History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 106

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 106
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 106

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JOHN QUINN was born in Belfast, Ireland, December 17, 1850. Came to America in April, 1870; served au apprenticeship as machinist and engineer in the Cleveland rolling mills ; came to Martin's Ferry in 1872, and since that time has worked in var- ious places. Ile began in the employ of the Benwood Irou Works, May; 1877, and is engineer of the furnace. Married a Miss Carmichael, December, 1874.

JAMES SKELDING is a native of England, and was born August 4, 1842. He began work in a blast furnace when but eight years of age, which he still continues. His grandfather was one ot the first iron manufacturers of England. He emigrated to America, May, 6, 1866. and has worked in many of the leading mills of this country. He conducted the celebrated Lucy fur- nace of Pittsburgh for five years. Previons to his coming to Pittsburgh he ran the North Chicago blast furnace for three years. Is now foreman of the Benwood blast furnace, Married Rebecca Von, May 15, 1864.

S. H. HEATON Was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, December 2, 1842. His father being a blacksmith, our subject began to work in his father's shop when but eleven years old. He en- listed as a private June, 1862, in Company A. 90th Regiment O. V. I .. and served under Sherman three years. Married Kate Stewart December 13, 1877. He has been working in Martin's Ferry for ten years and has a blacksmith shop on the corner of First and Hickory streets. He makes furnace tweers a special- ty, but does repairing of all kinds.

BENJAMIN EXLEY, JR., a native of Yorkshire, England, was born April 26, 1839, and when at the age of two years, his pa- rents emigrated to America and located at Wheeling. When he was seventeen years old he began to work with his uncle, Benja- min Exley, Sr., who is a carpeuter and joiner, and with whom he has worked the principal portion of the time since. He served in the war of the rebellion from August. 1862, until June 27, 1865. in Battery D., First West Virginia Light Artillery. On the 21st day of August, 1862, he married Sophia F. Collins, of Wheeling. In April, 1877, he came to Martin's Ferry, and is of the firm of Exley, Medill & Co., planing mills.

305

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

B. J. LONG was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 12, 1831. When ten years of age his father removed to Martin's Ferry and ran a ferry boat for many years. He used to help his father on the ferry, and when he became so old that he was no longer able to conduct his business, his son took charge of the ferry and conducted it alone. For three years he sold goods for Davis & Miller; six years for N. Schulz, of Wheeling ; and has been clerk for L. Spence for three years. Mr. Long has been married twice. For his first wife he chose Auranda McKee, whom he married August 19, 1856, who died December 8, 1866. He then married Margaret J. Buccy, August 7, 1871.

M. C. MITCHELL Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, July 21, 1840. Our subject was reared a farmer, and educated at Hope- dale, Harrison county, and Vermillion Institute, Ashland conn- ty, Ohio. He married Mary E. Kennon, of St. Clairsville, Sep- tember 27, 1877. On the first of January, 1877, he began a pro- vision and grocery store, 34 Fourth street, Martin's Ferry. Mr. Mitchell still keeps his farm of two hundred acres, situated. on Scotch Ridge.

DAVID PARK was born in Martin's Ferry, September 21, 1846. Hle was educated at his own town and at Vermilion In- stitute, Ashland county, Ohio. After his course at school he embarked in business, and is at present a member of the Mar- tin's Ferry Keg and Barrel Company. On the 6th day of Ang- ust, 1874, he married Florence S. Morrison, of this place.

S. B. WILLIAMS .-- Our subject is a native of Belmont county, and was born on the 27th day of March, 1827. When sixteen years of age he began the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1844 he began millwrighting, and has followed these occupa- tions ever since, save two years, from 1853 to 1855. He re- ceived an injury by the failing of a scaffold, so that he was obliged to teach school during that interval, and he has never entirely recovered from this fall. In 1850 he married Ruthanna Hampton, of Pennsylvania. In 1851 he removed to Monroc county, Ohio, where he resided for ten years, and from thence to Wheeling island, where he lived some ten years, and then located at Martin's Ferry, where he still remains. In 1870 he purchased an old mill that stood at the upper end of town, and moved it to its present location, at the southern end. It is a steam mill with capacity of sawing from eight to ten thousand feet of lumber daily. Formerly he ran it night and day. Mr. Williams has been unavoidably unfortunate in many regards, having been twice burnt out of honse and home while living in Monroe county, and having no insurance either time. In the spring of 1873 he was a heavy loser by the breaking up of the ice in the river, which swept away several thousand dollars worth of logs. The ice had become gorged some miles above, and when it gave way swept everything in its course.

