A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 8

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

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dige, father of Mrs. Holderman, was born in Virginia, while his wife was a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Though reared early in the century William Brundige acquired a good education, and spent some years as a teacher. Later he turned his attention to farming and also operated a sawmill and spent his last years in Williamsport. Emily Palmer, mother of Mrs. Holderman, was born at Morristown, Pennsyl- vania, the daughter of Jesse and Abigail (Wood) Palmer, who founded homes in Pickaway County when it was still a wilderness. Abigail Wood was the daughter of Capt. John Wood, who had commanded a company of patriots in the Revolutionary war.

After more than thirty-five years of married companionship Mr. Holderman lost his wife by death in August, 1900. She is survived by two daughters: Ilda and Emily. Mr. Holderman, as was his wife, is an active member of the Presbyterian Church. He is affiliated with Pierson Lodge, No. 372, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, and he has ever since been a strong supporter of the principles and policies of the republican party. Again and again he has been called to offices of trust and responsi- bility, both in his township and in the county, and for two terms he filled the office of county commissioner.

THOMAS DOWNS. It was in the last year of the eighteenth century that the Downs family established a home in the wilderness of Ross County. Several generations of the name have spent their lives indus- triously working out their own destinies, and contributing to the improve- ment and progress of this section. The pioneers helped to clear up the land, build houses, develop farms, improve communities with institutions and later members of the family have continued the good work done by their ancestors, and one of these is Thomas Downs, who is one of the prosperous and popular farmer citizens near Kingston.

He was born in Springfield Township of Ross County October 5, 1843. His Grandfather William Downs was a native of Virginia of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Ile was reared and married in his native state and in 1799 accompanied by his family started for Northwest Territory. That was three years before Ohio was admitted to the Union. After crossing the intervening barrier of mountains, they drifted down the Ohio on a flatboat as far as Portsmouth. While on that flatboat journey a son was born, John Downs, who was the father of Thomas Downs. From Portsmouth the little party literally chopped their way through the wilderness to Chillicothe, which was then only a frontier hamlet. They then proceeded into the wilds of what is now Springfield Township, where Grandfather William Downs spent the rest of his days. He died at the age of sixty-eight, and he and his wife are buried in Hopetown Cemetery.

John Downs, whose life began while his parents were migrating to Ross County, grew up among pioneer scenes, and he was a mature man before this section of the state had become linked with the outside world by even such crude methods of transportation as a canal. As a boy he

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hunted deer, wolves, wild turkeys and other game in the forest, and his mother spun and wove the cloth which clothed all members of the family. In the early days all surplus products were sent down the river on flat- boats. Later when settlement had progressed sufficiently Chillicothe became the center for many diverging stage routes which ran to all parts of the country. Reared on a farm, John Downs naturally took up agri- cultural pursuits when he reached manhood, and was a successful farmer, though his life terminated in his prime, at the age of fifty-three. He married Elizabeth. Smith, also a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Benjamin Smith, whose name should be recalled as one of the pioneer settlers of Green Township in Ross County. Mrs. John Downs died at the age of fifty-eight. Her children were: Ellen; Mary ; Eliza; Thomas; Flora ; Clorinda, widow of Thomas Milliner; Sarah, wife of Benjamin Brooks; and John, who died at the age of six years.

While a boy in Springfield Township Thomas Downs acquainted him- self with the instruction imparted in the local schools, and as he was one of a large family and the burdens of material existence bore heavily upon all, he started out early to work at monthly wages, and these wages were contributed to meeting the family expenses. Later he had opportunity to save the larger part of his earnings, and with this capital he bought stock and tools and began an independent career on rented land. He was a renter for seventeen years, and then bought a farm a mile and a half south of Kingston. He still owns that farm, and occupied it as a home until 1912, when he moved to Kingston and bought the place where he now resides.

On October 26, 1870, Mr. Downs married Amanda Moore, a native of Vinton County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Downs have reared three children : Carrie, Hattie May and Edward. The daughter Carrie married John Holderman and at her death left three daughters, Ellen, Mary and Mil- dred. Hattie May is also deceased. Edward, the only son, who died at the age of thirty-three, was twice married, and by his first wife, whose maiden name was Jenks, had two children, Bessie and Villette. Mr. and Mrs. Downs, whose declining years are comforted by the presence of their grandchildren, are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically he has always associated with the republican party.

