POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES


Vote for Governor 1803-1899 -Adams County in the Legislature -Table of Senators and Representatives -Adams County in Congress.


From the period of the organization of Adams County, politics, local, state, and national, haS been an absorbing theme with its citizens, enlisting their time, talent, and best energies. It was here that the contest for supremacy in governmental affairs between Governor St. Clair and his adherents on the one side, and Nathaniel Massie and the "Virginians" on the other, was begun and continued with unabating effort to the final downfall of the former. This contest was purely a matter of politics. It involved the question of republican government as opposed to monarchial ruleCthe Democratic ideas of Jefferson versus the Federalist plans of Hamilton.


It must be borne in mind that Manchester, at the "Three Islands," was the first settlement within the Virginia Military District, and became the gateway to the settlements afterwards made in the interior of that region. Massie with a few daring spirits had established a fortified station there when there were but two other white settlements within the limits of the present State of Ohio ; the one at Marietta, and the other at Fort Washington, where Cincinnati now stands. The inhabitants of Marietta, the seat of government for the Territory, were New Englanders, whose political ideas were markedly Federalistic. The inhabitants of Fort Washington were necessarily dominated by the military with all the pomp and circumstance thereto attendant; so that there was a sympathetic political bond of union between the inhabitants of these first two permanent settlements in the Territory. But the inhabitants of Manchester and the settlements within the district contiguous thereto were both from education and force of circumstance, most democratic in their manners and customs and their ideas of government. They were Virginians, and had been schooled under the teachings of Jefferson; and braving the dangers from savage foes, had sought a home on the frontier, with no protection to life and limb, except such as could be provided by themselves. They erected their own block-houses and garrisoned them from among their own numbers. It is worthy of mention that the Federal Government never erected a fort nor sent a company of soldiers for the protection of the settlers of the Virginia Military District. And so it was, that these people with their ideas of republican government, and with that strength of character that comes from self-reliance, became the opposing element to the schemes of the leaders of the Federalistic colonies in the Territory. Governor St.,


(234)


POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 235


Clair, the very embodiment of aristocracy, and the head of the Federalists in the Territory, believed the people but ill qualified to decide political questions for themselves. "He believed that a wise and good man, provided like himself, by some far-away superior power, was much better fitted to be intrusted with all such matters."


St. Clair, in speaking of these people, had expressed the opinion that a Amultitude of indigent and ignorant people are but ill qualified to form a government and constitution for themselves." And he had further aid that they were "too far removed from the seat of government to be impressed with its powers," deploring the fact that if they were permitted to form a government that "it would most probably be democratic in form, oligarchic in its execution, and more troublesome * * * * than Kentucky."


It was the ambition of Massie to make Manchester the county town and seat of justice of the new county which must of necessity be soon erected in the Virginia Military District. It was a central point between its eastern and western boundaries on the Ohio River, and the mass of population in the district centered about it. With this in view, he had selected for himself a fine plantation of one thousand acres, on which he had erected a magnificent dwelling, which he named Buckeye Station, situated on a high plateau, overlooking the green hills of Kentucky and commanding a fine view of the Ohio River for miles up and down its course (see Buckeye Station). This was to be his country seat and future home, being about four miles by river to the eastward of Manchester. But the presumptions authority of St. Clair was interposed in all matters of government in the Territory, even to the organization of the new counties and the fixing of the seats of justice for them. At the organization of Adams County, in September, 1797, Massie succeeded in having Manchester named as the county town. But the scheming Federalists, through a majority of the Court of Quarter Sessions appointed by the Governor, directly thereafter fixed the seat of justice at an out-of-the-way point, where there were absolutely no accommodations for the public, at what was named Adamsville, in honor of John Adams, the Federal President, but which was called in derision "Scantville." Afterwards, while Massie's brother-in-law, Charles Willing Byrd, was Secretary of the Territory, and in the absence of St. Clair, who was at the seat of the Federal Government at Philadelphia, scheming to thwart the plans of the "Virginians" to form a state government, and thus rid themselves of the "old tyrant," as St. Clair was designated, the seat of justice was removed to Manchester for one session of the court. Then it was established by the opposition at a point named Washington, at the mouth of Ohio Brush Creek, where it remained until fixed at West Union, the present county seat, a name signifying the burying of the hatchet. But this contest engendered by St. Clair was carried down among the people to the year 1871, when a vote was by taken authority of an act of the Legislature on the question of removal of the county seat to Manchester.


While this contest between Massie and St. Clair was being waged, in Adams County, the Governor, by proclamation, erected in 1798 the county of Ross from the northern portion of Adams. This he named after his friend, Senator Ross, of


236 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY


Pennsylvania, a rabid Federalist. This county contained the site of a new town, Chillicothe, laid out by Massie, which was largely settled by Virginians. many of whom were relatives and personal friends of its founder. Among them none were more conspicuous than Thomas Worthington, a brother-in-law of Edward Tiffin, the first Governor of Ohio, and who himself became Governor of the State. Worthington had served with Massie as a member of the first Court of Quarter Sessions held at Manchester, and was Massie's confidential friend and political adviser. It was through his diplomacy as the political envoy of the "Virginians" to tbe seat of the Federal Government when Jefferson became President that St. Clair and the Federalists in the Northwest, Territory were so completely over thrown and Ohio made a State.


In 1799, the first Territorial Legislature convened at Cincinnati. Nathaniel Massie and Joseph Darlinton represented Adams County. Thomas Worthington was one of the members from Ross County. A bill was passed fixing Manchester as the county seat of Adams County, and other bills were passed dividing other counties and creating new, Ones. The Governor, at the close of the session, vetoed these bill holding that under the Ordinance of 1787, "the erection of new counties was properly the business of the Executive," and not of the Legislature. However, Congress finally determined the right in favor of the Legislature. Hostilities now between the Federalists, headed by, St. Clair, and the "Virginians," led by Massie and Worthington, opened, in a broader field. The questions at issue became political, extending throughout the Territory. It was) "Democrats," as the Republican admirers of Jefferson were derisively styled, against the aristocratic Federalists. The Virginians" planned operations on a large scale: to divide the Territory, form a State, and lay its foundations on true re.; publican principles, the right of the people to govern themselves. Massie's idea to make Manchester the principal city was abandoned; he disposed of his home at Buckeye Station, and plans were perfected to make Chillicothe the chief city in the district, and the capital of the new, State.


The Federalists, in anticipation of this movement, sought to have the Territory divided, but in such a manner as to prevent the erection of a new State. The scheme, for scheme it was, was to make the eastern division a Federalist territory, to so divide the "Virginians" as to place them in a hopeless minority. This will be best shown by quoting from St. Clair's letter to Senator Ross, of Pennsylvania, mention of whom heretofore been made. This letter can be found in St. Clair's publish correspondence in what is known as the "St. Clair Papers." On to subject of dividing the Territory, he says : "But it is not every division that would answer those purposes (to keep the Virginians from control of the governmentCEd.), but such a one as would probably keep them in the colonial state for a good many years to come. In a letter which wrote to the Secretary of State by the last post, on this subject, I mentioned the proper boundaries to them (the dividing line then proposed was from the mouth of the Scioto River northCEd.), but on further reflection, I think it would not answer ; that it would divide the pres inhabitants in such a manner as to make the upper or eastern division surely Federal, and form a counterpoise from opposing local intere


POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 237


in the western division to those who are unfriendly to the general government, I think is certain; but the eastern division, is too thinly inhabited, and the design would be too evident. A line drawn due north from the mouth of Eagle Creek, where it empties itself into the Ohio, would answer better. * * * The division of the Territory, I am persuaded, will be pressed, and I believe it to be a part of Col. Worthington's business in Philadelphia; and the Great Miami, or a line drawn the mouth of it, will be set forth in the strongest manner as the line. The people of Ross County are very desirous it should take place. Their views are natural and innocent enough. They look no further than giving consequence to Chillicothe. But I am very much mistaken if their leaders have not another and more extensive view. They think the division in that way would but little retard their becoming a state, and, as almost all of them are Democrats, whatever they pretend to the contrary, they expect that both the power and the influence would come into their hands, and that they would be able to model it as they please; and it is my fixed belief it would be in a manner as unfriendly to the United States as possible. This, however, is in strict confidence, and I particularly request that my sentiments may not be confided to Col. Worthington, who, I have discovered, not to be entirely the candid man I once represented him to you, and who I now think a very designing one.


It was a fortunate condition for the "Democrats" in that the Territory ,e Territorial Representative in Congress,* William Henry Harrison, was a Virginian with Democratic ideas of government. He sympathized with Massie and Worthington in their efforts to rid the Territory of St. Clair and his advisers, and heartily assisted in carrying out their plan to do so, which was to divide the Territory by the Greenville treaty line, thus giving the "Virginians" the coveted right to demand that the eastern division, by reason of sufficient population, be admitted a State of the Union. In May, 1800, Congress passed an act dividing the Territory as desired by Massie and Worthington. The eastern division retained the name Northwest Territory, and the western division was named Indiana Territory. Vincennes was made the capital of the latter, and Massie's new town, Chillicothe, became the capital of the former. This was a great victory for the "Virginians" or "Democrats," as the advocates of republican government were derisively called by the Federalists. Party lines were now closely drawn, and Federalists or ATories" and Republicans or "Democrats" battled with fury for supremacy in the Territory. In this year, the "Father of Democracy," Thomas Jefferson, was elected President, and the hopes of the "Virginians" in the Territory for statehood ran high. But President Adams appointed St. Clair Governor, and the Senate confirmed his appoint-few days before the inauguration of the "Sage of Monticello."


St. Clair, enraged to desperation, set about to elect a Territorial Legislature favorable to the Federalists and himself, which by a small majority he succeeded in doing. His scheme was to make the Scioto


* The First Territorial Legislature which sat in Cincinnati in 1799 elected William Henry Harrison then Secretary of the Northwest Territory, delegate in Congress, over Arthur St. Clair, Jr., by two votes out of twenty-two cast. The votes of Nathaniel Massie and Joseph Darlinton, the representatives from Adams county in this Legislature decided the contest against young St. Clair a fortunate matter for the " Virginians" in their memorable contest with the Federalists as above narrated.


240 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY


ried the State. In 1842 Shannon again carried the county over Corwin and defeated him in the State. In the memorable campaign of 1844, David Tod, Democrat, received 1,605 votes as against 1,213 for Mordecai Bartley, Whig, and Leicester King, Free Sailer, 88, for Governor.


Ten years later William Medill. Democrat, received 1,314 votes; Nelson Barrere, Whig, 861 votes, and Samuel Lewis 304 votes for Governor. In the campaign of 1857, Medill received 1,422; Allen Trimble, 207; and Salmon Chase, 1,13o votes. In 1859, Rufus P. Ranney, Democrat, carried the county by 348 majority over William Dennison, Republican, for Governor. This was the beginning of the war period, when old party lines were almost obliterated. In 1863, John Brough received 2,322 votes as against 1,798 for C. L. Vallandigham. This was the second time in the history of the county, that it had been lost to the Democrats. In 1865 Jacob D. Cox carried it over Geo. W. Morgan, Democrat, but in 1867 after the return of the soldiers from the army, Allen G. Thurman, Democrat, carried the county over R. B. Hayes, Republican, by a vote of 2,30o to 1,982.


About the time the War of the Rebellion the old line Democratic party became known as "Douglas" Democrats and "Breckenridge" Democrats. The old time "Virginians," who had early come into the county, for the most part took the southern view of the question of Negro Slavery, and were classed as "Breckenridge" Democrats, as favoring the presidential candidacy of John C. Breckenridge, of Kentucky. They opposed as a class the extension of slavery and further agitation of that question. The younger and more liberal element, how+ ever, dissented from the opinions of their fathers, and adopted the ideas of Stephen A. Douglas, advocating "Squatter Sovereignty" a kind of "local option" as to Negro Slavery. But when the War of the Rebellion came on, party opinions were laid aside and all were "War Democrats" for the suppression of the rebellion. Adams County shows by undisputed records that she sent to the front in that war more soldiers based upon her population, than any other county of the State. In round numbers, from first to last, 2,000 of the flower of her manhood took up arms in defense of the Union. The valiant loth Regiment, 0. V. I.; was essentially made up of volunteer soldiers of the county.


The Covenanters, a respectable religious body in the northwestern portion of the county, for years refused to take part in politics, but during and since the war they have, as a body, been acting with the Republican party.


The eastern portion of the county has a very large soldier element scattered throughout the hilly section who are largely dependent upon their pensions for a living. They contribute much strength to the Republican party.


The sons of Adams County who have enrolled their names among those prominent in political affairs of the State and nation are too numerous to name individually here. The biographies of many of them appear in this volume. Some of them, as will be seen, have molded the policies of Governors and Presidents.


POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 241


In closing this sketch, we call attention of the reader who may have high political aspirations, to the following parody on Holmes' "Last Leaf," written by an Adams Countian, who went through the "whirlwind and flame" of the Buchanan campaign, 1856.


The Fourth of March.

" Blessed are they that expect nothing. for they shall not be disappointed."

 

I saw himChe had come

From his far distant home In the West.

A jingling purse he showed, And in the latest mode

He was drest.


His face was all a smile,

And he talked all the while How he took

Such an interest in the late

Election in his State For old Buck.


He always felt the ties,

Of partyClet it riseCLet it fall.

Twas not for reward

That he had worked so hard, Not at all.


But office he could bear

As the bravest soldier 'd wear Epaulets,

Which fix his rank, you knowC

And to the public show, What he gets.


I saw him after that,

And he had a kinky hat On his head ;

His shoes were worn away

And his pockets seemed to say, "Nary red."


And loudly he declared,

That for party men he cared Not a jot ;

He scorned their dirty tricks,

And as for politics, 'Twas a plot.


Folks saw the sudden change,

And thought it wondrous strange At least.

Our friend did not explain,

But took an early train, For the West.


242 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY


Vote for Governor, 1803-1899.


Since the War of the Rebellion and the reconstruction period following, the county has been very closely divided politically on both state and national issues, while locally neither party has had any advantage over the other, the county officers within the entire period being about equally divided.


The following is the vote for Governor with the exception of that for Edward Tiffin, the first Governor, who practically had no opposition, from the organization of the State to the present time. It will be observed, that prior to the new constitution of 1851, the vote was taken in even years. Since then in odd years.



Year


Candidate


Political party


Votes

 

1806

 

Nathaniel Massie

R. J. Meigs

 

Democrat

Democrat

441

114

 

1808

 

Thomas Kirker Thomas Worthington Samuel Huntington

 

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

 

890

176

5

 

1810

 

Thomas Worthington

R. J. Meigs

 

Democrat

Democrat

 

487

157

 

1812

 

Thomas Scott

R. J. Meigs

 

Democrat

Democrat

 

580

7

 

1814

 

Thomas Worthington Othiel Looker

 

Democrat

Democrat

 

629

300

 

1816

 

Thomas Worthington

James Dunlap

 

Democrat

Democrat

 

627

400

 

1818

 

Ethan A. Brown

James Dunlap

 

Democrat

Democrat

 

627

496

 

1820

 

Jeremiah Morrow

Ethan A. Brown

Wm. H. Harrison

Scattering

 

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

 

605

85

10

4

 

1822

 

Jeremiah Morrow

Allen Trimble

Wm. W. Irvin

 

Democrat

Clay Republican

 

408

344

10

 

1824

 

Jeremiah Morrow

Allen Trimble

 

Democrat

Clay Republican

 

734

368

 

1826

 

Allen Trimble

John Bigger

Alexander Campbell Benjamin Tappan Scattering

 

Clay Republican

Jackson Democrat

Jackson Democrat

Clay Republican

 

556

465

92

27

12

 

1828

 

John W. Campbell

Allen Trimble

Scattering

 

Democrat

Whig

 

1,068

21

1



 

*The first vote for Governor, January 12, 1803, is not a matter of record that we have been able to find. Neither is the second vote taken the following year. Edward Tiffin, the Democratic candidate, had practically no opposition.

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES -243

 

VOTE FOR GOVERNOR-Continued.

 

Year-. Candidate -.Political Party. - Votes.

 

 

1830 Robert Lucas Democrat 783

 Duncan McArthur Whig 567

Scattering 9

 

1832 Robert Lucas Democrat 959

Darius Lyman Whig 498

Scattering 1

 

1834 Robert Lucas Democrat 926

James Findley Whig 489

 

1836 Eli Baldwin Democrat 977

Joseph Vance Whig 749

 

1838Wilson Shannon Democrat 1,002

Joseph Vance Whig 689

 

1840 Wilson Shannon Democrat 1,384

Thomas Corwin Whig 1,166

 

1842 Wilson Shannon Democrat 1,270

Thomas Corwin Whig 1,091

Leicester King Free Soiler 40

 

1844 David Tod Democrat 1,605

Mordecai Bartley Whig 1,213

Leicester King 88

 

1846 David Tod Democrat 1,298

William Bebb Whig 949

Samuel Lewis 108

 

1848 John B. Weller Democrat 1,553

Seabury Ford Whig 1,295

1850 Reuben Wood Democrat 1,295

William Johnson Whig 960

Edward Smith Free Soiler 31

 

1851 Reuben Wood Democrat 1,499

Samuel P. Vinton Whig 1,144

Samuel Lewis 28

 

1853 William Medi11 Democrat 1,814

Nelson Barrere Whig 861

Samuel Lewis 304

 

1855 William Medill Democrat 1,422

Salmon P. Chase " Knownothing ". 1,130

Allen Trimble Old line Whig 207

 

1857 Henry B. Payne Democrat 1,608

Salmon P. Chase Whig-Republican 1,269

Philip Van Trump 48

 

1859 Rufus P. Ranney Democrat 1,753

William Dennison Republican 1,405

 

1861 Hugh J. Jewett Democrat 1,658

David Tod Republican 1,604

 

18162 John Brough Republican 2,322

Clement L. Vallandigham Democrat 1,798

 

244 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

VOTE FOR GOVERNOR-Continued.

 

Year. Candidate. Political Party. Votes.

 

1865 Jacob D. Cox Republican 1,966 Army 19 1,982

1865 George W. Morgan Democrat 1,769 Army 1 1,770

Alexander Long Democrat 17

 

1867 Allen G. Thurman Democrat 2,300

R. B. Hayes Republican 1,982

 

1869. George H. Pendleton Democrat 2,223

R. B. Hayes Republican 1,662

 

1871 George W. McCook Democrat 2,202

Edward F. Noyes Republican 1,895

 

1873 William Allen Democrat 1,961

Edward F. Noyes Republican 1,558

Gideon T. Stewart

Jacob Collins

 

1875 William Allen Democrat 2,239

R. B. Hayes Republican 1,853

Jay Odell 33

 

1877 Richard M. Bishop Democrat 2,221

W. 11: West Republican 1,862

Henry A. Thompson 24

 

1879 Thomas Ewing Democrat 2,600

Charles Foster Republican 2,391

Gideon T. Stewart 11

 

1881 John W. Bookwalter Democrat 2,610

Charles Foster Republican 2,467

Abraham R. Ludlow 68

John Seitz. 2

 

1883. George Hoadley Democrat 2,910

J. B. Foraker Republican 2,614

F. Schumaker Prohibition 34

 

1885. J. B. Foraker Republican 2,936

George Hoadley Democrat 2,657

 

1887 Thomas E. Powell Democrat 2,930

J. B. Foraker Republican 2,807

Morris Sharp Prohibition 151

 

1889 J. B. Foraker Republican 2,950

James E. Campbell Democrat 2,948

John B. Helwig.. Prohibition 151

 

1891 William McKinley Republican 2,663

James E. Campbell Democrat 2,486

J. J. Ashenhurst Prohibition 127

John Seitz Labor 441

 

1893 William McKinley Republican 3,096

Lawrence T. Neal Democrat 2,959

P. Maclin Prohibition 121

E. J. Bracken Labor 38

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 245

VOTE FOR GOVERNOR-Concluded.

 

Year. Candidate. Political Party. Votes.

 

18995 Asa S. Bushnell Republican 3,062

James B. Campbell Democrat 3,051

Jacob Coxey Labor 84

Seth Ellis Populist 169

 

1897 A. S. Bushnell Republican 3,046

H. L. Chapman Democrat 2,987

J. C. Holliday Prohibition 54

Jacob S. Coxey Labor 14

Julius Dexter Gold Democrat 2

John Richardson 28

Samuel J. Lewis. Socialist 1

 

1899 George K. Nash Republican 3,381

John R. McLean Democrat 3,197

Seth Ellis Union Reform 45

Samuel M. Jones No party 35

Robert Bandlow Socialist 1

 

Adams County in the Legislature.

 

By N. W. EVANS.

 

By the provisions of the Constitution of 1802, Adams. County had one senator and three representatives. This instrument provided that one year after the first meeting of the General Assembly and every four years thereafter, there should be an enumeration of the white male inhabitants above 21 years of age, and the Legislature should not have over twenty-four senators and thirty-six representatives until the white male inhabitants were more than 22,000; after that, there should not be over thirty-six senators and seventy-two representatives. The representatives were chosen annually on the second Tuesday of October, and the senators were chosen biennially, and were divided into two classes, one-half going out each year. Under this apportionment, General Joseph Darlinton was the senator for the first legislative session, which met at Chillicothe, March 1, 1803, and adjourned April 16, 1803. Thomas Kirker, Joseph Lucas and William Russell were the representatives from Adams County.

 

The second legislative session was from December 5, 1803, to February 17, 1804. The general assembly was the constitutional term for the legislature, and met on the first Monday of December in each year. At this session, Thomas Kirker represented Adams and Scioto in the senate and Daniel Collier, of Tiffin Township, John Wright, of Sprigg, and Abraham Shepherd, of Byrd Township, represented Adams in the lower house.

 

February 11, 1804, was the first apportionment. In that, Adams and Scioto had one senator and three representatives. The enumeration Adams County was 906, and of Scioto was 249, and a total of the entire state of 14,762.

 

246 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

The third legislative session was the first under this apportionment, and Thomas Kirker was senator, and Philip Lewis, Abraham Shepherd, and Thomas Waller, of Scioto, were the representatives.

 

Philip Lewis resided in Jefferson Township, Shepherd in Byrd, and Waller at Alexandria. in Scioto County. This legislature remained in session from December 3, 1804, until February 22, 1805.

 

The fourth legislative session under the second apportionment, December 2, 1805, to January 27, 1806, Thomas Kirker was senator ; Philip Lewis, Daniel Collier. And Abraham Shepherd were representatives.

 

At the fifth legislative session, Thomas Kirker was senator, Philip Lewis, James Scott and Abraham Shepherd were representatives. This legislature was in session from December 1, 1806, to February 4, 1807.

 

At the sixth legislative session, December 7, 1807, to February 22, 1808, Thomas Kirker was senator, Alexander Campbell, of Huntington Township, Andrew Ellison, of Tiffin Township, and Philip Lewis, of Jefferson Township, were representatives.

 

On February 11, 1807, the third apportionment was made. The enumeration of the entire state was 31,3o8. Adams and Scioto counties were given two representatives and one Senator. Under this, Thomas Kirker was senator, Alexander Campbell and Andrew Ellison were representatives. The seventh legislature was in session from December 5, 1808, to February 21, 1809.

 

At the eighth legislative session, December 4, 1809, to February 22, 1810, Thomas Kirker was senator, and Alexander Campbell and William Russell were representatives.

 

At the ninth legislative session, December 3, 1810, to January 30, 1811, Thomas Kirker was senator, and John W. Campbell and Abraham Shepherd were representatives.

 

February 27, 1812, the fourth apportionment was made. Adams County was given one senator and two representatives.

At the tenth legislative session, December , 1811, to February 21, 1812, Thomas Kirker represented Adams County in the senate, and John Ellison, Jr., and William Russell in the house.

 

At the eleventh legislative session, December 7, 1812, to February 9, 1813, which was under the fourth apportionment, Thomas Kirker was senator and John Fllison and William Russell were representatives.

 

At the twelfth legislative session, December 6, 1813, to February 11, 1814, Thomas Kirker was senator, John Fllison, Jr., and John W. Campbell were representatives.

 

At the thirteenth legislative session, December 5, 1814, to February 16, 1815, Thomas Kirker was senator and John Ellision Jr., and Nathaniel Beasley were representatives.

 

At the fourteenth legislative session, December 4, 1815, to February 4, 1816, Abraham Shepherd was senator and John W. Campbell and Josiah Lockhart were representatives.

 

At the fifteenth legislative session, December 2, 1816, to January 28, 1817, Abraham Shepherd was senator, John Ellison, Jr., and Thomas Kirker were representatives. At this session, Shepherd was Speaker of the senate and Kirker speaker of the house.

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 247

 

At the fifth legislative session, 1806 and 18o7, Thomas Kirker had been speaker of the senate and Abraham Shepherd speaker of the house.

 

At the sixteenth legislative session, December 1, 1817, to January 30, 1818, Abraham Shepherd was speaker of the senate and represented Adams County, while Robert Morrison, better known as "Judge Morrison" and William Middleton were representatives from Adams County.

 

At the seventeenth legislative session, December 7, 1818, to February 9, 1819, Nathaniel Beasley represented Adams County in the to senate and George R. Fitzgerald and Robert Morrison in the house.

 

At the eighteenth legislative session, December 6, 1819, to February 26, 1820, the sixth legislative apportionment was made, and Adams County was given one senator and one representative. The enumeration of the state at that time was 98,780. At this session, William Russell was senator and Nathaniel Beasley and Robert Morrison representatives.

 

At the nineteenth legislative session, December 4, 1820, to February 26, 1821, under this apportionment, William Russell was senator Robert Morrison representative.

 

At the twentieth legislative session, December 3, 1821, to February 4, 1822, Thomas Kirker was senator and George R. Fitzgerald representative.

At the twenty-first legislative session, December 2, 1822, to January 28, 1823, Thomas Kirker was senator and John Fisher, representative

 

At the twenty-second legislative session, December I, 1823, to February 26, 1824, Thomas Kirker was senator, and Henry Steece, representative. At this session, the seventh apportionment was made. Brown County was given two representatives and Adams one, and two the counties were given one senator, but it was provided that one senator and one representative should be chosen from each county, and the two representatives from the other, and this was to be done alternately. Brown County was to have the senator first.

 

At the twenty-third legislative session, December 6, 1824, to February 8, 1825, Thomas Kirker appeared as senator again and John Means was representative. This was the laSt appearance of Thomas Kirker in public life.

 

At the twenty-fourth legislative session, December 5, 1825, to February 5, 1826, Abraham Shepherd was senator from Adams and Brown, and John Means and James Rogers were representatives from Adams.

 

At the twenty-fifth legislative session, Abraham Shepherd, of Brown, was senator and John Patterson and William Robbins of Adams County were representatives.

