Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 60

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 60

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Hannah J. is the wife of James W. Mel- lott, of Richland township, near Glencoe. William W. died in 1862, during the Civil War, at Tuscumbia, Alabama, at the early age of 22 years. Sarah E. died in 1864, aged 20 years. Josiah died in 1890, aged 40 years. lle was twice married, and left a widow, who resides in Atlantic, lowa. His death took place near Griswold. lowa. Benjamin A., who lived in Nebraska and was a candi- date for Representative at the time of his death, was killed in Cass County, Iowa, in 1894. Robert Mitchell is single and resides in California.

Hugh M. Merritt, from his fifth year, was reared on the old homestead, of which he now owns a part. For several years he lived in the old log house, which was over a cen- tury old. Ilis farm consisted of 77 acres of land adjacent to the town of Merritt, which he laid out. He has added many improve- ments to his place, now having a nice resi- dence and a fine set of farm buildings. He has devoted his life exclusively to his farm- ing interests. He has been twice married. Ilis first marriage took place March 24. 1869, with Sarah V. Payne. She was a na- tive of Frederick County, Virginia, and a daughter of Joseph E, and Sarah A. C. Payne. She died January 7, 1873, leaving three children: Anna Roberta, Joseph Wil- liam, and Sarah E. V.

Anna Roberta was born AApril 29, 1870. She married William Crim, of Frederick County, Virginia, and they have two chil- dren, Lois and Hugh M. Joseph William was born July 20, 1871, and resides near

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our subject. He married Carrie Dunlap and they have reared four children. The eldest two, George William and Charles Robert, are twins, and the others are Joseph P. and Helen. Sarah E. V. was born December 13, 1872. She is the wife of Charles Ridgeway, of Berkeley County, Virginia, and they have three children.

April 29, 1875, Mr. Merritt was joined in marriage with Rachel A. Fisher, daughter of Louis and Hannah Fisher, of Smith town- ship. This marriage is without issue, and the present Mrs. Merritt was born May 3, 1845. Politically our subject is firm in his allegiance to the Democratic party. The family attend the First Presbyterian Church of Bellaire.

WILLIAM LIPPHARDT. Among the successful and rapidly expanding business concerns of Bellaire, Ohio, is that known as the Enterprise Enamel Company, which, since its organization in October, 1897, has grown into one of the leading industrial plants of Belmont County. The officers, di- rectors and stockholders are, in the main, responsible and prominent citizens of Bel- laire and vicinity.

The first meeting of the board of direct- ors of the new enterprise convened on De- cember 13, 1897, with William Lipphardt as president ; Carl L. Dorer, vice-president; James F. DuBois, secretary and treasurer, the other members being F. Il. Fick, J. A. Green, Theodore Neff, and Theodore Ross- bach. Since that first meeting some re-or- ganization has taken place, and the present officers are as follows: William Lipphardt, of Martin's Ferry, president; Thomas L. Strong, vice-president and general manager: R. C. Faris, secretary and treasurer. The board of directors is composed of the fol- lowing leading citizens and capitalists: Wil- liam Lipphardt, Thomas 1. Strong, Theo- dore Neff, C. L. Dorer, J. A. Green, William A. Howell, and John R. Gow.

In February, 1899, new buildings were erected to permit of the use of modern ma- chinery, and now some two acres of land are included in the plant. The imposing main building, three stories in height, with dimensions of 60 by 120 feet, contains the offices, the packing department and store rooms. The furnace room, where the burn- ing and baking is done, is a one-story build- ing, with dimensions of 120 by 78 feet, while the drying and shipping rooms require an- other one-story building, of 120 by 100 feet. The building of another large structure, in which will be installed machinery for press- ing iron into shape, shows that this enter- prise is living up to its name, its business continually expanding until almost every part of the country is demanding the pro- duets of the Bellaire plant. The location of the Enterprise Enamel Company works is on Union street, between 17th and 18th, a situation which affords the best of railroad facilities, the Baltimore & Ohio road being on one side and the C. & P. on the other. The necessary number of em- ployees reaches 220. The distributing point for the completed work of the Enterprise company is Chicago, the trade being han- dled through jobbers.

That this business should have reached such large proportions in comparatively so short a time, must, in a great measure, be attributed to the business energy of its of- ficers, who have all contributed to the suc- cess of this industry, which shows every in- dication of continued prosperity.

W. C. BERGUNDTHAL, a citizen of Bel- laire and ex-treasurer of Belmont County, Ohio, was born in 1851 in Monroe County, near the Belmont County line.

