History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 96

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 96
USA > Ohio > Carroll County > History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio > Part 96

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 N. Dunlap, who is now a representative merchant and popular and influential citizen of Bowerston, was born on the home farm, adjoin- ing this village, and the date of his nativity was December 18, 1874. The public schools of Bow- erston enlisted a due share of his attention dur- ing the period of his boyhood and early youth, and he continued to be associated with the work of the home farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-two years. In the late '90s he became a clerk in the general merchandise store then conducted by his older brother, Will- iam B., at Bowerston, and this connection con- tinued until his brother sold the stock and busi- ness four years later. Later the two brothers became associated in repurchasing the business, and since 1906 John N. has been the sole owner of this substantial and well conducted general merchandise business, besides which he has been for the past several years a stockholder and director of the Minings Safety Device Com- pany, which controls one of the leading indus- trial enterprises of Bowerston. Mr. Dunlap is always ready to give his influence and co-opera- tion in the furtherance of measures and enter- prises tending to advance the best interests of his home village and county, is a democrat in political allegiance, and is serving in 1920 as a valued member of the village council of Bow- erston. Both he and his wife are active mem- bers of the local Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is serving on its official board.

In 1901 Mr. Dunlap married Miss Cora E. Hines, daughter of Samuel and Catherine Hines, and she passed to the life eternal on the 30th of August, 1909, being survived by two chil- dren-James Arthur, and Mabel. For his sec- ond wife Mr. Dunlap wedded Miss Cora B. Smith, daughter of Abraham H. Smith, of Stock Township, and the one child of this union is a daughter, Mary Ethel.

JAMES L. DUNLAP is to be considered fortu- nate in that he is the owner of the fine old homestead farm on which he was born and reared and which is one of the valuable places of Monroe Township, Harrison County, a por- tion of the farm being included in the corporate limits of the village of Bowerston. Of the ster- ling pioneer family of which he is a represen- tative adequate record is given in the personal sketch of his older brother, John N.

On his present farm James L. Dunlap was born September 11, 1882, the youngest of the three children of the late James and Martha (Willett) Dunlap, and the public schools of Bowerston afforded him his early educational advantages. He has remained continuously on the old home farm, which comprises 111 acres, and is now the owner of the property, which he makes a stage of progressive and successful enterprise in the important domain of agricul- ture and stock-growing. He is one of the rep- resentative farmers of the younger generation in his native township, is a democrat in poli- tics, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as the adjunct organiza- tion, the Daughters of Rebekah, in which latter his wife likewise holds membership. and both

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are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Bowerston.

On the 6th of September, 1905, was solemn- ized the marriage of Mr. Dunlap to Miss Olive E. Deselms, daughter of Truman and Celestine (Brown) Deselms, of Harrison County, and they are popular factors in the social life of their home community, the while they have made their attractive home a center of gracious hos- pitality.

JOHN W. VICKERS. The Vickers family, of which John W. Vickers, manufacturer and lum- berman, of Piedmont. Ohio, is a prominent mem- ber, is well known in different sections of Ohio, and since the English grandfather's day, have all been engaged in solid, substantial industries that have been remunerative to themselves and of importance to their communities.

The founder of the Vickers family in Ohio was William Vickers, grandfather of John W. Vickers. He was born in England but came to America in boyhood and after some years in Belmont County. near Saint Clairsville, moved to Guernsey County, where he engaged in farm pursuits during the rest of his life. He was a man of strong physique and energetic in character and for many years was a respected citizen of Guernsey County. He married Mary Mcclellan and they had five children, namely : John, David, Isaac H .. Harriet and Mary Ann.

Isaac H. Vickers, father of John W .. was a resident of Guernsey County until 1900. He was a prosperous farmer and also operated a saw mill. In the above year he came with his family to Piedmont. where he embarked in the meat market and grocery business, in which he continued until his death, in 1917. He was a native of Belmont County and was born on a farm near Saint Clairsville. In early manhood he married Mary Ellen Hunt, born in Guernsey County, who was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Hunt. Mr. and Mrs. Vickers had a family of six children. as follows: John W .; Elizabeth, wife of Fletcher Jackson: James A .; Lella, wife of Taylor Jackson: Jennie, wife of Thomas Leuyster: and Myrtle, wife of William Scott.

