A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 40

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

USA > Ohio > Ross County > A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio > Part 40

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While Ira Stephens was a boy the public schools were still conducted on the subscription plan. It was in such a school that he acquired his early learning. He was trained to a life of industry, and at the early age of ten began working on the farm to assist his father. Later he spent several years as a farm laborer, his first wages being $10 a month. He afterwards commanded as high wages as was paid to farm workers at that time.

He was a young man when the war broke out. Responding to the call of his country for troops, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company K of the Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. With that regiment he went south and saw many hard-fought campaigns, and ever did his duty faithfully as a soldier. In 1864 his regiment was attached to Sherman's command. He participated in the Atlanta campaign, and Mr. Stephens was with his comrades until, while on the Chattahoochee River, he was taken sick and sent to a hospital in Nashville. He remained there until February, 1865, when with others he was sent to rejoin his command. Sherman was then fighting his way up through the Carolinas, and Mr. Stephens went by railway as far as New York City and thence by steamer to Hilton Head, in North Carolina. Another boat then took him up the Broad River, and about sixty miles from Charleston he landed and crossed the country to that city. He was present at Fort Sumter when Major Anderson again raised the Stars and Stripes over that fort, where the Confederate flag had floated since the first days of the rebellion. On April 14th, the morning of the day that Lincoln was assassinated, Mr. Stephens and his comrades embarked on a steamboat at Charleston and landed at Moorehead City, in North Carolina, and from there proceeded by train to Raleigh, where he rejoined his regiment. After a short time spent in the Carolinas, he marched with his command to Richmond, and a few days later went on to Washington, where they participated in the grand review of the victorious Union troops. Following the review he and his comrades were camped at Bunker Hill, Washington, for a time and were then sent to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where they received an honorable discharge in June, 1865.

In the fall of the year after he returned from the army, Ira Stephens rented a farm in Deerfield Township. From that time forward for forty years he was actively engaged in general farming and made a thorough success of the business. A number of years ago he bought the farm he now owns and occupies on the Clarksburg and Chillicothe Pike. This farm has been improved by the erection of a splendid set of buildings, and the grounds have been beautified by the planting of shade trees. For the past ten years he and his good wife have lived there retired and are enjoying the fruits of the industrious part they played while younger.

On October 9, 1860, Mr. Stephens married Caroline Rickards, and she was a bride of less than two years when he left home to help fight the battles of his country. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1910, and their happy marriage companionship is still unbroken, after existing for fully fifty-six years. Mrs. Stephens was born in Maryland, a daughter of Thomas and Annie Rickards.

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To their union have been born seven children: Lorinda, Orpha, Mary, Lyman, Charles, Emma, and Job. There are also grandchildren and at least one great-grandchild. The daughter, Lorinda, is the wife of Isaac Adams. Orpha is the wife of Isaac Hickle, and they have a daughter, Bessie, who is the wife of Ralph Whaley. Mary married William Brown. Lyman married Lizzie Bowers, and they have seven children whose names are Golda, Ralph, Frances, Opal, Maude, Richard and Clarke. The son Charles married Elizabeth Turflinger, and their three children are Minnie, Ira, Jr., and Seymour. Of these last named Minnie, a grand- daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, married Frank Dinkler, and she has a son, Scott Franklin. Emma married Frank Anderson and her four children are Roy, May, Glenn and Robert. Job, the youngest of the family, married Mary McGath, and has a son, Howard.

This is a very remarkable family record. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens head four generations. In the fifty-six years since they were married there has never been a death nor a serious case of illness in the family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are enjoying excellent health at this writing. They are worthy members of Brown's Chapel of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Stephens is an honored charter member of Timmons Price Post No. 321 of the Grand Army of the Republic, and he is also a charter member of Clarksburg Lodge No. 721 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

CHARLES W. STITT. For many years actively identified with farming enterprise in both Ross and Pickaway counties, Charles W. Stitt is one . of the prominent residents of Clarksburg, and is now president of the Clarksburg Commercial Bank.

