USA > Ohio > Harrison County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 11
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 11
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Ezekiel R. Lee was reared and educated under the conditions that marked the pioneer days in Carroll County, and in addition to gaining a plethora of experience in connection with farm work he also learned the tanner's trade, at Cadiz, Harrison County. However he devoted the major part of his active career to agricul- tural and live-stock industry, and he and his brother were prominent stock drovers in the early days. He was a vigorous abolitionist in the period leading up to the Civil war and he cast his last vote in support of Abraham Lin- coln for the presidency, his death having oc- curred the year prior to the inception of the Civil war. Both he and his wife were zealous members of the Presbyterian Church. Of their children, Richard Henry, whose name intro- duces this review, is the eldest; John B. died in March, 1876; Horace G. is a resident of Canton, Stark County; Alexander died in infancy ; and James A. resides at Harlem Springs, Carroll County.
Richard Henry Lee was born on his father's farm, in Lee Township, Carroll County, and the date of his nativity was November 24, 1848. Am- bitious, self-reliant and of alert mentality, he was not satisfied to avail himself merely of the advantages of the common schools of the lo- cality and period, as is demonstrated by his having pursued higher studies in Harlem Col- lege, at Harlem Springs, and by his finally en- tering Cornell University, at Ithaca, New York. In this latter institution he completed a thor- ough course in civil engineering, and to the pro- fession for which he thus fitted himself he has devoted his attention during the long intervening years, which have recorded his association with a large amount of railroad surveying work, as well as a number of years' service as county surveyor of Carroll County. He Is now one of the venerable citizens of Carrollton, with a wide
acquaintanceship throughout this section of the state, and with a record of achievement that adds much to the distinction of the family name. Mr. Lee is a stalwart republican, holds member- ship in the Reformed Church, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
On the 7th of April. 1881, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lee to Miss Mary Steeves, who likewise was born and reared in Carroll County, a daughter of Martin and Martha (Lee) Steeves. Mr. Steeves came to Carroll County from New Brunswick, Canada, and here he became a suc- cessful farmer and stock-drover. He was acci- dentally killed, in 1863, and his widow, surviv- ing him by many years, was of venerable age at the time of her death.
EDWARD MAPLE. After having long been num- bered among the successful representatives of farm industry in his native county, Mr. Maple sold his farm and in the spring of 1920 removed to Carrollton, the county seat, where he is now living retired and finds merited surcease from the industrial labors and responsibilities that were formerly his portion.
Mr. Maple was born in Center Township, Car- roll County, on the 31st of May, 1851, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Dray) Maple, the former of whom likewise was a native of Center Township, where he was born in the year 1821, and the latter of whom was born in Trumbull County, this state. David Maple was a son of John and Mary Maple, who came from Pennsyl- vania to Carroll County in the early pioneer era, before the organization of the county, and who settled in Center Township, where the father obtained a tract of land and reclaimed a farm from the forest wilds. On this old homestead he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, reared their children and contributed their portion to the civic and material development of the county. David Maple early began to as- sist in the arduous work of the pioneer farm which was the place of his birth, and his educa tional advantages were those afforded in the primitive schools of the locality and period. He eventually became the owner of a valuable landed estate of 600 acres, and was one of the substantial farmers and honored citizens of Center Township at the time of his death in 1888, his wife having passed away in 1886. He was a republican in politics and his wife was a member of the Christian Church. They be- came the parents of six children-Edward, Ja- cob, Mary Elizabeth, Susan, Anna Theresa and George Washington.
The old homestead farm gave its benignant influence and discipline to the childhood and youth of Edward Maple, and his alert mind broadened its ken through his application to study in the public schools of the locality. He learned all details of farm industry while yet a youth, and when the father made provision for his children by giving to each a farm Edward received as his allotment an excellent place of 160 acres in Center Township. This farm, upon which he made many improvements of modern order, continued as the stage of his successful activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower until 1920, when he sold the valuable property and in April established his home af Carroll-
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ton, where he purchased the attractive residence in which he and wife delight to extend welcome to their host of friends in the county. In poli- tics Mr. Maple has never deviated from the line of staunch allegiance to the republican party, and while he has had no ambition for public office he gave effective service during his incum- bency of the position of assessor of his native township. Both he and his wife hold member- ship in the Reformed Church.
