Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 66

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

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of Goshen Township; Robert W., one of the chosen guards in the Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus; Jennie, the wife of J. Harvey; and Mrs. Bell Crawford, both of Goshen Township. In April, 1866, Mr. MeIlvaine moved to New Philadelphia and purchased a half-interest in one hundred and seventy-eight acres of land owned by his brother George. They continued to work together until 1880, when they dissolved partnership and divided the land. As his share, our subjeet took cighty- six acres, on which is situated his home.

In January, 1869, Mrs. Charlotte McIlvaine died. April 13, 1870, Mr. Mellvaine married Miss R. A. Kurtz, who was born in Washington County, Pa., April 1, 1847. Her parents, Daniel and Jane (Cal- lahan) Kurtz, were also natives of Washington County, Pa. Mrs. MeIlvaine came with her parents to Tuscarawas County in April, 1849. To John and R. A. McIlvaine were born six children, only two of whom are living, namely: Frank, born November 29, 1876, and Florence, born July 3, 1881. Nellie was born Mareh 29, 1874, and died May 13, 1878; the other three died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. McIlvaine are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take an active part in the work of their denomination, as well as in general enterprises. Our subjeet adheres to the Republican party politically, takes an ardent in- terest in education, and has been a member of the School Board for the past five years. Industrious and hardworking, the sueccss which has crowned his labors is only what he is entitled to as a reward for his perseverance.

ILLIAM STRANATHAN was for many years one of the substantial farmers and stock-raisers of Guernsey County. For several years prior to his decease he added to his other interests that of raising wool, having on his farm a large number of sheep. lle was born in Cumberland, Ohio, July 15. 1835, and departed this life when fifty-nine years of age.

William Stranathan on attaining manhood was

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married to Catherine Jane Thomas, a native of Nicholasville, Ky., her birth occurring June 1, 1840. Their union was solemnized in November, 1861, and to them was born a family comprising ten children, namely: Annie S., Marietta, May Bell, Carrie, James Walton, Catherine, William T., Dai- sie, Sarah Edna and Samuel Edgar. Of these, three sons and six daughters are still living and com- fortably established in life.

But little is known of the parents of our sub- ject other than their names-Samuel and Jane Parmelia Stranathan. His wife's were Rev. Thomas and Johanna (Burke) Thomas, natives of Ken- tucky, and people of prominence in their locality. William Stranathan, of this sketch, was honorable and upriglit in all his dealings, and won many warm friends, who sincerely mourned his loss.

NOS S. SOUERS, Mayor of New Phila- delphia, is one of her most distinguished citizens. Ile has frequently served in an official capacity, and at all times has been true to the best interests of the community which has thus honored him. He is a leader in the Republican party in local politics, has been a member of the County Committee for seven years, and has been chairman of that organization since 1890. On sev- eral occasions he has been sent as a delegate to con- ventions, and attended the one which nominated Governor Mckinley in 1891, and served in a like capacity in the Judicial Distriet Convention at which Judge Douthitt was put in nomination. For a number of years he has been established in this city in the practice of law, and has succeeded in acquiring a large clientage.

The birth of our subject oceurred in Pennsylva- nia, January 9, 1852. His father. Levi Soners, was born in Lancaster County, and the grandfather, John Souers, was likewise a native of that locality, and of Prussian ancestry. Levi Soners was born October 10, 1813, and isstill living, his home being

at Mineral Point, Tuscarawas County. During his active life he followed the cooper's and carpenter's trade. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Schlauch, is a native of Lancaster County, as were also her par- ents, who were of German deseent. Fourteen chil- dren were born to Levi and Elizabeth Souers, and six of the number still survive, namely: Obed; Enos; David; Emma, wife of Frank Harter, of Min- cral Point; Ida, Mrs. J. P. Dillow, also a resident of the same city; and Lizzie J., who lives at home. In polities the elder Mr. Soners is an old-line Whig, who joined the Republican party at its birth. Re- ligiously he holds membership with the Presby- terian Church.

The early life of Enos S. Souers was spent in the Keystone State, after which, with his parents, he removed to Wayne County, and took up his abode near Dalton. His education was obtained in the common schools of Pennsylvania, and in the village school at Dalton. Later he attended the Smithville High School, and after graduating there- from he began teaching. For ten years he followed this vocation, and during this period found time to study law under the instruction of Judge Hance. He was admitted to the Bar in 1883, before the Supreme Court at Columbus, Ohio.

