USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 3
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In 1848 he was appointed resident engineer of the National road, and
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held the office for three years. In 1851, when the Central Ohio railroad was being projected, he was active in the movement to have it pass through Cambridge, being the largest local stockholder in the road and a contractor in its construction. This contract was completed, but a failure of the com- pany crippled him financially during the remainder of his life. When the war of the Rebellion came on, he was appointed a member of the military commission of Guernsey county, and was also a draft commissioner during the war. He served for twelve years as justice of the peace, and during this period was also township trustee; was two terms mayor of Cambridge, and master commissioner of his county. In his religious faith he was a de- vout Methodist. To himself and wife were born five sons and three daugh- ters. Of this family, only the following four survive: Col. C. P. B. Sarchet, James B. Sarchet, John H. Sarchet, all three living in Cambridge, Ohio, at this writing; Harriet Josephine, now widow of James M. Carson, of Zanes- ville.
Of C. P. B. Sarchet it may be said that the earlier years of his life were spent in an uneventful manner, his time being given to farming and the attendance at the district schools of that period. For a short time he also went to what was known as the Cambridge Academy. For a number of years he clerked in the local stores of his native city. In 1855, in company with his father, he commenced the publication of the Guernsey Times, with which he was connected for several years. About forty years of his industrious life were given to the tilling of the soil and general management of the farm. During this time he held a number of local official positions, in which he gave time and labor for the public good, without reward or hope thereof. Perhaps no man in Guernsey county has given as much time to the history of men and events connected with the growth and development of the same, or has given more in answer to enquiries relative to the statistics of the county and state affairs. During the Civil war Mr. Sarchet performed much provost duty, looking after soldiers who were away on furlough, and was also appointed enrolling officer. In 1863, Governor Tod commissioned him captain and instructed him to organize the militia of this county into three regiments. After he effected this, he was elected colonel of the First Regi- ment, a title by which he has since been known. He took an active part in the John Morgan raid, was at Chillicothe, and later at Eaglesport, where he crossed the Muskingum river and followed the enemy until the latter were captured near Salineville, Ohio. For many years Mr. Sarchet was connected with the Guernsey County Agricultural Society, and was president of the Farmers' Institute of the county, and in the nineties was secretary of the.
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soldiers' relief committee. Politically, he has been allied with the Whig, Republican and Democratic parties.
He resides just to the east of the city proper, on Wheeling avenue, and with his almost daily trips to the city has covered about a thousand miles each year upon an average, making in the last thirty-five years thirty-five thousand miles- a distance which exceeds going around the globe and half way back, on foot!
Mr. Sarchet is a ready writer and has contributed much to the litera- ture of his county and state. Many years ago he wrote the "Cambridge of Fifty Years Ago." This was published in the Jeffersonian in serial articles, of great interest. Along political lines he wrote of the 1840 Whig cam- paign, including the history of the thirty-three Whigs of the county central committee. His articles on the Morgan raid give a detailed account of the same, covering his personal recollections of his eight days' ride in the saddle, going through Noble, Morgan, Guernsey, Harrison, Belmont, Jefferson and Columbiana counties. By reason of his special ability as a collector of his- toric data and biographical knowledge of his fellow-citizens of Guernsey county, he was selected to supervise the writing of the 1910 history of the county, which the reader now holds, and no better man could possibly have been selected by the publishers to superintend this task.
Concerning Colonel Sarchet's domestic relations, let it be stated that he married, on April 24. 1855, Margaret M., daughter of Andrew Moore. The children born of this union were: Frank M., deceased; Andrew M. ; Inez L., wife of Cyrus F. Wilson ; Martha Blanche.
In his religious faith, the Colonel is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which for many years he was the treasurer. In perusing the various newspaper files of this county, the writer of this memoir has found scores and hundreds of valuable historic items from Colonel Sarchet's ready pen. His knowledge of men and events in this portion of Ohio is in- deed wonderful. In this month (November, 1910) this venerable old gen- tleman attains his eighty-second birthday. He ranks high among the plain, unassuming, practical and generous-hearted men of his day and generation, and of whom the world has none too many.
