History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 42

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 42
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 42

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).

John P. Ross passed the period of his child- hood and youth on the old home farm in Cadiz Township, and in addition to attending the pub- lic schools he took a course in Scio College and prepared himself for the profession of civil engineer. It became necessary, however, for him to return to the parental home and assume charge of the farm, and here he continued as one of the substantial exponents of farm indus- try during the remainder of his life. He was the owner of a valuable landed estate of 212 acres and was one of the influential and hon- ored citizens of his native county. Both he and his wife were earnest members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which they were af- flliated with Asbury Chapel, not far distant from their attractive rural home. Mr. Ross was a republican in politics and served two terms as trustee of Cadiz Township. Of their chil- dren Joseph F., immediate subject of this re- view, is the eldest; Catherine is the wife of Dwight Dawson; Martha E. still resides in Ca- diz Township; and John O. died at the age of fifteen years.

Joseph F. Ross is indebted to the district schools of Cadiz Township for his preliminary educational discipline, and later he completed a two years' course in electrical engineering at the University of Ohio. As a young man he taught school four years, and it was after this experience that he attended the state univer- sity. After the death of his father he took the active management of the fine old homestead

Digitized by Google

653

CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES

farm, and while he has here continued as one of the progressive and successful agriculturists and stock-growers of the county, he has also taught during eight winter terms in this district schools, with an excellent reputation in the pedagogic profession. He is giving special at- tention to the breeding and raising of the best type of Shorthorn cattle, is a republican in politics, is affiliated with the lodge of the Ma- sonic fraternity at Cadiz, and both he and his wife are active members of the Asbury Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In December, 1911, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Ross to Miss Ethel George, who was born in Jefferson County and reared in Harrison County, and they have two children, Elizabeth and George.

HARVEY E. PITTENGER has been since 1900 the owner of eighty-five acres of the fine old home- stead farm in Archer Township, Harrison County, which figures as the place of his birth, which here occurred on the 17th of January, 1868. Here he has always maintained his home and here he has well maintained, both as a loyal citizen and progressive farmer, the high honors attaching to a family name that has been worthily identified with the history of Harrison County since the very early pioneer period. He is a son of Samuel and Antoinette (Thompson) Pittenger, the latter of whom was born in Carroll County, where her father, Ga- briel Thompson, was a pioneer settler. Samuel Pittenger was born in Archer Township, Har- rison County, on the 15th of August, 1830, and here his death occurred on the 30th of January, 1881, on the farm now owned and occupied by his son Harvey E., of this sketch. He was a son of Samuel Pittenger, Sr., who likewise was a native of Archer Township, where he was born in the year 1798-a date that indicates that his parents were numbered among the earliest settlers in the county. On the 10th of January, 1820, Samuel Pittenger, Sr., wedded Miss Jane Lemasters, daughter of Isaac Le- masters, another representative pioneer of Archer Township. The young couple settled on the farm which was to continue as their place of residence during the remainder of their lives and which they reclaimed from the forest into one of the best farms of Archer Township. They became the parents of five sons and two daugh- ters. Samuel Pittenger, Sr., died on the 26th of August, 1875, his wife having passed away on the 14th of February of the preceding year and both having been devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their mortal re- mains are resting in the cemetery of the Bethel Church of this denomination in Green Town- ship. Mr. Pittenger was a whig until the or- ganization of the republican party, when he es- poused the cause of the latter, the principles of which he continued to advocate until the time of his death.

Samuel Pittenger, Jr., early began to aid in the work of the home farm, and in the mean- while profited by the advantages afforded in the local schools of the period. His marriage occurred October 11, 1849, and he and his bride began housekeeping in a little log cabin on the

