A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 157

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 157

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Colonel Floyd Locke Smith

the son of Charles Stratten Smith and Mary G. Locke, of New York, his wife, was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, June 30, 1845. During his boyhood he made it unusually lively for the boys in Portsmouth, but managed to stay in school until he was fifteen years of age. In 1860 he went to Prof. White's Classical school one year. In 1861 he engaged in the milling business with his father on the spot on Second street where Storck & Hopkins now have a stove store. He enlisted August 11, 1862, at the age of eighteen, for three years in Company E of the 11th O. V. I., and served until January 20, 1863, at Chattanooga, Tenn., when he was discharged on surgeon's ceritficate of disability. He was a private all the time of his service, but was one of the very best. He was with his regiment much of the time, but part of the time he was a clerk on Gen. Crook's staff. After his discharge from the service, he went into the Quarter- master Department at Cincinnati, where he remained until June, 1866, when he became chief clerk of the clothing, camp, garrison and equipage depart- ment.

He then returned to Portsmouth, and with his father engaged in the manufacture of vinegar until 1870. As this was too sour a subject to suit the sweet and agreeable disposition of the Colonel, he left it and engaged in the manufacturing of brown paper until February, 1872. Then he began his career as an insurance agent in Portsmouth with Samuel F. Reber, and has been in it ever since. Col. Smith, as he is best known, has organized many building asso- ciations and many companies, and he has been secretary of so many different associations, that he might be said to be a professional secretary. In 1879 he organized what is now the present Central Union Telephone Company, and built the exchange between Portsmouth and Ironton. He has been secretary of the Ohio, the Second Ohio and the City building associations. He has also been secretary of the Monarch and People's building associations. He was direc- tor of the Farmer's National Bank for a number of years, and up to its failure. For five years he was president of the Portsmouth Street Railroad & Light Company, prior to its present organization.

He was an aide-de-camp with the rank of Colonel on Governor Foraker's staff. It would be unjust to Col. Smith not to say in this connection that when he had his full uniform on that he was the finest looking man on the Governor's staff. He wishes that it should not be forgotten that he served two years as a member of the Portsmouth School Board, and was a friend of Prof. Vickers all the time. He would like to have it forgotten that he was Clerk of the Board of City Water Works . for the year 1899. He was District Passenger

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Agent of the Cincinnati & Eastern Railroad Co., and its successor for fifteen years. He is secretary of the Board of Trade, of the Board of Underwriters, and of the Commercial Club. He was manager of the Telephone Company of Portsmouth for twenty years; and was clerk on steamboats for four years, and was one of the most accommodating and agreeable clerks who ever trod the deck of a steamboat. He served on the Victor No. 3, Kate Henderson, Jim Fiske and Mountain Bell.

He was married Dec. 24, 1867 to Cordelia Sickles. Their children were Charles, Harry and Floyd L., Jr. She died Oct. 27, 1887, and he married the second time June 22, 1891 to Miss Florence Slack of Charleston, W. Va. Their children are: Lowell, Kenneth, Osborne and Florence. Col. Smith is secretary of the Elks, a 32nd Degree Mason, a Shriner and an Odd Fellow. He has been representative of the Grand Lodge, and if there is anything comes around worth joining, the Colonel stands ready to join it.

General Jacob,Hurd Smith

was born January 29, 1840, near Jackson Furnace, Scioto county, Ohio. His father was Joseph Mills Glidden Smith, and his mother's maiden name was Charlotte Maria Hurd, both of whom have sketches herein. His boyhood was passed at Junior and Scioto furnaces, at Portsmouth, Ohio, and in Greenup county, Ky. He attended the public schools, one term at Miami University, and a Military Institute at New Haven. He was old enough to be impressed with the return of the Volunteer Soldiers from the Mexican War, which event fired him with military ambition. After attending the Military Institute, at New Haven, Conn. for three months, he was made First Sergeant, "for his soldierly conduct and bearing." This pleased him more than any other posi- tion or rank he has ever held. These were his happy days, as his tastes and inclinations had always been towards the profession of arms.

