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 34
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derers. He helped organize the first Methodist Episcopal church established in Kentucky, long known as the "old Masterson's church," near Lexington, and did much missionary work among the rude inhabitants of the frontiers. Charles White, like many other immi- grants from the south, owned slaves in Kentucky, but in time his con- science revolted against this abominable institution and he determined on a general manumission. Not only did he emancipate all of his own slaves but he bought and set free some of those belonging to neighbors who had married among his people. He deserves the enduring glory of having been one of the very first of the Abolition- ists and he served the cause not simply by word of mouth but by deeds involving a large pecuniary loss. Even before he set them free, he had carefully taught his poor dependents the art of reading and writ- ing and never ceased to look after their welfare after they had been emancipated. Charles White's first wife was Sarah Monroe, sister of the fifth president of the United States, and they had a daughter, Elizabeth, and five sons, William, John, Daniel, Samuel and George,
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of whom the three youngest served as soldiers in the war of 1812. The second wife of Charles White was Charlotte Downs, daughter of a notable character in that age of wars and revolutions. Her father, Henry Downs, came over from England with the expedition of Lord Delaware and lived for a while on the eastern shore, but later migrated to Kentucky. He became one of the founders of the city of Lexington and fell during the memorable siege of Bryant's Station by the Indians. By his second marriage Charles White had four sons and seven daughters, who grew up, married and assisted materially in building up the infant commonwealth of Kentucky by rearing large families. Their children, to the number of twenty or more, were represented in the great war between the states which convulsed the nation and so long threatened its destruction. The anti-slavery sentiments of Charles White eventually made Kentucky a very disagreeable state for him to live in and in September, 1808, he settled in Ross county, Ohio, a short distance below Greenfield. He never lost sight of his main purpose in life and when he erected his house one room was constructed for the especial purpose of hold- ing religious services. For nearly twenty years his house was a noted preaching place on Deer Creek circuit, from about 1810 until 1826 or 1827, when the first church was built, a small brick building where the parsonage now stands. Willis, Collard, Walker, Hunter, Griffin, Simomns, John Collins, James and Isaac Quinn, Estel, Eddy, Bigelow and others whose names are famous in Methodism, made their stopping place with Charles White, and after them many of his children were named. He personally superintended the build- ing of both the first brick and the old stone church, and his two sons, namesakes of Willis and Griffin, hauled every stone used in its erec- tion. On the first day of May, 1851, he threw the first shovelful of dirt on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad, being then in his ninetieth year, and he lived to see the first train pass over the road, May 1, 1854, dying on the anniversary of Yorktown, Oct. 19, 1854. Abraham J. and Julia (White) Freshour had a family of three children, James H., Mary and Hortense, all of whom were reared and educated in Greenfield. James H. Freshour, the only son, at the age of twenty enlisted in Company I, Eighty-first regi- ment Ohio volunteer infantry and served the last three years of the civil war. He took part with his command in the great battle of Pittsburg Landing and all the marching and fighting of the Atlanta campaign, was wounded three times in different engagements, and returned from the war much broken in health. Though his death did not occur until March 27, 1902, he never fully recovered and suffered much at times from the effects of his patriotic service. He was a member of the Union Veterans' Union and an honored com- rade of Gibson post, Grand Army of the Republic. He had a strong affection for his companions in arms and did not forget them as death
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approached, but left a handsome bequest of $6,000 to be devoted to the erection of a suitable monument in the Greenfield cemetery to commemorate the brave dead of his command. This generous dona- tion was supplemented by his sister, Hortense Freshour, who added $4,000 to her brother's gift and thus exhibited her patriotism as well as sympathy with his dying wish. The surviving members of the Freshour family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Greenfield and enjoy general esteem in the community.
