USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 31
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Nathan B. Scott was reared under the parental roof and secured his edu- cation mainly in the common schools of his home neighborhood. At the out- break of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Scott's patrictic impulses were aroused and in 1862 he enlisted as a private for service in a regiment of Ohio volun- teer infantry, with which he served his country faithfully until 1865, when he was honorably discharged from the service, after a creditable military record.
At the close of his military service, Mr. Scott located in Wheeling, West
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Virginia, of which city he has since been a resident and in the growth and de- velopment of which he has been an important factor. He early became iden- tified with the manufacture of glass, with which industry he has remained connected, being now, and for a number of years, president of the Central Glass Works, one of the largest glass manufacturers in that thriving city. He is a stockholder also in other concerns in that city and is vice-president of the Dollar Savings Bank of Wheeling, one of the solid and influential monetary institutions of that section of the state. In many ways Mr. Scott has exhibited a keen interest and salutary influence in commercial and indus- trial affairs and his support has always been given without reserve to every movement looking to the upbuilding of his home city. His business career has been characterized by soundness of judgment, sagacity in foreseeing the outcome of a transaction, and a healthy progressiveness, tempered by a wise conservatism which has always enabled him to confine his operations within safe bounds. He stands high in the estimation of his business associates among whom his advice and counsel is valued highly.
A Republican in his political views, Mr. Scott has always taken an active interest in public affairs and has long occupied a high place among the lead- ing men of his party in West Virginia. His first official preferment was as a member of the city council of Wheeling, to which he was elected in 1880, serving for two years as president of the second branch. In 1882 he was elected to the State Senate, served four years, and gave such eminent sat- isfaction that in 1886 he was elected to succeed himself. In 1888 Mr. Scott was selected as a member of the Republican national committee and has served continuously since as a member of that body, and in this capacity he has ren- dered valuable assistance in the management and direction of the campaigns of the party, having served as a member of the executive committees during the greater part of this period. Mr. Scott was appointed commissioner of internal revenue by President Mckinley, assuming the duties of that office on the Ist of January, 1898. However, his tenure of that office was of com- paratively short duration, as on January 25, 1899, he was the choice of the West Virginia Legislature for United States senator. In this august body Mr. Scott's abilities were quickly recognized and he served on several of the most important committees of that body, where he rendered effective and appreciated service. So satisfactory a representative of his state did he prove that in 1905 the Legislature again elected him to the Senate, his second term expiring on March 3. 1911. Mr. Scott's services in the United States Senate have been characterized by fidelity to his official duties and faithfulness to the interests of the state which he represents which has given him a strong
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hold on his fellow citizens of that great commonwealth, and few men enjoy a wider popularity or more devoted following than he. Keen and sagacious in business affairs, he has exhibited in public life the same commendable qual- ities which have characterized him in his personal affairs, and among his colleagues in the Senate he enjoys the highest standing.
REV. JOHN HOLLIDAY NASH.
Shakespeare wrote of good deeds illuminating a naughty world like candles in the dark. If all the good deeds of the late lamented divine, the Rev. John Holliday Nash, could be represented by candles on a dark night, there would be a great illumination, for they were myriad, according to those who knew him well; and the ameliorating influence he had will long continue to pervade the lives of men. He was one of the best known and beloved ministers in Guernsey county. His birth occurred at Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, on February 25. 1830. He was a precocious child and made a record as a student in early life. He was graduated from Washington and Jefferson College, at Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1840, and was licensed to preach by the Monmouth ( Illinois) presbytery, on June 17, 1853, and was ordained by the Associates after spending three years at the theological semi- nary at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He was pastor at LeClaire, Iowa, from October 8, 1857, to April 11, 1860; he preached at Sunbeam, Illinois, from January 1. 1861, to October 8, 1876: he served the people at Knoxville, Iowa. from April 10. 1877, to October 11. 1878. and he was pastor for the congre- gations at East Union and Pleasant Hill, Ohio, until August 21, 1883. hav- ing been released from the East Union charge on February 26, 1895, and from the Pleasant Hill charge on September 9. 1902. During these pastor- ates he lived in Cambridge.