John W. Vickers was born in Guernsey County. Ohio. June 8. 1866, and later attended school in both Guernsey and Belmont counties. He very early took an interest in his father's saw mill and soon on his own account began operating and for some years furnished cord wood and mine props for the old C. L. & W. Railroad. He accompanied his father to Pied- mont and ever since has been in the lumber business at this place. and for the past ten years, since he bought the Piedmont Handle Factory. has been engaged in manufacturing also. At that time he admitted his son, Isaac Burton Vickers, to partnership and the associa- tion continues and the firm is a very important factor here in business circles.

On November 1. 18SS. Mr. Vickers was mar- ried to Miss Mattie M. Johnson, daughter of John R. and Lizzie (Tool) Johnson, and they have five children, namely : Isaac Burton : Eliza- beth. wife of Rev. W. H. Calfee: and Ada Louisa, Zelma May and Velma. Mr. and Mrs.

Vickers are members of the Baptist Church at Piedmont

Isaac Burton Vickers, only son of John W. Vickers, was born at Piedmont, Harrison County, Ohio, September 17, 1889, and was edu- cated in the public schools of his native place. Since 1910 he has been associated with his father in the lumber business and since 1918 has been interested in farming and stock-rais- ing in Freeport Township in May of that year purchasing his valuable farm of 166 acres. In the following November he and his wife moved on the place. which he had in the meanwhile greatly improved, remodeling the house and erecting two commodious barns. He is meeting with much success in breeding pure Dickerson- Delaine sheep and big type Poland-China hogs.

Mr. Vickers was married on October 1. 1911, to Miss Ada Gertrude Bell. daughter of P. L. and Laura ( Dillon) Bell. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Piedmont. Mr. Vickers is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Freeport, and also is a member of the Modern Woodmen Order at Piedmont.

WILLIAM A. BETHEL has from his youth been actively identified with farm enterprise in Moorefield Township, Harrison County, and on his father's old home farm, in section 4. this township, he was born and reared, the date of his nativity having been May 9, 1877. He is now the owner of a well-improved farm of eighty acres, and his energy and good manage- ment are manifest in the fine appearance of the place. which is a center of productive enter- prise in the domain of agriculture and success- ful stock-growing. with special attention given to dairy cattle.

Mr. Bethel is a son of James O. and Nancy M. (Slater) Bethel. the former of whom was horn in Flushing Township, Belmont County, Ohio, December 19, 1848, and the latter in Moorefield Township, Harrison County. October 1. 1846. their marriage having been solemnized June 30. 1870. James O. Bethel was reared and educated in his native county and his parents. Alfred and Margaret (McCall) Bethel were born and reared in Ohio, where the respective families settled in the pioneer days. James O. Bethel came to Harrison County in the spring of 1869. and after his marriage he settled on a farm of 183 acres. in section 4. Moorefield Township. He developed this into one of the fine farm properties of the township and among the improvements which he made on the place was the commodious and attractive house. which he erected in 1873. He continued as one of the successful farmers and representative citizens of Moorefield Township until he was well ad- vanced in years, and he and his wife now re- side in the city of Cleveland, where he is liv- ing in well earned retirement. Mrs. Nancy M. ( Slater) Bethel is a daughter of the late James Wells Slater and Margaret Jane (Dunlap) Sla- ter. the former of whom was born April 13. 1816. and the latter on the 30th of November. 181S. their marriage having been solemnized April 23. 1840. and five children having been born of this union-Emily L. (Mrs. Johnson Moore). William D., Nancy M. ( Mrs. James O.

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Bethel), James A., and Margaret R. (Mrs. Shri- ber). James Wells Slater died on the 9th of August, 1875, and his widow passed away on the 5th of December of the following year. . ford, Jonathan, Taylor, Elza, Jane, Mary, and

Mr. Slater came to Harrison County in 1845 and purchased 207 acres of land, in section 4, Moorefield Township. Here he erected, in 1851, a substantial stone residence of large size, and the same stands as one of the substantial and enduring landmarks of the county. Mr. Slater was one of the very successful farmers and in- fluential citizens of the county and served a number of years as trustee of Moorefield Town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. James O. Bethel became the parents of seven children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here recorded : Alfred W., June 8. 1871; Charles E., January 27. 1875: William A., May 9, 1877; Harry F .. October 5, 1879; George S., July 7, 1882; Jesse M., February 16, 1885; and Margaret M., March 27 1888. Alfred W. married Miss Louella Ful- ton and they reside at Flushing, Belmont County. Charles E. married Miss Emma Fisher, and their home is in the city of Cleveland, this state. . Harry F. died in 1919. George S. mar- ried Miss Mabel Kirkpatrick and is a prosper- ous farmer in Moorefield Township Jesse M. and Margaret M. are with their parents in the city of Cleveland.

