USA > Ohio > Fayette County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 104
USA > Ohio > Madison County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 104
USA > Ohio > Pickaway County > Portrait and biographical record of Fayette, Pickaway and Madison counties, Ohio : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 104
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The preacher went among the crowd to restore order, but was seized by several ruffians and dragged toward the door. The lights were ex- tinguished and he was very roughly treated. The men who had seized him called to their compan-
ions who were outside, " Boys, open the door; we have got him," and they replied, " Give it to him! kill the priest!" Mr. Dreisbach was apprehensive of the worst, and, concentrating his strength by a sudden effort, he freed himself from the men, but he was still in the midst of the crowd in the in- tense darkness. As his assailants were groping around for him, cursing his escape, they accident- ally bestowed several blows upon each other, and while they were thus engaged, he slipped out of the crowd and escaped. The ringleaders of the mob were arrested. Mr. Dreisbach continued to preach in the Lancaster, Northumberland and Lebanon eireuit for many years. He received a tempting offer from Bishop Asbury, of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, to join that denomination, but declined on account of his affection for the Association. Ilis allegiance to the organization was un wavering, although he could have improved his financial condition by joining a church of similar faith. The pay was small for a number of years, first $30 and later $50, which seems insufli- eient to support a man and his family.
In 1812, Mr. Drcisbach was placed in charge of the mission of New York, and while there passed through many trials and suffered much from physical ail- ments, but soon gained renewed strength for his enlarged responsibilities. After 1812, the affairs of the Association devolved upon him, and he was thereafter engaged in laying out new circuits in the West. In 1814, the Conference elected him Presiding Elder. During 1815, he preached sev- eral times in Philadelphia, and in the following year traveled Westward as far as Buffalo and Niagara Falls, preaching there and in Canada.
From that time onward, Mr. Dreisbach's sphere constantly enlarged. He completed a catechism which came into general use, and in conjunction with a brother minister, arranged the German hymn book and rearranged and improved the Articles of Faith and Discipline. He enjoyed an ever-increas- ing popularity both as preacher and citizen. In 1828-29, he was a member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and at a later period his name was mentioned as candidate for Governor of that State, but he had no ambition for official distinc- tion and no enthusiasm for any labor except that
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which would advance the interest of the church and the cause of Christianity. In 1831, he removed to Ohio, and bought a farm in Pickaway County. However, he paid only little attention to it, but continued his labors as minister, beginning among his neighbors and afterward having charge of the circuit of Pickaway County. For a time, he was stationed at Dayton and Chillicothe, and for sev- eral years was editor of the Evangelical Messenger, the organ of the Association at Cleveland, Ohio. Ilis life was one of unremitting activity, and after he had ceased preaching on account of the infirmities of age, his pen was constantly employed in furnishing religious articles for the press. With scarcely a thought for himself, but seeking the ad- vaneement of the Church and the spiritual good of his neighbors and humanity in general, he labored on day after day until his life was brought to a close August 20, 1871, at Circleville.
The first marriage of. Mr. Dreisbach united him with Catharine Eyer, who died leaving two chil- dren. The second marriage was to a sister of the first wife, Fannie Eyer, who died in 1876, at the age of eighty-five years. Our subject was the eighth in order of birth among the children of the second union. At the age of five years, he accom- panied his parents from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he received a common-school education. When twenty-one years old, his father assisted him to buy one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Piekaway Township. He cleared the most of the land, erected fine buildings, and added to it until he owned one hundred and eighty-seven acres.
In 1863, our subject enlisted in the Ohio State Militia, and in May of the following year, was mustered in at Camp Dennison, becoming a member of Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Ohio Infantry. He did garrison duty at Norfolk, Va., City Point, Whitehouse Landing and Martinsburg, Va., and at the expiration of his term of service re- turned home. He resumed his farming operations, and in 1874 bought a farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres on section 18, Piekaway Town- ship, thus becoming the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of fine land. In 1876, he rented his farms and located in Circleville, where he has
since been engaged in the implement and seed business on Main Street near Court. In 1886, he built an elegant residence on Court and Union Streets, valued at $10,000, which in 1890 he deeded to his only daughter. He still owns a one- half interest in a farm of one hundred and seventy acres in Monroe Township. In 1885, he assisted in organizing the Third National Bank, but sold his stock a few years later.
