Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 84

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 84

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Nathan S. Smith was born in Harrison County, Ohio, January 22, 1807, and died March 3, 1867. He married Sarah Taylor, a daughter of Noble and Elizabeth ( Lockwood) Taylor. She was born July 19, 1813, and died April 22, 1857. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To them were born the following children: Charles T., a carpenter, who went south in 1858 and served in the militia there for a time. Returning north to Washington, D. C., in 186r, he built a government bridge over Agna Creek. He later took a post graduate course in Duff's Business College, and then was superintend- ent of construction work on the Denver & Rio

Grande Railroad until his death, which re- sulted from an accident in 1883. Noble, the second son, died in infancy. Oliver P., who was born November 15, 1842, served in the 98th Ohio Regiment from August, 1862, until the close of the war. He was graduated from Rush Medical College, practiced for several years in Charleston, Kansas, then at Fall River, Kansas, where he died June 13, 1880. Elizabeth E., widow of John Buchanan, resides in this county. George E. is the subject of this biography. William C., born March 9, 1848, died in 1882. Laura J. is the wife of Calvin S. Travis, and resides in New Martins- ville, West Virginia. Isaac II., born July 22, 1854, resides in this county. Nathan L. re- sides in Boise City, Idaho.

George E. Smith received his education in the common schools and as a boy assisted in the work about the farm. He entered business for himself when about 16 years old as a farmer and lumberman and has since con- tinued. Fle deals heavily in hard lumber, ex- porting extensively. Ile buys wherever he can and ships mainly to Glasgow, Scotland, and to Hamburg, Germany. He finds it a very profitable business as well as a pleasant one, as it acquaints him with prominent business men of this and foreign countries. He also engages in general farming and stock raising, and has a farm of 300 acres, all improved and underlaid with coal. He is located along Scott's Run, which stream gets its name from a Mr. Scott who was murdered by the Indians on the quarter section on which our subject's house is now located, near the present residence of Oscar White.

Mr. Smith was united in marriage March 24, 1867, to Sarah E. Perkins, a native of this county. Her father, Rev. Jonathan Perkins, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in this county, and was a son of Samuel Per- kins, who served as a private in the War of 1812. Samuel Perkins was a son of Thomas Perkins, who entered the land in section 17. on which his great-great-grandson, Samuel W., is now located, the latter also possessing the patent for the land signed by Thomas Jef-

706

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

ferson. Eleven children were born to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely : Letha 1., who graduated from Winfield ( Kan- sas) College in 1893 in the class with E. O. Creighton, who afterward became her hus- band,-they live in Roswell, New Mexico, where Mr. Creighton is superintendent of schools; Charles S., of Bridgeport, married Mary B. Kirk and has three children,-Floyd, Leslie and Reba; Philetus M., who graduated from Franklin College, and is a member of the class of 1903 in the law department of the Ohio State University; Sarah R .; Mabel, wife of George C. Douglas, a farmer at Otto, Okla- homa ; George T., a student at the Ohio State University ; Laura E .; J. Olney; Esther L .; Ada D .; and one deceased. Religiously they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which our subject is trustee. He is a Republican in politics.

ALFRED E. MASSIE, a well-known citi- zen of York township, Belmont County, has been for some time one of the township's most successful farmers and has taken an active in- terest in its development and good govern- mient.

Mr. Massie was born in 1854, in York town- ship, being a son of Harrison and Rebecca (Carle) Massie, the latter of whom died March, 1889, at the age of 72 years. Harrison Massie was born in Virginia, in 1810, and crossed the mountains into Ohio, in company with his father, "Bud" Massic, who located in 1815 on a branch of Little McMechen's ('reek, in Belmont County. Harrison Massie explored much of the country during his earlier years and at one time lived in Missouri, where he lost his wife and three children. When he later settled in Belmont County, he engaged in teaching school and continued in the profes- sion for 17 consecutive years, serving also as a justice of the peace and taking a prominent part in political life. For several years he en- gaged in a mercantile business in Dover, or Captina, and later moved to Powhatan, con-

templating the erection of a large store in that village. Ilis plans were discouraged by his physician, who advised an agricultural life, this resulting in the purchase of a farm on Pleasant Ridge, which is now owned by Mrs. Belle Massie, the widow of Franklin Massie. There Harrison Massie erected a $2,500 house, which was later destroyed by fire, but which was rebuilt in 1866. There Mr. Massie passed his last days, dying in July, 1889. Hle was a man of many virtues, entirely self-made, and one who looked carefully after the welfare of his family and educated his children, his sons all becoming teachers for a short period. Mr. Massie was thrice married, the mother of our subject being his last wife and the mother of these children: William A., of Oregon; George A., of Washington; Alfred E., of York township; Harrison O .; Franklin D., deceased, his three children being,-Zella, Edith and Hudson, the death of the latter be- ing in 1891; and Mary L., the wife of Aaron F. Ramsey, of York township.

