History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 70

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

USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens > Part 70

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7 AN METER STIPP HULSE, one of the substantial citizens and repre- sentative agriculturists of Jackson township, was born in this township, March 27, 1856, and is a son of James R. and Eleanor (Stipp) Hulse. He owns 135.32 acres of fine land in his home farm on the Five Points turnpike; he also has 611/2 acres on the McLean Mill road, be- sides 961/4 acres in Pike County, Ohio.

James R. Hulse, Sr., the grandfather of our subject, was born in New York. He was a wheelwright by trade and when he came to Ohio it was as a young man seeking his for- tune, with all he possessed done up in a pack on his back. He found favor in the eyes of the daughter of a substantial farmer of Pick- away County, Rebecca Van Meter, and after their marriage he had command of her small fortune. He was a man of fine business in- stincts and invested the money wisely in land and stock. He owned many cattle and on occasion drove them to favorable markets in the East. He accumulated a large fortune,

a part of this being 3,000 acres of land. After the death of his first wife, he married again. He had nine children by the first union and two by the second. Politically he was a Dem- ocrat.

James R. Hulse, father of our subject, was born in Jackson township, Pickaway County, Ohio, January 20, 1828, and spent his whole life in this locality, except a short period when he resided in Ross County. His death oc- curred September 6, 1899, at the age of 71 years. He inherited some 800 acres of land from his father's estate and on this he car- ried on extensive farming and stock-raising operations. Like many men of his time, he was unduly hospitable and generous and a large part of his fortune passed out of his hands. He was a stanch Democrat and served as township trustee for a long period. He married Eleanor Stipp, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 2, 1826, and who now at the age of 80 years resides with her son, William A. Hulse, in Jackson township. Her parents, Henry and Sarah Stipp, were both natives of Virginia. The children born to this marriage were: Henry Socrates, of Cir- cleville; Sarah Rebecca, deceased at 21 years ; Van Meter Stipp, of this sketch; James Reeves, of Jackson township; William A., of Jackson township; Stephen Arnold Douglas, deceased at 14 years; and Mary and George, both deceased.

Van Meter Stipp Hulse, our immediate subject, remained at home until he was 21 years of age and then worked out by the month for some three years prior to going to Moultrie County, Illinois, where he remained some 18 months and a like period in Iroquois County, in the same State. He then returned to Jackson township and worked on the farm for his father. At the death of the latter, he inherited his present home farm of 135.32 acres. Mr. Hulse also owns a farm of 611/2 acres in Jackson township, and one of 96 acres in Pike County, 35 of which is timber land. He continues to operate his farm as a grain and stock farm, it being well adapted to both industries.

Mr. Hulse is one of the well-known, re-

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spected citizens of Jackson township and en- joys the friendship and respect of his fellow- citizens. For many years the Hulse family has been one of the leading ones in this sec- tion.

ERMAIN JOSEPH, dealer in gentle- men's clothing and furnishings, at Nos. 109-111 Main street, Circleville. is a well-known business man of this city and has the largest store of its kind in Pickaway County. Mr. Joseph was born in France. March 12, 1853, and is a son of David . Joseph.

After passing his early life in France, Mr. Joseph came to America when 17 years old and located in Cincinnati, where he remained for one year, clerking in a clothing store. In 1871 he removed to Circleville and took a position as clerk in the clothing store of Isaac Levy, where he remained until 1882; during the last five years of this period he was junior partner of the firm of Isaac Levy & Company. He then moved to Centralia, Illinois, where he conducted a clothing store until 1891, when he sold the store and returned to Circleville and established his present business, having at that time but one room. In 1901 he enlarged the store by renting another room, thus prac- tically doubling his capacity for business. Mr. Joseph also owns the residence the family oc- cupy on North Scioto street, which he pur- chased in 1900.

Mr. Joseph was married in 1880 to Emma Weill and they have five children : Merle, who was graduated from the Everts High School in 1905; Clara, Fanny, Helen and Samuel. Fraternally our subject is connected with the Masons; Knights of Pythias; Modern Wood- men of America and Knights of Honor.

ILLIAM HEDGES, the owner of a 100-acre farm in Walnut town- ship and a well-known citizen of the eastern section of the county, is a native of Iowa, born Decem- ber 28, 1850. He is a son of Gideon and Mary (McIntyre) Hedges, but at the age of about

three years came to Walnut township to live with Ezra Hedges, his father's cousin. His father joined the Union forces and when the boy was 13 years of age, died of disease con- tracted in the service, after which until he reached years of maturity Ezra Hedges was his foster father.

