A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 28

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

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He was born at the Village of Yellowbud, in Ross County, April 29, 1875. His great-grandmother, after the death of her first husband, married a man named Thompson and spent her last years in Chillicothe, where she died when well upwards of ninety years. Mr. Watts' paternal grandfather, Henson Watts, who was quite young when his father died, located on land in the north precinct of Union Township, which was his wife's inheritance. After a few years he sold out and bought a farm in Indiana. After two years he was defrauded out of this property, and then returned to Ross County, renting land in Union Township, where he lived until his death on June 21, 1858. Henson Watts married Mary Ann Thompson, who was born on the Williamsport Road, in the * north precinct of Union Township. Her father, Ezekiel Thompson, was also born in Ross County. His father, Philip Thompson, a great-grand- father of James Watts, was one of the earliest settlers of Union Town- ship, securing a large tract of timbered land in the north precinct and building a cabin in the wilderness. Subsequently he gave his years to the clearing of the land and its cultivation, and lived there until his death. Both he and his wife, Lovina, lived to be very old. Ezekiel Thompson, great-grandfather of James Watts, was blind from early youth. He inherited land, and in spite of this handicap, was a success- ful farmer, erecting some good frame buildings on his land and living there until his death in old age. He was a skilled player of the violin and was widely known as the blind fiddler. His death occurred when upwards of eighty years of age. Mrs. Henson Watts died December 20, 1893, at the age of seventy-seven. Her children were Cyrus, Eliza, Maria, Hannah, Ezekiel, Silas and Milton.

Silas Watts, father of James Watts, was born in the south precinct of Union Township December 27, 1852. He grew up on a farm and has always followed farming as his regular vocation. Since 1907 he has lived on the Joseph Atwell farm in the south precinct of Union Town- ship. He married Emma Henry, who was born in Mooresville, Harrison Township, Ross County. Her father, Robert Henry, was born in Ireland

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of Scotch ancestry, and when quite young was brought to America by. his parents, who located in the south part of Ross County and spent their last days there. Robert Henry learned the trade of carpenter, and followed it while a resident of Mooresville and Yellowbud. Robert Henry married Julia Merriman. Her father, Samuel Merriman, another great-grandfather of James Watts, was born at Lansing, Pennsylvania, in 1789, and in 1819 came to Ross County as a pioneer, settling in Cole- rain Township. An old history of Ross County says of him that for twenty years he was engaged in boating on the Ohio River, and it also states that he was a fighting man and a good singer. He finally located on Walnut Creek and died there when one hundred and one years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Silas Watts reared four children, named James, Floyd, Allen and Albert. Of these, James Watts grew up as a farmer, gained an education in the local schools, and has made agriculture his chief pursuit. Since 1900 he has operated the David Dunlop farm in the south precinct of Union Township. General farming and stock raising are the chief sources of his profits.

In 1898 Mr. Watts married Josephine H. Shaw. She was born in Wayne Township of Pickaway County. Her father, John Shaw, was born in Hocking County, Ohio, December 11, 1842. Her grandfather, James Shaw, was a native of Virginia and the son of a Revolutionary soldier. The mother of James Shaw lived to be one hundred and six years of age, and so far as known she spent all her life in Virginia. James Shaw was one of the pioneer settlers of Hocking County, Ohio, and, securing a tract of timbered land, he improved a farm near the present site of Bloomingvale, and lived there until his death. The : maiden name of his wife was Nancy Chilcote, who was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and the daughter of a Revolutionary patriot. Mrs. Watts' father was reared on a farm, and on August 16, 1862, enlisted in Com- pany G of the Ninetieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Going to the front, he was with his regiment in all its service until captured at the battle of Chickamauga on September 20, 1863. After that he remained a prisoner of war in Southern prisons for seventeen months, until hostili- ties were almost over. IIe received his honorable discharge, and resumed farming in Ohio. After marrying he moved to Wayne Township, in Pickaway County, where he was engaged in farming until his death at the age of sixty-eight. The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Watts was Almira Jordan, who was born in Hocking County, a daughter of James and Sarah Jordan, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Hocking County. The mother of Mrs. Watts died in 1874, leaving three children, Angeline, Ella and Josephine. Mrs. Watts' father married for his second wife Josephine Wolfe, and the four children of that union are Myrtle, Maude, Beatrice and Sadie.