WILLIAM H. WEST. As Ross County is becoming better and better known as a center for fruit culture in Ohio, special credit attaches to the work and influence of William H. West, who is one of the oldest and best known horticulturists in the county and has spent upwards of half a century in the successful business of growing fruit for the markets.

While he has been a resident of Ross County more than fifty years, since early boyhood, Mr. West is a native of Maryland, having been born in Frederick County of that state December 28, 1837. His parents were John and Hannah West. Mr. West's brother, John H. West, is living in Green Tow_ship of Ross County, a hale and hearty old gentleman at the age of ninety-one.

Reared and educated in his native state, William H. West at the

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age of sixteen journeyed to Ohio and joined his brother John in the Village of Chillicothe. There he learned the trade of blacksmith. He sharpened tools for the workmen who built the old Chillicothe court- house. He continued as a general blacksmith for several years, but eventually located on the farm that he now owns and occupies in Spring- field Township. As soon as he went to his farm he began developing his land to fruit purposes, and is undoubtedly one of the most successful fruit raisers Ross County has ever had. At one time he had an orchard of 200 bearing peach trees and also a large apple orchard and a number of varieties of small fruits. He also had an extensive vineyard. Mr. West made a specialty of grape culture, and in his time has cultivated forty- two distinct varieties of that fruit. Specimens of his fruit from his orchard and vineyards have been exhibited in the county and state fairs and many first premiums have been awarded it. He has made a study of horticulture, and his long practical experience constitute him one of the foremost authorities on the subject in this part of Ohio. For many years he has been a member of the Ross County Horticultural Society and has served it as treasurer.

On October 13, 1874, he married Miss Susan Seney, who was born in Springfield Township of Ross County October 20, 1855, a daughter of Joshua and Martha (Ives) Seney and a sister of Amasa Ives Seney. The three children reared by Mr. and Mrs. West are named Anna, Bessie and William Seney. Anna married Charles Abernathy. Bessie married Clare Gettles. William S. married Nellie Bader, and their three children are named Catherine, Eleanor and William Bader. Mr. West is an active member of Chillicothe Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

OTHIAS SCOTT, HARMAN. One of the most beautiful country homes around Chillicothe is that owned by Othias Scott Harman. It is situated on the Columbus Pike, a mile and a half from the courthouse. There he and his family enjoy the comforts of a rural home.

Mr. Harman has been one of the industrious and progressive farming citizens of Ross County for many years. His birth occurred in Scioto Township of this county August 5, 1860. His grandparents were Vir- ginia people and spent their lives in that state. His father, Othias Harman, was born in Virginia in 1809, and after coming to Ohio lived a time in Pickaway County and then moved to Chillicothe. In Chillicothe he owned and operated a tannery at the corner of Mulberry and Market streets, now Riverside Street, and conducted that business as a pros- perous local institution until his death. He died at his home on Western Avenue in 1871. Othias Harman, Sr., married Elizabeth Graybill. She was born in 1816 near Lancaster in Fairfield County, Ohio, daughter of Jacob Graybill who was of Pennsylvania German ancestry. Mrs. Othias Harman died in 1888, having reared four children, Fletcher D., Howard D., Roland and Othias Scott.

Othias Scott Harman grew up on the farm where the family had their home, and. after his father's death he bought a tract of land in Green Township. As a general farmer and stock raiser he has laid the

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basis of his present competency. The land in Green Township when he first bought it had a log house with a frame addition as its chief improvement. This house was burned some years ago and he then replaced it with a commodious frame house of a modern style of archi- tecture. Mr. Harman sold this farm in 1914 and then bought the place he now owns and occupies. He has a commodious brick house surrounded by a fine lawn improved with beautiful trees and shrubs, and has every convenience for comfort and at the same time is operating his land at a profit.

