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 13
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 13
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 13
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The grandfather of our subject was Colonel of an Ohio regiment in the War of 1812. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Jane Campbell. She was born in Kentucky, and was the daughter of William Campbell, who was among the early settlers of Fayette County, this State, where he
was a prominent agriculturist. Her birth occurred in 1818 and after her marriage with Mr Mallow, resided for a time in Fayette County, and later removed to Ross County, where her death occurred in 1875; the father passed away in 1884. They were the parents of three sons and one daughter.
The original of this sketch was born March 3, 1840, in Ross County, and was trained to the life of a farmer on the old homestead. IIis education was received in the schools of his district, supple- menting the knowledge gained therein by a course of reading in later years. He was married No- vember 23, 1863, to Eliza J., daughter of Andrew Ilaughey, of Clinton County, this State. To them has been born one daughter, Jennie E., who is the wife of N. B. Hall, and resides in Washington C. H .; she is the mother of three children.
Mrs. Eliza J. Mallow departed this life Febru- ary 23, 1865, and the present marriage of our subject occurred December 28, 1869, at which time Miss Ellen, daughter of James II. Hays, became his wife. The following-named six sons have been born to them: Orville S., Werter H., Russell C., Earl L., Carl S. and Roy G. In May, 1864, Mr. Mallow enlisted in the Union army, joining Com- pany C, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio Na- tional Guards, being mustered in as Second Ser- geant. The company went from Cincinnati to Baltimore, thence to Saulsbury, Del., to Washing- ton, D. C., to Harper's Ferry and Frederick City, being engaged in skirmishing around Washington and in Virginia and Maryland. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864, when he returned home and engaged in the peaceful pursuits of farm life.
Mr. Mallow, in the spring of 1863, came to Fayette County, and located on the Eustace Sur- vey, where he made his home nntil removing to his present location on Webb's Survey, which he did in 1888. His beautiful residence, which was erected three years ago, is the finest in the town- ship. It is supplied with all the modern conven- iences, and is finished and furnished in a style that shows its inmates to be people of ample means and cultured taste. Mr. Mallow has placed his entire estate of eight hundred and eighty acres under cultivation, and has caused many thousand
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rods of tiling to be laid. Large and commodious buildings add to the value of the place, and stamp Mr. Mallow as a wide-awake and progressive citi- zen.
Socially, he of whom we write is a member of the Masonie fraternity, being identified with the lodge at Washington C. H. He is also a Knight Templar, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chap- ter. Mrs. Mallow is a Dunkard in religious mat- ters, and is a very intelligent and highly-esteemed lady, who has done her full share in aiding her husband to attain his present financial standing in the agricultural community. Our subject votes the straight Republican ticket, and has served as a member of the School Board. He has also been Trustee of his township, and for six years was County Commissioner, having been Chairman of the Board. He has been a delegate to county conventions, and, all in all, is a very active and prominent citizen. When locating in Jasper Township, it was Democratic in politics; now it shows a Republican majority of seventy-five, of which fact Mr. Mallow is justly proud, as he has been a hard worker for the interest of that grand old party. He is a jovial, good-natured gentle- man, and numbers his friends by the score. He carries on a mixed husbandry, to which industry he adds that of stock-raising, having about fifty cattle, one hundred and fifty sheep and thirty horses.
EREMIAII B. CHENOWETHI, a retired far- mer and stock-raiser of Range Township, Madison County, was born twelve miles from Columbus, in Franklin County, Ohio, September 22, 1816. His parents were John F. and Margaret ( Ferguson) Chenoweth. The father. was born in Kentucky in 1792, and when twelve years of age became a resident of Franklin County, where his wife was born and reared, although her parents were natives of Scotland and were of Scotch-Irish descent. He was drafted for the War of 1812, but sent a substitute in his stead. Ile started in life a poor man and made rails by the
hundred, but as fast as possible, invested his earn- ings in lands and became a wealthy farmer and stock owner. He was a Democrat up to the time of Jackson's administration, when he became a Whig and in 1856, he joined the Republican ranks. lle was a stanch Abolitionist and a prominent citi- zen. Ile served as County Commissioner of High- ways for many years, was Justice of the Peace for twenty years, and was twice elected to the Ohio Legislature. He took great delight in hunting and was an expert marksman.
