USA > Ohio > Washington County > Belpre > A history of Belpre, Washington County, Ohio > Part 19
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Stone Trautman
Benjamin F. Milton Charles M. Mulligan
Lester Tompkins
Earnest Hupp J. David Hupp William Hupp Vernon Hull Ray Hickman Hill Russell Jackson
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LeRoy Roberts
Ogle Jober
Elmer E. Robinson
Otto Leach John Leach Emmet Leach Ray Sinza Lee Jrovanni A. Liberatore
Clifford Matheny Dow Matheny Clair Matheny Wade Matheny Edward D. Matheny
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Henry A. Thorn Everett Ullom
John Worcester Raymond Wallace George Wallace
Harry R. VanDyke
Raymond VanMeter
Frank Wigner
Carl Valentine
Ray Wigner James Webster
Samuel Ward
John Weaver
Robert Weight
Pearl A. Weaver
Henry Wise
When fighting ceased November 11, 1918, as a result of the Armistice, part of these men were in France and part were still in training cantonments in this country.
The first man from Belpre who fell as a martyr to the cause of world freedom was John Kenneth Christopher who was killed at Chateau Thierry. A little later Frank Browning died in hospital from Pneumonia induced by a gun shot wound. These were our martyrs.
CHAPTER XXI
PERSONAL OLIVER RICE LORING
T HIS account of Mr. Loring is taken from Wil- liams' History of Washington County, page 524 Daniel Loring, the father of the Loring family of this county emigrated from Massa- chusetts to Ohio during the early period of settlement. He had married, at Sudbury, Massachusetts, in "Way Side Inn," a Miss Howe, one of the family which for generations had presided at that historic place, now celebrated in American poetry. She died before the settlement of Marietta, leav- ing three children who accompanied their father to the west, viz: Isreal, Charlotte, (wife of A. W. Putnam) and Ezekiel. He married for his second wife, Mrs. Rice of Belpre township, and by her had four children, the young- est of whom was Oliver Rice, whose portrait appears above. Daniel Loring was the head of the church at Sudbury, and after coming to Belpre was commonly known as "Priest Loring." He was one of the founders of Universalism in Belpre and was also prominent among the early Masons. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for nearly two decades. This was at a period when the best and most in- telligent men were elected to the magistracy. The death of Daniel Loring occurred during the sickly season of 1822 -3.
Oliver Rice Loring was born June 17, 1790. During his youth he received the best instruction the neighborhood afforded, which at the present day would not be considered more than that of a secondary school. He was sent to Athens a short time to "complete his course" in grammar, Arith- metic, Geography and other common branches. He mar- ried for his first wife Fanny Warren and settled on the homestead. She died in 1827, and the following year he married Orinda Howe who was born in 1799 and died in 1889. Mr. Loring held the Office of Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and was highly complimented by older members of the bar as an officer. He held the office
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of Ensign of Militia about the time of the War of 1812, and at various times local township offices. He was for many years a Whig leader in that end of the County and was one of the council which frequently met in Joseph Hol- dens Store in Marietta, and was sardonically designated by John Brophy and his Democratic friends as "Joe Holden's Sinate."
Judge Loring was a man of strong sense, and always had a certain influence in the community. He was reserv- ed in his manners, and never sought notoriety. He died November 21, 1873.
DR. FRANKLIN P. AMES
Dr. Franklin P. Ames, son of Cyrus and Sarah P. Ames, was born in Belpre, November 6th, 1852. He was descended from Cyrus and Mary Ames who settled in Bel- pre about 1800. Dr. Ames was a pupil in Belpre Academy before the establishment of the High School, and graduated from Marietta College in 1877. He devoted several years to teaching in Belpre Village High School and in other places, and secured a medical Diploma from Cleveland Homeopathic College. He practiced medicine in Belpre in connection with his farm, though the latter has claimed most of his attention in later years. He was an intelligent and enterprising citizen and held a number of important township and county offices. He was active in the Little Hocking Grange and a Charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Belpre Village. He was a member and generous supporter of the Universalist Church, also one of the organizers and most faithful supporters of the Belpre Historical Society. When he learned that a History of Belpre was being prepared he was very much interested in its publication and knowing of the present great advance in the cost of both material and labor he donated $100.00 to aid in its publication. Without this timely aid the book would probably not have been published at the present time, perhaps never. The people of Belpre owe a lasting tribute of gratitude to this public spirited citizen who died July 3rd, 1918 before he had seen this book except in man- uscript.
