USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 18
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Howard W. Arndt spent his childhood and youth on the home farm and his early education was obtained in the district country schools, attending later, for a short time, Muskingum College at New Concord. In 1893 he
HOWARD W. ARNDT, M. D.
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entered Starling Medical College at Columbus, Ohio, and, making an excellent record there, he was graduated from that institution on March 25, 1897. Two days later he located in Lore City and began the practice of his profession, and he has been here ever since, building up a very satisfactory patronage and tak- ing a very high rank among the leading medical men of this locality. He is not only very successful as a general practitioner, but also as a surgeon, and he has the full confidence of the people in both lines of his practice.
The Doctor was married on December 30, 1897, to Carrie Melick, daugh- ter of John and Mary (Davis) Melick, of Malta, Morgan county, Ohio. Her father was formerly an undertaker in that city, but is now retired. His wife is also living; they were never residents of Guernsey county. Doctor Arndt has no children.
In addition to his extensive practice Doctor Arndt is engaged in large farming operations, being the owner of two fine farms adjoining Lore City, mostly bottom lands in the Leatherwood valley. They are well improved, well kept and under a high state of cultivation. He engages in general farming and gives special attention to the raising of fine stock, cattle and horses, being an excellent judge of both. His cattle are regarded as of the best grade for grazing purposes, and when ready for the market always command top notch prices. He is a breeder of thoroughbred Percheron horses, which are always in demand. His residence is in Lore City and is one of the most attractive, modern and convenient in the vicinity. He is a member of the county, state and national medical societies, and he belongs to the Senecaville lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been allied with the same since he was twenty-one years of age. He also belongs to the Masonic order and holds affiliation with the Cambridge chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and the Cambridge commandery of Knights Templar. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, the latter being organist at the local church and interested in church and Sunday school work, being a teacher in the latter for years. She is a member of the Rebekah lodge at Lore City, and the Order of the Eastern Star of Quaker City.
Doctor Arndt is an ardent advocate of outdoor sports and recreation, and he likes to spend a day occasionally with his dog and gun. Politically, he is a Republican and has long been active in the affairs of the party, and he has served as a member of the Republican county central committee and is a fre- quent delegate to county, district and state conventions, and he always makes his influence felt at such gatherings. He has never been an office seeker, being too busy with his large practice and his extensive farming and stock raising. He is always ready to aid in any cause looking to the general ad-
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vancement of his community, is one of the leading citizens of Guernsey county in every respect, and the Arndt home is prominent in the social life of the community.
SAMUEL CARTER.
From one of the oldest and best families of this section of the national union comes Samuel Carter, one of the progressive farmers and honored citizens of Oxford township, Guernsey county, and he has always tried to live up to the high standard set by his progenitors, and has therefore won and retained the esteem of a wide circle of acquaintances and friends.
Mr. Carter was born on June 8, 1855, in Monroe county, Ohio, and is the son of John and Mary (Scott) Carter, the father born in Maryland and the mother in Washington county, Pennsylvania. When twenty-four years old the father came to Fairview, Oxford township, Guernsey county, in 1827, and after a short time he went to Wheeling and established a grist-mill, which he operated for eight years. He then established the first steam grist- mill on the upper Ohio river at Pawhattan, on the West Virginia side of the river, and he operated this mill for ten years. Then he built a steam mill at Clarington, Monroe county, which he conducted for ten years, then bought a farm near St. Clairsville, in Belmont county. He farmed there until 1875 when he moved to Fairview, Guernsey county, and retired from active business, living at Fairview until his death, on November 1, 1894, at the advanced age of ninety-two years; his wife died in April, 1891, and both are buried at Fletcher's cemetery. He was a very successful business man and made good money out of his mills and farms, and he was a man of strong character.
