Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 50

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 50

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ROBERT PRICE.

Robert Price, a retired contractor who has fig- ured prominently in political circles and has been a recognized leader in local affairs, wielding a wide influence, was born in Zanesville, July 22, 1833. His father, Daniel Price, was a native of Baltimore, Maryland, born in 1804, and in June, 1832, he came to Zanesville. He married Miss Annie Woodward, a native of Pennsylvania, their wedding being celebrated in Baltimore. Daniel Price was a brick-laver, and stone-mason by trade. He assisted in building the first stone bridge at Ellicott's Mill in Baltimore, and after coming to Zanesville he began contracting in stone and brick work, carrying on the business until a few years prior to his death, which occurred June 6, 1887. His wife passed away June 16, 1861, when sixty years of age. He was one of the pioneer residents of this part of the state, assisting materially in its early development and progress. He erected the office building at the west end of the old court house in 1833. He was a very conscientious man, highly esteemed for his honesty, which was ever above question. Both he and his wife held mem- bership in the Second street Methodist church, and he erected the Seventh street Methodist Epis- copal church in 1841. He also did a great deal of work for John Dillon, who was one of the pio- neer residents of Zanesville, being employed at the iron works at Dillon's Falls. Many other of the important early structures of the county stand as monuments to his skill and enterprise. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, Rob- ert being the second son. Those now living are : Robert, William, David, and Sarah J., the widow of John W. Ross and the mother of Harry W. Ross.

Robert Price entered a private school in Zanes- ville at the usual age and after putting aside his text-books he learned the brick-layer's and ma- son's trades under the direction of his father. Al- though engaged in business for himself he aided the firm of T. B. Townsend & Company, and as their foreman he superintended the work on the courthouse and other public and private build- ings. In 1861 he recruited a part of the Sixty- second Ohio Regiment but did not enter the army at that time. In 1864, however, he enlisted in re- sponse to the call for men to serve one hundred days and he became a lieutenant of Company F, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment of the Ohio National Guards. With his command he went to Maryland to guard bridges and following the close of his military service he returned to Zanesville.

As a contractor Mr. Price carried on business here with a growing and gratifying success until 1902, when he retired to private life, having ac- quired a competence sufficient to supply him with all the necessities and many of the comforts and luxuries that go to make life worth the living. The last work which he did was on his own resi- dence. In 1888 he erected the buildings for the glass and coffin factories, and the following year built an addition to the Zanesville Courier plant. He has erected many brick buildings throughout the city and surrounding country.

Mr. Price has figured prominently not only in the city but also in the affairs of the state, and Zanesville has found him an earnest champion of every measure and movement for its progress and improvement. He was a member of the city council for ten years and was its president four years. Higher political honors were accorded him, however, for in 1879 he was elected to repre- sent his district in the state legislature, and in 1881 was again elected. His efficient and faith- ful service during his first term winning him re- election. He was a wise legislator, studying closely the questions of the day and giving his conscientious support to those measures which he believed were calculated to promote the general welfare of the commonwealth. He is a man of strong convictions, fearless in expressing his ideas upon all proper occasions, yet always ready to hear and weigh the views of those who differ from him. The predominant trait in his character is his ab- solute uprightness, and his course in the gen- eral assembly was one that reflected credit upon himself and his constituents. He served on the committees of municipal corporations, fish cul- ture and game, turnpikes and roads, and during his second term was chairman of the committee on municipal corporations. He has been president of the law and order league in Zanesville and also of the Pioneer and Historical Society of this county, and the Woodlawn Cemetery Association.

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He has been a frequent contributor to the news- papers, writing upon many topics of general in- terest, in all of which he has displayed an inti- mate knowledge of the subject that came from close study and careful consideration.

Mr. Price was married in 1864 to Miss Carrie Parshall, who was born in Putnam, a suburb of Zanesville, and is a daughter of David Parshall. They hold membership in the Methodist church and are well known in the city where they have spent their entire lives. Mr. Price is a loyal and patriotic American, devoted to the interests of his home land and his native community. His life has been a straightforward, honorable and up- right one. Indolence is utterly foreign to his nature, and his enterprise, perseverance and capa- ble management have been the stepping stones by which he has risen from a humble to a promi- nent position and have been manifest in his po- litical and public career as well as in his business life.

