A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 136

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 136

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He was married October 25. 1882, to Miss Margaret F. Tewksbury, daugh- ter of Moor R. Tewksbury. Their children are: Ruth Baird, a graduate of Harcourt Seminary in June 1901, now a student at Smith College, North- ampton, Mass .; George Tewksbury, now a senior in the University School at Cleveland; Jean T., a student in the public schools at Portsmouth.

Mr. Johnson is a member of the First Presbyterian church of Ports- mouth, O., and is a republican in his political views. He is a 32nd degree Ma- son, and a member of the Syrian Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Cincinnati. He has well filled every position held by him. He has shown great executive and administrative ability in all business entrusted to him. He has been successful, financially and socially, and is one of the most popular men in Portsmouth.

Isaac Johnson

was born March 6, 1838 in Scioto county, Ohio, the son of James O. and Phoebe (Jeffords) Johnson. His grandfather, Henry C. Jeffords, was a pioneer of Scioto county. He moved to Portsmouth in 1822 and in 1832 he kept the Scioto Inn. Our subject received a common school education and was raised a farmer. In 1892, he sold his farm of 236 acres in Scioto county and removed to Fayette county. In March, 1893, he located on a farm near Bloomingburg, Ohio and remained there until 1896, when he sold this farm and removed to Washington, C. H. Ohio, where he has resided since. He has been township trustee and held various other township offices at different times. He was made a Master Mason in 1873, and has been a trustee of Lucasville Lodge, No. 465. He is a republican.

In February, 1864. he was married to Fannie L. Yeager, who died in January, 1866. In 1867, he was married to Rachel Kendall, daughter of Milton and Ruth Kendall of Portsmouth. They have three children: Idora B., the wife of Frank B. Thomas, who resides in Del Norte, Colorado; Elmer E., is a telegraph operator fo the Midland division of the Baltimore & Ohio R. R. and resides at home; Bessie Maude, a graduate of the Washington C. H. High School in the class of 1901, resides with her parents. Mr. Johnson is an excel-

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lent citizen, one who always does his part in the community, and who leads rather than follows. He is a man of positive force wherever he is placed and his influence and acts always count for the best for himself and those about him.

Jesse Johnson

was born October 26, 1849, at the mouth of Bear creek. He is the son of Isaac Newton Johnson and Sarah Cockrell his wife, daughter of Jesse Cockrell of Lu- casville. His grandparents Isaac and Jane (Clark) Johnson were natives of Hampshire county, Virginia. They were married Febuary 28, 1805 and came to Scioto county, in 1807, and located near Scioto Inn, where Clifford now is. Their son, Isaac N. was born August 16, 1821. Isaac Johnson died February 18, 1832 and his wife July 11, 1845. The first was of English descent and the latter of German descent. His grandfather Cockrell was of English descent and his grandmother of Scotch descent and her maiden name was Anna Marsh.

Our subject was raised on a farm and attended a country school. Later he attended the Iron City Commercial College, at Pittsburg. He commenced farming in 1873 for himself and has been engaged in farming in all of its dif- ferent phases ever since. He would be rated as a first class farmer judging from his industry, methods and success. Although not an active politician, he holds to the democratic faith and has never sought office. He was married February 12, 1873, to Miss Rebecca Simpson, youngest daughter of Elias Simpson of the West Side.

John Jones (Plumber)

was born in Wales in 1844. His father was Henry Jones and his mother's maiden name was Jane Thomas. When he was three or four months old, his parents came to this country and located near Oak Hill, Gallia county. His father was a farmer, and remained near Oak Hill for a short time, when he purchased a farm near Gallia Furnace. There, Jones went to school until 1862.

On September 20, 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in Co. D, 1st regiment, Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery, as a private, but was mustered in Co. H. He did duty with Co. D from the start and was transferred to Co. D, April 1, 1863, and was mustered out with the company July 25, 1865, at Knox- ville, Tennessee. He was captured by the enemy February 23, 1865, with twelve companions at Mosier's Mill, East Tennessee, but he was a prisoner only eighteen hours, just long enough to render him eligible to join the "Society of the Prisoners of the Civil War." He and five companions escaped from their captors on the night after they were captured; the other six who were captured, were taken to Richmond, Virginia.

