A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 158

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 158

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Mr. Spencer has been a life-long, active republican. He was elected Sheriff of Rice county, Kansas, November 7, 1871, and served for two years. In 1895, he was elected to the office of County Recorder, and in the following year he removed with his family to Portsmouth, where he has since resided. He was re-elected to the office of Recorder in 1898, serving in that office through a period of six years, retiring in September, 1901. He is a man of unassuming ways, quiet, but genial, and has attached to himself many earnest friends throughout the county. He is a member of Bigelow Methodist church, of Ports- mouth.

Allen Webb Spry

was born June 15, 1858. His father, Dr. John W. Spry, was a dentist and drug- gist of Portsmouth, Ohio. His mother's maiden name was Louisa Davey. Our subject was one of four children. He attended the primary and grammar schools of Portsmouth, and at the age of eighteen he started out in life for him- self, and worked at whatever was available until July 28, 1890, when he was appointed as one of the letter carriers of Portsmouth, and has served in that capacity ever since. He was married in January, 1880, to Miss Martha Dailey. They have three children, Grace, Ada and Howard. He resides at No. 121 East Fourth street.

Daniel R. Spry

was born in Norwich, Shenango county, New York. His parents, lived in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, until he was eighteen months old, and from there floated in a boat down the Ohio river and landed at Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1845. Daniel received his education at the Fourth street school and stood at the head of his classes. In 1851, he entered the drug store of Shackelford & Crichton, located where J. F. Davis' drug store now is and learned the drug business. On the death of Mr. Crichton, he became a member of the firm and the name was changed to Shackelford & Spry, and continued as such until 1857, when he bought the entire business. In December, 1863, he removed to the northwest corner of Second and Market streets, where he has since continued in the same business. He purchased the property and rebuilt the building with a mansard roof.

In December, 1881, he was burned out. He then bought the engine house property west of him and rebuilt with elaborate improvements adding a tower for the telephone exchange. During the flood of 1884, his building with all his stock of goods was burned. He lost the whole stock and building, but in less than a year he rebuilt. He was a Sergeant in Company E, 140th O. V. I. He en- listed May 2, 1864, and was discharged September 3, 1864. Mr. Spry is a quiet and reserved citizen. He is now the oldest druggist in Portsmouth, Ohio. He conducts an old and well established business. He has friends by the score and · is much devoted to them. He is noted for his genial and kindly disposition and is universally liked.

David Stahler

was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, December 8, 1862. His parents were David and Louisa (Lorbach) Stahler, both natives of Germany. They came to this country and located near Chillicothe, Ohio. When David was six years old, he removed with his parents to Waverly, Ohio, and completed a course in the Waverly schools. He clerked for his father in the mercantile business until he began business for himself in 1887, in Waverly as a dealer in hardware, from ma- chinery, implements, vehicles, etc. He remained in Waverly until 1893, and then came to Portsmouth, Ohio, and engaged in the same business, where he has remained ever since. He is a very strong democrat, and was chairman of

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

the County Executive Committee when John R. McLean ran for Governor. He is a member of the German Lutheran church.

April 6, 1884, he was married to Anna D. Jones, daughter of William D. Jones, the late editor of the Waverly "Watchman." He has four children: Charles Edward, Henry Lee, Clarence Robert and Louisa Elizabeth,

He is one of the active, energetic, pushing driving business men of Ports- mouth. He will trade or buy anything which strikes his fancy, and he is al- ways ready, willing and anxious for a trade at any time. He will have a halt dozen projects all going at the same time, and will not neglect any one of them. Everything with him is sharp, short and decisive. When he undertakes anything he accomplishes it.

Michael Stanton

was born in the town of Ballinrobe in county Mayo, Ireland, September 16, 1843. His father was John Stanton, a carman, and his mother was Catharine O'Reil- ley. His parents emigrated to the United States in 1848, and located at Junior furnace, where they remained about a year, and then removed to Springfield, Ohio. Soon after his parents removed to Jackson county, Ohio. Here he at- tended school until he was fifteen years of age. He was a government mes- senger in the army from 1862 to 1865. On February 28, 1865, he enlisted in Company B, 196th O. V. I., for one year and was mustered out May 12, 1865, at Cumberland, Maryland.

