History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 159

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490

USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 159

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Mr. Breckenridge has been twice married. September 3. 1879. he was united in marriage with Emma Colt, a daughter of Sydney and Charlotte ( Whitman ) Colt. of Meadville. Three sons blessed this union,-John C., Har- ry W. and Lawrence B. In 1887. the mother of these children crossed the river of death, and after many years, Mr. Breckenridge formed a second matrimonial alliance. This event took place October 7, 1897. and Mrs. Clara ( Mc- Namara ) Cady, of Meadville, was the lady of his choice. In politics, the subject of this sketch is a Republican. He affiliates with Elba Lodge, No. 420, Knights of Pythias.

D R. JAMES M. HARDY, a competent and reliable practitioner of medicine in Salem township, Washington County, Ohio, is a native of Sharon, Noble County, Ohio, where he was born July 7, 1844. his parents being Dr. John R. and Julia A. ( Robinson) Hardy, natives of Maine and New York, respectively. His pa- ternal grandfather was Jesse Hardy, a pioneer of Bedford, Cuyahoga County, ()hio, who, some years later. removed from Bedford to one of the towns in Noble County. and resided there until his death. The maternal grandfather of James M. Hardy was William Robinson, a res-

ident of Salem township, where he was engaged in farming until his demise.

Dr. John R. Hardy arrived in Ohio with his parents in 1820, and prepared to fit him- self for the study of medicine, as he had chosen for his life work the profession of a physician. In 1835 he located in Noble County, and, until 1848, actively pursued his practice in Sharon ; afterward he moved to Salem township, Wash- ing County. Until his death, May 3, 1875. at the age of 63 years, he was kept very busy at- tending to the work always awaiting him. He was twice married, first to a Miss Goodrich, who was the mother of his first three children, name- ly: Martin V., who for 40 years was a prom- inent physician of Salem township: Susan, the wife of Pemberton Palmer; and Andrew J .. of Missouri. The mother of these children died, and subsequently John R. Hardy married again, being united with Julia A. Robinson. who had two children by this marriage : James M .: and Josephine, deceased.

James M. Hardy was reared in Washington County, Ohio, and received a part of his educa- tion in the high school of Lebanon, Ohio. When he, like his father, determined to prac- tice medicine, he became a student at the medi- cal college at Columbus, Ohio, and graduated with the class of 1876. Since obtaining his degree he has had great success, and now en- joys to a high degree, the regard and esteem of the people of his township and county.

Dr. Hardy was united in marriage with Mary E. Miller, a daughter of George Miller. of Salem township, and they have two sons, namely: Maurice L., who was a soldier in the Spamsh -. American War, and served 22 months in the Philippine Islands ; and Arthur G., who is fitting himself for civil engineering.

During the Civil War. Dr. llardy served for 27 months in the army. He enlisted as a private in Company H, 7th Reg. Ohio Vol. Cav .. in August, 1862, and took active part in opposing Morgan's raid. The last year he spent in the service he was on detached duty at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, where he was hon- orally discharged with the rank of corporal, in November, 1864. Dr. and Mrs. Hardy are members of the Universalist Church.

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Fraternally the doctor affiliates with Amer- jean Union Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M., of Mari- etta, Ohio; Palmer Lodge, No. 351, I. O. O. F., of Salem; William Thomas Encampment, No. 266, I. O. O. F .; and G. J. Stanley Post, G. A. R. In politics he is at all times a Repub- lican, and takes great interest in city, township and county affairs. He is a member of the Washington County Medical Society, and also of the Ohio State Medical Association.

R OBERT EMMET SMITHSON, de- ceased, lately a prominent citizen of Macksburg, Ohio, where his death took place April 25, 1901, will ever be remembered as one of the substan- tial citizens of that place. Mr. Smithson was born in Aurelius township, Washington Coun- ty, Ohio, May 4, 1831, and was a son of John and Jane ( Campbell ) Smithson. His pater- nal grandfather was Thomas Smithson, of England, who came to America in 1804, and settled in Otsego County New York. He be- came a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1814 and about two years later, removed to Ohio, and settled in Aurelius township, Washington County.

