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 48
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In the family of three children, Judge Stephen- son is the eldest. He has two sisters, Emma E. and Myrta V. His boyhood was passed under the parental roof, and in the local schools he obtained his elementary education, supplemented by a few terms at the Academy of New Hagerstown. En- tering a printing-office at the age of sixteen, he learned the printer's trade, at which he worked for about six years.
Being a young man of ambition and enterprise, onr subject concluded to adopt the legal profes- sion, and in 1885 began to study at New Phila- delphia, in tlie office of A. L. Neely. At the end of a year of preparation he was admitted as a stu- dent in the Cincinnati Law School, from which in- stitution he was graduated with honor in the spring of 1887, being awarded the $75 prize offered by the
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faculty for the best essay on a selected legal topic. Soon after that event he returned to this city, and entered into partnership with his former preceptor, under the firm name of Neely & Stephenson. This connection continued to exist until the fall of 1893, when the Judge was elected on the Repub- lican ticket to his present position of trust and honor. February 9, 1894, he entered upon the duties of his office, and has made for himself an enviable record.
Judge Stephenson was united' in marriage to Miss Dollie A. Platt, July 5, 1893. The lady was for many years a resident of Washington, D. C., but is a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio. The Judge is a member of the Masonic order, and is at present Worthy Master of New Philadelphia Lodge No. 177, A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of Equity Lodge No. 73, K. of P.
J OHN W. ARNOLD, proprietor of the Guern- sey House of Fairview, is an able and effi- cient manager, and has made his hotel a ver- itable symbol for all that constitutes the com- fort and the pleasure of the guests. Mr. Arnold is also the possessor of a fine farm of ninety acres, located on section 10, Oxford Township, which he operated with success until April 1, 1890, when he moved into Fairview, and purchased the hotel of which he is now "mine host."
Our subject is a native of this county, and was born in Oxford Township, May 29, 1851, to An- thony and Keziah (Watkins) Arnold, the former of whom was born in 1826, and died December 21, 1871. His wife, whose birth occurred in 1828, de- parted this life in 1866. . Both parents were na- tives of Oxford Township, by whose residents they were held in the highest possible esteem, and at the time of their demise their loss was greatly felt. Anthony Arnold was the son of William Arnold, a native of Maryland, who in an early day emi- grated overland to this county, and entered three
hundred and twenty acres of land from the Gov- ernment, lying on section 10, Oxford Township, and a portion of which is now in the possession of his grandson, our subjeet.
John W. Arnold was the second in order of birth of his parents' family of nine children. Of his brothers and sisters, Elizabeth, born June 5, 1849, is now the wife of Samuel S. Monroe, and resides in Iowa; James M., born in 1853, married Mary Young, and is now living in Oxford Town- ship; Isaac, born in 1855, died in August, eleven years later; Sylvester, born in 1857, departed this life when a lad of nine years; Wesley, whose birth occurred in 1859, died in 1869; Jeremiah, born in 1865, died the following year; Nersilla J., born in 1855, was the twin of Isaac, and is now Mrs. Henry Wyard, wife of a druggist of Los Angeles, Cal .; Annie, born in 1859, also makes her home in the above city, where her husband, John Sullivan, is employed by the railroad.
John W. Arnold was reared on the home farm, and educated in the schools of Oxford Township. He remained under the parental roof until attain- ing his twenty-second year, when, in 1873, he be- gan to earn his own money by working out on farms in the vicinity. March 7 of that year he was married to Martha E. Bond, born in Londonderry Township, Guernsey County, June 20, 1853. Mrs. Arnold was the daughter of Christopher and Rachel (Burkhead) Bond, the former of whom was also a native of this county, and the son of .Joshua Bond, who located here in the early days, having come hither from his native Maryland. He en- tered a tract of land from the Government, which he worked industriously to clear and cultivate, living to see it developed into one of the produc- tive estates for which this section is noted.
To Mr. and Mrs. Arnold there have been born three children, of whom C. Dunham is the eldest. Ilis birth occurred October 3, 1875. Charles M. was born December 21, 1877; and the third of the family died unnamed in infancy. C. Dunham and Charles M. are residing at home with their par- ents. Both parents are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which they are liberal contributors In politics Mr. Arnold is a stanch Republican, taking great
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interest in the success of his party, although he is in no sense of the word an aspirant for office. As before stated, he lived on his farm on section 10 until 1890, the year of his removal into Fairview. Ilis hotel is furnished in a tasteful manner, suited to the demands of his patrons, and his tables are always spread with the good things of the season. Ilis rates are very reasonable, and he is an atten- tive and courteous host.
