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 35
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On New Year's Day, 1833, Alfred P. Shaffner, married Eliza J. White. Iler father, Joseph White, who was a tailor by trade, was a very early set- tler of this county, where he continued to live until his death, which occurred in 1846. llis wife bore the maiden name of Eliza Motte. The origi- nal spelling of the name Motte was probably Moody, and the change was owing to the intermarriage of the family with those of French origin. The White family is of Irish descent, and Joseph White was born on the ocean. llis father was a school teacher, and a man of superior education. Ile was at one time tutor to General Harrison's children, and died on that gentleman's farm at North Bend.
After his marriage, A. P. Shaffner kept a store for awhile at Brownsville, Ohio, north of Zanies- ville. Thence he removed to Senecaville, from there to Cambridge, and from there to near Browns- ville, Pa., where he ran a farm for about two years. Succeeding that period he was engaged in mer- chandising in Cambridge until he retired from active life in 1882. Ile was a Mason, and in poli- tics was a Democrat, many years later becoming a Prohibitionist.
Mrs. Eliza J. Shaffner was born April 4, 1815. During her husband's lifetime she was a true help- mate, and aided him in his work and plans. She frequently traveled with him when he went to buy goods, which were purchased mainly in Phila- delphia. The journey was made by the old Con- cord coach; and the monotony was only relieved by varying the route. Occasionally they went to Wheeling by coach, thence to Brownsville by boat, by coach again as far as Cumberland, Md., and then by railroad to Baltimore, thence to Philadel-
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phia, New York and Buffalo. These trips are now among the pleasant recollections of Mrs. Shaffner, for though at times things did not go as they had been planned, they were on the whole novel, and gave them a better acquaintance with the world. At the time of the Mexican War, the couple went to St. Paul by the roundabout way of St. Louis, as they took the water route. On an- other occasion they went to St. Louis in a buggy, the journey taking some fifteen or sixteen days. The rivers and streams were very high at the time, and they had some difficulties and hardships to endure. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Shaffner died at the age of three years at Senecaville. A lady of kind heart and amiable qualities, Mrs. Shaffner lives only to do good to others as she finds opportunity, and many a poor person can testify to this fact. She has long been a worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her life is in conformity with the teachings of the Golden Rule.
OHN FORNEY. Among the residents of Guernsey County who have prosecuted their work successfully and are now enjoying the fruits of their prudence and energy, sur- rounded with comforts, is the gentleman above named, who is now occupying a fine brick resi- dence on his farm in Wheeling Township, and has a handsome income, affording himself and fam- ily a good maintenance.
Our subject was born in Wheeling Township, April 1, 1816, to Abraham and Mary (Curtis) For- ney, the former of whom was a native of Frederick County, Md. He in turn was the son of Abra- ham and Mary Forney, natives of Maryland, where the grandfather was engaged in the butcher busi- ness. They later in life. took up their abode in Cadiz, this state, where they passed the remaining years of their life.
Abraham Forney, Jr., emigrated to Guernsey County in 1811, from Baltimore, Md. This region was at that time in its primitive state, and bore little resemblance to its present cultivated appear-
ance. Being a great sportsman, the animalsabound- ing in the woods gave him ample opportunity to show his skill, and during his residence here he shot about four hundred deer, besides numbers of bears, turkeys and other wild game. His purchase in this section consisted of about four hundred acres of land, and on him fell the arduous task of clearing and placing under improvement this large tract. A short time prior to his death, which oc- curred in 1855, he had the satisfaction of looking over his broad acres of cultivated fields, knowing that they were brought to their then improved condition by much hard work on his part. Mrs. Mary (Curtis) Forney was born in Baltimore, Md., and died in this county about 1862, aged nearly eighty years. Her parents were natives of Mary- land, and when quite young she was kidnapped and conveyed to the City of Churches, where she was sold. Mrs. Forney was married in Maryland, in 1801, and to hier were born nine children, five sons and four daughters, as follows: Josephi, Elizabeth, Mary A., Solomon, Frederick, Sophia, Eli and Su- san II. (deceased), and John, of this sketch, who was the sixth in order of birth. The father was well edu- cated in the German language, but his knowledge of English was quite limited. His good wife was an intelligent and cultured lady, and well hked by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance. They were very promment in all good works in their neighborhood, and their death was greatly felt in the community.
