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 28
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William Boyd, one of the oldest citizens of Belmont county, was born in Ireland, February 2, 1So1. He remained at the home of his parents. James and Margaret ( Emock ) Boyd, until July 11, 1823, when he sailed from Belfast, and after an eleven weeks' voyage, landed in Maine. He then proceeded to Pittsburgh, and thence to Shepards- town, where he remained until 1825. There he was married to Mar- garet McFarland, a native of Ireland, who came with her father to America in 1812. After his marriage Mr. Boyd rented land for two years, and then bought fifty-eight acres of new land. This he settled on and began to clear, and by years of skillful husbandry he amassed considerable property, first adding eighty acres to his land, and finally increasing it to 240 acres. He began at the bottom of the ladder. having worked on first coming to the United States for $5 per month as a weaver. About 1839 he experienced an accident which rendered him unfit for farming. While going through a clearing one day he stopped near a log heap to cut away a small stump, when one of the logs became loosened and rolled over him, inflicting serious and per- manent injuries. Barring the results of that accident, he is, despite his great age, in excellent health. He is a member of the United Presby- terian church, and has been a member of the session and an elder for
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fifty-seven years. In politics he is a republican. Nine children were born to him and wife, of whom six are living, Andrew Mc., William, Ann Jane, Margaret, Isabel, and Catherine.
William Boyd, Jr., son of the above, is one of the progressive farm- ers of Belmont county. He was born in February, 1842, and was reared on the old homestead farm. He remained with his parents until he was thirty-two years old, when in 1874. he was married to Emily, daughter of Joseph and Harriet (Shahan) Brannen, both na- tives of Ohio. She was born in 1853. In 1862, Mr. Boyd enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served one year, when he was taken sick and honorably discharged on account of disability. He then settled on the farm where he now lives, surrounded with the comforts of life. He has a good farm of ninety-six acres, and a great variety of stock. He is well-known and influential as a citizen. By his marriage, above mentioned, Mr. Boyd has two children, Joseph B. and Hattie H. Ile and wife are both members of the United Presbyterian church.
George Brown, the oldest jeweler of St. Clairsville, Ohio, and one of the prominent business men of Belmont county, was born in Ire- land, October 13, 1816. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His father, James Brown, was a weaver by trade. In ISI8 he came to the United States with his wife, whose maiden name was Jane Welch, and four children. They landed at Baltimore. From there he came to Harrison county, near New Athens, Ohio, and settled in the woods in a log cabin, which was the home of the family for several years. He then moved to New Athens, and kept a hotel for several years. Afterward he bought a house and forty acres of land adjoining the town. He died in New Athens in 1856, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His wife, who was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died in New Athens in 1862. Of their seven children four are now living: Joseph Brown, of Flush- ing, Ohio; George Brown, of St. Clairsville, Ohio; Mrs. Margaret Rankin, of Farmersville, Mo., and Mrs. Sarah A. Hughes, of New Athens. George Brown received his education in the pioneer log cabin and New Athens college. In 1834 he went to Steubenville. Ohio, and learned the watch, clock and jewelry trade with AArundel Hill, where he remained until 1841. In September of 1841, he came to St. Clairsville and established the watch and jewelry business, known now as George Brown & Son, and is the most prosperous jewelry store in St. Clairsville. He was one of the organizers and has been connected with the National bank for twenty-five years, and has been its president four years. He is considered one of the solid men of the town. In 1844 Mr. Brown was married to Mary W. Sut- ton, who died in 1855. leaving one child. J. Ella Johnson, three child- ren having died within one month previous. In 1856 Mr. Brown was married to S. J. Sutton. Their three living children are: 1. Ella, George V. and Anna L., and one grandson, William Barkley Johnson. Mrs. Brown is a daughter of Lewis and Eleanor ( Me Will- iams) Sutton.
