Biographies

Source: 
History of Morgan County, Ohio
with
Portraits and Biographical Sketches
of some of its
Pioneers and Prominent Men.
By Charles Robertson, M. D.
 - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co.
1886

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DR. JOHN S. ABBOTT was born in Washington County, Ohio, Apr. 10th, 1824, and was educated in the common schools.  He came to Morgan County in 1840 and began the study of medicine under Dr. James H. Berry and finished under Dr. James Bell, of Windsor township.  He established himself in the practice of his profession in Stockport in 1846 and has since been a useful and esteemed member of his profession.  He was admitted to membership in the Morgan County Medical Society the same year, and is the oldest living member of that body.  Dr. Abbott has served as president and view-president and on the board of censors of the society.  He is a democrat in politics and a Universalist in religious belief; a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years.  Dr. Abbott was married Apr. 22, 1847, to Lucretia White, of Morgan County.  Their children are Henrietta, Henry, Louisa, John Q., May Bell, Jesse R. and Arthur, living.  James b. was drowned when six year old. Source:  Chapter XIV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 282   JAMES A. ADAIR is a member of the bar, and as such is mentioned here although he has never practiced his profession.  He was born in Adams County, Pa., Mar. 25, 1814, and passed his early life in that county, being for a time a teacher in the town of Gettysburg.  In 1836 he went to Virginia and taught two years in London and Jefferson Counties.  He was married in Jefferson County, and moved thence do Muskingum County, Ohio, where he remained about five years, during which he taught in Zanesville three years.  He studied law under Franklin Gale and was admitted to the bar at Wooster in the fall of 1843.  In January, 1844, he came to McConnelsville, where for twenty years he edited and published the McConnelsville Herald.  During this time he served four years as county auditor.  He has been mayor of McConnelsville and served in other local offices.  For some years he has been engaged in the pension business.  Three of his sons - John S., Henry H. (deceased) and Addison A. - were in the service in the late war. Source:  Chapter XIV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 266   DR. MICAH ADAMS proffered his skill in the healing art to the dwellers in Malta in 1822 or ’23, and attained popularity sufficient to be elected treasurer of Morgan Township.  But in a brief time after being reelected business called him abroad, and so urgent was the call that it was attended to between two days, or at early dawn on Sunday, the township funds probably being sufficient to enable him and family to reach an unknown locality.      In 1827, in a lengthy announcement of superior professional attainments, Doctor John Cook Bennett informed the public (in the first number of the Morgan Sentinel) that he had “it in contemplation to practice Physic and Surgery, with all its collateral branches, in McConnelsville and vicinity.”  The advertisement was accompanied with a certificate from a prominent M. D. of his good character, and “that the religious impressions he had received will add a virtue to every act of his life.” In addition to the eminent professional acquirements he claimed his “religious impressions” gave him the right to another title, and he wrote “Rev. Doctor John Cook Bennett,” and occasionally, when not otherwise engaged, gave practical exhibitions of his theological eloquence.  But a Malta critic whispers, you have the Rev. Doctor in the wrong pew.  Not so; he only gave McConnelsville the benefit of his varied talent for five or six months, when be domiciled his family in the Redman House, and after a time took passage for Nauvoo, bearing the title of Major-General of the Mormon legion.  The resident physicians, after the exit of Adams and Bennett, are given in the list of members of the Morgan County Medical Society.  In the order of residence was Dr. Grimmell, Dr. Shock, Dr. Dover, Dr. John Ewing, Dr. Woods, Dr. Rusk and Dr. Bingham.  Dr. Rusk still resides in the village.* ---------------      * Written by Prof. J. M. Rusk, Malta Source:  Chapter XVI - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 277   DR. ZIBA ADAMS was probably the first physician within the present limits of the county.  He first settled about four miles above Malta, on the river.  While living there he had a severe illness, and after his recovery removed to Malta.  He practiced in that town and in McConnelsville three years or more.  He was a man of good education and ability.  But becoming dissatisfied with his limited field of labor, and the small income to be derived from practice in a new country, he removed to the East.      The next physician was Dr. S. A. Barker who came to McConnelsville in 1811.  