A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 122

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 122

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

to Court stenographers in Scioto county, Vol. 90, Laws of Ohio, pp. 151 and 152 was really passed for his benefit and on April 10, 1893, he resigned his former ap- pointment and was appointed under that act. He was re-appointed April 20, 1896, and April 24, 1899, and held the appointment until his death.

In March, 1897, the duties of Mr. Cleaver became so difficult that he selected an assistant in Scioto county in the person of Miss Nettie Jackson, who had had three year's experience in the office of the editor of this work. Miss Jackson demonstrated her efficiency so quickly that she not only served as assistant in Scioto county, but also in Lawrence and Pike and in other counties, where Mr. Cleaver had important cases.

On September 22, 1898, Hon. A. C. Thompson became Judge of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Ohio and in January, 1899, he appointed Mr. Cleaver official stenographer of the United States Courts at Cincinnati, which position he held until his death. As such, he reported all the important cases, tried in that court. In the Farmer's National Bank cases in which Mr. Cleaver took the evidence, his transcript was pro- nounced the best, in accuracy and arrangement, ever filed in any Court.

He was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Cavett January 19, 1890. She died April 25, 1894 leaving two sons, George Cavett now aged eleven years, and James Allen aged nine. Mr. Cleaver insured his life for the benefit of his children and kept it paid up religiously, and all his insurance was in force at the time of his death. Mr. Cleaver was an obedient and dutiful son in his minority. He had every prospect for a long life of usefulness and of promotion and advancement, but in November, 1901, he was stricken with typhoid fever and died at Norwood near Cincinnati, December 6, 1901. He was a strong partisan republican and ever active in politics. He could not do too much for a friend, and if doing for a friend required active work in politics, he did it no matter whom it affected. He was the soul of honor and never forgot his obligations to any one.

Robert Clutts

was born in Greenup county, Kentucky, September 12, 1839. His father, Archi- bald A. Clutts, was born in Ohio. His mother's maiden name was Mary Gantz. He lived in Greenup county, Kentucky, from 1839 to the breaking out of the Civil war. He received his education in the schools there. He worked at the furnaces, -- Pennsylvania, Buffalo and Star,-driving team, from the time he was sixteen years old until he enlisted in the army.

In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company I, 2nd Kentucky Cavalry for three years, as a private. His captain was A. C. Van Dyke, the owner of Buffalo furnace, and the regiment was commanded by Colonel Baird. He was dis- charged in April, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee on account of ophthalmia. He was never wounded nor in the hospital. About September 1. 1862, eighteen of the regiment were detailed for a personal escort of Gen. Rousseau, and he served in that capacity until his discharge. This body guard also acted as couriers. He was in the battle of Murfreesboro and there he captured a rebel flag, belonging to the Second Mounted Arkansas Regiment. This flag had been presented to the regiment by the ladies of Richmond, Kentucky. The color bearer was shot down, and our subject got its flag. He presented it to General Rousseau. On this occasion the 2nd Mounted Arkansas were fighting on foot. Their Colonel and Second Lieutenant were killed and one-half of the regiment were either killed or wounded before the remainder were captured. They were very brave and daring and charged our forces for several hours, when two of Gen. Rousseau's guns mowed them down. This incident given occurred on Mon- day about 1 p. m. He rescued the color bearer from whom he took the flag and took him to the hospital, and was never wounded himself.

After he had left the army he went to work at Pennsylvania furnace in 1865, driving team. He remained there until 1866, when the Eastern Kentucky Company bought the furnace out. He then went to Star furnace and worked there until 1869, then he worked one year at Petersburg. From that time until 1873 he was at Hunnewell furnace. He was at Buckhorn furnace from 1873 to 1876. He went to Hopewell furnace from there and worked until 1879. His business was to make charcoal. He worked for this company on the Norfolk & Western .railroad at Sciotoville, Rushtown and Franklin furnace, in the

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

years between 1879 and 1893, and all the time engaged in making charcoal. Since then he has resided on his farm in the French Grant. He has been married twice. First in July, 1866. to Percy Skelton, who died in June, 1879. The children of this first marriage are Mary E., wife of William Williams, re- siding at Mt. Pleasant, Tenn .; Charles, living at Galesburg, Illinois, a brick maker; Laura, wife of Frank Parkins, residing at the same place. In the fall of 1882 he was married to Elizabeth Shennett of Lawrence county. The chil- dren are: Oliver, aged sixteen, and Flora Ethel, a school girl, aged nine years.

