USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 32
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Doctor Yeo is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and members of his family belong to the United Presbyterian church. The Doctor is a sterling citizen of upright character and genuine worth and is deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all classes.
ROBERT N. WILLIAMS.
One of the old residents of Jackson township, Guernsey county, one of the few men who have come down to us from the pioneer days, is Robert N. Williams, a man whom everyone delights to honor, for he is a true rep- resentative type of the brave men, who, courageous and determined, fought the real and industrial battles of the Republic and left to us the grandest nation on the face of the globe. He has played nobly his part in the drama of civilization in the great Buckeye state, and now that the shadows of eve- ning have begun to lengthen along the last incline of life's royal road, he can look backward with no regrets and to the future with no misgivings, for he "has fought a good fight."
Mr. Williams was born in the north edge of Jackson township May 15. 1830. His parents were David R. and Catherine (Brown) Williams. David R. Williams was born at Glasgow, Scotland, July 15, 1797, and at the age of twenty years came to America, bringing with him his sister, Nancy Wil- liams, who afterward married Robert Nicholson. The brother and sister went first to Maryland, where for some time he worked on the National pike west of the mountains. About 1820 he came to Guernsey county and lived for several years about three miles north of Cambridge, in the Oldham neigh- borhood, where he followed the weaver's trade.
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On January 13, 1825, David R. Williams married Catherine Brown. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1801, and was of German parentage. Her parents brought her into Guernsey county during her childhood. Her parents became the owners of three hundred acres of land not far from Cam- bridge on the Steubenville road. When she was twelve years old both her parents died, and she was taken by George Tingle, who then kept a tavern on Wheeling avenue in Cambridge, between Sixth and Seventh streets. She lived with Mr. Tingle's family till her marriage. Before his marriage David R. Williams had entered one hundred and twenty acres of land from the government, in the north part of Jackson township, the farm where Robert N. Williams now lives. There he built a good log house in January, 1824, the year before his marriage, a house that still stands on the farm as a reminder of early days. When it was built none of the land was cleared. There were no wagon roads through that part of the country; only bridle paths over which supplies were packed on pack horses. There in the woods, David Williams and wife established their home and made a farm in the wilderness, living on that farm over forty years. They took a prominent part in the pioneer life when everybody was on an equality and friendliness, kind- ness and hospitality were more common than now. Four children were born to David R. Williams and wife, namely : James P., who was a carpenter, married and reared a big family. moved to the West later in life and died there on July 4, 1890; Mary Ann, the next child, married William Rainey, and died August 8. 1860, leaving three children, of whom the eldest son died in the army ; Robert N., the third child, is the subject of this review : Sophia Catherine married A. W. Holliday, now deceased, and she lives at New- comerstown. About 1844, when Robert N. was about fourteen years old, David Williams became disabled and the children had to do the farm work. Although Robert was a boy of only fourteen years he often did a man's work. At that age he used to haul wheat as far as Newcomerstown and sell it, fording the Tuscarawas river on his way there. He also hauled wheat to Zanesville.
On March 13, 1851, Mr. Williams married Mary Kline, daughter of Matthew and Eliza (Greer) Kline. She was born in Maryland and was brought to Cambridge by her parents when she was three months old. Her father was a cooper, but he took up land in the northwest part of Jackson township, where Mrs. Williams lived until her marriage. After their mar- riage they lived on his father's farm.
In 1856 David Williams built the house where Robert N. Williams and wife now live, and lived in it until 1867. In that year the old folks moved
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into Cambridge and lived there the balance of their days. David R. Williams died on December 27, 1873, and his wife died March 24, 1883. Both of them were among the founders of the old Cambridge Baptist church, near the north line of Jackson township, and were two as active and serviceable mem- bers as the church ever had.
At President Lincoln's first call for troops in 1861. Robert N. Williams offered to go to the front and was refused by the examining surgeons. Again he offered himself when the call was made for three hundred thousand troops, and again he was refused because of physical disability. When the call came for one-hundred-day men he was finally accepted and joined Com- pany E, One Hundred and Seventy-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. When he came out he had chronic rheumatism from which both hands were perma- nently crippled and his heart weakened. Returning to the farm, he has re- mained there practically ever since.