Robert E. Smithson obtained his mental training in the public schools of his native township. He learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed previous to the Civil War. and also assisted his father, at times, in his store at Macksburg. During the great con- flict between the north and the south, like a true American citizen, he responded to our country's call for volunteers and became a member of Company G. 77th Reg. Ohio Vol. Infantry. He took an active part in the great battle of Shiloh, but was engaged in skirmish- ing most of the time previous to the evacua- tion of Corinthi. He was taken prisoner at Marks Mills, Arkansas, April 25, 1864, and was sent to Tyler, Texas. In July, of the same year, he succeeded in making his escape, but was recaptured on August 12, and re- turned to prison. After ten months' imprison-

ment he was exchanged February 25, 1865, While on his way home, he received his com- mission as captain from Governor Brough. He returned to his regiment, and March 8, 1866, fifteen days later, was mustered out of service. He went into the army as a private, and filled every position up to that of brevet major, having been discharged as such after serving nearly four years and a half.

After his return from the war, Major Smithson was engaged, for several years, in general merchandizing in Ringgold, Morgan County, and subsequently, in Marietta. In 1876, he retired from mercantile life and re- moved to Macksburg, where he became con- nected with the oil industry, in which he was largely interested up to the time of his death. He was the first mayor of the village of Maeks- burg, and both as a publie and private citizen, he enjoyed the esteem of the public in general. He was a member of the Masonic order for nearly half a century, and also affiliated with the I. O. O. F. He was vice-president of the association of the 77th regiment and also of the branch association of prisoners of war, for southeastern Ohio.

Mr. Smithson was twice married. In 1863, he was joined in matrimony with A Ara . 1. Harris, who, after a brief wedded life, passed to her final rest in 1866. On August 19, 1867, Mr. Smithson contracted a second marriage, being this time united with Julia M. Collins, who still survives him. Five children blessed this union, namely, Jennie B., wife of Wilbur Atherton; Margaret; Mary G. ; Mabel I., wife of Osmer Parker ; and Donald R.

Mrs. Julia E. Smithson, widow of the sub- ject of this sketch, is a daughter of Captain William R. and Margaret Lee ( Hutchison) Collins, at one time prominent residents of Loudoun County, Virginia, who later moved to Ohio. Her father, Captain Collins, was a sol- dier in the War of 1812, with the rank of cap- tain. He enlisted in the army at Leesburg, Virginia, when but eighteen years old, and served until the successful termination of that confliet. He was a son of Horatio and Abigail ( Richison ) Collins. His father, an English-

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man by birth, was a soldier in the Revolution- ary War, and his mother was a lady of Irish birthı.

Captain Collins settled in Cambridge, Ohio, in 1822, and engaged in merchandizing, mill- ing and other pursuits. In 1839, he located in Maeksburg, and followed similar pursuits for ten years. He then removed to Bonn, Ohio, where he remained for several years, after which he moved to AAlbany, Athens County, Ohio. Some time later he went to Pomeroy, Ohio, where the closing years of his life were spent. He died in 1859. During the "for- ties," he was captain of a militia company at Macksburg.

Mrs. Smithson is one of a family of the following children, seven girls and two boys. Their names are Elizabeth; Nancy; Mary E. ; William A .; Margareta L .; Enoch A .; Julia 31. : Sallie M. ; and Abigail. Elizabeth mar- ried James Mace ; Nancy, who married Robert P. Dilley, is deceased; Abigail married Al- bert S. Perkins, and is deceased: Mary E. is the widow of Henry Ewing ; and William .1. and Enoch A. are deceased. Sallie is the widow of John T. Matthews, and Margaret L. was the wife of Hiram D. Davis, but is now deceased. Julia M. is the widow of the subject of this sketch, and is a highly respected resident of Macksburg, where she has hosts of friends.

