USA > Ohio > Fairfield County > A Biographical record of Fairfield County, Ohio, illustrated > Part 22
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He put aside all business and personal considerations in August, 1862. in order that he might aid his country in her struggle to crush out the rebellion in the south. Hle enlisted as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was with Sherman at Vicksburg. being wounded at that place on the 22d of
May. He was also present at the capture of Arkansas Post. at the battles of Fort Blakely, Champion Hill, Black River and Vicksburg. He ever found it his most pleas- ant duty to faithfully defend the okl flag and the cause which it represented, and with a deep feeling of rejoicing he heard of the surrender of the Confederate troops, know- ing that it meant the supremacy of the Union cause. He was mustered out at Houston, Texas, and at Columbus, Ohio, he received an honorable discharge.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mallon was blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters. Mary Elizabeth became the wife of Robert Bell, a carpenter residing in Amanda township, and died at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving three children, while one died in infancy. Those still liv- ing are: Rody, Homer and Myrl. Will- iam [ ... the second of the family. resides upon a farm adjoining his father's place and is a successful agriculturist and carpenter. He wedded Mary Cloud. George B., who resides above Cedar Hill in Amanda town- ship, is also identified with the building in- (lustry. He married Hattie Cupp, and they had two chikfren, but Margaretta is now de- ceased, while Etta resides with her parents: James W. is a carpenter of Athens, Ohio, and had two children, but both have passed away. AAnnie J. is at home. AAll were born upon the okl homestead in Amanda town- ship with the exception of the eldest daugh- ter, whose birth occurred in Circleville.
In 1902 Mr. Mallon was called upon to . mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 14th of January of that year at the age of sixty-five years, ten months and four-
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teen days. She was most devoted to her family and their welfare, and her many splendid qualities won her the respect, es- teem and warm friendship of all with whom she became acquainted. She was a member of the Evangelical Association. Mr. Mallon belonged to the Grand Army Post while the post was maintained in Amanda. In pol- itics he is a Republican and has held some local offices, including that of assessor. It
has not taken the excitement and dangers of warfare to bring out the courageous spirit and unfaltering loyalty of our subject, for he has ever been a citizen of worth to his community, interested in everything pertain- ing to the general good. His existence has covered seven decades, and throughout that long period he has ever enjoyed the trust of his fellow men and merited their high regard.
JOHN KOCHER.
John Kocher, now deceased, was one of the early settlers and highly esteemed citi- zens of Fairfield county. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and when but a small boy was brought to Ohio by his father, Peter Kocher, the latter also a native of Pennsylvania. The father took up his abode in Circleville, Pickaway coun- ty, where he lived for a number of years and then removed to Lockburn, where he died at an advanced age. He was a prosperous and progressive man and his energetic labors en- abled him to provide well for his family. He was twice married and his first wife died in the Keystone state, but the second wife survived him for a number of years.
John Kocher, whose name introduces this record, remained with his father until he attained his majority, and the schools of Pickaway county afforded him his educa- tional privileges. In his youth he learned
the mason's trade, which he followed until his marriage, after which he came to Fair- field county and settled in Clear Creek town- ship, locating on a farm which was given to him and his wife by his father-in-law. The tract comprises one hundred twenty- two acres of rich land, upon which Mr. Kocher made all of the improvements, erect- ed a large and pleasant frame house and built substantial barns and other outbuild- ings, adding the latest improved machinery and all modern equipments. Ilis attention was given to' the cultivation of the soil and raising of stock until his death. His labors were so discerningly directed that he won a most desirable competence.
