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 38
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The Rosemond family in Ireland centered about the villages of Drumshanbo and Ballinamore, in County Leitrim, and the men were farmers and linen-weavers. At the conclusion of the battles waged by King William, his officer of this name
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was offered a township of land in this vicinity, to be held forever without rent, but he refused it; and the reply made to him, that his children would curse him for the refusal, has come down with the traditions of the family.
In 1796 Philip Rosemond etnigrated to America, spending some time in Philadelphia, Pa., and first settling near St. Clairsville, but removing to a farm just west of Fairview. at what was, and some- times still is, called Fletcher, where he kept the first stage office and postoffice on the Zane Trail, between Wheeling and Zanesville. The town of Fairview was not then laid out. A few years later lie was joined by his brother Martin, and in 1841 their brother William ( father of Edward Rosemond, of New Philadelphia, and of Bennett Roseman, of Cumberland) followed, but contracted on the voyage an illness, which soon ended fatally. The wife of Philip was Mary Bennett. To them were born ten children: Nancy, James, Mary, Martin, Fanny, Eliza, Jane, Edward, Margaret and Will- iam, none of whom are living. James, born March 17, 1788, was a merchant, witli stores at Fairview, New Birmingham (Milnersville) and New Com- erstown. At Birmingham he was associated with John Orme, now of Cambridge, and at New Comers- town with James Dent. Of his children, Margaret married William C. Browne, then a merchant at Fairview, later of Cadiz, and now a banker at New Philadelphia; Sarah A., or "Tal," married Harrison R. Pumphrey, of Croton, Licking County; Mary married Edward McMackin; and James Hemy mar- ried Amanda M. Campbell; but all are now dead except Suc T., who lives, unmarried, at Croton, Ohio. Hattie, daughter of Margaret, married Will- iam H. Hunter, one of the proprietors of the Steu- benville Gazette, and lives in that city. Of Mary's
children, William alone survives, at Cincinnati. Fred L. Rosemond, only child of James Henry, is a practicing attorney at Cambridge.
Tracing the descendants of others of Philip's children, we find that the following children of Fanny, Mrs. Thompson, survive: William and Flor- ence, of the city of Columbus; of Jane, who married Rev. Thomas J. Taylor, a preacher of note, Fran- ces, wife of John W. Umstot, of Senecaville, and Martha, Mrs. Talbot, of Albuquerque, N. M. Fan- nic's grandchildren are: Ada, May and Frank R. Smith; Mrs. Thomas G. Kerr, of Cambridge; and William Smith, of Mt. Gilead, children of Eben- czer and Eliza Smith. The children of Edward (Canada Ed) are Dr. W. B. Rosamond, of Milners- ville; Mrs. Mary Craig, widow of John Craig, of Washington; Mrs. Fannie Shipley, widow of Sam- uel Shipley, of Fairview; James R. Rosamond, of Hendrysburgh; and Margaret, wife of Thomas Blaser, of Oxford Township.
Another brother of the first Philip who came to Guernsey County was Edward, who married Sarah Dowler. Both died in Cambridge and are buried in the old cemetery there. Of their six children, one was Nancy, who married Jesse Barkis, and afterward Thomas Ruckle, and one of whose chil- dren by the former marriage is Mrs. Julia Davis, relict of James Davis, of Cambridge; another was James, father of Mrs. Melissa Romans, of Quaker City; and another was the Edward known as "Morristown Ed."
While the spelling of the family name among these persons varies from Rosamond through Rose- mond to Roseman, it is believed from the forms of the name found in the European languages that Rosemond most nearly conforms to the original.
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OTTO THALHEIMER.
TTO THALHEIMER. of Thalheimer's Bal- timore Clothing Company, a native of Bad- en, Germany, has resided in Cambridge for the past nine years, and is one of her progress- ive business men. He opened a store in this place as early as 1879, and since that time has been manager of retail department stores at different points. In 1882 he was located in Barnesville, where he remained for three years. lle afterward made his headquarters in Caldwell, and from there came to Cambridge to make his permanent head- quarters. The Thalheimer Baltimore Clothing Company has branch business houses at Uhrichs- ville and New Comerstown, this state. A man who is active in everything pertaining to the pub- lic good, Mr. Thalheimer is Secretary of the Board of Improvement Committee, helped to secure the rolling-mill, and is in the front ranks of every en- deavor to advance the community's interests. 1Je is an active worker in the Republican party, and is a pleasing speaker, of good ability and general popularity. He is not a politician in the sense of being an office-seeker, but without his solicitation was tendered the nomination for State Senator, which he declined.
The father of Mr. Thalheimer, whose given name was Abram. lived and died in Germany. He was a grain-dealer and a good business man. Of his eight children, four came to America. The good wife and mother bore the maiden name of Rebecca
Oppenheimer. In order to give better advantages to their children, the parents removed to Ileil- broun, province of Wurtemberg, about 1872, aft- er the father had retired from business. Ile died in March, 1894, and his wife departed this life some five years previously. Of their children, Samuel is now engaged in manufacturing clothing in Bal- timore, but for seven years was a resident of Cam- bridge; Fred is deceased; and Sophie is the wife of Samuel Oppenheimer, of Bridgeport, Ohio.
Otto Thalheimer was born in Baden, Germany, December 16, 1859, and received good educational advantages in the excellent schools of Heilbronn. While in college, he studied English, and became possessed with a fancy to visit America. He ar- rived in the United States March 22, 1875, and. settling in Baltimore, attended for some time a German-English institute in order to become bet- ter equipped for his future career. Ile was soon employed by lis uncle, Nathan Schloss, a manu- facturer of clothing. Before a year had passed the young man went to Harper's Ferry, Va., and clerked for G. L. Meyers. Afterward he went to Staunton, Va., and finally, in 1877, opened a store on his own account in Keyser, W. Va. This was his first venture in the commercial world, and he success- fully carried on the undertaking for some four years, in the mean time making a trip to Cam- bridge, where he established a branch store.
Mr. Thalheimer is a Mason of the Thirty-second
BALTIMORE.CLOTHING CO.
BALTIMORE CLOTHING STORE, WHEELING AVE., CAMBRIDGE, O.
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Degree, a Knight Templar and a Mystic Shriner. He is also an Odd Fellow, belonging to the sub- ordinate lodge and to the encampment. With the Knights of Pythias he has been County Dep- uty and Captain of the Uniformed Rank.
J OHN H. EVANS is an able representative of a worthy pioneer family, which settled in Ohio in 1813, and whose history has since been identified with the growth and devel- opment of this state. Mr. Evans was born on the farm which he now owns and cultivates, and which is located in Lawrence Township. His homestead compriscs three hundred and fifty acres of as fine land as can be found in Tuscarawas County. It is well cultivated and has upon it good farm build- ings and other improvements.
The first of the Evans family to settle in this portion of Ohio was David, a native of Pennsyl- vania, who located in Stark County, near Sparta. Ilis wife was in her maidenhood Margaret Wag- goner, and she, too, was born in the Keystone State. This worthy couple had born to them three sons and six daughters, who settled in the vicinity of their parents' home, and whose descendants have been numbered among the best citizens of Stark County. One of the sons, Michael, was born No- vember 24, 1810, and, with the exception of the first three years of his life, always lived in this state, which lic saw advance from a wilderness to its present proud position. Ile settled in the north- western part of Sandy Township, where he cleared a farm, part of which is now occupied by our sub- ject. At the time of his death he was one of the oldest settlers in the township. March 7, 1833, he married Miss Catherine Farber, a native of Mor- ristown, N. J., and a daughter of John Farber, who emigrated to Ohio in 1806. The young couple's first child was John, the subject of this sketch. The death of Michael Evans occurred February 4, 1886, and his wife passed away October 20, 1890. Six
of their eight children are still living, and of these James married Annie Dickson, a daughter of John and Louisa Dickson; Elizabeth is Mrs. J. C. Parks, of Stark County; Margaret became the wife of James Ilickman, of Bolivar; Mary is unmarried; and George wedded Millerette, a daughter of Thomas Lupher, of Waynesburg. James is en- gaged in business at Bolivar, being extensively in- terested in grain transactions.
Jolin II. Evans was reared on the farm which he now owns. His early education was such as the times afforded, and with this as a nucleus he has become well informed on general questions of interest by widely selected reading and private study. On attaining to man's estate he was united in marriage, January 1, 1857, to Miss Mary Helen, a daughter of Washington Davy, an old settler of Fairfield Township. The following year Mr. Ev- ans engaged in farming for himself, and has since given his time exclusively to agriculture. He has been prospered in his undertaking, and in addition to providing liberally for his family, has given his children the benefit of good educations and other advantages.
The four children who came to bless the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Evans are Alfred D .; Kate E., now the wife of Allen J. Swank, of Stark County; William M. and Maggie F., the two last- named being still under the parental roof. Alfred D., the eldest son, was born July 25, 1857, and re- ceived good common-school advantages. His life has been spent in farming in the neighborhood of the old homestead on which his birth occurred. For the past two years he has been living on the old farm, of which he has assumed mnuch of the management. In the spring of 1884 he married Ellen Whitmer, and they have four children: John J., Charles E., Arthur II. and George R. The fa- ther of Mrs. Alfred Evans is Jacob Whitmer, a well known citizen of Bethlehem Township, Stark County. In February, 1891, occurred the death of Mrs. Helen (Davy) Evans, who was then fifty- one years of age. She was a lady of Christian character, and was universally respected and loved.
The landed possessions of our subject comprise some three hundred and fifty aeres. For general farming purposes this is as desirable land as can be
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found anywhere in the county. It is kept under a high state of cultivation, and returns abundant harvests to the fortunate owner. Substantially built structures for the storing of grain and farm. produce are situated near the pleasant residence, and everything about the place is kept up in a thrifty manner. In his political belief Mr. Evans is a Republican, but is not very active in this di- rection, though he discharges to the letter every duty that devolves upon him as a citizen.
A DAM LIESER has long been a fixture and most necessary factor in the management of the River Mills, of New Philadelphia. A generation or two has passed away since he was first associated with the mills, and it may be truly said that their success is mainly due to his steady, careful and scientific methods, as he is thor- oughly well versed in all that pertains to the manufacture of flour and the proper operation of the mills.
The birth of our subject occurred April 18, 1847, in Bavaria, Germany. His parents were Adam and Henrietta (Beamhard) Lieser. The fa- ther, likewise a native of Bavaria, was a sash-maker by trade. In 1851 he emigrated to the United States, and proceeded direct from New York to Philadelphia. Though well along in years, he is still living, his home being in Phillipsburg, Tus- carawas County. With his wife, he holds member- ship with the Lutheran Church. Politically he uses his right of franchise in favor of the Demo- cratic party. Of the five children born to himself and wife, Adam and Frederick are residents of Tuscarawas County, the latter living in Phillips- burg; Henry is located in Bakersville; Elizabeth, wife of Simon Hawk, a farmer, resides in Coshoe- ton County, this state; and Caroline is Mrs. Luther Stocker.
The early years of Adam Lieser were spent un- der the parental roof, and his education was ob-
tained in the public schools of the vicinity. In 1865 he came to this town to learn the milling business, and after three years was master of the trade. Ile was then promoted to the position of second miller in the River Mills, and held this place until 1874. In March of that year he took charge of the mills, and is still connected with the same. Thus for some thirty years he has steadily worked his way upward, and has industriously con- tinued at his post of duty. In April, 1891, he purchased a one-third interest in the mills, and in February, 1894, became equal partner with A. Byer, who was the owner of the mill when our subject first became connected therewith. The old-faslı- ioned, cumbersome and slow machinery of former years has been superseded by the roller system, which was adopted in these mills in the year 1881. The plant is run by water-power, and the mill is well supplied with improved turbine wheels. The capacity of the concern is about two hundred and fifty barrels daily, and though their trade is prin- cipally confined to this state, they have regular customers in various other counties. A specialty is made of the " Imperial " brand, and "A. Byer's Patent" grades of flour. The partners have a branch mill at Uhrichsville for the grinding of feed and for selling the flour supplied by the main mill. The Ulrichsville mill has an electric motor of twenty- five horse-power, and the River Mills are also fur- nished with one of these motors. The wheat used comes from all parts of the country, by cars and canal-boats. In addition to fine grades of flour, the mills furnish different kinds of feed, meal, etc. The products of the River Milling Company rank with the first in the state, and the partners find a ready market for whatever they can manufacture.
September 10, 1870, Mr. Lieser married Miss Lena Kazmeyer, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to the United States in childhood. Six children have been born of this marriage: Nattie and Clara, deceased; William H., who is manager of the Uhrichsville mill; Augustus A., Arthur and Gertic, who are at home. The family are members of the German Reformed Church, and are much re- spected by a wide circle of friends and neighbors.
In his political ideas Mr. Lieser is a stanch Re- publican. He belongs to Shoenbrun Lodge No.
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430, I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the En- campment. Personally he is well known for his strict honesty and fairness in his dealings with his customers, and has an enviable reputation for high principles. Ile is a self-made man, having worked his way upward to a position of prosperity and in- fluence in the community through his industrious and worthy qualities.
N OAH IIILL, M. D., who died at his home in Senecaville, this state, September 12, 1894, was one of the most prominent phy- sicians of Guernsey County. At his death the profession was deprived of one of its noblest rep- resentatives, and the citizenship of the community suffered a sad loss. Ile was born in Westmore- land, Pa., October 30, 1809, and was of French and German descent.
The first of the name to come to America was Joseph Eichelberg, who was obliged to flee from his native land on account of the political troubles which were then agitating the country. He was pursued by German soldiers, and was obliged to cast himself into the waters of the Rhine, which he swam amid a shower of bullets. He made his way to Paris, and in 1765 arrived in the United States. Ilere he changed his name of Eichelberg, "Oakhill," by dropping the first syllable and call- ing himself "ITill," thus shortening and angliciz- ing the name. Josephi IIill, as we shall hereafter know him, joined the Continental army and fought through the Revolutionary War. ITis son. Joseph, Jr., was the father of Stephen Hill, who in turn was the paternal grandfather of our subjeet. thus making Joseph Ilill, Sr., the great-great- grandfather.
The maternal ancestors of Noah Hill, as far as can be traced, were first the great-great-great-grand- father, Nicholas Reasoner, a native of France. At the time of the persecution of the Huguenots, being of the Presbyterian faith, he, with others, was
driven out of France into Germany. Nicholas had three sons, Jacob, Benjamin and Garrett, the latter born in 1710. One of Garrett's sons, Peter Reasoner, while living in Germany, married Mary Spiers, about 1763, and came to the United States about 1770. This worthy couple were the grandfather and grandmother of Noah Hill. On their arrival in this country they procceded to the Carolinas, where a French colony was already established, and from there removed to Pennsyl- vania, settling on the Monongahela River, near Pittsburg. While there one of the daughters of Peter Reasoner, named Sarah, married Joseph Hill, and became the mother of our subject. Peter Reasoner. who came to Ohio in 1805, settled land where New Concord now stands, and built the first Presbyterian Church erected there.
In the year 1814 Noah Hill went with his par- ents to the vicinity of Norwich, Muskingum Coun- ty, this state, where they settled on a farm. Ilere the future doctor received the benefit of health- giving farm work, and at the same time took advantage of the opportunities afforded him for obtaining an education in the schools of that day. In due time he received a certificate to teach, and in 1828 went to Senecaville, where he taught the village school. While thus employed he studied medicine with his brother-in-law, Dr. John Bald- ridge, and remained there until 1833.
In the above year our subject attended lectures at the Cincinnati Medical College, from which in- stitution he was graduated the following year. Returning to Senecaville, he formed a partnership with Dr. Baldridge, whieli connection existed until the death of the latter, in 1844. From that time until 1862 Dr. Hill practiced alone. That year his eldest son, John Hill, who had just had the degree of Doctor of Medicine conferred upon him, entered into partnership with his father, with whom he practiced for about ten years. After this our sub- ject managed affairs alone until 1879, when he as- sociated with him his son-in-law, Dr. W. Scott. This partnership was dissolved in 1887, and from that time umtil within a year of his decease Dr. Hill did little else than an office practice.
Ile of whom we write was married, September 3. 1834, to Miss Mary, daughter of Abraham and Jane
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(McCleary) Dilley, residents of Senecaville, Ohio. Their union resulted in the birth of thirteen chil- dren, one of whom died in infancy, and the others are all living. Of these Dr. John resides at Vin- cennes, Ind .; Jane married J. II. Collins, and lives in Del Norte, Colo .; Stephen B. is a resident of Bolivar, Mo .; Homer M. is editor of a daily and weekly paper at Seattle, Wash .; Nancy married Harrison Robbins, of Baltimore, Md .; Mary is the wife of George W. Taylor, of Caldwell, this state; Sarah is now Mrs. Alfred Weedon, a resident of Cambridge, Ohio; Elizabeth is the wife of M. L. Spaid, and is living in Point Pleasant, this state; Abram D. is living near Senecaville; Leicester K is a druggist of Senecaville; Noah L. is engaged in farming near Senecaville; and Candace L. is the wife of Dr. W. Scott, whose sketchi will appear on another page in this volume. Our subject at the time of his decease had thirty-eight grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Mrs. Ilill de- parted this life August 13, 1887. She was an ac- complished lady, and highly respected by all who knew her.
Dr. Hill was converted during the great revival at Senecaville in 1833, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He continued to worship with that denomination until 1847, when he withdrew his membership on account of the slavery question, and cast in his lot with the Wesleyan Methodists, which relationship he maintained until his death. In politics the Doctor was first an old-line Whig, then a Free-soiler, next an Abolitionist and then a Republican. He was a delegate to the first State Convention held by the Republican party, and con- tinued to give to it his support until about eight years ago, when he espoused the temperance cause, and joined the Prohibition party. It is here proper to remark that Dr. Ilill aided the slaves in escap- ing from bondage, and cast one of the first three Abolition votes in Guernsey County. Ile was an aggressive and most positive man. In advocating what he thought to be right, he was outspoken, and in the days when to be an Abolitionist was in the eyes of the majority a crime, he openly and positively declared his belief in abolition.
Dr. Hill was ever prompt in the duties devolving upon him as a church member, was liberal in his
support of the Gospel, and his house was a veri- table preacher's home. Ile was a studious man and well informed on current topics. Although eighty-five years of age at the time of his death, his mind was unimpaired, and his advice was sought until within a few weeks of his demisc. He had a very extensive practice during his younger years, and was singularly successful in the treat- ment of disease.
LETCHER DOUTHITT, Judge of the Eighth Judicial District of Ohio, resides in New Philadelphia, where he is one of its inost influential citizens. Ile is a native of this state, and was born February 22, 1840, in Morrow County. His parents were natives of Pennsyl- vania, and bore the respective names of Duncan and Nancy (Braden) Douthitt.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, by name Joseph Douthitt, was born and reared in Westmoreland County, Pa., and he, in turn, was the son of Thomas Douthitt, who located in that county in 1770, soon after landing in America from his native Ireland. Duncan and Nancy Douthitt made the journey to this state in 1838, locating at once in what is now Morrow County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, en- gaged in farm pursuits. The father died in 1852, and the mother, who survived him many years, passed away in January, 1877. In politics Duncan Douthitt was a strong Democrat.
The parental household included five children, those besides our subject being William, Joseph, Jolin and Mary A. They are all deceased with the exception of Fletcher, of this sketch. The lat- ter was reared on the home farm, receiving his preliminary education in the schools taught in the district. Being desirous of following a professional life, he sought to obtain a thorough education, and, eutering Iberia College, at Iberia, Ohio, took a course of study in that institution. He next be-
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came a student in the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, and subsequently attended the Ohio State and Union Law College, from which he was graduated in June, 1864. Soon after receiving his diploma, he began the practice of his profession at Mt. Gilead, this state, and remained there until 1873, the year of his advent into this county. Mr. Donthitt first located at Uhrichsville, but shortly after we find him a resident of New Philadelphia.
The first partner of our subject, when starting out in his profession, was T. D. IIcalca, this con- nection lasting about two years. He then became associated with IIon. J. A. D. Richards, and since the dissolution of their partnership has continued alone. He is an able advocate, a sound jurist, and has been very successful at the Bar. Although his practice is largely a general one, he is strongest in chancery cases.
Judge Douthitt was elected to the Bench in 1891, and entered upon the duties of his office the following year. His district embraces Harrison, Jefferson and Tuscarawas Counties. He is a very stanch advocate of Republican principles, and by that party was elected to the position of Mayor of Mt. Gilead in 1868. Ile has also served very ac- ceptably on the School Board, and in many other ways has been prominent in promoting the best interests of his community. IIe is an influential member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 107 at New Philadelphia, and also holds membership with Andrew Crawford Post No. 6, G. A. R.
During the late Civil War, Judge Douthitt en- listed his services in behalf of the Union, and was mustered into service in 1862, as a member of Company I, Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry. With his command he went to Baltimore, Md., whence they were ordered to Harper's Ferry. While en- gaged in a battle at that place, General Miles sur- rendered, and many of the Union soldiers were captured, among them our subject. This was Sep- tember 15 of the above year, and after being held a prisoner of war for a short time he was paroled, and returned home.
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