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 96
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 96
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 96
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BRAHAM WEAVER. This prominent and influential resident of the farming com- munity of Washington Township, Picka- way County, is a native of that place, his birth occurring September 7, 1835. Ile is the son of Jacob Weaver, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1797. The latter emigrated to Ohio when a young man, and, locating in Fairfield County. there worked at his trade as a shoemaker.
The elder Mr. Weaver was married in Fairfield County to the mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Bimheimer, and was a native of that place. Her parents emigrated from Germany, and, locating in Ohio, were among the early settlers of Fairfield County.
Mr. Bimheimer entered a large tract of land from the Government, and at his death was very wealthy, dividing his estate among his large fam- ily of children, giving to each one hundred and sixty acres. After his marriage, Mr. Jacob Weaver came to Pickaway County. and purchased forty
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acres of land in Washington Township. This he cleared and improved and in a short time added another forty to his possessions. He later added at one time eighty acres, at another one hundred and sixty and at another one hundred and sixty more. Subsequently adding another quarter-section to his already magnificent estate, he became the owner of a square section of land. He later purchased one hundred and forty acres in Pickaway Township, and at the time of his decease was one of the largest, if not the larg- est, land-holder in the county, owning one thou- sand acres of valuable land, and had placed to his credit in the bank $10,000. He was a man whose influence was greatly felt in the community, and one who counted his friends as numerous as his acquaintances. His accumulations were entirely the result of his own industry and perseverance, as he started out in life without a cent. He ob- tained the money to pay for his first forty aeres by making shoes. Ile often hauled his wheat to market at Zanesville, receiving for the same an equiva- lent of thirty cents per bushel, the pay being given in salt. Ilis corn marketed at ten cents per bushel.
In the early days, the father of our subject, in company with several of his neighbors, built a flatboat, which they loaded with flour, and drifted down the Scipio Creek to the Scioto River, and thence down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, where they found a ready market for their pro- duct. The men would then walk home, keeping along the banks of the rivers. Mr. Weaver served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was highly esteemed by everyone who had the honor of his acquaintance. He was very promment in all local affairs, and held many of the township offices. In religious matters, he was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, in the faith of which body he died, April 14, 1869, greatly mourned by the entire community. He was a law-abiding citizen, bearing the good-will of all his neighbors. Mrs. Jacob Weaver passed from this life November 17, 1890, when nearly eighty-seven years of age. She drew a pension from the Government from the time of her husband's death until her decease.
Abraham Weaver was the third child in order
of birth of his parent's family of eight children, six of whom are living. He was born and reared within sight of his present beautiful home, and was given a good education in the district schools of his neighborhood. He remained at home, as- sisting his father in the cultivation of his vast acres, until reaching his thirty-second year. Our subject was married in 1864 to Miss Mary A. Moore, who was born and reared in Washington Township, Pickaway County. Mrs. Weaver was the daughter of Caleb and Mariah Moore, the father born in this county, where he followed the trade of a blacksmith. He later, however, pur- chased a farm and followed the pursuits of an agriculturist, in which occupation he was very suc- cessful. He afterward removed to Fairfield County, where he purchased a farm in Madison Township, upon which he resided until his death in 1884.
After his marriage, the original of this sketch removed to Fairfield County in company with his father-in-law, and made that place his home for the succeeding two years. In 1867, he returned to this county, and, locating in Pickaway Town- ship, was engaged in cultivating the soil for seven years. He later rented that property and pur- chased a home in Washington Township, Picka- way County, removing hither on account of the superior schools in this locality.
For nine years. Mr. Weaver of this sketch op- erated a steam sawmill, which he found to be a very profitable business. He now gives the greater portion of his time to cultivating his splendid estate. To Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have been born seven children: Katie, who is the wife of Winter Shelby, resides in Piatt County, Ill .; Susan, who is at home; Caleb, deceased; Maria, the wife of Wili- son Betz, a farmer in Washington Township; Cliff, Eugenia, and Earl W. are at home. They have all been given excellent educations, and Katie and Susan taught school for a number of years.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Weaver inclines toward Democratic principles. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for over fifteen years, and his interest in educational matters caused him to be placed on the Board, where he did very effec- tive work. In 1862, our subject was commis-
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sioned Captain of Company II by Gov. Todd, and drilling a company of State militia, was stationed at Camp Green. He was later called out and en- gaged in the Morgan raid. Previous to that time, however, he had belonged to a company of militia for five years, and was thus thoroughly ac- quainted with military tacties.
