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John T. Cline was born in Concord township, Ross county, on February 5, 1846. His parents were Samuel and Minerva (Hoggard) Cline, the former born in Concord township in 1813, the latter a native of Louisa Court House, Va., who came with her family to Ross county in 1836. John Cline, the father of Samuel, was born in Pennsylvania in 1768 and settled in Concord township, Ross county, at an early day. Samuel and Minerva Cline became the parents of the following named children, all of whom are living: John T.; Arabel Jane, married to Joseph Carter of Nebraska; Salathiel Marian, of Nebraska ; Samuel, resident of Frankfort; Meriweather H., of Nebraska. The mother of these children died in 1874, and the father took a second wife in the person of Mrs. Ellen Nichols, of Ross county. Edward, the only child of this union, is now a resident of DeGraff, Ohio. Samuel Cline died in 1893 on the same farm where he had always lived, one and one-half miles northeast of Frankfort. His eldest child, John T., was educated in the common schools of his native township and as soon as he reached suitable age entered into agricultural pursuits. He followed this business until 1872 and in that year removed to Frankfort, where he engaged in merchandising°. After ten years in this line, he entered the coal and grain business in 18.83 and has followed that ever since. In March, 1881, Mr. ('line was married to Maria J., daughter of Thomas Junk, an old resident of Ross county. To this union has been born one daughter, Daisy M., now a student in the Western college at Oxford, O. Mr. Cline is at present and has been for the past twelve years trustee of Concord township and has filled various village offices. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having been secretary of the Frankfort lodge, No. 309, for the past eighteen years. He belongs to the Chillicothe commandery Knights Templar, the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. His religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church, in which he holds the position of deacon. In fine, John T. Cline enjoys and deserves the reputation of being an industrious man and exemplary citizen in all the walks of life.
Thomas Cockerell was born in Scioto township, Ross county, Ohio, on March 4, 1832. His parents were Peter and Catherine (Riley) Cockerell, born, bred and married in Old Virginia. They were among the first settlers of Ross county, and rented some of the Massie land, where they lived for several years. The husband served as a soldier during the war of 1812 and drew a pension from the govern-
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ment up to the time of his death. He removed from the Massie land into Huntington township, where he bought 100 acres on which he lived during the remainder of his life. Peter and Catherine Cockerell had fourteen children, of whom Nancy, Joseph and John (twins), Peter, George, Philip, Debbie, James and Catherine are numbered with the dead. The others are Sarah, Elizabeth, Susan (wife of Ray Leach), Thomas and Dennis. Thomas Cockerell followed the usual custom of those days by working on the farm during the summer and attending school in the winter. This he kept up until the age of twenty-one, giving what money was earned to his father, and after reaching his majority he worked out by the month for five years. In March, 1857', he married Sarah, daughter of Jacob Shotts, after which he lived and worked on rented farms for a number of years. In 1892, he bought. a place of 95 acres, to which he afterward added 98 acres in Twin township and here he has since made his permanent abode. Mr. Cockerell has always taken a special interest in the cause of education and was a member of the school hoard for twenty-seven consecutive years. His wife, who died in 1881, bore him five children, of whom Rhoda, Hannah, Ollie and Jacob are dead, and Clinton is living with his father in Twin town-ship.
John F. Cook, the well known architect and representative business man of Chillicothe, has an interesting pioneer ancestry. The founding of the family in America originated from a romantic incident. One day during the latter part of the eighteenth century a boy whom his companions called "Sammy" was idling around the wharves of Liverpool, England, instead of going to school where his mother had started him that. morning. But, boylike, he loved to watch the great ships coming and going, with their white sails flapping in the breeze as they rode the waves of the mighty Atlantic. "Sammy" Cook's curiosity finally got the better of him to such an extent that he ventured on board of one of the vessels without knowing that it was then ready to leave the harbor. While he was staring around with wondering: eves, the ship weighed anchor and put to sea, carrying among its other passengers the truant schoolboy. He was, of course, greatly frightened when he found out the real situation, as He was without money, friends or acquaintances on board a ship hound for a port thousands of miles away. When the captain found he had a stowaway aboard, he compelled him to do such work as he could in payment of his passage to America. To this incident, embracing as it does some of the elements of the ludicrous as well as the pathetic, was due the presence of the Cook family in Ross county. The captured boy was landed at Philadelphia, where he managed in some fashion to make his way. Obtaining employment as a "cub" in a carpenter's shop he in time acquired a knowledge of
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the trade and eventually became a contractor. About the year 1806 he caught the "Western fever," as it was called, and company with a party of neighbors migrated to Ohio and settled in Highland county. Some years previously, a family named Troth had come from New Jersey and settled in Massie's bottom near Chillicothe, but on account of the prevalent malaria moved to a more salubrious section in Highland county. This brought about an acquaintance with Samuel Cook and later a marriage between him and Hannah Troth, a daughter of the new arrivals. After reaching Ohio, Samuel Cook had resumed work at his trade, and in 1808 he located at Chillicothe where for many years he did business as a carpenter and contractor. He died in 18:4 and his wife about the same time, leaving a family of three sons and three daughters. One of the latter died in youth but all the others grew up in Ross county, married and reared families. The eldest of these children, named Samuel Cook after his father, was born at Rocky Fork, Highland county, May 20, 1808, and in the same year was taken by his parents to Chillicothe, where he was reared. He did not remain long at school but in boyhood began to learn carpenter work in his father's shop and in time became skillful as a workman as well as shrewd in contracting. In the course of years, he was one of the most prominent and prosperous builders in Chillicothe, many of whose public buildings and private residences owed their erection to him and his brother Joseph, with whom he was in partnership. In 1835, he was married to Ellen Creamer, a native of Ross county, whose parents were early settlers from Ireland and her father a participant in the early Indian wars. She died in 1848, leaving three children : John F., Samuel A. and Sarah E. The latter died at the age of fifteen ; Samuel A. moved to Kansas and from there to Tacoma, Washington, where his death occurred in 1893. In 1850 Samuel Cook took a second wife in the person of Catherine Dowdell, who died nine years later leaving a son named Charles B., who Went to Aberdeen, in the state of Washington, and there died in 1893. In 1862, Mr. Cook contracted a third matrimonial alliance with Mary A. Dowdell, a sister of his second wife. The children of this union, three in number, are Grant L., who resides at Kansas City; Mary H., wife of Edward Evans of Columbus, O.; and Alice B., of Chillicothe. John F. Cook, the eldest child of his father's first marriage, was born in Chillicothe, May 24, 1839, in the house purchased by his grandfather in 1810, which has since remained in the family and is his own present residence. When fourteen years old he left high school to begin work in the carpenter's shop, and never quit the bench until he had completely mastered the trade. But his ambition was higher than that of merely managing an ordinary carpenter shop. In 1858 he began the study of architecture in a Cincinnati office and devoted two years of close application to mastering the intricacies of the builder's art. After an intermission of a few years he renewed his studies at the same place and from
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1865 until 1870 followed the business of contracting and building at Chillicothe. During the rears since then, Mr. Cook has confined himself to the work which belongs in the noble profession of architecture and in that line he holds high rank among his fellow craftsmen. Mr. Cook's military experience during the civil war was confined to his service, in 1864, in Company A, One Hundred and Forty-ninth regiment, Ohio National Guard, which though brief was decidedly spirited and creditable to the soldiers composing the command. They took part in the hard-fought battle at Monocacy Junction, July 9, 1864, where the regiment lost about one hundred and thirty men in killed and wounded. August 19, 1804, the regiment had a skirmish at Berryville, Va., with Mosby's men, during which Mr. Cook was captured but was fortunate enough to make his escape the same day. Mr. Cook has been a member of the Masonic order for forty years, having joined the Blue lodge in 1862, the chapter shortly afterward, the council in 1864 and the commandery in 1806. For twelve years past he has also held membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. December 30, 1869, he was married to Mary F., daughter of John D. Carr, who came in boyhood from Maryland. Mrs. Cook died April 23, 1898, leaving three children: Virgie B., a teacher in the Chillicothe schools ; Ethel E., now Mrs. H. P. Yeaton, of Chillicothe; and Helen F.
Rev. Randolph Cook, the popular pastor of the Christian church at Chillicothe and noted for his fervid zeal and eloquence in the pulpit, though one of the youngest is one of the most progressive of the Ross county ministry. He inherited both his talent and his taste for evangelistic work, as his father, John S. Cook, was a well known minister of the United Brethren church and spent his whole life in the cause of Christ. He married Caroline, daughter of John Rasey, an early settler among the Wyandotte Indians, who has numerous descendants and collateral relatives in the northwestern part of Ohio. Randolph Cook was born in Crawford county, Ohio, January 8, 1874, and when only five days old suffered the irreparable loss of his mother by death. He attended the common schools of his native county until his eleventh rear, when his father moved to Carroll county, Tenn., where he resumed his studies in the preparatory course. When eighteen rears old he entered the high school at Cato, N. Y., where he was graduated with the class of 1892, and in the same year he became a student at Hiram (Ohio) college, made famous by connection with the name of President Garfield. By assiduous attention to duties and unremitting study, Mr. Cook managed to condense the work of a three-years' course at that institution into two years and while there made his first appearance as a preacher of the gospel. After leaving Hiram he spent eighteen months in Missouri as pastor of the Christian churches at Rolla and Richland, followed by a trip
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of fourteen months through the West and ending in a location at McLeansboro, Ill., for a year. Mr. Cook's next move was to Metropolis City, Ill., where he had pastoral charge of the Christian church for two and a half years. While resident there in 1900, he was nominated by the Prohibition party as its candidate to represent Massac county in the legislature and it is an evidence of his popularity that while his party's presidential candidate received 29 votes and its candidate for governor 26, Mr. Cook's poll showed that 623 people cast. their ballots for him. In February, 1901, he accepted the pastorate of the Christian church at Chillicothe, under the auspices of the Ohio Christian missionary society. During the seven years of his ministry he has received four hundred people into the. church, and since locating at Chillicothe he has been instrumental in building a commodious house of worship and increasing the church membership seventy-five per cent. Mr. Cook has been selected as secretary of the Ohio College of Osteopathy, recently established at Chillicothe. December 12, 1899, he was married to Anna L. Mason, of McLeanshoro, Ill.
Dennis Corcoran was born in Scioto township, Ross county, September 14, 1855. His parents were John and Bridget (Cavanaugh) Corcoran, who were born, bred and married in Ireland, and came to the United States in a sailing vessel, which took eight weeks to cross the water, landed in New York and proceeded directly to Ross county, Ohio. A soon as he arrived Mr. Corcoran went to work on a farm by the month, but in a short. time rented land of his own which he operated until 1895, when he retired and is living with his children, in his ninety-sixth year. His wife died in 1899 at the age of seventy-seven years. They had a family of ten children, as follows: Hugh, Dennis, John, Mary (now Mrs. Jacob Baum), Andrew, Henry, Margaret (now Mrs. Samuel Shotts), William, and James (the latter deceased). Dennis Corcoran, the second of the children, received his education in the district schools and remained at home until he became of age. On January 6, 1876, he was married to Sarah Downey, a native of Jackson county, Ohio, and immediately the young couple went to housekeeping in Twin township. Mr. Corcoran worked on a farm by the month for about four years, when he rented and conducted a place on his own account for five years. Then, for some sixteen years, he worked on different farms, until finally he settled down on the place where he now resides, consisting of over 300 acres. He carried on general farming and stockraising, having all his life been an industrious and hardworking man. He was road supervisor for one term and has been a member of the school board. In 1901 he was elected township trustee, which office he now holds and is filling to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Mr. and Mrs. Corcoran have five
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.- 423
children, of whom Emma is the wife of Mick Jones, now living in Portsmouth, Va. ; Ella is married to Thomas Carr, and lives in Twin township ; Clara, Freddie and Charlie are still at home.
Captain Caleb Core was born in Twin township, Ross county, December 14, 1836. His father, Isaac Core, was of Maryland origin, being born in that state in 1708, and when still an infant came to Ohio with his parents in 1800. They settled on Twin creek in Twin township, Ross county, and there Isaac was reared and educated as well as the rude conditions of those days would allow. He remained at home until he reached manhood, when he married Sarah Hymes. They established themselves on a place near the old home farm and lived there for some twenty-five or twenty-six years. Of their family of nine children, Isaac and Sarah J. are (lead; Aaron is in California; Nancy is married to E. R. Wright of Iowa ; Caleb is the subject of this sketch ; Elizabeth is the wife of John B. Yowell of Iowa ; John, Reuben and Mary H. also live in Iowa, the latter being married to R. Stevenson. In 1854, the father moved with his family to Iowa, where he bought a large tract of land, which he farmed until his death in February, 1875, his wife having passed away in 1851 in Ross county. Caleb Core went with his father to Iowa, but. when twenty-one years old returned to Ross county, where he remained about eighteen months. The civil war opening about that time, he went back to Iowa and enlisted in Company B, Third regiment of that state, May 20, 1861. The command was first sent to Keokuk for drill and instruction and from there to Missouri where they were assigned to guard duty on the railroads. Later, they were ordered to Pittsburg Landing and took part in the great battle of that name, many of the regiment being wounded, killed or captured. In the subsequent campaigns, Mr. Core participated with his regiment in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson and many minor engagements and skirmishes, some of which were as severe as the largest battles of other wars. In fact, few regiments made a more brilliant record or rendered more valiant service to the Union cause than the gallant Third Iowa infantry. Mr. Core enlisted as a private and after three years of arduous service was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, as a captain. Some of the regiment re-enlisted, but Captain Core's health was such that it would not permit him to reenter the service. He returned to his home in Iowa and shortly afterward came back to Ross county, where, in 1865, he was married to Eliza M, daughter of Peter and Rachel Porter, and member of one of the old time families. By this union there were nine children : Lilian, wife of W. S. Stevenson of Palmyra, Iowa ; Rose, now Mrs. Charles P. Jamison of Roxabell, Ohio; Rachel C., teacher of Latin at Menominee, Mich. ; Isaac, John, George and Bessie, and two who died in infancy unnamed.
424 - THE COUNTY OF ROSS.
Captain Core owns a large tract of land which he farms by up-to-date methods. In 1883, his first wife died, and in 1889 he was married to Carrie, daughter of John M. and Aletha (Henry) Houser, among the earliest settlers of Ross comity. Captain Core is a Republican in politics, member of the Presbyterian church and of McNeal post, G. A. R., at Frankfort. He has always been as observant of his duties as a citizen as he was loyal and devoted to the cause of his country in the days of darkness and distress.
