USA > Ohio > Guernsey County > Portrait and biographical record of Guernsey County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States > Part 20
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Company K, and sent to Columbus, where he was placed on detailed duty for six months in the de- partment of transportation. During his entire army service his headquarters were at Columbus, though he was absent most of the time at other points. He made trips to Nashville, Chattanooga, Vicksburg and Atlanta, at the latter point meet- ing Sherman's army on their march to the sea. His business was to escort recruits to points where they were needed, and on his return bring back pris- oners.
The last expedition on which our subject was sent was to Wilmington, S. C. Finding the vessel crowded in which he had intended to take passage for New York, he, with others of the troops, was transferred to the "General Sedgwick," a fine new transport. This was about the 1st of April, 1865. The crowded ship was bound for Fortress Monroe, but while off Cape llatteras it took fire and burned to the water's edge. There were fif- teen hundred passengers on hoard, consisting of soldiers and southern families, and all of this num- ber, with the exception of twenty-nine Union sol- diers, lost their lives. The Union men were res- eued by our subject and others of the " General Sedgwick," which went as near to the burning vessel as possible, the sea running very high. This experience was a terrible one, never to be forgotten by an eye-witness, and our subject has often remarked that he would rather have passed through all the battles of the war. The " General Sedgwick" arrived in New York City in safety, but our subject was very sick, his illness having resulted from the exposure to which he had been subject while saving the lives of the rescued men from the burning vessel. Returning to Columbus, he was there discharged, May 9, 1865. In his de- partment of the service promotions were not in order, though much of the time he held the rank of sergeant.
Until 1867 Mr. Niederheiser engaged at his for- mer occupation as a wagon-maker, and in the last- mentioned year went to New Philadelphia. There he made his residence for some three years, after which, in 1870, he came to Blakes Mills. For the past quarter of a century of his residence in this place his time has been largely occupied in work-
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ing at his trade. He has been successful in the acquisition of a competence, as he is industrious and a thorough workman.
August 4, 1857, our subject married Ann Schny- der. The lady is a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Grunig) Schnyder. The former is de- ceased, but his wife is still living, in the enjoy- ment of good bealth, and makes her home with her daughter Ann. To Mr. and Mrs. Niederheiser have been born four children: Bertha, who became the wife of Rev. Thomas Scantleburg, of the Methodist Episcopal Church; John R., conductor on the Cin- cinnati, Lebanon & Northern Railway; Fred L., engineer on the "Big Four;" and Franc L., County Surveyor of Ashland County, Ohio. Mrs. Scantle- burg has three children, Mabel, Ralph and Lucy, the latter of whom lives with her grandparents. Mr. Scantleburg was called to his final rest June 12, 1891.
Our subject is a member of Andrew Crawford Post No. 6, G. A. R., and is also identified with the Union Veteran League. He and his estimable wife are members of the German Reformed Church, and active workers in various benevolent organ- izations. Our subject reflects credit upon the land of his birth and the land of his adoption, for he is a true patriot and devoted to the best inter- ests of the community in which his home is made.
OHN C. DONAHEY, ex-County Clerk of Tuscarawas County, is an active worker in the ranks of the Democratic party, and since attaining his majority has frequently been sent as a delegate to local conventions. While serving as a county official he acquitted himself to the full satisfaction of his constituents, as was shown by his being continued so long in the place. As a citizen he is held in great esteem, and is one of the foremost men of New Philadel- phia.
James Donahey, the father of John C., was a native of Pennsylvania, but removed with his
parents to this county while quite young. His father, James, Sr., a farmer, was a native of Ire- land, who came to the United States at an early day, settling near Pittsburg, Pa. James, Jr., served during the late War of the Rebellion, being a teamster in the army, and the senior James was a soldier in the War of 1812.
For many years James Donahey, Jr., operated a farm in Perry Township, where he died in his eiglity-second year. He was a Democrat, and held a number of township positions on various occa- sions. Religiously he was identified with the Presbyterian denomination. His wife, whose girl- hood name was Isabel McCoy, was a native of this county and of Irish parentage. Her father was a farmer in Perry Township. Mrs. Donahey died at the age of forty-eight years, leaving a large number of friends and acquintances who deeply mourned her loss. Of her thirteen children twelve grew to maturity. In the order of their birth they were as follows: Nancy (deceased), Isabel, Robert M. (deceased), Cassie, Jane, Mary, James M., John C., Jesse F., Philander (deceased), Elsie A. and Amanda.
