Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 54

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Belmont County > Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 54

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from 20 to 4o men. He is vice-president of the Enterprise Telephone Company, and of the Ohio Valley Milling Company. Ilis office is now at Neff's, but will soon be moved to St. Clairsville Junction.

Mr. Neff was united in marriage with Elizabeth J. Wallace, of Utica, Licking County, Ohio. In politics he is a Democrat. lle has been an elder in Coal Brook Presby- terian Church since 1875. He is a man of the highest type and enjoys the friendship of everyone.

JOSEPH BARNES, a prosperous farmer of Pease township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born on his present home farm, Septem- ber 1, 1830, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Kennard) Barnes.

Joseph Barnes, the father, was born in Maryland and was a son of John Barnes, who came to Belmont County early in the 19th century and located on the home farm, which was then wild government land. He built the brick part of the present home, and a most substantial log barn, which was unfortunately destroyed by a fire in June, 1902, having been in continuous use. The grandfather died before the birth of our sub- ject, and the father died when our subject was nine years old. Mary Kennard, wife of Joseph Barnes, Sr., was born and reared in Marylandand died in the "fifties." Seven chil- dren were born to them, three sons and four daughters, of which number two died young. They were as follows: Joseph; J. W., a re- tired shoe merchant of lowa City, Towa; Mina M., who married Samuel Berry, has been dead many years; Lucinda, who died at Loydsville, Belmont County, was wife of Sammel Vickers, deceased: Elizabeth died in her teens: Mary died in infancy, and Levi K., who died in 1892. The last named resided on a farm with our subject. owning it jointly. Levi K. Barnes married Flizabeth Dungan, of Harrison County, Ohio, and she lives on the farm with her family of six children. Her children are: Mary Ella, widow of J. W.

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Fowler, of Martin's Ferry; Margaret D., who married J. Ross Pickens and lives in Denver, Colorado; Ulysses G., who resides on the farm, married Elizabeth Pickens; Jessie V., and Ada L.

Joseph Barnes has never been married. He and his brother originally owned 154 acres, and to this he has added 123 acres, all of which is devoted to general farming. He is a stanch Republican in politics. He was reared as a member of the Society of Friends, but now is a Presbyterian.

JAMES JOHNSON, deceased, who dur- ing his life was a prosperous farmer in Pult- ney township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born November 29, 1823, and died in 1892. Ile was a son of John and Jane (Gordon) Johnson and grandson of William and Mar- tha (Giffen) Johnson.

William Johnson was a native of Ireland, and located on Short Creek near Wheeling, (West) Virginia, where he lived until the time of his death. About 1795 he was united in marriage with Martha Giffen, of Scotch nativity, and they had two sons, John and James. John Johnson, subject's father, was born in Virginia in 1800, and resided in his native place until his mother married John Allen, of Belmont County, Ohio, whither the family removed. They located on a farm on Iligh Ridge, in Pultney township, and in time Jolin Johnson accumulated a large amount of land.

John Johnson first married Jane Gordon, the mother of our subject; she was a native of Maryland. Three children blessed their union: Martha, widow of Rev. J. Y. Ashen- hurst : James, our subject, and William, who was accidentally drowned in Wheeling Creek while bathing. The mother of these children died in 1825, and several years later their father was united in marriage with Nancy Pattison, of West Virginia. She died in 1854, and a second time subject's father mourned the loss of a companion. About

1859 he contracted a third marriage, this time with Mrs. Nancy ( Nichol) McGaw, who died in 1899.

James Johnson spent his early life attend- ing school, and later followed the fortunes of a farmer. December 31, 1850, he married Nancy Gordon, who was born in Belmont County March 16, 1829, being a daughter of James and Martha (Nichol) Gordon. Mrs. Johnson still survives her husband. Her mother was a native of Ireland and was brought to this country by her parents when young. James Gordon was born in Mary- land, and his father was a native of Scotland.

Mrs. Johnson still conducts the farm on High Ridge, in Pultney township, where her husband's death took place. The farm contains 180 acres and is well improved, con- taining a comfortable house and good build- ings. She is the mother of six children, most of whom reside in the same township. Their names are William A., James G., Martha J., John A., A. Ross, and Elmer N. William A. Johnson resides on the home farm with his mother. He married Sarah Sophia Cook, who was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa. While still a child she removed with her parents to Washington County, Penn- sylvania ,and later came to Belmont County, Ohio, where the past 35 years of her life have been spent. She and her husband have seven children, namely: James Harry, Anna May, a twin sister to Nannie Belle, the latter being deceased; John Cook, deceased; Elmer Roy, Leslie Gordon, and George Orville.

