A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 146

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 146

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John Moeller

was born at Braunhausen, Prussia, February 22, 1858. His father was Justice Moeller and his mother was Elizabeth Krieser. The family left Prussia in 1867. He attended school in Prussia three years before coming to this coun- try. The remainder of his education was obtained in the Portsmouth schools. The family crossed the Atlantic in the year 1867 in a sailing vessel. The trip occupied six weeks. They located in Portsmouth in June, 1867, where John attended school until he was fifteen years old. He commenced work at the butcher business at the age of fifteen. He worked for Brandau, Brant & Brandau and Bandau & Vincent, until 1883, and then began bus- iness for himself on the corner of Ninth and Findlay, which he continued until June, 1901. He was elected Commissioner of Scioto county in the fall of 1898, and re-elected in 1901. He is a reublican, a member of the United Brethren church, a member of the German Benevolent Society and of Portsmouth Lodge No. 416, I. O. O. F. He was a delegate to the Republican Convention, in 1897.

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He married Abagail Klink, of Piketon. Ohio, November 10, 1897. They have five children: Edward, Catherine, Charles, Floyd and Clifford. Mr. Moel- ler is noted for his cheerfulness and good nature. No one ever found him in a fit of blues. If he was ever in one no record has been preserved. He treats all sorts and conditions of men well and is respected by all.

George Dinwiddie Moffett

was born August 20, 1875, in the famous old town of Alexandria, Virginia. His father was George Tate Moffett a native of Augusta county, Virginia, and his mother was Statira Drew, a native of Lynchburg, Virginia. He was one of the youngest of a family of eight children. He comes of the well-known Moffett family of Augusta and Rockbridge counties in Virginia, an account of which will be found in Waddel's History. This family has been identified with the History of the valley since its earliest settlement and much interesting matter in re- gard to it will be found in the recent historical publications, of Valley History. Our subject only lived on the soil of the "Mother of Presidents" till his seventh year, when his father's family came to Portsmouth. From Portsmouth, the family went to Hamden and in 1886 to Ironton, where he attended school for five years. In 1891, he began life on his own account, by entering the employ- ment of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company and it speaks well for him that he has remained in the same employment ever since, and been advanced from time to time. First he collected transfers for the railroad ferry, at Iron- ton. Then he was a train collector on the trains. On March 1, 1896, he went into the Railroad office, at Ironton, as an Assistant, where he remained till October, 1899, when he was placed in full charge of the Company's offices in Portsmouth, and has held that important and responsible position ever since. He enjoys the full confidence of his employers and of the public and there has never been a more popular and accommodating railroad official in Ports- mouth. He is a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church and in his political views, is Democratic. He is a Master Mason and a member of the Royal Arcanum. Just at the moment of writing this Mr. Moffett is a bachelor but from the auspices known to the editor, he would not, under any circum- stances, guarantee that social condition to continue over thirty days. The editor does, however, predict that if he marries soon, his bride will be the handsomest young lady known to him. Since the above was written Mr. Mof- fett has resigned his position with the C. & O. railroad and has accepted a po- sition with the Black Fork Coal Company in the capacity of manager.

Charles E. Molster

was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, November 21, 1862, the son of Henry Molster and Susan (Bennett) Molster. He was reared in this city, completed the full course of the public schools, and graduated from the High School in 1880. He was married June 3, 1885, to Helen Findlay, daughter of Alexander W. and Su- san Lawson Findlay. They have six children: Ralph Robinson. Mary Helen, Elizabeth Findlay, Jean Lawson, Charles Bennett and William Alexander. Mr. Molster served six years with the Adams Express Company, one year in the local office and five years in the auditor's office at Cincinnati. He was in the law office of the editor of this work for over ten years, and for the past two years, from June 4, 1900, he has been in the United States Census office at Washington, D. C. He resides in Brookland, D. C. Mr. Molster is a member of the First Presbyterian church at Portsmouth, Ohio. His military service was limited to the two weeks campaign of the Ohio National Guard at Wheel- ing Creek and Stillwater valleys during the coal strikes of 1894, as a member of Company H, 14th regiment, O. N. G. He is one of the permanent census bureau at Washington.