Mr. Kocher was married to Miss Annie Pontins, who was born December 15, 1839, in Pickaway county, Ohio, the daughter of Daniel and Mary ( Metzker) Pontius. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and re-
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moved to Ohio, settling in Pickaway coun- ty, where he spent his remaining days, pass- ing away at the age of sixty-six years. His wife died at the age of sixty-eight. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kocher were born eleven chil- dren, ten of whom are still living. Daniel, a farmer residing in Clear Creek township, married Miss Catherine Bowman. Mary Ann is with her mother. John, who resides on the home farm, married Pauline Reigle, a daughter of George Reigle, and they have two sons: William Allen and Irvin Leroy. Catherine died at the age of four years. Artimesia is living with her mother. Syl- vester, who resides in Clear Creek town- ship and is a farmer there, married Miss Jennie B. Thomas, daughter of Reuben Thomas, and they have ten children : John R., of Circleville, who married Miss Ida Thomas and has one child, Ida Mabel : Ed- ward ; Minnie, the wife of Edward Cool, by whom she has two children; Theodore; Betta, the wife of William Iledge: Robert ; Russell J ; Emmett : Bruce ; and one who died in infancy. William, who carries on agri- cultural pursuits in Clear Creek township, married Jerusha Cornelia Koldren, a daughi- ter of Andrew and Betsey Koldren. and they
have two sons, Calvin Elsworth, a carpen- ter of Columbus, Ohio, who married Jennie Spangler, daughter of Daniel Spangler ; and Charles. Peter is a farmer of Pickaway county, who married Mahala Garrett, and they have four girls : Melva N., the wife of Amos Kleiner, of Seneca county: Nora: Laura and Kate, at home. George W., who carries on agricultural pursuits in Clear Creek township, married Catherine Stont. daughter of Henry and Susan Stout. and they had three children, Nettie and Hulda. both deceased, and Ora. Isadell is at home. Marilda is the wife of Charles E. Conrad, a son of Wesley Conrad, and they reside in Clear Creek township with their only child, Kirby Allen.
Mr. Kocher died in 1880, at the age of sixty-four years, two months and twelve days. "He was a Democrat in politics and was a member of the Allbright church. Ilis life record was at all times commendable, for he was straightforward in all his dealings, reliable in friendship and devoted to his fant- ily. Ile was laid to rest in Maple Hill ceme- tery in Clear Creek township. his death being deeply mourned by all who had known him.
THOMAS WETZLER.
For nearly thirty years Thomas Wetzler was the editor and proprietor of the Ohio Eagle, one of the few journals of this state that were established in the dawn of the
nineteenth century and has since been in continuous publication. Mr. Wetzler was born on a farm near Lancaster. Pensyl- vania, on the foth of February, 1829. and
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at an early age came to Ohio with his par- hensive and accurate knowledge of the ents. They traveled overland, our subject taking his turn in driving the team and assisting in the various duties when the little party encamped along the roadside for the night. It was a wearisome and tedious trip, for the roads were in poor condition, but the experiences encountered in that journey proved a splendid schooling to the boy in later battles of life. The family reached Fairfield county and soon afterward the fa- ther died, so that upon the mother devolved the difficult task of rearing and educating her children, including several sons and daughters, but bravely she undertook the work, and her children ever acknowledge their deep gratitude to her for what she accomplished.
After acquiring a common school edu- cation Thomas Wetzler obtained employ- ment in the office of the Lancaster Gazette, where he received his first instructions in the printing trade. In 1849 he went to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and worked on the Gazette of that city until the summer of 1850, when he removed to Columbus, being employed in various printing establishments of the capi- tal city for some time. During the '6os he was superintendent of a large printing house of Richard Nevins, who for a number of years had the contract for the state print- ing and possessed what was at that time one of the most complete plants of the kind in the state. In 1870 Mr. Wetzler returned to Lancaster and purchased an interest in the Ohio Eagle, a paper which had been estab- lished in 1809. In the fall of 1870 he took up his abode in Lancaster and his compre-
printing trade enabled him to place the Eagle in the foremost ranks among Ohio's jour- nals in a very short time. The business of the office had quadrupled and the period of his connection with the paper was one of prosperity. In the spring of 1890, in con- nection with his son, Edward Wetzler, he established the Lancaster Daily Eagle, and in its editorial work he took an active part until the year 1896, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis which incapacitated him for further labor. On the 23d of March, 1899, a second stroke terminated his life. He had for many years occupied a leading and honored position in journalistic circles and his efforts in behalf of the city of Lan- caster through the columns of his paper largely promoted its progress and growth in many lines of substantial improvement.
