A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 121

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 121

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Morris, daughter of Stout Morris of Union Mills. Mr. Calvert is one of the best citizens of the county. He is faithful to every duty and every trust.

Charles William Carson

was born near Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, January 14, 1867, the son of James H. and Elizabeth ( Brooking) Carson. His grandfather, William Carson, was of Scotch-Irish descent. His maternal grandfather, Charles Brooking, was of German descent and came to Ohio from Pennsylvania. When he was very young, his parents moved to near Washington, C. H., on a farm where he was reared and educated. He left the farm at the age of twenty-one and worked in White & Ballard's shoe factory at Washington C. H., for four years. From there he went to Chillicothe and worked for the Union Shoe Company for four years. From here he came to Portsmouth and worked for Drew, Selby & Co. for a year. In this time, he had worked at all sorts of shoe work and had gained a good knowledge of shoe-making. He opened a repair shop on the corner of Gallia and Offnere streets and did general repairing for a year and then put in a small stock of shoes. His business prospered from the start and he was soon en- couraged to find more commodious quarters and located on the corner of Chilli- cothe and Fourth streets, where he remained but a short time, when he moved again on account of his business. In June, 1901, he changed to his present loca- tion at 505 Chillicothe street and his business is one of the largest in Ports- mouth. He is a republican, but votes for the man as often as for the party. He is a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Portsmouth. He was mar- ried to Miss Lucy May Keezer, a daughter of George and Carrie (Bodamer) Keezer of Chillicothe, of German descent. They have one child, Lucile.

John Patton Caskey

was born January 1, 1849. His father was Alexander Caskey and his mother was Larissa Patton, born in Wayne township, Adams county, Ohio. He attend- ed the district school and the North Liberty Academy, and labored on his fath- er's farm until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he became a trader. On November 9, 1872, he was married to Tina Patton daughter of George Patton, of Harshaville, and in 1873, he located at Harshaville, and remained there until 1889. In December, 1889, he went to Portsmouth, where he is the junior partner in the firm of Harsha & Caskey. They built a mill in 1889 in Portsmouth, and have been engaged in milling ever since. He had one son by his first wife, George, born January 1, 1874. He is now a student at the Ohio State University, taking a mechanical engineering course. His first wife died on the seventh of September, 1876, and in November, 1889 he was married to Miss Alma Fulton, of Bratton township, Adams county, Ohio. Mr. Caskey has never sought or held public office. He has always been a republican. He is regarded as one of the best business men in the city of Portsmouth.

George Washington Chabot, M. D.,

was born in Powellsville, Ohio, June 17, 1862. His father was Uriah Chabot. and his mother's maiden name was Laura Hudson. His grandfather, Peter Cha- bot, was a French emigrant, and drew Lot 85 of the French Grant. He was mar- ried three times, and Uriah Chabot was of the last wife. Our subject grew up at Powellsville and went to school there. He was a farmer one year, and then began the study of medicine at the age of twenty with Dr. Slagle. He graduated in the spring of 1886 at the Miami College at Cincinnati. He located at Otway the same spring and lived there until 1888, then he went to Thurman, Gal- lia county, Ohio, and remained eighteen months. He then returned to Otway, and has been there ever since. He was married December 28, 1887, to Dora A. Breslau, daughter of Julius Breslau. She died November 14, 1902. He took a hospital course in 1895 and 1896 in the New York Polyclinic, and took another course in 1901 in the Illinois School of Electro-Therapeutics, at Chicago. He is one of the members of the Hempstead Academy of Medicine in Scioto county. He is a democrat in his political views.

A professional brother says of him, "He is esteemed by his professional brothers for his ability and for his sterling integrity, those qualities which com- mand the respect of all. He has always been a student keeping abreast of the times which with a clear judgment makes him a trustworthy practitioner. As a

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

man of business, the same qualities have characterized him until he has become a man of great strength and influence in the community where he has spent many years in the practice of medicine."

James Albert Chabot

was born February 16, 1853, at Powellsville, Scioto county, Ohio. His father was Uriah Chabot and his mother's maiden name was Lavina Hudson, daughter of Buchanan Hudson. His grandfather was Peter Chabot, a French emigrant, who drew Lot No. 85 in the French Grant. Our subject was the fifth of his father's eight children. He received his education in the common schools of Powellsville and worked on his father's farm until he was of age. Then he worked in the coal and ore mines of Etna and Pine Grove for three years. He then tried life on a farm for a while and afterwards went to Powellsville and was in the mer- cantile business there for eight years. In 1890 he sold out in Powellsville and went into the grocery business at the north-west corner of Third and Waller streets, in the city of Portsmouth, and was there until September 1, 1901, when he sold out to his son Alva, and since then has not been engaged in any busi- ness.