Although he has no children of his own, Mr. Price reared Joshua D. Price, the son of an older brother, who died on the 7th of October, 1852, leaving a widow and two young daughters, the son not being born until the 14th of the following November. At that time the family were living at the home of our subject's father, where they re- mained for a number of years. Robert Price took charge of the son, who was given good educa- tional advantages, attending both the public schools and a business college. At the age of fifteen he began his business career as bookkeeper for Burroughs Brothers, manufacturers of furni- ture, and was given one hundred and fifty dollars for six months' work with the promise of higher wages later on, but as the company was not meet- ing with much success at that time, Mr. Price ac- cepted the position of bookkeeper in the drug house of Dr. Graham, being recommended by his former employer, Mr. Burroughs. He remained with Dr. Graham for ten years, and at the end of that time formed a partnership with William C. Orr and W. C. Brown, of Cambridge, and a Mr. McLellan. They embarked in the wholesale drug business at Columbus, Ohio, where they still carry on business under the name of Orr, Brown & Price.

CHRISTIAN NIELSON.

The prosperity of any community depends upon its commercial and industrial activity and its trade relations, and, therefore, the real upbuild- ers of a town are those who stand at the head of the leading enterprises. Zanesville in large meas- ure owes its upbuilding to the development of the natural resources of this part of the country

for pottery manufacture and it is in this line of labor that Christian Nielson has become well known as a representative citizen of Muskingum county. He is to-day at the head of the Nielson Pottery Company, manufacturers of majolica ware. A native of Denmark, he was born in 1870 and was the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, whose parents were Peter and Hannah Nielson, also natives of that country, the father following the occupation of farming.

Mr. Nielson was educated in the common schools of his native place and also attended the Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen, where he studied sculpture. He afterward worked in a porcelain factory of that city for a year, when, thinking that he might have better business op- portunities in the new world he crossed the At- lantic to the United States in 1891, locating at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where he secured a position as a designer in the C. Pardee tile fac- tory. There he remained until 1892, when he removed to Stamford, Connecticut, where he was employed as a designer for a year. Subsequently he went to East Liverpool, Ohio, where he worked for Homer Laughlin for a year and then returned to Perth Amboy to the tile works. An- other year was spent by him there and in 1894 he came to Zanesville as designer for the Amer- ican Encaustic Tile Works, acting in that capac- ity until 1902, when he accepted the superinten- dency of the Roseville Pottery. Resigning that position in the early part of 1905 he joined Henry Rockel and W. Miller and their wives in incor- porating the Nielson Pottery Company. This was effected in February with Mr. Miller as president, Henry Rockel as secretary and treas- urer, and Mr. Nielson as general manager. The business was capitalized for ten thousand dollars and the plant is now operated in the manufacture of majolica pottery. Many orders have already been received and the prospects are excellent for a large and growing patronage. They manufac- ture a large and elegant line of art pottery, vases. etc. The work which secured for Homer Laugh- lin the gold medal at the World's Fair in Chi- cago in 1893 was designed by Mr. Nielson.

In 1896 Mr. Nielson was married to Miss Er- nestine Rockel, a daughter of August Rockel and a native of Brooklyn, New York, born in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Nielson are members of the English Lutheran church and he belongs to the Elks lodge. His study of the political situation in America and of the questions and issues of the day has led him to give his support to the repub- lican party but he has had neither time nor in- clination for office. His business career has been characterized by consecutive advancement and his success is no doubt largely due to the fact that he has always continued in the line of business

CHRISTIAAN NIELSON.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

in which he embarked as a young tradesman. Therefore, concentrating his efforts upon this one department of labor, he has continually prog- ressed, gaining greater knowledge and efficiency through study and experience until he to-day thoroughly understands the working principles of pottery manufacture and at the same time has artistic skill that enables him to place upon the market wares of most attractive design.

