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 86

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 86
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 86

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).

Our subject was educated at Franklin College, Athens, Ohio. He studied law with William Kennon, Jr., and was admitted to the bar in 1846. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Pennington. He has lived in St. Clairsville ever since his ad- mission to the practice of his profession. Office on central Main street.

W. N. COFFLAND, Auditor of Belmont county. Mr. C. is a son of George W. Coffland and was born in Goshen township, March 22, 1848. He was reared on a farm and received a com- mon school education. At the age of eighteen he embarked in the mercantile business, in which he continued about six years. On the 10th of November, 1873, he became deputy auditor for W. E. Stamp. In the fall of 1877, he was elected to the office of county auditor on the Democratic ticket by a large majority, and the people pronounce him an able, efficient and popular officer. On the 5th of May, 1879, he was married to Annie M. Lochary, of St. Clairsville. His present term of office expires in 1880. Residence, Main street.

DAVID DARRAH. The subject was born on Little McMahon's creek, December 11, 1840. His parents moved to St. Clairsville when he was but five years of age. Here he received a common school education. In 1860 he started a butcher shop in the town. He first opened out in the old market house, where he continued for three years, then removed to his present location on Main street, nearly opposite Welday's bank. In 1865, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Reynolds, of Steuben- ville, by whom he became the parent of one child. He keeps fresh meat the whole year round, having facilities for keeping the same in good order. Mr. D. owns a farm of forty acres ad- joining town, and carries on farming in connection with butcher- ing.

H. C. MORRISON, dentist. Mr. Morrison was born August 31, 1837, in Morristown, Belmont county. He is a son of Robert Morrison, Esq. Studied dentistry with his father, with whom he practiced in partnership about ten years. In 1869 he made a tour west and located for practice in a town in Illinois, where he remained about three years, engaged in the dental business. Was married to Miss Mary J. Taggart, daughter of John Taggart, near St. Clairsville. In 1874 he returned from the west and located in St. Clairsville. Office on Main street, op- posite bank.

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HISTORY OF. BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES

THOMAS COCHRAN, Probate Judge .- Thomas Cochran was born in Pease township, Belmont county, Ohio, May 25, 1847. He is a son of James and Nancy Cochran, nee Cord, and is the fourth son of a family of thirteen children. In 1852 his parents removed to Mead township. He attended Mt. Union College in the winters of 1866-7 ; taught a winter school at Deep Run in 1868, and in 1869 at Sardis. Monroe county. In the spring of 1870 he began reading law with J. B. Smith, of Bellaire ; at- tended law school at Ann Arbor in 1871, and was admitted to the bar in Columbus in the spring of same year. Immediately after his admission he removed to Bellaire and began the prae- tice of his chosen profession. On January 6, 1873, he was made Deputy Sheriff under his brother, W. C. Cochran, which position he held two years. On October 30, 1873, he was mar- ried to Miss Ala Frint, danghter of John L. Frint, of St. Clairs- ville. In February, 1875, he removed to Martin's Ferry, where he resumed the practice of law, In the fall of 1878 he was elec- ted Probate Judge on the Democratic ticket, and satisfactorily fills the position.

WM. LEE, JR., was born in Wheeling township, January 18, 1814. His father, Robert Lee, was born in Ireland in 1776, and at the age of sixteen migrated to the United States, locating in Washington county, Pa., where, in December, 1800, he married Miss Mary Vanee who was a daughter of Joseph Vance, an uncle of the Joseph Vance who was Governor of Ohio from De- cember, 1836, to December, 1838. They removed to Wheeling township in 1810, where William was born, reared and educated. He worked with his father on the farm until twenty-five years of age. On the 8th of January, 1839, he married Miss Mary Dickerson of Harrison county. In the spring of 1839, he moved ou a farm joining his father's which he purchased from him. Here be resided, following agriculture for twenty-nine years, then rented his place and bought property in St. Clairs- ville and removed into it. He owns four hundred and nine acres in Wheeling township. His residence is on west end of Main street.

W. D. BUMGARNER was born in Belmont county, Ohio, Aug. 6, 1851. His father, Harvey B. Bumgarner, was born in Penn- sylvania, March 26, 1818. He married Miss Massie Teets in 1841, and the same fall removed from Harrison county to Un- iontown, Belmont county. In 1855 they removed to St. Clairs- ville. Here our subject received his schooling. At the age of twenty-one, he went to Whecling, W. Va., to learn the carpen- ter's trade with Crawfor1 and Morris, serving an apprenticeship of three years. In 1876 he returned to St. Clairsville and start- ed in business for himself. Shop, north side east Main street.