Mr. Clutts has always been a republican in his political views. He is a member of the Methodist church of Haverhill, Ohio, and has been for forty-five years. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, but to no other social order. He is earnest and energetic in what ever he undertakes. He is patriot- ic and public spirited as every old soldier naturally is. He is firm in his judg- ment and generous in all respects. He is cordial in his manners, a warm and true friend, a valuable and highly respected citizen.

Alexander Cole

was born May 8, 1837, in Mason county, Kentucky. His father's name was Thomas Cole, a native of Pennsylvania; and his mother's maiden name was Mary Wallingford, from Mason county, Kentucky. His parents moved to Nile township, Scioto county, Ohio, from Mason county, Ky., when he was three years old, and he has resided there ever since. Our subject attended the com- mon schools until he was nineteen years of age. He was raised a farmer and has continued such ever since. He enlisted as a private in Company I, 140th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at the age of twenty-eight for one hundred days, May 2, 1864. He was reduced from Corporal June 25, 1864, at his own request, not caring for the office, and was mustered out with the Company September 3, 1864. In 1870, he took up the lumber business with farming, and has been in that business from that time to the present. He manufactures lumber and buys and sells it. From 1887 to 1895, he was engaged in the business of contracting and getting out railroad ties.

He was married October 22, 1858, to Miss Hester Ann Hall, daughter of Aaron Hall of Scioto county, Ohio. They had seven children: Catharine, mar- ried James Shaw, resides in Portsmouth; William, unmarried resides at home; Ella, married Thomas Bennett, resides at Galesburg, Illinois; Henry, married lives on his father's farm; Emerson at home. He lost two children in infancy.

Mr. Cole is a republican and always has been. He was Treasurer of Nile township for six years: He lives on the Kinney farm near Turkey creek on the Buena Vista turnpike, and has lived there twelve years. Mr. Cole is one of those happy characters who make a friend of every acquaintance and his pathway in life is about as smooth as that of any one mentioned in this book.

James Madison Cole,

the son of Silas W. Cole and Elizabeth Huston, his wife, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, October 3, 1845. He obtained his education in the schools of the county, and was raised a farmer. He enlisted July 28, 1862, at the age of eigh- teen, in Company C, 91st O. V. I. and served until June 24, 1865.

He married Dora Stone, daughter of William and Susan Stone. The children of this marriage were: Pearl Amos, resides at Hulett, Wyoming, an ar- chitectural draftsman; Arthur who, resides at the same place, a miner; Grace, married to Richard Bush, resides at Hulett, Wyoming; Albert, resides at Hu- lett, Wyoming, a machinist; Walter and Floyd, schools boys. Mr. Cole is engaged as a stock raiser, and he owns a section of land and keeps a herd. The location of his home is 3,000 feet above the sea.

He is a republican and an Odd Fellow. He emigrated to Illinois in 1875. and was there until 1876 at Windsor, Illinois. Then he went to Lenox, Iowa, in 1878. He was there until 1883, when he went to Brokenbow, Nebraska. He took up Government land there, and was there a year, and was appointed In- firmary Director, and remained until 1888 and then went to Hulett, Wyoming, where he has remained.

Pearl Amos, his son, was born February 12, 1869, at Portsmouth, Ohio. He started out for himself as a "cow boy" in 1885, at the age of sixteen, and kept at it for nine years. He then learned the carpenters trade in 1894, and

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

followed it until 1898. He then took up architecture and has followed that ever since. He is a republican and a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and Odd Fellows.

John Wesley Cole

was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, March 4, 1842. His parents were Silas W. Cole and Elizabeth Huston, his wife. His father, Silas W. Cole, has a separate sketch. Our subject's boyhood and youth were passed on his father's farm, now owned by John Richardson, on the Chillicothe pike. He received a common school educa- tion. July 28, 1862 he enlisted in Company C, 91st O. V. I. He was promoted to Sergeant November 20, 1863, and mustered out with his company June 24, 1865. He has always been a republican and is a member of the M. E. Church. He was married May 7, 1872, to Julia L. Steele, daughter of William Steele, of Jackson county, Ohio. He is the father of six children: Gertrude, Augustus Lewis, Harry, Burnum, and Grace Marie. He is a sucessful farmer and esteemed by his neighbors for his kind and pleasant disposition. He is an honest man and a good neighbor.