Mr. and Mrs. Watts are the parents of one daughter, named Berle. The family are active members of the Andersonville Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Watts is a republican, and his first presidential vote was cast for William Mckinley. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Camp No. 10323 of the Modern Woodmen of America at Yellowbud.

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CHARLES M. DUNLAP. A number of the high-class farms in Ross County have been continuously in the ownership of one family for a cen- tury or more. One of these families of old settlers and prosperous farmers is represented by Charles M. Dunlap, of Union Township.

He was born on the farm that he now owns and occupies. His birth occurred on March 19, 1853. His ancestry in America begins with his great-grandfather, who was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish ancestry. On coming to America he bought land in Virginia and operated his farm with slave labor.

His son, Jolın Dunlap, Sr., was born in Virginia in 1776. In 1796, at the age of twenty, he visited the Northwest Territory and entered a large tract of military land in what is now Union Township. Included within the tract is the land now used for the county infirmary. After securing title to the land, John Dunlap, Sr., returned to Virginia, but made several subsequent trips on horseback and under his supervision a portion of the land was cleared. He also erected a log house, and in 1825 settled there permanently with his family. John Dunlap, Sr., mar- ried Dorcas Dowel, who was born in Virginia and died in Ross County at the age of eighty-nine years. The "Finley and Putnam History" says that she was a granddaughter of Benjamin Franklin.

John Dunlap, Jr., father of Charles M., was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 1811, and was fourteen years of age when his parents came to Ross County to make their permanent home here. His early education was received in the old field schools of Virginia, and after coming to Ohio he found every possible opportunity for develop- ing his physique and his good judgment by the heavy tasks confronting the pioneers. He inherited a part of his father's estate and became a very successful farmer, stock raiser and stock dealer. He lived on the old farm until his death in 1879.

John Dunlap, Jr., married Mary A. Minear. Her name is one of those familiar in the pioneer annals of Ross County. She was born in South Union Township May 26, 1818, a daughter of Philip Minear, Jr. Her grandfather, Philip Minear, Sr., came from Germany to America when young and lived in Virginia until 1796. In that year, only a short time after the Northwest had finally been conquered from the Indians and the occupation of Ohio lands had been secured to white settlers, he came to that locality and was one of the original settlers of South Union Township. At that time the only buildings in Chillicothe were a log cabin and a large stable, and Indians were fully as numerous as the whites. Buying a tract of land, Philip Minear improved a farm and spent the rest of his days there. He passed away at the age of eighty- two. His sons, Solomon and Adam, were Methodist Episcopal preachers, while Stephen and Philip became farmers. Philip, Jr., was born near Parkersburg, Virginia, and after reaching his maturity settled on land in North Union Township. This tract was heavily timbered, and it was his task to clear it up and develop it as a farm. He was very successful, and at his death left a fine estate. He married Elizabeth McCallister, who was born in Maryland, a daughter of Robert and Polly (Stinson)

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McCallister. Mrs. Minear outlived her husband nine years, and her children were Samuel, Mary A., Maria, Abner, Ann Eliza, Charles, Hester Ann, Elizabeth and Marian, all of whom grew to years of maturity and married. Mrs. John Dunlap, the eighth of these children, is still living in Chillicothe and is now ninety-eight years of age. Her five living children are Samuel Wesley, Nelson John, P. M. Marion, James M. and Charles M. The mother was reared in the Methodist faith and many years ago united with the Andersonville Methodist Episcopal Church.

As a boy Charles M. Dunlap attended the district schools, and was well trained in habits of industry on the home farm. He succeeded to the ownership of the homestead, and there for many years has been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. There he has 185 acres of valuable and well-improved land, and he also has 320 acres of land in North Dakota, improved with house and barns and good buildings. His earlier life has been spent on his home farm.

