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 36
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then he has conducted an undertaking establishment. He also owns a small farm in Jackson township and several pieces of town prop- erty. He is a man widely known and popular, and is a valued member of the Methodist church, the Masonic order, the Odd Fel- lows, in which he has held all the offices in the Belfast lodge, and the Grand Army of the Republic. After the war he was married to Mary J., daughter of Thomas and Mary Roberts, a lady belong- ing to one of the old and influential families of the county, and they have four children : Clyde, Homer (deceased), Mary and Ber- tha.
James V. Guthrie, of Leesburg, bears a name which has figured creditably in the history not only of Highland but other Ohio coun- ties. His great-grandfather was James Guthrie, a native of Virginia, born near Richmond in 1751. About 1778 he was married to Jane Candler and to them were born ten children, among whom were: William, October 11, 1779; Henry, September 29, 1782; Patsey, January 25, 1784; Penelope, December 26, 1787; Agnes, February 15, 1790; Elizabeth, May 24, 1793; J. John, December 16, 1795; Mildred, June 19, 1798; James, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, born in Virginia, March 16, 1801; and Harriett, the youngest child of this family, born December 19, 1806. James Guthrie, Sr., brought this large family to Ohio with him when he emigrated here from Virginia about 1820. He became quite prom- inent in the affairs of the community, and after a long and useful life he died in Leesburg, O., February 27, 1848. James Guthrie, son of the latter, and grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was identi- fied with Ohio life after coming with his father, and was prominent in the affairs of Adams and Highland counties, took part in the early political struggles and was a factor in the development of Leesburg during a long period before his death, which occurred in 1874. In early manhood he had married Mahala C. Hardy, born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1805, who shared his fortunes with dutiful affection until her untimely death in 1843. Among their children was James Thomas Guthrie, born at Leesburg, Highland county, Ohio, in 1830. A few years afterward he was taken by his father to Indiana, which state became the place of residence of the family for some time and it was here that James Thomas received his early education and spent about five years in learning the tanner's trade. Subsequently he spent several years as an employe on steamboats plying between Ohio river points and New Orleans and about 1849 returned to his native county. When this was acquired he worked at it in different parts of Highland county, eventually locating at Lexington where he opened a shop and commenced business on his own account. After a short experience here he selected Leesburg as a more promising place for his purposes, and having removed there made it his perma-
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nent home. He was of an inventive turn of mind and put in much of his time during the latter years of his life as an experimenter along different lines. He obtained patents on various devices, some of which proved commercially successful, the most valuable of his inventions being a new method of extracting gas from a combination of coal and gasoline. During his long residence in Leesburg he was one of the public spirited citizens of that place and enthusiastic over every proposal that promised advancement or a betterment of condi- tions. His ingenious mind was always devising plans to improve conditions, lessen labor and confer additional happiness on his fel- lowman. During the period of the Mexican war he united with a military company as a drummer boy for service in that struggle, and was in government employment for a while. In 1856 he was married to Maria B. Johnson, who has resided at Leesburg since the death, of her husband, which occurred August 11, 1901. A worthy son suc- ceeds this worthy sire in the person of James V. Guthrie, who was born at Leesburg, Ohio, in 1856. At an early age he developed a talent for music and so directed his subsequent education as to assist in the development of that valuable accomplishment. In course of time he became a teacher of music and for several years was a pro- fessional instructor of military bands in different places. Eventu- ally he located at Leesburg and embarked in the jewelry business, to which he has devoted his later years, being now the principal dealer in his line in that part of Highland county. Mr. Guthrie, like his father and grandfather before him, is one of the enterprising and pro- gressive men of his community, believing in progress and in keeping well to the front in all movements that promise benefit to the people. In 1886 he was happily married to Minnie M. Pushee, an accom- plished lady of Highland county of excellent social connections.
James Hallam, the well known contractor and builder at Green- field, Ohio, has been prominently connected with the city's business affairs for many years. His father, Isaac Hallam, came from Penn- sylvania to Ohio in the early part of the last century and married Margaret A. Beatty, a native of Belmont, then resident in Clinton county. Five boys resulted from this union, of whom David is a car- penter at Greenfield, Simon is foreman of the Rucker Stone company, Mathew is a liquor dealer and John a carpenter. James Hallam, the other son, was born at Leesburg, Highland county, Ohio, in 1844, but was reared to early manhood on a farm in Clinton county. In 1862 he came to Greenfield and four years later he was working as a car- penter in connection with the building of railroad bridges. He fol- lowed this employment at different points until 1869, when he returned to Greenfield and engaged in contracting and building, which has since been his regular business. Most of the time he has been alone, but for five years from 1883 was associated with I. C.
