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 48
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 48
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 48
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ship. Ellen died at the age of sixteen years; Ilar- ley died aged twenty-seven years; and Sarah died at the age of twenty-four years.
The subject of this biographical notice was born in Jasper Township, October 4, 1851. After his education in the public schools was completed, he worked at the trade of a carpenter and on a farm, until he was married, his marriage with Katherine G., daughter of Capt. Ilenkle, of whom a sketeli appears in this volume, taking place December 28, 1876. After that, he was employed by the day or month for a year, and then went to farming for himself. Ile settled on the place where he now lives in 1872. He owns thirteen acres of well-im- proved land, and rents the remainder that he farms. Ile is industrious, uses sound judgment in carrying on his operations, is a good manager, and finds agriculture a profitable employment. He is a man of good habits, stands well in the estimation of his neighbors and associates, and he is a most worthy member of the Methodist Protestant Church, tak- ing an active part in church and Sunday-school work. In politics, he is a thorough Republican. He and his amiable wife have a cheerful, cozy home, in which comfort abounds, and their home circle is completed by their two boys, Wilbur A., who was born May 29, 1879; and Harry A., March 18, 1884.
B ENJAMIN DUVALL. In former years, the life of the farmer was considered a laborious one, but in this progressive age, with such improvements in machinery, he can do his work with half the dispatch or labor required in the time of his father, and, in fact, works but little, if any, harder than the average man who strives to make a living. Besides all this, he is independent, which is one of the much sought for conditions of life. Mr. Duvall, is one of the successful farmers who has kept thoroughly apace with the times and has reached the condition of life above mentioned. Hle was born in Ilarrison Township, Pickaway County, on the 31st of October, 1822, of the union of Ben-
jamin and Nancy (Reid) Duvall, natives respect- ively of Pennsylvania and Ireland. The latter was but eight years of age when she emigrated to America with her parents, early in the present century. The father of our subject made the journey from Pennsylvania to Ohio on foot, and settled in Pickaway County, where he was shortly afterward married to Miss Nancy Reid. After residing in various places, Mr. and Mrs. Du- vall made a permanent settlement in Harrison Township and began their pioneer life in a log cabin in the woods. They had the usual experi- ences and adventures of early settlers, but were not discouraged and soon became the owners of a fine home, all the result of hard work and perse- verance. The children born to them were as fol- lows: George, William R. and Benjamin. In 1864, the father of these children died, when eighty-five years of age. and in his death the county lost one of its representative citizens and well-known pio- neers. He was public-spirited and, in politics was an old-line Whig, although in later years he affil- iated with the Republican party. His brother-in- law, Robert Reid, served through the War of 1812.
Our subject early became familiar with pioneer life and can remember when deer and wolves were numerous in the county and when one could have wild turkey for dinner almost any day. He was always interested in agricultural pursuits, and when he started out for himself that was his chosen oc- eupation. His educational advantages were re- ceived in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse, with slab seats, immense fireplace and other rude con- trivances, and, although he did not acquire much knowledge, he laid the foundation for future efforts in that direction. He assisted his father in clearing three farms and then began clearing one hundred and sixty acres of his own, accomplishing nearly all this himself.
In March, 1868, our subject was happily mar- ried to Miss Nancy Reid, a native of Madison Township. Pickaway County, born September 14, 1825, and the daughter of James and Hannah (Kelly) Reid, natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Reid were among the early settlers of Madison Township. Of the six children born to them, only two beside Mrs. Duvall
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are living: Catherine, now the widow of Edwin Long, and Thomas HI. Mr. and Mrs. Duvall's union was blessed by the birth of one son, James R.
In 1866, Mr. Duvall settled on his present farm, which he had developed and transformed into one of the finest tracts in the county. He has aecom- plished much hard work in his day, probably as meh as any man in the township, and ean now take things easy and enjoy the fruits of his labor. Ile and his wife, who has ever been thrifty and economical, are classed among the representative pioneers of this section and are highly esteemed. Duvall station and postoffice were named in honor of our subject.
