A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 24

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

USA > Ohio > Ross County > A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio > Part 24

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Michael Smith was married twice, and nine children were born to his first union and four to his second. Of the first family, four survive : Abbe; Willis, of Missouri; John and J. C., of Kentucky. The second wife, Mary Beale, was born in Ross County, Ohio, March 29, 1825. To this marriage the following children were born: S. W., who lives in Liberty Township; George B .; Sarah J., who is the wife of Isaac Sechrist ; and Cynthia, who is the wife of Uriah P. Beecher.

George B. Smith attended the district schools and was an attentive pupil because he appreciated the value of learning. All his life he has found great pleasure in reading and study. His interest in literature led to his devoting considerable time to the study of astronomy, and his proficiency in this branch of science is remarkable. He devotes his farm of thirty-three acres mainly to truck farming, finding a ready market for all that Happy Thought Farm produces.

Mr. Smith was married April 1, 1884, to Miss Mary E. Tracy, who died April 30, 1898. She was an admirable woman in every respect

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and was a daughter of William D. Tracy and the mother of five chil- dren, as follows: Jesse F., who lives at Springfield, Ohio; Evaline, who is the wife of Alva Hess, of Liberty Township, Ross County; Della, who is a resident of Springfield; Agnes, who is the wife of Ezra Mc- Whorter, of Liberty Township; and Zilpha, who remains at home to make her father comfortable.

In politics Mr. Smith is a republican, but he has never sought public office. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. For many years he has been a member of the United Brethren Church.

SILAS FRANKLIN GARRETT. Thoroughly versed in the intricacies of the law, having conducted and won many important suits, and having been associated in practice with some of the ablest lawyers of Ross County, Silas Franklin Garrett, of Chillicothe, occupies a position of note in legal circles. He was born in Green Township, Ross County, Ohio, February 23, 1851, of colonial stock, being a lineal descendant, it is thought, of one Mr. Garrett, a blacksmith, who came to America with Capt. John Smith in 1607. He is a son of the late James Henry Garrett, and grandson of Reuben Garrett, a pioneer of Ross County.

William Garrett, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia, and there spent his entire life, dying in 1825. During the Revolutionary war he served as a member of the Third Com- pany, Second Virginia Regiment, enlisting in 1777, and serving under Col. Alexander Spotswood. It is not known whether he served through- out the entire conflict, but he was present at the surrender of Lord Corn- wallis. He was a farmer and fruit grower in Essex County, Virginia, where he operated a still, manufacturing "apple-jack." He first married Elizabeth Taylor, who bore him seven children, James, William, Walter, Reuben, Smith, Elizabeth, and Theodorick. He married for his second wife Clara Faber, and by their union three children were born, namely : Richard Henry, Cynthia, and Silas S. It was in the barn of his eldest son, Richard Henry, in Caroline County, Virginia, that J. Wilkes Booth, the assassin, was killed.

Reuben Garrett was born May 5, 1784, in Essex County, Virginia, and having as a young man served an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade followed it in his native state until 1832. In that year, accompanied by his wife and seven children, he came to Ohio, making the wearisome journey across the country with a team. He located in Green Town- ship, Ross County, where for a number of years, not being strong enough to perform manual labor, he tended a toll gate on the pike running between Kinnikinnick and Adelphi. Retiring from active labor, he spent his last days in Kingston, passing away July 28, 1857. He married Sarah Toombs, who was also a Virginian by birth, being the daughter of a sailor who lost his life at sea. She survived him more than a score of years, dying March 8, 1878. Of the ten children born of their union, two died in infancy, and eight grew to years of maturity, as follows: Mary, William, Richard, Sarah, Elizabeth, James Henry, Virginia, and

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Silas S. They were Baptists in religion, and reared their family in the same faith.