In 1866, he and his brother John, went into the general mercantile bus- iness at Berlin, Ohio, where he remained till 1870, when he came to Portsmouth, Ohio, which has been his home since. From his arrival in Portsmouth, Ohio, he was in the firm of G. W. Brown & Company, in the liquor business. In 1872, he became a member of the firm of Stanton & Bagby, which was succeeded by Stanton Brothers in 1874. In 1877 the firm became Stanton & Balmert, the late Simon Balmert, being a partner. In 1888, the business was turned over to a corporation, known as the Spring Lane Distilling Company, in which he is a large stockholder, and which business he has conducted very successfully.

Mr. Stanton has always been a democrat in his political views, and has been very active and prominent in his party's councils. He was for twenty years a member of the City Council, most of the time from the First ward, but one or more terms from the Second ward. He was chairman of the Finance Committee of the Council for several years. He always took a great interest in municipal affairs and stood for public improvements. As a democrat, he was always at the command of his party, but would never accept any office which would interfere with his business. In 1890 and 1891, he was a member of the Board of State Penitentiary Managers, appointed by Governor Campbell. This is the only office he ever held outside of the City Council of Portsmouth. From 1894 to 1896, he was president of the Farmers National Bank of Ports- mouth, Ohio.

He married Mary Jane Livingstone, November 14, 1876, and has had seven children, four of whom are deceased J. Oscar, Catharine. William B. and George, His surviving children are: Margaret, Michael and Edward. Mr. Stan- ton is a communicant of the church of the Holy Redeemer. He has always been a man of great decision of character. He makes up his mind quickly and acts at once. His executive ability has enabled him to achieve great success in his business. He is liberal in all his views and favors public improvement and advancement. In his business career in Portsmouth, he has largely con- tributed to the material advancement of the city.

George Henry Staten

was born December 22, 1847, at Mt. Vernon furnace, Lawrence county, Ohio. His father was William Harvey Staten, and his mother, Mary Ferran Staten, both natives of Adams county, near Marble furnace, where they were mar- ried February 22, 1844. She was the daughter of James Ferran. and was born April 14, 1824. Her husband was born March 11, 1819.

His father and mother had eight children, and our subject was the eldest of those who survived. His father died July 15, 1892, and his mother is still living, The family removed to Lawrence county, in 1844, Our subject received

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

a common school education. He enlisted in Company B, 22d O. V. I., February 22, 1864, at the age of eighteen, for a period of three years. He was transferred to Company B, 22d Battalion, O. V. I., October 31, 1864, and was discharged Feb- ruary 17, 1865, at St. Louis, Missouri, on surgeon's certificate of disability. After his return from the service, for six years, he worked on the farm and on the railroad. In 1871, he began the career of a teacher and continued it for nine- teen consecutive years in Scioto and Lawrence counties. In 1872, for part of the time, he attended the Normal school at Lebanon. In this period of teach- ing, he taught four years at Union Landing, three years at Haverhill, and also at Clinton, Buckhorn and Franklin furnaces, and at the Kettles school. He received an appointment in the revenue service in 1899, and in that year became a resident of the city of Portsmouth. He has been in the revenue service from that time to the present except during Cleveland's second term, when he operated a feed mill in Portsmouth in connection with John Blankenmeyer for four years.

He was married August 28, 1877. to Ellen Gillen, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Coyle) Gillen. Their children are: Edith, Flora, Winona, Stanley, Wendell and George. He is a republican, strong in the faith. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the G. A. R., and Foresters. He is a gentleman of quiet tastes and highly esteemed in the entire circle of his acquaintance.

Joseph Green Steagall

was born December 29, 1851 in Jackson county. His father's name was Doug- las Steagall, and his mother's maiden name was Amanda Walls. The family came from Virginia. His parents both died when he was six years of age. There were five children left in the family, and our subject was next to the youngest. He made his home with Hiram Bunn in Jackson county, while a child. He went to work as 'soon as he was old enough for Thomas Jones at Antioch, Monroe county doing farm work. He continued to do farm work for about four or five years when he learned the carpenter's trade with Robert Sutherland and continued to work at this trade until 1890. In 1889 he bought the Ruckman farm in Madison township. He has resided there ever since. and has carried on farming as part of his business.