Representing some old families of Ross County, he was born on the Stitt homestead in Union Township, July 4, 1856, a son of Moses and Margaret (McCoy) Stitt. As a young man he attended the public schools and his earliest experiences were with the farm. Before reaching man- hood he had mastered the details of farming, and took up his independ- ent career in Deerfield Township. He managed the farm there very prof- itably until 1906, when he removed to Pickaway County, and his prin- cipal farm interests are still in that locality. He resided on the farm until the spring of 1916, at which date he removed to Clarksburg.

On the organization of the Clarksburg Commercial Bank he was elected president and has successfully directed the affairs of that sub- stantial institution. He became affiliated with Clarksburg Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, September 25, 1901. Mr. Stitt has been twice married. His first wife was Ellen Taylor, who died leav- ing one son, Elmer. Mr. Stitt married for his present wife, Tillie Peck, who was born in Deerfield Township, a daughter of John J. Peck. They are the parents also of one son, Ralph.

CHARLES L. DAILY. The Daily family is one of the oldest in this part of Ohio, and has for a number of years been represented in Spring- field Township of Ross County by David R., and Charles L. Daily, and

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their sister, Elizabeth F. These brothers have been notable factors in the agricultural affairs of the county and have conducted farming on a very large and extensive scale. Their sister, Elizabeth, has been asso- ciated with them for many years and has graciously presided over their household.

All of them are natives of Ohio and were born in Pike County. Their father, Charles Daily, was born in Pike County, March 17, 1821, a date which in itself attests the early settlement of the Daily family in this state. The grandfather, Daniel Daily, was a native of Virginia, and was one of the pioneers in Pike County, where he purchased a tract of timbered land near Piketon. His subsequent years were devoted to clearing and improvement and cultivation, and one of his first improve- ments was a substantial hewed log house. Other farm buildings arose under his administration, and he prospered as he well deserved. His death occurred in Pike County at a good old age. Daniel Daily married Susan Winn. They reared five sons, John,' William, Ralph, Charles and Raymond, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary.

Charles D. Daily grew up on a farm, and made that his staple voca- tion throughout his active career. For some years he rented a portion of the Van Meter farm, and then bought a place of his own near Pike- ton. Somewhat later there occurred an unfortunate circumstance in his business affairs. He failed to receive pay for a large consignment of corn, and in consequence, lost his farm. Starting life again after this discouragement he was a renter for a few years on the Clough farm near Waverly, and then moved te Pickaway County, where he was a farmer until his death in 1897. On October 26, 1843, he married Abigail Towner, who was born August 31, 1823. Her father, Capt. John H. Towner, who was born in Virginia, November 30, 1799, and reared in that state, was married, September 6, 1821, to Sallie Peters, who was born March 31, 1797. Coming to Ohio, Captain Towner and wife settled in Pike County, where they spent the rest of their days. His wife died there January 14, 1878, and Captain Towner passed away January 30, 1879, both of them when about eighty years of age. The children of Captain Towner and wife were: Abigail F., Elizabeth Ann, John T., Rachel and Sarah, twins; Harriet N., Benjamin W., Mary Ann, William H., and Eliza E. Mrs. Charles Daily, who died October 25, 1901, was the mother of the following children: Daniel W., John H., William B., Ralph A., Sallie S., David R., Elizabeth T., and Charles Lincoln.

All these children received a good education in local schools, and Daniel, Sallie and Elizabeth all served a time as teachers. David R. and Charles L., after reaching manhood, began farming in partnership. Their first important undertaking was the renting of the Caldwell farm in Pickaway County. This is one of the largest estates of the Scioto Valley. containing 950 acres. The Daily brothers showed their ability by the successful handling of large farms, and for sixteen years were among the largest growers of crops and stock in that section.

In 1908 they bought their present farm of 354 acres in the Dry Run

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Valley of Springfield Township, Ross County. This is the farm they now own and occupy, and it is one of the largest and best managed places in Ross County. They have two complete sets of farm buildings and have an abundance of modern machinery for operating the farm so as to produce the best results. They keep only the better grades of live- stock.

FLOYD C. MCNEAL. The farm home of Floyd C. McNeal is one with long and interesting associations with members of that family. When his grandfather first came to Springfield Township the site of the farm was in the midst of the heavy woods. It was almost entirely by the labors and persistent industry of the MeNeal family that the land was eventually converted into a fertile and productive homestead.