Daniel Cork, superintendent of the Ross county infirmary, is a native of the county, and a son of Daniel Cork, one of the early settlers. The senior Daniel Cork was born in Harrison county, Va., April 11, 1811, and after the death of his father, accompanied his mother, five brothers and a sister to Ross county, about the year 1830. Of these brothers (John, Jacob, Andrew, Harrison and Joseph), Jacob returned to Virginia and became very wealthy; Joseph did likewise, but later removed to Illinois; John also returned to Virginia; Andrew settled near Bourneville and afterward moved to Illinois; Harrison made his home at Bainbridge and was associated with his brother Daniel, and later built the hotel at Bainbridge that was the largest building of the town. In after years this four-story brick building was taken down and the material used in the construction of business rooms. Daniel Cork, senior, after completing this journey to Ohio, riding horseback all the way, settled at Bainbridge, where there were then but six houses, and became quite prominent as a manufacturer of windmills and as a general carpenter and builder. e also owned a farm on Potts' hill, near Bainbridge, and farmed that, while making his home at Bainbridge, where he died in 1883. His marriage, in 1842, was to Jane, daughter of James Potts, a teamster with the army in the war of 1812, and the first man to settle in the hills east of Bainbridge, the place now being known as Potts' hill, at a time when the hills were full of wild animals from which stock had to be guarded at night. Mrs. Cork died in1878. Eight children were born to her: James, Archibald, Nelson, Harvey, Daniel, Mary, Sadie, Amanda (died in infancy), and Joseph. Daniel Cork, whose name heads this sketch, fifth of these children, was born at Bainbridge, May 12, 1848. e received his education in the Bainbridge school, and in early manhood engaged in shipping cattle for Thomas McCord, of Bourneville. Later he went to Harrison county, Va., the home of his father, and was in the same business there with Cyrus Lynch. On March 20, 1874, he married Elizabeth Holby, and they made their home at Bainbridge, but he soon afterward rented a farm, where they lived for seven or eight years. e next engaged in hotel keeping for a year, and subsequently sold out and removed to Iowa, where he farmed for one year. Returning to Bainbridge, he had
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the contract for carrying mail between that place and Chillicothe six years, and after that for
four years between Bainbridge and Hillsboro. Gaining a wide acquaintance and influence in
the county, there was general satisfaction when he received the appointment, in 1899, as
superintendent of the county infirmary, a position he retains. He and his wife have had eight
children, of whom four--Jennie, May, Benny and Tiffin died in infancy. Josie May is the
wife of Silas Orem, of Springfield, O.; Dennis resides in Union township, and William S.
with his brother; Clark is in business at Springfield, O., and Mahlon is at home.
Joseph B. Cory is a native of Concord township, Ross county, born in 1849. e is the son of Israel and grandson of Nathan Cory, the latter a native of New Jersey who came west with his brother Stephen late in the eighteenth century. After a roundabout trip through Virginia and Kentucky, with short sojourns in each of those states, the brothers reached Ross county, Ohio, in 1797, and there became permanent settlers. Israel Cory, son of Nathan, was born May 25, 1806, and followed farming until the time of his death, which occurred in 1859. He married Elizabeth Baughn, a native of North Carolina, who came with her parents to Fayette county, Ohio, when she was seven years old. She was born in 1809 and lived to the age of seventy-nine, her death occurring in 1888. Israel and Elizabeth Cory became the parents of twelve children, only four of whom are now living. Of these, Martha is the wife of Louis Barr, of Greenfield, Ohio; Mary married Jerome B. Jenkins, of Oklahoma Territory ; William W. resides in Frankfort and Joseph B. is the subject of our sketch. The latter received the ordinary common school education of his day in Concord township and after he grew up entered on the business of farming. In 1873, he was married to Emily A., daughter of Joseph Beard, an old settler of Ross county. She died in 1882, leaving three children : Witter R., of Greenfield ; Grace G., the wife of Dr. D. C. Hanawalt, of Salt Lake City : and Daisy D., stenographer and bookkeeper at Greenfield, O. In 1885, Mr. Cory took a second wife in the person of Grace E., daughter of Wallace W. Ross, of Fayette county, O. They have two children, whose names are Harry H. and Virginia Ruth. Mr. Cory is a member of the Missionary Baptist church.
Merritt A. Cory was born in Concord township, Ross county, December 10, 1847. Ile is the son of Levi Cory, born December 31, 1801, and fourth child of Stephen Cory. The latter was a native of New Jersey, born October 10, 1773, and he was married in that state on August 17, 1795. Stephen became imbued with the desire, then prevalent in the coast states, to join the procession in its advance upon the great western wilderness. Accompanied by his brother Nathan,
426 - THE COUNTY OF ROSS.
he removed first to Virginia, from there to Kentucky, and eventually to the Scioto valley, to which the tide of migration was then running strongly. It was in 1797 that they reached Ross county, which they determined to make their future abiding place. Stephen Cory did his share towards clearing the wilderness and lived to see that part of Ohio enjoying the highest order of civilization, his death not occurring until December 18, 1853. His son Levi received but a limited education and upon reaching manhood went to Cincinnati in search of work. He became an employee of the famous hotel on the corner of Front and Broadway streets and remained there during the winter of 1828. From there he went to Circleville, thence to Springfield, and finally located at Frankfort, where he engaged in business until the financial panic of 1837. While the industrial depression was prevailing, be converted his property into Chillicothe bank paper, and when that institution resumed specie payment for two days, he exchanged his notes for coin, with which he bought large tracts of land in Concord township. On this estate he lived until the time of his death, which occurred November 24, 1879. His wife was Nancy B. Rose, a native of Virginia, who came with her parents to Ross county when about twelve years old. She died March 24, 1877, leaving three children, a son and two daughters. The eldest of the latter is dead ; the other, now Mrs. E. R. McCafferty, is a resident of Concord township. Merritt A. Cory, the only son, received a common school education and on reaching his majority settled down to farming, which business he has followed all his life. January 22, 1879, he was married to Jennie L, daughter of John J. Augustus, an old resident of Ross county. Mr. and Mrs. Cory have two sons, Carl and Reed. The political affiliations of Mr. Cory have always been with the Republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and for several years has been connected with the Masonic order, being one of the active spirits of Lodge No. 309, at Frankfort.
Austin Matlack Courtenay, D. D., pastor of the Walnut street Methodist Episcopal church at Chillicothe, is a man of more than ordinary attributes, both personal and professional. Born in St. Louis, Mo., April 22, 1850, he received a thorough and liberal education, having the benefit of the public schools of his native city, supplemented by attendance at an excellent private academy in Maryland which was followed by a course in the higher branches in England. After leaving college, Dr. Courtenay lost no time in entering the ministry, which he had long had in view as his lifetime profession. Under the itinerant system peculiar to his denomination, he served as pastor of congregations in Maryland, including the cities of Lonaconing, Cumberland, Hagerstown and Baltimore. In the last mentioned place he filled four pastoral terms to the emi-
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. - 427
neat satisfaction of his charges in that great commercial center. Dr. Courtenay was next assigned to successive charges at Alleghany City and Meadville, Pa., and while at the latter place filled the chair of lecturer on Christian Evidences in the Alleghany college. In 1898 he was appointed to the pastorate of the Walnut street Methodist Episcopal church at Chillicothe, where he has since remained in most pleasant relations with his congregation and in the enjoyment of general esteem. Aside from his pulpit ability, Dr. Courtenay is a gentleman of varied reading, and has received. from Dickinson college the degree of D. D. He is a writer of force and versatility, and for years has been contributor to church papers and the magazines. Dr. Courtenay's papers are always read with avidity by people interested in such matters. In 1871, he was married to Florence Valliant, of Maryland, who died in 1897, leaving three children : Austin V., in the employment of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad company at Baltimore, and Misses Florence and Amy. Dr. Courtenay is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has reached the Knights Templar degree.
Aaron Cox, who resides near South Salem, Ohio, belongs to a family which has been prominently connected with the interests of Ross county for more than a hundred years. His father, Thomas Cox, born in the early part of 1801, lacked only five years of rounding out a century of existence and was the oldest native resident of Ross county at the time of his death in 1896. During all of his active manhood, a period extending over seventy years, he was an influential citizen and active participant in the affairs of his county. He was a son of Jefferey Cox, who came from Maryland to Ohio as far hack as 1780 and settled on Paint creek when but few white men could be found in all that region. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and late in life removed to Indiana where he ended his days. Thomas Cox cleared the land in which he spent his long and useful life, passed through all the struggles and hardships of pioneer life and devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pursuits. He married Sophia DeVoss, born in Kentucky in 1804 and brought to Ohio by her parents when three years old. She lived to the age of seventy-five, her death occurring March 19, 1879. Thomas and Sophia Cox reared a family of six children, of whom only two are now living. The eldest of these is Dr. John M. Cox, who was born in 1824, and has been a practicing physician at South Salem for forty-eight years. Aaron Cox, the other living son, was born in 1831, reared and educated in Buckskin township, his present residence being within one mile of the place of his nativity. He has known no other occupation than that pertaining to the soil and he has been engaged in farm work from his earliest boyhood. At the age of twelve he was driver of an old horse power threshing machine
428 - THE COUNTY OF ROSS.
and he ever afterward retained connection with this feature of the agricultural industry. Mr. Cox lived to see the various transformations or "evolution of the thresher," as it may be called, which culminated in the finely improved modern machine run by steam power and one of which he now owns and uses in his business. In September, 1853, Mr. Cox was married to Mary E., eldest daughter of Martin and Nancy (Fagan) Bailey. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Cox was Richard Bailey, who came from England during the Revolutionary war, located in Ross county about 1800 and served as a soldier in 1812. Martin Bailey was born January 5, 1809, and by his marriage with; Nancy Fagan had nine children. Besides Mrs. Cox, the other eight children are Catherine, wife of Jackson Nichols; Harriet, wife of Milord Walter, of Illinois; Daniel Bailey, of Missouri ; David Bailey, of Twin township ; William Bailey, of South Salem; Josephine, wife of Jerome Hollaway, and John Bailey, of Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Cox have four children living. Their eldest son, John C. Cox, is superintendent of the reform school of Indiana; Thomas J. is in the mill business at. South Salem ; Edgar is a stationary engineer in Cincinnati; and Ida is the wife of Josiah Bell, of South Salem. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are adherents of the Presbyterian doctrine and have long been members of the church of that denomination at. South Salem.
Andrew M. Cox, one of Scioto township's esteemed farmers, finds relief from agricultural duties by fulfilling calls as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which capacity he is favorably known throughout Ross and neighboring counties. The branch of this numerous family to which he belongs is of Scottish origin. In the early part of the nineteenth century his grandfather, John Cox, was brought from the land of Bruce and Burns by his parents, who bought land in Highland county near Leesburg and lived there until the end of their days. When John reached manhood he was married to Jynsie Garrett, settled upon the family homestead and followed farming until his death. Of his eight children, Louis, Rebecca, Minerva, and Eliza, are dead; the living are Wesley, Edward, Charles, and Harriet, wife of Samuel Sellers of Highland county. Charles Cox remained with his parents until early manhood, when he married Edna Johnson, born and bred in Highland county and daughter of Jesse Johnson. With his bride he settled on a leased farm near Leesburg, where he remained about three years and then removed to Peru, Ind. Here he obtained license to preach as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was engaged in evangelistic work for five years. At the end of that time, he returned to his old place in Highland county, where he was living at the opening of the civil war having entered into a contract to supply the federal government with horses, he left home with a carload for some
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. - 429
distant point and was never again heard from by his family or friends. After the disappearance of her husband, the widow moved to Leesburg, where she reared her family and is still residing. She had eight children, of whom the first three in order of birth, Charles, Wesley and John, are dead. The others are Andrew M. ; Mary, wife of John Myers, of Leesburg: Martha, wife of T. J. Brakefield, of Greenfield, Ohio; Harriet, wife of William Leverton, of Leesburg; Emma, wife of Austin Hill, New Lexington, Ohio. Andrew M. Cox, fourth of the family, was born in Peru, Ind., August 3, 1852, and when thirteen years old was compelled to work on a farm for monthly wages to assist in support of the household. This life of labor continued until he reached his twenty-first year, when he was married to Mary Smith, of Fayette county, with whom he settled on a farm near Goodhope and remained there about four years. Afterward he removed to Belle Center, in Logan county, and during his residence there his wife died after becoming the mother of three children: Clara, wife of William Collins, of Pickaway county; Cora, wife of James Harkless, of Ross county, and Edna, deceased. From Belle Center, Mr. Cox returned to Fayette county, where he cultivated a rented farm for two years and married Isabelle Edgington, a native of Ross county. Shortly afterward he located at Washington Court House, where he had accepted a position with White & Ballard, dealers in agricultural implements. At the expiration of a year he moved to Ross county, spent two years as a renter and then purchased the place known as Bishop Hill. About. this time he was licensed to preach and accepted the charge known as Byer's circuit, in Jackson county, which he filled for two years. After a residence in the parsonage at Byer for a year or two he bought the farm of 150 acres in Ross county which has since been his home. While his time is principally devoted to farming, Mr. Cox occasionally preaches when called on to supply neighboring pulpits. By his last marriage he has three children: William, Floyd and Fannie.
Merrett Cox, of Gillespieville, Ohio, was born in Ross county, on February 2, 1855, his parents being John and Ruth (Dixon) Cox. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1799 and came to Ross county at the age of nine years, his parents settling in Chillicothe, when there were but few stores in the place, and these were constructed of logs. They only remained there one year, and then moved to Middlefork and spent the rest of their days there. John Cox died in 1884, after a successful life as a farmer. Merrett Cox was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He has devoted his whole life to farming and stock-dealing; handles large quantities of stock of all kinds, and owns about seven hundred acres of land, which he farms in a general way by up-to-date methods. He is recognized
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as one of the leading agriculturists of his township, and one of its most thrifty citizens. Mr. Cox is not an office-seeker, but has held the positions of supervisor and road and school director for several terms. In 1878 he was married to Maggie Clipner, of Vinton county, daughter of Daniel and Catharine (Edwards) Clipner, who were former residents of Guernsey county, O. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have six children, whose names are Clifford C., Alpha M., Rose Ethel, Annie May, Ruth, and Ray M.
