USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. I > Part 63
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J. D. Rice, proprietor of a leading grocery store at Leatherwood, Ohio county, was born in Marion county, W. Va., October 30, 1861. His father, M. D. Rice, was a prominent farmer of Marion county until 1878, when he engaged in railroading. In 1887 he removed with his family to Wheeling. He was born October 25, 1835, and in 1859 was married to Arah A. Horner, who was born February 2, 1837. To this union were born six sons and two daughters. The fourth and fifth, being a boy and a girl, are deceased. J. D. Rice came to Ohio county, in 1878, his father coming here to engage in railroading at that time, and he became employed at Hobbs' Glass works, where he remained three years. At the end of that time he engaged in the market business, and at Hutchinson's feed store, until in 1888, when he purchased the grocery store which he is now conducting with much
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
success. Mr. Rice is a young man of integrity and is held in high re- gard by the community.
Thurston H. Rowles, one of the most skillful and well-informed teachers of Ohio county, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, Octo- ber 12, 1850, the son of Thomas J. and Mary I. (Thurston) Rowles, of Belmont county. The father is a blacksmith by trade and still fol- lows that vocation. Thurston H. Rowles was educated in the schools of his native county, and began teaching there in 1872. After fol- lowing his profession in Belmont county for seven years he removed to Ohio county, and in the schools of the latter county he has ever since done faithful and valued service. Mr. Rowles was married Oc- tober 16, 1875, to Miss Mary A. Brice, daughter of Thomas B. and Adeline (Ragen) Brice, of Belmont county, and their union has been blessed with five daughters: Maude C., born July 15, 1876; Addie B., born September 24, 1879; Ilma G., born May 21, 1881, and Grace and Alice, born July 5, 1889. Mr. Rowles is a member of the Masonic order at Powhattan, Ohio.
Charles Seibert, a leading ice-dealer of Wheeling, who resides at Elm Grove, was born February 12, 1858, the son of Conrad and Cath- erine Seibert, of whom mention is made elsewhere. Mr. Seibert received his early education at Beech Glen school, and attended St. Vincent's college one year. He then took a business course at Frazier's Business college, where he was graduated in 1874. On leav- ing school he became general superintendent and book-keeper for his father, and a little latter, in 1885, he and his brother purchased the ice business from the father, and managed it in partnership until 1888. In the latter year Charles Seibert purchased his brother's interest, and he has since managed the business alone, and has a prosperous and lucrative trade. Mr. Seibert was married November 22, 1882, to Otillie Schaefer, a native of Germany, who at the time of her marriage resided in Iowa. Three children have been born to them: Albert W., born November 5, 1883; George, born October 22, 1885; and Rhea, born April 10, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Seibert are members of St. John's Protestant church, and are held in high esteem by their many friends.
Seibert's Garden, one of the most popular resorts near Wheeling, is owned and managed by George Seibert, a well-known young man, who is a native of Ohio county. His father, Conrad Seibert, a native of Germany, was married in that country to Catherine Zeigler, and they afterward came to the United States in 1856. He was a book- binder by trade, but on coming to this country engaged in the busi- ness of paper hanging at first, and subsequently started a dairy, which he managed for eleven years. He then embarked in the ice trade, which he followed for thirteen years, finally turning the business over to his two sons. George remained in the ice business five years, and then rented the place where he now is, from his father, erected a handsome establishment, beautified the grounds and has made it a very attractive spot. It is in great favor, and its management by Mr. Seibert leaves nothing to be desired. Mr. Seibett was born at Wheeling, October 1, 1862. On March 31, 1887, he was married to
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Elizabeth Schuman, daughter of Frederick Schuman, of Wheeling, born February 7, 1863. To this marriage have been born two child- ren: Harry Leroy, born January 16, 1888, died July 14, 1888, and Archie, born February 25, 1889. Mr. Seibert is a member of St. John's church of Wheeling.
