A history of Adams County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, including character sketches of the prominent persons identified with the first century of the country's growth, Part 100

Author: Evans, Nelson Wiley, 1842-1913; Stivers, Emmons Buchanan
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: West Union, O., E.B. Stivers
Number of Pages: 1101

USA > Ohio > Adams County > A history of Adams County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, including character sketches of the prominent persons identified with the first century of the country's growth > Part 100

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).

William Metz, father of our subject, was a resident of the vicinity of Dunbarton, Ohio, until 1856, when he removed to Rome, and continued to reside there the remainder of his life. He held township offices in Meigs and Greene Townships. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. He was a Whig and Republican in his political views. He was an expert in the buying and selling of live stock. In Rome, he was engaged in the merchandising business with his son William, but gave no personal attention to the business. He was a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a prominent man for years. He died August 7, 1879.

Our subject was educated in the common schools and brought up on the farm. He enlisted in the Civil War in Company D, 173d O. V. I., on September 1, 1864, at the age of eighteen years, and he served with the regiment until the twenty-sixth of June, 1865. He learned the trade of wagon making with J. W. Pettit, at Rockville, Adams County, Ohio. He began as an apprentice in 1865, and bought out Pettit and carried on the business at Rockville until 1873. He then went to Calloway County, Missouri. He remained there nine months, came back to Rockville, and resumed his former business of wagon making. He removed to Rome in 1875, and went to farming, and continued that for a period of four years. In 1879, he went into the butchering business; and in 1881. he engaged as a clerk for W. T. McCormick, and remained in that business until the Fall of 1899, when he was nominated by the Republican party of Adams County for Sheriff and elected.

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He was married November 7, 1865, to Mary Devoss, daughter of David and Rachel Devoss. They have had eight children, five of whom are living and three deceased. His living children are Frank C., married Ann Gray, living in Rome and engaged in the timber business. His daughter, Addie Belle, is the wife of E. A. Scott, Superintendent of the Schools at Augusta, Ky. His sons, James F. and George, and his daughter Bertha reside at home. He was elected Sheriff in 1899 by a majority of ninety-one over J. W. McKee, who had been elected on the Democratic ticket two years before.

Mr. Metz has been a Republican in his political views all his life. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was Superintend- ent of the M. E. Sabbath School in Rome for fourteen years prior to his becoming Sheriff. He is a Mason, Odd Fellow, and Knight of Pythias. He is a public-spirited citizen, a Christian gentleman, and an able, careful, and painstaking public official.

Enoch MeCall

was born December 11, 1826, on the farm in Greene Township, Adams County, where he now resides. He is a son of Duncan and Mary ( Smith) McCall, who were the parents of twelve children, four boys and eight girls: Lydia, married Mr. Woodworth; Elizabeth, married Mr. Gregory; Charlotte, died in childhood; Samuel, died young; Rebecca, married Mr. McCormick; Abijah, Enoch, our subject ; Harriet, married Mr. Trickler; Melvina, died young; Abner, killed at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi; Melinda, married Mr. Hayslip; Francis, married Mr. Wikoff.

The father, Duncan McCall, was born August 8, 1791, at Jacob's Creek, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, the son of Solomon McCall, who had run away from his Scotland home in boyhood, and who, after serving for five years the philanthropist who paid the stowaway's fare to America, settled in Pennsylvania, married there, and two of his sons, Duncan and John, were born there. The others were born in the neigh- borhood on the line between Adams and Scioto Counties, where he had moved late in the eighteenth century. The other children of the senior Solomon McCall were David, William, Moses, Solomon, Millie ( Wil- liams), Mary ( Anderson), Sallie, and Martha (Tucker), in all, ten. Solomon McCall, Senior, and his boys, with other pioneers, were engaged. during the first twenty years after settling here, in clearing the bottoms of the great forests which covered them from above where Buena Vista now is, to below Sandy Springs. Solomon McCall had early purchased the farm on which our subject resides, which he sold to his son, Duncan, in 1817, and it was sold to Enoch McCall by his father in 1871. The Mc- Calls built the first stone houses in their neighborhood, two of which are still occupied, one east of Buena Vista, Scioto County, and the other at Commercial, in Adams County. Solomon McCall, Senior, died in the latter.