In 1863 Mr. Williams had built a good house on the farm, but it burned down on October 23, 1879. For about eighteen months he lived in Cam- bridge, but liked farm life better, and returned to the old home farm that his father entered from the government, and there he and his wife still re- side, having been spared to each other for about sixty years of congenial married life.
Mr. Williams owns a good farm of one hundred and eighty acres. In politics he has been a Republican ever since the party started and voted the Republican ticket every since, beginning with Fremont in 1856.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams both belong to the old Cambridge Baptist church. His father was a deacon in this church from the time it was organized. In the early days before the church was built they often held religious services in his home.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Williams, as follows: James Monroe lives at home with his father; Eliza Catherine mar- ried William Trenner, lives in Byesville, and has three children living and one dead; Annania Harvenia, who died when two years old ; May Eva mar- ried William Haynes and lives on South Eighth street, in Cambridge, where Mr. Haynes has a grocery store. They have four children : John D. Wil- liams is at home with his father; Orrin married Dessie McConnell and lives in the state of Washington, at Centralia ; he is superintendent for a company that builds electric railways. He has two children, a son and a daughter.
Although well along in years Mr. Williams is still hearty and cheerful, and an entertaining talker of the old days, when the land was new, when peo-
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ple were more neighborly, more hospitable, and, it would seem, more honest. He and his wife are very kindly treated by the young people, and in fact, all classes in their community.
SAMUEL JACKSON.
A venerable and highly respected citizen of Pleasant City, Valley town- ship, who is deserving of unstinted praise for his long life of usefulness is Samuel Jackson, who was born in that part of Noble county which was formerly a part of Guernsey county, on May 8. 1829. He is the son of Henry and Rachael (Tustin) Jackson. Henry Jackson was from Greene county, Pennsylvania, coming to this county in an early day, settling in what was then the southern part of Guernsey county, where he took up land. There the father spent the rest of his days, dying in 1837, at the age of sixty-eight years. He was among the early pioneers and began life here in typical pioneer fashion. The father was twice married, eight children be- ing born to each wife, Samuel, of this review, being a child of the second mar- riage. Rachael Tustin was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and there she married Mr. Jackson after the death of his first wife. After the death of her husband she spent the balance of her days with her son, Samuel, the subject, who spent his youth in Noble county, assisting to develop the farm. He learned the carpenter's trade in the vicinity of Hartford and Pleasant City and followed the same as long as he was able to work, becoming a very skilled artisan and his services were always in great demand. He erected many large, substantial houses, barns and other buildings in this locality, including many at Byesville and the commodious structure he lives in at Pleasant City.
Mr. Jackson was married on March 10, 1853, to Virginia Trott, daugh- ter of Richard and Mary (Simmons) Trott. She was born in Anne Arundel county. Maryland, in 1824. Her parents brought her to Guernsey county, Ohio, when she was about seven years old, locating in the southern part of the county, being among the pioneers there, starting life in true first- settler fashion. She was one of a family of ten children, six of whom died in infancy in Maryland. The three who lived beside Mrs. Jackson were Mrs. Olethia Larrick, Benjamin J., who is the father of Elza Trott, county clerk, whose sketch appears herein, and William C. The parents of these children spent the rest of their days on their farm in this county.
When the Trail Run mine was sunk Mr. Jackson did the carpenter
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work, erecting the tipple and other buildings, and later, in making a change in the roof over the boiler room, he fell about forty feet, injuring his spine. He partially recovered for a short time, but has been disturbed by the injury more or less ever since and is unable to walk. He and his wife have lived in Pleasant City ever since their marriage in 1853 and they are probably the oldest inhabitants of this town, which they have seen developed from a few houses in the woods. They are spending their declining days in peace and comfort in their cozy dwelling, which stands on an eminence, commanding a fine view of the country.
Politically Mr. Jackson is a Democrat and he is a worthy member of the Masonic order; he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Nine children have been born to them, namely: Lewis Frederick is a clerk and telegraph operator at the railroad station at Pleasant City; William Henry died when forty-six years of age; Mary Rosella, wife of Noah E. Secrest ; Stephen A. Douglas is a railroad agent at Malta, Ohio; Joseph Alonzo lives at Helena, Montana; Columbia Frances is at home; Samuel Andrew lives in Detroit, Michigan; Linnaeus Griffith has been in the Philip- pine islands for the past three years railroading and assisting in building rail- roads; Cleopatra married John Hana and lives at Montreal, Canada.
