USA > Ohio > Ross County > A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio > Part 52
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Charles Swepstone was early taught to work, as a boy assisting in the work incidental to life on a farm, and later serving an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. He succeeded to the ownership of a portion of the parental homestead, and in addition to farming operated a smithy on his farm for many years. Selling his farming property, he lived for awhile in Columbus, but now makes his home with a daughter, near Frankfort. The maiden name of his wife was Mariam Ramey. She was born in Vinton County, a daughter of Elias and Sarah Ramey, and a granddaughter of Hiram and Mary Jane Ramey. She died in 1905, leaving eight children, namely : Alonzo T., the special subject of this brief sketch; Robert S .; Winnie Lidora and Sarah Leora, twins; Minnie Jane; Ella; Emma; and Annie.
As a boy Alonzo T. Swepstone became interested in agriculture, and
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at the age of fourteen years assumed the management of the home farm. Going to Dawson County, Nebraska, in 1879, he was in the employ of the Nebraskan Hay Company a year, and then returned home. In 1884 Mr. Swepstone located on the John Cline Farm, near Frankfort, where he was busily employed for six years. In December, 1890, he came to Chillicothe to accept the position of deputy sheriff, and for four years filled that office most satisfactorily. In 1895 Mr. Swepstone entered the employ of the McCormick Harvester Company as traveling salesman, continuing with that firm a year, and the ensuing year filling a similar position with the Deering Company. The democratic candidate for sheriff in 1896, Mr. Swepstone was elected, polling over a thousand more votes than his republican opponent.
From 1890 until 1894, while then serving as deputy sheriff, Mr. Swep- stone was extensively engaged in the hotel business, operating four different ones in the city, including the Swepstone; the Haynes, which is now the New Nelson; the Phoenix; and the Adena. He has also had an interest in seven different livery stables, in Chillicothe and Columbus. In 1910 he was once more called upon to fill the position of deputy sheriff, and in 1914 was elected to his present position as sheriff. Mr. Swepstone is very widely known in his official capacity, but many are more intimately acquainted with him as an auctioneer, a profession in which he is specially proficient, having followed it to a more or less extent since eighteen years of age.
Mr. Swepstone married, in 1879, Mary L. Cozad, who was born in Allenville, Vinton County, a daughter of Abraham and Anna Cozad. Mr. and Mrs. Swepstone have five children living, namely : Algie Ethel, who married Lane Gudgeon, and has two children, Mildred and Mary; Robert Earl, who married Osie Smith; Mattie Cline, wife of Albert Saul, has two children, Mildred and Barton Alonzo; Donald Blacker; Gladys; and Elizabeth. Mrs. Swepstone is a member of the Christian Church.
JOSEPH H. NEELY, of South Salem is an interesting personality and a man of varied accomplishments. In his time he has followed the trades of blacksmith, carriage maker, painter and decorator, and musician. Everything he has ever undertaken has been well done and he has made himself one of the most useful members of any com- munity where he has had his home.
Mr. Neely was born in Springfield, Ohio, November 30, 1851, a son of James J. and Elizabeth (Souders) Neely. His father was born in Newark, New Jersey, grew up there and learned his trade as blacksmith after a thorough apprenticeship. IIe became a skilled workman and as a journeyman he arrived in Springfield, Ohio, where he met and married Elizabeth Souders. She was also a native of New Jersey and had come with her parents when a young girl to Dayton, Ohio, making the journey by wagon. From Dayton she went to Springfield, and after her marriage Mr. and Mrs. James Neely continued to live in that city until about 1866-67. They then came to Lyndon in Ross County, where the father bought a shop. After two years he sold out and took a wagon trip to
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Kansas, going by way of Jefferson City, Missouri. He did not remain there long, and on returning to Ohio again located in Springfield for a year. About 1870 the family located in Salem of Ross County, where the father rented a shop from Henry Moomaw and followed his trade for several years. He was considered one of the best blacksmiths in Ross County, and was especially skillful as a worker in steel. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was affiliated with Springfield Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. IIe had first enlisted in the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, with which organization he received an injury that gave him an honorable discharge. On recovering he enlisted in the Six- teenth Ohio Battery and served for two years as blacksmith. James J. Neely and wife had four children, all of whom grew up, but the only one now surviving is Joseph HI. James was a blacksmith and died at Springfield. Elizabeth died unmarried at Salem. Peter, also a black- smith, died in New York City.
