Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 100

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Zanesville > Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio > Part 100

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When twenty-two years of age Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Ophelia M. Bear, a daughter of John W. Bear, who came to Ohio

MIR. AND MRS. RICHARD WELLS.

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when quite young. He was one of General Har- rison's most ardent supporters and during the campaign of 1840 he made speeches throughout the state. After the inauguration of the hero of Tippecanoe Mr. Bear was appointed Indian agent. In his later life he returned to Philadelphia, where his last days were spent, his death occurring when he had reached the venerable age of seventy-eight years. If Mr. and Mrs. Wells are spared until the 27th of November, 1905, they will have been mar- ried sixty years. Unto them have been born ten children : John, who married Susan Martin, and - has two children; James, who is a millwright in Texas; Louisa. the wife of James Pletcher, and the mother of five children; Hampton, deceased ; Clara, who married Louis Roheback, who con- ducted a rooming house in St. Louis during the period of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition : Clinton, who is living in Florida ; Emma, the wife of Professor James Boyd, of the State Univer- sity of Ohio, and the mother of two children ; Da- vid, who married Emma French, and has three children ; Cora, who married Grant Ellmore, of Brush Creek township, and has two children ; and William, who is a millwright, living in Louis- iana.

For many years Mr. Wells continued his active farming operations but in the early part of 1905 rented his land. He and his wife, however, still occupy a part of the old home. His political al- legiance has always been given to the republican party but he has never sought or desired office, although he served at one time as township trus- tee. He is an active and devoted member of the Baptist church and his life has been in consistent harmony with its principles so that he has en- joyed in large measure the trust and respect of his fellowmen. As the years have gone by he has prospered in his business undertakings and is now the possessor of a handsome competence. He has long been a resident of the county and is one of the worthy pioneer settlers of this portion of the state. He can remember when his father came to Ohio, and clearing a little spot upon the farm which Mr. Wells now owns, he built thereon a pioneer cabin, the mother daubing the cracks with mud. The house had a dirt floor and a quilt was hung up to serve as a door. It was no uncommon sight to see deer feeding on the grass around this pioneer home and wolves and bears were frequently killed in the forests. Mr. Wells remembers of his father killing a wild turkey gobbler that was looking in surprise at the new arrivals. Wild game of this kind was plentiful and thus the tables of the pioneer settlers could always be supplied with meat. Hardships and privations, however, were endured by the carly settlers of that period and Mr. Wells can rement- ber when the modes of living were vastly different

from those of to-day. The houses were prin- cipally heated by fireplaces, where the cooking was done and the great kettles hung over the blazing logs. The farm implements were very crude as compared with those of the present time but Mr. Wells kept pace with the improvement made in the methods of farming and is yet interested in the care of his land, to which he gives general supervision although the active work of the farm is now left to others.

JAMES B. CARSON.

James B. Carson, who is filling the position of justice of the peace, was born in Muskingum county, in 1854, his parents being George Car- son and Sarah (Lawson) Carson. The father was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1822 and for many years followed general mar- chandising in Muskingum county, this state, but later removed to Perry county, Ohio, where he died about fifteen years ago. His wife was born in Muskingum county, in 1832, and was a daughter of John and Sarah Lawson. At the time of the Civil war George Carson responded to the country's call for aid in 1863, enlisting in Company G. One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Infantry. He became orderly sergeant of his company and remained at the front until the close of the war. He never asked for a pen- sion. Unto him and his wife were born thir- teen children, of whom James B. is the second. Ten of the number are now living, namely : Mrs. Mary C. Smith, of Zanesville: James B .; Mrs. Helen A. Leffler : Cassius M. : Ulysses G. ; Mrs. Bertha Starner : George L .; Ira H. ; Charles C .; and Mrs. Orissa Kinnear.

