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 44
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 44
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 44
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Judge Gregg acted as County Prosecutor for three successive terms, from 1872 to 1878, and fol- lowing that, was elected to the Bench in 1880, for a term of five years, fulfilling the duties of that office with satisfaction to the people and honor to himself. He would undoubtedly have served on the Bench for many more years, had there not been a special law under which he was elected, and which law expired with his term. In 1885, he be- gan the practice of his profession, being one of the prominent members of the Bar in this county, and having a large practice. Judge Gregg was one of the charter members of the Fayette County Fair Com- pany. of which association he has held all the differ- ent positions, and he devotes a great deal of atten- tion to the interests of the same. Politically, our subject is a Republican, and is Chairman of the Re- publican Central and Executive Committees. Ile owns two good farms in Paint Township, Fayette County, the operations of which he superintends himself. The estates are well stocked with good
grades of horses, cattle and hogs, in which branch of agriculture Judge Gregg reaps a handsome in- come.
Amelia J .. daughter of Reuben and Matilda Jones, became the wife of our subject November 27, 1871. In social matters the Judge is a member of the Odd Fellows' Encampment, and also the Knights of Pythias, of which he was at one time a member of the Uniform Rank. He has been a dele- gate to the different judicial and congressional, and State conventions, and, all in all, is ranked among the most prominent and wealthy citizens of Fayette County.
OHN W. MARCHANT. This highly-re- spected resident of Jasper Township, Fay- ette County, is at present residing on a beau- tiful farm. Ile is the son of William Mar- chant, who was born in Berkeley County, W. Va., June 13, 1800, and was a son of Abraham and Sarah (Bull) Marchant, the mother a native of Wales. The latter couple were married in the Old Domin- ion and emigrated to this State in 1814, making their first home in Ilighland County, where the father passed away. The mother removed to Illinois, where she died.
William Marchant was reared on the home farm, prosecuting the duties thereon until sixteen years of age, when he went to Greenfield, to learn the trade of a blacksmith. In 1821, he opened a shop for himself in Good Hope, Wayne Township, be- ing the pioneer blacksmith in that locality. Ile soon moved upon a small farm in the same town- ship, and later purchased a tract of land in Perry Township, where he continued to make his home for six years. Later he removed to the place which is the present residence of his widow, and where his decease occurred, December 27, 1878.
The parents of our subject were married May 18, 1822, the mother's maiden name being Eliza- beth Smith. She was the daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Wilson) Smith, natives of West Virginia, where their marriage was celebrated, and where they resided until removing to Ohio in 1804.
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They located upon the banks of a river then called White Woman, at a time when the Indians were very troublesome indeed, so much so that they re- turned to West Virginia. In 1806, Mr. and Mrs. Smith again came to the Buckeye State, and for six years made their home in Fairfield County. In 1812, they came to Fayette County,settling upon a wild traet of land in Wayne Township, and after a short time removed to an improved farm one mile north of Good Hope, where they made their permanent home. Mr. Smith was an extensive landholder and departed this life March 3, 1853, when in his seventy-third year; his good wife sm- vived him a number of years, dying March 3, 1870, aged eighty seven. They were the parents of a large family of ten children, only three of whom are living.
Mrs. William Marchant was born in Berkeley County, W. Va., September 16, 1805. She at- tended the subscription schools of her district, where she acquired a good fund of general knowl- edge. By her marriage with her subject's father, ten children were born, three of whom are deceased. Two sons, Abraham and Nahum, served in the Sec- ond California Cavalry during the late Civil War, the latter being mustered out at San Francisco after a service of three years. Abraham died while in the army, December 2, 1861, and his remains lie buried in Lone Mountain Cemetery, in California. Mr. and Mrs. Marchant were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having been con- nected with that denomination for sixty years, Mr. Marchant at different times holding the positions of Trustee, Steward and Class-leader. Ile was very liberal in contributing to the support of the same, and was regarded by all who knew him as an up- right and moral gentleman. He was successful both as a farmer and blacksmith, his persistent in- dustry being rewarded in a most substantial man- ner. Mrs. Marchant has forty-seven grandehil- dren and ninety-seven great-grandchildren. She lost one son, one grandson, one brother and four nephews during the Civil War. May 16, 1889, she fell and fractured her right hip, and has been confined to her bed ever since.
