Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio, Part 5

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 570

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 5
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USA > Ohio > Union County > Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio > Part 5

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MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

efforts having been characterized at all times by those essential principles of con- servatism, industry and politic economy. As a result he occupies to-day a position as one of the most honored residents and rep- resentative capitalists of Union county. He gives his personal attention to his business affairs, also directing the operation of his fine farm of 567 acres, located two miles northwest of Marysville.

Reverting briefly to the domestic life of Mr. Whitney we find that he has been twice married. In February, 1858, he was united to Miss Rubie Tuttle, who became the mother of three children, all of whom died in infancy. Her demise occurred in 1870 and two years later Mr. Whitney married Miss Kate Peck, of Milford, Connecticut, the issue of this union being three children, of whom only one survives. This is a son George. who is a student at the Ohio Wes- leyan University, Delaware, Ohio, and a young man of much promise. The family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Whitney has long been one of the officials in the local organization.

D. McCABE, D. D., LL. D., was born at Marietta, Ohio, January 7, 1817. His father though not wealthy, was a prominent citizen of that city, esteemed and widely known in his church, where his integrity, Christian activity and religious fervor gave him great influence. His mother, the daughter of an eloquent minister, the Rev. Alexander Mc- Cracken, possessed even stronger and more remarkable qualities than her husband. At the tender age of six he was bereft of both parents; henceforth the orphan boy was

thrown upon his own resources. Three years after the death of his father and mother he was taken into the family of Weston Thomas, a inerchant of Marietta. He applied himself diligently to the general work of the store, and soon became an ex- pert at figures, a keen observer of men and an accurate reader of human nature. Dur- ing the winter months he was allowed to at- tend the district school, where he mani- fested an unusual thirst for learning. At

the age of seventeen he was converted. This was a turning point in his life. New plans are now formed, and we find him more studious than ever, even devoting his evenings to private study under the direction of Miss Siba Buell.

Four years later, having attained his majority, he gives up mercantile pursuits and enters the Ohio State University at Athens, at which he was graduated with honors in 1843. A model student, filled with reverence and love for his instructors, he devoted his entire time to his text-books. No literary work, no social diversion, noth- ing whatever was allowed to interfere with the prescribed course. Previous to enter- ing college he had been licensed to preach, and immediately upon graduation joined the Ohio conference, and was appointed to the Worthington circuit, which he traveled one year, but owing to failing eyesight he . was compelled to resign. He spent the next winter under Dr. Mussey's care at Cin- cinnati. Upon his return to Athens he was elected to the chair of Mathematics and Mechanical Philosophy in the Ohio Univer- sity. Here he remained until he was elect- ed at the Ohio Wesleyan University to the same professorship, Mathematics and Me- chanical Philosophy. In this professorship he continued until 1860, when he was trans-

DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

ferred to the department of Philosophy, and has occupied this chair ever since.

The change was quite acceptable to the Doctor, as metaphysical studies were now more congenial to him. In connection with his duties as professor he has been for many years vice-president, and through several interregnums has conducted the affairs of the university with unsurpassed skill and ability. Allegheny College conferred the degree of D. D. upon him in 1855, and Syracuse University that of LL. D. in 1875.

Dr. McCabe is a great teacher, nat- urally brilliant and a thorough master of his subject. His students can never forget the many flashes of eloquence which often and suddenly break out in his class-room. He has a vigorous mind, a vivid imagination and an unsurpassed facility of expression. He is a most fervid orator, and has no diffi- culty in swaying an audience at his will.

Dr. McCabe has been a great writer. Besides valuable contributions to the peri- odicals of the church he has published several books, such as "The Philosophy of Holi- ness," "The Foreknowledge of God and Cognate Subjects," and "The Divine Nescience." His style is clear, concise, di- rect and profound. One is never at a loss to understand what he desires to say. There is no sophistry nor ambiguity in any of his sentences. His books have been ex- tensively read by thoughtful men on both sides of the Atlantic. It would be an easy matter to fill several pages of this book with complimentary words from some of the leading minds of the nineteenth century, such as Professor Dorner, of Berlin, Prus- sia, and Joseph Cook, of Boston. The world moves slowly, -new ideas are never welcomed, -nevertheless the Doctor's views on foreknowledge and nescience are being

more and more accepted; and whether he may receive due credit or not, his theology will have great influence upon the revision of creeds now in progress.

