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Edgar A. Higby, a progressive and prosperous farmer of Franklin township, is a member of a family connection long and favorably known in Ross county. They were represented in the pioneer settlement of the county and through all the stages of its history have been identified with its social, commercial and business development. Their talents and industry have been mostly felt in agriculture, nearly all of them being farmers and landowners. John W. and Sarah M. (Norton) Higby were the parents of Edgar A., whose birth occurred in Bourneville, Ohio, February 14, 1862. Unusual care was bestowed upon his early education. Besides the ordinary course in the common schools, he was sent to a private and select school at. Richmond Dale, which was followed by a term in the academy at Gambier, Knox county. In addition to all this, Mr. Rigby
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entered the commercial college of A. D. Wilt at Dayton, a, where he was graduated in 1883. Since leaving school he has devoted his attention entirely to farming and has met with gratifying success in all of his operations. He has charge of 284 acres of land, which he cultivates by up-to-date methods, the general farming being supplemented by profitable stock-raising. Mr. Higby is well informed in agricultural matters and aims to keep thoroughly posted concerning the latest improvements and discoveries in that great industry. He is a Republican in politics but contents himself with voting and wastes no time running after office. January 23, 1895, he was married to Luella J. Davis, of Richmond Dale, daughter of Ambrose Davis, a well-to-do farmer of Jefferson township. They have one son, Earl Norton, born February 14, 1896.
Joseph H. Higby is a native of Franklin township, Ross county, born December 14, 185 7. His parents were Sylvester N. and Hannah (Davis) Higby, the former born in Jefferson county, Ohio, September 19, 1819. Mrs. Higby, born in 1824, was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Hayes) Davis, who settled in Franklin township at an early period and there spent the most of their married life. The father died in 1837, and the mother subsequently married Horace Crookham, with whom she lived until her death in 1865. Sylvester Rigby and wife had seven children, of whom Joseph H. was sixth in order of birth. The father died on December 31, 1885, leaving a fine estate comprising several hundred acres of land. His life was one of useful activity and his success the result of unwearied industry directed by sound judgment. He held the offices of town-ship treasurer, school director and justice of the peace. he was an Odd Fellow and Mason of the 32d degree. His wife survived him about eight years, dying on December 29, 1893, at her home in Higby, aged over 69 years. Their son Joseph H. was educated in the common schools of his native county and spent four years at the Wesleyan university at Delaware, Ohio. After leaving school he worked as civil engineer on various railroads for about three years. In 1882, he settled down to farming near the old homestead and has ever since followed this pursuit. August 3, 1892, Mr. Higby was married to Jennie E., daughter of John C. Foster, of Franklin township. Mrs. Highy's father is descended from one of the earliest of Ross county's settlers, has always lived in Franklin township and became one of its most prosperous farmers, owning between 500 and 600 acres of land. He married Mary E. Foster, of Pike county, by whom he had seven children.
Apollo Hill of Ross county was born in Mason county, W. Va., on August 17, 1857. He is the son of Jonathan Hill, a West Virginia farmer, who married Maria Stephens about the year 1852, and by
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her had ten children, of whom three died in infancy. The others are Rankin J., Apollo, Linza, Byrd, Laura M., David and Oma. The fourth child, Byrd Hill, lives at Point Pleasant and is now a state senator of West Virginia. The father died on March 19, 1881, but the mother still lives on the old home place. Apollo was educated in the common schools of his native state and remained at home until mature manhood. While visiting in Ross county, Ohio, he met Miss Kate Baum, and their acquaintance resulted in marriage on March 22, 1883. This lady is a daughter of George Baum, who came from Pickaway to Ross county some time in the 1840's. After marriage, Mr. Hill took his bride to the West Virginia home and settled down to housekeeping in Mason county. After six years spent in this place, a removal was made to Meigs county, Ohio, and this, at the end of two years' sojourn, was followed by another change which took them to Ross county. There they found a permanent abode, where Mr. Hill has ever since been engaged in general farming and stock-raising. They have a family of three children, Howard, Davie and Laura C., all of whom are at home.
John C. Hinton, one of Ross county's substantial farmers, is the son and grandson of pioneers and may be considered one himself, as Ohio was still quite a young state at the time of his birth. His grandfather, Thomas Hinton, supposed to have been from Maryland, came into Ohio by way of Kentucky and settled in Colerain township with his wife Deborah and children. The family records do not give exact dates, but these pioneers came during the last quarter of the eighteenth century, when the country was still full of wild animals and wilder Indians. Thomas Hinton entered a half section of land for a company and kept 109 acres for himself, which have ever since been retained by his descendants. He cleared a patch, built a cabin and subsisted for several years after the manner of those days, gradually improving his land until he had a fairly good farm on which he spent the remainder of his days. The youngest member of the family was named Elias, and was only two years old when his parents arrived in Colerain township. He grew up like other pioneer children amid scenes of wild splendor, learning habits of hardihood and endurance, became a great hunter, served for a while as a teamster during the war of 1812, and in after life held various offices, including those of justice of the peace and township trustee. He was a good business man and accumulated considerable property during his long life, being supposed to be about eighty-three years old at the time of his death. In early manhood he married Susanna Cox, member of one of the neighboring pioneer families, and by her had a family of eight children, of whom the only ones now living are Andrew and John C. Hinton. The latter was born in Colerain township June 10, 1824, and was reared in the log cabin
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built by his grandfather. He grew up on the farm, was trained to hard work, remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then decided to take a wife. The lady of his choice was Hannah Leasure and to her he was united in matrimony in the year 1845. Mr. Hinton is fond of telling that he only had one dollar at the time of his marriage and this he gave to the preacher for performing the ceremony. But he settled down to hard work and soon had, not only a good home, but a surplus property which he has continued to add to during life until he finds himself in very comfortable circumstances, owning 257 acres of land well stocked and improved. Mr. Hinton has lived at his present. place since 1846, during which time he has been steadily engaged in general farming and stock-raising, meeting with unusual success in his operations. Though Democratic in his politics, he leaves the office-seeking business to others, contenting himself with the discharge of his duties as a voter, and the only official position he has held is that of township trustee, which he filled about ten years. Like the Hebrew patriachs of old, Mr. Hinton has been blessed with a large family of children, his first marriage resulting in twelve : Lucretia, Andrew, Mary, Elias, Jesse, Susanna, Lewis, Mergeline, Cyrus J., Edward, Willard and George. Three of this number, Lucretia, Mary and Susan are dead. The mother died in March, 1879, and in April, 1881, Mr. Hinton married Mahala Wilson, a Ross county lady, by whom he has five children: Mazie, Carrie, Ira, Myrtie and Alma. Both himself and wife are devout members of the United Brethren church, in which he has long been a prominent and enthusiastic worker. In fact, Mr. Hinton has belonged to this church for sixty years, during which time he has worthily filled its official positions of various kinds, such as class leader, steward and trustee.
John Hire was born in Concord township, Ross county, in 1835. Both his father and his grandfather were named Michael and both were Virginians by birth. The grandsire and wife joined the procession which was wending its way to the west in search of homes ; arrived in Ross county early in the nineteenth century, and selected Concord township as the place of their future abode. He secured land, the clearing and cultivating of which was the arduous occupation of all his working days. With him from Virginia came his son Michael, a small boy at that time, and after the arrival in Ohio other children were born, including nine altogether. The junior Michael grew to manhood in Ross county and followed in the footsteps of his father as a life-long farmer. He selected as his wife Mary, daughter of Abraham Roseboom, an old resident of Ross county. From this union came seven children, of whom only three are now living. These are John, Mary (wife of James Lockard of Concord township), and Abraham. John, the oldest of these children, became a
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farmer as soon as he had finished his schooling, and his operations have been confined to Ross county, with the exception of three years spent in the neighboring county of Pickaway. During the year 1864 he helped to fight off Morgan during the raid of that famous guerrilla chieftain into Ohio. He was married in 1858 to Mary Catherine, daughter of Henry Arnold, of Pickaway county. They have four children, of whom Eva Ann and Charles Alva, the oldest and youngest, are dead; Luella is the wife of Charles Sturgeon, of Concord township; and Benjamin is a resident of Pickaway county. Mr. Hire is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Alexander L. Hodsden is a native of Delaware county, Ohio, born October 9, 1826. His father, Stephen Hodsden, of New York state, came to Ohio at an early period and settled in Ross county; taught school for a while, and, after his marriage to Mary Junk, was presented by the latter's father with about 100 acres of land in Delaware county, to which he removed with his wife. The latter being ill with consumption, it was deemed best to bring her back to Ross county in order that she might have the care of her parents, but she died at the old home in April, 1831. She left two children, of whom James M. was killed at the battle of Stone River and Alexander is the subject of this sketch. By a second marriage of the father, there were four children, of whom Emeline is dead, Steven and Josephine live in Porter county, Ind., and Clinton was killed at Kenesaw Mountain. Meantime the father had removed to the state of Indiana and was residing there at the time of his death. Alexander was taken by his grandparents after his mother's death, and continued to live with them until he was twenty-six years old. On February 1, 1853, he was married to Maria Augustus and settled with his bride on a farm which he had purchased during the previous year. This place, consisting of 201 acres, contained at the time an old log house with two rooms and a slab floor, into which the newly married couple moved and commenced housekeeping. Later on, as prosperity visited them, the shabby cabin gave place to a comfortable frame house and the farm was from time to time supplied with all necessary improvements. In those days it was not so easy to obtain a good education as it is now, and Mr. Hodsden had few advantages of this kind in early life. Later on, at his own expense, he paid tuition to obtain the benefit of special lessons. During the civil war he had a rather interesting military experience. In 1863, a company was organized in Union township which was called the Home Guards, and of this Mr. Hodsden became a member. This company was later attached to the Ohio National Guards, including the Twenty-seventh regiment from Ross county and the Fifty-fifth battalion from Clinton county. These troops were levied for what was called the hundred days' service and were intended for guards
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at various important points on the railroads and as reliefs for the regulars in the field. After the Ohio command was mobilized at Camp Dennison, in May, 1864, they were ordered to Maryland, where they were assigned to guard duty at different places. The "hundred day men," as they were called, had rather spirited experiences during the campaigns of 1864 in the valley of Virginia, Maryland and along the line of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. It was in June of that year that General "Jube" Early commenced his famous march "on to Washington." The "hundred day men" were posted at various points on the railroad north of Martinsburg, and when Early's vanguard approached, consisting of McCausland's cavalry, there were numerous brushes between these forces at the blockhouses. Finally, when Early's army reached Frederick, Md., a force of 4,500 Union troops confronted him at what is known as Monocacy Junction hard by the city. Among these troops was the command to which Mr. Hodsden belonged, and on the 9th of July, 1864, they took part in the severe battle fought between the forces of Early and General Lew Wallace. Later, the "hundred day men" were in Virginia, where they had a brush with Guerrilla Mosby at Berryville on the 14th of August. Mr. Hodsden's regiment returned to Ohio and was mustered out on August 30, 1864, their term of enlistment having expired. They did valuable service for the Union cause during their brief but adventurous experiences in the East. After the war, Mr. Hodsden resumed his work of farming and stock-raising. On April 20, 1901, he lost his wife by death. This estimable lady was the mother of ten children, of whom James M., Elizabeth and Missouri have passed away. Mary is the wife of Benjamin F. Willis, of Kansas; Josephine and Thomas J. are at home ; Augustus lives in Columbus, William F. in Nebraska, John A. and Stephen in Chillicothe. Mr. Hodsden has been a member of the school board, road supervisor, and was for some time an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church for about fifty years. Though now seventy-five years old, he has the appearance and vigor of a much younger man.
John M. Houser, of Ross county, Ohio, is a native of Loudoun county, Va., where he was born about. thirty miles from Washington City, on January 18, 1816. He was the son of Michael Houser, born in 1760, and grandson of Abraham Houser, who came from Germany and settled in Virginia in 1758. There was a legend that Abraham had been king of a small province in the old country, hut however this may be, he devoted himself to farming after reaching the soil of the Old Dominion. He married a Miss Minear, by whom he had eleven children, and died in Virginia in 1806. All of these children are long since dead and even the names of some are
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now forgotten by the family. Michael, the oldest of the children, was married in Virginia in January, 1788, to Amy Tenant, by whom he had twelve children. In 1817, accompanied by a brother, he came to Ohio and settled near Bourneville. Six of his children died in infancy, others reached maturity, but the only one now surviving is John M., the subject of this sketch. The father fanned after he reached Ross county and died in March, 1818, his wife passing away in the same year. After the death of his parents, John M. Houser, then an infant two years old, was taken in charge by his sister, who cared for him until he reached the age of sixteen. He learned the blacksmith trade which he made a means of livelihood for many years afterward. In connection with this, however, he carried on farming in a limited way and between the two met with a reasonable share of success. August 26, 1841, Mr. Houser was married to Alethe Henry, and they settled down in Lattasville, which was their home for forty-eight years. Of their four children, William R. and Hugh H. are dead Carrie is the wife of Capt. Caleb Core and John L. is a resident of Illinois. Mr. Houser is a Republican in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife died on March 25, 1889, since which time he has been living with his son and daughter.
Harry G. Howard, a popular and promising young attorney of Chillicothe, comes of old English stock long located in Ross county. James Howard, founder of the Ohio branch of the family, was an Englishman by birth who emigrated to Virginia, and after some years spent in that state became a settler of Ohio in 1808. He established himself in Ross county as a manufacturer of spinning-wheels, an article of prime necessity in those pioneer days, and made a good living out of this useful occupation. e became a man of some prominence in his community, held the position of township trustee, and died in 1863, leaving several children. Among the latter was a son named John, born at Chillicothe, in December, 1821. He grew up in his native city, learned the saddler's trade, followed the same until some time during the civil war, then went into the undertaking business and continued that until 1892. In that year he retired permanently from business, and with his wife, who was a Miss Liet of New York state, is leading a quiet life in Chillicothe. He has four children : Charles H.; Horace, of Tucson, Ari.; John, of Chillicothe, and James W., of Cleveland. Charles H. Howard was born in Chillicothe, May 18, 1848. When a young man he became a railroad employee and rose to the position of division superintendent on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. In 1807, he removed to Cincinnati, where he has since resided. In 1871 he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Aid, an old resident of Chillicothe. She died in 1900, leaving two children,
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Harry G., and Edna, wife of William T. Tibbits, of Chicago. Harry G. Howard was born in Chillicothe, January 11, 1875, grew up to manhood in his native city and was graduated in the city high school with the class of 1893. Shortly thereafter he became a student in the office of Hon. Albert Douglass of Chillicothe for the purpose of familiarizing himself with the law. Subsequently he matriculated at the Cincinnati Law school and after a two years' course in that institution received his diploma with the class of 1896. Without delay he entered upon the practice of his profession in Chillicothe and has continued the same to the present time with fine promise of future success and a brilliant career. Mr. Howard is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and secretary of the lodge in Chillicothe.
