USA > Ohio > Scioto County > A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record > Part 20
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Hon. A. Floyd McCormick
was born October 5th, 1861, in Nile Township, Scioto County, Ohio. His father was George S. McCormick, and his mother's maiden name was Nancy Fleak. His grandfather, James McCormick, was a na- tive of Pennsylvania. Our subject spent two years at the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio, and afterwards, four years at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. After the com- pletion of his college course, he became a law student of the Hon. Thomas E. Powell, of Delaware, Ohio, and graduated from the Cin- cinnati Law School in 1886. While studying law in Cincinnati, Ohio, he was in the office of Cowen and Ferris, Attorneys, the Ferris being Judge Howard Ferris, of the Probate Court of Ham- ilton County. Mr. McCormick was admitted to practice in 1886, and removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he became manager of the R. G. Dun & Company, Commercial Agency. He continued his employment and resided there seven years. He removed to Ports- mouth, Scioto County, Ohio, in January, 1895. He was elected, as a Republican, in 1897, to represent Scioto County in the House of Representatives, and served from January 2nd, 1897 to April 8th, 1898.
HON. CHANDLER J. MOULTON.
163
BIOGRAPHIES OF REPRESENTATIVES.
He was re-elected in 1899 and served from January 3rd, 1900, to April 27th, 1901. In the House, he served on the Committees on Municipal Affairs, Corporations, Military Affairs, and Public Works. He was married to Miss Anne Corrille Scarlett, daughter of Joseph A. Scar- lett, manager of R. G. Dun's Commercial Agency in Cincinnati, on the 3Ist of December, 1885. They have one daughter, Corrille, now a student in St. Mary's School in Columbus. Mr. McCormick had been a Democrat until 1897, but then became a Republican of the stal- wart type. He is a man of liberal views and ideas. He is an excel- lent lawyer, and his friends think he ought to eschew politics and con- fine himself to the law. However, as a politician, he has been quite successful, and bids fair to be one of the prominent men of the State. He is one of the handsomest men of the state. He is very active and energetic in anything he undertakes.
Chandler Julius Moulton
was born December 26th, 1839, at Randolph, Orange County, Ver- mont. His father's name was Norman Moulton, and his mother's maiden name was Mary Belknap. His grandfather's name was John Moulton, who was a Revolutionary Soldier. Our subject came to- Scioto County in March, 1848, by way of the Erie Canal. His par- ents came with him and located at Lucasville, and he has been there ever since. He had a common school education. In 1857 and 1858. he attended the Ohio Wesleyan College at Delaware. He then spent six or seven years in agricultural pursuits. In 1867, he went into the mercantile business, which he has been engaged in ever since. In September 1876, he married Miss Mary Celia Smith, daughter of the late Judge John M. Smith, of West Union, Ohio. They have had the following children : Frank, a graduate of the Ohio University at Ath- ens, and of the Cincinnati Law School; he is now practising law with N. W. Evans, of Portsmouth, Ohio: Arthur, in the mercantile business with his father; Mabel and Jennie at home; John attending school at Kenyon Military Academy; and Earl. Mr. Moulton has always been a Republican. He was Chairman of the Republican County Executive Committee twice ; the last time being in 1896. He has been a member of the Republican County Central Committee for six or eight years, at different times. He was elected Representative of the County in the Legislature in 1900, by a vote of 4,352 to 2,405 for Doctor James B. Ray, his opponent. He has been a successful merchant and his integrity, perseverance and industry has secured him a high position in the community of his residence. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, a Mason and Knight Templar. He is a man of commanding influence in business and in politics in his town- ship, and county ; and his advice is sought and followed on those sub- jects. He has no sharp corners, and is liked by all his neighbors. He takes everything easy and does not worry about anything. Job could have taken lessons of him and improved his book.
CHAPTER V.
SCIOTO COUNTY IN CONGRESS.
Congressional Apportionments-A Table of Congressmen-Bio- graphies of Congressmen in their Order.
Apportionments.
DATE.