Reverend Nash was married to Rachel G. Hodgens in 1855 and his union resulted in the birth of these children: W. T., of Newark, New Jer- sey, and Mrs. J. R. McBurney, of Cambridge, Ohio. The death of his first wife occurred in 1872, at Sunbeam, Illinois, and he was married a second time, his last wife being Sarah J. Graham, a graduate of Monmouth College. who survives.
On April 25. 1909, this distinguished citizen was called to his reward after a most active, useful and honored career. He had continued faithfully doing the Lord's work until the last sickness prevented further service. In
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all the charges he served he greatly strengthened the congregations, build- ing up the churches in a manner that proved him to be a man of untiring en- ergy and conscientious in his work. He was one of the most scholarly and profound thinkers of his day and generation, second to none of his contem- poraries, and his genial disposition, gentleness of manner and delightful so- cial nature were commended by all who knew him. It was said of him that it was impossible not to love him, his life was so pure and his ideals which he sought to inculcate were so high.
WILBUR D. DESELM.
Although a young man, Wilbur D. Deselm, the present efficient and popular auditor of Guernsey county, has proved himself to be one of those strong, sturdy individuals who is contributing largely to the general welfare of the city of Cambridge and vicinity, being an up-to-date business man, pub- lic spirited as a citizen, and progressive in all that the term implies. For a number of years he has been a potent factor in promoting progress along social, intellectual, civic and moral lines, consequently his name well deserves a place in the record of leading citizens of this community.
Mr. Deselm was born on August 20, 1877, in Knox township, Guernsey county, Ohio, and he is the son of James and Sarah ( Castor) Deselm, both natives of this county. The father was a farmer at the time of the son's birth, but is now living a retired life in Cambridge, where he has a very pleasant home : the mother is also still living. They are the parents of seven children, all living, and they have eleven grandchildren, all of whom are living ; the for- mer are named as follows: Cora, now Mrs. Grant Conger, of Cambridge; Theodore R. is secretary of the Cambridge Loan & Building Association ; Benjamin F., of Cambridge ; Myrtle, now Mrs. Robert Jennings, of Columbus, Ohio; Wilbur D., of this review; Nancy married Asa H. Baxter, of South Bend, Indiana ; Odessa V. married George B. Claggett.
Wilbur D. Deselm spent the first seventeen years of his life on the farm and he was educated in the country schools of Knox township and in the Cam- bridge high school. He later attended teachers' normals at different parts of the county, after which he taught school four terms, three in Wheeling town- ship and one in Londonderry township; three of these terms were taught dur- ing the winter months, and during the summer months he worked in the iron mills of Cambridge for several years. In February, 1902, he entered the
WILBUR D. DESELM.
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office of the Cambridge Loan & Building Association with his brother, and in October of that year he entered the county auditor's office as deputy auditor.
On July 10, 1901, Mr. Deselm was married to Yiza E. Logan, daughter of John C. and Margaret (Maddin) Logan, of Londonderry township: both parents are still living in Londonderry township. This union has been with- out issue.
Mr. Deselm served as deputy auditor seven years and in November, 1908. he was elected auditor of Guernsey county and is now serving his first term, and has given the utmost satisfaction in every respect. He made such a com- mendable record that he was renominated for the same office, and his election in November, 1910, was predicted by everyone from the time of his nomina- tion, owing to his universal popularity. Politically, he is a Republican and has always been active in the party. He has been a frequent delegate to county conventions, and he is always well informed on public questions. He and his wife are members of the First United Presbyterian church at Cam- bridge and are active in its affairs, Mr. Deselm being a member of the church board. Mrs. Deselm is an intelligent, refined lady and is devoted to her home and its adornment. They are members of the Cambridge Country Club, and for recreation Mr. Deselin enjoys, now and then, a game of golf. Their pleasant home is at No. 321 North Ninth street, in a very desirable residence part of the city.
JAMES McCOURT.
