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John T. Fenton. member of the firm of Fenton S Bonner, undertakers, of Chillicothe, is a native of Jeffersonville, Ind., born October 25, 1849. His parents were Janie, and Mary (Bowman) Fenton, the former born in Virginia in 1800 and the latter in Clarke county, Ind., in 1813. The father was owner and manager of an extensive lumber business, with planing mill and other attachments,
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at Jeffersonville, Ind., and was well-to-do. He died in 1855, his wife surviving until her eighty-first year and dying at Louisiville, Ky. Their family consisted of three sons and two daughters, of whom three are still living. These are James Fenton, of Jeffersonville, Ind. ; Mrs. S. B. Glover, of Louisville, Ky. ; and John T., the subject of this sketch. The deceased members of the family were Mrs. Mattie Phillips, who died in New Albany, Ind., and William H. Fenton, who died at the age of sixty-seven, in Elizabethtown, Ky. John T. Fenton was educated at Jeffersonville and New Albany, Ind. During the civil war he sold newspapers at Jeffersonville, some of his customers being soldiers in the hospitals at that point. He spent five years in railroading, with headquarters at Lafayette, Ind. In 1873, he came to Chillicothe, where he entered the employment of the Marietta & Cincinnati, now the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railway. He remained with this company for twenty-five years, during most of the time as locomotive engineer and the other seven years as supervisor of trains and engines. At length failing health compelled his retirement from this arduous service, and in June, 1899. he formed a partnership with W. R. Lowry in the undertaking business. In June, 1901, this firm was dissolved, and on August 1st of the same year Mr. Fenton formed a partnership with Mr. Bonner, which still continues. Both members of the firm are practical embalmers, Mr. Fenton being a graduate of the Massachusetts college of embalming. In 1880, Mr. Fenton was married to Ida P. Pinto, a native of Ross county. They have an only son, Marshall Glover, a young man of sixteen who is a student in the Chillicothe high school and a member of the cadet corps of that institution. Mr. Fenton is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of the Odd Fellows, and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In Masonry he has attained the rank of Knight Templar. He has been a member of the Chillicothe board of elections for twelve years and was recently reappointed to serve four years longer. On the creation of this board, the governor had the appointing power, and Mr. Fenton was appointed by Governor Foraker. Since then, by a change in the law, the mayor is vested with the power to make these appointments. In politics, Mr. Fenton is a staunch Republican, and in religion his inclinations are toward Methodism, though at present he is not connected with any church.
Judson O. Ferneau, a prosperous farmer of the South Salem neighborhood in Ross county, comes of an ancestry whose fountain source was Holland with an intermediate stage of development in old Virginia and later lodgment in Ohio. He is a son of Joseph and grandson of John Ferneau, the latter being an emigrant from the Netherlands to the Old Dominion while the Revolutionary war was in progress. In 1812, he joined the tide of emigration which was
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then setting strongly toward the Ohio valley and located with his family in Ross county. His son, Joseph Ferneau, married Elizabeth McCoy, member of a family long and favorably known in Fayette county, Ohio. e adopted farming as his vocation and pursued it steadily until his death in 1891. His only child was Judson O. Ferneau, who was born and reared in Buckskin township and educated in the district schools. In 1893, he was married to Anna, daughter of George Wolfe, a native of Germany. Like his ancestors before him, Mr. Ferneau is interested in tilling the soil, his line being general farming and stock-raising. The farm owned by him near South Salem, in addition to its agricultural value, possesses an historic interest. According to tradition it was there that the first sermon was preached north of Marietta, at the time when there were no churches in that region and but few preachers, even of the itinerant class. The farm of Mr. Ferneau is also pointed out as the scene of a famous rencounter which took place in the long ago between one Duncan McCarty and certain hostile Indians with whom he came in contact.
Ferguson Family :--James and Rachel (Walker) Ferguson, with their children Margaret, William, James and Matthew, came from county Antrim, Ireland, in 1750, and settled in that part of Hamilton township, Cumberland county, which is now in the bounds of Hamilton and St. Thomas townships, Franklin county, to the west of Chambersburg, Pa. James Ferguson, Sr., was ensign of Capt. Joseph Armstrong's company of rangers in active service on the frontiers of Cumberland county, Pa., in 1755, during the French-Indian war. He, and his children, attended the famous Rocky Spring Presbyterian church near Chambersburg; he died in October, 1772. His wife died in 1791, and the same year their children divided his land in Franklin county. The children are now to be mentioned. A daughter Margaret married William Dixon in 1780, who, dying in 1784, left two children, Catharine and Rachel. In 1782 Catharine married Humphrey Fullerton, in Franklin county, and moved to Chillicothe, O., in 1804. Her mother, Margaret, followed her to Chillicothe in 1805 with her daughter Rachel, who afterwards married Judge William Wilson and died in 1860 in Newark, O. Margaret lived in Chillicothe at the northwest corner of Paint and Fourth streets, where she died in 1835, and is buried in Grandview cemetery. William, son of James Ferguson, served in the Revolutionary war, married Sarah Liggett in 1776, moved to Somerset township, Washington county, Pa., in 1796, and died in Monongahela City, in 1833, aged eighty-seven years. James Ferguson, Jr., married Margery Denny in Franklin county, about 1776, was one of the justices of the county, one of the first trustees of Rocky Spring Presbyterian church, and dealt largely in real
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estate. He served in the Revolutionary war. He moved to Chillicothe in October, 179S, and his real estate transactions in Ross, Pickaway and Highland counties were numerous and important. He was one of the nine justices of common pleas in 1798 in Chillicothe; headed a petition signed by the five trustees of the Presbyterian church in Chillicothe, addressed to the territorial legislature in 1801, asking permission to make a lottery to erect a house of worship ; was one of the incorporators of Chillicothe on January 4, 1802, and one of the six members of its first "select council." He was one of the early merchants of Chillicothe and the affairs of the firm of Ferguson & McFarland, composed of himself and William McFarland, husband of his daughter Margaret, were dissolved and wound up by the latter on May 1, 1803. He died on September 11, 1806, and his remains now rest in the McFarland lot in Grandview cemetery. He left a will in which he names his children : James; Margaret, wife of Wm. McFarland, she died in Chillicothe, February 8, 1832 ; John ; Rachel, wife of Judge John Thompson, she died in Wilkinson county, Miss., October 20, 1853 ; and Creaghead, one of Chillicothe's early merchants, who died of yellow fever in New Orleans about 1820.
Matthew, another son of James, Sr., enlisted in Capt. John Williams' company of the First battalion of Cumberland county militia, Flying camp, Revolutionary war, in 1777; was at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and afterwards acquired the title of captain. He was a pew holder and member of Rocky Spring Presbyterian church, married Ann Chesnut in 1782 ; bought land in Paxton township, Ross county, east of Bainbridge, on June 21, 1802, and early in 1806 sold his farm in Pennsylvania, and with his wife and eight living children moved to Green township, settling on Black Water creek, about one mile west of Kingston. "The Pioneer Record of Ross County" says he was "the first distiller" in the county. He accumulated by deed and patent about 1,000 acres of land. On April 13, 1810, he was commissioned one of the three first justices of Pickaway township, Pickaway county; on May 31, 1811, he with Wm. Calwell, Michael Brown and John Entrekin were elected and on August 7, 1811, were ordained and installed ruling elders of Mt. Pleasant church. About the year 1831, feeling the infirmities of his eighty-two years, and realizing the necessity for activity in the church, he retired from the active duties of the eldership, his nephew Matthew Ferguson, who was installed July 10, 1831, taking his place. The session, loath to lose the advantage of his wisdom, counsel and advice, insisted that he reconsider his intention ; but he remained firm in his determination to be relieved and to hand over the burden to younger men. At that session meeting, probably held June 11, 1831, his advice to them was: "Brethren, take care of the flock. Feed the sheep. The preacher will take
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care of himself." He died on November 2, 1848, aged ninety-nine years, leaving surviving him his wife and these children : William; Ann, wife of his nephew, Matthew Ferguson, Jr. ; Margaret, wife of William Cushing, and Jane, unmarried. His wide died December 24, 1851, aged eighty-seven years and twelve days. They and their children, John, Rachel, Matthew and Margaret, are buried in Mt. Pleasant grave yard. Their children were: James, born June 28, 1783, died November, 1805; John, born November 21, 1784, died April 7, 1813 ; Rachel, born July 1, 1786, died June 17, 1845 ; William, born August 16, 1788, died January 28, 1865 ; Catharine, born October 15, 1793, died Man 14, 1813 ; Matthew, born February 13, 1795, died May 3, 1813; Ann, born August. 13, 1798, died December 3, 1871; Margaret, born August 13, 1798, died February 3, 1882 ; Jane, born August 1G, 1800, died April 16, 1861.
William Ferguson, the fourth child of Matthew and Ann Chesnut Ferguson, was born in Franklin county, Pa., and was about eighteen years of age when his parents settled in Green township. He was one of the first merchants, the first resident merchant, the first postmaster and a member of the first council of Kingston. On the morning of Sunday, August 23, 1812, he and his younger brother, Matthew, enlisted in Capt. John McNeal's company of cavalry, Ohio militia, and went to the famous war of that year from Mt. Pleasant church. The company consisted of about 50 men and served until October 14, 1812, when it was discharged. On August 26, 1813, he joined Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian church, of which he was one of its first trustees to hold property in Kingston, in 1837, and from which he was dismissed on April 13, 1849, to the Central Presbyterian church of Cincinnati, O. On December 2, 1816, his father bought from Thomas Ing and wife, lot No. 30, in Kingston, at the northwest corner of the Maysville and Zanesville turnpike road and Ing street. Here he built his store and house; removed from his father's farm about the year 1818, opened his general merchandise store and kept "bachelor's hall." Here he lived after marriage and here all his children were born. He made trips to Philadelphia, Pa., on horseback and his purchases were brought across the mountains in large Conestoga wagons. On April 22, 1819, he took out at Chillicothe the first license issued to any resident merchant of Kingston to vend merchandise in that town. He took out his last license on October 19, 1825. On September 10, 1822, the office of McCutchensville or McCutchen's tavern in Pickaway county, adjoining Kingston, where the stage coach stopped, was opened and he was appointed postmaster. The name of the office was changed to Kingston December 12, 1825, and he retained the postmastership until April 25, 1835, through the presidencies of James' Monroe, John Quincy Adams and into that of Andrew Jackson. In politics he was a Whig.. "He was the first postmaster in Green township."
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On January 8, 1824, he. married Eliza Crouse, the youngest child of John and Catharine Umsted Crouse of Green township. In 1833 he completed a brick building, fitted out with machinery, and ran for several years a flour mill, also a woolen mill, both on the northeast one-fourth of section 20, which his wife received as part of her share of her brother Jeremiah's estate. He sold this property to his brother-in-law, John Crouse, Jr., in 1846. On April 5, 1834, he was elected one of the first councilmen of Kingston, which was incorporated as a village early that year. On June 28, 1837, he, with Henry May, Jr., and John M. Brown, as trustees of the Presbyterian congregation in the town of Kingston, the first trustees of the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian church to hold land in Kingston, received a deed of lot No. 5 in Duncan and Logan's addition. The lot was on the westernmost side of the main road to Lancaster about 264 feet north of Sassafras alley, was 66 feet wide and 165 feet deep to Mulberry alley. The trustees of Mt. Pleasant church deeded this lot on November 26, 1858, thus showing they were one and the same organization. About the year 1837 he closed his business in Kingston and in the December of that year sold his store and dwelling in Kingston to Robert T. Coburn, taking a mortgage for the purchase money, which mortgage was foreclosed in 1844, and on August 24, 1845, he deeded the property to Henry May. After he had disposed of his store and dwelling in 1837 he settled on the farm in Pickaway township, which his wife received from her father, on Congo creek, about a mile and a half north of Kingston. Here he farmed extensively and also dealt largely in cattle. His place was the second regular stop for large droves from Chillicothe to the eastern market, the first stand being at McConnell's in Ross county, and the third at Wilson's in Pickaway county. In September, 1848, he moved to Cincinnati, O. By the year 1852 he had disposed of the land in Pickaway county, which lie inherited from his father, to William Raub and George Holderman, and in that year the farm on Congo creek was sold to John and William Entrekin. He dealt largely in real estate in Ross and Pickaway counties, and especially in Kingston lots. In the autumn of 1855 he moved to Alleghany City, Pa., and while a resident of that place, died in Cincinnati, O., at the home of his son Matthew and was buried in Spring Grove cemetery near that city. His wife died in Baltimore, Md., June 9, 1889, and is buried beside him. His children were : Ann Catherine, born March 30, 1825, married July 22, 1854, to Edward Arthurs, died October 31, 1895; John Crouse, born March 13, 1827, died October 21, 1849; Matthew, born February 1, 1829; Sarah Jane, born June 30, 1834, married Biddle Arthurs, died September 3, 1860. His son Matthew resides in Baltimore, Md., but spends the summer months at his country residence at Kinnikinnick, part of the home place of his grandfather, John Crouse, Sr.
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The Fisher Family :--The progenitor of this numerous and well known family emigrated from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania during the latter half of the eighteenth century. There, about the year 1774, a son was born to him, named Jacob, who was destined to become the founder of the Ohio branch of the Fisher family. The parents of Jacob Fisher went from Pennsylvania to Virginia, where in early manhood he married Barbara Kyle. There is a family tradition that the young husband, when about twenty-five years old, rode on horseback to the wilds of Ohio to "spy out the land" and ascertain the feasibility of establishing a. home for himself. As the story goes, he bought land in Concord township, put in a crop and then returned to Virginia for his wife and child. However this may be, it is definitely ascertained that Jacob Fisher and wife became residents of Ross county as early as 1800 and that from them have descended a numerous progeny. Jacob's life was devoted to the clearing and cultivating of his acres in Concord township, where he lived until his death about the year 1865. Ile outlived his wife many years. though the exact date of her death is not recorded. Among their children was a son named John, who was born soon after his parents reached Ohio. He grew to manhood in Concord township and spent all the days of his life in the same locality. When he reached the marriageable age he selected as his life partner Phoebe Briggs, daughter of a neighbor and early settler. John Fisher died about the year 1859, his wife surviving him several years. They became the parents of seven sons and two daughters, named in order of birth, Samuel, Clinton, Joseph, George, John Bunyan, Charles, William, Sarah and Hannah. George Fisher, the fourth of the sons above enumerated, is still living, the sole survivor of that family of children. He was born in 1832 and has followed the occupation of farming from the time of his arrival at manhood. In 1855, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Elijah Rowe, a prominent man of Concord township. They have living three sons and two daughters, as follows : Louise, the wife of William H. Thomas, of Roxabell James, a farmer in Concord township ; William A.; Flora B., wife of Joseph Irvin, of Highland county, Ohio; and Isaac, a farmer in Concord township. One son died in infancy and Francis Marion, a bright and promising boy, was cut off by pneumonia at the age of twenty-two. William A. Fisher, third of the above mentioned children, was born November 13, 1859, in Concord township. He received his education in the common schools at home and at the Normal school at. Lebanon. He adopted teaching as a profession and followed that occupation for seventeen years. He was ambitious to become a doctor and studied medicine for a while, but circumstances over which he had no control prevented him from finishing his course. In 1897, he embarked in the under-taking business at Frankfort, carrying a large supply of furniture as a side line, and has continued this venture up to the present time.
