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 42
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many different enterprises. He is a very busy and public spirited man, who has done much for the development and enrichment of his native town by employing labor and inviting capital. He is equally prominent in church, social and fraternal circles, being presi- dent of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church and a member of the Knights Templar. In 1885 Mr. McClain was married to Lula T., daughter of William Johnson, of Hamilton county, Ohio, by whom he has three bright children: Edward Lee, a student at Asheville, N. C .; Helen St. Claire and Donald Scho- field McClain.
Martin McClure, well known in Hillsboro business circles and throughout the county as a farmer and stock-raiser of past years, is descended from a pioneer couple who first stepped upon the soil of Ross county, near by, before Highland was organized as a county. John and Margaret (Morrison) McClure were Scotch people, the former born in 1758 and the latter in 1762, who settled in York county, Pennsylvania, shortly after the close of the Revolutionary war and a few years later migrated to Piqua, Ohio. Not liking the climatic conditions then prevailing in that part of the state, the emi- grants came to Paint township in Ross county, where the husband purchased land. John McCluire, Jr., son of the aforementioned couple, was born at the Ross county home May 26, 1805, and married Elizabeth Taylor, whose birth occurred March 9, 1802. The former moved to Paint township, in Highland county, where he died Octo- ber 2, 1859, his wife surviving until September 7, 1864. Their son, Martin McClure, was born in Madison township, Highland county, Ohio, January 11, 1832, and worked on the farm until he had reached the twenty-second year of his life. October 5, 1854, he was married to Nancy Duncan, born October 13, 1831, and member of one of the well-known pioneer families. Her father, Robert Duncan, was born in York county, Pennsylvania, in 1777, came to Ohio in 1806 and purchased land in Madison township, Highland county, for $1.25 an acre, on which he subsequently settled. In April, 1817, he married Mary Mann, born November 27, 1796, and daughter of James Mann, who came from Ireland in 1800. She died in January, 1870, having long survived her husband, who passed away in September, 1843. The children of Martin and Nancy (Duncan) McClure are William T., a practicing attorney at Columbus ; Robert, a traveling salesman for a wholesale shoehouse ; Charles, died October 10, 1890, at the age of twenty-nine years; Sarah E., wife of P. B. Zink, a grocer of Hillsboro ; Myrtie E., at home; Arthur J., interested in the wholesale confectionery firm of Prince, Mahan & Keeney of Charles- ton, West Virginia ; Frederick J., bookkeeper for C. S. Bell & Co .; and Alston B., with the Bancroft Shelving Company of Columbus. For five years after his marriage, Mr. McClure farmed in Ross
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county, near Greenfield, then returned to Madison township and continued agricultural pursuits during the succeeding ten years, after. which he secured a place three and a half miles from Hillsboro. In 1876 he went to Penn township, lived there a year or so, and then located in Hillsboro, where he opened a grocery store. For eight years he held the position of weighmaster for the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad company at this point, but for the past twelve years has been dealing in real estate. His knowledge of this subject obtained him the appointment as real estate appraiser for Hillsboro and Liberty township in 1900. Mr. McClure's religious affiliations are with the Presbyterian church and his political views are in accord with the Republican party.
Wilson MeClure, a business man and influential citizen of Sink- ing Springs, was born at that place July 3, 1832. His family came from Pennsylvania, where his grandfather was born, married, and died, leaving a widow and eight children: Mary, Jane, Eliza, Thomas W., George, William, James, and Robert, all now deceased. The widow with her family came down the Ohio river in a house boat to Manchester, and settled near Cynthiana, Pike county, and several years later removed to New Petersburg, where she lived until her death. Thomas W. McClure was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., and when a young man learned the trade of making the wheels for the old time spinning wheels. He followed this for several years, and afterward manufactured chairs and bed steads for the pioneer homes, and eventually was the proprietor of a cabinet shop. He died at the age of sixty-nine years. His first marriage was to Mary Hedges, a native of Adams county, Ohio, and they had nine children : Elizabeth, and Mary J., deceased, and three who died in infancy; Wilson, the subject of this sketch; Sarah and Martha, residing at Sinking Springs, and James, deceased. By a second marriage to Martha McCague, other children were born-Marga- ret A., Joseph W., of Fayette ; R. D., of Waverly ; George W., of Sci- oto county; Thomas, deceased, and two who died young. Wilson McClure was reared at home and educated in the district school. In early manhood he married Ellen J. Belleson, a native of Maryland, daughter of George W., and Eva Belleson, also natives of that state. By this union four children were born : George E., now residing at Sinking Springs; James A., of Pike county; Thomas H., of Sink- ing Springs, and Wilson G. of Hillsboro. When the civil war came on Mr. McClure, though past thirty years of age and with a family, offered his services to the nation, and went to the front as a member of Company B, Hundred and Seventy-fifth Ohio infantry. While serving at Columbia, Tenn., and in that vicinity he was injured while engaged in the construction of a blockhouse, and being sent to hospital was honorably discharged for disability upon his conva-
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lescence. Since his return from the army he has been occupied as a cabinet maker at Sinking Springs, and for some time has con- ducted an undertaking establishment. Since 1849 he has been a member of the Methodist church; he is a valued brother of the Masonic lodge at Sinking Springs, and in politics he adheres to the Republican party.
