Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 99

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 99

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Alexander C. Smith was educated in the schools of Zanesville, his first instructor being a Scotchman by the name of Finleson, who con- ducted a school on Fifth street, near South. He afterward went to school to Andrew Jackson in a small frame building at the corner of Sixth and Marietta streets. When he was about thir- teen years of age the father removed to a farm owned by his grantfather, Major Joseph Smith, which afterward became the property of James Smith. The subject of this review then assisted in clearing the ground, grubbing, chopping, build- ing fences and burning brush. He had little op- portunity to attend school save during the short winter season and on rainy days, when it was impossible to work in the fields. He remained at home until twenty years of age, however, and then went to Illinois in the fall of 1851. He was ambitious to secure an education and he re- solved that he would cut cord wood in Illinois until he had raised sufficient funds to enable him to attend college. After a short time, how- ever, he was solicited to teach school, but he had never studied grammar nor history and the school

laws of Illinois required a knowledge of both. The county commissioner, however, told him to commence his school, study hard and as soon as he thought he could pass an examination to go to Peoria (the county seat) and they would ex- amine him, dating his certificate back in order to cover the entire time of his school so that he could draw the public funds. He returned to Peoria in six weeks and passed a very credit- able examination. In the fall of 1852 Mr. Smith returned to Ohio and taught in his home district for two terms. He then became a student in Mus- kingum college at New Concord, where he re- mained for ten months, and in the fall of 1856 le continued his studies in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, entering the fresh- men class. During the winter seasons he taught in the vicinity of Delaware, but pursued his col- lege studies as opportunity offered and remained in the university until 1859, in which time he had completed the work of the year. For fifteen years he was connected with the educational work of the county, teaching in Zanesville and vicinity. His labors in that direction were very creditable and satisfactory and the schools bene- fited by his excellent work. He afterward en- gaged in clerking for Austin Berry in a grocery store in Zanesville for five years and on the ex- piration of that period he built some homes in Zanesville. He is still the owner of much valu- able property here, the rental from which brings him a good income.

In public affairs Mr. Smith has ever been deeply interested and at the time of the Civil war he responded to his country's call for aid, enlisting in May, 1864, as a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has never faltered in his support of its principles. Upon its ticket he was elected and served as assessor for one year, and in 1889 he was real estate appraiser for the third ward of Zanesville.

On the 12th of January, 1860, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Mary W. Wallwork, who was born in Washington township, Mus- kingum county, in 1836, and was a duaghter of James and Margaret ( Walters) Wallwork. Her father was born in England and came to Ohio at a very early day, casting in his lot with its pio- neer settlers and eventually became a prosperous farmer. He and his brother operated the first dairy in Zanesville. Mr. and Mrs. Smith began their domestic life on what is now Ridge avenue, in Zanesville, and they have always lived in this citv. They are faithful and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church and enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of friends here. In their family are the following children : Lan- sing T., who is engaged in the hardware busi-

A. C. SMITH.

JAMES B. SMITH.

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ness in Anderson, Alabama, and who served as postmaster there under President Mckinley ; Be- atrice, deceased; Alexander, who lives in the west ; Maggie and Florence, both at home ; Mary, who married H. C. Van Balkenburg, a Congre- gational minister of Illinois; James R., who is a druggist in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and M. B., the wife of F. H. Betts, of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania.