On that old place, which he now owns and occupies, Mr. McNeal was born August 17, 1869. His father, William McNeal, was born December 3, 1837, on the same farm. The grandfather was Thomas McNeal, a native of Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. From Pennsylvania he came to Ross County and was a contemporary of some of the very early settlers of this part of Ohio. Like other pioneers he journeyed out of Pennsylvania by means of a wagon and team. His purchase in Ross County was a tract of timbered land in the southeast quarter of section 24 in Springfield Township. There in the midst of the trees was con- structed a log cabin. It was the first home of the MeNeal family in Ross County. Many years passed before railroads or canals were built, and Thomas McNeal like the other settlers had to suffer the handicap of lack of markets and other advantages that came after Ohio was well settled. In those early days little money was in circulation and the people lived largely off the products of their own fields and the wild game in the forest and the fish in the streams. Thomas McNeal was a man of great industry and in time had most of his land cleared up and under cultivation. He died at the age of eighty years. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Gates, who was born in Germany and who died at the age of seventy-three. Reference to her family, which were also among the early settlers of Ross County, will be found on other pages. She reared eight children, named Henry, Benjamin, Thomas, James, William, Kate, Rebecca and Jane.

William McNeal, in spite of the lack of good schools while he was growing up, acquired a good education. He had qualified as a teacher while still in his teens, and many of the older generation will take a special pleasure in recalling the splendid services he rendered as an educator, continued upwards of forty years during the winter seasons. With the exception of three terms taught in Illinois and Nebraska his work was entirely within the school districts of Ross County. With teaching he combined the ancient and honorable occupation of agricul- ture. He succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead and there lived and prospered until his death in his seventy-second year. He married Rebecca Downs. She was born in Harrison Township of Ross County, December 3, 1840, and is still living with her daughter, Mrs.

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M. L. Strawser, in Colerain Township. Her father, John Downs, was also a native of Harrison Township. His parents probably were born in Pennsylvania and were early settlers of Harrison Township, where the father of John Downs bought a tract of timbered land in section 16 and developed it into a farm before his death. John Downs purchased 200 acres in section 9 of Harrison Township. At the time it was covered with a heavy growth of yellow poplar. His industry enabled him to convert this into fertile fields, and he lived upon it until after the death of his wife, when he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. William McNeal. John Downs married Elizabeth Rout. William McNeal and wife reared four children, named Foster, Floyd, Martie and Norris.

Floyd C. MeNeal grew up in the country and obtained most of his edu- cation from District No. 6 schoolhouse. His years were spent in assisting in the labors of the home farm and as an independent farmer until 1903. In that year he entered the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, and was an active railroad man until he met with an accident to his right arm in 1910. In the meantime he had bought the old home- stead, which his grandfather had cleared up from the wilderness, and has lived on it since 1912. In the past four years he has erected a set of good farm buildings, has planted many fruit and shade trees, and now has a place that compares favorably with the best to be found in Springfield Township.

In 1892, Mr. McNeal married Lillian Hanson. She was born in Har- rison Township, a daughter of Greenbury Hanson. Mr. and Mrs. McNeal have reared three children : Ralph H., Helen and Margaret. The family are all active members of Mount Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. McNeal is a trustee. In politics he cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. He has rendered some valuable public service to his community, having been elected assessor of the Second Ward in Chillicothe in 1911, filling that post two years. In 1915 he was elected assessor of Springfield Township. Mr. McNeal is affiliated with Chillicothe Lodge, No. 24, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also with the Independent Order of Foresters.

MRS. SARAH ELIZABETH HARMOUNT. On account of the splendid character of the people who have lived there one of the most interesting homesteads in Ross County is that occupied by Mrs. Sarah E. Harmount in Deerfield Township. Mrs. Harmount is a granddaughter of the orig- inal settler there, and she and her family reside in a commodious two- story house, surrounded by a large lawn shaded with beautiful trees. It was on this farm that Mrs. Harmount was born April 24, 1841. She is a daughter of the late John Wesley Timmons, who was born on part of the same farm March 4, 1806, a son of Stephen and Milla (Brown) Timmons.