Mary Smith McCall, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in New Jersey on September 9, 1795. She and Duncan McCall were mar- ried October 7, 1817, at Sandy Springs. Enoch McCall learned cerpenter- ing and worked at that trade until he entered the service of his country in the Civil War. He was mustered into service September 18, 1862, as

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a Private in Company F, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry ; made Corporal, August 1, 1863, and Sergeant, June 26, 1865, of his regiment, and was in twenty-four engagements including the battles of Atlanta, Nashville, and Franklin, but was never wounded or captured. He was mustered out at Nashville on July 1, 1865. Mr. McCall returned to Adams County, took up farming and shortly thereafter, purchased his father's farm and on April 16, 1874, was married to Martha A. Pownall, daughter of Joseph C. Pownall and Mary McColm Pownall, of Manchester, Ohio. Their children are Mark P., born March 7, 1875; Mary S., born June 30, 1877; Leeds, born January 1, 1882, and Earnest, born May 23, 1884.

Mr, McCall is a Republican politically, but has never held any office. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His memory goes back to the days when wild animals were common in the woods about his early home, but he says even more vivid is his recollection of the hard work incident to clearing the land of the heavy timbers. It is worthy of mention here that in the orchard on his farin are apple trees which were set out by his father in 1817, and which are thrifty and bearing fruit every year. The trunk of one, a bell-flower, measures three feet in diameter at height of a man's head above the ground. There are remains on the farm of the work of the mound builders, and many implements fashioned from flint stone are found there.

Jesse Ellsworth McCreight,

Recorder of Adams County, was born March 4, 1864, on the Secrists farm near Tranquility, Ohio, where his grandfather, Jesse McCreight, settled in 1844. Jesse McCreight, grandfather of our subject, was a native of South Carolina, of Scotch-Irish descent. He married a Miss McCul- lough and emigrated to Adams County in 1830. He was a farmer by oc- cupation and followed it all his life. He lived on rented farms until he purchased the Secrists farm in 1844, which had not been occupied for thirty years on account of its reputation of being haunted. Mr. Mc- Creight, however, was free from superstitions. He removed into the house and it has been occupied ever since, first by him, and to the present time, by the mother of our subject, and not an evil spirit has ever disturbed the tranquillity of the family. Jesse McCreight died in 1879 and is buried in the Tranquility cemetery. Alexander McCreight was the only son of Jesse McCreight, and the father of our subject. He received such edu- cation as could be obtained in the Public schools. He learned the cabinet maker's trade and later, mechanical engineering and pattern making. He became the inventor of several useful articles, taking out eight different patents, the most important of which was his horizontal portable saw-mill, which patent brought him about $8,000. He was twice married, first to Rebecca Smith, and to them were born four daughters, Sarah, Jennie, Anna and Irena C. He afterward married Ellen Snedaker, of Decatur, Ohio, whose children were Jesse E., our subject; Frank S., Minnie O., wife of E. F. Elmore, of Tranquility; Maggie M., wife of R. W. Mc- Creight, of Tranquility, and Ella R., who is single and resides with her mother.

Alexander McCreight was one of the leading members of the U. P. Church at Tranquility and one of the foremost in promoting the building

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of the present church. The fine pulpit is his gift to the church and a sample of his handiwork. In politics, he was a lifelong Republican and always took an active part in local and national affairs. He was often one of the speakers of his party in the county canvasses. He was a Justice of the Peace of Scott Township from 1886 to 1889. Prior to the Civil War, his house was one of the stations on the Underground Railroad and many a fugitive slave found shelter and safe conduct to freedom through his friendship for the cause. He enlisted May 2, 1864, in Company G, 172d O. V. I., and was discharged September 3, 1864. He died December 25, 1891, and is buried at Tranquility.

Jesse E. McCreight, the subject of this sketch, received a good edu- cation at home under the tuition of his father. A stroke of paralysis at the age of six years, disabled him from attending the Public schools and while it left him crippled in body, his mind was very active. He realized that that would have to be his means of support, and he became a diligent student. While he never attended college or school for a single day. at the age of sixteen, he was prepared to enter on business. He learned the watch making trade, at which he worked until 1883. and from 1883 to 1886, he was in the employ of the Cincinnati & Eastern Railroad Co. in the capacity of agent and operator, which position he was forced to resign on account of his health, and he then engaged in the watch making business at North Liberty until 1887, when he was elected by the Republican party as Re- corder of Adams County, which position he occupies at present with great credit to himself and to his party.

He was married April 25. 1880, to Ida M. Brooks, daughter of Jesse Brooks, of Decatur, Ohio. They have two children, Forrest Leland, aged nine, and Mabel Carryl, aged seven. Mr. and Mrs. McCreight are mem- bers of the U. P. Church of Tranquility.

As an officer, Mr. McCreight is industrious and painstaking, and tries to do his duty to the best of his ability. He gives his entire atten- tion to his office.

