History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 190

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 190

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acquaintances and friends.

Mr. Folger was married, in 1873, to Mary J. Stetson, who was born in Monroe County. August 18, 1851, and is a daughter of George H. and Sarah ( Sims ) Stetson. They have five children as follows: Araminta Inez: Clara Winifred : Everett F. : Henry H. ; and Mary F. Religiously our subject and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a strong Democrat.

LERMONT L. HEDDLESON. a prominent lumber dealer of New Matamoras, Washington County, Ohio, was born in that place, Sep- tember 20, 1863, and is a son of David and Sarah ( Meeks ) Heddleson.

David Heddleson was born in Matamoras, February II, 1819, and is a farmer by occupa- tion. Both he and his wife are still living in Washington County. They had the follow- 1 ing children : Josiah: Maria: Mary ; Vach, deceased ; John: and Theodore, twins; Miner- va, deceased: Robert: David: and Clermont. L. David Heddleson is a Democrat in poli- tics. Ile and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.

Clermont L. Heddleson has been engaged as a carpenter and in the lumber business all of his life, living mostly in New Matamoras. He established his planing mill in New Mata-

moras in 1893, and has since conducted a very successful business at that place. He is well and favorably known in the community where he is highly esteemed for his good business qualities and upright principles.

Mr. Heddleson was united in marriage with Mary I. Hubbard, who was born July 18, 1870, and is a daughter of Richard and Ann ( Hancock ) Hubbard. The former was a na- tive of New Matamoras, and was born in 1826. and his wife was a native of Cincinnati, where she was born in 1834. Richard Hubbard died in 1892, and his wife died one year later. Mr. Hubbard and his wife reared four children, namely: Clarence, deceased; Mary I., the wife of Mr. Heddleson; and Anna and Rosa, dleceased. The subject of this sketch and his wife have reared three children .- Everett C., born May 26, 1893: Mary C., born November 0, 1895 ; and Richard D., born January 1, 1898.

Mr. Heddleson is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, while his wife is a Presbyterian.

IV. SKIPTON. the efficient post- master of Waterford. Washington County, Ohio, was born in Water- town township, in 1839. His mother, Martha Skipton, was a daughter of George and Margaret Skipton, and was born in Watertown township. She is living in Kansas aged seventy-nine years.

In 1857 Mr. Skipton married Elizabeth Jennings, a daughter of Lemuel Jennings. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1838, and they have six children, namely: Alonzo B., a manufacturer of Marietta : Henry L., who lives on his farm in Waterford: Walter B., a merchant of Wyoming; Mary, who married Delpha Beebe, a farmer of Oregon: Emma, who married Osmer Leget, a farmer of Water- town : and Lemuel E., who was proprietor of the Diamond Pants Company, of Marietta, butt now lives in Zanesville, Ohio.

Mr. Skipton was appointed postmaster of Waterford in June, 1897, and is still serving in that office to the entire satisfaction of all

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He is one of the most prominent citizens of Waterford, and is always willing to assist in any enterprise which is undertaken for the good of the community. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to Bev- erly Lodge, No. 37. F. & A. M.

ILLIAM B. GAITREE, special agent in charge of the rural free delivery service, with headquar- ters at Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, is a young man of keen, discerning faculties, who has never been idle in his short life, and whose aspirations are of the highest type. He was born in Mari- etta. in 1864, and is a son of J. F. and Nancy (Reckard ) Gaitree, honored and respected citi- zens of Marietta for many years.

J. F. Gaitree is now retired from active life, and has reached the age of 76 years. He is a native of Louisiana, and has been a resi- dent of Marietta since 1832. During his long busy career, 30 years were spent on the Ohio River as steamboat captain, and he was one of the oldest men engaged in that occupation. After he left the river, he conducted a hotel very successfully at Marietta, and was active in business until quite recently. He has been married three times, his second wife, Nancy Reckard, being William B. Gaitree's mother.

The subject of this sketch has two brothers and one sister, namely: Frank F., a clothing salesman, employed by S. R. Van Metre & Company, of Marietta ; Louie F., a prosperous druggist, located in Zanesville, Ohio; and Mary W., employed in the census bureau at Washington, D. C.