In beginning the practice of his profession, Mr. Souers located first at Shreve, where he continued for one year, and then removed to Mineral Point. After four years passed in the last-named city, he removed to this place to make a permanent settle- ment. While living in Mineral Point he was chosen City Clerk, was a member of the Board of Education, and was also City Solicitor. In addi- tion to filling his other offices he was at one time Justice of the Peace of Sandy Township, and soon after taking up his abode in New Philadelphia he was chosen to fill a similar office in Goshen Town- slup. In 1892 he was brought out by the Repub- lican party for Mayor, and the results of the elec- tion were most gratifying. Ilis majority was quite large, when the faet is considered that he was elect- ed over a candidate who was in office at the time. In the spring of 1894 he was again nominated. and ran against the same opponent, receiving a major- ity of one hundred and sixty-four votes. The re- sults of these two elections very clearly demon-

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strates his popularity and the high esteem in which he is held by all. During his administration, over seven miles of sewers have been laid, and many other improvements in the city have been inaug- urated.

September 8, 1878, Mr. Souers was united in mar- riage in this eity to Celestia MI., daughter of F. R. and Angeline Black, natives of Ohio. Of the four children born to this union, all but one are living. In order of birth they are as follows: Edna M, Loren E. and Franklin Earl. Enos W. is deceas- ed. Mr. and Mrs. Souers are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take an active interest in its various departments of work and usefulness. Fraternally our subject belongs to Black Diamond Lodge No. 267, K. of P., and to Goshen Tent No. 36, K. O. T. M.

OHN STOCKSDALE is one of the honored inhabitants of Dover Township, within the limits of which he has passed his entire life. He is now engaged in carrying on the old homestead, which comprises one hundred and three acres. The place is under good cultivation, and is well improved with substantial fences, barns and a pleasant residence.

The parents of the gentleman whose name heads this article were William C. and Anna (Munna) Stocksdale. The father, who is now deceased, was born in Baltimore County, Md., and was a son of Elisha and Rebecca (Cook) Stocksdale. William C. emigrated to Tuscarawas County in 1836, and purchased the farm which is now carried on by his third son. He and his wife, both now deceased, were worthy and industrious pioneers, doing all in their power to advance the best interests of the community in which they dwelt, as well as to rear their children to lives of usefulness and thrift. Of the eight children born to them, three were sous and five daughters. In the order of their birth they were named as follows: Martin. Justic, Su- san, John, Mary, Rebecca, Florence and Jane.

John Stocksdale spent his boyhood days attend-

ing the district schools adjacent to his home and acquiring by practical experience familiarity with the proper methods of conducting a farm. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and has met with success in his chosen work. He is the owner of his father's old farm, which he carries on in a most progressive manner.

OHN M. HAMMOND, one of the oldest in- habitants of Guernsey County, has had his abode for many years on his farm, which is located on section 12, Adams Township. He is a native of Washington County, Pa., where his birth occurred September 16, 1805. His parents were William and Mary (Weir) Hammond, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Scot- land. William Hammond, with his brothers, John Robert and David, came to the United States be- fore the. Revolutionary War. John volunteered his services in the Continental army and partic :- pated in the battles of Brandywine and Bunker Hill, being wounded in the latter engagement. The brothers settled on the Susquehanna River, where they all took up claims, but the Indians were so hostile in that locality that they removed to Hickory, Washington County, Pa. William Ham- mond came to Guernsey County in 1819.

John M. Hammond is one of eight children. His brother James was a merchant at Pittsburg, and later removed to Kentucky, where he studied medicine. He married a Kentucky lady, who died a few years later, and after that sad event the Doctor wrote home that he was going to leave there and would let them know of his future lo- cation. but he was never again heard from. David came to this county and died in Cambridge. Mary became the wife of William Blair, and both passed to their final rest while residents of this county. Sarah became the wife of Thomas Ford, and both are deceased. Jane, who married Samuel Atchi- son. now deceased, makes her home at Bloomfield, Ohio. Annie became the wife of David Dew, of this county; and William married Matilda Parks,

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who survives him and is a resident of New Concord.

