Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 51

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 51

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Our subject is a native of this state, and was born in Coshocton County, September 5, 1847.

Ile is the son of Thomas and Barbara (Frederick) Alexander, the former of whom was born in Ire- land in 1815, being the son of John Alexander. Thomas died March 30, 1894. Ilis father, the grandfather of our subject, was also born in the Emerald Iste, whence he emigrated in a very early day to the United States, and spent the rest of his life in Londonderry, Harrison County, this state, engaged in farm pursuits. The mother of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, in the year 1820, and is still living, making her home in Plain- field, in Coshocton County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Jacob and Christina Frederick, na- tives of Germany. They took up their abode in the Keystone State on landing on American soil, and after making their home there for a while, re- moved to Coshocton County, this state, and there- after spent their time in cultivating the soil of this fertile region.

Thomas and Barbara (Frederick) Alexander were united in marriage in the above county, and to them were born ten children, seven sons and three daughters, viz .: Mary, the wife.of Samuel Dayton, a farmer of Jackson County, Kan .; Jacob, deceased; John, who was killed while serving his country during the late war; Adam, engaged in farming in Liberty Township, Guernsey County; Jesse, of this sketch; Christina F., now the wife of Thomas Fer- brache, also an agriculturist of prominence in Lib- erty Township; James, living in the city of Cam- bridge; George W., residing on his estate near Plainfield, Ohio; Marion, working at his trade of carpenter and also cultivating a good farm in Kan- sas; and Lizzie, the wife of Vietor Lewis, a resi- dent of Plainfield, Ohio. The father of our sub- ject was a wagon-maker by trade, but in addition to working at this business carried on the opera- tion of his farm and also ran a saw mill with profit. He made his advent into Guernsey Coun- ty in 1861. but lived here only a short time, when he removed to Plainfield, and there spent the re- maining years of his life.

Jesse Alexander was given such an education as could be obtained in the schools of the district. and remaining at home until attaining mature years. he thus gained a thorough understanding of farm pursuits. He was married, in 1870, to Rachel A.

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Bell, who was born in this county, April 4, 1853, and was the daughter of George and Ehzabeth (Stage) Bell. Her father was born in Ireland in 1821, and was in turn the son of James and Isa- bella (Carus) Bell, also natives of the Emerald Isle, who crossed the ocean in 1823 and became resi- dents of Guernsey County. The mother of Mrs. Alexander was born in this county in 1827, and was the danghter of Jacob and Sarah Stage, natives of New York State. They took up the line of march. to this state in a very early day, and were among the first to locate in Guernsey County. To George . and Elizabeth Bell there were born nine children, four sons and five daughters. Sarah R. is the wife of William Thompson, and they reside in Lib- erty Township; Rachel A. married our subject; James is engaged in the mercantile business at Lawrenceburg, Tenn .; Wilham is living in Cam- bridge; Jennie is now the wife of Jasper Adair, and lives in this county; Dora married Elsworth Patterson, of this county; Emma became the wife of William Patterson, and also makes her home within the bounds of Guernsey County; and John and Martin are at home in Jefferson Township, this county, where their parents are engaged in farm- ing quite extensively.

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have had born to them a large family, numbering thirteen children, of whom we make the following mention: Marion E. is living in Kansas; Viola is the wife of William Black, and lives at Cambridge; Lemuel is also in Kansas; Edward, Rankin and Dessie are at home; Minnie is deceased; and Elizabeth R., Ethiel, Mary, Harland, Alma H. and Rollic are still under the parental roof.

Mr. Alexander served as a Union soldier during the late war, enlisting when a lad of seventeen in Company II, Fifth Ohio Infantry, and remaining in active service with his regiment until the establish- ment of peace. Ile then returned home and resid- ed with his parents for a year after reaching his majority, when he began to make his own way in the world. Ilis first employment was in a sawmill, where he worked for about seven months, and the winter following was engaged in mining coal. Not liking this kind of work, he soon abandoned it and worked for farmers until 1867, the year in

which he purchased a tract of his own. This he operated for two years, and, having a good offer, sold it and for the ensuing eighteen months owned and operated salt works in Liberty. At the expi- ration of that time he disposed of his interest in this business and bought eighty acres of land which adjoins his present homestead. The latter is a fine tract, comprising two hundred and twen- ty acres, bearing all the valuable improvements usually found upon the estate of a wide-awake and progressive farmer.

