USA > Ohio > Tuscarawas County > Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio > Part 65
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In 1892 Mr. Markley erected a substantial store- room, which he stocked with about $11.000 worth of goods. This was destroyed by fire sixty days . later, and as soon as he could get his affairs settled up he rebuilt it, and has conducted the same ever since. The same year he made an addition to Point Pleasant, Guernsey County, and in many other ways is interested and has been instrumental in the growth of that section of the county. Our subject is Vice-President and one of the organizers of the People's Deposit Bank; founder and Pres- ident of the Trescott Packing Company, and also holds the same position with the American Fire Brick and Clay Company. This last enterprise, which was established in 1895, employs about fifty men, and owns its own coal and clay lands, from
which material are manufactured all varieties of house and furnace bricks.
George J. Markley was born in Sandy Township, this county, July 22, 1854, to John L. and Anna M. (Epler) Markley, natives of Germany. The father was born in Wurtemberg, and after his marriage with Miss Epler, and the birth of three of their children, came to the United States. This was in the year 1851, and after a tedious voyage of six weeks they reached the shores of the New World. Continuing their westward journey to Ohio, they made a home in Sandy Township. The first work in which the father was engaged was as a black- smith in the employ of a railroad company. He later ran a shop at Mineral Point, but in 1874 moved with his family to Clair County, Mich .. and there became the owner of eighty acres of land on which the town of Clair stands. He died there in the fall of 1892, aged seventy years. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member in good stand- ing of the Evangelieal Church. His widow still survives. She became the mother of eleven chil- dren, of whom seven grew to mature years.
Our subject was born and reared in Mineral Point. His education was carried on in the public schools, which he was permitted to attend until he could be of assistance to his father. One year prior to reaching his majority he purchased his time of his father, paying him $350. When a lad of ten years he entered the mines. and was employed in following this occupation at different places un- til the year 1880, when he leased a coal mine. which he operated for two years. At the end of that time he opened a general store with Allen D. Black, with whom he remained for two years. He then contracted for mining iron ore at Wolf Station, but after a year and a-half returned to Mineral Point. and for the following twelvemonth was engaged in the real-estate business. In Jan- uary, 1887, he opened a store of general merehan- dise, as we have stated in the opening of this sketch.
Mr. Markley owns one hundred and forty-one acres of land, one and one-half miles from the vil- lage, which he mines. The property on which he resides contains twenty-eight acres, and in addi- tion to this he is the possessor of the thirty-two
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acres of ground on which are located the Pierce Furniture Company's buildings. They failed to occupy them after their erection, and Mr. Markley purehased them to carry on various manufactures in which he is engaged.
Our subject is a liberal contributor to churches, and all worthy movements. Ile is a charter mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, and is one of the most popular residents of the county. For six years he was agent of the Adams Express Company, and in October, 1893, was appointed Postmaster of this place. For six years he has been Treasurer of the village, and for the same length of time was Constable on the Democratic ticket.
1 SAAC BEABER has the honor of being one of the oldest surviving pioneers of the early days of Tuscarawas County. For about sixty- seven years he has resided on the same farm, which is situated on section 6, York Township. The log cabin which was a shelter in his early married life gave place to a substantial structure in 1858, and in this residence he has since made his home. In every sense of the word Mr. Beaber is self-made and self-educated. Though he never attended school for a day, he taught himself to read and write, and through his own individual efforts has become well informed and conversant on leading topics of interest and practical matters.
The parents of our subject were Christian and Peggie Beaber, who were born in Philadelphia, Pa. Their parents were very early settlers of the Quaker City, and there continued to reside until death. In 1801 was celebrated the marriage of Christian Beaber and wife, in Philadelphia. In 1809 they came to York Township, where they leased a farm for seven years. Later they occu- pied Government land for three years, and finally removed to the farm now owned by our subjeet. Here they lived for ten years, and here occurred the death of the father at the age of sixty-two years. Ilis widow went to lowa, where she located
near her son David, and in that vicinity she dwelt for upwards of thirty years. IIer last days were spent with her son Jacob, who was engaged in farming in Iowa. In 1884, at his home, occurred her death at the advanced age of ninety-five years. Hler six children were as follows: Abraham and Mary, deceased; Isaac; Jacob, whose home is in Iowa; and IIenry and David, residents of Indiana.