When the Civil War broke out, he was residing with his father at South Portsmouth, Kentucky. He entered Company F, Second Kentucky In- fantry, May 8, 1861, as First Lieutenant. He was wounded at Barboursville, W. Va., on July 1, 1861. He was made Captain January 25, 1862 which promo- tion was due to his valorous conduct. He was transferred to the Veteran Corps, June 29, 1863 and was discharged therefrom October 31, 1865. He was severely wounded at the battle of Shiloh, and brought to his home at Portsmouth.

On March 7, 1867, he received a commission as Captain in the Regular Army and was assigned to the 13th Infantry. He served in Montana until the spring of 1868, and then served a year in the Judge Advocate's office in Wash- ington. In 1869, he was transferred to the 19th Infantry and served until 1871, in Louisiana, during reconstruction times. He went to Kansas in 1871, and commanded Fort Larned and Fort Dodge, and took part in the Dull Knife cam- paign, in 1878, and the Uncompangre campaign in 1879. He went to Texas in 1881 and served along the Rio Grande, north from Brownsville to Fort Davis. In 1889, he went with his command to Jackson Barracks, La., and in May, 1890, was given command of the Island of Mackinac, Mich. He was next or- dered on recruiting duty to David's Island, and thence to Columbus Barracks in 1890 and 1891. He was afterwards stationed at Fort Wayne, Mich., near Detroit, and in 1894 was promoted to Major of the 2nd Infantry. He served at Fort Omaha, Neb., and Fort Keogh, Mont., until April 20, 1898. He was in the several Indian Campaigns, and settled the out-break at Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, in 1897.

He went with the Second Infantry to Cuba, and was wounded in the bat- tle of Santiago, July 1, 1898. He was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the 12th Infantry June 30, 1898, and Colonel of the 17th Infantry, October 20, 1899; made a Brigadier-General of Volunteers, in June, 1900, and Brigadier-General of the Regular Army on March 31, 1901.

He left the United States for the Philippine Island on February 19, 1899 and served with Gen. McArthur's Division during the whole campaign. The rainy season held his command at San Fernando, Luzon, until August 9, 1899, the date of general advance northward. Gen Smith (then Lieutenant-Col- onel) commanded the 12th Infantry, which had the left wing, and sustained severe fighting. The insurgents, having been defeated, the advance halted at

GENERAL JACOB HURD SMITH.

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Calulut, six miles north of San Fernando. On August 16, 1899, Gen. Smith was ordered to capture Angeles, five miles north of Calulut. Two commands had previously failed to accomplish this task and the engagement was a difficult one. The Twelfth again proved equal to the demand, and although the little band of Americans was surrounded by a force of the enemy, much superior in numbers, it was successful, after withstanding a siege of seven weeks. For this Gen. Smith was officially commended.

On November 5, 1899, in command of the right wing, he advanced to Magalan where a large force of insurgents were successfully attacked and dis- persed, leaving our troops in possession of Mabalacat and Banban, two strong- holds of the enemy. Gen. Smith was then kept at Bautista from which point his forces captured the bands of robbers which were terrorizing the natives. In April, 1900, he was ordered to capture the remnants of Aguinaldo's forces, under Gen. Macabolos, who were strongly entrenched in the mountains. Macabolos was put to flight and his entire command including Gen. Montenegro, surrendered after a short and decisive conflict. The command of the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan and Zambales was given him on August 1, 1900.

The work of Gen. Smith thus far was successful and highly commended. He brought peace to every district to which he was sent. About this time the War Department published a map of the Philippines, showing the hostile places in black and the peaceful districts in white. Samar appears on that map as a black blot. Gen. Smith was selected to pacify it, after the horrible massacre of our troops at Balangiga. In four and a half months, he forced the surrender of all the savage tribes opposed to the United States, on this island, effectually removing the black blot on the Department's map. In this cam- paign, he acted in harmony with the orders of his superiors and General Order number 100, of 1863. The task was waged against a cruel, savage and relent- less foe and under circumstances of the greatest difficulties and perils imagina- ble.