Our subject was the fourth in a family of four- teen children, of whom two died in infancy and one at the age of thirteen. The others grew to mature years and had families, while seven are still living, and with the exception of Lewis, who resides in Summer County, Kan., all are residents of Madison County. Jeremiah remained at home and aided his father in the labors of the farm until twenty-five years of age. He had expected to receive some of the property, but his father had to pay $30,000 security and so our subject claimed nothing and started out in life empty-handed. IIe was married September 23, 1811, to Miss Eliza Foster, of Range Township, a daughter of James and Margaret (Boyer) Foster, and a native of Ross County, Ohio, born August 2, 1824. They began their domestic life upon a rented farm, which Mr. Chenoweth operated for five years, when he pur- chased two hundred acres. This he afterward sold and bought a thousand-acre tract. From time to time his landed possessions were increased until the family has fourteen hundred acres, as Mr. Chenoweth has given a part of it to his children.
Unto our subject and his wife were born seven sons and two daughters, but the latter died in childhood. James F., who was born September 7, 1844, enlisted for one hundred days' service in the late war, returned home sick, and died soon after- ward, at the age of twenty; John W., born Septem- ber 9, 1846, is a farmer of Range Township, where he resides with his wife and two children; Daniel B., who was born January 10, 1849, was educated in the common schools and in London, and follows agricultural pursuits; Nelson P., born April 26, 1851, is also a farmer and stock-raiser; George W., born October 3, 1853, was a farmer,
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and died August 4, 1887, leaving one child; Jere- miah S., born December 11, 1855, is living in Range Township and has four children; Newton M., born December 25, 1857, is married and resides in Range Township. Ile has one son, Earl Ilix, born July 7, 1886.
Mr. Chenoweth proudly cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840, and is now a stalwart Republican, as are his sons, with the ex- ception of two who vote the Prohibition ticket. He became a member of the Methodist Church in 1844, and has been Steward, a Trustee and Teacher in the Sunday-school for many years. With the exception of two of his children all belong to the same church. He has aided in the building of churches in this locality, and has given his sup- port to all enterprises calculated to prove of pub- lic benefit. He is public-spirited and progressive and a valued citizen. His upright life and ster- ling worth have won him the confidence and good- will of all with whom he came in contact.
UDGE SAMUEL W. COURTRIGHT, attor- ney-at-law of Circleville, is one of the most influential and prominent citizens of Picka- way County, and is also widely and favora- bly known throughout the States. Through his profession, politics and Masonry, he has formed a wide acquaintance and is held in the highest es- teem by all. His life record will prove of interest to many.
The Judge was born in Walnut Township, this county, December 9, 1842, and is the son of Hon. Jesse D. Courtright, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 5, 1811. The great-great- grandfather, Johannas Von Courtright, came from Amsterdam to Staten Island with the first families of New York and was prominent among the Knick- erbocker families of New York. The grandfather, John Courtright, was born in Pennsylvania. Ilis father, Capt. Jesse Von Courtright, had dropped the title-prefix to his name on removing to Pennsyl- vania. Ile was born on Staten Island, and served as a Captain in the Revolutionary War. About 1802,
John Courtright emigrated with his family to Ohio, traveling over the mountains and through the for- ests with a three-horse wagon. He bought land near Royalton, Fairfield County, improved a farm in the midst of the wilderness, and was very successful be- coming owner of twenty-one hundred acres of land. He built the first brick house in that vicinity. His death occurred at the age of eighty-four years. Ile, too, had been a soldier, serving in the War of 1812. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Drake, was born in Scotland and came of the same family as Sir Francis Drake.
Ilon. Jesse D. Courtright, father of our subject, was reared in Fairfield County, and educated in the old log schoolhouse. When a young man, he married Sallie Stout, who was born in Washington Township, Pickaway County. Her grandfather, George Stout, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in this county in the latter part of the eighteenth century. He brought his family and household effects in a wagon. Among his goods was a very large clock, which is still well preserved and is now in the possession of our subject. Mr. Stout became a prominent and wealthy farmer. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Courtright located in Walnut Town- ship, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and successfully engaged in farming. Ile always followed farming and finally became the owner of some two thousand acres of valuable land. He served one term in the State Legislature and refused a re-nomination. Ile ran on the Demo- cratic ticket and was elected over a large Whig majority. Ile also long served as Township As- sessor and Trustee and for more than thirty years was Justice of the Peace. IIe was an Elder and leading member of the Presbyterian Church, and was an influential and highly respected man. In 1870, he removed to Circleville, living retired un- til his death in February, 1873. His estimable wife passed away in 1881, at the age of seventy- three years. Eight of their nine children grew to mature years and seven are yet living. One son, Dr. George S., was a Surgeon in the regular United States army in Gen. Kit Carson's command, and is now a prominent physician of Lithopolis, Ohio.
