Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 43

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

USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 43

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The birth of Josiah R. Knowlton oceurred in Belcher, Hampshire County, Mass., August 20, 1815. Ile went to Virginia with his father, and in 1829 came to Ohio. When eighteen years old he began teaching, being one of the first to obtain a certificate under the law requiring an examina- tion of candidates for teaching. In 1843 he came to this place, where he engaged in merchandising for several years. In company with Russell Prouty, he started a shop for the manufacture of engines. after which he gave his attention to cutting lum- ber with a portable engine, which was one of the first of the kind ever built in the country. For the past few years he has not actively engaged in business. Hle has served as Trustee, Clerk and Treasurer of the township, and for twenty-four years has been a Notary Public. Politically he was a Whig, and is now a Republican. In his religious views he is a Baptist.

August 14, 1838, Mr. Knowlton married Saralı B., daughter of Joseph and Melinda (Rice) Lip- pitt, who were born in Cranston, R. I. Mrs. Knowlton, who died Deecmber 11, 1892, was born

in Noble Township, Noble County, in 1818, and by her marriage became the mother of three chil- dren, viz .: Fidelia, who died at the age of twelve years; Irville N .; and Linus R., who died when in his fourth year.

The only surviving son of our subject, Irville N., was born in Morgan County, Ohio, November 26, 1841, and was educated in the common schools. On reaching his majority, he became a watch- maker and photographer, and worked at that call- ing for twelve years. Turning his attention exclusively to photography, he conducted a gal- lery for eighteen years, after which he embarked in the grocery business, to which his time was given until 1893. In politics he is a Republican, and socially is an Odd Fellow and Mason. May 15, 1866, he married Mary L., daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Marshall) Phillis. Eight children were born of this union, viz .: Nettie E., Mrs. Ad- die E. Conner, J. Frank (a dentist), Fred A., Sarahı L., Mary N., Willie C., and Bertha, who died in infancy. Prior to their marriage, both Mr. Knowlton and his wife were Presbyterians, but have since been affiliated with the Baptist Church.

F RANKLIN MISKIMEN has resided at his present home near New Comerstown since 1878. During this period he has engaged in the growing of small fruits, and has also been employed more or less as a surveyor. This call- ing he learned when about fifteen years of age, becoming master of it through his own efforts, as he had but little instruction, but has nevertheless made a success of the undertaking. In 1893 he was elected County Surveyor on the Republican ticket, a marked victory, as he received a majority of nearly three hundred votes in what is considered one of the strongholds of Democracy. For a period of three years he was Justice of the l'eace, and since 1875 has been connected with the Cen- tral Ohio District Fair Association, in which he

317

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

has been President, Vice-President, Treasurer for three years, and a member of the Board of Control.

The parents of Franklin Miskimen were John and Rachel (Burt) Miskimen, natives of Coshoc- ton County, Ohio, and Orange County. N. Y., re- speetively. The father of John Miskimen was James, a native of Northumberland County, Md., born in 1774. Ilis father in turn came from the North of Ireland, an exile seeking a home. He was of Seotch-Irish stock, and religious perseeu- tion led to his flight, for he was a Covenanter. Ile followed the weaver's trade, while his son James adopted agricultural pursuits as a means of obtain- ing a livelihood. The original spelling of the name was either McKimmon or Mckinnon, but it was changed in the fore part of this century. James Miskimen came to Ohio about 1805, located in Linton Township, Coshocton County, and there kept a trading-post for some years. He was one of the first Board of Conunissioners of the county, a prominent citizen, and became the owner of large tracts of land. He was a great hunter, and had many adventures with the Indians. It is claimed that he passed through the Tuscarawas Valley in 1799, as one of the corps of surveyors who crossed over to the Sciota Valley and returned by Zanes' Trail. In 1802 he stopped temporarily in Coshoc- ton County, where land to the extent of four thousand acres was offered to him for $1000. He refused to buy on account of the absence of large timber, as the land was located on the plains. Ile was born in 1774, and died in 1840.