ROBERT THOMPSON was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, April 6, 1804. Mr. Thompson is but little indebted to schools for edu- cation. His father was one of the early merchants of St. Clairsville, and Robert's boyhood days were spent in his father's store. At the age of eighteen years, he began to clerk in his brother John's store, at St. Clairsville, where he con- tinned till 1822, when his brother went to Wheeling, Robert still acting as his clerk, In 1826 he became his brother's partner and opened a store at Elizabethtown, Marshall county, West Virginia. They continued at this place some five years, and then sold their store. He then came to his father's, where he remained, till April 1844, when he became united in marriage to Miss Louisa Alexander, daughter of Judge James Alexander, Jr., of Belmont county. After his marriage he located on a farm, where he resided until some four years since, when he came to the place he now ocenpies in St. Clairsville. Mr. Thompson still owns his old farm, of two hundred and thirty- three acres and an other of seventy-five acres hoth of which are in Richland township.

NOBLE CARTER was born in Kirkwood township, Belmont county, Ohio, November 6, 1834. Ile obtained a common school education, and worked on the farm until he was twenty- one years of age, atter which he attended school at Fairview, Guernsey county. Followed teaching in district schools for several years. March 4, 1863, he enlisted as a private in the 15th O. V. I. and served till the close of the war. Was a con- tractor of stone work for bridges, &c., at which he continued for eight years. Was elected county surveyor in 1872 and still holds the position.

CHARLES COLLINS was born in St. Clairsville, June 4, 1813. Received a common school education. His father was a carpen-

ter and migrated from near Hagerstown, Maryland, about the year 1807. As soon as his son was large enough to handle the tools, he worked with his father and learned the trade, which he bas followed ever since. April, 1854, he married Miss Rachel Merrit. They are the parents of three children, viz: Charles, Robert and Josephine. Robert is at Lafayette College and Charles is in the West. Mr. C. has always been a resident of St. Clairsville.

BENJAMIN DICKEY was born in Chester county, Pa., Decem- ber 28, 1818. Our subject's grandfather's name was John. He migrated to America from Ireland in 1764-5. He had four children, Robert, John, James and Margaret. Robert was born in 1775, in Chester, county, Pa. In 1800 he was united in mar- riage to Miss Sarah Collorn. They were the parents of twelve children, viz: Jane, John, Jesse, Margaret, Jane, James, Eliza- beth, Kezediah, William, Benjamin, Sarah and Rachel Dickey. Ten of this family grew to man and womanhood. Nine of them were school teachers. James is a Presbyterian minister. John an M. E. minister. Jesse served as paymaster all through the rebellion ; has twice heen a member of Congress from Pennsyl- vania. His youngest sister is a graduate of the Philadelphia Female Medical College. and has a large practice in Philadelphia. His father lived to be eighty-four years of age and his brother ninety-seven years. Our subject took an Academical course, and attended lectures at the Pennsylvania Medical University, where his health failed him, and he was obliged to give up the study of medieine, since which time he has followed farming. He came to Jefferson county, Ohio, in February, 1846, and located in Mt. Pleasant township, where he remained for seventeen years, and then removed to Wheeling township, Belmont county, and lo- cated on the old Rammage farm, which he still owns. In the Spring of 1877 he removed to St. Clairsville. On August 25, 1849, was married to Miss Leanna Waterman.

JOHN HAGUE, son of Reuben and Anna V. Hague, was born in Springfield, September 19, 1853. When very small his pa- rents removed to St. Clairsville, Ohio, where our subject was educated. When nineteen years of age he began tailoring with his father, and has been engaged at the business ever since. September 19, 1874, he was nnited in marriage to Miss Mattie Hilligas, of Cadiz, Ohio.

DAVID M. DAVIES was born in St. Clairsville, May 2, 1820. His father was a native of York county, Pa. Was a soldier in the revolutionary war, ivas wounded at the surrender of Corn- wallis at Yorktown, and was also at St. Clair's defeat in Novem- ber 4, 1791. In 1809, he began his journey to St. Lonis and when he arrived at St. Clairsville his wife was taken sick, and being obliged to stop, he made it his future home. He was reared a Quaker. Died in March 13, 1855, at the advanced age of ninety-five years.

