A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 96

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 96

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In the year 1800, Elijah Glover and Catherine Jones were mar- ried in Kentucky. Her father Griffith Jones was also from Mary- land and lived on a farm, about five miles from the Glover farm. Sev- eral of her brothers and sisters also came to Ohio, and many of their descendants are still residents of Portsmouth. After Elijah Glov- er's marriage, he came to Ohio and settled at Alexandria. Two of his children were born there: Samuel and John, the latter in 1802, afterwards known as Doctor John Glover. The subsequent children : Ezekiel. William, Nathan, Elijah Barnes, known in Portsmouth as Eli, Samuel Griffith, Elizabeth Barnes and Anna Maria, were all born in Portsmouth, to which place Mr. and Mrs. Glover moved in 1804.

They built a house between Scioto and Massie streets. He fin- ished the kitchen first and moved into it. The same year they com- pleted the house and opened a tavern. Mr. Glover also opened a hat store, running both at the same time. This tavern was a log house, weather boarded and painted red. It was used as a tavern many years by different parties, among them Mr. John Peebles, fath- er of the late John G. Peebles. Mr. Glover afterwards built a larger house on the corner of Jefferson and Front streets, which is now

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known as "Pig Iron Corner." This house was for several years the largest house in Portsmouth, the "Prescott House" built soon after, being next in size.

Elijah Glover was appointed sheriff in May, 1810. John Clark, the sheriff, resigned rather than serve a bastardy warrant on General Robert Lucas. A volunteer was asked to accept the Sheriff's office and served the warrant. Elijah Glover volunteered, was appointed and lodged General Robert Lucas in jail. He was elected to the office that fall, and served until 1812. He was re-elected and served until 1814. There was bad blood between the Glovers and the Lucases from that time on and there were arrests and prosecutions while that generation lived. The first court was held in what was called a bank stable. The room for horses was dug out of the bank of the Scioto river, and the room where court was held was above it. While Mr. Glover was Sheriff, court was held in his hat store and in the Over- man house which stood on the corner of Massie street.

Mr. Glover lived on the corner of Jefferson and Front streets until his death. Three of his sons: Samuel, William and Nathan were drowned in the Ohio river. Ezekiel, the third son, died in 1823, in his sixteenth year, of a fever which then prevailed and which was almost as fatal as yellow fever. There were not enough well to care for the sick, and many fell victims to it. Mr. Glover was Councilman in 1823, and a member of the committee on streets. He was also on the Committee to improve the front of the town. He owned land in Portsmouth and a farm above the town on the Ohio river. His cows pastured in a lot where All Saints Episcopal Church now stands.

He was a man of quick temper, but soon over it, and never cher- ished ill will, but forgot and forgave. He was hospitable and his house was always full of his own and his wife's relatives, who found a welcome and a home, when needed. They raised several of their nieces and nephews. He never turned the hungry from his door He was intelligent, beyond the time in which he lived. Letters stili in existence show him to have been a man of education beyond the average of that day.

On October 23, 1829, he went to his home to dinner, and laid down on a settee to rest until it was ready. When his wife went to call him to the meal, he was found dead. After his death, his widow moved to the corner of Washington and Second streets. The house stood on the alley where Knittel's bakery now stands, and the grounds extended to Washington street, on the east, and to Third street on the north. Many of our older citizens will remember this beautiful gar- den with its flowers and shrubs and vines, the long vine-covered porci: with its ample settees, where the society belles of those early days met to talk over social events.

Mrs. Glover was loved by everyone. She had a kind word for She was far in advance of

all and an excuse for everybody's faults.

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her day in her views and opinions. After her children married, she moved to Fourth street, in half of a brick house standing next to the Baptist Church. She leased the lot on the corner of Front and Jeffer- son streets about 1850, to Conway & Tomlinson. The old hotel was divided into sections and moved to different parts of the town. One portion formed the Ben Ball house on Second street. Mrs. Glover lived wth her daughter Elizabeth many years in the Fourth street house, and died there in March, 1856, aged seventy-eight years. She made no outward profession of religion, though a Methodist in early years, but she lived her religion, in a pure, loving, blameless life. Rev. Doctor Burr often said he enjoyed conversing with her more than with anyone else he knew. When she died, he came to the house and re- quested them to bury her from All Saints. Church, saying, he "knew of no one more worthy to be taken to God's house, for she lived her religion, seen and known of all men.'