James B. Carson was educated in the schools of this county and afterward engaged in teach- ing for some time in Newton township, follow- ing that profession for twelve years. He after- ward filled the position of clerk of the court of common pleas for ten years and ten months and retired from that office in August, 1904. While in Newton he was justice of the peace for some time and in April, 1905. he entered npo11 the duties of justice of the peace in Zanes- ville, to which position he was elected in the pre- ceding fall. In 1886 Mr. Carson was married to Miss Amanda E. Mank, who was born in Newton township, Muskingum county, her par- ents being Joseph and Mary Ann Mauk, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Car- son have two children: Bessie Blaine and Rus- sell Harrison, aged respectively eighteen and sixteen years. Both were born in Newton.

Politically Mr. Carson is a republican. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, holding mem-

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bership with the lodge, chapter and command- ery, and he has held various important offices in these. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Zanesville and to the encampment and the Rebekah lodge. He is likewise connected with the Eastern Star and Modern Woodmen of America and he attends religious services at the Methodist Episcopal church. He is well known fraternally and politically and has long been recognized as a local leader in the ranks of his party, his ability combined with his genial dis- position and unfailing courtesy making him popular with all whom he has come in contact.

JAMES OSLER.

James Osler, now deceased, was numbered among the pioneer settlers of Muskingum county whose labors in reclaiming the wild land for the purposes of civilization made him a valued citi- zen in the development and improvement of this part of the state. He was born on the old farm homestead in Highland township, Muskingum county, in August, 1827, He was the eighth in order of birth in a family of nine children, whose parents were Edward and Lydia ( McGee) Osler, who originally lived in Carroll county, Mary- land. Edward Osler was also a member of a large family and acquired a limited education, having only such school privileges as were af- forded in his home locality in that early day. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812 and remained at home until thirty-two years of age, when, about 1814, he bought a home in the pioneer district of Ohio, taking up his abode on a farm south of New Concord. A year or two later he entered from the government the land in Highland township upon which his son James lived for many years. It was prior to his removal to this state that he was married. Here they experienced the usual hardships and privations of frontier life, having many priva- tions to meet and difficulties to overcome. There was no door to their little log cabin in the early days and they had to build a fire in the door- yard in order to keep the wolves away. In the course of time a transformation was wrought in the appearance of their farm of one hundred and sixty acres for the trees were cut down, the land was cleared and in due time the fields yielded rich harvests. Both the father and mother were members of the Baptist church and his political views were in accord with the prin- ciples of the whig party. Edward Osler died in 1862, and his wife survived him until February 18, 1877. Thus passed away two of the promi- nent pioneer people of the county, their labors having been of material benefit in opening up this region to the influence of civilization.

James Osler was reared upon the home farm amid the environments of pioneer life. The little log cabin home was in the midst of a dense for- est and an unbroken stretch of timber lay be- tween their place and New Concord. They had to make the trip to the town on horseback, fol- lowing cow path all the way. James Osler at- tended the common schools in the winter months and from early spring until late autumn he worked in the fields. In early manhood he en- gaged in teaching school for several years and he also became the manager of the old home farm, while at the age of thirty years this prop- erty came into his possession and remained his home throughout the rest of his life. The place comprised one hundred and sixty acres and of this one hundred and fifteen acres is still in pos- session of his widow. Mr. Osler was a practical farmer, systematic in his methods, earnest and diligent in all that he did and by his well-directed efforts he accumulated as the years passed by a very comfortable competence. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in May, 1864, in re- sponse to his country's call for troops to serve for one hundred days and became a member of Company D, One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Infantry. His widow is now granted a pen- sion in recognition of his services.

