The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 99

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Ohio > Madison County > The history of Madison County, Ohio > Part 99

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LEON MINSHALL, of Armstrong & Minshall, dealers in furniture and queensware, London. He was born near Midway, Range Township, April 7, 1847, and is a son of James Q. Minshall and Hannah Watson. Our subject was reared and educated in Madison County, and in 1866 located in London. He was first engaged in the grocery business with Watson, Cowling & Co., and in 1870, went to Bloomington, Ill .. where he was engaged in the transfer business with William Armstrong, the firm be- ing known as Armstrong & Minshall. He continued there in business for two years, and then returned to Ohio. His next step was taking a course of study at Dickison College, Carlisle, Penn. In 1878, he engaged in the boot and shoe trade, and three years later, November 1, 1881, sold out to William Ronemus. In June, 1882, he formed a partnership with Edward Armstrong, in his present business, and the firm have so far secured a very substantial and encouraging trade. Mr. Minshall is Republican in politics. He was mar- ried March 15, 1877, to Mary Ganlin, a native of England. They have two children -- Imo and Elsie. Mr. and Mrs. Minshall are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

CHARLES MINSHALL, with W. S. Squires & Co., grocers, was born in Range Township, Madison County, Ohio, July 30, 1859. His grand- father, Jonathan Minshall, was a native of Maryland, and came to Madison County about 1805 or 1806. He was an early and honored pioneer of this county, and a very successful man in business. He died at the age of eighty-eight years. One son, W. W. Minshall (deceased), the father of our subject, was born in Paint Township, on the farm now owned by David Watson, December 25, 1810. He was a stock-dealer through life, and late in life removed to London, where he died, October 18, 1873, aged sixty- three years. He was probably the first white child born in Madison County. He was twice married, his first wife bearing him six children, all of whom are living. His second wife was Mrs. Hannah (Littleton) Beers, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Littleton, natives of Virginia and Maryland. They had three children, our subject the oldest and only one living. Mrs. Min- shall is still living. resides in London, at the age of sixty-two years, and in the enjoyment of splendid health. Charles Minshall lived in this county till fourteen years of age, and then spent three or four years in the States of Missouri, Texas and Iowa, being engaged during this period in the

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stock business. He then came back to Madison County, and since March 17, 1882, has been engaged in his present business. He was united in mar- riage, February 7, 1882, to Florence, daughter of Seth McCollum, grocer, of South Charleston.

ELISHA MOORE (deceased) was a native of Virginia, born near Winchester in 1797. His father, John Moore, was also a native of the " Old Dominion," and came to Ohio about 1811. He located in Ross County, and a year later came to Madison County, settling on 300 acres of land belonging to the Littler family, in Union Township. He was a farmer by occupation, a quiet and unobtrusive citizen, and a great lover of fun He was a " Jackson Democrat " until 1840, then joined the Whig party and remained that way till his death. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Smith, who bore him two children, both now deceased. His second wife was Sarah Littler. They were the parents of nine children, probably two now living. Our subject was about fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county. He farmed two or three years in early life, in Ross County, raising wheat and floating it down to New Orleans to market, on a flatboat.

He then located on his father's land, in Union Township, and resided there till 1840. He then removed his family to Noble County, Indiana, and there departed this life in 1861. He was also twice married. His first wife was Annie Cooms, a native of Virginia or Maryland, and daughter of Jacob Cooms. They had four children, three living. Mrs. Moore died in the fall of 1836, and Mr. Moore married for his second wife Nancy Scott, a native of Madison or Clark County, and daughter of Robert Scott. No children were born to this union. Mrs. Moore is still living, and resides at Pearson, Kosciusko Co., Ind. Politic- ally, Mr. Moore was a Whig, a " Know Nothing," and subsequently a Re- publican. Robert Moore, a carpenter of London, and the only member of the family now residing in this county, was born on the old home farm, in Union Township, April 17, 1828. When twelve years of age, he went to Noble County, Ind., with his parents, and assisted in " clearing up " a large " patch of timber" which then covered the farm. Wild beasts and Indians were very plentiful then, and Mr. Moore remembers a day when his father killed three deer and brought them home. Wolves and wild turkeys were numerous, and the former were so bold as to steal close to the log cabin, attack and kill the dog which stood on guard. Mr. Moore's father was in rather poor health after going to Indiana, and his two sons were engaged in doing all the work of the farm. At twenty-two years of age, Robert Moore loft the old fireside, and that summer assisted on another farm in the same county. The following winter he came to this county, and the next summer worked in a saw-mill. He was then employed to drive 100 head of cattle from Lon- don over the mountains to Philadelphia. He returned to London, and then to his father's. He rented the home farm, remained there two years, and then returned to London again. He was then engaged in different occupa- tions, visiting both the East and the West, for some time, but was princi- pally employed in working at his trade in London and Madison County. Failing health has caused a cessation of active labor for the past seven or eight years. Mr. Moore united with the Masonic fraternity in 1855 or 1856, and is a member or Chandler Lodge, No. 133, of London. He is a stanch Republican, but has never been an office holder. He was married in the last week of 1863 to Thoressa Lohr, a native of London, and daughter of John Lohr. Of their five children, three are living-Annie, Mary and