DIST.
TERRITORY EMBRACED.
1803 ...
1
Whole State.
Feb. 1, 1812.
3
Ross, Gallia, Athens, Washington, Scioto, Pickaway.
May 20, 1822 ...
7
Scioto, Pike, Lawrence, Jackson, Gallia, Meigs, Athens, Washington.
June 14, 1832.
7
Scioto, Jackson, Pike, Ross, Fayette.
July 25, 1842. ...
12
Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Meigs, Athens.
Mar. 12, 1845
8
Scioto, Pike, Jackson, Hocking, Ross.
Apr. 13, 1852
10
Scioto, Lawrence, Jackson, Pike, Ross.
Apr. 25, 1862
11
Scioto, Adams, Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson, Vinton.
Apr. 27, 1872 ..
11
Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson.
May 5, 1878
12
Scioto, Pike, Ross, Jackson, Lawrence.
Apr. 17, 1882
11
Scioto, Adams, Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson, Vinton.
Feb. 14, 1884.
12
Scioto, Lawrence, Vinton, Pike, Jackson.
May 18, 1886 ...
11
Scioto, Adams, Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson, Vinton.
Mar. 11, 1890 ...
12
Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Meigs, Athens.
Mar. 31, 1892 ...
10
Scioto, Pike, Jackson, Gallia, Lawrence.
A Table of United States Representatives.
DATE.
No. CONGRESS.
DIST
NAME.
COUNTY.
1803-1813 ...
8th to 12th
1
Jeremiah Morrow
Warren.
1813-1815 ...
13th
3
Duncan McArthur, resigned April 5th, 1813; Wm. Creighton, Jr., resigned December 14tl1, 1814.
1815-1817 ...
14th
3
William Creighton, Jr .. Levi Barber.
Washington.
1819-1821 ...
16th
3
Henry Brush
Ross.
1821-1823 ...
17th
3
Levi Barber ..
Washington.
1823 -1833 ...
18th to 22d
7
Samuel F. Vinton, W
Gallia.
1833-1835.
23rd
7
William Allen, D
Ross.
1835-1841 ...
24th to 26th
7
William Key Bond. W
Ross. Scioto.
1841-1843 ... 1843-1847
28th to 29th
12
Samuel F. Vinton, W
Gallia.
1847-1853
8
John L. Taylor, W.
Ross.
1853-1855
33d
10
Ross.
1855-1857
34th
10
Oscar F. Moore, W
Scioto.
1857-1859
35th
10
Joseph Miller, D.
Ross.
1859-1861
36th
10
Ross.
1861-1863 ...
37th
10
Ross. Scioto.
1865-1867 .. 39th
11
Hezekiah S. Bundy, R
Jackson.
1867-1873 ...
40th to 42d
11
Adams.
1873-1875 ...
43đ
11
Hezekiah S. Bundy, R
Jackson.
1875-1877 ..
44th
11
John L. Vance. D
Gallia.
1877-1879 ...
45th
11
Henry S. Neal, R.
Lawrence.
1879 ... 1881 ...
46th
12
Lawrence.
1881-1883 ..
47th
11
Lawrence.
1883-1885 ...
48th
11
John W. McCormick, R
Gallia.
1885-1887 ...
49th
12
A. C. Thompson, R. 66
Scioto. Scioto.
1887-1891.
50th to 51st.
11
1891-1893 ...
52d
12 W. H. Enochs, R
Lawrence.
1893-
53d
10 W. H. Enochs, died July 13th, 1893.
Lawrence.
1893-1895 ...
53d
10 H. S. Bundy, R ..
Jackson.
1895-1899 ..
54th to 55th
10
Lucien J. Fenton, R.
Adams.
1899-1903 ...
56th to 57th
10
Stephen Morgan, R.
Jackson.
1863-1865 ...
38tlı
11
Wells A. Hutchins, D
Ross. Ross.
1817-1819.
15th
3
27th
7
William Russell, W.
