USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 55
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Mr. Vessels returned to the home farm in this county and remained there until his marriage, except for one year spent in the west. He was married on November 11, 1868, to Mary S. Johns, who was born and reared at Clays- ville, this county. She is the daughter of James M. and Rachel ( Forest) Johns. Her folks came from Jefferson county, Ohio. They lived at Clays- ville until about 1868, then moved to Athens county, where the father died. Her mother now lives at Columbus, and is over eighty years old. For the next five years after his marriage the subject followed farming, saw-milling and carpentering, around his home locality. About 1890 he bought the farm where he now lives, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in Westland township, a mile and half north of Claysville. He has a well kept farm and for some time he raised a great amount of fruit and also raised a great many sheep. He has made a success of all lines of farming and has a very cozy home.
Mr. Vessels' family consists of four boys and two girls, namely : Charles, born in 1870, died when thirty years old, unmarried; Carl W., born October 30, 1871, lives in Florida and is a photographer at Apalachicola; he is un- married. Birtie W., born February 16, 1873, married Maggie Pyles, sister of Thomas Pyles, whose sketch appears herein. They live one-half mile
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north of Claysville, on a farm. Maude Della married Bert S. Hendershot, the blacksmith of Claysville. Clyde A., born March 16, 1878, is at home. Daisy Lulu married Chauncey Camp and lives in Cambridge. James Johns, born August 5, 1885, is at home. Flora Florence died when six months old.
In politics Mr. Vessels is an independent Democrat, but he has twice been elected trustee of Westland township, which is about three-fourths Republican. He is a member of Cumberland Lodge No. 134, Free and Accepted Masons. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Claysville, as do his wife and children.
DENNIS CONROY.
From our sister country across the Atlantic, England's "merrie isle," the land to which we owe such a debt of gratitude and which we will ever hold in highest respect, comes one of the well known and influential residents of Valley township, Guernsey county, Dennis Conroy, who since coming here has benefited alike himself and those with whom he has come into contact. His birth occurred in Lancashire, England, in 1863 .. and he is the son of John and Ellen Conroy, people of much sterling worth, plain and honest, who spent their lives in England, and there the son, Dennis, grew to maturity and was educated, but owing to the fact that early in life he was compelled to hustle for himself his schooling was interrupted. His mother died when he was five years of age and when only nine years old he went into the coal mines to work and he has followed mining all his life. When a lad he had heard of the opportunities for poor young men in America, so when twenty-one years of age he set sail for our shores, coming direct to Guernsey county, Ohio, and took up his residence at Byesville when there were only a few houses here. He at once found work at the mines and he worked at the old Akron mine until it was "worked out," then went to Trail Run, where he was mine fore- man about eight years, and about 1901 he was made superintendent of this mine with from two hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy-five men under his direction. He soon proved himself to be of inestimable value to this firm. He is fully abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to his line of business, is a good disciplinarian, knowing well how to handle men in order to get the greatest and best results, keeping everything under a splendid system. Remaining at Trail Run until about 1908, he came to the Puritan mine in Valley township and has since been connected with the same, giving his usual high grade service.
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Mr. Conroy was married in 1887 to Sarah Hillyer, daughter of Thomas and Rachel Hillyer. She was born near Hartford in Valley township, this county, and there she grew to maturity, was educated and lived until her mar- riage. This union has resulted in the birth of two children, John and Wil- liam, both at home.
In 1893 Mr. Conroy bought a place near Senecaville, a farm of fifty acres. and with the exception of one year lived there until in March, 1908, when he sold out and bought his present beautiful home a short distance east of the Puritan mine. He has a rich and well improved farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres, most of it good bottom land between his dwelling and the mine. The house is located on a high knoll at the east side of the bottom field, overlooking Wills creek valley, a splendid view. In front of the house is a beautiful lawn set with various ornamental shrubbery, artistically trimmed and well-kept, the whole making a beautiful home.
Fraternally, Mr. Conroy is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Byes- ville and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Senecaville. He and his wife are prominent in the social life of this vicinity and have a wide circle of friends.
ABRAHAM M. MERRY.
One of the men who has stamped the impress of his strong individuality upon the minds of the people of Wills township, Guernsey county, in a man- ner as to render him one of the conspicuous characters of this locality is Abra- ham M. Merry. the able and popular superintendent of the county infirmary. Among his characteristics are faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose.
Mr. Merry was born March 25, 1871, in Center township, Noble county, Ohio. He is the son of Josephus and Catherine ( Bryan) Merry, both par- ents natives of Noble county, the father a successful farmer, progressive and prosperous, and a man held in high esteem by all, and the representative of a family prominent in the affairs of Noble county. His death occurred on February 9. 1897, and that of his wife on March 30, 1907. They never re- sided in Guernsey county.
