A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 30

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

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Doctor Hoyt married, in 1914, Madeline Evans White, who was born at Winchendon Springs, Worcester County, Massachusetts, a daughter of Joseph N. and Anne White. A son, Charles Nelson, has been born to them.

Doctor Hoyt is a member of the Ross County Academy of Medicine; of the Ohio State Medical Society; and of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Active in educational matters, he is vice president of the Chillicothe School Board. Socially he belongs to the Sunset Club, of which his father was a charter member; he is likewise an active member of the Anti-Tuberculosis Society. Fraternally the doctor is a member of Scioto Lodge No. 6, Ancient Free and Accepted Order of Masons; of Chillicothe Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; of Chillicothe Council No. 4, Royal and Select Masters; and of Chillicothe Lodge No. 52, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Doctor Hoyt is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church.

JAMES HARRY BLAIN. After nearly half a century of fruitful toil as one of Ross County's agriculturists, James H. Blain and his good wife are spending their declining years in a fine home in Scioto Town- ship near Chillicothe. There like patriarchs of old, they live sur- rounded by children, grandchildren and have also six great-grandehil- dren.

A native of Ross County, James H. Blain was one of the gallant soldier boys who went from this county to the defense of the Union in the dark days of the Civil war. He was born in a log cabin in Scioto Township in 1844. His father, John Blain, was born in the same town- ship. This is one of the very early families of Ross County. His grandfather, William Blain, was born in Virginia and came from there to the Northwest Territory in 1797, nearly one hundred twenty years ago. It was five years before Ohio was created a state and everything was wild and new and practically all the population of Ohio was con- fined to the southern counties. Only a small part of the present state

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had ever been visited by white men, and the Indians still found their favorite hunting ground on the sites of many now prosperous and thriving cities. The early settlers found a large part of their subsistence in the game which roamed through the forests. Grandfather William Blain lived for a time in the bottom lands of Paint Creek until finding them a source of ill health to his family he moved to the present site of Massieville. There he bought a tract of government land, and was beginning its improvement when the War of 1812 broke out. He en- listed for service, went away with the troops, and was never afterward heard from. The circumstances of his death are thus unknown.

John Blain was only an infant when his father went to the army, and was the only son. He inherited the eighty acre farm at Massie- ville, and spent his life quietly and industriously on it. He died at the age of sixty-five and his wife passed away at the same age. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Truitt, and she was born in Ross County, a daughter of Samuel Truitt. They reared three children, Joseph, James H., and Millie.

The habits of industry implanted in James H. Blain as a boy on the old farm never left him, and has been the keynote of his successful career. In his early life he assisted in supporting the family and when quite a good sized boy worked for James Stinson for the low wages of twenty-five cents a day. He continued working by the day and month until November, 1861. At that time came his enlistment in Company I of the Seventy-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1863 he re-enlisted and veteranized in the same regiment, and was with that gallant fighting unit of the Northern army until the close of the war. Few men who went out from Ross County had a longer and more active service than James H. Blain. At first he was in the fighting in Virginia, participating in the second Battle of Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He then went with his regiment to the great army of General Sherman in the operation through Eastern Tennessee and Northern Georgia. He fought at Lookout Mountain, known as the battle above the clouds. He was with Sherman's com- mand in the stubborn campaign lasting for a hundred days or more against Atlanta, was at the siege and capture of that city, then fol- lowed Sherman on the glorious march to the sea, and from Savannah went north through the Carolinas. He was present at the surrender of Johnston's troops, went on to Richmond, and from there to Washing- ton, where he participated in the grand review. Receiving his honor- able discharge with his regiment he returned home with a record of service which will always be cherished by his descendants.

Once more back in Ohio he resumed his work on the farm at day and monthly wages, and gradually accumulated enough to buy equip- ment for independent work. He rented land at first, and for several years cultivated the Massie and Renick farms, which have long been noted as among the most fertile in Ross County. After many years of successful work as a farmer Mr. Blain retired and now lives in his present home just outside the city of Chillicothe.

