A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 128

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 128

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The success he has already won in the business world is but the legiti- mate fruit of an honest, cultured man doing his duty both to himself and those associated with him. The domestic life of Mr. Eglin and his fine family is as ideal and beautiful as his business life has been successful.

He is a factor for good in the social, political, business and Christian ac- tivities of any communty in which he makes his home.

John Eisman

was born January 20, 1839, in the city of Forcheim, Kingdom of Bavaria. the son of Smiley Eismann and Eva (Friedmann) Eismann. He spent his boyhood in Forcheim and received his education in the public schools of that place. Af- ter leaving school at the age of eighteen, he learned the trade of a baker and followed this vocation at Frankfort and at Meinz until he was twenty.

He left his native land in the spring of 1861, and landed in the United States March 22. He proceeded at once to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he worked at his trade for about a year; then, going to New York, he was em- ployed on Bleeker street, at the same occupation for eight or nine months.

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From there he went to Scranton, Pa., where he remained about six months. His brother Leopold Eisman had come to America in 1859 and had established a clothing and dry goods business in Portsmouth, Ohio. At his request, his brother, our subject, came to Portsmouth in March, 1864, where he has since resided with the exception of a few months in 1865 when he resided in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1865, the brothers formed a partnership branch store. Leopold still conducted his main store and John managed the branch store, which was lo- cated in the basement of the Taylor House which stood where the present Biggs House stands, but was destroyed by fire in 1871. The business was temporarily removed to the Spry block after the fire. Leopold then erected a three story brick building just below the Timmonds baker shop on Front street, and the en- tire business was removed to the new building, the brothers becoming equal partners in the business. The dry goods line was soon dropped and they car- ried on a clothing and merchant tailoring business exclusively. The sales were mostly retail, though a local wholesale business was done. The business flourished and the partnership continued until the death of the senior partner, Leopold, September 6, 1886, when our subject bought out the interest of the widow and assumed exclusive control of the establishment.

The business has since been run in the name of J. Eisman & Company, though Mr. Eisman is the sole owner. In 1895, he removed to the Brushart building on west Second street. The business continued to grow and wholesale- ing was given more attention. In 1900, the quarters becoming too small a re- moval was made to Chillicothe street between Fourth and Fifth streets, where an extensive wholesale and retail clothing and gents furnishing business is car- ried on. It is one of the largest and most substantial business houses in Ports- mouth.

Mr. Eisman has always been a republican in politics, but has never sought publicity in this line preferring to give his whole time and attention to his bus- iness. He is a member of the Jewish church congregation of Portsmouth and has always been one of its most liberal contributors. He held the presidency of the church for two years. He was united in marriage, January, 1869, with Fanny Meyer daughter of Jacob Meyer, of Portsmouth. She died, December, 1869. In April 1874, he was re-married to Eliza Dryfus, daughter of Wolf and Eva Dry- fus, of Zanesville, Ohio. She died February 24, 1892, leaving four children. two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living, and have reached maturity. They all reside with their father on west Fourth street. Carrie E., and Eda E., manage the home and the sons, Leon M., and Sidney J., are associated with their father in business. The sons show remarkable business ability and have a promising future.

Major David Elick

was born June 29, 1839 on the Damarin farm, in a house long since destroyed. It stood on the east side of the Damarin hill, with an orchard about it. His father, David Elick, and mother, Anna Leser, were stricken with cholera in 1854, both dying within a week, leaving six children, of which he was the oldest. The family was then divided, and David was taken into the home of Mr. Albert Mc- Farland, Sr., then editor and proprietor of the Portsmouth Tribune. At the age of fourteen, he became carrier of the Portsmouth Tribune delivering the whole edition weekly on his little pony. As a boy, he was industrious and faithful, with great emphasis on these terms. He began at the bottom of the ladder, be- came office boy, roller boy, printer's devil, a fine expert compositor, and a job printer. He was then taken into partnership with Mr. Albert McFarland, Sr., and for many years owned a half interest in the Portsmouth Tribune, and con- tinued as such until his removal to Minneapolis, Minn. Notwithstanding he was a newspaper man all his life, he never could tell a lie. That was a part of the business he could not learn. He was noted for his integrity. He was amiable and generous and if there ever was a Christian, he was one. Anything mean, low or wrong, shocked his entire nature. He never had an enemy because no man in his senses could be his enemy. He had all the virtues of a perfect character. He was a lover of poetry, and often quoted it. He gained the no- toriety of being the author of a short poem, "Beautiful Snow." He served in the militia during the Morgan raid and by his comrades was given the title of "Major" by which he was afterwards known. On November 21, 1879, he was