As stated, Alfred E. Massie obtained an ex- cellent education and is one of the most in- telligent and well-informed men of York town- ship, one in whom his fellow citizens have placed implicit confidence on many occasions, making him for many years a school director and one of the township trustees. Until 1890 he resided at the home farm and then pur- chased his present estate, which he operates in connection with an adjoining farm which he rents. His methods are practical and have given him very satisfactory returns for his in- chuistry, his home farm near Captina as well as his rented land showing the results of careful rotation of crops and extensive fertilizing.

In 1880 Mr. Massie was married to Alice M. Owens, daughter of John G. Owens, who came to this county soon after the close of the Civil War. Mrs. Massie was born in 1861, in Monroe County, Ohio, and her immediate kindred comprise three half-brothers, one sis- ter and three brothers. Of these, two brothers and two half-brothers are also residents of Bel- mont County. An interesting family of six children, three sons and three daughters, has

707

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

been born to Mr. and Mrs. Massie, all of whom are being prepared for useful places in life, and who bear these names : Edward O., born in November, 1880; Olive 1., born in 1882; Cleveland E., born in 1883; Leila V., born in 1886; Cyril, born in 1890; and Beryl, born in 1898. In political sentiment, Mr. Massie is a Democrat and he is well known in the councils of his party in his locality. Both he and his estimable wife are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Church, for the past 15 years being members of the congregation of Amity Church.

ELDRIDGE D. SCATTERDAY, a well- known resident and farmer near Kelsey sta- tion, in Smith township, Belmont County, was born January 1, 1830, in Richland township. near St. Clairsville, and is a son of Euclid and Deborah ( Pond) Scatterday.

John Scatterday, grandfather of our sub- jeet, was born in 1766 and came to St. Clairs- ville about 1803. He was justice of the peace for a period of 24 years, and resided on his farm during the summer months and at St. Clairsville in the winter. He also served in the State Legislature of Ohio. He was a great student of history and was a broad and liberal minded man. His death occurred on his farm near St. Clairsville, December 4, 1844. In 1794 he was married to Rebecca Ewers, who was born in 1766 and died in 1842. She was of Welsh descent, and the Scatterdays are of English-German descent.

Euclid Scatterday was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, in 1795, and came to Bel- mont County with his parents. He located in Smith township about 1840, purchasing the farm of 150 acres, of which 25 acres are now owned by his son, E. E. Scatterday, and the remainder by our subject. He was originally a Whig in politics and later supported the Democratic ticket. He served for many years as justice of the peace in Smith township. He died July 31, 1871. His wife, who was born in 1805, died at the age of 82 years. To them were born the following children : Adeline,

who died at the age of 30 years; Eldridge D .; Elizabeth A., widow of James Gladden, re- sides in Smith township; Rebecca, deceased ; Mary, wife of Francis McMillen; John L., who resides on a farm in Illinois; Henry H., who is a farmer and manufacturer of soft drinks, resides in Illinois; George R., who resides at Wheeling, West Virginia; Alonzo P., a farmer residing in Ohio.

Eldridge D. Scatterday has resided at his present home since he was 10 years of age. lle received a good common school education and has always followed the vocation of farm- ing. He purchased the interests of the other heirs to the home farm, and his mother resided with him for a period of 18 years. He has engaged in general farming, but in earlier years was extensively engaged in sheep rais- ing.

