History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 172

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 172

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).

Gottlieb Meister was born in Wurt mbers. Germany. April 9. 1821. and at an carly age entered his father's tannery, where he lecame theroughly acquainted with all branches of the lensiness. After coming to America, he resided for some time in Cocine.ti, Olio, but i) 1855. movel to Marietta. bere he las since made his home. Ilere le angelin the tamery business, first with labinger & Killin-

ger, and later, with the late A. Roemer. About 1860 he dissolved his partnership and opened a tannery of his own, at the corner of Greene and Pike streets, where the Becker lumber buildings now stand. Mr. Meister started in on a small scale, and at first made a specialty of shoe leather. Subsequently, he undertook the manufacture of harness leather, and suc- ceeded in making a very superior quality, which is still well remembered by Cincinnati dealers, his largest customers. Wise manage- ment enabled Mr. Meister to enlarge his bus- iness from vear to year, and in 1873 he took in his five sons as partners. Under the firm name. "G. Meister & Sons," he carried on the most extensive leather manufacturing industry in the Ohio Valley, for many years. For a long time his business yielded an annual in- come of S:0.000 or $60.000. Finally, in 1900, he closed out, selling the tannery to John H. Becker, who has since torn down the building.

In 1845 Mr. Meister marred Elizabeth Stuhr, of Hanover, Germany, who died in 1801. Of this union, there are seven chil- dren, namely: Fred: Louis; George: Will- iam : Henry : Mary; and Anna. The sons are now engaged in different lines of business in Marietta. Mary, who lives at the Meister res- dence, married Capt. J. D. Otherbein, and they have five children-William. Henry C .. Louisa, Mary and Ameha. Anna, who was born in Cincinnati, married Henry G. Ebinger. of Turner, Ebinger & Company's dry goods firm in Marietta.

Mr. Meister, a man of pronounced politi- cal views, adheres to the Democratic party. Deeply religy is. le is one of the pillars and ( l'est members of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, cf \1 ch fer 12 xcars he was president.

RANK B RANGER, of Marietta. Fixer plezant residence sul- at No 208 Mill street, i mme of the ver businessmenof the city. In years past he has occupied a leading place among the old men of Washington Con- ty and of West Virginia, and he still has inter-

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ests in oil fields. He has recently, however, turned his attention more especially to the real estate business.

Mr. Ranger's success has undoubtedly, been largely due to careful rearing. His fa- ther, Ephraim Ranger, a native . f Connecticut, was for many years a prominent manufacturer of Marietta. When but four years old, he went with his parents to that place, where, for the most part, he made his home through life. In his youth he learned the trades of a millwright and a pattern-maker, which he followed with success for many years. 'Several mills . in his section now stand as evidences of his skillful workmanship. Later in life lie became a mein- ber of the Frank Foun dry Company, with which he was associated for many years. This corporation was succeeded by the Leidecker Tool Company, which was the Largest manu- facturing plant in Marietta. Mr. Ranger died in Marietta, in 1897, at the age of 84 years and five months. He married Mary A. Ault, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died in 1879. By this union there were two children .-- Frank B .; and a daughter, born in Marietta, who married J. T. Towsley, and now resides in Cin- cinnati, Ohio.

Frank B. Ranger was born in Marietta, in IS62, and there grew to manhood. At an early age he learned telegraphy, and in 1887 secured a position with the Standard Oil Com- pany, with which he worked as operator for some time. Later, he was assigned to field work, taking charge of the wells and attending to the running of the oil. He ran the first barrel of oil from the Sistersville field, in West Virginia. Encouraged by his successes, he left the Standard Oil Company, after a number of Years, and in partnership with T. N. Barns- dale, leased large tracts of oil land and began operations of his own. Fortune favored the new enterprise, and shortly afterward. on the Whitraken farm, he struck the largest well in the vicinity, with a capacity of 80 barrels per hour. So valuable was it that the firm sold out for $100,000. The well has proved to be a re- markable producer, and is still earning for its purchasers a large premium on their invest- ments. Within the last few years, Mr. Ranger

has disposed of a large number of his wells and leases, and has invested largely in city prop- erty. At the corner of Wooster and Fifth streets, not long ago, he erected nine handsome modern flats, known as the Ranger flats, which he has since sold to good advantage, proving his investment to have been a wise one. He has made a success of all his business ventures, and now owns two elegant residences in Mari- etta, and a splendid 100-acre farm in Barlow township.