30th to 32d
Carey F. Trimble, R 44 66
John T. Wilson, R
(164)
165
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Jeremiah Morrow
was the first congressman from Ohio. He was born in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, October 6th, 1771. His father was a farmer, and he was brought up on the farm. He attended a private school at Gettysburg, and was especially bright in mathematics and surveying, which were his favorite studies. In 1795, he emigrated to the Northwest Territory, and settled at Columbia, near Cincinnati. At Columbia he taught school, did surveying, and worked on the farm. Having saved some money, he went to Warren County, bought a large farm and erected a log house. In the spring of 1799, he married Miss Mary Packhill of Columbia.
In 1801, he was elected to the territorial legislature. He was a delegate to the Constitutional convention in 1802. In March, 1803, he was elected to the Ohio Senate, and in June, 1803, he was elected to Congress, and re-elected ten times. While in Congress "he was chairman of the Committee on Public lands. In 1813, he was elected to the United States Senate, and was made Chairman of the Commit- tee on Public Lands. In 1814, he was appointed Indian Commis- sioner. At the close of his term he retired to his farm.
In early life he became a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and devoted himself to its welfare all his life
In 1820, he was a candidate for governor, and received 9,476 votes, to 34,836 for Ethan A Brown, who was elected. In 1822, he was elected governor by 26,059 votes, to 22,889 for Allen Trimble and II, 150 for William W. Irvin, and re-elected in 1824 by the fol- lowing vote: 39.526 for him, and 37,108 for Allen Trimble. Dur- ing his service as governor, the canal system of Ohio was inaugurated, and Lafayettte's visit to the state took place. On the Fourth of July, 1839, he laid the corner stone of the capital at Columbus. In 1840 he was re-elected to congress to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Corwin, and was re-elected. He was a deep thinker, a de- lightful social companion, had a wonderful retentive memory, bound- less kindness of heart and endowed with much vivacity and cheerful- ness of spirit. He died March 22nd, 1853.
Duncan McArthur
As the name indicates, Duncan McArthur was of Scotch descent, but was a native of America, born in Duchess County, New York, in 1772. When but eight years old his father moved into the frontier wilderness of Pennsylvania, and as the lad grew up he hired out as a laborer to assist in rearing the family. Only the most meagre op- portunities offered to secure an education, but these he utilized, until he was able to master the rudiments.
Tiring of his humdrum occupation, he volunteered under General Harmar in 1790, and accompanied him on his Indian campaign of that year. In 1792, he was a private in Captain William Enoch's com-
166
HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.
pany of volunteers and in the battle of Captina conducted himself with gallantry and bravery as to win the admiration of his back woods' as- sociates, who saw in him both the present soldier and the future leader.
Drifting to Maysville in 1793, he became a common laborer at the salt works being operated there. Later he assisted General Na- thaniel Massie in making a series of surveys in the Scioto Valley and- acted as a spy among the Indians, meeting with numerous and excit- ing adventures. He early determined to make Chillicothe and Ross County his home. The lull which followed the treaty of Greenville, opened an opportunity for him to acquire property. Acting as as- sistant to General Massie, he surveyed the town of Chillicothe, and be- ing put in charge of the sale of many tracts and bodies of land, he ac- cumulated a handsome fortune.
He was elected to and served as representative in the Third, Six- teenth and Twenty-fifth General Assemblies, and in the Senate in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twentieth, Twenty-first and Twenty-eighth. He was speaker of the senate in 1809-10, and speaker of the house in 1817-18.
He was largely instrumental in the organization of the militia during the early years of the state's history. In 1805, he became a colonel in the local military force, and in 1808 a major general. When war was declared against England in 1812, McArthur raised a regiment of volunteers which was tendered to the government, ac- cepted, and he was commissioned its colonel. With his command he marched at once to the relief of Detroit, arriving there only to find himself and his command prisoners of war, as they had been included by Gen. Hull in the surrender, although not within communicating dis- tance when the protocol was signed.
