History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 119

Author: H. J. Eckley, William T. Perry
Publication date: 1921
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 678

USA > Ohio > Harrison County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 119
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 119

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).

The story of the Berry family, with which the Mclaughlins are connected by intermar- riage, is an interesting one. John Berry mar- ried Elizabeth Gilmore, and their son William Gilmore Berry married Jane McConnell in 1804,

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and their daughter Elizabeth Berry became the wife of William J. Mclaughlin.

At the age of eighteen years Elizabeth Gil- more and her younger sister Ann left their home in old Ireland and came to America. On the same ship they met John Berry. a young Irishman, on his way to join the Continental army. As soon as the ship reached Philadelphia John Berry enlisted in Washington's army, while the Gilmore sisters joined as nurses, and for seven years the three followed the fortunes of the struggling colonists. A family tradition has it that Elizabeth Gilmore enlisted as a private in the Continental army and that she actually fought in several battles. In what- ever capacity she served, official records show that she received pay from the state of Penn- sylvania as a private in the army. John Berry and Elizabeth Gilmore were married in 1780 and continued with the army until the close of the Revolution. After peace was declared they settled at Colerain Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, lived there until the spring of 1794, and then removed to Washington County. Pennsylvania. John Berry bought a farm in 1796 from George Washington. The original deed for this land is still in the Berry family. John Berry died at his old homestead in south- western Pennsylvania, June 7, 1809, at the age of fifty-six. His widow died on the same farm August 31, 1823.

WILLIAM F. COMPHER. To the thoughtful per- son, the reading of history carries with it a large measure of enjoyment. be it of nations. communities or individuals, but most particu- larly is it interesting when it portrays the life and efforts of the family to which he belongs. if that family has had a long and honorable rer- ord well worthy of preservation. Such is the situation in regard to one of Harrison County's old and substantial families, that of Compher, that has belonged to Moorefield Township for more than one hundred years. Its original home was Germany. After immigrating to the United States, it sojourned for a time in Penn- sylvania and then removed to Loudon County. Virginia. to which section of the country most interest is attached by the Ohio Comphers, as there was the family seat for many years.

William Compher, father of the late Samuel Compher, was born in Loudoun County, Vir- ginia. July 13. 1796, and was a son of Peter and Maria (Cramer) Compher, who owned and lived on their plantation there until they died. They had a family of five children. two daughters and three sons. John, Peter and William. John Compher married Margaret Spring, who became a widow and married Peter Compher as her sec- ond husband. In 1817 William Compher mar- ried Mary Spring, who was born September 19, 1793. a daughter of Frederick and Barbara (Stoneburner) Spring. Frederick Spring was " soldier of the Revolutionary War. As a youth of sixteen years. William Compher had enlisted in a Virginia regiment for service in the War of 1812. but was taken ill with a fever and after six months was discharged because of this disability.

In the fall of 1817, accompanied by his wife. William Compher left Virginia to seek a home in the rich lands open to settlement in Ohio, and after wearisome travel reached Harrison County, where he entered the northeast quarter of section 22. Moorefield Township. the deed for which bears the date of March 7. 1818. His land was entirely unimproved at the time but he soon had a comfortable log house erected on a cleared space, in which almost all his children were born and in which he lived until 1839, when he built the present commodious brick residence. William Compher was a man of great energy and of marked good judgment. He took part in public affairs and was promi- nent in church matters, and as time passed ac- quired one tract of land after the other until he was one of the heaviest tax payers in the township and owned sufficient land to be able to give all his children who reached maturity. an unencumbered farm.

To William and Mary (Spring) Compher the following children were born: Susanna, born January 3, 1818, married Hiram Cecil, died September 21, 1883; John, born February 8. 1819, married Mrs. Amanda M. (Collins) Hus- ton, died July 23, 1902; Elizabeth. born Sep- tember 19, 1820. married James Sproal, died October 22, 1911 : Adam, born May 5. 1821, mar- ried Elizabeth Boone, died October 31. 1899: William, born December 13, 1823, married Eliza- beth Moore, died November 7. 1868; Miriam. born April 15, 1826, married George W. Win- rod. died March 27, 1903: Peter, born April 25. 1828, married Elizabeth Hall, died November 8. 1913: Jacob, born March 3. 1830, married Mary McAdam. died January 15, 1919; Samuel. born January 28. 1833. died February 15, 1912; Jo- seph. born March 25. 1835, married Mary E. Smith : and Sarah Jane, born June 27, 1840. died July 20, 1844. The parents of the above family were sturdy, vigorous people into old age. the father dying April 4. 1872. and the mother. August 27. 1877. Originally the family belonged to the German Lutheran Church. After coming to Moorefield Township, William Compher and his wife united with the Nottingham Presby- terian Church, but prior to the Civil war dis sention arose over the abolition of slavery ques- tion, which caused their withdrawal to the Stillwater Free Presbyterian Church. After the war old contentions were either forgotten or viewed in a Christian spirit. and the Comphers returned to the Nottingham Church.

