A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 164

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 164

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March 1, 1866 he was married to Eliza Noel. There was one son of that marriage, Frank, in the business with his father. Our subject's wife died in 1868 and he was married again in 1870 to Belle Wilhelm. They have one child, Abraham aged thirty-two. Daniel White is a member of Bigelow M. E. church. He is not a member of any secret orders. He is a good business man, cheerful and agreeable to all, and aims to make the best of everything of this life, as the best preparation for the life to come.

George Washington White

was born January 16, 1856, in Scioto county, on the Little Scioto. His father's name was Nelson White, and his mother's maiden name was Eliza Wilson, daughter of James Wilson. His paternal grandfather was John White. Our subject received a common school education. He has always been a farmer and a contractor. He began business for himself in 1876, as a contractor and far- mer. He is a contractor on road work in this county and other counties in the State, building turnpikes and bridge work. In 1887, he went to Montana for one year and engaged in the timber business.

He was married March 9, 1876 to Sarah Neary, daughter of Mathew Neary and a sister of Green Neary, the County Commissioner. They have the following children: Franklin W., married and resides at Harrisonville, is en- gaged as a painter; Hattie Agnes, at home. Mr. White is a republican in his political views. He is regarded as a useful and valuable citizen. He is highly esteemed by his neighbors. He is in favor of public improvements and progress and is a gentleman whom it is always a pleasure to meet.

Horace White

was born in Meigs county, Ohio, on January 15, 1828. His father was John White, who was born June 15, 1794 and died May 8, 1874. His mother was Silva Wyman, born May 17, 1795 and died April 17, 1874. They are both buried in the White burying ground near Kendall Dever's, Madison township. His father, John White, came to Portsmouth in 1809, a single man. He was a pilot on the Ohio river on keel and flat boats. When he came to Portsmouth, his father, Abel White of New York. came with him. Abel White, the grandfather of our subject, had nineteen children by two marriages. Our subject's father, John White, was from the second marriage, as were the sons: Seth, Abel and Daniel. John White located first in Portsmouth, later at the mouth of Law- son's Run and still later in Meigs county, where our subject was born. John, White returned to Scioto county and located at what is now the Wheeler's mills in 1830. He soon after moved to a farm now owned by Warren Canter. He afterwards built the Wallace mills, in 1844, and operated them for eighteen years.

His son, our subject, was the miller. Mr. White says he attended school only ninety days. beginning at the age of fourteen, which comprised the schooling he had and yet he is one of the most intelligent and highly respected citizens in the county. Horace White is about the only "forty-niner" surviv- ing and residing in Scioto county. In the spring of 1849, he with Jefferson Dever, who now resides in Jackson county, and Randolph Lindsey started overland to California. They went to St. Louis by boat and from there they walked through. They started in April, 1849, without teams and were two months on the road. They stopped in Sacremento and went to gardening. Lindsey was so homesick that he returned to the states soon after reaching there. Mr. White worked for forty dollars a month and remained there two years when he started homewards. He came back through Lower California to New Orleans and from there up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers., He saved little or nothing. Mr. White on his return, engaged in milling at Wallace's mills.

He remained as the miller at Wallace's mills until August 7, 1862, when at the age of 34, he enlisted in Company F, 91st O. V. I. He was appointed Cor- poral June 13, 1865 and was mustered out with the Company June 24, 1865. On his return from the army, he began farming on the farm where he now lives. which was entered by John Dever. Since 1865, he has followed a variety of occupations and has made himself useful in all of them. He has been a farmer

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and contractor on public works, and if any thing else would offer, he would engage in it, as he has been industrious all his life.

He was married April 2, 1852, to Eliza Pinkerman, a daughter of Charles Pinkerman. Their children are: William H., now in Oregon; Isabel, the wife of Zachariah Dillon of Portsmouth; Lusetta, the wife of Stephen Wells of Struthers, Mahoning county, Ohio; Cornelia, the wife of Rev. David Gow, a Free-Will Baptist minister residing in Crawford county, Pennsylvania; John C. White, Shasta county, California; Ulysses G. White, Elkhorn, Montana; Leroy White lives at Helena Montana; and Lilly, wife of Charles Condon, re- sides at Riverside, California. The last two were twins.

Horace White and wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist church. In his political views, he is a republican. He has never held any public office except in his township. Mr. White is noted for his agreeable disposition. He sees the best side of every situation and is alway cheerful and contented.

