A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 15

Author: Lyle S. Evans
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 549

USA > Ohio > Ross County > A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio > Part 15

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Doctor Riley has one child, Albert A. Riley, who is now attending the George Washington University, Washington, D. C. Doctor Riley is a member of the Ross County Academy of Medicine, and also of the Ohio State Medical Society. She is examining physician of the Ladies' Auxil- iary, Baltimore & Ohio Trainmen. Fraternally the doctor is a member of Rebekah Lodge, No. 26, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Vol. II-8

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EDWARD LOUIE ALBRIGHT. In the work of making Chillicothe a "City Beautiful" in reality, and in adding to its reputation as a clean, health- ful, and attractive abiding place, much credit should be given to Edward Louie Albright, director of public service, who is performing the duties devolving upon him in this responsible position so efficiently and con- scientiously, and with such thoroughness, as to win the approval of all concerned. He was born in Chillicothe, March 30, 1876, a son of Fred- erick Augustus Ferdinand Albright, and a representative of one of the first German families to locate in the city.

His paternal grandfather, Joseph Albright, was born, reared and married in Littenweiler, by Freiburg, in Breisach, Baden, Germany. In 1839, accompanied by his family, he came to Chillicothe, leaving the fatherland April 17th and arriving in Chillicothe July 4th, seventy-eight days after setting sail. He first lived in a log house, but afterward purchased a vacant lot at 215 North Street, and there built the house now occupied by his grandchildren. Although a cabinetmaker by trade, he followed carpentry after coming to this country, continuing it until his death, at the age of sixty-nine years. On April 1, 1816, he was united in marriage with Christine Elizabeth Oberlander, who was born June 30, 1798, in Oberhain, by Königsee, Fürstenthum, Schwartzburg-Rudol- stadt, Germany, and died April 25, 1867, in Chillicothe. Eight children were born of this union, as follows: Margaret, Caroline, Julia, Louise, Frederick Augustus Ferdinand, Pauline, Elizabeth, and John Frederick.

Frederick A. F. Albright was born June 18, 1830, in the same part of Schwartzburg-Rudolstadt, Germany, that his mother was, and as a lad of nine years came with his parents to Ohio. Learning carpentry when young, he was employed as a bridge carpenter when the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad was built. He also assisted in the building of the Chillicothe Courthouse, and was the last survivor of the carpenters that worked on St. Peter's Church. IIe was an expert workman, and after a few years at carpentry became a millwright, and followed that trade during the remainder of his active life. Succeeding to the owner- ship of the old homestead, he occupied it until his death, January 30, 1906, at the age of seventy-five years.

The maiden name of the wife of Frederick A. F. Albright was Caro- line Rosena Gehring. She was born July 6, 1837, in Oberheldrung, Königgratz, Breisach, and died in 1882 in Chillicothe. Her parents, Henry and Sousiana Gehring, came from Germany to America in 1854. and after living a number of years in the Prussian settlement, about nine miles south of Chillicothe, moved into this city, and here spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. F. Albright reared nine children, namely : Christina Phillipena Louise, Annie, Caro- lina Sallie Mary, Carolina Dora, Elizabeth Anna Carolina, Frederick Christian Joseph, Henry Philip, William Julian Ferdinand, and Edward Louie.

Completing his early education in the public schools of Chillicothe, Edward Louie Albright secured a position with the Marfield Milling Company, serving a part of the time as office clerk and bookkeeper, and

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part of the time as manager of the feed store, remaining with the firm five years. Learning then the millwright trade, he followed it until 1903, when he was made assistant street superintendent. At the end of four years in that position, Mr. Albright was appointed superintendent of streets, and during the six years that he served in that capacity proved himself so eminently capable and efficient that he was appointed to his present official position as director of public service, an office that includes, among other duties, the superintendency of the streets of the city.

