Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 94

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 94

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The children of Alexander and Elizabeth ( Welsh) Armstrong were these: Julius, Crawford Welsh, Zwingle, Alonzo A., IIon. Elihu B., Rev. Thomas, Leroy Wood, and Mary Elizabeth. Julius Armstrong was born April 6, 1840, and resides at Columbus, where he is chief clerk in the office of the Secretary of State, having been first appointed by Gov- ernor Mckinley and re-appointed by Governor Nash. From August, 1862, until the close of the Civil War he served in Company F, 52nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. He married Lizzie War- ren of Belmont County and has three chil- dren,-Edna, Clara and Warren. Zwingle Armstrong was born December 22, 1843, and resides at Armstrong's Mills on his farm of 475 acres, where he built an elegant brick resi- dence in 1860. His first marriage was to Ro- salie Kelley, who was born in 1853 at St. Clairsville, daughter of John and Rachel ( Jud- kins) Kelley, the former a county treasurer many years ago. Mrs. Armstrong died 30 years since. The present Mrs. Zwingle Arm- strong was formerly the widow of H. T. Meek, of Bellaire, and the children of her first mar- riage are: Nellie, the wife of J. M. Armstrong of Pittsburg; and Elsie, a student at Mount Union College. Alonzo A. Armstrong was born November 23, 1846. and is an Indian agent for the government in Arizona. He married Jennie Woodburn and they have one daughter, Florence. Hon. Elihn B. Armstrong was born September 7, 1849, has served two terms as State legislator and resides at Arm- strong's Mills. He married Mary H. Lindsey, who died in November, 1809; the six children of this union are as follows: Carl, Bertie and Bertha (twins), Rex, Robert and Edith. Rev. Thomas Armstrong was born October 15, 1852, and is the pastor of the Methodist Church at Cadiz, Ohio. He married Maggie Neff and they have three children. Leroy Wood Arin- strong was born May 26, 1857, and resides on his farm near the mills. He married Mattie Armstrong of Delaware, Ohio. Mary Eliza beth, who was born September 3, 1861, mar-

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ried John A. Lindsey, and they reside on a farm near Farmer City, Illinois, and have two children,-Edith and Leone.

Crawford Welsh Armstrong, our subject, has made his home at Armstrong's Mills all his life except during an army service and from 1866 to 1871, when in business at Glencoe. From 1872 to 1882, at which time he purchased the mill, he was engaged in merchandising for his father and managed the mill, in the latter year purchasing the mill. Hle carried on the business on his own account until it was burned in April, 1900. No time was lost in rebuilding the mill, with increased facilities, and it was started January 15, 1901, with a capacity of 35 barrels. After the death of his father, our subject with his brother, Elihu B. Armstrong, continued the store about one year and then sold that line to Julius Armstrong, who several years later sold to H. B. Wilkinson, who in turn sold to its present proprietor, A. J. Lind- sey. In the fall of 1892 our subject started the present store, which is conducted under the firm name of C. W. Armstrong & Son, the lat- ter, Frank B., having taken a half interest and for some years having been the manager of this large stock. Mr. Armstrong owns 50 acres of the town site, as noted before, and has done much to make this a very attractive locality.

In July, 1867, Mr. Armstrong married Sarah A. Elliott, who was born in 1844, a daughter of Thomas Elliott of Trumbull County, Ohio. The children born to this union are: Frank B., a very successful business man ; Estella E., the wife of Luther Perkins of this vicinity, their children being,-Mary and Chester ; Bes- sie B . a student in a medical college at Colum- bus preparing for a professional life; Harry M., an engineer at the flouring mill; and Ger- trude, at home.

Mr. Armstrong has a notable war record; enlisting as a private in November, 1861, in Company D, 43rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., he was soon promoted to be corporal; December 31, 1863, he was appointed duty >sergeant ; and AAugust 9, 1864, Ist sergeant. On April I, 1865. he was made captain and mustered ont as such July 19, 1865. Politically he has al-

ways been identified with the Republican party, as have the other members of his family. Many township offices have been thrust upon him, and he served three years as jury commis- sioner, one of the first appointments by Judge J. B. Driggs in this county under the new law. For the past 30 years he has been a consistent member of the Methodist Church. Flis fra- ternal relations are with Hess Post, G. A. R., No. 595, of Armstrong's Mills. In every rela- tion of life Mr. Armstrong occupies an honor- able position and he is very justly regarded as one of the most progressive business men of Belmont County.