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Clara. Mrs. Moore is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lon- don, and Mr. Moore is a regular attendant on its services.

MAJ. WILLIAM ALLEN NEIL, stock-dealer and farmer, residence London, was born at Columbus, Ohio, January 28, 1836. His father, Rob- ert Neil, is a native of Clark County, Ky., and in early life was proprietor and manager of a line of stage running between Washington, D. C., and Lexington, Ky. In 1811, he removed to Ohio, locating at Urbana, Cham- paign County, and there resided during the war of 1812. He subsequent- ly went back to his native State, and afterward came to Ohio again, this time locating at Franklinton, now Columbus, the capital of the Buckeye State. He now resides there, and is probably the oldest living pioneer resident. He was one of the early Presidents of the Little Miami Railroad, and its principal executivo officer for many years. He married Mary M. Hoge, daughter of Rev. James Hoge, one of the first settlers in Franklinton, Ohio, and by profession a minister of the Presbyterian denomination. He preached one of the first sermons of that body in the new village, and was pastor of the Presbyterian Church there for over fifty years. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Neil, seven of whom yet survive, and two are residents of Madison County. William A. Neil was reared on the old homestead farm (now within the limits of the city of Co- lumbus, and cut in parts by three railroads), and educated in the high school of the town. In early life, he was employed as clerk in a dry goods house, and also learned the jewelry trade. Indoor life proving disastrous to his health. he resolved to try farming, and to further that purpose, on April 14, 1856, he came to Madison County, locating a farm of 1,030 acres on the Midway pike in Union Township. At this time, there were but two pikes in Madison County, and the Major, seeing the necessity for good roads for travel during the rainy seasons, was largely instrumental in bet- tering the condition of the roads, and in building the "Midway pike," con- sidered one of the best in the county. He greatly improved his farm by drainage, etc., and subsequently sold 230 acres, until at present it embraces 800 acres of the best farming land in the county. Maj. Neil also took an active interest in the breeding, rearing and handling of fine stock, and de- serves great credit for his efforts in behalf of the farmers and stockmen in the county. In 1870, he removed to the city of London, taking up his residence in the fine mansion on South Main street, erected by Jesse Watson, late Presi- dent of the Madison National Bank. Maj. Neil is a member of the Lodge, Chapter and Council (Masonic) of London, and of Mount Vernon Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar, of Columbus, Ohio.

He is also a member of Lyons Post, G. A. R., of London. He is Republican in politics, a Councilman. and Chairman of the Committee on Streets. On May 4, 1864, Mr. Neil enlisted in Company B, One Hundred Fifty-fourth Regiment Ohio National Guards, and accompanied them to Camp Dennison, and was mustered into duty on the 9th of the month as First Lieutenant. * Through the kindness of the Governor, he obtained a furlough, came home, and on the 12th was married to Sarah E. Chrisman, daughter of Jacob Chrisman, a native of Virginia, and a large land-owner in Madison County. Leaving his bride at home, he re- joined his company in West Virginia. While here, he was brevetted a Lieutenant Colonel, and soon after returned to his home, having served about four months. Maj. Neil and wite have three children -- Louise, Robert Al- lan and Grace His wife is a member of the M. E. Church.

*He was subsequently elected Captain and Major while at Camp Dennison.

