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 74

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 842

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 74

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The West Virginia Medical Student. - The above is the name of the only medical journal ever essayed in the state. It was an octavo of forty pages, edited and printed by Dr. J. E. Reeves, late of Wheel- ing. It was issued monthly from November, 1875, to October, 1876, inclusive, and was beautifully printed on tinted paper, and its differ- ent numbers contained articles of value by physicians of several states. It died, presumably, from inanition, the consequence of pre- mature birth.

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THE PAN-HANDLE.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

BROOKE COUNTY.

S. W. Atkinson, a very prominent farmer and resident of Buffalo township, Brooke Co., W. Va., was born April 28, 1839, in the same house in which he now lives, situated about three miles south of Bethany on Castleman's run. He is the son of John and Margaret (Trimble) Atkinson. The father was born in Ohio county, W. Va., January 3, 1800, and died May 12, 1882. Mrs. Atkinson was born December 12, 1801, in Cumberland county, Penn., coming to West Vir- ginia with her mother when about twelve years of age, she settled in Ohio county, and is still living there. John Atkinson started in life with but a meager education, only having been able to obtain a two weeks' schooling. He took possession of the farm on which his son S. W., now lives, about sixty-five years ago, coming from Ohio county. The country was nothing but a wilderness in that day, but by his thrift and enterprise he left one of the finest farming properties in the township. He was an early abolitionist, and was probably the first subscriber to the New York Tribune, in Bethany. He died in his eighty-third year, his mind was vigorous and active to the last. A fine specimen of an American pioneer. Nine of the thirteen child- ren born to him are still living, named: Elizabeth, Mary A. (Hupp), James, David T., Theressa, William, Ewing T., S. W., and John S. S. W. Atkinson was educated at the academy of West Liberty, Ohio. He and his brother, Ewing, enlisted August 27, 1861, in Company K, First West Virginia cavalry. They were discharged July 20, 1865, having served with bravery and faithfulness for four years. He fought in the battles of Gettysburg, Winchester; was in the Richmond cam- paign; from Richmond went to Appomatox Court House; was in the Shenandoah valley under Sheridan, and several minor engagements. After the war he returned home and took up his farm work where he had left it four years before to give his life and services to his country. Clarinda L. Snedeker became his wife November 4, 1868. She is the daughter of William and Mary (Waddle) Snedeker, and was born August 10, 1844, near Nashville, Holmes Co., Ohio. Four children have been born to this union: Minneola, Elizabeth, Charles S. and Mary W. The family are earnest members of the United Presbyter- ian church. Mr. Atkinson, like his father, is a republican, and was an energetic abolitionist. He is now prominently identified with his party, being a member of the republican party, and is considered as one of the solid and progressive agriculturists of the county.

One of the well-known residents of Buffalo township, Brooke county, W. Va., is John S. Atkinson, who was born September 13, 1844, on the farm which he now operates. He is one of thirteen children born to John and Margaret (Trimble) Atkinson, as given above. John S., the subject of this biography, was educated in the common schools 38-A.

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and high school of West Liberty. After leaving school Mr. Atkinson returned to the paternal farm, and has since been engaged in tilling the soil. His marriage to Fanny A. Pogue was solemnized Septem- ber 20, 1876. Mrs. Atkinson is the daughter of John G. and Elizabeth (Burt) Pogue, both natives of Pennsylvania. Maggie T., born August 23, 1877; Libbie B., born January 15, 1884; and Anna May, born May 27, 1889, are the children that have been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson. Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson are consistent communicants of the United Presbyterian church, and among the most highly respected people of the township. Mr. Atkinson enbraces the principles promulgated by the republican party.