Mr. Alexander is very prominent in his neigh- borhood and has been prevailed upon by his friends to fill the offices of Township Trustee and Treas- urer. He has always been greatly interested in school affairs, which fact has led him to serve on the School Board. In politics he is non-partisan, casting his vote for the best man, regardless of party lines.

J OHN G. GECKELER, a successful gen- eral agriculturist and well known contractor, is an energetic and representative citizen, re- siding in Sandy Township, where he owns an excellent farm of seventy-eight acres, under a high state of cultivation. Ile is a native of Tuscarawas County, and was born near Strasburg, in Dover Township, March 29, 1855, to Lewis and Ann (Grove) Geekeler.

Grandfather Lud wich Geckeler was a farmer and lived and died in his native Germany. He reared five sons to mature years, of whom Lewis and Frederick came to the United States. The former was born in Wurtemberg December 22, 1828, and one year after attaining his majority decided to try his fortunes in the United States. Embarking on a vessel, he was landed in New York City after a tedious voyage of forty days. Ile at once lo- cated in Navarre, this state, and was employed in driving stages from that place to Waynesburg for two years. After that he worked a farm for a time near Bolivar, in which place he was married, and then moved with his bride on rented property near

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Strasburg. This they operated for a time, and then took possession of another tract near Dover, living upon it for two years. In 1859 they made their home on another rented farm situated near Zoar Station, and two years later purchased sev- enty-six acres cast of that place. This proved a very profitable investment, and in 1871 Lewis Geckeler was enabled to add to this one hundred and thirty acres, which, with another small acre- age, aggregated two hundred and twenty-one acres. He prospered as time advanced, and to his already large possessions added a farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres in Stark County, this state, besides valuable real estate in New Philadelphia, Zoar Station and Valley Junction. It is due to him to state that he was a self-made man as regards education and finance, as his opportunities for at- tending school were very limited, and when he landed in this country he had to borrow the money to pay his way to this state. He always manifested a lively interest in the success of the Democratic party, whose ticket he at all time voted. He was never an office-seeker, but was honored by liis fel- low-citizens with the positions of Trustee and Treasurer of his township, and at his death, Febru- ary 21, 1893, was serving his second term as Direc- tor of the Infirmary. He was a conscientious mem- ber of the Lutheran Church and was a liberal con- tributor to its support.

The father of our subject was twice married. His first union resulted in the birth of eleven chil- dren, of whom those who grew to mature years, besides our subject, were William, a resident of Stark County; Lewis, whose death took place at Canal Dover; Fred, living in Independence, Kan., where he is engaged in the shoe business; George, Charles, Ilenry, Emma, Louisa and Anna. Lewis Geckeler's second union was with Emeline Grove, sister of his first wife, and to them were born Mary and Loren L. She was the daughter of George and Saralı ( Rider) Grove, early settlers of this county.

The original of this sketch was reared to farm life, and in the winter season carried on his studies in the district school. On attaining his majority he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of a carpen- ter, working in the employ of one man for a period

of thirteen years. For the past three years, how- ever, he has been engaged in contraeting, building some of the best residences in the neighborhood.

In the spring of 1887 Mr. Geckeler moved to his present fine farm in Sandy Township, on which he has made many improvements in the way of substantial buildings. In his political opinions he is a Democrat, casting his vote and influence in favor of that party. He is truly a self-made man, and by his honorable and upright career has won many friends and has the high regard of all with whom he is brought in contact.

Mr. Geckeler and Mary Weidman were united in marriage January 1, 1880. This lady was born in Sandy Township, near Sandyville, and is the daughter of Frederick and Magdalene ( Beck) Weid- man, natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to this country. She was one in a family of four sons and two daughters. Her brother Fred served as a soldier during the late war, and is now de- ceased; Charles is a farmer near New Philadelphia; John is living in Stark County; William is de- ceased; and Sophia is the widow of John Borduer. To our subject and his estimable wife have been born three eliildren: Fremont E., who died when nine months old, and Cora May and Oscar Vietor. The parents are excellent members of the Lutheran Church, and have always been liberal in their sup- port of Gospel work.

