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 75
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dered to be printed September 7, 1809. Alexander, after his arrival, always attended his father's meetings, and as he had already signified his determination to engage in the proposed reformation, his father, after some time, began to express the wish that he would take some public part in these meetings. From his youthfulness, however, and the fact that he was as yet unaccustomed to public speaking, this was for some time delayed, until at length, in the spring of ISIo, his father being about to address a congregation at a private house (Jacob Don- aldson's), told him that after preaching he would have a short inter- mission, and would expect him afterward to address the people. Accordingly, after the meeting was resumed, Alexander arose and spoke for a short time, chiefly, however, in the way of exhortation. This was Alexander's first attempt at speaking; and although his re- marks were brief and not in the usual form of a regular sermon, the result inspired him with confidence, so that, upon being afterward urged to prepare and deliver a public discourse he agreed to do so. At the advice and under the direction of his father, he at once de- voted himself to the preparatory studies for the ministry. He aban- doned all other cares, and applied his powerful and disciplined mind anew to the methodical study of the sacred scriptures. Meantime his father had gathered together two small congregations, to which he administered, and who were agreed with him in the purpose of the proposed reformation. One of these was at Cross Roads, six miles northwest, and the other at Brush Run, some eight miles southwest of Washington, Penn. Before the latter of these, May, 1810, Alexan- der Campbell preached his first sermon, taking his text, Matt. 7; 24-27. The text was evidently chosen as suggestive of the proposed founda- tion of this new organization, and afforded a fruitful theme for the consideration of all human bases of ecclesiastical union and fellow- ship. It was received with the greatest enthusiasm by the entire con- gregation to whom it was addressed, and resulted in an immediate and unanimous call to the ministry. At this time his father and James Foster were the only official teachers recognized in the move- ment, and the two above named congregations, the only organizations formed upon the principles set forth in the " Declaration and Address." Alexander Campbell now added the weight of his rare powers, and the excitement everywhere to hear him became intense. In the ab- sence of church edifices, meetings were held in the open air, and the groves in the alleys and upon the hill tops rang with the powerful voice of this bold and impetuous pleader for the authority of the word of God. Though the struggle was for the re-introduction of primitive Christianity, Mr. Campbell, the younger, was now considered the champion of a new cause, and he went far and near, attracting immense concourses of admiring, and frequently gainsaying hearers. The establishment of the popular Buffalo academy in 1819; the de- bate with Mr. Walker in 1820, and one with Mr. McCalla in 1823- both Presbyterian ministers-on the subject of baptism, served to in- tensify his studies and enlarge the area of his reputation. The work was accumulating on his hands, and in personal presence he was un-
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able to perform it. The employment of the press became a necessity. The Baptists, generally, were favorably, and the Pedobaptists' unfav- orably aroused, and all over the west inquiry was being excited. August 3, 1823, he issued Vol. I, No. I, of the Christian Baptist. The name was intended to intimate that Christianity professed and obeyed in immersion, was to be the burden of its pages. About a year after the delivery of his first discourse, March 12, 1811, the subject of this address was married to Miss Margaret Brown, a true "helpmeet for him." On the 25th of March, he went with his wife to live with his father- in-law. His delight in active exercise and the practical knowledge he had acquired of farming in his boyhood, led him at once to engage in assisting Mr. Brown in the management of the farm, in which he appears to have displayed his usual activity, and energy, devoting to it all the time he could spare from his ministerial duties. By this time the advocates of these new principles became fully convinced that on account of the continued hostilities of the different parties it was necessary that the Christian Association should assume the char- ter of an independent church, in order to the enjoyment of those privileges and the performance of those duties which belong to the church relation. It was with great reluctance that the step was finally taken, and a separation made from those whom it desired to recognize as brethren. At a meeting at Brush Run on Saturday, May 4, 1811, a new church was organized. At this meeting Thomas Campbell was appointed elder, and Alexander was licensed to preach the gospel. Alexander, after maturely and carefully considering the subject, de- cided that it was his duty to be ordained, and he was accordingly set apart to the office of the ministry, with the usual forms, on the Ist day of January, 1812.