It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the history of the Zane family, of which Mr. Smith is a direct descendant. The first representative of the name in America came from England to this country on the same ves- sel with William Penn. Mention is made of them in Philadelphia. They were identified with the Society of Friends and a street in the original plat of Philadelphia was called Zanesville. The first member of the faimly whose history can be accurately traced was Andrew Zane, who mar- ried out of the society and was consequently disowned by that sect. He removed to the south branch of the Potomac river in what was then the colony of Virginia and settled on a farm near the town of Romney, at that time a frontier dis- trict, much exposed to the inroads of marauding Indians. In June, 1750, while at work in his cornfields, Andrew Zane, with his four sons, Silas, Isaac, Ebenezer and Jonathan, was sur- prised, and he and his sons were taken prisoners by the Indians and carried across the mountains to the west, reaching the Ohio river at Grove Creek. They crossed at the mouth of Wheeling creek, thence proceeded up the creek to where the village of Flushing now stands. Later they crossed the divide to the waters of the Still- water, thence down that stream to White Eye Plains, a place since made famous by the Mora- vian massacre and the locality in which the Wy- andot Indians had their villages. Andrew Zane and his four sons were kept prisoners for thir- teen years, or until Canada was ceded to the English by the French when the English sent officers to Detroit to make a treaty with all the tribes. The Wyandots took Andrew Zane and Silas, Ebenezer and Jonathan Zane with them as interpreters and the British officers induced the Indians to release them. A remarkable circum- stance took place as they came within sight of their homes. Andrew Zane saw a number of horses hitched in front of the house and ex- claimed: "Boys, somebody's dead at home-let's hurry." They hastened on and found that An- drew's wife was about to be married again, supposing him dead, for she had heard nothing from him for thirteen years.

Andrew Zane was twice married and had seven sons and one daughter by his first wife. Two sons died in infancy, while Silas, Andrew, Jr., Isaac, Ebenezer and Jonathan reached manhood.

The daughter was called Elizabeth, or Betsy-as history calls her in recounting her deeds of heroism. She was twice married and lived and died near Wheeling Island. Andrew Zane was not a man of strong character, but his first wife was a woman of affairs and had kept their prop- erty together in his long absence. They contin- ued to live on the south branch of the river until their sons Ebenezer and Jonathan decided to locate west of the mountains. Andrew Zane's first wife never came west. She died east of the mountains and he married the second time, but did not live happily with his second wife and became quite dissipated in his old age. His second wife was one of the founders of the Society of Shakers at Lebanon, Ohio. Andrew Zane died at Wheeling in 1790, and was there buried in the old cemetery on the high bank of the river, and in the year 1827 the bank caved away and left a coffin exposed to view on which was found an old plate roughly engraved with the name Andrew Zane. The coffin was then removed and re-buried by his son, Noah Zane.

Andrew Zane, Jr., was of rather a frivolous disposition. He came west, settling near the city of Wheeling after the danger of Indian at- tack was over. He left a large family, but none of them are of any rank or note. Silas Zane. the second son of Andrew Zane, Sr., had been so long a prisoner with the Indians that he was more like an Indian than a white man. He married and had two sons and he settled with his family on Wheeling creek, where he located a grant of land. He frequently went on hunting expeditions with the Indians and was killed by mistake by the red men of Wakatomeka creek, not far from where Dresden now stands. His two sons, Joseph and Silas, lived and died in Muskingum county. Silas married and left one son, Isaiah, or as he was familiarly called, "Sire" Zane, who was a fine specimen of physical man- hood in Muskingum county, being able to out- run, jump or whip any of his competitors at a time when muscle seemed to be a distinguishing characteristic of the day. At the time of the California excitement he took his family and started for the Golden state, but died of cholera on the way. Silas Zane's wife had a remarkable career. She was married three times, had chil- dren by each husband, and each husband was killed by the Indians. Silas Zane was a tall. raw-boned man of rather fine appearance and good ambition, but without education. He was notable as an Indian warrior and was comman- der of the first seige at the fort at Wheeling. He was greatly liked by all his acquaintances and was much beloved by the Indians.

Isaac Zane, the third son of Andrew Zane, was the most remarkable member of this notable family and in his day and generation did most

