alice
O. (wife of C. N. Thornhill), David N., Harmon E.,
Elmer E., Martha, Mary and Oliver C. Charles D.
died Aug. 27, 1879, aged three years. Mr. Sell served
as Justice of the Peace of Washington Township a number of years,
and held the office of County Commissioner, by re-election, from
1859 till 1868, and during his administration the courthouse and
jail were built. He is well versed in several of the sciences,
and lately has made a specialty of the study of geology. His
father was an early pioneer of Ross County, and served in the war of
1812. Mrs. Sell's father was one of the Representatives
of Southern Ohio, and Associate Judge a number of years. He
was also a member of the Ohio state Senate and a soldier in the war
of 1812.
John F. Shook, one of the
founders of Coal-
[Pg. 645]
ton, was born Dec. 1, 1848, in West Virginia, a son
of Samuel and Elizabeth Shook. They moved from West
Virginia in 1866 to Ohio, and settled where Coalton now stands.
John F. worked on the farm and attended the public schools in
the winter till he was about twenty-one years of age, after which he
taught school several terms. In 1874 he entered the Ohio State
Normal School, taking a commercial course, and graduating in June,
1875, when he again engaged in teaching, and has followed that
profession in all about eight years. He was married Sept. 5,
1877, to Nannie E., daughter of Granville McKinniss.
They have two children - Mabel P. and Howard. In
1880 Mr. Shook was appointed census enumerator, and in
September, 1881, he engaged in the mercantile business at Coalton,
where he now carries a stock of about $6,000, with a sale of about
$24,000.
R.
M. Steele, M. D.,
son of R. M. and Caroline (Lebreck) Steele,
was born July 12, 1848, in Lawrence County, Ohio. His father
moved from Pennsylvania in 1846 or 1847 and located in Lawrence
County, Ohio, but shortly after settled in Jackson County, where he
still lives. He was reared on a farm, and received an
education at the common schools, and at the age of twenty years
began teaching school. He taught two years, after which he was
Superintendent of the Hamden public schools until he entered the
medical college. In 1872 he began the study of medicine under
Dr. G. L. Gorslene, of Athens, and afterward attended the
State medical college at Columbus, Ohio, where he remained till his
health failed. In 1880 he again entered college and graduated
with high honors in 1881. He has practiced some in Athens
County but mostly in Jackson County, and now has a large practice at
Coalton. He enlisted in the late war in 1863 as a teamster,
and the following summer volunteered in Company G, under Sheridan
and Custer. He was in the battles of Five Forks,
Deep Creek, Sailor Creek and all the engagements with Lee
until his surrender, and served till the war closed. He was
married in 1872 to Mary, daughter of Isaac Funk, who
is of German descent. They have three children - James H.,
Clara L. and Earl C. Dr. Steele is President of the
Jackson County Medical Society, and is a charter member of the Grand
Army of the Republic at Coalton.
Isaac V. Stevison,
son of William and Catherine Stevison, was
born in 1797 in New Jersey. At an early age he was apprenticed
for seven years at the tailor's trade, and was one of the best
tailors in the country. He was married in 1818 to Annie
Wilson. Of the twelve children born to them seven are
living - Daniel, John, Vorus, Catherine, Rebecca, Lavina and
Amanda J. Sophia died at the age of five years, William
at eighteen months, Robert when three years, Nancy S.
when fifteen years, William at eighteen months, Robert
when three years, Nancy S. when fifteen years, and Lewis
died in 1862, aged forty years. Our subject's father died in
1803 or '4 and his mother in 1861.
Charles N. Thornhill,
son of G. D. and Gertrude Thornhill, was born
May 15, 1858, in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he spent the first seven
years of his life. He then went to Xenia and attended the
public and high schools till he was fourteen years old. He
then went to Cincinnati and entered a shop, where he was engaged in
Granite Cutting for five years. He was then engaged for the
next three yeas in raising cotton in the South, after which he came
to Jackson County. He then purchased what is now known as the
Sterling Coal Company, in which business he is still engaged, and
meeting with good success. On Dec. 27, 1881, he was married to
Alice Sell, daughter of J. A. Sell, residents of
Jackson County. They have one child - Gertrude E., born
Dec. 26, 1882. His father is at present extensively engaged in
the planing-mill business at Xenia.