After his discharge, Mr. Jones went to Louisville, Kentucky and started to learn the plumber's trade in March, 1866, with the Angell & Cochran foundry and machine works. He worked for them for a few months. After this, he be- came a street car driver, for a time and then went to Cincinnati and afterwards to St. Louis, where he took care of horses for the Adam's Express Co. He again went to Louisville and from there took a plumbing job at Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He came to Portsmouth, on November 1, 1866 and has been here ever since. He worked for Richard Spry, the plumber, until August 1, 1870, when he went into business for himself. On June 1, 1895 he sold out to E. S. Jenkins, and he has not been in any business since. When he occupied the Gerlach building, he carried the largest supply of plumbing goods of every kind and mill supplies ever carried in southern Ohio. Mr. Jones was a coppersmith. He worked in sheet-iron and set boilers and engines whenever required by any of the furnaces. He has acquired a competence and is trying to live easy. He is one of the few soldiers of the Civil War who never applied for or obtained a pension. He has greatly preserved his youthful appearance, and proposes to put off old age just as long as he can.

John Jones (Ex-Postmaster)

was born January 1, 1848 at Mt. Sterling, Ky. His father was David E. Jones and his mother Elizabeth Edwards, daughter of the Rev. John Edwards. His father and mother were both born in Wales. He lost his mother when he was but eight months old. His father, David E. Jones enlisted as a private in

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Company A, 12th regiment, Connecticut Infantry, September 18, 1862, at New Orleans. He was captured October 19, 1864 at Cedar creek, Virginia and died November 25, 1864 in prison at Salisbury, North Carolina.

Our subject came to Portsmouth in 1853 and spent his boyhood and re- ceived his education in the public schools of the city. He commenced business by clerking in the hat store of J. H. Johnson, in 1866. In 1870, he started a men's furnishing store on West Second street, Portsmouth, and was engaged in that business for thirty years. Mr. Jones, though of Welsh descent, was always a democrat in his political views and a very strong one. He always took a great interest in the affairs of the party. He was a member of the Board of Education from 1888 until 1894. From 1892 to 1894 he was president of that board. He was Postmaster of Portsmouth from 1894 to 1898, and a member of the City Council from 1899 to the present time. He was president of the coun- cil for two years, 1899 to 1901. He was elected president of the Board of Education when his party were in the minority. On June 2, 1902 he was appointed a member of the Board of Review for the city of Ports- mouth for three years.

He was married November 4, 1873 to Miss Maggie M. Shaw, daughter of William and Ellen Lynn Shaw. They have two children, Ralph W., a sales- man in Columbus, Ohio, for the C. J. Craig mens' furnishing store, and Blanche Thomas, wife of A. E. Thomas, of Columbus. His son, Ralph, is married to Miss Irene Jordon, daughter of the late William Jordon of Portsmouth, Ohio.

Mr. Jones was very popular and very successful as a business man. All of his acquaintances are his friends and strange to say, some of his very best friends are his political opponents. He has always been a leader in the affairs of the Democratic party, and is usually a delegate to the county, district and state conventions of the Democratic party. If there is any hard work to do among the democrats of his county, it is usually put on him and he does it just the same as if it was the most important thing that he had to do in this world. Since 1900, Mr. Jones has not been actively engaged in any business but has been taking life easy. He is a model citizen, always in favor of public improvements and anything for the benefit of the public.

Lafayette Jones

was born in Brush Creek township. October 26, 1852. His father was Paul Karr Jones and his mother was Elizabeth (Clark) Jones, daughter of James Clark. Our subject received his early education in the common schools and afterwards attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he was graduated in 1880. He began teaching in 1872, and continued to teach until 1896. While at Lebanon, he studied surveying and civil engineering. In the fall of 1880, he began work as a surveyor and has continued it since. He was deputy surveyor of Scioto county from 1888 till 1891. He was elected County Surveyor in 1897, and took the office in September, 1898. He was re- elected in 1890 and is the present incumbent.

He was married October, 1881, to Margaret McDermed, daughter of David McDermed. They have two children: Mary Winifred and Ada. He is an en- thusiastic republican and an active politician. He is a member of the Metho- dist church known as McKendree's Chapel near McGaw, Ohio. He is a good plain, common, every-day American citizen with a well-developed and highly educated conscience which he tries to live up to. He tries to do every duty ap- parent to him.

