USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > History of Guernsey County, Ohio, Volume II > Part 7
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until 1885, and continued his manufacturing business there. In 1885 he was elected recorder of Guernsey county, and in that year the family returned to Cambridge to reside. He served two terms as county recorder, was recog- nized as a competent and accommodating public official, and now enjoys the respect of the people of Cambridge.
Charles L. Casey attended the public schools of Cumberland during the years of the family's residence in that city, and on their return to Cam- bridge, in 1885, he entered the public schools of the city, graduating from the Cambridge high school in the class of 1889. He then became a student at the University of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1892. Until 1900 he was engaged in various pursuits, when he organized The Cambridge Art Pottery Company, becoming its president and manager. A plant was built at Cambridge, and the company began the manufacture of their wares, placing upon the market a high grade of pottery which found a market in the larger centers. For two years the company manufactured a line of color glazed pottery exclusively, but after two years' operations they decided to include in their line an entirely new product in earthenware, and the result was the "Guernsey" earthenware, a variety of practical and sanitary cook- ing utensils, a product of which this company were the originators and the first manufacturers in the United States to introduce the "casserole" vessel for cooking and serving. This ware is light in weight, has a rich brown ex- terior, and a spotless white porcelain interior. For more than six years it has stood the strongest possible tests and grows in favor constantly. Their line includes every kind of vessel that may be conceived for cooking and serving purposes, and the company is supplying all of the large silverware manufacturers with "Guernsey" earthenware for mounting in sterling, sil- ver-plated and other metal holders. The company's line includes all the standard shapes and sizes, their casseroles being exceptionally fine.
The business under the direction and guidance of Mr. Casey has grown from its first inception until it now invades every part of the United States and some foreign countries. The reputation of "Guernsey" earthenware has become world wide, and every day letters of inquiry come from faraway foreign commercial centers. At the Jamestown exposition in 1907, the first national exhibition at which they were exhibitors, the company's ex- hibit of art pottery and "Guernsey" earthenware products were awarded first prizes.
The company disposes of its wares directly through the retailers, main- taining show rooms and offices in Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, New York, and New Orleans, each in charge of a personal representative of the
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company. Two years ago they abandoned entirely the manufacture of art pottery, and have since given their undivided attention to the rapidly growing demand for "Guernsey" earthenware.
In July. 1909, the name of the company was changed from The Cam- bridge Art Pottery Company to The Guernsey Earthenware Company, Mr. Casey taking over practically all of the stock and continuing as president, general manager and guiding genius. This plant is one of the busiest and most prosperous of the industries of Cambridge. It employs about one hundred and sixty persons throughout the year. Mr. Casey's keen insight, never-tiring energy, and great business capacity has thus established and developed one of the most conspicuous business concerns in the Guernsey valley. He is a man of great energy and force and whatever he gets behind must move. Not only is he prominent in the industrial life of the community, but he is greatly interested in whatever movement aims at the advancement of Cambridge. Mr. Casey is one of those public spirited citizens who made possible the recently organized Cambridge Board of Trade, and is one of its directors and vice-president of the organization. A man of optimistic views and action, giving his influence and support to all progressive move- ments, he occupies a high place in the estimation of the people.
In politics, Mr. Casey is a Republican, has always been active in the counsels of this party, and his name is generally found in the list of dele- gates to county, district and state conventions. Politics is his recreation. and few men get more pleasure out of the game than does Mr. Casey. He is a member of the Cambridge Country Club, a man of broad generous views, and most companionable. No community could fail to be improved had it many citizens like Mr. Casey.
IRA FERGUSON.
Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interests than wealth or advantageous circumstances, have been dominating factors in the life of Ira Ferguson, of Lore City, Wills township, Guernsey county. His career, though brief. he being yet a man young in years, has been replete with honor and success worthily attained.
Mr. Ferguson was born on August 25, 1880, on a farm one and one- half miles southeast of Lore City, in Liberty township, this county, and he
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is the son of Andrew C. and Eveline (Saltsgaver) Ferguson. Both parents were born in Senecaville, this county, the mother being the daughter of Wil- liam Saltsgaver, of that place, a man prominent and wealthy in lands and . other interests. The Fergusons are of Scotch-Irish descent, and a pioneer family in the county. The father, Andrew C. Ferguson, is a prominent farmer and large land owner of Richland township, Guernsey county, and he is prominent in the affairs of the locality. He and his wife are still living and are highly honored by a wide circle of friends.