The founder of the family here was Rev. Stephen Timmons, who was born in Worcester County, Maryland, August 6, 1769. His father, Thomas Timmons, was born in Maryland of English ancestry. Thomas Timmons was a member of the Episcopal Church, and was one of the

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A. C.Simmons

J.W. Simmons

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very early opponents of the institution of slavery. The maiden name of his wife is thought to have been Mary Clarkson.

Rev. Stephen Timmons was reared in the Episcopal faith, but in 1791 joined the Methodist Episcopal Church and was soon appointed leader of two classes. Not long afterwards he was licensed to preach, joined the Methodist Conference, and was assigned in 1795 to the Northumber- land Circuit. In 1798 he came to the Northwest Territory, arriving in Chillicothe in October of that year. Chillicothe then had one hewed log house occupied by Dr. Edward Tiffin, who afterwards became the first governor of the state. All the other buildings in the town, few in number, were cabins built of round logs. Rev. Stephen Timmons as the pioneer circuit rider visited all the few white settlements then to be found north of the Ohio River, and even carried his missionary efforts into Kentucky. Some of the civilized Indians would go before him and others followed behind to cover up his tracks. This was in 1803. Meet- ing an object of charity on one of his trips he gave her his last twenty- five cents, and when he alighted from his horse waiting to cross the river there lay at his feet fifty cents. He made the second trip West in 1799 bringing White Brown with him to prove his statement about the new country. Rev. Enoch George came as far as where Lancaster now stands on his first trip. He returned east. There he recited in glow- ing terms the wonderful charms of the Scioto Valley. Among others who were influenced by his words of praise of this western country was White Brown. It was largely on the strength of this missionary's work that White Brown came to Ross County with his family. No history of Ross County has ever been written without honorable mention of White Brown, since he did much in the early days to make Ross County what it is. Rev. Stephen Timmons married a daughter of this pioneer Ross County settler. On his return east Mr. Timmons joined the Maryland Conference and preached at different places until December, 1801. In that year he returned to Ross County, accompanying a part of White Brown's family. While he himself rode a horse other members of the party were in a wagon drawn by four horses driven by a trusted slave. The minister's belongings were in a wooden chest carried on the wagon. This chest is now preserved at the home of his granddaughter Mrs. Harmount. Mr. Timmons' father had given him $200 and with this he purchased a tract of land in what is now Deerfield Township. This land is now a part of the Harmount farm. In those early days about the only demand for corn was from the settlers who had not yet had time to raise a crop. Rev. Stephen Timmons erected as his first home a cabin 16 by 16 feet of hickory logs. In that he and his bride commenced housekeeping.

In the year 1804 there arrived in Ross County a colony of people from Maryland. There were seventy of them, the poorest of the poor, oppressed Marylanders. They drew up at the door of Rev. Mr. Timmons. These Marylanders had brought all their possessions in a cart drawn by a pony. Mr. Timmons took it upon himself to assist each of these families to secure homes in the wilderness. The land had not

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yet been surveyed, and much of it was owned by the State of Virginia. Under his own direction and by his assistance four cabins were built for the new settlers, and with his gun he supplied the newcomers with large quantities of wild meat, and took other steps to assist them until they could raise a crop. In the meantime the improvements were continuing on his own farm, and in a few years he had a large tract under cultiva- tion. The early settlers of Ross County owe a great debt of gratitude to this sterling man of Christ. In spite of the fact that he constantly gave away great quantities of his yearly produce, he prospered. What he did not give away outright he sold on easy terms to the poor. When a stranger came to him to buy corn he first inquired whether the purchaser had money to pay. If the man said yes, Mr. Timmons would then tell him of some one who had corn to sell. He kept his own corn for such as did not have the money. Thus he confined his dealings almost entirely to the poor. While his own health was not good, and that prevented him from holding regular pastorates, he found much opportunity to preach the Gospel. He was unable to endure the heavy hardships placed upon the circuit rider of the time. Those early preachers made journeys on horseback lasting for days and months, encountered all kinds of bad weather, swam swollen streams, and in his time he saw much of that very kind of service. From time to time Rev. Mr. Timmons added other tracts of land until he was owner of upwards of 800 acres in Ross County and as much more in Pickaway County.