William' B. Gaitree attended the public schools of Marietta for some time, and left them to enter the drug business, being at first associated with C. B. McCaskey. Later, he was engaged at Cincinnati, Springfield, etc .. as a pharmacist, for 12 years. In 1892, he served as assistant secretary to Governor Mc- Kinley, and retained that important position until 1896, when he was made chief clerk of the department of railroads and telegraphs, at

Columbus, Ohio. Soon after Mr. McKinley was inaugurated, Mr. Gaitree received the ap- pointment of confidential clerk to Mr. Sher- man, Secretary of State. June 18, 1897, lie received another appointment of note, being made chief of the rural free delivery service. He was the first man appointed in that service as it is now maintained. About 10,000 men have been employed in the service up to July I, 1902.

Immediately after the declaration of war with Spain, Mr. Gaitree was sent to Tampa, Florida, by the post office department, to take charge of the military mail service. This posi- tion he filled with wonderful success, and re- mained in Florida until open communication was established with Cuba. He has also acted as secretary, as well as in various other con- fidential relations, to Senator Hanna.

June 12, 1890, Lucy N. Small, a daughter of Frank R. and Mary C. Small, and a native of Baltimore, Maryland, was united in mar- riage with Mr. Gaitree. She is an active mem- ber of the Episcopal Church, and is greatly es- teemed for hier many excellent qualities.

Mr. Gaitree has been very active in the B. P. O. E., and is now leading knight. Few young men of more spirit and zeal can be found in Washington County than he. He is mounting the ladder of success with rapid strides, and will soon reach the highest round.

ILLIAM ARTELLA GATES, prominent as a successful truck farmer of Muskingum township, Washington County, Ohio, is painstaking and diligent in the performance of all his duties, and is highly esteemed as a citizen and a useful friend to many of the people of Washington County.

Mr. Gates is a son of Benjamin Austin and Sarah A. ( Pixley) Gates, and a grandson of Rasselas and Mary Maria (Derry) Gates. Rasselas Gates was born March 1, 1804. in Marietta, Ohio, and there he also received his mental training and spent the greater part of his life. His wife was a native of Windsor, Vermont, and was born June 25, 1810.

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HISTORY OF MARIETTA AND WASHINGTON COUNTY,

Benjamin A. Gates was also a native of Marietta, Ohio, and was born in 1831. He lived a long and useful life, and was much re- spected by his people. William Artella Gates was united in matrimony with Clara Devol, a daughter of Josiah and Catherine ( West ) Devol, of Muskingum township. Their union was blessed with three children, namely : Aus- tin Devol, Raymond and Katherine,-aged six- teen, fourteen and seven years, respectively. Devol and Raymond are attending school at the present time.

Mr. Gates has a fertile farm of twenty acres, located about two and a half miles from Marietta, on the west side of the Muskingum road. He and his family have many of the modern conveniences and enjoy a beautiful home with pleasant surroundings. A Repub- lican of decided opinions, the subject of this sketch is ever ready to defend his cliosen party. He and his family are regular attendants of the Congregational Church.

ACOB MACHETANZ, one of the old and prominent residents of New Matamoras, Washington County, Ohio, was born in Saxony, Germany, October 12, 1837, and is a son of Gottfried and Maria (Jacob) Machetanz.

Gottfried Machetanz was born in Germany in 1808, and in 1858 came to the United States, locating at New Matamoras. In 1863 he pur- chased a tannery and residence of Samuel Hutchinson, and conducted the tanning busi- ness under the firm name of Machetanz & Son until he retired from active life. Politically he was a Democrat. He died in 1895. His union with Maria Jacob, who was born in Germany in 1814, resulted in the birth of ten children, of whom seven are now living, as follows : Sophia: Jacob; Elizabeth; Maria; Louisa; Amelia ; and Edward.

Jacob Machetanz received his schooling in Germany, and in 1858 came with his parents to the United States, locating in New Mata- moras. As above mentioned, he was junior partner with his father in the tannery business

until the latter retired in 1880, after which he conducted it in partnership with his brother, Edward, until the tannery was closed in 1897. They were good business men, and were very successful.

Edward Machetanz was born in Germany, December 15, 1854, and was schooled in Wash- ington County, Ohio. In 1879 he married Ida M. Algeo, who was born in Monroe County, Ohio, November 15, 1857, and is a daughter of George S. Algeo, a native of Ireland. They have four children, as follows: Minnie A .. born July 2, 1880; Harriet, born February 10, 1884: George S., born November 16, 1886; and Jolin Jacob, born August 14, 1890. Ed- ward Machetanz is a Democrat in politics, and served in the city council two terms, and also as a member of the school board.

