History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 6

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 6
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 6

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trade, that of cabinet-maker, and where he was called upon to manufacture many coffins for de- ceased citizens in the early days. He and his wife held the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they were honored pioneer citizens of Harrison County at the time of their deaths. Their children were six in number-John G., William G., Emmaline, Mary A., James M. and Adaline, all deceased except Adaline, who mar- ried S. M. Bendure, and resides at Moorefield, Ohio.

John G. Barnes was reared in Harrison County and here was a student in Hopedale College at the time when the Civil war was precipitated on the nation. His youthful patriotism caused him promptly to abandon his college work and to tender his aid in defense of the Union. He en- listed on August 14, 1862 in Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-Sixth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, with which gallant command he took part in many important engagements marking the progress of the great conflict, and he con- tinued in active service at the front for nearly three years, within which time he won promo- tion to the rank of sergeant. He was wounded in the knee at the battle of Cedar Creek on Oc- tober 19, 1864. He was honorably discharged on June 25, 1865, and was mustered out at Wash- ington, D. C. After his discharge he returned home, and after a due course of effective tech- nical and practical discipline he became a skilled architect. He continued in the active work of his profession during the remainder of his life and was about thirty-three years of age at the time of his death. His venerable widow, now in her seventy-fourth year, resides at Scio, where she and her two sons established their home in 1800. She is a devoted member of the Presby- terian Church, as was also her husband, and at one time they held membership in the Notting- ham Church of this denomination in Notting- ham Township, Harrison County. Of the two children Charles F., of this sketch, is the elder, and the younger son, Frederick M., is now a resident of Rossville, Illinois.

The district schools of Harrison and Belmont counties afforded Charles F. Barnes his pre- liminary educational discipline, and in 1890 he and his mother and brother established their home at Sclo, where he forthwith entered Scio College. In this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1904, with the de- gree of Ph.B. In 1888 Mr. Barnes taught his first term of district school in Moorefield Town- ship, and thus made a modest entry into the pedagogic profession, in which he has since achieved marked success and high reputation. He has been continuously identified with edu- cational work since 1894. In September, 1899, he became a grade teacher in the public schools at Scio, where later he became principal of the high school. His effective service later brought him promotion to the position of superintendent of the Scio schools, and since 1914 he has served as district superintendent of schools, for six townships of his native county, as noted in the opening paragraph of this article. In this con- nection he has manifested excellent executive and administrative ability in addition to his well won pedagogic talent, and with the earnest co-operations of the teachers and patrons of

the schools of his jurisdiction he has brought them up to a high standard of modern efficiency. He and his wife are numbered among the most zealous members of the Presbyterian Church at Scio, and he has served several years as an elder of the same. His well fortified political convic- tions are shown in the loyal allegiance which he accords to the democratic party, and he is affiliated with the local lodge of Free and Ac- cepted Masons at Scio.

On the 1st of January, 1804, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Barnes to Miss Allce B. Robinson, who was born in Brooke County, West Virginia, and who is a daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Freshwater) Robinson. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes became the parents of five children- Beatrice L., Bernice V., Thelma G., Edward Everett and Virginia Louise, the last named having died at the age of eleven months. Bea- trice L. is now the wife of W. Eugene Masters, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of his profession at Boyerston, Harrison County, and they have one child, Helen Louise.

WILLIAM A. ZELLARS, M. D. Since 1892 Dr. William A. Zellars has lent dignity and stabil- ity to professional affairs at Freeport, while maintaining a high professional reputation and participating actively in the life of his adopted community. He is a native of West Lafayette, Coshocton County, Ohio, born April 30, 1866, a son of Michael and Melona (Roderick) Zellars.

