History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 61

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 61
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 61

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William Boyd Hawthorne acquired his early education in the excellent public schools of Har- risville, and in 1900, the year which marked his father's retirement from the work of his trade and assumption of farm activities, he himself initiated independent activities as a farmer in Short Creek Township. Here he has since con- tinued his successful and progressive enterprise as an agriculturist and stock-grower, and in 1917 he purchased and established his residence on his present well-improved farm, which com- prises 185 acres of the excellent land of Short Creek Township. In the live-stock department of his farm industry Mr. Hawthorne is giv- ing special attention to the breeding and rais- ing of registered Shorthorn and Holstein cattle. He is a republican in political adherency and he and his wife hold membership in the First Presbyterian Church at Adena, Jefferson County.

April, 1904, recorded the marriage of Mr. Hawthorne to Miss Lydia Townsend. daughter of David and Adaline (Morris) Townsend, of Harrison County, and the three children of this union are Wilmer Townsend, David Forrest and James Binford.

THOMAS SIMPSON maintained his home in Athens Township, Harrison County, from the time of his birth until his death on October 13, 1920. He was one of the veteran representa- tives of farm industry in this township, besides being a scion of one of the honored pioneer families of the county. He was born on his father's old homestead farm in Athens Town- ship February 9, 1848, and was a son of James and Sarah Jane (Evans) Simpson. the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter at Harrisville, Harrison County, Ohio, a daughter of the late Dr. John Evans, who was a pioneer physician and honored and influential citizen of that village. James Simp- son was a son of Alexander Simpson, who was a native of Ireland, and the family name of whose wife was Powers. He came from the old Empire State to Ohio and settled in Harrison County in the pioneer days, his son James hav- ing been a boy at the time, and he developed one of the productive farms of the day in Athens Township, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, their religious faith having been that of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were eight in number, namely : Samuel, Alexander, Jr., Thomas, James, Jane, Ellen, Nancy and Mary.

James Simpson became one of the successful farmers and substantial citizens of Athens Township, where he owned a farm of 114 acres, and where he remained until a few years prior to his death, when he removed to the village

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of New Athens, where both he and his wife died. They were active members of the United Presbyterian Church at Cassville during the many years of their residence on the farm. They were the parents of seven children-Margaret, John, Thomas, Evans, Martin W., Frank P. and Rachel.

Thomas Simpson, the immediate subject of this sketch, passed the period of his childhood and youth on his father's farm, and in the meanwhile profited by the advantages afforded in the district schools of Athens Township. This township was from his young manhood the stage of his vigorous and successful activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower, and his well improved farm comprised 140 acres. At one time he owned 224 acres in Coshocton County and sixty acres in Belmont County. He was loyal and liberal in the support of measures and enterprises projected for the general good of the community, and his political allegiance was given to the republican party, both he and his wife being zealous members of the Rankin Methodist Episcopal Church.

In 1873 Mr. Simpson wedded Miss Susanna Tipton, daughter of the late Joshua Tipton, a well-known citizen of Harrison County, and they had six children-Walter, Wilbur E .. Charles C., Blanche, wife of John Edward Simp- son, and Albert A. and Harry R., twins.

WILBUR E. SIMPSON is a son of Thomas Simp- son, a sketch of whose career immediately pre- cedes this article, so that further review of the family history is not here demanded. He has gained and maintained secure place as one of the progressive representatives of farm enter- prise in his native township and county and well merits individual consideration in this publication.

·Wilbur Evans Simpson was born in Athens Township, Harrison County, January 15, 1877, and his early education was obtained mainly in the district schools locally known as the Jockey Hollow School. At the age of seventeen years he entered upon a practical apprenticeship to the trade of blacksmith, in which he became a skilled workman and to which he continued to devote his attention about eight years. There- after he was engaged in farming three years in Flushing Township, Belmont County, and in connection with this enterprise he established and successfully conducted a dairy business. Upon disposing of his interests in Belmont County Mr. Simpson returned to Harrison County, where for the ensuing period of about five years he conducted a dairy farm in Athens Township. During one year thereafter he was engaged in the general merchandise business at New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, and the ensuing three years found him engaged In se- cret-service work for the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road Company and other companies. He next established his residence at Quaker City, Guernsey County, where he engaged in the dairy business and where he remained until 1911, when he returned to his native township and established his residence on his present home farm of 133 acres, besides which he owns a well improved farm of 119 acres in Belmont

County. He still makes the dairy business an important feature of his farm enterprise and is known for his energy and progressiveness also as an agriculturist who employs scientific meth- ods and modern policies. He is a republican in politics, and he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at New Athens.

