USA > Ohio > Morgan County > History of Morgan County, Ohio, with portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 42
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M'CONNELSVILLE.
In those days it was the custon in well- regulated English families to educate one of the sons for some profession. Young George evidencing an inclination for books was given an academical edu- cation and fitted for the profession of a teacher. The plans of the parents, however, were doomed to disappoint- ment, the glowing accounts of the new country and the opportunities offered for the acquirement of property and position, excited his youthful mind and in 1817 in company with an elder brother Edward he came to Marietta, Ohio, where the former found employ- ment as a teacher and the latter at his trade, that of a coppersmith. The ex- pectations they had formed of the new Elderado were fully realized, and in a short time Edward returned to England for the family.
Previous to his departure, however, the boys had come up the Muskingum to where Rokeby Lock now is, and ne- gotiated for the purchase of a large tract of land in Bloom Township. In 1819 the entire family took passage for their new home, and after an unevent- ful but tedious voyage arrived safely and began the development of their property. The clearing of the land and the production of crops was to them a new enterprise, and their inex- perienced efforts resulted in a signal failure; they therefore leased their lands and betook themselves to other avoca- tions. At this time the production of salt was the leading industry of the Muskingum Valley, and George became engaged in its manufacture, a business he followed very successfully for many years. In 1837 he came to MeConnelsville and engaged in the manufacture of tin- ware, and in 1849 in the hardware trade with the same success that had charac-
terized his other business ventures. Up to the time that he became incapaci- tated by age for active business life, no one was more prominently identified with the commercial interests of the county or did more for its development than he.
In 1870, despite his age and infirmi- ties he began the erection of the Morris Block, which is a monument to his in- dustry and energy, the building of which undoubtedly hastened his death, which occurred June 3, 1873. Mr. Morris was a man of sterling character, the personification of integrity, and a man of more than ordinary ability. In his demise McConnelsville lost one of its most valuable citizens.
In 1822 Mr. Morris was married to Miss Margaret, daughter of John Ham- mond, one of the pioneers of Bloom. The Hammonds are of Welsh descent and came to this country before the revolutionary war and settled in Balti- more, Md., where many of the family now reside and where Mrs. Morris was born on October 18, 1799. To them were born five children, Mary J., Se- basto E., Maria (Scott), Robert L. and William. The mother, a venerable lady of eighty-seven years, Maria and Rob- ert L. are the only survivors of the family. The latter was born in Bloom Township in 1830, and continues the business established by his father.
In his religious views the elder Mor- ris was a Methodist, and did much for the advancement of the religious inter- ests of the village. He was a promi- nent and zealons member of the Corin- thian Lodge F. and A. M. of MeCon- nelsville. Politically he was a repub- lican, but his extensive business inter- ests prevented him from taking a prom- inent part in political matters, even
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
had he been desirous of political pre- ferment.
LUTHER DANA BARKER.
Luther D. Barker, one of the early settlers and pioneer merchants of Mc- Connelsville, was born near Marietta, Washington County, Ohio, December 14, 1794. Reared amid the influences of this typical New England town, he de- veloped in early life those distinguish- ing traits of New England character- thrift, industry and enterprise. At the age of twenty-seven he married Miss Maria, daughter of Jonathan Devol, and for a short time they lived in New- port, Washington County, where Mr. Barker was engaged in farming. The life of a farmer was not congenial, and in 1825 he came to McConnelsville and began merchandising, which avo- cation he followed during the remainder or his life ; for a few years, however, he was also engaged in the manufacture of salt, owning the works below Malta, near the dam. He was classed among the prominent and successful business men of that period and was quite an extensive trader for those times. It was not, however, as a business man that Mr. Barker attained his greatest success. While his business interests were never neglected, all matters of public import received due considera- tion. In politics he was a whig, and he always took an active interest in the exciting political contests of the olden times and yet was remarkably free from that demagogism so unseemly in the citizen of a republic.
Mr. Barker was a most pronounced temperance advocate and one of the earliest pioneers in the cause. He was the leading spirit in the first temper- ance convention held in McConnelsville
in 1834, and from that time he identi- fied himself with every temperance movement and was always ready to forward the interests of this great refor- mation by any means within his power.