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In 1884, he was married to Jessie E., daughter of John M. Ware, a prominent citizen of Frankfort. She died in 1892, leaving four children: Glenn D., Lee H., Edith L. and Elizabeth J. In 1897, Mr. Fisher chose a second wife in the person of Elizabeth S., daughter of Merritt Jamieson, of Concord township. Mr. Fisher's religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church and his fraternal connections with the Masons and Woodmen of the World.
Amos M. Fisher is one of nine children of Jacob and Eleanor (Wilson) Fisher, of Ross county, the date of his birth being March 15, 1862. The family in America started from Philip Fisher, who emigrated from Germany and first settled in Pennsylvania, going from there in 1777 to Virginia. In the spring of 1799, his son Jacob, who was then twenty-five years old, rode on horseback to Ohio, with a view to finding a home in the wilderness. He spent the spring and summer in cultivating a patch of corn near the site of Chillicothe and in the fall returned to Virginia for his wife and child. He purchased two hundred acres of land in Concord township, built a rude log cabin and moved in with his wife and child. These events occurred in the early part of the year 1800, and the Fishers became one of the hardy first families who bore the burdens and dangers of settling the Scioto valley. Their experiences were similar to those of many others--a life of hard work and privation in the lonely wilderness, surrounded by many dangers, yet not devoid of rude pleasures. In the course of years, the pioneer hewed and grubbed himself into possession of a fine farm, and by degrees the family were enabled to surround themselves with the comforts of civilization. The head of the family was called away to the war of 1812, and while he was serving his country his wife and children underwent much anxiety, besides positive danger from Indians. It was customary for the women of the neighborhood for miles around to assemble at night in a nearby fort, in order to insure protection from possible forays by the red men. Jacob Fisher died in 1866, some; what over ninety-two years old, and his wife expired in her seventy-eighth year. They reared a family of four sons and five daughters, all of whom have passed away. The youngest of the family, named after his father, Jacob Fisher, was born February 23, 1819. His earliest recollections were of the log cabin in which he was born and the log school house with its puncheon floors and slab benches. In those days farm boys had little opportunity to get book learning, their attendance at school being limited to rainy days in the working season, and the severe weather of winter. When he became of age, Jacob Fisher was married on June 3, 1841, to Eleanor, daughter of John H. Wilson, who came from Kentucky and was an early settler of Ross county. They had nine children: Mary E., born April 8, 1842, died in 1861; William B., born September 23, 1843, married
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and living at Harrison, Ohio ; Absalom M., born October 16, 1845 ; Albert H., born July 14, 1847; John E., born April 18, 1851; Naomi, born August 30, 1854, died December 2, 1887 ; Cary W., born January 1, 1859 ; Amos M., the subject of this sketch. The golden wedding of the parents was celebrated on June 3, 1891, and was a joyous occasion largely attended. Jacob Fisher, the venerable father, passed away in 1897, just one hundred years after the birth of his eldest brother. His widow survives at the age of eighty-two. Their son Amos M., who was the youngest of the children, remained at home all his life, being educated at the district school and at Lebanon, Ohio. October 23, 1901, he was married to Maud, daughter of William F. and Patience Metcalfe, of Twin township, Ross county. They reside on the old homestead of 166 acres, which Mr. Fisher bought after the death of his father. He raises stock on an extensive scale and is regarded as one of the most successful breeders in the county. He makes a specialty of swine, dealing exclusively in the Poland-China breed, and during the past year attracted general attention on account of the numbers and superiority of his fine stock. Mr. Fisher's political affiliations are Democratic and his fraternal connections are with the Masonic order and Knights Templar at Chillicothe.
Nelson J. Ford, a popular traveling salesman residing at Kingston, Ohio, deserves enrollment among the successful young business men of Ross county. He conies of sturdy stock on both sides, his grandfather being Enoch Ford, a native of Ohio, who married Nancy Sewell of Pennsylvania. The parents of Mr. Ford, John and Mary A. (O'Neal) Ford, were born in Green township, the former in 1833 and the latter in 1837. John Ford was reared in Kingston and learned the saddler's trade, though he was also engaged in farming. He was an industrious and worthy man and an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died February 14, 1896, since which time his widow has been a resident of Kingston. The latter's father was James O'Neal, Jr., a native of New Jersey, born in 1803, who married Nancy Welch of West Virginia. James O'Neal's mother was Mary Ann O'Neal, who came to Chillicothe as a widow in 1826, and reared her four children in Ross county, where James O'Neal, Jr., died in 1843 and his wife in 1849. They had seven children : James, John, Eliza, William H., Mary Ann, Sarah M. and Elizabeth. John and Mary Ann (O'Neal) Ford were the parents of eight. children : Sallie, Nelson J., John W., Jessie, Anna M., George M, Bessie E. and Ethel G. Nelson J. Ford was born in Green township, Ross county, September 27, 1862, reared on the farm and educated in the Kingston high school. After reaching the age of twenty-one years he learned the tinner's trade but later drifted into commercial currents and became a salesman for the Flint
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& Walling windmill factory, of Kendallville, Ind. This position he has since held and filled acceptably both to his employers and their customers. In fact he is one of the most popular and energetic of the great army of commercial travelers who operate through this part of Ohio. He is a members of Pierson lodge, No. 372, I. O. O. F., and Kingston lodge, No. 419, Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. April 29, 1886, he was married to Elizabeth Forquer, a native of Pickaway county, daughter of John and Catherine (Lemaster) Forquer, natives of Perry county, who came to Pickaway about 1860 and are now residents of Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have four children: Francis D., Phyllis, Louise and Helen.
The Foster Family:--The founder of this numerous and influential family in Ohio was the Rev. John Foster, who came from near Cumberland, Md., and settled in what is now Pike county in 1796. He died in January, 1800, leaving eight children, of whom there were six sons and two daughters. Among the former was one who became the Rev. John Foster, No. 2. He was born March 3, 1771, and died August 22, 1839, in Madison county, Ohio, while on a visit to some of his children. Of the latter there were ten in all and among the number was Thomas C. Foster, born July 2, 1813, in Ross county. e spent his whole life in Franklin township and died there December 18, 1882. His wife was Jane E. Davis, member of one of the pioneer families of the township, who died July 12, 1852, leaving six children. Of these, Martha was born July 31, 1840 ; James C., May 3, 1842: Hannah. born September 4, 1844, and died February 25, 1893: John, born January 4. 1847; William, born September 16, 1850, and died February 14, 1874; George, born June 21, 1852, and died June 23, 1881. Major James C. Foster, the oldest son in the above mentioned list, was educated in the public and private schools of his native county. Shortly before the civil war he spent a term at a private military school in Chillicothe, and the experience acquired there proved valuable in the years immediately succeeding. On October 17, 1861. he enlisted as a private in Company F, Fifty-third Ohio infantry, being made first sergeant at the organization. January 1, 1802, his services and abilities were rewarded by promotion to the second lieutenancy, and in the following September he was transferred to Company I. On June 3, 1863, he was commissioned as captain of Company A, Fifty-ninth regiment of colored troops, which had recently been called into service. On June 18, 1864, he was given a commission as major of that regiment, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, being in command of the regiment for several months. Major Foster participated in the battles of Shiloh, Falling Timbers, Tupelo, Brice's Crossroads and the siege of Corinth. At the battle of Brice's Crossroads, near Guntown,
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Miss., June 10, 1864, Captain Foster was placed in charge of the skirmish line, composed of his own and another company. They made a heroic fight until dark, when, all the troops retiring in the direction of Ripley and the lieutenant colonel being totally disabled by a wound, he assumed command of the regiment, from which he was not relieved until the following September. During his long army service, Major Foster was often detailed on important special service. During the winter of 1862--3 he was a member of the general court-martial, and he served on courts of inquiry, as chief of pickets, and in other responsible positions, which showed his high standing with his superior officers. He was mustered out of the service January 31, 1866, after a military career which reflects upon him the highest credit. After the close of the war, Major Foster returned home and for a time attended a commercial school at Cleveland, after which he settled down to a farmer's life near his birthplace, where he still resides. September 7, 1869, he was married to Emma, daughter of James and Mary Davis, who died August 2, 1872, leaving one child, Daisy D., born June 7, 1870, who is now the wife of H. J. DuBois, of Pike county, Ohio. October 19, 1875, Major Foster was remarried, his second wife being Mary D., daughter of Joseph I. and Jane D. Vause. This union resulted in the birth of four daughters and three sons, all of whom are living: Ada C., born March 16, 1877 ; J. Vause, born April 29,1 879 ; Jean M., born July 16, 1881; Harry L., born March 14, 1884; James C., born November 25, 1887 : Mary H., December 19, 1889 ; and Sallie, September 13, 1894. The Major has filled various township offices and at the fall election in 1901 was chosen representative in the Ohio general assembly from Ross county, receiving 5,239 votes to 4,531 for Robert L. Irvin, his opponent. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has been commander of Joseph Climer post, No. 6,092, at Omega, Ohio, ever since it was organized in 1883. He also holds membership in the other patriotic organization devoted exclusively to Federal officers and called the Loyal Legion. His ancestors were mostly Methodists, but the Major has no church affiliations.
John Francis, of Gillespieville, Ohio, was born in Ross county, August 4, 1826. His parents were John and Susannah (Wycoff) Francis, both natives of Virginia. John was the son of Jonathan and Fannie Francis, of Virginia, who came to Ross comity in 1799 and settled in what is now Liberty township. They spent the rest of their days there and had a family of eleven children. Of these, John Francis was born in 1796, came to Ohio with his parents and lived and died a farmer. He left a family of eleven children, of whom eight are living. Their son John, who is the subject of this sketch, grew up on the farm and was educated in the common schools.
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Farming has been his life's occupation and he owns a good bit of land, but for about thirty years he has lived a retired life at Londonderry. Mr. Francis has never been an office-seeker but has held the position of township trustee and school director. In 1848, he was married to Rebecca Hinshaw, by whom he had one child that died in infancy. The mother also died, and Mr. Francis, on August 22, 1888, was married to Mary F. Timmons, daughter of Azariah and Charity (Dixon) Timmons, both natives of Ross county, who had ten children, of whom six are living, the father dying in 1887, and the mother in 1878. By this marriage Mr. Francis has one son, Chancey J., who was born July 28, 1890. Mr. Francis is a member of the Christian church while the wife affiliates with the Society of Friends. The grandfather of Mr. Francis cut the first white oak tree ever felled by a white man on Londonderry fiats. He also brought the first wheat into that section, having it sent from old Virginia on the Scioto river. When the boat reached the point where the state dam is now situated, it sprang a leak and had to be taken out and dried. This wheat proved very costly in the end, but his neighbors helped to cut it and he divided with them, giving each one a tea-cupful of the grain, which was cut with sickles and knives. The grandmother of Mr. Francis made the first bedcord of Indian hemp.
Martin Frey, of Bourneville, Ohio, is a native of Germany, born at Ortenberg, a village of the state of Baden, October 30, 1833. He came with his parents to America in 1854, the trip being made in a sailing vessel and consuming thirty-one days. The emigrants landed at New York city on the 4th of July and proceeded direct to Chillicothe, Ohio. Martin was poor and had no other reliance than his German pluck and ability to work. He turned his hand at whatever he could find to do, first. working on a railroad, helping to lay track from Greenfield to Leesburg on the old Marietta & Cincinnati, afterward doing chore work for George Woods, of Chillicothe, about one year, and finally landing on a farm where he was employed by the month for about seven years. At the expiration of that time, he started a huckster wagon and followed that line of business for eight years. On May 9, 1869, he was married to Margaret Zink, a native of Germany, who came to Ohio with her uncle. After marriage Mr. Frey lived in Chillicothe for a while but in August, 1870, removed to Bourneville, where he engaged in the general mercantile business, also conducting a pork packing establishment on a small scale. He now owns 514 acres of good Ross county land, which he oversees and manages in person. He raises stock extensively, feeding about sixty head of cattle and large numbers of hogs during each year. He is a member of the Democratic party and served as township treasurer for one term. His religious connections are Roman Catholic and he belongs to St. Peter's church in Chillicothe. Mr. Frey's marriage
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resulted in the birth of three children, as follows : Mary J., born February 6, 1870, and died in December, 1872 ; John A., born August 3, 1875 ; and Martin E., March 9, 1878. The two sons are assisting their father in the management of his large business.
Gottfried Frick, an extensive land owner and one of the most successful farmers in Scioto township, is a man of remarkable business qualifications. Now contemplating a well deserved retirement for the purpose of spending the evening of his life in repose, he can look back complacently to a long career well spent in the useful activities of good citizenship. His parents were Peter and Catherina Frick, natives of Germany, who came to this country in 1838. The particulars of their trip sharply illustrate the changes in modes of travel from that day to this. It took them nearly two months to cross the ocean, whereas it is done now in less than a week. They came from :New York city to Buffalo by rail, thence to Cleveland on steamboat over Lake Erie, and from there by canal to Waverly, county seat of Pike county. This was the destination of the immigrants and there they bought and settled on a small farm of about forty acres. The father had learned the cabinet-maker's trade in Germany and followed it as long as he remained in that country, but after his arrival in Ohio he devoted himself exclusively to agricultural pursuits. They remained in Pike county until 1873, when they removed to Ross county and lived with their son and there they died, he at the age of sixty-six and the mother in her seventy-second year. They had five children. Appeline, the eldest, married Jacob Gergens, of Nebraska, and they celebrated their golden wedding March 20, 1902. Christina married William F. Young, of Nebraska : Mary became the wife of Jacob Gahm and both have since died: Leona, who married Jacob Grumme, of Chillicothe, is also deceased. Gottfried Frick, next to the oldest of the children, was born at Rheinbern, Germany, August 28, 1837. His first business venture after reaching manhood was with a threshing machine, and this he followed several years, until his marriage to Mary Gahm, of Jackson comity, Ohio. For awhile after this event, Mr. Frick lived in Pike county and then went to Ross county where he spent a year in Twin township. The next move was to Scioto township, where Mr. Frick cultivated rented land about. seven years and then purchased what was known as the Lunbeck farm, which he has since added to until his holdings amount to 280 acres. Included in this purchase was the old Paint grist mill, which he conducted for seventeen years and also built a large mill at Portsmouth, which he subsequently sold to his sons. Mr. Frick is a man of unusually fine business qualifications and has met with remarkable success in all of his undertakings. He owns 647 acres of land on the Wabash river, besides other valuable properties at different points. He is one of the most prominent farmers in Scioto
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township, and one of its most esteemed citizens. Mr. Frick has always taken especial interest in educational matters and during his residence of thirty-one years in the township has been a member of the school board nearly all the time. He was once elected to the position of land appraiser but resigned before the time for taking the office. He is a member of Chillicothe lodge, No. 84, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and politically is associated with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Frick have six children: George resides in Knox county, Ind. ; Adam at Portsmouth, Ohio, and John in Missouri; Lena married Ellsworth Kidnocker, of Scioto township; Christina and Cathrine are at home. The family attend the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Frick has been a member since 1863.