He came home under a parole, and the Democrats elected him by an overwhelming majority to the Thirteenth Congress from the Third district, composed of Ross, Gallia, Athens, Washington, Pick- away and Scioto Counties, in recognition of his bravery and his sol- diery protest against the base surrender of Detroit. He did not take his seat in Congress. In March, 1813, he was regularly exchanged, and at once commissioned a Brigadier -General; he resigned his seat and entered the field on the northern and northwestern frontier. He was placed over the Ohio Volunteers, given command of Ft. Meigs, and directed all the military operations in that quarter, successfully in- vading Canada, defeating the English forces, capturing prisoners and destroying public stores.
At the close of the war he returned to his home and again enter- ed the arena of politics, being repeatedly elected as above stated to the Legislature. In 1822, he was elected to the Eighteenth Congress from the Sixth District, composed of Ross, Fayette, Pickaway and Hocking. He was a candidate in the twenty-third congress, but was
167
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
defeated by William Allen, who won by a single vote. Allen subse- quently married McArthur's daughter.
General McArthur ceased to act with the Democratic party in 1818, on the issue of the Bank of the United States, he advocating its extension and the other Democratic leaders being in pronounced opposition to the bank under all circumstances. He retired from pub- lic life after his defeat for Congress, and enjoyed the felicities which naturally waited upon the fortune which he had so honorably won. He died in 1840, at the age of 68.
William Creighton, Jr.,
was born in Berkley county, Va., Oct. 29th, 1778. He graduated from Dickerson College, Pa., with distinction in 1795, and studied law at Martinsburg, Va. In 1797 he visited the Northwest territory. He emigrated to Chillicothe in 1799 and was admitted to practice the same year. The first office he held here was Secretary of State, of Ohio. He was elected by the general assembly in joint session. March 5th, 1803, and held the office, being re-elected in 1805 until he resigned on December 8th, 1808 He received the salary of $400.00 per year.
He was married at Chaumiere, Jessamine County, Ky., on Sep- tember 5th, 1805, to Elizabeth Meade, the third and youngest daugh- ter of Col. David Meade. His wife was born in Maycox, Prince George County, Va., on March 29th, 1784; consequently Mr. Creigh- ton was 27 and his wife 21 at the time of their marriage.
Mr. Creighton resigned the office of Secretary of State to accept that of United States Attorney, for the district of Ohio to which he was appointed in 1808, and which he held in 1809, 1810, and a part of 18II, when he was succeeded by Samuel Heinch. In 1813 he was elected to the 13th congress, to succeed McArthur resigned, and was re-elected to the 14th in 1814 serving from May 24th, 1814, to March 3rd, 1817. In 1826 he was elected to the 20th congress receiving a ma- jority of 1,572 over John Thompson and was re-elected as an Adams man to the 2Ist defeating C. Wallace, Jacksonian, and to the 22nd serv- ing from December 3rd, 1827, to March 3rd, 1833. He was a Whig and one of the great admirers and friends of Henry Clay. The lat- ter reposed especial and great confidence in him. By his marriage he was the brother-in-law of General Nathaniel Massie and of Judge Charles Willing Byrd.
As secretary of the State of Ohio he was the designer of its great seal. As a lawyer he seems to have been eminent, for in all the im- portant cases in the early history of the state, he was counsel on one side or the other. He was counsel for the defendants in the great case of Jackson vs. Clark, Ist Peters, 666. His practice of the law ex- tended over a period of 50 years. He was diligent and industrious and applied himself to the interests of his clients assiduously. He rode the circuit from county to county, when the law was practiced in the
168
HISTORY OF SCIOTO" COUNTY.
old fashioned way. At one time he was considered the first jury law- yer in the country. He had a wonderful knowledge of human nature and knew how to reach it in the jury box. He knew what subject to dwell upon and what to avoid before a jury. He was mild, amiable, and courteous and had a wonderful firmness of purpose. He knew how to keep his temper, an invaluable trait in a lawyer. If a young man wanted a model, Mr. Creighton would have served for one. His popularity was unbounded, the more because he never sought after it. He was held in universal esteem, because his temper was so agreeable and his disposition so obliging. He had a fund of humor much like that of Thomas Corwin.