ANDREW W. NICHOLSON.
It is safe to say that no man who has lived in Guernsey county in re- cent years has left a more indelible impress upon a wider circle of friends than the late Andrew W. Nicholson, for his life was exemplary in every re- spect and he took much more than a passing interest in the affairs of his community. All remember him as a genteel, kind-hearted gentleman, whom to know was to respect and admire.
Mr. Nicholson was born in the south edge of Cambridge township on his father's farm, three miles from Cambridge, December 21, 1833. He was the son of Robert and Agnes ( Williams) Nicholson, both parents be- ing natives of Scotland. His father was a carpenter and came from Fife- shire, Scotland, in 1819, locating first near Frederick, Maryland. Two years later Robert Nicholson came west and engaged in building in Guernsey county. He erected the first jail in this county and two store-houses that he built are still standing, one being the house in which Andrew W. was born, on the farm that Robert Nicholson bought while a young man. There
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he lived the rest of his life and died in 1846. On his farm was opened one of the first mines in the Guernsey valley. It was operated as a country mine for a great many years, and was opened as a company mine when the rail- roads first came through.
Andrew W. was one of ten children, James, George, David, Ann, John, Margaret, Eliza, Robert, Andrew W., and Alexander. Andrew W. passed his boyhood on the old home farm south of Cambridge, and attended the district school. In 1853 he visited the old Scotland home of his parents, spending six months there; returning, he had a stormy voyage of twenty- seven days.
In 1857 Mr. Nicholson was married to Elizabeth Sharp, who was born in county Antrim, Ireland, August 31, 1833, of Scotch-Irish parents, John and Jane Sharp. She was sixteen years old when her parents brought her to St. Clairsville, Belmont county, Ohio. A few years later the family moved to Guernsey county, where she married Mr. Nicholson.
Andrew W. Nicholson was a capable and resourceful man, and became the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of land, including that bought by his father south of Cambridge, also he owns other land in Westland township. About 1895 he and his sons became interested in the natural gas business. They put down a number of wells in Guernsey county and formed the A. W. Nicholson Oil and Gas Company. This was sold to the Ohio Fuel and Supply Company. They afterwards bought an interest in the Cambridge Light and Fuel Company. Mr. Nicholson took an interest in the public affairs of the county. In politics a Republican, he served as trustee of Cam- bridge township, and in 1879 became trustee of Jackson township. Follow- ing that he was elected county commissioner and later re-elected for another term. During his term of office the present court house was built, and was paid for before he went out of office. The Children's Home was built, an ad- dition to county infirmary, costing ten thousand dollars, and a number of bridges, including the Carson bridge at Cambridge and five others over Wills creek.
Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson became members of the old Cambridge Baptist church, and from then were active and earnest workers in the church and he was a deacon for many years. He gave not only of his time, but his money also, and helped a number of churches.
The Baptist church at Byesville found in him its most liberal supporter. He was charitable to those in need and showed by his life that he felt that all men are brethren. His life was characterized by a beautiful simplicity, and even a child could find in him a delightful companion. His religion was not
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so much a profession as a life, a life beautiful in humility. modest and unas- suming, and yet issuing daily in acts of kindness. His wife was of the same nature. Her faithful Christian life and influence was a guide and inspiration to those who came under his influence. Theirs was a home of generous hos- pitality, widely known and widely appreciated.
In 1901 Mr. Nicholson bought a handsome home in Cambridge, where he and his wife spent their last days. He died October 28, 1907, aged seven- ty-three years. His wife died September 24th of the year previous, when seventy-three years old. They had been married over forty-nine years. To them were born eight children, namely: John R., who is mentioned more at length in a separate article herein; James A., who lives at Columbus, Ohio ; Samuel W. lives at New Philadelphia; Nannie J. and her sister, Rose E., live in the home in Cambridge, where their father and mother lived; Maggie B. married Rev. Robert Lecklider, a Baptist minister, and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana; George D. is superintendent of the Cambridge Light and Fuel Company, and lives with his sisters in the family home. He married Maude L. Morrison, who died December 9, 1901, leaving two children, Bernard and Elizabeth.