Van B. McConnaughey, M. D., one of the most prominent and successful practicing physicians of Hillsboro, comes of Scotch and English ancestry. His great-great-grandfather, William McCon- naughey, was born in the "Highlands" of Scotland about 1740 and for a number of years was a prominent importer of flax-seed from America to his native country. His frequent trips to America con- vinced him of its vast opportunities and he accordingly cast his lot with the struggling pioneers of Pennsylvania, locating in Washing- ton county, where about 1770 he was married to Ellen Berry, also a native of the "Highlands" of Scotland and who, when but a mere girl and without the knowledge of her parents, boarded a vessel bound for Philadelphia, where soon after her arrival she met young McConnaughey and they were married. After their marriage they continued to reside in Washington county, Pa., until their respect- ive deaths, and reared a family of seven sons, one of whom was David McConnaughey, born March 11, 1776. His early youth was passed amid the stirring scenes of the Revolution, and on Novem- ber 6, 1799, he married Prudence Thompson, also a native of Penn- sylvania, of Scotch extraction, born June 8th, 1783. They began housekeeping in Washington county, Pa., and for a number of years successfully maintained one of the best hotels in that part of the state. They reared a family of thirteen children, the second of whom was Andrew, born in Washington county, Pa., on October 16, 1802, where he was reared to manhood on a farm but subsequently turned his attention to mining iron ore, in which occupation he became quite successful. On November 23, 1826, he was married to Mary Vance, a native of Fayette county, Pa., where she was born June 26, 1808, and the daughter of Davis and Hannah (Tedrick) Vance, natives of Pennsylvania. Andrew began housekeeping in Fayette county, Pa., and continued to reside there until the fall of 1835, when they removed to Highland county, Ohio, and located for a few months near Fairview, but in the spring of 1836 he purchased a tract of land two miles east of the present village of New Market, and removed to it. Later on he purchased another farm in the same neighborhood, removed to it and continued to reside there until his death, which occurred on April 15, 1888. He was prominent in local affairs and a devoted member of the Baptist church, filling the office of deacon for a number of years. His widow survived him
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but a few months, passing away on December 4, 1888. They reared a family of ten children: Davis A., born February 12, 1828; Eliza A., October 13, 1829; Benonia A., May 17, 1833; Eleanor, May 2, 1835; David, March 8, 1836; Andrew V., June 17, 1837; Thomas A., September 1, 1839; Mary L., August 1, 1841; Isaiah, December 24, 1843, and Orlando, December 21, 1846, all of whom have passed away except B. A., who resides in a comfortable home one mile west of New Market and to whom the writer is indebted for a great deal of this information. Davis A. McConnaughey, as noted above, was born in Fayette county, Pa., February 12, 1828, and was only seven years old when his parents landed in New Mar- ket township. He spent his boyhood on the farm attending the dis- trict schools and received a fair education for that day. On Sep- tember 30, 1857, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah C. Hibbs, born near Portsmouth, O., June 26, 1834. Her parents were Jacob and Rebecca (Lucas) Hibbs, old and respected residents of Scioto county, Ohio. The former was born in Pennsylvania November 5, 1793, and was the son of Aaron and Catharine (Craft) Hibbs. Aaron Hibbs was an Englishman by birth and emigrated to Pennsylvania soon after the Revolution, where he married Catharine Craft and removed to Adams county, Ohio, where he died in 1832 at the age of sixty-six. His widow survived him until 1846, when she also passed away at the age of seventy-seven. Jacob Hibbs was quite young when he accompanied his parents to Adams county, where it might be said he was reared. On March 30th, 1813, he was united in marriage with Rebecca Lucas, the estimable daughter of Judge Joseph Lucas, a noted jurist of Ohio, and the father of Robert Lucas, at one time governor of Ohio, and later of the state of Iowa. The father of Judge Joseph Lucas was William Lucas, who fought