Mr. Wetzler was united in marriage to Laura Wilkinson and they became the par- ents of four sons and three daughters, but George, the eldest, died in the fall of 1879. The living children are Charles; John : Ed- ward: Mrs. C. O. Wells, of New York city ; Mrs. C. P. Wiseman ; and Fannie Wetzler. In his political views Mr. Wetzler was a Democrat. He took a very active interest in politics and many times served as a delegate to conventions. In 1888 he was chosen as the district delegate to the national Demo- cratic convention at St. Louis and four years before that was alternate-at-large to the con- vention which first nominated Hon. Grover Cleveland for the presidency. AAlthough his school privileges were somewhat limited, his reading was broad and comprehensive and
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he kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and on all matters of gen- eral interest. He had a keen insight which enabled him to recognize possibilities and
his efforts in behalf of Lancaster for the social, material, intellectual and moral growth were important and of far-reaching effect.
JACOB L. ROPP.
Jacob L. Ropp, who is connected with the farming and stock-raising interests of Fairfield county and is also identified with banking circles, was born near Little George- town. West Virginia, on the Ist of July. 1849. his parents being Jacob and Catharine ( Riner) Ropp, both of whom were natives of Berkley county. West Virginia, where they spent their entire lives. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Solomon Ropp. a native of Germany, who on crossing the Atlantic to America settled. in West Vir- ginia, although that state then formed a part of the Old Dominion. He was a farmer, successfully carrying on the work of his fields, and was a prominent and influential citizen. About 1805 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Yeasley, a daughter , i Michael and Mott Llana Yeasley, who were also born in Germany, and on their emigra- tion to the new world in 1734 located in Jef- ferson county, West Virginia. With a num- ber of other Germans Michael Yeasley l:il out a town on the south bank of the Potomac and named it Mechlenburg, by which name it continued to be called until 1760, when it was changed to Shepherdstown. AAlthough a town of only seventeen hundred inhab-
itants it has the proud distinction of furnish- ing three governors to Ohio-Tiffin, Mor- row and Worthington, who were all born there --- and also five members of congress- Morrow. Baker. Swearingen. Bedinger and Boteler. Michael Yeasley was a weaver by trade and by industry and perseverance made a success of his business. He built a sub- stantial brick house one-half mile west of Shepherdstown which is still standing. and there he reared a family of nine daughters. all of whom married but one. The married daughters were Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Welshans, Mrs. Staley, Mrs. Bowen, Mrs. Sheets, Mrs. Cookus. Mrs. Ropp and Mrs. Brotmarkel. Unto Solomon Ropp and wife were born eight children, three sons and five daugh- ters, who in order of birth were as follows: Mary Magdalene, who married John Miller : Daniel, who married Nancy Small: Cath- arine, who became the wife of Jacob Lingam- felter: Elizabeth, who married Jacob Cox; Hannah, who married David Hoffman : Solomon, who wedded Mary Folk: Jacob. father of our subject: and Margaret, who married Mr. Hedges. MI remained near the old homestead throughout life with ex- ception of Margaret, who after her marriage
J. L. Kopf
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removed to Missouri and there spent her remaining days. The father of these chil- dren engaged in farming about one mile north of the original Ropp homestead and there reared his family.
After arriving at years of maturity, Jacob Ropp, the father of our subject, de- voted his attention to agricultural pursuits and met with creditable success in his chosen vocation. In 1840 he married Miss Cathi- arine Riner. a daughter of Peter and Anın Marie (Lingamfelter) Riner, who were married about 1808. Her mother had been married previously, her first husband being a Mr. Hoffman. Her father owned a large tract of land in Back Creek valley, near Jones Spring, and was engaged in tilling the soil. He served his country in arms during the war of 1812 and later purchased a farm six miles north of Martinsburg, West Vir- ginia. in the Shenandoah valley, where he made his home for several years, and then gave it to his eldest son, buying a large tract of land at Little Georgetown on the Potomac river. twelve miles west of Shepherdstown. There he spent his remaining days in a huge limestone house where our subject was born and reared.' In the Riner family were five children, two sons and three daughters, namely: Henry, who married Eliza Couch- man : Mary, who never married ; Elizabeth. who married George Sperow; Catharine, mother of our subject : and David, who mar- ried Margaret Flagg .. Eight children were born to Jacob and Catharine ( Riner) Ropp. namely: John Peter, who died young ; Mary Eliza, who married George T. Sperow. of Bell Point. Ohio: Emily Catharine, who
married Henry Gwilliems; Daniel Henry, who married Jennie Smith ; Jacob Luther, whose name introduces this review; Sarah Elizabeth, who married Samuel Le Fevre Dodd; Margaret, who died in infancy; and Martha Jane, unmarried. The father of this family died on the 4th of March, 1882, at the age of sixty-four years, and the mother passed away on the 29th of April, 1893, at the age of seventy-nine. In political circles Jacob Ropp was an active factor, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the Repub- lican party, and upon its ticket was elected county treasurer in 1865 and a member of the state legislature of West Virginia in 1868.
