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. II pt 2 > Part 13
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
Frank M. Cowen was born February 4, 1855, in Belmont county, and his boyhood days were passed in St. Clairsville, where he attended the common schools until he was fourteen years of age, at which time he went to live with an uncle, Gen. B. R. Cowen, of Cincinnati, Ohio. That gentleman receiving the appointment of assistant secretary of the interior, Mr. Cowen was given a first-class clerkship in the Pension bureau, at Washington city, which office he filled acceptably until he resigned for the purpose of attending college. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan university at Delaware, Ohio. After leaving col- lege, Mr. Cowen returned to St. Clairsville, and on the completion of the study of law, and his admission to the bar, entered into a partner- ship with his father. He remained there until the opening of the Flushing bank in ISS4; he then removed to Flushing with his family, having accepted the position of cashier of that institution. He was united in marriage to Miss Kate Meyer, daughter of Henry and Katherine Meyer. Their marriage has been crowned by the birth of one child, a bright little girl, who was born May 30, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Cowen are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Flushing. Mr. Cowen is a member of the town council, president of the Gallaher tool manufacturing company, and secretary of the Building and Loan association of Flushing, and in those as well as in his position of cashier of the bank, he holds the confidence and esteem of the community at large, being a financier of much ability. This building and loan association, organized by the efforts of Mr. Cowen and other gentlemen in the spring of 'SS, by limiting its divi- dends to a low rate, and by a system of rebating excessive earnings to its borrowers originated by Mr. Cowen, certainly is one of the most liberal and equitable institutions of that character in the state, and its beneficial results are already felt and appreciated in that community. While living at St. Clairsville, he was town clerk and secretary of their building association, and he was also honored by his associates with the position of captain of the St. Clairsville Light Guards, which company in a competitive drill at Marietta, in the summer i8;S, re. ceived the second prize for proficiency in drill; their captain after- ward received a letter from the late lamented General Cooke, of the United States army, a judge at that drill, congratulating him and his command for their admirable discipline and exhibition, and speaking in high terms of the Ohio National Guard in general.
Abijah B. Fisher is one of the rising young farmers and stock-raisers of Belmont county, having a finely improved farm of ninety acres, which he operates after the most approved and progressive style. Ilis stock is of the finest breeds and is gaining him an enviable repu- tation. Mr. Fisher is a son of Samuel and Eve Fisher; the latter's maiden name was Packer. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were carly settlers of Belmont county, Mr. Fisher being an old and respected farmer and citizen of that county. Abijah lived on his father's farm, receiving his schooling from the common schools in the vicinity of his home. January 4, 1SSt, he was married to Miss Derotha Wilkins, daughter of John and Sarah Wilkins, who were born in Virginia, but removed to
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Ohio in their childhood. Four children have come of this marriage: Charley S., born August 21, 1882; Ethel R., born January 10, 1884; Elsie A., born January 11, 1886, and John W., born September 2, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are both active communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Fisher is a class leader and trustee, being one of the most aggressive church workers in the community. John Wilkins was born in Virginia, but removed to Ohio in his child- hood; his wife, Sarah McCollough, was born in Ohio. John Wilkins enlisted in the late war and died in the hospital at Nashville, Tennes- see, in April, 1864.
Mrs. Rachel Fisher is a daughter of Isaac and Phæbe (Kirk) Hol- lingsworth, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. Isaac Hollingsworth came to Ohio with his parents when he was four years old; the family located in Flushing where Isaac received as much schooling as was obtainable in those days to people in moderate circumstances. When he was thirty years of age he married Miss Phoebe Kirk, and they founded a home in Flushing township. Mr. and Mrs. Hollingsworth were members of the Hicksite Society of Friends. By hard work the husband accumulated a good property which he left his widow on his death, May 2, 1874. The wife died February 5, 1877. The man and wife lie side by side in the Friends' cemetery at Flushing. Rachel was born December 12, 1835, living with her parents until her marriage in October, 1876, to Samuel Fisher, a son of Barreck Fisher, of Frederick county, Va. Samuel Fisher came to Ohio with his widowed mother and commenced farming upon the same property where his widow now lives. He was a prominent man in the town- ship, having been township trustee, and also a member of the board of the Uniontown pike. He left a farm in the highest state of culti- vation, the property consisting of nearly 400 acres. He was also a very successful sheep raiser. His death occurred February 3, 1886, and the sad event cast a gloom over the entire community, as his life of probity and kindness had won him many friends.