W. C. Bergundthal was reared in Belmont County, and for many years prior to 1897 was connected with the Lantern Globe Company of Bellaire, Ohio. In the fall of 1807, he was elected county treasurer on the Republican

HON. JOHN SALISBURY COCHRAN.

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ticket, and in 1899 was re-elected, his term expiring in 1901.

Mr. Bergundthal was united in marriage with Cora V. Dorsey of Powhatan, Ohio, Jan- uary 20, 1881, and they have two children : Wilma, born in 1886; and John, born in 1891. Fraternally, our subject is a member of Moriah Lodge No. 105, F. & A. M .; Bellaire Chap- ter No. 107, R. A. M. ; Hope Commandery No 26, K. T .; Ohio Consistory S. P. R. S. of Cin- cinnati, Ohio; and Syrian Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Cincinnati. Mr. Bergundthal is the present cashier of the German Savings Bank of Martin's Ferry, which institution was incorporated under the laws of Ohio in the spring of 1902.

HON. JOHN SALISBURY COCHRAN, Probate judge for Belmont County, secretary of the Board of Trade of Martin's Ferry, Ohio, a lawyer of prominence and a highly esteemed citizen, is a worthy representative of a family of unusual prominence in the military life of the country, for generations.

Robert Cochran, the grandfather of Judge Cochran, was a direct descendant of Sir Archi- bald Cochran, the ninth Earl of Dundonald, England, and a son of William Cochran, who was a pioneer settler in Virginia, cast of the present city of Wheeling. In company with William Boggs, William Cochran was sent from Fort Van Meter as a scout to ascertain the results of the battle of Fort Henry, and in this adventure was killed and scalped by the Indians, east of Wheeling. William Cochran also was associated with the noted scout and Indian fighter, Louis Wetzel, and accompanied him in many of his famous expeditions.

Robert Cochran was a contemporary of Elizabeth Zane, the noted heroine whose tale has been told in song and story, who carried the powder at the battle of Fort Henry when it was attacked by the combined forces of Eng- lish and Indians, September 13 and 14, 1782. It will be remembered that this was the last battle of the War of the Revolution and was fought after peace was declared, no electric

messages then flashing the news of peace al- most as soon as it was declared, as would be the case in modern warfare. At this time Robert Cochran was 20 years of age and Elizabeth Zane was 16. Although history does not re- veal the existence of any romantic attachment between the brave girl and our subject's an- cestor, it is known that they were friends and companions, the family farms adjoining on the hillside back of Martin's Ferry. On the Zane farm, Elizabeth died in 1828, while Robert Cochran lived to within three months of 100 years, his tomb being the oldest one in the old Weeks Cemetery. He was a large landowner, his possessions extending from Bridgeport to Glen's Run, the same being now divided into many good farm homes. His wife was Re- becca Pierce, who was a relative, a cousin in fact, of President Franklin K. Pierce. Her death, at the age of 59 years, was caused by an injury to her throat, accidentally inflicted by the horns of a cow.

Judge Cochran was born in Colerain town- ship, Belmont County, Ohio, September 9, 1841, being a son of Robert and Susanna (Davis) Cochran, both natives of Ohio, the former born in 1813 and the latter in 1814. Robert Cochran, like his father, was a large landowner and was a successful stockraiser. During the Civil War he saw six of his brave sons serving at one time in the Union Army, all of them being under 21 years of age, except the eldest, who had cast his maiden vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Through devotion to a son. Mr. Cochran lost his own life. One son was lying dangerously sick within the Con- federate lines and the father hastened to en- deavor to secure his release, and contracted typhoid fever, from which he died, in 1863, the sick son recovering and arriving safely at home. The mother survived until 1893, dying at about the age of So years. Both parents were devoted in their attachment to the Metli- odist Church and their home was open to every minister of their religious faith. They were what this modern age, in its desire to express its highest type of Christian living, denomi- nates, sometimes, as "real" people, and exerted