No biography of Mr. Barker would be complete without prominent reference to his labors as a Christian. IIe aided in laving the substructure of religion in the infant village, and no sooner was he established in business than he began to work for the organization of a church of his faith. Ilis efforts were rewarded in the erection and dedication of the Baptist church of McConnelsville in 1832. Like other pioneer churches it had a struggling existence, and during all its vicissitudes he bore the larger part of its financial burdens and gave to it his most active energies until his health gave way from a stroke of paralysis in the spring of 1843. Al- though a wreck physically and men- tally, yet the same spirit was manifest, and he was as zealous as when in pos- session of his health and faculties. He died March 31, 1845, in the fifty-first year of his age. From a sketch of his life, prepared by a gentleman who knew him intimately for years, we make the following extract : "Mr. Barker was one of our most distinguished citi- zens, prompt, honest and benevolent. If he had an enemy it was based on political prejudice." He was the father of six children, four of whom survived him-Charles L., who became his suc- cessor in business and one of the prom- inent citizens of the county ; Rev. J. Henry, the present efficient superin- tendent of the Children's Home; Ann Maria, wife of Rev. S. G. Dawson, one of the prominent Baptist ministers of the State, and Mrs. Alfred Wilkin, now re- siding in Toledo, Ohio.
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M'CONNELSVILLE.
JOSEPH KELLY.
Joseph Kelly was an early settler and a prominent citizen of McConnels- ville. He was reared in Marietta and came to Morgan County when a young man. He was one of the pioneer salt- makers of the county, and prominent in the development of that industry. As early as 1828 he moved to McCon- nelsville, where for a number of years he carried on the mercantile business. He was a man of considerable influ- ence, though quiet and unassuming in his manners and never seeking distinc- tion. He was an earnest democrat, and served with credit as a member of the State board of equalization. Ile was well informed and of sound judg- ment. He died in 1872, aged sixty- seven years. He was married in this county to Electa B. Chandler, and was the father of eight children, six of whom are living.
JAMES WATKINS. ESQ.
Few men are better known to the inhabitants both of town and county than the subject of this notice. James Watkins was born in Athens County, Ohio, March 1, 1806. His father, Jon- athan Watkins, was among the first settlers of that county. Ile was a farmer and blacksmith, and came to Ohio from the vicinity of Philadelphia. Wilbert Watkins, father of Jonathan, was of Quaker origin, and was killed at the battle of Breed's Ilill. James passed his boyhood in Athens County. Ile is self-educated, excepting a few terms at the Ohio University. He settled in MeConnelsville in 1833, and has since resided here, working at his trade, that of harnessmaking. IIe served three years as recorder of Mor- gan County, being elected in 1838. Ile
has twice been mayor of the village, and held that office at the time the famous McConnelsville liquor ordi- nance was passed. This law he en- forced with characteristic earnestness. Since 1869 he has been justice of the peace. The 'Squire has always been a politician, and always a democrat. He is well read, especially in legal and theological matters. He has been mar- ried four times, and is the father of eight children, of whom six are living.
HON. WILLIAM DURBIN.
William Durbin was born in Fred- erick County, Md., on the 11th day of October, 1802. His father's name was Dan Durbin. At the age of twelve years he moved with his father's family to Lancaster County, Pa. In about three years from the time they settled in Pennsylvania his mother died, and his father having a large family of children, William left home at the age of sixteen years, without money and with but little education, to try unaided his fortune among strangers; but by his diligence and industry he learned the carpenter trade, and also attended school and acquired sufficient education to enable him to perform the duties which devolved npon him in after life. At the age of nineteen he, with the family of Caleb Wells and others, emi- grated to Morgan County, Ohio, and worked at different places, either as a farm hand or at his trade. Ile some- times got employment in and about Marietta, at which place he became acquainted with Martha Nixon, daugh- ter of William Nixon, one of the earliest settlers in the State, and was married to her on the 10th day of August, 1826. They resided in Marietta till the fol- lowing spring, when they removed to
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
the village of McConnelsville, purchas- ing lots number 1 and 12 of the original town, on which a log house had already been erected. He soon afterward built a carpenter-shop on the southeast corner of lot 12 which has been converted into a dwelling house and is still standing. Here he worked at his trade till the year 1834, when he became a candidate for the office of county auditor. He was then in the thirty-second year of his age, but he had a remarkably youth- ful appearance, and being of a retiring, bashful disposition, strangers on meet- ing him would take him to be scarcely above twenty-one years of age, and his boyish look was often the subject of comment during the campaign. He was elected to the office by a small majority. He was reelected to a second and third term, each time by a larger majority, leading the whole ticket, thus attesting his popularity and ability as an officer. At the expiration of his third term of office he removed with his family to a farm, or rather, to a quarter section of unimproved land which he purchased in Bloom Town- ship, and engaged in rural pursuits.