Dr. Samuel Martin, from England, came to the county in 1819, and resided one year (1825) in McConnelsville.  Dr. P. B. Johnson came to McConnelsville in 1823, and Dr. Charles Robertson in 1826.  In 1827 Dr. John Cook Bennett located in McConnelsville and remained a short time.  Dr. A. E. McConnell, who was reared and educated in Washington, Pa., came in 1834.  He remained but a short time, removing to the West.  Dr. Clapp came about 1835, and remained about one year.  Other early physicians, who located at the county seat, each making a brief stay, where Dr. Thompson, Dr. Ball and Dr. Hull.  With the exceptions of Dr. Barker, Dr. Johnson and Dr. Robertson, McConnelsville had no physicians who remained long until 1850. Source:  Chapter XVI - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 270   M'Connelsville - JACOB ADAMS.  The subject of this notice was one of the pioneers, and during his long life ranked among the leading influential citizens of Morgan County.  Jacob Adams was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, Nov. 8, 1788.  Left an orphan in early life, and in destitute circumstances, his oldest brother, one of a family of eight children, moved the family and household effects in a cart, by way of Brownsville, to Pittsburgh.  There he built a boat, in which he transported the fairly and goods to Limestone (now Maysville) Kentucky.  There Jacob was bound out to a tailor of Paris, Kentucky, and after serving his time returned to Maryland and then worked about a year at his trade in Winchester, Va.  He then started on foot for Ohio, alone and almost penniless.  While walking along what is now the turnpike, then a muddy road, in a brown study as to how he should obtain his supper, he saw at his feet a piece of shining metal.  Stooping to pick it up he found it to be fifty-cent silver piece.  He often said that he never had another half dollar that made him feel so happy.  He, now almost at his journey's end, was rich enough to buy supper, and he was hungry.  He stopped at Zanesville, where he married and lived, and worked at his trade until his removal to McConnellsville.  While there he volunteered in the war of 1812, and served six months.      In 1819 he moved his family to McConnelsville, and from that time until his death witnessed the growth and prosperity of the town and county, aiding every beneficial public enterprise as far as he was able, and taking an earnest and zealous interest in local matters.  He began the mercantile business soon after his arrival, and in the following year added hotel keeping to his business, becoming widely and favorably known as a landlord and entertaining many famous men as his guests.  With the exception of about fifteen years which he spent on a farm he continued hotel-keeping as long as he lived.  He was a successful merchant until about 1836, when he engaged in saltmaking, which resulted for him in serious loss.  He was also postmaster in the town of McConnelsville, and held the position several years.      As a business man he was enterprising and sagacious.  Soon after coming to the county he found money very scarce, and to accommodate his customers and make some profit possible for himself he bought up droves of hogs and every year for three years drove them to Baltimore to market.  There he exchanged them for merchandise, which was transported in wagons to McConnelsville.  Such were some of the business methods of pioneer merchants.      The following is given as a single instance of the energy and business capacity of Mr. Adams:  Some time after 1830 he built a flatboat at McConnelsville, which he loaded with wheat for which he paid 37½ cents per bushel.  This he took to Maysville, Ky., where it is converted into flour, and with the flour started for New Orleans.  On his arrival he found flour remarkably cheap, and it seemed almost certain that he would be a heavy loser by his venture.  But chancing to pick up a Charleston, S. C., paper, he noticed that bacon commanded a good price in that city.  Accordingly he exchanged his flour for bacon, and had it transported by vessel to Charleston.  There he sold the bacon and proceeding to Baltimore bought goods with which he returned to McConnelsville.  His lengthy trip did not bring much profit, but his shrewdness and prudent foresight prevented a heavy loss.      Mr. Adams always took an active interest in local and general politics.  In the early years of his county he was a "Junto," and next to Jacksonian democrat; but after Jackson vetoed the United States bank bill he became an earnest whig and then a republican.  He was very active in encouraging the several railroad projects in the county, and did all he could to bring about that "consummation devoutly to be wished" - a railroad in Morgan county.      He was a man of strong constitution and robust health, and continued active even in old age.  He died, September 23, 1880,at the ripe old age of nearly ninety-two years, and in his death many citizens both of the town and county felt that an irreparable loss had been sustained.  