Thomas Hart Benton Jones,

son of Andrew B. and Vienna (Williams) Jones was born on his father's farm on Scioto Brush creek, four miles west of Otway, March 5, 1838. His father was a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Cain) Jones. Andrew Jones was a sol- dier in the War of 1812 and came to Adams county, Ohio, from Virginia. His father was a native of Wales. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Jones were James and Elizabeth (Murphy) Williams. James Williams was a soldier in the Revolutionary war (see Revolutionary Soldiers) and was one of the pioneers of Adams county. He died July 5, 1842 and his wife November 11, 1855.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm on which he was born and attended the district school. In 1859, he received a certificate to teach,

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He taught school three winters and then went back to farming, at which he has been engaged up to the present time. In 1860 and 1861, he was Assessor of Brush Creek township. He was then elected Trustee and served until 1865 and was elected township Clerk the same year, and re-elected in the succeeding year. In 1867, he was again elected Trustee and served several terms thereafter. He is now one of the Trustees of the township and has been a member of the Board of Education for several terms. He is a democrat and his office holding would indicate that he has been prominent in local politics and that his friends have much confidence in his integrity. Mr. Jones is a member of the Christian Union church.

He was married to Elizabeth H. Freeman, daughter of Moses and Mar- garet (McCormick) Freeman, April 12, 1863. They have six children, as fol- lows: Emma Estella born January 5, 1864, married William H. Davis of Farra- gut, lowa, December 23, 1896; James Moakley born August 1, 1865, married March 5, 1891 to Martha A. Liston; Bertha Ethel born March 24, 1872, married William E. Brown and resides at McDermott this county; Thomas Carew born June 16, 1874 is at home; Edwin Watson, born January 2, 1878, at home; Alva Burton born April 6, 1882 is a teacher in the country schools. He is progressive in his ideas and has most excellent judgment in all matters of the practical affairs of life. He is always interested in questions of social, moral and edu- cational improvement. He is hospitable in his home, prudent in home affairs, temperate and industrious. He is generous on all occasions where such quality is in demand.

Captain John Kaps

was born November 2, 1835, in Bavaria. His father was Kasper Kaps, and his mother's maiden name was Margaret Helman. They had six children, of whom our subject was the second. His parents left Germany when he was six weeks old, and located at Buffalo, New York. Soon afterwards the family came to Piketon, because Michael Nessler, who resided there, was a cousin. Mr. Ness- ler recommended him to locate in Portsmouth, and he did so in 1836. In 1845, he went to reside with George S. Pursell and to learn the brick business, and while there he attended the Portsmouth schools until the year, 1856 when he formed a partnership with Mr. Pursell, as Pursell and Kaps. He remained with him until 1858, when he went to Virginia and engaged with the Kanawha Com- pany, working at his trade until January, 1860, and then returned to Ports- mouth.

He enlisted April 16, 1861 in Company G, 1st O. V. I. and was mustered out August 1, 1861. On his return from the first three months' service, he went into the grocery business at Portsmouth, with Philip E. Hard, as Hard and Kaps. He continued in that until 1862, when he entered Company C, of the 91st O. V. I., as First Lieutenant. He served as such until July 6, 1864. when he was transferred to Company D, as its Captain, and was transferred again to Company C, on the 1st of September, 1864. He was mustered out June 24, 1865.

On March 1, 1866, he entered into partnership with Peter Kaps, his broth- er, in the manufacturing of brick and in building, continuing in that until April, 1894, when the firm was dissolved. This firm of Kaps Brothers was known for its integrity and reliability, and it built most of the important structures in Portsmouth during the time it was in business. Since 1894, Mr. Kaps has been engaged in the manufacture of brick. From January, 1887, to January, 1893, Mr. Kaps was one of the County Commissioners of Scioto county. For the five years last past he has been a member of the County Tax Commission.

He was married February 13, 1873, to Jennie McIntyre, daughter of Dan- iel McIntyre. They have had two sons: John D., a lawyer in New York city. His second son, Harry, is engaged in the brick business with his father. Mr. Kaps is a republican and a member of the Bigelow Methodist church. For in- tegrity Mr. Kaps stands second to none. He is perfectly reliable and is always certain to meet any and all obligations.

Peter Kaps

was born in Bavaria, May 19, 1833. His father was Kasper Kaps, a stock deal- er, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Helman. Both were natives of

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Germany. In 1836, he came to Scioto county and located in Portsmouth, Ohio. He received a common school education and learned the brick layer's trade. While a boy he worked for Daniel Parsley, at farming and brickmak- ing. He made hay on the land above Court and Seventh streets. November 9, 1861, he enlisted in the 15th Kentucky Infantry, and served three years and three months. He was made First Sergeant April 3, 1862. He was promoted to First Lieutenant July 13, 1863, and was mustered out January 14, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky. He served in the City Council of Portsmouth from 1872 to 1873, and from 1875 to 1878. He was the author of the city garbage and hog ordinances. He has always been a republican. January 1, 1871, he was married to Elizabeth Evans. They have three children: James E., George P., and Henry H.