On January 15, 1885, he married Mary Strevy. Mrs. Harman was born near Circleville in Pickaway County. Her father, William Strevy, was born in Huron County on a farm between New London and Green- wich. Her grandfather, William Strevy, Sr., was probably a native of Pennsylvania of German ancestory, and from Pennsylvania moved to Ohio and was an early settler on some land near New London, where he spent his last days. His four children were named Rose, Michael, John and William. William Strevy, the father of Mrs. Harman, grew up on the Huron County farm, and started independently as a renter in the neighborhood where he had spent his youth. Subsequently he moved to Pickaway County, buying land near Circleville, and that has remained his home until his death at the age of seventy-nine. His wife was Mary Brooker, who was born in Germany, and came to this country with her father, George Brooker, and her mother and two other children. The family spent many weeks on the ocean in an old-fashioned sailing vessel, and after landing in New York came on to Ohio, George Brooker acquir- ing a tract of unimproved land near Zanesville. He cleared the land out of the woods and lived there until his death, his wife Barbara having pre- ceded him by several years. In the Brooker family were five children. Rachel, Mary, Barbara and Rose.

Mrs. Harman received her early education in the schools at Circleville, and prior to her marriage taught the Island School near that town. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harman. Nellie is the wife of Theo- dore Petnogle. Hazel married Dr. Eugene Waters, and she died at the age of twenty-one. The other two children were Virginia, who died at the age of eighteen months, and Marjorie, who died when three years old.

HENRY CUTRIGHT. Any one acquainted with the farming and indus- trial community of Springfield Township knows the personality of Henry Cutright, whose position has been one of assured influence and prosperity in that locality for a number of years.

His career is interesting not only for what he has accomplished indi- vidually but because of the associations of his name with some of the old settlers and prominent people of Ross County during the last century. In fact, he is descended from one of the very first settlers who penetrated the wilderness and settled in this part of Northwest Territory. That was his great-grandfather, John Cutright, a native of Virginia. John Cut- right came to the Northwest Territory with General Massie in 1796. He located on some land owned by General Massie in Springfield Town-

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ship. There he and his wife spent the years of pioneering and enjoyed a solid prosperity at the last. Both died there in 1830.

Hiram Cutright, grandfather of Henry Cutright, was born in Vir- ginia, was reared in Ross County, and on reaching manhood bought a tract of land in Springfield Township. For several years he was engaged in farming there, and then moved to Chillicothe, where he was a grocery merchant. His death occurred in July, 1882. Hiram Cutright married Hannah Neff, a daughter of Leonard Neff, also one of the first settlers of Springfield Township. She died several years before her husband, having reared seven children, whose names are Amaziah, Jeremiah, Hiram, Joseph, Minerva J., Rufus and Louisa. Of these, Amaziah, Jere- miah, and Rufus were all soldiers in the Union army and members of the One Hundred and Forty-second Ohio Infantry. They enlisted in May, 1864, at the call for hundred-day men, went to Virginia, and were with their regiment in all its services until the termination of their term of enlistment. Jeremiah died a few weeks after his return from the war.

Amaziah Cutright, father of Henry, was born in Springfield Town- ship, spent his active career there as a farmer and died at the age of seventy-four. He married Mary J. Hanks, a name that introduces another family of early settlers in Ross County. She was born in Spring- field Township. Her father, Isaac Hanks, was a native of Virginia and her grandfather, Thomas Hanks, was also born in the same common- wealth and came to Ross County about 1800. Thomas Hanks was of the same family stock that produced the mother of Abraham Lincoln. After living for a time at High Banks, Thomas Hanks entered a half section of government land in Harrison Township. Subsequently he moved to Logan County where his death occurred in 1834. Isaac Hanks grew up on the Ross County farm, and followed farming as a vocation and quite successfully. He acquired a large tract of land including some of the best in Springfield Township, located in sections 26 and 31. His death occurred there April 11, 1883. Isaac Hanks married Maggie Raypole, who was born in Virginia and was brought to Ross County by her mother who occupied a log cabin in the southeast part of Springfield Township in pioneer times. Mrs. Isaac Hanks died in 1897 in her ninety-first year. She reared three children named Jerry, Ephraim and Mary J. Mrs. Mary J. (Hanks) Cutright died at the age of seventy-two. There were only two children, Margaret and Henry.

