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 67
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 67
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 67
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Mr. Thomas was married April 26, 1855, to Miss Christina, eldest daughter of Josiah Reeves, who was an early settler of and an extensive farmer in Deer Creek Township, where Mrs. Thomas was born, October 14, 1835. Her wedded life with our subject has been fraught with much real happiness and many blessings, but they have had to bow be- neath the chastening hand of sorrow so common to the lot of mortals, in the death of three of their five children, their religion, however, sus- taining them in the firm belief that somewhere, somehow, they will again meet their loved ones in God's own good time. The following is a record of those deceased: Rufina J., born June 20, 1856, died March 9, 1875; George W., born September 30, 1857, died June 10, 1882; Lily Lorette, born February 17, 1861, married Smith Beal, and died
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in 1891, leaving one child, Harry G. The two surviving children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are Loton F., who married Miss Jennie Hosler, and lives on his father's farm at Clarksburgh; and Al- bert Seymour, born May 22, 1867, who is a good scholar and an expert book-keeper, and acts in the latter capacity for a coal syndicate at Kansas City, Mo. Ile married Ida Swain, of that city, Feb- ruary 23, 1892, and now makes his home with his father.
AVID B. SAINT, of Mt. Sterling, Ohio, is a well-known citizen, well deserving repre- sentation in this volume. He was born in Massilon, Pa., March 10, 1835, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Gilmore) Saint. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and when our subject was only four years old, he brought his family to Ross County, Ohio, and engaged in operating a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, five miles east of Chillicothe. He also worked at his trade, building a smithy on the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Saint died when David was nine years old, leaving four chil- dren. who were then scattered.
Our subject was sent to live with James Little, with whom he remained until eighteen years of age, when he was bound out to a blacksmith in Chillicothe, with whom he remained four months, when he concluded that he must either run away or starve. He chose the former, and started bare- footed, although it was then in the middle of win- ter. Going to Adelphi, Ross County, he entered a blacksmith-shop to learn the trade. He was to have $1 per month for the first year and his board and washing. Ilis master was old and he did not advance very rapidly, but he now had a good home and disliked leaving it, so there he remained for two years. Ile then went to Hassenplugh, where he hired out, working for $8 per month the first year, 820 the next and $30 the third.
On the 5th of December, 1858, Mr. Saint mar- ried Nancy E. Boggs, who was born in Pickaway County, December 3, 1840, and was a daughter of William and Lavina ( Byerly) Boggs. Mr. Saint
then established a shop in Pickaway County, which he carried on for two and a half years with excel- lent success. The late war having broken out, he enlisted August 8, 1862, as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Infantry. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, where he was left on picket duty when Sherman was forced to retreat, and came very near being cap- tured. With seven comrades, he was chased four miles, and, with the exception of our subject, all of the boys lost their guns, knapsacks and coats. He participated in the battles of Arkansas Post and Arkansas River. For some time, he was sick in Van Buren Hospital at Milliken's Bend, where he remained from the 5th of April until the 31st of July, 1863. He was appointed General Ward- master and never lost a day while there. On ac- account of his disability, he received his discharge.
During Mr. Saint's absence, his wife and two children had resided with her grandfather in Miami County, Ind., and he started for the place, but was so ill that he could not travel and had to remain at Vincennes, Ind., for three days under the Doctor's care. Three years elapsed before he was able to endure any hard work. As soon as possible, he established a shop at five points, Pick- away County, where he remained for four years, doing a good business. Ile then removed to Yan- keetown, Fayette County, where he remained for about twenty years. Coming to Mt. Sterling, he purchased some land and built a house, he and his son doing all the work except the plastering. His home is commodious and pleasant and is situated in a good location. lle also built a shop and fol- lows his chosen trade.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Saint were born five children, four of whom are still living: William Lewis, who was born in Pickaway County, September 30, 1859, is a blacksmith and wood-worker, residing at Deer Creek with his wife and three children; Edson B., who was born in the same county, December 22, 1861, died JJuly 28, 1885; James Rutherford was born in Pickaway County, April 1, 1866; George Leroy, who was born in Yankeetown, April 3, 1869, is a blacksmith and wood-worker who aids his fa- ther in the shop, and David Wilson, who was born in Yankeetown, September 16, 1871. The children
Alexander Pray
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were all provided with good educational advan- tages, fitting them for the practical duties of life.
