USA > Ohio > Belmont County > Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 83
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commissary-general on the staff of General Boyer, serving in the 96th Regiment, West Virginia Militia. His collegiate and medi- cal course was pursued at the Eclectic Medi- cal Institute, at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated February 17, 1865. He was admitted to practice as an attorney be- fore the pension and treasury departments of the United States, and in 1876 he was elected by the Republicans of Mason County, West Virginia, to the State Legislature, by a majority of 335 votes, serving through two terms. In 1877 he removed to Ohio and was elected by the Republican voters to the 72nd General Assembly, by the Marion- Morrow district, over Judge Asa A. Gardi- ner, by a plurality of 648 votes. He belongs to the Northern Ohio, the Ohio State, and the American Medical associations. In ad- dition to our subject, Rev. Mr. Hensley has these children: Dr. G. B., who was at one time located in Bellaire, but is now practic- ing at Chester, Meigs County, Ohio; David M., who is a jeweler and optician at Decatur, Indiana; Mrs. Mary J. Wetzell, who resides at Middleport, Meigs County; and Elizabeth F., the wife of George W. Smith, who is engaged in the steel works at Martin's Ferry, Ohio.
Dr. J. M. Hensley, the immediate subject of this sketch, was primarily educated in West Virginia, later entering Carleton Col- lege, at Syracuse, Ohio, from which he grad- uated in 1876. ITis medical reading occu- pied three years, including a course at Star- ling Medical College, at Columbus, and in 1882 he began his practice in his native State for ro years. Ile then graduated at the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati in 1892, and took up practice in that school in Meigs County, Ohio. In 1897 he came to Belmont County and resided in Martin's Ferry during the two following years, and then moved to Bellaire, where his time has been fully occupied ever since.
The marriage of Dr. Hensley was to Marinda Douglas, of Jackson County, West Virginia, and the six children born to this
union are as follows: Susan E .; Michael L., married, has one child and resides at West Wheeling; Mary F., at home; Essie M., now Mrs. Davis, resides at Bellaire; and Alfred and Cora Ellen, who are both at home. Dr. Hensley entertains cordial relations with the Harrison County Medical Association, the West Virginia State Eclectic Medical Asso- ciation, the Ohio State Medical Association. and the American Medical Association. He bears fraternal relations to the Odd Fellow order in West Virginia, the Knights of Pythias of Meigs County, the F. & A. M. of Bellaire, and the Tribe of Ben Hur of Bellaire, being examining physician for this order.
OLIVER S. NEGUS, a prominent farmer residing two miles northwest of Colerain, in Colerain township, Belmont County, Ohio, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, Octo- ber 30, 1847, and is a son of Caleb B. and Eliza J. (Branson) Negus.
Caleb B. Negus was born in Pennsylvania, December 5, 1819, and came to Ohio, where he successfully engaged in agricultural pir- suits, becoming widely known over Jefferson and Belmont counties. He was an enthusi- astic Abolitionist and earnestly advocated the cause. His death occurred- December 13 1853. He was married March 9, 1813, to Eliza f. Branson, who was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, December 1, 1812, and they had five children, as follows: Rachel E., who died at the age of 35 years; Amasa I., who also died at the age of 35; Oliver S .; Anna B., who died at the age of 22, and Plummer B., who died at the age of five years After the death of her husband Mrs. Negus formed a second union with Jonathan Fawcett of Columbiana County, Ohio, and after their marriage they lived in Colerain town hip, this county. Mrs. Fawcett, who lived for some years at the home of our sub ject, died at Martin's Ferry while on a visit Anguist TO, 1889.
Oliver S. Negus was educated at the
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Friends' Boarding School at Mount Pleas- ant, Ohio, and after his school days were over took to farming, an occupation he has followed throughout life. Ile has one of the most beautiful homes on the Cadiz Pike, two iniles northwest of Colerain, being located on the old Archie Majors estate. He owns 94 acres, all of which is underlaid with coal. He also engages in dairying to some extent. Ile was at one time trustee of Colerain township and was commissioner of the Colerain & Martin's Ferry Pike from its inception until he resigned. He is one of the reliable and substantial citizens of the county, and is everywhere held in the highest esteem.