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

an influence which is still felt by those who came within their acquaintance. A family of 13 children was born to them, two of these dying in infancy. The names of the if that grew to maturity are as follows: Robert H .; Lucelia ; John S., subject of this sketch; Wilson and Watson, twins; Crowner C .; Anna B .; Cordelia; Fenimore P .; Alfaretta B .; and Summer F. Robert H., who was judge of the County Court of Ohio County, West Virginia, and one of the prominent men of the State, was born June 25, 1836, and died in Toledo, Ohio, February 22, 1895, aged 59 years. He was a member of General Negley's staff and was provost marshal of that division. He partici- pated in the battle of Stone River and other engagements. After the war, he was at differ- ent times supreme dictator of the Knights of Honor, a member of the executive board of the Army of the Cumberland, and made the first annual address of the meeting of the society of the Army of the Cumberland, at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He projected and constructed the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, also the Wheeling Terminal Railway, and he built the bridge spanning the Ohio River at Martin's Ferry. At different times he was president of both of these roads. Lucelia, who married John Brown, was a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and died in 1864, aged 58 years. Both Wilson and Watson belonged to the 52nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., both enlisted twice, both were sick and were discharged, and on recovery both re-enlisted. Wilson removed to Creighton, Cass County, Missouri, where he is a justice of the peace and mayor of the town, while Watson resides in Severance, Doniphan County, Kansas, a successful builder and con- tractor. Crowner C. enlisted in the Union Army, in 1862 and served through the war as a private, and now resides in Bridgeport, where he is paving contractor. Anna B. married Robert Woods and died when about 40 years of age. Cordelia married Dr. John Major, who is deceased, and she resides in Severance, Kansas. Fenimore P. ran away from home when a little over 13 years of age, enlisted as a drununer boy, was promoted to be orderly at

General Wood's headquarters and served until after the close of the war. Ile now resides at Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, and has been prose- cuting attorney of the county for a number of years. Alfaretta B. married William Strain, superintendent of the schools of Brooke Coun- ty, West Virginia, and is deceased. Sumner F. resides in Martin's Ferry, an employee of the Laughlin Tin Mill.

Our subject had completed his course of study in the Martin's Ferry High School, when the great wave of enthusiasm passed through the loyal North at the call of the Presi- dent for troops to subdue the rebellion. On July 16, 1861, he enrolled his name as a soldier in Company K. 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. The death of his father recalled him home after a service of a little less than one year, during which period he saw no small amount of active service. For a long time he was occupied in settling up the estate and in arranging his late father's affairs and then engaged in teaching while he pursued his law studies under ex- Supreme Court Judge Kennon, Sr., of St. Clairsville. In December, 1863, he was ad- mitted to the bar and began practice at once in St. Clairsville, one year later removing to Sedalia, Missouri, where he became prosecuting attorney of Pettis County and was subsequently elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas. After four years in Missouri, Judge Cochran returned east and entered into a law practice with his brother Robert 11., at Wheeling, West Virginia, the partnership of Cochran & Coch- ran existing until 1880, when Robert 11. Coch- ran was elected president of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad, his removal to Toledo fol- lowing. Our subject remained in Martin's Ferry as the attorney for that road and later for the Wheeling Terminal Railway, but in 1882 he bought a farm on the hill overlooking Martin's Ferry, near the old ancestral home, and removed thereto. although he still con- tinued his practice in Wheeling. Judge Cochi- ran has a large clientage in Martin's Ferry and the eastern counties of the State, his reputation as a fair and impartial adviser in complicated questions of law, as well as his knowledge and

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experience of almost every form of litigation, having gained him increasing practice as the soirs have gone by. At the recent election, occurring November 4, 1902, Judge Cochran was elected Probate judge for Belmont Coun- ty by a majority of 1,829 votes, leading all candidates on the Republican ticket, whether national, State or county.

On March 22, 1867, Judge Cochran was married to Martha A. Weldin, of St. Clairs- ville, Ohio, a native of Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, a daughter of Jacob and Alice Weldin, both of whom are deceased. One son was born to this union, Arthur Weldin, who died in infancy. Both Judge Cochran and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is an ardent member of the Republican party, while fraternally he is associated with the Knights of the Maccabees.

DEWITT DANFORD, senior member of the law firm of Danford & Danford, of Bellaire, Ohio, is not only a representative member of his profession, but he is also a leading citizen, whose usefulness in civic af- fairs was shown by his election to the posi- tion of president of the City Council, and his selection as city solicitor, for three succeed- ing terms. Mr. Danford is a Buckeye, born in Washington township, Belmont County in 1843.

His grandfather, William Danford, came to Belmont County, with two brothers, in 1799, and he made the first permanent set- tlement on Captina Creek, the farm now be- ing occupied by John Danford. William Danford died in Sandusky when his son Sam- uel was but a youth.