Born on a farm pleasantly situated on the Rappahannock River, near Lloyds Postoffice, in Essex County, Virginia, August 15, 1828, James Henry Garrett was but four years old when brought by his parents to Ross County, Ohio. He attended the rural schools, and as a boy became familiar with the various branches of agriculture. Choosing farming for his life occupation, he rented land at first, and in the tilling of the soil met with success. He subsequently bought land in Green Township, and was there a resident until his death, which occurred May 7, 1904. His body was laid to rest in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, near Kingston, where his parents are buried. His wife, whose maiden name was Susan Jones, was born in Vinton County, Ohio, June 30, 1830, and is now living with a daughter, Mrs. R. B. Grimes, near Chillicothe. Her father, Henry Jones, was born, in 1795, in Virginia, a son of Peter Jones, and married Nancy Moss, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Thomas Moss, a Revolutionary soldier. The union of Mr. and Mrs. James Henry Garrett was blessed by the birth of twelve children, of whom two, Minnie B. and Louisa J., died in childhood, while ten grew to years of maturity, namely : Silas Franklin, Reuben W., Mary H., Sarah E., James H., William N., Anna J., Leah Catherine, Ethan Allen, and Davis N.

Brought up on the home farm, Silas Franklin Garrett attended the district school a part of each year, and while yet in his teens assisted to some extent in the support of the family. Interested in books, he con- tinued his studies as opportunity offered, and having earned some money by teaching entered Kingston Academy. Resuming teaching after leav- ing that institution of learning, Mr. Garrett devoted all of his leisure time to the study of law in the office of Judge Safford. An earnest and intelligent student, he was admitted to the bar on September 26, 1877, and for six months thereafter taught school, completing his eleventh term as a schoolmaster. On April 1, 1878, Mr. Garrett opened a law office in Chillicothe, and having met with flattering success from the start has here continued in active practice until the present time. From 1892 to 1896 he was in partnership with Mr. Reuben R. Freeman.

Mr. Garrett married, November 13, 1886, Adelaide M. Rollin, who was born in Zanesville, Ohio, July 11, 1861, being a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Anderson) Rollin. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are the parents of five children, namely: M. Zuleime, Dolores E., George Raymond, Berna- detta Louise, and Cyril Franklin. Fraternally Mr. Garrett is a member of Tecumseh Lodge, No. 80, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has served two terms as city' solicitor, and for four years was a member of the Chillicothe Board of Education, one year of the time serving as its president.

CHARLES AULT. In a great agricultural state like Ohio, where farm- ing is carried on so extensively and successfully as to produce more wealth than from any other source, there are kindred industries which

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engage the attention of many enterprising, practical men. One of these is threshing, a very necessary adjunct to farming and, in modern times, a scientific business by itself. Almost all his business life Charles Ault, whose valuable farm of 225 acres lies in Liberty Township, Ross County, has worked in season as a thresher and now owns a fine outfit and also operates a portable sawmill.

Charles Ault was born on his present farm in Liberty Township, February 21, 1867, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Jones) Ault, the latter born also on this farm and the former in Ross County. William Ault's people came from Virginia. After marriage he settled on this farm and here spent his life as a farmer. He was a well-known and highly respected man. Of his large family of children there are nine living, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of Jesse Arganbrit; Sarah, who is the wife of Orlando Meeker; Emily, who is the wife of James Stewart; Andrew, who lives in Missouri; George and Lyman, both of whom live in Kansas; Jeremiah, who lives in Illinois; Charles, of Liberty Township; Myrtle, who is the wife of Frank Fanby, of Liberty Township.

Charles Ault is one of the best-known men of Liberty Township, for this has always been his home. He went to school with men and women who have always been his neighbors and a very friendly spirit prevails through this law-abiding section of the county. Before purchasing the old homestead he lived on a farm along Walnut Creek for twenty-two years. To the original 204 acres he has added twenty-one acres and thus he now operates 225 acres. As mentioned above, Mr. Ault has been a thresher for many years and is a member in good standing of the Ross County Brotherhood of Threshers.

In early manhood Mr. Ault was married to Mary D. Rutherford, who was born at Londonderry, Ohio, and they have twelve children, a happy, contented family of seven sons, and five daughters, as follows: James, who lives in Iowa ; Tiffin, who is a resident of Chillicothe; Edwin, who lives in Iowa; and Hazel, Inella, Jenice, Everett, Edith, Orville, Walter, Ruth and Willard. All have been given educational opportuni- ties. In politics Mr. Ault has always been a democrat, and for the last five years he has been one of the trustees of Liberty Township, succeeding himself. Both personally and as a public official Mr. Ault stands high in his community.