William A. Bethel is indebted to the public schools of his native township for his early educational discipline, and he remained at the parental home until the time of his marriage, when he was twenty-three years of age, his wife, whose maiden name was Eva Dickerson, being a representative of one of the old and honored families of Harrison County and ade- quate data concerning her parents being given in the sketch of the career of her brother, John Edward Dickerson, on other pages of this vol- ume. Since his marriage Mr. Bethel has been successfully engaged in independent farm enter- prise in Moorefield Township and he is one of the progressive and substantial citizens of his native township and county. His political sup- port is given to the republican party and his wife is an active member of the Nottingham Presbyterian Church. They have four children -Doris, Blanche, Donald and Harry.

JASPER J. IRONS. Actively engaged as a tiller of the soil in the rich and fertile soil of east- ern Ohio. Jasper J. Irons, a prosperous farmer of Moorefield Township, Harrison County. is carrying on the various branches of agriculture most skilfully. his .labors being crowned with success. A son of James Irons, he was born, July 17, 1857, in Nottingham Township, this county.

Born and brought up in Jefferson County, Ohio, James Irons came from there to Harrison County in early manhood, becoming a pioneer settler of Nottingham Township. Taking up a tract of land, he there improved the comfortable homestead on which he passed the remainder of his life. dying April 12, 1861, while yet in man- hood's prime. He married Jane Titus, who was born in Cassville, Cadiz Township. Harrison County. where her father, Timothy Titus, was an early settler. Mr. Titus purchased land, and

cleared and improved a good farm. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Gutherie, eight children were born, Uriah, San- Amanda.

James Irons and his wife became the parents of seven children, as follows: Esther, deceased ; Mary, Melissa, and Eliza, deceased; Amanda ; Albert, deceased; and Jasper J., of this brief sketch. The mother survived her husband many years, dying March 3, 1905. Both she and her husband were members of the Methodist Church, to which her parents also belonged.

Acquiring his elementary education in the district schools of Nottingham Township, Jasper J. Irons continued his studies for a time in Guernsey County, Ohio. Working on the home farm during his earlier years, he acquired a practical knowledge of the many branches of agriculture, and when ready to begin the bat- tle of life on his own account began farming in his native township. Locating in Moorefield Township in 1897, Mr. Irons has here continued his free and independent occupation, since 1903 having resided on his present fine estate of 136 acres. Having made diligent use of his time, he has added improvements of value, his farm being now one of the most desirable pieces of property in the locality. In addition to carrying on general farming, Mr. Irons has paid considerable attention to the breeding and rais- ing of stock, principally sheep, a branch of agri- culture in which he has taken great interest.

Mr. Irons has been twice married. He mar- ried, August 7, 1882, Amanda Jane Poulson, a daughter of Andrew Poulson. She passed to the higher life March 25, 1888, leaving two chil- dren, namely : Frank, a resident of Colorado; and James Andrew, who married Fannie Walker. On June 16, 1892, Mr. Irons was united in marriage with Margaret Moore, a daughter of Alexander and Lizzie (Garvin) Moore. Mr. and Mrs. Irons have four children, namely : Luella, who died in childhood ; Laura, who lived but two years; Hazel died in infancy ; and Charles Moore. Religiously Mrs. Irons is a devout member of the United Presbyterian Church.

RALPH F. MOORE. A fine representative of the agricultural interests of Harrison County, Ralph F. Moore, of Moorefield Township, has established for himself an enviable reputation as a successful farmer and a valued citizen. He was born, August 6, 1889, in this same town- ship, which was also the birthplace of his fa- ther, Thomas C. Moore, and the township in which his grandfather, Leinard Moore, settled on coming to Harrison County in pioneer days. Leinard Moore married Mary Kirkpatrick, and to them four children were born, Thomas C., Samuel, Hannah, and Anna.

