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730 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.

William Alton, a well-known business man of Washington township, Belmont county, was born in Fayette county, Penn., February 22, 1833. His parents were natives of the same state, and were born about 1800. Mr. Alton was reared in Pennsylvania, and after obtaining his education he learned the trade of carpentry, to which he

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gave his entire attention until February 1, 1889, when he purchased the stock of goods owned by J. W. Bright, at Crab Apple station on the B., Z. & C. railroad, and here he is now engaged in business, conducting a general store, which has a considerable and profitable patronage. He also holds the office of postmaster, and agent for the railroad company at that place, and agent for the Adams Express company. During the war of the rebellion he did gallant service for his country, enlisting on August 1, 1862, in Company H, Fifteenth West Virginia infantry, and serving until his discharge June 25, 1865. He was married August 24, 1858, to Mary E. Rhodes, who was born September 9 1833, daughter of Harmon and Anna (Eller) Rhodes, natives of Frederick county, Md. By this marriage he had five sons and one daughter, of whom survive: Harmon, George, Harry, Albert, Howard and Effie. Mr. Alton and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Notable among the business men of Washington township during the half century just passed was Alexander Armstrong, who was born in that township March I 1, 1813. He was the son, of Thomas and Ruth Armstrong, the former of whom was born in Ireland March 17, 1790, and the latter was born August 24, 1792. Alexander engaged in business as the proprietor of a general store at Armstrong's Mills, in 1839, and at the same time was proprietor of a flouring-mill at that place and extensively engaged in farming. He continued to be engaged in these vocations until his death, February 21, 1884. He was married January 1, 1839, to Elizabeth Welch, who was born February 21, 1819, and to their union were born seven sons and one daughter, all of whom survive. His wife died December 21, 1883. C. W. Armstrong, one of the sons of the above, was born where he now resides, December 5, 1841. He had not long passed his school days when the rebellion broke out, and on the 17th of December, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, under Capt. Poorman, Forty-third Ohio regiment. He was commissioned sergeant August 1, 1864, and on February 13, 1865, was promoted captain, in which rank he was mustered out July 13, 1865. Among the important battles in which he was engaged were New Madrid, Mo.; Iuka and Corinth, Miss., Decatur, Ala.; Resaca, the siege of Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack Creek, Ga., the siege of Atlanta, Savannah, Ga., and River's Bridge, S. C. On returning home he was occupied on his father's farm until the spring of 1866, when he went to Glencoe, Ohio, and there was engaged in mercantile business four years. While there he was married, July Ii, 1867, to Sarah Elliott, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Snodgrass) Elliott. She was was born in Westmoreland county, Penn. August 22, 1845. In 1870, Mr. Armstrong returned to Armstrong's Mills, and was engaged in his father's store until 1882, when he purchased and took control of the flouring-mill and part of the farm which he has since conducted. He is an active and enterprising business man, and highly regarded for his integrity. In the affairs of the community he is active and influential, and has been chosen to fill some of the most important offices of the township. He

732 - HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.

is one of the charter members of Hess post, G. A. R., No. 595, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal sichurch. To this marriage six children have been born, of whom the following survive: Frank B., Lizzie Estella, Bessie B., Harry M. and Gertrude.

Julius Armstrong, a well-known merchant of Armstrong's Mills, Washington township, Belmont county, was born near his present place of residence, April 6, 1840. He is a son of Alexander Armstrong, a sketch of whom appears above. He received his education in the common schools of the township, and at the age of twenty-two years enlisted in Company F, Fifty-second Ohio regiment, with which he served to the close of the war, rising from the ranks to the position of first lieutenant of his company. On returning from the army he remained at home a short time, and was then engaged in business with his brother, C. W., at Glencoe, Ohio, for four years. Thence he went to Bellaire, Ohio, and was engaged in the lumber and glass trade until 1884. At the latter date he removed to his present home and engaged in general merchandise, his business at this time. He is an energetic and successful business man, and highly esteemed by the public. Mr. Armstrong is a member of I. O. O. F. lodge at Bellaire, and the G. A. R. post at Armstrong's Mills, and he and wife are members of the Methodist church. He was married December 22, 1870, to S. E. Warren, of New Albany, Ind., daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth Warren, of that city. Four children have been born to them: Walter W., who died December 4, 1881; Edna, Clara and Warren A.