HENRY WARWOOD, a native of England, was born February 23, 1823. He learned the trade of making miners' and garden- ers' tools at Brade & Co.'s steel works, near Birmingham. In 1848 he emigrated to America and began labors at Cuyahoga Falls, but owing to his dread of the fever and ague, which were prevalent at that place. he removed to Pittsburgh the ensuing spring. Here he began work for Postley & Nelson, and then for Lippencott, manufacturer of forks, until he had sufficient means to erect a small shop, and then began for himself at a place a few miles from the city. He continued there but a short time, however, when he again changed his location This time he went up the Monongahela river to Brown's coal works, and made miner's tools, until he had accumulated a sufficient sum of money to begin business on a more extensive scale. He then came to Martin's Ferry in 1854, and carried on business till 1868, on the lot now occupied by Theaker's hardware store. In that year he changed to his present location, on First street and Cadiz road, where he erected a factory for the manufacture of wrought iron, garden rakes, garden hoes and miners' tools. Ilis trade extends to nearly all of the principal cities throughout the central, western and southern States. On the Ith day of December, in 1849, he was united in marriage to Maria Brad- shaw, a native of England.

BENJAMIN EXLEY, SR., was born in Darrington, Yorkshire. England, December 4, 1808. He was reared on a farm, on which he labored until he arrived at the age of twenty-three years. He married Ellen Simpson in his native country Jann ary 13, 1813, and sailed for America, February 13, of the same 39-B. k .I. Cos.

year. He located at Wheeling, and learned the trade of a car- penter, which he followed until 1845, when he began shipping wagons south and selling them to the planters. This he con- tinued for nine years, and then resumed his old trade, which he still continnes. Mr. Exley located in Martin's Ferry in May. 1875. In 1876 he became a partner with Mr. Medill in his plan- ing mill, and still continues as such.

DR. B. O. WILLIAMS .- The subject of this brief sketch was born in Wetzel county, West Virginia, November 13, 1847. Ile was reared on a farm, and obtained his collegiate education at Mt. Union College, Ohio, after which he attended medical lee -. tures at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. After graduating in 1873, he came to Martin's Ferry, Ohio, and began the practice of medicine. His office is in the Commercial block. on Hanover street.

HON. ROSS J. ALEXANDER, member of the last Ohio Legisla- ture, was born in St. Clairsville, December 25, 1834. Ile is a son of Robert J. and Mary A. Alexander nee Jennings. His father, who was an early lawyer, held several prominent offices of trust, which he filled with competency, and was a highly re- spected citizen, is spoken of elsewhere in this work. Our sub- ject attended the common schools of his native town until he arrived at a proper age, when he was sent to Franklin College. and thence to Washington, Pa., where he completed a classical course, graduating in 1854. He returned home and commenced the study of law with his father, was admitted to the bar in Columbus in 1856, and entered upon his professional career in- mediately in St. Clairsville. On the 14th day of July, 1858, he married Margaretta Askew. eldest daughter of Isaac and Eliza- beth Askew, now of Kansas City. He resided in St. Clairsville until 1872, when he removed to Bridgeport. He was master commissioner for twelve years; was elected mayor of St. Clairs- ville and served a couple of years. In 1877 he was elected by the Democrats to the House of Representatives from Belmont county, and served his constituents with distinction and credit. Residence in Kirkwood, and office south of creek bridge.

DR. W. S. FISHER -- office, corner Fridge and Howard streets -- was born in Maryland September 3, 1843. His parents, John and Mary Fisher nee Simmons, migrred to Belmont county. Ohio, and settled near Barnesville in 1848. The Doctor re ceived an academical education in Barnesville. In 1862 he be- gan reading medicine, and commenced the practice of the same in Malaga, Monroe county. Ohio, in 1867. He came to Bridge port in 1870. In 1875 he was married to Amanda Collins They have one child, a son- Charles . M. The Doctor is a pleas ant gentleman and a good physician.

MILTON MOCONNAUGHEY was born November 16, 1826, in Jef ferson county, Ohio, near the village of Richmond. His parents were Joseph and Rebecca MeConaughey. They removed to Bridgeport in 1831. Here Milton attended the common schools. and learned brickmaking with his father. He engaged in the coal speculation after attaining Ins majority, in which he con- tinued about fourteen years. In 1848. he married Cintha 1 Coss. In 1861, he and C. P. Whitney took the contract of hand ing all the freight of the C. & P. R. R. to Wheeling and return. In this he continued until 1877. His wife in the meantime died. April 3, 1872, and he married for his second wife, Amanda V. Amine, May 11, 1875. In 1872, he was elected Mayor of Bridge- port, re-elected in 1874. and again in 1876 Residence on How-

ard street.