OIIN LA RUE is a descendant of one of the sterling pioneer families of Guernsey Coun- ty. lle is an enterprising and progressive agriculturist of Wills Township, and took charge of the old homestead of his forefathers in 1889. Ilis farm is in a high state of cultivation, and is kept up in such a manner that it plainly shows the thrift and constant attention of the owner. The buildings are substantial, and the farm house is convenient and commodious.
The name La Rue is plainly of French origin, and members of the family bearing the same left the sunny shores of France and settled in America before the War of the Revolution. One of these, Jabez La Rue, was a soldier in the Colonial army, as was also his young son, James, during the last year of that memorable struggle. This son was born April 22, 1758, and married Elizabeth Jordan, a native of Loudoun County, Va., born March 18, 1770. In 1806 the young couple removed to Bel- mont County, and two years later to this county. They settled on the northeast quarter of seetion 8, range 1, in Richland Township. At the same time Stephen Ballard, Reason Hammond, William Me- Connel and a Mr. Welsh settled with their fami- lies on adjoining quarter-sections. They had no other near neighbors, and their advent into this locality followed closely upon the departure of the redmen from the West.
To James La Rue and wife were born five daughters and live sons, namely: Sarah, May 24,
1791; Charity B., April 15, 1796; William B., Sep- tember 20, 1797; Pamchia, July 26, 1799; John, February 6, 1801; Margaret, October 29, 1802; James, October 20, 1801; Laban, October 18, 1806; David, January 23, 1812; and Elizabeth, July 7, 1819. They were all natives of Loudoun County, Va. Laban and his sisters, Pamelia and Margaret, inherited the old homestead.
John La Rue, grandfather of our subject, re- ceived a limited education in the old-time log schoolhouse. He experienced all the hardships incident to pioneer life, and helped to clear sev- eral farms. He married Rebecca Ballard, by whom he had twelve children, named as follows: James, Stephen, Hamilton, Laban, Robert, John S., Sam- uel R., Mary M., Mrs. Elizabeth Moss, Judson, Eli J., and Richard, who died at the age of five years. Several of these sons were successful school teachers.
Samuel R. La Rue, the uncle of our subject, was born in Wills Township, on the old homestead, February 15, 1812. After mastering the rudi- ments of an education in the old log schoolhouse still standing near his late residence, he went to Wisconsin, where he made an en viable reputation as a school teacher, commanding higher pay than any others in his profession in that locality. When the war broke out he enlisted in a Wisconsin regi- ment, and served for three years. During his army life he sustained lasting injury, and never fully recovered his former health. Becoming in- terested in the culture of bees, he met with unex- pected success in this unusual line of work, and had ahnost a monopoly of the business. Return- ing to his old home in Ohio. he brought with him some Italian bees, and inaugurated the honey in- dusty, which had previously been a failure in this county. He was cut down while in the midst of his usefulness, January 21, 1888. His faithful companion and helpmate along life's journey bore the maiden name of Sonora Aduddell.
The birth of the father of our subject occurred on the farm his father purchased in 1821, and which is now our subject's by inheritance. The date of J. S. La Rue's birth was April 25, 1840. In early life he engaged in farming, but after his marriage he followed the carpenter's trade in vari-
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ous places in Ohio until 1880. He is now living at Lakeview, Ohio. August 14, 1862, he married Ann Linn, daughter of John and Rebecca (Scar- borough) Linn, of Noble County, and of the seven children born of this union our subject is the eld- est. The others are as follows: Richard S .; Maggie, wife of Henry Shaffer; Nannie, Zua, Vinnie and Charles.
Jolın La Rue, Jr., was born July 18, 1863, in Noble County, this state, and accompanied his father and the other members of the family in their frequent removals to and sojourns in various towns of the state. When twelve years of age he began working with his father in the western part of the state, and continued with him until his ma- jority. For the past six years he has been engaged in the cultivation of the old family homestead.
September 14, 1892, occurred the marriage of our subject and Mrs. Laura, widow of Samuel R. La Rue. She was left an orphan at an early age, and is a daughter of William and Jane (Morrison ) Aduddell. Her paternal grandfather, George, was a native of Ireland, and her grandfather, Andrew Morrison, a native of Maryland, was a Captain in the War of 1812. At an early day he emigrated to Ohio, and kept hotel at Senecaville for twen- ty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. La Rue have one child, John Paul by name. They are members of the Baptist Church. In his political belief Mr. La Rue is a Prohibitionist.