Grandfather Joel Carter was a miller on Rock Run, Maryland, on the Susquehanna river, and he taught his son John, father of Samuel, the milling business. During the war of 1812 his mills were destroyed and financial disaster visited the grandfather. In the evening-up of business matters Joel Carter gave his son John two silver dollars with the statement that this would be the extent of his financial aid. But John Carter was a man who did not need aid, being strong in body and mind and of unswerving courage. He came west, as has been shown, and became a pioneer miller and amassed a fortune, also establishing for himself an envied reputation among all men with whom he came into contact in a business or social way.
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Samuel Carter, of this review, was taken to Belmont county by his par- ents when four years old and he received a good education in the country schools there. He grew to maturity in that county and made it his home until he was twenty years of age. He began life for himself there by teaching two terms of school. He then came to Oxford township, Guernsey county, and taught with pronounced success for a period of eight years, his services being in great demand.
Mr. Carter was married on May 22, 1879, to Louisa Smith, daughter of John and Margaret (Temple) Smith. Mr. Smith was a farmer of Mill- wood township and he and his wife are both deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Carter three children have been born, namely: Etta L., deceased; Alfred N. is married and is living at home on the farm which he now works, but he was formerly a teacher for five years; Della Margaret is unmarried and is living at home.
Mr. Carter has lived in Oxford township ever since coming to this county, and since 1881, when he gave up teaching, he has engaged in farm- ing on a fine, well improved farm of two hundred and seventy-six acres which he bought at that time. It is as good land as the county can boast and he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a modern, attractive and comfortable residence and good outbuildings. Of late he is giving most of his attention to live stock, of which he is a good judge. His farm is well adapted to raising sheep and he is especially interested in this branch of stock raising.
Politically, Mr. Carter is a Democrat, but he has never been active in public matters, but always interested in whatever tends to the development of his community and county. He has served as township clerk for three years, trustee for two years, assessor for three years, and he is a member of the township board of education, having held this position for the past twen- ty-four years. As a public servant he has done a great deal of good to his community and has gained the esteem of all concerned. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has been a class leader for the past thirty-eight years, and he has been a trustee and steward for many years. His son succeeds him as class leader in the church. The family has long been active in church and Sunday school work. Mr. Carter was superintendent of the local Sunday school for a period of twenty-seven years, and he is yet a teacher of a Bible class for men.
The Carter home has an atmosphere of refinement and culture and the family is prominent in the social life of the community.
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JAMES EDWIN EATON.
To a great extent the prosperity characterizing all industries of our country is due to the honest industry, the sturdy persistence, the unswerving perseverance and the wise economy which so prominently characterize the business element in the Buckeye state. Among this class should be mentioned James Edwin Eaton, of near Cambridge, Guernsey county, where he main- tains a well improved place and a popular and up-to-date sanitary dairy. By years of indefatigable labor and honest effort he has not only acquired a well-merited material prosperity, but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with whom he has associated. He is a retired merchant.
Mr. Eaton was born a mile east of Cambridge, this county, in 1859, and he is the son of Philip and Maria (Donaldson) Eaton, a complete sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. Suffice it to say here that they were among the highly honored early families of this community, the father having come here when ten years of age from Belmont county, this state, his parents buying the farm where James E. Eaton was born. He was a member of a family of six children and he grew to maturity on the home farm. When fifteen years old he turned his attention to merchandising, finding employment in a grocery store in Cambridge, and for a period of thirty-three years he was engaged either as an employe or proprietor in the grocery business on one square in Cambridge, during which time he was very suc- cessful, enjoying an excellent trade and becoming acquainted with nearly everybody in the county. When he was about thirty-two years old, an old injury in his leg, received when a boy, began giving him trouble anew and became so aggravated that it incapacitated him for business, and he was thus disabled for two years and had three amputations performed on the member before the wound finally healed. He then bought a grocery in the same square where he had been employed so long and he continued in business until 1908, when he sold out and moved to his farm just east of the city, which he had bought while engaged in the grocery business. He had been very successful as a merchant because he had always sought to please his customers and was honest in all his dealings with his fellowmen. He and his wife have both been very diligent and no small part of the subject's suc- cess has been due to the faithful assistance and wise counsel of his wife. They now have a beautiful home east of Cambridge on a part of the farm on which he was born. He engages in fruit growing, raises poultry and has an excellent dairy of Jersey cattle. It is a pleasure to look over his well kept place, his modern dairy and his attractive home and fine orchard. He
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is eminently deserving of the large success he has attained, owing to his life of hard work and habits of fair dealing.
