1250 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. John H. is the eldest of thirteen children, and was born in Orange County, Va., Jan. 29, 1827. At the age of twelve -years he commenced learning his trade with his father. When twenty-one he commenced business for himself as a journeyman, and seven years later opened a boot and shoe store in McArthur where he has been a practical Mechanic ever since. A short time after opening his store he lost his entire stock by fire, and in January, 1883, he was again burned. out. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, Eighty-eighth Ohio Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Bratton, and was Sergeant-Major. At the expiration of his three months he returned home, and in May, 1864, enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Ohio Infantry, serving 100 days as Color-Sergeant. July 3, 1861, he became a member of the I. 0. 0. F. lodge, and has gone through all the different degrees of and filled the different offices in the subordinate lodge. In 1867 he joined the Masonic lodge and has taken all the degrees in that subordinate lodge. His wife was Sarah , D. Owen. They have three children—Mary, wife of A. L. Brown; William E., manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Quincy, Ill., and Elmer, telegraph operator at Quincy, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. King are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. David Lantz, stock dealer, McArthur, Ohio, is a brother of George Lantz, mentioned in this chapter. He was born in Vinton County, Ohio, in 1837. When an infant his parents settled in McArthur where he has since resided. He received the rudiments of a common-school education, and when a youth learned the tinner's trade, but has not followed it for a number of years. He has been for a number of years engaged in trading in stock, but now devotes the most of his time to fine milch cows, real estate and general brokerage. He was married to Margaret Bottonfield,'of Antioch, Monroe County, Ohio, where she was born and reared. They have three children — Archie, Mabel and Maud. George Lantz, Esq., hardware merchant. Among the early and representative families of Vinton County, Ohio, there are perhaps few whose entering the primeval forest, braving the dangers of such a task, dates earlier than the Lantz family. George, the subject of this sketch, is the son of Aaron and grandson of George Lantz; the latter was born in Germany, where he married a French lady. Soon after this they embarked for America and settled in Sussex County, N. J., where they had born to them eight children, four HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1251 sons and as many daughters. About 1811 he, with his family, settled four miles west of the present site of' McArthur. For some cause he only remained until 1818, when he, with his three married daughters and their families and two sons (Moses and Vandall), settled near Batesville, Independence Co., Ark. In the same year George, the eldest son, settled in Williams County, Ohio; Jesse, the youngest, in Wheeling, Va., where he was for a long time extensively engaged in the manufacturing of the French burr millstones. Aaron Lantz. the twin brother of Moses and the father of our subject, in 1818 married Leah Claypoole and settled three miles west of McArthur, where he engaged in manufacturing the Raccoon burr millstone, which at that time was extensively used over Ohio and Indiana, and at the same time he car-ried on farming on the pioneer style by which a livelihood was obtained. In 1838 he moved to McArthur and engaged in the mercantile trade, which he conducted until his death, March 3, 1843, aged forty-eight. He left six children—George, the subject of this sketch; Henry, now in Scioto County, Ohio; Elizabeth, David, Mary and Anna. All are married and have families, and all save one in Vinton County. George was born in what is now Vinton County, Ohio, March 6, 1828. In connection with his birth there is a remarkable coincident we deem worthy of mention: George's father, Aaron, his eldest brother, George, and George, the grand-father of our subject, were all born on the sixth day of March. He reached the age of ten years on the farm where he was born, but at the above age his father moved to McArthur, and George's boyhood days were then mostly spent in driving cattle over the mountains to Lancaster and Baltimore. In May, 1851, he married Amanda, daughter of Isaac B. Lottridge, by whom he has five children living. In 1857 he was elected Clerk of the Court of Vinton County by the Democratic party, and in 1860 a re-election to the same office followed, but at the expiration of this term he retired from public life. Owing to the ill-health of his successor in 1865 Mr. Lantz was appointed to his former position and in 1865 elected, which term expired in February, 1870. In the centennial year he was elected Probate Judge. His term expired in 1879; since then he has devoted his time to the mercantile trade, with which he has been identified more or less since 1861. Isaac M. Lantz, dealer in stoves and tinware, McArthur, Ohio, a son of George Lantz, was born in McArthur, Vinton Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1855, and has always resided in his native town. In his 1252 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. boyhood days he received such an education as the facilities of his own town afforded. At the age of nineteen he engaged in learning the tinner's trade, which he still follows in connection with the handling of stoves and such articles as are usually found in that class of stores. He at the same time makes a specialty of roofing and spouting. Mr. Lantz is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and stands well in the business as well as social circles of McArthur. He was married Jan. 13, 1878, to Fredora B. Parrott, ot Monroe County, Ohio, where she was born and reared. I. N. Lottridge, McArthur,,Ohio, is of lineal German descent on his paternal side. His great-grandfather, John Lottridge, was born in Germany; his mother was a distant descendant and relative of Henry IV., King of Holland. John matured in his native land and married Miss Bratt. They came to America prior to the Revolutionary war and settled near the town of Hoosick, N. Y., where they both died. He was by occupation a farmer. Of his ten children, Barnaclus, the grandfather of our subject, was the second, and born near Hoosick, N. Y., in 1779. There he lived till maturity and married Abagail Bull, of English extraction but a native of New York State. In 1803 they moved to West Virginia, and one year later to Ohio, to what is now Carthage Township, Athens County, where they both died, having through life followed farming. He became a large land owner and transformed many acres of it into open and productive fields. When they settled in Hocking Valley the country was new and night was made hideous by the howling of the wild denizens of the forest. They had twelve children, Isaac B., the father of our subject being the eldest. He was born in New York, Jan. 13, 1802, but from infancy lived in Athens County, Ohio, where he married Experience R. Cross, whose father, Dewy Cross, had settled in the vicinity, of Athens when this was yet a Territory. They with their family came to McArthur in February, 1830, where they lived and died. He was a man of strong mind and sound judgment, and in 1832 was elected to the State Legislature but declined the position. he operated a carding mill about .fifteen years after coming to McArthur. At the time of his death he left his second wife a widow, by whom he had four children, and six by the first. Of the entire family Isaac N. is the second son and was born in Athens County, Ohio, Nov. 16, 1828. He received a common-school education in McArthur, where he was reared. He.was from a youth handy with tools, and his younger life was somewhat varied, but the last HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1253 decade he has been engaged in the carding mill and woolen factory. He was married in 1853 to Lydia A. Gaston, of Virginian birth, who from infancy had lived in Ohio. They have two children—Melvin M. and Eunice V. J. M. Lowry, farmer, postoffice McArthur, is a son of