WILLIAM J. MASON.

William J. Mason, prominent in agricultural and political circles in Muskingum county, was born in Meigs township, December 12, 1850, and is descended from a prominent Virginian family that was established in America in colonial days, the ancestry being traced back to Colonel George Mason, who crossed the Atlantic from England about the year 1651. His paternal great-grand- father, Peter Mason, was for many years a resi- dent of Hanover county, Virginia, but spent his later years in Orange county, that state, and it was there that James Mason, the grandfather, was born and reared. Having arrived at years of maturity he married his, second cousin, Eliza Mason, a native of Hanover county, Vir- ginia. She was the granddaughter of Thomp- son Mason, who was the younger brother of George Mason, a prominent member of the convention which framed the constitu- tion of the United States. Thompson Mason was a direct descendant of Colonel George Ma- son, a member of the English parliament in the reign of Charles 1, of England, and after the de- feat of the king's troops at Worcester in 1651 he escaped to Virginia, losing all of his possessions in England.

At the time of their marriage James and Eliza Mason took up their abode in Orange county, Virginia, and after ten years removed to Spott- sylvania county, where they spent their remaining days. James Mason was a soldier of the war of 1812. He had three children, of whom one died in infancy, the others being Judge William Thompson Mason and James Mason. His widow became the wife of Jefferson Almond, a farmer of Spottsylvania county, Virginia, and they have three children : Oscar, George and Susan J. The mother lived to the age of eighty-one years.

William Thompson Mason, born in Spottsyl- vania county, Virginia, October 17, 1816, was ed- ucated in the common schools of the Old Domin- ion and of Ohio. He was left fatherless when ten years of age and from that time was dependent entirely upon his own resources for a living. On the Ist of November 1832, he came with relatives into Muskingum county, Ohio, traveling by wagon. Here he worked as a farm hand. receiv-

ing from thirty-one to thirty-seven and a half cents per day. The education which he managed to acquire enabled him to teach school and with the proceeds of his labor he purchased a farm of eighty acres in Meigs township, for which he paid ten dollars per acre. There he carried on agri- cultural pursuits with success and he was also called to various public offices, serving as asses- sor, clerk and trustee of his township and also justice of the peace and constable. He acted as justice of the peace in Meigs township for nine years and then in 1857 was chosen by popular ballot for the office of probate judge of Muskin- gum county. At that time he removed to Zanes- ville, where he remained for six years, after which he purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres and resumed agricultural life. This was one of the first settled places of Muskingum county and Judge Mason continued its further improve- ment and development for many years. In 1843 he wedded Mary Thornburgh, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy ( Cunningham ) Thornburgh. Her father was a soldier of the war of 1812 and after participating in several battles was taken prisoner. He came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he followed the professions of surveying and school-teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Mason took up their abode on a farm in Meigs township and as the years passed became the parents of six children : Susan E. ; Eliza E. ; Thomas E., who died in infancy; Maria L., who has also passed away; Mary S., who died in infancy; and Wil- liam J.

The last named is indebted to the district school for the carly educational privileges he enjoyed and which were supplemented by study in the pub- lic schools of Zanesville and in Muskingum Col- lege at New Concord, Ohio. He was graduated from the commercial college at Zanesville and for four years successfully engaged in teaching in Sa- lem, Perry and Union townships. In 1874 he was married and two year's later took up his abode upon the old home farm. At that time he was conducting a store in Sonora, in which he con- tinued until 1878, when his store was destroyed by fire. He then again located on the old family homestead.

In 1874 Mr. Mason was united in marriage to Miss Maria Hadden, a daughter of Samuel M. and Ann ( Larimore) Hadden. Her father was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1805, while Mrs. Mason was born in Union township, Mus- kingum county, September 23. 1853. She trav- eled life's journey with her husband for about twenty-eight years and was then called to her final rest May 3, 1900. There are three children of that marriage: Ethel L., born December 12. 1877: Louie C., born August 30, 1880, and Har- old H., born October 9. 1882, all at home.