Ezra Hedges was born in Walnut town- ship, Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1817, being a son of Obed Hedges, a soldier of the War of 1812. He never married. Although now nearly 89 years of age he has enjoyed good health, until a comparatively recent date. It is safe to say that there is no resident of the township or county, who is more universally honored and loved than Ezra Hedges. He has always been a charitable man, and his goodness has invariably taken a practical di- rection. Although a bachelor, he has a deep love for children, and during his long and useful life has adopted several orphan boys and reared them to careers of usefulness and happiness.

William Hedges was married to Eva Fowler, a native of Ross County, Ohio, and have had two children, Ezra and John. The last named married Mary Roese; they reside on the family homestead.

C HORNTON GLASSCOCK, an es- teemed agriculturist of Darby town- ship, residing on a well-improved es- tate of 167 acres, owned by himself and wife, is a native of Virginia and an old resident of Pickaway County. He was born in the Old Dominion, December 28, 1846, and is a son of John and Mary Ann (Leach) Glasscock and grandson of Thomas and Mar- garet Glasscock.

Thomas Glasscock and his wife were na- tives of Virginia and there spent much of their lives, engaged in farming. Four sons and three daughters were born to them.

John Glasscock, father of our subject, was born in Virginia and there grew to manhood and married Mary Ann Leach, only daughter of Thornton and Nancy (White) Leach, whose family also included four sons-Leroy,

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WILLIAM HARVEY ML.KIRE.

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ABRAHAM REID ALKIRE.

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Armster, William and Benjamin. Nine chil- dren were born to our subject's parents, namely : Mary, who died at the age of 13 years; Newton, who with his wife, Mary Jane Caldwell, is now deceased; Warren, who mar- ried Virginia Glasscock, his cousin, and now lives in Missouri; Margaret, whose husband, Alfred Stump, is now deceased; Sarah, who married Darius Shockley; Martha C., who married Rev. Robert W. Peters, a minister of the Baptist Church; Thornton, the subject of this sketch; and Alice, wife of Richard R. Leach, of Darby township-all born in Vir- ginia; and William, the only member of the family born in Ohio, who married Ella Balla. Both parents died in 1895, the mother on Feb- ruary 4th and the father on November 18th.

Thornton Glasscock was eight years of age when the family located permanently in Ohio. Several years before, however, his par- ents with some of the children came to Ohio, but remained only a short time, when they returned to their old home in Virginia. Later all the members of the family came to Ohio, lived here two years and then started ffor Missouri. The family and goods were loaded into three wagons, one of them being a four- horse team driven by Thornton and his sister Sarah. The family did not long remain in Missouri, however, but returned to Ohio and located in what is now Darby township, Pick- away County, where Thornton Leach, the ma- ternal grandfather of our subject, had pur- chased a tract of 600 acres of forest land. The country was quite unsettled at that time. Thornton Leach had made a clearing on this tract and here had built a rude log house, with a stick chimney and a puncheon floor, and with a quilt hung up for a door. It was amid such surroundings that William Glass- cock, the youngest member of the family; was born.

On August 21, 1866, Thornton Glasscock was married to Frances Rush, daughter of John W. and Nancy (Yocham) Rush. Mrs. Glasscock's mother died in June, 1906. Be- sides Mrs. Glasscock, there were five sons and two daughters in the family of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Rush, namely: William, who was

twice married and both of whose wives, Sarah Worthington and Jennie Watson, are de- ceased; Jesse, deceased, who married Fidelia Seeds; John, also deceased, who never mar- ried; Nelson, who is single; Dennis, deceased. who never married; Sarah, who married George Burgett; and Alice, who married Theodore Shockley.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Glasscock, as below: Laura, who married John Gillen; Milton, deceased at the age of 24 years, who married Julia John- son; Effa, who married Herman Matthews- both died within four months of each other, the latter on November 22, 1894, and the former on March 22, 1895, at about the age of 30 years, leaving three children (Harry. Alta and Laura), who are living with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glasscock; John R., a resident of Oregon, who is the father of one child; and Sarah, who married Nelson Martno, and has had seven children-Den- nis (deceased), Francis, Rush, May, Ruth, Lewis and Edna.

Although the old family homestead was willed to Mr. Glasscock by his father, he came into possession of it before the latter's death. It consisted of 52 acres, besides which he in- herited another farm of 27 acres. He pur- chased other tracts of land, his wife came into possession of landed property, and the result is their ownership, as stated, of 167 acres in Darby township. Mr. Glasscock has devoted the bulk of his time and energy to the care and improvement of his property. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and keeps .in intelligent touch with the questions of the day.