JOHN C. JOIINSON, who conducts a farm in Richmond township, Belmont County, Ohio, has various other business interests and is one of the substantial men of his vicinity. ITe is a native of this county, born in Colerain township, October 23, 1850, and is a son of Robert Johnson. His grandfather, George Johnson, was a native of County Tyrone, Fre- land, and came to this country when a young man, settling near Shippensburg, Pennsyl- vania.

Robert Johnson was born at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1813, and died De- cember 17, 1884. He came to Belmont County in 1840, locating first in Pease town- ship and then in Colerain township where he died. Ile also resided in Harrison County for a period of 17 years. He was a coal miner, well digger and riverman, in addition to which he engaged in farming a part of the time. He was a member of the Methodist Church all his life, as were his parents before him. Prior to the war he was a Democrat, and then changed his political allegiance to the Repub- lican party. He married Emily Dowell, who was born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, and died in 1855, at the age of 37 years. They had nine children, as follows: David, Eliza A., Tillie J., William and Daniel, all of whom are deceased: George, who lives in Harrison County; John C., subject of this sketch; Ed- ward; and one who died in infancy.

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

John C. Johnson has employed most of his time in buying and selling options on coal land, disposing of 2,100 acres in this manner in 1901 at a goodly profit, and still has some 1,900 to dispose of. He is a coal miner and worked for some time in the mines of Belmont County, in the mines at Streator, Illinois, and at other places. He worked on a farm during his early life, and in 1898 purchased the Kin- ter farm of 234 acres, which he is now suc- cessfully operating.

June 26, 1878, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Rebecca Ella Robison, a daughter of John and Lydia Robison. Mrs. Robison is now living at the age of 93 years, is hale and hearty, and every indication points to her reaching the century mark. Mrs. Johnson was born in Harrison County, August 28, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been blessed with eight children, as fol- lows: Anna May; Frederick; Cora Belle; Mary Elva; Asa Jay; Clara Emma; and two who died young. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and is serving his second term on the School Board. Ile and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

J.OLIVER PORTERFIELD, a well-known educator of Belmont County, Ohio, in which profession he has been engaged for the past 20 years, was born on the home farm in section 31, Smith township, April 11, 1861. He is a son of Alexander and Lydia Jane ( Carleton) Porterfield. and grandson of John and Mar- garet ( Robb) Porterfield.

John Porterfield was born in County Done- gal, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1801, locating first in Pennsylvania. In 1805, he removed to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he remained until 1811, when he came to Bel- mont County and located in Richland town- ship on the farm now occupied by Prof. W. D. Porterfield. In 1818 he semoved to Smith township, where he died. He and his wife had 16 children, as follows: Elizabeth; Susan; Matthew; John and James, twins; William;

Margaret ; Emily; Mary, widow of George Myers, residing in Pultney township; Monica; Andrew; Jane; Nathaniel; Alexander; Sarah, widow of George W. Kemp, residing in Goshen township; and Joseph. But two of the family are now living.

Alexander Porterfield was born in Smith township, January 22, 1830, and died June 6, 1900. He was married November 6, 1856, to Lydia Jane Carleton, who was born in Goshen township March 12, 1839, and is a daughter of Thomas and Margaret ( Pryor ) Carleton. She was born on the farm settled upon by the Carletons in 1814, and which has since been in the possession of the fam- ily. Her father, Thomas Carleton, was born in 1813 and died July 15, 1869. He married Margaret Pryor, who was born in 1819 and died October 16, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Carleton were parents of the following chil- dren : Lydia Jane; Joshua, deceased; Mark L .; Margaret Ann ( Bentley ), deceased ; Thomas W., of Smith township; William, of Smith township: Elizabeth ( Kinney), of Mont- gomery County, Kansas; and John O., of Goshen township.

Alexander Porterfield and wife had five chil- dren, as follows: Margaret Isabelle, who is at home; Clara D., wife of J. W. Stonebraker of Smith township; J. Oliver, subject of this sketch; Emma L., wife of W. W. Lucas of Smith township; and Crawford O., who owns and resides on a part of the home farm in Smith township,-he married Margaret I. Mel- lott, a daughter of Joshua R. Mellott of Smith township.

J. Oliver Porterfield was reared and primar- ily educated in the country schools. He entered upon his profession in 1883, and has since con- tinued, his first schools being at Lampsville and in Goshen township. During 1886 and 1887 he taught at Hopedale College in Harrison County, and has since been located at many different places. He is at present in charge of the Lampsville school. He has never married and resides at the home built by his father in 1875, a most substantial and comfortable brick structure. The farm consists of 480 acres and

JOHN W. NEFF.

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is owned by various members of the family. They make a specialty of raising Delaine sheep and Shorthorn cattle.

Politically, our subject is a Republican and since September 1, 1900, has served as a men- ber of the board of school examiners for the county. He was appointed to this office for a term of three years.

