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BIOGRAPHIES
The following biographies are extracted from:
Source:
The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
By Henry Holcomb Bennett
Published by S. A. Brant, Madison, Wis.,
1902
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JUDGE WILLIAM H. SAFFORD,
a retired member of the Chillicothe bar, distinguished as
jurist, legislator and man of letters, is of lineage both
ancient and honorable. The family, which is of English
origin, was settled at Ipswich, Mass., as early as 1740.
Dr. Chellis Safford served as a surgeon during the French
and Indian war of 1756 and died about the time of the opening of
the American revolution. His son Jonas, who was
also a physician, located in Vermont about 1792 and practiced
medicine at Poultney for a number of years. He was a man
of influence an distinction, being a representative in the
legislature, judge of the court, magistrate and selectman.
In 1811 he came West and located at Gallipolis, where he rose
into prominence as a physician and died at the age of
seventy-one years. His son, Eliel T. Sanford, a
native of Rutland county, Vt., was also educated for the medical
profession, and after graduation at the old Philadelphia Medical
college in 1818, began practice at Point Pleasant, Va., and
afterward removed to Parkersburg, in the same state, where he
lived many years and became eminent in his profession. He
married Ann Harrison, whose father, Col. Matthew
Harrison, was a prominent lawyer of Prince William
county, Va., and an officer of the Revolutionary war. This
union resulted in the birth of two sons, one of whom was
William H. Safford, the subject of this sketch.
He was born at Parkersburg, Feb. 19, 1821, and after the usual
educational routine of those days made his first venture at the
age of sixteen as teacher of a country school. Later, he
secured employment as clerk in a leading mercantile
establishment of the town and while thus engaged was selected as
principal of the academy which he had recently attended as a
pupil. Finishing the school eyar in this position, he
returned to his clerkship, but was again appointed principal of
the academy and filled the place acceptably another year.
He early developed a taste for politics, and the campaign of
1840 offering an excellent opportunity for a display of talent
in that line, young Safford “took the stump" and participated
actively in that famous contest. In the fall of that year
he began the study of law with his uncle, William A. Harrison,
of Clarksburg, was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1842, and
immediately entered upon the practice of his profession.
In the fall of 1848 he came to Ohio, and on November 1st of that
year located at Chillicothe, where he soon came to the front
both in law and politics. In 1857 he was elected to the
state senate from the counties of Ross and Highland, and served
a term of two years. In 1859 he was nominated as a
candidate for lieutenant-governor on the Democratic ticket, but
went down with his party in the defeat which overtook it that
year. In 1863 he was elected and commissioned as colonel
of the Fourth regiment of Ross county militia, but the
subsequent repeal by the legislature of the act authorizing such
an organization prevented its seeing any military service.
In 1868 he was elected judge of the court of common pleas for
the Fifth judicial district of Ohio, and he served until 1874,
declining a renomination. After his retirement from the
bench, Judge Safford resumed legal practice and continued
actively enlarged therein until 1898, in which year he retired
from the law for the purpose of devoting his time to literature.
Throughout his life he has had a partiality for literary
pursuits and has displayed talent in that direction, especially
in the department of historical research. As far back as
1850 he published a "Life of Blennerhassett," which subsequently
was greatly enlarged by the addition of much new matter and
reproduced in 1861 under the title of "The Blennerhassett
Papers" which make a valuable contribution to the literature of
a romantic episode in American history. Aside from his
more serious productions, Judge Safford has for years
been a prolific and popular contributor to various periodical
publications. His recent years have been employed in the
preparation of several works of absorbing interest and value.
Among the number is a racy and picturesque narrative of partisan
warfare in western Virginia, dealing especially with the daring
deeds and reckless raids of John Hanson McNeal and his
son Jesse, the famous Confederate scouts. Accurate
biographies will be presented of these partisan celebrated
leaders, including an especially full and graphic account of the
capture of Generals Crook and Kelley at Cumberland, Md.,
by Lieut. Jesse C. McNeal. Other works in
preparation by Judge Safford are a life of Gov.