farm now owned by their son Harvey E. This primitive domicile later gave place to the com- modious and attractive farm house that now adorns the rural domain and that is situated on the side of one of the picturesque hills of this part of the county. Here Mr. Pittenger continued his productive activities as an agri- culturist and stock-grower during the remainder of his life, and here his widow remained until her death, at the venerable age of seventy-seven years, both having been earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and having exem- plified their faith in their daily lives-marked by kindliness, tolerance and generosity. In poli- tics Mr. Pittenger was a stalwart supporter of the cause of the republican party. Concerning the children the following brief record is con- sistently presented in this connection : Rev. Albert A., who was born August 3, 1850, was graduated in Scio College as a member of the class of 1875, and later was ordained a clergy- man of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the service of which he has since continued, his home being now in the state of Iowa. The maiden name of his wife was Della Buckmaster. William H., who was born February 22, 1852, married Charlotte Lineord, and they reside at Marion, Indiana. John W., who was born June 11, 1854, married Emma Reed, and they likewise reside at Marion, Indiana. Sarah J., who was born July 19, 1856, is the wife of Brice M. Reed, of Hopedale, Ohio. Amanda M., born November 27, 1858, is the wife of Dawson W. Stahl, of Jewett, Ohio. Martha E., born June 20, 1863, is the wife of David Walton, of Den- ver, Colorado. Mary E., born October 20, 1865, is the wife of John Kirkendahl, of Bowerston, Ohio. Harvey E., immediate subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth. Belinda E., born April 4, 1870, became the wife of Wil- liam Hoobler and was a resident of Waynesburg, Stark County, at the time of her death. Ida M., born April 13, 1872, died on the 23d of March, 1878. Laura B., born March 2, 1874, died April 8, 1878. Eva E., born August 19, 1876, is the wife of Ira D. Strausbaugh, of Archer Township.

To the district schools of Archer Township Harvey E. Pittenger is indebted for his early education, and, as previously stated, the old homestead farm has been the stage of his pro- gressive enterprise as an agriculturist and stock- raiser from his youth to the present time. He gives special attention to the breeding and rais- ing of pure-blood Delaine sheep, is vitally inter- ested in everything tending to advance the civic and industrial prosperity of his native county, is a staunch republican in politics, and he served four years as assessor of Archer Township, be- sides having been for an equal period the presi- dent of the township board of education. He is affiliated with Jewett Lodge of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and both he and his wife hold membership in the adjunct organiza- tion of the Daughters of Rebekah. They are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Jewett, and he is serving as a valued member of its official board.

September 8, 1889, recorded the marriage of Mr. Pittenger to Miss Emma McMannis, daugh-

Digitized by Google

654

CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES

ter of Isaac McMannis, and she and her one child, a son, died at the time of the latter's birth, July 7, 1890. On the 20th of March, 1895, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Pittenger to Miss Alice M. Flaherty, daughter of Michael and Mary Flaherty, of Harrison County. No children have been born of this union.

ALEXANDER KAIL, one of the successful farm- ers of Rumley Township, has lived on his pres- ent farm since he was four years of age, and has been identified with much of the history of this region. He is a native son of Harrison County, as he was born at Jefferson, Ohio, on October 24, 1866. His family came at an early day from Denmark to the United States, and many of the Kails have been millwrights by trade. The family was established in Harrison County by the paternal grandfather, Gabriel Kail, a native of Pennsylvania who lived on a farm in Rumley Township until his death in 1850. By trade he was a wagonmaker. His second wife was Elizabeth De Vore, and their children were as follows: Gabriel, Hiram, Steven, Joseph, Uriah, Lucinda, Anna, Tabitha and Phoebe.

Uriah Kail, father of Alexander Kail, was born in Rumley Township, Harrison County, Ohio, in 1825, and died there in 1873. By trade he was a wagonmaker, and was thus employed in Rumley and Jefferson townships. He was married to Maria Miser, born in Jefferson County, Ohio, a daughter of David Miser, a tanner who spent all of his life in Jefferson County. The children of David Miser were: William and David, who are ex-Union soldiers, Henry, Elizabeth, Maria, Catherine, Mary and Maggie. They were all Lutherans in religious faith. The children of Uriah Kail and his wife were as follows: Elizabeth, who married O. B. Miller; David M .; Margaret, who married Charles Fry ; Alexander, whose name heads this review ; Eva Jane, who married J. R. Winnings. Mrs. Kail was a consistent member of the Re- formed Church.

Losing his parents when he was a little child, Alexander Kail was taken by his uncle, Steven Kail, to the farm in Rumley Township he now owns, and was here reared and educated. His farm comprises 100 acres of land, and on it he is doing general farming and stockraising, and he carries an excellent grade of stock. Mr. Kail has never married. Having spent his life in farming, he understands it thoroughly, and takes a pride in doing everything right and rais- ing banner crops.

