History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 34

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : L.H. Watkins
Number of Pages: 709

USA > Ohio > Noble County > History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 34

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IM Shaklee

LT. COL. F. M. SHAKLEE.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R L

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a native of Pennsylvania, who is still living. Mr. Paxton was a man of strong talent, ready wit and gener- ous nature. Ile was in Louisiana in 1860, when the vote was carried to tear down the old flag upon the cap- itol, and witnessed the raising of the first rebel flag in that State. He has- tened north and was soon enlisted for the great contest. IIe served in the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry as quartermaster for a term of three months, and at its expiration in August, 1861, returned to Mari- etta and recruited a regiment from the border counties of Ohio, which entered the service as the Second Virginia Cavalry. He was commis- sioned heutenant-colonel of the regi- ment, Sept. 16, 1861, and on the resignation of Colonel William M. Bolles, was made colonel July 18, 1862. Ile proved a bold, persevering and dashing leader, and was spoken of in the highest terms by his fellow officers and his command. He left the service in 1863, and after the war ended was heartily in favor of " bury- ing the past."

CAPTAINS WILLIAM L., JOHN M. AND H. II. MOSELEY. - Captain William I .. Moseley was born in Barnesville, Belmont County, Oct. 23, 1826. The following year the family removed to Summerfield, where they found but one family - that of James W. Shankland. Here the elder Moseley resided until 1839, when he removed to a farm in the immediate vicinity. Ile removed to Enoch in 1843, and died in Cambridge in 1880. Ile kept a hotel in Caldwell for quite a time, and was extensively known as a man

of strict integrity and great energy. Ile had a family of seven children, of whom only three are now living - W. L., II. II. and Martha M. (Askey). In 1846 William L. was married to Miss Jane, daughter of James Hesson, one of the pioneers of Enoch Township, and soon after set- tled in Middleburg, where he fol- lowed his trade - that of a carpenter - until 1862, when he received from Governor Todd a recruiting commis- sion. In company with Colonel Teet- ers he enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment. He was mustered into the service as second lieutenant. The regiment was attached to the command of General Crook's, and did service in West Virginia and the Valley cam- paigns. The captain was with his company.in all the battles and skir- inishes in which it was engaged until the battle of Opequan, where he was severely wounded. Soon after he was promoted to first lieutenant and to captain in February, 1864. Ile was in command of a company, however, during the campaigns of 1864. One noteworthy fact in con- nection with the military history of this family is that there were but three sons, and that all were in com- mand of Noble County organizations. John M. was captain of the first com- pany that went from Noble County (I, 25th). Ile died at Cheat Moun- tain, in 1861. Had he lived he would no doubt have distinguished himself, as he was a brave officer. Henry was sergeant of the same company, and after the death of his brother took command. He was taken pris-

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oner at Gettysburg on the first day of that battle, and confined in Lib- bey ; thence removed to Charleston, S. C., where, with other officers, he was placed under the fire of Union war vessels during the siege. From Charleston he was removed to Mil- len, Ga. Ilere he attempted his es- cape. In company with Lieutenant Roach and a captain of a battery, they passed through almost ineredi- ble hardships. and when so near Sherman's army that they could hear the bugle calls, they were recaptured and taken to Columbia, S. C. Twice again he made the effort to escape. On one occasion he got his comrades to bury him in the sand just previous to the removal of the prisoners, but through the perfidy of an Illinois captain, his hiding place was re- vealed, and he was again closely guarded. His last attempt - which was successful - was made while they were being taken to Charlotts- ville. The train stopped in a swamp; he jumped from the train, took to the swamp, and through the kind- ness of a negro was concealed and cared for until the arrival of Sher- man's army. He was a prisoner for twenty-one months. He now resides in Orville, Wayne County. After the close of the war William L. re- turned to his home, and in 1870 was elected treasurer of the county, and in 1872 was re elected. Ile served the people with credit. During Haves' administration he was ap- pointed to a position in the Navy Department, where he remained three years. IIe now resides upon a farm near Dexter City. As a soldier,

official and citizen, Captain Moseley has met all the requirements of each position. Throughout the county he is known as one of its valued citizens and a gentleman of unimpeachable character.