The birth of our subject occurred October 13, 1845, in Perry Township, and with his parents he continued to make his home until he was twenty- six years of age. His early education was obtained in the public schools, after which he completed his studies in Hagerstown Academy. When eighteen years old he procured a certificate to teach, and continued in this profession for about twelve years. For the next twelve years his attention was given to the stock business, in which he met with dis- tinct success. His father, who owned a valuable farm of two hundred and fifty acres, raised and dealt in stock, and in this manner his son had ac- quired a practical knowledge of the business. A portion of his time during the twelve years last mentioned was devoted to farming in Perry Township.
In the fall of 1887 Mr. Donahey was elected to the position of County Clerk on the Democratic ticket, and served so faithfully that he was re-elected to the position. In the fall of 1890 he was returned to the office, receiving a majority of eleven hundred and fifty votes, and continued to serve until Au-
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gust, 1894. For about eight years he was Township Clerk of Perry Township, and had the honor of being the first Mayor of the village of West Ches- ter, at the same time acting as Justice of the Peace. Since his last term of office expired he has not been actively engaged in any particular line of work, but will doubtless soon embark in a new en- terprise.
March 21, 1871, our subject was married, in Perry Township, to Kate L., daughter of Jacob and Harriet (Titus) Cheney, old settlers of this county. Three sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dona- hey, as follows: Alvin V., a printer by trade; James H., who has also learned the printer's trade,
but is now in the art school at Cleveland; and John W. James H. has developed quite a talent as an artist, and has for his special aim the desire to become a magazine or press illustrator. Ilis fa- ther possesses many specimens of his handiwork. which plainly show great ability and promise for the young man. The pleasant and commodious home of our subject is the abode of hospitality, and its doors are always wide open for the entertain- ment of their many friends. In company with his wife, he holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, and belongs to Equity Lodge No. 73, K. of P.
ISAAC W. HALL.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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ISAAC W. HALL.
I SAAC W. HALL, deceased, was for nearly fifty years associated with the history of Millwood Township and Quaker City, and perhaps did more than any other man in causing the latter to grow from an unpretentious hamlet to a thriving and enterprising place. For years he was con- nected in one capacity or another with the Cen- tral Ohio Railroad, now leased and operated by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and was at the time of his death a stockholder and Director. One of the promoters of the Quaker City National Bank, he was for a time President of that institution, and was also a Director of the old Guernsey Bank at Washington, and the Central National Bank of Cambridge. He was President of the Quaker City Window Glass Company, and interested in many other local industries. After a life of usefulness and benelit to his fellow-townsmen he was called to his final rest, May 29, 1886.
The great-grandfather of our subject was Isaac Hall, who was born April 12, 1748, and was one of three children (the others being Moses and Joseph) born to Moses and Elizabeth Hall, natives of Eng- land. The former was killed accidentally at a mill, and, according to the old English law then prevailing in North Carolina, the eldest son inher- ited all of the real estate. Isaac, a small and sickly boy of twelve years, was turned out upon the world to make his own living as best he could. Seven years later he regained his health and was never again sick until his last illness, his death oc- curring at the age of eighty-five years and eleven months. He married Ann, daughter of Joseph and Gulyelma White, and seven children were born to them: Joseph, born December 4, 1772; Elizabeth, March 14, 1775; Anna, February 20, 1777; Mir-
iam, July 31, 1779; Isaac, August 4, 1782; John, October 24, 1784; and Moses, October 30, 1789. The parents lived for several years after their mar- riage in their native state, and after removing to Wayne County, N. C., tlience started for Ohio on the 25th of May, 1805. The journey was made in one-horse carts, and their destination, Belmont County, was reached on the 26th of June follow- ing. With the exception of Anna and her brother Moses, their children were all married in North Carolina. Anna subsequently married Joseph Dodd. and after ber mother's death resumed hier place in the household. They worshiped with the Quakers, who held meetings at Stillwater, and for twenty- eight years Isaac Hall was a punctual attendant. His second marriage took place at Plainfield, De- cember 24, 1807, to Dina Plummer, who died in November, 1828. In theautumn of the following year the husband went to live with his son John, under whose roof his death occurred March 6, 1834.
