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 101
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Rev. David McDill, D. D. LL. D.
A summary of the dates and facts connected with the life of Dr. Mc- Dill is first presented and compiled mainly from Dr. Scouller's "Manual of the United Presbyterian Church."
"Dr. David McDill was born August 26, 1826, in Preble County, Ohio; was graduated at Centre College, Kentucky, in 1849, and studied theology at Oxford and Allegheny ; was licensed April 7, 1852, by First Ohio Presbytery, and ordained September 8, 1853, by Chillicothe ; was pastor at Cherry Fork, Ohio, September, 1853-June 1, 1876, and pastor of Henderson, Ill., March 3, 1877-July 1, 1884; was Professor of Phil- osophy in Monmouth College September 1, 1876- 1885; has been Pro- fessor of Apologetics and Momiletics in Xenia Theological Seminary since September, 1885. Publications : "Life of Judge Morrison," 1863, "Secret Societies," 1881, "The Bible a Miracle." Recently also Dr. Mc- Dill has published two other works, one on the "Mosaic Authorship of the Pentateuch," the other entitled, "Pre-Millenialism Discussed."
From the above sketch it will be seen how difficult it is to compress all that ought to be said concerning Dr. McDill within the limits pre- scribed by the publishers of this work. A life so long, useful, and honor- able, certainly deserves more than passing notice. In writing of the man one cannot but feel that he would like to be wholly untrammeled both as to space and time, and that this life, so rich in material, is worthy of full biography instead of a brief sketch which must seem too much like dry chronology.
The older citizens of Adams County will remember Dr. McDill as a man of force and endowed with rare qualities of leadership. He was one that "blazed the way" among them, and took the lead then, as he does now, in many lines of reform. He was a pioneer, in his denomina- tion, in the matter of conducting a series of meetings to win men to the church and to Christ. He thought, and rightly, too, that some such preparation was necessary before a pentecost could come. In the days
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when public debates on religious questions were in vogue, he did his full share of that work and while never seeking a contest of that kind, neither did he run to cover from any adversary. Logic, or clear reason- ing, if you will, is one of the Doctor's strong points and that many an opponent living far beyond the limits of Adams County has discovered to his sorrow. In an argument the writer has never known him to be worsted, and yet he never stoops to the tricks of the pettifogger; in all such contests he would rather honorably lose than unfairly win.
In the dark days of the Civil War, Dr. McDill had more than one opportunity to show his loyalty and courage. True, he was not actually on the field, but in another sense he was in the forefront of the battle. He spoke for the Union when it had enemies north of the Ohio River; he denounced slavery when the system had its advocates and apologists north as well as south of Mason and Dixon's line. When invasion by Southern troops was threatened, he was made Lieutenant of the "home guards" in his community, and when the famous "Morgan Raid" actually occurred. Dr. McDill was taken prisoner and saved the life of a friend and neighbor at that time by resolutely refusing to disclose his hiding place. The man in question had fired on the advance guard of Morgan's men and if caught would no doubt have been shot without trial or ceremony. But neither threates nor cajoling could induce Dr. McDill, while a prisoner, to betray his friend, and "Dick" Morgan found that there was at least one man in Adams County who could keep a secret though that man had never belonged to a lodge. Truth telling is an old and a fixed habit with the Doctor; but he felt that there were certain questions which he had no right to answer before that court of inquiry. Release followed before he had been long a prisoner and the Doctor came back, with honor unsullied, to gladden the hearts of anxious friends and parishioners.
But the time came ere long when the people of his community real- ized that Dr. McDill belonged to the whole church and to the country as well as to Adams County. A man with his gifts could not long keep in hiding even if he desired it; he found it impossible to burry his talent even in a country pastorate. So, after more than a score of years spent in his quiet country home and in close application to study, there came, naturally enough, a call to occupy the Chair of Philosophy in Monmouth College. From that intellectual center his fame spread, through his work. and the unassuming "country parson" was by no means a lesser light in the faculty of that justly celebrated school. In that honorable position at Monmouth he served till once more, in 1885, the church said, "come up higher," and he was called to the Chair of Homiletics and Apologetics in Xenia Theological Seminary. Here he has busied himself in giving seed to the future sowers. The place fits the man, and it is needless to say that the man in every way adorns the place. In his present position his business chiefly is to defend the Bible, and in that sphere, as all his acquaintances know, the Doctor is quite at home. Not only does he give the students the benefit of his excellent lectures upon the subject, but he has lately entered the field of author- ship along that line and we are looking eagerly for other books to follow those already published. His book on the "Mosaic Authorship of the
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GEORGE D. MCCORMICK, M. D.