On the 27th of September, 1887, Mr. Maple was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Barnhouse. who was born in Perry Township, Carroll County, August 26, 1853, a daughter of Samuel and Susannah (Stewart) Barnhouse, both na- tives of Carroll County, where the respective families were founded in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Barnhouse was a daughter of Mahlon Stew- art, a prominent and influential pioneer of whom more specific mention will be found in connec- tion with other personal sketches appearing In this work, he having been the founder of the village of Perrysville, this county. Mr. Barn- house died in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Maple have four children : Howard is married and resides in the city of Canton, Stark County, he having served two years during the nation's participa- tion in the World war and having passed about one year in France. where he was assigned to the mail department of the service of the Amer- ican Expeditionary Forces : Ralph E .. of Carroll- ton, married Miss Bessie Noble, and they have two children, Marion and Joseph; and Oma and Curtis remain at the parental home.
Edward Dray, maternal grandfather of Mr. Maple, was one of the men associated with pio- neer ore mining and other kindred operations near Niles, Trumbull County, and he also served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He finally es- tablished his residence on a pioneer farm in East Township, where his wife died, and he passed the closing period of his life in the home of his daughter Elizabeth, mother of the sub- ject of this review, where he died when about ninety years of age.
JACOB M. HARSH has maintained his residence at Malvern for fully thirty years and has one of the fine homes of this attractive village. be- sides which he is the owner of one of the valu- able farms of Carroll County and gives his gen- eral supervision to its operations. the place be- ing eligibly situated in Brown Township, about four miles distant from Malvern.
Mr. Harsh was born in Harrison Township, Carroll County, September 26, 1841, and is a son of Samuel and Sarah ( Eberly) Harsh, both natives of Pennsylvania, where the former was born in 1813 (in Washington County), and the latter in 1820. Lewis Harsh, father of Samuel, was born in Holland. and after coming to America he remained in Pennsylvania until 1821. when he migrated with his family to Ohio and became a pioneer settler in Carroll County. Here he purchased a tract of Government land in Washington Township, and this he reclaimed from the forest into a productive farm. On this pioneer homestead he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Their children were eight in number-Jacob, Adam. Abraham, Sam- uel, Margaret. Betsy, Susan and Hannah.
Samuel Harsh was reared under the condi- tions of the early pioneer days in Carroll County, and though he attended school not more than six weeks in his boyhood, his alert mind and self-application effectively enabled him to over- come this educational handicap of his youth. He gave his entire active life to the basic in- dustry of agriculture, and after having farmed in Harrison Township for a term of years he became the owner of a farm in Brown Township, where he remained until his death in 1881, his widow passing away in February, 1895, and both having been earnest members of the Re- formed Church, the while his political support was given to the cause of the republican party. They became the parents of the following chil- dren-Lewis, Jacob M., Hitman, Nancy Jane, Sarah Catherine, Eliza Maria, James Madison and Alexander, the last named having died at the age of seven years.
Jacob M. Harsh was reared in Harrison Town- ship, and is indebted to its district schools for his early education. For the past fifty-six years (1920) he has lived within the borders of Brown Township, where he is the owner of a well im- proved farm of thirty-three acres, and the vil- lage of Malvern, as previously stated, has been his place of residence for thirty years. Though in the autumn of 1920 he celebrated the seventy- ninth anniversary of his birth, he is still hale and vigorous and takes great satisfaction in still maintaining his place in the ranks of the world's productive workers. Mr. Harsh is a loyal advocate of the principles of the repub- lican party. has served nearly a quarter of a century as constable, and has also given effec- tive service as health and truant officer in his home village. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, as did also his wife, who remained his devoted companion and helpmeet for nearly fifty-five years, the gracious ties being severed by her death on the 7th of June. 1917.
