History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 161

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 161

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

"Orlando Trotter was born in Palmer township, Washington County, Ohio, Septem- ber 24, 1850, and his life was mostly spent in the neighborhood of his birthplace, with the exception of one year spent in the West. He was the son of Richard and Caroline B. Trot- ter. His mother died June 10, 1891. His fa- ther died in October, 1901. Orlando was the oldest of the children in this home, and had two brothers and three sisters. In the order of their ages, they were as follows: Edward G. ; Amanda Chadwick ; Martha Davis ; Henri- etta Goddard; and Alsinas F., who died in March, 1899; one child also died in infancy. On May 1, 1878, Orlando Trotter was united in marriage with Annie H. Drain, and two chil- dren were born to them -- Elmer E. and Ella G., both of whom, with their mother, are liv- ing in the family home, and deeply mourn the death of husband and father. For a time in his early life, both before and after his marriage. Mr. Trotter taught school, but the most of his life was spent in farming. He held the high esteem of his neighbors and was well and fa- vorably known throughout the county. In No- vember, 1808. he was elected clerk of the courts ( f Washington County, and held the office until his death. During the summer of 1901, he was renominated, but later on account of se- vere illness, withdrew, and his son, Elmer E., who was his deputy, and upon whom the great- er part of the work fell, during his father's

illness, was named by the executive committee as a candidate instead of his father, and was also appointed to fill out the latter's unexpired term. In contrast with the selfish scramble for office that so frequently characterizes the poli- tics of our country, it is a pleasure to mention the kind, thoughtful and graceful aets that are occasionally done in the political world. It was a fitting tribute to the noble worth of our brother, who has gone from us, and to the high esteem in which he was held in the county, that in a time when his health was so rapidly de- clining that the tenure of his life was very un- certain his party unanimously honored him with a renomination, and it was likewise a fit- ting and graceful tribute to his worthy son, that with a like unanimity, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term and to be the standard bearer in the stead of his father, in the ap- proaching campaign.

"Our brother who has finished his work and passed to his rest, was for 25 years, and until his death, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Layman, Ohio. His old friends and neighbors here knew well the worth of his Christian character, and he was also held in very high esteem in Marietta, where he lived for his last two years. His affliction bore upon him for many months, and since March, 1901, he was entirely unable to work. He suf- fered very greatly and very patiently. He had the most loving and tender care from his wife and children, his sisters, brother and neighbors, but it was not in the province of human love and care to prevent the coming of death. As he brushed the borders of Eternity, he gave his family every assurance of his preparation and his safety. He felt that it was better for him to go, and urged them not to grieve for him. Weary and worn with many months of suffer- ing, with his cause safely anchored in the Re- deemer's care, in the afternoon of September IO, 1901, death came to him as the relief mes- senger of God. As we stood in the presence of our dead, we heard no message from his si- lent lips to tell us of the mysteries of life or of death. Yet 'Silence is vocal if we listen well'; and these words seemed to be voieed to 115 out of the silence :

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Life, we have been long together, Through pleasant and through cloudy weather. 'Tis hard to part when friends are dear, Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh or tear; Then steal away, give little warning, Choose thine own time;

Say not Good night, but in some brighter clime, Bid me Good morning.

Mrs. Annie (Drain) Trotter is a daughter of Duncan and Catherine Drain, natives of Argyleshire, Scotland, who are residents of Palmer township, aged, respectively, 85 and 75 years. Their nine children, all born in Wash- ington County, were as follows: Hugh, who is at home: Jeannette, who resides in Athens County, and was the wife of the late Cary Cur- tis; Annie H., who became Mrs. Trotter; Nan- cy, deceased, who was the wife of Edward Glenn, who resides on Wolf Creek, in Mor- gan County ; Daniel, who married Mina Arn- old, and lives in Palmer township: Mary, who married Marcellus Lawton, and lives in Barlow township; Eliza, who is at home : Mar- garet, who married James Proctor, and lives in Barlow township; and Rosa, who married Walter Proctor, and also resides in Barlow township. Mrs. Trotter is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

REDERICK A. WHEELER, one of the few remaining pioneer citizens of Marietta, is a man who was, for many years, prominently known in political and business circles. He was born January 27, 1814, near what is now Bridge- port, Fairfield County, Connecticut, and is a son of Samuel and Julia ( Odell) Wheeler.

Samuel Wheeler was born on Park Ave- nue, in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut, in January, 1761. During the Revolutionary War, he served six months in 1778, twelve months in 1781, and eight months in 1782, his last service being as corporal under Captain David Lacey and Colonel Samuel Whitney. January 22, 1792, he married Julia Odell, and died October 27, 1819.

