A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 107

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 107

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was born in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, August 4, 1808. He received his education in the Lebanon school, and was a contempo-

SAMUEL RANDALL ROSS.

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rary with Thomas Corwin. At the age of fifteen, he located in Cin- cinnati, and for some two years was a clerk in the store of George Graham. For the next two years, he was a clerk for his father, un- der John McLean, Post-master General, in Washington City.

In 1829, he came to Portsmouth, and embarked in the dry goods trade. On September 5, 1834, Havillah Gunn resigned as Town Re- corder and Mr. Ross took his place. April 3, 1835, he was re-elected and he served until April 10, 1838. December 4, 1835, he was one of a committee of three in regard to the Ohio canal. The others were C. A. M. Damarin and Isaac Noel. On April 1, 1836, and March 27, 1837, he was re-elected Recorder. From his location in Ports- mouth, he was engaged in a wholesale grocery and general commis- sion business and continued until 1845, when he removed to Cincin- nati, and engaged in the same business in Portsmouth. In 1869, he located in New Orleans and became general agent for the Erie and Atlantic and Great Western railroads, but fell a victim to yellow fe- ver, and died September 20, 1878.

He was a remarkably well-preserved, fine looking man for his age, and a kind, noble-hearted husband and father. Both as a bus- iness man and as a citizen, he was greatly respected for his scrupulous honesty and purity of life. On June 29, 1843, he married Elizabeth D., daughter of Samuel M. Tracy, of Portsmouth. His widow and a daughter, Miss Alice Tracy Ross survived him, and resided in Portsmouth during the remainder of their lives.

Samuel Randall Ross

was born April 8, 1819, at Oxford, Chenango County, New York. His father was Samuel Ross, a graduate of Princeton College, New Jersey, and a contemporary of Theodore Frelinghuysen and N. S. Prime, the father of Ireneus Prime of the New York Observer. His grandfather, Andrew Ross, was a descendant of John Ross of Scot- land, who was one of the first settlers of New Jersey. His mother's maiden name was Maria Randall. He was educated at the famous Oxford Academy, at Oxford, New York, and left his father's home at the age of twenty-four and located in Portsmouth, in the fall of 1844, where he has since resided. He first advertised as a grocer in Portsmouth, November 7, 1844. He bought the wholesale grocery business of his cousins, M. B. and J. W. Ross, and conducted it un- til 1857, when he retired from business until 1861. At that time he engaged in the wholesale tobacco business in Cincinnati with J. G. Kercheval, under the name of Kercheval & Ross, and conducted that for twelve years, when he retired.

He was married, September 7, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Kinney, the eldest daughter of Washington Kinney and Mary Waller, his wife. Mrs. Ross died October 28, 1897. The following are the sur-

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

viving children : Miss Anna Ross, who resides with her father in the old home in Portsmouth, O .; George Kinney, who has a separate sketch herein, and Thomas Waller, of Cleveland, O.

Mr. and Mrs. Ross moved into the home in which Mr. Ross now resides at No. 310 Court street, in December, 1847, two weeks be- fore the great flood of 1847. Mr. Ross has resided in the same house ever since, and he went through the floods of 1847, 1883 and 1884 in the same residence. The flood of 1847 was three feet deep in his residence. Mr. Ross in his well appointed home has been a greater dispenser of hospitality to distinguished visitors in Portsmouth than any other person in the city. He has entertained Bishop's McIlvaine, Bedell, Jagger and Vincent. His house has always been open to the Episcopal clergy and other clergy visiting the city.

Mr. Ross in his political views was first a Whig and afterwards a Republican; but never a seeker of any political preferment. He is a strong church man, and has been connected with the Episcopal church ever since he has been in Portsmouth. He was connected with the All Saints until the organization of the Christ church, and during the activity of that church he was a member of the vestry and a senior warden much of the time.

Mr. Ross has passed his 83rd mile stone, as he states it, but he has the most excellent health and a wonderful flow of spirits. He is the best of company, and delights in being in the society of his friends. Mr. Ross is one of those few men who make old age a de- light. He has no infirmities. He is in the possession of all his fac- ulties, and all the excellent qualities of mind and heart which he pos- sesses have been enriched and developed by age and experience. His society and companionship is much sought after and highly appre- ciated among those who know him. He is the last survivor of the old time merchants of Portsmouth, Ohio. As an entertainer and a host, and a member of a reception committee, Mr. Ross never had any equal in Portsmouth; and it is the cordial wish of every one of his friends that he may live to see his 100th anniversary, in the same health and spirits which he enjoys at the present time.