Our subject remained at home with his parents until reaching his twenty-fourth year, when he re- moved with his wife (to whom he was married in 1840) to a rude cabin in the woods, which bad been formerly used as a place for storage of tobacco. They, however, lived in that rude structure but a short time, when they removed to a more com- fortable dwelling across the road, built of brick. In this he lived with his wife, and also made it headquarters for a general merchandise store, saw- mill and marble works. As his fortunes grew larger, he abandoned these occupations and de- voted himself entirely to cultivating his large estate.
Mr. Forney was united in marriage, in 1840, with Miss Eliza J. Wilson, who was born in Jefferson
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County, this state, and died in 1867, aged forty- eight years. She was the daughter of David Wil- son, a soldier in the War of 1812. Of their children, Josephus was formerly a member of the Kansas Legislature, but is now practicing law in Topeka, that state; Isaiah is engaged in farming in Kansas; Charlotte is deceased; Gilbert is repre- senting his district in the Kansas Legislature; La- fayette is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of this township; Violet is deceased; Hamilton is en- gaged in farming in Oklahoma; Eli is deceased; and one died, unnamed, in infancy.
Mr. Forney chose for his second companion Miss .Ellen Walker, to whom he was married in 1868. She was born in Harrison County, this state, Au- gust 31, 1844, and is the daughter of Lorenzo D. and Eliza (Forney) Walker, the former of whom was born in Harrison County, and died December 25, 1882. He was the son of Robert and Ruth (Poulson) Walker. Robert Walker was born in England, and on coming to the United States made his permanent home in the above county, and engaged in farming. Eliza (Forney) Walker is still living in Harrison County, where her birth occurred. Her parents were Frederick and Deborah (Harris) Forney, natives of Maryland. They emi- grated to this state many years ago, and lived and died in Harrison County.
The parents of Mrs. Ellen Forney were married in this state, and reared a family of two sons and two daughters, of whom Mary is living at home; Ellen is the wife of our subject; Frederick is fore- man of the car shops at Springfield, this state; and William is occupied as a farmer of Harrison County. They were honest, intelligent people, and during their life there was no place in which the stranger found a warmer welcome than at the board of this large-hearted family.
By his union with Miss Walker, our subject has become the father of six children, viz .: Viola, now the wife of Harry Ilomersley, a farmer of Coshocton County; Chloe, wife of William Tip- ton, a lumber merchant living in Burgettstown, Washington County, Pa .; and Olive, Edna, Walter and Sargeant .J., at home. Mr. Forney had at one time thirteen hundred acres of land in his home place, but this he has divided among his children,
only retaining about two hundred aeres for his own use. It is finely cultivated, and ou it are raised large crops, attention being also paid to stock- raising. Mr. Forney has in his possession many valuable relics. among them being a copper kettle which is several hundred years old, and a clock made over two hundred years ago.
Although never an aspirant for office, our subjcet has contributed his quota toward the upbuilding of his township, and in many ways has aided ma- terially in its improvement. He is a member of the Methodist Church, with which he has been connected for over half a century, and has been the recipient of all the offices in the congrega- tion except that of pastor. He cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison, and since the organ- tzation of the Republican party hus voted for its candidates. Mrs. Forney, who is one of the most liberal and devoted members of the Methodist Church, is greatly respected in her community, and bears the good-will of all who know her.
H ON. JAMES A. D. RICHARDS. Were it only for the present generation that this work is being compiled, it would be un- necessary to give space for the biography of the worthy citizen whose name is presented above, for he is so well and favorably known among the people of Tusearawas County that little which is new can be said of him. However, as history is written for the future, so in a sense is biography, and to place in substantial, endurable book form the record of one of the county's most distin- gnished residents is the object of this memoir.
Mr. Richards was born in Boston, Mass., not of wealthy, influential parents, like many of the favored sous of fortune, but of people of limited means. Ile was early thrown upon the world to struggle with life and, unaided, to carve his own carcer. Ifis childhood of indigence and early, long and wearisome toil served as the crucibles wherein sterling qualities were refined and tested, pre-
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paratory for public life and work and higher obli- gations.