Nathan Glover,

the brother of Sheriff Glover, first appears in the court of Thomas Waller, Justice of the Peace, on May 4, 1814, when he was sentenced to work two days on the road for swearing. He did not seem to hold any grudge against the Squire for this, for on June II, 1808, the latter married him to Polly Jones. In 1810, he was Clerk of Wayne Township and in the same year he participated in the arrest of Gen. Robert Lucas. In the melee he threw Squire John Brown over a fence into the jimson weeds. Gen. Lucas wrote of him that he was "one of the damn raskels who mobbed him and put him in jail." This was before Gen. Lucas became pious.

On March 15, 1815, Nathan Glover was elected one of the first nine city fathers, but served only till December 29. 1815, when he left Portsmouth and John Young was elected in his place. He was a man of fine appearance and great physical prowess. He was the Apollo Belvidere of the Glover family, and when the Sheriff wanted a posse, he was always called on and could be the posse comitatus all by himself.

He died on the 20th of April, 1822, aged 36 years and 27 days. His wife Mary, died August 1. 1823, in the 35th year of her age. They are buried in Greenlawn, victims of the sickly years of Ports- mouth's history.

Azel Glover

was a brother of Elijah, the Sheriff, and was born Sept. 27, 1800, in Maysville, Ky. He came to Portsmouth about 1820. His wife was Elizabeth Deering. She was born in Winchester, Va., March 24, 1809. He married her in Scioto County on December II, 1824. In 1831, he attended the great Fourth of July celebration and responded to a volunteer toast. In 1837, he was elected County Assessor and failed to qualify. In 1838, he was elected Town Marshal. On June

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7, 1839, Mayor Hamilton filed charges against him for the following reasons : The mayor had heard a State case and had ordered defen- dant to give bond or to go to jail. Glover undertook to take the prisoner to jail and seized him by his auburn locks and proceeded to drag him out to the jail at once, in disregard of the mayor's instruc- tions.

On June 21, Samuel M. Tracy, Corporation Council presented articles of impeachment to the Council. William V. Peck represent- cd Glover, and asked 24 hours delay. At the end of that time, Peck asked that his client be allowed to apologize, and that the case be dismissed at his costs. Council accepted the terms. On July 7, 1839, 'Squire Cornelius McCoy presented charges against Glover for mis- conduct in office, and a committee of Council was appointed to in- vestigate. This commitee reported Glover's resignation and asked to be discharged, which was agreed to. In 1846, he sold six acres of ground where the children's home now stands to the County for an Infirmary. The price paid was $1,200.

On January 18, 1855, he was elected sexton of the city cemetery, and served until November 20, 1865, when he resigned. From 1857 to 1863, he was market master of Portsmouth. He was Marshal of the city from May, 1864 to July, 1865. He left Portsmouth in 1865, after resigning as sexton of the city cemetery, and took up his resi- dence in Covington, Ky. He died, October 10, 1877, and is interred in Greenlawn cemetery, where he interred so many others. His wife died December 12, 1884, and is buried by his side.

Elizabeth Glover

was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, July 29, 1813,-the eldest daughter of Elijah and Catherine Glover. She was a welcome child, being the first girl in a family of six boys. She often said, had she only been a boy, she would have come to honor as the seventh son. She finished her education at Doctor Lake's School at Cincinnati. She had hosts of friends through all her life. She was very popular and much sought after in social circles ; had many admirers and numerous offers of marriage; but lived to old age unmarried. She was the life of many social gatherings, always surrounded by a circle of friends. whom she attracted by her wit and brilliant repartee. She had al- ways an anecdote or illustration to suit the topic of conversation. There are many still living in Portsmouth who will remember her wonderful curls. The fashion of hair dressing never changed with her. Her curls were perennial and when age had silvered them, they were even more beautiful than the original color. She taught many years in the public schools and her pupils loved her. She was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church and devoted to it. She was Chairman and Secretary of the Business Committee of the Sol- dier's Relief Circle and served one year as Secretary of that Associa-

SAMUEL GOULD.

