History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 53

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 53
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 53

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).

To Mr. and Mrs. Arbaugh have been born six children : Samuel E., who resides on the old farm in North Township, married Miss Anna Hilbert, and they have four children, Hilbert, Raymond J., Ralph and Dwight L. Linwood M. wedded Miss Nannie Hammill, and they re- side in the city of Passaic, New Jersey. Win- netta Adella is the wife of Edward Finnicum, of Harrison County. and they have two chil- dren, Mildred May and Mary Margaret. Anna Blanche is the wife of Ralph English. a farmer in North Township, and they have two children, Pearl and Nannie Adella. Jesse W., who re- sides in the village of Scio, Harrison County, married Miss Carrie Hammill, and their four children are William Merle, Mabel Ellen, Doro- thy and Sarah June. Roy, the youngest of the children of J. J. Arbaugh and wife, died at the age of four years.

WILLIAM E. CRAMBLETT. An extensive land- holder, and one of the leading agriculturists of Stock Township, Harrison County, William E. Cramblett is conspicuously identified with one of the more important industries of the United States, the material wealth of our great country being largely dependent upon the quality and quantity of the crops annually produced by the industrious and intelligent farmer. He is a na- tive born citizen, his birth having occurred De- cember 24, 1861, on the farm of his father, the late Thomas Cramblett.

John Cramblett. grandfather of William E., was born and reared in Ireland. Immigrating to the United States in early life, he located first in Maryland. where he was engaged in mechan- ical pursuits for a number of years. Following the tide of migration to Ohio, he took up land in Stock Township, Harrison County, in pio- neer days, as early as 1843, and thereafter was engaged in tilling the soil until his death. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mar- garet Gladman, six children were born, Jacob, Joseph. Thomas, Rachel Ann, Ellen and Margaret.

Thomas Cramblett, a native of Maryland, came with his parents to Stock Township when young, and performed his full share of clearing and

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improving the parental homestead. Being reared to agricultural pursuits, he naturally adopted farming as his occupation, and made a specialty of stock raising. A lover of sheep, he took an especial pride in the growing of sheep, his fa- vorite breed having been the Black Top, his flock containing registered rams and ewes. He met with excellent success in his undertakings, and continued as a farmer until his death, No- vember 24, 1914. He married Hannah, a daugh- ter of William Mallernee, a pioneer farmer of Stock Township, who reared four other chil- dren. Ezra, William, Henry and Lydia. He subsequently moved to Freeport Township, in which the closing years of his life were spent. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Cramblett were the par- ents of eight children, as follows: William E., the special subject of this brief sketch ; Amanda, deceased, was the wife of Robert Mallernee; Otis: Joel : Burton died in early manhood; Mary ; David; and Addie. Both parents were members of the Christian Church, and gener- ous contributors towards its support.

Having obtained a good common school edu- cation in the rural schools of Franklin Town- ship. William E. Cramblett began farming on his own account in Stock Township. A young man of push and energy. diligent in his labors, he spared no efforts to make a success of any- thing which he undertook, and it is not at all surprising to learn that he became very pros- perous in his agricultural career. In addition to owning his home farm of 17712 acres, he also owns a nearby farm of ninety-four acres, likewise having a good farm of eighty acres in another part of the township. He carries on general farming, and as a stock raiser is a breeder of thoroughbred Black Top sheep. hav- ing some registered sheep in his flock.

On April 9. 1885, Mr. Cramblett was united in marriage with Martha Smith, a daughter of John P. and Hannah ( Welsh) Smith, and a sister of N. A. Smith, of whom a brief account is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Cramblett have two children, Carl S., a farmer in Stock Township, married Olive Fulton, and they had one child, Velma, who died on March 6, 1920. John T., also engaged in farming in this township, married Hazel Mason, and has one child. Merle Eugene. Actively interested in anything pertaining to the welfare of the com- munity in which he resides, Mr. Cramblett has never shirked the responsibility of public of- fice, but for six years served as a trustee of Stock Township, and for fourteen years was a member of the local school board. Religiously both he and his wife are valued members of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal Church.

