A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 130

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 130

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He was uniformly successful in business and made a great deal of mon- ey. He was an excellent business man in everything he undertook. He was at one time president of the Central Savings bank of Portsmouth, Ohio, and afterwards vice-president of the same institution, and has been a member of the Board of Directors. His wife died August 6, 1891.

On September 30, 1895, he was married to Mrs. C. Bowers, of Cincinnati, Ohio, widow of William P. Bowers, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, and came to Portsmouth in 1871, to act as foreman in the Agricultural works. He had served for three years in the army in the 76th O. V. I. He died September 4, 1884, in Portsmouth. His daughter, Lillian, married Charles W. Zell, of Newport, Ky., formerly of Portsmouth.

Since 1900, Dr. Fisher has been unable on account of failing health to attend to any business. He spends his winters in Florida and his summers at Portsmouth and takes life easy. He has a host of warm friends and no known enemies. He was never a man to provoke or create antagonisms. His course has been run and he is simply waiting the final call, but has had as much pleasure and enjoyment out of this life as any of his contemporaries.

Henry Folsom

was born February 10, 1847 at Junior Landing. His father was James Smith Folsom and his mother was Sarah Bennett. He was the youngest of ten chil- dren. He was brought up on his father's farm and attended the district school until he was 16 years of age. He then attended an academy at Sewick- ley, Pennsylvania, and then spent one year at the Ohio Wesleyan university at Delaware, Ohio.

In 1865, he engaged in farming on his father's farm and continued until 1878. In 1879 he went on the Vincent farm. From 1880 to 1887 he had charge of the flour and feed mill at Ironton, Ohio, which he operated. In the latter year, he returned to the Folsom home farm and has been there ever since. He farms 326 acres of the very finest land, located in the French Grant, Green township. He makes a business of raising Hereford cattle, and has been en- gaged in that for ten years. He has always been a republican.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

On October 22, 1879, he was married to Effie A. Marshall, daughter of Al- fred Marshall, of Marietta, Ohio. They have nine children: James Alfred; An- na M .; Edith who died at the age of 3 years; William Henry, died at the age of 18 months; Grace B .; Effie May; Pearl Louis, Nancy Helen, and Lucy Jeanette.

Henry Folsom is today one of the substantial farmers of the county. He is strictly honorable in all his dealings, in which he is very conscientious. He is always obliging, and his standing in the community where he lives, is the best. He is loyal, patriotic, public spirited, and always well up to the front in all matters for the good of mankind. He has a delightful family and home.

Abraham Forsythe

was born in Adams county, April 24, 1837. His father was Jacob Forsythe, and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Chapman, a daughter of John Chapman. He received a common school education. He was brought up a farmer. He studied surveying and taught school from 1855 to 1873, in Adams and Scioto counties. He came to Rarden in 1868, and has resided there ever since. He bought the farm where he now resides, in 1877. He served in the 141st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Company K. He was married April 25, 1861. to Mary Jane Moore. They have the following children: Sarah Rebecca married William Keyes, resides at Rarden: John Jacob, married, lives at Rar- den; Mary Alice. married John Burkett, resides near Rarden; Minnie, married Franklin R. Wallace. resides at Rarden; William F., married, was killed in a stone quarry by accident in 1898, leaving a widow and four children; Evaline, married William Penn, and resides near Otway; Nola, married Grant Willard, resides at Otway, Ohio; Corda, married Truman Newman, resides at Rarden; Mabel, at home. Mr. Forsythe is a democrat in his political views, and is a believer in the Methodist doctrines.

John R. Foster

was born in Richland county, Ohio, near Mansfield, at the old family homestead of the Connolleys, in 1850. His father was William Foster and his mother's maiden name was Margaret Connolley, who died from cholera in 1851, leav- ing our subject and his little sister, Anna, to the mercy of relatives. His un- cle Mr. James Connolley, brought them to Portsmouth, at the ages of six and four respectively. His education was obtained in the Portsmouth Public Schools. He was employed in his uncle's store in Portsmouth until he was twenty-five or twenty-six years of age. He then attended the Commercial College in Cincinnati, and was afterwards in the employ of Lehman, Richmond & Co., for two years. He lost his position here through a prolonged siege of typhoid fever.