A. L. Simms, one of the leading young business men of Elm Grove, Ohio Co., was born in that county, December 2, 1861, the son of Matthew and Ruth (Lytle) Simms. His father, Matthew Simms, was born in Greene county, Penn., in 1881, and removed to Ohio county at an early day, where he followed his trade as carpenter, with good success, and was known as a worthy and influential citizen. He and his wife, above named, had ten children, five sons and five daughters, seven of whom are living. A. L. Simms is the sixth born of these children. He received his early education in the public schools of the county, and then entered Frazier college, at which he was gradu- ated May 15, 1884. After leaving college he worked as a clerk for several years, until November 5, 1887, when he and his brother, A. J. Simms, formed a partnership in a general store, at Elm Grove. In this business he is still engaged, having met with gratifying success.
John N. Thornburg, a well-known citizen of Elm Grove, is a grandson of Ezekial Thornburg, one of the earliest pioneers of Ohio county. The latter was the third settler on Little Wheeling creek, taking possession of his farm in 1774-5 and was a prominent man in the days of old Fort Shepherd, and the era of Indian wars, and was a frend of the Wetzels and other worthies of that time. He married an adopted daughter of Col. Shepherd. His son, David, who was born June 3, 1796, succeeded to the old homestead. The latter was married June 15, 1826, to Sarah Martin, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1802. He died March 10, 1881, having survived his wife, who died July 15, 18So. To these parents eight sons were born, of whom three survive: John N., Daniel S. and D. M. John N. received his education in the common schools, and was reared as a farmer. He has given his attention principally to agriculture, but has also since April, 1883, in partnership with his two brothers, been engaged in the business of undertaking at Elm Grove. In January, 1884, Mr. Thorn- burg was appointed surveyor of public roads, an office he holds at the present time. He is a member of the Presbyterian church at the forks of the Wheeling, and is highly esteemed by the community. In December, 1869, he was married to Anna Smith of Missouri, who died July 9, 1874, leaving one son. He was subsequently united, November 22, 1883, to Anna Jones, of Elm Grove, by whom he has one daughter.
WASHINGTON AND RICHLAND DISTRICTS.
Robert L. Ashbrook, M. D., a successful and popular young phy- sician of Fulton, Ohio county, was born in Washington county, Penn., March 13, 1865. He is the son of Absalom and Sabina (Allion) Ash- brook, the former of whom was born in 1813 and the latter in 1815,
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
and who were married in 1845. These parents had eight sons and five daughters, and eight of their children survive. Dr. Ashbrook received his early education in the common schools of Washington county, and subsequently he studied at Ada, Ohio, and California, Penn. After teaching school six and a half months he attended the college of physicians and surgeons, of Baltimore, where he was graduated in the spring of 1886. He at once began the practice of his profession in Marshall county, W. Va., and after eighteen months came to Fulton, where he has now a good practice in the town and surrounding country, and has promise of a successful and honorable career as a physician. During the past year he improved his pro- fessional education by a post graduate course in the Polyclinic insti- tute at New York. The doctor is a stockholder in the Nottingham Iron and Land company, of Alabama. He was married October 17, 1888, to Lena Dorsey, who was born in Marshall county, September 29, 1867. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Fulton.
W. E. Criss, a leading business man of Greggsville, Ohio county, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was brought by his parents to this county when quite young. He was born in Washington county, No- vember 27, 1855, the son of J. C. and Anna E. (Hill) Criss, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They removed with their family to Ohio county in 1856, and were highly esteemed residents of this vicinity. The father died March 20, 1884, but the mother is still living, with her home near Wheeling. The subject of this notice received a limited education in the common schools, but has well improved all the other opportunities for general information and business training. After leaving school he was occupied in mining until 1882, when he went into the dairy business for two years. At the end of that time he opened a general store at Greggsville, in which he had considerable success. Mr. Criss is a member of the Odd Fellows, lodge No. 699, of West Alexandria.
James W. Downing, teacher in the public schools of Richland dis- trict, Ohio county, was born February 15, 1869, a son of Joseph and Anna E. (Whiltingham) Downing. His father was born in Marshall county, W. Va., September 23, 1844, and his mother is a native of the same county, born August 7, 1848. By their marriage, which occurred April 18, 1867, were born two sons, the subject of this mention and Thomas F., the latter of whom was born October 13, 1872. The par- ents, who are still living, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and highly esteemed citizens. The subject of this mention was educated in the common schools of Richland district, and subse- quently for a short time at the Linsly institute, after which he at- tended the State Normal school at West Liberty, and was graduated there in the class of 1889, with first honors. He had taught some- what before graduation, and he is now engaged in the same profes- sion in Richland district. Mr. Downing takes considerable interest in the militia of the state, and is a leading member and first sergeant of the West Liberty light guards.