The boyhood of our subject was spent in Boston and New York City. Before reaching manhood hic went West, locating in Ohio, where he engaged in farm work and went to school in the winter season. Ile was industrious, possessed of a bright, inquiring mind, and soon obtained sufficient knowledge to enable him to teach school. It was not his ambition, however, to pursue this vo- cation as a profession. Ile looked forward to a higher - station. lle was frugal and saved his earnings in order to continue his studies, and soon began the study of law, being admitted in due time to the Bar. While practicing his profession he began reading medicine, in order that he might be qualified for medico-legal cases. After pursu- ing his studies in this science privately for a time, he entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Wooster, at Cleveland, Ohio, and upon leaving that institution returned to New Philadel- phia, giving his attention exclusively to the practice of law. Ile was very successful, and soon rose to the front rank among the learned men in the profession. Ile thus continued actively en- gaged in practice until called by the people to serve them in Congress. In 1892 he was nomi- nated by the Democratic party as a candidate for the Seventeenth Congressional District and was elected by a large majority. He took his seat in Congress March 4, 1893, and on the re-organization of the House was placed on several important committees, among which were the Committee on Claims and Expenditures in the Postoffice Depart- inent, of which latter committee he became chair- man. Zealous and active in the discharge of his duties while in Congress, and gifted with ora- torical powers in a very high degree, he soon came into prominence in that body and became a potent factor in its legislation. During the finding of the tariff bill and the discussion thereof, he deliv- cred a speech on that subject which was exten- sively read, being regarded as one of the ablest reviews on the issues of that bill.
During his Congressional career, Mr. Richards has carefully and conscientiously looked after and guarded what he considered to be the interests of
the people. In 1894 he was re-nominated, but was defeated in the fall elections by the Republican nominee. It was through no fault of his, nor from any want of popularity; he simply went .down with his party. Ilis mind is peculiarly adapted to the profession he has chosen, for the practice of which he has ably fitted himself. lle is greatly devoted to his work, and his chief aim is to excel in it and to make himself useful. Ile thoroughly identifies himself with his cases, and in their trial.leaves nothing undeveloped that will lead to a successful issue. He is an eloquent, attractive and fluent speaker and a forcible advo- cate, always commanding and holding the atten- tion of the jury and having the confidence of the court. Hle is of good form and feature, winning in address and genial in manners, charitable and sympathetic in disposition, and whole-souled and broad-minded. Asa lawyer and legislator he is able and gifted, and as a citizen and a man is esteemed and honored. He is still in the prime of life, and with his abilities and experience can yet do much toward the betterment of mankind and the ad- vancement of civilization.
DWARD W. DICK, a member of the firm of Mathias & Dick, is a leading and enter- prising young merchant of New Philadel- phia. Ile seems to have a natural aptitude for commercial pursuits, and has displayed good exec- utive ability in the management of his affairs. Of pleasing address, social and kind in manner, he is very popular, and is considered one of the rising young men of this place.
The parents of our subject are Jacob and Eliza- beth (Saum) Dick. The former was born in Ger- many, and set sail for the United States in 1847, coming direct to this county. For about fifteen years thereafter he was engaged at his trade as a stonemason. lle then turned his attention to con- tracting and general building, working industri- ously until shortly before his death, which occurred in 1886. llis wife, to whom he was married be-
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fore leaving Europe, is a native of the same local- ity. Jacob Dick was a member of the German Re- formed Church, to which his widow still adheres. In political issues he uses his ballot in favor of the Democratic party.
Edward W. Dick, of this sketch, was born in New Philadelphia, June 26, 1862, being one in a family of eight children, Ilis two eldest brothers, Jacob and Peter, reside in this place; Charles and John are the next in order of birth; Mary E. is the wife of John P'. Steinbaugh; Franklin is de- ceased; and Callie is the wife of James Janes. Dur- ing the winter terms our subject attended the com- mon schools of this place until he was about eight- een years of age. At that time he started to learn the drug business, which he abandoned at the end of eight months on account of poor health. . Later he entered a general store at Benton, Holmes Coun- ty, Ohio, where he remained for nearly a year. Returning to his old home he learned the trade of brick-laying, and afterward became a partner with his father and brothers, Charles and Peter, as a contractor on brick masonry. This business was conducted for several years under the firm name of Dick Bros., but in 1889 our subject purchased the interest of Thomas Williams, of the firm of Mathias & Williams, and entered upon a mercan- tile career. Ilis store is located on West Iligh Street, a central point. A large and well selected stock of goods is always on hand, and here may be found anything desired in the line of groceries, car- pets, crockery, boots and shoes and dry goods. The patronage of the firm is constantly increasing, and since Mr. Dick has been identified with the business it has been found necessary to enlarge their quar- ters. They have added another store and occupy two floors of the building.
