History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 111

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923

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Benjamin Metzger and wife were both na- tives of Washington township, where they were reared and married. In 1857 they re- moved to Pickaway township, settling on the famous Pickaway Plains. Benjamin Metzger was a man of excellent business capacity and became possessed of 900 acres of land. He

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met death by accidental drowning in the Scioto River in June, 1868. Of his children these survive : John; Benjamin, of Circleville; Elizabeth, widow of Michael Henry, residing at Williamsport; Andrew, of Wayne town- ship; Abraham, of Circleville township; all the above being children of his marriage with Mary Zeimer. The surviving children of his second marriage are : Catherine, wife of John Shaner, of Colorado; Joseph, of Walnut town- ship; and Samuel, of Jackson township. Ben- jamin Metzger was one of the representative men of Pickaway township. His father, John Metzger, came to Ohio from Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1804, and was one of the first settlers in Washington township; he re- moved, late in life, to Allen. County, Indiana, and died there in 1857.

John Metzger, the subject of this sketch, grew to maturity in Washington township, from boyhood assisting in the agricultural work carried on extensively on the home farm. He attended the log schoolhouses which were the best then provided in his neighborhood, and received good elementary training which later life and experience with men and affairs cleveloped into well-informed citizenship. Dur- ing the Civil War he was a member of the Ohio State militia and was commissioned a captain by the Governor, and in this capacity assisted in repelling the Morgan raiders.

Mr. Metzger married Maria Terwilliger, who was born in Wayne township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and died May 28, 1893. She was a daughter of David Terwilliger, formerly one of the leading men of Wayne township and one of its early settlers. Of the family of children born to Mr. and Mrs. Metzger, these survive: John W., of Detroit, Michi- gan : and Mary B., Lulu M. and Ralph M., all living at home. The mother of these chil- dren was a consistent member of the Metho- clist Episcopal Church.

Politically Mr. Metzger has always been identified with the Democratic party but has never taken any active part beyond exercising his rights of citizenship. He is well known throughout the township and enjoys the es- teem of his fellow-citizens.

OL. ELIAS FLORENCE was one of e the most widely known and popu- lar men of Pickaway County for a generation or more after 1828, when his public career began, and for the greater part of his lifetime was one of the most extensive landowners, owning about 5,500 acres in Muhlenberg and adjoining townships. He was born in Fauquier County, Virginia, February 15, 1797, the son of Will- iam and Fanny (Robinson) Florence, both born and raised in Virginia, who emigrated to Ohio in 1806, on the 9th of April of that year. William Florence was one of the first commis- sioners of Pickaway County, was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1816 and 1817, and was associate judge of the courts of the county two terms, commencing in 1828. Judge Florence lived to a great old age, 96 years, dying at his home near Darby- ville, in 1870.

Elias Florence received a common-school education, such as the neighborhood in his boyhood afforded. He started in life as a farmer and became largely engaged in cattle feeding, driving them to New York and Phila- delphia markets. At his hospitable home, he entertained royally and his friends were legion. From 1820 to 1837, he was colonel of a regi- ment of the State militia. In 1829 and 1830. Colonel Florence was elected Representative in the General Assembly; was again elected in 1834; in 1835 was elected to the State Senate, and in 1840 was returned as Representative; in 1842, was elected to Congress, defeating the Democratic candidate, William Medill, ot Fairfield County, who was afterward Gov- ernor of Ohio. Colonel Florence was defeated for re-election to Congress in 1844 and retired from, official position until 1850 when he was chosen to represent the county in the conven- tion, which formed the State Constitution of 1851. On March 26, 1818, Colonel Florence married Elizabeth Radcliffe, of Kentucky. They had eight children, all of whom he sur- vived, except his daughter, Mrs. Mary Scott. He survived his wife many years, dying in 1881.

The kindness of Colonel Florence in as-

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sisting others financially, by going security for large amounts, wrecked his handsome es- tate years before his death.

