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 83
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 83
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 83
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
At the time of his election to the position of Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ohio Senate, Mr. Silcott. sold out his mercantile interests and devoted him- self to the duties of his position during 1886-87, after which he returned to Washington C. II. and formed a partnership with James Bragg in the shoe business, which he has since conducted. Throughout his long business career, his course has been such as to win the confidence of all with whom business brings him in contact, and he is known as one of the most enterprising and suc- cessful merchants of Washington C. H.
November 25, 1851, Mr. Silcott and Miss Lu- cinda Taylor, of Bainbridge, Ohio, were united in marriage. The bride was the daughter of Jared Taylor, a prominent citizen of Ross County, and the niece of Dr. James Taylor, the founder of the
68-1
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
dental college at Cincinnati. Mrs. Silcott was a lady of lovable disposition, and her death, which occurred December 16, 1891, was deeply and widely mourned. She left four children: Effie, wife of Loren Wilson, of Lawrence, Kan .; Charles E., foreman in D. II. Chambers' Carpet House, at Cat- lettsburgh, Ky .; James, who is a dentist at Wash- ington C. II .; and Nina, who is at home with her father. The religious home of the family is in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are regular attendants.
ILLIAM M. WILSON, who is descended from early pioneers of Madison County, of which he is a native, is one of the lead- ing representatives of its agricultural interests, being an extensive land-holder, and having one of the largest, best-equipped and finest farms within its borders, situated six miles south of Plain City, in Canaan Township. In this township he was born, August 10, 1841, a son of William D. Wil- son, a former well-known and prominent citizen of this locality.
The father of our subject was born in Greene County, and was a son of Valentine Wilson, who was born in Kentucky very early in the history of its settlement. Ile came to Ohio when young, and after living for a time in Greene County, he settled in this county, in Summerford Township, when there were but few pioneers in this part of the State, and he spent his remaining years in the pioneer home that he established in the wilder- ness, dying in his sixty-sixth year. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Nancy Moore, and she, too, was a child of an early pio- neer family of Ohio, her birthplace being amid the primitive scenes of Clarke County, where she grew to womanhood.
After their marriage, the parents of our subject took up their residence in Canaan Town hip, in a log house, which humble dwelling was replaced by Mr. Wilson with a more commodious brick house, in 1842. Here he led a busy and prosperous life, accumulating a goodly amount of property, until
death closed his successful career in his sixty-sev- enth year, and the county was deprived of one of its most worthy pioneers, who had materially in- creased its wealth by his industry. Ilis wife died in her seventy-fourth year. They were the parents of eight children, two daughters and six sons, all of whom grew to maturity, and three sons and one danghter are yet living.
The subject of this biographical sketch is the fifth child and fourth son of the family. Canaan Township has always been his home. He was ed- ucated in its schools, and grew to a vigorous, self- reliant manhood under the influence of good home training at the hands of his parents. Ile helped his father in carrying on his farm, and continued to live with him some two years after his marriage, in 1867. He then established him- self where he now resides, in his native township, beginning with but little capital as to money, but well equipped with brain and energy, ambition and enterprise, and in the quarter of a century that has since elapsed, he has risen to be one of the foremost men of his class in this part of the county, and one of its most successful stockmen. In his home place there are thirteen hundred and eighty-five acres, and he owns the old homestead on which he was born, which comprises one hundred acres, making fourteen hundred and eighty-five acres of choice farming land that he owns in Canaan Township. Ile rents about three hundred acres of it, and attends to the manage- ment of the remainder himself.
The farm is amply supplied with buildings of a good class, including four neat and well-built dwellings, and the same number of barns, and Mr. Wilson has every improvement and convenience to be found on a model farm. A view of the place is shown on another page. The most of his land has been improved by himself and his father, and is under a high state of cultivation. It is finely adapted to stock-raising purposes, to which our subject partly devotes it, engaging quite ex- tensively in that line of business. IIe handles on an average one hundred and fifty head of cattle a year, from twenty-five to thirty horses, and ships a number of hogs and cattle to the Eastern and Western markets. Ile is a man of marked business
RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM M. WILSON, CANAAN TP., MADISON CO. O
687
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ability and a cool calculator, forethought and care- ful discrimination characterizing his dealings, as well as promptness in seizing every advantage offered to make a good investment or to increase his wealth, and his name stands high in financial circles wherever he is known. Politically, he is a Repub- lican, and always exerts his influence in favor of his party, and to advance all schemes that will in any way enhance the prosperity of his county. During the Civil War he enlisted, July 14, 1863, in Company B, Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered out February 14, 1864.