ILBERT T. SECREST. Among the prominent young business men of Cam- bridge, whose high reputation and ma- terial prosperity came as the reward of unusual natural abilities industriously applied, is our sub- ject, who is at present conducting a fine business in the grocery line and commands a large patronage. lle is public-spirited and progressive, and takes an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the community, using his influence for its benefit.

A native of this state, Mr. Secrest was born in Noble County, the date of his birth being Novem-

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ber 9, 1866. His parents were Simon and Sarah (Trellis) Secrest, both natives of Ohio. The par- ental family included ten children, of whom the original of this sketch was the eldest. His brother Jacob L. is residing in Oldham, where he is engaged in the grocery business; Charles T. is living at Point Pleasant, and is occupied in the mines at that place; Ethan A. is an agriculturist of Buffalo Township; Harry is teaching school; Em- mett is attending school at Barberton, Ohio, and is also learning the drug business, under the instruction of his uncle at that place; Dwight M., Pearl, Ruby and Fletcher are at home with their parents.

Wilbert T. remained under the parental roof until a year before reaching his majority, when he went to Mt. Zion and established a store of gen- eral merchandise. This he condueted for three years, and then, selling to J. S. Seerest, a distant relative, he purchased the stock of goods for- merly owned by Mrs. Dyson, of Point Pleasant. Of this he was the proprietor for the same length of time, and after disposing of his interest in the business to Secrest & Spade he came to this city and opened up a grocery store on the west side of the Cleveland & Marietta tracks. Occupying that stand for two years, at the end of that time he moved to his present location in the Priaulx Build- ing, which is one of the finest blocks in the city. Mr. Secrest carries a full line of staple and fancy groceries, which he retails at popular prices, and thus commands a large trade from the best resi- dents of the city. He is fair in all his dealings, prompt in filling orders, and is classed among the wide-awake and competent young business men of the place.

In social affairs our subject belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which order he takes a prom- inent part. The Methodist Episcopal Church re- gards him as one of its most valued members, and to the support of the congregation in Cambridge he is a liberal contributor. In his political views he is a stanch Republican, and is everywhere re- garded as a man of good judgment and strict morality.

The lady to whom Mr. Secrest was married January 16, 1887, was Ida, daughter of William

and Sarah Young, natives of Noble County, Ohio. Mrs. Seerest was born April 27, 1868, in Noble County, and by her union with our subject has be- come the mother of two children: Hattie, who died at the age of five months; and Laura, who will be four years old in July, 1895.

SCAR V. WELLS, attorney-at-law in Fair- view, has gained an enviable reputation for his legal ability, sound judgment and sterling integrity. During the years that he has practiced before the Bar of Ohio, he has become eminent as a counselor, often in cases involving interests of great magnitude, and has acquired more than local renown on account of his schol- arly attainments, his thorough knowledge of law and his devotion to the interests of his clients.

Mr. Wells was born in Noble County, this state, May 10, 1861, and is the son of John and Ann E. (Finley) Wells, also natives of the above county. The father was the son of James and Mary (Scar- borough) Wells, both of whom were born in Fay- ette County, Pa. There the grandfather departed this life in 1851, and three years later his widow and the younger members of the family came to Ohio and located in Noble County, where Mrs. Mary Wells died in 1864. John Wells, our subject's father, was the tenth in order of birth of his fam- ily. In the year 1860 he married Ann E. Finley, and they continued to make their home in Noble County until 1873, when they removed to Oxford Township, Guernsey County, where the father had purchased a farm, to the cultivation of which he thereafter gave his undivided time and attention.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest of the parental family of six children, of whom Ilomer A. is engaged in business in Cambridge, this state; Cora F. is the wife of William Turke, also of Cam- bridge; and the remainder are Jessie M., Joseph D. and Minnie D., at home.

