USA > Ohio > Noble County > The county of Noble; a history of Noble County, Ohio, from the earliest days, with special chapter on military affairs, and special attention given to resources. > Part 19
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J. W. ARCHER, a farmer living near Berne, was born on October 30, 1859, on the farm he now owns. He is the ninth child of a family of eleven children, six boys and five girls, of whom six are still living. They are: Martin, Sebastian, Robert, J. W., Martha Ellen, and Ollie Mary, all living in Stock township with one exception, and all well-to-do. Mr. Archer was educated in the district schools and by private study, so that he was given a certificate, and engaged in teaching school for eleven years. His efforts were appreciated to such an extent that he was retained in the same school and nearly all the time in the same building, for the entire time he was engaged in
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educational lines. After giving up his school work, Mr. Archer engaged in farming, and has been particularly successful in the line of stock raising. He owns a farm of one hundred acres, a farm which comprises the old homestead, a part of it being inherited and a part purchased. Mr. Archer was married February 9, 1886, to Anna Mayler, and to this union have been born nine children, six of whom are living. They are, Francis S., Charles Urban, Mary Elizabeth, John Clarence, Joseph Adam, and Albert Leo, all but the youngest attending the public school. Mr. Archer is a Democrat in his politics, but has no aspirations in that line. In religious belief they are Catholic.
FRANK M. MARTIN, a resident of Caldwell, and who was for many years identified with the newspaper interests of the county, was born in Warren county, Ill., June 28, 1859. At the age of five years he came with his parents to Noble county, where he received his educa- tion and after leaving school learned the printing business in the office of the Noble County Republican. For four years he was fore- man in the office of the Woodsfield (Ohio) Gazette, and was after- ward editor of the same paper for about a year. In 1883 he returned to Caldwell and started the Journal. He continued the publication of this paper until July, 1898, when he purchased the Noble County Republican and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Noble County Republican-Journal, the first issue of the paper under this name appearing July 15. He sold the paper in May, 1903, but remained in the office until the first of July following, when he retired from active business for the time. Mr. Martin has always shown a commendable interest in all matters affecting the general welfare of the community. For seven years he was a member of the Caldwell school board, retiring in the spring of 1903. In 1900 he was appointed supervisor of the United States Census for the Fourteenth district of Ohio, composed of Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, and Washington counties. In this district there were one hundred and thirty-five enumerators employed, yet this force was handled in such a way by the executive ability of Mr. Martin that it was one of the first districts in the State to report. He is an unswerving Republican on all political questions and stands high in the councils of his party. For several terms he served on the county executive committee ; he has been a member of the Congressional committee ; and is now serving his fourth term as a member of the State central committee. He was first elected a member of the State central committee in 1890 and served two terms. In 1902 he was again elected. Mr. Martin is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Olive Lodge, No. 459, and Cumberland Chapter, No. 116. In both Lodge and Chapter he takes an active interest in the work and has
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frequently been called upon to fill some office of importance, or to participate in the work of conferring the degrees. In 1885 he was married to Miss Kate Mooney, of Woodsfield, and to this union there have been born three sons, Edmond M., Donald K., and Samuel L. Mr. Martin owns a comfortable home in the city of Caldwell, and although a man of genial disposition he finds his greatest pleasure in the companionship of his family.
