USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 41
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Joseph McConnel, brother of Robert and Alexander, was a farmer. He was born March 14, 1793, and came to McConnelsville among the carly set- lers. He married Elizabeth Patterson and reared a family in the town. He died in 1868. Agnes McConnel, sister of the above, married James Adams, and about 1840 settled in MeConnels- ville, where she lived until her decease.
JACOB KAHLER.
that county and learned the mill- wright's trade when a young man. He moved thence to Frederick County, Md., where he married Rachael Madary, built a grist mill on a small creek in that county and continued to run the mill until 1817, with the exception of part of the year 1813, when he served in the army, in the war between the United States and Great Britain. In the spring of 1817 he emigrated to Ohio with his family, crossed the Alle- ghany mountains in a wagon, and after enduring many hardships and priva- tions at the end of four weeks arrived at Zanesville. There his family re- mained until the fall of the same year, when they came to Morgan County, to the place afterward known as the town of McConnelsville, where Mr. Kahler had erected a double log cabin, the first house of any kind in the place. The same year he entered a quarter section of land about two and one-half miles northeast of the town. Shortly after settling in McConnelsville he built a saw mill east of the town, on the stream known as McConnel's Run, for General Robert McConnel, the pro- prietor of the town. He continued :0 follow his trade and to work at carpen- try whenever his services were de- manded in either direction. His occu- pations obliged him to be away from home a great deal of the time. The climate along the river was very in- healthy and his family suffered much from fevers of various types. Between 1817 and 1824 three of his children died, victims of the deleterious influ- ences of the climate. In 1826 Mr. Kahler built a house on Ins land, to which he removed and there resided until his death in February, 1844. His
Jacob Kahler was born in Londoun County, Va., in 1785. Hle resided in death resulted from a fall upon the
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floor of his barn from a height of six- teen feet. His skull was fractured and he lived but three hours after the acci- dent. After clearing away the dense forests and getting quite a fine farm under cultivation, his industry began to bear fruit, and his accumulations slowly but steadily increased. About 1840 he gave the entire management of the farm to his sons William and Andrew, who jointly occupied and cultivated the land until 1852. William then moved to Jackson County, Oregon, where he still resides. He has reared a family of ten children, who are scattered in vari- ous parts of the country. He has been a successful business man and has represented his county in the legisla- ture. A sketch of the other surviving son. Andrew Kahler, follows. There is but one of the other children of Jacob Kahler now living-Mrs. Kraps, of McConnelsville.
Mr. Kahler was a quiet, unassuming man, yet possessed of strong convic- tions, always ready to maintain the principles and doctrines he professed and to give a "reason for the hopes he entertained." His conduct was charac- terized by strict integrity and honesty, and it was a principle of his life to "owe no man anything." Ile was highly esteemed by all who knew him, by reason of his conscientiousness and moral worth. He was a great admirer of John Quincy Adams-an anti-Jack- sonian. He became a whig, and so remained until his death. Although sometimes severe in his criticism of the other party his opinions seldom gave offense. Ile always appeared to be contented with his lot. For three or four years preceding his death he spent much of his time in reading the Bible and sacred and profane history ; from
his studies in this direction, as well as from the writings of Balfour, Ballou, Murray and others, he became an ear- nest believer in the doctrine of universal salvation. His wife survived him about six years and died in 1850.
ANDREW KAIILER.
Andrew Kahler, son of Jacob and Rachael (Madary) Kahler, is among the oldest residents of McConnelsville. He was born in Frederick County, Mary- land, August 16, 1813, and is of Ger- man descent. He moved to Ohio with his parents in the spring of 1817, and in the fall of the same year to McCon- nelsville, where his father was the first settler. He received a common school education in the imperfect pioneer schools, walking back and forth to Mc- Connelsville to attend school after his parents moved to the country. He lived on a farm from 1826 to 1857. When a young man he began teach- ing school, and followed that occupa- tion, generally in the winter time, for eighteen or twenty years. He held the office of justice of the peace, and in 1857 was elected sheriff of the county, and moved to McConnelsville, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years. He served two years as sheriff, and has also been coroner of the county several terms. From 1863 to 1868 (when the office was abolished) he was revenue assessor and storekeeper of the bonded warehouse. He pub- lished the McConnelsville Herald four years ; was in the grocery business in McConnelsville for two years, com- mencing in 1873, and from 1879 to the fall of 1885 he served as deputy county auditor. Mr. Kahler was formerly a whig, and is now a republican. He is a member of the Masonic and Odd
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Fellows orders, and a Universalist in religion. He was married in January, 1837, to Susan Pyle, daughter of Jona- than Pyle, of this county. Their children are Harriet E. (Shephard), In- dianapolis ; Francis M., now living in Nebraska ; Charles E., Columbus ; Kate H. (Paine), Columbus; William S., In- dianapolis.
