USA > Ohio > Belmont County > Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 62
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In 1899 Mr. Siddall was united in mar- riage with a daughter of the well-known con- tractor, J. W. Jones, of Bellaire, and they have one daughter, Ella. His fine home was completed in the spring of 1902 and is lo- cated at No. 4145 Harrison street, and is a model of convenience and the first of its style of architecture in the city.
Politically, Mr. Siddall is identified with the Republican party, while fraternally be belongs to a number of organizations, nota- bly the Knights of Pythias of Cleveland, and since 1891 Newburg Masonic Lodge of Cleveland, Baker Chapter of Cleveland, and
Scioto Consistory of Columbus. Mrs. Siddall is a member of the Metho- dist Church, and is a lady of social culture. Mr. Siddall stands high in his profession and commands both the esteem and confidence of his employers as well as of the employees.
WILLIAM A. WOODS, a prominent farmer and dairyman of Pease township, Bel- mont County, Ohio, is not only one of its most substantial citizens, but also one of its most reliable and respected men. He is a native of Pease township, and was born in 1861, a son of Jolin Woods, of whom ex- tended mention is made in the sketch of James Woods.
Mr. Woods grew to manhood, attending the district schools and assisting in the farm work and also helping in busy times in the neighborhood. One year after marriage lie worked for his father and then operated one of the latter's farms, according to arrange- ment, working on shares. Mr. Woods pros- pered in this way during 13 years and then bought his present fine farm which comprises 130 acres, which is reputed to be the best pro- ducing farm of the township. It was former- ly known as the Cochran farm. Mr. Woods lias placed very fine improvements here and has erected a handsome residence of ten rooms and a substantial and commodious barn. For the past three years he has added dairying to his other interests, his place being known as the Upland Dairy, and its products are sold in Bridgeport and Martin's Ferry. Mr. Woods is a practical farmer and believes in handling only good stock, keeping Jersey, Durham and Holstein cattle. His large home farm is devoted to general farming and dairy- ing interests, and he owns another farin, con-
JOIIN M. HENDERSON.
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sisting of 82 acres, on Scotch Ridge, which he leases.
The marriage of Mr. Woods was to Lou Devault, a daughter of William Devault, an early settler of the county, and they have had ten children born to them-Harry and John, who died young; Myrtle, Robert Lee, Jesse, Blanche, Addie, Grace, Ellis and Erma. In politics Mr. Woods has been a life-long Democrat. Ilis religious views are liberal, but he is ever ready to give his support to all educational and moral enterprises.
JOHN M. HENDERSON, a hardware merchant of Martin's Ferry, and one of the most industrious business men of the city, owns the finest hardware store in the county, and has numerous other business enterprises that occupy all his attention, among them his inter- est in the coal lands so abundant throughout the States of Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Mr. Ilenderson is a son of Hugh and Mar- garet (Cowen) Henderson, natives of the Keystone State, and is himself a native of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, where he was born February 13, 1863. Hugh Hender- son was a stationary engineer by vocation, and followed that occupation throughout most of his lifetime. Previous to taking this up, how- ever, he was a miller and owned a mill in Penn- sylvania for many years until after the Civil War, when in 1869 he removed to Ohio and settled on a farm three miles from Martin's Ferry. This farm has recently been sold to the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad Company. who will open up the coal fields it contains. Ilugh Henderson is now a retired business man and resides at the old Henderson homestead in Martin's Ferry, situated at the head of Wal- nut street. Ile has reached the advanced age of 76 years. For three score years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, has held all the offices accorded to laymen, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school, etc. His wife died at the age of 66 years, May 6, 1898, having been a lifelong member of
the same Methodist Episcopal Church. She was one of the most devoted of church work- ers, always painstaking and thorough in all she did, and her deeds and efforts to help others will furnish pleasant, endearing memories to the many, who remember her still, for long years to come. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were the parents of six children, our subject being the fifth child. The others are as follows: Jennie ( Mrs. William P. Green), who resides in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Homer W., who was first a comemrcial traveler for the Stand- ard Oil Company until 1887, when he started the hotel business in Pittsburg, which he still carries on with good sucess; J. B., who is en- gaged in the coke and coal business at Vander- bilt, Pennsylvania, having enjoyed a very suc- cessful career ; Emma, who is a resident of the home place with her father, is a very active church worker and possesses many of the qual- ities and noble traits of character which char- acterized the efficient services of her mother; and Hugh K., who lives in Pittsburg, where for 14 years he was in the coal business with Joseph Walton, and where he still is identified with the Pittsburg coal combine.