ILLIAM HARVEY ALKIRE. vice-president of The Citizens' Bank at Mount Sterling, Madison County, may justly be regarded as one of the leading financiers and capitalists of this section of Ohio, as well as a most worthy and prominent representative of one of the old and important families of

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Pickaway and Madison counties. Mr. Alkire honorably perpetuates a name which has been an American one since the days of Lord Balti- more's coming to the English colony now known as the State of Maryland, in the days of James I., of England. Since 1800 the family has been established in Ohio, and in this State, on the old homestead farm in Pleasant town- ship, Madison County, William Harvey Alkire was born on July 20, 1857. His parents were Abraham Reid and Mary Jane (Tanner) Al- kire.

In tracing the Alkire family from its earliest settler on the American shores, the line is followed from Maryland to Virginia, thence to Kentucky, and thence, in the time of our subject's grandfather, to Ohio. The family history is traced to Holland, where, in 1626, according to records at The Hague, there lived near Arnheim on the Rhine a family known from their baronetcy as Algire, which family bore a coat of arms given by William II., Prince of Orange. The arms were on a silver shield, signifying distinction, and may be thus described : Crest, a falcon; red beak and feet; bunch of grapes and wineglass; pike and cross sword; with the motto-"Cum Salus." In re- ligious belief the Algires were Lutherans. It is presumed that the family removed from Scotland to Holland, probably on ac- count of religious persecution, though pos- sibly for more worldly considerations. In the . 17th century one Almonas Alkire accompanied Lord Baltimore to America and settled on Albemarle Sound near the Virginia shore. He assisted the Governor in various campaigns against the Indians. In 1720, near Moorefield, Virginia (now West Virginia), the great-great-grandfather of our subject, Almonas Alkire by name, was married to Mary Crayman. The names of their four children have been preserved and are as fol- lows: William, born in 1724; Deborah, born in 1728; Almonas, Jr., born in 1730; and Sarah, born in 1732.

William Alkire, the eldest son of Almonas Alkire, was probably reared in Virginia, where he was married to his first wife, Elizabeth Moore, who died later than 1797. She was

the mother of 12 children, namely : Mary Ann, born October 5, 1781, who married Courtney Tanner; Robert, born October 3, 1783, who married Elizabeth Douglass; John, born De- cember 17, 1785, who died in infancy; Mar- garet, born in 1786, who married James Deni- son; Jacob, born April 1, 1787, who married Mary Phebus, who died March 20, 1842, his death following on June 5, 1847; Isaac, born October 12, 1788, who married Mary Graham; Abraham, born August 6, 1790; Lydia, born January. 3, 1792, who married John Graham; Harmon, born February 10, 1794, who never married; John (2), born October 15, 1795, who married Susan Mantle; Delilah, born in 1796, who married John Metz; and William, born in 1797, who married Hannah Osborn.

William Alkire married, for his second wife, Temperance Clay, and had two sons by this union-Henry Green Clay and Joseph. Mrs. Alkire was a sister of the distinguished statesman, Henry Clay, for whom she named her eldest son, who was born May 25, 1807, and died July 23, 1863. He married Eliza- beth Neff.

Abraham Alkire, the grandfather of Will- iam Harvey Alkire, and son of William and Elizabeth (Moore) Alkire, was probably born in Virginia and reared in Kentucky. His birth took place on August 6, 1790, and his death on May 19, 1859. In Ohio, on April 16, 1812 he married Jennie Martin Creath, who diec January 27, 1862. They became the parents of these children : Mary Margaret, born Feb- ruary 5, 1813, who married John-Tanner and died February 11, 1892; Elizabeth, born No- vember 5, 1814, deceased May 17, 1815; Will- iam G., born July 24, 1817, who married Mary Ann Riddle and died July 5, 1846; Martha Jane, born February 7, 1827, who married Adam Kious, and died September 10, 1846; and Abraham Reid. Abraham Alkire and family were Presbyterians.

