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 97
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Francis Marion Lang, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father's farm, receiving such education as the common schools of Sprigg Township afforded. He remained with his father until the age of twenty- three, at which time he assumed control of the home farm and resided there with the exception of part of one year, till 1891, when he removed to Man- chester to take advantage of the educational advantages for his children and to look after his business interests at that place. While on the farm, he engaged in the dairy business for eighteen months. From 1885 to 1895, he was engaged in the livery business in Manchester, now conducted by Mr. Erdbrink. For several years he handled leaf tobacco on an ex- tensive scale, and at the same time engaged in packing pork in partner- ship with S. R. Monteeth.
From 1884 to 1886, he was President of the Ohio Valley Furniture Company at Manchester, and is now Vice-President of the same concern. In 1891, he was engaged in the coal business, which business he conducted till 1897, when Charles Lang, his son, was taken in as a partner. The
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firm is now styled F. M. Lang & Son. In 1897, the firm of Lang Bros., stoves, hardware, machinery and farm implements, was organized by Charles, Walter and Aultman Lang, sons of F. M. Lang. Charles with- drew from the firm shortly after to give his entire attention to the coal business.
Mr. Lang was married January 24, 1872, to Miss Mary Lou Sin- niger, daughter of Augustus Sinniger, of Sprigg Township. She was born March 30, 1856. Their children are Charles W. S., born November 27, 1872; Harry, born October 15, 1874, died November 22, 1874; Morta B., born December 18, 1878, died December 16, 1879; James Walter, born September 1, 1877; Lee Aultman, born September 10, 1879; William Kirker, born May 5, 1882; Esta Kate, born April 14, 1884; Francis Pierce, August 21, 1886: Lulu Claire, born September 13, 1889, died August 30. 1891 ; Alice Louise, born January 19. 1892, and Helen Augusta, born July 23, 1896."
Mr. Lang is a business man of more than ordinary ability. Although he has engaged in several different kinds of business, he has always been successful and at present is the owner of more real estate than any other person in Manchester. His success is due to his honorable dealings, to- gether with good judgment and strict attention to business.
Jonah Mason Lovett,
of Manchester, Ohio, was born March 3, 1831, at Parkersburg, West Virginia, son of Daniel C., and Emiline (Lockhart) Lovett. Daniel Lovett, his grandfather, was a native of Loudon County, Virginia. His son emigrated to Adams County in 1835, and engaged in teaching until 1838. In that year he returned to Virginia and married Emeline Lock- hart, daughter of Jonah Lockhart, and sister of Judge T. J. Lockhart. He and his wife located at Parkersburg, where they reared a family of seven children, to-wit: our subject and his twin sister Nannie, who married Mathew H. Hale, of Point Pleasant, West Virginia ; Lucy, deceased; Daniel C., Jr., of Point Pleasant, West Virginia; Harry, deceased; Gertrude, deceased, and Emma C., wife of E. M. Lockhart, of Neodesha, Kansas. Daniel C. Lovett was a miller in Parkersburg, and in 1848 was elected County Surveyor of Wood County, West Virginia. He held that office continuously until his death, February 22, 1859.
Our subject received his education in the academy at Parkersburg, conducted by John C. Nash. At the age of sixteen, he entered the drug store of A. N. Williams, and remained there until his majority. From 1862 till 1881, he was a steamboat clerk on the Ohio River. From 1881 until 1888, he was a clerk in the Kanawha Valley Bank in Charles- ton, West Virginia. In 1888, he removed to a farm in Monroe Town- ship, Adams County, and remained there until 1891. While a resident of Monroe Township, he served as Township Clerk a number of terms. In 1891, he removed to Manchester, where he has resided ever since. He is now bookkeeper for the C. Roush Flour Mill.
He was married to Miss Jane Stevenson, November 3, 1872, daugh- ter of David and Elizabeth (Halbert) Stevenson, of Monroe Township (See sketch of Capt. Samuel C. Stevenson). The children of this mar-
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riage are David, in the mercantile business in the Indian Territory ; Gordon Dickey, clerk in the Farmers' Bank of Manchester; Richard Stevenson, Lewis Ruffner, Harry Putney and Edward Craig.
