History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 133

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 133
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 133

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Of the marriage of William and Elizabeth ( Fisher) Whittaker the following children were born : William. James F., and Martha Jane. deceased: Mary. who died in childhood; Ara- bella, and Leota, deceased : George, the special subject of this brief biography: Thomas, de- ceased. and Oscar. Both of the parents were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Brought up in North Township. George Whit- taker received his early education in the district schools, and there began his career as an agri- culturist. Moving to Stock Township in 1896. he bought the farm of 227 acres which he or- cupied at the time of his death, and in its im- provement he labored diligently. the larger part of it being under cultivation and yielding abun- diantly of the crops common to this section of the country. Mr. Whittaker was prominent in pub- lic affairs of Stock Township, and served as trustee, clerk and assessor.

He was twice married. Ile married first. No- vember 4, 1879. Amanda V. Spiker. a daughter of Henry and Arabelle (Fowler) Spiker. She 'lied April 7, 1907. leaving two children. Harry HI., who now manages the farm of his father as well as his own, married Virginia Harrison; and Wilmina Belle, wife of Le Roy Cramblett. On February 1. 1912. Mr. Whittaker married for his second wife Nannie E. Haverfield. daugh- ter of James N. and Eliza Jane (McDougal) Haverfield. Mrs. Whittaker is a most estimable woman, and an active member of the Presby- terian Church. Mr. Whittaker died November 2, 1920.

WILLIAM HENRY MCFADDEN. The McFadden family have played an important part in the history of Harrison County from pioneer days down to the present time. John McFadden, the great-grandfather of William H., was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1740. He came to America when he was nineteen years of age (1759), and settled first at Hickory on Buffalo Creek in Washington County. Pennsylvania. He became acquainted with Col. George Sharp, who later served under Washington in the Revolutionary war. When it came time for Colonel Sharp to leave home for the war he hired young McFad- den to take care of his farm and look after the family. So faithfully did the young man perform his duties that Colonel Sharp gave him the hand of his daughter Margaret in marriage.

In 1800. in company with Colonel John Jame- son. a Revolutionary soldier. John McFadden came to what is now Cadiz. Harrison County (then in the Steubenville land division), and filed. on the "credit system," on a full section of land (section 4), and on this section he made

his home and died in 1839. In the spring of 1801 his family joined him. The children of John and Margaret McFadden were Samuel, George. John, Joseph, Mary and Margaret. Mary married James Sharp and Margaret married Edward Lafferty.

John McFadden, grandfather of William H. McFadden, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1788, and died in 1851. He married Mary. the daugh- ter of Adam and Rebecca (Work) Dunlap, and their children were: Margaret, Adam. Rebecca, Mary, John. Jr .. Sarah. Samuel R., Elizabeth, George, Esther and Rachael.

George McFadden, the father of William H., was born on the old parental homestead Sep- tember 15. 1829. On March 29, 1860, he mar- ried Mary R. Croskey, who was born in Green Township of Harrison County August 5, 1831, the daughter of William and Mary (Crabb) Croskey. The Croskeys are of Scotch-Irish and the Crabbs are of German descent. George Mc- Fadden passed away on the 31st of March, 1909, and his loved and devoted wife soon followed him to eternal rest. her death having occurred on the 14th of September of the following year, and both were earnest members of the First Presbyterian Church of Cadiz. The political al- legiance of Mr. McFadden was given to the democratic party, and loyalty and progressive- ness characterized him as a citizen. Of their children William H., the immediate subject of this review. is the eldest, his birth occurring March 29, 1861: Mary Elizabeth was born Oc- tober 25. 1863: and Emma was born January 29, 1867, and there was also one other child in the family, which died in infancy. Adam Mc- Fadden. brother of George, never married, and he likewise remained on the old home place un- til his death, July 17, 1873, at the age of fifty- eight years.

William H. McFadden attended in his youth the district school known as the Irish Ridge School in Cadiz Township, and he has continu- ously remained on the old homestead farm, of which he assumed the active management when he was a young man, he being the only son of his parents. Here he is now the owner of a well-improved and valuable estate of 200 acres, constituting one of the finest farms in Cadiz Township and situated about two miles distant from Cadiz, the county seat. He has had fellow- ship with farm enterprise from his boyhood days, and is at the present time a leading ex- ponent of this line of industry in his native township and county, with secure place in the confidence and good will of the community that has always represented his home. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and he and his wife hold membership in the First Presbyterian Church at Cadiz.