He was married on April 14, 1876 to Eliza Ruckman, daughter of Abijah Ruckman of Madison township. They have the following children: Zela, a daughter, married George Deemer, residing in Madison township; Nonie mar- ried Edward Chaney, residing on Seventh street in Portsmouth; Herman, aged twelve years, at home. They lost one child, a girl in infancy. Mr. Steagall has always been a republican. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church of Madison township. He never held any public office. He has been practicing law before the Justices of the Peace of his township and in the county, for twenty years past.

Allen Perry Stevens

was born April 15, 1858 in Lawrence county, Ohio. His father was Joshua An- derville Stevens and his mother was Elizabeth Ann Huston. They had twelve children of which he was the fifth. He went to school in Lawrence county until he was 14 years of age. His father was a blacksmith and brought him up to the trade. At the age of 14, his family moved to Cambria, Gallia coun- ty, Ohio. He then went to school there. He and his father worked at Cambria furnace and then went back to Wayne county West Virginia for a short time. Then our subject went to Buffalo furnace, Greenup county, Kentucky and worked at his trade under Col. Worthington. He went to Rarden in March, 1877 and worked for Jerry Newman. He was married December 20, 1877 to Sarah Frances Newman, daughter of Thomas Newman. In the Spring of 1878, he set up in business for himself and has been engaged in it ever since. He does the machine blacksmithing for the Rarden Stone Company. He has seven children: Thomas Truman, Rosa Ann, Flora, Gilbert Terrell, Eliza, Es- tella May and Mattie Fay. He was a democrat until 1900 when he became a republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Rarden, a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Red Men.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

Robert Hamer Stevenson

was born at Georgetown, Ohio, the son of Judge and Mrs. S. H. Stevenson, July 27, 1869. Mrs. Stevenson is the daughter of the late General John L. Hig- gins, one of the pioneers of Brown county, brother-in-law to General Thomas L. Hamer, and successively the first Sheriff and first Probate Judge that Brown county ever had. General Higgins was a sterling democrat of the old school.

The subject of this sketch early in life became identified with newspaper work upon the local papers at Georgetown, Ohio. Before he was of age he went to Cincinnati where he was employed in some of the largest printing concerns in that city. In the latter 80's he went to Louisville, Ky., where he became identified with The Courier Journal, and in the campaign of 1888 wrote a series of letters from various points in the South upon the Intimidation ques- tion. These letters were widely quoted by many of the politicians of the north, few of whom, however, realized that the author was a young boy not yet a voter.

From Louisville Mr. Stevenson went to Augusta, Ky., then to Aberdeen, Ohio, and to Middletown, Ohio, in each of which places he conducted newspaper enterprises for various persons. From Middletown he went to Cincinnati where he was employed upon The Cincinnati Post. He advanced rapidly with this paper, and when The Tribune was started in that city, he was among the first Cincinnati newspaper men sought by the publishers of the new paper. He re- mained with The Tribune through its varying fortunes, until about the time that the first company which operated it made an assignment, when he went back on the Post. He left The Post in 1896, entering the field of politics.

At the Chicago Convention which nominated Mr. Bryan, Mr. Stevenson was placed in charge of Ohio headquarters, and was active in all of the nego- tiations and deals which involved the delegation from Ohio, in that historical meeting. At the close of the campaign he returned to Ohio, where he was urged to assist in the campaign work in the state.

He was appointed a member of the State Executive Committee, and al- so its assistant secretary in charge of the work of organization; Mr. McCon- ville, the chairman of the committee, being absent a considerable portion of his time in Chicago where he was called as chairman of The Speakers' Bureau of the National Committee.

In 1897, during the famous Mclean-Hanna fight, he was again placed on the State Executive Committee, and again active in the work of organization. After a rest at the close of that campaign he came to Portsmouth and as- sumed control of The Tribune, which paper he has since edited, as will be seen by reference to the history of that publication of this volume. Since his coming to Portsmouth Mr. Stevenson has made rapid advancements. He is a vigorous writer, a forcible speaker, and active at all times in Democratic work. In addition to the management of The Tribune and Press, Mr. Stevenson has established and built up one of the largest commercial printing concerns in Southern Ohio, catering to the higher order of business.

Mr. Stevenson was married May 1, 1893. to Janette, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Thomas of Adams county. They have one daughter, Martha Estelle.