William Allen, of Ohio, and a historical memoir entitled
"The Patron and His Protege - Aaron Burr and John
Vanderlyn the Artist." He is also engaged upon "The
Louisiana Purchase," in which he purposes to give a full and
complete history of that transaction and furnish a great deal of
information which has never been published in a connected form.
Oct. 14, 1846, Judge Safford was married to Annie
Maria Pocahontas Creel, a native of Wood county, West
Virginia, and daughter of Dr. David Creel. From
this union sprang a family of three sons and four daughters,
whose biographies are thus briefly summarized: Robert E.
was educated at the West Point military academy, graduating with
the class of 1877, was immediately commissioned second
lieutenant, assigned to the cavalry and died while in camp in
the Guadaloupe mountains of Texas July 19, 1879.
Edith Florence married Henry W., son of Ainsworth
P. Spofford, long time librarian at Washington, D. C., and
resides in that city. William Edwin was educated at
the Annapolis natal academy, graduating with the class of 1880,
took a scientific course at Yale college, was commissioned as
ensign in 1885 and is now a first lieutenant in the navy.
He was appointed special commissioner to the republics of Peru
and Bolivia and spent eighteen months in those countries, making
excavations for relics that might throw light on the
civilization of the Incas. The exhibits resulting from
this archaeological work were made at the World's Fair in
Chicago and reflected much credit upon the young lieutenant's
energy and skill in research. the same young officer
served as the first lieutenant-governor of the island of Guam
after it came under American control. Elizabeth
Cornelia, fourth of Judge Safford's children, became
the wife of Joel Allen Battle of Tennessee, later removed
to Evanston, Ill., and died there Oct. 14, 1901. Anna
Juliet is employed in the department of interior at
Washington; Homer is engaged in business in Chicago, and
Sarah Louisa is at home.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 669 |
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AUGUSTUS SANTO,
owner of the meat market in Adelphi, and one of the thrifty,
up-to-date citizens of the place, is a native of Chillicothe of
German origin. Alexander Santo left the place of
his nativity in Baden in 1832, made his way directly to
Ohio and located at Chillicothe. There he met Sophia
Rinwalt, also a native of Baden, who had preceded him to
this country, and in due time he made her his wife. He was
a butcher by trade, made some money from this business, and died
in 1864 on a farm in Springfield township, his wife surviving
him until 1879, Alexander and Sophia Santo had seven
children, of whom three survive, including two daughters at
Pittsburg and Augustus Santo. The latter was born
in Chillicothe, Nov. 16, 1837, and he was thoroughly trained by
his watchful father in the business of a butcher. This he
continued in Chillicothe for several years after his father's
death, but in 1867 removed to Adelphia which lively little
capital of Colerain township ahs since been the scene of his
operations. The industry and good management of Mr.
Santo have been rewarded with success, and the evening of
life finds him in possession of some valuable property, all
accumulated by himself. This consists of two residences,
besides the meat markets in Adelphi and Laurelville, and other
assets. Mr. Santo is jovial in disposition, has a
popular personality, and is one of the well-to-do as well as
much esteemed citizens of his adopted town. He is
Democratic in his politics, but cares for no office, and
gratifies his social inclinations by membership in Cornplanter
tribe, No. 146, Improved Order of Red Men. While living in
Chillicothe he married Louisa Rollman, by whom he had two
children, Frank Edmond and Louise. Louise
lives in Mayton; Frank Edward is a traveling salesman for
a Chicago wholesale house and lives in Toledo. He is
married and has an interesting family of three children,
William, Mamie and Susan. Mrs. Louisa Santo
died in 1865 at Chillicothe, and after Mr. Santo settled
in Adelphi he married Roy Ann Withrow, whose two children
died in infancy. Mr. Santo is a member-of the
Methodist Episcopal church.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 691 |
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GEORGE W. SANTEE
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 672 |
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MICHAEL SCHILDER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 673 |
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AUGUST SCHMIEDER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 674 |
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J. WOODBRIDGE SCOTT,
of Bainbridge, was born in Chillicothe, the son of Maj. James
N. Scott, who was a native of Kentucky, but came to Ohio
when a boy, with his father, Dr. Joseph Scott, one of the
most prominent surgeons and citizens of his day in Chillicothe.