Frederick A. Wheeler was the youngest of

eleven children,-seven daughters and four sons,-and is the only one now living. He learned the trade of silver plating at Bridge- port, having served an apprenticeship of six and a half years. He was then engaged in that business for four years, and subsequently embarked in various lines of business, both in Connecticut and in Washington County, Ohio, manufacturing carriages, also tin, sheet-iron, and marble, at different times. He came to Marietta in June, 1839, and has since made his home in that city. He was appointed post- master of Marietta in 1850, and served as such three years during the Taylor administration. He was then engaged in the marble business for a time, and in 1855, was elected county auditor, in which capacity he served four con- secutive terms, or for a period of eight years. Later, he was deputy auditor for a number of years. He was mayor of Marietta four years, and also served as justice of the peace. For a number of years he was infirmary director, and was one of the first trustees of the Chil- dren's Home, in which capacity hie acted for nineteen years.

Mr. Wheeler was married in Fairfield Coun- ty, Connecticut. to Harriet Wheeler, who, al- though she bore the same name, was not re- lated to him. Their marriage occurred in 1837, and she died in February, 1886. Six children blessed this union, of whom four grew to maturity, as follows: Harriet Fran- ces; Julia A. ; Frederick A., Jr. ; and Clara.

Ilarriet Frances Wheeler, deceased, inar- ried Judge William B. Loomis, who is also de- ceased. They left the following children : Frank B., now United States Minister to Port- ugal : Charles W., deceased, who married Mir- iam Nye, a daugliter of Colonel R. L. Nye; and F. Kent, one of the proprietors of the Par- kersburg Daily News.

Julia .\. Wheeler is the wife of J. D. Cad- wallader, who was born in Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1829, and is a son of Eli Cadwallader, who was born at Redstone, Pennsylvania. He was one of five children, as follows: Jesse, deceased ; John, of Indianapolis: J. D .; Will-

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jam, who lives in Iowa; and Mary, who died at the age of ten years. J. D. Cadwallader came to Washington county, Ohio, in 1860. and followed the profession of a photographer until 1890. Since that time he has dealt ex- tensively in real estate, buying and selling. and also building fine homes in the city, which he rents. His parents were Quakers, and al- though contrary to the religious belief of his sect, his father was drafted into the army for service during the Revolutionary War. J. D. Cadwallader has always adhered to the faith of his fathers. He and his wife have one daughter. Agnes, who is now traveling in Europe, with several young ladies and a chap- erone. They reside at No. 109 Putnam street.

Frederick A. Wheeler. Jr., resides at Mans- field, Ohio, where he is engaged in the drug business. He married Laura, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Owen Franks, and they have a daughter, Constance.

Clara Wheeler married Rufus Putnam, a descendant of Israel Putnam, of Connecticut. She now resides in Marietta, her husband and only child being deceased.

The subject of this sketch is a member of the Episcopal Church, and has taken a deep in- terest in church work for many years. He resides at No. 109 Putnam street, and has many friends throughout Washington County.

R ICHARD T. ARCHER, a prosperous farmer of Waterford township, Washington County, Ohio, is a na- tive of Noble County, Ohio, and was born in 1857. He is a son of James and Janette ( Smith ) Archer.

James Archer was born in Noble County, in 1835 : he died in June, 1897, and was buried at Rainbow. Ile enlisted during the Civil War. in Company 1. 170th Ohio Vol. Inf .. and served from 1864 until the close of the war. He was a farmer by occupation, and a man who was highly esteemed in the com- munity. He married Janette Smith, who was born in Noble County, Ohio, and is a daughter

of James H. and Ellen ( Enoch) Smith. She died in 1890, aged seventy years, leaving five children, namely: Richard T., the subject of this sketch; Harvey, who went to Alaska seven years ago : Jackson, who was killed on the rail- road between Beverly and Marietta, in 1893; Mary, who married Enunett Wooden, and is living in Washington County; and Ida, who. lives at Parkersburg, West Virginia.

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage in 1885, to Idla Wolford, who was born in Washington County, Ohio, in 1866, and is a daughter of Alfred and Eliza ( Wal- ler) Wolford. They have three children, namely : Frank, who was born April 9, 1887; Nellie, who was born March 11, 1892; and Ada, who was born February 4, 1896.

Richard T. Archer lives one mile and a half north of Beverly, and there carries on general farminig. He is a man of thrift and energy, and is ranked among the leading farni- ers of Washington County. He is a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. Political- ly, he is a Democrat, and a member of the township school board.

