A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 24

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 24

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Gen. William H. Enochs

is a good example of what the ambitious American boy can make of himself. He was born in Noble County, Ohio, March 29, 1842. His parents were Henry and Jane Miller Enochs. They removed to Lawrence County when he was a child.

He had the advantage of a common school education and was at- tending the Ohio University at Athens when Fort Sumpter was fired on. He at once enlisted in Co. B, 22nd Ohio Volunteers for three months and was made a sergeant. Col. William E. Gilmore, of Chilli- cothe, was colonel of this regiment. Hon. Thaddeus A. Minshall, now Supreme Judge of Ohio, was its Sergeant-major. Judge Guthrie, of Athens, was Captain of the company and W. H. H. Minturn, of Gallipolis, the banker, its First Sergeant. This regiment was muster- ed in April 27, 1861, and mustered out August 19, 1861. Young Enochs was afraid the war would be over before he could get in again, so he swam the Ohio River and enlisted in the 5th Virginia Infantry. At that time he did not believe that he could get into an Ohio Regi- ment, so he enlisted in Virginia. In October, he was elected Captain of his company, but owing to his youth, his Colonel refused to issue the commission and made him a First Lieutenant. He was recommended to be Major of the Regiment in 1862, but owing to his youth, was com- missioned a Captain. As such, he was in the battles of Moorfield and McDowell, and of Cross Keys. He was in Cedar Mountain and the second Manassas, and at the latter had command of his regiment, al- though junior Captain. He was also in the battle of Chantilly. In 1863. the regiment was transferred to West Virginia. On August 17, 1863, Captain Enochs was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel. His regiment was in the Lynchburg Raid, which was a campaign of "marching, starving and fighting." In 1864, his regiment was in the battles of Bunker Hill, Carter's Farm and Winchester, Halltown and Berryville. At the battle of Winchester. September 19, 1864, Colonel Enochs was severely wounded by being struck on the head by a musket ball, and was supposed, at first, to have been killed instant- ly. At Fisher's Hill. September 22nd, 1864, he displayed great brav- ery in leading his regiment to the attack, and for this, was brevetted

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

Brigadier-General. His regiment and the Ninth Virginia were con- solidated and made the Ist West Virginia Infantry. Near the close of the war, his regiment was sent to Cumberland, Maryland, where he was assigned to the command of the troops in that part of Maryland. In the fall and winter of 1865 and 1866, he studied law in Ironton and was admitted to the bar in April, 1866. He located at Ceredo, West Virginia. After remaining there a year or more he removed to Iron- ton. He at once acquired a large and lucrative practice. For a long time he was general counsel for the Scioto Valley Railroad Company.

In 1871 and 1872, he represented Lawrence County in the house of representatives of the Ohio Legislature. In 1875, he was mar- ried to Miss Annis Hamilton, of Ironton. They had one son, Berkley, who was educated at West Point and is now a First Lieutenant in the 25th U. S. Infantry, and is with his regiment in the Philippines. Dur- ing the Spanish War, he served with his regiment in Cuba.

Gen. Enochs always had an ambition to represent his district in Congress. This desire was gratified when, in 1890, he was elected to Congress from the twelfth district, composed of Athens, Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto. In 1892, he was re-elected to Congress from the tenth district composed of Adams, Pike, Scioto, Jackson, Law- rence and Gallia. On the morning of July 13, 1893, he was found dead in his bed from an attack of apoplexy. A most promising career was cut short. He was the idol of the people of the county and re- spected, honored and beloved by the people throughout his district.

In the spring of 1893, he was full of projects for the benefit of his district and particularly for the improvement of the Ohio River. Had he lived, he would doubtless have had as many terms in Congress as he desired and would likely have been governor of the state. He had the happy faculty of making all whom he met feel that he was their friend.

He had some subtle unknown charm, of which he was uncon- scious, but which made him friends everywhere and attached them to him by indissolvable bonds. His patriotism during the war was ar- dent, and never failed. It was just as strong in peace. All he achieved, all he accomplished in his brief career was his own. He had no rich or powerful family friends ; he had no aid or assistance what- ever and his friends were all made on his own merits. He was gen- erous beyond all precedents, and any one deserving sympathy re- ceived the greatest measure from him. Once your friend, he was always such, and he made you feel he could not do too much for you. He believed in the brotherhood of man. His death at the time was a public calamity. He received a public congressional funeral and persons attended from all parts of the surrounding country. His fun- eral was the largest ever held in Ironton He left the memory of a ca- reer of which every young American can feel proud and be glad that

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a countryman of his had so distinguished himself in the Civil War, at the bar and in the National Congress.

