Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 96

Author: McKelvey, A. T., 1844- ed
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

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Nancy Jane Ferguson was born July 11, 1852, and died November 20, 1860, a victim of diphtheria, her case being the first in the neighborhood to prove fatal.

Malcolm Ferguson's father died when he was but a small boy and he made his own way through life and succeeded well in his efforts, proving a source of benefit and help to those around him who had not the experience and ability that were his. His death occurred September 3, 1896, but he is still remembered by many of his neighbors and friends.

Our subject is a native of New Athens, Har- rison County, and was born August 8, 1841. lle received a favorable training in the com- mon schools and when the family removed from Harrison to Belmont County, he went with them and has resided here ever since. During the Civil War he joined the 100-day service as a member of the 170th Reg., Ohio National Guard, and saw good service during his term.

November 11, 1869, James P. Ferguson was married to Sarah C. Amos, a daughter of Joshua and Orpah ( McComas) Amos, her parents being people from Baltimore, who first removed to a farm in Monroe County, Ohio, and made their home for a time, after- ward moving to Colerain township, Belmont County, Ohio. Mrs. Ferguson was the second child in a family of eight, and was born Feb- ruary 23, 1838. Her brothers and sisters are as follows: James O., publisher of the Shelby County Democrat, who has traveled much in

foreign lands, is quite conspicuous in political affairs, and is a prominent worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church,-he was Adjut- ant General of the State, under Governor Al- len, has represented Monroe County in the Legislature, and has served as State Senator from his district also; Elizabeth J., who was born in 1840, married Mr. Prewett; William, who was born in 1842; A. Mack, born in 1844; Benjamin F., born in 1840; Anna ML., born in 1848; and Elbridge Gerry, born in 1861.

Our subject and his wife had two children. but the beloved mother died March 15, 1894. Glenn Amos, the oldest child, was born Feb- ruary 1, 1878, on the home farm, was educat- ed in the common schools first and later took a course of three terms at Franklin College. Anna Myrtle was born February 5. 1879. was also educated in the common schools, but since her mother died, when she was 15 years old, she has taken full charge of the home duties for her brother and father, filling the position with loving care and fidelity. She was mar- ried October 29, 1002, to Elmer E. Coulter of Harrisville, Ohio. Two nephews that were reared by Mr. Ferguson and his wife also be- long to the home circle.

James P. Ferguson's grandparents on both sides of the family were Associate Presby- terians and he and his children also belong to the United Presbyterian Church at Unity, Rev. WV. G. Waddle being the present pastor, and Mr. Ferguson's membership in that church dates back to the year 1861, when he first took his vows and became a member. continuing faithful and zealous in his church work ever since. His fellow citizens hold all due re- spect and consideration for him, esteeming his services as those of a friend, worker and earn- est helper. He has never taken an active part in politics beyond the great questions which rise from time to time.

Mr. Ferguson was married to Elizabeth Eleanor Bentley September 10, 1902, she being a daughter of the late Solomon and Eleanor ( Thompson) Bentley of Bannock, Belmont County, Ohio.

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GEORGE GILLESPIE, a well-known citi- zen of York township, Belmont County, Ohio, is a native of this township, the date of his birth being 1841. Ile is a son of Jacob and Mary E. (Pyles) Gillespie, and grandson of David Gillespie.

David Gillespie was born in America, but was of Irish parentage. He was at the Wheel- ing block-house, contemporary with the Zane family. Upon coming to York township, Bel- mont County, Ohio, he took up land from the government at Dover, now owned and occu- pied by Samuel Gillaspie. His death occurred before the breaking out of the Civil War. His children were John, Jacob, David, Nancy, Lydia, Barbara, and Elizabeth, all of whom are now deceased.

Jacob Gillespie was born in York town- ship in 1806 and died in 1895. He resided in York township all his life, a part of the time being located in the northern part of the town- ship. He married Mary E. Pyles, who was born in York township and died about 1847. To them were born the following children : Mary Elizabeth, wife of James Giffen, living at Glencoe; Robert G., who resides at Wa- verly, Coffey County, Kansas; Ebenezer, who served in Company F, 52nd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., was killed in the battle of Chickamauga ; Lydia, deceased, was the wife of Alexander Graham, of Washington township; George, subject of this sketch; Sarah, wife of Noah B. Carle, resides near St. Clairsville, in Richland township, and Maria Louise, who died about 1847.

