A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 154

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 154

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On November 16, 1876 he married Miss Julia Pursell, daughter of James and Amanda Pursell.

In 1880, the firm became Voorheis, Miller & Rupel. Mr. Rupel devoted himself to his chosen work with great earnestness. As a result from over- work, he was taken sick, April 4, 1891, at his home in Avondale, and died May 24, 1891. He was laid to rest in Greenlawn cemetery, Portsmouth, Ohio.

His boyhood days were spent in Chillicothe, his manhood and commer- cial life in Portsmouth and Cincinnati. He set himself to be true to God and man and succeeded. The people who knew him, loved him; the aged were sure of his reverence, the children of his love and strength. In his business career of over twenty-five years, he kept his name untarnished and demonstra- ted that business prosperity is consistent with perfect integrity of character. He was quiet and unobtrusive in his manners, genial and true to his friends. He was active and useful in church affairs. He occupied important official relations in Trinity and Avondale M. E. churches, Cincinnati, Ohio. He was liberal and active in charitable and religious work, but without ostentation. He was called away in the prime of manhood and at the height of his useful- ness. He left to his friends the memory of an honorable Christian life.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

James Madison Russell

was born June 25, 1858, at Portsmouth, Ohio. His father's name was Henry Russell, and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Jane Grimes, daughter of William Grimes. Our subject received his early education 'in the common schools of Rush township. He attended the Lucasville High School one year. He has always been a farmer and fruit grower. He was married September 20, 1898, to Miss Mertie Chesnut, daughter of E. P. Chesnut. They have one child, Nancy Alice. Mr. Russell is a republican and always has been. He is a member of the Methodist church at Lucasville. He is mail carrier on the Rural Free Delivery Route No. 1 trom Lucasville, Ohio. He owns a farm of 180 acres in Rush township,

Mr. Russell is honest, upright and truthful; of excellent habits, of high moral belief, and is an exemplary citizen in every way. He is public spirited and progresssive, always ready to do that which will advance the interest of the community in which he dwells. He is always firmly fixed in his purposes, and treats everybody with kindness and courtesy. He has held positions of public trust with credit to himself and to the public service, and is a man of strong force of character, and good natural intellect.

Daniel Martin Ryan

a son of Michael P. Ryan, a native of county Clare, Ireland, and Bridget (Pat) Ryan, was born at Burlington, Ohio. July 18, 1861. His father brought him to Portsmouth when he was only five years old. His father died in 1888, and his mother died in 1898. Our subject attended the parochial school of the Holy Redeemer church of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth public schools until he reached the A Grade in the High School, when he went to clerk in Harry Buskirk's store on the corner of Second and Chillicothe streets. He remained here for a year, and then went into the employ of Drew, Selby & Co. The next year he worked for Padan Brothers, shoe manufacturers. He then went to Cincinnati and engaged in the same work for a short time there. He returned to Portsmouth and was engaged with Drew Selby & Co., for ten years, as a finisher. In 1894, he went into the general Insurance business in Portsmouth, and has been in it ever since. He is also a real estate agent, and has his office in the Elk Building, Mr. Ryan was originally a democrat, but in 1884, he was "regenerated" and is now a republican. He is a communicant of the Holy Re- deemer church of Portsmouth, Ohio. He is a member of the Columbus, Ohio, Council, No. 400, Knights of Columbus.

George Moses Sallady

was born February 6, 1847. His father was John Miller Salladay and his mother's maiden name was Martha Hayward, the daughter of Moses Hayward. He was the youngest of three children. His eldest sister, Harriet Jane died at the age of seventeen. Mrs. Sam Bierly is also a sister. He was reared on a farm and attended the district school. He has never held a public office. He is a member of the Old Town M. E. church. March 11, 1874 he was married to Nettie lams, daughter of John D. Feurt and Maria (Oldfield) Feurt. After his marriage he removed to his farm near Wharton station, Washington township, on the Cincinnati division of the Norfolk & Western railroad where he now resides. He has a farm of 190 acres of land, of which, 90 acres lie in the Scioto bottoms east of the canal. He has one child, Martha, wife of Charles F. Tracy. They have two children: Lucile and Harold, Mr. Sallady is a Mason, Mr. Sallady gives all his time and labor to his business and has been very success- ful. He is highly estemed as a good neighbor and model citizen.

