Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 55

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 55

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

Pultney township he located, upon the farm now occupied by R. S. Nelson, the dairy- man. Here he opened a blacksmith shop, and followed that trade with marked success for the rest of his active life. He died July 7, 1886. At an early date he married Jane A. Wise, of Pultney township, a woman who proved an excellent helpmeet throughout his life. She died January 3, 1896. By this marriage there were eight children: Marga- ret Jane married George Thompson, and they had one daughter, now Mrs. George O. Robinson, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume,-both Mr. and Mrs. Thomp- son are now deceased, she dying in 1856 and he in 1862; Kezia married Robert Mc- Allister, and they reside on a farm near that of Alva A .; John H., a farmer, married and resided for two years in Gallia County, and later in Delaware County, where he died February 25, 1895; Mary Ann married a Mr. Wallace, a farmer and miller of Wal- lace's Mill; Alva .A. is mentioned below; Angeline, the widow of J. W. Sheets, resides in Bellaire; William, a steel worker, is living on Gravel Hill, at Bellaire; and Arminta E., who married D. A. Shields, lives near Dela- ware, in Delaware County, Ohio. A niece of Alva A., now the wife of George O. Rob- inson, was reared in the Wise family.

Alva A. Wise received the ordinary rear- ing and education of a farmer's boy and grew to manhood on the family homestead in Pultney township. He remained under the home roof until he was 24 years old, and assisted in the farm management. Upon leaving home he purchased of Dr. Livings- tone the fine farm where he now resides. This property had long been in the posses- sion of the Livingstone family, who were probably its original owners. Under Mr. Wise's capable management it has been greatly improved. Ile has erected a new house, barn and other buildings, and has set out a large orchard. Ile is making a thor- ough success of his work, and realizes good profits from the industry.

Mr. Wise married Retta Cunning-

ham, a daughter of George Cunningham, a farmer of Belmont County. As a Repub- lican Mr. Wise is active in local affairs, and has served his township very efficiently as trustee. For nearly to years he has been an esteemed member of the Presbyterian Church.

CYRUS .H, STRAHIL, a respected citi- zen of Bellaire, Ohio, is agent for the Balti. more & Ohio Railroad Company, with which he has been identified since 1870. He was born at Somerton, Belmont County, De- cember 28, 1838, and is a son of Joel and Ann W. (Bailey) Strahl. His mother was a daughter of Charity Bailey, whose family was one of the early ones in Belmont County. His father was born and reared at Somerton, but lived at Bellaire at the time of his death. Our subject is the oldest of four children, the others being: Charles L., car inspector of the B. & O. R. R. at Bel- laire; Joel Edward, a printer in the employ of a large publishing house at Allegheny. Pennsylvania; and Ella, wife of contractor J. W. Jones, of Bellaire.

Cyrus 11. Strahl was one year old when his parents removed with him to Monroe County, Ohio, where he resided until 14 years of age, then moved to Martin's Ferry in 1852. In 1854 he located in Bellaire, which has been his home most of the time since. In the Civil War he enlisted in the 43d Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served for to months, and later re-enlisted for the 100 days' service in Company [. 170th Reg., O. N. G., in 1864. In 1870 he en- tered the transportation department of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Com- pany in a minor clerkship, passed suc- cessively through the various clerical po- sitions of this territory, and during 1889 and 1800 was chief clerk at Wheeling. lle was cashier at Bellaire, Ohio, during the years 1800-1801, and transfer agent at Benwood from June 19, 1893, when the station was opened, until August 10, 1900, when he as-

W. A. NICHOL.

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sumed the duties of agent at Bellaire, and has since held that position.

Mr. Strahl was united in marriage with Clarissa Jane Terry, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and resides now at No. 3564 Guernsey Street. They have two children: Charlie F., who is transfer agent at Benwood, hav- ing succeeded our subject in that position; and Annie, wife of Louis J. Breshar, of Ev- erett, State of Washington. Fraternally, our subject is a member of Bellaire Lodge, No. 267, F. & A. M .; Bellaire Chapter, No. 107, R. A. M .; and Hope Commandery, No. 26, K. T., of St. Clairsville. His son, Charlie. F., is a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Syrian Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and Scot- tish Rite, of Cincinnati. Religiously, Mr. Strahl was reared a Quaker, but is inclined to be liberal.

WV. A. NICHIOL, a well known jeweler, of St. Clairsville, Ohio, was born in that city, Feb- ruary 20, 1879, and is a son of Clark C. and Mary ( Campbell) Nichol.