On the outbreak of the civil war, James N. Scott raised a
company of which he was made captain and which became Company M
of the First Ohio cavalry. This command served throughout
the war and when mustered out in September, 1865, Captain
Scott held a commission as major, and had made a worthy
record as a patriot and soldier. He came home much broken
down in health and died in 1867. Major Scott's wife
was Sarah Woodbridge who father, John Woodbridge,
was a prominent figure in the business circles of Chillicothe.
He was a native of Connecticut, but came to Ohio when a boy of
tender age. For many years he was cashier of the
Chillicothe bank and stood high among the financiers and
capitalists of that section. J. Woodbridge Scott
received his education in Cincinnati and afterwards engaged in
the book business in that city. In 1884 he came to
Paxton township, Ross county, where he now resides.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 675 |
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MILTON J. SCOTT
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 675 |
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SAMUEL FREDERICK SECREST
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 676 |
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CHARLES SEIP
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 677 |
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JOSHUA SENEY,
of Chillicothe, is a native of Kent county, Delaware, born Nov.
14, 1808. He came to Ross county in 1834 and has made his
home there ever since. Mr. Seney was a chairmaker
by trade and made the first came-seated chairs that were
manufactured in Chillicothe and Springfield. He was also a
cabinet maker and put in some time in the mercantile business.
In 1851, he abandoned all other pursuits to devote his time to
farming and from that time until this he had adhered to that
occupation. He has met with success and now owns about two
hundred acres of land. Mr. Seney has been a
lifelong Democrat and for twenty years held the office of
township treasurer. In 1857 and 1858 he was a member of
the State legislature, serving two years in all. His only
fraternal connection is a membership in the order of Odd
Fellows. Nov. 4, 1841, Mr. Seney was married to
Martha Ives, a native of Chillicothe. Her parents were
Shalor and Eliza W. (Stevens) Ives, the former of
Connecticut and the latter of Boston, Mass. They came to
Ross county in an early day and there spent the remainder of
their lives. Shalor Ives was a hotel man and at the
time owned what is now the Warner House. He and his
wife also had the first reading room ever established in
Chillicothe. To Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Seney a family
of eleven children have been born. This list has been
thinned considerably by death, the living children being as
follows: Amasa, Martha, Elizabeth, Susan, Lucy and
William. The dead are Mary, Warren, Edward,
Alice M., and Matilda.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 679 |
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MICHAEL SENFF
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 679 |
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WERTER M. SEYMOUR,
of Bainbridge, was born and bred in Paxton township, Ross
county. His father, Aaron W. Seymour, was a native
of West Virginia who located in Paxton township in 1849; became
a successful farmer and stockdealer, and took a prominent part
in the politics of his township. He married Catherine
E. McNeil, of Ross county, descendant of an old Virginia
family, and they had three children, of whom Alice V.
married Mordecai C. Hopewell and died in 1872; Anna M.
became the wife of Robert L. Irvin, of Kentucky, and
died in January, 1901. Werter M. Seymour, the only
living child, was educated in the public schools of Ross county
and at Danville, Ky., where he spent three years. After
leaving school he embarked in farming and stock-dealing, which
he been his occupation ever since. In 1880-81 he spent
some time in New Mexico and western Kansas in the sheep
business. In 1883, he was married to Agnes E.,
daughter of Seymour McMechen, descendant of an old
Virginia family. They have had three children of whom only
Allie H. and Katherine H. are living. Their
oldest son A. Welton Seymour, a bright and lovable boy,
died at the untimely age of fourteen, thus cutting off a career
that was full of promise. Mr. Seymour had always
taken a good citizen's interest in politics but held no office.