O. M. Howser, principal promoter of the Chillicothe, Mt. Sterling & Columbus electric line, and long prominent in business circles of Ross county, comes of strong and sturdy ancestral stock. There is no better blood in the world than that known as Holland Dutch, and it was a pair of these liberty-loving people who originated the Howser family in Virginia, through which offshoots have come to other states of the Union. William Howser, son of these immigrants, was born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1809. His father dying when he was quite young, he was taken in charge by his uncle Christopher Howser, who reared him with affectionate care and looked after his early education. William attended school at Leesburg, the principal town in Loudoun county, and one of his classmates was Robert E. Lee, who afterward became so celebrated as the commander of the army of Northern Virginia. After leaving school, William made himself master of the shoemaker's trade and thus equipped joined the army of "movers" who were then seeking homes in the West. He settled at Lancaster, O., and soon thereafter married Naomi Warfield, Ohio born of Irish descent, with whom he went to housekeeping and prosecuted his trade as a means of support. After several years at this place a removal was made to Concord township in Ross county, where the head of the family continued his calling as a shoemaker. In 1857, still another move was made, this time to Pickaway county, where shoemaking was temporarily abandoned for management of a farm, which continued for two years, when the father permanently located at Clarksburg, Ross county. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years, but up to some eight or ten years before his death he continued to work at his shoemaker's trade, showing his old industrious habits to the last. Though considerably younger than he, his wife died eighteen years before him. This worthy couple became the parents of nine children. Christie A., wife of Josiah Henness, of Greenfield; Margaret J., married to Charles Brown of Clarksburg; Elizabeth E.,
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wife of George W. Farlow, Clarksburg; Rosa (deceased) ; William a, died in the Andersonville prison in 1863 ; O. M., subject of this sketch; Jennie, wife of J. M. Bowen of Clarksburg; Mary A., of Greenfield. O. M. Howser was born in Ross county, Ohio, near Frankfort, June 3, 1847, finished the school course at Clarksburg and afterward studied law with Judge Safford in Chillicothe. Deciding, however, not to follow a professional life, he turned his attention to commercial pursuits as more congenial to his tastes. For seventeen years he was engaged in the hoot and shoe business, after which he traveled two years for the Hocking Valley manufacturing company, of Lancaster. Mr. Howser is one of the principal promoters of the Chillicothe, Mt. Sterling and Columbus Electric railway line, being vice-president and director of the company. He has held the office of justice of the peace for thirteen years continuously and does considerable real estate business. He is quite prominent in Freemasonry, holding membership in Heber lodge, No. 501, at Williamsport, and Chapter No. 4 and Commandery No. 8, of Chillicothe. He also belongs to Odd Fellows lodge, No. 721, at Clarksburg, and in all the affairs of his fraternities is attentive and active. He was married October 18, 1876, to Hannah Wilkins, born and bred in Deerfield township, with whom he has since lived most happily at Clarksburg. They have five children : William M., Ellen T., Jeanette, Della and Ward. The family attend the Christian church.
Charles Hoyt, M. D., of Chillicothe, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, born January 20, 1854. Both father and grandfather were named Nason and they were New Englanders by birth, the earlier ancestors of the family having emigrated from England to this country in 1635. Nason Hoyt, the Doctor's father, was a farmer by occupation, who removed from New Hampshire to Canada and thence to Chautauqua county, N. Y., where he passed the remainder of his days and died at the age of sixty-eight. He married Susan Webster, of New Hampshire, and during the many subsequent years they lived together they were always highly esteemed as devout church members and worthy citizens in all respects. Dr. Charles Hoyt was the youngest of their eleven children. Me finished the course prescribed in the schools of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and then engaged in teaching, occupying his leisure hours in the study of medicine. Subsequently, he went to Cincinnati and entered the Pulte Medical college, where he pursued the regular course. In due time he was graduated from this institution and formed a partnership with his brother, Dr. William Hoyt, for the practice of medicine at Millsboro, Ohio. In the spring of 1880, he removed to Chillicothe, where he has since resided and practiced alone. Dr. Hoyt has collected a choice library of stand-
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and works embracing the greatest of the medical writers at all periods, and he is a diligent student of the learning therein contained. He allows nothing to pass which promises improvement in his professional knowledge or is calculated to keep him abreast of the times in modern discoveries. He is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, of the International Hahnemannian association and the Ohio State Medical society. He has been president of the Chillicothe Board of Trade and prominently identified with the business interests of the city, and is now president of the Merchants' association in Chillicothe, and president of the Chillicothe & Hillsboro Traction company, a scheme for the union of two towns by an electric railway system. Dr. Hoyt is a member of and active worker in the various divisions of the Masonic. order in Chillicothe. September 6, 1883, he was married to Helen E. Will, a native of McArthur, Ohio. The results of this union have been two children, whose names are Loy and Donald.
John J. Hughes, who farms a handsome body of land in the eastern part of Scioto township, is one of the representative farmers of Ross county. He is of Virginia parentage immediately, but farther back owes his origin to England. From that country, some time during the eighteenth century, came John Hughes and two brothers, who purchased large tracts of land in Virginia and became men of importance in their day. John married Mary Jeans and reared a family of seven children: John, James, Livingston, William, Betsy, Mary and Eliza. John, the eldest of these, was born in Albermarle county, Va., in 1812. He remained at home until his eighteenth year, after which he resided some time with an uncle and then went to Alabama, where he was employed as an overseer. This continued for three years, followed by his return to Virginia and marriage to Elizabeth Profit, with whom he settled on a farm in Nelson county and there spent the remainder of his days. He had ten children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being John J., William, Alex., Robert, Jack, Henry, Anna, Lucy and Louisa, all of whom live in Nelson county with the exception of Henry, who is a resident of Augusta county. John J. Hughes, eldest of these children, was born in Nelson county, Va., December 25, 1847. He remained with his parents until his twenty-first year, after which he spent a year in Kentucky doing day labor on a farm. Returning to Virginia, he was married to Susan Sauls, July 25, 1872, began farming in his native county, and lived there until 1888. In that. year he came to Ross county and located on the farm in Scioto township which he has since managed with success. The real estate which Mr. Hughes manages amounts to 300 acres of excellent land, which is cultivated by the most approved methods and kept in first-class condition. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have ten
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children : Emma (living in Madison county), Betty, Nannie, Susie, Lucy, John, Wirt, Mack, Isaac and Dick.
Luther B. Hurst, treasurer of Ross county, is a native of the same, born on his father's farm May 28, 1869. His parents were Gen. Samuel H. and Mary (Trimble) Hurst, the former being well known as a business man of Chillicothe and the present postmaster of that city, a soldier during the civil war, an ex-department commander of the Ohio Grand Army of the Republic, and one of the leading politicians of his section. Luther B. Hurst was educated in the public schools of Chillicothe, and remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty years old, when he entered the employment of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railway company. He retained this position until November, 1894, when he resigned to accept the appointment as deputy treasurer. Within three years after entering the office, he was himself elected treasurer of Ross county by a majority of 769, leading the entire Republican ticket in that county. He was a member of the Ohio National Guard from July 3, 1892, until the company was mustered into National service, at the beginning of the war with Spain, when Mr. Hurst became a member of the Seventh Ohio volunteer infantry and was commissioned first lieutenant of Company H. His experience as a business man led to his appointment, and the ability for the service which he displayed resulted in his promotion to the post of ordnance officer of the regiment. He was mustered out with his regiment at Columbus in November, 1898. In 1899, Lieutenant Hurst was again elected treasurer of Ross county and he is now serving his second term. He is as popular and successful in business affairs as he is in war and polities. He is one of the principal stockholders of the National Wagon company of Chillicothe, of which he is secretary and a director. In April, 1889, he was married to Caroline R. Wolf, a native of Chillicothe and daughter of George L. Wolf, deceased, a prominent citizen who filled various responsible positions in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hurst have two children, Ruth Mildred and Arthur Trimble. Mr. Hurst is prominent in Masonry, being a Knight Templar, and is a member of Chillicothe lodge, No. 52, of the Order of Elks. He and wife are members of the Walnut Street church in Chillicothe.
General Samuel H. Hurst, a distinguished Union soldier and holder of many civic positions of high responsibility, is descended from one of the pioneer families of Ross county. Among the army of immigrants westward bound during the early years of the nineteenth century was a young Marylander by the name of Levi Hurst. He was born about 1770, learned the brickmason's trade in his youth, and about 1790 was married to Sophia Bradley, also a native of Maryland. In 1800 he came to Ross county and settled in Chil-
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licothe, and about a year after his arrival he purchased land in Union township to which he removed iii 1801. From that time on he followed fanning as an occupation until his death, which occurred in 1857, his wife surviving until 1860. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom grew to maturity : James, Maria, Hooper, William, Levi, Samuel, Thomas, Matilda, John N. and Sanford. The latter died in early manhood but the others married and reared families. James and Thomas went to Missouri, Samuel and William settled in Indiana, and Maria, who married William Fennimore, also became a resident of the last mentioned state. The others remained in Ross county and bore their full share in its subsequent development. Hooper Hurst, third of the children in consecutive order, was born in Maryland in 1791, came with his parents to Ross county, there grew to manhood, and received such education as was afforded by the country schools of those days. Being of frail constitution, he was unequal to the arduous farm work then in vogue and contributed his share towards the incipient civilization by performing the teacher's task. In early manhood he went to Scioto Salt Works, now Jackson, Ohio, and there met with and married Elizabeth James, a daughter of Maj. John James, proprietor of the Salt Works and a leading man in that vicinity, being a member of the Ohio legislature for several terms. It was in 1818 that his marriage took place and six years later he returned to Ross county with his wife, settled on a Union township farm and there remained until his death in 1848. His wife survived him many years, her death not occurring until 1873. Hooper and Elizabeth Hurst reared a family of five sons and five daughters, all of whom reached manhood and womanhood respectively. Their names, in order of birth, were Julia, Nancy, James, John R., Dennison, Samuel H., William F., Louise, Emily and Elizabeth. Of these children four are still living in Ross county, including Mrs. Nancy Betts, John R., Samuel H. and Louise Abernethy.
Samuel H. Hurst. was born in Union township, Ross county, September 22, 1831. After the usual educational routine in youth, he taught school a year or two and then entered the Ohio Wesleyan university, where he was graduated with the class of 1854, working his own way through college. After his graduation he resumed and continued for three years the occupation of teaching school. At the same time he devoted all his leisure hours to reading elementary works on the subject of law with a view to preparing himself for practice of that profession. During the winter of 1854--55 he was superintendent. of schools at Jackson, Ohio, but continued his legal studies intermittently until his admission to the bar in 1858. He entered earnestly into this new work, devoted himself assiduously to the practice, and was speedily rewarded with public recognition. In
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1859 he was elected city solicitor and this was followed in 1860 by election to the probate judgeship of Ross county. This career, so auspiciously begun, was interrupted by the startling events of 1861. A few months after the opening guns of the war were fired, Judge Hurst resigned his position on the bench and became captain of Company A, Seventy-third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry. In June, 1862, he was promoted to the rank of major of this regiment; served as such until the spring of 1864, was then promoted to the lieutenant colonelcy, and in June of the same year received a commission as colonel. With this rank he commanded his regiment throughout the Atlanta campaign and Sherman's immortal "march to the sea," a military achievement which no soldier who participated in it will ever forget. In March, 1865, Colonel Hurst was breveted brigadier-general and he was mustered out in the latter part of July, lacking forty days of having served four years. At the battle of New Hope Church Colonel Hurst was severely, and at first reported mortally, wounded by a gunshot in the head. At the conclusion of hostilities, he returned to his farm in Union township and engaged in fruit-growing, a business for which he developed both taste and adaptability. In 1869 he was appointed internal revenue collector for his congressional district and served six years, still continuing his attention to fruit-growing, while residing at Chillicothe. General Hurst has been especially prominent and efficient in all matters relating to agriculture, especially the horticultural branch of that great industry. As a recognition of this fact, he was in 1886 appointed the first. state dairy and food commissioner of Ohio and served eighteen months in that capacity, eventually resigning to accept the director-generalship of the Ohio Centennial exposition held at Columbus in 1888. For six years he was a valuable member of the State board of agriculture, acting as the special representative of the horticultural industry, though proving in every way a potential friend of the farmer. Tie was mayor of Chillicothe in 1861?, and in January, 1900, was appointed postmaster of that city, entering upon the duties of his office March 1, in the same year. January 1, 1867, General Hurst was married to Mary C. Trimble, a native of Kentucky, who died in 1875 leaving four children, three of whom are living: Luther P., county treasurer of Ross county, Madge and Mary. In 1876, General Hurst married Mrs. Frederika Hanby, of Chillicothe, by whom he has two children, Edith and Carl W., the latter a clerk in the post-office. General Hurst is a member of the Chillicothe post, Grand Army of the Republic, and a past department commander of the department of Ohio. As a public speaker he is well known throughout the entire State.
James R. Hurtt, deceased, was born in Deerfield township, Ross county, November 3, 1825. His father, Thomas Hurtt, was a
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native of Maryland who came to Ross county in 1806 and settled in Deerfield township. Those were the pioneer days and most of the State of Ohio was then either but sparsely inhabited or still a wilderness. Thomas Hurtt purchased 120 acres of land, on which he constructed the rude log house so common in those days, and there he and his family spent many years of their lives. He married Tamsey Noble, who became the mother of one son, named Thomas, and died in giving him birth on January 13, 1813. Afterward he took a second wife, Anna Hood, which union resulted in five children, whose names are Nelson, John W., Louisa, James R. and Margaret. Their mother having died on December 6, 1828, Mr. Hurtt. was again married, to a Miss Whitton, to whom were born Jane, George and Willis. The father spent his life, up to the time of his death, in the same neighborhood where he had made his beginnings at his first entrance into the county. James R. Hurtt, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth of his father's second family of children. He attended school a while, but at the early age of ten was sent to Williamsport to learn the trade of a saddler. He was so occupied until the, age of eighteen, when he peddled clocks for a while and later was in the mercantile business at Clarksburg and Bier. January 30, 1849, he married Lavina D. Junk, a native of Ross county and member of one of the old families. The result of this union was one child, who was born July 11, 1852, and died May 23, 1890. After marrying, Mr. Hurtt bought 70 acres of land, to which he removed and later added various improvements. About 1871 he sold that place and purchased the 120 acres on which he spent the remainder of his days. An additional 100 acres was bought later, which was improved in various ways, including the erection of a substantial frame house. Mr. Hurtt held the office of justice of the peace for about fifteen years, also served as constable and held many minor positions of trust. He was a Republican in politics, a member of the Pleasant Valley grange, and belonged to the Methodist. Episcopal church. He died May 29, 1897, since which time his widow, Mrs. Lavina Hurtt, has continued to manage the estate. She is assisted in this work by her grandson, Emory Hurtt, who resides with her and looks after much of the outdoor business.
John E. Hyer a representative of the younger element among Concord township farmers, comes of a family long settled in Ross county. Far back in the pioneer days, a quartet of brothers named Hyer crossed the mountains of Virginia and made their way to Ross county about the same time. William, one of these brothers, remained single and left no representative to perpetuate his name; Rude and Michael took wives and reared families ; and Daniel, who located in Concord township, married twice. By his first marriage, Daniel Hyer had three children: Elija, Ellen and Fountain, and by his
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second marriage, to Polly Laninger, there were nine children : George, Frederick, Newton, Mary, Elizabeth, Martha, Julia, Nancy and Susan. George Hyer, eldest of the second family of children, was born in Concord township and after reaching manhood adopted farming as an occupation, which he followed in Ross county until 1882 and then removed to Fayette county, where he at present resides. In early manhood he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Abram and Sarah Arrowhead, old residents of Ross county. Five children resulted from this union : Addison, a farmer in Fayette county ; John E., subject of this sketch ; Emma, Ollie, wife of Charles Grimes, of Pickaway county; and Edgar, also of Pickaway. John E. liver was born in Concord township, Ross county, Ohio, in 1862. He received the usual education in the district schools and when he grew up entered into the business of farming, which has been his life-long occupation. October 16, 1887, he was married to Julia, daughter of Charles Dick, of Pickaway County, by whom he has two children: Roy and Ivorene. Mr. Byer is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity.
