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 19
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still remains. Ilis establishment is the most extensive manufactory of casks, barrels, kegs and boxes in the upper Ohio valley, and its prosperous development is the most eloquent commentary upon the business ability of its founder. Mr. Mears has still other important interests, being one of the organizers of the Northwood Glass works, and a director of the same, a stockholder in the Crystal Glass works of Bridgeport, also in the Junction Iron works at Mingo Junction, the Elson Glass works, and he manages a factory at Bellaire in connec- tion with his factory at this place, and owns a general store on Wash- ington street. His investments at Martin's Ferry are many and important, and he is regarded as one of the notable and influential men of the place. He has taken no active part in politics, though he has served upon the council and as township clerk. He is a member of the Catholic church of Wheeling. Mr. Mears was married in ISS2 to Emma, daughter of William Watson, of this place, and they have four children: Emma, Jane P., Inez A. and Lucy B.
Samuel Milligan is one of ten children born to George and Mary (Pasters) Milligan, his birth occurring October 3, 1829, on Short creek, Jefferson Co., Ohio. George Milligan was born in Ireland. Emigrat- ing to the United States at an early date, he settled in Jefferson county, where he raised his family of four sons and six daughters, three of the sons and four daughters survive. Samuel Milligan at- tended the common schools of Jefferson county, and at the age of eighteen years entered the butcher trade at Warrenton, Ohio. Mr Milligan moved from Warrenton to Martin's Ferry, where he entered the meat business, but subsequently was engaged in boating on the Ohio river, continuing in this occupation until 1853, when he returned to Martin's Ferry and again embarked in the meat business, which he still conducts. His marriage to Mary Allender took place in July, 1853. shortly after his return to this city. Mrs. Milligan's parents were Robert and Margaret Allender. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan have been blessed by the birth of five sons and seven daughters, seven of these children are still living, forming a very happy home. Mr. Milligan is a member of the Martin's Ferry lodge of the I. O. O. F., and is held in high esteem by all with whom he comes in contact. His business is one of the largest of the kind in the city, and has been made so only by the honesty of its owner and by his business ability.
Matthew C. Mitchell, ex-mayor of Martin's Ferry, was born near Mt. Pleasant, Belmont county, July 22, 1840. Of that county Thomas Mitchell, his grandfather, was one of the early settlers, purchasing at an early day a large tract of land at Scotch Ridge, from the govern- ment, and farming there until his death, about 1850. John P. Mitchell, a son of the latter, was born in 1So2, and was reared upon the farm, where he lived and engaged in agriculture until 1873, when he died. By his wife, Mary M. Theaker, to whom he was married in 1839, and who is still living, he had five children, two of whom are living, besides the subject of this sketch. The latter, after attending the common schools, entered successively Haysville and Oberlin col- leges, and after completing his studies there he accepted a position in
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the United States patent office, under the commissioner, Thomas C. Theaker, his mother's brother. He remained there until 1869, and then returned home to take charge of the home farm. In 1876 he removed to Martin's Ferry, and embarked in the grocery business in which he was successfully engaged until 1876. Having taken an ac- tive part in municipal affairs, and being a public-spirited and popular citizen, he was elected in 1878 to the offices of justice of the peace and mayor. The former office he held six years. The mayor's office he has occupied ever since, excepting two years in which he was com- pelled to give his attention to his private affairs. During this period he acted as assistant manager of the stove foundry, of which he was one of the directors. At the end of that time he was again elected mayor. Mr. Mitchell is a leader in the republican party, and was one of the delegates to its last state convention. In 1889, he served as chairman of the senatorial convention of Belmont and Harrison counties. At the centennial exposition at Columbus he represented Belmont county as commissioner. He is prominent in several fraternal organizations, being a Knight Templar in the Masonic order, and a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Mitchell was married September 20, 1877, to Mary E. Kennon, granddaughter of Judge William Kennon, and daughter of Ellis Kennon. By this union he has five children: E. Kennon, Ellen S., Mary T., Sarah B., and Ruth M. He tendered his resignation as mayor, to take effect March 31, 1890, to accept the position of post- master to which he was appointed by the president, March 7, 1890.
