A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 106

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612

USA > Ohio > Scioto County > A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record > Part 106

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

death of his parents, while he was yet a lad he went to Chillicothe where he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1832, on the opening of the Ohio canal, he came to Portsmouth.

October 9, 1838, he was married to Eliza, daughter of John Ratcliff who was a prominent citizen of English nativity. She died in 1854. Of this marriage, were born eight children, all of whom died in childhood, except Harriet who died in 1863; John W. Jr., who died in 1870, and Annie E., who died in 1899. April 10, 1855, he was married to Sarah Pursell, who was born in Burslem, Staf- fordshire, England February 3, 1824, and was a sister of James Pur- sell, one of the pioneer merchants of Portsmouth. She survived him and died August 10, 1894. Of this marriage, four children were born, two dying in childhood, Martha A., dying in 1880, at the age of 22 years, and James P. Purdum, who is a practicing attorney of Portsmouth, Ohio.

From 1832 until 1880, Mr. Purdum engaged in contracting and building in Portsmouth, during which period he constructed many of the largest and finest public and private buildings in the city.

In 1885, he built, and for some years afterwards operated, what was then one of the largest planing mills in the Ohio Valley. This mill was located on the north side of Fourth street between Chilli- cothe and Gay streets. The panic of 1857 and the war of the Re- bellion made its operation unprofitable and he sold it to James Bry- son who converted it into a flour mill, which he operated for sev- eral years.

Mr. Purdum was a Whig and Republican and prominent in the councils of those parties, but never sought public office. On several occasions, however, he served as a member of the city council. He was an early, earnest and consistent member of the First Presbyter- ian church, in which he served as an elder. On the organization of the Second Presbyterian church, he and his family became members of that congregation. He died at Portsmouth, Ohio, September 7, 1891.

James Pursell

was the son of Charles and Ann Pursell, born at Burslem, Stafford- shire, England, March 11, 1817. At the age of fifteen, he left his native place and went to Liverpool where he embarked for the United States on the 19th of January, 1831. He arrived in this country on the 8th of March, 1831, and went to the home of his uncle, Thomas Pursell, a queensware merchant in Washington, D. C. There he remained until 1835, and obtained an excellent business training in his experience with his uncle.

While in the city of Washington, he made the acquaintance of Mr. Mathias B. Ross, of Portsmouth, Ohio, who was much impressed by his observation of Mr. Pursell. Mr. Ross offered him a position

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in his dry goods house in Portsmouth, which he accepted and he re- mained with M. B. Ross & Co. in the dry goods business until 1839, when he engaged in business for himself. In 1842, he opened a branch store with Karns Laughlin in charge, and another in 1847 with Lon Heaton in charge. In 1850, he built and moved into his own building in Enterprise block. In 1852, he divided his business of queensware and dry goods and took James F. Towell in the dry goods business with him and James Y. Gordon and Thomas J. Pur- sell in the queensware business.

On March 16, 1843, he married Miss Amanda Thompson, of Wheeling, West Virginia, daughter of Sarah Cowles and Moses Swan Thompson. In October of 1856, while in the east purchasing goods he contracted a cold which resulted in consumption and he died on the 22nd day of March, 1856. His wife survived him with six children, who are noted under her sketch.

Mr. Pursell was always noted for his integrity, in all his deal- ings. He had great business talent and was very successful. He was one of the most active and energetic citizens who ever lived in the city of Portsmouth. His death was a calamity, not only to his family. his church and social circle, but to the community at large.

Mrs. Amanda Pursell

was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, April 30, 1821. She was a daughter of Moses and Sarah (Cowles) Thompson. She was one of a family of seven children, six sisters and a brother, Dr. John Thompson. She came to Portsmouth with her parents, and on March 16, 1843, was married to James Pursell. He died March 22, 1856, in his thirty-ninth year.

A few days after the departure of Company G, the first Ohio troops to answer the call of President Lincoln for volunteers, she or- ganized the first Aid Society in the state and began making comforts. clothing, lint, etc., for those whom she felt would need such assistance. Soon after the first engagement, the remains of the boys were sent home for burial, and she and her co-workers were instrumental in having public funerals, such as had never been witnessed in south- ern Ohio. Soon thereafter, she and some thirty other mothers ad- journed to Greenlawn cemetery and held a memorial service, decor- ating the graves of the fallen heroes. This occurred as early as 1862.