In 1868 Jacob Machetanz married Eliza- beth Lentz, who was born in Ohio, July 14. 1835. and is a daughter of Israel and Caroline (Ehman) Lentz, both natives of Germany. They came to the United States with the Rapp Society, and located in Pennsylvania, whence they came to Ohio. Mr. Lentz was a tanner by trade. He and his wife reared five children, namely: Jonathan; McLedy: Elizabeth ; Da- vid ; and Lucinda. The subject of this sketch and his wife have no children. In politics Mr. Machetanz is a Democrat, and served as town- ship treasurer twenty-four years, as council- man a number of terms, and as mayor of New Matamoras three years. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. He is a devout member of the Presbyterian Church.

AMES G. BARKER, a representative farmer of Muskingum township, Washington County, Ohio, was born December 19, 1834, and is a son of George W. and Emeline (Devol) Barker.

The Barker family has been established in America for nearly three centuries. The first to come was Janies Barker, who was born in England, and in 1638 sailed for America. He settled in Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1639, and

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lived there until his death in 1678. His eldest son was Brazilla Barker, who died November 16, 1694, leaving ten children. Noah Barker, the next in line of descent, was born at Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1689, and died in 1749. leav- ing ten children. The seventh in this line was Ephraim, who was born at Exeter, New Hamp- shire, in 1734, and died October 9, 1800. He had nine children, of whom the eldest was Colonel Joseph, grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

Col. Joseph Barker was born September 9 1765, and came to Marietta, Ohio, Novem- ber 13. 1789, with his wife, being one of the earliest settlers in this section. In April, 1795. they left the garrison at Marietta, and made the first opening on his wilderness farm seven miles above Marietta, along the Muskingum River, that section then being known as Wise- man's Bottom. The Colonel remained on this farm until his death in 1843. at the age of sev- enty-eight years. \ fine painting of Colonel Barker is in the possession of James G. Barker and is highly prized. He married Elizabeth Dana, a daughter of Capt. William Dana, of Amherst, New Hampshire, and she died in 1835. They reared four sons and six daugh- ters, as follows: Joseph: Elizabeth ; Luther ; William, who died in infancy ; Sophia : George W .: Mary A .: Catherine; Frances Dana ; and Charlotte C.

George W. Barker was born November 2. 1801, and made his home with his father. He was a man of prominence and influence, served a term as sheriff of Washington County, and was a member of both branchies of the state legislature. On May 3, 1831, he married Eme- line Devol, who was born in November, 1809. and was a daughter of Wing Devol. They reared six sons, as follows: John D .; James G. : Arthur W .: J. H. ; Luther D. : and George H. John D., of Girard, Crawford County, Kansas, enlisted in the Union Army, Septem- ber 16, 1861, and was captain of Company L. Ist Reg .. Ohio Vol. Cav., serving on the staff of General Thomas. He married Mary L. An- ; derson, of Marietta, Ohio, who was born March 24. 1832, and died May 27, 1896. James G. is the subject of this biography. Arthur W.,

born October 19, 1837. lives in Girard, Kansas. He enlisted in Company A, 36th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and was severely wounded at the battle of Antietam. He married Josephine Maxwell, December 6, 1872. She died in 1880, and he formed a second union, with Chloe Holmes. J. IL., born November 9, 1840, en- listed in 1861 in Company A. 36th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and died June 13, 1900. He mar- ried Mattie Trent, who died January 26, 1895. Luther D., born December 7. 1845, enlisted in the 148th Ohio Regiment, in the 100-days service. He married Hester McQuillin, and died at Girard, Kansas. George H., born Au- gust 8. 1848, married Sallie Bailey, and resides in Girard, Kansas.

James G. Barker enlisted July 29, 1861, and on July 31 was commissioned first lieu- tenant in the 36th Reg .. Ohio Vol. Inf. He was promoted to be captain on September 7. 1862, and continued as such until honorably discharged on account of disability caused by wounds, and the expiration of his term of enlistment, November 4, 1864. He was with his regiment in all of its marches, battles and hardships until mustered out, participating in the battle of Lewisburg, Virginia, May 23. 1862: Second Bull Run, August 30, 1862; Frederick. Maryland. September 12, 1862; South Mountain, September 14. 1862; Antie- tam, September 17. 1862; Hoover's Gap, June 24. 1863 ; Chickamauga, September 19 and 20, 1863: Brown's Ferry, Tennessee, October 27, 1863: Missionary Ridge, November 25. 1863 ; Cloyd's Mountain, Virginia, May 9 and io, 1864: Lynchburg, June 17. 1864 ; Cable Town, July 15, 1864; Charleston, West Virginia, July 19. 1864; Kernstown, July 23, 1864 ; and Mar- tinsburg. July 25, 1864. He was wounded at Berryville. September 3. 1864: and was se- verely wounded at the battle of Opequon, Sep- tember 19. 1864.