C. Seymour Irvine, a prosperous young farmer residing in the vicinity of Lyndon, Ohio, is a native of Danville, Ky. His father, Robert Irvine, was a Kentuckian, and lived in the state of his nativity until 1878. In that year he came to Ross county, located in Concord township and afterward became quite prominent in political and business circles. He was elected as a representative of Ross county in the lower house of the Ohio state legislature and served two years in this capacity. His present residence is Frankfort, his time being specially devoted to the breeding of fancy road horses. He married Anna, daughter of Aaron W. Seymour, member of the old family of that name long established in Paxton township. C. Seymour Irvine was quite a small boy when brought to Ross county by his parents. He was brought up and educated in Concord township and spent three years at the old Salem academy. In December, 1898, Mr. Irvine was married to Hannah Mains, member of a family long and favorably known in Ross county. Her ancestry dates well back towards the first settlement of the county and the descendants, widely ramified, have made themselves felt in the social and industrial development of that part of the great Scioto valley. Mr. Irvine has been engaged in general farming, paying especial attention to raising stock and fattening the same for market. He is a steady and industrious young man, member of the Presbyterian church at Pisgah, and enjoys the universal esteem of his neighbors.
Charles Edgar Iseman, of Fruitdale, Ohio, has long been connected with the mercantile business at that point and has achieved a flattering measure of success. His father, the late Jacob W. Iseman,
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conducted a general merchandise store at Fruitdale for fifteen years and at the same time carried on farm operations; as merchant and farmer, prospered and accumulated a competency; was conspicuously identified with all the public affairs of Paint township, and was one of the most influential citizens in that part of Ross county. Jacob W. was a son of Christian Iseman, a native of Pennsylvania, who settled in Ross county early in the nineteenth century, and married Elizabeth Bratton, of Virginia, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Charles Edgar Iseman was born in Paint township and after a preliminary training in the common schools entered his father's store as clerk. He held this position ten years and then went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he spent four years in a grocery store. In March, 1898, he purchased the interest of his father's estate and that of his brother in the general mercantile business at Fruitdale, which he has since conducted as sole proprietor. March 11, 1890, he was married to Laura, daughter of John H. Robson, a native of Cincinnati of English ancestry but resident for eighteen years in Paint township. Mr. Iseman holds membership in the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Red Men fraternities. He served as assessor of Paint township in 1894 and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Arthur Jack, postmaster of Kingston. Ohio, was born at that place June 4, 1849. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Lennox) Jack, natives of Hampshire county, Va., where they were married. They had nine children, two of whom died in infancy and but four are now living, whose names are Mary E., Thomas, Joseph and Arthur. Thomas is the clerk of Green township and resides at Kingston. Arthur Jack received his education in the schools of Kingston and in boyhood learned the harness-maker's trade, which he followed for about twelve years. For several years he was engaged in general merchandising. In 1887. he purchased the Kingston Blade, a weekly newspaper, which he conducted for twelve years, making a success as a journalist. January 1, 1898, he was commissioned post-master of Kingston, which is a fourth-class postoflice, and he is still serving in that capacity. April 21, 1872, he was married to Sarah Bider, a native of Fairfield county, and daughter of Joseph and Catherine Bitler. Mr. and Mrs. Jack are the parents of two sons and three daughters, of whom Edgar is employed on the Scioto Gazette ; Mary is in the postoffice with her father; Thomas is working on the Columbus Citizen, and Grace is at home attending the high school, from which Katheryn was graduated in the spring of 1900. Mr. Jack has been an active and influential politician, recognized as a leader in local polities. He has always been an ardent Republican, defending the principles of his party with vote, voice
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and pen. He has served as a member of the Kingston city council, and the school board and in other positions of responsibility.
William R. Jack, D. D. S., practicing dentist at No. 35 South Paint street, Chillicothe, was born in that city November 10, 1873. His parents are William L. and Lida (Woods) Jack, natives of Kingston, Ross county. The father was a merchant in his working days, but retired some years before his death, which occurred in 1888. The mother is still living, her residence being with her son William in Chillicothe. Besides Dr. Jack, who was the youngest, there were two other children born to William and Lida Jack. Of these, Miss Eva is the very efficient general delivery clerk in the Chillicothe postoffice and Joseph, who married Belle Pickens, is book-keeper for the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railway at Washington, Ind. Dr. Jack was educated in the schools of his native city and began the study of dentistry there about 1886, in the office of Dr. Robinson. After that, he served an apprenticeship of about five years, passed his registration examination and started in business with the New York dental parlors in Cincinnati. He remained there about seven years, and in 1899 opened his present office in Chillicothe at the location heretofore given. In 1895. Dr. Jack was married in Cincinnati to Lulu Walter, a native of Chillicothe. and daughter of Randolph Walter, a locomotive engineer on the Baltimore & Ohio railway. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, Donald, now a bright boy of five summers. The Doctor and his wife are members of the First Presbyterian church. The Jack family was established in Ross county at a very early period of its settlement, the progenitors coming from Cannonsburg. Pa. In fact, that state furnished Dr. Jack's ancestry on both sides of the house, the parents of his mother as well as his father being native Pennsylvanians.
Jacob Jacob, one of the old residents of Chillicothe and a successful business man, was born in Lampertheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, January 17,. 1831. He was educated in his native country and came to America at the age of twenty-two; located in Chillicothe, Ohio, October 1, 1852, and has been a resident of that city ever since. For nearly fifty years he has been identified with the growth and progress of Ross county's capital. Mr. Jacob was a common laborer for a number of years after reaching Chillicothe and turned his hand to whatever he could find to do. For seven years he was in a distillery and six years he spent in the railroad shops. In 1854, he married Anna Marie Starck, a native of Germany then resident of Chillicothe. She became the mother of five children, thus enumerated: Louisa is the wife of John Knecht, whose sketch appears in this work; Mary died unmarried at the age of twenty-
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three; Charles L. is a business man in Chillicothe ; George W. died at the age of fifteen ; Frederick William is employed in the Chillicothe postoffice. Mrs. Jacob, who was a most estimable wife and mother, died January 20, 1900. About thirty-three years ago, Mr. Jacob engaged in the liquor business, which he has continued up to the present time. He has met with financial success, after a life of struggle and hard work, and is one of the public spirited and enterprising citizens of Chillicothe. He is the oldest member of the Red Men's lodge, as also of the Eintracht singing chub, and has belonged to the Odd Fellows for nearly half a century. Mr. Jacob came alone to America, but was followed seven years later by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. His parents were Michael and Barbara (Leonhert) Jacob, both of whom, as well as a brother named Michael, died in Louisville, Ky. Of the other children, Katherine Schumaker died in Chillicothe. Peter is a cigar manufacturer in Louisville, Ky., and his sister Margaret is a resident of the same city.
Charles L. Jacobs, of Chillicothe, was born in that city May 14, 1857. He is the son of Jacob Jacob, a sketch of whom precedes this. The slight change in the name has been made in recent years from the original form, in obedience to popular usage in America. Charles L. Jacobs received the ordinary common school education and at an early period developed a talent for music. For two years he was a teacher of instrumental and vocal music at Washington Court House, Ohio, and he followed this vocation, which was entirely in accord with his tastes, until his hearing became impaired, which misfortune, much to his regret, compelled him to abandon his favorite pursuit and take up other business. In March, 1879, he was married to Amelia Roths, a native of Chillicothe and daughter of John Roths, an employee of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railway. They have only one child, Emma, who is a graduate of the city high school. This lady inherited her father's talent for music and is at present a teacher of piano in Chillicothe. Her musical education was acquired under home instructors and at the musical college of Cincinnati. Mr. Jacobs is a member of the order of Red Men and he and his family belong to the Salem Lutheran church. For the last seventeen years, he has been engaged in the liquor business at No. 23 North Paint street.
The James Family :--The first representative of this now well-known connection was Reuben James, son of a Delaware sea captain who went. from his native state to Virginia and there married Mary Phisto. They lived a good while in Virginia after marriage, and in 1830 migrated to Ross county, where they settled on the faun in Concord township now owned by Mr. Fulton. They had twelve
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children, two of whom, Isaac and Elizabeth, were born before the departure from Virginia. The ten additions made to the family after the arrival in Ross county are thus given consecutively: Strawder, Washington, Reuben, Mary M., Evans, Milton, Missouri A., John A., Nancy and Nelson. Of those enumerated above, Washington, Mary M., Evans, Milton and John A. are dead. The parents went from the Fulton farm to Wrightstown, where they conducted a hotel, for seven years, after which they went for permanent residence to a farm purchased in Buckskin township, where both ended their days. Strawder James was married June 29, 1852, to Rebecca Bush, by whom he had the following named children : Allen, deceased ; Milton, married Lizzie Slagle ; Mary B., married Morris Putnam ; Lavina, wife of William Briggs ; Clara, wife of Isaac Pancake ; Reuben, deceased; Charles, married Nettie McClain of Ross county, and now lives in Denver, Col.; Nancy, wife of Jesse ii. Mallow; Armada, deceased. Strawder James was one of the most useful and esteemed of the citizens of Concord township. He dealt. extensively in stock and for several years was associated with Robert Templin and Milo Whaley in that business. He held the office of township trustee a number of years and served one term as commissioner of Ross county. He was a man of elevated views and moral character, held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and when he died March 22, 1897, there was a general feeling that the community lost one of its most valuable men.
Robert W. Jamison was born in Concord township, Ross county, on the farm where he now resides, October 13, 1873. His father, Samuel Jamison, born January 9, 1827, was the son of a man of the same name as himself, and grandson of William Jamison. The latter was a South Carolinian who came to Ohio in the latter part of the eighteenth century, and bought land in Concord township which is still in possession of his descendants. He had a family of thirteen children, among whom was Samuel, the grandfather of our subject. He cleared and improved 200 acres of land, served in the war of 1812, married Rebecca Anderson and died in Concord township in 1851. Among their eight children was the father of Robert W. Jamison. He spent his early life on the farm and obtained a common school education, supplemented by one term in the old Chillicothe academy. He taught school a few terms and then went to farming, which was ever after the business of his life. He met with success as a farmer and stock-raiser, accumulated considerable land and became one of the substantial men of the township. On June 30, 1870, he was married to Eleanor, daughter of Robert and Ellen (Haynes) Worthington. The Worthington family is one of the oldest and most prominent in Ohio. Thomas Worthington became governor of Ohio, and many others rose to positions of influ-
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ence in the localities where they settled. Robert Worthington, father of Mrs. Jamison, removed to Petersburg, Ill., before the civil war, and became a prominent citizen of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Jamison became the parents of three children, of whom Anna Belle, their only daughter, is dead. The two sons are Robert W. and James R., the latter attending school at Oxford, Ohio. The father was a strict member of the Presbyterian church, of which he was deacon, elder and treasurer, and an exemplary citizen in all the walks of life. His long and useful life was brought to a close on December 12, 1899. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Jamison has conducted his extensive business with the assistance of her son Robert W. The latter was educated at Salem academy and has remained at home all his life. At present he has the superintendence of about 300 acres of land and the responsibilities connected with the management of farm affairs.
Thomas Janes was born in Union township, Ross county, Ohio, August 12, 1839, the son of Henry and grandson of Zachariah Janes, the latter a settler of Ross county as far back as 1801. When Zachariah Janes came there were only three houses in Chillicothe and the country for miles around was but sparsely populated. He bought :300 acres of land in Springfield township, spent the rest of his days in farming and died on the place where he had located. He married a Virginia woman who had been a captive of the Indians for seventeen years and could speak their language fluently. Their son Henry attended subscription school, learned the carpenter's trade and remained at home helping with the work until he reached his twenty-third year. He then married Sarah Hurst, after which event he resolved to try his fortunes in the neighboring state of Indiana. Accordingly he moved to that commonwealth, but after a stay of some three or four years returned to Ross county. He purchased part of the old homestead place, on which he settled down to farming, also working at his trade, and so continued throughout the years of his life. He served as trustee of his township, was county tax collector and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Of his six children, Mandy, the youngest, died in early childhood ; Edward lives in Missouri ; Thomas is the subject of this sketch ; Joseph resides in Springfield township ; Mary J. is married to Joseph Crider ; and Lyena is now Mrs. August Boozer. Thomas Janes went to Illinois at the beginning of the civil war and enlisted in the Sixty-eighth infantry regiment of that state. He was only out about one year, being taken with an illness en route to Wheeling, W. Va., which necessitated his being sent to a hospital and eventuated in his discharge from the service. After that he remained at home until he was of age, when he entered upon the work of engineering. His first service in this line was as locomotive engineer
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on the old Marietta & Cincinnati railway, which position he held for four years. He then obtained employment on the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad, with headquarters in the last mentioned city. Subsequently he served on the Alton &. Terre Haute road for about four years, when he returned to Ross county and lived on a rented farm for two years, after which he removed to the place where he now resides. For eleven years past he has been engineer at the Ross County infirmary, iii which place he has given entire satisfaction. His only fraternal connection is with the Masonic lodge at Chillicothe, of which he has been a member for some time. Mr. Janes married Hannah Ulm, a descendant of early settlers of Ross county, and by her had ten children, as follows: John, who lives in Columbus, Ohio ; Myrtie, wife of Jesse Bowdle ; Ida, married to M. Courtwright ; Anna, wife of George McQuintich ; Samuel, of Union township; Elwood, of Columbus ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Shaefer; Alta, now Mrs. Ater, of Deerfield township; Laly and Gustave, at home.
Thomas Corwin Jones, an extensive land owner and dealer in stock, is altogether one of the most substantial farmers of Ross county, of which he is a native and highly honored citizen. He was born in Liberty township, February 21, 1850, his parents being Mason and Clarissa (Corwin) Jones, the former of Ross and the latter a native of Pike county. The grandparents were William and Jane (Corken) Jones, the former's father being Thomas Jones, who settled in Ross county as far back as 1803. William Jones was a good business man and farmed on a rather extensive scale, being the owner of about 500 acres of land. He went to Missouri in 1870 and died in Nodaway county of that state at the age of eighty-four, having long outlived his wife, whose death occurred in 1855. They were the parents of nine children, whose names in order of birth were, Austin, Sarah, Eliza, Mason, Fletcher, Collins, Mary Ann, Wesley and Watson. All of these are dead except Fletcher and Watson. Mason Jones, the fourth child, was born in Ross county, May 1, 1821. After he grew up he taught school for a while, but soon abandoned this for agricultural pursuits in which he achieved decided success. He conducted farming operations in a large way, paying much attention to raising and dealing in stock. He became rather noted in his neighborhood as the owner of the first scales used in that part of the county, and was regarded as a benefactor for introducing a machine of such convenience to the farming class. He was a strong advocate of the temperance cause, so much so that he abandoned his former association with the Republican party and joined the Prohibitionists. His active and useful life was terminated by death in 1895, but his wife survives at the age of seventy-two years. The children of this estimable couple
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number ten, of whom George, Jennie E. and Mary E. are dead. Those living are Thomas C., William A., Jacob E., Eugene R., John F., Samuel W., and Luella M. Thomas Corwin Jones was the eldest of his father's family. He was brought up on a farm and at an early age taught the industry and care so necessary to success in that business. That he was an apt pupil was shown by his subsequent career. During the winter days when there was no outdoor work to be done on the farm, he joined the other neighborhood children at the district school and before he was grown had obtained a fair education. He then turned teacher himself and for a while played the pedagogue in one of the township schools. This, however, did not last long, as Mr. Jones realized his capacity for much larger things. In due time he embarked in the business of farming and stock-raising, in which he achieved prosperity, his real estate holdings amounting to 680 acres of land. For years he has dealt in stock on a large scale and ranks as one of the best judges and buyers in this branch of the agricultural industry. In politics, Mr. Jones is decidedly independent and while by no means a seeker of office he served for eight years as township treasurer. January 13, 1875, he was married to Martha Rittenour, a native of Ross county and daughter of James and Ellen (Hemphill) Rittenour. This union resulted in the birth of three sons. Boyton G., Arsene J. and Rei E.