 

At the twenty-sixth legislative session, December 3, 1827, to February 12, 1828, John Fisher was senator from Adams and Brown counties and William Robbins was representative. At this session, the eighth apportionment was made. Adams and Brown were together given one senator and the two counties, one representative, and one additional representative. Brown, having the office in 1828 and Adams in 1829 and alternately thereafter during the period the apportionment continued.

 

248 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

At the twenty-seventh legislative session, December I, 1828, to February 12, 1829, John Fisher was senator and John Patterson representative.

 

At the twenty-eighth legislative session, December 7, 1829, to February 23, 183o, John Cochran of Brown County, was senator and Abraham Moore and John Patterson were representatives.

 

At the twenty-ninth legislative session, December 1, 183o, to March 14, 1831, John Cochran, of Brown County, was senator and John Patterson, representative. George Edwards and Nathan Ellis represented Brown, the latter being the floater.

 

At the thirtieth legislative session, December 5, 1831, to February 13, 1832, Joseph Riggs represented Adams County and Brown County in the senate and William Robbins and George Collins represented Adams County in the house.

 

On the thirteenth of June, 1832, at an adjourned session, the ninth apportionment was made, but heretofore, the enumeration had always been made in August preceding the meeting of the legislature, but it seems it was not completed before legislature met and that necessitated an extra session. The enumeration was not completed until after the regular legislature had adjourned. Adams and Brown were given one senator and Adams one representative.

 

At the thirty-first legislative session, December 3, 1832, to January 25, 1833, under this apportionment, Joseph Riggs was senator from Adams and Brown, and William Robbins was representative.

 

At the thirty-second legislative session, December 2, 1833, to March 3, 1834, James Pilson, of Brown, was senator and John Patterson, representative from Adams. These same persons were senator and representatives respectively at the thirty-third legislative session, December 31, 1834, to March 9, 1835.

 

At the thirty-fourth legislative session, December 5, 1835, to March 14, 1836, John Patterson represented Adams and Brown counties in the senate and William Robbins represented Adams County in the house. At this session, the tenth apportionment was made, and Adams, Brown and Scioto were given one senator and two representatives.

 

At the thirty-fifth legislative session, December 5, 1836, to April 3, 1837, tinder this apportionment, John Patterson was senator, John, Glover, of Scioto, and James Loudon, of Brown, were representatives

 

At the thirty-sixth legislative session, December 4, 1837, to March 19, 1838, Charles White, of Brown, was senator and Nelson Barerre, of Adams, and William Kendall, of Scioto, were representatives.

 

At the thirty-seventh legislative session, December 3, 1838, to March 18, 1839, Charles White, of Brown, was senator, and John H. Blair, of Brown, and John Leedom, of Adams, were representatives.

 

At the thirty-eighth legislative session, December 2, 1839, to March 23, 1840, John Glover, of Scioto, was senator and John H. Blair of Brown, and Joseph Leedom, of Adams, were representatives.

 

On March 23, 1840, the eleventh apportionment was made; Adams, Highland and Fayette were made one legislative district with one senator and two representatives and an additional representative in 1840.

 

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At the thirty-ninth legislative session, December 7, 1840, to March 29, 1841, John Glover was held over and was senator from Adams, Brown and Scioto, but the representatitves were elected under the eleventh apportionment. James Carothers. of Fayette. David Reese and James Smith, of Highland, were representatives.

 

At the fortieth legislative session, December 6, 1841, to March 7, 1842, William Robbins, of Adams County, was senator and Abraham Lowman, of Fayette, and John A. Smith, of Highland, were representatives.

 

At the forty-first legislative session, December 5, 1842, to March 3, 1843, William Robbins, of Adams, was senator, and Robert Robinson, of Fayette, and John A. Smith, of Highland, were the representatives.

 

At the forty-second legislative session, December 4, 1843, to March 13, 1844, John M. Barrere, of Highland County, was senator, and Burnham Martin, of Fayette, and Hugh Means, of Adams County, re the representatives.

 

At this session on March 12, 1844, the twelfth apportionment was made. Highland, Adams and Pike were given one senator, and Adams and Pike one representative.

 

At the forty-third legislative session, December 2, 1844, to March 13, 1845, John M. Barerre, of Highland, was senator, and Joshua M. Britton of Pike, was representative.

 

At the forty-fourth legislative session, December 1, 1845, to March 2, 1846, Tilbery Reid, of Pike County, was senator and Daniel Cockerill was representative.

 

At the forty-fifth legislative session, December 7, 1846, to February 8, 1847, Tilbery Reid was senator and John P. Bloomhuff, of Adams, was representative.

 

At the forty-sixth legislative session, December 6, 1847, to February 25, 1848, Jonas R. Fmrie, of Highland County, was senator, and Amos Corwine, of Pike, was representative. At this session, the thirteenth apportionment was made and Adams and Pike had one representative and those two counties and Scioto and Lawrence, one senator, elected in 1849 and 1851.

 

At the forty-seventh legislative session, December 4, 1848, to March 26, 1849, Jonas R. Fmrie, of Highland, held over as senator, and Daniel Cockerill, of Adams, was the representative.

 

At the forty-eighth legislative session, December 3, 1849, to March 25, 1850, William Salter, of Scioto, was the senator and Jacob Taylor, Pike, the representative.

 

At he forty-ninth legislative session, December 2, 1850, to March 25, 1851, William Salter was senator and John M. Smith, of Adams, the representative.

 

The fiftieth general assembly was elected under the apportionment in the the new constitution. Under this, Adams, Jackson, Pike and Scioto constitute the seventh senatorial district, and have one senator, which has been the case from 1852 until now ; Adams had one representative until 1891 and since, Adams and Pike has had one representative, and the table of senators and representatives is as follows :-

250 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

Senators.

 

Year. Name. County. Party.

 

1852-1853 Oscar F. Moore Scioto. Whig.

1854-1855 Thomas McCauslin Adams Democrat.

1856-1858 Hezekiah S. Bundy. Jackson. Republican.

1858-1860 George Corwine Pike Republican.

1860-1862 William Newman Scioto Democrat.

1862-1864 Benjamin F. Coates Adams Democrat.

1864-1868 John T. Wilson Adams Republican.

1868-1872 James Emmitt. Pike Democrat.

1872-1876 James W. Newman Scioto. Democrat.

1876-1878 I. T. Monham Jackson Democrat.

1878-1880 Irvine Dungan Jackson Democrat.

1880-1884 John K. Pollard Adams Republican.

1884-1888 John W. Gregg Adams Republican.

1888-1892 Amos B. Cole Scioto. Republican.

1892-1896 .... Dudley B. Phillips Adams Republican.

1896-1900 Elias Crandall Jackson Republican.

1900-1902 Samuel L. Patterson Pike Republican.

 

The Representatives in the same period have been :

 

Year. Name. Party.

1852-1853 Joseph R. Cockerill Democrat.

1854-1856 Jessie Ellis Democrat.

1856-1858 Moses J. Patterson Democrat.

1858-1860 John W. McFerran Democrat.

1860-1862 Moses J. Patterson Democrat.

1862-1864 David C. Vance Democrat

1864-1866 William W. West Democrat.

1866-1868 Henry L. Philips (part) Republican.

William D. Burbage (part) Republican.

1868-1872 Joseph R. Cockerill Democrat.

1872-1874 Jesse Ellis Democrat.

1874-1876 Richard Ramsey Republican.

1876-1880 Joseph W. Eylar Democrat.

1880-1884 James L. Coryell Democrat.

1884-1886 John B. Young Democrat.

1886-1888 William A Blair Republican.

1888-1890 John W. Shinn Democrat.

1890-1892 William A. Blair (contested) Republican.

R. H. Peterson (seated) Democrat.

1892-1894 John W. Hayes, Pike Republican.

1894-1896 A. Bayhan, Pike Democrat.

1896-1900 A. C. Smith, Adams Republican.

1900-1902 Joseph D. Wilson, Pike Republican.

 

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General Joseph Darlinton.

 

In this age of pessimism, agnosticism, materialism, skepticism and other isms, it is refreshing to go in the past for two generations and find a character whose faith in our Christian religion, was as pure, sincere, true and genuine as the sunlight. We know of no such character now and it elevates the soul to find one of a former generation and tocontemplate his life. Such was Joseph Darlinton. He was born July 19.1765, within four miles of Winchester, Va., on a plantation of over four hundred acres, owned by his father, Meredith Darlinton. It was a pleasant home with delightful surroundings, as the writer, who has visited it, can testify. He was the fourth of seven children, six sons and a daughter. He grew up on his father's plantation, receiving such education as Winchester then afforded, and he went through all the experiences of the average boy. He was too young to have been a soldier in the Revolution, but old enough to imbibe the spirit of the times. When he was twelve years old, in 1777, six hundred of the prisoners, British and Hessians, taken at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga, were kept on his father's plantation from that time until the close of the war. A part of them were lodged in his father's barn, and for the remainder, barracks were built which they occupied. As might be expected, young Darlinton spent much of his time with them trading knives and trinkets, and listening to their wonderful stories of travel and adventure. He was, by their influence, filled with a consuming desire to see the world, so much so that, when of age, he begged his father to advance him his patrimony, which he did. Young Darlinton went to Philadelphia, and from thence took a sea voyage to New Orleans, and returned to his home by land. While seeing the world, he spent his money freely, and lived extravagantly. Had he lived in our day, he would have been called a dude or a dandy, but those names were not then invented, and so he was a young gentleman of fashion. He wore a queue, and as the young men of that day vied with each other which could have the thickest and longest queue, he had one as thick as an ordinary arm and very long. In his travels, he found Miss Sarah Wilson, at Romney, W. Va She was an heiress, possessed of lands and slaves, and was the belle of the two counties of Frederick and Hampshire. She had many suitors, among whom was young Darlinton, and the future statesman, Albert Gallatin. Darlinton was the best looking and won the lady. He was married to her at Romney, March 18, 179o. He was, at the ceremony, dressed in a ruffledd shirt, coat, waistcoat, knee breeches, silk stockings, great shoe buckles, and with his abundant hair pomaded and powdered and with his wonderful queue. He lived in Romney till about the close of 1790, when he moved to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, on a farm which his wife owned there. His oldest son, John Meredith, was born there December 14, 1791, and his second son, George Wilson, was also born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1793. The same year he and his wife united with the Presbyterian Church. While in Fayette County, he began his long career of office holding, having been chosen a county commissioner. It is told in the family that while living in Pennsylvania, young Darlinton and his wife were much discouraged. They often talked and wept together and thought there was

 

252 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

nothing in the world for them. However, they concluded to try a new country, and they, with their two children, in October, 1794, left Pennsylvania. They descended the Ohio, on a "broadhorn" and landed at Limestone, Kentucky, November 14, 1794. He went from there to the mouth of Cabin Creek, where he kept a ferry. Tiring of this he bought land just across the river in Ohio, and removed there. In the spring of 1797, believing that the county seat would be at Washington, below the mouth of Brush Creek, he moved there. When the county was organized on July , 1797, he was, by Governor St. Clair, appointed its judge of probate, and thus became Judge Darlinton. How long he held this office has not been ascertained.

 

In March, 1798, at Adamsville, he was, by the Court of Quarter Sessions, appointed one of the three first county commissioners of Adams County and clerk of tbe board. James Scott and Henry Massie were the other two. In this same year, he was made an elder in the Presbyterian Church, which office he held for the remainder of his life. In 1803, he located lands east of the site of West Union and built a double hewed log house on the same, on the hill opposite Cole's spring. The house and spring have long since disappeared. He was elected a representative from Adams to the first Territorial Legislature. It sat from November 24, 1799, until January 29, 1801. He also represented Adams in the second Territorial Legislature, which sat from November 23, 1801, till January 23, 1802. He was one of the three members from Adams in the first Constitutional Convention, which sat from November 1, 1802, until the twenty-ninth of the same year. As this body transacted most of its business in the committee of the whole, its record is meager. He was on the committee on privileges and elections. On November 3, he voted against listening to a speech from Gov. St. Clair. He was on the committee to report a preamble to the first article of the constitution. On November 6, he was appointed on the committee to prepare the second article of the constitution, and on the eighth of November, he presided over the committee of the whole. He was also on the committee to prepare the third article on the judiciary. He was also on the committee to print the journal of the convention. He and his colleagues voted to retain the word "white" to the qualifications of electors. It is sufficient to say that he was present at every session and voted on every question before the body. In the first Legislature, of the state he was a member of the Senate and served from March 1, 1803, until April 16, following.

 

On the sixteenth of April, 1803, he was elected one of the first three associate judges of Adams County, but resigned February 16; 1804, and Needham Perry was appointed in his place. On September to, 1804, he was commissioned by the Governor lieutenant colonel of the 1st Brigade, 1st Regiment, 2nd Division, Ohio Militia, and thus he became Colonel Darlinton. He was commissioned a brigadier general of the militia March 17, 18o6, and thus became General Darlinton, by which title he was ever afterwards known. He was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas of Adams County, August 3, 1802, and continued to hold that position by successive appointments until August, 1847, when he resigned, as he wrote to Judge Cutler, of Marietta,

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 253

 

"to prepare for that better country out of sight." *He served as recorder of Adams County from 7803 to 1810 and again from September, 1813, to 1834. Any one examining the old records in the recorder's office and clerk's office of Adams County will find whole volumes written out in his old-fashioned copper plate style. He never used anything but a quill pen and used a soft piece of buckskin for a pen wiper.

 

On February 20, 1810, he was appointed a member of the commission to locate the capital of the state. No doubt the General held many other important offices and appointments, but as the writer has no time to read over The entire records of the state kept during the General's life, he is unable to give them, but the people interested and the appointing powers wanted him to have these various offices and he discharged the duties of every one of them, with the utmost fidelity.

 

While he was the incumbent of the clerk's office, there was no law as to the disposition of unclaimed costs. Whenever any costs were paid in, he would put it in a package by itself, and label it with the name of the party to whom it belonged and never disturb it until called for by the party entitled to it. These packages he kept loose among his court papers and with his office door only secured by an ordinary lock. In all the years he kept the office it was never burglarized, and his successor, Col. J. R. Cockerill, found the unclaimed costs in the very money in which it was paid in and much of it was worthless because the banks which issued it had failed years before.

 

In 1805, he became an elder in the Presbyterian church at West Union, and felt more proud and honored in that office than any he ever held. He reared a family of eight: the two sons have been already mentioned : John Meredith was married three times, while his second son, George, who has a separate sketch herein, never married at all. His third son, Gabriel Doddridge, well known to all the citizens of West Union, was born February 1, 1796, and married Sarah Edwards, his full cousin, October 2, 1823. His fourth son, Carey A was born October 2, 1797, and married Eliza Holmes, May 5, 1829. His daughter, Sarah was born January 26, 1802, married the Rev. Van Deman, November 2. 7824, and two of her sons, John D. and Henry and Joseph H. have sketches herein. She died July 23, 1888. The General's daughter Eliza, born January 22, 1804, and died April 2, 1844, never married. She was a woman of lovely character and was much esteemed in the society of her time. The eighth and youngest child of Gen. Darlinton was David N., born on December 10, 1806, and died in 1853, without issue.

 

In May 17, 1804, in the allotment of lots in West Union, he book lot no. 84 at $17. This was just north of lot 57, which he afterwards acquired, and on which he built his home. Just west of the home he built a, log office, which was afterwards weather-boarded. It was in this log office he kept the postoffice in West Union from July 1, 1804, until October 1, 1811. His old residence is still standing, but its chief features three immense stone chimneys, have long since been taken away. In this home this made pleasant and happy by the daily observance of all the Christian virtues, General Darlinton dispensed a generous and bounteous hospitality. No stranger of consequence and no public officer ever was the only clerk of the Supreme Court of Adams County from its organization till his death.

 

254 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

came to West Union without being his guest. In the first place, he entertained all the Presbyterian ministers who came there; in the second place, all the statesmen who traveled that way, and many of them did, and were not permitted to be entertained elsewhere. The associate judges and prominent citizens of the county were entertained at his home on the occasion of their visits to the county seat. In fact, in his day, the General's home had as many guests as the hotels, or taverns as they were called then, and but for the name of it, he might as well have had a tavern license.

 

His personal appearance would have attracted notice anywhere. He was about average height, somewhat corpulent, of full and slightly elongated visage, fine regular features, clean Shaven, dark brown eyes with heavy brows, and a large head and forehead with his white hair combed back from his forehead and behind his ears. He was quick of movement and to the last walked with the firm step of youth. He had a manly bearing which impressed all who knew him. The business of his office was admirably systematized and all his habits of daily life were regular and methodical. In the routine of life, it is said he did the same thing every day and at the same hour and moment for fifty years. His going to his office from his home in West Union and his returning were with such exactness as to time that his neighbors along the route, used him as a living town clock and did actually set their clocks by the time of his passing. Among other instances of his regularity in all things was the winding of his watch. While writingin the clerk's office, he would lay it down beside him, and when the hands pointed to a certain hour, he would take it up and wind it. The offices he held and his associations with the lawyers and judges, gave him such a knowledge of the principles of the common law of the state, and his familiarity with the statute law, having grown up with it, together with his excellent judgment, qualified him for a local oracle, which he was, and grave matters of domestic and legal concern were constantly referred to him, and when he decided the matters, his disposition was acquiesced in as satisfactory to all sides. In politics, in his last years, he was a Whig. He believed in the state promoting religion, education and internal improvements. While not anti-slavery in his views, he thought the war with Mexico was unrighteous.

 

His day, as compared with ours, was that of beginnings, and of small, things. Fverything was primitive but human character. That then had its highest development. In his day, there were no steam railroads, no macadamized common roads, no luxurious vehicles, no telegraphs, or telephones, no typewriters and but few newspapers and books. All services were then compensated in sums of money which would seem; insignificant to us in these days, and trade was largely carried on by barter, and exchange of goods and services.

 

General Darlinton always alluded to Winchester, Virginia, in affectionate terms, and loved to converse about it, particularly with his neighbors, Abraham Hollingsworth and Nicholas Burwell, who were also natives of that place. He owned the site of Winchester in this county, laid it out and named it in honor of his own loved Winchester, Virginia, but strange to say, he never re-visited the latter, though he had an interest in his father's estate until as late as 1817. But he never

 

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visited much in or traveled over Adams county, yet he knew every one in it and their circumstances. In his day, the clerk's office was the most important in the county, for every one's property rights were registered there.

 

What distinguished General Darlinton among men and above his fellows was his unusual amount of good, hard, common sense, which after all, is the most uncommon kind of sense. He was an entertaining talker, and always had something useful and entertaining to say. He had a wonderful natural dignity of which he seemed unconscious, and which impressed itself on those with whom he came in contact. His life was on a plane above the ordinary and the people who knew him well felt they were looking up to it.

 

But what distinguished his life above everything else, what shone out above all things, and what will be remembered of him when all else is forgotten, was his remarkable Christian life and character. His religion was of the very highest and best type of the Puritanic. Withhim,

religion was not as now in many cases, a fashionable sentiment, but it was a living, essential reality, controlling every thought and action of his life. His whole soul, conscience, principles, opinions, worldly interests and everything in his life was made subservient to his religion. His life made all who knew him feel that there was truth and reality in the Christian religion, and he lived it every day. In this judgment, his crowning earthly honor was that he had served nearly fifty years as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church at West Union.

 

Four years before his death, he had retired from all public business and was simply waiting the final summons. All his life he had a dread of the Asiatic cholera. When that pestilence visited West Union the summer of 1851, the first victim died June 26. By some irony of fate, he was the last and died of the dread disease on the last day it prevailed, August 2. He died in the morning about 7 o'clock after a sickness of but a few hours and was buried before noon that day, and there were but four persons present at his interment, when, had he died of any ordinary disease, the whole county would have attended. Geo. M. and William V. Lafferty, his son, Gabriel Darlinton and Rev. John Van Dyke were the only persons to attend his funeral rites. Rev. P. Van Dyke repeated a prayer at the grave. The writer, at nine years, knew him at eighty-five. He was in his sitting room. He had a wood fire in an old-fashioned fire place. The floor was uncarpeted and a plain deal table stood out in the middle of the room, at which the General sat and wrote. The table had a single drawer with a wooden knob. On that was tied a piece of buckskin, which he used to wipe his pen. A rocking chair was at each corner of the fire place, and on common split-bottomed chairs in the room. Grandmother Edwards, his sister with cap and spectacles, sat in one of the rocking chairs. The Generals, hair was then as white as snow, long and combed behind his ears. He arose to meet and welcome me, only a child, and a more grave and dignified man I never met. To me, a boy, his presence was awe-inspiring.

 

General Darlinton was and is a fair example of the good and true men who built well the foundations of the great State of Ohio. His good works in church and state have borne and will bear fruit to many generations of posterity. From the day West Union was laid out,

 

256 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

for forty-seven years his figure was a familiar one, seen daily on its streets, but for forty-eight years, it has been missed, but his memory is as fresh and green as that summer day, forty-eight years past, when he closed his books at the clerk's office for the last time and walked to his home. The memory of his lovely and lovable Christian character is the richest legacy he left his children, but they can give it to posterity, and be none the poorer.

 

Gov. Thomas Kirker

 

was a native of Ireland. His father lived in Tyrone County, and was a man of small means, but good standing. Thomas was one of a large family, and was born in 1760. Until he was nineteen years old, he lived with his parents in Ireland and endeavored with them to make a living out of the poor soil and against the exactions of oppressive landlords.

 

His father concluded that was too much of an undertaking, and moved to America, settling in Lancaster County, Penn. After a few years of hard work in that county, the father died, leaving behind him a fragrant memory and a wife and five or six children. By constant toil and good management the family made a living and the children acquired some education. From the death of his father in Lancaster County, until 1790, Thomas Kirker left no account of himself. At that time, being thirty years of age and having acquired some little money and seeing a hope' for the future, he was married to Sarah Smith, a young woman of excellent family and great worth, eleven years his junior. They remained in Pennsylvania for a short time when stories of great wealth to be made in Kentucky came to them across the mountains, and the perilous journey of moving to the Blue Grass State was undertaken. Indians were on the way, and they kept the small company in constant fear by occasional arrow practice with them as targets. Kentucky proved a failure so far as they were concerned, and in 1794, Mr. Kirker and his wife crossed the Ohio and settled in Manchester, this county. This marked{ the beginning of his public career, and of his financial success.

 

In 1796, our subject changed his residence from Manchester to Liberty township in the same county, and settled on a farm, which hat ever since been known as the Kirker farm, and on which he died in 18374 and in the cemetery there the ashes of him and his wife nOW repose. When he moved to Liberty township, his family consisted of himself, wife and two children. They were the first settlers to locate in the county outside the stockade in Manchester, but the county was speedily covered with settlements. The site selected proved a happy choice ant! soon blossomed with crops that yielded an abundant harvest. Within the next few years, Liberty township was dotted with cabins and the sturdy settlers were tilling the soil. He was a member of the first Court of Quarter Sessions held in the county under the Territorial Government at Manchester, in September, 1797. He was also a county commissioner under the Territorial Government, but the record of his service is lost. Mr. Kirker was the leading man in that Settlement, and waif usually the foremost in all public matters. By common consent he settled quarrels among his neighbors and acted in the capacity of judge and jury. All his neighbors respected him and looked to him for counsel. His reputation for good judgment in his township spread throughout

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 257

 

the county, and when delegates were elected to the first Constitutional Convention in 1802, he was sent as one of them, and at, once, on the opening of the convention, Mr. Kirker took a prominent part in its deliberations.

 

Thomas Kirker was a member of the lower house of the Legislature from Adams County at the first legislative session March 1, 1803, to April 16, 1803, He entered the Ohio senate at the second legislative session, December 5, 1803, and served in that body continuously until the thirteenth legislative session, closing February 16, 1815. In that time he was Speaker in the Senate in the fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, tenth, eleventh and thirteenth sessions. From November 4, 1807, to December 12, 1808, he was acting Governor of the State by reason of a vacancy in the office of governor and his then being speaker of the senate. At the fifteenth legislative session, December 15, 1816, to January 28, 1817, he was a member of the House and its speaker. Then he took a rest from legislative honors for four years. At the twentieth legislative session beginning December 3, 1821, he was again in the senate from Adams and served in it continuously until February 8, 1825. On January 17, 1821, he was appointed an associate judge from Adams county, and served until October 30, 1821, when he resigned. In 1824, he was presidential elector, and voted for Clay. From 1808 until his death, he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church at West Union, and his son William was also an elder in the same church from 1826, during his father's lifetime.

 

Mr. Kirker was not a brilliant man, but he was honest, conscientious and possessed of sound judgment and integrity that was unselfish and incorruptible. He was respected, esteemed, and exerted an influence that was felt in the entire circle of his acquaintance. No man served his state better or with more credit than he. Called to high places, he filled them well and went out of office carrying with him the respect of all who knew him. His wife died August 20, 1824. He died February 20, 1837. He reared a family of thirteen children, and has a host of descendants, who are scattered in different parts of the United States. A number of them are residing in Adams County, but most of are in other localities.

 

He succeeded Gov. Tiffin, March 4, 1807, when he resigned to enter the U. S. Senate and served to the end of his term. In December, 1807, the election of governor having failed by reason of Return J. Meigs not being qualified and N. Massie declining, he served as Governor one year or to December 12, 1808, when Samuel Huntington succeeded him. The vote stood Huntington 7,293 ; Worthington, 5,601 ; Kirker, 3,397.

 

Abraham Shepherd.