Enoch John Salt

was born in Covington, Kentucky, April 9, 1857. His father, Enoch Salt, was a mative of Shropshire, England. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Davis and she was also a native of Shropshire England. They were married in England and came to the United States in 1845. Our subject had a common school education and left school in 1877. He then attended Commercial Col- Jege in Cincinnati for one year. In 1878 he engaged in the wholesale grocery

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business in Covington, Kentucky, and remained there for two years. In the Spring of 1880, he came to Portsmouth, Ohio, and went into the Portsmouth Woolen Mills. The business was conducted under the name of The Portsmouth Woolen Mills, and the firm was composed of Enoch Salt, Sr., and Enoch Salt, Jr. The latter remained in the business ten years when he went to Superior, Wis- consin, engaged in the same business and was there for five years. In 1895, he came to Columbus, Ohio, and was advertising manager for F. R. Lazarus for seven years and then went into business with W. S. Moler, under the firm name of Salt & Moler, general advertising, at No. 508, Shultz Building, Columbus, Ohio.

Mr. Salt has directed many cantatas and operettas both in Portsmouth and Columbus. He is a composer of music. He composed the words and music of the following poems: "Mabel Gray," "I ove's Regret," and "Blaine, the I ight of Maine." He was at one time a contributor to "Flowers by the Way- 'side," a periodical since discontinued. He composed the poem, "He answered the Call on High," referring to General Grant. He composed the poem entitled "The Battle of Manila." He has written three works on advertising, "Over Rough Places," "Nuggets," and "My Advertising Partner." He has traveled all over the country, to South America, and South Africa. He has an auto- graph-letter from each of the Presidents, from Grant down, as to his writings, and has letters from Africa, South America and other countries as to his poems.

He was married June 16, 1880, to Ella Green, daughter of Charles S. Green, of Portsmouth. They have had five children: Clifford G., Nellie B., Lora B., died in infancy, Sara and Charles F. Mr. Salt is a republican and a member of the Baptist church. During his residence in Portsmouth, he was organist at Sixth Street M. E. church. Since he has resided in Columbus, he has been organist at Third Street M. E. church. He is an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias.

Angus Lansing Sanford

was born in Chillicothe, September 8, 1849. His father was Joseph Sanford, a native of Chillicothe. His mother was Julia (Fleury) Sanford, a native of Washington, D. C. He was the fourth of his father's six children. He re- ceived his education in the Chillicothe schools, but quit one year before gradu- ation. He went into a dry goods store in Chillicothe with Joseph Stewart and was there for two years. On July 9, 1866, he came to Portsmouth and was a clerk for Rumsey, Rhodes & Reed and remained with them for nine years. After that he went to Philadelphia and was with a wholesale house there until 1877. He came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1877 and was with Tolle, Holton & Company. He was with Miller, Cissna & Company when they started in 1877.

When Colonel Varner died he came to Portsmouth and became a partner in the firm of McFarland, Sanford and Company in 1880. He bought Mr. Towell out and the firm became Sanford, Varner & Company and was composed of himself, W. H. and J. H. Varner. After Mr. Will Varner's death in May, 1896, he bought out his interest and continued to do business in Portsmouth until November 1, 1898, when his firm bought out Voorheis, Miller & Company of Cincinnati. The firm is composed of J. H. Varner, John S. Storrs and A. L. Sanford and is known as Sanford, Storrs & Varner. He is a partner in the firm of Burt, Hall & Company of Portsmouth. That firm succeeded Sanford, Varner & Company in 1889 and is composed of William Burt, Charles S. Hall and A. L. Sanford.

On October 11, 1870 he was married to Margaret Anna Varner, daughter of Colonel Sampson E. Varner. He has two sons: Clay Varner, aged thirty, in business with his father and Louis Angus, aged twenty-eight, also in bus- iness with his father.

He is a republican but has never held any office. He is a member of the Episcopal church and also a Mason, a Knight-Templar and an Elk. He was president and director of the Morton Club. He is a member of the Business Men's Club of Cincinnati.

