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 82
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years. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have had seven children: Margaret F., Al- bert G., James M .; William P., died August 14, 1885, aged twenty-five years; Venie J., Mary A. and Caroline V. James M., graduated at the University of West Virginia, and is now superintendent of schools at Huntington, W. Va .; Albert, formerly a teacher, is now a merchant at Burgettstown, Penn. Mr. Lee is an elder of the Presbyterian church, as were his father and grandfather, and his family are also members. He has held the office of justice of the peace for eighteen years in succession.
John Linduff, one of the industrious farmers of the county of Han- cock, whose labors in the development of the country have been re- warded in the somewhat unexpected way of a discovery of the oil producing wealth of the land, was born in Brooke county, Septem- ber 5, 1841. He is the son of Isaac Linduff, who was born in New Jersey, April 1, 1800, and came to Steubenville when six years of age. After a few years' residence there, he lived for a considerable period at the Mingo Bottom, and then settled in Brooke county. . He is now about ninety years of age. John Linduff came to this county when less than four years of age, and has resided ever since on the farm he now occupies. He and his father together own 150 acres in the heart of the oil region, and there is a good well on his father's farm and one just beginning to produce on his own farm. Mr. Linduff was married September 5, 1867, to Sophia Moore, who was born in Han- cock county February 2, 1851, the daughter of Henry Moore. The latter is a native of this county, of which his father, Robert, was one of the pioneers. Henry Moore, who is now a resident of Beaver county, Penn., has been a teacher most of his life, but is now engaged in merchandise. Mr. and Mrs. Linduff are the parents of six child- ren, four of whom are still living: Anna Mary, Elizabeth Alice, Ag- nes Lydia and Frances Mercella. Two sons died in infancy. Mr. Linduff and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a valued citizen, and has served on the school board for three years. He has devoted his life to constant industry, but now, with a bonus of $150 per acre for the use of his land for the oil business, and a royalty of one-eighth of the product, he is prepared to take the world more easily.
Robert E. Lindsay, ex-sheriff of Hancock county, was born Novem- ber 7, 1850, at Phillipsburgh, Beaver Co., Penn. His father, William L. Lindsay, a native of Lancaster, Penn., and son of Michael Lindsay, a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, was a well-known school teacher, and also prominent as justice of the peace and notary public. He married Nancy Baker, who still survives. The father died in July, 1852. Robert E., at the age of ten years, came to New Cumberland, where he attended school until twenty years old, taking a course of one year at the college at Mt. Union, Ohio. Since then he has been employed as bookkeeper by the Porter Fire-brick company, with the exception of his service to the county. In 1884 he was elected sheriff of Hancock county, on the ticket of the republican party, of which he is a prominent member, and served efficiently from 1885 to 1889.
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He is now secretary of the republican executive committee of the county. October 8, 1874, he was married to Sarah, daughter of James and Jane Patterson, the former of whom was born in county Antrim, Ireland. Both were residents of, and died at, New Cumberland, the mother in April, 1879, and the father in 1882. Mr. Lindsay and wife have five children: James H., Ethel, Nina, Olivia, and William L. Parents and family are members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Lindsay has been an official member for several years. The widow of William Lindsay was married in 1860 to William Teesdale, a prominent merchant of New Cumberland, who was born at Phila- delphia in 1820. When eight years old he went with his step-father, Henry Bell, and his mother, to Pittsburgh, and then to Beaver, where the step-father took charge of a manufacturing establishment. From 1834 to 1837 they lived at Steubenville, where he learned the shoe- maker's trade. This he afterward followed at Holliday's Cove in 1837-8, and afterward at Paris, Penn., and King's Creek. He was then otherwise employed until 1852, when he came to New Cumber- land, then known as " Black Horse Landing," and after service as a moulder in the brick yard, went upon the river and was engaged for about seventeen years by Porter & Co., in delivering brick. Since then he has been engaged in merchandise. His first marriage was in November, 1839, to Hannah Still, who died in 1858. Two children were born to them, both now deceased. By his present marriage he has two children: Anna M. and William J.