In 1848, Mr. Dreisbach was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Michael Reedy, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Sarah F., Mrs. Fellows, who died in 1876; Josiah, who died in 1855, when three years old; and Arista, who married HI. P. Lorbach, a jeweler at Cireleville. Mr. Dreisbach served as Township Trustee six years and Assessor two years. He has been District Deputy of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a charter member and Past Commander of Groce Post No. 156, G. A. R., and has attended the National Encampments of the Order at Denver, Colo., Portland, Me., San Fran- cisco, Cal., St. Louis, Mo., and Columbus, Ohio. For forty years he was a member of the Evan- gelical Association, but in 1884 united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is Class- leader and Steward. In his political belief, he is a stanch Republican, and has served his party in various positions of trust.
AMES WALKER, We have here one of the most prominent residents and one of the very oldest settlers of Scioto Township, Pickaway County, as there is hardly any one now living who came to this county earlier than he. He was born in Albemarle County, Va., near Charlottesville, the county seat, September 6, 1818, and his father, John Walker, was born on the farm once owned by Thomas Jefferson, at a place called Shadwell, in June, 1786.
The grandfather was born in England, and came to America when a young man, working at his trade, which was that of a carpenter, for Thomas Jefferson. He married a Miss Turner at
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Shadwell, and spent the remainder of his life there. His three children were Thomas, Sarah and John, respectively, the latter being the father of our sub- jeet. His widow resided with her mother, whose second husband, a Mr. Morgan, carried on a mill belonging to Thomas Jefferson at Old Shadwell.
At that plaec the father of our subject grew to manhood, and soon after leaving there helped to build a large mill at Charlottesville. He then served an apprenticeship as a miller, and in 1816 became head miller, holding that position until 1822. At that time, he bought a mill and car- ried it on in that county, on Meecham's River, until he came to Ohio in 1834. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, belonging to a cavalry corps which was stationed at Norfolk, Va., to protect the coast against the landing of the British.
John Walker came to Ohio in 1834, traveling by team and wagon over the mountains, making the journey of five hundred miles to Columbus in twenty-one days, and located in the township of Seioto, Piekaway County, on land which now ad- joins the farm owned by our subject. He improved considerable land, and at one time owned over four hundred acres, building up his property by industry and economy, for he was poor when he came to this State. He was a man of excellent judgment, was highly esteemed, and was a Demo- erat in his political views. He died in Novem- ber, 1861.
Elizabeth Wertenbaker became the wife of John Walker in June, 1816. She was born in Albemarle County, Va., in 1800, and became the mother of six- teen children, fourteen of whom grew to maturity. They were by name: Mary, James, William, John, Sarah, Susan, Thomas, Adeline, Richard, Benjamin Franklin, Charles, Louisa, Milfred, Meriwether L., and Melissa, respectively, and one who died in in- fancy. The mother of this numerous family lived to reach her eighty-second year, and died near Salina, Kan., where she had gone to live with her son, Benjamin F.
Our subject canie here in his seventeenth year, and well recollects the journey over the moun- tains. He drove a team on the journey, and soon began to help in subduing the land in the new home, although he gained some additional schooling in the
primitive schools after coming here. The country was practically a wilderness, there being but one improved place between Commercial Point and Darby Creek, six miles west. At the age of twenty- three, he began for himself, and, as he was the old- est of the boys and the family was large, he had been accustomed to much responsibility. After working out by the month in Champaign County for a year, he put up a log cabin on his father's farm and was married in 1813. After farming there for two years, he moved to Georgesville, Franklin County, where for five years he carried on a general store, which he finally sold, and took an interest in Mr. Beckett's store, at Commercial Point, but two years later sold out his share in this business on account of his health.