Francis M. Kahler enlisted as a private in the 17th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he served three months. In the fall of 1861 he reëntered the service as first lieuten- ant of Company B, 62d Ohio Volun- teer Infantry. He served through the war, and rose through the several grades to the rank of major. After his return from the service he engaged in the mercantile business with Mr. Wor- ley Adams, under the firm name of Adams & Kahler, until 1878.
JACOB ADAMS.
The subject of this notice was one of the pioneers, and during his long life ranked among the leading influential citizens of Morgan County. Jacob Ad- ams was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, November 8, 1788. Left an orphan in early life, and in destitute circumstances, his oldest brother, one of a family of eight children, moved the family and household effects in a cart, by way of Brownsville, to Pitts- burgh. There he built a boat, in which he transported the family and goods to Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky. There Jacob was bound ont to a tailor of Paris, Kentucky, and after serving his time returned to Maryland and then worked about a year at his trade m1 Winchester, Va. He then started on foot for Ohio, alone and almost penni- less. While walking along what is now
the turnpike, then a muddy road, in a brown study as to how he should obtain his supper, he saw at his feet a piece of shining metal. Stooping to pick it up he found it to be a fifty-cent silver piece. He often said that he never had another half dollar that made him feel so happy. He, now almost at his journey's end, was rich enough to buy supper, and he was hungry. He stopped at Zanesville, where he married and lived, and worked at his trade until his removal to MeCon- nelsville. While there he volunteered in the war of 1812, and served six months.
In 1819 he moved his family to Mc- Connelsville, and from that time until his death witnessed the growth and prosperity of the town and county, aid- ing every beneficial public enterprise as far as he was able, and taking an earnest and zealous interest in local matters. He began the mercantile business soon after his arrival, and in the following year added hotel-keeping to his business, becoming widely and favorably known as a landlord and entertaining many famous men as his guests. With the exception of about fifteen years which he spent on a farm he continued hotel-keeping as long as he lived. He was a successful merchant until about 1836, when he engaged in saltmaking, which resulted for him in serious loss. He was also postmaster in the town of McConnelsville, and held the position several years.
As a business man he was enterprising and sagacious. Soon after coming to the county he found money very searce, and to accommodate his customers and make some profit possible for himself he bought up droves of hogs, and every year for three years drove them to Baltimore to market. There he ex-
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changed them for merchandise, which was transported in wagons to McCon- nelsville. Such were some of the busi- ness methods of pioneer merchants.
The following is given as a single in- stance of the energy and business ca- pacity of Mr. Adams : Some time after 1830 he built a flatboat at McConnels- ville, which he loaded with wheat for which he paid 373 cents per bushel. This he took to Maysville, Ky., where it was converted into flour, and with the flour started for New Orleans. On his arrival he found flour remarkably cheap, and it seemed almost certain that he would be a heavy loser by his venture. But chancing to pick up a Charleston, S. C., paper, he noticed that bacon commanded a good price in that city. Accordingly he exchanged his flour for bacon, and had it transported by vessel to Charleston. There he sold the bacon, and proceeding to Baltimore bought goods with which he returned to McConnelsville. His lengthy trip did not bring mich profit, but his shrewd- ness and prudent foresight prevented a heavy loss.
Mr. Adams always took an active in- terest in local and general politics. In the early years of the county he was a " Junto," and next a Jacksonian demo- crat ; but after Jackson vetoed the United States bank bill he became an earnest whig and then a republican. He was very active in encouraging the several railroad projects in the county, and did all he could to bring abont that "con- summation devoutly to be wished"-a railroad in Morgan County.