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1 AMES T. JOHNSON was appointed Postinas- ter of Milnersville, Ohio, in 1885, and made a most efficient and trustworthy servant. He is quite a leader in the local ranks of the Democracy, and for three terms has been Treasurer of Monroe Township. Since 1881 lie has been in- terested in the drug store formerly owned by his brother, J. S., who died in October, 1883. Our
subject then took charge of the establishment, run- ning the same for his brother's widow until 1886, when he purchased the business wlrich he has since conducted. Ile carries a full line of general mer- chandise, groceries and drugs, and enjoys a full share of the local patronage.
Born in Washington County, Pa., March 23, 1845, our subjeet is a son of John and Rebecca (Brownlee) Johnson. The former was also a na- tive of Washington County, his birth having oe- curred in 1801. His father, Robert, was a native of Ireland, who at an early day settled in Washing- ton County, and there married. He was a skillful mechanic and a successful farmer, being the owner of an improved place of two hundred and forty acres five miles west of the village of Washington. His family numbered seven children, namely : John; Nancy, Mrs. Patterson; Jane, Mrs. Bartley; Mc- Clain; Martha, who married John Hammond, and died near Cadiz, Ohio; Grizella, Mrs. David Mor- row; William. who was a wealthy agriculturist, and djed near Hickory, Pa .; and Robert, whose death occurred on the old homestead in the Keystone State.
On arriving at man's estate Jolin Johnson was given a farm by his father, as was also his brother William. On these farms the young men built cab- ins and, leasing the homestead, returned to their native state, afterward trading them off for a small consideration. The town of Mansfield, Ohio, is now situated on the site of these two farms.
The first wife of our subject's father was a Miss Taggart, who lived but a short time after her mar- riage. Mr. Jolmson then married a Miss MeClel- land, by whom he had four children. Margaret became the wife of D. L. Hughes, and died in 1885 at Cadiz, Ohio. Robert was a soldier in the late war, belonging to the One Hundred and Twenty- second Ohio Infantry, Army of the Potomac. Dur- ing his service he was taken sick with the measles and sent home, later being placed on detached duty at Camp Dennison. He received his final dis- charge at Columbus in 1865, and is now employed in the railroad office at Trenton, Mo. Annie, Mrs. R. P. Smith, is a resident of Pittsburg, l'a. John, who was a member of the One Hundred and Twen- ty-second Regiment, with his brother was cap-
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tured at the battle of Winchester, and after being held a prisoner for twenty-two days at Belle Isle was paroled. May 4, 1864, he was wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and taken prisoner. After being held captive at Millen, Ga., for two months, he was confined in Anderson ville for five months more, after which he was exchanged at Annapolis, Md. Returning to his company, he was present at the surrender of Lee on Grand River at Washing- ton, D. C., and was discharged at Columbus in 1865. His death occurred in 1883, at Milnersville, Ohio. The mother of these children having died when her youngest child was an infant, the father tlien married Rebecca Brownlee, daughter of William Brownlee, a native of Washington County, Pa., whose wife's maiden name was Carson. His father was born in Scotland and emigrated to America in early manhood. He owned a large farm and one of the finest brick houses in Washington County in his day.
Until 1856 John Johnson continued to live in Pennsylvania, but at that time removed to Guern- sey County and bought a farm in Liberty Town- ship. This he sold in 1863 and took up his resi- dence on a farm in Muskingum County, dying there in September, 1885. By his marriage with Rebecca Brownlee six children were born: W. B., who died at home in 1891; J. T., the subject of this sketch; J. B., who is engaged in farming near New Concord, Ohio; Martha G., who resides at liome; Keziah J., assistant matron of the Children's Home at Cadiz; and Samuel L., who is still at home.
The education of our subject was confined to what he could obtain in the common schools of the district in which he was reared. With his parents he came to Olio when he was eleven years of age, and for a number of years his time was principally given to agriculture. He then engaged in selling fruit trees and patent rights until 1881, when he began clerking in his brother's drug store. His nat- ural business ability was early made evident, and he met with good success in various undertakings.
