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 28
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
Ilenry B. Laffer was born in Sandyville, October 11, 1833. He was early inured to the duties of farın life, and spent his youth as country boy's usu- ally do, his time being divided between attend- ing the district school and lending such assist- ance as was in his power to his father. He con- tinned to live at home until 1854, when he started out to hew his own way. He bought one hundred and thirty acres of land, which he cultivated for some nine years, when, a favorable opportunity offering, he sold out, and from that time on ward has been mainly interested in commercial lines. The small farm where is located his family resi- dence comprises twenty-two acres.
July 2, 1854, Henry Laffer married Miss Emily Carns, who was born in Pike Township, Stark
251
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
County, in May, 1835. Her parents, John and Mary (Fishier) Carns, had three children, namely: Emily, Andrew and Margaret. Both parents were twice married. John Carns was at one time an extensive landowner, owning upwards of one thou- sand acres.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Laffer has been blessed with six children, one of whom has been called from the shores of time. Elmer, the eldest surviving, married a Miss Ingleman, and now lives in Anderson County, Kan .; John married Miss Flora, of Mineral Point; Laura is the wife of James D. Cable, of Stark County; Minnie he wife of Elmer Benson; and Emma, the youngest, resides with her parents. Clara, the first-born of the fam- ily, died when five years of age. Though for yen s Mrs. Laffer was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, she now adheres to the Lutheran faith.
In former years Mr. Laffer was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is not now a member of any secret society. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and always uses his ballot in favor of his party nominces. A man of uprightness and integrity, just and honorable in his dealings with all, he merits the high respect in which he is held by his friends and neighbors.
** +
EREMIAH P. ARMSTRONG. The success which has crowned the efforts of our subject shows conclusively that he is one of the shrewdest and most intelligent of the resi- dents of Jefferson Township, Guernsey County. He is a man of much practical business talent and financial ability, and his valuable property is a standing monument to his energy. Ile, in com- pany with his brother James M., has a mercan- tile establishment in Clio, Jefferson Township, Guernsey County, and is also interested in breed- ing full-blooded Morgan horses, having in his possession "Colonel Nelson," who never had a
day's training and can show a 2:50 gait. It is one of the best bred animals in the country, and stands fifteen and three-fourths hands high.
Abraham and Mary C. (Patterson) Armstrong, parents of our subject, were among the earliest settlers in the county. The mother is still living, aged eighty-five years, and the reader will find her biography on another page in this volume. Jere- miah P. Armstrong was born February 28, 1850, and was given such an education as could be ob- tained in the district school. When twenty-four years of age he was married, August 13, 1874, to Miss M. Agnes McConnell, who died after giving birth to a daughter, Blanche, who now makes her home with her maternal grandparents, who took charge of her when she was a babe of ten days. The wife and mother passed away June 18, 1877, at the age of thirty years.
April 3, 1884, our subject was married to Miss Anice Allender, daughter of George and Margaret (Adams) Allender, who was born January 30, 1862, in Jefferson Township. The lady was one in a family of four children born to her parents, of whom William P. is at home. George M. is en- gaged in the oil business in West Virginia; and Louella, born December 1, 1870, married Wilbert Bonnell October 31, 1894. Mrs. Armstrong has two half-brothers and one half-sister, viz .: John A., David A. and Grace J.
By his marriage with Miss Allender, Mr. Arm- strong has become the father of five children: Alvin P., horn December 30, 1884; Edna G., June 6, 1887; Nancy M., June 20, 1889; Mary L., Oc- tober 9, 1891; and George Clyde, January 31, 1895. George Allender, the father of Mrs. Arm- strong, was born April 27, 1819, in Pennsylvania, and was first married to Jane Anderson, who be- came the mother of five children, two of whom died in infancy. John A., born July 3, 1851, mar- ried Miss Lavinna Moore, December 12, 1878, and their children are named, respectively, Eleanor. Wilber, Grace and Jennie. David A., the second child, was born May 30, 1853, and chose for his wife Miss Maggie MeKahan, their marriage occurring April 15, 1874. Their children are Walter G., Ida E., Blanche, Robert F., and George M. and Margaret Grace, twins. Grace J. Allender was born April
9
252
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1, 1855. The second marriage of Mr. Allender united him with Miss Adams, who was the daugh- ter of Jolin and Jane (McGuffey) Adams, natives of the Emerald Isle.