Mr. Wilson was married January 10, 1867, to Miss Mary Slyh, a daughter of Mathias and Sarah Slyh, and a native of Canaan Township. They lived happily together for more than twenty years, and then she passed out of his life October 3, 1889, leaving behind her a golden memory of true wifehood and motherhood that is cherished in the hearts of her loved ones. Two children were born to our subject of his marriage, a daughter and a son: Ella A., wife of Ernest Beach, both of whom reside with our subject, and Leroy, who was born May 3, 1888.
ONAII WOODS is a native of Madison County, the value of whose citizenship has been proven not only by his patriotic course as a soldier during the Civil War, but also by his career as a farmer and stockman in later years, his good-sized farm, twelve miles north of London, in Monroe Township, comparing very favorably in point of cultivation and equipment with the best in the neighborhood, and it is well stocked with a good class of horses, cattle and hogs.
Mr. Woods was born in Monroe Township, December 26, 1837, a son of Jacob Woods, who was a Virginian by birth and was reared in the Old Dominion. He was still a young man when he came to Ohio in pioneer times, and was event- ually married in this county to Mary Bradley, a native of this county, and a daughter of Jonah
and Susan Bradley, who were among the early settlers of this region. After marriage, they set- tled in Monroe Township on a farm, but they were destined not to be very long-lived, as he died at the age of thirty-eight, and she when she was twenty eight years old. They were the parents of five children, the youngest of whom was but a month old when the little flock was left motherless. Three of these children are still living: our sub- ject; Olive, the wife of David Stephens, of Seattle, Wash .; and Mary, wife of Newton Thompson, of this county.
lle of whom we write is the second child and the only son of the family. He was about nine years old when his mother died, and eleven when he had the further misfortune to lose his father. For two years thereafter, he lived with his unele, Samuel Baker, and then went to reside with his unele John Bradley, with whom he remained until the war broke out. Ile was filled with ardent enthusiasm for the cause of his country, and de- sired strongly to serve in defense of the Stars and Stripes. Accordingly, he enlisted in Company A, Fortieth Ohio Infantry, and for three years and one month he acted well his part as a loyal soldier, and fought with true courage in many a hotly- contested engagement with the enemy, taking an active part in all the principal battles in which the Western army participated, the terrible and dis- astrous conflict at Chickamauga being the most noted battle at which he was present. At the close of his term of enlistment, he was honorably dis- charged at Altoona Pass, Ga., and was there mus- tered out of the service.
Before the war, Mr. Woods went across the Alle- ghany Mountains to Lancaster, Pa., with a drove of cattle, with "Uncle" Billy Wilson. After he left the army, he came back to his native county, and about a year later, he went to MeLean County, Ill., where he spent one year. Returning then to Ohio, he has ever since engaged in farming, and when he married in the early winter of 1870, he settled on his present farm, having previously bought the place. He has here two hundred and thirty acres of choice land, the most of which is under good tillage, and he has made all the im- provements that are of any value, with the excep-
33
688
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tion, perhaps, of a fine old orchard that was set out some sixty years ago. There was a house on the place when he took possession of it that was one of the oldest in the county, one of the origi- nal pioneer habitations of this section. His busi- ness is that of a general farmer, and he has his farm fully stocked with standard breeds of horses, cattle and hogs.
Mr. Woods was married in February, 1870, to Miss Belle Bennett, a native of this county, her birthplace being in Fairfield Township. She filled in a perfect measure the offices of wife, mother and friend, and her death, September 15, 1886, was a sad loss to her household, and to others who had known and loved her. She was the mother of these four children: Leora and Juliet, at home with their father; Winnie, wife of William Guy, of Canaan Township; and Jessie, who died at the age of eighteen months.