The late Rev. James T. Franklin once remarked in the presence of Mr. James F. Towell that, "Mr. Sanford was a good son to his mother." Some time after, when the firm of Towell & McFarland had taken up the manufacture of clothing in addition to their dry goods business and were needing an exper-

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

ienced salesman, the remark of Mr. Franklin was recalled to Mr. Towell, and as a result Mr. Sanford was invited to become a member of the firm of Towell and McFarland, which he accepted. The partnership was one of mutual con- fidence and esteem, and Mr. Sanford did his part of the business. The health of Mr. McFarland becoming impaired he was compelled to withdraw from the firm and take up his residence in California with his family. When Mr. Towell desired to withdraw entirely from business, he invited Mr. Sanford to take over the whole stock on credit, without any security whatever, in easy payments, thus manifesting confidence in one who had been "a good son" as well as a faithful partner. He was permitted to take an account of stock and place his own valuation on the same which he did to the entire satisfaction of Mr. Towell. Mr. Sanford was able to meet each and every payment to the day it was due and in the mean time he earned sufficient capital to purchase goods thereafter on a cash basis. His removal to Cincinnati, succeeding to the large and well established business of Voorheis, Miller & Company, was brought about . by his success in Portsmouth and in recognition of his ability and integrity. This tribute from his late partner, Mr. James F. Towell, is as favorable as could be given to any person who has a sketch in this work.

John Stanton

was born May 1, 1840, in county Mayo, Ireland. His father was John Stanton and his mother's maiden name was Catherine O'Reilley. The family came to the United States in 1848, in a sailing vessel, and were six weeks on the ocean. They landed at New Orleans and came up the rivers to Portsmouth. They then went to Xenia and resided there one year and from there to Spring- field, Ohio, where they resided two years. John Stanton, Sr., was engaged in railroad work. In 1851, he came to Scioto county and engaged in the con- struction work on the Scioto and Hocking Valley railroad, being then built from Portsmouth toward Jackson. John, Jr. began work on the line by carry- ing water for the men. The family made two moves in the meantime, one to Maysville, Kentucky, and one to Vinton county, O., but at the completion of the railroad from Portsmouth to Berlin Cross Roads, located at the latter place. John Stanton, Sr., died in 1858 and his wife survived until 1862.

Before he was of age, John Stanton, our subject, engaged in the mercan- tile business at Berlin Cross Roads and made a fortune by close attention to business. He enlisted in Company B, 196th O. V. I, for one year, on February 25, 1865. Soon after his enlistment, he was taken with the measles and un- fitted for duty. He was mustered out May 13, 1865. at Cumberland, Maryland. He returned home and enlarged his business very much and continued in it until 1897, when he sold out to his sons, William and John, who conducted it as Stanton Brothers. Our subject had made a number of investments in Portsmouth. He also made investments in coal lands in Jackson county and after selling out his mercantile business gave his whole attention to the former.

On November 13, 1866 he was married to Miss Ellen Gallagher, daughter of Edward and Mary Gallagher, born in Donegal, Ireland. They had eleven children, six of whom grew to maturity. Their son, William, is a merchant at Berlin Cross Roads, Jackson County; John is a real estate agent at Ports- mouth; Mary and Helen reside with their mother in Portsmouth; Robert E. is a student at Notre Dame, Ind. and Thomas Francis is a school boy at home. John Stanton was always a democrat in politics. He was a communi- cant of the Roman Catholic church. He was very much devoted to his family and those dependent on him. He took great interest in all public improve- ments. He died August 19, 1898. His widow purchased the John W. Overturf property on the northeast corner of Ninth and Gay streets, soon after his death and removed to Portsmouth in November, 1899.

Peter Schafer

was born in Germany, in 1839. His father was Nicholas Schafer, and his mother was Agnes Fresh. When Peter was six years of age, his parents came to this country and settled in Brown county. His father bad secured lands and was prospering when death overtook him. This changed the family for- tunes and the mother took what was left after settling the estate and bought

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a small farm near Wrightsville, in Adams county. There he was reared on a farm. On September 8, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 7th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry and served until July 1, 1865. While in the service, he had his skull crushed by a kick from a horse and has been permanently disabled. After the war, he was a farmer at Wrightsville till 1881 when he moved to Buena Vista. He resided there until 1896 when he removed to Portsmouth. He was married June 1, 1870 to Mrs. Maria Zimmerman, widow of Oliver Zimmerman, They have had five children. Their eldest, May Victoria, died at fifteen years. Cora Ethel, their second daughter is the wife of Noah Gray, a shoeworker. Flora E. is the wife of Charles Bussey, a carpenter. Kate is the wife of David Blenin, of Buena Vista. Their youngest, Curtis died in infancy. Mr. Schafer is a modest, retiring citizen. He carries on the business of package delivery in Portsmouth. He looks years older than his years, but he tries to make it up in cheerfulness, for he is one of the most cheerful men of the city and tries to put the best side forward at all times.