Our subject received a common school education and was a tailor by trade. On August 16, 1851, he was married to Miss Jennette Thompson, of St. Clairsville. In 1850, he was elected justice of the peace, served for nine years and was again elected to the office in 1879. Has also held other township offices of minor importance. Has always been a resident of St. Clairs- ville except from 1875 to 1878, which time he was temporarily located in Wheeling.

GEORGE JEPSON was born in Richland township, August 28, 1839. His parents are natives of Lancashire, England. His father was a weaver by trade, which he followed until 1826, when he migrated to America, and in 1835 he came to Belmont county and located on the Humphrey property. He followed farming till 1843, when he met with an accident whilst assisting at the raising of a barn, by the falling timbers, breaking his arm in three plaees, five ribs and completely ernshing his right leg, and then removed to St. Clairsville.

Onr subject was brought to St. Clairsville when but four years of age, and it is here he received his education. His father started a grocery, and as soon as George was old enough he was placed in the store and he has followed that business ever since, save the three years he was in the Union army. On Angust 12, 1862, he enlisted in company B. 98th Reg. O. V. I., served till June 1, 1865. Was never off duty and never in a hospital. On December 28, 1871, he was married to Miss Rebecca E. Grove, a dangliter of John A. Grove. He moved to his present location in 1854, but in 1866 their store was de- stroyed by fire. A building was immediately crected which

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

contains one of the largest stocks of groceries in town. Has a full assortment of queensware, fancy groceries, &c.

W. S. FAWCETT, EsQ., a son of Joel Fawcett, was born in Richland township, Belmont county, Ohio, May 19, 1847. Re- ceived his education in the common schools and at St. Clairs- ville. His early days were spent on the farm, and at the age of fifteen years he went to Wheeling and was then apprenticed to learn the silver-smith's trade, where he served five years, and from September, 1868, to March, 1877, worked for George Brown, of St. Clairsville. He then embarked in business for himself. His establishment is on Main street. On July 3, 1877, was united in marriage to Miss Annie C. Neiswanger, daughter of Isaac Neiswanger.

LEWIS P. HOFFNER was born in Prussia, February 12, 1830. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen years began to learn the tailor trade with his father. He re- mained with him four years, after which he led a migratory life till he was twenty four years of age. He then came to America, landing in Baltimore, May 20, 1854. In September, 1854, he came to St. Clairsville, and worked three years for Henry Meyer. In thefall of 1857 he was married to Miss Clara Howe, of Zanesville, Ohio. After his marriage he started in business for himself in St. Clairsville. His store is situated on south Main street, and residence in the eastern part of town.

THOMAS J. MERRITT was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, January 1, 1830. When about two years of age, his mother re- moved to St. Clairsville, his father having died a short time previous. When Thomas was six years of age, his mother gave up housekeeping, and he went to live with John H. Heaton, edi- tor of the St. Clairsville Gazette, in which office be learned his trade, which he has been engaged at ever since. October 1, 1850, he was married to Miss Mary E. Franks, a native of Vir- ginia. He has been employed in one office the longest of any man in Belmont county. He has never been sick twenty-four hours in his life, and never lost twenty days work in the office.

JESSE PRATT was born in St. Clairsville, February 24, 1845. His parents came to Martin's Ferry when he was but one year old. When a little past two years of age his mother died, and he was sent to live with his uncle, Thomas Pyle, of Colerain township. Remaining there until at the age of eleven years, he returned to his father who resided in Pease township. At the age of seventeen years he entered the Union army, enlisting in company B., 98th Reg. O. V. I., where he served for eighteen months and then was placed in company G. 170th regiment, remaining till March, 1865. In 1860 he began the painting business, and in 1865 went to Illinois. From the winter of 1865 to 1870 he was in Chicago, and from there he went to Dakota, remaining for a short time. On February 24, 1875, he married Miss Mary K. White, of Colerain township. He located in St. Clairsville, March, 1875, where he has since resided, following his trade.

JAS. WEIR .- This gentleman was born in Washington county, Pa., June 9, 1803. When seven years of age his parents emi- grated to Belmont county, Ohio, and located about one mile from Barnesville. Mr. Weir is but little indebted to schools for his education, having attended school but six weeks in his life, and this was in an old log house in the woods.