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Baldwin. During his long career at Greenfield, Mr. Hallam has been connected with the erection of all the principal residences and business buildings of the city. His latest contract of importance was for the construction of the First Presbyterian church, which is to be one of the finest buildings in the city, costing not less than $50,000. His reputation as a workman, however, is not confined to Greenfield, but extends far and wide, and he gets work from many distant points over a large area of territory. Mr. Hallam's attention was early turned to the necessity and best means for securing homes for labor- ing men and he became a charter member of the Home Building and Loan association, in the business of which he has always taken a deep interest. Since the organization was formed in 1888 he has been a member of the board of directors and the finance committee and one of the leading spirits of the association, which has become one of the cherished institutions of Greenfield. Mr. Hallam has not been an office seeker or ultra partisan in politics but has served as a represen- tative of his ward in the city council of Greenfield. In 1869 he was married to Susan Fugate, of Clinton county, Ohio, who died in 1879, leaving four children : Eva R., wife of Walter O. Skeen, an elec- trician at Perth Amboy, N. J .; Harry, a carpenter of Greenfield ; Thomas O., telegraph operator for the Baltimore and Ohio South- western railroad company at Athens, Ohio; and Katy, wife of Hugh Brown, of the Sun Manufacturing company. In 1883 Mr. Hallam took a second wife in the person of Mary F. Jones, of Greenfield, by whom he has two children, Carrie Lee and Martha.
Charles M. Harsha, of Hillsboro, one of the prominent business men of the county, is a grandson of Thomas Harsha, a native of Ire- land, who came to America many years ago, married Rosanna Young, and made his home in Alleghany City, Pa., where Paul Harsha, father of the subject of this sketch, was born October 30, 1829. Paul moved to Ohio in early manhood, was married October 21, 1852, in Muskingum county, to Duanna, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Shively) Shrigley, and in February, 1854, came with his family to Highland county and located three miles north of Hillsboro. In the same year he embarked in business at Hillsboro as a marble cutter and monument dealer, and though a long time crippled by dis- ease, continued the business for thirty years, finally yielding to dis- ease March 25, 1884. Ten years before his death the firm had been made Harsha & Sons, and in December, 1893, it was incorporated as. the Harsha Monument company, with Charles M. Harsha as mana- ger. The children of Paul and Duanna Harsha were: Emma I., who married Charles E. Ellipitz, of Columbus ; two sons who died in infancy; Charles M., subject of this sketch; Maggie, wife of George W. Bowers, a bookkeeper at New York; Minnie, widow of Charles McClure, formerly a bookkeeper at Hillsboro; Florence, at
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Hillsboro. Charles M. Harsha was born June 13, 1855, at Hills- boro, and in his youth became the assistant of his father and later a partner, as has been mentioned. He is now the manager of the busi- ness, which is flourishing, and one of the important industries of the city. In early manhood he married Lizzie, daughter of Dr. Enos and Annie (Jones) Holmes, and they have had six children: Lena, who graduated in the Hillsboro high school in 1901, and married C. E. McMullen, a business man of Hillsboro; Clara, who died in infancy ; Paul, a graduate of the Hillsboro high school in 1901, and the assistant of his father in business ; Ella, a graduate of the high school, class of 1902, and organist for the Methodist church; Mora, in the high school class of 1904; and Duanna, born May 15, 1890. Mrs. Harsha's living brothers and sisters (sons and daughters of Dr. Enos and Annie (Jones) Holmes), are Alice, widow of Thomas J. North, of Dayton; Rev. E. E. Holmes, of Ghent, Ky., and Scott, city prosecutor of Cincinnati. Ella Mary died in Illinois, at the age of eighteen years, soon after her graduation in the Hillsboro Female college. Mrs. Harsha is also a graduate of that institution, class of 1877. Dr. Enos Holmes, her father, born January 13, 1821, was a son of Enos H. Holmes, of Pennsylvania, who married Mary Wilkin, and was one of the pioneers of Ohio and a devout Methodist. Jacob Holmes, father of Enos H., was a pioneer of Jefferson county, Ohio. During the civil war Dr. Holmes was prominently associated with the enlistment of troops as an examining surgeon.
