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 94
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He was suffering from a felon on the index figer of the right hand. Dr. Wilson, who was attending him, advised amputation and the patient consented. The Doctor was nervous and could not saw the bone steadily. William Holmes took the same and separated the bone him- self.
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He followed his occupation of carpenter until two years before his death, September 19, 1872, when he died suddenly of apoplexy. He was a law abiding, useful citizen, who commanded the respect of every- one. His wife, who was born October 15, 1886, died February 14, 1890. His daughter Nancy married Alex. McGovney and Cyrena married John Willit ; Margaret married George W. Crawford and resides at Wrights- ville, Adams County.
William Holmes. son of our subject, married three times : first, to Isabelle Satterfield, daughter of Wesley Satterfield; second, to Miss Trefts, by whom there are two children, Mrs. E. E. Crawford, of Ash- land, Ky., and George Holmes, of Shear Fork, South Dakota. His last wife was a Miss Piatt. There are six living children of this marriage.
Allen Vane Hutson,
of Bentonville, was born July 12, 1848, in Sprigg Township, on the farm adjoining the one on which he now resides. His parents were Henry and Maragaret (Vane) Hutson. Major Hutson, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland. He located in Kentucky in 1804 on the old Daisy Plantation near Millersburg. Here he reared a family of children, five of whoin lived to maturity. They were Henry, father of our subject ; Henna, who married James Bishop, of Falmouth, Ken- tucky ; Rachel, the wife of Hon. John P. Bloomhuff ; Elizabeth, wife of William Stevenson, and the wife of William Hurd. The last named is the only survivor. Major Hutson removed to Adams County in 1812. He located on what is known as the Bloomhuff farm, and resided there until his death, at the age of ninety, in the year 1852. Henry Hutson, father of our subject, married Margaret Vane, who was also a native of Maryland. His daughter Margaret was born in 1804 and her father left Maryland for Ohio in 1807. Henry Hutson resided, for the greater por- tion of his life, on the farm in Sprigg Township, now occupied by James Froman. He reared a family of five sons and two daughters, John. of West Union ; Handy, deceased; Henna, married first to George Brittingham and afterward to James M. Froman; Allen V., our sub- ject, and Thomas Hamer, of Hillsdale, Kansas. Henry Hutson was a man of the strictest integrity and of more than ordinary ability. He was a recognized leader in his community in social, church and public affairs. He was deacon, clerk and trustee of Union Church at Benton- ville, for about forty years.
Our subject attended the common schools until the age of nineteen, when he became a teacher and followed that profession for ten years. He studied surveying under Nathaniel Massie and Jeremiah Bryan. He has Massie's old compass which belonged to Gen. Nathaniel Massie. It was brought to this country by Lord Baltimore. Mr. Hutson has an extensive knowledge of French and German and is able to enjoy the best works in each of those tongues. He was County Surveyor of Adams County from 1877 to 1880, and again from 1887 to 1893. He made a most efficient officer. Mr. Hutson is a Democrat in his political views.
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William Buchanan Harsha
is the eldest son of Paul Harsha and Martha Buchanan. Paul Harsha was born April 1, 1800, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. His wife was born in Chambersburg, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1810. Her parents removed to Washington County, Pa., in 1812, and there she was married to Paul Harsha on May 22, 1831. In 1841, they located near Harshaville in Adams County. The mill at Harshaville was then owned by Samuel Wright, but was soon after purchased by Paul Harsha. Our subject was born in Washington County, Pa., in 1832, and came to Adams County with his parents. The Harshaville mill was the first built in Oliver Township, in 1817, by Gen. Samuel Wright, who, in 1846, sold it to Paul Harsha. Our subject began work in this mill under his father in 1844, and has been there ever since. The mill had been refitted in 1847. Our subject operated the mill until 1859, when he reconstructed it and operated it until 1882, when it was refitted with new machinery. It was destroyed by fire in the Fall of 1891, and rebuilt the next Spring. It has continued in successful operation ever since.