C. M. Knoops, of the firm of U. M. Rhodes & Co. wholesale grocers, is a Pof E. P. Rhodes, and was born in Bridgeport. Ohio, December 10, 1815. Educated at home and Now Brighton College, Pa. In 1865, he commenced the wholesale grocery business in his native town. in partnership with his father. Hle continned until January, 1878, when his father withdrew from the business and he associated his brother in the trade with him under the firm name of C. M. Rhodes & Co This firm carries a stock of $25,000 worth of goods and drives a good wholesale trade. He is also of the firm of Rhodes & Dunlevy. (miller>). and is one of the directors of the La Belle glass works In ITT he was elected president of the builling association of Bridge port, in which capacity he is now acting. On the 25th of Feb ruary, 1879, he was married to Miss Mollie G. Beatty, of Steel benville Mr. R is an active business man, genial and obling in disposition, and merits the success in trade that he has had

306

HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

JOSEPH WORLEY was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1769, and came to Ohio county, W. Va., when quite a small boy. Soon after his arrival there he was captured by the Indians at a point near West Liberty. He was taken to Sandusky and held for a short time, when he was rescued by the " Poes," who happened to be on a bunting excursion in the northwestern territory. Mr. Worley moved to Belmont county sometime prior to 1800 and remained until his death in 1871, aged one hundred and two years. Wolen Worley, his son, was born in Belmont county. November 23. 1815. He was raised a farmer and received a fair education. He married Elizabeth Scott and settled in his native township. Pease, where he now lives. Mr. Worley has a finely improved farm, which was acquired by hard labor. As a citizen he is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him.

WILLIAM BROWN was born in Maryland in 1801, and came to Belmont county with his father in 1802. The Browns were of English origin, but had emigrated to America before the revo- Intionary war. William received his education at the subscrip- tion schools of early times. He learned the carpenter trade and became an excellent workman. Ile went to building boats, and helped build the first of the boats known as "arks." In 1822 he went on the river as boatman and remained until 1828. In 1829 he came to the farm that he now owns. He married Miss Sarah Norman December 25, 1828. They have had ten children. of whom but three are now living.

WILLIAM A. BROWN, son of William Brown, was born in Pease township in 1843. He, was raised a farmer, and educated at the common schools. August 6, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany B, 98th Regiment O. V. I., marched to the sea with Sher- man, and was mustered out June 20, 1865. He is married, and has one child, a son.

JOEL TILTON was born in Pease township in 1813. He was a son of Joseph and Mary Tiltou. The Tilton family were truly pioneers of Belmont county and, we might say, of West Vir- ginia also. They were among the very first to penetrate the wilderness among the Indians, build their cabins, clear land, and bring about some civilization west of the Ohio. They first located near where Joel, the subject of this sketch, was born, on land now known as the Tilton homestead. Joel was raised a farmer and received, a common school education. In 1843 he married C. A. Hartzell. They had seven children, five sons and two daughters. Mr. Tilton died February 3, 1873.

GEORGE M. W. STRINGER .- Mr. Stringer was born in Belmont county in 1824, and is a son of William Stringer. He was raised a farmer, and received a common school education. In 1865 he married Miss Sarah Fitzgerald, of Jefferson county. They have six children, four daughters and two sons. The Stringer family were pioneers of Belmont county.

MRS. AMANDA BROWN .- The subject of this sketch was born in Pease township in 1826. She was a daughter of James M. Smith, and was educated at the sehools of the township. She married, November 9, 1845. H. Brown, who went to California in 1852 and remained until his death in 1864, They had three children, one son and two daughters.

JOHN WOODS was born in Jefferson county in 1816, and was a son of William Woods, who came to Jefferson in 1815. His father was of Irish origin, and came to America in 1795; was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served during the entire war. He raised a family of five children, and died in 1844. His wife still survives him, and is in her eighty eighth year. John, the subject of this sketch, was the oldest son. His carly education was much neglected, but, by close application to study, he ac- quired sufficient to transact business. He was deputy sheriff of Jefferson county for several years, and, after moving to Belmont county, became an active business man, aud is one of the best farmers in Pease township. He is also one of the directors of the Bridgeport Bank.