In 1884 occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Nora, daughter of Samuel Speck. She was born and grew up to womanhood in Ohio. Four children, three sons and a daughter, have come to gladden the hearts and home of our subject and
wife. They are named as follows: John P., Orrin McClain, James Raymond and Maggie Neola. Mr. Johnson was brought up in the faith of the United Presbyterian Church, but his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination.
LIJAH C. HATCHER, an enterprising young business man of Cambridge, is pro- prietor of one of the most complete gro- ceries to be found in Guernsey County. He en- joys a liberal and paying patronage, which he well deserves, on account of his strictly honorable busi- ness methods and his constant endeavor to please all with whom he has dealings. He embarked in his present line of business in this place in 1889, and has made a success of the undertaking.
The Ilatcher family has been identified with the history of Belmont County, Ohio, since the early part of this century. The paternal grandfather of our subject, for whom the latter was named, be- came a resident of the Buckeye State. about 1824, he having removed here from Loudoun County, Va. The parents of Elijah C. are Noah J. and Mary Eliza (Gregg) Hatcher, both of whom were born in Belmont County. The grandparents of Mrs. Ilatcher were natives of Scotland.
Noah IIatcher has been engaged during his act- ive life in agricultural pursuits in his native county. He is still living, but his wife was called from his side by deatlı in 1892, at the age of fifty- eight years. They were the parents of six chil- dren: Rose, who is a resident of Belmont County; Jennie, wife of J. N. Wilkinson, also of Belmont County; John W., who died in early childhood; Elijalı C., of this sketch; Grace C., Mrs. R. D. Hood, of Cambridge; and Ida, who is still living with her father.
Elijah C. Hatcher grew up in the usual manner of farmer lads, his time being divided between working for his father and in attending the dis- triet school. He supplemented his primary studies
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by two years passed in the Ohio State University, at Columbus. He then returned to agricultural pursuits, but when two years had passed away con- cluded to try his luck in the mercantile world. His venture has been crowned with success and he has proved himself to be fully qualified as a business man. Fraternally he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and is a Knight of Pythias.
On the 11th of October, 1887, Mr. Hatcher mar- ried Miss Orpha D. Sidebottom, whose parents were John and Amney (Denford) Sidebottom, residents of St. Clairsville, Ohio. They have one child, a son, Emmett. Their little daughter, Delia, died at the age of two years.
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M ICHAEL BAIR is one of the old and prominent farmers of Dover Township, within the boundaries of which his home has been made since 1845. In past years he was the owner of several large and valuable farms, but has sold or disposed of a portion of his land, though he still retains the old homestead and two hundred and twelve acres. Ile adheres to the Re- publican party, and had the honor of casting his first Presidential vote for the hero of Tippecanoe, William Henry Harrison.
The birth of our subject occurred in Harrison County, Ohio, April 6, 1816. Ilis father, Chris- tian Bair, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in an early day in its history, settling upon the farm where his son Michael's birth sub- sequently occurred. Before leaving the Keystone State, Christian Bair wedded Mary llarman, also a native of that state, and of their union were born five children: Michael; Jacob, deceased; David, now of Iowa City, Iowa; Samuel, deceased; and Sarah, the widow of Daniel Long, of Lagrange County, Ind.
When Michael Bair was only . ten years of age, his parents removed to Holmes County, this state, and in the primitive log schoolhouses of that lo-
cality he received his rudimentary education. The building used for a school was furnished with a puncheon floor and seats made of slabs without backs to them. Young Michael, however, only at- tended school for a short time, and when he was seventeen years of age he began serving an ap- prenticeship to the blacksmith's trade. At the end of two years he was thoroughly versed in the de- tails of the business, and for one winter he worked at a place in Holmes County. Going to Shanes- ville, he entered the employ of Andrew Berkey, a blacksmith, who was to pay him $5 per month. This was in the summer of 1834, and during the following winter he went to school in the county, and received more benefit from this brief term than he had ever before gained in his educational experience. Continuing in the line of his trade, he next became an employe of a man by the name of Ream, who was to give him $10 per month for three months. At the end of this time a partner- ship was instituted between Messrs. Bair and Ream, and this connection existed for two and a-half years. When the partnership was dissolved, our subject returned to Ilolmes County, where he worked at his trade for the next two years.
