USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 33
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Elza D. Trott was educated in the public schools of his home township. When twelve years of age he went to work in the mines and was employed in every phase of work about the mines, from mule driving to engineer and prac- tical mining. He was thus employed until he was twenty-one years of age. He then attended school at Byesville and the following winter he taught in the Black Top district. Richland township. The following summer found him in the mines again, in fact, for several years he worked in the mines dur- ing the summer and taught school in the winter. He entered the Northwest- ern University at Ada, Ohio, later studied at Muskingum College at New Concord, Ohio, for four spring and summer terms, pursuing the scientific course. Before going to Ada and Muskingum College he had attended the summer normal at Byesville for several terms. Following his college course he taught school for seventeen years in Guernsey county. During this time he was superintendent of schools at Pleasant City for a year. He also taught in the Byesville schools. During all the years he lived in Byesville he walked to and from home to his different schools, eight in number, during the seven- teen years, and he was regarded as among Guernsey county's most progressive and able instructors.
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Mr. Trott was married, October 14, 1903, to Alice Moseley, daughter of Lemuel O. and Mary ( Courtney ) Moseley. The father was a native of Ohio but the mother was born in Ireland. She came to America when about twenty- one years of age. Lemuel O. Moseley was a son of Captain Moseley, a man of considerable prominence. The Moseley family were residents of Noble county, Ohio, at the time of the daughter's marriage, she being engaged in the millinery business in Byesville. Both her parents are still living at Orrville, Ohio.
To Mr. and Mrs. Trott no children have been born, but they have two children as their wards, the children of Mrs. Trott's brother, Emerson Mose- ley. Their mother was burned to death by her clothing catching fire in her home at Mount Vernon, Ohio.
Politically, Mr. Trott is a Republican and he has always been active in party affairs and is a man well informed on general issues. He served as justice of the peace in Byesville for five years prior to 1908, during which time he heard about fifteen hundred cases in addition to his teaching duties. He was regarded as a very able judicial officer, his decisions being fair and un- biased and not one was ever reversed at the hands of a higher tribunal. In the summer of 1908 he was nominated by the Republicans of Guernsey county for clerk of courts and was elected the following November and he is now serving his first term, and was nominated for a second term in 1910, having made a very creditable and praiseworthy record. Owing to his universal popularity, his nomination for this office a second time was met with approval by members of all parties. He is a member of Red Prince Lodge No. 250, Knights of Pythias, at Byesville, Ohio, and is also a member of the Masonic lodge at Cambridge. He has passed through all the chairs in the Knights of Pythias lodge and has been county deputy for two terms at different times. While an active miner he was a member of the Miners' Union and other labor organizations, including the American Federation of Labor, also the musicians' organization or union, and he has been very active in their affairs. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church ; he has been a trustee of the same for about fifteen years, and he has also been both teacher and Sunday school superintendent and a class leader in the church. His wife was also active in all Sunday school work. Mr. Trott was also leader of the church choir for a number of years at Byesville, where he and his wife held member- ship. On assuming the office of county clerk he moved to Cambridge, the family home being at No. 135 North Eleventh street. Mr. and Mrs. Trott are noted for their work in the temperance cause, and the latter in the work of the young people's organization of the church of which she is a member.
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JOHN R. NICHOLSON.
A representative agriculturist and liberal minded citizen of Guernsey county is John R. Nicholson, living in the north edge of Jackson township. who was born a short distance north of there, in the south edge of Cambridge township, in 1858. He is the oldest son of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew W. Nicholson, a complete record of whose lives appear on another page of this work. As told in the record of Andrew W. Nicholson, the father bought the farm adjoining on the south, where he now resides, the home having been built and the place improved by the father, who was a successful farmer. John R. grew to maturity on the home farm and attended the neighboring schools. He was married in 1881 to Mary F. Burt, daughter of Nathan and Rosana Jane ( Hall) Burt, the former born in Jackson town- ship, this county, October 20, 1829. He was the son of John and Mary (Reed) Burt and was a cousin of Daniel Burt's father, Eli. The ancestry of the Burt family is to be found in the sketch of David Burt, appearing in this work. His parents were pioneers in Guernsey county and occupied land in section 13, Jackson township. He married Rosanna J. Hall, March 7. 1854, and to this union nine children were born, of whom Mrs. Nicholson is the third in order of birth. Nathan Burt and wife lived a short time in Washington county, Ohio, but he spent most of his days in Jackson town- ship where he followed farming and owned two hundred and twenty-six acres at the time of his death, February 20, 1903, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1882. He was a devout Christian all his life, and he and his wife were for many years members of Mt. Zion Baptist church, and he remained so until his death, being one of the most consistent and faithful members of the church, always giving the duties of the church precedence over everything else. He was an earnest, quiet, honorable man, whose life was a monument to the faith which he professed.