Paul Harsha. his father, died on his birthday, April 1, 1876. Our subject conducted the mill alone until 1884, when his son, Paul Howard Harsha, became a partner and has continued as such ever since. The business is conducted under the name of W. B. Harsha & Son. At the age of twenty-one, our subject was married to Rachel, third daughter of Gen. William McIntire. Of this marriage there were two sons, Dr. William McIntire, of Chicago, Ills., and P. Howard Harsha, of Ports- mouth, and two daugthers, Mrs. Anna McCalmont and Mrs. Minnie Mc- Quiston, wife of Rev. J. A. C. McQuiston, of Cherry Fork, Ohio. Our subject's wife died in 1865, and he was married in 1871 to Miss Alma McIntire, daughter of Capt. William McIntire. Of this marriage there was born four children, three sons and a daughter, Carey McIntire, Oscar, John W. and Florence. Our subject has been a Republican all his life. At the age of seventeen, he joined the United Presbyterian Church and has lived in that faith ever since. Mr. Harsha is noted for his Christian character and his business integrity. He is a model citizen and business man and is useful and helpful in all his relations to society.
Phillip Michael Hughes
was born in Adams County, Franklin Township, February 22, 1844. His father was Peter L. Hughes and his mother, Mary Carrigan. His father was born in Ireland in 1790 and came to this country in 1798 at the age of eight years. His mother was born in Franklin Township, Adams County. Her father, Andrew Carrigan, was a native of Ire- land. Peter L. Hughes, father of our subject, had four sons and two daughters who grew to maturity. His daughter Hannah married John B. Allison, who has a separate sketch herein. A son, Frank O., and his wife, a daughter of Hugh Breslin, are both deceased. Mary Hughes, the second daughter, married Joshua Hatcher. Tobias Hughes married Flora Cannon, a daughter of Eleven Cannon and granddaughter of Gen- eral Daniel Cockerill. He died at the early age of thirty-two, leaving his widow and three children. Another son, John W. Hughes, died in young manhood.
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Our subject obtained his education in the common schools. He attended a commercial school in Cincinnati in 1863 and 1864, and directly atter that began farming on his own account. About 1870, Jacob Weaver and his sister had a delightful home just south of the Ser- pent Mound. Our subject was a visitor there and soon found out what a good housekeeper and what an attractive young woman Miss Mary L. Weaver was, and he deliberately broke up that pleasant home, by mar- rying Miss Weaver on the fifth of October, 1871. Jacob Weaver then went to live with his sister and brother-in-law for a year, and his observ- ance of married life was such, that he went and obtained a wife for him- self.
Of the children of our subject, Hannah A., married John E. Swearingen. They reside at Clintonburg, Miami County, Ohio. John J. Hughes, a son, aged twenty-two, resides at home. Our subject's daughter, Kate Mary, is a young woman at home; Ferris L., aged fifteen, and Rosa Belle and Mary Grace, younger, are with their parents. Mr. Hughes has six hundred acres of land in one body in Bratton Town- ship lying between the Baker Fork and the Middle Fork of Ohio Brush Creek. A more pleasant location was never found by man. Mr. Hughes has a large and commodious residence. The sugges- tion of thrift shows everywhere over his broad acres. Talk of the pastoral lives of the Patriarchs. They weren't in it compared with Phil Hughes. His farm and home are more desirable than the whole belong- ings of the Patriarch Jacob after he had done up his father-in-law, Laban. If any one desires to take lessons in thrift and how to care for farms to make them productive, and a delight to every one who has any appreciation of nature, and of the improvements of it by cultivation, let him visit Bratton Township and call on Phillip M. Hughes, John B. Allison and Alfred R. Fulton, and if he does not come away pleased and with a whole swarm of new ideas, then the writer has not told the truth and is incapable of it. All three named are model farmers and have the finest of farms, but, Mr. Hughes has the advantage in situation.
In his political faith, Mr. Hughes is a Democrat. In his religion he is a communicant of the Mother Church of all, the Roman Catholic. His wife and children are Methodists. Mr. Hughes possesses the confi- dence of all his neighbors and well deserves it. One of the best evi- dences of it is, that he was President of the School Board of the Town- ship for twelve consecutive years. He was a Commissioner of the county from 1890 to 1893. He is strictly honest, honorable, and up- right. He attends strictly to his own business, and does unto others as he wishes to be done by. As a public officer, he was capable, honest, and efficient. He is an honor to himself, to his family, and to the com- munity, and his character estimate was furnished by one of his neigh- bors who knows him so well that he could not possibly be mistaken about him.
The writer regards him as one of those magnetic men whom it is a pleasure to meet, and would like to live neighbor to him.