Porter C. McLane, M. D., prominent in the profession of medicine in Hancock county, is a son of Dr. John McLane, who was born in Allegheny county, Penn., in 1772. The lattter was educated at the Cannonsburgh academy, and was one of the founders of the Philo literary society, in 1797. Experiencing a call to the ministry, he was licensed by the Presbytery of Ohio, August 28, 1799, and in the fol- lowing year he received calls from Presbyterian churches at Upper Buffalo, Bull Creek, Middlesex, and Montours, the latter of which he accepted. He was ordained and installed as pastor August 27, 1800, and remained with that charge 'until December, 1808. When war was declared in 1812, he went into the service as surgeon, having studied that profession during his course at Cannonsburgh, and after the close of the war he settled at Florence, Penn., and devoted him- self to the practice of medicine. In a few years he removed to Fair- view, W. Va., and thence a few years later to Wellsville, Ohio, where he died in July, 1827. He was twice married, and by the first union had three sons and two daughters, of whom one son survives, at the age of seventy-one years. The second marriage was to Celia Cullen, and three children by her survive, two daughters, one living in Mis- souri, the other in Iowa, and the oldest son, P. C. McLane, the sub- ject of this mention. He was born at Fairview, August 28, 1823. After his father's death he returned with his mother to Fairview, where she died in 1836. In youth he chose medicine as his profession, and began the study with Dr. Norman K. Mckenzie. continuing it with Drs. Patterson and Mckenzie. After attending lectures at the
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Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, in 1848-9, he began practicing at Fairview, and remained there until 1852, when he removed to Cali- fornia. He was there engaged in his profession until March, 1855, when he came eastward, and after traveling in the western states, settled at Comanche, Iowa, in 1857. In May, 1862, he entered the ser- vice of the government at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., and remained until October, 1865, having charge of the post hospital for a year or more, and having the care of the sick and wounded after the close of the war. Then, after a year spent with friends in the east, he entered the profession in Hancock county, locating himself at New Cumber- land. In 1859 Dr. McLane was married to Miss E. M. Hoyt, of New Haven, Conn., who died in January, 1864. December 14, 1870, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Hon. D. H. Wortley, formerly a mem- ber of the Ohio senate, and a resident of Coshocton, Ohio. Four children were born to this union: Bertha E., Celia A .; Helen F., who died in 1878, and Kenneth. The doctor and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder many years.
The firm of McMahan, Porter & Co. is one of the principal ones in this region interested in the manufacture of fire-brick and sewer pipe. The firm is chartered as an incorporation with a paid up capital of $100,000. The works produce in addition to the main product named, terra-cotta articles of all kinds, drain tile, etc. Hugh McMahan, sen- ior member of this firm, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., October 3, 1845. He is a son of Robert McMahan, who was born in Ireland in 1811, and was brought by his parents to America in 1816. He owns and tills a farm in Allegheny county, Penn. His wife, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1811, died there in 1886. Hugh McMahan worked upon the farm with his father until about twenty-two years old, in the meantime, after graduating at Monongahela City Normal school, teaching school for several winters. He next engaged with a lumber and boat-building firm on the Monongahela river as book- keeper for two years, and afterward was employed by R. C. Schmertz & Co., of Belle Vernon, in the same capacity for a short time. Then he purchased an interest in the firm of Smith, Por- ter & Co., now known as McMahan, Porter & Co., and came to New Cumberland in January, 1874 and took charge of the works. In 1875 Mr. McMahan was married to Roxie, daughter of Capt. William Stewart and they have two children, Bessie and Robert Emmet. Mrs. McMahan is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Capt. William Stewart, one of the best known river men of the upper Ohio, is a grandson of Daniel Stewart, who came to America from his native county of Derry, Ireland, seven years before the Rev- olutionary war, through which he served. He died in 1830, aged ninety-three years. His son, William Stewart, born in Washington county, Penn., about 1796, married Mary Neil, by whom he had the following children: John, James, William, Daniel, Sarah, Andrew J. and Hiram R., of whom James, a physician at Steubenville, Andrew J., Sarah and William survive. The family removed in 1837 to Hancock county, where the father died in 1884. William was born April I,
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1828, in the same house in which his father was born. At fifteen years of age he began an engagement of four years at fire-brick mak- ing, and after that went upon the river. He was first flat-boat pilot, then steamboat pilot, and is now making trips from Pittsburgh to Louisville. On August 28, 1851, he was married to Mary A., daughter of Philip and Mary Monsey, of French descent. She was born in Lancaster county, Penn. The captain and wife have the following children: Andrew C., Sarah R .; Frank W., clerk of the court; Hiram C., Mary P., Jessie V., Anna R. and James. The captain's home is at New Cumberland, where his wife conducts a popular hotel.