It is hard for the present generation to properly appreciate the brave deeds of the "boys in blue" who sacrificed so much on the altar of patriotism during the dark days of the sixties, but as years go by and the ranks of this once invincible host are fast falling before the inevitable King of Terrors, the immensity of their deeds are being realized to a fuller extent and the time is rapidly approaching when each veteran will be accorded full measure of credit and praise. The gentleman whose name introduces this biographical record is a member of this great number of patriots. He is one of the lead- ing agriculturists of Westland township. Guernsey county, and is highly respected for the upright life he has led.
James McCourt is an American by adoption only, but he has proved himself to be just as loyal as if he had been born on our soil. His birth oc- curred on July 22, 1838, in county Armagh, Ireland, and he came to America when a lad of ten years, being accompanied by his parents. James Charles
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and Sarah ( Robinson) McCourt, who were born, reared and educated in Ireland. It was in the year 1848 that this family crossed the great Atlantic in an old-fashioned slow-sailing vessel and took up their residence in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they arrived on July 4th of that year. This family consisted of five children named as follows: Thomas, who died in infancy; the second, also named Thomas, was claimed by death when but a child; James, of this review ; John and Mary Anna. The last three named came across the waters with their parents. After remaining on the Atlantic seaboard for several years the family, in 1854, came to Guernsey county, Ohio, braving the hardships of those early days and settled in Jackson township, which was then only partly improved, but here they established a very com- fortable home and had a good farm. The father's death occurred at the age of seventy-two years and the mother reached the age of seventy-five years, both dying on the farm in Jackson township. They were excellent people and popular among their pioneer neighbors.
Their third son, James, of this review, grew to manhood on the home place which he assisted in clearing and developing and he attended the public schools which were conducted a few months each winter. When the war between the states began he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and he was in all the active campaigns and fighting that his regi- ment was called upon to participate in, but he proved to be a very faithful and gallant soldier at all times, according to his comrades. He was wounded in the right foot and was in the hospital for ten weeks. At that time he as- sumed charge of the medicine wagon of the regiment and on September 24, 1864, he was honorably discharged, after making an excellent record.
After his career in the army Mr. McCourt returned to the old farm in Jackson township, Guernsey county, and farmed for a year, and in the month of October, 1865, he led to the marriage altar Margrete McBride, a native of county Antrim, Ireland, where her birth occurred in 1837. She came to America when young and settled in Washington county, Pennsylvania, later moving to Guernsey county, Ohio, where she met and married James Mc- Court. This union resulted in the birth of five children named as follows : Thomas Begmen married Edna Miller; Martha became the wife of Sherman Burris ; Margaret married Edam Miller; John married Edna Rhienhart, who died on February 21, 1910, leaving three children, Dorothy, and Edna and Edward, twins; Carrie married Ralph Stout and she died in April, 1907, leav- ing three children, Margrete, James and Lucile. This family was reared on the subject's present splendidly improved farm, which is located nine miles southwest of Cambridge and one and one-half miles northeast of Claysville.
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It is regarded as one of the finest farms, in every respect, in the township and has been very carefully managed so that the original strength of the soil has been retained by proper rotation of crops, the application of home and commercial fertilizers and many other methods known to the modern agri- culturist. He is still farming on the land he purchased over forty-five years ago. The old homestead is beautifully located near the main road. The house is large, roomy, pleasant and attractive and is a credit to the pretty little valley in which it is located. Mr. McCourt also has good, convenient outbuildings and he keeps an excellent grade of live-stock of all kinds. Mrs. McCourt passed to her rest on December 23, 1905.
The subject is a member of Martin Post, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, in which he takes much interest, and he holds membership in the United Presbyterian church, being a ruling elder in the East Union church. He is a Republican in politics, but is not active, preferring to lead a quiet life and look after his individual affairs. He is a genial, pleasant man to meet and has a host of warm friends.
NOAH ELWOOD SECREST.
