350 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. and returned to the Union lines at Gauley Bridge, Va., being out twenty-eight days. He was returned to his regiment at Cumberland, Md., in January, 1865; he was soon after promoted to Orderly or First Sergeant, May 16, 1865, h was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company A, of the same regiment; in July, 1865, he was mustered out of the service at Columbus, Ohio, when he returned home to Vinton County. During 1866 h farmed his father's homestead, and in 1867 he came to Marshfield, Athens County, and engaged in merchandising until 1871, when he engaged in shipping produce at the same place until 1872. He was then employed as a traveling salesman by wholesale houses in Chillicothe and Portsmouth, Ohio, which he followed, with the exception of three years, until August, 1881. For a short time he was employed as a clerk at Guysville, Athens County. In the fall of 1832 he was elected by the Republican party, Recorder of Athens County, and has just entered upon the duties of that office. Oct. 18, 1866, he married Jennie, daughter of James Mayhugh, of Marshfield, Athens County. They have two children living—Eva and Nellie; they lost oneNettie—who died June 1, 1879, at the age of twelve years. Mr. hawk is a Master Mason and member of Constitution Lodge, No. 126, Marshfield, and of Columbus Golden Post, G. A. R., No. 89, Athens. Silas Elson Hedges, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Athens County, is the son of William F. and Sarah (McElhiney) fledges, and was born in Homer Township, Morgan Co., Ohio, Sept. 26, 1847. He was educated in the common school, besides attending one term at Mount Auburn, Ohio. In 1868 he took a commercial course at Small's Business College, at Zanesville, Oho. Re was associated with his father, who was a merchant, as clerk and partner until the death of his father in 1880. After this event le did not engage in any particular occupation until the fall of [881 when h was elected Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Athens County by the Republican party. Sept. 18, 1871, h married Miss Sarah J., daughter of Jackson Franklin, of Morgan bounty, Ohio. They have three children—William F., Flora H. mud Fred A. Charles Booth Henderson, druggist, Athens, was born Feb. 23, [856, at Parkersburg, W. Va., a son of Richard H. and Anna W. Shanklin) Henderson. His parents removed to Wheeling and rom there to Belpre, Ohio, and when h was twelve years of age, :o Marietta, Ohio. e was educated in the schools of Belpre and HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 351 Marietta. When nineteen years of age h returned to Belpre and entered the drug store of C. H. Johnson, with whom he learned the business, clerking for him three years, till 1873. During 1879 he was employed as bookkeeper for J. W. Moore, of Hamar, Ohio, six months, returning to Athens in December, 1879, when he was employed as clerk by F. E. Waterman a year. In January, 1881, he, in company with P. Carpenter, purchased the drug store of Mr. Waterman and carried on the business under the firm name of Carpenter & Henderson. In January, 1882, he withdrew from the firm, and in February established his present business. Mr. Henderson is a Master, Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, and a member of lodge, chapter and commandery at Athens. Joseph, Herrold, a farmer and mill owner of Athens Township, was born in Ames Township, Athens County (then Washington County); Feb. 2, 1809. He is the son of Christopher and Martha (Cable) Herrold, who came to. Washington County in 1798. His father dying when our subject was only thirteen years of age h began to support himself at that age by working as a farm hand at $8 per month. In 1833 he worked, under a contractor, on the Ohio Canal for $24 per month. In the latter part of that year h returned to Athens County and worked for Captain Bingham for $20 per month, and while with him, in 1834, built a flat-boat and ran it to Cairo for him. In 1836 he began to work as a bridge-builder and continued so until 1849. Many of the bridges built by him are still standing. In 1840 he purchased the mills now known as Herrold's Mill, on Hocking River, which h rebuilt in 1858 with a run of five pairs of burrs. In 1850 he went to California for his health, accompanied by C. H. Armitage, Isaac Deshler and Isaiah Baker. While in California they established a mercantile house in a mining district, and he was to receive a percentage of their profits for the first eighteen months. He then cruised on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and returned home during the latter part of 1850. In 1851 he built the Woolen Mills at Athens, which he ran up to 1873. In 185S he purchased 400 acres of coal lands at the mouth of Monday Creek, in York Township, and opened up the Herrold coal mines, employing many miners and shipping his coal to various places on the Hocking Valley Canal up to 1873. In 1860 he purchased the Ballard Salt Works, Athens County, which he enlarged and worked till 1880. In 1857 he again went to California, having been appointed administrator of the estate of C. H. Armitage, who was murdered at Virgin Bay, on the. Pacific 352 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Coast, when on a return trip to Athens; and while there, prospected on the North Fork of the American River and returned to Athens in 1858. He has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Barker, whom he married in 1830, who died in January, 1849, from the effects of injuries received by a falling bridge near Pomeroy. They had eleven children, five of whom are still living. He married his second wife, Mrs. Orpha Baker, in December, 1849. In 1871 h built his present residence near Athens, it being one of the finest in Athens County. He is a Master, Royal Arch a Knight Templar Mason and member of the lodge, chapter and commandery at Athens. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1837 and an exhorter for many years. William Henry Herrold, proprietor of Herrold's Mills, is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Barker) Herrold, and was born near Athens, April 8, 1833, where he was reared, and received a common-school education. When seventeen years of age he commenced to assist his father in his extensive coal mining, milling and salt manufacturing business. He worked for his father till 1876, when he became associated with him in the milling business. In 1880 his father gave him two thirds of the mill as his share of the estate, and sold him the remaining third. Mr. Herrold is a practical business man, having received a business education in boyhood, and entered upon a business career before reaching manhoo 1. He was married June 16, 1862, to Orpha Reynolds, of Athens. They have one daughter—Rosa. Joseph, S. Higgins, farmer, stock dealer and market gardener, Athens Township, second son of Michael and Mary (McClintick) Higgins, was born in Athens Township, June 30, 1828, and lived with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age; then continued in business with his father until 1862, when he purchased the farm on which he now resides, and was engaged in farming until July 28, 1863; he then enlisted in the Independent Battery of Ohio Volunteer Artillery for sixty days; was appointed Corporal and served as such with his battery through the Morgan invasion of the State. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he was discharged at Camp Denison, Ohio, in November, 1863, and returned home, and has been actively engaged in farming; gardensing and stock-dealing to the present time. He has served as Assessor of his township several years, He has been a member of the Board of Agriculture of Athens County for twenty years; serving HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 353 as Vice-President eight years, and President two years. He is a Master Mason and member of Paramuthia Lodge, No. 25, F. & A. M., Athens, Ohio. Sept. 2, 1851, he married Hannah W., daughter of John M. and Amity L. (Lyons) Hibbard, of Athens Township; they have had ten children, nine living—Charlotte E., wife of William H. Wood, of Smithfield, Jefferson County, Ohio; Joseph W., married and living near his father; Cyrus M., Daniel N., John M., Charles H., Mary E., Hannah E., Nettie A. A., all at home. They lost their second child, Sarah E., who died Feb. 22, 1874, at the age of twenty years. Mrs. Mary (McClintick) Higgins, his mother, now resides with him, on the farm she settled on in the year 1817. Judiah, Higgins, harness-maker, was born near Cadiz, Ohio, May 7,1837. When he was two years old his parents, Edward and Nancy (Collins) Higgins, removed to Athens Township, Athens County. When fifteen he came to Athens and was apprenticed to J. W. Bayard to learn the harness-making trade and served three years. He worked as a journeyman until 1867, when he established his present shop at Athens. In 1873 he was elected a member of the Council at Athens and re-elected in 1875. In 1873 he was also elected Township Trustee of Athens Township and held the office by re-election for three years. In 1878 he was elected Treasurer of Athens Township and re-elected in 1879. In 1880 he was elected a member of the Board of Education of Athens and still holds that office. In 1858 he was married to Miss Jane Umbowers, of Athens. They have two children—William Edwards and Katy K. Mr; Higgins is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities at Athens. Amsey Hooper, manufacturer of the Gem bed-springs, Athens, was born in Alexander Township, Athens Co., Ohio, Feb. 11, 1856. He is the fourth of five sons of Clement and Rhoda (Axtel) Hooper, with whom he lived till twenty-one years of age. March 8, 1877, he married Maggie Angel, of Lodi Township, and went to farming, following that occupation till 1881, when be came to Athens and was employed as a clerk in the grocery of John Graham for eighteen months; then clerked for J. B. Fulton till Jan. 1, 1883. He is now engaged in the manufacture of the Gem bedsprings, for which there is at present a market in Athens and adjoining counties, with the demand constantly increasing. Mr. and Mrs. Hooper have one child—Ola. - 23 - 354 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Charles E M. Jennings was born March 9, 1837, at Catawissa, Columbia Co., Pa., and was brought by his parents the same year to Ohio. They located in Fairfield County, where he lived with them on a farm till the fifteenth year of his age. In 1852 he went into the office of the Lancaster Gazette to learn the trade of a printer. In 1857 he went to Logan, and assumed the editorial control of the Rocking Valley Republican. During the war of the Rebellion he was Chief Clerk to the Provost Marshal General of Ohio, serving with Colonel Edward A. Parrott of the First Ohio Infantry and Colonel Joseph H. Potter of the regular army. For some time after the war he was the Columbus correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette, relinquishing the position in 1868, when he purchased the Athens Messenger, of which he has since been editor and proprietor. The Messenger is the old established Republican paper of the county and now, under the editorialship of Mr. Jennings, continues to be one of the most influential papers of Southeastern Ohio. He is an able and easy writer, fearless of all contemporaries, and dauntless in advocating the principles of truth and justice. Robert Malcolm Jennings was barn in Cairo, Ill., Oct. 17, 1861. His father, Robert M. Jennings, was a son of Junia Jennings, of Marietta and was well known along the Ohio River, he having been prominent in steamboat circles for many years. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a grand-daughter of Elijah Hayward, who held the office of Commissioner of the Land Office during Jackson's administration, and who subsequently held various offices in Ohio. Mr. Jennings received a grammar-school educastion and learned the printer's trade at the Messenger office in Athens. In October of 1882, shortly after the establishment of the Athens Herald, h became a member of the company publishing that paper and has since been connected with it as Associate Editor. Evan J. Jones, of the law firm of Grosvenor & Jones, Athens, was born near Centerville, Gallia Co., Ohio, Oct. 3, 1849. His mother dying when he was about eight years old, he remained in his father's family until his sixteenth year, when he went to Ewing-ton and attended the Ewington Academy one year, he defraying the expenses by teaching district school at Portland and Madison Furnace, Jackson Co., Ohio. In the spring of 1869 he went to Lebanon, Ohio, and attended the National Normal School for four months, when he came to Athens and entered the. Ohio Uni HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 355 versity and graduated in the class of 1873; in the mean time having in 1872 and 1873 taught at Burlington, Ohio. Immediately after his graduation he accepted the Principalship of the Grammar School at Norwalk, Ohio, where he taught one year, at the same time privately studying law. In December, 1874, he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, at Columbus, and in August, 1875, became associated with Hon. Charles Townsend, forming the law firm of Townsend & Jones, at Athens. In 1878' he became associated with Hon. Charles H. Grosvenor and formed the present law firm of Grosvenor & Jones. In 1878 he was elected City Solicitor of Athens, and by subsequent election held the position for four years. In the fall of 1881 he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the School Board of Athens and was elected to the same position in 1882. Dec. 17, 1879, he married Miss Lucy Johnson, of Pennsylvania. They have one child—Helen. Mr. Jones is a. member of Sereno Lodge, No. 479, I. 0. 0. F., of Athens, and of the Delta Tau Delta Society, a fraternity of Ohio University. He is a member of the Baptist church at Norwalk, Ohio. Conrad Josten, of the firm of Laird, Josten & Co., manufacturers of wagons and carriages, and dealers in agricultural implements at Athens, was born in Wheeling, Va., July 1,. 1850. When eight years of age he came to Athens County with his parents, Mathias and Elizabeth (Bricker) Josten, settling in Lodi Township, where he lived with them until he was sixteen years old, when he went to Gallipolis and learned the blacksmith trade with Louis Munzt, being with him four years. He then worked at blacksmithing at various places until 1878, when he became associated with Armstrong Laird at Athens, the firm being Laird & Josten, and engaged in manufacturing carriages and general repairing. In 1882 his father became associated with them, changing the firm to Laird, Josten & Co. In 1882 he was elected a member of the Council of Athens. May 3, 1880, he married Miss Maggie Shay, of Athens. They have one child—James M. Mr. Josten is a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church at Athens. Mathias Josten, of the firm of Laird, Josten & Co., was born in Prussia, Oct. 1, 1820. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed to learn the trade of calico printer, at Mettlock. He afterward worked in print factories in Austria, Bavaria and Prussia until 1846, excepting two years he served in the Prussian army. In 1846 he came to America and settled in Pottsville, Pa., where he was variously 356 - HISTORY OF HOCKING COUNTY    employed until 1849, when he removed to Wheeling, W. Va.; thence to Athens County, Ohio, in 1857, where he settled on a farm in Lodi Township, and pursued farming for twenty-tive years. In 1882 he sold his farm and came to Athens and became associated with A. Laird, and his son, Conrad Josten, in manufacturing waggons and carriages; and dealing in farming implements. Feb. 17, 1848, he married Elizabeth Bricker, of Armstrong, Pa. They have four children---Conrad, Peter, Mary and Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. Josten are members of St. Paul's Catholic Church of Athens. Frederick Lewis Junod was born in Canaan Township, Athens Co., Ohio, Jan. 30,1832. When he was an infant his parents, Frederick Lewis and Ursula (Stalder) Junod, removed to Ames Township, where he was reared. His father died June, 1852, and he remained on the homestead farm with his mother till 1867, when he bought the farm in Dover Township, where he now resides. Mr. Junod was Trustee and Justice of the Peace in Ames Township several years. He has been a member of the Board of Education in Ames and Dover townships the most of the time since 1854, and has also been a Trustee in Dover Township. In 1880 he was elected one of the Directors of the Athens County Infirmary. Nov.30, 1852, he married Lydia Ann Stephenson. They have ten children, seven sons and three daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Junod are members of the Sugar Creek Methodist Episcopal church. Herbert Augustus Junod, son of Frederick L. and Lydia (Stephenson) Junod, was born in Ames Township, Athens Co., Ohio, Sept. 17, 1854. When he was thirteen years old his parents removed to Dover Township. He was educated in the district schools of the county and at the Ohio University, Athens, after which he taught school two years. He then was a salesman for the Singer Manufacturing Company a year, and then was employed by F. M. Koone, lumber dealer, two years. In 1883 he accepted the situation as salesman for O. D. Jackson, proprietor of the coal mines at Jacksonville, Athens County. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Sugar Creek, and of Sereno Lodge, No.479, I. O. O. F., Athens. Peter Kern, dealer in and manufactnrer of boots and shoes, was born near Chambersburg. Pa., Oct. 10, 1837. When two and one-half years old his parents removed to Ohio and settled at Logan, Hocking County, where his father died when he was about four years old. He lived with his mother at Logan until he was nineteen. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the trade of a shoe maker, HISTORY OF HOCKING COUNTY - 357   HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY - 357 serving three years. He then worked as a journeyman at Logan and Pella, Iowa, until 1863, when he came to Athens and engaged in manufacturing and in dealing in boots and shoes, He was associated with several parties at different times, under various firm names, up to 1879, when he became sole proprietor and carried on business alone until August, 1882, when his son, Harry E., became associated with him, under the firm name of Peter Kern & Son. In April, 1879, he was elected a member of the Council of Athens for a term of two years, and re-elected in April, 1882. Oct. 18, 1860, he was married to Annie M. Reynolds, of Athens County. They have two children—Lizzie and Harry Ellsworth. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has taken the degrees as high as Knight Templar. Andrew Kessenger, deceased, was a native of Virginia, born in Rockingham County in 1800. He came to Ohio with his mother in 1812, and lived in Muskingum and Fairfield counties till 1842, when he came to Athens County, and engaged in merchandising and milling at Athens, until his death in 1853. He was an enterprising business man and one of the substantial citizens of the county. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from his boyhood. Theodore Koerner, born in Milwaukee, Wis., Feb. 25, 1845, is a son of Frederick Hugo and Amelia Margaret (Rampmire) Koerner, In August, 1862, he enlisted as a drummer in Company K, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He participated in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mission Ridge, Atlanta, and was with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. He was discharged June 29, 1865. After his return to Milwaukee he was apprenticed to learn the trade of an iron-molder, serving over two years. In 1868 he started out as a journeyman and worked in towns in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, New York and West Virginia. In 1875 he came to Athens, and is now employed in the foundry of the Athens Water-wheel and Machine Company. Aug. 22, 1872, he married Mary Priscena Baker. They have three children—Anna Lee, Julia Belle and Louisa. Mr. Koerner is a member of Paramathia Lodge, No. 25, A. F. & A. M.; Sereno Lodge, No. 479, I. O. O. F., of which he is Past Grand, and of Columbus Golden Post, No. 89, G. A. R. Francis Marion Koons, grocer and dealer in lumber and building hardware at Athens, was born in Dover Township, Athens Co., Ohio, Nov. 9, 1848. His parents were George S. and 358 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Chloe A. (Wemmer) Koons. His father died when he was an infant, and he remained with his mother until he was fourteen, when he began to maintain himself. Up to that time he had received a limited education. After becoming of age he attended two terms at a select school in Dover Township. In 1864, at the age of sixteen, he went to Mount Pleasant, Mich., and was employed on farms or in lumber camps until 1867, when he returned to Athens County, remaining there until the winter of 1868–'9. He then returned to Michigan and worked in the pineries until 1870, when he again returned to Athens County, In 1871 he began to sell goods by peddling in Athens and adjoining counties, at first carrying a pack and afterward running a wagon. He followed this business for two years. In the fall of 1873 he purchased a farm in Dover Township, where he pursued farming until 1878, and during that period taught four terms of school. Selling his farm in 1879, he purchased a tract of timber land in the vicinity of Chauncey, Athens County, where he manufactured lumber until 1880, when he removed to Athens and opened a lumber yard. January, 1882, he added .to his lumber business that of groceries and building hardware. In 1880, before removing to Athens, he was elected Land Appraiser of Dover Township, and also Census Enumerator of the same township. Nov. 12, 1873, he married Martha J. Orme, of Dover Township. They have five children—Stella Irene, Leopold Wordworth,. Inez Leona, Eva Maud and George Wilmarth. Mr. Koons is a Master, Royal Arch and Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the lodge, chapter and commandery at Athens. Honorable Charles Lindly Kurtz, member of the Ohio State Legislature and senior member of the firm of Kurtz & Minear, booksellers, stationers and jewelers, Athens, is the son of W. W. Kurtz, the present Postmaster of Athens, and Isabella, nee McEllroy, Kurtz. He was born in Albany, Athens County, May 4, 1854. In 1865 he came with his parents to Athens where he received a common-school education. At the age of fourteen he was employed as a clerk in the book store of J. & T. W. Van Law. Some time after his father and C. D. Norris became the Messrs. Van Law's successors, and our subject had the management of the business until 1881, when he became associated with A. W. S. Minear, and they became the successors of his father and Mr. Norris, and now continue the business under the firm name of Kurtz & Minear. In 1880 he was elected by the Republican party of Athens County for member of the Sixty-fourth General Assembly of the State of Ohio, HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 359 to fill a vacancy caused by the election of Major Charles Townsend as Secretary of State. He was re-elected in 1881, and is the present Representative of Athens County. Sept. 11, 1878, he married Annie, daughter of Edgar P. Jewett, Esq., of Athens County. They have two daughters, Ione and Eleanor. Mr. Kurtz is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Athens. William Wyland Kurtz, Postmaster of Athens, is the son of George A. and Mary (Divender) Kurtz. He was born near New Vienna, Clinton Co., Ohio, March 16, 1823. When he was an infant his parents removed to Allegheny City, Pa., where h was reared and given a common school education. He lived with his parents until manhood, and when a youth learned the carpenter trade. In 1851 he came to Athens County and settled near Albany where he pursued farming and working at his trade until the fall of 1865. During three years of that time he was Postmaster of Albany, and also served as Clerk of Lee Township