Soon after his removal to the country he was appointed associate judge of Morgan County, which office he held till the fall of 1848, when he was nomi- nated as a candidate for representa- tive. He resigned his judgeship and was duly elected representative. He spent the winter of 1848-9 at the State capital in the discharge of his official duties, and returned home in the spring in very poor health and died of typhoid fever on the 19th of April, 1849, being in the forty-seventh year of his age. He left three sons: Samuel, William Nixon and Benton Nichols, who are still living; a daughter named Mar-
tha died in 1841, at the age of two years.
His widow continued to reside on the farm till her death, which occurred on the 21st day of July, 1885, at the age of 84 years.
In religious belief Mr. Durbin was a Universalist, but as there was no organ- ized church at or near McConnelsville during his residence in the country he never joined any church.
JAMES K. JONES.
James Kelly Jones was born at Mari- etta, Ohio, August 28, 1812. He was named for his maternal grandfather, James Kelly, who was killed by the Indians at Belleville, at the outbreak of the Indian war in the spring of 1791. At the same time the father was killed the little son Joseph was captured and we have the following account of his captivity and recovery in Dr. S. P. Hil- dreth's "Memoirs of the Early settlers of Ohio."
" Amongst those known to have been captured was Joseph Kelly, a lad taken from Belleville, Va., in 1791, and whose widowed mother lived in Marietta, her husband having been killed at the time of the capture of Joseph. In the autumn of 1795 the Indians had brought in and given up all their prisoners, as provided in the treaty made that year. Yet no account could be had of young Kelly, and it was quite uncertain whether he was dead or alive. But the Indians seldom put boys to death after they were prisoners. Although nearly all hope had ceased of his recovery, Colonel R. J. Meigs, one of the officers who negotiated and carried out the set- tlement with the Indians, continued to inquire of every new Indian face he saw. At length two Indians said they
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M'CONNELSVILLE.
knew of two white boys on the head- waters of the Auglaize River who were kept back by their masters. Hoping that one of these boys might be the widow's son he immediately applied to General Wayne for a messenger to be sent for them. One of these Indians as a guide and a white man were sent out.
Joseph had been adopted into the family of an old Indian warrior, named Mishalena, who had lost five sons in the war with the whites and had now no child left but one daughter, and yet he adopted this boy as his own, al- though the son of his enemies. Mr. Kelly said that the old warrior was one of the most kind and benevolent men he ever knew and had a noble and commanding appearance; he was now too old for war, but was in great favor with his tribe as an able counselor. His adopted mother's name was Pa- tepsa. She never accepted him with the hearty good will of Mishalena, but always gave him plenty to eat when she had it. Joseph was only six years old when captured, and was now eleven. Hle parted with his Indian parents and the boys of the tribe with great regret. He had lived with them so long in the wild freedom of the forest that he had forgotten his native language and al- most his former name. His Indian parents had given him the name Lala- que. They accompanied him to Green- ville, parting with him very reluctantly. As a parting gift, Mishalena presented him with a beautiful bow and arrow made with his own hands.
"On the arrival of the boy at the Fort, Colonel Meigs sent for the tailor and had him fitted out with warm woolen dresses after the fashion of the whites and the blanket and leggins were
laid aside. Joseph's mother had des- cribed the boy's hair, eyes and looks so accurately that at the first glimpse Col- one! Meigs picked him out. The Indian interpreter soon confirmed his opinion by talking with him in the Shawanoe dialect. On being questioned he re- membered the names of his brothers and his own name. Colonel Meigs was satisfied that he was the lost son of the sorrowing widow, who for the whole period of his absence never omitted him in her daily prayers or sat down to the table with her children without men- tioning his name. So anxious was Col- onel Meigs to restore the boy to his bereaved mother that he started in February across the swamps and path- less forest for Marietta. A young, active Shawanoe Indian named ' Throm' guided the party, which consisted of six soldiers, Colonel Meigs and the boy, with six horses, and they passed through the wilderness without deviation and struck the Muskingum River at Big Rock, a noted Indian land mark.
