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 31
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George Jepson, a leading grocer of St. Clairsville, is a son of John Jepson, who was in the same trade, a successful business man of the city for many years. John Jepson was born in Lancashire. England, in 1794, and was married in that country to Hannah Hunt, with whom and family he immigrated to this country in 1825. They settled first at Utica, N. Y., where he followed his trade as a weaver, until 1835, when they removed to Belmont county, and settled on a farm. the Humprey property, which he tilled until 1811. when he was severely injured by an accident in the raising of a barn. He then re- moved to town, and was engaged in the grocery business until isso. Ile died in 1884. Ile was successful in business, and amassed con-
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siderable property, and was withal an honest and good man. Of the First Presbyterian church he was an elder, and his estimable wife was also an active member. Of the eleven children born to them, four survive: Nathaniel H., a jeweler at Washington, Ind .; Hannah E., George, and Samuel L., one of the leading physicians of Wheeling, W. Va. George Jepson was born August 28, 1839. At the age of fourteen he began working in his father's store, and remained there until 1862, when he enlisted in the Union army, in Company B, Ninety- eighth regiment Ohio infantry. He served with his company three months, when he was detached for duty in the adjutant general's office, where he remained until discharged June 1, 1865. at Washing- ton, D. C. He did honorable service to his country, and was with Sherman in the march to the sea. On his return home he resumed the grocery business, in which he has since been successfully engaged. In 1871 Mr. Jepson was married to Rebecca E. Grove, by whom he hastwo children, Nellie and Lucy. Mrs. Jepson isa daughter of John A. Grove, who was born at Oldtown, Va., in 1796, the second son of Michael and Elizabeth ( Booker) Grove, with whom he came to Bel- mont county in an early day, and built the third house in St. Clairs- ville. He began a prosperous business career as a clerk in a dry goods store. He was for forty years a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, of which his wife was also a member. His death occurred in 1873. His wife was Caroline V. Anderson, who was born in Washington county, Penn., in 1816, daughter of John A. and Rebecca (Byers) Anderson, the former of whom was a minister of the Presbyterian church, in Pennsylvania, for over thirty-five years.
James Johnson, a prosperous farmer of Richland township, was born in Ireland, in 1829. Ten years later he came to the United States with his parents, William and Jane Johnson, with whom he remained until their death, in the meantime receiving an education in the common schools of the county. He is one of the leading citizens of Richland township, and has served four years as school director. Mainly through his own industry and good business talents, but assisted also by his father, he has acquired a fine farm of 147 acres, pleasantly situated, and substantially improved. In November, 1866, Mr. Johnson was married to Nancy J. McFarland, who was born in IS39, the daughter of AAndrew and Margaret ( Marshall) McFarland. To this union have been born six children: Anna, Mary, Ella and Bella (twins). Thomas and William. He and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, and are highly regarded by the com- munity.
John Johnson, one of the leading citizens of Richland township, was born in Ireland, in 1824. He is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (McFadden) Johnson, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, and came to the United States in 1849. He was a son of Thomas and Jane (Richmond) Johnson, natives of Ireland, and was a member of the Seceding church in that land. His wife, Elizabeth, the mother of the subject of this mention, was a daughter of John and Sarah ( Kerr) MeFadden. She is now, though in her eighty-ninth year, in apparent
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good health. John Johnson came to America at the age of twenty- four years, having received his education in his native land. le landed in this country quite a poor man, but since then his undertak- ings have been crowned with success, and he has now 196 acres of valuable land, and a comfortable home. He was married in 1853, to Elizabeth Giffen, who was born in York township, Belmont county, in the year 1832, the daughter of William and Isabel (Reed) Giffen. To their union have been born nine children, five of whom are living: Jane, Margaret, Elizabeth, Robert and Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. John- son are consistent members of the United Presbyterian church.