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OHIO COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
Robert P. Glass, a prominent young citizen of Clinton, Ohio county, was born in Allegheney City, March 21, 1858. He is the son of Robert P. and Anna (Walker) Glass, the former of whom was born at Pittsburgh, March 25, 1825, and died at Allegheny City, June 1, 1864. Anna, his wife, was born in Brooke county, March 8, 1831. , Four chil- dren were born to them, of whom the subject of this mention was the third. Montgomery W. was born April 24, 1854; Harry H., March 2, 1856, and Alexander, December 18, 1860. Robert P., Jr., was edu- cated in the public schools of Brooke and Ohio counties, and in the State Normal school at West Liberty. After his school days were passed, he engaged in farming in Brooke county, and continued in that vocation until January 1, 1877, when he entered the employment of John Gardner, of West Liberty, as a blacksmith. He remained there eight months, and then was with William Smith for a like period. Going to Wheeling, he was engaged with Jacob Eidamiller for a time, and then after another short engagement at West Liberty, he came to Clinton and opened the shop he is at present conducting with much success. Mr. Glass was married July 9, 1883, to Mattie Gibson, who was born August 19, 1862, the daughter of John and Jane (Smith) Gibson, of Ohio county. They have one son, Robert G., born June 1, 1884. Mr. Glass is a member of the Knights of Pythias, lodge No. 24, of Elm Grove.
Ferdinand Jenny, a prominent resident of Fulton, Ohio county, is a native of Switzerland. He was born December 25, 1832. In 1863 he came to the United States, and first made his home at Wheeling, where for a number of years he was proprietor of a cigar manufac- tory. Finally he removed from Wheeling to Parkersburg, and did business there a short time, and thence he removed to Fulton, in April, 1889. Here he established a cigar factory, which is doing good business, and he also conducts a hotel, which is winning a good pat- ronage. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Switzer society, and is a popular citizen. He was married in 1864, to Mary Hofer, a native of Switzerland.
Robert M. Lazear, a prominent farmer of Richland district, Ohio county, was born in Brooke county, January 12, 1843, and is a son of Jerome B. Lazear, of whom mention has been made on another page. Robert was educated in the common schools of his native county, and then began farming there, and remained in Brooke county until 1874. He then came to Richland district, which has since been his home. On February 20, 1868, he was married to Margaret Glass, of Brooke county, and by this union had three children: James J., born March 16, 1869, died November 27, 1871; Lulu, born July 16, 1870; Minerva, born December 11, 1872. His wife, Margaret, died Octo- ber 7, 1873, and on January 12, 1876, he was married to Juliet Morgan, who was born in Ohio county, November 10, 1846. By the latter union three children have been born: Margaret, July 19, 1877; Joseph E., January 6, 1878, died December 25, 1880; Mary E., April 7, 1883. Mrs. Lazear is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
of Short Creek. Both she and her husband are highly esteemed by a wide circle of acquaintances and friends.
James Ridgely, a well-known citizen of Richland district, Ohio county, W. Va., was born October 4, 1825, on a farm near Girty's Point. Mr. Ridgely is a grandson of Peregrine Ridgely, an early settler of this region, who was born December 25, 1765, and was mar- ried to Mary Ann Gray, August 6, 1789. Peregrine Ridgely died Feb- ruary 18, 1852, and his wife passed way March 12, 1824. James Ridgely was reared at his native place, and then moved to a farm near West Liberty, where he remained until 1870, when he came to the farm where he now lives. He has never married. Mr. Ridgely is one of the substantial people of his district and is highly regarded by all.