Hon. A. Floyd McCormick

was born October 5, 1861, in Nile Township, Scioto County, Ohio, son of George S. McCormick, who has a sketch herein. When old enough to be sent away to school, he spent two years at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and afterwards four years at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. After the completion of his college course, he became a law student of the Hon. Thomas E. Powell, of Delaware, Ohio, and graduated from the Cincinnati Law School in 1886. While studying in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was in the office of Cowen and Ferris, Attorneys, the Ferris being Judge Howard Ferris, of the Probate Court of Hamilton County.

Mr. McCormick was admitted to practice in 1886, and removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he became manager of the R. G. Dun & Co., Commercial Agency. He continued his employment and resided there seven years. He removed to Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio, in Jan- uary, 1895. He was elected, as a Republican, to represent Scioto County in the House of Representatives in the Fall of 1897, and re-elected in 1899. In the House, he has served on the Committees on Municipal Affairs, Corporations, Military Affairs, and Public Works.

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He was married to Miss Anne Corrille Scarlett, daughter of Joseph A. Scarlett, manager of R. G. Dun's Commercial Agency in Cincinnati, on the thirty-first of December, 1885. They have one daughter, Corrille, a girl of thirteen years, now a student in Columbus.

Mr. McCormick had been a Democrat until 1897, but now is a Re- publican of the stalwart type. He is a man of liberal views and ideas. He is an excellent lawyer and his friends think he ought to eschew politics and confine himself to the law. However, as a politician, he has been quite successful, and bids fair to be one of the prominent men of the State, if an ordinary lifetime shall be allotted to him.

Frank C. McColm

was born August 8, 1863, at Muscatine, Iowa. His father was John D. McColm and his mother, Lida Edgington, both from Adams County. His grandfather was James McColm, at one time Probate Judge of Adams County. His grandfather, on his mother's side was Oliver Edg- ington, who resided near Manchester. . His mother died when he was but eleven months old. He was taken by his grandfather, Oliver Edg- ington, and reared in Adams County. He went to school at Manchester. He engaged in the marble business at Manchester when he was but seven- teen years of age, and has been there in the same business ever since. He has $10,000 invested in it and employs twenty-five men, including salesmen. He has the largest establishment of the kind between Cin- cinnati and Pittsburg, and, in his business, he has the latest tools and the most modern and very latest inventions. He sells monuments in the three States of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

In 1887, he was married to Ida Varner, of Mason County, Ken- tucky, and they have three children, two boys and a girl. In politics he is a Republican.

He deserves a great deal of credit for having built up the wonderful business he has, and it is demonstrated that he is one of the best business men who ever resided in Adams County. Mr. McColm has the con- fidence of all his neighbors and acquaintances.

Greenleaf Norton MoMannis

was born near Cross Plains, Ripley County, Indiana, July 1, 1841. In a family of seven children he was the second son. His father was Robin- son McMannis, formerly of Winchester, Adams County, Ohio. His grandfather was Charles McMannis, a Revolutionary soldier. He was a private in the regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia. He was a pen- sioner of the State of Pennsylvania. He was born in 1754 and emigrated to Ohio in 1817, settled in Adams County, and died at Cherry Fork in 1840, in his eighty-sixth year, and is buried in the Cherry Fork cemetery. His wife's maiden name was Ellen Spears. He had been a farmer in Pennsylvania and had followed the same occupation in Ohio.

Our subject's mother's maiden name was Filner Shaw, a daughter of Russell Shaw, for whom Russellville, Brown County, Ohio, was named. Her mother's name was Reynolds, an aunt of the late Stephen Reynolds, of Peebles, Ohio. The parents of our subject both died within 52a

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a week of each other when he was not yet six years old. At the age of ten years, he made his home with a family named Duffey, of Winchester, and he remained there until he enlisted in Company C of the 70th O. V. I., as a private, November 1, 1861. He was made a Corporal and after- ward a Sergeant, February 25, 1863. He was wounded in the right leg at the battle of Shiloh on April 6, 1862. He verteranized January I, 1864, and was wounded in both arms in the attack on Fort McAllister, December 13, 1864 barely escaping amputation of the right arm by a reduction of a radius of five inches. He was discharged from the service June 23, 1865, after serving about three years and eight months. After returning home, he served as Deputy Treasurer under J. C. Duffey for two years. He was married January 3, 1867, to Elizabeth Waite, of Blue Creek, Ohio. In the Fall of 1867, he was a candidate on the Re- publican ticket for County Treasurer, but was defeated by Elijah Leedom on the Democratic ticket. In December, 1867, he removed from West Union to Blue Creek, where he engaged in farming and milling. In the Fall of 1884, he was appointed Deputy Treasurer of Adams County and served two years. In 1886, he was appointed Deputy Clerk under W. R. Mahaffey and served two years. In 1889, he was elected Sheriff of Adams County by a majority of thirteen, determined after a contest with W. P. Newman, the opposing candidate. He was re-elected in 1891 and served until 1894. The same year he removed to Peebles, where he now resides.