John Hall, our subject's father, was in his twen- ty-first year when lie came to the Buckeye State, and in August, 1806, lie took up a building site on section 13, this township, then a part of Noble County. For days he slept at the root of an oak tree, and lived on wild turkey, which abounded, and the bacon, loaf of bread and cornmeal which he brought from his father's home. After four days' work lie made a sufficient clearing to build a cabin, and was assisted therein by the pioneers, Joli Reed, Joseph Williams, Jolin Pervus, and a colored man named Charles Mewson. To his hum- ble home he brought his bride, Phœbe, daughter of John and Hannah Webster. Their marriage was celebrated August 26, 1807, at a meeting of
6
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Friends at Stillwater. They had a family of eight children. Cyrus, born May 31, 1808, died June 16, 1884; Isaac W. was born July 15, 1810; Thomas, born February 14, 1812, died September 28, 1881; John P., born August 26, 1815, died May 5, 1890; Ilannah A., born August 3, 1817, died May 22,1837; Eli, born June 7, 1819, died August 1, 1891; Jesse, born August 31, 1821, died April 7, 1847; and Eliza, born September 22, 1824, is the only sur- vivor.
After receiving the scanty education which the common schools of his day afforded, Isaac W. Hall became interested in merchandising in the town of Millwood, now Quaker City, where his old store is still standing. He possessed rare bus- iness ability, and at the same time was upright in all his dealings. From the first he prospered, and as the town extended its boundaries his own in- come increased. He was an enthusiastic Republi- can and a man of public spirit. In religion he ad- hered to the faith of his fathers and was prominent in the Society of Friends.
In 1840 Isaac Hall married Margaret Thomas, and their daughter, Phœbe, is now the wife of Hugh Keenan. After the death of his first wife Mr. Hall married Elizabeth Vail. Their union was blessed with two children, Eliza V. and John R. The former died in childhood, and John R. is President of the Quaker City National Bank, hav- mg succeeded his father. In 1862 Mr. Hall wed- ded Sarah Gomery, who survives him, and by her he had one child, who died in infancy.
J AMES W. SMALLWOOD. The profession of law claims some of the brightest minds of the age, and in the prominence of her repre- sentatives of this class Cambridge is behind no other city. In the affable gentleman whose name introduces this sketch may be found one who thoroughly understands the vexed questions which only legal minds can unravel, and who is meeting with great success in his practice. Ile located in
Cambridge April 22, 1890, since which time he bas built up a good practice here.
Mr. Smallwood was born in Vinton County, this state, June 11, 1858, and is the son of Peter and Mary (Baker) Smallwood, natives, respectively, of Ross and Vinton Counties. Grandfather William Smallwood was born in Virginia and was the first of that name to locate in Ohio. This was in 1800, at a time when Ross County was all woodland, and Chillicothe was a small village. His object in coming hither was to acquire a good property from the cultivation of the fertile soil of the Buckeye State, and in this venture he was not disappointed.
To Peter and Mary Smallwood there were born five children, of whom our subject was the young- est but one. Sarah became the wife of Caleb Dix- on, a miller of Ross County; William .J. is engaged in farming in Vinton County, this state; Simon P. met his death while on a hunting expedition in the Indian Territory in 1886, at the age of thirty- one years; and Zoa is now the wife of E. S. Ray, M. D., of Hamden Junction, Vinton County.
The original of this sketch first attended the common schools of his native place, and being de- sirous of gaining further knowledge, began teach- ing in the fall of 1879, and continued till 1887. In 1880 he graduated from the Ladoga School, in the teachers' course; in 1883 he graduated in the scientific course, with the degree of B. S., at the National Normal University of Lebanon, Ohio; and in 1888 he graduated in the law course at the same university with the degree of LL. B., and was ad- mitted to practice at the Bar. In the fall of 1888 he gave attention to his professional duties first in Chilheothe, where he lived for about eighteen months, and then came to Cambridge, where he is well and favorably known.
Mr. Smallwood was married, October 18, 1888, to Jessie K., daughter of Osborn Beal, of Monroe Township, Guernsey County. She is descended from an old and highly esteemed family, which originally came from Pennsylvania. Two chil- dren have been the result of the union of our sub- ject and his wife, Homer G. and Mary Helen. Po- litically Mr. Smallwood is a stanch advocate of Republican principles, and in 1894 was Secretary of the County Republican Executive Committee
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and Chairman of the Board of Deputy State Sup- ervisors of Elections. He is a member of the Ma- sonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities, in both of which orders he has held official positions.