For words attributed to him while viewing the scene of the Balangiga massacre, at a time when his patriotism was stirred to its depths, and his kind heart was with the brave boys who had been massacred and mutilated, Gen. Smith was court-martialed. The verdict of the Court was in his favor, on all the serious charges made against him in the specifications, but he was sen- tenced to be admonished by the reviewing authority. Unfortunately at this time there was wide-spread criticism of the conduct of our Army in the Phil- ippines, the Senate Committee was taking testimony upon alleged cruelties, and disclosures were made of the "water-cure" and other tortures. The matter assumed a political aspect and as a result of the hue and cry raised by certain politicians and others, the President placed Gen. Smith on the retired list of the Army. Neither the "water-cure" nor any other form of torture was ever administered to the natives by the command of Gen. Smith. He performed his duty to his country and his flag bravely, loyally and faithfully, and the heart and affections of the American people go out to him in the hope that he will be again recalled to active duty in the service of the country under whose flag he served for forty-two years.

He spent 1880 and 1881 in traveling in Great Britain and on the Conti- nent and in 1894 and 1895 he traveled in Egypt, Greece, Italy, France, Germany and England. He was brought up an old line whig, and afterwards became a republican. When a boy, he attended the Methodist church but afterwards be- came a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, although he says he can only live up to it, as near as it is possible for an army officer. He married Miss Adelaide M. Hall, February 4, 1885. She was born in Calais, Maine.

Gen. Smith is small in stature, quick, active, and impulsive. He comes from a long line of soldiers, eight of his ancestry having served in the Revolu- tionary War. His strong characteristics are his intense determination and his kind, sympathetic nature. His intimate associates and old friends at home know he is exactly opposite the portrayal given him by those who do not know him personally. His reading, travel and study have. given him a wonderful fund of information, and made him very companionable and a charming con- versationalist. As a soldier, he faithfully performed every duty assigned to him and in bravery represents the true type of the American soldier. General

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Smith does not know what fear is. He is cool, calm and collected under any and all circumstances. These statements were fully verified in the part he took in the attack on San Juan Hill. Withal, General Smith is a modest man and never boasts of his achievements. He is essentially a man of action. When the time comes for him to act, he is always to be depended on to take the best course. While a good fighter, when fighting is required. he is equally good as a tactician. He could always be depended on to make the best disposition of the forces at his disposal. When he was in command, the enemy could expect an aggressive campaign and all the blows he could possibly deliver with the forces of his command. He was sent to suppress the insurrection in the Island of Samar and he did it. The outcome was unfortunate to him, but he has borne the reflections he did not deserve, with true soldierly fortitude. The American people understand the situation and their sympathies are with him in his forced retirement. They hope the time will come when his course as a General of the Army in the Philippines will be appreciated by all classes.

Captain James William Smith

was born in Pike county, Ohio, May 21, 1871. His father's name was Maximus Smith, and his mother's maiden name was Sarah A. Schoonover. His father was a native of Ireland. His grandfather Thomas Schoonover, was a native of Ohio. Captain James was the oldest child. Our subject received a common schol education in the country schools in Pike county, Union township, near Galford, Ohio. His father died when he was five years old, but his mother is still living. At the age of fourteen, our subject commenced working in a saw mill for Peter Brushart. He remained in Pike county until he was sev- enteen years of age, then he went to the State of Illinois, at Springfield and Williamsville, where he remained three years. He spent the majority of the time among the farmers and stock raisers. He came to Portsmouth in 1891, in the spring of the year, and has been here ever since. He had learned the car- penter's trade while he was working at the saw mill, and when he came to Portsmouth, he took up this trade, and first worked on the Little Kanawha Lumber Company's building. He worked at the carpenter's trade two years, and in 1894, he began as a contractor and builder, which he continued until the time of the Spanish American war.

He enlisted in Company E, 4th O. V. I., April 25, 1898, for two years, and was made Second Lieutenant. He was mustered in the service May 9, 1898, at Columbus, Ohio. He was appointed First Lieutenant July 13, 1898, and ap- pointed Captain, August 1, 1898, and was mustered out with the company Jan- uary 20, 1899. Captain Smith has the distinction of having received three commissions during the short period of the Spanish American war.

After the war he engaged in the building of the Smith Lumber Company, on the corner of Tenth and Lincoln streets. The business was first conducted by Captain Smith alone, until June 1, 1900, when a partnership company was fornied. On April 1, 1901 it became a corporation as the Smith Lumber Com- pany, and Captain Smith has been the manager and president of the company ever since. He was married August 14, 1888, to Martha Galford, daughter of Alexander Galtord, of Galford, Ohio. They have three children: Elsie B., Della M., and Homer James. Mr. Smith is a republican in his political views.

