Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 96

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 96

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Leroy S. Lenhart, the father of our subject, also prepared for the medical profession, which he followed for many years, practicing in Chand- lersville for forty years. He was graduated from the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati in 1871, and ranked high among his professional brethren, having ability second to none in this part of the

state. His practice was extensive, therefore, and he made judicious investment of his capital in land and other property. He voted with the re- publican party and in matters of citizenship, as in his profession, was equally progressive. He died February 9, 1899, at the age of sixty-seven years. In early manhood he married Sophia Robertson, who was born in Sonora, Muskingum county, Ohio, and who died April 27, 1897, at the age of sixty-seven years. Mrs. Lenhart was noted for her sweet disposition and noble Chris- tian character and as a physician's wife she ad- ministered cheerfully to the sick, needy and those in distress as many at Chandlersville can testify.

John Robertson, the father of Mrs. Lenhart, was of Scotch descent and a farmer by occupa- tion. It was in the year 1780 that seven brothers came from Scotland and settled in Chambers- burg, Pennsylvania. They all bore strong Scotch characteristics, the Gaelic brogue being very perceptible in their speech. The great- uncles of Mrs. Lenhart all had large families and they were especially noted for their temperance principles. One of the seven brothers was Mrs. Lenhart's grandfather. Her father came to Ohio in 1809 in company with five brothers, and set- tled in Muskingum county. He was soon after- ward married to Margaret McConnell, of Mc- Connelsville, and they had three children : Mary, who became the wife of Samuel Bowers; Wil- liam ; and Marjorie Ann. The wife and mother died and John Robertson subsequently married Hannah Boggs. By this union there were eight children : Sarah, the wife of James Conn; Mar- garet, who married Harmon Gore; Moses; John ; Nancy; Mrs. Louisa Pearce; Mrs. Sophia Len- hart ; and Mrs. Elizabeth McCloud. All are now deceased. Their father, John Robertson, died about 1848. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the county, coming here from Chambersburg. Pennsylvania, when the work of improvement and development had been scarcely begun in this section of the state. The family were all Pres- byterians.

Leroy S. and Sophia Lenhart had four chil- dren : Alice May, born March 15, 1857, is the wife of E. F. Jordan, residing near Cumber- land, Ohio; Charles Milton, of this review, is the next in order of birth; Lillia, born Febru- ary 10, 1868, died in infancy ; and Ehner Leroy. born September 17, 1872, is now with the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad and was married April 30, 1903, to Frances Campbell, of Cuyahoga, On- tario.

Charles M. Lenhart prepared for his profes- sion in the Miami Medical College, which lic entered in 1883 and from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1886, receiving at that time the second prize from the faculty for excellence in surgery and also a special prize in anatomy

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from the professors. He entered upon the prac- tice of medicine in Chandlersville, Ohio, and in 1887 came to Zanesville, where he has been suc- cessful when viewed from both a financial and professional standpoint. He has taken post- graduate work in both medicine and surgery in the New York Polyclinic, where he took a thor- ough course in 1897. He had early hospital train- ing which has especially fitted him for surgery and each year he visits the large metropolitan hospitals that he may become familiar with the latest and best treatments for medical and sur- gical practice. He is a general practitioner with a broad and comprehensive knowledge of the science of medicine, while in the diagnosis of a case he is very careful and his judgment is rarely, if ever, at fault. He is now a member of the surgical staff of the Zanesville City Hospital; is surgeon for the Good Samaritan Hospital and also surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, and he belongs to the American, State and County Medical Societies.

In 1897 Dr. Lenhart was married to Mary K. Frazier, a daughter of T. J. Frazier, of Zanes- ville. She was born in Tiffin, in 1878. They have three children: Charles Frazier, Mary Catherine and Ruth Robertson. The Doctor be- longs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree, and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen camp, while his wife holds membership in the Episco- pal church. His political views lead him to give his support to the men and measures of the re- publican party, but aside from a public-spirited interest in politics, such as any true American citizen feels, he has taken no active part in po- litical affairs, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his practice, in which he has met with gratifying success.

GEORGE W. SELSAM.