J. A. Whetzel, was born July 19, 1842, in Jackson County, Ohio, and
is a son of
Jacob
[Page 646]
Whetzel, who is a second cousin of Lewis Whetzel, the
well-known Indian hunter. He came to Jackson County, Ohio, in
1817, and is still living near Jackson, aged seventy-five years.
His wife is still living, and is seventy-two yeas of age. Our
subject at the age of thirteen went West with his parents, and
remained about four years. He then returned and attended the
public schools in the winter till he was twenty-one years old, when
he attended the Ewington Academy three terms. He then enlisted
in Company G, Second West Virginia Cavalry, and participated in the
battles of the Shenandoah Valley, and in the spring of 1865 moved to
Petersburg and participated in the engagements there until Lee's
surrender of March 31. At Dinwiddie C.-H. he was wounded in
the thigh; was mustered out of the service July 12, 1865, at
Washington. He then went to school and taught until the winter
of 1867, when he was married to Miss S. C. Neal, daughter of
Anderson and Levina Neal of Gallia County, Ohio. They have
seven children - Lucy B., Albert G., Dora L., Nellie G., Ada C.,
Mary E. and James A. Garfield. Mr. Whetzel has
taught ten years, but is now engaged in farming and gardening, and
owns seventy-eight acres of fine land underlaid with a large vein of
Jackson shaft coal. He is an active member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and is now living at Glen Roy, Jackson Co., Ohio.
J. H. Wilson,
coal operator at Coalton, was born Dec. 10, 1835, in Pittsburg, Pa.,
a son of Robert and Rebecca (Holmes)
Wilson. His boyhood was spent about the
Coal Hill coal Works, near Pittsburg, and in attending school till
his sixteenth year, when his father engaged in the ill business at
Murdocksville, Pa., and he attended the Murdocksville Academy and
graduated in the spring of 1854. In the spring of 1855 the
family moved to Jackson County, Ohio, and in the following fall our
subject went to Pittsburg and graduated from the Commercial College
of that place in the spring of 1856. He then entered the
employ of J. D. Clare, at Cross Roads, Ohio, as bookkeeper
and general clerk. After remaining with them three years he
engaged in teaching, following that profession till 1864, when he
was nominated for Sheriff and elected by a majority of 750. He
served two years when he was re-elected by a majority of 900 votes,
holding the office till his term expired. He then moved to his
farm where he resided nearly twelve years, during which time he was
engaged as a general agent for the Wilson Sewing Machine Co.
In 1878 he embarked in the mercantile business, and is also
operating extensively in coal. Dec. 25, 1855, he was
married to Martha J., daughter of Uriah and Sarah Titus,
natives of Ohio. Seven children have been born to them,
five of whom are living - Robert U.; Lede T., wife of
William Darling; Sidney G. and Rachel (twins), the
latter being deceased; John S.; Effie M., wife of
William Pratt, and Eugene, who died at the age of ten
years. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Town Council.
T. J. Williams
was born Nov. 30, 1840, in Weston, Oneida Co., N. Y.,
a son of John T. and Elizabeth Williams, who came from Wales
about 1830. He attended school in his native town till 1854,
when he moved with his parents to Jackson County, Ohio, where he
worked about furnaces in summer and attended school during the
winter till he was twenty-one years old. He then enlisted in
Company C, Fifty-sixth Ohio Infantry, as a private, but was soon
promoted to Corporal, Quartermaster-Sergeant, then to Second
Lieutenant, and then to First Lieutenant, which position he held
till he was mustered out May 1, 1866, at New Orleans. He was
in the battles of Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Vicksburg, siege
of Corinth, Red River and a number of others. After the war he
clerked in Portsmouth till Feb. 12, 1868, since which time he has
been a partner in the Buckeye Furnace. He was married
[Pg. 647]
Jan. 15, 1867, to Annie E., daughter of D. M. and Mary
Davis, of Portsmouth. They have had six children -
Grace, Elmer, Harlan, Bertha, Annie and Laura, who
died in infancy. Mrs. Williams died Aug. 6, 1880, aged
thirty-four years. Mr. Williams has been Clerk of the
township for two years, Justice of the Peace one term, Trustee of
township one year, and a member of the School Board a number of
years. He is a Master Mason and belongs to Orphans' Friend
Lodge, No. 275, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Adam Winfough,
an old resident of Coalton, was born Nov. 5, 1821, in Ross County,
Ohio, a son of Nov. 5, 1821, in Ross County, Ohio, a son of
Frederick and Mary (Adams) Winfough, the former of German and
the latter of English descent. His father came to America
before the Revolution and was a soldier in the war of 1812.