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Thomas Burtoft, a prominent farmer of Richland township, Bel- mont county, was born at West Wheeling, September 2, 1846, son of Charles and Drusilla (Walker) Burtoft. His father, a son of George Burtoft, a native of England, was born in that country in 1813, and in 1839 came to America. He lived at Bellaire a short time and then removed to West Wheeling, where he established a lime kiln which has been in operation since with slight interruption. He came to America without money or education, but by industrious application acquired both, and became a valued citizen of the county. In 1854 he removed to a farm near Wheeling, and in 1858 to the Abraham Lash farm between St. Clairsville and Bridgeport, and thence in 1862 to the farm north of St. Clairesville, where he died in 1865. His wife was born near Bedford, Penn., in 1816, and came to Ohio with her parents about 1821. Thomas Burtoft received his education in the common schools and the business college at Wheeling, and in 1864 enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Seventieth regiment Ohio volunteers, and though then hardly more than a boy served faithfully, never missing roll-call and being one of the very few of his command who were able to stack arms after the forced march from Boliver Heights through the pleasant valley of Maryland. After the war he remained at home until I870, when he made an extended and protracted tour through the west, spending one year in Iowa, four in Texas and five in Arizona. Then returning to West Wheeling he embarked in the grocery business, at which he was engaged five years. Ile was also the first postmaster of the town, serving two or three years. In 1883 he was married to Caroline Kelsey, daughter of James and Mary (Boyles) Kelsey. Her father was a son of James Kelsey, Sr., who came to this country about the year 1800, and settled three miles west of Bellaire. Here Mrs. Burtoft's father was reared and given an edu- cation much above the average of those times. He was the tax col- lector in the days when it was customary to ride through the country and convey the collected taxes in saddlebags. He also served as a justice of the peace forty years, an office which his father held before him. He died in this county in ISS5. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burtoft they made a tour of nine months, to the Yellowstone park, and through Oregon to Glacier bay, Alaska, returning by steamer to San Francisco, and thence by Los Angeles and Galveston to New Orleans, and thence home by the river. He then purchased a beautiful place of 127 acres, upon which he has erected one of the most handsome and completely appointed dwellings in this region. Mr. Burtoft is a member of the Masonic order, of the degree of Knight Templar, and also of the I. O. O. F.
Samuel Campbell, a well-known livery man of St. Clairsville, was born in Wheeling township, July 23, 1838, the son of John and Maria L. (Irwin) Campbell. Ilis father was born in 1806, a son of William and Mary (Smith) Campbell, the former of whom was a native of Scot- land. John Campbell was reared in Belmont county, and followed the carpenter's trade until his marriage, after which he engaged in farming until his decease, which occurred in 1863. By his first mar-
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riage he had one son, the subject of this mention. The mother of the latter was born in 1816, and died in 1845. In 1847 the father was mar- ried to Cynthia Mccullough, and by this union had five children, three of whom are living: Sarah, W. V., and Robert M. Samuel Camp- bell was reared on a farm near Flushing, where he received his early education in the common schools, afterward attending Franklin col- lege during two terms. In 1869 he was married to Isaline M. Sharp, who was born in 1839, in Wheeling township, the daughter of Will- iam and Caroline (Harrah) Sharp, and they then began house-keep- ing on a farm near Loydsville, which he cultivated until iSS4. At that date he removed to St. Clairsville and established the livery business he has since conducted with much success. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and are highly esteemed in the community.
Robert Carlile, one of the prosperous farmers of Richland town- ship, Belmont county, is a native of Ireland. He is the youngest of eleven children of John and Mary (Marrow) Carlile, and of these children three others, James, John and Elizabeth, survive. Robert was reared in his native land, and in 1848 he emigrated to America. Settling first at St. Clairsville, he was employed in farm work at Sioo per year, and was so engaged for two and a half years. In 1851 he was married to Helen. daughter of Hugh and Mary (Martin) Marrow. Her parents were natives of Ireland, and resided there until their death. She came to America in 1847, and made her home in St. Clairsville. By this marriage there were born four children, two of whom are living: John T., who now resides with his parents, and Hugh H., who is engaged in the lumber business in Washington state. Mr. and Mrs. Carlile are both members of the Presbyterian church, and are highly respected for their good qualities of heart and mind as well as for those traits which have made their career in life one of success. When they were married they began house-keeping on rented land, and it was not until twelve years were past that they bought forty acres north of St. Clairsville. Four years later he rented a large farm on the Warnock pike. and nine years after that he sold the forty acres he first bought and purchased 192 acres where he now resides. This is land of fertile qualities, and is supposed to be under- laid by bountiful supplies of oil or gas, as there is an oil well at the distance of a mile and a half. There are also underneath it immense beds of coal.