John M. Hammond was educated in the common schools of his native state. November 28, 1827, he married Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Francis and Betsey (Hunter) Scott. Mrs. Hammond died June 26, 1883. Her brother, aged ninety-four, is still living in this county. After his marriage our subject purchased the farm where he still resides. After buying a tract of eiglity acres, on which were some improvements, he settled in the woods, in 1833. To himself and wife were born eleven children. James, who graduated from Muskingum College, and his brother Francis, who had like ad- vantages, taught school for some time, and in 1851 went to Califorma by the overland route. James married Margaret Mahaffey. Franeis returned a year sooner than his brother, and elerked in the Auditor's office until 1860, when he was elected Auditor, and served for three terms. In 1873 he went to Washington, and was appointed, under Grant, in the auditing department of the Treas- urer's office. He married Margaret Tingle, and died in the Capitol City in October, 1886. James engaged in teaching school and in farming for a number of years, and in 1876 became inter- ested in the real-estate and pension business in Olathe, Kan. During the war he was Adjutant of a company of the One Hundred and Seventy- second Infantry. William, the third son, learned the wagon-maker's trade, and is still working at the same in Bloomfield, Muskingum County. Hle en- listed for one hundred days in the One Hundred and Sixtieth Ohio Regiment, and served in Vir- ginia. He married Margaret Little, who died. and he afterward married Esther MeConnaha. Eliza- beth, wife of William McClelland, died in 1889. John, born in 1835, learned his brother William's trade and is still following that vocation in Otsego, Muskingum County, this state. Ile married Mar- tha Guthrie. Ile was with his brother in the one hundred days' service in Virginia, in the One In- dred and Sixtieth Regiment. David, born m 1839. was a member of the Ninety-seventh Ohio Infantry, and served in Kentucky. Owing to sickness, he became almost blind, but later recovered and joined the Ohio National Guards. He married Cassandra Britton, since deceased. After his marriage he re-

moved to Iowa, where he is still engaged in farm- ing. Robert, born in 1838, who is a Justice of the Peace and a leading citizen of Cambridge, mar- ried Ella Sinons. Johnson, born m 1840, served for four years and four months in the Fifteenthi Ohio Regiment, and was wounded at the battle of Stone River, a ball passing under his heart and one bullet through his thigh. He went on the Atlanta campaign and was present at the battle of Mission Ridge. Ile received an honorable dis- charge on the 31st of December, 1865. He married Susannah Rankin. His death occurred February 18, 1888. Charles, born in 1842, enlisted in the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry in 1864, and served through the Atlanta campaign and in the battle of Nashville. He is now a farmer of Adams Town- ship, Guernsey County. He married Isabel Mc- Clelland. Mary J. is the wife of David Mackey, of Adams Township. Alexander, born in 1846, has always worked on the old homestead. He married Anna M. Johnston, and by their marriage eight children were born, five now living. In all John Hammond has seventy-two grandchildren.

John M. Ilammond in his early life was a Jack- son Democrat and later was a Free Soiler. He was one of the first to cspouse the cause of the Republican party in his state. For many years he has been a Justice of the Peace, and has also held the offices of Township Trustee, Township Treas- urer and Clerk. For about forty years he was an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church, in which he has also served as Deacon. He has many in- teresting reminiscences of pioneer hfe and the days when hardships and privations were a mat- ter of course.

H IRAM WARNE, father of J. C. Warne, of Cambridge, and one of the prosperous and representative agriculturists of Wash- ington County, Pa., is descended from one of the influential families of the state, originally residents of eastern Pennsylvania. but afterward pioneers of the western part. Maj. James Warne, his fa- ther, was born in Allegheny County, but in youth

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removed to Washington County, where he married Mary, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Parkinson. Ile was a ship-builder and glass-blower, and was also for a time engaged in the general mercan- tile business, in all of which enterprises he was successful.

The subject of this sketeh was born in Monon- gahela, Pa., and was a small boy when the family removed into the country. Ilis education was limited, consisting only of such advantages as the neighboring common schools afforded. On the 2d of December, 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James and Rebecea (Devore) Nichols. After his marriage he settled upon a farm in Som- erset Township, but later removed from there to Nottingham Township, and finally located upon the place where he has since resided. He and his wife are the parents of five sons and two daugh- ters, named as follows: James C., Florence, William W., Allen C., Boyd E., Howard F. and Mary E. M.

