USA > Ohio > Belmont County > Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 78
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Susan Finney, there were two children, who grew to maturity, both of them living now near St. Clairsville, Ohio.
Mrs. Watson was born in 1841. Her ma- ternal grandfather, Joli Caldwell, emigrated to this country from Ireland. He died in Pittsburg from a malignant fever, and two or three of his sisters succumbed to the malady also. The father of Mrs. Watson was brought to Ohio by his parents at the age of three years. His parents located at that time on the old Hammond farm, which the elder Hammond cleared from the woods. The mother of Mrs. Watson was a native of Ire- land and accompanied her parents to this country when seven years old. She was born in 1812 and died in 1850. She was reared principally in Pennsylvania and came to Bel- mont County when a young woman. Her husband was born May 13, 1808, and sur- vived her many years, 1880 marking the date of his death.
Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Watson, as follows: James Hays, born February 5, 1870; William W., born August 6, 1871; Ella Jane, born September 9, 1873. and J. Walter, born November 12, 1878. James Il. married Amanda Watson on the roth day of March, 1896. ITis wife is a daughter of Andrew Watson of Guernsey County. He has five children-Margaret H .. born in February, 1897; John Melvin, born in 1898; William G., born in January, 1900, and twins, born in November, 1901, their names being Winfield Hays and Mary Helen ..
William W. is still unmarried and remains at home on the farm. He was liberally edu- cated at Franklin College at New Athens, Ohio. Ella Jane, the eldest daughter, was educated at the same institution. January 3. 1000, she married Jay B. Patton, and resides in Harrison County, Ohio. J. Walter, the youngest son of our subject, like his broth- ers and sister, was sent to Franklin College, from which he graduated. For the past two vears he has attended the United Presby- terian Seminary at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, where he is taking a theological course. He
makes his home at the seminary and has filled the pulpit on several occasions.
Mr. Watson is a man of broad, liberal ideas. Ile has spent a great deal of money in rearing his family, and his children are all the recipients of a liberal education. Two of his sons, James and William W., have chosen the vocation of their father and will be farm- ers. In politics our subject was a faithful adherent of the Republican party up to 1884. He was present at a political meeting in Pittsburg in 1856, and during the same year cast his vote for Fremont. During the cam- paign of 1884 he worked hard for Blaine, but the latter's attitude on the prohibition question in Maine soured him on Blaine and the Republican party also. Since then Mr. Watson has used his vote and influence with the Prohibitionists. However, he has never been a politician, but has done his duty as a citizen, having served on the election board, as supervisor and in various other capacities.
In his religious ideas our subject has been a lifelong member of the United Presby- terian Church. He has been an elder of the same 'since 1871, and has served upon several occasions as a delegate to the General Assem- bly, particularly at Cambridge in 1878, and at Allegheny in May, 1902. Both he and his wife can remember attending church in the early days, listening to a sermon in the forenoon, and after a luncheon another ser- inon of more than the average length was de- livered in the afternoon. Mr. Watson has led an exemplary life, and has always been active in church affairs and is beloved by all who know him. Mr. Watson served nearly 35 years in Sabbath-school work.
JOHN DuBOIS, a noted lumber dealer and manufacturer of Bellaire, Ohio, is in- digenons to Belmont County, his birth hav- ing taken place June 4. 1838, in Colerain township. He is a son of John and Elizabeth (Douglas) Du Bois, both natives of County Antrim, Ireland, where their marriage vows
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were exchanged. Five children were born to them before they left their native land. After emigration they settled in Belmont County, Ohio and in time four more children were born to them. The father was a blacksmithi by trade and followed that occupation for some years with such success that he pur- chased a farm in Colerain township and en- gaged in argicultural pursuits. Success crowned his efforts and he acquired a large amount of land. He died in ISSo, having previously lost his companion and helpmeet in 1857.