Colonel John Row

was born in Northumberland County, Pa., in 1796. In 1808 his father removed to Circleville. There, at sixteen, he was apprenticed to Charles Cavalier to learn the saddlery and harness trade. In 1812 he was out in the war and was in Hull's surrender. In 1817, when he came of age, he married Susan Baltimore, at Circleville, and moved to Adelphi, where he set up a harness shop. In 1820 he removed to Richmonddale and began merchandising. He carried that on until 1832 when he moved to Waverly, Ohio, where he had a flour mill and carried on merchandising. In 1832 he was a director of the Columbus and Portsmouth Turnpike.

JOHN MILLER SALLADAV.

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In 1838, he went to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he resided during the remainder of his life. He first carried on a commission business with James Emmitt as John Row & Co., but that was dissolved in 1839 and Col. Row conducted it alone. In 1842 he was chairman of the Whig Central Committee and was secretary of the Portsmouth Insurance Co. In 1844, he dissolved partnership with Ralph St. John and thereafter the business was conducted under the name of John Row & Son. In 1845, he was connected with the Sons of Tem- perance. In 1846, he was school trustee for the third ward. From 1849 to 1853 he conducted a store at Wheelersburg and one in Ports- mouth. In 1853 he took charge of the Biggs House and conducted it about eighteen months. In 1861, on April 19, he presided at the great Union meeting at Portsmouth. January 14, 1863, he was ap- pointed Postmaster at Portsmouth, Ohio, and served until November 13, 1866. He was a Mason. In 1866, he became a member of the Bigelow Methodist Church. He was a prominent merchant in Ports- mouth for years.

He died May 5, 1871. His wife survived him until 1877.

He had four children : Amaryllis, wife of Rev. S. P. Cummins; Charles Cavalier, Mary Cook, wife of Charles Landon; and John Row.

He was a man of high integrity and much esteemed. He was a public spirited citizen with no ambitions except in a business way.

George Salladay

was born in Maryland in 1785, the son of Philip Salladay and his wife, emigrants from Switzerland. While he was a child, his par- ents moved to Western Pennsylvania and from there they removed to Scioto County when he was fifteen years of age. He married Phoebe Chaffin, daughter of Reuben Chaffin, May 17, 1812. She was born in Connecticut, September 31. 1794. They had a family of ten chil- dren, among them were Obediah; Eunice, the wife of James Collins; Lemuel and John M. His wife died July 27, 1855, and he survived until October 5, 1860. He was a resident of Portsmouth at its very first settlement. He was cotemporary with Captain Josiah Shack- ford and Major Henry Massie. At the age of eighteen he was pres- ent when the first tree was cut on the site of Portsmouth and help to burn the first brush piles made in clearing the timber to build the town. His picture taken in extreme old age will be found herein. His son, John M., died August 20, 1902. His son Lemuel died Sep- tember 22, 1902.

John Miller Salladay,

son of George and Phoebe ( Chaffin) Salladay, was born January 10; 1814, in Scioto County. He resided on his father's farm until he was twenty years of age, when he started out in the world on his own ac- count, but without any capital. He worked at whatever he could

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

find to do until he was twenty-six years of age, when on the 27th day of May, 1840, he married Martha, daughter of Moses Hayward, a pioneer of Scioto County. They had three children : Harriet Jane, who died at the age of seventeen; Lora A., wife of Sam Bierley, of Portsmouth, Ohio; and George M. Salladay, who has a separate sketch herein.

Mr. Salladay by cconomy and careful dealing accumulated a fortune, chiefly in the rich bottom land of the Scioto valley. In 1884, he owned 767 acres and has accumulated much more since then. He was first a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party has been a member of that. He and his wife have been mem- bers of the M. E. church since 1864. He has served as trustee of Clay Township. His wife died May 29, 1892. Since then he has been making his home part of the time with his daughter, Mrs. Sam Bier- ly and part of the time with his son, George M. Salladay. He died August 20, 1902.

Mr. Salladay made his fortune by strict attention to his own bus- iness. He was always just and honest in his dealings with others and expected the same treatment in return. He was always noted for his obedience to and respect for law and for the rights of others. His character has always been above reproach and criticism. He is one of the last survivors of the men who made the Scioto Valley what the present generation find it.

