History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 76

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 76

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Green were four sons and five daughters, of whom two sons and all of the daughters are still living. The record is as follows: Ephraim, who is a resident of Nemaha Coun- ty, Nebraska; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Sarah Jane, wife of James P. Tipton, living in Shadesville, Franklin County, Ohio; William, deceased; Joseph, who never mar- ried, residing in Scioto township; Lucinda, who married John Meeker and lives in West Jefferson, Madison County, Ohio; Almeda, wife of Seymour Tipton, residing in Scioto township; Mary Ann, who married William H. Sullivan and resides at Lancaster, Fairfield County ; and Barbara Ellen, who is the widow of Frank Hoover.

On March 23, 1873, Henry Green was married to Sarah Jane Murphy, daughter of Francis Charles and Lucinda Murphy, of Scioto township, her parents at the time being residents of Muhlenberg township. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Green, viz .: Mary E., widow of Jonas Hoover, Jr .; John Otis, a farmer of Scioto township; Charles Russell and Margaret A., both deceased; Laura May, who lives at home ; Leslie Wayne, who is married and a resident of Ashville, employed in a brick-yard; Henry Clifford, a third year student at the Ohio State University, Columbus; Bertha and Shirley, the former of whom died when 18 months old and the latter, at the age of six months; and Alice and Tessa, living at home.

Mr. Green lives simply, but comfortably, and his farm although not large is improved to the utmost. He engages in general farming, and raises such stock as is required. For seven years Mr. Green has served as a member of the School Board for Scioto township, but other- wise has had little to do with public affairs.

OHN B. STEIN, whose well-improved farm of 118 acres is situated in sec- tion II, Circleville township, was born February 8, 1842, in Pennsyl- vania, and is a son of David and Mary Ann (Billig) Stein.

.David Stein was born in Pennsylvania and

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HON. NELSON J. TURNEY.

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owned a farm there which he sold when he de- cided to move to Pickaway County, Ohio. The long journey was made in wagons, the whole family, including his father and his wife and children, constituting the party. The money realized on the Pennsylvania farm was packed in a wooden bucket and was thus transported to the new home. The grandfather of our sub- ject, John Stein, had entered a large tract of land here as early as 1832. To this David Stein added until at one period he owned 400 acres, all in Circleville township. David Stein died in 1888.

John B. Stein was practically reared on the farm he now occupies and his education was secured in the district schools. He has always engaged in agricultural pursuits and has been very successful. He has made many improve- ments on his property and in 1881 he erected the present, commodious and comfortable dwelling and large barn. During the Civil War he joined the Ohio militia and did his part in suppressing the raids made by the Con- federate general, Morgan.

Mr. Stein married Lydia Morris, a daugh- ter of James Morris, of Walnut township, and they have had four children-three daughters and one son. The latter died at the age of six years. The daughters are: Anna, who mar- ried Charles Bell, resides in Circleville town- ship and has two children-John and Ralph; and Florence and Fannie, who reside at home.

Politically Mr. Stein is a Democrat and on numerous occasions he has been elected to office. During a period of seven years he re- sided in Jackson township and was one of the trustees a large part of that time. He is a dea- con in the Lutheran Church.

ON. NELSON J. TURNEY. Among the many men of prominence pro- duced by Pickaway County, the late Nelson J. Turney, whose portrait ac- ous. companies this sketch, was conspicu- He was born November 7, 1820, and died March 4, 1883, both events taking place in the city of Circleville. His parents were Dan- iel and Jane (Denny) Turney. 31

The Turney family was of French extrac- tion and the direct ancestors of Nelson J. Tur- ney were French Huguenots-Daniel, Peter and Adam Turney, three brothers, escaping to America in the latter part of the 17th century and landing in Philadelphia in 1668.

Henry Turney, son of Daniel, the emi- grant, was the grandfather of Nelson J. Tur- ney. From Philadelphia he removed to Shep- herdstown, Jefferson County, Virginia, where he subsequently married a Miss Embly. They had six children, none of whom survived in- fancy except Daniel, who became the father of our subject.