In 1842 our subject purchased a farm of thirty- five acres in the above county. He erected build- ings, improved the place, and resided there for three and a-half years. He then sold the farm for $1,400, getting the best price per acre ever paid in that county up to that time. In 1845 Mr. Bair removed to Tuscarawas County, and took up his residence upon a farm of sixty-five acres in Dover Township. In 1849 he bought ninety acres ad- joining this property, and two years later pur- chased thirty acres joining his land on the east. Subsequently he bought another ninety-acre tract, next to the thirty just mentioned, and to this he afterward added twenty-five acres adjoining the eastern sixty-four acres, where his residence now stands. Ten acres lying in Franklin Township, and five acres in the same township, which he bought from Frank Rice, he afterward sold for 8500.
October 16, 1836, Mr. Bair married Catherine Wimer. They commenced their married life on a most economical scale, as they only possessed at
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the time about $40 in silver. Mrs. Bair proved a true helpmate, and by her good management, in- dustry and thrift, was of valuable assistance to her husband. They became the parents of ten chil- dren, as follows: William H., who is deceased; Nathan, of Fayette County, Ill .; Benjamin, de- ceased; Drucilla, Mrs. Joseph Brookens, of Grant County, Wis .; Michael, Jr., a farmer of Dover Township; Frank, who is also engaged in farming in this township; Sarah, who lives at home; one who died in infancy; Emma .J., Mrs. C. C. Fernsell, of this county; and John Wesley, who is still un- der the parental roof. Mrs. Bair, who was a worthy member of the United Brethren Church, died January 22, 1878. Sinee 1846 our subject has been a member and faithful worker of this same denomination, and in all his dealings with his fellows has been strictly honorable and up- right.
ENRY J. MARTIN is a prosperous farmer of Jefferson Township, Guernsey Coun- ty, and manages a well improved home- stead on section 6, which has belonged to him for the past twenty-six years. In politics he is a Re- publiean. He is a man of high standing and true worth, devoted to the best interests of the com- munity in which he has long made his home. Since seventeen years of age he has been a member of the United Presbyterian Church, with which his wife has also been identified since her girlhood.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Martin, was a native of County Down, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States at an early day and learned the blacksmith's trade in Pittsburg, Pa., serving an apprenticeship of three years. Ile married Margaret, sister of the late Ilenry McCart- ney, County Commissioner of this county. To .John and Margaret Martin were born the follow- ing children: Henry, born September 22, 1821; Robert, August 1, 1823; Nancy, James, Margaret, Jane, John, William M. and Martha. Robert moved
to Iowa in 1852, and until December, 1891, re- sided in Washington County. He married Mar- garet Black, of Monmouth, Ill., and of their seven children only two are living. Nancy first mar- ried Rev. John Clark, of Washington County, Iowa. He was killed by a stroke of lightning, and after- ward his widow became the wife of James Dawson. James, a sub-contractor on railroads, married Hulda Head. Margaret, who became Mrs. Samuel Me- laffey, was for many years a resident of Cam- bridge, and is now in Colorado. Jane, who is unmarried, is now living with her sister, Mrs. Martha Parr, in Indianola, Warren County, Iowa. John married Mary H. McWilliams, a daughter of Robert and Mary (Spear) McWilliams. Their eldest son, James Sankey, is a minister of the Re- formed Presbyterian Church at New Castle, Pa. William M., born in 1842, enlisted in Company K, Seventy-fourth Ohio Infantry, and was a valiant and faithful soldier. Though he was color-guard, and his companions were often shot down on either side of him, he never received a wound. In the charge of Booneboro, Ala., one hundred and thirty-two of his regiment were killed. He mar- ried a daughter of Henry McCleary, and is now living in Arkansas City, Kan. Martha married Robert Parr, who served throughout the war from the organization of the Seventy-fourth Ohio Regi- ment, and was a member of Company K. He is now making his home in Indianola, Iowa.
Henry Martin, the father of our subject, was born September 22, 1821, in Mercer County, Pa., and was married at the old Armstrong homestead, in Jefferson Township, in September, 1844, to Eliza- beth Armstrong. They had two children, Mar- garet S., who was born July 3, 1845, and is now deceased; and Ilenry J., our subject.
The birth of Henry J. Martin occurred Decem- ber 1, 1846. He received a common-school educa- tion, and was reared in Guernsey County, Ohio. From his boyhood he has been interested in agri- cultural pursuits, and has made a success of his enterprises. He was married, December 31, 1868, to Harriet, daughter of Andrew and Eleanor Hur- rel. She was born July 18, 1846, and by ber mar- riage has become the mother of two children. The elder, Lizzie E., born December 1, 1869, married
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