All that is known of the ancestry of the Nichol family, in the direct line of the subject of this biography, is recorded as follows : Thomas Nichol, of County Derry, Ireland, was one of seven brothers who came from Scotland at a time of persecution. He married Isabelle Cooke, and their son, John, who married Martha Love, lived in the same home, which was known as Nichol's Hill.

John Nichol (2), son of John and Martha (Love) Nichol, was born in 1763, and was the great-great-grandparent of W. A. Nichol. He married Anna Woodburn, who was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1763, and was a daughter of William Woodburn, of Church- town, County Derry. This marriage was sol- emnized by the Rev. Mr. Brizzle, July 9, 1784, and the union resulted in the birth of 14 chil- dren, the oldest child,-Mary,-having been born May 11, 1785, and Thomas, the youngest child, having been born May 6, 1805. John Nichol and his wife came to this country in 1789. They first settled in Cumberland, and

later, in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. They came to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1800, where John died in 1829, and his wife in 1857. Their fourth child, and oldest son, William Nichoi, was born in 1789, and died in 1885. Ilis wife Harriet Mitchell, was born in 1789, and died in 1870. They were the great-grandparents of the subject of this sketch, and had eight children. Hon. Thomas M. Nichol, the oklest of these eight children, and the grandfather of W. A. Nichol, was a well known man of his day. He married Margaret Creamer, and they had eight children, the oldest being Clark C. Nichol, the father of W. A. This remarkable family, the descendants of John and Anna ( Woodburn ) Nichol, assembled at the St. Clairsville Fair Grounds in 1889, to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the Nichol family in America. At the time of, the reunion, there had been 94 grandehil- dren, 57 of whom were living; 366 great- grandchildren, 300 of whom were living; 428 great-great-grandchildren, 388 of whom were living, and 32 great-great-great-grandchildren. all of whom were at that date alive. The above shows a grand total of 935, a most remarkable record.

Clark C. Nichol was born in Belmont County, near Uniontown, and has been a farmer of this county for a number of years. Ile served as school director for 25 years, and was a prominent factor in educational circles. lle married Mary Campbell, also a native of Belmont County. She has three brothers, -- William, of Lucas County, lowa; John, of Harrison County, Ohio, and George, of Bel- mont County, Ohio, all of whom are engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch is one of three children, the others being: Jessie, who died February 27, 1892; and Lulu, who is attending school.

W. A. Nichol attended the public schools of his native town, and then learned the jew- cler's business. He clerked in a jewelry store for two months, and then bought a half inter- est. Later he purchased the entire business of the late George Brown, which was established in 1841. He has met with splendid success,

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and carries a full and handsome line of jewelry and jewelers' supplies. Mr. Nichol is greatly interested in the welfare of the people in his community, and is always ready to assist in any public enterprise. He stands high both in a mercantile and social way, and is one of the rising young business men of St. Clairs- ville. Mr. Nichol was united in marriage June 4, 1902, to Blanche Hartley, of St. Clairsville, Ohio. Mr. Nichol is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, of St. Clairsville.

GEORGE C. McKELVEY, the well- known dairyman at Bellaire, Ohio, is also a farmer of recognized ability, residing at the present time on his place, formerly known as the Jeffers farm, four miles west of Bellaire.

Our subject was born in Mead township, Belmont County, in 1870, and is a son of George and Mahala (Stonebreaker) MeKel- vey. His mother was also a native of Bel- mont County and descended from one of the carly families of this section. Her de- mise took place in 1889. Our subject's father was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and in company with several brothers, all young men, immigrated to America. Hle con- menced life in the United States as a day laborer on the National Pike, the great gate- way between the East and the West, and to whose existence is due the early develop- ment of the State of Ohio.

Some time later, in partnership with a brother, George MeKelvey purchased a farm in Mead township. In 1876 he removed with his family to Monroe County, Ohio, where he purchased two farms, and spent the remainder of his life in that vicinity. lle died in 1891 at the age of 81 years. Ile and his wife had 12 children. Several mem- bers of this family are now deceased. Mrs. Lizzie Clegg, the twin sister of our subject, resides in Monroe County, and two other sisters, Mrs. Mary Walton and Mrs. Isa- bella Sykes, are residents of the same county. Two other sisters, Mrs. Emily Holmes and

Mrs. Nancy Iams, live in West Virginia. One sister resides near Sistersville and one other in Richie County, West Virginia.