Lucien J. Fenton

was born on his father's farm near Winchester, May 7, 1844. The family was of English ancestry Mr. Fenton's great-grandfather, Jeremiah Fenton, emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was a prominent and active pa- triot during the Revolutionary period. His son, also named Jeremiah Fenton, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, and died in Adams County, in 1841, at the age of seventy-seven years. Benjamin Fenton, the father of our subject, was born near Winchester, August 31, 1810, and died August 13, 1870. His wife, Elizabeth Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, December 19, 1813, and died at Winchester, Ohio, No- * vember 4th, 1892.

Mr. Fenton was a student at Winchester when the war broke out. On the eleventh of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 9Ist Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment until September 19, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Opequan Creek, Virginia, the ball lodging in his shoulder He was sent to the hospital at York, Pennsylvania, and was not discharged until May, 1865. He returned home in the fall and began a Normal course at the Lebanon school, where he remained for three terms. He taught school for several years. In 1869, he entered the Ohio University at Athens, and took a Latin-Scientific course, leaving that institution one year before he would have graduated, in order to accept the principalship of the Win- chester schools, which position he held for two years., He then con- ducted the West Union schools for one year and the Manchester schools for five years, but he resigned in 1880, and was appointed clerk in the custom house at New Orleans. He was transferred, at his own request, from the Custom House at New Orleans to the treasury department in Washington, D. C., March 15, 1881, to the office of the supervising architect. He remained in government service until October 18, 1884, when he resigned and returned home. The Win- chester Bank was organized at that time, and its original officers, were as follows: George Baird, president; J. W.Rothrock, vice president ; and L. J. Fenton, cashier Mr. Fenton is still cashier of the bank.

Mr. Fenton is a trustee of the Ohio University at Athens. In 1892, he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention at Min- neapolis. In 1894, he was elected to the Fifty-fourth Congress and in 1896, was re-elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress by over 10,000 plural- ity. He was a member of the house committee on military affairs . during the Spanish-American war.

On May 22, 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah B. Manker. They have three children, Alberta F., Clifton L., who was a captain in the Spanish-American war and Mary E.

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

He served on the staff of the Ohio Department Commander of the G. A. R. in 1893, and on the staff of the National Commander of the G. A. R. in 1896.

As a soldier and patriot, Mr. Fenton has an honorable record. As a teacher, he won and held the high esteem of all the teachers of this County ; as a banker and business man, he has shown a high degree of ability and has the confidence of the community ; as a citizen he has the respect of all who know him. He is an excellent example of what the ambitious young American may attain.

Stephen Morgan

was born in Jackson County, Ohio, January 25, 1854, the eldest son of Thomas and Mary Morgan, both natives of Wales His father settled at Pomeroy, Ohio, where he spent seven years as a coal miner. He then took up the mason's trade and helped to build several fur- naces in Jackson County. He died August 18, 1894. Our subject spent his early years working on a farm. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood and prepared himself for the profession of teaching. After passing through the common schools, he attended the University at Worthington, Ohio, and the Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. He taught in the public schools of Jackson County for a number of years. He was principal of the Oak Hill Academy of Jackson County, for fifteen years and was school examiner of Jack- son County for nine years. He was a candidate for State Senator of the 7th District in 1891 and lacked but one vote of nomination. He was a candidate for Congress in 1896. He was elected, as a Republican in 1898, to the Fifty-sixth Congress from the Tenth District, com- posed of the Counties of Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Pike and Jackson. He was re-elected to the Fifty-seventh Congress and re- ceived 26,224 votes to 17,369 for his opponent, James K. McClung, Democrat. He is re-nominated for his third term in Congress by his party and will be elected. He is a forcible interesting speaker. His discourse abounds in valuable thoughts. He is plain and simple in all his tastes, and has risen to the position he holds by sheer merit. The people of his district have confidence in him and he represents them to their satisfaction.

CHAPTER VI.

MILITARY HISTORY.

Revolutionary Soldiers who Resided in Scioto County, or who have Descendants Therein, or Whose Descendants are Inter- terested in this Work-Scioto County in the War of 1812-In the Mexican War-In the Civil War-Journal of the Civil War-Morgan's Raid-Biographies of Officers and Sold- iers who Lost their Lives in the Service-Scioto Coun- ty in the Spanish War of 1898-Four Young Pa- triots who Sacrificed their Lives.