He visited Mr. J. C. Staggs, of Frankfort, Ross county, Ohio, and while there a partnership was formed under the name of Staggs & Foster. They bought the old and well established dry goods business of Mr. D. C. Anderson. in 1878, and here he met Miss Belle Gunning, a teacher in the Public Schools of Frankfort. She was a daughter of James A. Gunning. They were married June 3rd, 1880. Mr. Foster left Frankfort in 1884, and went to Chillicothe, and engaged in the wholesale hat business, under the firm name of Foster, Gunning & Fullerton.

In the fall of 1885. this firm dissoved by mutual consent, and Mr. Foster and family moved to Portsmouth. In January, 1886, he engaged with the wholesale firm of Towell, McFarland & Sanford, as a traveling salesman, re- mained with the firm when it changed to Sanford, Varner & Co., and to San- ford, Storrs & Varner, and is still with them. In the sixteen years that he has been with this firm, he has played no small part in helping to build the solid foundation of their business.

He has two sons: Ralph Akin born October 31, 1881; Louis Adair. born July 28, 1890. Formerly he was a democrat. but since the Blaine campaign, he has been an out and out republican on national elections; but in local elec- tions, he votes for the best man. In his youth and early manhood. he was a member of All Saints church; but on going to Frankfort he united with the Presbyterian church of that village. While he lived in Portsmouth, he and his wife were members of the First Presbyterian church. Mr. Foster was always a

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prominent Sunday School worker, and was generally superintendent of the Sunday school wherever he was. In 1900 Mr. Foster removed with his family to Columbus, Ohio, where he now resides.

John Robert Foster

To use this name only, no one would understand who was intended, but when it is said this is "Boss" Foster, every citizen of Scioto county will think at once of the distinguished citizen of Carey's Run on the west side, who bears that pseudonym. In fact, Foster has borne the name of "Boss" so long and so persistently, that he thinks it is his real name and "John Robert" is a myth of nis childhood. He was born March 8, 1844, at Maysville, Ky., but is not proud of the fact. "Boss" is about the staunchest republican to be found anywhere and is not proud of Kentucky, his birthplace, because it is a democratic state. His father was Joshua Foster and his mother was Eliza Frizell, a cousin of the late Dr. Frizell, of Buena Vista.

Our subject spent the first four years of his life in Maysville, Ky., and then his parents took him to Black Oak Bottom, in Lewis county, Ken- tucky, opposite Buena Vista, and resided there till he was eight years of age. It was while residing at Black Oak Bottom that the name of "Boss" was fastened on to him. There were about a half dozen John Fosters in the neighborhood and it was perplexing to distinguish between them. One of these Johns discovered a masterful spirit in our subject and gave him the name of "Boss." Every one who knew the boy, recognized the appropriateness of the name and gave it to him. It is now a part of himself.

In 1852, his father removed to Scioto county, and our subject has resided in Washington township ever since. There he obtained his schooling and all the ideas which have dominated his subsequent life. His father was a Jus tice of the Peace of the township in 1857 and that "Boss" obtained his 1859, and it was then predilection for the administration of Jus- tice. His father was also assessor of the township from 1857 to 1859, and died in 1862. Nothing ever went on in the community but what "Boss" Foster was in it. So when the civil war broke out, he enlisted August 30, 1861, in Co. B, 22nd O. V. I. commanded by Capt. Oliver Wood. He remained in the service till November 1, 1865. . He served as a private till October 31, 1864, when he was made a corporal and transferred to Co. B, 22nd Battalion. An error in the Onio roster puts him as enlisted in September 1861, when he enlisted in August and it has August 28, 1865, as the date of his discharge, when he really served till November 1, 1865. He is proud of his military record and does not want it abbreviated in the slightest. Today he is physically one of the best preserved of the survivors of the war of 1861.

"Boss" had an ambition for township honors and in 1876 and 1877, he was a constable of his township. Hanging about the throne of Justice in Washington township, made "Boss" ambitious to occupy it and he was Justice of the Peace from 1882 to 1897, a period of fifteen years. His administration of the office was unique. He would give parties justice whether they wanted it or not and woe to the offender to whom Justice Foster was called on to punish. Once while Justice, one of the Culp's went up the run with a howling jag. He was offending and terrifying every one. As he came oppo-

site the residence of Justice Foster, the latter went out and commanded the peace. This only made Culp worse and Foster thereupon pounced on Culp and gave him one of the worst beatings he or any one ever had. Culp had Foster arrested for assault and battery. The writer defended "Boss" and had the complaint dismissed on the ground that when a Justice commanded the Peace, he had the right to maintain it by physical force. Foster worked a stone quarry till 1870. He then moved on Carey's Run and has resided there ever since.