November 1, 1876, Mr. Negus was united in marriage with Deborah Steer, who comes of one of the most respected furiles of this section. She is a daughter of Israel and Rebecca (Bracken) Steer, granddaughter of James and Ruth (Wilson) Steer, and great- granddaughter of James and Abigail (Edgerton) Steer. James, the great-grand- father, came from Virginia in 1812 with his family and located in Colerain township, Bel- mont County, Ohio, where he died in 1819. James Steer, grandfather of Mrs. Negus, ac- companied his father to Ohio in 1812 and lo- cated in section 12. range 3. He was mar- ried in 1819 and lived on his home farm until his death, in 1874, at the advanced age of 93 years. He was one of the early type of pio- neers who settled in the then new State and suffered untold hardships and deprivations in converting a wilderness into improved farm- ing land. ITe and his wife were parents of seven children, as follows: Israel; Abigail who died at the age of 75 years, was the wife of Jonathan Scofield; Martha, wife of Jehu Bailey, died at the age of 70 years; Rachel, wife of Joseph P. Lupton, is deceased; James, of Barnesville, Ohio; Nathan, of Colerain, and Joseph, who died at the age of three years. Israel Steer was educated in the common school and at Mount Pleasant Friends' Boarding School, and has been a farmer all his life. ITe has been an extensive land owner at different times, and
at present owns 150 acres, which is un- derlaid with coal. October 31, 1844, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Bracken, who was born in Ohio, April 10, 1825, and died September 3, 1901. To them were born seven children, as follows: Lindley B., who married Hannah Penrose, resides in Colerain township; Deborah, wife of our subject; Elisha, who married Ellen Gilbert, is a pros- perous farmer; Phoebe died at the age of 17 years; Sina, wife of James Walton, of War- ren township; Wilson J., who resides on the old home farm in Colerain township, and Sarah, who was a teacher for several years in the seminary of the church. Mr. Steer is a broad-minded and liberal thinking man and is wide awake to the interests of the com- munity.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Negus, namely: Anna B .; Albert, a graduate of Wheeling Business College; Mary R., a graduate of the Friends' Board- ing School at Barnesville; Laura E., Sarah D. and Wilson A. . The parents and children are all members of Short Creek Monthly Meeting, of which their parents were also members.
JACOB PARKINSON is one of the promi- nent farmer-citizens of Richland township. and owns and operates a fine farm of 204 acres, located within a few miles of St. Clairs- ville, Belmont County. He was born Oc- tober 5. 1854, in the township which is still his home.
William Parkinson, the father of Jacob, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1827. came to Belmont County in 1851 and died here in 1800. Ile was a farmer through life in Richland township and was prominent in Democratie political circles. He held the posi- tion of Infirmary director during a number of terms and his wise administration of af- fairs resulted in more comforts for the in mates and less needless expenditure to the county. The mother of Mr. Parkinson was Mary Lynn, a daughter of James and Isabel
ROBERT MCKELVEY.
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(Sheppard) Lym, and was born in Union township, and still survives, at the age of 72 years, a resident of Richland township. The four children born to our subject's parents were: Jacob; James L., a resident of Richland township; Mary Bell, the wife of Frank S. Waddell, of Richland township; and Daniel K., who is farming on the old homestead.
Jacob Parkinson grew up on his father's farm and obtained his education in the com- mon schools. In 1883 he married Sarah Brown, a daughter of James and Mary Brown, who was born in Cincinnati, in 1861, and was a teacher in Logan County. The five children born to this union were: Jessie Lynn, born in 1884; Louie May, born in 1886; William B., born in 1889; Mary Isabel, born in 1896, deceased; and Frank IT., born in 100r. The religious connection of Mr. Parkinson and family is with the Methodist Church. His large farm is devoted both to farming and stock raising and is most pleasantly situated, within seven miles of St. Clairsville. In poli- tics, our subject affiliates with the Democratic party. He is known to be an upright, honest man, a fine farmer, good neighbor and devoted to the welfare of his home and family, and is a worthy representative of the best citizenship of his township.
ROBERT MCKELVEY, a substantial farmer of Mead township, Belmont County, Ohio, and also a leading business citizen of Bellaire, was born in Mead township, in 1845. being a son of Samuel and Lucinda ( Creamer) McKelvey. The family is of Irish extraction; the grandfather, Robert MeKelvey, died in Ireland, leaving a widow. They resided near Omnah, County Tyrone. The maiden name of the grandmother was Boyd. After the death of her husband, she came to America with one of her sons, Thomas MeKelvey, who later made his home in Richland and Mead town- ships, Belmont County, and died, unmarried, in the latter township at the home of his brother Joseph. The grandmother of our
subject died when the latter was about 12 years old and was interred in the United Presbyterian Church Cemetery at Belmont. The sons of Robert MeKelvey were: James, who died in Monroe County, although form- erly a resident of Belmont ; Thomas; Robert; Samuel; George; Joseph and Weir. David Creamer, the maternal grandfather, was a very carly settler in Belmont County, driving across the mountains from Maryland and locating in Mead township, where his children were born.