LEWIS B. FRAZIER, of Caldwell, Ohio, a prominent lawyer and mayor of the city for nearly two years, was born in the residence which he now occupies in 1869 and is the son of Judge William H. Frazier, one of the leading jurists of that section of the Buckeye State. Judge Frazier was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, March 11, 1826, and was educated at Madison college in his native State. Choosing law as his life work, he began its practice at Sarahsville, Noble county, when that village was the county seat. When Cald- well became the county seat, Judge Frazier removed to that point and resided in that village, thence forth until 1903, when he moved to the Pacific coast to spend his declining years. Judge Frazier has been an important figure in the history of Noble county, having served five terms as prosecuting attorney, three terms as common pleas judge and three terms as circuit judge, making a total service of twenty-nine years on the bench. His wife was Minerva Staats, a native of Noble county, and the mother of eight children, five of whom are living, as follows: Mrs. Thomas Lloyd, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Mrs. D. Neuhart, of the same city ; Mrs. H. B. Schwartz, of Nagasaki, Japan, her husband being a missionary of the Methodist church to that country ; Lewis B., the subject of this sketch; Minerva, also of Los Angeles. Lewis B. Frazier is a graduate of the high school of Caldwell and attended the Ohio Wesleyan university and the Wooster university. He read law with the firm of O'Key & O'Key in Caldwell, was admitted to the bar in March, 1895, and has been engaged in general practice since. He was elected mayor of Caldwell in the spring of 1902 and served in that important office for nearly two years, resigning in February, 1904. He was married on May 7, 1896, to Jessie Young, a native of Caldwell, who was reared and educated in her native village and taught school in her young womanhood. They have one daughter, Minerva, born January 8, 1899. Mr. Frazier is prominently identi- fied with stock raising in Noble county and makes a specialty of Hereford cattle and standard bred horses and has been quite success- ful in this avocation.
WILLIAM HUGH FRAZIER, for many years one of the leading citi- zens of Caldwell, Ohio, but now a resident of California, was born in Hubbard, Trumbull county, Ohio, March 11, 1826. His father,
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George Frazier, was a native of Kent county, Md., and in 1802 settled at Hubbard, where he married Bethiah Randall, a native of Washington county, Penn. The elder Frazier was well known as a prosperous farmer and a magistrate of Trumbull county. Will- iam H. Frazier lived on a farm and attended school in his native town of Hubbard until he reached his twelfth year, when he accom- panied his parents to Guernsey county and there worked on the farm in the summers and attended the common schools in the winters until he arrived at manhood's estate. He then entered Madison college at Antrim, Guernsey county, and devoted his vacation seasons to work- ing on the farm. After two years at this institution he began the study of law under the able preceptorship of his brother Henry and continued under his tutelage until he arrived at his twenty-sixth year when he was admitted to the bar at Coshocton, Ohio, May 17, 1852. He began the practice of his profession in partnership with his brother and preceptor, Henry Frazier, at Sarahsville, then the county seat of Noble county. A few months later his brother died and after that Judge Frazier maintained an independent office. In 1858 the county seat was removed to Caldwell and Judge Frazier, following the course of empire, removed to Caldwell and there established his law offices. He formed a partnership with J. S. Foreman in 1865 and this firm continued for one year. In 1855 he was elected prose- cuting attorney of Noble county and for five successive terms dis- charged the onerous duties of that office to the great satisfaction of his constituents, being twice chosen to this position without opposition. In October, 1871, he was appointed by Governor Hayes as common pleas judge to succeed M. M. Granger, and during the same month was elected for a full term of five years. He was twice re-elected to that office and after a service of thirteen years resigned to accept the nomination for judge of the Seventh judicial circuit, to which office he was elected in June, 1884, and drew the four year term. He was re-elected in 1888 and again in 1894, and at the close of the October term in 1900, he voluntarily retired from the bench after a service of sixteen years on the circuit court bench, which added to his thirteen years on the common pleas bench gives him a continuous service of twenty-nine years on the bench, during all of which time not a breath or a suspicion of unfairness was ever heard against him and his ermine was as spotless when returned as when received. It is no exaggeration to say that Judge Frazier possessed the admiration and respect of every attorney that practiced at his court and he occupies a place in the hearts of his people that will be more enduring than monuments of marble and brass. On his retirement he was ten- dered a banquet by the bar of Jefferson county on November 30. 1900, at the Imperial hotel at Steubenville and many of the most prominent lawyers of Ohio were present. Governor R. C. Richards
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responded to the toast "Our Guest" and paid a grand tribute to Judge Frazier as a jurist and as a man. Many other eulogistic speeches were delivered by distinguished advocates and Judge Frazier responded in a happy vein when called on for an address. Judge Frazier was similarly honored by the bar of Lake county, and the bar of Mahoning county held a meeting in which many members paid glowing tributes to him in his official and personal capacities. When Judge Frazier decided to leave Caldwell and make his home on the Pacific coast, the citizens of Caldwell tendered him a farewell ban- quet which was held on January 3, 1903, and he left for his new home with the best wishes and the kindest regards of the entire community. In 1870 Judge Frazier, with others organized the first bank in Noble county, became its president and occupied that responsible position until his removal to California. He was one of the incorporators and directors of the Cleveland & Marietta railroad company. All of his life he has been interested in farming, now owns a large farm near Caldwell and is well informed on all matters relating to agriculture. In answers to a question as to the proper time to plant corn, he is said to have replied : "When the maple leaves get to the size of squirrel's ears." For many years he was a member of the Methodist church and always took great interest in church work. He possessed a splendid knowledge of the statute, was well versed in all forms of the law and with it all was broad minded and anxious to see full justice done. One of his favorite remarks, which fully illustrates his broad mindedness as a jurist, was: "Let's do justice unless there is some infernal rule of law that prevents it." It is no disparagement to the other citizens of Noble county to say that during his residence in Cald- well Judge Frazier was the leading citizen of that county and easily one of the most prominent men in that section of Ohio. He was a great success in many walks of life, and as a lawyer, judge, banker, farmer and citizen he was without a peer in his community.