On the 8th of February, 1863, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Harsh to Miss Mary Eliza- beth Clark, who was born in Augusta Township, Carroll County, in 1843, a daughter of John S. and Kate (Ward) Clark. the former of whom is deceased but the latter, at the remarkable age of ninety-six years, resides at Malvern, as one of the most venerable and loved pioneer women of the county. In the concluding para- graph of this review is given brief record con- cerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Harsh : John married Miss Laura Rutledge, whose death occurred in June, 1891, and he died in 1902, at the age of thirty-seven years. They are sur- vived by one daughter. Mae, who was born Au- gust 24. 1890, and who is the wife of Herman Champer. of Carroll County. Mr. Champer en- tered the military service of the nation in con- nection with the World war, and his service con- tinued from May 28, 1918, until April 24. 1919. He was with the American Expeditionary Forces in France for seven months, as a mem- ber of the Ninety-First Division, and after re- ceiving his honorable discharge he returned to his native county, where he and his wife reside in the village of Malvern. Samuel, the second son of the subject of this review, resides at Mal- vern and is still a bachelor. Nathan, a success-
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ful farmer in Brown Township, married Miss Cora Morlege, and they have two children, Mar- garet and Harry. Rose is the wife of Harvey Thomas, of Carroll County. Ellsworth, a resi- dent of Malvern, married Miss Emma Gotschal, and they have three children, Dora, Nellie and Walter. Margaret is the wife of Harvey Eckley, and they reside at Malvern. Thomas died at the age of two and one-half years. Harry Harsh, son of Nathan and grandson of the subject of this sketch, married Miss Lucille Wilkins, and they became the parents of three children, Hazel, Ruth (deceased) and Kenneth.
HARRY C. HILL is senior member of the firm of Hill & Martin, which has developed a substan- tial and prosperous general produce business at Cadiz, Harrison County, where they handle poultry, butter, eggs, hides and furs. Mr. Hill has depended solely upon his own resources in making his way forward in the field of business, and his ability and ambition have not been de- nied a due reward. He is one of the keen and progressive business men of Cadiz and is well entitled to recognition in this publication.
Mr. Hill was born at Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio, May 13. 1875, and is a son of Calvin and Nettie (Hines) Hill. Calvin Hill learned in his youth the trade of marble cutter, and this he followed at Cambridge until shortly after the birth of his son Harry C., when he removed with his family to Cadiz, Harrison County, where he died about two years later, in 1877. His wife was born in Harrison County, a daughter of the late Christian Hines, who was a member of one of the well-known pioneer fami- lies of this county. Mrs. Hill died December 9, 1915. and of her children Harry C., of this re- view. is the elder, the younger being Pearl, who is the wife of Charles B. Davis, of Manchester, Iowa.
While still a mere boy, Harry C. Hill em- ployed himself at whatever work he could obtain within the compass of his powers in order to aid in the support of his widowed mother, and in the meanwhile he attended the public schools of Cadiz with as much regularity as circum- stances permitted. He has always been indus- trious and self-reliant, and his ambition early led him to take advantage of the opportunities that were presented to him. He learned prac- tical business methods in his varied experiences as a youth, and finally, in 1907. he became asso- ciated with Harry Warren Martin in establishing the business which they have since successfully conducted under the firm name of Hill & Martin, their energy, progressive policies and fair deal- ings having enabled them to build up a substan- tial and profitable produce business.
October 22, 1903, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hill to Miss Catherine Neville. daughter of David and Martha Neville. of Cadiz, and the one child of this union is a daughter. Martha A.
JOHN T. PITTIS, one of the prosperous farm- ers of Washington Township, is a man who de- serves the prosperity which has attended him. for he has earned it in a legitimate way through his industry, thrift and business acumen. He was born at Deersville, Ohio. April 21, 1864, a son of Henry and Rachel (Birney) Pittis, and
grandson of John and Mary (Dore) Pittis. John Pittis and his wife were both born in England, and came to the United States with their large family, settling in Franklin Township, Harrison County, Ohio. Their children were as follows: Edward, Robert, Thomas, William, who died in infancy, William II, Henry, Mary, Anna, Jane, Emma and Emeline, both of whom died young, and Julia. John Pittis was a farmer and be- came a large landowner.
Henry Pittis was born in England, and came to this country with his parents. He and sev- eral of his brothers remained in New York City for a time, and there he learned the trade of stencil cutting. Later on he came to Deersville, Ohio, and after coming to this region alternated working at his trade with farming. His death occurred in 1871. but his widow, who was a na- tive of Washington Township, Harrison County, Ohio, and his second wife, survived him until 1899. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Church. The first wife of Henry Pittis was Nancy Simpson, and she bore her husband three children: Charles, who is de- ceased. Emma and Clara. By his second mar- riage Henry Pittis had two children, John T. and Mary. The maternal grandparents of John T. Pittis were John and Hannah (McKee) Birney.
Attending the local schools of Deersville. John T. Pittis grew up with a knowledge of farming, and as soon as he had reached his majority he began farming for himself in Franklin Town- ship. Harrison County. In 1901 he moved to his present farm of 200 acres. a portion of which is in Tuscarawas County and the remainder in Washington Township, Harrison County, his residence being located in the latter. He also owns seventy-five acres of land in another piece that is in Tuscarawas County and seventy acres in Nottingham Township, Harrison County. One of the best farmers in his locality, he is carrying on a general farming and stockraising business and his methods are so successful that many are adopting them as their own.