Oliver S. Marshall, clerk of the Hancock county court, is a native of the county, a son of James G. Marshall, still a resident and a prominent citizen of the county. The latter is the son of John Mar- shall, who was a son of Aaron Marshall, one of the very earliest set- tlers of Hancock county, coming from Virginia to Washington county, Penn., in 1760, and to this country in 1780. James G. Marshall was born near Fairview in 1827. He has spent most of his life in the prac- tice of the law, and has also filled various important official positions, such as district attorney for the county, commissioner of revenue, etc. He married Lavina, daughter of John and Elizabeth Miller, of this county. Oliver S. Marshall was born September 24, 1850. He re- ceived his education in the common schools and at the State Normal school at West Liberty, and Bethany college, at which institution he was graduated. Afterward he taught school for seven or eight years, during that period being principal of the New Cumberland schools for five years. In the fall of 1884 he was elected to the office of county clerk, to assume the duties of which office he resigned the principal- ship of the school January 1, 1885. He is discharging the duties of this position with much efficiency and satisfaction to the public. His term will expire January 1, 1891. He is a republican in politics and influential in the party. He is a member of the Disciples church and of the local lodges of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Pythias. In September, 1880, Mr. Marshall was married to Lizzie, daughter of Campbell Tarr, a prominent citizen of West Virginia, and the first treasurer of the state. Mrs. Marshall is a native of Brooke county. She died January 22, 1887, leaving two children, John and Olive.
One of the finest farms of Hancock county is that of James N. Mayhew, of Clay district, which comprises about 230 acres of fertile land, well improved, having a variety of all kinds of fruit, and pro- vided with good buildings. Oil is found in paying quantities but a few miles away, and underlying the farm is a good vein of coal, of superior quality, three to eight feet in thickness. Mr. Mayhew was born in Washington county, Penn., December 31, 1827, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Jackson) Mayhew. The father was born in Northumberland county, Penn., November 8, 1798, and the mother October 10, 1800, in Washington county, Penn. The grandfather Mayhew came from Northumberland county to Washington county in 1813, and in 1844 to Parkersburgh, W. Va., where he died in 1846. His wife survived until early in the fifties. Her father, Jackson,
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lived in Washington county, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1852. John Mayhew spent his early life in Washington county, and came to Hancock county in 1836, where he followed farm- ing and teaming until his death, in April, 1881. His wife died in November, 1875. James. N. Mayhew came to this county with his father and received his education in the Fairview schools. He re- mained with his father, assisting him in farming until 1852, when he removed to the place he now occupies. In the same year he was married to Mary Jane, daughter of Thomas Crawford, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in April, IS31. They have thirteen chil- dren, all living, as follows: Thomas C., John H., David E., William L., Nancy J .; Charles C. and James L., twins; George C., Ella E., Eliza- beth J., Frank F., Ira and Noah G. Parents and family are members of the Methodist Protestant church. Mr. Mayhew has served the community efficiently as trustee and president of the school board for more than twenty-five years. For thirty years he has been a Mason. In the spring of 1878 Jennie Mayhew, daughter of the above named, was married to Wesley Herron. She was born in this county in 1860. Mr. Herron, a prominent young farmer, was born in Han- cock county in 1855, a son of William Herron. He has a valuable farm of ninety acres in the oil field, half of which is leased to an oil company. Mr. Herron is a member of the Disciples church, and is highly esteemed by his neighbors. He and wife have six children: John E., Charles C., Celia M., Vernia B., Eula B. and Hattie.
John S. Owings, a highly respected citizen of Butler district, was born in 1830 in Brooke county. He is the son of Ephraim Owings, who was born in Brooke county about 1811, and has since early man- hood been engaged in farming. He was married in 1826 to Blanche Swearingen, daughter of John and Frances Swearingen, residents of Brooke county, and they had thirteen children, eight of whom are living. The father died July 12, ISS4, but the mother is living, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The grandfather of the subject of this notice was Asa Owings, who came from Baltimore, Md., to Brooke county about 1790, and settled opposite where the city of Steubenville now stands. He assisted in the building of the first house in that place. His death occurred about 1823. John S. Owings began farming in Brooke county and is still engaged in that occupa- tion. On May 12, 1857, he was married to Mary E. Roberts, daugh- ter of Samuel Roberts, a native of Brooke county, and to this union two children have been born, George and William E. He and wife are members of the Disciples church. Having been a life-long resi- dent of the county, and taken an active part in public affairs, he is in- fluential and widely known. In politics he has warmly espoused the cause of the democratic party. Mr. Owings has held the office of school trustee for ten years.