Mr. Walker next bought seventy-five acres of land, where James Hewitt now resides, and after living on it from 1853 to 1857, he gave up farming and located at Commercial Point, because he had been cleeted Justice of the Peace and had so much public business to attend to that he could not carry on his farm. He was also made Post- master, and served from 1858 to 1864, at which time he opened a store, which he disposed of two years later to Mr. Harsh, the present owner. The farm which he now owns was purchased in 1864 and he has put upon it many valuable improve- ments.
Sarah A. Fretwell became the wife of James Walker, December 6, 1843. She was born in Vir- ginia, May 3, 1822, and came here with her par- ents seven years later. Her five children are Mar- garet M., William D., Robert R., John F. and Mary L. With the exception of $600 which Mr. Walker received from his father's estate, he has made all his property unaided and now owns some three hundred acres of finely improved land, upon which he carries on mixed farming, making a specialty of sheep, of which he keeps a large number. He built a fine large frame barn in 1883 and has an excel- lent frame house.
As might well be expected, our subjeet is a Dem- oerat and he says that he was rocked in the Jeffer- sonian eradle of Democracy, having been born and reared near the home of that illustrious statesman, Thomas Jefferson, who was so truly revered by his
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father and grandfather. In his service as Justice of the Peace for nine years, he tried numerous cases and never had a decision reversed, which is a record of which he may well feel proud. He has also served as Trustce of the township for many years and in that capacity has aided much in the development of this section.
OHN MORRIS. The name of Morris is in- dissolubly connected with the agricultural development of Pickaway County, and with its advancement in other directions, since the very early days of its settlement. The subject of this biographical review is distinguished in its history as one of its first-born sons, who was promi- nent and influential as a farmer and as a citizen of Walnut Township, his birthplace, during a long and honorable life. He was born July 13, 1806, and was a son of John and Elizabeth (Wells) Morris, who were among the first to take up their abode in the primeval forests of this section. The Morris family was an old and distinguished family of New Jersey, and Morristown of that State was named from our subject's grandfather.
The father of our subject migrated from his native State to Ohio at an early day, and was one of the original settlers of Walnut Township, where he entered land from the Government on section 33, and proceeded to build up a home for himself and his family in the primeval forests of Pickaway County. They had to move into a log cabin, and suffered the usual privations and hardships inci- dental to frontier life. The father died February 20, 1842, at a ripe old age. Ile had fifteen chil- dren, of whom fourteen grew to maturity.
Jolin Morris was reared to man's estate amid pioneer environments, and was early inured to hard work. Before the time of railways, he used to take a load of flour, or other merchandise, to Zanesville, and bring back dry goods and other commodities in exchange for the Circleville mer- chants, when that city was a small town. He be- came one of the leading farmers of his native township, and by his activity and shrewd man-
agement acquired a goodly amount of property and left his family in comfortable circumstances. He was for many years an important figure in the official life of Walnut Township, which he served for many terms as a Trustee and Treasurer. He was also Justice of the Peace for several years, and for three years he was County Commissioner. In polities, he was a loyal Democrat. He was enterprising not only in conducting his own affairs, but also when he had civic interests. to look after, and favored whatsoever was for the good of his native township and county. He was a sensi- ble man, who was capable of wise discrimination, and was accurate in his judgments, and his ad- vice was often sought in weighty matters. He was often called upon to settle estates in various parts of the county, and was noted for the fidelity and strict integrity with which he discharged his duties as an administrator. He departed this life June 5, 1877, greatly lamented by his family, to whom he had been a devoted husband and father, and by a large circle of acquaintances, among whom he had many warm friends. He was greatly missed by the church to which he belonged, the United Brethren, which he had been partly instru- mental in upbuilding. Before there was any church of that denomination here, he had often given the use of his house for services, and he was one of the leading officials of the church after its establishment for many years.
