USA > Ohio > Highland County > The County of Highland : a history of Highland County, Ohio, from the earliest days, with special chapters on the bench and bar, medical profession educational development, industry and agriculture and biographical sketches > Part 25
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principally in stock raising, making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He has been township assessor and school director and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Pricetown. Mr. Barker inherited from his father deep religious convictions and a fondness for all kinds of work connected with the church. For seventeen consecutive years he has been superinten- dent of the Sunday school in the Christian church, which he joined when only twelve years old, and is quite enthusiastic in attention to his class. When a boy he studied music and afterward for several years taught that delightful science, which since has proved of great assistance to him in connection with his Sunday school work. Frank O., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Barker, is a bright boy who gives promise of worthily carrying forward the honorable careers of his ancestors.
Nelson Barrere, a veteran of the civil war and well-known citizen of New Market township, comes of distinguished pioneer ancestry. His grandfather, George W. Barrere, became a settler of Ohio as early as 1802, when he crossed over the river from his old home in Kentucky and after a short sojourn in Clinton county located in New Market township. The new arrival bought from John Ever- sole a hewed log house of one room, to which he soon added another and fixed up a kind of room in the loft. This structure the pro- prietor proceeded to use as a tavern which eventually became the leading house of entertainment in those parts and was known far and wide for its good cheer and generous fare. George W. Barrere raised a volunteer rifle company for the war of 1812, of which he was made captain, and membership in which constitutes a proud genealogical title for many descendants of the original recruits. After the war, he engaged in mercantile business at New Market and continued his store for several years. He served as state sena- tor in the Ohio legislature almost continuously from 1808 until 1815 and was associate judge of Highland county fourteen years from 1816. He was also one of the first county commissioners and served as such several terms, being one of the most influential and popular citizens during this formative period of the state and county. Morgan Barrere, one of the sons of the old captain, was born in Kentucky, February 27, 1802, the year his father emigrated, and some months before Ohio's admission into the Union. In after years he became one of the substantial citizens of New Market, where his son, Nelson Barrere, was born February 16, 1840. The latter had scarcely passed his majority when the opening guns of the civil war stirred the patriotic blood in his veins and caused him to join the great hosts then answering the calls of President Lincoln. October 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Sixtieth regiment Ohio volun- teer infantry, which was recruited for the defense of the border counties of the State and first sent to Gallipolis. In the spring of
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1862, however, it was ordered to join General Fremont in Virginia, and under that officer had its first taste of fighting at Strasburg. Later on it was in the sharp fighting higher up the valley, at the bat- tle of Cross Keys, against the forces commanded by Stonewall Jack- son. The Sixtieth fought bravely in this heated engagement and suffered considerable loss. Subsequently it was ordered to Harper's Ferry and was part of the unfortunates who were forced to surren- der to Jackson's army in September, 1862. This ended the career of the Sixtieth regiment, as it was paroled and mustered out of the service in October, the majority of its members re-enlisting in other organizations and serving gallantly until the close of the war. After his release from service at Chicago, Mr. Barrere returned home and resumed his occupation of farming. In 1863 he was married to Albertine Washburn, a native of Adams county and daughter of Dr. Joseph and Elizabeth Washburn, the former a practicing physician at New Market for many years. Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Barrere again went to the front as a member of Company A, One Hundred and Sixty-eighth regiment Ohio national guard. June 11, 1864, this regiment was engaged in a severe battle near Cynthiana, Ky., in which it fought well but suffered severe loss in killed and wounded, besides the capture of two hundred and eighty of its mem- bers. The latter, however, were only held a short time as prisoners and later did guard duty at Cincinnati until discharged from the service in September. Mr. Barrere again returned home, where he spent two years and removed to Douglas county, Ill. He lived in that state seven years and then came back to Ohio, locating perma- nently on part of the old homestead farm where he has since resided. Mr. Barrere is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a comrade in Hillsboro post, No. 205, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. and Mrs. Barrere have had nine children whose names are as follows: Elvin V., employee of the Hillsboro postoffice; Malissa, wife of Joseph Miller, county recorder ; Joseph W., of New Market ; Willoughby, guard and teacher at the Mansfield Reformatory ; Edna B., wife of Rev. E. L. Hollingsworth ; Nelson, of New Mar- ket; James A .; Lucretia, deceased, and Charles. James A. and Charles are at home.