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson have two daughters, Ethel and Pearl; the former married Arthur Davis and lives near the old home in Jackson town- ship, and they have three children, Robert, Edna and Calvin : Pearl Nichol- son is at home with her parents.
When Andrew W. Nicholson & Sons became interested in the natural gas business about 1905, John R., of this review, became a member of the company and, although he still lives on the old home place, he devotes most of his energies to the gas business. However, he does not neglect his farm, but keeps it in an excellent condition, his house, barns and outbuildings being among the most substantial and well kept in the township. He is very suc-
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cessful as a business man. He and his wife both belong to the old Cambridge Baptist church, in which he is a trustee. He is prominent in the affairs of his community.
JAMES ARTHUR HOOPMAN.
One of the progressive and public-spirited citizens of Byesville, and a man who is held in high esteem because of his exemplary life, is James Arthur Hoopman, scion of an old and worthy family of Guernsey county and who has spent his life within her borders. He was born two miles south of Byesville, in Jackson township. in 1865, the son of Elijah B. and Mary E. (Thompson) Hoopman, who are given full mention in a separate sketch in this volume.
The subject lived on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, assisting with the general work about the place and attending the com- mon schools. Because of a sunstroke, he was compelled to give up farming, and he came to Byesville in 1887 and launched out in the hardware business, buying out the Campbell hardware store. He continued in that business suc- cessfully until 1902, with the exception of about six months, when he sold out and began business at another place in Byesville. He was also conducting a plumbing business before he sold out the hardware store, which he continued after selling out the latter in 1902. He has met with a very satisfactory de- gree of success in whatever he has turned his attention to, being a man of good judgment and sound business principles. He is also engaged in manu- facturing hosiery at Byesville, also has two farms, one being in Valley town- ship, about one and one-half miles south of the old home where he was born, the other being two miles west of Byesville. They are under excellent im- provements and rank with the best farms in the vicinity, being well kept and very productive. He is a man of keen discernment, able to foresee the future outcome of a present transaction with rare accuracy.
Politically, Mr. Hoopman is a Democrat, and has long been active in party affairs and influential in the development of the locality in various lines. He was twice elected justice of the peace in Jackson township, serving this office in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Hoopman is a man to whom many come for advice and they are never steered wrongly, and many a man has him to thank for kindly and safe counsel. He stands high in Masonic circles, and one would judge from his
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daily life that he endeavors to carry the high precepts of this time-honored order into every relation of life. He and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Protestant church, and prominent in church and social life, he being superintendent of the Sunday school, this being his second time to serve in this capacity, and he has been on the board of trustees of the church for about ten years. He is easily one of the leading citizens of Byesville in every re- spect, and to know him is to accord him praise for his genial nature, his kindliness, his public spirit and his industry, and exemplary life.
Mr. Hoopman was married in 1888 to Anna R. Burt, daughter of Eli and Nancy (Smith) Burt, and a sister of David S. Burt, whose sketch is to be found in this work. Mrs. Hoopman is a lady of culture and refinement. This union has been blessed by one son, Marshall B.
PARMER E. HOOPMAN.