The original of this sketch was the third child of the parental family, his birth occurring in Perry
Township, Fayette County, July 1, 1827. He, like many of the sons of pioneers, attended the sub- seription school held in the old log schoolhouse, with slab seats and greased paper for windows. Hle was a very bright and apt pupil, and supple- mented the meagre knowledge gained therein by wise reading in later years. He assisted his father in the cultivation of the home farm until reach- ing his twentieth year, when he embarked on the sea of life on his own responsibility.
August 16, 1846, he of whom we write was mar- ried to Miss Ellen, daughter of John and Eliza- beth (Smith) Brakefield, natives of Berkeley County, W. Va., where they were married and whence they came to Ohio in 1822, and located on a wild tract of land in Perry Township. This Mr. Brakefield improved and resided upon until his death, which was caused by a tree falling upon him about 1856; the mother passed away in 1874. To them was born a large family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Marchant was the fifth. Her birth occurred February 3, 1831, in Fayette County, and as she was in very poor health when young, she received but a limited education.
After his marriage, our subject located upon a farm in Jasper Township, and in 1859 removed to what is his present home, and which was then little more than a wilderness. Eight of their ten children who are living are named respectively: Robert W., Sarah E., Trustin John, Mary Ellen, Eliza Alice, Ida May, Grant and Sherman. The eldest son has four children by his marriage with Sarah J. Coffman, and resides in Jasper Town- ship; Sarah E. became the wife of John Allen, has one child, and also makes her home in this town- ship; Trustin John married Augusta B. Thompson, and lives in Iowa; they have seven children; Mary Ellen married Charles Shonk, has two children. and resides in Chicago; Eliza Alice became Mrs. Charles E. Ford, is the mother of three children and makes her home in Shelby County, Ill .; Ida May lives at home; Grant is a physician and took for his wife Mary Ellen Latham, by whom he has one child; Sherman married Mary A. White, has one child and lives in this town- ship. They have all been given good educations, the Doctor being a graduate of the Columbus Medi-
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cal College and the Bellevue College in New York City.
John W. Marchant has been the owner of a magnificent tract of twelve hundred acres, eight hundred of which he has divided among his chil- dren. He carries on general farming, which in- dustry he has always followed, and keeps upon his place good grades of stock. With his wife, he is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body they are liberal and influ- ential contributors. In his political belief, he is a strong Republican, and has served his district as a member of the School Board for a number of years.
Mr. Marchant furnished three substitutes dur- ing the late war. He was one of the "Squirrel Ilunters" and was First Lieutenant in the militia during the Morgan raid. He has been Trustee of Jasper Township for many years, also serving in the capacity of Supervisor. While out with the "Squirrel Hunters," his company burned the bridge at Chillicothe, when the Scioto River was only one and one-half feet deep. Our subject has aided very materially in the upbuilding of this section, and was one of the incorporators of the Dayton & Southeastern Railroad, now known as the Dayton & Ironton Railroad.
OIIN M. LUCAS. No more highly respected and esteemed citizen lives in Madison County than the one of whom we now write, and who is engaged as a farmer and stock-raiser in Stokes Township. He was born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 18, 1823, and is the son of Thomas and Lydia (Mock) Lueas, natives respectively of Warren County, Ohio, and North Carolina, the father being born October 18, 1799, and the mother November 17, 1801.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Caleb Lucas, came in an early day to Warren County, Ohio, where his son Thomas grew to mature years. The latter gentleman was married October 4, 1821, and when our subject was a lad of six years moved
to Indiana and located about nine miles from In- dianapolis on the National Road. Four years later, the parents returned to Ohio, and located in Jeffer- son Township, Fayette County, where Mr. Lucas purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, the greater portion of which he cleared and culti- vated.