Mr. Armstrong worked for seven years in a flouring-mill, and is therefore thoroughly compe- tent to superintend every department in this line of work. Ile has held the position of Trustee of his township for two terms, and would have been the incumbent for a longer time, but he refused to serve, owing to his business interests requiring his entire time and attention. lle is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, with which his wife is also connected. Mr. Armstrong is a Republican in polities and is greatly honored by all who know him.
J ACOB MEYER, JR. The agricultural regions of America have given a foothold to many a poor young man who by reason of his de- termination to succeed, his industrious hab- its and his quick appreciation of favorable circum- stances, has overtaken Dame Fortune and won his crown. One of this class residing in Warwick Township is the gentleman above named, who is now numbered among the solid men of his town- ship, in which he commenced his career at the bot- tom round of the ladder. Ile is living retired upon his estate of two hundred and forty-six and one-half acres of finely cultivated land, upon which stands a good set of farm buildings.
A native of Pennsylvania, our subject was born in Berks County, September 20, 1823. Ile is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Miller) Meyer, also natives of the Keystone State. They were well- to-do and respected people of their locality, and both passed away in the year 1854, the father aged sixty-five years, and the mother when threescore and ten. They became the parents of eleven children, as follows: Elizabeth, Susan, Esther, Tina. Hannah, Samuel, Elizabeth (the second of the name), Will-
iam, Jacob (of this sketchi), Sarah and John. All are deceased with the exception of our subject and Tina.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer made settlement in this township in 1843, and were classed among its best residents up to the time of their death. They were farmers by occupation, and although in limited circumstances, gave their children the best advan- tages for securing educations that the locality and times afforded. They were excellent members of the Lutheran Church, and active in all good works.
Our subject was trained to a thorough knowl- edge of farm pursuits, and remained under the pa- rental roof until ready to establish a home of his own. In 1847 he was married to Miss Julia Siron, who died seven years later, when in her twenty- seventh year. Their family included a daughter, Eliza A., who is also deceased. The following year Mr. Meyer chose for his second companion Mrs. Susanna B. Siron, the widow of William Si- ron. She was born in Tuscarawas County in 1827, and was the daughter of Jolin and Rebecca (Fair- land) Borway, whose family comprised four chil- dren, of whom she was the youngest. ller only surviving brother is John, residing in Rush Town- ship, Tuscarawas County, George and Edward he- ing deceased.
To our subject and his estimable wife were born seven children. Frank, the eldest, is engaged in farming in Warwick Township; Elizabeth is de- ceased; Alice is the wife of E. Munnich, a miner of the above township; Annie married H. Eickel, and makes her home in Trenton, this state; Jacob is living on a portion of the old homestead; and Dollie and Clara are deceased.
When commencing life on his own responsibil- ity, Mr. Meyer leased a farm which he worked to good advantage for two years, when he was en- abled to make a purchase of twenty-five acres. This tract he cultivated for eighteen months, and being offered a good price for it, sold out and be- came the owner of forty acres in the same locality. This was in his possession for five years, when he traded it and paid $1,600 in money for one hun- dred acres of what is now the old homestead. He has always been very successful in all his under- takings, and being a wide-awake and progressive
253
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
agriculturist, made good use of all the latest im- proverrents in the way of machinery and farm implements, and increased his acreage, until to- day he is one of the large land-owners of the county. Financially speaking he is a self-made man, having begun his career in life with no other capital than that embraced in his brain, his will- power and his physical ability.