John C. White

was born June 22, 1859, one and a half miles up Brush creek from Otway, Ohio. His father, Paul White, was born in Pennsylvania, December 17, 1817, and came to Ohio with his father. William White, at an early date and settled on Brush creek above Otway. He died March 22, 1882. Elizabeth, his wife, died on February 25, 1862, at the age of thirty-four years, six months. Our subject owns a farm of 396 acres along Brush creek, which occupies his time in its cultivation. He has a handsome family residence and comfortable sur- roundings. He is a democrat and strong in the faith, very seldom wavering from the straight and narrow way. He was married to Mary L. Newland, (laughter of Joseph L. and Josephine (Kendall) Newland, October 21, 1886. Her grandfather was George Kendall, who died February 18, 1855, aged thirty-eight years, five months and four days. He was a son of Samuel Kendall, one of the first settlers in this locality. Their children are Nora V., John L., Bervie O., George W., Edna May, Bertha Edith.

William S. Withrow

was born June 22, 1834. His father was Daniel C. Withrow who was one of the first settlers in Eastern Pennsylvania near Mercersburg and was of Scotch- Irish lineage. His mother was Sarah Devore, daughter of John Devore, who took part in the battle of New Orleans and was among the missing when the battle was over. Nothing was ever heard of him afterwards. He came from Paris, France, about 1810.

Our subject was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He attended the public schools and Madison College there. His parents took him to Iowa where he lived for five years. He went from McGregor to Montana and clerked for B. B. Harding. While in Montana, he became a Master Mason in Clayton Lodge, No. 70. In the winter of 1857-8 he was summoned to Washington in regard to the Fort Crawford Reservation. Here he saw President Buchanan for the first time. On his return trip from Washington. he stopped in Ports- month to visit his great-uncle William Salter. While here, B. L. Jefferson of Jefferson & Kepner offered him a situation as clerk at their store on Market street. and he accepted and remained with them until April 15, 1861.

In 1860, he joined a Company of Home Guards under Captain Bailey. When Fort Sumpter was fired on, the Company offered its services to Governor Dennison and was accepted. They were mustered on April 15, 1861, being one of the first companies to respond to the call for three-months troops. Our sub- ject received an injury at Vienna, Virginia. While the troops were being ad- vanced on a railroad train, they were fired on by a battery and the plank on which he was sitting was struck by a cannon ball. He was appointed corporal April 29, 1861, and mustered out with the company, August 1, 1861. He after- wards served as a scout.

He was Justice of the Peace in Greenup county, Kentucky, for one year after the war. He has an interest in the zinc mines in Lewis county, Ken- tucky. and is field superintendent for the company which owns it. He is a straight republican and holds the Presbyterian faith, though not a member of any church. He is a member of Bailey Post, No. 164, G. A. R., and has been four

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times a delegate to the state encampment. He is also a member of Aurora Lodge, F. and A. M. of Portsmouth.

He was married to Katharine Bryson. December 25, 1861. He commenced to farm and has followed that occupation all his life. He has seven children, as follows: Elizabeth married William Hillard; Jennie Bell, married Albert Mid- daugh, of Greenup county, Kentucky; Ruby, married Morton Warnock, of the same county; William B .; Lavinia Dugan and Daniel C., are all unmarried and at home. Another, Fannie, is deceased.

Francis Hall Williams, M. D.,

was born at Burlington, Lawrence county, Ohio, February 9, 1859. His father was Isaiah H. Williams, and his mother's maiden name was Emily Lefever. He attended the public schools and a private school. In 1880, he began the study of medicine under Dr. C. Hall, of Burlington, Ohio, and attended lectures at the Miami Medical College, at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated March 1, 1883, taking the highest honors of his class. He engaged in the practice of medicine at Burlington, Ohio, and resided there until November, 1896, when he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, and after a period spent in post-graduate study, he began the practice of medicine in Portsmouth.

He was married September 1, 1886 to Miss Sallie J. Anderson, second daughter of G. W. and Anna H. Anderson, of Portsmouth. They had one child, Donald A., who was born September 17, 1887. Mrs. Williams died October 13. 1901. and the son, Donald died just two weeks later, October 27, 1901. Dr. Wil- liams is regarded among his professional brethren and by the public as one of the ablest physicians in the city.