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Albert Clinton Hood.
Albert Clinton Hood, the ninth child of John P. and Sarah J. Hood, was born in West Union, Adams County, Ohio, February 28, 1858. He attended the Public schools of West Union until the age of seventeen, at which time, 1875, he began teaching in the country schools of Adams County. He followed this business for several years, teaching in the Winter and going to school in the Summer. He afterward attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and later the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and besides, he has accom- plished much by home study.
He filled the following positions in Adams County: Superintendent of Rome schools, Principal of Manchester High School, Superintendent of Bentonville schools, of Peebles schools, and of the West Union schools. Besides, within this period, he taught several Normal schools during the Summer months. He was County School Examiner from September I, 1888, to August 31, 1891, having been appointed to the position by Judge I. N. Tolle.
Since leaving Adams county in 1892, he has superintended the schools of Aberdeen, Brown, County, Ohio; Shiloh, Richland County, Ohio; New London, Huron County, Ohio, and Reynoldsburg, Franklin County, Ohio. On retiring from the New London schools in '98 he was invited back to take charge of the Shiloh schools, but declined the offer to accept the superintendency of the schools at Reynoldsburg. At this place he also conducted a Summer school for the especial training of teachers. In the year 1900 he accepted an appointment as teacher in the Central High School, Cleveland, Ohio.
Albert C. Hood was married November 28, 1889, at Peebles, Adams County, Ohio, to Susan Annabel Nixon, daughter of David and Mary Ann Nixon of that place. Three children, two boys, Edwin Nixon and Glenn Mack, and one girl, Pauline, have been born to them, all of whom are living. He has been somewhat active in lodge work, having become a member of the I. O. O. F. Subordinate, Encampment, and Rebekah Lodges, and of the Masonic Blue Lodge, Chapter, and Order of Eastern Star.
In June, 1893, Mr. Hood obtained a High School Life Certificate from the State Board of School Examiners of Ohio. The degree of Doc- tor of Philosophy, and also that of Master of Arts, was conferred upon him in 1899, by Mount Hope College.
Mr. Hood is truly a school man. He entered the profession of teach- ing when quite young. He began in the country schools and has ad- hered to the work, being gradually promoted until he has held several responsible positions as Principal and Superintendent. As a teacher, he is rigid in discipline and thorough in instruction. He has high ideals and strives to bring his pupils up to them both in education and in conduct. He has made a careful study of the art of teaching, having given much time to educational associations and is able to discern the best points of the work. He does not like sham in any sense nor those who try to practice it. After leaving the High school as a pupil, he steadily ad- vanced in education until he was qualified for the degree of Doctor of
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Philosophy. In addition to the Public school work, he has been con- nected with private Normal schools where teachers have been trained for examinations and for better work as teachers. His influence is toward the elevation of the lives of the pupils who come to his schools and in this way his work has been especially successful. He is industrious, pains- taking and careful in whatever he endeavors to do, and this makes him a most useful teacher, inspiring his pupils to be careful in thought and neat in execution. Even people who do not like him say that he is a good teacher. As a man, he is thoroughly honest and upright and his character is above reproach. He belongs to the conservative class. Of a nervous, sanguine temperament, he is quick to judge and strong in his convictions. He is not the "first to lay down the old nor the last to take up the new." His strong point is in counsel and he is a steadfast friend to those whom he chooses as friends. As a citizen, he takes a quiet but positive interest in public affairs, makes up his own opinions on public questions and exercises the right of franchise in accordance with free convictions.
Samuel Jones
is one of the earnest settlers of Meigs Township, having resided there for sixty-four years. He is the son of Matthew and Sarah Jones, and was born December 2, 1825, in Tiffin Township. His father was one of the early farmers of Adams County, and raised a family of seventeen children of whom Samuel was the tenth child. His parents being poor and hav- ing so large a family, it was necessary for the children to "work out." His father sold the farm of two hundred acres when Samuel was ten years old and moved to Meigs Township where he bought another. Samuel remained with his parents until he was seventeen years old. He then hired himself to Wm. Metz, a thrifty farmer on the Ohio River, and worked for him a year at eight dollars per month. Later he was em- ployed by Samuel Breadwell on a farm at thirteen dollars per month, by James Moore at sixteen dollars per month, and by John Gorman at eighteen dollars per month. In each case his earnings went to his parents, except what was necessary to buy clothing, which was never expensive.