Rockwell B. Mitchell, the present mayor of Bridgeport, was born in Bridgeport, Ohio, January 6, 1857. His early youth was spent in the public schools of Bridgeport, and also at the Cannonsburg academy, at Cannonsburg, Ohio. After leaving school he worked on a farm some time. Nothing suiting him better than the useful occupation of a farmer, he has always been connected with farming more or less. Mr. Mitchell has figured prominently in the politics of his section, having been elected to fill the responsible position of township treas- urer, and serving two terms as corporation treasurer of Bridgeport, also two terms as assessor. In the spring of ISS8, the democratic party nominated him for mayor of his native city. The good esteem in which he was held by his fellow townsmen was attested by his clection. Heis a member of the Belmont lodge No. 109, K. of P., also Golden Eagles, Washington Castle No. 5. American Mechanics, and Knights of the Maccabees. Ilis father, Vincent Mitchell, was also a very prominent man in his time. He was a native of York, Penn., as was also his first wife, Nancy. Both of them were of Scotch-Irish descent. Vincent Mitchell received a very liberal education. After leaving school he worked upon a farm until he accepted a situation with his brother as a clerk in the latter's general merchandise store, in which capacity he continued until he purchased the business. le carried on the business for some twenty-five years, at the expiration of which time he sold out his store and moved to Bridgeport, Ohio.
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Here he, with others, built, and started a foundry undes the firm name of Thacker, Mitchell & Co. The business was continued for four years. His first wife having died he married Miss Susanna Hogg, by whom he had three children, all of whom are living: Miriam, Jen- nie and John T. Mrs. Mitchell died in 1840. Ten years later, on March 14, he was again married, this time to Josephine Kirkwood, a daughter of Joseph Kirkwood, who was one of the founders of Bridgeport, at which place he settled at a very early date. He was a son of Robert Kirk- wood, of Revolutionary fame, having served with great distinction under General George Washington. When Joseph Kirkwood came to Bridgeport, then Canton, he owned and operated a farm on the tract of land which is now known as Kirkwood. He continued as a farmer until his death, which occurred in 1856. His wife was the daughter of Rev. George Gillespie, the famous Scotch divine, who was sent to England by parliament. Ten children were born to Margaret and Joseph Kirkwood, four of them are still living: Capt. R. Kirkwood was killed in the battle at which St. Clair was defeated; Sarah E., who married Joseph Large; Elizabeth, the widow of William Kennon, Jr., at one time a prominent attorney of St. Clairsville: Margaret, who mar- ried Rev. James Alexander, of the Presbyterian church, then stationed at Martin's Ferry, and Josephine, the wife of Vincent Mitchell, who is now deceased. Eight children blessed the marriage of Vincent Mitchell and Josephine Kirkwood, seven of these are living: Marga- ret G., the wife of Shields W. McCurdy, a Methodist minister now living at Crafton, Penn .; William, Harriet L., Emma and Euna, twins, Walter, and Rockwell B., the present mayor of Bridgeport. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are active members of the Presbyterian church, and raised their large family of children in that faith. Seldom is a family seen that has kept its record cleaner than has this branch of the Mitchell family.
Joseph B. Montgomery, one of the leading business men of Mar- tin's Ferry, was born at Benwood, W. Va., in 1844; of that part of the county, his grandfather, Thomas Montgomery, a native of Ireland, was one of the early settlers. He made his home first at Sheppards- town, Va., but afterward removed to Marshall county, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a farmer by occupation. His son, William Montgomery, the father of Joseph B., was born near Shep- pardstown, in 1815. His life has been devoted to farming, an occupa- tion in which he has been quite successful. He is still living at Wheeling. About 1859 he was married to Elizabeth Blakemore, who died in ISSS, and they had ten children, two of whom are deceased. The subject of this sketch was educated at Wheeling, where his parents removed when he was six months old. Until he was twenty- three years, he was occupied as a cooper, and he then engaged in farming, which he followed until 1884, when he came to Martin's Ferry, and erected the first business house in that part of the city, known as " the orchard." Here he began, on a small scale, a grocery and provision store, out of which his enterprise and talent for busi- ness has developed one of the most successful retail establishments
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of the city. Since coming to the city he has thoroughly identified himself with its affairs, and he is regarded as one of its most valuable citizens. He has particularly devoted himself, and with much suc- cess, to the advancement of that part of the city in which he is lo- cated. In 1887, he was elected to the board of education from the Third ward, and through his efforts the new school-house was located in that ward. In 1888 he was elected to the city council from the same ward. In politics he is a republican. He is a member of the Methodist church, and of the I. O. O. F. In 1864 Mr. Mont- gomery enlisted in Company I, Fifth Ohio cavalry, and served until the close of the war, under Kilpatrick, in Sherman's march to the sea. Mr. Montgomery was married in 1867 to Elizabeth Caswell, of Wheeling, and they have two children, Robert C. and Howard D.