[This sketch should have appeared under the title of Physicians in Part HI, City of Portsmouth, but was received too late and therefore is printed here.]

George Sidney Williams

was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. in 1821. Robert Hazelton Williams, his father, was for a time connected with an iron furnace in the Monongahela val- ley. Coming to Pittsburg, he engaged in business as a grocer and continued in this employment for the rest of his life. The mother of George S., whose maiden nanie was McDonald, was of Scotch Irish descent, and was known to her contemporaries as a woman of unusual independence and strength of char- acter. George S. Williams had what would be considered quite limited educa- tional advantages, but possessing an accurate memory and a taste for good reading, he was widely informed on business and political topics, and well read in the current literature of his time. When quite young he went into business for himself as a grocer on Smithfield street, Pittsburg. He was burned out in the great fire of Pittsburg in April, 1845. and not having the means to establish himself in business again. he went as clerk to the Caroline furnace in Ken- tucky, then owned by an older brother, William H. Williams, who was manager at the furnace.

Here Mr. Williams began the training in what was, from that time, the business of his life. the making of charcoal pig-iron. While at this furnace in 1847, Mr. Williams was married to Margaret Crosby Leonard, daughter of Patrick and Laura Crosby Leonard of Pittsburg. Shortly after his marriage, he removed to Kensington Furnace. Pennsylvania, from there to Greenup Fur- nace, Kentucky, and at the instance of Mr. Allaniah Cole, who was interested in both Greenup and Bloom furnaces. Mr. Williams in 1854, came as manager to Bloom Furnace. Scioto county. In 1857. he came to Scioto Furnace which was his home. with the exception of one year, until his death. In 1860. owing to the depression in the iron business, the Scioto furnace went out of blast, and the year 1861 Mr. Williams spent at Bloom settling up his business there. He then returned to Scioto, the furnace going into blast and continuing in opera- tion during the twenty years which he spent there as manager and member of the firm, long known as L. C. Robinson & Company.

He had the following children: George C., deceased; Blanche, a teacher; Laura at home; Alice married John B. Gray, lives in Wheelersburg; Robert H., at Wellston, unmarried, engineer at the McFarland Coal Co .; Henry, died in

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1879, at the age of twenty-seven; Paul Sidney, is book-keeper at the Buckeye Fire Brick Co.

Our subject was always a republican. On April 30, 1881, Mr. Williams died at the home at Scioto Furnace, in which he had spent nearly twenty-five years of his life. His wife died January 7, 1889. Both are buried at Ports- mouth. Ohio. Mr. Williams was a man of strong convictions, holding decided opinions on all subjects, yet he was very liberal toward all holding differing views. He was exceptionally thoughtful of the welfare and considerate of the rights of others, not only those in his own family, but of those in his employ. Every movement, educational, moral and social, which was for the good of the little furnace community, was of interest to him and had his warm support. He was esteemed and respected as an honorable man and good citizen by all who knew him.

John Edward Williams

was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, June 9, 1863, the son of Evan D. Williams and Catharine Edwards, his wife, both of whom were born in Wales. He was one of three brothers. His mother was a daughter of Rev. John Edwards, a Welsh minister. John attended the Portsmouth schools until he was fifteen years of age when he went to work for the late William S. Pattin. He was in his em- ployment until 1882. Then he went into the Drew, Selby Shoe Company, as a laster, and was with them until 1888, when his real life work began. He started the Excelsior Shoe Company, a partnership of twenty-five shoe workers, and he was the head and manager. They started business on the third floor of the building, northwest corner Second and Chillicothe streets, doing all work by hand, making nothing but baby shoes and selling their output of forty pairs per day to the local trade. This arrangement lasted a year, when John Williams bought the others out, being convinced that a successful business could be conducted on a larger scale.

In the spring of 1889, he organized and incorporated The Excelsior Shoe Company taking his two brothers, Grant and Charles in with him. The orig- inal capital of $10,000, was paid in during the first year, and the factory was moved to the Stemshorn building on Front street. John E. Williams was made president and has been at the head of the concern ever since. In fact from this year, 1889, the history of Mr. Williams has been that of the Excelsior Shoe Company and vice versa. When that Company started in 1889, it was in a rented building with twenty-five employees and made 150 pairs of youth's shoes per day. In 1892, the Company moved to the old Planing Mill, on the corner of Third and Gay streets, and was there until 1897 when it went into the new building on Gallia, John and Findlay streets, where it has a building built expressly for it, fifty feet wide, two hundred and fifty feet long and five stories high. (See page 608.) Mr. Williams is and has been from the start general manager, and he is the Deus Ex Machina of the concern. For thirteen years, he has devoted himself exclusively to this business and has made a phenomenal success of it.