The Coyner Family :--The old German name of Keinadt became softened into Coyner after a due process of mellowing in the climate of America. One Michael Keinadt and Margaret Diller, his wife, located in Lancaster county, Pa., where a son was born to them August 8, 1708, who was christened John and was the first who spelled his name Coyner. He accompanied his parents to Carlisle in 178 9 and from there crossed over into Virginia, where he found a wife in the person of Hannah Lavel, who was born in 1778. In 1814, John Coyner turned his face westward and after a tedious journey across mountains and down rivers reached the garden spot of the Scioto valley known as Ross county. e picked out Concord township as a desirable locality and settled on a farm near the village of Frankfort, which was the scene of his subsequent operations. The memorials in Greenlawn cemetery, near by, inform us that John Coyner departed this life September 8, 1852, at the age of eighty-four years, and that his faithful wife, who survived him four years, sank to rest in 1850. John and Hannah Coyner gathered about them a numerous family of children, of whom the following is a complete list: Margaret, Elizabeth, Sarah, Susan, Hannah, Jane, Harriet, Julia Ann, Jemima, Rebecca, Christian and David. From these children, most of whom married and reared families, have sprung the large number of Coyners and their relatives under other names, who are scattered throughout Ross county and other Ohio counties as well as distant states. Margaret married Martin Grove and had eight children, four of whom are living; Elizabeth became the wife of Martin Peterson; Sarah first married Edward Shobe, her second husband being John Beard ; Susan married Jonas Peterson ; Hannah, George Clouser; Julia A., Erasmus Tullys ; Jemima, William Fisher; Rebecca, Richard Waugh ; Christian married Elizabeth Teter, had a large family, and moved to Iowa where he died. David, youngest child of John Corner, was born in Augusta county, Va., April 4, 1812, and was only two years old when his parents rested from their long journey near Frankfort. As soon as he was old enough he embarked in farming on his own account and became one of the successful men of his community. June 5, 1834, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Adam Mallow, founder of one of the most extensive and influential of Ross county families. The records
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in the family cemetery near Frankfort state that David Coyner passed away September 29, 1892, but his wife survives at the age of eighty-four years. The following summary disposes of their large family of sons and daughters : Jane married Samuel Bryant and now lives in Missouri; Martin is a resident of the same state; Albert lives in Indiana and Noah at Frankfort, Ohio ; John A. is at the old homestead ; Hannah M. married G. M. Eichelberger and lives in Fayette county; Martha married George Hanawalt, of Concord township ; Emma D. married J. B. Seelig, now living in the same township.
Albin Crabb, member of the school board and one of the trustees of Deerfield township, has long been prominent in the affairs of that part of Ross county. He is a son of James H. Crabb, a native of Ross county, who lost his father in infancy and when sixteen years old became an apprentice to the tailoring trade. In due time he opened a shop at Frankfort and shortly afterward was married to Ruth Brown, of Ross county, and continued business at the same place until 1862. In that year he abandoned the occupation of a tailor, purchased a small farm in Deerfield township and removed there for permanent residence. e engaged in stock-raising and miscellaneous agriculture and so continued until 1891 when, feeling the approach of age and need of rest, he disposed of his place to his son Albin and returned to Frankfort. There he lived in retirement until his death, which occurred in 1897 when he was eighty years old. Three of his nine children, George D., Ada M. and Charles L., are dead. The others are : Jennie, wife of John Rhodes of Marion county, Ohio ; Eleanora, wife of George Pierce of Ross county ; Hamer, also of Ross county : Emma R., wife of R. H. Morrow, of Illinois; Albin, subject of this sketch ; and Laura A., wife of D. E. Clark of Illinois. The mother, at present residing in Illinois, makes her home with the different children of the family. Albin Crabb was born at Frankfort, O., November 25, 1856, and married Miss Rose Corkwell, of Pickaway county, October 29, 1885. For seven years after his marriage, Mr. Crabb lived in Fayette county, near Washington Court House. About that time he purchased his father's home place of 95 acres, to which he subsequently added 54 acres, removed to and has since cultivated the same. He has been successful in his operations as a farmer and stockraiser and is one of the well-to-do citizens of his community. Mr. and Mrs. Crabb have seven children, all of whom are living except Nellie, the fifth born, who died in infancy. The others in order of age are as follows : Ruth A., Hattie L, Ralph W., Lois, Rose G. and James C. Mr. Crabb is one of the trustees of Deerfield township and a member of the school board.
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Thomas B. Craig was born in Twin township, Ross county, November 20, 1868. e is a son of A. P. Craig, born in 1825, and grandson of John Craig, the latter probably of Pennsylvania birth. He married Priscilla Morgan, a native of the last mentioned state, and they came to Ohio early in the century, settling in Twin township, Ross county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and received from the government the land on which he located. His family of children number nine, of whom all are dead but Aleck, who lives in Illinois, and Allie, who married David Mathews, of Pike county, Ohio. Both parents are long since dead and rest side by side. in Concord cemetery. Their son, A. P. Craig, remained at home until a young man, attending subscription school in winter and working out by the month in sunnier. So matters went. along until his marriage to Elizabeth J. Latta, which occurred on March 30, 1848. Their first venture was on a farm now owned by S. Rosebaun, where they lived a year and then went to the old Craig homestead in Twin township. Here they remained until 187, when Mr. Craig bought the farm of 133 acres, where his widow still lives in Concord township. Besides farming, he carried on a timber business and later merchandised at Roxabell. Aside from his inheritance, he had accumulated considerable property at the time of his death, which occurred on August 11, 1900. e was the father of six children, of whom Phoebe, Margaret, Sarah A. and William C. are dead. John C. lives in Fayette county, O., and Thomas B. is the subject. of this sketch. The latter has remained at home during his entire life and still resides with his widowed mother on the old homestead. He was in charge as manager for several years and. since his father's death has had absolute control of all the business. January 30, 1901, he was married to Flora S., daughter of William Lane, an old settler of the locality. Mr. Craig farms in a general way and raises stock, being regarded as a good business man. He is a. member of the Improved Order of Red Men at Frankfort. and of the Presbyterian church.
Albert. J. Creamer, teacher of writing and drawing in the public schools of Chillicothe, is one of the most accomplished artists in his line to be found in Ohio. He has devoted his whole life to study and practice of his profession and has taught with success at various places. Mr. Creamer was born in Fayette county, Ohio, March 26, 1854, and received a thorough education in the place of his nativity, supplemented by subsequent attendance in the schools of Lebanon and Xenia. All the time he had in view the preparation of himself for the calling he subsequently entered upon, and being studious as well as ambitious he eventually became a finished penman and draftsman. His first work after completing his education was at Toledo, Ohio, where he spent seven years in teaching the arts of writing and
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drawing, his pupils being largely made up of teachers anxious to qualify themselves as instructors in these special branches. Mr. Creamer also taught in a commercial school in the city mentioned and here acquired the practical training for future work in the same line. Leaving Toledo he was for three years engaged in conducting a commercial school at Washington Court House, and he also taught in the public schools of that place for some time. In the fall of 1895, he came to Chillicothe to accept charge of the writing and drawing classes and has since continued to hold that position with entire acceptability to school officials and patrons. Mr. Creamer is not only a teacher of eminence but a successful author. e has published a series of books of instruction for use in public schools which have proved popular and met with a good demand. Mr. Creamer is a gentleman of high moral character and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from his earliest boyhood. His sympathies are with every movement that "makes for righteousness" and is intended for the uplifting of humanity. His fraternal connections are confined to membership in the order of the Modern Woodmen of America. In 1882, Mr. Creamer was married to Flora Mitchell, of Highland county, and the union has been blessed by the birth of five sons : Mitchell, Harry, Scott, Paul and Clifford.
Reason Cross is a native of Hocking county, Ohio, born April 27, 1840. His parents were John and Drusilla (Climer) Cross, both Virginians, the first born about 1803 and the latter in the year 1800. In 1823, when about 20 years old, John Cross came to Ross county and worked at the saddlery trade for several years. From this he went to work on a farm by the month and about the same time was married to Druisilla Climer. She came to the county with her parents, who settled on Walnut creek in Liberty township. Shortly after their marriage, they removed to Lancaster and from there to Hocking county, where John Cross rented a farm, but later returned to Ross county where he spent the rest of his life. They had eleven children, whose names are Elizabeth, John, Hester Ann, Sarah, Harriet, Miranda, Joseph, Reason, Charlotte, Emily J., and Mary, the latter dying in infancy. The mother died on March 22, 1873; the father afterward married Eliza Payne and died in 1890. When he was ten years old, Reason Cross ran away from home and worked out by the month until he was sixteen, when he returned home and remained there until 1860. He then rented a farm of his own, which he operated until some time after the breaking out of the civil war. On August 13, 1863, he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-ninth Ohio regiment, which was mustered in at Camp Dennison. He served with his command in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee, going with the army of the Cumberland to Chattanooga, where he
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was wounded in the leg and captured. Eleven days later he was paroled and went into the field hospital at Chattanooga for a few weeks. After considerable wandering and short stops at various places, Mr. Cross finally rejoined his regiment, with which he remained until mustered out. He was in many engagements, including Kenesaw Mountain, Peachtree creek, Jonesboro and others. At the close of the war the regiment was sent to Camp Dennison, where it was mustered out of the service on June 7, 1865. As soon as released, Mr. Cross returned home and soon afterward settled on a farm where he lived until 1880. He married Mary Sampson, who was born in Union township on May 6, 1850, and they have had four children, of whom William lives in Pickaway county, Florence is dead, Ethel and Carleton are at home. Mr. Cross is a member of the W. H. Lutz post, No. 338, G. A. R., at Yellow Bud.
John Crouse, Sr., one of the most notable of the pioneers of Ross comity, was son of a man of German or Dutch extraction, and the Lutheran or Reformed faith, who, about the year 1754, came to America with his wife Nancy Smith, and eldest child, Mary, who was born in England in 1751, married John Wagner between 1765 and 1767 in Frederick county, Md., and died there in 1828. The second child, a daughter, probably born in Frederick county, married and came to Ross county, and from there went to Whitewater in western Ohio. The third child, John, was born January 13, 1759, in what is now Carroll county, Md. In his youth John Crouse, Sr., was a man of convivial habits, learned the trade of a tailor and was no mean performer on the violin. About the middle of June, 1776, he enlisted for six months, at Fredericktown, Md., in the cause of the Revolution, as a private soldier in a company of the Flying Camp from the state of Maryland, enrolled by Capt. Jacob Good, of Col. Chas. G. Griffith's regiment, which was attached to Gen. Rezin Beall's brigade. e is said to have also served with credit about fourteen months in the latter part of the war. After his return from the war he lived near Sam's creek, in Frederick county. On March 20, 1780, he obtained a license in Frederick county to marry Catharine Umsted, a daughter of Nicholas and Ann Davis Umsted. She was of Welsh extraction and then about sixteen years of age. On May 14, 1782, as a "distiller," he had conveyed to him five acres of land on the east side of Dollyhide creek on the road from Fredericktown to Baltimore, a few miles east of Libertytown, where he ran a mill and turned much of the grain into whiskey. In 1788 he moved to Orange county, N. C. ; next to Huntington county, Pa., and then with his wife and six children came to the Northwest territory in April, 1798. In that year he bought from William McCoy and John De Rush an unprofitable venture of theirs in the form of a very small and
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unfinished log corn-cracking mill, run by an undershot-wheel in Kinnikinnick creek, Ross county, and started the year before, on section 19. He bought this corn cracker in order to get their right by possession to section 19, which they perfected by a credit system entry on the sale sheets of the land office on May 16, 1801. He constructed a clam farther up the creek on section 20, which John De Rush entered on May 16, 1801, made a race on the north side of the creek and "built the first mill on Kinnikinnick creek and the first flouring mill in the valley" (Pioneer Hist. of Ross Co.). It is said that "the United States government gave him a section of land for building this mill." Here he built up and for about nineteen years conducted a large milling business. This period of his life was marked by a steady and rapid accumulation of land in Ross, Pickaway and Delaware counties. On his arrival at Kinnikinnick creek he built a rude shelter or cabin on the south side of the creek. Here he remained a short time and there constructed his residence, where it still stands. The mill from disuse and neglect fell down in March, 1886.
On June 21, 1803, the qualified electors of Green township met at his house to elect three justices of the peace for the township. No record of those chosen has been found, but in view of the circumstances, his popularity, the place where the election was held and the fact that three years from this time, April 15, 1806, he was appointed a justice of the peace for three years, it is very safe to presume that he was one of the three elected and hence one of the first justices of Green township.
His popularity was evidenced at an election held on the second Tuesday of October. 1803, to choose a senator and four representatives from the counties of Ross and Franklin in the state legislature. At that election he carried his own township by a comfortable majority and was voted for in seven of the thirteen townships. By the year 1809 he had accumulated considerable property and was a wealthy man for his day. e is said to have added to his flouring mill a distillery, which proved a profitable venture and during the war of 1812 made a large profit on whiskey. About the year 1816 he built a brick house on the northeast quarter of section 29, now owned by his granddaughter, Mrs. George W. Gregg, and he, his wife and two children--Jeremiah and Eliza--moved into it during the next year. He then retired from business, his son John succeeding him at the mill, receiving it and the old homestead as a gift from his father, the title passing by deed in 1823, and now vested by purchase in a grandson of John Crouse, Sr., Matthew Ferguson, who resides on it during part of each year. The dwelling has always been in the possession of the family and is now occupied by the children of his granddaughter, the late Mrs. Mary Bennett. In the year of 1816 he gave land to
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Crouse's (then Lakin) Chapel, and to the Methodist Episcopal church at Salem, Pickaway county. On September 27, 1823, in his sixty-fifth year he divided by deeds over 5,000 acres of land among his six children. He had given them possession of it some years before. Two thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine acres of it were in Green township, 1,280 in Pickaway township and 823 acres in Delaware county. Afterward he gave his daughter Eliza 320 acres in Salt Creek township and Ruth acres in Green township, making in all 5,440 acres given to his children.
About the year 1825 he, his wife and son Jeremiah, moved to Kingston, where he had bought from his daughter Eliza's husband, William Ferguson, lot No. 4, and had built a house thereon, very much like the one he had just. left. Somewhat altered it stands today. While a resident here he bought lots in and land adjoining Kingston and gave a church lot and parsonage to the Methodist Episcopal church and practically built the church. In 1829 he was a school director, and on April 9, 1834, was chosen first treasurer of the corporation of Kingston.