In 1897 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Simpson to Miss Linnie Gregg, daughter of Lindley Gregg, of Belmont County, and they have three children-Fern, Gertrude and Lind- ley. Fern was born in Union Township, Bel- mont County, Ohio, on October 30, 1902. She graduated from the Flushing, Ohio, High School in 1919, attended Franklin College and now, in the winter of 1920-21, is engaged in teaching. Gertrude was born in Flushing Township, Bel- mont County, Ohio, on January 2, 1905, and in 1920 is a junior in Flushing High School. Lind- ley was born in Flushing Township, Belmont County, on September 2, 1907.

LEVI E. MALLERNEE is another of the native sons of Harrison County who is here standing as a successful exemplar of agriculture and live- stock industry, and the finely improved farm which he owns and operates comprises 245 acres in Nottingham Township. He was born In this township on the 20th of October, 1868, and is a son of Levi and Jemima (Garner) Mallernen, the latter's first husband having been a Mr. Hines, concerning whom more spe- cific mention is made on other pages, in the sketch of their son Nelson T.

Levi Mallernee was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, February 12, 1816, and in 1829 his father came to Harrison County, where he bought eighty acres of forest land in Nottingham Town- ship, where he remained until his death, Feb- ruary 23, 1839, his industry as a pioneer farmer having been supplemented by his work at the shoemaker's trade. This worthy pioneer, Eman- uel Mallernee, was born in Maryland, Novem- ber 3. 1779, a son of William and Sarah Mal- lernee, who came from that state and settled in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1909. Emanuel Mal- lernee first married Rachel Matthews, who was born in Maryland November 3, 1778, a daughter of Francis and Mary (Carr) Matthews, who came to Ohio in 1809. Emanuel and Rachel Mal- lernee became the parents of eight children- William, Aquilla, Mary A., Matthew F., Levi, Emanuel, Jr., Lewis and Elizabeth. Mrs. Mal- lernee died June 24. 1828, and her husband later married Hannah Eaton, the three children of this union having been Benjamin, Rachel and Jared.

On the 6th of December, 1838, Levi Maller- nee married Eleanor Johnson. who was born in Nottingham Township, Harrison County. January 27, 1820, @ daughter of Benjamin Johnson. They became the parents of nine children-David Turner. Emanuel. Mary A., Benjamin J .. Lemuel, Lydia A., Caroline L., Eleanor J. and Kinsey C. Mrs. Mallernee died December 23. 1863, and afterward Mr. Mallernee wedded Mrs. Jemima (Garner) Hines. They became the parents of three children-James G .. Levi E. and Ruth J. After the death of his

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second wife Mr. Mallernee married Rachel Crab- tree, and exactly one year later his death oc- curred, on the 1st of June, 1880. Levi Maller- nee passed his entire life in Harrison County and his active career was given principally to farm enterprise. He was a republican in poli- tics and his religious faith was that of the Baptist Church.

Levi E. Mallernee gained his early education in the district schools of Nottingham Township, but he was only thirteen years of age when he began working on a neighboring farm. He has been continuously identified with farm industry during the long intervening years and has through his own efforts become one of the pros- perous farmers of his native township, his large farm being the stage of well ordered agricul- tural and live-stock operation, and many of its modern improvements, including the house and barn, having been installed since he became the owner of the property. He is a loyal and progressive citizen, is a republican in politics and he and his wife hold membership in the Christian Church.

May 22, 1890, recorded the marriage of Mr. Mallernee to Miss Olive Carson, daughter of John K. and Anna (Cope) Carson, and of this union have been born three children: James Lyle, who resides at Alliance, Stark County, married Ada Howell, and they have three chil- dren-Olive, Veda and Charles. Edith May and Ethel Fay were twins, the former having died at the age of eleven months, and the latter re- maining at the parental home.