Irvin T. Jones, the leading merchant of Hallsville, was born in Kingston, Ross county, Ohio, January 24, 1836. His parents were John and Dorothy (Powers) Jones, the former a native of Maryland, where he was reared, and the latter a native of Delaware county, Ohio. Irvin T. Jones was reared in Ross county, attending the district schools, and engaged in mercantile pursuits until February 13, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, Sixty-ninth regiment, Ohio veteran volunteer infantry. His regiment first saw duty at Nashville, Tenn., and participated in the following noted engagements: Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and the historic campaign of Sherman against Johnston up to and including the battle of Atlanta. After the surrender of Atlanta he accompanied Sherman in his famous march to the sea and on up through the Carolinas until Johnston's surrender, then to Richmond, Va., and from there to Washington, where he participated in the Grand Review, one of the most noted military pageants of modern times. From Washington his regiment was ordered to Louisville, Ky., and there mustered out of the service. During his entire military service, although in many of the hottest engagements of the war, he never received a wound and never lost a day's service on account of sickness. After his return home he again turned his attention to merchandising and in 1883 permanently located in Hallsville where he opened up a
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completely stocked general store, and today we find him, after years of perseverance and energy, enjoying not only a successful business but also in the prime of his activities. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of Maxwell post, G. A. R., at Kingston. Mr. Jones is a Republican in politics, is postmaster at Hallsville and a highly esteemed citizen.
Jesse M. Jones, the well-known blacksmith and wagon-maker of Clarksburg, was one of the worthiest of the civil war soldiers contributed to the Union army by Ross county and the first man to enlist from Deerfield township. The family has had representatives in Ohio for nearly a century, the first ones being Benjamin and Susan Jones, who settled at Waynesville, in Warren county, as far back as 1808. They brought with them a son named Jesse, who was born in Virginia July 1, 1799, and after he grew up removed to Ross county, obtained employment at the Peterson works in Concord township and there learned the blacksmith's trade. Some time later he built a shop at Frankfort, conducted business there for several years and then located at Clarksburg for permanent residence. He continned to work in his blacksmith shop, enjoying a fair amount of prosperity, until a few years before his death, which took place in 1883, when he was about eighty-five years old. He married Sarah Gum, a native of Virginia, and had ten children : David, Catherine and John D., deceased ; William M., of London, Ohio ; Jesse M., Ethan A. and Norton G. of Indiana, Clara and Effie, of Clarksburg, and Milton E., of Circleville, Ohio. Jesse M. Jones was born at Clarksburg, Ross county, Ohio, August 7, 1838, and in youth was taught the blacksmith trade in his father's shop. This employment was rather rudely interrupted by the opening discord of the civil war and few heeded the country's call for assistance more promptly than Jesse M. Jones. He hastened to enroll his name as a member of Company A, Twenty-seventh regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and has the reputation of being the first man to enlist from Deerfield township. This command, after a short stay at Camp Chase, was sent to St. Louis, thence to Chillicothe, Lexington and Kansas City, Mo., doing guard duty for a while at the latter place ; next to Springfield and from there back to Sedalia, then a march of 350 miles to St. Louis, and on down the river to join General Pope's division. Such is a brief summary of the regiment's earliest campaigning. Subsequently Mr. Jones took part, with his command, in the engagements at Island No. 10 and New Madrid, the bloody battle of Pittsburg Landing and the siege of Corinth. During the fighting around the latter city, Mr. Jones was wounded and sent to the hospital at Mound City where he was later discharged on account of disability. After six months' rest at home, he re-enlisted in Company C, First Ohio heavy artillery, which was sent to Knox-
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ville, Tenn., and did guard duty there until mustered out in 1865 at the close of the war. Returning home, Mr. Jones remained a while at Clarksburg and then went to Indiana, where he had the misfortune to break his leg. This made him an invalid for some time but as soon as able he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-seventh United States regiment, with which he was sent successively to Governor's Island, N. Y., from there to Fort Leavenworth and Fort Lyons, Kansas, and Fort Garland, Col. While serving at the latter place his term of enlistment expired and he returned directly to his home in Clarksburg, where he has since resided. His business has been that of blacksmithing and wagon-making in connection with the management of his farm in Deerfield township. July 25, 1880, Mr. Jones was married to Laura E. Goldsberry, who died August 31, 1892, after becoming the mother of the following named children : John D., Luella, Jessie, Gracey, Sarah and Irene.
Robert J. Jones, M. D., one of the popular and successful physicians of Greenfield, Ohio, is a native of Wales, from which country he emigrated to America in 1884. Though he attended school to some extent in the old country, his literary education was mainly received after coming to the United States. After this was achieved satisfactorily he entered the Cincinnati Medical college, from which he was graduated in 1895 with the degree of M. D. During the following year he held the position of interne in the Cincinnati hospital, which is regarded as a valuable post-graduate experience for young practitioners. In 1896 Dr. Jones located at Greenfield for the practice of his profession, where he speedily rose into notice and met with unusual success. He has built up as extensive a practice, both in medicine and surgery, as is enjoyed by any physician in that section of Ohio, his business embracing the town, as well as a broad scope of the surrounding country. Dr. Jones is a member of the Highland county Medical society and often prepares papers for its edification, which exhibit learning and advanced knowledge on his part in all branches of the profession. In 1898, he was married to Daisy Bowser, of Ross county. He is a master Mason and member of the First Presbyterian church in Greenfield.
Isaac M. Jordan, for many years prominent in educational circles as principal of schools and institute instructor and a public speaker of unusual ability, is at present clerk of Ross county courts. His life has been one of continuous activities and, if to educate the people he a public boon, he is entitled to high rank among the benefactors, as the largest portion of his existence has been devoted to the "delightful task" of "teaching the young idea how to shoot." His tastes in this direction may be said to have been inherited, as his father before him was also conspicuous in educational work. Hiram
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Jordan, a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, was a typical American who combined the three-fold vocations of Methodist minister, teacher and farmer. Being poor and without early advantages, he was largely self-educated, but during his comparatively short life did much good in his capacity as pastor and instructor. His wife was Selina Monroe, with whom he lived affectionately until his death in 1864, when forty-three years old, she surviving him until 1889, and dying in her sixty-sixth year. Their eight children are named and sketched in the following brief biographical notices: Lemmas M. served as a soldier during the civil war both in the Sixty-second and Thirty-first regiments of Ohio volunteer infantry, with the last named organization joined in the pursuit of Hood during that general's hair-brained advance against Nashville, and is supposed to have lost his life in that campaign, as nothing was heard of him after October, 1804. Mary O., the eldest daughter, became the wife of Rev. Ira DeSehn and died when twenty-six years old, leaving one child. Isaac M., subject of this sketch, was third of the children in order of birth. Lonana B. married Thomas Park, of New Lexington, O., and Sarah J. is the wife of S. M. Monroe, of western Colorado. Emma R. resides with her sister at New Lexington ; Josephus lives at Carroll, Ohio; and William J. is in Kansas City, Mo. Isaac M. Jordan was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, September 12, 1849. Though a man of liberal education this is due rather to incessant study and omnivorous reading than to early training, as he had no other advantages than those afforded by the common schools. He was never afraid of work and from his youth was accustomed to address himself earnestly to whatever his hands found to do. This for a while consisted only of odd jobs, but in 1873 he began his career as a teacher--a career which was to last continuously for twenty-five years. Much the largest portion of this quarter-century of arduous labor was spent in Ross county, to whose schools he devoted twenty years. Two years were given to the children of Perry county and three to the county of Clermont. Mr. Jordan was principal of the schools of Adelphi and held the same position for eight years in the schools of the eastern district of Chillicothe. For six years he was a member of the board of county school examiners, and for a long period his summer vacations were given up to instruction in teachers' institutes throughout the State. In this important field, Mr. Jordan's versatility as a public speaker, added to his long practical experience and wide and varied information made him especially popular and useful. In 1897, while still in the educational harness, he was elected clerk of Ross county, and he entered upon the duties of that office in August, 1898. He was re-elected in the autumn of 1900 and is the present incumbent. Mr. Jordan has often appeared in public to deliver addresses, usually on educational themes or subjects relating to his profession, but what-
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ever the subject it is always handled with the force and lucidity which bespeak the accomplished orator. In fact he is noted far and wide for his grace, facility and charming elocution. November 6, 1879, he was married to Laura K., daughter of Jacob and Mahala Leist of Yellow Bud, Ross county. This union resulted in the birth of four children: Homer G., deputy clerk, May F., Paul I., and Mildred. The eldest son is a graduate of the Chillicothe high school and has spent two years at the Ohio State university in the classical course, which he will complete. Since he was sixteen years old Mr. Jordan has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has held the principal offices and always been enthusiastic in church and Sunday school work. Mrs. Jordan and three of the children are of the same denomination and actively exhibit their interest in religious affairs. Mr. Jordan's social and catholic spirit incline him towards fraternal fellowship and make him a welcome member of various secret societies. He is especially prominent in Odd Fellowship, having held offices of high degree in that popular order, including grand marshal in 1900. He was the first charter member of the Ancient Essenic Order, in which at present he holds the rank of supreme deputy. Membership in the Improved Order of Red Men and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, besides two or three fraternal insurance societies, complete Mr. Jordan's connections with the bodies devoted to brotherly love.
The Junk Family:--The first of this name identified with Ross county was Thomas Junk, born in New Jersey about 1760 of Irish parents. These parents moved to Pennsylvania and from there Thomas migrated with his wife in 1798 to Ross county, Ohio, settling in Union township. John Junk, eldest of their twelve children, was born in Pennsylvania, April 3, 1794, and hence was but four years old when brought to Ohio by his parents. He grew to manhood, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, afterwards bought and cleared land, married and settled down to an agricultural life. His wife was Susan Shields, whose parents, Thomas and Susan (Pryor) Shields, came from Virginia to Ross county before the close of the eighteenth century. John Junk lived until 1864 and his wife survived him about twenty years, dying in 1884. They had five children: Thomas, Sarah, John Pryor, Maria and William. John Pryor Junk was born November 24, 1820, educated in the district schools and for a while attended the Granville academy. After leaving school he engaged in farm work, later obtained some property of his own and followed agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, which occurred in 1890. In 1848, he had married Eliza, daughter of George and Rhoda (Bragg) Bryant, of Fayette county, by whom he had nine children : Theresa, deceased ; Armada, wife of Malcolm Porter of Frankfort, O. ; Belle, and Ella, wife of John K.
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Sanford of Frankfort; Laura, wife of Thomas Irwin of Columbus; Harvey, and Lewis (deceased) ; Carey Lee, of Chicago; and Harry Pryor, of Columbus.
Albert W. Junk, one of Concord township's well-to-do farmers, is a scion of one of the old-time Ross county families, described in the preceding sketch, his great-grandfather making his appearance on the banks of the Scioto several years before the close of the eighteenth century. The ancestors originated in Ireland, came from there to New Jersey and afterward to what was then the border state of Pennsylvania. Thomas Junk, the eldest son of John and Susan (Shields) Junk, and grandson of the pioneer Thomas Junk, was born in Ross county and educated in the old cabin schools, learned farm work and had all the other experiences common to country boys in those days. In the course of time, like most young man, he bethought himself of matrimony and the outcome of his reflections was a marital union with Phoebe Peterson. This lady was the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Coyner) Peterson, who were a part of the large body of Virginians that settled in the Scioto valley. After rearing a family of eleven children, Thomas Junk passed away in 1875, his wife surviving until 1897. Seven of their off-spring are still living: Martin L., a farmer of Concord township; Maria J., wife of John T. Cline of Frankfort; Thomas J., of Fayette county; Charles, of Frankfort, Ohio; Martha and Mary (twins), and Albert W. Junk. The latter, yonngest member of the family, was born in Concord township, Ross county, April 26, 1863. After the usual time spent in the schools of the district and at Frankfort, Mr. Junk entered upon his calling as a farmer and has adhered closely thereto since he reached the age of maturity. In September, 1886, he was married to Sadie, daughter of Franklin and Sarah (Bush) Finch, old residents of Ross county. She died February 8, 1894, leaving two children, Frank and Fay. March 10, 1898, Mr. Junk contracted a second marriage, with Nannie Finch, sister of his first wife, who has no children. The religious affiliations of the family are with the Presbyterian church.
Bernard H. Kathe, one of the most prominent and prosperous farmers of Scioto township, has long been favorably known in the agricultural circles of Ross county. Like so many other settlers in that part of Ohio, he is a German immigrant of the class so highly prized all over the Union for their energy, industry, integrity and other elements of good citizenship. His parents, Joseph and Lena (Wilkins) Kathe, were natives of Hanover, Germany, who died at comparatively early ages leaving two children, Bernard H. and Anna, the latter dying in infancy. Bernard H. was born in Hanover, Germany, February 29, 1856, and was seven years old when
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he lost both father and mother by death. He was taken charge of by an uncle, who cared for him until his fourteenth year, and after the former's death found a home with an aunt. When seventeen years old he entered one of the German agricultural colleges where he received valuable industrial training and was given a certificate of graduation at the end of two years. About a year subsequent to this he enlisted as a cavalryman in one of the Uhlan regiments of the German army with which he served three years. In 1881, when about twenty-five years old, Mr. Kathe joined the tide of emigration then running so strongly westward and abandoned the fatherland for a permanent abode in America. Immediately after reaching Castle Garden he made his way to Circleville, Ohio, and for two years worked on a farm near that place during the summer, assisting his uncle in a furniture store when the weather was unsuited to out-door work. In 1883, Mr. Kathe came to Ross county and January 11 of that year he was married to Mary M. D., daughter of Phelix and Julia Miller, the former of Germany and the latter of Ross county. For a short time after marriage he resided in Chillicothe and then located on the farm in Scioto township, where he now resides. Some years later he purchased the 160 acres which constitute his home tract, besides 200 acres in Union township. Mr. Kathe is a breeder of shorthorn cattle and other fine stock, operates a public corn-grinder and is in every way an up-to-date and progressive farmer, yielding to none in his understanding of the business. The fact that he was elected in 1901 as a Democrat by 232 majority in a county usually Republican by five or six hundred, to serve as a member of the board of infirmary directors, fully attests Mr. Kathe's personal and political popularity. Mr. and Mrs. Kathe have had twelve children, of whom the following named are living: Alfonso, Otto, Leo, Phelix, Columbus, Bernardo and Colista; the dead are Bernard, Sylvester, Roman, Bruno and an infant unnamed. The family is Roman Catholic in religion and Mr. Kathe is a member of the Knights of St. George.
