BIOGRAPHIES

Source:
A Standard History of
THE HANGING ROCK IRON REGION OF OHIO
An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with the Extended
Survey of the Industrial and Commercial Development
Vol. II
ILLUSTRATED
Publishers - The Lewis Publishing Company
1916
 

Geo. M. Salladay & Mrs. Geo. M. Salladay	GEORGE W. SALLADAY Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916 - Page 707
	EPHRAIM W. SMITH.  Elected sheriff of Scioto County in November, 1914, by the largest majority ever given for a candidate for this office in the history of the county,  Mr. Smith needs no further voucher for the confidence and esteem here reposed in him, and his administration throughout is certain to justify the popular choice which brought to him this important official preferment.      Mr. Smith was born at Oak Hill, Jackson County, Ohio, on the 27th of June, 1868, and is a son of William E. and Eliza Ellen (Allen) Smith, the former of whom was born in Kenton County, Kentucky, on the 20th of June, 1833, and the latter of whom was born in Jackson County, Ohio, in 1846, her death having occurred at the old home in Oak Hill, on the 27th of May, 1901, and her husband having there passed away on the 28th of March, 1901.  They became the parents of seventeen children, of whom ten sons and two daughters are living, namely: Mary C., Joseph R., Ephraim W., LOren O., James C., Rutherford A., Ottie Warren, Thomas G., Louden E., Ceola E., Austin L., and Cassius O.      William E. Smith was a son of Ephraim W. Smith who was born  in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and who was there reared and educated.  From the old Keystone State Ephraim W. Smith removed to Kenton County, Kentucky, where he was engaged in farming until 1851, when he removed with his family to Scioto County, Ohio, appointed a member of the police force of the city and he held this position until his death, a few years later.  William E. Smith was indebted to the public schools of Kenton County, Kentucky, for his early educational discipline and was about eighteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Scioto County, Ohio.  Here he found employment as a boatman on the Ohio Canal and he continued to be thus engaged until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he laid aside the labors of peace to tender his services in defense of the Union.  On the 11th of November, 1861, he enlisted in Battery L, First Ohio Light Artillery, and the history of this gallant command in virtually the record of his military career, for he participated in the various campaigns and battles in which his regiment was involved and made a record that will give lasting honor to his memory.  Among the more important engagements in which he took part may he mentioned the following:  Front Royal, Port Republic, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Rapahannock Ford, New Hope Church, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.  He continued with his command until victory had crowned the Union arms and received his honorable discharge on the 11th of July, 1865, at Columbus, Ohio.  In later years his abiding interest in his former comrades was shown by his active affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics he was an ardent supporter of the cause of the republican party.      Sheriff Smith, whose popularity is attested by the fact that he is familiarly known as "Pete" Smith, made good use of the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native village, but while still a mere boy he gained experience in practical affairs, through being employed in a brickyard in his home county.  He acquired a thorough knowledge of all details of this line of industry and in April, 1896, he came to Portsmouth, where he was employed for a few months in a brickyard.  He then engaged with the Portsmouth Stove & Range Company, with which he remained eight years.  HE was then appointed a member of the city's police force, a position in which his grandfather had previously served in this city when it was little more than a village, and he continued a valued member of the department for a period of four and one half years.  For one year thereafter he was in the employ of the local telephone company and thereafter he gave one year to service with the street railway and electric light company.  In January, 1911, largely as a result of his excellent service on the police force, he was appointed deputy sheriff of the county, and of this office he continued the incumbent until January, 1915, when he entered upon the discharge of his duties as county sheriff, a position to which he had been elected in the preceding November, as already noted in this context.      