Mr. Saint cast his first Presidential vote for James Buchanan and has since been a Democrat. He served as School Director in both Pickaway and Fayette Counties, was Pike Superintendent for two years and is now a member of the City Council of Mt. Sterling. He joined the Grange in 1879, has been a member of the Odd Fellows since 1880, of the encampment since 1883, and is now serving in his fourth year as Scribe. He is also District Deputy Grand Patriarch of the order. Ile is a charter member of Bostwick Post, G. A. R., in which he has filled all the offices except Quar- termaster and has now been Adjutant for four years. Ile attended the national reunion in Col- umbus. With the Patriotic Order of Sons of Amer- ica he is also connected, has filled all its offices and is now District President of the order, serving a third term. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church and are highly respected people, widely and favorably known in this community.
LEXANDER GRAY. It is gratifying to the biographer to present the portrait and sketch of a man who, in every walk of life, religions, social and business, is es- teemed as foremost among the valued citizens of Commercial Point. Mr. Gray was born in Lick- ing County, Ohio, not far from Newark, February 17, 1827. His father, John Gray, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1786, and was sixteen years old when he came to America with his brother-in-law, Joseph Hughes, who located in Fairfield County, Ohio. He had a little money but invested it unfortunately in land which had a defective title, and lost it all. The country was then a wilderness, abounding in Indians, deer and wolves. He leased land for a time after his un- fortunate experience in attempting to purchase. and eventually owned eighty acres. He was a member of the Covenanter Church. In politics, he was a Democrat, although he took no part in
political matters, as his church eschewed such interests.
The mother of our subject, who was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, bore the name of Sarah McDonald. She reared to maturity seven of her ten children. One died in infancy, and the names of the others were as follows: James, Delilah, Jane, Alexander, Elizabeth, Margery, Dorcas, John Calvin and Isabel. This mother was also a mem- ber of the Covenanter Church. Her father, Alex- ander McDonald, a native of Ireland, came to America in his youth and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married. He came to Ohio in a very early day with a team and wagon and settled in Fair- field County. He owned about twelve hundred acres of land, from which fine estate he gave each of his ten children eighty acres, and at his deatlı, when about seventy-six years old, left a hand- some property in addition. He was a hard worker and a good manager and was highly esteemed in Fairfield County, where he was well known. He was an Elder in the Covenanter Church and took an active interest in religious affairs.
In his infancy our subject was taken from Lick- ing to Fairfield County, and at the age of eleven went to Mercer County, where he resided with his parents until he was in his nineteenth year. At that age he was apprenticed to learn the carpen- ter's trade in Butler County, Ohio, and was thus bound out for three years, his wages being $3 per month. After completing his apprenticeship, he worked at the trade until fifteen years ago.
In July, 1853, Mr. Gray located at Commercial Point, and after he ceased working at his trade followed the occupation of a merchant for three years. Ilis marriage, which took place May 23, 1853, united him with Wilhelmina Miller, who was born in Nassau, Germany. They have had four children, namely: William A., Ermine, Lester, and Miller (deceased).
The farm which Mr. Gray purchased in 1876, and upon which he now makes his home, contains two hundred and sixty-five acres of land, most of which is in an improved condition. Upon it he carries on mixed farming, raising wheat, oats and corn, besides stock of all kinds. At one time he dealt largely in raising and selling hogs, but hav-
27
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ing lost heavily through cholera, finally aban- doned that branch of his business. His large frame residence was erected by him in 1887, and he has also put up all the buildings except the barn.
Mr. and Mrs. Gray are efficient and active mem- bers of the Presbytarian Church at Commercial Point, in which he acts as Trustee. He now is, and has been for three years past, the Superinten- dent of the Sunday-school and is active in all re- ligious work. His first Presidential ballot was cast for Franklin Pierce, and he has ever since been a supporter of the party which placed that candidate in the Presidential chair. Starting out for himself, when nineteen years of age, he has gained his property by his own unaided efforts, and he is now recognized as one of the best busi- ness men in the township.