The birth of Isaac Beaber occurred in Pennsyl- vania in 1806. Ile remained with his parents un- til he reached his majority, and was of great assist- ance to them on their uncultivated and slightly improved farm. In 1827 he removed to a farm of two hundred acres, for which he had put in a claim. Ile built a log cabin, and in this lived for four years. It was then destroyed by fire, owing to the carelessness of his little son. Solomon, who had been playing with the forbidden attraction. Sixty acres of this land contains fine coal. and this mineral wealth adds greatly to the value of the place, which is now under good cultivation. In early days Mr. Beaber was quite a hunter, and often killed deer and other wild game in the viein- ity of his present home. For years he bore the reputation of being one of the best shots in the eounty, and certainly his aim rarely failed of its mark.
In 1832 Mr. Beaber married Elizabeth Trudel. Iler parents, Sullivan and Elizabeth Trudel, na- tives of Somerset County, Pa., came to this county in 1832. Mrs. Beaber, who is one of seven chil- dren, by her marriage became the mother of seven sons and two daughters. They were as follows: Susan, Mrs. John Faulder; Solomon; Peter; John. deceased; Elizabeth; Isaac; David, deceased; and HIenry and William. Mrs. Beaber, a most esti- mable lady, has long been famous in this neighbor- hood as a fine nurse, and when any of ber friends and acquaintances have sickness in the family, she is called upon for advice and assistance, which she rarely refuses and never if within her power.
In his religious faith Mr. Beaber is a Lutheran, and when the corner-stone of the church which he now attends was put in place, he was the only one attending the exercises to deposit coins in the re- ceptaele, as is customary. In addition to the more ordinary coins, a dollar piece, a fifty-cent piece
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and a quarter, was one of twelve eents and a six- penny pieee. At the New Philadelphia Street Fair, Mr. Beaber took the premium for his old-time spinning-wheel, which would be a treasure to the relic-seeker. Politically our subjeet votes with the Demoeratie party.
OHIN OFFHOLDER is a gardener, stonemason and briek manufacturer of Goshen Town- ship. His homestead adjoins New Philadel- phia, and on his place is located his briek manufactory. In 1877 he bought thirteen aeres of land, on which he ereeted a substantial dwelling. in which he at onee took up liis abode and in which he has sinee dwelt.
The birth of our subjeet occurred October 14, 1841, in Switzerland. His parents were Stephen and Elizabetlı Offholder, natives of Germany, in which country their marriage was celebrated in 1838. For over a quarter of a century thereafter they continued to make their home in their native land, but in 1866 determined to try their fortune in America. Crossing the Atlantic. they arrived in New York City, where they remained for a short time. Later they proceeded to Pittsburg, Pa., and for two years engaged in cultivating a rented farm near that city. At the end of that time they went to Parkersburg, W. Va., where they bought a homestead of one hundred and sixty aeres. They resided there until death put an end to their la- bors. The father was born in 1814, and died Feb- ruary 6, 1894, while his wife, who was born in 1811, died in 1884. Their four children are as follows: Fred, who still conducts the old home- stead; John, our subject; Jacob; and Lizzie, wife of George Brown, of West Virginia.
John Offholder passed his boyhood and youth at the home of his parents. He continued to live with them until he had reached the age of twenty- seven years, when he started out to "paddle his own canoc." Very soon afterward he lauded in
New Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade of a stonemason for thirteen years. In 1877, as above mentioned, he bought thirteen acres of land, the place on which he still makes his home, and since that time he has built up a lucrative trade in va- rious kinds of brick supplies. He is a business man of good ability, and, though he started in life empty-handed, he has made a good living for his family by means of honest, industrious efforts.
In 1872 John Offholder married Miss Annie Rauehi, who is a native of Switzerland. Her par- ents, Jacob and Anne Raueh, were also natives of a German-Swiss province, and had a family of seven elrildren. To our subject and his worthy wife have been born four sons and three daugh- ters. John II., the eldest, is in New Philadel- phia, but the others, Charles, Frank, Ella, Her- man, Annie and Lizzie, live at home. Mr. and Mrs. Offholder are members of the German Chureh. They are kind-hearted and charitable, ready to di- vide with the unfortunate. In polities our sub- jeet is an ally of the Democratie party.
