History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 24

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 24
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 24

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).

After having received the advantages of the public schools of Carrollton John W. Whitcraft completed a course in the celebrated Eastman

Business College in the City of Poughkeepsie, New York, and upon his return to his native place became associated with his father's lumber business, with which his active connection has continued during. the intervening years and of which he came into full control after the death of his honored father, on the 6th of December, 1910. The Whitcraft lumber business at Carroll- ton has long been the most extensive and im- portant enterprise of the kind in Carroll County, and its history has been one of admir- able service and fair and honorable dealings- covering a period of fully forty-five years. Mr. Whitcraft is one of the progressive busi- ness men and liberal and public-spirited citizens of Carrollton, is a republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for public office, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Pres- byterian Church.

In 1896 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Whitcraft to Miss Daisy McGuire, only daughter of the late Frank W. and Clara Belle (Hoops) McGuire, of Carrollton. The elder of the two children of this union is John Henry, who was born January 15, 1906, and who is, in 1920, a member of the freshman class of the Carrollton High School. Catherine, the younger child, died at the age of two years.

WILLIAM J. CARSON. Industriously engaged in the prosecution of a calling upon which the support and wealth of the nation largely de- pends, William J. Carson, of Stock Township, holds an assured position among the enterpris- ing and prosperous farmers of Harrison County. He was born January 6, 1871, in Nottingham Township, Harrison County, Ohio, which was also the birthplace of his father, Albert Osborne Carson.

A son of William and Betsy (Wells) Carson, pioneers of Harrison County, Albert Osborne Carson spent nearly the whole of his life in Nottingham Township, where his death occurred May 14, 1903. He was a tiller of the soll, and with the exception of nine years that he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Cadiz Town- ship, carried on general farming in his native township. He married Lydia Ellen Milliken, who was born in Nottingham Township, on the parental homestead, a daughter of Mark and Joanna (Smith) Milliken, who reared five chil- dren, as follows: Lydia Ellen, James G., Clifford J., Harvey H. and Anna May. Mr. and Mrs. Milliken were members of the Minksville Chris- tian Church. Mr. and Mrs. William Carson were the parents of nine children, namely : Zella May, wife of Robert M. Smith: Nannie May, wife of John Fitzgerald; William J., of whom we write; Myrtle, who married William Lee; James L .; Emma, wife of William K. Milliken; Eva, wife of George Dunlap; Lloyd, who mar- ried Julia Fulton; and Guy, who married Kate Rolands. Mrs. Carson survived her husband a number of years, passing away April 4, 1913.

Having acquired a good common school edu- cation in his native township William J. Carson began his life as a farmer in Cadiz Township, remaining there a few years and then returning to Nottingham Township, where he continued

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as a tiller of the soil seven years. Moving to Stock Township in 1912, Mr. Carson assumed the management of the farm belonging to E. M. Long. Buying this farm of 180 acres in 1914, he has since been busily and successfully en- gaged in general farming. He also takes great interest in the raising of fine stock, meeting with success in this as in his other branches of industry.

Mr. Carson married November 3, 1896, Anna Ball Hammill, who was born in Washington Township, Harrison County, Ohio, a daughter of John and Angeline ( Robison) Hammill. Into the household thus established eight children have made their advent, namely : Charles Ray- mond, living in Uhrichsville, Ohio, married Ger- trude Robson; William Fred, at home; Nellie L., wife of Clarence Bigger, of Cadiz; Alma Florence; Estella Belle; Howard H., Elizabeth B .; and Elma Lloyd. Mr. and Mrs. Carson are devout members of the Christian Church at Minksville, and liberal contributors towards its support. For four years Mr. Carson, who is especially interested in the education of the children of this generation, served as a member of the local school board.

HARRY H. WHITTAKER. A live, wide-awake agriculturist of Stock Township, full of vim and energy, Harry H. Whittaker is numbered among those sturdy, energetic and progressive farmers of Harrison County who thoroughly understand the vocation which they follow and are carrying it on with both profit and pleasure. He was born August 26, 1886, in North Town- ship. His paternal great-grandfather, James Whittaker, a native of Ireland, immigrated to America when young, settling as a pioneer in North Township, Harrison County, Ohio, where he continued a resident until his death.