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married to Miss Amelia Meyers, of Portsmouth, Ohio. In 1883, they removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he and Mr. Alvord founded the "Commercial Bulletin," still in existence. In connection with this they published a musical journal, "The Church Choir," in which they were successful. No one ever left Portsmouth with more regret than he, for he was remarkably attached to his home and friends. In February, 1893, he contracted the grippe, bringing on other complications which terminated in an abcess of the left lung, thus caus- ing his death, May 17, 1895, aged fifty-five years. He left a widow and two sons, Roy and Earl, the latter of whom died June 4, 1900, aged fifteen years and eleven months. Roy married Bessie, daughter of Willliam A. Sherman of Milwaukee, Wis., January 1, 1903. Wherever Heaven is, the spirit of David Elick must be · there for there would be no other suitable abode for it.

Hugh Ellis

was born July 12, 1852, on Brush creek, Union township, a son of James Ellis, who has a sketch herein. He attended the common schools of his vicinity and started out for himself in 1873. On the 12th of February of that year, he be- gan work in the Burgess rolling mill at Portsmouth, Ohio, as a puddler of steel and had charge of a furnace until 1878. For eleven years, he remained with the Burgess rolling mill, working in the open-hearth department. He quit their employment on February 13, 1898 just twenty-five years from the time he began. Fiom that time he has worked in many different rolling mills in the country, first at Indianapolis, then at Ensley, Alabama. In April, 1898, he took charge of the steel department in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Republic Steel and Iron Company, and was superintendent of the open hearth department for one year. He came back to Portsmouth in May, 1899. He then went to Pitts- burg and worked for the Crucible Company for one month, and from there to Birmingham, where he worked for four months, but again he came back to Portsmouth, and went to Ensley, Alabama. in 1900. At this place he began with the Alabama Steel and Ship-building Company, April 1, 1900, and did effi- cient work for them during the period of his stay. He began work for the Ports- mouth Steel and Iron Company, May 1, 1902, and is foreman of the open-hearth department.

Mr. Ellis is a single man. He resides with his brother William Ellis. He is a great student of Masonry, has taken the 32d degree, is a member of the Elks, and belongs to the Scioto Lodge of Odd Fellows, of Portsmouth. He is very fond of fraternal orders, and is a most useful man in them. He has never been a candidate for any office. He is a republican, a most congenial companion and a good friend.

He possesses high sense of honor and his dealings are most punctilious with all men. He is as good a representative of true manhood as can be found anywhere.

James Ellis

was born in 1817 in Ireland. He emigrated to New York in 1832. His father came later. On arriving at New York, he apprenticed himself to a marble cut- ter for seven years. In 1839, he came to Ohio. He married Margaret Garvin, daughter of Hugh Garvin, who came from Ireland, and directly after his mar- riage located on Brush creek on a farm. He had four sons: William, who works in the Portsmouth steel works; John Ellis, a foreman of the clay pottery works, at Findlay, Ohio; James, formerly an engineer of the Cincinnati division of the N. & W. railroad, but now a private watchman on Chillicothe street, and Hugh, a foreman of the open-hearth department of the Portsmouth steel works. Mr. Ellis gave up his farm in 1875 and resided in Portsmouth from that time until his death in 1884. His wife survived till 1893, when she died at the age of eigh- ty-four years, ten months and fourteen days. They were both members of the First Presbyterian church of Portsmouth. He was a republican, a man of the highest character, noted for all the cardinal virtues, and a man respected by all his friends.

Philip Emmert

was born at Bloom Furnace, Scioto county, Ohio, May 24, 1864. His parents were Peter and Catharene (Werd) Emmert, who came from Hesse, Germany, in 1848. His father was a trained gardener, but worked at Scioto furnace as col-

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lier. Philip's educational advantages were limited because he began hard work at an early age. His father died in 1874 and came to Portsmouth in 1876 and worked in the Ohio stove foundry for 12 years. He also worked some time at the Hanging Rock stove foundry and at the Portsmouth stove and range works. He left the foundry in 1890 and began business for himself in Portsmouth, where he remained two years and then went to New Boston at which place he has been the past ten years. In the spring of 1902, he and Charles Berchem opened a fine livery barn at New Boston. He has been a member of the school board of Clay township since 1898 and was elected trustee in 1901. He is a republican, and a member of the German Lutheran church. He married Emma Dielman, of Portsmouth, Ohio, daughter of John and Philipina Dielman, March 20, 1888. They have five children: Carl, Alma, John H., Maggie and Wilbur, Mr. Emmert is liberal minded, free hearted and sociable, and is well liked by his neighbors.