JOSEPH S CHANDLER was born in Washington county, New York. in 1807, and came to Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1836. He received a common school education and at the age of eighteen went to learn the woolen business in Pittsford, Vermont, where he remained some time. then came to Rochester, New York, and remained until 1836, when he came to Steubenville, where he en- gaged in business. He remained here for three years, then moved to Mount Pleasant. In 1843. he married Miss T. H. llogg. They have six children. four sons and two daughters.

VANDELL WAGONER, M. D., was born at West Wheeling, Bel- mont county. in 1854. He was educated at Lindsley Institute, and is also a graduate of a commercial college. On completing his business course he entered the study of medicine in the office of Dr. W. S. Fisher, of Bridgeport. He afterward entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati and graduated from that in- stitution in 1876. He is now attending a medical college in New York.

JAMES ALEXANDER .- This gentleman was born on Scotch Ridge, Please township, September 8, 1806. He was a son of Robert and Jane Alexander, pioneers of Belmont county, and of Scotch origin. Mr. Alexander was raised a farmer and received a common school education. He is of one of the oldest and most popular families of the county and is widely known. He has been married three times. His first wife was Miss McGregor, the second was Miss Margaret McKee, and the third was Miss S. McKee. Mr. Alexander is a devoted church member, and a high- ly respected citizen. He has accumulated enough of this world's goods to retire from the life of a farmer, and has taken up his residence in Bridgeport.

THOMAS MITCHELL, EsQ., was the youngest son of John and Janette Mitchell and was born in Belmont county, December 20, 1808. His father came to Belmont county and settled on Scotch Ridge, and was one of the early settlers. Thomas was raised a farmer, received a liberal education, and on arriving at manhood started out for himself. He has represented his township in al- most every capacity, and has been justice of the peace several times. He is engaged in farming and operating a steam grist mill.

JOSEPH FINNEY Was born in York county, Pa., April 11, 1801, and came to this county with his father, Robert Finney, in 1803. His father located on the farm now owned by R. J. Finney, a son of Joseph Finney. Joseph, the subject of this sketch, was raised a farmer and received a common school education. He married Miss Mary Mitchell, and they have raised a family of five children to be men and women. Mr. Finney is engaged in farming and has a finely improved farm. He has ninety-eight acres of land nuderlaid with coal.

EBENEZER LISTEN .- Mr. Listen was born in Alleghany coun- ty, Maryland, in 1801, and came to Belmont county in 1825. Mr. Liston, like a great many other men of his day, received but a limited education. In 1827 he married Miss Mary A. Scott, a daughter of Andrew Scott, one of the pioneers of Bel- mont county. They have four children, two sons and two daughters.

SCOTT LISTEN, a son of E. Listen, enlisted in the Union army at the outbreak of the late war, and served until its close, going through all the hardships and dangers of a soldier's life without receiving any serious injury.

PETER YOST .- Mr. Yost was born in Ohio county, W. Va., in 1796; came to Belmont county with his father, and located on the farm now owned by the Hardestys. Mr. Yost is really a pioneer of this county, for when he came there were but few white settlers, and roving bands of Indians were to be seen every day passing up Wheeling creek. He is probably the old- est white man in this eounty, or at least has spent more years bere than any one else. He has been a hard working man, and has raised a family who are all grown to be men and women,

ROBERT BLACKFORD .- Mr. Blackford was born in Jefferson couuty, Ohio, in 1813, and came to Belmont county with his father in 1823. In his boyhood he attended school-a short time in the winter season, and at the age of eighteen went to learn the blacksmith trade with a man named Wells. After working four years and. completing his apprenticeship he started out for himself. In 1838 he married Miss Martha Weeks, of Belmont county. They have three children, two sons and a daughter. Mr. Blackford is now retired from business.

ANDREW GOUDY was born in Belmont county in 1807, and went to Brooke county, W. Va., with his parents in 1809, where he remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He had learned the carpenter trade with his father, and, on his attain- ing manhood, went into business with his brother John, who carried on boat building and carpentering at the mouth of Short creek. Mr. Gondy worked at this several years, when he moved

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

to Bridgeport and engaged in the grocery business, where he still remains.

JOSEPH ROGER .- Mr. Roger was born in Germany in 1825 and came to this country in 1849. He stopped for a short time in Pennsylvania, then went to Illinois, where he learned the butch- er's trade. In 1852 he came to Belmont county and located. He worked for George Keinline by the month, but, like most of the Germans, he soon saved enough to start on his own account. He is a very energetic man, has a finely improved place of 24 acres, and carries on the butcher business on a large scale.