EMMETT E. SMITH, of Stock Township, was born December 2, 1869, and has always lived in the place where he now resides. He is a son of Richard P. Smith. and the family history has already been related in the sketch of his brother. Frank M. Smith. He had com- mon school advantages and he has always been a nature student, making a special study of the birds of Harrison County. For a number of years he has owned the old Smith family home- stead, and the birds are encouraged to nest and

rear their young on the premises. The home of Mr. Smith is almost an aviary.

For ten years he made annual reports to the United States Government on the springs and fall migration of the birds of Ohio and those that fly across the country. He has a rare col- lection of more than sixty different kinds of bird eggs, and he is so familiar with the differ- ent species that at a glance he can classify them. When he sees an egg he knows the kind of bird that laid it. He is an authority on birds and is a close reader on all nature subjects. Mr. Smith has a well selected library.

Birth, marriage and death are said to come to all men, but Mr. Smith has indefinitely post- poned the latter two ordeals, and as a citizen of the community he is engaged in general farm- ing and livestock business and for three years he has been trustee of Stock Township, and is at present the township treasurer. As a natur- alist Mr. Smith is a source of general informa- tion in the community.

DENNIS OWEN MCDEVITT. The McDevitt fam- ily as represented by Dennis Owen McDevitt of Stock Township has long been identified with the history of Harrison County. He was born Feb- ruary 9, 1868, in Stock Township, and he has always lived there. His father, John W. Mc- Devitt, was born March 19, 1836, in North Township, and the mother, Elizabeth (Evans) McDevitt, was born April 16, 1846, in the same community. She was a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Simpson) Evans and she became the wife of J. W. McDevitt April 12, 1866, in North Township. The maternal grandfather, James Evans, Sr., was a pioneer in that community. The children in the Evans family were: Will- iam, Margaret, Mary, Rebecca, Jane, Ezekiel, David, John W., Sarah, and Elizabeth (Mrs. McDevitt). The Evans family were members of the Methodist Church.

In the McDevitt ancestry the grandfather, George McDevitt, came from Pennsylvania to Harrison County. He was a pioneer in North Township. He married Mrs. Susan Scott, whose maiden name was Rutlidge. Of their children Mary, Martha and Samuel all died in child- hood. The others are: Eliza, Thurzey. John, Thomas and Lyle. As a young man the son John W. McDevitt, father of D. O. McDevitt, began farm activities in North Township, but after his marriage he located in Stock Town- ship, near Mount Hope Church, and in 1879 he moved to the farm where D. O. McDevitt lives today. He remained on the farm until October, 1918, when he moved to Scio, and he died there the last day of December, following. His wife died April 26, 1911, while the family lived at the old homestead.

For six years J. W. McDevitt was a member of the Harrison County Infirmary Board of Directors, and he gave much attention to the needs of the unfortunates of the community. The McDevitt family was long identified with Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal Church, and they were always abreast of moral ques- tions. Besides the son Dennis Owen McDevitt, there is a daughter. Laura, widow of Elmer Law. She lives in Scio. Since his young man-

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hood D. O. McDevitt has always farmed the old homestead in Stock Township. He is en- gaged in general farming combined with the livestock business, and owns 300 acres of land in Stock and Franklin townships.

On March 15, 1893, D. O. McDevitt married Margaret Smith. She is a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Johnson) Smith, the father be- ing born November 20, 1834, in Stock Township. He married Elizabeth Johnson January 26, 1865. She was a daughter of Samuel R. Johnson. The children in the Smith family were: Loman J., Della F., Margaret R. (Mrs. McDevitt ), William E. and Samuel H. Smith. Mr. Smith owned a well improved farm in Stock township, and the family were members of the Methodist Church at Pleasant Valley.

A son and two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. D. O. McDevitt. They are: Ho- mer Smith, Mary and Ruth. Homer Smith Mc- Devitt died April 2, 1921, aged twenty-five years. On July 31, 1895, he married Lydia Cole. He had one daughter, Eileen Marie. He was asso- ciated in farming with his father.

JOHN K. SPENCE is president of the Spence- Roberts Company, which has developed at Jew- ett, Harrison County, a remarkably large and flourishing mercantile business in the handling of dry goods, clothing, carpets, rugs, draperies, women's apparel and kindred lines. The at- tractively appointed establishment of the com- pany is metropolitan in equipment and service and contributes definitely to the commercial prestige of Harrison County.