He was a man of strong constitution and robust health, and continued active even in old age. He died, September 23, 1880, at the ripe old age of nearly ninety-two years, and in his death many
citizens both of the town and county felt that an irreparable loss had been sustained. He was married in Zanes- ville, August 1, 1811, to Lydia Shugert, danghter of John Shugert, of Musking- um County. She died April 26, 1826, having borne five children-Eli, James, John, Worley, and Eliza (Shepard). Of these children Worley is the only survivor. March 4, 1828, Mr. Adams married Miss Amelia Wise, of Browns- ville, Pa., who died November 27, 1875. Of this marriage five children were born-Henry (deceased), and Alfred, Catharine, William and Jacob (living).
Worley Adams the oldest living na- tive of McConnelsville, son of Jacob and Mydia Adams, was born No- vember 13, 1819, and has resided all 'ris life in Morgan County. In early .ife he worked at various occupations, but since he was twenty-two years of age he has followed the mercantile business in McConnelsville. He is now the head of the dry goods firm of Adams & Kahler, one of the leading business houses of the town. Mr. Adams is a republican in politics. He served as township trustee for twelve years and has held some village offices. He has been an influential member of Valley Lodge, No. 36, I. O. O. F., since 1847. He was married in 1842 to Millie Shep- ard, danghter of the late Judge Nathan- iel Shepard, of this county. Three children have been born to them-Eliz- beth A., wife of Major F. M. Kahler, of Nebraska ; Emma J., at home, and Chester W., Iowa.
Jacob Adams, born November 7, 1841, is the youngest son of Jacob and Amelia Adams. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, 17th O. V. I., and becoming a veteran, served until July, 1865, participating in all the bat-
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tles and campaigns of this regiment. During all this time he had no furlough and was not off duty a single day for any cause. Among the fifteen engage- ments in which he took part were the notable battles of Perryville, Stone River, Resaca, Mission Ridge, siege of Corinth, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Bentonville, Chickamauga, etc. He was sergeant of the company at muster out. Mr. Adams is the pop- ular commander of Hughes Post, No. 285, G. A. R., and is zealously devoted to its interests. He was married in April, 1868, to Miss Julia Chadwick.
THE PINKERTON FAMILY.
Alexander R. Pinkerton, one of the pioneers of McConnelsville, was born in Allegheny County, Pa., in 1783. His father, also named Alexander, was a native of Scotland, and came to this country shortly after the revolutionary war. He was one of the pioneers of Allegheny County, Pa., and was killed by the Indians while at work in the field. His wife with her children, three daughters and two sons, John and Alexander, escaped to what is now Pittsburgh, then known as Fort Pitt. After the Indians were driven from the vicinity Mrs. Pinkerton returned to her home, where Alexander R. was reared. Ile acquired in Pittsburgh the trade of a cabinet-maker, and in 1805 was mar- ried to Miss Nancy Adams, of Fayette County, Pa.
In November of 1805 Robert A. was born, and shortly after the family removed to Beaver County, Pa., where for a time the elder Pinkerton followed his trade. In company with his brother-in-law, Alexander Adams, he bought a tract of four hundred acres of land on Little Beaver Creek, to which
he removed with his family. He soon became quite extensively engaged in business. He built a sawmill and grist- mill and also kept a store. Through a defective title, however, he was dispos- sessed of his hard earnings, and almost disheartened he removed to New Castle, Pa., where he remained until 1820, when with his family, consisting of his wife and six children, Robert A., Amzi C., Eliza, Alexander, David and Henry, he started for Athens, Ohio, on a flat- boat. Arriving at Marietta, he visited Athens, but not finding it a desirable location, he concluded to locate in Zanesville. Before starting, however, he happened to get a copy of the Chil- licothe Recorder, which contained a glowing description of a new town, by the name of McConnelsville, on the Muskingum. The advantages offered were so flattering that he con- cluded to make it his future home. The journey was made on a keelboat, the elder Pinkerton and his son Robert walking, one on each side of the river, for the purpose of selling cordage to the settlers along the route, taking their pay in provisions. A few miles below McConnelsville Mr. Pinkerton ascer- tained that he was near the town, and joining his son, the two soon reached the spot where is now the Baptist church, where they found James Larri son chopping. Mr. Pinkerton inquired the distance to McConnelsville.
"My dear sir," Larrison replied, " you are now right in the heart of the city."
