A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 48

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

USA > Ohio > Ross County > A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio > Part 48

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

Remaining beneath the parental roof until nineteen years old, John F. Morgan was educated in the district school, and as a boy was trained to habits of industry and thrift. He was subsequently employed in a sawmill until 1889, when he came to Chillicothe to accept his present position as superintendent of the Grand View Cemetery. Courteous, accommodating and painstaking, Mr. Morgan is exceptionally well fitted for his work, of which he has a thorough knowledge, and is performing the duties devolving upon him in a most efficient and acceptable manner.

On October 19, 1882, Mr. Morgan married Ella Gray, daughter of George and Margaret Gray, and into their home four children have been born and reared, namely : Henry Clayborn, who married Hilda Schram, and has three children, Arlie, McDonald and John; Banner C., who married Emma Young, and has one child, Sue Nell; Rhoda A., wife of Edward Trader; and Clorinda J., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are consistent members of the Third Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, Mr. Morgan is a member of Camp No. 4111, Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and Protected Home Circle of Chillicothe, Ohio.

WILLIAM JOSEPH ATWELL. Occupying a foremost position among the trustworthy and esteemed citizens of Chillicothe, William Joseph Atwell is numbered among the wealthy landholders of Ross County, and for many years was conspicuously identified, in a legal capacity, with

Digitized by Google

Digitized by y Google

863

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

some of its more important industrial interests. He comes from honored colonial ancestry, and is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Samuel Atwell, and also of his grandfather, William Atwell.

Born and bred in Baltimore, William Atwell spent his entire life in his native city. A shipbuilder by trade, he carried on a substantial business as owner and manager of a shipyard until accidentally meeting his death by a fall on one of the vessels that he was building. He married Martha Stokes, who was born in Petersburg, Virginia, the descendant of one of the early families of that state, and who spent her last years in the family home at Baltimore.

Spending his brief life of thirty years in Baltimore, Samuel Atwell followed his trade of a ship smith throughout his active business career. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Vernon, was born in County Cork, Ireland, near Queenstown, a daughter of Joseph Vernon, who came with his family to America in 1841, locating in Baltimore, where he was first employed as a manufacturer of rope, later establishing himself as a ship chandler. He died at the age of eighty-seven years. The wife of Mr. Vernon, whose maiden name was Helen O'Brien, survived her husband, and died in the ninetieth year of her age. At his death, Samuel Atwell left his young widow with three small children, namely : Annie E .; William Joseph, the special subject of this brief sketch; and John, who died in infancy. She subsequently married her second husband John Gale, and in 1868 came to Chillicothe with her family, and was here a resident until her death, in July, 1913, in the eightieth year of her age.

Brought up in Baltimore, William Joseph Atwell gleaned his early education in the public schools, and later came with the family to Chillicothe. After remaining in this city two years, he returned to Baltimore, where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the joiner's trade, in the meantime greatly advancing his education by attending the evening sessions of the Maryland Institute. Returning then to Chillicothe, Mr. Atwell, instead of following his trade as he had intended, was for six years employed as a bookkeeper. He was then appointed deputy county clerk to fill out the term of the office made vacant by the death of Edward Pearson. Mr. Atwell subsequently accepted a position with the well-known firm of Mcclintock & Smith, attorneys, who at that time were general counsel for the Marietta and Cincinnati and the O. and M. railroads, and Mr. Mcclintock was president of the O. and M. Soon after he entered their employ Messrs. McClintock and Smith became extensively engaged in coal mining operations, securing a controlling interest not only in the Wellston Coal Company, but the Milton Coal Company, the Jackson County Coal Company, and in the Dayton Coal and Iron Company, in the last three companies Mr. Atwell being made secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Atwell continued with his employers as confidential clerk until after the death of both Mr. McClintock and Mr. Smith. During that time Mr. Atwell wisely invested his surplus money by purchasing farm

Digitized by Google

864

IIISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

lands of much value in South Union Township. His farms are most judiciously managed by a superintendent, and bring him in a good annual income. In 1898 he erected the beautiful home that he now occupies on West Fourth Street.