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S. B. NORRIS, Principal of the Colored Schools of London, was born at Elizabeth, Allegheny County, Penn .. November 17, 1838. His father was Zaccheus Norris, a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation. He resided in his native State till his death, in 1838. He married Nancy Batch, also a native of the Keystone State. Our subject was the only child of their union. Mrs. Norris subsequently married George Myles, a widower, with two children. There were three children born to this latter union, all living, but none residents of Madison County. Mrs. Myles de- parted this life in Pennsylvania, in 1879. S. B. Norris grew to manhood in the old "Keystone State," obtaining a good common school education. At twenty-two years of age, he came to Ohio, and entered Iberia College, located at Morrow, then under the management of the Free Presbyterian Church (now Jefferson College, of the United Presbyterian faith). Mr. Norris remained there the greater part of three years, taking a scientific course, and graduating in 1867. In September, 1864, he enlisted in Com- pany A, One hundred and Twenty-seventh United States Colored Troops, of Ohio, at Pittsburgh, Penn .. and was re-organized at Camp William, near Philadelphia. It became a part of the Twenty-fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac. The regiment went out late in the war, participating in the bat. tles of Big Bottoms, on the James River, Fort Harrison, Hatcher's Run, witnessed the evacuation of Petersburg, and the pursuit and surrender of Gen. Lee and the Confederate forces at Appomattox Court House. The regiment was then transferred to Brazos Santiago, Texas. arriving there June 1, and being mustered out of service September 12, 1865. Mr. Nor- ris was Quartermaster Sergeant of regiment, and was subsequently de- tained there as Forage Master under the Post Quartermaster Sergeant, He remained in that position until January 28, 1866, when he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Ohio, and was placed in charge of the colored schools of Delaware for two years. He came to London in the fall of 1871, and in September of that year accepted his present position. The fact of his having been kept in this position ever since shows the high es- teem in which his professional services are held, by both races of people. Mr. Norris has been an indefatigable worker in the cause of education, and to hiim is due the praise for the high standing of the London colored schools, and the fine school building in which they are located. Mr. Norris is a member of the Colored M. E. Church of London, and Trustee in that body. He is connected with the Widows' Sons Lodge, No. 4 (colored Masons), of Philadelphia, and a thorough Republican. He was married, March 21, 1866, to Elmora Osborn, a native of Delaware, Ohio. Of their five children, the following are living: Mary E., Jesse and William H. Birny O. and James B. are deceased.

HENRY ORCUTT, farmer, P. O. London, son of B. and Mary A. (Miller) Orcutt, who came to Ohio in 1820, was born in Greene County, Ohio, February 9, 1821. He was reared on the farm, and in 1852 came to this county, where he engaged with his brothers in operating a saw Inill; he was married, in 1848, to Maria F. Little, a native of Virginia, of German descent, and a daughter of John Little, of Greene County. They have had three children -- Rufinia Almira, Victoria P., wife of William Evaus, and Mary Elizabeth, wife of James W. B. Evans: Mrs. Orcutt died March 21, 1882. Mr. Orcutt has retired from active life and only works when he thinks it would be beneficial to his health. He started in life as a poor man, but now has a comfortable home and a nice farm; he is a moral,

Jas. M. Willard

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conscientious man, who carries his principles into politics, voting for the man and not for the party.

DANIEL ORCUTT, farmer and stock-raiser. P. O. London, was born in Greene County, Ohio, January 2, 1831. He is the son of B. and Mary Ann (Miller) Orcutt, natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject received a com- mon school education in Greene County, and remained on the farm until twenty-two years of age, when he engaged in milling. He operated a saw mill in this township in connection with his brother, for twenty years. He was married, in 1859, to Mary E. Cryder, a native of this county, and a daughter of William Cryder, whose biography appears in this work. By his marriage, Mr. Orcutt has had two children -- Louella F. and J. H. Mr. Orcutt is a Republican in politics; he owns 120 acres of land, having turned his attention entirely to farming.