Methodism in Kingston seems to have made little progress toward a church building after he gave his attention to the organization and construction of Lakin chapel in 1806; but in 189, after he moved to Kingston, the first church building, a brick chapel to be used by the Methodist and Presbyterian churches, was erected there, and on March , 1832, he deeded to Matthew Ferguson, Henry May, William Ferguson (Presbyterians), Michael Saylor, Ezekiel Bunn and Philip Piper (Methodists), a half acre of the northwest. quarter of section 3, and the brick house thereon in trust for a place of worship for the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, the northwest corner of said lot to be used temporarily for District School, No. 2. On March 16, 1835, for a nominal consideration, he conveyed to himself, David Lewis, Evan Stevens, John Crouse, Jr., and Win. Justice, of Ross county, and Michael Sayler and John Cox of Pickaway county as trustees, lots Nos. 1 and 2, at southeast corner of Main road to New Lancaster and Sassafras alley, in Kingston, in trust for the use of the Methodist Episcopal church in Kingston, the house to be used as a parsonage for the traveling preachers who from time to time labor in the circuit. In the year 1837, through his influence and liberality, the Methodists, although the weaker denomination, bought out the Presbyterians and to confirm this change he, on March 6, 1843, deeded to John Crouse, Jr., Alexander Campbell, Thomas Parker, Robert Wright and William Patrick, the half acre in section 3, east of Kingston, in trust for the use of the Methodist church. Again, on January 17, 1S46, he deeds to O. P. C. Evans, Thomas Parker, Robert. Reat, Joshua H Gay, Herman D. Bunn, Isaac Franks, Bethenal Blair and Henry Piper, this half acre in trust for that
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church. His wife died in Kingston, September 12, 1845, aged 81 years, 4 months and 11 days, and was buried at Crouse chapel. On October 1, 1846, he married Mary McCartney at the residence of his grandson, William W. Entrekin, in Pickaway county. He died September 5, 1847, at his home in Kingston, leaving his second wife, who died August 5, 1850, and his children Ruth, John and Eliza surviving him. He was buried at Crouse chapel. By giving most of his property to his children he escaped the modern disgrace of dying rich. His grandson, Daniel C. Entrekin, administered on his estate.
John Crouse, Sr., had eight children: David, born April 20, 1781, died April 14, 1837, married January 13, 1807, Elizabeth Boggs ; Nancy, born January 16, 1783, died June 16, 1845, married December 9, 1801, John Entrekin ; Ruth, born January 28, 17 87, died February 3, 1864, married January 18, 1807, Samuel Whitsel ; Pheraby, born February 12, 1790, died November 17, 1811, married 1811, Samuel Swearingen; John, born September 12, 1792, died July 25, 1856, married June 13, 1817, Lydia Barr; Daniel, born 1798, died 1812: Jeremiah, born 1804, died 1832; Eliza, born June 27, 1806, died June 9, 1889, married William Ferguson, who reaped wheat for her father the day she was born.
John Crouse was not only one of the first settlers of Ross county but one of its wealthiest men and largest land owners. Being known as a man of the highest integrity, he was often selected as administrator of estates and legal guardian of orphans. He was a man of marked characteristics, was enterprising, energetic, persevering and frugal, "thorough going" and successful in anything he undertook. He was a public spirited and useful citizen, interested in all branches of the government. His house was open to the politician for elections and to the militia for trials. His fortune was not accumulated, nor the foundation for it laid in his early years, but in the prime of his life amid adverse and dangerous surroundings. His later years, in striking contrast to his youth, were strictly religious. He was an observer of the Sabbath according to Puritanical rules. He was one of the first Methodists in Ross county and he and his wife, whose family in Maryland were prominent Methodists, were the first members of the Methodist society in Kingston about the year 1800, before Lakin chapel was organized and when preaching services were held in private houses. For a man of as limited educational advantages in English branches he could deliver an extraordinary sermon, and was, from the plain clothes such as used to distinguish the Methodists of his day, often taken for a Methodist preacher. He was a patron of education, a school director, a founder and supporter of the little log school house which has done so much for our civilization. His house was the recognized home of the school teacher and the
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musical instructor, as well as the preacher. He had been an extensive traveler for those early days and probably traveled with his eyes open and wits about him, and hence received that best of all educations, that of experience. Before his fortieth year he had traversed the states of Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio and had resided in four of these states.
Allen Cryder, of Hopetown, Ohio, is a native of Springfield township, Ross county, where he was born on January 10, 1847. His parents were Jacob H. and Elizabeth (Overly) Cryder, both residents of Ross county from birth to death. The grandfather of Allen Cryder was Jacob Cryder, w ho come from his native Pennsylvania to Ross county the year in which Chillicothe was founded and there spent the remainder of his days. He married Rebecca Downs, of Pennsylvania, who died in the house that is now the residence of her grandson. The ancestors of Allen Cryder formerly owned many acres of land in Springfield township and the family now owns over 118 acres of the original property. Jacob A. Cryder, father of Allen, was born in Ross county in 1825 and followed farming as his life's business. He owned 250 acres of land and was one of the leading farmers of his township. He died in 1877 and his wife, who was a daughter of John and Sarah Overly, Pennsylvanians and early settlers of Ross county, died in 1870. They had a family of eleven children, of whom five are still living. Their son Allen was reared on the farm and has followed that occupation all his life. He still owns his portion of the old homestead place and in addition rents and cultivates a large farm, and conducts a dairy business at his home place, which is the old Haynes' homestead. Though a lifelong Democrat in politics, he has cared nothing for office and never sought nominations. In 1875, Mr. Cryder was married to Hortense Moore, a native of Ross county, by whom he has had seven sons and two daughters, all living. His only fraternal connection is with the Odd Fellows, he being a member of the lodge of that order at Chillicothe.
Andrew Cryder, of Gillespieville, Ohio, was born in Springfield township, Ross county, on January 11, 184;1. He is the son of David H. and grandson of Manuel Cryder. The latter was a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ross county about the year 1798 and died there at the age of sixty-six. He married Eva Ness, who became the mother of six children, all of whom are dead. The father of Andrew Cryder was born in 1815 and followed farming as a business. At one time he was a director of the county infirm He married Caroline, daughter of Andrew and Mary (Ott) Poe, who came to Ross county about the year 1800 and spent the
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rest of their lives there. The father was from Virginia and the mother from Pennsylvania. The family was related to Edgar Allen Poe, the famous poet. Andrew Cryder's father died in 1880 and his mother four years later. They had seven children, of whom five are living. Andrew grew up on a farm, was educated in the common schools and has always followed farming as an occupation. He came to Liberty township in 1873 and that has been his place of residence ever since. In 1882, Mr. Cryder was married to Emza Ross, daughter of William and Jane Ross, of Ross county. William was the son of Adam and Margaret (Homer) Ross, while his wife was a daughter of Isaac and Sarah Ross, pioneers of Ross county. The father of Mrs. Cryder now lives in Chillicothe, his wife dying in 1875. They had a family of eleven children, of whom nine are still living. Mr. Andrew Cryder and wife have had a family of ten children, of whom Clifford, Jackson, Grace, Roy, Clarence, Wade, Bessie, and Marguerite are living, and Ada and Howard are deceased.
David Cryder, of Gillespieville, was born in Springfield township, Ross county, on March 20, 1844, son of David H. Cryder, elsewhere mentioned in this work. e was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools and has devoted his whole life to the farming business. In 1873, Mr. Cryder came to Liberty township and he bought the farm he now owns in 1886. It consists of 135 acres and is devoted to general farming with no specialties. On January 2, 1883, he was married to Almira, daughter of Jacob T. and Nancy (Dixon) Calvert, both of Ross county. Jacob T. was the son of Henry D. and Amy (Taylor) Calvert, born June 1, 1822, and his wife, born in 1821, was the daughter of Daniel Dixon, a pioneer of Ross county. David Cryder and wife have had five children, of whom four are still living: Madge M., Blanche G., Lawrence E., and David C. There is one child dead, whose name was Charles.
James Poe Cryder, of Gillespieville, was born in Springfield township; Ross county, on October 26, 1851. His parents were David H. Cryder and Caroline Poe, the latter being a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Ott) Poe, who were early settlers of Ross county. Through his mother, Mr. Cryder has relationship with Edgar Allen Poe, the famous author and poet. James Poe Cryder was reared on a farm and attended school at Circleville and Chillicothe. His first intention was to take holy orders and for a while he studied for the ministry, but this was eventually abandoned. Mr. Cryder's tastes were naturally literary and he evidently inherited the turn as well as talent for poetry, which so distinguished the name of Poe. Much of Mr. Cryder's time has been expended in writing poetry and stories. e also owns a farm which has had some share
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of his attention and he has also been a book agent at times. In 1873 he removed to Liberty township and that has ever since been his home. In 1882 he was married to Marie, only daughter of Marion and Jane (Graves) Hagely, both of Ross county. Marion was a son of Henry and Rebecca (Stevenson) Hagely and grandson of Isaac Hagely, who came to Virginia from Germany, but later removed to Ross county, where he died. Rebecca Stevenson was a daughter of William Stevenson and a Miss Davis, the former being a second cousin of Robert Louis Stevenson. Marion Hagely is still living in Jefferson township, his first wife having died in 1864, leaving only the one child, Marie. His second wife was Nancy Stratton, by whom he has two children, Annie F., and Charles E. James Poe Cryder and his wife have a family of three children. Of these Maud Ethel was educated in the Londonderry high school and is now a teacher. The other children are Genevene E., born in 1885, and Claud L, born in 1887. Mrs. Cryder is a refined, educated lady , and taught school for several years.
John Cull, well known in the city polities of Chillicothe, is a member of an extensive connection of that name which originated in the famous "Emerald Isle." In the early part of the nineteenth century one of those brave and bustling Irish mothers of County Down found herself a widow with several children and but limited means for their support. The only hope was that held out by the land of freedom across the water, and in this direction accordingly Mrs. Cull resolutely turned her face, accompanied by three children, with whom she landed at New York City in 1837. Previous to that time a son by the name of Daniel B. Cull had begun study for the priesthood in Ireland, subsequently left there for the United States and continued his theological studies at Bardstown, Ky. In due time he was ordained as a priest, sent to the diocese of New York under Archbishop Hughes and stationed at Saratoga, where he remained until his death. When the other brothers, Roger, Charles and John, reached American shores, they hastened to Ohio, eventually located in Ross county and there all of them ended their days. John lived a life of bachelorhood ; Roger married and reared two children, a son and daughter, both of whom are residents of Loveland, O. Charles Cull, who was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1809, engaged in the cooperage trade at Chillicothe, which he followed steadily about eighteen years. In 1855, he embarked in the hotel business at the corner of Water and Hickory streets, which he conducted until the time of his retirement in 1801. There lived in Mr. Cull's native county in Ireland a family by the name of McShane, who emigrated to this country some time after the Culls came over, and located in Perry county, O. Among the children was one named Mary, who grew up to be a very attractive young
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lady, and to this neighbor from old County Down Charles Cull was eventually married at her Ohio home. Mrs. Cull died in 1894, Mr. Cull in October. 1896, and they were the parents of a family of unusually bright and interesting children, of whom the following are brief biographies: Daniel B. Cull, Jr., the eldest son, was educated for the priesthood and after being ordained was stationed in the Columbus ( Ohio ) diocese where he served until his death, which occurred in 1888. Charles W., second in order of birth, was reared in Chillicothe and adopted railroad work for an occupation, which he has always followed, for the last twenty-five years being a resident of Montgomery county. O. John Cull was born in Chillicothe, O., in 1854, here grew to manhood and was engaged for a number of years in railroad work on different lines and at different places. In 1891, he abandoned this calling and returned to his native city where he has since resided. He served one term as councilman from the sixth ward and in the spring of 1901 was elected city street commissioner for a term Of two years. Edward J., fourth of the Cull brothers, was also born and bred in Chillicothe, and in early life became a member of the newspaper profession, to which he has since devoted his energies. For many years he has been connected with the Scrips--McRae League publications, with headquarters at Cincinnati and Cleveland. Mary Cull was reared and has always lived in Chillicothe; Margaret and Anna L. are members of the order of Sisters of Charity: Elizabeth was graduated as a trained nurse at the Good Samaritan hospital in Cincinnati and is employed there in the line of her calling.
Charles Cunningham, deputy sheriff and turnkey of Ross county, was born in Green county, O., March 13, 1868. His parents were Isaac and Martha (Bradford) Cunningham, both native Ohioans, the former of Ross and the latter of Athens county. For many years the father was a business man in Chillicothe, but is now retired. Besides Charles there are two children, William being a liveryman in Chillicothe and Jennie the wife of H. C. Powell, of the same place. Charles Cunningham received his education in the schools of Chillicothe and was graduated from the high school in 1883. Shortly thereafter he went to Washington, D. C., and served one year as messenger in the house of representatives. Returning home in the spring of 1885, he was employed in his father's business until January 7, 1901, when he was appointed by Sheriff Devine as deputy and turnkey of the county jail, the duties of which position he is at present performing. In 1890, Mr. Cunningham was married to Nellie, daughter of John Doll, of Chillicothe, and graduate of the city high school. She is a practical hairdresser by occupation, and owner of a hair store on High street. Both husband and wife are members of the Episcopal church, and he is a Democrat in his politi-
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cal views. Ralph, who was born in May, 1891, is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham.
Arthur G. Curry is a native of Bourneville, Ross county, O., where he was born on November 26, 1871. He is the son of George B. Curry, whose father died when he was seven years old and on whose young shoulders the family responsibility devolved as soon as he was old enough to work. He was engaged at labor by the month until his marriage to Nancy Summers, when he went to housekeeping on a rented farm. He farmed exclusively for about twenty years, when he embarked in the threshing and saw mill business. George and Nancy Curry had nine children, whose names are Emma, William R., Arthur G., Ida M., Anna, John, Harry, Sherman and Abraham. Arthur G. remained at home until his marriage to Miss Artie Daugherty, which took place on June 6, 1895. Mrs. Curry was a native of Highland county, Ohio, and there the newly married couple lived for two years, when Mr. Curry purchased the 165 acres in Twin township where he now lives and has since made that his home. He is, however, more interested in the timber business than fanning, though the latter is not neglected. He learned the blacksmith's trade and followed it for four years, but was compelled to give it up on account of ill health. Mr. and Mrs. Curry have three children, whose names are Orien, Darrell and Ethel.
Isaac DeLong has long been known as one of the worthy and successful farmers of Colerain township, Ross county, which is the place of his nativity and has been the scene of all his' life's work. He is one of that class of quiet men who do their duty as seems to them right, attend strictly to their own business and meddle as little as possible with outside affairs. The family is of Pennsylvania origin. The grandparents lived and died in the old Keystone state, but their son Henry at an early age left his native place and sought a home in southern Ohio. He located in Ross county, went to farming, and in course of time accumulated a competence, owning 160 acres of land and other property. He became one of the trusted citizens of his community, and was called on to fill such positions as those of supervisor and member of the school board, which he (lid acceptably. Henry DeLong married Mary Mowrey, whose parents were Pennsylvanians, settled in Ross county at an early period of the State's history. Isaac, son of Henry and Mary (Mowery) DeLong, was born in Colerain township, Ross county, Ohio, January 27, 1837. He grew up on the farm of his father and from earliest youth was made familiar with the work connected with agricultural pursuits. When he became of age be entered into the same business on his own account, and that he has met with suc-
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cess as a general farmer and stockraiser is shown by the fact that be now owns 260 acres of land and is otherwise well-to-do. He has been so closely occupied by his regular business that he has had neither time nor inclination to seek office, the only official position he ever held being that of school director. November 29, 1862, he was married to Mary Leasure, who was born in Colerain township, March 25, 1839. She is a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Strawser) Leasure, both natives of Colerain township, and the former a son of Thomas and Hannah (Cutshaw) Leasure, who were early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. DeLong have had nine children, all living except Letitia, the fourth born. The others in order of birth are Susan, Lavina, Rosa, Edward, Jesse, Newton, Alberta and George. The family in religious connections are divided between several denominations, Mr. DeLong being a Lutheran and Mrs. DeLong a Presbyterian, while most of the children are members of the United Brethren church.