Charles P. Helsley, justice of the peace and prominent citizen of White Oak township, was born November 20, 1842, on the farm now owned by Frank Sauner, in White Oak township. He is a son of Joseph Helsley, for many years one of the leading men of the township, of whom some mention should be made in any work upon the history of the county. Joseph Helsley was brought west as a child in the early days of settlement of the state, by his parents, Henry Helsley and wife, whose former home was in the Shenandoah valley of Virginia. They settled in Ross county, at the site of the old Indian town of Chillicothe, now known as Frankfort, but not long afterward Henry Helsley died, whereupon the mother retraced the long and weary journey over the mountains to her old home, on horseback, carrying her infant son with her. Subsequently she married Henry Surber, also a native of Virginia, and with him returned to Ohio before the war of 1812. Their home was made in White Oak township, and they soon became prominent among the early settlers. Henry Surber was a devout Christian and deserving of remembrance for his efforts in aid of the building of churches and the general advancement of the community. He and his wife reared a large family of children, who, and their descendants, are among' the best people of the county. Joseph Helsley, on reaching man-
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hood after his second coming to Ohio, married Asenath Collins, a native of Highland county, and they had five children: Henry, deceased ; Peter C., in California ; Mary A., deceased ; Catherine, of Mowrystown, and Joseph P., deceased. His first wife dying, he married Viena Davis, of Brown county, and to this union were born two children : Charles P., and Sarah E., deceased. Soon after this marriage Joseph Helsley and wife removed to Rockford, Ill., but he soon returned to White Oak township, where he became a very suc- cessful farmer and stock raiser and dealer, and a leader in his com- munity.
Charles P. Helsley was born in Highland county, Ohio, November 20, 1842, and was reared at home and educated in the district schools. When he was in his nineteenth year the civil war came on, and he enlisted in 1861 in Company A of the Sixtieth regiment, Ohio vol- unteer infantry, mustered in at Hillsboro. Their first field of active service was in Virginia, under the command of General Fremont, and Mr. Helsley took part in the famous Shenandoah valley cam- paign against Stonewall Jackson, and was at the battles of Strasburg, Cross Keys, Winchester, Hallstown and Harper's Ferry. At the latter town, just before the battle of Antietam, the Union forces were compelled to surrender, and he was a prisoner of war for some time, though at once paroled and sent north. Being discharged at Chicago, he returned home, and was out of the service until he re-enlisted in Company G of the Hundred and Ninety-second Ohio, in which he was promoted to orderly sergeant. With this command he served again in the Shenandoah valley, until the close of the war, and was mustered out at Columbus in September, 1865. After the war he married Sarah E. Searight, a native of Uniontown, Pa., and they made their home at Mowrystown two years, then one year on a farm now owned by E. Sauner, after which they bought the farm where they now live, originally 136 acres, to which they have added 34 acres. They have a handsomely improved and well-equipped farm, and in addition to agriculture, Mr. Helsley gives attention to breed- ing and dealing in livestock. For a short time also lie conducted a general store. He has served as constable three years, and as justice of the peace fifteen years, and is one of the directors of the new White Oak Valley bank. Of his five children, Maggie is the wife of A. Caley, of Winkle postoffice; Lee resides at Mowrystown; Ida is the wife of Henry Bohl, of White Oak ; Joseph lives in White Oak, and Clarence is at home.