Our subject's father, John Miskimen, was mar- ried in 1841 to Rachel, daughter of Daniel Burt. Her family was descended from some of the first settlers in New England, where it is known they were residents as early as 1624. For many years Jolın Miskimen was engaged in farming in Coshoc- ton County, but in 1869 removed into Tuscarawas County, where he died in 1870. Of his twelve chil- dren, five died in early childhood. Those living are as follows: Daniel, a farmer near this city; Franklin, our subject; Charlotte, Mrs. Sheldon Dickinson, of this place; Mary, wife of George W. Miskimen, manager of the Hardesty Mill Company. of Canal Dover; John C., who is on the old home- stead in Coshocton County; George W., a farmer

of the same locality; and Rachel A., Mrs. E. C. Crater, whose husband is a jeweler of New Com- erstown.

A native of Coshocton County, our subject was born December 10, 1845, and was reared to farm- ing pursuits. He was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood, and later was a stu- dent in the New Comerstown High School. After a course of study in Duff's Commercial College at Pittsburg, he graduated in 1865. Returning home, he obtained a position in the bank, but on account of poor health, returned to outdoor life on the farm. In 1870 he went to Kansas, and until December. 1874, was a resident of Allen County. Returning thence to this state, he settled in the county of his birth, where he continued to make his home until 1878, sinee which time his lot has been cast with the inhabitants of New Comerstown.

Prior to his removal to Kansas, our subject was married, in Mattoon, Ill., to Miss Luey MeMunn, the date of the ceremony being April 4, 1870. The lady is the daughter of Samuel MeMunn, a prominent farmer and stock-dealer of the Buckeye State before his death. Eight children were born to our subject and his wife, three of the number having died in infancy. Bertha G. is now in Illi- nois; and the others, John S., Rachel, Catherine C. and James M. B., are at home.

A man of industrious and energetic habits, Mr. Miskimen is deserving of the success he has reached, and by all who know him he is most highly es- teemed. Since 1886 he has been Treasurer of the Cemetery Association, and is identified with all local improvements. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

A DAM DUNLAP. There are comparatively few small farms in Tuscarawas County. and each farmer tries to outdo his neigh- bor in the cultivation and improvement of his land. Of the many fine, attractive places, none is more conspicuous than that belonging to our

348

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

subject. It is situated in Perry Township, about three miles from West Chester, and is the abode of hospitality. Mr. Dunlap is an able general agri- culturist, and for many years has been the ef- ficient Land Appraiser of this township.

The subject of this sketch is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born February 1, 1823, in Harrison County. He is a son of Joseph and Sa- rah (Gilmore) Dunlap, the former of whom was born in Fayette County, Pa., October 12, 1792. He came to Ohio in a very early day, and located at once in Ilarrison County. The maternal grand- father of the latter, Samuel Gilmore, was a hero of the War of 1812, bravely aiding in the defense of the country in those perilous times, and undergo- ing hardships and privations that our brave sol- dier boys of to-day never dreamed of.

Adam Dunlap came to Tuscarawas County in 1855. Hle was reared upon a farm, and received such an education as could be obtained in the schools near his home. On reaching his majority, he chose the occupation of a farmer, determining to make this his life work, and he has never had cause to regret his decision. He owns one of the largest and best cultivated 'farms in this county, and is justly proud of it. The improvements on his estate are all first-class, and everything goes to show that he is well posted in all the details of his line of industry.

The residence of Mr. Dunlap is a large, substan- tial structure, well and comfortably furnished. Ilis barns, which are more for use than show, are commodious, and all other improvements are in proportion. The stock is as good as can be found in the county, and through his good management, combined with the natural richness of the soil, he reaps an abundant harvest yearly. Mr. Dunlap is well known and highly respected in the commu- nity where he lives, and is regarded as one of the substantial citizens of Tuscarawas County.

Our subject was married, in August, 1845, to Miss Margaret J. Buchanan, and unto them have been born seven children: Rebecca C., Amanda, Ida M., Joseph, Samuel A., Boyd B. and Adam S. Politically he is a Democrat, and, although never having aspired to office-holding, takes a deep and abiding interest in the success of his party. Ilis

excellent wife was a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which he contributes liberally. The family occupies a high position in the social cir- cles of Perry Township and vicinity.