Mr. McMannis is a quiet, modest citizen, very diffident, but pos- sessed of those sterling qualities which make one appreciated. He is noted for his integrity and honor in all the relations of life. His children are James O. McMannis, lately Probate Judge of Adams County, mar- ried to the daughter of Captain L. L. Edgington, and residing at West Union ; Herbert W. McMannis, in the Eleventh Regimental Band in the Regular Army, now at San Juan, Porto Rico; Onania, the wife of P .. A. Wickerham, now Chief Clerk to Gen. Howard, in Manilla ; Charles N. McMannis, a graduate of Park College, Parkville, Mo., and now studying for the Presbyterian ministry at Auburn, New York, in the Theological Seminary there; Allen N. McMannis, in the mercantile bus- iness at Greeley, Colorado; Jay Wilbur McMannis, a student at Park- ville, Mo., and Stella May McMannis, a student at Parkville, Mo. He lost a son, William, at eighteen months and a daughter, Edna, at eight years of age. All of his children are bright, intelligent and studious; all are ambitious, sought honorable and responsible positions in life, and none are more promising. He has great reason to be proud of them, and they have just reason to be proud of his record as a patriot, a public officer and a citizen.

Rev. Wm. J. McSurely, D. D.,

was born at Unity (near Wheat P. O.), September 1, 1834, the son of Hugh McSurely and Mary Clark, his wife. He resided on his father's farm, attending school in the Winter and performing farm work in the Summer until 1850. As a child, he was set aside for the ministry. He was always seriously and deeply religious. In his farm work, he was always honest and conscientious, as he has been in everything he has done since. In the common schools, he was a diligent and earnest stu-

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REV. WM. J. MCSURELY, D. D.

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dent and excelled in spelling. In the county spelling matches, he was always chosen first. In 1850, he entered North Liberty Academy at its opening, and spent two years there preparing for college. In 1852, he entered Miami University and graduated there in the class of 1856. During his college course, he was a lover of books. He maintained a high standing in his class at college. He was a diligent student. Im- mediately after his graduation, he took up the study of theology at the U. P. Seminary at Oxford and was licensed to preach in 1858 and or- dained in 1859. He already evinced talents of a high order, as his first call in 1858 was to succeed the very eloquent and learned Dr. Claybaugh of the United Presbyterian Church at Oxford. On November 12, 1860, he was married to Hulda Taylor, of Sparta, Illinois, daughter of John K. Taylor and Sarah Wylie, his wife.

Rev. McSurely remained at Oxford until 1866. He was minister to a church at Kirkwood, Ill., in 1867 and 1868, and then for a short time was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Loveland, Ohio. In 1869, he was called to the First Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro, which call he accepted and where he has remained ever since, and where he will remain until he either resigns or dies. His pastorate there will never be given up on account of his congregation, or any of them. He has been a Trustee of Miami University since 1887, and in the discharge of the duties of that office, he has been most conscientious and faithful. He has been President of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library of Hillsboro for over twenty years. He has three children, William Harvey, a lawyer of Chicago, who has a separate sketch in this work ; Ella Glenn, a graduate of Oxford College, and a son, James Edwin, who is now a law student in Cincinnati.

Dr. McSurely's distinguishing characteristic as a preacher is his profound scholarship. The deep study bestowed on the preparation of his sermons make them a delight to his cultivated congregation.

For thirty years, his Hillsboro Church has looked forward with assured anticipation of pleasure and profit to his Sunday morning sermons. He is naturally reserved and retiring, perhaps somewhat timid, in many directions, but in what he believes to be his duty, he is uncompromising, bold and determined. While he has made some antag- onisms, he has the respect, esteem and affection of his church and of the community. This tribute is from a layman in his own town.

A clergyman says of him, "that his thirty years' pastorate has proven his wisdom and ability. He is clear in his theological thinking. He is highly charitable to those who differ from him. His loveliness of char- acter is most appreciated among his parishioners. His pulpit ministra- tions are clear, spiritual, and well calculated to strengthen the faith and life of his hearers. His fellow ministers estimate him most highly, both as a preacher and a presbyter. They regard him as able, safe and wise. As a student and scholar, he is above the average. His education was not finished at the college or seminary, but having their learned to study he has continued the habit ever since. In his preaching, he is always in- structive and edifying. Endowed with a clear and musical voice, his sermons and addresses are all well delivered. When Moderator of the Synod of Cincinnati. he showed himself well equipped for the place."