 

It is a pleasure to study the subject of this sketch, and the more we study the more we find to admire. He came from Virginia's best blood. His grandfather was Captain Thomas Shepherd, a title probably coming from the French and Indian War, and his grandmother was Elizabeth Van Meter, daughter of John Van Meter. His father, John Shepherd, was born in 1749 and in 1773 was married to Martha Nelson, born in

 

258 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

1750. To them were born seven children, six of whom were born in Shepherdstown, Va., and one at Wheeling Creek, Ohio. Capt. Thomas Shepherd died in 1776, and among other property, left a new mill, which fell to his son, John, father of our subject. John, however, was a Revolutionary soldier. He was a private in Capt. Wm. Cherry's Company, 4th Virginia Infantry, from April, 1777, to March, 1778. The regiment was commanded by Col. Thomas Elliott and Major Isaac Beall. John's brother, Abraham, was a captain in the 11th Virginia Regulars. Captain Abraham Shepherd, on August 13, 1787, entered 1000 acres of land, Entry No. 1060, on Virginia Military Warrant, 290, for his own services, at Red Oak, in Brown county. This was surveyed November 3, 1791, by Nathaniel Massie deputy surveyor; Duncan McKenzie and Robert Smith, being chain carriers and Thomas Stout, marker. He had an uncle, David, who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War and so came of good fighting stock. The subject of our sketch was born August 13, 1776, at Shepherdstown, now Jefferson county, Va. He must have drank in patriotism with his mother's milk. Next year his father was in the service and so continued most of the time during the war. It seems his father operated a flour mill from 1781 to 1787, and his son Abraham learned something of the business. It is said Abraham received a liberal education for his time and surroundings. The details of that education we do not know, but do know that he learned the operations of his father's mill and the art of land surveying. In 1787, John Shepherd, with his family, moved to Wheeling Creek, Ohio, about eight miles from Wheeling, W. V. Here were already located two brothers and a married sister of John Shepherd. In 1793 he removed to Limestone, Ky., where he remained two years. In 1795 he removed to what was then Adams County, Ohio, but what is now Red Oak, in Brown County, locating on the tract entered by his brother, Captain Abraham Shepherd. In 1799, he married Margaret Moore and was at that time living at Red Oak. Soon after this he bought a part of Capt. Phillip Slaughter's survey 588 on Eagle Creek and built a brick house on it, now owned by Baker Woods. Here he also built and operated the mill afterwards known as Pilson's Mill. He also laid out and dedicated the cemetery on his lands now known as Baird's cemetery. In October, 1803, he was elected one of the three representatives of Adams County in the lower house, and took his seat December 5, 1803. He continued to represent Adams County in the house by successive re-elections till February 4, 1807. He remained out till December 4, 1809, when he again represented Adams County in the house and continued too so until January 30, 1811. At the session in December, 1809, he received two votes foil senator, but Alexander Campbell was elected. In the fifth legislative session, December t, 1806, to February 4, 1807, he was speaker of the house, while at the same session Thomas Kirker, also from Adams County, was speaker of the senate. He seems to have dropped out of the legislature from January 30, 1811, until December 4, 1815, but the meantime he was not idle. He was in the war of 1812 as captain of a company and had two of hiS men shot by Indians as they were returning home in 1812. In 1813 he was out in the war again as captain of a company in Major Edward’s Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Brigade" 2d Division, Ohio Militia. In the fourteenth legislative 'session,

 

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December 4, 1815, to February 27, 1816, he was a member of the senate from Adams. In the fifteenth legislative session, December 2, 1816, to January 28, 1817, he represented Adams County in the senate and was speaker at the same time Ex-Gov. Kirker was speaker of the house, he and Shepherd having exchanged offices from the fifth legislative session. In 1816, he was one of the eight presidential electors of Ohio and cast his vote for James Monroe. Brown County was set off from Adams and Clermont by the legislature December 27, 1817, and Abraham Shepherd procured the passage of the act in the senate.

 

In 1818 the first court was held in Brown County, at Ripley, by Josiah Collett, presiding Judge, with James Moore, William Anderson and James Campbell, associate judges. At this term, Abraham Shepherd, was appointed clerk for a term of seven years, and served a full term. In this period he was an active politician and practically controlled affairs in Brown County.

 

In 1825, he was sent back to the senate from Adams County and Brown. During this twenty-fourth legislative session, from December 8, 1825 to February 3, 1826, he was appointed a member of the state board of equalization for the sixth district, the first state board appointed. In the twenty-fifth legislative session, December 4, 1826, to January 31, 1827, he was again in the senate for Adams and Brown counties, and again its speaker. This closed his active career in public office.

 

He was a Presbyterian in faith and practice, and long a ruling elder in that church. The records of the Chillicothe Presbytery show that he attended it as a delegate in 1823, 1830 and 1832. He was master of a Masonic lodge at Ripley in 1818 and appears to have taken a great interest in the order for a period of years. In private life Abraham Shepherd was quite an energetic character. In 1815, he built and operated Pilson's mills on Eagle Creek then in Adams County, now in Jefferson township, Brown County. He held this until about 1817 when he sold it and went to Ripley. He built the Buckeye mill on Red Oak and operated it with steam as early as 1825. While engaged in this he was a pork packer.

 

He was of pleasing address, large and portly. No picture of him was preserved or can be obtained. He was always courteous and gentlemanly in his intercourse with others, and was popular with all sorts and conditions of his fellow men in his county. He was possessed of unbounded energy and wonderful perseverance, and naturally became a man of influence and importance in the community in which he dwelt. As a legislator and as presiding officer of the two houses, his services commanded the respect and commendation of his constituents and his fellow members. In his farming, he excelled his neighbors and made more improvements on his farm than any of them and did it more rapidly. As a miller, he did more business than his competitors and the same is true of his pork packing. In 1834 it is said he met with financial reverses, and in consequence removed to Putnam County, Illinois, with his family. In that county he lived as a farmer, a quiet retired life, until his death on January 16, 1847.

 

He was the father of ten children by his first wife, who died in 1818. All his children by his first wife are deceased. He married Miss Harriet Kincaid on October 19, 1819, and by her he had two children,

 

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Andrew K., born November 18, 1820, and Martha Ann, March 1, 1823, and both of whom are now living at Crete, Neb. His Second wife died November 10, 1884, at the residence of her two children.

 

When the slavery question came to be agitated, he became strongly anti-slavery. While acting with the Democratic party in his earlier career on account of slavery he abandoned it and became an Abolitionist. His convictions on every subject were positive and strong. His influence on his community, either in politics or religion was great and it was always on the side of humanity, right and justice.

 

John Fisher

 

was born in Pennsylvania, May 4, 1789. He moved to Cincinnati. Ohio, in 1807. He was married there at Fort Washington, July 12, 1810. He went to Hillsboro and from there to Manchester. On June 13, 1815, he was made post master at Manchester, and served until 1822. He resided at Manchester until 1836. He was a commissioner of Adams County from 1819 to 1822. During his residence at Manchester he carried on the commission business most of the time. In 1822 and 1823 he was a member of the house of representatives. In 1827 and 1828 he was in the senate, representing Adams and Brown counties, and also in the winter of 1828 and 1829. He was a Whig at all times. In, 1836, he purchased the Brush Creek Forge Furnace and moved to Cedar Mills, where he spent the remainder of his life. When the Whig party ceased its organization, he became a Republican. He was a justice of the peace in Sprigg and Jefferson townships seventeen years. He was, devoted to his party and very fond of contributing political articles to the newspapers. He was an interesting writer and his articles were terse and to the point. He was more a philosopher than a politician. A number of his letters are in existence and they give much insight into, his life and thoughts.

 

A letter from him dated in 1859 to a friend in Scotland, gives some account of himself. He states in this letter that his father lost his lift; in the campaign of Gen. Anthony Wayne, against the Indians in 1793, and that his mother died six months afterward, leaving him to find his way alone, friendless and penniless, the best he could. He states that; he was never in a school house in his life as a pupil. He says when he located in Cincinnati, he had but six cents left, and that he has never received a penny since except what he earned by his own hands. That his mental acquirements are what he obtained by his own creation as he passed along. He states that ten years before, in 1849, he closed his accounts with the world and owed no man a cent. That he has not done a days work for ten years and don't ever intend to do oneCthat he does just what seems right in his own eyes. He says four of his children live in sight of his residence, that all of his children are industrious an doing well for themselves and their families. That he enjoys himself at reading and writing far better than he did in his younger days, and that he has no cares. That he as enough to keep him and his wife who has cheered him in adversity and prosperity for fifty years, and while he has but little, he considers himself richer than the Rothschilds. Then he comments on the Russian War, and gives an account of a trip to Iowa to visit a son located there. He gives a description of Iowa

 

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\

as he found it, worthy of the pen of the best descriptive writer. He speaks of the approaching political campaign and defines the position of the three parties, Republican, Democrat and Abolitionists. He states that his friends, Thompson, (Peter) and Campbell and their families as well as himself, and all connected with him were Republicans. That the Abolitionists are right in the abstract, but as the constitution recognized slavery in the slave states, we must submit to slave states, but are opposed to admitting any more in the Union. John Fisher was fond of writing for the newspapers and enjoyed a political controversy on paper. One or more of his political controversies got into the courts and cost him much expense and trouble, owing to its personal character, but those matters are better now for gotten than remembered.

 

John Fisher was not a religious man. His philosophy largely took the place of religion, but he believed in right and justice. With him, the golden rule was the highest law. He believed in every man having a full opportunity to do the best he could for himself in the world, and in his going right at all times. John Fisher's code of morality was the highest and of the best order. He lived up to it himself, and had no respect for the man who did not or could not live up to it. Had he lived in the days of the Greek philosophers, he would have been one of them, and the principal one among them. Probably he would have been a Stoic. He aimed to do his part in the world's work from his standpoint as he saw it, and in view of what he accomplished from his slavery point. We think his life and career was a credit to himself and to the community of which he was a member. His descendants are all honorable, self-respecting and highly respected men and women, and the impress he left upon them, they need not be ashamed of, and the world can congratulate itself on the legacy he left it in his posterity. He died October 24, 1864.

 

Gen, John Cochran.

 

one of the most distinguished of the early citizens of Brown County, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, September 19, 1781. His father, William Cochran, was an early pioneer of Brown County, was a native of Ireland and born in County Antrim in 1722. He was married in his native country to Elizabeth Boothe, and about the middle of the last century, emigrated to America. He served in the Revolutionary War, and resided in Pennsylvania, afterward in Kentucky, and about 1795 or 1796, came to the Northwest Territory and settled on the east fork of Eagle Creek, near the present eastern boundary of Brown County. He died in March, 1814, aged ninety-two. His wife, Elizabeth, died October 21, 1823. John was about nine years old when his father came to Kentucky. He lived for a few years in the vicinity of the old settlement of Washington. When a small boy, he was at Fort Washington, on the site of Cincinnati, and saw corn growing on what is now Fourth Street of the Queen City. He was with his father on his settlement north of the Ohio, as above stated, and when about eighteen years old, became overseer of the Kanawha Salt Works, where he continued about seven years. Salt was one of the necessaries of life which it was most difficult for the pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest Territory to obtain. John Cochran is said to have shipped the

 

262 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

first boat load of salt down the Ohio River to Louisville, Kentucky. He came to what is now Brown County in about 1805 or 1806. He married Tamer Howard, daughter of Cyrus and Milly Howard, who was born in Montgomery County, Virginia. Her father for some years kept the ferry between Aberdeen and Limestone. John Cochran purchased a farm from Nathaniel Beasley, about six miles northeast of Aberdeen, on the east fork of Fagle Creek, in what is now Huntington township, on which he resided for the greater portion of the remaining years of his life. He served in the War of 1812 as deputy sergeant in the commissary department. He took much interest in the old militia musters and passed through all the grades from captain to brigadier general. He was known as General Cochran. In the year Y824, he was first elected representative to the legislature as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1826, 1827 and 1828. In 1829, he was elected senator from Brown and Adams counties, and was re-elected in 1830, thus serving six full terms in the general assembly. General Cochran had but little education from books in his early life, never attending school but three months in his life. He was, however, self-educated. He was a man of strong convictions and remarkable memory. In his recollection of dates, he was seldom found to be in error. He carefully cultivated his memory in his early business transactions by imprinting facts on his mind, and he became marked for the tenacity with which he could retain everything he heard or read.

 

General Cochran was the father of thirteen children, five sons and eight daughtersC Joseph, John, Milly, William, Mary, Flizabeth, James, Tamer, Ellen, Thomas J., Sarah J., Malinda and Lydia. Of them, ten are now living. Mrs. Cochran died in 1855. She was an esteemed member of the Christian Church. General Cochran was a Mason, and assisted in organizing the first Masonic lodge in Brown County. In his business pursuits, he met with great success and died in possession of considerable property. In his old age, he resided for a time in Illinois, but he returned to Brown County and lived with his children. His death occurred at the residence of his son-in-law, William Shelton, in Adams County. He lived eighty-three years and died on his birthday, September 19, 1864. His remains, with those of his wife, repose. in the cemetery of Ebenezer Church. General Cochran left behind him a high reputation for ability and judgment and patriotism, and his name finds an honored place among the men of Brown County.

 

Joseph Riggs,

 

was born near Amity, Washington County, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1796 the eldest son of Stephen and Anne Baird Riggs. He had four brothers and six sisters. His father removed to near Steubenville, Ohio, when] he was a child ; and later to Sardinia, Ohio, where both he and his wife, are buried. In August, 1817, our subject left his home near Steubenville Ohio, to visit his uncles James and Moses Baird in the Irish Bottom in Green Township, Adams County. While there he was offered, the position of clerk in the West Union Bank, kept by George Luckey. This position he accepted on December 31, ;817; and in coming from,, Steubenville to Manchester, traveled on a flat boat.

 

While living at West Union he was a great friend of lawyer George;

 

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Fitzgerald, and frequently borrowed his fine horse to ride to North Liberty to court Miss Rebecca G. Baldridge, daughter of Rev. William Baldridge. On January I, 1819, he was elected cashier of the West Union Bank ; and on December 8, 1819, he married Miss Rebecca Baldridge, before named. Soon after, they joined the Associate Reformed Church at Cherry Fork. He served as cashier of the West Union Bank until 1823. On March 1, 1824, he was appointed auditor of Adams County, Ohio, to serve an unexpired term. He was elected and re-elected; and served from March 1, 1824, until the fall of 1831 he was appointed a deputy surveyor of the Virginia Military District of Ohio, for Adams County. While holding that office, he made a connected map of the County, which remained in the auditor's office till it fell to pieces from age. Mr. Riggs was an accomplished surveyor, but when or where he learned the science we are not advised. He resigned the office of auditor on October 3, 1831, to accept the office of state senator from Adams and Brown counties, to which he was elected as a Democrat in 1831 and served until 1833. In the fall of that year he removed to Hanging Rock, Ohio. He remained there until 1837, when he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he resided the remainder of his life.

 

On reaching Portsmouth, in 1837, he and his wife connected with the First Presbyterian Church, and he was ordained an elder in 1838. He served until February 9, 1875, when he connected with the Second Presbyterian Church. He was at once made an elder in that Church, and continued as such during his life.

 

In 1837 he opened a general store in the city of Portsmouth, and continued in that business, either alone or with partners, for many years. He was a man of substance and of excellent business qualifications. In March, 1838, he was elected to a township office in

 

Wayne Township, in which was located the town of Portsmouth. He was elected a member of the city council of Portsmouth, March 3, 1838 ; and continued in it, with intervals, until 1868. He was elected recorder of Portsmouth April 10, 1838, and served until March 15, 1844, and again from March 17, 1848, March 16, 1849 He was county surveyor of Scioto County from 1839-1841. On May 21,1838 he was appointed on a committee to secure an armory at Portsmouth. He was surveyor of the town of Portsmouth from November 7, 1845, to March 7, 1849, and again from 1852 to 1854. On December 4, 1846, he was appointed one of the first infirmary board of Scioto County, Ohio, and served by subsequent elections till 1852, and during that time he was clerk of the board. In 186o, he engineered the construction of the tow path from the city of Portsmouth to Union Mills, and charged $70 for his entire services. In 1867, he was president of the city council of Portsmouth. He was usually on the committee of ordinances, and was one of the most useful members of the council: He was responsible for most of the city ordinances and general legislation during his membership of council.

 

He was a public-spirited citizen, and was so recognized. When any delegation was to be sent on a public mission by the city authorities, he one of it. In 1869 he retired from all business, and lived quietly until his death on July 28, 1877, at the age of 81 years, 26 days. He was a just man, a consistent Christian, and a most valuable citizen.

 

264 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

General James Pilson

 

as born in April, 1796, in Augusta County, Virginia, the Son of Samuel and Dorcas Pilson. His parents emigrated to Adams County in 1807, and settled on Eagle Creek. Dorcas Pilson died in 1840, and Samuel Pilson in 1848. James taught school when a youth, and at the age of twenty was appointed surveyor of Adams County, and held the office two years. Prom the organization of Brown County, he waS its county surveyor until 1824. In 1831 and 1832, he was a member of the house from Brown County, defeating Jesse R. Grant, father of President Grant, for that office.

 

He was for many years proprietor of Pilson's mill on Eagle Creek. The mill was built by Abraham Shepherd. For many years he was a Brigadier general in the militia. From 1833 to 1835, he represented Adams and Brown counties in the senate. He was a man of good busit mess capacity, of integrity and steady and reliable character. He married. a niece of Gen Joseph Darlinton, daughter of his sister, Mrs. Edwards. She was a widow of George Sparks when he married her.

 

They had one son, Samuel Pilson, born March 7, 1843. Gen. James Pilson died April 4, 1880. He was a Democrat and a Republican. The writer remembers him very well and was a playmate of his son Samuel; also now deceased.

 

John Patterson.

 

John Patterson was born in Pendleton County, Virginia, November 23, 1793, and died in Wilkins, Union County, Ohio, February 1, 1859. His parents were James Augustine Patterson, of English descent, and Ann Elizabeth Hull (Patterson), of Dutch descent.

 

The family lived in that part of Virginia (now West Virginia) known as the "Backbone of the Alleghanies," and owned large tracts of land on the South Branch of the Potomac River. James A. Patterson rendered the American cause important service during the War of the Revolution, and for that reason became possessed of sufficient means; to purchase a large body of land in Alleghany County, Pennsylvania, a part of which is now in the heart of the city of Pittsburg. Others, had preempted a part of the land before he reached it, and he did not, attempt to dispossess them.

 

John Patterson was but about eight years of age when his father died, in 1801, and in 1804 he was apprenticed for a period of ten years; to Z. A. Tannehill to learn the trade of watchmaker and silversmith. His employer died in 1813, leaving his apprentice on his own resources. He then enlisted as a private soldier in a Pittsburg infantry regiment, serving in Gen. Adamson Tannehill's Brigade in what is historically known as the "War of 1812." He saw but little field service, but before the war ended he was made a corporal.

 

In 1815 he went to Alexandria, Va., expecting to go into business, but his partner proved unworthy, and he returned to Pittsburg, entering the employ of Mr. John Thompson. In the autumn of 1817 he emigrated to Ohio, making the journey down the Ohio River on a keel boat to Manchester, and thence overland to West Union, then one of the most promising settlements in the Buckeye State. Here he opened a jewelry store, made and repaired watches and clocks and man-

 

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ufactured articles of silverware. Some of the spoons and possibly other utensils of his handiwork are still in existence. He afterwards established a tannery, and then one of the first wool-carding and combing manufactures erected in southern Ohio. In the spring of 1819 he was elected justice of the peace for Tiffin Township, and subsequently was twice elected to the same position. For several years he held the office, by appointment, of county collector of taxes. On January 27, 1827, the system of tax collecting then in vogue was abolished by the act of the legislature, which created the office of county treasurer, and the incumbent of that office was made the only tax collector.

 

In 1826 Mr. Patterson was elected as representative from Adams County to the twenty-fifth general assembly of the state ; in 1828 to the twenty-seventh ; in 1829 he was joint representative with Hosea Moore in the twenty-eighth general assembly. He was then, as always throughout his public career, an ardent Democrat. In 1833 and again in 1834, he was for the fifth and sixth times elected as representative in the legislature. He was elected as state senator from Adams and Brown counties in 1835 to the thirty-fourth general assembly ; and in 1836 was elected as state senator from Adams, Brown, and Scioto Counties to the thirty-fifth general assembly.

 

With the single exception of Hon. Thomas Kirker, Governor of Ohio, in 1808, who served as senator and representative for seventeen years prior to 1825, John Patterson was a member of the legislature longer than any other citizen of the county. He took high rank as a party leader and debater, and secured the passage of excellent laws. He was firm friend of all public improvements, and heartily supported the ANational Road" and all the various canal projects which were before the Legislature during his eight terms of service.

 

In 1834 John Patterson, of Adams ; Uri Seeley, of Geauga, and Jonathan Taylor, of Licking, were appointed by Governor Lucas as commissioners for Ohio to settle the boundary between Ohio and Michigan. The action of the commissioners was resisted by the Governor and inhabitants of Michigan Territory, and for a time there was great excitement throughout the state, the militia was called out on each side, and for a few weeks there was every prospect of bloodshed. Happily for all concerned this was averted. This, and subsequent proceedings relative to the disputed boundary line, are matters of record and a and a part of the history of the state, too lengthy for repetition here. Suffice to say that the action of the commissioners was sustained by the governor and legislature of the state, and by the president and congress of the United States. The territory in dispute now includes the great city of Toledo.

 

In March 21, 1838, President Van Buren appointed Mr. Patterson United States Marshal for the state of Ohio, as the successor of John Patterson, of Belmont County, who, though he bore the same name was not a relative. The United States courts then were all held at Columbus, and thither Mr. Patterson removed his family, residing in that city from the date of his appointment until the expiration of his official term, July 10, 1841. His most important service was the taking of the United States census, during the summer of 1840. This immense and important task was solely in his charge, and it was per-

 

 

266 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

formed in a manner creditable to himself and to the complete satisfaction of the government. Returning to Adams County, in 1841, Mr. Patterson resided in West Union until the summer of 1847, when he removed to York Township, Union County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life on a farm in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and stock raising: His remains were laid to rest in sight of his home, in the cemetery of the York Presbyterian Church, with which he was identified during the last twelve years of his life.

 

John Patterson was married three times. His first wife was Mary Brown Finley, daughter of Major Joseph Lewis Finley and Jane Blair Finley. They were married at her father's residence on Gift Ridge, south of West Union, November 10, 1818, by Rev. Thomas Williamson. Six children were born of this union, namely : Joseph Peter (died at Butler, Pa., March 4, 1856), Lewis Augustine (died at West Union, April 26, 1846), Matilda Ann (married John Smith, died at West Union; August 23, 1895), Thomas Reed (resides at Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio), Hannah Finley (married Lewis C. Clark, died at Manhattan, Kansas, April 23, 1884), and Mary Brown (married Jacob Dresback, resides at Paris, Ill.). His first wife's remains were laid away in the old village cemetery.

 

His second wife was Miss Celia Prather, daughter of Major John Prather, of West Union, to whom he was married November 9, 1831, by Rev. John Meek. To them the following children were born: Algernon Sidney (died in infancy), Elizabeth Jane (married Benjamin Fs Coates, resides at Portsmouth, Ohio), Robert Emmet (died at Nashvlle, Tenn., June 25, 186o), John Prather (died at Chicago Ill., December 17, 1889), and James Hamer (died in infancy at Columbus, Ohio).

 

Mrs. Celia Patterson died at Columbus, Ohio, February 22, 1840. A number of years afterward her remains were removed to the West Union cemetery

 

His third wife was Miss Mary Catherine McCrea, a relative of Jane McCrea, whose tragic massacre by the Indians near Saratoga, N. Y., is narrated in the annals of the Revolution. They were married at Columbus, Ohio, on November 12, 1840, by Rev. James Hoge. All of their four children were born in West Union ; three of them (James McCrea, Stephen Henry, and Celia Ann) died in infancy. Charles Moore, their youngest child, died in his seventeenth year (March 4, 1863), at Murfreesboro, Tenn. while in the Service of his country as a volunteer soldier during the Tenn., of the Rebellion.

 

Mrs. Catharine M. Patterson was married to Andrew McNeil, of Union County, on June 16, 1862, who died December 31, 1889. She died at her home near Richwood, Ohio, October 27, 1893.

 

Col. Oscar F. Moore,

 

who represented Adams County as a part of the seventh Ohio senatorial district in the fiftieth general assembly, and its first senator under the constitution of 1851, was born January 27, 1817, near Steubenville, the son of James H. Moore and his wife, Sarah Stull. His maternal grandfather, Daniel Stull, was a captain in the Revolutionary, War. He graduated at Washington College, Pennsylvania, in the class of

 

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1836. He began the study of law immediately, under D. L. Collier, then mayor of Steubenville. He attended one session of the Cincinnati Law School, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court at Steubenville, October, 1838.

 

In April, 1839, he located at Portsmouth, in the practice of the law, and continued to reside there the remainder of his life. In 1850 he was elected as a Whig to represent Lawrence and Scioto counties in the house of representatives in the last session under the constitution of 1802. He participated in the senatorial election in which Benjamin F. Wade was elected to the United States senate. In 1851 he was elected to the state senate, as stated at the opening of this sketch. He had as associates in the house, Col. J. R. Cockerill, of Adams County, and Hon. Wells. A. Hutchins, of Scioto. In 1854 he was elected to the thirty-fourth congress as a Whig, representing the tenth district, composed of Scioto, Pike, Ross, Jackson, and Lawrence. On July 23, 1861, he entered the 33d O. V. I., as its lieutenant colonel. He was promoted colonel of the regiment July 16, 1862. At the battle of Perryville, October 8, 1862, he was wounded, captured, and paroled. He remained at home until February, 1863, when he was exchanged. He commanded his regiment in the two days fight at Chickamauga, where the regiment met with heavy loss in killed and wounded. He served on court martial at Nashville, Tenn., in 1863 and in 1864, until July 20, when he resigned.

 

In politics he was a Whig until the dissolution of that party, when he was a member of the American party during its existence. After its dissolution, he went to the Democratic party, in which he remained during his life.

 

On September 19, 1843, he was married to Martha B. daughter of Hon. Thomas B. Scott, of Chillicothe. He had two daughters, the eldest of whom he named Clay for the idol of his party, Henry Clay. She married Mrs George O. Newman in 1866. His second daughter, Kate, is the wife of Hon. James W.. Newman.

 

As was said of him by the leading member of the bar in his county, and who practiced with him for over forty years :

 

AHe was a man who had many warm friends, of liberal views, of a kind, charitable nature, and who scarcely ever expressed a harsh remark or used an unkind word to others. His life in this respect was a lesson of the broadest charity. As a lawyer, he had a wide reputation, and will long be remembered in southern Ohio. He was in active practice at the Portsmouth bar for over forty years, a period longer than any other member has served ; his ability was of the very highest order, and pied as adapted to the varied practice in the different courts, both state and federal, whether before court or jury, and whether relating to cases or in equity at law or to criminal practice, he had but few equals. He seldom made mistakes in the management of a case. Perhaps the most striking feature of his mind was the faculty of clear discrimination, which enabled him, with care and facility, to sift authorities quoted against him and explain the facts of a case so as to avoid legal principles, supposed by an opponent to be conclusive against him. He had

a keen relish for a "close case," full of surprises by the disclosure of un-

 

268 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

expected evidence which took the case out of the line of preparation marked out by opposing counsel.

 

No one could have passed through so many years with so large a practice and sustained more friendly relations to other members of the bar. He was never known to have a serious difficulty or misunderstanding with any member of the bar. Being actuated by a high sense of honor and courtesy toward his brethren of the profession, he was always able to reconcile matters of mistake or misunderstanding so as to leave no ground of complaint. Through the kindness and generosity, of his nature, he was disposed to make large allowance for the errors, and infirmities of his fellow men, and always stronglyCperhaps too stronglyCleaned to the side of mercy."

 

He died at Waverly, Ohio, June 24, 1885, in active practice, and while attending the circuit court at that place. He was seized with a severe chill while in the court room, went to sleep the next night, feeling better, but never awoke.