APT. LAFFER S. CAPLES. This gentle- man, who is one of the honored pioneers and prominent agriculturists of Rush Township, Tuscarawas County, is now living re- tired, having accumulated a goodly portion of this world's goods. He is a native of this county, and was born November 16, 1825. Ile is a son of Robert and Nancy (Davis) Caples, the father born in Baltimore County, Md., December 19, 1792. and the mother's birth ocenrring in Northampton County, Pa., January 6, 1806. They were married in 1824. and to them were born five children, as follows: Laffer S., Ira D., Joseph, Dorcas and Nancy E. Robert Caples was the eldest son of William and Elizabeth (Green ) Caples, also natives of Baltimore County, Md. William and his family
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came to Tuscarawas County, October 6, 1806, via Cadiz, and settled on Big Stillwater, where the village of Newport now stands.
From Cadiz they had to open their way with axes in order to get their wagon through, and it took six days to make the journey of twenty-five miles. At this time Cadiz contained but three or four cabins. Their nearest white neighbors on the east were at Cadiz. On the south it was twenty-four miles to the first settlement, on the west five miles to Gnadenhutten, and on the north three miles to Mr. Uhrieh's farm. The latter came from Pennsylvania in 1804.
William Caples and his eldest son, Robert, brought their salt on pack horses from Wellsville, on the Ohio River (fifty miles), paying at the rate of $16 per barrel. At that time wheat sold for twenty-five cents per bushel, while coffee sold at fifty cents per pound. William Caples soon entered the one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he had pitched his tent. He was an old-line Whig, and was the first of the Caples family to espouse Republicanism.
At this time young Robert was fourteen years of age and soon became a favorite among the In- dians and learned their language. The Indians would say, "Come, Bobbie. go hunt." Robert soon became an expert hunter, and in one hunting season killed seventy-seven deer, besides bears, wolves, wildeats and numerous smaller game.
In the War of 1812, young Robert volunteered as drummer in Capt. George Richardson's company of Ohio Militia. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-eight years, passing peacefully away, at his old home in Mill Township, in September, 1881, and for the last thirty years of his life owed no man a nickel. Our subject's great great-grand- father came from Germany and settled on the east- ern shore of Maryland, in which state his father was a slaveholder.
The mother of Captain Caples was the daughter of Joshua and Hannah ( Walton ) Davis, natives of Northampton County, Pa. They came to this county in 1814, and settled in Rush Township, where they lived during the remainder of their lives. It was at their home that Robert Caples met and married their daughter Nancy, the mother
of our subject. Mrs. Caples is in her ninety-first year and in reasonable health.
Our subjeet was reared on his father's farm in Mill Township, and, like all the youth of the day, obtained his education in subscription schools. The Captain comes of good old pioneer stoek. His father having been a brave and true soldier, he in like manner took up arms in defense of his country during the War of the Rebellion. IIe enlisted May 2, 1864, in Company E, One Ilun- dred and Sixty-first Ohio Infantry, and was elected and commissioned Captain before going to the front, and throughout his military career served efficiently in that capacity in the Army of the Potomac. The regiment was engaged most of the time in doing guard duty. It was on the re- serve at the battle of Winchester, and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, in September, 1864.
Captain Caples was united in marriage, July 16, 1845, to Miss Eliza Smyth, daughter of John and Martha (McQuaid) Smyth, natives of County Cavan, Ireland. They emigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1832, and came to Ohio in 1838, set- tling in Newport, Tuscarawas County. Mr. Smyth was a school teacher and a stonemason, and died at his home in Newport, at the ripe old age of ninety- eight years. Captain Caples' wife was born An- gust 25, 1827. To the Captain and his wife, eight children have been born, viz .: Mary, Aliee, Olive, Ellen, Robert M., Jane E., Clara M. and Charlie G. The children all received good educations in the public schools and are all married aud established in homes of their own.
Our subject has been a life-long agriculturist. IIe has taught in the common schools in Illinois, Indiana and in this county, and has traveled in sixteen states and in Canada, but likes his native state best. Ile takes pride in the fact that for fourteen years he has not owed a dime. After his marriage he purchased his present farm, whiel has been his home for almost a half-century. The Captain and his good wife have been men- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church from youth, the former being ordained to all the offices in the ministry August 31, 1883, in the Church of Christ.