The Doctor is the most genial of men; he is deservedly popular with all classes. Not only with the students, upon whom he has exerted and still continues to exert most wonderful influence, but also with the citizens. His personal qualities have en- deared him to an unusually large circle of friends. His daily life is a constant exem- plification of the Golden Rule: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."

EV. J. W. BASHFORD, D. D., Ph. D., was born in La Fayette county, Wisconsin, May 25, 1849. His father was born in New York city and studied medicine, was con- verted and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wisconsin. He died in the pulpit, of apoplexy, when thirty-six years old. His inother has been noted among her friends for common sense, industry and perseverance. Four sons com- pleted the college course at the University of Wisconsin. Two of them studied law and two theology.

The subject of this sketch made a public profession of Christ in a revival, in 1859. Owing to a local church trouble the converts were not received into the church at that time; and while he never lost the habit of daily prayer he did not again confess Christ in public until the close of his freshman year in the spring of 1868. The real battle was then over the question of preaching. He could get no peace until he surrendered

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

his own plans of life and took up this ap- parently stern, hard duty.

While in college he contended with ill- ness and financial difficulties. But en- forced rest enabled him to recover from the one, and his native pluck and versatility provided amply for the other. At the close of the freshman year he taught school for one year in his native town. During the Sop- homore year he also taught one term, achiev- ing success where others had failed. But he overworked to make up for his absence from the university. This resulted in severe illness, which left him $300 in debt, and prolonged his college course another year. On returning to college he accepted an in- vitation from another student, who had capital to invest, to unite in founding the University Press-the first college paper published at the University of Wisconsin. The new enterprise was financially success- ful, enabling him to remain at college and complete the course in 1873. He was at once elected tutor in Greek at his alma mater, and read, in connection with his work as an instructor, part of the New Testament in Greek and considerable church history. In 1874 he was urged to remain as a teacher in the university and was offered the posi- tion of private secretary to the Governor of his State. The position was an enviable one, but to him duty was "the stern daughter of the voice of God." Accord- ingly he entered the School of Theology of Boston University in order to prepare for his life work, completing the prescribed course in 1876. He then entered the School of Oratory of the University and graduated in 1878. The next year he de- livered lectures on the English language and on the principles of public speaking at the School of Oratory. At the close of the

year he was offered by Professor Monroe, dean of the school, a half interest therein, with a guaranteed salary of $3,000 to con- tinue in that work. At the same time he was offered a full professorship by his alma mater in Wisconsin. But although these offers were tempting, they did not turn him from the work to which he had consecrated his life. In 1877 he entered the School of All Sciences in Boston University, and in 1879 received the degoee of Ph. D., cum laude. Indeed the three foriner degrees had been received with honor.

While in the school of theology he ac- cepted the pastorate of a mission and organized it into the Harrison Square Methodist Episcopal Church. During his work in this field the membership grew from twenty-three to ninety-six, and a church costing $8,000 was erected and its cost en- tirely provided for. At the close of three years he was appointed to the pastorate of the Jamaica Plain Methodist Episcopal Church, Boston, where a debt of $7,000 was paid and the membership trebled.

In 1878 Dr. Bashford married Miss Jane Field, of Madison, Wisconsin. She graduated from the university in 1874, with the highest honors in her department, and afterward taught in the high school of Madison. After removing to Boston she was chosen first President of the Association of Collegiate Alumnæ.

In 1880 Dr. and Mrs. Bashford made a summer trip to Europe, visiting England, Scotland, France and Switzerland. In 1881 Dr. Bashford became pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Auburndale, a suburb of Boston, and seat of Lasell Seminary. During this pastorate we find him delivering lectures before the school of theology of Boston University on oratory,

DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

and generally impressing leading educators with his worth. It is not surprising then that at that time he was offered the presidency of one of the New England Conference semi- naries, and of two of the colleges in the Methodist Episcopal Church. At the close of this pastorate he was offered the position of preacher and lecturer on ethics at the New England Conservatory of Music. In 1884 he was transferred to the Maine Con- ference and stationed at the Chestnut Street church in Portland, Maine, the larg- est church in northern New England. Dur- ing this pastorate about two hundred and twenty members were received into the church. He returned to Auburndale by in- vitation to deliver the lectures on Evidences of Christianity before the Lasell Seminary. At the close of this pastorate he was ap- proached by trustees with reference to the presidency of a strong Methodist college, but declined to entertain a proposition to leave the pastorate.