Mr. DuBois has one brother living, Maj. Joseph M. DuBois, of Dallas, Texas, who served during the Civil War in the 15th Ohio Regiment and rendered valuable services to our country. The subject of this narrative remained at home upon his father's farm until he attained the age of 35 years, and he still owns and manages the homestead farm in Colerain township. He located in Bellaire in 1876, succeeding in the lumber business his brother, Alexander, whose demise took place about that time. Mr. DuBois has fol lowed that line of work constantly ever since. In 1880 he built a planing mill on Central avenue and Harrison street. This mill has been operated for nearly a quarter of a cen- tury under the firm name of DuBois & Mc- Coy, and turns out a large amount of work. Mr. DuBois has been twice married. In early manhood he married Margaret Frazier, who died in October, 1888, leaving seven sons, as follows: James F., whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this volume; John A .; Samuel L., a minister of the United Presby- terian Church; Joseph M., ex-city treasurer and at present bookkeeper at the mill; David Douglas, a law student at Columbus; Charles McConkey, who died at the early age of four years, and Lawrence Lorain, who is also employed at the mill.
Some time after the decease of his first wife our subject married the present Mrs. DuBois, whose maiden name was Sarah At- kinson: she was reared near Wheeling, West Virginia. The family prefer the relig-
ion of the United Presbyterian Church. Po litically, Mr. DuBois is an ardent Repub- lican, and although not a politician, he has been honored with the confidence of the peo- ple in his community and has served his party faithfully. From 1892 to 1894 lic served as mayor of Bellaire, and his adminis- tration of city affairs during his term was commendable. As a business man he is straightforward and upright in his dealings, and he has few equals in the lumber business Years of constant toil have brought to him a well-deserved reward, and he has long since reached an enviable position financially. He has a beautiful home which he built some time ago at No. 4211 Noble street. His office is located on Central avenue.
THOMAS D. FRITTER, a well-known and prosperous farmer of Belmont County, located in section 17, Union township, near Lafferty, was born in Belmont County on February 22, 1843, a son of Humphrey and Ann'(Perkins) Fritter, both of whom were natives of Belmont County, the former a son of Moses and Sarah Fritter, of Stafford County. Ilumphrey Fritter was born in 1808 and died in 1866, aged 58 years. Ile owned a fine farm of 50 acres in Goshen township and there reared his family, be- came a prominent citizen, and served for a long period as one of the school directors. Ilis wife was a daughter of Stephen and Catherine Perkins, natives of Frederick County, Virginia, making her home in sec- tion 17. Union township, until her death, September 4, 1902. Seven children were born to our subject's parents, he being the second in order of birth, the others being as follows: Sarah C., who married J. W. Hartsock, of Warren County. Ohio: Cilicia A., who married A. B. Phillips, lives in Meade County, South Dakota; Stephen W., who resides in Flushing township, is a farmer; Francis, who is a farmer and resides in this county, adjoining our subject; Martha, who
MR. AND MRS. DAVID B. LONG.
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still lives in the old home; and Sina, who is Mrs. Frank Spencer, of Boulder County, Colorado.
Thomas D. Fritter, of this biography, at- tended school in Belmont County, and later spent some time at study in Franklin Col- lege. lle has devoted his life to farming. owning nine acres of land individually, and 150 acres in conjunction with his mother's estate, all of it being very valuable on ac- count of its being underlaid with coal. This has not yet been developed, but the land is very fertile, and under Mr. Fritter's excel- lent management yields generously. He is no politician, but a man of extensive read- ing, owning and enjoying a large and well- selected library and keeping in touch with the literature of the day. He is a member of the Masonic order and has filled all of the offices of Flushing Lodge, No. 298, of Flushing, Ohio, temporarily. Several years since he accepted the office of land appraiser, but cares little for political honors or public place. He deservedly stands well as a sub- stantial and worthy citizen of Union town- ship.
DAVID B. LONG, widely known in Bel- mont County as a veteran of the late Civil War, raises choice fruits and garden truck, etc., on his well tilled farm, about one and a half miles west of Bellaire. He is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Kilgore) Long, grandson of Jacob Long and was born on the present site of the city of Bellaire, January 22, 1829.
Jacob Long was a substantial Pennsylvania Dutchman, and was a native of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. His business career was a success in every way; he hanled salt, when that commodity was worth $5 per bushel, and followed wagoning across the mountains to a great extent.
Jolin Long. our subject's father, was born and reared in Mead township, Belmont Coun- ty, and became one of the residents of Pult- ney township previous to the birth of our sub- ject. He was united in marriage with Eliza-
beth Kilgore, and they had a family of II children, whose names will be given later. Mr. Long died when 73 years of age in 1878, leav- ing his farm and its interests to the care of his widow and her children. Mrs. Long sur- vived until 1884, when she too passed away, at the age of 84 years.