Canada Lowry, who was born in Washington County, Pa., and in the latter part of the last century, with his parents, settled in what is now Athens County, near the town of Athens, where his parents died. Canada from youth lived in Athens County, where he married Sarah Rose, who was also born and reared in Pennsylvania. He and wife subsequently settled in Muskingum County, Ohio, where she died in 1831, and he in Logan, Ohio, in 1856. He was through. life a farmer, hard worker, and reared a large family, of whom our subject is the fifth, and was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in September, 1809. He was reared on the farm; received a very limited education in the pioneer log school-house three miles from his home. He married Elizabeth Frontz, who is a native of Virginia. In 1840 they settled near Logan, Hocking Co., Ohio, in the dense unbroken forest, where he bought and cleared up a farm. In 1854 he moved to McArthur and bought the water grist-mill, which he operated until 1861, when he became proprietor of the steam mill. Subsequently sold this and bought 156 acres of land, of which he still owns apart, and now lives almost retired. He and wife have the following family—Sarah, Felton, Grafton, Mary, Austin, William, Martha, Rebecca and Milton. Mr. Lowry at one time served as Deputy United States Marshal, also Marshal of McArthur. Thomas A. Martin, McArthur, Ohio, is a son of Lewis G. and Frances (McInteer) Martin, natives of Virginia. Of their four children Thomas A. is the eldest, and was born in Stafford County, Va., Sept. 12, 1809. He was reared in Virginia, but in the fall of 1830 settled at Wheeling, and in 1832 removed to Lancaster, Ohio, where he married Julia Fritter. One year later he settled in Royalton; thence in 1842, to Logan, where he was a produce dealer until 1848, when he came to McArthur and engaged in merchandising. In 1849 he was instrumental in originating the movement for a new county to become Vinton, in honor of Hon. Samuel F. Vinton, then an ex-Congressman of this district. Another object Mr. Martin had in view was to make McArthur a county seat. After a severe struggle, assisted by Judge Joseph Kaler, who then resided in McArthur, he having been a member of the Legislature, 1254 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. though at that time J. K. Will was the Representative, in 1850 the bill was passed and the organization of the county granted with 402 square miles. He, soon after coming to McArthur, buried his wife. His second wife is Elizabeth,, daughter of Jacob Shockey, who is a native of this vicinity, born in 1826. He arid wife have had six children, three daughters (deceased), and three sons, of whom two are living—L. D., Postal Clerk on the B. dc 0. R. R., and Charles E. S., of Bainbridge. Arthur E. McGrath, Clerk of the Court of Vinton County, was born in Wilkesville in 1852. His grandfather, Thomas McGrath, was a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, and when a young man came to America, locating ultimately in Wilkesville, Vinton Co., Ohio, where he died. His wife is now the widow of James Greathouse. Of their four children Martin E., the eldest, was born and grew to manhood in Wilkesville, but is now living in Gallia County, Ohio. He married Amanda, daughter of Hon. Almond Soule, who died leaving four children, three sons and one daughter. He then married Rebecca Vanseyoc. They have two children. Arthur E. McGrath was educated in his native town and in 1868 commenced teaching. He taught twelve terms and was then engaged in the fire insurance business till his appointment to fill an unexpired term as Clerk, Nov. 2, 1880, and in the fall of 1881 was elected to his present office. March 15, 1871, he married Clarissa Chapman, a native of Meigs County, Ohio, born Sept. 1, 1854, and a daughter of T. S. Chapman. They have two children—Nellie L., born Jan. 13, 1872, and Maude M., born Sept. 10, 1874. James M McVey. —Mr. McVey was born in Morgan County, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1833. His parents subsequently removed to Swan Township, Vinton Co., Ohio, where he spent his youth and the principal part of his life. Mr. McVey was twice married. He leaves by his first marriage a daughter, Mrs. Mary Crooks, who resides with her husband in Zanesville. Ohio. Mrs. Crooks's mother's name was Sarah Sands. His second marriage was with Nancy Stevens, Nov. 7, 1858; she survives him. After his second marriage he kept hotel where the KalerHouse formerly stood, after which he engaged a while in farming. Returning again to McArthur he engaged in running the hack line from this place to McArthur station. In the course of time he bought a farm in Benton Township near Bloomingville; this still forms part of the estate. He was on this farm several years when he again went to McArthur"and purchased the property he owned at the time of his death, HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1255 the McVey House. He was conducting the hotel under his name when his lite was terminated by a wound received in a conflict with L. I/ Vickers. He died May 10, 1883. Mr. _McVey was a genial, whole-souled man and very popular, and the community will ever regret the sad manner in which he came to his death. George Paffenbarger was born in 1813 in Adelphi, Ross Co., Ohio, a son ot John Paffenbarger, a native of Pennsylvania, who located in Ross County about 1809. He served in the war of 1812 and died in Ross. County at the age of seventy-seven years. Our subject was reared on the home farm till attaining his majority when he began life for himself. He lived in Ross County, and afterward spent eleven years in Pickaway County on rented land. In 1847 he located on his present farm, purchasing at that time 1131 acres. He farms largely in grain. and is also engaged in stock-raising, having a number of the finest sheep in the county. Ile has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1837 and has held the positions of Truistee and Steward many years. He was married Nov. 22, 1835, to Betsy Daymouth, a native of Pennsylvania. They have had eleven children, nine of whom are living—John W., Alfred, Henry P., Charles W., Andrew, Mary, Catherine, Susan and Libbie. Lydia and Rebecca are deceased. Our subject's grandfather was a native of Germany and immigrated to this country when a young man and served during the Revolution. His wife, Catherine (Will) Paffenbarger, was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Paffenbarger has given his children a good education, six of whom have become successful teachers. Alfred is a lawyer and editor residing in Oregon, and Andrew is a dentist in Zaleski, Ohio. Alfred and Henry served in the three months' service in the late war. Henry Payne was born in London, England, Sept. 4, 1817. His father, Robert Payne, was born at Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1794. When he was a-young man he went to England and there married an English lady named Ann lia,11. A short titne after the .birth of Henry his father returned to the United States and brought with him the first machine introduced into this country for making, our common pins. The machine, however, was invented in England by a Massachusetts man. Mr. Payne located at Taunton, Massachusetts, and was there employed in the manufacture of these machines. In the spring of 1833 he moved with his family to Ohio and settled in the woods of Hocking County, Swan Township, now Vinton County. His death occurred Aug. 29, 1855. He was a 1256 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. natural mechanic and could tarn out the most difficult specimens of mechanical ingenuity. His wife died in the spring of 1861. She was born in London, England, May 15, 1784. They had a family of thirteen children, of whom five lived to maturity. Henry Payne, the subject of this sketch, is the only living representative of the family. He was employed in his father's machine shop from the age of twelve to sixteen, and then worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-eight years old. He then engaged with T. B. Davis, at Mount Pleasant, Hocking County, in the tobacco trade for five years, part of this time, however, being at McArthur. On the formation of Vinton County in the spring of 1850 