Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 24

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : C.O. Owen
Number of Pages: 934

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Arnold, one of the early settlers of the county. The parental family included ten children, only five of whom are now living. namely: Christian. of this sketch; John, Andrew, Philip, and Mary, the wife of Theodore Peter. Philip is living in Washington, D. C., but the other members of the family reside in this city.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Canal Dover. He was eighteen years of age, when. in December, 1861, he vol- unteered his services in the Union army and was accepted, becoming a member of Company E, Eightieth Ohio Infantry. With his regiment he was sent to join the Army of the West, and was first stationed at Cairo, Ill. They were afterward ordered to Padueah, Ky., and later participated in the battles of Iuka and Corinth. When ordered against Vicksburg, the regiment marelied to that city via Holly Springs, where an engagement oe- curred, and when there was no further need of their services they returned to Memphis, where they went into camp for the winter.

The spring following, the regiment in which our subject was serving was ordered out to Vicks- burg, making the journey first by way of Yazoo Bayon, which route they were obliged to abandon. later reaeliing their destination through the state of Louisiana. They were met by the enemy at Jackson, Miss., and at Champion Hills, prior to the siege of Vicksburg. Being victorious at that time, the Union troops moved back to Memphis, thenee to Chattanooga, and later participated in the fight at Mission Ridge. They afterward marched south to llunstville, Ala .. and Mr. Deis' term of enlist- ment expiring, he re-entered the ranks as a vet- eran. A short time prior to this, however, he was given a furlough and returned home on a visit. He rejoined his command at Inntsville, and while en route with Sherman to Atlanta was detailed to guard the railroads at Rome. In the fall of that year the Eightieth Ohio marched with Sherman to the sea, thenee through the Carolinas to Washing- ton, where Captain Deis witnessed the Grand Re- view. Ile was then sent with his regiment to Lit- tle Rock, Ark., and was mustered out, August 25. 1865. In 1862 he was promoted to be Second Lieutenant for valiant service, was soon thereafter

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commissioned First Lieutenant, and in May, 1865, lie was promoted to the rank of Captain, with which title he was honorably discharged.

'After the establishment of peace, and when ready to engage in the peaceful pursuits of life, Captain Deis took up farming, which he followed with profitable results for some time. Ile was married, in November, 1865, to Miss Rosanna Har- bold, and to them were born six children: Clara E., now the wife of George E. Fertig; Charles H., a traveling salesman; Calvin, engaged in the jew- elry business; Adelaide, at home; and two who died unnamed in infancy.

In his political affiliation Captain Deis is a strong Republican, and takes a great interest in the suc- cess of his party. Socially he is a member of the National Union and belongs to the Grand Army post in this city. Ile is held in good repute by all who know him, and has many sincere friends throughout the community.

ILLIAM V. KEEPERS was the first Mayor of Uhrichisville, and for half a century has made his home in this place. For several years he served acceptably as Township Clerk, and has also been a member of the City Council and of the School Board. For a number of years he has been President of the Fair Association, and in many ways, both publie and private, has manifested his great interest in the progress and upbuilding of this city. His busi- ness is that of furnishing monuments and marble for various purposes.

The first representative of the Keepers family in America was a native of England, and bore the Christian name of William. He was the great- great-grandfather of our subject. At his death he left an estate in Baltimore County, Md., situated along Pipe Creek. His son William also had a son William and a grandson of the same name, the latter becoming the father of our subject. The gentleman last named was born in 1770, and died

in December, 1842. IIe was a native of Maryland, and in his younger days was a forgeman. Later he became interested in farming and milling, and was one of the pioneers of Harrison County, Ohio. His wife, formerly Elizabeth King, was born in 1784, and died in August, 1859. Like her father, John King, she was also a native of Maryland, and came to the Buckeye State the same year that William Keepers arrived.