George Jacob Schirrmann

was born at Neiderhochstadt, Bavaria, Germany, November 20, 1834, His par- ents were George Theobold and Margaret (Miller) Schirrmann. His father was a farmer. He attended school in Germany until he was nineteen. In February, 1854, he started to the United States. He shipped from Havre de Gras on a sailing vessel, and after a voyage lasting forty-two days, he landed at New Or- leans. From there he went to St. Louis, where he had relatives. He attended night school and the High School, in St. Louis, and studied languages, drawing and the higher branches. He attended school there for five or six years at night and learned the trade of carriage making in daytime. He also studied book- keeping. January 1, 1860, he went to Okolona, Miss., and was there until Au- gust, 1860, when he left, as there was too much war talk and he took a paper with Abraham Lincoln's name on it, as a candidate for President. He went to Cincinnati and was directed by a friend to go to Portsmouth.

He came to Portsmouth in August, 1860, and has been here since. He first worked for Metzger & Kricker, at his trade, where Fisher's drug store now stands. In 1864, he went into business with William Angle, a blacksmith. They took in John Heid and Fred Deutschle as partners, and the firm name was Schirrman, Heid & Company. He continued in this business until 1878. In 1880 he went into the livery business, and has been engaged in the livery and carriage repair business ever since.

On April 13, 1862, he was married to Augusta Kaufman. They have the . following children: Kate, the wife of Charles Grassman, baker and confectioner; Emma; Lena; Charles, book-keeper at Harsha's mill; Alfred, a book-keeper; Hattie, clerk at Grassman's; George, in business with his father; Henry A., a physician. The latter is a graduate of Ann Arbor; Theobold, is a carriage maker in Cincinnati; and Marguerite, is a graduate of the High School, class of 1901. Mr. Schirrmann was a republican before and during the war, but since 1872, has been a democrat. He is a member of the German Evangelical church.

George John Schmidt

was born in Baltimore, August 9, 1865. His father was George Schmidt, a min- ister in the United Brethren church. He was a native of Bavaria and his wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Dauman, was a native of Hanover, Germany. Our subject was the fifth of seven children. He attended school at Danville, Ilinois, Zanesville and Cincinnati, Ohio. When he was twelve years of age, he began to learn the trade of confectioner and candy maker in Baltimore, and worked at it six years, two and a half years in Baltimore, and three and a half years in Portsmouth for B. Augustin. He was city salesman for B. Augustin for five and a half years. In 1889, he went into business for himself on Findlay and Ninth streets, and was there for seven years. In 1895, he formed a part- nership with J. F. Menke, under the firm name of The Central Grocery Com- pany, in the Kricker building. They remained partners for seven years and then dissolved. Mr. Schmidt has since continued the same business at the same stand under the name of The Central Grocery Company.

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His father came to Portsmouth as minister of the United Brethren church in 1881. He died in Danville, Illinois, in 1897. His mother died in 1900, at Danville, Illinois, where they were making their home.

He was married September 22, 1888, to Kate Klink. He has two children: Gertrude and Elton George. He is a democrat in his political views, but liberal; is a member of the First United Brethern church of Portsmouth; has been su- perintendent of the Sunday school for ten years, and is a trustee of the same church. He is a member of Massie Lodge, Knights of Pythias. George J. Schmidt makes friends of every one with whom he becomes acquainted. He is most genial in his intercourse with his fellow men. As a business man, he is ahead with all modern ideas and improvements and has made a success of his undertakings.

Fred Schmitt

was born in Bavaria, Germany, November 7, 1836. His father was John Adam Schmitt and his mother was Elizabeth Margaret Wolfe. They had six children, of whom our subject was the fifth. He attended the schools in the old country for four years. At the age of ten, his parents emigrated to this country, start- ing from Havre de Gras in France. They came in a sailing vessel called the "Kate Hunter," and were thirty-nine days on the ocean. From New York they came direct to Portsmouth. Our subject attended school in Portsmouth and learned the blacksmith trade with his father, but not liking it, he began to learn the cigar makers trade at the age of nineteen. He followed that from 1856 to 1861 in Portsmouth with the Doerr Brothers.

On July 10, 1861, he enlisted in the regimental band of the 28th O. V. I. and served until October 23, 1862, when he was mustered out by order of the War Department. He returned home and worked with the Doerr Brothers in the cigar business until 1865. Then he entered into the hardware house of George A. Waller and remained with him until 1875. From 1875 until 1889, he was in the grocery business on Gallia street.