about six years, and Township Trustee three years. He came to Athens in 1865, and engaged in dealing in drugs, books and stationery with a silent partner, under the firm name of W. W. Kurtz & Co., until 1868, when he became associated with C. D. Norris as booksellers, jewelers and stationers, under the firm name of Kurtz & Norris. In 1870 h received the appointment of Postmaster of Athens. His son, Charles L., was the manager of the business until 1881, when the same son and A. W. S. Minear became the successors of Kurtz & Norris. Since that time h has devoted his time wholly to the Athens postoffice. During 1864 he was commissioned Captain of Company H, One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment, Ohio National Guards, and served at Barboursville, W. Va., nearly four months. Since living in Athens he has served on the City Council three years. June 8, 1848, h married Isabella, daughter of William McEllroy, then editor of the daily Fittsburgher, of Pittsburg, Pa., by whom he has seven living children—William. M., of Columbus, Ohio;' Mary Ellen, wife of John W. Doud, Superintendent of the schools of Toledo, Ohio; George A., Hon. Charles L. and Oscar H., all of Athens; Edward B., of Columbus, and Jennie A., attending the Ohio University. They lost one, Benjamin F., a twin brother to Jennie, who died at Athens, Feb. 7, 1882, at the age of eighteen. Himself and wife are members of the Free Baptist church, of Albany, Athens County. 360 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Armstrong Laird, senior member of the firm Laird, Josten & Company, manufacturers of wagons and carriages, and dealers in farm implements, Athens, was born near Athens, May 16, 1852, son of John and Susannah (Hooks) Laird. He attended school until six-teen years of age, and then commenced to learn the carriage-mak-er's trade of J. G. Cornwell, serving an apprenticeship of three years, after which he worked on a farm a year. Nov. 30, 1872, he married Rebecca M. Sams, of Canaan Township, Athens County, and came to Athens and rented a small shop where he made and repaired carriages and wagons. In the fall of 1874 he formed a partnership with John Graham, under the firm name of Laird & Graham, in,. easing his stock. In the spring of 1877 they sold out and established themselves in the grocery business under the firm name of Graham & Laird, but the following fall Mr. Laird withdrew his interest and engaged again in the manufacturing of wagons, etc., with Conrad Josten, under the name of Laird & Josten. In 1882 Mr. Josten's father, M. Josten, was admitted to the firm, the name changing to Laird, Josten & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Laird have two children—H. A. and Mattie A. Three chil-dren died in infancy. Mr. Laird is a member of Athenian Lodge, No.104, K. of P., Athens. He has filled all the chairs, being at the present time Prelate. Eli Reynolds Lash„ a druggist at Athens, was born in Alexander Township, Athens County, Nov. 20, 1818. He is the son of' Jacob and Susan (Morrison) Lash, with Whom he lived until he became of age. He then left home, in 1869, and entered the Ohio University at Athens, attending two years. In 1871 he was employed as a druggist's clerk by Dr. E. G. Dorr, with whom he remained until 1873, when he purchased the drug store of John Perkins and established himself in the drug business at Athens. In November, 1875, he married Alice, daughter of James M. Johns, of Athens. They have two children—Rey and Florence. Mr. Lash is a Master, Royal Areh, Council, and Knight Templar Mason. He is also an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias; has held important positions in all these bodies, and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge, K. of P., of Ohio, in 1879. Peter Fisher Martin, farmer, is the eldest of two sons of William and Mary Ann (Bodine) Martin, and was born in Blooms-bury, Hunterdon Co., N. J., Sept. 28, 1832. After arriving at manhood he was employed by his father at home on the farm, until they removed to Ohio. In 1851 he came to Ohio with his HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 361 parents, and settled in Athens Township, Athens County, and pursued farming there until 1856. In the fall of 1856 he moved to Henry County, Ill., and was there employed in improving a new farm for five years. In the fall of 1861 he returned to Athens County, purchased the Willis farm, and lived there two years. He then worked on the Jewett farm one year. In the spring h moved- on the Zenner farm where he lived seventeen years. In the spring of 1880 he purchased the Leonidas Jewett farm, on which he now resides. March 11, 1851, he married Mary Ann, daughter of John and Margaret (Hacket) Hoppock, of New Jersey. They have had five children, three now living—Isabel, wife of Gaston Coe, of Dover Township; John H., married, living in Dover Township; Walter H., at home. William W. was drowned in the -Hocking Canal at the age of nine years; George W. died in infancy. In February, 1865, he obtained a divorce from his wife. April 20, 1865, he married Charetta H., daughter of David and Margaret (Sidders) Shafer, of Athens County. They have one son—Curtis James. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Loring Glazier Matheny, farmer, Athens Township, oldest son of Isaac and Chistia Ann (Harper) Matheny, was born June 1, 1840, in Tyler, Dover Township, Athens County. He lived with his parents until manhood. He was educated in the common schools, the Albany Manual Laboring Institute, arid attended the Ohio. University at Athens three terms. He began teaching school at the age of eighteen. Oct. 20, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixty-third Ohio Infantry, as a private, and was mustered into the service at Chillicothe, Ohio. He was appointed First Sergeant of his company, Feb. 20, 1862, and served as such until June 27, 1863, when he was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company same regiment. He participated with his' command in the battles of New Madrid, Island No. 10, Fort Pillow, Farmington, Tenn., Iuka, Corinth and Parker's Cross Roads, Tenn. He was with Sherman from Chattanooga to the sea, and participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged. He was mustered out of the service and discharged near Savannah, Ga., Dec. 21, 1864. He then returned to his home in Athens County, Ohio. During the year 1865 he was in the employ of the Hocking Valley Oil Company. May, 1866, he removed to Johnson County, Mo., and there engaged in school teaching until the fall of 1868, when h returned to Athens County and taught until the spring of 1870. He then en- 362 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. gaged in farming until March, 1877, when he removed to Scotland County, Mo., and there engaged in farming. March, 1879, he returned to Athens County, and has followed farming to the present time. Nov. 17, 1869, he was married to Hannah M., daughter of William and Mary Ann (Bodine) Martin, of Athens Township. They have six children—Edward L., Gertrude M., Charles M., Luella, William M., and Nary E. Mr. and Mrs. Matheny and two oldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is Steward of the church and local preacher. He is a member of Columbus Golden Post, No. 89, G. A. R., of Athens. Alexander Watts Shaw Minear, of the firm of Kurtz & Minear, booksellers, stationers and jewelers, Athens, was born in Harrison County, W. Va., Dec. 6, 1835. He came to Ohio with his parents, Jonathan and Nancy (Parrill) Minear, when he was in his fifth year, they settling near Coolville, in the southern part of Athens County, where he lived with them until his twentieth year, when he went to California and was employed as a clerk in a store for nearly two years. He then went to the gold diggings at the junction of the North and South Yuba rivers and mined until the spring of 1859, when he returned home. After his return, the same year, he purchased a half interest in the Coolville flouring-mill. Selling the same in 1860, he became associated with his brother, E. R. Minear, in