CAPTAIN JOSEPH PURKEY was born in Sharon, Noble County, Ohio, Feb- ruary 20, 1836. He came of a robust German family, noted for their strength. indomitable courage, and deep religious convictions. In the early days they built a church and school house of logs, which for nearly a century was known by their name.

Captain Purkey here resided until 1850, when he removed with his par- ents to Iowa, where the elder Purkey died of cholera, devolving the care of his widowed mother and his younger brothers and sisters upon himself. Eager for education, and seeing no prospect for it in the West, he re- turned to Ohio with the family, and settling upon a farm undertook the support of his almost helpless charge and the acquisition of the rudiments of an education. In 1856 he entered Sharon College, and there remained as a student. alternately teaching, laboring on the farm, and attending college until August 12, 1862, when he enlisted in Company II, One Hun- dred and Sixteenth, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was chosen orderly sergeant of the company, the duties of which office he discharged with satisfaction of his officers until the battle of Piedmont, Va., where he was severely wounded, taken prison- er, and started off for Andersonville. While passing through North Caro- lina he was again severely wounded

W. L. Moseley CAPT. W. L.MOSELEY.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

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while endeavoring to effect his escape. He was re-captured, and confined in Andersonville for eight weary months. Ile finally succeeded in eluding the vigilance of the guards, made good his escape and returned to the Union army, more dead than alive.

After recuperating his health at home he returned to his command with the rank of second lieutenant, and took part in the final struggle which culminated in Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Soon after, he was made first lieutenant and brevet cap- tain for "gallant conduct in the field." He was a brave soldier, and wears his scars and promotions with becoming modesty to this day. In October, of 1862, during a short absence from his regiment, he mar- ried Miss Augusta, daughter of James Canaday, of the old Globe IIotel, where he was a guest in his college days, and where their courtship ripened into love. The union has been indeed a happy one, surrounded by an interesting group of intelligent children, in whom Captain Purkey takes pardonable pride.

Returning home at the close of the war, he commenced the study of the law with the Hon. W. II. Frazier. After his admission to the bar he removed to Cumberland, Ohio, where for the past eighteen years he has prosecuted his profession with suc- cess, at the same time managing large agricultural interests and holding the humble but honorable office of justice of the peace.

A good scholar, a brave soldier, a successful lawyer and magistrate; a

genuine gentleman of the old school, respected and trusted by all who know him, the life of Captain Purkey furnishes to the young another ex- ample so frequently seen in American life of what industry and pluck will accomplish without regard to the adverse circumstances of early life.

CAPTAIN I. C. PHILLIPS was born in West Virginia, April 5, 1837. In 1844 the family moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, and the following year came to what is now Noble County. ILis youth and early man- hood were spent upon the farm and as clerk in a dry goods store. August 13, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany E, Thirty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and upon the organization of the regiment was made orderly sergeant. Ile participated in the numerous scouts and skirmishes of the regiment during the winter of 1861 and 1862; was in the battle of Louisburgh, and accompanied his command when ordered east to rein- force General Pope. He was pres- ent at the second battle of Manassas, and was engaged in the battle of South Mountain and Antietam. The regiment was then ordered to join General Rosecrans, at Nashville, Tenn. January 18, 1883, he was promoted to second lieutenant and transferred to Company F, which he commanded at the battles of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. At the latter engagement his regi- ment formed a part of the column which stormed the Ridge. During the fight some of the enemy's artil- lery was being drawn down the eastern slope of the Ridge. Captain

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Phillips with a squad captured the guns and drew them back to posi- tion. After this battle the regiment veteranized and returned home on a furlough, at the expiration of which they returned to West Virginia, and on the 9th of May fought the battle of Cloyd Mountain, Phillips being in command of his company.

He joined General Hunter at Staunton, Va., and participated in the assault upon the outworks of Lynchburg and endured the suffer- ings of that disastrous retreat to the Kanawha Valley. The command . were compelled to march day and night without sleep or rations for more than one hundred miles, and were harassed by the enemy's cav- alry until the mountain passes were reached.

July 24, 1864, the battle of Kerns- town was fought, Company F losing twenty-two men of sixty-one who went into the fight. September 3, 1864, the battle of Berryville was fought. In this engagement Cap- tain Phillips was severely wounded. December 30, 1864, he was promoted to first lieutenant, and to captain January 20, 1865. Ilis wounds in- capacitated him for active service and he was honorably discharged by order of the War Department, Jan. 23, 1865.