George C. McKelvey, from his sixth to his twentieth birthday, lived in Monroe County, where he was educated. He had exceptional advantages in that line, and was the recipi- ent of a normal school education. After leaving school he taught four years, having received his first certificate when but 16 years old. Ile has been twice married. His first union was contracted with Miss Nettie McMahon, of Monroe County, who died in 1889, leaving one child, Forrest. The pres- ent Mrs, McKelvey was, prior to her mar- riage with our subject, the widow of K. F. Jeffers. To the second marriage have been born two children, Earl and Lucille.

About four years ago Mr. MeKelvey opened a dairy business in Bellaire, and has been very successful in this business. Ile has a large patronage, and quality rather than quantity is his prime consideration. He also carries on general farming and stock raising. His farm is well improved, having a comfortable residence and many other sub- stantial buildings. Socially, our subject is a member of Ionic Lodge, F. & A. AL., and also Bellaire Chapter, R. A. M. He is a member of Mt. Zion M. E. Church. In politics he has always been a stanch Demo- crat, and was his party's selection as a candi- date for sheriff of Belmont County, and in a county which usually goes Republican by 2,000 votes he was defeated by only 615 votes. He is well fitted for any position to which he aspires.

SAMUEL H. MCGREGOR lives near Bellaire, in Pultney township. Belmont County, Ohio. He was born December 2, 1843, and is a son of Alexander and Eliza (Harris) McGregor, whose marriage took place in 1837. llis mother was born in Wheeling in 1814, and died in 1885. Ilis father was born July 6, 1801, and died in

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1851. Alexander McGregor was a son of James MeGregor, who was a native of Scot- land.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, while yet a tailor's apprentice, was pressed into the British Navy. Upon the arrival of the ship at Baltimore, he deserted his majes- ty's service and became an American citizen. He married a Miss Gordon and located near Baltimore, Maryland, on a farm which he purchased, and he was the founder of the McGregor family in America. In 1817 he moved his family to Ohio by wagon, and purchased a farm on Rock Hill, in Belmont County, the same farm being now owned by members of the Giffin family. In 1819 he purchased another farm from Samuel Clark, the written deed for the same being now in the possession of our subject, who is the proud owner of this ancestral farm, which passed from grandfather to father and in succession to our subject. This deed bears the date of August 10, 1819, and upon this farm the grandfather passed the remainder of his life. Our subject's father also passed his closing years there.

Alexander McGregor, the father, was one of a family of three sons, all of whom are now deceased. His brother James was born in 1789 and died in 1879. He served in the War of 1812, and received as his portion the farm now owned mainly by J. W. Giffin. Robert, the younger of the sons, never mar- ried, and died in Bellaire in 1863.

Our subject was third in a family of seven children. The others are Reuben J., Sarah E,. R. E., J. M., Margaret, and Alexander, the latter .two having died young. Reuben J. never married, and died June 8, 1879, at Manitowoc, Wisconsin, while holding a government position as inspector of harbor improvements. He was a graduate of Wash- ington College, Pennsylvania. Sarah E. is the widow of Andrew Neff. She has three children, the eldest being married, and she resides with our subject. R. E. was for many years a hardware merchant at Win- dom, Minnesota, and died in February, 1804.

J. M. was formerly a druggist in Bellaire. He is now a resident of Windom, Minne- sota, where for 12 years he was cashier of a bank. Ile is now retired from active life, and he has four children.

The substantial brick residence of our sub- ject was erected by his father, but many im- provements have been added by Mr. Mc- Gregor, who built his fine large barn in 1891. His home farin contains 124 acres and orig- inally consisted of an additional 100 acres, which has recently been sold for coal and railroad purposes. The home farm has prac. tically been conducted by him since early manhood, and for some time he also oper- ated a coal mine on his premises, but this mine was sold some time ago. Mr. Alc- Gregor is a stanch Republican and has served in various township offices. He is not a member of any church organization. but is a regular attendant of the Coal Brook Presbyterian Church and contributes liber- ally towards its support.

GEORGE JEPSON, a leading merchant of St. Clairsville, Belmont County, Ohio, was born Angust 28, 1839, and is a son of John and Hannah ( Hunt) Jepson, both natives of Lancastershire, England.

John Jepson was born in 1794, and with his family came to America in 1825. He settled in Utica, New York, where he followed his trade as a weaver until 1835. He then came to Belmont County, where he was engaged in farming until 1844. He then started a grocery store in St. Clairsville which he conducted until 1880. Tlis death occurred in 188.4.