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tion. Her sister, Mrs. Kendall, having moved to West Liberty, Ohio, in 1866, she followed her and resided there until her death. Her heart longed for her church and many friends in Portsmouth to the very end, and her love for them never grew cold. No one who ever resided in Portsmouth left behind more friends or warmer ones. She was the most popular single woman who ever lived in Portsmouth. The flag she loved and honored is placed at her resting place each Memorial Day, and covered with flowers on that occasion. At the end of life she lost her sight and could neither read nor sew ; and she who had cherished so many friends, spent many lonely hours in her room, with no companion but the "memory of other days." She passed away May 30, 1892, and was brought to her childhood's home, to lie in beautiful Greenlawn among those she loved and who had loved her.

Samuel Gould

was born June 5, 1783, at Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. He was mar- ried to Mrs. Hannah Young Ela in 1811. She was the daughter of Jesse Young and was born in 1780 and died in 1846. Her father, Jesse Young was a Major in the Revolutionary War. Samuel Gould emigrated to Ohio with the Young family, about 1820, and resided there the remainder of his life. He was a Justice of the Peace of Green Township, Scioto County, Ohio, from June 14, 1832 to 1834. He held the office again from June 20, 1849 to 1852, and from 1859 to 1862. He was Trustee of Green Township in 1849. He was post master at Franklin Furnace. He was a carpenter and builder by trade, and prominent in the early Masonic circles of this county. He was highly respected in his community. He died February II, 1864, aged 80, and was buried with Masonic honors. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. A. G. Byers.

Orin Barron Gould, Sr.,

was born in Concord, New Hampshire, November 20, 1818. His father was Samuel Gould and his mother's maiden name was Hannah Young. She was one of the family of brothers and sisters who came from New Hampshire to Southern Ohio in the early twenties. Our subject came to Scioto County, Ohio, when but two years old. His father located in Wheelersburg and he attended the district schools there; but his education was supplemented and continued throughout life by wide reading, keen observation and earnest thinking.

He was one of the pioneer furnacemen of the Hanging Rock region. When eighteen years of age, he went to La Grange Furnace, Lawrence County, Ohio, and was there for two or three years, con- nected with the management. He then went to Peoria, Illinois, and remained there for two years. He came back to Ohio and he and his brother, John, bought Franklin Furnace, and operated it as J. F. Gould & Company. The furnace ran until 1858, when it blew out,

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HISTORY OF SCIOTO COUNTY.

and has never run since. Directly after the furnace closed, Mr. Orin B. Gould bought his brother's interest in the Furnace property and thereafter was sole owner.

He was twenty-three when he first came to Franklin Furnace : and he lived there all the remainder of his life. After the furnace closed, he was a farmer till his death. Strong in his attachments and taking root deeply, he could not bear the thought of giving up his old home and entering into new alliances after the making of char- coal iron in his neighborhood was no longer practicable. He clung to the old scenes and faces tenaciously:

He was manager of the Scioto County Agricultural Society in 1868. In 1872, he was a candidate for Commissioner on the Re- publican ticket. He received 2,895 votes to 2,153 for John Violet, Democrat, majority, 742. Office holding did not suit him and he declined a second term.

In 1859, he was united in marriage with Lavinia Seeley, widow of Henry S. Willard, who was a member of a New England family which emigrated early to Northern Ohio. Of this union were born two children: Orin B., of Wellston, Ohio, who has a sketch herein. and Mrs. Winnie H. McBride of Asbury Park, New Jersey.

While not a church member, he had deep religious convictions, studied the Bible seriously, and reflected earnestly on the problems of life and eternity. To the Methodist Church and its ministers, he was notably liberal, without ostentation, as many yet living gladly bear witness. Politically, Mr. Gould was a Republican, and gave to the party his time and money without stint. He was a strong par- tisan, and not tolerant of the views of opponents. What he felt to be right, he believed in without shadow of turning. In politics, as in other things, he was unselfish, that is not self-seeking, and gave his services and means, without thought of compensation, to promote the principles of his party and the interests of his friends. The only office he ever held was that of County Commissioner from 1872 to 1875. He was many times a delegate to County and City Conven- tions. He was a lover of fine horses and had a great many about him. Through church and political associations, he made a wide acquain- tance and established many enduring friendships.

To know him well, which was not easy, was to love and admire him ; and his friends were knit to him with links of steel. Apparently abrupt and outwardly austere, his nature was mostly kindly, warm and unselfish. Stern of countenance and often harsh of expression, his heart was overflowing with sweet and generous impulses, and his hand quick to do noble deeds. He was a natural leader of men, and led more by example than direction. He was independent in thought and action, ignoring all conventionalities, and bordering on radical- ism. In criticism, he was bitter and fearless ; in support of a friend, or cause, trite, staunch and loyal to the core. His position was never

ORIN B. GOULD, SR.