During the time Captain Phillips was a member of the regiment he participated in fifty-two battles and skirmishes, never missing a march nor an engagement. After his re- turn from the service the captain engaged in merchandising in Sum- merfield, where he remained until his

removal to Caldwell, in 1880. In 1870 he married Miss Ella, daugh- ter of Stephen Wilson.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM T. BIEDENHARN, merchant, of Harriettsville, is among the leading business men of the county. He was born in Batesville, Noble County, in 1840. In his boy- hood he acted as a clerk in a store at Louisville, Monroe County. August 11, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Six- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Captain Arcknoe), and served until discharged by order of the War De- partment, June 11, 1865. Entering as a private, he was chosen orderly sergeant ; promoted second lieuten- ant June 15, 1863; promoted first lieutenant January 12, 1865; and "for gallant and meritorious service " was brevetted captain to rank from March 13, 1865. Ile served as aide-de- camp and acting adjutant-general on the staffs of Lieutenant-Colonel Wells, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts ; Colonel Thomas F. Wildes, One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio; Major Potter, Thirty-fourth Massachusetts, and Colonel William S. Lincoln, Thirty- fourth Massachusetts. He was with the regiment in all its engagements except one (Hilltown), and was a gallant soldier and good officer, as the record shows. After the war he came to Ilarriettsville, where he has been engaged in the mercantile busi- ness since August 21, 1865. He has been extensively engaged in tobacco packing ever since he came to the place ; first as a member of the firm of Miles & Biedenharn until 1884, and since alone. As many as 225 hogs-

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heads of tobacco have been packed in a single year by the above firm. Of late years the business has been less extensive. Captain Biedenharn was married in 1882, to Fannie Dav- enport, of Washington County. They have one child - George Frederick.

thought to be a false alarm. A few hours later the general learned that Lieutenant Engler's statement was correct, and had his report been ac- cepted and acted upon, the present debatable question as to whether the Union forces were on that occasion taken by surprise would not exist, and many valuable lives would have been saved. As soon as the facts were known he was released, and in that great battle he wiped out by his conspicuous bravery every vestige of the undeserved stigma. At this

LIEUT. CHARLES J. ENGLER. John 1 Engler came from Susquehanna County, Pa., with his family in 1832 to Caldwell, where he remained un- til 1842, when he removed to a farm near Macksburg. He followed his trade, that of a wagon-maker, in connection with farming, until age , time the papers had been forwarded compelled him to retire. IIe is still to headquarters recommending his promotion to a first lieutenancy, but on the receipt of the information that he had been arrested, and with no knowledge of the facts, they were destroyed. Some time afterward, however, slight reparation was made . by his appointment as second lieu- tenant of his company. He followed the fortunes of his regiment, and was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Fallen Timber, Mark's Mills, Little Arkansas, Little Missouri River and other minor engagements. In April of 1864, he received a first lieuten- ant's commission, and in December of that year was mustered out of the service, his term of enlistment hav- ing expired. Ilis brother Joseph was in Company D, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in all the battles in which the Forty- second was engaged. In 1865 Charles J. was married to Miss Mar- garet C. Keller. They have two children - Burt M. and Mary C. living in Macksburg, at the good old age of seventy-nine; his wife died in 1875, aged seventy-seven ; both were Methodists in their religious belief. To them were born a family of eight children-Elizabeth, William S., Jo- seph T., Lydia M., John G., Charles J., Nancy J., and. David II. John died in the service. He belonged to Company B, Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Ile was taken prisoner at Mark's Mills, Ark., April 8, 1864. He died a prisoner of war. . Charles J. was born in Noble County in 1839. Nov. 22, 1861, he became a member of the same company. He distinguished himself at the battle of Shiloh, and at the same time suffered a great injustice from one of those accidental matters to which soldiers as well as every one else are liable. The night preceding the battle he was sergeant of the guard, and re- ported the enemy advancing in force. The report was carried to General Sherman, who, disbelieving it, ordered LIEUTENANT HENRY CLINEDINST, his arrest, for causing what he I son of Adam and Julia A. Cline-