He is a member of the Presbyterian church and of the American
Insurance union.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 680 |
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HORACE E. SHEPLER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 681 |
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WILLIAM E. SHEPLER,
extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising, and for some
years in the meat business at Kingston, was born in Green
township, Ross county, Jan. 24, 1871. Full particulars of
the parentage and family appear in the sketch of his father,
John Shepler, which is presented above. Mr. Shepler
grew up on the farm, learned all the details which are only to
be obtained by practical experience, and is himself a thorough
and successful farmer. He has charge of 295 acres of land,
which he manages and cultivates by modern methods and pays much
attention to the raising of stock. few men of his age are
better posted on all things appertaining to the live stock
industry, which he has made a profitable feature of his
dealings. For three years past Mr. Shepler
has been engaged in the meat business at Kingston and has made a
success of that feature, as he has of whatever else he
undertook. Oct. 31, 1895, he was married to Elizabeth
J. Evans, born in Green township, June 18, 1870. She
is a daughter of Isaac and Minerva (Senff) Evans, and
granddaughter of Andrew Senff, a pioneer of Ross county.
Mr. and Mrs. Shepler have three children.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 682 |
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JACOB SHIVELY
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 682 |
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SAMPSON SHOEMAKER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 684 |
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WESLEY SHOEMAKER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 685 |
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DAVID C. SHOTTS
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 686 |
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GEORGE SIGLER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 687 |
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LUTHER C. SKINNER,
connected with the agricultural interests of Deerfield township
for over thirty-five years, is justly regarded as one of the
most substantial of Ross county’s farmers. Like so many
other Ohioans, he comes of old Virginia stock and his ancestry
have been cultivators of the soil from time out of mind.
William Skinner came with his wife from the Old
Dominion when Ohio was quite new as a state and sought a
settlement in the county of Belmont. This location not
proving satisfactory they removed shortly afterward to Muskingum
county, where the head of the house secured land and entered
into the business of cultivating the same. This Virginia
couple had nine children, all now dead, named as follows:
Lucy, Nancy, Eliza, William (who was a soldier in 1812),
Charles, John, Madison, Joseph and Philip. The
father ended his days in Belmont county, Ohio, and the mother
while on a visit to Virginia. Philip, the youngest
of their children, was born in 1804 near Richmond, Va., and
after the death of his mother was reared by his elder brother
Charles. When he reached the proper age, he went to
Moorefield, in Hardy county, to learn the tanner’s trade, and
spent several years in mastering the details of that business.
While living at this place he married Mary Ann Collins,
after which he worked at his trade in Moorefield for some time
and then removed to Dresden, Ohio. He resumed the tanning
business in that town and continued it two or three years, but
was eventually compelled to give it up on account of failing
health. Hoping relief from a change of occupation, he
undertook farming and prosecuted that work a few years, after
which he went to Athens, Ohio, and resumed his old calling as a
tanner. Again he was forced to quit by persistent illness,
and as soon as strong enough took up farming for the second
time. Both he and wife lived to the age of eight-four
years, the last fifteen of which were spent in Ross county,
where in the fullness of time they found their graves.
This pioneer pair realized in full what the ancient Hebrews
regarded as the greatest blessings - length of years and
abundance of children. The latter were twelve in number
and scattered throughout various states and places: James
lives in Missouri; Luther C. is the subject of our
sketch; Harrison and William are dead; Mary
is in Florida; Joseph resides at Clarksburg, Ohio;
Adolphus and Anna are in Pickaway county; Nancy
lives at Loveland, Ohio, Charles in Missouri, Philip
at Clarksburg, Ohio, and Charlotte in South Carolina.