Eight children were born to William and Eliz- abeth Keepers. Cassandra, deceased, was the wife of Joli Fowler; who during his last years resided in Jasper County, Iowa. They reared a family of five children, of whom Mary A., wife of W. Car- rothers, of Des Moines, Iowa, is the only survivor, those deceased being William, Thomas, Naney and Samuel. Nancy Keepers, deceased, became the wife of James Hoagland. of Harrison County, and five children were born to them: Aaron, now deceased; Elizabethi, who is the widow of James Lightner, and the mother of six children; John, a resident of Harrison County; Massie, the wife of Thomas Beatty, of Scio, Ohio; and Tillie, who married John MeCombs, also of Scio. Sarah Keepers became the wife of Alexander Maxwell, and their only child, William, now deceased, married and lived in Iowa. The parents have also passed away. Elizabeth Keepers married Thomas Orr, and four children were born of their union: Alexander, a Method- ist Episcopal minister in Illinois; Taylor, who is a minister in the same denomination, and is also in the Prairie State; Sarah and one other daughter. Rachel Keepers, now deceased, was the wife of Samuel Hilton, also deceased. Jemimah Keepers, deceased, was the wife of Robert Maxwell, also de- ceased. They had six children: Sarah E .. who is the widow of Dr. llugh Allen and the mother of a son, Maxwell; Thomas, a resident of St. Louis: William, who lives in Parsons, Kan .; Robert C., of Lincoln, Neb .; Joseph, whose home is in Denison. Tex .; and Mary, Mrs. George Bowers, of Texas. Isaac B. Keepers, deceased, married Mary A. Hick- son, of Hanover, Harrison County, Ohio. They removed to Ripon, Wis., where Isaac died, and where the widow now resides. They had four children: William Henry, now a resident of De- troit, Mich., engaged in the iron-bridge business;

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Sarah Elizabeth, the widow of Mr. Hood, now re- siding in Ripon, Wis .; Alice, the wife of Mr. Pack- ham, residing in Dakota; and Charles, deceased.

William V. Keepers, the subject of this biog- raphy, was born March 28, 1819, in Harrison Coun- ty, Ohio. He was married, May 4, 1848, to Saralı Pritchard, daughter of Jesse and Jane M. (Lacey) Pritchard, also natives of Harrison County. Mrs. Keepers' grandfather, John Pritchard, was born in Pennsylvania, and removed to Harrison County when it was but little settled, and when there were only very few cabins in the town of Cadiz. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Keepers: Isaac N., born September 2, 1849; Clara, Septem- ber 6, 1853; Jesse, September 29, 1857; William W., October 9, 1860; and Charles E., December 6, 1862. The eldest son, who died April 7, 1890, was for three years a member of the Eleventh Ohio Cavalry during the late war. He married Chris- tina Ball, by whom he had six children. Gertrude, born January 26, 1871, became the wife of Prof. S. L. Bell, of Scio College, and they have one son, Carl L .; Nellie was born November 19, 1873; Henry V., November 3, 1875; Maurice M., March 14, 1877; Chester A., November 3, 1883; and Mary E., January 2, 1890. Clara, the eldest daugli- ter, became the wife of Maurice Mood, and they have become the parents of two eluldren, Edward D. and William V. Jesse departed this life May 20, 1892. William W. married Josephine Lukins, and they have two children, Clara and Fred. Charles E., who married Julia Skinner, now lives in Denver, Colo.

Of the six children born to Jesse and Jane M. (Lacey) Pritchard, Mrs. Keepers is the fourth in order of birth, as she was born July 29, 1830. IIer eldest brothers, William and Jolin, are deceased, the latter having died in the hospital during the Mexican . War. Martha, the eldest sister, became the wife of Daniel Spencer, and both have been called to the silent land. Of their two children, Laura became the wife of Robert Hoily, and John married Laura Gillespie, by whom he has two chil- dren, Nellie and Beatty. The youngest brother of Mrs. Keepers, Jesse L., enjoys the rank of Major, which title he won in the late Civil War. Ile married Mrs. Sampson, and resides in New

Mexico. Clara, the youngest of the family and now deceased, was the wife of Thomas J. Forbes. They became the parents of four sons: Pritchard, who married Maria Hay; James, now deceased; Charles and Ilarry, the latter of whom married Jessie Blin, by whom he had two children, Thomas and Clara.

For many generations the Keepers family has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination, and our subject, with all his house, is no exception to the rule, though Mrs. Keepers' forefathers were Presbyterians. For forty years he has been a member of the local church. in which he has held various offices. In March, 1845, he located in Uhrichsville, on the site of his present residence. In early years he was an old-line Whig, but has been identified with the Republican party since its organization.