September 24, 1879, he was married to Eliza Finney, daughter of A. J. Finney. He has a son, Alva James, who is married and conducts the grocery store he purchased of his father. His other children are Floyd, Bertha and Georgia. He was never an office seeker and never held office except when he was postmaster at Powellsville. He is a republican and a member of the Free-Will Baptist church at Powellsville. He does not belong to any secret orders. Mr. Chabot is a quiet citizen who does not court or seek public notice. He does the best he can under all circumstances, and desires no public comment about it. He is regarded as a model neighbor and, in the language of the catechism, is content with the station of life in which he is placed.

Horace Leet Chapman

was born July 10, 1837, in Independence, Alleghany county, New York. His fa- ther was Samuel Chapman, Jr., and his mother's maiden name was Betsey E. Leet. She is still living and has nearly reached her eighty-sixth year. His an- cestry on his mother's side will be found under the Leet family in this work. The Chapman's came from Windom county, Connecticut. Our subject spent the early years of his life on a farm and received his education in the common schools. When seventeen years of age, he came to Portsmouth with his uncle, Mr. Horace Leet, traveling from Columbus in a stage. This was in September, 1854. There were two stage loads, being thirty-two persons in the party, of that number Mr. Chapman is the only male member now living. Two years later he became a partner with Mr. I eet under the firm name of Leet & Chap- man, Lumber Dealers, and sold his share of the business to him in 1860 or 1861. He became a partner in the private banking firm of Kinney & Raynor by buy- ing Colonel Raynor out. The name of the firm was changed to Kinney & Chap- man.

In 1865 he went to Jackson and established the private banking firm of Kinney, Bundy & Company, afterwards Chapman, Clare & Company, and later converted into the First National Bank, of which he was made President, which positon he has held ever since. From 1861 to 1863 he read law with Colonel Moore and George Johnson. In 1865 he was admitted to the bar in the city of Chillicothe, Ohio, under the old district court, but never practiced any. Lat- er he became interested in the coal and iron business of Jackson county and still continues to be. Mr. Chapman was city Treasurer of Portsmouth from 1862 until 1864, serving two terms. He was a member of the Council and School Board in Jackson for twelve years, declining to serve any longer. He has also been township Treasurer in Jackson county. He is a democrat and was the candidate of his party for Governor in 1897. He has been district delegate to the National Democratic Convention twice and in 1900 was one of the delegates at large, to the Kansas City Convention.

He is always in favor of public improvements and was instrumental in procuring two railroads in Jackson county. He is a director in both the one from Dayton and the one from Springfield and is also Vice President of the one from Springfield.

HON. HORACE, L. CHAPMAN.

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September 24, 1868, he married Frances E. Benton, the daughter of Hon. A. M. Benton, of Pennsylvania. They have two children, F. B. Chapman and Grace. Mr. Chapman has a record as a business man and a financier of which Russel Sage could be proud. He possesses the highest credit and has demon- strated that he is and has been worthy of it.

Wesley G. Cheney, M. D.,

was born February 9, 1873, near Richwood, Union county, Ohio. His father Lorenzo Cheney, was Commissioner of Union county from 1880 to 1889, and Treasurer from 1890 to 1893. His paternal grandfather was of Irish descent, located in Union county in 1835, and built one of the finest cabins in that part of the country. His paternal grandmother was of German parentage. His mother's maiden name was Anna M. White, of Union county. Doctor Cheney received such instruction as the country schools of Union afforded and worked on the farm in summer until eighteen years of age, at which time he commenced teaching. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware in 1892, and graduated in the scientific course June 20, 1896. He entered the Electric Medi- cal Institute at Cincinnati. September 22, 1896, and graduated May 9, 1899. He commenced the practice of medicine at Fredericton, Knox county, September 15, 1899. He removed to New Boston, November 1, 1900. He is a republican, a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Fin- ley, Union county, Ohio. On December 19, 1898, he married Victoria Inez Gum, daughter of George R. and Jennie Gum. Mr. Gum is City Clerk of Richwood, Ohio. Doctor Cheney stands high in his profession and as a citizen. He pos- sesses agreeable manners and is an interesting companion. He has a fine phy- sical presence and always makes a good impression. He is achieving the suc- cess his merits deserve.