John K. Spence was born at Kilgore, Loudon Township, Carroll County, Ohio, on the 1st of February, 1853, and is a son of Henry and Martha (Alken) Spence, the latter having been a daughter of James Aiken. Sr., who was born in Pennsylvania and who became a pioneer set- tler in German Township, Harrison County, Ohio, where he established his home in the year 1826. He followed the carpenter's trade many years and was a resident of Jewett, this county, at the time of his death in 1885, his wife. whose maiden name was Scott, having died in 1867, and their children having been seven in num- ber. After the death of his first wife Henry Spence contracted a second marriage, and con- cerning him more definite record is given on other pages of this work, in the sketch of Dr. Walter S. Spence, a son of the second marriage.

In the district schools of Carroll County John K. Spence acquired his early education and as a young man he became. associated with his father in the general merchandise business at Germano, Harrison County. There he contin- ued his activities as a merchant until 1898. when he established himself in the mercantile business at Jewett. where he has since continued as one of the leading merchants and influential citizens of the community. In 1905 he admitted William E. Roberts to partnership in the busi- ness, and on the 1st of March 1911. the enter- prise was incorporated under the present title of the Spence-Roberts Company. Mr. Spence having continued as president and Mr. Roberts as secretary and treasurer of the company.

Mr. Spence married Miss Harriet E. Abbott, and she passed to the life eternal in the autumn of 1918, being survived by three children, Charles H., Grace and Jennie. Grace is the wife of Otto Elliott, and they have one child, Maxine V. Jennie is the wife of Charles H. Thompson.

JAMES R. CREIGHTON is still identified with farm industry in his native county, though the major part of his present homestead, which originally comprised 140 acres, has been by him platted into town lots in the village of Mal- vern, to which he has thus laid out three addi- tions. For farm purposes he still retains thirty acres, and he. is one of the substantial and pro- gressive citizens of Carroll County.

James Ross Creighton was born in Brown Township, this county, October 6, 1851, and is a son of Thomas M. and Mary A. (Ross) Creighton, the former of whom was born on a pioneer farm north of Waynesburg, Stark County. Ohio, in 1826, and the latter was born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1825. Thomas M. Creighton was a son of James and Annie (Creighton) Creighton, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter was born on the sailing vessel "Minerva" on which her parents had taken passage from Ireland to America. Both the Creighton and Ross fami- lies trace their lineage back to staunch Scotch origin. James Creighton was a child at the time of the family immigration to America, and his father, Patrick Creighton, established a home in Stark County, Ohio, where he became a pio- neer farmer and where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. James Creighton was reared in Stark County, under the condi- tions of the pioneer days, and there he con- tinued as an exponent of farm enterprise throughout his entire active career, both he and his wife having been residents of that county at the time of their deaths.

Thomas M. Creighton passed the period of his childhood and early youth on the old home farm in Stark County, and his educational ad- vantages were those of the common schools of the locality and period, he having become spe- cially proficient as a mathematician. He re- mained in Stark County until 1849, when he purchased a farm in Brown Township. Carroll County. where the family home was maintained for the ensuing ten years. He then went to Iowa, with the intention of securing land in that state, but after an absence of about one year he returned to Ohio and settled in Co- lumbiana County. Five years later he again came with his family to Carroll County and re- sumed his acvities as a farmer in Brown Town- ship, where he purchased land and became one of the county's successful agriculturists and stock-growers, as well as a citizen of prominence and influence in his community. He served nine years as county commissioner and was one of the active and prominent workers in the ranks of the republican party in Carroll County. Both he and his wife were earnest members of the Christian Church. His death occurred in 1895 and his widow passed away in 1902.