Samuel Danford, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Belmont County in 1804. and died in 1800. By occupation he was a farmer, but during the War of the Rebel- lion he was a ministering officer in Belmont County, his father having been in the War of 1812, with the rank of lieutenant. The family through three generations have dis-

played a loyal spirit and have served faith- fully and well. The mother of our subject was a daughter of John Mechem, and crossed the Alleghany Mountains with her parents when she was but two years old. She was born in 1800 and died in 1891. Three sons and three daughters were reared by Samuel Danford and wife, one son, our subject, and two daughters still surviving. Lorenzo Danford, lately deceased, a very prominent citizen of Ohio, was elected a member of Congress in 1894, prior to which year having been a law partner with his brother Dewitt. Another brother, John, gave up his life at Stone River, during the Civil War.

In June, 1861, Mr. Danford, of this sketch, entered into the service of his country, enlist- ing in Company E, 2nd Virginia Regiment, afterwards "mounted infantry," and remained in the service for three years, being mustered out as a member of the 5th West Virginia Cavalry. His regiment participated in many engagements and skirmishes, a part of the time in an independent brigade, and during the winter of 1863-64 it was under the com- mand of General Averill during his raid across the mountains. The last fight in which our subject took part was at Floyd Mountain, under General Crook.

Upon his return home. Mr. Danford en- tered upon the study of the law at St. Clairs- ville, and he was admitted to the bar of Bel- mont County in 1866, locating for a time at Bellaire. In 1867 he took a trip to the West, visiting Gentry County, Missouri, where he taught school for a few months and then entered the offices of the county clerk and collector, remaining so connected for seven years. When Mr. Danford re- sumed his residence in Bellaire he began a law practice in partnership with J. F. An- derson, which existed until 188, but the failing health of both himself and wife made removal to a farm a matter of importance. Three years later he came back, invigorated and in 1887 formed a law partnership with his brother, Lorenzo Danford, which con-

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tinued until the latter was elected to Con- gress, as noted previously.

In 1874 Mr. Danford married Laura Cook, a daughter of Dr. John Cook. She was born in 1841 at Richmond, Jefferson County, Ohio, but the family removed to St. Clairs- ville some years prior to her marriage. Her death occurred in 1897, at the age of 56 years. The one son of this marriage was born at Bellaire in 1875, and is the junior partner in the firm of Danford & Danford. There are few young men in this city who have so quickly come to the front in public life as has Cook Danford. He read law for two years with his father, and then spent two years at the Ohio State University in the Law School, and in 1896 was admitted to the Ohio bar. He is serving his second term as city solicitor. By marriage he is connected with the family of John Timber- lake, prominent in Washington township, and has one daughter, Laura Elizabeth.

In politics our subject is an active Repub- lican, and has efficiently served in many local offices. For a considerable period he was a member of the City Council, and a por- tion of the time its president, and as city solicitor he gave satisfaction during three terms. Mr. Danford is a Methodist in re- ligious belief. His acquaintance is large in Bellaire, and the firm of Danford & Danford has the confidence of the public in no small degree.

HUGH M. PICKENS, who is extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits in his na- tive township, was born September 25, 1833, in Pease township, Belmont County, Ohio, in his father's cabin in the northern part of the township. He is a son of John Clark and Martha (McConahey) Pickens, and grand- son of William and Agnes (Alexander) Pick- ens.

William Pickens, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born September 15, 1762, in Scot- land, and with two of his brothers came to this country, locating in Maryland. He came

to Belmont County, Ohio, early in the nine- teenth century and secured land in the north- ern part of Pease township from Robert and Elizabeth Woods. It was a tract of 220 acres extending to the Jefferson County line and located in section 33, township 4, range 2. The deed to this property bears date of Oc- tober 21, 1821, and has since been in posses- sion of the Pickens family. In 1822 William Pickens built a house which is still standing and is used now by S. A. C. Pickens. He was a cabinetmaker by trade, also a mill- wright, and made doors, mouldings, etc. Hle built and conducted the first sawmill on Deep Run. Later he moved to Mount Pleasant, where he became a large property holder, and there he lived until his death, April 24, 1841. William Pickens was first married to Agnes Alexander, who was born in Scotland in 1762, came to America in 1771, and died April 4, 1817. He formed a second union with Margaret DeMent, who was born August 3, 1779. By his first wife he had the following children: Margaret, born March 5, 1790; Thomas, born February 26, 1792; James, born June 13, 1794; Ellen, born Oc- tober 20, 1796: William, born April 10, 1799; Janet, born November 14, 1801; Nancy A., born February 3, 1804; John Clark, born August 15, 1806, and Alexander, born August 31, 18II.