6 ILLIAM T. RAMSEY, M. D., enjoys an excellent and rapidly growing prac- tice in Cambridge and vicinity. In addition to this he is a most acceptable minister of the Gospel, having for about two years been in charge of the Episcopal Church at Cambridge. His influence for good in the community is marked. and he is held in love and high esteem by all his parishioners and fellow-citizens.

The Doctor was born in Frederick, Md., April 18, 1847, and is a son of James Murphy and Mary Eleanor (Tyler) Ramsey, natives of Gettys- burg, Pa., and Frederick, Md., respectively. The fa- ther, who was a lawyer by profession, was educated in Dickenson College, in Pennsylvania, and in the United States Military Academy at West Point. For years he practiced law in the city of Wash- ington. For some time prior to his death, which occurred in February, 1858, he was chief clerk in the First Comptroller's office. He was of Scotch descent, and a son of Sammel Ramsey, who at- tended and graduated from Dickenson College in the same class as did James Buchanan. Later they read law together, and were admitted to the

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Bar at the same session. Samuel Ramsey followed - the profession of teaching, and, coming to this county in 1852, was Principal of the Washington Academy until his death, which occurred in Octo- ber, 1854.

The Doctor is one of six children, three sur- viving. One sister, Mary Eleanor, is the wife of Harrison Leib, of Hamilton, Ohio, doing business in Cincinnati as a sugar broker. Susan Eliza- beth is the wife of Dr. James M. Gassonay, who is in the United States Marine Hospital Service, and is now stationed at New Orleans. Alexander Shires and James Murphy died in early childhood. Mar- garet was the wife of Charles II. Bradenbauch, who died in Washington City in 1885, his wife having died the same year in Virginia. Mrs. Ramsey, the mother of this family, departed this life in May, 1882, in Washington, D. C.

Dr. William T. Rainsey was educated in the Frederick Academy, and after pursuing a medical course was graduated from Columbia College, Washington D. C., March 2, 1871. During the war he was a commissary clerk with Gen. George Bell, then Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief Commis- sary of the Army of the Potomac. The Doctor would have gone out as a soldier, but his services were declined, and as the next best thing he se- cured a clerkship under the Government. He was one of the Zouaves, a company organized at Fred- erick. Ile continued to work as a clerk until Sep- tember, 1865, having been transferred to the gen- eral commissary department of the army service at Washington in July. He was appointed reg- ular clerk in the war department subsequently, and held the place until 1869. It was during this time that he commenced the study of medicine.

On beginning his active career Dr. Ramsey first practiced in Washington City, where he remained until 1879. Three years of this period he was house surgeon at Providence Hospital, after which for two years he was physician in charge, having under his jurisdiction the department of diseases of women of the National Medical College Dis- pensary. In 1879 hesecured a position as surgeon on a Pacific mail steamship line, and served as such for nearly two years.

In 1881 the Doctor came to this city, and has

been engaged in practice here since without in- terruption. Ile was appointed on the Examining Pension Board by President Cleveland, during his first administration, and has been re-appointed since the latter's second election. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. Socially he is a member of all the Masonic orders of Cambridge, and is Master of the blue lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Soon after coming to this city, the Doctor made the acquaintance of Miss Martha Isabel Lawrence, and their marriage was celebrated January 2, 1884. Two children, sons, have been born of their union, namely: William Lawrence and James Murphy. Mrs. Ramsey is a daughter of William A. Lawrence, Cashier of the Guernsey Bank and one of the hon- ored business men of this place.

BETSCHIER, a florist, whose residence is in Canal Dover, is widely known through his extensive advertising of his special line of plants and flowers. From his boyhood he had inculcated in him a love of nature, and his fa- ther was of great assistance in training these characteristics, as he was himself a nurseryman and gardener. Though he is a great lover of all kinds of flowers and plants, Mr. Betscher has given particular study and attention to the cult- ure of ferns, carnations, gladiolii, pansies and chrysanthemums, and keeps the largest assortment in these lines that can be found in the market.

Our subject is a young man in years, though not in experience in his branch of business, for he was born November 2, 1868, in Canal Dover. llis father, George Betscher, was a native of Baden. Germany, and in company with the grandfather. William, came to America at the age of six years. The family settled in Dover Township, on a farm, and after arriving at man's estate George Betscher was united in marriage with Jacobine Wegele, by whom he had ten children. He was for years a

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leading citizen of Canal Dover, being a real-estate agent and also a nurseryman.