NEWTON E. ICE. Combining farming with veterinary practice, New- ton E. Ice, of Liberty Township, is one of the busy men of Ross County. He has 200 acres of land under his care and no part of this large farm shows any evidence of neglect.

Doctor Ice was born in Wetzel County, West Virginia, February 20, 1885, and is a son of D. B. and Phoebe (Wyatt) Ice. Both parents were born and reared in what is now West Virginia, and are retired residents of Smithfield, Wetzel County. They are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Of their family of three children, one died in infancy and both of the survivors live in Ohio, Newton E. in Ross

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County and Lee in Washington County, and both are interested in agri- cultural pursuits. The one daughter bore the name of Jennie.

On his father's farm Newton E. Ice grew to manhood and learned not only the practical business of operating a farm, but also the care and medical treatment of stock. He became greatly interested along this line and studied veterinary science and has adopted its practice as a profession. After attending the common schools, he entered the high school at Buchanan and was graduated therefrom in 1905. Mr. Ice found remunerative employment in the oil fields in his native state and continued there until 1909, when he came to Ross County, Ohio, and took a correspondence school course in veterinary medicine and surgery, graduating with an average of 96 per cent. His knowledge of veterinary science serves him well on his large estate, giving him the knowledge and skill to keep his own stock in condition while gradually building up a wider extended practice. He makes a specialty of fine horses.

Doctor Ice was married July 8, 1906, to Miss Bessie Fry, who was born and reared in Virginia. They have four children: Beryl, Hor- tense, Drexel and Lorie. Doctor Ice was reared in the democratic party, as was his father. His 200-acre estate is situated one mile southwest of Londonderry, Ohio.

W. II. WILTSHIRE. With an interest in 600 acres of valuable land in Ross County, Ohio, and by occupation a farmer, W. H. Wiltshire may be numbered with the prosperous men who have found in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture satisfactory returns for their toil. He belongs to an old pioneer family of the State of Ohio and with this section of the state he has been identified all his life.

W. H. Wiltshire was born September 22, 1857, near Massieville, Ohio, and is a son of Dr. John M. and Mary (Sutherland) Wiltshire. His father was born in 1834 and practiced medicine for many years. His mother, also born in Ohio, died in 1896. They had four children : William H .; James S., who is a physician and surgeon at Londonderry, Ohio; Mary, who is the wife of F. A. Counts, resides at Richmond Dale, Ohio; and J. E., who is a resident of Vigo, Ross County, Ohio.

On his present farm, situated in Liberty Township, Ross County, W. H. Wiltshire grew to manhood. He attended the country schools and later the city schools at Chillicothe. All his life he has been inter- ested in farming, and the depth of this interest may be correctly esti- mated when account is taken of the profitable yieldings of his many acres. He gives much attention to growing Duroc Jersey hogs.

In 1903 Mr. Wiltshire was united in marriage with Mary F. Russell, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, a member of one of the substantial old Quaker families of this section. Mrs. Wiltshire was educated in the public schools and has spent her life in Ohio. They are members of the Society of Friends.

In politics Mr. Wiltshire has always been a republican. As a man of sound judgment, he has frequently been urged to accept local offices

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for the public good, but he has never had any political ambition. He was one of the charter members of the Londonderry Lodge of the Im- proved Order of Red Men and passed the chairs in that lodge.

WILLIAM T. LANDRUM. One of the prosperous farmers of Franklin Township, Ross County, is William T. Landrum, who owns 160 acres in the vicinity of Higby, Ohio. He was born at Richmond Dale, in Jef- ferson Township, Ross County, January 19, 1848. His parents were Smith M. and Lydia (Acord) Landrum. The father was born in Green- brier County, Virginia, and the mother in Pennsylvania, and they were married in Pike County, Ohio.

Smith M. Landrum was a miller by trade and for many years after coming to Ohio he operated mills. For some years he conducted a mill at Richmond Dale, then at Sharenville, but his last years were spent as a farmer. He was twice married and eight children were born to his first union. One son, George L., was a soldier in the Civil war and laid down his life for his country. There are four survivors of the above family : John A., who is a veteran of the Civil war, lives at Massieville. Ohio; William T .; Martha J., who is the wife of Austin French; and Lydia, who is the wife of Mr. Delong, of Circleville, Ohio.