Mr. Albright married, April 29, 1908, Nancy Ann Routt, who was born in a log house on the farm of her father, Thomas Jefferson Routt, near Hallsville, Ross County. Her paternal grandfather, Henry Routt, was born at Staunton, Virginia, October 13, 1802, and after coming to Ohio spent a few years in Chillicothe, from here making an overland journey with teams to Clay City, Clay County, Illinois, where he and his wife spent their remaining days. Born May 11, 1830, in Chillicothe, Thomas Jefferson Routt was fifteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Clay City, Illinois. Not liking his new home, he soon returned to Chillicothe, walking the entire distance. After his marriage he settled on a farm near Hallsville, and after occupying it forty-two years, came to Chillicothe, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Edward L. Albright, December 13, 1913: He was three times married, Mrs. Edward L. Albright having been the only child of his third wife, whose maiden name was Clarissa Jane Hines. She was born in Ross County July 19, 1835, and is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Albright. Her father, Philip Hines, was born in Pennsylvania, a son of Jacob and Mary Elizabeth Hines, who were born in Pennsylvania, of German . ancestry. Coming to Ross County, Philip Hines purchased a farm in Harrison Township, and there lived until his death, at the age of ninety years. In addition to clearing and improving a farm, he followed for many years his trade of a weaver, making carpets, coverlets, and various kinds of cloth, all of which found a ready sale. Sarah Maddox, who became the wife of Philip Hines, was born in Kentucky, a daughter of Isaiah Maddox, a pioneer of Ross County. She died at the age of sixty- five years.

Mr. and Mrs. Albright have one child, Ferdinand Thomas Albright. Both Mr. and Mrs. Albright attend the German Evangelical Church. Fraternally he is a member of Aerie No. 600, Fraternal Order of Eagles.

GEORGE J. SCHMITT, who died at his home in Scioto Township a few years ago, was a resident of Ross County only a few years, but became well known as an industrious and capable farmer and a citizen who commanded confidence by reason of his unwavering integrity and the honorable relationships formed during his many years spent as a farmer in this section of Ohio. He left a widow and a large family of children, most of whom still reside at the old estate in Scioto Township.

A native of Germany, George J. Schmitt was born at Friedelsheim March 30, 1857. His father, John Schmitt, was a native of the same

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place. He married Elizabeth Lorbeek. In 1866 John Schmitt and family set out for America. The sailing vessel on which they crossed the ocean was sixty-three days battling with the winds and waves. From New York they moved first to Meriden, Connecticut, but in a short time came on west to Ohio and located at Waverly, in Pike County. There John Schmitt became a substantial farmer and spent the rest of his days. His wife died at Waverly. Their five children were named George J., Jacob, Lena, Margaret and Anna.

Nine years of age when brought to this country, George J. Schmitt finished his education in Ohio, and at an early age his muscles were tried out and his constitution inured to the duties of farming. He was reared to habits of industry, and that accounts for his success in life. At the time of his marriage he engaged in the dairy business on a farm two miles from Waverly. Starting with a herd of eight cows, he increased it to twenty, and was one of the leading men in that industry for a number of years. Until 1904 he resided on his farm and gave it his entire attention, but at that date he removed his family to Waverly and continued to superintend his farm. In 1911 he sold his place in Pike County and then moved to Scioto Township, in Ross County, where he bought the farm on which his family now reside in Scioto Township. This is one of the high-class farms in the vicinity of Chillicothe, being situated four miles from that city. There is a large and comfortable house situated pleasantly on the sunny side of a hill and almost sur- rounded by trees and shrubs.

In that comfortable home George J. Schmitt passed away April 30, 1914. On July 29, 1880, he had married Mary Ann Brown. Mrs. Schmitt was born on a farm in Beaver Township of Pike County, Ohio, and her father, August Brown, was also a native of Friedelsheim, Ger- many, where George J. Schmitt was born. August Brown came to America when quite young. In the old country he had learned the trade of cooper, and he found employment in that work at Portsmouth. Care- fully saving his earnings, he was able after a few years to go to Pike County and buy a tract of land half a mile from the Village of Beaver. He set up a shop on his farm, and while the spring, summer and fall were spent in cultivating and looking after his crops, the winter season was devoted to the cooper trade. By that means he lived and provided for his family, and passed away when about fifty years of age. His wife was Elizabeth Blind. She was reared and educated in Germany, and when about twenty years of age came to America, accompanying a friend, a German woman. She died at the age of forty-five. Mrs. Schmitt was one of ten children, namely: Lizzie, William, Mary A., Martin, August, Louis, Catherine, Bertha, Rachel and David.