JUDGE EDWARD W. MATHEWS, SR.
One of the notable men of his day and generation in Guernsey county is Judge Edward W. Mathews, Sr., a man who, through a long and eminently
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commendable career in public and private life, has won state-wide recogni- tion and who stands today an avowed leader of his fellowmen; a man who has done much to mould public opinion in his locality and foster those move- ments that make for ultimate success and advancement. He is a man of the people in all the term implies, broad-minded, of keen discernment and un- swerving integrity. By a life consistent in motive and action and because of his fine personal qualities, he has earned the sincere regard of all who know him, his ideas and ideals having always been high and his influence salutary ; so that his career might well be profitably studied by the youth whose for- tunes are yet to be determined in the precarious vicissitudes of the coming years, for therein may be found many a lesson.
Judge Mathews was born February 7, 1832, at St. Peters Port, on the isle of Guernsey and is the son of Edward W. and Margaret ( Blampied) Mathews. The father was a victim of the cholera epidemic that visited that country in 1832 and the following year the mother, in company with rela- tives, came to America and to Cambridge, then a small village of about six hundred people. Here the subject of this sketch spent his childhood and youth and here he has held his residence ever since. He was educated in the schools of Cambridge and also attended two different academies of the county. His home for a time was with his brother-in-law, John Mahaffey, who was a shoemaker, and while making his home here young Mathews worked at the shoemaking trade for three or four years. In 1850, when he was eighteen years of age, he went with a company of gold seekers to California by the over- land route and experienced the hardships and adventures of such a trip in those early days. Shortly after reaching "the diggings" he was taken with typhoid fever and lay sick for several weeks. When able to go to work, he began labor in the mines for gold, and continued this for about two and a half years and was successful in accumulating considerable precious metal. He returned to Cambridge by the Isthmus route, landing in New York and thence by railroad and stage to Cambridge. Soon after returning to Cam- bridge he bought an interest in the drug business with E. R. Nyce, in Cam- bridge. The partners also bought a drug store in Cumberland, Guernsey county, of which Mr. Mathews took charge and conducted for two years. E. R. Nyce was also postmaster at Cambridge, and after this business partner- ship had continued several years Mr. Mathews also took charge of the post- office, in connection with the drug store, and continued to manage the same until 1859. Having an ambition to enter the law, he had for two years been reading in the office of Mathew Gaston, at that time a prominent attorney of the county. On leaving the postoffice and drug store, he entered the Cin-
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cinnati Law School and graduated from that institution in 1860, returning then to Cambridge where he began the practice with his former preceptor, Mathew Gaston.
Since that time he has been a member of the bar of Guernsey county and southern Ohio. For some years he was associated with Hon. J. W. White, who, during this association, was elected to Congress. Later he was asso- ciated with W. S. Heade in the practice of law, the partnership of Mathews & Heade continuing for about a quarter of a century ; and in 1898 his son, Edward W. Mathews, Jr., became a member of the firm, the firm name then being Mathews, Heade & Mathews. In 1894 Mr. Heade retired from the firm, and since that time father and son have continued in the practice of law, the firm name being Mathews & Mathews. Judge Mathews has engaged in a large practice in all the county and state courts and is an attorney of recog- nized ability.
In 1884 Mr. Mathews was appointed by Governor Hoadley, of Ohio, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Frazier, of the common pleas court. He was recognized as a judge of marked ability, but, being a Democrat in politics and the judicial district four thousand Republican, Judge Mathews was de- feated for an election following this term, though by a very greatly reduced Republican majority. He is a Democrat of the old school and always loyal as a party supporter. He has served as mayor of Cambridge and also as a member of the school board for two terms. He was a delegate to the Demo- cratic national convention which met in St. Louis and nominated Grover Cleveland for President in 1888, and has been prominent in the party councils of the state.