In May, 1889, Mr. Eaton married Emma Wilson, daughter of George and Maria (Butler) Wilson. She was born in Coshocton county, near the Knox county line. Her mother died when she was about a year old and she was taken into the home of her sister in Newark and later into that of her aunt in Columbus, Ohio, and for five years prior to her marriage she lived at the home of J. O. McIlyar and clerked in his store until her mar- riage. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Eaton, Fred and Marie; the former makes his home in Michigan, while the latter remains with her parents.
Politically, Mr. Eaton is a Republican, and he takes considerable inter- est in local political affairs. He served for a period of twelve years as town- ship treasurer and as city treasurer of Cambridge for six years. He made no special effort to get these offices, but they were literally "thrust upon him," owing to his peculiar fitness for the positions, and, useless to add, that he discharged his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JAMES D. ABELS.
No more progressive or broad-minded citizen is to be found in the vicin- ity of Byesville than James D. Abels, and no more public spirited man in Guernsey county, consequently he is gladly given a place in this history. He was born near Middleton, Guernsey county, in 1834, and is the son of John, Jr., and Mary Ann (Seveard or Bevard) Abels. The paternal grand- father, John Abels, Sr., was the son of a pilot on an ocean vessel that plied between Holland and New York city and it is believed that he was born in Holland. His father, the pilot, brought him on a trip to New York when a small boy, prior to the year 1800 and on the voyage the father died, and the boy was left alone at New York. A stranger took him up-town and kept him over night, taking him to the market the following morning, and inquired if any one wanted a boy to raise. Thomas Thorne, a farmer living near the city, being pleased with the boy's appearance, took him and reared him, keep- ing him until he was married. Later he moved to Guernsey county, Ohio, and settled near Middleton, taking up land, being among the early settlers.
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His son, John Abels, Sr., was born in 1808, and grew up in Guernsey county, and there married Mary Ann Bevard. Her parents came from Maryland and were pioneers in the locality lying between Middleton and Quaker City. Nine children were born to this union: Rachel, James D., Rebecca, Nancy, Mar- garet (who died when three years old), William, Sarah Jane, Phoebe and Susan M.
About 1840 John Abels, Jr., entered land in Washington county and moved there, but his land lying in the midst of an almost impenetrable forest, he had to stop on his removal thereto several miles away until a road could be cut to it. On his trip he took his family and all his belongings in a wagon drawn by oxen. A short time before he came another settler had cut a road to his own new home, which was about two miles from that of Mr. Abels. This road was followed by the latter as far as it went, then he finished cutting a road to his land; then went afoot until he found where he could get water. He then cut a road back to his wagon and brought the family on into the forest, cleared a little space, drove down stakes and piled brush over them for a shelter to live under until he could clear a larger space and build a log cabin. So dense and unbroken was the forest that the father got lost on his own farm, one evening, only two or three hundred yards from his home, but hearing a cow bell, followed his cows home. In due course of time he had a good farm cleared and improved, James D. taking his share of the work. The father made this his home until 1873, then sold out and moved to the southwest part of Jackson township where he bought a home, and there he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, dying there and they are both buried at Mt. Zion church cemetery, having been members of that church. The father had been a Baptist minister back in Washington county, also preached in adjoining counties, but he gave up active preaching when he moved to Guernsey county, although he still preached occasionally.
