USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 4
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PROF. BERT M. THOMPSON.
The men most influential in promoting the advancement of society and in giving character to the times in which they live are of two classes, the men who study and the men of action. Whether we are most indebted for the improvement of the age to the one class or the other, is a question of honest difference in opinion ; neither class can be spared and both should be encour- aged to occupy their several spheres of labor and influence, zealously and without mutual distrust. In the following paragraphs are briefly outlined the leading facts and characteristics of a gentleman who combines in his make- up the elements of the scholar and the energy of the public spirited man of affairs. Devoted to the noble and humane work of teaching, he has made his influence felt in the school life of Guernsey county, and is not unknown to the wider educational circles of the state, occupying as he does a prominent place in his profession and standing high in the esteem of educators in other than his own field of endeavor.
Prof. Bert M. Thompson, the able and popular superintendent of public schools of Byesville, Ohio, was born in 1881 at Senecaville, Guernsey county. He is the son of Luke D. and Ida S. (Nicholson) Thompson. Luke D. Thompson was also a native here, born one-fourth mile from where the sub- ject was born about two miles southwest of Senecaville. He was prominent and influential in this locality in the early days of development.
The Thompson family first came from central Pennsylvania, in the early days. Some of them were blacksmiths in the days when blacksmiths made
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nails with hammer and anvil. The first one here was William Thompson, great-grandfather of the subject. He was a wagoner of the Alleghanies and hauled with six and eight-horse teams from Baltimore, Maryland, over the mountains. He had a fine set of horses and often got in a week ahead of the others, thereby earning the cream of the business. On one of his trips, in crossing the Potomac on the ice, he found himself floating away with his team on a large two or three-acre piece. He floated for two or three miles, when the ice swung around a sand bar, and he promptly whipped the team off onto the land. He came to this country at a very early day and located a mile west of Senecaville, and the Thompson family have lived in that part of the township ever since. William Thompson kept tavern on the public square at Senecaville soon after 1800. He died of cholera. William Thompson's son was also named William.
Luke Thompson was the son of William Thompson, Jr., and Margaret ( Dilley ) Thompson. Margaret Dilley was the daughter of Abram Dilley, who was the son of Ephraim Dilley. The origin of the Dilley family is given as follows: Ephraim Dilley, grandfather of Margaret (Dilley) Thompson, was born in 1755 and died in 1844. His wife, Lucy (Ayers) Dilley, was born in 1762 and died in 1840. Ephraim Dilley's wife's maiden name was Lucy Ayers, daughter of William and Esther ( Hardin) Ayers. Ephraim Dilley was the son of Aaron and Hannah ( Perry ) Dilley. Hannah Perry was re- lated to Commodore Perry, who fought the battle on Lake Erie in 1813, being a sister of the Commodore's mother or grandmother, and had the same noble ancestry. She was a direct descendant of Sir William Wallace, the Scotch hero who was born in 1270 and who was an Anglo-Norman. His ancestors were not English, but were French Huguenots, who were in the massacre of St. Bartholomew and had to flee for their lives. They migrated from the isle of Jersey to England, thence to the United States. Ethnology places them as ancient Celts or Gauls. Ephraim Dilley was in the Revolutionary war and fought in the battle of Stony Point and other battles. Abram Dilley's wife was Jane Wilson McCleary Dilley. Jane Wilson McCleary was born in county Down, Ireland, and came to the United States when eight years old. She came in her Aunt Mary Roland's ship, her husband being the captain of the vessel. He died and she ( Mary Roland) married a Mr. Wright, the mate. Jane Wilson McCleary's mother, or grandmother, was a daughter of Lord Wilson. She married a mechanic and her father disinherited her. The family crest of Lord Wilson was the wolf's head.