February 15, 1906, recorded the marriage of Mr. McFadden to Miss Anna Grace Dickerson. daughter of William and Virginia (Rickets) Dickerson, of Athens Township, and they have five children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here designated: John R., born September 5, 1907; Mary Virginia, April 20. 1909; Margaret Helen, December 9, 1910; Fran- ces Gwendolyn. December 29, 1913; and George

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Clayton, May 19, 1919, and his death occurred July 14, 1920.

WILLIAM H. VICKERS, who is serving in 1921 as trustee of Nottingham Township, is one of the representative farmers of this favored ser- tion of Harrison County, and special interest attaches to his career by reason of his being a native son of the county and a scion of one of its sterling pioneer families. Ile was born in Franklin Township May 28, 1866, and is a son of Isaac and Rachel ( West) Vickers, both of whom likewise were born and reared in this county. Isaac Vickers was born in Franklin Township, where his father, John Vickers, a native of England, settled in the early pioneer days, secured Government land and developed the productive farm on which he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. His first wife became the mother of seven children : Mary Ann Vickers Carns, Elizabeth Vickers Erwin, Cornelius, Asiena Vickers McGonagle, Isaac. Ruth L. and Thomas. After the death of his first wife Mr. Vickers contracted a sec- ond marriage, and of this union were born two children, John and James.

Isaac Vickers passed his entire life as a farmer in Franklin Township, where he was the owner of a farm of fifty-five acres at the time of his death, February 2, 1890. IIis widow, who is now a resident of Deersville, Ohio, is a daughter of the late Albert West, who was an early settler and prosperous farmer of Harrison County. His children were ten in number-Rachel, Harriet, Esther, Anderson, l'inkney, Fletcher, Lee, Hannah, Sarah and Martha Jane. Isaac and Rachel (West) Vickers became the parents of three children : Harriet Amanda, who became the wife of Thomas Coleman, and her death occurred in 1892; William H., the immediate subject of this sketch: and Otto, who died at the age of two and one-half years. Mr. Vicker was a zeal- ous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also his widow, and his political affiliation was with the republican party.

William H. Vickers remained on the old home farm until the time of his marriage, and in his youth was afforded the advantages of the public schools of Brownsville. In 1898 he married and for four years thereafter continued to be engaged in farming in Franklin and Not- tingham townships as a renter. then,

= 1903, purchased his present fine farm of 195 acres in the latter township, besides which he is the owner of the old homestead farm of his father in Franklin Township. the same com- prising fifty-five acres. In his well ordered operations as a progressive agriculturist and stock grower Mr. Vickers utilizes an aggregate area of about 400 acres of land, and he brings to bear the best modern methods and facilities in connection with his vigorous farm enterprise. He is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the republican party and has served as trus- tee of Nottingham Township since 1917, besides which he was for four years a member of the school board of this township. He and his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal

Church at Deersville, and he is a valued men- ber of its Board of Trustees.

In 1898 Mr. Vickers was united in marriage to Miss Laura Jane Donahoo, daughter of Shannon and Mary ( Hall) Donahoo. her father having been a successful farmer in Guernsey County and later in Harrison County. Mrs. Vickers is the eldest in a family of three chil- dren, the other two being Bingham and Luella. To Mr. and Mrs. Vickers have been born eight children : Verna Viola, who graduated from the Freeport High School and was an ambitious and popular student in Scio College at the time of her death. September 30, 1919: Hazel Marie. Goldie Margaret. Fairy Dale, Elizabeth Luella, Lila Florence. William (died in infancy). and Dallas Wayne.

HIENBY A. HEISLER is another native son and representative farmer who has an heritage of pioneer honors in Harrison County, and in Ger- man Township he owns and resides upon a well improved farm of 165 acres, the most of the present buildings upon the place having been erected by him and giving evidence of his thrift and progressiveness as a successful exponent of agricultural and live-stock industry.