Thomas Johnson, a prominent and successful farmer of Belmont county, came here with his parents from Ireland, his native land, in 1839, being then sixteen years of age. He is the son of William and Jane (Campbell) Johnson, who came to this country with a capital of about $400, with which they made a first payment on seventy-three acres of land which they occupied, and lived there first in a little primitive frame house. They prospered and added eighty acres more to their farm, upon which they lived during the remainder of their days. Both were devoted members of the United Presbyterian church. The father died in 1854 at the age of seventy-one years. Ten children were born to them, of whom five survive: Thomas, James, Jane, Mary and Isabel. In the early days of their farm life in this county, the bulk of the work fell upon the sturdy shoulders of the eldest son, the subject of this mention. He remained with his parents until their decease. In 1854 he met with an accident which disabled him for life. A vicious horse that he was holding seized him by the wrist and crushed both bones. In 1859 Mr. Johnson was married to Isabel Boyd, who was born in Richland township in 1834, the daughter of William and Margaret Boyd. To this union ten children were born: William, Margaret J., Robert J., John A., Thomas E., Samuel B., Alexander C., Mary I., Emma 1. and larry E. He and wife are both members of the United Presbyterian church. Ile has prospered in his undertakings, and is now one of the leading farmers of the county, influential and respected, and owns 154 acres of valuable land.
Newell K. Kennon, a prominent young attorney of Belmont county, was born in St. Clairsville, April 8, 1855. He is a son of William Ken- non, Jr., who was born in Ireland in 1802, and came to Belmont county, with his parents, when a child. He received his education in the common schools of the county, and afterward studied law with Hon. William Kennon, at St. Clairsville. In 1833 he was admitted to practice, and four years later was elected prosecuting attorney, an office he held until 1841. Though a pronounced democrat, and in a county and district that was largely whig, he was elected to the thir- tieth congress, and served with distinction in 1847 and 1849. Subse- quently he was elevated to the bench, and served as judge of the court of common pleas of the district comprising Belmont and Monroe coun- ties, from 1865 to 1867, when on account of poor health he resigned his commission. He died on the 19th of October of the year last named.
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He was a lawyer of remarkable ability and strength, and during his connection with the Belmont county bar had few if any equals in the courts to which his practice called him. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Kirkwood, and a granddaughter of Robert Kirk- wood. Their son, Newell K., the subject of this mention, began hisschool days at St. Clairsville, and in 1874 began an attendance which lasted three years, at the Ohio Wesleyan college, at Delaware, Ohio. After completing his studies there he decided to enter the profession of law and with that purpose began to study with Judge R. E. Chambers, an eminent lawyer of St. Clairsville. On his twenty-fourth birthday he was admitted to the bar, and began a career as a lawyer which has been both brilliant and lucrative, and a credit to his name, which is so prominent in the history of the legal profession of the upper Ohio valley. In 1885 Mr. Kennon was elected to the office of prosecuting attorney of Belmont county, by a majority of one vote, he being the only successful candidate on the democratic ticket, in the face of an adverse majority of 400 or 500.
William Kennon, LL. D., born in Fayette county, Penn., May 15, 1793, died at St. Clairsville, November 2, 18SI, was a jurist and a leg- islator, whose fine attainments adorned the legal profession of Ohio and the law-making bodies of the state and nation. Ile came to Ohio in 1804 with his parents, who settled on a farm near Barnesville. There he attended the common schools, and by further private study prepared himself to take up the profession which he had chosen. After attending Franklin college two years he entered the law office of William B. Hubbard, then the ablest practitioner at St. Clairsville, where he studied until 1824, when he was admitted to the bar at Chil- licothe. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Hubbard, and rap- idly acquired a lucrative practice and an enviable reputation for ability and manly honor. So rapid was this advancement that in 1828 he was nominated by the democratic party, of which he was a mem- ber, to congress. He was elected, and in 1830 re-elected, and though defeated in 1832, by James M. Bell, was again elected in 1834, serving until 1837. His service in this capicity was brilliant and valuable, and he took an active part in the discussion of the important questions of the day. In ISte he went upon the bench, having been elected judge of the common pleas court of the district comprising Monroe, Bel- mont, Guernsey, Jefferson and Harrison counties. To this position his habits of mind and fairness and decision of character peculiarly adapted him, and during his service as judge, which covered seven years, he had no judgments reversed by higher courts. Among his most notable public services was that as a member of the constitu- tional convention of 1850, to which he was elected a delegate of Bel- mont and Guernsey counties. He served as chairman of the judiciary committee, and was a member of the commission appointed to frame a code of civil procedure, the work of which was ratified by the logi- lature without amendment. In 1854 Judge Kennon was appointed by Gov. William Medill to the supreme court to fill the unexpired term of William B. Caldwell. He held the office under that appointment
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one year, and was then elected to the office of supreme judge, but he resigned the place two years later and resumed his practice at St. Clairsville. In IS70 he was retained by the contestants in the cele- brated contest over the will of Alexander Campbell, deceased, in the circuit court of Brooke county, W. Va., in which Judge Jeremiah Black and James A. Garfield, were counsel opposing him. The ven- erable Judge Kennon made special preparation for this case, making greater effort than he could then endure, and during the excitement incidental to a proposition by Judge Black to adjourn the case, he was stricken with paralysis, a blow from which he never fully recovered. Judge Kennon was, prior to the civil war, in politics a democrat, and also a strenuous advocated of the preservation of the Union; after the war he remained with the republican party during his life. For a quarter of a century he was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which also belonged his wife. She, Mary Ellis by maiden name, is still living in November, 1889, at an advanced age.