Robert MeKelvey was well educated, sup- plementing what he learned in the local schools with what could be gained through attend- ance at college at Athens, and also received instruction at a select school at the Bethel Church. For a period of 52 months prior to his marriage, he engaged in teaching and then located on his present farm, in 1873. This property was purchased by Thomas MeKelvey from a Mr. Welsh, during the Civil War. In 1873 our subject married Mary J. Neff, daugh- ter of Courad Neff; she was born in 1856, in York township, this county. The four chil- dren of this union are: Tey Della, who is the wife of Dr. J. C. Archer, of Neff's siding, Pultney township; Ilova Emerson, who will complete his course in dentistry, at Columbus, Ohio, in March, 1903; Lawrence Earl, who is the very capable manager of his father's farm; and Samuel Neff, who has become an expert electrician, and has done much work on telephone lines.
Mr. McKelvey has not been so engrossed in agricultural pursuits as to put aside busi- ness opportunities of considerable magnitude, and is very well known for his capacity in many lines of activity. He is president of the Enterprise Telephone Company, a director in the People's Telephone Company and director in the Dollar Savings Bank of Bellaire, look- ing at all times carefully after the interests of these concerns. Flis prominence in politics has made him a successful candidate for many lo cal offices; for nine years he has served as justice of the peace, he has been assessor and land appraiser, and was holding the responsi ble position of township treasurer, at the time
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he cast his first vote, for a Democratic admin- istration. flis fine farm of 210 acres reflects credit upon its excellent management while its substantial and comfortable buildings make an ideal home. Formerly he was connected with the Farmers' Alliance movement. With his wife and family, he attends the United Pres- byterian Church, and few men in Mead town- ship stand higher in public esteem.
JAMES EDGERTON, one of the most suc- cessful fruit growers and largest shippers, in Belmont County, Ohio, is also one of the most prominent and esteemed citizens of Warren township. Our subject was born in this coun- ty, in 1828, one of a family of 13 children born to Joseph and Charity ( Doudna) Edger- ton, both of whom were natives of North Car- olina.
Joseph Edgerton was born in 1797, in Wayne County, North Carolina, and remained there until 18044, when he came with his parents to Ohio, settling on Captina Creek. There his father erected a flouring mill and operated the same until his death. Joseph Edgerton died in lowa, in 1865. The mother of our subject was a daughter of John and Miriam Doudna, natives of North Carolina, who set- tled in Ohio, about 1804. She passed out of life in Belmont County, in 1855. Both parents were consistent and worthy members of the Society of Friends, and were well known and most highly respected throughout the county.
James Edgerton was reared on his father's farm and acquired his education in the sub- scription schools until the age of 17, when he was placed in the excellent school conducted by Friends, located at Mount Pleasant, Ohio. where he completed his education. In 1852 he purchased a farm located about two miles from the city of Barnesville, which was devoted to the nursery business, and in 1879 purchased his present farm, consisting of 28 acres, and here he has brought to perfection many varieties of fruit, making a specialty of raspberries and strawberries. He is one of the largest shippers in this locality, to Philadelphia, Chicago and
other points. He shipped the first bushel of strawberries ever shipped from Belmont Com- ty to Chicago, establishing a market for the fruit in that city. His methods have been in- vestigated by other growers and in many cases have been adopted. There are few facts about the growing of fruit in this section that remain secrets to Mr. Edgerton, and he is justly con- sidered an authority.
Mr. Edgerton was the first person who bred Jersey cattle west of the Alleghany Mountains and brought his first Jersey cattle to Belmont County from Rhode Island in 1867. He still owns some fine milch cows of that breed.