The iron furnaces of Lawrence and Gallia Counties, and the coal pits necessary to supply them, offered better wages to young men and Samuel sought employment at Mt. Vernon Furnace, where he received twenty dollars per month cutting wood, hauling wood and working in the coal pits. Here he saved his money and purchased forty-nine acres of land on Turkey Creek, Meigs Township. He gradually added to this until he owns two hundred and fifty acres, and on this farm he has reared a large family.
His education was limited to the country schools of that day, although his good judgment and general information made what learning he had very useful to him. His school teachers, as he remembers them, were Hannah Irvin, Dorcas Taylor, L. D. Page, Benjamin Black, Samuel Thoroman, Henry Williamson, John Williamson, and he says they were all good teachers. His mother was Sarah Thoroman, who was a daughter of Samuel Thoroman and Ann Crawford. The latter was a relative of Col. Crawford, who was burned at the stake by the Indians. The Thoromans are of Scotch ancestry.
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In 1851, he married Sophia Clark, daughter of James and Jane Clark, residents of Meigs Township. They settled on the land spoken above, and there reared a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom, with the exception of one daughter, are living. In 1868, his wife died of typhoid fever, leaving him a baby ten months old, Edward, who is now Superintendent of the Public schools at Nelson- ville, Ohio. In 1869, he married Mrs. Margaret Callaway, who had four sons. Six children, two sons and four daughters, were born to the new marriage and all are living.
Mr. Jones has always taken a deep interest in public affairs. In poli- tics, he has been a Republican since the organization of that party. Dur- ing the War of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the 14Ist O. V. I., and was a member of Company K.
In church matters he holds liberal views and is a member of the U. B. church. He has never united with any secret orders except the G. A. R.
For the past twenty years his health has been impaired and he has left off the hard manual labor necessary for a successful farmer and has devoted his time to the duties of a notary public, giving special attention to pension claims in which he has met with great success.
The leading traits in the character of the subject of this sketch are his sturdy honesty, sympathy and liberality. He believes in his own rights and will contend for them, but he recognizes the rights of others. He loves frankness and practices it. He despises deception of any kind. The writer of this sketch knows from an every-day intimacy with him for twenty years that he would not practice a fraud nor cheat a neighbor even though he knew the wrong would never be discovered. The latch- string has always been on the outside of his door. Neighbors, friends and relatives have been welcomed and urged to remain. He loves friends and companions. His conversational powers are good and he is always a welcome visitor among his neighbors. He has lived an exem- plary life before his large family of children. Owing to lack of means, he could not offer more than a common school education to his children. Three of his first family became teachers ; two of these have attained suc- cess as superintendents of schools. One has already been referred to, and the other now holds the responsible position of Superintendent of the Ohio Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, at Columbus.
John William Jones
was born January 25, 1861, near Mineral Springs, Adams County, Ohio. He was reared on a farm and attended the Public Schools in Winter until seventeen years of age, when he began his career as an educator. After having taught five terms in the country school and having raised his grade of certificate to the first class, he was elected Principal of the Village schools of Rome, Ohio. After serving here for one year, he relinquished his position in order to enter the Normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. In 1885, he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and in the Fall of the same year, was elected Superintendent of the Manchester schools, where he remained for ten years, being elected each successive time without ever having a vote cast against him. During the tenure of his
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position as superintendent of these schools, Prof. Jones spent his vacations teaching Normal schools, preparing teachers for their work, and fitting pupils for college .. These schools were first conducted at North Liberty, and afterwards at Manchester. He also spent a portion of his vacation instructing in the Teachers' Institute. In 1888, he went before the Ohio State Board of School Examiners and was granted a high school life certi- ficate, having successfully passed in twenty-three branches of study. In 1893, he received the degree of Bachelor of Pedagogy from the Ohio Uni- versity at Athens, at which institution he had taken a post-graduate course. Prof. Jones was re-elected, in 1895, to the Superintendency of the Man- chester schools for a period of three years, but before entering upon this term, he was called to his present position, Superintendent of the Ohio In- stitution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, assuming the duties of his office in Sep.cember, 1895.
