History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 177

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 177

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JOSEPH AMOS WICKENS.

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taken great pleasure in the development and improvement of his own farm. He is known as a man of striet integrity, and his courage and industry, with their natural reward, may be held up as an example to other young men on the threshold of active life.

OSEPH AMOS WICKENS, a prom- inent farmer and oil producer of Washington County, Ohio, is one of the most progressive citizens of Aurelius township. He is the young- est son of William R. and Sarah L. ( Cadwell) Wiekens, grandson of George and Charlotte ( Rowland) Wickens, and great-grandson of George Wiekens, Sr., who was a well-to-da farmer on the Isle of Wight, England, which was his home throughout his active life.

The paternal grandfather of the subject hereof, George Wickens, came to America in 183 ?. and settled in Aurelius township, where he cleared, cultivated and otherwise improved a large tract of land. This land is still the pride of his descendants. He married Char- lotte Rowland, a daughter of William and Naney (Beer) Rowland, who were among the pioneer settlers in Aurelius township. They also originally came from the Isle of Wight. England, which they left in 1820, and settled in America the same year. For further an- cestry, see sketches of William R. and Henry Wickens, which also appear in this volume.

William R., the father, accompanied his parents to America in 1832, being then but nine years of age. They settled in Aurelius town- ship, upon a farm which is his home at the present time. He is extensively engaged in farming and in the oil producing business. Sep- tember 23, 189, he married Sarah L. Cadwell, a daughter of James and Liicy ( Hamilton) Cadwell. They reared four children, namely : Edward T., Charles A .. Ellis W. and Joseph Amos, the subject of these lines. The eldest son. Edward T., is also engaged in the oil in- dustry. The beloved mother passed to her final rest April 22, 1902, in her 70th year. She was a lifelong member of the Baptist Church.

Joseph A. Wickens was born October 4, 1865, in Aurelius township, Washington Coun- ty, Ohio, which is still his home. He grew to manhood there and attended the common schools. Upon attaining his majority, he en- gaged on his own behalf as a pumper in the oil fields. In 1894 he became a producer, and still continues in this lucrative business. In connection with this industry Mr. Wickens has also been quite successfully engaged in farming. In 1898 he leased the Davidson farm of 112 aeres, in section 30, Aurelius township. which he operates in addition to his own farm.

November 8. 1892, Mr. Wickens was joined in marriage with Mary Schlarb, who was born September 5, 1872. She is a daugh- ter of Peter and Mary ( Ruch) Schlarb, of Lib- erty township. The father of Mrs. Wickens was a native of Germany, but her mother was born in Washington County, Ohio. The sub- ject of this sketch and his wife have three chil- dren, Ara, Ollie and Clarence. In politics, Mr. Wickens adheres to the principles of the Re- publican party. He is a valued member of Liberty Hill Grange, P. of H., and is popular among his neighbors.

ARLEY D. WOODFORD, who is en- gaged in farming to some extent, and is also a carpenter, is a member of the Watertown Planing Mill Com- pany, which does a large planing business in that town. He was born in 1862, in Watertown township. Washington County. Ohio, and his parents were William and Emi- ly R. ( Deming) Woodford.

William Woodford was born in Water- town township, and departed this life in 1872. at the early age of thirty-three years, eight months and 12 days. He followed farming and also bought stock. In politics, he was a Democrat. He chose for his wife Emily R. Deming, who was born in Watertown town- ship, and is still living, at the age of fifty- eight years. She was a daughter of Harley Deming, and is an active member of the Uni- versalist Church. .

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Mr. Woodford was one of a family of six children, namely: William G .; Harley D .; Mina, who married Charles Slaughter, and re- sides in Oklahoma; Mary S .; Anna L., who lives in Washington County, and is the widow of John Bohl; and an infant, deceased. Will- iam G. and Mary S. live in Watertown town- ship.