The family came to Jackson County in 1823 and settled one and a half
miles from what is now Coalton. Our subject was reared on a
farm and received such an education as the schools of that day
afforded. In 1862 he was appointed enrolling officer of
Washington Township by the Marshal of Jackson County. He also
acted as Deputy Sheriff two years while W. H. Wilson was
Sheriff. In 1876-'77 he was operating in coal - supplying the
surrounding country and shipping about twenty wagon loads per day.
He lived on the home farm till 1878 when he moved to Coalton where
he was appointed Postmaster. In 1878 he engaged in the
mercantile business which he followed about five years. After
selling out he began speculating in real estate, his present
business. June 8, 1842 he was married to Matilda,
daughter of Jacob and Mary Anthony. They had three
children, one living - Nancy C., wife of David Nunnemaker.
Those deceased are - Martha J., who was married to William
Evans, died May 17, 1883, and an infant. Mr. Winfough
has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church about forty
years.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Washington township was
formed from Jackson and Lick townships in September, 1821. The
original townships, as described in the petition, were bounded about
as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of the Scioto
Salt Reservation, running on the north line of the same to the
southeast corner of section 7, Lick Township; thence northwest so as
to include a coal bank in section 5, Lick Township; thence northwest
so as to intersect with the old coal road at or near the top of a
hill known by the name of Bunker's Hill, near the head of Mooney's
Run, including all on said coal road; thence east to the range line
between ranges 17 and 18 so as to include William Ray's place
on section 7, Jackson Township; thence south with said range line to
the place of beginning. These boundaries made the township
about twice as large as at present. The township was afterward
reduced to less than congressional size. The top row of
sections of township 8, range 18, of which Washington Township is
composed, being across the line in Vinton County, and so remained
until the fall of 1882, when eight sections were taken off from the
southern part to help form the new township of Coal. This
leaves Washington only twenty-two townships, the smallest but one in
the county, or 14,080 acres of land.
TOPOGRAPHY.
This is one of the rough
townships of the county, being greatly diversified by small streams,
and many of the hills are too rough for cultivation. A branch
of Salt Creek passes through the township from southeast to
northwest, having its exit very near the northwest corner of the
township. The
[Pg. 648]
stream is sometimes designated as Pigeon Fork.
Although coal abounds in these hills and beneath the
surface, no mining is done except for local use, the leading
occupation being farming and grazing. But even in this
township does not excel, as only a small proportion of the land lies
well enough to be cultivated successfully.
SCHOOLS.
The schools of this
township are perhaps above the average in the county. There
are eight schools and 480 pupils in the township. The average
price paid to teachers is $40 a month. There is one graded
school in the township at Ellsworth.
At the last Presidential election 307 votes were polled
in the township. The first colored vote was that of David
James in 1874.
The minerals of this township consist of several veins
of coal in the hills, ranging from twenty-seven to thirty-eight
inches in thickness; iron ore, red and block, and a strata of sand
rock, which furnishes excellent building material. A coal
shaft is being sunk on the farm of J. G. Ray, already over
150 feet deep, in search of the four-foot vein, but at last reports
it had n ot been reached. The iron ore has been more
extensively worked, but yet to a small extent compared with other
localities in the county. On the farm of W. R. Hamilton,
where a splendid quality of block ore abounds, the mining has
recently been quite extensive.
ELLSWORTH.
Ellsworth is a small village
of about 175 inhabitants, located in the northwest corner of the
township, at the crossing of the C., W. & B. and T., C. & St. L.
railroads. It was first laid out in 1869 by John Skully,
and afterward added to by a plat made by Charles Rawlin.
The village has two general stores, kept by C. H. McCormick
and W. W. Kennedy (the latter of whom officiates as
Postmaster and railroad agent), a graded school and one church.
The Schools were
graded in 1880, and
T. Ray secured as Principal. A good school building was
erected in 1880 at a cost of $1,000. There are about ninety
pupils.