James D. Abels grew to maturity on the farm, in Washington county. After he grew into manhood he came over into Jackson township, this coun- ty, and worked about a year in the mines and on the farm, and here he met the woman he later married. Returning home, he remained there a year, then in April, 1858, returned to Jackson township and married Rebecca Delarue, daughter of John and Martha (Dennison) Delarue. She was born and reared in Guernsey county, her father having come to this country from France. He died in 1846, leaving a widow and large family to be supported on an eighty-acre farm which he owned. The mother died in 1876. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. James D. Abels established their home in the western part of Jackson township, directly south of the court house in Cam-
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bridge. When Mr. and Mrs. Abels were married he ran the farm for her, later bought more land adjoining and now has a fine farm of one hundred acres, which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Abels, one of whom is deceased. They are: John T., who lives on the home farm, married Alta Beach and his family consists of nine children, of whom six are living, Charlie, Harry, Thomas, Albert, Frank and Eva. William E., who is a general merchant in Byesville, married Mary Long and has had a family of five children : Virgie died in Iowa when four or five years old; James D., Jonathan, Roy and Dorothy. Mary M. married Alexander Newman, and their children, four of whom are living, are, Ethel, Ora, Otto and Homer; Mary, their other child, died in 1907. Cora Abels married W. K. Booth, a grocer in Cambridge, and they became the parents of six children, only two of whom are now living: Vera and Freda. Elizabeth married Durward Williams; they live in Salesville and have two children, Bernetta and Cora.
Mr. Abels was one of the loyal sons of the North who fought to defend the flag in the Civil war, having become a member of Company E. One Hun- dred and Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served very faithfully, and he is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Cambridge. He and his wife belong to the Mt. Zion Baptist church near his old home in Jackson township. About 1903 he moved his family to Cambridge, with the expectation of buying a home there, but a year later decided to locate in Byesville, and they now have a beautiful and comfort- able home there.
ALEXANDER COCHRAN.
The name of Alexander Cochran will never be forgotten by those who had the opportunity of knowing him, and although he can be seen by mortal eyes no longer, his influence is still active for good among his fellow men, and-thanks for the assurances of hope-upon the great ocean of eternity, his life, not in the embrace of sleep nor in the apparent selfishness of rest, but in activity of service in the courts of heaven, has burst into splendor.
Mr. Cochran was born February 26, 1832, in Oxford township, this county, and he was the son of William and Martha ( Henderson) Cochran. The Cochrans were of Scotch-Irish descent, and grandfather Alexander Coch- ran came to Guernsey county, Ohio, in the early days of the nineteenth century when the country was all a dense forest, inhabited by Indians and wild game.
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The father, William Cochran, was a farmer and his son, Alexander, grew to maturity on the home place and assisted in clearing the land and tilling the soil. During the winter months he attended the neighboring schools, which were taught in log cabins. When he was nineteen years of age he went to California to seek his fortune in the gold fields, making the trip by way of the isthmus of Panama, and experienced the usual hardships. He remained in California about six years, spending his time in the mines north of Sacra- mento. He was very successful there and his experiences were of lasting benefit to him. Returning to Ohio, he engaged in various business enter- prises, acquiring valuable lands, now Quaker City, when there were only a few crude houses along the one street, the town being started along the main road that passed through the settlement. He bought land in this locality from time to time and acquired a large acreage, and he changed the name of the place from Millwood to Quaker City, owing to the fact that the locality had been settled principally by Quakers. He engaged in all kinds of mercan- tile enterprises, and he encouraged young men to take up various lines of busi- ness, being in every way active in the development of the community. He built houses and sold them to individuals wanting homes. He was, in reality, the founder and builder of Quaker City. Later he became the proprietor of a large planing and saw-mill, which he continued to operate until his death and which is still operated by his family. He was a very successful business man and one of the leading citizens in every respect of this part of the county.
Mr. Cochran was married on March 17, 1872, to Susan A. Gregg, daugh- ter of John and Mary ( Holcher) Gregg, a prominent family of Belmont, Bel- mont county, Ohio. To this union one daughter was born, Lena G., who married Rev. Charles H. Williams, a Congregational minister, of Gloucester. Massachusetts. Mrs. Williams is a highly educated woman, being a graduate of Oberlin College and the Boston Conservatory of Music.