On October 27, 1892, Mr. Woodford mar- ried Arie Wood, a daughter of Cains and Ves- ta ( Burchett ) Wood. She was born in Wa- tertown township, December 1, 1873, and their union was blessed with five children, namely : Dewitt H .; Eugene, deceased ; Helen, James and Mina.

Mr. Woodford owns a farm of twenty acres and is much interested in his work. He is wide-awake, up-to-date, and ready to have his say in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his county. In politics he acts with the Democratic party. Fraternally, he is a mem- of the I. O. O. F. and also affiliates with Mt. Morialı Lodge, No. 37, A. F. & A. M. of Beverly, Ohio.

YLVESTER W. BARTLETT, living on his fifty acres of fine land about four and a half miles south of Bev- erly, Washington County, Ohio, was born in Union township, of that coun- ty, in 1838. He is a son of Smith Bartlett, and a grandson of Jeremiah and Jerusha (Jef- ferson) Bartlett.

Smith Bartlett and his wife had the fol- lowing family: Lucinda: Sarah, deceased ; John; Harriet ; James and William, who are deceased : Charles ; and Sylvester W. Smith Bartlett was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1798, and died in 1869. His first appear- ance in Washington County was in 1804, when, with his parents, he located three miles above Marietta, on the Muskingum River.

During the Civil war, Mr. Bartlett desired to fight for his country, and in 1864 he enlisted at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States Navy. serving faithfully until July, 1865, when he re-

ceived an honorable discharge and returned liome.

Mr. Bartlett was united in matrimony with Louisa Mossholder in 1856. She was a daughter of Jacob Mossholder, and was born in 1838, in Knox County, Ohio. They had eleven children, as follows: Mary; Lizzie; Smith : Addie; John; Leota and Lillie, twins; Charles; Georgiana; Levi; and Nellie. The family are devoted to the work of the M. E. Church. In politics Mr. Bartlett votes the Republican ticket. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Dick Cheatham Post, G. A. R., of Beverly.

5 ARVEY MORRIS, an extensive agri- culturist and land-owner of Water- town township, resides on his farm of ILI acres, about two and a half miles southwest of Watertown, and is regarded as a man of consequence among his many friends and acquaintances in Wash- ington County. He is a son of John and De- lilah (Biggins ) Morris, natives of Virginia. John Morris is a native of Loudoun Coun- ty, Virginia, and first saw the light of day in 1796, while his wife was born January 22, 1805. The former was a farmer all his life and took up his residence first in Palmer town- ship, and later in Watertown township, hav- ing arrived in Washington County in 1822. His wife was a daughter of John and Eliza- beth Biggins, and was the eldest in a family of twelve children. She and her husband had eight children, namely : William, a resident of Palmer township; Minerva, deceased ; John ; Nancy, the widow of John Orrison, now residing in Belmont County; Tamar, who married Henry Smith and is living in Belpre; Elza and Elwood, twins, now deceased; and Harvey. John enlisted in Company B, 77th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served his country in the Civil War. He died in February, 1901, and was at that time filling the position of postmaster at Watertown. In politics the fa- ther of these children was a Whig and later a Republican. He died in 1886, the mother

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surviving until July 9, 1894, when she, too, passed away.

Harvey Morris was born in Watertown township in 1842, has followed the occupation of a farmer all his life, and thoroughly under- stands his business. He enlisted at Marietta, Ohio, in 1864, in Company I, 148th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., served until the fall of the same year, and was then mustered out of service. All of the Morris brothers served their country val- iantly in time of need, and but two of them are living. Harvey Morris draws a pension of $24 per month.

In 1867 Mr. Morris was united in matri- mony with Mary Smith, a daughter of Paul and Elizabeth Smith, who was born in Bar- low township, in 1844. They have ten chil- dren, as follows: Annie, the wife of Martin Robinson, a resident of Marietta, Ohio; Elza, living at home; Cora, the wife of Putnam Phipps; Linnie, who married Levi Thornber- ry, and lives in Barlow township ; Bertha, who was united in marriage with James Kinney, and resides in Palmer township; Harvey; Jesse ; Carl and Smith, who are at home; and Emmett.