James G. Johnson resides principally at home. Martha J. married James Wise, of Pultney township, and they have two chil- dren, Philip and Nancy Laura. John A. Jolinson also resides in Pultney township. He has been twice married Flis first wife was Mary McCloy, a Pennsylvanian by birth She died in 1899, and John A. contracted a second marriage, this time with Margaret Patterson. A. Ross Johnson is a resident of Linesville, Pennsylvania. He also has been twice married. His first wife was Mar garet Johnson, and after her demise Hannah

A. J. MeFARLAND, M. D.

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Johnson became his wife. Elmer W. John- son died at the age of 27 years.

Mrs. Johnson deserves great credit for her judicial management of the farm, and she is one of the most highly esteemed ladies in the community.

A. J. MCFARLAND, M. D., one of the most honored citizens of Belmont County, Ohio, is esteemed in his home at St. Clairs- ville, both for his ability as physician and sur- geon, and for those attributes which go to make a kind neighbor and a trustworthy friend.

Dr. McFarland was born in Colerain town- ship, Belmont County, and is the eldest of the family of 11 children of William and Eliza- beth ( Henderson ) MeFarland. All his grand- parents were of Scotch descent.

William MeFarland was born in Ireland, and was brought, when one year old, to America, by. his parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Fergu- son) McFarland, who settled in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Robert McFarland was a brick-mason and stone-mason, and a builder of chimneys. He worked at his trade in Washington County until his son, William, was abont nine years of age, and then moved to Belmont County, Ohio. His only brother, Andrew McFarland, was murdered near Bel- fast, Ireland. Robert lived to the age of 93 years.

William McFarland, the father of Dr. Mc- Farland, was a farmer and owned an estate located near New Athens, in Harrison County, Ohio, where he died at the age of 87 years. The family was a long-lived one, his sister Mary having lived to the age of 80 years, when she died in the home of her brother, William. The mother of the Doctor was a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania. Both father and mother belonged to that branch of the Presbyterian Church which in their day was known as "Seceders." They were most worthy, Christian people, and rtared a family which reflected credit upon them, and also upon the country which a number of the sons assisted

in its hour of need. The names of the children born to William and Elizabeth MeFarland were as follows: A. J .; Mary; Martha and Elizabeth; James; William H .; Margaret; Nancy J .; Robert; and Sarah. Mary is the widow of James McLane, who served during the Civil War, located in Kansas, and died there in 1883. Martha and Elizabeth were twins. The former died childless, although she reared several of the children of Eliza- beth, who was the wife of Rev. John Patter- son. James, a minister, rendered four years of service to his country during the Civil War, and died while traveling through Arizona in a railway car. Rev. William H., D. D., also served four years in the army during the Civil War, and had charge of a congregation at Cambridge, Ohio, for 40 years. He is now building up another congregation in Cam- bridge, and erecting a church. Margaret is a resident of Cadiz, Ohio, and is the widow of Rev. James McCready, whose death occurred as the result of a wound received at the battle of the Wilderness. Nancy J. lives with her sister, Mrs. McCready. Robert, who is a farmer near New Athens, in Harrison County, was also a soldier during the Civil War. Sarah resides with her sister, Mrs. McCready, at Cadiz.

Dr. McFarland obtained a very fair prepara- tory education and then entered Franklin Col- lege, where he remained about three years. For three years, he had private medical instruc- tion from Dr. William Mills, of New Athens, and then came under the care of the distin- guished Dr. Hullihen, of Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, who, at that time, had a surgical reputa- tion which was hardly excelled by that of any other practitioner in the world. So eminent was he considered, that he was honored by the city of London, England, with the flattering offer of a position as its chief surgeon. llis answer was typical of the man: "Wheeling received me when I was without surgical repu- tation or fame, and Wheeling will keep me un- til I die." It was under this noted specialist that Dr. McFarland entered upon his medical and surgical career in the Wheeling Hospital,