Mr. Payne was chosen as the first County Treasurer and served in this capacity seven years. In 1864 and 1865 he was Assistant Revenue Assessor for Vinton County, resigning on the accession of Andrew Johnson to the Presidential chair. For the next two years Mr. Payne was Justice of the Peace in Elk Township. he was afterward in the mercantile business for three years with John S. Hawk, but since then has lived a retired life, a resident of McArthur. He was married in 1856 to Priscilla Taylor, of Somerset, Perry County. They have had four children, of whom two are living—Joseph Trimble, of Columbus, and Ann Eliza, now Mrs. Lafayette W. Hays. Mr. Payne is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Religiously he inclines to the Episcopal church. Mrs. Payne is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Captain Alex. Pearce, ex-Legislator, McArthur, is a native of Bainbridge, Ross Co., Ohio, born in 1828. He received his education in the schools of his native town, where he remained until eighteen years of age. He then went in the printing office at Portsmouth. From 1850 to 1854 he was editor and publisher of the Portsmouth Inquirer, and during this period he published the first daily paper of that city, known as the Daily Dispatch. It had been started by Cleveland & Miller, but Pearce succeeded Miller. He was for two years engaged in other business, but in the spring of 1856, while visiting at McArthur, purchased the McArthur Democrat. This he successfully operated until 1861 when he sold to B. P. Hewet, as he was serving at the time his first term in the State Legislature for the district composed of Vinton and Jackson counties. In 1861 he volunteered in Company D, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, and was discharged Nov. 9, 1864. He was gradually promoted until he reached the position of Captain. He participated in some of the severest battles in Middle Tennessee, and HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1257 many others of less importance. After his return from the army he was appointed Assistant Assessor of 0.,eneral revenue, which he turned over in 1869. In that year he associated himself with George Lantz in the hardware trade, forming the firm of Lantz (.43. Pearce, and in 1875 Mr. Pearce became sole proprietor, but in the fall of 1880, his health being very poor, he desired to free himself from business and sold his place of business to Lantz, and is now Clerk of the Recorder's office. He was married in 1858 to Amanda, daughter .of Benjamin Ward. Six children have been born to them, all now living. The eldest is operator of Nelsonville and the second eldest son is operator at McArthur Junction. C. B. Pilcher is a son of James and grandson of Stephen Pilcher. The latter was a native of Virginia, where he married and reared a family. In 1800 he settled on a, farm near Athens, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. James, the father of our subject, and the fifth son of the above, was born April 7, 1777, in Virginia, where he matured to farm life and married Nancy, daughter of Samuel Sage. In 1800 he emigrated to Ohio with his father's family, but not liking the country near Athens he settled at Zaleski, Vinton County. In a few years his farm was overflowed by Rac-coon Creek, and he went to the farm where the infirmary now stands. This was about the time of the breaking out of the war of 1812. Here he remained until 1840 when he settled on section 22, where his death occurred not many years after. His wife also died here. He was a man who preferred the quiet routine of farm life, and never aspired to office though repeatedly holding. the office of Township Trustee. Politically he was a Democrat. His wife bore him eighteen children—Lenecy, Edward, Nancy, Charlotte, Harriet, Ann Maria, Samantha, James, Henry, Amanda, Samuel, Minerva, Melissa, Columbus B., George W., Hiram, Eliza and Arminda. Two sons and five daughters are yet living. Columbus B., the elder son and the subject of our sketch, was born Nov. 14. 1826, on the infirmary farm, Vinton County, Ohio. He received a common-school education, and started out in life empty handed. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Gill. Mr. Pilcher fol-lows farming and sheep-raising and is now the owner of 260 acres of land in Elk Township. His land is underlaid with a rich vein of coal five feet thick. He is also the owner of the farm and old home formerly belonging to his wife's father. Mr. Pilcher and wife have had eight children, six of whom are living—two in Missouri, one in Columbus and three are at home unmarried. 1258 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. E. B. Pugh, Esq., wagon-maker, McArthur, is a son of William and Bashaba (Johnson) Pugh, his mother a daughter of Benjamin Johnson. He is a grandson of John Pugh, who with Benjamin Johnson crossed the Ohio River at Wheeling, Va., in 1792. John Pugh had served five years as a teamster in the Revolutionary war. Johnson and Pugh both settled in what is now Harrison County, Ohio. There they farmed until their death. William Pugh was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife of Maryland. They were married in Ohio. He died in Harrison County, Ohio, and she in Grant County, Ind. She was at the time of her death the wife of John Heaflin. William Pugh was through life a farmer, He and wife had seven children, five sons and two daughters, E. B. being the sixth and only son living. He was born in Harrison County, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1819.. He received a fair education and at the age of fourteen commenced his trade, serving five years. He then followed journey work until 1843 when he opened a shop in Morefield, Harrison County. In March, 1846, he married Casandra Selfridge' and in 1851 came to McArthur where he has ever since lived save fourteen months in Holmes County, Ohio. He is now the only wagon-maker in town. He and wife have three children, all living--John C., Martha A. and Helen L. John C. Pugh, attorney and County School Examiner, McArthur, emanates from Wales, and is a lineal descendant from the Pughs of Philadelphia, Pa., and is a on of Ellis B. and Cassie Pugh. He was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1848, but from 1851 was reared in Vinton County. His education was mostly received in this county and by his own unceasing efforts. In 1868 he commenced teaching; subsequently taught one year in 'Tennessee. In 1870 he commenced reading law under the tutorship of J. M. McGillivray. He jointly pursued this with teaching until 1879, when he was admitted to the bar and has since been practicing in McArthur. He is one of the school examiners of the present board, in which capacity he has served five years. In 1881 he married Alice Harming. They have one daughter—.Georgian a. D. V. Rannells, M. D., is a son of Samuel J. Rannells, a native of Pennsylvania, who when a young man went to Kentucky with a flat-boat of provisions, and while there raised a company of men for the war then in progress, and was in the battle of New Orleans. He subsequently drifted to Louisiana and soon after married Rachel Hughes, a native of Orangeburg District, S. C., HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1259 but a resident of Louisiana. In after years with a family of four children they came to Ohio and settled on a farm in what is now Swan Township., Vinton County, where Mr. Rannells died in 1856, his wife surviving him fourteen years. While in Louisiana Mr. Rannells represented East Feliciana Parish District in the State Legislature two terms, and also represented his district in the State Senate. He was Register and Receiver of the land-office at the time Andrew Jackson took his seat as President, a,nd on account of his Whig principles he was removed from the office. He was always a Whig and Republican, and was an officer in the election of 1856 when Fremont ran for the Presidency. D. V. Rannells is the second of his children and was born in St. Helena .Parish. La., in 1834, but has been a resident of Ohio since ten years of age and of Vinton County Since 1847. His education was received in the common school and of his father. He followed teaching a few years, and when twenty,one years of' age began the study of medicine