USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 42
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During the last few years, Mr. Blair suffered with heart trouble, which was the cause of his giving up active work. Two weeks prior to his death he suffered an attack, and it was feared then that it would end in death. How- ever, he recovered and made the remark that he did not think he could live through another attack. On Saturday afternoon of the day he died. Mr. Blair complained of being ill, but after eating supper went out in front of the house. Later he was joined by Mrs. Blair, who advised him to return to the house, which he did, but his condition was so much worse that the family physician was sent for. However, it was too late and death was then but a question of a short time.
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On October 4, 1910, Mr. and Mrs. Blair celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, when all of their children were present, and the occasion was one of unusual enjoyment for the father, who was so soon to be summoned from earthly labors.
Mr. Blair was a man of sterling worth and qualities of character and was held in the highest esteem throughout the county, where he enjoyed an extensive acquaintance. He was always on the right side of every question affecting the best interests of his fellows, and his death was a distinct loss to the community.
ORLANDO R. TAYLOR.
A name that is well known in Valley township, Guernsey county, stand- ing for upright manhood and clean citizenship, is that of Orlando R. Taylor, who was born in Hartford, this township, June 16, 1858, the descendant of an excellent and highly respected family, being the son of William and Sarah ( Hall) Taylor. The father was born in the same community, as was also the mother. William Taylor devoted most of his life to farming pursuits, but during his last years he was not very actively engaged in agriculture. He was a man whom everyone respects, his life having been above reproach. In his family are six children, named as follows : Orlando.R., of this review ; Ida, wife of David E. H. Elwee, lives at Westerville, Ohio; Naomi is the wife of James Laughlin and lives at Pleasant City, this county; Lizzie is the wife of James H. Warren and lives in Cambridge ; Jemima married G. S. Larrick and lives about five miles south of Pleasant City, in Noble county ; Charley lives at Linden Heights, north of Columbus, Ohio.
The death of the father of these children occurred on September II, 1909, having survived his wife nine years, she having answered the summons on September 24, 1900. From about 1879 they had lived in Pleasant City, although Mr. Taylor continued farming until within a few years of his death.
Orlando R. Taylor grew to maturity on the home farm, near Pleasant City, which he worked when old enough, and he attended the common schools there. Since 1879 he has lived at Pleasant City, but he attended the normal school at Cambridge, and later took a course at Scio College, preparing him- self for a teacher, which profession he followed with marked success for fif- teen or sixteen years, his services being in great demand owing to the fact that he was exceptionally well equipped for his work and also because of the fact that he was an entertainer as well as an instructor in the school room,
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being popular with both pupils and patrons, and keeping abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to his work. He taught in Pleasant City and other schools in Guernsey county and four years in Muskingum county.
But tiring of the school room, Mr. Taylor took up fire insurance, and later established an agency and did a very gratifying business in this line. He became notary public and was also township clerk, and is still serving as clerk of the school board of Valley township, and also as clerk of the board of education of Pleasant City. As a public servant he has ever given the utmost satisfaction, discharging his duties in a very conscientious and able manner. He has recently engaged in life insurance, which he now makes his chief business.
Mr. Taylor was married on August 4, 1888, to Alice Moore. a lady of many estimable traits, the daughter of Thomas I. and Margaret (Gander ) Moore. She was born, reared and educated in the southeastern part of Guern- sey county. One child was born to this union, who died in infancy.
Mr. Taylor's popularity and his eminent fitness for positions of public trust led his friends to elect him mayor of Pleasant City, but he did not want the office and resigned after six months' service. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is easily one of the leading citizens of Pleasant City and this part of the county. al- though being a man of conservative tastes, he does not court such distinction.
JOHN S. MOORHEAD.
Devoted to the noble and humane work of teaching, John S. Moorhead, of Senecaville, Richland township, Guernsey county, has made his influence felt in the school life of this locality, occupying as he does a prominent place in his profession and standing high in the esteem of all classes. his services being in great demand and his personality of such a genteel nature as to ren- der him popular with patrons and pupils everywhere.