David W. Baird, president of the Riverside Glass Works of Wells- burg, was born in Hardy county, Va., now West Virginia, August 27, 1853, the son of David C. and Mary A. (Beach) Baird, natives of Loudon county, Va. The father was a miller by occupation, but for the past twenty years has not been engaged in active business. In politics he was active as a whig, and afterward as a republican, voting against the ordinance of secession. He and wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is now eighty-four and she seventy-four years. Fifteen children were born to them, of whom four are now living, the others having mostly died before reaching their sixth year. David W. Baird, the youngest of the family living, was educated in the public schools of Zanesville, Ohio, and at the Commercial college of Wheeling, where he was graduated in 1873. At the age of twenty-one years he became book-keeper and entry clerk with Bloch Brothers, of Wheeling, and after three years' service in that capacity was engaged as book-keeper for the Wheeling Hinge company five years. In 1880 he took the same position with the La Belle Glass company, of Bridgeport, and in the latter part of 1884 he entered the employment of the Belmont Glass works, of Bellaire, Ohio, being engaged as book-keeper one year and as western sales- man two years. Mr. Baird became associated with the Riverside Glass works in August, 1887, and in January, 1888, was elected presi- dent, a position he has since held, to the satisfaction of all concerned. With a thorough knowledge of the business, he has steadily advanced the interests of the works, and increased its prosperity. He is a gentle- man of brilliant parts, liberal culture, and as a neighbor and citizen has the high esteem of the community. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mrs. Baird also belongs, and has been superintendent of the Sunday-school since 1889. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and in politics he is a republican. Mr. Baird was married April 28, 1879, to Mary A. Robinson, daughter of William and Matilda Robinson, of Wheeling. She is a lady of culture and refinement, and has been a teacher for several years in the graded schools of Wheeling, always holding a certificate of the first grade. Mr. and Mrs. Baird have had three children: Blanche M., David B. and Ella., the latter of whom died June 29, 1886, aged thirteen months.

William F. Barth, an enterprising young business man of Wellsburg, was born at that place August 26, 1861, the son of Hugh and Frances

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(Letzkus) Barth. His father, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, came to America when sixteen years old, and at Pittsburgh, learned cabinet-making, working for $25 and board the first year, $30 and board the second year, and $50 the third year, which sum he lost by the failure of his employer in 1857. He engaged in business at Wells- burg in 1858, and continued in the furniture trade until the spring of 1866, when he opened a general store, which he conducted until his death, August 3, 1888, at the age of fifty-one years. His sight began to fail him in 1873, and during the last two years of his life he was entirely blind from cataract. He was a man of good education, a worthy and intelligent citizen, and a devoted member of the Catholic church. His widow is still living in Wellsburg, and holds an interest in the business. These parents had nine children, five of whom are living, William F. being the oldest. The subject of this sketch began clerking in his father's store at the age of sixteen years, has since continued in the business, and is now classed among the responsible, energetic and progressive men of the town. He takes an active part in public affairs, and has served the town as city clerk and held a seat in the council. Mr. Barth was married in 1884 to Mary Holt, of Steu- benville, daughter of James Holt, of Steubenville, a native of England. Her father is a man well and favorably known in business and social circles at his home.

One of the most prominent citizens of Bethany, also a trustee of Bethany college, and one of the foremost sheep-breeders of the United States, was Col. C. H. Beall. His birth occurred October 31, 1828, near Independence, Washington Co., Penn., the son of Bazel and Louisiana Beall. He was graduated from Bethany college, and after completing his collegiate course turned his attention to the sheep industry. His father was one of the largest wool-growers of Pennsylvania, and the son naturally followed in his footsteps. At the National Wool Growers' association's convention, which met in Wash- ington, D. C., in December, 1889, he was chosen treasurer of that organization. At one time he had the distinguished honor of filling the office of president of the United States Merino Sheep Breeders' association, and at its meeting in Steubenville, Ohio, in January, 1890, he was elected first vice-president of the same. Col. Beall's first noted purchase of blooded sheep was made in Vermont in 1852, of Edwin Hammond. These sheep were imported to the United States from Spain by Col. Humphrey, who was minister to Spain from this gov- ernment, and this importation was effected only through the assistance of the king of Spain. They are the original Merino sheep of America. At the centennial of 1876, his display of wool took the gold medal, and also took the first prize at the New Orleans exposition. Col. Beall accumulated great wealth in his business, leaving between 2,000 and 3,000 fine sheep, besides some 2,500 acres of highly improved farming land in this section of the state, and also large landed prop- erty in the western states. He was an agriculturist on an extensive scale, and was one of the most progressive farmers in the state. No man in this country has done so much for the wool interests of America