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In 1866 he married Nancy Burns. She was born in Orange County, North Carolina, daughter of Gideon and Mary Ann (Lashley) Burns, who were also natives of Orange County and of Scotch ancestry. The Burns family came to Ross County in 1850, making the entire journey from North Carolina across the mountains and over the rugged high- ways with wagons and teams. They established their home in Scioto Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Blain have reared six children, Charles, William, Mary, Harry, James, and Carrie. Charles married Blanche Edwards, and their eleven children are named Ira G., Ruth M., Edith M., Euphemia, Howard E., Carrie E., Floyd, Virgil, Helen, Neva, and Willis. The son William married Hannah Hammond and their two children are Edna and Ada. Mary is the wife of George Clymer and their one son is Harry W. Harry married Hazel Barclay and has a daughter named Margaret. James married Ella Nebergall and has two children, Clar- ence and Everett. Carrie is the wife of John Miller, and her two sons are Robert and John.

THOMAS JUNK, now deceased, was one of the sterling old time citizens of Ross County. Few men followed farming with the success that he did. He accumulated a large property, and was always one of the en- lightened and progressive factors in his community. His descendants may well take pride in his achievements and in the honored name he left.

He was born in Deerfield Township of Ross County, November 28, 1816. This date in itself indicates that the family were among the pioneers. His father, John Junk, was born in Pennsylvania in 1794. The Grandfather Thomas Junk was born in the state of New Jersey about 1760 of Scotch-Irish parents. From New Jersey he moved to the wil- derness of Pennsylvania, settling near the present site of Uniontown. From there in 1798 he came to the northwest territory, accompanied by his wife and children. That was in the closing years of the eighteenth century. There were no canals, railroads, and hardly a highway worthy of the name on the west side of the Allegheny Mountains. Consequently the journey was made with wagon and teams through unbroken forests and over unbridged streams. To traverse the distance from western Pennsylvania to Southern Ohio was as great an undertaking then as a trip around the world would be now. Arriving in the northwest .territory the family located in what is now Union Township of Ross County. There Thomas Junk bought a tract of timbered land, and in that locality spent the rest of his industrious days.

John Junk, father of the late Thomas Junk, was only a child when he came to Ohio. He was still young when he enlisted and served through the War of 1812. Later he bought a tract of timbered land in Deerfield Township, and there cleared out a farm from the woods. He became a competent frontiersman, axman and hunter. It was possible to supply the meat of a household from the wild game that was then so plentiful in the forest, and he took part in all the hard

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labors, sports and diversions of the early days. It was his home until his death in 1864. John Junk married Susan Pryor Shields. She was born in Union Township of Ross County, a daughter of Thomas and Susan (Pryor) Shields. Thomas Shields and wife were natives of Virginia, whence they came to Ross County in 1798 and settled on what has ever since been known as Shields Hill two and a half miles west of Chillicothe. Mrs. John Junk survived her husband twenty years and died in 1884. She reared five children.

The late Thomas Junk grew up in Ross County under conditions that were little removed from the most primitive aspects of the frontier. He was a grown man before a system of public schools was established, and such education as he acquired was in the old fashioned subscription schools conducted for only two or three months each year. Some of the first crops he raised were still transported by river boats from Chilli- cothe down the Scioto, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to Southern markets.

After reaching manhood Thomas Junk bought a tract of land near his father's home. A log house stood on the land, and into that humble abode he took his bride. In spite of the hardships with which he con- tended in early years, he became splendidly successful, and with in- creasing means he bought additional land until he was the owner of six hundred fertile acres of Deerfield Township. That land he leased to tenants, and finally moved to Austin in Concord Township, where he bought a farm with good building improvements and lived there until his death at the age of fifty-seven.

Thomas Junk married Phoebe Peterson, a daughter of Col. Martin and Elizabeth (Coyner) Peterson, who were among the pioneers of Concord Township. Mrs. Thomas Junk passed away April 12, 1897.

The children of this worthy couple were as follows: Milton, Martin. Maria, Thomas, Susan, Charles, Mary and Martha, twins, and Albert. the son, Milton, enlisted for service in the Union army when a boy, being a member of Company C of the 149th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he died while still in the army in his nineteenth year. Maria is the wife of John Cline of Frankfort. Thomas lives in Fayette County. The daughter Susan is now deceased. Martin, Charles and Albert are all farmers in Concord Township. The twin daughters, Martha and Mary, enjoy the comforts of a pleasant home in Frankfort, where they are both active in church and social affairs.