Luther C. Skinner, the second of the family, was born
near Dresden, in Muskingum county, July 29, 1829. He
remained at home until he attained legal age, when he began
working by the month for neighbors, continued this occupation
for several years and then married Elizabeth Lowery, of
Athens county. Securing possession of some land in the
county just mentioned, Mr. Skinner cultivated it until
1866 when he came to Ross county which has since been his place
of residence. With the exception of one year spent in
Iowa, he has lived all this time in Deerfield township, and
since 1870 has resided at his present home. Mrs.
Skinner, who has so long been the faithful companion and
helpmate of her husband, died in 1895 after having become the
mother of the following named children: William, of
Chillicothe; Charles (deceased); John, of Pickaway
county, Dudley, at home; Frank, of Concord
township; Elmer (deceased), Hooker (deceased),
Amy, Anna L., Robert, Nancy, Elizabeth and Luther.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 688 |
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DIAS S. SMITH, M. D., of Bourneville, is a native of Adams county, Ohio,
born June 8, 1854. He is a son of John M. Smith,
who was born in Adams county Sept. 30, 1822. About
1847 John M. Smith married Margaret Edgington,
and soon thereafter bought a farm, on which he lived for
several years. By this marriage he had three children,
of whom Asenath and Calvin are dead and Jason M.
is living in Clinton county. Their mother died about
1850 and in 1852 John M. Smith was remarried, to
Mrs. Harriet G. Pence, nee Greenlee, widow
of Philip Pence. By this union there were two
children, Dias S. and Grafton P., the latter living
in Missouri. The father continued to farm his place
until 1885, when he sold out and went to Missouri, where he
died in May, 1901. Dr. Smith attended the
district school and remained at home until he was about
twenty-two years of age. In September, 1875, he
entered the office of Dr. Arthur Noble, of
Winchester, Adams county, and studied medicine for three
years. He also took courses of lectures at Miami
Medical college, in Cincinnati, from which institution he
was graduated in the spring of 1879. Shortly afterward
he removed to Bourneville, where he still resides and enjoys
an extensive practice. The Doctor is a member of Paint
Valley lodge, No. 808, I. O. O. F., at Bourneville, and of
lodge No. 5,754, Modern Woodmen, at South Salem. On
May 3, 1882, he was married to Anna M. Ritter,
daughter of John G. Ritter, of Chillicothe.
They have two children, Maud M. and Arthur N.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 689 |
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GEORGE J. SMITH,
coroner of Ross county and one of the most popular of the
county officials is of Pennsylvania nativity and German
parentage. His father, George Smith, crossed
the Atlantic in 1836 and lived in Pennsylvania ten years,
removing to Covington, Ky., in 1846. In that city and
Cincinnati he was occupied for some years with his trade as
a tanner, which he resumed at Chillicothe after his removal
there in 1855. He removed in 1863 to Zaleski, Ohio,
where he died in 1879 at the age of seventy-three years.
About the year 1840 by the name of Renner, who died
of cholera during the epidemic of that disease in 1848 at
Cincinnati. She had three children, one of whom, a
daughter, perished of the same malady that carried off the
mother. Another daughter, named Mary, is the
wife of Jacob Summers, of Chillicothe.