John M. Henderson, our subject, received training in the way of education in the com- mercial department of Frasher's College at Wheeling, West Virginia. He served an ap- prenticeship at the Martin's Ferry Stove Works, and was later a member of the Joseph Bell Stove Company, of Wheeling. Hle re- mained at that place until the foundry was moved to Muncie, Indiana, in 1890 and then he found employment in Martin's Ferry, in the establishment of the hardware business which he still conducts. Ilis rooms are large and well supplied with a full line of jobbers' and builders' supplies, shelf hardware, brick. tile, etc .. in fact everything that should be handled by a hardware merchant. The large patronage which he has and the satisfactory manner in which he conducts the business speak for his knowledge of the principles that are best employed, and for his honesty and accommodation as well. The building which he occupies could not have a better location,
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as it is on a corner in the business center of the city.
On October 22, 1892, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage with Ida M. Cope of Smith- field, Ohio, the only child of William and Mary A. Cope, who are members of the Society of Friends, residing at Smithfield. To the union of our subject and his wife have been born four children, but one of whom is now living. The record follows: William 11. and Lewis, who died in infancy; Joseph Charles, whose death took place in 1900, at the age of four years; and Lewis B., now three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are devoted to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which the former has been trustee for over 20 years.
The business life of Mr. Henderson has many different enterprises to claim his atten- tion, among which are the following. He is now the president of the First National Bank at Dillonvale, Ohio, which was established in February, 1901. He is also connected with other banking houses all along the Ohio Val- ley. Ile has coal stock, and an interest in the mines throughout the surrounding country ; in the last three years he has disposed of 80,000 acres of coal land in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In Belmont County he has bought in fee over 5,000 acres of coal lands and disposed of over 18,000 acres.
In politics Mr. Henderson is a member of the Republican party, and was elected in 1800 to the City Council of Martin's Ferry, serving as a member two terms and as president of the same for two terms. He is always active in politics and as a business man is classed among the leaders in the Upper Ohio Valley. No mat- ter how great the rush in business life, he has time for church, town or county whenever they desire his service or help.
WILLIAM WESLEY WOODS, who has engaged successfully in various lines of business, is at the present time engaged in bottling and marketing the famous Woods' Lithia Water. He was born, reared and has always lived in Pease township, Belmont
County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Martha (Coss) Woods.
James Woods was born December 18, 1818, and died October 25, 1898. Ile was a son of William and Elizabeth ( Harness) Woods William Woods, grandfather of our subject, was the first white child born back of Pittsburg, on what is called Woods' Run, and died in the sixty-eighth year of his age in 1847. Hle was of Scotch Irish parentage, and for some years of his life engaged in the butchering business. He and his bride, who was the daughter of a wealthy Virginia planter, ran away to be married. She died in 1889 at the age of ninety-three years while living at the home of her son, John. Both are buried in the cemetery at Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. They had eight children, three of whom, two sons named William and a daughter, died in childhood. Those who grew to maturity were: John, a record of whose life appears in the sketch of James Woods; James; George, who was born in 1820 and died in 1900; Robert, who resides in Peace township, and in September, 1902, celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday, and Elizabeth, widow of Daniel Gill, who resides at Gillespie, Ohio.
James Woods was united in marriage with Martha Coss, who was born in May, 1816, and died March 23, 1808. She was a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth ( MeCon- nell) Coss, her mother being a sister of Fran- cis McConnell, a prominent man of this sec- tion. Daniel Coss served in the War of 1812 and the war with Mexico, and was cook for the famous General Harrison. lle con- ducted a store at Bridgeport and during the prevalence of cholera ministered to and helped bury many of the victims. During that time he remained away from his family so as not to expose them, and neither he nor they contracted the dread disease. Ile was one of the founders of Methodism in Bel- mont County. In 1866 he and seven broth- ers held a reunion, the youngest being ser- enty-three years old and the others past eighty four years. Their picture was taken,
GEORGE KERN.
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and the one in possession of our subject is very highly prized by him. Of these broth- ers, Jacob, lived to reach the age of 103 years, dying at Chillicothe; and Adam for some years conducted a livery at Martin's Ferry.