One of the prominent citizens of Belmont county, in early times, was William Chambers, who came to the county in 1812, and settled in Richland township. He was a leading politician on the side of the democratic party, and filled several township offices, and served with credit in the legislature as representative of the county in 1835. He lived to the age of eighty-two years. He was a son of Alexander and Rachel (Mays) Chambers, who emigrated from Ireland with their family in 1798. In the next year they settled in Jefferson county, and had their home in a log cabin in the woods, about two miles east of the site of Mt. Pleasant. In the year iSoo this ancestor hired out to
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chop wood at $8 a month, and at about the end of that period, finding himself in urgent need of salt, had to pay $7 for fifty-six pounds. The family there passed through all the hardships of the life of frontiers- men, having to go fifteen miles for what corn they had ground. Will- iam Chambers married Jane Vincent, a native of Ireland, and to them was born in 1825, William Chambers, who at present resides on the land his father cleared in Richland township. He was reared in this county and in 1855 was married to Adaline Anderson, who was born in 1825, on the Richland township farm of her parents, Joshua and Sarah Anderson. They have one child living, John W. Mr. Cham- bers and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, of which he is an elder, and was one of the building committee for the erection of the new church at St. Clairsville. He was also a contributor to- ward securing the public buildings at the present county seat. He is prominent in township matters, having held several offices and served as trustee four years. His farm of 115 acres is a valuable and pro- ductive one.
Col. James F. Charlesworth, of distinguished military career, and one of the leading attorneys of Belmont county, was born in St. Clairs- ville, November 25, 1826, the son of Richard and Jane (Porter) Charlesworth. His father was one of the business men of the early days of the town, having removed thither from Baltimore about 1820. James F. engaged in business with his father after completing his ed- ucation at Granville college in 1844, but at the outbreak of the war with Mexico, he and his younger brother, Richard W., left home, which was then at La Salle, Ill., and enlisted in Company H, First regiment mounted rifles, in the regular army. The brothers enlisted without their father's knowledge, but he, acceding to their wishes, forwarded his consent. Col. Charlesworth saw active service in Mex- ico, under Gen. Scott, and received a slight wound at Contreras. The colonel of his regiment performed the functions of mayor of Mexico city after the entrance of the United States troops, and the regiment was detailed for police duty there during nine months, and until after peace was declared. He then returned to La Salle, Ill., but having decided to study law, he remained there but a short time, coming then to St. Clairsville, where he began the study under Gen. Weir. He was admitted to the bar in 1851, and was engaged in the practice until it was interrupted in 1854, by his election to the office of auditor of Belmont county, as which he served two years. Ilis competitor for this position was David Allen. In 1857 he purchased the Independent- Republican, of St. Clairsville, which he edited and published until the outbreak of civil war called him again to the field. He raised the first three years' company for the government which was entered on the records of the state adjutant general, and of this was commis- sioned captain July 12, 1861. Ilis previous military services made him at that day, when the north was deficient, comparatively, in military men, of exceptional value to the country. Going into the field, he was active in the struggle. In the fall of 1861 he received a slight wound at Allegheny Summit, Va., and on the 16th of May following
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he was promoted major of his regiment. Soon afterward, June 8, 1862, he was severely wounded at the battle of Cross Keys. A minnie ball entered the abdomen about two inches to the right of the umbil- ical cord, and came out at the same distance from the spinal column. This wound, ordinarily fatal, caused the paralysis of the colon, but his life was fortunately spared. On July 30th, following, he was pro- moted lieutenant-colonel, and on May 18, 1863, he resigned, further service being impossible. His resignation received the following en- dorsement from Brig .- Gen. N. C. McLean, at the headquarters of the first division, eleventh army corps, at Brooks Station, Va., May 13, 1863: " Approved and respectfully forwarded. Whilst regretting the resignation of Lieut .