with Dr. Wolf, of McArthur. He graduated from Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio, in March, 1858, and became a partner of his preceptor. In .August, 1862, he entered the army as Assistant Surgeon. of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, and in 1864 was promoted to Surgeon of the regiment, serving till the close of the war. He was with Sherman and was captured and confined in Libby Prison. After the war was ended he returned to McArthur and resumed his practice. He has been a student of his profession and gained an enviable reputation' among the medical men of Southern Ohio. Dr. Rannells adheres to the political faith of his father. He is a member of the Ma-sonic fraternity and has been Master of his lodge. He married Lydia M., youngest daughter of Dr. Andrew Wolf, of McArthur. They have five children, four daughters and one son. The eldest daughter, Eliza H., is a graduate of the Cleveland Female Sem-inary and is now a teacher in; the McArthur High School. The second daughter is a teacher of music and a student of the Cincin-nati Conservatory of Music. Captain Wm. J. Rannells was born in Washington, Mason Co., Ky., Jan. 21, 1840. His father, Samuel J. Rannells, was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1.791, and married Rache., Hughes. who was born near Columbia, S. C., in 1806. There resulted from this marriage ten children, five of whom are dead, and five—Mrs. Mary Taylor, Dr. D. V. Rannells, Wm. J. Rannells, Dr. C. S. Rannells, and Mrs. Cora Poston, are living. His 1260 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. father served his country in the war of 1812 as a Lieutenant in Major Clarkson's battalion of Kentuckyans, and among other engagements took part in the battle of New Orleans. He was also a soldier in our war against the Seminole Indians. He owned a plantation near Port Hudson, and served two terms as a member of the Louisiana Legislature. His paternal grandfather, David Rannells, was born in Virginia. 1-lis maternal grandfather was Joseph Hughes, and great-grandfather was James Hughes, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and a member of the gallant and daring band of Francis Marion. He was betrayed to the cowboys by one of his servants, and was killed by them while sitting with his family at breakfast. His paternal ancestors are of Scotch-Irish descent, and emigrated to this country from the north of Ireland about the close of the Revolutionary war. His maternal ancestors are of Huguenot parentage. The exact date at which they came to America is not known, but it was a long time before the war of the Revolution. Captain Rannells's parents moved from Mason County, Ky., to Guernsey County, Ohio, when he was one-year of age, and a few years later came to Vinton County, Ohio, and located on a farm a few miles north of McArthur. His father died in 1856, at the age of sixty-five. The family continued to reside on the farm until William was a boy of sixteen, when they came to McArthur, Ohio, where his mother died in February,1873, at the age of sixty-seven. His education was received in the common schools. with the exception of a term of six months at Vermillion Institute, Ashland County, Ohio, just prior to the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. When the dark days of disunion dawned upon our nation in 1861, he was the first man, but one, who enlisted in Vinton County in her defense. When the news of the fall of Fort Sumter was flashed across our country, the martial spirit of his ancestors was aroused within him, and he with the assistance of J. L. Eakin, Esq., at that time a prominent attorney of McArthur, prepared a muster-roll, which each of them signed, and which Captain Rannells circulated. Two days after the fall of Sumter, by his efforts, Company D, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, first three-months' service, was enlisted. He entered this regiment and served with it in its campaigns in West Virginia throughout his enlistment as a private. After being mustered out of the first three-months' service he returned home, where, Nov. 4, 1861, he re-enlisted as a private, under Lieutenant H. B. Lacey, in a company that was intended to form a part of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Infantry,. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1261 which was being organized at Camp Wool, by Colonel R. A. Consta-ble. After remaining in Camp Wool awhile, the four companies were sent to Camp John McLean, near Cincinnati, and consolidated with -the Seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry, the company to which he belonged taking the name of Company I. After about three months' service as a private in this regiment, he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant. Captain Rannells was with his regiment in the battles of Monterey, Bull Pasture Mountain, Franklin, W. Va., Strasburg, Mt. Jackson, Woodstock,. Harrisonburg, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, 'Rapidan, second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, John's Island, Jackson-ville, Fla., Grainesville, Pocotaligo Bridge, Three Mile Run, near .Jacksonville, Fla. On the third day of the second battle of Bull Run he was captured by the rebels, while endeavoring to save the life of a comrade, and taken to Libby Prison, from whence, by vari-ous routes, he was taken to Columbus, Ohio, under parol, where he was exchanged.. October of 1862 found him again with his regiment, when he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. At Gettysburg he was dangerously wounded near the left hip-joint, his clothes were pierced by a number of bullets, his sword scabbard bent, and his sword hanger cut off by the leaden missiles. His wounds were received on the first day's fight, July 1, 1863, and he was captured and taken from the battle-field to the rebel field hospital. July 4, when the Union forces had driven the Confederates back, he was taken to his corps hospital, where, after a few days, his brother, Dr. C. S. Rannells, came and brought him home. He remained at home until the 1st of November, 1863, when he rejoined his regiment at Folly Island, S. C., where he was mus-tered as Captain of his company, for which he had received a com-mission for meritorious conduct at Gettysburg. After the battle of Gainesville, where 150 of the regiment were surrounded by 1,400 of the enemy, he with Colonel Morgan and twelve men cut their way ont on one street, others cutting their way out on other streets, and were captured by the rebels thirty miles from Gainesville and taken to Macon, Ga., and froni there to Charleston, S. C. After being in prison at Charleston awhile, they were started on their way to the prison at Columbia, S. C., but while en route for the latter place he escaped by jumping froin the train, but was recaptured the next day and taken to Columbia. On the night of Nov. 2, 1864, he with three others escaped from prison. They traveled by night and hid in the cane-brakes in day time. After a perilous 1262 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. journey in an open boat of sixteen nights, they arrived at the mouth of the Santee River, and were picked up by the U. S. sloop of war Canandaigua and sent to Hilton Head, S. C. There he asked for orders to rejoin his regiment, where he arrived about the 22d of November, 1864. Five companies of the regiment were now mustered out of the service, their term of enlistment having expired. Those of the regiment who veteranized were organized into two companies, A and B, forming what is known as the Seventy-fifth Ohio Veteran Battalion, and was placed in command of Captain Win. J. Rannells. The Veteran Battalion did arduous duty about Jacksonville, Fla., and at one time, while out with forty of his men, he encountered McCormicks's (Second Florida) cavalry, 600 strong, and after a gallant fight were forced back through the swamps to Jacksonville. In this engagement he lost twenty men. July 26, 1866, the Veteran Battalion was mustered out at Hilton Head, S. C., and were brought to Columbus, Ohio, by Captain Rannells, where they were paid off and disbanded. Captain Rannells has a record as a soldier that any man might be proud of; he had the confidence of his superior officers and the esteem of the men under his command. He was noted for his courage in battle, and was in every battle and skirmish in which his regiment was engaged with the exception of Fort Wagner, which battle was fought while he was at home convalescent from his Gettysburg wounds. Four months after he was mustered out of the service he with his. brother, Dr. C. S. Rannells, went to Desha County, Ark., to engage in the lumber business, which venture was not successful, and he returned to McArthur. He began the study of law in the office of Hon. H. C. Jones, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. In 1872 and 1873 he was Second. Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ohio Senate. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Vinton County in 1873, on the Republican ticket, by a large majority, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession at McArthur. June 4, 1874, he was married to Miss Ida Brodt, daughter of J. F. Brodt, Esq., of Nelsonville, Athens Co., Ohio. Two daughters have been born to them—Rachel L. and Mary T., seven and five years of age respectively. Captain Rannells is a lawyer of high standing at the Vinton County bar, a man of sterling worth, and politically a Republican of unquestionable integrity. Henry Reynolds, ex-County Treasurer and ex-County Auditor, is a son of Benjamin and grandson of James Reynolds. The family was originally of Scotch-Irish descent, but James was a. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1263 native of Maryland, where he married Nancy Harrison. In 1819 they emigrated to Ohio and settled in Perry County, where they died. Of their eight children four became residents of Ohio, viz: Benjamin, Jane, Nancy and Nellie, all deceased save Benjamin. He was born in Maryland, Aug. 22, 1790. April 23, 1811, he married Susan Shriver, who was born in Maryland, June 2, 1793. Her father, Henry Shriver, was a native of Germany. In 1817 they with four children emigrated to Ohio and settled in Perry County, but in 1830 came to Hocking (now Vinton) County, and settled in 1831 where they now reside, in Swan Township, aged respectively ninety-three and ninety years. They have had fourteen children, thirteen still living—Henry, Anna, Mary, Elizabeth, Rachel (deceased), George, Lucinda, Isaac, Sarah, Susan, Maria, Cordelia, Lydia, Samuel. Lucinda, Sarah and Samuel live in Iowa, Isaac lives in Kansas, and the rest live in Ohio. Henry, the subject of this sketch, was born in Berkley County, Va., March 14, 1812, but since 1817 has been a resident of Ohio and since 1830 of what is now Vinton County. He has voted fifty consecutive years in the vicinity of McArthur, almost universally Democratic.. His judgment and ability have given him rank among the leading citizens and in 1859 he was elected County Treasurer; was re-elected serving two terms. In 1869 he was elected Auditor. He was married to Belinda Wilson, who died in 1875, the mother of seven children six of whom are living. He married for his second wife Savilla Patterson, and again he married Sarah, widow of John Red, who was born in Nelsonville, Ohio, but reared in Vinton County. James L. Robb, farmer, section 5, located upon his present farm in 1873, purchasing at the time 240 acres of land-200 acres in Elk Township and forty adjoining in Swan Township. His land with the exception of about forty acres is well improved. He is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1809, and is a son of Samuel and Dorcas (Ried) Robb, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Muskingum County, Ohio, in about 1819. She died in the latter place, after which he went to Hardin County, Ohio, where he died. Our subject was reared on the farm and lived in Muskingum, Guernsey and Perry until his removal to his present place. He was married in 1837 to Nancy Leach, of Guernsey County, by whom he has had nine children, seven of whom are living—Harriet, Samuel, Nancy, Odessa, Sarah, William and James; the deceased were Matthew and Dorcas. Matthew was a soldier in the late war, enlisting from Perry County 1264 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. in 1862 in the Sixty-second Regiment, Company H, and served until his death iu 1863. Samuel enlisted in 1863 in Company A, Thirty-first Ohio sInfantry, from Perry County, a.nd served Jail the close of the war, passing through a number of hard-fought battles. He was disabled by sickness contracted by exposure. Ezekiel Robinett, farmer, was born March 25, 1823, in Water-loo, Athens Co., Ohio, a son of Nathan and Drusilla Robinett, natives of Athens .County. He was married to Sarah J. Brown, who has borne him six children, five of whom are living—Sylvester, Lydia, Samantha, William C. and Mary. Levi is deceased. Ile owns eighty-three acres of well-cultivated land. Mrs. Robinett died Feb. 20, 1874. Ezekiel and Katie Robinett, grandparents of our subject, came from Pennsylvania to Athens County, Ohio, previous to 1800. They located in Waterloo Township where he bought a large tract of land near Marshfield. After a residence of many years they removed to Hocking County, where they spent the remainder of their life and died at an advanced age. They were the parents of fifteen sons, of whom the following grew to maturity—Lemuel, Moses, George, Stephen, Lewis and Israel. Nathan Robinett was married to Drusilla, a daughter of jeremiah Robinett. After his marriage he made his home in Lee Township, remaining there many years, after which he located in Elk Township, where he.died at the home of his son Ezekiel, jan. 24, 1865. His wife died Dec. 25, 1866. To them were born twelve children—E3ekiel, Mary Ann, Mercy, Jeremiah, Lydia, Susannah, Nathaniel and Levi, and four who died in childhood. A. W. Salts, Judge of Probate Court, McArthur, is a son of Edward Salts, Jr., who was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1812, and died in Vinton County, Nov. 17, 1854, from injuries received some time previous at a barn raising. He was brought by his parents to where McArthur Junction now is in 1816. He was through life mostly a farmer, although the latter part he kept a grocery store where the old McArthur station now stands. He was a man of industry, economy and good principle, and accomplished a fair competency. He married Clarissa, daughter of Harry Cassil, who died about 1840. She was the mother of three children, two of whom were twins and died in infancy. John, the other, married and died in Minnesota, leaving one child—Clara Salts. The second wife of Edward Salts, Jr., was Matilda, widow of George Morrison, whose maiden name was Lively. She was born in Virginia in 1822 and died in Vinton County, Ohio, Dec. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1265 22, 1877, where she had lived since 1830. She had one child by her first husband—Martha J., and by Edward Salts she had five children; by her third husband, Willia,m Landman, none. Her children by Edward Salts were—Clara, now Mrs. Joseph Wallace, of Cherokee County, Kas.; Rebecca, wife of Joseph Seay, of Missouri. The three sons are in Vinton County. Of the number, Andrew W. is the youngest, and was born in Vinton County, Feb. 6, 1853. He had the benefit of a common-school education, but by close application of study, and stability of mind, at the age of seventeen was prepared to teach, which he followed seventeen terms, together with farming. In 1880 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Richland Township,. and in the fall of 1881 was elected by the Democratic party to his present position, Probate Judge, and at the time, was the youngest man ever elected to that position in the State of Ohio. He was married Sept. 4, 1873, to Maggie Buskirk, of Richland Township, but a native of Muskingum County, Ohio. She received a liberal education and taught several terins. They have four children—Herbert L., Clara M., Edna M. and Harry H. Conrad Schmidt, grocer, McArthur, a son of Michael Schmidt, was born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 15, 1822, and in 1847 came to America and settled in Sandusky City, and in 1854 came to Vinton County. In 1864 Ile bought a farm near McArthur of 11.8 acres on section 27, but in 1882 sold his fartn, and in December of the ;same year opened a grocery store in McArthur, where he carries a full line of . all articles kept in a grocery store. His first wife was Mary A. Myers who was born and reared in Germany. She was the mother of ten children., eight now living. He married his second wife, Fannie (Sprouse) Tracewell, in 1878. She was born in Albemarle County,Va., ',Sept. 4, 1837, but since 1869 has lived in Vinton County, Ohio. 