History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 27

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 27
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 27

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Francis A. Hilligas acquired his youthful edu- cation in the district schools of Short Creek and Athens townships, and as a young man he initiated independent enterprise as a farmer in the former township, which has continued the stage of his activities to the present time. The Hilligas family now own the old homestead of Isaac Cope, and on the place still stand the buildings that were erected many years ago, the original log barn on this place having been the first building raised in Harrison County without the customary accompaniment of whis- key dispensed freely to the workers.

November 11, 1869, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Hilligas to Miss Rachel A. Cope, a daugh- ter of the late Isaac and Abigail (Cope) Cope, representatives of old and influential pioneer families of Harrison County. Oliver Cope came from Wiltshire, England, to America in the year 1701 and settled in Pennsylvania, where he passed the remainder of his life. Representa- tives of the family later became settlers in Vir- ginia, and it was from that state that came the original representatives of the family in what is now Harrison County, Ohio, the migration to this county having occurred in 1813. John Cope was the founder of the family in this county, and here he remained until his death, his widow, whose maiden name was Grace Steer, having been ninety-two years of age at the time of her death, March 30, 1855. They became the parents of five children, all sons, and all settled on farms in Short Creek Township, Isaac, former owner of the old homestead now owned by the Hilligas family, having been born February 1, 1801, and his death having here occurred Decem- ber 19, 1883, and his wife, a member of a col- lateral branch of the same family, survived him by several years.

Mr. Hilligas is a republican in his political proclivities, is a member of the Disciples'

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Church, and his wife holds membership in the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. To them have been born seven children: Harry C. died in the year 1893; William I., a merchant in Cadiz, married Miss Clara J. Smith; Frank E., likewise is a representative of farm enterprise in this township, and the maiden name of his wife was Della Barkhurst; Lena O. remains at the parental home: Charles C. is individually mentioned on other pages of this work, as are also Clarence G. and George A.

CHARLES C. HILLIGAS is a sturdy young repre- sentative of farm industry in his native county, where he owns a well improved farm of 180 acres, in Short Creek Township. He remains at the parental home, and on preceding pages due record concerning the family is given in the sketch of the career of his father, Francis A. Hilligas.

Like many other native sons of Harrison County, where he was born on the 24th of July. 1888, Charles C. Hilligas was signally favored in being reared to the invigorating and benefi- cent discipline of the farm, and he acquired his youthful education in the district schools of Short Creek Township. He has remained with his father and mother on the old home farm and has not yet consented to withdraw from the ranks of the eligible and popular young bache- lors of his native county. He is an aggressive and successful exponent of farm industry, in connection with which he is giving added pres- tige to the family name, which has long been closely associated with this line of productive enterprise in Harrison County, the Hilligas fam- ily having distinct pioneer honors in this section of the Buckeye State.

Mr. Hilligas was reared in the faith of the Hicksite branch of the Society of Friends. In politics he gives his allegiance to the republican party.

GEORGE A. MARTIN. The Martin family of which former County Treasurer George A. Mar- tin of Harrison County is a representative be- longs to the history of Jefferson County. Mr. Martin was born May 12, 1855, in Jefferson County. He is a son of Jonathan and Eliza (Spencer) Martin, the parents both natives of Jefferson County. The mother is a daughter of Dunham Spencer. The Martins were farmers in Jefferson County. In March, 1869, Jonathan Martin removed with his family from Jefferson to Harrison County.

Jonathan Martin located on a farm in Short Creek Township, renting and owning land, some- times living on rented land when he owned other land. He owned a farm of 157 acres in Short Creek Township but never lived on it. There are three sons: William F., George A. and Charles D., and there were two daughters: Ella, who died in childhood, and Mary, who was the wife of David Barr. As a family the Martins were Methodists. Their children were given common school advantages both in Jefferson and Harrison Counties. G. A. Martin attended the Georgetown School in Short Creek Township as a boy, and as a young man he became a farmer in Short Creek Township.

