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 29
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William N. Coffland, who is well-known as one of the influential men of the democratic party of Belmont county, was born in Goshen township of that county, in March, IS4S. He is the son of George W. and Martha A. (Wadsworth) Coffland, the former of whom was born in Belmont county, the son of James and Margaret Coffland, and the latter was also born in Belmont county, being the daughter of John Wadsworth. William N. Coffland graduated from the commercial college at Pittsburgh in 186;, and immediately engaged in the mer- cantile business at Hunter. He was subsequently in business two years at Newcastle, at Rockhill six months, and then at East Richland formed a partnership with J. W. McFarland, and conducted a general store until 1873, when he became deputy auditor of Belmont county, under W. E. Stamp, and held that position during two terms. In I87; the law having been changed so as to make the term of the auditor three years, he was nominated by the democrats, and elected by a majority of 1.315. He was afterward re-elected and served six years with notable efficiency. After leaving this office he engaged in mer- chandise and wool buying, and is now devoting his entire attention to the wool business, at East Richland. In ISSo Mr. Coffland was nom- inated against his desire as senator for Belmont and Harrison coun- ties, and without any effort on his part ran about 200 ahead of his ticket, though there was a democratic gain in the district of about 1,000 on the whole ticket. In 1879 Mr. Coffland was married to Anna M., daughter of John and Margaret ( Fitzrandolph) Lochary. the former of whom was an early merchant of St. Clairsville, and one of the original stockholders of the bank. To this marriage four chil- dren have been born: Sherwood M., Margaret, Mary and Beatrice. Mr. Coffland is a Mason of the rank of Knight Templar.
Alexander C. Danford, of Richland township, was born in Belmont county, November 21, 1831, the son of Michael and Mercy ( Danford) Danford. His father was born and reared in Belmont county, of which he was a prominent citizen, serving as commissioner in 1854 and 1857. Michael was the son of William and Elizabeth (Moore)
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Danford, the former of whom was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died at Sandusky, Ohio, in 1812. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. Mercy Danford, mother of the subject of this mention, was a daughter of Ambrose Danford, who was born in Maryland; when fifteen years old he crossed the mountains with two half-brothers, Samuel and William, and settled on the Bend fork of Captina creek, when the country was a wilderness. The boys reared a cabin, and Ambrose was left to guard it while the brothers returned to the old home for their father In 1812 and 1813 he was elected, by the whigs, repre- sentative of Belmont county. He was a leading politician. Beginning poor he grew to be one of the richest farmers in the county, owning at the time of his death 2,200 acres of land. Alexander Danford was reared in pioneer times and was educated in the old log-house of those days, studying his letters from a slip pasted on a paddle. He is now one of the county's progressive and enterprising farmers, and has taken the lead in introducing fine stock. He was the first to bring Leicester sheep to this county, buying them in Canada during the Fenian trouble, first brought on Shropshire sheep in 1876, and first introduced Jersey cattle in 1868. He is influential as a citizen, has served as infirmary director seven years, is a member of the I.O.O. F. and of the Masonic order, Royal Arch Degree. October 8, 1853, Mr. Danford was married to Nancy, daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Ward) Frost, who was born July 26, 1838. They have four child- ren: Martha J., born September 3, 1854; Miriam L., born November 15, 1857; Mercy, born January 21, 1863, and Michael D., born January 16, 1869.