ARTHUR EDWARD BROWN, of Caldwell, Ohio, superintendent of the schools of that city, is a native of Licking county, Ohio; born May 17, 1876. He is a son of Nicholas C. and Rachel Ellen (Park) Brown, both natives of Licking county. His father, for thirty years engaged in educational work, has now retired from teaching and is busy with his agricultural interests in Licking county. He was a soldier during the Civil war, serving with Company B, One Hun- dred Thirty-Fifth Ohio volunteer infantry ; he was captured July 3, 1864, at North Mountain, Va., and spent eight months in rebel prisons, four of which were in Andersonville. The Brown family came to America with Lord Baltimore. Nicholas C. Brown's mother was a Comly ; a descendant of the Comly family which came to America with William Penn, and in the early days were devout
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Quakers. Rachel Ellen (Park) Brown, Professor Brown's mother, is of English and Scotch-Irish parentage; her ancestors came to America about the time of the Revolution. Professor Brown is the fourth son of a family of nine children, five boys and four girls, and reared on the farm. He attended the schools of his native county and began to teach in the country schools when he was in his seventeenth year. He spent one year in the preparatory department of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. He then went to Denison University at Granville, Ohio, where he prosecuted his studies to his sophomore year; returning to Ohio Wesleyan, he com- pleted the classical course and graduated in 1902, having completed the scientific course at Doane Academy at Granville. During his college career he engaged in various occupations to earn his expenses. During his last year at the Ohio Wesleyan he was in charge of the Normal department of the university. After graduation he made application for the superintendency of public schools at Greenwich, Ohio, and at the same time filed an application at Caldwell. He was offered both positions and accepted the latter. The public schools of Caldwell are among the best of the village schools in the state, and their high school course of four years prepares its graduates for admission into any college in Ohio. Professor Brown is a member of the Methodist church ; he also belongs to the Masons and Odd Fel- lows, and while quite a young man in years he stands high as an edu- cator, and his work in the schools of Caldwell has been of a superior order. To his natural and acquired abilities he adds the subtle qual- ity of contagious literary enthusiasm and his success as a teacher is marked.