On October 16, 1879, he married Mary Murgluff, who was born in Chillicothe, a daughter of Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Armbruster) Murg- luff, natives of Germany, who came to America and located in Chillicothe. Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have five children : Clara, who is a trained nurse now in Cleveland; Walter, who married Miss Ebenback and has two children; Charles; Blanche, a dramatic reader, now located in New York City; and Thelma, who died at the age of sixteen years. Mr. Dunlap is an active members of Scioto Lodge, No. 6, Free and Accepted Masons, at Chillicothe, and is also affiliated with Chillicothe Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; Chillicothe Council, No. 4, Royal and Select Masters, and Chillicothe Commandery, No. 8, of the Knights Templar.

J. FINLEY JONES. The claim of J. Finley Jones upon the good will and consideration of the people of the region of Gillespieville is based upon many years of effective work as an agriculturist, upon his record as a public-spirited citizen, and upon his activity in promoting education and kindred accompaniments of advanced civilization. He has nearly reached man's allotted three-score-and-ten years, but is still active, both bodily and mentally, and in addition to supervising operations on his farm in Liberty Township, takes a keen interest in the affairs of his community.

Mr. Jones was born on the farm upon which he now resides, Octo- ber 11, 1847, and is a son of Thomas and Susanna (Pierce) Jones, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Virginia. They came to Ross County as children, with their parents, and were here reared, educated and married. After their marriage they settled down to house- keeping on a farm in this neighborhood, and here the rest of their lives were spent. Mr. Jones was a hard-working and industrious farmer and had established himself well, with every chance of winning a full measure of success, but did not live to see his efforts fully appreciated, as his death occurred in 1848, before J. Finley Jones was one year old. There were nine sons and two daughters in the family, and of these four are

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living at this writing, namely: Wilson; Thomas, whose home is in Kansas; James W., of Liberty Township, a farmer; and J. Finley, of this notice.

J. Finley Jones received his education in the early district schools of Ross County and was reared on the farm in Finley Township. When he reached manhood he began farming operations on his own account, and the old homestead, upon which his father located on first coming into this county, is still his home. He has made many improvements in regard to ditching, tiling, fencing, etc., has installed up-to-date equip- ment and machinery, and has a fine, substantial set of buildings, with all modern accommodations and comforts. Mr. Jones has carried on general farming, and as new methods have been proven good, has adopted them, although his practicality has not allowed him to dispense with time-honored and tried customs until he has found that they could be bettered. His farm now consists of 262 acres, and is one of the valuable ones of Liberty Township.

Mr. Jones was married to Miss Edith E. Pummell, who died in 1899. They were the parents of four sons, of whom but one, Scott.F., is now living. Mr. Jones is a republican but not a politician. Scott F. Jones was born July 18, 1893, on the home farm, and is one of the enterprising and energetic young farmers of the township. He attended first the district schools, folowing which he pursued a course in the Chillicothe High School, from which he was duly graduated. After that he taught . school for three months in the country district of Harrison Township and one year in Liberty Township, and then returned to the home farm to become his father's assistant. He is a member of the Concord Metho- dist Episcopal Church, in the work of which he has been active, as he has also in the Sunday school. Like his father, he is a republican in matters of public policy.

EDWARD E. TOWNSEND is one of the most capable all-around mechanics, farmers and business men in Ross County. He became well known in business affairs at Chillicothe, but has recently given all his energies to farming, and now has a fine place in Union Township.

He was born in Athens County, Ohio, December 11, 1871. His father, John Miller Townsend, was a native of Pennsylvania. The grandfather, Uriah H. Townsend, was a native of New York State, whence he removed to Pennsylvania, and from there came to Athens County, Ohio, as an early settler. Securing land, he improved a farm and occupied it until late in life, when he removed to Missouri and spent his last years with a son in that state.