George W. Selsam, a well-to-do farmer of New- ton township, was born a half mile south of his present home, on the 31st of August, 1835, his parents being George and Nancy ( McMullin) Selsam, who were natives of Maryland and on coming to Ohio located in Newton township, Muskingum county when it was a pioneer dis- trict. The father was a blacksmith by trade and after arriving in Ohio purchased a tract of land and turned his attention to farming, which he followed throughout his remaining days. He died at the age of sixty-one years, while his wife reached the age of sixty-four years. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are living, George W., Melinda, Nancy and Mary.

George W. Selsam was educated in the public schools of Newton township and remained with

his father until the latter's death, working with him in field and meadow until he had gained a thorough knowledge of the business and largely relieved his father of the care and management of the property. After arriving at years of ma- turity he wedded Miss Permelia Jenkins, who was born in Newton township, in 1836, and is a daughter of John Jenkins, an early settler of this part of the state. Their children are Mrs. Nancy E. Roberts, William H., Andrew J., Charles E., Louis W. and Ora.

Mr. Selsam has been on his present farm for fifty-six years, owning here eighty-six acres of land which is productive and valuable because of his practical methods of cultivation and fer- tilization. He annually harvests good crops and is meeting with a fair measure of success as the years go by. His political views accord with democratic principles, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Sel- sam served his country in the Civil war, having enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 1864, and was dis- charged the same year.

J. C. REVENNAUGH.

J. C. Revennaugh, a representative of farm- ing interests in Muskingum county, was born on the old Revennaugh homestead in Windsor town- ship, Morgan county, Ohio, in the year 1850. His father and grandfather both bore the name of John Revennaugh. The latter was a native of Ohio, born at Warren, about nine miles above Wheeling, and was of German descent. At the time of the war of 1812 he espoused the Amer- ican cause and served under General William Henry Harrison on the lakes. In recognition of the service which he rendered to his country he was granted land warrants which were located in Iowa and are still owned by the Revennaughs. He and his brother Samuel, also a soldier in the second war with Great Britain, were dis- charged in Upper Sandusky and traveled on foot with an Indian guide to Warren. It was prob- ably on this trip that they located the Reven- naugh lands in Blue Rock township, Muskingum county. John Revennaugh, the grandfather, was married to Miss Jane Glass, who was born in Ireland. Her father was Robert Glass of that country, who married a Miss McCracken. Mrs. Revennaugh crossed the ocean with her parents in a sail-boat, the voyage consuming six months. The family home was at Warren, Ohio, and at that place he and his brother Samuel built a raft on which they came up the Muskingum river to Gaysport. The Indians still roamed through the forests at will and wild animals were

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

yet numerous. The brothers were hunting for a new home but, not liking the district which they visited, they returned again to Warren. Finally, however, they once more made their way to Muskingum county and John Reven- naugh, Sr., settled in Blue Rock township on the farm where Shannon Parker now resides. He contributed in substantial measure to the early development of the community along material lines and he was also one of the charter mem- bers of the Blue Rock Baptist church and enter- tained the colporter who. was sent to organize the congregation.

John Revennaugh, father of our subject, was born in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, in 1810. and became one of the pioneer residents of Mus- kingum county. He was married to Emily Mar- shall, of Blue Rock township, Muskingum county. March 20, 1833. They became the parents of seven children : Mary A., wife of Jonathan Worrel; Jane, the wife of George Simmons, a wealthy citizen of Oregon, who has extensive gold mining interests: Margaret, the wife of Samuel Osborne, a prominent and influential farmer residing near Gaysport, Ohio: Eleanor. the wife of William Harlin, a veteran of the Civil war, now living at Keifer, Ohio; William, who married Sarah Patterson, was a carpenter by trade, and was killed by the Ohio & Little Kanawha railroad near Zanesville, his widow still residing at their former home at Philo, Ohio : George, who married Harriett Roberts. met with an accident upon his farm, dying a few years afterwards on his farm near Rural Dale, Ohio : and John C., of this review. For his second wife the father chose Isabelle Gillogly and they became the parents of three children : Madison, who at the age of three was drowned ; Rose, the wife of George Meerschaum, who resides at Cin- cinnati, Ohio: and Purley, who married Minnie Shaw, and is successfully conducting a hotel at Malta, Ohio.