Henry Aldred was a native of Germany. The name is sometimes spelled Aldridge. He enlisted as a private in Captain John Smith's Company, 4th Vir- ginia regiment, cominanded by Colonel Robert Lawson, Revolutionary War. He enlisted September 7, 1877, to serve three years. He was transferred about October, 1778, to Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ballard's Company, and about May, 1779, to Captain John Steed's Company, same regiment. His nanie last appears on the muster roll of the last mentioned company, dated December 9, 1779, with- out special remark as to his service. He was one of the first settlers on Brush Creek, Adams County, before the creation of Scioto County. He died in 1835, and is buried in the McColm Cemetery on Brush Creek. He has numerous descendants living in Adams County and Mr. Harvey O. Lindsey, of Portsmouth, O., is also a descendant.

Amasiah Ainsworth, was a private in Colonel Wyman's Regiment, New Hampshire, 1776, a private in Colonel Bellow's Regiment in 1777, which went to re-inforce General Gates at Saratoga. He was the great-grandfather of Hon. Chandler J. Moulton, of Lucasvlle, Ohio.

Major Joseph Ashton was an officer in the Revolutionary War. His Revolutionary record from the archives of Pennsylvania is as follows:

Second Lieutenant, Second Regiment of Artillery, Colonel John Lainb; January 23, 1777, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and Adjutant; May 1, 1778, transferred to the Pennsylvania Artillery Regiment, Colonel Thomas Proc- tor, April 19. 1781, promoted to Captain-Lieutenant, January 1, 1783, he was pay master. His military services did not cease with the Revolutionary War. He was Sergeant in Captain Lamb's Company and a Lieutenant in the Fourth Continental Corps of Artillery. He was a Captain in the First Infantry, Sep- tember 29, 1789. He was a Major in the Second Infantry, December 29, 1791, and resigned November 27, 1792 He was with Arnold on his march to Quebec and was taken prisoner He also served in the Indian War in the Northwest Territory. He was in Harmar's and St. Clair's defeats. He died in 1816.

Joseph Ashton, of Portsmouth, Ohio, was his son; and his descendants known to the editor are Mrs. Pauline Mckeown, her son Emmett and Mrs. Wil- liam Walker of Portsmouth and E. Percy Ashton, of Detroit, Michigan. Other descendants of Major Joseph Ashton are Mrs. Mattie M. Gall, of Sinking Springs, Highland County, Ohio, (a granddaughter) her son, Joseph E. Gall, living on the West Side near Portsmouth, three daughters of Mrs. Gall, Mrs Tillie Swisshelm and Miss Bessie Gall, of No. 305 Gallia street, Portsmouth Ohio, and Mrs. Clara Frost, of Adams County, Ohio.

Uriah Barber enlisted April 1778 for three months as a private in Cap- tain Champlin's Company, Col. Hosterman from Pennsylvania. He enlisted again in 1778, for eight months as a private in Captain Morrow's Company, Col. Hartley from Pennsylvania, again in 1779 for six months as a private in Captain (name not stated), Sol. Hunter, Pennsylvania regiment, again in 1779, he enlisted for six months in Captain Grove's Company, Col. Hunter of Penn- sylvania. He was engaged in Indian skirmishes. At the time of his enlist-

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

ment he resided at North Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. He applied for pension September 7, 1832, then a resident of Scioto County, Ohio, and was 71 years of age when he applied. His pension was granted. The Barbers of Portsmouth and vicinity are his descendants. His descendants interested in this book are William H. Briggs, Mrs. Wellington R. Kinney, Mrs. Ida McColm and Miss Emma Barber, of No. 309 Gallia street.

Rev. William Baldridge was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1761. His parents were natives of Ireland and the year after his birth removed to the banks of the Catawba river in North Carolina In 1776, he joined a Cavalry company and served as a soldier during the Revolutionary War. After his return from the war, he prepared for college and attended Dick- inson College in Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1790. He studied theology and became a minister in 1792. In the same year, he was married to Rebecca Agnew. On October 18, 1793, he became a minister to two churches in Rock- bridge County, Virginia. In 1809, he became a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Adams County, and resided there until his death on October 26, 1830. The wife of the Hon. Joseph Riggs, of Portsmouth, Ohio, Rebecca Riggs was his daughter as was the late Mrs. John Waller, well known in Portsmouth.

John Barnes, of Virginia, was a private in a Virginia regiment, February. 1776; an Ensign of the 11th Virginia, December 13, 1776; Regimental Quarter- master from 1777 to 1779. He was Second Lieutenant March 7, 1777, and was transferred to the 7th Virginia September 14, 1778. He was First Lieutenant May 13, 1779, and retired February 12, 1781.

He was the ancestor of John R. T. Barnes, deceased, of T. N. Barnes, of Waverly, Ohio, and of Captain James Q. Barnes of Salem, Oregon.