JAMES A. MCKEE. One of the substantial and wide awake merchants of Jewett is James A. McKee, who thoroughly understands the de- mands of his trade and meets them so efficiently that he is doing a large and profitable business not only with the people of Jewett, but those who come to him from a wide outside area. Mr. McKee was born in German Township, Harrison County, Ohio, August 25, 1878, a son of James C. and Mary E. (Jones) McKee, and grandson of William McKee, one of the early settlers of German Township, and a blacksmith by trade. He married a Miss Quillin, and they had the fol-

lowing children : Thomas, who was killed while serving in the Union army during the war between the states; William, who was also a soldier in the Union army, was killed in the serv- ice; James C., who was third in order of birth; and Sarah, who married George Glover. After the death of his first wife William McKee was married to a Miss Wills, and they had two chil- dren, Loranzo and Elizabeth.

James C. McKee was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and his wife was born at West- chester, Ohio. With the outbreak of the war between the states James C. McKee enlisted in the Union army from his native county as a member of the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served until the close of the war, participating in all of the engagements of his regiment, and was fortunate in escaping injury. After the close of the war he came to Harrison County, and, being a miller by trade, he was engaged in operating an old burr mill in Ger- man Township until the burrs wore out, when he ran a threshing rig and a saw-mill, continu- ing to reside in that township until his death. He and his wife had the following children : Stewart P., John W., Thomas A., Charlotte E., Mary L., Sarah E., James A., Elsie F., Anna L., George G., Louise J., Jesse B. and Ella. The family all belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Mr. McKee belonged to the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic.

James A. McKee attended the district schools of Annapolis, Jefferson County, Ohio, and for some years assisted his father in threshing and operating the saw-mill. In 1901 he began work- ing in the steel mills at Mingo Junction, Ohio, and remained there for seven years, but then moved to Wellsville, Ohio, where for a year he was in the grocery business. In 1910 he came to Jewett and established his present store, and has been engaged in handling a general line of merchandise ever since.

In 1901 Mr. McKee was united in marriage with Blanche Galbraith, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth ( Mortland) Galbraith. There are no children. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are members of the Presbyterian Church of Jewett. Mr. Mc- Kee belongs to Jewett Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Jewett Camp, M. W. A. A man of enterprising spirit, he recognizes the fact that properly de- veloped public improvements are very neces- sary for the progress of the community, and is always willing to lend his support to those meas- ures he deems will bring about such improve- ments without waste of the taxpayer's money. Both he and Mrs. McKee are very well known throughout the county, and their pleasant home is often the scene of gatherings of congenial friends, whom they delight to entertain.

WILLIAM J. HAWK. The most progressive of the farmers of Harrison County recognize the fact that it pays to keep a good grade of stock and operate according to approved scientific methods. Cheap grades of machinery and stock will not produce the best results, and the farmer who is willing to make a proper outlay for his equipment finds that he has a paying invest- ment. At least this is the conclusion reached by William J. Hawk of Rumley Township, and

Digitized by Google

655

CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES

men of his caliber, and their finely cultivated acres, sleek stock and orderly premises prove that they know what they are doing.

William J. Hawk was born in Union Town- ship, Carroll County, November 13, 1856, a son of John and Rosanna (Coyan) Hawk, and grandson of Jacob and Katie Hawk. Jacob Hawk came from Westmoreland County, Penn- sylvania, to Lee Township, Carroll County, Ohio, and for the remainder of his life was en- gaged in running a tavern in that locality. His children were as follows: John, Elias, Mary and Lizzie.

John Hawk was born in Lee Township, Car- roll County, and his wife was born at East Liverpool, Ohio. After their marriage they settled in Union Township, where they engaged in farming, but after Jacob Hawk's health be- gan to fall John Hawk returned to Lee Town- ship to take charge of his father's tavern, until the building of the railroad took away the cus- tom, and he then returned to his farming and was engaged in that industry until his death. He was a Presbyterian and his wife belonged to the Reformed Church. Their children were as follows: Leander, Columbus, Washington, Melvina, Minerva, Mary, Ada, William J. and Maggie.

William J. Hawk was educated in the public schools of Lee Township, Carroll County. He began his farming experiences in Lee Township, where he continued to live until 1882, and in that year came to Harrison County, and for about eighteen months worked as a farm hand in German Township. He was then married and began farming in Rumley Township, but a year later moved to Archer Township and for the subsequent eleven years was there engaged in farming. At the expiration of that time he bought his present farm of 145 acres of land in Rumley Township, and on it he is doing gen- eral farming and stockraising.