Tra Ferguson, of this review, spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm, and his early education was obtained in the schools of Liberty district, Liberty township, where he remained until he was twenty years of age, when he left home and went to New York City, and was employed with a company manufacturing ice machines for one year, then returned to the home farm on account of sickness. After his recovery he went to New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and was again employed by a company in the manufacture of ice machines, remaining with the same about a year. He returned home again and on February 7, 1903, he was united in marriage with Emma Mendenhall, daughter of Thomas S. and Martha (Gardner) Men- clenhall, of Salesville, this county. Mr. Mendenhall was a prominent stock- buyer and shipper, and his death occurred in December, 1902; his widow is living at Salesville.
One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, Margaret Blanche. After his marriage Mr. Ferguson went to Rochester, Pennsylvania, and engaged in the restaurant business, but returned to Lore City, Ohio, in less than a year and opened a hardware store here. He continued in that line successfully until he was appointed postmaster of Lore City, on March 10, 1908, when he retired from the hardware business and devoted his exclusive attention to the postoffice, making, according to the consensus of opinion, one of the best postmasters the town has ever had. The office has three rural routes and is a distributing point for several different places.
Politically, Mr. Ferguson is a Republican and is loyal to the same, and he has been active in political matters, and has been a frequent delegate to Republican conventions and active in the interests and success of the party, yet always tolerant to men of different opinions. He is a member of the Masonic order. Pleasant City lodge and the York Rite at Cambridge and the Scottish Rite at Columbus, Ohio, being well known and active in this fraternity. Mrs. Ferguson is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Ferguson affiliates with the same. Mrs. Ferguson is a splendid woman, and, like her husband, is prominent in the social life of
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this community, numbering her friends by the limits of her acquaintance only. She is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, the woman's auxiliary of Masonry.
JAMES G. BAIR.
One of the most prominent and influential business men of Cambridge and one of Guernsey county's most highly honored and representative citi- zens is James G. Bair, the worthy scion of one of the old and distinguished pioneer families of this section of the Buckeye state. He has always been very active in business affairs and scrupulously honest in all his relations with his fellow men and leaving no stone unturned whereby he might bene- fit his own condition as well as that of the public in general, consequently he has won and retained the universal esteem of all classes, who repose in him the utmost confidence.
Mr. Bair was born December 27, 1853, in Freeport township, Harrison county, Ohio, the son of Peter and Eliza A. (Dougherty) Bair. His grand- father, John Bair, came with his family from Maryland about 1830, and settled in Harrison county, Ohio. He was a farmer and large land owner and one of the founders of Pleasant Hill church, one of the early and in- fluential churches of that section of Ohio, of the Methodist Protestant faith. He spent the remainder of his life in that community and was widely influ- ential and well known. His son, Peter, the father of the subject of this sketch, grew up in that community, and was one of nine children, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. Peter Bair was a farmer and prosperous man and prominent in the affairs of the community. In 1870 he moved to Murray, Clark county, Iowa, where he still resides and is en- gaged in farming. In the family of his parents were five sons and three daughters: George, Julia A., Margaret, John, Reuben, Peter, of Murray, Iowa ; Mary, now Mrs. David Owens, of Harrison county ; and James, all of whom are deceased but Peter, of Murray, Iowa, and Mary, of Harrison county, Ohio. The father and mother are both living, the former eighty- four years and the latter seventy-seven years of age.
Peter and Eliza (Dougherty) Bair had a family of three sons: John Henry died in infancy ; James G., and Albert, who died at the age of twenty- five years.
James G. Blair spent his childhood and youth until he was sixteen years old on the farm, and obtained his education in the country district school.