Daniel Turney was born at Shepherdstown, Virginia, August 16, 1786. His father re- moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1800, and there died 12 years later. Daniel Turney studied medicine, was graduated from the Med- ical College of Philadelphia and in 1806 settled at Jefferson, Ohio, for the practice of his pro- fession. On November 5, 1816, he married Jane Sirling Denny, who was born at Mari- etta, Ohio, April 11, 1798, and was a daughter of Gen. James Denny, one of the most promi- nent pioneers of the Northwest Territory. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, September II, 1767. He married Isabel Barr, of Wheeling, Virginia, in 1797 and, in a keel- boat, moved to Marietta, Ohio. In 1799 Gen- eral Denny moved to Chillicothe and in 1807 came to Pickaway County. He was a govern- ment surveyor and owned the Freedom news- paper, which was the first one ever published in Pickaway County. In 1813 he was clerk of the court in this county. In the second war with Great Britain, he rose from the rank of major to that of major-general. He died in Philadel- phia, November 23, 1815.

The members of the Turney family became prominent in their various lines of activity. Dr. Turney practiced as a surgeon in the War of 1812. Until his death in 1827 he was ranked with the eminent professional men of his day and his decease was looked upon in the light of a calamity in his immediate lo- cality. His children were: Henry, Nelson J., Isabella and Samuel D. The last named, Dr. Samuel D. Turney, who died in 1878, was widely known for his skill in medicine and

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surgery; during the Civil War he served as medical director and was also surgeon general of Ohio under the administration of Governor R. B. Hayes. He became a very popular mem- ber of the faculty of the Columbus Medical College.

Nelson J. Turney had many educational advantages but very early in life he was thrown upon his own resources. He completed his education at Dr. Washburn's academy in Franklin County, Ohio, and then, at the age of 15 years, he became a clerk in the post- office at Columbus, under Postmaster Belah Latham. From 1837 to 1840 he was in the employ of Fay, Kilbourne & Company, of Co- lumbus, but in the latter year he accompanied his mother to Circleville, where he was in the employ of H. W. Bell until he was appointed collector of tolls for the Ohio Canal at this point. A change in the political ad- ministration of the State removed him from this position and in 1845 he entered the em- ploy of Neil, Moore & Company, the extensive stage-coach proprietors. During his associa- tion with this firm a difficulty arose with a Missouri company and Mr. Turney was chosen to start an opposition line in the Missouri territory, with a full equipment of coaches and horses. This move brought the Missouri com- pany to terms. From Indianapolis Mr. Tur- ney was at once ordered north with his outfit and he distributed the coaches and horses along the lake shore between Sandusky and Detroit. He established his headquarters at Toledo, where he remained in charge until the spring of 1844, when he returned to Columbus.

In 1845 Mr. Turney removed to Phila- delphia, where he was employed for one year by the house of Miller, Cooper & Company, wholesale merchants, after which he returned to Ohio, married and embarked in a mercantile business for himself at Circleville. Some time later he sold his interests here and removed to Chillicothe, but in 1850 he returned to Pick- away County and entered into farming. For the next 20 years Mr. Turney was an exten- sive farmer and stock-raiser; at the close of this period, he sold out his country interests and moved to Circleville, where he erected a beautiful residence.

During his long residence on his farm, Mr. Turney took the deepest interest in all agricultural subjects, utilizing every modern method of approved utility and purchasing agricultural machinery of the best pattern. His farm was scientifically conducted and every part of it was made to yield to its utmost. He was a very active member of the Pickaway County Agricultural Society from its organi- zation and served for many years as its presi- dent. From 1862 until 1870 he served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture and was its valued president from 1862 until 1863. He was one of the early champions of good roads ; he took a great deal of interest in the turnpike system and assisted in the building of the turnpike from Circleville to Darbyville, superintending its construction. Mr. Turney also was superintendent in charge of the erection of the Masonic Temple in Cir- cleville and was made chairman of the com- mittee on arrangements on the occasion of its dedication, on June 2, 1879, a notable event in the city's history.