Samuel Compher was long one of Moorefield Township's most respected citizens. He was born. reared and spent his entire life on the lond his father had entered from the government his own farm containing 133 acres. He was a man of upright character. an intelligent and thrifty farmer, and a quiet, peace-loving man. greatly attached to his home. While never very active in politics, he was always awake to any- thing concerning the welfare of his township and ever ready to bear his share as a respon- sible citizen.

Samuel Compher was married November 28. 1855, to Jane Moore. who was born October 11. 1835. and died August 15, 1864. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Williamson)

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Moore, of Moorefield Township. Four children were born to this marriage, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, who was born October 27. 1856: John La Fayette, who was born May 17, 1859. died July 23. 1879: William B., who was born De- cember 25. 1861. died September 16. 1864; and James I ... who was born April 7. 1864. married Jennie M. Green, had one child, Lillie May. and died June 30, 1913.

Mr. Compher's second marriage took place April 18, 1866, to Marv Scott, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hogg) Scott, who was born July 4, 1838, and died July 11. 1866. On De- cember 19. 1867, Mr. Compher was married to Caroline Bethel, who was born October 10, 1838. a daughter of Jobn and Elizabeth (Oglevee) Bethel, and three children were born to them, namely : Ella J., who was born October 27, 1868: Addison, who was born March 15, 1872: and William F., who was born July 20, 1875. The mother of the above family died January 28. 1917, the father having passed away Feb- ruary 15, 1912. William F. Addison, Miss Ella J .. and their half sister, Miss Mary Elizabeth, reside together on the old homestead, preserv- ing the comfortable old family ways and tradi- tions. They are all highly esteemed in the town- ship and all are members of the Nottingham Presbyterian Church.

The ancestors on their mother's side of the above children were among the earliest settlers of America. Bethel family is of Welsh origin. but for many years residents of England. The first Bethel of which we have any special rec- ord was James Bethel, third son of Richard Bethel, of York County. England, who at twenty-seven years of age embarked from the port of London August 10. 1635, on the good ship "Safety" with John Graunt as Master, ar- riving at Jamestown, Virginia. the same year. He married Miss Danbridge, they being the an- cestors of the Bethels of America. The Bethels were residents of Virginia for a number of years, and there a great number of their de- scendants still live.

Edward Bethel, son of James Bethel who was a great-grandchild of the first James Bethel of Virginia, moved from Charles City County, Vir- ginia, to Stafford County, Virginia, about the year 1800. where he was known as Edwin of the Forest, so called from his residence in the tract of land granted to Lord Culpepper, he im- migrated to Ohio in 1810 and settled in Flush- ing Township, Belmont County, and was the ancestor of the Bethels of Ohio. They followed the pursuit of agricuture, and being of a home- loving disposition remained much in the same community, and at the present time their de- srendants probably number more than any other family of Eastern Ohio. Edward Bethel was the father of nine children as follows- Henry. Anna Katherine. Elizabeth, Simpson, William. James, Thompson, Katie, and John Thornton.

Simpson Bethel, son of Edward Bethel. was born in Virginia July 23. 1781, and married Nancy Holloway, to this union was born five ("ildren : John. Mary. James. Caroline and Hirlam.

John Bethel, son of Simpson and Nancy Hol- loway Bethel, was born in Stafford County, Vir- ginia, June 29. 1806, he with his parents came to Ohio in 1810 and settled in Athens Township, Harrison County, where the family resided the remainder of their lives. They made the jour- ney in covered wagons through unsettled coun- try over roads that were little more than trails through the new country. John Bethel's edu- cational advantages were limited. but by dili- gence and perseverance he succeeded in secur- ing an unusual education for that time and en- gaged in teaching school in the winter and in farming the remainder of the time, and by his energy and good business management he was very successful in both occupations. He mar- ried March 7, 1827. Elizabeth Oglevee, a daugh- ter of John and Mrs. Agnes ( Passmore) Pat- terson Oglevee. who was born February 4. 1804. and died December 5. 1881. His death occurred April 4. 1887. and their remains now rest in the cemetery at Nottingham.