Harry H. Whittaker attended first the rural schools of North and Stock townships, later continuing his studies for a year at Scio College in Scio, Ohio, and then spending a year at the Ohio State University in Columbus. A youth of energy and ambition, possessing excellent business ability, he subsequently bought a tract of land adjoining his father's farm, which he manages in conjunction with his own, and has since been prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits. In addition to carrying on general farming he makes a specialty of stock raising, breeding a pure strain of Aberdeen Angus cattle.

Mr. Whittaker married in February, 1912, Virginia Harrison, a daughter of John and Euphemia (Patterson) Harrison, of North Township. Religiously Mr. Whittaker supports the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is a member of Sclo Lodge No. 587 Free and Accepted Masons; and of Cadiz Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He is a past master of Valley Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, is a republican in politics and a member of the Harrison County Agriculture Society.

SAMUEL POOLE, senior member of the firm of Poole & Mclaughlin, which conducts a well equipped hardware store in the city of Carroll- ton, has gained secure place as one of the

progressive and representative merchants of his native county. He was born in Carrollton, Carroll County, May 23, 1874, and is a son of Andrew J. and Mary (Baxter) Poole, the for- mer of whom was born in Stark County, this state, in 1839, and the latter was born in Carroll County in 1838, a daughter of William and Catherine (Albaugh) Baxter, honored pioneers of whom more specific mention may be found on other pages of this volume. Andrew J. Poole was a son of Thomas and Sarah (Berger) Poole, who came from Pennsylvania and estab- lished their home near Waynesburg, Stark County. Ohio, in the early pioneer days, the father having been a native of Virginia and a representative of a family there founded in the colonial period of our national history. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, and there their marriage occurred. From Stark County they finally removed to Carroll County and estab- lished their home at Carrollton, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Thomas Poole was a molder by trade, and while the War of 1812 was in progress he was detailed by the Government to service in the manufac- turing of cannon balls near Lisbon, Columbiana County. The cannon balls which he thus molded were in part transported overland to Lake Erie, and were used by Commodore Perry in his naval operations on that inland sea. Mr. Poole was a democrat in politics, and his wife was a communicant of the Lutheran Church.

Andrew J. Poole was a child at the time of the family removal to Carrollton, where he received his early education in the common schools of the period and where he learned the molder's trade under the effective direction of his father. He continued to follow his trade during the major part of his active career and continued to maintain his home at Carrollton until his death, which occurred when he was about sixty years of age, his venerable widow now having a home with their only surviving child, Samuel, subject of this sketch, the other two children having died in infancy. Mr. Poole cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, and thereafter he transferred his al- legiance to the republican party, in the ranks of which he continued to be staunchly aligned during the remainder of his life. He held mem- bership in the Reformed Church, as does also his widow.

Samuel Poole continued his studies in the public schools of Carrollton until his graduation from the high school, and thereafter he was for a short time engaged in teaching in the district schools. Then he found employment in the hardware store of Andrey J. Stoody, of Carrollton, where he also learned the tinner's trade. Later he served effectively as a clerk in the offices of the county auditor and county treasurer, and in this service he continued until 1907, when he entered into partnership with Charles Mclaughlin and engaged in the hard- ware business under the firm name of Poole & Mclaughlin. The firm has a large and well appointed store in which is to be found a com- plete stock of heavy and shelf hardware, stoves, ranges, etc., and a well equipped tin shop is maintained in the establishment, with facilities

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for producing the best kind of tinware, as well as the handling of job work in metals. The partners are vigorous and progressive business men and their enterprise has been distinctively successful under their able management.

Though never a seeker of political preferment, Mr. Poole gives a loyal allegiance to the repub- lican party, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including the commandery of Knights Templar in the City of Canton, Stark County, and the Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the City of Cleveland, where he also holds membership in the Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is affiliated also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In the year 1912 was recorded the marriage of Mr. Poole to Miss Cree Butler, a daughter of Joseph Butler, of whom specific mention is made on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Poole have no children.