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where his ability was recognized by his assign- ment to the care of an important ward. Dr. McFarland worked here faithfully until his marriage, and then decided to engage in farm- ing, the demands of his profession having even then made inroads upon his health. In 1859 hie settled on the farm and remained there until 1880, although during this time he was obliged to practice to some extent, as patients insisted upon his attention. In 1864, Dr. McFarland, following the example set by other loyal mem- bers of his family, enlisted and was sent to Washington City. There he was immediately detailed as a nurse and was very soon made an army surgeon, in which capacity he acted at Mansfield, and later at Fort Sumner. At the latter point he was placed in charge of over 500 patients. The stress and strain were too much for a physician so conscientious as Doc- tor MeFarland, and he appealed to General Augur for release. He was then given the exclusive care of 100 patients, in serving whom the faithful practitioner himself almost broke down. Dr. McFarland suffered a sunstroke on the day of the burning of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, by the Confederates, having been much exposed in his work, and from that time he has been, more or less, incapacitated by a form of heart trouble. On this account Dr. McFarland has not practiced as actively as he otherwise would have done, and restricts his efforts to the limit of his strength. Dr. McFarland returned home September 9, 1864, in time to attend the funeral of his brother-in- law, Mr. McCready. Until July, 1880, he remained on the farm, and then moved to St. Clairsville, which has been his residence ever since. lle still owns a small farm which he operates for the pleasure it gives him, and also does a little practice, as before mentioned. In his earlier days his capacity for work was wonderful, and his war record speaks volumes not only for his skill, ability and endurance, but also for the qualities which endeared him to the sufferers to whom he so faithfully min- istered.

Dr. McFarland was first married to Mar- garet Smith, who died in 1873, while visiting

her sister in lowa. The three children of this union were Lizzie G., Luella M. and William S. Lizzie G. is now Mrs. William E. Clark, of this neighborhood, whose children are Mar- garet, Frances, Samuel Mc., Nannie, Cora and Eleanor. Luella M. is the wife of Thomas A. Clark, a cousin of William E. Clark, and they have one child, William J. William S. is a college graduate and a leading physician at Wellsville, - Ohio, who married Lutetia Dar- row. In 1875 Dr. MeFarland was united in marriage with the widow of Captain Richard M. Lyons, who was killed at the battle of the Wilderness. She is a daughter of Moses Coc, and is of Welsh descent. Both the Doctor and his estimable wife are leading members of the United Presbyterian Church at St. Clairsville, in which he was an elder during a number of years. llis interest in the Sunday-school has been active and constant, and he has served as a teacher and in other capacities for a long period.

During late years the Doctor has not taken a very active part in politics, although in his earlier life he was a leader of prominence. Hle has been urged to accept many responsible posi- tions, and was even proposed as a Con- gressional candidate, but declined the honor. Ile holds the respect and confidence of the pub- lic, and enjoys the personal affection of those who have been permitted to know him inti- mately.

WILLIAM McCUNE, for many years a prosperous farmer of Pease township, Bel- mont County, Ohio, now living in practical retirement, was born in 1836 in the south- east corner of Jefferson County, near the Belmont County line. He is a son of Thomas and Martha (Dunlap) McCune, and is the only one of the family residing in this county. His mother died when he was very young, and his father did in 1818. His great- uncle, Colonel MeCune, served in the Revo- lutionary War.

William McCune was reared on a farm and has followed farming all his life. For

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11 years prior to 1901 he conducted a dairy business and then sold out. Hle and his wife live alone upon the farm, which is largely leased to tenants.

In January, 1858, Mr. McCune married Elvira Alexander, who was born in the house now occupied by our subject in 1839, and is a daughter of Peter 'and Catherine (Mitchell) Alexander, and granddaughter of Judge James Alexander. Peter Alexan- der was born on the farm adjoining that of Mr. MeCune on the west, on the Burlington Pike. Ile died in August, 1862, at the age of 57 years. Ile conducted a store in St. Clairsville for some years prior to 1832, when he located on the farm and built the house in which our subject and his wife now live. The house was all hand work, and is in an excellent state of preservation. He also pur- chased another farm adjoining, which he rented, and during his lifetime accumulated considerable wealth. His wife lived to reach the age of 76 years, dying in 1885. They were parents of the following children: Al- bert James, who died young; Elphenor, who had traveled largely in business, died at Miles City, Nebraska; Ross died young; Jo- sephine C., who died at the age of 14 years; Elvira, wife of Mr. McCune; Adelaide (Mc- Kim), a widow, residing in Kansas City, Missouri; James, who served in Holmes' Bat- tery during the Civil War, in which he was wounded, now resides at the National Mili- tary Home at Danville, Illinois; Martha Me- lissa (Munslow) resides at Knoxville, a suburb of Pittsburg; and Mary (Irwin), of Nevada City, California.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. McCine, namely: Mary Catherine, Elwood Clyde and Pearl Amsden. Mary Catherine, who died in April, 1885, was the wife of Dr. Aleck McManus, who died in April, 1886. They left one son, Roy F., who is traveling repre- sentative for the Ohio Valley Savings & Loan Association, of Wheeling. Elwood Clyde, who died at Beatty's Memorial Hall. Allegheny City, in April, 1885, was prepar-