HOMAS J. WINSHIP was one of the men of prominence and force, politi- cally and in every way, in Pickaway County in the '30's and '40's. He was the son of Winn Winship, who came from Virginia to Chillicothe, Ohio, about 1800, when Thomas was an infant. He there grew to manhood and studied medicine, afterwards locating on a farm near Leistville, Pickaway County, where for many years he gave his attention to farming and stock breed- ing. He was one of the most popular men in the county; was elected Representative in the General Assembly, as a Democrat, in 1835, 1836 and 1838. In 1835 the county was en- titled to two Representatives, and Mr. Win- ship defeated William B. Thrall, then editor of the Circleville Herald, the Whig paper. Samuel Lutz ( Whig) was elected as Mr. Win- ship's colleague, both members elected resid- ing in Salt Creek township. The election of Mr. Winship as Representative, in 1836, gave the Democrats the majority of the Legislature in joint session, and elected William Allen to the United States Senate, the first time, by one vote. In 1845 Mr. Winship was appointed by President Polk, to be register of the U. S. Land Office, at Chillicothe, which he held for some years. In 1854, he moved to Jackson County, Missouri, dying at Independence, the old county seat, August 3. 1876, in his 78th year. He was a gentleman of the old school, and of varied acquirements.

His son, Edwin E. Winship, has been a well-known resident of Circleville since 1863; served as county auditor from 1870 to 1875; as cashier of the Sergeant-at-Arms' office, of the House of Representatives, at Washington, D. C., from December, 1875. for six years : was cashier of the Second National Bank of Circleville over 15 years; and is now a mem- ber (and clerk) of the Board of Education of the city of Circleville and one of the trustees of the Pickaway County Children's Home.

ILLIAM INGHAM WOOD, one of the most progressive and wide- ly known farmers and stockmen of the county, was born on the "Woodland Farm," near Wil- liamsport, in 1854, and is a son of George and Hannah (Ingham) Wood, who came there from Chillicothe.

After being educated at the Williamsport school and the Greenway Institute, at Spring- field, Ohio, William began his active life as a farmer, soon having the management of nearly 1,800 acres of choice farming land. In a few years he also commenced the breeding of Shorthorn and Galloway cattle, concentrating his efforts after some years in the formation of a herd of Shorthorns. He has succeeded in securing one of the best herds in the country, having the purest strains of the thoroughbred. including importations from the herd of the famous Shorthorn breeder, William Duthie. of Scotland. Mr. Wood has had eight annual sales, held in May, at each of which he has disposed of a large number of choice animals at good prices, to stockmen from every section of the county. He has also been very success- ful in obtaining premiums when exhibiting his prize cattle at State, district and county fairs.

Mr. Wood and his sister, Mary M. Wood, who was maried to Joseph A. Shoedinger, of Columbus, on the 26th of April last, inherited from their deceased' parents 1,600 acres of the finest land in the county, which they ami- cably divided into equal parts nearly six months ago, Mr. Wood getting the part on which is the old Wood home. He was mar- ried on the 6th of June, 1906, to Mrs. Martha A. Hulse, of Jackson township.

TEUT .- COL. WILLIS WITTICH, U. S. Army, retired, is the son of G. F. and Henrietta ( Keffer) Wittich, born at Circleville, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1853. He was appointed, in the spring of 1870, by Hon. P. Van Trump, Member of Congress from the 12th Ohio District, to a ca- detship in the U. S. Military Academy at West

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Point, having graduated from the Circleville High School in March of that year. He passed the required examination for admission to the Military Academy and entered upon the four- years' course, graduating in June, 1874, and re- ceiving the commission of 2nd lieutenant. He was assigned to the 21st Infantry, Company F, then stationed at Fort Klamath, Oregon, and was on duty there and at other forts in the Western and Pacific States until 1892. In 1879 was promoted to Ist lieutenant of Com- pany B, and on July 18, 1890, was promoted to captain.

On September 20, 1892, Captain Wittich left Fort Randall, South Dakota, having been assigned to recruiting service in New York City. From 1895 to 1898 he was stationed at Plattsburg Barracks, New York. On April 18, 1898, started with the regiment for Tampa, Florida, and sailed from there June 14th for Cuba; he was in the battle near Santiago on July 3rd, in which his regiment (the 21st ) had 6 killed and 33 wounded. The regiment sailed for the United States on August 12th and arrived at Plattsburg Barracks, New York, September 15th. He remained there until July 14, 1899, when he was ordered to proceed to San Francisco, California, and thence to Ma- nila to join the 21st Regiment. He sailed from San Francisco, August 10th, on the "Morgan City," which struck a reef near the Island of Inoshima, Japan, at three o'clock a. m., Septem- ber 3rd. On the ship were 675 recruits under command of Major Wittich. In the afternoon the ship slid off the steep beach into deep water and proceeded on the way with all safe on board, arriving at Nagasaki, Japan, September Ioth ; four days later they sailed on the "Ohio," for Manila, arriving there on the 17th.