James and Martha (Coss) Woods reared seven children, as follows: John, who was born at Mt. Pleasant and died at the age of two years; Elizabeth, wife of James Mc- Bride of Piper City, Illinois; Eleanor, of Martin's Ferry, widow of George Hoben- sack; Eliza Bell, who died in July, 1888, was the wife of Richard Veasy of Martin's Ferry; James Ross, who resides at Bridgeport, mar- ried Mary Mckeever; George, who died aged two years, and William Wesley, our subject.
William Wesley Woods has engaged in many lines of business, and although he has owned the home farm the past few years, has never engaged in farming. He promoted a most successful oil company, realizing a handsome amount in dividends, then pur- chased the home farm of 113 acres, on which he has lived since 1807. The old home was the voting precinct during the time of An- drew Jackson, and some of the ballots have since been found. Mr. Woods has erected a comfortable home. He has been engaged for some five years in bottling and shipping the famous Woods' Lithia Water, obtained from an unfailing spring on the farm. It is particularly a cure for kidney troubles, and the number of cures effected have been numerous. Of 100 cases of Bright's disease where the water was freely used by the patients, but one was lost. The water is placed in one-gallon bottles manufactured at Bellaire, and from 100 to 500 per day are shipped to different parts of the country, some going as far as Minnesota and Okla- homa. Mr. Woods devotes his entire atten- tion to this business, leasing his farm to others.
William W. Woods was united in marriage with Margaret Isola Stewart, who was born in Jefferson County and is a daughter of
James and Rebecca (Heller) Stewart. She came with her parents when a child to Mar- tin's Ferry, where her father conducted a feed store until his death. Her mother still resides there. She is one of eight children, as follows: George, an attorney of Detroit, who held a responsible government po-ition under President Cleveland; Kate, wife of Samuel Heaton, a blacksmith of Martin's Ferry; John, of Cameron, West Virginia; Thomas S., a carpenter of Pittsburg; Frank, of Pittsburg; Margaret Isola; Ella, wife of R. 11. McKee, teller of the Bank of the Ohio Valley at Wheeling, and Carrie, who is single and at home.
. Mr. and Mrs. Woods have six children, as follows: James Russell, born December 6, 1881; Martha Jane, born August 11, 1885; Katie Belle, born April 23, 1888; Margaret Isola, born March 21, 1891; William MeKin- ley, born September 25, 1893, and Paul Ed- win, born November 20, 1899. Politically, Mr. Woods is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W. of Bridgeport. Re- ligiously he is a member of the M. E. Church, attending Lancaster Chapel, which is located on the farm, the site of which was donated by James Woods.
GEORGE KERN, who has been secretary of the Belmont Savings & Loan Company of Bellaire, Ohio, for the past three years, was born in the Rhine section of Germany, in 18.37. In 1853, when still a lad, he immigrated to America, intent upon making a career for him- self. A short time was spent in Baltimore, Maryland, and then the young man made his way to Wheeling, (West) Virginia, and two years later located in Benwood, where he fol- lowed the trade of baker until he came to Bel laire, in 1856, engaging in the same bu iness until 1885.
Mr. Kern then embarked in a confectionery business and continued in the same until he accepted his present responsible position as secretary of the Belmont Savings & Loan Com- pany. The marriage of Mr. Kern was to Cathi-
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erine Roder, who was born in Hesse, Germany. and a family of 12 children was born to them, eight of these survive and all live in Bellaire, with the exception of one who resides at Rich- mond. Virginia. The handsome family resi- dence is located on Belmont street in South Bellaire, where the family is much esteemed and has a wide circle of friends. In politics Mr. Kern is a Democrat and has voted that ticket since 1859. For 20 years he served his township as trustee and has been a member of the City Council of Bellaire for 10 years. Mr. Kern is a man of social instincts and belongs to many fraternal orders, including the Odd Fel- lows. For many years he has been a leading member of the German Reformed Church.
JOHN H. HOPKINS, assistant secretary of the Belmont Savings & Loan Company, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1867, a son of James P. and Isabel ( Nelson ) Hopkins, the former of whom died in 1881. The family moved to Belmont County and to Bellaire in 1882. His mother was born 70 years ago in Belmont County and our subject has five brothers and two sisters, namely: Nettie; N. S., a farmer and also a stock dealer; Rev. J. A., pastor of a Christian Church in Maryland ; R. L., a farmer of Belmont County; Mrs. Mary Giffin, living near Bellaire; George E., in the in- sitrance business at Bellaire; and Bert W., now clerk of Pultney township.