Mr Ranger married Ama Nesperly, a daughter of Louis Nesperly, of Marietta, and they have two children,-Ruby and Ray. The subject of this sketch stands high, socially ; he belongs to the local lodge of the B. P. O. E. Politically he is an influential Republican.

e HARLES HUTCHINS, the most extensive manufacturer of stogies in Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, learned the business of cigar- making and general tobacco manu- facture, in McConnelsville, Ohio, in 1847, un- der the instruction of Lowry Cochran, with whom he remained until 1850. He worked as a journeyman from 1850 to 1852, and then li ent to Marietta, where he engaged in business with Gazley Paxton, under the firm style of Paxton & Hutchins, manufacturers of cigars. Their place of business was located on Ohio street, facing the "Island," and the firm con- tinued for two or three years, and then dis- solved partnership. Some years later the present business was established on Front street. and the present number, 123 Front street, has been their location since 1897. They have a large building, and occupy three floors. About twenty-five men and ten girls and wo- men are there employed, and they manufacture from 100,000 to 125,000 cigars, weekly. They make stogies exclusively, and the Hutchins stogies, especially the "Missing Link," are justly famed far and wide. Mr. Hutchins has never solicited trade and his extensive busi- ness has been due to the superior quality of the goods.

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The subject of this sketch is a son of Will- iam and Catherine (Heath ) Hutchins, and was born near London, England. April 8, 1830. He came to the United States with his parents, in 1832. and they located at Zanes- ville, Ohio, up m their arrival in this country. William Hutchins followed the trade of a baker, and for some little time owned a shop at Z messile, which was the first Baker's shop in that city. Later he removed en Melin- nelsville. Morgan County, Chio, where he lived until 1880, when his death took place in his ninetieth year. Charles Hutchins' inother died when he was quite young, and the fam- ily were living in Zanesville. Of the three brothers and two sisters of the subject of this sketch, but two are now living .- William, the eldest child of the family, who is a wood-turner by trade, and a resident of Richmond, Indiana ; ardl Mary ( Cochran ), who lives in Zanesville. Ohio.

The she Is of Zanesville and McConnel -- ville were the sources of Mr. Hutchins' carly mental training, and after leaving there, he immediately began to learn the business which has occupied the most of his time since then. Soon after leaving the employ ci Lowry Coch- ran, he attended school for some months at Richmond, Indiana, then worked as a journey- man, and later engaged in business with Gaz- ley Paxton, as before mentioned. Following his retirement from that business. he drove an omnibus for Vincent Payne, a venerable gen- tleman, now ninety-six years old. The Civil War then threatened our Union, and in the spring of 1861 Mr. Hutchins enlisted in the roo-day service, becoming a member of Company .A. 87th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., un- dler Captain David Moore. Hle re-enlisted in Company .1. 148th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf., under Colonel T. W. Moore, in the 90-day service. and at the expiration of that term was mustered out. During his service, he was taken pris- oner by Stonewall Jackson at Harper's Ferry.

he has continued successfully up to the present time.

The subject of this sketch was joined in matrimony November 17, 1853, with Elizabeth T. Payne, a daughter of Vincent Payne, and a native of Marietta, where her birth took place November 17, 1835. They have two children, Lucy B. and Julia Helen. Lucy B. is now the wife of P. H. Glines, and her husband is as- sociated with Mr. Hutchins in the cigar-mak- ing business. Julia Helen married J. C. Mc- Donald, of Chicago, who is engaged with the Standard Oil Company. They have one (laughter, Helen, born at Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchins reside at their comfortable home at No. 410 Front street. They worship at the Congregational Church.

Politically, Mr. Hutchins does all he can for the benefit of the Republican party, and so- cially he is a member of the 1. O. O. F., which he joined about thirty years ago. lle is a busy man in all he undertakes, and has the respect and esteem of all the citizens of Mar- ietta.

ATHAN EVANS RUSSEL, who is prominent among the citizens of Pal- mer township, is engaged in general farming and the raising of stock, al- though he is also interested in the oil fields of that section of the county. lle was born December 2. 1830, in Goshen township. Belmont County, Ohio, and his parents were William and Nancy ( Phillip ) Russel.

William Russel was a son of John Russel. who was of English descent, and spent his life in Lendoun County, Virginia. William Rus- sel was reared and schoolel in that county, and at his majority. married Nancy Phillip, a daughter of Fielding Phillip.