On February 25, 1872, he was married to Lydia Crain, daughter of Ora Crain. He has three children: Rachel, the wife of John Millison, who resides with him; Oscar R. and Nat V.

He was doorkeeper in the Ohio Senate in 1894 and 1896. "Boss" is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He does not aspire to be promi- nent in spiritual matters, but thinks his strongest point in religion is what he can do when the contribution box passes. "Boss" makes a first class citizen.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

He likes to be a leader and if Washington township should ever relapse into barbarism, "Boss" would be a chief over there. The newspapers are very fond of writing up "Boss's" peculiarities every now and then. They seem to enjoy it and so does "Boss." He is as impervious to newspaper criticism as a rhi- nocerous hide. He is never sensitive on any subject and is always willing to be criticised to any extent. He possesses an inexhaustible stock of self-con- fidence.

Otho Davis Foster, Sr.,

was born August 18, 1836, in Maysville, Kentucky. His parents were Joshua F. Foster and Alice (Flusant) Foster. He resided there until 1848, when his father moved to Black Oak Bottom, Ky., where he resided until 1852, when he came to Washington township, Scioto county, Ohio, where our subject was reared a farmer and followed that occupation until he enlisted in Battery L, First Ohio Light Artillery October 22, 1861, as a private. He was promoted to First Sergeant October, 1864, and to First Lieutenant February 10, 1865, and was mustered out July 4, 1865. The battles in which he participated will be found under the title "Battery L, First Ohio Light Artillery." After the war, he spent two years in Missouri. From 1867 until 1880, he was on a farm in Washington township. In 1880, he became city agent for Cuppett & Webb, lumber dealers, and remained in their employ until March, 1888, when he was made superintendent of the Infirmary. He held this position until his death. September 9, 1860, he was married to Miss Lucinda Shaw. There were six children of this marriage, two deceased and four surviving: Otho D. Jr., Ora and James, living in Scioto county, and William in the west. Our subject had been a member of the Baptist church since 1882. He was a prominent Odd Fellow and an earnest member of the G. A. R. He died December 15, 1894. He was a man liked by everyone. His army history and his history in connec- tion with the management of the county Infirmary demonstrated, that he was a man true to every duty. He was modest and retiring, but always did his duty in every situation.

Otho Davis Foster, Jr.,

son of Otho Davis Foster, whose sketch is above, was born in Washington township, Scioto county, February 22, 1862. Our subject attended the schools of Washington township. At sixteen, he began life on his own account as a farmer. Then he turned his attention to carriage painting. From 1885 to 1887, he worked at carriage and house painting in Lincoln, Omaha and Kear- ney, Nebraska. He

was married March 22, 1887 in Omaha, Nebraska, to Euralia North of Franklin county, Missouri. They came to Portsmouth soon after where he has resided ever since. He has had two children; one died in infancy, his surviving child is Alma Virginia. . He has always been a repub- lican and is a member of the Baptist church and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He follows the trade of a house painter and is regarded as one of the best workmen in the city. He is a member of the Commercial Club and is esteemed as one of the best citizens.

James Gault Freeman,

of Otway, Ohio, was born at that place March 3, 1835. His father was Moses Freeman and his mother's maiden name was Margaret McCormick. His fath- er and mother were both born in Adams county. His grandfather, Michael Freeman, was born in Maryland. His father and mother had four children, three daughters and one son. Mary Jane, who married Joseph W. Tracy; Elizabeth H. Jones, wife of T. H. B. Jones, who resides near Otway, and Sarah E., married Joseph Reynolds, a resident of Otway. The father died August 10, 1851 at the age of 43 years and six months, of a fever. The mother survived until March, 1900.

Our subject was the fourth child. He had a common school education. He was one of the teachers of the public schools of the county for about twenty years. He began this occupation at the age of sixteen and gave it up at the age of thirty-six. During his life, from time to time, he has followed the occupation of farming, and later merchandising. He was a Justice of the Peace of Brush Creek township for eighteen years and Clerk of the township

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for twenty-seven years. He was made Clerk and Justice of the Peace of the township as soon as he became of age. In his political views he has al- ways been a democrat. In 1873 he was the choice of the party for represen- tative of the county, the late George Johnson being the republican candidate. The vote stood 2,510 for Johnson and 2,183 for Freeman, majority 327, a very complimentary vote to Mr. Freeman, and the number of votes he received was precisely the same number as for the democratic candidate for Governor, at the same election, the Hon. William Allen.