Born and brought up in Moorefield Township, Thomas C. Moore became a farmer early in his career, locating first in Nottingham Town- ship, but subsequently returning to Moorefield Township, where he remained until the spring of 1917, when he removed to his present home in Canton, Ohio. He married Anna Finney, a daughter of Joseph Finney, a thrifty farmer of

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Nottingham Township, who married Margaret Taggart, and reared five children, as follows: Wiliam; Anna, wife of Thomas O. Moore; Louisa ; Nettle; and Margaret B. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Moore became the parents of six children, namely : Ralph F .; Hazel Irene; Myr- tle Josephine; Craig G., who married Avis Mills; Frances Pauline, and Thomas Orville, who died in childhood. Both parents were worthy members of the Nottingham Presbyte- rian Church.

Attending the public schools of both Notting- ham and Moorefield townships, Ralph F. Moore obtained an excellent knowledge of the common branches of learning as they were called a quarter of a century ago, while on the home farm he became familiar with the various branches of agriculture. His choice of an oc- cupation led him to take up farming, one of the leading industries of this day and generation, and now has full charge of his father's estate of 112 acres of choice land, on which he is carrying on general farming and stock raising in a highly creditable manner.

Mr. Moore married, December 25, 1916, Emma Belle Dunlap, a daughter of William F. Dunlap, of whom further notice may be found on an- other page of this work. True to the religious faith in which they were brought up, Mr. and Mrs. Moore are consistent and valued mem- bers of the Nottingham Presbyterian Church.

HIRRIE M. FITCH. On a well-improved farm of 196 acres, in Moorefield Township, Harrison County, Mr. Fitch has maintained his residence since July, 1918, and he is one of the progres- sive agriculturists and stock-growers of his na- tive township, besides which he is successfully operating a small coal-mining enterprise on his farm. He was born in Moorefield Township on the 20th of February, 1877, and is a son of William K. and Hannah E. (Watt) Fitch, the former of whom was born in Belmont County, this state, July 21, 1844, and the latter in the same county, on the 17th of June, 1852.

William K. Fitch was a son of James M. and Mary (Kelley) Fitch. James M. Fitch was a son of Jacob and Eleanor (McGill) Fitch, who were born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, where they were reared and educated and where their marriage occurred. In 1811 Jacob Fitch emigrated from the old Keystone State to Bel- mont County, Ohio, where he obtained a tract of wild land, in Smith Township. Here he re- claimed and developed a good frontier farm, and on the old homestead he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, their children having been seven in number.

James M. Fitch was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1811-the year which marked the removal of the family to Ohio, where he was reared in Belmont County. under the conditions of the pioneer era. In 1838 he married Mrs. Mary (Kelley ) McMillan, whose parents, Hugh and Mary (Johnson) Kelley, came from Ire- land to America in the year 1800, and who shortly afterward became pioneer settlers in Ohio, Mr. Kelley having been killed by a fall- ing tree, on the farm which later was owned by his grandson, William K. Fitch, in Moore-

field Township, Harrison County. James M. Fitch developed a productive farm in Belmont County, where he remained until his death, in August, 1876, his wife having passed away on the 1st of March, 1866, and their three chil- dren, Jacob, William K., and Mary, are now deceased.

William K. Fitch was reared in Belmont County, where he not only gained full experi- ence in connection with farm industry but also learned the trade of carpenter, which he fol- lowed for a number of years. September 20, 1870, recorded his marriage to Miss Hannah E. Watt, a daughter of Robert and Rachel (De- Long) Watt, representatives of sterling pioneer families of Belmont County, where James Watt, grandfather of Robert, settled in 1816, upon coming to Ohio from Maryland. Robert Watt, a son of Thomas and Jane (Gladden) Watt, died on the 11th of February, 1866, his birth having occurred, in Maryland, November 2, 1815, the year prior to the family emigration to Ohio. Mrs. Robert Watt survived her husband by many years, and both were zealous members of the Presbyterian Church. Their children were ten in number.

Within a short time after his marriage Will- lam K. Fitch established his home on the farm once owned by his maternal grandfather, in Moorefield Township, Harrison County, and here he continued his activities as one of the representative farmers and substantial and hon- ored citizens of Harrison County until his death, July 9, 1919, his wife having passed to the life eternal on the 25th of June, 1916, and both were active members of the Nottingham Presby- terian Church. He was a democrat in his po- litical allegiance. They became the parents of seven children : Minnle A. is the wife of Elzy Adams; Mary Flora is the wife of Samuel A. Webb; Hirrie M., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Lulu D. is the wife of Calvin F. Green; Veda V. is the wife of Earl S. Kerr; Bessie resides at Cleveland ; and Suella is the wife of Wilber R. Johnson, of Bedford, Ohio.