Sheriff Smith had ever been a loyal and unwavering advocate of the principles and policies for which the republican party stands sponsor, and his first presidential vote was cast for Benjamin Harrison.  He and his wife hold membership in the United Brethren Church, as did also his parents, and in the time-honored Masonic fraternity his affiliations are with Aurora Lodge No. 48, Free and Accepted Masons.  At Portsmouth he is identified also with River City Camp No. 3993, Modern Woodmen of America; River City Aerie No. 57, Fraternal Order of Eagles; Portsmouth Chapter No. 11, American Insurance Union; and with the organization of the Order of Owls and the Loyal Order of Moose.      On the 13th of May, 1888, Mr. Smith wedded Miss Priscilla J. Leonard, who was born and reared in Jackson County, and who was a daughter of John and Sarah Leonard.  She was summoned to the life eternal on the 13th of September, 1907, and is survived by five children, Elmer E., Earl L., Ottie Floyd, and Martha M. and Margaret M., who are twins.      On the 16th of November, 1910, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Smith to Mrs. Mary Shackelford, who was born in Wolfe County, Kentucky, and who is a daughter of Noah and Elizabeth (Hobbs) Williams  No children have been born of this marriage. Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916 - Page 818
	JAMES WILLIAM SMITH.  Patriotic, public-spirited and enterprising, Capt. James William Smith, a prominent citizen of Portsmouth, won distinction during the Spanish American war as an army officer, and has gained prominence in the business world as president of the River City Lumber Company, one of the foremost industries of Scioto County.  A native of Ohio, he was born May 21, 1871, on the farm in Union Township, near Galford, Pike County, of thrifty Scotch ancestry.      His father, Maxwell Smith, was born in the North of Scotland, and as a young man came to America, landing in New York.  From there, accompanied by a friend, Leander Wiles, he came to Ohio, locating in Pike County, where he was subsequently variously employed. working on a farm, in the lumber woods, and for a number of seasons operating a threshing machine.  He died while yet in manhood's prime, in Pike County. He married Sarah Schoonover, who was born in Pike County, Ohio, a daughter of James Schoonover.  Her grandfather, Hiram Schoonover, was horn in Pennsylvania, of German ancestors.  An early pioneer of Ohio, he took up a tract of timbered land in Union Township, Pike County, and on the farm which he redeemed from the forest spent his remaining years.  The maiden name of the wife of Hiram Schoonover was _____ White.  She was a lineal descendant of Peregrine White, who was born, in 1620, on board the Mayflower, while she lay at anchor in Plymouth Harbor, on the bleak coast of Massachusetts.  Both she and her husband are buried in the Wells Cemetery.  James Schoonover married Elizabeth Wells, and they both lived on the home farm in Pike County, and there died, the death of the father occurring in 1910, and that of the mother in 1868.      Capt. James W. Smith attended the rural schools and assisted on the home farm until fifteen years of age, when he obtained employment in the sawmill of Peter Bushart, in Pike County, where he obtained his first experience in the lumber business.  At the end of two years in that mill he went to Illinois, and for three years was engaged in farming and stock-raising.  Returning to Ohio, Mr. Smith located then in Portsmouth, and entered the employ of the Little Kanawha Lumber Company, at the company's mill having charge of the dry dock that supplied the logs for the plant.  He remained in that capacity two years, after which he was for two years carpenter for the Bushart Lumber Company.  Starting then in business for himself, Mr. Smith carried on work as a building contractor in a small way until the breaking out of the Spanish-American war.  He had previously joined the State Militia as a member of Company H, Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio National Guards, and had been commissioned second lieutenant of his company.  Responding to the call for troops his regiment went to Camp Bushnell, at Columbus, Apr. 26, 1898, and there volunteered into the United States service as the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the companies retaining their same designation.  On May 12, 1898, the regiment went into camp at Chickamauga Park, Georgia, from there going, July 20, to Newport News, Virginia, where it embarked on the steamer Saint Paul for Porto Rico.  Landing at Aurora, the regiment was there on duty until the following November, when it sailed for New York.  Landing in that city November 5, the regiment was received by President McKiuley at the White House, Washington, District of Columbia, who had an especial interest in it, as it had been stationed at Columbus while he was serving as governor of the state, and had acted as his body guard.  