Judge Courtright was the sixth child in the family. Ile was reared to agricultural pursuits
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and his early education was supplemented by a course in South Salem Academy, where he remained until 1861. He then began studying law in the office of the late David M. Jones, and in October, 1862, entered the Law College in Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1863, with the degree of L. L. B. A few days afterward, he was admitted to the Bar, and, returning home, immediately opened a law office in Circleville. Ilis skill and ability were at once recognized by his election to public office. In April, 1864, he was elected City Solicitor, and re-elected in 1866. In October, 1867, lie was elected County Prosecuting Attorney, re- elected in 1869, and satisfactorily filled the office. In 1870, he was elected a member of the Board of Education of the Union Schools, was chosen President and was successively re-elected for four years. In April, 1875, he was elected one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the Fifth Judicial District of Ohio without oppo- sition and was the youngest Judge in the State. After serving a full term of five years on the Bench, he resumed the practice of law and has since de- voted himself to his profession.
In Circleville, December 14, 1865, Judge Court- right married Miss Jennie R., daughter of ex-Mayor Z. R. Martin, a native of Pennsylvania and an hon- ored pioneer of Circleville. He served as Mayor for six years and was a prominent business man. Three children have been born to our subject and his wife: Florence B., who graduated from the Circleville High School and completed her vocal and in- strumental instruction in music under Prof. Sny- der and Miss Cranch, of Cincinnati, is an accom- plished lady, now the wife of E. F. Dunn, the largest dry-goods merchant of Circleville. Jennie B., a pupil in the Circleville High School, has con- siderable musical talent. Marguerite B. completes the family. Their pleasant home is a magnificent residence on the corner of Court and Union Streets. It is the largest and most tastefully furnished home in Circleville and is the abode of hospitality. The Judge also owns several valuable and well-im- proved farms in Pickaway County and one in Bloom Township, Fairfield County.
Judge Courtright is one of the most prominent Masons of Ohio. Ile is a member of the Blue
Lodge, Council Chapter and Commandery of Cir- eleville, and after serving as Grand Master of the State in 1876, 1877 and 1878, declined a re-elec- tion. He has been Grand Dictator of the Knights of Honor of Ohio and was thrice Representative to the Supreme Lodge. Ile is also Past Chief Patri- arch of the Odd Fellows' society, and is a consistent and active member of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has served as Trustee. The Democracy finds in him a most ardent supporter, and his intlo- ence and power have done much for its upbuilding. From January, 188.1, to January, 1886, he served on Gov. Iloadley's military staff, with the rank of Colonel, and rendered important service during the Cincinnati riot and at other times He was also Colonel and a prominent member of Gov. Campbell's staff from January, 1890, until January, 1892. The Judge is a most successful attorney. Ilis quick powers of perception, his logical reason- ing and his convincing arguments well fit him for the profession he has chosen. He has just been appointed by the Supreme Court of the State a third time as a member of the Ohio Board of Com- missioners for examining candidates for admission to the Bar. The Judge is a large. well-propor- tioned and fine looking man, whose face gives evidence of that cordial and genial nature that has made him so popular. He is pleasant and affable. and, as stated in the beginning of this sketch, is undoubedly one of the most influential citizens of the county.
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UDGE ISAAC N. ABERNETIIY, A. B., A. M., Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the Third Subdivision of the Fifth Judi- cial District, embracing Franklin. Pickaway and Madison Counties, resides in Circleville. Ile is a native of Ohio, born near Chillicothe, Ross County, August 9, 1844. Ilis grandfather, Will- iam Abernethy, was born in Virginia. He be- longed to the F. F. V.'s and was of English de- scent. He came with his family to Ohio and died in Ross County. James Abernethy, father of our subject, came with his parents to this State. Ile
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married Rhoda Connor, also a native of Virginia. In 1848, he came to Pickaway County and rented a farm near Darbyville. At the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, at the age of eighty years, he owned two hundred and fifty-eight acres of valuable land. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Church and served as Class-leader. In politics, he was a Democrat. His wife died in 1856.