George Gillespie was reared at the home of his grandparents in York township, until he was 12 years of age, since which time he has lived in York township. He came to his pres- ent home about 1891, it being the old James A. Giffen farm in section 22, consisting of 172 acres. He is engaged in general farming and has a well improved farm. He is a man of high character, deeply interested in all relating to the general welfare of the township and county, and stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Gillespie was united in marriage with

Mary E. Giffen, who was born in York town- ship, and is a daughter of John G. Giffen, and to them were born nine children, as follows: Alice, who lives at home; Sarah Ellen, wife of Joseph Penn, of Belmont, Belmont County; Lena B., wife of Charles E. Ruble, residing in Bellaire, Ohio; Albert A., of Moundsville, West Virginia; Lawrence, a machinist by trade, located in California; Edison, who is also located in California; Vernon B., who lives at home; Frank E., who is also at home, and Mary J. Politically Mr. Gillespie is inde- pendent, and is at present a trustee of Yorl: township, to which office he was elected in the spring of 1901 on the Democratic ticket. In religious views he is a member of the Christian Church.

ALBERT ZURCILAR, a well-known farmer of Washington township, residing on the William Hendershot farm, which he owns. has been a resident of Belmont County since 1898. He was born March 20, 1844, in Can- ton Bern, Switzerland, and is a son of Albert and Margaretta (Spring) Zurchar, who never came to this country. He is an only son and has six sisters, four of whom live in Switzer- land.

Albert Zurchar was educated in the good common schools of his native land and also learned the trade of cheese-maker, which he followed several years. In the fall of 1866 he came to America, locating in Ohio town- ship, Monroe County, O., where he resided some years. ITe then lived in Wetzel County, West Virginia, for 11 years, at the end of which pe- riod he returned to Monroe County, Ohio, where he purchased a farm. He continued there until he sold his farm in 1898, when he came to Washington township, Belmont Coun- ty, purchasing the William Hendershot place. Here he has a farm of 140 acres, which he de- votes mainly to stock raising. He has good stock, preferring Durham and Jersey cows, and contemplates the manufacture of the famous Schweitzer-kase, for which he would find a ready sale.

RICHARD ARTHINGTON DOSTER.

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Mr. Zurchar was first married to Mary Rief, who is deceased. He then married his present wife, Louisa Yost, who was born in Washing- ton township and is a daughter of Jacob Yost, who is of an old family of this section. Two children have blessed this union, Adelia and Charles. In politics our subject is Democratic on national issues, but independent in local af- fairs. In religious views he is a Lutheran, but attends the Christian Church. Mr. Zurchar is a self-made man in all that term implies, and dur- ing his residence of but four years in this com- munity has won innumerable friends, who ad- mire him for his excellent traits of character.

RICHARD ARTHINGTON DOSTER, the popular postmaster of Temperanceville, Somerset township, Belmont County, and for the past 11 years its leading merchant, was born in 1861, in Greenfield, Highland County, Ohio, and has been a resident of Belmont County since 1881.

Mr. Doster is of old and honorable ancestry, his materal line being the same as that of Alex- ander IT. Stephens, the leading statesman of the Southern Confederacy, while a long and uninterrupted line leads on the paternal side as far back as Queen Elizabeth, of England. His father is Aaron B. C. Doster, who for many years was a commercial traveler and now assists in the management of his son's estab- lishment in Temperanceville.

Aaron B. C. Doster was born in 1832 near Martinsburg. Fayette County, Ohio, and ac- companied his son to Belmont County in 1881. In politics he supports the Republican party and is fraternally a Mason. The mother of our subject was Louisa Jane Stephens, who was born in Monroe County, and died in 1870, at the early age of 20 years. She had been the devoted mother of four children, namely : John S., deceased ; Richard .A., of this sketch; Mary 11. ( Mrs. William Mace of Temperanceville ) ; and Hattie F., deceased.

Our subject received excellent educational advantages, attending Woodsfield High

School and Greenfield Seminary, following which he engaged for nine years in teaching school, five of these being in the schools of Temperanceville. Embarking in the mercan- tile business, Mr. Doster has continued to yearly expand until he now carries as complete and well assorted a stock of goods as can be found in any town of its size in the county. Ilis trade is a critical one and extends over a wide scope of country. In April, 1897, he was appointed postmaster, and still continues in office.