R EV. DAVID M. OSBURN. This honored resident of Fayette County, who is resid- ing on a beautiful farm in Jasper Town- ship, has been a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of thirty-three years. Ile is the son of David Osburn, a native of Ken- tucky, who was born in 1787. His father, David Osburn, hailed from Virginia and removed to the Blue Grass State in an early day. He was one of those who were besieged in the fort there, and was released by Gen. Anthony Wayne. He later re- moved to this State and, locating on a farm in Clermont County, improved his tract and there passed his last days.
The mother of our subject was known in her maiden days as Miss Precosia Gatch, a native of Virginia and the daughter of the Rev. Philip Gateh, who was a member of the first Methodist Epis- copal Church held at Baltimore, Md. After his marriage, the father of Mrs. Osburn located in Vir- ginia on the James River, whence he removed to Buckingham County. In 1800, he came West to Clermont County, this State, where he died.
The parents of Mr. Osburn, of this sketch, were married in the above-named county and in 1833
removed to Greene County, where they made their permanent home, the father dying in 1843 and the mother in 1861, at the age of eighty-five years. To them were born four children, two of whom are living. The original of this sketch was born May 2, 1819, in Clermont County, where he was reared on his father's farm, being trained to all the duties pertaining to a farmer's boy.
Our subject began life on his own responsibility when twenty years of age, at which time he was married to Miss Cynthia Jackson, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1821. Our subject then settled in Greene County, in what is now .Jefferson Township, on a wild tract of land, which his energy and perseverance brought to a good state of cultivation. Mrs. Osburn died in 1852, having become the mother of six children, one of whom is deceased. Rebecca Ann is the widow of Cargell Chitty and has nine children; Nathaniel C. mar- ried Susannah Griffith, is the father of four chil- dren and makes his home in Missouri; Charity P. became the wife of Harrison Williamson, lives in Montgomery County, this State, and is the mother of six children; Nancy J. is the wife of J. C. Ogburn, has two children by her present mar- riage and five by a former marriage, and resides in Iowa; Wilham J. is single.
Our subject was again married, in 1853, this time to Narcissa Carpenter, who was born in Greene County in 1830. She departed this life the year following her marriage, after having borne her husband one child. Miss Charlotte Ferguson was married to Mr. Osburn in 1855; she was born in Virginia in 1831, and by her union with our sub- ject became the mother of one child; she died in 1859. The present partner of our subject was be- fore her marriage Miss Susannah Christy, to whom he was united in 1861. She is the daughter of Sam- nel and Rosanna (Creamer) Christy, natives of Berkeley County, Va., the father born in 1780 the mother in 1790. Mr. Christy was a soldier during the War of 1812, coming three years later to Wash- ington C. II., where he opened a blacksmith-shop. The Creamer family came to Ohio in 1807, and re- sided for three years in Ross County. Later, they removed to .Jefferson Township, Fayette County, lo- cating on a wild tract of land, and there passed the
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remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1826 and the mother in 1810. This was the family to which Mrs. Osburn's mother belonged. Mr. and Mrs. Christy located in Jasper Township in 1833, where the father, at the date of his death, was the owner of five hundred acres of valuable land. To them were born five children, of whom Mrs. Osburn is the only survivor, her birth occurring December 14, 1825.
To Mr. and Mrs. Osburn has been born one son. David F. Our subject is the possessor of one hun- dred and fifty-two and one-half acres of land, which he has brought to a good state of cultiva- tion, having placed thereon numerous and sub- stantial outbuildings. Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which body he is Chaplain. Politically, he votes with the Republican party and has served his fellow- townsmen in the capacity of Justice of the Peace.
Two sons of Mr. Osburn, by his first wife, served in the late war. Elihu B. being a member of Company I, Thirty-first Ohio Infantry, served all through the conflict and was killed in 1875 by Indians at Ft. Sill. Nathaniel C. was a member of the Twelfth Ohio Battery, and fought in defense of his country for more than four years. Our subject is an ordained minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has done active work in that body since twenty-three years of age. Grand- father Philip Gatch was Justice of the Peace and also Associate Judge in Clermont County for twenty-one years. Grandfather Creamer was also Justice of the Peace and very prominent in local affairs.