Mr. Heisler was born in German Township. on the 5th of December, 1871, and is a son of William and Sarah ( Maple) Heisler. the for- mer of whom was born March 23, 1834. on the ancestral farmstead now owned and occupied by his son Henry A., of this review. In 186S was solemnized the marriage of William Heis ler to Miss Sarah Maple, who was born in Ross Township, Jefferson County, this state. in the year 1831, her father, Aaron Maple, having been an early settler in that county. William Heisler was a son of John Heisler. who was born on the same homestead farm as his son and whose parents, Henry and Catherine Heis- ler. were numbered among the very early settlers in German Township, where their farmi was reclaimed by them from the forest wilds. Henry Heisler became the owner of about one section of Government land in this township. and was one of the substantial and influential pioneer citizens of Harrison County. His son John was born July 6, 1806, on the pioneer farm on which his parents settled upon coming to Harrison County from Pennsylvania. John Heisler passed his entire life in German Town- ship, where he became the owner of an excel- lent farm of 160 acres, upon which he continued to reside until his death, when well advanced in years, as did also his wife, whose maiden name was Anna Maria Bear and who was born October 25. 1809. The names and respective dates of birth of their children are here re- corded : Henry. April 1. 1827; Jacob. April 15. 1829: Susan, February 15, 1831; William, March 23. 1834: Elizabeth, March 21, 1838; John Thomas. April 25, 1843; Margaret, May 23, 1846; and Lucinda, June 12. 1849.

As a successful farmer and sterling citizen of German Township William Heisler well upheld the high prestige of the family name, and there he became the owner of a valuable farm property of 337 acres. He was one of the most vigorous and progressive representatives of farm industry

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in his native township, commanded unqualified popular esteem, and both he and his wife re- mained on the home farm until their deaths. Their religious faith was that of the Lutheran Church. Of their five children the two daugh- ters died at birth; John T. is individually men- tioned on other pages of this volume: Henry .A. is the immediate subject of this review: and James died when about eighteen months of age.

Henry A. Heisler gained in his youth a full amount of practical experience in connection with the work of the home farm. the while he did not neglect the advantages afforded in the district schools of his native township. He has continued as a valiant exponent of farm in- dustry during the intervening years, and on the old home farm he has erected excellent buikdl- ings, though he still occupies the substantial and commodious house that was erected by his father. He is a democrat in politics and as a citizen has shown loyal interest in community affairs, the while his secure standing in popular confidence and esteem is shown in bis baving retained the office of township trustee from January, 1915, to January, 1920. While the In- cumbent of this position he exerted strong in- fluence in the furtherance of progressive meas- ures that inured greatly to the benefit of his native township. He and his wife are active communicants of the Lutheran Church.

On the 7th of March. 1895, Mr. Heisler was united in marriage to Miss Nora B. Hess. daugh- ter of William and Sarah ( Palmer) Hess, the former a native of Monroe Township, Harrison County, and the latter of Perry Township, Car- roll County, where they now maintain their home and where Mr. Hess is a prosperous farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Hess are members of the United Brethren Church. They became the parents of six children : Anna May. deceased. was the wife of Elmer E. Slates; Nora is the wife of Henry A. Heisler, of this sketch: Mary K. is the wife of Jasper Dodd; Bessie Pearl is the wife of William Epley; Oma E. died in early childhood; and Hazel remains at the parental home. Mr. and Mrs. Heisler have three children-Orrin Mitchell. William How- ard and Goldie Belle, the latter two remaining at the parental home and Orrin M. being now . a resident of Unionport, Jefferson County. The maiden name of his wife was Louise Shields, and their children are Virginia Rose and an unnamed infant son. Orrin M. Heisler repre- sented Harrison County in the nation's military service in connection with the great World war. He entered service August 29, 1918, and was sent to Camp Taylor, Kentucky, where he was assigned to a battery of light artillery. Later he was transferred to West Point, Kentucky, where he was assigned to the Fourth School Battery, in which he there served until De- cember 10. 1918, when he received his honorable discharge.

SAMUEL J. GEORGE is well known throughout Carroll County as a good citizen and experienced farmer, and his valuable farm in Fox Township shows that he understands his business, and the stock he raises commands banner prices be- cause of its excellence. He was born in Fox

Township. August 19, 1850, a son of Andrew and Eliza ( Graham) George, the former of whom was also a native of Fox Township. The paternal grandparents. Robert and Sarah George, were born in Ireland, and they, and the maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Graham, were early settlers of Carroll County, the for- mer entering land from the Government in Fox Township.