In May, 1896, Mr. Doster was united in marriage with Annie L. Gallagher, who was born in Temperanceville in 1871, and is a daughter of Austin and Barbara ( Harren) Gallagher, and a niece of the distinguished Catholic Bishop, Nicholas Gallagher, of Gal- veston, Texas. The two children born to this union are: Louisa Marie, born in 1897; and Charles Ralph, born in 1900. Mrs. Doster, a lady of refinement and culture, is a devoted daugliter of the Catholic Church. Mr. Doster belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

GEORGE W. GREEN, a prosperous farm- er of York township, Belmont County, of which he is a native. was born June 23, 1835, and is a son of Robert B. and Mary T. (Track- ler) Green.

Robert B. Green was born in New York State January 27, 1792, and moved with his father, Asher Green, first to Moundsville, West Virginia, about 1802, and in 1815 10 Belmont County, buying a tract of land at the mouth of Cat's Run, which had been entered by George Lemley, and is located in section 14. Mr. Green had a large tract of land, con- sisting of geo acres, and engaged in general farming. He also traded between his place and New Orleans, making his first trip on a flat- boat in 1805, returning home on foot. Ile frequently nadde the return trip by boat to New York. Hle resided on the home farm until his death September 18, 1860. He was at one time a commissioner of Belmont County, and

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assisted in building the wooden bridge across Captina Creek, in the "forties." He married Mary T. Trackler, who was born in Shenan- doah County, ( West) Virginia, Febru- ary 6, 1799, and died in Belmont County, April 27, 1874. She came to Gallia County, Ohio, about 1806, and for years carded the wool and made cloth- ing for the family. Her father, who was of German descent, came by wagon down the Kanawha River and settled upon 400 acres of land along the Ohio River. To Mr. and Mrs. Green were born the following children : Philip T., born May 21, 1819, and died April 12, 1844; Albert G., born June 30, 1821, who lived on a portion of the old homestead until his death ; Elizabeth, born April 11, 1823, died April 7, 1826; Loman H., born February 3, 1825, who is deceased; Barbara T., born Au- gust 21, 1827, who married John M. Robb and resides on a part of the old home place; Per- melia, born in June, 1830, now deceased, first married a Mr. Ring, and later John Owens; Mary, born January 7, 1832, married William AAbrams, who survives her and resides in Alle- gheny City, being a steamboat pilot; George W., subject of this biography, and John C., who was born June 8. 1841, and died Septem- ber 21, 1842

George W. Green was reared on the home farm in York township, and for three or four years clerked in the store of Dorsey & Potts, also teaching school for a time. From May I, 1864, to September 31, 1864, he served with the rank of end lieutenant in Company C, 170th Reg., Ohio National Guard, with Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley. Upon his return from war he served one year as clerk in the store, and then returned to the farm to care forhis parents in their declining years. He has a very fine farm, on which he built a comfortable home and made many other improvements, and fol- lows general farming.

January 1, 1860, Mr. Green was joined in marriage with Jane Greenlee, who was born on MeMechen's Creek January 23, 18.45, and is a daughter of Alexander Greenlee, her mother being a Brice. She was reared on McMechen's

Creek and moved to York township when her father purchased the Lemley farm. To this union have been born the following children : Mary O., born August 20, 1869, who is the wife of Oscar W. McMannis, and resides in Colerain township; Rol ert B., born October 8. 1871, who lives at home; Charles E., born June 12, 1872, who teaches school at Captina ; William J., born January 21, 1875, who is at home : Albert G., born May 19, 1877. who die 1 February 18, 1882: Walter L., born September 20, 1879, who died March 3, 1899; and John A., born January 2, 1882, who is at home. Politically our subject was a Democrat for many years and is now a Prohibitionist. He served as assessor of York township two terms. In religious views he is liberal as to creed, his wife and Charles E. attending the Presbyterian Church and his three other sons the Methodist.

HENRY C. ANSHUTZ, a prosperous farmer residing on the southeast corner of Washington township. Belmont County, was born at Moundsville, ( West ) Virginia, March 26, 18.16. Ile is a son of Christian and Cath - erine M. (Jenewine) Anshutz, both natives of Germany.