John C. Revennaugh, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the home farm in Ohio and throughout his entire life has carried on general agricultural pursuits. He resides with his family on a fine farm of about three hundred acres and is an industrious and well-to-do citi- zen. The property has been mostly paid for through the efforts of himself and the assistance of his estimable wife. He is now engaged in the raising of grain and stock and both branches of his business are proving profitable.

Mr. Revennaugh was married to Miss Theo- dosia Allen, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Allen, who reside at Rural Vale, where they are prominent people. Four children have been born of this union : Mary, the wife of Benjamin Dilley. a graduate of the Normal school at AAda, Ohio. and now a successful and prominent teacher ;

Lulu A. ; the wife of Rufus Gander, a well-to-do farmer and school teacher ; Miss Jessie B., who graduated from a public school in 1902 and is now engaged in taking a course of music : and Finley C., who still resides at home and is at- tending school. The family are well known and the members of the household occupy a prominent position in social circles in which they move. In his political views Mr. Revennaugh is a stal- wart prohibitionist, having for many years been an inflexible champion of the temperance cause. He has also been a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church for twenty-three years, has served as class-leader and has taken an active part in various church activities, his life exemplifying his belief.

JAMES C. RAMBO.

James C. Rambo, a prominent general mer- chant of White Cottage, was born' about a mile from the village on a farm in Newton township, October 31, 1863. He represents one of the old families of Pennsylvania, where lived his great- grandparents, who came from the Keystone state to Muskingum county, Ohio, during the pioneer epoch in its history. The great-grandfather entered land in Newton township and began the development of a farm in the midst of the forest. There he reared his family and it was in this county that Henry Rambo, the grandfather of our subject, was born. He remained here until 1849, when he went to California, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific slope, but not realizing the fortune that he had anticipated he returned to Muskingum county and resumed farming operations here. James Rambo, father of our subject, was born in Newton township. in October, 1827, and is now living in White Cottage. His entire life has been devoted to the pottery business and to farming. He has owned and operated two potteries in Newton township and through many years has carried on general agricultural pursuits. He is now practically liv- ing retired but owns thirteen acres of land in White Cottage, where he has a pleasant and com- fortable home. His political support is given to the democracy and he is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. He wedded Miss Mary Stradley, who is now seventy-two years of age. She was born in Newton township and is a daughter of Samuel Stradley, a native of Mary- land. Mr. and Mrs. Rambo became the parents of nine children: James C., Helen, deceased, Clarinda, Marietta, Matilda. Arthur, Orla, Anna and Jennie.

At the usual age James C. Rambo entered the public schools wherein he acquired his education

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and was fitted for life's practical and responsible duties. In his youth he began earning his living by working in a factory and was thus employed until he attained his majority. In 1883 he ac- cepted a position as salesman in the store of A. W. Dugan, at White Cottage, and while thus engaged gained a practical knowledge of the business, so that he was well equipped for car- rying on a mercantile enterprise of his own when. in 1893, he entered into partnership with W. J. Dugan in the conduct of a general store. Since 1904 he has been sole proprietor of the estab- lishment, which, however, is conducted under the name of J. C. Rambo & Company. He carries a large and carefully selected line of general mer- chandise and his business has reached proportions that render it profitable. In controlling and en- larging this he has followed a definite plan of action and his enterprise has prevented discour- agement when obstacles and difficulties have arisen. He has overcome all these by persistent purpose and is now in control of an excellent business. Mr. Rambo votes with the democracy and was at one time a candidate for county auditor. For seventeen years he has filled the office of township clerk-a fact which is indic- ative of his capable service and the trust re- posed in him by those who know him best. He is an Odd Fellow and a Mason and in the latter fraternity has taken the degrees of council and commandery. A gentleman of genuine personal worth he has gained the friendship which follows genuine respect and in his community his stand- ing is that of a leading and influential citizen.

JACOB JOHNSON.