OL. GEORGE II. HILDT, one of the most popular citizens of Canal Dover, is one of the brave veterans of the War of the Re- bellion. Ile enlisted as a private soldier, but on account of gallantry and merit was soon promoted, and thus continued until he was given his present title. Ile enlisted in the early part of the war, and served until the fall of 1864, when he was obliged to resign on account of broken health. His serv- ice was very arduous, and was spent in several of the most important campaigns of the war. Of late years he has been Pension Claim Agent in this place, and has also dealt to some extent in real es- táte. His first Presidential ballot was cast for Fre- mont, and since that time he has been one of the ardent supporters of the Republican party.
Rev. John Hildt, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Poland, September 21, 1775, and died at Canal Dover, April 4, 1862. He had just completed his education when his country became a theater of war. The infamous combina- tion of the Russian, Prussian and Austrian Gov- ernments to conquer and divide Poland had ex- cited the indignant feelings of its people, and among the youth who rushed to sustain Kosciusko in his efforts to rescue his country was young Hildt. Ile followed the fortunes of that brave leader until the disastrous battle of Warsaw, where ten thousand patriots fought for eight hours against fifty thousand Russians: Kosciusko had previously fallen and been taken prisoner, but his spirit animated his followers. Mr. Hildt had the choice of two evils: to surrender and be murdered by the Russians, or run the risk of drowning in the Vistula. He chose the latter, and escaped by swim- ming the river. Though all seemed lost save
honor, Hope pointed to the Star of Freedom in the Western Hemisphere. In 1800 he crossed the Atlantic and settled in Baltimore, Md., where he soon found friends, who assisted him in business, 'and he became a tanner.
In the War of 1812 the Polish hero did not re- main an idle spectator of his adopted country's struggle, but at once volunteered, became a Cap- tain, and took part in the battle of North Point, near Baltimore. In 1802 he became a member of the German Methodist Church, and soon afterward he began preaching, a vocation which he followed for about twenty years in Pennsylvania, Mary- land, Virginia and Ohio. In May, 1825, he at- tended a general conference of the United Brethren in Christ near Canal Dover, and in 1829 he joined the Muskingum Conference, and was made Pre- siding Elder. He wrote the discipline of the church and the life of Bishop Newcomer, for whom New Comerstown was named. Soon after locating in Baltimore he married, and by this marriage be- came the father of nine children. Their mother's death occurred in 1825. and later he married Mary Wolgamuth, who died May 27, 1857, aged seventy-six years, two months and seven days.
Of the children of Rev. John Hildt, the eldest, Rev. George Hildt, was at the time of his death, with one exception, the oldest minister in the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he had preached for fifty-five years. John, the father of the Colonel, was the second in the family. Daniel devoted his entire life to merchandising. Rev. Francis was a minis- ter in the United Brethren Church, and died in 1859, when in his fiftieth year. Of the three daughters, Eliza, the eldest, married Rev. John Baer, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the Baltimore Conference, and died May 17, 1875, at the age of seventy years; Mary, who never married, died in Canal Dover in August, 1862, aged forty- five years; and Eve is the wife of F. E. Keller, who lives near this place.
The birth of John ITildt occurred September 29, 1807, in Baltimore, where he continued to reside until he was eleven years of age, when, with his father's family, he removed to Martinsburg, W. Va. There he worked in his father's tannery un-
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til 1830, when he came to Ohio. In 1831 he mar- ried Maria E. Gloninger, of Baltimore, and at once took his wife to a farm lying five miles west of Canal Dover. In 1834 he became a resident of this place, and later Superintendent of the Ohio Canal, a position which he held for four years. From 1850 to 1855 he was Auditor of the county, after which his time was employed in a produce and commission business. All Republicans now living who attended the conventions from 1840 to 1870 well remember his speeches. To himself and wife were born four children, two of whom sur- vive, Mrs. W. C. Deardorff and George H. The de- inise of the father occurred in this city February 1, 1885, and his son Daniel G. died in Baltimore, Md., in May, 1887.