To John and Elizabeth (Oglevee) Bethel the following children were born: Simpson, born December 29. 1827. married Francis Clemens. died September 5, 1905: Agnes, born August 26, 1829. married John Price, died January 20, 1903: John Holloway. horn November 7. 1831, and died in infancy : Sarah Jane. born February 12. 1834. married Monroe C. Dann. died June 3. 1998: Mary Ellen, born May 16, 1836. married Samuel Dunlap, died in 1872: Caroline, born October 10. 1838. married Samuel Compher De cember 19. 1867. died January 28. 1917; Hiriam, born February 15. 1840. died in infancy; Isaac H., horn September 17. 1843; Elizabeth, born June 18. 1846. married William J. Dunlap.

Mrs. Caroline Compher was a member of the Nottingham Presbyterian Church from child- hood, possessing a large measure of the Master's spirit. she loved the church dearly, and in her quiet manner gave herself diligently to the work of the Savior's Kingdom on earth. Her sweet kindly spirit won for her the deepest regard of the entire community and the ardent love of those who knew her best.

EMERSON MOCORT CAPPER. Emerson McCort Capper. owner of a large general and stock farm in Union Township of Carroll County, repre- sents some of the pioneer names of this section of Ohio.

He was born in Perry Township March 7. 1866. son of James and Elizabeth G. (McCort) Capper. the former a native of Perry and the latter of I'nion Township. His paternal grand- parents were David and Mary ( Elliott) Capper. the former a native of Pennsylvania and the lat- ter of Ohio, and they came to Carroll County more than a hundred years ago. entering Gor- ernment land in Perry Township. The maternal grandparents were James and Ann ( Fawcett) MeCort. both notives of Ireland, and they like- wise were early settlers in Ohio.

James Capper and wife were married May 30. 1861, and lived for seven years in Perry Township and later bought land in Union Town- ship. where he owned 240 acres and for many renrs was a successful grower of livestock. James Copper died December 25, 1903, and his

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widow who was born March 7, 1840, is still liv- ing at the old home place.

Emerson McCort Capper, only child of his parents, was well educated, attending Harlem' Springs College. October 17, 1889, Mr. Capper married Carrie Fawcett, who was born in Union Township December 4, 1868, daughter of Charles W. and Elsie (Norris) Fawcett also natives of Union Township. Mrs. Capper's grandparents were Alexander and Elizabeth ( Brooks) Faw- cett, natives of Carroll County, and William and Martha (McComas) Norris, all numbered among the early settlers in Carroll County. Mrs. Capper was the youngest of six children, the others being William W. of Harrison County ; James A. of Carrollton, Martha E. and David. both deceased, and Melville S. of Union Town- ship.

After his marriage Mr. Capper bought the old homestead of his father. where he has erected a fine frame house, and has continued to make substantial improvements and carry on the affairs of the farm with commendable prosperity. He is one of the leading growers of Merino sheep in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Capper's children are: Melville B .. at home; James W., of Union Township, married Anna Tripp and has two children named Ralph and Wilda ; Charles E., of Union Township: Frank R., of Harrison County ; Grace A .. Lawrence E., Lester P .. David Norris and Kendall, all at home.

Mr. Capper is a trustee of Mount Pleasant Methodist Protestant Church. He has served as township clerk and is now a member of the school board. He is a republican, is active in the Petersburg Grange and is deputy master of the Ohio State Grange. His father during the Civil war served as a member of Company I of the 98th Ohio Infantry.

CARY A. GAMBLE. Carroll County has profited by the stable citizenship and faithful industry of the Gamble family since the beginning of the '60s. Practically all bearing the name have been interested in agriculture, but their serv- ices have been extended also to politics, educa- tion, religion and society. Cary A. Gamble, a resident of East Township, where he is success- fully engaged in farming and stock raising. is a worthy representative of this family and a valued citizen of his community. He was born in East Township, June 19, 1868, and is a son of Jacob M. and Margaret Jane (McMillin) Gamble, the former a native of Pennsylvania. and his maternal grandfather being John Mc- Millin. All were early settlers of this part of Ohio.