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for the people. He was taken prisoner by the Wyandot Indians when his father and brothers were captured, but when they were taken to Detroit the Indians, expecting to have to give up their prisoners, did not take Isaac with them. He played on a violin and had fashioned a rude in- strument on which he used to play for the In- dians' dances. After his father and brothers were gone he became very discontented and three times tried to escape, but was twice overtaken by the Wyandots and brought back to the tribe. The third time he was captured by the Cone Planter tribe on Slippery Rock, north of Pitts- burg, and condemned to be tortured. They had tied him to a tree and had begun the torture by tearing his finger nails off, but he was rescued by a party of Wyandots headed by the chief's daughter. He afterward married this Indian maiden and had two sons and four daughters. He lived with the tribe of Wyandots until 1812, when he went to live on a farm near the town that he laid out and called Zanesfield, not far from Bellefontaine. It is recorded that people" came from a distance of forty miles to see his barn raised. He passed through Zanesfield once in company with his two daughters, both very handsome women, enroute for Wheeling Island, where, instead of accepting the hospitality of his relatives, he pitched his tent, and with cook- ing utensils in his possession he cooked his own meals and kept open house in Indian fashion. After all his friends had eaten and drunk with him he one night "folded his tent like the Arab and as silently stole away."

He is described as being tall, raw-boned, with square shoulders, large head and very venerable presence, quiet in manner and slow of speech. The information he gave the white settlements of the frontier saved many lives and he received a large donation of land from the government, whereby his family were left in comfortable cir- cumstances. It was due to his influence largely that the treaty of Greenville was signed and he was held in high regard by General Wayne. It was also through his influence that the Wyan- dots, Pottawattamie and Delaware tribes were kept out of the Tecumseh conference, and it was due to him that the Wyandots made a treaty with the government by which they were made very comfortable until they sold their reserve and removed to Kansas.

Samuel Zane, the eldest son of Isaac Zane, had the appearance of a full-blooded Indian, liked whiskey and never amounted to anything. Isaac Zane, Jr., however, was like his father, just and kind and a good citizen. His daughters all mar- ried white men and their descendants still live in the vicinity of Bellefontaine. Isaac Zane died on his farm near Zanesfield in 1820. There can be no doubt but that he was the first white settler

in the state, as he came to the country in 1750, and never had a residence elsewhere, but died and was buried in Ohio. Ebenezer and Jonathan Zane and John McIntire were the three men who were destined to occupy the important positions of founders and they left the impress of their skill, perseverance and shrewdness in the city located on the Muskingum river and called Zanesville. Ebenezer and Jonathan Zane were the fourth and fifth sons of Andrew Zane. They were born in Berkley county, Virginia, and they took a more prominent part in the historical events of the Virginia border than any other members of the family. They were taken pris- oners and were released at Detroit at the same time with their father, Andrew Zane. Ebenezer Zane and his wife, Elizabeth, had twelve chil- dren. John McIntire was born in 1739 and died in Zanesville, July 29, 1815, at the age of fifty- six years. We first hear of him as an itinerant shoemaker, going from house to house in Vir- ginia, making and repairing shoes. He com- menced with the father and mother, then the oldest child and so on down until all the fam- ily were supplied with shoes. It was on one of these visits to Ebenezer Zane's that he made the acquaintance of Sarah Zane and the acquaintance ripened into love and John McIntire made ap- plication to Ebenezer for the daughter's hand. The Zane family opposed the match, but the lively Sally, then a young miss of seventeen, fought the battle out with all her bravery and resolution of character until her father consented and they were united in marriage in December, 1789. In May, 1796, congress passed a law au- thorizing Ebenezer Zane to open a road from Wheeling, West Virginia, to Maysville, Ken- tucky. This undertaking was as stupendous as the building of a trans-continental railroad would be at the present day. The early pioneers, how- ever, knew neither fear nor cowardice and ac- cordingly we find Ebenezer and Jonathan Zane and the now reconciled son-in-law, John McIn- tire, blazing their way through the woods in 1797 and working out the new road. It was a hasty piece of business and nothing more was attempted than to make it passable for horsemen. Congress granted to Ebenezer Zane as compensation for his services three sections of land. not to exceed one mile square each.

In the year 1799 John McIntire moved his wife and their household effects and in the year 1800 he and Ebenezer Zane laid out the town they called Zanestown, then Westborne, which name it bore until the postoffice was established under the name of Zanesville and the village soon took the same name. Jonathan and Ebenezer Zane returned to Wheeling when they had completed their labors, but we find their children identified with the growing interests of the little village.