In public life and in military affairs, when his country was in danger, Mr. Turney was an important factor. In 1864 he was appointed a member of the military committee of Pick- away County by Governor Brough, the duties ' of which office he performed in the most faith- ful and efficient manner. He was active in pro- viding for, raising and equipping troops, and in 'every possible way, to the extent of his in- fluence and ability, he aided in assisting his State through the trying years of the Civil War. His services were invaluable but he was neyer willing to accept any compensation for the pecuniary losses thus incurred by him. In 1859 he declined a nomination for the State Legislature, but in 1868 the Republican party made him its congressional candidate. He was not elected, the Democratic party in that year sweeping all before it. In 1872 he was dele- gate to the Republican National Convention, which nominated General Grant for a second term. In 1871 Mr. Turney was selected by the Secretary of the Interior to go as a special agent to investigate the affairs of the Indian agencies of the Upper Missouri River, and in the fall of the same year, in company with

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Hon. B. R. Cowen, Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and Col. J. J. Woods, of Kansas, he appraised the Cherokee land strip in the Indian Territory. During this inspection he visited Sitting Bull and his people and as an evidence of how thoroughly he was equipped for this important and delicate diplomatic mis- sion, he remained in safety, without an escort, in Montana among the Sioux for three months. At the end of this time, he led away 3,000 of Sitting Bull's warriors and accompanied 30 of the most influential chiefs to Washington, to make their appeal. In 1871 he was appointed by President Grant a member of the celebrated "Brotherhood of Indian Commissioners," com- posed of men noted for their philanthropy. Mr. Turney remained a member of this board until failing health caused his retirement in 1875. He was appointed by Governor Hayes a trustee of the Cincinnati Asylum for the Insane. A mark of confidence was the choos- ing of him as assignee in the bankruptcy of Lemuel Steele's estate, which was one of the largest in the Scioto Valley.

Mr. Turney married Dorothy Renick, who was a daughter of George Renick, formerly of Chillicothe, Ohio.

Pickaway County has awarded Nelson J. Turney the title of "a man among men." Its citizens honored him through life and cherish his memory. He possessed the unassuming manner which usually accompanies greatness, but underneath was the strong will and firm conviction of right, which caused him to never swerve an inch from the path of duty and justice. Among his associates by whom he was best known he was dubbed "Old Honesty," a name he cherished and one which many men of affairs of the present day would give mil- lions to leave to their descendants.

E LKANAH HUMBLE, whose home farm of 240 acres of valuable, well- improved land is but a part of that possessed by him in Pickaway Coun- ty, is one of the substantial men and prominent. farmers of this locality. His land is thus divided : 240 acres, on which his home

stands, are situated in section 4, Walnut town- ship; 213 acres are near St. Paul, in Madison township, and 162 acres are in Scioto town- ship. Mr. Humble was born September 20, 1826, near Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, and is a son of Custer and Deborah (Crevis- ton) Humble.

Uriah Humble, grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia, moved from there to Kentucky, then removed to Adams County, Ohio, and thence to Madison County, where he died. In 1813 he built the first log Court House at London, Madison County, Ohio, which he constructed of hewed logs and for which he was paid the sum of $145.

Until he was 14 years of age, Elkanah Humble lived in Delaware and Franklin coun- ties. In the fall of 1840 he came to Pickaway County and settled in Walnut township. In 1849 he attended school at Delaware, Ohio, having taught school the previous year, and for the following 15 years he continued teach- ing through Walnut, Harrison and Madison townships. He is well known all over the county and many of the successful men in va- rious positions of life in this section were once his pupils.

Mr. Humble was married (first), in 1851, to Rhoda Miller, who was a daughter of Jo- seph Miller. She died in 1852, leaving a babe ·of two weeks. . The child was named Albert and is a well-known citizen of Madison town- ship. He graduated from college at Delaware, Ohio, receiving his degree of A. B., following which he taught school for four years at Wil- mington, Ohio. Later he taught in Texas, Indian Territory, Colorado and Oregon. He has never married.

In the fall of 1854 Mr. Humble married his sister-in-law, Catherine Miller, and they had three sons, Gilbert, Joseph and Frank. The eldest married Eliza Ann Brinker and has had four children, namely: Frank, deceased at the age of seven years; Edna May, a grad- uate of the Ashville High School; and two that died in infancy. Gilbert Humble resides with his father on the home farm. Joseph Humble worked on the home farm into young manhood and then went West, visited the Pacific Coast, and engaged in gold mining at Victor, Mon-

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tana, where he received injuries from which he died in 1896. Frank, the third son, went to Colorado in 1886. There he served for six years as clerk and recorder of Montezuma County. He has large gold mine investments at Cripple Creek and resides at Denver. Mrs. Humble died in February, 1880. Mr. Humble is a worthy member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. In politics he is a Democrat.