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dinst, was born in York County, Pa., January 16, 1840, and came to this county with the family when three years of age. He was raised on a farm and in July of 1861 entered the three months' service. At the expiration of his term of en- listment he returned to his home, and upon the organization of the Seventy-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry he re-enlisted in this regiment and became corporal of Company B. Ile soon rose to first sergeant, and was finally made first lieutenant of his company. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Fallen Timber, Little Rock, Ark., Marks Mills, and other lesser engagements. At the battle of Mark's Mills he was severely wounded in the foot, from which he never fully recovered, al- though he remained with his com- mand until mustered out of the service in the autumn of 1864. A braver heart than that of Lieutenant Clinedinst never beat under a blue coat. IIe did his whole duty un- flinchingly and without a murmur. He possessed all the requirements of an officer and was better qualified to command than many of his superior officers. His bravery and integrity were never questioned, and he was said to have been one of the best soldiers in the service. IIe was twice married. Ilis first wife, Miss Almira Warren, to whom he was united in 1866, died the following year. Ilis second wife was Miss Jane M., daughter of Samuel and Marrilla Ilussey. By this union there were three children-Mary E., Samuel HI. and Adam B. She died

in 1877, aged twenty-nine years. After his first marriage he settled on a farm, where he died in 1874, aged thirty four years.

FREEMAN C. THOMPSON was born in Washington County, Pa., February 25, 1846. In the autumn of 1854 the family removed to Noble County and settled in Stock Township. Shortly after he had passed his six- teenth birthday he enlisted as a private in Company F, One Hundred and Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry, and although but a mere boy he was with the regiment in all its marches, skirmishes and bat- tles, and on many occasions he evi- denced a degree of bravery and coolness under fire that would have done credit to a veteran. In the assault on Fort Gregg, April 2, 1865. he distinguished himself for his pluck and daring. In this engage- ment (which General Grant in his Memoirs says " was the most desper- ate that was seen at any time in the East ") through a perfect tornado of grape and cannister, he and his com- rades reached the last ditch. How to scale the parapet was a question requiring only a moment for solu- tion. Using each other as ladders they commenced the ascent. Al- most at the top one was shot and fell back into the ditch. Thompson was struck twice with a musket, and fell into the ditch with several ribs broken, but in a short time was again on the top of the parapet fighting with muskets loaded and handed him by his comrades below. Soon the advantage was taken possession of, and the whole

Henry H. Clineelement

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR. LEXAX AND

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army swept in, and the fort was ours. In appreciation of this, " the greatest feat of personal heroism re- corded during the war," Congress voted the "gallant thirteen " med- als of honor. The order under which Mr. Thompson's medal was bestowed is as follows :

WAR DEP'T, ADJ'T.GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, May 9, 1865. Corporal F. C. Thompson, Co. F, 116th O .: Herewith I enclose a medal of honor to be presented to you under resolution of Congress for distinguished service at Fort Gregg. By order of the Secretary of War.

Very respectfully, E. D. TOWNSEND, A. A. G.

Thompson participated in the closing events of the war, and wit- nessed the surrender of the Confed- erate army at Appomattox. He was one of the number selected to carry the rebel flags surrendered by Gen- eral Lee to Washington. They were conveyed by special steamer and were received by the Secretary of War with great ceremony. Hle took them each by the hand, and in lan- guage which evidenced his sincerity and gratitude, he thanked them for the great service they had done their country.

On the muster out of his regiment he returned to his home. He had not at this time attained his major- ity although for three long years he had been fighting his country's bat- tles. In 1875 he was elected sheriff of the county, and upon the expira- tion of his term was re-elected. In 1866 he was married to Miss Mary Archer. She died in 1879, and in 1883 he was again married to Miss Amanda Archer, a cousin of his first

wife. By the first marriage there were six children, only two of whom, Clara and Frank, are living; by the second, two- Lulu and IIugh.

CAPTAIN JOHN BROWN, an officer of the Ninety-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was a Scotch- man by birth, and emigrated to this country when he was about eighteen years of age. He was an industrious and honorable gentleman, identifying himself with all the moral and secu- lar interests of the communities in which he was located. When the storm of war broke over his adopted country, it found him an outspoken and staunch patriot, ready to help in any way to preserve the life and unity of the Republic. In 1862 he aided in the raising of a company here at Summerfield that united with other companies at Camp Marietta, forming the Ninety-second Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry. The company was called Company D, of which he was elected first lieutenant; and in June, 1863, was promoted to the captaincy of Company H of the same regi- iment. He was a splendid officer, beloved by all his men, ready to share with his men in all the hardships and dangers of an army life in active service. While gallantly leading his company on the dreadful field of Chickamauga, September 19, 1863, he was wounded in the heel or ankle; at the time no thoughts were enter- tained but that he would get well. Ile was taken back to Nashville, where, unexpectedly to almost all, he died on the 5th of October. His re- mains were brought back to Sum- merfield, October 10, 1863, and

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buried in the old cemetery on the hill.