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uncertain or equivocal. He was usually in advance of the sentiment of the day upon all public questions.

Of good roads, he was an early ardent advocate, urging their ef- ficacy as a material help and an educational influence. He was a man of remarkable energy, wonderful presistency and determined will. He delighted in physical labor, and in doing things, the harder and more difficult the better, the more adverse and rough the elements the greater his pleasure, and many instances of his endurance and vigor are well remembered. His nature may be compared to an uncut diamond,-a rough exterior covering a gem of rare purity and value. His acts of kindness and helpfulness were as the sands of the sea ; and his left hand knew not what the right hand did. He died at Franklin Furnace, March 20, 1890, and was buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Portsmouth, Ohio. Hs wife survived him until Decem- ber 2, 1900.

Samuel Gunn

was one of the Saints of the Lord on earth. He was born in Con- necticut in 1763 and came to Alexandria as early as 1805 with his wife, Joanna Warner and family. He was a school teacher, and taught in a log school house at the foot of the hill back of Alexandria. In the latter place he had a two story frame residence. He moved to Portsmouth in 1816, and established a cooper shop.

June 16, 1819, he took part in the organization of All Saints church and was one of the two wardens selected,-Dr. Thomas Wal- ler being the other. He became a lay reader in the church and, as such, conducted services for twelve years.

In 1820, he was elected one of the town councilmen to fill a va- cancy. In 1822, when David Gharky was removed as town treas- urer, he was appointed to succeed him and served until April 14, 1830, when he was succeeded by Wilson Gates. On March 8, 1824, he was elected to the town council by 13 votes,-all that were cast. On June II, 1824, he was appointed to bring in an ordinance to establish a Board of Health. The ordinance was brought in and passed, and under it, Portsmouth had its first Board of Health. In 1827, he was re-elected to the town council and received 41 votes. Colonel John McDonald, elected at the same time, had 27 votes, and James Lod- wick, also elected at the same time, had 23 votes. He served until 1830. In 1827 he was surety on several official bonds, showing him to be a man of substance. In 1828 he was president of the Sunday School Society of the town. In 1829 he and Washington Kinney were appointed a committee of the Council to procure two floating wharves six feet long. On the 18th of February, 1830, he was one of the founders of the Scioto County Bible Society.

August 27, 1832, he died in his 69th year. His widow, Joanna Gunn, survived until. August 21, 1858; when she died in her 96th year. He had four sons, Havillah, Enos, Zina and Bela. He had -

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two daughters, Martha, who married Levi Moore; and Pama, who married Philip Moore. Captains William and Enos Moore are sons of Levi Moore.

Havillah Gunn

was born in Connecticut in 1786, the son of Samuel and Joanna Gunn, and came to Alexandria with his father and mother. In 1810, when Alexander Curran resigned as Clerk of the Courts, he was ap- pointed pro tempore and served a month. He was succeeded by John R. Turner. On July 15, 1824, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Wayne Township and served till January, 1826, when he resigned. In 1825, he was an Overseer of the Poor of Wayne Township. From 1826 to 1828 he was a Trustee of Wayne Township. From 1832 to 1835, he was Clerk of Wayne Township. In 1826, he was a can- didate for Auditor and was defeated. David Gharky had 769 votes, and he had 140. In 1828, he was conducting a general store in Portsmouth. From 1828 to 1830, he was County Treasurer. In 1829, he was a candidate for re-election to that office and was de- feated. Wm. Waller had 448 votes and Gunn 319. At that time the county duplicate was $4,087.33. In 1834, he served as Town Recorder, April 4 to September 5.

He does not appear to have held any public office in Scioto Coun- ty after 1835, but went to Illinois. He died in Olney, Ills., Septem- ber 8, 1867, at the age of 81.

William Hall,

first of Colchester, Connecticut, and afterwards of Groton, in the same state, was married to Eunice Foote, August 12, 1787, at Col- chester, Conn. William Hall died in Groton, Connecticut, August 16, 1810. His widow Mrs. Eunice Hall died in Marietta, Ohio, July 15, 1826. To them were born six children. William Hall, late of Portsmouth, Ohio, and the subject of this sketch, was their fifth child. He was born at Colchester, Connecticut, July 7, 1800.