ILLIAM H. PERRILL, a repre- sentative farmer and prominent citizen of Madison township, whose fine farm of .176 acres is situ- ated in section 29, was born in Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Vir- ginia), April 29, 1839, and is a son of John T. and Hannah (McFarland) Perrill, both of whom were natives also of what is now West Virginia.

William H. Perrill was reared in Berkeley County, where his education was obtained under difficulties, as he had to walk from four to six miles to school. This was mainly in the winter seasons, ,his summers being occupied on the farm. He remained in West Virginia until 1864, when he came to Ohio and located in Madison township, where he has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. Since 1871 he has resided on his present valuable farm, which he has placed under a fine state of cultivation.

Mr. Perrill was married on December 8, 1868, to Sarah J. Wheeler, who was born Oc- tober 22, 1843, in Madison township, Picka- way County, Ohio. She is a daughter of Ben- jamin G. and Lucinda J. (Lane) Wheeler.

Benjamin G. Wheeler was six years old when he accompanied his parents to Pickaway County from Maryland. He was reared in this county and after reaching man's estate settled in Madison township, in 1839. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits all his life and died in 1869. His wife survived until 1886. Of their children, these survive: Mary A., wife of D. A. Lane, residing near Commercial Point; Sarah J. (Mrs. Perrill) ; Martha C.,

wife of James Lane, of Toronto, Ontario; and George E., of Columbus, Ohio. MIr. Wheeler was one of the leading men of his time in Mad- ison township. He was a stanch Democrat and could have been elected to any office in the gift of the people had he cared for political prominence. He was a friend of the public schools and a supporter of religious bodies and was ever ready to contribute for the further- ance of township improvements.

In politics, our subject is a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Madi- son Presbyterian Church, in which both are active. Mrs. Perrill being a useful member of the Ladies' Aid Society. They have many at- tached friends and are welcome participants in all the pleasant social affairs of the neighbor- hood.

ILLIAM H. SILBAUGH, M. D., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Ashville, was born October 21, 1867, at Lawrence Furnace, Lawrence County, Ohio, and is a son of William and Mary (Everly) Silbaugh.

William Silbaugh was born in the Duchy of Nassau, Germany, July 10, 1835, and came to this country in 1851, locating in Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages. He died March 3, 1883. Our subject's mother, who is of Penn- sylvania Dutch extraction, was born in Mor- gantown, Virginia. (now West Virginia), June 7, 1839, and is still living, at the age of 67 years.

William H. Silbaugh attended the Iron- ton (Ohio) High School, and then worked at carriage building in order to secure funds to complete his education. In 1891 he entered Miami Medical College, from which institu- tion he was graduated in the class of 1894-95. After his graduation he first located at Royal- ton, Fairfield County, Ohio, where he had read medicine with his brother, Dr. John J. Sil- baugh, and here practiced for two years. On April 7, 1897, he moved to Ashville where he has since been successfully engaged in the

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practice of his profession. Dr. Silbaugh spent a portion of the years 1891 and 1892 in Phila- delphia in the German Hospital under such eminent specialists as Dr. John Dever and Dr. Joseph Price, of Price's Hospital; and Dr. William H. Rodmon, professor of surgery in the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadel- phia. Dr. Silbaugh also took a post-gradu- ate course at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York and is excellently equipped for the practice of his profession. His brother, Dr. John J. Silbaugh, is a leading physician and surgeon of Lancaster, Ohio, and another brother, Leroy G. Silbaugh, is a prom- inent attorney of Lancaster, of which city he was mayor in 1892-93.

Dr. William H. Silbaugh was united in marriage on June 13, 1895, to Anna E. Creed, a daughter of George and Alice Creed, of Royalton, Fairfield County, Ohio. Mrs. Sil- baugh was a granddaughter of the late An- drew Peters. She was a student at Delaware College for three years. Dr. and Mrs. Sil- baugh have had two children : George Creed and William Harold.

Fraternally, Dr. Silbaugh is a member of the Masonic lodge at Circleville and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows lodges at Ashville.

C HOMAS FLEMMING CARPEN- TER, a resident of this county for a period of 23 years, is the owner of 117 acres of well-improved land in Darby township. He comes of an old Ken- tucky family and is a son of John R. and Betty (Hopper) Carpenter and grandson of Simon P. Carpenter. The mother is dead, but the father still lives in his native State.