John A. Schafer

left Wurtemburg, Germany, September 19, 1819, for the New World. He was accompanied by his family, consisting of his wife, Sabina, his three sons and five daughters. They took a sailing vessel at Amsterdam, Holland, for the United States. After being out at sea for about a week the vessel sprung a leak and had to put into the port of Lisbon, Portugal, where they remained until December 2.4, 1819, when they again put to sea, bound for Baltimore, Maryland. They arrived there without further mishap on the 25th day of Febru- ary, 1820.

Mr. Schafer had spent all of his means on the voyage and three of his oldest daughters were bound out at Baltimore from three to five years to pay for their passage, eighty dollars each. The others of the family proceeded by wagon to Brownsville, on the Mononga- hela river in Pennsylvania, and thence to Portsmouth, Ohio, by means of a flat boat. Mrs. Sabina Schafer died in 1821 soon after their arrival in Portsmouth.

In August, 1824, George Schafer, one of the sons, walked to Baltimore to bring out his sisters. He made the trip, one way, in fourteen days. This brother brought his two elder sisters out in a wagon. The younger sister remained in Baltimore eight years lon- ger, and then came alone. In 1832, Mr. Schafer went to Indiana,

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settling in Hamilton County, where he remained until his death on the 8th day of July, 1870, aged ninety-five years, five months, and thirty-two days.

Captain Josiah Shackford

was born in Portsmouth, N. H., in 1736. He came to the location of Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1802, and intended to purchase the town site, but Henry Massie got ahead of him. The idea of founding the town of Portsmouth, undoubtedly originated with Captain Shackford. When he examined the location he saw it was a better one for a city than Alexandria. Henry Massie appreciated this fact, though he made no special examination till after his purchase. When Massie came to examine his purchase, he found Captain Shackford on the ground and the two became good friends. Captain Shackford sug- gested the town to Massie and its name, and Massie named his town Portsmouth, for Portsmouth, N. H., at Captain Shackford's request.

Captain Shackford was sixty-eight years of age when he landed at Alexandria in 1802, and he was the most self contained man who ever lived on the town site of Portsmouth. He brought no relation, or friend, when he came, but came alone in a boat. He never asked any favor of any one. He never borrowed any money, but always had it when he wanted to buy anything. He was a large man, had a large head, a prominent Roman nose, keen and piercing eyes. He had a wart on the bridge of his nose. In his youth, he had been a sailor, and was very fond of spinning yarns as to his voyages. While he talked freely of his sea-faring life, he kept still about his domestic and social affairs. Till he, died it was not known whether he was a widower or a bachelor. There was much speculation as to his family history, and the women folks told a story of his disappointment in a love affair, but he kept a quiet tongue and enlightened no one. He had studied attending to his own business, till he had it reduced to a fine art.

After his death in 1829, one of his nephews came in to settle his estate and then something was learned as to his story. His father, Josiah Shackford, was married twice. The first wife was a widow named Eleanor Marshall. She has a grown daughter, Deborah, who came to live with her step-father. Deborah was attractive and come- ly and the usual result followed. Young Shackford fell in love with her, and married her. Shackford, however, was her second choice as she lost a lover, John Hart, by his premature death. Captain Shackford lived with Deborah, a number of years, and after a few years of sea-faring life, wanted to come west. She refused to leave her mother and he would not stay. He left and came to Portsmouth, Ohio. After his wife's mother died, Deborah wrote and offered to come to him, but he would not answer her letters and she was too proud to come uninvited.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

Captain Shackford cut the first tree which was ever cut by a white man within the limits of the city of Portsmouth. He bought inlot 17 for $30.00, and an outlot from Henry Massie. There was a log rolling in 1802, on the site of Portsmouth and Captain Shack- ford had charge of it. George Salladay, the father of John Miller Salladay, and Caleb Hitchcock were two of these present on that oc- casion.

The inlot No. 17 purchased by Captain Shackford of Henry Massie was built on, and Captain Shackford resided on it till his death. The building stood where now the Portsmouth shoe factory stands on the northeast corner of Front street, and the first alley east of Market street. It was a frame. The lower part was finished for a shop and store room. There was no stairway, but a hatch with a ladder. In the evening Captain Shackford put up his ladder, ascend- ed, pulled the ladder after him and closed the hatch. In the morn-

ing, he opened the hatch, put down the ladder and descended. The up-stairs was finished off like a cabin in a ship, with bulk heads, etc. After he furnished his building, he went east and purchased a stock of goods. He did all his own cooking and house keeping. When he was obliged to have his cooking done outside, he got Mrs. John H. Thornton to cook his meals and hand them in through the window, as he permitted no women to enter his place.