Mr. Scatterday was united in marriage with Elizabeth Phillips, a daughter of William Phillips, and granddaughter of Jacob Ault, one of the pioneers of Belmont County. She was born in Richland township January 1, 1834, and it is a remarkable fact that she and her husband were both born on New Year's Day. To this union were born nine children : Catherine E. is the wife of Thomas McGaughy of Smith township. David M., who resides on a farm adjoining that of his father, is one of the township trustees. He is in partnership with his brother, Euclid E., under the firm name of E. E. & D. M. Scatterday; and for the past 15 years they have engaged in the implement and plumbing business, also doing well drilling. David M. first married Mar- garet Stonebraker, who died leaving a daugh- ter, Zillah, who married Andrew Ault of Smith township, by whom she has one child, Meek Gladden, our subject's only great- grandchild. David M. formed a second union with Artie Timberlake, and they have two sons, Lyle Eldridge and Chester. Euclid E., a member of the firm of E. E. & D. M. Scat- terday, resides near his father in a new home which he recently built. He married Melissa Brown, and has three children : Elva Adelia, and Russell B. and Lettie Irene ( twins). Wil-

708

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

liam Francis is a practicing physican and surgeon, being a graduate of Starling Medi- cal College of Columbus, Ohio. He married Lelia Worley of Columbus. Albert W., a well-known merchant of Centreville, married Olive Fitch, and has five sons: Leland, Harry, Herbert, Carl and Chase. Henry Lin- coln, who resides on the farm of Mrs. James Gladden and operates it for her, married An- nie Barrett, a daughter of William Barrett, and sister of Rev. William Barrett, and they have two children : Mabel and Mary. Em- mett A., who resides near his father and con- ducts the latter's farm, married Lorena Wil- son and has two children: Verna F. and Harold W. Mary, wife of Crawford Neff, resides in Smith township and has two chil- dren : Ernest Emerson and Newell Leslie. Clinton Mclain, the youngest of the family, is now attending the dental department of Ohio State University. In politics our sub- ject is a Republican. Fraternally he is, as is his son, Enelid E., a memebr of Weyer Lodge No. 541, F. & A. M. He has filled all the chairs but master, and was first made a Mason in Moriah Lodge, No. 105, under Dr. John A. Weyer as master. Religiously, he is a member of Concord Presbyterian Church near Centreville.

JACOB SCHNEGG, a well-known and rep- resentative farmer of Belmont County, Ohio, resides on his valuable farm of 160 acres, lo- cated on Cat's Creek, York township, where he has been settled since February 11, 1879.

Mr. Schegg is a native of Ohio, born in Switzer township, Monroe County, very near the Belmont County line, and within a few miles of his present comfortable home, on March 15, 1830, being a son of Bernhart Christian Schnegg, who brought his family from Bern, Switzerland, in 1828, and located in Monroe County, Ohio. The parents of Mr. Schnegg resided in that locality through life, rearing a large family, and there the father died in 1881. Our subject was the first mem- ber of the family to be born in America, a

brother having died in Switzerland prior to the family exodus, and another brother, Levi Daniel Christian, died in Ohio, in 1886.

In 1852 Mr. Schnegg located on a farm just south of his present one, and remained there until 1879, when he bought his present home farm, where he has resided ever since. This property was secured from Robert Gates and it formerly belonged to Henry Gates, this family being one of the pioneer settlers on the rich lands skirting Cat's Creek. In addition to this farm of 160 acres, Mr. Schnegg owns 109 acres in a farm directly south. He is a practical, well-informed agriculturist, and the fine state of cultivation shown by his land gives evidence of his close attention and thor- ough understanding of modern methods and the use of modern machinery. His buildings are attractive and substantial, and a coal shaft, sunk on the farm and actively operated by his son John Schnegg, demonstrates a fine vein of "black diamonds" underneath the fertile soil.

The marriage of Mr. Schnegg took place in Monroe County, to Mary Ann Zwigart, who was born in York township, Belmont County, in January, 1832, of Swiss parentage. Since their marriage, their home has been continu- ously in Belmont County. They have become the parents of HI children, namely: Christian J., who resides on a farm just south of his parents' home, is married and has a family ; Elizabeth, who married John Koher, also re- sides near her father; Caroline, who married Charles Rock, lives in Washington township; John, who resides at home, has charge of the coal bank; Mary, deceased, married Wood Ruble; William, who resides at home; C'har- lotte, who married A. G. Boner, who is a prominent citizen and large land owner near Captina, Belmont County; Mrs. Amelia Steiner, who resides near her parents; Lewis Wesley, who is a farmer in Mead township ; and Katie and Lonella, both of whom died young.

Mr. and Mrs. Selmegg have the satisfaction of having their children settled near thetn, all well placed and prospering.

In his earlier years, our subject was quite a

WILLIAM II. WHITE.