Hon. Lorenzo Danford, well-known among the senior members of the bar of Belmont county, has for many years been prominent in the public affairs of the upper Ohio valley. He was born in Belmont county, October 18, 1829, the son of Samuel Danford, a prosperous farmer of the county, who was a conspicuous figure in his day, and served the people in various official positions. At the farm home of the latter, Mr. Danford was reared and received his rudimentary education in the neighboring school, then studied at the Waynes- burg, Penn., college, and at twenty-three years of age entered the law office of Carlo C Carroll, as a student of law. Ile was admitted to the bar in 1854. beginning at that date a long and successful career as a jurist. Almost at the same time he embarked in that career as a public man which has made his name one of the familiar ones of the country's history. During the closing days of the whig party he espoused its cause with great vigor, and was one of the candidates for elector of the Fillmore ticket in Ohio, in 1856. Soon afterward he became a zealous member of the new republican party, and in IS57 he was elected prosecuting attorney for Belmont county. To this office he was re-elected in 1850. but before the expiration of the second term he found a more urgent duty before him as a patriotic citizen, and resigned his office to shoukler a musket as a private in the Seventeenth Ohio volunteer infantry. At the expiration of the three months' service, he assisted in raising a company for the
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Fifteenth Ohio, of which he was chosen second lieutenant. He was subsequently promoted first lieutenant and then captain, as which he served until August 1, 1864, when he resigned on account of impaired health. In political life meanwhile he had been active as a republican and had been one of the electors of the state of Ohio, casting the voice of that state for Abraham Lincoln. After the close of the war he remained true to his party, and in 1872 was nominated for con- gress, from the sixteenth district, and was elected. Ile served in the forty-third congress, and subsequently in 1874, was re-elected, and again chosen in 1876, but after his third term in congress he declined further honors in that direction. He had the distinction of succeed- ing to the scat filled by John A. Bingham, and the trusts reposed in him were ably and honorably filled. As a congressman, an orator upon questions of politics and statesmanship, and as a lawyer of breadth and power, he is one of the distinguished men of eastern Ohio. Since his retirement from congress Mr. Danford has devoted himself to the practice of law, which is so extensive as to fully absorb his attention. In the criminal practice, his fame is particularly wide- spread as one of the foremost in that branch of his profession. Mr. Danford was first married on October 7. 1858, to Annie H. Cook, of Jefferson county, who died October 24, 1867. On October 27, 1870, he was married to Mary M. Adams, of St. Clairsville.
A. C. Darrah, one of the leading citizens of St. Clairsville, was born at that place June 4, 1849, the son of William Darrah. He received a liberal education in the town schools of that day, and afterward was engaged in teaching in the common schools for several terms. De- ciding to adopt the profession of law, he entered the law office of Danford & Kennon, to pursue his studies, and at the age of twenty- one years he was sufficiently advanced for admission to the bar. He continued to teach, however, to assist him in the strug- gles of a young attorney, during the winter seasons until he was twenty-three years of age. At this time, in 1872, he was united in marriage with Martha M., daughter of David llarris, the first pro- bate judge of Belmont county. Mr. Darrah soon became prominent in public affairs, and in 1875 he was elected by the democratic party as justice of the peace of Richland township, as which he served until IS78, when he was elected to the position of clerk of the courts of Belmont county. This office he filled to the entire satisfaction of the public during one term, and was then re-elected, and he held the office two terms, proving to be a most efficient public servant. Mr. Darrah is one of the most enterprising citizens of Steubenville, and has rendered the town great service, particularly in connection with the St. Clairsville & Northern railroad. In 18So the town began the building of this road, and completed it on the narrow gauge plan. With this construction the road proved a failure, and lay idle one winter. In 1882 Mr. Darrah interested himself in the matter, and or- ganized a stock company which obtained a lease of the road for thirty years. The track was then changed to standard gauge, and an active business was begun with Mr. Darrah as president of the company.
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Its subsequent history has been one of unqualified success. All the indebtedness of the road has been paid, and its gross earnings will now amount to about $7,000 per year. Since the completion of the road, the company of which he is president, has also been engaged in the mining and shipping of coal, of which their average product is about 6,000 tons per annum. In social life Mr. Darrah and his estim- able family are highly esteemed. By his marriage above mentioned, he has three children, Homer C., Gertrude and Charles D.