Mr. Weaver holds the entire confidence of the people of his community, and has acted in the ca- pacity of guardian, administrator, commissioner of estates and assignee on various occasions. ITis advice on legal matters is much sought after by his neighbors, who place high value upon his wise and judicious decisions. He has presided over many law suits, and always advises settlement when it is possible. He has also performed numer- ous marriage ceremonies, and is favorably and widely known throughout the county. Ilis landed estate comprises one hundred and sixty acres on Scipio Creek, Piekaway County, all of which is under the most thorough cultivation.
AMUEL M. WALLACE, who owns a highly productive and well-equipped farm in Pickaway Township, is an example of the younger generation of farmers who are such important agents in sustaining and advane- ing the great agricultural interests of Pickaway County. Our subject was born in Chillicothe, Ross County, April 10, 1867, and is a son of Sam- uel Logan Wallace, who was born in Green Town- ship, that county, in 1825. His parents were among the early settlers of that place, and he was reared in a pioneer home. He lived on a farm until he attained his majority.
Our subject was a bright scholar, and being very ambitious to obtain an education, he taught school a few years to earn the means to take him to col- lege, from which he was subsequently graduated with a high standing for learning. He was of a legal turn of mind, and after pursuing his profes- sional studies, he began to practice at Chillicothe. He was first associated with Judge Alfred S. Yaple, and subsequently with Judge Minshall. both of
whom are now Supreme Judges of the State. He rose to a high position in his profession, and is said to have been one of the ablest lawyers that ever practiced in the courts of Ross County. His fame won him a large elientage, and he was very popular, his fellow-citizens often tendering him offices of honor, which he steadily refused, partly on account of his business cares and because he was wrapped up in his beloved profession. He was, however, a man of true publie spirit. and his death, February 19. 1876, at the age of fifty-two years, was considered a serious loss to his county.
The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary A. Moore, is a native of Chillicothe, which city is still her home. She is a daughter of Dr. James J. Moore, a former celebrated physi- cian of that city, a pioneer of his profession in Ross County. He was a Virginian by birth, and he came from the old Dominion to Ohio at an early day in its settlement. He at first established himself at Londonderry, but he subsequently re- moved to Chillicothe, where he practiced a great many years. He died in 1872, and left behind him many warm friends and a life record as a good citizen and an able physician. Mrs. Wallace is a lady of refined character, whose many pleasant at- tributes have won her a high place in the estimation of all who come under her influence. Beside other valuable property, she owns a farm of one hundred and sixteen acres adjoining her son's in Pickaway Township, which is known as the old Maj. John Bogg's Homestead, and on that land stands the famous Logan Elm, the tree named for the noted Mingo chief, Logan, who made his immortal speech under its spreading boughs when concluding a treaty of peace with Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, in 1774, whereby the Territory of the Northwest was thrown open to white settlers.
Samuel M. Wallace is the only survivor of the three children born to his parents. He was well educated in the graded schools of his native city, and had a solid foundation for any calling that he might choose to follow. He had a decided taste for agricultural pursuits, and in September of the year that he attained his majority (1888), he pur- chased a farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres of fine land in Piekaway Township, and has spent
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his time since then mostly on his farm, which he is managing with a good degree of success, em- ploying none but the methods most adapted to the soil in cultivating his land, and continually making judicious improvements, which add to the value of the place. Ile has already won a high reputation for skill, prudence and practical ability in handling his affairs, and bids fair to become one of the leading farmers of the county. He stands well in social eireles, having a good address and pleasant personal qualities, and among politi- eians he is known as a promising young Democrat, who will be an influence in his party at no dis- tant date.
Mrs. Moore, the grandmother of Samuel Wallace, is a gentle old lady of seventy-six years, with a philosophie turn of mind, which is a great advan- tage to ler as she has been an invalid for years.