Hon. Wilson S. Kennon, a present distinguished citizen of St. Clairsville, is the only surviving child of the above. He was born at St. Clairsville, December 15, 1826. After attending the common schools he entered Bethany college in 1846, where he remained three years. He then entered the law office of his father, and soon after- ward became his partner, continuing as such until 1861. When the war broke out he and his father espoused the cause of the Union, and he was elected to the legislature in 1861 by the Union party, he being the first man to carry the county against a democrat for that office for many years. After he had served a short time he resigned to enter the army, but was called by Gov. Todd to the duties of secretary of state of the state of Ohio. After serving out the term he applied to Secretary Stanton for a commission in one of the Ohio regiments, but was appointed by the secretary a paymaster in the army, with the rank of major of cavalry. In that position he served four years, and then resigned, remaining in Cincinnati, where he embarked in the practice of law in partnership with Judge John W. Okey and llon. Milton Sayler. After five years' residence in that city he was called home, his father having been stricken with paralysis. In the fall of IS-1 he was elected by the republicans as state's attorney, an office to which he was three times elected in succession. Ile had also served, prior to that, four years as master commissioner in chancery.
John C. Kintner, of St. Clairsville, is widely known as the owner of some famous horses, and as a breeder and dealer in thoroughbred running and standard-bred trotting horses. He was born in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1854. and was there reared to manhood. In is;6 he went to Cincinnati and became the traveling agent for a company en- gaged in the manufacture of buggies, with whom he remained four years. He then removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where he organized a company for the manufacture of carriages and buggies, of which he was president until 1882. At the latter date he sold out his interests, having become very much interested in the breeding of thoroughbred
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horses, and came to St. Clairsville, where he engaged in his present business, in connection with which he conducts a livery stable. His farm, two and a half miles from the city, is the home of a number of fine specimens of horse-flesh, and is known far and wide among the lovers of that favorite animal. The principal attraction is his great race horse, Irish King, a magnificent runner, son of the celebrated Longfellow, out of a sister to, and a relative of, Ten Broeck. During his day on the turf, Irish King met and defeated some of the best running horses. Other animals here are, Longglen, Bonnie, Hurrah, Lithesome, Mollie R., Bessie B., Petronilla, King Scotland among the runners, and the trotters are represented by Dr. George. Mr. Kint- ner intends closing out his trotting stock, and will keep only thor- oughbreds. Mr. Kintner, the genial proprietor of this farm, is a son of John C. and Eliza ( Fish) Kintner, who are now living in Carroll county. On December 1, 18So, Mr. Kintner was married to Frankie E., daughter of William S. and Jane (Allen) Campbell, and they have two children, Jennie and John C. Mrs. Kintner was born in 1863, in the house which is now their home. Mr. Kintner has served as infirmary director for two years. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and he is a Mason of the degree of Knight Templar.