Mr. Moorhead was born February II. 1862, in Senecaville, Ohio, and is the son of Jonathan and Mary A. Moorhead. The father was born in Guernsey county and the mother in Virginia. The Moorheads were also Vir- ginians and were a prominent and influential pioneer family and active in the early development of the county. The father was a farmer and pioneer brick manufacturer, making most of the brick of which the early brick buildings of
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Senecaville were built. He was also a farmer, but had his residence in Senecaville. He was a Republican in politics and an ardent party man, but never an office seeker, but always well informed and positive in his convic- tions. He and his family were connected with the Methodist Episcopal church and he was a great lover of nature and probably the best botanist in this section of the state, being an authority on flowers, plants and trees. He died April 1, 1903, and his wife on August 23, 1894, and both are buried in the cemetery in Senecaville. These parents had a family of five sons and three daughters who grew to manhood and womanhood : George A., of Senecaville ; Langdon, of Cambridge; John S., the subject of this sketch; Jacob C., of Cambridge ; Emma, now Mrs. Sherman Cale, of New Concord; Rosetta, now Mrs. J. E. Malone, of New Concord.
John S. Moorhead grew up in Senecaville, and was educated in the Senecaville public schools, since which time he attended various normal schools, preparing to teach, and is therefore well equipped for his life work.
Mr. Moorhead was married October 30, 1883, to May Belle Breidenthal, daughter of Henry and Linnie ( Leisure) Breidenthal, of Senecaville. This family came from Pennsylvania to Guernsey county, Mr. Breidenthal being a shoemaker and a Republican, active in politics and all public matters and a great reader, being well informed. Both parents are now living and reside in Pleasant City. To Mr. and Mrs. Moorhead have been born two sons and four daughters : Byron, Bright, Linnie, Mary A., Gertrude and Virginia. Byron, the eldest son, is a student in the Northwestern University at Ada, Ohio, and the others are students in the Senecaville schools, except the two youngest.
After leaving school Mr. Moorhead was engaged with the C. W. & N. Y. railroad as agent at Senecaville, his brother, George A., being super- intendent of the road when it was first built. Mr. Moorhead had a brother also engaged in the railroad tie business, having a contract with the Baltimore & Ohio railroad to furnish forty thousand ties each year. He was with the railroad company as agent for about ten years, but in 1894 he left the com- pany and engaged in school teaching and has been teaching ever since. For five years he taught in the Senecaville schools and the remainder of the time in the country district schools of the county and is a progressive and popular teacher. He is a Republican in politics and has served as a member of the town council for twelve years and was elected mayor of the village in 1909 and prior to this had served two terms as mayor, making six years in all. He is a public-spirited, progressive citizen in all matters. He is a member of the Eastern Ohio and Guernsey County Teachers' associations and is secre- tary of the township branch of the Ohio Teachers' Reading Circle. He and
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his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in the church and Sunday school work, having served five years as superintendent of the Sunday school and is Sunday school chorister. Mrs. Moorhead is an active worker in the different church societies and is a refined and cultured woman, devoted to her home and family, and the Moorhead home is promi- nent in the social life of the community.
Few men have the spirit of civic improvement as Mr. Moorhead and his influence is always along lines calculated to bring about conditions resulting in the greatest good to the greatest number, good, practical education for the young and a high plane of morals for the elders. He is a man of high ideals, who is able to point out the way that they may be obtained and maintained. The Moorhead home is one of the most hospitable and attractive in Seneca- ville.
EDWARD LYNCH.
The name of Edward Lynch, a well known citizen of Senecaville, Rich- land township, Guernsey county, has long been synonymous with improvement and progress, for he believes in employing modern methods in all phases of our complex existence, and as a result he has been very successful in what- ever he has turned his attention to and has done much toward the general uplift of his community.