M ARTIN V. HIGHI. Ohio was well repre- sented at the front by her native-born sons during the late war, many of whom bravely sacrificed the opening years of their man- hood in valiantly fighting for their country. Of this number is our subject, who gained military honors as an officer of one of the regiments of his State. IIe has since done as good service in the interests of agriculture, and is successfully manag- ing his farm, which is six miles south of Plain City.
Mr. High was born in the city of Columbus, Franklin County, April 12, 1837, and is a son of Hosea High, who was born near Camden, N. J., in 1802, and there grew to a stalwart manhood. In 1823, he set out on foot for the "Wild West," and in due time arrived at Columbus, which was then a mere hamlet. Ile there met the young lady whom he afterward married, Mary A. McComiek, who, it is supposed, was born in that city, of which her father, Frank MeComick, a Virginian, was a very early settler. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and he was present at St. Clair's defeat. The father of our subject established himself as a shoe- maker in Columbus, and there he lived until he
removed with his family, in 1840, to a farm seven miles distant. In 1853, he went from there to a farm in Big Darby, in the same county, and there his long life was rounded out by his death, when he was seventy-eight years old. The mother then returned to Columbus, where she is quietly spend- ing her old age, she having passed the eighty-ninth milestone in life's journey last November. She is the mother of eleven children, all but one of whom grew to maturity, and seven are now living, all in Ohio.
Our subject is the seventh child and fourth son of the family. He became thoroughly grounded in all that pertains to agriculture, assisting his father on his farm until he was twenty-three years old. The great Civil War then broke out, and he entered the ranks of the brave boys in blue, who went to the front to defend the Stars and Stripes, enlisting in Company K, First Ohio Cavalry. He went into the army as a private, but lie soon showed of what metal he was made, and for meritorious conduct was promoted to the office of Second Lieu- tenant, and afterward his gallant conduct won him the commission of First Lieutenant. He fought well at the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, but on account of disability came home on a fur- lough after that. He took part in the battles of Stone River and Perrysville, faced the enemy in the disastrous engagement at Chickamauga, helped to carry the day for the Union forces at Mission Ridge, and did good service in the various battles that took place on the Atlanta campaign. There his term of enlistment expired and he was dis- charged after three long and trying years of service in camp and on the field.
Upon leaving the army, our subject returned to his father and remained with him, farming the old homestead until his marriage, which took place November 4, 1869, when he was wedded to Miss Angeline, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Alder, who were natives respectively of Madison County and of Pennsylvania, both coming of the old pioneer stock of this State. Mrs. High was born in Canaan Township, August 29, 1847, and was reared to womanhood in this township. After his marriage, Mr. High located on a rented farm, which he gave up a year and a half later for one of his
James Zimmerman
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
own. Mrs. High was born in Canaan Township August 29, 1847. and was there reared to woman- hood. Iler marriage to our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of four daughters and three sons, named respectively, Delia, Lizzie, Laura, Etta, Walter, Hosea and Harry, all of whom are still members of the family circle except Lizzie, who is deceased, and all were born on the farm that has always been their home.
After marriage, Mr. High first located on a rented farm, which he gave up a year and a half later for one of his own, also situated in Canaan Township, which is still in his possession. It comprises one hundred and forty-seven acres of land that is ex- ceedingly fertile, is well tilled, and is provided with modern improvements. It is admirably adapted to general farming purposes, and its fields yield abundant harvests, while its rich pastures afford good feed for the stock that is here raised. Mr. High is unswerving in his loyalty to the Dem- ocratie party. Religiously, he is a member in high standing of the Universalist Church, the society to which he belongs worshipping in Alder Chapel, in Jefferson Township. He is prominent socially as a member of the Andrew Burrus Post, G. A. R. and of West Jefferson Lodge No. 221. A. F. and A. M.
AMES L. ZIMMERMAN, LL. B., attorney- at-law in Washington C. Il., has been act- ively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession since the fall of 1884, and has his office in a pleasant suite of rooms in the Yeo- man Block. We invite the reader's attention to his portrait and the following sketch of his life. Hle is a native of Fayette County and was born February 7, 1860, on the farm which is still the home of his parents. His education was commenced in the district and public schools of Washington C. H., and completed in the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity at Delaware.