L. W. Armstrong, an enterprising and popular young citizen of Washington township, Belmont county, was born May 26, 1856, the son of Alexander Armstrong, who is mentioned above. He was reared in the vicinity of his present residence and received his early education in the common schools of the township. Subsequently he entered Scio college, where he completed his education, after which he entered his father's store and remained as clerk one year. At the end of that time he formed a partnership with his brother, Z. Armstrong, in farming and stock-raising, and they continued this association until September 1, 1889. Mr. Armstrong was married October 16, 1884, to Mattie Armstrong, who was born August 22, 1853, the daughter of James W. and Sarah E. (Mooney) Armstrong. Her father was born in 1823, and died in 1A. He had five sons and six daughters, of whom all survive. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Job Hall, a prominent citizen of Washington township, and one of the old residents of the county, was born in Richland township, about two miles from St. Clairsville, Ohio, April 20, 1824. He is the grandson of Dennis Hall, one of the pioneers of Belmont county, who was born in Loudon county, Va., and with his wife Rachel, a native of the same county, and their children then born, came to Ohio, and settled on Wheeling creek in 1805. Rachel- Hall died in 1832. Their son, William, the father of the Subject of this sketch, was born in Loudon county, January 9, 1795, and died January 13, 1870. In early man-

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hood he was married to' Nancy Dillon, who was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1800. Her parents, Job and Catherine (Colly) Dillon, were also among the old settlers of Belmont county, settling in the wilderness, and taking a leading part in the development 0f the country's material and social development. In the primitive log school-houses, with greased paper windows and slab seats, the parents of Mr. Hall, and he also, were educated, and he is able to recall many interresting incidents of the early days. He followed farming until thirty years old when his father sold out and removed to Iowa, after which Mr. Hall learned the carpenter's trade and that of boss millwright, which he still follows. He is prominent as a contractor and builder, and has built nearly all the school-houses in Washington township and many in Smith, Wayne and Richland. For a number of years he manufactured coffins, and in August, 1887, he and his son, Omar, engaged in business as undertakers at Armstrong's Mills. Mr. Hall was married November 19, 1849, to Elizabeth Hendershot, who was born October 13, 1824, daughter of Daniel B. and Mary (Brewster) Hendershot, the former of whom was born in New Jersey, in 1797, and died in 1881, and the latter of whom was born in 1801. They had sixteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have had two sons and three drughters, of whom survive Eunice, Omar, Mary C. and Viola. Mr. Hall has served as trustee of Washington township several terms. He was one of the charter members of the Odd Fell0ws lodge, of Armstrong Mills. Mrs. Hall is a member of the Christian church.

Alonzo 0. Hall, of Washington township, Belmont county, was born January 4, 1855, the son of Job and Elizabeth Hall, above mentioned. He was reared in his native township of Washington, and educated in the common schools. When fourteen years of age he began to assist his father in contracting and building, and in the following year began to learn the carpenter's trade, which has since been his occupation. He is also a partner now with his father in the undertaking business and contracting as mentioned above. Mr. Hall was married August 4, 1878, to Sevilla Cross, who was born October 29, 1859, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Gates) Cross. Her father was born October 7, 1827, and her mother, August 4, 1840. Mrs. Hall is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Armstrong's Mills. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have had the following children: Minnie L., born February 12, 1879; Melvin A., born June 4, 1880, died December 28, 1883; Frank D., born May 7, 1882; Grover Cleveland, born October 4, 1884, and Harvey B.,born March 27, 1887.