C. Albert Fromm, publisher and proprietor of the "Unsere Zeit," a German weekly newspaper of Chillicothe, was born in that city March s, 1877. His parents were Charles and Elizabeth (Ringwald) Fromm. Charles Fromm was a native of Germany, brought to this country in infancy and reared in Cincinnati, where he learned the printing business, and became the publisher of two lodge journals. He went from that city to Portsmouth and founded the "Unsere Zeit," which a year later was removed to Chillicothe, where it is now owned and operated by the third generation since its establishment. The grandparents of C. Albert Fromm died in Chillicothe; his father passed away at the early age of forty-seven, but his mother is still living. Mr. Fromm was educated in the public schools of Chillicothe, began work in his father's office in early youth and has been connected with the "art preservative" for the last twelve years. His plant is well equipped for all kinds of commercial printing and job work, being supplied with modern presses operated by electric power. Mr. Fromm has never married, seeming to prefer the liberty and independence of "single blessedness." Ile is a member of the Eintracht Singing society, and the Ancient Essenic Order of Knights, Chillicothe senate, No. 32. His religious connections are with the German Salem church. Politically he is independent and so is his paper, the "Unsere Zeit," which is devoted to general news of interest to the German reading people of Ross county and adjacent territory.
John R. Fry, of Ross county, is a native of Baden on the Rhine, Germany, born August 25, 1839. His parents were Richard and Catharine Fry, both of whom were born in Germany and came to Pike county, Ohio, in 1842. They had a family of four daughters and three sons, of whom five are still living. Richard Fry died in 1865, aged sixty-three, and his wife died in 1896, on the eve of her birthday, aged ninety-two years. John R. Fry and his mother and
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father were all born on the same day of the month. John R. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools of Pike county. He has always followed farming for an occupation and has met with reasonable success in that line. In 1884 he removed to Ross county, where he has ever since resided. He has charge of 318 acres of land, which he farms in a general way, but gives especial attention to the breeding of road horses of the Hambletonian stock. He has been elected trustee of Liberty township and is one of the trustees at the present time. His first wife was Margaret Armbrust, of Waverly, Pike county, by whom he had two children, George Fry, of Pickaway county, and John R.. Fry, Jr., who lives at home. After the death of this wife Mr. Fry married Mary L. Rader, of Pike county, daughter of Adam and Nancy Rader. By the second marriage there are two children. The eldest of these, William H. Fry, was married November 9, 1901, to Mina, daughter of George and Mary Dixon, of Athens county. Her father was killed on the railroad near Athens. Ohio, several years ago. Ida M. Fry. the other child of John R. and Mary L. Fry, was educated at Chillicothe and is a teacher in the public schools.
Seth Fuller, well known in Athens and Ross counties as a dealer in land and stock, and for years identified with the agricultural interests of Twin township, can boast a lengthy pioneer lineage. In fact few Ohio families can show connection with first settlers so far hack as the Fullers. In the person of Joseph Fuller they had a representative with the Massachusetts colony which located at or near Marietta, Ohio, in the year 1788, which was ten years before Ross county was officially organized as a body politic. Ile was accompanied by a brother, whose record has been lost sight of, who married after his arrival in Washington county and reared several children, among the number being James Fuller. The latter was born about eight miles above Marietta, March 14, 1797, and was married to Lucinda Pratt December 8, 1822. The records indicate that she was a native of Washington county and that her birth occurred October 2, 1799. This couple settled on a farm near Millfield, in Athens county, which had been purchased before their nuptials, and there they engaged in farming and stockraising with considerable success for those days. James Fuller died October 8, 1842, his wife surviving until 1885, when she died in Ross county, aged about seventy-eight years. They had only two children, one of whom died in infancy and the other was Seth Fuller, born in Athens county, July 5, 1826. Schools were few and far between at that period and young Fuller had neither time nor inclination to attend had they been numerous. Being the only child he was needed at home for such work as boys can do and the death of his father left him at the age of sixteen years his mother's only dependence as assistant farm manager. In 1843,
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at the boyish age of seventeen, he married Theresa Dean, took his bride to the old home place and with the help of his mother made a very creditable record as general superintendent of farm affairs. From a very early age Mr. Fuller had been fond of trading, and traveled a good deal in securing and carrying out deals in lands and stock. e displayed capacity and shrewdness in this line and in the course of years accumulated considerable land and other property. In 1865, he disposed of his interests in Athens and located in Ross county, where he continued his operations as a dealer in stock and real estate. In 1888 his wife died, leaving six children : James, Joseph, John, Edward, Mary and Maria. Subsequently he married Mary Jane Gabriel, a native of Athens county, spent some time leisurely in Chillicothe and then removed to one of his places in Twin township. In 1898, Mr. Fuller located at Roxabell, in Concord township, and that was his place of residence until May, 1902, when he removed to Frankfort, where he now resides. e is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Frankfort lodge Free and Accepted Masons.
Charles B. Gearhart was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, June 25, 1858. His father, Henry Gearhart, was a native of Bucks county, Pa., born February 18, 1818. When twelve years of age he came to Pickaway county with his father, who died shortly after their arrival. There were ten children in the family, all of whom, except Henry and Jacob, went to other parts of the country to seek residences. For several years after the departure of his relatives Henry worked for neighbors by the month. He married Harriet, daughter of Titus Dungan, of Pickaway county, but she died in a year or two without leaving any children. During this period, Henry Gearhart was engaged in buying stock and prospered sufficiently to he able to buy a farm of 150 acres. e was married a second time to Frances C. Briggs, by whom he had seven children. Of these, Frank T. lives in Pickaway county on the home farm ; Charles B. is the subject of this sketch ; Mary W. married Owen McDill of Pickaway county; William S. lives in Circleville, Ohio; Ruth L.., Fred C. and Della H. are dead. The father continued to reside on the old home place in Pickaway county until the time of his death, December 24, 1887. Charles B. Gearhart, the second of the children in order of birth, was educated at the common school of his district and remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age. October 31. 1883, he was married to Ella A. Zurmehly and in March of the following year he settled down on the W. S. Carpenter farm near Darbyville in Pickaway county. After a residence there of one year, a change was made in February, 1885, into Ross county near by, and other removals were made in the subsequent years until February, 1889, when he located at Circleville
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and engaged in the implement business. This, under the firm name of McCoy & Gearhart, he continued for three years, at the end of which time he disposed of his interest to George Smith and in 1891 removed to the place where he now resides. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Gearhart, Shirley Z. is at home, Turney L. died in infancy, Carl B. and Paul H, are going to school. The mother was born on September 10, 1856, in the same house where she now lives. Her grandparents were natives of Switzerland, from which country they came to Pennsylvania and from there to Pickaway at an early period of that county's settlement. Mrs. Gearhart's father married Harriet Lutz, of Pickaway county, in 1846, and about the same time removed to Ross county. He was prosperous and bad accumulated 350 acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred on November 25, 1893, his wife surviving him only four days and passing away on November 29. Mr. Gearhart is a Republican in politics, served nine years as justice of the peace in Union township and for two years was a member of the school hoard. In 1901, he was elected commissioner of Ross county by a plurality of 182 and will enter into his office on the third Monday in September, 1902. Mr. Gearhart is one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of his county, standing high both in the political and business world.
Martin Gilmerr, farmer, of Concord township, is descended from one of those sturdy families who fought the pioneer battles of Ross county in the days that have long since become historic. The first of the name to appear on the banks of the Scioto was Matthew Gilmerr, who "joined the procession" which was making its way from his native state of Virginia to the more inviting fields of Ohio. It was early in the nineteenth century when lie arrived with his family in the confines of Ross county and located in Concord township. He became the father of seven children who, with their descendants, have ever since been identified with the agricultural interests of the county. The names of the first settler's children were William, Martin, Robert, Susan, Sallie, Mary and Matthew. The last mentioned was little more than a suckling infant when the journey from Virginia had ended and he grew to manhood amid the rude surrounding of his father's new home. He worked on the farm in youth and after reaching maturity secured land and became a farmer on his own account, following that occupation through life. He married Artemesia, daughter of Robert Wells, who was among the early arrivals in that part of the county and a well-to-do man. Nine children resulted from this union, node up of five sons and four daughters. All of the latter are dead but the sons are living and named as follows: George W.. Allen, Franklin, Robert W., and Martin. Martin Gilmerr was born at the parental home in Concord township, Ross county, Ohio. in 1862. His youth and early man-
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hood were spent as was customary among the children of farmers, by alternate attendance at school in winter and outdoor work during the seasons of summer. Upon arriving at the age of twenty-one he embarked in business for himself and has since been one of the busy tillers of the soil in his native township. In 1893, Mr. Gilmerr was married to Miss Irena Swan, a native of Ross county, who died April 3, 1900, leaving two children, Ray Everett and Esther Viola.
Colonel William Edward Gilmore was born in Chillicothe on November 3, 1824. His parents were William Young Gilmore and Mary Tiffin, his wife. In after years, Colonel Gilmore drew the following picture of his father's traits and character: "My father was a purely good, honest, industrious, moral, refined gentleman, who discharged every duty as husband, father, tailor, citizen and public officer in several places of trust, and never postponed or omitted any. He was polite and considerate towards every one, and most cordial and affectionate to his family and friends. The city of Chillicothe is indebted to him to a greater extent than many of its citizens are aware, for its present admirable common school establishment, and the existence of its public library. Almost his last injunction to me was that I should make the effort to recover certain very valuable real estate in the city, diverted from its proper uses many years ago, and, when recovered, that it should be given to the Board of Education and library." "And," said Colonel Gilmore to the writer of his memoirs in 1902, with an expression of intense satisfaction, "this injunction was, after years of effort, carried to the triumphant fruition in which our people now universally take much justified pride." Such is the affectionate portraiture of his father by a dutiful son. Of his mother he thus writes : "My mother, born here in Chillicothe, O., on the first day of January, 1806, was far above mediocrity in intellectual vigor and intelligence. Throughout her life she was a constant reader of sound literature, and she had an excellent memory. In affectionate devotion to her husband, children and relatives, no woman ever excelled her, for that would be impossible." The father of this excellent woman was Joseph Tiffin, brother of Governor Edward Tiffin, who is so often mentioned in the histories of Ross county, and of whom Colonel Gilmore has written and published a worthy memoir. Mrs. Gilmore died on February 10, 1875, and her husband was carried off suddenly by general paralysis on May 2, 1876, in his seventy-ninth year.
In the spring of 1839, William E. Gilmore entered he Ohio university at Athens, but left that institution without a degree in the summer of 1841. His father desired that he should become a lawyer, and in obedience to this request young Gilmore entered the office of Creighton & Green. The former, who was something of a practical joker, placed in the boy's hands as the first work for his
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perusal, the eight huge and heavy volumes of "Bacon's Abridgement of the Law." The next few months were spent in nibbling at this indigestible mass with the result of so disgusting the student with the law, that he abandoned the office and his "reading" at the same time. This was in 1842 and about. that time a great "revival of religion" was in progress at Chillicothe. Young Gilmore, in common with hundreds of others, was profoundly impressed and in due time formally "joined the church." Determining to study for the Presbyterian ministry, he entered Lane Theological Seminary in 1843, studied diligently for three years and was graduated with marked prominence as a bachelor of divinity. December 10, 1846, Mr. Gilmore was married to Miss Amanda Betts, of Cincinnati, and immediately thereafter entered upon the study of the law in earnest. He became a student in the office of Judge Oliver M. Spencer and Richard M. Corwin of Cincinnati. In the spring of 1848, having in the meantime graduated in the Cincinnati law college, he was admitted to the practice, by the supreme court, on the circuit.
From his earliest youth, Mr. Gilmore looked with horror upon the odious system of human slavery, and throughout his early manhood was an avowed abolitionist. In 1846, he took his first public part in politics by supporting Samuel Lewis, the anti-slavery candidate for governor against both Whig and Democrat nominees. In 1848, he "took the stump" in support of Van Buren and Adams, the freesoil candidates for president and vice-president. 'Upon the organization of the Republican party he became a charter member, and always gave loyal and unselfish support to its candidates and policies. He was a prominent speaker (and with the exception of the late Samuel L. Wallace, the only one in Ross county) for the Republicans during the memorable campaign of 1860, which resulted in Lincoln's election to the presidency. After a visit to Washington in March, 1861, Mr. Gilmore became convinced that the Southern leaders were determined on secession and civil war; and upon returning to his home in Ohio, he arranged to get the news promptly of the first overt act, and when the announcement was made that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, he immediately issued handbills calling for a public meeting to enlist soldiers. He had prepared a muster roll in advance, to which his own name was signed first, and at the subsequent meeting a full company of one hundred men was formed. Governor Dennison was notified by telegraph, but as the president's proclamation had not yet been issued, the company was not formally accepted for several days but left home under orders on the 21st of April, 1861, for Camp Jackson. It. subsequently became Company A of the Twenty-second Ohio volunteer infantry, organized under the president's first call for troops, and soon afterward the regiment was placed under command of Colonel Gilmore. They were ordered into Virginia by way of Parkersburg, late in
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May, and served there until the middle of August in various kinds of duties over a wide area of territory. The men had been enlisted for the three months' service, ending July 21st, and much difficulty and delay attended the reorganizations for longer terms, because of the large number of new regiments which had been authorized, and which were being gathered in southern Ohio. Eventually six full companies recruited by Colonel Gilmore were consolidated with the Sixty-third Ohio at Marietta, this being effected by Colonel Gilmore's unselfish and patriotic conduct in voluntarily yielding the first place to another and accepting the lieutenant-colonelcy of the new regiment. In February, 1862, they were ordered to report to General Sherman at Paducah, Ky., and thence on to General Pope's army then organizing in Missouri. The new arrangements and associations made matters so disagreeable for Colonel Gilmore that they in time became intolerable. The colonel placed over him was jealous, selfish and passionate; his old men murmured because Colonel Gilmore had been deprived of the command, and bickerings, mutual distrust and Heart-burnings finally became such that after a year's service Colonel Gilmore resigned and came home, but continued in every possible way to aid the Union cause.