The legal profession proved so fascinating to the peculiar ability and mental acquirements of Mr. Zimmerman that he resolved to commence its
study. Accordingly. he entered the law school at Cincinnati and was graduated in 1881, after which he at once established an office in Washington C. H., forming a partnership with J. B. Priddy. A branch office was opened at Mt. Sterling, Ohio, of which our subject afterward assmned entire charge. On the removal of Mr. Priddy to the West in the spring of 1886, the connection was dissolved, since which time Mr. Zimmerman has conducted his practice alone.
Although the law is his chosen profession and he considers faithful attention to his practice his first duty, Mr. Zimmerman, nevertheless, finds time for other interests, both of a public and private nature. Ile superintends the management of the farm which he owns in Fayette County and derives a good income from its rental. He is Secretary of the Cincinnati Southern Loan Company and holds other positions of trust and honor. His library is one of the finest in the county and contains a large number of rare and valuable books of a gen- eral, as well as legal, character, and he has also the finest collection of art works in the county.
A biography of Mr. Zimmerman would be of lit- tle value to him did it not contain extended men- tion of his father, who has been one of the most enterprising citizens of Fayette County since he settled here in his early manhood. Obediah Zim- merman was born on Twin Creek. in Ross County, Ohio, October 14, 1811, and was the son of Andrew and Ruth (Taylor) Zimmerman, natives of Mary- land. He received his education in the subserip- tion schools of that early day and remained with his father, aiding in the work of developing the farm, until his marriage to Miss Naney Simmons. He then purchased a traet of land in the southern part of Fayette County, near New Martinsburgh. and remained there until 1857. when he moved to Umon Township, this county, his present home, and began the task of clearing and cultivating the soil.
After the death of his first wife. Obediah Zim- merman was married, May 14. 1850, to Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Isaac House. Her grandmother was an annt of President James K. Polk. Six children were born of that union: Margaret Caro- line, born March 18, 1851. became the wife of Al-
38
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bert P. Kilgore, of Fayette County, November 18, 1875; John Jefferson, who was born February 23, 1853, married Emma Fisher. February 21, 1882, and resides in Fayette County; Isaac Newton, whose birth occurred June 10, 1855, is a farmer in this county; Amanda Ann, born April 2, 1857, became the wife of Ashley Wood, March 11, 1875; our subject was the next in order of birth; Clara E., born May 22, 1862, was married February 21, 1882, to the Rev. Joseph Griffeth, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The father lived on the old farm until after the birth of three children, when he located at his present home, and here he and his faithful wife have lived and labored for thirty-five years. They are sincere members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Elizabeth Zimmerman was born November 24, 1825, and was reared to woman- hood in the pioneer home which her father established in Fayette County in March, 1807. She is a devoted wife and mother, and ever upper- most in her thoughts are the interests of her hus- hand and children.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Isaac House, was born November 3, 1847, and died Jan- uary 21, 1850. He removed from Shenandoah County, Va., to Ohio in 1807, and took up a tract of land, now a part of the Zimmerman homestead, when it was an entire wilderness, with the nearest neighbors three miles distant. His marriage united him with Mary Ann Winegardner and took place in Fairfield County in March, 1823. Mrs. House was born in Pendleton County, Va., February 2, 1790, and died September 29, 1831.
Four children were born of their union, namely: Elizabeth Jane, of whom mention has already been made; Charity Ann, born March 1, 1827, is the wife of C. C. Plyley; Caroline, born September 14, 1828, is the wife of James G. Beatty, of Seldon; John, born April 25, 1831, died January 1, 1866. The last-named at his death left a widow and four children, as follows: L. F. House, M. D., of Adams County; Clara E. Seaburn, who resides in Fayette County; Allie E., Mrs. Langdon, and Ulysses S., who reads law in the office of our subject and passed his examination for admission to the Bar at Columbus, in October, 1891.
There was an agreement in the Winegardner family that those who married were to have no share in the family estate, while those who re- mained single were to have the whole of the for- tune. The last unmarried member of the family died recently, leaving an estate valued at more than $500,000, which reverted to the heirs of the family. They are known as one of the wealthiest and most widely-known families of Fairfield County, and for generations have been identified with its growth.