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When nineteen years of age he began teaching school and taught for two years, then, at the age of twenty-one years, he entered the drug store of Dr. J. T. McPherson, of Fairview, in Guernsey county, as a clerk, and was with Doctor McPherson for three years, and in the spring of 1876 he went to Freeport and engaged in general work. In the fall of 1876 the mother and two sons, AAlbert and James G., moved to the Doctor McPherson farm, one mile west of Cambridge, where the subject engaged in farm work for two years. He then moved into Cambridge and was in the sewing machine business for one year. In 1880 he moved to Freeport and engaged in the drug and hardware business as a clerk for B. H. Black, where he remained six years. In 1884 he engaged again in the sewing machine business in Freeport, and in March, 1889, he returned to Cambridge and engaged in the furniture business with James Criswell, his father-in-law.
Mr. Bair was married July 12. 1883, by the Rev. W. V. Milligan, to Nancy O. Criswell, daughter of James and Nancy ( White) Criswell, of Cambridge. To this union no children were born.
The firm of Criswell & Bair continued in the furniture and undertaking business for three years, when Mr. Criswell withdrew and Mr. Bair con- tinued the business until January, 1908, when the J. G. Bair Furniture Company was organized, with Mr. Bair as president of the company, and took over the business of J. G. Bair. The company occupies a large three- story brick building, admirably adapted to the business, built by Mr. Bair in 1905-6, on Wheeling avenue, where he was in business and which he yet owns and where the company still continues in business. In addition to his extensive business interests, Mr. Bair is president of the Guernsey Building & Loan Company, which does a large business.
Mr. Bair has been actively connected with various enterprises of this city and in other localities. He is connected with the Cambridge Improvement Company, the Cambridge Chautauqua Company, and various other business companies and associations. He is a director in the Cambridge Savings Bank Company.
Mr. Bair was brought up as a Democrat, but in 1884 became a Prohi- bitionist and affiliated with that party for some years and is now an inde- pendent voter, votes for the men and measures of any party that nearest meets his views and estimates of what men in public life should be. He has never been an office seeker, but always interested in all movements and meas- ures calculated to uplift mankind. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church and have been for many years. Mr. Bair is a trustee and a Sunday school worker. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason and of all intermediate degrees, being prominent in the following bodies :
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Cambridge Lodge No. 66, Free and Accepted Masons; Cambridge Chapter No. 53. Royal Arch Masons : Guernsey Council No. 74. Royal and Select Masters; Cambridge Commandery No. 47, Knights Templar; Cambridge Chapter, Rose Croix. eighteenth degree; Scioto Consistory, thirty-second degree ; Aladdin Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; Guernsey Chapter No. 211, Order of the Eastern Star: Lodge No. 301, Independent Order of Odd Fellows: Rebekah Lodge No. 876; Cam- bridge Lodge No. 53, Knights of Pythias; Lodge No. 128. Pythian Sisters.
JAMES CLINTON ORR.
Perhaps no one understands better the various phases of mining con- ditions in Guernsey county than James Clinton Orr, the well known and capable superintendent, residing at Byesville. He is essentially a self-made man, and as such ranks with the most enterprising and progressive of his contemporaries. By a life consistent in motive and action and because of many splendid personal qualities, he has earned the sincere regard of all who know him.
Mr. Orr was born in 1862 about one mile west of Byesville, this county. He is the son of Sanford and Phoebe ( Burt) Orr. Sanford Orr came from near Albany, New York, about 1848, when twenty-two years old, and went to farming near Byesville. Not long afterwards he married Phoebe Burt, the daughter of Daniel and Catherine Burt. Soon after his marriage San- ford Orr bought a farm west of Byesville, where the subject was born. The latter was one of nine children, namely: Vincent, James C., Mrs. Sadie Grant, of Byesville: Mrs. Rachael Boyd, residing east of Cambridge: Mrs. Etta Smith, of Cambridge ; Mrs. Mary Lee, of Byesville : Mrs. Effie Bowman. of Byesville: Mrs. Essie Bowman, twin sister of Mrs. Effie Bowman, who married brothers. also lives at Byesville : Mrs. Maggie Ritchie lives in Byes- ville : Vincent died in Dakota, in 1894, leaving a wife. Nancy ( Smith) Orr. two daughters and one son. He was brought back to Byesville for burial and his family now lives at Byesville. He was sheriff of Aurora county, Dakota, and also a farmer. The father lived west of Byesville until about 1871, then bought a farm six miles west of Byesville, on the old Clay pike. and lived there until about 1895, then moved into Byesville. He lived there about ten years and died there. He was a Democrat and held several town- ship offices, was trustee and also clerk of Jackson township. He was a mem-
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ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife still lives in Byes- ville. She is an earnest member of the Baptist church.