EDWARD J. WITTWER has long been prominently identified with the business history of Adelphi and with various other communities in this section of Southern Ohio. He has been a merchant, has dealt exten- sively in land, particularly in suburban development, and in 1908 he organized the Adelphi Banking Company, of which he has been president. He is a man of broad and varied interests, has traveled extensively, and is noted as a local archeologist and undoubtedly is one of the best authorities on the archeological remains found in Ross County.

His birth occurred in the house which he still occupies, January 11, 1868. His father was John Wittwer, who was born near the City of Speiz

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Mr and Mrs Edward & Witwer

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in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, in 1820. The grandparents spent their lives in Switzerland. John Wittwer was reared and well edu- cated in Switzerland and served there an apprenticeship at the cabinet- maker's trade. In 1850 he came to America, making the voyage on a sailing vessel and spending forty days on the ocean. From New York he came west to Columbus, Ohio, and a little later arrived at Chillicothe, where at the time he had only $2 in his pocket and a well-worn pair of shoes on his feet. At that time the "castle" as it was called was in process of erection. He was employed at his trade as cabinet-maker and spent nearly a year on the interior finish of that building. Later he opened his cabinet shop on Walnut Street between Water and Second streets, and conducted business there until 1865. Then on account of the ill health of his family he closed his Chillicothe business and removed to Adelphi, where he set up in the undertaking and furniture business.

While growing up in Switzerland, John Wittwer developed his life romance with Marie Lortscher, a member of a very prominent Swiss family. Her father, Christian Lortscher, was born in Canton Berne, was well educated, and exercised a more than ordinary influence in public affairs. For twenty-four years he was a member of the Swiss Senate. He was in the prime of his usefulness when the Swiss Confederation was formed. A commission was sent by the Swiss Government to visit the United States and study the workings of the American Constitu- tion. When this commission reported its findings Christian Lortscher was one of those most actively engaged in preparing the present Consti- tution of Switzerland, which has long been considered a model of repub- lican government. He remained a lifelong resident of Switzerland. Christian Lortscher married Magdalene Augstein, who also lived out her life in the old country. Mrs. John Wittwer was born in 1824, and in 1852 she set out for America and immediately on her arrival married the sweetheart who had preceded her to this country, John Wittwer. She died August 2, 1884. Her five children were: Mary, Caroline, John, Lydia and Edward J. The daughter Mary died at the age of eighteen. Caroline now lives with her brother and family on the old home place. Lydia died at the age of forty-two. John became associated with his father and brother Edward in business, is now living at Columbus, and by his marriage to Elizabeth Koch has two children named Marjorie and Pauline.

Edward J. Wittwer while growing to manhood attended the public schools of Adelphi and finished his education in the Ohio Northern University at Ada, the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, and also attended the U. S. Grant University at Athens, Tennessee. When he left school it was to become associated with his father and brother in business, and he and his brother John continued the local enterprise established by their father at Adelphi until 1892 when they sold the furniture stock. Since then they have continued to operate together in varied enterprises, particularly the handling of real estate and development of coal lands in Jackson County, Ohio, and in West Vir- ginia. As real estate operators they have purchased suburban property

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in the cities of Chillicothe, Lancaster and Columbus, and have platted, improved and in many cases have built houses before selling.

On July 14, 1897, early in his career, Edward J. Wittwer married Mary Patterson Nowlan. She was born at Newark Valley, Tioga County, New York. Her father Hon. Edward G. Nowlan was born at Coles Hill in Broome County, New York, a son of Thomas and Sophia (Enders) Nowlan. Edward Nowlan learned the blacksmith's trade at Newark Valley, followed it for a number of years, and took a very prominent part in local and state politics in New York state. He served as supervisor at Newark Valley, represented his county in the state assem- bly and was a stout supporter of Roscoe Conkling in the latter's final senatorial campaign. Edward Nowlan married Ann Amelia Patterson, who was born at Newark Valley in 1840, a daughter of Hon. Chester and Mary (Elliot) Patterson. Chester Patterson, the grandfather of Mrs. Wittwer, was a presidential elector in 1824, casting his vote for John Quincy Adams. An interesting history of this branch of the Pat- terson family has been published by D. Williams Patterson of Newark Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Wittwer have one daughter, Grace Marie, who graduated with the class of 1916 from the Adelphi High School. Mrs. Wittwer is a writer of poems.