In May, 1866, he removed with his family to Springfield, Mo., and he settled down with the intention of abandoning partisan politics forever and devoting himself exclusively to business. But his reputation as a speaker had gone before him and he had not got well settled in his new home until a committee of prominent citizens called on him to meet one of the rampant Democratic orators of Missouri on the platform. In those days all political discussions took the form of debate in southwest Missouri. This threw him into the current, and from that on for years he was actively and conspicuously connected with the heated and acrimonious political contests that distinguish Missouri in the late sixties. He became a leader of his party and obtained recognition as one of its ablest speakers. In 1868, Colonel Gilmore was offered the nomination for Congress in the Fourth (Mo.) district, but declined on the ground that the sitting member who was a Republican, was entitled to re-election. By his subsequent work in the campaign he saved his party from the defeat threatened by a dangerous bolt. Colonel Gilmore became prominent in the Liberal Republican movement. in Missouri to re-enfranchise those who had been deprived of the rights of suffrage by the vindictive legislation which had been enacted during the civil war. It was a long, hitter and relentless struggle but finally ended in the triumph of liberal principles. Colonel Gilmore was again tendered the nomination for Congress, but refused it because the platform by which it was accompanied favored the continuance of disfranchising clauses of the State constitution. Later on he was nominated as an independent candidate on a liberal platform and;
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after a campaign of great force and brilliancy, was defeated, though he cut down the original majority by thousands of votes. In 1869, Colonel Gilmore had strong support for the United States senate, but for personal and business reasons declined to make the race, urging his friends to support Carl Schurz, who was afterwards elected. In 1872 Colonel Gilmore was nominated for lieutenant-governor of Missouri, but owing to the fact that he had not been long enough in the State by about six weeks to be eligible to this office, he was compelled to decline the honor. Owing to business losses caused by a son-in-law, in the panic of 1873, Colonel Gilmore returned to Ohio and resumed his law practice in the same office he had abandoned in 1861 to go to war, and continued the practice so long as health permitted ; broken only by a term as postmaster of his native city. Colonel Gilmore's first wife died in August, 1862, and in October, 1863, he married again, his second wife being Ellen, daughter of Charles P. and Angeline (Crippen) Brown, of Athens, Ohio. All the children by his first marriage are long since dead. By the second marriage there were born three children, Charles P., Tiffin and Ellen, who survive. During his long life, Colonel Gilmore had enjoyed most of the time robust health ; but he contracted rheumatic gout in the army, which afterwards caused him much pain at frequent intervals. During the last year or two he has been an invalid confined to his room by that. painful disease, without hope of ultimate recovery, hut still full of the spirit and determination which characterized his whole career, and when able to use his pen, has employed it writing much local history and considerable verse, of which he has published comparatively little, but may yet give more of it to the reading world.
Thus far, this sketch of Colonel Gilmore has been gathered and written by the representative of this history, without his knowledge, or submission of it to his inspection. After it had been put in type, it was read to him at his bedside. He listened attentively, and at its conclusion gravely and solemnly said : "What a record of failures it is! But in, at least, partial explanation of that I can truthfully assert that I never but once asked my political party for official position. Such few candidacies as have come to me have been entirely unsolicited by me. I have never intrigued or clamored for 'recognition,' nor `bent the pregnant hinges of the knees' to rings, caucuses, or powers `that thrift might follow fawning.' I never in my whole life participated in a secret political cabal or caucus, although very often urged to do so, for I have always thought with old Samuel Adams, that political secrets ought not to exist in a democratic or republican government. Besides this, I have always voted to fill judicial and municipal executive offices with the candidates whom I conscientiously believed would serve the interests of the people best ; and I have so voted without secrecy or concealment. All this being
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true, I could not expect, nor did I ever receive much personal favor from the political bosses and rings that exist `to manage things' in every county and district of this country. And finally, even my best friends say--and I admit. with some reason--that I am naturally somewhat stubborn and unmanageable. Do these facts explain and account for my failures in life Perhaps so ; but I do not very greatly regret the failures."
John W. Goldsberry, attorney-at-law, of Chillicothe, is a native of Petersburg, Highland county, Ohio, born October 21, 1852. Ills parents were Delay F. and Sarah J. (Fisher) Goldsberry, both natives of Ross county. The father learned the trade of blacksmithing in youth and followed it for about twenty-five years. Later the became a merchant and for eighteen years has been justice of the peace in Chillicothe. His wife died while still in young womanhood. They had a family of six children, of whom only two are living, Mrs. Phoebe A. English and the subject of this sketch. The latter was educated at the Ohio Wesleyan university, being graduated from the classical course in 1878. Mr. Goldsberry taught school for seven years while completing his education, in this way earning money to pay the expenses. In 1879, lie began the study of law and in 1881 he was admitted to practice in the supreme and local courts. Since that time he has been engaged in regular practice at Chillicothe and has been successful, both professionally and financially. April 29, 1886, Mr. Goldsberry was married to Susanna M. Offutt, a native of Chillicothe and daughter of Joseph H. and Maria (Minear) Offutt. The parents are both deceased and a son, Newton by name, is a member of Mr. Goldsberry's family. During his lifetime Mr. Offutt was very successful in business and amassed a fortune in milling and farming. Mr. and Mrs. Goldsberry have three children whose names are Joseph F., John P., and Paul, aged fifteen, ten and five years respectively. The parents are members of the Walnut street Methodist church.
John Goodchild, fruit-grower and stock-raiser, is one of the progressive and prosperous farmers in the eastern part of Scioto township. He is a sample of the many strong men sent from the "tight little isle" beyond the sea to every country of the civilized world, to the great advantage of their citizenship. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Wilson) Goodchild, both English born and bred, the former a shoemaker who followed his trade for a livelihood up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was fifty-eight years old. The children of this couple were nine in number, of whom two died in infancy, the others in order of birth being as follows: Turner, Louisa, Emily, George, Mary, John and William. Aside from George, who lives at. Cardington, Ohio, and the subject of this sketch,
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all the children remained in their native country. John Goodchild, sixth of the family, was born at Hertfordshire, England, March 9, 1843. He came to this country in 1862, when the civil war was in full blast, and soon catching the prevailing fever he sought the earliest opportunity to become a soldier. Joining Captain Musser's company, which became H of the Hundred and Twenty-ninth regiment Ohio infantry, he was mustered into the six months' service. The command was sent to Lexington, Ky., from there to Cumberland Gap and Knoxville, returning from the latter place to Cleveland, Ohio, where they were discharged. Mr. Goodchild came directly to Chillicothe in March and in the following May re-enlisted in Company D, Hundred and Forty-ninth regiment Ohio infantry, under Capt. Raymond Aston. This force was sent. to Baltimore for guard duty, later taking part in the battle of Monocacy in July, 1864, between Early and Lew Wallace, and the engagement at Snicker's Gap. After this they were sent up the Shenandoah valley, then back to Camp Dennison, where they were mustered out at the expiration of their term of enlistment. After being mustered out Mr. Goodchild spent a short time at Chillicothe and then went to California, where he remained eight rears. In 1873 he returned to Chillicothe, engaged in farming, and on August 23, 1873, was married to Agnes Warboys. This lady was born in England, June 3, 1854, and came to Ohio in 1863 with her parents, Joseph and Maria Warboys, who settled near Chillicothe and there ended their days. Mr. Goodchild settled with his bride on a farm recently purchased by himself in the eastern portion of Scioto township, on which he has since resided, and so greatly improved the same that it is now one of the most comfortable homes in the county. Mr. Goodchild does general farming and stockraising, also paying considerable attention to fruit-growing. In addition to the home place of 100 acres, he has charge of 200 acres of the Seymour farm, all of which he manages and cultivates by modern methods. He has been a member of the school board for about fourteen years and belongs to Brown post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Chillicothe. Mr. and Mrs. Goodchild have had thirteen children : Elizabeth M., wife of John Davis of Columbus, Ohio; Walter A. G., also of Columbus; Lillian M., George O. and Joseph D., at home ; Eliza W., of Columbus; Emily N., Daisy E., Leslie W., John L., Earl B. and Mary A., at home ; Louisa died in infancy. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church.
Daniel Goodman, late of Green township, Ross county, was one of those industrious and unobtrusive men who lead quiet, unpretentious lives but gain the good will of all by kindliness of disposition and readiness to help their neighbors. He was born August 6, 1834, in the township where he spent all of his life and finally met death with that composure which comes of the consciousness of a life well
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spent and duty well performed. His parents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Charles) Goodman, who are mentioned in another part of this work. Being born and bred on a farm and drilled in all the details of such work, Mr. Goodman after reaching man's estate pursued the calling of his father and remained to his last day a cultivator of the soil. In a quiet, modest way he participated in all township affairs, held various minor offices, such as that of school director, and owing to his business qualifications and integrity of character was often called on to act as administrator of estates. His industrious habits and good management were rewarded with success, and at the time of his death Mr. Goodman owned considerable property, including 151 acres of land. e was a member of the Masonic order and punctual in the performance of his duties at the lodge in Chillicothe. January 1, 1873, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Abraham and Lydia Miller, a worthy couple who have received due notice elsewhere in this volume. The three children resulting from this union were all given good educations by their fond parents and started out in life with prospects of successful careers. George O. Goodman, eldest of the children, was born November 8, 1873. Daniel Jerry Goodman was born December 30, 1874, went through the Kingston high school and settled down as a farmer on the old homestead. He married Effie Dresbach and they have two children : Kenneth F. and Mary Thelma. e has served in the city council and is a member of the Kingston lodge, Knights of Pythias. Edna G., the only daughter of Daniel and Mary E. Goodman, was born July d3, 1879, and graduated at the Kingston high school in 1896. October 3, 1900, she was married to Joseph H. Dunkel, of Pickaway county, and has one child, Elizabeth G. Daniel Goodman, the father of this interesting family, died April 18, 1888, his death being caused by a stone cancer in the region of the stomach. Mrs. Mary E. Goodman, who survives her husband, is a well educated lady, having benefited in her youth from excellent private schools in Kingston and Chillicothe and finished a course at the Normal university of Lebanon, Ohio. When a young lady she had charge of district schools and afterward taught several years in Chillicothe. She is a business woman and superintends her own affairs with good judgment, being a stockholder in the Scioto Valley bank and owner of a business and dwelling building in Kingston. Since her husband's death Mrs. Goodman purchased 166 acres of land immediately adjoining the town of Kingston and with her family also owns a tract of 150 acres on the Scioto river.
Hon. Oliver P. Goodman, residing near Kingston, has long been conspicuously identified with the political, commercial and agricultural affairs of Ross county. He has represented the county in the legislature, assisted in the promotion of financial institutions and
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rendered valuable service to agriculture in connection with legislation affecting the live stock industry. Mr. Goodman comes naturally by his tastes for farm life, as his ancestors, as far back as the records go, were tillers of the soil. The founder of the family in America was George Goodman who came from Germany to Pennsylvania in the first half of the eighteenth century. Catherine Gouger, who subsequently became his wife, was a woman of notable character in many respects and one whose life's history was filled with interesting and pathetic details. She was born in New Jersey in 1732 and brought in infancy to Northumberland county, Pa. In those clays all that part of Pennsylvania was a borderland, subject to forays by the Indians and often the scene of bloody massacres. In one of their inroads, Catherine Gouger and a younger brother were taken prisoners y the savages. The boy was killed, but the girl, then twelve years old, was adopted by the tribe and shared their wild mode of life for about eight years. Being then a young woman, she managed in some way to make her escape and returned to the scenes of her early childhood only to find her mother dead and the home abandoned. Long years afterwards, when living in Ohio, she was able to point out the trails along which she traveled with the Indians while their captive. She recognized their camping grounds in the very locality in Ross county where she subsequently settled. On one of these spots, so the family traditions relate, where she had slept in childhood with the Indians, she had a lot cleared off for a cemetery and there when the final summons came her body found its last resting place. Shortly after her return from captivity, Catherine Gouger was married to George Goodman and bore him six children, four sons and two daughters. Among the former was John Goodman, who was born while his parents lived in Berk, county, Pa. He married Charlotte Shuck, came to Ross county in 1797, bought four hundred acres of land in Green township, and in the following year brought his family there for final settlement. In addition to his main work as a farmer, John Goodman conducted one of those wayside inns so indispensable to travelers before the days of railroads and city hotels. At this modest hostelry in Green township many prominent men were entertained during their trips through the country, and it was the proud boast of Landlord Goodman that President Monroe himself had slept under his roof and also General Hull, when on his way to take command of troops in the Northwest Territory. After a life of adventure and hardship, this sturdy pioneer was called to his final rest July 15, 1830, aged sixty-eight years, the date of his wife's death being April 23, 1825. Their son, David Goodman, was born in Green township in 1801, and grew up to be a man of strongly marked character. When in his early manhood it was his custom to make four trips a year to New Orleans on flatboats loaded with flour, bacon, whisky and other merchandise of the
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Scioto Valley which found a ready market in the great southern metropolis. His regular occupation was farming, which, with his other enterprises, was carried on so successfully as to enable him to accumulate a handsome competence, including seven hundred acres of land. e was a man of excellent business sense and strictest integrity in all his dealings. He would never bring suit against anyone, nor subject himself to litigation at the hands of others. Strong in his convictions and firm in the assertion of his beliefs, he stood up with only seven others in Green township to attest his Democracy voting for Andrew Jackson. March 3, 1833, David Goodman was married to Elizabeth Cullum, a woman every way worthy to be the consort of such a man. She was born in Maryland in 1812 and came to Ross county in 1815 with her parents, George and Nancy (Gallaway) Cullum, both of whom died within a few years after their arrival. David Goodman and wife reared a family of four children: Ellen Dunlap, Oliver P., Margaret Imnael, and Mary E. Umsted. The father died March 12, 1891. Oliver P. Goodman was born on the family homestead in Green township April 27, 1839. He attended the Mount Pleasant Academy in Kingston and was graduated 1862, after which he took charge as superintendent of his father's farm acting in that capacity until 1871. He then removed to a farm which he had purchased two miles west of Kingston, where he has since made his home. In 1883, Mr. Goodman was elected on the Democratic ticket as a representative of Ross county in the state legislature, served two years and declined a renomination. Mr. Goodman rendered valuable service to his constituents as member of the committees on Agriculture, Public Works and Public Ways, being chairman of the last mentioned. e also had the honor of membership of the special committee which had charge of the presentation of the statue of William Allen as Ohio's contribution to Memorial Hall in Washington. e was largely instrumental in securing the legislation creating the Ohio Live Stock commission, and it was a fitting and graceful act on the part of Governor Campbell to appoint him a member of that commission, on which he served three years acceptably to all concerned. Mr. Goodman was a charter member of the Scioto Valley hank and one of its directors since the organization in 1883. e has long been a valued and enthusiastic worker in Odd Fellowship, having filled all the subordinate positions in that order, and served for two years as district grand master of his district. e was one of the organizers and first master of the Scioto grange of Kingston. October 17, 1865, he was married to Dorcas Kelley, whose grandparents came to Ohio from Frederick county, Va., in 1803. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Goodman are Harriet, wife of A. W. Jones, a civil engineer of Kingston Alice, Mamie and David K.