The paternal grandfather of Doctor Zellars, John Zellars, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, whence he removed at an early day to Coshocton County, Ohio, and there fol- lowed the trade of blacksmith during the remain- der of his life. He and his wife, Catherine, were the parents of two children : Michael and Daniel. Michael Zellars was born in Coshocton County, and during a long and honorable career followed the pursuits of farming, contracting and building, and died, highly esteemed, in 1903. He married Melona Roderick, a daughter of Ab- salom and Margaret (Barcroft) Roderick, the former a native of Virginia who married and moved to Coshocton County and there rounded out a worthy career in the pursuits of agricul- ture. He and his wife had seven children : James, Absalom, Jr., William A., Iva, Elizabeth, Ellen and Melona. Mrs. Zellars died in 1893, in the faith of the Methodist Church, of which her husband had been a member also. Their six children were as follows: Kemuel, who lives at Coshocton; Ellen, the wife of Charles Bagnell, of Williamsburg, Virginia ; Loretta, the wife of C. H. Williams, of Coshocton ; Rachael, the wife of Dr. D. M. Criswell, of Plainfield, Ohio; Dr. William A .; and Jessie, of Logansport, Indiana.

William A. Zellars graduated from West La- fayette High School, following which he pur- sued a course of two years at the Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, and then took up his med- ical studies at the College of Physicians and Sur- geons at Baltimore, Maryland. Graduating with the degree of Doctor of Medicine from that in- stitution in 1891, he located at Washington, Ohio, for a short time, and in 1892 came to Free- port, where he has since been in the enjoyment of a constantly increasing and lucrative prac- tice. . He is a broad-minded and progressive prac-

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titioner, a careful observer of the courtesies and amenities of his profession and at all times a seeker of its most intelligent and praiseworthy compensations. He maintains membership in the Harrison County Medical Society and the Ohio State Medical Society, and as a fraternal- ist belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge at Free- port and the Royal Arch Chapter at Uhrichs- ville. With his family he belongs to the Meth- odist Church. Doctor Zellars has several busi- ness connections and is vice president of the Freeport State Bank.

On January 31, 1894, Doctor Zellars was united in marriage with Miss Mary Craig, of Washington, Ohio, daughter of John and Mary Craig. Mrs. Zellars died in 1909, having been the mother of two children: Virginia and Rob- ert, the latter of whom died in infancy.

THOMAS J. SALTSMAN. Bankers represent composite business more definitely than any other one class of workers in any community, and their attitude is incidentally potent in the formulation and direction of public opinion, even as their ability and character have influence in the stabilizing and protecting commercial and industrial affairs and community interests in general. The fine little city of Carrollton, judi- cial center of Carroll County, is fortunate in having as one of its leading figures in the con- trol of financial interests of broad scope and im- portance a man of such sterling worth and such well proved initiative and executive ability as Mr. Saltsman, who has gained through his own ability and achievement a high reputation as a financier and who is president of the Cummings Trust Company, one of the strong financial insti- tutions of this part of the Buckeye State.

Mr. Saltsman was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 20, 1859, and the place of his nativ- ity was a farm situated in the vicinity of the village of Tunnel Hill. He is a son of John K. and Jane Saltsman, the former of whom died in 1911 and the latter in 1916. Mr. Saltsman was six years old when his parents came to Carroll County and established their home on a farm near Mechanicstown, but two years later the family removed to West Salem, Wayne County. Thomas J. Saltsman acquired his early education in the public schools of his native state, and after the removal of the family to Wayne County he remained with his parents until August 23, 1875, when he came to Harlem Springs, Carroll County, where he took a clerical position in the general merchandise store of John Richards and Joseph Peterson. He thus continued to be asso- ciated with this firm for nine years and seven months, and after Mr. Peterson purchased the interest of Mr. Richards he admitted Mr. Salts- man to partnership in the business, which was thereafter continued under the firm name of Peterson & Saltsman until the junior member sold his interest and in February, 1885, returned to West Salem, Wayne County. After there holding a clerical position for eighteen months he came to Carrollton, where for the ensuing two years and ten months he was employed in the retail mercantile establishment of Kerns & Friedler. On the 1st of July, 1889, he initiated what has proved a signally successful and influ- ential career in connection with banking enter-

prise, for on that date he took a position in the bank of James P. Cummings, an institution from which has been developed the present Cum- mings Trust Company, of which Mr. Saltsman is the president. This mere statement vouches for the exceptional ability that has been shown by Mr. Saltsman, for his advancement to his pres- ent important official position was won through effective service and through his admirable grasp of all executive details of the banking business. He has made a close study of eco- nomic and financial matters and has become a recognized authority in his chosen field of enter- prise, which he has dignified alike by his ster- ling attributes of character and by his high sense of personal stewardship in safeguarding the interests of the community at large. He maintains duly conservative policies in his bank- ing institution, but not at the sacrifice of the progressive methods that are demanded with over changing conditions. His success and pres- tige have been won through his own ability and efforts and no citizen commands a fuller meas- ure of popular confidence and esteem. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church in their home city.