Joseph Kellhofer, merchant and mill owner of Chillicothe and long prominently connected with the painting department of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops, is a worthy exponent of Ross county's citizenship of German descent. His father, Leopold Kellhofer, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1809, of a family of tradesmen. In youth he was apprenticed to learn the weaver's trade and after mastering its details followed it as a means of livelihood for some years. In 1834 he married Martha Fisher and five years later came with her to the United States, landing at New York after a wearisome sea journey of sixty-four days. The immigrants hastened as rapidly as possible to their point of destination, which was Chillicothe, Ohio,
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and on arriving there, Leopold worked for a while as a common laborer and then embarked in the business of gardening. To this occupation he adhered with more or less success until his death, which occurred in 1879, at the age of sixty-nine. Of his nine children, three died in infancy unnamed. The others, in order of birth, are as follows : Mary, wife of Frank Konzen, of Henry county, Ohio; Joseph ; Tressa, wife of Conrad Richard, of Circleville, Ohio; Leopold, Edward and Albert, deceased. Joseph Kellhofer was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, February 4, 1844, and when nineteen years old entered the shops of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company as an apprentice in the painting department. In two years by close application he became qualified as a journeyman and accompanied his foreman to Indianapolis, where he was engaged a short time in the line of his trade. From that point he went to Litchfield, Ill., and during his two years' residence there was married to Mary T., daughter of Marcus and Cathrine F. Miller, of Ross county, Ohio. Eventually he returned to Chillicothe, where he resumed his trade, and afterwards became foreman of the painting department of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad shops at Zaleski, Ohio. This position, however, he soon resigned for the purpose of establishing the general mercantile business in which he has since been engaged. During recent years Mr. Kellhofer has constructed a substantial business block and dwelling-house. Another of his real estate investments was the erection in 1901 of what is known as the Kellhofer Scioto Mills, a manufactory of high grade roller-process flour. Aside from his own business, Mr. Kellhofer's services are in demand for public use. For nine years he has been a member of the board of equalization, one term a councilman from the sixth ward and poll clerk for several years. He comes of a long line of Democrats and is strenuous in advocacy of the principles of that political party. Mr. and Mrs. Kellhofer have had eleven children: Martha T., wife of Adolph Paff of Chillicothe ; Jacob J., of the same city; Anna, wife of Chancey Hollis, of Illinois; Albert Ernest, of Chillicothe ; John, Mary, Rocelia, Clara and Leo Marcus at home; Paul and Edward died in infancy.
William Kerns, of Lyndon, was born in Pike county, Ohio, in 1831. His father, Thomas Kerns, also a native of Ohio, spent his life in agricultural pursuits and died in Clinton county in 1872. By the first of his two marriages he left four sons, of whom William was the second, the others being John, James and Thomas. In 1845, William Kerns removed to Buckskin township, Ross county, and engaged in farm work until he was nineteen years old. Later he learned the carpenter's trade, but in July, 1862, left work to become a soldier in the Union army. He enlisted in Company H, Eighty-ninth regiment Ohio infantry, and with this command saw much
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arduous service. Sent first into Kentucky to meet the advancing Confederate raiders under Morgan and Smith, the regiment participated in all the subsequent movements of the year. The first heavy engagement was at Fort Donelson and the next Stone River, later on the campaign from Murfreesboro to Chattanooga, culminating in the great battle of Chickamauga in September, 1863. On the second day of that bloody encounter, Mr. Kerns' brigade was captured and he was one of the unfortunates who failed to escape. This was a very calamitous event for himself and comrades as it meant a long detention in the dismal prisons of the South. They were first taken to Richmond Va., then confined for six months at Danville, and finally landed in that. abode of horrors known as the Andersonville prison pen. Mr. Kerns passed through the gates of this modern "Inferno" in April, 1864, and it was not until eleven months afterward that he obtained his release. Some notion of the sufferings and cruelties he endured may be derived from the statement that on the day of his capture he weighed 170 pounds and when, more dead than alive, he again reached the Union lines his recorded weight was only seventy pounds. Owing to his weakness, Mr. Kearns was compelled to spend three weeks in the hospital at Vicksburg, after which he was prostrated over a month with typhoid fever at Jefferson Darracks. It is needless to say that when at last he reached home on May 25, 1865, he had enough prison and hospital experience to last him the rest of his life. It was still a month later, or June 25th, before he obtained at Camp Chase his final and honorable discharge from the army of the United States. As soon as he had rested and recuperated, Mr. Kerns engaged in the business of contracting, which he followed until 1897 and then retired to his farm near South Salem, where he enjoys deserved repose after a long and well spent life. In 1854, Mr. Kerns was married to May J. Pricer, who died in 1804, leaving three daughters. Sissy Jane, the eldest of these, became the wife of Albert Warner, of Chillicothe; Sarah Catherine married Robert Wallace, of South Salem, and May Frances is the wife of David Sommers. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Kerns was again married, his second wife being Eliza Ann Sanders. Mr. Kerns has long been a member of the Presbyterian church of South Salem and for sixteen years has served as deacon. He is a trustee of the Salem academy and member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Michael G. Kirsch was born in Chillicothe, O., in the Phoenix hotel, which he now owns, on October 16, 1858. His parents were Michael and Annie Maria (Hechinger) Kirsch, both natives of Germany, the former being born in Hesse Darmstadt on March 25, 1825. Michael Kirsch came to America at the age of fourteen years, and was married in Chillicothe, where he located in his young manhood
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and there established the Phoenix Hotel, which has borne that name for more than fifty years, having no other owner than the father and his son. Michael Kirsch was a well known and honored citizen of Chillicothe for many years, serving the municipality in various capacities, notably as a member of the city council and as infirmary director of the county. e died in 1892, much lamented, and the death of his wife occurred in the same year only about three months later. The city council adopted appropriate resolutions of condolence and sympathy on the death of Mr. Kirsch, a certified copy of which is now one of the treasured memorials of the family. Seven children were born to this esteemed couple, one of whom died at the age of seven years. Those still living are, Barbara, now Mrs. Hydell of Chillicothe; John, a resident of Portsmonth, O.: Mary, wife of Christian Goeller; Josephine, now Mrs. List, of Cincinnati ; Emily, wife of Jerry Keefe of Columbus, O. Michael G. Kirsch, the youngest of the family and the subject of this sketch, was educated in his native city and has there spent the most of his life. For four years he was in partnership with his brother John in the tin and stove business at Portsmouth, Ohio, which is still conducted by the latter. Michael returned to Chillicothe and accepted a position with Ira Mosher & Son, wholesale and retail grocers, with whom he remained as an employe for thirteen years. After the death of his parents in 1892, Mr. Kirsch assumed ownership and control of the Phoenix Hotel in September of the same year. In connection with the hotel he operated a livery business, owning his own barn and appurtenances. Mr. Kirseh continued to operate his hotel and livery business until April 14, 1902, when he leased the same to ex-Sheriff A. T. Swepston, and Mr. Kirsch now devotes his entire attention to the fire insurance business, with offices in the Hawson block. He has the agency for a number of the standard companies of the country and by devoting his entire attention to it is building up a fine business. November 16, 1881, Mr. Kirsch was married to Flora, daughter and only child of John and Lucy (Marsluff) Bier, both natives of Ohio, of German antecedents. John Bier, a general merchant in Chillicothe prior to and during the civil war, died in 1866, when Mrs. Kirsch was but fifteen months old. His widow, married a man named Barman, by whom she had for children : Mrs. Oscar J. Fuchs, Mrs. Matthias Bonner, Josephine Barman and Clement Barman. Michael Kirsch and wife have two sons, William C., born February 11, 1883, now employed as a clerk in a grocery store, and Michael, born July 4, 1887, now clerking in a drug store. Mr. Kirsch is a member of the order of Elks and Red Men. He and wife are members of the Catholic church, as were their parents before them. He is Democratic in politics but has never been an office-seeker. At one time he became a candidate for infirmary director and, though the county went Republican by 600
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plurality, was defeated by only 146 votes. He is a member of the board of fire commissioners of the city.
Arthur D. Kline, of South Salem, is descended from a family of pioneer millers in Ross county, some of the early members of which were also connected with the first. canal construction. His father, Daniel Kline, was a Virginian and son of Peter L. Kline, who emigrated from Germany to the Old Dominion, but later removed to Ohio. Settling on Deer creek in Ross county about 1819, he established a mill which he conducted for some time. Afterwards he had charge for a while of the Lumback mills below Chillicothe, but subsequently became manager of the Vandeman mill. Peter Kline and his near relatives were pioneers iii this business along Deer creek and neighboring streams. They were also skillful as workmen in other lines, and built one mile of the old canal near Chillicothe. Daniel Kline married Maria, daughter of George Parrett, after which he engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he made the exclusive business of his subsequent life. Daniel and Maria Kline became the parents of nine children: George A., who became a member of Company T, Eighty-first regiment Ohio infantry, and was killed in the battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864; Ellen, Missouri A. (deceased ), Erskine L., and Arthur D. Kline ; Dora, the wife of John Leib, a Buckskin township farmer ; Allie, wife of Wilbur P. Harper, a farmer of same locality; Henry, a stock-buyer and breeder ; and Nettie, living in Cincinnati. Arthur D. Kline was born and bred in Buckskin township and lives in a brick house which was built ever a century ago by James Dickey, founder of the Salem academy. It was at this institution that Mr. Kline received his education, and shortly after leaving school he married Mary E., daughter of John C. Duncan. The latter belongs to an old and well established family of Highland county, his father being a native of Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Kline have three children. Pearl D., their eldest sons, a bright and promising young man, is a member of the United States regular army now serving in the Philippines ; Arthur S. is at home, and George C. in school. Mr. Kline has devoted his adult life to the business of farming and stock-raising. For the last ten years he has made a specialty of sheep breeding and in this line has become an expert. He handles different breeds, but his favorites are the Hampshiredowns, and to these he confines most of his dealing. The entire family are members of the Presbyterian church at South Salem.
John Knecht, of the firm of Jacob Knecht & Son, brewers, of Chillicothe, was born in that city November 9, 1858. His parents, Jacob and Katherine (Griesheimer) Knecht, both natives of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, where they were married, came to America in
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1852, having with them three children, a number afterward increased by two. In his native country, the elder Knecht was a farmer and he pursued the occupation here until 1875, when he purchased the Knecht brewery, which he and his son John have since operated. The plant is complete in all its appointments and has an annual capacity of twenty thousand barrels. Fitted with all the modern machinery and appliances, this brewery is one of the solid and successful business enterprises of Chillicothe. It was the 21st day of June, 1852, that the Knecht family landed from the canal at Chillicothe, with whose growth and progress they have ever since been prominently identified. The parents were quite poor on arrival, indeed they would hardly have been aide to reach these shores without the aid of friends. The father's first work was on a railroad, but German thrift, industry and perseverance soon conquered, as they always do, and the Knechts found themselves in possession of a fifty-acre farm just north of the city, which they still own. Of the original five children, only three are living. Jacob, who was an iron molder by trade, died at the age of about forty, leaving one daughter, who is married and living iii Chicago. Christiana is the wife of John V. Muehlig and lives in Chicago. Katherine died at the age of seven years ; John is the subject of this sketch and Martin is operating the home farm. .John Knecht was educated in Chillicothe, he and Martin being the two children born after arrival in this country. He has been connected with the brewery business ever since he was able to do work of any kind. At present he assumes general management of the entire business, attending to the sales and collections, employing help and superintending all the details. The establishment gives work to an average of ten men, the product being sold mostly to the local trade. Mr. Knecht was married in 1878 to Rosa Jacobs, daughter of a business man of Chillicothe, and born and bred in that city, and they have seven children, whose names are Mary, Christina, Emma, Bertha, Minnie, Louisa, and John Jacob. Christina is the wife of Daniel De Long, a clerk in Chillicothe, the others being still at home. Mr. Knecht is a member of the order of Red Men and the family belong to the German Lutheran church.
Jacob Koch, capitalist and man of affairs in various lines of business, has spent his entire life at Adelphi, Ohio, of which he has long been a conspicuous citizen. His parents, Jacob and Mary (Hisler) Koch, were Pennsylvanians who came to Ross county in 1830 and located at Adelphi, where the father pursued his trade as a shoemaker, and both husband and wife became substantial and respected members of the community, being members of the Evangelical church and identified with all movements for the uplifting of the masses. The senior Jacob Koch died in 1857, his wife surviving
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him over thirty years and dying in 1887 at the age of eighty-two. Of their family of eleven children, only two sons and one daughter are now living. Frank, one of the sons, is a citizen of Pennsylvania, and Mrs. Hanna Beaver, the only daughter, is a resident of Ashville, in Pickaway county. Jacob Koch, the other son, was born at Adelphi December 20, 1835, and at an early age was put to work in his father's shop to learn the trade of shoemaking. This he mastered very thoroughly and followed for many years in the place of his nativity. Mr. Koch, however, did not adhere strictly to the old maxim that the shoemaker should stick to his last." e did, indeed, stick to his trade very closely until 1872, when he concluded that he had done his share of confining work and resolved to branch out in other lines. He had been economical as well as industrious, and as he saved money made investments in real estate and other kinds of property. He owns several farms, amounting to some 400 acres of land, and these are cultivated in the general way for raising the cereal crops and stock of different kinds. For about twenty-five years he has been engaged in fire insurance and has worked up an extensive business in that line, and during the same period or longer has been a loaner of money. He found time also to assist in carrying on the public affairs of his community, and has served two terms as justice of the peace, besides being a member of the school board and council for many years. He has long been interested in Odd-fellowship and holds membership in Adelphi lodge, No. 114, Encampment No. 8:3, and the Daughters of Rebecca. In 1862, he was married to Mary A. Patterson, of Adelphi, by whom he had seven children : Josie, Estella, Lizzie, Retta, Howard, Stanley and Grace (deceased). The mother died in 1898, and Mr. Koch was married a second time, to Miss Grace Strous, of Pickaway county. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Koch is the present organist and has been the chorister for over forty years.
Adam Kramer. manufacturer of cigars and dealer in tobacco at No. 3 North Paint street, Chillicothe, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, August 29, 1833. His parents, Adam and Anna Marie (Schollmeyer) Kramer, came from the fatherland to Chillicothe when he was a lad of fourteen years. The father was an engineer in a distillery, where he lost his life by accident, when he was forty years old, and his wife died at the same age, but eight years later. Adam was the eldest of their children, and next to him came Martin, who is now living on a farm in Ross county. The third born was Jacob, who joined the Twenty-sixth Ohio during the civil war, was wounded and captured at Stone River, and being taken to prison died during his confinement there. John is employed in his brother Adam's business, and Elizabeth, the only sister, is now the wife of
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George Neal, living in Chillicothe. Adam Kramer attended school for eight years in his native country, receiving a good elementary education. After reaching Chillicothe he became a pupil at private schools, mostly those held at night, thus increasing his store of book learning. In Chillicothe he also learned the cigar-maker's trade with C. C. McCormick, a business man of the place long since dead. 'After a three years' apprenticeship, Mr. Kramer worked as a journeyman with Mr. McCormick until the latter's death, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Hangs and purchased the business. This they conducted together for about seven years, when the firm dissolved and each member started out for himself. Mr. Kramer has been in the business continuously for more than fifty years., and during all the time but the first five years he was proprietor. In 1875, his eldest son, Charles R., became a partner and since then the firm has been known as A. Kramer & Son. They have an extensive jobbing trade, manufacturing about 200,000 cigars per annum, though they have made as many as a million. Besides this they handle all kinds of tobaccos and smokers' sundries. They own a saleswagon which makes regular and continuous trips through several of the adjacent counties. In 1854, Mr. Kramer was married to Katherine Reiss, a German lady, who came alone to Chillicothe in early womanhood, her parents having died in Bavaria. She became the mother of six children, of whom Charles R., William H. and David A. are all engaged in their father's business. .Frederick B. is employed in the Central National bank as bookkeeper. Thomas died at the age of twenty-two, and Anna Marie, the eldest child, is the wife of J. P. Breinieg, who is employed in his father-in-law's factory. The mother died in 1895 at. the age of sixty-one. Mr. Kramer's politics are Democratic and his religious tendencies are Presbyterian. Though not. a communicant of any church, he is a cheerful giver and liberal supporter of all good causes. He has never been a seeker after office, preferring to devote his time to his business in which he has been successful.