Judge Mathews has been very active in public affairs. He was active with Gen. A. J. Warner in promoting, building and operating the Cleveland & Marietta railroad. From the organization of the company he was its at- torney and continued in this capacity with the original company and its suc- cessors until 1909, when he severed his connection.
He has also had extensive real estate interests and has been enterprising and active in the improvement of the city of Cambridge, in erecting substantial business blocks and residence properties. At the organization of the Central National Bank, some years ago, he became a member of the board of direc- tors and upon the death of Mr. Hutchinson he succeeded to the presidency of the bank, which position he still holds.
Judge Mathews has been twice married, first in May, 1862, to Amelia Haynes, daughter of Dr. Vincent and Sarah Haynes. To this union two chil- dren were born, Edward W. Mathews, Jr., an attorney of Cambridge, asso- ciated in the practice with his father, and Minnie L., who died in infancy.
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Mrs. Mathews died in 1877. His second marriage was solemnized on Janu- ary 30, 1879, to Anna Means, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret ( Ackel- son) Means: of Washington county, Pennsylvania. To this union were born, Margaret Amelia, now Mrs. Verne D. Benedict, of Massillon, Ohio, and Ger- trude B., at home.
The Mathews home, at the southeast corner of Wheeling avenue and Ninth street, is located near the central portion of the business section of the city, and is a refined, cultured home, where good cheer and genuine hospi- tality are supreme.
Judge Mathews and his family are members of the Presbyterian church and he served as trustee for eighteen years. He and his family have always been active in church and Sunday school work. Mr. Mathews was made a Mason in 1853 and has advanced to the thirty-third degree, an honor and dis- tinction reached by but few men. He has led a busy life, but always has time to be agreeable with all with whom he comes in contact. A large, robust man, always full of energy and good cheer ; a splendid man, a splendid citizen, a lover of home life, a devoted husband and an indulgent father. As an attor- ney he ranks second to none in this section of the state and has been very suc- cessful. He is earnest, painstaking and persistent in his methods of proced- ure, a forceful, eloquent speaker and a man who is profoundly versed in all matters of jurisprudence.
JUDGE JAMES W. CAMPBELL.
In placing the name of James W. Campbell in the front rank of Guern- sey county citizens. simple justice is done to a biographical fact, universally recognized throughout this and adjoining counties by men at all familiar with his history. A man of judgment, sound discretion and public spirit, he has so impressed his individuality upon the community as to gain the highest esteem of all classes.
Judge Campbell was born September 20, 1847, in Middleton, Guern- sey county, Ohio, the son of Dr. James and Susan (Brown) Campbell, the former being a prominent practitioner here for many years, a man of influence, high character and intelligence.
Born in this locality, which was settled by people from the island bearing the name of Guernsey, off the north coast of France, Judge James W. Camp- bell has, unaided, fought his way, step by step, to a position of eminence. At the age of fifteen years he, after repeated attempts, enlisted in the army and
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became a member of the regiment which Whitelaw Reid, in his "Ohio in the War," credits with suffering the greatest hardships of any regiment at that time in the field. After coming out of the army the young soldier prepared for college and entered Williams with a personal letter from President Gar- field to Mark Hopkins. He worked his way through college, cleaning recita- tion rooms, kindling fires and doing odd jobs to pay his way.
After leaving college, Mr. Campbell worked as a printer, as editor, and read law, all at the same time, and in so doing laid the foundation for the high legal and business reputation that he has since acquired. He was specially admitted to practice by the supreme court before that body took general charge of admissions, and practiced in Cambridge, also in eastern Ohio, rising to a position of eminence in his chosen profession. No man in Ohio has ranked higher in law than Judge Campbell, and his legal attainments are equaled by few in this or any state. After nine years of practice he was elected to the bench, the youngest man ever elected to the judiciary in Ohio. and made a record which has not been surpassed both for amount and quality of work. Judge Campbell has been successful not only in legal circles, but also in a business way. He was vice-president and is still a director in the oldest national bank of Cambridge, among the first of national banks organ- ized in the United States. He was special counsel for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and the United States Steel Company ; he was receiver and general manager of the Eastern Ohio railroad, and is still director in the Marietta & Lake and the Eastern Ohio railroads, and has been organizer, officer, director and attorney for various important eastern corporations. He takes great interest in educational and literary movements and is familiar with the world's best literature and a writer of no mean order of ability himself. He is a mem- ber of the board of directors of the Cambridge public library.