Our subject's brothers and sisters are as follows : Jacob, who is a dairyman, living south of Bellaire; William, residing in Pultney town- ship, as does also his brother Alexander; Nancy Jane and Sybil, residents of Belmont County, one of whom resides at Cambridge; John, whose demise took place in the spring of 1902; Joseph, who died in the army; and three sisters, Martha, Mackey and Margaret, who are deceased.
The intellectual training of David B. Long was derived from the common schools of Pult- ney township, and his first active employment was found on the farm, where he worked until the beginning of the Civil War. At that time, he, together with all his brothers except Jacob, enlisted to serve his country, becoming a mem- ber of Company H, 6ist Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., and served as orderly sergeant of the company. Ile participated in many battles of importance and served, altogether, three years and two months, being ministered out of service in the spring of 1865. On August 20, 1864, while in line of battle under General Ilooker at Peach Tree Creek, he was wounded, the ball striking his right shoulder and causing the amputation of his arm, on which account he has received a liberal pension for many years. Hle was also in the battle of Gettysburg with the nith and 12th Army Corps, which were later sent to the Southwest and consolidated to form the 20th Army Corps.
At the close of the war, Mr. Long returned home and entered into the stock business- feeding, buying and selling with great profit. Hle spent 18 years in this manner on his farm, three miles west of Bellaire, and finally decid- ed to journey west to Kansas. The chose his location in Labette County and spent two years, 1884-86, there, but the crops were not what he had expected and he was troubled
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with the ague, all of which led to his removal to his native place. Arriving once more at the scenes of his boyhood years, he built his pres- ent home, about 10 years ago, and has met with unqualified success in business affairs since.
Mr. Long was married to Cynthia A. Sha- han, in July, 1849. She was born and reared near Shadyside, Belmont County. Six sons and four daughters have been born to this union, namely : Harmon, John, James, Samuel, Edwin, George, Sarah Jane, Isabelle, Alice and Cynthia G. The last three are still residents of Belmont County. Sarah Jane lives in the State of Washington. George is a carpenter and also conducts a store near Warwick. Ed- win and Samuel are farmers and fruit growers in Michigan. Samuel is a minister of the Gospel. James farms in Belmont County, and Harmon follows agricultural pursuits in Cham- paigu County, Ohio. The family are Metho- dists in their religious convictions, the father having joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1849. In political affairs he is a true Re- publican and has served as township trustee, besides holding various other offices. He was formerly a member - of the G. A. R. In all affairs which he undertakes he pos- sesses the unbounded confidence and well wishes of his fellow citizens, and he has al- ways been a credit to his community.
WILLIAM A. MERRITT, a representa- tive farmer and popular citizen of Wheeling township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born on the fine farm which he now owns and operates, on April 23, 1857, a son of James F. Merritt, who died when William A. was but two years of age.
Daniel Merritt, the great-grandfather of our subject, entered 610 acres of land from the government in 1805, and our subject has in his possession the patent deed for the same, bearing the signatures of President Jefferson and Secretary of State James Madi. son. Daniel Merritt served as an officer
through the Revolutionary War, and left his sword and belt to his descendants. These were in the possession of our subject's father, but after his death, on March 18, 1859, were partially destroyed by fire. The sword with its silver mountings was turned into a corn- cutter and into silver rings, both now lost. Daniel Merritt was born August 15, 1750, and died on this farm after living upon it some 20 years; his brother, who was a sur- veyor, platted it. He reared a family of six children, three sons and three daughters, by his wife, Nancy Merritt, who was born February 2, 1762. These children were: Polly, Betsey, Plesy, John, William, and Josiah.
Jolin Merritt, son of Daniel and grand- father of our subject, was born May 7, 1797, married Sarah Ferguson and died on this farm on January 11, 1841. Their children were the following: James F., born Febru- ary 18, 1820; Daniel, born November 27, 1821; Anna, born March 4, 1824; Nancy, born May 21, 1826; and Josiah, born August 31, 1828. John's wife, Sarah, died October 7, 1834, and he married Margaret Arm- strong October 15, 1835, and these children were born: Sarah, born July 18, 1836; Mary Jane, born March 18, 1840; and John.
James Merritt, the father of our subject, married Christina Lodge on May 14, 1846, and the children born to this union were: Tamzen, born May 9, 1847, married Byron Iloge, of Wheeling township, and died Oc- tober 15, 1889, leaving three sons, James B., Arthur W., and Frank G., all of whom are in business in Cleveland; Sarah C., born August 15. 1850, resides with our subject, William A., of this sketch.