JACKSON ORCUTT, farmer, P. O. London. was born in Ross Town- ship, Greene Co., Ohio. He is a son of B. and Mary A. (Miller) Or- cutt, who came to Ohio in 1820, and settled in Greene County, where they remained until their death, he May 27, 1871, in his seventy-fourth year, and she January 2. 1846, in her forty-eighth year. The father was a very religious man, and took great delight in his Bible, which was his constant companion, and a source of much pleasure and comfort to him. His opin- ions were always founded on the truth as found in the Gospel, and they were so sound in theory as to be seldom questioned. His walk through his long and eventful life may well serve as an example to his posterity, and the true Christian spirit manifested by him will ever shine as a beacon light to guide them in the path of rectitude and morality. He died in the full hope of a complete salvation, without aught to regret in his well-spent life. Our subject received an ordinary education in Greene County, and has passed one-third of his life in a saw mill with his brother, the rest of his life having been devoted to farming. He was married to Ruth Wat- son, a daughter of Samuel Watson, by whom he has had a family of five children-Leroy, Clinton, Olive, Edgar and Viola. Mr. Orcutt started in life with $1 in money: he now owns 100 acres of good land. well im- proved and under a high state of cultivation. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

SAMUEL PAINE, farmer, P. O. London. was born in Ross County, Ohio, January 20, 1820, and is the son of Jesse and Ann (Griffith) Paine, natives of Maryland, the former of English and the latter of German de- scent, who came to this county in the latter part of 1820, and settled seven miles southeast of London. Our subject was married, in 1858, to Sarah Black, by whom he has one child-William, born in 1859. Mrs. Paine is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Mr. Paine is a life long farmer. He began life as a poor boy, working by the month for three years, and has given his attention to anything by which he could turn an honest penny; he has driven cattle from here to the Eastern market at Philadelphia, and now, though over threescore years of age, he is full of vigor, and is capa- ble of doing a hard day's work at anything.

SAMUEL T. PEARCE, London, is one of the oldest residents of London and vicinity. He was born in Fleming County, Ky., June 24, 1798, and is therefore in his eighty-fifth year. His grandfather was a native of Virginia, and located in Tennessee at an early day. He subse- quently settled in Kentucky, and afterward removed to Clark and Cham- paign Counties, Ohio, passing away from earth in the latter county. His son. Joseph Pearce, father of Samuel T., was also born in Virginia, and

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worked at the carpenter's trade at Harper's Ferry. He was there married to Martha Taylor, who sacrificed her life in giving birth to our subject. In 1801, Mr. Pearce married Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. John Hubbard, of Virginia. The same year he visited Ohio with his wife and son (our subject), going to see his father, in either Clark or Champaign Connty. On this journey they camped one evening about the present site of Somerford. in this county. Samuel T. Pearce, although but then three years of age, told the writer he distinctly remembered this camping-out episode. Our subject was subsequently put in charge of his mother's brother, Judge Samuel Reed, near Portsmouth, Ohio,' and four years later his father took him to his home in Ross County. The latter died at Mechanicsburg, Cham- paign Co., Ohio, in 1836, and his wife about 1866. In 1812, Mr. Pearce went to Chillicothe, Ohio, and served an apprenticeship at the saddler's trade. He then returned to Chillicothe, commenced business for himself, but in 1831 came to London and opened a shop. Three or four years later, he purchased 385 acres of land in Jefferson Township, and there resided. with the exception of two years in business at Jefferson, until March, 1880, when he retired from active labor, and purchased a residence prop- erty in London. Mr. Pearce owns 335 acres of his first purchase, and in connection with a son has another farm of 258 acres, lying in Jefferson and Deer Creek Townships. Mr. Pearce was married, in June, 1825, to Eliza- beth, daughter of John McDonald, who planted his first crop in Madison County in 1808. They had ten children, five living-Mary, wife of A. A. Gregg, of Jefferson Township; Sarah Jane, wife of E. B. Haynes, a farmer Jefferson Township; Thomas, who married Sarah McCollum, and resides on George G. McDonald's farm in Union Township; Harriet, first married Vesuvius McCollum, and now the wife of John Gilbert, and Lemuel, prob- ably a resident of Texas. Mrs. Pearce departed this life, December 1, 1848, and Mr. Pearce was again married April 23, 1850, to Mrs. Mary (Lilly) Durflinger, widow of Philip Durflinger, by whom she had two sons-Philip S., residing on the home farm in Jefferson Township, and S. W., attorney at law, of London. They have one child -- Theodosia, wife of John Silvers. Mr. Pearce has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church sixty-seven years, and is probably the oldest church member of that denomination in Madison County. Mrs. Pearce is seventy-two years of age, and has been con- nected with the church for half a century. Mr. Pearce became a Whig in 1824; since 1854, he has been a member of the Republican party, until recently, when he joined the ranks of the Prohibition party.