Our subject was the third in a family of four children, all of whom reside in Pickaway County. His first recollections are of Darbyville. His early education was acquired in a log schoolhouse, but he made the most of his opportunities and at the age of sixteen secured a teacher's certificate. He afterward engaged in teaching, then started to college. In order to pay his tuition, he engaged in teaching and in raising water melons. In the year 1860, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University from which he was graduated in June, 1866, with the degree of A. B., and subsequently the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. Wishing to make the practice of law his life work, he began studying with Alfred Yaple, now ex-Judge of Cincinnati. He afterward studied with IIon. R. A. Harrison, one of the leading attorneys of the State, now of Columbus, and was admitted to the Ohio Bar at Chillicothe, September 1, 1868. For three years he was Principal of the schools in Mt. Sterling.
On the 8th of September, 1868, Judge Abernethy was married in Mt. Sterling to Miss Lizzie Busick, a native of that place, and a daughter of Ira Bus- ick, who was then a merchant of Mt. Sterling. Unto them have been born six children: Ira, Charles, Harry, Rhoda, Bernard and Minnie.
The year succeeding his marriage, Mr. Abernethy located in Circleville and for a year engaged in practice as a partner of Mr. Hayes. In 1872, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney, and served from January, 1873, until January, 1877. The firm of Abernethy & Grigsby was then formed and continued business for two years. In 1878, our sub- jeet formed a partnership with II. F. Page for six years, when the firm of Page, Abernethy & Folsom was formed, Mr. Folsom being a nephew of Mr. Page. In 1887, Mr. Page retired. In February, 1890,
having been elected Judge of the Common Pleas Court on the Democratie ticket for a five-years' term, Mr. Abernethy entered upon the duties of that ollice. Ilis rulings are wise and he has well dem- onstrated the fact that he is ably fitted for the office.
The Judge served as a member of the County Board of School Examiners for four years and was its Secretary for two years, when he resigned. He was twice a member of the City Council from the First Ward and was for some years a member of the City Board of Education. Socially, he is a Knight Templar Mason, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Church. Judge Abernethy owns a fine farm of one hundred and forty-three acres in Monroe Township, in addition to the residence on North Court Street and other real estate, and laid out Abernethy's First and Second Additions to Circleville, comprising over thirty lots. He is a stockholder and Director in the Masonic Temple Association and is a stockholder in the Circleville Opera House Company. His life work in many respects is well worthy of emulation. He started in life a poor boy and by his own efforts has worked his way upwards to the proud position he now occupies. The JJudge has been a lecturer in the law department of the Ohio State University for the last year on the subjects of mortgages and liens.
SA SILVER. In this biographical sketch will be recorded a few incidents in the life of a prominent resident of Jefferson Town- ship, Madison County. The parents of our subject, John and Mary (Koontz) Silver, were natives of Pennsylvania, the father's birth occur- ring July 1, 1800. The mother departed this life in the Keystone State, October 21, 1832, leaving a family of three children, viz: Richard, Henry and Asa.
The father of our subject chose as his second wife Miss Catherine Speaker, and to them were born eight children. A sketch of George T., one of the sons, will appear on another page in this
Joshna Medger
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volume. In 1854, the father of our subject united with the Baptist Church at Jefferson, soon after which he was elected Deacon, of which position he was the incumbent at the time of his death. Ile was a very industrious and hard-working man and departed this life in July, 1882, leaving a large estate.
The original of this sketch was born in Bedford County, Pa., October 25, 1831, and was a lad of six when he accompanied his father to this county. He has always resided in Jefferson Township, and since choosing an occupation for himself, has de- voted his life to agricultural pursuits. The lady to whom he was married April 26, 1860, was Miss Delilah, daughter of David and Nancy (Morrow) Bradley, and the sister of Quinn Bradley, of West Jefferson, whose biography will be found on an- other page.