On the 26th of October, 1888, in this city, a marriage ceremony was performed by which Miss Della A. Mathias became the wife of E. W. Dick. Iler father, John B. Mathias, is the senior partner of the firm to which our subject belongs. Hle and his wife, who before her marriage was Miss Lydia A. Schull, are natives of this county. Of their five children, Ellsworth W., Della A., Daniel, Harvey S. and Charles C .. all are living with the exception of Daniel. Mrs. Dick is a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, while her husband is identi- fied with the German Reformed Church. Frater- nally he is a member of Schoenbrun Lodge No. 430, I. O. O. F., of this city. In his political faith he is a supporter of the Democracy.
OHN ANDREW INIMES. This gentleman, who is one of the most prominent business men of New Philadelphia. is extensively engaged in the real-estate trade. Ile is a native of this city, having been born October 2, 1845, to Peter W. and Mary Ann (Ditto) Ilimes. The father was born in York County, Pa., June 13, 1813, and was a descendant of an old and prominent family in that state. Ile was married in the above county to Miss Ditto, and the young couple removed to this state in 1835, locating in Wayne County. There Peter W. Ilimes was en- gaged in the drug business, near the city of Woo- ster. lle only remained there a twelvemonth, when a good opening for his line of trade in this city caused him to remove hither.
The father of our subject was very popular with the people, and in 1853 was appointed Post- master under the administration of President Pierce, and was continued in that office through Buchanan's reign. In 1861, however, lie was ap- pointed by Gov. David Todd as suttler of the Fifty-first Regiment, with which he remained until its arrival at Nashville, Tenn., when the regi- ment was placed on provost duty, and our subject returned home.
In the year 1872 Peter W. llimes was elected County Recorder on the Democratic ticket, and so well did he discharge the duties of the position that on the expiration of his term of office he was re-elected. Previous to this, however, he had been the recipient of many minor offices, and in every instance gave his attention to advancing the interests of the community. Ile was promi- nent in the Odd Fellows' fraternity, passing through nearly all the chairs in that order. He was liberal in religious views and a believer in
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spiritualism. Peter W. Himes departed this life in October, 1885, beloved by all who knew him.
Mrs. Mary Ann Himes was likewise a native of the Keystone State, and was the daughter of John Ditto. The latter came west to this state many years ago, and departed this life in New Philadel- phia. Mrs. InImes, who inclined toward the faith of her husband in religious matters, died in Feb- ruary, 1878. She was the mother of seven chil- dren, viz .: William A., Clorinda, Eleanor A., Annie J., John A., Maggie M. and Thomas J. The eldest daughter is deceased, and William A. departed this life in January, 1873, while on his wedding tour in this city. Annie J. married Ilenry C. Vinton, and died in April, 1893. Maggie M. is also deceased, her death occurring in 1864.
The original of this sketch remained at home until a lad of sixteen years, in the mean time attending the Union school. In 1861, however, he began to make his own way in the world, and, going to eastern Ohio, purchased sheep for llenry C. Vinton, which he drove to Chickasaw County, Iowa, where his brother-in-law, Mr. Vinton, was liv- ing. This trip proved very successful, and young Himes remained in the West several months.
Soon after returning home, the Civil War being in progress, he went with his father in the Fifty- first Regiment to Nashville. After the latter's return home our subject was engaged in the Post- office in that city, and remained there until the fall of 1864, when he, too, retraced his steps to this city. A short time thereafter we find young Himes in St. Louis, Mo., engaged in a drug house. llis duties there were very congenial, and he remained until 1871, coming home, however, in 1867 to aid in indexing the county records, when he returned to the Mound City.
John A. Ilimes, after making his permanent location in this city, in 1871 began his work of making abstracts of the county records, which he has followed ever since. Ile is an expert in this business, and at the present time (1894) has the records nearly completed. During this time he has also dealt extensively in real estate and done considerable notarial work.
As has already been inferred, our subject is a Democrat, but in no sense of the word an office-
seeker. He is prominently identified with Lodge No. 107, 1. (. O. F., and Bethesda Encampment, No. 38. He is one of the well known and popu- lar citizens of the county. He is a man of large benevolence, kind and charitable to the poor, genial and sociable, and in all ways an interesting companion.