John Sewert Smith

was born at Alexandria, Scioto county, Ohio, August 23. 1866. the son of Wil- liam R. and Margaret Smith. His grandfather was one of the earlier settlers of that historical town, having moved there with his parents from Massachu- setts, when a boy, by boating down the Ohio river before the days of steamboats.

In the year 1886, our subject together with his father and brothers, be- came interested in the development of Scioto county stone and were the first quarry operators to develop that business in the Brush creek valley, where they continued operations until 1898, when Mr. John S. Smith moved to McDermott, Ohio, and engaged in the stone business with the McDermott Stone Company. He has been a director in this company since its organization and is its superin- tendent. He is a member of Smith Lodge, 387, K. of P., has passed the honors

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of the subordinate lodge and is a Past Chancellor of the order. Mr. Smith is a young gentleman of pleasant address and presence. He is thoroughly convers- ant with his business and is highly appreciated by his business associates.

Joseph Wemple Smith

son of Isaac P. and Diana Wintersteen Smith, was born October 31, 1848, in Adams county, about half way between Wamsleyville and Cedar Mills. His grandfather, Samuel Smith, served in the War of 1812, and his great-grandfather, John Smith, served in the Revolution and died in 1825. Samuel Smith was of German descent, and came with his parents, from Pennsylvania. Isaac P. Smith was born November 3, 1812, in Scioto county on Little Bear creek. Nicholas Wintersteen, grandfather of our subject, came from Canada to Geauga county, where he was married to Eliza T. Quiggle. They came to Scioto county, in 1834. The mother of our subject was born in 1822. His parents came to Scioto county when he was only six years old and located where he now resides.

His education was received from the common schools, before he reached the age of fourteen. He attended three months in the year. On March 7. 1865, he enlisted in the Eighth Independent Company of Ohio Volunteer Sharp- shooters and was discharged July 19, 1865. He taught school during the win- ter of 1867 and 1868, and for three months in 1873, he studied surveying with Thomas Keyes, son of James Keyes, the historian. He followed surveying from this time until 1891. His work was mostly on the Virginia Military lands west of the Scioto. He became very familiar with all the lines and corners of the surveys in the county. He served as Deputy Surveryor under John B. Gregory and Charles A. Barton, County Surveyors, for a period of about two years. He was elected County Surveyor November 12, 1880, and served until 1883. R. B. Shumway was his successor, but resigned before his term was out, and our sub- ject was appointed his successor, May 6, 1885, and served until the first Monday of January, 1886. He was then re-elected in 1886, and again in 1888, and served until 1891, when he resigned on account of his being a candidate for County Commissioner. He was elected County Commissioner in 1892, and served two terms, till 1898.

He is a republican, though not an active politician. He has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years, and has been a trustee of that church at Otway since its organization in 1897. February 4, 1875, he was married to Harriet A. Cross, daughter of Louis and Mary Cross. They have six children, all living: Charles A., is the agent for the Norfolk & Western at Rarden, Ohio; Estelle. married C. E. Wamsley, of Otway; Rosalie married J. M. Jones, of Otway; Frank A .; Lafayette T. and Joseph Oscar are still at home. Mr. Smith believes in doing all his religious, social and public duties without parade or ostentation. He is and always has been a very modest man. He has a good quantity of the philosopher in his make-up. He believes that what cannot be cured must be endured and endurance is his strong point. Had he lived in the palmy days of Greek philosophy, he would have been a Stoic. He is one of the best examples of the plain every-day American citizen and his life gives him the esteem of his neighbors which he enjoys to the highest ex- tent.

Leroy Findlay Smith

was born June 3, 1846, in Scioto county, Ohio on the farm now owned by Peter Montavan. His father was Peter Jonah Smith and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Foster Moore, daughter to Firman Moore. His father came to Ohio, from Maryland, with his father Joel W. Smith, who is buried in the Wil- coxen graveyard, east of the canal in Washington township. Our subject has always lived in this county. He was brought up a farmer and has followed that occupation all his life. He obtained a common school education.