A notable carly settler of Belmont county was William Denham, a native of Ireland, who emigrated in 1789, setting sail from Belfast, May 15. The receipt for 43, 8s, 3d, which he paid as passage money to Capt. Mark Collins, of the ship, " St. James," is still preserved by his descendants. His ship was six weeks getting within sight of land, and a storm then kept them out from shore for three weeks longer. William proceeded to South Carolina, where he was married to Re- becca Sargent, a native of that state. Soon afterward they came on horseback through Kentucky to Ohio, and settled in Belmont county. On the way one of the party became very sick and one of his friends thereupon went out to hunt for game for food for him and happened to see an Indian. Returning to camp he reported the fact, and there was a rapid mounting, in which, remarkably enough, the sick man was the first in the saddle with his gun ready for battle. After their ar- rival in Belmont county, John Denham, son of the above, was born, October 22, 1802. Hle received the benefit of the pioneer schools, and was reared to a life of industry. Ile was apt and intelligent, and, though never apprenticed to any trade, following farming all his life, he was a natural mechanic and framed all the buildings he erected. He was influential among his neighbors, and at one time held the rank of captain in the Ohio militia. He died, leaving to his heirs a valuable farm of 160 acres. His wife, Elizabeth, to whom he was married April 22, 1830, is now the oldest living member of the St. Clairsville United Presbyterian church. She was born in West Virginia, April 2, IS13, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Morrison) Giffen. ller father was born in Scotland, 1774, and came to America with his par- ents when two years of age. He and wife were in Fort Ilenry at the time of the siege of 1782, when Elizabeth Zane performed her famous exploit of carrying powder past the Indians. Mrs. Denham's mother, a daughter of William and Mary (Henry) Morrison, was on one oc- casion in the fort when the Indians drew out all the men but one, who was too old for battle, into an ambush, and killing them, left the women and the one man to defend the garrison. The heroic women, of which Elizabeth Morrison was one, by loading the guns rapidly, with the old man's assistance, managed to repulse the savages. John Denham and wife had twelve children, of whom eight are living: Sophia J., William, Elizabeth A., wife of Samuel Wiley; Emily, wife of Joseph .A. Hall; May, Mary R., Sarah .A., wife of William Hall; Jo- seph H. and Maria.
Josepa HI. Denham was born and reared on the old homestead. On March 11. 1873, he was married to Louisa Ault, who was born
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January 5, 1854, the daughter of Joseph and Ann (Wilkerson) Ault. They have had nine children, of whom eight are living: Charles A., John M., Joseph C., Mary R., David W., Frank I., Clara L. and Mar- tha F. Mr. Denham and wife are members of the United Presby- terian church, and are highly regarded.
The first white child native to Pultney township, Belmont county, was James Dixon, born in 1797, whose son, Henry Dixon, is now one of the influential people of the county. James was the son of Andrew and Rachel (Dulap) Dixon, the former of whom was born in Ireland in 1744, and came to America in 1764. He first settled in Pennsyl- vania, but in a short time removed to West Liberty, W. Va., and thence, soon afterward, to the territory now included in Pultney town- ship. He died there in 1800. He was drafted for service in the con- tinental army during the revolution, but excused by order of Gen. Washington. The mother of Henry Dixon was Elizabeth Neff, a native of West Virginia, of German descent. Mr. Neff received his early education in the pioneer schools of the country, and was occu- pied in labor on the farm of his father. He settled in Belmont county a poor man, and he lived for many years in one of the log cabins characteristic of those days, with his nearest neighbor at Bridgeport, five or six miles away. Ile was compelled to go to West Liberty to mill, and when the river was impassable, the only recourse was to pound corn for food. The land that this worthy ancestor gained the title of was afterward owned by his son James, and here the subject of this mention was reared. The mother of the latter was Elizabeth Neff, a native of West Virginia, and of German descent. Mr. Neff received his education in the pioneer schools of the county, and was occupied in youth upon the farm of his father, which subse- quently became his. He is now the owner of ninety-seven acres of good land, and is in prosperous circumstances. In 1857 he was mar- ried to Narcissa Thompson, who was born in Pease township in 1835, the daughter of James and Sidney (Petit) Thompson. Her father was a native of Pease township, and a son of Thomas Thompson, of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon havetone son, James A., now a promi- nent physician of Bellaire. Mr. Dixon and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and are highly esteemed.