BENJAMIN J. MALLERNEE, son of Levi and Eleanor (Johnson) Mallernee, mentioned in the preceding sketch, was born in Nottingham Township, Harrison County, on the 10th of February, 1849; was here reared and educated; and here he has been continuously identified with farm enterprise, except for two years passed at Cadiz, the county seat. He is the owner of an excellent farm property of 191 acres and is one of the substantial and highly esteemed citizens of his native county, his home farm comprising ninety-one acres, and the re- mainder of his farm property being not far dis- tant. He is a staunch republican and has served as township trustee, his religious faith being indicated by his status as an earnest member of the Baptist Church.

January 17, 1872, was marked by the mar- riage of Mr. Mallernee to Miss Margaret J. Warman, who was born in Illinois March 15, 1850, a daughter of William and Margaret ( Hoffman) Warman. Mrs. Mallernee passed to the life eternal April 8, 1894, and of her four children two are living: Ellen Mabel, born January 10, 1873, is deceased; Myrtie Florence, born November 4, 1874, is the wife of Alvah Lee, and they have one child, Clyde; Blanche W., born September 5, 1879, is deceased; and Frank G. was born October 24, 1881.

On the 23d of December, 1896, Mr. Mallernee married Mrs. Emma Morris, and they are lead- ing members of the Christian Church at Minks- ville. Frank G. Mallernee, only son of the sub- ject of this review, married Miss Blanch Gar- ner, whose death occurred October 3, 1917, and

who is survived by two children-Harold V. and Mary Margaret.

JAMES G. MALLERNEE, a brother of Levi E. Mallernee of Nottingham Township, was one of the honored residents of that community for many years, and though he died comparatively young he was in every sense a successful man.

He was born in Nottingham Township Octo- ber 10, 1866, and was reared and educated on the home farm in that locality. In 1887, at the age of twenty-one, he married Alice R. Hefling, a native of Washington Township in Harrison County and daughter of Noah and Jane (Mc- Cullough) Hefling. After their marriage they made their home on a farm in Washington Township, where Mr. Mallernee continued to live until after the death of his wife. In 1915 he removed to Tippecanoe, Ohio, and died there May 7, 1918. He was an elder in the Christian Church at Tippecanoe. On May 12, 1914, he married Sarah M. Hitchcock, who was born in Washington Township August 18, 1880, daugh- ter of Johnson and Rebecca (Jackson) Hitch- cock.

Mr. Mallernee by his first marriage had six children : Earl, who died June 28, 1916; Au- dra, who is the wife of Laurence Rose and has four children named Viola, Helen, Pauline and Lucile; Mabel, wife of Frank Jenkins, has four children, named Mirl, Edith, Hazel and James; Paul, whose career is briefly sketched below ; Bessie, wife of Robert Young and mother of Maxine; and Marian, wife of Eugene Walker.

Paul Heffing Mallernee, who was born Octo- ber 24, 1893, was one of Harrison County's sol- diers in the World war. He entered the service September 20, 1917, and was trained at Camp Sherman, where he was assigned to duty with the 308th Veterinary Section. In January, 1918, he was promoted to corporal. June 14, 1918, he left New York, landed in France on the 21st of June, and was in service with his organization until the signing of the armistice, and was then sent to Germany with the Army of Occupation. He returned to the United States July 9, 1919, and received his honorable discharge at Camp Mills. Before going overseas and while at Camp Sherman his father died, and he came home to attend the funeral and while at home was married on May 10. 1918, to Alice Jenkins, daughter of James Jenkins.

CHESTER A. BRANSON is conducting successful operations on one of the finest farm estates of Harrison County, and has gained precedence as the largest breeder and grower of Shorthorn cat- tle in his native county. In control of a valu- able landed estate of about 500 acres, known as Elmhurst Stock Farm, of which he individ- ually owns 320 acres, he is one of the specially vigorous and successful young exponents of agri- cultural and live-stock industry in Harrison County, is a member of one of the honored families of this section of the Buckeye State and is entitled to definite recognition in this history.