Mr. Atwell married, in 1889, Margaret Smith, who was born in Louisville, Kentucky, a daughter of Bartholomew and Jane Smith. Five sons blessed their union, but three are deceased, the oldest and the two youngest. The two now living are Oswald B. and Norbert S., gradu- ates of the Ohio State University. Mr. Oswald B. Atwell on September 28, 1916, was united in marriage to Miss Helen R. Neuding of Circleville, Ohio, and is now employed as a mechanical engineer with the Illinois Steel Company at Gary, Indiana. Fraternally Mr. Atwell is a member of Chillicothe Lodge No. 52, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

GEORGE F. HATFIELD. One cannot follow the long career of George F. Hatfield without renewing appreciation of those homely, sterling qualities which, when allied with practical business sense, lift men from poverty to wealth, from obscurity to prominence. He has been a resident of Ross County since 1913, and since the year following has lived on his present property, located in the vicinity of Vigo, where he owns and operates 240 acres of land. His career has been a successful one and his fortune and prestige have been gained solely through his own efforts.

Mr. Hatfield was born November 12, 1865, in Pike County, Kentucky, and is a son of Judge Basil and Nancy Jane (Lowe) IIatfield. His paternal grandfather was George Hatfield, who went from Virginia into Pike County, Kentucky, as a pioneer settler, and there passed the remaining years of his life as a farmer. Basil Hatfield was born on Blackberry Creek, Pike County, Kentucky, November 17, 1839, and during the greater part of his life has been identified with public life. Reared as a farmer, in early life he became a preacher in the Baptist Church, and for fifty years has preached in various communities of Kentucky, although at this time he is semi-retired. As a stalwart sup- porter of republican principles, he attracted the attention and confidence of his fellow citizens, who recognized in him good official timber, and who demonstrated their faith by electing him a magistrate in his native county. After two terms in that office he was elected judge of the county court for two terms, or eight years, and this was followed by his elec- tion as sheriff of Pike County, an office which he held for one term, which at that time amounted to four years. Judge Hatfield at that time removed to Lexington, Kentucky, where he lived for two or three years, then going to Pikesville, where he was again nominated for public office, being the candidate of the republican party for the county judgeship. He tied with the democratic candidate, but after a count-off was counted out by a small margin. He is now living at Prestonburg, Kentucky, at the age of seventy-six years, while Mrs. Hatfield is two years his junior and also survives. Throughout his career Judge Hatfield has maintained

Digitized by Google

865

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

a high standard of honor, and few men are more deserving of the esteem in which they are held by their fellows. IIe and his wife have been the parents of twelve children, all of whom have grown to maturity, as follows: Polly, who is the wife of Granville Smith, of Pike County, Kentucky; Matilda, who is married and a resident of Muncie, Indiana ; Jeremiah, who is now deceased; George F., of this review; Orrison R., of St. Paul, Kentucky; Emily Jane, who is the wife of Doctor Truggle, of New York City; Nancy, who is the wife of James H. Ball, of Pike County, Kentucky; Lydia, the wife of Sam Nunery, also of that county ; Hays, a resident of New York City ; Thomas Jefferson, who is deceased ; Emma, the wife of W. H. Blair, of Prestonburg, Kentucky ; and Lundy, who is a resident of Portsmouth, Ohio. All of the children were given good educational advantages and reared to lives of industry and sobriety.

George F. Hatfield received his education in the district schools and lived at home until he reached the age of eighteen years. On December 6, 1883, he was united in marriage with Miss Flores Layne, a daughter of W. H. and Emily (Smith) Layne. Mr. Layne and his wife were reared near the mouth of Mud Creek, on Sandy River, in Floyd County, Kentucky, Mr. Layne being the son of Judge Lindsey Layne, who was a prominent man in Kentucky during his day. In the first year of his marriage Mr. Hatfield lived on the old home place, and then moved to Sandy River, Floyd County, where he was also engaged in farming for one year. Returning to Pike County, he assumed the duties of deputy sheriff, an office which he held for five consecutive years, and then passed a like period in farming and sawlogging. With his earnings thus gained he purchased the homestead place on which he had been born, a tract of 160 acres, from his father, but after a short time sold this property and moved to Flat Gap, Johnson County, Kentucky, bought property in town, and embarked in the mercantile business, which demanded his attention for a period of twenty years, a part of this time as Hatfield & Vaughn and later as George F. Hatfield. In 1896 Mr. Hatfield was appointed postmaster at Flat Gap, a capacity in which he acted for seventeen years, and until he sold his mercantile business, at which time he resigned from the Government service. At that time, in 1913, he again decided to take up farming, and accordingly came to Ross County and bought a farm of 107 acres of good land near Anderson. This he sold after about twelve months, when he closed a deal for his present farm, a property of 240 acres of good bottoms land, located one mile northeast of Vigo, in Liberty Township. He has made numerous valu- able improvements since his arrival, and his handsome, well-improved and highly cultivated farm is a monument to his ability and industry and an illustration of what may be achieved through individual and determined effort.

Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield are the parents of five children: Emily Jane, who is the wife of Glenn Walters and resides on the home farm; James Trimble, who married Miss Shaffer and assists his father in the cultiva- tion of the Liberty Township farm; Lundy, whose home is in the State of Washington; Dixie, who is the wife of W. B. Hall and lives on the

Digitized by Google

866

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

home farm; and Tera, the wife of Isom Salyer, of Flat Gap, Johnson County, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield and their children are mem- bers of the New Regular Baptist Church, in the work of which they have taken a keen interest, Mr. Hatfield having been clerk of the church at the time he left Johnson Gap. In political matters he is a republican, and his public services have included the duties of the office of vice president of the Herrick Commission, which he now holds. Aside from his agricultural labors, he has done some business in a real estate way and has been the medium through which some large deals have been consummated.

CHARLES M. DRUMMOND. An old family name in Liberty Township, Ross County, is that of Drummond, a well-known representative of this family being found in Charles M. Drummond, farmer and thresher, whose 172 acres are situated two miles northwest of Gillespieville. This is a part of the old homestead farm and here, in a log cabin, Charles M. Drummond was born December 6, 1858. His parents were Daniel and Mary (Smith) Drummond.

Ninety-two years have passed since the grandparents of Mr. Drum- mond brought their son Daniel to Ohio from New Jersey, where he was born in 1810, landing at Chillicothe in September, 1824. The trav- elers ate their first meal in that city under the shade of a large sugar maple tree, standing near what is now the southwest corner of Green Lawn Cemetery. Later on Daniel Drummond purchased a portion of what became known as the Drummond homestead, from his father, Robert Drummond, and still later entered four lots in Liberty Township, which brought his possessions up to 244 acres. When he was married, Daniel Drummond built a second cabin on the farm, and in that he and his wife lived until some time in the '60s, at which time a frame build- ing was erected, in which they lived during the rest of their lives. Her name was Mary Smith and she was born in Ohio, but was of German descent. They had eight children, five of whom are deceased: Robert V., Lewis H., John, William and Elizabeth. The survivors are: Alfred W., of Canton, Ohio; Mary J., widow of David Sollars, Jr., living on a portion of the old farm; and Charles M., the youngest of the family. Both parents were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was active in all church work and served long as a trustee. His memory is perpetuated in a beautiful memorial window in the Methodist Church in Londonderry. In politics he was a democrat and by that party was elected to local offices. He and wife were fine people in every way, hospitable, charitable and neighborly.

Charles M. Drummond remained at home with his parents as long as they lived. He attended the district schools in boyhood and afterward assisted in the carrying on of the farm, and his interest in farming still continues. In addition, for twenty years he has been in the thresh- ing business and owns one of the most modern and complete threshing outfits in the county. He is secretary and treasurer of the Ross County

Digitized by Google

867

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

Brotherhood of Threshers and is vice president of the Ohio Brotherhood of Threshers.

On February 18, 1891, Mr. Drummond was married to Miss Hattie Ault, who was born in Ross County in 1866, and is a daughter of Rhoda Ault. They have two sons, Carl, who was born in February, 1893, and Robert L., who was born in November, 1895, both unmarried and living at home. Mr. Drummond and family belong to the Methodist Church at Londonderry, in which he has served as chorister. In township affairs he is quite prominent, serving in offices with the greatest efficiency and to the entire satisfaction of his fellow citizens, these including two terms as assessor of Liberty Township and one term as clerk of the township, and one term and part of another as township trustee. In the Improved Order of Red Men he has reached high positions, being past sachem of the local body and twice a representative to the great council of the State of Ohio.

