Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 25

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

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Department of the Ohio, and under command of General Nelson.

In April, 1862, Mr. Mitchener was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, and on being mustered out of the Fifty-first Regiment was assigned to the Eightieth as Adjutant. At the time of this change he was lying ill with fever, and was sent to his home to recover his health. He found his mother ailing, and very much opposed to his returning to the army, and on her account he declined the ap- pointment and resigned. In May, 1862, Mr. Miteh- ener recruited a company for the Eighty-seventh Regiment and took them to Columbus, Ohio. Ar- rived there, they found that recruits were needed for the Eighty-eighth Regiment of Home Guards, and two-thirds of his company went into that reg- iment. The remainder he consolidated with an- other company, which was formed into Company K, of the Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry. This regiment was ordered to Baltimore and assigned to guard dnty on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. After the battle of Bull Run his regiment was ordered to Ilarper's Ferry, where the Union forces were massed. and they had not been stationed there long before the Eighty-seventh, with four thousand other troops, was captured by Stonewall Jackson's army after a siege of two days. The Union troops were paroled, and our subject re- turned home with his regiment about the Ist of October.

The following winter Mr. Mitchener remained at home, but in May, 1863, when the troops were exchanged, he received a commission to recruit an- other company, and on the organization of the regiment at Cleveland, Ohio, this was formed into Company B, of the One Hundred and Twenty- ninth Infantry. Mr. Mitchener was made its Major, and proceeded with his command to Ken tucky, where they went into winter quarters at Camp Nelson, and were assigned to an independ- ent brigade, commanded by De Conreey. He went on the Cumberland Gap campaign and assisted in its capture in September, 1863. The brigade spent the winter in Eastern Tennessee, and in the spring of 1864 the regiment was ordered home and mus- tered ont.

Taking up the peaceful pursuits of life, Charles

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E. Mitchener again entered his father's law office, but, not liking his position, he went to Cambridge, Ohio, after a short time. There he purchased the . Jeffersonian newspaper, which he conducted very successfully for seven years. In 1873 he sold out and returned to New Philadelphia. Ile became interested in coal-mining, and was thus employed for five years. In 1878 he went to Utah and took the position of superintendent of the Honorine Mining Company, located at Stockton. This place he held for nine years, living at the mines. Sub- sequently he removed to Salt Lake City and be- came superintendent of the Tintie Mines, in which capacity he served until 1891, when he resigned and returned to make his home in New Phila- delphia.

As it has been the intention of Major Mitch- ener to make this city his permanent home, he has erected an elegant and commodious residence. It is situated on North Broadway Street, is com- . plete in all its appointments, and is one of the finest homes in the place. The owner has been moderately successful in his business operations, and holds valuable mining stock in Utah, being interested in the Honorine. American Eagle, and other mining companies. On East High Street he owns a modern business block, which he erected, and he also is the proprietor of a farm of two hun- dred and forty acres in Goshen Township. This is one of the best farms in the county, and the Major is giving much of his attention to stock- raising.

Our subject was married at Cambridge, this state, in January, 1867, to Jane Goodrich. This union was blessed with three children: Mary, now the wife of Arthur B. Critehilow, of Colorado; Martha, who married O. L. Dodd, of Warren, Ohio; and Jane, attending school at Bethlehem. Pa. In February, 1873, the wife and mother was called to her final rest, in Cambridge, Ohio. Jannary 12, 1876, the Major married Clara, daughter of Sam- uel and Anna Foltz, whose sketch appears on an- other page of this volume. Three children were born to our subject and wife: Anna, who is a student at Bethlehem, Pa .; Clara and Charline.

Socially Major Mitchener is a member of the Masonic order, having been identified with Ar-

genta Lodge when in Salt Lake City, and also with the commandery at that point. He belongs to Andrew Crawford Post No. 6, G. A. R., of New Philadelphia; Union Veteran Union No. 55; and the Ohio Department of the Loyal Legion. Per- sonally the Major is genial and kindly in disposi- tion and readily makes friends. Though emi- nently successful in a business sense, his methods have always been marked by strict integrity and honor. As a husband and father he is thoughtful. kind and devoted; as a neighbor charitable and generous; and as a soldier he was true to his coun- try, bravely responding to her call for help in time of need. As a private citizen he is an honor to the county and state, and reflects credit upon the community wherein he dwells. After many years of toil he well deserves the comfort and rest which erown his years, and, surrounded by his family and numerous friends, the remainder of his life should pass in peace and contentment.