ULYSSES GRANT NICHOLSON.
The name of Ulysses Grant Nicholson has long been linked with the words "progress" and "development" in the vicinity of Hartford, Valley township, Guernsey county, and all who know him well will readily admit that he has been a very important factor in the affairs of this locality and while he has been advancing his own interests he has sought to promote those of his neighbors.
Mr. Nicholson was born about a mile east of Hartford, Valley town- ship. Guernsey county, Ohio, on June 23, 1866, the son of Jacob Nicholson and wife, whose sketch see for extended ancestry. When the subject was about four years old the family moved to the north edge of Noble county and lived till he was about twelve years old, then moved to the west edge of Byesville and lived there nearly two years, then returned to the old place in the north edge of Noble county and lived there about six years. Then they moved to Derwent, where the father still lives.
The subject attended the schools at Byesville and also attended college at Ada, Ohio. After leaving college, he taught school about eight years, part of the time in Valley township, two terms at Hartford, also one term in
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Noble county, and also at Derwent. He was married August 24, 1892, to Leeta Secrest, daughter of Valentine and Catherine (Rogers) Secrest. She was born and reared at Hartford. Her father, Valentine Secrest, died Sep- tember 6, 1883. He was born near Hartford and was the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Spaid) Secrest and the brother of William Secrest, whose sketch appears on another page.
Henry Secrest was born August 18, 1785, and Elizabeth Spaid was born on July 22, 1790. She was the daughter of George Spaid, who was a Hes- sian soldier, brought over to assist England during the American Revolution. He was captured at the battle of Trenton and was taken to Virginia and colonized there. He came to Ohio in a very early day. Valentine Secrest lived most of his life at Hartford, Ohio, and he was a farmer. He married Catherine Rogers, daughter of Lorenzo and Jane (Suddeth) Rogers. Lor- enzo Rogers came from Maryland and was an uncle of Lilburn C. Rogers, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson had five children: Ruth Secrest, Lowell R., Lillian, William Byran, who died when eighteen months old, and DeWitt Cramblett.
After his marriage Mr. Nicholson taught school for a time, but most of the time since has engaged very successfully in coal mining, also devoting a portion of his time to farming. He is a Democrat in politics and has taken considerable interest in the principles of his party. He has held several town- ship offices, was assessor for several terms and also land appraiser. He has been complimented on the skill and ability in his appraisement. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias at Pleasant City. He and his wife belong to the English Lutheran church at Hartford.
ELIJAH B. HOOPMAN.
Although the life of Elijah B. Hoopman, one of Guernsey county's best remembered and highly honored citizens of a past generation, was not entirely devoid of obstacle, and whose rose held many a thorn, he, with in- domitable courage, pressed onward with his face set toward higher things and refused to be subdued, and he spent his last years surrounded by plenty and comfort, enjoying the friendship and esteem of a wide circle of friends as a result of his long life of honor and usefulness, and today his memory is greatly revered by the host of warm friends he left behind.
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Mr. Hoopman was born in Harford county, Maryland, March 10. 1834. He was the son of Isaac and Lucinda ( Rogers) Hoopman and was one of a family of five children that grew to maturity. The other four were, William H., whose record appears elsewhere in this volume; Roland R., of Zanesville ; Isaac W., deceased, formerly of Kansas, and who, in early life. kept a general store at Hartford, this county ; Mrs. Lizzie Johnson, of Pleas- ant City ; Catherine died when a young woman, and Christian was a young man when he died.
Isaac Hoopman's father came from Germany. Isaac Hoopman, wife and children came to Ohio from Harford county, Maryland, in 1837, making the long overland journey in wagons, arriving in Guernsey county on Novem- ber 7, 1837. when Elijah B. was only three years old. The family located about one and one-half miles southeast of Byesville, where Isaac Hoopman bought a farm and made the family home, at which Elijah B. grew to man- hood and lived until his marriage, having worked hard developing the place amid pioneer conditions, and obtained what schooling he could in the old-time district schools. His marriage took place on November 12, 1860, when he was united with Elizabeth Thompson, who was born September 18, 1842, near King's mine, Center township, this county, where she grew to maturity. She is the daughter of James Thompson, an early pioneer of this county, who located near King's mine. She is a sister of John W. Thompson, now of Center township.