Professor Thompson's mother was the daughter of Jacob and Jane ( Cramblett ) Nicholson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. She
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was born and reared about two and a half miles from the town of Derwent. The Professor's father was born not far from Senecaville, and lived in that vicinity all of his life. Professor Thompson was the only child of the family and he grew up on the home farm. The father followed farming all of his life. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, as all of the Nicholsons are. Grandfather Thompson was a Presbyterian. The father. who died September 26, 1908, was a good man and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
Bert M. Thompson attended the common schools in the country districts, graduating in 1899 from the Senecaville high school. He spent one summer at the National Normal University. He also took twelve terms at Athens, Ohio, completing the course in the normal college. He has also secured both common school and high school state life certificates, that being quite an un- usual thing for one of more advanced years and experience. Thus well equipped for his lifework, in 1900 he began teaching in Richland township, and taught there for three years and afterward one year in Valley township. He then came to Byesville, spent four years as principal of the high school. and became superintendent of the schools in May, 1908, which position he filled for the two years' term. In 1910 he was again elected for a three years' term. He has done much to raise the standard of the schools of Byes- ville, is an able educator, a man of high character, genial and kind, a clear thinker, cogent reasoner, a platform speaker of ability, delivers commence- ment addresses, etc. He is geographical editor of the Ohio Teacher, is field worker for the Ohio School Improvement Federation, and has local license in the Methodist Episcopal church. He does considerable public speaking. both in school and church work. For the past ten years he has been very active in the Epworth League, has been for three years past president of the Cambridge district of the Epworth League. He finally gave this up for lack of time.
When Professor Thompson came to Byesville there was only one school building and nine teachers; now there are three schools, with a teaching force of twenty-three teachers. A new high school building, costing thirty thousand dollars, and many improvements in the conduct of the schools are largely due to the progress of the public school system under his supervision. He is known nearly all over Ohio as a leader in educational matters. His field work, carried on earnestly, brings him in close touch with the work in every locality. He and his mother now live in Byesville, where they have a beau- tiful home.
Unlike many of his calling who become narrow and pedantic, Professor
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Thompson is essentially a man of the times, broad and liberal in his views and has the courage of his convictions on all the leading public questions and issues upon which men and parties divide. He also keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought along its various lines and being a man of scholarly attainments and refined tastes, his acquaintance with the best literature of the world is both general and profound, while his familiarity with the more prac- tienl affairs of the day makes him feel free with all classes and conditions of people whom he meets, and he is deserving of the large success he has achieved and of the universal esteem which he now enjoys.
WILLIAM H. UPTON.
1 man of thorough virtue and honor, one who fully represents the best traits of his English ancestry, and who is a worthy citizen of the country of his adoption, is William H. Upton, who was born February 16, 1863, in Staf- fordshire. England, the son of William and Mary (Turner) Upton. His father was a puddler in the iron mills of his native country, and never came to America.
The son, William H., had only three months of schooling and what edu- cation he has is self-acquired. He began work in the iron mills when only nine years of age, working in what were called the hoop mills. In time he became a sheet mill. roller, and until 1892 worked in the mills of his native town. On August 4, 1892, he arrived in Mckeesport, Pennsylvania, and worked in the mills there until 1894, when he engaged with the new plant of the Morton Tin Plate Company of Cambridge, Ohio, and has the distinction of rolling the first trial piece in the new mill. He remained with this com- pany until it sold out to the trust, and since has continued in the mill under the trust's operation. He is a head roller, has charge of the mill during his turn, and is one of the most valuable men in the service of the company, being con- sidered an exceptionally expert roller. He was a member of the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers until the trust mills were de- clared open, and the charter of the local organization surrendered. He is a charter member of the local order of the Protected Home Circle.
Mr. Upton was married on March 26, 1882, to Emily Hartill, daughter of James and Harriett ( Goodright ) Hartill, of Staffordshire, England. Mr. Hartill was an iron worker, and he and his wife died in England. To Mr. and Mrs. Upton have been born ten children: Sarah Ann, deceased; Emily
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Amelia, now Mrs. Carl .B. Stock, of Cambridge; Alice Maude; Lucy, now Mrs. Frank Wilson, of Cambridge: Annie ; William T., a worker in the mill with his father ; these six were born in England; four others have been born in America, Albert J., deceased ; Samuel, Florence and Mary. The sons and daughters have all had good school advantages. Alice Maude is a graduate of the Cambridge high school and for one year taught in the commercial department of West Lafayette College, in Coshocton county.