Charles Kruger was born in Jackson county, Ohio, January 14, 1871. His father, William Kruger, a native of Germany, born about the year 1838, when twenty years old or thereabouts emigrated to the 'United States and located in what is now West Virginia but then a part of the old state. Not liking the prospects in that section, the young German determined to seek farther and in due time became a resident. of Jackson county, Ohio. There he became acquainted with Rebecca Fry, a native of that county,, and eventually made her his wife. In 1873, he removed to Ross county and settled in Union township, where his death soon afterwards occurred. During the civil war he served for three years in the Union army with a West Virginia regiment. The occupation of his entire manhood was farm-
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ing and to this he devoted all his time and energies. He had two sons, Charles and William, who live with their mother in Concord township, near Frankfort, to which place they removed several years ago. Charles, the eldest of the children, was educated in the common schools of Union township, adopted farming as his life occupation and has steadily followed it during all his working years. His brother William, who was born October 3, 1873, is engaged in the same honorable and independent calling.
Valentine Kuhn, a lately deceased citizen of Chillicothe, was a good representative of the busy and bustling German--American element which has contributed so much to the growth and development of the city. His parents, John and Johanna Kuhn, were experienced gardeners and followed that occupation in Chillicothe after their arrival there from Germany. They had a family of ten children, four of whom died in youth, the other six being: Mary, wife of George Geltz : Kate, wife of H. Hamm; and Lena, wife of William Wageman, all of Chillicothe; Letta. wife of F. Kindell, of Portsmouth. Ohio; Casper, of Chillicothe, and Valentine. Valentine Kuhn was born in Germany, December 9, 1849, and accompanied his parents on their trip across the ocean to New York and thence to the Ross county capital. He spent his youth in Chillicothe, attended the public schools and assisted his parents in their gardening work during the busy seasons until his arrival at the age of manhood. e secured employment as car inspector in the Baltimore &: Ohio railroad shops at Chillicothe and retained that position for twenty-one years. Meantime he had married Katie Wise, by whom be had four children : Emma, wife of George Hale, of Huntington township ; Johnnie. deceased : Willie, at home, and one that died in infancy. Their mother died March 20, 1881, and Mr. Kuhn was married November 15, 1881, to Caroline Hess, a lady of German parentage then resident in Chillicothe. She was born May 26, 1848, while her parents, Gottfried and Caroline Hess, were at the quarantine station in New York harbor. Later they came on to Ohio and settled in Chillicothe, where they embarked in gardening and trucking which was the business to which they had been trained. There were eight children in this family, of whom Gottleib is dead, the others being: Susan, wife of George Smith, of Chillicothe: Caroline, wife of Valentine Kuhn ; Mary, wife of James Weekley, of Portsmouth, Ohio ; John, Martin and Benjamin Hess, of Chillicothe; and Kate, wife of N. Rheinhart, of Portsmouth, Ohio. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Kuhn went to housekeeping on Fifth street in Chillicothe and lived at that place for twelve years, when they bought the tract of thirty-six acres where Mrs. Kuhn now resides. At the time they moved in, their residence was an old stone house, built over one hundred years ago and a landmark of that neighborhood. This relic of pioneer
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days was destroyed by fire in 1898, and later replaced with a substantial brick house, modern in style and equipment. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn had a family of four children: Carrie, Charles, Katie and Frank. Mr. Kuhn died October 9, 1898, since which time his widow has managed the business with success. In fact she has shown herself to be a woman of energy and excellent judgment and under her direction and personal work everything goes along with smoothness and regularity. She is an industrious and good woman, and enjoys the good will and esteem of all who know her.
John W. Lamb, a popular druggist at Kingston, Ohio, and one of the most enterprising citizens of that place, has had a varied career in different lines of business in two states and several counties. His father, Isaac Lamb, was a North Carolinian, reared in the strict moral atmosphere of the Society of Friends and deeply impressed with the peace-loving precepts of that famous religious body. It is hardly necessary to add that a man so educated would naturally hate the institution of slavery and everything connected with it, and this was what caused Isaac Lamb to leave the old North State and seek a hone in the land dedicated to freedom. e had married Catharine White in his native place and with her came to Clinton county, Ohio, in 1840, where she died ten years later. Subsequently Isaac Lamp married Mary Starbuck, of Clinton county, and went to northwestern Missouri, where his death occurred in 1896 at the age of eighty-four years. By his first marriage he left three children. J. B. Lamb, the second of these iii order of birth, now a merchant in Forest City, Mo., was a soldier in the civil war, and was captured at the battle of Monocacy and held in Libby prison for eleven months. Maria, only daughter of Isaac Lamb, is the wife of E. W. King, a cattleman in western Wyoming. John AV. Lamb, eldest of the children, was born in Clinton county, Ohio, April 9, 1844. After spending two years at Earlham college, he engaged in farming in Missouri and remained there until 1878. e then returned to Ohio, farmed for two years in Fayette county and later opened a drugstore at Milledgeville. Subsequently a removal was made to Cedarville, in Greene county, where the drug business was resumed and continued for six years. In September, 1898, Mr. Lamb came to Kingston where he reopened his stock of drugs and has since enjoyed an increasing and profitable trade. r. Lamb inherited his political views from his good old father, who was first a Whig, then an Abolitionist and later one of the charter members of the Republican party. e has never been an office-seeker but while a resident of Fayette county was treasurer of Jasper township for ten successive years and acted as road super-visor for four years in Missouri. e has long been enthusiastic in Odd fellowship, having been initiated into the order in 1878 at Washington Court House. In 1882, assisted by twelve others, he insti-
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tuted at Milledgeville, lodge No. 713, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Lamb was equally ardent in the cause as a member of the allied order known as Daughters of Rebecca, in which she held a state office for many years. This lady, whose maiden name was Alice Hall, was a native of Kentucky but reared in Fayette county, Ohio. She was married to Mr. Lamb March 4, 1868, and died in 1895, leaving two children, the oldest of whom, M. H. Lamb, was born in Missouri, December 20, 1868. e learned telegraphy and has worked as an operator since his sixteenth year, his wife, formerly Marguerite Martindale, being also an expert manipulator of the keys. Lizzie, only daughter of John W. Lamb. married T. S. Maddux, an attorney of Washington Court House.
William T. Landrum was born at Richmond Dale, Ross county, January 19, 1848. His father was Smith Landrum, born in 1820 in Greenbrier county, W. Va., who came to Jackson county, Ohio, with his parents, while a boy ; married Miss Lydia Acord, of Ross county, settled at Richmond Dale and conducted a mill at that place for twenty-five years. e subsequently removed to Pike county where he had charge of a grist mill for sixteen years, and died in 1892. His son, William T., was educated in the common schools and after he reached manhood chose farming as his vocation. To this honorable and independent business he has devoted his entire working life. He has never sought office but has served as township trustee and been a member of the school board for a great number of years. Mr. Landrum was married in 1870 to Priscilla McGuire, a native of Pike county, Ohio, who died in 1878, leaving one child, Harriet, now the wife of Charles Allen, of Franklin township. In 1879, Mr. Landrum took a second wife in the person of Mary Borst, of Chillicothe, Ohio. Four children are the fruits of this union: William H., Charles H., Hannah D. and Matilda. Mr. Landrum is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Robert H. Lansing, deputy recorder of Ross county, is a native of Chillicothe, born July 14, 1875. His parents were Horace C. and Angie (Somers) Lansing, both natives of Ross county. The father of Horace C. was Robert H. Lansing, in many ways a noted character and remarkable man, who was born at Albany, N. Y., March 8, 1818, his father being Jacob Lansing of the same city. Jacob was the son of Levinus Lansing, who emigrated from Holland, bringing in his ship as ballast the material from which his home in Albany was built. Robert H. Lansing came to Chillicothe February 22, 1838, and opened the drug business, which continued without interruption until his death, which covered a period of over sixty years. In various ways he was so identified with Chillicothe and her institutions as to be emphatically an "old timer." He and his wife united with the
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Episcopalian church in 1843 and continued active and zealous members all the rest of their lives, which in the husband's case was a period of nearly sixty years. e was a charter member of the first Odd Fellows lodge in Chillicothe and at. his death was the oldest Odd Fellow in the state of Ohio. e was also high in Masonry and served eighteen years as commander of the Knights Templar. Indeed, he. was universally known and as generously esteemed for his many excellent traits of character. The older citizens of the county will remember him as Dr. Lansing, he being a graduate in medicine from the old college at. Albany, N. Y. When his long, useful and honorable career was terminated by death on September 19, 1901, there was a feeling of universal bereavement and general sorrow throughout the whole community. His son, Horace C., was also a druggist, and spent his life in that business, mostly with his father. He died in Chillicothe in 1885 and his wife followed him to the grave in the succeeding year. In fact there was a rather unusual rate of mortality in the family about that time. The grandmother, as well as the father and mother and aunt of the subject of this sketch, all passed away within a few years of each other. Horace C. Lansing and wife left five children: Ella Somers. wife of Earle E. Shedd, a wholesale grocer in Columbus ; Bertha, who married Joseph B. Wood, an employe of the government at Columbus ; Marie, unmarried, in Chillicothe ; Robert H., fourth in order of birth ; Horace C., who has recently been employed in Mexico but has his home at Los Angeles. Cal. At the beginning of the Spanish--American war, Horace C. was a member of Company H, Seventeenth Ohio infantry, and being commissioned first lieutenant in the United States signal corps, he served the greater part. of his time in that branch of the army, during his two years in Cuba. Robert H. Lansing was educated in the Chillicothe city schools, but. before graduation left to accept a position in the freight office of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railway at Chillicothe. He held this place about three years, when he resigned to become secretary of the board of associated charities, since abandoned. Later, for about three years, Mr. Lansing was with William A. Wallace in the insurance business. While in this employment Mr. Wallace was elected city clerk, and when he afterward resigned, Mr. Lansing was appointed to fill the vacancy. After one year's service he was himself elected to the office in 1899 for a term of one year. Soon after retiring from the clerk's office, he was chosen deputy county recorder under J. L. Ratcliff, which position he now fills so acceptably. November 22, 1899, Mr. Lansing was married to Anna, daughter of Charles E. Hansel, of Chillicothe. He and wife belong to St. Paul's Episcopal church, of which his grandfather and namesake was so long a pillar and liberal contributor. Mr. Lansing is a vocalist of more than ordinary local
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note, being a singer in the church choir and prominent member of several musical societies.
Charles H. Larimore, secretary of the Union Coal company and prominently identified with the educational interests of Chillicothe, has an honorable ancestry leading back through Virginia to an origin in the "Emerald Isle." In 1760 three brothers, named James, William and Hugh Larimore, started from the north of Ireland to seek their fortunes in America. William located in Pennsylvania, Hugh sought a home in North Carolina, and James found an abiding place in that part of Virginia watered by the south branch of the Potomac. October 20, 1796, at Romney, Hampshire county, W. Va., a son was born to James Larimore, whom he christened Robert. When the British burned the national capitol in 1814, Robert Larimore was one of a number of volunteers who were sent to Washington as a relief expedition. What may have been his adventures is not stated in the family records, but it appears that he was back in Romney in time to marry Mary Smith, September 23, 1814. Ten years later he went down the rivers to try his chances in the rapidly developing state of Ohio, and on arrival found employment with the salt works in Muskingum county, then owned by lion. Thomas Ewing. About 1826 the contracts for building the Ohio canal were let, and Robert Larimore secured one at Nashport and another at Westfall. While at the last mentioned place, he frequently made trips to Chillicothe and during one of these he secured the services of Alfred Blake as tutor to his children. Mr. Blake remained with the family several years, afterward studied theology at Gambier and became assistant rector of Christ church, Cincinnati, later returned to Gambier to take charge of the Boys' school there, and completed his useful life in that city. After the death of his wife in 1831, Robert Larimore removed to Circleville. Ohio, where he went into partnership with a drygoods merchant named Finley, invested $5,000 in the business, and also built a flour mill. When the latter was ready for work, the store failed and the stock was disposed of at sheriff's sale, but a debt still remained for the liquidation of which the mill had to be sacrificed. August 23, 1832, Mr. Larimore married Mrs. Elizabeth Tate Evans, of Martinsburg, W. Va. She was a friend of the Rev. Alfred Blake, who, at the solicitation of Mrs. Larimore, who like himself was a stanch Episcopalian, succeeded in raising funds to build a church of that denomination in Circleville, to which Mr. Larimore contributed $100. In 1837, he removed to Piqua, where he secured contracts to do construction work on the Miami canal, but after several years, when Mr. Larimore was in debt to his many laborers and for supplies, the state suspended payment owing to lack of funds. Bonds were issued in lieu of cash, but they were unpopular and depreciated, Mr. Larimore being compelled to discount those paid
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him at a loss of $50,000. His second wife died in 1839. Two years later he went to Columbus, Ohio, invested $5,000 in an insurance and banking company of that city, and took $20,000 worth of stock in a bank at Circleville. Both these institutions failed and left Mr. Larimore almost penniless. March 26, 1844, he was married to Mrs. Susan Stoddard, a widow with one daughter named Amelia. The latter was the daughter of Dr. Joseph Stoddard, of Wellsburg, W. Va., the first Episcopal clergyman west of the Alleghany mountains. When the centennial of the first services conducted at Steubenville, Ohio, by Dr. Doddridge, was held in October, 1896, Mrs. Amelia Stoddard Larimore, his granddaughter, was present as the nearest living relative. In 1849, Mr. Larimore took charge of a forge owned by John Woodbridge near Bainbridge, Ross county, and conducted the same for six years. In 1855 he went to Chillicothe and had only become fairly established in the grain business when attacked by a severe cold from the effects of which he died February 27, 1856. He left a son and namesake who was born in Romney, W. Va., June 20, 1823, and accompanied his parents to Ohio in the following year. Subsequently he became a student at Kenyon college, at Gambier ; accompanied his family to Columbus when eighteen years old, and clerked in stores of that city until 1849. At the age of twenty-six he went to Cincinnati to accept a position as clerk in the postoffice and was married in 1851 to Amelia Stoddard, granddaughter of Dr. Joseph Doddridge. After five years' service in the Cincinnati postoffice he moved to Delphos, Ohio, where he clerked for a while in a store and in 1856 located at Chillicothe where he engaged in the grain business. Mr. Larimore served as township trustee several times and in 1873 was a candidate for county recorder on the Republican ticket but was defeated by his Democratic opponent. Mrs. Larimore died in December, 1898, leaving the following named children Mrs. Daisy Shepard, of San Antonio, Tex. ; Mrs. Evan Rupel, of Schooley's, Ross county ; Dudley T. Larimore, a druggist in New York city ; Frank C. Larimore, clerk in the treasury department at Washington, D. C. ; James D., clerk in St. Louis, Md.; Charles H, Chillicothe, Ohio ; at home, Mary and Reppa, the latter a teacher in the public schools. Charles H. Larimore, sixth of the living children, was born at Chillicothe, September 3, 1856, and when fifteen years old entered the employment of William T. McClintick, at that time proprietor of the coal company. This concern, although several changes in ownership and management have taken place, still does business at the corner of Bridge and East Water street, being now known as the Union Coal company. Mr. Larimore began with this corporation as office boy and has remained uninterruptedly since, going through various advancements until, in 1893, he became secretary and still holds that position. In the spring of 1895, Mr. Larimore was elected member of the city school board from the Fourth ward and, after an intermission of one term, was elected to the same
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position in 1899 and re-elected in 1901. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. November 6, 1877, he was married to Kate, daughter of George Hahn, who came to Chillicothe from Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Larimore have three children : Minnie, Ada and Charles Howard, Jr.