Thaddeus Bennett was a private in Captain Wm. Blain's Company, Col. John Hathornes' Regiment of Orange County, N. Y., militia He entered the service October 12. 1777, and served until November 5, 1777. His descendants are Col. Thaddeus Bennett formerly of Scioto County, Ohio, but later of Green- up County, Kentucky, and Col. Frank Bennett of Greenup County, Kentucky, and Henry Lantz, of Scioto, Ohio.

Jonathan Bliss, served in Col. Hale's regiment of New Hampshire Militia, Revolutionary War. His name appears on a receipt roll of that regiment, dated August 10, 1778, under the following heading: "We, the subscribers severally, have received of Jonathan Blanchard by order of the selectmen of Petersbor- ough, in the State of New Hampshire, agreeable to the directions of the Hon- orable Mars Ware, Esq,, President of the Committee of Safety for said State, Ten Pounds sterling, being so much advanced, for our going to Rhode Island to join Gen. Sullivan in the Defense of the American States."

He is an ancestor of Frank B. Enslow, of Huntington, W. Va.

John Briggs served in Captain James Ross' Company, 3rd Pennsylvania Battalion of Lancaster County Militia, Col. Thomas Porter, Revolutionary war. His name was on the rolls from December 12 to the 24, 1776. John Briggs also served in Captain Scull's Company, 4th Pennsylvania regiment commanded by Major Lamar, Revolutionary War. He was on the roll from March 1, to April 1, 1777. John Briggs was a Sergeant in Captain John Churties Company, Col. Thomas Craig. His name was on the roll December 10, 1778, showing his enlist- ment to have been for the war. This John Briggs is the ancestor of the Briggs family in Scioto County, descendants of Samuel C. Briggs, who will be found in the pioneer sketches herein.

John Brison or Bryson, (spelled both ways,) was 1st Lieutenant in the 7th Pennsylvania regiment, Revolutionary War. His name appears on the list of Pennsylvania officers appointed by council of safety pursuant to a resolu- tion of Congress dated September 16, 1776. His commission was dated April 10, 1777. He was a prisoner of war on Long Island, August 15, 1778. It is noted he was taken at Palamos. He is an ancestor of Mrs. George N. Biggs, of Huntington, West Virginia.

Asa Boynton, of Rowley, Essex Company, was a private in Capt. Rich- ard Peabody's Company, Col. Edward Wrigglesworth's regiment, pay abstract for travel allowance from Ticonderoga home in 1776. He is an ancestor of A. W. Boynton of the French Grant, who located there in 1810.

Benjamin Burt who was buried at the east end of the bridge over the Little Scioto, was a Revolutionary Soldier. He enlisted May, 1777, and served nearly three years as an artificer under Colonel Baldwin, Captain Peter Mills in

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REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.

the Massachusetts Artillery He enlisted again in May, 1810, and served near- ly two years as an artificer in Captain Thomas Patton's company, Col. Lamb, 2nd New York Artillery. He was discharged in 1782 at West Point, N. Y. He was at Yorktown at the surrender of Cornwallis. When he enlisted he was a resident of Sussex County, N. J. He applied for a pension Nov. 17, 1824, then a resident of Scioto County, Ohio. He was then at the age of 63 years, He died at Wheelersburg, Ohio, March 1, 1849 His surviving children at that time were Benjamin. Samuel B. and Munsell Burt and Mehitable Bonser. He is the ances- tor of Benjamin Burt, of Portsmouth, Ohio, and of Dr. George M. Marshall, of Ashland, Kentucky.

Lawrence Byrn enlisted in 1776, a private in Captain Alexander Graydon's Company, Third Regiment of Pennsylvania troops and served until 1777. He enlisted again in that year as a private of Colonel John Shay's Regiment. He was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Jamestown and Yorktown. He was captured at Fort Washington, November 16, 1776. He re- cieved a wound in a fight with the Indians near Savannah. He resided at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania at the time of enlistment. He secured a Revolutionary pension. He made his application May 27, 1819, aged sixty-three years. His claim was allowed. His residence was in Clermont County, Ohio. He married - Elizabeth Baker about 1788 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and died in Cler- mont County, Ohio, July 15, 1832. He is the ancestor of Mr C. C. Brown, of Portsmouth, Ohio,

John Clark, 1st Lieutenant of the 2nd Battalion of Miles' Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, March 15, 1776; appointed aide-de-camp to General Greene, January 14, 1777; Captain of the Pennsylvania State Regiment. February 20, 1777; Regiment was designated the 13th Pennsylvania, November 12, 1777; transferred to 8th Pennsylvania, July 1st, 1778; transferred to 1st Pennsyl- vania, January 17, 1781; transferred to 3rd Pennsylvania, January 1st, 1783, and served until June 3, 1783. He died December 27, 1783. He is an ancestor of Mrs. Laura Jane Bentley Lloyd, wife of Charles Perry Lloyd, of Portsmouth, Ohio.