Many years ago Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt became communicants of the First Evangelical Church, and they reared their family in the same faith. Mr. Schmitt was survived by his widow and eleven children. The names of these children, most of whom are now well prepared to take up the serious responsibilities of life on their own account, are as follows: August, Anna, Catherine, Lena, Clara, Lula, John, Ralph. Margaret, Edith and Albert.

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THOMAS HUFF is an old-time business man and professional pho- tographer of Ross County and is now living quietly retired at his home in Massieville. He and the members of his family connection have been closely identified with Scioto Township and other sections of Ross County, and this is one of the honored names that requires something more than passing mention in a history of Ross County.

Mr. Huff was born in Huntington Township of this county May 24, 1844. His grandparents were pioneer settlers in Muskingum County, Ohio, where his father, Henry Huff, was born, at the Town of Zanesville. Henry learned the trade of cooper as a young man, and followed it at Zanesville. He died at Cowensville, Ohio, in 1852. Henry Huff married Barbara Ann Selby. She was born in Huntington Township of Ross County, a daughter of William Selby, who was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, and came to Ross County among the early settlers of Huntington Township. There he hewed a farm out of the woods. He served in the War of 1812 and was in every sense a patriotic and useful citizen. William Selby married Eva Grim, and both of them died when quite old.

At the death of her husband Mrs. Henry Huff was left a widow with seven children, whose names were William, John, Thomas, Charles, Theodore, Lewis and Henry.

Thomas Huff was eight years old when his father died. He soon had to shift for himself, and for some years he lived in the family of William Lockwood, a well-known old-time merchant at Massieville. While there he attended public schools and also clerked in the store of Mr. Lockwood.

Mr. Huff has an honorable record of participation in the Civil war. He first enlisted in May, 1862, in Company K of the Eighty-eighth Ohio Infantry. His term of service was for three months, and was prin- cipally spent on duty at Camp Chase, where at the time a great many Confederate prisoners were confined. Discharged at the end of three months, he returned home, but in the following year, June 29, 1863, enlisted in Company F of the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This time his enlistment was for six months. With his regiment he went south to Tennessee, and arrived at Cumberland Gap in time to witness the surrender of the Confederates who had held that position. He was with his regiment until some weeks after his term expired, receiving his discharge February 12, 1864. Again he spent a few weeks at Massieville, and again, in May, 1864, enlisted, this time in Company D of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment of Ohio Infantry. He accompanied this regiment to Baltimore and thence to the Virginia battleground. June 9, 1864, he was wounded, was sent to a hospital in Baltimore, and there remained until he was well enough to be removed to Camp Dennison in Ohio. August 30, 1864, he received his third dis- charge, this time on account of disability, and was soon back at his place as clerk in a store at Massieville.

In 1880 Mr. Huff took up the profession of photography. He oper- ated a gallery at Colton for thirteen years, and after that was at various

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points in Southern Ohio, chiefly Ironton and Jackson, and finally went into business at Chillicothe, where he was one of the most popular men in the profession for twelve years. In 1912 he retired, and is now living at his old home in Massieville.

On September 26, 1865, soon after the war, Mr. Huff married for his first wife Mary Elizabeth Rutherford. She was born in Jackson County, Ohio, daughter of Griffith and Rachel (Radcliff) Rutherford. Mrs. Huff died in July, 1885, after almost twenty years of married life. In 1890 Mr. Huff married Mrs. Helen (Stinson) Lockwood. Mrs. Huff was born in Chillicothe May 2, 1841. Her father, Archibald Stinson, was born at High Bank, in Ross County, in 1800. Her grandfather, James Stinson, who was probably a native of Rhode Island, was one of the first pioneer settlers of Ross County. He came to this county when Ohio was still a part of Northwest Territory. He lived on the High Banks until 1801, when he settled in what is now Scioto Township, securing a large tract of land south of and adjoining the present Village of Massieville. His farm was located on the well-traveled highway between Portsmouth and Columbus, and the large log house which he built was opened as a hotel and stage station. In the year before the building of canals or railroads and when all transportation was by wagon or team or stage coach, his hotel entertained innumerable guests, and stood in high favor with the traveling public. Archibald Stinson, the father of Mrs. Huff, was one of a large family of children, and grew up in the old hotel and on the farm, and eventually inherited a portion of the farm estate. He was a successful farmer and placed many improvements on his land, including a set of substantial frame buildings. He lived there until his death in 1876. Archibald Stinson married Silence McCoy, whose name introduces mention of another very prominent early pioneer family of Ross County. She was born in Union Township in 1801, a daughter of John and Margaret (Kerr) McCoy. John McCoy had the distinction of erecting the first building in Chillicothe. The mother of Mrs: Huff died in 1888, having reared seven children, named James K., John, Mary, Margaret, Helen, George W. and Archibald S.