Cyrus Jasper Larrick, of Chillicothe, was born in Colerain township, Ross county, January 3, 1852. His parents were Robert and Civilla (May) Larrick, both natives of Ross county. The father was born in Colerain township November 25, 1827, spent his entire life there, as a successful fanner, and died March 15, 1899. The mother is still living with her youngest son on the old home farm. They had a family of six children, of whom three, Frank, Freeing and Walter, died in childhood. Of the living, Cyrus J. is the eldest; Rhoda is now Mrs. Jacob Bowsher and resides on a farm in Colerain township ; Emor married Nora Boecher, and lives on the old homestead. Cyrus J. Larrick was educated in his native township and was engaged in farming during the larger part of his life. March 1, 1901, he embarked in the hotel business at Chillicothe, as proprietor of the Colonial hotel, still retaining his farm of 100 acres in Colerain township. He conducted the hotel until January 31, 1902, upon which date he disposed of his hotel interests, but still remains a resident of Chillicothe. Mr. Larrick was married February 25, 1875, to Isabel, daughter of John and Louisa Withrow, of Colerain township, both deceased. Her mother was a Miss Binkley, of Maryland, and her father a native of Pennsylvania. r. and Mrs. Larrick are the parents of six children, of whom Florence, the eldest, is married to Floyd Luchart, a law student at Columbus ; Harry is the only son ; Lennie, Rosa, Christie and Helen are still at home. Mr. Larrick is an active member of the Knights of Pythias. Politically, he is an uncompromising Republican but. he has never been a seeker of public office. e has been successful in a financial way and can say truthfully that his possessions are largely the result of his own unaided efforts.
Josiah Wilson Lash, A. M., M. D., of Chillicothe, is a native of Athens county, Ohio, born November 17, 1852. His grandfather, William Lash, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio at a period sufficiently early to entitle him to rank among the pioneers of Athens county; served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and afterward was stricken down in the prime of life by the yellow fever then prevalent in epidemic form. The ancestor next remote, Jacob Lash, the father of William, emigrated from Germany to America about the middle of the eighteenth century; became a soldier during the Revolutionary war and according to family tradition served, when well advanced in years, in the contest of 1812. The family treasures as a precious
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heirloom a powder-horn, bearing date of 1775, which was carried by one of their ancestors during the trying seven years of the Revolutionary struggle. Abraham Lash, son of William, and father of Dr. Lash, was one of the children of the pioneers and his early life was an initiation into the hardships incident. to the period. Academical education, or "schooling," as it was called, was practically out of reach or obtainable only in crude and unsatisfactory form. The schools in Athens county were few and far between, usually presided over by some Scotch master or New England pedagogue of the type of Ichabod Crane, so humorously drawn in Irving's "Sketch Book." Such as the facilities were, however, Abraham Lash availed himself of them when not called for urgent work on the farm. He grew up thoroughly inured to frontier hardships of all kinds and to understand as well as to appreciate what it took to convert the Ohio wilderness into the blooming civilization of the present age. e adhered to husbandry as his life work and is one of the veteran farmers of Athens county, where he still resides, with his wife, Isabelle, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Brooks) McKinstry. Her father, a well-known farmer of Athens county, was of Scotch-Irish descent, his father, Robert McKinstry, having emigrated to America from Carrickfergus, Ulster county, Ireland, about 1785. The maternal grandfather, John Price, w as a native of Maryland and actively participated in the war of 1812. Mrs. Lash and her venerable husband furnish a fine sample of the strong men and women whose early struggles made possible the present advancement and progress. Dr. J. W. Lash is the eldest of their six children. e received his early education in the district schools of his clay, somewhat improved over those of his immediate ancestors, but still leaving much to he desired. At an early period he had made up his mind to become a physician, but preparatory to professional studies, entered the Ohio State university, from which he was graduated in 1875 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later the same institution conferred upon him the higher scholastic title of Master of Arts. Immediately after leaving college, he began the study of medicine at Columbus, Ohio, and in 1878 completed the course prescribed by the medical college of that city. As a valuable post-graduate experience, Dr. Lash practiced for one year at the hospital for the insane at Athens, after which he located in Chillicothe and has made that city ever since the theater of his operations. From this central point his practice radiates in all directions over a wide area of territory adjacent to Chillicothe. The last test of a physician's qualifications--success in the treatment of diseases--may be applied to Doctor Lash without hesitation, as his list of cures has been both numerous and decisive. But the Doctor's activities are not confined to his medical practice, but reach to all the duties of citizenship. The list of professional societies to which he belongs and in whose workings he takes
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an active part, is extensive and important. He is a member of the Ross County Medical society, the Ohio State Medical society, the American Medical association and the American Academy of Medicine. For years he has been a close student, an extensive reader and a close observer, which qualities have made him one of the best posted men in the medical profession. In July, 1893, he was appointed pension examiner for Ross county, and upon the meeting of the board he was elected president of that body, which position he held for six years, commencing in the last term of President Cleveland and continuing two years under the administration of President McKinley. e is a director of the Citizens National bank, a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery of Chillicothe; is also an Odd Fellow, Elk, Knight of Pythias, Knight of the Ancient Essenic Order and member of the Sunset club, a literary organization of high standing. Politically the Doctor has been a Democrat all his life and a Gold Democrat since 1896. By reason of the patriotic services of his ancestors in the war for independence, he is eligible to membership in the "Sons of the Revolution."
William F. Lavery, deceased, was in his day one of the esteemed' citizens and well-to-do farmers of Ross county. He was born in Pennsylvania, but in 1821, when only three years old, was brought to Ohio by his father, John Lavery. The latter, who was a native of Ireland, settled in Buckskin township where he engaged in farming and so continued until the end of his days. William F. Lavery followed in the footsteps of his progenitor and devoted his life to farming and stock-raising. In this peaceful pursuit he enjoyed a happy, though uneventful, existence, until the time of his death which occurred July 12, 1874. In February. 18.53, he bad married Mary J., daughter of James Murray, a native of Pennsylvania, who was one of the earliest settlers of Buckskin township. Mr. and Mrs. Lavery became the parents of eight children: Ella M. married C. D. Chatman, of Highland county, and died in October, 1889; Anna J. is the wife of Will A. Arnott, of Highland county; Emma is dead and Martha M. is at home with her mother ; William F. is in business at Kansas City, Mo. ; John T. and Fannie R. are at home and James M. is dead. The mother and her daughters are members of the Presbyterian church at South Salem.
Captain William Vickars Lawrance, of Chillicothe, is a native of Greene county, Ohio, born November 8, 1834. His parents were John B. and Amelia (Vickars) Lawrance, the former of New York and the latter of Maryland, who came to Ohio when young and met and married in this State. John B. Lawrance was a delegate to the
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first Republican convention that met at Buffalo, N. Y. He died in Greene county in 1872, his wife surviving him until January, 1880. Out of their family of eleven children, four are still living. Capt. W. V. Lawrance grew up on a farm and was educated at Cedarville and Antioch college, Ohio. After leaving college he studied law with Judge Barlow, of Xenia, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. He had hardly time to get a foothold in the practice of his profession before the war clouds, which had long been hanging over the land, burst in all their fury. Early in 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Ohio volunteer infantry, for the three months' service, and afterward he re-enlisted in the Sixth independent company of Ohio cavalry. This was attached to the Third New York cavalry as Company L, and with it he served until May, 1863, when he resigned on account of ill-health. He again enlisted in Company M, of the Eighth Ohio cavalry, with which he served until January 11, 1865, when the regiment was captured at Beverly , Va. e was a prisoner in Libby prison until about the 20th of March and was discharged from the army at the close of the war. He took part in the battles of Kingston and Goldsboro, Liberty and Beverly, Va., and others; was second lieutenant in rank, and also served on General Foster's staff as provost marshal. After the war he was assistant United States assessor during Grant's administration, and in the Ohio department of the Grand Army of the Republic he has been honored with the office of assistant quartermaster-general. March 18, 1864, Captain Lawrance was married to Annie C. Walker, daughter of Stephen Shelton Walker, a native of Loudoun county, Va., whose mother, Lettia Humphreys, was the daughter of Colonel Humphreys, aide to General Washington during the Revolutionary war. The family is related to the Lees of Virginia. Mrs. Lawrance's grandfather Walker came to Jackson county, Ohio, in 1825 with seven children, of whom the only one now living is her father, Stephen Shelton, who married in 1835 and lived with his wife sixty-one years, she dying in 1896. They had one child besides Annie C. Captain Lawrance and his wife have had two children, one of whom died in infancy. The other is Herbert Walker Lawrance, born May 22, 1888. Captain Lawrance has resided at Chillicothe since 1868. He is a man of literary tastes and has gained considerable distinction as an author. Among his books that have been published may be mentioned "Ellina," a book of poems ; "Story of Judeth" or "A Tale of Bethlehem ;" a book of sonnets entitled "The Loves of Laos ;" a novel, "Defeated but Victor Still," or "Heirs of Fonca Estate ;" a story of labor entitled "Under Which Master," or "The Story of the Long Strike at Coverdale," and "Stonewalls and Trenches." Cap. thin Lawrance is an accomplished scholar, well informed on current topics and a very companionable gentleman.
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William H Leedom, residing near Frankfort, is a native of Adams county, Ohio, born August 25, 1856. He was educated in the schools of his native county during his early youth, but was prevented from reaching the higher courses. When he was still quite young he met with the greatest of calamities of childhood by the loss of his mother. After her death, he was brought by his father to Ross county where, however, they remained lint. a short time. The boy then went to Pickaway county, where he remained a couple of years, after which he accompanied his father to Illinois. That state was his home for five years, at the end of which time he came back to Ross county where he has ever since resided. Farm work has been his only occupation throughout life. August. 27, 1880, he was married to Anna Ward, daughter of Nathan Ward, an old citizen of Ross county. They have seven children, whose names are Stella, Arthur, Lennie, Blanche, Hazel, Ward and Clark. Mr. Leedom is a member of the Methodist church.
John H. Lewis, an efficient and popular attache of the Chillicothe fire department, is a native of Pike county, Ohio, the date of his birth being January 16, 1862. He grew up there, attended school a few terms, and when still a youth found it. necessary to work by the day as a means of livelihood. Being ambitious and industrious he worked willingly at any honest employment that could be secured and continued this irregular kind of occupation until 1887. In that year he removed to Ross county and secured a position as blacksmith finisher in the factory of the Chillicothe buggy and wagon company. He remained thus employed until February, 1900, when he was appointed driver of Engine No. 2 by the board of fire commissioners of Chillicothe, and since then he has discharged the duties of this responsible place to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. In September, 1885, Mr. Lewis was married to Julia Cramblit, daughter of John Cramblit, an old resident of Ross county. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have three bright children, Floyd, Mabel and Ethel, and the family are attendants at the Methodist Episcopal church.
Samuel C. Lightner, M. D., a popular practitioner of Kingston and vicinity, made a creditable addition to the medical corps of Ross county after his settlement within its confines. The family is immediately of Pennsylvania but more remotely of German origin. The founder of the American branch was George W. Lightner, who came from Germany to Pennsylvania about 1765 and spent the remainder of his days in that state. He left a son and namesake who married Mary Wood and became the father of Micajah C. Lightner, who was born and still resides in Greene county, Pa. Micajah married Mary J., daughter of Peter Ferrel, and by her had four children, all of whom are living. Dr. S. C. Lightner, one of the three sons, was
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born in Pennsylvania, April 10, 1861. He attended the Waynesburg (Pa.) college, taught school for a short time and then began the study of medicine with S. B. Lightner, of Sabina, Ohio. In due course he matriculated at the Ohio Medical college in Cincinnati, where he received his degree of M. D. with the class of 1886. His first venture in the line of his profession was at Keene, Ohio, where he remained three years and then went to Frazeysburg, in Muskingum county. Later, in 1891, he came to Hallsville, Ross county, where he did well and built up a good practice in the town and country districts contiguous to his headquarters ; but in the spring of 1902, desiring a location in a larger place, he removed to Kingston, Ohio, where he is meeting with gratifying success. The Doctor belongs to the Ross County Medical society and is a welcome member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Adelphi, and Hallsville camp, No. 9,543, of the Modern Woodmen of America. August 28, 1889, he was married to Maggie E., daughter of William and Catherine Beall, natives of Coshocton county resident at Kingston, Ohio. They have one son, Russell E., born August 28, 1890.
John C. Lighttle was born in Ross county, Ohio, August 31, 1863. His father, Samuel M. Lighttle, was born in August, 1841, near Massieville ; learned the cooper's trade from his father, Jacob, which with farm work made up the principal part of his life's occupation; attended the district school in youth and when he reached seventeen, engaged in work on the farm by the month. In 1862, Samuel M. Lighttle married Adelina Gibson, but still continued farm work on wages until about 1867, when he rented a place and began operations on his own account. He was a member of the Ohio National Guard in Huntington township and in 1864 was called out. in the hundred days' service ; was mustered into the Seventy-third Ohio infantry at Camp Dennison and served his full time without. accident. After living on different rented farms for several years he finally purchased the 141 acres where his son now resides, and followed general farming until his death, which occurred on May 21, 1888. He left four children, John C., subject of this sketch ; Jacob A. (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), and Edith. After her husband's death, Mrs. Lighttle continued to conduct the farm with the assistance of her sons, John and Jacob. About twenty months after the latter died there was a sale and the mother and daughter moved to Chillicothe where they now reside. John C. Lighttle remained at home until he was twenty-two, assisting on the farm in summer and going to school in winter. After reaching manhood he made a trip to Harper, Kan., remaining about one year, and then returned to Ohio, where he worked the farm for a while and then went back west. His sojourn this time was cut short by news of the death of his father. which necessitated a return to Ohio. e remained in Ross county
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about a year, went west again and a few months later returned home and stayed but. a short time, then returned to Kansas and remained there until his brother's death. He then returned home again and worked for the estate by the month for about twenty months. September 2, 1895, he was married to Rhoda Chesnut, of Chillicothe, and they went to housekeeping in Twin township where they now reside. They have two children, Herbert A. and Naomi E. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bourneville.