Our subject is what may be properly termed a self-made man, as he was enabled to attend school but six months. The schools in the neighborhood were conducted on the subscription plan, and as his parents were in limited circumstances, it was impossible for him to enjoy even their meagre ad- vantages. October 23, 1843, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Killgore, who was born in Jefferson Township, Fayette County, August 19, 1824. She was the daughter of John C. and Jane (Hutson) Killgore, also natives of Ohio; her father met his death by a stroke of lightning July 11, 1842, and her mother departed this life in 1873.
After his marriage, Mr. Lucas contracted to clear forty acres of land for the use of the property for five years. After clearing about thirty-five acres, he sold the lease and purchased one hundred and ten acres in Jefferson Township, where he made his home for the following ten years. Ile then sold the land which he had purchased for $6 an acre for $40 an acre, and next bought one hundred and fifty acres, which is his present home, and which his enterprise and thrift have placed in excellent condition. Mr. Lucas has expended over $1,200 in tiling his estate, and has further embellished it by a substantial set of buildings necessary for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock.
Ile of whom we write is the eldest in a family of eight children, three of whom are still living. By his marriage with Miss Killgore have been born ten children, viz .: Isadore, now Mrs. Thomas S. Cooper; Paris, who died when six years of age; Mary C., Mrs. William O'Shaughnessy, de- parted this life in October, 1882, her husband dy- ing a few years later; their son Louis makes his home with our subject. Hezekiah married Miss McHenry, and is the father of two children; Will- iam married Miss MeHenry, and has five children; Alice became the wife of James M. Boyer; Ann
Um Snider
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married John W. Sheeley and died January 3, 1885; Sophronia, who became the wife of Zeno Thomas, passed to the land beyond October 3, 1889; Willis married Miss Fent, and has three children, and Douglas married Miss Snodgrass and has one child.
In his political relations, Mr. Lueas is a Demo- crat, as were his ancestors on both sides, as far as is known. In an early day, Grandfather Caleb Lueas, in company with two brothers, cast the only votes in their township for Andrew Jackson. He of whom we write has been Township Trustee, Clerk, Treasurer, and was elected County Commis- sioner two terms, declining to serve, however, the second term until 1879, when he was prevailed upon to again accept the office. He occupied the position of Justice of the Peace of Jefferson Township, Fayette County, for one term, and when elected County Commissioner was serving in that capacity in Stokes Township, Madison County. Socially, he is a member of the Odd Fellows, and has ever taken an active part in all matters per- taining to the welfare of his community.
W ILLIAM SNIDER. Throughout Southern Ohio, few names are better or more widely known than that of the venerable gentle- man whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. Although not a native of Fayette County, almost his entire life has been passed in its midst, and he occupies a prominent position among the citizens of Washington Court House. With deep interest, he has witnessed the development of this city from a mere hamlet, almost unknown outside the county, to a city of commercial standing among other im- portant places of Ohio. Through his un wearied exertions, he has contributed to the prosperity of the community, and now in his old age lives in tranquil enjoyment of the comforts the labor of former years has accumulated.
The father of our subject, Jacob Snider, was born in Loudoun County, Va., where he was mar- ried to Mary Caylor, of whose family but little is known, excepting that her two brothers removed
many years ago from Virginia to Ohio, and here died. About 1805, Jacob Snider and his wife, ac- companied by their only child, started from the Old Dominion to Ohio, and en route hither stopped at Redstone, Pa., where our subject was born, March 29, 1805. A few weeks later, they concluded their journey to the Buckeye State, where they settled in Ross County, not far from Frankfort. Two broth- ers of Mr. Snyder, Henry and William, accompan- ied him to this State.
Four years after locating in Ross County, Mr. Snider, Sr., sold his property there and removed to Fayette County, where he bought one hundred and fifty acres four miles south of Washington Court House. The land was in the midst of dense woods and was in the primeval condition of nature, settlers being few and far distant. The only neigh- bors of this pioneer family were his two brothers, and John King and William Rust. The succeed- ing years, however, witnessed a decided transfor- mation in the aspect of affairs, and at the time of the death of Mr. Snyder, in 1865, the country was well settled and improved.
Two of the six children of the parental family are still living, our subject and his sister Sarah, who is now the widow of William H. Boggs and lives in Kansas. The father was a Whig in his early days and afterward a Republican, and in his youth he served in the War of 1812. For a num- ber of years, he held the office of Commissioner of Fayette County, but was not anxious for official position, preferring the quietude of domestie life.