August Desehler, examiner of engineers for the Fourth district of Ohio, was born in Chillicothe, September 6, 1854. His parents were John and Mary (Kramer) Desehler, both natives of Baden, Germany. The father's first marriage took place in the old country and he brought his wife with two children to Chillicothe, Ohio, in the early forties. He engaged in market gardening and this business he followed all his life. The first wife died in Chillicothe, leaving three children, John, Victor and Mary. The latter became a sister of Notre Dame, in Cincinnati, and died there in 1882. John is a meat merchant at Indianapolis. Victor discontinued his trade as a miller, by reason of impaired health, and made a fortune in market gardening. The father's second wife was Mary Kramer, who became the mother of August Desehler, the subject of this sketch. He received a common school education in Chillicothe and apprenticed himself to the machinist's trade in that city. After a year's employment in Cincinnati, he returned and was engaged with the Chillicothe foundry and machine works until 1873. For a number of years he was the chief engineer of the Ross County Infirmary, but about 1882 he started a repair shop on his own account. His business was that of erecting engineer for all kinds of machinery. e continued in this line until 1900, when he was appointed to the position which he now holds, as examiner of engineers. The appointment was for three years and is a salaried position under the state government. The fourth district, of which he has charge with headquarters at Chillicothe, embraces nineteen counties in southern Ohio. Mr. Desehler was married in 1874 and his wife died in 1882, leaving four children, Frank A., Mary, Joseph A. and Charles. The first named has charge of his father's machine shop, and all still remain at home. November 27, 1884,
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Mr. Deschler married Philomena Gerrer, a native of Chillicothe, who taught school in her girlhood days, is a member of the church choir and in many was a lady of accomplishments. Mr. Deschler is a member of the National association of Stationary Engineers, the Columbus Club of Chillicothe, a charter member of the Knights of St. George and for twenty-seven years has belonged to St. Ignatius society. His church relations are with St. Peter's Roman Catholic, of which he has been a lifelong member. In 1893--94 he served as a Democratic member of the Chillicothe city council. He has always been a public spirited and enterprising citizen. Starting in the world without a dollar, he has been successful financially, as a result of his own hard work and self reliant judgment. Having obtained his own education with difficulty, by attending night schools after performing his day's labor, he was able to appreciate its importance, and when his own children came he was careful to give them the best advantages afforded by the schools.
James A. Devine, sheriff of Ross county, was born in Roxabell in the same county, on April 25, 1874. His parents were John and Mary (Goodwin) Devine. John Devine, born in 1845:, at Frankfort in Ross county, was a soldier (luring the civil war, serving in both the cavalry and infantry arms of the service, being a member of the Fourth battalion Todd's Independent Scouts. His wife was born in Ireland in 1843, and came to America in a sailing vessel when a child of seven years. Her mother having died in Ireland, she was brought to this country by an uncle, her father having preceded them. Mrs. Devine has distinct recollections of this trip, which was a great event in her young life. The voyage lasted some seven or eight weeks and its incidents were indelibly impressed on her mind, to he often dwelt upon in after life. Mr. and Mrs. John Devine had a family of two sons, of whom James A. was the eldest. His brother, Michael Thomas, a clerk in a mercantile house at Frankfort, married Lucy Hester of that place and has one daughter, Elizabeth M. James A. Devine received his education in Frankfort, and was graduated from the high school on his sixteenth birthday. He worked on a farm for a few months and then accepted the position of deputy postmaster, which he held for three years. After this he obtained a more remunerative employment with John N. Blue in the mercantile and machinery business, which ho retained for three years, when his employer sold out. However, he remained with Mr. Blue's successor until appointed deputy sheriff on January 1, 1897, when he removed to Chillicothe. He was sworn in as deputy finder Sheriff A. T. Swepston and served in that capacity for four years. In the fall of 1900 he was himself elected sheriff, and he took charge of the office January 7, 1901. Mr. Devine was the only Democrat on the local ticket that was elected
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to office, the county having given a plurality of 400 for McKinley at that election. This fact of itself is sufficient to attest the wide-spread popularity of Mr. Devine and the public opinions of his qualifications for an important county office. It was a distinguished honor that comes to few men in the difficult and ungrateful game called politics. October 30, 1895, Mr. Devine was married to Maude F. Coyner, a native of Champaign county, Ill. Her father, N. M. Coyner, now of Frankfort, was formerly a miller at Austin, Ross county. The family is of old Virginia stock, being established there as far back as the seventeenth century. Mr. Coyner was a soldier (luring the civil war, as also were several of his near relatives. The Devines were likewise conspicuous as patriots in the various wars of the country. Mr. and Mrs. Devine have two sons, Richard Paul and Thomas Bernard. Mr. Devine is a member of the A. O. U. W., the Modern Woodmen of America, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Hibernians, the Columbus Club, lodge No. 52, B. P. O. E., and the Eintracht Singing Society. Himself and wife are members of St. Mary's Catholic church, under the pastorate of his cousin, Rev. A. D. Dexter.
Rev. Alfred D. Dexter, pastor of St. Mary's (Roman Catholic) church in Chillicothe, is a native of Ross county, born near the town of Frankfort. His parents were George M. and Mary (McNally) Dexter, the former a convert to the church. He attended the common schools in and near his native village, completing the studies as far as they went. Afterward he entered Mount St. Mary's seminary at Cincinnati, where he continued his studies for nine years, one of which he spent in the philosophical and three in the theological departments of the institution. After his graduation he was ordained on September 23, 1876, by Most Rev. Archbishop Purcell. He celebrated his first mass on the following Sunday and delivered his first sermon in St. Mary's church, Chillicothe. His first appointment was as assistant in Kenton, O., where he remained for five years, one of which was spent as assistant to the pastor at Bellefontaine. He was then transferred to Marysville and missions where he remained until his appointment to the pastorate in Chillicothe. During his pastorate in Marysville he built a beautiful church in Mechanicsburg, a mission connected with Marysville. A summary of the history of St. Mary's and the various pastors who have had charge from the beginning will prove of interest at this point. On June 7, 1837, Rev. Henry Juncker was appointed first resident pastor of Chillicothe by Archbishop Purcell. During his pastorate Father Juncker purchased the Episcopalian building and gave it the name of St. Mary's church. In this the faithful worshiped until the dedication of St. Peter's church on August 30, 1846. In time the number of Catholics increased so greatly that
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it was determined to organize another congregation. This was done in December, 1849, under the direction of Rev. George Carroll, who was the first pastor of the congregation. In September, 1851, Rev. Thomas Boulger succeeded to the pastorate. In 1852, a large building on Second street was purchased from the Methodists and used as a church until the new building on South Paint street was erected. Father Boulger in 1854, and he in turn gave place to Rev. J. N. Thisse in September, 1855. The latter was a very popular priest who greatly endeared himself to his congregation. He gave way in 1860 to Rev. Michael Kennedy, who three years afterward was compelled to relinquish his charge on account of ill health. Rev. T. J. Tierney was pastor from 1863 until the time of his death, which occurred on September 6, 1865. On September 17th of the year last mentioned, Rev. John B. Murray took charge of the congregation and it was during his long incumbency that the new St. Mary's church and pastoral residence on Paint street were erected. The cornerstone was laid by Archbishop Purcell on April 7, 1867, and the dedication took place on August 15, 1869. No other pastor did so much as Father Murray to build up the parish of St. Mary's. He was beloved by his flock and universally respected by the citizens of all denominations. In March, 1883, Father Murray was transferred, and in August of that year Rev. James J. O'Donohue took charge. After a successful pastorate of four years, he was succeeded in September, 1887, by Rev. Patrick A. Quinn, who was compelled by ill health to retire after two years' service. It was on September 23, 1889, that Rev. Alfred D. Dexter, the present pastor, took charge of the large and flourishing congregation of St. Mary's. The church has prospered under his pastorate, as he spares no efforts for the advancement and welfare of the parish. He is very popular with the congregation, their relations realizing the true christian ideal represented under the figure of the shepherd and his flock. The following societies are connected with the church and are in a flourishing condition : Young Ladies' Sociality, Married Ladies' Sodality, Sacred Heart society, St. Aloysius Sodality, Holy Family Society, Children of Mary, and A. O. H. The principal material and financial achievement during Father Dexter's pastorate was the securing of a new cemetery. A tract of land bequeathed by Miss Margaret Watts, a convert and devoted member of St. Mary's, as a legacy for religions purposes, was converted into a cemetery under an association organized and chartered in 1892. The cemetery plat contains about. twenty-one acres and was consecrated on November 22, 1892, by Msgr. Windthorst, assisted by Rev. Father Dexter, and named St. Margaret's in honor of the generous donor.
James A. Dexter was born in Concord township, Ross county, on September 13, 1847. His father, George M. Dexter, was a native
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of Lincolnshire, England, born June 4, 1816. At the age of seventeen he came to the United States with his parents, who located in Concord township, Ross county. Having a good education, he followed school teaching as a profession in the counties of Ross and Warren. Later he became a farmer and pursued that calling until the time of his death, which occurred on May 4, 1882. In August, 1845, he was married to Miss Mary McNally, a native of county Derry, Ireland, who died in 1886. They had four children, James A. Dexter being the second in order of birth. He received his primary education in the schools of his district, supplemented by attendance at a collegiate academy, then conducted in Chillicothe by Prof. George Kelley. These earlier acquisitions were greatly increased in after years by extensive reading and study on the part of Mr. Dexter, whose tastes were naturally literary and his thirst for knowledge ever acute. This tendency led him to write for the press and his articles always exhibited wide and varied information expressed in the best literary style. All this, however, was merely 'diversion and mental exercise, as the main business of Mr. Dexter's life has always been that of farming. At the death of his uncle, John McNally, which occurred in December, 1879, Mr. Dexter became his principal heir, and among other property inherited from him was the valuable farm two miles west of Frankfort. This, which is among the best improved agricultural land in Ross county, has since been the home of Mr. Dexter. The affection of Mr. McNally for his nephew and confidence in his integrity is attested by the fact that by his will he constituted him sole executor without the requirement of a bond. He has never aspired to office, but has filled local positions by the unsought suffrage of his neighbors. Among these were the offices of school director and justice of the peace. While serving in the latter capacity he officiated at the trial of some of the most important cases ever tried in the township, and as evidence of his impartial judgment and fair decisions it can be stated that none were ever carried to a higher court. His political affiliations have always been Democratic and formerly he participated actively in party management, but in later years has contented himself with voting, leaving the actual work of politics to others. Mr. Dexter performed a valuable service to the people by the part he took in the movement to relieve Ross county from the burdens inflicted by the out-of-date system of toll roads. To him, more than to any other, was due the release of the Frankfort and Herrod's Creek turnpike from this obsolete obstruction to progress. The Dexter family are all devout communicants of the Roman Catholic church. The subject of this sketch has long been a pillar of the faith at Frankfort and one of the mainstays of his religious society at that place. His brother, Rev. Alfred D. Dexter, is the much beloved pastor of St. Mary's church in Chillicothe.
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On January 25, 1893, Mr. Dexter was married to Joanna A., daughter of John and Catharine Powers, of Union county, Ohio. The ceremony was performed at St. Mary's church in Chillicothe by the brother of the groom. They have three children, whose names are Alfred Dominick, Mary Kathleen and Elizabeth Maurine.
Henry Dillman, a prosperous trucker and fruit-grower of Scioto township, is a worthy sample of the good citizenship obtained by Ross county through German channels. Many years ago, Adam Dillman left the place of his birth in Darmstadt, Germany, and came to America in search of his fortune. Before leaving the old country he had thoroughly mastered all the details of the brewing business, and this knowledge proved valuable to him over here as it enabled him to get employment readily in his own line. At that time Cincinnati was famous for its beer and a kind of headquarters for brewers, besides being very popular as a residence city for Germans seeking homes in the United States. Young Dillman therefore, found himself amid very congenial surroundings when he landed in the "Queen City of the West" and lost no time in identifying himself with her great industrial interests. With German pluck and energy he soon "caught on" and was one of the promoters and founders of Moerlein's brewery, which afterward became one of the leading establishments of its kind in Ohio. It so happened that a family named Dryer, natives of the same German province as Adam Dillman, had crossed the ocean about the time that. he came over. The Dryers had a slow passage of six months' duration and after landing proceeded directly to Detroit, where they remained a few years and then removed to Chillicothe, Ohio. With this family when they reached the United States was a little daughter just four years old, named Mary, and after she grew up to be an attractive young lady and was on a visit to Cincinnati, she met Adam Dillman. It was a case of mutual admiration and in due course it was announced in the papers that the popular young brewer had been married to Mary C. Dryer. By this union there were six children: John, killed during the civil war; Peter W., died when quite small; George W., of Chillicothe; Henry, and Mary C., wife of David Curren, of Union township, Ross county. The father continued in the brewing business until his death, which occurred in 1854 as the result of an attack of cholera. A few years afterward, the widow married Joseph Nyer, by whom she had two children, Joseph (deceased) and Frederick, and died in 1890. Henry Dillman, fifth of the children by the first marriage, was born in Cincinnati, February 13, 1853, and as will he observed from the dates, was only a year old when he lost his father. Few infants have lived to reach manhood after passing through the trials and tribulations that afflicted the subject of our sketch. He
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was attacked by the cholera epidemic which scourged Cincinnati in 1854 and was actually laid out for burial at one time, being saved only by the earnest entreaties of his mother, who insisted that a spark of life still remained. Safely over this he had to run the gauntlet of diseases usually fatal to infancy, passing successively through the scarlet fever, black smallpox and the measles. He was four years old before he had learned to walk, and yet this child, persecuted with all the misfortunes of Job and over and over threatened with death, lived to be considered the strongest man in his township. When Mr. Dillman reached the age of eighteen he obtained railroad employment and followed this occupation for twelve years. Afterward he worked as a farm laborer in different states until 1873, when he was married to Angeline Drummonds, of Cincinnati. He located on a farm of 50 acres in Liberty township, which he purchased three years later and greatly improved during the eighteen years of his subsequent residence thereon. Eventually, Mr. Dillman sold this place and purchased another of 43 acres in Scioto township, which he has since used for trucking and fruit growing. Under great disadvantages be has conquered success and is at present in very comfortable circumstances. He holds the position of school director, was road supervisor in Liberty township and was the principal promoter of the Musgrove pike. Mrs. Dillman and their only child, George Adam, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and his own leanings are in the same direction.