In social life he made his house the place of elegant hospitality. He gave sumptuous dinners and elegant evening entertainments, where gathered the beauty, fashion and distinction of the state. His manners in his own house were such as to please and charm his guests. His personal appearance was good. He was over six feet in height,, large frame, weighed over 200 pounds, and had a slight stoop in his carriage. His eyebrows were dark and his twinkling eye of deep grey.
Until lately their old home was standing on the corner of High and Water streets in Chillicothe, and was built by Mr. Creighton.
He and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church, and many a time Dr. Burr of Portsmouth, Ohio, has been entertained at their pleasant home at Chillicothe. Dr. Burr likes to refer to the de- lightful qualities of Mrs. Creighton, as a hostess, when he was in Chillicothe on ecclesiastical affairs, and was often her guest.
When Judge Byrd died in August, 1828, John Quincy Adams was President, and he sent the name of Wm. Creighton, jr., to the Senate, and it was not confirmed. He held court from November Ist, 1828, to December 3Ist, 1828.
The reason Judge Creighton failed to have his appointment as United States District Judge confirmed by the Senate was two fold: the Senate was Democratc and he was a Whig, and the interference of Mr. Douglas, who had been offended by Mr. Creighton's course in curing defective titles it is believed led to his rejection.
It was a singular feature of Mr. Creighton's practice of law, that he would not accept a fee from a woman, especially if that woman was a widow.
Judge Creighton and Col. William Key Bond were law partners in Chillicothe from 1813 to 1841, and all that time were the most de- voted friends and the utmost harmony existed between them.
Judge Creighton was an unsuccessful candidate for United States Senator in 1815.
He died at Chillicothe, Ohio, October 8th, 1851.
Hon. Levy Barber
was born in Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, October 16th,
169
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
1777. He came to Marietta, Ohio, about 1800. In 1803 he married Elizabeth Rouse of Belpre, who came to that place with her father's family, in the fall of 1788. They lived on the north side of the public square, in Harmar, the house fronting the Muskingum at the mouth, wth a beautiful view up the Ohio Five children were born to them there. The youngest was Captain Levi Barber, born November Ist, 1814. He became a well known citizen of Washington County. He died in 1887, aged seventy-three years. The homestead is still in the family and is occupied by Mrs. Lucy Barber Cole, daughter of the late Levi, and granddaughter of our subject, also known as Colonel Levi Barber. Colonel Barber became a public man soon after reach- ing Marietta. He was at one time a United States Surveyor of Lands ; Clerk of the Courts of Washington County; Aide to Governor R. J. Meigs, jr., in the war of 1812; Receiver of the United States Land Office at Marietta. He was elected a Representative from Ohio in the Fifteenth Congress, serving from December Ist, 1817, to March 3rd, 1819; was defeated as a candidate for the Sixteenth Congress, receiving 1,803 votes against 2,727 for Henry Brush, and 1,954 for Edward Tupper ; was again elected to Seventeenth Congress, defeating Henry Brush and serving from December 3rd, 1821, to March 3rd, 1823. Retiring from Congress in 1823, he lived in Harmar during the last ten years of his life. He died April 23rd, 1833 in his fifty- sixth year.
Henry Bond
was born in Duchess County, New York, in the year 1778. He locat- ed in Chillicothe in 1803. He did not acquire practice very rapidly although after 1812 and for twenty years his practice was very good. During this year, one or two partners he had were men of legal ability. Brush himself did not rank very high as a lawyer of learning. He was Prosecuting Attorney of Ross County in 1808 and 1809, and a member of the legislature in 1810. He was also a member of the Ohio Senate in 1814, and of Congress from 1819 to 1821. In August, 1812, he marched in command of a Company of Ross County Volunteers, to re-enforce General Hull's command, then on the northern frontier, and in the presence of the British and Indian Army. Brush and his com- pany reached a point so near Hull's position, as to be included in the terms of that deplorable "surrender"; but having no taste for the role of prisoners of war, his company turned southward and escaped. An- ticipating pursuit by the Indians, Brush caused the head of a barrel of whiskey to be knocked out, scattering tin cups on the ground, and left the "fire-water" in his abandoned camp, rightly conjecturing that his pursuers would speedily become so drunk as to be unable to keep up the chase The strategem was successful and having destroyed wagons, supplies, and all other impedimenta, the volunteers reached home with- out the lose of a man, although they endured considerable hardship in the retreat. Colonel Brush, (this rank being afterward attained by
170
HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.