John Frump, of Jackson township, formerly trustee of Marshall township, was born in Brush Creek township, October 7, 1841. He is a grandson of John Frump, a native of Delaware, who was twice married in that state, and with his second wife came to Highland county and settled on Rocky fork, and afterward bought a farm in Marshall township. A few years later he died, but his wife lived to the great age of ninety-four years. Their children were Betsy, Ann, Harriett, Cassie and William. William, the youngest son, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born on the Rocky fork farm in Paint township, October 7, 1841, and in early manhood was married to Julia Wolf, a native of Highland county, after which they lived at the home place in Marshall township, until he died at the age of seventy-five years. His widow survives, at the age of eighty-six. He was a man of high character, a steward and class leader in the Methodist church, and prospered in worldly affairs, so that he was able to leave a good property. His children were ten in number: Joel, deceased ; John ; Nancy, deceased ; l'ary, wife of R. G. Setty, of Adams county ; James, of Marshall township; William, of Pauld- ing county ; Milton, of Marshall township; Harriett, of Oklahoma ; Frank, deceased ; Daniel, of Paulding county. John Frump became twenty-one years of age in the midst of the great civil war, and being of a patriotic nature, his energy was first turned in that direction. Enlisting as a private soldier in Company B of the Hundred and Seventy-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, he was mustered in at Camp Dennison, and sent with his command to Nashville, Tenn. When that state was invaded by Hood's rebel army, he participated in the battle of Franklin and several minor engagements, and he continued in the service until his regiment was mustered out in 1865. On October 15th of the same year he was married to Louisa A. Hall, daughter of Jacob and Mary Hall, and they first made their home near Pisgah church in Marshall township. Three years later he bought the farm now owned by J. A. Burnett, and fifteen years after that they moved to the farm he now owns. He has 173 acres of val- uable land, to which he now gives his attention, and to raising and dealing in live stock. Formerly, for twenty-four years he gave his time in the harvest season to the operation of a threshing machine. He held the office of trustee of Marshall township five years, and is
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at present justice of the peace in Jackson. Since seventeen years of age he has been a member of the Methodist church, and for many years he has been an active member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic. In politics he adheres to the Democratic party. Mr. Frump has had six children, of whom two died in infancy. The survivors are Mary L., wife of W. E. Roberts, of Adams county; W. J., of Marshall township; and Francis S. and Sally E., at home. Mrs. Frump is also a member of the Methodist church.
Millard F. Funk, M. D., of Mowrystown, one of the most influ- ential citizens of White Oak township, was born near Sugartree Ridge, June 23, 1854. He is the son of John Funk, for many years one of the prominent men of Concord township. John Funk was born in Virginia, and as a baby of four months was taken along by his parents on the long and difficult journey to Michigan territory in the early days of settlement, as far as Mowrystown, where the infant became too sick to be taken further, and was entrusted to the kindness of the family of Harvey Badgeley. The parents promised to return for him, but some misfortune or the difficulties of travel prevented, and the boy was raised by his foster parents. Reaching manhood he married Sarah C., daughter of Joseph Helsley, and after a short residence in White Oak township they removed to Concord, where they lived about twenty-five years. About the year 1865 he returned to Mowrystown and in 1870 he engaged in the general mer- cantile business there. He continued in this for about fifteen years. Then for about twenty years, and up to a year of his death, he was agent for the Hillsboro railroad company. He was also justice of the peace of his township for fifteen years, and an active member of the United Brethren church. His children were Jerusha E., deceased ; H. T., residing in Missouri ; Mary E., wife of J. Sauner, of White Oak; Millard F., Eli, of Mowrystown; Levi, of Spring- field, Mo., and Asenath D., wife of Rev. F. P. Rasselatt, of Toledo, O. Dr. M. F. Funk, after receiving a common school education, embarked in mercantile business at the age of twenty-one years, but his tastes were for professional life, and in 1878 he went to Macoupin county, Ill., and read medicine in the office of Dr. William A. Schriver for two years. Subsequently he took two courses of lectures at the Eclectic Medical institute of Cincinnati, in 1881 and 1882, and upon being graduated returned to his native region and began the practice of medicine at Mowrystown. He also engaged in business as a druggist, and he is yet conducting this store, in connection with his practice, dealing also in farm implements, buggies, harness and robes. He is esteemed alike as a professional and business man, has one of the most handsome homes in that vicinity, and enjoys the confidence of all. He has served the community three years as township treas- urer, and is a member of the orders of Odd Fellows and Modern
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Woodmen of America, the Ohio State Medical association and the United Brethren church. Since 1896 he has held the office of post- master. Dr. Funk was married in 1884 to Sophia Galliett, and they had one child, Homer, who died in infancy. The wife died in 1888, and in 1891 he wedded Jennie M. Roberts, daughter of Alfred Rob- erts, by whom he had two children, Ethel and Jennie. Their mother died in 1896, and two years later he was married to Ollie Frazer, a native of Clermont county.