John Allen Colegrove

was born June 21, 1843, in Harrison township. His father was Peleg Colegrove, and his mother was Susan A. Bennett. His grandfather was William Colegrove. His maternal grandfather was Thomas Bennett whose wife was Harriet Canfield. Our subject was raised on a farm until he was eighteen, receiving only a com- mon school education. He enlisted in Company E, 33rd O. V. I. September 30, 1861, and was discharged October 8, 1863, on surgeon's certificate of disability. He was elected Land Appraiser in Madison township in 1890, and was appointed to the same office in 1900. He was appointed Deputy State Supervisor of Elec- tions in 1895, again in 1897, again in 1899, and again in 1901. He has always been a republican. He was married December 15, 1870, to Josephine Sweet, daughter of Samuel and Catherine Sweet, and they have the following children: Ida Florence, the wife of John Erwin; Alva E. married to Flora Call; Walter, William and Elmer.

He is. a true physical type of the Colegroves for generations, a man above the ordinary height, of commanding appearance, dark hair, blue eyes and weighing about 180 pounds. He is a good citizen and a fearless, conservative official. He has been at different times Commander of Scioto Post No. 287, G. A. R., at Harrisonville. He is one of the political leaders of his township and county.

Albert M. Collett

was born at Lyra, Scioto county, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1865. His father was Albert M. Collett, and his mother's maiden name was Sarah J. Howell. They had five chil- dren: Thomas Leroy, of Ironton; Tiffin Strider, of Lyra, Ohio; John C. Col- lett, of Portsmouth; Virginia Bell resides at Lyra; and a son, Giles Gilbert, died at the age of twenty-six. Our subject was educated at Chaffin's Mill, and went to the High School at Wheelersburg under Prof. Aaron Grady, where he gradu- ated. He then left Scioto county in 1886, at the age of eighteen, and went to Ironton and engaged in the insurance business and has been in it ever since. He was Mayor of the city of Ironton from April, 1899, to April, 1902. He was elected and defeated John H. Corn, who had been Mayor for twenty- five years in succession. He had a majority of four. The normal republican ma- jority was 1,200 to 1,400.

Mr. Collett has always been a democrat. He made three races for Mayor before that, and never had been beaten over one hundred majority. In 1893, he was a candidate for that office, and had a majority of eighteen; but on a re- count of the votes, 117 tickets were thrown out and he was beaten 79. John M. Corn was awarded the place. In 1901, he was a candidate for re-election, and was defeated by a majority of 274, by H. W. Mountain, who was elected. He is president of the Ironton Lumber Company, and has been for one year. He has been secretary of the Board of Elections of Lawrence county for four years.

He married Miss Elizabeth Sinnott, daughter of Patrick Sinnott, in 1900. Mr. Collett is Past Exalted Ruler of Ironton Lodge, No. 177, B. P. O. E. and is Past Chancellor Commander of the Mytillo Lodge, 27 Knights of Pythias. He is Major on the Ohio Brigade Staff, Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

The Brigadier General is Thomas W. Minshall. He is Past Noble Grand in the Odd Fellows, and is Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment of his city. He is a member of the Methodist church, but he does not aspire to any prominence in that respect. He is one of the sterling business men of his community.

Thomas Leroy Collett

was born at Lyra, Scioto county, Ohio. He is a brother of Albert M. Collett, who has a sketch herein, and whose sketch refers to his father's ancestry. He had a common school education, was reared on the farm, and was an assistant in a country store. In September, 1876, he began his career as a teacher, and followed it for nine years. The first year he taught near Haverhill; for seven years following he taught at Maple Grove, and his last year at Dry Run.

In 1884, he went to Ironton and engaged in the insurance business,-fire, accident and life,-and lie has been in it ever since. He has one of the best and most flourishing businesses in the city He was a member of the Board of Education of Ironton from 1888 to 1890 and was vice president of the Board in 1885.

He was married to Martha J. Brase, daughter of Adolph Brase. Their children are: Harry Leroy Charles Lester, Sarah Alice and Clara Belle. Mr. Col- lett has been a democrat all his life. He is the past exalted ruler of the Benev- olent Protective Order of Elks of Ironton. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias since 1884. He has been correspondent of the Cincinnati Enquirer and New York World. He has improved all of his opportunities and has no cause for regrets. He can justly be proud of the record he has made to this time.