In 1879 Mr. Martin married Mary B. Dicker- son, daughter of Hodson and Hannah Dickerson. At this time he entered into a partnership with his father, Jonathan Martin, which relation con- tinued twenty years. He finally bought the farm of 278 acres in Short Creek Township that they had rented for a good many years. In the fall of 1899 Mr. Martin moved into Green Township and farmed there. Twelve years later he re- moved to Cadiz Township, and after two years he went back to Short Creek Township, to his own land, but he only lived there two years when he sold it and bought another farm at Science Hill in Short Creek Township on the Cadiz and Wheeling Pike, and here he lived when he was elected treasurer of Harrison County. He has always been a member of the republican party. In 1914 he was elected on the republican ticket to the office of County Treas- urer, was re-elected in 1916, and retired from the office in 1919.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Mar- tin are: Harold S., who married Edna Adolph : Ira D., who married Gertrude Ackerman; and John W., who married Lena Wagner. Since he was fourteen years old Mr. Martin has been a member of the Methodist Church, and his entire family is interested in the business and social advancement of Harrison County. He was a boy of twelve when his parents removed from Jefferson to Harrison County, and after so many years he only thinks of citizenship in Harrison County.

CHARLES D. CONAWAY, recorder of Harrison County, was elected to the office in November. 1916. and was re-elected two years later, and before coming to Cadiz and becoming a county officer he had served as clerk of Stock Town- ship four years. Mr. Conaway was born Octo- ber 2. 1863, in Stock Township, and he has al- ways lived in Harrison County. He was edu- cated at the Sampson rural school and as a young man devoted three years of his life to teaching in public school. Mr. Conaway is a mechanic, and had worked at the carpenter trade many years before coming to the Harrison County Court House.

The Conaway family is connected with the early history of Stock Township, C. D. Cona- way's parents both being natives of Harrison County. Michael C. Conaway was born April 5. 1833, and Barbara Ann (Turney) Conaway was born November 29, 1836, in that community. She is a daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (Car- penter) Turney. When he was a child Mr. Tur- ney came with his parents to Rumley Town- ship from Pennsylvania. He reared his family in Harrison County.

In the Conaway family the grandfather, John Conaway, and his wife, Betty ( Hoagland) Cona- way, both came from Pennsylvania to Stock Township, where he entered land, and the claim where he first located has always remained in the Conaway family name. His children were : Cynthia, Hannah, Charles, Jemima, Elizabeth, Susannah, John. Michael, Martha and Rachel. As a family the Conaways were Methodists. John Conaway was a soldier in the War of 1812 the second war with England, and Harry M.

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Conaway has a World war record, the Cona- ways always responding to the call of the country.

Although he has attained to eighty-seven years, Michael Conaway, who has always farmed in Stock Township, is still an active man, A. D. 1919. Mrs. Conaway died in 1913. Their chil- dren are: Samantha, James (deceased), Lucy (deceased), John, Charles D., Emma M., Effie S., and William (deceased). While all were given common school advantages of the day, Charles D. Conaway fitted himself for teaching, and he has always been interested in educational ad- vancement.

On June 19, 1884, Mr. Conaway married Jen- nie E. Polen, a daughter of Joshua and Anna (Denning) Polen. Their children are: Laura E., wife of W. H. Copeland, Harry M., William O. and Raymond. The family maintain their membership in Mount Hope Methodist Episcopal Church in Stock Township while sojourning in Cadiz.

SAMUEL S. HALL succeeded his honored father in the ownership of the remarkably prosperous and representative merchant-tailoring business which the latter had built up at Carrollton, and is well upholding the prestige of the family name not only in this enterprise but also as a loyal and progressive citizen. He is serving in 1920 as secretary and treasurer of the Carroll- ton Business Men's Association, in the vital activities of which he takes an influential part.