Dudley O. Diggs, deceased, late of Lyndon, Ohio, is well deserving of notice in any history of Ross county, as he was connected with its agricultural interests and general development for over sixty years. His parents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Desper) Diggs, both natives of Virginia, and descended from ancestors long settled in the state. The family trace their origin to English emigrants who came over as far back as the middle of the seventeenth century. Thomas Diggs served in the war of 1812 and died in his native state at the age of forty years. His family consisted of seven children. Dudley O. Diggs, the third, was born in Louisa county, Va., September 26, 1812. But little opportunity for learning was afforded agricultural communities in Virginia at that period, but young Diggs was ambitious and availed himself of every chance to increase his stock of knowledge. In fact, his natural inclination was towards educational affairs, as was evidenced by his abandoning farm work when twenty-one years of age in order to engage in teaching. In 1833, he left his native state for the West and soon after arriving in Ohio joined the ranks of educators in Ross county. The famous "old log school house" was then much
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in evidence, and in one of these Preceptor Diggs "wielded the rod" for twelve full terms. But a man of Mr. Diggs' breadth of mind and natural business acumen could hardly be content in the narrow field that confined the "early-day" pedagogue. The rich valley of the Scioto, where his lot had been cast, offered great inducement to agriculturists, and our Virginia emigrant resolved to join the hosts who were cultivating the fruitful soil of Ross county. In 1838, he bought and cleared one hundred acres of land in Buckskin township. This estate was added to from time to time until he owned 1,160 acres of land which, under his skillful management, was highly improved and much increased in value. In short, he became by degrees and enlarged experience, one of the most competent as well as one of the most prosperous farmers in his adopted country. He is a good representative of the best class of self-made men, as his success in life was chiefly due to his self-taught lessons and independent efforts, aided of course by correct business methods and integrity in dealing. The result was a measure of financial prosperity unusual among farmers and creditable alike to the character and ability of Mr. Diggs. In November, 1835, Mr. Diggs was married to Sophia Houston, a native of Pennsylvania, who came with her parents to Ohio in early girlhood. They lived together for more than fifty years, until her death in March, 1886. The second wife of Mr. Diggs was Amanda Bragg, a Virginia lady, to whom he was united in 1886. Their union resulted in the birth of three children : Charles, Corinne and Altha Virginia. Though he took the interest of a good citizen in political contests, Mr. Diggs was never a seeker of office, the only official positions held by him being those of trustee and treasurer of his township. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church at South Salem, as is also his wife who survives him. Mr. Diggs died July 6, 1899, at the age of eighty-six years.
Columbus Dixon, of Gillespieville, Ohio, was born in Ross county on August 3, 1851, his father being Joseph Dixon, who is mentioned in this work. Columbus Dixon was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native township. He has pursued farming as an occupation all his life and ranks high among those who best understand the principles of this calling. e makes a specialty of breeding Jersey cattle, and is regarded as one of the most successful in that line in the country; is widely known as a dealer, and has sold stock in nearly every state of the Union. At the leading public sale of Jersey cattle in the United States for ten years, held in 1898, Mr. Dixon sold eighty head for $8,000. He had one of the twenty-five Jersey cows on exhibition at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893. This prize-winner was named Pridalia, No. 17249, and was one of the finest bred cows in America. Mr. Dixon's place is known far and wide as the Edgewood Stock Farm,
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and consists of 500 acres of land one mile from Londonderry. September 8, 1872, he was married to Mary C. Du Bois, daughter of Solomon and Maria Du Bois, natives of Ulster county, N. Y., who came to Ross county, Ohio, about the year 1636. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have four living children, whose names are Laura, Ada, Roy C. and Mildred.
Simon R. Dixon, an extensive landowner in Ross county and dealer in thoroughbred cattle, is a member of a family long settled in Liberty township. His grandfather, Joseph Dixon, came from North Carolina. to Ross county in 1804 and a few years later started the pioneer grist mill, whose musical burrs proved a welcome novelty in that sparsely settled region. This primitive meal-maker was established in Liberty township and remained in the family for generations, being conducted by the founder until his death and afterward continued by his sons. To this day it is known as the Dixon mills. The pioneer Joseph Dixon was thrifty as well as shrewd and industrious, and by the time of his death had become owner of a large amount of land. He married Ann Ratcliff in the old North State, who shared his fortunes. in Ohio and became the mother of several children, among the number being a namesake of her husband. This son, Joseph Dixon, the younger, born in 1814, was trained to work in the mill, and after his father's death in 1834 took charge of the business and conducted it to the end of his own life, a total period of forty years. He married Winnie Sophia Walker, who was born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1815, and came to Ross county in girlhood. They located in Liberty township, where the remainder of their lives were spent, the wife dying in 1870, and the husband in November, 1874. Of their ten children five are now living. Joseph Dixon left a valuable estate, including about 800 acres of land, the homestead place being owned conjointly by Columbus. and Fulton, two of his sons. Simon R. Dixon, third in order of birth of the children of Joseph and Winnie S. Dixon, was born under the parental roof in Liberty township, September 5, 1836. He remained with his father until about twenty-four years old, when he engaged in farming on his own account. He has risen to be one of the leading farmers and stock-dealers in the county, well known as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and owns 600 acres of land in the vicinity of his home. In 1870 he built a fine residence between Vigo and Londonderry, and everything about his place bears evidence of good management and prosperity. Mr. Dixon has figured influentially in all the affairs of his township, serving several years as trustee, member of the school board for two decades and two terms as commissioner of Ross county. He has been conspicuous in the advocacy of good government and good morals, being a life-long supporter of the temperance cause and every movement
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calculated to advance it among the people. In 1860, he was married to Mary A., daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Ross) Jones. Her grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Cox) Jones, pioneers from New Jersey in Ross county in the early part of the century. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon became the parents of thirteen children, of whom Mary P. died in childhood. The others in order of birth are Ella, Alma, Minnie, Charlie, Annie, Elizabeth, Edwin, Ethel, Vernon, Harry, Grace and Edith. Mr. Dixon and wife are members of the Society of Friends, in which the former has long been a leader and prominent worker.
William R. Dixon, of Tucson, was born in Harrison township, Ross county, Ohio, on March 5, 1864. e was educated in the common schools of his district and entered upon the duties of farming, which has been his occupation throughout life. Mr. Dixon's industry and perseverance have been rewarded with success and he owns 160 acres of good land where he has lived for ten years. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers of Harrison township, where he has spent all of his life. Mr. Dixon has long been an active Republican but has never been an aspirant for office, however, he is often sent. as a delegate to the various conventions of his party and had this honor conferred upon him for three years in succession. October 5, 1898, Mr. Dixon was married to Mrs. Ellen Stanhope of Harrison township, the widow of John I. Stanhope, and daughter of Isaac Wolford.
Samuel Dresbach, late a citizen of Colerain township, was an extensive farmer and stockdealer of Ross county, owning 800 acres of land, all of which was acquired by his own exertions during a long and laborious life. His father, Martin Dresbach, was a native of Pennsylvania who in the spring of 1812 married Mary Ever, born February 10, 1783, and daughter of Abram Eyer. Samuel Dresbach was born in Colerain township July 4, 1817, and in early manhood married Hannah Ranck, whose birth occurred in the same neighborhood January 16, 1833. Her parents were Lewis and Sarah (Wolf) Ranck, both of Berks county, Pa. (the former born August 1, 1798, and the latter November 21, 1801), who came to Ross county in 1833 and settled in Green township, where the father died May 24, 1870, and the mother February 13, 1881. They reared a family of five daughters and one son. Samuel and Hannah Dresbach became the parents of twelve children: Martin, William, Josiah, Sallie, Lewis, Ella, John, Nelson, Clayton (deceased), Jennie, Susie and Grant. Since the death of the father, Samuel Dresbach, February 15, 1874, the homestead has been occupied by his widow and the two youngest children. John Dresbach, the seventh child, was born October 28, 1860, has been a farmer since
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reaching manhood, and owns 143 acres of land. In 1883 he married Ida, daughter of Uriah C. and Elizabeth (Pontious) Bender. The father was a Virginian who settled in Colerain township and ended his days there, his wife's death occurring while traveling from Pennsylvania to Ohio. John Dresbach and wife have six children: Elsie, Gracie, Samuel, Cleo, Lula and Marie. The father is a member of Hallsville camp, No. 9543, Modern Woodmen of America. Josiah, third child of Samuel and Hannah Dresbach, was born May 10, 1855, is a farmer with 143 acres of land, married Nancy E. Albin in 1876 and has four children : Emma, Ollie, Charles and Walter. U. S. Grant Dresbach, youngest of Samuel's children, and his sister Susie, own part of the homestead estate left by their father and live on the same with their widowed mother. May 29, 1895, Grant Dresbach was married to Ada, daughter of John Camp, of Green township, and they have three children : Earl, Myrtine and Garold.
Jacob Dump, of Chillicothe, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, born August 12, 1832. When a babe only eight weeks old he was brought by his parents to Ross county and he has spent the most of his life in Chillicothe. His parents were Bernhardt and Christina Dump, both natives of the German state above mentioned. The father was a basket maker and followed that occupation in connection with farming until his death, about 1854. The mother died in February, 1890, at the age of eighty-six. Of their family three sons and one daughter are living. Of these, Samuel is a railroad car inspector at Springfield, O., George is a farmer near Sedalia, Mo., and Rebecca is the wife of George Hall, a farmer of Pickaway county. Jacob Dump, the subject of this sketch, learned the trade of an iron worker in Ross county, to which in later years he added working in wood. For about thirty years he did an extensive business in carriage building, giving regular employment to from ten to fifteen mechanics. Since the introduction of modern machinery so revolutionized the business, he confines his work to local demands for repairing and some other features not monopolized by the large concerns. He has been constantly in this business for about fifty years, having made and lost several fortunes. His losses are attributed partly to unscrupulous partners, more largely to bad accounts and loaning money to friends who did not appreciate his kindness. Mr. Dump has never been sick a day in his life, is noted for his jovial and companionable disposition and counts his friends by thousands, no man in Ross county being more favorably known or better liked. His reputation is that of being an honest man and sincere friend of the distressed. When twenty-two years old, he was married in Chillicothe to Rachel Tedrow, a native Ohioan. This lady died after eight years of wedded life, and Mr. Dump took for his second wife Sarah Knedler, who still survives. Three chi-
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dren were the fruit of the first union: Allen, engaged in the carriage and bicycle business in Chillicothe ; John, a carriage painter and foreman of a large shop in Cleveland, and Jane, who is married to a resident of Tacoma, Wash. To the second union two daughters were born : Georgia, the wife of Charles Taylor, now living in Cleveland, O., and Ollie, the wife of Edward Bosley, a clerk in a large clothing store in Dayton, O. For more than thirty-five years Mr. Dump has been an Odd Fellow and he is a past grand of that Order. Politically he is a staunch Republican but the only office he has held is that of councilman.
Addison Dwyer, residing near Lyndon, Ohio, is one of the most promising of the younger generation of Buckskin township farmers. He is a son of Cary A. Dwyer, who for many years was in the front rank of agriculturists and stockraisers in Highland county, of which he was a native. After a long and exemplary career, he quit active business and is now living in retirement at Greenfield. Addison Dwyer was born in Highland county and there received his early training in matters connected with farm life. When twelve years old he went to Fayette county, Ohio, where he lived until the time of his marriage. This event occurred in 1890, the lady of his choice being Lilly, daughter of Archie Main, of Buckskin township. Mrs. Dwyer is a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Ross county, her relatives for years having been connected with the progress and development of that part of the state. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Dwyer resulted in the birth of three children, whose names are Hazel, Archie and Mabel. Both before and since his marriage, Mr. Dwyer has devoted his entire time to agricultural pursuits. He carries on general farming, but pays considerable attention to raising stock and feeding the same for market. He leads a quiet and unassuming life, attends closely to his business and enjoys the general respect and good will of his neighbors.
James E. Eckle, a resident of Frankfort, is a native of Fayette county, Ohio, born February 28, 1871. His father was John Eckle, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio in 1826 when a young man and settled in Ross county. He afterwards removed to Fayette, but later returned to Ross county, in which he has since resided. When the civil war commenced, he enlisted in the Seventy-first Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served for three years. His health was broken by his army service to such an extent that he never entirely recovered. He married Mary Jane English, a native of Ross county, who died in 1874, leaving five children. James, the youngest of these, is the subject of this sketch. He was educated in the common schools of Ross county, and when he reached manhood commenced life as a farm hand and employee in a dairy. He fol-
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lowed this occupation until 1897, when he located in Frankfort and entered the livery business, which he still continues. March 4, 1897, Mr. Eckle was married to Essie McCollister, daughter of John McCollister, an old resident of Ross county. They have an only child, whose name is John.
Samuel Edgington, veteran of the civil war and successful farmer, is descended from one of the pioneers who was identified with Ross county almost from the time of its organization. His grandfather, John Edgington, came from his native state of Virginia as early as the year 1800 and located in Huntington township. There he cleared land, built a house and reared a family. His son Robert was born on this homestead place in 1811, and in due time became a farmer, which pursuit he followed throughout life. His death occurred in 1862, just one year before that of his father, who survived until 1863. Robert was the father of Samuel Edgington, whose birth took place in Huntington township in 1842. He received the principal part of his education in the old Baptist school which was at that time one of the institutions of that locality. Samuel had just reached the age of eighteen when the civil war cloud burst over the country with all its dire possibilities. Like many another youth, both North and South, he hastened to take sides in what was to prove the event of all their lives. Looking around for a. congenial organization, young Edgington selected Company I, Eighty-first. regiment Ohio infantry, in which he was duly enlisted. This command was mustered in at Camp Dennison and saw its first service under Fremont in Missouri. It was part of the mighty force which afterward joined in the great battle of Shiloh, or, as it is often called, Pittsburg Landing. Subsequently, Mr. Edgington took part with his regiment in the Atlanta campaign and participated in the severe fighting before the city. Mr. Edgington received his discharge from the army at Camp Chase, Ohio, in October, 1864. In April, 1866, he was married to Jane Ralston, descendant of a family which dates its residence in Ross county from the latter part of the eighteenth century. Her father, Robert Ralston was born in Huntington township in 1798 on a place settled by Benjamin Ralston, one of the earliest arrivals from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Edgington have two children, of whom Robert remains with his father and Allan is farming in Ross county. Since his retirement from the army, Mr. Edington has devoted his life exclusively to agricultural pursuits, including the raising of stock and fruit.