Mr. Mason has figured prominently in local po- litical circles for many years as a champion of the

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

democracy. The early offices conferred upon him were those of clerk, treasurer and school director of his township, and he has been township treas- urer for twenty years. In 1891 he was a candi- date for clerk of the court of appeals but was defeated. In the previous year he was a mem- ber of the state decennial board of equalization, representing the fifteenth and sixteenth districts. of Ohio, and was elected appraiser for Perry township in 1900. He has three times been the party nominee for clerk of the county court, and he has been county commit- teeman of his party through various campaigns, in some of which democratic successes have been registered, while other times the election has re- corded the defeat of the party principles. In 1892 Mr. Mason removed to Zanesville, where he lived for about eighteen months, and in April, 1894, he returned to his farm, purchasing all of the land of the Hadden estate, comprising three hundred and thirty acres in Union township. In 1889 he pur- chased all of the land belonging to his father's es- tate, thus becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Perry township and fifty-two acres in Salem township. He also bought a house on Marquette street, in Zanesville, but afterward sold that property and purchased the home which he now owns in Norwich. He owes his success to his foresight in buying sheep when they sold at a low figure and then shearing them he stored the wool until the market rose, thus clearing a very handsome sum of money on his investment. He has no indebtedness and is to-day the owner of valuable farming property together with some bank stock. Much of his land he now rents, merely giving to it his supervision.

Mr. Mason is a member of Malta Lodge, No. 118. A. F. & A. M. at Norwich, and has served as worshipful master for six consecutive years. He also belongs to the Elks lodge at Zanesville and, figuring prominently in business, political and social circles, has become one of the promi- nent and influential citizens of Muskingum county, respected by all for what he has ac- complished. He is a man of untiring enterprise and keen discernment and justly deserves mention among the leading citizens of this part of the state.

EZEKIAL TAYLOR COX.

Ezekial Taylor Cox was born in Upper Free- hold township, New Jersey, May 25. 1795, and was the tenth son of General James and Ann ( Potts) Cox. His opportunities for obtaining an education were limited, but he had the good fortune of serving an apprenticeship with General James J. Wilson, a relative and editor of the True

American, one of the most important newspapers of the day. In 1810, while thus engaged, his father, then a member of congress from the Mon- mouth district, died and Ezekial was thrown en- tirely upon his own resources, but his studious and industrious habits, probity and natural aptness served him well and before he was twenty years of age was made a partner in the True American, became an important factor in politics and was chosen as state printer.

Strongly impressed with the opportunities of- fered a young man in the west Mr. Cox took his Ramage printing press and started on a long trip through the wilderness for the new state of Ohio, located at Zanesville, and in 1819 purchased the Muskingum Messenger. Hearty support was given President Monroe and the now famous Monroe doctrine and his admiration for Andrew Jackson was so intense and was so forcefully ex- pressed in the Messenger that it became the most influential Jacksonian organ in the state. His brothers, Rev. Samuel Jones Cox and Judge Ho- ratio J. Cox, both able and prominent men in Zanesville, although disagreeing with him politi- cally, were also interested in the paper.

From 1821 to 1828 and from 1834 to 1841 he served as clerk of the court of common pleas of Muskingum county, and from November, 1821. to October, 1830, as county recorder, and from 1821 to 1828, and from 1834 to 1852, was clerk of the supreme court, under the old constitution, and performed his duties so ably as to receive the commendation alike of the bench, bar and clients. In 1831 he was elected to the Ohio senate from the Muskingum district, and was the last survivor of that assembly. As a member he championed pub- lic improvements, the construction of canals and the slack water improvement of the Muskingum river.