William T. Landrum lived at Richmond Dale until he was sixteen years old, in the meanwhile attending the public schools. He was then considered old enough to become self-supporting and look out for him- self. He chose the life of a farmer and easily found employment as such and worked by the month on farms, and by the time he was twenty- two years old had saved $750 of his wages. While that was not a great fortune, it represented many months of hard labor and much self-denial and proved that he was industrious and frugal. He has continued to be a farmer, renting land for two years before he bought his first tract.

Mr. Landrum was married to Priscilla McGuire, who was born in Pike County. She left one daughter, Harriet, who became the wife of Charles Allen, of Franklin Township. In March, 1879, Mr. Landrum was married to Miss Mary Borst, who was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, March 27, 1850. Her parents were John and Catherine (Frank) Borst, both of whom were born in Germany and came to the United States when aged, respectively, twenty and twenty-two years, and they were married at Chillicothe. Mr. Borst was a butcher by trade and carried on that business for a number of years in Ohio, but later moved to Kansas and there both he and wife died. Mr. and Mrs. Landrum have had seven children, three of whom are deceased. Those living are: William H., who is a farmer in Franklin Township; Charles H., who is a rural mail carrier; Hannah, who is the wife of Paul Workman, a railroad man at Ironton, Ohio; and Matilda, who is the wife of Charles E. Blanin, of Waverly, Ohio. Mrs. Landrum is a member of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Landrum is a republican in politics and has served as a member of the board of trustees of Franklin Township. He is identified with the Odd Fellows and is past grand of his lodge. Both he and wife are highly respected.

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JOSEPH H. HIGBY. Farming and stock raising engage the attention of many intelligent men with practical ideas, in Ross County, they rightly realizing that no business in the world can excel theirs in impor- tance. Perhaps at no time in the world's history has the fact been more emphasized than the present. There are hundreds of acres in Ross County devoted to these kindred industries and attention may be directed to what is known as the old Davis farm, situated in Franklin Township. It is under the capable and experienced management of Joseph H. Higby, and its output is enormous.

Joseph H. Higby was born on the farm above mentioned, December 14, 1857. His parents were Sylvester N. and Hannah (Davis) Higby, the latter of whom was born on this farm and always lived there. A part of its 800 acres was her marriage portion, and the rest of it Sylvester N. Higby bought from the other Davis heirs. He was a man of political importance in Franklin Township and served in many public capacities, being elected to office on the republican ticket. Both he and wife were church members and active in the work of the Sunday school. He was a thirty-second degree Mason. To Sylvester N. Higby and wife seven children were born, and the following survive: Rose, who is the wife of Ira Harris, an attorney at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and formerly mayor; Kizzie D., who is the wife of C. R. Manning, an attorney and police judge at Colorado Springs; Laura W., who is the widow of H. C. Downs, of Columbus, Ohio; and Joseph H., of Franklin Township.

Joseph H. Higby spent his boyhood on the home farm and attended the township schools before entering Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware, Ohio, where he completed the classical course and remained for four years. Afterward he studied civil engineering and went out for a time with an engineering corps for practical experience and remained one year connected with the Nickel Plate Railroad and then returned and took charge of the family estate, which he continues to manage. He carries on general farming and raises high grade stock of all kinds.

Mr. Higby was married to Miss Jennie E. Foster, a daughter of John C. Foster, and they had two children, both of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Higby was educated at Ada, Ohio. In politics Mr. Higby is a republican and quite often he has been elected to township offices, serv- ing in these with the careful efficiency that has always marked his attention to his own business affairs. He is one of Ross County's highly respected and valued citizens.

JOSEPH I. VAUSE. As proprietor of High Bank Farm, a beautiful stretch of fertile land, 300 acres in extent, Joseph I. Vause, one of the representative men of Ross County, owns a homestead that has been in the Vause name for more than a century. This valuable estate was. purchased by Joseph Harness, the great-great-grandfather of Joseph I., at a Government land sale. Its development from virgin field and forest, therefore, has been accomplished through the energy, industry and good judgment of this one family, coming down to the present from father to son.