Mr. Meyer, politically, is one of the most intelli- gent supporters of the Democratic party in this vicinity. He has always taken an active part in public affairs, and has served in the position of Township Supervisor and also as a member of the School Board. Ile is an honest, upright man, a consistent member of the Lutheran Church, of which he is Deacon, and is well and favorably known in the county where the best years of his life have been spent.
r
H ON. SIMPSON HARMOUNT, deceased. Tuscarawas County was and is the home of quite a number of men who were thrown upon their own resources at an early age, and whose natural aptness and energy were developed and strengthened by contact with the world, re- sulting in making their lives more than ordinarily successful in worldly prosperity and in winning re- spect. Among this number was llon. Simpson Harmount, of Canal Dover, who not only obtained a competency, but won an honorable record in legislative halls and as a private citizen. He was long influential in the social and political life of his state, and was a potent factor in advancing its commerce, agriculture and material- interests gen- erally. For many years a resident of Canal Do- ver, he departed this life November 14, 1891, mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaint- ances.
The paternal ancestors of our subject were IIu- guenots, and were driven by the religious persecu- tions of the sixteenth century from France into
Holland, and thence followed the fortunes of the Prince of Orange into Ireland. On his mother's side he was of Scotch origin, his ancestors having settled in County Londonderry, and participated in the defense of that city at the famous siege of 1689. The mother, whose maiden name was Eliza- beth Simpson, was the daughter of William Simp- son, of the town of Coleraine, where her birth took place.
The parents of our subject were united in mar- riage January 15, 1805, and the following year boarded a vessel which conveyed them to the United States, landing in Philadelphia in Decem- ber, 1806. They made that city their home until 1835, when we find them located with their family in Tusearawas County, where the father died in March, 1842. His good wife survived him many years, passing away in January, 1870.
In political affiliation Simpson Harmount was always a Democrat, and held many positions of trust and responsibility, in the discharge of the duties of which he exhibited an inflexible integrity of character which early secured for him the en- tire confidence of the people. In 1849, soon after attaining his majority, he was appointed Collector of Tolls on the Ohio Canal at this place, by the State Board of Public Works, and was the efficient incumbent of that position for a period of four years. Later he served the people of Tuscarawas County as their Treasurer, and likewise represented the Eighteenth Senatorial District, comprising the counties of Coshocton and Tuscarawas, in the Ohio Senate. 1Iis great popularity is also indicat- ed by the fact that he served from January, 1869, to the time of his death as a member of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, and during four years of the time was its Treasurer. His record was that of a man interested in public improvements, lib- eral in his views regarding appropriations, but averse to extravagance or fraud. Mr. Harinount was admitted to the Bar in 1872, and was at once recognized by the profession as one of its leading lights.
The marriage of the llon. Simpson Harmonnt and Miss Isabella Noble was celebrated August 17, 1858. The lady was the daughter of Thomas Noble, of Stark County, this state. Mrs. Ilar-
254
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mount was born in Westmoreland County, Eng- land, February 1, 1833, and was brought to Amer- ica by her parents on their emigration the same year. Mr. Noble located on a farm in Stark Coun- ty, which still remains in the possession of the family.
To our subject and his estimable wife there was born a family of three daughters, bearing the re- spective names of Elizabeth S., Isabella N. and Anna L. The latter died in infancy. The wife and mother departed this life December 9, 1863. Mr. Harmount was a gentleman of very refined sensibilities and polished manner, and was the very soul of honor. Stanch in principle, clear in perception, and decided in character, he deserved the good things which came to him and the high character for probity which years of intimate busi- ness and social acquaintance brought him.
**
OHN DASHWOOD TUDOR BOLD, one of the enterprising lawyers of Canal Dover, is rapidly working his way to the front rank in his profession. His determination is most marked, and his application to the business in hand close and systematic. As a speaker he is forcible, elegant, enthusiastic and at times witty.
A native of England, our subject was born in Boness, Cumberlandshire, August 22, 1859. He is the son of John T. J. and Anna ( Lewis) Bold, na- tives, respectively, of the Isle of Wight (Hampshire) and Lancashire. The father was very prominent in his county, and was an officer in the regular army until he exchanged his commission for one in the Excise, when he was sent to Ireland, and for thirty years had charge of the Excise for the Eng- lish Government in the county of Donegal. Can- didates for this position were chosen from among
the gentlemen and scholars of that day. The father died in the Emerald Isle, and his widow was granted a special pension by the English Govern- ment until her demise.