William Knox, a prominent farmer of Richland township, Belmont county, was born at Wheeling. W. Va., July 24, 1826. Ile is the son of James Knox, who was born in 1801, in county Derry, Ireland. The latter's parents were William and Eliza (Johnson) Knox, who were people of great influence in Ireland. James Knox was married to Nancy Flemings in 1822, and one week later they sailed for the United States. They first settled at Wheeling, but soon afterward removed to Marshall county, W. Va., where they made their home upon a farm, and raised a family of nine children, of whom four are living: Elizabeth, Hannah M., John and William. The father retired from the farm after living there a considerable period, and removed to Wheeling, where he died in ISS1. The mother then lived with her son until her decease in 1885. They were both members of the Se- ceding church in Ireland, in behalf of which the grandfather, William, took part in the war at the time of the persecution in that land. The subject of this mention was reared in Marshall county. In 1858 he was married to Mary, daughter of Andrew and Eliza ( Blackwood) King. She was born in 1835. To this union eleven children have been born, eight of whom are living: Andrew K., a minister of the United Presbyterian church; Mima, James T., Lizzie B., John, Mary, Carrie and Maggie. Mr. Knox and wife are members of the United Presbyterian church. They are widely known and highly regarded, the Knox family being considered one of the leading ones of the county.
Albert Lawrence, a well-known attorney of St. Clairsville, was born at Washington, Guernsey Co., Ohio, September 15, 1854, of a family distinguished in the history of Ohio. His father, William Lawrence, was born September 2, 1814, at Washington, Ohio, and in 1835 was
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graduated at Jefferson college, Penn. He then engaged in mercan- tile pursuits, and in 1842 was nominated by the democrats of his county for representative to the general assembly. The vote was very close and he was defeated by one, which it was ascertained was cast against him by a negro, not then entitled to the franchise, but Mr. Lawrence refused to contest, and in the succeeding election, being renominated, he was successful by a majority of eighty. He was elected a mem- ber of the constitutional convention of 1851, which framed the pres- ent constitution of the state. In 1855 he was the democratic nominee for senator for Guernsey and Monroe counties, and was successful, though this was the era of "Know-Nothing" ascendancy, and he was one of the lonely five democrats in the senate. In 1856 he resigned his senatorship to accept the nomination for congress from his dis- trict, and was triumphant by a majority of 2,000 votes, although the district had given a majority of 2,000 adversely in the previous elec- tion. He served one term with distinction, and was tendered a re- nomination, but declined. as Noble county asked the privilege of selecting the candidate. Thrice he has been on the electoral ticket of the state, first in 1848, when he was elected and cast his vote for Lewis Cass, and in 1872 and IS84. In 1867 he was nominated and elected to the state senate again, contrary to his desires, and in 1885 he was elected to the same office. During the administration of Gov. William Allen he was chairman of the board of prison directors of the state. He is a prominent member of the Presbyterian church. By his wife, Margaret E. Ramsey, who was born at Carlisle, Penn., March 25, 1820, he had seven children, four of whom are living: William, connected with the Zanesville Signal: James, attorney at Cleveland, and attorney-general of Ohio under Gov. Hoadley, though only thirty-three years of age at his election; Mary and Albert. The latter, with mention of whom this sketch opened, after going through the preparatory school, entered Kenyon college, where he studied two years. He then finished his collegiate course at Wooster university. being graduated in 1877. In January of the following year he began the study of law in the office of White & Campbell, and in 1879 he went to Cleveland, where he finished his studies preparatory to his admission to the bar, which occurred in ISSo, in the supreme court. He opened an office at Cleveland and remained there until January. 1885, when he came to St. Clairsville, where he is in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice. He has twice been elected city solicitor, an office he now fills, and is also master commissioner of the court of common pleas. He is an earnest advocate of the principles of the democratic party, and when he had been a resident of the county but two years, led his ticket, which was unsuccessful, as candidate for representative. Mr. Lawrence was married April 19. 1883. to Kate W., daughter of Gen. 11. 11. Dodge, of Cleveland, Ohio.
Benjamin M. Loper, of Richland township, is one of the progres- sive farmers of the county, and though having started out at his mar- riage without any property and in debt $too, he now has a fine farm of fifty and one-half acres and is surrounded with the comforts of life.
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HISTORY OF THE UPPER OIHO VALLEY.