Mr. Upton and his family are members of the Methodist church, and are active church workers. Some of the members of the family teach in the Sun- day school.
Mr. Upton has visited his old English home twice since coming to Amer- ica-first in 1901, when he remained six weeks, and again in 1908, accom- panied by his wife and oldest daughter, when he remained three months. He and his family are thoroughly Americanized and are ardent supporters of our institutions. Mr. Upton is a Republican, cast his first vote for Mckinley in 1900, and is always interested in public matters, but is not an office seeker. The Upton family is a very interesting one and devoted to their home life.
JOHN C. BECKETT.
The name of John C. Beckett, having long stood for enterprise and right living, clean politics and altruism in its highest sense, is too familiar to the people of Cambridge and Guernsey county to need any introduction here, consequently the following paragraphs will deal in a plain, matter-of-fact manner with his useful and very active career.
Mr. Beckett was born on August 21, 1842, in Monroe county, Ohio. on a farm near Woodsfield. He is the son of George N. and Margaret (Clingan) Beckett. The father was a native of Smith Ferry, Jefferson coun- ty, Ohio, and the mother was born in Monroe county, Ohio. Her parents, John and Mary Clingan, came from Ireland when young, and John Clingan and Mary Armstrong were married soon afterward. Grandfather Clingan was a Methodist minister and was interested in the work of spreading the gospel in the West with the noted Peter Cartwright. and they became among the most influential of the pioneer preachers. John Clingan was one of the first men to preach in Cambridge, probably preaching the second sermon in the then struggling village. The father. George N. Beckett, a farmer and prominent stockman and wool buyer for many years, was prominent in public life, and
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he served as adjutant-general of the Ohio militia in the early years of the state's history, probably about 1812. He was an active abolitionist and ac- tive in the operations of the "underground railroad." He was an exemplary citizen in every respect. In 1865 Mr. Beckett with his family, moved to Guernsey county, locating at Fairview and engaged in the general mercantile business until 1879, his son, John C., of this review, being associated with him. He resided in Fairview until 1880, when he moved with his wife to Barnesville, Belmont county, where they remained until 1885 when they moved to Cambridge. Mr. Beckett's death occurred in July, 1893, his widow surviving until February, 1900. Both are buried in the Cambridge cemetery.
John C. Beckett grew to maturity on the home farm in Monroe county and attended the common schools, later the normal school at Woodsfield, taught by an Englishman, John Moore, a former professor in one of the universities of England. Later Mr. Beckett took a commercial course at the Pittsburg Commercial College. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went into the mercantile business at Jeru- salem, Monroe county, where he continued for some time, then went to Fair- view in the same line of business with his father, which they continued, as al- rendy stated, until 1879, in which year he was elected auditor of Guernsey county on the Republican ticket. He assumed the duties of this office in No- vember, 1880, and served two terms, or six years. In 1887 he was made cash- ier of the Central National Bank of Cambridge, where he remained two and one-half years, when he resigned. He then engaged in the mercantile busi- ness with John Boyd under the firm name of Boyd & Beckett, in a room where the present elegant Central Bank building is located. He was engaged at that stand for four years. He then became interested in promoting the Cam- bridge Iron and Steel Company, the first industry established in Cambridge of any importance. Mr. Beckett donated the land for the location of the plant and he was stockholder and secretary of the company at its organization. He continued in this position until he sold his stock in the company, when, with others, he promoted and built the Morton Tin Plate Company, this being the second tin plate mill built in Ohio. Mr. Beckett became the secretary of this company at its organization and later became manager of the sales depart- ment in addition to his duties as secretary, continuing thus in his active posi- tion until the plant was sold to the American Tin Plate Company, which later became a part of the United States Steel Company. The Cambridge mill was the last mill in the United States to sell to the American Tin Plate Com- pany, which took over all the operating mills of the country. This mill was successfully operated from the beginning, making a particular high grade of
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tin plate of special brand, which brand and quality is still continued by the United States Steel Company, its superior quality being universally recog- nized. It is but just to Mr. Beckett to say here that no small part of the large success and prestige of this plant was due to his wise counsel and judicious management. After leaving the mill he invested in real estate, both farm lands and city property, and he was interested in various enterprises until 1907, when he moved to Wharton county, Texas, which place is now his legal residence. He has very extensive land interests in the Lone Star state and is extensively interested in rice culture, but he is now beginning to diversify his line of farm products. He is located in the best part of the rice belt of Texas, largely on account of their inexhaustible shallow water and superior drain- age. Mr. Beckett has become a genuine Texas booster.