On September 6, 1883, Mr. Hawk was united in marriage with Kate Salmon, a daughter of Lewis Salmon, and they have one son, Alvie D .. who was born March 16, 1885. He was married to Minnie May Epley, and they have three chil- dren : Otto, Ethel and Lewis. Alvie D. Hawk is engaged with his father in conducting the farm, and lives a short distance from his par- ents. The members of the Hawk family belong to the Hanover Methodist Episcopal Church, of which William J. Hawk is a steward and trus- tee. Both father and son are regarded as splen- did examples of the modern agriculturists of Ohio, and their results in farming often serve as an incentive to others to exert themselves to improve their properties and increase their output.

CHAP GINTHER. Tracing back through sev- eral generations the family of Ginther is found in Ohio, members of it having come with its hardy explorers and become pioneers of Tus- carawas County. From that region others bear- ing the name have journeyed to different por- tions of Ohio and beyond the state lines, and during the late war the name was borne by one son in the service of his country whose enlist- ment was credited to Rumley Township, Har-

rison County, where his father, Chap Ginther, is one of the substantial farmers of this part of the county.

Chap Ginther was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, September 30, 1861, a son of Casper Gin- ther, grandson of Abraham Ginther and great- grandson of John Casper Ginther. The last named was a pioneer into Tuscarawas County, and in the Intervals of developing a home in the wilderness he found time to work at his trade as a millwright and the kindred trade of cabinetmaking, and to him is credited the mak- ing of the first pulpit used in the Gnadenhuffen Moravian Church.

Abraham Ginther was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and learned his father's trade and was also a carpenter. He did all of the mill work on the first mill erected in Tuscara- was County. His wife was Catherine Varner before her marriage, and she bore her husband the following children : Casper, Mary, George, and Eliza. Abraham Ginther died in 1838, and his wife passed away in 1858.

Casper Ginther was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1828, and his wife, Elizabeth (Crom) Ginther, was also born in the same county, a daughter of Cornelius and Ann (French) Crom. Cornelius Crom was a shoe- maker by trade. He and his wife had the fol- lowing children: Phoebe; Richard, who served during the Civil war; Abraham, who was killed in the Union army at the battle of Perrysville; Elizabeth; and two brothers who died young. The Crom family were Methodists.

Losing his father before he was taught the millwright trade, Casper Ginther adopted farm- ing as his life work, and with the exception of a few years when he conducted a general store and had the office of postmaster he was en- gaged in that line of industry all of his active years. Me and his wife became the parents of the following children: Josephine M., Chap and John Casper. Mr. Ginther died in 1900, having survived his wife for many years, as she had died in 1875. She was a Methodist, but he belonged to the Moravian Church.

Chap Ginther has had no other educational advantages than those accorded by the public schools, but he is a very well informed man of more than ordinary intelligence. His first work away from home was done for the Glasgow Iron & Coal Company. Having in this way earned a little money, he took the high school course at Dennison, Ohio, and then for seven years alternated teaching with farming, and he was also engaged for about three years in newspaper work. With all these experiences, combined with his love for reading, he has so enlarged his store of knowledge that he would pass for a college-bred man. While accomplishing all this he never lost his love of the soil or his realization of the importance of farming, and when he moved from Tuscarawas County to Harrison County in 1902 he bought 130 acres of land in Rumley Township, on which he is still living.

In 1891 Mr. Ginther was married to Emily Barr, a daughter of William and Rebecca Barr. Mr. and Mrs. Ginther have the following chil- dren : Walter, who is mentioned below; Clara,

Digitized by Google

656

CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES

who is a graduate of Kent State Normal Col- lege; Emmett, who is now a student of the col- lege at Bethany, West Virginia, was in a mili- tary training school at the time of the signing of the Armistice; and Florence, who is the youngest. Mrs. Ginther died June 12, 1918, firm in the faith of the Methodist Church of which she had long been a faithful member.

Walter Ginther was engaged in teaching at the Kent State Normal College when this coun- try entered the World war, and he entered the service September 2, 1918, being stationed at Camp Sherman. He was assigned to the quar- termaster's department, and was corporal of Company C, Utilities Division. On May 14, 1919, he was discharged, but continued the same work at Camp Sherman as a civilian for about a year. The family all belong to the Meth- odist Church.

WELCH ROGERS. A practical farmer, a good business man, a public spirited gentleman, Welch Rogers has given many years to the ad- ministration of public affairs, chiefly as super- intendent of the Harrison County Home, the office he fills today.