Abraham M. Merry spent his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and was educated in the common schools of Noble county. He left home in 1892 and served as one of the Columbian guards at the Chicago World's fair
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for over a year. Upon his retirement from this work he returned home in Noble county, and on December 30, 1893, he was married to Lucy A. Peters, daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Shriver) Peters, of Byesville, Guernsey county. Mr. Peters was a prominent and highly respected man, and his death occurred about 1884. Mrs. Peters is still living in Cambridge.
To Mr. and Mrs. Merry have been born three sons and two daughters : Willard F., Charles A., Thomas S. (died at the age of three years ), Helma B. and Lucile E. After his marriage Mr. Merry located in Byesville and en- gaged in farming and also worked in the mines, in fact, he was employed in various capacities for some time. In 1903 he bought a farm near Hirams- burg, Noble county, which he sold and then moved to a farm in Westland township. He was successful as a general farmer, and because of his pro- gressive ideas in conducting a farm and also because of his public spirit and his willingness to serve others while looking after his own affairs, in March. 1909, he was chosen superintendent of the county farm, which is located three miles north of Lore City in Wills township. The farm consists of two hun- dred and twelve acres, and under Mr. Merry's administration has been brought to a high standard of cultivation and is now a model farm, being managed under twentieth-century rules governing high grade husbandry. The build- ings are kept in perfect order and in excellent repair, as are the fences, lawns. etc. Weeds are all kept down and the entire farm has the appearance of a well-kept garden. indicating that a gentleman of excellent taste and one who is not afraid of work has its management in hand. Mrs. Merry is a very competent matron, keeps everything under her charge in a neat condition and in perfect order, thoroughly clean, being an admirable and competent help- meet to her husband, and, like him, is well liked by. all who know her.
Mr. Merry is a Republican and is active in the affairs of Guernsey county. and is frequently a delegate to county, district and state conventions and he has been influential in party affairs. While he has never been an office seeker. he has long been a party worker, and a valued citizen in all walks of life. He is a member of the Byesville lodge of Knights of Pythias, and he has al- ways been a worker in the cause of temperance, and he takes an active part in everything that pertains for the general advancement of the community. He and his wife are both church and Sunday school workers and their moral influence upon the community is very marked. Mrs. Merry has a good com- mon-school education and is a woman of splendid tastes and well informed. No profanity or liquor are permitted about the grounds of the county farm. consequently the wholesome atmosphere about this home is like that of a large, congenial and well ordered household. Mr. Merry is a splendid citizen
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and worthy of the confidence and esteem that are freely accorded him by all classes, irrespective of party alignment, and the county has never had a better official.
WILLIAM SHERMAN SHEPPARD.
The success that William Sheppard, of Oxford township, Guernsey county, has gained by his persistent and honorable methods have proven him to be worthy of a place in his county's history along with other progressive and sterling citizens. He was born on February 7, 1869, and is the repre- sentative of one of the old and prominent families of this locality, being the son of Dr. Isaac H. and Harriett (Grimes) Sheppard, and a brother of Charles S. and Benjamin F. Sheppard, whose sketches appear elsewhere in this volume. William S. Sheppard grew to maturity on the home farm and at- tended the common schools, also went to the Fairview Normal School, after- wards attending the commercial college at Zanesville, Ohio. He went to Oklahoma in 1891 as a traveling salesman for a shoe house, and during the winter when traveling was bad he taught school for one term. He remained in Oklahoma one and one-half years, returning to Oxford township, Guern- sey county, Ohio, in 1893, and engaged in the mercantile business in Win- chester, continuing this for two years, when he closed out his business and bought the farm where he now lives on the National pike, two and. one-half miles west of Fairview, in Oxford. He has two hundred and thirty acres of well improved and highly productive land, and engages in general farming and tobacco growing, but he specializes in breeding and raising thoroughbred Delano sheep, and he finds a very ready market owing to their superior quality, his best animals being in large demand for breeding purposes. He also buys wool extensively during the wool season for eastern companies, and he is a fine judge of wool. He is very successful in whatever he turns his attention to, being a man of rare soundness of judgment. excellent foresight and dis- cernment.