Daniel Fetter Connell

was born on a farm at Wellsburg, Virginia, November 12, 1827. His parents were James S. Connell and Eliza Mendal his wife. His father was a steamboat man and moved to Upper Sandusky in 1842, where he kept the "Walker House." When Daniel was sixteen years of age, he was in the town of Ports- mouth. His father came down conducting a party of Wyandot Indians. In 1844 he went from Sandusky to Brooke county, Virginia, where he remained till 1846, when he went to Columbiana county, Ohio. In 1851, he went to Fairview, Hancock county, West Virginia, and engaged in the mercantlle business and re- mained there until 1855, when he removed to New Cumberland, Virginia, now West Virginia, and remained there until 1868, when he located in Portsmouth and engaged in the fire brick business at Sciotoville, with Charles Taylor and organized the Scioto Fire Brick Company of which he was president.

In 1870, his brother-in-law, W. Q. Adams, and himself, bought out Taylor. In 1874, Mr. Connell sold out his interest in the fire brick business and went to making fire brick and gas retorts in Cincinnati. In June, 1880, he organized and became largely interested in the Peabody coal mines in West Virginia, and was president of that company until his death. On November 12, 1850 he was mar- ried to Catherine A. Wilhelm, of Hancock county, West Virginia Their chil- dren are: Julia, the wife of A. C. Davis; George, James, deceased, Anna, Louise, William, Mamie, deceased, Daniel and Arthur.

On August 1, 1891, about 2 o'clock in the morning, Mr. Connell was in his berth on a sleeper on the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad between Waynesboro and Basic City, Virginia, going east. An unknown white man opened the curtains of his berth and demanded money. Mr. Connell gave the party a kick and the thief fired. The bullet struck Mr. Connell in the groin and ranged upwards, striking the rib and reflecting toward the spine. The intestines were perforated. He called for help for fifteen minutes before any one came to him. The sleeper was the rear car of the train and both doors were unlocked. All the passengers were searched and no revolver found. Mr. Connell was taken off the train at Charlottesville, Virginia, and his three sons, who were then at Craig City, went to him. A few personal friends and Doctor Cotton, his family physician went to him immediately from Portsmouth. Mrs. Connell, daughter Anna and son Ar- thur, went to him on Tuesday morning. An operation was had Sunday. Mr. Connell survived until Wednesday, the fifth day of August, when he died at nine o'clock in the morning. He was cheerful and rational, talking freely with those about him and died without a murmur. For several years prior to his death, Mr. Connell had been largely interested in mineral lands about Craig

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City, Virginia. He was a man of great business ability, integrity and had been quite successful in his undertakings. He was a communicant of Christ Church, Portsmouth, Ohio. The funeral was conducted from the church on August 7th, at Portsmouth Ohio. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Francis Simmons Connolley

was born in Mansfield, Ohio, on May 24, 1852, the son of James S. Connolley and Jane Simmons, his wife. He graduated in the Portsmouth High School. He had clerked in his brother's dry goods store from the age of fourteen while he was still attending school and from the time he graduated in the High School he re- mained there until his death, April 28, 1883. He was married October 18, 1876, to Emma A. Davis, the daughter of George Davis and Sarah Claypool, his wife. They had two children: Fred Davis, born July 1, 1877 and Augusta.

His son Fred attended the Portsmouth High School two years and then en- listed under Professor Lowes for one year. In 1894, he entered the Ohio State University and took Electrical Engineering for two years. He then went into the Columbus Saving and Trust Company and was there for eight months. In Sep- tember, 1897, he went into the employ of the Central Paper Company. He be- gan at the bottom and has been promoted a number of times and now has charge of the correspondence. Miss Augusta Connolley, daughter of our subject, en- tered the Ohio State University in 1898 in the Latin-Philosophy course and graduated in 1902. Frank Connolley was popular in every circle in which he was known. His excellent qualities made him admired and respected. His death, in the midst of a life of usefulness and honor cast a great gloom over his friends, which even time could not dispel.

Patrick Henry Conley

was born at Cross Roads, near Jackson, Ohio, March 2, 1861, the son of James and Margaret (Finn) Conley both of whom came from county Clare, Ireland. While Pat was a child his parents emigrated to this country and settled in the neighborhood of Otway. He worked on a farm and attended the district school at Oppy until he was twenty-one years old. He then went to Michigan, where he remained two years. Having by hard work saved a few hundred dollars, he came home and went into business for himself at Rarden. He remained here some time and then removed to New Boston, where by his own industry and ability he has accumulated considerable property. He is known and respected as a liberal and public spirited citizen. He and his brother John are large buyers of ties and lumber.