The Methodist Episcopal
Church was organized in the spring of 1875 and the building put
up the same year. The house cost about $800. The
membership at the present time is about twenty-four. Pastor,
Rev. Mr. Bell.
Finley Chapel,
Methodist Episcopal, is situated on section 27. It was built
in 1855, although the society had held meetings for some time in
private houses and a school-house. The building is peculiar
for its shape, being hexagonal in form.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
James
Forster, farmer
and stock-raiser, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, Nov. 6, 1814.
His father, James Forster, came from Ireland and was one of
the first settlers of Southern Ohio, having come to Jefferson County
in 1812, where he resided till 1848, when he died at the age of
seventy-three yeas. Martha Forster, mother of our
subject, was a native of Pennsylvania. She died in 1862 aged
seventy-seven years. Our subject has followed farming all his
life and has 194 acres of good land, which is underlaid with the
Wellston vein of coal. He was married Feb. 21, 1839, to
Eliza Foster, by whom he had five children, of whom two are
living - John, born June 17, 1845, living in Iowa, and
Isabella, born Feb. 14, 1852, now Mrs. James Hamil-
[Pg. 649]
lin. Those deceased are - George, born Jan. 22, 1840,
and died at the age of four years and four months; Elizabeth,
born Jan. 22, 1843, died when sixteen months old; Martha J.,
born Aug. 18, 1848, and died Dec. 11, 1852. Mrs. Forster
died July 27, 1853, and he was again married , Mar. 30, 1854, to
Nancy Pittenger, born Feb. 3, 1823. They have two children
- William H., born Apr. 2, 1855, and Jennie M.,
born Sept. 9, 1862, wife of J. H. Dixon.
Isaac Fry,
son of George Fry, was born July
11, 1812, in Chillicothe, and at the age of sixteen years began to
work on the Ohio Canal where he worked three years, since which time
he has been variously engaged, such as making shoes, burning life,
working at the carpenter's trade and farming. Aug. 21, 1831,
he was married to Hannah Wyatt. They have had a family
of eleven children - Rachel, wife of Adam Like, was
born July 24, 1832, and died Apr. 11, 1872; Catharine, wife
of Daniel Shepherd; Amanda, wife of Samuel
Eisenawgle; George W.; Rebecca, wife of William
Kruger; Andrew W. who was born Oct. 26, 1840, and died Oct. 3,
1842; Joseph W., William G., Isaac H., Thomas W. and
James E. Our subject's parents on the one side were of
German descent, and came from Pennsylvania to Ohio prior to the war
of 1812. His father, George Fry, was a soldier of the
war of 1812, under General Harrison. In the year 1816
he moved to McArthur, this being about the time the village was laid
out. He died in 1847. On the other side they were of
English descent, and came from North Carolina to Ohio in 1800 and
settled in the western part of Vinton County. Her father,
Joseph Wyatt, was born in North Carolina, in October, 1879, and
died near Marengo, Iowa, Nov. 3, 1881, having lived under every
administration. George W., son of our subject, was born
Jan. 8, 1838. His early educational advantages were limited to
usually three months in a year. At one time there was no
school in the sub-district in which he resided and he applied for
admission in an adjoining sub-district where the school was small,
but was denied admission. He did not yield to disappointment,
but went to an adjoining school and was admitted. The tuition
for the three months was $2.30, and he had saved $2.25 from his
meager earnings. He attended this school the next winter and
his tuition was $2.25 and he had saved $2.30, so the remaining five
cents was paid. These were some of the difficulties of
obtaining a common-school education thirty years ago. He now
owns the farm on which the first mentioned school-house stood, and
where a new one now stands, and he is one of the local Directors.
When not at school he worked on a farm. He received his first
certificate in December, 1857, and taught school one term. In
1858-'59-'60 he attended the Jackson Academy, M. Gilmor being
Principal. During the winters he taught school to get means to
pay his way at the Academy. He was twice elected Clerk of
Milton Township and was commissioned First Lieutenant of the militia
by Governor Tod. He served as private the greater part
of the last year of the war in Company K, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, being mustered out at Augusta, Ga., Oct. 9, 1865. He
then resumed teaching again. He was married Mar. 8, 1866, to
Minerva Phillips, and has one child - Charles, who was
born Jan. 19, 1867. Mrs. Fry died Apr. 25, 1868.