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as the subject of this sketch. His breeding brought about an increase in the weight of wool, and added fineness to its texture. In the year 1858, he married Virginia Burley, of West Virginia. Mrs. Beall came from an old and influential family, and was born in May, 1840, about twelve miles east of Wheeling, the daughter of the Hon. James Burley and Margaret Burley. James Burley was a senator during the war in the Virginia senate. Col. Beall passed to his reward February 23, 1890, leaving a wife and seven children to mourn the loss of a loving husband and an affectionate father. His death was a calamity to the community at large, and especially to the great industry for which. he had done so much. He was an active and influential communi- cant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and was prominently identi- fied with the republican party. The family reside upon the large estate, and the business is ably carried on by his two sons. The child- ren are: James, Mary, Clara, Charlie, Lou, Ella and Virginia. There is an interesting history connected with 250 acres of land left by Col. Beall in what is known as " Round Bottom;" this property was " Tom- ahawked " by Gen. George Washington, and is valued very highly on this account. Col. Beall was a representative American citizen and agriculturist, charitable and just to all.

Isaac C. Bickerstaff, of Wellsburg, proprietor of a planing-mill, saw-mill, and general jobber in wood and iron, and pattern making, was born in Beaver county, Penn., March 22, 1847. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Meanor) Bickerstaff, natives of Pennsylva- nia, who April 13, 1887, celebrated their golden wedding. They are devout Christian people, who in their days of activity, worked zeal- ously in the cause of religion, and whose good deeds are tenderly remembered. The father was a farmer by occupation and latterly a hotel keeper, but now retired. Of their eight children all are living but the eldest, Samuel, who died about 1881. The subject of this sketch at the age of seventeen years, became a deck-hand on the river, and rose to the position of mate. Subsequently leaving the river he was employed in the machine shop of Robinson, Ray & Co., at Pitts- burgh, until 1872, when he came to Wellsburg, and engaged in mak- ing patterns for Smith, Moore & Co. After being employed thus six years he started out for himself, and though it was necessary for him to borrow money to establish his plant, he has prospered and is now reckoned among the successful and energetic men of the city. He was married December 3, 1874, to Mrs. Julia Cox, formerly Julia Reeves, of Wellsburg, who died June 15, 1881. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. March 6, 1884, he was married to Blanche Stewart, and they have two children: William H. and Iva B. Mrs. Bickerstaff is a member of the Disciple church. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., and politically is a democrat.

John R. Braddock, a leading attorney of Wellsburg, was born in Washington county, Penn., May 1, 1852, the son of J. Norton and Margaret J. (McDonald) Braddock, both of whom were born in Washington county, Penn., the father of Irish descent and the mother of Scotch family. The father, who is still living, was by occupation a

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farmer and carpenter, and railroad contractor. Before the war he was a colonel of militia, and during the rebellion served three years and seven months. He enlisted first in the three months' service, and then for three years in the Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry, and served in the Ringgold battalion. He was never wounded, but was once taken prisoner and held for a short time. He served under Sheridan in his campaigns, and was discharged in May, 1865. By his first wife, Margaret J. McDonald, who died in 1854, aged about twenty- one years, he had two children: John R., and Lizzie M., wife of D. B. Bowersox, of Tiffin, Ohio, and judge advocate and inspector of the Woman's Relief corps of Ohio. Mrs. Braddock's brother, Gen. B. B. McDonald, was taken prisoner and confined at Libby prison until he escaped through the tunnel, in the construction of which he partici- pated. Mr. Braddock was married a second time to Rebecca J. Plymire, by whom he has two sons: J. S., of Mt. Pleasant, Penn., and F. S., of Lockhaven. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools, and in the high school at Washington, Penn., and then attended the law department of Michigan university one year in 1873-4. In June, 1874, he was admitted to the bar, and he began the practice in the following August at Washington, where he con- tinued ten years, then going to Leadville, Col., where he served as assistant city solicitor several months. Coming to Wellsburg in 1884, he opened an office with Senator J. B. Summerville, and in the period since elapsed has taken a prominent place in the profession. He was senior counsel for the defense in the celebrated Van Baker case, from July, ISS7, to November, 1889, and was warmly complimented for his efforts for his client in that cause. He is an accurate reasoner and fluent speaker. He and wife are members of the Christian church, and he is in politics a democrat. Mr. Braddock was married June 28, 1876, to Lizzie J. Wilson, daughter of William P. and Nancy W. Wilson, of Brooke county, and they have one child, J. Ray.