Elijah B. Hoopman became the owner of a fine farm about a half mile south of his father's home and lived there until 1899. He followed general farming and stock raising and was very successful, being a hard worker and a good manager. He became widely known as a sheep man, having handled large droves, often as many as six hundred at a time. He prospered and owned three excellent farms, his home place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and two others in the same part of the township of one hundred and twenty-five acres each. About 1899 he retired from active work and moved into Byesville, where he spent the rest of his life in a cozy and mod- ernly equipped home, being called to his reward on October 7, 1905. He was a man of sterling character, industrious, temperate, scrupulously honest in all the relations of life. He had been a member of the Methodist Protestant church for forty-nine years, and was always loyal to its principles and faith- ful to all its duties. In his death the church lost one of its most liberal sup- porters and one of her most valued official members, being at the time of his death chairman of the board of parsonage trustees. He was widely known and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
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Mrs. Hoopman, a lady of many estimable traits and beloved by a wide circle of friends, still makes her home in Byesville. She, too, is a worthy member of the Methodist Protestant church.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Elijah B. Hoopman, namely : Lucinda, wife of David Burt, lives in Byesville; James A., of Byesville ; Parmer E., of Byesville ; Bertha L., wife of Ed. C. Smith, lives on the farm between Cambridge and Byesville.
ELZA D. TROTT.
The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical re- view does not need to be formally introduced to the readers of this history owing to the fact that he has long been known to all classes of Guernsey county citizens as a man of progressive ideas and a leader in local affairs who merits the high esteem in which he is held.
Elza D. Trott was born July 16, 1868, in Center township, this county, and is the son of Benjamin Griffith and Eliza ( Martell) Trott. Grandfather Martell was a man of prominence here in the pioneer days and was one of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal church at Cambridge. There is a tra- dition that the Martells, or Martels, were of the nobility of France, one mem- ber of the royal family who married one of the lower station, being disin- herited and deprived of his rank. This family is probably descended from the great military genius of Europe, Charles Martel, prominent in the middle ages. The father was born in Maryland and the mother in Guernsey county, Ohio. The paternal grandparents of Elza D. Trott were Richard and Mary ( Simmons ) Trott.
The parents of Eliza Martell came from the isle of Guernsey, in the English Channel, among the early pioneers here. Benjamin G. Trott was born in Maryland, about twenty-two miles from Baltimore on the Chesapeake bay. He came to Guernsey county with his parents when he was twelve years of age. in 1844. They located in Valley township, near Hartford, and there he grew to maturity. Upon reaching manhood he married Mrs. Eliza Jane Davis, widow of John Davis. Her parents were Nicholas and Judith ( Blam- field) Martell. When these parents came from the isle of Guernsey to this country they had two children, Eliza Jane being one of the last children born to them, her birth occurring on April 16, 1830. Nicholas Martell and wife were, as stated, among the early settlers here, and they owned salt works
ELZA D. TROTT.
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three miles north of Cambridge. Later they lived near where the present tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad are located, about four miles east of Cambridge, and there Mr. Martell died. Benjamin Trott was originally a farmer and for almost fifty years was engaged in mining, from the time the mining interests began to develop in this county until his advanced age made it necessary for him to abandon such work. His death occurred in September, 1904, his widow surviving until January 31. 1909. Both are buried in the cemetery at Byesville, where the family had resided for a number of years. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin G. Trott. all of whom are living, with one exception; they are, Flora, deceased: Virginia Frances mar- ried David Cox, of Jackson township ; 'Anna May married William Hutton, of Byesville : John W. married Rose Smith and lives at Byesville; Elza D .. of this review; Nancy married John L. Nicholson, of Byesville; T. Elmer is professor of mathematics of Scio College. He took the degree of Master of Science at Muskingum in 1908. When only twelve years of age he passed the examination and secured license to teach school. He was one of the youngest in Ohio to receive a state school certificate, and he is now a member of the staff of nautical computers of the United States Nautical Observatory, calculating the paths of the stars for the same. He also has the degree of Master of Arts. Ida Belle married Albrow Smith, of Byesville.
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