LBERT J. HEINTZELMAN, of London, is a young journalist of much talent, and of more than ordinary energy, enterprise and business tact, who is successfully conduc- ting no less than three popular and well-edited pa- pers-The Nickel Plate, a daily publication; The Weekly Vigilant; and The Jeffersonian, also a weekly. Our subjeet is a native of Cincinnati, born in that city January 6, 1867. His father, Jacob Heintzel- man, who died in London in 1870, was a native of Wittenberg, Germany, and came to this coun- try when a young man. He made many trips to the Fatherland before his marriage, and on his re- turn voyages he brought several families of his compatriots to the United States at his own ex- pense, so impressed was he with the many advan- tages this country offered to an industrious people for the upbuilding of comfortable homes. He him- self was an intelligent, active man, of excellent business habits, and publie-spirited to a degree. He made his home in Cincinnati until within six weeks of his death, when he came to London for the benefit of his health. He left a wife and three children: Signor, Albert J. and Mary.
Our subject and his brother received their edu- cation at St. Mary's Institute, Dayton, and each, when twelve years of age, was sent to a printing office to learn the art of type-setting, and after serving an apprenticeship, they engaged in busi-
ness for themselves, Signor establishing the pres- ent London weekly Vigilant, and Albert becoming editor and proprietor of the London Times, one of the oldest and best Republican papers in Madison County, entering the editorial profession before he attained the age of twenty-one years, his previous weekly earnings being his business capital.
In 1889, this enterprising journalist launched a daily paper, The Nickel Plate, and later purchased the weekly Vigilant from his brother. In 1891, he started still another paper, publishing at West Jefferson a weekly entitled the Jeffersonian. In his successful management of these three papers, which are well up to the standard of the best pub- lications of their kind in the State, and in profit- ably conducting the largest job printing establish- ment in Madison County, he has shown himself to be a veritable Napoleon in the editorial field, as well as a financier of no mean ability, who has al- ready acquired a valuable property, although so young, and he bids fair to become one of the wealthy men of the county.
OIIN W. GREEN, who is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Range. Township, Madi- son County, occupies a high position in the agricultural community. He is a native of this State, having been born July 10, 1848, in Paint Township, Fayette County, on a farm located two miles south of Sedalia. His parents were Lewis and Elizabeth (Alkire) Green, the former of whom departed this life in Fayette County, when our subject was a lad of five years.
John W. Green is the fourth in order of birth of six children, and after the death of the father, with his eldest sister, Margaret, now Mrs. Salomon, was taken into the home of an unele, W. H. Alkire, with whom he remained until reaching his major- ity. He was given a good education in the com- mon schools and was reared to farm pursuits. He was married, March 30, 1871, to Miss Jennie Bost- wiek, of Mt. Sterling, who was born in Fayette County, May 19, 1850. Mrs. Green is the daugh- ter of Oliver and Melinda (Thomas) Bostwick, and
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was given a fair education. About six months after his marriage, our subject moved to his present home, his estate comprising four hundred acres, a portion of which is in the possession of his uncle, W. H. Alkire, the rest being the old homestead in Fayette County.
Mrs. Green's father died when she was seventeen years of age, and her mother departed this life July 14, 1885. She has become the mother of two sons: George William, who was born April 14, 1872, has been given an excellent education, at- tending two years at Midway High School, and Ross B., who was born August 18, 1875, took a three-years' course at that institution. The mother of our subject died October 9, 1881, in Fayette County, this State.
The original of this sketch cast his first Presi- dential ballot in 1872 for U. S. Grant, and al- though not a politician, has served as Judge of elections of his township and has been delegate to connty conventions. In social matters, he is a Mason, having become identified with that frater- nity at Midway in 1874, and has taken the third degree.
AMES M. BAUGIIN. Some of the most thorough and efficient agricultorists of Ohio are those who have devoted themselves quite exclusively to the cultivation of the soil and are rapidly making this State headquarters for the grain-producing region, thus gaining for her a reputation in the marts of the world. The gen- tleman of whom we write is residing on a good farm in JJasper Township, Fayette County, which he has labored industriously to bring to its present productive state.