Aaron Stockham, Jr.,

was born June 13, 1832 on the home place, two and a half miles from Scioto- ville on the Little Scioto river. His parents were Aaron and Ruhama (Sikes) Stockham. He has resided continuously on the farm he now lives on with the exception of one year when he was occupied in flat boating on the Ohio. He obtained his education in the country schools. He enlisted in Company F. 140th O. V. I. (Henry Stockham) May 2, 1864 and was mustered out September 3, 1864 with the company. He was a republican up to the organization of the Prohibition party when he joined its ranks. In the last four or five years he has socialistic views peculiarly his own. He was a Free-Will Baptist until 1890 and has since held himself aloof from all churches.

He was united in marriage October 12, 1854 with Mary J. Crawford of Adams county, Ohio, daughter of Robert Crawford. Eleven children have been born to them: James P., Robert C., deceased, Eliza A., deceased wife of Oliver

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Batterson; Edward M., Jordan M., George L., Charles P., Addie B., wife of N. S. Mathews of Harrisburg, Illinois; William G., Samuel A. and Alva C. Mr. Stockham is a very eccentric person and his ideas are certainly unique. Yet he has a philanthropy about him such as few men have. He lends a helping hand to every one in his neighborhood that may be in need of help and to some that are not. He has written and published a book which he calls "Dynamite or The Impending Crisis." In this book he sets forth his views; and as an awful punishment for the crimes of the world he predicts the de- struction of the earth by fire.

John Milton Stockham

seventh child of Joseph Harvey and Catherine (Dewey) Stockham, was born January 1. 1857, near Harrisonville, in Madison township. (See Dewey and Stockham Families.) He was brought up on his father's farm, attended the country schools and at the age of twenty, he entered the employ of M. B. Gil- bert & Company and worked on an ice-wagon and as a clerk. After ten months here. he was married to Augusta C. Frowine, daughter of Charles and Catherine (Fisher) Frowine in February, 1878. In 1879, he went to Texas, where he remained until the death of his wife, December 1, 1879 and returned home bringing with him his motherless child, then two and a half months old. Tbis child died shortly afterwards.

He again went to work for Gilbert & Co. and remained with them until 1886, when he entered the coal business on the corner of Front and Court streets and remained there until October. 1897, when he removed to the corner of Second and Court streets, where he has since conducted his business. He was Commissioner of Scioto county from 1893 to 1896 and was appointed to fill a short term of eight months. from January 6, to September 21, 1896 and was re-elected in 1896 for a second term which expired in 1899. He is an active re- publican and a member of Sixth Street Methodist church. He has been one of the most efficient workers in his church and has served on the Official Board since 1885. He is also a member of Magnolia Lodge. Knights of Pythias.

He was married the second time to Helen McAleer, daughter of John and Helen (Edwards) McAleer, October 18, 1883. Their children are: Vesta May, recently a graduate of the Portsmouth High School with first honors; Russell, Katharine, Paul, and Carrie Violet.

A prominent business man says of him: "He is a man of strict integrity. of good business principles and habits, and a conservative, safe and careful business man. He has been successful in managing his own buiness and while Commissioner of Scioto county carried out the same principles for the public in giving the county a careful and economical administration of its affairs. Mr. Stockham is one of those men who inspire confidence, and is just the kind of man to be selected for a position of trust. He has always been found atten- tive to all the duties and positions to which he has been called. He is a man of positive convictions and of strong Christian character; and one who is en- titled to the respect and confidence of everyone. He is a man who has decided opinions of his own and when convinced that he is right he is not easily moved. He is what might be called a 'level-headed' man, not easily swayed and carried away by impulse."

Joseph Dewey Stockham

was born December 30, 1843 in Scioto county. His father was Joseph Harvey Stockham and his mother Catherine Dewey, a daughter of Doctor Joseph Dewey. He attended the common schools of Madison township and farmed for his father until he entered the service. He was mustered in Company E, 117th O. V. I. August 21. 1862 at the age of eighteen. He was transferred to Com- pany F. October 18, 1862, and transferred to Company F. 1st O. V. H. A., August 10, 1863 and mustered out June 20. 1865. After the war he resumed the life of a farmer. He was married December 19, 1866 to Sarah Wallace, daughter of Samuel Wallace and Clara Ann Coriell, daughter of Daniel Coriell. He con- tinued farming until 1868 when he kept a store and drove a huckster wagon for ten years. In 1870, he removed to Wallace Mills and that has been his resi-

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

dence ever since. He operated the mills for a number of years, but since has given his attention to farming and merchandising. He has seven children: William H. died January 4, 1875, aged eight years; Thomas Wesley, born March 4, 1870; John Lewis, born August 26, 1873; Clarissa Ann, born December 24, 1875, the wife of Edward W. Bower; Catharine, born September 8, 1878; Jo- seph Warren, born July 11, 1881; Samuel G., born November 10, 1885. He is a republican and a member of the Free Will Baptist church.