Reared in a district which had been the home of his family connec- tions for more than half a century, Henry Cutright was prepared for the serious responsibilities of life in a district school, and by such training as he could receive on the farm. He was born in Springfield Township February 23, 1867. When ready to start out on his own account he rented land for seven years, and then located on a part of his Grand- father Hanks' estate, which his mother had inherited. The house upon the land at the time was burned in 1909, and it was replaced by the attractive home which Mr. and Mrs. Cutright and family now occupy. His farm is pleasantly located on the Charleston Road about five miles

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below Chillicothe. In addition to this homestead Mr. Cutright owns and operates a farm of ninety-one acres in Harrison Township. In March, 1892, he married Miss Lucretia Stauffer, who was born in Springfield Township. They have four children named Grace, Walter, Joie and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Cutright are both members of the Methodist Church.

Mrs. Cutright's people were also early settlers in Ross County. Her great-grandfather John Stauffer was born in Center County, Pennsyl- vania, of German parentage. As a young man he learned the trade of stonemason, which he followed in Pennsylvania, and about 1830 he came to Ohio, accompanied by his wife and six children. The entire journey was made overland with wagons and teams, and they camped by the roadside wherever night overtook them. Reaching Ohio they first settled in Fairfield County, but a year later moved to Ross County, where John Stauffer bought a tract of land near Dry Run in Springfield Township. There he lived out his useful years, and reared six children, David, John, Eliza, Mary, Samuel and Solomon. David Stauffer, grandfather of Mrs. Cutright, was a son of his father's first marriage. He grew up in Pennsylvania, came to Ohio with his father, and at the time had $300 which he had inherited from his mother's estate. This money was employed to purchase fifty acres in East Springfield, now owned by Henry and Walter Cutright. A log house stood on the land surrounded by a small clearing. That log cabin was the home to which he brought his bride. After two years there he sold the place for $500 and then purchased 160 acres in the same township. The purchase price was $1,000, and he went in debt for half of it. The improvements on this land were also primitive, consisting of a log house and several acres of cleared land. David Stauffer proved his industry by clearing up his farm and enjoyed a great deal of solid prosperity and comfort before his death, which occurred in his seventy-sixth year. David Stauffer married Mary Barnhart, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Lawrence Barnhart, who came from that state and settled in Green Township of Ross County. Mrs. David Stauffer, who died several years before her husband, reared two children, Benjamin and Rebecca, the latter becom- ing the wife of David Brown.

Benjamin Stauffer, father of Mrs. Cutright, was born in East Spring- field, Ross County, September 3, 1838. District schools supplied his education and he was well trained on the home farm to habits of indus- try and thrift. Living with his parents until the age of twenty-one, he then married and began earning his way at daily or monthly wages. He did a great deal of clearing, and for several years was employed in getting out coopers' stock. Later he rented some land in Green Town- ship and some years later moved to Springfield Township, where he rented a portion of the Isaac Hanks farm for twenty-two years. For another two years he lived in Twin Township, and then returned to Springfield, where he is still living, and for the past few years has been engaged in market gardening. Benjamin Stauffer was married in 1861 to Hester A. Keller, who was born in Springfield Township, a daughter

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of George and Lovett (Hough) Keller. Mrs. Cutright was one of five children, the other four being Shepard, George, David Allen and Naomi.

PINKNEY BREWER. Energetic and progressive, possessing much busi- ness ability and intelligence, Pinkney Brewer, senior member of the firm of Brewer, Tomlinson & Brewer, is at the head of one of the best known and most prosperous contracting firms of Chillicothe, and is doing an extensive business throughout this part of the state. A son of Harvey Brewer, he was born in Jackson County, Ohio, of colonial stock.

Willis Brewer, Mr. Brewer's grandfather, was born, it is thought, in North Carolina. Coming to Ohio in early manhood, he located first in Ross County, near Frankfort, later spending several years in Jackson County. Returning to Ross County, he settled on a farm in Liberty Township, and there lived until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Huffman, was born in Pennsylvania, of German parentage.