Andrew Douglass, a venerable citizen of Richland township, Bel- mont county, was born in Ireland in 1813, son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Agnew) Douglass, both of whom spent their lives in their native land. At eighteen years of age Andrew came to America, and at once proceeded to Ohio, where he found employment as a laborer. He continued to be so employed until 1835, when he bought and settled on a part of his present farm. He purchased some seventy- eight acres at first, slightly improved with an old log cabin, to which he brought his young wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Tate, and to whom he had been united in 1833. The story of the years that followed is one of unremitting industry, that sort of patient life which lays the foundations of the prosperity of counties and states. A true pioneer, he can remember when he worked at So per month, or mowed
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for fifty cents per day, and cradled wheat at Si per day. By good business principles he succeeded, and now has 281 acres of valuable land, well improved. He gives considerable attention to sheep rais- ing as well as agriculture, and makes a specialty of the Southdown breed. By his wife, above named, who was born in Ireland in 1805, he has seven children: Hugh, John, Randall B., Mary J., William, Emma E. and Margaret. He and wife are members of the Presby- terian church.
William Estep, M. D., one of the oldest physicians in the practice in Belmont county, was born in Washington county, Penn., son of John and Sarah Estep. The father was a blacksmith and farmer, in straitened circumstances, and at an early age William was called on to assist his father in the smithy. He had, however, when eight years old, decided to be a physician when he had grown, and he would assume that character in his childish games, and when called on to help his father he would manage to work so poorly that finally in ex- asperation the father drove him from the forge with an injunction never to return. He at once entered Franklin college and attended three years, when a lack of funds compelled him to stop his studies. He then worked awhile until he had money enough to complete his course and in the same way managed to gain his medical education. In 1840 he settled at Loydsville, and began a practice which has ever since continued. In this protracted period he has always had the confidence and respect of the community. He is now one of the directors of Franklin college. In 1862 he enlisted in September as surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Ohio regiment, and served two years, when he was compelled by sickness, terminating in heart disease, to accept an honorable discharge at Annapolis in 1864. He was captured at Martinsburg, Va., and was a prisoner of war for seven weeks. He is one of the authors of the law for the board of pension examiners, and he was appointed a member of the board in June, 18SS. The doctor is a member of the Masonic order and was a member of the I. O. O. F. In his practice he has instructed many pupils, who have all made a success of their profession. Dr. Estep is a lover of fine horses, and has done more to introduce thoroughbreds than any other man in Belmont county. He has now a very fine im- ported Cleveland bay stallion, and has kept other horses, among them Sir Charles, two Morgan horses, a Norman, a Clydesdale, Hiatoga, Harry Clay, Bayswater and Judge Spofford.
Amos Fawcett, an influential farmer of Richland township, Bel- mont county, Ohio, was born in 1826, on the farm which he now occu- pies. The first of his family in this country was Thomas Fawcett, a native of Ireland, who came to the province of Pennsylvania in 1750, and thence removed to Virginia. He was the first to be interred in the Mt. Pleasant cemetery of Frederick county, Va. His wife was Martha Clevinger. Their son, Thomas, married Rachel Vale, and had ten children: Joel, Rebecca, Simeon. Levi, Nathan, Amos, Martha, Edward, Thomas, and a Thomas who died in infancy. This family was reared on the farm which the grandfather, Thomas Fawcett, set-
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tled upon in 1814, and Amos, the subject of this mention, with the other children, enjoyed such educational advantages as the old log school-houses afforded. In IS48 he was married to Charity Sutton, daughter of Zachariah and Nancy (King) Sutton. She is a native of Richland township, and is a granddaughter of Jonathan Sutton, of whom mention is made on another page of this work. To this union five children have been born: Zachariah, Mary E., Esther, Harry H. and John A. Mr. Fawcett and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees. He has a valuable farm of 112 acres, finely improved.
Francis B. Ferrel, prominent among the farmers of Richland town- ship, was born in the year 1820, in the little log cabin which was the home of his parents, on the farm which he now owns. He is the son of James and Sarah ( Boggs) Ferrel, the former of whom was born in West Virginia, the son of Joseph Ferrel, and came to Ohio early in the century, and settled in Richland township. His wife was a daugh- ter of Francis and Margaret (Caldwell) Boggs. Her grandfather was a soldier of the revolution, and of Scotch-Irish descent. Mr. Fer- rel, the subject of this mention, was reared on the old farm, and re- ceived his early education in the country schools. Beginning with this slender foundation he has by a liberal patronage of books and papers, become well-read and thoroughly informed. He is now one of the influential citizens of the county, a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs, and his farm, one of the best of the re- gion, includes 154 acres of valuable land. In 1840, Mr. Ferrel was married to Martha, daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Mowery) Holmes, of this county, and to them ten children have been born, of whom the following are living: William, Charles, James, Francis E. and Emma. His first wife died, and in 18; 1, he was married to Mary E., daughter of Amos and Anna Roscoe, of this county, by whom he has three children living: Irena, Maude and Garfield L.