After sustaining a series of reverses of fortune by becoming surety for others, his father became entirely disheartened and broken down, but his mother rose above it and did most for the support ot the family. She was a daughter of the late distin- guished Judge John Craig, of Pa. His father died in the sixty- eighth year of his age, and his wife survived him for thirty years, dying at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. When thirteen years old our subject was cast upon the world to make his fortune by his own exertions, having nothing but a linen shirt and pants and au old hat, the back part of which was eut out, and then sewed up to make it small enough, one buckskin suspender and a barlow knife. He worked wherever he could find employment. When seventeen years of age he became a partner with David Sunth and Isaac Branson, who were renters of a grist and saw-mill and woolen factory. It was here he made his first start, and when twenty years of age he had earned and saved $750.

About this time he began the study of law with the Hon. David Jennings of St. Clairsville. He and Judge William Ken- non, Sr., were admitted to the bar on the same day. Then he be-

came a partner with his preceptor, and continued as a lawyer at the Belmont county bar for forty years, when he became so af- flieted with rheumatism that he could no longer write, and had to abandon his practice. In 1827, 1829 and 1836, he was chosen by the Whig party as a member of the Legislature, and never got less than four hundred Democratie votes in the county. On the 29th of March, 1838, he was married to Miss Jane Porter, who died March 22, 1839, no children. On June 21, 1843, he married Miss Elizabeth MeLaughlin, grand daughter of Judge Bryson, by whom he had eight children. His wife and five children are dead. Has three children living, viz : James, George W. and Ada.

DR. GEORGE A. CLOSE Was born in Richland township, Bel- inont county, Ohio, September 25, 1850. His grandfather, Henry Close, was born in York county, Pa., October, 1772; married Magdalene Neet, a native of Frederick county, Mary- land, March 22, 1802. They migrated to Belmont county in the year 1805, and located one mile north of St. Clairsville. They were the parents of eight children, viz : Harriet, John, Mary A, George, Lucinda, Josiah, Eliza J, and Loretta Close. Until the death of George, which occurred October 27, 1878, they were all living. John died February 14, 1879, in his seventy-seventh year. He was horn March 3, 1805, in Wheeling, W. Va., and married Sarah E. Barnes, June, 1847. Their children's names are as follows : Henry B, George A, Belle, Mary E, Emma H Lorain T., John A., and Eliza J. Close. The latter named, is dead. Our subject obtained an academical education and then attended Starling Medical College of Columbus, where he grad- uated in 1875, after which he entered the Columbus Medical C. 1- lege, graduating in 1876, since which time he has been practic- ing medicine in Belmont county, Ohio. The old farm on which his grandfather first located is still in possession of the Close family.

GEORGE P. BUMGARNER, a native of Belmont county, Ohio, was born March 20, 1846. April 1, 1855, his parents removed to St. Clairsville. When fourteen years old he began the trade of shoe- making with his father and followed the same till September 27, 1864, when he enlisted as a private to serve in the Union army, 14th regiment, O. V. I., and continued in service till the close of the war. Upon his return he again pursued his trade in St. Clairsville until March, 1869, when he went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he remained till August and returned to Ohio. He again came to St. Clairsville, and was united in marriage to Mary E. Gleave, September 29, 1870. They are the parents of three sons. In 1876, he began a shop of his own, which he continued until June, 1878, when he went to Missouri. He stayed but a short time and again returned to St. Clairsville. His shop is on East Main street.

M. E. WILSON, son of John and Sarah Wilson, was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, January 6, 1848. He was reared a farmer and gardener. Married Rebecca A. Little, of Wheeling, October 2, 1877. For two years he ran a hack from Warnock to St. Clairs- ville. In 1877, he began as a baker and confectioner and still continues the same. His father was born in Fayette county, Pa., and emigrated to Belmont county some fifty years ago.

JAMES McMILLAN was born in St. Clairsville, February 6, 1838. His father was a native of Scotland, and in 1818 migrated to America, locating in the vicinity of St. Clairsville. He was by trade a tailor, and followed the same for many years. Our sub- jeet, when about fifteen years of age, began the trade of a sil- versmith with Goorge Brown, with whom he continued till twenty years of age; he then worked as a journeyman for two years. At the opening of the rebellion he enlisted as a private in Company K, 15th Regiment O. V. I., and served during the war. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Stone river and lodged at Libby prison for four months. He was in the naval service, as steward, for two and a half years. After his return from the war he bought the property he now owns on Main street, and has been pursuing his trade ever since.