HON. A. W. GLAZIER.
Hon. A. W. Glazier was born and reared on a farm near Amesville, Athens County, Ohio. He was educated in the common schools and select schools of that time and
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was for some time a teacher. While a young man he en- gaged for three years in general merchandising at Urbana, Ohio. About this time he married Miss Mary Wyatt Hide of Millfield, Athens County, and settled on a farm a half mile south of the village of Amesville. Soon after this he united with the Presbyterian Church and was elected an Elder, which office he held until his removal to Belpre in 1876. In Belpre he became an efficient member of the Congregational Church of which he was deacon, respected and beloved, during the remainder of his life. At one time he engaged for a few years in manufacturing but continued to manage his farm and considered himself a farmer. He held various official positions at various times, Justice of the Peace, land appraiser, member of the Board of Ohio University at Athens, and represented his district, the four- teenth, in the State Senate for 1886 and 1887. In this capacity he was recognized as a faithful and intelligent legislator. He was a man of strict integrity and sterling character and always interested and active in every move- ment which promoted a high standard of character. He was active in promoting temperance and every thing that improved the community. October 31st, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. Glazier celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage at which time a host of friends expressed to them their congratulations and good wishes. For ten years he was incapacitated for active duties from an attack of par- alysis. His mind was still active and he was a wise coun- selor in both civil and church matters. He was tenderly cared for by his wife and children until his death in 1908. Mrs. Glazier survived him for several years. She died in 1914.
GEORGE AUGUSTUS HOWE
George Augustus Howe, a well known and influential citizen of Washington County, was born in Belpre, Oct. 1, 1838, on the old Howe homestead where he has spent his life. His grandfather, Captain Perley Howe, was a native of Killingsley, Conn. and was one of the early settlers in Belpre. He married Persis, daughter of General Rufus Putnam, in 1798. He was commissioned Captain of the First Brigade, Third Division, of Washington County Mili- tia, in 1803. At the time of Aaron Burr's Conspiracy his Company stood guard, and Captain Howe was a juror in
CORPORAL JOHN KENNETH CHRISTOPHER
DR. HERBERT S. CURTIS AND SON JOHN AUSTIN CURTIS
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the case. He was a teacher for many years, first in the old Stockade at Marietta, and later at Belpre, and often called "Master Howe." He was one of the founders of the Belpre Congregational Church and the first Deacon, an office he held until his death in 1855, at the age of eighty- eight. His son, Rufus William Howe, was born and spent his life on the Howe farm. In his youth he attended Mar- ietta Academy and boarded in the family of his grand-fath- er, Gen. Rufus Putnam. He married Lucy Eastman in 1833. She died September 22, 1834. He married for his second wife, Polly Proctor of Watertown, who was the mother of four children : viz. Joseph Perley, George, Au- gustus, Rufus William and Persis Putnam. He was a faithful member of the Congregational Church and being gifted as a musician he served as chorister forty-four years. He died July 24th, 1865.
George Augustus Howe, the second son of Rufus Wil- liam, is the only member of the family now living. Be- sides the home schools he was educated in Amesville Acad- emy. Plans were perfected for him to enter the law office of Judge Greene at Marietta, but the untimely death of the latter and the failing health of his father made it necessary for him to abandon this cherished hope, and he entered into partnership with his father on the farm.
When President Abraham Lincoln called for Volun- teers at the beginning of the Civil War, 1861, Mr. Howe first entered the service, as a member of the Ohio National Guards, Company A, 46th Regiment, and served on guard duty for three months, after which he was honorably dis- charged. When President Lincoln issued another call for 200,000 men he again left his crops and aged father, and became a member of Co. H, 148 Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, serving faithfully as Corporal, until honorably discharged, September 14, 1864. Only four of one hundred and ten men in his company still survive. Mr. Howe was married to Charlotte Ann Wyatt, of Amesville, October 25, 1865. To them were born five children, Charlotte Wyatt, Mary Emily, Persis Putnam, also Blanche and Jessie who died in infancy ; the others still survive. Mrs. Howe died Nov- ember 5, 1878 and several years later Mr. Howe married Mary Stella Vance Chapman of College Hill, Hamilton County, Ohio, who was very active in the work of the Con- gregational church and president of its Missionary Society
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until her death in 1904. Mr. Howe has been a life long and active member and supporter of the Congregational Church and served as one of the Trustees until failing health pre- vented him from performing this service.