On March 30, 1886, Mr. Saltsman married Miss Jennie M. Taylor, at Harlem Springs, Ohio. Their five children are: Nellie, a teacher in the public schools; Olive, also a teacher in the home schools; William T., now assistant treasurer of the Savings Department of the Cummings Trust Company : and Isaac and Richard, twins who are now in their second year at Mount Union College and are making good as students.

WALTER O. DEFORD. A prominent, prosperous and highly esteemed citizen of Carrollton, Car- roll County, Ohio, Walter O. DeFord was for many years intimately associated with the pro- motion of the financial and material prosperity of his home city, and having accomplished a satisfactory work is now living retired from active pursuits, devoting his time and energies to his personal affairs. A native of Carroll County, he was born December 8, 1874, in Au- gusta Township, of Huguenot ancestry. being a lineal descendant of one Jean DeFord. the immi- grant, the line of descent being thus traced : Jean, John, John, William, John W., and Walter O.

In 1685, on the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV, Jean DeFord, accompanied by his bride, Marie (Marchand) DeFord, fled from Toulouse, France, and later, in 1686 or 1687, came to America, settling in Kent County, Maryland, where all of their children, thirteen sons and one daughter, were born. From these sons all of the DeFords of this county are de- scended. The daughter became the wife of a Mr. Merchant, of Philadelphia. The old Hugue- not family Bible brought from France by the immigrant ancestor, who inscribed therein the names of himself and family, is now in the pos- session of William DeFord of Baltimore, Mary- land, a second cousin of the subject of this sketch.

John DeFord, a native of Kent County, Mary- land, served as an officer in the Revolutionary war. Through the depreciation of continental money he lost his entire fortune, and subse-

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quently migrated to Pennsylvania, settling in Fayette County, then a part of Westmoreland County. He became owner of a mill near Red Stone Creek, and was accidentally killed while carrying, on horseback, a grist across the creek. He was married, and was the father of two sons, John and Merchant.

John DeFord, a native of Kent County, Mary- land, was a lad of eighteen years when his par- ents settled in Pennsylvania. Coming to Car- roll County, Ohio, in 1811, he entered a tract of land, and then returned to Pennsylvania. He made several other entries of land in Ohio, the last entry having been made in 1826, when he had title to 900 acres. For full forty years he was a hotel keeper in Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, at the foot of Laurel Hill, near Hopgood, which was named in honor of his wife's father. Coming from there to Carroll County, Ohio, in 1842, he settled in Washington Township, where he continued his residence until his death, De- cember 25, 1873, at the remarkable age of one hundred and two years. He was a democrat in politics, and a member of the Protestant Church.

John DeFord was twice married. He married first, in 1799, Mary Hopgood, a daughter of Rev. John Hopgood, a Baptist minister of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. She died in 1815, leav- ing six children, Hannah, John, William, Mrs. Harriet Broomfield, of Keen, Elizabeth and Dan- iel. He married for his second wife Lydia Broomfield, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in 1838, leaving one son, who settled in Kansas City, Missouri.

William DeFord was born in Uniontown, Fay- ette County, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1807, and was there educated, attending first the public schools and later Madison College, of which Rev. Henry B. Bascom was then president. In 1822 he visited friends in Wooster, Ohio, and in 1835 came here to stay. Settling on a farm in Carroll County, he carried on general farm- ing most successfully for many years. He was a democrat in politics until 1861, but after that time was an active worker in the republican ranks. During the Civil war he assisted in rais- ing troops, and in 1863 was elected as a repre- sentative from Carroll County to the State Legislature, serving with such ability that he was re-elected to the same high position in 1867. He served for several terms as a justice of the peace. Religiously he was a member of the Protestant Methodist Church. He married in 1838 Mary D. Williams, who was born in New Jersey in 1801. and died September 10, 1875, in Carroll County, Ohio. Two sons were born of their union, as follows: Nathan, a merchant and miller, who settled near Rochester, Ohio; and John W.