Capt. David M. Barrett, commander of a company in the famous Eighty-ninth Ohio regiment during the civil war and quite promi- nent for years in politics and business, is descended from one of those sturdy pioneer families which were identified with Highland in the first years of its existence as a county. The founder was Richard Barrett who brought his family in wagons from their old home near Winchester, Va., to the Ohio and down that river on flat boats and again overland by team until they arrived in the confines of Highland county in 1807. He located in Paint township where
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he bought 150 acres of land at $8.00 per acre, manufactured the necessary material and built the brick house which is still standing on the place as one of the landmarks of "ye olden times." Richard Barrett was a member of the Society of Friends, that historic organ- ization which became famous as the advocate of peace and brotherly love and the uncompromising foe of slavery. He was conspicuous as one of the workers in the Quaker community of Highland county, helped erect a building for worship and was one of the most influen- tial leaders of his people. His death occurred March 20, 1844, at the age of eighty-three, and that of his wife June 6, 1833, at the age of seventy-one years. The names and dates of birth of their chil- dren are thus recorded in the family Bible: Rebekah, 1778; Elea- nora, 1779 ; Lydia, 1791; Phebe, 1793; Sarah, 1796; Rachel, 1798; Sydney, 1800; Amy, 1802; Richard L., 1805. The latter, who was born in Virginia, was about two years old when the family arrived at their Ohio home. In early manhood he married Sarah D. Mitchell, a native of Kentucky, whose parents had settled in the neighborhood of the Barretts in Paint township. Her father, David Mitchell, served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Richard L. and Sarah D. Barrett had seven children, of whom Maria, Rosana, Eleanora and Sarah J. are dead. The three living are David M., Elizabeth A., widow of Andrew Platter, and Richard C., who lives in Clinton county, Ohio. The second wife of Richard J. Barrett was Mary J. Wiley, by whom he had six children: Henry C., the eldest, enlisted in the Twelfth regiment Ohio cavalry and was killed in the service; Lydia married William Wyer and died afterward ; John is a resident of Paint township; Emma is the wife of A. B. Milner; Mary is now Mrs. Merton Wallace of Liberty township; Edmund is a resident of Missouri. The father of these children died at his home in Paint township November 23, 1877, in his sev- enty-second year. David M. Barrett, who was the third of the first family of children, was born in Paint township, Highland county, Ohio, October 27, 1829. He was reared on the old homestead and remained there engaged in stock-dealing until his marriage to Sally A. Weyer, which occurred September 25, 1855. The next three years were devoted to the management of a store at New Petersburg and in the spring of 1858 he purchased the mill prop- erty on the Rocky fork of Paint creek with which his name was so long associated. These mills, the first in Highland county, were built by Jesse Baldwin on Factory branch of Rocky fork in 1805 or 1806 and proved to be an extensive and successful undertaking. The plant comprised not only a sawmill and grist-mill, but a card- ing and fulling mill and, after 1820, a woolen mill. Later, Mr. Baldwin abandoned the old structures and built another below the mouth of the branch on Rocky fork, where the present mills are. Subsequently the property passed into the ownership of Dr. Boyd,
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who enlarged and improved the saw- and grist-mills. Dr. Boyd gave them to his son, J. Milton Boyd, who sold them to Captain Barrett, who in the year 1860 tore down the old buildings and erected much better ones in their place. He remained in charge of the woolen mills, which manufactured a superior article of cloth, for more than thirty-six years. In 1862, he raised a company of soldiers for the Union army of which he was elected captain and which subsequently became part of the Eighty-ninth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry. The first great battle in which Capt. David M. Barrett took part as commander of Company I was the famous engagement at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863. During the afternoon of the 20th, the Eighty-ninth went into the hottest of the fight; and, with the Twenty-first Ohio and Twenty-second Michi- gan, held its position against fearful odds until dark, when they were surrounded and all captured. Captain Barrett was now in for a round of experiences in those awful dens of starvation and torture called the "Southern prison pens." He was first taken to the notor- ious Libby prison at Richmond, Va., where he was held about eight months, and subsequently spent more or less time for several months