Herschel N. Henderson, vice-president of the Farmers Exchange bank at Lynchburg, has for many years been one of the most promi- nent and enterprising of the citizens of that thriving town. His grandparents, Christopher and Jane (Hetherington) Henderson, were Virginians who came west about 1832 and located in Concord
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township, Highland county, where they reared their family of three sons and two daughters. Among the former was James W. Hender- son, born in September, 1836, and married September 8, 1859, to Amanda, daughter of Felix and Catharine (Nace) Show, of Brush Creek township. James W. Henderson's profession was that of teaching, in which during his subsequent life he achieved an enviable reputation. In 1873 he removed to Lynchburg and for more than twenty-eight years was intimately and most influentially connected with the educational system of that place. Immediately upon arriv- ing he took charge of the graded schools, which improved so rapidly under his superintendence that it was found necessary to build an addition to the school house. This was accomplished in 1874 at a cost of $1,250 and a fourth teacher was installed to keep pace with the increasing pupils. In addition to his successful school work, Mr. Henderson became quite prominent in the fraternal, political and business life of his adopted town. He was postmaster at Lynchburg eight years and held the office of collector of internal revenue at that point for a term of four years. For two years he was grand master workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and past, grand in Lynchburg lodge, No. 151, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. During his long sickness, which terminated fatally March 5, 1902, James W. Henderson received special care and attention from the Odd Fellows lodge, of which he had long been a very popular mem- ber. The children of James W. and Amanda Henderson are Minnie, wife of C. E. Dixon, merchant of New Vienna ; Herschel N., subject of this sketch; Carrie Louie, who died in 1872 at the age of six years ; and Pearl D., connected with the Western Union telegraph company at Cincinnati. Herschel N. Henderson, second of the chil- dren, was born at the original home of his parents in Highland county, Ohio, May 6, 1862, and came to Lynchburg when eleven years of age. He was well educated under his father's excellent tutelage and after completing the school course engaged in banking. He served as cashier several years and since 1900 has been vice pres- ident of the Farmers Exchange bank at Lynchburg, and secretary of Lynchburg Building and Loan association company for thirteen years. In 1893, Mr. Henderson opened a real estate, loan and insur- ance business in which his financial ability and prudent manage- ment have brought him well merited success. July 20, 1898, he was married to Mae, daughter of Andrew and Margaret (Potts) DeLaney, by whom he has one son, Philip E., born May 23, 1901. From 1892 until 1899, Mrs. Henderson had charge of classes in the Lynchburg schools and was regarded as one of the most efficient of the corps of teachers. Mr. Henderson's fraternal connections are confined to membership in Lynchburg lodge, No. 178, Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past-master.
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Oscar E. Henry, treasurer and manager of the Greenfield Lumber company, is one of the popular and prosperous young business men of the thriving city where he makes his home. His father was a Virginian who came to Ohio in boyhood, lived for some time in Clin- ton county but afterward went to Cincinnati, where he became prominent in the live stock and commission business. He married Cynthia A. Hopkins, of Clinton county, and those of their seven children who are living are residing at different points. Louis A. Henry, of Minneapolis, is a teacher by profession and has held the position of superintendent of schools. William A. is in the drug business at Greenfield, Charles M. is with his brother Oscar, and Alice E. is the wife of W. A. Bennett, of Cincinnati. Oscar E. Henry was born in Clinton county, Ohio, shortly before his parents removed to Cincinnati and was reared and educated in the last named city. In early manhood he became identified with the lum- ber business and later was employed by a wholesale concern in Cin- cinnati as a traveling representative to look after their interests in Bell county, Ky. While thus employed he obtained a practical edu- cation in the details of this great industry which subsequently proved a valuable equipment and recommendation. When the Greenfield Lumber company was organized in 1895, Mr. Henry was invited to take charge as treasurer and manager and that no mis- take was made has been proved by his subsequent services in con- his business and strict attention to duty have made him a welcome nection with the corporation. His courteous address, knowledge of his business and strict attention to duty have made him a welcome addition to Greenfield's commercial circles and given him rank as one of the leading young men of affairs in the city. For six years Mr. Henry has been president of the board of water-works trustees, where his advice and watchfulness have proved of value to the city's interests. He pays considerable attention to Free masonry and has reached the degrees of the Royal Arch in that influential order. In 1891 he was married to Annie, daughter of the late James Robert- son, of Cincinnati, and they have two children, William and Lucius.