C. Betseber is the third in order of birth in his parents' family. and received a good education in the public schools of this place. In 1890 he em- barked in business for himself as a florist and has been very successful in his undertaking. Recently he established a plant at Canton, thus state, which he placed in charge of a brother. In nearly every state in the Union and many points in Canada he finds ready sale for plants, seeds and clippings, obtaining customers through the medium of ad- vertising. He is a practical and progressive young man, thoroughly abreast with the times and bound to succeed.

In general educational measures Mr. Betscher lias been quite interested, and has evolved a plan for furnisinng the people with instruction and en- tertainment at the same time. To this end he has established a lecture and musical department bu- reau, which promises to be very popular. Though he has never had any aspirations for political honors, our subject is a true Republican, but in local affairs is independent of party lines.

OSEPH L. MORRIS is a gentleman whose ex- perience in mining, and thoroughly practical knowledge of geology, led to his appoint- ment a few years sinec as State Mine Inspec- tor, a position which he is filling to the eminent satisfaction of all. Ile is at present residing in Canal Dover, where his friends are legion.

Our subject was born in Victoria, in the south- ern part of Wales, January 2, 1839, and is the son of Thomas and Gwenllian ( Lewis) Morris, natives of Carmarthen, South Wales, and Newport. that country, respectively. The family, as far back as Mr. Morris has any record. were residents of Wales.

Thomas Morris was a miner by occupation, be- ing the first of that name to pursue the calling. His father, bearing the name of Thomas Robert Mor- ris, was the owner of a large farm. and also dealt

quite extensively in the sale of coal and iron ore. The brothers and sisters of our subject were six in number, namely: William, superintendent of the Excelsior Coal Company at New Comerstown; David T., Mary, Thomas, and two who died in in- fancy. They are ail deceased with the exception of William, the first-mentioned. David died in Beaver Meadow, Pa., and Mary and Thomas passed away while residing in Wales. Thomas, the father of our subject, also died in his native country, his death occurring at the age of sixty-nine years. the result of an accident which took place in the mines. Ilis widow later came to America, locating in Beaver Meadow, Pa., where she died in July, 1866, at the age of sixty-nine years.

The original of this sketch was given a good ed- ucation in his native land, and at the time of his emigration to the United States, when twenty-one years of age, had obtained a thorough knowledge of mining engineering. In 1867 he took up his abode in Canal Dover, having been offered fine in- ducements to locate here by the proprietors of one of the rolling-mills. When leaving their employ some time thereafter he went to another point in this county, where he opened up mines and lived for'a period of eleven years. The little hamlet rapidly grew from the time of his location there, and was named in his honor Morristown. At the expiration of the time above mentioned. he went to Mineral Point, where he operated a mine for two years. While there he was solicited by the Con- otton Valley Railroad Company to open up their mines in Dellroy, and after doing so he went to New Mexico on an exploring expedition, remain- ing two years on the frontier, testing copper and silver ore in the interest of a large syndicate. Ile had charge of the expedition on this occasion and met with very gratifying results.

On his return to Ohio, Mr. Morris went to Co- shoeton, where he was appointed mining manager for the Morgan Ri Coal and Mining Company, opening up all their mines at that point. While there, in 1885, he was installed by Governor For- aker as Mine Inspector for the state of Ohio, hold- ing that important office for four years. At the expiration of that time he superintended the open- ing up of a mine at Postboy, owned by Cox, Mor-

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ris & Howells, where was found blackband iron ore.

On the 9th of December, 1860, Mr. Morris was married, at Bedwellty, South Wales, to Miss Jane Powell, and the young couple came on their wedding trip to this country. Their union was blessed by the birth of six children, five daugh- ters and one son. Mary Ann is the wife of Harry Butler, a merchant of Carrollton, this state; Miri- am is housekeeper for her father; Gwenllian died at the age of nine years, while the family was residing in Morristown; Thomas W. is the editor of the News-Review, of East Liverpool, this state; Jennie departed this life at the age of four years; and Adelaide is at home. The wife and mother died February 13, 1888, in Coshocton, greatly mourned by all who knew her. She was a most estimable lady, and the daughter of Watkin and Mary Powell. Her father bore the distinction of being the first man to run an engine from Tredegar ' to Newport in South Wales. Her daughters, Mir- iam and Adelaide, are young ladies of many ac- complishments and artists of rare ability.