The subject of this sketch is the son of Lister and Margaret (Hitt) Baughn, natives of Virginia, where they were farmers. They were married in that State and, coming to Ohio at a very early day in its history as a State, located in Union Town- ship. this county, where the father improved a farm and departed this life in 1820; his good wife died some years later, greatly respected by all who
enjoyed her acquaintance. To them were born a family of eight children, two of whom are living: our subject and Lister.
James M. Banghn was born in Union Township, July 4, 1814, and was reared to farm pursuits on his father's farm. Ilis advantages for obtaining an education were very limited, for after the death of his father the mother found it necessary to keep him at home to aid in condueting the farm. Ile was thus engaged until reaching his twenty-fourth year, and March 15, 1840, was married to Elizabeth Bush, the daughter of .Jacob and Sarah (Baughn) Bush, natives of the Old Dominion. Her parents accompanied their respective families to Ohio early in the nineteenth century, and met and mar- ried in Union Township, where they continued to make their home until their death, the father de- parting this life in 1831, and the mother abont 1880. Of the nine children born to them, eight are now living, Mrs. Banghn's birth' occurring September 13, 1816.
After his marriage, onr subject and his young bride resided for nine years in Union Township, at which date they removed to their present farm, when it was in its original wildness. He lias made this tract his home for almost half a century and has in his possession now ninety-two and one- half acres of valuable land, which he has placed under the best methods of improvement and added to its value by erecting there good and substantial buildings.
Mr. and Mrs. Banghn have been granted a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living. They are William M., who married Catherine Ilynes, and lives in Jefferson Township; Elisha Il., who took for his wife Lavinia A. Bush, and makes his home in Jasper Township; Berryman married Isabella Rupert, and also lives in this township; Lister married Ella V. Feri ow, who died in May, 1889; Susan A. is the wife of Oscar Yeoman and resides in Wayne Township; James N. married Mary A. Sutton and makes this township his home, as does also A. Ezra, who became the hus- band of Maggie Ellis.
Our subject has been very active in religious matters and with his good wife is a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which denomina-
Respectfully Jours gra.Ilchr
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tion he is Trustee. In politics, he is a stanch Dem- ocrat, casting his first vote for Martin Van Buren. Three sons of Mr. Baughn served during the Civil War, William M. and Joseph H. in Company C, Ninetieth Ohio Infantry. The latter was killed in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., after having served his country a period of three years. William served the entire time of his enlistment, three years, and returned home safely. Elisha II. was a mem- ber of the One Hundred and Sixty-eight Infantry and aided in capturing the enemy at Cynthiana, Ky. The family of Mr. Baughn are classed among the best citizens of this section and have aided greatly in its development and upbuilding.
W ILLIAM ALBERT WELCH. In every community there will be found some men who are looked upon as leaders, and whose influence, both strong and broad, carries weight in all enterprises of public importance. Among such leaders we find the popular Mayor of New Holland, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. By profession he is an attorney, and is also the editor of the New Holland Leader, one of the influential newspapers of Pickaway County.
On account of the poverty of his parents, our subject was in youth deprived of many of the ad- vantages which are enjoyed by boys whose par- ents are well-to-do, but by his determination and energy he succeeded in passing a very difficult ex- ammation before the Commissioners of Law, and is to-day a gentleman of broad knowledge, not only of his chosen profession, but of all matters pertaining to the general welfare.
The paternal grandfather of our subject settled in Pike County, Ohio, in 1810, and there resided until his death. In that county, John W. Welch, the father of our subject, was born, and there he made his home until 1876, when he removed to Pickaway County, where he resided until 1880, when he emigrated to Allen County, Kan. His home was in the Sunflower State until his death,
which occurred in Neosho County in 1885. His wife, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Benjamin Delay, a native of Virginia. Both branches of the family came from the vicinity of Harper's Ferry, in the Shenandoah Valley.