Harvey Brewer was born, doubtless, during the residence of his parents in Jackson County. Reared on a farm, he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits during the earlier part of his life. On February 4, 1865, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. With his regiment, he went South by way of Nash- ville, Tennessee, to Dalton, Georgia, thence to Macon, the same state, where his command was on provost duty until January, 1866, when the regiment was honorably discharged. He suffered greatly from hard- ships and exposure endured while there, being forced to spend some time in the hospital, and never fully recovered his former physical vigor. Returning from the army, he spent the remainder of his days in Chilli- cothe, dying May 30, 1874. ITis wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Morrison, died in December, 1875. Of their four children, three are now living, Pinkney, Andrew, and Maggie.

Having acquired a good common school education, Pinkney Brewer worked at the broommaker's trade three years, being in the employ of Samuel J. Roberts, an extensive grower of broom corn, and a manu- facturer of brooms. He afterwards worked at that trade in Cincinnati until 1886, when he again became a resident of Chillicothe. Embarking in business as bridge builder in 1887, Mr. Brewer met with flattering success as a contractor in that industry. He has gradually enlarged his operations, and now the firm of Brewer, Tomlinson & Brewer, of which he is senior member, is carrying on a very extensive and lucrative busi- ness as bridge, sewerage and road contractors, in the filling of contracts awarded them using the most modern approved machinery and appliances.

On May 29, 1882, Mr. Brewer was united in marriage with Bertha Fromm, who was born in Cummingsville, a suburb of Cincinnati. A brief account of her parents, John B. and Henrietta (Albright) Fromm, may be found on another page of this volume, in connection with the sketch of C. A. Fromm. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer are the parents of four children, namely : Walter O., junior member of the firm of Brewer, Tomlinson & Brewer, married Edith Stocklin; Bertha, wife of Joseph Conway, has

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one child, Paul Brewer Conway; Frederick Harvey, who married Anna Schroth ; and Pinkney Paul, a student in the Ohio Normal University, at Ada. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Brewer are valued members of the German Evangelical Church. Fraternally Mr. Brewer is a member of Chillicothe Lodge, No. 52, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

ANDREW P. ROBINSON. Prominent among the enterprising and pro- gressive men who have been instrumental in promoting the agricultural prosperity of Ross County is Andrew P. Robinson, who has accumulated wealth in his farming operations, and is now living retired from active pursuits in Chillicothe. A son of James McDill Robinson, he was born June 28, 1859, in North Union Township, Ross County, coming from pioneer stock, his grandfather, John Robinson, having been an early settler of that section of the county.

Joshua Robinson, Mr. Robinson's great-grandfather, came with his family to the Northwest Territory in 1795, accompanying Gen. Na- thaniel Massie and his little band of followers. A short distance below the falls of Paint Creek, near the present site of Bainbridge, the party encountered a band of Indians, and in the fight which ensued Joshua Robinson was fatally wounded. He wore at the time a red broadcloth vest which was later found on an Indian, who had evidently exhumed the body, and appropriated the garment for his own use.

John Robinson was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in 1788, and at the age of seven years, just after the death of his father, he was adopted by his Uncle William. He grew to manhood in Ross County, and during the War of 1812 served as a corporal in Capt. Alexander Manary's company. He subsequently bought a tract of tim- bered land on Dry Run, South Union Township, and from the wilder- ness hewed a farm, which is still owned by his descendants. There he lived until his death, at the venerable age of ninety-eight years, and his remains are now resting in the McDill Cemetery. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah McDill, died in middle life. Seven of their children grew to years of maturity, as follows: Joshua, John D., Wilson, Sarah, Isabelle, James M. D., and Hannah.

Born in 1815, on the parental homestead, in South Union Township, James McDill Robinson became familiar with all branches of agricul- ture when young. In early manhood, in partnership with his brother Wilson, he bought land in North Union Township, and began life for himself as a general farmer and stock raiser. Several years later he bought out the interest of his brother Wilson, who moved to Logan County, Illinois, and continued farming by himself. Later he moved with his family to Circleville, where his children might have good edu- cational advantages. In 1875 he bought a farm in South Union Town- ship, and there, three days after assuming its possession, his death occurred, in the month of March, 1875. He married Catherine Poe, who was born in Chillicothe in 1816, a daughter of Andrew Poe, Jr. Her grandfather, Andrew Poe, Sr., was one of the early explorers of the Northwest Territory, coming to this part of the country when the In- Vol. II-5

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A Standard History of Ross County, Ohio, Part 8

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

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