Politically he is a stanch Republican, and cast
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his first Presidential vote for IIenry Clay. He has been Justice of the Peace and filled various other township offices. At one time was a candidate for Sheriff, and at another time was a candidate for County Surveyor, and says he would have been elected both times had there not been so many Democrats.
J OHN L. SIMONS. Could the biographies of the best residents of Guernsey County be written in detail, a large and most interest- ing volume might be compiled. It is our pleasure, however, to select the most interesting facts in their lives and record them for the perusal of coming generations. The gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch is at present resid- ing in the city of Cambridge. and is the proprie- tor of the foundry on Water Street.
A native of Muskingum County, our subject was born December 13, 1848, in Zanesville, and is the son of John W. and IIester A. (Trago) Si- mons, the former born in Pennsylvania March 2, 1819, and the latter in Zanesville October 9, 1820. The father in 1830 left the Keystone State, and, coming to Ohio, located in Zanesville, where he learned the trade of a moulder in the shops of Adams & Wheeler. He became an expert work- man in this particular line and remained in the employ of the above firm for a period of nineteen years. The following three years he worked in the foundry of Douglas Smith, and in October, 1855, decided to come to Cambridge, where he bought the foundry which he continued to run until his death, which occurred August 2, 1871.
The parental family of our subject included eight children, of whom Charles P. is a prominent physician and engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in Canton. this state; Clara married A. M. Glessner, and is residing in Urbana; Ella became the wife of Robert Hammond, and makes her home in Cambridge; John L. was the next in order of birth; Howard T. is engaged as a dealer in real estate in
Columbus; Retta married J. H. Butler, and is also a resident of that city, where her husband manu- factures washing machines; Emma, the wife of W. B. Green, died in August, 1884; Harry G. is living at Greenfield, this state, engaged in the drug business.
Our subjeet was a lad of seven years at the time his parents located at this place. Here he was reared to mature years, during his earlier life at- tending the public schools. Before completing his edueation he left school and began working in the foundry, which business he became thoroughly familiar with in a short time and has continued to follow up to the present time.
The mother of our subject was born in Zanes- ville and was the daughter of Benjamin Trago, a native of Harrisburg, Pa. Her mother, prior to her marriage, was Hester Overs, born in one of the Eastern States, of German parents. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Simons were: William, who died in Jaekson, Ohio; Julia, who married Benjamin Plyley; Benjamin, now deceased; Anna, Mrs. Will- iam Tarrens; Mary, Mrs. Yearing; Elizabeth, the wife of Benjamin Compton; Rachel, who married Robert MeGregor; Edith, who married John Fogle; and Ilarriet, Mrs. Lowden Persel.
In religious affairs the subject of this sketch is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church. Ile takes an active interest in all public affairs, and during elections never fails to cast a vote in favor of Republican candidates.
J OHN C. LONGSWORTHI, Mayor of Cam- bridge, is always in the lead in matters of publie interestand vigilant in the discharge of his offieial duties. He was born in Guernsey County, September 15. 1853, to William and Julia A. (Shepard) Lougsworth, who were natives of Montgomery County, Md. The father was brought to this state and county when an infant, his fa- ther, bearing the name of Basil Longsworth. loca- ting here in 1825. He was a farmer by occupa-
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tion, and became the father of eleven children, of whom Luey, Mary and Peter are deceased.
Our subject was the only child born to his par- ents. Ilis mother died in 1856, and after her death his father married, in 1860, Sarah A. Owens. The subject of this sketehi was given a good edu- cation, attending the schools of Cambridge. After completing his school career, he learned the trade of painter and paper-hanger. This he abandoned in 1880, and began farming in Washington Town- ship, where for three and a-half years he was the owner of a good estate. He then changed his loca- tion to Canton Township, making his home there for only a short time, when he came to Cambridge.
Mr. Longsworth was married, November 15, 1876, to Florence E. Lemon. To them were born the following-named children: Florence Gertrude, Edna May, Julia A., Nellie J .. Mary Louella and Ada Lura. Socially our subject is a prominent Mason, and in politics never fails to cast a vote for Republican candidates. His first Presidential vote was in favor of Rutherford B. Hayes, and since that time he has been influential in the ranks of his party. He was elected Mayor in 1894.