 

Hon. Thomas McClanslen

 

was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a native of Jefferson County; Ohio, born March 16, 1819, the eldest son of Hon. William McCauslen, a congressman of Ohio. He attended the district schools of his home and Scott's Academy at Steubenville. In the academy he was a goal student, and from there he went to the study of the law in the office of Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, afterwards the great war secretary. In 1844 he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court in Warren County, and located at West Union the same year. He was quite a society man, while single, in West Union, and much devoted to the ladies. He was liked very much by the young people, and was popular with all classes. As a lawyer, he was diligent and attentive to business and a fluent advocate. He filled the office of prosecuting attorney for three terms from 1845 to 1851, and did it with great credit to himself. In 1853 he was elected to the Ohio senate from the seventh district composed of Adams, Scioto, Pike, and Jackson counties, and served one term. He participated in the election of the Hon. Geo. F. Pugh to the senate. During his term the superior court of Cincinnati was created and the judges' salaries fixed at $1,500, and the circulation of foreign bank bills of less than $10 was forbidden in the state. This legislature must have had a sweet tooth, for, by joint resolution, it asked congress to repeal the duty on sugar and molasses. It also favored the construction of a Pacific Railway. He declined to be a candidate for a second term. He was married in West Union on February 19, 1851, to Miss Mary Jane Sparks, daughter of John Sparks, the banker of West Union, and niece of David Sinton, of Cincinnati.

 

In 1856 he was one of the attorneys who defended William Miligan, indicted for the murder in the first degree, and was undoubtedly guilty as charged, but the jury brought in a verdict of murder in the second degree, and Milligan died in the penitentiary. In 1857 Mr. McCauslen removed to Portsmouth, where he resided and practiced until 1865, when he removed to hip native county, and located at Stubenville. He continued in the active practice of his profession Steubenville until 1883, when he retired. He, however, left his b

 

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ness to his eldest son, William, born in West Union, and who has succeeded him.

 

At his pleasant home, within one-half mile of Steubenville, he spent thirteen years of dignified and honorable retirement in the enjoyment of the society of his family and of his old friends.

 

He died February, 1896. He had a family of four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and some of whom are married.

 

As a young man, Mr. McCauslen was jolly, good natured, and fond of outdoor sports. In politics he was a staunch Democrat, but with no particular taste for party work. In religion he was a Presbyterian. As a lawyer he was active and energetic and a fine speaker before a Jury. He enjoyed a legal contest, and would throw his whole soul into it. He was an honorable gentleman, an excellent conversationalist, and delightful companion. His manners were uniformly cordial, and it was always a pleasure to meet and converse with him. While he grew old in years, he preserved the perennial spirit of youth.

 

" In his years were seer

" A youthful vigor and an autumnal green."

 

William Newman

 

was born at Salem, Ronaoke County, Virginia, on the nineteenth of January, 1807, the son of William and Catherine Ott Newman, who had removed from Virginia to Pennsylvania. His boyhood years were spent at Harrisonburg, Virginia. He came to Ohio in 1827, and cast his first vote at Newark, Ohio, for Andrew Jackson for President. He returned to Virginia, and on the twentieth of February, 1834, was married to Catherine Ott Williams, of Woodstock, Shenandoah County. They resided at Staunton until 1838, where Anna M. (now Mrs. Joseph G. Reed) George O. were born. In March of the latter year, they came to Portsmouth, where they resided ever after with the exception of a brief period of residence in Highland County in 1841. Five children were born to them in OhioCWilliam H., James W. J. Rigdon, Charles H., and Hervey C., who died in infancy. The others still live except Rev. Charles H. Newman, who was an ordained minister of the Episcopal Church. He was sent as a missionary to Japan in 1873. For years his health was impaired ; he retired from the ministry and died in St. Augustine, Florida, May 30, 1887, where he had gone with his wife to try the effects of its mild climate.

 

William Newman was, by occupation, a contractor and builder, and many of the larger and finer buildings erected in Portsmouth from 1840 to 1874 were his work, including churches and school houses. Among these are the First Presbyterian Church, All Saints, the two Catholic Churches, the Massie Block, the George Davis residence and many others.

 

Mr. Newman served as a member of the Portsmouth board of education several terms, and for a number of years, was an active member of the city council. In 1847, he was the Democratic candidate for the state legislature from the Lawrence-Scioto district, these two counties then constituting one legislative district. In 1859, he was elected to Ohio

 

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Senate from the seventh senatorial district, composed of Adams, Scioto, Pike and Jackson counties. He served in the same senate with Garfield, who afterward became illustrious in the nation's annals, and although differing radically in politics, a warm personal friendship sprang up between these two men, as a correspondence several years after, testified. He died in Portsmouth on the twenty-third day of July, 1847, aged 67 years.

 

William Newman was a man of strong character and earnest convictions. To any cause that he espoused, he stood true to the end. He believed in the principles of Jefferson. Madison and George Mason, of his native state. He was a Virginian in all that the word implies, ands the doctrines sought by its early statesmen and leaders were implanted deep in his heart. He was noted for his honesty. Integrity was the very corner stone of his character. As his old friend, the well known editor, Walter C. Hood, once wrote, 'William Newman is an honest; man, a strong stocky man of the people. He would rather stand up, assured with conscious pride alone, than assured with millions on his side.",

 

General Benjamin F. Coates

 

was born June 23, 1827, near Wilmington, in Clinton County, Ohio. His father was Aquila Coates, born in 1799, in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His mother was Rachael Pidgeon, born in 1801, near Lynchtburg, Virginia. His maternal grandfather, Isaac Pidgeon, was the- owner of 1,600 acres of land, about five miles north of Winchester: County, Virginia, which he divided among his children. General Coates' father and mother, and his grandfather Pidgeon were Friends, and were married according to the formula of that faith at Hopewell Meeting House, near Winchester, Virginia. They came to Ohio in 1823. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. General Coates was reared on his father's farm, and attended the common school in Clinton County. He also attended an academy at Wilmington, conducted by Oliver W. Nixon. He studied medicine with Dr. Aquila Jones at Wilmington, and took his first course of lectures at the (Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati. His second course was taken) at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began the practice of medicine at Mawrytown, in Highland County, in 1850, and remained there two and one-half years. He located in West Union, Ohio, in 1853. In 1857 he was married to Elizabeth J. Patterson, a daughter of John Patterson, a former resident of Adams County,) and a prominent politician. In Adams County General Coates was a Democrat, and as such was elected to the Ohio senate in 1861, to represent the present seventh senatorial district. George A. Waller, of Portsmouth, was his opponent, and Coates' majority was twenty-three. In the legislature, he found himself at variance with his party, and acted with the Republicans on all questions relating to the Civil War. On August 10, 1862, after having attended the regular session of the fifty-fifth general assembly from January 6 and May 6, 1862, he entered the Volunteer Army as lieutenant colonel of the 91st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. From January 6th until April 14, 1863, he was granted a leave of absence to attend the adjourned session of the fifty-fifth general assembly. He was wounded .August 24, 1864, at the battle of,

 

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Halltown, Virginia. He was promoted to the colonelcy of his regiment December 9, 1864, and was brevetted brigadier general March 13, 1865. He was mustered out of the service June 24, 1865. He made an excellent officer, and was highly esteemed for his ability and bravery by his superior officers. He located in Portsmouth, Ohio, July 1, 1865, as a physician. On July 1, 1866, he was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue, under Colonel John Campbell, of Ironton, Ohio, and on October 1, 1866, was appointed collector in the eleventh district of Ohio, in place of John Campbell, and held the office until July 1, 1881, when he resigned. He was a trustee of the. Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors'

 

Orphans' Home from 1868 to 1871. He was receiver of the Cincinnati & Eastern Railway Company from September I, 1885, until February 1, 1887, and as special master commissioner, sold the road to the Ohio & Northwestern Company. He has served on the Portsmouth city board of equalization one or more terms. In 1897 he was appointed a member of the city board of elections for a term of four years.

 

Since 1862, General Coates has been a Republican. He left the Democratic party on account, of war questions. During the time he held the collector's office, he was the leader of his party in the county and congressional district. He had a wonderful insight of human nature, and could tell beforehand how the public would form opinions of men and measures. He had great executive ability, and always had the courage of his opinions. He was a pleasant and agreeable companion, and had hosts of friends. He had been unwell for some two weeks prior to his death. On Saturday evening, May 6, 1899, he went to the Republican primary meeting in his precinct and voted. On returning, he lay down for a few moments, and then arose and undertook to walk to his chair. He sank between the bed and chair, where he breathed once or twice, and then died of heart failure. He leaves a widow and three children—his son Joseph, and daughters Lilian and Sarah. The latter was in Boston, Mass., at the time of her father's death. General Coates made quite a reputation as an officer, and his memory will be always cherished by the survivors of his regiment.

 

Hon. James W. Newman,

 

of Portsmouth, Ohio, was born in Highland County, Ohio, March 12, 1841, the son of William and Catharine Ott Newman. His father has a separate sketch herein.

 

Soon after the birth of our subject, his parents removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, where he has since resided. He was educated in the Portsmouth schools, graduating there from in the year 1855. Afterwards he attended Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he graduated in July, 1861. In November of that year, when but twenty years of age, he began the publication of "The Portsmouth Times," which he continued for thirty years, and his talents and ability, as displayed in its publication and management, brought him reputation and fame. That newspaper is now one of the most influential in the state and its columns in the thirty years he managed it show Mr. Newman's ability as a journalist. In 1894, the "Times" property was turned into a corporation, in which Mr. Newman still retains an interest.

 

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In 1867, Mr. Newman was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent Scioto County in the legislature, defeating Colonel John R. Hurd, the Republican candidate for that office. In 1869 he was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated by Hon. Elijah Glover, by a majority of twenty-three votes. In 1871 Mr. Newman was the candidate of his party for the state senate in the seventh senatorial district, composed of Adams, Scioto, Pike, and Jackson counties, and was elected, and re-elected over the late Benjamin B. Gaylord, to the same office, in 1873. During his second term he was chairman of the committee on finance, and also of benevolent institutions, and conducted the affairs of these committees with recognized ability. In 1882 he was elected secretary of state on the Democratic ticket by a majority of 19,117 over Major Charles Townsend, of Athens County. In this election he came within forty-one votes of carrying his own county, strongly Republican, and carried Hamilton county by over 10,000 majority. In 1884 he was defeated for re-election as secretary of state by Gen. James S. Robinson, by a majority. of 11,242. It was the memorable campaign year in which Grover Cleveland was first elected president. Mr. Newman headed the state ticket in the October contest, and received the highest vote that has ever been cast for a Democrat in Ohio. In his first annual report, as secretary of state, he recommended a system for taxing corporations, in the granting of articles of incorporation, and drafted the bill carrying out his ideas. This measure was that winter enacted into a law by the legislature, and the system has since developed until it now produces a very considerable revenue to the state. On June 20, 1885, Mr. Newman was appointed collector of internal revenue for the eleventh collection district of Ohio, and held the office four years.

 

He has always been prominent in his party, has served on its state, central, and executive committees, has aided it in its councils and on the stump in every campaign for the past thirty-five years.

 

He is a prominent and active Elk, and served two terms as Exalted Ruler of the Portsmouth Lodge. He has been called upon to deliver addresses on numerous occasions in connection with that body. He is a public speaker of high order, and his addresses on these occasions, as well as others, have been eloquent and well received.

 

In 1893 he aided in organizing and establishing the Central Savings Bank in Portsmouth, and has since been its president.

 

In all public enterprises in the city of Portsmouth, Mr. Newman takes a leading and prominent part, and is known as a public-spirited citizen. He is fond of good literature, and keeps well informed on all current topics.

 

On October 24, 1871, he married Miss Kate Moore, daughter of Colonel Oscar F. Moore, who has a separate sketch herein. They have one son, Howard Ott Newman.

 

Hon. John William Gregg,

 

one of the principal farmers of Pike County, was born July 13, 1845, on the farm where he now resides. His father, John Gregg, was born October 15, 1808, in Pennsylvania, and immigrated to Ohio in 1818: He came to Ohio to make a fortune, and succeeded. He worked on the

 

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Ohio canal when it was made through Pike County. Our subject had only a common school education, and was reared to the occupation of farming and stock raising.

 

He was married November 8, 1866, to Miss Minnie C. Downing, whose parents were among the first settlers of Pike County. They have five children, John W., aged 32, who is the recorder of Pike County; George A., who is bookkeeper at Washington Court House; Edgar M., who is bookkeeper in the Bank of Waverly, and two daughters, Ada Belle and Minnie E., who are at home with their parents.

 

Mr. Gregg represented Adams County as a part of the seventh senatorial district in the sixty-sixth and sixty-seventh general assemblies from 1884 to 1888, and did it ably and well. Mr. Gregg was in the dry goods business in Waverly from 1864 to 1866, and with that exception on has always been a farmer. He resides in Seal Township, two a half miles east of Waverly. His two eldest sons are married and have families. He has always been a Republican, served on the central committee of his county many times, and has often been a delegate to ct and state conventions.

 

Mr. Gregg is a man of a generous and genial disposition. His is an heart full of kindness and sympathy. It is said of him that no deserving person ever applied to him in vain. To the poor he has always been kind.

 

In politics he is the strongest of strong partisans. He never fails in an opportunity to aid his own party, or advance its interests as he sees them.

 

In business life he is a man of the highest integrity and honor, and or those qualities he enjoys the confidence of all with whom he has had any business relations. As a legislator, Mr. Gregg made a most creditable and honorable record.

 

Hon. John Kilby Pollard

 

was brought up on a farm in Adams County, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen enlisted as a private in Company G, l0th 0. V. I., October 16, 1861 serving therein until December 22, 1862, when he was honorably discharged on account of general debility incurred in the service. He re-enlisted in the spring of 1864 as a private in Company I, 182d 0. V. I. and was commissioned from the ranks as second lieutenant in the same regiment, serving until the close of the .war, participating in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Nashville, and numerous skirmishes. Upon his turnhome he attended school two years, taking an academic course. He then resumed farming; and while engaged in that pursuit, in the year 1867, was married to Miss Anna Watson, of Manchester, Ohio a daughter of Lawson Watson. Two children were born of this union, Lucille E. and William S. Lucille was educated in the West Union public schools and at the Ohio Wesleyan University, taking a three years' course afterwards in piano at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She then traveled and studied two years in Berlin with Moritz and Moszkowski. William also attended the Wesleyan University studied pharmacy two years afterward, and has since held many positions of trust and honor. In the fall of 1875, John K. Pollard was

 

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elected sheriff of Adams County on the Republican ticket. He was re-elected in 1877 by a large and increased majority. In the fall of 1879, he was nominated and elected state senator from the seventh senatorial district by a majority of one hundred and three votes, and was re-elected in 1881 by one thousand four hundred majority. In the fall of 1888, he was a Harrison presidential elector from the eleventh congressional district oft Ohio. In 1892, he was appointed by Governor McKinley financial officer of the institute for the deaf and dumb, at Columbus, Ohio, which place her held until appointed by President McKinley counsul general of they United States at Monterey, Mexico, one of the most important posts in the service, so far as jurisdiction and trade are concerned, there being, within its compass nine consulates over which the consul general has supervisory authority.

 

Among numerous other positions, he was elected lay delegate from the Cincinnati conference to the general conference of the Methodists Church, held in New York in 1888. He was a charter member of McFerran Post, G. A. R., West Union, Ohio, and a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion. He Was also a member of the Masonic, Fraternity, Manchester, Adams County, Ohio. After years of patient suffering, he died while in the consular service, October 22, 1899, and was buried at Manchester, Ohio.

 

Dudley B. Phillips

 

was born at Clayton, Adams County, Ohio, August 1, 1860. His parents' removed to Manchester in 1864, where he has since resided. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1878, studied law with Judge Henry Collings and was admitted to the bar in December, 1881, and was three times elected Mayor of Manchester and elected to the Ohio*: senate in 1891 and re-elected in 1893 and is now practicing his profession in his native county.

 

He was married to Fannie B. Adams in 1887 and they have three children: Henry Lee, Dudley Collings and Helen C. sr,

 

Hon. Samuel Lincoln Pattcrson,

 

who now represents Adams County as a part of the seventh senatorial district, is a great-grandson of Judge Joseph Lucas, who represented Adams County in the first legislature of Ohio and a sketch of whom is found elsewhere.

 

He was born September 7, 1860, at Piketon, Ohio, son of William Patterson and wife, Hannah Brown, who was a daughter of John R. A. Brown and his wife Levisa Lucas, daughter of Judge Joseph Lucas.

 

Our subject's father was born near Philadelphia. His father, Thomas, died when his son William was quite young. The father o John R. Brown named was a captain in the Revolutionary War fro Virginia, as was Maj. William Lucas, father of Judge Joseph Lucas. Mr. Patterson, the father of our subject, was a wagon maker and a blacksmith. His wife had a farm adjoining Piketon and he operated that in connection with his trade. He died June 11, 1879, and his widow still resides in Piketon. Our subject attended school in Piketon till 1879, when he went to Lebanon. He began the occupation of school

 

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teacher in 1881 and followed it until 1886.. In Piketon he taught in 1884, 1885 and 1886, having the position next to the superintendent. He was mayor in the village of Piketon from 1882 until 1890, and was a justice of peace of Seal Township from 1883 to 1886. He was a member of the school board in Piketon from 1889 to 1897. He was elected state senator in the seventh senatorial district composed of Adams County, Pike, Jackson and Scioto in the fall of 1899. At the organization of the senate he was made chairman of finance and placed second on the judiciary committees and on the committees on public works and insurance.

 

He was married May 18, 1882, to Miss Lizzie M. Bateman, daughter of Rev. Samuel Bateman, of Piketon. They have six children, two boys and four girls. In his political faith, Mr. Patterson is an earnest Republican, and was chairman of the Republican Executive Committee for the first three years Pike County went Republican.

 

He is a man of strong convictions, but cautious and conservative in the expression of them. While amongst his friends, he is gentle and reserved in his manner, at the same time, he is one of the most positive men, and firm in his purposes. As a lawyer, the longer he devotes himself to a cause, the stronger he becomes in it. He has great reserve force, he always appears to have something reserved for a denoument. He has rare judgment and fine discrimination. He seldom reaches a false conclusion. As a lawyer an untiring worker. In taking up a case, he masters the facts and then the law, then he prepares his pleadings :which are models of accuracy. He gives great promise as a lawyer. As a member of the Ohio senate, he has already taken a high position amongst his fellow senators. He bids fair to make an enviable reputation as a legislator.

 

Joseph Lucas.

 

oseph Lucas was born in Virginia in 1771. His father, William Lucas, was born in 1742 and served throughout the Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of captain. He belonged to one of the proud families of Virginia. He owned extensive lands and negroes. His son, Joseph, was married in Virginia in 1792, to Hannah Humphreys. He and his brother William came to the Northwest Territory in 1797 to locate their father's land warrants. They located at the mouth of Pond Creek in what is now Rush Township, Scioto County, then Adams County. In1800, Capt. William Lucas, father of our subject, sold his possessions in Virginia, and came to the Northwest Territory, and joined his sons. He had a son, John, who laid out the town of Lucasville in Scioto County, and his son, Robert, was representative and senator in the Ohio legislature for nineteen years ; Governor of the State, 1832 to 1834, and Territorial Governor of Iowa from 1838 to 1841.

 

Our subject was one of the three representatives from Adams County in the first legislature of Ohio, which met in Chillicothe, March 1, 1803, and continued its sessions until April 15, 1803. This is the legislature which met under a sycamore tree on the bank of the Scioto River.

 

Our subject was well educated and took a prominent part in public affairs. His colleagues from Adams County in the house were William Russell and Thomas Kirker ; in the senate, Gen. Joseph Darlinton his. At this session Scioto County was organized and Joseph Lucas was made

 

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one of its associate judges, in which office he continued until his death in 1808. In politics he was a follower of Thomas Jefferson, and in religion, he was a Presbyterian. Dying at the early age of thirty-seven, a mot promising career was cut short. He left three sons and three daughters. His daughter, Rebecca, married Jacob Hibbs, Sr., and was the mother of Gen. Joseph L. Hibbs and Jacob Hibbs, of Portsmouth, Ohio. His daughter, Levisa married Jacob Brown, of Pike County, and became the mother of several well known citizens of that county. His sons, Joseph and Samuel, located in Muscatine, Iowa, and died there.

 

Harry Hibbs, of the firm of J. C. Hibbs and Company, of Portsmouth, Ohio, is a great-grandson.

 

The Honorable S. L. Patterson, of Waverly, senator for the seventh district, is his great-grandson.

 

Judge Joseph Lucas was one of the active characters in Adams County, but fell a victim to the untried climate which the pioneers found in their first settlement.

 

Thomas Waller,

 

physician and legislator, was born in Stafford County, Virginia, September 14, 1774. He was a descendant in a direct line, on his father's side, from Edmund Waller, the great English poet, who was also for many years a member of parliament ; and on his mother's side from the English patriot Hampden, whom the poet Gray has immortalized in his celebrated "Elegy in a Country Churchyard." A volume containing the life of Mr. Edmund Waller, together with his poems, published in London in 1711, is still preserved as a family relic by the son of our subject, Mr. George A. Waller, of Portsmouth. The history of the Waller family in this country has been closely interwoven with that of the Baptist denomination during the past hundred years, especially in Kentucky and Virginia. Many of the Wallers were Baptist ministers, some of them of decided note. Among these may be mentioned William Waller and his brother, John Waller, the great leaders of the Kentucky and Virginia Baptists during the times of persecutions in those states. Amid the trials, imprisonments, and universal hatred which the Baptists in those days endured, these two brothers stood forth fearlessly, "steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." The sons of William Waller—Absalom, George and Edmund—were also ministers, distinguished for their talents, eloquence, and profound acquaintance with the Scriptures. Untaught in the schools, they made themselves learned in the highest and truest sense of the term, and under God, were the architects of their own eminence and power. Those familiar with the history of Kentucky Baptists will remember that it was Edmund Waller who burned a revision of the New Testament, made by Alexander Campbell, for the reason that he regarded Mr. Campbell's renderings of certain passages inimical to a true and pure Christianity. Independence, boldness, firmness, energy and zeal have been, and continue to he, the characteristics of all members of this family. Dr., Thomas Waller was a second cousin of the Revs. John and William Waller, just noticed. He was educated in William and Mary College, Virginia, studied medicine and attended lectures under Dr. Rush, in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He located iii Bourbon County, Kentucky, where, in 1800, he married Flizabeth McFarlane, and took his

 

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bride on a wedding tour on horse back to visit her relatives in Pennsylvania. While sojourneying in that state, a daughter was born to them, and in 1801, they returned to the West, bringing their baby on horseback, over, perhaps as rough a road as man or beast ever traveled. He settled at Alexandria, at the mouth of the Scioto River, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession. Scioto County was organized in 1803, and Dr. Waller was its first representative in the state legislature. In 1805 he removed to Portsmouth, where he afterwards purchased one hundred acres of land, adjoining the then incorporated limits of the town, all of which territory is now embraced in the city; and in memory of him, one of the streets is called after his name, "Waller Street." He also built the first postoffice and apothecary shop in the city, and was the first postmaster, remaining so all his life. He was for several years president of the town council, and also of the Commercial Bank of Scioto. In 1822 and 1823 a very fatal epidemic prevailed, at which time his professional labors, extending over a very wide circuit, induced the illness if which he died, on July 19, 1823. He was a very active, energetic man, and a popular physician. It is said of him that he had at the time of his death more friends and fewer enemies than any other man in Scioto County. He had a family of nine children, only one of them being now living, George A. Waller, of Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio. He has a ring that once belonged to Mrs. Edmund Waller, and which bears the family coat of arms.

 

Dr. Waller was in every public enterprise in the town of Portsmoth, from the day he located there until his death.

 

Andrew Ellison.

 

Andrew Ellison was born in 1755. His father, John Ellison, a native of Ireland, was born in 1730, and died in 1806. He is interred in the Nixon graveyard, three miles south of West Union, Ohio. Andrew Ellison came to Manchester, Ohio, from Kentucky, with Gen. Nathaniel Massie, in the winter of 1790. He took up his residence in the town of Manchester with his family. He located a farm on the Ohio River bottoms about two miles east of Manchester, and proceeded clear and cultivate it.

 

The events in the history of the pioneers of Ohio, one hundred years ago, are becoming more obscured every day. Many facts that should have been preserved have been lost, and many more are now liable to be lost, if not obtained from those now living, and preserved.

 

The story of Andrew Ellison's capture by the Indians, given in both editions of Howe's Historical Collection of Ohio, is incorrect, and the correct and true story is given here. The story by Howe given in his edition of 1846 was copied bodily from McDonald's Sketches published in 1838. Where McDonald got his information we do not know, but he was contemporary with General Nathaniel Massie and Andrew Ellison, though much younger.

 

Our sketch comes from a granddaughter of Andrew Ellison. She obtained it from her mother, who was born in 1789, the daughter of Samuel Barr, and the wife of John Fllison, Jr. Mrs. Anne Ellison obtained it of her husband, and he of his father, who survived until 1830.

 

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For some time prior to his capture, Andrew Ellison had been going to his farm, two miles east of Manchester, in the morning, and remaining at work until evening. He took his noon-day meal along in a basket. On the morning of the day of his capture, he had eaten his breakfast with his family, and taken his noon-day lunch and started to his farm. While on his way, afoot, he was surprised by a band of Indians. The first intimation he had of their presence was the rattling of their shot pouches and in an instant they had him surrounded and seized. They forced him to run about half a mile to the top of a steep hill away from the traveled paths. They then tied him with buffalo thongs to a tree, till they scouted about to their own satisfaction. When ready to march, they cut the buffalo thongs with a knife, took his hat and basket of provisions, and compelled him to take off his shoes and march in moccasins. They also compelled him to carry a heavy load. At night they fastened him to a tree.

 

His failure to return home in the evening was the first intimation his family had of his capture. Major Beasley was the commander of the station at Manchester at that time, and not General Massie. When Mr. Ellison failed to return at the usual time, his wife went to Major Beasley and asked that a rescue party be sent out at once. The Major fearing an ambuscade, did not deem it wise to move out in the evening, but early next morning he took out a party in pursuit. They discovered Mr. Ellison's hat and shoes, and the pieces of buffalo thongs, with which he had been tied directly after his capture.

 

The party determined to pursue no farther, having come to the conclusion that the Indians desired to retain Mr. Ellison as a prisoner, and that if they pursued and attacked them while on the retreat, the Indians would probably kill him at once. They concluded that his chances for his return alive would be better by allowing •him to escape, if he could and so gave up the pursuit.

 

The Indians took him first to their Chillicothe towns, where they compelled him to run the gauntlet, and in which ordeal he was severely beaten, but he was not compelled to go through this punishment a second time, or at any other place. The Indians took him to Detroit, where a Mr, Brent, an Englishman, who heard his story and sympathized with him, bought him from the Indian who claimed to own him, for a blanket, and not for $100 as stated by Howe. Mr. Brent furnished him with suitable clothing, and with money for his trip home. He came from Detroit to Cleveland by water, and thence by land, afoot, to Man-, Chester, in September, r793, and surprised his family by his appearance among them. From his capture until his return, they had heard nothing of him nor he of them.