Aware of the great importance of obtaining the assistance of in- structed and cultivated minds in the work to which he was devoted, and feeling the want, in his own neighborhood, of better methods of instruction than those which then prevailed, he determined, early in 1818, to open a seminary, chiefly for young men, in his own house, and take charge of it himself. He thought that by giving the youth of the neighborhood a better education than they could otherwise ob- tain, it would be the means of preparing some of them for the minis- try. By boarding them in his own family, directing their studies, and imbuing their minds with a knowledge of the scriptures in their daily recitations and lessons of instruction which he kept up at the morn- ing and evening devotions of his household, he thought the desired object might be gradually attained. With his well-known talent and energy, he had no difficulty in obtaining as many pupils as he desired. They came from Pittsburgh, some from Ohio, a son of Dr. Joseph Dod- dridge, of Wellsburgh, and many young men and young ladies came from their homes in the neighborhood to attend the day school. This academy, called the Buffalo seminary, continued to flourish for a num- ber of years. Having found it inconvenient to send his letters and publi- cations to mail at West Liberty, distant four miles, he, in 1827, in- duced the postoffice department to establish a postoffice at his own
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residence, which was named Bethany, there being a post town called Buffalo in Mason county. This was highly advantageous to him in many respects. Being postmaster, he enjoyed the franking privilege, which enabled him greatly to extend his correspondence. This privi- lege can be better appreciated when we inform the reader that the postage on letters in those days was from 6 to 25 cents, according to distance. This office Mr. Campbell held for thirty-eight years. By this time, through his writing, his public debates, and his many and extensive tours' through all the states of the Union, Mr. Campbell, aided by many able and devoted co-laborers, had attracted to the move- ment of which he was the great and acknowledged head, many myriads of zealous and earnest sympathizers. Congregations had been or- ganized in almost every state in the Union, and in many localities they constituted the prevailing denomination. He had long seen and felt the growing want of an educated ministry, and earnestly meditated upon the best means for meeting the necessity. Already taxed to the utmost by the innumerable public demands upon his time and his en- ergies, he, for some time, shrank from undertaking what seemed the only alternative; but the necessity was urgent, and he resolved to postpone it no longer. In 1840 he commenced the great and crown- ing work of hislife-the founding and endowment of Bethany col- lege. He did not wait to raise the means from others, but with a sub- lime confidence in the merit of the enterprise, which was his strong characteristic in all that he undertook, he threw some $10,000 or $15,000 of his own capital into the business, and at once contracted for the erection of the necessary buildings. All the energies of his great mind and heart were thrown into the enterprise, and by the fall of 1841, the college was organized with a regular charter, board of trustees, faculty, and over 100 students, assembled from ten or twelve different states of the American Union. He took upon himself not only the duties of president, but also the daily labor of lecturing on the Bible. He made a thorough study of the Bible his peculiar characteristic of Bethany college. As he regarded the Bible and the Bible alone as the only authority to the church in all matters of faith and practice, and the only infallible source of a perfect morality, so he conceived it should form the basis of all Christian education, and be made a leading text-book in every college. Early in 1830, he was, without seeking the position, chosen delegate to the Virginia convention for amending the state constitution. Though not a politician, his known liberal and well-digested sentiments commended him to the suffrages of the western citizens of that great state, at the moment when they demanded liberation from the burdens not shared by the tide water districts. Though he did not shine as a leader in this most august Virginia assembly of this century, he was intimate with the venerable and celelebrated Ex-president Madison and Chief Justice Marshall, and a co-member of the judiciary committee with the latter. These gentlemen, with Philip Doddridge and the members of the convention generally, held him in high esteem. But never did our venerable brother shine more brilliantly as a preacher than during that spring,
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the First Baptist church being constantly crowded in every part with anxious listeners, Mr. Madison often among them. In October, 1827, his first wife died. She was a woman of remarkable excellence of heart and mind, which were perpetuated in the lives of her five amiable and Christian-like daughters. His second wife was Miss Selina H. Bakewell, whom he married in 1828. By his first wife he had eight children, all now deceased; by his second wife he had six -four of whom survive.
Although Mr. Campbell never would accept any compensation for his ministerial labors nor ever engage in any business speculations, yet he acquired a respectable fortune. Wealth seemed to accumulate on his hands without effort. His perfect system in all his business arrangements, and his indefatigable industry and methodical order in everything, greatly facilitated his labors, but his over-taxed powers finally began to fail. His memory failed him, and though at times, when aroused, his intellectual powers would seem to exhibit the brilliancy and strength of his earlier years, yet it was evident that the wear of sixty years of ceaseless exhausting labor began to show its effects in the worn out mental and physical powers of this great man. His strength continued to gradually fail him till on the 4th of March, 1866, in the bosom of his family and amid sorrowing friends he breathed his last. He lies buried in the family cemetery, on the farm on which he had always lived.