Edward L. Hobson is one of six children born to Stephen and Mar- garet Hobson. The former was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, and the latter in Belmont county, same state. The father died in July, ISS7, at the age of fifty-seven years. Their children are: Rebecca, died in ISS9; Edward, Joseph, a prominent physician of Cleveland, Ohio; Alice, died in 1886; Mary and Clarence, both living with their mother. Edward L. was born March, 1860, and was raised in Flushing, where his father was engaged in the mercantile business for twenty- five years. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Hobson were members of the So- ciety of Friends, and the family were members of the same by birth- right. Edward obtained a good education, spending two terms at the Friends college, of Barnesville, in connection with other schooling. After leaving college he entered his father's store and continued in this business until iSS9, since which time he has been engaged exclu- sively in the wool business. Mr. Hobson has been buying and selling wool more or less since 1878, but since he has given his time solely to
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this interest, he has increased his business until in the past year he bought the enormous quantity of 135,000 pounds of wool. In May, 1885, he was married to Miss Sarah Alma Mills, a daughter of Elias and Mary (Brown) Mills. Two children are the issue of this union: Harold A., born April 3. 1886, and Francis II., born June 30, 1889. Mr. Hobson is thoroughly informed in all the details of his business. and is rapidly coming to the front as one of the largest wool dealers of the state. Mrs. Hobson is a communicant of the Methodist Epis- copal church of Flushing, and both she and her husband are promi- nent in the cultivated circles of Flushing and vicinity.
John A. Hobson, M. D., is one of six children born to Thomas and Unity Ilobson; the former was born 1812 in Jefferson county, Ohio, and spent his early life in teaching school in the old pioneer log school- house in Jefferson county, Ohio. His ambition was to become a physician, and at one time he had all his arrangements made for com- mencing the study of his chosen profession, but the sickness of his father compelled him to abandon his project. The mother was a daughter of John and Dorothy Johnson, and was born in Loudon county, Va., in 1811. She, with her father and mother and her twin sister, rode on horseback from Loudon county to Columbiana county, Ohio, in the year 1812, the parents each carrying one of the chil- dren. The family were Quakers as far back as they can be traced. Their children's names are: Benjamin J., Mary C., wife of Thomas Conrow, a resident of Flushing township; Sarah Ann, who resides with John Hoyle, an uncle, of Columbiana county, Ohio; Dorothy, widow of John Stratton, the organizer of the large grist-mill at Flushing; since his death she has been engaged in teaching in the Friends' semi- nary, at Barnesville, being the principal of the same; John A., and Be- linda, wife of Joseph Binns, a resident of Harrisville, Ohio. Dr. Hobson was born in 1849 in Jefferson county, Ohio. His boyhood was spent in the common schools and in working upon his father's farm. When he was four or five years of age his father removed to Washington county and at the age of eighteen he entered the Friends' seminary at Mt. Pleasant. Having chosen medicine as his vocation in life, he studied for three years with Smith Branson, M. D., of Chester Hill. Morgan county, Ohio; he then entered the Miami medical college at Cincinnati, and was graduated therefrom in 1872; at two different times he was a student at the New York Polyclinic. After leaving college he settled at Plymouth, Ohio, remaining for one year, he then removed to Flushing, Belmont county, Ohio, and has by his undoubted skill and integrity won for himself an enviable reputation and prac- tice. In 1873 he married Miss Martha HI. Branson, by whom he has had four children: Mary Bertha, born April 20, 1874, died February 25. 1877: Emma Gertrude, born Angust 10, 1876; Anna Sarah, born November 4, 1878, and James David, born November 17, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Ilobson are members of the Society of Friends, and the for- mer is also a member of the American Medical society; he is also a member of the Belmont County Medical society, in the re-organization of which he was prominently identified. He has, since the comple-
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tion of the C., L. & W. R. R., served as surgeon of the road with sat- isfaction.