Joseph H. Neely acquired his early education in the common schools of Springfield. As a boy he studied blacksmithing in his father's shop, and served a complete apprenticeship, acquiring not only the funda- mentals of blacksmithing but also carriage trimming, painting and everything connected with those trades.
On August 3, 1871, Mr. Neely married Virginia G. Gregory, a daugh- ter of Aaron Gregory. After his marriage Mr. Neely followed painting in Greenfield for a year, spent another year at Good Hope, the following year at Springfield, and then returned to Lyndon in Ross County, where he remained three years. Changing his location to Salem, his health broke down there, and after a time he was associated with his father in the blacksmith shop. Since then he has followed his trade successfully for many years at South Salem, and everyone in that community knows his ability as a blacksmith and painter. For some three or four years he was associated with two of his sons at Greenfield under the name Neely & Riley Knife and Saw Company. They built a factory and manufactured cutlery and saws of all kinds.
Mr. Neely is widely known for his musical talent. He began the study of music at the age of eighteen, and his specialty is the E flat cornet, which he has played in many organizations and on many occa- sions through a period of thirty-five years. He played the alto with the band at Salem, and he organized the band and led it for many years. Afterwards for ten years he was leader of the Sixth Regiment band at Chillicothe, and was then bandmaster of the Seventeenth Regiment band under Colonel Hamilton for three years. Since then he has been leader of the Neely Cadet Band at South Salem. This band was first organized in 1903 and reorganized in 1904.
Mr. and Mrs. Neely have three talented children: Herbert G., who graduated from the Cincinnati Musical College, is a talented musician who has continued his studies abroad, and has filled some very respon- sible positions in the musical field. Emil G., who is an expert trombone player, is postmaster and general merchant at South Salem. Maggie G. is the wife of Dr. Marson of Anderson, Indiana, and she is a proficient
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instrumentalist on the piano. The family are members of the Presby- terian Church and politically Mr. Neely is a republican. For some years he has served on the village council at South Salem.
THEODORE RUSSELL CLARKE. One of the very prominent old families of Ross County is represented by Theodore Russell Clarke, whose chief business in life has been farming. Farming is a real business with him, and he has pursued it with energy, intelligence and thorough adaptability to the pursuit, and consequently his success has followed as a matter of course. He now operates one of the finest farms in Deerfield Township.
His birth occurred on a farm in Twin Township of Ross County May 14, 1864. He is a grandson of James Clarke, who for many years con- ducted one of the early wholesale grocery houses in Chillicothe, where he died in 1869. This honored old merchant married Sarah Quinn. Her father, Rev. James Quinn, was a pioneer Methodist preacher, who, in the words of a former historian, "was a man of ability and wielded great influence." He was in 1814 presiding elder of the district including Ross County and adjacent counties. Mrs. James Clarke died in 1873. Her three sons were named William, James and Matthew. The son William became a merchant of Cincinnati, while James settled in Sandusky.
Matthew Clarke, father of Theodore Russell, was born in Chillicothe December 9, 1840. He was given a good education, and about the time he reached manhood held the position of head bookkeeper in his father's mer- cantile house. He gave up business to become a soldier. October 26, 1863, he enlisted in Company H of the Eighty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, went with his command to the front and was in nearly all of its marches, campaigns and battles until the close of the war. He received his hon- orable discharge on May 10, 1865. On returning to Ross County he took up farming in Twin Township, having located on a farm there only a short time before his enlistment. Farming was his business until 1870, and he then set up a store at Salem, but in 1876 sold out and bought a farm in Deerfield Township. Thereafter he was engaged in farming during the rest of his active life. His death occurred April 10, 1914. Matthew Clarke married Martha Core. She was born in Twin Township January 17, 1837, a daughter of Col. David and Polly (McDonald) Core, and her maternal grandfather, Col. John McDonald, was the noted pioneer, soldier and author. Her Grandfather Core improved a farm in Ross County in the early days, and he and his wife spent their last years there. Mrs. Clara Clarke died April 27, 1900. The children were named David Elsworth, Theodore Russell, Lewis Greenwood, Alli- son MeClintock and Sarah Ella.