After teaching in the public schools of his own county quite a
while, he was elected Principal of the Hamden schools, and from
there he took charge of the grammar school of McArthur, Prof. M.
R. Barnes, Superintendent. In a short time he was elected
Superintendent of the Zaleski public schools where he stayed three
years, visiting the Centennial Exposition during the time. In
1872 he was appointed School Examiner of Jackson County and has
re-appointed, but resigned before his time had expired.
[Pg. 650]
He also taught a successful select school during the summers of
1874-'75 in Pike County and has been principal of the schools of
Frankfort, Berlin and Wellston. In August, 1883, he was
re-elected Superintendent of the Zaleski schools, where he is now
teaching.
Patrick Hogan,
son of Dennis and Deborah Hogan, was born Mar.
17, 1818, in County Kerry, Ireland, and came to America in 1852.
On Nov. 4, 1854, he was married to Margaret, daughter of
James and Margaret Courtney, who were of Irish descent.
Eight children have been born to them, of whom seven survive -
Aba M. Thomas (who is a molder by trade), M. D. (now
clerk of Washington Township), John J. (teaching in Jackson
County), T. S. (also a teacher), J. W. and Francis
Joseph. Mr. Hogan owns seventy six acres of land on which
is found a vein of coal three feet thick. Also, a good quality
of red and rough block ore and some limestone and kidney ore.
He is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
C. A. Musgrove
was born in Scioto County, Feb. 27, 1829, a son of
Elijah Musgrove, who came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1816.
He lived in Scioto County until 1837, when he moved to Jackson
County, where he died Jun. 10, 1854. Our subject spent his
early life in working on the farm, and received only a limited
education. He was married May 23, 1860, to Martha A.,
daughter of Archibald Hunter, who died in October, 1860.
They have had four children, of whom two are living - Margaret L.
and Eliza. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Company
B, Sixty-second Ohio Infantry, and participated in a number of
battles. He was with his regiment Apr. 9, 1865, and helped
capture Lee, hearing him fire his last gun. Mr.
Musgrove is now serving his third term as Township Treasurer.
He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.
J. G. Ray,
son of Teague and Amy (Graves) Ray, was born
Oct. 10, 1827, in Vinton County, Ohio. His parents were
natives of North Carolina, and moved to Ohio in 1804, where the
father died, Aug. 10, 1843, and the mother, May 13, 1873. When
the subject of this sketch grew to manhood he engaged in teaching
school and farming. He was married Aug. 14, 1847, to Louisa,
daughter of Joseph and Rachel Dixon, who were also natives of
North Carolina, both now deceased. this union was blessed with
seven children, all of whom are living - L. D., Electa (wife
of L. W. Smallwood), Priscilla (wife of W. M.
Brooks), Teague, Joseph H., Ethelbert S. and Alvah G.
In 1865 Mr. Ray was elected Justice of the Peace of
Washington Township, and was continued in that office for fifteen
years, and is at present Notary Public in Jackson County, having
been appointed Apr. 17, 1883. He has held almost all the
township offices, and during the civil war was a First Lieutenant in
a company of Ohio National Guards. He is a Democrat in
politics, and he and his wife are members of the Christian
church.
Hiram Strawn
was born in Perry County, Ohio, Nov. 3, 1823, a son
of Thomas Strawn, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German
descent. Hiram was reared on the home farm, and
attended the public schools till he was nineteen years of age.
He was married May 29, 1845, to Elizabeth, daughter of
James and Abigail Wilson, who were natives of Pennsylvania and
early pioneers of Ohio, but are now deceased. Mrs. Strawn
died June 22, 18626, leaving two children - Harrison, who is
operating gold mines in Colorado, and Jane, wife of a. B.
Cox. Mar. 24, 1864, Mr. Strawn was again
married to Sally, daughter of Simon and Elizabeth Reed,
who were of German descent. Mr. Strawn has 300 acres of
land on which is found a large quantity of red and rough block and
kidney ore. He takes pride in having fine stock.