His death occurred in 1849, at the age of eighty years. Thus came to a close one of the most fruitful lives ever passed in Ross County. In March, 1802, he married Milla Brown, daughter of White Brown. She died in 1832. He afterwards married Mrs. (Cartwright) Comberford, a relative of the famous pioneer missionary and evangelist, Peter Cartwright.

John Wesley Timmons, son of Rev. Stephen Timmons, inherited a part of the old home farm, and spent his active years engaged in general farming and stock raising. He owned land in Pickaway County and 900 acres in Henry County. He died at the age of seventy-three. He was first married to Sarah Brown by the Rev. Reuben Rowe on January 13, 1831. She was removed by death about six years later and he then married Ann Elizabeth Pryor. This marriage was performed by Rev. William S. Morrow on May 1, 1838. Miss Pryor was a student in the old semi- nary at Chillicothe about 1834, and while there she had united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the death of her parents she came into possession of 500 acres of land. For his third wife John W. Timmons was married April 30, 1865, to Margaret Clifford, the ceremony being per- formed by Rev. T. J. Phillips.

The three children of his first wife died in their youth, one of them living to the age of twelve years. By the second marriage there were nine children. The three now living are Sarah Elizabeth, Thomas Jef- ferson and James Madison. One son, Samuel Pryor, died in Anderson- ville Prison and something more than passing mention should be made of him. When eighteen years of age he enlisted in Company A of the

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First Ohio Regiment. He was born October 2, 1842, in Deerfield Town- ship of Ross County, and enlisted September 1, 1861, at Clarksburg, Ohio. Soon afterward he was promoted to first sergeant. At the Battle of Stone River he received a flesh wound on his arm. September 19, 1863, while in the Battle of Chickamauga, he was shot through the left leg just above the knee joint, and subsequently captured. He was removed to Atlanta, then to Richmond, then to Andersonville, where he perished of starvation September 16, 1864. He united with the Methodist Epis- copal Church when sixteen years of age, and left home with a strong faith in God, believing that He would care and provide for him. As to his life and character as a man and soldier his colonel wrote of him as follows: "I recollect your brother very well and his quiet gentle- manly manner early attracted my notice, and each day of his two years' service with the regiment gave perfect satisfaction and fresh proof of his worth as a man and a soldier. I never knew him to be guilty of an immoral word or action. As first sergeant of Company A his books were neat and well kept, and his reports and accounts prompt and accurate. He was strict and reliable in the performance of every duty. In few words, he was a good soldier and good man, brave, prompt, con- scientious, obedient. It affords me pleasure to bear testimony of his merits." His remains lie in grave No. 8914 at Andersonville. His letters home while in prison were always cheery and hopeful, still trusting the Lord to guide and protect. He said in one: "I am trying to make the best of my condition possible and to keep up my spirit," and of comrades and self he also said: "We are doing as well as could be expected, yet are longing, looking and praying for the day of our release."

Another of the sons of John W. Timmons was also a soldier. He was John Wesley Timmons, Jr., who served his country in the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisting when but nineteen years of age. He was also a Christian boy-and man. He was an excellent soldier, performed all his duties as a mature man with prompt- ness and fidelity. He died at Circleville, Ohio, August 26, 1881. .

John Wesley Timmons, Sr., was a man of great influence and excellent judgment, and many people came to him for help and advice when in trouble. His house was noted as a home for the afflicted and needy. He was a firm and active supporter of the church, held different offices such as class leader, circuit steward, etc., and gave liberally of his own means to church causes. At quarterly meetings he was in the habit of giving a public invitation for entertainment at his home. As many as fifty guests were entertained around his dinner table, and usually from twelve to fifteen spent the night in that hospitable household. It was said of him while living that "he was a man among men and esteemed as a man among men." At his funeral Rev. Zachariah Wharton among other things said that "his word was as good as the dollar."

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A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 40

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

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