The Hoopman family has long held a very high position in the rank of citizenship in the vicinity of Byesville, Guernsey county, for each member has sought to conduct himself in a manner becoming a high-minded, indus- trious and public-spirited American citizen. One of the best known of the Hoopmans is Parmer E., who was born about two miles south of Byesville in Jackson township, this county. on June 17, 1871. He is the son of Elijah B. and Mary E. (Thompson) Hoopman, who are given full and proper men- tion on another page of this work.
Parmer E. Hoopman grew to maturity on the home farm, on which he worked when he became of proper age, attending the district schools during the winter months, remaining under his parental roof-tree until he became of legal age. In 1894 he was married to Osa Kackley, of Noble county, Ohio. her birth having occurred near Chaseville, that county. She is the daughter of Wesley and Amanda (Star) Kackley, both natives of Noble county. Her father was a Union soldier all through the Civil war, and is now engaged in farming in Noble county.
About six months prior to his marriage, Parmer E. Hoopman went into the hardware business at Pleasant City, but in a short time came to Byes- ville, where he remained in the same business about four years, and was very successful. After a respite from this line of endeavor of about two years. he entered the butcher business with his brother-in-law, C. W. Johnson, and they continued about three years. building up a good trade the meanwhile.
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In 1903 Mr. Hoopman took charge of the Byesville station of the interurban line connecting this city with Cambridge and he has held this position ever since in a very creditable manner. He was the first, and, in fact, has been the only agent the company has ever had in Byesville, having charge of all the freight and passenger business here. He has been very successful in a business way, and he is the owner of an excellent farm of considerable size, well improved and very productive, located near Byesville, and he also owns city property in Byesville.
One son, Guy E., a bright lad, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoopman. Fraternally, Mr. Hoopman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he belongs to the Methodist Protestant church, being very faith- ful in his support of the same, and he is always ready to lend his aid in the furtherance of any movement having for its object the betterment of this vicinity in any way.
OSCAR J. BERRY.
The present sketch is concerned with a man who has been during his lifetime active in the affairs of Kimbolton, and, though young in years, he has made himself known as one of the aggressive and enterprising citizens of the community. Oscar J. Berry was born in Kimbolton, Liberty town- ship, Guernsey county, Ohio, on March 9, 1869, the son of William T. and Caroline (Sloan) Berry, and a brother of John S. Berry, whose name ap- pears in another part of this work. From his boyhood Mr. Berry has been a hustler. As soon as he was old enough to work he began earning money at whatever he could find to do, and during the winter months attended the pub- lic schools of Kimbolton. At sixteen years of age he began teaching school in the district schools of Guernsey county, and for twelve years was one of the popular and progressive teachers of the county. Following this he served for six years as a deputy inspector in the state dairy and food commissioner's department, and was a faithful and efficient officer. In politics he is a Re- publican, and has been active in party matters, serving as a member of the Republican county central committee, and frequently as a delegate to county, district and state conventions. He has been a member of the village council, and is now the village clerk.
In 1904 Mr. Berry was appointed postmaster at Kimbolton, and after serving two years resigned to take employment with the O'Gara Coal Com- pany, of Chicago, operating in the Guernsey and Noble county coal fields, as
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pay-roll clerk. a position of much responsibility, which he has ably filled. On his resignation as postmaster, his wife was appointed his successor, and she still holds the position.
Mr. Berry was married on April 23, 1889, to Ida Schrophart, of Kim- bolton, and to this union one son has been born, Paul V., a graduate of the Kimbolton high school in 1910, and now a teacher in the county schools. Mr. Berry and his family are members of the Methodist church and are prominent in the social life of their community. Mr. Berry is an active, public-spirited citizen, always favoring whatever is for the betterment of conditions. He is a broad-viewed. companionable man, whom it is a pleasure and a benefit to know.
LINCOLN O. RIDDLE.
One of the largest land owners and best known and most successful farmers of Guernsey county is Lincoln O. Riddle, who was born at his pres- ent home, a short distance southwest of Byesville, on October 18, 1862. the son of George and Rachel (Wilson) Riddle. Rachel Wilson is a sister of Henry H. Wilson, whose sketch see for her family history.