Mr. Hopkins took a course at Wheeling Business College after attending the Bellaire High School, and since 1887 has followed bookkeeping, being for a time with the United States Glass Company at Pittsburg. Since June, 1898, he has been connected with his present company and he is also secretary of the Bellaire Water Works, the business of the two concerns being conducted in the same office. Mr. Hopkins was married to Edna C. Blackburn, a daughter of M. L. Blackburn, and has one son, Francis Perry. His pleasant home is situated at Rose Hill, and both he and wife belong to the Christian Church. His fraternal connec- tion is with Black Prince Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
The Belmont Savings & Loan Company was
incorporated March 5, 1885, the incorporators being: James B. Darrah, deceased; William J. McClain; John W. Coulson; Patrick Whea- lan : David 11. Darrah; John E. Robinson; and James F. Anderson, and these formed the board of directors. The present officers are: J. F. Anderson, president; John H. McGraw, vice-president ; George Kern, secretary; James T. Kelley, treasurer ; and Jolm 11. Hopkins, as- sistant secretary, the board of directors being formed by the above with David Walker and Charles A. Grella. The business is carried on in Bellaire at No. 3252 Union street.
E. G. KRAUTER, a well-known farmer of Pease township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born in Southern Germany in 1856, and re- sided there until he reached the age of eighteen years. Ile then came on a visit to his uncle, William Burkle, who at that time was a butcher of Bridgeport, Ohio. Mr. Krauter engaged in the grocery business suc- cessfully at Martin's Ferry for a period of eight years, then sokl out to Louis Schechle. Hle has since given his attention to farming.
Mr. Krauter is residing on the old Van Pelt farm, which he purchased in 1887 from Hiram MeCombs, the grantee of Margaret Blocher, who had purchased the property at the division of the Van Pelt estate. Jacob Van Pelt had located on the place as early as 1825, and the family owned a large tract of land in Pease township. He built the brick part of the house now occupied by our sub- ject in 1850, to which the latter added and remodeled, making a very attractive home. The Van Pelts, who were very prominent in this county, have all passed away. Oliver Van Pelt, the last of the name in this county, was born in 1831 and died Angust 15, 1902, having always lived in Pease township. Of the old homestead Mr. Krauter has 66 acres, and during the past fourteen years has been engaged in the dairy business, whole- saling to a milkman at Martin's Ferry. His farm is well stocked and he makes a specialty of Jersey and Holstein cattle. He also pur-
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chased the James Wiley home of 150 acres in 1807. The Wiley farm he leases on shares. lle grows fruit extensively and devotes the upper part of his farm to raising grain and stock.
Mr. Kranter was united in marriage with a daughter of Christ Hoffman of Ohio County, West Virginia, he being a retired butcher residing in Fulton. To this union were born two daughters, Carrie and Minnie. aged 20 and 16 years, respectively. In poli- ties our subject has always been a Repub- lican. Ile has been a member of the board of education for the past twelve years, and for ten years has been commissioner of the Mar- tin's Ferry & Colerain Pike. Fraternally he is a member of the National Union. Relig- ionsly he is a German Lutheran, but his fam- ily is Presbyterian.
THEODORE NEFF, one of the best known citizens and business men of Belmont County, Ohio, maintains an office at No. 3184 Union street, Bellaire, and conducts the largest fire, life, accident, tornado and wind- storm insurance business in the county. He is a native of this county, having been born in York township, October 15, 1851, and is a son of George and Martha ( Williams) Neff.
The Neff or Neife family originally came from Switzerland, locating in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Conrad Neff, grandfather of our subject, a native of Maryland, with two brothers, John and George, started overland for Missouri in 1797. Upon arriving at Wheeling, (West) Virginia, the wife of Con- rad Neff was taken sick and died. John Neff proceeded to Missouri, but George remained with Conrad. With their families they crossed the river and located a few miles from Bridgeport, in Belmont County, where they entered land. The numerous repre- sentatives of the Neff family, so widely known in Behnont County, are all descended from these hardy pioneers. By his first wife Conrad Neff had two children. He formed. a second umion in 1802 or 1803 with Eliza.
beth Feeley, by whom he had ten children, among them being the father of our subject. Of the twelve children of whom he was father, all lived to reach the age of seventy years, and one of them, Benjamin, is now residing in Pultney township, being past eighty years of age.