For several years he has been a "shut in" during most of the Winter months but he has a wide reputation for never failing cheerfulness and genuine old time hospitality, and is always interested and willing to aid in whatever makes for the betterment of his fellow men. Mr. Howe died August 10, 1919, while this book was in press.
GEORGE HOWE BOWER
George Howe Bower was born September 19, 1892 in Belpre, Ohio, at the home of his grandfather, George A. Howe; and this first home, was ever the dearest spot on earth to him, loving the old farm with a true affection. He found keen enjoyment in everything connected with it and ยท being a lover of nature, he "Found tongues in trees; books in the running brooks; Sermons in stones; and good in everything."
It was in this home that the parents early had the little golden haired boy baptized and consecrated his life to the Master. While quite young he became a follower of Christ, and united with the Presbyterian Church at Sisters- ville, W. Va. Later when he came to make his home at Parkersburg, W. Va., he united with the Presbyterian Church of that city.
He received most of his education in the Sistersville schools, graduating from the High School with high hon- ors, at the age of eighteen years.
His aspiration and plans were to continue his education at Harvard University ; but the great Reaper scarcely per- mitted the blossom of youth to burst into the flower of manhood, and he went to be with the Great Teacher.
His was a wonderfully active mind, and he was, unu- sually well informed on the vital topics of the day, the best in literature art, and science.
He was very fond, also, of the biographies of our greatest writers, thinkers, and inventors, reading only the worth-while books and magazines, those which contain food for thought.
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After graduation he was employed by the Standard Oil Company. He had a natural aptitude and capacity for business affairs and had his life been spared, he would without doubt, have climbed to the greatest heights of suc- cess.
He took his initiatory degree in Masonry at the earliest possible opportunity-the day after he attained the age of twenty-one-when he became a member of Mt. Olivet Lodge, No. 3, A. F. and A. M. of Parkersburg, W. Va.
This seemed fitting, since his great, great, great grand father, General Rufus Putnam, was the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge in the State of Ohio, at Marietta, Ohio, and his father, Mr. E. O. Bower was Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of W. Va.
His maternal grandmother was a descendant of Col. John Wyatt of Revolutionary fame.
His maternal grandfather George A. Howe, is one of the leading citizens of Washington County and a descend- ant of two of the oldest families in the Ohio Valley, num- bering among his ancestors, General Rufus Putnam, Fath- er of Ohio, and Perley Howe, who was one of the jurors who tried Aaron Burr for treason.
It was no wonder then, since he had more than proved himself worthy of such noble ancestry, that his heart burn- ed with patriotism at the call of President Wilson for Vol- unteers in our recent world's conflict, and was only kept from enlisting, by ill health.
Endowed with a cheerful, generous, forgiving dispo- sition, he made hosts of friends, and people in every walk of life, received the little helpful favors and sunny smiles which smoothed out many rough places in life, without his being conscious that he had done anything unusual.
"It's doing the little "extras." The things we're not asked to do; The favors that help one's brother, To trust in God and you.
It's doing, I say, the "extras," The things not looked for, you know, That will bring us our King's kind notice,
A "well done," as on we go."
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Coming in the very morning of life, and cutting short a career that had every promise of marked usefulness and success, his sudden failure in health and his death were a crushing sorrow to his hosts of friends to whom his mem- ory will be filled with the fragrance which arises from the recollection of many loving deeds.
"We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs; he most lives Who thinks most, feels the noblest, Acts the best."
MRS. SUSAN D. (WILLIAMS) DICKINSON.