"The party reached Marietta early in March, and the fervent and oft re- peated prayer of the widow for the restoration of her lost son was at length answered, to the great joy and thank- fulness of Colonel Meigs, by whose un- wearied exertions it had been accom- plished."
Mr. Jones removed with his parents to Wolf Creek in Deerfield Township in 1816 and started life in the wilder- ness upon the farm known in later years as the " John Trainer farm." He was the oldest son, and many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life fell upon him. Ilis father was a carpenter by trade, knew but little about farming. and besides had purchased his land on payments ; and it required the greatest
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
care and industry to provide for the family and meet his payments. Mr Jones' father brought the first sheep that came to the neighborhood, and it became a part of the daily routine duties of James to guard them from the wolves through the day and pen them at night in a pen prepared so high and tight that wolves could not get at them.
Mills at that time were poor and far apart, and young Jones was mill-boy for the family. The first few years his father had no team except oxen, and the roads were only paths through the forests. Young Jones would often take a bag of corn, tie it on the yoke and mount the near ox and go several miles to mill. On one occassion he went to a horse-mill near Porterville, and after waiting all day got his bag of meal and started for home. When near the place afterward known as the Stone House, a pack of wolves followed him quite a distance, barking and howling like demons ; but mounted upon his ox with a good whip he bravely made the trip home in the night. On another occa- sion, a few years latter, he took a bag of wheat upon a horse and went to the White Mills near Windsor. On his re- turn just at night, being hungry he stopped at the orchard of Colonel Stone, below Malta, and when out of sight some mischievous person concealed his horse. Supposing the horse had got loose, he ran to Malta and there found the horse had not passed through town. He returned and found his horse tied where he had left him. Col. Stone had made the mischievous person, who proved to be his daughter, return the horse. This trip involved a ride of over thirty miles, a good part of the way through the forest and along mere
paths. There were no free schools in that day and Mr. Jones only had an opportunity to learn reading, writing and spelling in the schools he did at- tend. His eldest sister taught one of the first schools in the neighborhood on the subscription plan, for which she was to have fifty cents per week and " board among the scholars." A few years later, when she got one dollar per week she was considered very fortunate. The first money Mr. Jones earned after he became of age was in chopping wood at Thomas Stone's salt works at eight dollars permonth. Afterward he took the place of kettle tender at ten dollars per month and put in regularly eighteen hours per day.
In 1836 he fitted out a small trading boat and loaded it with flour, potatoes, dried apples and peaches, beans and other products. He ran it down the Ohio, and after selling out, went on to New Orleans. This trip paid him very well and gave him a start in business Ile made a second trip in 1837, and after his return, bought the farm in Deerfield Township now owned by George Mar- tin. In 1842 he married Mary Whit- aker and continued to live on the farm until 1866. He has been industrious, temperate and frugal, and as a conse- quence has been successful in business. In the last named year he moved to McConnelsville, where he still resides. Hle had two daughters and one son, a promising lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, who died in 1882. The daughters re- side in McConnelsville, one the wife of Jolm L. Cochran and the other with her parents. Mr. Jones was admitted to the practice of the law in 1870, but his principal business since 1866 has been the loaning of money. At present he is the president of the First National
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M'CONNELSVILLE.
Bank of McConnelsville and one of the heaviest taxpayers of the county.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM DAVIS.