The parental family included four sons and five daughters. John D. T. was a lad of fifteen years when he made the journey alone across the Atlan- tic. Ile at once found his way to Pennsylvan in, and for over two years was engaged in the an- thracite coal-mines at Harleigh, Luzerne County,. his duties being to drive a mule hauling the coal to the bottom of the slope inside: In 1877, the mines being compelled to close down, young Bold was thrown out of employment, together with hundreds of men, and at once started out to look for work, tramping through the states of Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, West Virginia and New York, and for three months did not know what it was to sleep in a bed. Having but $8.05 in his pocket when he commenced his long journey, he found himself, ere long, "broke," but, nothing daunted, plodded along, and at the end of several months found work on the Pittsburg Division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Broad Ford, Pa., carrying water to the section men, receiving for bis labors eighty cents per day; but he soon got promoted to be section hand at $1.00 per day, and in this position he worked two years and a- half. While in the above place, young Bold got acquainted with the station agent, who employed him to work for him after his day's labor was over. Being very observant and apt in gaining knowledge, while at work around the telegraph office in the evening, he soon "picked up" tele- graphing. Ilis next thought was that he would like to be a locomotive engineer, therefore, com- mencing at the bottom of the business, he was flagman on a freight train, then brakeman, then got wiping engines, and finally was made fireman, taking care, however, to employ his spare time in listening to the click of the messages flying over the wires.
The Master Mechanic took a great hiking to young Bold, because of his sobriety and steadfast- ness, and secured a situation for him as telegraph operator, in which capacity he worked first as night hand, and was afterward promoted to be day
255
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
operator. Soon after the completion of the Valley Railroad in Ohio, a friend told him he thought he could secure a position on it, which he did, at Botzum, seven miles north of Akron. He worked in that place for nine months, when he was pro- moted and removed to Brecksville, sixteen miles from Cleveland, also having his salary increased at this time. After spending six months at the above place, Mr. Bold was again promoted and sent to the freight office in Canton as operator and head bill clerk, holding that position for a period of eleven months. Next, upon the completion of the road southward, he was made agent v. she Mineral Point office, where he was stationed for five years, being agent for the American and Adams Express Companies as well.
Although finding his occupation a very pleasant and congenial one, our subject readily saw there was not much chance for future promotion, and therefore resolved to try some other line of busi- ness. Settling upon the legal profession, he offered his resignation to the company September 1, 1887. He had formerly made the acquaintance of Pros- ecuting Attorney J. F. Wilkin by his being de- layed on one occasion at the station, and who, leaving his address, asked him to pay him a visit at his home in New Philadelphia. The opportun- ity now presenting itself, Mr. Bold went to New Philadelphia, and September 20 of the above year entered the office of Mr. Wilkin, carrying on his legal studies until the following year, when he entered the Union College of Law at Chicago, the law department of Northwestern University. Ile took the junior course in that institution, and during his nine months' attendance did not miss a recitation and always received the mark of perfect in studies. The following year he at- tended the Cincinnati Law School, from which he was graduated with the Class of '90, and at the final examination for admission to the Bar by the State Board of Examiners, Mr. Bold stood second in a class of one hundred and three men examined at the time, there being but one-fifth of one per cent. between himself and the gentleman who re- ceived the highest mark. Mr. Bold was one of eight men selected by the faculty to represent the elass at commencement, and was much astonished
on hearing his name called flrst, thus giving him the honors of the class.
When ready to begin the practice of his profes- sion, Mr. Bold located in Canal Dover, in Novem- ber, 1890. He has built up a large clientage and ranks high among the learned men in his profes- sion at the Ohio Bar. November II, 1891, he was married to Miss Lucy, second daughter of James R. Emerson, of New Philadelphia, and to them has been born a son, Harold.
In his political relations our subject is a stanch Democrat. Socially tie is prominent in the frater- nity of Odd Fellows, and also is a member of the Masonic order.
EORGE DEARDORFF is one of the ener- getic young men of Canal Dover, who is making the best of his opportunities, de- termined, if hard work will win, to occupy a prom- inent position in life. He is a native of this city, and was born April 28, 1871, to Isaac R. and Mary A. (Herring) Deardorff, natives respectively, of this county and of Germany.