George Litter, a prosperous contractor and builder of Chillicothe, has been one of the factors in the industrial development of that city. He is a son of Sebastian Litter, born June 23, 1816, in Germany, where he grew to manhood, married Catherine Bauer and came with her to America about 1846, locating at Chillicothe, where he embarked in the business of contracting and building, prosecuting that calling actively until 1860, and then engaged in farming. After eight years spent in agricultural pursuits he returned to the city and his old calling as a contractor, to which he devoted the six subsequent years and then abandoned it permanently. Assisted by his sons he took charge of 1,300 acres of land and devoted nine years to its management and cultivation, retiring from business entirely in 1884 and locating in Chillicothe. There his life terminated in May, 1901, as the result of a paralytic stroke received the year previous, his wife's death having occurred in 1892. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom seven are living: Jacob, foreman in a large terra-cotta works at Pittsburg; Catherine, wife of John Sauer of Farmland, Ind.; Mary, wife of V. K. Kelley of Bainbridge, O.; Charles, resident of Solon, O.; William and Henry, of Chillicothe ; and George Litter, the subject of this sketch. The latter was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, December 6, 1860, was educated in the city schools, and upon reaching manhood followed in his father's footsteps as a contractor and builder. Until a year or two ago he was also engaged in manufacturing brick, which he used in his own business or supplied to the trade, but latterly has confined himself to contracting and structural work. Mr. Litter is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and holds the office of councilman from the fifth ward of Chillicothe, to which he was elected in April, 1901, for a term of two years. In 1886 he was married to Christina, daughter of Hartman Griesheimer, a native of Germany who established himself in Chillicothe when a young man. Of the three children born to r. and Mrs. Litter only two are living, Ada T. and Helen Irene.
Thomas O. Little, a successful raiser of thoroughbred cattle and hogs, is a native of Ross county and owns the farm in Green town-
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ship which has been the homestead of the family for several generations. In the early part of the nineteenth century Hugh Little and his wife Catharine (Rigby) Little, came to Green township, then part of the wilds of Ross county, and set to work after the pioneer fashion to make a home in the wilderness. Everything of course had to be evolved under the greatest difficulties, but they proved equal to the emergencies. Hugh Little burned the brick which was used in building the dwelling-house and in the course of time, by dint of hard and continuous work, had quite a comfortable residence for those days. e set out what was perhaps the first orchard in the township and in other ways showed himself to be a strong-minded and progressive man. The place thus carved out of the wilderness by these pioneers was afterwards known as the Gregg farm. In 1818 he disposed of the Gregg property and purchased eighty acres about one mile east of it, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying September 17, 1825. His wife survived him many years, and passed away June 7, 1848. They had four children, among the number being James, who was born in Green township, March 2, 1817, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Jones) Orr, mentioned elsewhere in this work. James Little was a farmer by occupation and made a success of the business, being at the time of his death owner of 318 acres of good land. He was a man of prominence in his community, Whig and Republican in politics, and captain of militia at the time of the Mexican war. He died March 23, 1882, and the death of his wife occurred August 9, 1900. There were five children born to them, Benjamin, now living in Iowa; Mary, the widow of Jesse L. Withgott, residing in Kingston ; Kate S., wife of Joseph Hurst, of Williamsport, Ohio ; Fletcher and Thomas, the two latter residing on the old home place. Thomas O. Little, the youngest child, was born in Green township, March 29, 1856, on the farm of which he subsequently became the owner and where he now resides. Like his father and grandfather before him he adhered to the soil as a means of livelihood and has spent all of his adult life in its cultivation. He has improved the homestead place in various ways by the application of modern methods and added considerably to the value of his holdings by up-to-date and progressive management. Realizing at an early period the advantage of improved stock, Mr. Little soon had his farm supplied with the best varieties. e made a specialty of the Poll-Durham and Shorthorn cattle and the Poland-China hog. Mr. Little has devoted much time and care to the breeding and feeding of his fine cattle and swine and has contributed his share towards enlarging the volume as well as the celebrity of Ross county's live stock industry.
Ephriam Lockwood and his good wife Cinderilla are one of those interesting couples who enjoy special esteem not only on account of
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their personal worth but as links between the present and the far distant past. They are thought to be the oldest married people in Ohio, having lived together as man and wife for sixty-two years and at their present residence for fifty-nine years. Their long lives cover almost the entire period of Ohio's history as a State and embrace all of the tremendous development of the United States which has occurred since Missouri was admitted into the Union. The father of the venerable subject of our sketch was William Lockwood, born near Wheeling, W. Va., in 1786. He married Sarah Hall, a Maryland woman, with whom he came to Ohio about 1814, leased a farm in Fairfield county and lived by its cultivation until 1840. In that year he purchased a small tract of land in Huntington township, Ross county, on which he located and lived until the death of his wife, and subsequently removed to Massieville, where he died in 1861. His children were named in order of birth: Elizabeth, Mary, Ephraim, Robert, James, William and Lucretia, who became the wife of James Kelley, of Missouri. Lucretia, William (of Indiana) and Ephraim are the only ones living. Ephraim Lockwood was born near Rushville, Fairfield county, Ohio, January 24, 1818. In his boyhood days the "old log schoolhouse" with its stick chimney, puncheon floor and slab seats was the only avenue to book learning and was justly regarded as the advanced guard of civilization. The custom was for the farmers' boys to attend school during the bad weather of winters and assist with the outdoor work at other seasons. Little more than the rudiments of learning could be obtained in this way but it proved a sufficient equipment for many of the strongest and best citizens of Ohio, included among the number being Ephraim Lockwood. Among the neighbors of the Lockwoods in Fairfield county was a family named King, and one of the members of this household was a brighteyed girl called Cinderilla. To her, March 8, 1840, Ephraim Lockwood was married and she has been to him a loving and devoted companion during the more than sixty-two years which have since supervened. After his marriage, Mr. Lockwood located in Ross county, where he followed his trade as a stone mason for some years until he engaged in farming as a permanent occupation. To this, the noblest and most independent of all pursuits, Mr. Lockwood has devoted all the energies of a long and laborious life, fifty-nine years of which have been spent at the place where he now resides in Scioto township. Now in his eighty-fourth year he is in full possession of all his faculties, a fine sample of the old-time pioneer citizen, while his wife is as bright and active as most women at half her age. Mr. Lockwood was first a Whig in politics and afterward a Republican. His first vote was cast for William Henry Harrison after the famous "hard cider and log cabin" campaign of 1840, and it is a boast of Mr. Lockwood that from that time on he has never missed a fall election. He has never
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sought office, however, the only official position held by him being that of school director. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood have had nine children: Sarah C., the first born, died in infancy; Theodore E. resides in Delaware, Ohio ; John W. died in the civil war; Lyman G. lives at Clarksburg, West Virginia ; Lavina M. is the wife of John Keeton, Blanchester, O.; DeWitt is a resident of Lattyville, O.; William F. is living at Upper Sandusky, O. ; Orin S. and Iona E. are dead. The parents have been devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church from their early years, he having joined when fifteen and she when seventeen years old.
Frank Long, farmer, stock-raiser and fruit-grower in Huntington township, bears a name widely distributed from an early period in Ross county. The progenitors of the family were among the first arrivals from Pennsylvania and there was little in the surroundings to attract a farmer when John Long and his wife halted in the confines of the then new and inchoate county. The soil, indeed, was there, rich and fruitful as it has ever been, and the task of clearing away the superincumbent forest was such as to deter the stoutest heart. But in time all difficulties were surmounted by this hardy breed of men, among whom none were more resolute than the ancestors of the Longs. The first of the name to arrive left a son and namesake who married Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas Streevey, by whom he had eleven children. Of these, George W., Samuel P., John, Allen T., Delila, Elizabeth, Martha and Catherine are dead; the three surivivors are Ethelinda, wife of William Robinson, of Butler county, Ohio; ester A., wife of N. Ward, and Henry F., who is now eighty-three years old and lives with the last mentioned sister. The father was industrious and a good manager, met with success in most of his dealings and accumulated a considerable body of land in Huntington township. Allen T. Long, fourth of the children in order of birth, remained at home until his marriage to Catherine Roush, a native of Adams county, Ohio. They lived for a short time in one of the rude log cabins then so common, but later moved to the old home place, where they remained several years, after which they made their home with their son. The father was a man of many good qualities and was quite popular in his community, being called on to fill various township offices. He died August 10, 1892, when sixty-two years old, and his widow now resides in Chillicothe. They had five children : Angeline, wife of George W. Miller, of Springfield township; Henry C., deceased; Charlotte, wife of Charles Miller, of Springfield township ; Clara, wife of Fritz Seeling, of Huntington township ; and Frank. The latter was born in Huntington township, Ross county, Ohio, October 17, 1865, and remained at home until August 20, 1900, when he was married to Fannie E. Moore, born and bred in Pike county, and daughter of
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William T. and Rachel Moore. He located on the farm where he has since resided and is extensively engaged in fruit-growing, besides the business of stock-raising and general agriculture. Mr. Long is one of the popular men of his township and that he is trustworthy in a business way is shown by the fact that he has been called on to fill important public offices. He has served as trustee of the township, is now a valued member of the school board and in 1901 was elected county infirmary director. e is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John L. Long, of Huntington township, horticulturist and general farmer and stockraiser, is descended from one of the early settlers of Ross county. His great-grandfather was a Pennsylvanian and, though the exact date of his arrival has not been preserved in the family records, it is known that he appeared on the scene in what is now called "an early day." The first-comer brought with him a son named John, who married Elizabeth Thomas, of Ross county, settled with her on a small place in Huntington township and eventually became a prosperous farmer. Possessed of industry and being a. good manager he steadily accumulated property, until at the time of his death he owned over 400 acres of land, now known as Bishop Hill. Of his eleven children only three are living : Ethelinda, wife of William Robinson of Butler county, O.; ester, wife of N. Ward, of Huntington township ; and Henry F., living with last mentioned, aged 83 years. The list of the dead includes George W., Samuel P., John W., Allen T., Catherine, Delila, Elizabeth and Martha. Samuel P. Long, second of this large family of children, was born in Huntington township, Ross county, December 3, 1821, and remained at the parental home until early manhood. October 11, 1849, he was married to Elizabeth Ann Roush, a native of Adams county, and they began housekeeping on the farm now owned by their son. When this young couple "settled down," as the phrase goes, it was in a rather unpretentious manner, their house being one of those rude log structures of the time, poorly furnished and with no out-buildings of consequence. In the course of years, however, industry and good management put an entirely different face on affairs and improved this place with a fine new dwelling, substantial barn, stables, fencing and all the other adjuncts of an up-to-date country homestead. Samuel P. Long and wife removed to Twin township about 1860, but. after residing there two years returned to the old home place in Huntington township. A year or two later they went to Chillicothe and were engaged in the hotel business for fifteen years, after which they relocated on their Huntington township farm and there spent the remainder of their days, the father dying at sixty-five and the mother when sixty-nine years old. Their five children, as named in order of birth, were Moses R., John L, Charles F.,
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Philip R. and David S. John L. Long was born in Huntington township, Ross county, Ohio, August 12, 1853, on the farm where he at present resides. He remained with his parents until they died, after which he lived with his brother Charles F. until the latter's death, and since then has purchased the other heir's interests and now owns and manages the farm. There are 125 acres of land in this tract, which Mr. Long cultivates in the usual way but devotes considerable time to growing the various small fruits suitable to that latitude. Mr. Long has remained single throughout life. His younger brother, Charles F. Long, was married September 15, 1887, to Ellen W., daughter of Charles and Clarissa M. Caldwell, of Scioto township. He died April 2, 1898, since which time, as previously stated, John L. Long has superintended affairs and successfully carried on the farming operations.
John W. Lough, a substantial farmer and esteemed citizen of the Lyndon (Ohio) locality, is a native of Pendleton county, W. Va. He was reared and educated there, being a boy about seventeen years of age when the civil war was begun by the memorable events in Charleston harbor. In 1862, Mr. Lough enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fifth regiment Virginia infantry, with which command he participated in some of the most stirring campaigns and bloodiest battles of the civil war. Notable among these were the engagements at McDowell, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg and Fredericksburg. On the morning of May 5, 1864, during the battle of the Wilderness, he was captured and afterward was held as prisoner at Point Lookout and Elmira, N. Y., not being exchanged until the close of the war. Counting the time spent in prison, Mr. Long's military career extended over a period of three years. Almost immediately after his release from prison, Mr. Lough came to Ohio and settled in Ross county. In 1870, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Washington Mains, born near South Salem. The Mains family is one of the oldest in Ross county, being founded in 1812 by settlers from Loudoun county, Va. Mr. and Mrs. Lough have six children. Bert, the eldest son, holds a position in the Commercial bank of Greenfield ; George is a farmer in Fayette county; Ada is the wife of Dr. Arthur Parrett, of Anderson, Ind. ; Washington, Charles and Margaret are at home. Mr. Lough's life occupation has been that of fanning and stock-raising, in which he has achieved a fair degree of success. His affections are centered entirely upon his family and home life and he has never sought connection with clubs or societies of any kind. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church at Pisgah and for about six years has occupied the position of elder.
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John C. Lowry, now one of Huntington township's quiet and unostentatious farmers, bears a name which stands high up on Ross county's roll of honor during the tremendous days of 1861-65. A glance over the roster of privates in Company F, Sixty-third regiment Ohio volunteer infantry will disclose the name of Lowry five times repeated. They stand for five brothers, sons of Washington Lowry, who enlisted in 1861 when the eldest was under thirty and the youngest only fourteen years old. Few families had so many representatives at the front in those stirring times, and none can boast a prouder record as the result of their children's achievements in behalf of their country's cause. John C. Lowry, one of these gallant brothers, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, September 5, 1836, and the local histories show that his grandfather was a member of the very vanguard at the first. appearance of the pioneers. He grew up in his native city and was given a good business education, but his life was uneventful until the great civil war furnished him, as it did so many others, the opportunity to show what metal he was made of. The Old Sixty-third Ohio, which Mr. Lowry joined October 23, 1861, was one of the "crack" organizations of the western army. It was formed by the consolidation of two battalions of recruits, the Twenty-second and Sixty-third, the former being recruited at Chillicothe and consisting of Companies F, G, H, I and K. The organization was completed January 23, 1862, a few weeks afterward moved to Paducah, Kentucky, and from there joined the army of the Mississippi at Commerce, Missouri, under Maj.-Gen. John Pope. From that on it was a part of the Ohio brigade, with which it was engaged in all its subsequent marches and engagements. Among the prominent battles in which it participated were those at Iuka, Corinth, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Resaca, siege of Atlanta, besides skirmishes and minor engagements innumerable. The Sixty-third, as a special honor, was authorized by general orders to inscribe upon its banners the names of the following battles : New Madrid, Island No. 10, Iuka, Corinth (October 4), Atlanta and Savannah. At the battle of Corinth, above mentioned, Mr. Lowry was one of the only two of the whole company who escaped being killed or wounded. In 1863 he was promoted to the rank of orderly sergeant and this was followed later by a commission as first lieutenant. At the grand review in Washington, after all was over and the mighty armies of the Union from the East and West were passing for the last time before their generals, Lieutenant Lowry had the honor of commanding a platoon of men. July 8, 1865, he received his honorable discharge from the service and hastened to his Ohio farm never again to leave it for any length of time. Like the famous Roman dictator, Cincinnatus, he knew how to lay down the sword and resume the plow, and since the war he has peacefully cultivated his ninety-five acres of land, enjoying the general respect of his
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neighbors. December 2, 1860, Mr. Lowry was married to Mary Vanscoy and they have had the following named children: John, James, Washington D. ; Laura, wife of John Hoffner, and Lizzie S., wife of Thomas Smith. Mr. Lowry is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, has served as clerk of the township and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic.