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 36
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Samuel Craig joined the old-school Presbyterian Church early in life, but on account of the slavery question afterward identilied himself with the free Presbyterian Church. When the United Presby- terian denomination was formed in 1858, he trans- ferred his allegiance to the same, and' was a Ruling Elder for about thirty years and constant in his attendance on the Sunday-school. For years he had charge of a colored school, and preached for them years before they had any church organiza- tion in Cambridge. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but voted the first Free Soil ticket ever east in Cambridge Township and afterward became a Republican. He devoted much of his time and means to the cause of freedom, and assisted many a poor runaway slave. For a long time he was a member of the School Board, and was a Trustee of the cemetery when the new grounds were laid out.
March 8, 1894, Mr. Craig peacefully passed to the silent land at his home, and the following Wednesday funeral services were conducted at the United Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Dr. Mc- Farland, assisted by Rev. Mr. McMilligan, Rev. L. B. Moore, Rev. F. A. Brown, Rev. B. T. Siegfried, Rev. Mr. Burt, and Rev. Ilugh Forsythe. The busi-
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ness houses of Cambridge were closed out of respect to the decased, and a large concourse of his late fellow-citizens assembled to pay the last tribute of respect to this honored and worthy old resident. He was placed to rest in the cemetery which lie had spent many an hour in beautifying.
Samuel A. Craig, son of Samuel and Margaret (McFadden) Craig, was born August 8, 1851, in Cambridge, and was educated in the public schools of this city, and in the University of Athens, Ohio. In 1872 he became interested in the dry-goods trade, and in 1883 became a partner with his father in . the business of which he is now sole proprietor. He is a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and, as his father was, is a Republican in politics. He married Ella Gregg, by whom he has four chil- dren, namely: Frederick, Mary, Samuel and Eliza- beth.
A LEXANDER J. CLARK, one of the pub- lie-spirited citizens of Cambridge, is a na- tive son of the place, and in thus locality has passed his entire life. For a number of years he served as Township Trustec. and has always used his influence in favor of the Republican party. In January, 1889, he was elected to act on the State Board of Agriculture, and has been re-elected to the position twice, and at the present time is serving his third term.
The parents of A. J. Clark were Stephen B. and Jane (McCracken) Clark. The former, a native of Frederick County, Md., was born September 27, 1810, and was a son of John Clark, also a native of Maryland. The latter in turn was a son of one Richard Clark. Our subject's father attended the country schools until fourteen years old. when he removed to this county, after which he studied in the local schools for perhaps two years. After completing his studies, he assisted his father in making brick and in building. On graduating
from the Cambridge City School, he was given a certificate to teach, and did so for one term in this place, and later in Jacobsport, Tuscarawas County. During this time he took up the study of medicine under Dr. Miller. November 26, 1839, he married Jane McCracken, and after their union he entered the Cincinnati Medical College, this being in 1841. His medical education was finished in the Phila- delphia Medical College. After practicing until about 1854, he entered the drug business, to which he gave his attention for six years and then re- tired, in 1860. In partnership with William Rainey, he constructed the old red building known as the First National Bank, which was put up in 1864. Mr. Clark was one of the organizers of the insti- tution, and for years was President of the bank. In 1863 he built a large and handsome residence, in which he continued to dwell in peace and com- fort until he was called to his final rest, June 3, 1894.
Of the nine children born to S. B. and Jane Clark, the eldest, William, is now a resident of Lincoln, Neb., where he is engaged in medical practice. Ile was Surgeon of the Fourth Army Corps during the war, and went with Sherman on his march to the sea. John R., the second son, held the rank of Second Lieutenant in Company B, Fifth Ohio Infantry. From exposure and pri- vation he was taken ill, and continued to be a suf- ferer until his death, which took place May 6, 1890. A. J. is next in order of birth. Margaret became the wife of W. S. Head, of Cambridge. Thomas Chalmers is now living in Cambridge. Mary O. is the wife of W. A. Burt, of Columbus, Ohio. Ida and Josiah died when young, and Lutie, the youngest, is the wife of II. C. Young, a banker of Lincoln, Neb.
A. J. Clark was born March 18, 1844, and passed his boyhood on his father's farm, where he ob- tained a practical knowledge of agriculture that has been of untold benefit to him in his after life His early education was such as the district schools afforded, supplemented by private reading and study. On reaching maturity, he concluded to make farming his life work, and at once began operating the place where he still lives. This com- prises two hundred and twenty acres in Cambridge
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Township, Guernsey County, and is well improved with good buildings, fences, etc. During the Mor- gan raid, Mr. Clark lost a very fine team of horses, which were taken from his barn by the marauders.
Mr. Clark was a member of Company A, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Regiment, Ohio Na- tional Guards. His mother, Mrs. Jane Clark, who is a daughter of William and Margaret ( McClarry) McCracken, was born in Cambridge, and is still living, though at the advanced age of seventy- five years. Her declining days are passed in com- fort and surrounded with everything that her kind and dutiful son can think of to make her happy.
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H ARRY W. HOLMES, M. D., is a graduate of the Columbus Medical College of Ohio, and of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore. Since the spring of 1883 he has been engaged in practice at Cumberland, and enjoys a reputation for ability and practical treatment of disease which is surpassed by none in this section. In 1888 he took a post-graduate medical course, and by constant perusal of med- ical journals relating to the latest discoveries in the healing science, he keeps fully abreast of the times.
Dr. Holmes is a descendant of an old English family, who came from that country to the United States in Colonial days, accompanied by two broth- ers, his own place of settlement being Loudoun County, Va. The great-grandfather of the Doctor was a planter and slave-holder in the Old Domin- ion. The grandfather, John Ilolmes, likewise a native of Virginia, died on his plantation about 1838. flis wife was a Miss Rigers, whose parents were Quakers.
By her marriage Mrs. John Holmes became the mother of two children. The eldest, Fenton, died in Virginia. He had three sons and a daughter, the latter of whom is still living, and is the wife of Henry Linn, who owns the estate which has
been in his family since it was ceded by Lord Bal- timore. The three brothers of Mrs. Linn were all killed ia the late war, two at the second battle of Buil Run, and one in the Wilderness. Albert and Abbie were the other children of Jolin Holmes and wife. Abbie married William Linn, and died in Belmont County, Ohio. After the death of his first wife, at the early age of thirty years, John Holmes was again married, and by this union had several children.
The parents of our subject were Albert and Mary E. ( Lippincott) Holmes. The former was born September 21. 1818, in Loudoun County, Va., and received a good education. llis mother being a Quaker, he inherited her views of slavery, and when he fell heir to a certain number of his fa- "ther's slaves, liberated them, after bringing them to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1839. Ile engaged in business at Morristown, Ohio, for a time, and in 1854 moved to Wisconsin, and was interested in mercantile pursuits at Newport for about four years. In 1858 he returned to Ohio and ran a store in Cumberland until his death, which occurred May 10, 1880, at the age of sixty-two years. He was first a Whig and later a Republican, and was a leader in Masonic circles. To himself and wife were born eight children, six of whom are living. They are as follows: Mary V., wife of Dr. Ilomer Conner, of Akron, Ohio; Luella, wife of David St. Clair, of Colorado; Harry W., of this sketch; Charles B., an attorney in Minneapolis; Joseph L., who is a bookkeeper in the same city; and Arthur R., a merchant in Pendleton, Ore. William G. died at the age of seventeen years. Mrs. Mary Holmes was born in Morristown, Ohio, February 23, 1829, being a daughter of Jolin and Charity (Liaston) Lippincott, natives of New Jersey. The former was a hotelkeeper for many years in Bel- mont County, and was at one time Sheriff. Hc was also an Elder in the Presbyterian Church.
The birth of H. W. Holmes occurred in Newport, Sauk County, Wis., December 25, 1855. His boy- hood was passed in Cumberland, where, after com- pleting his education, he became a clerk in his fa- ther's store. In 1877 he took up the study of medicine with Dr. Charles Draper, and subsequent- ly attended a course of lectures in the medical col-
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lege at Columbus, from which he graduated in the spring of 1879. In the spring of 1883 he gradu- ated from the Baltimore College of Physicians and Surgeons, and has since been engaged in practice in Cumberland. Ile contributes to leading ined- ical journals, and is considered quite an authority. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, and in politics with the Republican party.
February 7, 1889, Dr. Holmes married Ella M., daughter of Dr. Charles and Mary (Dilley) Draper, of this place. The former was born in Brookfield Township, Noble County, Ohio, in October, 1819. He graduated from the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, and was a physician here for some forty-five years. Ile was active in the Presbyterian Church, and was a leading Democrat. Ilis only son, Charles, Jr., is deceased. Ilis father, Jolin Draper, a native of Massachusetts, became a farmer in Brookfield Township in 1815. Ilis wife bore the maiden name of Lavina Prouty.
YLVESTER LAPPIN, a prominent citizen of New Philadelphia, is an architect by profession. Many fine structures, both pub- lie and private buildings, throughout the coun- ty attest his skill as a designer and stand as mon- uments of his handiwork. Among others is the new German Reformed Church, which when com- pleted will be the handsomest church edifice in the city.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Sam- uel Lappin, was a native of Pennsylvania and one of the pioneers of Tuscarawas County. He fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, and was a leader in the Methodist denomination of his section of the country. Ilis son Isaac, our subject's father, was reared on the old homestead until he had arrived at man's estate, when he bought a tract of land in Fairfield Township. This farm comprised seven- ty acres, and was much improved by the owner prior to its sale. Ilis last years were spent on the
Jonathan Mill's place, where his death occurred about 1869. Ilis wife, formerly Miss Eva Bowman, was a native of Virginia, but with her parents re- moved to Ohio at a very early day. Isaac Lappin was a Dunkard in religious belief, but his wife was a Methodist. They became the parents of five children: Sylvester; Miriam, Mrs. Ilugh Mitchell, of this city; Martha, wife of Henry Davy, of Fair- field Township; Lemuel, who died in childhood: and one who died in infancy.
On a farm situated near One Leg Creek, in this county, occurred the birth of our subject, Decem- ber 3, 1828. Ile continued to live with his par- ents until he was about twenty years of age, at which time he took up the trade of a carpenter and joiner. When he had become master of the business. he went into partnership with Ilugh Mitchell, of whom he had in part learned the trade. Subsequently he worked as a contractor and builder until after the close of the war. When en- terprises and manufactures began to improve after the depression which followed in the wake of war, he organized a joint-stock planing-mill company. A number of the prominent business men of the county were interested in this concern, which was known as the Buckeye Planing-mill Company. After several years had passed, the firm became known as that of Warner, Lappin & Irwin. For a number of years they conducted a successful and increasing business, but sold out about 1891 to Messrs. Kuhn, Schwab & Duback. For nearly twenty years Mr. Lappin was architect and super- intendent while a member of the milling company, and after he sold out his interest he gave his at- tention chiefly to architecture. This branch of work is still engaging his time, and he has met with good success in this direction.
November 10, 1853, Mr. Lappin was married, in Fairfield Township, to Mary Jane, daughter of Benjamin and Eleanor (Steves) Clark, who were natives of New Brunswick. By this marriage were born two children: Emma Josephine. who married E. F. Edgecomb, now of Kansas City; and Maxwell C., also a resident of that city. The latter married a daughter of Jacob DeGraff. Both Mr. Edge- comb and Maxwell C. Lappin are engaged in rail- roading. Mrs. Mary J. Lappin died JJanuary 1,
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1868, in New Philadelphia. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a lady greatly beloved by all who knew her. The pres- ent wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Grace McCreary. Their marriage was celebrated October 4, 1868, and to them have been born three children, Phersa M., Edna and Grace. Miss Edna has graduated from the local schools and is pre- paring herself to be a teacher.
The pleasant and substantially built home of the Lappin family is situated on East Avenue. They were among the first to locate in this portion of the city, Mr. Lappin having purchased his resi- dence site of Elisha Janes. Religiously our sub- jeet and his wife hold membership with the Metli- odist Episcopal Church. On questions of political moment Mr. Lappin is a stalwart Republican.
B ENJAMIN I. DAVIS. An excellent exam- ple of the sturdy enterprise, thrifty hab- its and persistent industry characteristic of so many of the residents of Guernsey County, may be found in the life of Mr. Davis, who is en- gaged in the rolling-mills as a sheet-heater. He possesses an intelligent conception of the details of his vocation, and is consequently a valuable em- ploye.
A native of Wales, our subject was born in Glamorganshire, April 24, 1861. His parents were John and Sarah (Davis) Davis, also natives of that country, and who reared a large family of eleven children, of whom we make the following mention : David, the eldest of the household, is deceased, as is also Hannah; our subject is the next in or- der of birth; David John is deceased; John is residing in Cambridge, which city is also the home of George; Margaret is the wife of Harry Wood, of Martin's Ferry; David, Francis and William are hy- ing in Cambridge; and one unnamed died in in- fancy.
The husband and father emigrated with his fam- ily to America in 1863, settling at onee in Cleve-
land, where he found work in the rolling-mills. and to him is due the distinction of rolling the first steel rails manufactured in the state for the Cleveland Rolling-mill Company. He was an ex- pert in this business, and was retained in the em- ploy of the above company for a period of twen- ty years. The strike which occurred among the em- ployes in the mill at Cleveland then compelled his father to look elsewhere for employment, and the prospect being very good at Bridgeport, he was joined by the family four months later. Being a fine workman, he had no difficulty in obtaining a position, which he held as long as he desired. The father is still living in Bridgeport, where he is widely known and highly respected for the upright- ness of his character.
" The original of this sketch was quite young when brought to America, and was therefore reared in South Cleveland, or, as it is now known, New- burg. Ile was given a fair education, and October 1, 1882, left the parental roof and went to Bridge- port. Ile was trained to the business which his father found so profitable, and when old enough began working in the mills. He was engaged by the Etna Iron and Steel Company on his arrival at Bridgeport, when the company introduced the three-turn system in the sheetmill, in October, 1885. He remained in the employ of the company for a short time, when we find him laboring for the Standard Iron and Steel Company of Martin's Fer- ry. lle remained there until June, 1889, when he located in New Philadelphia, as an employe in the sheetmills of that place. His stay there was of short duration, as in April of the following year he came to Cambridge, and was given the position of sheet-heater in the mills at this place, which he fills greatly to the satisfaction of all concerned. Ile has been a delegate to the National Convention of the Amalgamated Association held in Pittsburg on two occasions, 1889 and 1893, representing the local lodge.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Lizzie Jones was celebrated December 27, 1883. To them has been born a son, David. Mis. Davis depart- ed this life February 2. 1886, and a year later our subject was married to Kate Kaiser, a native of Bridgeport and of German descent. Their union
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has resulted in the birth of five children, namely: Sarah (now deceased), Catherine, Sherman Tecum- seh, Margaret Eleanor and Benjamin I., Jr.
In social affairs Mr. Davis is a Mason and takes great interest in the order. He belongs to the Amalgamated Association, with which he has heen connected for many years. The Methodist Epis- copal Church finds in him one of its mnost con- sistent members, and in the congregation at Cam- bridge lie is officiating as Steward. In politics he is a strong Republican and is as earnest in that as in other relations of life.
J AMES ROLLSTIN. What presents a pleas- anter pieture than old age gracefully reached after a well spent and prosperous life ? There is something very pleasant in looking back upon the years that intervene between childhood and old age, and living in memory all the tri- umphis and joys of years spent in an effort to benefit self and neighbors at the same time. And such is the case of Mr. Rollstin, who at the age of seventy-four years is strong and active and com- fortably situated financially. True, he has experi- enced the usual number of "ups and downs," but on the whole he has known much of success and happiness. This is in a great measure due to the fact that he has passed his days in peace, free from the dissipations and vexations of the gay world. He is now living in retirement in Kimbolton, Genesee County, and is passing his declining years in the rest which he has earned by years of hard labor.
Mr. Rollstin is a native of this county, and was born in Wills Township, March 11, 1821. Hle is the son of John and Margaret ( McGuffey) Roll- stin, the former of whom was born in Pennsylva- nia, and died September 21, 1861, aged sixty-six years. Ile in turn was the son of James and Esther (Lyons) Rollstin, who were born in Ire- land and emigrated to America about 1797. They
at once located in Wills Township, this county, and at their death left a quarter-section of land to be equally divided between their sons, John and .Joseph.
Margaret McGuffey was also a native of the Keystone State, and was seventy-one years old at the time of her demise in 1888. ller parents were John and Margaret McGuffey, who, on landing on American shores from their native Ireland, located in Pennsylvania, where they lived the balance of their lives. In 1818 the father of our subject drove to Washington County, Pa., secured his wife, and with her returned to Ohio and began the work of building up a good home. To them were born eight sons and two daughters. William is farm- ing in Liberty Township, this county. James, of this sketch, was the second-born. Joseph served as a soldier during the war and died while in the army. Porter, Andy and Samuel are farmers liv- ing in Iowa. John is cultivating a portion of the soil of Wheeling Township. Hugh is engaged in farming in Iowa. Elizabeth and Esther are de- ceased. John Rolistin was a very prominent man in his locality, and for many years served as Town- ship Supervisor and School Director. On the death of his brother Joseph, who left a valuable property, he was appointed his administrator, and in this, as in all other positions in life, his acts were prompted by the strictest integrity and honesty of purpose. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and gave liberally of huis means toward the support of the congregation which he attended.
James Rollstin started out in life for himself on attaining his majority, his first operations being on rented property. He was married about this time to Jane Adams, a native of Columbiana County, this state, who was born August 27, 1822. She was the daughter of .James and Margaret ( Mccullough) Adams, natives of Pennsylvania. Her father died in 1829, when in the prime of life, and his widow then removed to Washington County, in the same state, with her four children. She resided there for several years, and then emigrated to Guernsey County, where her death occurred in 1858, at the age of threescore years and ten. Her family comprised .Jane, now Mrs. Rollstin; Nancy, who is
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the wife of William Noble, of Logan County, this state; James; and Margaret, now the widow of Joseph Lawson, residing at Cambridge. Ohio.
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By bis marriage with Miss Adams our subject became the father of two daughters, Angeline J. and Margaret J., both of whom are deceased. Mr. Rollstin remained on the property which he rented after his marriage for two years, when he came into possession of a tract of land for which he was to pay 8650. Hle had at this time only $6 in money, but courageously went to work to cultivate the land, and from the products raised make payments until the farm was his own. This he soon did, and made the place his home for forty years. He then disposed of it for $2,600, and bought the adjoining farm, on which he resided until March, 1893, when he removed with his good wife into Kimbolton, and is prepared to pass his remaining years in ease and quiet. His farm com- prises eighty-seven well improved acres, and from its rental he derives a good income. lle owns his home in the village, by whose residents he is held in the highest esteem. lle has been Township Trustee, School Director and Supervisor, and has always stood stanchly by the Republican party in polities. Ile is a member in good standing of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he has been Elder for the past thirty years.
P HILIP SHAFER, who for many years was one of the leading citizens of C'anal Dover, departed this life at his home in this city, March 2, 1894. At the time of his decease he was one of the partners in the lumber business of Wentz, Shafer & Co., was Director in the First Na- tional Bank, Clerk of the School Board, and one of the three owners of the Big Four Opera House, of which he was Secretary, and had the principal part in the construction of the building. Ile was a shrewd business man and a good citizen, and the large concourse of residents which followed him to
his last resting-place showed the estimation in which he was held by the general public.
Mr. Shafer was born JJanuary 28, 1816, near this city, to John and Christina ( Weber) Shafer, na- tives of Bavaria. The father emigrated to Amer- ica in 1836, and was followed two years later by the lady to whom he was married in 1841, m New York. The young couple soon afterward came to Tusearawas County, where they built up a good home, and prepared to spend the remainder of their lives. To them were born four children, of whom Elizabeth became the wife of Philip Stuer- wald, of Clay County, Ind .; Philip, of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; John makes his home in the above county in Indiana; and Henry, the youngest, died at the age of sixteen years.
- The original of this sketch accompanied his par- ents on their removal to the Hoosier State in 1853, and remained under the home roof until attaining his majority, when he came to Canal Dover on a visit. Ile was so favorably impressed with the outlook which the town presented, that he deter- mined to remain and try his fortunes in this city. Previous to this, he had learned the trade of a car- penter, and after coming hither was taken into the firm of Wentz, Deis & Enck, proprietors of a planing-mill. This was in 1868, and he continued connected with the company for a period of thir- teen years. At the expiration of that time, he carried on a dry-goods establishment, in partner- ship with E. C. Myer, for eight years, and on disposing of his stock of goods did a large busi- ness contracting in lumber, under the firm name of Wentz, Shafer & Co., with which firm he was con- nected at the time of his death.
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