Hon. Isaac Holloway was born in the southern part of Virginia, earn Fredericksburgh, Stafford county, December, 1805, being one of two children born to Nathan and Anna Holloway. Mr. Ilolloway was reared on the paternal farm. Had few school privileges. At the age of twenty-one he came on horse-back across the mountains into Ohio, locating in Flushing township. In that day this was a long and tedi- ous journey, and the end of it was considered a great ways west. Mr. Holloway taught school until he entered the mercantile business at Rock Hill. By strict honesty and a determined purpose to win he came to be one of the most respected citizens of the township. After some time spent in business at Rock Ilill he removed to Flushing. which, at that time, was a very small town, here he opened a general store and continued the mercantile business until his death. Ile also was quite extensively interested in land investments, being successful in this, as well as in other enterprises. Mr. Holloway had accumulated a large property at the time of his death. When he started teaching he was possessed of just 1212 cents, and like nearly all self-made men, so-called, he was systematic in all his arrangements, regular in his habits, and economical in his expenditures. He served in the Ohio state senate in the sessions of 1858 and '59, and major of Ohio militia. For thirteen years he was a justice of the peace, and his de- cisions were never reversed. He died July 23, 1885, being sick only a short time. In May, 1850, he was married to Ann Eliza Norton, who now survives him, residing in the comfortable home which he left her in Flushing. By a previous marriage Mr. Holloway had three child- ren, they are: Mrs. Atkinson, Otho and Nathan, the latter a resident of Canton, Ohio. Mr. Holloway's parents were members of the Bap- tist church, and he was reared under that pursuasion.
Daniel Wheeler Huff is one of nine children born to Daniel and Nancy (Vanpelt) Huff. The children are: Juliet, deceased; Mary, wife of Lewis Wood, of Spiceland, Ind .; Sarah, wife of Samuel Bran- son, living in Des Moines, Iowa; John, deceased; Mahlon, who went west about 1860, and has not been heard from since ISS5: Aaron; Phoebe, deceased; Jesse, a resident of Belmont county, and Daniel. Daniel Fluff, Sr., was a son of Daniel Iluff who moved to Ohio from South Carolina with his family about the year 1790, settling in High- land county; his wife, Nancy, was a daughter of John Vanpelt, who came from Virginia and settled in Belmont county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Huff were married in Highland county, where the former died in 1866; the latter died in 1875 at Spiceland, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Huff were members of the Society of Friends. One of the sons ren- dered valiant service to his country during the war of the rebellion. The subject of this sketch was born in Highland county in 1842, and his boyhood was spent on the farm and in the public schools of the township. When twenty-two years of age he married Miss Rachel Cannon, the ceremony taking place February 11, 1864. Mrs. Huff is a daughter of John and Lydia (Mercer) Cannon, the father was born
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
in Harrison county, where he lived during his lifetime; the mother was born and lived in Ohio all her life. Mr. Cannon was born Janu- ary 16, 1799, and died in 1855; his wife was born June 7, 1807, and died in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Huff are the parents of six children: Charles S., born March 16, 1865; William E., December 25, 1867; Whiticere, March 24, 1869; Sarah, March 14, 1872; Grace M., Decem- ber 20, 1874; and Lydia E., May 20, 1877. Mrs. Huff is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mr. Huff holds a birthright from the Society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Huff have a host of friends, and are thoroughly respected by all with whom they come in contact. Mr. Huff is a very successful liveryman and dealer in horses. All of the children live at home with the exception of William, who married Miss Iola Shepherd, and has a home of his own.
Frank M. Judkins, the senior partner in the firm engaged in the pub- lication of the Flushing News-Advertiser, is a son of J. P. and Eliza- beth Judkins, was born September 4, 1848. He was married Febru- ary 25, 1869, to Miss L. Ada Hollingsworth, daughter of Elihu and L. A. Hollingsworth. They have four children: Clyde H., the oldest, is the junior member of the Advertiser firm, and a member of the class of 91, in the classical department of Scio college. Anna Maude, the second child, is a member of the class of 'go in the Flushing high school. She is also an elocutionist of some merit. The other child- ren, Wheeler E. and Rae D., boys of sixteen and fourteen years, are members of the high school, and during vacation, can "set " the news- paper with ease and dispatch. Their home is on Spring street. Mr. Judkins has succeeded in making his journal one of the best local papers in the county, wielding a strong influence for morality and the material prosperity of the community.
Thomas W. Kirk, an enterprising merchant of Rock Hill, Belmont Co., Ohio, is the son of Robert and Sarah Jane Kirk. The former was born in 1837, and married October 1, 1858, being the father of seven children: Anna L., born August 19, 1859; Thomas W., born February 15, 1862; Flora L., born January 17, 1866, died March 25, 1873: James E., born September 25, 1871, died March 5, 1873; George B., born January 9, 1876; Chester C., born August 1, 1878, and Robert J., born September 4, ISSo. Thomas W. was brought up in his father's family, attending school in Flushing, and later, graduating from the Zanesville Business college. He married Miss Louie E. Judkins, April 20, 1887. She is a daughter of James E. and Lucinda (Vance) Judkins. One child has come of this mariage, Brenton S., born November 17, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk are active members of the Flushing Methodist Episcopal church, and are very popular with their many friends and acquaintances, Mr. Kirk being regarded as one of the most promising young business men in the county. Mrs. Kirk's grandfather came to Ohio from Virginia at a very early date, living to be eighty-five years of age; he and his wife now sleep side by side in the Rock Hill cemetery. The family have been promi- nently identified with the settlement and growth of Belmont county. Mr. Kirk is a member of Flushing lodge, No. 291, of the K. of P'.,
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Uniform Rank, No. 92, and is also a member of the Masonic frater- nity, Flushing lodge, No. 298.