James W. Frasier, a leading liveryman of St. Clairsville, is a de- scendant of two of the early families in eastern Ohio. His father, William P. Frasier, was born in Loudon county, Va., December 31, 1815, the son of James and Sarah ( Evans) Frasier, who came to Ohio in 1813, with their family and settled in the woods in Belmont county. The father remained upon the farm until 1866, when he moved to St. Clairsville and embarked in the hotel business, at which he was occu- pied for nineteen years. He then sold his hotel and retired, and his death occurred in December, ISS5. In 1844 he was married to Nancy, a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Colley) Woodmansee. Her father was born in New Jersey, January 31, 1799, and the mother was born October 10, 1800. They were married October, ISto, and by this union had ten children, seven of whom are living: Nancy, Eliza, Sina S., Harrison, Galena, Thomas J. and Kate, and three dead, Peter, Lewis, Menerva. After their marriage they remained with Mr. Woodmansee's parents about five years, and then in 1824 came to Ohio, and settled near Mt. Pleasant. Five years later they removed to a farm on the old National pike, about four miles east of St. Clairs-
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ville, where Mr. Woodmansee was for thirty-five years engaged in keeping a hotel. He kept one of the finest houses in the county, and built the large two-story brick building used for the hotel. In 1864 he sold out and bought a little farm near St. Clairsville, which was his home until his death in 1879. He was a member of the Masonic order and with his wife was associated with the Presbyterian church. She is still living, in her eighty-ninth year, and makes her home with her daughter Nancy. James W. Frasier, the subject of this mention, was engaged with his parents in the hotel business, and then embarked in the livery business, which has continued to be his principal occupa- tion. In 1870 he was married to Emma Patton, who was born and reared in St. Clairsville, and is a daughter of John and Arabella (Sharpless) Patton. To this union two children have been born, of whom one survives: John P. Mr. Frasier is one of the successful and popular business men of St. Clairsville.
William Fulton, an enterprising farmer of Richland township, was born October 6, 1845, in Pultney township, the son of Andrew and Margaret (Gay) Fulton. Mr. Fulton was reared in this county and was given the educational advantages of its excellent common schools in his youth. He was reared on the farm of his parents, and naturally chose the same vocation as his own, and not unwisely, as he is now reckoned as one of the best farmers of the township, and has a good farm of seventy-nine acres, which he has improved handsomely. He was married September 5, 1876, to Anna E. Workman, who was born in this county in IS47, the daughter of Amos and Hannah (Milligan) Workman. Their home has been blessed with five children: Edgar R., Inez Mary, Albert E., Mary L. and Ilannah N. Mr. Fulton is a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian church, with which his wife is also affiliated.
Hon. Isaac H. Gaston, judge of the probate court of Belmont county, was born at St. Clairsville, July 6, 1858, and is descended from a family conspicuous in the history of Belmont county since the dawn of the century. Ilis great-grandfather, Dr. Alexander Gaston, a na- tive of Washington county, Penn .; settled on a farm near St. Clairs- ville in 1800, and died at Morristown in 1825. After removing to Morristown his practice covered the territory reaching to Freeport, Middlebourne and Woodsfield. Dr. Ephraim Gaston, Judge Gaston's grandfather, was one of the most distinguished physicians of his time. His professional life covered a period of forty years, commencing in 1828. He was one of those rare men who practiced for the love of the profession, rather than for the money produced by it. Early in his professional life he was persuaded to represent the people one term in the legislature, but be gladly returned to a profession which he afterward greatly adorned, and chung to it with fidelity and zeal until compelled to abandon it on account of cataract of the eyes, dying about two years afterward. Samuel W. Gaston, father of Judge Gaston, was born at Morristown in 1831. In early manhood he taught school at Wheeling, improving bis time meanwhile reading the law. He located at St. Clairsville in 1855, and the following year was elected
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