ILLIAM SMITH, a native of Yorkshire, England, was born in March, 1841, and is now a farm- er, of Waterford township. Wash- ington County, Ohio. His father was also named William Smith, and was born in Yorkshire, in 1801: his death occurred in 1.872. He was employed as a steward for no- blemen in England. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was born in Yorkshire, Eng- land, in 1801, and died in 1851. They had three children, namely: John, deceased : Eliz- abeth, who lives in England; and William.

The subject of this sketch, was married in 1807, and his wife died ten years later. She left two children .- Cohen, an engineer on the Ohio River; and Margaret E., who married Harmon Matthews, a stationary engineer in Duquesne, Pennsylvania. Mr. Smith was again married, in 1884, to Mrs. Vesta Foster,

I. O. ALCORN.

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widow of Lemmel Foster. She was born in Adams township, Washington County. Ohio, in 18444 and is a daughter of Adelpha and Pa- tience Mason. By her first marriage she had one child,-Ishmael .- who was born in Adams township, in May, 1870, and died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one child-Letitia- who was born in 1884, on the Dana farm in Waterford township, and is now living in Al- legheny City, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Smith came from England to the Unit- ed States in 1870, and located on the Shaw farm, in Waterford township, where he re- mained two years. He then managed the Dana farm for twenty-one years, or until 1894. At present he is living two miles southeast of Beverly, where he owns a farm of 40 acres, which he successfully operates. He is very well informed on agricultural matters, and has had a long experience in farming. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and his wife attends the Christian Church. Mr. Smith is a member of the Beverly lodge of Odd Fel- lows. Politically, he is a Republican. Both he and his wife stand very high in the com- munity, where they have many friends.

O. ALCORN, president of the Ohio Valley Wagon Company, is one of the leading business men of Marietta. The plant of which he is the head is located at Norwood, and is prominently known throughout this, and adjoining States.

The Ohio Valley Wagon Company was chartered April 7. 1899, the original officers be- ing William Reader, president; J. A. McCor- mick, vice-president : and William M. Stilwell, secretary and treasurer. These gentlemen, with John Kaiser and Philip Trapp. constituted the directorate of the company. Its present officers are I. O. AAlcorn, president ; J. A. Mc- Cormick, vice-president : and William M. Stil- well, secretary and treasurer. In addition to those above named, John Kaiser and W. H. II. Jett are directors. This company is the out- growth of the firm of Trapp & Stilwell, which manufactured wagons at the corner of Fourth

and Church streets. The company purchased three acres of land in Norwood, and in the sum- mer of 1900, erected a large plant, the dimen- sions of which are 150 by 50 feet. They also have a boiler room and dry kiln together, icas- uring 32 by 100 feet ; and a blacksmith shop and shipping store room, each 32 by 150 feet in dimensions. The engine room is 32 by 34 feet in size, and the motive power is furnished by a 216-horse power "Buckeye" engine. The main building is of three stories, built of brick. and is one of the best equipped in the country for the uses to which it is devoted. The ma- chinery was mainly manufactured by the De- fiance Machine Company. The business is un- der William M. Stilwell as general manager, and about 50 men are employed. Two trav- eling salesmen cover Southern Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and parts of Kentucky and Indiana, in addition to which the company has a large trade by mail order. The "Marietta" wagon is the leader and they manufacture numerous styles of farm and spring wagons, oil-country buckwagons, es- pecially adapted to the country, as well as wag- ons for carrying torpedoes. The company still owns the property at Fourth and Church streets, where their agents, Trapp & Shilling. carry a complete line of wagons for sale.

I. O. Alcorn was born at Titusville. Penn- sylvania. and was there reared and schooled. Ile left there for the oil fields in 1889, having nothing but energy and good health for capital. He located first at Macksburg. Washington County, Ohio, working as a laborer, tool dres- ser and driller. Ile went through the Mc- Donald excitement in Pennsylvania, and also that in the West Virginia and Lima fields. He was engaged as contractor until the fall of 1896, when he moved to Marietta and became identified with the Marietta Electric Company, the business of which company he still actively manages. It was under his direction that the model plants of the company were built, and thoroughly equipped. Since 1896 his business has been mainly that of an engineer and elec- trician, and he has met with unqualified suc- cess.

Mr. Alcorn married Flora .1. Wyland. of

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Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, and they reside at No. 527 Third street. Two children were born to them, I. W. and F. M. Fraternally, he is a Mason, belonging to American Union Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M .: Cumberland Chap- ter, No. 318, of Caldwell, Ohio; Marietta Council. No. 78, R. & S. M .; and Marietta Commandery, No. 50, K. T. He is a member of the N. A. S. E. He is also a director of the Leader Publishing Company.