George S. Latham, born August 21, 1823; Robert A., born Novem- ber 26, 1807, died November, 1865; Sarah, born March 14, 1809, widow of Alexander Johnson; Lucinda, born September 18, 1810, wife of Rev. Lewis H. Davidson; Mary, born May S, 1812, widow of C. G. Kennedy; Anne, born July 2, 1814; Fanny, born February S, 1817, died in 1853: John, born April 12, 1819. a prominent resident of Harrison county, Ohio, having represented his district in the state legislature, and also having served as county commissioner, and Elizabeth, born May 30, 1821, died in 1865, these are the children which were born to John and Lucy Latham. The father was a native of Virginia, as was also his wife; they came to Ohio and settled in Belmont county, about a mile from the place where George Latham now resides in Flushing township, in the year 1814. Mr. Latham commenced to work on a farm after his settlement in Ohio, continuing in this until he had saved enough to buy property of his own. He served in the war of 1812, and lived his whole life as a man of integrity and purity. Mr. Latham passed to his reward in 1835; his widow survived him until 1876, when she too was laid to rest, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. She drew a pension from the government as the wife of a soldier of the war of 1812. John Latham married Lucy Ross, January 1, 1807. George Latham was reared on the farm with his mother, receiving a good common school education. Arriving at the years of manhood he was united in mar- riage September 4, 1845, to Elizabeth Clevenger, daughter of Isaac Clevenger, of Flushing township. Mr. and Mrs. Latham have had two children, Rachel Anne, born May 26, 1847, she is now the wife of William Junkins, of Butler, Harrison county, and Taylor J., born March 7, 1850, died March 14, 1875. Mr. Latham and his family are members of the Baptist church of Rock Hill, and are held in high esteem by the community in which they live. Mr. Latham has served with distinction as a township trustee for years, and is accounted one of the most successful agriculturists in the county.
Frank Mead is a prosperous farmer and a prominent citizen of Flushing township, of which he was a trustee for four years, he has also served with great credit to himself as land appraiser of the township, and has always been true to himself, to his friends and to the political faith which he holds. He is a staunch supporter of the republican party. Mr. Mead was born in Belmont county, Ohio, and was raised on his father's farm in that county. He obtained a very good education, graduating from the Iron City college, of Pittsburgh. After leaving college he taught school for eight terms, and when twenty-nine years of age was married to Miss Parley M. Collins, daughter of Zachariah and Rachel Collins. The former was born in Maryland, and the latter was of English extraction. Mr. Collins died November 12, 1884. His widow still survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Coffins were communicants of the Methodist Episcopal church and raised their family in that faith. Frank Mead's parents were Joseph
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IHISTORY OF . THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY.
and Phobe G. (Nichols) Mead. The father was born on July 2, 1811. and died August 1, 1884, he was a son of John Mead, a native of Loudon county, Va .; the mother was born May 14, 1821, and died August 24, ISSI. She was the daughter of Isaac and Mary Nichols. both natives of Virginia. Their children are: William T., Joseph I., Charles E., deceased; Mary E., deceased, was the wife of Isaac W. Haines; Cornelia M., wife of Leander Vickers; Frank J., Phoebe, Alice, Pineous E. and Archie R., deceased. Thsse parents were married about 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mead are earnest com- municants of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Flushing, and are very influential people in the community. Mr. Mead has a finely cul- tivated farm of ninety-eight acres and carries on a general farming business. His children are: Maud R., born October 22, 1883, and Lulu Alice, born December 11, 1885.