Mr. Morris is a member of the Republi- can party and serves his township to the best of his ability. He is a good, well-informed and industrious citizen.

m RS. MELISSAA B. BUELL, widow of the late Edward W. Buell, a prominent citizen of Marietta, oc- cupies a recognized position in this city, both through her ancestry, and also on account of estimable personal char- acteristics, which command the esteem of the community.

Mrs. Buell was born in 1833, in Washing- ton County, and is a daughter of Judge Joseph Barker by his second marriage, to Mrs. Mary Ann Shipman, (nee Edgerton), and a granddaughter of Col. Joseph Barker, of the militia, who came to Marietta in 1789. fol- lowed the trade of architect and builder, and left the Blennerhassett house, on the

Island, as a monument to his ability. Col- onel Barker died at Rainbow, in 1840. Judge Joseph Barker was born February 28, 1790, and was the first white child born in the Northwest Territory, as this section was then named. Ile was a man of prominence and ability, and served for a 1fm- ber of years as judge in Washington County. His death took place in February, 1860. Mrs. Buell's mother was born in Norwich, Connecti- cut, and came to Washington County, Ohio, in 1817. Four children were born to the second marriage of Judge Barker, of whom Mrs. Buell is the only survivor. Iler brother, Jo- seph, served with distinction in the Civil War, and died in 1900.

The late Edward W. Buell was born in 1832, and was a son of Daniel Hand Buell, and a grandson of Gen. Joseph Buell, who for many years was a noted figure in Marietta, where his days ended. General Joseph Buell was born at Killingworth, Connecticut. the family belong- ing originally to Litchfield, Connecticut. He came with the troops to Fort Harmar, in 1786. A comprehensive sketch of this pioneer is em- braced in an article treating of the early set- tlers of Ohio. His wife was a Miss Hand, a native of Guilford, Connecticut.

Edward W. Buell began his active career in the drug business, when quite a young man, and later went into the oil business. He en- gaged in the drug business, first with Dr. Cot- ton, and later, in association with his brother, the firm name of Buell & Bro. carrying weight and influence with it during the life of Mr. Buell. In city affairs he was prominent, and took a deep interest in the material develop- ment of his city and county. His death oc- curred in 1875, at the early age of 42 years. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Buell, viz : Alice, who married James Creelman, and resides in Washington, D. C .; Daniel Hand, who married a daughter of A. T. Nyc, and is engaged in the manufacturing business, in Marietta; Edward Wyllys, who is in the United States engineering service, and resides at Cincinnati; Maric, who married Donald Hart. of Boston: Joseph Lawrence, who is in

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business at Boston, Massachusetts : and Helen, who with her mother, resides in the pleasant home at No. 221 Fourth street. In political action Mr. Buell was a Republican. The fan- ily attend the Episcopal Church.

RS. MARY E. ( WARD ) RHODES, widow of the late Charles R. Rhodes, a prominent attorney and distinguished citizen of Marietta, who died in September, 1887, re- sides in this city and is one of the four sur- viving daughters of Nahum Ward, who at one time had larger landed interests than any other man in Southeastern Ohio.

Nahum Ward, the father of Mrs. Rhodes, was born October 23, 1785, in Shrewsbury. Massachusetts. He was a son of Thomas W. and a grandson of Artemus Ward, who was the first major-general of the Revolutionary army. Early in life he filled the position of a clerk, and gained the practical experience which served him well when he embarked in mer- cantile pursuits for himself. This was in 1807, and his capital was $500, given him by his father. Two prosperous years followed, but the young man was ambitious and desired a larger field in which to use his talents. In June, 1800, he sold his goods and turned his face toward what was then the great West, his destination being Marietta. He had a letter of introduction to Gen. Rufus Putnam, and was given every opportunity to see the lands which were thrown open for settlement. After traveling for six weeks over the State of Ohio the young man returned on horseback, as he had come, and was appointed a deputy-sheriff in his native town, from which he later moved to Worcester. The effect of his western jour- ney soon became manifest in his purchase of about 5,000 acres of Ohio land.