 

Andrew Ellison and his wife, Mary, were both born in County Tyrone, Ireland. About 1797, he took up a large tract of land on Lick Fork of Brush Creek, four miles north of West Union, and there he built a stone house, which was the pride of his time. It is said that upon its completion, he and his wife went upon the hill opposite to have a view of it, and upon the view they concluded that they had the grandest house in the country. It was modeled after houses he had seen in Ireland.

 

It is said that Mr. Ellison selected this location on account of the abundance of game in that vicinity. Within site of the old stone house

 

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is a celebrated deer lick, where, in December, 1793, Ashael Edgington was waylaid and killed by a band of Indians under Captain Johnny.

 

Mr. Ellison's wife died in 1830 at the age of seventy-five. They are buried on the farm on which the stone house is located. Mr. Ellison was an extensive locator of lands, left great quantities of it to his ren, and gave each a list of surveys.

 

His daughter Margaret married Adam McCormack ; his daughter Isabell married Rev. Dyer Burgess, and his daughter Mary married Thomas Houston. His son Andrew was one of the iron masters in the Hanging Rock region, and died there. For some time his remains were exposed in an iron coffin on the river bank, in pursuance of his own request. His son John married Anna Barr, daughter of Samuel Barr who was killed by the Indians, near what is now Williamsburg, in

the spring of 1792. Mrs. David Sinton, of Cincinnati, Ohio ; Mrs. Thomas W. Means, of Hanging Rock, Ohio, and the first Mrs. Hugh Means, of Ashland, Kentucky, were daughters of John Ellison and Anna Barr

 

Andrew Ellison was thirty-eight years of age when captured, and was one of the few pioneers who walked across the state twice, while it was a virgin forest.

 

Andrew Ellison was a shrewd Irishman. Had all the land he owned been preserved intact, without improvement and owned by a single person to this day, that person would he fabulously wealthy.

 

But while Andrew Ellison could see as far into the future as anyone, we can give one instance in which his judgment turned out wrong. In May, 1796, congress authorized the location of a great highway be between Maysville, Kentucky, and Wheeling, Virginia, by Ebenezer Zane. In the spring of 1797 it was laid out. and as it was then a mere blazed path through the woods, it was called Zane's Trace.

 

Everyone expected that trace to become a great highway between the South and East, and all the settlers were anxious to be near it. Andrew Ellison located his lands on Lick Fork of Brush Creek, and built his great stone house to be along the national highway. He expected many advantages to accrue in the future from his location near the national road. It was a great thoroughfare for travel from the South to the Fast until the railroads began to be built and then its glory departed forever. The great coaches, the horsemen, the freight wagons, the droves of hogs, cattle and mules deserted it, and now it is only a neighborhood road for its entire length. The last to desert it were the mules. Till the opening of the Civil War it was used for driving mules from Kentucky to Zanesville or Pittsburg to be shipped east, but since the Civil War this useful product of Kentucky is shipped by railroad. Andrew Ellison, however, never dreamed and could not anticipate that Zane's Trace would be superseded by railroads.

 

Dr. Alexander Campbell

 

was the only resident of Adams County who attained the position of United States senator. He was born in Greenbriar County, Virginia, in 1779. In childhood he lived in East Tennessee, and afterwards at Crab Orchard, Kentucky. He lost his father, Alexander Campbell,
Sr., the age of twelve years, and up to that time had not attended any

 

280 - STORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

school. His mother purchased a small farm in Woodford County Kentucky, and here he first attended school. He went to Lexington and studied medicine with Drs. Reighley and Brown, beginning in 1799 In 1801 he began. to practice medicine at Cynthiana, Kentucky. Here he married a daughter of Col. Alexander Dunlap, and while here was elected a member of the Kentucky legislature.

 

In 1804 he removed to that part of Adams County afterwards set off to Brown County. In 1807 he was elected as a member of the Legislature from Adams County ; and re-elected in 1808 and 1809. On December 12, 1809, he was elected speaker of the house. On the same day Edward Tiffin resigned as United States senator, leaving four years yet to serve, and Dr. Campbell was elected to fill the vacancy. The vote stood: Alexander Campbell, 38; Richard Thompson, of Lebanon, 29; Thomas Worthington, 1 ; James Pritchard, 1, and David Findlay, In the senate he voted against the declaration of war with Great Britain, and against renewing the charter of the United States Bank. During the time he was United States senator, he rode horseback to Washington, D. C., and return, to attend the sessions of Congress. He was a merchant from 18o3 to 1815, and purchased his goods in Philadelphia. He made the purchases personally twice each year, and rode from this home to Philadelphia and hack, on horseback, for that purpose.

 

He moved to Ripley in 1815, and resided there until his death. In 1820 he was a presidential elector, and voted for James Monroe. After the organization of Brown County, he was in the state senate in 1822 and 1823 ; and in the house from Brown County in 1832 and 1833. In 1826 he was a candidate for governor, and had 4,675 votes. In 1836, he was again a presidential elector, and voted for William Henry Harrison. He was mayor of Ripley from 1838 to -1840. He died November 5, 1857, and has an imposing monument in the new cemetery at Ripley. He was one of the first physicians in Ripley, and was eminent in his profession. He possessed the confidence of all who knew him, and was a most popular citizen; not because he sought it, but because his character commanded public approbation. He was of anti-slavery views and principles all his life.

 

John Ellison, Jr.,

 

was born at Almah, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1779, soh of Andrew Ellison who has a, sketch herein. He came to this county with his father, and mother when he was eleven years of age and located at Manchester in the Stockade. He was elected sheriff of Adams County in 1806, and served until 1810, two terms. It was in December 8, 1808. while he was sheriff that David Becket was hung, the only legal execution which ever took place in the county.

 

On February 6, 1808, he was married to Anna Barr, who was a superior and most excellent woman. From December 10, 1811, until January 12, 1812, until February he served in the Ohio Legislature with William Russell as his colleague. Again from December 12, 1812, until February 9, 1813, he represented Adams County in the legislature with William Russell. From December 6, 1813, until February 11, 1814, he was in the legislature with John W. Campbell as his colleague. From December 5, 1814, to February 16, 1815, he represented Adams in the

 

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legislature with Nathaniel Beasley as his colleague. In the fourteenth legislative session, he was not a member, but from December 2, 1816, unti1 January 28, 1817, he was a member of the house of representatives from Adams with Thomas Kirker as his colleague.

 

He bought the Buckeye Station farm in 1818 of Judge Charles Willmg Byrd and paid $5,500 for it. At that time, there were 700 acres of it. This was his home until his death on April 10, 1829, in the fiftieth year of his age. His eldest son, Andrew Barr Ellison, was born in Manchester, December 19, 1808.

 

 

 

Judge Robert Morrison

 

had quite a checkered career. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, November 29, 1782. His father died while he was an infant, and he was reared by his mother. She was a Presbyterian and her instructions and prayers followed him all his life. But she did not only instruct and pray for him. She was a firm believer in King Solomon's theories as to the rod and she carried them into practice. One day he ran out of school without permission and started home. The teacher pursued him and Robert threw a stone and lamed him. When he reached home, his mother learned of his escapade, and promised him a whipping the next morning. He lay awake all night thinking about it, but he received it and remembered it all his life. His education was very meagre, and when a mere boy he was put out to learn the trade of a linen weaver. Before he was nineteen years of age, he was engaged in manufacturing and selling linen cloth. Being of a very adventuresome disposition, he joined the United Irishmen, and as result of it was he was compelled to flee from Ireland to save his life. Lord Fitzgerald smuggled him out of Ireland. He came to this country accompanied by his mother and an uncle. He landed at New York 1801 in the nineteenth year of his age. He went to South Carolina with his uncle and mother to visit two paternal uncles. South Carolina did not impress young Morrison, and he went to Kentucky in 1802, and located near Flemingsburg. While here, he connected himself with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and in 1803 married Miss Mary Mitchell, sister of Judge Mitchell, of Preble County, and the day after his marriage, he and his bride set out for Ohio. They settled on Cherry Fork. He purchased a tract of land all in forest. Sometime after his purchase, adverse claims being made, he went to Lexington, Kentucky, and consulted the great Henry Clay as to his title. Clay advised him that his title was good, hut that he had better buy off the claim than to litigate. Mr. Clay's fee was five dollars for the advice. Young Morrison dug the first grave in the Cherry Fork burying ground, and was one of those' who organized the Cherry Fork A. R. Church in 1805. The congregation then consisted of twelve or fifteen families. He was naturalized at the April term of 1810 of the Adams Court of Common Pleas. In 1813, he lost his wife. She left six children, one only seven days old. He was almost immediately called into the war, and went with an expedition to Fort Wayne. In this, he was Captain Morrison, commanding a company of dragoons. In the general call in 1814, he served as captain of a company of infantry, and was part of the time acting colonel of the regiment. During the campaign he

 

282 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

formed a great friendship for Gen. William Henry Harrison, and the latter offered him a captain's commission in the regular army, but he declined. On June 28, 1814, he married Miss Phoebe McGowan, who survived him. In 1816, he was made a ruling elder in the church at North Liberty. In December, 1817, he was elected to the legislature. He was re-elected in 1818, 1819 and 1820. While serving in the legislature, he was elected a brigadier general of the militia. In the legislature, he defeated a bill to abolish capital punishment. After serving four terms in the legislature, he declined renomination. On Feb 21, 1821, he had his friend, Thomas Kirker, elected an associate judge of Adams County. Gov. Kirker did not like the place and resigned in October, 1821. The governor appointed Robert Morrison in his place. On the fourth of February, 1822, he was elected to the full term of seven years, re-elected in 1829 and served until 1836. In 1838, he was reelected and served until the new constitution took effect on September 1, 1851. One who knew him best has written the following comments on his character :

"His early education was very limited, hut in reality he educated himself as a good practical lawyer while occupying the position of Associate Judge in Adams County. He became remarkably familiar with the principles of the common law. His friendly advice was frequently sought in disputers likely to go into the courts. His advice was always against going to law. Often both parties to a controversy would come to him for advice. If it were a matter of dollars and cents merely, he would advise a compromise. If t were a matter of principle, he was uncompromising as any other hard-headed Irishman. When it was a matter of right and wrong, he always sought to have the party in the wrong concede the fact. The more hostile the parties were, the greater efforts he would make to bring them together."

 

In his large family, his word was law, His children all understood that. It was seldom he had to use Solomon's remedy among his among children. The idea of neglecting or refusing to obey any command of his never, at any time, entered one of his children's minds. He had the respect of all who knew him, and as to those who did not know him, he had a natural dignity which commanded their respect. Most of the associate judges were content to be nobodies, but it was not so with him. He was a force wherever 'he was. He was endowed with a wonderful amount of common sense, possessed great tact, was overflowing with kindly humor and was kind and courteous to all. As an officer of the church, he kept down all difficulties. Had he lived in the time of the judges in Israel, he would have been one of them. In his early days, he was a Jefferson Democrat, but he was anti-slavery, and that took him away from that party, and placed him in opposition to it.

 

After retiring from the duties of associate judge in 1851, he resided quietly on his farm till he was called hence on the tenth day of February, 1863.

 

The following are the names of his children, with the dates of their births :

 

Alexander, born 1804, married Elizabeth Ewing.

 

Sarah, born October 25, 1805, married John S. Patton.

 

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Mitchell, born October 9, 1807, married Jane Wright, second time a Ewing.

 

Nancy, born October 21, 1809, married W. D. Ewing.

 

James, born September 21, 1811, married Rebecca Ewing, second wife’s name unknown.

 

Mary, January 21, 1816, married William Eckman.

 

John, August 8, 1817, married Julia Ann Pittinger. He was the merchant at Eckmansville for many years.

 

Robert, August 12, 1819, married Flizabeth Patton. He and his are both living.

 

Marion, June 8, 1821, married Elizabeth T. Brown. He is living Mission Ridge, Neb.

 

Elizabeth, August 3, 1823, married William McMillen.

 

William, July 20, 1828, married Emiline Allison.

 

Harvey, March 12, 1831, died in childhood.

 

Matilda, April 4, 1833, married first Mr. Glass, and second, Mr. Pittinger.

 

Robert, July 12, 1813, died an infant.

 

Colonel John Means.

 

The people of Ohio are more indebted to this high-minded southern gentleman than they are aware. He was the first to develop the iron interests of southern Ohio. He was of old Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock. The family name has been written MacMeans and it is the same as Mayne or Maynes. William Means, his father, was born in Ireland and was married to Nancy Simonton. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Juniata County, Pennsylvania, about 1760. From there he removed to the Union District in South Carolina, where he resided during the Revolution. He embraced the side of the Colonies, and being confined to his home by disease, was subjected to great annoyance by the Tories. A part of the time his family was supported by a slave, Bob, a native of Africa, and at one time, they compelled to live on wheat boiled in water, not being able to procure other provisions. With all their privations, they had eight children; James, Hugh, Margaret, Mary, William, Rachael, John and Jane. The eldest, James, was born in Ireland. Mary married William Davitte and moved with her husband to Adams County in 18o2, and to Edgar County in Illinois in 1812.

 

Our subject, John, the seventh child, was born March 14, 1770, in South Carolina. He grew to manhood at the place of his birth, and married Anne Williamson, the daughter of Thomas and Anne
Williamson, of Spartanburg District, on the tenth of April, 1798. Prior to this marriage, he united with the Presbyterian Church. He lived in Union District, South Carolina, with his mother until after her death in 1799. Soon after his mother's death, he moved to Spartanburg District and engaged in farming, merchandise and tanning. At the time he removed to Spartanburg District, the only company of militia near his home had for their captain, one Burton, whose father had been a Tory in the Revolutionary War. John Means' dislike of the Tories was so strong that, though the law required him to belong to the militia, he would not join Bruton's company, but got up one of his own, rather

 

284 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

than to serve under the son of one of those who had persecuted his father during the war. During the War of 1812, he was commissioned a colonel of the militia in South Carolina, but was never called into active service. He was a member of the South Carolina legislature in 1815 and 1816. He and his wife both believed that slaves had souls and that they should be taught to read the Bible. This was not lawfull in South Carolina, Col. Means determined to remove to Ohio, where his brother William had preceded him in 18o2, and his brother-in-law, the Rev. William Williamson, in 1805. He .emigrated to 0hio in 1819 and took with him twenty-four slaves to give them their freedom. On reaching Manchester, he purchased a farm one mile west of Bentonville, now owned by A. V. Hutson. He erected a suitable dwelling and buildings in 1824, and built quarters for his freedmen, In 0ctober, 1821, he was elected county commissioner of Adams County and served one term. In 1824, he was elected a member of the legislature from Adams County and served at the ensuing session and that of 1825. During his first session in legislature, the canal project occupied very much attention, and at his first session, William Henry Harrison was elected United States senator, in place of Ethan Allen Brown, whose term had expired. He was re-elected to the twenty fourth legislative in the fall of 1825, which remained in session from the fifth of December, 1825, until the fifth of February, 1826. During this session, there were land assessors chosen, who made their returns to the state auditor, and during this session, the first State Board of Equalization was created, with fourteen members, one for each con: congressional district.

 

Col. Means was in sentiment, anti-slavery, and an Abolitionist. He always declared slavery to be a moral and political evil, though he was not the same kind of an Abolitionist as the Rev. Dyer Burgess, who afterwards married his daughter. He and Mr. Burgess often had heated discussions on the subject of slavery, owing to their differences. He watched over and cared for his former slaves as long as he lived, and when nearing the end of his life, he often expressed himself gratified with his action in freeing his slaves, and bringing his family into a free state. He mined the first iron in Adams County. He built the Brush Creek Forge Furnace and made iron there. He was one of the partners who built Union Furnace, the first furnace built in Ohio the Hanging Rock Region. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Manchester. He died on the fifteenth of March, 1837, and is interred in the Manchester cemetery, adjoining the Presbyteri Church. His wife survived him until November 30, 1840. He was sincere Christian, an honorable, upright and successful business man. His wife was a remarkable woman. She was of the same views as her husband on slavery, and noted for her piety and good works.

 

It is mainly through their children this eminent couple are known to this generation. They had six children, Elizabeth Williamson, born in 1799, married Dr. Wm. M. Voris in 1827, and by him was the mother of three daughters, one of whom was the wife of the Hon. William Cutler, of Marietta, Ohio. Dr. Voris died of the cholera in Cincinnati, June 8, 1835. In 1842, she married the Rev. Dyer Burgess, an became his widow in 1872, hut lived until February 28, 1889, to the

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 285

 

great age of ninety. A son, Thomas Williamson Means, was known to all the business men of southern Ohio. He was born in South Carolina, November 23, 1803, and came with his father to Ohio, in 1819. He married Sarah Ellison, December 4, 1828. He has a separate sketch in this book. Another son of Col. Means, the late Hugh Means, of Ashland Kentucky, also has a separate sketch in this book.

 

Col. Means tells us of himself and his views and labor through his children and grandchildren, who are foremost in the land, and the memory of a man who had the conscience and moral courage to be an Abolitionist in South Carolina in 1819, and to demonstrate his faith by removing hundreds of miles into a new country to free his slaves and to place his family in a free state, deserves to have a place of remembrance in the hearts of this generation. Such moral heroism should be inscribed in lasting tablets in the Treasure House of Fame.

 

General William Kendall.

 

His father, Jeremiah Kendall, was a relative of General Anthony Wayne. He was in the Revolutionary War for five years, entering at the age of eighteen years. He was wounded at the battle of Brandywine, and for two years afterward he was secretary to General Washington. His wife was Rhoda McIntire of Scotch descent. Our subject was born on November 23, 1783. Directly after the Revolutionary War, his father, Jeremiah Kendall, removed from Fauquier County, Virginia, to a farm near old Red Stone Fort, Pennsylvania. In 1784, be started with a flatboat to New Orleans, intending to take a cargo of buffalo meat, vension and other game, expecting to obtain it on his way down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Samuel Davis and Lewis Wetzel were with him as skilled hunters. When below the falls of the Ohio, they were attacked by six canoes filled with Indians. They fired a blunderbuss loaded with thirty-six rifle balls among the Indian canoes, and drove them off. After many adventures, they reached New Orleans, sold their cargo and walked back to their homes. Jeremiah Kendall, served two years under General Anthony Wayne against the Indians. He was in the battle of Fallen Timbers and at the Treaty of Greenville, and was wounded several times in that campaign.

 

William Kendall was his oldest son, who first settled on Paint Creek in Ross County, but afterward went to the site of Portsmouth, Ohio, with Henry Massie before the town was laid out.

 

On May 29, 1806, William Kendall married Rachael Brown, daughter of Captain John Brown. The Brown residence stood upon the spot now occupied by the government building in Portsmouth, Ohio. Captain John Brown had been a Revolutionary soldier and an officer in the War of 1812. The old well was in the middle of Sixth street. A mill, a garden and an orchard were north of this. The farm covered what is now the Central Park of the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, William Kendall built the first court house in Xenia, and cleared the timber off the public square for that purpose. In 1809, he was elected an associate judge of Scioto County, but it does not appear how long he served, as the records during whatever time he served have been lost or destroyed.

 

286 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

In the War of 1812, he commanded a troop of cavalry under General William Henry Harrison, and the muster roll of his company is preserved. The same fall he was elected to the Legislature to represent Scioto County, and re-elected in 1813.

 

In Portsmouth, Ohio, he resided on the first alley below the Biggs House, and kept a store there. In a room on the second floor, was the Commercial Bank of which he was a director.

 

In 1816, he was treasurer of Scioto County, with a salary of $54.53. In 1818, he built, at the mouth of Brush Creek, as a home, a two story frame house, which is still standing, also a flouring mill, a store and two saw mills, and was in partnership with George Herrod, who in. married his sister, Elizabeth Kendall, while the family were still in Pennsylvania. The firm started a boat yard for the construction of steamboats and flatboats. In 1824 he built the first steamboat in Scioto County. It wad called the "Herald," and afterwards, the "Ohio." It ran on the Ohio River many years. The "Belvidere" was built under the supervision of Captain Rogers and was owned by Lodwick & Company Kendall and Herrod afterward became contractors for the construction of the Ohio Canal. For fifteen years he was brigade inspector of the Ohio militia. He was also on the staff of Gov. Robert Lucas, who was his brother-in-law, and became a brigadier general of milita

 

In 1820, he was auditor of Scioto County, but resigned in 1821. In December, 1821, he was elected to the Legislature to represent Scioto, Pike and Lawrence counties in the house. In December, 1822, he was elected to represent the same counties in the senate, and served until 1824. This same year he was a presidential elector and voted for Henry Clay, and in the same year was appointed deputy surveyor for the military districts of Scioto County, Ohio, and served until 1848

 

In 1825, he was elected to represent Pike, Scioto and Lawrence counties in the house. In 1828, William Kendall built Scioto Furnace which was the first furnace in the southern Ohio iron field. He afterward built Clinton and Buckhorn furnaces. The lot for the courthouse in Portsmouth, Ohio, was donated by Henry Brush. The contract for erecting the court house was let to William Kendall for $12,650, and he built it in 1837. It was considered a fine building in that day.

 

In 1828 and 1829, he represented Scioto, Pike, Jackson and Lawrence counties in the senate.

 

In 1835 and 1836, he represented the same counties in the senate. In 1836, he was presidential elector and voted for William Henry Harrison. In 1837 and 1838, he represented Adams, Brown and Scioto counties in the house with Nelson Barrere, of Adams County, as his colleague.

 

In 1842, he was appointed post master of Portsmouth, Ohio, and served four years. He kept the poSt office on the corner of Second and Market streets, where the Massie Block now stands.

 

He was elected to the Ohio senate in October, 1847, and served until March 26, 1849. He served six terms in the house, and five terms in the senate.

 

His first wife, Rachael Brown, died November 26, 1820, and he: was married to Christina Lawson, his second wife, on October 2, 1821.

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 287

 

His son, Milton Kendall, married his wife's sister, consequently he was a brother-in-law to his own son, he having married the eldest daughter and his son the youngest. His second wife died August 2, 1840, and he married for a third wife, Mrs. Ruth Claypool, of Chillicothe, who survived him a number of years.

 

He was a Whig, and took an active part in politics on that side allhis his life. During his entire life in Portsmouth there was no public enterprise went on unless he was connected with it in Some way or other. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the state. Whenever his party was in doubt as to a candidate, it was always suggested, "Let us take Kendall; he will make a safe and sure man," and he was. He had a habit of getting there and being elected. This was because he was always popular. He was large-hearted and hospitable. He was candid, at the same time never sought to obtrude his views on any one, and was tolerant. He was active in his habits, but hiS disposition was mild, and he was always calm and deliberate. He was the father of fifteen children, and left numerous descendants.

 

 General Kendall came to Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1805, as a trader and for several years was engaged in mercantile and trading pursuits. He was a faithful friend, a kind neighbor, and a public-spirited citizen. No man was more universally beloved and respected. He possessed

uncommon equanimity ; he was seldom disturbed in mind or conduct, mo matter what happened. He had a sound judgment. He died August 2, 1849, of a lingering consumption, perfectly resigned, having for a long time been expecting and desiring the final end. He was a tall, spare man, nearly six feet high, complexion between light and dark, blue eyes, and very active. He took hold of many enterprises and was very popular. No more active or energetic citizen ever resided in Scioto County, and none was ever more intimately connected public affairs.

 

Hugh Means

 

was born October 14, 1812, at Spartanburg, South Carolina, the son of Colonel John Means, who has a separate sketch herein. His mother was Annie Williamson, sister of Rev.William Williamson, also sketched herein. His father and mother moved to Adams County when Hugh was but seven years of age. He received his education mostly in Ohio at West Union, Ripley, and other schools. He commenced his business career at West Union, at about sixteen years of age, with his brother, Thomas W. Means, who was engaged in merchandising there. He remained with his brother, Thomas, about three years, and then went to Union Furnace in 1831, first as a store-keeper, and afterwards sold their iron.

 

In 1835 he went to Greene County, Alabama, and engaged with his brother, James W., in merchandising. In 1837 he returned to Ohio on account of his father's death on November 15, 1837, and remained on the home farm in Sprigg Township, until his mother's death, November 30, 1840. In that year he was married to Miss Ella Ellison, who died in Catlettsburg in 1851.

 

In October, 1843, he was elected to the Legislature from Adams County, and served one term. At that time, Adams, Fayette, and Highland were in one legislative ditrict, and had two representatives.

 

284 -HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

Burnham Martin, of Fayette County, was his colleague. After this, he was engaged at merchandising at Portsmouth, Ohio.

 

In 1847 he became one of the partners in building Buena Vista Furnace in Boyd County, Kentucky, with James W. Means, John Culbertson, and William Foster. In 1848 he built a residence in Catlettsburg, Ky., and removed his home there.

 

In 1851 he was married to Miss Amanda Wilson. He resided in Catlettsburg, Kentucky, until 1856, when he removed to Ashland, Kentucky, where he continued to reside the remainder of his life. He was one of the charterers of the Bank of Ashland, and was its president from its organization. He was one of the original owners of the town plat of Ashland, and helped to organize the town, and as such, was one of the original members in the Ashland Coal and Iron Company.

 

In 1872, when the Ashland National Bank was organized, he was made its president, and continued such until his death.

 

Politically, he was a Whig so long as that party existed. At the organization of the Republican party, he. identified himself with that, and continued affiliated with it all his life. During the Civil War he was a staunch friend of the Union, and did all he could for its cause. However, he never put himself forward in any political movement.

 

He was a member of the Presbyterian Church since 1849. He was elected to the office of deacon, and was treasurer for many years, In 1872 he was made a ruling elder in the church, and served as such during his life. This was a position for which he was eminently fitted in every way. He kept himself well informed on all current topics of the day, and was deeply interested in all ethical questions. He, however, had no taste for speaking in public assemblies, but when he did speak, his character and life spoke for him. He was of polished manners, refined in taste, exceptional in correct habits, of the strictest integrity, and of great purity of life. He was respected, honored, and loved by all who knew him. His deeds of charity were numerous, but were done so unostentatiously that their extent could never be told. He had an interest in every enterprise of the church. He was diligent in his business and in his work for the church. In person, he was tall and slender, with admirable hearing, but always of a delicate constitution. He had no childern by his first marriage. By his second he had four. His eldest, William, died in 1878. His son, Charles W. Means, is cashier of the Ashland National Bank.

 

He died December 15, 1884. His widow and two daughters reside in Asheville, North Carolina.

 

Henry L. Phillips

 

was born in Highland County, Ohio, September 13, 1829, received a common school education, studied medicine and began practicing in Adams County. He was married to Martha A. Bloomhuff, September 10, 1856. Three children were born to them: Cora, now a teacher in the public schools of Manchester Dudley B. and Fannie, now the wife of W. D. Vance. He entered the loth 0. V. I. in the fall of 1861, as first lieutenant and adjutant. He was afterwards made captain in the same regiment and detailed as acting assistant adjutant general. He was next made a lieutenant colonel, and continued in that grade and com-

 

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manded the 10th Ohio until it was discharged August 14, 1865. He was in all the important engagements in which his regiment participated and went with Sherman to the sea. In 1865, while still in the service, he was elected to the Legislature as the representative from Adams

County. He was a member of Manchester Lodge, No. 317, F. and A. M., by which order he was buried July 27, 1866, having died of malarial fever and a chronic disease contracted in the army.