In 1852 Mr. Edgerton was married to Mary Ann Williams, a daughter of William C. and Rebecca Williams, the former of whom was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1810, and settled in Belmont County in 1819, and lived here until his death in 1879. The death of his wife occurred in 1874, her birth having been in 1814. The ten children born to our subject and wife were named as follows : Will- iam D., Rebecca, Joseph S., Thomas D., Caro- line, Mary J., Sarah T., Walter J., James W. and Anna E. Rebecca died October 23, 1801. Thomas D. was drowned in 1885. James W. married Edith Conrow, daughter of Thomas Conrow, of Flushing, Ohio, and she died No- vember 4, 1898, leaving a babe of five months. Rebecca also left one child at death. Mr. and Mrs. Edgerton have 12 grandchildren, in whoni they take much comfort.
JOSEPH A. ORR, a well-known agricul- turist of Richland township, Belmont County, Ohio, lives on his farm of 100 acres four miles south of St. Clairsville. His birth occurred in 1851, and he is a native of the farm which he now calls his own.
The Orr family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Our subject's grandfather, Charles Orr, was a native of Pennsylvania und was a soldier of the Revolution. His father. William Orr, emigrated to the United States from Scotland. James Orr, father of Joseph .A., was born
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July 22, 1796, in Westmoreland County, Penn- sylvania, and followed farming as a voca- tion. His residence in Belmont County dated from 1830 when he came here and settled on the farm now owned by our subject in Rich- land township. He was a wheelwright by trade, and was considered an expert at the business, making Belmont County the center of his operations for a number of years previous to engaging in farming. At the time of his death, in September, 1887, he had accumulated considerable property and was looked upon as a representative citizen of the county. Ile was a Democrat until 1856, and then became a Republican, being at all times strongly in favor of abolition of slavery. He was mar- ried May 19, 1835, to Jane Stitt, who was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, May 8, 1806, being a daughter of John and Mary (Chambers) Stitt. John Stitt was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1778, and came to the Northwest Territory in 1798. He was a son of John and Jane ( McElroy ) Stitt, both natives of Ireland. He was married March 2, 1805, to Mary Chambers, and came with his family to Belmont County, March 17, 1818, where he lived until his death, April 14, 1863. Mary ( Chambers) Stitt was born in Ireland in 17So, and with her parents, Alex- ander and Rachel ( Mays) Chambers, came to this country in 1708, settling in Jefferson County, Ohio. Both Mr. and Mrs. Orr were United Presbyterians in religious faith and were members of the United Presbyterian Church at St. Clairsville during their lifetime. James Orr's death took place September 22, 1887, but his widow survived him intil De- cember 11, 1896. The names of their seven children are as follows: Mary A., John, Eliza J .. all deceased ; and William S., Rachel ( ... James N., and Joseph. John served in the Civil War as a member of Company F. 15th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and died July 2, 1863, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, having been in the hospital a short time previous to his death ; he now lies buried in the National Cemetery at Murfreesboro. James N. married Sarah M. Gordon, a daughter of David and Jane ( Dick-
ey) Gordon, the former of whom was a min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and lived in Virginia, and they have a family of five children, namely : Harry G., Charles W., deceased; Frank L., Mary E., and Thomas T. James N. Orr is a carpenter by trade and a good workman. - He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church and lives in New Philadelphia.
Joseph A. and his brother, William S., who live together, are Republicans in their political views. Mr. Orr has a well-tilled farm and thoroughly understands farming in all its de- tails. In religion he is a member of the United Presbyterian Church. With the other mcm- bers of the family, he attends services at St. Clairsville regularly.
W. G. SIMPSON, assistant cashier of the Farmer's & Merchant's Bank of Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio, is a gentleman of ability and has many excellent qualifications which make his services of great value to the company by which he is employed. He is a son' of William and Elizabeth (Burns) Simpson, and was born in Mead township.
William Simpson was a native of Pultney township and died in 1863, when our subject was still quite small. He followed steam- boating for some time and subsequently be- came a tiller of the soil, being especially suc- cessful in the latter pursuit. He shipped boats of produce down the Ohio and Missis- sippi rivers to New Orleans, where they were disposed of with profit. His father was originally from the Keystone State.
William Simpson married a Miss Burns, whose demise occurred in 1870. They reared a family of 12 children, of whom W. G. is the youngest. One son, W. B., manages the home farm in Mead township; one lives in Mansfield, and another in Delaware, Ohio; and one daughter makes her home in St. Clairsville, Ohio, while another lives in Mis- souri. These children are all that survive of the once large family. Mr. Simpson was an early Republican, being originally a mem-
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ber of the Know-Nothing or American party, and was decided in his opinions.