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Pentateuch" must be a terror to the higher critics, and when one reads his latest work, "Pre-Millenialism Discussed," he is bound to feel that the time of Christ's appearing is not yet at hand. He is a theologian in every sense of the word and therefore the initial letters that follow his name are more than mere ornaments or props for a reputation which could not well stand without them.
Yet it is as a man, no doubt, rather than as scholar or churchman, that Dr. McDill is best beloved and most honored by those who know him. His character is even above his talent, remarkable as the latter may be. There never was a truer friend. His presence is as sunshine in any home. His disposition is and ever has been not to seek his own but the good of others, and that is why his admirers have become an host and some among them hardly dare say or write all they think of the man, lest they seem to indulge in fulsome praise. Although at the time of this writing Dr. McCall has passed the three score and ten, he still possesses full vigor of mind and body. To those near him the sun of his life appears more glorious in setting than in its rising, and when at last, full of years and honors, he is gathered unto the fathers, there will be many to miss him and to feel more deeply than ever that without the inspiration of his personal presence they must fail of reaching that high mark which in his life he set them. Dr. McDill married Miss Martha E. Gordon, of Xenia, Ohio, in 1853.
Dr. George Dunkin McCormick,
of Wamsleyville, is of Scotch-Irish descent, his maternal grandfather having been born in Scotland and his paternal grandfather, Hugh McCor- mick, in Ireland. He is a son of Charles McCormick and Rebecca Mc- Call, and was born October 5, 1845, at White Oak, Adams County. His parents located afterwards at Locust Grove, where our subject attended the Public schools, and ground tanbark at the old tannery there during vacation. He attended Miami Medical College and afterwards Ohio Med- ical College, at Cincinnati, and began the practice of medicine at Wams- leyville, where he has since been located, in 1872. In 1876, March 3, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Wamsley, daughter of S. B. and Anna Freeman Wamsley, and there was born to this union a son, Edgar E. McCormick, March 22, 1878. He is now one of the bright and active teachers of Adams County.
Dr. McCormick stands in the foremost ranks among the physicians of Adams County, and as a citizen is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. He is a member of the Christian Union Church, and of Wamsleyville Lodge, No. 653, I. O. O. F. In politics, he is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, believing in a "government of the people, by the people and for the people." One who has known the Doctor intimately for years says of him: "A more refined and courteous gentleman than Dr. McCormick would be hard to find."
Reuben Arthur McMillan,
of Winchester, Ohio, son of Edwin and Rachel (Pennywitt) McMillan, was born April 19, 1869, at 302 Linn Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. He was educated in the Public schools of the "Queen City," and began his active business career with J. H. Bromwell & Co., of the city of his birth. He
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HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY
was for a time with Joseph R. Peebles, and later, for ten years, traveling salesman in Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky for Andrews, Bates & Company, of Cincinnati.
On the twenty-second day of November, 1894, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Lulu Reese, daughter of James M. Reese, a prominent busi- ness man of Adams County, who built the first steam flouring mill at Peebles, Ohio, as well as flouring mills at Buck Run and Winchester. Mr. Reese's wife was Miss Harriet Horner, a member of one of the old and prominent families of Adams County.
In 1897, after the death of his father-in-law, Mr. McMillan took charge of the flouring mill at Winchester, and two years later be- came sole manager. This is one of the finest and best equipped roller mills in the county with a capacity of one hundred barrels a day. Mr. McMillan, in connection with the milling business, handles all kinds of grains and farm seeds. To him is due the credit of introducing to the farmers of Adams County that valuable forage and food plant, the cow- pea.
Mr. McMillan, by his energy and strict integrity, has succeeded in building up a fine business at Winchester, and is looked upon as one of the most substantial business men of the town.