. John Porter, one of the most substantial and energetic business men of New Cumberland, W. Va., was born at Martin's Ferry, Ohio, August 7, 1838. His father, Moses Porter, was born in Ireland, and came to America when about fifteen years of age. He resided in
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Wheeling, W. Va., and at different places in Pennsylvania, and fol- lowed the business of manufacturing brick. In about 1836, he came to Hancock county, W. Va., and began the manufacture of fire-brick, which he continued until his death, in March, 1845. Mr. Porter's mother is still living, at New Cumberland. After the death of his father Mr. Porter made his home with his uncle, James Porter. He received his education in the common schools of Hancock county, and obtained the greater part of his instruction in the old time log school houses. He was married in 1869 to Carrie A. Mahan, who was born in this county, the daughter of John L. and Barbara (Brenneman) Mahan, the former of whom was born in Baltimore, Md., Septem- ber 17, 1814, and came to this county about the year 1830, and has since been one of the prominent citizens, and is a farmer by occupa- tion. Mrs. Porter's mother is a granddaughter of Jacob Nessley, one of the earliest settlers of this section. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are the parents of six children, of whom Lea Virginia, Frederick G., James B. and Jacob Nessley are living, and John C. and William K. are dead. He and family are member of the Presbyterian church. Politically Mr. Porter is an ardent republican, but his extensive business inter- ests have occupied his attention to such an extent that he has had but little time to devote to politics. Although Mr. Porter was left when young to make his own way in the world, he is now one of the lead- ing manufacturers of the upper Ohio valley. His first work for him- self was keel boating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, carrying the products of the fire-clay industries of this section to western and southern markets. He soon became interested in the manufacture of fire-brick, and in 1859 became part owner of a fleet of keel boats, and as his business increased, the keel boats were replaced by tow boats, several of which he owned and operated for a number of years. Since 1881 Mr. Porter has devoted his entire attention to manufact- uring. He is now sole owner of the Ætna, Eagle and Union Fire- brick works of this place, and is largely interested in the Sligo, Clifton and Enterprise Brick works, and the Black Horse Sewer-pipe Terra Cotta works. Besides this he is the principal owner of the Chelsea Iron Stone China and Decorated Ware works, which was recently constructed, and cost more than $100,000. One year ago where this magnificent building now stands was a weed patch, and the rapidity with which this gigantic enterprise was completed and put in operation, illustrates the energy with which Mr. Porter goes into any enterprise. The entire building is constructed of fire-brick, over 1,500,000 having been used. For the foundation 2,200 perches of stone were required. The lower walls are eighteen inches and the upper walls thirteen inches thick. Eight kilns sixteen and one-half feet in diameter and fifty feet high are completed. The power is furnished by a 130-horse power Corliss engine. The building contains eighteen different de- partments, in each of which different parts of the work is done. It covers a full acre of ground, contains 620 windows, and the ventila- tion is as nearly perfect as possible. Although the works have been in operation but a short time, they are turning out ware of a superior
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quality, and everything indicates a prosperous future for the Chelsea China company. Most men who succeed as well in business as Mr. Porter has done are somewhat too conscious of the fact, but he is as modest and unassuming as he is energetic and successful, and the greater part of the facts in this sketch were obtained from his neigh- bors and friends. The following from the Hancock County Independ- ent shows the estimation in which he is held by those who know him best, and proves also that he is ever ready to do what he can for the good of his county: " The citizens of New Cumberland and the man- facturers along the river are indebted to John Porter more than any one else for the completion of the railroad to this place. His untir- ing energy and push have secured to the people the services of a road that would not have been built, to say the least, for some years to come. There were great discouragements in the way, but Mr. Por- ter, having determined to get the road, never looked back, and the New Cumberland branch is here to-day, a monument to his enter- prise, perseverance, and untiring energy. Cumberland has reason to be proud that she has such a man to lead her out of the wilderness."