R.S. BETTY WASHINGTON (LEWIS) LOVELL, born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1796, eld- est child of Howell Lewis and El- len Hackley Pollard. Howell Lew- is was the son of Fielding Lewis and Betty Washington, only sister of George Washing- ton. Mrs. Lovell's father, Howell Lewis, in 18th, removed to land on the Big Kanawha below Charleston inherited from his uncle, General Washington; the family, including slaves, numbered fifty.

In ISIS. Mrs. Lovell was married to Col. Joseph Lovell, of Charleston, Virginia. Mr. Lovell was born in England, came in early

life to Virginia, and became prominent as a lawyer and legislator ; he died in Charleston, Virginia, and his widow, with five sons, re- moved to Marietta Ohio, in 1838, chietly for the edtication of her children. Mrs. Lovell took a long lease of the Governor Meigs home on Muskingum avenue, and was identi- fied with Marietta till her death in 1866. Her mother, Mrs. Ellen H. Lewis, and two sons lie beside her in Mound Ceme- tery. Her fourth son, Joseph, born in 1827, was reared to manhood in Marietta, graduated from Marietta College in 1850, read law in Marietta, but removed to Nashville, Tennessee, going into the commission business.

November 15. 1852, Mr. Lowell married Sarah Sophia Nye, eklest daughter of .A. T. Nye ( grandson of General Benjamin Tupper, one of the founders of the Ohio Company ). During the Civil War Mr. Lovell and family returned to Marietta, where he died in 1865. The one daughter of this marriage is Betty Washington, married, in 1876, to Francis Fox Oldham. With their three children they re- side ( 1902) in Cincinnati, Ohio.

AMES N. CASSIDY, a leading farmer of Washington County, Ohio, occu- pies one of the well-improved and finely-cultivated farms which make Fairfield township a most desirable part of the county.

Mr. Cassidy was born in Union township. Carroll County, Ohio, on November 29, 1844, and is a son of John and Mary ( Russell ) Cass idy. John Cassidy died on September 15. 1891, aged 71 years, two months and 20 days. Ilis wife died on November 28, 1888, when more than 60 years old. They had a family of eight children, James N. being the second in order of birth. The others were as follows: William, who operates a farm in Augusta township. Carroll County : Samuel Russell, who died in August, 1877. in early manhood ; Rob- ert George, who resides at Atwater Center. Portage County, Ohio: Margaret Jane, who

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

died in 1859, at the age of seven years; Mat- thew, who resides in Union township, Carroll County ; John Patterson, who is a resident of Carroll County ; and one who died in infancy.

The subject of this sketch was reared and schooled in Carroll county. In early life he became interested in agricultural pursuits, which have claimed the most of his attention through life. In March, 1880, he sold his farm in Carroll County, and located in his present place in Washington County, where he has made most of the excellent improvements. He bought the farm which was known as the Laughlin Devine farm. Mr. Cassidy is a practical farmer, and carefully manages to make every part of his property remunerative. He has a particularly thrifty orchard, and car- ries on a general line of farming.

In February, 1867, Mr. Cassidy married Margaret Isabel Dager, who was born in Washington County, Ohio, on July 8, 1846, and is a daughter of John and Margaret ( Means ) Dager, who became residents of Ohio when she was but two years of age. They lo- cated in Augusta township, where they resided through life. The father of Mrs. Cassidy died in 1868, aged 70 years, and her mother, in December, 1870, aged about 74 years. They had a family of eight children, the youngest member being the wife of Mr. Cassidy. The others were as follows: Jacob, who died in April, 1862; Martha Ann, who resides at East Rochester, Columbiana County, Ohio: John and Catherine, both of whom died young, from scarlet fever ; Wesley, who also succumbed, in youth, to the same malady; Mary Elizabeth. who still resides in Augusta township, Carroll County : and Isaac, who is deceased.