Nathan Evans Russel grew to manhood's estate and upon the completion of his scholastic training, decided to follow the fortunes of a farmer. Ilis starting place was the old Jenkins farm, where. in 1858, he began to till the soil. He continued on that farm for a number of

The livery business occupied Mr. Hutch- ins' attention for the first five years after his return home, but at the end of that tinte lie again engaged in the cigar business, in which years but in 18;5 sought a better place and

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purchased his present property consisting of 256 acres of land. He has never regretted this move, for his success has been great. The oil excitement in other places finally spread to this section of Washington County, and he soon began to take interest in the new field and now has seventeen wells on his farm. Although five of these are now dry holes, the other twelve are good producers, and their profit is large. By the use of good common sense and sagacions judgment, he has realized a large amount of gain from this industry, and his ex- perience in general farming makes that, also, a source of profit.

The subject of this sketch has been twice married. His first union was on September 9. 1852, with Elohama C. Leget, who twice bore him twins. Of these children, one of each pair died young, but the other grew to ma- turity. The second wife of Mr. Russel was Jane Breckenridge (Gard ), the widow of Ed- ward D. Gard, whom he married in 1858. She had one child, Mattie Gard, who was born May 17. 1856, and died April 17, 1881. The children of the second marriage were as follows: Ar- thur, who was born July 10, 1860, and died December 13. 1865 : Lizzie, who was born No- vember 29, 1863, and died August 9. 1866: Warren W .. who was born in 1871, died Au- gust 8. 1873 : and Carrie L., who was born No- vember 13, 1866, was united in marriage with R. P. Leget, and lives in Palmer township.

In politics, Mr. Russel is a Republican, and has served commendably as school director and supervisor, giving satisfaction to all. The respect of all the citizens of his community is freely accorded to him, as his just desert.

h EZEKIAH FISHER, a progressive business man of Watertown, Wash- ington County, Ohio, was 1:rn in Barlow township, this county, No- vember 23. 1852, and is a son of Thomas and Mary ( Cousins) Fisher.

Thomas Fisher was born in Lancashire. England, in ISir, and came to the United States in 1830, locating on the farm where

Hezekiah was born. He first worked in Cincin- nati, Ohio, and later on public works at Mari- etta, where he helped to build the dam in 1836. He finally settled in Barlow township. where he died in 1890. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, and in politics was a Republican. He married Mary Cousins. who was borr near Manchester, England, and is now living at Fairview Heights at the ad- vanced age of eighty-eight years. She is also a member of the United Brethren Church. Six children were born to Thomas Fisher and his wife, namely: Richard, a carpenter residing in Barlow township; John. deceased ; Sarah F ... who married Thomas J. Miller, of Fairview Heights, who was a soldier in the Union army, serving in the 148th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf .; Thomas J., who lives on the old homestead ; Hezekiah: ard Joseph, who owns and lives upon what is known as the Amos Prior farin, located near the old homestead.

Hezekiah Fisher is a prosperous merchant of Watertown, carrying a general line of goods. For some years he was engaged in farming and operating a sawmill. In 1898 he was one of a committee of five formed to build the Watertown and Vincent Telephone line which is now controlled by himself, to- gether with H. W. Harvey and L. C. Hayes. In 1900 he formed the Marietta and Stockport Telephone Company, owned by himself, to- gether with S. W. Harvey. L. C. Hayes, Jo- seph Fisher and Roscoe Wolcott. In 1898 the Watertown and Tunnel Telephone Company was also established, which is owned by He- ckiah Fisher, Roscoe Wolcott, Henry Mercer and Joseph Fisher. In 1901 he built the East Watertown Telephone line, which he owns and operate. All of these enterprises are in good, sound condition, and reflect credit on the pro- moters Mr. Fisher also handles a general line of fertilizers, and has a large business in that 'ine.

In 1800 Mr. Fisher was united in mar- ringe with Incy A. Seely, who was born in Watertown November 24, 1862, and is a daughter of John A. and Ianthe ( Laflin ) Seely. They have two sons,-Herman W .. born Ang- ust 1. 1893: and Emmett, born January 6,

JOSEPH S. HUMPHREY.

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1899. Fraternally the subject of this sketch is a member of Beverly Lodge, No. 37. A. F. & A. M. In politics he is a strong Republican.

AURA A. HUMPHREY, one of the most esteemed residents of Water- ford. Watertown township. Washing- ton County, Ohio, owns a farm of 53 acres, on which she now lives and on which she was born in 1843. She is a daugh- ter of Joseph S. and Elmina ( Muchler) Humphrey, and a granddaughter of Seth and Olive ( Smith) Humphrey. Joseph S., who was born in 1805. at Goshen, Connecticut, died in 1889.