George J. Smith, the only son, was born in Pennsylvania,
Apr. 7, 1844, attended school two years in Cincinnati and
obtained his subsequent education after his father's removal
to Chillicothe. Aug. 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company
F, One Hundred and Sixth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry,
organized in that State. The first engagement of this
command was the unfortunate affair at Hartsville, Tenn.,
where after a spirited fight they were compelled to
surrender. they were detained as prisoners of war
about four weeks and then exchanged. The subsequent
work of the regiment was principally devoted to guard duty
of different kinds, though they occasionally had a skirmish
with guerrillas. After his command was mustered out of
service, June 29, 1865, Mr. Smith located at Zaleski,
where his father then lived, and learned the tanner's trade,
which he followed for two years. Removing at that time
to Chillicothe he secured employment in a tannery and
continued at that work for twenty-one years, after which he
spent some time in market gardening. In the fall of
1898, Mr. Smith was elected coroner of Ross county,
being one of the only two candidates on the Republican
ticket that year who escaped defeat. In 1900 he was
elected for another term and received the second highest
vote for any man on his party's ticket. It so happened
that during Mr. Smith's incumbancy the coroner's
office was called onto do an unusual amount of work in its
line, more in fact than had fallen to any predecessor, and
the general verdict is that he has performed the duties
devolving upon him with a promptness and discretion that has
won the commendation of all parties. Jan. 8, 1866, he
was married to Susan Hess, a native of Germany who
came with her parents to this county in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had eight children, of whom five
are living: George J., Jr.; Mary, wife of George
Wymer, of Dayton; Carrie, wife of Henry Hill,
of Chillicothe; William, of Washington Court House,
and Susan.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 689 |
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ISAAC N. SMITH, M. D.,
one of the progressive citizens of Greenfield, Ohio, has
long been identified with the professional life and business
development of that place and of western Ross county.
Though a native of Fayette county, he was educated in
Greenfield and there spent his boyhood and early manhood.
His father, William Smith, now a venerable man more
than eighty-six years old, goes back in recollection almost
to the very beginning of Highland county. His birth
took place in Greenfield July 17, 1815, or about ten years
after the county was created by act of the legislature.
Of later yeas he has made his home in Greenfield.
Isaac N. Smith, after receiving such literary education
as the common schools afforded, attended the South Salem
academy, and later matriculated at the Medical college of
Ohio and devoted himself assiduously to preparation for his
chosen profession. In 1874 he finished the
course at that excellent institution and was graduated with
the degree of M. D. From that date up to the present
time, with the exception of one year, Dr. Smith has
been in continuous practice at Greenfield. From that
point he is called in the line of his professional duties to
attend patients over a wide area of territory in the
adjoining counties of Ross, Fayette and Highland. He
is also special examiner for the Phoenix life insurance
company of New York. But it is not simply as a
physician that Dr. Smith has been an integral feature
of Greenfield's life. He has been identified more than
list directly with all the enterprise calculated to advance
the development of the community. He is a stockholder
in the Home Telephone company, whose organization was a
distinct gain to the business and social life of the city.
Dr. Smith has been a member of the First Presbyterian
church for over thirty-seven years, having attached himself
to that organization in 1864.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 690 |
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JOHN W. SMITH,
of Chillicothe, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, Sept.
23, 1859. His parents were Selby and Susannah (Risinger)
Smith, both natives of Ohio. The father of
Selby Smith was a native of Pennsylvania and married
Sarah Wantz of the same state. They settled
in Fairfield county, Ohio, and had a family of ten children,
of whom three are still living. Selby Smith
and wife had five children, but only two are living.
His son, John W. Smith, was educated in the schools
of Fairfield county and is a carpenter by trade, though he
has engaged in farming. Dec. 2, 1880, Mr.
Smith was married to Mary Pugh, of Monroe county, O.,
daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Fox)
Pugh, natives of Pennsylvania. Her mother died
in that state in 1859, and her father entered the Union
army, in which he served until the close of the war.
Afterward he came to Ohio and married Mary Bryan,
by whom he had two children, and died in March, 1872.
Mr. and Mrs. John W. Smith have six children,
whose names are Ora, Dell, Frank,
Joseph, Newland, Charlie and Rush.
While living in Fairfield county, Mr. Smith
held the office of supervisor for two years. He is now
serving his second term as trustee of his township,
though the normal Democratic majority is 65, and he is a
Republican. The paternal grandmother of Mr.
Smith was a woman of remarkable longevity and vigor.
She lived to be one hundred and five years and four months
old and at the age of ninety-three years was able to sustain
the fatigue of a walk of eight miles.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 694 |
| |
OTHO LYONS SMITH,
stock-raiser and general farmer in Concord township, is a
worthy representative of the younger generation of Ross
county agriculturists. His grandparents were natives
of Germany who crossed the ocean in 1827 in a sailing vessel
and landed in New York after a tedious voyage of six weeks.