Samuel Monroe

was born February 21, 1841, in Harrison township, Scioto county, Ohio, and has lived there most of his life. His father's name was Aaron Monroe, and his mother's maiden name was Sarah Marshall, a daughter of Samuel Marshall, Jr., who has a sketch herein. The great-grandfather of our subject was Samuel Marshall, Sr., a Revolutionary soldier. Samuel Monroe received a common

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

school education in Harrison township, and worked on the farm while a boy. In 1867, he began contracting, which he has continued ever since. Among the first work he did, was the Portsmouth and Harrisonville turnpike, and the re- taining wall at the foot of Second street. In 1874 he built the bridges at Turkey creek and Bear creek. He enlisted in the 140th O. V. I., Company I, as a private, at the age of twenty-two, May 2, 1864, for one hundred days, and was mustered out with the Company September 3, 1864.

He was married in July, 1860, to Miss Mary J. Dever, daughter of Michael Dever, of Harrison township. They have had the following children: Laura B., married George Luther, a farmer, resides in Madison township; John R., married, lives in Harrison township; Emma, married Charles Frowine, stock holder in the Smith Lumber Co., resides in Portsmouth, Ohio; David, died in infancy; Sarah C., married John Watkins, a foreman in the Excelsior Shoe Factory, re- sides in Portsmouth, O .; Clara May, died at the age of twelve years; Fannie, died in infancy; Ollie, died in childhood; Gilbert, married, lives in Portsmouth, O .; Kendall and Dessie, at home. Mr. Monroe is a democrat in his political views. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Scioto Post, G. A. R. at Harrisonville. He possesses the confidence of all who know him and is noted for his integrity and fair dealing.

Joseph C. Montavon

was born March 19, 1842. in Canton of Berne, Switzerland, the son of Peter Igna- tius Montavon, a well to do peasant of west Switzerland, and Catharine Erhard, daughter of Joseph Erhard. a shoemaker. Our subject had three brothers and four sisters. He came to America and landed at New York, May 17 1852, and went to Vevay, Switzerland county, Indiana where his father died July 18, 1852 at the age of thirty-seven, having been killed by lightning while in the field working. His mother took him from there immediately to Stark county, Ohio, where they remained a short time, and then came to Scioto county in 1856 and located about two miles from French postoffice on Pond creek.

He received his early education in the public schools of Switzerland and afterwards attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He had learned enough English and knowledge of the common branches to teach school. He taught school for twenty-five years in Scioto county, twenty-three in Rush township and two years in Union township, which speaks well for his success as a teacher. He was a member of the National Guards at the time of the Morgan Raid. He has been a Democrat all his life but not much inclined to pol- itics. He served as Justice of the Peace in Union township and also in Rush township. He served as Clerk of Rush township one term, and has been post- master at French since 1882. He holds to the Catholic faith. His certificate of baptism bears date March 19, 1842. He is a member of the Holy Trinity church on Pond creek and has been a worker in the Sunday school for thirty-six years

He was married August 8, 1874 to Catharine J. Duplain, a daughter of Francis Duplain an iron worker. who came to Portsmouth about 1872 from Switzerland. By this marriage they have eight children, three sons and five daughters, all living: Josephine, Mary, Margaret. Albert, Victor, Winnibald, Rosalie and Louisa. Mr. Montavon is one of the most respected and esteemed citizens of the county.

James Montgomery

was born May 3, 1842 near Wheelersburg, Ohio. His father was William Mont- gomery, by occupation a miller, and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Beloat, a daughter of Walter Beloat of Northampton, Virginia. She died Jan. 3. 1890 in her ninety-second year. His father was a native of Scioto county, and was born at Burke's Point, and died April 6, 1869, in his seventy-first year. His grandfather, also William Montgomery, was one of the first settlers in the coun- ty. He was an expert hunter and spent a great deal of his time in the county in hunting game for the French settlers in Green township. He also built the Giant Oak Mills, now owned by George Dixon.

Mr. Montgomery enjoys the distinction of having lived in the same com- munity all his life time. He was a farmer's boy until August 5, 1861, when he enlisted in Company A, 33rd O. V. I., commanded by Captain Samuel Currie, and served three years. At the battle of Resaca, Georgia, May 16, 1864, he was

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

wounded in the right wrist with a minie-ball. The wound was not apparently dangerous, but it gangrened and disabled his right arm for life. Every tline he looks at his right hand and right wrist, he is reminded of his army service. Notwithstanding his desperately injured arm, he remained in the service until December 29 1864, when he was discharged. He came home and took up the life of a farmer, which he has followed ever since. He had one brother in the 39th O. V. I., who died in the service May 31, 1865.