OHN FRAME, one of the pioneers of Guern- sey County, has made a success in his life work, that of farming. For the past fifty years he has dwelt on his farm one and one- half miles northeast of Lore City, where soon aft- er becoming of age he brought one hundred and seventeen acres, to which he has since added an additional tract of one hundred and seventy-two acres. Besides this property, which is well im- proved and would find a ready sale in the market at any time, he is the owner of two stores, a black- smith shop, the mill at Lore City, and other real estate. Though his father gave him some capital with which to begin the battle of life, his posses- sions have been made almost entirely through his own individual efforts.

The Frame family has numerous representatives in this county, descendants from Scotch people who removed to Ireland and thence came to the United States about one hundred and thirty years ago. Three brothers and a nephew were among the first to cross the Atlantic, and their location was in the vicinity of Philadelphia. They were all from County Armagh, Ireland. The nephew, James, married Susan Donnard, and from them are descended most of the Frames of this county. After two or three children had been born to them, they crossed the Alleghany Mountains and were numbered among the pioneers of Fayette County, Pa. Of their ten children, five sons and two daughters reached maturity, namely: David, Will- iam, Thomas, James, John, Susan and Naney. David, the eldest son, settled northeast of Camp- bell Station, in this county, in 1805. Ilis farm in- cluded about six hundred and forty-two acres, which was a part of the township granted to Biggs

349

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

for services in the Revolutionary War. All of the other brothers and sisters, and the father of David Frame, subsequently came to this locality. The wife of David bore the name of Nancy Thomp- son. They had three sons, James, David and Will- iam. The father died at the age of eighty-four years, and was placed to rest in the old cemetery three-quarters of a miles southeast of Washington, Ohio.

James Frame, the father of our subject, was born in Fayette County, Pa., about 1784, and died in this county when nearly ninety-two years old. Ile was a great hunter, and in early manhood wore a suit of buckskin. At the age of twenty-years he married Margaret, daughter of John and Deb- orah (Hill) Caldwell, of Fayette County, Pa. A large share of his life was passed on his farm near Freepoint schoolhouse. Ile added one hundred and seventeen acres to the original farm of two hundred and forty acres which he received from his father, this latter homestead being now in the possession of our subjeet. To himself and wife were born nine children, two of whom died in in- fancy. Jane married William Ryan, and lives in Noble County; Deborah became the wife of Joseph Mclaughlin, and settled in Greene County, Ind .; David lives in this county; Margaret became the wife of John McConkey, and is now deceased; James married and settled in California; Jacob wedded Martha Torrens, and is a resident of Greene County, Ind .; and Josiah is a bachelor, whose home is in California. Nancy and Minerva died in early childhood.

The birth of our subject occurred in Guernsey County, March 31, 1818, on his father's farm, and he is thus seventy-seven years old. By nature he was studious and a great lover of books. Though he had few opportunities in an educational way, he made the most of those which fell to his share, and in time- possessed sufficient for the practi- cal duties of life. At the age of twenty-six years he married Deborah Gordon, whose parents, James and Rebecca (Caldwell) Gordon, natives of Penn- sylvania, came to Ohio with the Frames and other pioneers.

Eight children have been born to John Frame and his wife. Five of the number are still liv-

ing, namely: Gordon, who is a farmer living near Belleville, Republic County, Kan .; Margaret, the widow of George Blackburn, also making her home near Belleville; Martha, who is unmarried and lives at home; Martin, who is operating a part of the old Johnson Farm, located a mile from Lore City; and Miller, who lives at home. Rebecca died June 30, 1881, at the age of thirty-five years, and one unnamed died in infancy. Miller, the youngest surviving son, is unmarried and is a prae- tical young agriculturist. He has inherited his fa- ther's industrious and thrifty habits and is a good financier. The devoted wife and mother, who was born April 1, 1818, departed this life February 20, 1888. She was a lady of lovable Christian char- aeter, and for years was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church, to which our subjeet also belongs. The latter has affiliated with the Demo- cratic party since he was twenty-two years of age.

SMOND M. HOGE is a public-spirited and progressive young citizen of Cambridge. In 1888 he was appointed City Engineer, and has served efficiently in that capacity ever since. In 1889 he was elected County Surveyor, and was re-elected in 1893, and is still holding the office. Ile enjoys the distinction of being a Thir- ty-second Degree Mason, and has filled all of the intermediate positions. In polities he is a thor- oughgoing and ardent Republican.