The parents of our subject came to the United States when children and their mar- riage occurred in Belmont County, Ohio. The father came to this county about 1836 and for a number of years was an engineer in a flouring mill in this section. He was located at Mounds ville when our subject was born. He followed the same line of business for a period of 11 years. In 1855 he returned to Belmont Coun- ty and located on the farm now mainly owned and operated by his son, Henry C. He pur- chased land in section 1, Washington township. first buying So acres, to which he subsequently added. Ilis death occurred in 1860, at the age of 56 years. His wife is still living at the age of 82 years and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Gates, living in the West. They had four children. as follows: Sarah Amelia, wife of Robert Gates, residing at Nevada. Mis

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souri; Edward, who died in Kansas, leaving a wife and three children; Charles, who died in Nevada, after having traveled extensively over the West; and Henry C., whose name heads this biography.

Henry C. Anshutz was nine years of age when his father moved upon his present home farm, and here he has since resided. He owns this farm of 160 acres and has some 40 acres in section 7, all well improved with substantial buildings. The original log house has been remodeled and rebuilt into a comfortable mod- ern home, and a new barn was constructed in 1893. Ile follows general farming and has raised very fine stock.

In 1869, Mr. Anshutz was married to Char- lotte Fraley, a sister of Frederick Fraley, whose life sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and nine children have been born to them, as fol- lows: Luella, wife of William Hendershot, re- siding at Bellaire, where he is agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company; George, a farmer residing at Armstrong's Mills, married Etta Hendershot; Edward, a farmer living near Beallsville, Monroe County, Ohio, mar- ried Orissa Dawson; Emma, wife of William Schafer. resides near Barnesville, where her husband farms; Robert; Amos; Arminta; An- nie and Cora, the last five living at home with their parents. Politically, our subject is a Democrat. Religiously, he is a member of the Lutheran Church, attending St. John's Church in Monroe County.

AMBROSE G. KING. One of the honora- ble old names in Belmont County, one which has been conspicuous in agricultural, business and military life, is that of King. One of the family's leading representatives is Ambrose G. King, a prominent and successful farmer of Wayne township, who was born April 22, 1837, in Washington township, Belmont Con- ty, a son of Philip and Margaret ( Danford) King.

Philip King was born in 1812, in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Mich-

ael King, who was one of the early settlers of Monroe County, Ohio, and one of its most prosperous farmers. For nearly 70 years Philip King was a resident of Belmont County, a farmer of excellence, a merchant and to- bacco handler of business integrity, a large land owner and a prominent Republican poli- tician. For 27 years he served as justice of the peace in Wayne township, removing there when Ambrose was a boy, and he held other township offices with the efficiency of an hon- est and upright citizen. His death occurred in 1898.

The mother of our subject was Margaret Danford, a daughter of Hon. Ambrose Dan- ford, at one time a State legislator. She died in 1872, at the age of 60 years. The surviv- ing members of the family born to these par- ents are : P. L., who resides at Bethesda, Ohio; W. P., who is a merchant at Beallsville, Mon- roe County; Mary, who married William Miller, a farmer near Beallsville; and Am- brose G., of this biography .

The boyhood of Mr. King was spent in Wayne township and he was educated in the excellent schools at Barnesville. Until the outbreak of the Civil War, he had been mainly engaged in farming, having married and set- tled down to the enjoyment of domestic life. But Mr. King was too loyal and patriotic to ig- nore the call of the great President for de- fenders of the Union, and among the carly en- listments of brave men, who hastened to Ma- rietta, to enroll their names, we find that of Ambrose G. King, on August 13, 1861, in Company E, 36th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and from that date until he received his honorable discharge as a veteran, at Columbus, Ohio, July 27, 1865, his life, energies and faithful service were devoted to his country. Ilis con- nection during these years was with the 4th, the 8th. the sith and the bath Army Corps. So long and continuous a service could scarcely escape being dangerous and that Mr. King, or to give him his well-earned rank, Lieuten- ant King, saw hard fighting and was in the midst of it, was very conclusively proven by his three serious wounds, a coincidence being that

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all occurred in September, the first on the 17th in 1862, the second on the 20th in 1863, and the third on the toth in 1864. His first wound, at the battle of Antietam, was serions enough to send him home on a furlough of 30 days, after which he rejoined his regiment. His sec- ond wound was received at the charge at Chickamauga, a gunshot in the mouth, this necessitating a stay of two months in the hos- pital at Nashville, Tennessee. His wound was so serious, while his valor was so pronounced, that a newspaper deemed it notable enough to thus comment :

"At the battle of Chickamauga, Sergeant King, giving vent to his feelings when a bullet entered his mouth, passed through his cheek and carried with it some teeth, had hardly re- covered from the shock when a Rebel de- manded his gun, and he answered 'yes,' and plunged his bayonet through his body."