Mr. Lynch is the able and popular superintendent of the Cleveland mine of the Morris Coal Company. He was born on September 3, 1866, in Law- rence county, Ohio, near Vesuvius Station, and is the son of Edward and Anna Belle ( Bickenington) Lynch. The father worked in the coal mines of Lawrence county and was a player of the violin of local note and furnished music for the country dances. The father died in 1908 and his wife in 1871. The son grew up in the mining districts and attended the district schools of the township. At ten years of age he went to work in the mines with his father and worked at mining in Lawrence county until 1885, when he went to New Straitsville, Ohio, and worked in the coal mines of that locality. He was at New Straitsville for seven years, when he went to Jacksonville, Athens county, and worked in the mines for five years, and in 1897 he was made superintendent of Mine No. 24. of the Crescent Coal Company, near Jack- sonville. In a short time the Crescent Coal Company was reorganized, be- coming the Northern Fuel Company. Mr. Lynch was with this company as superintendent of Mine No. 24 for thirteen years. He then went to Mine No.
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21, near Shawnee, for the Sunday Creek Coal Company as superintendent, where he remained for six months, when he was transferred to Mine No. Io of the same company, near Gloucester, Athens county, where he remained for a short time, and then went to Arkansas as superintendent of three mines operated by a company in that state. He only remained about five months, the climate not agreeing with him. He then returned to Sugar Creek, Athens county, and was superintendent of Mine No. 211, for the Continental Coal Company. He was with this company only a short time when the Sunday Creek Coal Company took over the Colonial Coal Company properties and Mr. Lynch was transformed to Chauncey, Athens county, as superintendent of the new mine for the same company. He was only at Chauncey a short time when he was transferred back to his former position at Sugar Creek. He was with the Continental and Sunday Creek companies for three years. In February, 1909, he came to his present position with the Morris Coal Com- pany as superintendent of the mine at Senecaville. This is one of the largest mines in Guernsey county, with an output of about thirteen hundred tons daily and employing more than two hundred people. It is a modern equipped mine in every way, and Mr. Lynch is an expert mine superintendent, learning the business from the beginning to the important position he now occupies. He has seen the business grow from the crude methods of forty years ago to the present thoroughly equipped mines and methods. He has learned it all in the school of experience and is a thorough man in every respect.
Mr. Lynch was married November 26, 1889, to Anna Call, of New Straitsville, daughter of Edward and Mary ( Sweney) Call, Mr. Call being a miner in the New Straitsville mines. To this union six children have been born : Anna Belle, Edward, Frank, John, Charles and Harry, all at home.
Mr. Lynch is a Democrat in politics and has been always interested in public matters and active in public affairs. He has served as school director in the different localities where he has lived and has always been interested in education.
The Lynch family are of the Catholic faith. Mr. Lynch is a splendid type of a self-made man, going into the mines with his father at the age of ten, beginning the work at the very bottom. He has learned the business step by step and learned it thoroughly, until he reached the position of mine su- perintendent, solely by his energy and ability and true worth. He is a man of splendid character, a good man in every sense, both in his calling and in the affairs of men. Progressive in his ideas, he is a valuable citizen in any com- munity in which he may live. His wife is equally capable in her sphere, which
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in devotion to her home and family. The eldest child, a daughter, assists her mother in the home, one son works in the mine with his father and the other boys are yet in school.
OBEDIAH E. TRENNER.
Among the successful and progressive agriculturists and stock men of this locality is Obediah E. Trenner, who was born about a half mile north- west of Derwent, in Valley township, on June 4, 1858, the son of Noah and Caroline (Rose) Trenner. The father was born on the same farm as his son, the subject, so the Trenner family has been a prominent one in this community. from the pioneer days. The paternal grandfather was Henry Trenner, Jr., he being the son of Henry, Sr., and Elizabeth ( Secrest) Trenner. Henry Trenner, Jr., was born in Virginia in 1790, and emigrated to Ohio with his parents in the fall of 1818, when this country was undeveloped and the home of wild animals. They settled in what is now Valley township, near Der- went, buying a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and there they made the family home, spending the rest of their days there. Soon after his arrival here in the fall of 1818, Henry Trenner, Jr., married Sarah Frye, who was born in Virginia in 1800, the daughter of John Frye and wife. Eight chil- dren were born to them, namely: John F., Isaiah and Noah, all deceased ; William, living at Carthage, Missouri; Benjamin, of Jackson township, this county, whose record, appearing in this book, gives interesting information of the Trenner family from their first arrival in America ; Caleb lives in Val- ley township; Henry lives in the state of Washington; one child died in in fancy.