On March 16, 1870, Mr. Beckett married Rebecca C. Talbott, daughter of William A. and Rebecca ( Davenport ) Talbott, of Barnesville, Ohio, both parents being Virginians. The father of Mrs. Talbott, Judge Davenport, was a pioneer merchant of Barnesville. William A. Talbott was also a life- long merchant of Barnesville and a highly respected citizen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Talbott have been dead several years. They never lived in Guernsey county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beckett two children were born: George A., who married and is living with his father in Texas, assisting with the general farming, and Emma, who married Thomas E. Amos, business manager of The Daily Jeffersonian at Cambridge, Ohio.
Mr. Beckett has always been a Republican and is active in public affairs. Prior to being elected auditor of Guernsey county he held various township offices in Oxford township, where he lived prior to coming to Cambridge in 1880, and he has been active as a member of the Republican county central and executive committees, and a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions, and he has always been regarded as a safe counselor and ad- visor. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Cam- bridge and he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. South, and are active in church work. No man stands higher or has a cleaner business and official record than Mr. Beckett, and he is known throughout the state as a public spirited citizen of unusual ability and fine traits. While not at present a legal resident of Guernsey county, his interest in the county has remained unabated. He will always retain a warm place in his heart for old Guernsey county, where he was active in business and public affairs for so many years, and the people of this county likewise retain for Mr. Beckett and his family an equal esteem and always welcome them back most heartily.
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THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GUERNSEY COUNTY.
The Catholic church in this section of the state is not served by a more faithful. unselfish, kind or more highly revered man than the Rev. J. H. Wagner, who, however, is modest and unassuming, as one befitting his calling and station in life, content to know that he is doing the will of the Good Shepherd.
A brief history of the Catholic church in Guernsey county would not be out of place here.
The first Catholic church in this county was probably built about 1840 at Washington, a few Catholics having previously settled in that vicinity, and they continued to hold services there until about 1865, which were in charge of priests from various parts of the state, and particularly the priest from Beaver township, Noble county (then part of Guernsey). About the year 1867 Father Jacket, pastor at Temperanceville, Belmont county, built the church at Gibson Station. He used some of the material of the church at Washington in constructing this church. Father Jacket came to Temper- anceville in 1854 from Tennessee, and he served the congregations in this section of the state by traveling horseback over Guernsey, Belmont and Noble counties. In 1868 he was transferred to Coshocton, Ohio. Fathers O'Brien, Laughlin and Hall succeeded Father Jacket in the order named, each re- maining a short time. About 1870 Rev. Father Heary, now of Denison, Ohio, came to Temperanceville, and he attended to the wants of the Catho- lies of Guernsey county. He said mass and held services part of the time at the residence of Steve Quinn at the corner of Second street and Gomber avenue and part of the time at Michael Slaymon's, at Guernsey Mines. At this time there were perhaps twelve families in and near Cambridge. Father Heary was succeeded by Father Montag. He held services for a long time at Slaymon's, Guernsey mines, then the Adams hall, near the court house, was rented; finally he rented the Carlisle hall on Wheeling avenue, between Fifth and Sixth streets. He was succeeded by Rev. Nathaniel McCaffrey in 1897, who was the first Catholic priest to reside in Cambridge. Soon after he came here the Catholics bought the Shultz property, at the corner of Gomber and North Seventh streets. While they were erecting a small church on the rear of the lot, he said mass and held services at William Arm- bruster's, on West Wheeling avenue. The first Catholic church in Cambridge was on Gomber avenue, between Seventh and Eighth streets, and was dedi- cated by Bishop Watterson in December, 1897. A very large attendance was reported at the dedication, for but few of the citizens in this community had
ST. BENEDICT'S CATHOLIC CHURCH AND SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE.