In October. 1890. John T. Pittis was married to Ada Lukens, a daughter of William and Rosa (Clark) Lukens, and they became the parents of the following children : Harry L., of Phoe- nix, Arizona, died September 8, 1920: Henry M., who married Fern Baker, lives at Uhrichsville, Ohio: Mabel R., Walter, Dwight B. and Helen, all of whom are at home. Mr. and Mrs. Pittis are very active in the local Methodist Church, in which they are highly esteemed, as they are in other circles, for they are fine people in every way. and are numbered among the most repre- sentative citizens of Harrison County.
WALLACE M. KIRKPATRICK is one of the repre- sentative farmers of the younger generation in Athens Township and is a scion of a family whose name has been closely identified with the history of Harrison County for a full century- that is, the year 1921 will mark the rounding of the one hundred years since James and Mary (Cochran) Kirkpatrick came to this county from Washington County, Pennsylvania. The hon- ored pioneer, James Kirkpatrick, was born in Cecil County, Maryland, June 14, 1770, and his wife was born January 31, 1771. In 1801 they
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removed from Maryland to Washington County, Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1821, when they came to Harrison County, Ohio. Mr. Kirkpatrick here purchased a tract of wild land in the northwest corner of the present Athens Township, but a few years later he removed with his family to Moorefield Township, where he purchased the southeast quarter of section 6. Here he reclaimed the productive farm on which he continued to reside until his death, which occurred May 16, 1840, his wife having passed away July 25, 1836, and both having been ac- tive members of the Presbyterian Church. The names and dates of the birth of their children are here made a matter of record: Hugh, Sep- tember 21, 1795; Robert, April 29, 1797; Eliza- beth, July 26, 1799; William, December 11, 1801; Mary, March 4, 1804; James, January 10, 1807; and John, June 11, 1809. These dates show that all of the children were born prior to the family immigration to Harrison County, and the last of the children to survive was Mary, who passed the closing period of her life in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Douglass, in Moorefield Township.
William Kirkpatrick, son of James and great- grandfather of the subject of this review, was born in Cecil County, Maryland, and was reared to maturity in Washington County, Pennsyl- vania. He was about twenty years old when he accompanied his parents to Harrison County, Ohio. Here on the 25th of December, 1823, he married Sarah Guthrie, and they remained in Athens Township until 1837, when he purchased 160 acres of land in section 36, Moorefield Town- ship, where he remained a prosperous farmer until his death, May 1, 1888 his wife having passed away January 14, 1885, both having been leading members of the Nottingham Presbyte- rian Church, in which Mr. Kirkpatrick served forty years as an elder. William and Sarah (Guthrie) Kirkpatrick became the parents of eleven children : James, Robert G., Joseph C., Hugh (grandfather of Wallace M. of this sketch), Mary J., Adeline, Sarah, Elizabeth, John, Nancy and Margaret.
Hugh Kirkpatrick was born and reared in Moorefield Township, where he continued his suc- cessful activities as a farmer until the early '90s, when he removed to the state of Iowa, where he passed the remainder of his life. He had lived on a farm near Freeport, Ohio, sev- eral years prior to his removal to Iowa. The maiden name of his wife was Malinda Moore, and she was likewise a native of Moorefield Township. She is still living and hearty at the age of eighty-eight. Both she and her husband were zealous members of the Nottingham Pres- byterian Church. Their children were eight in number, John. William. Madison, Samuel, Al- vin, Walter, Belle and Anna.
Madison Kirkpatrick, father of him whose name initiates this review. passed his entire life on the old homestead farm in Moorefield Township, and there he died in 1904, at the age of forty-nine years. He was an active member of the Nottingham Presbyterian Church. As a young man he married Miss Louisa Dunn, who was born in Flushing Township, Belmont County, Ohio, a daughter of Monroe and Jane (Bethel) Dunn. Monroe Dunn is still hale and hearty at
the age of eighty-eight. Of this union were born three children, Ross, Wallace M. and Ella May, all of whom are living, the only daughter being now the wife of Howard McFadden. Mrs. Kirkpatrick finally contracted a second mar- riage, she being now the wife of Robert E. Hol- liday, and they reside in the village of New Athens, Harrison County, where they hold mem- bership in the Presbyterian Church.