The father of our subject was an honest, hard- working man, whose estimable character and use- ful life secured for him the respect and deep re- gard of all who knew him. Ile departed this life April 25, 1886, in this city, at the age of forty- four years, four months and one day.
George, of this sketch, obtained a fair education in the public schools of his native city, and when reaching his seventeenth year began to make his way in the world. His first employment was in the Reeves Rolling-mills, where he performed faithful service for his employers for a period of three years, At the expiration of that time he ob- tained work at the depot of the Cleveland & Pitts- burg Road, first making himself generally useful as office clerk. As time advanced be became more closely identified with the work of the company, and was recognized by that corporation as one of its efficient and loyal employes.
When ready to establish a home of his own, Mr. Deardorff was married, March 28, 1894, to Miss Iva
256
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mitchell. The lady is the daughter of William and Charity Mitchell, natives of Ohio. The former is now section foreman for the Cleveland & Pitts- burg Railroad, and has held that position for some time. Both our subject and his estimable wife are members in excellent standing of the English Lutheran Church, and are held in good repute by all who know them. In politics Mr. Deardorff is independent, reserving his right to vote for the man whom he considers will best fill the position, regardless of party.
ILLIAM HI. MCCULLOUGH, an enter- prising young business man of Cam- bridge, is one of the native sons of the Buckeye State. His active career in the com- mercial world has been necessarily a brief one, but he is industrious, and untiring in his efforts to please his employers and merits their commenda- tion, which he frequently receives. In everything relating to the welfare of the community in which he makes his home he takes a great interest, as a true citizen should. In political faith he is allied with the Republican party, and never fails to cast his ballot in favor of its nominees.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Mccullough, was born in County Roscommon, Irc- land. When about twenty-two years of age he volunteered in the standing army of the Govern- ment, and was sent to India, where he served fora term of years, receiving an honorable discharge soon after his return home. For his wife he chose Miss Margaret Gilmore, and of their union one son only was born.
Thomas MeCullough, the son in question, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, in 1841, and re- ceived a common-school education in his boyhood. In 1859 he married Miss Eliza Graham, who was a native of County Roscommon. Soon after their marriage the young couple emigrated to the Uni-
ted States and settled in the village of Niles, Trum- bull County, Ohio. Later they became residents of Canal Dover, Tuscarawas County, afterward of New Philadelphia (where they resided some five years), and in the year 1891 finally removed to Cambridge, where they are still living. Thomas Mccullough is the general superintendent of the Cambridge Iron and Steel Works, one of the lead- ing industries of this section of the country. The parents are much respected citizens of this place, and enjoy the friendship of all who know them. Their family numbered eleven children, eight of whom are living. Their names are as follows: Joseph, Thomas J., Jr., William H., Arthur, Al- fred J., Carlos George, Elizabeth and Mabel May. John, Edward and Wallace are deceased.
The birth of William H. Mccullough, the third surviving son of Thomas and Eliza Mccullough, occurred at Niles, Trumbull County, February 13, 1866. IIe was given good educational advantages in the common schools of his native village, and later, after his family's removal to Canal Dover, he attended its excellent high schools. When about eighteen he began working in the New Phil- adelphia Iron and Steel Works, remaining in the employ of that company for about five years. In 1891 he was employed by the Cambridge Iron and Steel Works and still remains with this establish- ment. He is a practical workman, and carries to successful completion everything he undertakes. llis employers always feel confident that lie is working for their good, and accordingly value his services.
November 16, 1891, Mr. McCullongh was mar- ried in New Philadelphia to Miss Emma E., daugli- ter of John and Eliza (Von Bergen) Nagley. To the young couple have been born three children. Edwin Ray was born August 22, 1892, and in June, 1894, twin daugliters were born, who died in in- fancy. Mrs. McCullough's parents were of German birthi, and emigrated to the United States soon after they were married, arriving in New York, and soon after removing to New Philadelphia, Tusca- rawas County, Ohio, where they now reside.
Socially our subject is a member of Cambridge Lodge No. 301, I. O. O. F .; Circle No. 159, P. H. C .; and of Cambridge Lodge No. 53, K. of P. He
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.