Our subject is a native of Belmont County and was reared on the farm, remaining there until he attained the age of 17 years, at which time he entered Galey's Seminary at Lexington, Ohio, and completed the course there. He embarked in the coal business on his own interests after this and opened the Glenn mine in Belmont County, which he conducted with the best results for 12 or 15 years. He disposed of it to the com- bine just previous to taking his present po- sition in the bank as assistant cashier. He is prompt and active in performing his duties and has the entire confidence of his employ- ers in the various business duties which claim his attention.
Miss Mary M. McMannis, of Belmont County, became the wife of our subject and they have now two children, namely: Earl E. and Pearl L., and reside in their comfort- able, convenient home at No. 3564 Belmont street. In religious opinions they are mem- bers of the United Presbyterian Church of Bellaire.
Politically, Mr. Simpson is always a Re- publican. He affiliates with Wier Lodge at Demos in fraternal circles, and is also a member of the A. F. & A. M. and Hope Commandery, No. 26, of St. Clairsville, Ohio. To various enterprises of the city he gives his attention. Having the welfare of Bellaire at heart, he also has the respect of her citizens and his fellow men.
SILAS BAILEY, one of the large farm- ers and successful stock raisers of Belmont County, Ohio, belongs to one of the old-set- tled families of the county, one whose mem- bers have been among the prominent citi- zens for many years.
Silas Bailey was born in 1839 in Warren township, Belmont County, a son of Jesse, who was born in 1814 in Warren township and died in 1898, aged &4 years. He was a son of Jesse Bailey, who came as a pioneer
from North Carolina and located in Warren township, taking up land on which both he and his son Jesse followed farming. The mother of our subject was Asenath Patter- son, born in 1818 in Warren township, a daughter of Silas and Rachel (Starbuck) Pat- terson, who had migrated to Belmont County at an early day from Loudoun County, Vir- ginia, and settled in Goshen township. The names of the brothers and sisters of the father were: Edmund, Uriah, Mary and Matilda, and on the maternal side they were: George, Nathan and Elizabeth, the last named dying at the age of 87 years in 1901. Silas is the eldest of his parents' children, the others being: John, deceased; L. P .; Sarah Eliza- beth, who died in young womanhood; Allen; Jane, who died young, and an infant de- ceased.
At the age of 12 years Mr. Bailey left War- ren township and ever since has lived in Goshen township, securing his education in the public schools. When he reached ma- turity he located on a farm near his present home and for 15 years was very actively and successfully engaged in the buying, selling and raising of stock, handling a very large amount annually. His well-improved farm of 2.10 acres is located three and one-half miles southeast of Barnesville, and he de- votes it principally to stock and he has much more than a local reputation for fine speci- mens.
Mr. Bailey is a stanch Republican and has been quite prominent in the political move- ments of his party in Belmont County, and has been the efficient holder of a number of the responsible offices. In 1890 he was made land appraiser, and in January, ISOT, he was elected county commissioner, receiving 2.750 majority in the election, the largest ever re- ceived by any candidate. He held the office for six years and nine months, until Septem- ber 20. 1808. giving his undivided attention to it during this time.
In 1863 Mr. Bailey was married to Ann Elizabeth Bolon, born in 1843 in Belmont County, a daughter of Stephen G. Bolon, one
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GEORGE E. SMITH.
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of the early settlers. The children born to this union were: Sarah Olive married William Boyd, a farmer in Warren township; Cora married F. D. Howell, of Barnesville, mail agent between Wheeling and Chicago, and they have two children, Doris and Raymond: Lemuel L., a resident of Warren township, married Barbara Emerson and they have children,-Willard and James; Delbert as- sists his father and resides at home; Ross re- sides on the old homestead of Jesse Bailey, in Goshen township, married Hattie Bing- ham, and they have children,-Helen and Mildred; Campsie has been a teacher for the past five years and is now teaching in Barnes- ville, Ohio; Nora has been a teacher for the past three years; Dallas S., who is a student in telegraphy at Oberlin College; and Agnes and Franklin, who are deceased.
Mr. Bailey is liberal in his religious views, but was reared a Friend. He is a man of most genial presence, frank and hospitable, and enjoys public esteem.
GEORGE E. SMITIT, located in section 5, Kirkwood township, Belmont County, is a prominent farmer and an extensive dealer in hard lumber. . He was born in this county April 25, 1845, and is a son of Nathan S. and Sarah (Taylor) Smith, and grandson of Charles Smith.
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