BENJAMIN R. JOHNSTON was born in Mead township, Belmont county, Ohio, October 15, 1833. His father is a native of Penn- sylvania, and his mother was born in Richland township, and is a daughter of Samuel Connell, who was a major in the war of the Revolution. Their marriage occurred in 1824, and he resided in Mead township until some eight years since. Benjamin was reared on the farm until fourteen years of age, when he came to St. Clairsville to attend school, and made his home with

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

Judge Ruggles, with whom he remained till the Judge's death, He married Margaret J. Buffington in November, 1854, who departed this life April 12, 1875. Mr. Johnston served as a pri- vate in the war of the rebellion, He enlisted in Company A, 25th O. V. I., and served three years. In the battle of Chan- collorsville he received a slight wound, was taken prisoner, and lodged for a short time at Libby prison. Since the fall of 1869 he has been engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. Office, on Main street.

FREDERICK TROLL was born in Prussia, July 13, 1822. At fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to a cabinet-maker, served three years, and became thoroughly skilled in his trade. After working at his trade in the cities of Hamburg, Berlin and Vienna he started to America, where he arrived in safety after a voyage of nine weeks and four days. He pursued his trade in Philadelphia until the fall of 1844, and from thence came to Wheeling, where he remained during the winter, and in the summer of 1845 came to St. Clairsville, and began as a clerk in his brother's store. In 1852 he became a partner, and from that date remained in the store the principal portion of his time. The firm was known by the name of C. and F, Troll till 1867, when they dissolved partnership, and April 1, 1867, Mr. Troll began a store in I. H. Patterson's storeroom. He continued at this place till September, 1875. In 1872 the firm became F. Troll & Son. During the spring and summer of 1875 he erected the brick building on Main street which is occupied as his store- room. His stock consists of dry goods and notions. He was married to Miss Mary Troll on May 10, 1852. His oldest son. Albert, was married to Miss Laura Sharp March 27, 1877.

SIMON JONES was born in Belmont county, Ohio, December 24, 1836, in the town of Farmington. His father was a shoe- maker by trade. Our subject learned his trade with Allen Job. After he had learned his trade he went to Mt. Pleasant, and worked for Eldridge, a carriage maker. In 1853 he came to St. Clairsville, and began work for Shepherd Davis, for whom he continued to labor until the beginning of the rebellion, when he enlisted at the first call for troops, known as the three months' mnen. At the expiration of the three months, he again enlisted, and served under Sherman, in the 43d O. V. I., till the close of the war. In 1873 he purchased three lots on Butler street, and in the fall of 1874 erected a shop, where he now makes wagons, buggies, carriages, &c., and does repairing of all kinds. Married Jane Courtney, September, 1866, by whom he has seven children, three boys and four girls.

ROBERT COURTNEY was born in Ireland, December 24, 1853. His parents emigrated to America in January, 1859. He served an apprenticeship of three years at blacksmithing with Mr. Martin, with whom he is now a partner. They have quite an extensive trade, and are good workmen, Their shop is on Ma- rietta street.

W. S. SEIDWITZ Was born in Germany, April 8, 1824. He is a saddler. He first served an apprenticeship of three years, and then worked as a journeyman till the opening of King William's war, in which he served two years and eight months. In 1849 he came to America; after his arrival he worked in Wheeling for a short time, and then came to St. Clairsville. He married Mary Singer May 9, 1853, by whom he is the parent of two sons and two daughters. After his marriage, he and Wilson Askew became partners, and remained as such nntil the rebellion, when Mr. Seidwitz purchased his partner's interest. Mr. Seidwitz does quite an extensive business.

JEREMIAH STONEBRAKER was born in Belmont county, Ohio, July 29, 1842. His mother died when he was but thirteen years old, and at the age.of seventeen he united himself with the Christian church at Ben Fork, being still a member. In his youth he met with an accident by falling down a flight of stairs, dislocating his hip joint, and making him a cripple for life. At the age of 22 years, he began keeping a grocery in Hartford, Guernsey county, Ohio, where he remained for two years, and then was an apprentice under Frank Edgar, of Kokomo, Indi- ana, to learn the trade of a barber. On December 4, 1868, he was married to Miss Nancy Brown, who lived but ten months.

January, 1871, he came to St. Clairsville to engage in his busi- ness, where he has ever since remained. Shop under National Hotel, south of Court House. On December 14, 1871, he was married to Miss Ella Berry, of Richland township. In 1879 he invented a window-shade and had it patented. It is so arranged

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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 86

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