The immigrants made their way to Ross county, bought a farm
in the south part of Union township and spent the remainder
of their days in cultivating the land. Their son,
Lewis Smith, was born in Germany in 1819 and accompanied
his parents to America when eight years old. In youth
he spent several years in his native country, where he
obtained the principal part of his education, and on
returning to Ohio remained at home until his marriage to
Jeanette Lyons, a native of Tennessee of Scotch-Irish
descent. He settled with his bride in Pickaway county,
where several years were spent, and from there returned to
Ross county, where a farm was purchased in the northern part
of Union township on which the family resided until the
death of Mrs. Smith in 1886. Of the nine
children born to Lewis Smith and wife, four are dead:
Lewis, George, Louisa, and Nettie. Those
living are John, Otho L., Edward, Albert, and
Emma, now the wife of Cary Brown. Otho Lyons
Smith, sixth of the children, was born in Union
township, Ross county, June 13, 1863, attended the district
schools and assisted his father on the farm until his
marriage to Laura B., daughter of Hon. Byron Lutz.
After ten years spent at different places in Deerfield
and Union townships. Mr. Smith finally settled
in Concord township on the farm which he now occupies.
It consists of 334 acres and is cultivated in modern style
by Mr. Smith, who also raises and handles stock.
A Democrat in politics, he is in no sense an office seeker,
but he has held the position of assessor for one term.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children:
Cloude S., Warde Byron, Harry Neal, and Glenn Lutz.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 691 |
| |
WILLIAM H. SMITH,
of Frankfort, is a native of Pickaway county, born Jan. 5,
1859. He is the son of William Smith, an old
resident of Pickaway, living near the Ross county line, and
a farmer by occupation. William H. received his
education in the Pickaway common schools, and when he
arrived at the age of eighteen concluded to strike out for
himself. His first venture was in the farming
business, which he followed until 1888. In that year
he went to Springfield, where he secured employment in a
fish store and remained there for eight years. After
giving up his job, he worked for eighteen months in the fish
business at Dayton, Ohio. In 1897 he removed to
Frankfort, Ohio, and engaged in the liquor business, and
there he has ever since made his home. In 1899 Mr.
Smith was married to Daisy B. daughter of
George Santee, a prominent farmer of Ross county.
They have one child, whose name is Bernard R.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 692 |
| |
VAL SOUTHWORTH
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 693 |
| |
DAVID A. SPEAKMAN, a
well known farmer of Deerfield township, comes of Maryland
stock westernized by long residence in Ross county.
The first of the name to cross the mountains in search of an
Ohio home was Joshua Speakman, and on arrival he
fixed his abode in that part of Ross which afterward became
Vinton county. Here his son Ebenezer was born
Apr. 18, 1820, and, just twenty-one years after, he left the
paternal domicile to seek a residence in Ross county.
He located in Harrison township, where he cultivated land
and eventually rose to prominence and prosperity.
Being a man of excellent business judgment and prudent in
financial affairs, the people often called on him to hold
the important position of township trustee. Aug. 18,
1839, Ebenezer Speakman married Margaret Strawser,
of Vinton county, who died in December, 1900, leaving ten
children: Jacob, of New Holland; David,
subject of this sketch; Joshua, of Fayette county;
George W., of Hocking county; Samuel, of Madison
county; William, of Indiana; Rhoda Ann, wife
of Oliver Childers, of Hocking county; Mary
wife of Jackson Morrison, of Hocking county;
Ebenezer, of Ross County, and Frank, of
Fayette county. David A. Speakman was born in
Harrison township Ross county, Aug. 20, 1842. He had
finished school and was getting ready to establish himself
in farming when all regular business was interrupted by the
shock of the civil war. Aug. 9, 1863, he enlisted as a
private in Company B, Sixty-third regiment Ohio infantry,
with which he served until July, 1865, when the termination
of hostilities led to a general discharge of troops.