Our subject has made his home with his sister, Mrs. Mary Montgomery, since 1861. Her husband was McLean Montgomery, who enlisted August 5, 1861, in Company A, 33rd O. V. I., was made a sergeant, August 27, 1861, and died No- vember 1, 1864, of wounds received August 13, 1864, in a battle near Atlanta, Georgia. They had two children: Ella, wife of John Fritz, of Dogwood Ridge; Anna, married Byron James, living at Rockford, Illinois. He had another sister, Cynthia, who married Jesse Rowley, and died leaving a family. His sister Sarah, married Joseph Hopkins, and died leaving a family.

Our subject having lost a brother, and a brother-in-law by death in the service, and having been severely wounded and disabled from the effects of his wound, naturally is patriotic. He has had object lessons in patriotism which he can never forget. There is no citizen of Scioto county who is prouder of his army service, or has more reason to be. His heart is warm to every comrade of the Civil war. He is a man highly esteemed by his neighbors. He had no re- ligious connections until about three years since, when he became a Seventh Day Adventist. He is a republican in his political views, and has been such all his life.

In his own neighborhood where he is well known, Mr. Montgomery is highly esteemed as an honest man and a good neighbor. Even the tongue of the gossiping busy-body can not find material here for evil speaking. He minds his own business strictly, religiously attends the services of his own church, looks after his farming interests and other business matters in a quiet, gentle- manly, unobtrusive way, and comes as near having absolutely no enemies as any man that can be found. Although he went to war in 1862, and carries a hand al- most useless from the effects of Confederate bullets, yet he is a man of peace. He lives unmarried at his ancestral home on Dogwood Ridge, enjoying the products of his fertile lands, and surrounded on all sides by appreciative friends.

Charles Madison Mooney, M. D.,

was born February 22, 1870, at Wheelersburg, Ohio. His parents are John and Anatolie (Wolford) Mooney. His mother was a daughter of Joseph Wolford. Our subject was the eighth in a family of twelve children. He received his edu- cation in Wheelersburg, Ohio, and graduated in the schools there in 1889. Then he taught school for six years in Scioto county, four years of which was at the Ball school house, one year on the West Side and one year in Green township, above Powellsville. In 1895, he entered the University of Michigan at Ann Ar- bor and attended four years. He graduated in the medical course in 1900. In June, 1900, he began the practice of medicine at Wheelersburg and at Haverhill. In October, 1900, he located at Waverly and has practiced there ever since. He is a republican in his political views, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Blue Lodge Mason, a member of Western Sun Lodge No. 91, at Wheelersburg, the Chapter at Ann Arbor Michigan, and the Council at Chil- licothe.

Dr. Mooney is the fortunate possessor of a sunny disposition, a genial manner and good address which quickly wins the confidence and good will of every one he meets. This rare endowment combined with a stalwart frame and ambition for professional success is of most favorable augury for a high standard of excellence in his chosen profession.

Evan Emmanuel Moore

was born December 22, 1833, in Washington township, where he now lives. His father was Evan Moore. His mother's maiden name was Cynthia Pyles, daughter of John Pyles. His parents had two children: Clinton and our subject. His father was a farmer, and died in May, 1834, of the cholera, in Washington township. His mother died in 1859. He attended the district schools, and has always been a farmer. He owns 157 1-2 acres of land.

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He was married the first time February 10, 1859, to Lavina Dole, and she died in September, 1866. By this marriage there were two children: Mary Elizabeth, who married William Vaughters, and died leaving two children; and James Moore, now in California. Our subject was married the second time to Lydia Mapes. They have eight children. Lavinia, married John Compton, and lives in Friendship; Enos, lives on the farm; Zora, married Harry Vaughters, son of George A. Vaughters; Maude, married Ed. Bodemer, and lives on Carey's Run; Ethel, Claude, Earl and John at home. Mr. Moore was first a whig, but voted for John C. Fremont and has been a republican since.

George W. Moore

was born November 28, 1827, in Harrison county, West Virginia. His father was Enoch Moore and his mother's maiden name was Rodah Ward. His grandfather was Enoch Moore, Sr., and a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father died when he was five years of age and he was bound to Joseph Goodman, of West Virginia. He came to Ohio in 1846, and lived there till 1852, when he removed to Greenup county, Kentucky, and lived there until 1854, when he again removed to Scioto county, where he has lived since. Our subject served in Company F, 140th O. V. I. from May 2, 1864, to September 3, 1864, when he was mustered out with the company.