Prof. Jones was a man of high standing and influence in school circles, being recognized as one of the progressive educators of the State. He has been untiring in his devotion to the interests of the institution since assuming the reins of authority, and has given much prominence to the work being accomplished by the Ohio School for the Deaf. Being of a sympathetic disposition, he is well qualified for his present position. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1885, he was married to Miss Cora A. McPherson, of Mineral Springs. They have three daughters, Marjorie McFerran, Carrie Louise and Rela Pauline.
Paul K. Jones
was the son of Mathew and Sarah Jones, born September 4, 1819. His youth was spent on the farm. At the age of nineteen, he began teaching in the Public schools of Adams and Scioto Counties. He traveled ex- tensively through the West, over the greater part of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. He returned to Ohio and married Elizabeth Clark, daughter of James Clark, of Jefferson Township, Adams County. They located neat Des Moines, lowa, where he was engaged in teaching, but after a residence of five years in that State, they returned to Adams County. He after- ward purchased a farm just across the line in Scioto County, on which he continued to reside until his death.
Mr. Jones was a man of very strong convictions. Early in life he became an Abolitionist, his attention being first called to the subject by a party of slave hunters passing through where he was teaching. They returned with the fugitives manacled and driven before them. This ob- ject lesson made him the strongest kind of an Abolitionist. He engaged in many prominent debates on the slavery question. At the breaking out of the war, he felt that the result would be the abolition of slavery and that it was his duty to do all that he could to bring it about. He therefore en- listed in Company B, of the 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, on the fifteenth day of October, 1861. for a period of three years, at the age of forty-three, within three years of the limit. He served his three years and served as a veteran, and was discharged August 14, 1865. He was in all the battle and engagements of his company, and during that time acted also as a correspondent for several Northern newspapers. His stories of army life
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were read with great interest by all those within the circulation of the journals he represented. At the end of his military service he resumed the occupation of teaching. He was a man of high moral principles, of the strictest integrity, honorable in all his dealings with his fellow men, and he was respected by all who knew him. He was a model citizen in every respect. He died in March, 1874, and is buried in the cemetery near Wamsleysville, Ohio. His son, Lafayette Jones, the present Surveyor of Scioto County, is sketched in this work.
Robert Caraway Jones
was born on Blue Creek, December 1, 1858. His father was Oliver Jones ; his mother, Elizabeth Caraway. Our subject was the second child. He has a sister, Annaleva, wife of John Calvin, and a brother, Albert. He attended the District school in his vicinity and lived on his farm until he was twenty-four years of age. He engaged in the merchandise business in 1882 at Blue Creek and remained in that until 1885. He then went to Meade County, Kansas. He remained there a year. He then went to Colorado. He married Miss Isa McCall, daughter of Henry McCall. Coming from Colorado, he went to Blue Creek and engaged in farming. In 1898, he moved to McGaw and engaged in the merchandising business for a few months. He then returned to Blue Creek and went to farming. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is a Mason and a member of the West Union Lodge.
John H. Kincaid
was born October 13, 1813, son of John and Sarah Kincaid. He worked on his father's farm and attended the Public schools in his vicinity. He was twenty-one years of age when his father, Judge John Kincaid, died, and was one of ten surviving children, yet he bought out his brothers and sisters and paid them $1,100 for their interests. He was married August 7, 1834, to Barbara Lawrence, a native of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He began his married life without a dollar of money, but he had a capital of energy, will and industry that served him well. He became one of the principal farmers of the county. January 10, 1865, his wife died, and on December 23, 1867, he was married to Jane McNeil, who survived him. He took an active interest in politics, was a Whig and Republican and very strongly anti-slavery. He always attended the county conventions of his party, usually as a delegate and so often was this done that the wags gave him the name, in sport. "Liberty Township." What they said in sport was sober reality, for, in many respects, he was "Liberty Township." In his interest in political affairs, he was a model citizen. He believed every man should take a continuing interest in political affairs, and, as a con- sequence, he never missed a primary or political convention. He often attended the District and State Conventions of his party. In political affairs he was always consulted and great weight given to his advice. He was a man of fine personal appearance, very tall and very erect in his car- riage. His physical appearance would attract attention in any company or public assemblage. No man enjoyed a hearty laugh more than he, and he was full of fun and humor, but whenever he undertook to do anything, no man was more fixed or set in his purpose. He had an expression of firmness about his mouth when his lips were closed that was emphatic and im-
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