under Washington at "Braddock's defeat," and who served as a captain in the Revolutionary war. His father was Edward Lucas, a noted Quaker of England, who with his young wife, who was a Miss Dark, accompanied William Penn to this country and assisted him in founding the first colony of that great religious sect at the "City of Brotherly Love." After the close of the "Revo- lution" Capt. William Lucas emigrated from Virginia to a point in Scioto county, Ohio, which he named Lucasville and which has borne that name ever since. Jacob and Rebecca (Lucas) Hibbs were the parents of eleven children, of whom Sarah C. was the tenth. After a long and useful life Jacob Hibbs passed away on July 12, 1852, and Mrs. Hibbs survived him until October 20, 1853. Davis A. and Sarah C. McConnaughey, the parents of Dr. Van B. McCon- naughey, began life together in an humble way on a farm in New Market township. Mr. McConnaughey devoted the greater part of his life to the buying and selling of live stock, which he successfully
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carried on until his death, which occurred September 11, 1897. He was a man of pleasing address and of exemplary habits. He held aloof from political preferment, but his party elected him commis- sioner of Highland, which office he filled with credit to himself and friends. His widow survives him and resides on the old homestead. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Charlie D., born July 9, 1858 ; Ella A., November 20, 1859 ; Van B., October 2, 1861; Grant M., December 27, 1863; Harry O., December 6, 1865; Lil- lie M., February 26, 1867; Joseph B. and Mary B. (twins), born October 22, 1871; Clarence S., October 4, 1878, all of whom are living except Charlie D. and Ella A. Dr. Van B. McConnaughey, the subject of this sketch and a worthy scion of this honorable ances- try, was born near Hillsboro, Ohio, October 2, 1861, and the third child in the above named family. His earlier education was obtained in the district schools and the Hillsboro high school. He at first chose agriculture, which he successfully followed for four years, when on account of an accident he was compelled to abandon that occupation. He then turned his attention to teaching and for a number of years was one of the foremost teachers in Highland and Greene counties. Finally he decided to devote all his energies to a thorough study of medicine and attended two courses of lectures at The Starling Medical College. He studiously applied himself until March 7, 1893, when he was graduated from The Ohio Medical Uni- versity, being the first candidate to receive a diploma from that insti- tution. With his diploma he was also awarded the very unusual distinction, by the Ohio Medical University, of "Distinguished Honorable Mention," for original investigation on the subject of "Relocolization" of Tubercular Bacilli by Therapeutic measures, preparatory to radical operation, with history of case, so treated, suc- cessfully. The noted Dr. Senn of Rush Medical College highly complimented his effort. Having fully equipped himself, not only in learning, but also in apparatus, for the successful practice of medi- cine and surgery, he located at Berrysville, where for eight years he met with flattering success. He then removed to Hillsboro, where for the past three years his services have been in such demand that it taxes him to the utmost to handle his rapidly increasing practice. On October 20th, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Flora A. Strain, daughter of John A. and Ellen (McConnaughey) Strain, old and respected residents of Highland county, now deceased. Three children have blessed this union, two of whom are living: Leone and George, both being students in the Hillsboro high school. Dr. and Mrs. McConnaughey are both substantial and active members of the Baptist church and occupy a high place in the social circles of Hillsboro. He is a member of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias orders, as well as several beneficiary orders, and is also a
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member of the Highland county Medical Society. The Doctor is now in the prime of life, and alert to all the necessities requisite to successful practice, and being a close student he keeps abreast of the most modern thought of the day in his chosen profession.