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Lyddy and Drusilla Zane were the daughters of Andrew Zane, Jr. Lyddy Zane was reared in the family of John McIntire, being a cousin of Mrs. McIntire. She married a Mr. Mercer and lived till her eighty-fifth year in Muskingum county and was buried here. Drusilla Zane married a Mr. Philbe and after his death she made her home with her daughter, Margaret Zane Smith, on the pike, three miles east of the city. She had a large family of children, was a remarkable woman for her years and learned to read and write with her second eyesight in her eightieth year. She is distinctly remembered and her memory is still cherished by Zanesville's earlier settlers. She died in her ninetieth year and was buried in Pleasant Grove cemetery on the east pike. She was the grandmother of Dr. James F. Smith ; Joseph E. Smith, of the east pike, also of the wife of Rev. J. H. Rogers, of Toronto, and the wife of Rev. J. Wright, of Canfield, Ohio. These persons, together with Mrs. Alexander C. Sullivan, constitute her only descendants in direct line living in Zanesville and there are only four or five still living on Wheeling Island.

ROBERT LYONS.

Among those who have traveled far on life's journey and have found in the conditions of this work-a-day world incentive for the exercise of their best talents and the development of their latent powers Robert Lyons is numbered. He was for a long period actively engaged in agri- cultural pursuits but is now living retired. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, March 28, 1819, and the following year was brought to Ohio by his parents, who located on the old Lyons farm. The father, John Lyons, entered a quarter section of land in Rich Hill township and at once began the development of the farm upon which he reared his family. He had ten children : Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, Ellen, Lucinda, Martha, Daniel, John, Robert and David, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of the subject of this review.

Brought to Ohio when only about a year old Robert Lyons was reared in this state amid pioneer conditions and has watched the county emerge from the surroundings of frontier life and take on all the evidences of an advanced civilization. He worked in the fields in his early youth and afterward began farming on his own account, continuing his labors until he had gained a very comfortable living. In 1840 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Howell and they became the parents of the fol- lowing children : John. William, Andrew, James,

Joshua, Elizabeth, Jane and Lucinda. The wife and mother died February 28, 1905, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. Two of the sons, John and William, were soldiers of the Civil war.

Mr. Lyons has a most vivid recollection of many of the early events of this part of the state. He can remember the arrival of the first steamboat that reached the Zanesville port and the building of the old Y bridge. His own life has been one of great activity and enterprise and in the earlier years he was a most energetic farmer, who in addition to the tilling of the soil also engaged in the operation of a sawmill. He set up sawmills in both Pennsylvania and Ohio for the Blandy Company of Zanesville. He owned large tracts of land in Rich Hill town- ship and is still in possession of valuable realty, but for a number of years has lived retired in his fine home in Rixville. Mr. Lyons cast his first presidential vote for William Henry Har- rison and has been a stanch republican since the organization of the party. He enjoys the dis- tinction of having voted seventeen times for president in the same township. He has been supervisor for many terms and in all his public and private life has commanded the respectful attention, admiration and good will of those with whom he has come in contact. He has ever been a strong opponent of the saloon and a stanch advocate of the temperance cause and for years has been a leader in his church, being a promi- nent Methodist. Although now eighty-six years of age he is still enjoying quite good health and bids fair to live for some time to come. In the evening of life he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future with- out fear and his record may well serve as a source of emulation to others who appreciate the true value of character and its rewards.

HARRY A. MARTIN. M. D.

Dr. Harry A. Martin, engaged in the practice of medicine in Gratiot, is a son of George W. and Belinda ( Patterson ) Martin, and was born in Springfield township, Muskingum county. October 19, 1872. His father, a native of Perry county. Ohio, was born about a mile south of Asbury Chapel, near the old Martin mill. The paternal grandfather, George Martin, Sr., was a native of Carroll county, Pennsylvania, and came to Muskingum county in 1808. settling in Hopewell township, where he purchased land.