The father of our subject, Dr. Milton Hoge. died at Cadiz, Ohio, May 18. 1890. He was the second son of Asa and Asenath Hoge, who came over the mountains from Pennsylvania, and set- tled at an early day in Belmont County, Ohio, where their son Milton was born March 16, 1830. Dr. Hoge graduated from Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, in 1854, and took a post-grad- uate course in the University of Pennsylvania. For many years he was a member of the Board of Regents of Starling College. In 1853 he came to

350

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

this city, and for over thirty years was one of the foremost physicians of this locality and county. October 22, 1861, he was mustered into the service as Assistant Surgeon of the Fifty-second Regiment of Ohio Infantry, and when the war had closed he resumed his practice. For two years he was one of the examining surgeons on the Pension Board. September 27, 1859, the Doctor married Dorcas, only daughter of Basil and Nancy Brown, of this city. She died April 6, 1871, aged thirty-five years. May 21, 1885, Dr. Hoge married Julia Mc- Bain, who survives him.

Osmond M. Hoge, a child of his father's first marriage, was born October 16, 1864. His brother, Dr. W. B. Iloge, is a resident of Grand Island, Neb., and after graduating from the High School of Cambridge, went to the Michigan State Univer- sity, and was a member of the graduating Class of '85. Luella Hoge, the only sister, lives at home. Our subject received a common-school education, and pursued a course of training in the Cambridge High School, from which he graduated in 1882. Then going to the Ohio State University at Col- umbus, he became interested in civil engineering, and when in his senior year, in 1886, obtained a position as Assistant Engineer in the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad shops at Brookfield, Mo., where he remained until 1888. Returning then to his former home, he has, as previously stated, held responsible positions up to the present time, and has a goodly future opening before him.

J OSEPHI L. MCILVAINE, publisher of the Tuscararras Advocate, is prominent in the journalistic world, and is one of the rep- resentative citizens of New Philadelphia. He possesses unusual ability and talent for his chosen work, and in order to keep thoroughly posted on everything pertaining to the same, it

has been his custom to attend conventions of edi- tors and newspaper men. He was sent as a dele- gate from the Ohio Editorial Association to the conventions of the National Editorial Association on several occasions. It was his good fortune to be present at the meetings which convened at Den- ver, San Antonio, St. Paul, Boston and Chicago; and though chosen to serve as a delegate to the conventions at San Francisco and Detroit, his nu- merous dnties and responsibilities would not per- mit of his being present. In 1893 he was elected President of the Ohio State Editorial Association, and the following year was re-elected to that im- portant.and honored place.

The parents of our subject are Garvin and Jane (Brittain) Mellvaine, both natives of Pennsylvania. and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The father followed farming as a means of obtaining a livelihood, and resided until his death in Washington County, Pa. In politics he was a Whig, and was quite a leader in his community. Ile and his wife were devout members of the Presbyterian Church, and were most worthy people. Of their twelve children, Joseph L. is the seventh in order of birth, and nine of the number are still living.

The birth of Joseph L. Mellvaine took place in Washington County, Pa., November 14, 1837, on his father's old homestead. Until he was sixteen years of age he attended the village school and assisted in the work of the farm. Later he entered an academy, and afterward was enrolled as a stu- dent in Jefferson College, now known as the Washington and Jefferson College of Pennsylva- nia. He was graduated from that institution in the classical department in the year 1858, after which he engaged in teaching. For two years he was Principal of Hookstown Academy. In 1860 he came to Ohio to accept a similar position in the New Cumberland Academy, where he remained one year. The school was then closed, and our subject came to New Philadelphia to take up the study of law with Judge Ilance. When a year had elapsed he was appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools of Canal Dover, and two years later he was given a like position in the schools of New Philadelphia. During the year of his service here he re-organized the schools according to the

351

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

graded system, and the first class was graduated under that improved plan. During this period Mr. Mellvaine was appointed County School Ex- aminer, in which capacity he served the public for six years most acceptably.