 

Joseph Wilkins Eylar

 

was born in Carlisle, Brown County, Ohio, March 11, 1847. Before he was a year old, his parents removed to Winchester, Ohio, where they resided until 1856, when they removed to Youngsville, where they resided until 1860, when they removed to West Union. Our subject attended public schools at Winchester. at Grace's Run near Youngsville, and at West Union. While in West Union, between terms of school, he went into the employment of Billings and Patterson, who were publishing the Democratic Union. In 1862, he went to Georgetown where he worked at the printer's trade under John G. Doran, publisher of the Southern Ohio Argus. In 1862, he went with his father in the army, acting as teamster and forage master. He was with Burnside's Army in Fast Tennessee in 1863. Just before the siege of Knoxville, Eylar was one of a party sent with dispatches from General Burnside to the commandant at Cumberland Gap, directing the forwarding of commissary supplies. The party carrying the dispatches went from Knoxville to the gap by a circuitous route and narrowly escaped capture by the rebels. They however, delivered the dispatches safely, and from there young Eylar went home. That winter he spent in school and from there went into the office of the Democratic Union, at West Union. He remained there until the summer of 1865 when he went to Fayette County and worked in a huh and spoke factory until September when he returned to West Union and undertook to establish a Democratic newspaper in Adams County. He walked over the county canvassing for subscribers

and on the nineteenth of January, 1866, he launched the Peoples' Defender on the troubled sea of journalism. As a newspaper, it was a success from the start. Mr. Fylar seemed to have a talent for newspaper work. and was able to make the paper as good as it could be with the support he had in Adams County. The paper and its editor, Mr. Eylar, prospered right along.

 

In March, 1889, he was married to Mary Ellen Oldson, daughter of James R. Oldson, of West Union. He has had four children, Margaret Ann, William Allen, James Norton and Lotta Sinclare.

 

In 1876, Mr. Fylar was elected to the Legislature from Adams County as the representative of his party and re-elected in 1878. During his two terms, he secured the passage of more bills than any one who had ever preceded him in the representation of AdamS Comity. He made a record as a most efficient legislator.

 

In 1890, after having published the Peoples' Defender successfully for twenty-four years, he sold it to Fdward A. Crawford and removed to Georgetown, Ohio, where he purchased an interest in the Georgetown News Democrat and has been its editor and publisher ever since.

 

 

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Mr. Eylar is a Democrat in the intensest sense of the word. While there may be, and doubtless are, Democrats whose faith in the tenets of their party is only sentimental, that is not the case with Mr. Eylar. His democracy is eighteen carats fine. He not only believes it, but he thinks, acts and lives it. The Defender under his management was an able newspaper. Many thought at timeS he was too pungent and sarcastic and sometimes too abusive, hut his friends stood by him and he succeeded.

 

Mr. Eylar is a good friend, a good neighbor, a bad enemy, and a good citizen. He believes in the broad religion of humanity and practices it every day of his life. With the foundations he was able to lay in his boyhood and youth, he has made a superstructure with which he and his personal political friends can be well satisfied and of which they can be proud.

 

James L. Coryell.

 

James L. Coryell was born near West Union, February 22, 1830. His father was Salathiel Corvell, and his mother, Nancy Holmes, daughter of James Holmes. His father was born in Mason County, Ky., and located in Adams County in 1801. The Coryell family came from the state of New Jersey. Up to twenty years of age, our subject worked on his father's farm in the summer and attended school in the winter. At twenty years, he became a teacher in the public schools, followed that profession for about nine years, and in that time, was county school examiner for two years. In 1853, he removed to West Union and became a teacher in the upper district, and when not engaged in teaching, was employed in the county auditor's office. He was always a Democrats and in 1859, was by that party elected to the office of county auditor an re-elected in 1861. He filled the office with satisfaction to the public and great credit to himself. In 1864, he was elected justice of the peacec for Tiffin Township and was re-elected in 1867, and served as such for about six years. During this time, he also followed the occupation of surveyor. In the discharge of his duties as justice, he brought to his aid a calm, judicial mind and temper. He was a most excellent surveyor In 1869 he was elected probate judge of Adams County and was re-elected in 1872 and 1875. In 1879, he was elected Adams County's representative in the Legislature and served two terms. In 1875 he was admitted to the bar of Ohio. In April, 1886, he was again elected a justic of the peace in Tiffin Township, and continued to hold it by successive re-elections until the time of his death. He was first married to Miss. Mary McGranagan, of Manchester, and by her was the father of three children ; Lydia, the wife of Orlando Burwell, of Cincinnati ; Nancy, the wife of C. C. W. Naylor, of Manchester ; W. C. Coryell, the well-known attorney in West Union, and Julia, wife of Fdward Hughes, of Man Chester, but now deceased. His wife died in 1866 and in 1869 he mar tied Mrs. Hannah McFerran, widow of Major John W. McFerran, who died in the service of his country in the Civil War. From 1867 to to 1880 and from April, 1889, until his death, he served as a member of th board of education of West Union. As a school teacher and surveyor he was most efficient. As a public officer, he discharged his duties wit promptness, thoroughly, and with satisfaction to all who had busine before him.

 

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In the probate office. he systematized the manner of transacting its business and keeping its records. To all cases in that court he gave a patient and calm hearing, and in their disposition displayed a broad and sound judgment, which commanded the respect of all. As a lawyer, he was a safe and prudent counselor. He was not an advocate but in the management of estates, he had the confidence of all the people he in the county, and that confidence was well deserved, and never abused. He was of an even and calm temper, never excited or perturbed, and at no time did he ever lose his mental balance. He had a taste for local history and reminiscences from boyhood, and his mind was stored with historical facts about the county and its citizens. Whenever he learned a fact, he never forgot it. His reminiscences of Adams County would have made a most interesting book. The writer has often suggested to him that he ought to have written the history of Adams County, and had he done so, it would have been a most readable book, but he never could be induced to write out and preserve the many interesting facts in the past of the county with which his mind was stored. The writer never would have taken an interest in the history of Adams County and this book never would have been written, so far as he is concerned, had it not been for the interest awakened in him by Judge Coryell, in his many interviews with him. On men and events in the past history of the County, Judge Coryell was a most interesting conversationalist, and no one could listen to him without becoming interested. The writer was not only deeply interested in the many events narrated to him by Judge Coryell, but also felt these events should be preserved in a printed book and hence this history, the work of himself and his associate, Mr. Stivers.

 

And to Judge Coryell's wonderful faculty of remembering past events and relating them in an interesting manner to his friends, the patrons and readers of this work may largely attribute any pleasure they may have in reading that portion of this work prepared by the writer of this sketch.

 

Hon. John B. Young.

 

The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, Daniel Young, emigrated from the north of Ireland to the state of New Jersey prior to the Revolution, in which he was a soldier in a New Jersey regiment. He was a pensioner, and died in Adams County, Ohio, and is buried in the Foster cemetery, in Greene Township. His son, Thomas W. Young, was born in New Jersey, September 4, 1783, and died January 10, 1867. He was the grandfather of our subject, and his wife was Mary Finney, who was born in Ireland February 11, 1788, and died in 1870. She is also buried in the Foster cemetery. Daniel Young, father of our subject was born October 27, 1813, in Pennsylvania; and died in Adams County April 18, 1850. He married Clarinda Brooks, who was born in Chemung County, New York, March 9, 1811, and died September 14, 1860.

 

Johnn B. Young was born February 19, 1839, in Jefferson Township, Adams County, Ohio, where he has ever since resided. When he was eleven years old, his father died, and John B. was put under the charge of a great uncle, George Young, with whom he made his home until his sixteenth year. After working for a few months for Daniel Spurgeon, he returned to his mother's home, where he remained until she married John Scott. In April, 1859, he entered school in West Union tender the

 

292 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

tutorship of the late Judge J. L. Corvell, and prepared himself to teach in the country schools of Adams County, receiving his first certificate to teach in the year 1859. While tinder the instruction of Judge Coryell the latter became a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the nomination for county auditor. He was anxious about the delegates from Jefferson Township, and sent our subject there to try to secure the pledges of ten delegates which were needed to insure the nomination for the judge. After much political wire-pulling, eleven pledges were secured and the judge was assured the coveted nomination. This was the first political work of our subject beyond township affairs, and he had not then attained his majority.

 

In September, 1859, he began teaching in Jefferson Township at twenty-five dollars per month, paying five dollars per month for boarding. He continued teaching as a profession until he enlisted in the Civil War, August 11, 1862, at Buena Vista, Scioto County, Ohio, under Captain Henry; Company H, 81st Regiment, 0. V. I. Colonel Morton in command. He served until mustered out at Louisville, July 13, 1865. During his term of service, he waS ,engaged in the following battles Tuscumbia, Town Creek, Lay's Ferry, Rome X Roads, Dallas, Siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro, Lovejoy's Station, Kennesaw Mountain, Sherman March to the Sea, the march through the Carolinas, and Bentonville.

 

Five days after his enlistment in the service, he was married Deidamia Thompson, who has borne him ten children—Isaac D., Edmund Lee, Clement L., John H., Inda, Thomas M., Thomas F., Sarah, Mary and Anna.

 

In 1883, he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for representative from Adams County in the Ohio Legislature; and after one of the most stubbornly contested political battles, he was elected, his opponent being Robert H. Ellison, of Manchester, a wealthy banker of that place. His record in the legislature was eminently satisfactory to his party, and he was nominated for a second term, hut defeated by a few votes in a year which the entire Democratic ticket was overwhelmed in Adams County. He has held many positions of trust and honor, and has long been a leader of the Democratic party in his native county. He is a member of the Christian Union Church, and has served for years as elder in that organization.

 

William Alfred Blair,

 

a merchant of Tranquility, Adams County, Ohio, was born April 13, 1829, on a farm Six miles northwest of Tranquility. His ancestors were of Scotch-Irish stock. Joseph Wallace Blair, father of our subject, was born in Tennessee, December 22, 1799. When thirteen years of age, he accompanied his parents to Adams County, Ohio, and for a number of years was engaged in farming. His father, being afflicted with rheumatism, gave his attention to school teaching and merchandising, first opening a small store at Belfast, Highland County, Ohio associated for a time with the Hon. John T. Wilson. The last twenty-five years of his life were spent on a farm of 155 acres, located near Russellville, Brown County, Ohio, where he died February 9, 1878, and was buried in the Red Oak cemetery in that county. Polly Ann Blair, mother of our subject, was born January 12, 1807, and died November

 

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12, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Blair were married in 1827, and were the parants of twelve children, six of whom are still living.

 

W. A. Blair, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the early days of his boyhood from his parents and in the district common schools of those days in Adams and Highland counties. He remained with his parents until fifteen years of age, when he came to live with the Hon. John T. Wilson, of Tranquility, and was employed to do general work around the store. He remained with that gentleman nine years, and acquired an interest in the store. In 1853 he accepted a position in the dry goods establishment of B. L. Jefferson, of Ports. ,mouth, Ohio, and shortly afterward bought a half interest in the business, which partnership continued for two years. Mr. Blair next spent one year in merchandising at South Webster, Ohio, and in August, 1856, he returned to Tranquility and purchased the old Wilson store, then owned by Silcott & Mathews, and located on the hill. Five years :later Mr. Blair built his present store room and dwelling, into which he moved in January, 1862. . He was married September 18, 1856, to

Mary Jane, daughter of John and Narcissa McCreight, of Adams County. Mr. and Mrs. Blair have had the following children : Frank Granville, born November 23, 1857, is conducting the store at Tranquility, married Lulu America Wasson, by whom he had one child, Earl Clyde; John Joseph, born September 24, 1859, is engaged in the banking business at Peebles, Ohio, married Espy Jane Patton, and they have one child, Charles Patton ; Spencer Wilson, born December 29, 1865, is employed in his father's store ; Blanchard Grier, born January 18, 1869, is a clerk in the Ripley National Bank, Ripley, Ohio. W. A. Blair is a man of considerable means, of great business experience and ability, and his probity of character and uprightness in all business affairs, are unquestioned by those who come in contact with Shim. He was in the Civil War, served as second lieutenant in Co. G, 472d 0. V. I. While never aspiring to public honors, he was elected by the Republican party of Adams County, Ohio, in the fall of 1885, As representative from said county to serve in the sixty-seventh General Assembly of Ohio for the years 1886 and 1887. He also served the township of Scott, in Adams County, Ohio, as its treasurer from 1862 Ito 1886, about twenty-four years. In politics he is a Republican; in religion he is a Presbyterian. He was the intimate friend of the late Hon. John T. Wilson ,having known him from childhood, and so throughly did he impress Mr. Wilson that he always placed the most implicit confidence in him, and at the time of his death, Mr. Blair was named as executor, without bond, of the Wilson estate, the largest estate ever left for settlement in Adams County, and he has conducted the administration of the estate with that care and fidelity Mr. Wilson anticipated.

 

Hon. Andrew Clemmer Smith

 

was born a musician. His father was a musician, a trait inherited from generations back. Our subject was born on the seventeenth day of September, 1836, at Mt. Leigh, in Adams County, Ohio. His father, Samuel Smith, was a wool carder and an instructor in vocal music and penmanship. His mother was Barbara Clemmer. Young Smith grew up in a home of industry, song, and peace, until the age of nine, when

 

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his parents removed to North Liberty, where he began to learn the wool carding trade. He spent his winters in the common schools, and his summers at work at wool carding. As might be expected, young Smith developed an extraordinary aptitude for instrumental music, and when a band was organized at North Liberty, under the instructions of Dr. L. D. Sheets, an eminent physician and musician from Baltimore, Md., Andrew was given a position as bass drummer, but in less than six months he was promoted to first B flat cornet. Much of his young manhood was spent in the study and practice of music, arranging music for bands, and instructing them throughout the counties near his home. He went to school, some time at the North Liberty Academy when the Revs. Fisher, Arbuthnot and Andrews presided, successively, over that institution. At the age of seventeen he became a teacher of common schools, receiving a certificate of qualification to that effect from, the county board. Not being able to obtain a school, at that time, he entered the wool carding mill of M. J. Patterson, of Winchester, and remained until the Season closed in 1853, when he entered the dry goods store of George A. Dixon, of Winchester, as salesman. This place he held until the fall of 1854, when he obtained a school. As a teacher he was very successful, and held a prominent position among the teachers of Adams County. For four years prior to the Civil War, he was a teacher in the West Union schools. Two years of the time he taught under the late James L. Coryell, and two years under Rev. W. W. Williams. On July 18, 1861, he enlisted in the 24th Regiment, 0. V. I., at the age of twenty-six, as leader of the regimental band. On September , 1862, he was discharged.

 

He spent the time from September 10, 1862, until March 1, 1863, at his home in Winchester, Ohio. On the latter date he re-entered the military service as a first-class musician in the brigade band, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Army Corps. On April 5, 1863, he left Adams County for Murfreesboro, Tenn., where on April 13, 1863, he was a second time mustered into the U. S. military service. On March 11, 1864, he was made a leader of the band of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 4th Army Corps. He remained with this corps until the first of September, 1865, when he was discharged from the service of the United States at Camp Stanley, Texas. He, however, remained as leader of the band of the 21st Illinois, until that regiment was mustered out in December, 1865. He did not reach home until January 25, 1866. During his service in the Civil War he was present in the following battles : Cheat Mountain, W. Va., Shiloh, Tenn., Murfreesboro, Tenn., Smithville, Corinth, Dalton, Resaca, Atlanta, Chicamauga, Jonesboro, Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville. For personal service rendered Major General Thomas in front of Atlanta, Ga., in September, 1864, Mr. Smith was granted a furlough for thirty days. While at home in this period, he was married to Miss Mary J. Puntenney, daughter of Mr. JameS Puntenney. At the close of the war he took up his residence at his wife's former home at Stout's Run, Greene Township, and, with the exception of three years in West Union, as a teacher, he has lived there ever since. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith five sons and two daughters, of which a daughter and a son died in infancy. Edgar P., the oldest, is a U. P. minister,

 

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and lives in Huntsville, Ohio. Mary Maude married a Methodist Episcopal minister, Rev. William C. Mitchell, and lives in Lynden, Washington; Samuel James was born October 14, 1873, and died March 20, 1896 ; George H. C. and Harry F. were born October 22, 1879, and December 28, 1883, respectively, and still live at home with their parents. Mrs. Mary J. Smith, his wife, was born November 16, 1842. In her young womanhood she was a student under Miss Mary F. Urmston, afterwards Mrs. E. P. Pratt, and under Jas. L. Coryell and Rev. W. W. Williams. She became a teacher and obtained great proficiency in music. For several years she was a teacher of piano music. Mr. Smith and his entire family, with the exception of his married daughter, are members of the United Presbyterian Church, living up to, and according to the ethics of all that church teaches man as to his duty, and the reasons for it. He especially loves to defend, bold and fearless, the sublimity of "the Songs of the Bible."

 

In politics Mr. Smith is a Republican of the "most straightest sect." He firmly believes that the principles of the Republican party carried out by the government are necessary to the welfare and continuous prosperity of the nation.

 

He was elected to the Legislature for the district composed of the Counties of Adams and Pike in November, 1895, and re-elected in 1897. This office came to him unsolicited, and he discharged his duties as he has done everything in life,—on his conscience.

 

Mr. Smith is a man of the highest character. With every movece. ent for the betterment and elevation of mankind, he has been identified as an advocate. He has always been a man of generous and noble pulses. In musical culture and education he has been a pioneer in

southern Ohio. Many persons owe to him the lifelong pleasures they have found in the enjoyment of musical culture. His record as a teacher, as a patriot, as a musician, as a citizen, a man, and a Christian gentleman is without stain or blemish, and is one of which he, his friends, and his posterity may feel justly proud.

Hon. Richard Ramsay

 

was born in Washington County, Ohio, but was from. early childhood a resident of Winchester, Adams County, Ohio, where in 1885 he died at the age of seventy-four years and eleven months. He made the most of the common schools in his day, and thus added to a mind of great natural force much acquired ability. His mind was well stored with useful information of which, owing to his mental discipline, he had ready command. He was a natural logician, and reasoned well on questions of local and national importance. For thirty-one years he was a Justice of the Peace, though he accomplished as much by his unofficial counsels in reconciling the estranged as through the administration of the law. And so wise were his decisions that through this long period but few, if any, of his official rulings were reversed by the higher court. In 1873, he represented Adams County in the State Legislature. He was elected at a time when the opposing political party was in the assendency, so fully did he share the confidence of his neighbors, without distinction of party.

 

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In his early manhood, he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a useful and influential member till his de. For thirty-seven years of this time, he was a local preacher; and for thirty-one years, a local deacon. His sermons were both scriptural and practical, and were very acceptable in the entire field of his labors.

 

In 1831 he was married to Miss Priscilla Reese, daughter of Major Jonathan Reese. In 1881 they celebrated their golden wedding all their nine children and several grandchildren being present.

 

His was a beautiful character. He was gentle and kind, faithful and true. His disposition was even and winning. He had clear deep convictions on all questions, and never failed in his loyalty to what he thought was right. His influence in the community was blessed, and aided greatly in the promotion of every moral reform.

His body was the first in this large family to be borne to its last resting place in the cemetery of the village where so long he had resided.

 

Adams County in Congress.

 

By N. W. EVANS.

 

From the organization of the state until 1810, there was but one congressman, Jeremiah Morrow, a member of the first constitutional convention, and afterwards Governor. On February 14, 1892, the State was divided into six congressional districts. The second district was composed of Clermont, Highland, Fayette, Clinton, Greene, and Adams. John Alexander, of Greene, was elected in this district in 1812 to the thirteenth congress. He was re-elected to the fourteenth congress, and served from 1813 to 1817. He was born in Spartanburg, N. C., in 1777, where the family name was "Elchinor." He moved, to Ohio, where he became known as the "Buffalo of the West," He was elected as a Democrat. He came to Ohio in 1802 with his family. He was a member of the state senate, December, 1822, to February, 1824, representing Greene and Clinton. He was a lawyer. He left two sons, and had a large estate.

 

The next representative from this district was John W. Campbell of Adams County. A sketch of him appears elsewhere. He was elected to the fifteenth congress in 1816, and served from March 4, 1817, till March 4, 1827, five terms. On May 20, 1822, the second apportionment was made and. the fourteen districts were made. The fifth district was composed of Brown, Adams, Highland, and Clinton. John W. Campbell represented this district for two terms, residing in Adams County all the time. On March 4, 1827, he was succeeded by William Russell in the twentieth congress. Russell served three consecutive terms, March 4, 1827, to March 4, 1831, being a resident of Adams County all the time. Thus Adams County had the first congressman from the fifteenth to the twenty-second congress, both inclusive, for sixteen consecutive years.

 

On June 14, 1832, the third apportionment was made, and nineteen districts were made. Brown, Highland, Clermont, and Adams formed the fifth district, and Thomas L. Hamer was elected to the twenty-third congress as a Democrat. A sketch of him appears elsewhere. He was re-elected to the twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth con-

 

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gresses, and served until March 4, 1839. Judge Campbell might have remained indefinitely, and so might Hamer, but each declined further elections, the first after five terms, and the second after three.

 

Then Dr. William Doane, of Clermont County, was elected to the a twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh congresses. He will not have a separate sketch, and we will finish him right here. He was born in the state of Maine. He removed to Clermont County and filled several local offices. He was elected as a Democrat. July 15, 1842, at a special session of the legislature, as in 1832, the fourth apportionment was made and twenty-one districts created. Clermont, Brown, Highland, and Adams were the seventh district. In this district, Gen. Joseph McDowell, of Highland County, was elected to the twenty-eighth congress, and served two terms, 1843 to 1847. He was born in Burke County, North Carolina, November 13, 1800. He moved to Highland County, Ohio, in 1824, and became a farmer. He was a merchant in Hillsboro from 1829 to 1835. At that time he was admitted to the bar by a special act of the legislature. Previous to his election to congress, he was in the legislature, in the House in 1832 and 1833, and in the Senate from 1833 to 1835. He attained distinction as a lawyer, was an earnest and eloquent man, true to his constituents, faithful in the discharge of duty, and was noted for being a Christian gentleman. To the thirtieth congress, in October, 1846, Thomas L. Hamer, of Brown County, was elected, but never sat. He died in Mexico, December 21, 1846. Jonathan D. Morris, of Clermont County, was elected to succeed him. He was re-elected to the thirty-first congress, and served till March 4, 1851. He had been clerk of the courts in Clermont County from 1831 to 1846, was a lawyer by profession, and was a faithful, conscientious and popular official. For twenty-five years he was a controlling factor in Clermont County politics. He had the respect and confidence of the people of his county, and was a leader of public inion.

 

In the thirty-second congress, 1851 to 1853, Nelson Barrere, a Whig, for the first time represented the district. He was a resident of Highland County when elected, but had resided in Adams County from 1834 to 1845, and while he had represented that county in the legislature in 1837 and 1838. In 1853, he was the Whig candidate for Governor, but was defeated by Mr. Medill. During the Civil War he was a Republican, but at its close became a Democrat, and remained such during his life. He was an able lawyer. He died August 20, 1883.

 

In 1852 the fifth congressional apportionment was made of twenty-one districts. The sixth district was composed of Clermont, Brown, Highland, and Adams. Andrew Ellison, a lawyer from Brown County, represented the district in the thirty-third congress, 1853 to 1855. Nothing is now remembered of him except that he was a lawyer from Brown County. He was elected as a Democrat.

 

In the thirty-fourth congress, Jonas R. Fmrie, of Highland County, represented the district as a Republican in 1855 to 1857. He was defeated for re-election to the thirty-fifth congress by Joseph R. Cockerill, of Adams County, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Under the plan by which the Democratic party was managing its affairs in the district at that time, Col. Cockerill was allowed but one term, and in the

 

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thirty-sixth congress, 1859 to 1861, was succeeded by Col. William Howlard, of Clermont County. He was a distinguished citizen of that county, whose memory is still fragrant. Like Campbell and Cockerill, he was native of Virginia. When a boy he learned the saddler trade. He wail prosecuting attorney of Clermont County from 1845 to 1849; state senator in 1849. He was a lieutenant in the Mexican War, and went into the Civil War as major of the 59th 0. V. I., and was prompted to lieutenant colonel. He was a patriot, and so disclosed himself in congress, but the Democracy of his district had at that time established a foolish custom that no one should have but one term, so he retired at the close of his term and gave place to Chilton A. White, of Brown County, who was elected to the thirty-seventh congress, 1861 to 1863, as a Democrat. 1862 the sixth apportionment for congress was made, and the Republicans had the innings. There were nineteen districts, and the eleventh congressional district was composed Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, Jackson and Vinton. The district waS Republican, but to the thirty-eighth congress, Wells A. Hutchins, of Scioto County, was elected as War Democrat on a platform for the more vigorous prosecution of the war. A sketch of Mr. Hutchins appears elsewhere. He was a candidate to succeed himself, but was defeated by the Hon. Hezekiah H. Bundy, of Jackson County, who represented the district in the thirty-ninth congress, 1865 to 1867. A sketch of him appears herein.

 

In the fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second congresses, 1867 to 1873, John T. Wilson, of Adams County, represented the district. sketch of him will be found herein.

 

In 1872 the seventh apportionment was made. There were twenty-one districts, and Highland, Brown, Adams, Pike, and Ross were made the seventh district. And Lawrence T. Neal, of Ross County, represented it in the forty-third and forty fourth congresses, 1873 to 1877; Henry L. Dickey, of Highland County, was elected to the forty-fifth congress from this district, 1877 to 1879.

 

In 1878 the eighth apportionment was made, and this was the first not made at a decennial period. It was made by the Democrats, previous ones having been made by the Whigs or Republicans. There were twenty-one districts, and the eleventh was composed of Clermont Brown, Adams, Highland, and Clinton. Under this apportionment, Henry L. Dickey, of Highland, was re-elected and represented the district, 1879 to 1881. In 1880 the Republicans controlled the Legislature and re-enacted the apportionment of 1872, making the ninth, and in this district, composed of Highland, Brown, Adams, Pike, and Ross, John P. Leedom was elected to the forty-seventh congress and serve one term, 1881 to 1883.

 

In 1882, the decennial period, the tenth apportionment was made. Under this there were twenty-one districts, and the eleventh was composed of Lawrence, Adams, Scioto, Jackson, Gallia, and Vinton. In this district John W. McCormick, of Gallia, was elected to the forty-eighth congress, and served one term.

 

In 1884 the legislature was again Democratic, and that party took a turn at the wheel of fortune. The eleventh apportionment was made, and twenty-one districts were formed. The eleventh was composed of

 

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Ross, Brown, Adams, and Highland. W. W. Ellsberry, of Brown, was elected to the forty-ninth congress, and served one term, 1885 to 1887.