From the article referred to, Mr. Pinkerton had received the impression that the town was a thriving young village of twenty-five or thirty fami- lies, and the information quite over- came him, and it was some little time before he regained his composure. It
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OIIIO.
being late in the afternoon he asked Lar- rison if he could direct him to a place where they could obtain accommoda- tions for the night. Larrison said, " Yes, sir. Your humble servant keeps the 'Sign of the Buck,"" which they found to be a two-story log structure nearly destitute of either doors, win- dows or floors. He found, however, two old Pennsylvania friends-James Young and John Jack-which in a de- gree relieved him of his disappoint- ment.
Shortly after his arrival he moved into a cabin which stood where is now the northeast corner of the Stanbery Block, where he remained for many years, and where for ten years Robert A. did business as a cabinet-maker. The elder Pinkerton did watch repairing and money-cutting. The latter occu- pation was quite remunerative. Ile died in McConnelville in 1837. March 29th, 1830, Robert A. was married to Miss Lydia A. Johnson. Three chil- dren were the result of this union, only one of whom, Mrs. W. M. Grimes, is now living. Mr. Pinkerton has been largely identified with the development of the village, of which he has been a resident for sixty-six years. While de- voting himself strictly to his business, he has filled several positions of trust and responsibility. He was sheriff of the county from 1845 to 1849, and at various times has been mayor of the village.
Of the children of Alex. R. Pinker- ton. Amzi C. is deceased ; Eliza (Oli- phant) resides in Indiana ; Alexander died in McConnelsville in 1827; David is a resident of Washington, D. C. For fifteen years he was probate judge of Morgan County, and one of its lead- ing citizens. Two of his sons J. W.
and Alex P., are prominent merchants in Zanesville. Henry lives in MeCon- nelsville.
JUDGE NATHANIEL SHEPARD.
Nathaniel Shepard was born in Southington, Conn., October 21, 1790. In 1809, his health having become seriously impaired, the doctors held a consultation, told him his lungs were affected beyond earthly help, and if he had anything to say let it be known immediately, as he had but few days to live. He replied, "I have something to say : I am going to Ohio before I die." The next day he walked a quar- ter of a mile, and felt so exhausted that he was compelled to stop for the night. In the morning he resumed his journey. Continuing on, each day he was able to walk a little farther, until his daily journey amounted to several iniles. He persevered and reached Ohio. He came to what is now Mor- gan County, crossing the Muskingum by wading it at the head of the island below McConnelsville. Proceeding along the bank to the top of Sandy Hill he made his way through dense woods along what is now Center Street, McConnelsville. That he might not lose his way he blazed trees with a hatchet as he went along.
After an absence of six months Mr. Shepard reached his home in Connecti- cut. He had so recovered his health that on the day he arrived at his home he walked forty miles. October 14, 1810, he married IIyla Merriam in Meriden, Conn. In 1817, his health again beginning to fail, he put his wife and two children in a small one-horse wagon and again started for Ohio. Af- ter a journey of six weeks the family stopped three miles from Malta, and
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moved into a little hut without door or window. There (in 1818) Mr. Shepard entered a quarter section of land. He soon put up a cabin, and as the old stage road passed by it he kept travel- ers. While at work hewing timber to make an addition to his house his broad-ax slipped and split his kneecap. The nearest doctor was at Zanesville. The wound required immediate atten- tion, therefore Mr. Shepard dressed it himself, and sewed up the gash by tak- ing six stitches. The first term of court in Morgan County he attended, going in his bare feet, as shoes were not easily procured at that day. Whether from this circumstance, or from the wound made with the broad- axe, he was given the name of " Broad- horns," which he bore until the title of Judge Shepard took its place. He served as one of the associate judges of the county in 1847-51. In 1851 he removed to Athens County where he remained five years. In 1856 he moved to McConnelsville, where he re- sided until his death-caused by con- sumption-May 21, 1857. He followed mercantile business many years in the town. Mrs. Shepard died January 20, 1876, at the age of eighty-six. They had five children, two of whom were born in Connecticut and the rest in Morgan County ; Eli, who died in Iowa ; Roxa (Gaylord) now a resident of Mor- gan County ; Seth, who died in this county in 1885 ; Milly, wife of Worley Adams, McConnelville; Eliza (Dickey). now living near McConnelsville.