Stephen C. Chick

was born November 4, 1856, at the homestead east of the city. He attended the district school until he was eighteen years of age helping his father on the farm durng vacation. When twenty years old, his father died, and he, being the oldest son, superintended the farm for his mother, remaining with her eleven years, when he was married to Laura A. Gates, daughter of William W. and Alvira (Nye) Gates, and moved to a farm just north of the city. After two years he moved to the city and entered the Drew, Selby & Company shoe fac- tory, where he has been for the past twelve years. The only public office he ever held was that of township Clerk for the two years of 1887 and 1888.

In 1886, he united with the Sixth Street Methodist church, and in Febru- ary, 1900, transferred his membership to the Second Presbyterian Church. His residence is at No. 601 Offnere street. His children are: Edward Haskell, Mil- dred Ella, Charles Melzar, Leslie Albert, Beatrice Louise, Stephen Howard and William Louis.

Mr. Chick is one of those who believe, that one serves his community, his family and himself best by diligence and faithfulness in his own particular calling. In doing this he has earned the respect and good will of all those known to him. He has as interesting a family as any one in this city and he is entirely devoted to them. To rear seven good citizens is a career of itself and Mr. Chick and his excellent wife will accomplish it.

James David Clare

was born in Washington, D. C., November 13, 1822. His parents were James Clare of Calvert county, Maryland, and Ruth Smedley, of Jefferson county, Vir- ginia. His father came to Ohio in 1833, and located near Springfield. In 1836 he removed to Lawrence county and was employed about different furnaces. In 1838, he removed to Jackson county, where he resided on a farm until his death in 1851. He was a whig and a life long member of the M. E. church. Our subject received his education at Alexandria, Virginia, and in Jackson county, Ohio.

He qualified himself to teach and began teaching at Ohio Furnace in 1847. From 1849 to 1852, he farmed in Jackson county. In 1852, he opened a general store at Berlin, Jackson county. In 1854, he added a saw mill and grist mill to this. In June, 1865, he was one of the firm of Kinney, Bundy & Company,

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

Bankers, at Jackson. The firm afterwards became Chapman, Clare & Company, and was afterwards merged into the First National Bank of Jackson. In 1868, he and others purchased Madison furnace. In 1872, he was one of the or- ganizers of the Ohio Stove Company.

November 17, 1873, lie located in Portsmouth, and bought the old Dugan home on the corner of Eighth and Chillicothe streets. October 25, 1879, he pur- chased Bloom furnace for $45,000. It had 7,000 acres of land.

On August 11, 1846, he was married to Miss Sarah Jane Ross, daughter of Robert Ross, of Jackson. Her mother was a daughter of Colonel Owens, who was in the Revolutionary war from Virginia. There were six children born to them: Mrs. Josephine R. Miller, of Columbus, Ohio; Mrs. Hortense V. Hughes. wife of Rev. Thomas L. Hughes, of Shelbyville, Indiana; Mrs. Rachel A. Bent- ley, of Columbus, Ohio; James Robert. Eugene Herbert, and Earl Stanton, of Portsmouth, Ohio. In politics he was a whig and a republican. In religion, he was a most devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died De- cember 21, 1893. His wife died September 15, 1894.

Earl Stanton Clare

was born at Cross Roads, Jackson county, Ohio, July 20, 1865. His parents were James D. and Sarah (Ross) Clare. He came to Portsmouth in 1873. He attended the Portsmouth schools until 1884, when he became a molder in the Ohio Stove Works, where he remained for three years. He was shipping clerk for two and a half years, and, in 1891, became superintendent and secretary. He became Treasurer of the Clare Iron Company in 1900. He is a republican and a member of Bigelow M. E. church.

On February 9, 1887, he was married to Minnie L. Altsman, daughter of Alexander Altsman, who has a separate sketch herein. They have five children: Earl A., Jennie, Ruth, Josephine and Robert R.

Mr. Clare is a gentleman of magnificent figure, and in his business he is just as successful as his personal appearance indicates. He is a citizen who believes in doing his best at all times and does it. He can aways be found at his place and at work, doing his best for himself, for those dependent on him, and for the community of which he is a part.