Mr. Schmitt voted for Lincoln in 1860 and in 1864, but in 1867, he became a democrat and has remained such. In 1886, the democrats placed him on the city ticket for Water Works Trustee, and he received 919 votes to 869 for Wm. Burt. He served in that office one term. In 1889, he was a candidate for Mar- shal on the Democratic ticket against John W. Lewis and received 1,247 votes to 1,099 for Lewis. In 1891. he was again a candidate for the same office and received 1,391 votes to 1,139 for Wm. A. Stokely. In 1893, he was again a can- didate for Marshal against Samuel J. Williams and received 1,377 votes to 1,238 for Williams. In 1895, he was again a candidate for Marshal and received 1,223 votes to 1,440 for Frank H. Watkins, his opponent. Wat- kin's majority was 217. In 1897 he was again a candidate and was op- posed by Frank H. Watkins. The vote stood 1,622 for Schmitt and 1,576 for Watkins, Schmitt's majority being 26. In 1899, he was again a candidate against Watkins and received 1,697 votes to 1,596 for Watkins, majority, 101. He was a member of the Board of Health of the city of Portsmouth from 1871 to 1889. He was a member of the Scioto Lodge of Odd Fellows from 1865 to 1869 and since that time has been a member of the Portsmouth Lodge. He is also a member of the encampment.

He was married May 26, 1864, to Miss Mary E. Buchert. They have the following children: John, engaged in the grocery business in Covington, Ken- tucky; Daniel, engaged in the manufacture of cellulose in Danville, Kentucky; Fred. a Presbyterian minister in Downs, Ills. His son Louis, was born January 19, 1877. He attended the schools of Portsmouth, Ohio, to the A Grammar and then engaged in the grocery business with his father. He was then engaged as a clerk for Brodbecks for two years from 1893 and then engaged with Reed & Jordon in 1895 and was with them until his death. He was drowned ac- cidentally in the Big Sandy river near Pikeville, Ky. February 20, 1902. He was member of the First Presbyterian church and was a most exemplary young man was much thought of by his employers and of excellent habits. His death was a great misfortune to himself, his family and his employers. There was no more promising young man in Portsmouth than he. Mr. Schmitt's fifth child is Elizabeth, married to Oscar Schleifer, minister of the Evangelical

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church, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Emma; Esther and Minnie, deceased; Philippine, a teacher in the public schools; Rosa, who died in infancy, and Clara, a student in the High School.

Mr. Schmitt is one of the most popular men in Portsmouth. He is polite and obliging. He treats every one with respect and consideration. He is an excellent judge of human nature and cannot be imposed on. He made one of the best Marshals the city ever had.

William Henry Schwartz

was born August 11, 1869, at Circleville, Ohio. His father, who died when he was five years of age, was Christian Schwartz and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Fisher. When he was nine years of age his mother moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he has since resided. He attended school in Circle- ville, Ohio, and in Portsmouth until he was fifteen years of age. Then his practical business education began. He went into the employment of G. W. Anderson & Company, in a general store, for two years. Then he engaged with J. Eisman & Company, in the clothing business, for seven years. In 1893, he determined to go into business for himself and the firm of Haas, Schwartz & Smith was organized.

In 1895, Mr. Smith retired, leaving Mr. Schwartz and Mr. Felix Haas to conduct the business, under the firm of Haas, Schwartz & Company. This firm conducted a merchant tailoring business at 102 West Second street for eight years. They added the manufacture of mens' clothing for the jobbing trade and had a manufactory on Front street. Desiring to combine the two, they leased the Connolley building on Fifth and Chillicothe streets and had it changed to suit their business. They occupied it in March. 1902, and have one of the finest establishments in Ohio. The two lower fioors are occupied by their merchant tailoring business and the two upper by their manufacturing business.

If any one wishes to propound the question, "What can a young man do?", Mr. Will Schwartz can answer it and need only refer to his own career. He has been successful from the start and his success is due to his hustling qualities. Mr. Schwartz has always been noted for his integrity and his pure and honorable life. In starting out, he adopted high standards and has lived up to them. He has always done the very best for himself under any and every condition. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church and lives up to it. He is very fond of music and is a member of the choir of his church. He is social in his disposition and is a Mason, an Elk, and a member of the United Commercial Travelers. Mr. Schwartz is a very popular man and stands well with all who know him. He holds the confidence of the entire business public.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 154

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