He is a republican in his views and is a believer in the Baptist doctrines, though not a member of the church. He was married March 30, 1847, to Susan Bennett, by whom he has two children: Ephraim now residing in Argentine, Kansas; and Jessie married to Rolla E. Bennett, residing near Harrisonville, Ohio. George W. Moore is well known in his county as an upright, honest man. As a contractor, he was fairly successful. His plain, blunt, sincere, kind-hearted ways endeared him to his friends.

John F. Morgan

was born June 9, 1842, in Cardiganshire, Wales. His father was John D. Mor- gan. and his mother was Margaret Evans. They had eight children, of whom our subject was the fifth. His father was a hatter by occuption. The family left Wales in 1848, and located in Madison township, Jackson county, where John was reared on a farm until he was eleven years old. In 1856, the family moved to Greenfield township, Gallia county, Ohio, where John remained with his father until 1864. He enlisted in Company E, 179th O. V. I. as a private, September 2, 1864, for one year and was discharged June 17, 1865. The entire service of the regiment was at Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1865, at the close of the war, he returned home and determined to get an education. He engaged in farming and attended school at Ewington, Ohio, for seven terms. He taught school for two years, one in Gallia and one in Lawrence county. He went to Duff's College at Pittsburg and learned book- keeping. From there he went to Olive Furnace and took charge of the furnace store and did part of the book-keeping. He came to Portsmouth, January 1, 1873, and commenced to keep books for John Jones, the plumber. He was with him until 1880. He went to Jackson and was engaged there in the Tropic Iron Company. He remained with them two years, and came back to -Portsmouth, and kept books for the Portsmouth Brewing Company, until 1884. In 1885, he returned to Jackson and became superintendent of the Tropic Iron Company at Oak Hill, and has been so engaged ever since. He was a stockholder and direc- tor of the Tropic Iron Company while it was in existence. He resides in Ports- mouth, Ohio, at the corner of Eleventh and Lincoln streets, and returns home at the close of each week.

He was married to Jane Herbert, of Oak Hill, Ohio, November 19, 1874. His children are: Jane Herbert, at home; John Stanton, at home, graduated from the Rio Grande College in 1902; James, a book-keeper at Olive Furnace. He is a republican and a member of the Sixth Street Methodist Episcopal church.

Stout Morris

was born at Brownsville, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1816, the son of Benjamin Morris and Hannah Stout, his wife. In 1828, he came to Ohio with his parents, floating down the Ohio river in a boat of his father's own construction, and set-

ALBERT R. MORRISON.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

tled at New Richmond. There he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the public schools. His father was a blacksmith and iron-worker, but the son early developed a talent for machinery. He soon became a skilled artisan, mill- wright and draftsman. He had few, if any, superiors in this region as a mill- wright, and his skill in this line was in great demand from central Kentucky on the south, to Put-in-Bay on the north. Along about 1840, Mr. Morris went from Rockport, Ky. where he was at work at his trade, to Lawrenceburg, Indiana. There for some time he was engineer of a large distillery and flour mill combined, but 1850 found him back to New Richmond. March 31, 1858, he came to Scioto county to superintend the erection of the Davis distillery and flouring mill at Union Mills.

While his coming was for that purpose solely, events so shaped them- selves that he made the West Side his permanent home. At Lawrenceburg, Ind. he first met Miss Josephine McQuiston, who was born at Cincinnati, the very year Mr. Morris, a lad of twelve years, came to Ohio. On January 8, 1844, they were married and for forty-eight years their lives were as one. She sur- vived him and resides at the old homestead on the West Side. Mrs. Morris's father, John McQuiston, was born in Scotland. He was a cousin of Gov. Thomas Hendricks of Indiana. Her mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Scott was a cousin of Gen. Winfield Scott. Mr. and Mrs. Morris had ten children. Two, Albert S., and Armel died in infancy, and one, Louisa R., died at the age of nineteen. The others are still living. They are: John M., who now resides at Columbus; Mrs. Josephine Calver, widow of the late Timothy Calver; Mrs. Amanda Calvert wife of Thomas G. Calvert of the West Side; Miss Luella and Harry R. (whose sketch appears elsewhere); Mrs. Clara Cummings, wife of A. J. Cummings of Washington, D. C., and Mrs. Nora M. Ball, wife of Judge Harry Ball, of Portsmouth. John M. Morris, the oldest child was but sixteen years old when the Civil war broke out, but he enlisted in Battery L and served three years.