Reared on a farm Theodore Russell Clarke found a congenial pursuit in rural life, and almost as soon as his education was completed he took a responsible place on his father's farm. He operated the old homestead until 1912 and in that year leased the Samuel Dunlap farm in Deerfield Township, and has since conducted general farming and stock raising operations there.
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In October, 1900, Mr. Clarke married Emma Allemang. She was born near New Holland in Pickaway County, Ohio. Her father, Caruthers Allemang, was born in Concord Township of Ross County, and her grand- father, George Allemang, was a native of West Virginia, whence he came to Ohio and settled near the present site of Harper's Station. He was a blacksmith by trade, and for many years conducted a shop on his home farm. His last years were spent in peace and comfort on the farm, where he died when well upwards of eighty years. George Allemang married Jane Clark, who was born in Pennsylvania and survived her husband, spending her last years in Greenfield. Caruthers Allemang, father of Mrs. Clarke, married Abitha Clowser, whose father, George Clowser, was born near Harper's Station, Ohio, and spent his life as a farmer there. George Clowser married Jane Bell, who was born at London, Ohio, and her last days were also spent in Greenfield, where she died at the age of seventy-three.
Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have reared three children : Mathew Quinn, William Caruthers and Evelyn Merle. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke are members of the Clarksburg Methodist Church. Besides his operations as a farmer he takes an intelligent part in local affairs and is at present a member of the board of township trustees. He is affiliated with Clarksburg Lodge No. 721 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with Williamsport Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.
WILLIAM RUDELL has his farm home and his interests in Deerfield Township, where he has been a resident for the past twenty years. His ancestry is German, but the Rudells have lived in this country for many years and the family have been an industrious and worthy contribution to any community which they have honored by their residence.
Born at Westfall in Pickaway County, Ohio, December 29, 1866, William Rudell is a son of John Rudell, who was born in Germany. The grandparents brought their family from Germany to America, locating in Ross County, where Grandfather and Grandmother Rudell spent their last days. John Rudell was but a boy when he came to America but remembered well the long and stormy voyage of ninety days. It was a sailing vessel on which they came to this country and during the long voyage provisions ran short and many deaths occurred among the passengers. John Rudell grew up on a farm, adopted farm- ing as his regular vocation, and after his marriage rented a place in the western part of Pickaway County, later moved to Madison County, where he rented a farm near London. He was successfully engaged in farming there until his death in 1906, when eighty-two years of age. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Dotter, who was born in Germany and came to America with her parents. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-two, in 1908. The seven children who grew up in her household were Lizzie, William, Catherine, Frank, Mary, Edward, and Annie.
It was with a common school education and with such practical expe- rience as could be obtained on a home farm that William Rudell began life for himself. For several years he worked by the month, and after-
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wards rented a farm in Madison County. He remained in that county until 1895 and then came to Deerfield Township to live on the Peter Wilkins homestead. This he has since successfully conducted as a stock raising and general farming proposition, has made many improvements and has secured ample provision for his own family.
In 1889 he married Mary Wilkins, who was born on the farm where she now resides, a daughter of Peter and Eliza J. (Shanton) Wilkins. Mrs. Rudell is descended from two of the oldest families in Deerfield Township. Their marriage has been blessed by three children, Elsie, Mabel and George. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rudell are members of the Presbyterian Church and fraternally he is affiliated with Clarksburg Lodge No. 721, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Encamp- ment of that order, and also with Williamsport Lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America.
GEORGE HAMMAN. A resident of Ross County during most of his active years, George Hamman has found success through the avenues of hard work, concentrated attention to his business, and by honorable and straightforward methods he has enjoyed the best elements of success, has acquired a good home, has given his family the comforts of living and education and is still a man of active affairs. His residence is in Deerfield township.