John Miller Townsend was a child when brought to Ohio, and as his early life was spent on a farm, he adapted farming as his regular vocation. He finally bought land in Athens County, and that was his home until 1888, when he came to Ross County and bought a place in Springfield Township. There he was successfully identified with general farming until his death, in January, 1914. He is well remembered by the people of his section of Ross County. He married Sarah McCune,

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who was born in Athens County, a daughter of Samuel and Mary McCune. Samuel McCune in the early days acquired a tract of land a mile south of the present site of Amesville, in Athens County, and on the farm which he developed there he and his wife spent their last days. There were twelve children in the McCune family. Mrs. Sarah Town- send is still living on the old homestead in Springfield Township. Her six children are Eliza, Lenora, George, Reed S., Edward E. and Miles. All these children have given good accounts of themselves. Miles is an attorney at Greenfield. Eliza married H. F. Patterson, and Lenora is the wife of Elba Wymer. The sons George and Reed S. are both residents of Chillicothe.

Edward E. Townsend spent his early life partly in Athens County and partly in Ross County. He is liberally educated, having attended after the district school course, Hillsboro College, where he spent four years and was graduated with the class of 1896. On leaving college, his ambition was for a business career. At Columbus he spent two years as shipping clerk with the firm of Jones, Wetter & Company.

A natural gift that has had much to do with his prosperity was a fondness and inclination for mechanics. On leaving the business firm at Columbus, he returned to Chillicothe and began working at the machinist's trade and also became an expert tinsmith. He was in that line of business for eight years and most of the time was connected with the automobile industry.

In 1915 Mr. Townsend bought a farm 31% miles from Chillicothe. on the Frankfort Pike, and now finds both pleasure and profit in run- ning his place. In 1903 he married Christina A. Frick, who was born in Scioto Township, daughter of Gottfried Frick, reference to whom is made on other pages of this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend have one daughter, Mary Catherine. Mrs. Townsend is a member of the First Evangelical Church of Chillicothe. Fraternally, Mr. Townsend is affiliated with Tent No. 9 of the Improved Order of Red Men.

FRANK NORRIS has long been identified profitably with the agricul- tural interests of Union Township. He has made a home, has made a name for fair dealings and industry, and is one of the substantial men of the county.

His birth occurred in Deer Creek Township of Pickaway County, Ohio, July 29, 1854, and he is of old American ancestry. His great- grandfather, Lawrence Norris, was a native of England, followed the sea for a number of years and on quitting it located in Virginia, where he spent the remainder of his days.

William Norris, grandfather of Frank Norris, was born near Win- chester, Virginia, in 1794, grew up in his native state, but afterwards moved to Ohio and became one of the early settlers of Pickaway County. Pickaway County was then in the wilderness and just on the fringe of civilization. Deer, turkey and other wild game roamed at will, and a number of years passed before the construction of the first railroads or canals, the few straggling settlements being connected by stage routes.

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William Norris' place of settlement was in Deerfield Township, and there he was concerned the rest of his days with the development of a farm. The maiden name of his wife was Annie Maddox. Her father, David Maddox, was born in England or in America of English parent- age, became a Methodist minister, and as a co-worker with Lorenzo Dow, preached in many places of Pickaway and surrounding counties, being a typical circuit rider and making his rounds on horseback. He and his wife lived to a good old age and are both buried in Brown's Chapel Cemetery.

John S. Norris, father of Frank, was born in Deer Creek Township, Pickaway County, September 25, 1827, and grew up on a farm and made farming his regular vocation. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company A of the Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry. The command was sent south in time to participate in the battle of Stone River, and he also fought at Chickamauga, and then in the many battles during the 100 days or more required for the advance from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the siege and capture of that city. After the fall of Atlanta, he was with Thomas' command in pursuit of Hood's army, and thus fought in the great battles of Franklin and Nashville. He received his hon- orable discharge on the 12th day of June, 1865. After his military career he resumed farming in Pickaway County and subsequently moved to the south precinct of Union Township, Ross County, where he bought a farm that he occupied until his death on November 14, 1910. John S. Norris married Nancy Hatfield, who was born in Monroe Township of Pickaway County February 11, 1832, a daughter of John D. and Maria (Baker) Hatfield, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Delaware. Mrs. John S. Norris died in 1902, having reared eleven children.

The old farm in Pickaway County was the scene of Frank Norris' early experiences and activities. He attended the local schools and on reaching manhood adopted farming as his regular life work. For many years he has lived on a farm in Union Township, his land being a part of the Flesher homestead.