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James C. Gragg was born in Twin township, Ross county. May 21, 1859. His parents were George W. and Ruth A. (Gilfillan) Gragg, the former a native of Ross county and born in February, 1832. James Gragg, father of George W., came from his native Pennsylvania to Ross county about 1800 and settled on a farm now occupied by W. A. Jones. e married Catherine Devoss, and they had six children, of whom Samuel, James and Andrew are dead. The three living are Michael, William and George W. The latter was a mere child when his father died, and had to hustle for himself when ten or twelve years old. After picking up a meager education he worked y the month until he was twenty-four years old. At that time he married Ruth A. Gilfillan and lived on a rented place for some fifteen years, when he bought the farm now owned by John Gragg. He sold this property in 1895 and moved to Bourneville, where he now resides, and where his wife died the same year of his arrival. They had five children, of whom Alexander, Adam and Elizabeth are dead, the living' ones being James C. and Ida, who is the wife of H. L. Corcoran of Pickaway county. James C. Gragg was educated at the district schools and went to Bourneville, where he clerked for Joseph Burgess for about seven years. He was appointed postmaster of Cleveland and held the position under both administrations of that president. At the expiration of his term he engaged in business with J. L. Baum, and subsequently with others, but is now conducting the same alone. Mr. Gragg is interested in 16,000 acres of land lying in Ross and Highland counties, Ohio, and in Virginia near Norfolk. It is largely covered by timber and the object is to cut the lumber and develop the property on a large scale. Mr. Gragg expects to spend most of his time in Virginia looking after his interests there. He is a member of the Chillicothe commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar, the Knights of Pythias lodge at Bainbridge, No. 808, Paint Valley lodge of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen at South Salem and belongs to the Methodist church. In 1888, at Bourneville, he was married to Marguerite Shoults, by whom he has had three children, Rodney, Elizabeth and Foss H.
John A. J. Graham, one of the popular farmers of Concord town ship, like his ancestors for many generations, is a native of Virginia. His grandparents were Silas and Elizabeth Graham, the former a planter in the eastern part of the State and a man of note in the Old Dominion. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and came out as a major-general. e died in his native place at a ripe old age and his wife's death occurred while on a visit to Madison county, Ohio. Their two children were Silas M. and Jane, the former of whom learned the carpenter's trade and followed the same for a livelihood as long as he remained in Virginia. In early manhood he was married to Sarah Johnson, an eastern Virginia woman, with
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whom he removed to Ohio in 1863 and settled in Fayette county. Subsequently a number of changes of residence were made to different counties, including Clinton and Madison and finally Ross. During his eight years' stay in Fayette he was engaged in farming and the same occupation was resumed on arriving in Ross county. Of the eight children born to Silas and Sarah Graham, four are dead: Elizabeth, Sarah B., Ella and Willie ; the others are Philip, A. J., Eliza O. and Silas. A. J. Graham, third of the children, was born Virginia January 11, 1854, and remained at home until eighteen years old. He then obtained work y the month and was so employed for several years until his marriage to Miss Melvina Bowen, whose parents were among the early settlers of Ross county. They have had seven children: Marcus (deceased), Roy, Flora, Lee, William, Carl and Henry. They located for a while in Deerfield township, but shortly afterward purchased the place where they now reside. Mr. Graham has been school director for six years and is a member of Frankfort lodge, Modern Woodmen of America. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
Peter Griesheimer, the well known gardener and truck dealer, who has followed that business at Chillicothe for more than a generation, is one of the representative German-American citizens of Ross county. The native place of the family was Lampertheim, a town of the German state of Hesse-Darmstadt, situated on the river Rhine. There, in 1796, Jacob Griesheimer was born, and there he lived until he was fifty-two years old. According to the strict military laws of Germany, he was compelled to enter the army in early manhood and his service, covering a period of three years, happened at the time when his country was at war with Russia. e married Lizzie Griesheimer, one of his townswomen, and by her had three children, Mary, Lizzie and Martin, the latter, a resident of Chillicothe, being the only one living. In the course of tune the first wife died and in 1830, Jacob married Margaret. Griesheimer, with whom he lived in Germany until 1848 and then turned his face towards distant America. After a tempestuous voyage of forty-five days, the Griesheimers were landed at, Castle Garden, sought speedy passage to Ohio and located at Chillicothe. There the head of the house purchased a small tract of land on which he settled with his family and engaged in the business of gardening and trucking. By his second marriage there were four children : Adam, Peter, Catherine (wife of Tobias Etinger of Chillicothe) and Conrad, deceased. In the fullness of years the old people were gathered to their fathers and their remains rest in Greenlawn cemetery. Peter Griesheimer, second of the last family of children, was born in Lampertheim, Germany, March 12, 1835. e received his education before leaving his native country, and after reaching Ohio, remained
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with his parents as assistant in the work on which they depended for support. When he reached the marriageable age he selected as his wife Margaret Dorn, also a native of Lampertheim, who came to Chillicothe about five years later than her future husband. Mr. Griesheimer built a house for the occupancy of his bride in the same year that witnessed his marriage and in this he has ever since resided. This union resulted in the birth of four children : Peter, William, Henry and one that died in infancy. In 1891, the first wife succumbed to consumption and in 1893 Mr. Griesheimer married Rosa Fox Klotz, a native of Bavaria who came to the united States in 1868. From the time of his arrival in this country, he has been engaged in gardening and has found in this congenial occupation both pleasure and profit. Besides the home place, Mr. Griesheimer owns an additional tract of 135 acres and a few years ago was able to present each of his boys a farm. His prosperity is well deserved, as he has been an industrious man all his life and a model citizen in every respect. His son Henry, who is one of the most popular men in the county, is at present member of the board of commissioners. Mr. Griesheimer is a member of the First Evangelical Protestant church and belongs to the Society of German Pioneers.
Douglas R. Griffin, of Gillespieville, one of the leading farmers of Liberty township, is a descendant of an old and patriotic Virginia family. His grandparents were Samuel and Mary (Wesson) Griffin, whose ancestors were in the Continental service during the war of the Revolution, and received warrants for land in the Virginia military district of Ohio. Later, in the great civil war, the descendants of the family in Virginia fought for their state, espousing the cause of the Confederacy, some giving their lives, others their fortunes and falling from affluence to poverty. Notable among these was William Wesson, a cousin of Mary Wesson, who devoted a great fortune to the equipment of the Confederate troops. Among the brothers of Samuel Griffin, all men of influence, were Sabat, who became a captain in the Confederate army, and John, also a Confederate official, who, after the war was over, was made county judge of Brunswick county, Va. Samuel Griffin and his wife came from Virginia early in their married life, in the year 1832, and settling in Ross county, spent the rest of their lives there. Their son, Abdallab, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Brunswick county, Va., accompanied his parents to Ross county, and on reaching manhood married Eliza, daughter of Simon and Rachael (Dixon) Ratcliff. both natives of Chatham county, N. C. These parents came to Ross county in 1804, and Simon Ratcliff became a man of prominence, and the owner of 600 acres of land. e was one of the county commissioners when the Chillicothe courthouse was built, and was remunerated, according to the scale of public expendi-
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ture of those days, with a salary of $35 a year. Abdallah Griffin and his wife lived upon their farm home, he being quite extensively engaged in agriculture, and had a family of four children, of whom two are living: Douglas R. and Dolly, who married Samuel Bowser, and has three children Mary G., Abdallah, and Charlie. Douglas R. Griffin was born in Liberty township, Ross county, October 24, 1856, was reared on his father's farm, and educated in the district school and at a commercial college at Dayton, O. After beginning business life he was at different times engaged in operating a grist mill and lumber mill and in mercantile business at Gillespieville. His principal occupation, however, is farming, and he has charge of the homestead of about a thousand acres of land, his management of which testifies to his ability. On February 5, 1900, he was married to Mrs. Allie Cain, whose maiden name was Dobbins. Her father was a soldier of the Union in the war of the Rebellion. By this marriage Mr. Griffin has a son, Phil D., born March 3, 1902.
Matthias J. Grohe, of the firm of Ware & Grohe, undertakers, in Chillicothe, Ohio, is a native of that city, being born there on June 10, 1874. His parents were Jacob and Pauline (Kellhefer) Grohe. Jacob Grohe was born in Germany and came to Ross county, Ohio, when a youth of eighteen years. ere he engaged in the bakery and grocery business, which he has continued successfully to the present time, being rated as one of the progressive men of Chillicothe. His wife is a native of Ross county and has lived there all her life. They have a family of two sons and one daughter, of whom Matthias is the eldest. The others are Elizabeth, at home with her parents, and William, who is employed in his father's business. Matthias J. Grohe was educated in the public schools of Chillicothe, worked with his father in youth and when twenty years old began to learn the undertaker's business. e retained employment in this line until 1898, when he formed a partnership with C. J. Ware, which still continues. They carry a full line of caskets and funeral supplies, and are thus fully equipped for the successful operation of their business in all its details. Both partners in the firm are competent embalmers and understand all the technical features connected with the business. November 21, 1900, Mr. Grohe was married to Mary C. Dorsey, daughter of Thos. J. Dorsey, a passenger engineer of Grafton, W. Va., who was killed in a railroad accident when Mrs. Grohe was a child. Her mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Cruse, is now living at Grafton. Besides Mrs. Grohe, who is the eldest and only one married, there are four other children. Of these, John is a train dispatcher at Grafton, Joe and William are telegraph operators at the same place : and all are competent and trusted employes. Annie, the other daughter, is at home with her mother,
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as well as also are all the boys. Mr. Grope is a type of that fine American citizenship which comes of German parentage but soon acquires the language and customs of this country, and is noted for its patriotism and public spirit.
John C. Grove, of Buckskin township, occupies a position in the front rank of Ross county's prosperous agriculturists. His grandfather, Martin Grove, was a native of Old Virginia who came to Ohio while the war of 1812 was in progress. He farmed with success both in the counties of Ross and Fayette, being a citizen of the last mentioned county at the time of his death. His son, Noah Grove, was born in 1819 in Ross county and accompanied his father to Fayette when the change of residence was made. Later, he returned to Ross county and settled at Salem, where he achieved success and prosperity in agricultural pursuits. e married Eleanor P., daughter of John holiday, whose parents emigrated from Pennsylvania and settled in Ross county about the year 1800. In 1809, the father of Mrs. Grove located on the farm where his family was reared, became a soldier in 1812 and, as an occupant of the fort, was an eye witness of the battle of Lake Erie, where Perry gained his famous victory over the English vessels. John C. is a son of Noah Grove and was four years old when his father removed from Fayette county, the place of his nativity. He received his training and education in Ross county, and in 1875 was married to Ella, daughter of Francis Ervin, of Virginia. ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. John C. Grove have two interesting children, whose names are Noah Ervin and Mary Eleanor. Mr. Grove is a very busy, as well as useful citizen, benefiting himself as well as the county y encouraging the breeding of good stock. He keeps nothing but high grade cattle and has long since passed the time when he would tolerate a "scrub" of any kind upon his place. Whatever is there, whether sheep, swine or kine, will be found of a quality safely to pass judgment by the best critics. Both as a raiser and feeder of stock, and in all things that tend to bring success in that great industry, he justly ranks as an expert and well deserves the prosperity he has achieved. e is a supporter of all that. makes for righteousness and attests his faith in the truths of Christianity by holding membership in the First Presbyterian church at Greenfield.
Michael Gunning, of the Chillicothe Grain Company, is a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, born March 24, 1853. His parents are Lawrence and Bridget (Rowe) Gunning, both natives of County Cork, Ireland. The father emigrated to America in 1845 and the mother came over two years later. They were married in Fairfield county, Ohio, where the mother lived until the time of her death, which occurred in 1889. After that time the father lived with his
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son Michael in Chillicothe until his death in April, 1901. They had a family of eight children, only three of whom are now living. Michael Gunning was educated largely by self study, based on such advantages as he had obtained in the public schools. His first serious business venture in life was as a railway employee. e was made superintendent of bridges and trestles on the old Scioto Valley railroad and assisted in building all the bridges and trestles on the line, being engaged three years on that division. e first came to Chillicothe in 1873, but did not bring his family there for residence until 1885. He secured employment in the grain business and worked for others some eight or ten years, but since 1883 he has been doing business on his own account. In 1885, Mr. Gunning organized a stock company, known as The Scioto Valley Grain Company. This venture met with financial reverses in 1889, and after the dissolution of the company, Mr. Gunning entered into partnership with R. Enderlin, which continued until 1898. There was then a dissolution, after which Mr. Gunning continued alone for several months, when he associated Mr. Cipher with himself as a partner. In January, 1901, this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Gunning remained in business alone until July, when the Chillicothe Grain Company was organized, with W. L. Roche as partner. In 1880, Mr. Gunning was married to Carrie E. Huling, a native of Bainbridge, Ross county, and daughter of John H. Huling. They have five children, Harry G., John Robert, Frederick, Mary and Helen. Mr. Gunning has been a member of the board of education in Chillicothe for the last twelve years and for the last two years has been president of the same.