Our subject is a man of good mental calibre, sound and sensible in his views on all subjects with which he is conversant, and plain-dealing and probity are among his characteristics. Polit- ically, he stands with the Republicans, and so- cially, he affiliates with the Masons, belonging to Leonore Lodge No. 311, Plain City. He has held various offices of trust and responsibility. He was a Trustee of the township three terms, was Ap- praiser of Land in 1890, and has been School Di- rector for many years.
ENRY MAY is an old and honored resident of Pickaway County, who has been identi- fied with its interests for years, and has an attractive home on his fine farm on the edge of Kingston. Mr. May is a native of Ohio, born in Chillicothe June 27. 1817. His father, Henry May, was a native of Virginia, and was a son of James May, who was of Irish birth, and came to America in early life. Ile located first in Virginia, but subsequently came to Ohio and settled in Chillicothe, when it was a mere hamlet, with but one shingle-roofed house. Ile was a gunsmith, and made guns for the War of 1812, taking his
pay in Continental money, which proved worthless. He acquired considerable property, but eventually lost it all. His death occurred in Pickaway County in 1825.
The father of our subject was the youngest of three sons, all of whom married and had families. He was young when his parents settled in Chilli- cothe, where he was reared, and in his youth learned the trade of chair-maker, serving an ap- prenticeship of three years. For several years thereafter, he manufactured chairs in that city. He finally purchased ten acres of land two miles north of Chillicothe, and carried on his calling there many years. He subsequently built a hotel to accommodate the travel, which was very exten- sive in those days. In 1822, he came to Pickaway County, and, buying a quarter-section of land, only partly improved, he built a comfortable house thereon, and spent the remainder of his days here, dying in 1861, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. He was a prominent man in his day, a gallant soldier in the War of 1812, a trusted office-holder, and one of the most active members of the Pres- byterian Church of Kingston, which he was active in helping to upbuild, and of which he was a Trus- tee. The mother of our subject was Susan Mc Cutchen in her maiden days. She was a native of Kentucky, whence she came with her parents to Ohio in an early day of its settlement. Her father, John McCutchen, was also a Kentuckian by birth. After he came here, he built a large dwelling and kept a public house, beside managing his two hundred-acre farm. The mother of our subject died in 1859. She was a true Presbyterian in her religious belief. Three of her children are liv- ing.
Our subject is the eldest of these three. He re- ceived as good an education as the times then of- fered. He had to remain at home and work much of the time, as he was the eldest of the family, but he occasionally found an opportunity to attend the old log schoolhouse, with its slab seats and other primitive furnishings. In his youth he learned the trade of a currier, and when he became of age he was given full charge of the tannery, which he purchased after a time of his father, and was engaged in the manufacture of leather very
689
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
successfully for a quarter of a century. At the expiration of that time, he turned his attention to farming. Hle purchased a large tract of land just across the county line from Kingston, in Pickaway County, where he has since lived. Ilis farm com- prises two hundred and seventy acres, lying on section 34, Pickaway Township, and eighty acres in Green Township. Ross County, and it is under excellent cultivation and well supplied with mod- ern improvements. The buildings are of a neat and tasteful style of architecture, and the com- modions residence, which is built of brick, has all the conveniences that make life comfortable.
Fifty-three years ago, February 20, 1839, Mr. May and Miss Margaret Steele were united in mar- riage, and for over half a century have lived to- gether in true wedded happiness, he finding her an able helper and a sagacious counselor who shows unfailing devotion to his interests, and she finding in him a kind, considerate and affectionate husband. They have been abundantly blessed in their chil- dren, of whom they have six, and to whom they have been wise and tender parents. The following is re- corded of their offspring: Jane is the wife of James Machir, of Kingston; Hattie died April 16, 1891; Laura is the wife of Alson C. Foster, a farmer of Pickaway; Edward P., who is Deacon of the Presbyterian Church, is unmarried and lives with his parents, and Kate L. is dead.