Mrs. Huff grew up in Ross County, receiving her education in the district schools. She first married Theodore E. Lockwood. Mr. Huff by his first marriage reared three children, named Dora, Anna and William R. Dora, who married Samuel Eisnawgle, died leaving two children, named Jessie and Nina. Anna is the wife of Richard Glenroy and has a daughter named Florence. William R. has the following chil- dren: Lester, Franklin, Wilber and Marjorie. Politically Mr. Huff is a republican, as would be natural considering his effective service to support the Union during the Civil war. While a resident of Colton, President Harrison appointed him postmaster of that village, and he filled the office with credit four years.

WALTER S. BARRETT. Noteworthy among the active and progressive business men of Chillicothe is Walter S. Barrett, who is closely associated

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with the mercantile and manufacturing interests of this section of Ross County. A native of Ohio, he was born September 19, 1878, on a farm in Paint Creek Township, Highland County, of English ancestry. He is a lineal descendant in the sixth generation of Arthur Barrett, the founder of that branch of the Barrett family from which he sprung, his lineage being thus traced : Arthur (1), Benjamin (2), Jonathan (3), Levi (4), Jesse C. (5), and Walter S. (6).

Arthur (1) Barrett came when but a boy to America, he and his older brother, David Barrett, coming to this country with William Penn, both being members of the Society of Friends. Removing in early manhood from Pennsylvania to Virginia, Arthur (1) Barrett spent the remainder of his years in Frederick County, where his son, Ben- jamin (2) Barrett, was a life-long resident. Jonathan (3) Barrett, who spent all of his days in Virginia, married Rachel George, a daughter of Ellis and Lydia (Lewis) George, natives of Wales.

Levi (4) Barrett was born and educated in Virginia. Following the tide of emigration westward, he became an early settler of Highland County, Ohio, and in Paint Township, on the farm which he reclaimed from the wilderness, he resided until his death, in 1878. He married Delilah Moon, who was born in Highland County, in 1811.

Born in Paint Creek Township, Highland County, in 1853, on the same farm that the birth of his son Walter occurred, Jesse C. Barrett succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead, and was there pros- perously engaged in general farming for many years. He is now living ing Kansas City, Missouri, an esteemed and respected citizen. He was reared in the Society of Friends, and has remained true to the religious beliefs of his parents. He married Frances Johnson, who was born in Highland County, Ohio, a daughter of Dr. Silas Johnson, a grand- daughter of Moorman Johnson, and great-granddaughter of William Johnson, a pioneer of Highland County. After his graduation from the Ohio Medical College, in 1842, Dr. Silas Johnson located at Danville, Highland County, where he was successfully engaged in the practice of medicine until his death, in 1863. He was a republican in politics, and for a time served as postmaster at Danville, being appointed to the position by President Lincoln. Dr. Johnson married Ann Eliza Cline, a daughter of Charles and Margaret (Peterson) Cline, natives of New Jersey, and pioneer settlers of Clinton County, Ohio. Mrs. Jesse C. Barrett died in 1898, leaving three children, as follows: Walter S., the special subject of this sketch; Starling, a resident of Columbus; and Vernon, living in Chillicothe, Ohio.

When he was a boy of twelve years, Walter S. Barrett came to Chilli- cothe with his parents, and completed his early education in the Chil- licothe High School. He then began his active career in the composing room of the Scioto Gazette, where he became familiar with the art preservative. He was later associated with the Chillicothe Advertiser until the first call for troops during the progress of the Spanish- American war, in 1898. Responding to the call, he enlisted in Company F, Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was soon trans-

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ferred to the Sixth Company of the Signal Corps. Upon taking the competitive examination, Mr. Barrett was placed in charge of the quar- termaster's department, and continued in that responsible position until honorably discharged from the service, April 3, 1899. Mr. Barrett was highly commended by the War Department for accuracy and efficiency of his accounts, which enabled that department to close the affairs of the company without delay. Returning home, Mr. Barrett was for two years editor of the Greenfield Daily News, resigning the editorship to enter the accounting department of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. In 1905 he resigned that position to engage in the auto- mobile business, with which he has since been successfully identified.