Adam Hamm is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, where he was born March 1, 1855. His father, Valentine Hamm, was born in Germany and emigrated with his wife to Ohio about 1845. He settled at first in Seneca county, where he had taken a lease, and there he lived for some twelve years. In 1857 he removed to Ross county and located in Huntington township, where he purchased a farm of 300 acres. The children born of the first marriage were Hartman J., of Chillicothe; Sophia, wife of R. Shiller; Adam, Frederick and Martin, the two last living in Fayette county. Frederick is one of the stockholders in the M. Hamm Company of Washington C. H., one of the largest acid phosphate manufacturing concerns in Ohio. He also owns a fine farm near Washington C. H., which he superintendents, and he has entire charge of the sales department of the above named firm. Martin is the originator of the M. Hamm company, starting in several years ago with nothing, and it is to his industry, intelligence and wise management that the success of the concern is due. The mother of these five children died and the father in 1866 took Catherine Ringwalt for his second
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wife. By this union there were two children, of whom John died and William lives in Chillicothe. Although Valentine Hamm's principal occupation was that of farming, he also did work as a carpenter, besides following the business of threshing and saw milling. His death occurred in 1896. His son Adam remained at home until he was about twenty-seven years of age, assisting his father in the business of the farm. In November, 1882, he was married to Sarah P. Smith, whose people were early settlers of Ross county. They went to housekeeping in Chillicothe and Mr. Hamm engaged in the sawmill and threshing business. After following this exclusively for four or five years, he rented what is known as the Augusta farm, where he spent one year. e then became a land owner on his own account, buying the 175 acres where he now lives, to which he has since added two farms of 65 and 125 acres respectively. This property he acquired principally by his own exertions and he placed upon the farms all the improvements they contain. e owns and operates a threshing machine, corn shredder and clover huller, being the employer of more help than any man in the neighborhood. Mr. Hamm is an extensive fruit raiser and has a young peach orchard containing 6,000 trees. e is completing one of the finest dwelling houses in the neighborhood and all his surroundings give evidence of thrift and prosperity. Mr. Hamm is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Bourneville and of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and wife have been the parents of nine children, of whom Charles and one other died in infancy. Those living, and all still at home, are Sophia, Frederick, Louis, Ada, Ethel, Martin and Clarence.
William G. Hamm, D. D. S., of Chillicothe, was born in Huntington township, Ross county, Ohio, on November 7, 1875. His parents were Valentine and Catherine (Ringwald) Hamm, who came from Germany to Ross county in youth, the father being but twenty-one years old. The latter was twice married, Dr. Hamm's mother being his second wife. The first marriage resulted in five children, whose names are as follows: Hartman, employed in the mechanical department of the Baltimore k Ohio shops at Chillicothe ; Mrs. Sophia Schiller, a widow residing in Bourneville, Ross county : Adam. a well-to-do lumberman and stock dealer at Bourneville; Frederick, a farmer near Washington C. H.. Ohio; Martin, engaged in manufacturing commercial fertilizer at Washington C. H. Dr. Hamm has a full brother, named John, who died in youth, and there were no other children y his father's second marriage. Dr. Hamm was educated in the schools of Ross county and Chillicothe, after which he entered the university of Cincinnati. In this institution he took an academic course and also studied chemistry. Subsequently he matriculated in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, a department of the university, where he completed a course
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in dentistry. He received from his alma mater a certificate of honorable mention, the next prize to the gold medal. June 1, 1899, he opened up for practice at Chillicothe and already has established. a good patronage. The doctor is a member of the Ohio State Dental society, and an alumnus of the Ohio State Dental college as well as the University of Cincinnati. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen and the Improved Order of Red Men, of which he is secretary. April 25, 1899, Dr. Hamm was married to Anna Margaret, daughter of the late Philip Uhrig, a manufacturer and prominent citizen of Chillicothe. Mrs. Hamm was educated in the public schools, the high school and the Business college of Chillicothe. The Doctor's politics are strongly republican, an inheritance from his father, who was with the party from its very organization. The religious affiliations of himself and wife are with the Salem Evangelic Lutheran church, of which they are attentive members.
The Hanawalt Family:--This name, since so well known, first became familiar in Ross county during the second decade of the nineteenth century. The stock originated in Germany but the American branch was derived from settlers in Mifflin county, Pa., who. reared a family of children including one by the name of George Hanawalt, The latter had three sons, Henry, George and John, all of whom came to Ross county, but at different times. When Henry reached manhood he married a Pennsylvania lady named Mary Chah, with whom he set out for the West. and eventually located in Union township, Ross county. After a short sojourn there he settled permanently in Concord township, three and a half miles south of Frankfort, where he resided until the time of his tragic death. It seems that on returning one day from the village of Frankfort he attempted to ford the north fork of Paint creek while it was swollen by freshets, and was washed from his horse and drowned, the body being found a week later near Musselman's. Henry Hanawalt had four sons and two daughters, all dead except Hester, youngest daugh ter, who is now Mrs. James McColly, of Illinois. There are now no direct descendants of Henry living in Ross county. George Hanawalt, his brother, married Margaret Parchel and made his migration from Pennsylvania to Ross county in 1823. For a year or two he lived near what is now Anderson's Station in Union township, afterward spent many years in labor at Slate Mill and finally located in Concord township where he worked on farms until his death in 1882: George had six children, two of whom died in infancy, those growing to maturity being Caleb, Christopher, Elizabeth and Sarah. Caleb grew to manhood in Ross county, married here and subsequently removed to Indiana where the now resides. Elizabeth married James Baber, with whom she located in Madison county, Ohio, where she spent the remainder of her life and where her descendants now reside.
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Sarah became the wife of Jacob Strayer, removed to Franklin county, Ohio, and there her descendants are still found. Christopher, who was born in Mifflin county, Pa., August 20, 1821, was only two years old when his parents came to Ross county. e is now a venerable and much respected citizen of Frankfort, of which he is the oldest living resident, having been there continuously since 1836. October 28, 1840, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Frank and Mary (Goldsberry) Speaks, who were early settlers from Virginia. By this union there were ten children, seven sons and three daughters : Joseph, Mary, George, Benton, Ollie, Samuel, Francis, Elizabeth, Pearly and Raymond. All of the foregoing are living with the exception of Mary, the eldest daughter. Christopher HanawaIt, father of this family has led a long, industrious and in every way exemplary life. He is now eighty-one years old and during all that time has never used tobacco in any form or indulged in intoxicants. e learned the blacksmith's trade in early life and followed that useful calling until five or six years ago, when he retired from active business. John Hanawalt, third of the brothers who came from Pennsylvania, settled at Bourneville in Twin township where he worked during life at the tailor's trade. He first married a Miss Acton, member of an old Ross county family, by whom he had four children : Mary, Jane, Betty and Sally. By his second marriage with Mary, daughter of Christian Hill, he had seven children : Millie, Joseph, Christian, John, George, William and James, the latter residing in Chillicothe. George Hanawalt, son of Christopher Hanawalt, mentioned above, was born in Frankfort, Ohio, in 1849. After reaching manhood he began farming, which he followed until 1882, when he embarked in the business of handling imported horses and continued the same for five years. Since that time he has been dealing extensively in cattle, of which he sells thousands of head every year. These cattle ho imports from the neighboring state of West Virginia and sells principally in the Ohio markets. In 1870 Mr. Hanawalt was married to Martha A., daughter of David and Sarah (Mallow) Coyner, member of one of the substantial and long established families of Ross county. Of the four children resulting from this union, David C. is a government meat inspector at Salt Lake City, Utah; Sarah M. died in infancy : Ollie Lee is the wife of Harry Green, of Washing ton Court House, Ohio, and Carl E. is at home.
James M. Haney, deceased, was born in Buckskin township, Ross county, November 11, 1872. His father, Henry Haney, was a Canadian, born in 1830, who emigrated to Chillicothe and followed railroading for a business. He commenced as a section hand and when he left the company's employment he had risen to the position of superintendent of construction. Having accumulated some funds
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by his industry and saving, he bought a tract of 108 acres of land in Buckskin township as an investment. In 1858 he married Elizabeth Duey and took charge of the Steve Wilson farm which he managed for a couple of years and then removed to the Hardin place. After a residence there of three years he occupied the place which he had purchased and farmed it for eight years or more. After a subsequent residence of six years on the McClain farm in Concord township, Henry Haney bought the place of 406 acres, where he lived until the time of his death in 1885. His six children were Mary A., Sarah J., Henry, John (deceased), Edward and James M. The last mentioned, the subject of this sketch, remained at home until his marriage to Olive Baum, which took place December 30, 1896. They kept house for three years, when removal was made to the old home place where Mr. Haney had charge of the farm. He had two children, John B. and Plessa M. Mr. Haney was a member of the lodge of Modern Woodmen, No. 4,065, and of the Red Men's lodge, at Frankfort.
Robert Hanna, of Gillespieville, was born January 5, 1829, in Harrison county, Ohio. His parents were Matthew and Mary (Orr) Hanna, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, both born in 1805. Matthew was the son of James and Ann (McCullow) Hanna, the latter of whom came to Harrison county after her husband's death, and died there. Matthew came to the State at an early day and lived in various counties, finally reaching Jackson county where he died in 1857 at the age of fifty-two. His wife survived him until 1891, when she died at the age of eighty-six. The latter's father, Robert Orr, was a native of Ireland who came to America about the year 1780: Ann Huston, whom he subsequently married, came over in the same vessel, though at the time they were not acquainted with each other. Robert Orr came to Harrison county, Ohio, at an early age and remained there until his death in 1858, at the age of ninety-one. He had a family of nine daughters, whose ages averaged eighty years at time of death. Matthew and Mary (Orr) Hanna had twelve children, of whom six are still living. These are Robert, Zipporah, James, William T., Matthew and Watson. Robert Hanna, who is the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and came to Ross county in 1846. Since then with the exception of four years, he has always voted in Liberty township of that county. He has always followed farming as an occupation and owns about 200 acres of land. Though a charter member of the Republican party, he has never been an office-seeker, but for some years has held the position of school director. In 1855, Mr. Hanna was married to Eliza J. Corken, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Jones) Corken, and granddaughter of Robert Corken, a native of Ireland, who came to Ross county about the year 1798.
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Robert Corken married Grace Mason, a native of Maryland, and both of them died in Ross county. Thomas Corken lived until the age of ninety-four years, and his wife was about seventy when she died. His sister Rachael lived ninety-seven years, and another sister named Jane reached the age of eighty. Robert and Eliza Hanna have a family of eight children. Of these Orr C. is a traveling salesman; Mary H. is married to William A. Jones ; Thomas Mason is an extensive farmer and stockdealer; Samuel E. is a farmer of Fayette county; Rebecca is the wife of Norris Jones, of Ross county; Candace is the wife of Elting S. Du Bois, of Jefferson township ; Ethel is the wife of J. Walter Dixon, a dentist of Cedarville, Ohio. Matthew Elting Hanna was educated at West Point and is now in Cuba. e is school commissioner of the island and author of the Cuban school law, serving in General Wood's staff. e is a man of fine talents, excellent education and has been of great service in Cuba, both to the people of the island and the government of the United States.
Thaddeus S. Hanson, of Harrison township, was born in Ross county, Ohio, September 30, 1874. His father, Greenbury Hanson, was a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Waterman) Hanson, the former a native of Wales and the latter of Virginia. They went to Kentucky in 1798 and in 1800 located in Harrison township, Ross county, on a farm which has ever since been in the family. Samuel Hanson died there at the age of eighty-three and his wife's death took place in her eighty-fourth year. They had a family of twelve children, their son Greenbury obtaining the homestead and spending his whole life there. e owned 300 acres of land in Ross county and 520 in Kansas ; held nearly all the township offices and was also an infirmary director. May 9, 1860, he was married to Margaret, daughter of George and Margaret (Snyder) Hough, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio, who spent their lives in Ross county, the father dying at the age of fifty-seven and the mother when sixty-eight years old. Greenbury Hanson and wife had a family of nine children, including : Florence, wife of D. W. Clymer; Jessie E., married to John W. McGee : Lillian F., now Mrs. Floyd McNeal; Nellie E., wife of Charles Rothe : Thaddeus S. and Grace B. Thaddeus S. Hanson grew up on the old home place and was educated in the common schools of his district. e now has charge of the homestead, consisting of 300 acres of land, and is a breeder of Jersey red swine and Shorthorn Durham cattle. e has been assessor and treasurer of his township and is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. On May 17, 1899, he was married to Alice, daughter of William Yaple, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
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James Vanse Harness, one of Ross county's most substantial farmers, comes of ancient and honorable lineage on both sides of the house. His paternal great-grandfather was the first white man who settled on the south branch of the Potomac river in Hardy county, W. Va. The descendants of this pioneer, who was of German origin, became numerous and influential in that portion of the mountain state. Among them was John G. Harness and his son, Charles E., the latter born in Hardy county, October 8, 1814, and the eldest of his father's family. In 1842, he came to Ross county and settled in Liberty township, where in due course he became very prosperous as a farmer and landowner. In addition to the usual agricultural feature, he embarked in cattle-raising on a large scale, making a specialty of the famous Shorthorns at the time they were coming into prominence and were most valuable. e was successful in his ventures and accumulated some 1,400 acres of land in Ross county besides considerable holdings in West Virginia. e married Mary Vanse, who was born in Jefferson township, Ross county, in 1824. Her parents, James and Eliza (Harness) Vause, came to Ross county in an early period of its history and here spent the remainder of their days. Mr. Vanse was one of the most extensive and prosperous farmers of his day, conducting operations on an unusually bold plan and owning a great deal of land. Charles E. and Mary (Vanse) Harness had nine children, including: Lillie, Ella, Mary, Kate, Charles E., John M. and James Valise. Mrs. Harness died July 11, 1895 ; her husband still resides in Liberty township where he settled so many years ago. Their son. James Vanse Harness, was born on the old home place September 13, 1864, receiving his education principally in a private school taught by Professor Poe in Chillicothe. From his earliest boyhood he has been connected with farm work and management, a love for which he had inherited from a long line of ancestors. e has charge of the 250 acres now constituting the home farm and an equal amount of land owned by himself, which was formerly part of the old homestead. He has shown judgment and good management in the operation of these large landed interests and few farmers of his age are hotter informed in the practical affairs of agriculture. In political doctrines Mr. Harness is of the Democratic persuasion, but he is in no sense an office-seeker and never allows politics to interfere with business. Neither is Mr. Harness a club man in a general way, his fraternal connection being confined to membership in the order of Elks in Chillicothe.
Jacob Harper was born in Concord township, Ross county, February 9, 1849. His father, Elon Harper, was born in Pendleton county, W. Va., about 1819, being a son of Jacob Harper, whose birth occurred in Virginia about the year 1832. The latter removed with his family to Ohio, first settling in Fayette county where he remained
506 - THE COUNTY OF ROSS.
a few years and then went to Missouri. He spent the rest of his days in that state, his death occurring while back on a visit to relatives in Fayette county, Ohio. His son Elon received but a limited education and grew to manhood in the counties of Fayette and Ross. He learned the blacksmith trade, but followed it only irregularly as he made farming his principal occupation. His wife was Barbara, daughter of David and Elizabeth ( Michael) Ross, who were among the first settlers of Ross county, coming here form Maryland. Elon Harper died in 1881, his wife surviving him hut a short time and passing away in 1882. They had a family of ten children, of whom seven are living and all in Ross county. Among them is Jacob Harper, the subject of this sketch. He received the ordinary education in the common schools of Concord township, and upon his arrival at full age became a farmer, like his ancestors before him. In 1875, he was married to Lydia, daughter of Thomas Ware, of Frankfort, and the union resulted in the birth of two children, whose names are Edna and Corda. Mr. Harper is a member of the Masonic order, being connected with the Frankfort lodge, No. 326.