Harry Northwood, general superintendent and manager of the Northwood Glass works of Martin's Ferry, was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1860. He is one of nine children of John Northwood, of Wordsley, Staffordshire, one of the leading glass manufacturers of England, and one of those who, in 1870, produced the work which re- ceived the grand prize of the Legion of Honor. He is a very skillful and artistic glass carver, and at one time produced a vase which was valued at $25,000, and was sold to Tiffany & Co., New York. The subject of this sketch, at the age of fourteen years, entered the glass factory as an apprentice and served seven years in that capacity. He then came to the United States, on a venture, hardly expecting to re- main, but coming on to Wheeling, he entered the employment of the Hobbs Glass company as manager of the etching department, a posi- tion he held for eighteen months. He then held the position of de- signer for the La Belle Glass works, of Bridgeport, until the flood of 1884, when he went to Phillipsburg, and for a year was engaged with the Phoenix company. The La Belle works by that time were again in operation, and he accepted the general management of the same, filling that place until the establishment was destroyed by fire in 1887. In December of that year, in company with Henry Helling, Henry Floto, William Mears and Thomas Mears, he organized the Northi- wood Glass company, now one of the important manufacturing corpo- rations of the valley. Possessed of unusual mechanical skill and knowledge, as well as tact as a manager, Mr. Northwood. has already, though comparatively young, achieved notable success in life. He is active and enterprising in social affairs, and public spirited, and is one of the lessees of the opera house, a favorite institution of the place. He is a member of the Episcopal church, the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pythias, and is a republican. He was married, in 1882, to Clara E. Beaumont, of England, and they have two children: H. Clar- ence and Mabel.
Albert R. Ong, M. D., physician and druggist, of Martin's Ferry, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, near Smithfield, October 9, 1847. He is a descendant of one of the oldest and best known families of Jefferson county. His father, Moses Ong, was born in that county December 20, 1810, and in 1831 was married to Anna Cain, by
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whom he had fourteen children, ten of whom, besides the subject of this sketch, survive. The mother died in 1874, but the father, whose life has successfully been devoted to farming and stock-raising, is still living, aged seventy-nine years. Dr. Ong received his early schooling in Jefferson county, and subsequently entered Allegheny college, at Meadville, Penn., where he was graduated in 1872. Soon afterward he was called to the chair of mathematics and astronomy and the vice-presidency of Richmond college, Jefferson county, a position he held for three years. Then determining to adopt the profession of medicine, he pursued the study under Dr. Clancy, of Smithfield, with whom he remained three years. In 1875-6 he at- tended the Ohio medical college, of Cincinnati, and in 1876-7 he at- tended at the Columbus medical college, where he was graduated in 1877. In the same year he began the practice at Smithfield, but in the following year removed to Martin's Ferry, and here purchased a small stock of drugs and opened on a limited scale a drug store which he has developed into one of the finest establishments of the kind in this region. Abandoning his practice during the past few years, he has devoted his efforts entirely to business, in which field his tal- ent for affairs has made him eminently successful. As a citizen he is highly popular. An evidence of his public spirit is the opera house block, the finest building of the city, erected by him and Messrs. Swartz and Kuckuck. He has served as a member of the pension examining board since removing here. Dr. Ong was married April 9. 1SS.1, to Catherine Anderson, of Martin's Ferry, and they have one child, Frances HI. Mrs. Ong is a member of the Presbyterian church. The doctor is a member of the Society of Friends, and of the Ma- sonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities.
Capt. William 11. Orr, of Martin's Ferry, was born near Abingdon, Washington Co., Va., 1815, the son of William and Mary Orr. His father came to this land from Ireland, his native country, about 1770, with his parents, and settled in Virginia, where he farmed until the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, when he enlisted in the con- tinental army and served until independence was achieved. He died about 1820. Three children were born to him, of whom William H. is probably the only survivor. Capt. Orr was reared upon the farm of his parents, and at seventeen years of age began an apprenticeship at carriage making, which lasted six years, after which he followed the trade as a journeyman for a considerable period, also engaging in stock dealing, traveling over the greater part of the south. He re- moved to Wheeling in 1848, but soon crossed to Martin's Ferry, and found employment in his trade with Wells Brothers, wagon builders.