Mr. Barrett married, March 2, 1904, Anna M. Meggenhofen, a daughter of Dr. Edward and Louise (Kirk) Meggenhofen, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this volume. Three children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett, namely : Edward, Frances Louise, and Walter Scott. At the age of nineteen years, Mr. Barrett began his political career as a member of the republican precinct com- mittee. He cast his first presidential vote for William McKinley, and has since served as a delegate to numerous district, county, and state conventions. In November, 1914, he was elected county auditor of Ross County. Fraternally Mr. Barrett is a member, and past commander, of Great Seal Tent, No. 542, Knights of the Maccabees; a member of Old Capitol Council, No. 1626, Loyal Order of Moose; a member of Chilli- cothe Lodge, No. 52, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and of Scioto Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons. Mr. Barrett is a mem- ber of the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce; and a member, and com- mander of E. U. Wiedler Camp, No. 48, Spanish War Veterans.

JOHN H. BLACKER. It is doubtful if Ross County has had a more prominent figure politically in recent years than John H. Blacker, whose success in overturning normal republican majorities and in being elected to important responsibilities in township and county is a matter which local people will not allow to be forgotten. Mr. Blacker has for many years been a merchant and business man and banker in the county, and has many extensive interests in this section of Ohio.

He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, August 7, 1859. His great- grandfather, John Henry Blacker, emigrated from Germany to America in the closing years of the Revolutionary war. After locating in Virginia he married Miss Elizabeth Myers. Grandfather Joseph Blacker emi- grated from the Old Dominion State to Pickaway County, Ohio, about 1820, though he was not the first of the family to come to this part of Ohio, his brother Jacob having located in Chillicothe as early as 1817. Grandfather Blacker was a blacksmith by trade, and for many years followed that vocation in Ohio near what is known as Round Prairie on Deer Creek. In later years he gave his energies chiefly to farming, and he died at the age of sixty-eight.

Henry C. Blacker, father of John H., was born in Virginia, but was brought as a child to Pickaway County. He became a farmer and one

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of the large land owners in that county. A man of ability and untiring energy, he was well known not only for his success in business but for his prominence in democratic politics, and he was twice elected to office in Pickaway County. He died in that county in 1902. He married Marian Bowsher, a daughter of Anthony Bowsher, who was a native of Pennsylvania and one of the early settlers in Pickaway County. Marian Blacker died January 2, 1893. She was a member of the Evan- gelical Church, and a woman of strong Christian principles and char- acter. She became the mother of thirteen children, and eleven of them reached mature years.

The sixth in the family of thirteen, John H. Blacker spent his early life on his father's farm in Pickaway County and attended the district schools. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Northern Ohio Uni- versity at Ada and spent two years in the normal department, after which he sought to apply his learning and taught one term in Pickaway County. In 1881 he passed from the educational to the commercial ranks, and at Clarksburg began clerking in the store of his brother-in-law, E. W. Templin. Four years later he bought out the stock and continued the business energetically and with satisfying success until September, 1888. At that time he formed a partnership with J. M. Gorham, and the two were together in business at Clarksburg until the fall of 1890.

In the meantime Mr. Blacker's popularity as a citizen and his genial ability in politics had become a matter of note in that section of Ross County. He had been five times elected treasurer of Deerfield Town- ship. That township was then known as the banner republican precinct of Ross County and it was properly believed that any man who could overcome the republican majority there was an eligible candidate for further honors in county politics. Consequently Mr. Blacker was offered nomination by his party for any one of the three offices of commissioner, auditor or sheriff, and he determined to become a candidate for sheriff. The normal republican majority in Ross County at that time was 300. After a vigorous campaign, Mr. Blacker was elected sheriff by a majority of 135. In 1892 he was re-elected, this time by a majority of 400, though the county gave its support to Harrison for president by a majority of 150. He has been more or less active in democratic politics in Ohio for many years, and in 1896' he was a delegate to the national convention and in 1898 was elected chairman of the Democratic State Executive Committee.

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A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 15

Author: Lyle S. Evans Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 549

Author: Lyle S. Evans
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 549