On the old homestead which is his present place of residence in Short Creek Township Chester Abraham Branson was born March 19. 1880, a son of Lindley M. and Anna M. ( Fox)

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Branson, the former of whom died December 8, 1899, and the latter on the 15th of January, 1919, she having been born and reared in Har- rison County, a daughter of Charles J. and Esther (Cooper) Fox, sterling pioneers of whom more specific mention is made in other sketches appearing in this publication. Both the Bran- son and Fox families have been for many gen- erations affiliated with the Society of Friends, the gracious and gentle faith of which they have exemplified in their daily lives.

Lindley M. Branson, a man of noble character and large and worthy achievement, was a repre- sentative of an English family, holding the re- liglous faith of the Society of Friends, which sent representatives to America about the mid- dle of the eighteenth century, the original set- tlement having been made in the state of Vir- ginia, where the ancestral homestead still re- mains in possession of the family. Abraham Branson, from whom Chester A. Branson is a direct descendant in the fifth generation, was a prosperous farmer near Winchester, Virginia, and was for many years an elder and exhorter of the Society of Friends, in expounding the faith of which he journeyed far into the wilder- ness and ministered in the scattered settlements as far to the west as central Ohio. His only child, Reese Branson, came to Ohio about the year 1800 and passed the remainder of his life at St. Clairsville. Belmont County. His four children were Abraham, William, Maria and Eliza.

Of these children, Abraham was born in Bel- mont County on the 13th of June, 1806. He was a boy at the time of his father's death and was taken into the home of his paternal grand- father in Virginia, where he remained until he was about fourteen years of age. He then re- turned to Ohio and entered the home of his uncle, Isaac Branson, who owned and operated a large woolen and flouring mill at Glen Run, Jefferson County. Here Abraham Branson learned the trade of manufacturing woolens, in which he became an expert, and in the spring of 1831, shortly after his marriage to Miss Ann M. Wilson, a native of Jefferson County. he en- gaged in the manufacturing of woolens in Bel- mont County. In the spring of 1833 he came to Harrison County and purchased a milling and woolen manufacturing property in Short Creek Township. He continued the successful opera- tion of the pioneer industrial plant until his death, and in connection with his mills he in- stalled the first steam engine used for manu- facturing purposes in Harrison County. He de- veloped a remarkably prosperous and important industry in the manufacturing of various types of woolen goods, and contributed much to the civic and material development and progress of this section of the state. He died January 16, 1867, and his widow passed away February 3, 1888, aged eighty-two years. Of their five sons and two daughters Lindley M. was the eldest.

Lindley M. Branson was born near Wheeling. Belmont County, Ohio, September 26. 1832. and was an infant at the time of the family removal to Harrison County in 1833. Here he was reared under pioneer conditions and upon at-

taining to his legal majority became a partner in his father's manufacturing business, he hav- ing learned the trade when a boy and youth. The enterprise was successfully continued, un- der the firm name of A. Branson & Son until 1861, and in the meanwhile Lindley M. Branson has become prominently associated with the buying of wool in this section of Ohio, a line of enterprise with which he was actually con- cerned during the period of the Civil war. He was an authoritative judge of the qualities of wool and purchased millions of pounds of wool in eastern Ohio, the same having been shipped to eastern manufacturers. With this important line of industrial enterprise Mr. Branson con- tinued his association for more than a quarter of a century, with precedence as one of the leading buyers and shippers of wool in eastern Ohio. He became the owner of one of the fine farm properties of Short Creek Township, and in 1878 he erected on this property a commo- dious brick and stone house of three stories and finished throughout in hard woods. This is still one of the finest farm residences in the county, the building being situated on an eminence and commanding a splendid view of the surrounding country. Mr. Branson became a stockholder and director of leading banking institutions in Harrison County, and was one of the substantial men and influential citizens of the county for many years prior to his death. His character was the positive expression of a strong, noble and kindly nature, and he commanded the high esteem of all who came within the compass of his benign influence. He was a republican in his political allegiance, and he and his wife ever retained the faith of the Society of Friends, of which both were birthright members. The marriage of Mr. Branson to Miss Anna M. Fox was solemnized May 7, 1874, and they became the parents of two children-Charles Fox Bran- son and Chester Abraham Branson.