John Michael Clingman was born in October, 1734. He was a Captain in a Pennsylvania Company in 1778 and it is said he served during the remainder of the war. Nothing further is known of his service. He died in Ohio, January 26, 1716, and is buried in the Kinney Cemetery on the Aaron Kinney homestead. He was the father of Mary Clingman, wife of Aaron Kinney and ancestor of the well known Kinney family of Portsmouth.

Jeremiah Clough, of Canterbury, N. H., was Captain in the Second New Hampshire Regiment, Col Enoch Poor, from May 24th, 1775 to December, 1775. He was Captain in the 8th Continental Infantry from January 1, 1776, to De- cember 1, 1776. He is an ancestor of Mrs. Suttie Williams and the late Jacob Clough of Portsmouth.

Samuel Cross, a Revolutionary Soldier, enlisted July 1, 1776, for six months as a private in Captain Wm. Huston's Company, Colonel not stated, from the State of Pennsylvania He enlisted again August 1, 1777, for two months as a private in Captain Rogers Company, Colonel not stated, from Pennsylvania. He enlisted a third time June 1, 1779, as a private, time of service not stated in Captain Johnstone's Company, Colonel not stated, trom Pennsylvania. He was engaged in the battle of Brandywine and Germantown. He enlisted as a soldier trom Franklin County, Pennsylvania, He made application for pen- sion when he was 77 years old. His pension was allowed. He has descend- ants in both Adams and Scioto County.

Ephriam Cole, father of James M., Leonard, and Allaniah Cole, and grandfather of George D., Alfred E., and Allaniah B. Cole, was born in Mary- land. He enlisted November 16, 1777, in Captain Jonathan Drown's Company, Col. Wm. Lee's regiment of Maryland troops, for three years. During his service he undertook to act as a spy, and got inside the British lines, He accomplished his errand and was leaving, when he was arrested. He man- aged to create doubt in the minds of his captors as to his real character, and showed up his masonry. There being Free Masons among his captors, he was given the benefit of the doubt, and he was released and sent out of the lines. So we are spared a Captain Nathan Hale's story, which, but for his Masonry, Ephriam Cole's would have been. He was buried in the Colling's Cemetery, south of West Union. He is the ancestor of the late James Madison Cole

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

and the late Allaniah Cole of Scioto County, Mrs. Val Simmons and the late Mrs. John H. Simmons were his granddaughters. Hon. Henry Collings of Man- chester, is a great grandson.

James Collings, was a private in Captain John Lynch's Company, 5th Mary- land regiment, commanded by Col. Richardson. He served from January 18, 1777, until August 16, 1780. He removed to Adams County in 1794, died in 1802, and is buried in the Colling's Cemetery, cast of West Union. He is the grand- father of Hon. Henry Collings of Manchester, Ohio.

Joseph Conklin made a declaration to be placed on the Pension List, under the act of Congress, March 18, 1818. He enlisted in October, 1775, in a company commanded by Captain William Shute, Colonel Maxwell, Lieutenant Colonel Shreve, and Major Ray, State of New Jersey. He afterwards enlisted in the 14th Massachusetts. He was in the battle of Three Rivers, Lower Canada, June 8, 1776. The regiment retreated from there to Crown Point and Saratoga. He was discharged at Albany, New York. The following statements are taken from his declaration for pension. In pursuance of the act of May 1, 1820, he swears he was a resident of the United States, March 1, 1818. That he has not disposed of his property, etc. He has sixty acres of land, worth about $2.00, two old horses worth $10.00 each, three head of cattle, $20.00, four sheep wortli $14.00, farming utensils, $10.00, household furniture, $26.00, total $209.00. His family, himself aged seventy-seven years, a wife aged seventy years are all infirm and unable to labor. Sworn March 11, 1830.

Manasseh Cutler, Chaplain in the 11th Massachusetts, 1st of January, 1777, to June, 1779. Died the 28th of July, 1823. He is the ancestor of Margaret Cutler Fulton, M. D., and Edith Holman Fulton. His life, journals and corres- pondence were published in 1888, by Robert Clarke & Co., of Cincinnati, Ohio, in two volumes, edited by the late Hon. Wm. Parker Cutler and Julia Parker. He was one of the most distinguished men of his time or any other time, and retained the right to be styled the founder of the States created from the North- west Territory.

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 24

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