J. W. Scott, the efficient bookkeeper of the Ohio Valley Wagon Company, was born in Washington County, and is a son of D. W. Scott, a salesman for the company. He has three sisters-Kate D. ; Mary L. and Clara A. He is a Democrat in politics. He is very prom- inent fraternally, belonging to Harmar Lodge No. 390, F. & A. M .; American Union Chap- ter, No. I. R. A. M. : Marietta Council, No. 78, R. & S. M .; and Commandery No. 50, K. T.

ILLIAM B. SHAW, who resides upon his large and well-cultivated farm, located four miles northeast of Beverly, Ohio, was born here in 1832. He belongs to an old and honorable family, which through many gener- ations, has taken an active part in the devel- opment of the country and the spread of edu- cation. In the case of this family, like many others of early New England, the conditions of living caused the loss of many records which would be highly valued by their descen- dants.

In Salem, Massachusetts, may be found a record of the marriage of Peter Shaw and Be- thia Lovett, dated October 14, 1705. They had two children, Peter (2), who was born March 6, 1708, and was baptized March 21, 1708 ; and Bethia, who was born July 1, 1709, and was baptized after her father's death, on August 28, 1709. Peter Shaw's will was pro- bated at Salem, on February 7, 1710. The maternal grandfather, John Lovett, remem- bered these two children by name, in his will.

On March 19. 1730, Peter Shaw (2), mar-

ried Jemima Woodbury, of Ipswich, third parish, Massachusetts, and their children were as follows: Peter, who was born December 29, 1731, and christened January 2, 1732; Benjamin, born May 2, 1734, and christened May 5, 1734; and Bethia, born August 29, 1739, and christened September 2, 1739. Je- mima Woodbury was the ninth child of Capt. Isaac Woodbury, who married Elizabeth Her- rick and lived in Salem, Massachusetts.

In 1752, Peter Shaw (3), married Eliza- beth Meacham, and their children were as fol- lows : Benjamin, born October 19, 1753, and christened in the 2nd church in Beverly, Massachusetts, June 27, 1756; Sarah, born December II, 1756, and christened December 12, 1756; and Elizabeth, born December I, 1759, and christened December 2, 1759. In this Peter Shaw's will dated May 30, 1800, mention is made of a daughter, Elizabeth Wy- att, a granddaughter, Sally Dana, and grand- sons, Peter, Cushing, Benjamin and Boyls- ton Shaw.

Benjamin Shaw married Elizabeth Cush- ing in 1777, and their children were as fol- lows: Sarah; Cushing, Benjamin; Peter; Boylston and Betsy. Sarah was born June 20, 1779, and died August 22, 1844; Cushing was born August 30, 1781, married Mary Parker and lived in Meigs County, Ohio, where he was county clerk and judge of the Probate court following also the occupation of a farmer; Benjamin was born September I, 1784; Peter was born March 20, 1788, and married Clarissa Parker. By trade, he was a tinner. His later years were passed in poor health, he lived with his son Warner, and died September 15, 1825, at the age of 37 years. Boylston was born October 16, 1795, and died December 1, 1876; Betsy was born August 19, 1798, married Randolph Fearing, and died January 26, 1817.

Benjamin Shaw, the grandfather of Will- iam B. Shaw, served in Danner's company of minute men under Capt. Israel Hutchinson, at the battle of Lexington, and afterwards, as a regular soldier in the Revolutionary army. He came from Hampton, New Hampshire, and at.

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a later date, when the Northwest Territory was thrown open for settlement, removed his family ot the West. They were at Fort Fry during the war, and afterwards settled in the rich bottom land. Their farm subsequently came into the possession of Boylston Shaw, and is now owned by his son, William B. Boylston Shaw was united in marriage, No- vember 18, 1819, to Eliza Hamlin, a native of New York. To them were born four chil- dren, namely: Charlotte; Sarah; Harriett and William B.

Great-grandfather Peter Shaw was also a soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving un- der Capt. John Woodbury and Col. Henry Hench, and was Ist lieutenant of the 4th Com- pany, 8th Reg., on April 2, 1776. The loyal spirit of these valiant ancestors was displayed by the lamented Gen. B. D. Fearing, of the Union army, during the Civil War. Another notable and distinguished descendant was the Hon. James W. Dawes, later governor of Ne- braska.