JAMES MURRAY. In his youth this sterling citizen, who is now living retired at Minerva, was admirably equipped for the battle of life. as he was possessed not only of an alert mentality but also of splendid physical powers, and it was given him to achieve substantial success as a vigorous representative of farm industry in Carroll County, where he continued his activities as an agriculturist and stock- grower until 1902. He then removed from his farm to Minerva, where he has served two terms as mayor and been otherwise influential in civic affairs.

Mr. Murray was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, on the 16th of September, 1840, and is a son of James and Sarah (Washburn) Murray, the former of whom was born in County Done- gal, Ireland, in 1800, and the latter was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1803. James Murray, Sr., was a youth of sixteen years when he left the Emerald Isle and came to America, and after remaining for a time in New Jersey he established his residence at Pottsville, Penn- sylvania, in which state his marriage was solem- nized and in which he continued his residence until the later '30s, when he came with his family to Ohio and engaged in farming in Columbiana County. There he remained until 1849, when he removed to Carroll County and purchased a partially improved farm in Brown Township, near Minerva. He became one of the substantial farmers and highly esteemed citizens of that township, where he continued to reside until his death in 1856, when fifty-six years of age. His widow survived him by nearly two score years, attained to the remark- able age of ninety years and remained on the old home farm until her death, which occurred in January, 1893, both having been earnest communicants of the Catholic Church. Of the children the firstborn was Margaret, who died at the age of three years; and those who attained to adult age are here named in re- spective order of birth-Mary Ann, Elizabeth, Charles, Frank, Sarah Jane, James and John.

He whose name initiates this review was nine years of age at the time of the family removal to Carroll County, where he was reared on the old home farm, the while he profited

duly by the advantages afforded in the local schools of the period. After the death of his father he remained with his widowed mother on the old homestead, of which he eventually became the owner, and at the time of his retire- ment from farm enterprise, after many years of successful activity, his landed estate com- prised 132 acres-a property which he still owns and which is one of the valuable farms of Brown Township.

At Minerva, a thriving little city situated about one-half mile distant from his farm, but in . Stark County, Mr. Murray has an attractive home, and he has been one of the liberal and progressive citizens of this place, where, as previously stated, he served two terms as mayor and where he was a member of the Board of Education for nine years,-1884- 1893. In 1886 he was elected county commis- sioner of Carroll County and served three years Mr. Murray is a staunch advocate and sup- porter of the principles of the democratic party, and in his religious views is Catholic. He has remained a bachelor, but his venerable mother presided graciously over their rural home on the old farm until the time of her death and re- ceived from him the utmost filial devotion.

WESLEY BROWNING HEARN. The late Wesley B. Hearn, long an able editor and leading citizen of Cadiz, was born on a farm in Jefferson County, Ohio, on October 6, 1840, and died at his home in Cadiz April 29, 1915.

The Hearn family, which has been in America since 1765, is of English-Scotch stock. Lancelot, father of Wesley B., was born in Baltimore in 1794, and came to eastern Ohio in 1815. He was a farmer and miller, and at one time was a manufacturer of woolens. He married Bar- bara Sutherland Urquhart, a daughter of Alexander and Frances (Tucker) Urquhart. She was born in Charleston, West Virginia, then Old Virginia, and came with her parents to Harrison County in 1813, the family locating south of Cadiz. Alexander Urquhart was a Scotchman and served as a soldier in the Revo- lutionary war.

Wesley B. Hearn was a boy of nine years when his parents removed to Cadiz. He attended the common schools and when a boy entered the office of the Cadiz Sentinel as "printer's devil." Later he went to work as a printer in the office of the Cadiz Republican, with which paper he was to be associated prac- tically all the rest of his life. For a time he was employed as compositor by a Boston Pub- lishing House and for a time he was a school teacher, but with those exceptions he was associated with the Republican, and for over forty years was its publisher and owner, he having purchased the paper in April, 1869. As an editor Mr. Hearn was forceful, aggressive and progressive, and his editorial writings were an inspiration to his readers. Thus his in- fluence was strong and far-reaching, and as he was always on the right side of all momentous questions of the day his articles did much to mould public opinion and incline it towards what was right and good for the community. He was an anti-saloon man, and through his

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paper he fought the battles of the crusaders through all the years of the fight on liquor waged by its enemies during the years follow- ing the Civil war. And while he was what was termed a "hard-hitter" in his editorials, yet he was fair, honest and conscientious in his writ- ings and always held at least the respect of those with whom he associated through his paper. He was a just man and wrote from an unbiased point of view, and never descended to personalities. He assailed the principle at issue rather than the men who supported the principle. Thus Mr. Hearn came to be regarded as one of the really able editors of eastern Ohio, if not of the entire state.