Major Wittich was in active service at points in the Philippines until June 13, 1900, when he was stricken with serious illness. On June 23rd he was given sick leave, being sent to San Francisco, where he arrived July 22nd. He was in the military hospital in that city un- til he was able to travel, being sent on Septem- ber IIth to Fort Adams, Newport, Rhode Island, where he remained until May, 1902. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, May 5, 1902. His health not improving, he was

retired on November 28, 1902. He is now liv- ing at Plattsburg, New York. He was mar- ried, on June 27, 1876, to Lillian Mearns, of Highland Falls, New York.

AMES R. HULSE was one of the early settlers in Jackson township, coming here from Orange County, New York, about 1810 or 1811, and on the 17th of May, 1812, marrying Rebecca Van Meter, of the neighborhood. An energetic, in- dustrious man, he was successful in farming and stock-raising, accumulating one of the largest properties in the county, owning at the time of his death, several thousand acres of land. It was written of him, that "as a man he was intelligent, quiet and upright in all his dealings, a man of decisive character, and sound judgment; few men ever possessed bet- ter business capacities; system, prudence and great care characterized all of his acts." Mr. Hulse was a Democrat in politics, and in 1853 was elected to represent the Franklin-Pick- away senatorial district on the Decennial State Board of Equalization. Mr. Hulse left three children by his first wife-Aristeus, Hephzi- bah and James R. Hulse, and two born to his second wife-Jonas T. and Effie Hulse, all de- ceased for a number of years. There are eight grandchildren now living.

OL. WILLIAM MARSHALL AN- DERSON was a widely known and greatly esteemed citizen of Pick- away County from 1853 until his death, January 7, 1881. He be- longed to a historic family, distinguished in the country and especially in the West.

His father, Col. Richard Clough Ander- son, a native of Hanover County, Virginia, served with great gallantry in the Revolution- ary War, and came out with the rank of colonel. In 1783 he was chosen by his brother officers and appointed by the Virginia Legis- lature, surveyor-general of the lands reserved for the Virginia continental line, and known as

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the Virginia Military District, which position he held until his death in 1826, at the age of 76 years. He was a member of the first elec- toral college in Kentucky, at the time of Wash- ington's second election, and several times a member of the Kentucky Legislature. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Clark, a sis- ter of Gen. George Rogers Clark, who was conspicuously prominent in the conquest and settlement of the States of Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, and a famous Indian fighter. By this wife he had five children, of whom one was Richard Clough Anderson, one of the most brilliant men Kentucky ever produced, serving in the Legislature, in Congress from 1817 to 1821, and as United States Minister to Bogota, where he died in 1826. His sec- ond wife was Sarah Marshall, of the illustrious Marshall family of Virginia and Kentucky, by whom he had 12 children, eight of whom were as follows : Mrs. Maria Latham, of Cin- cinnati, the wife of the late Allen Latham, formerly a resident of Chillicothe; Larz An- derson, of Cincinnati, who died in 1878; Gen. Robert Anderson, who was in command of Fort Sumter, when the Civil War began; Will- iam Marshall Anderson; Mrs. Judge Hall, who resided near Cincinnati; John Anderson, who was sheriff of Ross County, deceased in 1863; Charles Anderson, who was elected Lieutenant- Governor of Ohio in 1863, and was Governor for the unexpired term of Governor John Brough, who died in the summer of 1865, afterwards residing at Eddyville, Kentucky, where he died some years ago; and Mrs. Sarah J. Kendrick, of Cincinnati, also long since deceased.

William Marshall Anderson was born at a place known as "Soldiers' Retreat," in Jeffer- son County, Kentucky, near Louisville, June 24, 1807. When a boy he came with his sis- ter, Mrs. Latham, to Chillicothe, where he at- tended school, one of his schoolmates being the late Governor William Allen. Returning to Kentucky, he received a classical education at the Transylvania University, at Lexington, subsequently studied law, was admitted to the bar, and for a few years practiced with his brother Larz, in Louisville. In 1834, his health becoming impaired, he made a tour to the