Mr. Speakman took part with his regiment in the
battle at Decatur, Ala., and all the marching and fighting
incident to Sherman's campaigns in 1864 until the surrender
of Johnston in North Carolina. At Atlanta, July
22, 1864, he received a wound in the neck from a musket shot
which disabled him for two weeks, but aside from that he
escaped serious injury. Aug. 26, 1866, he was married
to Eliza Ann, daughter of Thomas Kearns, an
old resident of the county, as the result of which union the
family records make the following register of children, all
of whom are living: Alice, wife of Charles
H. Noble, of Deerfield township; Flora Etta, wife
of William Lawrence, of Ross county; George W.,
of Deerfield township; Samuel and Wallace N.,
of Ross county; Della, wife of William Noble,
of Ross county; Margaret, wife of Omer Ater,
of Pickaway county; Frank, John, and Ethel.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 693 |
| |
BENJAMIN F. SPICER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 694 |
| |
AMASA DELANO SPROAT
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 695 |
| |
JOHN STANLEY
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 696 |
| |
SHEPHERD STAUFFER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 698 |
| |
JAMES GLADSTONE STEEL
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 698 |
| |
JOHN SUMMERVILLE STEEL
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 701 |
| |
SAMUEL S. STEEL
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 702 |
| |
WILLIAM L. STINSON
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 703 |
| |
WILLIAM C. STOKER
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 704 |
| |
ELIAS STOOKEY
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 705 |
| |
THOMAS SUMMERS
was born in Twin township, Ross county, Sept. 28, 1839.
His parents were David and Margaret (Howard) Summers,
the former of whom was born in West Virginia in 1793, where
he married and lived for some times on a rented farm.
Deciding to come west, they removed to Ross county, Ohio,
and located in Twin township. Their sojourn there was
brief, however, the next move being to the then sparsely
settled state of Indiana. There the father died, and
the mother returned with her family to Ross county, settled
on a rented farm and set to work to raise a large family
without any aid outside of the household. The fact
that she accomplished this fact is evidence sufficient of
the strong character and managerial ability of Mr.
Summers. This devoted mother and splendid sample
of the pioneer woman, who died in 1879, was left a widow
with a family of eleven children. Of these, Abraham,
John, Henry, Michael, David, Richard, Elizabeth and
Allen are numbered with the dead. The others
are Samuel, Reuben and Thomas. Thomas
Summers, who was next to the youngest of the children,
remained at home helping on the farm until he was nineteen,
meantime obtaining some education at the district school.
On Feb. 10, 1858, he was married to Henrietta Duey,
and for the two subsequent years they lived in Fayette
county, Ohio. About that time the civil war was raging
and Mr. Summers joined the Union procession by
enlisting in Company K, Ninetieth Ohio infantry, with which
he was mustered into the service at Circleville in August,
1862. The command was first sent to Lexington, Ky.,
from which place they retreated to Louisville. During
his subsequent experience, Mr. Summers took part in
the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro,
Franklin and Nashville. In addition to these historic
fields, there were innumerable small skirmishes which
resulted in more or less loss of life and made the soldier's
life a busy one. Mr. Summers escaped capture or
dangerous hurt, his most serious injury being a slight wound
on the wrist. The command was mustered out at Camp
Parker, from which place he proceeded to Camp Dennison where
he spent a couple of weeks. He then returned to his
home and for the next two years worked by the month on a
farm. Later he purchased 160 acres of land in Twin
township, to which place he removed and has made his home on
the part still owned by himself. Mr. Summers is
a member of the United Brethren church and of Prater post,
G. A. R.., at Bourneville. He has two children,
Mack H., of South Salem, and Reuben, of Twin
township.
Source: The County of Ross: a history of Ross County, Ohio
by Henry Holcomb Bennett - Published by S. A. Brant, Madison,
Wis., 1902 - Page 706 |
. |