He was one of the nine conscript fathers who formed the first town council and when lots were cast, he drew the one year term. In 1809, he was a trustee of Wayne Township and in 1813, 1814 and 1818, he was Township Treasurer. In 1815, he was on a commit- tee of the Council to bring in a bill taxing shows. In 1816, he was on a committee to bring in a bill to regulate the use of the public well. He owned a fine farm where Aaron Noel formerly lived and rode out to it almost every day in pleasant weather. He had a horse, named "Emperor," which he rode on these occasions. Once the horse threw him and broke his arm.

He built a stone barn on his farm and twice it was leveled by cyclones. He was always planning and recommending public im- provements. He was very fond of making models for machinery and believed he could invent perpetual motion. He had no intimate or particular friends and never unbosomed to anyone. He paid all his debts, but had no apparent income. In religious matters, he was his own priest.

He and John Thornton built the carding machine, which stood on the site of the present Biggs House. He also built a mill on Mar- ket street between Second and Third streets and was a part owner in it. The house built by Captain Shackford was removed to Front and Bond streets where it was standing till recently. He lived for twen- ty-five years on the town site of Portsmouth and died July 26, 1829, after a short illness, in his ninety-third year. He was the second

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person buried in Greenlawn cemetery. William Peebles was the first ; and Mark Huston was the third. His grave is appropriately marked with a tombstone.

Before the world, he always stood at attention and was always on lress parade. If he had private griefs or sorrows he kept them to himself. How many men can begin life over again at the age of six- ty-eight years in a malarial climate and spend twenty-five more years in active and useful labor? We do not believe there was ever such another case on record. Captain Shackford was always employed and was always pleased to be helping others. He never wrote any letters and never received any, at least to all appearances.

Captain Shackford was an archaeologist among other fads. He spent a great deal of time and labor in digging into and exploring the ancient mounds. He explored the one which stood on the G. H. Hein- ish lot. He surveyed the mounds about Portsmouth and gave his field notes to Captain Cleveland, who in turn gave them to Doctor Hemp- stead; and from them were made the map of the ancient earth works in this work. An account of Captain Shakford's life is published in a pamphlet which is sold to visitors at Portsmouth, N. H. This gives an account of his voyage to Surinam, with a dog only for company.

George Stevenson

was born in Pennsylvania, April 17, 1803. His wife, Hester Mont- gomery, the daughter of Samuel Montgomery, was born in Massa- chusetts, December 28, 1809. He died September 9, 1886, and had most excellent health until the date of his death. His wife died ten years before, on the 6th of March, 1876, and they are both buried in Portsmouth. Their children are as follows: Sarah McClure, born March 31, 1836, at Portsmouth, Ohio, is the widow of Emmett Mc- Clure, and resides at No. 420 Fairmont Ave., Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; Rebecca J., born April 7, 1839, died unmarried October 2, 1872; a son Samuel, born April 7, 1884, in Portsmouth, married Mary Mar- tin of Jackson, Ohio; a son Frank, born in Portsmouth, February 27, 1848, died December 28, 1839, in Pittsburg, Penn.

Our subject came to Portsmouth on a flat boat, and landed at Alexandria. He had learned the wagon maker's trade in Pittsburg, and he built the first coach which ran between Piketon and Portsmouth. James Emmitt was said to have driven the coach. Our subject was married in Portsmouth in 1835. When he located in Portsmouth, he went in partnership with William Maddock in the foundry busi- ness, where the Opera House now stands. He afterward went into the firm of Ward & Stevenson. Ward was a blacksmith and he was a wagon maker. Afterwards the firm became Ward, Murray & Stevenson. At one time he and Thomas Currie had a candle factory at Brunner's corner.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

In 1840, he participated in the great Masonic celebration of St. John the Baptist's Day. In 1845, he was Assessor of Wayne Town- ship. On September 19, 1845, he was elected one of the school di- rectors for the Second ward. His associates were J. L. McVey and Moses Gregory. On May 1, 1857, he was elected chief engineer of the fire department. April II, 1859, he was elected president of the council, and re-elected April 9, 1860. March 18, 1862, he presided at the meeting at the Court House in Portsmouth with a view to se- cure a National Armory at this place. Senator Sherman introduced a bill to appropriate one-half million dollars for that purpose, but the measure failed.