He was a member of the Methodist church from the age of thirteen nn- til the age of thirty-five, then he severed his connection and became a member of the Christian Union church, and has been a member of it ever since. In the Methodist church, he held the office of circuit steward. In the Christian Union church, when each local organization had three elders, leading, financial and recording, he occupied in turn all three of these positions.

He was married September 11, 1856 to Eliza Tracy, and she died February 21, 1899. He has had five children, all sons, two of them died in infancy. His son, ; Joseph A,, survived until 1897, when he died at the age of thirty- three, unmarried, a most estimable young man. His son, James W., residing at Nocatee, Florida, is a gardener and orange grower. His son, William F., is a merchant and farmer at Otway.

Mr. Freeman has resided at Otway all his life except the years 1865 to 1867, when he was in the state of Iowa. He is most highly esteemed for his honesty and integrity and high character. For about a year past, he has been a member of the County Board of Elections.

No man possesses the confidence of those who know him to any greater extent than he. His character is a tower of strength in the community of his residence, when he gives his word, it is sacred. He lives all he professes.

George Harrison Freshell

was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, January 10, 1852, the son of George and Joseph- ine (Beaumont) Freshell. His father came from Germany in 1846 and his mother from France in 1847. He spent his boyhood in Portsmouth and at- tended the public schools. From 1862 to 1865, he was a general "ronstabout" at the Green Post, kept by Amos Engils. From 1865 to 1869, he worked for Pat Kenrick at the Exchange on Market street. From 1869 to 1871, he was employed · by "Dutch Mike" in the same business. From 1871 nntil 1876, he worked at various places in Portsmouth. From 1876 until 1879, he worked as steamboat cook between Cincinnati and Pittsburg. From 1879 to 1888 he was employed in his present place of business. In 1888 he commenced business for himself and has continned ever since.

In October, 1882, he was married to Jane Vernier. She died in March, 1889. He was married again to Elizabeth Redinger. He is a republican. He is industrious in his business and has been very successful. He is very gen- erons and contributes to every good cause. He has one of the most popular restaurants in Portsmouth. He devotes himself to his patrons and they ap- preciate his efforts to please and serve them. No man has more friends than he and every one of them will stand by him under any and all circumstances. The ability to command such devotion is Mr. Freshell's best recommendation.

Jacob Fritz

was born in Harford county, Maryland, February 25, 1845, three miles from the city of Baltimore. His father, Gottlieb Fritz, was born in October, 1811, and was a native of Wurtemburg, Germany. His mother's maiden name was Christina Zeller, who was born March 12. 1817, also a native of Wurtemburg, Germany. They were married June 27, 1841, and emigrated to Maryland about 1836. They had ten children, part of whom were born in Maryland, part in Pennsylvania and part in Ohio. The family came to Scioto county, Ohio in 1856, when our subject was eleven years of age. He was reared a farmer and received a common school education. When his parents came to this connty they settled on Dogwood Ridge, where he has since resided. He entered company I, 140th regiment, O V. I., at the age of nineteen, May 2, 1864, ad served until September 8, 1864.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

He was married March 11, 1869, to Eliza Griver, daughter of Fred Griver and his wife, Sophia Ranshahous. They have the following children: George W., born February 7, 1870, lives in Ironton, and is a commercial salesman for Green, Joyce & Co., of Columbus; Charles H., born May 17, 1872, conducting a farm near his father's home; Albert F., born August 10, 1874, a farmer with his father; Edward, employed in the office of the Heer shoe factory of Ports- mouth, Ohio; and two daughters, Emma C., and Wilhelmina.

Our subject was engaged for seven years on the B. & O. railroad from 1866 to 1873. He was a section hand except one year, when he was foreman. He helped to change the gauge of the Portsmouth branch of the B. & O. It was done in five days; and while he was working on the railroad he helped tc change the gauge of the Ohio & Mississippi to the standard gauge between Cincinnati and St. Louis. This work was done in a half day by distributing a sufficient force of men along the line, and by beginning work at the same time and ending it at the same time. Jacob Fritz is a good farmer, a good neighbor, a good Christian and a good citizen. This is the general verdict of all who know him.