This institution is located in Cadiz Township, and that is the locality in which the Rogers family was established in pioneer times. His great-grandfather was Joseph Rogers, who came west from Maryland very early in the nine- teenth century, and employed his strength and resources in the development of a farm in Cadiz Township. The children of this honored pioneer were Warren, Joseph, William, Barrett, Elijah, Lydia and Mary Ann.

The grandfather of Welch Rogers was Will- iam Rogers, who was born in Maryland Novem- ber 30, 1798. He married Susan Carson, who was born in Harrison County, Ohio, a daughter of John Carson, another early settler. William Rogers spent his active life as a farmer, and lived practically all his years in Cadiz or Not- tingham Township. He was a member of the Methodist Church. His children were eight in number, named Cindinia, John B., Jesse, Nancy, Hannah, Frank, Calvin and Barrett.

The third generation of this interesting fam- ily was represented by John B. Rogers, who was born in Cadiz Township and devoted his years to the business of farming in that locality. He died February 7, 1875. John B. Rogers married Rosanna Keckler, who was born near Gettys burg, Pennsylvania, and survived her husband many years, passing away March 14, 1917. Her parents were John and Susan (Gordon) Keck- ler, who about 1840 came to Harrison County and some fifteen years later moved to Craw- ford County, Ohio, where they spent the rest of their lives. The children of John Keckler and wife were Josiah, Mary Ann, Martha, Ro- sanna and Melinda. Welch Rogers was the old- est of the eight children of his parents. The second in age is Alwilda, who married George D. Barger and both are deceased; John G. was drowned May 31, 1872, at the age of eighteen; Nancy Margaret became the wife of Elmer Barger; Susanna Melinda married Bart- ley Slater; J. Gordon married Mary Dicker-

Bon; Rosa became the wife of L. J. Smith; and Nora is the wife of Emmett Nash.

The birth of Welch Rogers occurred in Ca- diz Township, September 5, 1851, and he had the normal experiences of country boys in that community, attending schools, working on the farm, and pursuing a variety of sports and pas- times. Before reaching his majority he was handling the responsibilities of a farm in a very capable manner. In 1894, on the basis of his qualifications as a farmer and business man, he was called to the superintendency of the Har- rison County Home, and remained in that office continuously for thirteen years. In 1907 he was made farm superintendent of the feeble minded institution at Columbus, and spent three years with this state institution. After return- ing to Harrison County he was engaged in the feed business at Cadiz until 1918, when he was again called upon and accepted the office of superintendent of the Harrison County Home.

May 20, 1875, Mr. Rogers married Eliza Jane Adams, a daughter of Percival and Mary Jane Adams. She died twelve years after their mar- riage, on November 14, 1887, and is survived by three children: John, who married Mary Cramblett ; Mertie Bell, who died February 28, 1916; and Everett, who married Minnie Schultz. On February 25, 1892, Mr. Rogers married Em- ma L. Kirk. Mr. Rogers is a member of Cadiz Lodge No. 219, F. & A. M. and is a member of the Methodist Church.

LEE D. S. KLOTZ, the efficient and popular superintendent of the well equipped manufac- turing plant of the Whittaker-Greer Fireproofing Company at Malvern, Carroll County, claims this village as the place of his nativity and is a rep- resentative of a family that was founded in Carroll County nearly ninety years ago.

Lee Dell Scott Klotz was born at Malvern on the 26th of January, 1875, and is a son of George and Elida (Scott) Klotz, the former of whom was born at Magnolia, this county, March 30, 1847, and the latter of whom was born in Rose Township, this county, October 28, 1852.

George Klotz is a son of Jacob and Christina (Gutlieb) Klotz, both natives of Germany, where the former was born in 1804 and the lat- ter in 1809, their marriage having been solemn- ized in their native land, where they remained until 1832, when they immigrated to the United States and established their home in the village of Magnolia, Carroll County, Ohio, where Jacob Klotz engaged in the work of his trade, that of shoemaker. Later he became a farmer in Brown Township, and he was one of the honored pio- neer citizens of the county at the time of his death in 1886. His wife passed away Novem- ber 26, 1870, and both were devout communi- cants of the Lutheran Church. Their children were ten in number, namely: Magdalene, Ja- cob, Christina, Sophia, Lewis, Philip (died in childhood), Mary, John, George and Clara. George Klotz was three years of age at the time his parents removed from Magnolia to the farm in Brown Township, where he gained experi- ence not only in farm enterprise but also at the trade of shoemaker, in which he was instructed by his father, a skilled workman. The com-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 42

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