George Jepson worked in his father's store until 1862. when he enlisted in Company B. 98th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf. After serving three months, he was detached for duty in the adju- tant general's office, where he remained until his discharge June 1, 1865, at Washington, D. C. Upon his return home, Mr. Jepson resumed the grocery business at St. Clairsville, where he has since continued, with uninter-

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rupted succcess. He is one of the most sub- stantial business men of the community.

In 1871, Mr. Jepson was united in marriage. with Rebecca E. Grove, by whom he has two children,-Nellie and Lucy. Mr. Jepson has been president of the First National Bank of St. Clairsville for three years. He has also been a director in that institution over 25 years. The subject of this sketch is a member of Drummond Post, No. 203, G. A. R. His fam- ily unite in worshiping at the First Presby- terian Church, of St. Clairsville.

JOHN STARBUCK, one of the most prominent farmers of Belmont County, whose large and commodious brick residence in Colerain township stands about one-eighth of a mile from the post office, has for the past 47 years been a resident of this township and for the last 27 years an occupant of his pres- ent abode. Of his thrift and intelligent man- agement his attractive and highly improved farm speaks for itself. Hle is one of the old citizens of the county, having been born in Somerset township April 11, 1827, and he is a son of John and Ann (Lapping) Star- buck.

George Starbuck, grandfather of our sub- ject, was one of those hardy pioneers who opened up to settlers the new State of Ohio. Coming to Belmont County with his wife and children in 1808, he settled upon a farmi near Barnesville, where he afterward made his home. A man of force and determination, he bore his share of the battles with wild beasts and obstructing forests, and assisted greatly in making the place a safe and passable re- gion. His wife, whose Christian name was Elizabeth, also helped bear the privations of the rude pioneer life. Mr. Starbuck died on the farmi.

John Starbuck, son of George and father of John, whose name heads this sketch, was born in 1707, came to this county in 1868, and here for the most part made his home.

He followed farming throughout his mature life, at which he was very successful. Living to the age of 67, he died on the family home- stead in 1864. Ilis wife, Ann Lapping, died in 1853 at the age of about 53 years. By his marriage there were II children- Samuel, a farmer of Belmont County; Wil- liam, who fought under Sherman in the Civil War, now a farmer in Somerset township; Ruth Ann, who married George Coffland of Loydsville, Ohio; three sons who died, as follows, -- George, at the age of about 19 years; Hezekiah, from an accident at the age of 10 years, and Robert, at the age of 12 years. Thomas, a soldier in the 62nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., was taken prisoner at Fort Wagner, and sent to Andersonville, where it is thought he died of starvation at the age of 21; Daniel, who died at the age of 40; Eliza- beth, who died in her 20th year, and Elisha and the other child, who died when young. Mr. and Mrs. Starbuck were both faithful and consistent members of the Society of Friends.

John Starbuck of this sketch procured his early education in the schools of Jefferson and Belmont counties, and later attended Mount Pleasant College. Well equipped for the work, at the age of 21 he began teaching and for two years carried on his professional pursuits in winter and followed farming in summer. In 1855 he came to Colerain town- ship and settling upon a farmi, engaged in ag- riculture for himself. By strict attention to his work and careful management he made the place pay well and in time became pos- sessed of considerable means. In 1875 he purchased his present farm, a well improved tract of 126 acres, part of which is underlaid with coal from which he has derived material benefit. Here he carries on general farming and conducts a large dairy, making good profits by shipping the milk to Wheeling The house is a large brick one, which wd built in 1825, and has been kept in good re- pairs. It is a 13-room structure with an ex- cellent cellar divided into three apartments. August 23. 1854. Mr. Starbuck married

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Sarah Bunday, who was born in Belmont County, daughter of Benjamin and Delitha (Bailey) Bunday. To Mr. and Mrs. Star- buck have been born 10 children: Benjamin F., Allison, Marietta, Anna, Eva B., Thomas, Lorena, Lizzie, Alice and Eunice. Benjamin F., now a farmer in Harrison County, mar- ried Sarah Millhouse, and after her death, which occurred March 19, 1885, Anna Lewel- len became his wife. By the first marriage there were three children-Edith, who died at the age of 18 years, Albert and Lewis, who since the death of his mother has resided with his Grandfather and Grandmother Star- buck. By the second marriage there were four children-Martha, Mary, Emily and Jesse. Allison, whose wife officiates as pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is the owner of a greenhouse. He married Florence Savage, . but they have had no children. Marietta, a resident of Colerain township, married Benjamin Cope, and they have had nine children-Amy, Anna, John, Caroline, Charlotte, Helen (now deceased), Darlington, Byron and Chalkley. Anna, who has never married, has been professor in an Indian school in New York for the last three years. Eva B., who married Aaron Edkin, is matron of this same school, which is under the management of the Society of Friends, and her husband acts as superintendent. Thomas, a farmer, married Abbie Hall, and they have one child-Mabel. Lorena, who has won for herself an excellent reputation for scholarship, methods and disciplinary powers, has for the past seven years served as an instructor in a Friends' school in Iowa. Lizzie, now residing at home, has taught in Towa for some time, and Alice has been a teacher in Kansas. Eunice is the youngest child.