Jacob Johnson, one of the prominent and pros- perous farmers of Hopewell township, was born in Springfield township, Muskingum county, November 3, 1827. His father, John Johnson, a son of Samuel Johnson, was born in 1787, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and was there mar- ried to Miss Ann Scott, a native of the same county. Soon afterward they came to Ohio, ar- riving in this state about 1820. They took up their abode in Springfield township and there purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land which they continued to make their place of residence until 1836, when they removed to Hope- well township. There John Johnson purchased a part of the farm upon which his son Jacob now resides, it formerly having been the property of William Gray. To this he added by purchase from time to time until he had about four hun- dred acres. He was a very well-to-do man and his success was attributable entirely to his own labors, for he started out in life empty-handed

and by unfaltering diligence and perseverance gained prosperity. He was reared in the faith of the democratic party but became a whig when Henry Clay was candidate for congress. He died May 31, 1845, at the age of fifty-eight years. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant church and a man respected and honored by all who knew him. In his family were the following named : Maria, born March 3, 1811 ; Miller, born September 17, 1812; Esther, born October 12, 1814: Susanna, born January 20, 1817; Samuel, born January 20, 1817: Julia A., born January 5. 1822; and Jacob, who is the only member of the family now living.

In the subscription schools of Hopewell town- ship Jacob Johnson acquired his education and he remained upon the home farm until his father's death, which occurred when he was seventeen years of age. He then worked for three years in Springfield township and since that period has remained upon the old home farm, being one of the enterprising, reliable and successful agri- culturists of his community. His home farm comprises four hundred and sixty acres of land and he has another tract of one hundred and sixty- seven acres in Falls township. The latter is used for dairy farming and he keeps about twenty cows there, while the home farm is devoted to the raising of stock, corn and hay. His land is rich and productive and his farming interests have been so capably conducted that as the years have gone by he has become one of the prosper- ous agriculturists of the community.

On the 18th of May, 1852. Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Caroline E. Gray, who was born in Springfield township and was a daughter of Leggett Gray, a pioneer farmer of this county. Mrs. Johnson died on the 28th of May, 1894. By that marriage there were seven children : William H., a practicing attorney at Zanesville, Ohio; Ross E., who is practicing dentistry at Delaware. Ohio: Samuel M., who is living in Columbus, Ohio: Elmer G., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Laura M., who died at the age of seventeen years; Harry L., who resides in Hopewell township with his father; and Allie I., who is the wife of Dr. Melick, of Zanesville, Ohio.

Mr. Johnson holds membership in the Metho- dist Protestant church and his political views are in accord with republican principles. He has served as trustee of his township for a number of terms and in other local offices and his duties have ever been discharged with promptness and fidelity. He has enjoyed good health and is still a well preserved man although now all of seventy-eight years of age. His life, too, has been honorable and upright, winning for him the respect of his fellowmen and the confidence of those with whom he has had business as-

JACOB JOHNSON.

MRS. JACOB JOHNSON.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

sociations. He is to-day one of the oldest native sons of the county, having through almost eight decades been a witness of the development and progress here. He therefore has an intimate knowledge of the history of the county and has been a witness of or participant in many events which found their way to the pages of history here.

C. E. F. MILLER.

C. E. F. Miller, known throughout the county as Ed. Miller, is the publisher and owner of the Dresden Transcript. He was born in Dresden, April 7, 1856. His paternal grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of Coshocton county, Ohio, where he owned and operated two large farms a few miles north of Dresden. His son, Samuel Miller, was born in that county and after arriving at years of maturity was married to Miss Henrietta Dowell, whose birth occurred in Cass township, Muskingum county. Her father, George W. Dowell, is a native of Virginia and came to Ohio in 1797 with his parents, the family home being established in Muskingum county, in what is now Cass township. Her mother's maiden name was Helms; she came from Mary- land with her parents in 1797 and the family set- tled on government land in Cass township. There were but eight families living in this part of Mus- kingum county at the time. Samuel Miller was reared upon his father's farm until nine years of age when he was left an orphan and from that time he made his own way in life, depending en- tirely upon his own resources for all that he pos- sessed or enjoyed. For twenty years he was con- nected with the Ohio and Erie canal and after- ward turned his attention to farming. He is now living a retired life in Zanesville. During the period of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and served his country as a member of Company F, Ninety-seventh Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He is now seventy-two vears of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Miller were born ten children : C. E. F .; Frank L., who resides in Akron, Ohio; George and Minnie, both de- ceased ; William M., who is living in Zanesville, and was for over five years the successful man- ager of the Times-Recorder, being regarded as one of the prominent and influential men of the county ; Fred T., of Dresden ; Mrs. Francis M. Russell, Mrs. John Fritz, and Harry and Herbert, of Zanesville.