In 1887 Dr. and Mrs. Bashford spent five months abroad, chiefly in Italy and vis- iting German universities. It was while on the continent that he studied the methods of the world-famed schools, not however as a professional educator, as he had felt that his life work must be in the pastorate, but rather for the love of that higher culture of which he himself is so good an illustration. Thus it would seem that, unknown to him his whole life thus far may have been plan- ned for the position he has recently been elected to fill.

At the close of this European trip he en- tered upon his work in connection with the Delaware Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church in Buffalo, one of the leading churches in Methodism. Here he again was offered the presidency of three universities

and a leading editorial position. He prefers preaching to any other work. But the Board of Bishops met in Delaware, Ohio, in the spring of 1889, and each member of the board present expressed the conviction that Dr. Bashford ought to accept the presidency of the Ohio Wesleyan University. His brethren also of the Genesee Conference, regarded the call to his new and responsible position as providential, although they parted with him with the greatest regret.

In the spring of 1889 Dr. Bashford de- livered the lectures on theology before the first Itinerants' Club at Lexington, Ken- tucky. The Rev. Dr. Edwards, editor of the North-Western Christian Advocate, was present as a lecturer. The following is a notice of Dr. Bashford's work. * " Hit where it may, we pro- pose to give the palm to Rev. Dr. J. W. Bashford, of Buffalo, whose morning lec- tures on systematic theology were the clear- est, simplest, ablest, and most elevating we have ever heard. These words are deliber- ate. Dr. Bashford, who is approaching middle life, is a royal teacher. His topic is not supposed to be attractive to a general audience, but the early morning hours found the church occupied by citizens of Lexing- ton, who waited almost impatiently for the lecture to begin. The entire substructure of the exposition was biblical. But the sub- ject matter seemed the inevitable and unavoidable conclusion of a devout reader who did not search the Word for the sake of supporting a theory, but rather to discover what the Book says, and that only for the sake of the truth, and not for a human or personal theory. During the addresses of the meeting all hearts were drawn out in devout rejoicings as the earnest speaker seemed to plead sole-

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

ly for the sake of revealing God the Father, Christ the Savior, and the Holy Spirit, the guide of men unto all truth. We heartily wish every young man in our ministry could hear these marvelous lectures for the sake of their value as correct initial statements, and that every older minister could hear them as a golden review of his life reading."

The Ohio Wesleyan University is to be congratulated. President Bashford by na- ture, grace and culture is peculiarly well fitted for his honors and responsibilities.

Q APT. JAMES E. MCCRACKEN, who is a well known and most pop- ular resident of Mt. Gilead, Mor- row county, has passed a some- what eventful life, and has attained a mili- tary record of marked brilliancy. To him is due particular recognition in this work, whose purport is the reviewing of the lives of the representative citizens of this and two adjoining counties.

His father, Robert McCracken, was a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, being the son of James McCracken, who was born in the north of Ireland, and who came with his family to Pennsylvania in an early day. Robert McCracken married Elizabeth Irwin, a native of this county (then a part of Knox county), and the daughter of Rev. James and Susan (Holt) Irwin, both of whom were born in New Jersey, and the latter of whom was the daughter of Evans Holt, a Revolutionary soldier. James Holt partci- pated in the war of 1812, having settled in that part of Ohio now comprised in Chester township, Morrow county, in 1820, and having been one of the pioneer clergymen of the Baptist Church in the Buckeye State.

The paternal grandfather of our subject

was one of the first settlers in Chester town- ship, having located there about 1814. He purchased a large tract of land and erected a large house, which was the voting place of the pioneer locality. He passed the re- mainder of his life on this farm.