711

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

skillful carpenter and understood the cabinct- making trade sufficiently to construct the ta- bles, chairs and other ordinary pieces of fur- niture for himself and family. In politics, he has been a lifelong Democrat. All the family belong to St. John's Evangelical Church, lo- cated in Switzer township, Monroe County, the present able pastor being Rev. Charles G. Kittlehuit. The church edifice was probably erected 75 years ago. A disastrous fire de- stroyed the old parsonage some years since, entailing the loss of all the old records. Mr. Schnegg was very liberal in his assistance to- ward the erection of a new building. He is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of his neighborhood.

WILLIAM H. WHITE. In noting the representative men of Belmont County, Will- iam H. White must take a prominent position, not only as an honored survivor of the great Civil War, but as the oldest continuous resi- dent and the first mayor of the town of Bel- mont, Ohio, in whose growth and development he has been an important factor.

Mr. White .was born in Belmont County, Ohio, September 6, 1841, and is a son of Ben- jamin and Margaret E. ( Phipps) White, the former of whom was a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Early in the "thirties," Benjamin White came to Belmont County from Mount Pleasant, Jefferson County, and en- gaged in a tanning business in which he was later associated with his sons. For 65 years he followed this occupation, which at that time was a very necessary and common one, and, although he amassed no great fortune, he lived in comfort and reared a large family. He was born April 6, 1806, and died May 10, 1894. Mr. White was thrice married, the first time to Rebecca Sidwell, who died in 1837. The second marriage was to Margaret E. Phipps, who died at the age of 45 years, on Christmas Day, 1865. llis third marriage was to the Widow Stonebraker. The mother of our subject, whose memory inspires many tender reminiscences, was a model woman in

every situation in life,-a perfect Christian, a kind and sympathizing and helpful neighbor, a faithful wife and a most devoted mother.

Our subject is one of a family of nine chil- dren, which are herewith mentioned in order of birth : Albert P., William II., Mary P., R. sit- bella, Ann Eliza, Lydia A., Regina, Alice, and Seward. The survivors are: Albert P., who is a resident of Lamira, Ohio, and was former- ly principal of the Bellaire public schools; William 11., who is the subject of this sketch; Lydia A. ( Mrs. Simon Garber), who resides in Los Angeles, California; Regina ( Mrs. Christian W. Tillett), who resides in Barnes- ville; and Seward, who is a merchant at Los Angeles, California. The record of those de- ceased is as follows: Mary P., born April 3, 1843, died December 22, 1851 ; Rosabella, born in April, 1845, married William Heskett, and died November 23, 1880; Ann Eliza, born April 17, 1846, died September 20, 1848; and Alice, born April 17, 1856, died February 26, 1861. The children of the first marriage of our subject's father were: John S., who re- sides in Brighton, lowa; Jacob M., who was born January 13, 1830, and died in 1859; and Rebecca, who was born September 30, 1837, married Isaac Drummond and resides in Kan- sas.

Our subject received a good common-school education and was becoming of great assistance to his father in the tanning business when the outbreak of the Civil War gave a new trend to his life, turning the tanyard boy into a manly defender of his country's honor and bringing in its train experiences which have influenced his whole later life. On June 5, 1861, he enlisted at St. Clairsville in Company A, 25th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Capt. James F. Charlesworth, and has the decided honor of being in the first company enlisted for three years in Belmont County. The first battle in which the young soldier took part was in 186t at Cheat Mountain, where the Union forces were victorious. Then at Greenbrier River, Camp Baldwin, and then MeDowell, our subject kept learning the great game of war, and later, when General Milroy joined