James N. Gall, a prosperous farmer of Brush Creek township and formerly a general merchant and postmaster at Gall postoffice, was born June 3, 1865, on the farm where he now resides. He traces his paternal ancestry back to George Gall, his great-great-grand- father who was a native of Germany, emigrating to America and set- tling in Rockingham county, Va., prior to the Revolution. When the great struggle for independence came on he shouldered his rifle and joined the patriot army and subsequently lost his life in line of battle. He left a family of three children, George (the great-grand- father of James N. Gall), John and Elizabeth, the former of whom after the death of his father, and although but sixteen years of age, joined the continental army and was one of the victorious veterans that witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Return- ing to his Virginia home, he soon married Susie Nichols, by whom he had eight children: Jacob, Sarah, Barbara, John, George (the grandfather of James N. Gall), Michael, Susannah and Betsey. All of these children were born in Rockingham county, Va. His wife dying, he remarried, his second wife being Catharine Roads, daugh- ter of Abraham and Maria Roads, all natives of Virginia. A few years after this marriage he decided to brave the dangers incident to the removal of his family to the Ohio valley. He accordingly equipped himself with the customary camping outfit of that day, supplied himself and older sons with trusty rifles, placed his entire family and equipment on horseback and took the forest trail over the mountains for Highland county, Ohio. Only three of the chil- dren by his first wife accompanied him. They were George, Michael and Susannah. After many hardships and trials of a character cal- culated to completely dishearten a less courageous pioneer, he finally landed on the banks of Middle Fork in Brush Creek township, where he decided to permanently locate. Here he built his log cabin, which was one among the first in that section, and proceeded to develop a home and to rear his large family of boys and girls, for by his second wife he had thirteen children, as follows: Polly, David, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Lydia, Anna, Rhoda, Isaac, Catharine, Abraham, Sophia, Matilda and Julia A., making him the father of twenty-one children by the two marriages. It has been asserted that there were a total of twenty-four, but the writer can find no authority for more than
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twenty-one. We are indebted to Julia A., the youngest child and the only living member of that family, for a great deal of this infor- mation. She is probably the only daughter of a revolutionary patriot living in Highland county at this writing. She was born on the old Gall homestead in Brush Creek township, June 2, 1827. There she was reared, and on March 9, 1851, she was married to Levi Will- iams, son of Elias and Christina (Countryman) Williams, early pio- neers of Jackson township from Virginia. Levi Williams was the youngest of nine children and was born on the old homestead, where he still resides, September 4, 1832. The children were: Polly, John, Eli, Nancy, Elizabetlı, Henry, Anna, Eliza and Levi. As previously stated, George Gall, when he emigrated to Highland county, brought a son, George, with him. This son grew to man- hood amid the scenes incident to pioneer life, assisted his father in building and managing a grist mill and a distillery which the father erected soon after his arrival and which, together with his farm, occu- pied his attention until his death, which occurred in October, 1851. After this son George grew to maturity he married Sarah Williams and they began housekeeping in the vicinity of the old Gall home- stead, and their old log cabin with its massive stone chimney stands today on a high hill overlooking the valley of Middle Fork and reminds the passerby as one of the few remaining evidences of pio- neer life. Here he reared a family of thirteen children: James, John, Thomas, Addison (the father of James N. Gall, born Septem- ber 9, 1825), Elias, George, Mary, Susan, Alfred, Daniel, William, Wesley and Sarah J., all of whom are dead except Wesley. Addi- son Gall was reared to manhood on the old homestead, and on Novem- ber 26, 1854, he was married to Sarah A. Spargur, born November 20, 1837, and the daughter of John W. and Mariah (Franklin) Spar- gur, the latter being a great niece of Benjamin Franklin, the revo- lutionary patriot. To this union were born fourteen children, the following of whom are living: Alice, Mary, Effie, James N. (sub- ject of this sketch), Bertie, Minnie, Catharine, Lewis L., and Addie M. Addison and his wife began life together on a farm adjoining his paternal homestead and they happily devoted their lives to rearing this large family. After a long and useful life he died on August 18, 1901. His widow and the above named children sur- vive him. James N. Gall was reared at the farm home and educated in the district school, the Hillsboro high school, the Lebanon Normal school, and at the Kentucky university, at Lexington, Ky. Thor- oughly qualified by his liberal education for the profession of teach- ing, he has devoted most of his life to that occupation, having taught thirteen years, making an excellent record in various schools for efficiency and scholarship. Afterward he conducted a general store and was postmaster at the postoffice which bore his family name, and at this writing he is giving his attention to agriculture, owning and
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using a fine farm of 330 acres. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 572, at Belfast, and popular with his neighbors and acquaintances.