Peter Pugh was born in New Jersey and migrated with his parents to Burgettstown, Penn., in 1785. About the year 1800 they came to what is now known as Fairview, and located on a tract of land con- taining 400 acres. Peter remained with his father a short time and then removed to Ohio, and he sunk the first salt well on Yellow creek, in which they obtained salt. Whilst there he entered two or three quarters of land, which he soon after disposed of. He was at that time engaged in sinking salt wells. He returned to Fairview about 1810 and settled on his father's farm, where he staid but a few years, then emigrated east and went to sinking salt wells. In 1818 came back to Fairview and located on the old Pugh farm, where he re- mained about two years and then settled on the farm now owned by his son David, living there until his death, which sad event took place in 1850, at the advanced age of eighty years. His son, David, was born near Fairview, June 6, 1806. He lived and worked with his father on the farm until twenty-five years of age. On December 22, 1831, he married Miss Nancy, daughter of Mr. Jonathan Allison, a prominent citizen of the county. After his marriage he took charge of the old homestead. His family consisted of two boys and two girls, namely: Robert W. Pugh; Lizzie, who married Col. R. H. Brown, present sheriff of Hancock county; Peter A., who married Miss O. Campbell, of Cross Creek village, Penn .; Sarah A., who married George A. Spivey, October, 1878. He and wife are members of the Fairview Presbyterian church.
Rev. John Scott, D. D., pastor of the Methodist Protestant church at New Cumberland, has been distinguished through life as a minister, author and editor in the interests of his church. He was born in Washington county, Penn., October 27, 1820, a son of John Scott. The latter was born in county Donegal, Ireland, February 9, 1783, and emigrated to America in 1819, settling in Washington county, where he was engaged in farming until his death, December 19, 1833.
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He married Frances Carson, also a native of county Donegal, born May 19, 1782. She died August 1, 1875, in her ninety-fourth year. Their son, John Scott, spent his early life on the farm, and at the age of nineteen began to study for the ministry, with private tutors. When twenty-two years old he united with the Pittsburgh conference of the Methodist Protestant church, and has been a member of that conference since September, 1842, attending during that period forty- seven annual conference meetings. Dr. Scott was editor of the Meth- odist Recorder, the official church organ of his denomination from 1864 to 1870, and from 1879 to 1888, and while in that position up to 1884, was editor of the Sunday-school publications of the church. He is the author of "Pulpit Echoes, or Brief Miscellaneous Discourses," pub- lished in Cincinnati in 1873; "The Land of Sojourn, or Sketches of Patriarchal Life and Times," published at Pittsburgh in 1880. In 1852-3-4 he was editor of the Missionary and Sunday School Journal, published in Pittsburgh, and in 1873-4 edited the Home Companion, published at Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Dr. Scott began his pastoral duties at New Cumberland, where, after forty-seven years of faithful and distinguished service, he he finds himself again. But the circum- stances of his residence are very much altered from the time when he had here a circuit of which he made the round once in four weeks. The honorary title of Doctor of Divinity was bestowed upon Mr. Scott by Washington college in 1860. On July 2, 1846, Dr. Scott was married to Margaret, daughter of William and Sarah Hunter, of Washington, Penn., and to this union four children have been born: William Andrew, a prominent attorney of Springfield, Ohio; Charles A., in real estate business at San Diego, Cal .; James H., a printer, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Albert R., a farmer in Washington county, Penn.
L. R. Smith, a prominent business man of New Cumberland, was born April 30, 1832. His father, Thomas Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania in about 1790, was a brick-mason and mill-stone dresser by trade, and became a resident of Cincinnati about 1820, and died there in 1839. His wife, whose maiden name was Martha Smith, sur- vived him but a few years. The subject of this notice came to New Cumberland when about twelve years of age, and after leaving school went to work in a brick yard. This business he followed for eigh- teen years or more, a portion of that time as one of the owners of the business, and he now holds stock in the fire brick companies of Porter, Anderson & Co., Smith & Porter, and Porter, Miner & Co. After terminating his active connection with the brick manufacture he embarked in merchandise, and is now general manager and part owner of the largest store of New Cumberland. He also finds time to manage his fine farm of 300 acres, of which about 200 acres are un- der cultivation, and all of which is valuable both on account of the minerals beneath and for the fertility at the surface. On this farm Mr. Smith was fortunate recently in striking oil, and his well yields seventy-five barrels per day. During the administration of President Cleveland. Mr. Smith discharged the duties of postmaster at New
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