712

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

forces with General Fremont, engaged with the latter's command in the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. On June 8, 1862, he took part in the battle of Cross Keys, where Colonel Charlesworth was wounded, and then with the command crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains and took part in the battle of Cedar Mountain, where General Banks was defeated by General Jackson. The next battle was the Second Bull Run, under General Pope, and immediately after, Mr. White was taken sick and was sent to the Manion House hospital, where he was kept until the spring of 1863. Rejoining his command at Aqua Creek Landing, he was in time to take part in the battle of Chancellors- ville, May 2-3, 1863, followed by the slaughter at Gettysburg, and in the 11 days' engagement in the vicinity our subject received a wound in the knee. He was taken prisoner and placed in what was called a hospital, but received no surgical attention and after the battle was over was retaken by the Union forces. As a sam- ple of some of the experiences gone through with by that band which each year is "growing a little grayer, a little slower, a little fewer,' it is meet that the younger generation should read and remember such incidents as the fol- lowing: Mr. White relates that while he was lying in agony in the hospital, with his leg swollen to twice its size, a Federal surgeon came to him and, after probing the wound, said: "No remedy but to have the limb am- putated," and the reply given by our subject was worthy that of a hero,-"If it must be done, you can't get the knife into it too soon for me." The surgeon replied to this: "I am worn out, have had no time for either dinner or supper and have had no rest all day and am going to find a farm house and try to sleep, and will return in the morning and make the amputation." The agony of mind and body of our subject can scarcely be imagined, al- though an amputation, especially at an army hospital in those days before the successful use of anaesthetics and prior to the discoveries of Pasteur and Lister for protection of wounded surfaces, was something which filled the mind with horror, it seemed preferable to Mr. White

than to endure the pain which then distracted lint. The morning came, but it brought no surgeon, and consequently Mr. White still has the use of his two limbs, quite recovered. The father of our subject came to the hospital to take him home, but could only succeed in trans- porting him as far as Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, no permit being given to take him far- ther. Here our subject was placed in the Cot- ton Factory hospital and remained there until October, 1863, when the order was given to transfer all Ohio patients to Columbus and in the hospital there he was kept until December, when a surgical examination placed him in the invalid corps and he was sent to Indianapolis, where he was employed in guard duty over prisoners until June, 1864, when, at the close of his three years, he was honorably dis- charged.

Upon his return from the army, Mr. White again worked at the tanning business and in 1866 engaged in a livery business at Belmont. Following this, he was employed in various enterprises, did mason work and plastering for some years and in 1888 resumed tanning, add- ing a harness and saddle department to his other lines. Selling out in 1895, Mr. White then bought property in Belmont and remodeled it, making a town hall, which he later sold to the Odd Fellows, and since that time has been most successful in his handling of property. lle is a man of excellent business ability, quick to seize opportunities and possesses an energy and industry, which has brought its reward in the accumulation of a large amount of real es- tate of great value. His home farm consists of six acres, which makes 22 town lots, with one acre of ground surrounding his comfort- able and homelike residence, which has one of the most beautiful locations in Belmont, on a bluff overlooking the town, and the house is surrounded with choice and well-selected shade and fruit trees, truly a home which combines all that is best in both town and country.

Mr. White was married January 2, 1868, 10 Laura J. Widdoes, a native of Belmont Con- ty, and a daughter of Isaac and Louisa Wid- does, the former of whom was born in Penn-

713

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.

sylvania and the latter in Flushing, Ohio. The father of Mrs. White came to Ohio in the "forties," a shoemaker by trade, but later be- came a seaman. The mother of Mrs. White died September 20, 1858, aged 31 years. She was a daughter of John and Hannah Fisher, of Loudoun County, Virginia. Mrs. White is one of two children born to her parents, her sister being Mrs. Elizabeth Justice, wife of James Justice, of New Athens, Ohio. The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. White were named as follows: Clayton L., Anna L., Liz- zie J., Dora M., and Walter G. Clayton L. White is a barber in Belmont and is well and favorably known. He married Ora Myers and they have one son, William L. Beal, born on May 14, 1902, the same day that the Beal law was adopted, making Belmont a prohibition town, hence the addition of Beal to the babe's name. Anna L. married L. R. Carmen, a mer- chant of Belmont, and they have two chil- dren,-Enoch W. and an infant daughter. Lizzie J. married John B. Colley and they re- side at Coshocton, Ohio, where Mr. Colley owns a cigar store. Dora M. married Samuel Riemenschneider, of Bethesda, Ohio, and they have one daughter,-Bernice. Walter G. White, who is employed on the railroad, mar- ried Ollie Surprize of this county, and they have one child, Vivian. Both our subject and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Mrs. White is a lady of most engaging per- sonality and much esteemed by all who know her. Mr. White was made the first mayor of Belmont and has never ceased his public-spir- ited endeavors, and has favored and fostered all her worthy enterprises.

DR. C. C. WHITSITT, a prominent phy- sician and surgeon of Hendrysburg, Belmont County, was born in Fayette County, Pen- sylvania, February 19, 1860, and is a son of Dr. J. E. and Clara B. ( Martin) Whitsitt, both natives of Pennsylvania.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 84

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