ing for the ministry in the Presbyterian Church and would have graduated in two weeks. Pearl Amsden is the wife of Rev. William Mintier, a United Presbyterian minister, by whom she has two chil- dren: Wilma McCune and Wendell Reid, aged four and two years, respectively. Politically our subject is a Democrat; he served in office as pike commis- sioner, and it was largely through his efforts that the Burlington Pike was constructed. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been a member all his life.

JOHN COSS, a successful farmer and well-known resident of Pease township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born at Shep- herdstown, Ohio, in 1821, and is a son of Abram and Margaret (Barkus) Coss.

The father of Abram Coss came from Ger- many and located in Ohio early in the 19th century, dying here in 1842. Ile was prob- ably a farmer, as all his sons followed that occupation. He was father of the following children: Abram, Jacob, Benjamin, David, Adam, James, and Daniel.

Abram Coss resided in Belmont County during his entire life, dying in Pease town- ship, near the farm of our subject, at the age of 45 years. He married Margaret Barkus, who died at Martinsville, and to them were born the following offspring: William, who is 85 years of age and lives at Maynard; Matthias, who died in 1900; John; Ebenezer, deceased; and Benjamin, who re- sides in Pease township.

John Coss was reared in Belmont County, where he has always lived. He lived at home until he became of age, and then started ont for himself. He purchased his present home from Clark Moore about 1875, the latter having acquired it from Mr. Mc Williams. He has about 93 acres in section 25, which he devotes to general farming, it being un- der the management of his son. In 1803 he built his present home, which is neat and

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attractive in appearance and comfortable in its arrangement. The old brick house was built by Mr. Mc Williams, the brick having been burned on the farm.

Mr. Coss was united in marriage with Isa- belle Walters, of Colerain, who died in 1894, having given birth to the following children: Alfred, who resides near Mt. Pleasant and has one chid, Roxy; Ella, wife of David Mc- Kim; Margaret, wife of George W. Craven, of Dillon, Ohio; Robert, who resides with his father; George; John, who manages his father's farm; Annie, wife of Fred Coss, of Martinsville; Rachel, wife of Elmer. Law- rence, of Steubenville; and Elizabeth, wife of George Cunningham, living in Illinois. Politically, Mr. Coss is a Democrat. Re- ligiously, he is a member of the M. E. Church and attends services at Martinsville.

JOSEPH W. HEATHERINGTON, chief engineer of the city water works of Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio, was born in 1850 and is a son of Ralph and Margaret (Dixon) Heatherington.

John Heatherington, grandfather of our subject, with his son, Jolin, Jr., came from Durham County, England, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1829. The remainder of the family arrived at Philadelphia, July 10, 1830. They came to Wheeling in 1832 and there followed lead mining for a time, after which they went down the Ohio and up the Mississippi River to Galena, Illinois, where John Heatherington died at the age of 45 years. He was an expert at locating coal mines, known in England as "blossom finder." He had five sons and four daugh- ters, as follows: John, deceased; William, deceased; Jacob, who resides in South Bel- laire; Ralph, father of our subject; Edward, deceased; Jane, deceased; Rebecca, deceased ; Isabel, deceased; and Mary, a widow, resid- ing with her two daughters in Southern Cal- ifornia.