Mr. Hall was born at Sherodsville, Carroll County, August 23, 1892, and is a son of Lewis S. and Jennie ( Belknap) Hall, the widowed mother still maintaining her home at Carroll- ton. Lewis S. Hall was born at Columbia City, Indiana, February 20, 1866, and when he was six years old his parents, Sutton and Catherine Hall, came to Carroll County and established their residence at Sherodsville, whence they later removed to Cadiz Junction, Harrison County. . After there residing a few years they established their home on a farm near New Cumberland, Tuscarawas County, later moving to Orrville, Ohio, where they passed the re- mainder of their lives. The early educational advantages of Lewis S. Hall were limited to a desultory attendance in the rural schools, and as a young man he learned the tailor's trade. After having been for a time engaged in the work of his trade at Leesville, Carroll County, he removed to Hampton, Iowa, but within a comparatively short period returned to Carroll County and established himself in the tailoring business at Sherodsville. Three years later, on the 1st of August, 1892, he removed to Carroll- ton. the county seat, and here he built up a re- markably substantial and representative mer- chant tailoring business, known for high-class productions that so furthered the success of his business that he found it imperative to retain a larger force of employes than could be found in a similar establishment in a city of the same appreciable population within the state of Ohio. A man of vigorous mentality and mature judgment, he was signally progressive and pub- lic-spirited and was foremost in furthering meas- ures and enterprises tending to advance the best

interests of his home community. He was a skilled artisan at his trade, had taken two courses of technical study and practical work- manship in a leading school of cutting and de- signing in New York City, and was authorita- tive as a designer and draper of men's clothing of the finest custom type. He gave most timely and effective service as a member of the City Council and Board of Public Service, besides doing much to raise the general standard and facilities of the Carrollton public schools during his several terms of service as a member of the Board of Education. He was clerk of this board at the time of the construction of the present fine central school building, and was a member of the City Council at the time when the Car- rollton waterworks plant was installed, no one citizen having done more to place the municipal water system on a paying basis than did he, while none had been more ardent in promoting this much needed public improvement. He was a most earnest and zealous churchman and served for twenty years as' superintendent of the Lutheran Sunday School of the church in which he held membership, as does also his widow, and in which he served in every official position, besides being most liberal in his support of the various departments of church work. For the advancing of its spiritual and temporal pros- perity the Lutheran Church of Carrollton owes much to this honored and devoted member. His public spirit was of insistent order, and he was always a leader in fostering undertakings for the general good of the community. Thus it may be noted that he was prominently identified with Chautauqua work and also for preparing for its centennial observance in 1915. The en- tire community manifested its sense of loss and sorrow when Mr. Hall passed from the stage of life's mortal endeavors, his death having oc- curred on the 5th of February, 1917. His mar- riage to Miss Jennie Belknap was solemnized in December, 1889, and his widow and six children all remain at Carrollton at the time of this writ- ing, in 1920. The names of the children are here entered in respective order of birth : Cecil, Leah, Samuel S., Bessie, Luther and Judd.

Samuel S. Hall was only one month old at the time of the family removal from Sherodsville to Carrollton, and here he was reared to adult age, his studies in the public schools having con- tinued until his graduation in the high school as a member of the class of 1911. He learned the tailor's trade in his father's establishment and by taking a course in the Mitchell School of Cutting and Designing in New York City, and after his return to Ohio he was for three years engaged in the work of his trade at Orrville, Wayne County, where he built up a prosperous merchant tailoring business and continued it until the death of his father in the spring of 1917. He then succeeded to the ownership of the latter's well established business at Carrollton, where his success has been such as to fully uphold the high prestige gained by his father. He is a democrat in political adherency, he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran Church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

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June 16, 1916, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hall to Miss Beatrice Allison, daughter of How- ard W. Allison, of Mechanicstown, Carroll County, and she is the popular chatelaine of their pleasant home at Carrollton.

JAMES B. FIEDLER has been a resident of Car- rollton, judicial center of Carroll County, since 1886, and no other citizen has been more closely and influentially concerned with its civic and business interests. None has been more loyal and progressive in furthering the general ad- rancement of the community, and none holds more secure place in popular confidence and esteem. Mr. Fiedler has been specially promi- nent in connection with banking enterprise in Carroll County, served several years as a mem- ber of the City Council and was for two terms mayor of Carrollton, in which office he gave a characteristically vigorous, wise and progressive administration.