JOIIN W. NEFF, capitalist, planing-mill owner, coal operator and farmer, is prominent in each line and is one of the leading men of Belmont County. His large and well-culti- vated farm, comprising 288 acres, is located nine miles south of St. Clairsville, and is one of the most valuable tracts of land in Rich- land township.

Mr. Neff is a son of Belmont County, born in 1846, in Pultney township, his parents, An- drew and Jane ( Alexander) Neff, also being natives of the same township. The father died in the old home in 1852, having been a suc- cessful farmer through life, a member of the Democratic party, and long connected with the Presbyterian Church. The mother was a daughter of Robert Alexander, and she died in 1883, at the age of 68 years, a most con- sistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Robert Alexander's wife was a Miss Dixon. The three children born to our subject's par- ents were: John W., Alexander and An- drew J.

When Mr. Neff began his planing-mill oper- ations in 1880, the machinery was erected in his barn ; in 1883 his great new mill was ready for the expansion which had taken place in the business, which is now the most extensive in its line in the county. The many articles manufactured at his plant include such as the following : Siding, flooring, molding, brackets, casing, ceiling, window and door frames, farm ladders, step ladders, water troughs, sleds, tel- ephone brackets, porch columns, fence pickets, paper roofing. Carey's roofing, lining paper, deadening felt, shingles, lath, lime, plaster, doors, windows, transoms, wire cloth, fence,

wood pumps, Myers' pumps and hay tools, spraying pumps, roller doors, track and hang- ers, pulleys, rope (34 inch and under ), hinges, locks and catches, nails, oil and paints, ochre, white lead and roof coating. To meet further demands, Mr. Neff is building another plant at Neft's siding. Another of his enterprises, the Neff Coal Company, is located just below. Mr. Neff is interested in the Shadyside Real Estate & Improvement Company, in various lots and enterprises in Bellaire, and is also a stockholder in the Dollar Savings Bank of Bellaire.

In 1873, Mr. Neff was married to Mary E. McKelvey, a daughter of Samuel and Lucinda (Creamer) MeKelvey. She was born in Mead township, Belmont County, in 1847. Four children were born to this union, namely : Liz- zie E., who married Frank Mellott; Harry A., who married Dora Schramm, daughter of Ja- cob Schramm; Andrew ; and Oliver. The re- ligious connection of the family is with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Neff is a man of business stability and integrity and is regarded with feelings of the highest esteem throughout Belmont County. Mr. Neff was one of the promoters of the Enterprise Telephone Com- pany, and has been a director in the organiza- tion since its incorporation, In connection with his many other enterprises, he is also success- fully engaged in the fruit-growing industry, making a specialty of plums and small fruit.

LEE EVANS. In Lee Evans, Wayne township, Belmont County, finds her oldest cit - izen who has continuously made his home here, and also one of her most successful farmers and leading men. Mr. Evans was born within two miles of his present home, in Wayne town- ship, in 1826, and he is a son of John N. Evans, who was born in Loudoun Count :. Vir- ginia, and accompanied his parents to Belmont County about 180.1.

Flea er and Mary ( Nichols) Evans, the parents of John N. Evans, were Virginians by birth. The former was left an orphan in

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF BELMONT COUNTY,

youth, and earlier family records are not at land. He followed farming all his life and, later, coming to Ohio, bought a small farm in Goshen township, Belmont County, where he settled and became a man of consequence. For 20 years he was a justice of the peace in Goshen township and later was made treasurer of Wayne township. He died at the age of 70 years, in July, 1847, his widow surviving some three years. Their children were these: John N., who was the father of our subject ; Alfred, who was a merchant at Belmont, where he died; Israel, who moved to the West, became a farmer near Council Bluffs, lowa, and died there; Nathan, known as Judge Evans, of Cambridge, represented the 16th District in Congress, and died at the above place; Marga- ret, who died at the age of 60 years; George, who died on his farm in Indiana; Elizabeth, who married William McFarland, died at the age of 80 years, her husband still surviving in Goshen township, at the age of 90 years; Sa- ralı, who is deceased; Ezra E., who was known as Judge Evans, of Zanesville, was at attorney and died in the fall of 1901; Aaron, who has reached the age of 83 years, resides in Wayne township, near Somerton; and Albert, who died in youth.

John N. Evans resided in Goshen township until his marriage, and then moved to Wayne township, locating on the ridge, some two miles north of Newcastle, moving later to a property one mile south of Hunter, and then removing to a farm directly east, two miles, where his death occurred in 1862. Mr. Evans, like his father, became one of the prominent and re- sponsible men of his time, called upon to fill offices and to assist in township government.