P. H. Conley is fifth in a family of eight children: Michael, Catherine, Ellen, Thomas, James, John and Martin. The mother and all except Patrick and John reside near McCulloch creek. The father died in January, 1898, at the age of ninety years. Pat, as he is best known. is the soul of honor. He would not do a mean thing under any circumstances. He is honest to the core, not only with himself but with the neighbors as well. He gave a minister of the Gos- pel as a character reference and the minister said of Pat: "About twenty years ago, while living at Rarden and doing a general lumber and timber business, the late W. K. Thompson, of this city, then in business at Henley, recommended to me Patrick H. Conley, then quite a young man, as a competent and responsi- ble work hand in teaming or otherwise as might be desired. Soon after 1 met "Pat," as he was familiarly called, and employed him. He continued in my ser- vice for three years teaming by the job and employing others to assist him. In all his services, I found him a superior hand; skillful, thorough, honest and up- right in deportment; and withal a very pleasant and agreeable man with me and others. There was never an occasion for finding fault, nor need a watch be set on him to see that his work was well done. or that he was putting in full time. Nor was there ever a misunderstanding as to time of work or amount of pay- ment. He got his wages and was satisfied. At the close of the time mentioned, I moved to Portsmouth, and young Conley branched out into lumbering for him- self and as I learned, was quite successful."

John Cooley

was born in Pennsylvania, February 28, 1821. He came to Dry Run in Scioto county, with George Williamson's father and was too young to recollect. He

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

was raised in the vicinity of Portsmouth, and learned the saddler's trade with James Salisbury. Mr. Cooley remained with Salisbury for seven or eight years. He went into business for himself on March 15, 1846, on Jefferson street. He had a sign made,-a golden saddle,-which he kept in front of the shop for years, until time destroyed it.

Mr. Cooley has been continuously in the same business ever since, and probably has been in one business longer than any man now living in Portsmouth. At the time he started in for himself everything used in his trade, that of saddler and harness, was made in his own shop and made by hand. Mr. Cooley never had a partner. He moved from Jefferson street, to where Mr. E. J. Kenrick now keeps his grocery store, and was located there until 1862. In that year, he moved into his present location, on Market street, and has been in business in the same place since.

He was married in 1847 to Mary Montgomery, the daughter of Robert Montgomery. They had three children: one son and two daughters. The soul died in infancy, and the daughters still survive; one Miss Hattie, and the other, Mrs. Callie Simpson, widow of George Simpson. Mr. Cooley went to housekeeping on Market and Fifth streets and lived there two years, and then moved over his shop and lived there twenty years. In 1879, he moved to his present residence number 40 west Second street, residing there ever since. In politics, Mr. Cooley was a whig during the time of the whig party, and when that went out he became a republican. He is a communicant of the All Saints church. He remembers very well the stage coaching days, when the stage went to Columbus every day, and changed horses every sixteen miles, and when the return stage came in every evening. He can remember when the passenger boats on the canal were made of cedar. Mr. Cooley has a very full recollec- tion of the olden times, and enjoys fair health for his age. He is one of the citizens of the town who enjoys the respect of all his townsmen.

Andrew Jackson Cooper

was born October 27, 1835 in Adams county, Ohio, near Wamsleyville. His parents were William and Minerva (Boldman) Cooper. He was one of six sons, the four eldest of whom were in the Civil War. Jas. M. Cooper, Company C, 5th Cavalry; Andrew J. our subject, Corporal of Company D, 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery; Robert Samuel, Company D, 22nd O. V. I. and Jeremiah, Co. D, 22nd O. V. I. Peter and William, the youngest sons, did not succeed in enlisting though they tried to, but were too young. James M. was wounded twice, first in the hand and afterward in the foot. Our subject had but a meagre education. He was six or seven years old when he came to Scioto county and at twelve years of age went to Pond creek. His father and mother died when he was ten or eleven years of age. He made his home with James Boldman and David S. Newman before he enlisted. He enlisted July 10, 1862, for three years in Co. D, First Ohio Heavy Artillery and on August 24, 1863, was appointed Cor- poral and mustered out June 20, 1865. After the war he worked for D. S. New- man for three years. He came to Portsmouth in 1868, and to 1872 he had been a house painter. In that year he went to Lombardsville where he engaged in the lumber business and has lived there ever since. He has also been a farmer.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 122

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