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ARRETT BASSETT is the popular and efficient Postmaster of New Comerstown, and is now filling his second term in that Office. He was born in Albany County, N. Y., June 16, 1827, and is the son of Nicholas and Maria (Shafer) Bassett, also natives of the Empire State.
The father of our subject was a farmer all his life. Hle in turn was the son of Michael Bassett, who was a native of England. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Bassett was born on the Atlan- tic while his parents were crossing from Germany to America. Nicholas and Maria Bassett became the parents of ten children, of whom we make the following mention: Michael died in Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1889. Ann, who died in 1891,
was the wife of John Davis. Peter died in New York in 1892. John is living in Coshocton Coun- ty. Simon is a farmer in California. Catherine married Elijah Dooling, and died in 1886. Cor- nelius departed this life in 1885. Gertrude is now Mrs. Alonzo Sibly and lives in Illinois. Sher- man is mining in Caldwell County, Mo .; and Gar- rett is our subject. The family moved from the Empire State in Coshocton County in 1834, and here the parents died, aged respectively eighty- eight and eighty-nine years.
Our subjeet was well educated, and when a lad of seventeen years returned to his native state and began working in the United States Arsenal at Troy. He was there a little over a year, however, when he resigned his position and engaged with James Gould in the car-shops, where he worked for five or six years. At the end of that time he went to Cleveland, where he was similarly em- ployed for a year, when he determined to go to Detroit, Mich. His stay there was of short dura- tion, and his next move found him in the World's Fair City, where he obtained profitable employ- ment and stayed for six years. Returning East, he lived in New York City for one year; he later returned to Chicago, and in 1858 located in New Comerstown, where he opened a wagon-shop and conducted a good business.
During the late war our subject served as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Sev- enty-eighth Olno Infantry, and saw service eleven months and twenty-three days. He was mus- tered out at the close of the war at Charlotte, N. C., reaching home July 9, 1865. He lost no time after regaining his health, but went to work in the old shop and continued without interrup- tion until he was appointed Postmaster in 1888 under Cleveland. At the expiration of three years he worked at his trade, until September, 1892. when he was again ealled upon to serve the peo- ple in the capacity of Postmaster.
Mr. Bassett was married, May 11. 1857, to Miss Maria Lacey, and to them were born eight children. Arthur lives in California, being proprietor of a hotel at Sacramento: Armenia is the wife of .Jo- seph Duff, of New Comerstown; Hershel also re- sides in the above city; Marcia is now Mrs. Will-
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iam Smalley, of Missouri; Pcoria is the wife of George Wallace, of Pennsylvania; and William and Robert are at home. Socially our subject is a Ma- son, and in politics is Democratic.
OHN D. MCILVAINE. The history of the representative citizens and farmers of Tus- carawas County would be incomplete were the record of this worthy old settler omnit- ted. He is the owner of a good farm situated in Goshen Township. A portion of this land con- tains fine coal, which the owner is now engaged in mining. Fully twenty aeres of his homestead, which altogether comprises eighty-six acres, are known to have rich veins of coal, which will prove a remunerative investment for the capital now em- ployed in its extraetion.
Robert Mellvaine, our subject's father, was born in Washington County, Pa., in April, 1795. For his wife he chose Miss Ann Stringer, also a native of the Keystone State. Their marriage took place in 1813, and to them were born four children, two sons and two daughters. Matilda, the widow of William McIlvaine, is now living in Washington, Pa .; Mary J., the wife of W. HI. Drury, of Wash- ington, Pa., has been called to her final rest; Hon. George W. Mellvaine, formerly Judge of the Su- preme Court, of Columbus, Ohio, is deceased; and John D. completes the number. The father was a Baptist in religious belief, and politically was a Republican.
The subject of this article was born in Washing- ton County. Pa., October 25, 1826. Ilis educa- tional privileges in his youth were of a very meager character, but in spite of this lic managed by pri- vate reading and study to become well informed on general practical matters. To his parents he gave his assistanee as long as they lived. In 1852 Mr. Mellvaine married Charlotte, daughter of Si- mon and Rebecca (Giant) Wilson, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Four children came to bless their union. In the order of birth, they are as follows: George W.,
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