Recently the Judge has invested extensively in California orange and oil properties, making his headquarters at Los Angeles. He is president of the Bankers and Merchants Oil Company and of the California Investment Com- pany, vice-president of the Consolidated Midway Oil Company of California, which owns the largest well in the world, flowing three thousand measured barrels per hour; vice-president of the France-Wellman Oil Company, and treasurer of the Kern Westside Oil Company: treasurer of the Elk Hills Midway Oil Company.
Judge Campbell was married February 13, 1873, to Martha White, daughter of Hon. Joseph W. and Nancy ( Sarchet) White, of Cambridge, a prominent and influential family here, Mr. White having, for a number of years, represented the Cambridge district in Congress. To Judge and Mrs.
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Campbell one son has been born, Joseph W. Campbell, who, after graduation from the University of Chicago, entered the legal profession, having for a preceptor none other than his able father, consequently he made rapid progress in his studies, went through the Cincinnati Law School with high honors, and was duly admitted to the bar. He is now engaged very successfully in the practice at Joliet, Illinois, and he is also dealing extensively in real estate. He is a thoroughly competent and successful young man, to whom the future holds much of promise.
The Campbell home is at the corner of Wheeling avenue and Ninth street, Cambridge, and is a commodious, modern brick house, thoroughly equipped and furnished with modern utilities and comforts, and is known as a place of old-time hospitality and good cheer.
Throughout his entire professional and business career Judge Campbell has been animated by lofty motives, and made every personal consideration subordinate to the higher claims of duty. Broad and liberal in his views, with the greatest good of his fellow men ever before him, his conduct has been that of the lover of his kind and the true and loyal citizen, who is ready at all times to make any reasonable sacrifice for the cause in which his interests are enlisted. He is, withal, a man of the people, proud of his distinction as a citizen of a state and nation for whose laws and institutions he has the most profound admiration and respect, while his strong mentality, ripe judgment and unimpeachable integrity demonstrate to the satisfaction of all his ability to fill honorably important official positions and to discharge worthily the duties of his trusts.
BENJAMIN F. SHEPPARD.
To the average individual so-called success is the reward of persistent striving and grim determination. It is sometimes gained through rivalry and competition, and frequently is attained by the aid of preference and influence. So powerful and necessary seem these aids that the one who does not command them is often disheartened at his prospects of success. Benjamin F. Shep- pard, president of the Cambridge Bank, and one of the leading men of Guern- sey county in financial circles. seems to have acquired the knowledge of how to achieve true success in the various walks. He holds worthy prestige in business circles, and has always been distinctively a man of affairs and wields a wide influence among those with whom his lot has been cast, having won definite results in whatever he has turned his attention to and at the same
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time has shown what a man with lofty principles, honesty of purpose and determination can accomplish when actuated with high motives and unself- ish ideals.
Mr. Sheppard was born November 1. 1864, in Kirkwood township, Bel- mont county, Ohio. He is the son of Dr. I. H. and Harriet ( Grimes) Shep- pard, an old and influential family, these parents still living in the vicinity mentioned above, the father being one of the best known practitioners in that county, having practiced for many years, but he is now living retired and has reached the age of seventy-eight years. Doctor Sheppard was exceptionally successful in life, being a man of sound business judgment and keen discern- ment.