L. C. PECK, fariner. P. O. London, was born in the Buckeye State August 12,1804, and came to this county in 1828. He is the son of George and Mary (Lancisco) Peck, natives of Germany. Our subject was reared on a farm, and received a district school education. He has made farming the occupation of his life, and has passed through the routine of a poor boy, who by industry and perseverance became a well-to-do farmer. He owns a good farm of 213 acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. On December 28, 1829, he married Mary Melvin, a daughter of Benjamin and Ruhamia (Crabtree) Melvin, who came to this county in 1800. By this union, six children were born, viz. : Amanda, Henry, John, Jane, Francis and Ann. These children are all married and doing well.

PETER PEETREY, an old and respected pioneer of London, was born near Boonesboro, Washington Co., Md., February 6. 1810. His father was Ludwick Peetrey, a native of Maryland, and of German ancestry. He was a pattern-maker by trade, and worked at that through life.

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owned a mill in Maryland, run by water-power. In the winter of 1810-11, he was cutting away the ice from the over-shot wheel, and caught cold. This proved a fatal ending, and he passed away from earth at the age of forty- two. He married Elizabeth Summers, a native of Maryland, who was the mother of six children, three daughters, and a like number of sons. Mrs. Peetroy died in 1812, seven months after the death of her husband, leaving our subject an infant of eighteen months' age. He was reared by an uncle, Jacob Summers, and resided with him until fourteen years of age. He then learned double coverlet and figured weaving and dyeing, remaining at that occupation till obtaining his majority, a period of seven years. Ho then went to Lexington, Ky., and learned jeans weaving. Returning home, he remained but a short time, and in the summer of 1831 went to Dayton. Montgomery Co., Ohio. In December of the same year, he came to Lon- don, and after a short time engaged in weaving, purchased 115 acres of land, where he resided five years. At the expiration of this time he removed to his present residence on East High street, where he has since resided. Mr. Peetrey cast his first vote for a Democrat; was subsequently a Whig, and lately a Republican. He was Treasurer of London Village for two years, during this time handling large sums of money with no loss either to the town or himself. Mr. Peetrey was formerly a member of the Good Tem- plars and Odd-Fellow fraternities, but at present is not connected with any secret organization. He was married, June 13, 1833, to Jane, daughter of William and Jane (Burris) Patterson, and a native of Pittsburgh, Penn. Of the eight children born to this union, only two are living-Jacob, a gen- eral insurance agent, and Isaac G., just retired from a sixteen years' mercan- tile trade. The latter enlisted as a Sergeant in Company B, Ninety-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was a prisoner nine months. and mus- tered out as First Lieutenant. The former, on account of ill health was refused admission to the service.

JACOB PEETREY, prominently identified with the insurance business of Ohio and Madison County, residence, London, was born in London Feb- ruary 14, 1837. He is a son of Peter Peetrey, an old and honored citizen of this county, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Peetrey received a fair common school education, and from 1853 to 1856, was en- gaged as a clerk in a dry goods house of London. He was a year in the Great West," and was employed a like time in the Franklin Branch of the State Bank of Ohio at Columbus. In 1860, he was appointed Postmaster of London by President Buchanan. serving about one year. The same year, he was made local agent of the Phoenix Insurance Company of Brooklyn, N. Y. He was elected Anditor of Madison County in the fall of IS62, on the Democratic ticket, and served from March, 1863, to March, 1865. He then engaged in the dry goods trade. In 1868. he was made a special agent of the Home Insurance Company of Columbus, and a year later, was made gen- eral agent. In 1872, he was elected Secretary of the company, holding that position one and a half years. He was then appointed supervising agent of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. A year and a half later, he was appointed manager of the Southern Department of the Franklin Fire In- surance Company of Philadelphia, Penn. He resided at Philadelphia dur- ing the time he held the two latter positions. In February, 1879, Mr. Peet- rey returned to London, and since that period has been special agent of the following Insurance Companies: Shawmut of Boston, Mass .; New York Alliance of New York, and is now State agent for Ohio and West Virginia of the Queen Insurance Company of Liverpool, England, with headquar-

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 99

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180