Mr. Barker has always engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, and is now located three miles from Marietta, on the west side of the Mus- kingum River. He is one of the substantial men of his township, and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. He married Frances H. Devol. April 13. 1869. She was

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born August 26, 1843, and is a daughter of Theodore Devol. Two children have blessed their union, namely: Arthur D., born Sep- temiber 29, 1870; and Fanny J., born January 11, 1873. Politically, Mr. Barker is a Republi- can. He is a member of Buell Post, G. A. R., and the Loyal Legion.

R ICHARD GREENE LAWTON, a prominent and highly esteemed farmer, of Barlow township, Wash- ington County. Ohio, who has re- tired from active labors, was born in the same township, on the old family farm, on May 27, 1824. He is a son of Jesse and Maria ( Haskell) Lawton.

Both the Lawton and Haskell families were of New England ancestry. The Lawton family was founded in Washington County by. James and Susanna ( Gould ) Lawton, natives of Rhode Island, Quakers in religion, who married in their native state and made the trip to what was then considered the frontier. They were the first of the family to locate in Barlow township, the second being the family of Nathan Proctor, Jr., who had come to Mari- etta from Danbury, Massachusetts. Both James Lawton and his wife died on the farm near Barlow village, which is still in the pos- session of the family. They had the follow- ing children: Rebecca, who was born in Rhode Island and married Richard Greene, of Newport, Ohio; Jesse, who was the father of the subject hereof, and was born in Rhode Island in 1789: James, Jr., who was born in Marietta, and became a prominent citizen ; and Sarah, who was born in Barlow, married Isaiah Branson, and died in 1901, at the age of 99 years. The second son, James Lawton, Jr., served one term in the Ohio legislature at the time of the formation of the Republi- ean party. He was a thorough and practical farmer and his unusual success drew the re- mark from him that,-"the great secret of suc- cessful farming is in being prepared to take advantage of every snow and every wind and

every rain and all the sunshine,"-which was considered worthy of publication in the New York Tribune as embodying the science of farming.

Jesse Lawton was a man of scientific learn- ing, who became known as a chemist, geologist and botanist, far beyond the confines of his- locality. A deep student, it was his study and patient investigation which added much to the scientific knowledge of Washington County. In the course of his explorations lie discovered on his own farm near Barlow village fossil shells which gave positive evidence that at one time an area about four miles in length and a mile or more in width was covered with the waters of an inland lake. Many interest- ing discoveries concerning this lake are in the possession of the family. Mr. Lawton was a man of excellent citizenship, and filled many of the local offices. He died on his farm on July 5, 1870, when almost 80 years of age.

The mother of the subject hereof was reared in Belpre, opposite Blennerhasset Isl- and, and was a daughter of Jonathan and Phebe ( Greene ) Haskell. The former was a native of Rochester, Massachusetts, and died at Belpre, Ohio, in 1816, aged 62 years. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was in Wayne's expedition. He was appoint- ed major by General Washington. His wife was a native of Rhode Island, and died in Belpre, Ohio, in 1809. Mrs. Lawton died in Barlow, Ohio, June 21, 1878, aged 80 years. She was the devoted and beloved mother of six children, namely: John; Richard Greene ; Arthur ; Isaac and Phebe, twins ; and Isaiah B. John was born August 27, 1822, and died September 23, 1864. Arthur was born July 3. 1826, and died at Kansas City, Missouri, Oc- tober 31, 1890. Phebe and Isaac were born August 9, 1828. Phebe never married and died at Bentonville, Arkansas, on August 28, 1893. Isaac has resided at Paris, Illinois, for the past forty years. Isaiah was born Au- gust 24. 1838, resides at Bentonville, Arkan- sas, and is retired from business activity.

Richard Greene Lawton was reared in a refined and intellectual home and was given

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the best advantages afforded by the neighbor- hood schools. At the age of 16 years his fa- ther, contrary to custom, gave the youth per- mission to follow a career of his own choosing and allowed him the use of his earnings. Ac- cordingly he became a skilled carpenter and worked at that trade more or less during the succeeding 40 years, combining it with ex- tensive and successful farming operations. After his marriage he moved to his present home farm, which is advantageously located just one mile east of Barlow village, and now comprises 100 acres. Mr. Lawton has car- ried on general farming, but has devoted the greater part of his time to sheep raising, hav- ing been for many years one of the large sheep growers of this locality.