Wilbur P. Harper was born in Buckskin township, Ross county, in 1855. His father, Caleb Harper, was a native of Delaware who in 1829 settled in Ross county on the farm where his son now resides. The family was one of the oldest in the East and took part in all the stirring events during the settlement of the coast states. Caleb Harper is still living near where he first located in Buckskin township so many years ago and has followed farming and stock-raising all his life. He raised a family of seven children. His son Edward joined Company D, Eighty-ninth Ohio regiment, during the civil war and died of fever in Tennessee while serving his country, October 1, 1863. Wilbur P. Harper, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Buckskin township and the business of his life has been farming and stock-raising. His specialty has been the feeding and fattening of stock for the market. In 1879, he was married to Alice, daughter of Daniel Kline, of Buckskin township, who died in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Harper have eight children, whose names are Denbur, Louie (wife of William Harper), Dwight, Mary, Valley, Ethel, Millie and Teddy. Mr. Harper has been trustee of Buckskin township for six years and was candidate for county commissioner in 1900. He is a member of the order of the Modern Woodmen of the World.
Charles C. Hatfield, M. D., of Kingston, Ohio, is a native of Pickaway county, born October 21, 1867. His parents were Arthur A. and Elizabeth (Bazler) Hatfield, natives of Ohio, the former of Pickaway and the latter of Ross county, both born in the year 1843, and married in 1865 in the county of Pickaway. In 1861--65 the father
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was a soldier in the Forty-fifth Ohio regiment, afterward re-enlisting in the Forty-third, serving three years and a half in the western army under General Sherman. e was wounded in the battle of Missionary Ridge, which resulted in his honorable discharge from the army. Both parents are still living, he being a well-to-do farmer in Pickaway county. The mother is a descendant of one of the early. German families in Ross county. Dr. Hatfield is the only son, being the second born in a family of six. The eldest son is Mrs. Marina Garve, wife of William Garve, a machinist at Mt. Sterling, Ohio; the third child is the wife of Alexander McKinley, a farmer of Pickaway county; Luanna, now Mrs. Sherman Dennison, is also the wife of a Pickaway farmer; Sophia married Charles Francis, and Elizabeth is at home and unmarried. Dr. Hatfield was educated in his native county and at the Ada (Ohio) Normal school. For five years after quitting that institution he taught school, and in the fall of 1891 he entered Starling Medical college at Columbus, from which he was graduated in March, 1894. Immediately thereafter he began practice in Kingston, which he has kept p with success to the present time. e enjoys a large and lucrative practice, his business embracing both city and country. e is a member of the Pickaway County Medical association, and of the orders of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen. In 1889, he was married to Lucy B., daughter of George W. and Melinda Neff. She was born, reared and educated in Fairfield county, though her parents now reside in .Paulding county. Her father is a prosperous farmer, with three sons, of whom Charles V. and Amos Fare are farmers and John A. is a teacher; all married, the first living in Franklin and the others in Paulding county. Dr. Hatfield and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which, as well as the Sunday school, Mrs. Hatfield is quite active and zealous.
William J. Haynes, a merchant engaged in business at Richmond Dale, and one of the enterprising citizens of that community, is a native of Pike county, Ohio. e comes of pioneer stock, the founder of the family in Ross county having settled at Chillicothe in 1798 about the time the county was officially organized. This early coiner left. a son named George Haynes, who, like his father, was a blacksmith by trade and ironed the first bridge built across the Scioto river in Ross county. He owned a large farm in the vicinity of Hopetown, now in the possession of George Smith, of Chillicothe, and there he spent his last days. He married Isabelle Nicholls, who became the mother of five sons and six daughters, seven of whom are still living, and the youngest reached the age of forty years before there was a death in the family. One of these five sons was John Haynes., born in Chillicothe in 1843, who adopted farming as his occupation and settled in Pike county, Ohio, being at present a resi-
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dent of Omega. He married Rose Ann Cissna, a native of Piketon, Ohio, by whom he had seven children : Isabelle, William J., C. E., Jennetta, Cornelius, O. C. Dell and John, Jr. William J. Haynes, second of the children in order of birth, grew p on his farm, and, in addition to the usual course in the common schools, attended the Normal university, at Lebanon, Ohio. After finishing his education he was engaged in farming until 1892, when he embarked in the mercantile business with William A. Maxwell. This partnership continued for one year and a half, after which Mr. Haynes was in business alone for two years. He then purchased the business of Stultz & Snyder and organized the new firm of Stultz & Haynes, which was dissolved y mutual consent after one year's continuance. Mr. Haynes conducted business on his own account until 1901, when he entered into partnership with Roscoe Dixon, of Richmond Dale, which firm still continues. They do an extensive business in the handling of posts, ties, tanbark and other merchandise. Mr. Haynes served as township treasurer five years and has been postmaster of his home town since 1897. He is a member of Garfield lodge, No. 710, of the order of Odd Fellows. In 1885, he was married to Jennie M. Davis, of' Richmond Dale, y whom he had four children, J. Scott, W. Ward, Clifford C. (deceased), and Clarence P. Mrs. Haynes died July 23,1896, and Mr. Haynes was married February 22, 1899, to Ella M. Drummond, of Ross county. The family are connected with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Joseph A. Head, who resides near Fruitdale, Ohio, and is one of the enterprising business men of that locality, comes of a family which was among the earliest settlers of Highland county. Both himself and his father, John Head, are natives of that county, and there he grew p to manhood. His education was mainly obtained in his native county, though he also attended school in Pike comity. After reaching man's estate, Mr. Head went over into Ross county in search of an opportunity to procure a livelihood. e selected Bainbridge as a location and was engaged in the mercantile business there for a number of years. e met with success in his financial undertakings and became both prominent and popular as a citizen of Paxton township. In 1885, he removed to his place near Fruitdale, in Paint township, which has since been his residence. In March, 1868, Mr. Head was married to Sarah C., daughter of William Ogle, member of a family long and favorably known in Paxton township. The fruits of this union were two children, of whom Effie B. is the wife of C. S. Iseman, a farmer of Paint township, and Alice H. married Rev. J. W. Blair, minister of the Methodist Episcopal church at Richmond Dale. Mr. Head is quite prominent in politics on the Democratic side and made the race for county commissioner as the nominee of his party. He has served as trustee and justice of the
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peace of Paint township and is regarded as a safe adviser by his political associates. Mr. Head is a Knight Templar in the Masonic order and a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Eugene Hemmeger, M. D., a popular young physician of Adelphi, Ross county, whose success both personally and professionally gives promise of a bright future, was born in Washington county, Ohio, September 10, 1874. He is a son of Alfred and Abbie (Warren) Hemmeger, the former a successful farmer in Washington county, who died in 1883. His widow still resides in Washington county. Dr. Hemmeger was reared on the farm, attended the district schools and finished his literary education at. the Marietta township high school, where he was graduated in 1891. He had early made up his mind to become a physician and had already done some reading in that line, and thus was fitted for entrance into the Starling Medical college, at Columbus, Ohio. He devoted himself assiduously to study in that popular institution, and received his degree with the class which was graduated in 1895. When Dr. Hemmeger obtained his diploma he was in his twenty-first year, and he lost, no time in getting to work in the profession which he had chosen for the employment of his life. He selected Laurelville, in Hocking county, as his location and there "hung out his shingle," to use the vernacular of young professionals. After one year's trial there, he decided to make a transfer to Adelphi as a more inviting field for his professional activities. He came to that place in 1896 and since then the scene of his operations has been in and around the pretty little capital of Colerain township. The doctor is a gentleman of pleasing address and popular manners which, added to his professional acquirements, have enabled him to become firmly established in his adopted home. e is also social in his disposition and gratifies his longings for fraternal fellowship by membership in the local lodges of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias at Adelphi. Dr. Hemmeger was married in 1896 to Clara Miller, of Washington county, and they have two children, Mary and Francis.
John McCoy Henness, a retired farmer residing at Frankfort, and Union veteran with an unusually creditable military record, has been long and favorably known in that part of Ross county. The founder of the family in Ohio was William Henness, who married Nancy Bernard in Virginia, subsequently came to Ross county, settled in Union township and there began the cultivation of a leased farm. They were but little behind the vanguard of the earliest settlers, as the time of their arrival is placed in the year 1800. To this couple were born eight children, all long since dead, named as follows: Mary, wife of Scott Finley: Martha, wife of Joseph Beard ; a daughter who married Aaron Mowbray; William, Stephen, Zachariah, James and Levi, the latter killed at Kenesaw Mountain. The
510 - THE COUNTY OF ROSS.
parents, who lived to unusually advanced age, found a final resting place in the Baptist cemetery near Frankfort. Zachariah, sixth of this family, was born in Ross county in 1816, and in early youth learned the cooper's trade, which he worked at during much of his subsequent life. He married Sally Ann McCoy, a native of Ross county and daughter of John McCoy, took possession of the McClintick farm in Union township and lived there for the next twenty-seven years. Besides farming and cooperage he did considerable work with a threshing machine, of which he had charge a number of years. In 1867, he went to Seymour, Champaign county, Ill., where both himself and wife ended their days, he when eighty-two and she when eighty years old. Their children, nine in number, were named as follows : John M. ; William B., of Piatt county, Ill. ; James A., of Champaign county, Ill. ; Margaret, wife of W D. Earl, of Illinois; Jane, wife of Thomas Cain, of same state; Ann (deceased), wife of Benjamin Miller, same state ; Edmund, of Champaign, Ill.; David, of Ross county, and Charles, of Illinois. John McCoy Henness, eldest of the family, was born in Union township, Ross county, March 22, 1842. When nineteen years old he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-first Ohio infantry, and went to Missouri by way of Cincinnati and St. Louis for the purpose of joining his command, which was located in that state. The regiment underwent the necessary drilling, did some marching hack and forth to different Missouri points and in 1862 was placed aboard steamer at St. Charles for shipment to Pittsburg Landing, arriving in time to take part in the bloody battle at that place. While in Missouri, Mr. Henness had been accidentally wounded and after the Tennessee battle was in the hospital for a few days, received a furlough, and came home. After reporting for duty at Camp Dennison, he was assigned to a local corps in Cincinnati and remained there until August, during which time the corps was sent to Cynthiana, Ky., where it engaged General Morgan. e was then sent to his regiment at Corinth, Miss., in time to take part in the noted battle at that place. His regiment remained in that. locality until the spring of 1863, when they were sent to Pulaski, Tenn., where they remained doing guard duty until the spring of 1864. Mr. Henness had re-enlisted January 1, 1864, in his old company in Tennessee, which was ordered to Chattanooga in May. During the following summer, he participated with his command in the famous Atlanta campaign, during which he took part in twenty-two fights, large and small, among the battles being Kenesaw Mountain and Oostenaula river. In the latter, Mr. enness and one of his companions, while making a charge, succeeded in capturing all the officers and eight men of one company. He was in the battle of Atlanta, July 22d, and later, while occupying the trenches, made a capture of two more of the enemy's soldiers. During a sharp engagement on August 28, Mr. Henness received
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two bullet shots through his hat, grazing his head, and though a close call no damage was clone. After the surrender of Atlanta, Mr. enness went with his command in Sherman's world-famous "march to the sea," which commenced about the middle of November and ended on December 21, by arrival at Savannah, Ga. After a long rest at this place, the veteran army again took p its line of march in February, 1865, through the Carolinas. In the battle of Bentonville, N. C., Mr. enness received a gunshot wound in the muscle of the right arm, which disabled him for duty, but he marched right along with his regiment. At Goldsboro, the first news was received of those two momentous events, the surrender of Lee and the assassination of Lincoln. From that point, the march was continued on to Washington, where Mr. enness took part in that event, never to be forgotten by a Union soldier, the grand review' of the great armies before their final retirement to private life. The "muster out" and honorable discharge took place at Louisville, Ky., July 13, 1865, after which Mr. Henness came directly home. He enlisted as a private, filled all the intermediate positions, and quit the service with a commission as lieutenant. e married Sarah E., daughter of Levi and Nancy Cory, and located in Twin township, where Mr. Henness had charge of a toll gate and did teaming. After various removals to different places in the neighborhood, the family finally settled down on a place bought by Mr. Henness in Concord township. Mrs. enness died in 1889 and the family, after remaining on the farm until November 1, 1900, removed to Frankfort. Mr. Henness was the first rural mail carrier in Ross county and is at present in charge of Route No. 1. His children, six in number, are, Charles M., died in infancy ; Cora, wife of Lott Acton, of Concord township ; Lulu (deceased) : Edna, at home; Alpha McCoy and Anna, died in infancy. On May 1S, 1902, Mr. enness was married to Mrs. Frank Roberts, of East Liverpool, Columbia county. Quite a little romance is connected with this wedding. Mr. enness became acquainted with his bride in 1865, after he came home from the war, having served in the same company with her father, W. W. Merrill, who at that time lived at East. Monroe, and at whose home Mr. Henness visited for a short time. A strong friendship was formed at that time, hut they drifted apart, married, and never saw each other again for thirty-six years, until 1901. In the meantime, however, their helpmates had died, and the friendship formed in early life was renewed and culminated in their marriage.
James Henry is a native of Union township, Ross county, born January 15, 1858. His parents were Robert and Julia (Merriman) Henry, the former of whom emigrated from Ireland when seventeen years old to come to Ross county, and settled on Big Walnut creek. Soon afterward he bought a small farm in Union township,
512 - THE COUNTY OF ROSS.
where he lived while he worked at his trade of millwright. In 1859, he removed to Yellow Bud, in Ross county, where he died at the age of forty-eight. For about eight years during the latter part of his life he held the office of justice of the peace. It was about the year 1840 that he married Julia Merriman, whose parents were among the first settlers of Ross county. They had ten children, of whom Nancy, Silas, Laura, Catherine and Mattie are numbered with the dead. Mary J. is the wife of Milton O. Watts, of Circleville ; Emaline is married to Silas Watts, of Union township ; Robert is living in Hebron, Ohio ; Lizzie is the survivor of twins, her sister Mattie having died. The mother died on April 3, 1890. James Henry, who was the fifth in birth of the children, has remained at home all his life. e was educated in the school at Yellow Bud and learned the carpenter's trade. On January 31, 1878, he was married at Chillicothe to Miss Kate Ebenhack, of Union township. This union resulted in the birth of four children, Charles, Silas, Elizabeth and Arthur. Mrs. Henry died on August 29, 1895.