'She had five children by her first hus-band, two living—Cora Ann and Charles j . Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt are- both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, though Mr. Schmidt was born and reared a Catholic. Stephen W. Sherwood, farmer, McArthur, is a son of David and Anna Sherwood, and was born in Fairfield County, Conn., June 4, 1818. He was reared ia his native county on the farin and acquired a common-school education. At the age of twenty he entered upon ocean life which he followed five years. During this time he visited England, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Africa, New Zealand, China and Holland. In 1845 he came West and - 80 - 1266 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. spent some time in Missouri and other Western states and returned East to New York, but in 1851 came to Vinton County, Ohio, and in 1853 married Sarah A. Aikins. His first purchase of land was in 1852, and he now owns 400 acres and also some town property. This accumulation is mostly the result of his own legitimate efforts. His land is richly underlaid with coal and ore, while the surface is good agricultural and grazing land. He makes a specialty of breeding fine sheep and cattle. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Sherwood was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in March, 1832, and is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Aikins, who were both natives of Pennsylvania, but finally became residents of Vinton County, Ohio, and in 1874 of McArthur, where he died in March, 1881, and his widow still lives. Of their eight children six are now living, all in Vinton County. George W Shockey was born near McArthur, Athens (now Vinton) County, Ohio, May 5, 1822. At the age of eight years his father put him on his own resources financially. He did such work as he could get to do, and in that way got his clothing and education. He worked nights and mornings for his board, and by close application and hard study made considerable advancement in his studies, and in,1841:was, under the new school system established by law in the State of Ohio, by a 'Board of School Examiners, granted a certificate to teach school, and taught his first school in McArthur in 1844. He taught in Vinton County many years, the last term in the winter of 1869. As a teacher he was,well appreciated. In 1848 he studied lhw with T. A. Plants, a prominent lawyer in Pomeroy, Ohio, and afterward reviewed with Judge Hewitt, of McArthur, Ohio. Instead of going into the practice of law he went into the mercantile business with fair success. His health failing he was obliged to give up this business, and resumed teaching. June 3, 1852, he married Harriet Howell, of Harrisonville, Meigs Co., Ohio. They lived in McArthur until 1869, when they removed to Washington, D. C., where they now live. To them was born only one child, a daughter—Lucy M., born in Meigs County, Ohio, July 9, 1853, and married in September, 1880, to Benjamin F. Shaw, of Washington, D. C. Mr. Shockey was elected Township Clerk several times, and during his administration, through his influence and economy, the township was financially in a healthy condition. He was a member of the Town Council of McArthur for several terms, and of the Board of Education several terms. He was appointed by the Court of Common Pleas on the first Board HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY - 1267 of School Examiners, in Vinton County, and served about fifteen yeras in that capacity. He also took an active part in organizing the first Sunday-school, in 1837, in McArthur, and taught the first class in the school. He was appointed to a position in the United States Treasury Department, at Washington, D. C., in 1869, which he has honestly and faithfully filled, always ready to do his duty in whatever work is assigned to his desk. He has been twice examined by the Civil Service Board, and holds a certificate of appointment, efficiency and promotions, and has thus far discharged his duties to the satisfaction of the officers and the Secretary of the Treasury. His first vote was cast in favor of the old Whig party, in 1843, but since its organization has affiliated with the Republican party. Mr. Shockey believes in advocating the teachings of the Bible. In all his dealings with community he has been strictly honest, endeavoring to do by all as he would have them do to him. He has made it a point to pay all his debts, and his word is as good as his note. Jacob Shockey, an early settler of Vinton County, Ohio, was born in Morgan County, Va., Feb. 15, 1801. He and his young wife emigrated to Ohio and settled on a piece of land about one mile east of McArthur, Vinton County, in 1821. His family consists of seven children born in this county, three boys and four girls, all married and have families. George W. and John J. are politicians and hold responsible positions. William M., the youngest son, was a minister of considerable talent and ability, and died in McArthur, April 21, 1860, in the thirty-second year of his age. Mary Ann, the oldest daughter, died in 1862, in the forty-third year of her age. Mr. Shockey was well respected and well beloved, strictly honest, and a leading spirit in the community, an honest man and a leading and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church about fifty years. He assisted and took an active part in building the first church in McArthur, and perhaps the first church in Vinton County. He believed in the teachings of the Bible and the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had strong faith in the divinity of Christ. He was a licensed Preacher, Exhorter, Class-Leader, and a man of more than ordinary ability; had a good strong voice, was a sweet singer, and was very powerful and able in prayer. He was a man of even temper and amiable disposition, kind and affectionate in his family, loved by his children and his neighbors. He married Elizabeth Snyder in Virginia, Aug. 3, 1819. They lived together nearly fifty years, 1268 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. and after their children all married and left. the old homestead death separated them. He took considerable interest in politics; voted for General. Jackson for President in 1828. Ile became dis_ satisfied with the Democratic party and supported the Whig party until 1852. He believed that slavery was a sin and ought not to be tolerated by the Government; and when the Republican party organized in 1856, he adopted its platform, and cast his votes with his party as long as he lived. By occupation outside of his religious work he was a farmer and miller. He did much toward clearing up the heavy timbered land and assisted in chopping the timber out of Main street in McArthur. He cleared. off the ground and built a tent for the first Methodist camp-meeting in Vinton County on the spot where the new brick school-house in McArthur now stands. Ile owned and ran a saw and grist mill one mile east of McArthur, on Elk Fork of Raccoon—known in early days as the Dawson Mills. He resided in Vinton County from the time of his first settlement in 1821 till his death, which took place at his residence in McArthur, Nov. 21, 1868, in the sixty-ninth year of his age, in the full faith of Christianity and the hope of a blessed immortality. John J. Shockey, ex-Sheriff, McArthur, Ohio, a son of Jacob Shockey, whose sketch appears above, was born in what is now Vinton County, Ohio, July 22, 1824, on section 27, of Elk Township. He was reared to farm life in the primeval forest, helping to clear it up. It was in the days when schools were few, hence the most of his education was obtained by self-exertions. In 1840 he engaged to learn the tailor's trade in McArthur, under David Hummer, and subsequently devoted eleven years to that vocation, and from 1845 to 1830 was the principal tailor in the town. In 