During the early part of this century, the schools were meagrely equipped in the line of drill and curriculum, and the education of our subject has been largely obtained by experience and observa- tion. At the age of twenty-five, he married Mar- garet, daughter of Asa and Elizabeth Hopkins. early settlers of Fayette County who came here from Kentucky about the year 1815.
After marriage, our subject bought a farm on Paint Creek, consisting of about one hundred and forty aeres. The land was partly cleared, and upon it he resided for about forty years. He followed the calling of a drover for some fifty-five years, carrying on an extensive business and transporting great numbers of cattle across the mountains. He
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made many trips to New York, Baltimore and Philadelphia, and continued thus engaged until the railroads were built, when he transferred his business to them and shipped the first steers that ever went by railroad from Cumberland, Md., to Baltimore. Ile is considered a very old pioneer in the stock business, and even up to the present is still shipping stock. Ilis old-time herds were one thousand sheep in a drove, one hundred stock eat- tle in a drove and from five hundred to eight hundred hogs in a drove. lle also did business in Richmond, Va., retailing cattle and hogs to the farmers along the James River.
Four of the six children of our subject are still living, namely: IIngh; Sarah, who married Mr. Davis, is now a widow in Missouri; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Mr. Taylor, lives in Kansas, and Henry A., who was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, now lives at the Soldiers' Home at Dayton, and has a family of five children. The political convictions of Mr. Snyder have made him for many years a stanch member of the Republican party. Ile has been a very busy man during all his lifetime and is the oldest drover now living who has carried on business in this part of the country. In December, 1883, he was bereaved by the death of his wife, who was an earnest and consistent member of the Baptist Church and a lady of noble character, whose husband and children were ever uppermost in her affection and care.
LBERT J. GRIGSBY. Among the prom- inent and influential eitizens of Piekaway County, Ohio. we take pleasure in intro- ducing to our readers Mr. Albert .J. Grigsby, ex-Auditor of the county, whose measures and taeties adopted in a public capacity were so satisfactory, not only to his constituents, but to the people at large whom he represented, that he held the above-mentioned position for seven years.
Mr. Grigsby was born in Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio, September 24, 1853, and is a son of E. L. and Naney (Cummings) Grigsby, natives of Loudoun County. Va. The grandfather, Lewis
Grigsby, was also a native of Virginia and a suc- cessful planter of Loudoun County, that State. At an early date, about 1830, he came to the Buckeye State, and located in Zanesville, where he passed the closing scenes of his life. He was of an old English family. Ilis son, the father of our subject, after reaching man's estate, engaged in flatboating flour and produce down the Mus- kingum, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Or- leans, and continued this for a number of years. Hle finally drifted into the notion business, and had a large store in Zanesville which he carried on for a number of years. After this, he engaged in the wholesale manufacture of cigars. He was elected Mayor of Zanesville, served in a very effi- cient and capable manner for two terms, and then retired to devote his time and attention to the eigar business. He still lives in Zanesville, retired from business. In politics, he affiliated with the Democratic party. His wife died in 1888, when sixty-seven years of age. She was the daughter of John Cummings, who was a farmer near Zanes- ville. She was a member of the Methodist Church and took an interest in all religious matters. Four of the six children born to this worthy couple are now living.