In 1811 Mr. Ward returned to Ohio, and became a citizen of Marietta, where he re- mained until his death, in 1860. He continued his purchase of land, his foresight enabling him to see its great future, until he owned 37,000 acres, lying mainly within Washington, Ath- ens, Morgan, Gallia, Lawrence and Meigs

Counties. Making trips to Scotland, he se- cured desirable settlers upon these lands, in whom he never lost a personal interest. The title to over 100,000 acres of land in South- eastern Ohio was vested in Mr. Ward during his 48 years of residence at Marietta, and he greatly improved every part of this vast estate. Mr. Ward's home at Marietta was in the house on Putnam street, between Front and Second, which had been built by Edward W. Tupper, and which Mr. Ward purchased in 1817. Ile was identified with public life in Marietta, and in 1845 was elected mayor of the city, in which office he continued for ten years. Ile was tireless in public-spirited ef- forts, and was more than generous in his be- neficence to religions organizations. He built the U'nitarian Church, on the corner of Third and Putnam streets, which was dedicated on June 4, 1857, at a cost to Mr. Ward of, proba- bly. $30,000. This he donated to the First Unitarian Society.

Mr. Ward's first wife, whom he married in the fall of 1817, was Miss S. C. Skinner, a daughter of William Skinner, a prominent pio- neer merchant, of Marietta. They had a fam- ily of seven children, five of whom arrived at maturity, viz. : William S., who carried on his father's business until his death, in 1871, his son, William Nahum, also passing away, in 1874. and leaving the name extinct : Sarah C., who is Mrs. W. L. Rolston : Mary E., who is the widow of Charles R. Rhodes; Harriet C., who is the widow of Goodrich H. Barbour, of Cincinnati ; and Henrietta D., who is the widow of E. G. Leonard, of Cincinnati. Mrs. Ward, the mother of these children, died in 1844. In 1848 Mr. Ward married Harriet Denny, of Worcester, Massachusetts, who died in 1872.

Charles Rathbone Rhodes was born at Zanesville, Ohio, November 5, 1819, and was the third child of Dr. Dudley Woodbridge Rhodes. In 1835 he entered the preparatory department of Kenyon College, and in 1836 became a member of the freshman class, gradu- ating with second honors in 1840. He studied law in the office of Messrs. Goddard & Con- verse, at Zanesville, and was admitted to the bar, at Newark, Ohio, in 1843. He moved at

F. W. MINSHALL.

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once to St. Louis, Missouri, where he practiced law until 1846, when he returned to Marietta. In January, 1855, he was elected prosecuting attorney, and served as such for two years. In February, 1858, he was elected judge of the Probate Court of Washington County, and served in this office until 1861.

During the Civil War many residents of Ohio near the border lived in constant fear of the depredations of lawless bands of the enemy, and MIr. Rhodes recognized the necessity for some protection. With the friendly assistance of Colonel William Craig, who was stationed at Marietta, Mr. Rhodes organized a company comprising from 40 to Go men, and kept them equipped and drilled, ready for any emergency. He was captain of this company.

As a man of prominence in the Republican party, he was appointed by Gov. Rutherford B. Hayes a delegate to the National Commercial Convention which met at Cincinnati, and in the following year was sent again as a delegate for Southeastern Ohio to the convention at Baltimore. His whole life in Marietta was closely identified with the manufacturing and commercial enterprises of the city. Especially was he interested in the history and prosperity of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and Sunday- school. For 30 years he had been a member of this church, and had served as a member of the vestry. He was many times a delegate to the diocesan conventions, and for more than 20 years was superintendent of the Sunday-school.