Mr. Hearn was also active in civic and public affairs generally. He served as a member of the County Board of School Examiners for a time, served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Cadiz Public Library, and in 1889 he was elected a member of the Sixty-ninth General Assembly, serving during the session of 1890-91.

Mr. Hearn was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for years sang in the choir of that church. He was deeply interested in Sunday school work and served as teacher and as superintendent of the Sunday school. His entire life was atune to church work and its kindred interests. He was charitable, benevolent and ready at all times to do all in his power to promote the church and the welfare of the entire community.

Mr. Hearn was always a student, and he collected one of the finest private libraries to be found in this section, and in this library and in his home he found his greatest pleasures and comforts.

Mr. Hearn was an able editor, a staunch church man and a good citizen. He was en- dowed with a kindly nature, a love for. all humanity and a great desire to assist his fellow creatures. He was a noble man and a good American.

On July 30, 1868, Mr. Hearn was united in marriage with Miss Jennie C. Beall, daughter of Dr. John C. and Agnes Tate (Vincent) Beall. To their marriage was born one daughter, Emma Beall Hearn, who married John N. Car- nahan, of an old Cadiz family, and now super- intendent of a silver mining company in Mexico. He and his wife make their residence at Monterey, Mexico.

Dr. John Beall, father of Mrs. Hearn, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1809, the son of James and . Jane (Baird) Beall, who came from Virginia. He was of Scotch Presbyterian stock, his American ancestor, Ninnian . Beall, having come over from Edinboro in 1636 and settled first at Annapolis, Maryland. Doctor Beall was educated in the public schools and at Franklin College. He conducted a drug store and a book store in Cadiz for many years. He served as postmaster at Cadiz during the ad- ministration of President James K. Polk. He was twice married, his first marriage being with Sarah Heald, who bore him two children, Amanda and William. His second marriage was with Agnes Tate Vincent, who was born at Beech Springs, Harrison County, the daugh-

ter of Thomas C. and Jane (McCurdy) Vincent. To the second marriage of Doctor Beall the following children were born: Jennie C., Mrs. Hearn, Mary I., Albert, deceased, Ida F., Laura A., Emma B., Anna B. and John A.

Thomas C. Vincent and his wife, Jane McCurdy, were Harrison County pioneers. The Vincent family is of French Huguenot stock. The family fled from France upon the Revoca- tion of the Edict of Nantes, going to Ireland and then to the United States. Thomas C. was ten years old when he came with his parents to America, and was a young man when he came to Harrison County, locating first at Beech Springs and later in Cadiz. He was the second man elected county clerk, and later he was elected to the Ohio Legislature.

Gen. Thomas McCurdy Vincent, son of Thomas C., was graduated from West Point Military Academy and was serving as professor of as- tronomy at the Academy when the Civil war came on. He was commissioned brigadier gen- eral and was at the first battle of Bull Run, where his horse was shot under him. He was recalled to Washington by Secretary Stanton, and during the remainder of the war he was on duty at the War Department with Stanton. To him was given the demobilizing of the troops after the war, and he marched at the head of the parade at the Grand Review in Washington City. Like Stanton, he was a close friend of President Lincoln, and both of them were with the President during his last hours, ministering to and comforting the stricken man; and it was General Vincent who closed the eyes of the dead martyr when the end came.

SAMUEL H. GIFFEN. The Giffen family is one of the old and respected ones of Harrison County, and is also equally well known in Bel- mont and surrounding counties, where repre- sentatives of the name are displaying the bal- ance, stability and strength of character which belong to the best regulated men and women. One of those bearing the name with dignity and honor is Samuel H. Giffen, a retired merchant of Harrisville. He was born near Glencoe Sta- tion, Belmont County, Ohio, April 26, 1840, a son of William Giffen, and grandson of John Giffen.