The subject of this sketch, who was the young- est of the above-mentioned children, attended the High Schools of Zanesville, and completed his course in 1870, when seventeen years of age. He started out on the road with notions and cigars, and traveled through Perry, Morgan and Guern- sey, Logan and Coshocton Counties. Ile contin- ued this business for some time, and in 1871 was employed in the water-works office, his father being Secretary of the water-works and interested in building the new works. Our subject was his as- sistant and elerk until 1875, when politics changed the office-holders, and he then came to Circleville and began the study of law under Abernathy & Grigsby. After reading law for some time, he turned his attention to real estate, but was soon appointed to assist the Deputy Clerk when Mr. R. C. Peebles died. Mr. F. E. Dyas was appointed Clerk, and our subject Deputy Clerk of Courts in November, 1878. Later, he held the same position under P. W. Brown until November. 1881, when
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he was elected County Auditor on the Democratic ticket. He is a typical man of his locality, ad- vanced in line of thought, progressive and enter- prising, and a worthy man for almost any posi- tion. He was re-elected in 1881 and in 1884, and in November, 1887. was appointed by the County Commissioners, owing to a change in the law, and served until September 10, 1888. He has held that position longer than any other man in the county. During his term of office he built six new turnpikes. In 1888 he again studied law with his brother, S. L. Grigsby, and in 1890, after the death of Mr. McGregor, he was appointed Assistant Clerk in the House of Representatives to serve the balance of the year. Ile also held this position in 1891, in the Sixty-ninth General Assembly. Since then he has been engaged in the real-estate business with Mr. C. W. Murphy.
Mr. Grigsby was married in Circleville, in 1879, to Miss Mary Schwarz, a native of this city, and the daughter of W. C. Schwarz. They have three interesting children: Lloyd A., Harry and George W. Socially, Mr. Grigsby is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and is a Knight Templar in this order; is also a member of the Elks, and the Knights of Honor, Mystic Circle. In his po- litical preference, he is a Democrat; is Secretary of the Democratic Executive Committee, and Presi- (lent of the Pickaway Democratic Club.
AVID MCCUNE. We are pleased to here present the life narrative of one of the highly esteemed residents of Plain City, who has now retired from the active du- ties of farm life, and is spending his later years in tranquillity, enjoying the esteem and respect which are so justly his as the reward of a well-spent life. He was born in Darby Township, Madison County, August 20, 1824, and is a son of John McCune, a Kentuckian by birth, who, after spending his youth in his native State, came to Ohio at a very early day. He was a prominent man in his community, and for many years was Class-leader in the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church. He was highly esteemed for his worth and intelligence and deeply mourned when called from earth at the age of forty-six years. His wife, whose maiden name was Polly Hager, was a native of Vermont, her birthplace being near Brattleboro, that State. She lived to reach the advanced age of eighty-one years.
The family into which our subject was born con- sisted of three sons and two daughters, and all of these grew to become men and women, but at this date our subject and his brother, Dr. J. E. MeCune, are the only survivors. The first school which young David attended was in a little log school- house where Plain City now stands, and his last years in the schoolroom were spent in Jerome Town- ship, Ingham County. It was in this county that his father died, and the young man remained with his mother until his marriage, which took place June 17, 1847. His bride, Harriet Kent, was a native of Jerome Township, and the eldest child of Dan- iel and Polly (Allen ) Kent, early settlers in Union County.
After marriage, this young couple settled on Sugar Run, in Jerome Township, and there engaged in a general farming business, remaining there un- til 1874, when they removed to Plain City, at the time that Mr. McCune retired from the activities of life. Their home has never been blessed with children. Our subject and his brother together own fully four hundred acres of well-improved land in Jerome Township, Union County, most of which was placed under cultivation by themselves. They still supervise the work of the farm, which is attended to by a faithful and capable man whom they have hired to carry it on.
David McCune is an earnest Republican in his political views and stands well not only with the men of his party but with all who were for so many years his neighbors. He was Trustee of the Town- ship for one year and has also served as School Director and Supervisor of Roads. In religious matters, he is connected with the Methodist Epis- copal Church and for many years has been active in the work of that body. He has ever taken an active interest in the business affairs of Plain City, and is one of the heaviest stockholders in the Far- mers' Bank. He and his brother own much property
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in the city and have been liberal helpers in making the town what it is. They were instrumental in building many miles of gravel road and have shown themselves public-spirited in every way.
The war record of Mr. MeCune is one of the most interesting portions of his history. In 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Seventeenth Ohio In- fantry, and upon returning from his four months' term of service, he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment, becoming a member of Company K. Ilis regiment was stationed for some time in forts on the Potomac River, and he was at the hotel at Alexandria soon after Col. Ellsworth was shot. Later the company was stationed as a part of the guard at the seat of Government. His honorable discharge was received at Camp Chase, after which he returned home to resume the avoca- tions of peace.
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