Jacob M. Gamble was born in Columbiana County. Ohio, where he was educated. and after growing to manhood married Miss MeMillin. who was born in East Township. Following their union. they settled on a farm in Hanover Township, Columbiana County. but after a short residence there Mr. Gamble bought the Joseph Cox farm in East Township, which had been entered by Mr. Fox from the United States Government. Here the parents rounded out long, useful and honorable careers in the pur- suits of agriculture. the father passing away

December 18, 1892, and the mother surviving about nine years and dying December 9, 1901. They were the parents of the following chil- dren : John A., of Alliance, Ohio; Jane J., the wife of Nathan Rakestraw, of Berlin Center, Ohio; Mary Ann, the wife of Jesse McBride, of East Rochester, Ohio; George W., of Salem. this state; Cary A., of Carroll County ; Delbert H., of Salem, Columbiana County.

Cary A. Gamble received his educational training at the Oak Dale district school, taught school for one term, and was reared to farm- ing under the instruction of his father. On March 10, 1892, he married Maggie Stenger, of Loudon Township, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Ann (Wier) Stenger, the latter born in Washington Township, Carroll County. Follow- ing their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Gamble spent the first summer on the farm of Mr. Gamble's father, then going to Mechanicstown, where for four years Mr. Gamble divided his time between farming and conducting a charcoal kiln. At the end of that period Mr. and Mrs. Gamble re- turned to the home farm, and in 1898 Mr. Gam- ble bought eighty acres of that property. This was partly improved, but he added new im- · provements and more substantial buildings, and in 1913 increased the extent of his holdings by the purchase of an additional twenty-five acres of land. He has continued in the work of clearing the brush and timber, and of building good structures and adding equipment, and at the present time has a valuable and attractive farm, on which he is making a decided success in his general farming operations, as well as in the raising of Holstein cattle. Among his associates and acquaintances he is known as a man of the strictest integrity and the worth and sincerity of his citizenship has never been doubted. He has rendered efficient and valued service to the community in the capacity of township clerk, an office of which he was the incumbent seven years and four months, and likewise acted capably in the position of town- ship trustee. holding that office two terms, and holds the office of assessor at the present time. In politics he is a republican. His fraternal connection is with the Knights of the Macca- bees at Augusta, and he also holds membership in the Kensington Grange. Mr. and Mrs. Gam- ble belong to the Still Fork Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Gamble is an elder.

Mr. and Mrs. Gamble are the parents of two daughters :. Flo Ina, the wife of Ralph Man- full. an agriculturist of Augusta Township, Car- roll County ; and Eulah Jane, the wife of Earl Long. also farming in that township.

FRANCIS P. WALLACE. The growth of intelli- gence and sound optimism has advanced agri- culture to a combination of art and science, the profound possibilities of which can be but im- perfectly mastered by any one man during his comparatively brief span of years. Man, whose faith is pinned to the soil, and whose delight and privilege it is to use its stored fertility for the most enlightened needs of civilization. has brought it to a stage of usefulness unequaled in any other walk of life. To such must come the greatest material satisfactions also, as wit-

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nessed in all prosperous farming communities, of which Carroll County is one of the best ex- amples. Since the early history of this part of the state, certain families have been connected with its continuous advancement, lending color and enthusiasm and splendid purpose to its un- folding prosperity. Of these, in Fox Township. few are better or more favorably known than that of which Francis P. Wallace is a repre- sentative.

Mr. Wallace was born on his father's farm in Fox Township, October 31, 1866, a son of John and Mary (Allmon) Wallace, natives of the same township, and a grandson of Isaac and Matilda (Kean) Wallace and B. P. and Eliza- beth ( Wood) Allmon, all natives of Jefferson County. John Wallace was reared in his native township, where he was educated in the public schools, and where his marriage to Miss Allmon took place. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in Company K, Second Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which organization he served bravely and faithfully to the close of the struggle, in which he was twice wounded. once in the jaw at the Battle of Resaca and once by gun-shot wound in the leg at the battle of Chat- tanooga. Three of his brothers also served in the Union army during that conflict. William, at home. Francis who died at Vicksburg, and James, who is still living and served three years. On his return from military service Mr. Wallace again took up work on his farm in Fox Township, on which his son, Francis P. was born, and resided there until 1875. when he took the family to a new farm which he had purchased, and which is now owned by his son. Here Mr. Wallace rounded out his worthy and useful career as a tiller of the soil. dying Sep- tember 1. 1900. aged fifty-eight years, seven months, while his wife survived until Decem- ber 12. 1919. and was lacking a few days of seventy-six years at her demise. They were the parents of the following children: Francis P .: Emma, of Bridgeport. Connecticut. the widow of David McCay : Wilford, of East Liver- pool, who married Mary Martin and has had six children-Lola, the wife of William Kirkum, Hugh who is deceased, Otis, Marie, Edith and William: Annie, who married Albert W. Rush of Berkholz, and has seven children-Frank, Wilma. Blaine. Cora, the wife of Paul Madison of Salineville. Harry. John and Clara : John W., of New Somerset. Ohio, who married Sarah Edmonson and has four children-Clyde. Lester. Margaret and Laura May; and Marie E., who is unmarried and a resident of East Liverpool.