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James R. Creighton, the immediate subject of this review, gained his early education prin- cipally in the public schools of Columbiana and Carroll counties, in which latter county he con- tinued his association with farm industry until he was thirty years of age, when he purchased and removal to a farm in Warren County, Iowa, where he remained for fifteen years and met with success as one of the vigorous agricultur- ists of the Hawkeye state. At the expiration of the period noted he sold his property in Iowa and returned to Carroll County, where he pur- chased 140 acres of land lying contiguous to the village of Malvern. He has laid out from this land three additions to the village, and much of the property is now improved with good houses. In this way he has contributed definitely to the advancement and upbuilding of Malvern, and he still finds satisfaction in supervising the operations of his farm, which is now of modest area but which is specially well improved. Mr. Creighton is a stalwart supporter of the cause of the republican party, but has had no desire for public office. Both he and his wife are active members of the Christian Church at Malvern, and in the com- munity their circle of friends is limited only by that of their acquaintances.

On the 21st of November, 1878, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Creighton to Miss Mary Reed, who was born in Brown Township, this county, May 7, 1854, a daughter of James and Mary (Ayers) Reed and a representative of one of the oldest and best known pioneer fami- lies of Carroll County. James Reed was a son of James, Sr., who was a son of John Reed, the founder of the family in Brown Township, where he settled in the early pioneer period. James Reed, Sr., was the father of six children : Abraham, Washington, Joseph, Mary, Drusilla and James, Jr. James Reed, Jr., continued as one of the representative farmers of Brown Township until his death, his entire life having been passed in Carroll County. In conclusion is given brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Creighton : Drusilla Ione, who was born August 18, 1879, Is the wife of F. Q. Mason, of Carroll County, and they have had five children, Frederick (deceased), Gladys, Ger- trude, Louise and Margaret. Laura E., who was born in Warren County, Iowa, August 25, 1883, was, like her older sister, afforded the advan- tages of the Malvern High School, and later she pursued higher studies in Wooster University and the Northern Ohio Normal University at Ada, she being a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of Ohio and being at the present time a teacher at Malvern (1920). Thomas M., who was born in Warren County, Iowa, September 26, 1887, acquired his prelimi- nary education in the schools of his native county and later was graduated in the high school at Malvern, after the return of the fam- ily to Carroll County. For two years he was a student in Bethany College at Bethany, West Virginia, and thereafter he attended for one year the Tri-State Normal School at Angola, Indiana. He further continued his educational work by four years of study in the Northern Ohio Normal University, and by one year of

study in the University of Ohio. He graduated from the Northern Ohio Normal University with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He de- voted two years to the study of law and is at the time of this writing, in 1920, a student in the historic old Jefferson Medical College in the city of Philadelphia. The fourth child, a son, died in infancy.

EVERETT O. MCCLAIN, with experience gained in connection with the operations of the old home farm, has gone forward with confidence and resourcefulness in his independent activi- ties as an agriculturist and stock-grower, and his well improved farm of 138 acres in North Township, Harrison County, is but a short dis- tance from the old homestead on which his parents still reside. He is a son of Charles S. McClain, of whom individual mention is made on other pages of this volume, with due record concerning the history of this pioneer family.

Everett O. McClain, who merits classification as one of the progressive and popular farmers of the younger generation in North Township. was born in Archer Township on the 4th of January, 1883, and his youthful education was obtained in the public schools of Monroe and North townships. Thereafter he continued his association with the work of the home farm almost without interruption until the time of his marriage, in 1906. For the ensuing six years he maintained his residence at Scio, this county, and worked as a tank builder in the oil fields of this section of the state, besides having been for a part of the time associated with the building of bridges on the line of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad. In 1912 he established himself upon a farm of sixty acres, which was a part of the old homestead where he remained until the fall of 1920, when he bought his present farm, which is known to the present generation as the Whittaker farm. He is aligned as a sup- porter of the cause of the democratic party, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his wife hold membership In the Presbyterian Church at Scio.

In the year 1906 was recorded the marriage of Mr. McClain to Miss Pearl M. Minard, daugh- ter of Ervin M. Minard, who is made the sub- ject of a personal sketch on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. McClain have four chil- dren. Elbert H., Margaret C., Charles M. and Harry E.

JASPER GEORGE HENDRICKS. It would be un- pardonable omission in any history of Harrison County, Ohio, if reference were not made to Jasper George Hendricks, a prominent and suc- cessful farmer of Stock Township, who from the days of his young manhood has been iden- tified with the agricultural life of this part of the state. Mr. Hendricks has the distinction of being descended on both sides of his house from ancestors who settled in an early day in Ohio.