 

In 1886 the Republicans controlled the legislature, and they made the twelfth apportionment. Under this, Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson, and Vinton composed the eleventh district, and Judge Albert C., Thompson was elected to the fiftieth congress, in 1887 to 1889. He was re-elected to the fifty-first congress from the same district, 1887 to 1889. A sketch of him will be found elsewhere. These political changes are hard on the historian, but have to be borne.

 

In 1890 the Legislature, controlled by the Democrats, made the thirteenth apportionment. Adams, Brown, Highland, Clermont, and Pike were made the eleventh district, and John M. Pattison, as a Democrat of Clermont, represented it in the fifty-second congress, 1891 to 1893. In 1892 the Republicans made the regular decennial apportionment, the fourteenth in number. There were twenty-one districts, Adams, Scioto, Pike, Jackson. Gallia and Lawrence composed the tenth district, and in this Gen. William H. Enochs was elected to the fifty-third congress. He died July 13, 1893, after four months and nine days of his term, and Hon. Hezekiah S. Bundy was elected his successor, and served out his term.

 

To the fifty-fourth congress and to the fifty-fifth, Lucien J. Fenton, of Adams, was elected, and served from 1895 to 1899. A sketch of him appears herein. To the fifty-sixth congress Stephen Morgan, of Jackson, was elected, and is serving his first term.

 

A table of Adams County in congress is as follows :

 

Congress

Years

Name

County

Politics

7-12

14-15

15-19

20-22

23-25

26=27

28-39

30-91

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40-42

43-44

45-46

47

48

49

50-51

52

53

 

54-55

56

1803-1813

1813-1815

1817-1827

1827-1833

1833-1839

1839-1843

1843-1847

1847-1851

1851-1853

1853-1855

1855-1857

1857-1859

1859-1861

1861-1863.

1863-1865

1865-1867

1867-1873

1873-1877

1877-1881

1881-1883

1883-1885

1885-1887

1887-1891

1891-1893

1893-1895.

 

1895-1899.

1897

Jeremiah Morrow

John Alexander

John W. Campbell

William Russell

Thomas L. Hamer

William Doane

Jos. T. McDowell

Jonathan D. Morris

Nelson Barrere

Andrew Ellison

Jonas R. Emrie

Jos. R. Cockerill

William Howard

Chilton A. White

Wells A. Hutchins

Hezekiah S. Bundy

John T. Wilson

Lawrence T. Neal

Henry L. Dickey

John P. Leedom

John W. McCormick

W. W. Ellsberry

Albert C. Thompson

John M. Pattison

Wm. H. Enochs

H. S. Bundy

Lucien J. Fenton

Stephen J. Morgan

Hamilton

Greene

Adams

Adams

Brown

Clermont

Highland

Clermont

Highland

Brown

Highland

Adams

Clermont

Brown

Scioto

Jackson

Adams

Ross

Highland

Adams

Gallia

Brown

Scioto

Clermont

Lawrence

Jackson

Adams

Jackson

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Whig

Democrat.

Republican

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat.

Republican

Republican

Democrat

Democrat

Democrat

Republican

Democrat

Republican

Democrat

Republican

Republican

Republican

Republican.



 

300 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

There have been fourteen apportionments made, when regularly there should have been but nine. The first apportionment, other than at a decennial period was in 1878 by the Democrats. The next was in 1880 by the Republicans. The third was in 1874 by the Democrats, and the fourth in ,886 by the Republicans. The fifth was in 1890 by the Democrats. Exclusive of the present term, Adams County has been represented in congress ninety-six years, thirty of which by its own citizens. Of the ninety-six years, the Democrats have had seventy-two years, and the Whigs and Republicans twenty-four years.

 

Jeremiah Morrow

 

was the first congressman from Ohio. He was born in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1771. His father was a farmer, and he was brought up on the farm. He attended a private school at Gettysburg, and was especially bright in mathematics and surveying, which were his favorite studies. In 1795 he emigrated to the Northwest Territory, and settled at Columbia, near Cincinnati. At Columbia he taught school, did surveying, and worked on the farmer. Having saved some money, he went to Warren County, bought a large farm and erected a log house. In the spring of 1799 he married Miss. Mary Packhill, of Columbia.

 

In 1801 he was elected to the territorial legislature. He was a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1802. In March, 1803, he was elected to the Ohio senate, and in June, 1803, he was elected to the congress, and re-elected ten times. While in congress he was chairman of the committee on public lands. In 18,3 he was elected to the United States senate, and was made chairman of the committee on public lands. In 1814 he was appointed Indian commissioner. At the close of his term he retired to his farm.

 

In early life he became a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and devoted himself to its welfare all his life.

 

In 1820 he was a candidate for governor, and received 9,476 votes to 34,836 for Ethan A. Brown, who was elected. In 1822 he was elected governor by 26,059 votes, to 22,889 for Allen Trimble and 11,150 for William W. Irwin, and re-elected in 1824 by the following vote: 39,526 for him, and 37,108 for Allen Trimble. During his service as governor, the canal system of Ohio was inaugurated, and Lafayette's visit to the state took place. On the fourth of July, 1839, he laid the corner stone of the capital at Columbus. In 1840 he was re-elected to congress to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Corwin and was re-elected. He was a deep thinker, a delightful social companion, had a wonderful retentive memory, boundless kindness of heart and endowed with much vivacity and cheerfulness of spirit. He died March 22, 1853.

 

John Alexander

 

represented Adams County in the thirteenth and fourteenth congresses, 1813 to 1814. He represented the second district, composed of Adams, Clinton, Greene, Fayette, Highland, and Clermont counties. Brown County was not then established. He was elected as a Democrat. He appears to have been in the senate, twenty-second legislative session,

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 301

 

December 2, 1822, to January 28, 1823, and in the twenty-second legislative session, December 1, 1823, to February 26, 1824, representing Greene and Clinton counties.

 

He was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, about 1777, where the family was called “Elchinor." After receiving a common school education he removed to Ohio, where he was known at the "Buffalo of the West." He located in Greene County. He is said to have entered the war of 1812 as a private. He was a lawyer. He had a son, Washington, born in South Carolina in 1800 who came with his parents to Greene County in 1802. He was also a lawyer. He had a son, William J., born June 10, 1827 who was admitted to the bar in 186o. He died in 1897.

 

John W. Campbell

 

was the third United States district judge for the district of Ohio. Like his two predecessors, he was a Virginian. He was born February 23, 1782, near Miller's Iron Works in Augusta County, Va. He only breathed the Virginia atmosphere until his ninth year, for at that time his father removed to Kentucky. He had no facilities for an education except those of the common schools of that day, and they were about no schools at all. He was not strong enough to perform farm labor, as his father's circumstances required, and he went to Cincinnati, then an in significant village, where he began to learn the carpenter's trade. He remained in Cincinnati fora few months and then returned home. His parents soon afterward removed to that part of Adams County now in Brown, where John studied Latin under Rev. Dunlavy. He afterward studied under Rev. Robert Finley. His father was too poor to pay for his maintenance and books, and he worked clearing ground in the morning and evening to maintain himself in school. He studied the languages under Mr. John Finley, and afterward pursued them himself. He was then seized with a desire to study law, and went to Morgantown, Virginia, and studied under his uncle, Thomas Wilson. He earned his expenses while studying by teaching school. In 1808, he was admitted

to the bar in Ohio and fixed his residence at West Union. He delivered an oration on the fourth of July, 1808, at West Union at a celebration on that day. He was a Jacksonian Democrat all his life. In July, 1809, was elected a justice of the peace of Tiffin Township, Adams County, and served until June 5. 1815, when he resigned. The same year, 1809, he was appointed prosecuting attorney of Adams County by the common pleas court, and was allowed from $25 to $30 a term for his services, there being three terms in a year, and he served until January 23, 1817. He was elected to represent Adams County in the Legislature in October, 1810, with Abraham Shepherd as his colleague. He represented the county in the Legislature again in 1815 and 1816 and had Josiah Lockhart as an associate. He was elected to the fifteenth congress in 1816, and served continuously until March 4, 1827. He was succeeded by William Russell. In 1828 he was a candidate for governor of the state on the Democratic ticket and was defeated by the vote of 53,970 for Allen Trimble and 51,951 for himself, majority in favor of Trimble, 2,019. In March, 1829, President Jackson appointed him United States district judge for the district of Ohio, and he served until his death, September 24, 1833. In January, 1833, he received in the legislature,

 

302 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

49 votes for United States senator to 54 votes for Thomas Morris, at the time Morris was elected. He was a candidate for congress in 1812, but was defeated, but was elected four years later. He terminated his congressional career at his own choice, was not choked off or killed off by politicians as is the fashion in our days. In 1827, on his retirement from congress, he removed from West Union to Brown County, Ohio, and settled on a farm in what is now Jefferson Township on Eagle Creek. His farm consisted of 250 acres. He lived there but two years after his appointment as United States judge, when he removed to Columbus. During the time of his residence in West Union, he resided in the house in which Mr. James Hood died and where Mr. Cooper's family now reside. He resided there from 18o8 to 1827. He had a habit of rising at four o'clock in the morning to study and he kept this up after his removal to Columbus, although in his day there was but little for the United. States district judge to do but to maintain his dignity. In 1833, his adopted daughter died after ten days' painful illness, during which time the judge was a watcher night and day. After her death, Judge Campbell and his wife, broken down with anxiety, concluded to visit Delaware Springs for relaxation and rest. On: the way Judge Campbell was taken with a chill, followed by a high fever. However, the next day he proceeded to Delaware, but was taken worse and breathed his last on the twenty-fourth of September, 1833. On the arrival of the news of his death at Columbus, a great sensation was caused, as he was highly respected. Several hundred people of Columbus met his funeral procession at. Worthington and accompanied his remains to their last resting place.

 

In 1811, he was married to Miss Eleanor Doak, daughter of Robert Doak, of Augusta County, Virginia. There was no issue of this marriage. Judge Campbell was a man of great natural dignity and force of character.

 

The source of our information is a hook entitled "Biographical Sketches with other Literary Remains of the late John W. Campbell Judge of the United States Court for the District of Ohio," compiled by his widow. It was printed at Columbus, Ohio, in 1838, and published by Scott & Gallagher. The biography was evidently written by a lady because it is conspicuous in failing to tell, what, after a lapse of fifty-eight years, we would most like to know and by filling it up with comments for which posterity is not thankful and does not appreciate. What we would like to know as to Judge Campbell are the facts of his life and then our own judgment as to the place he should occ in history.

 

He has been dead sixty-six years. All who knew him personally arr dead. We have to resort to his writings and to written accounts left of him to make an estimate of his character. He was highly respected by all who knew him. He was public spirited and patriotic. He was a friend whom his friends valued most highly. As a public speaker, his manners and style were pleasing. He investigated every subject presented to him with great care. He was of the strictest integrity. He was a successful lawyer, never lost his self-poise or equanimity and his judgment was never controlled by his emotions. His opinions were carefully formed, but when formed, did not need to be revised. The

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES -303

 

public welfare with him was paramount. He was very sympathetic in cases of suffering or distress brought to his notice. He took a great interest in education. He favored the colonization of the Negroes, and was president of the Ohio Colonization Society at the time of his death. He was strictly moral in all his life and conduct and this, from high principles, princples, well considered and adopted, which served as guides to his life. He was intensely religious. He was the strongest kind of a Jacksonian Democrat, but yet was never offensive to his political opponents and treated them with the greatest consideration. His was a familiar figure on the streets of West Union from 1808 to 1826, during all of which time he resided there, but there is no tradition of him whatever in the village. He was fond of composing verse, was no insignificant poet, and had fine literary tastes. Altogether he was a valuable citizens of whose career present and future generations in Adams County be proud.

 

William Russell

 

was born in Ireland in 1782. He was left an orphan at an early age. He came to the United States alone in 1796 at the age of fourteen. He remained a short time in Philadelphia and while there began to learn a trade that of hatter. He went from .Philadelphia to Maysville, Kentucky, took up hat making and followed it. While there, he married Sarah Tribbey. They had one child but she and it died shortly after it was born. He moved to Adams County, Ohio, in 1802. He represented Adams County in the first Legislature of the new state which sat at Chillicothe, Ohio, March 1, to April 16, 1803. Thomas Kirker and Joseph Lucas were his colleagues. He was the first clerk of the courts of Scioto County. having. been appointed December, 1803. It seems that the office did not suit his tastes and he resigned in June, 1804. In the eighth legislative session, December 4, 1809, to February 22, 1810, he was a member from Adams County at the munificent salary of two dollars per day. He had Dr. Alexander Campbell afterward United States senator as a colleague.. On the fifteenth day of February, 22, 1810, he was appointed an associate judge for Scioto County, Ohio. This office did not suit his tastes and he resigned it in 1812.

 

At the tenth legislative session. December 10, 1811, to February 21, 1812, he was a member of the house from Adams County, with John Ellison as a colleague. This legislature sat at Zanesville, Ohio. The house impeached John Thompson, a president judge of the common
pleas, but on trial in the senate, he was acquitted. At this session, Columbus was made the capital of the state, and the legislature provided for the military equipment of the Ohio militia. It also incorporated a number of libraries in the state. At the eleventh legislative session, December 7. 1812, to February 9, 1813, William Russell was a member from Adams County with John Ellison as a colleague. This legislature provided for the care and maintenance of women who had been abandoned by their husbands, (an epidemic in those days,) and made the property of the absconder liable for the wife's maintenance. Strong measures were adopted to require every able bodied man to respond to the call to arms, but the legislature, by special resolution, excused Jacob Wooding, of Scioto County, Ohio, from military duty, because

 

304 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

his father was blind, lame, absolutely helpless and had two blind children. No one else was excused From 1813 to 1819, he dropped out of legislature, but not out of public employment.

 

At the eighteenth legislative session from December 5 1819, to February 26, 1820, he was a member of the senate from Adams County. The House amused itself by impeaching two judges on the ground of deciding an election contest contrary to the evidence, but the senate unanimously acquitted them. The senate spent a great deal of time in is discussing the Missouri Compromise and the question of slavery.

 

At the nineteenth legislative session, December 4, 1820, to February 23, 1831, William Russell again represented Adams County in the senate. The question of a canal system occupied much attention; also that of attacking branches of the United States Bank. This legislature placed the United States Bank without Ohio's laws and forbade the officers of the courts to recognize it in any way. Justices and judges were forbidden to entertain any case for it ; sheriffs to arrest any

one at its instance, or notaries to protest notes for it, or take any acknowledgment for it. justices and judges were to be fined $500 if they entertained a suit for it, and sheriffs $200 for putting any one in jail at its instance. From this time, 1821 to 1829, William Russell was out of public employment. In the fall of 1826, he was elected to congress as a Democrat, and re-elected for two succeeding terms. During all of this time he was a resident of Adams County and a merchant at West Union. After his third term in congress expired, March 4, 1833 he removed to near Rushtown, Ohio, in Scioto County and engaged in forging bar iron. In this enterprise, he was unsuccessful and is said to have lost $30,000. He was elected to the twenty-seventh congress in 1841 as a Whig and served one term. At the end of his first term, March 4, 1843, he returned to his farm on Scioto Brush Creek, where he continued to side until his death, September 28, 1845, at the age of 63. When at Portsmouth in 1803, he was a Presbyterian hut returning to West Union, he became a Methodist. In 1809 to 1820, he was one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in West Union, Ohio, and aided in the erection of the first church there, and all his life after, he was a faithful, devoted and devout Methodist. He was a student and self educated. He was a fluent and pleasant speaker and had extensive conversational powers. He was liked and respected by all who knew him: He had a remarkable popularity, largely owing to his even temper. As a merchant, he was strict and honorable in all his dealings, and maintained the highest credit. His public career began at the age of twenty-one, when elected to the first legislature of Ohio. He was legislator clerk of court, state senator and congressman and filled each and every office with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constitute In private life, be was a successful merchant, an honored member of the Methodist Church and an upright citizen. In this case, the office sought the man. How many men have crowded into the space

forty years so many activities ? Comparing him with the men of his time, we find he held office in two counties, and all he lacked was that he was not made a militia general. Every legislator of prominence under the constitution of 1802, was either made an associate judge of a major general of militia. William Russell obtained the judgeship but

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 305

 

missed the generalship. However, his career in congress gave him more distinction than the military title could have done.

 

In 1808, he married Nancy Wood and had seven children, six sons and a daaughter. One of the sons lived near Rushtown during his life. Another, William B., married Rebecca Lucas and became the father of six children, three sons and three daughters. A grandson, James Russell, resides near Lucasvillc, Ohio, and another, George Russell, in Portsmouth, Ohio.

 

Thomas L. Hamer

 

 

Thomas Lyon Hamer, who died on the plains of Mexico on December 2, 1846, to-day is the most alive man in Brown County.

 

The worship of ancestors may be laughed down, or cried down, yet it exists. Hero worship is decried too, but all the same it goes on. Thomas L. Hamer lived in this world forty-six years. He has been dead forty-eight years and yet no man in Brown County wields such an influence as he did at the time of his death and which has extended to the present time If you visit Georgetown, you will see his Iawyer's sign in the lobby of the court house, a precious souvenir. His picture hangs over the judge's seat in the court room.

 

In the village cemetery, his tomb is reverently pointed out, and in the village itself, his old home is shown, just as he had left it in the spring of 1846 to go into the Mexican War. The day when his sacred remains, brought all the way from Mexico, were laid to their everlasting rest was the greatest day ever known in the history of Brown County. No such funeral honors were ever given any man in Ohio, and none will ever again be given. It seemed as though the whole population of Brown County had turned out to honor the great man. The particulars graven on the memory of every man present at that funeral in characters never to be obliterated. Thomas L. Hamer was a man of middle height, of slender physique, with a head covered with a shock of bushy hair, always neat and cleanly dressed, and with smoothly shaven face, with a personal magnetism which could be felt but not described. man could inspire greater personal devotion to himself, and no man of is time ever did. He was everybody's friend, and his friendship was not seeming but real. He was a most entertaining conversationalist - brilliant, engaging, interesting—a delightful companion, and as a public speaker, he carried his audience the way he wanted it to go. Time and again he had cavassed his own county and district and all the people knew him. They seemed to know him, all at once, on first acquaintance, and they could not forget him. He moved to Georgetown, Ohio in August, 1821, just after the ton had been laid out,

and while it was yet in the virgin forest. His manners were pleasing, his conversation charmed the hearer, and he won the respect esteem of every one. The law business was in its infancy then, and he accepted the office of justice of the peace of Pleasant Township, and also edited a newspaper in GeorgetOWn. His written articles were as happy as his speeches. His oratory was artless and natural. He carried his hearers with him and had great success with juries. In 1825, he was elected to the legislature. In 1828, he was an elector on the Jackson

 

306 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

ticket, and was retelected to the legislature in 1829. In December, 1829 he was elected speaker of the house in the legislature. Mr. Hamer, as a speaker, appointed a majority of his political opponents on seven com committees out of eight. In the election of judges by the legislature, why the Democrats held a caucus in 1830, Mr. Hamer opposed the motion to be bound by this caucus and in the subsequent election he voted against two of the nominees of the Democratic caucus on the ground that the selection of the judiciary should have no connection with politics. Mr. Hamer, in defending his votes against two of his own party, on this occasion, made a noble speech, which anticipated all the doctrines of the civil service reformers, and should go down to the ages. He defined his oath as representative to vote according to the dictates of his judgment and that if his judgment told him that a candidate was not qualified, and he voted for the man notwithstanding, because of his political affiliations, that was not honest; it was not a faithful discharge of the duties he owed to his constituents, and was a violation of his oath. He said, “I think so, and if any other man thinks otherwise, let him act accordingly. I never have and never will obey the dictates of party principles, or party caucuses, when by so doing, I most violate my oath as representative, betray my constituentS or injure my country." If nothing made Hamer great, hiS sentiments before expressed, and his acting up to them were sufficient. It seems that Mr. Hamer's independence of action did not hurt him with his party, for, in 1832 he was elected to congress from his district, and, moreover, he was elected as an independent candidate against Thomas Morris, the regu Democratic candidate, Owen T. Fishback, the Whig candidate, and William Russell the anti-Jackson Democratic candidate. The vote was Hamer, 2,069; Morris, 2,028, and Russell, 403. In Clermont County, where Morris and Fishback lived, Hamer had only 209 votes and Russell 19, while Morris had 1,319 and Flashback 1,186. Hamer swept Adams and Brown counties, simply by his eloquence. Thomas Morris had been Hamer's preceptor in the study of law. Two months after this Thomas Morris was elected United States senator from Ohio, and two took their seats at the same time, and each served six years. Both were Democrats, but differed widely as to their views on slavery. General Hamer was re-elected to congress from his district in 1834 and 1836. In the house Thomas Corwin and William Allen were among his colleagues. In the house he voted that petitions for the abolition of slavery should be laid on the table, and no further action taken on them. He declined a re-election to congress in 1838, but did
not drop out of politics. His red hair and Corwin's swarthy complexion were common objects of remark in political circles of that time. There was a magic about Hamer which could be felt, but which could not described. Every man who came within the sound of Hamer's voice could feel the spell of it, and ever afterward remember it, but could not describe the phenomenon of it. When Hamer spoke every one listened and they gave him their exclusive and undivided attention, no matter how long he spoke. Old and young alike listened to every word, entranced by his voice and manner.

 

Not only was he a speaker, but he was a writer as well, furnishing many articles for the press of his party, and at the same time he carried

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 307

 

on an extensive correspondence with the most distinguished men of the nation. He remained out of public life until March 4, 1839, simply because he chose to, and not because it was the wish of his constituents and party friends. On October 3, 1845, President Polk tendered him the office of commissioner of Indian affairs, but he declined it. In the summer of 1846 he was renominated to congress by the district composed of Clermont, Brown, and Highland counties. When the president called for 50,000 volunteers for the Mexican army, Hamer rode over his district, addressed meetings, and, by his wonderful eloquence aroused the war spirit. He himself volunteered as a private soldier in the company of his son-in-law, Captain Johnson. When the first Ohio regiment was organized at Camp Washington, he was elected major. On June 29, 1846, President Polk appointed him a brigadier general of volunteers, principally at the instigation of Congressman J. T. McDowell, whom Hamer succeeded. The appointment did not reach General Hamer until June 24, 1846, and his commission did not reach him until August t, 1846, at Camp Belknap, Texas. Gen. Taylor, in preparing for the attack on Monterey, arranged to allow none but southern volunteers and regular troops to participate. In a council of war, when this was proposed, Gen. Hamer protested and insisted that his brigade should have a part in the storming of Monterey, where, it is said, it performed prodigies of valor and won immortal renown. On the second Tuesday of October, 1846, Gen. Hamer was re-elected to congress in his district without opposition. After Monterey, he commanded a division ; but there was one thing that he could not endure. His constitution could not stand the trying climate of Mexico. Every northern soldier had to go through the process of acclimatiztion and have a spell of fever. Gen. Hamer was unwell from the time he landed in Mexico, hut he was only dangerously ill a week previous to his death. He died on the night of December 21, 1846, near Monterey. He was interred with all the honors of war in a cemetery near the place of his death. At that time the Ohio Legislature met in December, and on December 31, 1846, Andrew Ellison, a lawyer of Georgetown, and a member of the house from Brown County, introduced resolutions as to the death of Gen. Hamel. This was on Wednesday. The resolutions provided that the speakers of the houses should procure a suitable person to pronounce a eulogy on the life, character, and public services of the deceased before the legislature ; that the body of Gen. Hamer should be brought back and interred in Ohio soil at the expense of the state, and both houses agreed to the resolutions and journeyed to the next Saturday out of respect to the memory of the deceased. On January 6, 1847, the house resolved that Gen. John J. Higgins, of Brown (a brother-in-law of Gen. Hamer), James H. Thompson, of Highland, and James C. Kennedy, of Clermont, be appointed commissioners to carry the house resolutions into effect, and they were to draw on the treasury for their expenses. The senate concurred in the resolution at once. When Hamer's body reached Georgetown, he was accorded the grandest funeral ever given to any citizen, except our martyred president. Hon. David T. Disney pronounced the oration at the funeral. Hon. James H. Thompson of Hillsboro, Ohio, one of the commissioners, was present at the

 

308 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

funeral. He has been asked to describe it, but does not think he has the eloquence or the pathos to do the subject justice. With the weight of his years, he cannot command the inspiration he thinks the subject demands. In several visits to Georgetown, I sought to obtain the original documents, books and writings, which would have shed a wonderful light on Hamer's career and life, but every avenue seemed closed do to me, and reluctant as I am to give up the subject, I am compelled to let oblivion claim and hold many facts which it would have been well for posterity to have preserved.

 

There is a parallel between the lives of General Hamer and Gen. Franklin Pierce, president of the United States, that is more than remarkable. Hamer was born in 1800, Pierce in 1804. Hamer was a farmer's son and so was Pierce. The latter, however, secured a good college education, which the former lacked. At the time, Hamer had been two years in the Ohio legislature, Pierce was admitted to the bar. In 1829, Pierce entered the legislature of New Hampshire as a Jackson Democrat, and he served in the legislature four years, two of which he was speaker of the house. In 1825, 1828, and 1829, Hamer was in the Ohio legislature, the last two years of which he was speaker Hamer was in the lOWer house of congress from 1833 to 1839. Pierce entered the lower house in 1833 and served four years. He spoke and voted against receiving petitions for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and so did Hamer. In 1833, Pierce entered the United States senate from his state and retired from that in 1842. At this point, there is contrast, and not comparison between the two. In the National Legislature, the two stood alike on the slavery question. When the Mexican war broke out in 1846, the same military spirit was shown by Pierce as by Hamer. Pierce enlisted as a private, so did Hamer, and, like the latter, went about everywhere making war speeches. Pierce, like Hamer, was soon after elected to office, being appointed colonel of the Ninth Regiment of Infantry of his state. Like Hamer, Pierce was made a brigadier general, dated March 3, 1847. He did not reach Mexico until June 28, 1847, and in the war display the same personal bravery, the same spirit of self-sacrifice and the same devotion to the men of his command as did General Hamer. Both Hamer and Pierce were men of pleasant appearance, of excellent address ; both were fond of neat and elegant apparel ; both had a charm in social intercourse, and both were eloquent advocates. Each had a clear, musical voice, graceful and impressive gesticulation, and each could kindle the blood of his hearers, or melt them to tears by patos. Each had a natural oratory that had an inimitable charm of its ow and each had a wonderful natural kindness of heart. Pierce's oratory had more of the polish of education while Hamer's had the fire of nature. Fach had an intuitive knowledge of human nature, but Hamer was a diligent student, while Pierce was not. Fach had a wonderful and remarkable popularity in his own district and state. Each could attract, hold, move and sway audiences by the power of oratory. Hamer's power of oratory had to be felt to be appreciated. It could not be described in words, and the same was true of Pierce, thou there was more of nature and less of art in Hamer's oratory. Had Hamer lived and continued the promise of his life, as no doubt

 

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would, in 1852, he would have been the nominee of his party for president, instead of General Pierce. Fvery one who knew Hamer has expressed that thought, and what every one felt would no doubt have been carried out. In 1852, the conditions were such that the Democracts were bound to nominate a northern man and one of a military reputation. General Pierce barely filled the military requirements, but had Hamer lived, he would before then have been governor of the state or United States senator and would have filled the requirements of his party better than General Pierce, and would have been the nominee his party for president.