The location of the Shaw family in Ohio, doubtless dates from April 7, 1788, and it is reasonable to infer that Benjamin Shaw was a member of the Ohio Company which was com- posed of Massachusetts men, and who founded the city of Marietta. In 1789, he settled at Waterford, Elizabeth Cushing, his wife, being a daughter of Bera Cushing, of Weymouth, the fifth in his family line from the original founder, Matthew Cushing. She lived in the family of Manasseh Cutler, at Hamilton or Ipswich, in 1771, having formerly made her home with he cousin, Mary Sumner Balch, of Dedham. When the last named married Mr. Cutler, she accompanied them to their home and remained there until her own mar- riage. Her father, Bera Cushing, appears on the roll of a military company of Hingham men, commanded by Capt. Edward Ward, in 1758. Bera Cushing married Hannah Boyls- ton.

1872, aged 71 years, was married to Louise P. Devol, daughter of Stephen and Silence (Hatch) Devol, born in Waterford. Washing- ton County, Ohio, December 29, 1836. Her father was born in Rhode Island and died Jan- uary 21. 1875, in his goth year. He came to Washington County in its early days and lo- cated in Waterford township. He was an ex- tensive farmer, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. Religiously, he was a Methodist, and politically, he belonged to the Republican party. The mother of Mrs. Shaw was born in Connecticut, and was a daughter of Nathan Hatch, who was lost at sea when she was a child. Two children were born to William B. Shaw and his wife, namely: Caro, born September 26, 1858, on the Dana farm, in Wa- terford township, who married Edmund R. Taylor and lives in Plainfield, New Jersey ; and Hiram D., who married Catherine Rath- bone. One daughter, Caro Louise, was born to Hiram D. Shaw and his wife; and she re- sides with her mother in Marietta, where the father died. The subject of this sketch is a Republican in political identity. The family is connected with the Presbyterian Church.

OHN KAISER, one of the prominent and successful business men of Mar- ietta, Ohio, is local manager of the Na- tional Supply Company, an extensive concern with stores in every oil field in the United States.

The National Supply Company, with headquarters at Toledo, Ohio, and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, is a consolidation of the old Na- tional Supply Co., the Buckeye Supply Co .. the Union Supply Co., Shaw. Kendall & Co., and many smaller concerns. It was incorpor- ated in 1893, and the present capital stock and surplus is $2,000,000. It has branch stores in every oil region in the United States, aggre- gating fifty or more. The officers are as fol- lows: Henry M. Wilson, of Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania, president : William Hardee, of To-

On September 14. 1857, William B. Shaw. son of Boylston and Eliza Shaw, the former of whom died December 1, 1876, aged 81 years, and the latter of whom died March 15. | ledo, Ohio, Ist vice-president; W. C. Hillman,

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of Toledo, Ohio, 2nd vice-president ; and J. H. Barr, secretary; and E. B. King, of Toledo. Ohio, assistant treasurer. The Marietta store was opened in July, 1895, under the manage- ment of John Kaiser, who for six years pre- vions to that time, had been with the Oil Well Supply Company, and is one of the most active developers of Marietta enterprises. George B. Eyssen is the efficient and active field man of the vicinity. The general warehouse, owned by Gracey, Kaiser & Moore, is located at No. 134 Second street, along the Pennsyl- vania Railroad track. The cordage and en- gine warehouses, and the pipe yards, cover- ing several acres, lie along the same tracks, between Sixth and Seventh streets. The prin- cipal factories of the company are located at Toledo, Pittsburg and Buffalo. The Marietta house furnishes every article required by oil men, also gas, water and steam fixtures, and assists in making this an important center for oil operations.

John Kaiser was born in Allegheny, Penn- sylvania, in 1866, and is a son of Gustav and Catherine ( Miller ) Kaiser, and a grandson of Wilhelm and Louise Kaiser. Wilhelm Kaiser now resides in Germany, at the age of eighty- seven years, but his wife died about 1872. They had the following children: Gustav; Louise ( Roon ), who died in New York State, in 1892; Sophia: Frederick, who resides in Lawrence County, Ohio; and Henry.

Gustav Kaiser was born in Westphalia, Germany, March II, 1840, and in 1865, came to Pittsburg and Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and conducted a store in the latter city, for a period of three years. In 1868, he moved to a farm in old Union township, Washington County, Ohio, where he followed farming, and at the same time was engaged in coopering for a number of years. He moved to Mari- etta in 1876. locating at his present place of residence, No. 722 Seventh street. He mar- ried Catherine Miller, a daughter of John and Catherine Miller. She was born in Prussia, January 4. 1839, and first came to America in 1853. She spent 1854 and 1855 in Cuba, and then returned to New York City. She next

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 161

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