The mother of our subject was Jane Kinney, who was born in 1800 in County Armagh, Ire- land, and who came to America in young wo- manhood. Her death occurred in June, 1859. She was a woman of strong personality and strength of character, and left a large family inheriting many of her admirable attributes. HTer children were: Elisha, deceased; Mary, who resides in Western lowa, at the age of 81 years; Thomas, deceased; Lee, of this biogra-

phy : Margaret, who lives in Wayne township; Deborah, deceased; Ruth, who died in Novem- ber, 1859; Eden D., who died in Wayne town- ship, in 1881, served three years in the Civil War; Elwood B., who resides on a farm in Wayne township; William H. H., who died in IS58; and Sarah E., who lives in Nashville, Indiana.

For 76 years Lee Evans has been a resident of Wayne township and has done his part in promoting the township's advancement. His early manhood was passed in farming during the summers and teaching school during the winters. Since 1863 he has occupied his pres- ent farm of 364 acres, this land having been originally entered by a Mr. Stanley, but since the grandfather's time the homestead has been in the possession of the Evans family. Mr. Evans has carried on general farming and is known for the success which has always at- tended his efforts. In 1884 the present com- fortable and commodious residence was erected to take the place of the old home which was destroyed by fire. The Evans men in every generation have been men of ability, who have taken prominent positions in their communities, and such has been the case with our subject. Hle has at various times served as justice of the peace and as treasurer of the township, and his opinion has been highly regarded and his judgment consulted in all public affairs. Since the organization of the Republican party lie has been an ardent adherent, formerly having belonged to the Whig party and having cast his first vote for President Taylor. He has served many times as a delegate of his party and as members of various political organiza- tions, and was a very important worker in the campaign which resulted in the election of the late Governor Mckinley. Fraternally he has long belonged to the Masons, having been a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 89, at Barnesville, belonging now to Somerton Lodge, No. 354. F. & A. M.

On September 20, 18.19. Mr. Evans was married to Martha A. Shipman, born in 1828. at St. Clairsville, a daughter of George Ship- man, who moved to Wayne township when she

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was a girl. The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Evans all survive, no bereavement having yet entered the family. These are: Hannah J., a teacher, residing at home; Melvina R., the wife of Rev. D. C. Wasburn, of the Meth- odist Church at Belle, Ohio; Ruth A., at home; Ada, the wife of C. F. Coleman, of Cincinnati, Ohio; and Eva O., at home. A family reunion of more than usual interest took place at the old home, on September 20, 1899, this being the occasion of the golden wedding of our hon- ored subject and estimable wife. The family circle of children and grandchildren was com- plete. Both Mr. and Mrs. Evans have long been prominent in the Methodist Church at Mount Horeb, in which our subject has been very active and useful as class leader, exhorter and steward. In the evening of life, it is most gratifying to be able to look back over so many well-spent years and to enjoy the affection of kindred and the high esteem of neighbors and friends.

JOSEPH McALLISTER, the junior member of the firm of J. & J. H. McAllister, lumber merchants and extensive farmers, of Morristown, Ohio, a leading business factor and a prominent public citizen, was born August 22, 1851, in Pultney township, Bel- mont County, and is a son of John and Eliza- beth (Tarbott) McAllister.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. McAllis- ter were Wallace and Elizabeth McAllister, who came from Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania, to Belmont County, in 1807, locating on a farm of 50 acres in Pultney township, near Rock Hill Church, in the shadow of which they lie buried. Elizabeth McAllister was a woman of exalted Christian character, and one of the charter members of the Rock Hill Presbyterian Church, which was organ- ized under an elm tree, standing about one and one-half iniles west of Bellaire, on Mc- Mechen's Creek. Since that day when the little fervent band of Christian men and women gathered under the spreading branches of the old elm to found a church, three edi-

fices have been erected, the third of which was destroyed by lightning, and the fourth is now building, the intention being to make it a substantial, commodious structure, costing $8,000.

John McAllister, the father of our subject was an only child, and was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and accompanied his parents to Ohio in 1807. He naturally in- herited the home farm and lived upon it until his death, in 1878, in his 77th year. From his parents he imbibed religious principles which guided him through life, making him not only a man of Godly life, but one who scrupulously lived up to all the ordinances of the religious body to which he belonged. In the observance of these rites, he was supported by his wife, and one of the most valued pos- sessions of our subject is his beloved mother's well-read Bible. Both parents were laid away in the cemetery of the Rock Hill Church, in which they had so long worshiped, the mother preceding the father some eight years, dying in 1870, in her 56th year. Her three brothers were: William, a farmer; James, a carpenter ; and John, a farmer,-all of them prominent men and life-long residents of Pultney town- ship. Mrs. McAllister was the eldest of three sisters, the second being Fanny, who died at the age of 18 years, and Isabel, the only sur- vivor, who is the widow of Daniel Giffen, of P'ease township, whose home adjoins the High Ridge United Presbyterian Church property.