Mr. Williams was married in May, 1890 to Miss Sarah M. Davies, of Ironton, Ohio, a daughter of James J. Davies. He has had six sons, five of whom are living; Evan Charles, James Davies, John Kilsworth, David Charles and Thomas Edward. In the spring of 1901, Mr. Williams bought the Gaylord place, which he has remodeled into one of the finest houses in the city. He has been an active member of the Second Presbyterian church for twenty-five years. He is a member of the Republican party.

John McDowell Williams

was born February 6, 1847, at Martin's Ferry, Ohio. His father was Samuel A. Williams, and his mother's maiden name was Sidney A. Huston, sister of Capt. Samuel J. Huston. His parents had six children, and he was the fifth child. He received his education in the common schools of Scioto county. His father was a knobbler in the Gaylord Rolling Mill. Our subject learned the carpen- ter's trade and followed it until six years ago.

He enlisted in the 189th O. V. I., at the age of eighteen as a private, February 18, 1865, for one year, and was mustered out with the Company, Sep-

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tember 28, 1865. His father Samuel A. Williams, was in the 73rd O. V. 1., Com- pany B. He enlisted as a private, at the age of forty-four, October 19, 1861, for three years, and was discharged November 28, 1862, at Alexandria, Va., on surgeon's certificate of disability. His brother Brooks Williams enlisted in the same company and regiment, at the age of eighteen as a private, November 1, 1861, for three years, and was discharged August 6, 1862 at Clarysville, Md., on surgeon's certificate of disability. His brother Wm. H. Williams, enlisted in the 39th O. V. 1., Company A, as a Sergeant, at the age of nineteen, July 16, 1861, for three years. He was appointed Corporal, December 27, 1863; wounded July 22, 1864, in the battle of Atlanta, Ga., appointed Sergeant, June 1, 1865; mustered out July 9, 1865, by order of War Department.

Our subject was married in 1872 to Miss Alice D. Barber, daughter of Uriah and Rachel Barber, and granddaughter of John Barber. They had the following children: Kate S., married W. E. Wood, resides in St. Louis, Mo., and is a railroad fireman: Samuel A., shoeworker in Portsmouth, and a mem- ber of Company E, 4th O. V. I., (formerly Co. H. 14th O. N. G.) during the Spanish War; John P., was killed at Geneseo, Ill., in his eighteenth year; Alice D., and Royal A., at home.

John Williams was Councilman from the Sixth ward for two years. He was Chief of the Fire Department for four years, from 1888 to 1892. He was elected Water Works Trustee in 1894, and served three years. He was ap- pointed Deputy State Inspector of Work Shops and Public Buildings May 15, 1896 and held the office until June 15, 1902. He is a republican, and a member of the Second Presbyterian church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and the Masonic Lodge of Portsmouth.

Mr. Williams is a man with whom to become acquainted is to become his friend. He possesses so many excellent qualities of mind and heart. that to know him is to admire him. If he has any fault, it is his modesty. He is not sufficiently self assertive, in his own behalf. When it comes to acting or doing for a friend, he is as bold as a lion. He might be said to belong to his friends more than to himself. He has a high position in the community in the estimation of all who know him. In every relation of life and to society, he conscientiously tries to do his duty and this excellent trait commands admir- ation. The combination of all excellent qualities makes him a model Amer- ican citizen.

Captain William Benjamin Williams

was born December 20, 1827, in Glamorganshire, Wales. His father was Ben- jamin Williams and his mother's maiden name was Ann Edwards. He was the eldest of his father's seven children. His parents left Wales and came to the United States when he was twelve years of age. He came in the sailing ves- sel "Marquis of Bute." They settled in Brady's Bend, Pennsylvania and our subject worked there in the coal-banks for two years and also worked in the rolling-mills of that place. He came to Portsmouth in 1844 and went into the Gaylord rolling mill and was there one year. He then went to Cincinnati and worked in Barrett's mill, near Brighton, and took a furnace there and remained for three years, when he went to Hillman, Tennessee and was there for six months. He returned to Cincinnati and remained there until 1849, then came back to Portsmouth and went to work in charge of a furnace at Gaylord's mill.