DANIEL CHANDLER.
Among the notable characters in the early history of Morgan County was Daniel Chandler. He was born in Rut- land County, Vermont, in 1781 ; emi-
grated to Ohio in 1797; settled in Athens County, where he lived a short time, then came to the locality of Put- nam, Muskingum County.
In 1802 he sailed on the brig " Mari- etta," built at Marietta, Ohio, for Liver- pool, England. When the vessel arrived at Liverpool the custom house officers were going to have the captain arrested for sailing under false papers, as they knew no seaport by the name of Mari- etta. The captain took a map, showed them the mouth of the Mississippi River, followed the river to the mouth of the Ohio, then up the Ohio to the town of Marietta, where the vessel had been built and loaded for Liverpool.
The crew of the Marietta were arrested by the press-gang and held in custody for forty-eight hours. Mr. Chandler was confined in a room ten by twelve feet with twenty-four other men. He got an opportunity of send- ing a note, written on a piece of his garment, to his captain, who came to the prison, then called on the United States consul, and by the aid and de- scription furnished by the consul he exculpated him from being an Irish subject. After his release he declared that if ever a war should break out between England and America, he would have reparation for this insult and arrest.
After his return to his native country the opportunity was soon presented, and he entered the army under General Harrison. He was at Fort Stephenson during the siege, and did good service as a scout. He served through the war, and in 1817 settled in Morgan Townhip and engaged in farming. He took an active part in the affairs of the county, and in 1844 was elected to the legislature. He was much interested
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in the " Northwest Boundary" ques- tion, and made an able speech in de- fense of his position. The Chandlers were pioneers in many parts of the West. Zachariah Chandler, of Detroit, was a distant relative of the family of Daniel Chandler. Four of his children are now living-two sons and two daughters - Mrs. Permelia Christy, Mary A. Moore, William and Daniel.
COLONEL WILLIAM HAWKINS.
Colonel Hawkins was born in Wash- ington County, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of August, 1796. He moved with his father to Guernsey County, Ohio, in the year 1812, and came to live in McConnelsville abont 1821, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred August 18, 1868.
Colonel Hawkins possessed fine nat- nral ability, was an able writer, good debater, and noted for excellent com- mon sense. He was highly esteemed by his friends and acquaintances, and held many offices of trust and honor, all of which he discharged with satis- faction to his constituents-indeed, it was a matter of satisfaction to the Colonel himself that he never was an nnsuccessful candidate for any position.
His career as a public man com- menced in 1827, when he was elected county assessor of Morgan County, and was reëlected in 1828. He was elected sheriff of Morgan County in 1829, and again in 1831. In 1833 he was elected to the high and honorable position of State senator, from the district com- posed of Morgan and Perry Counties, which he filled with distinguished ability. In 1837 he was again elected to the senate, from the district com- posed of Morgan, Perry and Washing-
ton Counties, defeating Dr. Perley B. Johnson, his whig competitor. At the second session, in 1838, he was elected speaker of the senate, which under the old constitution of the State was the same as lieutenant-governor under the new constitution. The Hon. Benjamin F. Wade, late United States senator, was the colonel's opponent for the po- sition. In April, 1850, members of the constitutional convention, which framed onr present State constitution, were elected, and Colonel Hawkins was chosen as a member from Morgan County, and in December, 1852, he was elected to the Senate to fill the unexpired term of the Hon. C. C. Covey, who was so badly injured by the explo- sion of the steamer "Buckeye Belle" that he died, and who was the first senator elected nnder the new consti- tution from the Washington and Mor- gan district.
After serving his county and district in many civil positions, enjoying in a preeminent degree the confidence of his fellow-citizens, the perfect confidence of his fellow-senators, as shown by the places of prominence and trust to which they appointed him, Colonel Hawkins remained a private citizen, engaged .in different business pursuits after his senatorial term of 1852, esteemed and respected by all who knew him.
GEORGE P. MORRIS.
George P. Morris, one of the pioneer merchants and prominent citizens of McConnelsville, was born in 1798 in Trowbridge, a manufacturing village of Wiltshire, England. His father, Joseph Morris, was a well-to-do merchant and a man of some prominence in his native town. He reared a family of six chil- dren, three sons and three daughters.
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