A well known and highly respected member of the Secrest family, one of the most prominent in Guernsey county since the pioneer days, is Noah Elwood Secrest, of Hartford, Valley township, who was born about one and one-half miles east of that town on December 9, 1836. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (Clark) Secrest, the father born in Hampshire county, Virginia, the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Spaid) Secrest. The family emigrated to Guernsey county when John was eleven months old, in De- cember, 1811, his birth having occurred on January 3d of that year. Henry Secrest also had a brother named John. The father of Henry and John Secrest came here and secured two farms for his sons Henry and John, then went back to Virginia, after locating his sons. About the end of the war of 1812, Henry enlisted for service, but peace was declared by the time he reached Zanesville. Henry was the father of William Secrest, mentioned in a separate sketch. He was also the father of John, the subject's grand- father. John Secrest grew up on the home farm, southeast of where Hart- ford now stands. There were no roads in this locality when the family first came, only the Marietta trail, a "blazed" road through the woods. They settled here in typical pioneer fashion, clearing a little space on which to
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build their cabin. John remained on the home place until he was married, on January 3, 1833, to Elizabeth Clark, on his twenty-first birthday, and on that day he wore the first "store bought" shirt in his life, having always worn those woven and made by his mother. Elizabeth Clark was born in Pennsylvania and was the daughter of Benjamin Clark, the maiden name of her mother having been Gregory. The Clark and Secrest families came to this county about the same time, having met en route while stopping over night between Wheeling and Barnesville, and on that night the two babies, John Secrest and Elizabeth Clark, were put to sleep in the same bed; about twenty years afterwards they were married.
After his marriage John Secrest located one and one-half miles east of Hartford on a part of the original Secrest farm and there made his home the rest of his life. The subject was one of nine children, namely : Henry G., Benjamin C., Noah E., Mary Elizabeth, Michael Spaid, Samuel Fred- erick, Ebenezer Finley, Margaret Casaline, John died in early infancy.
The father of these children was a man of influence in his community and the possessor of commendable traits, so that he was highly honored by all who knew him. He was trustee of his township even while Noble county was a part of Guernsey county. After the county line was established as it is today, he was trustee or assessor of Valley township nearly all his life. He was always a Democrat, and was active in party affairs, having at- tended the conventions, taking a general interest in public affairs of the community, and was well known all over the county. His death occurred on January 29, 1882, his wife having preceded him in September, 1877. They both belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he was an active member and an officer for many years. His father was a charter member of the church.
Noah E. Secrest grew up on the farm where he was born and lived there until 1907 ; he still owns the place, which consists of about one hundred and fifty acres. He was first married on December 29, 1860, to Eliza Jane Spriggs. Her parents, Morris D. and Catharine (Poole) Spriggs, came from Pennsylvania to Belmont county, Ohio, where Mrs. Secrest was born, then moved to near Mt. Ephraim, Noble county, thence to Valley township, this county, where Mrs. Secrest grew to maturity. Her father was a tailor in early life. This first union resulted in the birth of four children: Mary Rosetta died in her fourteenth year; Ernest P., who lives on the father's farm east of Hartford, married Belle Roland and has two daughters, Ruth and Leah; John Howard is married and lives at Lima, Allen county, Ohio, where he is engaged in the practice of law ; he is a member of the Democratic
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state central committee, and clerk of the board that is building the new in- sane asylum in Allen county, at Lima; he and his wife have one little daugh- ter. Martha Olive is the youngest of the four children born of Mr. Se- crest's first union. She married E. W. Matthews, Jr., of Cambridge, whose record appears herein. Mr. Secrest's first wife was called to her rest on October 24, 1877, and on January 13, 1881, he married Mrs. Adeline ( Bryan) Rose. She was the daughter of David N. and Amelia ( Patterson ) Bryan, and she was born and reared in Cambridge, Ohio, in which city her parents were also born and reared. David N. Bryan was the son of Thomas and Joan Bryan, his parents having come from Washington county, Pennsyl- vania. in the early days and settled at Cambridge. Mrs. Secrest's father was a soldier in the Civil war, being a member of Company B, Seventy- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; he was in Sherman's march through Geor- gia and died from the effects of his service in the army. Four children were born to Mr. Secrest's second marriage, namely: Arthur Clark, who is in the superintendent's office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Marietta, married Marie Faris and they have one son; Donald G. and Car- roll Eugene are twins ; the former is in New Mexico in the superintendent's office of a coal company ; the latter died in 1903 in his eighteenth year; Ray- mond B., who lives in Hartford, married Linnae Spaid : he runs a motor at the Hartford mine.