Rocky Mountains, with Lieutenant Sublett, of St. Louis. He was married to Eliza A. Mc- Arthur, daughter of Governor Duncan Mc- Arthur, of Chillicothe, February 16, 1835. After a year's residence at Louisville, Ken- tucky, they removed to Chillicothe and Gov- ernor McArthur's health having broken down, Colonel Anderson managed his affairs until Governor McArthur's death three years there- after. Their home was at "Glen Mary," ad- jacent to Chillicothe, until 1853, when they came to Circleville, and a year or more there- after removed to the "Seven Oaks Farm" in Wayne township, Pickaway County, their por- tion of the McArthur estate, where Mrs. An- derson died September 2, 1855. She was the mother of 10 children, three of whom are now living : Gen. Thomas M. Anderson, U. S. A., retired, who commanded the first army corps sent to the Philippines; Lieut .- Col. Harry R. Anderson and Dr. Charles Anderson, of Santa Barbara, California. Colonel Anderson's sec- ond wife was Ellen C. Ryan, of Urbana, Ohio, who died in New York City, in May, 1898, leaving one son, Robert M. Anderson, who is an expert civil engineer in New York City.

In the spring of 1865, Coloned Anderson made a trip to Mexico, and remained there two years during the reign of Maximilian. He made a scientific tour of part of the country, had many perilous adventures, narrowly es- caped the Mexican assassin, and on his journey home' was seized with yellow fever, which came near resulting fatally. During his ab- sence his family removed to Circleville, where they resided at the time of his death.

The profession of law was not congenial to Colonel Anderson and he abandoned it for other pursuits. He was literary in his tastes, an accomplished scholar, a great reader, con- versant with the best authors, a good linguist, speaking the French and Spanish languages fluently, and possessed one of the best selected private libraries in the country, comprising many rare works. He was an art connoisseur, and an antiquarian, with a choice collection of relics, curiosities and minerals. He was a great lover of the beautiful in nature, familiar with ornithology, botany, horticulture and floricul- ture. He was an enthusiastic admirer of the

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high-bred horse, and for several years was a 'breeder of thoroughbreds. He was perfectly versed in the pedigrees and performances of noted horses, was an accepted authority upon such matters and a frequent contributor to stock and turf journals. He engaged in the business of farming for more than 25 years, having life tenure in nearly 1, 100 acres of land in Wayne township, which became the inher- itance of his first wife's children. He also had a large farm near Portsmouth, Ohio.

Colonel Anderson was never ambitious for political preferment. and refused positions of importance, only once consenting to be a candi- date for a political office-for State Senator in the Ross district, when there was no chance of election. He served as surveyor-general for a while after the death of his father. He was a member and president of the Board of Education of Circleville, from 1867 to 1870, and 1874 to 1876. in which capacity he de- voted much time and attention, and was greatly interested in the welfare of the schools. He also manifested special interest in the Circle- ville Public Library, and was one of the man- agers and president of the board for several years. He favored every necessary improve- ment for the public good, and aided as far as was in his power all projects for the ad- vancement of the community. The title of colonel bestowed unon him originated in an appointment on the staff of Governor Breathitt, of Kentucky, in 1832.

Colonel Anderson was converted to the Catholic religion in 1838, and continued earnest and devout in the faith, receiving the final sacraments of the church a few days previous to his death. Politically he was a zealous and unswerving Democrat, of the Jef- fersonian and Jacksonian school. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and his last for Winfield Scott Hancock, in 1880.

William Marshall Anderson was a polished, chivalrous gentleman at all times and places, and in his domestic and social relations was kind, hospitable and generous. He was a man of strict integrity, open. frank and true, and lived a blameless life. He was a genial com- panion, a charming conversationalist, possessed of a vast fund of information on all subjects,

rich in reminiscences and anecdotes, and al- ways entertaining. Affable and pleasant to every one, high or low, whether child or adult, he enjoyed the respect and esteem of an un- limited number of friends and acquaintances, and his death was sincerely lamented by all.

OMMANDER BURNS T. WALL- e ING. U. S. Navy, was born at Co- shocton, Ohio, February 4. 1855, the son of Ansel T. and Sarah E. Wall- ing. His parents located in Circle- ville in 1863.

He was appointed a cadet-midshipman at the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Mary- land. by Hon. Philadelph Van Trump, of Lan- caster, Ohio, then representing the 12th Ohio Congressional District, and entered the Naval Academy on June 5, 1872, returning temporar- ily to graduate from the Circleville High School on June 20th of that year. In June, 1876, he was graduated as midshipman from the Naval Academy, standing fourth in a class of 42.

In December, 1876, Midshipman Walling joined the U. S. S. "Vandalia," stationed in the Mediterranean, and remained attached to that vessel until she was put out of commission at Boston in January, 1879, having been in the meanwhile promoted to the grade of ensign in September, 1877.