Wesley B. Lang,
of Manchester, is a son of James Lang and Sarah McHenry, his wife, and was born at the old homestead in Sprigg Township, January 9, 1854. He spent his youth on the farm and was educated in the common schools and in the graded school at Bentonville. He has always taken an active part in county and township political affairs, and is recognized as one of the shrewdest politicans in the Republican party in Adams county. The success of the Republican county ticket in the very close county of Adams has frequently hinged on the clever work of Mr. Lang. Recog- nizing this fact, President Mckinley, February 15, 1899, appointed Mr. Lang Postmaster at Manchester, the highest salaried office in Adams County, although he was a resident of Sprigg Township at the time, and there were many prominent applicants for the position, residents of Man- chester. On February 6, 1889, Mr. Lang was united in marriage to Miss Lena Kirschner, a daughter of Godfried Kirschner, of Vineyard Hill, and there has been born to them two daughters, Martha and Lillie.
Dr. William Bruce Loney,
physician and surgeon, West Union, Ohio, was born on a farm near North Liberty, Knox county, Ohio, June 25, 1864. In early manhood, Dr. Loney came with his parents, J. J. Loney and Ethalinda Loney, to West Union, where they conducted a hotel, now the Downing House, and formerly the Crawford House, for several years. During this period our subject was variously engaged to earn the means to assist him in attaining the ambition of his life. He clerked in his father's hotel, solicited for a publishing house, conducted a livery stable, and performed any kind of physical labor that would earn him money. Finally he acquired means sufficient to take a course in Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, from whence he graduated in 1892. He practiced his profession first at Cedar Mills, and afterwards at Dunkinsville, where he was most successful. In 1897, he gave up his office and entered the Chicago Polyclinic, where he took a post-graduate course. He then returned to Adams County, locating at West Union, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Loney is recognized as one of the best read physicians of the county. In politics, he is a staunch Democrat, and has often been requested by the leaders of that party in Adams County to stand as a candidate for the Legislature or other county office, but he is too closely wedded to his profession to give his time to the duties of political office. In his religious views, the Doctor is strictly orthodox, yet he has never been connected with any church organization. He is a member of several fraternal societies.
George Me.Adow Lafferty
was born March 27, 1824, at West Union. His father was Absalom Lafferty and his mother's maiden name was Margaret McDaid, a sister of Col. John McDaid. Her father was Robert McDaid. Absalom
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Lafferty was a native of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and settled at West Union prior to 1820. He had the trade of shoemaker, which he carried on for a long time in West Union. While a resident of West Union, he manufactured shoes for Ohio and Union Furnaces. He also conducted a general store at West Union. He died July 13, 1848, aged fifty-four years. His wife, Margaret Lafferty, died September 9, 1859, aged fifty- four years. Our subject was the eldest son. He attended school at West Union under Ralph McClure, Leonard Cole and Thomas Hayslip. He was apprenticed to the trade of cabinet maker under Peter B. Jones; of Maysville, Ky., in the years 1838 to 1840. In the latter year he went into partnership with Joseph Hayslip, of West Union, in the cabinet mak- ing business, under the firm name of Lafferty & Hayslip, which con- tinued several years. In 1852, he removed to Rome, Ohio, where he en- gaged in the mercantile business and continued in that until 1897. Since that time he has made his home with his children.
He was married first to Jerusha Jones, widow of Hamlin Jones, in 1852. She died in 1854. He was married in 1856 to Miss Ann M. Cox, daughter of Martin Cox, and she died in 1875.
His son, Charles M. Lafferty, engaged in buying ties at Rome. His second son, George W., was formerly a buyer of tobacco but is now engaged in conducting the New Commercial Hotel at West Union. His son, Henry B., resides at Carrollton, Ky. His daughter Anna is the wife of George Carey, residing near Washington, Pa. Two of his children died in infancy.
Mr. Lafferty has always been a Whig and a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Church and is highly respected by all who know him.
Albert Gallatin Lockhart,
of Greene Township, was born September 19, 1839, on the farm on which he now resides. His father, Robert E. Lockhart, was born in Kentucky, October 18, 1793, and was a private soldier in the War of 1812. He was married to Sarah Hemphill, a native of Pennsylvania, on September 17, 1818. They had ten children, five of whom are living and five deceased. The living children are our subject, his brother, Robert E. Lockhart, Ann, wife of W. F. McCormick ; Irene. wife of Reuben Mckay, of Port- land, Ohio, and Sarah, wife of John Campbell, of Cedar Mills, Ohio. Our subject's father died August 31, 1858, and was buried on his farm.
Robert E. Lockhart was a prosperous farmer, and owned six hundred acres of land east of the mouth of Brush Creek in the Ohio Valley. His wife was born September 17, 1795, and died September 18, 1873.