He was married February 22, 1869, to Miss Hattie Bradford, the daughter of Cornelius W. Bradford, of the West Side, who was at one time Commis- sioner of Scioto county. Our subject has had four children. His oldest, Orsen, is aged 28 years, and resides on the Grimes' farm below Friendship. He has a son Howard, aged twenty-four, unmarried; Mary, a daughter at home and also Walter, a son of eighteen years. He has the most productive farm on the

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canal, just south of the George W. Cole farm. Mr. Smith is a republican in his political views and has always been such. He has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church at Oldtown for thirty-three years and has lived up to his profession. He was a trustee of Washington township for eight years, and was a member of the school board in the same township for ten years. These offices he was elected to without any solicitation upon his part. His neighbors esteem him as a most honorable and estimable citizen.

Isaac Spears

was born in Washington county, Virginia, near Abingdon, Arpil 27, 1835. His father's name was Joseph Spears, and his mother's maiden name was Catharine Suingrey, both natives of Virginia. In October, 1856. he went to Hunnewell, Ky., and engaged in driving team at Hunnewell furnace, where he remained until the next spring. He then went to Texas and became an overseer of negro slaves. He never knew the meaning of slavery until he engaged in this business, and after eighteen months in this occupation, he became a rabid anti-slavery man. He took this job because he could find nothing else to do. He regrets that he was ever engaged in this sort of business, but he has the consolation that it made him a republican. He came back to Hunnewell, Ky., in February, 1859, and worked at different places until 1862, when he moved to Ohio, and lo- cated at Empire furnace.

He enlisted August 10, 1862, in Company F, 91st O. V. I. He was ap- pointed Corporal February 1, 1863. He received a wound in the left ankle at the battle of Stephenson's Depot, by a shot from the navy revolver of a rebel Lieu- tenant of a South Carolina battery. The Lieutenant shot at him six times, and hit him four out of the six. Three times the ball cut our subject's clothing, and the other he received in his ankle. The Lieutenant was wounded himself and was captured and sent to the same hospital with Spears. He was in the hospital seven months and then returned for duty. On account of his lame- ness he was made orderly for the Quartermaster, and served as such until June 24, 1865, when he was mustered out. He had four brothers in the rebel army, and all of them survived the service. One of them lives in Kentucky, and the other three in Virginia.

He returned to Sciotoville and engaged in working at Harrison furnace. In the fall of 1865, he returned to Empire furnace, and remained there until he was married, July 5, 1866, to Martha Boyer, daughter of Jonathan Boyer, and a sisted of Alfred Boyer, at one time Treasurer of Scioto county, Ohio. He then went to Harrison furnace until 1869, when he removed to Sciotoville, and worked in the brickyard. He resided there for eighteen years, when he sold out and went to Nebraska; but he remained there only two months. This sat- isfied him and he came back to Findlay, Ohio, where he remained one winter. In 1887, he moved to Webster. The next year he came to Portsmouth and worked in the brickyard six years. In 1892, he bought the Gallus Cook farm near Pine creek, in Green township, and has resided there ever since.

He has one child, a son, Floyd Virgil, who is married and resides with his father. He lost three children in infancy. He is a republican and always has been. A gentleman who served in the war with him and who has known him intimately since, says of him: He is a gentleman, hard-working and industrious, a good citizen and a man who attends strictly to his own business. Were there more such men in Scioto county, it would be better for it.

James J. Spencer

was born in Jackson county, Ohio, September 19, 1844. He was a son of Thomas and Nancy (Stevenson) Spencer. His grandfather, William Spencer, came to this state from Greenbriar county, Virginia. The youth and early manhood of the subject of this sketch was spent in this county. For a number of years, he resided with his parents at Wheelersburg, and in the schools of that vil- lage he received his education. In 1861, at the age of seventeen, in response to the call of the Government for aid, he became a member of Company G, 27tl Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, November 28, 1861, and served till January 10, 1865, establishing for himself a record for bravery and faithfulness to duty.

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He went to Rice county, Kansas, in 1868, and remained until 1872, when he re- turned to Bloom township, this county.

On February 6, 1872, he was united in marriage to Martha J. Thompson, daughter of Louis Thompson, an old furnace man of this county, and Catharine (Shelton) Thompson, and for a number of years afterwards resided on his farm in Bloom township, this county. Their children are: Louis T., Charles L., Nan- nie, Myrtle, Addie, Frank A., Chester A., Mattie and Mamie, all of whom except Louis, reside with their parents at their home on Gallia street.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 157

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