Jacob L. Ropp, our subject, came from West Virginia to Fairfield county. Ohio, in the year 1894 and purchased his present farm of Melancthon Solt. He had acquired his education in the public schools of his na- tive state and throughout his life has been identified with farming and stock raising. Here he is conducting the same line of work and is to-day the owner of a valuable tract of land in Bloom township, being accounted one of the most successful and progressive farmers of the community. Ile has also been identified with banking interests. Ile was one of the organizers of the Citizens National Bank at Martinsburg, West Vir- ginia, and served as one of its directors until 1895.
On the 10th of October, 1876. Mr. Ropp was joined in wedlock to Miss Eliza Jane Anderson, a daughter of David and Mary ( Speck) AAnderson, whose parents came to
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this country from the north of Ireland or Scotland and located at Welsh Run, Penn- sylvania. In early life her father followed the wagon maker's trade. After his mar- riage he removed to Clear Spring, Mary- land, and in 1857 became a resident of Berk- ley county, West Virginia, where he en- gaged in farming, but his last days were spent near Hedgesville, that state, where he died February 11. 1892, at the age of eighty- two years. His wife survived him and passed away February 1, 1901, at the very advanced age of ninety years. They were the parents of six daughters, as follows: Margaret Ann: Elizabeth, wife of George Newkirk : Catharine, wife of Ernest Waern- icke: Eliza Jane, wife of our subject : Susan Bell; and Florence Speck. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Ropp were Clar-
ence, who was accidentally drowned while bathing in the lake at Buckeye Park on the 31st of .August. 1895, at the age of seven- teen years; Nora Bell; Mary Catharine; Ethel Virginia: and Eliza Gilmore, all at home.
The family hold membership in the Lithopolis Presbyterian church and Mr. Ropp is quite prominent in political circles. having belonged to the Republican executive committee of Berkley county, West Vir- ginia, for four years and still taking an act- ive part in advancing the success of the party in this county. His life has been act- ive, useful and honorable, and although his residence in Fairfield county covers but a comparative brief period he is already widely and favorably known as a progressive and representative citizen.
MRS. MARY ELIZABETH REESE.
The life tenure of Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Reese covered a most important period in the history of the country. She passed the eighty-eighth milestone on life's journey, and while woman does not figure promi- nently in public affairs and therefore lives the quiet life of the home she nevertheless exerted an influence which had its bearing upon the nation's history. She was the eld- est sister of John and W. T. Sherman, the former one of the most celebrated states- men : the other one of the most distinguished
military commanders whose name graces the annals of America. Through her close con- nection with one of the most prominent fam- ilies of America she kept in constant touch with public events and the nation's progress. and her influence, though quietly exerted. was nevertheless potent in shaping events of far-reaching influence. In social circles of Lancaster she was long a leader. Her en- tire life was here passed with the exception of ten years spent in Philadelphia.
Her birth occurred in Lancaster on the
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2Ist of April, 1812, her father being Charles R. Sherman. From the time of her mar- riage, which occurred when she was seven- teen years of age, she was a leader in so- ciety in Lancaster, known to all of its peo- ple and highly esteemed and honored. Her true womanly qualities, superior culture, learning and innate refinement, combined with sympathy and tact, early gained for her a position in Lancaster which was even strengthened as the years went by, and the impress of her individuality yet remains upon the cultured life of Lancaster.