Henry Trenner and wife were members of the Lutheran church at Hart- ford for many years, and they attended services held in various dwellings of the county many years, before a church house was built.
Noah Trenner grew up on the old home farm, where his grandparents settled in 1818, and he lived there all his life, following farming. He mar- ried Caroline Rose, daughter of Robinson and Elizabeth ( Moser) Rose. She grew to maturity near Hartford. Her father's family is descended from Sir Robert Rose, of England. Several generations ago the Moser family came to the United States from the isle of Guernsey, and settled near Seneca- ville, this county. To Noah Trenner and wife four children were born, two of whom died in infancy ; those living are, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Robins, wife of Henry C. Robins, of Westerville, Ohio, and Obediah E., of this review.
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Noah Trenner was a successful farmer, having followed this vocation all his life, owning two hundred acres of good land. He was a Democrat and held several minor public offices. He and his wife both belonged to the Lutheran church at Hartford, and he was an officer in the church for several years. His death occurred in 1895, and that of his wife in 1900.
Obediah E. Trenner, of this review, lived on the home farm until he was twenty-five or twenty-six years of age, then entered the mercantile business at Hartford, later opening a store at Trail Run which he managed six months, later discontinuing his store at Hartford. He was the first postmaster at Robins. serving two terms of about four years each. About 1893 he built a new store at Pleasant City and put in an excellent stock of goods, continuing at the same time his store at Trail Run, selling out at the latter place about 1900. He continued business at Pleasant City until the fall of 1906, when he sold out. Since then he has been looking after his farm and dealing in the stock business. He has a splendidly improved place of one hundred and thirty-one acres in the locality where he was born, and he has brought the place up to a high state of cultivation. He has a neat home and substantial outbuildings and he devotes considerable attention to stock raising. He was very successful as a merchant and always enjoyed a very liberal patronage wherever he had a store, for the people had every confidence in his good in- tentions.
Mr. Trenner was married in June. 1899, to Ella Umstot, of Washington, Guernsey county, the daughter of Jacob S. and Sarah Jane ( McGaw) Umstot. her parents being old residents of this county and highly respected.
Fraternally, Mr. Trenner belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, Dyson Lodge, also Foster Encampment, both at Pleasant City. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church at that place, and he has been an officer in the church for the past seven years, and is also active in Sunday school work, being treasurer and teacher.
ELIAS D. STONE.
The name of Elias D. Stone is synonymous with progress and improve- ment in the vicinity of Derwent, Ohio, for he is a man who believes in keep- ing abreast of the times in every respect and doing well whatever he has in hand, and this characteristic has resulted in a fair measure of success to Mr. Stone and his family. He was born in Spencer township, Guernsey county,
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Ohio, and is the son of Marshall and Louisa ( Patterson) Stone. Both par- ents were born in Pennsylvania, and both these families came to Guernsey county in the pioneer days and here prospered and became influential. The father of the subject was a Republican, and while he was always deeply inter- ested in public affairs, he was not active. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred on January 13, 1886; his widow, a woman of beautiful Christian characteristics, still survives, now advanced in years, having reached the age of eighty-two. She lives on the home farm in Spencer township.
Elias D. Stone spent his youth on his father's farm and engaged in the general work on the place, attending the district schools during the winter months, later attending Valparaiso University, at Valparaiso, Indiana, one year, and later spent one year at Northwestern University at Ada. Ohio, being compelled to leave college on account of poor health. He had been engaged in the lumber business prior to attending college, and he returned to this line of business in order to get outdoor work. He operated mills and bought and shipped lumber extensively and became well known as a lumber dealer. In 1899 he established a planing mill at Derwent, this county, and successfully operated the same for a period of nine years, selling out in 1908. Since then he has been engaged in farming or superintending his farming interests, which are extensive. He has been very successful in all business affairs.