MATTHIAS LEWIS. For many years prominently identified with the business affairs of Ross County, Matthias Lewis, late of Chillicothe, was also, as an extensive land owner, actively associated with the develop- ment of agricultural interests of this section of the state. A life-long resident of Chillicothe, where his birth occurred on March 17, 1825, he was a worthy representative of all that constitutes a desirable citizen, in his domestic relations having been a kind husband and father, and in business circles an honored and trusted man.

Henry Southard Lewis, his father, was born and reared at Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and in his native state acquired an excellent educa- tion. Upon leaving school he came to Chillicothe, and for a time was tutor in Governor Worthington's family. Attaining prominence in pub- lic matters, he was elected county treasurer of Ross County in 1836, and served with such acceptation that he was continued in that office by repeated re-elections for twenty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Dorothy Miller, was born and educated in Baltimore, Maryland. She survived him, living to be more than eighty years of age.

Matthias Lewis was educated in Chillicothe, and after his graduation from the academy taught school a short time. Preferring, however, a business life rather than a professional career, he embarked in the mer- cantile business as a hardware merchant, and having built up an ex- tensive and prosperous trade was thus employed for many years. Having accumulated considerable wealth, he then retired from active pur- suits, although he still retained an interest in the business. In the meantime, Mr. Lewis had wisely invested in valuable farm lands, not only in Ross County, but in Fayette and Pickaway counties, and after · retiring from the hardware business he superintended his farms, con- tinuing his residence, however, in the city of his birth. He lived to be nearly seventy years old, his death occurring at his home, on Second Street, Chillicothe, October 4, 1894.

The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Lewis was Ann Maria Casad. She was born in Maysville, Kentucky, November 2, 1828, a daughter of

Digitized by Google

868

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

Hon. John Anthony and Orpha ( Williams) Casad. Her father, Mr. Casad, moved from Kentucky to Bellefontaine, Ohio, and in addition to becoming one of the foremost lawyers of Logan County was active and influential in public affairs, having represented his district in the State Legislature. Mrs. Lewis died September 27, 1910. Of the six children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, five grew to years of maturity, namely : Charles Casad; Lillian, who died at the age of twenty-eight years; Mattie, living in Chillicothe; Henry Southard; . Minnie Edith, who married Arthur Metcalfe, and has one child, Eleanor Lewis Metcalfe. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were consistent members of the First Presbyterian Church, to which their daughters also belong.

SCHMIEDER CARRIAGE COMPANY. This is one of the old established local industries of Chillicothe, and is now one of the largest and most im- portant concerns of its kind in the county. This company does a large business in the manufacture of buggies, carriages and delivery wagons and also operates a large shop with ample facilities for painting and trimming of automobiles, repair of all manner of vehicles, and the high standard of mechanical proficiency set many years ago has been con- sistently maintained.

This business was started on a small scale at Chillicothe nearly half a century ago by the late August Schmieder. The present company is made of Henry W. Schmieder, son of August, and David L. Schneider. Henry W. Schmieder was born April 28, 1872, in Ross County, a son of August and Johanna (Benner) Schmieder. August Schmieder was born in Germany, June 14, 1839, and after coming to Ross County en- listed and gave valiant service to the Union cause during the Civil war. He served as a private with Company B of the Twenty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for two years, nine months, and was then given an honorable discharge. His regiment spent most of its time in the De- partment of Missouri, and participated in a number of the campaigns by which the Mississippi Valley was wrested from the Confederates. After the war, in 1867, he began the manufacture of wagons and buggies at Chillicothe and continued that business actively until his death, June 14, 1911. He and his wife were the parents of four children.

The third in order of birth Henry W. Schmieder grew up in Chilli- cothe, attended the public schools and the Scioto Business College, and after the death of his father, under whom he had been thoroughly trained as a capable mechanic, he took over the business and formed a partner- ship with his brother-in-law, David L. Schneider, under the firm name of Schmieder Carriage Company.

Mr. Schmieder was married, January 20, 1910, in Chillicothe, to Miss Mary A. Hildenbrand. Their two sons are: William A., born, Novem- ber 28, 1910; and Ralph J., born, August 8, 1914.

David L. Schneider, the other member of the firm of Schmieder Carriage Company, is a son of Louis and Margaret (Lorbach) Schneider. His father, a native of Germany, after coming to America was employed at his trade as a confectioner and baker in various cities, but during the

Digitized by Google 1

869

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

decade of the '50s located at Chillicothe and for more than forty years was one of the leading bakers and confectioners, being located on Water Street. His place of business became a landmark there and his reputa- tion as a baker as well as his genial personality are still held in grateful memory by the older citizens. Louis Schneider died in 1903. Of his family of seven, David L., is the youngest, and two others are still living.