In Pike County, Ohio, where he was born Au- gust 16, 1853, our subject passed his boyhood in the usual manner of farmer lads. Until the age of sixteen years, he attended the common schools, but was then compelled to devote his entire atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. His love of knowl- edge, however, did not cease with his school days, but he was ardently determined to gain a good education, and it was his custom, when night brought release from the hard manual labor of the day, to study his books until midnight or later, the only light being that furnished by a pine or shellbark-hickory torch.
At the age of twenty, Mr. Welch commeneed to teach, and followed that profession most of the time until his admission to the Bar, April 23, 1879. Ever since he was ten years old, the study and practice of law had been his ambition, and, with that object in view, he worked steadily for- ward until he acquired all the attainments for this profession and, although comparatively a young man, he is to-day recognized as one of the leading attorneys in the county and has an ex- tended practice in his own and adjoining counties. He has always been very successful in his prac- tice and is admired and respected not only for his legal abilities, but for his clean and honor- able methods in practice.
Recognizing the abilities of Mr. Welch, the citizens of New Holland have four times elected him to the office of Mayor, the highest gift within their power, and he is now serving in that capac- ity with honor and efficiency. During his term of administration, he has been instrumental in promoting the welfare of the place along various lines and has effecten many desirable municipal reforms. In addition to this position, he has been City Solicitor for a number of years, Town- ship Clerk for five years, and is a member of the Board of Education. He was nominated for Prosecuting Attorney on the Republican ticket, also for State Senator, and in the campaign for
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the last-named position carried the largest major- ity from his township of any previous candidate on the Republican ticket, but was defeated on account of the county being strongly Democratic.
December 25, 1878, Mr. Welch was married to Miss Elizabeth Thomas, a native of Perry Town- ship, Pickaway County, and a daughter of Samuel P. Thomas, one of the most prominent and highly- esteemed citizens of the county.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. William A. Welch: Homer G., born September 4, 1879, and Ethel, September 4, 1881. Mr. Welch is a member of New Holland Blue Lodge No. 392; Fayette Chapter and Garfield Commandery; Lodge No. 237, K. of P., and the Sons of Veterans. Like his father before him, he has always been a Re- publican in politics. His father was one of two Abolitionists in his county and was threatened several times to be hanged, on account of his strong anti-slavery views. The religious belief of Mr. Welch accords with the Methodist Epis- copal Church, but in religion, as in everything else, he is broad-minded and liberal in his views. IIe resides in a very cozy home, surrounded by a charming family, and his domestic happiness is perfect. With a large legal practice, great popu- larity as an editor and hosts of friends, Mr. Welch is indeed to be envied, and is a splendid example of what a man can achieve when he industriously performs the labors of life.
AMES STRALEY, United States Claim and Pension Attorney of Jeffersonville, Fayette County, was born in this county, December 21, 1829. Ilis parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Straley, natives of the Old Dominion. They were ma ied in their native State, and about the year 182. came to Ohio, trav- eling through the wilderness in wagons. They settled in Fayette County, abou' four miles south- west of what is now Jeffersonville, in a sparsely settled region. The father pur hased a tract of land which was covered with timber and at once set to work to convert it into ferti'e fields. On
this place he resided until his death. The grand- father of our subject, Christian Straley by name, was born in Germany and came to this country in an early day.
The parents of our subject had fourteen chil- dren born to them, eleven of whom are now living. Our subject was reared in his native county and here obtained his education in the public schools, which were of a primitive sort. He remained on the farm until he became of age, when he was mar- ried. In the year 1864, our subject enlisted in the late war and participated in the battle of Cynth- iana, Ky., at which place he was captured and taken prisoner, but after a time was paroled. He served as First Sergeant of Company G, and his brother Sam- uel B. was Second-Lieutenant of the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Ohio Infantry. The camp was or- ganized at Dennison, Ohio, from the 12th to the 19th of May, 1864, and served one hundred days. At the battle of Cynthiana, the regiment lost seven men, had eighteen wounded and two hundred and eighty captured.