Francis P. Wallace attended the public schools, and from the age of fifteen years until twenty resided with his paternal grandparents at Berkholz. In 1886 he began farming at Bergholz, and continued to be so engaged until his marriage, June 5, 1895, to Mary A. Boyd. who was born at Mooretown. Ohio. November 23, 1871, a daughter of John and Melissa ( Hess) Boyd, natives of Amsterdam, Ohio. Mr. Boyd served three years in the Union army during the Civil war. Following his marriage Mr. Wallace continued to farm in the Bergholz community until 1900, in which year he bought out the heirs to the home estate in Fox Town-

ship, where he is now the owner of Walnut Hill Farm, a splendidly cultivated tract of 200 acres. He carries on general farming and is accounted one of the practical agriculturists of his locality.

Mr. Wallace is a republican in politics and at one period in his career served his township as trustee for one term. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics at Bergholz, in both of which orders he has numerous friends. He and Mrs. Wallace are consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church. They have three children : Cora May, who is the wife of Clare H. Snyder, of Canton, Ohio; and Helen C. and John F., who reside with their parents.

DAVID ALLEN FINEFROCK. Visitors in Rose Township of Carroll County have occasion to comment upon and admire the productive farm and the improvements created by David Allen Finefrock. Through hard work and courageous facing of adverse circumstances he has come to independence and a position of esteem, and is a good farmer and an equally good citizen.

Mr. Finefrock, whose home is near Sherods- ville. was born on the old Phillipi farm in Sandy Township. Stark County, Ohio, near Waynes- burg. April 25. 1864. His grandfather, John Finefrock. came out of Pennsylvania and was an early settler in Rose Township of Stark County, and farmed that place the rest of his life. He married Elizabeth Harpel, and they died within eight hours of each other. Their family consisted of seven sons and three daugh- ters. Of these Nathaniel grew up on the home farm in Stark County, acquired his schooling there. and about 1869 moved to Rose Township in Carroll County, where he married. He fol- lowed farming and was also a harness maker by trade. His death occurred in July, 1910, and he was survived by his widow just ten years. until July. 1920.

David A. Finefrock was five or six years of age when brought to Carroll County, and dur- ing the winter sessions he attended school in District No. 9. and later was a student in the Magnolia Academy until he was about nineteen. In the meantime he had worked on the farm.

In 1898 Mr. Finefrock married Anne (Tres- sel) Newhouse. widow of James Newhouse of Cumberland. To their marriage were born three children : Clarence Brice, born in 1899, who died in 1900 at the age of nine months. twenty-three days; Azilla May, born in 1901; and Hazel Lucile, born in 1904, now a pupil in High School. The mother of these children died in 1905. In 1908 Mr. Finefrock married Mar- garet (Borland) Molls, widow of Joseph Molls and daughter of Washington and Magdalena ( Easterday ) Borland.

After his first marriage Mr. Finefrock rented a place of 150 acres at East Sparta in Stark County, remaining there one year, and then on another place of 150 acres near Sparta for two and a half years. Leaving the farm he moved to Magnolia, and was employed in a brick yard there for three and a half years.

After the death of his wife he returned to the home farm for a year and a half, and in spite of discouragements have always kept his affairs

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moving along and eventually was able to buy and come to his present farm of eighty acres. Mr. Finefrock is an independent republican, usually voting for the man rather than the party. He is a member of the Lutheran Church at Waynesburg.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 119

Author: H. J. Eckley, William T. Perry Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Number of Pages: 678

Author: H. J. Eckley, William T. Perry
Publication date: 1921
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 678