He was born in Harrison county, Ohio, December 18, 1842, the son of Joseph M. and Sarah (Sommers) Loper. His father was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Benjamin Loper. The latter removed to Rich- land township when Joseph was a small boy. He hired a man to haul his goods from Bridgeport to the farm, where Henry Pickering now lives, and then had just fifty cents left, which was preserved and is now in the possession of his grandson Benjamin. The latter was reared until fifteen years of age in Harrison county. August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-eighth Ohio infantry, under Captain Cordner, and served gallantly with his regiment in all its engagements except that of Chickamauga, at which time he was on the sick list. He marched with Sherman through Georgia, and returning to Ohio at the close of hostilities was mustered out at Cleveland, June 8, 1865. He is notable as a farmer and stock-raiser and was among the first to introduce the noted breed of sheep, National Delain, in Belmont county. In 1866 Mr. Loper was married to Emma Lott, was born in Harrison county, October 4, 1846, the only daughter of Henry and Dorothy (Peterman) Lott. natives of Reading, Penn. By this union he has four children: Joseph, Edwin M., Charles C. and Minnie May. Mr. Loper and wife are members of the Disciple church, of which he is a deacon.
Andrew McFarland, a well-known citizen, was born in this county October 17, 1824. He was the son of William McFarland, a promi- nent man in the early history of eastern Ohio, of whom detailed mention may here appropriately be made. William McFarland was the son of Robert, who was a native of Ireland, and his mother, Eliz- abeth, was a daughter of Malcolm Ferguson, and both their parents were born in Scotland, but were expelled from that country during the reformation. William came to America from Ireland, his native land, with his parents, in 1789, and settled in Washington county, Penn., where he remained until iSoo, when he came to Ohio, and cleared a farm in Colerain township, Belmont county. William at- tended school at Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, walking a distance of three miles, and was compelled by poverty to borrow a book of a neighbor boy in order to study surveying. This convenience being soon refused him on account of his superior progress, his father made a trip to Washington, Penn., to obtain him a book of his own. At the age of thirteen years he began teaching school, and he was thus engaged during the winter months for about eight years. Soon be- coming prominent and well-known, he was elected to the legislature in 1843, as the representative of Harrison county and the nominee of the whig party. In 1845 he was appointed by the governor associate judge with Thomas Lee, and he served in that capacity at the time that Messrs. Cowan and K nnon were president judges. Having prospered as a farmer, and accumulated considerable property, he became one of the early stockholders of the bank of St. Clairsville, and at the organization of the Harrison National bank at Cadiz, he was one of its directors, as which he remained until his death. By a robbery of this bank in 1866, he suffered a loss of $14,000. During
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BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
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the war he served as deputy provost marshal of this district, and sent four sons and two sons-in-law to the field, all of whom returned save Capt. J. S. Cready, who fell in the battle of the Wilderness in defense of his country. William McFarland was a member of the United Presbyterian church and an elder, and also an elder in the associate organization, prior to the Union. Andrew McFarland, son of the ยท above by his marriage to Elizabeth Henderson, was taken in .A. D. 1825, by his parents, to New Athens, Harrison county, when he was one year old. He attended Franklin college over three years, and was engaged in teaching in 1846-47. He then took up the study of medicine, with Dr. Mills as his preceptor, and after reading with him three years, he went in 1852 to Wheeling, and continued his studies with Dr. S. P. Hullihan, until 1856, from which time he has had a home practice until the present writing. Dr. McFarland was after- ward connected with the school board of Athens township, of Harri- son county, for thirteen years, and of Franklin college from IS;1 to 1887. After his marriage he was engaged in farming and wool grow- ing. In 1864, he enlisted in Company II, One Hundred and Seven- tieth Ohio regiment, and as soon as he reached the front, was sent to the hospital to care for sick and wounded, at Fort Mansfield, and for awhile to Fort Sumner, and the remainder of his time was in actual service. In ISSo, he sold his farm and stock, and made his home in St. Clairsville, Ohio. He is now one of the prosperous and success- ful citizens of St. Clairsville. He is the manufacturer and proprietor of a catarrh remedy which is in great demand, and an .Esculapian compound for pains, etc., and also a cough medicine which is quite popular. Mr. McFarland was married in IS58, to Margaret A. Smith, daughter of Joseph B. Smith, and has three children: Elizabeth G., wife of William E. Clark; Louella M., wife of Thomas A. Clark, and William S., a graduate of Franklin college, also of a medical college of Baltimore, and the Polyclinic of New York, and now practicing medicine at Colorado Springs. The mother, who was born in Wheel- ing township, Belmont county, October 11, 1836, died in May, 18-3. at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 19;5 he was married to Martha (Coc) Lyons, widow of Capt. Richard Lyons, who fell at the Wilderness. She was born at Wintersville in 1831, and is a member of the United Presbyterian church.
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