Captain William Davis was born in Bedford County, Pa., December, 14, 1817, and came to Zanesville, Ohio, with his father in the summer of 1835. He began his career as a steam- boatman in his twentieth year as a deck hand on a Zanesville and Dresden packet, and from that humble position he worked his way to a competency, filling every position from a deck hand to a commander. In 1838 he shipped as second cook on the steamer " Tusca- rawas," plying between Zanesville and Dresden. On this boat he filled the positions of cook, pilot, fireman and engineer. The "Tuscarawas" becom- ing incapacitated by age, he became first engineer on the "John McIntyre." By close application to his duties and rigid economy he saved a little money, and by the aid of a friend he built and ran the steamer " Ohio" in the Dresden trade, and was quite successful. After the " Ohio" had become aged he took an interest in the steamer "Zanesville No. 1," acting as captain, clerk, pilot or engineer as occasion required. After- ward he built the steamer " Freighter," which he ran as a Zanesville, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati packet. Ile afterward took the vessel into the Upper Missis- sippi trade, when he sold her. Return- ing to Zanesville he became part owner in the "Zanesville No. 2," which he commanded, and which was run as a tri-weekly packet between Dresden and McCounelsville. Hle next, in connection with Captain Edward Martin and the late Captain C. C. Morgan, built and ran the " Mink No. 1," between Me- Connelsville and Zanesville. He com-
manded this boat for six years, when his partner, Captain Morgan, took his place. In 1865 Captain Davis, Morgan and Martin formed a copartnership under the name of "The Muskingum Packet Company." Under Captain Davis' superintendency they built the "Mink No. 2," which is still running. They bought and ran the " J. H. Best." Afterward they built the " Lizzie Cas- sel" and the "Olivette."
The " Mink No. 1," "Mink No. 2." the " Lizzie Cassel" and the " Olivette" were built under Captain Davis' super- intendency, and attest his skill and competency in the building of steamers. In December of 1884 he retired from the command of the "Cassel " and in the following March sold his interest in the packets to Captains Morgan and Martin. This was the ending of a business career extending through a period of nearly half a century, during which time he had been a conspicuous personage on the Muskingmin and Ohio Rivers, and had enjoyed a degree of popularity among his associates and the traveling public seldom attained. He was remarkable for his kindness and good nature, and a thorough gen- tleman in every sense of the word. His success was dne largely to indus- try, sterling honesty and his intimate knowledge of the business in which he was engaged. In 1849 Captain Davis was married to Mrs. Emily Bucking- ham in Washington, Pa., who still sur- vives him. His decease occurred at his home in MeConnelsville, January 22. 1885.
CAPTAIN CARLETON C. MORGAN.
Carleton C. Morgan, one of the pio- neer steamboatmen of the Muskingum River, was born at Preston, Chenango
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY, OHIO.
County, N. Y., July 17, 1810. His father, Diodate Morgan, was of Welsh descent, and was born in New London, Conn., January 23, 1785. He was mar- ried in 1809 to Miss Lncy Church, and to their care was given a family of ten children, eight daughters and two sons, the subject of this biography being the eldest. From Connecticut he emigrated with his family to New York, and from thence to Johnstown, Licking County, Ohio, September, 1825, where he re- sided the greater part of his time until his decease, which occurred May 24, 1881, at the remarkable age of ninety- six years. He was a man of powerful physique, and possessed of a generous amount of sterling good sense. He gave his children all the educational ad- vantages within his power, and all re- ceived good educations. Carleton C. being the eldest of the family he began to assume the responsibilities of life at a very early age. In a letter to a cousin written when he was in his fourteenth year, and while his father was suffering from reverse of fortune, he says : "We live in a world of disappointment, and I must bear my part. Once there were many flattering prospects, but they have passed by, and though everything now looks dark I hope we may live to see better times." A year later he was at work on the excavation of the Ohio Canal at Newark at eight dollars per month, and in another letter he says : "I am cold, wet and sleepy. My head aches so that I am almost insensible to every- thing around me. My clothes are worn, and I have no money to obtain more."
Such were his youthful experiences, and perhaps the hardships of his youth made him better fitted for the work which came to him in after life. The time for several succeeding years was
spent upon his father's farm, where the summer's work was alternated by a term at the district school in winter. An active mind and a retentive memory enabled him to lay by a fund of infor- mation to which he continued to make additions as long as he lived. In 1836 he found employment as a stage driver from Sunbury to Delaware, and in the latter part of this year he writes his parents that " he was at work on a canal boat." This was the initial effort in the business in which he was afterward so success- fully engaged. Two years later he was in command of a boat. His persever- ance and integrity had met with de- served success, and for a time his affairs were in a very prosperous condition; but through the perfidy of an associate the results of his patient industry and frugality were lost. To him, however, "defeat was not conquest."
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