Our subject was reared a farmer and never had any other occupa- tion. He had a common school education. He was married October 20, 1897, to Miss Ida Stephenson, daughter of Isaac Stephenson. She was born August 26, 1872. They have two children, Alberta, aged two years, and Albert G., Jr., aged five months.
Mr. Lockhart owns eight hundred acres of land, the patent to which was signed by President George Washington. His valley land is very productive under his excellent management. He is not a member of any
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church, but his religious belief is expressed in the doctrines of the Presby- terian Church. In his political views he is a Democrat. He has always been active in his party, but has never sought any public office.
Elijah Darius Leedom.
William Leedom, the grandfather of our subject, came from Vir- ginia. He landed at Manchester in 1795, and settled near Bentonville, where the old Leedom Tavern now stands. He was the father of twelve children, six boys and six girls. He erected the celebrated Leedom Hotel, a portion of which is still standing, called the Farmer's Inn. He was a very popular landlord, as he fed well and charged moderately. He entertained Gen. Jackson when he was on his way to accept the Presi- dency. Joseph Leedom is sketched under the title of John Meek Lee- dom in this work. William Leedom's son George was a minister in the Methodist Protestant Church. His other sons were farmers.
His son Aaron was the father of our subject, and located north of where Bentonville now stands. Aaron Leedom was a large dealer in horses and mules, taking many droves to New Orleans by land. He was quarantined in New Orleans seven months on account of yellow fever and cholera, in 1832. He also loaded may flatboats with flour and bacon, floated them to Natchez, and sold them to the planters. He was born in Sprigg Township in 1803, and married Miss Henrietta House in 1824. To this union were born five sons and seven daughters. There are three sons and four daughters living. David C., the oldest son, settled in Thayer County, Nebraska. where his sons are representative members of society ; two of them having been elected to county offices several times, while another owns and edits the leading journal of the county. Shannon W., went to Pike's Peak during the gold excitement, and has been in the mining business ever since. He is at present part owner and manager of a silver mining company near Monterey, Mexico. Their son, Elijah D. Leedon, our subject, was born near where Bentonville now stands, in 1832. He was educated in the common schools until he was seventeen years of age, when he attended the select school of Prof. Miller for two years. He then began teaching and taught five years. In 1854, he was married to Miss Eveline Watson, by Rev. W. J. Quarry, then Methodist minister on the West Union Circuit. He had three daughters and one son. His son, William A. Leedon, died at Osgood, Indiana, in 1874. Frances, the oldest daughter, married W. L. Yates, a real estate dealer of Cincinnati. His daughter, Nora A., married H. B. Andrews, a hardware dealer of Osgood, Ind. His third daughter, Ella B., is still single. She studied music at the Cincinnati College of Music.
Our subject was elected Township Trustee of Sprigg Township for four terms, and Township Treasurer for two terms. He was Post- master of Bentonville, Ohio, under President Buchanan from 1857 to 1861. On September 20, 1864, he was appointed First Lieutenant of Company I, 182d O. V. I. He was appointed Adjutant of the Regi- ment November 29, 1864, and mustered out July 7, 1865. He was elected County Treasurer of Adams County in 1867 for two years, and re-elected in 1869. His term expired in 1872, and he removed to Osgood, Ind.,
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in November, 1872. He was in the mercantile business there for ten years. He removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and was in the wholesale boot and shoe business there under the firm name of Butterworth & Company for three years. At that time his health failed to such an extent that he withdrew as a partner and took a position as travelling agent for the firm until 1891, at which time he entered into business at Young's Sta- tion, Scioto County, Ohio. He was appointed Postmaster at Young's under President Harrison in 1891, which position he still holds.
He has always been a Democrat, prominent and influential in the councils of his party. He has been a member of the Christian Dis- ciples Church since 1867, and has been a consistent member and hard worker in the church. He holds the position of elder in the church.
J. W. McCormick,
of Wamsleyville, son of Charles McCormick and Rebecca McCall, was born in Lewis County, Kentucky, November 1, 1847, and afterwards came with his parents to White Oak, Adams County, Ohio. In 1862, his father removed to Scioto County and resided there until 1874, when he returned to Adams County.
Our subject taught school in Scioto and Adams Counties from 1869 until 1878, and then clerked for S. B. Wamsley at Wamsleyville, in the building which he now occupies. In 1881, he formed a partnership with George and Shannon Freeman and carried on a general store. In 1887, he disposed of his interest and began the same business with his brother, Dr. G. W. McCormick, which they continued until the Sum- mer of 1898. He is now engaged in the bicycle trade at Wamsleyville.