George Riddle was born in Monahan county, Ireland, on October 17. 1827. the son of Maxwell Riddle. His mother died when he was a little child. By this marriage Maxwell Riddle was the father of five children, one of whom died in Ireland, and the others of whom, George, Susan. Isabel and Maxwell, Jr., he brought to the United States in 1871. They first located at Baltimore, Maryland, then moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, where they lived until George grew up, and where Isabel and Maxwell died. Maxwell, Sr., had married again, and in 1850 he and his son George came to Guernsey county, Ohio, and bought farms southwest of Byesville. Here Maxwell spent the remainder of his life, and his daughter, Susan, who had lost her sight from measles, died here unmarried. By his second marriage Maxwell Riddle was the father of two daughters, Ann and Sarah. He was a man of much influence in the community in his times.
On November 24, 1857. George Riddle was married to Rachel Wilson. who was born west of Byesville on March 3. 1837. He then built a house of! his farm, and lived there the rest of his life. To this union nine children were born, Susan Nesbit, Thomas Alpheus. Maxwell Albert, Henry Wilson. Oliver Lincoln, one who died in infancy, Ellsworth, Elizabeth and Tachey C. Susan died on December 8, 1895; Thomas A. died on October 4, 1860;
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Henry W. on September 22, 1861 ; Tachey C. on October 13, 1877; Maxwell A. on September 1I, 1901. Elizabeth married Hunter Fulton, and lives in Cambridge, Ohio. Ellsworth lives at Austin, Texas.
Lincoln O. Riddle has lived on the home farm all his life. He was married on September II, 1906, to Anna McConnell, the daughter of John and Manerva McConnell. She was born and reared on the Steubenville road, four miles east of Cambridge. To this union has been born one child, a sweet little daughter, Maxine.
Mr. Riddle has followed farming and stock dealing all his life, buying and shipping horses, cattle and other livestock to Baltimore, Pittsburg, Phil- adelphia, Cincinnati and other cities. His home farm consists of one hun- dred and sixty acres, and he owns in all six hundred and twenty-five acres of land, all fully paid for and well improved. His house is large and hand- some, with a broad porch on two sides, situated in the midst of a spacious and shady lawn, and is one of the best appearing country residences in his section of the county.
In politics Mr. Riddle is an uncompromising Republican. He has traveled very much, in many states, from coast to coast, and talks very entertainingly on the many places of interest which he has seen. Few men of his county are better known or are more hustling and enterprising. He is a man of liberal minded opinions on most subjects.
HENRY FERGUSON FRYE.
Among the earliest settlers of Jackson and Valley townships were mem- bers of the Frye family, which is so well known in these communities. The family has been traced back to Germany, Henry Frye, Sr., having come to America from that part of Germany that lies nearest to Austria, before the outbreak of the American Revolution, in which he took part. He was a man of considerable wealth and owned a large amount of land in the northern part of West Virginia, along the Big Capon river, not far from Wardens- ville. He left a large family of children, one son being Henry Frye, Jr. The latter was the father of John Frye.
John Frye was the head of the family in Guernsey county, to which he removed from near Wardensville, West Virginia, very early in the last century, and settled at what later became the northwest part of Byesville. At that time there were many Indians at Oldtown, the Indian village near
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Byesville. There were no roads, but the neighbors joined in and cut a road between Byesville and Cambridge.
John Frye's son, Henry Ferguson Frye, was born in West Virginia on May 14, 1803, and came here with his father in early childhood. When he was a boy of twelve or thirteen, the father was called away for the whole day, and cautioned the boy to leave the gun alone, an old flint-lock musket. Young Henry disobeyed and took it out, and in his wandering saw a bunch of seven bears. He fired at the biggest one, but failed to kill it. It came at him, but he loaded his gun as he ran, shot again several times and killed it. He was a wonder with the gun, a very quick and accurate shot, and far above the ordinary in those days when every farmer was an expert. He grew up on the farm near the present location of Byesville, and attended school in Cambridge when the court house square was full of stumps.