Mrs. Susan D. (Williams) Dickinson was born at Char- lemont, Franklin County, Massachusetts, December 27, 1836. She spent her childhood in a country home and was edu- cated in Shellburne Falls Academy and Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. She taught several years in Massachu- setts and in Illinois and was married to Rev. C. E. Dickin- son, the compiler of this book, Oct. 1st, 1863. For more than half a century she has been a helpmate indeed in his work in the following churches: First Congregational, Oak Park, Ill., First Congregational, Elgin Ills. First Congre- gational, Marietta, Ohio, First Congregational, Windham, Ohio, Columbia Congregational, Cincinnati, Ohio and First Congregational, Belpre, Ohio. In all these places she has been a leader in Ladies Missionary and other societies. In Marietta she was president of a Chautauqua Circle, and graduated from that institution in 1889. She was a citizen of Belpre for eight years from 1906 to 1914. She was a leader in the Ladies Missionary Society of the Congrega- tional Church and also an eminently successful Adult Bible Class teacher in the Sunday School.
She also furnished several valuable essays for the Woman's Reading Club. She and her husband have re- sided in Marietta, since 1914. At the ripe age of eighty- three years she is still a comfort and inspiration to her family and friends.
MRS. NANCY ARMSTRONG
Mrs. Nancy Armstrong is of Scotch-Irish descent and was born in the western part of Pennsylvania in 1841. She removed with her parents to Marietta, Ohio in 1854, and
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was educated in Marietta High School. She taught for some time in the schools of that city, and in 1866 accepted the position of Principal in Belpre Academy, where she continued until the organization of Belpre High School. In 1873 she was joined in marriage with William Arm- strong who had been employed in the United States Com- missary department during the Civil War and later accept- ed a position in the First National Bank of Parkersburg, West Va., with which institution he continued forty-five years; Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have lived all this time in Belpre, strongly attached to the village and people and specially to the Congregational Church of which they are active and esteemed members. For most of these years Mrs. Armstrong has been a teacher in the Sunday School and is specially gifted as an Adult Class teacher. She was one of the organizers and still an active member of the Belpre Womans Reading Club," of which she was president for several years. She is also an active member of the Belpre Historical Society. She has made a life long study of science and literature and the results of her extensive reading are a great assistance in the work of these organi- zations. She is an active member of the Missionary So- ciety and other organizations in her own church, and is also interested and willing to aid other churches and benev- olent enterprises which benefit humanity. We hope her useful life may continue many years an example and in- spiration to the younger portion of the Community.
JOHN KENNETH CHRISTOPHER
Corporal John Kenneth Christopher, son of Charles S. and Flora Spencer Christopher, was born July 15th, 1894, and was killed in battle November 1, 1918 at Argonne For- est in the last great drive of the European War. He en- listed June 13th, 1817 at Wheeling, West Virginia, and was transferred to Philadelphia Marine Barracks for training. Five weeks later he was on the way to France where he was enrolled in the 5th Regiment of Marines. February 15, 1918 he went into the trenches with his regiment which won an enviable reputation in the battles of Chateau Thierry, June 6th, also June 21-26, at Soissons July 18-19. St. Mihiel Sector, September 12-16, Argonne Woods, Novem- ber 1. He was wounded in September and was in hospital for a time, but returned to the regiment in season to be
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in the fight at Argonne where he gave his life as a sacrifice on the altar of freedom. Corporal Christopher was born and spent his youth in the beautiful Ohio Valley, and was educated in the Belpre Schools. As a lad he was generous, self sacrificing and courageous, and gained many warm friends who anticipated for him a successful career. He became a member of the Congregational Church of Belpre, about three years before his enlistment. In the Sunday School he belonged to a class known as Boy Scouts under the care of Miss Persis P. Howe. Of this class more than twenty were in some branch of service during the war. Letters received from Corporal Christopher indicated that his Christian character was maintained and strengthened by his war experience. He was one of the first men in Belpre to enlist and the first to give his life. Millions of young men were sacrificed during this terrible war and there is mourning in millions of homes, and yet the sorrow is as great in each individual home as though they were the only sufferers, and Belpre should as tenderly cherish the memory of her martyrs as though no other community had been afflicted.
February 16th a very interesting and impressive mem- orial service was held in the Congregational church, and roses and poppies will probably continue to bloom over an unknown grave "Somewhere in France."
Corporal John Kenneth Christopher and Frank Brown- ing were Belpre's two martyrs in this war.