The labors of Major Mitchener have wrought good to his country and to his fellow-men, and in the consciousness of the integrity of purpose and faithfulness of action which have guided his course in life. prosperity and contentment are now his portion.

APT. JOSEPHI 1. KIDD, of Cambridge, is Engineer Master of Way with the Cleve-' land & Marietta Railroad Company, and during the construction of this road was one of the civil engineering corps which laid out and planned its course. lle is an honored veteran of the late Civil War. having been among the first to respond to the President's call for troops, although he was then only fourteen years of age. With short intervals, he re-enlisted on the expiration of ench term of service, remaining with his regiment until the close of the war. Since the cessation of hostilities between the North and South, he has given nearly all his time and attention to rail- roading.

The Captain is the eldest son of Isaac and Mary (Griest) Kidd. The former was born in Pennsyl-

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vania, and was of Welsh ancestry. By occupation he was a merchant, conducting a business in con- nection with farming. During the gold exeite- ment of 1849 he went to the Pacific Slope, and never returned home, as his death occurred a few months after reaching the West. Ilis widow, like- wise a native of the Keystone State, was of Irish descent. A few years after the death of her hus- band, she removed to Morgan County, Ohio. From 1852 until 1866, the latter being the year of her death, she made her home in the Buckeye State. Her family comprised but two children, namely: Joseph; and Mary, now the wife of L. K. Chap- man, of Marietta, this state.

The birth of Capt. J. I. Kidd took place in West- . moreland County, Pa., September 23, 1846. He attended the, district schools, where he obtamed his education, and subsequently entered Marietta College to pursue his higher studies. At the early age of twelve years he began learning the paint- er's trade, which he followed at intervals while at- tending college. When the Chief Executive of the United States called upon patriots to enlist for one hundred days' service he was among the first to respond, and served for about five months in the Second Virginia Infantry. Ile was then mus- tered out, but again enlisted, in the Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and participated in numerous hat- tles and engagements with his regiment during the next fifteen months. He was wounded at the battle of Corinth, and was discharged on account of disability. As soon as it was possible for him to return to the front. he re-enlisted, in the Sev- enty-seventh Ohio Infantry, and was on duty un- til the close of the war. being mustered out with the other members of his regiment.

Returning North, Captain Kidd resumed the peaceful avocations of life, and in 1868 married Liddy A. Dowling, whose death occurred in the year 1873. She was a daughter of John and Phobe Dowling, and by her marriage became the mother of four children, as follows: Della, who married James McClain; Mary. a resident of Illi- nois; JJohn, now deceased; and Laura, who became the wife of Wallace Dowling. In 1876 our sub- ject married Miss Katie E. Morrison. a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1859. To the Captain and

his wife were born a son and two daughters, who are all living at home, and who are named, respect- ively, Josie, Robert and Mina.

For about a year after leaving the army. Cap- tain Kidd was interested in prospecting and drill- ing for oil. Ile then became an employe of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in their southwestern branch, and continued with that company until the railroad with which he is now connected was laid out. Sinee that time he has been an employe of the latter, and holds a position of trust and re- sponsibility. On political questions of the day he uses Ins influence and ballot in favor of the Re- publican party. He is a most highly esteemed citizen, taking commendable interest in whatever pertains to the general good.

ROF. ROBERT BOYD SMITH, Superin- tendent of the Uhrichsville publie schools, is an able edueator, and has won fame in his chosen profession. For the past ten years he has occupied his present responsible position, dis- charging the numerous duties resting upon his shoulders to the full satisfaction of all concerned. Prior to this he was for sixteen years Professor of Languages and Mathematics in Scio College. of Harrison County, Ohio. In his early manhood he studied medicine, and in 1865 was a student in the medical department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor. The following fall he entered upon his practice, but at the end of two years turned his attention to his present field of labor, for which he is eminently qualified hoth by nature and education.