On March 16, 1826, Henry F. Frye was married to Sarah Trenner, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Trenner ( see sketch of Benjamin Trenner for her family). John Frye, Henry's father, died soon after this on his farm at Byesville. Henry F. Frye lived a while on the old Trenner farm, a short distance northwest of Derwent, and from there moved to the north- western part of Valley township along the Clay pike, anl bought what is known as the Thompson farm. Later he bought a farm farther east, along the same pike, about two miles west of Derwent. It was then a busy highway of travel, and countless herds and droves of live stock were passing and travelers were numerous. So it afforded an advantageous location for the store along the road which he kept in connection with his farm. In his later years he sold this farm and bought another three-fourths of a mile farther north, where he spent the rest of his days. He died on January 6, 1887. his wife having preceded him on January 27, 1874. In 1848 Mr. Frye became an elder in the Lutheran church, and was such for many years after. In every relation in life he was good and true, and as a Christian his excellencies were specially observable. His influence in the community was very marked. and his judgment on all matters was sound and was sought after by his neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Frye were the parents of four children, Elizabeth, John, William K. and George W.
Elizabeth was born on the original home farm at Byesville, and re- mained with her parents as long as they lived. She now lives in Derwent, with her brother, William K.
William K. Frye was born on the farm two miles northwest of Derwent. where his father kept store. He has followed farming nearly all his life, and lived on the farm where he was born until 1873, when it was sold, then for
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about four years the family lived at Hartford, the father having retired, and William K. followed farming. About 1878 William K. bought back a part of the old farm, and also had a little farm adjoining, and there he and Eliza- beth lived and took their father with them until the father's death. William and Elizabeth continued on this farm till the spring of 1908, when they sold it and bought a home in Derwent, where they now reside, and are passing their later days in quiet and plenty, and the enjoyment of the society of their neighbors.
The records of George W. and John Frye appear under other headings. The Frye family, as a family and individually, have always been highly esteemed as among the solid and substantial people of their community, up- right, honorable and kind of heart, one of the noblest families in the com- munity, in the true sense of nobility.
JOHN M. BURT.
Coal mining bears a large part in the history of Guernsey county, and the present review is concerned with one of the ablest of the young men in mining circles, who has made his way from the bottom to the superintendency of a mine, and has in so doing overcome many difficulties and in many ways showed his worth.
John M. Burt was born at Lonaconing, Allegany county, Maryland, on January 2, 1880, the son of John and Sarah (Morris) Burt. John Burt was born in Landwickshire, Scotland, in 1850, the son of Peter and Jeanie (Malcom) Burt. Peter Burt came to America in 1869, and engaged in Mary- land in mining, which had been his occupation all his life. For generations back, as far as can be traced, the family have been miners. John Burt went to work in the mines when only ten years old. and when John M. was twelve he went into the mines to help his father. On April 16, 1903, the family moved to Gloucester, Ohio, here they lived until June 25, 1896, when they removed to Pleasant City, Guernsey county, where they now reside. John Burt some years ago quit mining, ran a restaurant five years, then went into the grocery business, which he still continues, and in which he has been suc- cessful. He owns several pieces of property in Pleasant City.
John M. Burt continued mining at Pleasant City. At the age of sixteen he started driving mules in the mines, then went back to loading for a time, after which he returned to mule driving. At Walhonding mine he rode a
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dilly trip for about two years, then ran a motor for twenty months. again rode the dilly trip for six months, then was made inside boss and boss driver at the old Walhonding mine, and remained in that capacity for two years. In May, 1908. the superintendent of the Walhonding mine was taken to Trail Run mine No. 2, and John M. Burt was put in as superintendent to finish working out the mine, and when that mine was worked out, was sent to the Opperman mine, on August 11, 1908, as under boss. Only five days later the superintendent left, and Mr. Burt was put in as superintendent, left suddenly to take charge, with no boss driver or any one with any authority as assistant, but in a short time had things going smoothly. When he came the force was putting out only four hundred fifty tons per day, but before long he had them getting out six hundred tons. For nearly six months he did without a boss driver, taking most of the detail work himself, and having to meet with many unusual difficulties that would have caused serious con- cern to an old hand in the position. Since his installation he has continued as superintendent successfully, working nearly two hundred men under his direction.
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