In June, 1879. Ensign Walling joined the U. S. S. "Powhatan," flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, and remained on duty on board that vessel until June. 1881. In No- vember, 1881, he joined the U. S. S. "Ranger," Pacific Station, and assisted in the survey of the Pacific Coast of Mexico and Central Amer- ica, between Mazatlan and Panama, until Sep- tember, 1884, when he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, junior grade.

In February, 1885, Lieutenant Walling joined the U. S. receiving ship "Vermont," at the New York Navy Yard, for recruiting duty and remained until the end of March. 1886. Early in April. 1886. he joined the U. S. coast survey schooner "Scoresby" as senior assistant, for the survey of natural oyster beds, and in- struction in oyster culture, for the State of

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North Carolina. In the September following he joined the U. S. S. "Essex," which ship proceeded to the China Station via the Suez Canal. He remained on duty on board the "Essex" until June, 1887, when he joined the U. S. S. "Brooklyn," flagship of the China Station, remaining on duty on that vessel until August, 1888, when he was transferred back to the "Essex," arriving via the Suez Canal at New York in April, 1889. In August, 1889, he was again ordered to recruiting duty on board the "Vermont," at the New York Navy Yard, but was detached in the December fol- lowing and ordered as one of the instructors in the department of physics and chemistry at the U. S. Naval Academy, remaining as such un- til September, 1892, at which time he was or- dered as a member of the class for instruction at the U. S. Naval War College, Newport. Rhode Island. In March, 1890, he was pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant.

In December, 1892, Lieutenant Walling joined the U. S. S. "Kearsarge" (which fought the famous battle with the Confederate cruiser "Alabama" off Cherbourg, France, in 1864), and in July, 1893, was a member of the class for automobile torpedo instruction at Newport, rejoining the ship in August. On the 2nd of February, 1894, Lieutenant Walling was wrecked with 202 others, including the admiral commanding the North Atlantic Station, in the "Kearsarge," on Roncador Reef, in the western part of the Caribbean Sea. In April following he joined the U. S. S. "Atlanta," on the North Atlantic Station, remaining on that duty until the ship was placed out of commission in Sep- tember, 1895. In November, 1895, he joined the U. S. receiving ship "Vermont," for re- cruiting duty, being detached, in September, 1896, for duty as electrical assistant in the equipment department of the New York Navy Yard.

In September, 1897, Lieutenant Walling was ordered as navigator of the U. S. S. "Wheeling" on the Pacific Station, but was de- tached to hospital in April, 1898, after spending the winter on duty with the "Wheeling" in Alaskan waters. In September, 1898, he re- turned to the New York Navy Yard as elec- trical assistant in the equipment department.

Lieutenant Walling was promoted to lieu- tenant commander in March, 1899, and in the June following took a detachment of officers and men on board the U. S. transport "Solace", for duty in the Philippines. On arriving at Manila, in August, he was sent to Hong Kong, China, by the commander-in-chief of the Asia- tic Station, as inspector of ordnance and equip- ment for the reconstruction of the three gun- boats raised by Admiral Dewey, after the battle at Manila Bay. He was ordered to the U. S. Naval Station, Cavite, Philippine Islands, in March, 1900, to organize the equipment de- partment of that station, construct shops, etc. In June, 1901, he joined the U. S. S. "Albany." as executive officer, for duty in the Mediterran- ean, and returned to the United States in July, 1902. In August of that year he was ordered as general assistant in the equipment department of the New York Navy Yard. In May, 1904, he was ordered as com- mandant of the U. S. Naval Station, Culebra, Puerto Rico, and as commanding officer of the U. S. S. "Gloucester" and U. S. S. "Alliance." In December, 1905, he was promoted to the grade of commander.

In December, 1906, Commander Walling was ordered as equipment officer of the New York Navy Yard, and as general inspector for the Bureau of Equipment (Navy Department, Washington), for vessels building at private shipyards on the Atlantic Coast, which duty he is now performing.

Commander Walling was married on Oc- tober 27, 1892, to Wilhelmina Boyd, daughter of the late Captain Boyd, U. S. Navy, at Grace Church, Brooklyn, New York. They have one daughter, Grace, aged 12 years.

ACOB ARTHUR MARBURGER .* an enterprising citizen of the county, residing at Commercial Point, was born in Amanda township, Fairfield County, Ohio, November 21, 1867. He is a son of Gideon Lee and Louisa (Grosh) Marburger. .

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 111

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Number of Pages: 923

Author: Aaron R. Van Cleaf
Publication date: 1906
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 923