Six children have been born to Mr. Cassidy and his wife, as follows: John Da- ger; Margaret Jane: Mary Martha; Jacob Clement ; Viola Bell; and Brady Neel. John Dager, who was born January 13, 1868, re- sides near Qualey Station. He married Bertha Barnhart, of Center Belpre, and has one daugh- ter,-Pauline Bell. Margaret Jane and Mary Martha are twins, and were born on November 7, 1809. The former lives in Marietta. The

latter married Stephen B. Freese, and they re- side on the Israel Devol farm, near Marietta. They have three children,-James D. ; Stephen Paul; and Mildred Margaret. Jacob Clement was born June 3, 1870, is unmarried, and is the engineer employed at Haas' family laundry at Marietta. Viola Bell, who was born April 11, 1876, died February 2, 1900. Brady Neel. the youngest, born December 17, 1880, resides in Western Virginia and is en- gaged in the sawmill business.

Mr. Cassidy has been a lifelong Democrat. In the spring of 1901, he was elected justice of the peace for a term of three years, and it speaks well for the law-abiding ctizens of Fair- field township, that he has not yet had any se- rious cases in which to adjust differences. In connection with his farming, Mr. Cassidy has acted as agent for several first-class fertilizers, representing the Cleveland Drier Co., the West- ern Union, and the Jarucki Chemical Co., of Sandusky, Ohio. In former years, he was active in the Masonic fraternity. His re- ligious connection is with the Centenary Methodist Church. Mr. Cassidy is well known in this community, and is recognized as a prominent and useful citizen.

H. WELCH, a prominent and sub- stantial farmer, as well as a repre- sentative citizen, of Fairfield town- ship, Washington County, Ohio, was born on his present farm on February 12, 1851, and is a son of Henry and Barbara (Smith ) Welch.

The Welch family is of German ancestry. Henry Welch was born in Pennsylvania, in October, 1805, and died on this farm in May, 1882. The mother was born on the shores of the Susquehanna River, in Pennsylvania, in 1806, and died in Ohio, on November 20, 1884. In 1843, they came to Washington County, Ohio, and Mr. Welch purchased this farm from the court. It was formerly the property of James Campbell, and consists of 169 acres of most valuable and productive land.

HON. THEO F. DAVIS.

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The following children were born to Henry and Barbara Welch: Peter, who resides in Decatur township: Susan, who is Mrs. Rem- ley, and lives in Fairfield township: Martin. whor resides at Davenport. Nebraska ; John, who lives in Decatur township: James, who is a resident of Parkersburg. West Virginia ; and G. H.

Mr. Welch has passed much of his life in Fairfield township, where he was reared and schooled. He has business interests in other parts of the county and in West Virginia, but his attention has been most closely given to the development of his farm and the breeding of blooded stock and standard horses, in which he has been eminently successful. The pro- ducts of his farm command very high prices. and give great satisfaction over a large extent of country. He has the reputation of being an excellent farmer, and a first-class judge of stock, as well as a reliable authority.

Mr. Welch was married to E. A. Root, who was born in Fairfield township, and was a daughter of T. C. Root, a native of Vermont. now deceased. Like his father, the subject of this sketch is identified with the Democratic party, and for a number of years served as township clerk, having resigned the office but lately. His fraternal connections are with Bartlett Lodge, No. 283. A. F. & .A. M. ; and Cutler Lodge, No. 784. I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Decatur Presbyterian Church. The family is one of prominence in this lo- cality, and Mr. Welch sustains a reputation for integrity as a man of business, and is a . very useful and estimable citizen.

ON. THEODORE F. D.AVIS has been actively identified for many years with the interests of Marietta, Wash- ington County, Ohio. He was born in New Trenton, Franklin County. In- diana, in 1844, and came to Marietta in 1869. Mr. Davis passed the early part of his life on a farm, and was barely 17 years of age when the Civil War began, and President Lin-

coln issued his first three-months call for vol- unteers to defend the Union. Notwithstanding his youth. Mr. Davis eagerly offered his serv- ices, and subsequently, when his term had ex- pired, enlisted in the 83rd Reg. Ind. Vol. Inf .. and served valiantly until the termination of the conflict.