Abraham Reid Alkire, father of William Harvey Alkire, and son of Abraham, was born on the old Alkire homestead, in Pleasant town- ship, Madison County, Ohio, on February 27, 1830. His father had settled in this section of Ohio in 1800, acquiring a very large body

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of land, which included part of the present site of Mount Sterling and which was inherited by his children. Mr. Alkire was a man of in- telligence, industry and foresight. Possessing much land, his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits in large measure. He was one of the directors of the toll road running from Mount Sterling to Harrisburg, a distance of eight miles, which was sold about 1883. He was one of the founders of The Citizens' Bank at Mount Sterling and was also president from the date of its organization, June 1, 1891, to the time of his death. In his death, on Feb- ruary 12, 1902, Madison County lost an exem- plary, honored citizen. On October 18, 1855, he married Mary Jane Tanner, who was a daughter of Harvey and Hester Ann (Neff) Tanner. Harvey Tanner was born November 25, 1805, and died December 18, 1865; his wife was born March 11, 1811, and died Oc- tober 31, 1864. Four children were born to Harvey Tanner and wife, namely: Rachel (Darst), who died aged 19 years, 9 months and 22 days; Abraham, who died at the age of 16 years, 5 months and 28 days; Court- ney, aged 50 years; and Mary Jane (Alkire) mother of our subject, who was born February 22, 1839, and died October 10, 1886.

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Reid Alkire had these children : William Harvey ; Charles Fran- cis, born March 4, 1860; Abraham Scott, born October 7, 1861 ; Corban Grant, born May 26, 1863; Tully Smith, born March 1, 1866; and Lillie Annie, born June 20, 1869. Charles Francis lives just outside the corporation of Mount Sterling. He is a stockholder in The Citizens' Bank and a member of Talmage Lodge, No. 194, Knights of Pythias. On De- cember 7, 1882, he married Flora Heath; they have two children: William Reid, born Jan- uary 29, 1885; and Abraham Clyde, both September 12, 1886. Abraham Scott lives in a beautiful home on his grandfather's home- stead, in the corporation of Mount Sterling. He is a director in The Citizens' Bank and a member of Talmage Lodge, No. 194, Knights of Pythias. From 1891 to 1894 he was a member of the firm of Beale & Alkire, dealers in hardware, at Mount Sterling. He is presi-

dent of the Mount Sterling Building & Loan Company, a member of the Board of Educa- tion of Mount Sterling (of which he has been a member for the past 18 years with the ex- ception of two terms) and was a member of the Council of Mount Sterling corporation for about 10 years. On December 17, 1884, he was married to Flora Augusta Beale. This union has been blessed with four children, namely : Coral, born September 22, 1885; Abraham Ross, born November 20, 1889; Mary Jane, born September 14, 1891; and Florence Amanda, born September 11, 1899. Corban Grant, who is a resident of Mount Sterling, was married, on June 29, 1898, to Clara Liggett, who was born April 22, 1868, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is a daughter of the late Col. John B. Liggett. They have no children. Tully Smith resides near Mount Sterling and is a stockholder in The Citizens' Bank and a member of Talmage Lodge, No. 194, Knights of Pythias. He was married on September 2, 1891, to Elizabeth Morris. Lillie Annie was married to Charles Edgar Zahn on March 23, 1891. Three children have been born to them, of whom two are now living. The record is as follows: Paul Alkire, born June 20, 1894; May, born December 18, 1896, deceased August 15, 1898; and Charles Ewin, born March 27, 1898.

On January 29, 1889, Abraham Reid Al- kire married, for his second wife, Mrs. Fla- villa (Coalton) Tenny, who died January 16, 1899, without issue. Mr. Alkire and family belonged to the First Christian Church of Mount Sterling.

William Harvey 'Alkire was reared on the old homestead farm in Pleasant township, Mad- ison County, and received his education in the local schools. In 1880 he formed a partnership with John W. Graham, which business associa- tion continued to 1884, in which period they engaged extensively in buying and shipping hogs to Eastern markets. In 1885, in partner- ship with William Taylor, he engaged in ship- ping hogs and cattle to Eastern markets and Columbus, Ohio. Six years later, in 1891, he entered into partnership with his brother, Tully S. Alkire, and Robert H. Deyo, and en-

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gaged in shipping hogs and wool. In 1892 the firm of Deyo & Alkire (Tully S. Alkire having retired ) rented the elevator of C. Tan- ner & Company at Palestine, which had been built four years before by the following 12 farmers-Courtney Tanner, Sr., James B. An- derson, John W. Graham, William Davis, Mil- ton J. Tootle, Charles A. Wilson, Robert H. Deyo, Peter J. Dick, William Denison, James Stone, Abraham Scott Alkire and William Harvey Alkire. The last named was president of C. Tanner & Company from the time the elevator was built until it was sold to Joseph Smith, of Circleville, in 1897. Mr. Alkire is the owner of a large amount of valuable land both in this and other counties, aggregat- ing 868 acres in Pickaway and Madison coun- ties, with a 230-acre farm in Vinton County, which has a 40-acre orchard on it. His brother. and sister also own a large amount of valu- able land in Pickaway and Madison counties. Mr. Alkire has one of the most beautiful homes in the eastern section of Madison County. It is a well-proportioned brick residence, situated on an eminence just out of Palestine, not far from Mount Sterling, the farm being known as "Deer Creek Farm." From the hospitable entrance of this home the surrounding country for miles around may be viewed as a beautiful picture. The disastrous wreck of 1891 on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad occurred not far from Mr. Alkire's residence, and quick and generous assistance was lent to the sufferers from the mansion on the hill.