J. B. Shannon, postmaster and proprietor of a general store at Short Creek, Richland district, is a son of N. W. and Mary J. (Wiley) Shan- non, the former of whom is a well-known stock dealer and prominent citizen of this district. The father was born in Wayne county, Ohio, September 22, 1822, and his wife was born in Harrison county, Ohio, January 8, 1820. She died December 30, 1887. By their marriage, which occurred March 25, 1852, five children were born, three sons and two daughters. The subject of this mention was born December 2, 1862. He and his brother, N. W., are twins, and the youngest of their parent's family. He was reared in Richland district, where he re- ceived his early education. He then attended the State Normal school at West Liberty, and was graduated there in the class of 1886. After his graduation he taught school for two terms near his home, and then embarked in his present mercantile business, which is quite prosperous. He is an enterprising citizen, and it was through his ef- forts that the postoffice at Shannon was established at Short Creek in July, 1889. He was appointed postmaster, and on October 28 the first mail was received at the office. Mr. Shannon is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Short Creek.
Michael Stein, the first mayor of Fulton, Ohio county, was born in Germany, November 21, 1833. At seventeen years of age he emi- grated to the United States, and landed at Baltimore, May 18, 1850. He proceeded directly to Belmont county, Ohio, but after a short resi- dence there returned to Fulton in the fall of 1851. He endeavored to find employment at his trade, which was that of a wagon-maker, but not obtaining work he took up the vocation of a butcher, and was engaged with Mr. Zeigler until 1858. He then did business for him- self one year, and at the end of that time returned to his original trade, at which he continued until 1884, when he again went into busi- ness. He established a wagon and carriage shop which his two sons succeeded to and are now carrying on. Mr. Stein is one of the popu- lar and influential men of the township and has held several offices of importanee. In 1873 he was elected a member of the board of edu- cation of Fulton, and he has been connected with the board ever since, being the president. In 1880 he was elected one of the board of
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THE PAN-HANDLE.
commissioners of Ohio county, and this important office he held dur- ing four terms, and is at present a member of the board of health. At the first town election of Fulton, July 3, 1889, he was elected mayor. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church of Wheeling, and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Turn- er's society, and the Order of Red Men, in which he has held the high- est office, that of great sachem. On June S, 1858, Mr. Stein was married to Eleonora Kreuder, who was born in Germany, July 3, 1835, and they have had six sons and four daughters, all of whom are living.
CHAPTER XIII.
EDUCATION-EARLY SCHOOL TEACHERS-SCHOOL-HOUSES-THE PUBLIC - SCHOOL SYSTEM -PREJUDICE AGAINST IT-SOME PROMINENT INSTITU- TIONS OF LEARNING-EARLY RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
HE EARLY SETTLERS of the upper Ohio valley were not indifferent to the importance of the subject of education, especially was this the case among the Scotch-Irish portion of the population. The first school of which we have any knowledge (which is exceedingly limited) that was estab- lished in Ohio county, and, indeed, the only one in the Pan- handle, was located in the vicinity of West Liberty, and was taught by the grandfather of the late Thomas Ewing, of Ohio, the distinguished politician and statesman who supplemented « his mental with his manual accomplishments, being in the habit of using his leisure hours in the laudable task of mending and cobbling the shoes of his neighbors, in the performance of which he turned many an honest penny. This was not unusual among the teachers of this early day who were prone to eke out a scanty living by moving about from place to place seeking such employment as might tend to contribute to their support. Hence in the intervals of "keeping school," they manufactured the shoes and garments of their friends and patrons. Their learning, as a rule, was quite limited, as it gen- erlly extended no further than the rule of three in arithmetic, and in orthography to the spelling of words in three syllables. They had great faith in the use of the rod and applied it assiduously enforcing discipline by coercive measures which won for them a distinct no- toriety.
The school-houses were architectural buildings of the most prim- itive simplicity, being built of unhewn logs and containing sometimes one and sometimes two windows, with a clapboard roof and a door of the same material which swung on wooden hinges, with rough benches of split logs, which being destitute of any support for the back pre-
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
vented the pupils from indulging in any lazy lolling and compelling them to sit bolt upright in their places. Here would gather the boys and girls from miles around carrying their dog-eared " Dilworth's," and their much worn and blotted copy books, these latter often made of coarse brown paper, but which for all practical purposes were as useful as if made of the finest letter press.