Mrs. Silver was born in Monroc Township, this county, December 2, 1837, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of three chil- dren: Myron A., Charles and Minnie. Mr. Silver has not been interested in politics, other than to cast a straight Republican vote during elections. Religiously, Mrs. Silver is a member of the Baptist Church and is active in all good works. Our sub- ject owns four hundred and twenty acres of good land, which is cultivated in such a manner as to place it among the well-regulated estates in this county, and has adorned the place with all the needful buildings, not the least among which is the comfortable farm residence.
O
OSHUA HEDGES. Walnut Township, Pick- away County, is the home of many wealthy and influential citizens, not the least among whom is the subject of this sketch and of the accompanying portrait. He is the proprietor of a valuable estate on section 16, which his industry and good judgment have placed under thorough cultivation, and which brings him in a handsome income.
All the early associations of Mr. Hedges are con- nected with the district in which he is now a resi-
dent, as he was born in this county July 18, 1832. His parents, Jabez and Maria ( Williamson ) Hedges, were natives respectively of Virginia and Pick- away County, this State, and the father was a sol- dier in the War of 1812. He located in this State in 1803, making his home in Fairfield County. A year later, he came to this county with his family, and made settlement in the woods in Walnut Township. He was employed, as were all the pio- neers of that day, in subduing nature, building cabins, clearing land, breaking prairie, etc., but with all that labor was social and happy, having a care for the morals and education of his grow- ing family. Mr. Hedges died in 1880, having been preceded to the land beyond by his good wife, who died May 13, 1868.
In Walnut Township our subject was reared to man's estate, and has followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. His education was obtained in the log cabin of that period, which was carried on under the rate-bill system. Ile made the best of his limited opportunities, however, and is to-day an intelligent and well-read gentleman. Septem- ber 13. 1855, Mr. Iledges was united in marriage with Sarah A. Hartman, who was born in this county May 4, 1834. Mrs. Hedges was the daugh- ter of Jonas and Sarah (Iloffhimes) Hartman, na- tives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to this county in an early day. When she was an infant of one year, her parents removed to Ilaneock County, III., where she grew to mature years, and was given a fair education in the log schoolhouse with slab seats and puncheon floor.
To our subject and his worthy wife have been granted a family of nine children, eight of whom are living, namely: Clara, the wife of John Oman; Hattie, Mrs. W. A. Parks; Emma, who is a musical instructor in Nicholasville, Ky., being employed in a private female seminary; Chester, Edgar, John, Claude and Anne G. Mrs. Hedges is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is active in all good works. Our subject has been the incumbent of various positions of trust and respon- sibility, among which were those of Township Treas- urer and Trustee. Since 1853, he has been identi- fied with the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Pickaway Lodge No. 32, at Circleville. In poli-
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tics, he casts his vote and influence in favor of Democratic principles and candidates, and is in- terested in all measures that have for their object the upbuilding of his community. He has watched the details of improvement and the gradual evolu- tion of his section from the original wild state to its present prosperous air of rural life. He owns over five hundred acres of valuable farming land, three hundred and twenty of which comprise the home farm. The family are among the old pio- neer residents of the county, and occupy a high position socially in their community.
SRAEL VALENTINE. Among the old resi- dents of Pickaway County, there is probably none more worthy of our attention than he whose name has just been given, for not only is he one of the pioneers of this county, but he comes of that noble class of men who have built up its agricultural interests until it is a garden spot in the great commonwealth of Ohio.
Mr. Valentine was born in this county on the 26th of January, 1819, and is a son of John and Margaret (Zeiger) Valentine, both natives of the Eastern States. The father was born and reared near Baltimore, Md., and when a young man be- came desirous of owning some of the fertile soil of the Buckeye State. le came of Pennsylvania German stock and probably inherited his thrift and energy from his sturdy and industrious an- cestors. At any rate, he started out on horseback for Ohio early in 1800, made several trips back and forth, and finally located on the property now owned by his son. He bought part of this from his father-in-law (or he who subsequently became his father-in-law), old Jacob Zeiger, who was the owner of large tracts of land here. Mr. Valentine married Miss Margaret Zeiger, and this ambitious and thrifty young couple began housekeeping in a log house. They worked hard in their new home and gradually gathered around them many comforts and conveniences. To the original tract of land was added more from time to time, until at the time of Mr. Valentine's death he owned
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