JOHN W. EMMONS, treasurer of Noble county, and one of the best known business men of Caldwell, is a son of Lewis and Susannah (Shepherd) Emmons, both natives of Maryland, but who settled in Belmont county, Ohio, at an early day. Later they came to Noble county, locating at Sharon, where the subject of this sketch was born, November 21, 1848, and where he was educated in the public schools. Upon leaving school he started in to learn the harness maker's trade with S. F. Rock. of Sharon, and at the expiration of his apprentice- ship he embarked in business for himself. In 1869 he went to Kan- sas, where for about a year he was engaged in the harness and sad- dlery business at Olathe, the county seat of Johnson county. He then went to Springfield, Illinois, where he remained but a few months. returning to Noble county in July, 1870, and locating at Caldwell. For some time he confined his attention to harness making, until he had built up a successful trade, when he removed to his present loca- tion at North and West streets and added a line of vehicles. Politi- cally Mr. Emmons has always been a consistent Republican, and he
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has always taken an active interest in public affairs. As a delegate to county, district, and state conventions, his sound judgment and con- servative policy have distinguished him as a safe counsellor for his party. He served six years as a member of the Board of Education and six years as a member of the Caldwell city council, being a mem- ber of that body when the right of way was granted to the Bellaire, Zanesville & Cincinnati railroad company along the north side of the city. Some criticism has since been passed upon this act but at that time no one could foresee the growth of the town in that direction, or that the tracks would ever occupy a street through a thickly settled district. In 1899 he was elected treasurer of the county and was re-elected in 1901. His record as treasurer is that of a conscientious painstaking official, whose business-like methods have won the endorse- ment of the taxpayers of the county. Besides his private business and his official positions Mr. Emmons has been interested in other undertakings. He served as a director or treasurer of the Caldwell Building and Loan Association from its organization until he resigned in 1899 to enter upon his duties as county treasurer. A large num- ber of Caldwell homes have been built through the medium of this association. For a number of years he was treasurer of the Caldwell Fair Association. He was born and reared a Methodist and is now a member of that denomination, contributing freely of his means for the erection of the fine new edifice on Main street now occupied by that church. In December, 1870, he became a member of Olive Lodge, No. 259, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he was one of the charter members of Caldwell Lodge, No. 280, Knights of Pythias. He has passed through the chairs of both lodges and represented his Knights of Pythias lodge at the Grand Lodge meet- ings at Cincinnati and Columbus. Mr. Emmons has been twice married. His first wife, to whom he was wedded in the fall of 1870, was Miss Lucy Davidson, a native of Malta, Morgan county. To this union were born two children, a son and a daughter. The son is now a successful pharmacist of Marion, Ohio, and the daughter, Annie, is a clerk in the treasurer's office under her father. Mrs. Lucy Davidson Emmens died on December 30, 1886, and was buried in the Sharon cemetery on New Year's day, 1887. His second wife was Mrs. Melissa Caldwell, nee Glidden, whose first husband was the son of one of the founders of the city of Caldwell. This marriage occurred May 12, 1892. Mr. Emmons is a modest, unassuming man, one who is always found attending to his business, and who enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
JESSE S. HARRIS, editor and proprietor of the Noble County Leader, is a native of Noble county, having been born at the village of Sharon, October 22, 1868. After acquiring a good common school
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education in the Sharon and Caldwell public schools he began his business career as an apprentice in the office of the Caldwell Press, entering that office in June, 1885. Later he was employed on the Noble County Democrat, now suspended, and in 1888 located at Troy, Ohio, where he engaged in the printing business. In the fall of 1889 he returned to Caldwell and became editor and manager of the Noble County Republican. This position he held until the paper was con- solidated with the Caldwell Journal, in July, 1898. Mr. Harris con- tinued in the office of the Republican-Journal as editor until the following March, when he launched the Noble County Leader. The first issue of the new paper made its appearance on May 3, 1899, and soon became a favorite with many of the people of the county. Mr. Harris' long acquaintance with the press and the people of Noble county eminently fitted him for the management of a paper devoted to Noble county affairs. The Leader office is the best equipped in the county and one of the best in Southeastern Ohio. Its mechanical equipment, however, has not contributed so much to its success as has the real live editor and manager, in the person of Mr. Harris, who has conducted the affairs of the paper since it was founded, and who has placed the Leader on the high road to success. Politically Mr. Harris has always been an uncompromising Republican, and his paper has invariably advocated Republican principles. In May, 1902, he established the Summerfield News, a six column four page paper, for the local news of Summerfield and vicinity. It is edited and man- aged by Dr. R. B. Taylor and C. H. Dew, of Summerfield, but the printing is done in the office of the Leader at Caldwell. On May 27, 1891, Mr. Harris led to the altar Miss Lillian M. Yoho, of Caldwell. Three children have been born to this union, but only one is now living. The first born, a daughter named Fanchion, died in July, 1896, aged thirteen months and six days. A son, Charles, passed away on February 1, 1900, aged two days. The third child, a son named Clyde, was born on December 2, 1902, and is still living.