Wilbur Stout

son of Elihu M. Stout, was born August 1, 1876, at Chester, Meigs county, Ohio. His mother is Ruth (Stockham) Stout, daughter of David Jackson Stockham. They had three children: Edith who died in childhood; John who resides in Sciotoville and our subject. His father moved to Sciotoville when he was six years old. He attended the public schools of Sciotoville until he was nineteen and then began teaching. He taught for two years and then attend- ed the Ohio State University at Columbus, Ohio, pursuing scientific studies and doing special work. He is now teaching at Forest Academy, near Franklin Furnace. Mr. Stout has been a special student of Geology for several years and has become well informed on the subject. He has been a collector of spec- imens at Sciotoville for four years and has become thoroughly acquainted with the geology of Scioto county through his own personal investigation and re- search. A sub-division of the Geological article in this work was prepared by Mr. Stout and can be found on page 17 and those immediately following. He is a member of the Republican party.

John Franklin Strayer

was born Oct. 1, 1856, near Logansville, Ohio. His father's name was James Wilson Strayer, and his mother's maiden name was Sarah Jane Plummer. His father was a dry-goods merchant, which business he was engaged in for thirty years at Logansville and Degraff. Our subject attended the common schools at Degraff, and also attended the Wittenburg College in 1874 and 1875, studying the classical course. In the fall of 1875, he went to Delaware, to at- tend the Ohio Wesleyan University and belonged to the Class of '79, but left at the end of the junior year. In March, 1878, he went to Columbus and spent two years on the Daily Ohio Statesman, then conducted by Jonathan Linton. While in Columbus during this period he was a writer for the Cleveland Leader. In March, 1880, he went to Chillicothe, Ohio and started the Chillicothe Daily News. He was the editor and Capt. John Putnam was the proprietor.

He came to Portsmouth, Ohio in June, 1880. He was with the Ports- mouth Times two years, as local editor, until March, 1882. He was with the Blade and Tribune for fifteen years. In January, 1897, he quit the newspaper business forever and has had a clear conscience ever since. He spent one year with Mr. Coriell in the. Fire Insurance business, and has been with him ever since. He was married January 20, 1886 to, Miss Lizzie McNichols, of Lexing- ton, Ky., daughter of John McNichols of the same place. They have the fol- lowing children: Morris Kirby, aged fifteen, and Katharine Marie, aged twelve. Mr. Strayer is a republican in his political views.

Philip Melancthon Streich

was born in Circleville, Ohio, August 16, 1860. His father was Casper Streich who has been a minister in the United Brethren church since 1863. His mother's maiden name was Catherine Rife. His father was a native of Stutt- gart, Germany and his mother was born in Pickaway county, Ohio. Our sub- ject was the eldest of twelve children, ten of whom are living. He lived at Circleville four years, at Pomeroy about eighteen months, at Zanesville three years, at Cleveland four years, at Cincinnati four years, at Dayton three years, in southern Illinois about eighteen months, and then he came to Ports- mouth, Ohio. Between the age of fourteen and fifteen, he went into a drug store in Dayton and was there over a year, and was in the same business in Illinois.

His father was sent to Portsmouth in 1876, as minister to the German U. B. church and our subject followed him in 1877 and has remained here ever

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

since. When he arrived in Portsmouth, he went into the employment of George Fisher, where he remained until 1879, when he went to Cincinnati and attended the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy. He was there two years and graduated in 1881. He then went into the J. F. Davis Drug store as prescrip- tion clerk and book-keeper until in February, 1890. He then went into busi- ness under the firm name of Fisher & Streich, having bought one-half interest. The firm continued under this name until July, 1901, then he bought out Mr. Fisher's interest and the business is now, Fisher & Streich Pharmacy, P. M. Streich, Proprietor. He was married September 30, 1884 to Louisa Ebert, daughter of Charles Ebert. He has two children Edna and Ralph. He is a republican and a member of the United Brethren church.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 158

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