REV. CYRUS BYINGTON
In 1820 a Company of missionary colonists and teach- ers, on their way by boat to their mission work among the Choctaw Indians stopped for a time at Marietta where the people became very much interested in them and made generous contributions for their work. This company was led by Rev. Cyrus Byington who commenced active life as a lawyer but soon consecrated himself to the work of a Christian minister and prepared for service as a Foreign Missionary. When this company started down the river in their flat boats and passed Belpre Mr. George Dana, Sr., knowing their business wrote in his journal as follows:
"The Missionary Boat has arrived from Marietta on her way to the Choctaw Nation. The plan of enlightening
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the Savages is certainly philanthropic, to say nothing of the importance of giving them the gospel. They are an injured people; have been driven from their rightful pos- sessions by the whites; have became as it were a remnant that will soon be extinguished unless arrested in their downward career; the plan of Missions and schools has been devised for that purpose. Human generosity and jus- tice conspire to dictate its formation. As they become in- formed they will become amalgamated with the whites,-be brought under the mild sway of our laws, and become a happy and useful people and be an accession to the nation. And who that has experienced the influence of the gospel would not rejoice in assisting to send it to this dark and benighted people? May prosperity attend the Mission." Mr. Dana did not know what influence these missionaries were to exert upon his family during the coming years.
Mr. Byington continued this missionary service for nearly half a century, occasionally visiting Marietta and Belpre, where he spoke in the churches and people con- tinued their interest in the work. In 1827 he was married to Miss Sophia Nye of Marietta who for forty years shared with him their arduous and self denying work.
In 1852 their daughter, Lucy Byington, born on the Missionary field, was married to Dea George Dana, Jr., and spent the remainder of her life a faithful wife and mother in the Dana home. When her father and mother retired from the Mission after the Civil War in 1866, they came to Belpre and made their home for a time with this daugh- ter. In 1867 Mr. Byington published reminiscences of his work in the New York Observer from which we make the following quotation :
"We left Marieta with our hearts greatly refreshed and encouraged in our undertaking. We had heard of the Blennerhassett Island, named for the wealthy gentleman who settled on it, and built his fine palace and out houses there, and who was visited to his ruin by Aaron Burr. We have read Mr. Wirts description of the Island, the house and the family, a description rarely surpassed by our gifted writers. When we passed along we saw his seat in ruins, burned down, the chimneys still standing. Little could I know or think while gazing on these ruins on our way to the Choctaws, that forty-six years after I should retire,
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wearied and worn, to find a home, a quiet room for prayer and study, on the banks of the Ohio and adjacent to this same Island, and my own daughter, her husband and their children there to welcome me, feed me, nourish and strengthen me, in the hope that I might do a little more for our blessed Saviour. It is even so. It was in that room I revised the translation and reconstructed and wrote out the Choctaw grammar."
This grammar was published for its literary merit by the "Pensylvania Historical and Philosophical Society." He also prepared a very complete Choctaw Dictionary which was published by the "Smithsonian Institute."
The fact that the Indians in this country have adopted the English as their written language has prevented the continued use of these books, but they will perpetuate an extinct dialect and are a valuable monument of self-deny- ing missionary labor. In Andover Theological Seminary Mr. Byington was associated with Luther Bingham, Pliny Fisk, Levi Parsons, and others who became eminent in Foreign and Home Missionary Work. He was eminent for his scholarship and devoted piety. A friend wrote of him: "Brother Byington's raiment seemed perfumed with spirit- ual myrrh, and, like Harlan Page, wherever he went his theme was Jesus and his great Salvation. "
Aided by his devoted wife, he reduced the Choctaw language to writing and published in it several books in- cluding portions of the Scriptures.
He received into the Churches nine hundred Christian Choctaws, and to all of these he was a Spiritual father. After retiring to Belpre he purchased and removed to a home in which he died December 31, 1868.
Mrs. Sophia Nye Byington spent her last years with her daughter in the Dana home where she died February 4, 1880. Both were buried in Rockland Cemetery. This Providential connection of Belpre with Foreign Missions is interesting and should be remembered by future genera- tions.
HERBERT S. CURTIS
Herbert Spencer Curtis was born in Newbury Ohio, June 6, 1867, and was the son of Austin L. and Betha Put- nam Curtis. He was a descendant of two of the pioneer
OLD ORGAN IN CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH BUILT BY L. P. BAILEY, ZANESVILLE, OHIO, 1846
MEMORIAL STONES ERECTED BY THE BELPRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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