the mercantile business at Guysville, Athens County. The war breaking out soon after, 'le sold his interest in the store to his brother and entered the Union army as First Lieutenant of Company C, Eighteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he having assisted in raising the company. At the battle of Stone River he was shot through the body, the ball penetrating his left lung. The wound was received while making a charge through a cedar thicket. It being considered fatal, his wife left her home to visit him, and although it was the order of the War Department not to let any one pass through the lines on account of a scarcity of provisions, she, by secreting herself among a load of' pork-barrels covered with a large tarpaulin, succeeded in passing through the line. She remained until his convalescence, in March, 1863, when he returned home with her. Being entirely disabled for service he resigned his commission in the following April, and in the fall of that year he was elected Treasurer of Athens County, and re-elected in the fall of 1865. At the expiration of the term, having held the office for two consecutive terms, he was ineligible for re-election. In 1868 he became associated HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 363 with Drs. Johnson and Wilson in the drug business, under the firm name of A. W. S. Minear & Company. They discontinuing the business in 1870, h was not especially engaged in any business until the fall of 1871, when he was elected County Auditor, which he held by re-election for nine consecutive years, up to November, 1880. In the spring of 1881 he became associated with C. L. Kurtz in his present business, as Kurtz Minear. April 20, 1860, he married Fannie, daughter of N. O. Warren, of Athens County. They have two daughters—Minnie and Rosa. He is a Master and Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the lodge and chapter at Athens. Thomas Leazenby Mintun, ex-Probate Judge of Athens County, was born in Hampshire County, Va., June 11, 1809. When he was about six months old his parents, John and Sarah (Leazenby) Min-tun, removed to Parkersburg, where his mother died about three months later. In 1812 he came with his father, who married again that yea., to Athens County, 0., and settled near Wolf's Plains, where he lived until he was seventeen. Having no opportunities to go to school, he received but a meager education. On leaving home, which he did in 1826, he came to Athens and became apprenticed to learn the trade of carpenter and joiner, which trade h followed until 1855. In 1837 he removed to Nelsonville, where he lived unfil 1876. In 1850 he was elected Justice of the Peace. of York Township, and filled that office at Nelsonville, by re-election, until 1863. In 1863 he was appointed Postmaster at Nelsonville, and served as such until 1867. In the spring of 1867 he was again elected Justice of the Peace of York Township, and served until 1876. In the fall of 1867 he was elected one of the County Commissioners of Athens County for two terms of three years each. He also served as Mayor of Nelsonville several terms. In October, 1875, he was elected Probate Judge of Athens County, and served as such for two terms of three years each. In 1876 he removed to Athens, where he still resides. Jan. 14, 1830, he married Miss Nancy E. Herrold, of Athens. They have six children living—Thomas, now living in Illinois; William H., now in Cincinnati, O.; Charles H., now residing in Athens; Sarah, now wife of J. F. Welch, of Nelsonville; Lucinda E., now wife of Dr. D. G. Gillian, of Columbus, 0.; and Emma, now wile of G. B. Rain, of Nelsonville. Mr. Mintun is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1842 he was licensed to preach the gospel, and was ordained as Deacon by Bishop Janes. 364 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Henry Dustin Mirick, son of Augustus and Caroline Dustin (Prichard) Mirick, was born March 3, 1836, in Worcester, Mass. His father was by trade a printer, and during his life was a prominent journalist and publisher in Massachusetts. At the time of his death, Feb. 1, 1864, he was doing a general book and job printing business in Greenfield, Mass. His mother is a descendant of the Dustins and Prichards, families of prominence, of whom mention is made in the early histories of Massachusetts. Henry D. Mirick received a good common-school and some academical education, and learned the printer's trade of his father, being in business with him from March, 1857, till August, 1862, when he went to Cincinnati and was in the wholesale boot and shoe store of Prichard, Alter & Co. until June, 1867. Ile then went to Des Moines, Ia., where he was in the boot and shoe business about two years. In April, 1869, he sold out and was an agent for the Cranberry Iron property at Cranberry Forge, N. C., till the following November, when he was offered a position in the land office of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, at Humboldt, Kas. In April, 1870, he was appointed general freight and ticket agent of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad (which had assumed control of the Union Pacific), with headquarters at Junction City, Kas. July 1, 1870, owing to the increase of business, this double office was divided,. Mr. Mirick retaining the position of general freight agent, with headquarters at Sedalia, Mo. In March, 1873, he was appointed assistant to the general manager of the road. He left this position in December, 1875, to take the one of assignee of the Land Grant Railway & Trust Company, headquarters still at Sedalia, filling this position till January, 1878. In addition to this and other business he was Auditor of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad from February, 1876, to January, 1877, and was afterward extensively engaged in Southern Kansas and Northern Texas. From 1878 to 1879 he was Secretary and Treasurer of the Dennison & Pacific Railroad Company. In 1880 he became connected with the Osage Coal-Mining Company at Parsons, Kas., being its Vice-President and Treasurer, and at the same time became Vice-President of the First National Bank, of Parsons. In 1881 he came to Athens with the intention of making this his permanent home. Oct. 14, 1874, Mr. Mirick married Harriet S., daughter of John Brown, of Athens. She died at Sedalia, Mo., Dec. 23, 1875, leaving an infant son, and her remains were brought to Athens for burial. July 22, 1879, Mr. Mirick HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 365 married Charlotte E., daughter of Henry T. Brown, of Athens. They have one child—Carlos Brown. John A. McCathran, manufacturer of carriages and buggies, Athens Township, second son of John and Mary (Stevens) .Mc Cath ran, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, April 3, 1840. He lived with his parents until manhood, receiving a common-school education. When about eight years old his parents removed to Pennsylvania, and remained there near seven years. He then went to Virginia, near Holiday's Cove, and remained nearly two years, when he went to Steubenville, Ohio, where he learned fhe trade of cabinet-maker. He remained at Steubenville some eighteen months, and then went to Cambridge, Ohio, where he resided two years. He then went fo Bishopville, Morgan Co., Ohio, and remained there three years, when he came to Athens County. May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company G, One-hundred and Forty-first Regiment National Guards, at Athens, Ohio, as First Sergeant of his company for 100 days, and served for four months; was mustered out and discharged at Gallipolis, Ohio, Sept. 1, 1864, and returned to Athens, Ohio. He then entered the employ of T. M. D. Pilcher in his furniture factory and worked for him about eighteen months, when he went to Hebbardsville and purchased property and began manufacturing carriages. In 1870 he sold his Elebbardsville property and purchased property near Athens and continued the manufacture of carriages there until 1876, when he sold out and purchased property near Wolf's Plains. In