In 1907 Mr. Secrest bought a beautiful and cozy home in Hartford and retired from active work. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran church in Hartford and are prominent in church and social circles.
WILLIAM B. YEO, M. D.
Proper intellectual discipline, thorough professional knowledge and the possession and utilization of the qualities and attributes essential to success have made Dr. William B. Yeo, of Cambridge, eminent in his chosen calling and he stands today among the scholarly and enterprising physicians in a community widely known for the high order of its medical talent.
Doctor Yeo was born February 11, 1842. in Belmont county, Ohio, and he is the son of George W. and Nancy ( Burden) Yeo, the former a native of Anne Arundel county, Maryland, while the latter is a native of Madison township, Guernsey county, Ohio. George W. Yec came to Belmont county, this state, when a young man, and there he was married. His next move
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was to Madison township, Guernsey county, in 1847, in which year he pur- chased the place adjoining the farm where Mrs. Yeo was born. He devoted his life to farming there and became well known and influential in that com- munity. In 1884 he left Ohio, moving his family to Washington, Ohio, where his death occurred in the year 1892, his widow surviving until 1896.
Dr. William B. Yeo grew to maturity on the farm and engaged in the general work about the place, attending the district schools of the township during the winter months. Later he attended Madison College, at Antrim, Guernsey county, which was then a celebrated institution of learning under the administration of Samuel Findlay, a noted educator of his day. He later studied medicine at the Starling Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio; how- ever, before taking up the study of medicine he taught school for a number of years in the township schools of Guernsey county, and he also taught several terms after beginning the practice of medicine, teaching during the day and practicing medicine during the evenings and at night. He was a poor young man and this double occupation became necessary from a finan- cial standpoint. He became well equipped for his life work and his first practice was at Clio, Guernsey county, the home of the Armstrongs and the Armstrong mills, one of the noted milling centers of the early days, the Armstrongs being one of the prominent pioneer families of the county. Doc- tor Yeo remained at Clio two years, during which time he got a very good start ; then moved to Kimbolton, this county, where he remained in success- ful practice for a period of thirty years. In 1900 he moved to Cambridge and continued his practice until recently when he retired from active life after forty-two years of faithful service to the people of Guernsey county in a professional capacity, during which time he became widely known through- out this and adjoining counties, taking high rank among his professional brethren of this part of the great Buckeye state.
Doctor Yeo is a Republican in politics and has been active in public matters. In 1904 he was elected coroner of Guernsey county and served very acceptably in this capacity for a period of five years. He has always been a public-spirited citizen, an especial advocate of higher education, and he has always assisted as best he could in furthering any movement looking to the general good.
Doctor Yeo was married on February 1, 1872, to Lucinda R. McEl- haney, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Wallace) McElhaney, residents of Clio. Mr. McElhaney was a farmer and a highly respected and pro- gressive citizen. He was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He and his wife have both been deceased several years.
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To Doctor Yeo and wife five children were born, namely: Ella M. married Vader H. VanSlyke, president of the Metropolitan National Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of the solid financial institutions of the Northwest. Mrs. VanSlyke is a graduate of the Northwestern University at Ada, Ohio, and she subsequently taught school in Minneapolis. Mamie F. Yeo married Ellis E. DeHart. of Coshocton, Ohio, where he is engaged in the manufacturing business. Alice married Carl Brennen, a druggist of Cam- bridge, Ohio. Ralph W. is in the office of the Union Central Life Insur- ance Company of Cincinnati. George W. is a druggist in Cambridge. All members of this family are well educated and prominent in their different spheres.
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