Oliver E. Emory

was born near Chaffin's Mill in Vernon township, Scioto county, Ohio, Decem- ber 11, 1845. He is the son of Dearborn G. and Juliette (Chamberlain) Emory. His mother was the daughter of Wyatt Chamberlain, a soldier in the war of 1812, who came from Vermont in 1817, and settled on Pine creek. His father was born on Pine creek, in Vernon township. His paternal grandfather came from Connecticut in 1815. When Oliver was eight years old, his parents re- moved to the French Grant, and remained there for ten years returning to Chaffin's Mill in 1863. He attended the district schools in winter and worked at the furnace in the sunimer.

He earned his first hundred dollars by digging ore at Howard furnace, and spent it in order to finish his education at Wheelersburg. He taught school in 1867, and the same year opened a general store at Chaffin's Mill, where he continued eighteen months and then rented the mill which he operated one year. He contracted at Howard furnace in furnishing charcoal for one year, and then removed to California, Pike county, and opened a general store on a capital of $1,500, and has been engaged in the mercantile business ever since. He was Clerk of Marion township, Pike county from 1872 to 1875, Assessor in 1881, Justice of the Peace from 1887 to 1896, Treasurer in 1897 and 1898, and was elected Auditor of Pike county in the fall of 1901. He is a democrat, a mem- ber of the Alhambra Lodge K. of P. at California and a trustee of the Free- will Baptist church of that place.

He married Amanda A. Adams, daughter of Dr. H. Adams, of South Webster, February 16, 1868. She is the niece of Dr. J. B. Ray, Sr. He has but one child living Charles Merton who is attending the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. He had a daughter, wife of Dr. William Samson, now de- ceased.

The following is from one who knows him well: "He is a man of honest convictions, unusual courage, public spirited, unselfish and progressive. Nature favored him with endowment of health, which he never wasted by dissipation, or idleness. He improved all his opportunities in youth to secure the best educa- tion he could obtain. He is regarded by all who know him, as well as those who have dealt with him, as a model business man."

Frank Bliss Enslow

was born August 4, 1853, at Wheelersburg, Scioto county, Ohio. His father was Andrew J. Enslow and his mother Nancy Bliss. He had a common school education. He left home in 1869, and was a civil engineer and surveyor in Tennessee until 1871. In that year his father moved to Huntington. West Vir- ginia, and attended Marshall College there in 1871 and 1872. In 1872, he en- gaged in railroad contracting on the Chesapeake and Ohio, grading and ma- sonry.

In the fall of 1873, he began the study of law with the Hon. Eustace Gibbons and was admitted to the bar in August, 1876. While a law student. he attended the ice business to support himself. Upon admission he opened a law office in Huntington. The firm was Gibson, Sims & Enslow fortone year, then it became Sims & Enslow and has so continued ever since. He has been coun- sel for the Chesapeake & Ohio and for C. P. Huntington, in West Virginia, and

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generally engaged in corporation practice ever since he began the practice of law. He never has been a candidate for any office. He has been a democrat all his life. He was chairman of the State Gold Democratic committee in 1896. He is a vestryman in the Episcopal church at Huntington. He was married on November 30, 1881, to Mrs. Julia Buffington. They had one child Frank Jack- son Enslow, now aged twenty. She died August 31, 1899. He was married the second time on April 16, 1901, to Mrs. Juliet Baldwin.

Mr. Enslow is a man of sterling character and integrity and one of the first men in his city. He is a good friend and always ready to assist his friends. As a lawyer he stands among the first in the state. He has an extraordinary will power and his energy is inexhaustible. When he takes up a subject he follows it to the end and his clients' interests are always safe in his hands and their interests receive every attention they deserve.