His birth occurred in Beaver Township of Pike County, Ohio, October 18, 1859. His grandparents Peter and Laura Hamman spent their early lives in Germany and after their marriage lived in the old country until 1834. Setting out for America, they embarked on one of the sailing vessels which then were almost the only means of transport across the Atlantic, and were forty days from port to port. Coming west to Ohio they located in Pike County in Seal Township, where they spent the remainder of their days. They arrived in Seal Township in the month of May, and Grandfather Peter Hamman died in the following September. His widow survived him many years, and was eighty-two when she died. Her four sons were named Henry, George, Peter and Philip, and she also had a daughter named Elizabeth.
Philip Hamman, father of George, was born on the River Rhine in Germany March 15, 1815. He was about nineteen years of age when his parents came to America and his education was that supplied by the German schools. He was a man of intelligence, of thrift and sound judgment, and was able to take a man's part in life when he arrived in America. He afterwards bought land in Beaver Township of Pike County, and was successfully engaged in general farming there. Gradually his means increased and he purchased other tracts of land until his owner- ship covered nearly three hundred acres. With the exception of three years in Seal Township his home was in Beaver Township until his death in his eighty-second year. Philip Hamman married Martha Bumgarner, who was born in Beaver Township of Pike County, October 5, 1821. Her parents, Reuben and Martha (Carson) Bumgarner, were among the pioneers of Pike County, having come to that locality from Pennsylvania,
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where they were born. Mrs. Philip Hamman died in her eighty-third year. Her twelve children were John, Catherine, Reuben, Margaret, Elizabeth, Jacob, Ellen, Philip, Laura, Mary, George and Benjamin.
One of the younger children of his parents, George Hamman grew up in a large household, and with his brothers and sisters attended the local schools. As his father had come to America at the age of nineteen, so George Hamman at a similar age left the parental roof and began doing for himself in the State of Illinois. He worked at monthly wages for about a year, but then returned to Ohio and after working out for a while rented some land. He continued renting farms in Liberty, Scioto and Concord townships, and for six years had the Blosser farm in Concord Township.
In the meantime his capital was increasing with his experience and he then bought the farm which he now owns and occupies in Deerfield Township. This is a thoroughly improved place of three hundred acres, and ranks as one of the best farms in the entire county. Besides this fine estate Mr. Hamman has several other farms which are operated by renters.
At the age of twenty-six Mr. Hamman chose as his helpmate through life Miss Emma Vallery. Mrs. Hammond was born in Seal Township of Pike County. Her father Conrad Vallery was born in Baden, Germany, May 5, 1816. Her Grandfather Peter Vallery was also a native of Baden, and in 1833 brought his family to America, making the voyage in a sailing vessel just as the Hamman family did in the following year. From New York they came on to Pike County and he bought a tract of wild land in Beaver Township. The first home of the Vallery family in America was a log cabin such as most of the early settlers occupied. Peter Vallery spent the rest of his years in improving his land, but died a few years after coming to America. His wife Charlotte survived him and finally removed to Cass County, Nebraska, where she died at the home of a son when ninety years of age. Her four children were Conrad, Jacob, Peter and Mary. Conrad Vallery, the father of Mrs. Hamman, was seventeen years old when he came to America and had in the mean- time acquired a good education in his native land. His early experience was connected with farming, and he was left well fitted to engage in agricultural pursuits in Ohio. He became one of Pike County's very successful farmers, and eventually purchased the Governor Lucas home- stead in Seal Township. At the time of his death at the age of fifty-four he was the owner of several large tracts of land besides this homestead. Conrad Vallery married Christina Zahn, a daughter of Andrew and Abaline (Schafer) Zahn. Her mother died when she was young, and she came with her father and her paternal grandparents to America, all of them settling in Pike County. Mrs. Christina Vallery died in her eighty-eighth year, having reared nine children, named Elizabeth, Con- rad, Peter, Jacob, John, Andrew, Christina, Emma and Catherine.
Mr. and Mrs. Hamman are the parents of three children : Christina, Royal V. and George W. The daughter Christina is the wife of Carl
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B. Gearhart, and their son George Hamman Gearhart is the only grand- child of Mr. and Mrs. Hamman.
JOSEPH M. McCoy. A few families can claim the distinction of having existed continuously and contemporaneously with the entire his- tory of Ross County, covering almost one and a quarter century. Such a family is that of McCoy, one of whom, Joseph M. McCoy, has been chosen as the subject of this brief sketch.