On being mustered out of service, he of whom we write returned to his home and resumed the mercantile business at West Lancaster, where he had commenced in business some years pre- vious to the war. This he carried on until Jan- uary, 1865, when he again came to Washington C. H., and, having been elected to the honorable position of Sheriff of his county in the previous October, took up the duties of his newly-made position. He served four years in this office and at the expiration of that time he purchased a farm near West Lancaster and there remained until 1875. He again removed to Washington C. H. and embarked in the insurance and real-estate bus- iness, carrying this on until 1879, when he removed to Jefferson ville, and of this city has since been a resident and is here engaged profitably in the gro- cery business.
February 21, 1850, is the date on which Mr. Straley was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Hoque, and by this union two children came to bless their home: Margaret E., who is the wife of Benjamin Coffman, and Benjamin F. The good wife and mother was called from this earth July 20, 1854. Mr. Straley was again married, Decem-
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ber 16, 1855, taking as his wife Nancy Robinson, by whom he had six children, two of whom are yet living: Sarah A., who is the wife of A. B. Booeo, and James. Mr. and Mrs. Straley are con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Jeffersonville.
In 1859, our subject was first elected Justice of the Peace and served in this capacity twenty- four years almost consecutively. Ile has been Clerk of his township and has held a number of minor offices and has been prominently identified with this county all his life. In his political views, Mr. Straley affiliates with the Republican party and, socially, belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, the Masonic fraternity, Knights Templar, and both the Chapter and Blue Lodge. While sery- ing in the capacity of Sheriff, Mr. Straley hung the only man that was ever executed in the county.
IIOMAS G. COCKERILL. This progressive, thrifty and intelligent agriculturist, who enjoys the confidence of the business com- munity of Perry Township, Fayette County, is at present residing on the old homestead. He is the son of William S. Cockerill, who was a native of Loudoun County, Va., and fought in the War of 1812. His mother's maiden name was Anna Led- man ; she also was a native of the Old Dominion.
The parents of our subject came West to Ohio, settling in Marietta about 1816. Five years later, they removed to Greene Township, Fayette County, where the father rented a traet of land. Mrs. Cockerill dying in 1822, her husband was again married, and located upon the farm which is the property of E. E. Cockerill. Ile later removed to Greenfield, and died in 1882, at the age of ninety years, one month and one day, in the home of his son James. He had been married four times. By the first union, nine children were born, to which family our subject belonged, and only two of whom are living. In all, he was the father of eighteen children.
Thomas G. Cockerill was born September 11, 1812, in Virginia, and came to this locality with
his parents when nine years of age. His oppor- tunities for obtaining an education were very limited, as at the early age of fifteen years he was obliged to work out in order to help support the large family. When attaining his nineteenth year, our subjeet started out in life on his own account. and the following year was married to Sylvitha, daughter of Barnabas and Charlotte (Stites) Coch- ran, natives of New Jersey. Her father for many years was a sailor. Her parents were married in 1799, and. moving to this State in 1806, located on land in Walnut Creek, this township. where the father opened up a farm, and was among the earliest settlers. He died in 1845, when seventy . three years of age. Ilis good wife survived him a number of years and passed away in 1855, at the advanced age of eighty years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Cockerill is the only survivor. They were prominent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were active workers and liberal contributors in the same. Mr. Cochran gave an acre of ground for a cemetery, and aided in the erection of the first church in this locality. It has long since given way to a more attractive and commodious build- ing, which was named after Mr. Cochran. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. serving under Gen. William Henry Harrison.
Mrs. Cockerill was born September 24, 1811, on the old home farm, which is within sight of her present residence, and is in her possession. She at- tended the old log school house, which was con- ducted on the subscription plan, and the knowl- edge she gained therein has later been supple- mented by judicious and choice reading. At the time of his marriage, our subject was receiving the munificent sum of twenty-five cents per day, cut- ting cord-wood and rails. The young couple ran away from home to join their fortunes, Mr. Cock- erill walking and his bride riding horseback. Hle was later enabled to rent a farm, and purchased his present place about 1840, which then bore lit- tle resemblance to its now prosperous condition. Ilis farm includes the magnificent sum of five hun- dred acres of valuable land, which he has placed under the best of improvement. It has been the re- sult of his own efforts, coupled with the good advice
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