The Hon. Alexander Campbell, a distinguished resident of Brooke county, W. Va., and son of the above, was born October 24, 1831, in the vicinity of Bethany. He was graduated from Bethany college in the class of 1852. His marriage to Miss Mary A. Purvis, of Louisiana, took place December 30, 1852. She is a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Campbell) Purvis. The former was a native of South Carolina, but moved to Mississippi at an early date. The principal of this biography spent a portion of each year in Louisiana, and was engaged in planting cotton until 1888. In the year 1874 he was elected chairman of the state democratic executive committee, and two years later was elected a member of the national democratic committee, and his term of office expiring he was again chosen for that distinguished position in 1880 at Cincinnati, Ohio, and served until the year 1884. President Cleveland recognized his ability by appointing him as a commissioner to the Melbourne inter-national exhibition, which was held in Melbourne, Australia, from August, 1888, to January 31, 1889. While in Australia, Mr. Campbell traveled ex- tensively through the colonies and wrote exhaustive reports of the wool and sugar industries of that country for the United States gov- ernment. He is the father of seven children, named: Virginia (Mageary), now living in Australia; Mary A. (Hagerman), of Rich- mond, Ky .; Alexander P., Robert M., William, John E. and Archie. The family are members of the Christian church of Bethany. In 1872 Mr. Campbell was a member of the West Virginia constitutional convention, and his life has been crowed with honors which have never been sought, but were rather forced upon him.
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James W. M. Carmichael, of Wellsburg, a member of the promi- nent coal firm of Forbes, Carmichael & Co., was born in Washington county, Penn., December 29, 1839. He is the son of G. W. Car- michael, a man well-known in his day, a farmer, and subsequently en- gaged in furnishing fuel to Ohio river steamers, who died in 1857, aged forty-four years. The latter married Nancy, daughter of James Ward, of Eldersville, Washington county, Penn., a well-known early citizen, who in the days of Indian warfare was carried by his mother to the Harmon's Creek, Penn., block house for safety. This worthy lady is still living, at the age of seventy-two years. Thirteen chil- dren were born to them, the subject of this sketch being the second born, and seven are now living. James M. Carmichael, grandfather of the subject, was a well-known local writer of prose and poetry, and school teacher in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties, Penn., and Brooke county, then in Virginia, having taught among other places, at Cross Creek village, and at what is now known as Buchan- an's or Hammond's school-house, on Buffalo creek. He had the most valuable and complete library in the community in his day, but this, with his poetical manuscripts, were destroyed by fire. At the death of his father, James W. M. Carmichael began to aid in the sup- port of the family, and was employed as a coal miner. Subsequently he purchased an interest with his brothers-in-law, and the firm of Forbes, Carmichael & Co., was established in 1863. This, the oldest firm in the county, still continues to do a prosperous business, oper- ating the oldest coal works in the county of Brooke. They have been remarkably free from accidents, and have not stopped work a week since beginning. Mr. Carmichael is esteemed as one of the success- ful and enterprising business men of the town, and a public spirited citizen. He is an active member of the Presbyterian church, holding the office of elder, and is a working republican. He was married May 7, 1861, to Mary, daughter of Thomas Forbes, Sr., of Wellsburg, and they have twelve children living: Thomas W., book-keeper in the Wellsburg National Bank, who married Gertrude L. Henke, of Steubenville, Ohio, and has two children; Nannie; John F., a glass blower of Washington, Penn., who married Laura Wheatley, and has one child; George, a printer, of Wheeling; Eliza, a popular teacher in the Wellsburg public school; M. Alice; W. James; Herbert S .; Rob- ert H .; Isabelle; Irene G. and Chester H., and two, Charles E. and Martha Pearl, having died in infancy.