He was married in Zanesville, August 1, 1811, to Lydia Shugert, daughter of John Shugert, of Muskingum County.  She died Apr. 26, 1826, having borne five children - Eli, James, John, Worley, and Eliza (Shepard).  Of these children Worley is the only survivor.  Mar. 4, 1828, Mr. Adams married Miss Amelia Wise, of Brownsville, Pa., who died Nov. 27, 1875.  Of this marriage five children were born - Henry (deceased), and Alfred, Catharine, William and Jacob (living).      Worley Adams the oldest living native of McConnelsville, son of Jacob and M(L)ydia Adams, was born Nov. 13, 1819, and has resided all his life in Morgan County.  In early live he worked at various occupations, but since he was twenty-two years of age he has followed the mercantile business in McConnelsville.  He is now the head of the dry goods firm of Adams & Kahler, one of the leading business houses of the town.  Mr. Adams is a republican in politics.  He served as township trustee for twelve years and has held some village offices.  He has been an influential member of Valley Lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F., since 1847.  He was married in 1842 to Millie Shepard, daughter of the late Judge Nathaniel Shepard, of this county.  Three children have been born to them - Elizabeth A., wife of Major F. M. Kahler, of Nebraska; Emma J., at home, and Chester W., Iowa.      Jacob Adams, born Nov. 7, 1841, is the youngest son of Jacob and Amelia Adams.  In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company h, 17th O. V. I., and becoming a veteran, served until July, 1865, participating in all the battles and campaigns of this regiment.  During all this time he had no furlough and was not off duty a single day for any cause.  Among the fifteen engagements in which he took part were the notable battles of Perryville, Stone River, Resaca, Mission Ridge, siege of Corinth, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Bentonville, Chickamauga, etc.  He was sergeant of the company of muster out.  Mr. Adams is the popular commander of Hughes Post, No. 285, G. A. R., and is zealously devoted to its interests.  He was married in April 1868, to Miss Julia Chadwick. Source:  Chapter XVII - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 319   DR. JOHN ALEXANDER is one of the old and prominent physicians of the county.  He has practiced his profession and carried on the drug business in McConnelsville since 1854.  He was born near St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, Mar. 9, 1819; educated at Franklin College, Ohio, and Washington College, Pa.; read medicine under Dr. John Alexander, of St. Clairsville; began practice in Belmont County, removing thence to Morgan County in 1847, and to McConnelsville in 1854. Source:  Chapter XV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 276   JOHN ARTHUR was one of the early lawyers of the county.  He came to McConnelsville about 1830, and remained a few years.  He became a Presbyterian preacher. Source:  Chapter XV - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 269 Morris K. Atkinson Homer Twp. - MORRIS K. ATKINSON.  The Atkinsons are of English extraction.  In 1699 John and Susannah Atkinson sailed for Philadelphia.  Both died leaving three children, William, Mary and John.  William was born in 1689; John in 1695, and was but four years of age at the time of emigration.  He was the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch.  He eventually settled in Bucks County, Pa.., where he lived and died.  The Atkinsons were a race of farmers.  Joseph, father of Morris K., was born in Maryland in 1800.  He was reared in Bucks County, where he married Miss Leatitia Kitchin in 1821.  In 1847 the family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson, Morris K. and a daughter, Mrs. Asa O. Bartlett, came to Marion, where the elder Atkinson bought an unimproved farm.  He was a Quaker, and an industrious, worthy man.  He died in 1869.  Morris K. was born in Bucks County, Pa., in 1827.  He received a good common-school education and began life as a teacher, spending his summer vacation on the farm.  He had studied surveying, and in 1863 was appointed county surveyor, a position he held ten years.  He has been a successful farmer.  In 1885 he engaged in merchandising at Elliott's Cross Roads.  In 1844 he married Miss Margaret Winner.  She was born in Ohio in 1826.  Three children have been born to them - Rebecca, Leatitia and Isaac.  While Mr. Atkinson is not one of the early settlers of the township, he has witnessed the greater portion of its development and has identified himself with all its interests. Source:  Chapter XXVII - History of Morgan County, Ohio with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. By Charles Robertson, M. D.  - Published Chicago: L. H. Watkins & Co. 1886 - Page 507

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