This womanly organization has honored the dead and them- selves, by each year strewing flowers upon the three hundred graves at Greenlawn cemetery, until now there are only five or six of them left to impress upon the youth of the land the lesson of patriotism and of commemorating the memories of the heroic dead. She may justly be regarded as the originator of our beautiful memorial day exercises.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

Later on she organized the Monumental Society, and was large- lv instrumental in the erection of the Soldiers' Monument in Tracy Park. Still later, realizing that the country's need was men, and, being a widow with no sons of suitable age, she had her agent hire a substitute, paying $800 therefor, and sent him in answer to one of the calls for volunteers.

She was the mother of six children, two of whom are deceased : Charles T. and Henry P. Those surviving are Mrs. Julia P. Rupel and Mrs. Edward Ricketts of Cincinnati, and William McLain, of Portsmouth, and Morris H. She was a prominent worker in Bige- low M. E. church. She died March 10, 1895.

William Raynor

was born in Leeds, England, October 4, 1810. He married a sis- ter of Joseph Micklethwait, in England and came to the United States in 1831. His wife died soon after he reached this country, and he married Miss Mary Kinney Barber, in 1833. She died in 1864. Their children were: General William Raynor, now of Toledo; Uri Raynor, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Maria, widow of the late John B. Maddock. For a third wife he married a Mrs. Munn, a widow, daughter of Major Isaac Bonser by whom he had one child, a son Charles, of Sciotoville. He was a shoemaker by trade, but in his latter years he was a gardener. Mr. Raynor was, during his life in Portsmouth, a well known and highly respected citizen. He was a man of energy and great industry. He was thoroughly domestic in his habits and very hospitable. Nothing delighted him more than to entertain his friends in his own home. His greatest pleasure was in making his family and those around him comfortable and happy. He died March 4, 1878.

Major Charles Frederick Reiniger

was born in Wurtemburg, in Germany, November 1I, 1805. His fother educated him, expecting him to become a Lutheran minister. However. the son's tastes were all military, and at 18 years of age. he went into the military service and served until he was promoted Major. In 1830, he went to Montreal, Canada. Here he engaged in the butchering business for one vear and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, pennyless and a stranger. In 1831, he came to Portsmouth, Ohio.

In 1833, he married Barbara Suiter, daughter of Valentine and Frances Suiter. He had thirteen children, eight of whom survived him, four sons and four daughters. The sons were: Charles Fred- erick, Jr., Joseph, Louis and George. Toseph and Louis are now de- ceased. Charles F. lives in Portsmouth and George lives at Wash- ington Furnace. His daughters are Mrs. Jacob Bender, Mrs. Sam- 11el Culbertson of Portsmouth and Mrs. Frank Seth of Parkersville, Kansas.

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When he first came to Portsmouth, he worked in the Gaylord mill at 75 cents per day. He conducted the butchering business for a while, and for a time he ran a canal boat to Cleveland. In 1837, he began to build the National hotel at the Point, but did not finish it till 1844. It was the finest hotel in the city, and cost $30,000. He ran it with his brother-in-law. William Briggs until 1852. It was a mistake to build it and a greater mistake to have built it at the point. It never paid and never could be made to pay. In 1840, he organized the Washington Guards and was Captain of the Company from 1840 to 1860. . He was a city street commissioner in 1849; and the same year was supervisor of Wayne Township. In 1852 he was a Justice of the Peace of Wayne Township.

In 1860, he organized the Steuben Guards, twenty-four of whom afterwards went with him into Company B of the 56th O. V. I. Ma- jor Reiniger was born with military tastes. He was every inch a soldier. When the Civil War broke out, he was fifty-five years of age, yet he organized Company B, of the 56th O. V. I. as its Captain. He entered the regiment August 7, 1861, and served as Captain of Company B, till May 2. 1863. when he was promoted Major. He was discharged October 27, 1864, by reason of his age and physical disability.

In 1865, he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Coun- ty Treasurer against John L. Ward. He received 1902 votes and Ward received 2,130, making a majority of 228. He was always a Democrat in faith and practice. Personally Major Reiniger was a fine looking man. He had the most determined expression on his face. His features were large, regular and handsome. When in the height of his physical powers and dressed in his uniform, he looked every inch a soldier. He loved the profession of arms, and had he followed it he would have acquired great distinction. He was a good and loyal citizen, but had no qualifications as a man of business. He died in November, 1880. His wife survived until August 17, 1888.