After the war, Mr. Davis took up the study of civil engineering, and became a civil engi- neer in railroad construction. He accepted a position as engineer to assist in making sur- veys and locating locks and dams in the im- provements of the Little Kanawha River, in West Virginia. In 1866 he came to Marietta, where he had made the first surveys for the Marietta & Cleveland Railroad, and was placed in charge of its construction. This having been successfully completed. he was elected city engineer, and served two terms as such, there- by doing credit to himself, and benefiting his city to no little degree.

Mr. Davis was elected to the State Senate from the 14th Senatorial District in the 68th General Assembly, and served as president pro tem of that body. While Senator, he presented the first municipal ownership bill ever brought before the Senate, and by his persistent efforts secured the passage of the measure, although many opposed it. The beneficent results of the act were so manifest that a large number of similar bills has been passed since that time. and in every instance municipal ownership of water-works, lighting systems, etc., has been the means of saving a great amount of money to the people. Mr. Davis is an enthusiastic exponent of municipal ownership, and through his advocacy of it has rendered good service to the people of Marietta.

Mr. Davis is mainly occupied in real estate transactions, and is the owner of a large amount of property. He is also identified with the development of extensive interests, in which he employs many men. The citizens of Mari- etta are grateful to Mr. Davis for his services. and they imite in expressing esteem and friend- ship for him.

Mr. Davis is a member of the following fraternal bodies : American U'nion Lodge, No. I, F. & A. M. : American Union Chapter, No.

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I, R. A. M. : Marietta Commandery, No. 50, K. T., of which he is a charter member ; Mari- etta Council, No. 78, R. & S. M. ; and Syrian Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a member of Ohio Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States; and Buell Post. No. 178, G. A. R. He has held several important positions and ranks in the Ohio De- partinent of the G. A. R. as a member of the Sons of Veterans. He belongs to Lodge No. -477, B. P. O. E., and is a charter member of Marietta Council, No. 32, of United Commer- cial Travelers.

E DWARD THOMAS WICKENS, a successful farmer and oil producer of Washington County, Ohio, is among the most enterprising citizens of Aurelius township. Mr. Wickens was born in the vicinity of his present home, July 6, 1852. He is the eldest son of William R. and Sarah ( Cadwell ) Wickens, and grand- son of George and Charlotte ( Rowland ) Wick- ens. The great-grandfather on the paternal side was George Wickens, Senior, who was born on the Isle of Wight, England, and spent his entire life there. He was a farmer by oc- cupation. Additional mention is made of the Wickens family, particularly of George and Charlotte ( Rowland ) Wickens, the grandpar- ents, in the sketches of Henry and William R. Wickens, found elsewhere in this book.

The maternal grandparents of the subject hereof were James and Lucy ( Hamilton ) Cad- well, of Marietta, Ohio. The beloved mother of Edward Thomas Wickens departed this life April 22, 1902, in her seventieth year. His father still lives in Aurelius township. at an advanced age, and is extensively engaged in farming and oil producing. Four children were born to him and his wife. Of these, Ed- ward T. is the eldest. The others are,- Charles A., Ellis W., and Joseph A. The last-named is also engaged in the oil business, and a sketch of him is given in another part of this volume.

Edward T. Wickens attended the public

schools and received but a limited schooling. L'pon reaching his majority, he commenced his career as a farmer. He resides upon and owns the original ancestral farm of 85 acres, set- tled upon by his parents in 1832. The old barn is still standing, a relic of former days, and is in a fair state of preservation. It was built with forty dollars in gold, brought from Eng- land by his grandmother.