LIEUTENANT WILLIAM R. KIRK Was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1835, and came to Sarahsville in 1854. In 1862 he enlisted as private in Company E, Ninety-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. By virtue of his unimpeachable record as a soldier

he rose from a private to the lieu- tenancy of his company. His regi- ment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in all the notable battles in which it was engaged. He was mustered out with his company at the close of the war, and returned to his home in Sarahsville, where he now resides.

CHAPTER XVI.

CALDWELL.

THE ORIGIN OF THE TOWN - THE SELECTON OF ITS SITE AS THE COUNTY SEAT IN 1834 - DONATION BY SAMUEL CALDWELL - SURVEY OF THE TOWN PLAT - ADDITIONS - THE CONTROVERSY OVER THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION DELAYS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWN - SALE OF LOTS IN 1857 -THE ERECTION OF THE COURT HOUSE - FIRST BUILD INGS ERECTED - THE FIRST STORES - FIRST SETTLERS - MERCANTILE AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS - LIST OF INHABITANTS IN 1862 - THE VILLAGE IN ITS EARLY YEARS- THE CONTRAST WHICH THE PRESENT OFFERS - IMPROVEMENTS - BUSINESS -THE NOBLE COUNTY BANK - CALDWELL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION - THE CALDWELL WOOLEN FACTORY - FLOURING MILL -- THE PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING - BUSINESS MEN OF TO-DAY - INCORPORATION AND VILLAGE OFFICERS - CHURCHES AND SOCIETIES - CALDWELL FAIR ASSOCIATION - PERSONAL SKETCHES.

A S is recorded in a previous chap- containing a trifle over five acres Although the tract was duly sur- veved in the year 1854, the legal controversy that ensued regarding 1 the location of the county seat, de- layed the establishment of the town for three years. December 6, 1854, the county commissioners passed two orders in reference to this tract, the first authorizing Ezra McKee to cause it to be surveved into streets ter, the town owes its origin entirely to the selection of its site as the location of the county seat. After the vote on the question of re- location was taken in 1854, Samuel Caldwell gave bond to the county commissioners to donate for the use of the county a certain specified tract of land in the northeast quarter of section 3, Olive Township, said tract being twenty-eight rods in ; and lots, about two and a half acres width by twenty-nine in length, and | being reserved as a public square,

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and the second as follows: "Re- solved, second, that the name of the town ordered to be surveyed be Cald- well."

The name adopted was very ap- propriate, it being the name of the owner of the land on which the town was to be located, who was the son of the first settler in the neigh- borhood.

Caldwell is too young to possess a remarkable history. Founded in 1857, its growth was very slow until within recent years. In 1860 its popu- lation was probably not over 125; ten years later, the census gave it 318 inhabitants. During the next decade the increase was more rapid, the town having been reached by the railroad, in 1872, and the cen- sus of 1880 showed that 602 persons were residents of the town. Since 1880 the population has nearly, if not quite, doubled.

The town of Caldwell was sur- veyed and platted December 20 and 21, 1854, by George Bell, deputy county surveyor, for the proprietors, Samuel and Joseph Caldwell. The original plat con- sisted of forty-eight lots, and em- braced eleven and one-half acres, including the public square. Numer- ous additions have since been made, as follows: Samuel Cald- well's first addition (lots 49 to 57), surveyed by George Bell, June 26, 1857; ditto, second addition (lots 57 to 83), surveyed by C. Burlingame, October 1, 1859; John W. Caldwell's first addition (lots 83 to 91), surveyed by IIenry Miller, March 23, 1868; Joseph

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History of Noble County, Ohio: With Portraits and Biographical Sketches of some of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 34

Author: Publication date: 1887 Publisher: Chicago : L.H. Watkins Number of Pages: 709

Author:
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Chicago : L.H. Watkins
Number of Pages: 709