George Anderson McSurely
was born October 21, 1842, near Unity, in Oliver Township, Adams County, Ohio. There is a separate sketch of his father, Hugh McSurely, among the pioneers in this work. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and attended the Public schools of his vicinity until 1859. He at- tended Miami University in 1859 and 1860, and was ready for the Fresh- man class when he gave up school and went to farming.
When the war broke out, he wanted to enter the service, but his father would not hear to it, and he enlisted himself on November 1, 1861, at the age of fifty-five, in Company E, 70th O. V. I. What might have been expected happened, and Hugh McSurely could not stand the hard- ships of the service. He was discharged December 18, 1862, for physical disability. He went home, and the following Summer, his son, our sub- ject, enlisted in the same company and regiment for three years from June 8, 1863. He served until July 28, 1865. He was never in the hos- pital until after the close of the war. He never missed an hour from duty in the Atlanta campaign.
After returning from the war, he taught school eight years. On April 20, 1869, he married Miss Martha Clark, daughter of Samuel Clark. a neighbor. From 1865 until 1873, he taught school and farmed; and from 1873 until 1886, he was a farmer in Adams County. He then re- moved to Oxford, Ohio. For two years after his removal, he had no par- ticular occupation. In 1888, he opened a grocery in Oxford, and has car- ried on that business ever since.
He is regarded as one of the foremost business men of that place. He has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church since boyhood. Di- rectly after coming to Oxford, he was made an elder in the United Pres- byterian Church there, and has served in that office most acceptably ever
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since. For the past nine years he has been Clerk of the Session of that church. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
He has had two daughters: Lora, who died at the age of nineteen, and Mary, who is a graduate of the Oxford High School and of the Ox- ford College. She also took a post-graduate course at Miami University, and taught in the Oxford College in 1899 and 1900.
Mr. McSurely is a Republican, and has always been one. In the contest for the postoffice at Oxford under President Mckinley, in 1897, he was supported by the several institutions of learning and by the old soldiers, as well as by a large portion of the citizens. He is a man of quiet manners, kind, gentle, and very faithful to his friends. In all rela- tions as a business man, a citizen, and an officer in his church, he is trust- worthy and conscientious. As a soldier, he was faithful, reliable, and efficient. He is a man of clear head and warm heart, and he is true to his convictions of duty.
William Sinton McCauslen,
son of the late Hon. Thomas McCauslen, of Steubenville, was born Jan- uary 26, 1857, at West Union, Adams County. In the same year, his father removed to Portsmouth, where he resided till 1865. In that year, his father removed to Steubenville, which has since been his home. He attended the Public schools in Steubenville and graduated from them in June, 1877. He studied law with his father and was admitted to practice June 17, 1879. He practiced in connection with his father at Steuben- ville until the latter retired in 1883. Since then he has been in partnership with Dio Rogers, under the firm name of Rogers & McCauslen. He was married December 1, 1892, to Miss Winona K. Lowe. He is a Democrat in his political views, but has never sought or held office. He is active in his profession and has a vigorous mind. He is a gentleman of fine presence and is quick and active in the conduct of a case. He is method- ical in the transaction of business. As a gentleman, he keeps to the high- est standard. He is prompt in the fulfillment of all his obligations. He belongs to a number of fraternal societies, and is popular in all of them. He has a prosperous business.
Oscar William Newman
son of George O. and Mrs. Clay B. Newman, was born at Portsmouth, Ohio, June 14, 1867. He attended the Portsmouth schools for the course of twelve years and graduated from the High school, June, 1884. He then attended Kenyon College and remaind till the close of his junior year in 1887. He began the study of law in the Fall of 1889 under his father and was admitted to the bar in October, 1891. He began the prac- tice of the law in Portsmouth, Ohio, alone and so continued it until Sep- tember, 1893, when he formed a law partnership with the Hon. A. C Thompson. This continued until November, 1898, when it was dissolved by the appointment of Judge Thompson as Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. Since then, he has continued his law practice in Portsmouth alone.
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On June 18, 1894, he was married to Judge Thompson's eldest daugh- ter, Charl. In politics, Mr. Newman is a Democrat, and in religion, an Episcopalian. He is highly esteemed as an excellent young lawyer and bids fair to establish a distinguished reputation in his profession.