John A. McCoppin, for many years a merchant at Carmel and latterly in the hardware business at Hillsboro, is connected by descent and marriage with some of the sturdiest of the old pioneer families. The name was formerly spelled McAlpin, but for con- venience was changed to McCoppin. His grandparents were Rob- ert and Mary (Burford) McCoppin, who migrated from Virginia to Highland county in 1823 and located on Fall Creek, and later in the neighborhood of Carmel. They had twelve children, including William H., who was born in Virginia March 15, 1817, and began teaching in early manhood, which occupation he kept up several years, alternating his task by farming during the summer months. In 1844 he was married to Mary E., daughter of William and Mary (MeLaughlin) Head, both of whose parents were representative pio- meer families from Kentucky. William and Bigger Head, the first of a name that afterwards became very familiar in Highland county, came from Barren county, Ky., about 1800, and settled, the former in what is now Brush Creek township, and the latter where Mar- shall now stands. Both reared large and respectable families and their descendants have included many of the most esteemed citizens of the county. The children of William H. and Mary (Head) McCoppin were John A., who is further noticed below; William Carey, who was six years county commissioner and now in the insur- ance business ; Mary M., wife of Senator T. M. Watts ; and Roxy J., wife of W. E. Lucas, who is in the implement trade at Hillsboro. John A. McCoppin was born at the paternal homestead in High- land county, Ohio, April 10, 1847, and remained on the farm until 1870. In that year he opened a store at Carmel which he conducted with more or less success for eighteen years. Desiring a larger field, he then removed to Hillsboro, where he embarked in the hard- ware business and has since been identified with that branch of mer- chandising. In 1901, he took C. S. Bell into partnership and the firm opened in the Opera House block the store which they still own and manage. April 7, 1869, Mr. McCoppin was married to Anna E., daughter of Henry F. and Sarah (Upp) Foraker, both parents being representatives of old and highly respected pioneer families. Mrs. McCoppin is a cousin of Hon. Joseph Benson Foraker, the present distinguished senator from Ohio. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McCoppin are Cora, wife of Wade Turner, a teacher in the Hillsboro High School; Ida, wife of W. H. Mason of Leesburg; Eva, wife of W. G. McClure, in the monument business ; Harry F. and Maud A., pupils in the Hillsboro schools.
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John McCoy, a prosperous farmer of Washington township, is a native of Jackson township, born November 22, 1846, and a grand- son of a pioneer of Highland county. His lineage is associated also in a conspicuous way with the early settlement and commercial and manufacturing development of Ross county. His grandfather, Thomas McCoy, a native of Maryland, was reared in that state and married there, a union that was blessed with five children-Thomas, Joseph, Eliza, Mary and Nancy. With his family Thomas McCoy came to Highland county before the war of 1812, in which he ren- dered patriotic service as a soldier of the republic, and in civil life he was a potent influence for good in the early days. His son, Joseph, born in Maryland, May 29, 1801, accompanied the family to Highland county, and married Mary Walker, a native of Con- cord township. He made his home for forty years in Jackson town- ship, and there reared a family of eleven children (one died in infancy) : Martha A., Rebecca, Thomas, Mary E., Martin V. B., Samuel, Joseph, Catherine, John and Nancy. Joseph McCoy was a man of high character and good business qualifications, became the owner of about six hundred acres of land, and filled several of the township offices ; in politics was a staunch Democrat, and in relig- ious life an adherent of the Christian church. He died at an advanced age, in Concord township, where he passed the later years of his life. John McCoy was born in Jackson township Novem- ber 22, 1846, and educated in the district school of that neighborhood, passing his youthful years on the home farm. He married Lydia, daughter of John and Parmelia Kelley, of Liberty township, went to housekeeping on the home farm. Afterward he lived on an adjoining farm until the death of his father, when he occupied the old homestead. His home has been blessed with six children : Birdie, now the wife of J. L. Mercer, of Jackson township; Wilber, at home; Mattie, wife of Charles Chaney, of Jackson ; Hattie J. H., and Stella E., at home. Mr. McCoy is one of the substantial men of his township, standing high in the estimation of his neigh- bors. He follows general farming and stock raising, and has occu- pied the local office of land appraiser. In politics he is a Democrat, and his religious affiliation is with the Protestant Methodist church.