Jasper George Hendricks was born in Stock Township, Harrison County, February 28, 1869, a son of George and Mahala Ann (Thompson) Hendricks. His father was born in Perry Town- ship. Carroll County, Ohio, September 18. 1828. and was married to Mahala Ann Thompson.

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April 20, 1854. The latter was born October 3, 1834, a daughter of Basil and Sarah (Shick) Thompson. Basil Thompson was born August 6, 1813, and married Sarah Shick November 28, 1833. Basil Thompson was one of the pioneers of Carroll County, Ohio, and after having lived in that county for a time he moved to North Township, Harrison County, Ohio. Throughout his active life he was engaged as a farmer and stone mason. He was the father of ten chil- dren, as follows: Mahala Ann, born October 3, 1834; J. T., March 21, 1836; Gabriel, March 30, 1838; Oliver, November 26, 1839; Andrew, June 26, 1842; Elizabeth, September 6, 1844; Josiah, June 5, 1846; Corban, July 16, 1849; William, January 12. 1852, and Basil, February 15, 1854.

George Hendricks, father of the subject of this sketch, was a son of John Hendricks and wife, the latter being a Miss Roush. George Hen- dricks was one of the early farmers of Perry Township, Carroll County, Ohio. In the winter of 1855 he moved to Stock Township, Harrison County, and continued in the township during all his active years and up to his death, which occurred October 12, 1907. His widow survived him for almost ten years, her death taking place August 30, 1917, at that time being one of the oldest residents in Harrison County. Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks became the parents of six chil- dren, namely : John A., born April 5, 1855; Sarah M., October 22, 1856; William, June 14, 1858; Basil, October 30, 1861; Alvan S., Sep- tember 2, 1865, and Jasper G., February 28, 1869.

Jasper G. Hendricks received his early educa- tion in the district schools of Stock Township, Harrison County, and at the beginning of his life's career he started farming in his native township, and has been thus engaged ever since, his entire connection with agricultural pursuits being associated with Stock Township. He is now the owner of fifty-six acres of prime land, and on this holding he is engaged along gen- eral farming lines and in stock raising, his repu- tation in the latter department extending beyond the limits of Harrison County. He carried out some valuable improvements on his present place and erected all the buildings that are now on the holding.

December 16, 1911, Mr. Hendricks was united in marriage to Miss Anna Thompson, a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and a daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Keffer) Thompson. Mr. Thompson farmed in Jefferson Township, Tuscarawas County, up to the time of his death, in April, 1915. His widow passed away in July, 1917. They were the parents of eight children : Clara, deceased ; Cassandra ; Alfred, deceased ; Vincent ; Mary, deceased ; John, Anna and Alice, the latter also being deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks have two children : Kathryn Marie and Kenneth Vincent. Mr. Hen- dricks has been for many years identified with the public interests of his township and .county and since January, 1920, has served as a trus- tee of Stock Township, bringing to the duties of that office a practical and ripe experience which he has diligently exercised for the public good. In other directions he has given of his time and

ability to further all movements designed to have a beneficial effect throughout the county.

J. ELMER HINES may well take pride in the status that is his as one of the substantial rep- resentatives of agricultural and live-stock indus- try in Archer Township, Harrison County, for here he has maintained his home from the time of his birth and here he stands as a popular scion of a family that has been one of promi- nence in connection with civic and farm activi- ties in Archer Township for fully ninety years. His grandfather, Jacob Hines, was born in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, where he was reared to manhood and where was solemnized his marriage to Miss Susanna Brough. In 1830 the young couple came to Harrison County, Ohio, where Jacob Hines purchased 100 acres of land in Archer Township, his original dwelling having been the pioneer log house erected by the former owner. He reclaimed his land into one of the productive farms of the county and became one of the influential and honored men of his community. He was a democrat in poli- tics and was called upon to serve in various township offices, including those of trustee and member of the school board of his district. He was born in the year 1801, and thus was fifty- three years of age at the time of his death, which occurred on the 21st of December, 1854, his widow attaining to the age of eighty-two years and her death occurring October 20, 1885. Both were active members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were nine in number: Betsy, George, Margaret. Bruce, Peter, Amos, John, Abbie and Susan.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 53

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