The parents of our subject were married in Chester township and settled there, on a farm which had been given them by the father of the young man. This continued to be their permanent home, and there both parents died. They had four children, namely: Arminda, deceased, was the wife of George W. Freeman, of Union county, and had two children; Susan is the wife of George W. Freeman, and has three child- ren; William W. married Mary Green, has two children, and resides in Mt. Gilead; and our subject is the youngest in the fam- ily. After the death of his first wife the father consummated a second marriage and had one son, Charles E. The mother was a devoted member of the Baptist Church. Robert McCracken was a Democrat and a very active politician, being a man of con- siderable influence in his locality.

James E. McCracken, the immediate subject of this review, was born in Chester township, Morrow (then Knox) county, Feb- ruary 10, 1841, remained there until the outbreak of the civil war, and received a good common-school education.

April 22, 1861, he enlisted in the three- months' service as a member of Company G, Twentieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was recruited in the neighborhood of Ches- terville. During its term of service the regiment was engaged in guarding the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in West Virginia. At the end of his term of enlist- ment our subject returned home and was discharged from the three-months' service.

DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

August 18th of the same year he again en- listed, for three years, as a member of Com- pany A, Twentieth Regiment, entering as a private, but being soon promoted to the rank of Corporal, serving as such until April, 1862, when he was promoted as Ser- geant and served in that office until he veteranized, in January, 1864, when he was chosen Sergeant-Major of the old Twentieth, served one year, was then promoted Cap- tain of Company A, and as such continued until he was mustered out.

Into the details of his service as a mem- ber of the Twentieth Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry we cannot enter minute- ly, but deem it but consistent to incorpor- ate the following brief review: The regi- ment rendezvoused at Camp Chase, then at Camp King, back of Covington, Ken- tucky, until the expedition to Fort Donel- son was organized, when it joined the forces thus sent forward and took part in the bat- tle; after the fall of Fort Donelson the regi- ment took charge of prisoners and conveyed them to various prisons in the North. Re- assembled at Paducah, Kentucky, in March, 1862, and then joined Grant's army on the Tennessee river, being among the first troops to land at Pittsburg Landing; then drop- ped to Crump's Landing, moved out in the direction of Purdy and there remained until Sunday morning; then joined Grant's army on the same night, taking part in the sec- ond day's battle, in command of General Lew Wallace. Took part in the siege of Corinth, then moved to Bolivar, Tennessee, and there remained all summer, scouting and foraging. August 30, were attacked by Confederate General Van Dorn, at Middle- burg, and under command of General Ross, routed Price and Van Dorn in the battle of Hatchie Ford; moved back to Bolivar, and 3

joined Grant's Mississippi Central campaign, being assigned to Logan's division, the Third and Seventeenth Corps; moved down the Mississippi Central railroad toward Vicks- burg, with almost daily skirmishes. Their brigade was the farthest south of the entire body of infantry, and at Water Valley acted as rear guard on the retrograde moveinent. They then moved back to Memphis, and February 22, 1863, took boats to Lake Providence, Louisiana; engaged in the work of cuttting a canal with a view to securing access to the Red River below Vicksburg; March, 1863, were flooded out and compell- ed to abandon operations by reason of the tide of backwater; took steamers to Eagle Bend, on the Mississippi side, thence to Milliken's Bend, where they remained until the blockade was run; then moved across to Grand Gulf. May I, crossed the river and participated in battle of Port Gibson, then moved to Hankins' Ferry, where a lively skirmish took place; then moved in the direction of Jackson, Mississippi, and Logan's division fought battle of Raymond, May 12, and the battle of Jackson two days later; started for Vicksburg, and on May 16, fought battle of Champion Hills; the succeeding day were in second line at battle of Big Black. May 18 closed in on Vicksburg, May 22 engaged in the charge in front of Fort Hill; passed through the entire siege, and July 4, 1863, was present at surrender of Vicksburg, Logan's division being the first to enter. In August partici- pated in the raid into western Louisiana, destroying the Shreveport & Texas railroad; remained at Vicksburg until December, 1863, when he re-enlisted, and in March following went to Meridian, Mississippi, participating in the raid made by General McPherson. Captain McCracken arrived