George Neff was born three miles east of St. Clairsville in 1809, and died December 18, 1884. Ile followed the occupation of farm- ing, and during most of his life resided near Captina Creek. He married Martha Wil- liams, who was born in 18H in one of the first houses built in Bridgeport, and died in September, 1878. She was a daughter of Ezra Williams, who was born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to this country at an early day.
Theodore Neff's boyhood days were spent in York township, where he lived until he passed the age of 35 years. In tooi he pur- chased his present home farm, a part of the Jacob Rodefer farm, on the hill overlooking many miles of the Ohio Valley and the cities of Wheeling and Bellaire. Here he will soon have laid out and suitably set with trees a park to be known as Neff's Grandview Park, which will be a valuable addition to the city of Bellaire. A means of transportation will be provided to convey people up and down the bluff, and the view being one of unsur- passed beauty, it will be a very popular place. Mr. Neff owns five farms in Belmont County, and for many years has engaged in growing vegetables and raising thoroughbred stock and fowls of all kinds. He is a Democrat in politics, but has accepted of no offices ex- cept assessor of York township, in which capacity he served two terms. He and his son, Edney, are members of lonic Lodge. No. 438, F. & A. M. On his farm is located an abundance of splendid molding sand, for the removal and exportation of which the Belmont Sand Company was organized. The pits contain sands of every grade. for heavy and light molding, building. and for plastering and bricklaying. The company controls the large pits on
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Mr. Neff's farm . and others in the county, and supply sand for the local market and for many large corporations in other parts of the country, including the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. At the present time about 100 tons per day are taken from the pits and loaded upon cars. In the near future up- to-date machinery, probably electrical, will be installed to reduce to a minimum the ex- pense of loading and digging. Ochre is also found conveniently and will later be devel- oped. Mr. Neff has been the prime mover in various business enterprises, notable among which is the Enterprise Enamel Company, of which he purchased the first shares of stock.
Five different business concerns have their office and headquarters at No. 3184 Union street, the office of Mr. Neff. Following is a brief sketch of each:
The Belmont Electric Light & Power Company was organized in 1899 by Theodore Neff, J. B. Watt, John T. Flynn, J. A. Green and Thomas E. Shelly. J. A. Green is presi- dent; II. A. Neff, secretary and manager, and five of the organizers are directors. The plant is located on Monroe street, between 35th and 36th streets, and supplies light and power for the city.
The Neff Real Estate & Investment Company was organized and chartered under the laws of Ohio in the spring of 1902 by Theodore Neff, John W. Neff, Harry A. Neff, Thomas B. McKelvey and J. O. Mc- Kelvey, these men constituting the board of directors. The officers are: T. B. McKelvey, president; Ilarry A. Neff, secretary, and E. D). Neff, treasurer. An extensive business has been done toward improving the city and suburbs, especially at Shadyside, where free excursions are run by the company and many lots have been sold for residence and specu- lative purposes. The prospects of the suburb for a home site are bright.
The Enterprise Telephone Company has over sixty 'phones in nse, besides centrals. accommodating a large mimber of farms and business houses. The suburban line operates
through St. Joe, McClainsville, Neff's sid ing, Bald Knob, etc., with central at Valonia and branches to Dillie's Bottom, and central at Key, with branches among farmers. It has central exchange with the National and Ohio Valley companies at Bellaire. Robert Me Kelvey is president ; William Unterzuber, vice-president; Franklin Neff, secretary, and J. (. McKelvey, treasurer. Among the di . rectors are William Ramsey, Sanmel White, John W. Neff, Alexander Neff and Dr. Korell of Key.
The Eastern Ohio Milling Company was recently incorporated for the purpose of mill- ing, dealing in feed and the wholesale gro- cery business. The officers are: George O. Robinson, president; Morris Elikan, vice- president, and J. P. Clutter, secretary and treasurer. The office will be at the old Ault Mill, which will be remodeled and equipped. The directors of the company incude Alex. ander Neff and II. A. Neff.
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