Wallace M. Kirkpatrick gained his prelimi- nary education in the public schools of his na- tive township and supplemented this by one year's attendance in Franklin College. In in- itlating his independent career as a farmer he assumed charge of his father's home farm in Moorefield Township, and there he remained un- til 1916, when he purchased his present fine farm of fifty-seven acres in Athens Township, where he has made numerous improvements of modern order, including the erection of his at- tractive residence. He and his wife removed to this farm in 1917, and their pleasant home is known for its gracious hospitality and good cheer. Mr. Kirkpatrick gives his attention to diversified agriculture and stock-raising, and makes a specialty of raising pure-blood swine. He is loyal and progressive as a citizen, is a democrat in politics and he and his wife are members of the Nottingham Presbyterian Church, in which he is serving as an elder.
In 1909 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kirkpatrick to Miss Amanda Dunlap, daughter of Addison and Maria (Brokaw) Dunlap, of Harrison County, where the Dunlap family like- wise was founded in the pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick became the parents of four children, of whom the first two, Edith and Ross, are living. Alma, died March 10, 1919. Edith was born September 20, 1910; Ross was born Oc- tober 6, 1913; Alma was born March 13, 1916; and Wilma was born May 5, 1920.
JOHN H. SEEBIRT resides upon the fine old homestead farm which was the place of his birth and on which his father likewise was born. This property lies partly in Short Creek Township, Harrison County, and partly in Wheeling Town- ship, Belmont County. the farm house being situated in the latter township. This land is a portion of the tract here secured from the gov- ernment in the early pioneer days by Adam See- birt, grandfather of him whose name Introduces this paragraph. Adam Seebirt was one of the constructive forces in connection with the pio- neer development of this section of the state and continued to reside in Wheeling Township, Belmont County, until his death. He reclaimed also a goodly portion of the land which he se- cured in Short Creek Township, Harrison County. His two children were Sarah and Eli.
Eli Seebirt, as above noted, was born on the farm now occupied by his son John H., and here he continued his association with agricul- tural and live-stock industry from his youth until his death, which occurred on the 9th of January, 1899. His wife died in October, 1875, both having been representative members of the Wheeling Valley Presbyterian Church. They became the parents of three children, Cyrus, who died at the age of eighteen years; Susannah, who became the wife of James C. Dysart, and
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whose death occurred June 18, 1918; and John H., who is the immediate subject of this sketch. John H. Seebirt was born on the 24th of February, 1852, and his early education was acquired in the district schools of Wheeling Township, Belmont County, where he has re- mained continuously on the old home farm. Here he owns a well improved place of 160 acres, forty-three acres of the tract being in Short Creep Township, Harrison County, and the remainder in Wheeling Township, Belmont County. He has been one of the enterprising and successful exponents of farm industry in this section of the state and is a citizen who has a secure place in popular confidence and es- teem. He is a republican in politics and he and his wife hold membership in the United Presbyterian Church at Harrisville, as did also his first wife. As a young man Mr. Seebirt wedded Miss Ardella McCleary, daughter of Ephraim and Mary A. (Gillespie) McCleary. Their marriage was solemnized April 4, 1844, and they became the parents of eight children. Ephraim McCleary was born in the state of Maryland October 19, 1810, and in his youth he learned the trade of blacksmith. For many years he plied his sturdy trade at Harrisville, Harrison County. Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1850, when he removed to a farm near that village. On this homestead his death occurred April 28. 1874, and his widow passed away May 19, 1886. Mrs. Seebirt was summoned to the life eternal on the 25th of November, 1879, and is survived by two children: Ell F. is an attorney at law and of late years is Com- mon Pleas Judge of the courts of St. Joseph County, Indiana, also extensively engaged in the lot addition business in South Bend and Elkhart, Indiana. He married Elizabeth Gunn. and they have two children, Elizabeth and Rose- mond. Dora is the wife of Reed Hawthorne. for- merly of Harrison County, but now is living on a farm in Saint Joseph County, Indiana. They have three children, Floyd, Kenneth and Gladys. Floyd Hawthorne and his wife have one child. John Albert, whose arrival gave to John H. Seebirt the distinction of becoming a great- grandfather. On September 27, 1877, was sol- emnized the marriage of Ell Seebirt to Mrs. Sarah B. (Barto) Smith, daughter of Judge Barto, of Belmont County.
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