MRS. CATHERINE MCCONAUGHEY was a daughter of Jos. Kirk- wood, and was born in 1820 in the village of Kirkwood, near Bridgeport. In 1845 she married Dr. Jas. McConaughey. They had three children. Dr. MeConaughey was born in Harrison county, Ohio, in 1809. He studied medicine under Dr. Hamil- ton, of Mount Pleasant, and graduated at the Medical College in Cincinnati. He practiced for several years in Bridgeport and the surrounding country. He died in 1870.

FREDERICK ROBRECHT .- Mr. Robrecht was born in Germany in 1840, and emigrated to America in 1858. He located in Wheeling for a short time, then went to Cleveland to learn the trade of carriage making. He came to Belmont county in 1865, and finally settled in Bridgeport in 1877, where he is now en- gaged in the manufacture of buggies, wagons, etc.

JOSEPH BARNES,-Joseph Barnes was born in Maryland May 2, 1790, came to this county quite early, and located where his son, L. H. Barnes, now lives. In November, 1817, he married Miss Mary Kernand. They had seven children, of whom but three are living at present. L. K. and Joseph occupy the old homestead, and John lives in Iowa. Mr. Barnes died December 2, 1839, and his wife died May 5, 1869.

JAMES M. SMITH was born in Fairfax county, Va., in 1790, and came to Ohio when a young man. He married Miss Mary Berry, who was born in London county, Va., in 1793.

J. F. SMITH is a son of James M. Smith, and was raised a farmer, receiving his education at the common schools of the county. He is one of the most enterprising farmers in Pease township, and has fine farm improvements.

JOHN P. MITCHELL was born in Belmont county in 1847. He is a son of John Mitchell, who was among the first settlers in the county. He was raised a farmer and received bis education in the common schools. In 1876 he married Miss Milner, of Mount Pleasant, Jefferson county. They have one child, a son.

JOHN MARLOW .- Mr. Marlow is a son of James Marlow and was born in Ohio county, W. Va., in 1820. He moved to Rich- land county, Ohio, in 1832, where he remained until 1845, when he came to Belmont. In 1850 be purchased the farm now owned by L. Cook, and lived on that fifteen years, when he pur- chased the farm on which he now resides. In 1848 he married Miss Sarah Moore. Mr. Marlow is an energetic farmer and a respected citizen.

JONATHAN PASCO was born in 1814 in Belmont county, Ohio. He was a son of Michael and Rebecca Pasco, who were born in Franklin county, Pa. Jonathan was reared on the farm and rendered such assistance to his father as a dutiful son should, until he reached his majority years. In 1845 he married Annie B. Barnard, by whom he reared a family of four children-three boys and one girl. George B. Pasco, a son of Jonathan, met with an accident in 1860, by falling over a precipice some forty or fifty feet, near the Wheeling creek bridge, in Pease town- ship, sustaining very serious injuries, which he will feel the the effects of during his life.

TOWNSEND FRASIER was born in boudon county, Va., July 21, 1796, and came to Belmont county with his uncle when very young. His father, James Frasier, came a few years later. Townsend received a liberal education and learned the trade of bricklaying. In 1820 be married Miss Elizabeth Bailey, and lived in St. Clairsville for a number of years, In 1832 he moved to what is known as the Stone Tavern, on the National road, where he remained four years. He afterward purchased one hundred acres of land and engaged in farming. He drove the first stake for the National pike in Ohio, and also put up the first telegraph pole in the State. Mr. Frasier was a good citi-

zen and a devoted member of the M. E. Church. He died August 23, 1876, leaving a wife and six children to mourn his loss.

ROBERT WOODS .- MT. Woods was born in Mount Pleasant. Jef- ferson county, in 1825, and came to Belmont county in 1858. He was raised a farmer and educated at the common schools of his native county. In 1851, he married Mary F. Wood, of Wheel- ing, W. Va. Mr. Woods is an enterprising farmer and a worthy citizen. He is a son of William Woods, a native of Ireland.

WILLIAM BERKLY .- Mr. Berkly was born in Germany. He emigrated to America in 1853. Here he learned the butcher trade, and by a close application to business has accumulated sufficient to buy him a comfortable home, and takes his stand among the leading ones in his trade. He was married in 1859 and has nine children. He has twenty-four acres of fine land near Bridgeport, which has been carned by hard labor, as he be- gan without means.

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 106

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728