Col. G. H. Hildt was born in Canal Dover, Oc- tober 11, 1835, and was educated in the common schools. When fifteen years of age he entered his father's office, the latter being at the time County Auditor. In 1856 the young man obtained a po- sition as clerk in a general store at Bolivar, where he remained for two years. In the winter of 1855 he taught school and also engaged in farming, after which his time was occupied for a year in running a produce business. In 1858 he went to Kansas, where he pre-empted a quarter-section of land, which he subsequently purchased. In 1859 he kept books in St. Louis for Gaylord, Son & Co., at No. 301 North Main Street, and the following year he returned to Dover.
On the 20th of April, 1861, George II. Hildt en- listed in Company F, Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, and carried a musket for six weeks. He was pro- moted to the rank of Second Lieutenant June 5, 1861, but on account of the expiration of its term of enlistment the company was mustered out of service on the 18th of the following August. In the mean time Mr. Ifildt had gone on an expedition to Philippi, and had taken part in engagements near Bealington and Carrick's Ford in July. Au- gust 24, 1861, he recruited and was made Captain of Company I, Thirtieth Ohio, and January 28, 1862, he was promoted to be Major. At Raleigh, W. Va., he relieved Lieut .- Col. R. B. Hayes, by taking command of that post during the winter. Un- til May, 1862, he served in the Third Brigade,
Department of West Virginia, and in the First Brigade, Kanawha Division. In the Army of the Potomac and his regiment he served in Cox's division, Ninth Corps, until the month of October, 1862, and in Ewing's brigade, Army of West Vir- ginia, until December, 1862. From then to Janu- ary, 1864, he was in the Third Brigade, Second Division, Fifteenth Corps in the Army of the Ten- nessee; and was then in the Second Brigade, Sec- ond Division, of the Fifteenth Army Corps up to July 1, 1864, when he was assigned to the First Brigade of the same division and corps, in which he acted until September, 1864.
The memorial escutcheon in possession of Colonel llildt shows, in part, a record of services in tlie first year of the war as follows: September 6 to December 22, 1861, operations against bushi whack- ers and guerrillas in the vicinity of Sutton Heights, W. Va .; December 23, 1861, to February 4, 1862, duty at Fayetteville; February 5 to March 10, 1862, command of post at Raleighi C. H., W. Va. After that his record of service was as follows: Battle of Princeton, May 15, 16 and 18, 1862; Great Flat Top Mountain, May 19, 1862; from August 16 to 26, 1862, duty at Pope's headquar- ters; second battle of Bull Run, August 27 to Sep- tember 3; Monocacy, September 9 and 10; South Mountain, September 14; Antietam, September 17; and expedition to Logan C. H., November 30 to December 10. On the 31st of December, 1862, the Colonel and liis command were sent to Arkansas, and reached Helena on the 15th of the following January. From Arkansas they went to Missis- sippi, and from March 16 to 28, 1863, were in service at Steel's Bayou, in that state. From April 29 to May 2 they were at Hayne's Bluff, Miss .; and from the 20th to the 22d of the same month were in the famous battle of Vicksburg. Then came the following battles: . Jackson, July 9 to 16; Tuscumbia, Ala., October 24; Mission Ridge, No- vember 25; Dallas, May 25 to June 5, 1864; Ken- esaw Mountain, June 10 to July 2; Nicojack Creek, July 1 to 10; Atlanta, July 20 to 22; and Jones- boro, August 31 and September 1. In the assault on Vicksburg the regiment, under Colonel Hildt's command, did meritorious service, and on the 22d of May they led the attack of Sherman's army.
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For their bravery in passing the Confederate bat- teries on the 16th of April, 1863, a portion of the regiment was awarded a silver cup and highly commended for their bravery. At Vicksburg, May 22, the Colonel was wounded in the hip while leading his regiment. September 22, 1864, his re- signation on account of sickness was accepted, and he returned home.
Since the war Colonel llildt has been engaged in obtaining pensions for his former comrades and associates worthy. of Government acknowledg- ment. When Townsend was elected Secretary of State, he became Stationery Clerk, and continued to hold that office during Townsend's administra- tion. In his personal appearance the Colonel is of commanding figure, and he possesses elegant and easy manners. He is an interesting conversation- alist, and has a host of sincere friends who esteem him highly. His marriage was celebrated Novem- ber 25, 1875, with Mrs. Angeline Switzer, whose maiden name was Harbaugh. Two sons have been born of their union: John Edward, who is a stu- dent in the Ohio State University; and Frederick Townsend, a pupil in the public schools of this place. In religion the Colonel is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife be- longs to the Moravian Church.
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