Born on his father's farm near Conotton. Ilarri- son County, this state, January 12. 1838, our sub- jeet is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Little) Smith, the former a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, and the latter of Allegany County, Md. In 1817 Robert Smith emigrated to America and settled in . Washington, D. C. Ile was a tailor by trade, but on reaching the United States worked at chiseling

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stone for the new capitol building, the other hav- ing been destroyed by the British. Ile soon re- moved to Allegany County. Md., where he worked at his regular trade. He was born August 4, 1794. and died in June, 1857. Ilis wife, to whom he was married in 1820. was born April 2, 1799, and died February 4. 1882. The young couple resided in Somerset County, Pa .. until December, 1825, when they removed to Harrison County, Ohio. where the father engaged in farming, and also worked to some extent at his trade, for fifteen years. In 1840 they settled on a farm in Carroll County, where they dwelt until March. 1848, and then became residents of Goshen Township, Tus- carawas County, there continuing to make their home until claimed by death. The patemal grand- father of our subject, John Smith, was a well-to- do farmer in Scotland. The maternal grandfather, Adam Little, a native of Maryland, became an in- habitant of Harrison County, Ohio, and there re- sided until his demise.

To Robert and Elizabeth Smith were born nine children: Adam, who died in 1879, in Putnam County, Ohio; Leonard, whose death occurred in Goshen Township, October 5, 1894; Mary A., wife of David Waliich, of Van Wert County, Ohio; Thomas C., a farmer near Benedict. Neb .; John W .. a blacksmith of Henry County. Ill .; one son who died in infancy; Robert Boyd, of this sketch; J. Harvey, a farmer of this county; and David M., who died in the hospital at Vicksburg, Miss., being a member of the Eightieth Ohio Infantry.

In his native county, Professor Smith received his rudimentary education, and later attended the district schools of Carroll and Tuscarawas Coun- ties. Subsequently he took a three-years course in the academy at New Ilagerstown, and in 1863 he was graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan Univer- sity, in the village of Delaware. Immediately aft- erward he took up the study of medicine, and at the same time taught in a select school for two years. In 1865 he entered the medical depart- ment of the Michigan University, and at the end of a year was licensed to practice medicine. In the fall of 1866 he began practicing, but at the end of two years was called to the Chair of Lan- guages and Mathematics in Seio College, and ac-

cepted the position. Since coming to Uhrichs- ville, he has prospered in every way, and is the owner of some valuable property in the place. Ilis first Presidential vote was deposited for Abra- ham Lincoln, and he has always been a true-blue Repubhean. In manner he is quiet and unassum- ing. but has many warm friends among his ae- quaintances.

January 7, 1868, Professor Smith married Miss Susan Fribly, daughter of S. F. Fribly, a well known citizen of this county. Two daughters have come to bless their union, namely: Cora F. and Elizabeth M., both of whom are at home. Professor and Mrs. Smith and their daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are greatly interested in everything relating to its welfare.

IIILIP BAKER. It is a well known fact that circumstances in life may make or mar the prospects of a man to a certain extent, but a determined spirit will bend even the force of cir- enmstances to its will. The career of Philip Baker since his arrival on the stage of human action is abundant proof of the trite saying: That which is better than silver or gold, a good name, gains added luster in adverse circumstances, and the sterling qualities of character are strengthened in the combats of life. The original of this sketch, who was one of the honored and prominent eiti- zens of Tusearawas County, passed from the scenes of earth April 24, 1881. in Canal Dover.

Our subject was born in Little York, Pa., June 20, 1812, and was the son of Plulip and Catherine (Metzgen) Baker. He was given such an educa- tion as the times and means of his parents would permit, and, being ambitious to become well in formed, by reading and observation added to his fund of general information. Ile remained at home until starting out in life, at the age of twen- ty-one entering upon what proved to be for many years a life of toil and hardship. Prior to his de- cease, when looking back over the many years

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when he was often denied the real necessaries of life, he often wondered how he made his way through the privations. Heattributed the greater part of his success, however, to the good manage- ment of his wife, whom he felt to be one of the best helpmates a struggling man ever had.

When ready to establish a home of his own, Mr. Baker was married. in Canal Dover, to Miss Harriet Elliott, the daughter of Capt. Wilson and Mary (Reed) Elliott. She was born in Mansfield, this state, October 22, 1816. IIer parents were natives, respectively, of Maryland and Pittsburg, Pa. Mr. Elliott was a lawyer by profession, but after loeat-

ing in Mansfield started a banking establishment and became one of the wealthy and influential residents of that place.

By their union Mr. and Mrs. Baker became the parents of two sons and two daughters, Mary, now the widow of Alonzo II. Hardesta; Jesse D., en- gaged in the banking business in this city; Loretta, the wife of E. P. De Greif; and Charles, a resident of Canal Dover, also engaged in the banking busi- ness. The second danghter, with her two ehil- dren, Helen and Thurman, makes her home with her mother, who occupies an elegant residence in this city.

HON. CHARLES J. ALBRIGHT.

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HON. CHARLES JEFFERSON ALBRIGHT.

H ON. CHARLES JEFFERSON ALBRIGHT, deceased, was a member of the Thirty- fourth Congress, which assembled Deeem- ber 3, 1855, and which was the first to meet under the present Republican party, which had just been organized. After being sworn into office, the House proceeded to elect a Speaker, and on the Republican side his name coming first alphabetie- · ally, he gave the first Republican vote ever east in the Ohio Congress. Mr. Albright figured in sev- eral of the most famous nominating conventions in the history of the United States. He was present at the first Ohio State Republican Convention held in 1855, and was Vice-President of the meeting. Ile sat with Lincoln at the first National Conven- tion of the party, which met at Philadelphia in 1856. Again, in 1860, he was sent to the National Convention at Chicago, as a member of a delega- tion mainly instrueted for Sahnon P. Chase. The latter was loyally supported until it became evi- dent that it was hopeless, and at the elose of the second ballot eame a supreme moment. Seward led Lincoln by two votes, when Mr. Albright and two of his colleagues left Chase and lent their support to Lineoln. The shont which went up from the friends of the Illinois statesman, and the rejoicing, are matters of history. In 1862 Lincoln appointed our subject Collector of Internal Revenue for the Sixteenth District, of Ohio, which office he held until June 30, 1869. In 1873 he was elected to serve in the Third Ohio Constitutional Conven- tion. During the war he was a member of the Military Committee of this county, and in 1875 was appointed by the Governor as a member of the Board of State Charities. In addition to the 8

important offices named, Mr. Albright at various times was Mayor, Clerk and Councilman, and served in other positions of trust and honor. He was for upwards of fifty-three years a citizen of Cambridge. where his death occurred October 21, 1883, at the age of sixty-nine years.

The name of Albright was elianged to its pres- ent spelling from the German Albrecht only in the last century. Our subject was a son of Frederick, a native of Prussia, born in 1767. Like his father before him, he was a physician. In 1793, in eom- pany with an unele, he came to the United States, and for the next thirty years resided and praetieed successively in Lancaster and Harrisburg. Pa., Mar- tinsburg, Va., and Carlisle and Bedford, Pa. De- cember 9, 1802. he married Sarah Atkinson, who bore him seven ehildren. The parents died within three months of each other, the mother Deeember 27. 1841, and the father March 16, 1842, in his sixty-eighth year. He had been for eighteen years prior to his demise totally blind.

Charles J. Albright was born at Carlisle, Pa., May 9, 1816. Ile was reared in Bedford. Martins- burg and Woodbury until 1821, when the family removed to Allegheny County, there dwelling un- til the spring of 1832, when he came with his parents to the farm then owned by B. A. Albright, two and a-half miles east of Cambridge. When only ten years old he began learning harness- making in his brother's shop, and from his four- teenth to his twenty-fourth year worked at vari- ous employments. such as farming, mining, print- ing, elerking and school-teaching. Only for brief periods was he enabled to study in the rude and elementary schools of the day. In 1840 he pur-

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chased the Guernsey Times, which he conducted for five years, and later from 1848 to 1855. He was always a true friend to educational meas- ures; from 1841 to 1844 he was Secretary, and after 1851 was for some time a member, of the Guernsey County Board of School Examiners, and in 1881 was elected President of the Board of School Ex- aminers of Cambridge Union School.

October 8, 1838, Mr. Albright married Miss Nancy, youngest daughter of James Bichard, who was one of the colonists from the Island of Guern- sey, and settled in this county in 1807. Mrs. Al- bright is still living in Cambridge. Both she and her husband were long workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church of this place, and the latter, with very short interruptions, always held some office in the congregation.

J AMES M. KNISELY, classed among the keen and thoroughly wide-awake citizens of New Philadelphia, rendered his country valuable service during the late war asa soldier in the ranks. He is widely known throughout this sec- tion of country, and is now in charge of the city hall. Mr. Knisely was born here, July 7, 1844, and is the son of Jacob B. and Caroline (Tucker) Knisely.