Albert L. Ellis, superintendent, of the city schools at Kingston, Ohio, was born in Vinton county, Ohio, January 15, 1849. His parents were Edward W. and Amanda (Crumbaker) Ellis, both
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natives of Muskingum county, Ohio. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days on a farm, attending the district schools in season, and after acquiring an education sufficient to teach he took up that profession and taught his first term in 1869. This he kept up for several years, teaching in the winter and attending school during his vacations. He first entered the Ohio university at Athens, and later the National Normal university at Lebanon, and graduated in the scientific course from that institution in 1874. He was then selected as superintendent of the Kingston schools and after successfully handling them for four years, he decided to return to his Alma Mater and complete the classical course in that excellent institution, graduating in 1880. He was then selected as the superintendent, of the Blanchester schools, where he remained four years, and in 1885 was again chosen as the superintendent of the Kingston schools, and it is creditable to note that he has been continued at their head ever since. Under his able management the schools of Kingston are in excellent shape and rank as second to none in Ross county. Mr. Ellis spends much of the time during his vacations, of late years, in managing his fine farm of 150 acres near Kingston. This affords him much needed rest and recreation and invigorates him for his scholastic work. On May 1, 1873, Mr. Ellis was married to Hattie M. Orr, daughter of Jeremiah and Maria (Kelley) Orr, old and respected residents of the vicinity of Chillicothe, where Mrs. Ellis was born December 1, 1854, and where she was reared, attending the district schools, also the Chillicothe high school, and later the National Normal university at Lebanon. After returning from Lebanon, she successfully taught for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis have had two children, Romney J., who died in infancy, and Albert Dane, born October 2, 1889, and now a student in the Kingston schools. Both Mr. Ellis and wife are active members of the Methodist. church, both are teachers in the Sunday schools and Mr. Ellis takes great interest in the Epworth League and its grand work. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having attained the Knight Templar degree. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis stand high socially and are classed among the first families of the county.
Martin Enderlin, trustee of Scioto township, is a contribution from Germany to the citizenship of Chillicothe. His father, John Martin Enderlin, became involved in the revolutionary troubles of of 1848 which resulted in a loss to Germany of many of its bravest men, like Carl Schurz, and the consequent benefit to the United States, as most of them sought refuge here. The elder Enderlin went so far as to raise a company of soldiers for the revolutionary cause, hut, as his side was unsuccessful, he was forced to flee and in 1852 made the ocean voyage to this country. He. located at Chil-
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licothe, where in 1854 he was joined by his wife and eight children. His trade was that of a tailor, which he followed in Chillicothe for several years in connection with the grocery and saloon business. His death occurred July 16, 1897, his wife surviving him only a few months and dying November 18 of the same year. Five of their children are living and three of them are residents of Chillicothe. Augustus, the eldest of the sons, came over with his father in 1852 to avoid enforced military service in the German army, and died in this country July 1, 1860. Martin Enderlin was born in Germany, July 10, 1841, and was brought. to this country by his mother when thirteen years old. As soon as he reached competent age he became an apprentice in the confectionery business and followed that for several years. In 1861 he joined Company A, Twenty-second regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, with which he served during his term of enlistment. After his discharge, Mr. Enderlin spent six months at Indianapolis and then went south, where he followed his occupation in various cities and states, from Kentucky to South Carolina. While at Nashville he was engaged in the three days fight between Hood and Thomas. In the latter part of 1865 he returned to Chillicothe, where he worked in a bakery for a year, subsequently spending a year each in Waverly and Jackson, Ohio, and finally settling at Chillicothe in the grocery business with his father. In 1871, he lived a couple of months in the Canadian city of Montreal, but not liking the prospects returned to the United States and spent the subsequent eight years at Oil City, Pa. Coming back to Chillicothe in 1879 he has since made his home in that city, engaged in various occupations. In 1885, Mr. Enderlin was elected city marshal of Chillicothe. He served one term in that office, and was also a member of the sanitary police force for three years. April 7, 1902, he was elected trustee of Scioto township on the Democratic ticket, receiving a majority of 283. He was married at Nashville, Tenn., in 1865, to Jane Butler of that city, and of their six children five are living : John, of Chillicothe; Mary, wife of James Tannehill, of Pittsburg; Lizzie, wife of James Shears, of Chillicothe ; Ellen, married Edward Eddinger, of Chillicothe, and died October 22, 1898 ; Richard and Barbara, residents of Pittsburg. Mr. Enderlin is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Hezekiah England, for many years a farmer of Huntington township, is one of the little army of civil war veterans who did so much for Ross county's glory in the days of the country's need. He was born in Hocking county, Ohio, November 15, 1835; in childhood lost both of his parents by death, and when about twelve years of age came to Ross county to live with uncles in Huntington township. September 8, 1859, he was married to Deborah Cockerell and
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shortly after "set up housekeeping" on a small farm, by the cultivation of which he was making a living and doing fairly well at the outbreak of the civil war. August 13, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company G, Eighty-ninth regiment. Ohio volunteer infantry, which served for awhile in West Virginia and shortly after the battle of Stone river was sent to re-enforce General Rosecrans at Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived February 7, 1863. From there it moved to Carthage, and shortly after joined Rosecrans' main army at Murfreesboro. It next joined in the movement against Bragg, at Tullahoma, and entered its first battle at Hoover's Gap, where it had a taste of war at its worst. At Chickamauga the Eighty-ninth was in the hottest of the fight and suffered severely in killed, wounded and prisoners. During that fearful engagement, Mr. England was struck in the left ankle by a minie ball and received a wound which completely disabled him, in addition to which he was struck four times by balls which fortunately were spent. He lay on this field of carnage, surrounded by all its ghastly horrors, for eight days before he received medical attention. e was first spent to the hospital at Bridgeport, Tenn., and subsequently to Nashville, from which place he was furloughed home on sick leave. After a rest from November until March, he went to Camp Dennison, where he was operated on, and May 4, 1864, was discharged from the service on account of disability, since which time he has lived continuously at. his home in Ross county by his first marriage he had nine children, of whom the living are Elizabeth, wife of James Edgington, Jr.: Delilah, wife of Charles Bruff, and Peter. The mother died in 1889, and on October 20, 1900, Mr. England married Elizabeth, widow of Paul Hammond, and daughter of William Wendell.
John England, stock-dealer and general farmer in Scioto township, is also one of the successful fruitgrowers of Ross county, where he has long been known in horticultural circles. His grandfather and namesake came to the county early in the nineteenth century, and, as he used often to say, with all his worldly goods tied up in a pocket handkerchief. Before his death, however, this poor immigrant had accumulated several hundred acres of land and considerable town property. The names of his children are thus given in the family register: Milo, Jesse, George, Lorenzo, Eliza, Manda and Sydney. Both himself and wife died when seventy-nine years old and were interred on the same farm where they settled on first arriving in the township. Lorenzo, the fifth of their children, was born in 1818 on the place in Scioto township, where his widow still resides. He estimated that his attendance at school altogether would not exceed a period of three months, but he was an earnest student all his life and so added to his store of knowledge as to be considered in after years one of the hest informed men in the township. Though
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his main business was that of farming he had other interests, being one of the owners of the old Schlegle & England toll pikes, and for a short time also he conducted a brickyard. He married Sarah Darby, by whom he had the following named children : A. Warner, Alice and Demetrius, deceased; John, subject of this sketch; Thomas J., of Madison county; Scioto, deceased; James L., of Missouri; Effie, Emma and Ella, deceased. The father died in 1871 and his widow resides op the old home place in a commodious brick house which was erected by her sons for her comfort. John England, fourth of the children, was born in Ross county, O., March 2, 1849, on the Scioto township farm where he now resides. July 4, 1872, he was married to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Barbara Esterly, of Chillicothe, and after two years' residence in that city they removed to Columbus, O. He was a practical brickmaker by trade and during his stay of about eighteen months at the Ohio capital he was employed in his regular line of work. In due time he returned to his estate in Ross county and took up his abode in an old log cabin which, however, he replaced some years later with a modern dwelling, up-to-date in all its finishings and equipments. Mr. England is both a practical and progressive farmer, believing in having the best that is going and in keeping abreast of the times in all respects. He raises fruit on an extensive scale, having an orchard covering 10 acres containing the larger varieties and four acres devoted exclusively to small fruits. He is an authority in this line, being regarded as one of the best informed of the county's horticulturists. Mr. England has held the position of road supervisor for sixteen years and was formerly a member of the school board. Of his four children, Dorothy and Emma have passed away, Katie C. is at home, and Thomas T. is living in Scioto township.
General John Clay Entrekin was born near Kingston. in Ross county, February 11, 1844. His father, John Entrekin, was born April 8, 1809, at Kinnickinnick, in Green township, Ross county. He was a member of the first board of infirmary directors of the county, was also captain of a militia company and served in a Home Guard company in Pettis county, Mo., in the civil war. His parents were Col. John and Nancy (Crouse) Entrekin. Col. John Entrekin, the gandfather of John C. Entrekin, was born on the "Hall farm" on Willoughly run on the Cashtown road, afterward famous as the place where the battle of Gettysburg began, in Adams county, Pa. He commanded a company of cavalry in the war of 1812 and served for twenty years as an officer of the Ohio militia, becoming a colonel of the Second regiment. He was at the time of his death an associate judge of the Pickaway county court of common pleas, having removed to Pickaway county in the latter part of his life. He served as a member of the house of representatives from Ross
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county in 1819 and 1820. His father, William Entrekin, married Elizabeth Hail at Gettysburg, Pa., and with his family afterward removed to Huntington county, Pa., and afterward, in the spring of 1798, to Ross county, Ohio, to what is now Hopetown, where in 1800 Elizabeth, his wife, died and was buried on a hill a short distance east of the residence of John Umstead. At that time all the county north from Chillicothe to the lakes was a vast wilderness inhabited by Indians alone. William Entrekin's parents were Scotch covenanters who emigrated from Dumfriesshire, Scotland, in consequence of religious persecutions, to North Ireland. and from there to Pennsylvania. They had formerly lived on the "Entrekin water." a branch of the Nith river near the pass in the mountains known as "Entrekin pass," a description of which is contained in Crockett's "Men of the Mosshaigs.'' John C. Entrekin's grandmother on his father's side was Nancy, the oldest daughter of John Crouse, who came from Maryland to North Carolina shortly after the Revolution and emigrated from there in 1798 to Kinnickinnick, Ross county, where he operated a mill for many years. He served as a private in Capt. Jacob Good's company of Col. Charles G. Griffith's regiment, in Gen. Reazin Beall's division of troops known as "The Maryland Flying ('amp in the American Revolution," from June 1 to December 1, 1776, and was in the campaign in which the British captured New York City. The mother of John C. Entrekin was Frances Moore Entrekin, who was born on Black Water, Green township, Ross county, May 20, 1812. Her parents were Joseph and Hannah Davis Moore, who came to Ross county in 1809 from the western part of Huntington county, Pa. Joseph Moore was of Scotch ancestry. For many years he kept on the main road leading north from Chillicothe to Columbus the "Rising Sun Tavern," and had the honor of entertaining Henry Clay, Gen. W. S. Scott, the Siamese Twins and many other public people. He served as a quartermaster during the war of 1812, and his brother Samuel was killed by the Indians in western Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary war. His wife, Hannah Davis, was of Welsh descent and was claimed to be of the same family in Pennsylvania as the mother of Gen. U. S. Grant and Jefferson Davis, many of the connection residing near Philadelphia.
John C. Entrekin on August 12th, 1862, at the age of eighteen, enlisted for three years in Company A of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infintry, and was with his regiment the entire time. He was in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, siege of "Vicksburg, Graham's Plantation, Yellow Bayou and the siege at Fort Blakely, Ala. He very nearly escaped honorable wounds. but on the 9th of April, 1865, the very last day of the war, he was wounded twice at Fort Blakely, and was, in consequence, honorably discharged at New Orleans, June 8th, 1865.
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After his return to his home, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan university, and graduated in the classical course in 1867. For two years he was engaged in teaching, and from 1869 to 1870 he was professor of mathematics in the Central Wesleyan college of Warronton, Mo. During that time he read law and was admitted to the bar in the circuit court of Warren county, Mo., in January, 1870. Directly after, he returned to Chillicothe, and in September of that year was admitted to the bar of Ross county. He began the practice of law in the office of Judge T. A. Minshall, afterward of the supreme bench, and remained there three years, in which time he built up a good business. He has since practiced successfully and has been connected with much of the important litigation which has been conducted in the courts in his parts of the State. He has a keen, analytical mind, a comprehensive knowledge of the science of jurisprudence and never loses sight of any point of vantage ground which may advance the interests of his clients. He has always taken a great, interest in political affairs. Even as a boy he was active in the Fremont-Dayton campaign, and when he attained his majority, he allied himself with the Republican party and voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, while stationed at Morgan's Bend, Louisiana. In January, 1872 he was appointed city solicitor of Chillicothe to fill a vacancy, and he was elected to the same office in 1872 and re-elected in 1874 and 1876. He was a candidate for prosecuting attorney of Ross county in 1872 before the people, but was defeated by 60 votes, although he ran 200 ahead of his ticket. In 1875 he was elected to represent Ross county in the house of representatives, to serve two years. He was a candidate for re-election in 1879, but was defeated by a small majority by Hon. Win. H. Recd, a very popular Democrat. A month later, Senator Allison Brown died, and Mr. Entrekin was nominated as his successor in the sixth senatorial district and was elected by 1,500 majority over Hon. Milton McCoy. He served two years. In 1885 he was again a candidate for the house of representatives and elected by 500 majority over Dr. Nathaniel Potter. During this term he was chosen speaker of the house. While in the legislature he voted twice for John Sherman for United States senator and for James A. Garfield and Stanley Matthews for the same office. He was twice a candidate for nomination for congressman in this district, but was defeated. His service in the various official positions to which he has been called has been marked by patriotic devotion to duty and a fidelity to the best interests of the people whom he represented, and as one of the law makers of Ohio he has borne a conspicuous and honorable part. He enlisted in the Ohio state militia on June 8, 1873, as a private in Company A, but was at once elected lieutenant of the company, after which he was elected and commissioned captain. On June
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21, 1876, he was elected colonel of the sixth regiment, Ohio National Guards, to which position he was three times re-elected, serving in all fourteen years. During this time he performed the most arduous and important service for the state, as in 1878, the time of the great railroad strike at Newark, Ohio, when the military aid was invoked to quell the riotous men. He was called on to defend the city building and the Music hall in Cincinnati at the time of the riot when the court-house was destroyed in April, 1884. He had his regiment on the field within ten hours after notification of the trouble had been received. He was also in command of his regiment at the time of the strikes in the hocking valley coal regions and in Jackson county. As commander of the sixth regiment, Ohio National Guards, Colonel Entrekin was a prominent factor in suppressing the disturbance. In commanding his troops, he displayed firmness, tempered by justice, power, limited by discretion, and military force was used only to protect life and property. His course commanded the respect of his troops and the admiration of all, and increased the confidence of the public in the military forces of the country. In 1892, he was appointed by Governor McKinley to the position of judge advocate general on his staff, and re-appointed in January, 1894. He is now on the retired list of military officers of Ohio with rank of brigadier-general. He was appointed by Governor Foraker in November, 1889, a member of the board of trustees for the Central state asylum for the insane, at Columbus, and served two months, but the senate refused to confirm any of Governor Foraker's appointments, and his successor as appointed by Governor Campbell. In the councils of his party, General Entrekin has been very prominent and his opinions have been received with much respect and consideration. e served two years on the Republican state central committee, 1882-83, and has served annually as a delegate co the county, district and state conventions, while for twenty years he has been a member of the Ross county executive committee. In 1892, he was elected a delegate from the Eleventh congressional district to the national convention at Minneapolis, and cast his vote for William McKinley, as did all the other delegates; and he was chairman of the congressional convention at Athens, which nominated the delegates to represent his district in the Republican national convention at St. Louis in 1896. He was an active worker for his party during the last presidential campaign and delivered many addresses in support of the dominant measures of the tariff and sound money. He is a logical, fluent and forceful speaker, and his addresses leave a lasting impression upon his auditors. He served as chairman of the committee on resolutions in the Republican state convention at Toledo, in June, 1897. He was appointed collector of internal revenue for the Eleventh district of Ohio, by
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President McKinley, in July, 1897, and is still the incumbent of that position. He is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs of both lodges ; is a member of the Elks, and an honored comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. General Entrekin was married July 15, 1875, at Chillicothe, to Mary F. Bethauser. They have two children, Helen G., and John C., jr., both grown. John C.. jr., is now deputy collector under his father in this district.