AMES R. RANDOLPH, whose sketch now invites attention, is the proprietor of a fine drug store in West Jefferson, and, possess- ing the necessary qualifications for a suc- cessful business man, has been greatly prospered in his dealings. The parents of our subject, James and Jane (Pugsley) Randolph, were natives, respect- ively, of Hampshire County, Va., and Maine. The grandparents removed to Ohio in 1801, while it was yet a Territory, and located in Zanesville,
while his parents made their home on a farm in Athens County, this State, from 1821 till 1810. The father there began the practice of medicine, which he followed until his deccase.
The parental family of our subject included nine children, of whom he was the seventh son. lle was born July 28, 1837, in Nelsonville, Athens County, and attended the common schools until nineteen years of age, when he supplemented the knowledge gained therein by taking a course at an academy in New Albany, and for one year was a student at the Ohio University at Athens. On the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Randolph enlisted. April 21, 1861, in Company B, Twenty-second Ohio Infantry. Owing to a railroad accident which occurred May 30, 1861, he was severely injured, on account of which he received his honorable discharge.
On returning from the army, December, 1863, our subject read medicine with Dr. JJ. T. Colliver for a period of two years, and in 1865 went to No- ble County, where he was employed by his uncle, in a tannery, at the same time continuing his stud- ies, being thus engaged for five years. During that time, Mr. Randolph took a course of lectures at Cincinnati in the Eclectic Medical College, and afterward began the practice of medicine. He remained in Noble County until 1871, when he returned to West Jefferson, and on account of ill health operated a farm for the follow- ing six years. In 1878, he took up his abode in Plain City, where he operated an hotel as mine host for two years, at the end of which time he went to Marysville and for six months was em- ployed in handling walnut timber. Ile later en- tered the employ of the U. I. X. L. Windmill Company, of Kalamazoo, Mich., with which he re- mained for about four years, after which he was engaged in the marble and granite business in Me- chanicsburgh, this State. After following that line of work for two years, Mr. Randolph came to Mad- ison County and for three years cultivated the soil in this locality. Finally locating in West Jefferson, he opened up a drug store, which he has managed successfully since.
The lady to whom our subject was married was Nancy J. Thompson, her birth occurring in Jeffer-
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son Township, in 1840. To them have been born a family of five children, namely: Mary J., Mrs. James B. Hilton; Ella, the widow of G. J. Frey; Minnie; James I., and Thomas, the latter of whom died when an infant. Mr. Randolph is classed among the public-spirited citizens of this county, and in the various places in which he has lived has filled most satisfactorily various offices of honor and trust. Socially, he is an Odd Fellow, in which order he has taken all the degrees, is a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
R EV. FATHIER A. F. SOURD, pastor of St. Coleman's Catholic Church, Washington C. Il., was born in Stone Lick Township, Clermont County, Ohio, March 15, 1853, the son of Augustus and Christina ( Femyer) Sourd. During his childhood, he aided his father in his dry-goods store, and gleaned the rudiments of his education in the common schools. He carried on his studies at Dayton, Ohio, at St. Mary's of Naz- areth, and later pursued his classics at Mt. St. Mary's Seminary of the West. His theological studies were prosecuted with all the ardor and fire of his enthusiastic nature, and he was a student in St. Xavier's Theological Seminary, and St. Mary's Theological Seminary at Baltimore, from which he was graduated in 1885.
On Christmas Day, 1885, Father Sourd was or- dained in Cincinnati, by Bishop Mays, of Coving- ton. His first charge was at Carthage, Ohio, where he was appointed assistant, his duty being to attend to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Afterward, he was assistant pastor of the Church of the Atone- ment at Cincinnati for a short time, and filled the same position for five months at the Church of Assumption on Walnut Hills. In that city, he be- came well and favorably known among his parish- ioners as a pious and zealous priest and upright man. For two years, he was assistant to Father John Murray, at Urbana, aiding him in increasing the membership of the church, and promoting its usefulness in various departments of work.