Mr. Stevenson was a communicant of the All Saints church and a vestryman. He was a Democrat in his political views. His family home stood on Market street just one door above the present resi- cence of John Lynn.

William Stewart

was born at Ayr in Scotland, in 1816, the son of Hugh Stewart, a miller, and Jeannette Forsythe, his wife. He was one of a family of five sons and three daughters. He was brought up in the strict Presbyterian faith, a son of the covenant. He was taught the trade of a stone mason and followed it in Scotland. In 1840, he came to the United States and worked at his trade in New York city. In 1842 he came to Portsmouth and engaged in the stone business on the West Side.

He built a stone saw-mill near the site of Alexandria, and carried on the business of quarrying and sawing stone till 1855. His health began to break down, and he felt he must go into other employment. In 1856, he purchased forty acres of the old Martin Funk land of his son, Jacob Funk, for $4,000 and moved on it. He occupied himself as a market gardener until his death.

He was married in 1844 to Miss Jeannette Bryden, also a native of Scotland. They had seven children. The eldest was Walter P., who has a separate sketch herein. His second child was Miss Jean- nette, who with his son, Gilbert, his fifth child, have a pleasant home on the Stewart place. His daughter, Margaret, married W. C. Silcox and has one daughter, Jeannette. His daughter, Ella, married Le- grand B. Smith. She died in 1896, leaving two sons, Walter, now aged twenty-two and Stewart, aged fifteen. They make their home with their Aunt Jeannette and Uncle. Gilbert. A son, William, is married and resides at Pomona, California, where he conducts a ranch. He has four sons and one daughter. His sons are: Jay, Wal- lace, Walter and Donald, and his daughter is Amy.

Mr. Stewart was an upright and just man. He was as fond of the bawbees as any Scotchman, but they had to be earned honestly and fairly. He was a typical Scotchman and his appearance and speech

PIONEER SKETCHES. 829

announced that fact wherever he went. He was a devout Presbyter- ian and fully believed in all and singular, the Westminster Confes- sion. He not only believed it, but he lived it in his every day life. He was esteemed by all for his uprightness and sense of justice. He died July 26, 1870. His wife survived until July 14, 1901.

Levi Sikes

was born at Wilbraham, Massachusetts, on October 29, 1794. His father was John Jones Sikes, the Revolutionary soldier who is men- tioned on page 212 of this work. His mother's maiden name was Sarah Sowles. The family left Massachusetts in 1801 and located in New York on the Genesee river. In the spring of 1804, the family came to Scioto County and settled at the mouth of Munn's run. He learned the brick-maker's trade and worked at that business from 1815 to 1822 in Portsmouth. In February, 1819, he married Mary Keyes, the daughter of Salma Keyes, who was born July 17, 1799. He had the following children : Malvina, married John Wait; Har- riet ; Eliza, married David Ball; James Sikes, born May 20, 1826, resides in Porter Township: Ruhama, died in infancy ; Sarah, married Addison Batterson and died soon after her marriage: Melvin, the father of Frank L. Sikes; Thomas, Colonel in the 33rd O. V. I .; Elsie, married Edward Neary; and Hiram Sikes, who resides in Portsmouth, Ohio.

In 1822, Levi Sikes moved to Porter Township and became a farmer. In 1836 he moved to Harrison Township where he died on March 30, 1870. His wife survived him about four years. She was a woman of remarkable force of character and James Keyes gives a full acount of her in his book.

James Simpson

was the son of John Simpson, one of the first settlers of Portsmouth and Mary Noel, his wife, a daughter of Philip Noel. He was born November 9, 1819, on a farm where the Children's Home now stands, which was then owned by his father. He was brought up at his father's trade, that of a carpenter, and followed it most of his life. He had charge of the Cuppett & Webb lumber vards for years. He had twelve brothers and sisters, ten of whom lived to maturity. He received his education in Portsmouth.

He was married April 4, 1839 to Elizabeth Jane Lewis, daughter of Wm. Lewis and Rachel Feurt, his wife. Her father was Fred- erick Feurt. The marriage ceremony was performed by the Rev. Wm. Simmons. Mrs. Simpson was born in 1822. They have had four children: Wm. Henry, who lost his life in the fire of 1877; Elenora, married first Thos. J. Fritts, and second Thos. T. Yeager : Thomas Jefferson, and Margaret, the wife of Wm. Worth Donaldson. Their son Thomas J. enlisted September 1, 1861, at the age of seven-

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 107

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