Dr. D. E. Tedrow
was born Nov. 25, 1844,
[Pg. 651]
in Athens County, Ohio, and is a son of Alexander and Ellen
Tedrow, who are natives of Ohio, the former of Scotch and the
latter of German descent. His boyhood days were spent in
attending school, principally in Athens, and Dec. 16, 1861, he
enlisted in Company D, Seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry. He
participated in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg
and Chancellorsville, where he was wounded in the right leg which
had to be amputated. He was then mustered out at Cincinnati,
and returned home. Soon after he began learning the
harness-maker's trade, which he followed five years, after which he
read medicine under Dr. Shannon, of Allenville, Ohio, for two
years. He then attended the Columbus Medical College in the
winter of 1877-'78, and in the winter of 1879-'80 he attended the
Miami College, at Cincinnati, from which he graduated Mar. 28, 1880,
since which he has practiced his profession at Ellsworth, Ohio.
He was married July 25, 1867, to Lizzie, daughter of Uriah
and Leah Tippey. They have eight children - Ella E.,
Emma F., Herba E., Harvey A., Eva M., Lewis L., Gracie M. and
Ernest D. Dr. Tedrow is a Past Guard of Ellsworth Lodge,
No. 661, I. O. O. F.
Stephen M. Tripp,
Commissioner of Jackson County, was born May 28, 1836, in Jackson
County, Ohio, and has always resided in this county. He is a
son of William H. A. and Nancy A. Tripp, his father a native
of Washington County, Ohio, born June 25, 1802, and died in 1849;
his mother a native of Harrison County, Va., born May 14, 1805, is
still living. He was reared on a farm, and being deprived of
his father when thirteen years of age, his educational advantages
were limited, but by his perseverance and energy he acquired a good
education. May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred
and Forty-eighth Ohio Infantry, under Captain J. J. McDowell,
and was on the skirmish line between Richmond and Petersburg.
A part of the time he was Color-bearer. He was a brave
soldier, always ready to do his duty. He was mustered out at
Marietta, Ohio, Sept. 14, 1864, and after his return home engaged in
farming, and in working at the carpenter's trade. He owns a
fine farm of 160 acres, 120 acres of which is the old homestead.
He was married June 1, 1862, to Eliza J., daughter of
William and O. Tucker, now of Crawford County, Kan. They
have had a family of nine children, but seven now living -
William O., born Aug. 26, 1863; Ida F., Dec. 26, 1864;
Anngenette born Sept. 25, 1866, died July 17, 1870; Joseph G.,
born Aug. 30, 1868, died June 7, 1869; Homer H., born Mar.
24, 1870; Harriet E., Nov. 8, 1872; Sanford B., Dec.
29, 1874; Thomas F., July 22, 1877; Roscoe C., Mar.
19, 1880. Mr. Tripp was elected Commissioner of Jackson
County on the Republican ticket, by a majority of 303 votes.
He is a member of Hamden Post, G. A. R.
Rev. William Wallace.
a descendant of William Wallace the Scottish patriot, was
born in the North of Ireland. His parents John and Jane
Wallace, were natives of Ireland, but are now deceased, the
former having died in 1835 and the latter in 1845. Our subject
emigrated to America when about twenty years of age; came to
Steubenville, Ohio, where after a few years he engaged in the
mercantile business for some time. From there he moved to
Harrison County, Ohio, where he carried on the same business about
three years, when he moved to Jackson County, where he has since
made his home. He was married Jan. 11, 1847, to Mary A.,
daughter of Timothy and Mary Titus. They have had nine
children, eight of whom are still living, six sons and two daughters
- their oldest daughters, Mary J., died Dec. 16, 1867, aged
eighteen years. The son s are all in business for themselves
except the youngest, a minor, still at home. Mr. Wallace
has de -
[Pg. 652]
voted much of his life to the ministry, holding revival meetings
when only about sixteen years of age. He was ordained by
Bishop Morris at Chillicothe, Ohio, in September, 1857, and for
many years traveled as a Methodist preacher in Southern Ohio.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
TOPOGRAPHY.
CANTNER'S CAVE.
[Pg. 653]
SETTLEMENT.
[Pg. 654]
SCHOOLS.