In July, 1865, our subjeet decided to enter the journalistic field, and, purchasing the Tuscarawas Advocate, he has since conducted it. At that time there were only two papers in the county, whereas there are now thirteen. The Advocate is a very old journal, having been established in 1819, under the title of the Chronicle, but in 1834 its name was changed to the present style. Its politics is Re- publican of the strongest kind, and its influence is widely felt. Since the present proprietor as- sumed charge of the paper its circulation has been greatly increased and its power for good extended. The paper is a large nine-column sheet, ably edited and neatly arranged. In connection with the pa- per is a good job-printing office, where fine work of every description is turned out. The editor has been an important factor in local politics, hav- ing served for seventeen years as Chairman of the Republican Executive Committee of the county, and he has been sent as a delegate to nearly every State, Congressional, Judicial and County Conven- tion during this period. In 1872 he was a dele- gate to the National Convention at Philadelphia, and in 1876, at the Cincinnati convention, was a Blaine delegate, having been elected with that dis- tinct commission. In the convention of 1888 he was alternate delegate. The same year he was ap- pointed to serve on the State Board of Agricult- ural Experiment by Governor Foraker, and acted for two years in that capacity.

December 1, 1868, Joseph L. Mellvaine married Anna, daughter of John and Lydia (Walton ) Cov- entry, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respect- ively. To our subject and wife were born three children: Charles L., Marian and Ralph. The latter died at the age of twenty-one months. Mrs. Mell- vaine is a member of the Presbyterian Church. is on the Committee of the Board of Charitable Insti- tutions, and is very active in benevolent and de- nominational work.

For a period of eleven years our subject has been Worthy Master of New Philadelphia Lodge

No. 177, A. F. & A. M. He is a member of Tusca- rawas Chapter, of which for two years he was High Priest, and for about seventeen years was P. S. He is also a member of Massillon Com- mandery, K. T .; and of Alkoram Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Cleveland, Ohio.

J ESSES. DEARDORFF. This gentleman, now living temporarily in New Philadelphia, is one of the old and prominent citizens of Tuscara was County, Ohio, and was born in Canal Dover, November 2, 1818. His parents were Christian and Margaret R. (Butt) Deardorff, the former of whom was a native of what was then York County, Pa., but is now Adams County, and was born in 1781. He in turn was a son of Isaac Deardorff, the son of John, the son of Anthony, the latter of whom was born in Germany, whence he fled with his wife and three sons, Peter, John and Anthony, to this country on account of relig- ious persecutions, landing in Philadelphia in 1729. He later located in York County, Pa., and from him, it is supposed, all the Deardorffs who were born in York, Adams, Franklin or Cumberland Coun- ties, Pa., were descended. They were Dunkards in religious faith. Grandfather Isaac Deardorff purchased a farm in 1771. and owned a grist-mill. which he operated in addition to working his farm. For some time he was engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil and oil from nuts, and built a large limestone dwelling-house in 1786. located near the crossroads leading from Harrisburg to Gettysburg, and from Carlisle to York and Baltimore City. This building still stands, in good preservation, and is now the home of his grandson, George L., by him inherited from his father, George, Sr.

During the youth of Christian Deardorff, son of the above gentleman, German was the prevailing language spoken and taught in the schools. There- fore his opportunity for acquiring an English ed- ucation was reduced to a few winter months, when

352

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the only studies taught were reading, writing and arithmetic. After entering upon his business life in Ohio, he acquired, by persistent application and study, a proficiency in mental culture fitting him to discharge ereditably the honorable position in life which he occupied. He was trained to the bus- iness of a farmer, disposing of his father's mill products in Baltimore City and elsewhere, and throughout life displayed those business qualities which assisted his father in his milling enterprise. Ile dealt quite extensively in milling and farm produce and in oil.

In 1803-04 Christian Deardorff and Jesse Sling- luff, his brother-in-law, of Baltimore, Md., with a colored servant equipped with tent and camp out- fit, started on horseback from the Deardorff home in Adams County, Pa., to visit and inspect Gov- ernment land in Ohio. After traversing the terri- tory north as far as Lake Erie and Cleveland (then a little hamlet and trading-place), they proceeded south as far as Chillicothe, a Moravian station, thenee east through Muskingum County, and there tarried a short time with the Rev. Mr. Heckenwel- der, a missionary located at Gnadenhutten, a Chris- tian Indian station. Being very much pleased with the outlook and the possibilities which the future had in store for them in this territory, which had been organized as a state in 1803, they jointly purchased two thousand one hundred and seventy- five acres of land from General Morrison, of Lex- ington, Ky., a part of which was a United States Military grant, located in Muskingum, now Tus- carawas, County.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 43

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