Thomas Henson, stock-dealer and meat merchant at Clarksburg, has divided his life and business between Ross and Pickaway and is well known in both counties. His ancestors were Virginians, the first of them to become Ohio settlers being Charles Henson and wife, who came down the great river in the early part of the nineteenth century and found a home in Pickaway county. Their eldest son, James, whom they brought from Virginia, grew to manhood in Pickaway county and worked on farms for monthly wages as a means of livelihood. While thus engaged he married one of the neighborhood girls, named Julia McKinney. with whom he located on a farm near Williamsport and there spent the next twenty years. At the end of that time he took charge of a hotel in Williamsport, which he conducted until the time of his death, his wife then purchasing a small farm near town to which she removed and spent the remainder of her days. Of their twelve children, George P., Lettie, Henry, Clinton and Charles have passed away. Those living are Nancy and John, of Columbus ; Thomas, subject of this sketch ; Frank, of Williamsport: Millard and Oliver (twins) of Pickaway county; and William, of Columbus. Thomas Henson, third of the children, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, near Williamsport, November 5, 1844. In early manhood he married Mary Wiley and conducted the hotel in Williamsport for two years, after which he was engaged for twenty years in general merchandising. By his first marriage he had five children, of whom only Frederick and Thomas C. are living. Mr. Henson's second wife was Missouri Ater, and after this marriage he located on a farm where he spent five years, then removed to Clarksburg, in Deerfield township. Since then his business has been buying and selling stock, conduct-
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ing a meat market at Clarksburg in Ross and New Holland in Pickaway county and managing his farm. Mr. Henson is a member of the Christian church and of Clarksburg lodge, No. 721, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Missouri Ater, Mr. Henson's present wife, belongs to a famous family well deserving of more than a passing notice. The progenitors came from Germany and settled in various eastern states during the eighteenth century. George Ater, founder of the Ohio branch of the family, married Mary Boyer, located in Virginia near the Potomac river, and reared a family of seven sons and two daughters. About 1799 he left Virginia with his nine children, crossing the mountains to the Ohio river and descending that stream to the mouth of the Scioto. Going up to Chillicothe, these immigrants later found their way up Deer creek and took possession of an Indian village near what is described in the legend as a "round prairie." There George Ater reared his family and eventually a considerable settlement of pioneers grew p around the place. The names of his sons were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Thomas, Jones and William, all of whom subsequently served in the war of 1812 and received from the government land warrants which they located in Deerfield township of Ross county. Abraham, eldest of these sons, was born January 22, 1776, and married Charity Eveland April 3, 1799, the same year he came to Ross county. Among their children was a son named David, who married Mary A. Harrington, and these were the parents of Missouri Ater Henson.
Chauncey A. Hertenstein, lumber merchant, of Chillicothe, was born near that city on a farm in Green township, on January 15, 1874. His parents, both of whom are still living, are George and Matilda (Stauffer) Hertenstein, the former a native of Germany, while the mother was born in Ohio. They were married in Ross county, which has been the scene of all the events of their lives, the father being a well-to-do farmer and possessor of extensive property interests ; while their two sons, Wesley and Chauncey A., are partners in the lumber business. Chauncey A. Hertenstein was reared to manhood on the parental farm in Green township and educated in the public schools, supplemented by a course in the Chillicothe business college. In March, 1900, he and his brother Wesley started in business together, handling all kinds of building material, and they have already established a fine trade. March 14, 1896, Mr. Hertenstein was married to Margaret Herrnstein, daughter of George J. Herrnstein, formerly a lumber merchant in Chillicothe, now retired from active business. Her mother was Catherine Brehm, who, like her husband, was of Ohio birth and is still living." Mr. Hertenstein is a member of the recently organized fraternity
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called the Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order, and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Edward Landolin Hess, for twenty-two consecutive years the efficient and popular manager of the telephone company at Chillicothe, is a native Ohioan of German parentage. His father, Landolin Hess, was born in Germany, June 28, 1819, and in early manhood joined the tide of emigration to America. On arriving in the United States he selected Chillicothe as his abode and there spent the remainder of his days engaged in working at his trade as cabinet-maker. In September, 1846, he was married to Mary Anna, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Lind, natives of Germany who came over in 1836 and two years later settled at Chillicothe. Mr. Hess died in 1864, but his widow and seven children survive. Of the latter, Mary Ann, the widow of Joseph Brosemer, resides in Columbus, Ohio ; Elizabeth, wife of John Schroth, and Christian live in Chillicothe; Jacob F. is a citizen of Cincinnati, while Margaret S. and Peter G. reside in Brooklyn, New York. Edward Landolin Hess, fourth in age of the living children, was born in Chillicothe June 8, 1858. He obtained a common school education and in 1880 entered the employment of the Central Ohio Telephone company as acting manager of their interests at Chillicothe. From that day to this Mr. Hess has held this position regardless of changes in ownership which have converted the old organization into the Central Union Telephone company. Nor is it too much to say that during all these years he has so discharged his duties as to retain the full confidence of his different employers and gain the good will of the company's numerous patrons. e has so thoroughly mastered all the details of the telephone business and become so well known to the public who patronize the instruments that he has become a valuable man in his position. Mr. Hess has his nation's fondness for fraternal fellowship and gratifies it by membership in various associations, including the Modern Woodmen of America, Catholic Order of Foresters and Benevolent Order of Ignatius. January 9, 1883, he was married to Josephine, daughter of Charles Rudmann, who came to Ross county in 1852. This union resulted in the birth of three children : Olandolin Ernest, Petronella Mary and Paul Edward.
Jackson Hester was born in Buckskin township, Ross county, January 28, 1844, son of Charles M. and Mary (Christian) Hester, the former a native of Buckskin township in 1810. The father and mother of Charles M. Hester were Pennsylvanians, who came to Ohio at. a very early period, first settling at Chillicothe and then removing to Buckskin township. The father, Henry Hester, served through the war of 1812 and bore his share of all the pioneer hard-
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ships in the West. Charles M. helped on the farm during summers and attended subscription school in the winter time. After marrying, he went to housekeeping on his own place, where he remained until 1850, when he sold out and bought the place where his son Jackson now resides. e was a farmer, but worked some at the carpenter's trade. Both himself and wife are now numbered among the dead. They had seven children in all, of whom three died in infancy, and Sarah Ann's death occurred after her marriage to James Grieves. The living children are Washington, Jackson and Lucinda, who is the wife of William Grieves. Jackson Hester received his education in the schools of the district, and was in his seventeenth year when the civil war broke out. On May 1, 1864, he enlisted at Chillicothe in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio infantry, under command of Captain Rhodes. They were mustered in at Camp Dennison and sent from there to Baltimore, at which place and other points they did guard duty. They participated in the battles of Monocacy, near Frederick, Md., on July 9, 1864, and in several smaller engagements. The command returned to Baltimore, went from there to Washington and back to Camp Dennison in September, 1864, where they were mustered out. Immediately thereafter, Mr. Hester went to his home and resumed his duties on the farm. In 1877, he married May Hixon, a native of Ross county of German descent. He continued to live and do business on the old home place of 250 acres which he inherited from his father. Besides general farming, Mr. ester operates a saw-mill and thresher. He is a member of Prater post, G. A. R., at Bourneville, and his political affiliations are Democratic. To Mr. and Mrs. ester were born four children, whose names are Allen, Mary, Harley and Daisy, all at home and unmarried.
Taylor Hester, long connected with agricultural affairs in the township of Buckskin and Concord, is a descendant of early settlers in Ross county. As far hack as 1804, Capt. Henry Hester migrated with his family from Pennsylvania to Ohio and located on land in Buckskin township. e was a millwright by trade and some time after arriving in Ross county concluded to remove to Chillicothe as a better point for obtaining business in his line. While resident there he was swept off by the cholera plague which devastated southern Ohio cities in 1832-33. Captain ester was the father of three sons and one daughter, the latter of whom married and went to Indiana, while the others remained in Ross county and reared families. Zaccheus Hester, the oldest child, was born in Pennsylvania December 15. 1803, and hence was less than a year old when his parents reached Ross county. After arriving at maturity he was engaged mostly in farming, but also devoted considerable time to the management of a grist mill. May 26, 1826, he was married
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to Margaret Hixon, born July 19, 1808, and daughter of Timothy Hixon, a Virginian who was among the earliest arrivals in the county. Zaccheus Hester died July 19, 1878, and his wife September 24 of the same year. They were the parents of six sons and three daughters : Daniel, born October 4, 1827, and died March 23, 1883; Sarah, born April 25, 1830, and died December 2, 1893; Rebecca, born June 2, 1833, now the wife of Michael McGough of Ross county; Rose Ann, born August 25, 1835, now living in the West; Timothy, born August 21, 1840, and died March 11, 1866; John W., born July 1, 1844, lives in Jackson county, Ohio; William J. and Taylor (twins), born March 28, 1847, the former died June 11, 1870; Joseph A., born November 23, 1849, now living in Ross county. Taylor ester, who with his twin brother, was the seventh born of the children, was born in Buckskin township, Ross county, Ohio, March 28, 1847. His adult life has been spent as a farmer in Buckskin township, where he lived until 1897, and after that in Concord township, which is the place of his present. residence. He was sixteen years old when John Morgan made his famous raid through Ohio, but took his gun like the older men and volunteered to help repulse the invader. November 25, 1869, Mr. Hester was married to Margaret, daughter of John and Lydia (Ross) Cadwallader, the former a native of Wales and the latter a Virginian, who came to Ross county with the first rush of settlers. Of the two children resulting from this union, Lucy Bell became the wife of M. T. Devine of Frankfort, and Charles Hester, the eldest, who is a farmer y occupation, was married January 1, 1902, to Ada Andrew of Greene county, Ohio. The father is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also connected with the Masonic fraternity.
John W. Hickel, one of the younger generation of Ross county farms, is a worthy citizen of Concord township. The founder of the Ross county branch of the family was an old Virginian by the name of George Hickel, who early learned and all his life pursued the honorable and useful trade of shoemaking. e married in his native state and soon after joined the great tide which was moving westward in search of new homes. e located in Colerain township and there resumed his trade as shoemaker, from the proceeds of which he supported his family in comfortable style for those days until his death. Of his six children, the only ones living are Martin, who resides in Concord township, and Catherine, the wife of H. Goldsberry of Deerfield township; the names of the dead are Jacob, Betsey, Christopher and Devault. The last mentioned remained at home until he reached manhood when, in connection with one of the brothers, he rented a farm in Concord township which they cultivated together and shared equally in the
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proceeds. In due time his thoughts turned to matrimony and as a helpmeet he selected Lucinda Goldsberry, of Ohio, taking his bride home to the farm where he had been living and which he had recently purchased. Devault Hickel was an industrious and progressive farmer, while his wife was a prudent and saving housekeeper, so between them they established a comfortable home and obtained a fair measure of success on their farm. They reared and provided well for ten children, all of whom are living except Etta M, the latest born. The names and locations of the others are as follows : Mary, wife of Leopold Dinkler of Deerfield township; Margaret, at the old home place; Laura, now Mrs. Preston Via of Virginia; John W. ; Anna, married to William Seitz of Concord township ; Alice, wife of Allison Hyer of Concord ; Jennie, married to Samuel Gregory of Union township ; William and Amanda at the old homestead. The father died in 1893 and the mother in 1894. John W. Hickel, fourth in the list of children, was born near Frankfort, Ross county, October 11, 1857. He grew p on his father's farm and was trained to habits of industry while acquiring a knowledge of all the details of farming, under the excellent supervision of his paternal instructor. Mr. Hickel remained at the old homestead until the time of his marriage to Minnie M. Keller, of Chillicothe, which occurred July 29, 1897. Immediately after this event, the newly wedded couple went to live at the place which has since been their residence, and where Mr. Hickel carries on general farming and stockraising.
Charles D. Rigby was born in Richmond Dale, Ross county, in 1843, son of the late Sylvester N. Higby, one of the most prosperous and influential farmers of Franklin township. The latter was a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, born on September 19, 1819. Being left an orphan in extreme youth, he spent most of his boyhood with his sisters in Cleveland. After reaching maturity he embarked in the mercantile business at Richmond Dale and so continued for several years. Eventually he sold this business and located on a farm in Franklin township, which he managed until his death on December 31, 1885. He held various official positions, including school director, justice of the peace and treasurer of his township, fulfilling all their duties with scrupulous fidelity. November 10, 1842, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Hayes) Davis, and by this union had seven children : Charles, subject of this sketch ; Mary, the wife of Marcus Boggs ; Julia, who died at the age of three years; Rose, wife of Ira Harris; Kizzie; Joseph, who married Jennie Foster; and Laura, wife of H. C. Downs. The mother of these children died on December 29, 1893, at her home in Higby, aged sixty-nine years and six months. Charles D. Higby, the first born of his parents,
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received his education in the common schools of Franklin township. He was approaching his eighteenth year, when the great civil war commenced, and on November 20, 1861, he became a soldier of the Union. He cast his lot with Company F, of the Fifty-third Ohio infantry, going in as a private, soon being made a corporal, then sergeant and eventually becoming quartermaster sergeant, which position he held when mustered out on August. 25, 1865. Mr. Higby participated in all the fighting and marching of his regiment from Shiloh to Bentonville, N. C., where the great drama practically closed. Among the more notable of the battles in which he took part with his command may be mentioned Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, La Grange and Moscow (Tenn.), Holly Springs and Wallace Mills (Miss.), besides many minor skirmishes and severe engagements. On June 17, 1864, he was wounded at Kenesaw mountain by a gunshot in the ankle, which injury kept him out. of the service about sixty days. After his return from the war, he engaged in farming in Franklin township, which business has absorbed most of his attention ever since. From 1882 to 1885 he served as traveling deputy collector of internal revenue. He has occupied several small township offices, including that of treasurer, which he has held for the past sixteen years. He has also been postmaster at Higby since 1886, a position which his father held for several years prior to that time. Since 1880, in addition to his other business affairs, he has conducted a general store at Higby. In 1872, Mr. Higby was married to Mary L. Crow, of Jefferson township, and they have five living children : Hattie D., now Mrs. Hiram A. Smith of Waverly, Ohio; Mamie B., Hannah D., Charles D. and James O. Mr. Higby has extensive fraternal connections, including the Mystic Circle, Odd Fellows and Free Masons, being a member of the Commander, in the last order. He belongs also to the patriotic organization of the Grand Army of the Republic and to the Methodist Episcopal church.