Mr. Cochran was a Republican in politics from the organization of the party, and he was always active in its affairs and deeply interested in all pub- lic matters. No man did more for Quaker City and vicinity than he, and his name is now a synonym for progress, success and right living, both in private and public life. In addition to his business interests in Quaker City, he was an extensive land owner and farmer and for several years he was an extensive and successful coal operator, being among the early pioneer coal operators in this part of the coal producing field.
Mr. Cochran was a thirty-second-degree Mason and was prominent in the order. Mrs. Cochran is a member of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Cochran's parents were members of the same denomination. While Mr.
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Cochran was not a member of the church, he was a strong advocate of churches and a liberal supporter of the same.
The death of this excellent citizen, kind-hearted neighbor, valued friend and indulgent father and husband, occurred on August 14, 1904, meeting death in a tragic manner, having been killed in a railroad accident in Wheel- ing while attending to some business matters. His funeral was conducted by the Masonic order, of which he was so long a member, and delegations from lodges from many surrounding cities were in attendance. He was a man of sterling worth and character and no man occupied a higher place in the esti- mation of the people among whom he lived and labored to such goodly ends and his memory will always be revered by all classes here.
MARTIN VAN BUREN McKIM.
For seventy years a resident of Kimbolton and its vicinity, Martin VanBuren McKim is well acquainted with the history of the community, and has borne his share in its activities. He was born on September 10, 1840. on a farm in the round-log cabin home of his parents, two miles southeast of Kimbolton. His parents were Burr W. and Catherine ( Hines) McKim. His father was of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Loudoun county, Vir- ginia; his mother was born of German ancestry in the same county. They were married in Loudoun county, and in 1835, shortly after their marriage, they came west over the mountains in a one-horse wagon with all their worldly possessions. Burr W. McKim was a man of good education for those days, a civil engineer, a school teacher, and also an expert weaver. After coming to Guernsey county he was extensively engaged in civil engi- neering, surveying most of the lands of Liberty township and laying out the village of Kimbolton, and also did much surveying in other parts of the county. He was also a skillful violin player and furnished music at many of the dances of the early settlers, and was welcome at all social functions. He also owned a farm, but did not give much time to farming. Being expert with tools, he made the first grain cradles that found their way into Liberty township. In politics he was a Democrat, and very active.
Burr W. and Catherine McKim were the parents of ten children, namely : A son who died in infancy ; James, deceased, a soldier in the Civil war ; John, deceased, also a soldier in the Civil war; Elizabeth, deceased: Rebecca, de- ceased; George, a soldier in the Civil war, now living in Lawrenceburg, Ten-
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nessee; Martin VanBuren; Catherine, deceased; Hiram, four years a sol- dier, deceased ; and William, also for four years a soldier. In all, six sons served in the Civil war, and not one was wounded or taken prisoner, though they served actively during almost the whole war. The mother of these children died in 1883. The father died in 1871, aged about seventy-two.
Martin V. McKim grew up in the environment of his parents' activi- ties, and attended the country district schools when his services were not re- quired in work. Until he enlisted in the army, in August, 1861, in Com- pany B, Fifteenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he had worked on the farm and at other vocations. The first enlistment was for three months. In February, 1864, he enlisted again in the same company and regiment, and served to the close of the war as a private in General Sherman's army, par- ticipating in all the battles of that army, including the Atlanta campaign, but did not go with him to the sea, being transferred to Texas, where he served until the close of the war. On returning from the army he resumed farming, but soon gave that up for stone masonry, and in the years that fol- lowed did a great deal of work for the Columbus & Marietta railroad when it was in process of construction. He followed this until 1903, when, because of advancing years, he gave up his trade, and has since lived retired. He has always been a Republican, and while not particularly active, has been interested in public affairs, having served as a member of the school board and as constable and road supervisor. In 1906 he was elected mayor of the village of Kimbolton, and is now serving his second term. He is a member of Meagher Post No. 442, Grand Army of the Republic, and has filled the office of chaplain ever since becoming a member over twenty years ago. Mr. McKim was also a member of the local grange of the Patrons of Hus- bandry for several years, and was chaplain of that organization.
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