him in the militia organization), was tall and thin and of dark com- plexion ; he had a high Roman nose and thin grey hair ; he had a cat- aract which destroyed the sight of his left eye, and was of a ner- vous temperament. In June, 1831, he tendered the County Commis- sioners a lot on which to build the court house at Portsmouth. It was lot 380, and he required that the court house be built within three years. The Commissioners bought lot 369 for which they paid $300. Afterward the court was built on lot 380, and the jail on 369. In 1828. he was elected one of the supreme judges of the State of Ohio, and filled the office with distinction, but served less than one year. In 1838, he abandoned the practice of law and for a year or two lived up- on a farm he had bought in Union Township, Ross County. He finally sold this farm to George Butler and purchased a large tract of land in Madison County, which he owned until his death. He died in Chillicothe, January 19th, 1855.
Samuel Finley Vinton
enjoyed the distinction of having served fourteen years as a member of Congress from Ohio and all of that period Scioto County was one of the Counties of his District. He entered the Eighteenth Congress, March 4th, 1825, and served until March 4th, 1833, when he retired. He re-entered Congress March 4th, 1843, and retired of his own will March 4th, 1847. He might have remained a member all of his life, had he so willed. His ancestors in the sixth generation preced- ing him, appeared in Lynn, Mass., in 1648. The name is supposed to be French, De Vintonne, and that the original Vinton, who came to England was a Huguenot. His father was Abraham Vinton. He was named for Dr. Samuel Finley Vinton, a grand-uncle, who was "a minute man" at Lexington in April, 1775. His mother was Sarah Day of South Hadley, Mass., and he was the eldest of seven children. He was born September 25th, 1792 He graduated at Williams College, Mass., in 1814, and in 1816, was admitted to the bar in Connecticut. He located in Gallipolis soon after. In 1824, he was nominated for Congress without having solicited, or expected the nomination and was elected. He was re-elected for six more terms, without any solic- itation on his part. In all that period, he was an eminent and success- ful lawyer and traveled the Circuit when not in Congress. Scioto County was one of the Counties of his district, where he was employed in important cases from time to time. In 1838, he was a member of the Ohio Canal Commission. During his latter services in Congress he was on the Committee on ways and means ; and his financial ability was of great service during the Mexican War. He was author of the law creating the Department of the Interior. He was a Whig during his entire Congressional service. John Quincy Adams said of him, that very few men were his superiors. Alex. H. Stephens, said he was the most prominent leader on the Whig side. In 1851, he was the
171
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
Whig Candidate for Governor of Ohio, and was defeated. The vote stood, Reuben Wood, 145,654, Samuel F. Vinton, 119,548, Samuel Lewis, 16,918.
In 1853, he was President of the Cleveland & Toledo Railroad, and held it one year. In 1854, he took up his residence in the city of Washington, D. C., and continued there until his death, May 11th, 1862. In this period he occasionally presented a case in the Supreme Court and argued it. His success as a lawyer was thought to be due to his habits of patient investigation and clear analysis. He exhaust- ed every subject he discussed. He was remarkably lucid in his state- ments. He was a master of the English language. He dignified every subject he discussed. His argument on the boundary line be- twen Ohio and Virginia, is a monument of his legal learning; and it placed him at the head of the legal profession. He was married in 1824 to Romaine Madeline Bureau, a daughter of John P. R. Bureau. She left two children, John Bureau and Madeline Vinton Dahlgren.
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