Eugene Herbert Clare,

the son of James D. and Sarah (Ross) Clare, was born March 31, 1860, at Cross Roads, Jackson county. Ohio. He came to Portsmouth in 1873. He attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio from January, 1879 to June 1880 and completed the scientific course. He then entered Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York, in October, 1880, and graduated January 25, 1881. Since his graduation, he has been superintendent of the Clare Iron Com- pany. In his political views, he is a republican. He is a member of Bigelow M. E. church and one of its trustees and assistant superintendent of the Sunday school. On February 14, 1887, he was married to Miss Jennie E. Losee, daugh- ter of Captain S. O. Losee. They have six children: Eugene Herbert, Charles Barnes, Marjorie Marie, Newell Thurlow, Jennie Elizabeth, and Catherine Ross. Mr. Clare is a gentleman who stands head and shoulders above his fel- Iows. He is a large man in every sense of he word, and is good natured in proportion to his size. He believes in attending to his own business and has made a success of it. He is highly esteemed in every relation of life.

James Robert Clare

was born at Cross Roads, Jackson county, Ohio, March 12, 1857. He is the sou of James D. and Sarah (Ross) Clare. His early life until he was sixteen, was passed in Jackson county. He came to Portsmouth in 1873, and spent three years in the Portsmouth public schools and two years at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. He completed a course in book-keeping in 1878. He became secretary and treasurer of the Ohio Stove Company in 1878, which position he held until 1899, since that time he has been president of the Ohio Stove Com- pany. He has been traveling salesman for the Ohio Stove Company since 1890. He is also a member of the Clare Iron Company. He was a member of the School Board of Portsmouth from 1896 to 1898. He is a re-

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

publican and a member of Bigelow M. E. church. He married Miss Anna B. Horr, daughter of P. H. Horr, February 3, 1885. They have five children: James David Alice B., Robert Linn Howard H., and Dorcas. Mr. Clare is generous in all his impulses. As a citizen he is liberal minded and public-spirited; as a business man he is highly esteemed by his as- sociates.

Horace Franklin Clark, M. D.,

was born at Locust Grove, Adams county, Ohio, June 27, 1860. His father was John Harvey Clark, and his mother's maiden name was Thermuthus Cannon, daughter of Levin Cannon. She was a sister of David Eylar's wife. His grandfather was James Clark. Our subject was reared at Locust Grove, O. His father was a physician of the Botanic school, Physio-Medical. He practiced medicine at Locust Grove, beginning in 1847. He died April 23, 1887.

Our subject had a common school education. At the age of fourteen, he began to clerk for L. M. Davis & Co., at Locust Grove, O. in 1874. He re- mained here nine years. He then read medicine with his father until 1887. He moved to Rarden in 1885. He began practice in Rarden in 1885 and has been there ever since except in 1887, when he was in Portsmouth with Dr. Ricketts a few months. He was married September 18, 1890, to Maggie Owens, a daugh- ter of G. W. Owens, of Pike county. They have six children: Carl Hobart; Car- rie Louise; Josie May: Myron Atwell; Teddy Hobart; and the sixth is a boy not named. He is a republican in his political views, and is a Methodist in belief. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He possesses the confi- dence of the community in which he resides and has demonstrated that he de- serves it. He is firm in his convictions and quick to act when he has once made up his mind. He is one of those forceful men, valuable in any community in which they dwell.

Philo S. Clark

was born in Harlansburg, Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, February 21. 1848. His father was Thomas M. Clark and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca McCune. He was one of a family of eight brothers and sisters of whom he was the sixth. He received his education in the common schools and at With- erspoon Institute, Butler, Pennsylvania. He left school at the age of eighteen and engaged as a clerk in a store at Sunbury, Pennsylvania, for one year. Af- ter that he was a salesman for three years for a wholesale grocery house in Phil- adelphia. In 1872, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and engaged in the service of the National Life Insurance Company of Vermont, and has been a resident of Ohio ever since. He remained in Cleveland in the same business for a period of five years, and afterwards in Cincinnati for two years. He came to Portsmouth in December, 1879, and engaged in the insurance business-fire, life and acci- dent,-and has been in that since. He was appointed postmaster of Portsmouth February 15, 1890 and served until February 28, 1894. He was again appoint- ed Postmaster, February 2, 1898; and re-appointed, February 13, 1902. He is a republican and has been a delegate to the State conventions of his party since 1882. In 1883, he was a member of the county Executive Committee for the first time and has been on the same committee many years since as chair- man. He last served in 1901. He was married April 25, 1889 to Lucy Miller, daughter of John T. Miller. He is a member of the Elks, Masons and Knights- Templar. Here is what one of Mr. Clark's most intimate friends says of him:

"Mr. Clark possesses the elements that make the successful man of af- fairs. He has a genius for organization and his executive ability is of the highest order. These qualities have enabled him to make a great success of his business career in all its branches. His administration of the Portsmouth Post Office has been a marvel of excellence, thoroughness and progress, its remarkable effectiveness being due to his capacity for perfect organization. His political career has been one of great influence and importance and his elements of leadership there are conceded His organization and executive abil- ity in political affairs, mark him as a leader of unusual capacity and force. Sagacious, far-seeing, courageous, cool and deliberate, he has made more than the usual impress upon the always strenuous political life of Ohio. One of his strongest traits is his unswerving and unselfish loyalty to his ideals, princi- ples and friends, whether in defeat or victory.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

William Elza Clayton

was born in May, 1874, in Decatur township, Washington county, Ohio. His parents were Isaac Calvin Clayton and Ann Graham, his wife. Isaac Calvin Clayton enlisted in Company D, 148 O. V. I., May 2, 1864, for 100 days, and was mustered out, September 14, 1864 at Camp Marietta, Ohio. Our subject was one of five children: The first was Dessie, widow of Edward Lee Feyler; the sec- ond was George Calvin, who died May 1. 1901, leaving a widow and three chil- dren. His wife was a daughter of Edward J. Kelley. Our subject was the third child. The fourth was James Finley, traveling salesman for the Drew-Selby Company and the fifth, Eva, stenographer for John K. Duke. William E. at- tended the Quaker school at Bartlett, Washington county, Ohio, and the pub- lic schools of Portsmouth. His father moved to Scioto county when he was eight years old. When he was ten years of age, he began work in the shoe factory, at the bottom and worked himself up. He began as a heelmaker. He went in the pattern department in 1890 and took complete charge of that de- partment. He gets out all the patterns but first determines what they shall be. He designs the styles. His labors keep him at Portsmouth most of the time, but he makes trips east and west to determine on the style of the shoes to be produced. He is a member of Bigelow M. E. church, and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a republican. His father died in 1884, aged forty-one and his mother died in 1889 at the same age.

He is one of the progressive young men of Portsmouth, always ready to learn and to be instructed and always ready to advance in his chosen business. He is of a bright, cheerful and happy disposition. He is much liked and popu- lar wherever known, and no one has more friends or warmer ones.

James Allen Cleaver

was born at Wilmington, Ohio, June 21, 1862. His father's name was James Cleaver and his mother's maiden name was Mary Allen. His grandfather Cleaver was from Connecticut and his grandmother Cleaver from Virgina. His mother was of Scotch Irish blood. His grandfather, Hugh Allen, emigrated to America in 1818 from county Antrim, Ireland.

His boyhood and youth were spent at Wilmington. He graduated from the Wilmington public schools in 1882 and took up the business of stenography. He became wonderfully expert in that profession.

The celebrated Cincinnati & Eastern Railway case was removed to Clin- ton county in 1884 and Mr. Cleaver did service in that case for the Hon. Jolin K. Richards, who was Master Commissioner in 1885. This introduced him to the bar ot Portsmouth and especially to the Hon. A. C. Thompson and the edi- tor of this work, both of whom were interested as counsel in that case. He formed a friendship with each of them, which lasted during his life. He re- moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1886 and took up his profession as stenographer in the courts. While a resident of Portsmouth he took stenographic notes in every important case tried in Scioto county, or adjoining counties, and did work in Ross, Highland, Clinton and Fayette counties.

In 1885, 1886 and 1887 he did all the stenographic work in the Cincin- nati & Eastern railway litigation, much of which was done for the editor of this work. In 1888. he was stenographer in New York city for the editor, who was then a Special Master in the Scioto Valley Railway case, and his work com- pared in equal terms with the best New York stenographers who served sub- sequently in the same case.

In 1890, Mr. Cleaver was a clerk and stenographer for a Sub-Judicial Committee of the United States House of Representatives of which Hon. A. C. Thompson, M. C., was chairman. The committee took testimony in the investi- gation of certain alleged illegal practices in the United States courts in Bos- ton, New Orleans, Mobile, Shreveport. Montgomery, Huntsville and Atlanta A great volume of testimony was taken by Mr. Cleaver. This work was ar- duous, but was expeditiously and faithfully done. He served as official sten- ographer for the Courts of Lawrence county from December 12, 1887, until April 19, 1899. He was the official court stenographer for Scioto county from 1887. but held no permanent appointment as such until April 15, 1892, when his appointment was entered on the Court Journals. The law of April 6, 1893, as

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 121

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