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R. RALPH MORDEN. Few, perhaps none, save those who have trod the arduous paths of the profession, can picture to themselves the array of attributes, physical, mental and moral, and the host of minor graces of manner and person, essential to the making of a truly successful phy- sician. His constitution must needs be of the hardiest to withstand the constant shock of wind and weather, the wearing loss of sleep and rest, the ever-gathering load of care, the insidious ap- proach of every form of fell disease to which his daily round of duties momently exposes him. Such a physician we find in the person of Dr. Ralph Morden, who is one of the oldest homeopathists in Circleville.
The Doctor is a native of London, Ontario, born August 8, 1852, the son of Andrew B. Mor- den, and the grandson of the Rev. Ralph Morden. The great-great-grandfather, Ralph Morden, was born in Yorkshire, England, and was a Quaker in his religious views. He came to America about 1742, and settled in New Jersey or Delaware, where he followed agricultural pursuits. During the Revolutionary War, he would not fight, and was prosecuted. The family then moved to Can- ada, his son John, the grandfather of our sub- ject, being then sixteen years of age. They lo- cated on the present site of Dundas, and received a grant of one thousand acres of land. Here John grew to manhood, married, and his son Ralph, grandfather of our subject, was the first white child born in Dundas. The latter had seven
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brothers and two sisters and each drew two hun- dred acres of land in London Township, Middle- sex County. This land was then a wilderness, and they began at once to clear it and make im- provements. Near this is now a city of thirty- five thousand inhabitants. This made the Mordens nearly all farmers.
Ralph Morden became a Methodist minister and an earnest worker in that church. He was promi- nent in his calling and was also a great temper- anee worker, being an officer in the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars. lle lived to the age of seventy-eight years. The fa- ther of our subject grew to manhood in Canada, but later sold his share of the old site and lo- cated in Ridgetown, Ontario, where he lives at the present time. Although sixty-eight years of age, time has dealt leniently with him, and he is strong and active. The Morden family is a prominent one in Canada, and Mr. Morden is an active member of the Methodist Church, in which he has been Class-leader for years. Ile married Miss Elizabeth Brown, a native of Halifax, daugh- ter of William Brown, who was of English-Scotch deseent. Grandfather Brown was a ship-builder, which occupation he followed in his native eoun- try, England, until his removal to Canada. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Morden, five sons and six daughters, all of whom are living.
Our subject was the eldest of this family, and he was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. When sixteen years of age, he entered the university at Belleville, Ontario, re- mained there for some time, and then entered the seminary at Komoka, where he remained for eight months. At the age of eighteen, he engaged in teaching school, and, as he had from the early age of ten years cherished a desire to study medicine. he entered upon a course of study with Dr. R. J. P. Morden, of London, in 1871, when little past the age of nineteen years. In the fall of 1873, he entered the Homeopathy Medical College. at New York, and was graduated from that institution in 1875, with the degree of M. D. Ile after- ward located at Exeter, practiced there for one year, and then, on account of ill-health, having recovered from a severe attack of typhoid fever.
he located, in the spring of 1877. in Grove Port, Franklin County. Ohio, where he practiced for about seven years. He was the first homeopathic physician in that town. He was married there, in 1879, to Miss Lenora C. Stine, a native of this town.
On the 1st of November, 1883, Dr. and Mrs. Morden located in Circleville, Ohio, and the former bought ont Dr. JJ. C. King and continued the practice. He is the leading homeopathic phy- sieian in the city, and his ability as a physician and surgeon is well known. He is located on Court Street, opposite the Opera House. He is a member of the Independent Order of Good Tem- plars in this place, having joined in 1887, and is a very prominent temperance man. The Doctor is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. Ile has been President of the Central Committee of Pickaway County, and served as Secretary for two years. In 1889, he was nominated for Repre- sentative and ran far ahead of his ticket. He has been a delegate to the State Convention, and is a member of the Homeopathie Medical Society of the State. His marriage resulted in the birth of six children: Elizabeth, Fannie, Mary L., Jennie, Ralph (the sixth ) and Martha E.
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