Mrs. May was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, March 22, 1817, and is a daughter of Thomas Steele, who was a prominent man in the early pioneer history of Ross County, of which he was at one time Sheriff. Her parents died when she was quite young, and she went to live with William Renick and his wife, in Pickaway Township, by whom she was reared.
During a long and busy life, in which he has had the making of his own fortunes, as he began with no means, our subjeet has adhered to the principles of truth and righteousness that were early instilled into his mind, and is a man of honor-simple, unpretentious and reticent in his manner, yet always pleasant, thoughtful of others. and friendly in his relations with all about him. and strictly conscientious in his dealings. He was formerly an old line-Whig, and he east his maiden vote for Gen. Harrison (grandfather of
our present President) for the Presidency. He is now an unswerving Republican. Both he and his wife are Presbyterians, and have been exemplary church members for many years.
6 HOMAS E. SMITH, who is engaged as a blacksmith in Mt. Sterling, claims Clifton, Greene County, Ohio, as the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred June 25, 1858. His father, Thomas Smith, was a laborer. He married Leah Littleton, a native of Warren County, Ohio, and his death occurred when our subject was a little more than a year old. At an early age, Mr. Smith of this sketch had to begin life's battle with the world. He made his home with his mother and his wages were given for her support. He attended school for a short time each winter. and in this way acquired his educa- tion. which has been greatly supplemented by reading and observation in subsequent years. At the age of seventeen. he began to learn his trade in North Lewisburgh, Champaign County, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Ile received his board all of the time and the first year was paid $5 per month, the second $6 and the third year $7.50 per month. Mr. Smith then worked as a journey- man for six months for his old employer, after which he went to Clifton and started a shop, where he carried on business for two years.
On the expiration of that period. Mr. Smith went to North Lewisburgh. where he was married on the Ist of June. 1882, to Miss Ella Embrey, of that place. The lady was born in West Liberty. Logan County, Ohio, January 29, 1860, and is a daughter of Enoch and Abbie (Daw) Embrey. Two inter- esting children have been born of their union: Edna, born in Pleasant Township, Madison County. March 4, 1886; and Goldie, born in Mt. Sterling. on the 25th of January. 1890.
For about two years after his marriage. Mr. Smith was employed in the flouring mili of his father-in-law. He then rented the mill in Mt. Sterling for three years and engaged in business in that line. When that period had elapsed, he
690
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
went to Columbus, where he was employed with the Columbus Buggy Company for four months. He then established a shop in Mt. Sterling and has here since followed the trade with good success. He purchased his residence in 1889, and has a pleasant home, which is the abode of hospitality.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presby- terian Church. They are people of sterling worth, highly respected in the community and have many friends. Mr. Smith served as Deacon in the church and takes an active part in its upbuilding. In politics, he is a stanch Republican, having cast his first vote for James A. Garfield. He has served as a member of the City Council for three years and his public duties have been discharged with promptness and fidelity, as his re-election indicates. Socially. he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Mystic Cirele, and has held various offices in these lodges.
UMPHREY JONES. The legal fraternity of Fayette County finds a worthy and suc- cessful representative in this gentleman, who is a prominent attorney-at-law in Washington C. H., and is also interested in loaning money for Eastern capitalists. Mr. Jones was born in the county of which he is still a resident, his birth- place being near Jeffersonville and the date of his birth Jan nary 31, 1858. Ile is therefore at present (1892) in the prime of manhood and the full vigor of a successful career.
The father of our subject, Dr. William H. Jones, emigrated to the United States from Liverpool, England, and practiced the medical profession at Jeffersonville, whither he removed prior to 1850. There he was married to Miss Olavi, daughter of Joseph Hidy, Sr., an old resident of the county. Hle continued actively engaged in the practice of his profession at .Jeffersonville until recently, when on account of failing health, he was compelled to retire. He has been a man of firm convictions, more than ordinary intellectual ability. and stands deservedly high in the estimation of all his fellow-
citizens. He was at one time Commissioner of the County and occupied numerous positions of trust and responsibility, whereby he was enabled to do considerable effective service for others.