The elder Mr. Knisely was a native of Tuseara- was County, and was born June 16, 1809. He is still living, and resides on the property which he purchased in 1832. During the earlier years of his life he followed the trade of a carpenter, but he is now retired from active work of any kind. In political affairs he is a strong Democrat. Relig- iously, the Lutheran Church finds in him one of its most valued and consistent members.

The mother of our subject was born in Carroll County, this state, December 23, 1814. She also is still living, but is in very feeble health. The parental family numbered thirteen children: Re- becca, Jacob B., Levi M., Urias J., Sarah, George W., James M., John W., Benjamin F., Henry, Mary

Jane, Anna and Edison. Those deceased are Re- becca, Jacob, Urias J., Sarah, Mary J. and Edison.

The early life of our subjeet was spent under the parental roof, and he attended the public schools until enlisting in the late war. Volunteer- ing his services August 12, 1862, he was at that time mustered in as a member of Company D, Fifty-second Ohio Infantry, as drummer-boy. going into camp at Dennison. While the company was waiting in that place for further orders, young Knisely was appointed principal musician of his regiment, with which he went to Lexington, Au- gust 23 of that year. They remained in Kentucky until the battle of Perryville, in which they took part, under the command of General Sheridan, and from there were ordered to Nashville, Tenn., from which place a portion of the regiment, including our subject, moved on and participated in the bat- tle of Stone River. The troops then returned to Nashville and went into camp for the winter.

In April, 1863, the Fifty-second Ohio was sent to Bentwood Station, doing guard duty on the railroads. June 1, however, they returned to Nashville, and about the middle of the month were ordered to Murfreesboro, where young Knise- ly was taken sick with the typhoid fever. Col. Dan MeCook had him taken to a private house, where he received the best of nursing, and two months later was enabled to rejoin his regiment on its way to Nashville, where it arrived September 1. On leaving camp they moved through Frank- lin, Columbus, Athens, Huntsville, Stephenson, and Bridgeport, from which latter place they made their way across Lookout Mountain to Chattanooga. On the 18th of September they were at Rossville Gap, and the following day marched to the left of Roscerans' army. About two o'clock in the after- noon of the 20th, the regiment fought the battle of Chickamauga. After that contliet the command went back to Chattanooga, where they remained a few days, when they crossed the creek to the north of Chickamauga and moved on to Brown's Ferry. Crossing the river at that place, they found them- selves in Lookout Valley. Thenee, under the com- mand of General Hooker, they retraced their steps to North Chickamauga, where they were placed under the leadership of Sherman, and took part in

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the battle of Missionary Ridge. After this engage- ment they started to Eastern Tennessee, to the re- hef of General Burnside. On their return they remained for a few weeks at Connauga Mills. then marched again for Chattanooga, arriving there De- cember 24, 1863.

After a stop of a short time in the above place, the forces were ordered to MeElfee Church, Ga., and remained there in camp until February. 1864. They were next ordered out under General Thomas, and began active skirmishing along the line to Buzzard's Roost. Returning to McElfee's Church, they stopped there until the middle of March, then moved to Lee & Garden's Mills, Ga. On this bat- tlefield the regiment lay drilled and recruited un- til May 2, on which morning they were ordered out to engage in the Atlanta campaign. The first active skirmish occurred at Ringgold. This was followed by the fights at Tunnel Hill and Buzzard's Roost. At the last-named place the division in which our subject was a member was taken out, and, going through Snake Creek Gap, took part in the battle of Resaca. They then joined the See- ond Division under Davis, and marched to Rome, Ga., where occurred a confhet. From there they went to Pumpkin Vine Ridge, when the Second Division was sent to the right at Dallas, joining the command of General MePherson. After this action they went to Big Shanty, and from there to the foot of Kenesaw Mountain, where the regi- ment lay under fire of the rebel guns for seven days. June 25 they were moved to the right, and on the morning of the 27th were in the general charge on the mountain, where General McCook was mortally wounded and the Union forces lost heavily, especially the regiment of Mr. Knisely. The Federal troops remained on the field of battle for several days under the enemy's fire, and on their retreat moved on to the Chattahoochee River, where occurred another conflict, lasting several days. The Union forces then crossed the river, and on the morning of the 19th of July, 1864, took part in the battle of Peach Tree Creck.

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Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 25

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