It was on the 18th of June, 1857, that Mr. Osler was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Caughey, who was born December 20, 1833, about a half mile east of the birthplace of her husband, her parents being William and Jane (Stewart) Caughey, who came to Ohio from Washington county, Pennsylvania. The father was of Irish lineage and removed to Muskingum county about 1830, settling in Highland town- ship, where he became the owner of one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, which he trans- formed into a good farm. In his family were eight children : Jane, Rebecca, Mary A., Nancy, Nathan, William, Sarah and Eliza. Of this number Mary A., Jane, Eliza and Nathan all died of scarlet fever within a week, in 1840. Mr. and Mrs. Caughey were members of the United Presbyterian church and his political support was given to the whig party. He was a substantial farmer of the community and carried on agricul- tural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1867, his wife surviving him until February 2, 1876. One of the brothers of Mrs. Osler is now living in Wichita, Kansas. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Osler have been born three sons and two daugh- ters: Jane, who was born in 1858 and died in 1861 : John, who was born in 1860, and married Josephine McConaha, their home being in Wich- ita, Kansas; Edward, born in 1864, who is now operating the home farm and married Jane Con- nell ; Ambrose, a monument dealer of Zanesville, who was born in 1867, and married Mildred We-

JAMES OSLER.

مجيعمل

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ber; and Anna Margaret. born in 1874. who is with her mother.

Mr. Osler gave his political support to the re- publican party and always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He served as township clerk for twelve years and was also trustee and school director, discharging the va- rious duties which devolved upon him in a most capable and commendable manner. Desirous of having his children well equipped for the prac- tical and responsible duties of life he gave them good educational privileges, offering them the opportunity of attending Concord College after pursuing the elementary branches of learn- ing taught in the common schools. Mrs. Osler and her youngest daughter are members of the United Presbyterian church. In June, 1900, Mr. Osler departed this life amid the deep regret of many friends, for he had always lived in the county and was well known as a man of sterling worth. For seventy-three years he had been a resident of this part of the state and few men were more familiar with its history and with the progress and advance which shape the annals of the county. He could relate many interesting incidents concerning the pioneer times and was known to have taken an active and helpful part in many measures which contributed to the upbuilding and improvement of his section of the state.

ERASTUS N. DOZER.

Erastus N. Dozer, a resident of Harrison township, is a representative of one of the most prominent and honorable pioneer families of Muskingum county. He was born March II. 1851, in Brush Creek township, his parents being Solomon and Mary M. (Swingle) Dozer. His paternal grandfather was Henry Dozer, who was born in 1783, and was married in Pennsyl- vania at the age of twenty years to Mary Zerkle. He came to Zanesville, September 20, 1805, and worked in that locality for some time. He es- poused his country's cause in the war of 1812. participating in several engagements and was wounded in the thumb. From Zanesville he re- moved to a farm north of Springfield, Ohio, but in 1826 returned to Muskingum county and the following year settled in Brush Creek township on what is now known as Dozer ridge, there spending his remaining days. He owned about two hundred acres of land and he reared a fam- ily of twelve children. His death occurred March 20, 1843, and his wife died August 7. 1855.

Solomon Dozer was educated in one of the old-time log schoolhouses and in his youth as-

sisted his father in the development of the home farm. He was married December 24, 1846, to Miss Mary M. Swingle and they became the parents of eleven children, who are mentioned in connection with the history of Solomon Dozer. on another page of this work. The father owned one hundred and seventy-two acres of fine land and the home property, three and a half miles south of Taylorsville, comprises an ex- cellent and valuable farm., His political views were in harmony with the principles of democracy and for twelve years he served as justice of the peace, winning high encomiums by reason of his fairness, his decisions being al- ways based upon the equity as well as the law in the case. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Lutheran church and their children all became identified therewith and have assisted in disseminating the Christian spirit which is ever the permeating influence for good and moral development in any community.

Erastus N. Dozer began his education in the common schools near the home and afterward attended the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, thus acquiring a good education. In the periods of vacation he worked upon the old homestead and there remained until twenty-five years of age, when he married and removed to the place where he now resides. He was for four years a teacher in the country schools and at Taylors- ville but with this exception has always devoted his time and energies to general farming and is now the owner of seventy acres of rich and highly cultivated land about a half mile south of Gaysport. Here he carries on general farm- ing and stock-raising and annually raises good crops and a large number of cattle and horses. He has a four-foot vein of coal upon his place and considerable mining is done each year.