John W. DeFord was born on the home farm in Washington Township, Carroll County, Ohio, May 29, 1840. He received excellent educational advantages in the days of his youth, and was well drilled in the various branches of agricul- ture. Inheriting from his father 160 acres of land in Washington Township and 100 acres in Augusta Township, he carried on general farm- ing with highly gratifying results for many years, making his home in the meantime in Au- gusta Township. Coming to Carroll County on February 22, 1916, he made his home with his

son Walter O. DeFord until his death, which oc- curred April 26, 1916. He was independent in politics, voting for the best men and measures, and attended the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his wife was a member. He married Elvira Croxton, who was born January 18, 1838. Her father, William Croxton, was born at Crox- ton's Run in West Virginia in 1800 and died in 1888. William Croxton married Jane McGee on April 12, 1827. She was born in Amsterdam, Ohio, September 16, 1808, and died in 1845. Of the Croxton family there were nine children, four daughters and five sons. The Croxtons came to Ohio from West Virginia in 1812 and located on what is known as the Simpson Har- vey farm near Carrollton. William Croxton, who spent his last years in Kansas, was a stanch republican, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. John W. DeFord had two children, Union C. and Walter O.

Union C. DeFord was born and bred in Car- roll County, Ohio. Being admitted in early life to the Ohio bar, he acquired an enviable reputa- tion as a lawyer, and for a number of ternis served as probate judge of Carroll County. Go- ing to Lisbon, Ohio, in 1903, he remained there three years, and then moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where as junior member of the firm of Harrington & DeFord he was attorney for the Heim & Osborne Corporation. His first wife, whose maiden name was Eva R. Rice. died in early womanhood, leaving one son, John W. De- Ford. He married for his second wife Grace M. Whitcraft, a daughter of Henry Whitcraft, and they have one child, Sarah W. DeFord. Henry Whitcraft, one time mayor, organized the J. P. Cummings Bank Company and the First National Bank, which in 1900 were consolidated under the name of the Cummings Trust Com- pany. He was prominent in Masonry. belonging to Lodge, Commandery and Shrine.

Walter O. DeFord was brought up on the home farm and acquired his rudimentary educa- tion in the rural schools of his native township, later completing his early studies at the State Normal School in Ada. He was subsequently telegraph operator at Malvern on the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad for awhile and afterward accepted a position in the office of his brother, judge of probate, at Carrollton, where he also became one of the original members of the Car- rollton Band, of which very few are now living. In 1900 Mr. DeFord was made assistant cashier of the First National Bank, which on June 1, 1906, was merged into the Cummings Trust Company. In 1911 he formed partnership with Dr. Miller of the R. E. Miller Motor Car Com- pany, and they had the first agency for the Ford and Dodge cars. In September, 1916, the part- nership was dissolved and Mr. DeFord retired. Accepting the position of assistant secretary of that organization he held it until June 1, 1916, when he retired from active business.

Mr. DeFord has acquired property of much value, owning the old John M. Thompson resi- dence, and with his brother having title to the parental homestead and to 640 acres of land in Butler County, Kansas. He invariably supports the principles of the republican party by voice and vote, but has never been an aspirant for

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official honors. He is a Knight Templar Mason and belongs to the Shrine. He is not affiliated with any religious organization, but his wife and children attend the Lutheran Church.

On October 14, 1903, Walter O. DeFord was united in marriage with Clara L. Byder, of Car- rollton, Ohio, a daughter of John G. and Mar- garet (Buck) Byder, neither of whom are now living, Mrs. Byder's death having occurred in October, 1901, and Mr. Byder's, April 25, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. DeFord have two children, Ethel P., born December 6, 1904; and Deane C., born June 4, 1906.

GRIFFITH LEMMON passed his entire life in Short Creek Township, Harrison County, be- came one of the substantial farmers and hon- ored and influential citizens of his native town- ship, and was a representative of a sterling plo- neer family of the county, where his father set- tled in the early days and reclaimed a produc- tive farm in Short Creek Township. The father, who likewise bore the personal name of Griffith, was born in Ireland, and was one of the vener- able pioneer citizens of Harrison County at the time of his death. Both he and his wife were members of the old Scotch Seceders Church. which in Ameria has been developed into the United Presbyterian Church. His children were six in number-William, James, Mary, Fannie, Jane and Griffith, Jr.