In November, 1846, Mr. Rhodes was united in marriage with Mary E. Ward, and they reared a family of seven children, namely : Kate Rathbone; Rev. Dr. Dudley Ward; Mary: Harriet Denny ; Edith ; Charles Ward ; and Eleanor. Kate Rathbone is the wife of T. Romeyn Bunn, of Amsterdam, New York. Dr. Dudley Ward, of the Episcopal Church, took a theological course at Philadelphia, and for twenty years was rector of the church at Mt. Auburn, Cincinnati, to the upbuilding of which he materially contributed. He has taken several trips abroad, and spent three years as a clergyman at St. Paul, Minnesota. Mary is the wife of F. R. Ellis, of Cincinnati, who is prominently connected with the American Book

Company. Harriet Denny, who died in 1888, was the first wife of W. W. Harris, who later married her sister Eleanor. Edith married L. L. Peddinghaus, a leading jeweler of Marietta. Charles Ward is an artist of reputation, who is located at the University of Fine Arts at St. Louis, Missouri. He has studied at Berlin, Munich and other points abroad, was assistant director at the World's Columbian Exposition, and is now engaged in preparations for the coming exposition in St. Louis; and Eleanor, who became the widow of W. W. Harris, and is now Mrs. William B. Charles, of Amster- dam, New York.

W. MINSHALL, deceased, for many years a prominent oil producer, and a resident of Marietta, attained high distinction by his geological research in the oil regions and his practical demonstrations of the "anti-clinal theory." This theory was first brought to his consid- eration in 1878, in which year he noticed that the productive area in the Cow Run pool of Washington County, Ohio, was confined to the crests of a well-defined anti-clinal arch of small dimensions. This led to his mak- ing a careful survey and measurement of what is known as the White Oak Anti-clinal beginning north of French Creek, on the Ohio River, near the present station of Belmont, and running thence through Pleasants, Ritchie and Wirt counties, West Virginia, to Burning Springs on the Little Kanawha. A profile along the axis of the arch, and cross section at Horseneck, White Oak and Burning Springs were drawn to scale, and a detailed descrip- tion of the whole Jine was published, ;with an account of the manner in which the action of natural forces caused the gas, oil and water to accumulate at different points along the arch. This appeared in the Parkersburg State Journal under the title of "West Virginia Ge- ology," and was the first definite and thorough explanation of the theory, and facts by which it was sustained. The drawing and descrip- tion were of a high order and of such impor-

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tance as to be published in the United States Census Report, in 1880. Mr. Minshall's abil- ity and knowledge in this line attracted much attention, and he was secured to furnish for the Ohio Geological Survey a chapter upon the history of oil development in Southeastern Ohio, from 1860-61 to 1886, when the work was published. Later his time was devoted to the geology of the subject, and he did more field work than any other person similarly en- gaged, measuring and mapping all the anti- clinal folds in West Virginia and Southern Ohio, besides performing considerable work of like character in Southwest Pennsylvania. He was the first to secure gas for Marietta from "Fifteen."

Mr. Minshall was born in Illinois, in 1839. and there received his educational training. He prepared himself for the profession of law, and after his admission to the bar, practiced for a short time. . At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted at Springfield, Illinois, but was shortly called home by the serious illness of his mother. He was detained by his mo- ther's death until his regiment had departed, and being persuaded by his relatives to tempo- rarily abandon his war plans, he spent a few months in Danbury, Connecticut. He came to Marietta in November, 1864, and entered upon his career as an oil operator, which he was destined to follow the remainder of his life. He took charge of the business of the Bergen Oil Company, of New York, and was in its employ for several years. He then en- gaged with Girard Crane, in a refinery at Par- kersburg, West Virginia, where he continued from 1869 to 1876. He moved with his fam- ily to Parkersburg in 1874. and remained there until 1886. In that year he sold his interests to the Camden Oil Company, a branch of the Standard Oil Company, but continued to be active in the oil fields. During the last five years of his life. he was in the employ of J. M. Guffey, of Pittsburg, in West Virginia fields. his death occurring December 27, 1900.