Mr. and Mrs. John R. Carpenter were the parents of 10 children, as follows: Robert, deceased, who married Jennie Kilpatrick; Channie, also deceased, who married Mannie Yantis; Anna, who became the wife of Simon Julick and has passed away; Abraham, who married Lizzie Belt, both now deceased; John S., who married Julia Hughes; Elias P., who

married Julia Flemming, since deceased; Ida, the widow of Charles Kilpatrick; Alice, un- married, who lives in Kentucky with her father, and T. F., our subject.

Thomas F. Carpenter was born in Ken- tucky on the 19th of March, 1856, and when a young man located in Monroe township, this county, where he married Maggie Cardiff, daughter of C. F. Cardiff, who died at Derby. When Mr. Carpenter first came to Darby town- ship, in 1880, he farmed on rented land, but in 1891 he located on the fine tract which he has since so greatly improved. His principal crops are corn and wheat.

Our subject has no children of his own, but a little girl, Hazel, shares the pleasant family home and cheers his life. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Carpenter belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Derby.

77 ILLARD M. JUSTUS, a successful farmer of Jackson township, op- erator of a fine farm of 106 acres known as "Oak Dene," which is located on the Goosepond turn- pike, three and a half miles from Circleville, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, June 6, 1872. He is a son of Jacob and Cynthia Ann (Marion) Justus.

The parents of Mr. Justus were also na- tives of Pickaway County. They still survive and are respected residents of Five Points, Pickaway County. Of their family of seven children, Willard M. is the third in order of birth.

On June 6, 1900, Willard M. Justus was married to Margaret Caldwell, who was born in Jackson township on a farm some two miles distant from the home residence, and is a daughter of William and Elizabetth (Start) Caldwell, the former of whom was born in Jackson and the latter in Harrison township, Pickaway County. Mr. Caldwell spent his whole life here, dying in February, 1875, at the age of 57 years and leaving an estate of 250 acres of land. In politics he was a strong Democrat.

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The Caldwell family is one of the oldest and most prominent in the county. It was founded in Ohio by Alexander Caldwell, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Justus, who was born in Ireland and was accompanied to Amer- ica by three daughters and one of his sons, Alexander. Grandfather Alexander Caldwell was seven years old when his father came to Pickaway County and he became one of the leading men of Jackson township. He was married three times and had five sons and one daughter-all born to his first union. Mrs. Justus was the eldest of her parents' family, the others being: Rachel Alice, wife of John Shipley, of Jackson township; and Mary Ida, wife of Louis Shipley, also of Jackson town- ship.

By a former marriage to George Darst, Mrs. Justus had these children : Mary, wife of William Reid, of Duvall, Ohio; William, of Danville, Illinois; Harold, of Columbus, Ohio; Janet, wife of Harry Shockley, of Columbus; Josephine, of Columbus; and Chetwynd, also of Columbus.

Mr. Justus was reared to agricultural pur- suits and has always been regarded as a very competent manager, excellent farmer and ex- emplary man. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias. and the Fraternal Order of Eagles at Circleville and is past chancellor in the former order. The farm of Mr. and Mrs. Justus lies in the belt which is of historic interest on ac- count of the mounds still observable, these formations never having been satisfactorily ex- plained, although manv scientists have visited them.

EMUEL L. STEELY, a successful farmer and stockraiser of Pickaway township, was born in this town- ... ship, October 11, 1863, and belongs to one of the old pioneer families of this section. His parents are John P. and Mary Elizabeth (Ludwig) Steely.

Lemuel Steely, the grandfather of Lemuel L., was a very early settler in Pickaway town- ship. On the old Steely homestead John P. Steely, father of our subject, was born; many of his active years were spent in this part of

Pickaway County. With his wife he now re- sides in Fairfield County, Ohio. The surviv- ing children of John P. Steely and wife are: Lemuel L .; Evaline G., wife of W. F. Flem- ing, residing in the Indian Territory; Arthur H., of Circleville; Charles D., of Pickaway township; George, of Circleville township; Jacob, of Franklin County; John, of Circle- ville township; and Mary, of Fairfield County.

Lemuel L. Steely was reared and educated in Pickaway County and in the normal school, at Lebanon, Ohio. He has always found his pleasure and profit in following agricultural pursuits, devoting his main attention to the raising of stock. He is well known all over the county and is considered an excellent judge of stock and an unusually successful raiser. He also carries on a general line of farming.

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History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens, Part 76

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