Mr. Fiedler was born at Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio, on the 8th of May, 1864, and there he received his early education in the pub- lic schools. Upon leaving his native village he went to the city of Columbus, where for three years he was employed in the dry goods depart- ment of the leading department stores of the Drum-Taft Company. In 1886, as a young man of twenty-two years, he came to Carrollton and established himself in the retail grocery busi- ness, in which he continued six years. In 1894 he accepted the position of assistant cashier in the offices of the J. P. Cummings Bank Com- pany, and thereafter he continued an active and influential figure in local banking circles until March, 1919, when he resigned his position as manager of the savings department of the Cummings Trust Company, an office which he had held from the time of the organization of this representative banking institution, which is known as one of the strongest and most im- portant financial concerns in this part of the state.

A man of broad views and marked initiative energy, Mr. Fiedler has been deeply interested in the civic and industrial development and prog- ress of his home city, and he made his influence potent along these lines during the period of his service as a member of the City Council, and especially during his regime as mayor. In the council he served as a member of the finance committee and the committee on bills, and no extravagant claim ever succeeded in eluding his scrutiny and opposition. He has been success- ful in life and has shown deep appreciation of the stewardship which such success involves, with the result that he has been generous and charitable and has not only given liberal sup- port to approved benevolent, philanthropic and charitable agencies but has also extended aid and sympathy to those in need or distress-as one ever willing to "do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame." He has been influential in the affairs of the local Chautauqua, and served on various important committees of the same, while his service in connection with the Chautauqua Centennial was marked by the same vigor, earnestness and effectiveness as has been his career as a business man.

In politics Mr. Fiedler gives his allegiance to the republican party, he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, includ- ing the Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

In October, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fiedler to Miss Emma Cummings, and she was summoned to eternal rest in July, 1913, her memory being revered by all who came within the circle of her gracious influence. She was a daughter of James P. Cummings.

James P. Cummings, one of the founders of the Cummings Trust Company of Carrollton, was born in Archer Township, Harrison County, Ohio, in 1820, his father, Robert Cummings, having been one of the representative pioneer settlers in that county. James P. Cummings was reared and educated in his native county, whence, at the age of seventeen years, he came to Carrollton and became a clerk in the mercan- tile establishment of Isaac Atkinson. Later he formed a partnership with Wilson L. Akers, with whom he continued to be associated in the gen- eral merchandise business at Carrollton until 1868, when he formed an alliance with his brother-in-law, the late Elf Couch, and engaged in the wholesale grocery business in the city of Columbus. They remained in the capital city until 1870, when they returned to Carrollton and established the private banking house of Cummings & Couch. The death of Mr. Couch occurred in 1888, and thereafter Mr. Cummings continued the banking business in an individual way until 1893, on the 1st of May of which year he admitted Thomas J. Salsman to partnership, under the firm name of Cummings & Salsman. In December of the following year the bank was reorganized and incorporated under the state law and under the corporate title of the J. P. Cummings Bank Company. Mr. Cummings be- came president of the institution and Mr. Sals- man its cashier, while James B. Fiedler, imme- diate subject of this review, assumed the posi- tion of assistant cashier. In addition to these executive officers the original directorate of the corporation included also Judge U. C. DeFord, George J. Butler, Judge James Holder and Jesse Marshall. On the 1st of June, 1906, the institu- tion was consolidated with the First National Bank of Carrollton, which had been organized August 1, 1900, and at this time the present title, the Cummings Trust Company, was adopted. Mr. Cummings continued as president of the company until his death, on the 12th of July, 1912, at the patriarchal age of ninety-two years. He was a man of great ability as a financier and became the founder of one of the staunchest and most influential financial institutions in this part of the Buckeye State, the while his sterling character gave him a high place in the con- fidence and good will of the community in which he so long maintained his home and in which he stood as one of the leading and most in- fluential citizens of Carroll County.