The regiment was granted a furlough of two months, and on Jan. 20, 1899, was honorably discharged from the service.  Captain Smith had the distinction of having been the only member of the regiment to receive three commissions during his term of service in the Spanish-American war.  He was commissioned second lieutenant at Columbus; was made first lieutenant at Chickamauga Park; and promoted to the rank of captain when he set sail from Newport News, after which time he had command of his company.      Upon his return from the war Captain Smith organized the Smith Lumber Company, erected a planing mill, and subsequently as a building contractor erected many residences, business and public buildings, including among others the Carnegie Library Building and the Masonic Temple at Portsmouth, Ohio.  He continued in that line of industry until 1910.  In 1911 Captain Smith merged the Smith Lumber Company with another similar organization, and formed the River City Lumber Company, of which he is president, while his brother, Israel Smith, is a member of the company.  This enterprising firm handles lumber and builders' supplies, selling at wholesale and retail, and is carrying on a very prosperous business.      Captain Smith married, Aug. 12, 1891, Martha Galford, who was born in Union Township, Pike County, a daughter of Alexander and Albina (Rockwell) Galford.  Captain and Mrs. Smith have three children, namely: Elsie B., Delia May, and Homer James.  Religiously the family attend the Trinity Methodist Church.  Fraternally the Captain is a member of Aurora Lodge No. 48, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of Mount Vernon Chapter, No. 23, Royal Arch Masons; of Calvary Commandery No. 13, Knights Templar; of Solomon Council No. 79, Royal and Select Masters, of Portsmouth, Ohio; and is a Scottish Rite — thirty-second degree Mason; a member of Syrian Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. of Cincinnati, Ohio.  A stanch republican in politics, he has filled many offices of responsibility with credit to himself, and to the honor of his constituents.  In 1904 the Captain was one of the candidates selected by the business men for the city council, and was elected by a large majority, and continued in office subsequently by re-election for six years.  While in the council he served on the committee on light and water, being chairman of the water committee that advocated the system of filtration that has since been adopted.  He is a member of the Portsmouth Board of Trade, and was formerly a director of the Commercial Club. Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916 - Page 1305
	LEROY F. SMITH.  Besides a relationship with several of the pioneer families of Southern Ohio.  LeRoy F. Smith has made his own career a source of benefit to his community, and through nearly half a century has been pursuing the steady industry of agriculture and owns one of the very attractive farmsteads of Washington Township in Scioto County.  Mr. Smith is also a member of the board of trustees of his home township, and when his friends and neighbors have asked his co-operation in any movement which meant better living and more advantages to the community, his assistance has never been withheld.      LeRoy F. Smith was born in what is now Rush Township of Scioto County, Aug. 23, 1846, a son of Peter J. Smith, who was born near the Virginia line in the State of Maryland.  Grandfather William Smith was one of the early settlers of Washington Township, Scioto County, and from the date of his coming some member of the family has been connected with the worthy and progressive activities of this section. William Smith was buried in the cemetery at Dry Run. he married a Miss Hoskinson, whose father was a native of Maryland and one of the pioneers of Adams County, Ohio.      Peter J. Smith was only a child when his parents came to Ohio and located in Washington Township.  That was about eighty years ago, and few of the present generation can appreciate; all the changes which have come over the country since then.  Scioto County was in the midst of the heavy woods, abounding in wild game, and the era of both canals and railroads was still in the future.  As a young man he did some work during the construction of the canal through his home locality.  His career, which was comparatively brief, since he died in the prime of life in 1853, was mainly identified with farming.  He bought land extending along both sides of the Galena Pike, and including a considerable stretch of the fertile acres lying in the bottom is of the Scioto River.  When he took possession the improvements consisted of a substantial two-story hewed log house, with about 100 acres cleared and ready for cultivation.      