The third wound which this gallant officer received was at Opequan, in 1864, a gunshot wound in the forehead, and this necessitated a hospital residence, at Chestnut Hill, Pennsyl- vania, for a period of two months. At this time he was a veteran, his first service having honorably terminated February 14, 1864. On the same day he re-enlisted, in Company E, 36th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was transferred to Company F, 36th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. and as above noted was honorably discharged in 1865. To his credit stands a long list of the most telling battles of the war: Lewisburg, Second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, South Mountain, Antietam, Tullahoma, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Brown's Ferry, Mission- ary Ridge, Cloyd's Mountain, Lynchburg, Kenesaw Mountain, Cabletown, Charlestown, Winchester, Martinsburg, Halltown, Berry- ville, Opequan and Beverly. Lieutenant King is the popular commander of the G. A. R. post at Pilcher, an office he has filled since its or- ganization, with the exception of two years. The King family was a remarkably loyal one, three brothers of our subject also serving with distinction : Michael, a member of the 3rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., now deceased, who was a prisoner for 26 months ; Philip L. ; and Charles

11., a member of the 25th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., who died of the wounds he received at Gettys- burg. The military spirit still lives in this patriotic family and resulted in a grandson of our subject taking part in the Spanish-Amer- cian War as a member of the 6th Illinois Regi- ment. This young man lost his life at Pitts- burg, on September 23, 1902,-he was then employed on the Pennsylvania Railroad.

On December 23, 1858, Ambrose G. King was united in marriage with Amanda J. Hudson, a daughter of William and Susan ( Knull) Hud- son, who came to Ohio prior to the birth of Mrs. King. A family of seven children was born to this union, as follows: William R., residing near his father, married first a Miss Tittlow, who at death left two children, Maud and Lettie,- the present wife, formerly a Miss Phillips, is the mother of an infant; Martha J., who is the wife of Leander Davis, resides in Wayne township, and they have six children; Charles S., who married Lucy Hocks, resides in Illinois, and they have two children ; Benetta, who first married a Mr. Davis, had two chil- dren, her second husband being Mr. MeFred- erick, and their residence Jerusalem, Monroe County ; Mary A., who is the wife of William Barrett, has three children and they live near Glencoe; Emma, who is a trained nurse in Philadelphia; and Kate M., who resides in Barnesville. Mr. King and sons are unusually fine specimens of physical manhood, the father being six feet four inches tall and weighing 240 pounds, his son Charles reaching six feet six inches and weighing 230 pounds, while William is almost an equal, weighing 227 pounds and being six feet three inches in height.

Farming on his well-cultivated 50 acres is the main business of this soldier-citizen, but he has been many times honored with township offices in the gift of the people and the Re- publican party. As a justice of the peace he has given excellent satisfaction, and now is a notary public in Pilcher. His fraternal as sociation with the Knights of Pythias at Jeru salem, in Monroe County, is of long standing. Our subject is well known through Wayne

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township and is a representative man and a justly honored survivor of that great struggle which convulsed the country and absorbed its best blood, 40 years ago.

In six trips across the plains, during which he visited the Black Hills, Colorado and Cali- fornia, Mr. King also was a participant in some Indian fighting.

THE CUNNINGHAM FAMILY. One of the pioneers of Belmont County was John Cunningham, who was born of Scotch-Irish parentage, in March, 1771, in Berkeley County, Virginia. Ile, with his brother Hugh, were members of the militia sent out under General Lee to quell the "Whiskey Insurrection" in Pennsylvania. Both of these brothers were among the first persons who ever drove wag- ons over the Alleghany Mountains. Mr. Cun- ningham and his wife, Hannah ( Robinson) Cunningham, came to Belmont County in 1805 and settled near Bellaire on what is now known as the Rhodes farm. He built of logs the present house occupying the knoll opposite to the Klee farm. This house was subsequent- ly weatherboarded and it is still in a good state of preservation after the lapse of almost a century. Mr. Cunningham and his wife were ardent advocates of temperance. Indeed, so strong were Mr. Cunningham's temperance principles that he has been called the "father of temperance" in the community. Mrs. Cun- ningham was much interested in foreign mis- sion work, then in its infancy. Her prayers for the cause were answered by the calling of two granddaughters, Mrs. Margaret Capp and Mrs. C. W. Mateer, and a great-granddaugh- ter, Mrs. Margaret Wells, to the mission work in China.

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Centennial history of Belmont County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 96

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