Politically, Mr. Stone is a Republican and he has been an active party worker for some time. He has frequently been a delegate to county, district and state conventions. In 1908 he was nominated and elected a member of the board of county commissioners and he is now president of the board and is doing a very commendable work in this capacity. He was renominated for the same office in 1910 and elected for another two years. Some important road improvements have been undertaken and completed during his tenure of office. He has the reputation of being a splendid official, with a view to economy and strict integrity in public matters. He has also served as a men- ber of the board of education in Derwent. Fraternally, he belongs to the Pleasant City lodge, Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Stone has been twice married, first on May 31. 1894. to Luella Hawes, daughter of John B. and Elizabeth Hawes, of Valley township. a prominent family there ; Mrs. Stone lived less than one year, dying on April I, 1895. His second marriage was solemnized on April 4, 1901, to Alcy Rhinehart, daughter of James and Louisa (Finney ) Rhinehart, of Westland township, Guernsey county, Mr. Rhinehart being a prominent and successful
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farmer there. Four children, two sons and two daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stone, namely : Louisa F., James P., Elias T. and Orvetta. Mr. Stone and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is a trustee, steward and class leader and superintendent of the Sun- day school, in fact, a pillar in the church here, having been a member of and active worker in the church and Sunday school for twenty-five years. His wife is also a very efficient church and Sunday school worker. The family home is in Derwent, Valley township, and is a large, substantial and attractive one. Mr. Stone still has some lumbering interests here in addition to his farming interests and official duties.
JAMES MADISON SECREST.
A man who deserves the great credit which is given him for his success is James Madison Secrest, one of Guernsey county's most prominent and in- fluential citizens, for not a dishonest dollar ever passed through his hands, and his, large competence and valuable property have all been accumulated by his own efforts, for he started in life under none too favorable auspices, but being a man of indomitable courage and always his own exponent, doing his own thinking and depending upon no one to direct his affairs, he has forged to the front rank of our citizenship despite obstacles, and has played well his part in the work of upbuilding the locality honored by his citizenship and whose interests he has always had at heart, therefore is eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all who know him.
Mr. Secrest was born in Noble county, Ohio, in 1848, and he is the only son of Harrison and Hulda ( Thompson) Secrest and the grandson of Isaac and Mary (Slater ) Secrest, all prominent in the pioneer life of the Buckeye state. Harrison Secrest was born in 1822 in what is now the north part of Noble county, Ohio, and there he grew up on a farm which he worked when old enough. His wife, Hulda Thompson, was the daughter of Abraham and Rachael ( McCreary ) Thompson, the father born September 3, 1796, and the son of James and Mary (Jackson) Thompson. James Thompson was born February 20. 1758, and he was the son of Jacob and Annie (Downard) Thompson. Abraham Thompson came from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in his young manhood and settled in the southeast part of what is now Valley township, Guernsey county. His father came and entered a large quantity of excellent land from the government,-in fact, he secured all the most avail-
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able farming land in that community, and, like the other members of this thrifty family, became well-to-do.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Secrest he and she lived in Noble county until the death of the wife, Mrs. Hulda Secrest, on October 14, 1849. As stated above, their only child was James Madison, the subject. After the death of his first wife, Harrison Secrest moved to Pleasant City. then called Point Pleasant, and married Elizabeth Allison, daughter of J. B. and Matilda Allison, who came from Greene county, Ohio, and developed a good home here and were highly respected. The following children were born to Harrison and Elizabeth (Allison) Secrest: Joseph ; Nancy Caroline, wife of Noah Larrick; Sarah; Belle, wife of Mr. Kackley, of Columbus, Ohio; John ; Mary, wife of John Stranathan ; William; Martha, wife of Fred Camp- bell.
Harrison Secrest kept a hotel, ran a woolen mill, built a number of houses in Pleasant City, conducted a store awhile-in fact, was one of the most prominent business men of the place for many years and did more, perhaps, for the upbuilding of the town than any other man. He was an excellent manager, exercised splendid judgment in all his transactions and was always ready to assist in furthering any enterprise making for the general good. Al- though he was a loyal Republican, he never aspired to public offices. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal church. The death of this excellent and highly honored citizen occurred on February 5, 1894.
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