Mr. Sheppard has been twice married, first on September 18, 1890, to Ida A. Henderson, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Boyd) Henderson, of Oxford township. Two sons were born to this union, Homer and Derbert, both living. The mother of these children was called to her rest in March, 1002. The second marriage of Mr. Sheppard was solemnized on April 27, 1906, to Winnie B. Spencer, daughter of Richard L. and Maggie Spencer. a prominent farmer and sheep raiser, and a pioneer family of Millwood town-
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ship. Both parents are still living. This second union resulted in the birth of one daughter, Mildred L.
Mr. Sheppard has an attractive, modern and convenient residence, and his farm buildings are all modern and substantial, in fact, everything about his place indicates thrift, prosperity and that a gentleman of splendid tastes has its management in hand. In addition to his farming and stock raising, he deals in farm lands and has been very successful in this business as well as his other enterprises. Politically, he is a Republican and is a pronounced party man. taking a great interest in party affairs, but he is not an office seeker, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his large business interests. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, and Mr. Sheppard has for years been a trustee of the same, and both he and his wife are active in church and Sunday school work. Their home is an ideal country place and is known to a wide circle of the best people of the county as a place of hos- pitality and good cheer. Mr. and Mrs. Sheppard being prominent in the social life of the community.
CHAISE J. SPAID.
Energetic and progressive, Chaise J. Spaid holds a high rank among the business men of Cambridge, Ohio, and he comes of one of the best old families of Guernsey county. . His birth occurred at Hartford, Valley township, July 31, 1871. He is the son of J. E. Spaid, of Hartford, a complete record of whose life is to be found on another page of this work. The gentleman whose name heads this review grew to maturity at Hartford and attended the local schools. When he was about thirteen years of age he began work in the mines, assisting in opening Spaid's mine at Buffalo, said to be the fifth mine opened in Guernsey county. For thirteen years he worked at mining and carpenter work, having done every kind of work about a mine and was mine boss for some time, working a great deal in a mine at Cumberland. In 1897 he entered the saw mill and lumber business at Hartford and continued suc- cessfully in the same for about five years. Then he bought a planing mill at Seneca, which he still owns in connection with a lumber yard there. About 1908 he purchased a planing mill and lumber yard at Derwent and he still operates it, being very successful in this line of endeavor. Early in 1909 he started a mercantile business at Buffalo, which he still maintains, having bought out C. W. Corbett. On September 3, 1909, he bought out the McCoy
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store at Derwent, which he continues to operate with his usual success. In the spring of 1910 he started a new store at Walhonding No. 2 mine, in Valley township, and he still runs it, having built up an excellent trade with the sur- rounding country. Mr. Spaid is also the owner of several valuable properties at Columbus, Ohio, and he has eight rental properties at Walhonding No. 2 mine. He has been most successful as a business man, being energetic, far- seeing and possessing rare tact and discrimination. Owing to his reputation for fair dealing and scrupulous honesty among his fellow men in all the rela- tions of life, he has the good will and confidence of all who know him or have had dealings with him. He has done much in a material way toward the progress of Guernsey county. In view of the fact that he was compelled to start out in life under rather discouraging circumstances and that he has ac- cepted help from no one, Mr. Spaid is deserving of the highest credit for what he has accomplished. He has never been subdued by obstacles or dis- couraged by any of the adverse circumstances that often thwart men in their struggle for success. He has succeeded in mining operations, the lumber, planing mill and mercantile business. To start with nothing and at the early age of thirty-nine to be the owner of two planing mills, two lumber yards, three general stores, besides numerous rental properties, is certainly not a bad record, and yet. with all his success, Mr. Spaid is a straightforward, unas- suming practical man of affairs whom to know is to respect and admire. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.
On August 25, 1895, Mr. Spaid was married to Frances V. Marquis, of Sharon, Noble county, Ohio, where she was born and reared and where she re- ceived a good education. She is a lady of refinement and a favorite with a wide circle of friends. Her parents were Nelson and Elizabeth S. Marquis, both of whom are now deceased. They were both natives of Noble county and were prominent among the earlier residents. Their parents were also reared there, the family on both sides being influential in pioneer days.
W. G. NICHOLS.
A man of marked individuality and a leader in the affairs of southwest- ern Guernsey county is W. G. Nichols, editor and proprietor of The Echo at Cumberland. His life has been one of honest endeavor and filled with good
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deeds throughout, for he has ever stood ready to foster and develop any movement that makes for the general uplift of his community.