When James C. Orr was only sixteen years of age he ran away from home and went over into Muskingum county, and got a job on a farm with a Mr. Frazier. He stayed there until the fall of 1879, four years in all. In the fall of the latter year he married Fannie Fairall, daughter of Curtis and Lucinda ( Breitop) Fairall. She was born and reared on her father's farm, about two miles west of Fraziersburg, in Muskingum county. He then re- turned to Jackson township, Guernsey county, and took employment as a coal miner in the old Central mine. Five or six years later he became boss hauler in the Waldhoning mine near Pleasant City. About three years later he be- came pit boss in the old Central inine, where he first worked. Later he went with the Imperial Mining Company as pit boss. About 1900 he became super- intendent for the Imperial Mining Company in charge of two mines. He is now in charge of the Noble Mine at Belle Valley, the Imperial Mine at Der- went, the Ohio No. 1 and the Ohio No. 2, west of Byesville. He has super- vision over about eleven hundred men.
Mr. Orr was elected county commissioner in 1905 and completed his three years term in September, 1909. He is a Democrat and received a majority of eight hundred and six votes in a county that is normally two thousand Republican. He filled that office and at the same time held his position as superintendent of the mines, having the assistance of a capable assistant superintendent, E. W. Smith, whose sketch appears herein. He has been active in the party organization in various capacities in his party. He has been for seven years a member of the board of education of Byes- ville and is president of the board. Mr. and Mrs. Orr have two sons, Charles Albert and John Earl.
Charles Albert Orr was born February 2, 1881, in Muskingum county, Ohio, and came to Byesville with his parents when one year old: He grew up in Byesville and received a good education at the Byesville high school. At the age of sixteen he became weighman at the old Central coal mine near Byes- ville and has followed that occupation ever since. He was also proprietor of a restaurant at Byesville for about two years. He is now weighmaster at Ohio No. 2 mine and is also engaged in office work for the company. He married Blanche Meek, daughter of E. F. Meek, December 15, 1909. He belongs to the Elks and the Knights of Pythias. His son Earl is at home with his parents. At present he is in Canon City, Colorado, with his wife and her father, for the benefit of the latter's health.
James C. Orr belongs to the Eagles, the Elks, and the Uniform Rank of
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Knights of Pythias. He is among the prominent men of Guernsey county and both as an employe and public servant he has always given the utmost satis- faction, performing all duty in a manner that reflected credit upon himself and that elicited the hearty approval of all concerned. He is conscientious, painstaking and trustworthy. He keeps in operation most of the approved systems in the mines over which he has control and he understands the handling of men in a manner that brings the best results and also retains their good will.
FRANK ROSEMOND SMITH.
Improvement and progress may well be said to form the keynote of the character of Frank R. Smith, one of the representative citizens of Cambridge, Guernsey county, and he has not only been interested in the work of advance- ment of individual affairs, but his influence is felt in building up the com- munity. He has been a very industrious man all his life, striving to keep abreast of the times in every respect and as a result every mile-post of the years he has passed has found him farther advanced, more prosperous, more sedate and with a larger number of friends than the preceding.
Mr. Smith was born in Cambridge, Ohio, July 10, 1860, and he is the son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Taylor) Smith. Ebenezer Smith, Sr., came from near West Middletown, Washington county, Pennsylvania, and located near Washington, Guernsey county, not later than 1810. He was prominent among the pioneers and a man of sterling worth. He took an interest in pub- ยท lic affairs and was treasurer of this county, being appointed by the county com- missioners. Elizabeth Taylor was the daughter of Thomas Jefferson Taylor, who was a minister of the gospel in the early days and did a great amount of good as a preacher among the first settlers. Mrs. Ebenezer Smith was born at Senecaville, this county, and her husband was born at Cambridge in 1831 and was the son of Ebenezer, Sr., and Sarah Smith, who were among the early settlers of Cambridge, and people of much prominence here. Ebenezer Smith, Jr., died in 1886.