S. T. Hoover, proprietor of the planing-mill at Armstrong's Mills, Belmont county, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, near where is now the town of Cameron, June 14, 1852. His mother, Elinor Hoover, who was born in Monroe county, Ohio, May 7, 1819, removed to Washington township, Belmont county, when her son was a boy. He resided here until 1870, receiving his education in the public schools, and then removed to Missouri, where he remained three years, engaged in various occupations, a considerable portion of the time in a

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grist- and saw-mill. J. W. Shipman returned to Zanesville, Ohio, and purchased a portable saw-mill, which Mr. Hoover had charge of as boss sawyer until his return to Ohio, in February, 1873. He worked at the carpenter's trade, saw-milling, etc., until March, 1883, when he and C. W. Armstrong purchased a saw-mill, which they operated until January, 1885, when they sold out to B. F. Wright and David Howell. In March, 1888, Mr. Hoover began the erection of his present planing mill, and set it in operation the following August. He met with such success that he has erected an additional building 30x50 feet, the first building being two stories, 30x70, both built upon massive stone walls, on the bank of Captina creek. Mr. Hoover has an extensive establishment and furnishes building material of all kinds, and also repairs and manufactures wagons. Mr. Hoover was married January 29, 1881, to Emily J. Lewis, and after her death, was married a second time, to Eliza E. Lewis, a sister of his first wife, on June 24, 1882. She was born February 20, 1865. Three children have been born to them, Lola M., Carl B. and Ralph W. Mr: and Mrs. Hoover are members of Methodist Episcopal church.

Henry Kinney, Jr., an influential citizen of Washington township, Belmont county, was born in county Armaugh, Ireland, May 23, 1840. He is the son of Henry Kinney, who was born in county Armaugh, in the year 1800, and was married in 1831, to Mary Gamble, who was born in the same county in 1810. They came to the United States in 1848, and settled in Belmont county, where they have ever since resided and are now numbered among the old and highly respected people of the township of Washington. They reared a family of six sons and two daughters, all of whom survive except two sons who lost their lives while fighting in the Union army for the preservation of the nation. One lies in the National cemetery at Nashville, Tenn., the other at Corinth, Miss. The subject of this mention received his education partly in his native land, and partly in this county, and then, soon after arriving at age, on June 16, 1861, enlisted in the Union army, in Company E, Thirty-sixth Ohio infantry. He was the first volunteer from Washington township. A little over one year after his enlistment, he was transferred to the regular army and served under Gen. Sherman, until the Hood campaign at Nashville, when he was in the army of Gen. Thomas. He was one of the command who went out from Cincinnati to Dayton, to arrest Vallandigham, under Capt. Murray. After four years of gallant and severe service, Mr. Kinney was mustered out June 17, 1865. On his return to Belmont county, Mr. Kinney engaged in farming, which is still his occupation. He takes an active part in public affairs, and for seven years served acceptably as clerk of Washington township. He now acts as notary public under a commisson from Governor Foraker. He was married April 16, 1868, to Dorcas Vandyne, who was born May 23, 1840, the daughter of John and Jemima (Coon) Vandyne. Her father was born March 15, 1795, and her mother, May 23, 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Kinney have six children: Mrs. L0uise Korell, Joseph, William, Alonzo, Ettie and Katie.

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Morgan Pugh, of Washington township, Belmont county, was born June 3, 1832, a native of the county of which he is now one of the substantial and influential citizens. He is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Pittman) Pugh, the former of whom was a native of Belmont county, and the latter of ;Monroe county, Ohio. Mr. Pugh was reared on a farm, and naturally chose agriculture as his vocation in life. In this he has prospered by reason of his untiring energy and fair dealing, and aside from his material advantages, has fairly earned the esteem of his fellow citizens. He has served his township as school director several years, but only upon the solicitation of his neighbors and friends, as his natural inclination leads him to devote himself entirely to his own business affairs. Mr. Pugh was married in 1857 to Hannah Hofsinger, who was born May 9, 1839, the daughter of John and Hannah Hofsinger. By this union Mr. Pugh had one son, Cadmus, born January 24, 1862, of whom he was deprived by death July 29, 1864. He and wife are members of the Christian church.