Joseph Riggs

was born near Amity, Washington County. Pennsylvania. July 2. 1796, the eldest son of Stephen and Anne Baird Riggs. He had four brothers and six sisters. His father removed to near Steubenville, Ohio, when he was a child ; and later to Sardinia, Ohio, where both he and his wife are buried. In August, 1817, our subject left his home near Steubenville, Ohio, to visit his uncles James and Moses Baird in the Irish Bottoms in Green Township, Adams County. While there he was offered the position of clerk in the West Union bank, kept by George Luckey. This position he accepted on December 31, 1817; and in coming from Steubenville to Manchester traveled on a flat boat.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

While living at West Union he was a great friend of lawyer Geo. Fitzgerald, and frequently borrowed his fine horse to ride to North Liberty to court Miss Rebecca G. Baldridge, daughter of Rev. Wm. Baldridge. On January 1, 1819, he was elected cashier of the West Union bank; and on December 8, 1819, he married Miss Rebecca Baldridge, before named. Soon after they joined the Associate Re- form church, at Cherry Fork. He served as cashier of the West Union bank until 1823. On March 1, 1824, he was appointed Auditor of Adams County, Ohio, to serve an unexpired term. He was elected, and re-elected; and served from March 1, 1824, until the fall of 1831. In 1831, he was appointed a deputy suveyor of the Virginia Military District of Ohio, from Adams County. While holding that office he made a connected survey of all the lands in Adams County, and made a map of that county which remained in the Auditor's office till it fell to pieces from age. Mr. Riggs was an accomplished surveyor, but when or where he learned the science we are not advised. He resigned the office of Auditor on October 3, 1831, to accept the office of State Senator from Adams and Brown Counties, to which he was elected as a Democrat in 1831, and served until 1833. In the fall of that year he moved to Hanging Rock, Ohio. He remained there until 1837, when he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he resided the remainder of his life.

On reaching Portsmouth in 1837, he and his wife connected with the First Presbyterian church, and he was ordained an elder in 1838. He served until February 9. 1875, when he connected with the Second Presbyterian church. He was at once made an elder in that church, and continued as such during his life.

In 1837, he opened a general store in the city of Portsmouth, and continued in that business, either alone or with partners, for many years. He was a man of substance and of excellent business qualifi- cations. In March, 1838, he was elected to a township office in Wayne Township, in which was located the town of Portsmouth. He was elected a member of the city council of Portsmouth, March 3, 1838. and continued in it, with intervals, until 1868. He was elected Re- corder of Portsmouth April 10, 1838, and served until March 15. 1844, and again from March 17, 1848 to March 16, 1849. He was county surveyor of Scioto County from 1839 to 1841. On May 21, 1838, he was appointed on a committee to secure an armory at Ports- mouth. He was surveyor of the town of Portsmouth from November 7. 1845 to March 7, 1849. and again from 1852 to 1854. On De- cember 1, 1846, he was appointed one of the first infirmary board of Scioto County, Ohio, and served by subsequent elections till 1852, and during that time he was clerk of the Board. In 1860, he engi- neered the construction of the tow path from the city of Portsmouth to Union Mills, and charged $70.00 for his entire services. In 1867, he was president of the city council of Portsmouth. He was usually

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on the committee of ordinances, and was one of the most useful mem- bers of the council. He was responsible for most of the city ordi- nances and general legislation during his membership of council.

Rebecca G. Riggs, wife of Joseph Riggs, died April 3, 1862. Twelve children were born of this marriage. The oldest, Mrs Rebec- ca A. Kendall, resides in Oakland, Cal .; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of L. Newton Robinson, who commanded Battery L of the First Ohio Light Artillery during the Civil War; Mary died in infancy ; Harriet, wife of Robert Dunlap, Jr., died in Pittsburg. Pa. ; James W., was kil- led in a railroad accident on the Scioto & Hocking Valley R. R., in 1857; Martha, widow of J. V. Robinson, Jr., who was Major of the 33rd Ohio Infantry during the Civil War, resides in Florida : Stephen B., is engaged in the real estate business in Emporia, Kansas; Sam- tel A. and Joseph E. are lawyers at Lawrence, Kansas; Charles H. is connected with the Union Freight Line at Pittsburg, Pa. ; Alex- ander Brown is a professor in Lane Theological Seminary at Cincin- nati, Ohio; Emma, the youngest child, died in 1848, at the age of three years.