Oscar V. Wells received his literary education

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

401

in the excellent institutions of Fairview, and on leaving sehool began studying law under the in- struetion of Judge J. N. Campbell and F. L. Rose- mond, and later with Judge Nathan II. Barber. He was admitted to the Bar to praetiee in 1886, and sinee that time has resided in Fairview, where he has built up an exeellent and paying patronage. For several years he has been Secretary of the Pen- nyroyal Re-union, held in Oxford Township. Mr. Wells was married August 6, 1891, to Mary, daugh- ter of James and Naney (Hutchison) Wallace. The lady was born August 17, 1869, in Guernsey County, where she was given a fine edueation, and is the possessor of many accomplishments.

In politics our subject is a staneh Demoerat, and in religions affairs he holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been :n aetive and public-spirited citizen, faithful to her interests, and as an attorney has not a supe- rior in the county. Mr. Wells has held various ofliees in the village and township, and twiee ran for Prosecuting Attorney of the county against great odds in favor of his opponent.

LMER E. VORHIES, M. D., is a graduate of the Starling Medieal College, and, in addition to his general medical practice, makes a specialty of surgical eases, in which he has had a wide and successful experienee. Hle is one of the leading young citizens of Cambridge, and is a leader in local Republican eircles.

Born at Sarahsville, Ohio, July 12, 1864, our subjeet is a son of Peter and Mary ( Williams) Vorhies. The former was born in Mt. Ephraim, this state, in 1830, and is a son of Aaron B., a native of New Jersey. The latter's father was a native of Germany. At an early day Aaron Vor- hies entered land and built a sawmill on Opossum Creek, in what was then Guernsey County, now Noble County, and in that neighborhood contin- ued to dwell until his death. He was mueh inter- ested in the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and personally invested $1,000 in

the enterprise. Ile had a large family, comprising sixteen ehildren.

Peter Vorhies was brought up on a farm, and at the age of eighteen years began teaching school, being thus employed until he was past his major- ity. After his marriage he rented a farm, which he cultivated for three years, his time being em- ployed during the winter in teaching. In 1854 he bought a farm near Chaseville, Noble County, and this he operated until 1868. Ile was a Justice of the Peace for one term during this period. For the next three years he farmed a place comprising one hundred and seventy-five acres, for whielt homestead he paid $9,000. In 1871 he purehased a store in Sarahsville, but at the end of two years sold out. Returning to agricultural pursuits, he gradually drifted into sheep-raising, and was the most extensive grower of wool in this portion of the state. Afterward for several years he was In- firmary Director of Noble County.

The only brother of our subject is William L., who began teaching at the age of fourteen years, and has continued in that profession, in connee- tion with farming, for twenty-eight years. Ile was married when in his nineteenth year, and con- tinued to live on his father's farm, working also in the latter's store for two years. His father then gave the young man a small farm, which he afterward sold, purchasing a place of forty acres near Ava. This farm he inereased to one hundred and fifty acres, and still owns the place, besides whiel he has one hundred and forty acres in Brown County, Ind. For two years he ran a hard- ware store in Sarahsville, and after selling out he invested the money in another farm near Ava. This he also sold later and bought a general store

at Seneeaville, which he is now condueting. Ile married Belinda Seerest, by whom he had six ehil- dren, namely: William, who is living in Cam- bridge, and, in connection with Upperman & McGrew, is working a coal mine; Johanna, now Mrs. William Bell. of Summerfield, whose husband is a bridge carpenter on the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cineinnati Railroad; Jonathan; Samnel: Lora; and the youngest, a girl, unnamed.

Dr. Eimer E. Vorhies was educated in the vil- lage of his birth, and at the early age of nineteen

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years married Miss Minnie B. Cooper, of Monroe County. For about four years afterward he was employed in farming, and then, buying a general store, conducted the same for a year. Selling out, he returned to agricultural pursuits for a year, and his next venture was in running a hardware store for about two years. After this he became a rail- road employe, the position which he occupied being that of baggage-master. Subsequently he was engaged by the Adams Express Company to act as route agent, and while there the young man accumulated a sufficient sum of money to take him through a course of medical training. In 1889 Dr. Vorhies entered the Columbus Medical College, having been previously prepared for the work by his reading with Profs. W. D. and C. S. Hamilton. After his graduation he was appointed physician in charge of Mt. Carmel Hospital, and during his two years' service in that capacity was assistant in a number of difficult operations. For two years after leaving the hospital the Doctor engaged in practice in Columbus. He then suffered a very serious spell of sickness, and while he was conva- lescent moved to Cambridge. He has built up a good reputation and a lucrative practice in this city and surrounding country, and is particularly noted for his knowledge and skill as a surgeon.