William C. Erwin

was born in Harrison township, Scioto county, Ohio, November 30, 1866. He is the son of Robert Erwin and a great-grandson of Robert Erwin, who came to Ohio from Pennsylvania. He was of Irish descent, and settled first in Scioto county, near Portsmouth, at Jeffordsville, and removed from that place to Mad- ison township about 1835. His son, Robert Erwin, was one of a family of eight children, as follows: Andrew, Samuel, Margaret, Robert, William, Ellis, James, and Julia. The mother of our subject was Hulda Rockwell, daughter of Jonathan and Martha Brown Rockwell, from New York and Virginia respective- ly. The paternal grandmother of William was Elizabeth Wallace who died in Madison township, at the age of eighty-four. Robert Erwin, the father of Wil- liam, was a soldier in the civil war, in Company F, Ninety-first O. V. I. He entered the service August 22, 1862, and was mustered out with the company June 24, 1865. William spent most of his boyhood and youth in Madison town- ship, where he received a common school education. He worked on the farm and attended school until 1890, when he engaged in business in an installment house at Columbus for about one year. He spent two years as a conductor and motorman on the street railroad at Portsmouth. In the spring of 1893, he re- moved with his parents to Harrison township. In 1899, he commenced the mer- chandise business which he still continues. He was Clerk of Harrison township in 1901 and 1902. He is a republican.

Julius Esselborn

was born in Duerkheim, in the Palatinate, Germany, in the year 1835. He came to the United State in 1850, and located in New York city, where he engaged in business, continuing it until 1865. The following year he repaired to Cincin- nati, remaining there until he came to Portsmouth, which was in 1889. Feb- ruary 23, 1889, he purchased the local brewery of Conrad Gerlach associating himself in this business with Oscar Knorr. He was actively connected with the brewery the remainder of his life. By his business sagacity and enterprise, he succeeded in making this brewery the best of its kind in this section of the state. He organized and was president of the Portsmouth Brewing and Ice Company. He was married in 1870, to Miss Pauline Rehfuss, of Cincinnati, Ohio. They had four children: Emilie, the wife of Doctor Crane, of Cincinnati; Paul, Juliet and Laura. The only fraternal order of which Mr. Esselborn was a member, was the Elks. He was for many years an esteemed and active member of Portsmouth Lodge No. 154. He was a progressive man. He was always ready to do his share in public enterprises and more than his share, in fact. He was honorable and upright in all his business dealings and was respected and es- teemed by those with whom he came in contact. He was a man of loveable character and he had the sincere affection of the circle of friends who knew him best and appreciated him as a cultured, refined and kindly gentleman. He died May 6, 1900.

Mitchell Evans

was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, October 29, 1820. His parents were Abraham and Esther (Turner) Evans, natives of Maryland, who died when he was very young. He remained in Kentucky until he was five or six years old,

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when he removed to Scioto county, Ohio, where he has since resided. He re- ceived a common school education. He has always been a farmer. He was township treasurer in 1868, and held that office a few years. He was township clerk for several years. He was a whig and is now a republican. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church at Friendship, Ohio, In November, 1854, he was married to Maria Bradford, daughter of Abel Bradford. He had three children by this marriage: Charles, deceased; Emory F., and Maria, the wife of James Thatcher, of Friendship, but now deceased. His wife died February 7, 1867.

In May, 1868, he was married to Miss Ella Murphy, daughter of David Whittaker, and Cynthia (McCall) Murphy. They have three children. His son Ernest graduated at the Ohio State University in the scientific course in 1892, and is now superintendent of the National Steel Company at Zanesville, Ohio. His son, William D. Evans, who was reared a farmer, is now engaged with the same company at Zanesville, Ohio. His daughter. Anna, has developed great talent in music. She is the organist of Bigelow M. E. church, and a teacher of music in the city of Portsmouth. Mr. Evans has one of the best farms in Scioto county, and devotes himself assiduously to its cultivation. He takes all the agricultural papers and magazines and tries to keep abreast with modern ideas in farming. He not only believes in doing his best in farming, but in the church and in the community as well. He keeps himself well informed on all subjects of current and general interest. He is an analytical reasoner on any subject he considers and his opinions on matters of public interest are always well considered and worthy of being followed. It is always pleasurable and profitable to converse with him. He is noted for his good judgment and wis- dom in the every day affairs of life.