He was a public spirited citizen, and was so recognized. When any delegation was to be sent on a public mission by the city author- ities he was usually one of it. In 1869, he retired from all business, and lived quietly until his death on July 28, 1877, at the age of 81 years, 26 days. He was a just man, a consistent Christian, and a most valuable citizen.

Ephraim Wanzer Rickey

was born in Porter Township, Scioto County. Ohio, October 4, 1820. His parents were Jacob and Tryphena (Strong) Rickey, who came from New York to Scioto County, in 1817. They landed at Scioto- ville. There they remained four years, and then removed to the flats of Madison Township. Jacob Rickey was a Baptist Minister and for forty-five years preached in this county. He died at the age of 72. His wife was a teacher. and after her marriage taught sub- scription school in Madison Township.

Ephraim, through his mother's efforts. received some advantages of education which most others, of his cotemporaries did not have. He was married July 19, 1841 to Annie, daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca (Mead) Rockwell. of Madison Township. She was born October 21, 1821, in Madison Township. Mr. Rickey engaged in farming until 1873, when he removed to California, Pike County, and commenced dealing in merchandise and live stock, which he continued for several years. He returned to his farm about 1881 and in 1894 removed to Harrisonville, where his wife died April 17, 1896. The following were their children: Rose, Etta, wife of Nathan M. Kent of Harrisonville; James Silas, who has a sketch herein: Telina. wife of Thomas M. Kent, living in Madison Township; Jacob Frank, liv-

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

ing on Duck Run, and Nathan Thomas, who has a sketch herein. and is a real estate agent in Portsmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Rickey lost four boys and one girl in childhood. After the death of his first wife he lived with his son, James S. Rickey until his marriage to the widow of Thomas Campbell, of Morgan Township, April, 1900. His sec- ond wife died November, 1901, and since that time he has lived on his farm in Morgan Township. He is now 82 years old, and enjoys good health. He was a Whig and took an active part in the elections of that party. He was one of the very first Republicans in Madison Township when there were only eight votes all told out of four hun- dred, and has been a Republican ever since. He is a believer in Christianity, and the Seventh Day Adventists express his belief near- er than any thing else. He has a clear conscience, and is ready for the world to come.

Captain William P. Ripley

was born near Madison, Indiana, February 26, 1824, a son of Wil- liam P. Ripley, who located in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1833, where he died in 1845. Captain Ripley commenced life by selling fruit, etc. at the wharfs, when boats landed. He then worked on the canal about four years, and when thirteen years of age, was engaged as cabin-boy on the river. He worked in that capacity for two years, and then was in a grocery and saloon, with his brother-in-law, Wil- liam Sickles, about nine years. He was subsequently employed on the river boats as chief engineer, cook, bottle washer, and mud clerk. He attended to business and was promoted till he became a master. In 1857, he was Captain of the "Reliance," and in 1858, of the "Swal- low." In 1860, he bought an interest in a steamboat. In 1861, he was Captain of the "Moses Mcclellan." In 1865. he went into the wholesale liquor business, but in 1870, sold out and returned to the river. He built the "Jim Fisk," Jr., in 1870, and sold her the next year. He afterwards bought an interest in the "Kanawha Belle," and in 1873, was Captain of the "Fannie Dugan." He then had an inter- est in the "Mountain Belle" and was Captain six months. He owned a tug-boat that was commanded by his brother. He sold this boat but afterwards bought it again at a United States Marshal's sale, and of it made the "Iron Duke," which he soon sold. Captain Ripley has been an energetic business man, and made a success of his undertak- ings. For a number of years he has been retired from all business, and made his home with his son-in-law, Thomas B. Nichols.

He died October 19, 1902.

Joshua Vansant Robinson, Sr.,

was one of the most successful merchants and business men who ever resided in Portsmouth. He first came to Portsmouth about March 29. 1829, and opened a general store which he conducted for years, either alone or with his sons. He was for a long time an insurance agent

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conducting that business in connection with merchadising. He was largely intersested in the Scioto furnace at the time it was most flour- ishing. He never interested himself in politics, though he was a Whig and afterwards a Republican. He bought and sold real estate, but like Jacob Offnere, he was mostly a buyer and he died possessed of a large quantity of valuable real estate.

He took a great interest in the public schools, and was a school trustee from 1838 to 1845. While a member of the board, he gave the minutest attention to his duties, and the reports made, while he was one of the board, were models of accuracy. They gave all the information any one could ask. In 1830, he built a brick residence on the northeast corner of Second and Court streets. There was a great yard connected with it and weeping willows stood in the yard. A portion of the brick house is yet standing in the rear of the premises cast of Otto Zoellner's jewelry store.