David L. Schneider began his early business career in the upholster- ing establishment of the Champion Bed Lounge Company. He remained there twelve years and until he became associated with Mr. Schmieder in the Schmieder Carriage Company. He is one of the charter mem- bers of the Calvary Lutheran Church and has been very actively identi- fied with its work for many years. He was one of the first officers, as a deacon, held that position twelve years and for more than fifteen years was superintendent of the Sunday school. Mr. Schneider married Miss Ella L. Schmieder, and they are the parents of two children, August Louis, nine years old, and Margaret Jane, twelve years old.

AUTIMER S. BONE. Of the men who are contributing to the material growth and advancement of Ross County through their connection with important and long-established enterprises, Autimer S. Bone is deserv- ing of mention. As head miller and partner in the Salt Creek Valley Mill, at Gillespieville, he is identified with one of the oldest industries in this part of the state, and one which has grown with the county and has aided in its progress. Mr. Bone was born on a farm in Jackson Township, Vinton County, Ohio, May 9, 1878, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah (Jordan) Bone.

Mr. Bone comes of honest Pennsylvania Dutch stock, the progenitor of the family in Ohio settling first in Noble County. There was born William Bone, the grandfather of Autimer. S. Bone, who moved from that community at an early date and located in Vinton County, where the remaining years of his life were passed in the pursuits of agricul- ture. Samuel Bone, the father of Autimer S. Bone, was born in Vinton County, where he received his education in the district schools, and was reared as a farmer, an occupation which he took as his own when ready to enter upon his independent career. He was the operator of the old homestead place for several years, the property which had been owned by his father before him, but later moved to another property and continued its cultivation and management during the remainder of his active life. Both Mr. Bone and his wife died in 1888, the parents of seven children, all of whom survive: J. G., who is his brother's part- ner in the Salt Creek Valley Mill, with his headquarters at Londonderry ; Sarah, who is the wife of Frank Johnson, of Saint Louis, Missouri; Nancy, who is the widow of William Fitzgerald, and lives at Chillicothe ; Hester Viola, who resides at Londonderry with her brother, J. G .; Carl James, a resident of New London, Missouri; Doctor Pinckney, a specialist in eye, ear, and throat diseases, of Lancaster, Ohio; and Autimer S., of this review. The children were all small at the time of their parents' Vol. II-25

Digitized by Google

870

HISTORY OF ROSS COUNTY

death, the mother following the father to the grave within forty days after his demise, but J. G., the eldest managed to keep the children together and to rear them to sturdy man and womanhood. Samuel Bone was not active in political matters, but took a good citizen's part in the promotion of public-spirited enterprises. While a religious man, he was not con- nected with any particular denomination, and his quiet, unassuming nature disliked any untoward display in any direction.

Autimer S. Bone was educated in the public schools and although he was but ten years of age when his parents died, managed to get also a course in the normal school. He remained at home with his brothers and sisters until his marriage, September 26, 1898, to Miss Louisa M. Ankrom, who was born in Vinton County, Ohio, a daughter of William Ankrom, of Jackson Township, and a member of an old and well known family of that county. After his marriage, Mr. Bone resided on the home place for about five years and then entered the milling business as an employe, learning it thoroughly in every department. For two years he applied himself to a mastery of the engineering department and then took up the trade of miller, which he followed for several years at South Bloomingville, Hocking County, Ohio. In 1907, with his brother, J. G. Bone, he came to Londonderry and purchased the Salt Creek Valley Mill, which they have since conducted with the greatest success. Mr. Bone is an excellent business man, who has the reputation of being possessed of the strictest integrity and whose reputation is therefore an enviable one in business circles. Fraternally, he is affili- ated with Wattawamat Tribe No. 194 of the Improved Order of Red Men, at Londonderry, in which he has passed through the chairs. He is a democrat politically, but not a seeker after public office. All good civic movements have his earnest support. Mr. and Mrs. Bone are the parents of four children: Paul, who is in third year of high school ; and Hazel, Helen and James, who are attending the graded schools.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 48

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

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