C. E. F. Miller was educated in the public schools of Dresden and while pursuing his studies he also worked for the Dresden Monitor. a paper published here by John T. Shryock. When sixteen years of age Mr. Miller had almost entire charge of the paper and he was connected

with the office for three years. He began busi- ness on his own account as proprietor of a job printing office. When the name of the Monitor was changed to The Herald, the paper having been purchased by Hunt & Springstead, Mr. Miller entered the employ of these gentlemen. He was married in 1876 to Nettie M. Hunkin, daughter of Robert Hunkin, of Cass township ; to this union one child was born, a daughter, Daisy M., who married George P. Peffer, a resident of Dresden. In 1880 he was married to Elizabeth Hammond at Beverly. To them were born three children : Edward F., who resides at Norwalk, Ohio; Mrs. Roy Guss ; and Harry, of Dresden. In 1879 he went to Beverly, Ohio, where he and William C. Walter, of Homer, Michigan, established the Beverly Dispatch. After four months the partnership was changed, Mr. Walter having sold his interests to Charles N. McCor- mick, of Bellefontaine, Ohio. Two years later Mr. Miller bought his partner's interest and con- ducted the business alone for seven years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and went to Zanesville on account of impaired health. In 1889 he moved with his family to Montpelier, Ohio, where he recovered his health; returning to Zanesville four months later he worked for the Courier until 1891. He went to Athens county and established the Advance at Albany in 1893. Later he returned to Beverly and be- came proprietor of the Beverly Advance, the publication of which he continued until 1897, when he sold out and purchased his present paper at Dresden of his brother, W. M. Miller. who bought a controlling interest in the Zanes- ville Daily Times Recorder. The Transcript is the lineal descendant of the Intelligencer, es- tablished in 1838 by a Mr. Deffenbaugh. Later the name was changed to the Chronicle, the Citi- zen and the Monitor ; the last named paper was published from 1867 until 1872, when the name Herald was assumed, then later The Doings, and in 1882 it became the Dresden Transcript, at which time it was owned by William M. Miller, brother of our subject.

Mr. Miller owns a two-story brick building and his paper is one of the excellent journals of Muskingum county, devoted to the dissemina- tion of local and general news, being the cham- pion of all progressive measures that have their root in the modern institutions of the community and town and its improvement.

Mr. Miller is a republican and served two terms as councilman during his first residence in Beverly and was elected mayor on his return to that village in 1806. Shortly after his removal to Dresden he served one term in the town count- cil.

Mr. Miller is of a rather quiet, vet resolute disposition, with keen intellect and love of re-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

search and investigation. He has fraternal re- lations with Dresden Lodge, No. 464, Knights of Pythias, and also with the Masons, having been "raised" in Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 37, at Beverly, Ohio, in 1886, and affiliated with the local lodge on his removal to Dresden. He is also a member of Muskingum Chapter, No. 145, R. A. M.

CHARLES C. ALER.

Charles C. Aler, who is manager of a large wholesale wallpaper house of Columbus, Ohio, in which he is financially interested, is numbered among Muskingum county's native sons. His father, Christopher Aler, was a native of Ger- many and came to America in 1854, settling near Adamsville, this county, where he worked at the stonemason's trade, being thus engaged until his death, which occurred in 1867, when he was thirty-eight years of age. He married Christine Schilp, who was born in Germany, where their wedding was celebrated. She came with her hus- band to the United States and is still living on the old home place near Adamsville. They were the parents of eight children who reached ma- ture years, all born in Muskingum county. These are: Caroline, the wife of John Daniels : John F., who married Matilda Hanks and has three children, Charles H., Harmon and Anna, their home being upon the farm near Adamsville ; Sophia, the wife of Sedgwick Hanks, by whom she has four children, Jay, Alta, Effie and Anna ; Charles C., who married Licy Doughty, of Mus- kingum county, and has four children, Lulu, Florence, Lester and Ida, their home being in Columbus, Ohio; Albert H .; Mary, who is the widow of Orlando Davis and has three children, Grace, Carrie and Ray ; William, who married Maggie Herbert, of Muskingum county, and has two children, Clarence and Mary ; and Emma, who is the wife of John Foster and has one son, William.

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 96

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