He married Miss Mary Weaver, daughter of Henry Weaver, of Scioto County, April 6, 1871, by whom he has had four children: Clarence E., Icie Florence, James C., and Charles, who died October 3, 1891. Mr. McCormick is an active, prosperous business man with the confidence and respect of patrons and acquaintances. He is a member of the Christian Union Church, but was reared a Methodist. He also belongs to Wamsleyville Lodge, No. 653, I. O. O. F. He has always affiliated with the Democratic party.
Alfred B. Myers, (deceased,)
a son of James Myers and Salina Howard, his wife, was born in Union Township, Brown County, Ohio, March 25, 1855. The paternal grand- father of our subject, John Myers, came from Pennsylvania to Brown County in pioneer days and settled on the old McClain farm near Ripley. Here James Myers was born in August, 1819. He grew to man's estate and married Salina, a daughter of Abner Howard, a prominent farmer of Union Township. James Myers was an industrious and frugal hus- bandman, and became one of the wealthy men of his community. He died July 2, 1892, his faithful wife having gone before, April 11, 1890.
On January 24, 1876, Alfred B. Myers was united in marriage to Miss Melissa Tumbleson, daughter of Abel and Mary Higgins Tum- bleson, of Sprigg Township, Adams County. Mr. and Mrs. Tumbleson were devout and earnest members of the Christian or "New Light"
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Church, and their home was the stopping place for Elder Mathew Gardner, Rev. William Pangburn, and other fathers of the church.
To Alfred B. Mvers and his wife were born James W., deceased, a son who died in infancy, and Clifton G., a bright young man now at home with his mother. the father having died in Brown County, No- vember 14, 1883. In 1886, his widow removed to Sprigg Township, Adams County, where she now resides.
John Riley Mehaffey,
of West Union, was born March 6, 1824, near Belfast, Highland County, Ohio, son of William and Esther (Ellison) Mehaffey. The father of our subject was born December 12, 1797, in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. On February 9, 1820, he married Esther Ellison, daughter of Arthur Ellison, of Gift Ridge. She was born July 8, 1801, and died February 2, 1885. William Mehaffey came with his parents from Pennsylvania to Adams County in 1799. They settled at Hills Fork on the farm now occupied by Frank Williams. John Mehaffey, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His wife was Rachel Gordon, of the same place. He was born August 31, 1757. Rachel Gordon was born August 30, 1763. John Mehaffey died in Highland County, August 20, 1848, and is buried in Ebenezer Cemetery near Mowrystown. Rachel, his wife, died May 30, 1844. John Mehaffey was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His record as such will be found in the Revolutionary War article in this work, entitled "Revolutionary Soldiers." He served four years as a scout and Government spy among the Indians on the frontier in Western Pennsylvania and along the Ohio River. He was a personal friend of General Anthony Wayne and was detailed by him on many perilous and important undertakings. In the War of 1812, being too old to enlist, he went as a substitute for William Pilson. He was a Private in Lieut. Banet Ristine's Company, Col. Edwards' Regiment, First Ohio Militia. He enlisted July 29, 1813, and served until August 22, 1813. He was also a Private in Captain Robert Morrison's Company of Keys' Regiment, Ohio Militia. In this organization he served as a substitute for William McIntire until September 8, 1813. He took part in the campaign at Lower Sandusky. He served as a guard for the wagon train in the expedition to Upper Sandusky and was delayed on duty six weeks after the principal would have been discharged from service.
The children of John and Rachel (Gordon) Mehaffev are Robert, who died in Vigo County, Illinois: Joseph, who died in Peoria. Ill .; Samuel, who died in Wapello, Iowa; William, father of our subject; John, who died in Highland County, Ohio; James, who died at Unity, Ohio: Nain, who died at Peoria, Illinois ; Nancy, who married a Sterling, of Illinois, and Jane, who married Hiram Silcott, of Peoria, Illinois. Two sons and daughters died young.
Our subject lived in Highland County, Ohio, until 1830, when he removed with his parents to Hills Fork. He attended school under the teaching of the Hon. John T. Wilson, in Highland County, at the age of five years (in 1829). He resided on the farm at Hills Fork from 1830 until 1844, when he began teaching, which occupation he followed until 1872. On February 9, 1860, he was married to Mary L. Saylor,
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daughter of Jacob Saylor, who was a veteran in the War of 1812, being a member of the Seventeenth Regulars, serving under General Scott at Lundy's Lane. The children of John Riley and Mary L. Mehaffey are Ann Eliza; wife of W. J. Shuster; Esther Elizabeth ; Laura Ella, wife of John S. Patton ; Mary Bell and William Saylor, who live on the farm.