Of his early childhood, little is known. He attended the com- mon schools of the "Nutmeg State" until about his twelfth year, and as the necessities of the family required it, he went to work with his elder brothers in a bakery that they were then carrying on. He worked at that business for seven years.

The war of 1812 coming on, the British sent a fleet of war ves- sels to blockade the port of New London, at the mouth of the Thames river, the principal port for sea going vessels on Long Island Sound. The militia of the state and neighboring states were called out for the defense of the city. Wyllys Hall, his elder brother, was in com- mand of a company of militia, and marched his company from Col- chester to New London and went into camp. The British command- er sent word to remove all non-combatants from the city within a certified time. The mother and the girls immediately left for Col-

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chester, twelve miles back, and for their sustenance while away, Wil- liam loaded up a barrel of flour on a wheel barrow and wheeled it the entire distance.

He then returned to camp, and his brother Wyllys said to him, "Bill, you might as well stay in my tent and keep things in order. black my shoes, etc., and I can draw pay for you as my servant." This was agreeable to Bill and he entered upon his duties. Some brick masons were at work near the camp building brick ovens, and William, like all boys, could not get along without fun, so he would call out, "mortar!" or "brick!" and run off and hide behind the tents. This was an annoyance to the workmen ; and he was finally caught and put in the Guard House, for three days.

About 1860, Wyllys Hall, while visiting his brother, said to him, "Bill, did you ever get a land warrant for your services in the war of 1812?" He answered him, "No." He told him he was entitled to one and to look it up. He did so and much to his surprise found his name on the muster roll at Washington and got a warrant for 160 acres of land. He told his children that he thought that was good pay for being three days in the Guard House.

After the war in 1812, the family concluded to remove to Ohio, and there being a Yankee town at Marietta, that place was their ob- jective point. They sold out their little property and started overland with one horse, "old Charley," and a wagon to carry their mother and sisters, the boys all walking. They camped out at night, until they arrived at Pittsburg, where the boys built a flat boat and floated down the Ohio to Marietta, arriving there in the fall of 1816. The mother, brothers and sisters lived, died, and are buried in Marietta ..

William, the subject of this sketch, worked with his brother in the baking business, they established there, serving his full seven years' apprenticeship.

After the completion of his term, he went to Cincinnati and worked as a journeyman baker for one year. Going back to Marietta he worked for a year with Weston Thomas and had saved up $500, when Thomas told him to start out and hunt a location and he would start him in business. He left home in search of a location, visiting Gallipolis. Greenupsburg. Portsmouth and Maysville. He seemed to think more of Greenupsburg than of the other towns ; and went home concluding to locate there; but the old anti-slavery doctrine was strong in the old mother and she opposed it very strongly, and told him, not to locate in a slave state; that a blight was over slave states; that Kentucky was far behind Ohio, a much younger state; and that he had been raised to believe that slavery was wrong. So he changed his mind and came to Portsmouth in 1826.

He opened out his stock of dry goods and groceries on Front street on part of the lot on which the Biggs House stands. Being a violin player of no mean merit, he soon "caught on," in a social way,

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and was popular. His business was a success from the start.

November 30, 1828, he was joined in marriage to Miss Mar- garet Kinney, daughter of Aaron and Mary Kinney, who were among the first settlers of Portsmouth.

In 1820, he bought the lot where Webb's mill was lately burned clown, and built a stone house and residence in the rear, and then the firm of Hall & Thomas was dissolved. In 1834, he took in as a partner, Thomas S. Currie, which partnership was dissolved in 1842. In 1838, he in conjunction with Eli Kinney and Peter Kinney, estab- lished the banking house of E. Kinney & Company, which proved very profitable. They continued in business until 1846, when E. Kin- ney withdrew, and the firm name changed to P. Kinney & Company. In 1850, he sold his interest to Peter Kinney. In 1854, the firm of bankers under the name of Dugan, Means, Hall & Company was es- tablished and continued in business until 1862, when it was wound up. In 1855, he sold out his stock of dry goods and became one of the original builders of the Scioto Rolling Mill Company (now the Burgess Steel and Iron Works. )

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A history of Scioto County, Ohio, together with a pioneer record, Part 96

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