Mr. Minshall was married, in Illinois, to Maria Read, a native of New York City, who located in Marietta in 1865. Five children were born to them. namely: Katherine; Ju-

lia : Herbert, who is in the employ of the Citi- zens' National Bank: Eugene, who is in the employ of J. M. Guffey, of Pittsburg; and Marie. All but Eugene reside with their mo- ther, at No. 421 Fourth street. In politics, the subject of this sketch was a stanch Repub- lican. Religiously, the family are Unitarians.

UGH GILBERT JACKSON, one of the leading farmers of Washington yG County, Ohio, is a steady, reliable citizen, and one who serves his town- ship well whenever it is possible. He is a native of Aurelius township, and has lived in Washington County since his birth, on March 29, 1837. His parents were Hugh and Harriet ( Putnam) Jackson, and his paternal grandparents were David and Sarah ( Norris) Jackson.

David Jackson went to Washington Coun- ty in 1892, and remained there during the re- mainder of his life. He purchased a farm, and with the help of his sons cleared and improved his land. His children were as follows : Hugh ; Robert ; David ; Ruhama, who married Samuel Fulton : Margaret, the wife of William Hale; Phoebe, who married Perley Chapman ; Jane, who married Joseph Reed ; Sarah, who mar- ried Amariah Sutton; and Nancy, wife of Thomas Taylor.

The maternal grandparents of Mr. Jackson were Allen Putnam and his wife, Anne ( Por- ter ) Putnam, the former being a native of Chelsea, Massachusetts, a pioneer settler of Fearing township, Washington County, and one of the 48 settlers of the Ohio Company.

Hugh Jackson, father of the subject hereof, was born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and went with his father and mother to Washington County in 1802. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and spent the greater part of his life as a resident of Aurelius township, where he farmed to some extent. He married Harriet Putnam, and they had the following nine chil- dren: Clarissa, the wife of James Dye; An- drew; Thomas; Joseph: Olive, who married Samuel Hill ; Henry : Harriet, the wife of John

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Clogston; Eliza, wife of John Ward; and Hugh Gilbert, the subject of this brief sketch.

Hugh Gilbert Jackson was reared in Aurel- jus township, where he attended school, and chose farming for his life work. December 20, 1860, he was united in marriage with Sarah M. Larcomb, a daughter of Emanuel and Phoebe (Ward) Larcomb, of Salem town- ship. Their union was blessed with six chil- dren, namely: Emma ; George ; John ; Charles ; James; and Pitt. In politics Mr. Jackson is a Republican, and he has filled various local offices with credit. He is well informed on all current topics, and is generally known and re- spected throughout his county.

ACOB THOMPSON DILLON, a prominent oil producer in Macksburg, Washington County, Ohio, is a native of Monroe County, Ohio, where he was born October 14, 1858. and is a son of Peter and Julia A. ( May) Dillon ; he is of Scotch-Irish descent.

The maternal grandfather of the subject hereof was William H. May, who occupied a leading place among the farmers of Monroe County, and had a fine. large farm on the banks of the Ohio River. Peter Dillon, the father of Jacob T. Dillon, was born in West- moreland County, Pennsylvania, and was one of the first farmers in Monroe County to deal extensively in stock. He married twice, his first wife being Miss Moore, by whom he had eight children, seven of whom grew to matur- ity, and are as follows: William: John W .: Hamilton; Mazie, who married Polk Baker ; Susan, the wife of Jacob Dearth ; Rachel, who married Mr. Coburn : James ; and Mark. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Dillon again married, Julia A. May becoming his second wife. They had six children, namely : Mary L., who married Frank W. Litten: Jacob T .; Ida M., who married Thomas Crumbaker: Clara B., the wife of William M. Wickham ; Eva, the wife of Edward Chapsaw ; and Pearl, who married Blanchard Dean.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 177

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