Peter J. Smith married Rebecca Moore, of a family that was among the first in Ohio when it was a part of Northwest Territory.  She was born in Nile Township of Scioto County.  Her father, Firman Moore, was born at the historic Town of Boonesboro, Kentucky, in 1790.  His father was the Rev. Joseph Moore, a native of New Jersey, whence he emigrated to Kentucky when it was an almost uninhabited wilderness.  He was with a party that crossed the ridge of the Alleghanies, and on reaching the Ohio River embarked on flatboats.  In the course of the voyage they were attacked by Indians and some of them killed, but Reverend Moore escaped and made his way to Boonesboro, where for some lime he lived in the fort.  After the treaty of peace with the Indians, he crossed the Ohio into Northwest Territory, and found a home in what is now Adams County, being one of the first white men to rear the structure of civilization in that locality.  A local preacher, he organized a Methodist society in Adams County, and built a log church, which in the annals of Methodism is supposed to have been the first church of this denomination in Ohio.  It was built very substantially, and stood for many years, being known as Moore's Chapel.  While he was zealous and active in church work, he made his living like most of the pioneers by wringing a subsistence from the soil.  He bought land six miles west of Manchester, and made his home there while he preached in several localities.  When this useful life came to a close, his remains were laid to rest on his farm.      Firman Moore, who was brought to Ohio in infancy, grew up on the farm just mentioned, and though trained to agricultural pursuits spent many years of his manhood in another line of business.  With his brother Joseph he opened a stone quarry at Buena Vista.  The stone was loaded on flatboats, constructed from the native timber, was floated down the currents of the various rivers, and finally sold in southern cities, the timbers of the boats being sold at the same time.  The transaction completed, and with the proceeds in his pocket, he would return as best he could, sometimes by an upriver boat, but very often walking all the way across a region infested with Indians and outlaws.  After conditions had changed to make the stone business less profitable, he bought a farm on the Buena Vista Pike, and made his home there until the close of the Civil war.  Having sold his land he removed to Mercer County, Illinois, where he died in his ninety-third year.  Both he and his brother Joseph had seen active service in the War of 1812.  Firman Moore married Anna Worley, who died several years prior to her husband.  Mrs. Peter J. Smith, who died in 1896, was a member of the Methodist Church, her husband being of like faith.  They reared four children, named William Firman, LeRoy F., John D. and Joseph C.      LeRoy F. Smith recollects Scioto County during the years before the war, at which time he was living with his widowed mother on the farm, and besides giving his assistance where he was able to keeping up the homestead was also attending the local schools.  He was only six years old when his father died, and has known the value and necessity of honest toil from an early age.  His own career began as farmer on rented land, but after three years, by thrift and economy, he was able to purchase a farm of his own, and has since lived in Washington Township on the Galena Pike.  Part of his farm is in the Scioto River bottoms, while the land about the house and barns extends well up the ridge of hills overlooking the river, affording an attractive and healthful location for a home.  He has erected a set of substantial farm buildings, and has effected many other improvements that add to the value of the farm.      In 1869 Mr. Smith married Miss Hattie Bradford.  She was born in Washington Township, a daughter of Cornelius Bradford.  The latter was a native of Wilmington, Delaware, but in young manhood came to Ohio, locating in Washington Township, where he improved a farm on Hygean Run and lived there many years.  Late in life he went to California, and spent his last days in Oakland.  Cornelius Bradford married Emily Dollarheid, who died in early life, and her daughter, Mrs. Smith, was reared by the stepmother.  Mrs. Smith died Jan. 19, 1912.  Her four children are Joseph O., Howard, Mary and Walter.  The church in which Mr. and Mrs. Smith have worshipped many years is the Old Town Methodist Episcopal, in which he has long served as a trustee and as superintendent of the Sunday school. Source: A Standard History of The Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio, Vol. II - Illustrated - Published by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1916 - Page 895