Dr. George W. Caldwell, deceased, formerly of Wellsburg, was born near Steubenville, Ohio, August 15, 1826, the son of Samuel and Jane (McDonald) Caldwell. His father was born in Ohio, his mother in Ireland. In his boyhood he worked upon the farm of his parents and studied in the district school, and developing a talent for study as he grew in years. He passed, in succession through the Steubenville seminary, the lyceum of Wellsville, and the colleges of Richmond and Athens, Ohio. The profession of medicine was his first choice of occupation, and after due preparation he practiced at Frederick- town, Ohio, and at Wellsburg, coming to the latter place in 1851. Here, while still practicing medicine, he took up the study of law with O. W. Langfitt, Esq., and in 1860 he was admitted to the bar. He was endowed with those qualities which contribute to honorable success, energy, probity, tact, perseverance, good nature and zeal, and soon rose to a high standing in his profession. His useful life was instantly cut short on June 21, 1887, on which day he was struck down by a locomotive on the track of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroad, near Wheeling Junction. His character was fitly described

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by his former instructor, ex-Senator Joseph S. Fowler, of Tennessee, when he said: " Dr. G. W. Caldwell was endeared to his fellow mem- bers of the bar of West Virginia, by a long, active and command- ing practice, and equally endeared to the people of this and the adjoining counties, by his valuable and useful services, by the urbanity of his manners, by his manly and upright deportment, by the integrity of his character and his public and private virtues. A manly frankness in his manner, and a pleasing simplicity in his address, claimed for him a free transit to all generous hearts. En- dowed by nature with a rich vein of language, he was never at a loss for an expression. He was equally gifted in music, the inheritance of his family. After years of struggle he embraced the legal profes- sion, and in the stormy legal contests he bore the honors and wore them with the approbation of his brothers. From his lowly home, by virtuous effort, he attained this honored place in his profession. Of him in truth he was the architect of his own fortune. He owed noth- ing to the aid of powerful friends. By the light of his own intelligence, inspired by the courage of his own convictions, he won his way to honor and distinction." Dr. Caldwell was married March 13, 1849, to Julia A., daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Ray) Hamilton, and they had the following children: Thomas H., who married Jane Everett, and has the following children: Mark E., Mattie B., George W., Julia C., Harden, Mary B., Lee and Lota; Belle S., wife of R. Wheeler, having one child, George R .; Sue W .; Mary E .; George L., who mar- ried Cloyde M. Duval, and has one child, George W .; and Samuel R., of the class of 1891, Washington and Jefferson college. Dr. Cald- well was an attendant upon the Methodist church; his widow is a member of the Disciples church, and their children are all members of the Presbyterian church.

Alexander Campbell .- This eminent man was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, parish of Broughshane, September 12, 1786. His ancestors on both sides migrated from Scotland to Ireland. His mother's ancestors, however, were French Huguenots, who fled from their native country upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, by Louis XIV., sought refuge, it appears, first in Scotland, from whence they subsequently migrated to Ireland. His father, Thomas Camp- bell, was born in county Down, Ireland, February 1, 1763. He was of a mild and quiet disposition. In his earlier years, he became the sub- ject of deep religious impressions, and acquired a most sincere and earnest love for the scriptures. The cold formality of the Episcopal ritual, and the apparent want of vital piety in the church to which his father belonged, led him to prefer the society of the rigid and devo- tional Covenanters and Seceders, and to attend their religious meet- ings. Having a strong desire to devote himself to the ministry in the Secession church, the matter was broached to his father, who disap- proved of it. He, indeed, had but little sympathy in his son's relig- ious change, being attached to the Church of England, and deter- mined, as he used to say, "to worship God according to act of Parliament." His father having finally acquiesced in his purpose, he

ANGARIAZELL.