Seth Humphrey was not content to spend his life in the East but started for the tinset- tled part of the country, and in 1816 arrived in Washington County, purchased the property now owned by his estimable granddaughter and lived there until his demise.

Joseph S. Humphrey, later came into pos- session of the property and when he was taken away by death he possessed about 300 acres of the most valuable land in his township. In politics, one could always count him among the workers for the advancement of the Republi- can party, and in his religious connection he was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. His portrait acompanies this sketch.

Joseph S. Humphrey chose for his life companion a lady of many good qualities of mind and heart, Elmina Muchler, who was an honored resident of the town of Waterford un- til her death. in 1895. She was born in Water- ford township in 1816, and she and her huis- band were blessed with three children, whose names are as follows: Laura A .: Elisha O. and Edward M. Elisha O. Humphrey now lives in Watertowi township; in the Civil War he joined the 148th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf. Ohio National Guard). Edward M. is also a resident of Watertown township. He was born in 1847, and married in 1876, to Aro- mantha Skipton, who was born in 1857. They have three children, -- Mildred O., born in 1877: Joseph V., born in 1880, who is de-

ceased; and Carl B .. born in 1891. Mildred O. is the wife of William Sheldon, an attorney of Marietta.

The subject of this sketch is a devout men- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She is widely known for her many kind acts and thoughtful services to others, her unselfish- ness and generosity being among her best characteristics.

AMES P. LAING is probably one of the most successful and widely known oil drillers in the Ohio Valley, and has for the past 18 years made his home at Marietta, his family now residing at No. 421 Second street.

Mr. Laing was born at Buffalo, New York, and here in early manhood, as a wholesale grocer, he first embarked upon his business ca- reer. In 1868, his attention was first drawn to the oil industry. In that year he took up his residence at Shamburgh, near Titusville. in the outskirts of the Pennsylvania oil region. Soon after this he moved to Petrolia, and hired out as manager for Kerr, Geider & Co. He also made short engagements with other companies. and remained there till about 1877. Later har- ing moved to Bradford, he was employed by M. C. Geider. He then opened a hardware store, worked up a good patronage, and con- tinted the business till 1883. In that year he moved to Macksburg, Ohio, and soon after- ward, to Marietta, Ohio, where he has since resided. While in Macksburg, it was his good luck to drill the first paying oil well ever opened in that section. During the excitement coin- cident with the event. he opened over 100 wells in that vicinity. He has since been similarly engaged, drilling in wells at various places in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. He was interested in the second oil-producing well pened at Corning, Ohio, has driven over 80 wells in that field, and is still carrying on busi- ness there. At present he is starting operations it Athens, Ohio, with the best of prospects. In early manhood. Mr. Laing married Net- tie 3. Allen, of Buffalo, and they have one

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daughter, who was born in that place. Po- litically, Mr. Laing is a Democrat. Frater- nally, he is a member of the Masonic Lodge, of Buffalo, and of the Knights Templar.

T. J. Lockwood. a brother-in-law of Mr. Laing, is another well-known oil man. He, too, is a native of Buffalo, New York. In 1864 he went into the "upper oil country," where he began operations. Since then he has driven wells in nearly every oil field of Penn- sylvania, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia, having been prominently identified with sev- eral different companies. At present he is con- nected with a West Virginia firm, Lockwood & Currie. Fraternally he belongs to the Uni- ted Commercial Travelers Association and the the RoRyal Arcanum. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.

EORGE W. HAGERMAN, a prosper- ous 'farmer, located two and a quar -. ter miles east of Beverly, where he owns valuable farming property, was born in Waterford township, Wash- ington County, Ohio, May 12, 1827, and is a son of William and Betsy ( Greenman) Hager- man.

William Hagerman was born in Lycon- ing County, Pennsylvania. He came to Wash- ington County in 1817, and located in Water- ford township, where he followed farming. He died in 1870. He married Betsy Greenman, who was born in Waterford township and died at the age of fifty years. To them were born six children, as follows: Frank, of Water- town township, Washington County ; Eliza, de- ceased ; Aseneth, who married Sylvester Grubb. and lives at Marion, Ohio; Mary; George W .; and Hannah, who married James Leget.