To Dr. Vorhiies and wife have been born two children, viz .: Charles IIomer, June 20, 1885, and Clyde, October 11, 1887. Mrs. Vorhies is a daugh- ter of Charles and Jane Cooper, and was born No- vember 25, 1865. The young couple are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which the former's parents also belong. Dr. Vor- hies is a member of the State Medical Society, and socially is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias of the Uniformed Rank.

The mother of Dr. Vorhies is a daughter of Jon- athan P. Williams, a descendant of the famous Roger Williams. Jonathan P. was born in Maine, and moved to Westmoreland County, Pa., thence to Washington County. For some time he ran on a canal-boat between Cincinnati and Browns- ville, Pa. Ile married a Miss Ward, of Pennsyl- vania, and after her death married Mrs. Hannah Ballard. By his first union he had five children, all of whom are living and now over fifty years

of age. By his second wife he had four children, two of whom are deceased. Mr. Williams drove from Pennsylvania to Chaseville, Ohio, and settled upon a farm in that locality, where he died at the age of eighty-five years. He professed religion in a prayer-meeting, and was licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal denomination. For many years he was very active as an evangelist and re- vivalist.

HIARLES WHITNEY BODEY, who for the last twenty years has been a resident of Canal Dover, is the proprietor of the Sugar Creek Salt Works, which he in 1875 leased, and pur- chased in 1879. It is the only one in this line in the county, and has a daily capacity of eighty barrels of salt. The yield of bromine is also very great, the year 1883 producing twenty-five thousand pounds.

The original of this sketch was born in Penn- sylvania, in Norristown, October 7, 1837. He is the son of Jacob and Ann ( Whitney ) Bodey, also natives of the Keystone State. His father was a building contractor, following that occupation dur- ing the greater part of his active life. The first representative of this branch of the family in America was in the person of Henry Bodey, the grandfather of our subject, who eame hither from his native Prussia, and located in Montgomery County, Pa. On the maternal side he is a descend- ant of Samuel Whitney, of Connecticut, who came from England with others, all quite young to join the Continental troops, and was disabled at Yorktown. Afterward he was Port Collector of Boston, Mass., and founded the well known Whit- ney family, including the inventor of the cotton gin.

The parental household included nine children, of whom Charles W. was the eldest. After a pre- paratory course of study in the public schools of his native place, he entered the National Military College at Bristol, Pa., and after mastering the curriculum of that institution was a student in the

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Polytechnic College of the State of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated as a mining engineer with the Class of '57, and in 1860 received his diploma as M. M. E. (Master of Mine Engineering) for having successfully fol- lowed his profession. Soon after completing his education, Mr. Bodey was appointed assistant chemist of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company at Natrona, Pa., in which capacity he continued during the fall of 1858. From 1859 to 1863 he filled the position of superintendent of the Aramingo Chemical Works of Philadelphia, dur- ing which time he remodeled, built and managed for the same company the Camden Chemical Works, in Camden, N. J.

From 1863 to 1865 Mr. Bodey was lessee of the Chestnut Grove Iron Furnace, of Adams County, Pa., which business he prosecuted with gratifying results. In the last-named year, however, he re- turned to Natrona, and was engaged as resident manager of the Pennsylvania Salt Manufacturing Company, having under his supervision six hun- dred employes. After furthering the interests of the company for about six mouths, he left this lucrative position and soon after engaged in the manufacture of bromine at Freeport, Pa.

Dr. David Alter, who was the first to engage in the manufacture of bromine in the United States, established this business in 1849, and carried it on until 1857, when he abandoned it. Conse- quently our subject has the distinction of being the first to revive its manufacture in the Union. The first six months after engaging in the enter- prise, he turned out about one thousand pounds, the demand at that time being very limited; but it has since increased, until at the present time the annual product in the United States is nearly four hundred thousand pounds.

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Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 51

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