Two years later he entered the employment of lloyle & Griffith, manufacturers of threshing machines, and when Mr. Hoyle established a separate business, he went with him and held the position of fore- man over seventeen years. At the outbreak of the rebellion Capt. Orr, though he had been reared in a slave state, promptly espoused the cause of the Union, and was the first man at Martin's Ferry to open a recruiting station for three-year enlistments. Ile signed the
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roll September 2, 1861, the first on the list, and soon had forty men for the First Virginia regiment, who were organized in Company C, with him as first lieutenant. At his first battle, at Winchester, under Gen. Shields, he was severely wounded, his shin bone being split by a bullet. In the spring of 1862, Capt. Millhouse was captured, and Lieut. Orr succeeded to the command, and served as captain until his discharge in 1864, at expiration of period of enlistment. The record made by Capt. Orr as a patriot and soldier, is one highly deserving of commemoration. On his return to Martin's Ferry, he resumed his position with Mr. Hoyle for one year, and in 1866 he was appointed United States inspector and gauger of spirits, a position he held for two years. Being elected mayor of Martin's Ferry in 1868, he served two years, and at the expiration of that time established a bakery, which he conducted until he was wrecked by the great flood of 1884. Since then he has been engaged in the real estate and insurance busi- ness. He also acts as health officer of the city, managing trustee of the cemetery, as which he was elected in 1889, and is secretary of the Ohio State Saving and Loan company. He has lived a life character- ized by industry, patriotic devotion and public spirit, and is highly esteemed by all. The religious and other organizations with which he is affiliated, are the Methodist Episcopal church, the G. A. R. and D. of R., and the republican party. He was married in 1852 to Jane A. Waters, and they have had three children: Alice W., Eva J., and Marian, now deceased.
David Park, one of the pioneer merchants of Martin's Ferry, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1815, and is the only survivor of ten children of Robert and Margaret (Reynolds) Park. The father, a farmer by occupation, died in 1862, and the mother died in 1828. The subject of this sketch received a limited education in Ireland, and assisted his father on the farm until he was about eighteen years old, when he spent two years as a clerk in a store. In 1838 he came to the United States and settled at Pittsburgh, where he began as help in a wholesale grocery house, working his way up to a position in the office. After working there four . years he was assisted by a member of his firm to establish a small store at Martin's Ferry in 1842. He started on a lot now owned by Conrad Long, and continued to do business on Washington street until 1881. His business gradually in- creased, and his devotion to trade, and talent for the occupation, enabled him to become one of the leading grocers of the city. He took an active interest in public affairs also, and for thirteen years served the township as treasurer, and for nine years was a valued member of the school board, serving at the time the old Union school was established. He has also served on the city council. Though never an active politician, he has been a steadfast member of the democratic party. For some time he has been retired from business, and as one of the oldest citizens of the town, is resting from an act- ive and prosperous career. He was married in 1838, a few months before immigrating, to Eliza Melvor, of county Tyrone, by whom he had ten children: Sarah P., Eliza, wife of Rev. Barnatz, lately of
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Wheeling; John R., David, William H., Ross, Mary M., Fred J., sec- retary of the North Wheeling Glass works, and two who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Park are members of the Presbyterian church.
Oliver C. Parker, a well-known citizen of Martin's Ferry, was born in Pease township, Belmont county, March 24, 1829. His father, Joseph Parker, one of the early settlers of eastern Ohio, was a native of North Carolina, and a son of Jacob Parker, who was born in the same state, and passed his life there. Joseph Parker was a farmer by occupation, and in 1805, crossed the Ohio and settled in Jefferson county, near Harris- ville, whence he removed several years later and settled near Martin's Ferry, where he lived the remainder of his days, dying in 1855, at the age of seventy-seven years. Ile was married October 21, 1801, to Mary, daughter of James Judkins, of North Carolina, and by this union, had ten children, of whom but two are now living. His wife died in 1871, at the age of eighty-four years. The subject of this par- agraph, received his boyhood education in the then limited schools of Pease township, and then engaged in farming, which he carried on successfully, until he was compelled by a sunstroke, received in 1872, to retire from active affairs. He was one of the most enterprising and thorough farmers of the county, and is now a prosperous and highly esteemed citizen. During the term of four years, he served the people of the township acceptably as trustce. In politics he is a republican. Mr. Parker was married in 1864, to Martha J. Van Pelt, who died in 1877, and in 1879, he re-married, his bride being Mary K., daughter of Dr. S. B. West, elsewhere mentioned. She is a member of the Presbyterian church. To this marriage there is one child, Simon W.