Mr. Dozer was married to Miss Rachel A. Patterson, who was born in Licking county. Ohio, December 25, 1855, a daughter of James and Clarissa ( Ross) Patterson. Her father was a railroad contractor and later followed the oc- cupation of farming. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Dozer are the parents of four children : Shelby E., who was born November 20, 1877, and is living at home : Clara B., who was born March 20, 1887. and is studying music : Beatrice E., born October IL. 1802; and Jesse C., June 17, 1894.

Mr. Dozer exercises his right of franchise in support of the democracy and has been called to some local offices, serving as township trustee and justice of the peace, his duties being dis- charged with promptness and fidelity. He is a member of the Grange and of the Lutheran church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He has always lived in Muskingum county and his life has been

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characterized by manly principles, making him a respected and worthy citizen of his native county.

JOHN B. OWENS.

The man who inaugurates a new business en- terprise displays much of the spirit of the pioneer. This is a day of large undertakings and at the head of prominent industrial and commercial en- terprises have been men of marked executive force, clear discernment and strong resolution who form their plans readily and are determined in their execution. This class of citizens finds a worthy representative in John B. Owens, who is to-day one of the leading representatives of pottery interests of America, controlling an ex- tensive enterprise of this class in Zanesville and also one in New York, devoted to the manufac- ture of art pottery.

Mr. Owens was born on his father's farm, December 21, 1859. The family was established in this part of the state during its pioneer develop- ment and the father, George Washington Owens, was a native of Roseville, born in 1820. He fol- lowed the occupation of farming in early manhood and when his son John was two years of age re- moved from the farm to the village where he em- barked in general merchandising, conducting a store for about ten years. He then spent three years in Iowa and on his return to Roseville car- ried on both merchandising and farming. His death occurred September 29, 1889. He voted with the Democratic party and was chosen to the office of justice of the peace. He married Mary Anne Rockhold, who was born near Roseville in 1822 and died in 1861. Her father was a farmer and came of German lineage, while the Owens family is of Welsh descent. Mr. and Mrs. George W. Owens were the parents of seven children, of whom five are yet living.

John B. Owens, the youngest, was a public- school student in Roseville until the age of six- teen years, when he entered business life as a clerk in a store, being thus employed for three years. The business instinct was strong in him from an early age, to which one of his early ven- tures was the purchase of a third of an interest in a melon patch for which he paid twenty dol- lars, making the investment agaist the judgment of his friends at a time when his cash capital con- sisted of only twenty dollars and twenty-five cents. Two weeks after making the purchase, however, Mr. Owens possessed as a result the munifiicent sum of fifty dollars as a profit, thus giving him a capital of seventy dollars with which to finance future business operations. After clerking in the store, as before stated, he en-

tered the employ of a sewing machine company, with which he remained for a year. He was not then twenty years of age and indeed before he had reached that age he had been connected with a number of business enterprises and had acted as traveling salesman for a stoneware house, fill- ing the latter position until twenty-five years of age. At that time he turned his attention to the manufacture of flour pots at Roseville, invest- ing a capital of three hundred dollars in his plant and materials. In this business he continued at Roseville until the fall of 1891, when he began the erection of a factory building in Zanesville for the manufacture of pottery. He occupied it immediately after its completion and began its operation upon a comparatively small scale in 1892. Success, however, attended the new enter- prise from the beginning and his constantly grow- ing patronage enabled him in 1895, with increased capital, to begin the manufacture of a higher grade of pottery, in which line of industrial ac- tivity he has continued to the present time. In 'addition to his plant in Zanesville he has one in New York city, in which he manufactures high grade art pottery successfully, and the entire line embraces more than eight hundred different kinds and sizes of art wares. He issues annually a cat- alogue of forty-four pages, fourteen by twenty inches. This is the largest catalogue ever pub- lished by an American pottery company and rep- resents the largest variety of manufactured goods. The factories are thoroughly equipped and the organization of the business is most com- plete in keeping with modern ideas. The Zanes- ville factory has its own legal and printing de- partments, the printing office being so complete that a monthly journal of sixteen pages is issued, the output being ten thousand copies which are circulated in this country and abroad. The J. B. Owens Pottery Company is beginning to give special attention to the export business, some very extensive shipments having been made to Germany, France, New Zealand, England, Ar- gentine Republic and Chili. It is now the plan to send in the coming year its representatives on commercial errands around the world.