Ralph Heatherington was born July 13,

1817, and came to this country with his parents. During the year 1833 he worked for Captain Fink, and later went to Illi- nois when the family moved thither. All of the Heatherington family were coal miners but Edward, who followed tailoring and moved to lowa, where his sons still reside. The latter and two sons served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Ralph returned to Bellaire- from Illinois in 1846 and formed a partnership with a Mr. Erick, later con- ducting alone the mines now known as the Schick mines. He opened numerous mines for others and actively managed them, among them being the old Sullivan and the Barnard Mine. He was a man of great phys- ical strength and lived to reach the age of 78 years, dying July 26, 1895. He married Margaret Dixon, a daughter of George Dixon, a former coal and river man of Bridgeport, for whom he ran on boats for a time. She survived her husband until April, 1898, when she died at the age of 79 years. Six children blessed their union, as follows: Mrs. Stephen Hipkins, of Martin's Ferry; George, who has been in the lumber business at St. Panl, Minnesota, since 1881; Joseph W .; Mrs. Virginia Burkle, of Martin's Ferry; Mrs. Della Rigsby, of Belmont County; and Mrs. Emma Dessell, of Pittsburg.

Joseph W. Heatherington started at the machinist's trade in 1867 in the old C. & O. shops, and subsequently followed his trade at different places. For a period of 18 years lie was employed in the steel plant, and since 1893 has been chief engineer of the Bellaire Water Works. Hle has rendered the most satisfactory service in that capacity, and is unexcelled as a skilled mechanic and en- gineer.

Mr. Heatherington was joined in marriage with Miranda Blackburn, who was born at Wheeling and is a daughter of O. T. Black- burn. They have six children: Oliver, a painter, who is married and has four chil- dren; Mimmie (Krieder), of Bellaire; Howard, who is engaged at the Novelty Stamping Works; Margaret, who lives at home; Rus-

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sell, and Ralph. Our subject resides with his family at No. 4554 Jefferson Street. In politics he is a Republican and served as a member of the water board from 1887 to 1890, and is now serving his sixth year as member of the Board of Education, of which he is president. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge and encampment, and the Knights of the Maccabees. In re- ligious faith he is a Presbyterian.

HARRY E. DEMENT, editor and proprie- tor of The Barnesville Republican, and also a police justice, is one of the city's well-known and prominent citizens. The birth of Mr. Dement occurred in Barnesville, Ohio, May 21, 1867, and he is one of a family of IT chil- dren born to William H. and Elizabeth ( Jones) Dement.

ITis great-grandfather came from Calais, France, as a soldier in LaFayette's army. The grandfather of our subject laid out the town of Calais, Ohio, naming it for his father's birthplace in France.

The father of our subject was born in Calais, where he was engaged for many years as a merchant, later becoming interested in the buy- ing and selling of stock. He moved from Calais to lowa and later to Barnesville, em- barking in the hotel business, and there his death occurred in 1887. His widow survives and resides with her children.

Mr. Dement acquired his education in the public schools. When 13 years old, he engaged in cigar-making, continuing in the same until 1890, at which time he entered into the print- ing business. In 1899 he became the owner of The Barnesville Republican, which is now one of the influential journals of Belmont County, with a circulation of 1,900 copies. This news- paper was established by Hanlon Brothers & Company, and its first issue made its appear- ance on June 14, 1883. It is a five-column, quarto, and as its name indicates is Republican in its politics, although as now conducted it caters more especially to the general interests

of the community. The paper has changed hands several times, its original owner dispos- ing of it to C. C. Carroll, who conducted it un- til he received a government position, when it was purchased by its present able and wide- awake proprietor.

Mr. Dement served very acceptably as city clerk from 1890 to 1902, and in the spring of the latter year was appointed police justice by Mayor White. . He is highly regarded as a re- liable citizen, while his party is well satisfied to have him at the head of so important a journal as The Republican. He wields a facile pen and believes in out-spoken Republicanism, but at the same time has the best interests of his section at heart and uses the power of the press to promote worthy enterprises.

Mr. Dement was married in Barnesville to Frona F. Mayberry, a daughter of Edward Mayberry, and the two children born to this union are named Robert and Mary. Mr. Dement is a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. and the Knights of the Golden Eagle, in both of which he is actively interested. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Church, and is a liberal contributor to its support. Few men in Barnesville are better known or more highly regarded, for his whole life has been spent here, and he enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of both public and personal friends.

ALVA A. WISE has an attractive 95- acre farm in Pultney township. lle was born in Pultney township in 1841, and is a son of William A. Wise, who was for many years a well-to-do blacksmith of that place.

William A. Wise came from York County, Pennsylvania, as early as 1830, locating in Belmont County, where he remained for some time. Later he returned to Pennsyl- vania, but soon afterward decided to take up his abode in Ohio. He disposed of most of his belongings, and taking the rest with him, drove with a horse and wagon across the county to Belmont County, where in

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Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 54

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490