Chester A. Branson has remained from the time of his birth on the splendid old homestead farm in Short Creek Township save for the pe- riod during which he was pursuing educational work. He gained his preliminary training in the district schools of his native township, later attended the Scio Business College one year, and in the autumn of 1899 entered Oberlin Col- lege, where he continued his studies part of one year, the death of his father then causing him to return to the home farm, in the operations of which he and his brother continued their partnership association until 1905, since which time Chester A. has had sole management of the property and business, his brother, Charles F., being now in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, associ- ated with the Short Creek Coal Company.

In 1900 Mr. Branson initiated the breeding of the finest type of Shorthorn cattle, to which he has since continued to give special attention, with registration of all of his cattle. His first sale of cattle brought an average return of eighty dollars a head, and his last sale, in the spring of 1920, gave an average of $1.200 a head. He is vigorous and progressive in all departments of his farm enterprise, and through his live-stock operations is doing much to im- prove grades in this section of the state, his

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success as a breeder and grower of fine Short- horn cattle having been of the highest. He is loyal and liberal in his civic attitude, is a re- publican in politics, and he and his wife hold membership in the First Presbyterian Church at Adera.

Governor Willis appointed Mr. Branson a member of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture on July 22, 1915, and he served two years on that board. In 1920 he was elected on the re- publican ticket a member of the Board of County Commissioners of Harrison County.

On the 11th of October, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Branson to Miss Vincetta Holmes, daughter of Thomas and Melissa J. Holmes, of Hopedale. Harrison County, and of this union there are three children-Mary Vin- cetta, born May 10, 1908: Lindley M., born Feb- ruary 4. 1913; and Anna Jean, born January 15. 1921.

ANDREW B. MILLER is a well known citizen and farmer of Rumley Township. Harrison County. For nearly half a century his time and activities have been devoted to the routine of agricultural effort, and his standing as a farmer and a good citizen is an additional tribute to the qualities of one of the sturdy pioneer fami- lies established in this county more than a cen- tury ago.

Mr. Miller was born in German Township, Harrison County, December 9, 1852. His grand- father, Daniel Miller, was born in Frederick County, Maryland, in 1788, and was a youth of eighteen years when he came with his parents to Harrison County in 1806, his father settling on Government land in German Township in that year. Daniel Miller lived a long and useful life, had a share in the arduous task of clear- ing a portion of the wilderness, and he lived to see the fruits of his toil and the many collec- tive benefits achieved by an increasing popula- tion. He married Susannah Lowmiller. who was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1796, daughter of John and Catherine (Long) Lowmiller, who had settled in Harrison County In 1800, when she was four years of age. The children of Daniel Miller and wife were Cath- erine, Elizabeth, Sarah, John, Henry, Susannah, Rebecca. Margaret, Abigail and Eliza J.

John Miller, a son of Daniel, was born in German Township February 22, 1822. His birth- place was a log cabin. He attended log cabin schools in his early youth and taught public school. When he left the home farm he began an independent career as a farmer, and at the time of his death had a valuable and well im- proved place of 166 acres. He was a democrat who filled several local and county offices, and was a devout member of the Lutheran Church. May 1, 1849, he married Susannah Mikesell, who was born February 15, 1824, daughter of Peter and Mary A. (Long) Mikesell, another early family in Harrison Countv. John Miller and wife had the following children: O. B .. who was a public school teacher and a music teacher ; Rebecca Margaret; H. A .. deceased, was a farmer of German Township: Andrew B .; Rev. Daniel D., a minister of the Lutheran Church; Prof. Samuel H., an educator and at

one time a member of the faculty of Thiel Col- lege at Greenville, also president of Fredonia Teachers Institute, Pennsylvania ; John O .; Joseph M. of Hanlon Station, West Virginia ; Clement E .. owner of the home farm; Clayton I., deceased, formerly of Greenville. Pennsyl- vania ; and Rev. Jesse L .. a minister of the Lutheran Church, Youngstown, Ohio.

Andrew B. Miller like the other children was afforded good educational advantages. After the district schools in German Township he spent a year in the Hopedale Normal School. taught in the public schools for a time, and since then his life has been one steady and successful devotion to farming. Mr. Miller owns ninety acres in Rumley Township, and it is a farm of well diversified industry. His spe- cialty in livestock is sheep. It is an attractive home. and from this farm have radiated some of the good influences to the community at large. Mr. Miller has never sought a place in

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 61

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