At the branch meeting of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society the Methodist Episcopal Church held at Huntington, West Virginia, October 16, 1916, including delegates from six states, Mrs. Wittwer was elected corresponding secretary for the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Ohio Conference, and was sent as a delegate to the national executive meeting at Minneapolis, Minnesota. At this meeting only twenty-two delegates are sent from the entire United States.

As already stated Mr. Wittwer has used his ample means to enjoy life to the best advantage. Travel has appealed to him, and he has made many journeys for pleasure and instruction both in this and foreign countries. He took his wife, daughter and sister abroad a few years ago and has twice witnessed the Passion Play at Oberammergau. Since boyhood days he has been interested in archeology and undoubtedly has the finest and most valuable privately owned collection of specimens in Ross County. When the subject of the erection of a memorial build- ing at Chillicothe was proposed, Mr. Wittmer was the first to advocate the setting aside of a room for the purpose of preserving and displaying archeological specimens. He and his family are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday school, and fraternally he is affiliated with Adelphi Lodge No. 512, Free and Accepted Masons, and Adelphi Lodge No. 675, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Wittwer has been identified extensively in lecturing for churches and schools and bankers' conventions. On October 3, 1916, he delivered a speech before the bankers of Group Four, comprising thirteen counties of Ohio, at Chillicothe, which was most enthusiastically received, and a request was made for a repetition of the same for Group Five, at Newark, Ohio, on October 19, 1916. Mr. Kiser, of Sidney Spitzer, of Toledo, Ohio, asked permission to have this speech printed for distribution among bankers of the State

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of Ohio. Mr. Wittwer has a lecture, "Glimpses of Europe," which he has delivered more than seventy-five times.

Mr. Wittwer at one time rode the old style high wheel from Adelphi to Des Moines, Iowa, and return, and has the wheel in his possession as a relic. His Columbus address is 200 East Seventh Avenue.

AUSTIN A. HEGLER. Since pioneer times the name Hegler has stood for success and extensive holdings of land in Ross County. It is in many ways an honored name. Hundreds of acres of the fertile land of Ross County has been developed by Hegler enterprise, and the members of the family have also borne a worthy part in every movement for com- munity betterment.

The founder of the family in Ross County was Hon. Abraham Hegler. He was born in Virginia, a son of Jacob and Mary (Dice) Hegler, and was a grandson of Sebastian Hegler, who owned and operated a farm on the south branch of the Potomac River, and spent his last days on that plantation. Abraham IIegler came to Ohio in 1807. In Virginia he married Dolly Stookey, who died in 1858. He brought her as a bride to Ohio, and they had come the entire distance on horseback, carry- ing their few household and personal possessions. Abraham Hegler established his home in Concord Township, and was soon in the midst of the heavy work required for the clearing and cultivation of a farm. He and his wife had very few white neighbors for several years, and land was very cheap, and could be bought as low as twenty-five cents an acre. Abraham Hegler was a man not only proficient in the arts of farming, but a splendid business man. He kept investing until at one time he was among the largest land owners in Ohio. His first home was a log house, but later he built a substantial brick residence and continued to live there until his death. At one time Abraham Hegler served in the State Legislature, having been chosen by his fellow citizens to that honor and responsibility for two terms.

Cyrus Hegler, a son of Abraham and Dolly Hegler, was born in Concord Township in 1823. After reaching manhood he started out to farm a portion of his father's estate, and when he married he took his bride into a log home. Log houses were then not a mark of poverty or shiftlessness but were the typical homes of the early settlers. Later Cyrus Hegler moved to another tract of land given him by his father on Washington Pike. On that land in 1854 he completed a commodious frame house in the colonial style of architecture. That house even to this day is one of the finest country residences in Ross County. It is massive and substantial, built of timbers that will last for generations to come, and it has many attractive features that more modern homes strive in vain to imitate. Cyrus Hegler was not only successful as a farmer but enjoyed country life as a means of recreation. For many years he maintained a deer park on part of his fine estate. He lived there until his death at the age of eighty-four. The maiden name of his wife was Mary J. Hopkins. She was born in Fayette County, Ohio, a daughter of Jeremiah and Nancy (Claypool) Hopkins. Mrs. Cyrus

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Hegler died in 1909, aged eighty-two. Her family consisted of three daughters and one son, named Cordelia, Austin, Ella and Dolly.