Griffith Lemmon, Jr., was born in Short Creek Township on the 26th of November, 1829, and on his fine old home farm in this township he re- mained from his young manhood until his death, which occurred June 25, 1908. His wife passed away September 4, 1905, and both had been zealous members of the Presbyterian Church.

As a young man Mr. Lemmon wedded Miss Rebecca Elizabeth Pogue, who was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of July, 1830, a daughter of George and Nancy Pogue, who were residents of Harrison County, Ohio, at the time of their death. Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon became the parents of seven children, and their lives were earnest, faithful and un- assuming, marked by Christian faith exempli- filed in their daily walk and by the kindliness and tolerance which ever beget popular confi- dence and esteem. Of the children the eldest was Robert P., who was born September 15, 1857, and whose death occurred September 2. 1910; Virginia, who was born May 27, 1859, is the wife of Isaac P. Lewis; Mary B., who was born July 1, 1861, is the wife of Thomas F. Mitchell ; Ruth A., who was born July 3, 1863, is the wife of John H. Siebert; Ida R., who was born April 3, 1866, is the wife of Charles D. Martin ; Alma Viola, who was born January 20, 1869, is the wife of Robert M. Francis, of whom individual mention is made on other pages of this volume; George G. was born April 9, 1873, is a farmer in Smithfield Township, Jef- ferson County, Ohio, and the maiden name of his wife was Mabel Nailer.

ROBERT M. FRANCIS is one of the substantial agriculturists and stock-growers who are gaining maximum returns from the fine farm lands of Harrison County. He is a sterling citizen of Short Creek township, where he has a well-im-

proved farm of 153 acres, devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of excellent types of live stock, with special attention given to the breeding of Percheron horses, Jersey cattle and Chester White swine. He is liberal and pro- gressive as a citizen and man of affairs, is a republican in politics, and he and his wife hold membership in the United Presbyterian Church at Harrisville.

Mr. Francis was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, on the 20th of April, 1862, and is a son of Robert and Catherine (Sutherland) Francis, both likewise natives of that county, where the respective families settled in the pioneer days. Walter and Martha ( Finney) Francis, paternal grandparents of the subject of this review, were pioneers of Smithfield Township, Jefferson County, where they developed a productive farm, the old homestead having been the birthplace of their nine children-William, Martha, John, James, Elizabeth, Walter, Robert, Joseph and Margaret. Robert Francis passed his entire life in Jefferson County, where he owned a valuable farm of 174 acres and where he gained special prominence in the raising of fine wool sheep. Both he and his wife were well advanced in years at the time of their deaths. They became the parents of a fine family of twelve children, namely : Mary Elizabeth, Martha, Anna, David, Selina, Esther, Adaline, Kate, William, Robert M., Ross and Minnie.

Robert M. Francis gained his youthful educa- tion in the public schools of his native county, and there, in Smithfield Township, he initiated his independent activities as a farmer. There he continued operations until 1903, when he re- moved to the village of Adena, that county, where for the following six years he was en- gaged in the real estate and building business. He then, in 1910, removed to the farm which is now his place of residence, and here unqualified success has attended his vigorous activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower. His first wife, Ella, was a daughter of Hamilton Kerr, of Harrison County, and she died in 1902, leav- ing no children.

In the year 1905 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Francis to Miss Alma Viola Lemmon, daughter of the late Griffith Lemmon, to whom a memoir is dedicated on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Francis have two children -Elizabeth Rebecca, born December 24, 1908; and Robert Floyd, born February 13, 1910.

FREDERICK C. HARRAH. The Harrahs are a pioneer Harrison County family, Frederick C. Harrah having been born at the same farmstead as his father, February 10, 1874, and he has always lived there. The Harrahs live in Green Township, the father, Leslie Harrah, dying there February 15, 1901. He married Susannah F. Mansfield, who is still living, aged seventy- one years, with her son. There is a previous record of the family in an old history.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 6

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