Mr. Nichols is an American by adoption only, having been born in Liver- pool, England, October 8, 1870. He came to America with his parents when less than two years of age. He attended school some in his early boyhood and when nine years of age entered his father's printing office and while yet very young mastered the "art preservative." He is the son of George G. and Susan ( Wines) Nichols, both natives of England, where they were reared. educated and married. George G. was the son of William T. and Ann (Garraway) Nichols. She was the daughter of George Garraway, a noted English composer of music. The Garraways were connected with the royalty of England. William T. Nichols, the paternal grandfather, was an officer in the English army and was prominently identified with the service for many years, being a major in the First Dragoon Guards ( the Queen's body guard ). and for thirteen years was champion swordsman of the English army. He spent his entire life in England. Susan Wines' mother (the grandmother of the subject of this sketch) was a Heale, a cousin or second cousin to Edward Everett Hale, the great American author. George G. Nichols learned the printer's trade in England. He came to America in 1872, first stopped at Bellevue, Ohio, where he worked for a time. He was later employed on the Toledo Blade with Nasby and for that paper was present at the Ashtabula wreck, and witnessed the recovery of the body of P. P. Bliss, the hymn writer. He was also employed later on the Cincinnati Enquirer. In 1884 he estab- lished a newspaper at Zanesville, Ohio, the Family Herald, a weekly, national organ of the Independent Order of Rechabites, a temperance order. After closing out this, he engaged in the history work travels a few years and later engaged as an advertising writer and manager. He later organized the Northside Business Men's Association, at Columbus, Ohio. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, a fluent writer and a splendid organizer. His home and family remained at Zanesville. He was attending to some business at Columbus when he took sick and died, on July 10, 1891. He was a mem- ber of the Congregational church. His wife survived about six months, dying in January, 1902. They were the parents of the following children : Ann, now Mrs. L. W. German, of Zanesville ; Mary, now Mrs. S. C. Hammond, of Zanesville ; John H., of East Ringold, Ohio; W. G., of this review; George R., registry clerk in the postoffice at Zanesville; Fanny, now Mrs. E. W. Harvey, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
W. G. Nichols, of this review, commenced his work as printer at the age of nine years, as stated above, and he has filled all positions in all branches of
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the business in Pittsburg and other cities. He filled these positions with credit to himself and with satisfaction to his employers. He continued to work in various newspaper offices until 1894, when he bought a job printing plant at Zanesville, remaining there four years. He then came to Cumberland and took charge of the plant here, which he found very much run down. He moved his job plant from Zanesville, and began operations here in March, 1808, starting up anew, with an exceptionally well equipped plant, and he was successful from the first. He has one of the best papers of its type in the state, the Echo being all that could be desired from a mechanical viewpoint, well edited, its columns teeming with the latest, crispiest and best news of the day, and its editorials strong, well written and convincing. It has been ren- dered valuable as an advertising medium, and its circulation has gradually increased until the list now numbers over nine hundred. He has all up-to- date equipment and he has made a success where others have failed. He does all kinds of job work in a neat, attractive manner, is prompt and tries to please. He has made a success here and is the owner of a valuable, substantial and convenient three-story building, and has several apartments which he rents in this commodious structure, besides his office.
Mr. Nichols was married in 1895, at Zanesville, to Nellie B. Hocking, a lady of intelligence and culture, who was born at Zanesville. She is the daugh- ter of Richard Hocking, a descendant of a pioneer family of Ohio. He was born in what is now the District of Columbia. His father was a native of England, and an uncle of his father preceded him to Ohio. His home city was Logan, England, the place where the Hocking's originated, and when the first member of this family came to Ohio he was a surveyor and laid out and was instrumental in naming Hocking county after the family and the county seat was called Logan, after the old home town. Richard Hocking was one of the first rolling mill men to locate at Zanesville. He still resides there, being now seventy-five years of age. His wife also survives. He is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled all the chairs in this lodge. He has been a faithful member over fifty years.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hock- ing: Harry, manager of the Laughlin plant of the Whittaker-Glessner Steel Company, at Martin's Ferry, Ohio; Alice, now Mrs. H. J. Kimble, of Zanes- ville : Ida, Mrs. Sheridan Swingle, of Stovertown; Richard, Jr., is at home ; Nellie B., wife of W. G. Nichols, of this review: Abbie, now Mrs. Guy Fitz, of Zanesville: George was killed in a railroad accident: Ella, who died in infancy.
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One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. W. G. Nichols, Alice B., who is living at home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are members of the Methodist church. Mr. Nichols is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows : also Buckeye Camp No. 3224, Modern Woodmen, at Zanes- ville; also Merit Tent, No. 415. Knights of the Maccabees, of Cumberland ; Rebekah Lodge, No. 338; also Cumberland Chapter No. 110, Eastern Star. Mrs. Nichols is prominently identified with the Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union, the Daughters of Rebekah, and the Eastern Star.
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