George W. learned and followed the trades of a carpenter and millwright in early manhood and subsequently he purchased a homestead of forty acres in Springfield township. Muskingum

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county. His early education was acquired in the district schools and he made the most of his opportunities through life, reading, experience and observation greatly broadening his know- ledge. He was always interested in the cause of education, believing in affording the children good advantages in that direction and for a num- ber of years he has been a member of the school board. His political allegiance is given to the democracy. He married Miss Belinda Patter- son, a daughter of Alfred Patterson, a native of Virginia, who came to Muskingum county in pioneer times. Mrs. Martin's mother was a di- rect descendant of General Nathaniel Green, of Revolutionary fame. The sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Martin are: Mrs. Henry Munch, living at 832 Ridge avenue, Zanesville, who has three daughters and whose husband is a con- tractor and builder of that city; Arthur, who died in 1880 at the age of sixteen years; Belle, at home ; Harry A. ; and Merwin S., who married Susanna Terry, and lives in Zanesville.

Dr. Marvin acquired his early education in the district schools and afterward attended Muskingum College, while later he entered the university at Ada, Ohio, from which he was graduated on completing the pharmaceutical course on the 20th of July, 1901. Having de- termined to engage in the practice of medicine he then attended the Eclectic Medical Institute, at Cincinnati, from which he was graduated after three years earnest study, completing the course in that time because of the credits which he had received because of his course in Ada University. The date of his graduation was April 19, 1905, and on the 16th of May he came to Gratiot, where he opened an office and has since practiced, meeting with splendid success. Already he has a large patronage which is con- stantly growing. Dr. Martin is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen camp and is also connected with a Greek letter fraternity, the Tau Alpha Epsilon, in which, during his senior year in col- lege, he held the highest position in the gift of the society. He is medical examiner for many insur- ance companies and has won a notable and credi- table position in the circles of the medical frater- nity in Muskingum county.

RICHARD WELLS.

Richard Wells, who has now passed the eighty- second milestone on life's journey, receives the veneration and respect which should ever be ac- corded to one of advanced years, whose life has been honorable and upright in all its relations. A native of Virginia, he was born in Loudoun

county, August 30, 1823, his parents being Troy and Lucinda ( Hampton) Wells. The father was born in Maryland, in 1796, but when very young was taken to Virginia, and after he had attained his majority was married in the Old Dominion to Miss Lucinda Hampton, a native of Loudoun county. In 1825 they came to Ohio and Mr. Wells purchased thirty acres of land from a man by the name of Harpe. This constitutes a part of the old homstead farm, now owned and occu- pied by Richard Wells. After cultivating his first tract for a time Troy Wells extended the boundaries of his land by the additional purchase of a quarter section. He was a carpenter by trade and for generations representatives of the family have followed mechanical pursuits. His skill in that direction enabled him to keep everything about his place in excellent condition and he was justly accounted one of the progressive agricul- turists of his community. His political allegiance was given to the whig party and after its dissolu- tion his support upheld republican principles. He belonged to the Baptist church and was a man who throughout the community in which he lived was esteemed and honored for his genuine worth. He died in 1837, when his son Richard was only fourteen years of age. His widow afterward mar- ried James Crain and Richard Wells remained with her until he had reached the age of twenty years. Unto Troy and Lucinda Wells were born six children : Richard, of this review; Isaac, who died in infancy ; Maria, deceased ; Anna, the wife of William McCoyd, by whom she has four chil- dren ; Stephen, who married Elizabeth McCoyd and has three children ; and David, who married Mary Buchanan.

As before indicated Richard Wells left home when a young man of twenty years, going to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, to work at the carpenter's trade. Later he removed to Duncan Falls, Ohio, where he was again connected with building operations. but immediately after his marriage he located upon his present farm on section 28, Brush Creek township, purchasing his mother's share as well as the portions which were inherited by his broth- ers and sisters. He thus came into possession of what had once been his father's farm. He still continued to follow carpentering, however, until he was forty years of age and he always gave good attention to his farming interests, develop- ing an excellent property. He now owns one hundred and ninety-three acres of very rich and productive land and as a general farmer and stock- raiser he has met with gratifying success. He also raised fruit but much of his land was devoted to pasture in order that he might have good feed- ing ground for his stock.

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Past and present of the city of Zanesville and Muskingham County, Ohio, Part 99

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