In 1844, at Carrollton, Mr. Cummings married Miss Phiniah Beatty, daughter of George and Mary Beatty, her father having been elected the first auditor of Carroll County. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings became the parents of five children-

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Addie, Mary, Robert, Lucy and Emma, four of whom are now deceased. Mary became the wife of M. M. Marshall and their home was estab- lished in the City of Omaha, Nebraska. Emma became the wife of James E. Fiedler, whose name initiates this article. Mrs. Cummings preceded her husband to eternal rest, both hav- ing been earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and his political allegiance having been given to the republican party.

On the 25th of October, 1917, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Fiedler to Miss Mary West- fall, who was born in Brown Township, Carroll County, a daughter of Jacob Westfall, of whom specific record is given elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Fiedler is the gracious and popular chate- laine of one of the beautiful homes of Carroll- ton and has made it a center of generous hospitality.

ROBERT P. LEMMON was a man whose char- acter and achievement marked him as one of sterling principles and fine sense of personal stewardship. He passed his entire life in Short Creek Township, Harrison County, where he was born on the 15th of September, 1857, and where his death occurred September 2, 1910. His ca- reer was one of active and successful association with the basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing, and the fine farm of which he was the owner at the time of his death is still the home of his widow and their younger chil- dren.

Mr. Lemmon was a son of Griffith and Rebecca Elizabeth (Pogue) Lemmon, and on other pages of this work is dedicated a special memoir to his father, so that further review of the family history is not here demanded. Mr. Lemmon ac- quired his early education in the district schools of his native township, and in that township he began his independent activities as a farmer, his youthful experience having been marked by practical application on his father's farm, so that he was well fortified when he initiated his individual enterprise. In 1895 he purchased and removed to the fine farm upon which his widow now resides, and here he continued as one of the vigorous and successful exponents of agricultural and live-stock industry until the close of his worthy and unassuming life, the farm being well improved and comprising 113 acres. Though essentially loyal and liberal in his civic attitude, and a staunch supporter of the cause of the republican party, Mr. Lemmon had no desire for political activity or official preferment. He and his wife were zealous mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church at Adena, but. since his death Mrs. Lemmon has transferred her membership to the United Presbyterian Church at Harrisville.

On the 10th of January, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lemmon to Miss Mary B. Nicholson, who likewise was born and reared in Short Creek Township and who is a daughter of James and Margaret ( Maycline) Nicholson, the former of whom was born in Short Creek Township and the latter was born in Ireland. John Nicholson, father of James, was one of the pioneer settlers of Short Creek Township, where he and his wife remained until their deaths.

James Nicholson was reared and educated in his native township and was one of its representa- tive farmers at the time of his death. He was a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and his wife held membership in the United Presbyterian Church. They became the parents of five children : Anna N. is the wife of Binford T. Stanley ; Mary B. is the widow of the subject of this memoir; Margaret is the wife of Henry W. Lupton; James died at the age of seven years; and John R., who married Miss Carrie Morgan, is a farmer in Harrison County.

In this concluding paragraph is entered brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon : Charles N., who resides at Decatur, Illinois, married Miss Nan McDonald, and they have one child, Donald N. Binford F., a travel- ing salesman residing at Akron, Ohio, married Miss Lulu Spencer, and their one child is a son. Robert Leroy. James G., M. D., is a practicing physician at Akron Ohio. The maiden name of his wife was Pearl Freyer, and their one child is James Francis. Robert M. was in the na- tion's military service, at Camp Sherman, Ohio, in the period of the World war, he having there been member of the Depot Brigade until he was assigned to the military-police service at that cantonment. He entered service in September, 1918, and received his honorable discharge on the 19th of June, 1919. He is now a member of the class of 1924 in the medical department of the University of Ohio. John A. and Margaret remain with their widowed mother on the home farm.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 27

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