Austin A. Hegler, the only son of his parents, was born in Concord Township October 20, 1850. Being one of a household of substantial means, he was given all the opportunities he desired for an education. He attended the country schools, also a select school at Bloomingburg, and completed his education in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Dela- ware. While he might have made a choice of various vocations, farming was his favorite occupation from the first, and for many years he has devoted his best time and energies to that calling. In 1889 he moved from Concord Township to Washington Court House, where for ten years he conducted a livery business. Since then he has resided in Concord Township on his farm, though for two years he traveled in the West and South. In 1903 he located on a part of the homestead and is successfully identified with its management.

Mr. Hegler has never identified himself with any secret society, or social organization of any kind. His spare time is spent in reading and he is one of the best posted men on current affairs in Ross County. His only daughter is the wife of Otto Tritcheler of Chillicothe.

CEPHUS C. RITTENHOUSE. Many of the oldest families of Ross County are found in Concord Township. One of these is the Ritten- house, represented by Cephus C. Rittenhouse, an old and prominent farmer of that section. His name has always had an honorable standing in Ross County, and its bearers have been men of integrity and solid worth, of great patriotism, serving in the various wars of their country, and in many ways have contributed to the substantial benefit of their communities.

The founder of the family in America was Mr. Rittenhouse's paternal great-grandfather, who came from Germany and settled near Richmond, Virginia, where he spent the rest of his days. The grandfather, Samuel Rittenhouse, was born near Richmond, Virginia, grew up there, and soon after his marriage brought his young bride to Ohio, which was then practically at the beginning of its development. They made the journey across the mountains to their destination on horseback. All their earthly possessions they brought along with them, and on arriving in the wilderness of Ross County they adapted themselves to the primi- tive necessities of the time. They located near the present site of Musselman's Station in Ross County, and at once began clearing up their land and making a home. A man of industry such as Samuel Rittenhouse was had no special difficulty in providing all of the simple necessities then demanded. People lived in very rude homes, chiefly log cabins, clothing was obtained by spinning and weaving in the house, and what food could not be grown on the land was supplied largely from the wild game which was then so abundant. Deer and wild turkey were an important source of that meat supply. Samuel Rittenhouse lived in Ross County many years and there reared his family, but subsequently moved to Union County and spent his last

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years there. He was a man of remarkable physical vigor, and his death occurred in his one hundred eleventh year. He had given active service to his country as a soldier in the Mexican war. In his family were five sons and two daughters named Henry, Thomas, William, David, Tilgh- man, Carrie and Ann.

Tilghman Rittenhouse, father of Cephus C., was born near the present site of Musselman's Station in Ross County in September, 1828. As a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, and followed that at various places in Ross and Union counties. Later he became an under- taker. With the exception of four years his entire life was spent in Ross County. His death occurred at the age of eighty-four. Tilghman Rittenhouse married Rebecca Laird. She was born in County Donegal, Ireland, a daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Douglas) Laird, the former a native of County Donegal and the latter of Scotland. Samuel Laird's father was a Scotch baron and an extensive land holder. Dur- ing an uprising in Scotland he was unfortunately on the losing side and his estate was confiscated by the crown. Samuel Laird reared six sons and daughters named Moses, Jane, Rebecca, James, Thomas and Catherine. Of these the son Moses emigrated to America when a young man, locating near New Holland in Ohio, and became a successful farmer. A few years later he induced his father, his mother in the meantime having died, to bring the younger children to America. They made the voyage on a sailing vessel, battling with the winds and waves for thirteen weeks. After landing at Philadelphia they came on to Pickaway County, where Samuel Laird made his home with his son Moses. Mrs. Tilghman Rittenhouse died at the age of eighty-seven years. Her six children were named Cephus C., John, William, Thomas, George and Jennie.

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A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 30

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

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