George W. Hagerman enlisted from Wat- erford townshin, in Company I, 148th Reg. Ohio Vol. Inf .. in 1864, and was mustered out September 16th, of the same year. He was in the battles of Bermuda Hundred and Deep Bottom. He was in the brush with Moseby's Cavalry at Harper's Ferry. He saw much hard fighting during his short period of serv-

ice. After being mustered out he resumed his occupation as a farmer. which he has since foi- lowed, owning a fine farm of 100 acres near the city of Beverly.

In 1861 Mr. Hagerman married Eliza Wallace, who was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1841, and is. a daughter of James Wallace, who was born in Ireland, and upon coming to this country, served in the United States Army, in the War with Mexico, during which he lost his life in battle. His wife was Theodosia Hull, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. and died in 1871, at the age of 46 years. They had two children .- Hannah, widow of Hiram Beebe, who was born in 1846, and lives in Nebraska; and Eliza, who married Mg. Hagerman. Mr. and Mrs. Hagerman have had seven children, as follows: Carrie, born in 1866, who married Roscoe Devol. of Ad- ams township: Olive P., born October 15. 1869, who married Levi Cowell. of Marietta; Lizzie, horn October 17, 1871, who is living on her farm in Waterford township; Lou, born September 2, 1873, who is a stenographer and lives in Pittsburg; Hubbell, born June 18. 1876, who died at the age of two years ; Anna, born June 18, 1878, who is teaching school and resides in Washington County ; and Nellie, born January 18, 1881, who lives at home.

ON. GEORGE IRISH, The death of George Irish in 1891, chronicled the passing away of one of the leading business men of Marietta. For over 20 years le prominently identified himself with the interests of this place, and the pleasant home at No. 333 Fourth street, which he erected in 1886, stands as an evidence of his thrift.

Mr. Irish was born at Tully, Onondaga County. New York. Ambitious for a western career, he cast his lot after reaching manhood, with the settlers of the newly formed State of Wisconsin. On a farm there, in 1848, he first took up his pioneer residence. Later he moved to Clinton. and for some time, resided. also, in Beloit, being mainly engaged in both these

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places in the general merchandise business. After four years' residence in Illinois, he final- ly, in 1871, settled in Marietta. Here he first tried his hick at one of the leading industries of the State-the oil business. Later he went into partnership with Gen. R. R. Dawes, and opened up an extensive trade in lumber and ties. So successful was he that he continued his connection with this business until he died. Several years after moving to Wisconsin Mr. Irish married Martha E. Edmunds, of Senate, New York. To this union was born one child, Alice C., who is an ardent lover of art. Alice C. graduated from the Marietta schools and for two years attended the Acad- emy of Design, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the death of his first wife Mr. Irish formed a second union with Miss E. A. Gil- bert, who was born at Rochester, New York, and in early life moved with her parents to Medina County, Ohio, and later to Norwich, Ohio, where she secured her education, fin- ishing at the Norwalk Seminary.

Mr. Irish was a stanch Republican through- out his life, and always evinced a keen inter- est in politics. While in Wisconsin he repre- sented his district in the State Legislature, and displayed marked efficiency and much force of character.

B. SCHNAUFER AND J. N. SQUIER, proprietors and managers of the United States Steam Laundry. located at No. 118 Maple street, Mar- ietta, are among the most progres- sive and successful business men of this city. Mr. Schnaufer is of German ancestry, his grandfather, John Schnaufer having been born in Gergem in 1791. According to the laws of his country le served a stipulated time in the German army, and obtained legal permission to emiginte to America. Hle located in Mary- land, and there his son, William Frederick, the father of I. B. was born, July 15, 1831. In the boxbowl of William I. the family removed to Washington County, Ohio. William F. was the dleventh child of his parents. Early in the "sixties" he went during the first oil ex-

citement to Cow Run, and spent eight years in the oil fields there. In 1873 he bought a farm on the Ohio River, three miles below Newport, upon which he resided for 21 years, removing to Marietta in the fall of 1895, where he now resides at No. 129 Gilman avenue. In the fall of 1856 he married Jane, a daughter of James and Jane Hoff, who was born in Lawrence township. Washington County, in 1836. Six children were born to this union, of whom those living are as follows: Will- iam, who is a partner in the Crescent Supply Company; Albert Austin, who is engaged in the oil business and resides near his father ; and John Baxley, of the above named laundry company. The birth of J. B. Schnaufer oc- curred in Washington County. at Cow Run, on June 3. 1879.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 172

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