When her brother, General W. T. Sher- man, afterward the hero of many a battle and the loved commander of a great army, but then broken in spirit and much distressed on account of cruel and unjust treatment, came to Lancaster on a furlough, after he had been relieved by Secretary Cameron on the plea that he was either drunk or crazy, she was the one to whom he went for sym- pathy, and it was her faith in his ability that fortified him and gave him the encour- agement that induced him to return to the army, where he was destined to rise to high honors and fame. But Mrs. Reese never forgave Cameron for the injury to her brother, and at the marriage of hier neice to Don Cameron she declined to be escorted by the Secretary, notwithstanding he had apologized for the treatment of the General.
In the old homestead, a part of which, now modernized, still stands on the hill, be- tween the residences of E. B. White and Philip Rising, the home in which her broth- ers and sisters were reared, Mary Elizabeth Sherman was married in her seventeenth year to William J. Reese, a wealthy young
lawyer of Philadelphia, who had begun the practice of his profession in Lancaster. The courtship which resulted in this marriage furnishes one of the pretty legends associated with historic Mount Pleasant, a unique pile of rocks on the northern boundary of the city. The popular version of the story is that Miss Sherman, to test the lover's cour- age and affection, sprang from the face of the bluff, which rises two hundred feet and more from the base, and was immediately followed by Mr. Reese. Alighting on the declivity many feet below, both were saved from injury, and immediately she gave her "promise true" to the brave young fellow. Somewhat short of the romance, the in- cident, as related by Mrs. Reese, was as fol- lows : One afternoon she was induced by some of her school friends to play truant and the bevy ascended Mount Pleasant, where they were wandering about when they chanced to encounter a party of young men, among whom was Mr. Reese, who at that time was paying marked attention to Miss Sherman. Not wishing to meet her admirer, she started on a run to evade them, her foot slipped on the verge of the prec- ipice and over she went, landing a few feet below on a ledge of rock, where she lay unconscious. Young Reese noticed hier dis- appearance and sprang after her, and by the aid of the others lifted her back to the plane above, and she was assisted home in a semi- conscious condition. When medical aid was summoned it was found that the teetli of her old-fashioned tortoise shell comb had been driven their length under the scalp and broken off, necessitating the use of a knife for their removal. The young lady was
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badly bruised by the fall, but was otherwise uninjured. A piece of her dress, which was torn off in her descent, was picked up by her rescurer and preserved for years as a cher- ished memento. The heroine of this little escapade gave her hand in marriage to her rescurer, developed into a Avoman of splen- did graces of character which endeared her to all and the ties of respect, friendship and
love strengthened as she approached a beau- tiful old age. She reached the age of eighty- eight years, passing away in 1900. A chap- ter of the Daughters of the American Revo- lution has been named in her honor. In Lancaster, where she so long resided, her memory is still enshrined in the hearts of all who enjoyed the pleasure of her friend- ship.
JOHN J. SILBAUGH.
John J. Silbaugh, who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Lancas- ter, is numbered among Ohio's native sons, his birth having occurred in the city of Ironton, Lawrence county, in January. 1860. His father, William Silbaugh, was a native of Germany, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Everleigh, was born in Virginia. They were among the early settlers of Lawrence county, and the father was a weaver by trade.
In the place of his nativity Dr. Silbaugh spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and mastered the branches of learning taught in the graded and high schools there. When it came time to make choice of a calling which he wished to make his life work Ire determined to enter the medical pro- fession and pursued his early studies under the direction of Drs. Maurice and Wilson. both prominent physicians of Ironton. His more advanced reading was pursued in Bellevue Hospital in New York city, where
he was graduated with the class of 1886. He then returned to Ohio and entered upon the practice of his chosen vocation and at once located in the town of Royalton, Fair- field county, where he remained for ten years, when seeking a broader field of labor he reinoved to Lancaster, and has since been known as a capable, discriminating and earn- est member of the medical fraternity. He is very accurate in diagnosing disease and anticipating the outcome of complications. He has now a large and lucrative practice among the best class of people here and his labors are bringing to him a desirable finan- cial return.
In 1886 the Doctor was united in mar- riage to Miss Margaret Welch, of Ironton, and unto them were born a son and daugh- ter. Carl and Mary. The mother died in 1802 and four years later the Doctor was again married, his second union being with Gertrude Williams, of Royalton, a daughter of Fletcher Williams, They also have two
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