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Harher Wagner.
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ever seen or heard a Catholic bishop, and many wished to hear Bishop Watterson, who had a national reputation as a temperance advocate.
Father McCaffrey organized the first parish in Cambridge. He was a profound scholar, very congenial and well liked by most of the citizens. Father James Slevin succeeded Father McCaffrey, but remained here only eight months, retiring on account of old age. Rev. C. H. A. Watterson was appointed pastor of Cambridge in July. 1901. He was a good, zealous priest, and the parish grew considerably under his pastorate. In June, 1904, he was selected to organize a parish in East Newark, Ohio. In the same year and month, just mentioned, he was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Wagner, the present pastor.
Father Wagner was born at Lancaster, Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1865. After graduating from the Lancaster parochial school he spent eleven years studying for the ministry, four years at Mount St. Mary's, a classical school at Emmettsburg, Maryland, five years at Mount St. Mary's, a theological seminary at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was ordained in 1894 at Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania. His first charge was at Newark, Ohio, then McCollinsville, Ohio. then Millersburg, Ohio, and then to Cambridge.
Father Wagner has been at the head of St. Benedict's Catholic church for the past five years, during which time the church has grown and many improvements have been made. During this time he has paid off an indebted- ness of about eight thousand dollars. While here he has built the Catholic church at Byesville, Guernsey county.
Father Wagner's crowning achievement has been the erection of the beautiful new edifice of St. Benedict's Catholic church and parochial school, located on the corner of North Seventh street and Gomber avenue and facing the former street. The building has a frontage on North Seventh street of sixty-four feet and extends back along Gomber avenue one hundred and thirty feet. The main entrance is ten feet wide, on North Seventh street. The building is two stories in height, with two school rooms on each floor, one above the other. The building is divided by a large hall running back to form an entrance to the large auditorium at the rear, which has a seating capacity of about seven hundred. The building is very substantial, built entirely of brick, and is practically fireproof. The auditorium is finished in mission style and the altars are works of art, the main altar costing eight hundred dollars. The entire building is heated by hot air. The building was begun in March, 1910, and the corner stone was laid with impressive ceremonies on Sunday, June 5, 1910, and was dedicated Sunday, November 20, 1910, with morning and evening ceremonies conducted by Bishop Hartley.
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of Columbus, Ohio. He was assisted by the following priests, all of whom are well known in this city, while others have assisted in previous cere- monies in connection with St. Benedict's church: Father Wagner, as cele- brant; Father Cahelan, of Zanesville; deacon, Father Watterson, of New- ark ; sub-deacon, Father O'Neill, the Bishop's secretary ; Father O'Boylan, of Newark: Father Mattingly, of Lancaster; Father Leininger, of Zanesville : Father Berry, of Byesville, and Father Dunn, of Dresden. The Bishop's secretary acted as master of ceremonies.
The church was thrown open to the members of the congregation and others wishing to inspect the interior, before the ceremonies of dedication, but later all were requested to leave the building and remain out until after the ceremony, which was carried out carefully according to the teachings of the church, in which the Bishop, priests and altar boys marched around the entire building. Following this the party entered and then the crowd was also permitted to enter and find seats. During the high mass following the Bishop occupied the throne, assisted by Father O'Boylan, of Newark.
The dedicatory sermon was delivered by Father Watterson, who at one time was in charge of the congregation here.
Reverend Wagner is an able and conscientious worker in the cause of the Master, and is popular with his people, exercising a broad influence in the community, even beyond the membership of his church, being a man of the finest personal characteristics.
THOMAS AUSTIN BONNELL.
Precedence among any one of the several professional lines to whose following both pre-eminent and mediocre ability has been given, can be at- tained by no side-path, but must be gained by earnest, heroic work; it must be the result of subjective native talent, supplemented by closest application, and a breadth of intellectuality that will render possible the ready and prac- tical use of mere theoretical knowledge. Among the large number who essay the achievement of preferment and honor, the percentage of failures is far in excess of that of successes, a fact that supplies direct proof of statements already expressed.
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