February, 1882, he removed to Nelsonville, Ohio, and remained four months, returning to the Plains, where he now resides. March 27, 1864, he married Fannie. F., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Fierce), Stage, of Athens Township. They have two children—Nettie R., and Lizzie L. Their oldest daughter, Eva M., died July 30, 1865. Himself and wife are members of the Free Methodist church. John Russell McCune was born in Lycoming County, Pa., June 24, 1795, a son of James and Martha (Russell) McCune, who emigrated to America from Ireland in 1790. When six years of age his friends removed to Fayette County, Pa. After arriving of age he worked the homestead farm till 1824, when, Nov. 24, he married Maria King, of Somerset County, Pa., and purchased a farm, where he lived till 1838, when he sold out and came to Athens County, Ohio, and settled on a farm two miles south of Athens. In 1861 he moved into Athens and lived four years, returning to the farm in 1865. In 1879 he retired from farm life 366 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. and moved into Athens to spend the remainder of his days. Mrs. McCune died Jan. 5, 1882. He has six children—Harriet, now Mrs. W. P. Wilkin, of Missouri; Maria, now Mrs. J. N. Patterson; Ellen, now Mrs. W. A. Thomas; Ann, now Mrs. W. W. McVey; John King, and Samuel. The latter son is supposed to be living somewhere in the West. In 1851 he went to California and remained till 1857, when he went to Oregon, a volunteer in the war against the Indians. After serving about eighteen months he was taken prisoner by the Indians, by whom. he was kept in bondage three years, and then exchanged to another tribe and kept by them three years. He made his escape in 1863 and reached Fort Hall, where he first heard of the Rebellion. From there he went to Salt Lake City and engaged in teaching school and acting as Indian interpreter, since which he has never been heard from. Mr. McCune has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church over fifty years. In 1883 he visited Fayette County, Pa., where he spent his boyhood and early manhood, and married his wife, and was cordially received by relatives and friends. Cinney McLean, jeweler, was born in Washington, Fayette Co., Ohio, Aug. 17, 1846, a son of Samuel and Eliza (Robinson) McLean, with whom he lived at his birthplace until maturity. At the age of nineteen he began to learn the jeweler's trade, serving four years. Sept. 15, 1868, he came to Athens and established his present business. In 1880 he was elected Treasurer of Athens City, and re-elected in 1882, the term of office being two years. Feb. 29, 1880, he was married to Miss Annie, a daughter of William Edwards, of Athens. They have two children—Ben and Willie. Mr. McLean is a Master, Royal Arch, Council, and Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the lodge, chapter, council and commandery at Athens. Hon. Calvary Morris was born near Charleston, W. Va., in 1798, and spent his youth in the Kanawha Valley, laboring on a farm, and battling with the hardships of pioneer life. In 1818 he married the eldest daughter of Dr. Leonard Jewett, of Athens, and in the spring of 1819 located permanently in that town. "Finding myself," said Mr. Morris, "a stranger in a strange land, and obliged to make provision for the support of my family, my first step was to rent five acres of ground, upon which to raise a crop of corn. While cultivating that ground, during the summer of 1819, the Rev. Jacob Lindley (then acting president of the HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 367 Ohio University) came to me and said that a school teacher was much needed in our town, and proposed that I undertake it. I informed him that I was not at all qualified—that reading, writing, spelling, and a limited knowledge of arithmetic was the extent of my education. He said that the wants of the community required that arithmetic, geography, and English grammar be taught in the school, and now, said he, I will tell you what to do. I have the books and you have brains; take my books, go to studying, and recite to me every day for three weeks, and by that time I will have a school made up for you; you will then find no difficulty in keeping ahead of your scholars so as to give satisfaction in teaching, and no one will ever suspect your present lack of qualifications. I consented, went to work, and at the end of three weeks went into the school. I taught and studied during the day, and cultivated my corn-field part of the time by moonlight, and if there was ever any complaint of my lack of qualifications as a teacher, it never came to my knowledge." In 1823 Mr. Morris was elected Sheriff of Athens County, and re-elected by an almost unanimous vote in 1825. In 1827, at the close of his term as Sheriff, he was elected to the lower branch of the State Legislature, and re-elected in 1828. In 1829 he was elected to the State Senate, and re-elected in 1833. In 1835, when the project of the Hocking canal was being warmly agitafed, Mr. Morris was elected again to the popular branch of the Assembly from Athens and Hocking counties, as the avowed friend of that measure, and in the belief that he was the best man to engineer it through. To his adroit management and indefatigable efforts the measure was mainly indebted for success, as h had to overcome fhe almost unanimous opposition of both branches of the Legislature and the whole Board of Canal Commissioners. He had the pleasure of seeing the bill triumphantly passed a few days before the close of the session, and on his return home his constituents tendered him a public dinner. In 1836 Mr. Morris was elected to Congress, and re-elected in 1838 and '40. In 1843 he retired from public life and engaged, to some extent, in wool growing and in the introduction of fine-wooled sheep into the county, in which business he rendered great service to the farming community. In 1847 he removed to Cincinnati and engaged in mercantile pursuits, which finally proving unfortunate, he returned to Athens in 1854, and in 1855 was elected Probate Judge of the county. 368 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Few men of the county have filled a larger part in its official history than Judge Morris, and, during his varied services, he discharged every trust with honor and fidelity. In his latter days, secure in the confidence and respect of all his neighbors, he had the rare and happy fortune of being able to review his whole career without shame and without remorse. Judge Morris was a brother of the Reverend Bishop Morris of the Methodist Episcopal church., William D. Morris, of Illinois, and Levi Morris, of Louisiana, were the other brothers. He died at Athens, Oct. 13, 1871. Alyred Morrison, son of Joseph and Susan Morrison, was born in Jefferson Counfy, Ohio, Aug. 21, 1820. He was the sixth of a family of seven" children, and when only four years old his father died. His mother then took her children to Belmont County and lived there eleven years. They then came to Athens County and settled on the same farm where Mr. Morrison now lives. Nov. 15, 1842, he married Minerva Benson, of Monroe County, Ohio. They have seven children—Joseph, Emma J., Susan, Elizabeth, E. B., Lydia A. and George. Mr. Morrison has a fine farm of 220 acres, with a good residence and farm buildings. Politically he is a Democrat. He has been School Director many years, and takes an active interest in the welfare and education of the young. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 25, Athens. Augustus Norton, President of the First National Bank of Athens, is the only son of Joseph H. and Rosannah (Johnson) Norton. He was born at Athens, Dec. 19, 1837, where he was reared and educated in the Ohio University. In early boyhood he began clerking in his father's store, and upon becoming of age became associated with his father in the mercantile business, under the firm name of J. H. Norton & Son, and so continued until the breaking out of the war. In June, 1861, he enlisted the Union service as a member of Company F, First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. At the organization of his company he was elected First Lieutenant, and was commissioned by Governor F. H. Pierpoint. He served as such until July 25, 1862, when he resigned and returned to Athens. In the following August he raised Company I, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and was commissioned. Captain of that company by Governor David Tod, Sept. 2, 1862. The Seventh Regiment was composed of three batfalions, his company being HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 369 one of the Second. Dec. 28, 1862, he was commissioned Major of his regiment and placed in command of that battalion, and served until Jan. 30, 1864, when he was discharged for disabilify, caused by an injured ankle. He participated in many battles and skir-mishes, the most important being those of Winchester, Port Repub-lic, Mount Sterling, Strawberry Plains and Cumberland Gap. After resigning he returned to Athens, and in the following spring resumed business with his father, whose interest he purchased in 1868. In 1870 he discontinued the mercantile business on account of impaired health and purchased a farm in the vicinity of Athens, where he still lives, and with other business pursues farming. In 1879 he became connected with the First National Bank of Athens, and at the same time was elected its President. He has served as Trustee of Athens Township two terms. At the organization of Athens County Children's Home, in 1881, he was commissioned by the county commissioners as one of its Trustees. March 26, 1866, he married Miss Sarah W., daughter of George Putnam, Esq., of Athens. They have five children—Frankie J., S. Alberta, Joseph Augusfus, Alice and Willie. They have lost two—George Putnam, who was drowned in the Hocking River, June 5, 1879, at the age of twelve; and Wyatt Parker, dying in infancy. Himself and wife are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Athens. Cornelius Battelle O'Bleness, carpenter and joiner, was born at Newport, O., Sept. 23, 1853. [ For genealogy see biography of his brother, Henry O'Bleness.] He left home in his twentieth year and came to Athens and became apprenticed to his brother, Henry O'Bleness, to learn the carpenter's frade, serving three years. He then, in 1876, went to Sidney, O., and worked one year, when he returned to Athens, where he has since resided. Sept. 20, 1878, he married Miss Belle Johns, of' Athens. They have one child—Frank Bernard. Mr. O'Bleness is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities of Athens. He was the first Past Chancellor of Athenian Lodge, No. 104, K. of P., of Athens, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio. Henry O'Bleness, architect, contractor and builder, is a descend - ant of' a sturdy Hollander who came from over the sea long before the Revolution, bringing with him his wife whose maiden name was Mary Devoe. They settled in the city of New York, and in time possessed considerable property, owning a large portion of Manhattan Island. To them v.-as born Henry (their fhird son), in - 24 - 370 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. New York City, March 15, 1771. He was married in the city of New York, May 15, 1796, to Rachel (Rickman) Davenporf, a widow. Ile emigrated to Ohio in 1817, and settled in Washington County, near Marietta. To them was born John Vark, at Kings-bridge, near New York City, Aug. 21, 1809, who came with his parents to Ohio in 1817. He was married in Lawrence Township, Washington Co.; O., Oct. 29, 1829, to Susan Hoff, and settled at Newport, near Marietta, - ere the subject of this sketch was born to them, June 16, 1842. He lived with his parents until be was nineteen and learned his father's frade, that of carpenter and joiner. He enlisted in 1861 in Company F, Eighty-fifth Ohio In. fantry, to serve three months. After being discharged at the expiration of his term of service he went to Marietta and worked at the carpenter's trade until May 2, 1864, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Ohio National Guards, fo serve 100 days, going out as a Sergeant. When discharged from service he again returned to Marietta and resumed the carpenter's trade. In the spring of 1865 he returned to Newport and engaged in contracting and building, also in dealing in lumber until the spring of 1869, when h came to Athens and became associated with W. W. McCoy, as McCoy & O'Bleness, and took the contract to construct the wood work of Athens Asylum for the Insane, he having the full charge of the business. Mr. McCoy remained with him for three years. Mr. O'Bleness completed the contract, requiring a period of five years, after which he determined to remain at Athens and has either superintended or built by contract the city hall, court-house, university building and many of the business houses and private residences of Athens. March 7, 1871, he was married to Josephine M. Shearer, of Belpre, Washington Co., Ohio. They have four children—Henry Clifford, Charles Garnett, Ralph Alphonso and Mary Lulu. Mr. and Mrs. O'Bleness are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Master and Royal Arch Mason and member of the lodge and chapter at Athens. Matthew Patrick, son of Jacob and Sarah (Spicer) Patrick, was born Jan. 28, 1811, in Sullivan Township, Madison Co., N. Y., where he was reared and received a common-school education. When sixteen years of age h went to Lyons, N. Y., and clerked in his brother's store five years. In 1832 he came to Ohio to sell fanning-mills for his brother-in-law, Zalmon Rice, traveling for him three years. In 1835 he went into the mercantile business at Lithopolis, Ohio, and in 1837 removed his stock of goods to Athens, HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 371 and was one of the leading merchants here several years, In 1856 he bought a farm in the vicinity of Athens where he lived till 1866, when he again moved to Athens. Mr. Patrick was married May 1, 1839, to Lydia S., daughter of John Walker, of Athens. One son was born to them—John J., who died Sept. 7, 1861, aged twenty-one years. Mrs. Patrick died Feb. 1, 1879. Aug. 10, 1880, Mr. Patrick married Mrs. Martha A. Davis, widow of John Davis, who died at Athens, Dec. 30, 1871. Mrs. Patrick has had two children—Ella, who died Feb. 9, 1873, aged nineteen, and Mary Hattie. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick are members of the Methodist church, of which he has been Steward and Trustee for forty years. Richard Phillips, a native of Hunterdon County, N. J., born Jan. 11, 1807, was a son of Thomas. and Mary (Angell) Phillips, natives of England. He lived on a farm till seventeen years of age and then went to learn the boot and shoe maker's trade, an occupation he followed many years. In December, 1831, he married Leah Bishop. They had ten children—John B., Mary, Thomas, Wilson, Kate, Elizabeth, David, W. H. L., Jane and Belle. In May, 1842, Mr. Phillips started for Athens County, with his family and household goods. He was on the road a month, arriving in Athens, June 4. He settled in Lodi Township on the farm now owned by Thomas Angell. Here, with the assistance of his sons, he cleared 160 acres of timbered land. In 1856 he sold the farm and removed to Canaan Township. He lived there till 1870 and then bought his present home, where he has fifty acres of good land and is surrounded with all the comforts of life. His wife died in October, 1868, and June 6, 1870, he married Jane Robinson, a native of England. Mr. Phillips is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been a Steward and Class-Leader. He started in life poor, and by his own exertions has acquired the property he now has. Belford Wood Pickering, M. D., assistant physician in the Athens Asylum for the Insane, a son of Samuel and Catherine (Wood) Pickering, was born at Athens, July 26,1853. He was educated in the Union schools of Athens and the Ohio University. In the fall of 1873 he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. A. B. Frame, and was under his preceptorship