Andrew George was a widower when he mar- ried Eliza Graham. his first wife having been Ann Robins, and they had four children, namely : Wilson, who lives at Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania : Michael, who died during the war of the '60s: Sarah, who is Mrs. T. G. Donald- son of Seroggsfield. Ohio; and Jennie, who is the widow of J. M. Stevenson of Cadiz, Ohio. By his second marriage Andrew George had the following children : Samuel J., whose name heads this review: Darkl N., who lives in Fox Township: Ida, who is Mrs. William Stevens of Alliance, Ohio: Ella, who lives in Fox Town- ship. Mary, who is Mrs. Elza Robbins of East Liverpool, Ohio; and Robert, who lives in Fox Township. Andrew George died in Fox Town- ship, January 1, 1900, and his widow passed away in 1908.

Samuel J. George attended the district schools of Fox Township, and for one term taught the Hopedale School. With the exception of that period and a year he worked in a saw-mill. Mr. George has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. Some years ago he bought 174 acres in Fox Township, and later sold four acres of it to the railroad. He has erected all of the present buildings and otherwise improved the place. making it one of the most desirable properties in this part of the county. Here he is carrying on general farming, and raising horses, cattle, sheep and hogs.

On April 23. 1874. Mr. George was married to Anna M. Ramsey, who was born in Fox Township, a daughter of R. G. and Margaret ( Mclaughlin) Ramsey, natives of Pennsylvania and Fox Township, respectively, and grand- daughter of Mitchell and Ann ( George) Ram- sey. natives of Ireland. and Robert and Mar- garet Ann ( Wilson) MeLauglin. also natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. George became the parents of the following children: Anna, who is Mrs. Robert McAllister' of Fox Township: Lydia, who is Mrs. John Barber of Fox Town- ship: Robert A .. who lives at Grover, Colorado: Porter, who died at the age of ten years: Vern, who is Mrs. Bert Crabb of Jefferson County, Ohio: Lloyd M .. who lives at Bergholtz, Ohio; Margaret, who is Mrs. Walter Robbins of Al- liance, Ohio: David, who died December 24, 1917. aged twenty-seven years; John W .. who lives at Brackenridge, Texas, saw service in France and was a corporal of the Eightieth Di- vision during the World war: Jay, who lives at Grover, Colorado, is also a veteran of the World war, was in the One . Hundred and Thir- tieth Division : and Samuel L., who is at home. Mr. George belongs to the United Presbyterian church of which he is an elder. A republican, he has served on the school board and also as township trustee. In every relation of life

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Mr. George has striven to do his duty as he has seen it, and has won the appreciation of his fellow citizens.

HARVEY WOOD, who is now living virtually re- tired, in the city of Carrollton, is still the owner of one of the fine farms of Carroll County, and is a representative of an honored pioneer fam- ily of Eastern Oblo. He was born in North Township, Harrison County. Ohio, August 23, 1853, and is a son of John and Margaret ( Fry) Wood, the former of whom was born in that county. in 1814, and the latter of whom was a native of Pennsylvania. John Wood was a son of Zachariah and Mary Wood, who were born and reared in the old Keystone State, where their marriage occurred and whence they came to Ohio and numbered themselves among the very early settlers of Harrison County, where Mr. Wood reclaimed a farm from the forest wilds and where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, both having attained to venerable age and Mrs. Wood having been ninety-eight years, seven months and fourteen days of age at the time of her demise. Both were earnest members of the United Brethren church. Margaret (Fry) Wood was born in one of the Southern States, where her father was a prosperous planter and slave-owner in the period long prior to the Civil War.

John Wood was reared to manhood on the pioneer farm in Harrison County, where even- tually he became a substantial and successful exponent of independent farm enterprise and where he was influential in community affairs, his political support having been given the Dem- ocratie party and he and his wife having been originally members of the United Brethren church. but later uniting with the Christian Union church near their home, he having con- tributed liberally to the erection of the church building. They became the parents of four chil- dren -- Zachariah, Jonas, George and Harvey.

Harvey Wood passed the period of his child- hood and youth on the okt home farm and was afforded the advantage of the public schools of his native county. He became a progressive and successful farmer and stock-grower and continued his activities in this field of indus- try until 1914, when he removed to Carrollton. where he has since lived retired. He gives his allegiance to the Democratic party and is lib- eral in his religious views.