at Danville, Augusta, Macon, Charleston and Columbia. While at Charlotte, N. C., he and two companions bribed a sentinel and escaped from prison, but after five weeks were taken sick and recap- tured. Captain Barrett's terms in prison at different places amounted in all to eighteen months and during much of the time he was sub- jected to hunger, filth and every privation calculated to make life miserable. At the close of the war he was released and returned home, where he resumed his industrious and busy life as miller, manufacturer, farmer, stockraiser and general man of affairs. In fact few men have had so many "irons in the fire" as Captain Bar- rett, but he has managed to keep everything going and in all his multifarious activities has discharged the obligations with credit to himself and satisfaction to others. In 1865 he was elected repre- sentative from Highland county in the state legislature, was again elected in 1883 and re-elected in 1885. In 1885 he was appointed a member of the board of state asylum trustees at Athens, and served as president of the board until he resigned. In 1889 he was a mem- ber of the state board of equalization, and during the following year was superintendent of the Boys' Industrial school, which position he resumed in 1893 and held for eight years. He served three years as township assessor and was member of the board of education for about twenty years. He also held the position of township clerk. Captain Barrett has been connected with the Masonic fraternity since 1850 and holds membership in Hillsboro lodge, No. 58. He is a member of the Loyal Legion and one of the most honored com- rades of Trimble post, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is commander. Captain Barrett has for many years been extensively
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engaged in the live stock industry and owns at present seven hundred acres of land, his holdings formerly amounting to one thousand acres. He has eight children: Cora M., wife of J. B. Davis; Richard B., in the federal service at Cincinnati, O .; Horace M., in charge of his father's mill; Morgan, manager of a mill at Bain- bridge; Newton R., in charge of the farm; Sarah N., wife of J. A. Head of Hillsboro; Jesse C. and Elizabeth, wife of Ralph Smith of Denver, Colorado. Captain Barrett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has held various official positions in connec- tion therewith. Sally A., the wife of Capt. Barrett, died July 21st, 1901.
Reuben P. Barrett, quite prominent in the business affairs and public life of Leesburg, is descended from one of the pioneers who made the first beginnings of civilization in Fairfield township. His great grandfather, Jonathan Barrett, made his appearance in 1805, the same year in which Highland county was organized, purchased a place on Hardin's creek and there proceeded to make a settlement after the true backwoods style. He bought the land from Nathaniel Pope, the first settler of the township, and built his cabin on the spot which long afterward was occupied as a residence by Josel Wright, the Quaker preacher. Along with Jonathan came his brother Richard and his brother-in-law, Henry Cowgill, all from Virginia and later on prominent in the development of that part of the county. Jonathan Barrett reared a family of six children, Ben- jamin, Jesse, Ellis, Levi, Rachel and Lydia, all long since dead, the last survivor being Rachel, who married J. Ladd and died in Penn township. Benjamin Barrett, oldest son of Jonathan, was born in Virginia and well grown before his father's migration to Ohio. Like all the family connection he was a member of the Friends church and became quite prominent in the affairs of that religious denomination. He was also successful as a farmer and influential in the public life and general development of the township. Ben- jamin Barrett married Ruth Slaughter, also a native of Virginia, and had fifteen children, many of whom stood around his bedside at the time of his death in 1880. Among them was his son, John Bar- rett, who was born in Highland county in 1832, and still resides on his country estate near the old homestead in Fairfield township. He is the father of Reuben P. Barrett, who was born in Highland county in 1859, and during his whole life has been identified with the busi- ness interests of Leesburg. He has served as supervisor and mem- ber of the board of education and in July, 1897, was appointed postmaster by President Mckinley. He is interested in the com- mercial elevator at Leesburg, and a member of lodge No. 78, Free and Accepted Masons of that city. His wife is Phoebe, daughter of Allen Johnson, of Leesburg, and descendant of a family that emi-
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grated from Virginia in an early period of the county's history. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Barrett are Maud, Augusta, Georgia, Hubert and Louise.