In social affairs our subjeet is a Mason. of high standing. a member of the Knights of Honor, and also a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. The Congregational Church finds in him one of its most consistent members and a liberal contrib- utor toward its support. In politics he is a Republican, first, last and all the time. His esti- mable character and useful life have secured for him the respect of his acquaintances and the deeper regard of those who know him best.

AWRENCE P. MCKINLEY was one of the first.assistant pharmacists to be registered in Ohio, and for abont twenty-five years he has been engaged in the drug business. In April, 1894, he purchased a stand known as "John MeKinley's Drug Store" in Uhrichsville, and has since conducted the business. Ile is a successful and practical pharmacist, keeping in stock an ex-

tensive and well selected line of drugs, chemeals and toilet articles.

The birth of L. P. MeKinley occurred in Perry County, Ind., August 29, 1852. Ihis father, Will- iam, was a carpenter and sawyer by occupation, and during the late war tendered his services to the cause of freedom and the Union. Ilis life was offered up as a sacrifice to his country, as he was drowned in 1863, while on the Mississippi in the gunboat service. Ile had three brothers and one sister, the family record showing in order of birth as follows: William, Adam, Isabella, Joim and Henry, all of whom have passed away. He was born in Maryland in 1813, and removed to Indiana during the '40s. Ihis wife bore the maiden name of Cynthia Protsman, and of their union seven children were born. In order of their birth they were as follows: Isabella, William, Franklin, Henry C., Mary, Lawrence P. and Milton. Of these Will- iam, Franklin and Milton are deceased.

Our subject was only eleven years of age at the time of his father's death, and some three years after that event he came to Uhrichsville to make his home with an uncle. Ile received a part of his education in the schools of Troy, Dale and Rock- port, Ind .. and after coming to this place also pur- sued his stuchies for a time. From 1869 until his uncle's death, which occurred April 19, 1894, he was in the former's drug store, with the exception of some four or five years during which time he was engaged in the coal-mining business, and a few months when he worked on a farm owned by his uncle. The latter, John McKinley, was born in East Springfield, Jefferson County, Ohio, and was a dentist by profession. Ile was a most worthy and influential citizen of Uhrichsville, where his lot was passed for several decades. In his politics he adhered to the Democratie party, and frater- nally was a Mason. Ile was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and ever inter- ested in the promotion of all measures for the elevation of mankind, and for the benefit of this community.

In 1869 Lawrence P. Mckinley began in ear- nest to study for his future business as a pharma- cist, and, as previously stated, was one of the first registered in Ohio. Religiously he is a member of

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the Methodist Episcopal Clinch of this city. Po- litically he uses his right of franchise in favor of Prohibition candidates, being a firm believer in the principles espoused by his party. Upright and honorable in all his business and social dealings with his numerous customers, friends and acquaint- ances, he is held in the highest respect by all, and is justly considered one of the leading citizens of Ulrichsville.

HARLES E. MITCHENER, son of Charles H. Mitchener, deceased, whose biography appears on another page, was born on the 23d of January 23, 1843, in the town of New Philadelphia, where he was reared and ed- ucated. At the age of seventeen years he entered the office of the Ohio Democrat to acquire a knowl- edge of printing. The War of the Rebellion com- ing on, his business was interrupted and he was among the first to respond to the call of the Presi- dent for troops to preserve the Union.

April 16, 1861, the young man enlisted in the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry for three months' serviee. and was mustered into Company F at Camp Jack- son. Ile served throughout the West Virginia cam- paign and took part in the first fight at Philippi, under General MacClellan. After chasing the reb- els ont of that section of the country, his regiment returned to Oakland, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and remained in camp for a time. Later it was returned to Ohio and mustered out at Zanes- ville. Returning home, he did not long remain inactive, but September 10 again enlisted, this time for three years' service, and was mustered into Company A, Fifty-first Ohio Infantry, at Camp Meigs. The regiment was sent to Camp Dennison, and from there was ordered to the seat of war. Going to Kentucky, he took part in the campaign during the winter of 1861-62. February 25 the command arrived at Nashville, Tenn., being the first Federal troops to enter that city. The regi- ment to which our subject belonged was in the

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Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 24

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : C.O. Owen Number of Pages: 934

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : C.O. Owen
Number of Pages: 934