Besides having the advantages of the district schools of his native township Hirrie M. Fitch was for one year a student in the Oberlin Busi- ness College, after leaving which institution, in 1902, he established his residence in the city of Cleveland, where he remained about twelve years, during practically all of which he was identified with secret-service work. In 1913 he returned to the old home farm, about one and one-half miles north of the village of Moorefield, and there he continued his active association with farm enterprise until July, 1918, when he removed to his present farm, adjoining the vil- lage mentioned. He is a democrat in political adherency and his wife is an active member of the Methodist Church at Moorefield.

On the 3d of July, 1918, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fitch to Miss Grace Jane Moore, who was born in Moorefield Township, and who is a daughter of Columbus C. and Mar- garet (Green) Moore. Columbus C. Moore was born July 6, 1849, on the farm now occupied by Mr. Fitch, of this review, and here his death occurred August 10, 1891, his wife, who was born July 2, 1844, having survived him by about

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seven years and her death having occurred March 4, 1898. Columbus C. Moore was a son of John T. and Sarah (Mansfield) Moore, the former of whom was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1813, and the latter on the 4th of Sep- tember of the same year. Mr. Moore's death occurred October 23, 1898, his wife having passed away on the 4th of September of 1891.

At the age of about sixteen years, in 1828, John T. Moore came to Moorefield Township, Harrison County and found employment in a pioneer tannery in the little hamlet of Moore- field. His cash capital at the time of his ar- rival was only twenty-five cents, but he was am- bitious, self-reliant and energetic, so that he made advancement and was still a young man when he became the owner of the tannery in which he had been employed. Through self-dis- cipline and active association with men and affairs, he effectively overcame the educational handicap of his youth and he became one of the successful business men and influential citi- zens of Moorefield Township. At the time of his death he owned about 200 acres of land, besides other property. His wife held member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church. . They became the parents of seven children-Louisa, Hanna Jane, Almeda, Berkeley, Columbus C., Tulitha and Mary E. Columbus C. Moore as- sisted his father in the operation of the tan- nery and also became a successful farmer, he having been a young man at the time of his death, and both he and his wife having been earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Of their three children Mrs. Fitch is the youngest ; Clyde J. remains with Mr. and Mrs. Fitch on the old home farm; and Elmer C., who married Miss Alpha Hudephol, resides in the city of Canton, Stark County.

HENDERSON S. MILLS. A prominent and pros- perous merchant of Moorefield Village, Moore- field Township, Harrison County, Henderson S. Mills was for many years actively associated with the advancement of the educational status of county and state as a successful and popu- lar school teacher, later becoming widely and favorably known as county clerk of Harrison County. A son of the late Elias Mills, Jr., be was born, December 7, 1853, in the village where he now resides, and in which the greater part of his life has been spent. His paternal grand- . father, Elias Mills, Sr., was born, reared and married in Maryland, the maiden name of his wife having been Nancy Jane Harris. In 1817 he came with his family to Moorefield Town- ship, Harrison County, and bought a large tract of land that was still in its primitive wildness, and a part of the homestead which he cleared is now owned by his grandson, Henderson S. Mills, of whom we write. To him and his wife eleven children were born, Joseph, William, Nathan, Elias, John, Reuben, Jesse, Benjamin, Mary Ann, Rachel, and Asenath.

Elias Mills, Jr., was born in Frederick, Mary- land, June 27, 1812, and at the age of five years came with his parents to Moorefield Township, where he subsequently spent the greater part of his life, during his active career having been a hotel keeper, a farmer, and a real estate

dealer. He spent his last eight years of life in Millersburg, Ohio, dying there October 18, 1893, at a venerable age.

Elias Mills, Jr., was four times married. He married first Isabel Glendon, and they became the parents of six children, as follows: Theo- dore; W. H. H .; Lovina ; Mary E .; Isabel, who was burned to death at the age of two years; and Martha, who died in childhood. He mar- ried for his second wife Mary Brown, who was born October 19, 1822, in a suburb of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, and died on the home farm in Moorefield Township, June 21, 1865. Of this union six children, also, were born, namely : Henderson S., Wherry, Ora, Belle, Eva, and Allie.

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History of Carroll and Harrison Counties, Ohio, Part 96

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