three years. He graduated from the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, in the spring of 1875, after taking two courses of lectures. In 1878 he began to practice at Stewart, 0., and in the fall of 1880 he was ap- HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 372   pointed assistant physician of the Athens Asylum for the Insane. April 23, 1879, he married Miss Susie D. Foster, of Washington County, O. They have one child---Julia D. Dr. Pickering is a Master, Royal Arch, and Knight Templar Mason, and a member of the lodge, chapter and commandery at Athens. Francis O. Pickering, born near St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., O., Dec. 26, 1837, is the eldest of eight sons of Levi and Susannah (Spiller) Pickering. He was given a common-school education, living with his parents till he was of age, and coming with them to Athens Township in 1854. In 1858 he went to Wheeling, Va., and purchased a stock of notions and stationary, which he sold by running a peddler’s wagon through Athens, Meigs, Washington and Morgan counties. He followed that business till August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, and serving till the close of the war. He enlisted as a private and after serving as such a year was promoted to Commissary Sergeant. The most important battles in which he participated were Moorefield, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek, Lynchburg, siege and capture of Petersburg, and Richmond; was present at the surrender of Lee’s army at Appomattox Court-House. He was discharged in June 1865, and returned to Athens, where he has followed farming together with dealing extensively in coal. He has been twice married. His first wife was Hannah E. Tedrow, whom he married March 9, 1860. She died December, 1861, leaving one son---William F. , who was drowned in the Hocking River, in July, 1867, aged six years. June 7, 1866, he married Mary Jane, daughter of Robert C. Clark of Athens Township. They have had six children, only five now living---Francis C., Warrington Addison, Thomas O., Charles G., and Sarah May. Clarence Edward died March 26, 1873, aged six years. Mr. Pickering was a member of the City Council from 1880 to 1881. He is a member of Columbus Golden Post, No. 89, G.A. R., of which he has been Vice-Commander. Joseph L. Pickering, postal clerk :on the Columbus & Athens route on the C., H. V. & T. Railroad, is a son of Samuel and Catherine (Wood) Pickering, and was ;born in Athens, Aug. 11, 1846, where he was reared, and educated in the Ohio University. When fifteen, in 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry, to serve three months, but served five, as a Corporal. His company was under a siege of four days at Harper's Ferry, when they were taken prisoners in September, 1862, and released HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 373 on parole. He was discharged with his regiment at Delaware, 0., in October, 1862, but still under parole, and was not exchanged until the following February. In July, 1863, when Morgan made his raid through the border counties of Ohio, he, with other citizen soldiers, shouldered his musket and joined in the pursuit, and while on duty near Cheshire, Gallia County, was slightly wounded. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, Fourteenth Ohio National Guards, to serve 100 days, and with his regiment was on detached duty as guard in the Fort at Barboursville, W. Va., and was discharged Sept. 3, 1864. Soon after, being a member of the Athens Light Artillery, he was called out for duty at Camp Dennison, 0., and serve 1 three months. He then attended Ohio University until the spring of 1866, when he went to Maryville, Mo., and engaged in the insurance business until November, and during the winter of 1866--'67 he taught school at Xenia, returning home in the following spring. In the spring of 1868 he was employed as an engineer in the coal regions in the vicinity of White Oak, W. Va., where he remained until January, 1869. He then returned to Athens and was variously employed until 1872, when, with his father and brother, he engaged in the grocery business at Athens, under the firm name of S. Pickering & Sons. They remained in the business until 1876. While in the grocery business, in 1875, h was appointed express agent for the Adams Express Company and held this position until March, 1882, when he was appointed Postal Clerk on the C., H. V. & T. Railroad, between Athens and Columbus. He is a Master, Royal Arch, Council and Knight Templar Mason. Levi Pickering, Assessor of Athens Township, was born in St. Clairsville, Belmont Co., Ohio, March 24, 1815. He was the second of five sons of Levi and Susannah (Crozier) Pickering. He remained on the homestead farm till 1840 when he came to Athens, and was employed a year by Pickering & Corley (his brother Samuel being a member of the firm) to superintend the construction of a section of the Hocking Valley canal. He then returned to Belmont County and purchased a farm, living there till 1853, when h sold out and came again to Athens County, buying a farm in the vicinity of Athens, where he still resides. In 1854 he was elected Assessor of Athens Township and has held the office by re-election ever since, with the exception of four years. Diving the war h was appointed by Captain Barber, Provost Marshal, Special Agent of the Fifteenth Provost District of Ohio. In 374 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY . 1837 he married Susannah Spiller, of Belmont County. They have had fourteen children, twelve of whom, seven sons and five Baugh, ters, are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Pickering are members of the Methodist church, of which has been a Class-Leader and Steward for twenty-five years. He is an ancient Odd Fellow, holding a card but a member no lodge. Samuel Pickering, manufacturer of cigars and dealer in wool at Athens, was born near St. Clairsville, Ohio, June 24, 1811. He lived with his parents, Levi and Susannah (Crozier) Pickering, until his nineteenth year, and was given a good common-school education. On leaving home he taught school two years, when, in 1832, he engaged in the mercantile business at St. Clairsville, until the fall of 1836. He then removed his business to Concord, Ohio, where he remained until 1838 when he came to Athens, still continuing the mercantile business until 1854. Upon being elected Treasurer of Athens County he gave up his business. In connection with his merchandising he also, in 1838, became associated with R. W. Corley as Corley & Pickering, and built two locks on the Hocking Valley canal, requiring three years to complete the contract. During the winters of 1847 and 1848 he engaged extensively in packing pork at Beardstown, Ill. He was also a dealer in stock in connection with his mercantile business, driving horses, cattle and sheep to the Eastern markets. In 1856 he was re-elected Treasurer of Athens County, holding the office for two terms, until 1859. He then engaged in farming and bred and dealt in sheep for several years, and during the late war bought horses for the Government. In 1872 he engaged in the grocery business, his sons, Joseph L. and Ernest C., being associated with him, under the firm name of S. Pickering & Sons. They also constructed a section of the Baltimore & Ohio Shortline R. R. under contract. They discontinued the grocery business in 1876. In 1882 he began to manufacture cigars at Athens. He has served several years in the City Council of Athens, and at the organization of the First National Bank he was chosen one of its Directors and served three years. He was the first President of the Athens Loan & Building Association. In May, 1842, he was married to Catherine G. Wood,, of Athens. They have four living children—William B., of Carthage, Tenn.; Joseph L., a postal clerk on the C., H. V. & T. Railroad; Ernest C., express messenger on the Ohio & Virginia R. R.; and Belford W., a physician in the Athens Asylum for the Insane. They have lost two children—Frank Belmont, who died Oct. 8, 1853, at the