St. Coleman's Catholic Church, of which Father Sourd became pastor in 1889, now numbers about sixty-seven families, and is one of the most enter- prising and active congregations in the State. The pastor's residence and the church are located on the corner of North and East Streets, where a substan- tial brick structure was being built in 1885, but was torn down by a cyclone, during the process of con- struction. Undaunted by the misfortune, the con- gregation rebuilt the edifice the following year, and have furnished it elegantly and appropriately.
Not only among his parishioners, but through- ont the community in general, the position occu- pied by Father Sourd is one of prominence and influence. He is a diligent laborer in the work of his church, sparing no pains to secure its advance- ment and domg everything in his power to pro- mote its efficiency. Ile has proved himself in every way reliable and useful to the community, and his many friends bear testimony to his worth and ability.
OHN REIF is an enterprising young mer- chant of Washington C. H., and was born February 23, 1856, in Piketon, Pike County, and is a son of Frank Reif, a resident of this city, where he has made his home for the last twenty-seven years. John Reif came to this county with his parents when he was three years old, and the next few years of his life were passed on a farm seven or eight miles from this city. In 1863, the family came to Washington C. H., and he com- pleted his education in the city schools, which he left April 5, 1869, at the age of thirteen years, to enter upon his mercantile training in his father's grocery store. In the years that followed, he gained a thorough insight into the business in all its details, and he continued with his father until his marriage in the winter of 1881. After that, he went into the restaurant business, and was in that three years. Ile then entered the employ of John Blackmore, grocer, with whom he remained several years. His next venture was a business
Yours truly J. C. Cartmill.
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partnership with J. P. Wyatt, under the firm name of Wyatt & Reif, to conduct a grocery. They re- mained together two years, and then our subject bought Mr. Wyatt's interest in the establishment in September, 1887. Ile takes an interest in poli- tics, as all good citizens should, and is to be found with the most stalwart of the Democrats.
Our subject was married in February, 1881, to Miss Ida, daughter of Henry Shubert, and their home is cheerful and cozy, Mrs. Reif being a true home-maker. and it is the center of a pleasant hospitality. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Reif was a dressmaker in this city, and did a good business in her line. Mr. Reif is now engaged with his father in the grocery business.
OIIN C. CARTMILL. An old settler of Madison County, Mr. Cartmill has mater- ially contributed to its wealth and high standing as an agricultural center and has been prominent in its civic and political life, and in its various important offices of trust and respon- sibility. He has long been associated with the leading farmers of Fairfield Township and has been active in promoting its growth by clearing and developing a fine farm within its borders.
The parents of our subject, William and Isabel (Ferguson) Cartmill, were born in Virginia, and, desiring to see something of the Western coun- try, in 1825 came to Ohio and made their home in what is now Oak Run Township, Madison County. They reared a family of seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom our subject was third in order of birth. Alfred and Thomas Cartmill, brothers of John C, are represented else- where in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. William Cartmill departed this life in Pike Township, where they held an enviable position among its best residents.
John C. Cartmill was born in Franklin County, this State, August 30, 1813, and, like other farmer lads in this locality, received a fair education in the primitive schools of that period. When at- taining his nineteenth year, he learned the earpen-
ter's trade, receiving as compensation for his ser- vices the first two years $10 per month. He was thus employed for six years, when he established a home of his own, and choosing the life occupation of a farmer, settled in Fairfield Township, on the farm where he is at present residing. His estate includes two hundred acres, which his industry and good judgment have placed under the best cultivation, thus giving it rank among the valua- ble estates in the townships.
In London, this State, Mr. Cartmill was married, December 13, 1838, to Miss Sarah A. Black, and to them were born a family of seven children, viz: Margaret, Isabel, Virginia, Edson, William, Charles and Henry. Isabel is the wife of I. N. Davidson; Virginia married William Strain and died in this township, March 30, 1880; Edson married ('lara Mithoff; William became the husband of Miss Ger- trude Walker; Henry married Mary Noland. Mrs. Sarah A. Cartmill departed this life July 13, 1858.
The lady whom our subject chose as his second companion was Rebecca Williams, who became the mother of one daughter, Jessie, and passed from carth March 27, 1868. Mr. Cartmill, in September, 1870, was married to Miss Adeline Walker, who was born in Virginia, September 28, 1828.
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