CHARLES PERRY SIMONS, M. D., son of John White Simons and Hester Ann Simons, was born at Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio, January 26, 1842. His father was born near Philadelphia, Penn., March 23, 1819, and removed with his parents to Zanesville, Ohio, where he learned the trade of an iron moulder. His mother, Hester Ann Simons, was the daughter of Benjamin and Hester Ann Trago. She was born at Zanesville, Ohio, October 21, 1821. John W. Simons removed his family to Cambridge, Ohio, in 1855, where he engaged in the foundry and machine business until his death, which occurred August 5th, 1871. He was an energetic, indus- trious, and prudent man, and had built up a prosperous business. At his death his three eldest sons succeeded him. The eldest, the
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principal of this sketch, conducted the business for a number of years, after which he disposed of his interests to his brothers, and retired from the business. John White Simons during his life was an earnest member, supporter and worker in the Baptist church at Cambridge, Ohio. He was superintendent of the Sabbath school for a number of years, as well as one of its church officers. He was prominent in the progress and prosperity of the town, serving a number of years in the city council. He was a leading member in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He died on the 5th day of August, 1871, at Cambridge, Ohio, and his remains rest in the cemetery at that place, his grave being marked by an elegant granite monument erected by his widow and children. His mother, Hester Ann Simons, was born at Zanesville, Ohio, October 21, 1821. She died at Cambridge, Guernsey county, Ohio, June 12, 1895, and was buried beside her husband. She, as well as her husband, was an earnest member and worker in the Baptist church from early life, raising their family in that church. A part of the children in after life when married united by letter with the Presbyterian and Methodist churches, the subject of this sketch, with his wife, uniting by letter with the Meth- odist Episcopal church. His mother during the Rebellion was presi- dent of the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society that did such excellent work in making and collecting clothing and articles of all kinds for the hospitals of the army. She visited Camp Dennison hospital, taking large supplies of clothing and delicacies for the sick and wounded, and while there did what she could to alleviate the suffering of those with whom she came in contact. She was a kind, loving and affec- tionate Christian mother. She lived only for her children, doing all she could that they might live and follow her hallowed teachings. Charles Perry. Simons removed with his parents to Cambridge, Ohio, in 1855, and made that city his home. He was educated in prepara- tory matters in Cambridge and Zanesville, Ohio, and received his professional education in the medical department of Michigan Uni- versity at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was graduated from the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the spring of 1864. In the spring of 1862, his studies were interrupted by the war. He at that time entered the army and served as acting assistant surgeon, first in the general hospital at Camp Dennison, Ohio. In the fall of 1863, he left the army by resigning his place in the hospital, and proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, there taking his last course of lectures, and grad- uated as stated. He was examined by the State Military Examining Board of Medical Officers, at Columbus, Ohio, and having passed a successful examination, was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Ninety-Eighth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He at once pro- ceeded to join his command. He was detailed by department surgeon, Major Cloak, at Chattanooga, Tenn., by order of General Steadman,
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to organize the hospital at that place. He was at the outset prob- ably the youngest assistant surgeon in the army. After completing his work, he asked that he be relieved to join his command, which was granted, and he accompanied Sherman's army in its march to the sea. He was attached to the division hospital as one of its surgeons, and in the absence of the division surgeon, he assumed his duties. After the battle of Jonesboro and the fall of Atlanta, Dr. Simons was, by order of General Morgan, regularly detailed for hospital duties, and continued with the division hospital of the second division of the fourteenth army crops on the entire march to the sea and through the Carolinas to Goldsboro, North Carolina. At that place Sherman's army rested. Dr. Simons, by order of General Sherman, was detailed to remove all the sick and wounded to New Berne, and report to the General commanding, if suitable accommodations could be made for the wounded or not. He was afterwards directed by General Sherman to place all sick and wounded on a government ves- sel, and under orders proceed to New York with them, which he did, then returning and joining the army near Raleigh, North Carolina.
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