As a young man Mr. Wood married Miss Caroline Cogan, who was born and reared in Carroll County, and of this union have been born eight children --- Harry. Jasper. Emerson. Loren. Ulysses, Orville. Annie and Bessie. Em- erson and Loren wore in the national military service in the late world war, the former bav- ing served fourteen months, eleven of which wore passed in France, and the latter having been stationed at Fort Thomas, Kentucky, dur- ing the major part of his ten months' service.

HARVEY J. ECKLEY, judge of the Common Pleas Court of Carroll County, began the prac- tice of law at Carrollton more than fifty years ago, and has achieved much of the honor and

success that seem to belong to the Eckley name and family by tradition and achievement for many generations.

Judge Eckley was born at Carrollton, October 29, 1845, and is a son of the late General Eph- raim R. Eckley and Martha L. ( Brown) Eckley. Fckley is a German name, but the family has been subject to the infusion of English and American influences for centuries. In Colonial times John Eckley immigrated from England to America, first living in New York and then in New Jersey. He had five sons, all of whom were soldiers at the time of the Revolution. These sons were Barnabas, who subsequently built up a large mercantile business in Boston ; John, who was chief justice of the courts of Pennsylvania : Ephraim, who during the Revo- lution was hanged in Long Island by the Tories. but left descendants who spell the name Akley. Peter, direct ancestor of the Carroll County branch of the family; and Joseph who served in the Revolution under Washington and later joined the expedition against the Sandusky In- dians under Crawford and lost his life in that fateful enterprise.

Peter Eckley was wounded during his Revo- lutionary service. Peter Eckley after his mar- riage for some years lived in Western Penn- sylvania and about 1800 came to Ohio, then part of the Northwest Territory. They spent their last years in Richland County, where Peter died at the age of eighty and his wife at ninety- two.

The oldest son in their family of eleven chil- dren was Ephraim Eckley, grandfather of Judge Eckley. Ile grew up on his father's farm in Pennsylvania but came to Ohio Territory be- fore his parents. Ile was a river trader, and made no less than twenty-two trips to New Orleans. His home for many years was in Jefferson County, Ohio, but late in life he moved to Illinois, where he died in 1863 at the age of eighty-four. His wife was Sarah Van Gilder. who died at the age of ninety. She was a descendant of the old Dutch family of Vau Gilders, ship builders at Cape May, for whom a square in New York is named.

General Ephraim R. Eckley was born in Jef- ferson County, Ohio, December 9, 1811, and lived to the venerable age of ninety-seven. He was the last living congressman of the Congress that served under President Lincoln. His early life was one of typical pioneer environment and in- fluences, including the traditional log school- houses of the time. He came to Carroll County in 1833, taught school for a time, read law, and subsequently did some surveying in Northern Ohio around Mansfield. Ile returned to Car- rollton in the fall of 1836 and that city remained his home the rest of his long and eventful life. Hle began practice in the fall of 1837, and prior to the war served as a member of the State Senate and also of the Lower House. He was a leader in the Whig party, and was a delegate to the convention which nominated Fremont in 1856 as the first Republican candidate for Pres- ident. Early in the Civil war he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the 26th Ohio Infantry. later was promoted to Colonel of the 1Sth Reg-

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iment, and was in active service with his regi- ment in Kentucky and Tennessee until the spring of 1863, when he resigned his commis sion and returned to Carrollton. In the fall of 1863 he began his first term in Congress, and was in Congress six years, including the last three years of the war and four years of the im- portant reconstruction era. Of his five chil- dren Judge Eckley is the only surviving son. One of the sons died in infancy, and the other William, served as a captain in the Civil War, and later while a lieutenant in the Regular Army died in New Mexico in 1867.

Harvey J. Eckley as a boy at Carrollton was deeply impressed by the great events of the war period. He finished his education at Wash- ington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania, graduating A.B. in 1868, and since his admis- sion to the bar has practiced at Carrollton. He served as prosecuting attorney during the years 1877-80, was elected a member of the State Sen- ate serving from 1890 to 1893, and for a time was a member of the board of trustees of the State Hospital at Massillon. He was appointed judge of the Common Pleas Court in 1915 and was elected for a full term in 1916.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 133

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