The family of which our subjeet is a nember comprised six children, namely: Mary J., wife of Luther M. Irwin, of Jeffersonville, this State; Will- iam HI., Jr., whose occupation is that of civil en- gineer and abstractor; our subject; Emma and Minnie. Ilumphrey received a good education in the Jefferson ville schools, after which he followed the profession of a teacher for about five years, then commenced the study of law, and for three years read under the preceptorship of Mills Gard- ner, at Washington C. H. In May, 1883, he was admitted to practice at the Bar of the State of Ohio and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession, except during the years 1887-88-89, at which time he was acting as the special loan agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee for Southern Ohio, his duties being to examine securities, close up loans and look generally after the financial interests of the company in his district. In October, 1889, he resigned this position and resumed the practice of law, opening his office in the Melvin Block, where he has since remained.
The marriage of our subject, June 18, 1888, united him with Miss Laura B., daughter of James M. Willis, a prominent citizen of Bloomingburgh, this State, and the young couple have established a pleasant and attractive home in Washington C. H.
OIIN M. MCCAFFERTY, who is a fine rep- resentative of the native-born citizens of Madison Township, Fayette County, is one of the most industrious and useful farmers and stock-raisers within its limits, where he has a well-improved and well-stocked farm. He was born December 4, 1849, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Mace) McCafferty. and was reared on the home farm. In addition to attending the country schools, he took a course of study at
AARON TEEGARDIN
693
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Merom, Ind., after which he made his home with his parents until 1887. He has been a great trav- eler, and has visited many of the Western States and the Pacific Coast.
June 20, 1886, Miss Frankie E., a daughter of Robert S. and Mary E. (Leach) Waters. and our subject were united in marriage. The lady was born January 7, 1868, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of two children: Tweed, who was born May 29, 1887, and Thad, born October 29, 1889. Mr. McCafferty soon after his marriage moved to his present home, which contains nearly three hundred acres, two hundred and fifty-one of which were inherited from his father. He has placed his estate under excellent tillage, and has one of the best-cultivated and most desirable farms in the neighborhood, having it well supplied with buildings and machinery, and everything necessary for carrying on agriculture to the best advantage. Beside tilling the soil quite profitably, Mr. McCafferty has another source of income in the fine graded stock which he raises.
-
-
Politically, our subject is a stalwart Democrat, and gives steadfast adherence to his party. He has been Trustee of his township for four years, and in social matters is a Mason, belonging to the Blue Lodge at Mt. Sterling.
ARON TEEGARDEN. There is little need to portray the virtues or defend the mem- ory of this gentleman, for he lives in the affection of his family and friends as a devoted husband, kind neighbor and public-spirited citizen. A native of the good old State of Penn- sylvania, he was born in Westmoreland County on the 23d of February, 1810, and was about a year old when he was brought to Pickaway County, Ohio, by his parents, George and Christina (Brobst) Teegardin. The elder Mr. Teegardin located in Madison Township, this county, and there followed agricultural pursuits for many years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and died shortly after returning from service. Ifis wife followed him to the grave about two years later.
Thus our subject was left an orphan at a tender age and he made his home with his grandfather, Aaron Teegardin, until he had reached his tenth year, when the latter died. After this he made his home with an uncle, Jacob Teegardin, until twenty- one years of age, when he commenced for himself and began working on the Ohio Canal. He received a limited education in youth, but his remarkable powers of observation and naturally fine mind remedied this in a great measure. As he was an extensive reader and a man of studious habits, he became one of the most intelligent and best-posted men of his section.
On the 25th of March, 1833, Mr. Teegardin was married to Miss Sarah Iloy, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, born February 17, 1814, and the danghter of Philip and Elizabeth ( Ever) Hoy, who were pioneers of Fairfield County, locating there in the early part of the present century, about 1806, when the country was wild and unsettled. The mother lived to be seventy-three years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Teegardin were born nine children, six of whom are living: Ephraim. in Indiana; Mahala, at home; Augustus. in Madison Township, Pickaway County; Mary, at home; Philip and Levi, who reside in Pickaway County.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.