Mr. Starbuck is a man of influence in his community, and in 1800 served as land ap- praiser, filling the office with marked ability. As a Republican he is one of the leaders in local polities. He and his family belong to the Society of Friends.

Benjamin Bunday, father of Mrs. Star-

buck, was originally of North Carolina, and died in Ohio in 1875 at the age of 82. Hle married Delitha Bailey, who when a child came from Virginia to Ohio. She died in her 7ist year in 1870. Both were good Christians and members of the Society of Friends. By this marriage there were 13 children-Jesse, now a resident of Kansas; Josiah, who died at the age of 66 years; Mary Ann, and Martha, who died young; William, a resident of Colerain township; Sarah, who is mentioned above; Edmund, a prominent farmer of this county; Rachel, who married Mason Thomas and resides in Barnesville; Ann, who married Robert Hampton and lives in Iowa; David, now de- ceased, married Esther Milligan, who now resides in Colerain; Matilda and Jane died young, and Charles is living in Barnesville.

RAYMOND A. TALLMAN. deputy clerk of the Probate Court at St. Clairsville, Ohio. was born in Washington County, Kansas, April 8, 18;2, and is a son of James F. and Mary E. ( Wilson ) Tallman.

James F. Tallman was born March 30, 1844, and received his mental training in St. Clairs- ville. He studied law under his father, the late Peter Tallman, who was a practitioner of Belmont County. James F. Tallman practiced law for some time in Washington County. Kansas, and then moved to Belmont County, where he served as Probate judge for two terms .- from 1891 to 1897. He is now living in Chicago, Illinois. His wife, Mary E. ( Wil- son) Tallman, was born in Fulton County, Illinois, October 19, 1845. They reared five children, namely : Mabel E., of Chicago; Ray- mond. A .: Adeline, who lives at home; Peter, who died at the age of 22 years; and Mary J., who is also at home. Mr. and Mrs. Tallman are remembered by a large circle of friends in St. Clairsville, where for many years they were active in social and business circles.

Raymond A. Tallman received his mental training in the schools of St. Clairsville, where

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he graduated in the class of 1891. After leav- ing school he accepted the position of deputy clerk of the Probate Court, and has since then continued to serve in that capacity, being six years of the time in office with his father. The other five years he has served under Judge Smith. Ilis long continuance in this position is conclusive proof of service well rendered, and as he is young in years, his future is one of promise.

On July 25, 1894, Mr. Tallman was married to Lucy V. Hartley, a native of West Virginia, and a daughter of C. E. Hartley, of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Tallman have three children,- Madge, Louis R. and Dorothy L. Mrs. Tall- man is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Tallman stands high in the community, both in a business and social way, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

HON. C. W. CARROLL, who is postmas- ter of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and ex-judge of the Probate Court, was born in this city, in the house in which he lives, on April 8, 1834. lle is a son of Carroll C. and Eleanor K. (Al- vord) Carroll, both of whom were natives of Connecticut.

The late Carrroll C. Carroll came to St. Clairsville in the early part of the 19th century. By profession he was a lawyer; he won many legal triumphis in Belmont County, and during his younger years was county prosecutor. His death occurred on Christmas morning in 1858, at the age of 52 years. In St. Clairsville the event turned this day of happiness into one of sorrow, not only to his family, but to the entire community, for he was a most worthy, scholarly and estimable man. lle was one of the pioneers of Belmont County and assisted very materially in its higher development. Ilis wife, who remarried Rev. John Moffat, of Wheeling. West Virginia, died in St. Louis, Missouri; she was a most devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. Four children were born to them, of whom the eldest is the subject of this sketch. The others were as follows: Clara C., who is the widow of Henry Balcom,

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Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 55

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