Richard Shepherd, one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Washington township, Belmont county, was born on the farm which is his present residence April s 1, 1840. He is the son of Thomas Shepherd, a native of Yorkshire, Eng., who was there married to Mary Lazenby, and directly afterward, in 1820, emigrated to the United States, and settled in Washington township. He was well- known during the period of his residence and was one of the substantial and worthy citizens. He died in 1850, and his wife survived until 1863. In their family were nine sons and four daughters, of whom the daughters and four sons survive. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his township, and then at the age of twenty years became a volunteer in Company D, Forty- third Ohio infantry. Enlisting December 19, 1861, he served three years and eight months, doing brave and gallant service. After his discharge, July 13, 1865, he returned to his native place, and on February 20, 1867, he was married to Martha J. Sherwood, who was born in November, 1848. He has since devoted himself to the pursuits of the farm, and is particularly noted as a large producer of wool, and a raises= of fine horses and cattle. He is a member of the Hess post, G. A. R., of Armstrong's Mills, was a member of the I. 0. 0. F. lodge of Armstrong's Mills, now defunct, and is a menmber of the Metho dist Episcopal church. Mrs. Shepherd is affiliated with the Presbyterian church of C0ncord.

John R. Taylor, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Washington township, Belmont county, was born in that county, June 22, 1831. He is the son of Frazier and Lucy (Remley) Taylor, who were among the pioneer settlers of the county, well-known and highly esteemed in their day. Frazier Taylor was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, August 24, 1799, died February 28, 1869; Lucy (Remley) Taylor, born June 17, 1809 (living). The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of the county, and when he had grown to manhood he chose farming as his vocation, to which he has since adhered, meeting with noteworthy success. He is a public-spirited man and

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one valued by the community. He first worked for himself in Monroe county, Ohio, and remained there four years, after which he moved across the line into Belmont county, where he purchased a farm upon which he resided eleven years. He then purchased his present property, which has been his home for sixteen years. Mr. Taylor was married December 2, 1858, to Julia A. Graham, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Blain) Graham, the former of whom was born in Scotland, and the latter in York county, Penn., January 8, 1800. Mrs. Taylor was born April 25, 1840. To this union thirteen children have been born, of whom the following survive: John W., R. Belle, William S., Julia E., Sarah A., Mary A., Emma W., George M., Myrta P. and Anna C. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Armstrong's Mills.

A. M. Workman, a leading citizen of Washington township, Belmont county, was born in Mead township, August 8, 1842. He is the son of William and Charlotte (McGaughy) Workman. The father was born in Pultney township, April 29, 1811, and is still living, one of old and worthy residents. The mother, born in the same year as her husband, died January 22, 1887. They reared four sons and two daughters, of whom there survive: Mrs. Cornelia A. Myers, A. M., Hiram G. and William S. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in Mead township, and was there educated in the common schools and at a select school. After teaching school for six years, he turned his attention to farming, at which he has since been engaged. Since September, 1871, he has been a resident of Washington township. Mr. Workman has taken an active part in public affairs, and while living in Mead township served as treasurer and assessor of the same. In 1882 he was elected a justice of the peace of Washington township, an office which he still holds, and discharges the duties of impartially and to the general satisfaction. He also holds the office of notary public, to which he was commissioned by Gov. Foraker, June 26, 1888. Mr. Workman was married in December, 1869, to Louisa A. Hawthorne, who died in 1874, leaving two children: Emmet L. and Edward Everett. In March, 1876, he was united to Josephine Hawthorne, who died in 1878, and in June, 1880, he wedded Lavina E. Pugh, his present wife, by whom he has one child: Florence D. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church of Beallsville, Ohio.