Elijah A. Chamberlain, of Wellsburg, a highly respected retired citizen, was born in Beaver county, Penn., October 14, 1831. Of that state his parents, David and Jane (Bradley) Chamberlain, were both natives. They were worthy, Christian people, devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and went to their reward several years ago, the father dying in 1859, aged eighty-two years, and the mother in June, 1874, aged seventy four. Eleven of the twelve child- ren of these parents were reared to maturity. Elijah A., the subject of this sketch, was engaged upon the farm in his youth and until Sep- tember, 1862, when he enlisted in Company C, First West Virginia
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light artillery. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg, and while returning from the latter, in camp at Berlin, Md., he was run over, while asleep on the ground at night, by a horse, injuring him so that he has never recovered, and during the past four years he has been totally disabled. He was kept with his company till October, 1863; was then at Harwood hospital, Washington, two months, and coming home on furlough, was unable to be moved to the post hospital at Wheeling for eleven months. He was discharged at the hospital June 19, 1865. His sac- rifice for his country was a great one, of health, strength and much of the pleasures of life. Mr. Chamberlain was married September 9, 1852, to Sarah A., daughter of William and Rachel Henry, formerly of Ohio. Her father died many years ago, the mother in 1874, aged sixty-two years. They had six children, three of whom are living: one, Benjamin, served in the First West Virginia infantry, and died of measles at New Creek, February, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Chamber- lain have had two children: William Norvel, deceased, and Joseph, who married Cecilia Khole. Joseph and Cecilia Chamberlain have had the following children, Anna B., Zanretta, Sarah E., Margaret, Pinkie O., Elijah A., and Lucy. Mr. Chamberlain and wife have been members of the Methodist Protestant church, for thirty years, and he is a comrade of the Pierpont post, G. A. R., and is a republican.
John M. Charnock, of Wellsburg, was born at Wheeling, April 10, 1849, the son of William and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Charnock. His father, a native of Virginia, was a blacksmith by trade, and a member of the well-known firm of B. & J. N. Charnock, who manufactured wagons and shipped them to New Orleans, and also did much steam- boat work. He was a valued citizen of Wheeling, and a faithful mem- ber of the Episcopal church. He died in August, 1857. His widow sur- vives at the age of seventy-four years. Of their ten children, three sons and three daughters survive. John M. Charnock at the age of thirteen years began learning the tinner's trade under Nesbit & Brother, and becoming a master of the trade opened a business of his own at Wheel- ing in 1872. A year later he removed to Wellsburg, of which he has since been an esteemed citizen. Though his establishment has burned out several times, his business has risen again from the ashes, and his industry and enterprise have made him successful and prosperous. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been steward several years, and he is politically a repub- lican. Mr. Charnock was married January 17, 1871, to Susan, daugh- ter of Samuel and Elizabeth Miller, of Wheeling, estimable people who are highly regarded by their relatives and friends. By this mar- riage he has nine children, John H., who, being a fine workman as- sists his father in his shop; Mary C., Edna, Leona, Artie, Elwood, Howard, Ethel and Ellda, twins.
R. H. Cotton, a capable and successful lawyer, of Wellsburg, was born in Washington county, Penn., September, 1856, the son of James and Nancy J. (McElroy) Cotton, both of whom were natives of Penn- sylvania. The father, whose business was the buying and selling of
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stock, died in 1886, aged seventy years, and his widow, now a resident of Washington county, Penn, is aged sixty-five years. Of their six children, five are living. The subject of this sketch received a thorough education at Washington and Jefferson colleges, Bethany college and the Ohio state university at Columbus. During the last year (1879) of his literary studies he read law, and continuing his reading with Holmes & Nash (ex-Atty. Gen. Nash), of Columbus, and was admit- ted, upon examination, to practice before the supreme court of Ohio, December 7, 1880. During the following year he practiced with Judge Stanley Matthews, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and then engaged with W. J. Gilmore, Esq., late of the Ohio supreme court, as assistant in prepar- ing briefs, etc., with whom he remained five years. He then went to Washington county, Penn., in the interest of the Pittsburgh, Canons- burg & State Line railroad, of which he is a director and in March, 1889, he came to Wellsburg, which has since been his home. He also holds the position of secretary of the Pittsburgh Gas Coal company, Pittsburgh, Penn. He is one of the vigorous, capable and successful attorneys at law of the state, and is held in high regard as a scholar, lawyer and business man by the community. He has been a member of the Ohio State Bar association since its organization, is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, of the Ohio consistory of Cincinnati, and politically is a republican. Mr. Cotton was married in September, ISS2, to Florence M., daughter of George W. and M. A. Freshwaters, of Brooke county, and they had two children: Gilmore and Flossie, the latter of whom died October 26, 1889, aged three years.