William A. McKee, a worthy citizen of New Market township, lately deceased, was well known in his capacity as a blacksmith, which trade he followed in Highland county for many years. He was born in Miami county, Ohio, August 19, 1833, son of William McKee and his wife Martha, who was the eldest daughter of Alex- ander and Elizabeth Morrow, pioneers of Highland county, who died at Greenfield about 1818, and were both buried in the same grave. William A. McKee came to Highland county in 1850 and spent all the remainder of his life in this county. He married Mahala
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Pence, who was born September 28, 1829, of an old family whose descendants are widely distributed throughout this portion of Ohio. Her grandparents were Virginians who came to Ohio in the very vanguard of the pioneer army and first located in Adams county, afterward removing about the year 1810 to the county of Highland. Their son Henry married Catherine, daughter of Isaac and Mary Layman, also Virginia immigrants who moved westward in the beginning of the century. Henry and Catherine Pence located in that part of old New Market which is now included in Hamer township, where they hewed and grubbed out a farm which eventu- ally became valuable land. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, a man of great industry and excellence of character and lived to a ripe old age. His wife, who was born in 1790, was not far from round- ing out a century, as her death did not occur until she was ninety- five years old. They had fourteen children, of whom Sarah, Abi- gail, Lucinda, Polly, Peter, George, Philip, Ellis, Allen, and Louis have passed away. Those living are John, Henry, and Mahala, the latter being the youngest. After their marriage William and Mahala McKee lived a short time in a house near their present resi- dence, to which they removed in about six months and from that on made their home. They had five children, of whom William H. and Joseph C., second and third in order of birth, have passed away. Carey F., the first born and Mary J., the fourth, remain at home with their mother, and Martha C. is a resident of Indiana. Will- iam A. McKee died at the age of sixty-nine years, and was buried in the cemetery of Mount Zion church of which during life he had been a consistent member. Since her husband's death, Mrs. McKee has conducted the business of the estate with the assistance of her son and daughter, and everything has gone along smoothly. Carey F. McKee, the eldest son and mainstay of his mother, taught school for some time and later was engaged two years in the mercantile busi- ness but contemplates trucking for the future. He is a man of good business qualifications and the habits of industry that make the best assurance of success. Mrs. McKee and her entire family are mem- bers of Mount Zion church.
John McMullen, of Rainsboro, farmer and surveyor, and for- mer trustee of Paint township, was born December 24, 1858, and is of Irish descent. His grandfather, James McMullen, born Sep- tember 1, 1778, in County Down, Ireland, came to America in early manhood and married Mrs. Nancy Matthews Sloan, of Ross county, also a native of Ireland. They had two children: Robert B., and Louisa, who married John Arnott. Robert B. was born July 1, 1829, and died August 4, 1901. His wife was Mary Jane McClure, born June, 1833, and died September 6, 1893, and she was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Taylor) McClure, both members
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of the early and prominent families of Highland county. The children of Robert and Mary J. McMullen were James, who died in 1899, aged thirty-three years; John, subject of this sketch; Will- iam J., who died in childhood; Joseph Scott, who died at the age of thirty-one years: Marie, wife of George Free, who owns the adjoining farm; Ernest, who married Jennie Town, and is a farmer in Oklahoma; and Birdie, wife of N. P. Clyburn, an attorney at Greenfield. John McMullen was given a good education, in the district school and at South Salem and Lebanon institutes, and for six years after leaving school he followed the profession of teaching. He also took a course in surveying, in which he is quite expert, and he has found considerable employment in this profession during the past twenty years. He owns a valuable farm of 300 acres, where he has recently built a country home which is one of the most attrac- tive of the county. In his relation to religious and social life he is one of the popular men of the township. He is an elder and leader in vocal music of the Petersburg Presbyterian church, of which his family are also valued members, and he maintains fraternal con- nection with the Rainsboro lodge of Knights of Pythias, No. 453, and the lodge of Modern Woodmen, No. 4,711, and with his wife, is a member of Mizpah temple, Rathbone Sisters, of Rainsboro. The office of township trustee he held in the years 1894-1900. Mr. McMullen's marriage on February 3, 1886, was to Jennie, daughter of Jacob and Jane (Brown) Pearce, of New Petersburg. Mrs. McMullen is a granddaughter of Benjamin and Catherine (White) Pearce, both notable among the pioneer families of the county. She had five brothers-Benjamin, Robert, Charles, Jacob and Hosea- and one sister, Ella, deceased, and has two brothers living, at Peters- burg, Frank and George, merchants. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McMullen are John Pearce, born November 5, 1886; Robert Beecher, born January 26, 1888; Raymond Fay, born March 5, 1889; Marie Jane, born August 30, 1892; Paul Huggart, born April 17, 1895; and Harold, born February 10, 1901, died in infancy.
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