Perhaps no family has figured more prominently in the settlement and growth of the upper Ohio valley, than the Rhodes family. Among the most worthy and noted citizens of Bridgport, the decendants of this family take rank. In about 1800, Moses Rhodes moved from Virginia, to Canton, Ohio, now Bridgeport, with his aged father. Moses Rhodes was born near Morefield, Va., in 1784, and died in Bridgeport in 1871. While living here he married Nancy Martin, the daughter of Col. Martin, who was one of the most prominent, as well as one of the wealthiest, men of what was then Virginia, now West Virginia. He was a public man, and was a member of the Virginia senate at the time of his death. Nancy, his daughter, was left an orphan at the age of twelve years and was taken into the family of her guardian, Presley Martin, who was a half-brother of her father, Col. Martin. Presley Martin was also a noted politician and citizen of the vicinity in which he lived, his home being at New Martinsville, which town he laid out and which was named in his honor. Nancy Rhodes died in her seventy-third year. Moses Rhodes was among the first to open a tavern in the upper Ohio valley, having established one in, what is now, Bridgeport, at a very early date. He also ow ned a ferry, and a boat-yard, and speculated in produce, which he bought for the New Orleans market and carried down the river on a flat- boat. Several times he made this, then, perilous trip, walking back
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the entire distance to Bridgeport, carrying his silver-money on his back in a sack. The return route lay through the territory of the Chickasaw and Chocktaw Indian nations in the states of Mississippi and Tennessee, The sturdy pioneer on two different occasions sailed from New Orleans to New York, returning on foot to Bridgeport. Later, he erected the Rhodes block, and two warehouses in that town. and for years conducted a large grain and produce business, also run- ning a lumber yard at the same time. In 1852 he retired from active business with an ample fortune, owning considerable real estate in Bridgeport and vicinity, and thereafter lived a quiet and retired life until his death. In politics he was an old line whig, and always took a decided interest in public affairs. Although the Rhodes family were originally Quakers, he became an acceptable member of the Pres- byterian church, in which faith he died. His estimable wife was a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church. This happy mar- riage was blessed by seven children, three of whom are living. Martin died in 1828; Elizabeth P. and Caroline S., the wife of Christian Ogleby, died in 1875. Lucinda, is the widow of Luther Harrah, a member of one of the first families of Belmont county; Charles, who died in 1865, and Mary, now the wife of William Thomas, of Pultney township, Belmont county, and Elizabeth, who married Will- iam B. Kern of Middlebourne, W. Va., she died in 1861. It was of such stock that Ebenezer Rhodes, the principal of this biographical sketch, came. He was born in Bridgeport, June 26, 1818, and has since resided there. It has been his privilege to see the place grow from a mere hamlet to an important city, throbbing with industry. the seat of several large iron mills and other manufactories, several of which he has been active in establishing and maintaining. Hle received a good education in the common schools, and afterward in Franklin college at Athens, Ohio. Early in life he became connected with his father in the commission business, and under his wise tutelage laid the foundation for a practical business education. Upon the retirement of Moses Rhodes, his father, he and his brother-in-law, Ogleby, succeeded to the business. Soon afterward they gave up the commission business and engaged in the wholesale grocery trade. Eight years later Mr. Ogleby retired from the firm, and Charles Rhodes became a partner. About four years later, Charles was obliged to discontinue business on account of poor health, at which time W. S. Warfield wastaken into partnership. Some time after, Mr. Rhodes bought Mr. Warfield's share and took his son Charles into the firm. In 1875 he turned the business over to his sons, C. M. and O. T. Rhodes. Several years later Mr. Rhodes obtained an interest in the Diamond flour mill, which he now owns exclusively. This mill is one of the most valuable properties in eastern Ohio. He owns considera- ble real estate in Bridgeport, and has been identified with the various improvements in that city and vicinity, being one of the originators of the First National bank, and for twenty years its president. He was also for several years president of the La Belle Glass works, also one of the builders and directors of the /Etna Iron works. The citi-
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