ILLIAM E. CASE, one of the most en- terprising and successful business men of New Comerstown, was born in Lower Sandusky (now Fremont), this state, April 15, 1840. He is the son of Rev. J. W. and Rachel (Bilgay) Case, the former of whom was born in Goshen, Orange County, N. Y., October 1, 1808, and was in turn the son of Joseph Case, a carpen- ter and contractor. The latter died when his son was only three years of age, leaving besides him a widow and eleven children. The father of our subject began to make his own way in the world at the age of ten years. Four years later he bought a team and found work on the Erie Canal. The fall he reached his lifteenth year he went south to Georgia, and at that carly age taught sehool. Later he returned home, and while visiting in New York City was attraeted by the movements of a chimney- sweep at work, and in turn attracted the gaze of several young ladies who were passing, and who

remarked upon his "greenness." One of the young women afterward became his wife, when sixteen years of age, and he was but one year older. Their union was solemnized in. 1825, and to them were born two children before he attained his majority. When nearing his twenty-first year he removed to Rochester, and continued teaching school. From that city they afterward removed to Lower San- dusky, in 1837, where he had among his pupils Gen- eral MePherson, ex-President Hayes, the wife of Charles Foster, and many other men and women who became prominent in the history of our coun- try.

In 1842 J. W. Case entered the ministry of the Methodist Protestant Church, and continued to preach that faith until his death. He held charges at various times at Caldwell, MeConnelsville, Youngstown and other places, and as a minister was popular and successful. After his decease, which occurred in 1877, the President of the Muskingum Conference was written to for his . address. Ilis reply was laconie, "Heaven." His wife departed this life in 1873. She was, as her name indicates, of French extraction. The Rev. Mr. Case was a second time married, his union with Miss Mary C. Conning taking place in Medina County in 1876, and that year they attended the Centennial Expo- sition at Philadelphia, and visited the scenes of Mr. Case's old home in New York.

To J. W. and Rachel Case there were born six children. Eliza Franees married Fielding MeFee, and died in 1855; Mary Louisa became the wife of Henry H. Woodward, and makes her home in Tusearawas County; Alonzo died in infaney; An- geline Augusta is the wife of Rev. W. M. Wood- ard, of Douglass, Kan .; William E. was the next- born; and Eugene died in infaney. The mother of this family lived with her husband for forty-eight years, and her body is now interred with him in Hartwood Cemetery, Washington Township, this county.

Our subject was given a good education, and taught sehool prior to attaining his sixteenth year. Hle found this to be a very agreeable vocation and continued to teach until forty years old. after which he engaged in mercantile pursuits. During the latter years of his career as a teacher, he num-

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bered among his pupils in the normal school many who are now excellent teachers.

In 1882 our subject removed to Medina County, where he began the publication of the Medina News, starting without any subscription list whatever. In four months' time he had twenty-six hundred names, and continued its editor until 1885, when he sold his office and equipments and returned to New Comerstown, and added the lumber business to his mercantile trade. In 1886 he engaged in the wholesale grocery business under the firm name of Case, Mercer & Co., and continued until 1888. Since this time he has devoted his time chiefly to look- ing after his lumber business, his trade extending from Phillipsburg to Marietta.

Mr. Case was married to Miss Lucy A. Robinson, of Brownsville, Licking County, this state, Au- gast 1, 1861. To them were born five children. Bertha, who was born May 25, 1862, is now the wife of Daniel S. Taylor, of the firm of Case & Taylor, of Tiffin, this state; Emma M., born Sep- tember 25, 1864, is the wife of II. R. Gardner, of Medina County, Ohio; Hal E. was born July 7, 1867, and is now engaged in business at Bolivar, this county; Elma E., born April 10, 1869, married Charles Adams, of Allegheny, Pa .; and Mary Fran- ces died at the age of three years. Mr. Case is independent in politics, and belongs to the Methi- odist Protestant Church.

R OBERT SCHWEITZER is one of the most enterprising farmers of Guernsey County, and his interests are centered in Wheeling Township. He is one of the most successful men of his class, and is a fine representative of those men who began life without a cent, and have worked their way to wealth solely through their own efforts, and are therefore rightly called self- made.

Mr. Schweitzer is a native of Ohio, and was born October 25, 1847, in Tuscarawas County. His par-

ents were John and Eliza ( Anderson) Schweitzer. the former of whom was born in Switzerland, and died in this country, November 28, 1877, aged fifty years. Ile in turn was the son of Morris and Anna (Hannekrat) Schweitzer, also born in Switz- erland, whence they crossed the Atlantic in 1827, and became residents of Tuscarawas County. There they procured a farm, and from that time until their death were employed in its cultivation.