Benjamin F. Sheppard, of this review, was educated in the public schools of his native community, and the normal school at Fairview, Guernsey coun- ty. He spent a part of his youth on the home farm and engaged in wool and tobacco dealing. He was successful as a business man from the first and has accumulated a very comfortable competency, becoming the owner of large land interests in Guernsey county. He was the promoter of the Union Tele- phone Company of Fairview, which connects Fairview, Barnesville, Wheel- . ing, West Virginia, Freeport and St. Clairsville, and he was manager of the company for a period of nine years, his judicious management resulting in an extensive enterprise being built up. The company then sold out to a tele- phone company of Wheeling. Then Mr. Sheppard turned his attention to his large estate and to banking interests. He was one of the prime promoters of the Cambridge Bank, organized under the banking laws of Ohio, in April, 1905. He was the first president of this institution and has held this position to the present time, managing its affairs in a manner entirely satisfactory to all concerned and building up one of the safest and most popular banking houses in eastern Ohio. He is essentially an organizer and promoter by nature, is a man of keen business acumen and discernment and makes few mistakes in his deductions and inductions. He is broad-minded, liberal and far-seeing, being a conservative banker, conducting his bank along safe yet liberal lines at all times. In addition to his banking interests he has large real estate interests and other financial interests of a private nature.
Politically, Mr. Sheppard is a Republican and he has long taken an abiding interest in public matters, but has never been an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he has been a steward in the local church for many years, serving as trustee prior to that. They are active church workers and liberal in their support of the church.
Mr. Sheppard was married on November 20, 1895, to Leanna Giffee,
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daughter of Benjamin and Lida ( Kannon) Giffee. Her father was a promi- nent farmer of Guernsey county, whose death occurred in 1902. Mrs. Giffee is still living. Mr. Giffee was eighty-two years of age at the time of his death ; he was active in business and a man of sterling character and worth. Tle was a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Shep- pard is a lady of culture and refinement and is devoted to her home. Like her husband, she enjoys the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances. This union has been graced by the birth of one son, Josiah B. G. Sheppard, now eleven years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard became residents of Cambridge in November, 1902. They have a modern, attractive and commodious home on the corner of South Eleventh street and Wheeling avenue. It is one of the most pre- tentious residences in the city and is known as a place where old-time hospi- tality and good cheer ever prevail. The Sheppard family is prominent in commercial, social, church and educational circles in Cambridge and Guern- sey county.
ALPHEUS L. STEVENS.
A well known attorney of Cambridge, and the representative of one of the old and influential families of Guernsey county is Alpheus L. Stevens, whose birth occurred on July 25, 1864, in Londonderry township, this county. He is the son of James and Ann ( Morrow) Stevens, the father a native of Germany and the mother of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The Stevens family were pioneers here and influential in the affairs of their lo- cality for several generations. James Stevens devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was very successful in the same, establishing a good home and developing an excellent farm. Politically, he was a Republican, and while he kept well informed on political and current topics, he was never active in party affairs. After lives of usefulness and honor, he and his good life com- panion are sleeping the sleep of the just in the Antrim cemetery.
Alpheus L. Stevens spent his youth on his father's farm and was found in the fields assisting with the crops at a very early age. He attended the public schools during the winter months. Being an ambitious lad, he studied hard and prepared himself for a career at the bar, being duly admitted to practice law in June, 1895. He opened an office in Cambridge and has been very successful, having built up a very satisfactory clientele.
Politically, Mr. Stevens is a Republican and he has always been a party
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worker. Recognizing his ability as a persistent, painstaking attorney and as a public spirited man of affairs, his friends urged his nomination for prosecut- ing attorney in 1899 and he was duly elected to this office, the duties of which he very faithfully discharged, serving Guernsey county in this capac- ity for two terms, or a period of six years, in a manner that reflected credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned.
On January 24, 1910, Mr. Stevens was appointed postmaster of Cam- bridge by President Taft, and he assumed the duties of this office on February 4th following. His selection to this important post has met with general ap- proval. Mr. Stevens is a Mason and a member of the Presbyterian church. He is deeply interested in the welfare of his community and county, but is conservative and unassuming in all walks of life.
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