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF

in Ohio in April, 1864, and received a fur- lough for that month, at the expiration of which he proceeded to Cairo, Illinois, thence by boat to Clifton, Tennessee, via Hunts- ville, Alabama, to Rome, Georgia, joining Sherman's army at Big Shanty, the division being in command of General M. D. Lig- gett. Participated with his regiment in the battles of Kenesaw Mountain and Nickojack; moved up the Chattahoochee river to Ros- well's factory, where they crossed and struck the line of the Augusta railroad, at De- catur. Moved on to Atlanta and reached the earthworks July 21, 1864. The great battle ensued the next morning and was the hardest fight our subject ever saw during his long term of active service. July 27 his regiment was in the body which swung around twelve miles to ex- treme right of the army, effectually repul- sing the precipitate attack made by Hood. The regiment joined in the siege of Atlanta until September 1, then pulled out at night, moved to Jonesboro, where there was a hot conflict in which the Federal troops were victorious, as also at Lovejoy Station; then moved back to Atlanta, remained a few days, then followed Hood on his raid in rear of the city to the Smyrna camp ground, remain- ing there until November 10, when began the memorable march to the sea, the troops eating Christmas dinner in Savannah. Our subject was then in command of his company as they moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, and participated in fight at Pocotaligo; then moved with the Army of the Tennessee for- ward to take part in the battle at Orange- burg, South Carolina, thence on to Colum- bia, taking part in the burning of that city. Thereafter our subject participated with his regiment in the fights in turn at Cheraw, Fayetteville, Bentonville (where they en-

countered Johnston's army), Goldsboro, and thence to Durham Station to the surrender of Johnston. After this Captain McCracken accompanied Sherman's army on to Wash- ington and participated in the Grand Re- view, being thence ordered to Louisville, Kentucky, and being mustered out in August, 1865, having been with his regiment on every occasion when it was under fire.

He left the army with shattered health, and the winter of 1865 he passed in Mis- souri, going thence in the spring to Fort Benton and then to Helena, Montana, where he engaged in gold mining for two years; he then returned home, and in the spring of 1869 went to California, via New York and the isthmus route, remaining there until 1871. He then returned to Morrow county and engaged in the grocery business in Mt. Gilead until 1878, then removed to Cleveland and conducted a cold storage en- terprise for five years. Returned to Mt. Gilead in 1883, and was in the furniture trade until 1886, then teller in the Morrow County National Bank until December 31, 1887. In that year he was elected Clerk of the courts and served as such until August 6, 1894. In politics the Captain is a stal- wart Republican, and fraternally he is a member of Mt. Gilead Lodge, No. 206, F. & A. M., and Hurd Post, No. 114, G. A. R., being Past Commander of the latter. He is also identified with the Union Veter- ans' League, and has held preferment in the same as officer of the day.

Captain McCracken was married Octo- ber 23, 1873, to Miss Elsie N. Rhodes, a daughter of John Rhodes. She was born in Knox county, September 3, 1849, and was reared there. She is a member of the Bap- tist Church. Our subject and wife have one child, Sadie, born August 23, 1877.

1217060 DELAWARE, UNION AND MORROW COUNTIES, OHIO.

RANCIS MARION MARRIOTT .- It has assuredly not been uninter- esting to observe in the series of biographical sketches which have appeared in these columns the varying na- tionality, origin and early environment of the men who have made their way to posi- tions of prominence and success .. In no better way could we gain a conception of the diverse elements which have entered into our social and commercial life and which will impart to the future American type features which cannot be conjectured at the present time. We have had an American type in the past; we shall have a distinctly national character in the future, but for the present, amalgamation of the varied elements is proceeding and the final result is yet remote.

The extraction of Francis M. Marriott must be sought for among the early settlers of Maryland, where for a long period much of our national history was written. The subject of this review was born September 5, 1847, in Eden township, Licking county, Ohio, one of the nine children of Thomas Homewood and Druzilla (McClelland) Mar- riott. Thomas Homewood Marriott was born near Utica, Licking county, Ohio, in the year 1814, being the son of Homewood and Mary (Ridgely) Marriott, who came from Maryland to Ohio in 1811. Joshua Marriott, great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came from France and settled in the State of Maryland in the year 1740; his wife, Rachel Ann, née Homewood, was of English birth.

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Memorial record of the counties of Delaware, Union and Morrow, Ohio, Part 5

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 570

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 570