- Col. Charlesworth, I approve, as I personally know him to be disabled by an honorable wound." The ball which passed through his body on the battle-field, Col. Charlesworth still possesses, it having been picked up on the spot where he fell, and the vest which shows the direction of the wound he still treasures, as a memento of honorable service. On his return home he entered upon the duties of clerk of the Belmont courts, to which he was elected while in the army by a majority of over 1,000 votes, over D. S. Adams, a worthy and popular man. In 1864 he also served as colonel of the First regiment of Belmont county militia. On the expiration of his term as clerk, he was appointed master commissioner of the court of common pleas, a position he held nine years. Among other promi- nent services it may be mentioned that during the troubles incident to the building of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, then called the Central Ohio, Col. Charlesworth, was at the request of Sheriff J. C. Nichols, appointed and commissioned a captain to organize the cele- brated Washington Guards, which were on duty during three or four years. Also, during the famous contest between St. Clairsville and Bellaire for the county seatship, Col. Charlesworth was prominent among the advocates of St. Clairsville, and by laboring at the state capital with the legislature for several weeks, he and his associates succeeded in having the magnificent county buildings erected at their present site. He is very prominent in the Grand Army of the Re- public, and is now the commander of the Belmont county battalion. In the Masonic order also he is conspicuous as a member of Belmont lodge, No. 16, Chapter No. 17, and Hope commandery, No. 26, K. T. In politics he is prominent as a democrat, being a delegate to the convention which nominated James E. Campbell for governor, and vice-president of the state central committee, and a trustee of the Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home. Col. Charlesworth was married July 4. 1855. to Laura . A., daughter of William Tallman, deceased.
Robert Clark, a prominent farmer of Richland township, Belmont county, was born in 1833, the son of Hugh and Deborah (Eckles) Clark. The father, a native of county Down, Ireland, was born July 4, 1802, and immigrated to America in 1821, settling in Ohio, where he remained until his death in 1846. He was married in 1827 to Miss Eckles, who was born in Pultney township in 1809, and by this union had cleven children, four of whom are living: Robert
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John, Drennen and Isabella. After his marriage he came to the land which his son Robert now occupies, and this he cleared and cultivated. To purchase it he went in debt, but, by unceasing toil, paid for this original tract and added to it until he had 240 acres. But hard work broke down his constitution, and he died at the age of forty-four years. Robert Clark grew to manhood on the old homestead, and attended the log school-house of olden times, walking two miles for such education as he could there obtain in the winter season. In 1856 he was married to Nancy, daughter of William and Eliza Sissel, who was born in Steubenville in 1832. To this union six children have been born, of whom four are living: Charles F., William 11., Robert E. and Laura B. Mr. Clark is the owner of 156 acres of the homestead farm, and is comfortably situated. He ranks among the leading citizens of this township.
Thomas E. Clark, contractor and builder of St. Clairsville, was born at Morristown, Ohio, in 1836. His father, John Clark, was the son of James and Hannah J. Clark, natives of Ireland, who came to America in the year 1800, and settled in Pennsylvania. James was a brave soldier of the war of 1812. John Clark was born in Pennsyl- vania about ISOS, and when a child removed with his parents to Ohio, settling on a farm near Cadiz in Harrison county. Not long after- ward they removed to within a mile of Morristown, where John Clark learned the vocation of a brick and stone mason, which he fol- lowed through the remainder of his life. He was an influential man, and served as justice of the peace several years. About 1833 he was married to Elizabeth Heed, by whom he had nine children, eight of whom are living: Thomas E., John, James A., Elizabeth, Amelia. Catherine, Sarah J. and Loretta A. The parents were members of the Baptist church. Thomas E., the eldest child, at seventeen years of age began to learn the trade of his father, and after four years' apprenticeship he went to Cincinnati, where he worked one summer. He then came to Belmont county, where, on December 9, 1859, hc was married to Anna E. Smith, who was born at Uniontown, Penn., in 1835, the daughter of James and Mary Smith. Immediately after this marriage he moved with his wife to Cadiz, where they lived four years, coming then to St. Clairsville, which has since been their home. He continued to be occupied with his trade until 18;6, when he as- sumed the management of the National Hotel at St. Clairsville. which he conducted until 1885. He then resumed contracting. Among the many buildings erected by him may be mentioned that of the bank of St. Clairsville, the school building, the infirmary, Judge Cowan's residence, Troll's business house and the Methodist Episco- pal church. In the famous contest over the location of the county seat he was a tireless worker for the cause of St. Clairsville, and when the fight was decided he was appointed by the commissioners to superintend all the buildings. Under his careful and able super- vision the court house, sheriff's residence and jail, with sidewalks, fence, gas and water works, were completed for $283,000, and they are admitted to be among the most economically built in the state.