In politics' Stout Morris was an ardent republican. He never aspired to political office and the only position of public trust he held was that of school director. In religion, he was a firm believer in the doctrines of the Baptist church and he gave much of his life and efforts to the up-building of that church. Mr. Morris died September 23, 1890. He was a man of large ability and counted among his intimate friends and associates, many of the prominent and influen- tial business and professional men of this community. His many noble acts, his constant regard for the advancement and welfare of others, his many kind words and deeds secured him the affection of the people. The influence for good that he then had upon his community lives and is felt today.

Harry Robinson Morris

was born January 17, 1861 in Washington township. His father was Stout Mor- ris, and his mother was Josephine McQuiston. He is the eighth of the eleven children of his parents. He was educated in the schools in his vicinity, and in the Portsmouth schools. At the age of eighteen, he went into the employment of Davis & Co. as a dry gauger at the distillery and was employed there for three years. At the age of twenty-one, he went into the store of Davis & Son at Union Mills, and was in that employment for three years. For one year more, he was with Spellacy & Company, contractors. He then became a farmer and has continued such ever since. He was married November 15, 1888, to Minnie Wilkins, the daughter of the late E. P. Wilkins, of Rush township. They have three children: Ethel, Inez and Alma. They lost one son, Harry in infancy. Mr. Morris is a republican. He is a member of the Baptist church, in Portsmouth, Ohio. The only order he belongs to is the A. O. U. W. Mr. Morris is a man of sensitive nature and deep feeling. He is of the strictest integrity-faithful and true in all things. His word is as good as his bond. and the latter is good for any amount for which he will give it. He would make no obligations he could not pay. His convictions are clear strong and well-defined; accommodating and obliging, it is impossible for him to do too much for his friends.

Albert R. Morrison

was born July 23, 1846, in Rockville, Adams county, Ohio. His father was David Morrison, and his mother's maiden name was Martha Mitchell, a daughter of

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Judge David Mitchell, formerly an Associate Judge of Scioto county. When he was five years old his parents moved to Covington, Kentucky, and he resided there until the year 1859. In 1859, his parents moved to the farm, where he af- terwards resided and where he died.

He attended school while in Covington and at the Elm Tree school house until he was eighteen years of age, when he entered the military service of the United States in Company D, 173 O. V. I., on August 25, 1864. He was appointed Second Lieutenant Sept. 17, 1864, and was promoted to First Lieutenant Dec. 14, 1864, and mustered out with his Company June 26, 1865. When he returned from the service, he remained on the farm with his mother, then a widow, until he was married, February 1, 1870, to Miss Elizabeth McMasters, a daughter of James McMasters of Sandy Springs. He continued to reside on his mother's farm until 1875. In the fall of that year he began to travel as commercial salesman for J. L. Hibbs & Co., and then moved to Portsmouth. He resided in Portsmouth, Ohio, until July, 1864, employed as a salesman for Hibbs & Co., in the business of sell- ing shoes, and a part of the time he was a partner.

In the year of 1884, he returned to the home farm in Nile township, and at the same time began as a commercial salesman with J. W. Thorne & Co., of Cincinnati in the shoe business. He resided on the farm until the spring of 1894, when he removed to Cincinnati and resided on Walnut Hills until 1898. He returned to the farm in 1899 and lived there until his death. He remained with J. W. Thorne & Co., until 1894, and then went into partnership with D. B. Sachs, in the firm of Sachs, Morrison & Co., in the clothing business. He was in that business until 1898, and then traveled for the firm of Stern, Auer & Co., in the clothing business, until the fall of 1899, when he gave up business as a commercial traveler.

About November 1899, he developed symptoms of Bright's disease, which caused his death on November 13, 1901. Mr. Morrison was a man of great in- dustry, energy and enterprise. He had one of the largest and finest farms in the Ohio valley; and had placed on it a large, convenient residence. He was a man full of enthusiasm for everything which he undertook. He could have re- mained in the occupation as a commercial salesman as long as his health would have permitted and could command a handsome salary at any time. He had a wonderful influence over the men connected with him by business relations. As a farmer he was energetic and tireless. An inspection of his lands would demon- strate to anyone that he was a model farmer. He was a most excellent neigh- bor, a good friend and a good citizen. In his politics he was a republican, but never sought office nor would accept one. In his religious views he was a Pres- byterian, and a member of the Sandy Springs Presbyterian church from 1870 until his removal to Portsmouth. In the latter city he was connected with the Second Presbyerian church.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 146

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