Hannibal A. Beeson, M. D., one of the oldest medical practi- tioners of Highland county and long prominent in professional cir- cles, is descended from pioneer people of the best ancestral stock. His father, Dr. Ruel Beeson, was born in Highland county in 1811, of North Carolina parentage, and commenced the practice of medi- cine at Leesburg in 1833. Later he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, became prominent in politics as a Whig and was elected to the state senate in 1848, but declined a renomination. He was con- spicuous as a temperance advocate, in advocacy of the construction of the railroad through Leesburg and later was an uncompromising friend of the Union during the civil war. After the cessation of hostilities he spent much time in traveling and died April 15, 1877. He married Martha Johnson, who came with her parents from Vir- ginia to Ohio in the early part of 1800. Their son, Dr. H. A. Bee- son, was born at Leesburg, Highland county, in 1841, and was given a good education in the common schools, the Salem academy and the Wesleyan university at Delaware, Ohio. After a course of study in the office of a prominent physician he entered the United States navy in 1862 as surgeon's steward, and was assigned to duty with the mortar fleet under Farragut, and later under Admiral Porter. At the time the surrender at Appomattox put an end to the war, Dr. Beeson was serving as an assistant surgeon under Admiral Lee. Considering his youth and lack of professional medical training at that time, his record of service during the civil war is quite remark- able and decidedly creditable to his efficiency and fitness for high responsibilities. After the war he returned home and assisted his father on the farm until 1876, when he entered Miami college, took a full course in the medical department, and was graduated with honor in the class of 1879. After a year spent in Cincinnati devoted to study in a post-graduate course, Dr. Beeson located in his native town of Leesburg where he has since made his home and head- quarters. He is now one of the oldest physicians in continuous prac- tice at that point and one of the most popular, standing high both in his profession and among the people. He was appointed medical examiner for the United States pension department, and has served three terms in that responsible position. He was influential in the organization of the Southern Ohio Medical society, and has had the honor of being president of that body. Dr. Beeson is also a con- spicuous member of the International Society of Psychic Research, which includes many of the most eminent and learned people in the world. Another organization to which he belongs is the Ohio society for the prevention and cure of tuberculosis. Altogether the
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Doctor's life has been one of useful activities for the benefit of his fellow men by the spread of mental and social culture and all those things which, in the language of Matthew Arnold, "make for right- eousness." He enjoys a large practice in his native town and the general esteem of the people of his community who have known him from earliest childhood. In 1865, Dr. Beeson was married to Eliza- beth T. Anderson, an accomplished lady of Highland county, whose parents were members of an old Virginia family of high standing.
Charles S. Bell, prominent for over forty-three years in the manu- facturing industries of Hillsboro and one of the most public-spirited citizens of the community, is of Maryland ancestry which dates in that state from a period anterior to the Revolution. At that early day David Bell had taken up land in the region around Cumberland where he pursued the quiet occupation of farming and reared his family. Among his children was a son named David R., who married Nancy Bradley and by her became the father of the subject of this sketch. Charles S. Bell was born at Cumberland, Md., Feb- ruary 7, 1829, and at the age of fifteen years went to Pittsburg to learn the founder's trade. After mastering the details of this busi- ness, he spent some years working at various establishments in Cin- cinnati, Springfield and Dayton, during which time he perfected his knowledge of the trade. In January, 1858, Mr. Bell purchased a small plant which had been run by other parties in Hillsboro about three years on Beech street below the present site of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad depot. He carried it on there eight years, with many enlargements and improvements, but eventually bought seven acres of ground near the Hillsboro depot, on which the large factory buildings covering about one acre of ground were erected in 1889-90. The company, of which Mr. Bell is the head, does an extensive busi- ness in the manufacture of bells and various kinds of farm machin- ery. More bells, forty pounds and upwards in weight, mostly for farms and schools, are said to be turned out here than at any other factory in America. In 1880 Mr. Bell employed about twenty hands, but at present