William A. Merritt is one of the best- known and most highly respected citi- zens of Wheeling township, not only on account of his excellence as a farmer, but also for those qualities which go to make a reliable and stable man, one of energy, honesty, integrity and good-fellowship. His home is one of the best improved in the township, and he is
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justly proud of his fine buildings and high- grade stock. In politics he is a Republican, differing from his father, and has hekl many of the county offices, has been school di- rector for nine years and is clerk of the board; he was also his party's candidate for director of the County Infirmary, and was elected November 4, 1902, with 1,700 ma- jority.
On March 18, 1801, Mr. Merritt was united in marriage with Sarah Jane Bentley, daughter of Solomon and Eleanor Bentley, of Richland township, and the children born to this union are: Tamzen C., born Septem- ber 18, 1802; Anna E., born May 15, 1894; James B., born October 26, 1898; and Wil- liam L., born January 31, 1900. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merritt belong to the Presbyterian
Church. Ilis land is very valuable, being underlaid with several veins of coal, while the third oil well of this section is located here, the derrick for its operation being in course of construction.
ALEXANDER Y. HENDERSON, a progressive farmer of Wheeling township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born on his present farm July 18, 1844, and is a son of Alexander and grandson of Andrew Hender- son.
Andrew Henderson was born in Pennsyl- vania and was of Scotch-Irish descent. Ile was father of the following children: Alex- ander, father of our subject; Andrew, who lived at Cambridge; William, who lived and died in the West; James, a United Presby- terian minister, who died in Towa, where his family still reside; Matthew, born in 1807, lived in Wheeling township,-he married Miranda A. Perrian, who was born in New York City in 1811, and they had ii children; John, who lived in Behnont County, died at St. Clairsville in 1807: Martha, who mar- ried John Carnahan, died in Athens, Ohio; Elizabeth, wife of William McFarland, died in Athens, Ohio; and Mary, wife of John Kerr, died in Belmont County.
Alexander Henderson was born in Wash- intgon County, Pennsylvania, in 1797, and was a young man when he came with his father to Ohio about 1815. Ile settled and cleared the land which became known as the old family homestead, it at one time comprising more than 500 acres. He was father of the following children: Andrew, born in Belmont County, in 1824, moved to Missouri after the war, in which he and two sons, Samuel and William, fought. He later went west, and at the time of his death in 1809 was living in Boonville, Missouri. William, born in 1828, lived in Colerain township until his death, and his family still reside there. James, born in 1832, was cap- tain of Company G, 170th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was wounded at Snicker's Gap July 18. 1861. He died in Colerain town- ship in 1873. Alexander Y. is the subject of this biography. Mary Jane, born in 1826, married Samuel Sloan, by whom she had II children. Martha, born in 1830, married William Kerr, who died in 1800, leaving four children. Elizabeth, who lives in Kansas, is the widow of John Baker, who died in 1901. Hannah Ann, wife of James Coulter, lives near Harrisville, in Harrison County, Ohio.
Alexander Y. Henderson attended the common schools of his community, and was but 20 years of age when he enlisted in Com- pany G, 170th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He par- ticipated in the engagements at Snicker's Gap and Winchester, and was with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. He has always followed farming as an occupation, and just after his marriage settled on the farm to the south of his present location. His house was destroyed by fire in 1868, and was re- placed by a handsome new brick home at a cost of $3,200. He moved to his present farm in 1900 and erected a new house and barn. He has to acres of the old homestead, and follows general farming and stock rais- ing. He raises nothing but registered stock. and makes a specialty of Chester White hogs and Scotch Collie dogs. He is a fine pen- man, and in 1900 was called upon to take the
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census of the township. He has been notary public since 1896, school director seven or eight years, and has held other township offices. Ile is a Republican, and has been central committeeman for a period of 12 years.