John Giffen came from Glasgow, Scotland, where he was born in 1765, with his parents to the United States in 1769 and the family set- tled in New York State, but later moved to Ohio County in what is now West Virginia. There John Giffen was married to Elizabeth Morrison, born in Ohio County, West Virginia, a daughter of Robert Morrison. They became the parents of the following children : Robert, Mary, Will- iam, John, Samuel, Joseph, Morrison, Jane Ann, Elizabeth and Sarah Ann. When they came to America the Giffens were Coventers, but later became members of the United Presbyterian Church.

William Giffen was born in Ohio County, West Virginia, in 1802, and died in 1878. In 1826 he was married to Helen Grayham, born in Clays- ville, Pennsylvania, a daughter of James and Mary (Marshall) Grayham. The children born to William Giffen and his wife were as follows:

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James G., who was born in 1828; John M., who was born in 1830; Elizabeth, who was born in 1832, married Elisha Oxley; Samuel H., who was born in 1840; and Margaret, who never married, lives in Montana. The family were strong church people, very religious and con- scientious members of the United Presbyterian Church. With the exception of one year spent in Iowa, William Giffen passed his life in Bel- mont County, and directed his efforts to farm- ing, becoming a prosperous man.

Samuel H. Giffen attended the district schools of Belmont County at Cherry Hill, and later was given the advantages of a course in Cun- ningham's Academy in Belmont County. Ohio. When he was seventeen years old he came to Harrison County, and during the fall of 1858 became an apprentice in his uncle's general store at Harrisville. His contract required him to serve three years, and during that period he lost but seven days, which he made up. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Giffen went to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he became a member of Harper Brothers Company, dealers at wholesale in hats, caps and straw goods, and maintained these connections until 1870, when he dissolved them. In partnership with Charles Cessna, Mr. Giffen established the wholesale firm in connec- tion with which he did business along the same lines until 1873. He then left Wheeling and went to Johnson County, Kansas, and conducted a grocery for a year, but, preferring Ohio, re- turned to Harrisville and opened a grocery, later branching out as a general merchant. After fifteen years in mercantile life he went into the manufacture of cigars and carried that on for ten years. Although he has transacted busi- ness which necessitated his being at Wheeling more or less at different periods, Harrisville has continued his permanent home since he re- turned from the west, and his interests are cen- tered here. About 1919 Mr. Giffen retired, and is now enjoying the comforts his industry and good business management have secured for him. For a period of twenty-one years he served as mayor of Harrisville, and he has also held every village office, the people having such confidence in him and his ability that they have been eager to thrust responsibility upon him. He assisted in making West Virginia a commonwealth, and he served two years in the West Virginia State Guards.

On August 26, 1859, Mr. Giffen was united in marriage with Mary J. Bleakmore, born at Har- risville, Ohio, a daughter of George W. and Sarah ( Miller) Bleakmore. George W. Bleak- more came to Harrisville from Moundsville, West Virginia, in 1834, and was engaged in con- ducting a hotel at Harrisville the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Bleakmore had the following children: Marissa, Mary Jane, Sepharvaim, Amanda, Cecilia and An- geline. The children born to the first marriage of Samuel H. Giffen were as follows: William A., who died in 1888; James F., who was second in order of birth; Samuel H., Jr., who died in 1914; Helen Jane, who married Robert S. Ball, lives at Great Falls, Montana; Gussie T., who married Edwin French, became a physician, and she is engaged in practice at Detroit, Michigan ;

John B., who is a merchant of Harrisville; and Anna M., who married Leonard Burdick and lives at Detroit, Michigan. Mrs. Giffen died in 1883. On December 31, 1891, Mr. Giffen was married to Mrs. Sarah J. Morgan, widow of George Morgan, and a daughter of John and Mary ( King) Parterfield. By her marriage with Mr. Morgan Mrs. Giffen had six children, five of whom lived to reach maturity, namely : Mary C., who married William Watson; Clara Bell, who married George Webster; Anna B., who married Dr. George Furby ; Lola, who married Grafton Stephens; and George P., who married Jeanette Beck. Mr. and Mrs. Giffen belong to the United Presbyterian Church, and are active in its good work.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 24

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