Anno Ætat 65

affectionately a truly yours A: la amplito

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went to Glasgow, where he became a student at the university, and after completing his course of study, he left that institution and en- gaged in the ministry, and in June, 1787, he married Miss Jane Car- meigle, and September 12, 1788, Alexander, their first child, was born. His small salary soon became insufficient to support his increasing family, and other methods to increase his income were resorted to. He removed to Rich Hill and took charge of an academy, in addition to his ministerial duties. The multiplied labors of this addition broke down his health, and he was advised to try the benefits of a sea voy- age to restore it. With sore regrets he relinquished his charge and embarked for America April 8, 1807. The family remained behind, and the son, Alexander, went to the Glasgow university and com- pleted his studies, then with the family followed his father in October, 1808. Thomas Campbell died January 4, 1854, lacking only one month of ninety-one years. At an early age Alexander was sent to an elementary school in Market Hill, then was sent to an academy at Newry, under the charge of his uncles Archibald and Enos. Upon his return home, his father endeavored to superintend and con- tinue his education, but he found him so exceedingly devoted to sport and physical exercise, that it was difficult to fix his attention upon books. This uncommon activity of disposition seems at this time to have been his most striking trait. There was in his constitu- tion no tendency to precocious mental development, nor did his pe- culiar mental powers begin to manifest themselves strikingly until he had nearly attained his growth. His extreme fondness for sport rendered him so averse to the confinement required in order to ac- quire learning, that study became to him a drudgery, and the tasks with which his over anxious father supplied him became dull and wearisome. About his ninth year, the French language was added to his other studies, but in this he appears not to have made a very satisfactory progress. On account of his great disinclination to con- finement, his father at length concluded to put him to work on the farm with the laborers, in order to subdue his love of sport, and, as he said, " to break him into his books." He seems to have found field labor much more congenial, and to have worked hard for several years, until he had become a stout lad, full of health and vigor. At this time his intellectual nature began to assert its claims. He mani- fested a love for reading, and less inclination for outdoor exercise; and, with his father's approbation, betook himself to his studies again, filled with all ardent desire for literary distinction, and determined, as he said, to be "one of the best scholars in the kingdom." Two thousand churches with 100,000 members in our own country, and the many followers that are found in every land, attest his suc- cess and the greatness of the work he performed, and although he has been called from the scenes of his earthly labor, still his work goes on. Thomas Campbell had, at an early day, conceived the idea that the progress of Christianity was greatly impeded by the barriers placed between the different denominatious of Christians, in the way of creeds and articles of faith made by human hands, and that if these

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barriers could be removed, and some common ground be found, upon which all the different denominations could stand, all professing Chris- tians would be united again, and with harmony and united effort, a more rapid spread of the gospel would ensue. To effect this object he proposed that all creeds be discarded; that the object was to come fairly and squarely to the original ground, and take up things just where the apostles left them. In this way, "becoming dis- entangled from the accruing embarrassments of intervening ages," they could consistently stand on the ground on which the church stood at the beginning; declaring "where the scriptures speak, we speak, where the scriptures are silent, we are silent," that nothing should be required as a matter of faith or duty, for which a "Thus saith the Lord" could not be produced, either in express terms or approved precedent. It is probable that neither Thomas Campbell, or any of the advocates of his views, had, at that time, any intention or thought of forming a new religious party. On the contrary, the design of their efforts, was, perhaps, only to put an end to partyism and unite the different religious denominations by inducing them to accept the Bible as the only authorized rule of faith and practice, and to desist from their controversies about matters of opinion and ex- pediency. At this juncture the son, Alexander, arrived in this country and readily espoused the cause which his father and a few co-workers were laboring to build up. Alexander, by the versatility of his mind, and his energy and zeal in the cause, gave a new impetus to the movement. Their efforts to effect a union on the proposed basis failed, and finding it impossible to accomplish their object, by uniting the already existing churches, they resolved to organize a new church upon the plan for which they had so long labored. Ac- cordingly, in order to carry out this purpose more efficiently, it was resolved at a meeting held at the head waters of Buffalo, 17th of August, 1809, that they would form themselves into an association, under the name of "the Christian Association of Washington." They then appointed twenty-one of their number to meet and confer to- gether, and, with the assistance of Thomas Campbell, to determine upon the proper means to carry into effect the important ends of the association. As it had been found somewhat inconvenient to hold the meetings in private houses, it was thought advisable by the members . to provide some regular place of meeting. The neighbors accord- ingly assembled, and in a short time erected a log building on the Sinclair farm, about three miles from Mount Pleasant, upon the road leading from Washington to that place. This building was designed, also, for the purpose of a common school, which was much desired in that neighborhood. Here Thomas Campbell continued to meet his hearers regularly. Here in the neighborhood at the house of a Mr. Welch, he wrote the celebrated "Declaration and Ad- dress," designed to set forth to the public at large, in a clear and definite manner, the object of the movement in which he and those associated with him were engaged. When this was finished, it was unanimously agreed to by the committee and or-

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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 74

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller Number of Pages: 842

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Madison, Wis. : Brant & Fuller
Number of Pages: 842