Mr. Owens had been a resident of Zanesville but a brief period when he was elected on the democratic ticket to the office of city councilman as successor of E. P. Bloomer, one of Zanesville's most respected and influential business men. He was at once made chairman of the two most im- portant committees of the council, those on finance and law, and he acted as alderman for three terms, when he declined further election. Largely owing to his efforts various streets were paved and improved, sidewalks were laid and there was a great reduction in the cost of lighting and other expenses of the city. He was very successful in all that he did in behalf of Zanesville and his ef-

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forts proved of great benefit to the city. Mr.

Owens was also president of the Board of Trade and served as director of the Citizens' League, thus being connected with two institutions whose value is well known. He is a stockholder in two of the leading national banks of Zanesville and he is a director in the old Citizens' National Bank. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge, with David encampment and with the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

He takes great pleasure in the society of his friends. He is always courteous, kindly and af- fable, and those who know him personally have for him warm regard. A man of great natural ability, his success in business, from the begin- ning of his residence in Zanesville, was uniform and rapid. As has been truly remarked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunities for obtaining the require- ments which are sought in the schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Owens has done. He has persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained the most satisfactory reward. His life is exem- plary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of the highest commendation.

EDWARD J. HARSCH.

Edward J. Harsch owns twenty-seven acres of land devoted to gardening, and the fact that vegetables come from his place is a guarantee of their excellence. He is practical in his meth- ods, systematic in his work and progressive in his ideas and is meeting with excellent success in his chosen calling. He was born May 23. 1870, in Wayne township, and is a son of Gottlieb Harsch, who is represented elsewhere in this volume.

In the public schools Edward J. Harsch pur- sued his education, attending through the win- ter months while in the summer seasons he worked in field and meadow, thus becoming fa- miliar with the varied duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He remained upon his father's farm until twenty-three years of age and then started out in life on his own account. He purchased his present farm in 1898 and now has twenty-seven and a half acres of rich land devoted to gardening. It is situated only two and a half miles from the courthouse, so that the city market is easy of access, and he is able to sell therein vegetables which are fresh and inviting. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and a glance will in-

dicate to the passer-by that the man who works that farm thoroughly understands his business and makes good use of his opportunities.

Mr. Harsch was married October 12, 1892, to Miss Katie Millfelt, a native of Wayne township and a daughter of John Millfelt. Five children have been born of this marriage: Russel, Wal- ter, Mary, Ella and Pearl A. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and since cast- ing his first presidential ballot Mr. Harsh has voted with the democratic party but has no po- litical aspirations for himself, regarding his busi- ness affairs as abundantly worthy of his best efforts.

J. B. TAYLOR.

J. B. Taylor, who is engaged in general farm- ing, stock-raising and also in the production of fruit, was born in Bridgeport, Ohio, April 13. 1879. His father, Joseph M. E. Taylor, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1852, and became a resident of Muskingum county in 1892. He now resides in Zanesville, where he is em- ployed. He received only common-school ad- vantages, but has done much to supplement his early mental training and through reading, ob- servation and experience has become a well in- tormed man. He keeps thoroughly posted on the political questions and issues of the day, was an inflexible adherent of democratic prin- ciples till the last few years and does everything in his power to advocate the candidacy of hon- orable men for office. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Lanam, a daughter of Wil- liam Lanam, of Noble county, Ohio. She is a member of the Methodist church and an esti- mable lady, devoted to her family. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were born seven children : Emma, now deceased ; Arthusia, who is a trained nurse of Zanesville; J. B .: Essie. the wife of Leonard Dicks: Jessie, deceased; Lettie, at home ; and Archie at home.

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 100

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 898

Author: Sutor, J. Hope, 1846-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 898