He remained in Portsmouth until in 1852, when he was smitten with the gold fever and started for California on April 1, of that year, in a party com- posed of Stout Barklow, John Sturgeon, David Price, Thomas Williams, Andrew Robinson, William Sidney, Thomas Richardson, William Delaney and Thomas McAuley. They were joined by Captain John Clark, father of Mrs. P. C. Kin- ney, Leonard Alexander, Giles Thornton, William Morton, Thomas Thompson, and Frank Johnson. They had wagons made in Portsmouth and shipped them to St. Joe, Missouri. They were five months on the way. They worked at the placer mines near Pell River, California. Our subject staid nearly a year and came back by the Panama route. He brought some money home with him.

He went into the mill again in 1853, but in six months was again struck with the gold fever, and went to California, this time by the Panama route and stayed one year. In 1855, he came back to Portsmouth and went into the mill again and worked there until the war broke out. In 1860, he organized a

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company of militia. On August 7, 1861 he enlisted in Company C, 56th O. V. I. and was made Captain. He was with his company during its entire service until November 14, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Champion Hill, May 16, 1863. He was shot in the right leg with a minie-ball and the bone was shattered which has lamed him ever since. He reached home December 7, 1864, and went to work in the mill.

Captain Williams had been a whig from 1840, when he cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison, until the Know-Nothing craze came up and has been a democrat ever since. In 1866, he was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for City Marshal against Calvin J. Stevens. He received 689 votes to 617 for Stevens, majority 72. In 1867, he was again a candidate for the same office against Valentine Burkel. The vote stood Williams 768, Burkel 632, ma- jority of 136. In 1868, he was again a candidate and received 815 votes to 635 for Calvin J. Stevens, majority 180. In 1869, he was again a candidate and the vote stood, Williams 890, Silas J. Losee 664, majority 226. In 1871, he was again a candidate against William Martin. This year he was defeated and re- ceived 853 votes to 939 for Martin. In 1873, he was again a candidate against William Martin and this time defeated him. The vote being 973 for Williams and 918 for Martin, majority 55. This was the least majority Captain Williams ever received. In 1875, he ran for the same office with the same opponent. The vote stood 1,104 for Williams and 998 for Martin, majority 106. In 1877, he ran for the same office and was opposed by John Henneke. He received 1,082 votes to 943 for Henneke, majority 135. In 1879, he was again a candidate for the same office against William Keer. The vote stood Williams 1,102, Keer 1,009, majority 93. In 1881, he made his last race for Marshal. He received 1,165 votes to 1,032 for his opponent, Lee T. Beatty, making a majority of 138.

It will be seen that the republicans tried the Germans, Irish and Ameri- cans, each one against him, but he was elected every time but once. He was never defeated in the Third ward at any time he was a candidate. He was Deputy United States Marshal from 1884 to 1888. . He was Government store- keeper under James W. Newman collector, from 1884 to 1888. He was also store-keeper under McMillen collector, from 1892 to 1896. As a politician, Cap- tain Williams has been very successful. He is in comfortable circumstances, has retired from all work and is trying to live an easy and quiet life. He has an army record of which he may well be proud, and he is respected by all who know him. During the time of the first paving in Portsmouth, he was a member of the Council for four years from the Third Ward and was re-elected a member of Council in 1900, and is still a member of that body.

He was married in March, 1847 to Margaret Edwards, daughter of Rev. John Edwards. Their children were: William who died in infancy; Anne died at the age of eighteen; William H. now in Columbus, Ohio; David; Jerusha died aged seven; Mary Emily and Floyd died in infancy, and a son Oscar died at twenty-two. His first wife died in 1876. He was married the second time to Lydia Sissler. He has three children of that marriage: Benjamin who mar- ried Lucy Waller; Mary; and Floyd who is a student at Miami University.

In every relation in life Captain Williams has tried to do his best. No better city Marshal ever held office in the State than he. All the good people admitted this and the rogues all realized it. When he undertook to convict a criminal he did so. With him no guilty man escaped. He was peculiarly fitted for the Marshal's office and the people of Portsmouth thought so and voted so.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 164

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