On November 14, 1883, Mr. Alkire was united in marriage with Sierra Nevada Beatty, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Hopkins) Beatty, who had five children, namely : Harlan G., Elijah Adelbert, Sierra Nevada (Mrs. Al- kire), Belle and Fannie. Mr. and Mrs. Al- kire have four children, as follows : Essie, born October 24, 1884; Rife Tanner, born August 7, 1886; Floyd Smith, born May 10, 1888, and Homer Reid, born August 31, 1891.

Mr. Alkire is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has long been connected with The Citizens' Bank at Mount Sterling, both as a member of the board of directors and also as its vice-president. He is also a director of

the Mount Sterling Building & Loan Company. He has other interests, both commercial and social, and is a citizen who is thoroughly rep- resentative of the best residents of this favored part of the great commonwealth of Ohio, which his forefathers helped to develop.

Portraits of William Harvey Alkire and his father. Abraham Reid Alkire, accompany this sketch.

ENRY J. SMITH, a well-known citi- zen of Salt Creek township, and a veteran of the Civil War, resides on his finely cultivated, compact little farm of 26 acres, situated not far from Stringtown. Mr. Smith was born in Hocking County, Ohio, October 15, 1845, and is a son of Henry H. and Jeriah (Hosler) Smith.

The Smith family is one of the oldest in Hocking County. The parents of Mr. Smith were both born there and they resided for many years in Salt Creek township, in that county, where our subject was reared to man- hood. He was educated in the township schools and followed farming until he left home to become a soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War.

In July, 1864, Mr. Smith enlisted as a private soldier in Company G, 23rd Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., of which the late beloved President Mckinley was captain. This com- pany and regiment became a part of the Army of the Potomac and took part in the Shenan- doah Valley campaign, with Gen. Phil. H. Sheridan in command, and bore a gallant part at Cedar Creek, Fisher's Hill and other points. Mr. Smith was a model soldier, did his duty cheerfully and bravely and was honorably dis- charged in July, 1865, at Cleveland, Ohio.

In September, 1871, Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Matilda Reid, who was born in Hock- ing County, Ohio, November 25, 1848, and is a daughter of James and Matilda (Cave) Reid. Her grandfather, George Reid, was an early settler in Pickaway County, but died in Hocking County, where her father, a native of Pickaway County, passed much of his life.

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JOHN COURTRIGHT.

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Her mother was a native of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had four children, the two survivors being Jennie M. and Virgil M. Mrs. Smith and daughter are members of the Evangelical Association.

In politics Mr. Smith has always been a stanch Republican. He was an earnest sup- porter of President Mckinley, whom he had learned to thoroughly admire and esteem in the army. Formerly Mr. Smith belonged to the Grand Army post at Adelphi.

J OHN COURTRIGHT, one of the prominent agriculturists of Pickaway County, who is the owner of 700 acres of farming land, 225 acres of which lie along the county line be- tween Pickaway and Fairfield county, in the latter county, has his home on the remainder which is situated in sections 11, 13 and 14, Walnut township, his residence being located near the corner of four sections. Mr. Court- right was born in the home he occupies, on January 28, 1838, and is a son of Hon. Jesse D. and Sallie (Stout) Courtright.

Hon. Jesse D. Courtright was born in Bloom township, Fairfield County, Ohio, May 5, 1811, and was a son of John Courtright, a Pennsylvanian, who came to Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1801. Jesse D. Courtright was reared in Fairfield County. In August, 1831, he was married to Sallie Stout, who was a daughter of George Stout, a very prominent farmer of Washington township. For a time after mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Courtright lived in Clear Creek township, Fairfield County, and for a short time in Washington township, Pickaway County, but in: 1834 they moved to the farm now owned and occupied by their son John. In the following year Jesse D. Courtright erected the brick house which still serves as a comfortable family home. Mr. Courtright served for nearly a third of a century as a justice of the peace and was a member of the Ohio State Legislature for one term. He

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 70

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