Cornelius Hicks, an enterprising and public spirited farmer of White Oak township, is a grandson of an early settler in Highland county, Moses Hicks. Wilson Hicks, son of the latter, and father of Cornelius, was born in 1827, reared on the farm and educated in the district school. He was married in early manhood to Rachel Davidson, born in White Oak township, and daughter of Benjamin and Amelia Davidson, and they began their married life on the farm now owned by Frank Sauner, owning a hundred acres, to which another hundred was subsequently added. In 1868 the wife died, leaving several children, of whom Cornelius is the eldest. Alice lives at Mowrystown, Ellen is the wife of Eli Martin, of White Oak
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township, and Nettie is the wife of John Shaw, of Sugartree Ridge. After the death of his first wife, Wilson Hicks married Mary Gib- ler, who died not long afterward, and some time after he married Adeline Long, who also passed away in a few months after mar- riage. His fourth marriage was to Susan, widow of H. Ferris, who is yet living. By his last marriage he had three children, of whom Josie, wife of William Roberts, and Loren, of Hillsboro, are living. Wilson Hicks was a prosperous farmer and a devoted church mem- ber, and lived to the age of seventy-four years. Cornelius Hicks, born July 29, 1852, at the old home where his father lived until 1894, remained with his father until he was twenty-one, and received his education in the district school. When he began work for him- self he went to Illinois, and farmed for two years, but he found no opportunity in the west better than at his old home, whither he returned and married Elizabeth Berry, a native of Highland county and daughter of George and Susan Berry, natives of Brown county. They began housekeeping on the old home place, and lived there for thirteen years, then moving to his present home, where he owns seventy-one acres. He is successful as a farmer and stock- raiser, is a valued member of the Christian church and the order of Knights of Pythias, and is generally held in high esteem as a friend and neighbor. They have four children all of whom are living at home : Leora, Braden W., Edward N. and Carrie E.
The Hiestand Family made its first appearance in Highland the same year that witnessed the organization of the county. The founder was Jacob Hiestand, born in 1734, in Botetourt county, Va., who moved to Ohio in 1804 with his wife and eleven children and settled in the Western Reserve. The next year he removed to High- land county and purchased the land in Brush Creek township on which is now situated the village of Sinking Spring. He conceived the idea of laying off a town on his purchase and went so far as to make a survey and plat, which was duly recorded. This scheme, abandoned by Jacob Hiestand, was later taken up by his son, Joseph, and Allen Gulliford, to whom Jacob Hiestand sold the land and purchased about 100 acres in Liberty township and made his home there. They carried the project to completion and gave Sinking Spring a possibility on the map. At first, on account of being about half way between Maysville and Chillicothe, the place was called Middletown, but as this infringed on the royalty of another Ohio village similarly named, the post office department objected and so eventually Sinking Spring was decided on as the title. This name was decidedly appropriate, owing to the proximity of the beau- tiful and famous natural fountain, which was discovered in 1796 by John Wilcoxson, the first white settler who stepped foot on the
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soil of Highland county. Jacob and Mary Hiestand had four sons and seven daughters, among the former being one named Joseph, who was married in 1808 to Elizabeth Edmondson, from Kentucky. From this union came three sons and two daughters, including Joseph Hiestand, who went with the Ross county volunteers to fight the British in 1812-15, and died three years later after his return to Brush Creek township. Samuel E. Hiestand, eldest son of the last mentioned, was born near Sinking Spring in 1810, and in 1830 married Catharine, daughter of James Miles, who came from, Mass- achusetts to Highland county during the first decade of the century. Joseph M. Hiestand, eldest child of Samuel E. and Catharine (Miles) Hiestand, was born at Sinking Spring, Highland county, Ohio, October 3, 1832. During the civil war he served with the Eighty-seventh regiment Ohio volunteer infantry in the three months' service, was commissioned lieutenant and recruited a com- pany for the Hundred and Seventy-fifth regiment Ohio national guard, of which he was made captain and served with a year at the front. November 2, 1865, Captain Hiestand married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Zachariah Wharton, a Methodist Episcopal minis- ter of Bourneville, Ross county. He located in Hillsboro, where he kept a general store for awhile and then took charge of a queensware house which he conducted for eighteen years. In 1887, in partner- ship with Milton McKeehan and others, he opened the wholesale house now known as McKeehan & Hiestand company. The children of Joseph M. and Elizabeth (Wharton) Hiestand are Margaret, wife of W. L. Reed, insurance and real estate agent at Portsmouth, Ohio; Samuel W., in the livery business at Hillsboro; and John Will, with the union grocery company. Captain Hiestand is a prominent member and official of the Methodist Episcopal church and for many years served as treasurer of Hillsboro and Liberty township. John Will Hiestand, his youngest son, was born at Hillsboro, Ohio, Feb- ruary 23, 1873, and was educated in the schools of the city. In 1894, he began clerking for the McKeehan & Hiestand company and after five years opened at his present location on Main street, which was made the Union Grocery company in 1900. November 28, 1899, he was married to Amy B., daughter of A. Downing of Waverly, Ohio. He is chancellor commander of Hillsboro lodge, No. 196, Knights of Pythias, and a member of the Modern Wood- men of America.
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