John Newman,
was born near Peebles, in Adams County, June 10, 1863. His father was Harrison Newman, and his mother, Mary Mitchell. They had six sons and five daughters, and our subject was the fifth child. In 1874, his father left Adams County and located in the Black Oak Bottoms in Lewis County, Kentucky, opposite Buena Vista. After residing there a year, he returned to Adams County and remained three years. Then he tried Kansas for eight months in 1878, but concluded Ohio was better than Kan- sas and returned to Scioto County. There our subject began life on his own account. He began work for John Williams on his farm west of Rarden, and so well did he and Mr. Williams get along that on September 29, 1887, he married his daughter, Eliza C., and lived on the same farm until Mr. Williams' death in July, 1891. When the farm was sold in the course of administration, he bid it in and continued to reside there until all the buildings were destroyed by fire. After that, he purchased prop- erty in Rarden, where he now resides. He has four children living, all sons, Walter C., William, Alty Denver, and Hershel.
Mr. Newman has one of the best farms in the Scioto Brush Creek Valley and is an excellent farmer. He is a Democrat by birthright and on his own account. He is fearless in the discharge of any duty and is a good citizen, self-respecting, and respected by his neighbors.
David Nixon,
proprietor of the Nixon Hotel, at Peebles, was born October 12, 1842, in Meigs Township, Adams County, two and a half miles south of Peebles. His parents were married in Loudon County, Virginia, May 26, 1831. Their names were James Nixon and Susan Potts. They came to Adams County in 1837.
Our subject's grandfather, George Nixon, was born in Loudon County, Virginia, August 12, 1799, and resided there all his life. David Nixon was reared a farmer's son, and had the usual common school train- ing. He enlisted in Company E, of the 70th O. V. I., November 1, 1861, at the age of nineteen. He was made a Corporal, July 14, 1864, and a Sergeant, January 24, 1865. He veteranized in 1864, and was mustered out August 14, 1865. To have been a Corporal and Sergeant in this company was a greater honor than a commission in many other com- panies. John T. Wilson was the first Captain of this company, Dr. John Campbell, its First Lieutenant and Joseph Spurgeon, its Second Lieuten- ant. This company was as near a successor to Cromwell's Ironsides as any company could be. The Captain was fifty years of age when he was enrolled .. There were four others in the company over fifty years old. There were four over forty, and a number of them discounted their ages to get in. The regiment was in fifteen battles and numerous skirmishes. Nixon was found at the front all the time and made a first-class reputation as a soldier. When he returned from the war, he engaged in farming.
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On February 21, 1867, he was married to Mary Ann Eakins, daughter of Joseph and Mary (McNeill) Eakins. Joseph Eakins was a son of 'Squire John Eakins. When the town of Peebles was established in April, 1882, David Nixon was the first to build a house, the present Nixon Hotel, and the best in the place. It will always be the best as long as Nixon is in the business. There is an old adage, "He knows how to keep hotel." Whoever is the author of that must have had David Nixon in his mind.
In politics, he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has been several times Justice of the Peace of his township and was Mayor of Peebles for three years. He was elected Township Treasurer in 1897. His children are James Nelson, partner in the furniture store of Davis & Nixon. He was married to Florence Custer. Our subject's daughter, Susan Anabel, is the wife of Prof. Al- bert C. Hood, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. His daughter, Cora Elizabeth, is the wife of Ira A. King, of Peebles. He has three daughters, Pearl Merrila, Ora Alice and Mary Josephine, and one son, Albert Valie, at home. David Nixon believes in doing the duty nearest him. He is a quiet, inoffensive citizen and a good neighbor. He is of easy temper and disposition, but when required to act is as firm and determined.
When the Recording Angel has his record made up, we venture it will compare favorably with the best.
Samuel X. Nesbit,
school teacher, and farmer, Vineyard Hill, was born December 12, 1840, on the farm now owned and occupied by him on Gift Ridge, Monroe Township. His father was Alexandria S. Nesbit, who married Miss Mary Peden, a native of Clermont County, Ohio. The Pedens were Penn- sylvania Quakers, most of the family now living in West Virginia in the vicinity of Peden Island. The paternal ancestor, John Nesbit, came from Scotland to York County, Pa., in 1732. His son, William Nesbit, the grandfather of Samuel X., had a brother Alexander, who was a Captain in a Pennsylvania Regiment in the War of the Revolution. He also com- manded a company in the Whiskey Rebellion.