RAYSVILLE.
is a little village situated
on the C., W. & B. R. R., just on the line between Jackson and
Vinton counties. It was laid out while that road was being
built, in 1854, by Moses Ray. Its growth has not been
rapid. It now has about 150 inhabitants; three business
houses, viz.: J. H. McCormick, store; Thacker &
Co., store; Smallwood & Dixon, store; a postoffice,
school-house, a church, and Grand Army Republic Post. The
postoffice was established in 1864, J. H. McCormick,
Postmaster. Grand Army Republic - Lieutenant's Post,
established Jan. 18, 1883 - has now forty-five members. The
Christian church was organized by Rev. Thos. M. Pinkerton, in
1852. In 1870 they built a church building costing $500.
Has now about 110 members, Rev. A. J. Watts, pastor.
SWIFTSVILLE.
Ellsworth Lodge, No. 661, I. O. O. F.
Trinity Church
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church
Pleasant Valley Church
is situated on section 32, near the settlement about the Baily Mill.
It was established in 1862 by Rev. Jacob Mark. The
congregation originally consisted of twelve members. In 1871
they built a 22 x 28 meeting-house costing $200. The
congregation has increased to twenty members; Rev. J. J. Springer,
pastor.
Leach Postoffice,
on section 28, was established Feb. 1, 1883, Thompson Leach,
Postmaster. Mail is carried on horseback twice each week.
Assessed valuation in 1882 was: Real estate, $139,086;
personal property, $67,771; total, $206,857
[Pg. 655]
BIOGRAPHICAL.
D. B. Drake, M. D.,
was born Aug. 5, 1822, in Belmont County, and is a son of Enos
Drake, who was an officer in the war of 1812, and was born July
8, 1787. His wife, Jane Drake, was born Aug. 31, 1794.
Our subject spent his youth on his father's farm in Morgan County,
Ohio, and in attending the public schools. In 1852 he began
reading medicine under Dr. R. J. Almond, and in 1855 he began
the practice of his profession, which he has since followed.
He is at present located at Leo, Ohio, where he has built up a large
practice. He was married Mar. 5, 1846, to Elizabeth,
daughter of Samuel and Abigail Naylor. They have eight
children - Amanda J., born Dec. 31, 1846; Mary A.,
July 28, 1848; C. D., Aug. 9, 1850; W. M., June 23,
1853; Jonathan N., born Dec. 22, 1855; Francis J., May
6, 1858; Elizabeth E., Apr. 12, 1861, and Allie M.,
Feb. 11, 1864.
Robert Ervin
was born Dec. 4, 1822, in Virginia, and is a son of
Robert and Hannah Ervin, who were natives of Virginia, but
moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1829. He was reared to farm
labor and received a limited education in the common schools.
He was married Dec. 8, 1844, to Rachel, daughter of John
and Rachel Thompson, who were natives of Virginia, of German
descent. Thirteen children have been sent to this union,
of whom eleven are living - James M., John, Sarah, Jane,
Margaret, Mary, Lizzie, Thomas, Robert, David E. and Martha.
Abigail and an infant are deceased. Since 1859 Mr.
Ervin has been operating the Perry Mills. He has held
several of the county offices and is a member of Ellsworth Lodge,
No. 661, I. O. O. F.
Abraham
French, deceased, was born Nov. 30,
1807, in Giles County, Va., and was a son of Henry and Abigail
French, who were also natives of Virginia, born May 16, 1765, and
Mar. 6, 1773, respectively. In 1815 they moved to Gallia
County, Ohio, but soon after moved to Jackson County, where the
father died in1843, and the mother in 1841. At the age of
eighteen years our subject went to the Kenawha Salt Works, where he
was engaged in transporting the salt for the company for nine years.
He was married in December, 1832, to Rachel Ridenour who was
born Aug. 13, 18910. They were the parents of ten children, of
whom six are living - Henry S., Eliza, William C., Franklin,
Permelia and Abraham. Soon after his marriage he
moved to Jackson, where he kept hotel and was engaged in several
stage and mail routes till 1865, when his health failed him, and he
retired to the farm where his death occurred, July 27, 1870.
He commenced life empty handed but by economy and industry
accumulated a large property. His hand was always open to all
benevolent institutions, and he aided largely in building the
Methodist Episcopal church at Jackson.
Joseph
M. Ray, son of
Martin and Hannah Ray, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, Apr.
27, 1829. He is engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has some
coal and iron ore on his land. He was married in April, 1859,
to Ann K. Carter, who was born Aug. 26, 1837, a daughter of
Joel and Mary Carter. They have had eight children, of
whom four are living - Mary H., Wilder, Worth and Edith M.