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The Interior of Chicago, the leading publication of the Presbyterian Church, in a recent number, said of him: "He has had numerous calls to important churches, but his idea was the old one of a life work in one place. No one who has heard him preach doubts that, if he had been desirous of a change to a metropolitan congregation, he could readily have effected it." On the front page of the same number appeared a fine, full page portrait of Dr. McSurely.

In public reading and in the delivery of his sermons, he has a degree of ability and power almost remarkable. With a sure understanding of the thought to be imparted, he has a correct and sensitive taste in gesture, and especially in tone color of voice, which conveys the meaning in an im- pressive and often striking manner. He has the gift of intuitive elocution in its best sense ; and with a resonant and flexible voice he commands and holds the attention of his hearers.

He is a man of the utmost sincerity. His words are carefully weighed and full of purpose. He has strong convictions of the right and truth, and has the courage of his convictions. At the same time, his manner is mild and conciliatory. One friend says of him, that he re- minds him very much of the character of the beloved disciple, St. John. While tenacious of the truth, as he sees it, he is liberal of those who see it differently. His life has been full of good works, and in all respects it is an exemplification of his teaching and preaching.

William H. MoSurely

was born January 27, 1865, in Oxford, Ohio. He went with his parents to Kirkwood, Illinois, in 1867, and returned to Loveland, Ohio, in 1868, and in 1869 went to Hillsboro, Ohio. His boyhood was passed there. He attended the Public schools there. In January, 1880, he attended the South Salem Academy and in the Fall of 1881 entered the Freshman class at Wooster University. He graduated in 1886. After that, he read law in Hillsboro for one year under Hon. Frank Steele. He went to Chicago in 1887 and went into the office of Norton, Burley and Howell, and completed his law studies with them, and was admitted to practice in 1888. He became a member of the firm of Norton & Burley on Jan- uary 1, 1893.

He was married October 18, 1892, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Cadman, whose father, now deceased, had been one of the most brilliant lawyers in Chicago. On the death of Mr. James S. Norton, the senior member of the firm of which Mr. McSurely was the junior member, the firm was and has since been reorganized and took the firm name of Burley & Mc- Surely. Mr. and Mrs. McSurely have one daughter, and one deceased.

Those who know him best say of him, he is a Christian gentleman, a man graced with dignity and elevation of spirit, of clear and quick perceptions, of manners frank and affable, of cheerful spirit and benevo- lent disposition. In his profession, he is prompt, decisive, upright and successful. When but a beginner in the law, he was chosen for merit by the distinguished late James Sage Norton to be a partner with himself and the talented Mr. Clarence A. Burley, in their firm, and he has won by work and has obtained an honorable standing among that class of lawyers known to be the best in their profession.

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REV. DAVID MCDILL, D. D.

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Judge J. O. McManis,

of West Union, was born in that town, September 6, 1867. He re- ceived a good common school education, and when C. W. Sutterfield be- came Postmaster at West Union, under President Harrison, he was appointed Deputy, which position he held until appointed Deputy Sheriff during his father's second term as Sheriff of Adams County. He studied surveying under A. V. Hutson, and is an accomplished surveyor and civil engineer. On December 12, 1894, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Edgington, the only daughter of Capt. L. L. Edg- ington, of West Union. In January following his marriage, he entered the firm of L. L. Edgington & Sons as bookkeeper. In 1897, he was nominated on the Republican ticket for Sheriff of Adams County but was defeated by a small majority. In March, 1898, he was appointed by Governor Bushnell to fill a vacancy in the Probate Judge's Office, occas- ioned by the removal of Judge John W. Mason from that office, on charges under the so-called Garfield law. He served until the re-election of Judge Mason. He is now with the firm of L. L. Edgington & Sons as bookkeeper. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

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A history of Adams County, Ohio, from its earliest settlement to the present time, including character sketches of the prominent persons identified with the first century of the country's growth, Part 100

Author: Evans, Nelson Wiley, 1842-1913; Stivers, Emmons Buchanan Publication date: 1900 Publisher: West Union, O., E.B. Stivers Number of Pages: 1101

Author: Evans, Nelson Wiley, 1842-1913; Stivers, Emmons Buchanan
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: West Union, O., E.B. Stivers
Number of Pages: 1101