Mr. Morris married Miss Delilah Bowman in 1831, and she still survives him. She is familiarly called "Aunt Lilah" by those who know and love her, and she is a noble representative of the pioneer daughters of Pickaway County. She was born near Newark, this State, May 11, 1814, and still retains her health and mental faculties to a re- markable degree for one of her venerable age. She is a daughter of William and Barbara Bowman, who were early settlers of Washington Township, Piekaway County, whither they came when very young, the Bowman family originating in Vir- ginia. For many years she has been a consistent member of the United Brethren Church, and is truly a Christian. She is the mother of fourteen children, of whom all but one grew to manhood and womanhood. A son, John T., died at the age
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of sixteen years, and a daughter, Elizabeth, is dead. The twelve surviving children are Samuel; Lydia, wife of Thomas Wells; Melinda, wife of Jolin Lincoln; Mary, wife of Caleb Hall; Henry B .; Jane, wife of John Wholaver; Kate; Sophia; Mil- ton; Lewis 1 .; Charles E .; and Flora E., wife of N. A. Warner.
Our subject's son Lewis was born in Walnut Township August 15, 1853. and was reared on the old family homestead, on which he still lives. Ile was a bright scholar in his youth, had the advan- tages of a good education, and for some five years engaged in the profession of teaching. Ilis sister Sophia and brothers, with the exception of John, also taught school successfully. He has devoted himself mainly to agricultural pursuits, and stands among the wide-awake, well-to-do farmers and stock-raisers of his native township. The home farm contains two hundred and seventy- seven acres of valuable land, which are under fine tillage, and are replete with modern improvements. Mr. Morris is a man of sound understanding and good business habits, and his fellow-citizens, ap- preciating his fitness for office, have called him to assist in the management of public affairs, and he is now serving as a Trustee of the township. He is identified with the Democrats in politics, and socially, is a Knight of Pythias.
C HARLES W. HIGGINS, the popular and well-known physician, has borne a'conspie- uous part in the rise and growth of the vil- lage of Derby, materially as a business man, and socially, educationally and religiously as a public- spirited citizen, who has the good of the commu- nity at heart. A native of Ohio, the Doctor was born in Franklin County, November 1, 1838. His father, whose given name was also Charles, was born in Maryland, in 1809, and he was the son of another Charles Higgins, who is supposed to have been a native of Maryland. The family is of Eng- lish origin, and settled in this country in Colonial times, where its various members have followed dif-
ferent professions and occupations. The grand- father of our subjeet was a farmer. In 1811, he abandoned his old home in Maryland, and with his wife and children journeyed with a team across the mountains, to found a new home in the forest wilds of Ohio, being several months on the way. He at last arrived in Franklin County, where he secured several thousand acres of land by means of military claims, and he took up his abode in a log house, or double log cabin, in which he kept at hotel, which was a favorite stopping place for new-comers, and often as many as forty teams of the emigrants would stop there at one time. Ile was on intimate terms with the Indians who lived near him. The country was wild and sparsely settled, with plenty of wild game, deer often being seen in droves, and a haunch of venison procured by his hand would sometimes regale his guests. He was widely known, and his death at the age of sixty was lamented by his fellow-pioneers. In politics, he was a Whig, and always stood firmly by his party.
After his father's death, the father of our sub- ject managed the hotel and farmed at the same time, having a fine farm of two hundred and fif- teen acres, whose value he so increased by sub- stantial improvements and good cultivation, that it was worth $50 an acre at the time of his death, which occurred in 1855. at the age of forty-nine years. He was a man of remarkable energy and pronounced force of character, who rose early and worked late, and his death was a serious blow to the interests of his township, whose growth he had variously promoted. Ilis political convictions were strong, and he sided with the Whigs. Ile was greatly aided in his life work by a capable, in- dustrious wife, whose maiden name was Drusilla Ball. She was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1805, and in 1811 came to Ohio with her mother and step-father, Mr. Manning, her own father hay- ing died in Pennsylvania when she was an infant. She was a consistent Christian in word and deed, and in her death, at the age of fifty years, the Methodist Episcopal Church lost one of its most efficient members. She was the mother of eight children, of whom seven grew to maturity, namely : Lauretta, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Julia, Samuel C., Charles W. and Jane A.