In addition to the ancestral farm, of which Mr. Wickens is the possessor, he also owns a 120-acre farm in Noble county, and since 1891, has been engaged in the oil producing business. He, in company with others, owns three valuable leases in Aurelius township, where eleven producing wells are in successful operation, yielding to Mr. Wickens, alone, an income of $180 per month.

March 1, 1879, Mr. Wickens was united in marriage with Martha J. Brown, a daughter of Jacob Brown, of Salem township, but original- ly from Germany. Seven children blessed this union, as follows : Howard E .; Frank E .; Garfield; Chester A. : Mary A. ; Hobart Mc- Kinley ; and Asa. In his political views, Mr. Wickens upholds the principles of the Repub- lican party. Socially, he is a member of Liber- ty Hill Grange, No. 1027, P. of H. His rec- ord as an enterprising and successful business man is worthy of commendation.

E DWARD L. CARSON, a prominent contractor and oil producer, of New Matamoras Washington County, Ohio, was born in Grandview. town- ship, November 10, 1866, and is a son of William and Elizabeth ( Joly ) Carson. William Carson was born in Ireland, in 1842, and came to the United States when a youth, landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he followed the trade of a weaver, for one year. Ile then located in Guernsey Coun- ty, Ohio, where he resided until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the 43rd Reg. Ohio Vol. Infantry. At the close of the war, he settled in Washington County, and

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rented a farm, which he afterwards bought. He has lived on this farm, which consists of 160 acres, for the past thirty-six years. He married Elizabeth Joly, who was born in Washington County, Ohio, and died in 1884. They reared two children,-Edward L., the subject of this sketch, and Charles M., who was born March 4, 1868, and is engaged in contracting and farming with his brother. William Carson is a Democrat, in politics. He is a member of the Methodist Church.

Edward L. Carson received his mental training in Washington County, Ohio, and re- mained in Grand View township until Septem- ber 9, 1891. He then moved to New Mata- moras, where he has since resided. On his farm are eleven oil wells, on which these brothers realize a royalty. They are both very well known in New Matamoras and Washing- ton County, and are closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the place of their residence.

Mr. Carson belongs to the Democratic party. He is a member of Matamoras Lodge, No. 374, of the Masonic order; American Union Chapter, No. I, of Marietta, Ohio; Mountain State Commandery, of Sistersville, West Virgina; and Osiris Temple of the Mys- tic Shrine, of Wheeling. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Carson was married September 9. 1891, to Ethe True, who was born in New Matamoras, and is a daughter of Charles W. True, a prominent merchant of that place. They have two children, namely : Blanche, who was born October 7. 1893 ; and Beryl, who was born October 11. 1896.

HOMAS T. DUNBAR, a prominent farmer of Washington County, Ohio, and an esteemed and useful citizen of Fairfield township, was born in this township on June 12, 1855, and is a son of David and Matilda ( Hull) Dunbar.

David Dunbar was born in Virginia, and his father, Thomas Dunbar, was one of the

first settlers in Fairfield township, and lived near Fishtown. In 1860, David Dunbar pur- chased the farm which is now the property of Thomas T., consisting of 200 acres of very valuable land. Prior to the Civil War, Mr. Dunbar and his brother, Shelton Dunbar, con- ducted a store, which was the first establish- ment of its kind at Dunbar Station. At the outbreak of the war, David Dunbar enlisted in a company of the 92nd Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., in which he was orderly sergeant, and served three years. He suffered a severe wound in the arm at the battle of Chickamauga. After his return from the army, Mr. Dunbar soll his store and resumed farming. He was a very prominent man in his locality, and was called upon to serve in many of the local offices,-be- ing assessor, constable, and member of the school board. He was always interested in public enterprises. His death occurred on Oc- tober 10, 1900, at the age of 64 years. He was identified with the Republican party. His wife died on February 19, 1893. Mr. Dunbar married for his second wife, Margaret Winn, of Marietta, who now resides in Michigan.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 159

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1490

Author: Andrews, Martin Register, 1842-; Hathaway, Seymour J
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1490