John Clark Pickens was born in Pease township and reared on the home farm. He purchased the farm now owned by his son. S. A. C. Pickens, from the other heirs, and died in the residence where he had lived from the time he was 17 years of age. He was married February 9, 1831, to Martha Mc- Conahey, who was born April 12, 1807, at Warrenton, Ohio, and died March 23. 1881. Their children were as follows: William, Hugh M .. Margaret E., James Calvin, Thomas M., Agnes Eliza, Martha J., and Samuel A. C. William, who was born March 7, 1832. and died in 1881, married a daughter of Dr. Caldwell, who sur- vives him. They had the following children: Rev. John, who is a Presbyterian minister;

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Ilugh, who lives with his mother; Harry, who is married and lives at Adena, Ohio; Herbert, who is a druggist of Pittsburg; Paul, who is in the hardware and general agency business at Colerain; Mrs. Maude (Dungan), who lives on a farm near New- castle, Pennsylvania; Ora (Edwards), de- ceased; Bessie, who is at home, and Blanche, Walter and Sadie, who died young. James Calvin was born April 22, 1838, and died Oc- tober 3, 1839. Margaret E., born June 9, 1836, died March 1, 1847. Thomas M., born February 20, 1840, died September 20, 1849. Agnes Eliza, born April 23, 1843, widow of Rev. Dr. Alexander, who died in Virginia, resides in Wheeling. Martha J., who was born February 9, 1845, died October 28, 1876.

Samuel A. C. Pickens was born in 1848 and has resided on the old home farm all his life. He owns a tract of 181 acres, and since his father's death in 1887 has built a fine new ten-room house. He was married in 1873 to Mary J. Finney, a daughter of Robert J. Fin- ney, and granddaughter of Joseph and Mary (Mitchell) Finney. Joseph Finney came to Ohio from Pennsylvania early in the nine- teenth century. He and his wife were par- ents of the following children; Robert J., John M., who resides on the old home place; James C., deceased; Jane, who resides with John: Elizabeth, wife of George Parks, liv- ing in Iowa; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of William Darrah, and Margaret A., whose death occurred recently. Robert J. Finney was born near Martin's Ferry, Octo- ber 9, 1823. He married Rebecca Gow, a daughter of William Gow, whose family came from Ireland, and she died December 25, 1896, at the age of 60 years. They had twelve children, Margaret A., wife of Frank Jor- dan, living near Bridgeport: Mary J., born in 1853, wife of Samuel A. C. Pickens; Louise, wife of T. N. Talbot of Martin's Fer- ry; Janette C., who is at home; William J., who married Emma West and lives in Pease township; Joseph A., who married Eva Shears and lives in Pease township; Laura

R., wife of Dr. Burdette of Burgetstown, Pennsylvania; one who died in infancy; Rob- ert L., who married Jane McCune and re- sides in Pease township; Val 1., wife of W. Taylor of Pease township, and John C., who is single and lives at home. Samuel A. C. Pickens and wife have five children, as fol- lows: Elmer E., Mattie I., Robert C., Ada R. and Mary E.

Hugh M. Pickens was reared on the farm now owned by S. A. C. Pickens and lived there until his marriage in 1857. He started for himself and lived on a farm near the old home place for some years, then was located on a farm near Mount Pleasant for a period of eleven years. Disposing of that place, he moved to Scotch Ridge, in Pease township, where he continued until 1882, when he pur- chased and located upon his present home farm on the Burlington Pike, about four miles northwest of Martin's Ferry. He is a very prosperous farmer and one of the re- spected citizens of liis section.

December 24, 1857, Hugh M. Pickens was joined in the bonds of matrimony with Mar- garet M. Jamison, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, December 25, 1841, and is a daughter of Alexander and Mary Jamison, both of whom are deceased. Thirteen chil- dren have blessed this union: Martha Ada, born August 25, 1859, died September 8, 1864; James Alexander, born March 2, 1861. died September 19, 1863: Mary Margaret, born September 20, 1862, died September 6. 1864; John Ross, born Tuly 21, 1865, resides in Denver, Colorado; William Clark, a twin brother of John Ross, is employed in the large department store of Stone & Thomas at Wheeling; Barclay Jamison, born June 18, 1867, is employed at the Ilnb clothing store at Wheeling; Samuel McConahey, born April 4, 1869, died July 20, 1870; Athel- bert Hugh, born February 7. 1871, married Nevada Darrah and resides with our subject: a son, born February 17, 1875, died on Octo- ber 5 of that year; a daughter, also born February 17, 1875, died on June 20, 1875: Martha Jane, born August 4, 1876, married

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Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 60

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