A family of 12 children was born to John and Elizabeth ( Tarbott) McAllister, namely : Elizabeth, who married Steven White, resides in Owen County, Indiana; Robert, who lives on the old farm: Wallace, who is a farmer in Delaware County, Ohio; Isabel, who mar- ried Hugh Giffin, who is a retired farmer of Pultney township; Nancy J., who married Thomas W. Lucas, a farmer of Owen County, Indiana; James, who resides at Kirkwood, is a farmer of Belmont County; Margaret, who married John Giffin, resides on their farm in Pultney township; John IL., who is the senior member of the lumber firm, resides at

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Morristown; Mary F., who married George WV. Gillis, resides on their farm in Owen County, Indiana; Joseph, who is the subject of this biography; Martha Ann, who mar- ried Thomas Davis, resides at Kirkwood, where Mr. Davis is a sheet roller in the Aetna- Standard Mill; and Sarah C., who married WV. L. Brokaw, and resides at Cambridge, Ohio. It is a somewhat unusual circumstance that so numerous a family should all have at- tained maturity and have passed into middle life without any vacancy in its ranks.

Joseph McAllister was educated in the old Rock Hill school house and assisted his father on the farm until . 1871, when he and his brother, John II. McAllister, formed a part- nership in carpenter contracting, following this line until 1876, when they became owners and operators of a portable, circular sawmill, and until 1882 they engaged in custom work. In the spring of the latter year they changed their business into one of contracting and fur- nishing timber from the tree, for railroad con- structing, and in this industry they operate not only their own mill, but five others also, having an annual output of from $20,000 to $50,000 worth of lumber, the business reach- ing the latter figure in 1901. In their own mill they employ 12 men, besides having a full equipment of teams, camp equipage and all the outfit and belongings for such purpose, furnishing their first customers, the Scott Lumber Company of Bridgeport, Ohio, the Aetna-Standard Iron & Steel Company, and the C., L. & W. Railway Company, their operations having been chiefly confined to Belmont County. Their contract has been made for their entire output until 1903, at which time, or soon after, the firm contem- plates retiring from business.

The firm of J. & J. H. McAllister also owns fine farming lands in Belmont County, com- prising 100 acres, which they have operated for the past five years, making a specialty of wheat growing, realizing this year 30 bushels to the acre. Joseph McAllister has been prom- inent in civic and township affairs, having held many of the responsible positions in the latter,

at various times, and for two terms having been honored by his fellow citizens with the office of mayor of Morristown, serving most acceptably in every instance. In fraternal orders he is a prominent Odd Fellow, and has represented District No. 36, in the Grand Lodge of Ohio, two terms, and is also a mem- ber of the encampment branch of the order. He is a member of the blue lodge, F. & A. M., and is vice-chancellor in the Knights of Pyth- ias.

On June 29, 1881, Mr. McAllister was unit- ed in marriage with R. E. Jolly, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of the late distinguished Prof. E. B. Jolly and Elizabeth Sights, the former of whom was a native also of Pennsylvania, where for 33 years he was a noted educator, being one of the first five teachers to win a State certificate. Professor Jolly died Janu- ary 2. 1886, at the age of 56 years. He was a life-long member of the Disciples' Church, and a great Bible student, becoming an author- ity in Holy Writ, for he possessed such thorough knowledge of the Scriptures that he was able to immediately locate a text upon hearing it repeated. He was held in high es- teem both as teacher and man. His venerable widow still survives at the age of 73 years, and resides at Taylorstown, Washington County, Pennsylvania. She also is a consistent member of the Disciples' Church and a lover and student of the Bible. These parents reared nine children, the eldest being Mrs. McAllis- ter, and the others being as follows: Frank D., who is a carpenter and contractor, living in Claysville, Pennsylvania; William C., who is a farmer living near Taylorstown, Penn- sylvania; E. M., who is also a farmer, living near Middletown, Pennsylvania; John C., who is a farmer, living near Middletown also; Mattie B., who was a teacher for nine years, died at the age of 25 years; Minnie, who mar- ried M. J. MeKelebon, a motorman on the electric railroad, resides on Wheeling Island; Susie C., who married William Grimes, in the postal service, lives at Claysville, Pennsyl- vania ; and Lettie May, who is still at home.

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Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 94

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