Mr. Kaps is a typical working man. No man was ever busier than he or has done more hard work in the same length of time. He is one of the most kind hearted and obliging of men. He has always possessed the respect and confidence of those in his employment and he has had the good will and friendship of every person for whom he ever worked. He has built as many brick structures as any man who ever worked in Portsmouth, and has given satisfaction in every case. For six years he has been living on a farm on the west side and has carried on farming there and at the same time has worked at his trade in Portsmouth.

Lieutenant Zenis Keller

was born July 30, 1841, in Madison township, Scioto county, Ohio. His father was Francis Keller and his mother's maiden name was Delilah Culp. He at- tended school in Madison township until he was sixteen year of age. From that until he was twenty he worked on his father's farm. On August 5, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 33d O. V. I., under Captain Samuel Currie. His brother, Sylvester, who has a sketch herein, was a member of the same com- pany. He was wounded on November 25, 1863, at the battle of Mission Ridge. He was shot through the right wrist and right hip with a minie-ball. This wound disabled him from further service. He was in the hospital, in conse- quence of it, until August 27, 1864, when he was discharged. He entered Co. H, 191st O. V. I., as Second Lieutenant March 8, 1865. He served until August 27, following. The regiment served in the valley, near Winchester, Va., all its time. The officers and soldiers of the 33d Ohio recommended him to be commis- sioned in the last named regiment.

As soon as he left the army, he went to Kirksville, Missouri, and took up the occupation of a farmer. He remained there fourteen years when he lo- cated in Johnson county, Kansas, in 1879, as a farmer. He remained there twelve years, till 1891, when he went to Winfield, Cowley county, Kansas, where he has resided ever since. He was city marshal of Winfield in 1900 and 1901, and has followed various occupations there. He was married in 1869, at Kirksville, Missouri, to Mrs. Christina McGill (born Curry) widow of James McGill. He has three children: Martin Luther, in the harness business, re- siding in Newton, Kansas; Julius Curry, engineer on the New York Central railroad; Oliver Perry, a book-keeper.

Mr. Keller made an excellent record as a soldier. As such his conduct was all that could be desired. In his service to his country he had the entire confidence of all the officers and comrades. Having fought for his country and received honorable wounds in its service, he knows its value of citizenship, and conducts himself at all times as a law abiding and patriotic citizen.

Captain Sylvester Keller

was born July 5, 1845, in Scioto county, Ohio. He was the son of Francis and Delilah Keller. His mother's maiden name was Culp. His great-grandfather was Francis Keller, who came to West Virginia before 1800. He made salt at the Kanawha salt works and took it to New Orleans to market. He also took many boat loads of pork. He made much money and invested it in lands in Scioto county. Jacob, the grandfather of our subject was born in Penn- sylvania, and located in the southern part of Jackson county, Ohio. He started to Missouri in 1865, and died on the way. Francis, the father of our subject, was born in 1808 and lived in Greenup county, Kentucky, on Tygart, until

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1806 when he came to Scioto county. He died in 1881, at the age of seventy- three years. School facilities were very meager when our subject was a boy and his education therefore was limited. He enlisted in Company A 33 Reg- iment O. V. I. August 5, 1861, and was mustered in at Camp Morrow, Ohio. He was appointed Sergeant September 19, 1863, First Sergeant August 26, 1864, promoted to First Lieutenant January 28, 1865, Captain May 23, 1865, but was not mustered. He re-enlisted at Chattanooga, Tennessee, January 12, 1864. He resigned January 27, 1865.

Mr. Keller has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth C. Welch, of Jackson, Ohio, whom he married December 6, 1867. Their children are: Ida Alice, died at the age of thirty-two, wife of Joseph Crabtree; Mary Frances Stephen and William. His first wife died May 4, 1884. He was married a second time to Mrs. Polly Alexander, September 3, 1885. She was a daughter of John Rockwell. The children by this second marriage are: Merton E. aged fourteen; Bessie Florence, age twelve, Isa Edith and Ida Ethel twins, age eight years. His second wife died October 3, 1894. Mr. Keller cast his first vote for John Brough, for Governor of Ohio, and has ever since been a stanch re- publican, and an active member of the party but has never held any office. He has been postmaster at Koran, Ohio for the past twelve years. He is a member of the United Brethren church.