In 1898 Mr. Norris married Effie Flesher, who was born in Union Township July 29, 1876. Her father, Michael Flesher, was born in Penn- sylvania December 23, 1819, a son of Peter Flesher, also a native of Pennsylvania and one of the very early pioneers of Union Township in Ross County. Peter Flesher improved a farm in this county and remained a resident there until his death. Michael Flesher grew up on an early Ross County farm and in time became a quite extensive land farmer, but as a result of his going security for others, he lost a large part of his fortune. His death occurred in Union Township December 23, 1899. Michael Flesher married Susan Fraler, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, and died December 19, 1907, the mother of eleven children.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Norris comprises six children, named Blanche May, Glenn, Cecil, Reva, May 'and Dora.

D. GARFIELD DE Voss. Prominent among the younger generation of business men in Ross County is found D. Garfield De Voss, who is

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conducting a successful general merchandise store in the thriving com- munity of Fruitdale. This establishment represents Mr. De Voss' pro- gressive spirit and enterprise, and the trade connected with it has steadily grown since its founding. In addition to handling the affairs of his business, Mr. De Voss is acting in the capacity of postmaster of Fruitdale, and both as business man and official is discharging his duties in an eminently able and satisfactory manner.

Mr. De Voss was born August 18, 1880, in Fayette County, Ohio, and is a son of Samuel and Nancy (Terrell) De Voss. His father was born in Adams County, Ohio, close to Buena Vista, in 1841, and received his education there, in his youth learning the trade of wagonmaker. In following his vocation, Mr. De Voss went to Fayette County, where he met and married Nancy Terrell, who had been born there, and they settled down in that community and resided there for some years. Mr. De Voss conducted a wagonmaking shop at New Martinsburg for some time and later moved on to Leesburg, where he had his home and busi- ness for seven years. His next move was to Fruitdale, were he now resides, and where for a number of years he carried on a thriving busi- ness. At the present time, however, he is retired from active affairs, having accumulated a competency. Mr. De Voss was a soldier of the Union during the war between the North and South, having enlisted in 1861 in Company C, Eighty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and serving until the close of the struggle. He fought in some of the most hotly contested battles of the war, the Eighty-first being famed as a hard-fighting regiment which lost a large percentage of its members. When he received his honorable discharge he took with it a fine record for bravery in action and faithful performance of duty at all times. Mr. De Voss is a stanch republican and has been a loyal supporter of his 'party in every campaign since he reached manhood, but never has been a seeker for personal preferment. He has contributed to the com- munity welfare in other ways than by public service. Mr. De Voss takes an active part in the work of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has been a member for many years. With his wife, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Greenfield. They have been the parents of four children, of whom three are living: Flora, who is the wife of W. H. De Voss, of Greenfield, Ohio; Bertha, the wife of J. M. Gadbury, of Greenfield; D. Garfield, of this review; and Thomas, who died in 1915.

D. Garfield De Voss received his education in the public schools of Greenfield, and his earliest employment was in a store at that place, where he received his introduction to business methods. When he was twenty-four years old he embarked in commercial pursuits on his own account as the proprietor of a grocery at Greenfield and continued in business at that place until 1913, when he came to Fruitdale, where he has constantly added to his stock and increased his patronage. By his diligent attention to the requirements of the public, his careful and intelligent buying, his courteous treatment of customers and his prompt and honest dealings, he has established an excellent trade. He is young,

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businesslike, enterprising and promising, eager not only legitimately to advance his own interests, but anxious to promote public movements which are meritorious and feasible. A republican in his political views, he is serving as postmaster of Fruitdale under a democratic administra- tion and is giving the people of this community an excellent mail service.

On February 7, 1905, Mr. De Voss was married to Miss Annetta Carey, daughter of Alonzo and Josephine ( Anderson) Carey, and grand- daughter of William Carey, who came of Quaker stock and was an early, settler of Highland County, Ohio, from Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. De Voss are the parents of three sons: Charles, Dwight and Delbert.

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A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 28

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

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