Frank R. Smith of this review lived in Cambridge during his boyhood un- til he was sixteen years old, then for seventeen years he traveled as a salesman for shoes and clothing. In 1893 he organized the Cambridge Grocery Com- pany, first in the jobbing business for five years, then changed to the retail business which he has continued with very gratifying results ever since-in fact he has been eminently successful and does more business than any other
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mercantile house in Guernsey county. He has a large, modern, attractive, neat and well stocked store, with a large and carefully selected assorted stock of fancy and staple groceries, etc. Everything is up-to-date and the store is managed under a superb system. It is always a very busy place and is the favorite mecca for traders from the rural districts when in the city. The com- pany was incorporated in 1893 and Mr. Smith has been president of the same since that time and under his judicious management its prestige has constantly grown until this store takes a place in the front rank of its kind in eastern Ohio. The authorized capital stock is twenty-five thousand dollars. Their trade extends all over the county, and much goods are shipped by this firm to adjoining towns, and a large out-of-town retail trade is carried on, all cash. No soliciting is done except through advertising. Mr. Smith is a man of un- usual business acumen, alert, farseeing and a man who believes in operating under a perfect system. He is straightforward and honest in all his dealings with his fellow men and his thousands of customers are given every considera- tion and uniform courteous treatment, and they have nothing but praise and good will for Mr. Smith and his model store.
In 1888 Mr. Smith was married to Elizabeth Whitaker, daughter of 'Squire William and Margaret ( Rourk) Whitaker, an excellent old family of this county, the mother being a native of Antrim, Guernsey county. Mr. Whitaker was a justice of the peace at Birmingham, this county, for a period of thirty-eight years, although he was a Democrat in a Republican district, but he was regarded by all as a man of ability and was always popular with all classes, irrespective of politics, very highly esteemed for his integrity, and he was a man who always tried to help people out of trouble rather than endeavor- ing to get them in trouble. He was a successful stock feeder and did a large business in that line. 'Squire William Whitaker died in 1892; he was born in 1806. Mrs. Smith grew to maturity in this county and received a good education and she is a woman of many estimable traits and has a wide circle of friends here.
In 1900 Mr. Smith built a modern, attractive and commodious home in Cambridge in which he now resides and which is regarded as a place of hos- pitality and good cheer to the numerous warm friends of the family. Besides his mercantile business, Mr. Smith has laid off and sold four additions to the city of Cambridge ; the first was the addition on which the Children's Home now stands and it was all sold in three months. He also bought the old Sankey homestead which he laid off and sold; another addition was near the steel mills ; the fourth was the Lofland farm in the same neighborhood. Mr. Smith reserved five acres of the last section which is used to raise fresh vege-
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tables for his grocery business. It is tended by an able English gardener, an expert in his line. The store also has its own bakery and a large meat de- partment, handling only the finest meats obtainable. Seventeen salesmen are kept busy from morning till night in this large establishment. Although the present business is very extensive, much larger extensions are being planned.
Mr. Smith is a man who would win in any locality or environment in which fate might place him, for he has sound judgment, coupled with great energy and business tact, together with upright principles, all of which make for success wherever and whenever they are rightly and persistently applied.
SAMUEL BRATTON, JR.
A successful contractor and public spirited citizen of Cambridge is Samuel Bratton, Jr., who has spent his long and useful life within the bor- ders of Guernsey county, his "native heath," where his family has been an influential factor since the pioneer days and taken an active interest in the development of the same. The subject's birth occurred here in 1840, and he is the son of Samuel, Sr., and Agnes ( Henderson) Bratton. The father was born October 12, 1804, in Virginia and in the early days came to this county and lived two miles east of Cambridge on the Steubenville road. He was a man of much sterling worth and a good farmer, and his death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Samuel Bratton, Sr., was the son of James and Bathsheba (Riley) Bratton, the former born in Ireland in April, 1757, and the latter on the sea, April 30, 1763. It is believed this fam- ily settled in Virginia upon coming to America.
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