Philip H. Kelley

was born April 9, 1823, in county Tipperary Ireland. His father was Timothy Kelley and his mother's maiden name was Bridget Maher. His father, a stock raiser and buyer, died when he was eighteen. He had one sister, Mary, but no brothers. He learned the trade of a stone cutter in Ireland. In 1848, he brought his mother to the United States and located in Auburn, New York. Four years after their arrival his mother died. In 1849, he went to Cleveland, Ohio and followed his trade. In 1851, he began working on the railroad and continued that for two years. In 1853, he determined on beginning for himself and became a contractor for railroad work and on other public structures, usually bridge masonry.

In 1855 he was married to Miss Anna Hayes of Delaware, Ohio, sister of Captain Thomas Hayes of the 30th O. V. I., who has a sketch and picture herein. They had eight children, eight of whom survive: John, Timothy, James, Joseph, William, Edward, Mary and Mrs. Will S. Myers. Thomas and Philip are deceased. Mrs. Kelley died November 24, 1887.

Mr. Kelley first came to Portsmouth in 1857. He came to Portsmouth to build the piers of the Suspension bridge at the mouth of the Scioto and conclu- ded to remain. He purchased the Massie block in the sixties and owned it for many years. In 1863, he purchased the home on Jackson street. In 1871, he built the Portsmouth water works and was one of its first board of trustees for three years. In 1871, the Biggs House fire destroyed the Massie block and he re- built it at once. In 1881, he built the abutments of the great railroad bridge over the Ohio at Point Pleasant. In 1883, he built the piers of the Cincinnati & Eastern railroad bridge across the Scioto river, two miles north of Ports- mouth for $26,000 and lost every dollar of it. He was a devout communicant of the church of the Holy Redeemer and in his political faith, he was a demo- crat. He was for many years a director of the Farmers' National Bank of Portsmouth, Ohio, but was entirely innocent of any knowledge of the facts of its management which led up to is failure. He was a heavy loser when it went down. He also lost in the failure of the Citizens' Savings Bank and of George Davis.

Mr. Kelley was strictly honest in all his dealings and believed every one else was. Because of his unilmited faith in his fellow men, he suffered many financial losses, but he never repined, nor regretted, nor lost faith in hu- manity. He knew his trade well and could figure up well in any stone work, and beyond that he did not claim extensive knowledge. He was most candid in his feelings and expressions, always being himself and never assuming any character which was not his own. He was affable and courteous to all. As a neighbor, he was obliging respected and liked. As a citizen, he was liberal minded and public-spirited. His faith in his party and his church was child-

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like and admitted of no doubt, or question. He was always ready to grant every favor asked of him. He was incapable of hating any one, and simply pitied those who robbed him. His losses by fire and failures, he bore with the utmost composure. He always met disaster with honor. He died June 15, 1900. In his dying hours, his faith sustained him. He was one of the purest, most simple-minded men who ever lived in Portsmouth. If he had any enemies, he never deserved them. He always did the best he could under any circumstance and never worried about results. No more truthful, sincere, honest, or upright man and citizen ever dwelt in Portsmouth.

Andes Jones Kellogg

was born in the French Grant, near Haverhill, November 21, 1845. His father, Hiram Kellogg. was born at Franklin Furnace July 28, 1816, the son of William W. and Nancy (Lamb) Kellogg. William Kellogg came to Franklin in 1815 from Vermont, of which state he was a native. He died in 1844. The mother of our subject was Luna (Jones) Kellogg, daughter of Andes and Lucy Jones, natives of Kentucky. Our subject was one of a family of seven chil- dren. The wife of Stephen Winkler, of near Hanging Rock, is one of these. Mr. Kellogg received his early education in the district school and later spent three years at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He entered the teaching profession and continued for a period of ten years, and during that time was considered one of the best educated and most practical teachers in the county. Though he has been a farmer for many years, he has never lost his interest in schools and education. Besides, he is a thoroughly practical and up-to-date farmer and gardener. He is an interesting writer and speaker on subjects of this nature, and takes a delight in doing so. He was married to Alice Bumgarner, in June, 1876. The children of this marriage are: Laura, deceased, Roy. Amy, Hubert, deceased. Grace and Claire. His first wife died in 1893. He was again married, October 26, 1897. to Sarah Bumgarner, a sis- ter of his former wife.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 136

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