Eliza (Anderson) Schweitzer, mother of our sub- ject, was born in County Down, Ireland, to Robert and Masy ( McClane) Anderson, and departed this life in America, in April, 1861, at the age of thirty- three years. Her parents came to America in an early day, and located in Tusearawas County, where they spent the rest of their life. Robert Anderson was the proprietor of a hotel in his na- tive land, but after coming to his new home fol- lowed farming with good success.

The parents of our subject were united in mar- riage in Tusearawas County in 1846, and as the years passed there came into their home seven children, of whom Robert was the eldest. Jolin F. and Mary I. are deceased; Alexander N. is a farm- er and fruit-grower in Kansas; Eliza E. is the wife of James Harstine, engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Coshocton County; Thomas II. is a farmer of this township; and Charlotte is deceased.

Jolin Schweitzer was a second time married, the lady on this occasion being Annie Kardley, born in Switzerland, and who died in Coshocton Coun- ty, this state, in 1883, aged forty-five years. She became the mother of eight children, viz .: William T., deceased; Mary, the wife of Edward Van Leen, who is a miner in Tusearawas County; Jennic, liv- ing in Coshocton County; Alice, the wife of C. E. Van Sickle, a carpenter and school teacher, living in Summit County, Ohio; Ida, now the wife of F. Channey, a carpenter of Coshocton County; Fred- eriek, a farmer of this section, which is also the home of John and Emma, the latter of whom is unmarried. The father of this family was for many years a Trustee of his township, and in many other ways took a prominent part in its advance- ment.

Our subject remained on the home farm until nineteen years of age, when he went to Coshocton

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County and worked the estate of his father ou shares. Ile continued in this way for eight years, and in 1870 went on a visit to Kansas, where he remained for a month. At the expiration of that time he was quite ready to return home, and again taking charge of the farm, superintended its oper- ation until the fall of 1876, when he married and established a home of his own.

The lady whom Mr. Schweitzer chose as his life companion was Miss Margaret Keast, and to them have been born six children, four girls and two boys, viz .: Pearlc, Zella, Charley, Nettie, Jesse and Mary, all of whom are living. Mrs. Schweit- zer, whose birth occurred in Coshocton County, on the 3d of August, 1854, was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Thretewie) Keast. Her father was born in Truro, England, July 5, 1816, and died in 1888, when seventy-two years old. He was the son of Edward and Mary Keast, also natives of the British Isles, where the mother died. The fatlier came to America in 1870, and made his home here until his decease. Elizabeth Keast was born in England to John and Mary Thretewie, and died in 1862, at the age of thirty-six years. Her parents spent the latter years of their life in Australia, where they became very wealthy.

The parents of Mrs. Schweitzer were married in England, and reared a family of eight daughters and two sons, of whom Mary J. became the wife of Daniel Dussenberry, a farmer of Wheeling Township, this county; Martha married William Van Sickle, also a farmer of this township; Julia is now Mrs. Peter Hamersiey, engaged in farming in Coshocton County; Edward is deceased; Saralı is the wife of John Little; Hester married Jasper Uinstott, whose sketch the reader will find on an- other page in this work; Harriet is the wife of Samuel Mercer, Secretary of the Building and Loan Association of Indianapolis, Ind .; Susan is now Mrs. Thomas Schweitzer, and makes her home in this township; and John, Jr., is a telegraph oper- ator in Flushing, Ohio.

The father of our subject was an honored mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which denomination he contributed liberally. He was a Republican after the formation of the party, and tlie incorruptible integrity of his character, and

his many fine qualities of head and heart, plaeed him high in the regard of his fellow-citizens.

When beginning life as a benedict, our subject, rented land one year in Coshocton County, after which he purchased a farm in the same county, and resided on it for a period of eleven years. At the end of that time we find him living on his present estate, which comprises a quarter-section of fertile farming land, through which runs a stream of living water. He erected a large and comfortable residence in 1893, and is prepared to spend the rest of his life in ease and comfort. In politics he is independent, always casting his vote for the best man, regardless of party principles.

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Portrait and biographical record of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Part 66

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