Mr. McCoy now owns and occupies a fine old homestead which is in itself a landmark in Union Township, and has a host of associations connecting it with the bygone generations of this name.
The founder of the family here was John McCoy or MacCoy, as the name was variously written. This pioneer was a native of Scotland. When he was nine years of age he showed his independence and enter- prising character by running away from his native land and in course of time found his way to America. He lived a number of years in the province and state of Pennsylvania and eventually came to Ohio. He was the father of four sons.
One of these sons was also named John and was born in Pennsylvania April 15, 1771. He married Margaret Kerr, also a native of Pennsyl- vania. The ten children reared by them were named Martha, Margaret, Jane, Silence, Alexander Spear, William Kerr, John Montgomery, Mary Gene, Eliza and Sally Ann. The daughter Margaret was the first white child born in Ross County. Her birth occurred here March 1, 1795, and that date of itself attests the very early settlement of the McCoy family within these borders.
William Kerr McCoy, father of Joseph M., was born in a log house on the same spot subsequently occupied by the home in which his son Joseph was born. William K. first saw the light of day January 30, 1807. He grew up and shared the lot of the early pioneer in the last century, and eventually succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead where he pursued general farming, and lived there until his death in 1892. William K. McCoy married Margaret Afflick. She was born in Scotland January 11, 1815. Her father James Afflick was born in Drumelgier in the County of Peebles, Scotland, in 1776. On July 19, 1799, James Afflick married Marian Gladstone. She was a niece of John Gladstone and a cousin of Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, the great English premier. In 1818 James Afflick and wife came to the United States and located near Winchester, Virginia. Margaret Afflick when a young girl left her parents' home in Virginia and came to Ross County to live with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. James Steel, and remained there until her marriage to William K. McCoy. She reared nine children named James, Margaret, John A., Mary, David, Wilson, Gladstone, Addie and Joseph M. The son James was for many years connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railway and is now deceased. Margaret is the wife of Moses Steel. John A. died when about twenty years of age. Mary married Samuel Shortridge and now lives in Circleville, Ohio. David was a soldier in the Union army and lost his life while in the service. Vol. II-27
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Wilson died when about thirty years of age. Gladstone was a farmer and spent his last days at Circleville. Addie is living near Ashville, Ohio, the wife of Howard Veail.
Born on the old McCoy estate in Union Township in September, 1856, Joseph M. McCoy spent his early life in the usual manner of farmer boys of half a century ago. He attended rural schools and developed his strength and judgment by the tasks of the home farm. After reaching manhood he moved to Pickaway County, and there farmed as a renter for seventeen years. He then went back to the old homestead, and has since become its proprietor and it shows many evidences of his careful management and cultivation. The McCoy home occupies a conspicuous and attractive site on a high tableland commanding an extended view in every direction. The improvements on the farm rank with the best found anywhere in the township. The fine dwelling has withstood the storms of many years, and is a very substantial old building, a part of it including the original log cabin in which Mr. McCoy's father was born. Besides being an active farmer Mr. McCoy has served as a member of the board of township trustees for many years.
PHILLIP W. REEVES. The master mechanic in the Baltimore & Ohio shops at Chillicothe, Phillip W. Reeves began his railroad career as an office boy with the old Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. His career has been one of consecutive advancement, and he has long enjoyed the confidence of his superiors and of a large force of men under him at Chillicothe.
He was born August 1, 1853, in Ross County, son of William and Ann (Linehar) Reeves. His father was born in the City of Limerick, Ireland, and after coming to America spent a time in Kentucky and then moved to Martinville in Clinton County, Ohio, where he followed farming. In 1849 he located in Chillicothe and followed the business of teaming until his death in January, 1873. He was a devout Catholic, and possessed traits that made him many friends and a highly esteemed citizen of his community. His just dealings and uprightness were proverbial and on account of his fine judgment he was known and called among his friends Judge Reeves. He was the father of nineteen children, six of whom are now living. Their mother was a very kind woman, and she lived to be eighty-four years of age, while the father died at the age of seventy-six.
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