James Savage Frizell, M. D.,

is the son of W. A. Frizell, M. D., and Artemisia Kenyon, his wife. He was born at Buena Vista, Ohio, January 3, 1848, and was educated in the schools of that place. His grandfather, Joseph Frizell was a soldier of the war of 1812. He married, Mary Savage. Doctor Frizell attended the Ohio Medical College for three years and was graduated March 2, 1880. He practiced with his father for four years and then went to Philadelphia and took a course in Jef- lerson Medical College. He was graduated therefrom in 1884. When he had completed his medical education, he was $3,000 in debt, but managed to pay out in three years. He has practiced at Buena ever since he began prac- tice. He was appointed a member of the Board of Pension Examining Sur- geons of Scioto county in 1902.

Mr. Frizell has been a democrat the most of his life and a very active worker but became a republican at the end of Cleveland's first term on ac- count of the policy of the Democrat party on the money question. He was Treasurer of Nile township in 1899.

He was reared a Methodist, but never joined the church. He has always been a contributor to the church and a worker in the Buena Vista' Sunday school. He has filled every office and has taught every class in the Sunday school and has kept this up for a period of forty years. He is a Royal Arch Mason and an Odd Fellow.

He married Caroline Miller, eldest daughter of John Miller of Buena Vis- ta, October 31, 1888. At the time of his marriage he had his home bought and furnished and moved into it immediately. On account of so much sick- ness in the neighborhood, he was compelled to forego the pleasure of a wed- ding trip. Dr. Frizell is a lover of out door sports and always has his dogs and guns and fishing tackle and when the seasons are ripe, he takes a vaca- tion whenever opportunity affords.

Doctor Frizell was born into the profession, his father having been a successful and well known practitioner in the town where our subject is now, and has for years followed his profession. Before commencing the prac- tice of medicine, he fitted himself in an eminent degree for his work by tak- ing his course in medicine in the best schools in our land. In his work he is active, careful and painstaking. Often thrown on his own resources in the most of his career he has had to paddle his own canoe and as a result is trained in the school of experience as well as that of theory. His relations with his patients are of the most cordial and sincere character. His opinions are asked for in civil and religious matters as well as in medicine. His good offices are extended to all men alike regardless of creeds, politics or station in life.

Robert Frowine

was born in Germany, in 1828. He came to the United States in 1849, with his brothers, William, Fred, Charles, August, and his father. The family lo- cated first in Texas, and then came to this county. They were all farmers. On August 14, 1862, Robert enlisted in Company C, 91st O. V. I. and served

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till June 24, 1865. He was a Corporal of his Company, and carried the colors of the regiment and they were always in place, and at the front. He was wounded at the battle of Opequan, September 19, 1864. He was born to be a soldier and made a most excellent one. He lives a mile and a half south- east of Harrisonville and has a most delightful home. He married a Miss Kirschner after the war and his six daughters: Mary, wife of James White, of Portsmouth, Ohio; Flora, widow of Jenkins Pool; Rosa, wife of Henry Race; Minnie, wife of Samuel Moore, and Etta at home. Robert Frowine is a suc- cessful farmer and his farm indicates it to any one who visits him. He is honest to the core and cannot do too much for an old comrade of the civil war.

Albert Atwood Fuller

was born at Marietta, Ohio, September 15, 1846. As to his parents see sketch of A. J. Fuller. Our subject attended the public schools of Marietta until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he went in the dry goods business, and remained there until 1876. He was salesman and buyer and conducted the whole business. August 1, 1876, he came to Portsmouth with John G. Hatha- way, and started a photograph gallery, as Fuller & Hathaway. They were in the Trotter building until 1879, and then moved to the Vincent building. In

the spring of 1882, our subject sold out to Hathaway and moved to Springfield. He remained there during the summer season, and then came back to Ports- mouth, and bought out the Nichols undertaking business. He conducted that business alone until 1884, when he took in his brother, A. J. Fuller, and added furniture. They started in the Huston stone front building and remained there three years, then they moved to the Gerlach building and remained there until 1898, when they went into the building at No. 75 West Second street, which they built and own. They conduct one of the oldest undertaking businesses in the city. Our subject was married August 5, 1873 to Flora Protsman, daugh- ter of Leroy Protsman. They have one child, Mrs. Flora Maher. They also lost one son at the age of four years. Mr. Fuller is a republican, and a ¡Mason.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 130

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