But with a later day a decided improvement was visible. The teachers were more competent, and progress was made in the curric- ulum of studies which were adopted, and gradually better and more comfortable school-houses were erected, and better accomodations provided. Schools and academies began to multiply, and the atten- tion of the people began to be more directed to their value and im- portance. They were not, however, fostered by the state, but principally by private means. It was not until the year 1846 that the state of Virginia passed an act for the establishment of a district pub- lic school system, which among other things provided that where one-third of the qualified voters of any county should petition the county court, who at the preceding election had voted for delegates to the general assembly, that it was the duty of the court to certify the same to the commissioners of election for the county, when at the succeeding election the commissioners were required to open a regis- ter for the votes of the electors qualified to vote for delegates. In this register two columns were required to be kept, one in favor of the establishment of district schools, and the other for those opposed . to it.
It required two-thirds of the legal voters to adopt. The school commissioners were made a body corporate by this act, and the gen- eral curriculum was to consist of reading, writing and arithmetic (and where practicable), English grammar, geography, history (especially · of the state of Virginia, and of the United States), the elements of physical science, and such other higher branches as the school com- missioners might direct; and all white children, male and female, resi- dent within the respective districts into which the county was divided under its provisions were entitled to receive tuition free of charge.
Three trustees were to be appointed annually for each district, two by the qualified voters of the district, at the annual election for school commissioners, and one by the board of school commissioners at the first meeting after the election.
Teachers were required to keep registers of the names and ages of pupils, the names of parents and guardians, dates of entrance and leaving the school, and daily attendance, etc. At the end of the term this register was to be delivered by the teacher to the clerk of the board of school commissioners. The penalty for failure was one- fourth of the compensation of the teacher.
The expenses of school-houses, furniture, etc., was to be defrayed by the inhabitants of each county by a uniform rate of increased taxation upon the then existing subjects of the revenue tax and the county levy.
This was styled in the act the general system, which also included
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THE PAN-HANDLE.
another known as the special system. As will be perceived the act of 1846 was optional in its character, hence to remedy this, and with a view of making the public system obligatory on all the counties the general assembly passed the act of 1852, which provided for district- ing all of the counties of the state, appointing commissioners, fixing their duties and compensation and giving to the county courts the power of rearranging the districts, etc. Under the act of 1846, Ohio, Marshall and Kanawha counties were the only ones which adopted it, but this was all they did, and they went no further, except in the case of Ohio county, which not only adopted it, but put the law into operation and organized under it. Hence the first county in the southern states to adopt and put into operation the public school system was Ohio county, and the first public school established in the south was the Third ward public school in the city of Wheeling.
But this was not accomplished without an effort. A decided oppo- sition was manifested upon the part of a respectable minority of the citizens of the community, composed principally of those financially able, which nominally took the ground that the increased taxation necessary to support the system was unjust and oppressive. If the prejudices of some of these against the general and public character of the schools could have been successfully met they would have found no difficulty in giving to the system their approval. The prejudice of others led them to base their opposition to it on the foolish pretense that it was a Yankeeism, and therefore was un-Vir- ginian.
They enforced their respective views by the fallacious argument that it was unfair as well as unjust that they should be taxed for the education of others who were too poor or too straitened in their cir- cumstances to confer this boon on their offspring, and that it was an invidious distinction which discriminated in favor of a large class at the expense of a few.
But this spirit of selfish opposition did not prevail, yet it lingered in the communities for a long period after the successful establish- ment of the schools, and while it ceased to be demonstrative, yet its latent and baneful influence was felt upon all opportune occasions.
In the present it has entirely ceased, and we doubt whether among those surviving in the different counties where it was most strenuously opposed one can now be found who would acknowledge their opposi- tion. In the four counties composing the Pan-handle no more intelli- gent, moral and virtuous people can be found than their inhabitants, and certainly none who esteem more highly the blessings of educa- tion. Among some of the most prominent institutions of learning in these counties we may name Bethany college, founded by the late Alexander Campbell, the Linsly institute of Wheeling, and the Wheel- ing Female college. The first-named institution was established in 1840. The establishment of this claimed the labors of Mr. Campbell through many years, who devoted his untiring energies to the her- culean task of establishing an institution which should attract and gather together the youth from all portions of the country. And in
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