In 1833 he built a steam paper mill at the north end of Seventh street, near the river and the de- struction of the plant by fire, in 1837, was a se- vere financial loss. In 1840 he purchased a farm in Springfield township, which is still in posses- sion of the family, and in 1850 purchased the Gazette and again entered the newspaper field. He was appointed United States marshal and while occupying the office was directed to appre- hend a runaway slave. Although an anti-slavery man he did not shirk his oath nor resign when confronted by a difficult and embarrassing situa- tion, and for performing a personally most disa- greeable duty he was summarily expelled from the Market Street Baptist church, which he had served as deacon for a number of years. In 1866 President Johnson, during the recess of congress, appointed him pension agent for Ohio, but being a democrat the senate refused to confirm him and his administration lasted about one year by the ad-interim appointment.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

On April 9. 1822, Mr. Cox married Maria Matilda, daughter of Judge Samuel and Mary ( Freeman) Sullivan, and April 9. 1872, they celebrated their golden wed- ding at the old farm, surrounded by chil- dren and grandchildren. One year later, May 18, 1873, Mr. Cox died and his remains were in- terred in Woodlawn. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox : Thomas Jeffer- son ; Samuel Sullivan (Sunset) ; Lavinia, who married Dr. R. H. Sedgwick; Eliza; Alexander Sullivan ; Maria ; Ezekial Taylor : John; Angelina Sullivan, who married Thomas H. Sites ; Edwin ; Augustus Caesar : Elizabeth Miles, who married Jonathan B. Taylor; and Mary Sullivan, who married Tileston F. Spangler.

A local paper said in an obituary :

"Whether we regard Mr. Cox as a pioncer citi- zen of this place, as an early and constant friend of its improvement, as an officer and legislator, as a political and social friend, as a kind indul- gent father and affectionate husband ; whether as an adventurous printer and editor in the wilder- ness of Ohio combatting with untried difficulties, and not only accomplished at the case and the press, but clear, technical and accurate in style of writing, or as a faithful, well informed and atten- tive officer of the court, courteous to judges, jur- ors, witnesses, suitors and lawyers ; or as a Chris- tian man of just views and honest conduct, re- fined by cxtensive reading and reflection, and a constant cummunion with his Bible and his God. his name will be remembered with honor. He re- flects credit upon his children as well as the city and state in which he lived."

THOMAS JEFFERSON COX.

Thomas Jefferson Cox, eldest son of Ezckial T. and Maria Matilda ( Sullivan) Cox, was born at Zanesville, March 19, 1823, and attended the "old academy" and the school conducted by Rev. George C. Sedgwick. When fifteen years of age he went to Granville College, now Denison Univers- ity, but did not complete his course, as his desires were so strong to be with his uncle, Colonel John H. Sullivan, then prominent in the affairs of Iowa territory. In 1843 he returned to Ohio and took charge of his father's farm in Springfield town- ship and became a skillful farmer. The studies which were interrupted by his western trip were resumed at odd times and at night, and during the winters he taught school.

Mr. Cox was an old-fashioned democrat and so great was his admiration for Thomas Jefferson that he added "Jefferson" to his own name. He manifested great interest in public affairs, especi- ally the public schools and agriculture, and he was active in promoting agricultural societies.

The allurements of public office were ineffectual upon him and his declinations to enter public life were usually accompanied by the averment that "politicians made poor farmers."

When the national life was threatened he ten- dered his services to the general government and June II, 1862, was commissioned captain and ap- pointed assistant quartermaster by President Lin- coin and ordered to report to General Buell. He was assigned to duty at Nashville, Tennessee, where he was placed in charge of the clothing, camp and garrison equipment and other public property at that important depot, from which the supplies for the armies of the Cumberland and the Tennessee were drawn. His high executive ability and fidelity secured the confidence of the commanding generals, and he served on the staffs of Generals Buell, Rosecranz and Thomas and proved himself equal to every emergency, whether sudden or anticipated. He organized his men into companies and battalions and they con- structed earthworks around Nashville and were often in the trenches in defense of the city, and during the battle of Nashville he was in command of a brigade.

On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted major for faithful and meritorious service and during that year General J. L. Donaldson, chief quartermas- ter, reported that Major Cox's duties had been very extensive and that not a single complaint. from any point, had been received of the want of essential supplies for the large armics dependent upon this post. "Major . Cox is an upright, faith- ful and energetic officer, of excellent character. good habits and fine business attainments."

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 50

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