1851 he engaged in the grocery trade which he followed successfully until 1861, when he saw the necessity of defending our nation's flag and entered the service as leader of the band of the Fifty-third Ohio Volunteers, and remained in the service until May, 1862; was present at the battle of' Shiloh, April 6, 1862. After his return he followed teaming two years, when, in 1864, he was elected Sheriff of Vinton County, and in 1866 was re-elected to the same office by the largest majority of any one on the Democratic ticket. He was an able officer and discharged his duty with fidelity and honor to himself as well as county. Since 1869 he has been variously engaged in grocery business, hotel-keeping, etc. During Sheriff Cottrill's term Ite served as Deputy Sheriff four years, but HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1269 now lives rather retired. He was married March 16, 1852, to Phwbe, daughter of Elijah Porter. Thirteen. children were born to them, of whom nine are living, two married and seven at home. Mr. Shockey possesses a musical talent of which his children partake largely. Isaac Shry, farmer, section 13, was born in Virginia, near Parkersburg, in 1807, and is a son of Jacob Shry, an old settler in this county. Our subject, when a child, came with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared upon a farm, and when old enough helped his father to clear up the farm. He received only a limited education in the subscription schools, and after attaining his majority he began life for himself, and for eight years lived with his father. He located upon his present place in 1840, containing at that time eighty acres in the woods. He purchased afterward seventy acres more, and now owns 150 acres of land, which is well improved, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1828 to Sallie, daughter or Israel Bobo, one of the early settlers in this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Shry six children have been born, five of whom are living—Melissa, Lorania, Phoebe, Sylvester and Floretta. The son was a soldier, serving in the Second; Virginia Cavalry three years and three months. Mrs. Shry is a member of the Christian church. Mr. Shry has been successful in life, and through hard work and the assistance of his wife he has made a good home, and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. G. W. Sisson, druggist, McArthur, Ohio, is purely of English stock, as several brothers emigrated to America many years ago. G. W. is a son of Daniel A., who was born near Fall River, Mass., about 1795. His parents both died when he was but a child. He remained in his native State until about 1818, when he came to Ohio, settling in what is now Elk Township, Vinton County, becoming one of the pioneers and frontier woodsmen. He in 1820 took a trip up the Missouri River as far as Council Bluffs, but came again to Ohio in 1824, when he married Miss Fannie Fuller. He in an early day devoted considerable time to making the Raccoon Mill burr. His wife was born in 1803 in Maine, and was the daughter of Thaddeus Fuller, a Revolutionary soldier who died in Vinton County, Ohio, just prior to the war of 1812. He was a land owner and resident of Maine, but owing to the probabilities of an invasion by the British he left the farm with a part of his family and settled in Vinton County where both died. 1270 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY William Snook, deceased, was a son of Mathias and grandson of Sohn Snook. The latter was an early settler in what is now Clinton Township, Vinton County, where he followed blacksmithing and farming. He died near McArthur Junction. Mathias was reared in Clinton Township, where he followed the trade of a stone-mason, but died in the prime of life. His wife was Sarah, daughter of William Craig, who also died on section 31 in Elk Township. Of their three children John was the eldest and was born in Clinton Township, what is now Vinton County, Ohio, Aug. 2, 1821, and died July 11, 1882. He was reared to farm life and received a common-school education. He was a man very decided in his opinion and strict in the command of his children, yet kind and agreeable to his family. He was a stout, hearty man, but died at the age of sixty-one. His political affiliations were Democratic. His wife was Martha, daughter of William Sinclair. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1830. Her father, William Sinclair, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his wife, Jane Dawson, of Ohio. They in 1859 came to section 31, Elk Township, and bought a quarter section which he cleared and improved, living here till their death. Mr. and Mrs. Snook had nine children, six now living. Rachel Snyder, widow of T. Smith Snyder, McArthur, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, March 18, 1809, and is a daughter of George Shry, a pioneer of Elk Township. She from seven years of age has lived in and about McArthur. In 1829 she married T. Smith Snyder, son of Fred Snyder, also a pioneer of Elk Township. He was born in Frederick County, Va., in July, 1800, and from 1821 to his death, March 1, 1870, was a resident of Vinton County. In single life he worked as farm hand, but after he was married commenced building and operating saw and grist mills, which he followed until feeble health compelled him to live a retired life. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder had ten children; five are now living—Isaac H., Ephraim, Christena, Harriet W. and Sanford. The latter lives in McArthur and is a mechanic and a leading member of the I. 0. O. F. John Stanley, Sheriff of Vinton County, is a son of William, and grandson of Joseph Stanley. His great-grandfather was born in England, came to America prior to the Revolutionary war and settled in the town of Philadelphia, Penn., and, carried on his trade, butchering, to which he had served a seven-years' apprenticeship, but when the Continental war began he was patriotic and of- HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1271 fered his service to the American army. After his military career of seven years he settled in Pennsylvania, where he died. Of his children, Joseph was one of the eldest, and was born about the time of the above war in Pennsylvania. He grew to maturity and was married 'in Pennsylvania, and in 1839 he and his wife and family of six children came to Ohio and settled in Athens (now Vinton) County, where both died, he in Madison Township and she in Knox. At the time of coming to Ohio William, the el-dest son, was nineteen, and has been a resident of Vinton County ever since, following farming as did his father before him. He is now a landholder of about 300 acres, which he has mostly cleared and improved, having been a stout and hearty man. He married Prudence Richey, of Muskingum County, Ohio, who died in September, 1881. She was the mother of seven children, of whom six are now living, and the eldest son is John, the subject of this sketch, who was born July 27, 1846. He was reared to farm life and received a common education. He devoted the falls of about fourteen years to threshing, which he fully understood, having the reputation of being a first-class thresher. In September, 1871, he married Mary L. Dickson, of Lee Township, Athens County, where she was born and reared. Five children are born to this union. For the past few years Mr. Stanley has devoted his time to saw and grist milling. In the fall of 1882 he was elected Sheriff of Vinton County, which position he took charge of Jan. 1, 1883. During his residence in Knox Township he bas held the office of Treasurer several times. Hon. Frank Strong, Legislator and stock-dealer, McArthur, is a son of Silas and Clarissa (Cook) Strong, and was born in Meigs County, Ohio, near Wilkesville, Aug. 7, 1828. His youthful days were spent on his father's farm, and he received such an education as the facilities of the common schools afforded. At the age of twenty-eight years he married, and at once engaged in farming for himself. In 1857 He became a land-owner near his birthplace, but in 1865 he sold out, and the following year moved to McArthur, where he has since resided. Soon after coming here he engaged in the general mercantile trade, which he conducted about eight years, with which he extensively engaged in handling wool. This pursuit he still continues, together with dealinp:in cattle and sheep. His jurisdiction and ability gave him rank among the leading citi-zens of the county, and in the fall of 1881 he was (as Republican) elected a member of the State Legislature in a Democratic County. 