Mr. Ray’s parents were pioneers of Ohio, coming to the State in
1819. His father died in 1866, aged seventy-two years, and his
mother died at the age of eighty-five years, in 1880.
William T. Richardson
was born Oct. 15, 1846, in Franklin Township, Jackson
County, a son of James and Perthena (Brancon)
Richardson, natives of Virginia. He worked for twelve
years in coal mines and in 1876 bought seventy acres in Jackson
Township where he has since lived, having been engaged in
farming until 1880. Since that time he has been an agent for
various sewing ma-
[Pg. 656]
chines. He was married Oct. 15, 1868, to Elizabeth
Kennedy, born Jan. 3, 1849, and daughter of John and
Elizabeth (Butler) Kennedy, who were natives of Pennsylvania.
They have had five children, of whom two are living - Daisy B.
and Alma G. He is a Republican in politics.
Alfred
L. Robbins,was born in Wood County,
West Va., Mar. 2, 1855, and removed with his parents to Jackson
County, Ohio, where he was reared and received his early education.
He afterward attended the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and the
Ohio Valley Business College at Parkersburg, Va. Being an apt
student, at the age of eighteen he was qualified to teach and since
then has taught sixty-five months. He has been very
successful, both as a disciplinarian and instructor. He now
owns fifty-five and a half acres of land on sections 35 and 36,
Jackson Township. He married Effie, daughter of
William L. Faulkner. They have one child.
P. Springer
was born Sept. 10, 1845, in Jackson Township, Jackson
County. He enlisted Aug. 8, 1862, in Company B, One Hundred
and Seventeenth Ohio Infantry, where he served one year, when the
regiment was then re-organized into the First Ohio Volunteer Heavy
Artillery. He participated in a number of battles and served
till the war closed, being mustered out June 20, 1865, at Knoxville,
Tenn. After coming home he returned to school awhile, after
which he engaged in farming, which he yet follows. He was
married Oct. 8,1867 to
Callie, daughter of Lewis and Sarah Leach. They
are the parents of five children - Minnie G., Edith A., Lula A.,
Vera O. and Lillie M. Mr. Springer was elected
County Commissioner on the Republican ticket in 1876, re-elected by
a large majority in 1881, and still holds that office. He has
been Postmaster of Springer postoffice since Sept. 7, 1882.
His father is a native of New York, of Swedish descent. He
came to Jackson Township in 1835, where he lived till his death in
December, 1858, at the age of forty-five years.
John L.
Wills
was born Dec. 26, 1831, in Gallia County, a
son of Woodson and Sarah Wills, who were natives of Monroe
County, Va. They moved to Gallia County, Ohio, in 1831, and
afterward moved to Jackson County, where Sarah Wills died in
June, 1843. Woodson Wills again removed to Ross County,
Ohio, where he died July 11, 1879, aged eighty-one years.
John L. was married Nov. 16, 1859, to Mary A., daughter
of Richard and Nancy Vaughters, who were natives of Virginia,
coming to Jackson County in 1831. Nancy Vaughters
died Aug. 8, 1870, and Richard Vaughters died Jan. 14,
1883. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wills,
six of whom are living - Richard W., John W., James S., Leonidas
E., Bennie F. and Mary F. Alonzo G. died Jan. 24,
1869, and Thomas O. died June 30, 1875. John L.
Wills enlisted in the Ninety First Ohio volunteer Infantry, Aug.
12, 1862, in Captain L. M. Stephenson's company. He
served two years, ten months and fourteen days. participating
in Fourteen battles under Generals Crook and
Sheridan. Mr. Wills owns 235 acres of land and takes pride
in the improvement of the same.
John
Wood was born Apr. 8, 1831, in
Pennsylvania, a son of William and Mary
Wood who were also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1853 he
moved to Ohio, where he has always followed farming, and as a result
of his own exertions he now owns 336 acres of good land. He
also owns some fine merino sheep and short horn cattle. He was
married July 4, 1852, to Mahala Leep, who is now
deceased. They had three children - William, Sandy E.
and Amanda. Dec. 25, 1862, Mr. Wood was again
married to Mrs. Mary Wilson. this union has been
blessed with two children - John R. and Electa O.

J. H. MCCORMICK
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