41
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The boyhood of our subject was passed on a farm. He was given every advantage to obtain a liberal education, and profited thereby. Ilis first schooling was obtained in the district schoolhouse in the village of Alton, that was rudely furnished with slab benches in pioneer style, and the school was of the subscription order, the teacher boarding around among the various families of the district. At the age of sixteen, our subjeet went to Colum- bus to attend the public schools of that city, and after studying therein two years he entered the Capital University, in which he was a student two years. He next took a nine-months' course in Granger's Commercial College in the same city, and was graduated from that institution at the end of that time. Wishing to still further perfect his education, he afterward spent two years in hard study at Dennison University.
The breaking out of the war found the Doctor closely engaged with his books, but in the second year of the rebellion he laid aside his studies to offer his services to his country, enlisting August 11, 1862, in Company C, Ninety-fifth Ohio Infantry. He was mustered into the army at Camp Chase, and was ordered at once with his regiment to Cumberland Gap. Before arriving there, however, Kirby Smith was met with a force of twenty-five thousand skilled soldiers, and though the com- mand to which our subject was attached numbered but seven thousand raw recruits, they fought gal- lantly with the enemy, and after falling back three times were finally surrounded and about nine- tenths of the men captured, only about one hun- dred and fifty of the soldiers composing our sub- ject's regiment escaping from the cluteles of the enemy, he being one of that number. The scattered troops were collected at Lexington, Ky., and retreated in good order before the enemy, by the way of Frankfort to Louisville, where they were joined by reinforcements, and Kirby Smith retired southward. The doctor was then detailed with his comrades to guard the Jefferson & Madi- son Railway, at Madison, for three weeks. They were then sent to Camp Lew Wallace, where the men were all paroled. They were subsequently ordered to Camp Chase, and in February were sent into the field again. The next engagement in
which they took a conspicuous part was at Gun- town, where many of the men were cut to pieces and many were captured. The hardships and pri- vations of a soldier's life were too much for our subject, who broke down under the continued strain, and January 19. 1863, he was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of disability. For what he did and suffered he now gets a pension of $8 a month, although he did not apply for it until the new pension law went into effect.
The Doetor had laid a solid foundation for his medieal studies in his early education, his object in entering the profession being to prepare himself for the post of Assistant Surgeon in the army, but the war elosed four months before he had com- pleted his course. Hle read two years with Dr. Lafayette Woodruff, of Alton, and then attended two courses of lectures at the Starling Medical College at Columbus, from which he was graduated with honor June 30, 1865. He first opened an office at Martinsville, Ind., where he was in partner- ship with Dr. George Richey for three months. He then returned to this State, established himself at Big Plain, Madison County, married there, and was actively engaged in practice at that point for twenty years. During the last two years of his residence in that county, he was interested in the grain trade at Lilly Chapel. In 1884, the Doctor came to the village of Derby to engage in the grain business, building an elevator, and the fol- lowing year removed his family here. The ele- vator was burned in 1886, but was at onee rebuilt, and in 1887 our subject and his partner, Mr. Deyo, with whom he had been doing business under the firm name of Higgins & Deyo, sold out the busi- ness to the present proprietors of the elevator. The Doetor did not by any means abandon his pro- fession, but steadily grew in favor with the people in the village and in the surrounding country, and he has many patients under his eare.
Our subjeet was married December 31, 1865, to Miss Jane A. Say, who is likewise a native of Ohio, born in Lockburn, January 19, 1842. She is gifted with those gracious qualities that mark the true home-maker, and devotes herself cheerfully to her household. Her marriage with our subject has been hallowed to them by the birth of ten
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children, eight of whom are now living: Minnie, Laura, Carrie, Florence, Walter, Nelson, Loretta and Mamie. Minnie and Loretta are teaching, the former at Alton and the latter at Worthington.
Dr. Higgins is a high-minded gentleman, of ripe culture and pleasant address, who exerts a whole- some influence in the community of which he forms so important a part. He is a true friend of education, takes a deep interest in it as President of the Board of Education of the village of Derby, and he was largely instrumental in securing the location of the 'Township High School here. Ile is a member of the Odd Fellows' lodge in this place, and also of the Knights of Pythias lodge and of Talmage Lodge No. 194. Ile and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and take an active part in church and Sunday-school work, the Doctor having served two years as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. In politics. he was formerly a Republican, but the last five years he has been a Prohibitionist.
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