. John N. Cooper, M. D., of Wellsburg, a physician and surgeon of high standing in his profession, was born at Scotch Ridge, Bel- mont Co., Ohio, December 1, 1831, of Scoth-Irish lineage. He re- ceived in youth a fine literary education, studying three years under Rev. John McClusky, at West Alexander academy, and then entering Washington college, in 1851, and completing the work of the sopho- more and junior years. He then began the study of medicine with Dr. S. B. West, of Martin's Ferry, Ohio, and subsequently, after at- tending lectures at the Ohio Medical college, he began the practice of medicine at. West Liberty, W. Va., in 1857. His residence at Wells- burg began in 1867, and here he has attained a large practice, and has to a notable degree the confidene and respect of the public. He is a valued citizen, active and enterprising in the interests of the com- munity. In June, 1875, there was conferred upon him the degree of A. M., by Washington and Jefferson college. The doctor is a member of the Medical Society of West Virginia, of which he has twice been elected vice president, and is a member of the American Medical association. Dr. Cooper was married September 20, 1860, to Sallie B. Hedges, daughter of Joseph Hedges, Esq., deceased, of Brooke county.
William P. Cowans was born August 17, 1854, near Little Washing- ton, Penn. His father and mother, John and Jane (Mann) Cowans, were natives of Ireland and Scotland, respectively. John Cowans was a shepherd in his native land, he died in 1863; the mother is still
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living. They first moved to Bethany, W. Va., and afterward to Little Washington, subsequently they took up their residence in Blooming- ton, Ill., where they lived for eight years. He enlisted in the Union army during the late war, and served two years and a half, coming home at the end of this period, he died soon after. The mother and children returned to Bethany soon after his death. The five children that were born to these parents are: Mary (Wells), Walter, Anna (Mercer), Maggie (Fowler), and William P. After the family's re- turn to West Virginia, William went to live with John Marshall, who resided in the vicinity of Wheeling. After remaining with him for one year, Mr. Cowans moved to West Middletown, Penn. He after- ward came to Bethany and worked for William K. Pendleton for two years. He then attended school for about four months, after which he worked on a farm for a year, and for five years drove a hack to Wellsburg. Mr. Cowans spent three months in Laplatte, Neb., and after his return entered the livery business which he conducted for one year. After clerking for George Curtis for a few months he again embarked in the livery business and is now engaged in that oc- cupation, doing an extensive business. August 21, 1889, he married Mary E. Brown, of Bethany. She was born in 1854. Mrs. Cowans has been the postmistress at Bethany for about four years. Mr. Cow- ans is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a firm believer in the prin- ciples of the republican party. They are both very highly respected in the community in which they live and by all with whom they come in contact.
George B. Crawford, a prominent citizen of Wellsburg, and mayor since May, 1889, is a native of that city, born November 14, 1838. His father, Cornelius H. Crawford, was one of the prominent men of his day and one of the best Ohio river pilots, a calling in which he engaged for some years, although he was reared upon the farm and in his latter years was a carpenter. He was born on Buffalo creek, near Bethany, W. Va., September 8, 1814, and died at Whar- ton, Tex., August 28, 1859, while sojourning there and pursuing his occupation. By his marriage to Maria S., daughter of John and Mary Moren, he had seven children, George B., Oscar F .; Helen, de- ceased; Narcissa and Eliza, both deceased; John M. and William M. The mother, a devoted Christian and benevolent lady, died March 3, 1884, in the sixty-ninth year of her age. Her father, who came to Wellsburg in 1806, enlisted in the war of 1812, but had proceeded only as far as Northfolk when peace was declared. George B. Craw- ford was first employed at ten years of age turning a wheel in a " rope walk," was subsequently in a cotton factory until 1860, and then in a paper mill until 1861. In the latter year he enlisted in Company G, of the First Virginia volunteer infantry for three months' service, and on August 4, 1862, re-enlisted for three years. As a veteran he served until the close of the war, being discharged at Clarksburg, W. Va., June 23, 1865, as a member of Company D, Second regiment, West Virginia veteran infantry. His command was one distinguished for gallantry, and he saw active and dangerous service
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