Mr. Mehaffey enlisted in Company I, 14Ist O. V. I., and was made a Sergeant. He served five months. stationed at Barboursville, West Virginia. He lived on his farm until 1893, when he removed to West Union. He is a member of the regular Baptist Church at West Union, becoming such at the organization of that church, April, 1840. He and Mrs. Mosier, his sister, are the only two living of the original number. He served as Township Clerk two terms; as Township Trustee for several years, and as Justice of the Peace for five terms, 1861 to 1870 and 1878 to 1884, in Liberty Township.
Mr. Mehaffey is regarded as a model citizen, sober, honest and industrious, and in public affairs is a man above the average in judg- ment. The foregoing sketch was written, submitted to Mr. Mehaffey, and approved as to the facts. He died on the twentieth of February, 1900, of a stroke of paralysis. He believed that every duty in life should be well done and lived up to that principle. As a result he has left a memory of a life well spent.
James Alexander Murphy
was born June 11, 1828, at Buford, in Highland County. His father was Andrew Murphy and his mother, Mary Chapman. His father died when he was only two years of age. At the age of ten years he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, Jack McQuitty, at Buford. and served until he was eighteen years of age .. At that age, he went to High school at Greenfield, Ohio. He studied medicine with Dr. Higgins, in Buford, and completed his medical course in 1850. He located in Rarden, Scioto County, and practiced medicine there until 1852. He then gave up the practice of medicine and began keeping a store at Locust Grove. Jan- uary 19, 1854, he married Miss Eliza Ann Crabb, at her father's (Alexander Crabb) home, near Locust Grove. Her mother's maiden name was Sarah Mccutcheon. Our subject and his wife began house- keeping in the Grove and resided there until 1857, when they removed on the Crabb farm row occupied by George Murphy.
In November, 1861, Mr. Murphy returned to merchandising in Locus Grove and continued it until August 19, 1862, when he became Captain of Company E, 117th O. V. I., afterwards Company E, First Ohio Heavy Artillerv, and served with this company until the twenty- fifth of July, 1865. Captain Murphy was a brave and a patriotic citizen and he induced his neighbors and friends very generally to enter the service. He certainly did his full share by influence and example in the suppression of the Rebellion. When he returned from the army, he resumed the business of merchandising and conducted it until 1872, when he sold out his stock of goods and purchased the Platter farm, to which he removed, and on which he continued to reside until his death. He conducted his farm from 1872 until 1884. In the latter
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year his health gave way and he was unable thereafter to farm or attend to any active business. From that time until his death on September 2, 1893, he was an invalid. He died of pulmonary consumption brought on by the hardships and exposures of his service in the Civil War. His life was undoubtedly shortened many years on account of his army serv- ice, and of him it may be truly said his life was a sacrifice to his country. Captain Murphy was a large man of powerful physique and commanding presence. His personal appearance would attract attention anywhere. He was of a pleasant and courteous disposition and very well liked by his neighbors. In his own business he was a good manager and he was a forceful man in the community. He was a Whig and a Repub- lican. At one time he was a Trustee of his Township. He was a candidate for County Treasurer on the Republican Ticket, in 1869, but was defeated. He was a member of the Masonic order and was always a good citizen. His widow still survives. His eldest daughter, Sarah Ann, is the wife of Dr. James S. Berry, of Peebles. His second daughter, Mary A., is the wife of William Custer, of Peebles. His son, John Andrew, is at home with his mother. His son, Canova Vandexter, resides in Clinton County and is a farmer. His son. George Washing- ton, lives on the home farm north of Locust Grove. His son, William David, is a physician in Fayette, Fulton County, Ohio.
John William Morrison.
His birth was November 12, 1853. He was the son of James Mor- rison and Mary J. Cobler. his wife. His grandfather, William Mor- rison, married a daughter of Ralph Peterson. Our subject was educated in the common schools and was a farmer all his life. His father was a member of Company K .. 18Ist O. V. I. He enlisted October 7, 1864, and died March 16. 1865, while home on furlough, from the results of the service, when his son, our subject, was but twelve years of age. He was left the eldest of seven children, with his widowed mother, to face the world and hold the family together, and right nobly did he bear his burden. These children ranged from twelve to one year of age, three brothers and three sisters, whose care, support and education devolved almost wholly on him. That they have taken their places in the world in honorable positions is largely due to the example and force of char- acter of their elder brother.
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