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Joseph I. Vause was born on the above farm, situated six miles south of Chillicothe, Ohio, July 15, 1870. His parents were Joseph I. and Jane (Foster) Vause. His father was born in Virginia, but the larger part of his life was spent in Ohio. He was a quiet, industrious, frugal man and in legitimate business ways accumulated an ample fortune during a long life. He married Jane Foster, who was born in Ohio, in Ross County, and on the family homestead in Liberty Township they reared a family of twelve children, six of whom are living in the year 1916, as follows: Mary, who is the wife of James C. Foster; Anna H., who is the widow of George Foster; James M., who is a farmer in Lib- erty Township, Ross County; Nellie, who is the wife of John I. Van Meter; Sallie, who is a resident of Liberty Township; and Joseph I.

At the death of his father, Joseph I. Vause took charge of the farm. In 1908 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Penisten, who belongs to an old and well-known family of Ross County. She was born in Liberty Township and is a daughter of James and Lillie (Har- ness) Penisten.

For many years Mr. Vause has been prominent in county politics as a leader in democratic policies and at times he has been selected by his party for responsible public offices. For two terms he gave the people of the county admirable service as county commissioner. Aside from his large farming interests, he is interested otherwise as a stock- holder in the Valley Savings Bank of Chillicothe, and as president of the Chillicothe Engineering Company. His main business, however, is farming. Mr. Vause is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

PETER BOHN. The activities of Peter Bohn as a business man have been well known in Chillicothe for a great many years, and his name is likewise associated with much of the city's municipal, social and educa- tional life and affairs. He is the type of a sturdy, vigorous, public spirited citizen.

Born September 7, 1855, in Chillicothe, he is a son of John and Cath- erine (Litler) Bohn. His father was born in Germany and accompanied by his wife and one child emigrated to America in 1853. In some par- ticulars this journey was rather remarkable. The little family started at Hamburg, Germany, on a sailing vessel, accomplished the entire dis- tance between Hamburg and Chillicothe, their final destination, by deep sea, river and canal boats. The sailing vessel landed them at New Orleans and thence came up the Mississippi River, up the Ohio as far as Portsmouth, Ohio, and there embarked on a canal boat on the old Ohio Canal, finally landing on Hickory Street in Chillicothe. In the fall of 1859 John Bohn engaged in the grocery and saloon business on Main Street near Paint Street and continued in that line until his death in 1876. He was an esteemed citizen of Chillicothe, much interested in public affairs, and was a democrat in politics. He was also a member of the Eintracht Singing Society and Social Organization composed mostly of people from the old country.

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Out of a family of nine children, Peter Bohn is the only one now living. He grew up in Chillicothe, gained his education in St. Peter's Catholic parochial schools and at the age of twenty began business as a dealer in fruit, his stand being at the corner of Main and Paint streets. He was in business there continuously until April 1, 1897, and after- wards conducted business in an adjacent block from 1907. Since then his business establishment has been at 93 East Main Street, and through a great many years he has steadily prospered and has a large and profita- ble trade.

Mr. Bohn is a Catholic, is a member of the St. Ignatius Council, Knights of Columbus, and was one of the charter members of this the first council of the Knights of Columbus established in Chillicothe on January 6, 1906.

His part as a public spirited citizen has been one of much importance. He was elected township clerk of Scioto Township in 1885 and held that office for five consecutive terms, 1885 to 1891. In 1901 he was elected township treasurer and from March, 1913, to 1914, held both positions of clerk and treasurer. In 1913 he was elected township clerk and reelected in 1915. For several years he has also served as clerk of the board of education and treasurer of school funds, which position he still holds.

On January 10, 1879, in Chillicothe Mr. Bohn married Miss E. Flor- ence Kelley, daughter of William C. Kelley, of Highland County. She died July 13, 1916.

JAMES V. HARNESS. On the farm on which he now resides, on Chilli- cothe Rural Route No. 2, in Liberty Township, James V. Harness was born September 13, 1863. This is one of the old historic spots of Ross County, relies of the Mound Builders having been found on the Har- ness farm, and here Mr. Harness has spent his entire life. He has devoted himself undeviatingly to agricultural operations, has made a success of his enterprises and through his good citizenship had added to the reputation of a family the name of which has been well and favorably known in this section for more than a century.

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A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 24

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

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