Charles Z. Erdmann, merchant tailor, of Chillicothe, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 27, 1860. His father, Zachariah Erdmann, is a native of Germany who came to America in early manhood and worked at his trade as tailor's cutter, first in New York city and later in Cincinnati. He remained in the latter city until 1868, when he removed to Chillicothe and engaged in merchant tailoring in partnership with Martin Maude. The connection lasted only one year, after which Mr. Erdmann continued the business alone for many years. In 1886, his son Charles Z. was taken into full partnership by his father and Z. Erdmann & Son has been the title of the firm ever since. The business house is located at No. 12 W. Second street, where they have a full line of seasonable goods and give employment to about thirty-five people. This is the largest and most popular merchant tailoring establishment in the city of Chillicothe. While living in New York city, Zachariah Erdmann was married to Maria Lippert, also a native of Germany. They had a family of ten children, nine of whom are still living. Of these, Bertha is now married to Adam Falter, a farmer of Ross county; Katharine Elizabeth, unmarried, is her fathers housekeeper; the third child in order of birth is Charles Z., the subject of this sketch ; John F. is a physician and surgeon of New York city, married to Georgia Therese Wright of Providence, R. I. ; Frederick married Cordia Lee Klinkinbeard, of Winchester, Ky., and is cutter for a merchant tailoring house in St. Louis ; Frank Richard married Myrtle Hill, of Chillicothe, and is employed as cutter for Z. Erdmann & Son ; Gustavus Adolphus is a traveling salesman for E. R. Hawkins & Co., of Philadelphia, living at St. Louis and unmarried ; Edward is a stockholder in and secretary of the C. L. Bailey Grocery company at Marietta, O., and William is employed at Cleveland as draughtsman for the Gary Iron and Steel company. Charles Z. Erdmann was educated in the public schools of Chillicothe, learned the tailor's trade under his father's directions and took special instructions in Cincinnati in the art of cutting. He has always been employed in his father's business and since 1886, as previously stated, has been a full partner in the firm. January 12, 1898, Mr. Erdmann was married to Carrie, daughter of Henry and Helena Sulzbacher, of Chillicothe.
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They have two children, Helena Maria and Elizabeth May. Mr. Erdmann is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Blue lodge, chapter, council and temple, and the Mystic Shrine of Columbus. Ho also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. E., and United Commercial Travelers' association. The family are attendants of the First Presbyterian church.
Frank P. Ervin is a native of Buckskin township, Ross county, where he now resides and has spent all his life. His father, Peachy Ervin, was born in Augusta county, Va., and came to Highland county, O., in 1831, when only ten years of age. In 1846 he removed to Ross county and settled in Buckskin township, two years afterwards locating on the homestead where his son Frank now makes his home. November 10, 184, he married Nancy Lyle, whose father came from Virginia to Highland county in 1815, and by her had three children. One of these is Rev. William A. Ervin, pastor of the Rockwood ( Tenn.) Presbyterian church. Another son, Rev. J. N. Ervin, is pastor of the Presbyterian church at Dayton (Ky), and professor in the Lane seminary. Frank P. Ervin, the third son and subject of this sketch, was born and reared on the old homestead where he now lives, his education being obtained at the Salem academy. After leaving school he took charge of the farm business, which he has managed with success. In 1876, Mr. Ervin was married to Rusha A., daughter of J. C. Pricer, member of one of the oldest families in Paint township. The union resulted in the birth of five children, Floyd D., Charles K., Clyde, Harly, and Ruth. Floyd D. Ervin, the oldest son, is a veteran of the Spanish--American war. In 1898, on the very day he was graduated from Salem academy, he enlisted in Company E of the Fourth Ohio regiment. This command went to Camp Thomas, thence by way of Newport News to Porto Rico, being four days on the water ; took part in the subsequent campaign on the island, participated in two skirmishes and remained there about three months. They returned to the United States by way of Jersey City and Washington, being received by President McKinley and given a warm handshake by that. great and good man. From the capital the troops proceeded to Columbus, where they were mustered out of service on January 20, 1899. Shortly after returning from the war, Floyd Ervin secured a position as traveling salesman for a wholesale grocery firm of Dayton, O., and has retained that ever since. The entire family are members of the Presbyterian church. Frank P. Ervin has been a member of the board of trustees of the church at Greenfield, and president of the hoard his father was deacon of the church for twenty-five years and elder for the same length of time, making fifty years of service as a church official. In 1896, Frank P. Ervin was elected one
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of the township trustees and since then he has been twice re-elected. He has been a member of the school board for sixteen years and is president of the board of education of Buckskin township. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and his son Floyd belongs to the orders of Woodmen of the World and the Redmen.
Isaac Stuart Evans, late a resident of Buckskin township, was one of the representative farmers of Ross county, as well as a most estimable citizen in every respect. He was the only son by the third marriage of Isaac Evans, one of the oldest settlers of the county and long identified with its agricultural interests; was born and bred in Buckskin township and educated at the old Salem academy, and married Emma Parrett, member of an old family of highly honorable lineage, daughter of Henry and granddaughter of Frederick Parrett, the latter a native of Virginia who came to Ross county in 1806. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Evans emigrated from Switzerland to Virginia in 17:10. Her father, Henry Parrett, was twice married, the second wife being Lydia Ann, daughter of Peter Stout, one of the early settlers of Fayette county, and also great-granddaughter of John Flyer, who came to America with William Penn. The ancestors of Mrs. Evans were connected with the early settlement of the colonies and afterwards bore their full share of the clangers and privations incident to the Revolutionary war. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Stuart. Evans resulted in the birth of three children, whose names are Anna Jean, Dean Peoples and Mary Cornelia. Mr. Evans died in 1899, much lamented by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a man of much force of character and looked upon as one of the most substantial of Ross county's citizens. He stood at the front as a stock-raiser and all-around farmer, being up-to-date in his methods and quick to avail himself of the latest improvements. For eleven years he was an elder in the Presbyterian church at Greenfield, and his widow is a devout. worshiper in the same congregation.
James M. Evans, M. D., of Clarksburg, has been a practicing physician in that locality over fifty years and has presided at the birth of more than two thousand Ross county citizens. His residence embraces a period of over three-quarters of a century, during which time he has been in touch with all the movements which made for the county's growth and development. The doctor's ancestors were Pennsylvanians. Grandparents Richard and Mary Evans first located in Kentucky, but. later concluding that the Scioto valley offered exceptional opportunities for settlers they removed with their household goods to Highland county, O., where they made their home until death. About the same time that Richard Evans arrived, his
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father, with three other sons, also came into Highland county and bought a large tract of land on Clear creek. Richard and Mary Evans had several children and among the number a son named Isaac. In due course he married Jane Morton, of Ross county, and went to fanning on part of the family estate. In 1826, they removed to Ross county and settled near South Salem where they reared their children and eventually found their graves. Isaac Evans was one of the promoters and principal contributors to the South Salem academy, which afterward became such a popular institution of learning. By his first wife he had six children, all of whom are dead except Dr. James M. Evans. The second wife of Isaac Evans was Mary Wallace, whose six children are all dead with the exception of Richard S., who lives at Hillsboro, O. By a third marriage with Jane Pepples, Isaac Evans had two children, Angeline and Isaac S., who also have passed away. This patriarchal citizen, with such a numerous household, was noted throughout life as a church worker, being a Presbyterian elder and for twenty-five years superintendent of the Sunday School. He was also a life-long friend of education, contributing liberally of his means in that behalf, and retaining his interest in all good causes until his death in 1875. James M. Evans was born in Highland county, O., February 26, 1824, and was deprived of a mother's care at a very early age. e had the benefit of a. good education at the South Salem academy and later studied medicine with Dr. Israel Evans at Rising Sun, Ind. This was followed by a course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical college, after which he spent a year as assistant to his brother in Clarksburg. Later he matriculated at Starling Medical college in Columbus, and there obtained his coveted diploma in 1850. In the same year Dr. Evans began practice at Clarksburg, in Deerfield township, where he has since lived. He keeps up to date in his profession, not being afraid to adopt new methods of treatment if approved by his judgment, and congratulates himself on being very successful with numerous cases of pneumonia by application of modern remedies. The doctor has always been a religious man and a member of the Presbyterian church since be was sixteen years old. May 25, 1852, he married Emily P. Yates, by whom he had four children : Marv E., John T., Channing and an infant deceased. The mother died in 1860, and April 17, 1861, Dr. Evans married Eliza J. Caldwell, whose children were James E., Orin Chester, Eldora C. and Edwin C. The second wife dying, the doctor's third alliance was with Mrs. Mary Brown, widow of R. P. Brown, whose death occurred several years after marriage.
George Farabee, of Gillespieville, was born in Liberty township, Ross county, Ohio, on April 27, 1856. His parents were Dr. Thomas and Sophia (Dresbach) Farabee. The father came from
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Pennsylvania and lived in Ross county until his death. George Farabee was reared in Ross county and educated in the public schools. October 20, 1888, he was married to Rachael, daughter of Jeremiah W. Drummond. The latter was born in Ross county in 1830, being a son of Benjamin and Mary (Cox) Drummond, and died in 1900. He married Rachael W. Ratcliff, daughter of Simon and Rachael ( Dixon) Ratcliff, and had eight children, of whom four are living. These are Stella, wife of Samuel Du Bois, of Liberty township, Ross county ; Smiley, of Circleville ; Walton, of Liberty township; and Rachael, who is the wife of George Farabee. Mrs. Farabee was reared by her aunt, Ruth Ratcliff, who was born in that portion of Ross which is now Vinton county, Ohio, in 1826, and died on July 16, 1892. Mr. Farabee and wife have two children, Pauline E., born December 21, 1898 ; and Ruth R.., born September 3, 1900. Mr. Farabee has held the office of trustee of Liberty township.
George W. Farlow, veteran of the civil war and retired farmer residing at Clarksburg, can look back over a life well spent both in the cause of his country and his county. His ancestors were long settled in Delaware, from which state his grandparents, Archy and Sarah (Brown) Farlow, came in 1815 to add their strength and resources to the pioneer forces which were rapidly filling Ross county. They settled on a farm two miles west of Clarksburg, which the husband had bought some time previously, but he died within a month or two after reaching the county. His widow, however, continued to live on this place until she also died, leaving five children, all of whom have since departed this life--Benjamin, Abigail, Mary, George and Marion. Benjamin, the eldest, remained at home until his marriage to Margaret Dennis, of Ross county, with whom he lived several years on the old home place, and who became the mother of two children, George W. and Jane, the latter marrying John Timmons of Missouri and subsequently dying. Mrs. Farlow died in August, 1839, and her husband took a second wife in the person of Sophia Adams, with whom he lived on the home place until 1850, when he moved to a farm in the same township which he had recently purchased. The children by this second marriage were William R., of Indiana; Sarah A., of Illinois ; Wingate T., of Indiana ; and Irvin, who died in infancy. The mother died in 1853 and the father's third marriage was to Elizabeth Godfrey, shortly after which event he removed to Illinois, spent a couple of years in that state and returned to Ross county, where he died in 1877, his widow still occupying the old homestead. Benjamin Farlow spent his whole life in agricultural pursuits and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. George W., only son of Benjamin and Margaret (Dennis) Farlow, was born in Deerfield
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township, Ross county, July 19, 1839, and sixteen days afterward he lost his mother by death. The infant, thus bereft of a mother's care, was taken in charge by his grandmother Farlow, who reared him with tender solicitude until he reached manhood's full estate. About that time, the civil war was in progress, and young Farlow became a soldier of the Union in Company E, One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio regiment of infantry, which was drilled at Marietta and sent to Memphis, Tenn. There the command was attached to the Thirteenth army corps, with which it went to Vicksburg., took part in the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs and later in a severe engagement at Arkansas Post. Later they moved to the rear of Vicksburg, about Thompson's Hill and Black river, until a union was effected with Sherman's forces, incidental to which movements were many severe skirmishes and minor engagements. Mr. Farlow afterward went with his regiment to Louisiana and up the Red river, coming back from this expedition to Mississippi for a prolonged stay and then on to Pensacola and Mobile. After a nine days' siege at the latter city, the command was sent to Texas and mustered out. Finally reaching home by way of Columbus, Mr. Farlow engaged in farming until 1869, when he married Elizabeth E. Howser and lived at the old home place until a year ago, when they removed to Clarksburg. There Mr. Farlow is living a quiet and retired life after many years of work as a farmer and stockraiser. He has two children, Archy M. and Margaret: the former living at Barlow, Ohio, and the latter at home. Mr. and Mrs. Farlow and Miss Margaret are attendants at the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Farlow's brother, William R. Farlow, has a very creditable military record, which deserves mention in any history of Ross county. Born on the old homestead in Deerfield township, March 10, 1843, he was only eighteen years old when be enlisted in Company C, Seventy-third regiment Ohio infantry, with which he served gallantly in the engagements in Virginia, including Bull Run. At that battle he was wounded and taken prisoner, but was subsequently paroled and came home by way of the national capital. In May, 1864, he organized a company for the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio regiment, of which he was elected captain, and served for three months, being mustered out at Columbus. After returning home, Captain Farlow married Mollie McCrum, with whom he settled on a farm in Deerfield township and after two years went to Indiana where he now resides.