In 1838, he built and occupied the residence now occupied by the Peebles-Hamilton Reading Rooms. This he occupied for his fam- ily home until his death. He was greatly instrumental in building the Scioto and Hocking Valley Railroad, in 1857. In 1842, he was a director of the Portsmouth Insurance Company. He was director in every business enterprise in Portsmouth while he was in active life. In the Scioto and Hocking Valley Railroad, the Commercial Bank, and in the Portsmouth branch of the State Bank of Ohio, he was a director. He was President of the latter from its organization, March I, 1847 until January 7, 1850.

He was born October 18, 1790, and died on Sunday evening January 8, 1865, at the residence of his son-in-law, Col. J. R. Turley, aged 74 years, 2 months, 20 days. He was in apparent good health and attending to business on the day previous to his death. The fun- eral services took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Bigelow chap- el. His wife, Hannah Cooper, preceded him about one year. She was from Coopersville, N. Y., born and reared a Quaker. The fol- lowing were their children: Lucien Newton, Joshua V., Jr., Lewis Cooper, Cornelia M., wife of Hon. Wells A. Hutchins, Charlotte, wife of Col. John A. Turley, Mary Ellen, wife of Daniel A. Glidden, Camilla, who died young, and Charles Henry.

Captain Lucien Newton Robinson

was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 19, 1817. Soon after, his par- ents removed to Evansville, Indiana. In 1829, his father's family came to Portsmouth and he helped in his father's business. At the age of twenty-two, in May, 1839, he was married to Eliza Jane Riggs, daughter of the Hon. Joseph Riggs. From that date to 1841, he carried on a foundry, at Springville, Kentucky. He removed to Portsmouth in 1841, and engaged in steamboating and buying and sel- ling corn. After his father purchased the Union Mills, he removed

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there and lived a number of years. The Distillery was built under his supervision, as was the Suspension Bridge. The date of his re- moval to Washington Township was 1848.

In 1850, he was candidate for Commissioner and was elected by a vote of 1, 190 to 514 for Fullerton, his opponent, and served one full term of three years. On the 8th day of October, 1861, he enlisted in Battery L First Ohio Light AArtillery, at the age of forty-four. His health was never good, but he managed to stay in the military service until November 12, 1862, when he resigned on account of physical d sability. In the fall of 1862, he went off at a tangent and supported his brother-in-law, the Honorable Wells A. Hutchins for Congress, on an independent platform, "A more vigorous prosecution of the war." He, more than any one, was responsible for Mr. Hutchins election. He canvassed the entire district with him.

After his retirement from the army, he formed a company to (listill oil from shale. He would have made a fortune out of it, but for the discovery of petroleum, just at the time he had the oil ready to put on the market, after the company had put fifty thousand dollars in it. In 1868, he was appointed Indian agent and went west. He soon had to give this up and ran a hotel at Emporia, Kansas. He was a member of the Kansas Legislature for a term.

He returned to Portsmouth in 1873 and was made mail agent. He ran for State Senator as a Republican in 1875 and was defeated by I. B. Monahan hy ten votes. From this date, until his death, he was in poor health. He was a gentleman of very swarthy complex- ion, prominent features and he had a saturnine expression of counte- nance. His face in repose was as solemn as that of ten ministers on funeral occasions, but when he relaxed all that changed. He was an excellent political speaker. He could please the people and reach them and he was in demand in every political canvas when he would go. In 1859, he addressed Republican meetings all over the coun- try. He was a very nervous man and full of energy.

He died on Fourth street, Portsmouth, Ohio, in the residence now occupied by Perkins Pratt. November 26, 1877, at the age of sixty years, eight months and seven davs. His daughter, Kate mar- ried Mr. Harry Willard, of Wellston, Ohio. His daughter Camilla married first Eugene Bigler and after his death Joseph A. Modica. His son, Harry G. Robinson died June 2, 1876, aged 28 years, 8 months and 12 days, and is buried in Greenlawn. His daughter, Lucy A., is now Mrs. S. G. Clark His son Frank H. Robinson is still living. His wife died August 11, 1886.

Mathias Baldwin Ross

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 106

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913 Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans Number of Pages: 1612

Author: Evans, Nelson W. (Nelson Wiley), 1842-1913
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Portsmouth, O. N. W. Evans
Number of Pages: 1612