Our subject was married October 25, 1866, to Rachel A. Coulter, who was born January 8, 1844, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann Coulter. Her father was born in Maryland in 1816 and died January 8, 1901; her mother was born in Belmont County in 1815 and died in 1890. Ten children were born to this union: Charles L., September 13, 1867, a veterinary surgeon of Flushing; Alfred II., born March 6, 1869, agent and telegraph operator at Fairpoint, . mar- ried Laura Berry, of Bridgeport; Frank Wil- mer, born December 23, 1870, who is cashier of the First National Bank of Bridgeport, married Carrie Branum; Alonzo Ross, born December 15, 1872, is in the employ of the Crescent Coal Company,-he was married March 30, 1893, to Nona Edwards, and has three children; Elma Novelta, born January 24, 1875, married William F. Lemmon and lives in Harrison County, Ohio; Luman C., born February 7, 1877, is telegraph operator on the Lake Erie Railroad, near Canton, Ohio; Oralena T., born January 13, 1879, is at home; Marion F., born October 17, 1882; Anna Angelica, born December 29, 1885; and Alexander Y., Jr. Religiously, the family belongs to the U. P. Church.
CHARLES E. POTTS, night superin- tendent of the Actna Standard Mill, at No. 706 West Washington street, Martin's Ferry, is a man who, as his position indicates, carries the respect and esteem of his employ- ers and is numbered among the representa- tive citizens of his county. Ile is a son of Nathan 11. and Anna D. Potts and was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 7. 1867.
Nathan H. Potts followed farming pur-
suits umtil the war broke out between the North and South, and he enlisted in the army in April, 1861, during the first call of Presi- dent Lincoln for 75,000 volunteers. He was wounded in the left limb at Salem, May 3, 1863, and returned to his home, where he took a position as chief of telegraph opera- tors in Philadelphia. During the remainder of his life he held this position, and January 19, 1884, he departed this life, aged 44 years, four months and 20 days. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the latter's death took place September 30, 1874, at the age of 24 years. They had only two children, Charles, our subject, and Orville, who died in 1872 at the age of two years, having contracted the smallpox when it was epidemic in Phila- delphia.
Our subject was reared by his grandpar- ents and sent to school in Philadelphia, after which he learned the trade of a tanner and currier for four years, and went to Martin's Ferry in 1886. He found employment in the Aetna Standard Mill, where he has ever since been engaged, and he has held his present position for nearly five years.
March 12, 1894, he was united in marriage with Olive Carpenter, a daughter of Eugene and Oella (Farmer) Carpenter, and a native of Martin's Ferry. The Farmers and Car- penters were old families, well known in Bel- mont County, who were born, reared and died with the interests of its cities and towns at heart. Mrs. Potts is one of a family of ten children -- Leona V., who died when 19 years of age; Olive, our subject's wife; Ethel M., who died March 6, 1880, aged 14 . years; Claud E., a cooper in Coraopolis, Pennsyl- vania; Pearl, who died at the age of six weeks; l'earl, the second, now Mrs. Larry Broderick, residing in Coraopolis also; Myrtle, a resident of Springdale, Pennsyl- vania; Isaac C., numbered among the resi- dents of Coraopolis, where he is following the trade of a cooper; Grover C., likewise a cooper in Coraopolis; Una, who died July
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3, 1891, aged 14 months. The parents were devoted and active members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Potts have three children, viz., Wilfred Engene, Elton Gifford and Thelma Leota. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father of Mrs. Potts died March 16, 1901, aged 51 years, and his wife died October 9, 1894. They left an example and record as most ex- cellent people, leading devout and worthy lives, which afford a pleasing memory to a large circle of acquaintances.
MATTHEW CLARK MITCHELL, of Martin's Ferry, whose death occurred in Jan- uary, 1900, was born on Scotch Ridge, Bel- mont County, Ohio, July 22, 18440. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Porter Mitchell, and was one of a family of five children.
Mr. Mitchell took a prominent part in poli- tics, and his advice was much sought in party councils. He filled many offices with credit. From 1865 to 1870, inclusive, he was chief clerk in the Patent Office at Washington, D. C. He was mayor of Martin's Ferry from 1882 to 1885, and from 1888 to 1880. Tle was justice of the peace for two terms. Following the election of President Harrison, Mr. Mitch- ell was made postmaster of Martin's Ferry, continuing in office during the whole adminis- tration. At the time of Mr. Mitchell's death, he was chairman of the county board of deputy state supervisors of election, and had been elected land appraiser for the city. In Mr. Mitchell's death, the people at large suffered a loss only second to that sustained by his family. Upon many occasions his sound judgment and keen insight were of incalculable valne to the public. Endowed with grateful, genial man- ners, he made many warm friends, who great- ly regretted his untimely demise.
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