gives work to at least one hundred and fifty people. Attention is devoted to the manufacture of sugar cane and feed-grinding machines much in demand throughout the West, and a machine called the "tortillera," used in Mexico for crushing the hominy of which a popular cake is made, is turned out in large num- bers at the Bell establishment. The plant as it stands represents the investment of a large amount of capital and a very extensive busi- ness is done over a wide area of country, both national and interna- tional. It is and long has been one of the cherished institutions of Hillsboro and the founder is regarded as one of the city's benefactors. In 1895 Mr. Bell built the Bell opera house at a cost of $40,000. He also erected the building occupied by the McKeehan-Hiestand
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Grocery company in 1892 and became largely interested in the stock of that company. He is vice-president and one of the largest stock- holders in the Merchants' National bank and a partner in the hard- ware firm known as the John A. McCoppin & Co. Aside from his regular business, Mr. Bell has had much to do with the public affairs of the city and has been one of the factors in its growth and develop- ment. He served for twenty-one years on the Hillsboro school board and devoted much time and attention to the important subject of education. As a member of the city council for many years, the community had the benefit of his business experience and ripe judg- ment in all matters affecting municipal improvements. Besides these, Mr. Bell has held' numerous other places of trust, and what- ever duty was devolved upon him, in any of the relations of life, he always discharged the same with a conscientious fidelity to the pub- lic welfare. In 1851 Mr. Bell was married to Mary L. Roberts, by whom he has had five children. Charles E., the eldest, is inter- ested in the C. S. Bell company ; Alice M. is the wife of L. B. Boyd, another member of the foundry firm; John died in 1891; Cora E. and May are at home.
Joseph G. Bell, the well known hardware merchant and implement dealer of Hillsboro, comes of one of the old families of Highland county. The founder in this part of Ohio was George Bell, who was born in Virginia in 1780, located in Brush Creek township in 1812 and died in 1876 after he had reached the ninety-sixth year of his age. He first married a Miss May and to this union was born one child named Mary, now the widow of Andrew Milburn, deceased, and about 1820 he espoused Mary Frump, by whom he had a numerous family of children as follows: John, who died in Brush Creek in 1900; George, now a resident of Quenemo, Kas .; Sampson, living in Illinois ; Andrew, formerly a merchant at Jeffersonville, Ohio, who died in 1878; Ruth, wife of Andrew Sams, of Rainsborough; Mar- garet, wife of William Sylvester, of Cynthiana, Ohio; and three daughters who married and moved to the West. Joseph Bell, now a resident of Brush Creek township and second of the children, was born in Brush Creek township, Highland county, Ohio, in 1831, and was married in 1856 to Susannah, daughter of Peter Gorman. The latter was son and namesake of a Virginian, born in 1777, and an emigrant to Brush Creek township in 1803. The second of the name, and father of Susannah, was born in 1809, married Christina Hie's- tand, and died in 1899. The children of Joseph and Susannah (Gor- man) Bell were Mary C., wife of John Fisher, a farmer near New Petersburg; Alice D., wife of Frank Hiser, a farmer residing near Marshall; George P., a teacher and merchant who died in 1889, aged twenty-eight years; Margaret, who died in 1883. at the age of
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twenty ; Nanie Ann, living with her father ; the subject of this sketch ; Grant M., who died in 1891 when twenty years old; Lilly May, wife of Carter Barrett, a farmer at Quenemo, Kas .; Ida Pearl, at home; and Foster H. G., who graduated at Lebanon College in 1901. Joseph G. Bell, fifth of the above enumerated children, was born in Highland county, Ohio, April 16, 1868, and grew up with the deter- mination of fitting himself as a teacher. With this end in view, he attended the Normal college at Lebanon, Ohio, and after a full course was graduated by that institution in the class of 1885. He then entered the educational field and followed the profession of teaching for twelve consecutive years. At the November election in 1897, Mr. Bell was a candidate for the office of clerk of courts and subsequently formed a partnership with his opponent, J. H. Williams, in the hard- ware business. The firm of Williams & Bell continued until the in- terest of the senior partner was purchased by C. F. Underwood, and January 1, 1902, Mr. Bell became sole proprietor of the Hillsboro implement store at Court and Short streets. August 25, 1896, he was married to Lelia, daughter of C. F. Underwood, who owns a large farm near New Vienna where his parents were among the early settlers.
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