On June 19, 1862, Mr. Lawton was united in marriage with Persis Putnam Walker, who was born January 15, 1828, and is a daugh- ter of William and Abigail ( Howe) Walker, and a great-great-granddaughter of Gen. Rufus Putnam. The Walker family came from Vermont to Athens County, Ohio, and there Mrs. Lawton's parents died, in 1855 and 1835, respectively. Henry M. Walker, a half- brother of Mrs. Lawton, and the youngest in the family, is a minister of the Presbyterian Church. Edward Walker, a brother, gradu- ated at Marietta College, studied theology at Andover and was later elected a professor in the college; he died on Christmas Day, 1861. Still another brother, Douglas W. Walker, died in Athens County. Julia H., a sister, died March 25, 1893, in Kansas. Her first husband was Rev. William S. Beard who at one time served the church at Parkersburg, West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Lawton had one child, who died in infancy.

During the Civil War Mr. Lawton en- listed in the Home Guards and was in the 100-day service, his knowledge of chemistry making him available as a hospital steward. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lawton are esteemed mem- bers of the Methodist Church in Barlow. They are well known and their pleasing per- sonal characteristics have drawn to them a large circle of friends.

AN SMITH engaged in agricultural pursuits about four miles northwest of Beverly, Washington County, Ohio, has been on the farm since 1900, before which time, he was an expert blacksmith.

Mr. Smith is a son of William R. and Julia D. (Ryland) Smith, the former a native of Morgan County, Ohio, where he was born in 1823, and the latter claiming Pennsylvania as her native State. William R. Smith was for many years employed in the railroad shops. He settled in Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, in 1857, and remained there until 1873, when he moved to Waterford township, be- came a tiller of the soil, and lived there until his death, in 1900. He took great interest in township affairs, and at one time served well as township trustee. He favored the doctrine of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The mother of Van Smith was Julia D. Ryland, a daughter of Hugh Ryland, and was born in 1825. She and her husband had two children. namely : Van, the subject of this writing; and Flora V., who is now the wife of Taylor K. Hunsaker, and resides at Milford, Ohio.

Van Smith is a native of Morgan County, Ohio, and was born in the year 1846. In 1867, he led to the hymeneal altar, Martha Murray, a daughter of George Murray. This worthy lady was also born in Morgan County, Ohio, her birth having occurred in 1844. She and her husband have but one child, Howard H., born in 1870, in Washington County, Ohio. He is now a competent engineer on the Ohio & Little Kanawha Railroad.

For many years Van Smith was a black- smith by vocation, and did most skillful work in that line, being employed in the blacksmith- ing department of a number of railroads. At one time he worked in the shops of the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad, after which he was similarly employed, for five years, in the shops of the L. C. & S. W. Railroad. Some time later, he had charge of the machinery depart- ment of the Zanesville & Ohio River Railway shops, at Zanesville, Ohio. This position was his for twelve years, during which time he

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worked at intervals on a farm. In 1900, he settled down to farming permanently, and now owns 69 acres, the home farm contain- ing IIo acres in all.

In politics, the subject of this sketch is a Republican, and is ever zealous in his efforts to promote the interests of his party. He has seen many years of good service during his life, and is highly regarded in his township and community.

ILLIAM H. LANGENBERG, who in connection with his brother, John, is proprietor of a flour-mill at Beverly, Ohio, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 25, 1852.

Henry Langenberg, his father, was born in Saxony, Germany, February 15, 1815, and came to the United States in 1847. He lo- cated in New York and first worked on the Erie Canal. He was a tanner by trade, and followed it for a time in New York state, and afterward in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He subsequently went to Pittsburg about 1851, and worked at his trade until 1855, when lie came to Beverly, Ohio. He was then em- ployed in the tammery of W. F. Robertson, and continued thus after the plant was sold to Patterson (). Dodge. In connection with Capt. John Henderson he rented the tannery, which he conducted a couple of years, and at the beginning of the Civil War he bought it of Mr. Dodge. He continued in the business throughout his active career and was then succeeded by his two sons, William H. and John. Religiously he belonged to the German Lutheran Church, as does his wife. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. In politics he was a Democrat and served as a member of the town council. He died October 23. 1896, leaving a considerable estate. He married Caroline Schlaver, who was born in Baden, Germany. November 18, 1827, and came to the United States with her parents in 1832, locating in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania. They were married in Harrisburg March 25. 1852.

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History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 190

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