William Nesbit married Mary Sanderson, a sister of William Sander- son, who commanded a battalion under General Wayne at Brandywine. Samuel X. Nesbit, the subject of this sketch, inherited a taste for literature and general reading which he has cultivated as opportunity would permit all his life. When eighteen years of age, his father died and upon him fell the burden of caring for his mother and six little children, and this greatly interfered with the plans of his future life. Shortly after the death of his father, the War of the Rebellion broke out, and in December, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the famous 70th Regiment, O. V. I., at Camp Hamer. He was at Shiloh, storming of the Russell House, Siege of Corinth, and was in every skirmish line of battle formed by the regiment excepting two, and although touched by balls on several occasions, was never seriously wounded. On the night before the battle of Missionary Ridge, William Hornbeck, a vidette, was charged by three cavalrymen and driven in. Samuel X. Nesbit, John Love and Sergeant Mathew Mc- Colm volunteered to assist Hornbeck to retake the post, which they did after killing one of the Rebel cavalrymen. After the war, Mr. Nesbit
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engaged in teaching school, which profession he followed until 1886. In 1894, his home was burned and with it his fine library, the acquisition of many years' toil. He now resides in happy bachelorhood on the old home- stead in Monroe Township. He has always been a Republican in politics and a Liberal in religion.
Reason B. Naylor,
of Vineyard Hill, was born in Fall County, Texas, June 24, 1852. His father was Benjamin Naylor, who married Victoria Lucas, and was born and reared on the old Naylor farm on Gift Ridge. Soon after his mar- riage, he removed to Cincinnati, where he engaged in the mercantile business. Then he removed to the State of Iowa, and later to Texas, where he died, leaving a widow and two young sons, Clayton, and Reason B., the subject of this sketch. It was the last request of Benjamin Naylor that his widow remove to Adams County, Ohio, which she did, traveling via New Orleans. Our subject married Miss Irene Wade, daughter of LaFayette Wade, of Monroe Township, September 20, 1876. They have had born to them Quincy, Carrie, Cora, Ethel, Granville, Rosa, Izella, Benjamin, Mary and Clinton, two of whom, Carrie and Clinton, are deceased.
Reason B. Naylor now resides on the old LaFayette Wade farm near Wrightsville on the Ohio River. It was on this farm that Israel Donalson was captured by the Indians in 1792, an account of which is given in this volume. In politics, our subject has always been a Republican, and takes an active part in the affairs of his party in local matters, but he has never sought official recognition, though often requested to be a candidate on his party's ticket.
He is a zealous member of the U. B. Church at Mullhollen, on Moore's Run, in Monroe Township, where his family hold membership.
Mesheck Herdman Newman
was born near Rardin, in Adams County, September 18, 1840, the eldest son of John and Ann Newman. His middle name is his mother's maiden name. He was brought up to the life of a farmer on his father's farm. He received only a common school education. He was married on the twenty-eighth of November, A. D. 1861, to Miss Sarah Johnson. To them have been born ten children, all of whom are living except one daughter, who died in April, 1899. Mr. Newman owns a large farm and is a farmer and a stock raiser. He was a Justice of the Peace of Franklin Township from 1874 to 1877, and served one year as Treasurer of the Township. He was a County Commissioner of Adams County for three years from January 2, 1894.
In politics, Mr. Newman has always been a Democrat. He is not a member of any church, but a liberal contributor to the Methodist Episco- pal Church. He is a man who attracts many friends to him and holds them. He is much given to hospitality and makes all his friends thrice welcome. He is regarded by all who know him as an excellent citizen.
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W. H. Orebaugh,
farmer and stock dealer, of Cherry Fork, Ohio, was born, September 16, 1864, in Eagle Township, Brown County, Ohio, son of Henry and Hannah (Sprinkle) Orebaugh, of Brown County, Ohio. Jacob Orebaugh, grand- father of our subject, was a native of Virginia, where he married Rachel Fry. They belonged to the Lutheran Church and were of German origin. They came to Ohio in 1829. Peter Snider, maternal great-grandfather of our subject, came from Germany in 1746. He served in the Revolu- tionary War for seven years. He married Christina Sewmalt, of Ken- tucky. She was born in 1746, and died at the age of one hundred and three years in 1849.
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