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S AMUEL CRAIG, who was one of the old merchants of Guernsey County, and was long one of the most respected residents of Cambridge, was a native of this state, having been born in Warren, Jefferson County, Ohio, February 10, 1815. His parents were Rowland and Susan- nah (Rabe) Craig. The former was a son of John Craig, of Scotch-Irish descent, who was born in Antrim, Ireland; and the latter was a daughter of Jolın and Elizabeth (Barkman) Rabe, who were of German birth.
In childhood Samuel Craig removed with his parents to Cadiz, Harrison County, this state, where his father became a successful merchant. He and his wife died at the ages of forty-one and forty-two years, respectively. They left four sons and three daughters. Mary, the eldest, became the wife of .James Hanna, of Cadiz, who died in early manhood, after which event the widow married Robert llanna, who was not related to her first husband. John, the second of the family, married Mary Osborn, of Cadiz. George married Martha Fleming, and William, the next brother, married Naney Fleming, daughters of Thomas Flem- ing, of Smithfield. Rebecca died at the age of eighteen years. Susannah, the youngest, became the wife of Finley Ilanna, of Cadiz, and later mar- ried Alexander Moore. William, a young son of Rowland Craig, was drowned in the Ohio River before the family left Warren. After the early deaths of the parents, the care of their large household devolved upon the maternal grand- mother, Elizabeth Rabe.
After his brother George married, Samuel Craig went to make his home under his roof, and there
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grew to manhood. For a time he attended the se- leet schools of Cadiz and Oxford College, and was thus fairly well equipped for life's battle; but the varied and extensive information of his later years was attained by constant reading and research. The first business venture of the young man was in flatboating down the Ohio and Mississippi Riv- ers with his cousin, John Shannon, of St. Clairs- ville, and with James Mellood, of Cadiz. In 1836 he engaged in merchandising with his brother Jolin, of Washington, this country, and two years later was made a partner in the business. He re- mained there until 1846, when he removed to Cam- bridge, and engaged in business at that location, where he continued for forty-five years, with the exception of a short time during the war, when he moved his store to Birmingham, in this county, Thomas Foy being manager of the concern. For five years he had a branch store in Senccaville, in partnership with George W. Brown, whom he also started in trade; he subsequently purchased the store, and was successful. For a number of years Mr. Craig was a Director in the Guernsey National Bank.
May 29, 1838, our subject was married at Cadiz, Ohio, to Margaret McFadden, who bore him eight children, namely: George Henry, who died at the age of eighteen years; Alfred, William and Mary, who died in childhood; Lydia, wife of Judge F. W. Wood, of Columbus; Martha, wife of David D. Taylor. editor of the Guernsey Times; and Cyrus Findley and Samuel Arthur, who were engaged in business with their father during the last years of his life, and are his successors in the store.
The wife of Samuel Craig, Margaret, was a daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Stafford) McFad- den. She was born at Cootehill, County Cavan, Ireland, about two miles from Belfast. Her pater- nal grandparents were George and Isabella (MeIn- tosh) McFadden, and her paternal grandparents were Henry and Sarah Stafford. When Mrs. Craig was only four years old her parents moved to Phil- adelphia. Pa., and in 1830 they crossed the mnoun- tains in wagons to Cadiz, Ohio. Their family numbered two sons and six daughters, as follows: Sarah, who never married; George, who married Charlotte Elhott, and lived in Philadelphia; Henry,
who married Frances Poor, and succeeded his father in his business at Cadiz; Isabella, wife of William 1 .. Shafer, of Steubenville; Letitia, Mrs. Joseph Ilunter, of Cadiz; Jane, wife of Dr. William John- ston, of Marion; Margaret, Mrs. Craig; and Mary, who became the wife of the Rev. Ilugh Forsythe. Mrs. Craig attended the schools of Cadiz, and was a pupil of Miss Sarah Foster, later Mrs. Hanna, who started Washington (Pa.) Female Seminary. When twenty years of age she was married, and with her husband was always foremost in every good work. She and two of her sisters celebrated their fiftieth marriage anniversaries. After the death of Mr. Craig and the breaking up of her house, Mrs. Craig made her home with her daugh- ter, Mrs. 1). D. Taylor, of Cambridge, where she died, January 21, 1895. Her funeral took place January 24, 1895, from the United Presbyterian Church, of which she was a devoted member, and her remains were interred in the Cambridge Ceme- tery beside those of her husband, who had preceded her by only a few years.
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