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For this acceptable result, Mr. Clark deserves a large share of the praise. By his marriage above mentioned, Mr. Clark has five child- ren living: John W., Charles E., Mary, Emma and Loretta A. The wife and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William J. Clark, of Richland township, is a son of Alexander and Eleanor (Downs) Clark, natives of Ireland, who came to America in 1801, and settled in Lancaster county, Penn. They started with three children, two of whom died during their thirteen weeks' voyage to this country. In Pennsylvania, ten children were born to them. One of these children, Alexander D. Clark, who received his first schooling in a pioneer log cabin, and rose to be a doctor of divinity, was graduated at New Athens, with the first honors, in a class of twelve, which included Rev. David Craig, A. M., Edgar Cowan, LL. D., Rev. William Davidson, D. D., and Samuel Armer, M. D., LL. D., and among his fellow students were Joseph Ray, M. D., Hon. William Kennon, Sr., Hon. William Wilson Shannon, Hon. John A. Bingham, A. F. Ross, LL. D., William Lawrence, LL. D., and Rev. George C. Vin- cent, D. D). William J. Clark was born in Pennsylvania in ISIS, and brought by his parents to the farm on which he now lives when six years old, and was there reared, and pursued his early studies seated on the puncheon seats of the log school-house. But his main education has like his material property been gathered by industrious application through all the years that have followed. He is one of the substantial and valued citizens of his township. During eight years he has served as school director of his district. When the county seat fight was on he lent all his aid and influence to the cause of St. Clairsville. In 1859 Mr. Clark was married to Elizabeth King, a native of Belmont county, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth (Blackburn) King, and by this union has had six children, five of whom are living: Thomas .1., Samuel U., John H., Carrie J. and Lizzie E. Mr. Clark and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church.
Thomas A. Clark, eldest son of the above, was born September 10, 1860, and was reared on the old homestead. On September 16, 1886. he was married to Luella McFarland, who was born June 7, 1861, daughter of Andrew J. and Margaret McFarland, of whom mention is made in this work. By this union he has had one child, Zilla ., who is deceased. Mr. Clark is one of the leading young farmers of the county, has an excellent and well-kept farm of 160 acres, with a fine two-story frame dwelling, which stands on a beautiful hill of 100 feet elevation above its surroundings.
William E. Clark, the second son above named, is one of the pro- gressive young farmers of Belmont county, and has his home upon a farm of 141 acres, which he has handsomely improved. He was born September 11, 1864, was reared on the old farm, and given a good common school education. On September 7, 1882, he was married to Lizzie G. McFarland, who was born in 1859, the daughter of Andrew J. McFarland, who is elsewhere mentioned. To this union have been born three children: Margaret L., June 4, 1884: Francis B., April 20, 1886, and Samuel Mc., July 11, 1889.
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Samuel C. Clark, son of the above-named Alexander and Eleanor Clark, was born in Pennsylvania in 1817, and came to this county with his parents in 1824. He was reared on the old homestead, and re- ceived the meager schooling of his days. In 1850 he was married to Frances A. Bennett, a native of England, and daughter of Capt. John Bennett, of Blairsville, Penn. During the war of the rebellion Mr. Clark participated in the pursuit and capture of the guerrilla, John Morgan. He is one of the influential men of Richland township, of which he has served efficiently as trustee for four years. During the long-continued contest over the proposed change of the county seat he was active in the cause of St. Clairsville and donated liberally of time and money for the cause. In brief he is an enterprising and valuable citizen, and as the possessor of a valuable farm of 550 acres, he is widely known as one of the solid men of the county. Mr. Clark has five children: John A., William E., Lizzie E., Lucy J. and Bruce.
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