Noah Gayman, of Taylorsville, is particularly deserving of men- tion among the citizens of French descent, and as a man of worth and prominence in his township. He was born near Mowrystown March 28, 1863, son of Charles Gayman, a native of France. Charles Gay- man, the father, was born in August, 1832, and came to Highland county in 1851, where he found employment as a farmer, and after- ward married Mary Goux, a native of France. Not long after this marriage he bought a farm of 110 acres, where he is still living, and where their home was blessed with ten children. These were Ade- line, Eugene and Jennie, deceased ; Charles, whose home is in Adams county ; Jennie, at home; Noah; Louisa, wife of A. F. Lilbert, of Mowrystown; Abel, living in Nebraska; Julia, wife of W. H. Walker, at the old home, and Edward, in Illinois. The mother of these children died at the age of forty-five years, and during the next fourteen years the home of the father was shared by his second wife, Margaret Trickeer, a native of Adams county. Charles Gayman is a devoted member of the Bell Run Baptist church, of which he was one of the organizers, and for several years a local minister, and in his old age he enjoys the esteem of many friends. Noah Gayman, at the age of eighteen years, began work for himself as a farm laborer, and after four years of this he married Ida Cornetet, a native of White Oak township and daughter of Louis and Leah Cornetet, and began housekeeping near Taylorsville. Four years later they made their home in Taylorsville, where Mr. Gayman began his business as a blacksmith and wagon maker and dealer in buggies, wagons, har- ness and farming implements, in which he has been quite prosperous. He also owns and cares for a small farm, and is, altogether, a busy and successful man. At the time of the destructive fire at Taylors- ville, he lost all his buildings and property, but notwithstanding this disaster he has continued in business and is doing well. In official affairs he has filled for two terms the office of constable and was school director for several years. In the United Brethren church he is an active and valued worker, aiding greatly in the building of the new church, and serving as trustee. For fifteen years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school of this denomination.
Lewis George, a worthy citizen of Paint township, resides on a farm which was purchased about 1830 by his grandfather, James George, who came from Hampshire county, West Virginia. Accom- panied by his son Jesse, who was then about twenty-two years of age, as he was born in 1808, the long journey over the mountains and down and across innumerable streams was made with a team. At
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the time the Highland county farm was purchased it was all in tim- ber, but under the industrious management of the newcomers it was eventually made to "blossom as the rose," and this fine place is now in the possession of the third generation of the George family. Jesse George married Elizabeth, daughter of Michael Cannady, and had four children, two of whom died in infancy ; Hannah married Mor- gan B. Park and died in 1889, and Lewis is the subject of this sketch. The father ended his days on the farm where he originally settled, his death occurring in August, 1876, and that of his wife in 1864. Lewis George, their youngest and only surviving child, was born at the family homestead in Highland county, Ohio, May 31, 1845, and with the exception of one year has spent his entire life on this place. December 24, 1867, he was married to Eleonora, daughter of Thomas Barrett, by whom he has two children: Leslie, a resident of Paint township, and Bessie, wife of Frank Smalley. In 1868 Mr. George took charge of the home farm of 245 acres, which he now owns, besides another tract of 176 acres, making his entire holdings 421 acres of superior land. The original log cabin put up in the woods by his grandfather over seventy years ago has given place to an ele- gant modern farm house erected by Lewis George in 1898. All the surroundings indicate peace, plenty and comfort such as befit a rep- resentative farmer of the prosperous county of Highland. Mr. George carries on general farming and raises considerable stock, his place being cultivated by modern methods and supplied with every adjunct of a first class Ohio farm.