1272 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. During the second term of his career he has served as chairman on the Committee of AgricultUre; also served second on Committee of Reform Schools for girls and boys, and Committee on Mining. Mr. Strong was married to Miss Eva Temple, of Newport, Ky. They had a family of three children. One died in infancy. Cora died, aged eighteen, when just blooming into womanhood, and the youngest, Edward, is now living in McArthur. Anthony Trimmer, farmer, postoffice McArthur, is a son of Anthony and grandson of Paul Trimmer. His grandfather was a native of New Jersey, and for twenty years was a sailor on the ocean. While he was at sea his brother Anthony came West and was never afterward heard from. A half-brother, Isaiah Fairclove, died in New Jersey. His wife was Jane McUlwaine. They, with seven children, finally settled in Washington County, Penn., where both died. Their three sons, Anthony, Thomas and Samuel, and one daughter, Mrs. Nancy Ravencraft, died in Washington County. Of the others, Mrs. Polly Myers died in Ross County, Ohio, and Mrs. Rebecca Miller and Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, in Coshocton County. Anthony married Jane Manning in New Jersey. She died in Washington County, leaving eleven children,. of whom the subject of this sketch is the ninth. Mr. Trimmer then married Margaret Hunt, who was born and reared in Washington County, Penn., and died in Vinton County in the fall of 1876.. Anthony, Jr., was born in Washington County, Penn., March 22, 1814. When a boy he commenced to learn brickmaking, a trade he followed till thirty years of age. At about that age he married Lucinda Miller, a native of Washington County, but at that time a resident of Coshocton County, Ohio. She died in 1877, leaving eight children, all now living—David, Rebecca J., John, Eliza A., Paul, William, Lucinda and Mary. In 1864 Mr. Trimmer came with his family from Coshocton County to his present farm on section 32, Elk Township. He has 123 acres which he cultivates in corn and wheat. S. H. Trimmer, brother of the above, the fifth child of Anthony and Margaret (Hunt) Trimmer, was born in Washington County, Penn., Jan. 31, 1834. His father died when he was seven years old, and he was reared to the life of a farmer under the jurisdiction of his mother and step-father. When sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade in Pennsylvania. In 1858 he came to McArthur and opened a shop, working at his trade till 1875. He was very successful, and in 1873 bought the farm HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1273 of 117 acres on sections 31 and 32, Elk Township, where he now resides, which he has since improved and now has under good state of cultivation. He moved to the farm in 1875, and now has a good home surrounded with all the comforts of life. There is a five-foot vein of fine coal on section 31; four veins of ore, two feet down, easily excavated, and a good quality of blue limestone and black band ore. The land produces good crops of corn and wheat. Mr. Trimmer is now devoting considerable time to fine stock, and is turning his farm into pasture. He was married to Rebecca J. Bottomfield, of Monroe County. They had ten children, five now living.. The deceased were buried in one grave, all dying of the measles. George W. Waxier, a son of George Waxler, who was born and reared in Virginia, came to Ohio when about twenty-two years old and married Susannah Ashton, They settled in Muskingum County, Ohio, near Zanesville, on a farm, where they lived until death. He died in 1865, dropping dead from heart disease; and his wife died July 4, 1880. He was a farmer through life, and having been left fatherless, a poor boy, started in life with nothing. Of their fifteen children George is the fourth child and was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1832. He was reared in his native county and received a common-school education, and at twenty-two he married and started in life for himself by farming. His wife was Henrietta Swartz, a native of Virginia, born in 1832.. They have had six children, four now living. In 1866 Mr. Waxier sold his land and came to his present farm to take charge of it for another party but in 1873 bought it. The farm has 345 acres, about one-half underlaid with limestone ore and coal, also limestone coal; about a four-foot vein, producing about 1,000 tons of ore and coal for his own use and abut 1,000 tons of limestone annually.. He is now devoting considerable time to raising French merino sheep, averaging about 100 a year, his principal business being sheep-raising and mining. He in 1862 enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-Second Ohio Infantry, under Captain Joseph Peach and served three years, until the close of the war, and was present at the surrender of Lee. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, Coal Harbor, and the Shenandoah Valley; returned home in 1865, having passed through the war uninjured. He now belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. Nathan B. Wescoat was born where he now resides in 1849. In 1875 he was married to Lydia Robnet, by whom he has had two children—Charley and Sabirt. He has held the office of Trustee 1274 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. and is the present incumbent. He owns the old homestead and is engaged in stock-raising to a considerable extent. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church and take much interest in religious matters. Philander Wescoat, our subject's father, was a son of Isaac Wescoat, who settled in this township about 1815 and died in Scioto County, Ohio, in 1849. Philander was married to Margaret Brewer and soon after settled where his son Nathan now resides. He was the father of eleven children—Isaac, John, Amos, Orrin, Clarissa, Margaret, Triphena, Louisa, Samantha, Nathan B. and one who died in infancy. The eldest son, Isaac, served in the three-months' service in the late war, and afterward from 1864 till the war closed. Amos Brewer, father of Mrs. P. Wescoat, was a native of North Carolina. He settled in Ross County, Ohio, in 1805, and in 1810 located in this county near the present site of Zaleski. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He and his wife, Jane (Graves) Brewer, died at an advanced age. O. L. White was born at Barbarsville, Cabel Co., W. Va., Oct. 29, 1840, the second son of Samuel L. and Rebecca W. (Masterson) White, and a grandson of Christian and Elizabeth White, who emigrated from Germany about the year 1750 and settled in Lancaster and afterward Berks County, Pa., subsequently moving to Shenandoah County, Va., and from thence to Leesburg, Washington Co., East Tenn. His father moved to Ohio with his family in 1845 and settled in Gallia County, near Centerville. He came to Wilkesville in 1848 and from thence to Ewington in 1850. Being the hatter by trade his business did not afford ample means for his large family of eight children, consequently was not able to furnish his son even moderate advantages of schooling. Therefore young White was early thrown upon his own resources. At the age of fourteen years, in the spring of 1855, he with his brother, Dr. John F. White, chopped 200 cords of wood at Keystone Furnace, Jackson Co., Ohio, and in the spring of 1856 they cut and split 3,000 rails for different parties in the neighborhood, and in the fall of the same year were again engaged in chopping wood and splitting rails, attending school during the winter of 1856-'57. He progressed so rapidly that he and his brother resolved to change their avocation to that of teaching, whereupon he borrowed $25 and commenced attending the academy at Ewington, Aug. 7, 1857. School closed some time in the fall of the same year and young White walked to Gallipolis, a distance of twenty miles, to the examination of teachers, obtaining a certificate for twelve months, and