John William Evans

was born May 21, 1865, at Grayson, Carter county, Kentucky.His father was John Evans and his mother Mahala Ward. They were slaves and were freed by President Lincoln's proclamation in 1863. He resided in Kentucky until he was six years of age, when he came to Portsmouth, and lived with old Jerry Washington, a blind Samson, who turned the presses for the Times, Tribune an Press. His mother died when he was only four years old and he came to Ports- mouth alone. He attended school in Portsmouth from 1871 until 1877, and then went to the Biggs House as dish washer until 1880. That year he became second barber on the steamer Bostona, and was on her for nine years. In 1889. he became head porter at the Biggs House, under George Babcock, and was there until 1900, when he was appointed janitor at the Court House, which employ- ment he still holds. He was married June 26, 1900, to Henrietta Justice, a teach- er in the Portsmouth public schools. Since 1889, he has been a Blue Lodge Ma- son, Trinity Lodge, No. 9, and has been Master of the lodge seven years. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Harmony Lodge, No. 33. He is a re- publican and is president of the Bruce Club, a republican political club, com- posed of colored men which was organized in 1897. He belongs on the outside of Allen chapel, M. E. church of Portsmouth. Mr. Evans is highly respected among the people of his race and possesses their confidence.

Ernest E. Everling

was born on Long Run, Scioto county, Ohio, January 19, 1864. He is the son of Ernest E. and Christine Everling, both of Hanover, Germany. His boyhood and youth were spent on the farm on Long Run, where he attended the district school near Peter Somer's. As a youth he was a farmer's helper. He is a democrat, a member of the Lutheran church and of the Portsmouth Lodge, A. O. U. W. He married Miss Lou Shearer, daughter of Joseph Shearer, of Munn's Run, March 1, 1878. They have six children: Gertrude, Geneva, Firman, Leslie. Howard and Gilbert. Ernest Everling has always been a hard worker. He set- tled on Munn's Run soon after his marriage, where he has cleared and improved a large area of land, most of which he cultivates in fruits. He has one of the best peach and apple orchards in the county and his strawberries are the finest in the market. He is a pleasant neighbor and well liked by those who know him best. He believes in the gospel of hard work and lives it. He makes no pretentions, but simply seeks to fill all his time with useful work. If he lives

ELMORE ELLIS EWING.

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a long life, he will be rich and all the time will have set an example worthy of emulation.

Elmore Ellis Ewing

was born Feb. 16, 1840, at Ewington, Gallia county, Ohio. His father, George Ewing, was a farmer, mechanic, and merchant. His mother was Ann Knox, a daughter of William Knox. For his ancestry see the Ewing family in the Pio- neer Record. Our subject was reared on his father's farm until he was seven- teen years of age, attending public schools during the winter. He attended the Ewington academy for one year. He taught and attended the public schools until he was twenty years of age, when he entered the Ohio University as a freshman.

On July 31. 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company A, 91st O. V. I. He was made Second Lieutenant on July 13, 1863 and First Lieutenant on July 20, 1864. On July 24. 1864. while leading his company in the battle of Winchester, he was shot through the left lung and left by his comrades for dead. He was taken to the home of a Union man, John Cooper. who with his wife, nursed him back to comparative health. His friends in the meanwhile mourned him as dead. Upon reaching his home in Gallia county he found his mother prepar- ing the church for his funeral sermon the next day. During the war he strove to uplift the camp life of his soldiers. As they sat by the camp fire, he in- struced them in branches they had not learned. This instruction gave to many a thirst for education which was satisfied on their return from the war. He was engaged in all the battles in which the regiment participated up to the time of his wound. On December 4, 1864, he was discharged on account of his wound. Directly after his discharge, he came to Scioto county.

In September, 1865. he was married to Miss Minerva Folsom. daughter of

James S. Folsom. In October. 1865, he was elected a teacher in the Portsmouth High School at a salary of $80.00 per month. He taught less than one year, and then went into the retail and wholesale queensware business in Portsmouth. Ohio, and continued in it until 1895, a period of thirty years. He was a member of the City Council of Portsmouth in 1873 and 1874. In the same year he was trus- tee of the property assigned by Charles Slavens for the benefit of the city of Portsmouth. In 1875 and 1876, he was a member of the Board of Education. In 1876, he published his history of the schools of Portsmouth, which was pub- lished by the state and used at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. On June 7, 1878. he was elected to the City Council of Portsmouth, to succeed John P. Terry, who had resigned. In April, 1880, he was elected a cemetery trustee of the city of Portsmouth. for three years, and on June 1, 1883. was re- appointed to the same position. On May 8, 1882. he was appointed a trustee of the Scioto county Children's Home and served until March 1, 1893.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 128

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