James T. Gibson, M. D., a popular physician of Lynchburg, is of Irish lineage which became Americanized by residence in Old Vir- ginia. His grandfather, Thomas Gibson, was a native of the little town of Hillsboro, Ireland, where he married Elizabeth Brown and emigrated to America in 1822. After a short sojourn in the east, the new arrivals made their way to the Old Dominion and located in the county of Augusta, where they spent the eleven subsequent years. In 1833 they caught the "Western fever," then so prevalent, and con- cluded to try their fortunes in the still crude but rapidly developing country beyond the Alleghanies. After making the usual journey across the mountains and down the rivers, Thomas Gibson and wife finally reached Highland county, Ohio, and found a home near the city of Hillsboro. There they spent the remainder of their days, Mr. Gibson dying at the ripe old age of ninety-three years. His children consisted of five boys and four girls, including James B. Gibson, who was born March 10, 1832, and reared at the Highland county home of his parents. In April, 1860, he was married to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of James Hogsett, and member of an influential pioneer family. The children resulting from this union are Cora A., who remains at home ; Frank R., in the coal trade at Aurora, Illinois; James T., the
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subject of this sketch ; and William Arthur, at home. James T. Gib- son, third of the above enumerated children in order of birth, after obtaining the usual education in the common schools, successfully taught for five years in the public schools of Clinton county. After this he entered the Medical College of Ohio and on finishing the course was graduated with the class of 1897. In the following month of May he located in the enterprising, town of Lynchburg, entered immediately into the practice of his profession and has since continued to reside there, his office being in the Holmes block on Main street. May 5, 1897, he was married to Vernice, daughter of Alfred and Virginia (Smith) Cadwallader, from the Willettsville neighborhood in Highland county. Mrs. Gibson's mother, Virginia Smith, was a daughter of James D. and Sarah (Ryan) Smith, of Buckingham county, Va., and sister of Prof. E. G. Smith, of Hills- boro, Ohio. Dr. Gibson is a member of the Highland county medi- cal society and the Alumni association of his alma mater. He is a past-master of Lynchburg lodge, No. 178, F. & A. M., and member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Frank Brown Gibson, only child of Doctor and Mrs. Gibson, was born December 2, 1900.
Daniel R. Glaze, a prominent citizen of Brush Creek township, is a grandson of John W. Glaze, of Maryland, a soldier of the war of 1812, who married Anna Wolfe and had six children : Elizabeth, Samuel, Mary, Lemuel E., John N., and Daniel. John N. Glaze, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio, and during the great civil war he was enrolled among the Ohio men who fought for the preservation of their country, making an enduring record as a patriot. He died in August, 1895. By his marriage to Mary, daughter of Christopher and Mary Setty, John N. Glaze had these children : J. Wesley, who died after maturity and at the time of his death was a prominent school teacher, Daniel R., Mary E., wife of Griffith L. Vance; Samuel N. and Milton S. By a second wife, Mary A. Barrow, daughter of Ezra Barrow of Dodson township, he had two children : Annie E. and Carrie E. Daniel R. Glaze was born October 22, 1854, in Highland county, received a good common- school education, which enabled him to teach school for some time, and in 1876 (March 16) he was married to Mary O., daughter of Hugh P. and Maria (Core) Sheperd. Mrs. Glaze was born Sep- tember 2, 1851. Their home has been blessed with three children; Blanche, born December 18, 1876, and teaching school in the county ; Ora L., born March 10, 1878, wife of S. P. Ferguson; and Ernest W., born August 31, 1888. Mr. Glaze owns a valuable farm of 250 acres in Brush Creek and Marshall townships, and resides in the home that has been his since childhood. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist church, and he is a member of the Odd Fel- lows lodge of Sinking Spring, has been honored by his fellow citi-
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