Morris Family History .- The first member of this family that came to eastern Ohio was Daniel Morris, who came to Cadiz, Ohio, from West Liberty, W. Va., then a part of the "old Dominion," in 1811, and built a cabin at the corner of what is now Marion and War- ren streets, where he resided until 1846, when he removed to Monroe county, Ohio, where he died. The second member was John Mor- ris, Sr., son of James Morris, who resided in West Virginia, opposite Marietta, Ohio, who came to Cadiz, Ohio, in 1813, he also being from West Liberty, W. Va. He resided with his brother Daniel until 1816, when he married Charlotte Huff, daughter of Joseph Huff, of whom we shall treat later, and moved to a farm one mile northeast of New Athens, Ohio, now owned by Robert McFarland, where he resided until 1826. During this residence there was born to them five child- ren, namely: Alexander, Joseph, Margaret, John (now living at Mar- quette, Neb.), and a daughter who died in infancy. During 1826 he sold his farm and purchased another from the heirs of Nicholas Smith, situated two miles west of New Athens. Here he removed in the early autumn of 1826. During this residence there were born five more children, namely: Mary Ann, Prudence R., Philip Dod- ridge, Charlotte and Elizabeth. lle continued to reside here until his death, which occurred April 4, 1865, caused by paralysis. His widow resided sometimes with her children and sometimes at the old home, until her son Joseph removed from his farm near Flushing, to a farm near Hopedale, Ohio, in 1879, when she removed with him and remained there until her death, December 8, 1884, aged eighty-eight years, ten months and five days. The third member of this family connected with this history, was Morgan Morris, brother of John and Daniel, who came to New Athens township, Harrison Co., Ohio, in 1815, and there resided until his death; his descendants living in the same township at this time, 1Soo. Joseph Huff, father of Charlotte Morris, was born in Virginia about 1765, and'at the age of four- teen ran off from home and entered the American army, and acted as a scout until the war closed, and in the same position in the Indian wars of the northwest territory, and again in the war of 1812. He was an inveterate hater of Indians and snakes, having acquired his
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hatred for the red men by his brother Jack and his entire family be- ing massacred near old Warren block house in the northeastern cor- ner of Belmont county, Ohio, and he declared vengeance on them and kept his word. When Harrison county was surveyed by Daniel Morris, Huff furnished the men with wild meat, for which service the government gave him a quarter section of land where Cadiz now stands. He died three miles west of Westchester, in 1841. Joseph, eldest son of John Morris, was born near New Athens, Ohio, March 16, 1822, being the third child of John Morris, Sr .; he removed with his father to the Smith farm in IS26, and remained with his father until March 9th, 1843, when he married Mary Brock, daughter of George S. Brock, when he removed four miles west of New Athens, on the farm now occupied by John Morris, eldest son of Morgan Mor- ris. Ilere he resided eight years, during which time were born: John A., January 11, 1844, now living near Kennon, Belmont county, Ohio; Mary E. Charlotte, June 27, 1847, now living near New Athens, Ohio; George S. Brock, October 21, 1850, now living in Arkansas City, Kansas, being one of the leading physicians of that place. During April, 1857, he removed to the farm now owned by Jacob Harris, near Flushing, Ohio, and there resided two years, and then again removed one mile west to the farm now owned by his son John .\., near Kennon, Ohio, and during this residence Luke V. was born June 12, 1854, died February 28, 1885, at Flushing, Ohio, and in 1866, he again removed to the Harris farm, where Octo- ber 28, 1873, his faithful companion departed this life, aged forty-seven years, eight months, and twenty-four day. After her death he resided mostly with his son John A., until February 14, 1875, when he married Emma Moore, daughter of Cryus Moore, and again began farming at his old home, where he continued until 1879, when he traded farms with Jacob R. Harris, of New Hopedale, and removed to his present home, where he now resides ( 1890) being, at this time, sixty-eight years of age. John At, eldest son of Joseph Morris, was born near New Athens, Ohio, resided with his father, working on the farm in summer . and attending school in winter until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the war of the rebellion, serving in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio Volunteer infantry, being with the army of the Potomac, Sixth corps; being in several battles until the Wilder- ness fight, when he was wounded in the left eye, May 12, 1864, during Grant's flanking movements at Spottsylvania Court House, Va. After being wounded he remained at different hospitals for about one month when he was sent home on furlough, where he remained but a short time, then reported to commanding officer at Camp Chase, Ohio, then was sent to Camp Dennison, Ohio, when being unfit for active field service, he was detailed as clerk at Kelton Barracks, Cincinnati, Ohio. In the winter of 1864 and 1865 he acted as sergeant major of a portion of the Thirty-seventh lowa volunteer infantry, well known as the " gray beard " regiment; then by special detail from Gen. Willich as clerk. In May, 1865, he was mustered out. After remaining on the farm a year or two, and attended a mercantile school at Colum-
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