 

Thus death robbed Brown County, Ohio, of the opportunity of furnishing a president, hut by a singular coincidence, General Grant, whom Hamer had appointed from Brown County, Ohio, as a cadet to the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1838, became president of the United States in 1869. Thus, while Hamer did not live to become president of the United States, as surely he would have been, yet he shaped the career of a boy of his own village, so that this boy afterward became the president of the United States. Even in the appointment of the boy Grant, as a cadet, Hamer showed himself noble mind.

 

Jesse R. Grant, young Grant's father, was not friendly to Hamer, so much so that he could not and would not ask Hamer to make the appointment, but got Gen. James Loudon, father of Col. D. W. C. Loudon, of Georgetown, to obtain the appointment for him, which General Loudon did. Hamer did not know young Grant's real name but took it to be Ulysses Simpson, and sent it in that way, when really it was Hiram Ulysses. When Grant found that he was appointed as Ulysses Simpson Grant: he adopted that name and used it ever after.

 

William Doane

 

was born in Maine. He received a public school education. He removed to Ohio and filled several local offices. He was elected to the twenty-sixth Congress as a Democrat, and re-elected to the twenty seventh Congress. He served from December 2, 1839, to March 3, 1843. He represented the sixth district, composed of Highland, Brown, Clermont and Adams counties. He was a resident of Clermont County and a physician.

 

General Joseph T. McDowell

 

was born in Burke County, North Carolina, November 13, 1800. He removed to Ohio in 1824 and located on a farm about seven miles north of Hillsboro. In 1829, he located in Hillsboro, and engaged in the mercantile business until 1835, when he was admitted to the bar by a special act of the legislature, and began the practice of his profession. In 1836, he formed a partnership with Col. William 0. Collins, and followed the profession until 1843.

 

He was a member of the thirty-first general assembly from Highland County. In the thirty-second general assembly, December 2, 1833 to March 3, 1834, he was a member of the state senate
representing Highland and Fayette counties. He represented the same Constituency in the thirty-third general assembly in the senate

 

310 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

from December 1, 1834, to March 9, 1835. He represented the sevemth district of Ohio in the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth congresses. This district was composed of Adams, Brown, Clermont and Highland counties. He resumed his law practice after his return from congress and also engaged in farming. He died January 17, 1877.

 

He was an earnest and eloquent man, true to his instincts, faithful in the discharge of duty, and was honored and respected by the community as a Christian gentleman, and died in the faith of which he was in later life a defender.

 

Jonathan D. Morris

 

began the practice of law in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1828. In 1831, he was appointed clerk of the courts, which position he held till 1846, and in 1847 he was elected to congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of General Thomas L. Hamer, and was re-elected. in 1849.

 

He was a faithful, conscientious and popular official and for a quarter of a century exerted a controlling influence in his county's history, being a leader of political opinion and a man in whom the public reposed great confidence.

 

Nelson Barrere

 

was born near Newmarket, Highland County, Ohio, April 1, 1808 and was the seventh of twelve children. His father was George W. Barrere, a very prominent citizen of Highland County. He was a deputy surveyor, justice of the peace, member of the Ohio senate nine years and an associate judge of Highland County for fourteen years. He was in the Indian War, 1791-1795. Was in St. Clair's defeat and Wayne’s victory. He was also in the War of 1812 at Hull's surrender, and was in every public enterprise in Highland County until his death in 1839. His son, Nelson, lived on the farm until eighteen years of age and attended school in the winters. He spent a year in the Hillsboro High School and in 1827 entered the freshman class at Augusta College, He graduated from there in 1830, finishing a four years' course in three and a half years.

 

In 1831, he began the study of law in Hillsboro with Judge John W. Price and was admitted to the bar on December 23, 1833. He opened an office in Hillsboro and remained there nine months. He located in West Union in 1834, forming a partnership with Sa Brush. This partnership continued for a year. He remained in West Union eleven years altogether and had a large and lucrative practice. He had the confidence of the people. He represented Adams County in the lower house of the legislature at the thirty-sixth legislative session from December 4, 1837, to March 4, 1838. In 1846, he removed his residence to Highland County and continued there until his death. In the thirty-seventh congress, he represented the sixth district, composed of Adams, Clermont, Brown and Highland counties from March 4, 1851, to March 4, 1853. In 1853, he was the Whig candidate for governor, but was defeated, receiving 85,847 votes, while his competitor, William Medill, received 147,663. When the Whig party dissolved, he went over to the Democratic party, in which he remained during the remainder of his life, but during the Civil War, he supported the Republican administration. In 1870, he was a candidate

 

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for congress on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. He was the Democratic candidate from Highland County for member of the constitutional convention in 1875 and was defeated by one vote. He never married. He continued in the active practice of the law until his death, which occurred August 20, 1883.

 

In Adams County, during his residence there, he was very popular. He was always conspicuous for his public spirit. As a lawyer he was energetic and industrious. He was a safe and reliable counsellor and an eloquent and successful advocate. He was always agreeable and courteous in his manners. In West Union, he formed many warm friendships, and he, Joseph Allen Wilson, Davis Darlinton and others had a club at Darlinton's store, to which they resorted of evenings and spent many pleasant hours. Joseph West Lafferty and John Fisher, of Cedar Mills, were two of his most particular friends in Adams County.

 

Joseph Randolph Cockerill

 

was born in Loudon County, Virginia, January 2, 1818. His father's was Daniel Cockerill, of whom there is a separate sketch in this book, and his mother was Fsther Craven. His father's family emigrated to Adams County, Ohio, in 1837, and located near Youngsville, in Scott Township. After coming to Ohio, he taught school for a while and afterwards in 1840 was elected county surveyor. In the year he was married to Ruth Fylar, daughter of Judge Joseph Eylar, of Winchester, Ohio.

 

From 1840 to 1846, he was a school teacher and surveyor. In 1846, when Gen. Joseph Darlinton's term expired as clerk of the court of common pleas, Joseph R. Cockerill was appointed his successor, and as such served until the new constitution was adopted. He was elected to the fiftieth general assembly of Ohio, the first held under the, new constitution. In this legislature, he was chairman of the committee corporations, and as such drew that part of our revised statutes on corporations, which remains on the statute books today, substantially as he drew it, a monument to his knowledge as a lawyer.

 

On returning from the legislature, he studied law, and was admitted to the bar. In 1856, he was elected a member of the thirty-fifth congress from the sixth district of Ohio, composed of Adams, Highland, Brown and Clermont.

 

The writer remembers him as a lawyer prior to the Civil War. a boy, for the first time, he went into the court house to listen to a trail. There was a party on trial for stealing watches. David Thomas was prosecuting and Cockerill defending. After hearing Thomas oping argument, the writer concluded the defendant was guilty. Then after hearing Cockerill's argument, he was fully convinced that the defendant was innocent and ought to be acquitted.

 

In 1860, Mr. Cockerill was elected a delegate to the Charleston convention and attended. F. P. Evans offered to pay his expenses if he would take several copies of the New York Tribune and let it he known he was carrying them, but the offer was not entertained. In the split which ensued, Mr. Cockerill adhered to the Douglas wing of the party. When the war came on, Mr. Cockerill was fired with

 

312 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

patriotism. He had no sympathy with the south, and thought the rebellion should be suppressed in the most vigorous manner.

 

On October 2, 1861, he was commissioned by Gov. Todd to organize the 70th Ohio Infantry Regiment, as its colonel. The camp at rendezvous was fixed at West Union, Ohio, and was called Hamer. The regiment was raised in the counties of Adams and Brown. While it was organizing at West Union, Reuben Smith, from Oliver Township, came to West Union, got enthused and expressed treasonable sentiments. Col. Cockerill at once had him arrested and sent under a guard of the soldiers to the probate court where he was compelled to take the oath of allegiance. Once during the war, probably in 1862, Col. Cockerill was at home for a few days. During the time, there was a Democratic county convention in the court he and the war policy of the government was under discussion. Squire Jacob Rose, of Green Township, was speaking. He favored peace, and in his remarks, held out his right hand and said, "We must approach our southern brethren with the olive branch in the right hand." Then extended his left hand and said, "We must also approach them with the olive branch in the left hand." Col. Cockerill was sitting in the audience in his full colonel's uniform and when Squire Rose extended his left hand, the colonel sprang to his feet and extended both his arms shook his fists at Rose, and said in most emphatic tones, "No, we approach them with a sword in each hand." Col. Cockerill displayed great bravery in the battle of Shiloh, and was a model officer. Most of the time he commanded a brigade. His merits as officer entitled him to have been made a brigadier general. Gen. Sherman said of him at Shiloh that "he behaved with great gallantry and kept his men better together than any colonel in my division and was with me from first to last." His promotion was several times recommended by Generals Grant and Sherman. They were prompted to do this from observation of his conduct on the field of battle, but for some reasons not now known to us, but not creditable to the authorities at Washington, his promotion was not made, though so richly deserved. Congress ho, however, afterwards, gave him the brevet of brigadier general in recognition of the merit which should have given him the office.

 

When Col. Cockerill Saw that justice would not be done him, he resigned and came home. He was always popular with his own soldiers and with all soldiers who knew him and had the admiration and respect of all his fellow officers. He never broke his political ties with the. Democratic party and in 1864, after returning home, continued to act with that party, though he was never at any time a Peace Democrat. He had many Republican friends who were of opinion that when the war broke out, he should have gone over to the Republican party. Had he done so, no doubt he would have been speedily promoted and might have had any office in the gift of the Republican party of his state. His Republican friends believed he would have been governor of the state had he joined that party in 1862 or earlier. His own party sent him to the legislature from 1868 to 1872, and he had a most excellent record as a busy, useful and working member.

 

In 1871, he was a candidate for state auditor on the Democrat ticket, but was defeated.

 

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He was a man of independent, broad and liberal views. In public affairs, he was always actuated by the principles of right and justice, looking to the general welfare and not to any local advantage. Charity, benevolence, and liberality were prominent traits in his character. He was public spirited in all things.

 

His public and private life were each without reproach. As a social companion, he was always agreeable and entertaining. He knew every one in his county, knew all their faults and foibles and all their good qualities. He had a fund of entertaining ancedotes which was inexhaustible. As a conversationalist, he had no superior. A fact once acquired by him waS always ready for use and he knew more of the history of Adams County than any man of his time. He should have written the history and it is unfortunate for the county he did not. By his death much valuable information about citizens and events in the county has been lost. He was a born soldier. As a courtier and diplomat, he would have been successful. As soldier, lawyer, statesman, citizen, he was successful and merited the approbation of his co-temporaries and will merit that of posterity. His family consisted of three sons and two daughters. His eldest son was an officer in the 24th 0. V. I. and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died at the early age of twenty-eight, after the close of the war. His second son, John, was also a soldier of the Civil War and became a journalist of world wide fame. His, second daughter, Sallie, married Lieut. W. R. Stewart of the loth 0. V. I., and both she and her husband are dead. Their only son, a young man, was lost at sea, washed overboard off Cape Horn. The eldest daughter, Fsther, married John Campbell, M. D., who was a captain in the loth 0. V. I. and is now in the employment of the Fquitable Insurance Company at No. 328 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She too, has drank the cup of sorrow, in the loss of her only son, Joseph Randolph, an ensign in the , navy, who died in the service of his country, during the Spanish War, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Surely the family of Joseph R. Cockerill have shown their love of country. He departed this life on the twenty-third of August, 1875, at the early age of fifty-seven, but his life was in deeds, not in years.

 

William Howard

 

was born in Jefferson County, Virginia, December 31, 1817. His father removed to Wheeling, West Virginia. He lived on a farm until the age of fifteen. He learned the saddlery trade in West Virginia. In 1835, he removed to Augusta, Kentucky, where he entered Augusta College, and graduated in 1839. He was very proficient in mathematics and studied surveying. He supported himself while in Augusta College by working five hours each day at his trade. He studied law

under Hon. Martin Marshall, and was admitted in 1840, and located at Batavia. He was prosecuting attorney of Clermont County from 1845 to 1849. In 1849 he was state senator from Brown and Clermont counties. In 1858 he was elected to congress forthe district for Adams, Brown, Clermont, and Highland counties. He took strong grounds for the preservation of the Union while in congress. He was elected as a Democrat. He served as a lieutenant in the Mexican War, Co. C, ad Ohio Regiment.

 

314 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

He went into the War of 1861 as major of the 59th 0. V. I., and was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He resigned in 1863 owing to ill health. He was a zealous Methodist. He was married January 29, 1852, to Amaratha C. Botsford. He had a son, William Howard, who died in his twenty-third year, and a son, John Joliffe Howard, wife died July 13, 1875, and he married November 27, 1877, Mrs. Harriet A. Broadwell. He died Sunday, June 1, 1890.

 

Hon. Wells A. Hutchins

 

represented Adams County as a part of the eleventh congressional district in congress from March 4, 1863, until March 4, 1865. He was born October 7, 1818. in Hartford, Trumbull County, Ohio. His father Asa Hutchins, and his mother, Hannah Bushnell, were from Hartford, Connecticut, so that Mr. Hutchins was a true blue Connecticut Western Reserve Yankee. His father was colonel in the War of 1812, he died at the early age of forty-five, leaving his widow with eight children, of whom our subject was one, at the age of twelve years. The year following his father's death, he worked on a farm for $25 for his entire services for a year, and from that time on, was dependent upon himself for a livelihood. He had a quick, active mind and made the best use of the opportunities of education about him. At the age of eighteen he had qualified himself for a school teacher, and at that time went to Corydon, Indiana, where he taught a select school for eighteen months. During this period he saved from his salary $900, took home, and with that he began the study of law. He read law with the Honorables John Hutchins and John Crowell at Warren and was admitted in 1841. He immediately went to Portsmouth, where he an entire stranger, and set himself up to practice law. He was instinctively a lawyer. He loved the profession and naturally succeeded in it. For a while after he came to Portsmouth, he edited a newspaper, or spent part of his time at that.

 

On February 23, 1843, he married Cornelia Robinson, daughter of Joshua Robinson, then and for many years afterward one of the foremost citizens of Portsmouth. During the time of Mr. Robinson’s activities in business in Portsmouth, nothing in the way of public enterprise went on unless he was engaged in it. Naturally, such a father-in-law was a great aid to a young lawyer, but Mr. Hutchins would have succeeded without such aid. In his political views, at the time he located in Portsmouth, he was a Whig. He became a member of the lower house of the legislature in 1852 and 1853 as such. When the Whig party dissolved, he became a Democrat, which he remai during his life. In 1862, he was a candidate for congress on the platform, "a more vigorous prosecution of the war," being endorsed by the Democratic party. He was elected on his platform, defeating Hon. H. S. Bundy, but again in 1864, he and Bundy made the race, and the latter was victorious. While Mr. Hutchins was a great success as a lawyer he was not a success as a politician, and his party was very much worried at its failure to make him over into one. He could never make up his mind that he must be bound by a party caucus. He had the old fashioned idea that he must use his own judgment, and be controlled by his own conclusions of right and wrong, and he was so constituted

 

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that he could not do otherwise. In congress, he voted for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, and he alone of his own party voted for the thirteenth amendment to the federal constitution Whenever an opportunity offered, his old-fashioned anti-slavery abolitionist ideas would come to the front. In 1867, he and one other of his party were the only ones in Scioto County who voted in favor of the amendment to the state constitution granting negro suffrage.

But Mr. Hutchins was old-fashioned in many things. Under the old constitution, he traveled over the circuit and practiced law, and he kept up the custom under the new constitution. He believed that there was such a thing as justice and that it was administered in the courts. He believed that a judge Should not be approached about a matter in his court unless he was on the bench and in the presence of opposing counsel. There is no word in the English language, outside of slang, which will express the qualities he displayed in the trial of a case. The sporting man would have said he was the "gamest" man he had ever seen. Whatever may have been his inward feelings while engaged in a trail, he never expressed or betrayed the slightest surprise in its conduct, no matter what occurred. If his client broke down, if a witness disappointed him, if the court ruled against him, or a jury verdict was unexpected, he never gave a sign of emotion or disappointment any more than an Indian would. If he had a case he expected to win, but lost it, to the public, he accepted the result as expected. He was calm and collected under all circumtances, and never lost his equipoise. If Gabriel had blown his trumpet at any time, no matter when, Mr. as Hutchins would have lined up and said he was ready and he would have been ready. His reputation as a lawyer was coextensive with the state, and he was employed in many important cases. His cases for the Furances against the old Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad were carried on for twenty-one years and resulted in a victory for his clients. It is said the fees in this case were $65,000, but the amounts involved were large and covered freight overcharges for many years. No one thought he would ultimately be successful, but he believed in the causes and succeeded. In the Scioto Valley Railroad case, he took the claim of C. P. Huntington for $75o,000, when it was worthless, and he maintained contest on it until it was paid in full with interest, dollar. For thirty years prior to his death, he was considered one of the ablest lawyers in Ohio, and his assistance was sought in weighty and great causes.

 

In his arguments to the court, he always spoke clearly and with great deliberation. In no part of the conduct of a case was he ever in a hurry or ever perturbed. If he believed in his case, he usually carried the court or jury with him from the outset. If he did not believe in his case, he aimed to take up and impress on the court or jury, the one or two controlling principles, and let the others go. In this, he was very successful. His arguments were all well arranged, logical, clear, to the chief points, and brief.

 

In the case of Oliver Applegate v. W. Kinney & Co., involving some $200,000, and where it was sought to hold the defendants as quasi partners, he represented, with numerous counsel, the plaintiff, and Col. O. F. Moore, with numerous counsel, rerpesented the de-

 

316 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

fendants. Col. Moore spoke three days. Mr. Hutchins closed for the plaintiff in one hour and carried the jury with him from the opening of the speech. While other lawyers had to work out by hard study the principles governing a case, they came to Mr. Hutchins by intiinet. He could look into a case and almost immediately say what principle would determine it.

 

Mr. Hutchins was a high-toned old-fashioned gentleman. He always tastefully and neatly dressed. He always paid the highest p for his clothing and had the best. He always preferred walking riding in a carriage, and when past seventy, he walked with the springing step of a young man. Though he aged in years, he did not in appearance, or in manners. He always laughed at the idea of being c. old.

 

Mr. Hutchins' motto must have been nil desperandum for he always cheerful, always hopeful and always encouraging those about him. For the last thirty years of his life, he traveled much of the time. He always paid for the best accommodations on the train, always s ped at the highest priced hotels, and always took the best rooms. W ever he was likely to arrive home late at night, he would wire the fact and have a full meal ready for him on arrival. He uniformly preferred to sleep on a full stomach, and said that was the way animals do and thought that was best for mankind. A number of times in his history, he was very sick and his life despaired of, but he never despaired, and surprised his friends and physicians by recovering. He may be said to have died in harness. While in the latter years of his life, he only took employment in important caSes, he worked hard until stricken with his last sickness. In the earlier part of that, before the disease assumed a fatal turn, he was anxious to get out and go to work in the preparation of arguments for the Supreme Court, but when his disease took a fatal turn, and the fact was announced to him, he was not taken by surprise. He did not repine and grieve, and made no attempt to transact or close any business, but met the inevitable with the utmost calmness and composure. He died on the twenty-second of January 1895, with a disease of the kidneys. He was the best illustration of a self-contained, self-composed man ever known to the writer. He passed away in perfect peace, just as though he had been ready for the event all his life. To those who knew him, he was the most perfect type of the true philosopher of modern times. He did not concern himself why he came into the world or about his going out. He did not concern himself what happened to him, good or bad, but simply undertook to make the best of every situation when it presented itself and as presented itself.

 

The readers of this history would be happier and get more enjoyment out of this life if they adopted his philosophy.

 

Hezekiah Sanford Bundy

 

was born August 15, 1817, in Marietta, Ohio. His father was Nathan Bundy, a native of Hartford, Conn. His mother was Ada M. Nicholson, of Dutchess County, New York, where they were married. In 1816 they removed to Marietta, Ohio. Two years later, Mr. Bundy’s father settled near Athens where he leased college land and cleared and

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 317

 

improved it. His title, however, proved invalid. He was killed in 1832 by the falling of a tree. In 1880, his wife died at the age of eighty-one years. Of their three children, our subject is the only one who reached maturity. In 1834 he located in McArthur and in 1837 went to Wilkesville, where he married Lucinda, daughter of Zimri Wells. In 1839, he moved back to McArthur, where his wife died in December, 1842, leaving three children, William Sanford, Sarah A. wife of Major B. F. Stearns, of Washington, D. C., and Lucy, now Mrs J. C. H. Cobb, Jackson County.

 

From 1839 to 1846, Mr. Bundy was engaged in merchandising in McArthur. Ohio. In 1844, he married Caroline, daughter of Judge Paine, of Jackson County, and in 1846, moved to the old home of his father-in-law, which he afterward purchased and where he continued to reside until his death. His second wife died in 1868, leaving two daughters, Julia P. now the wife of U. S. Senator Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, and Eliza M., wife of Harvey Wells, the founder of Wellston. Mr. Bundy was again married in 1876 to Mary M. Miller, who survives and still occupies the old home.

 

In his early life, he attended for a short time a private school under the charge of David Pratt, of Athens, but his schooling ceased when he was fourteen years of age. In 1846, he commenced the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1850. In the fall of 1848, he was elected to the legislature from Jackson and Gallia counties and voted to repeal the black laws. In 1850, he was elected to represent Jackson, Athens, Gallia and Meigs counties in the house. In 1855, he was

elected to the state senate to represent the present seventh senatorial district. In 1860, he was a presidential elector from his congressional district and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. In 1862, he was the Republican candidate for congress from the eleventh district of Ohio, but was defeated by the Hon. Wells A. Hutchins by 1900 votes. Two years later, he was again a candidate against Mr. Hutchins and defeated him by 4,000 majority, and was elected to the thirty-ninth congress. In 1872, he was a candidate for the forty-third congress in the same district and defeated Samuel A. Nash by a large majority. In 1874. he was again a candidate, but was defeated by Hon. John L.Vance, of Gallipolis. In 1893, he was a candidate for congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Gen. Wm. H. Enochs, and was elected. Upon Mr. Bundy's retirement in March, 1895, he was tendered a banquet and reception at Jackson, Ohio, which was attended by Gov. McKinley, and state officers. Senator Foraker, Ex-Governor Foster, General Keifer, General Grosvenor, and many others of National prominence; and to Mr. Bundy upon that occasion was given one of the grandest tributes ever witnessed in Ohio. He represented

Adams County in the state senate and in his first and third terms in congress.

 

In 1843, he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was one of the two first lay delegates from Ohio to the General conference. In 1848, he bought the farm where he died and since then was largely engaged in the iron and coal interests in Jackson County, Ohio, and owned Latrobe and Keystone Furnaces. He also at one time owned the Eliza Furnace.

 

318 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

His son, William S. Bundy, served in the 18th 0. V. I. during the first three months of the Civil War. He then enlisted in Co. G. of the 7th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, September 20, 1862. He was severely wounded December 14, 1863, at Bean's Station in Tennessee. In January, 1864, he was sent home on account of his disability and on March 22, 1864, discharged for the same reason. After his return from the army he married Kate Thompson, and had one child, the present William F. Bundy, United States attorney for the southern district of Ohio. He died from the results of his wounds January 27, 1867, and his wife was killed in December, 1868, by being thrown from a horse.

 

Hezekiah S. Bundy was always remarkably popular among the furnace men of his own county. They were for Bundy for congress at any time and at all times. He was an excellent campaigner. While he was not trained and never sought to train himself in the arts oratory, yet he was an entertaining and effective public speaker. The people came to hear him and were always pleased and instructed. Bundy was well informed in every detail of public affairs, and had good memory. He had a most remarkable treasure of illustrative anecdotes from which he could draw at any time. His reminiscences were always delightful. He thoroughly understood human nature, and always kept in close touch with the common people. On the floor of the house, or in committee, he was familiar with the public business and always performed his duties creditably to himself and acceptably to his constituents. On all public questions in congress while he was a member, he was usually in advance of the march of public sentiment,—especially was this true of reconstruction measures. As a business man, he did much to develop the iron and coal industries in the region where he lived. He enjoyed to a remarkable extent the confidence and esteem of all who knew him and was universally mourned when he died at his home in Wellston, Ohio, December 12, 1895.

 

John T. Wilson.

 

The words of Miss Fdna Dean. Proctor's poem are ringing in my ears. She inquires if the heroes are all dead; if they only lived in the times of Homer and if none of the race survive in these times? The refrain of the poem is ; "Mother Farth, are the heroeS dead?" And then she proceeds to answer it in her own way, and she answers it thus:

 

" Gone ? In a grander form they rise.

Dead ? We may clasp their hands in ours."

 

" Whenever a noble deed is done

' Tis the pulse of a hero's heart is stirred."

 

Then comparing our modern heroes with those of Homeric days da Jason, Orpheus, Hercules, Priam, Achilles, Hector, Theseus and Nestor, she continues:

 

" Their armor rings on a fairer field

Than the Greek and the Trojan fiercely trod :

For freedom's sword is the blade they wield,

And the light above is the smile of God."

 

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We have heroes in these, our days, who will compare more than favorably with those of the Homeric, or any subsequent times ; but having them known them as neighbors and friends, and having associated with them from day to day, we do not appreciate them till death has sealed their characters, and then as we study them it begins to dawn on us that they have done things to be canonized as heroes.

 

Till since his death, we believe the public has not fully appreciated the character of the Hon. John T. Wilson, a former congressman of the tenth (Ohio) district, though it is his record as a patriot, and not as a congressman, we propose especially to discuss.

 

He was a hero of native growth. He was born April 16, 1811, in Highland County, Ohio, and lived the most of his life and died within ten miles of his birthplace. His span of life extended until the sixth of October, 1891, eighty-five years, five months and twenty days, and in that time, his manner of life was known to his neighbors like an open

 

In that time, living as a country store keeper and a farmer, and resisting all temptation to be swallowed up in city life, if such temptation ever came to him, he accumulated a fortune of about half a million of dollars, which, before and at his death, was devoted principally to charitable uses.

 

To attempt to sum up his life in the fewest words, it consisted in trying to do the duty nearest him. He was never a resident of a city, except when attending to public official duties, and to expect a hero to come from the remote country region about Tranquility in Adams County,

was as preposterous as looking for a prophet from the region of Nazareth in the year one ; yet the unexpected happened in this instance.

 

Till the age of fifty, he had been a quiet unobtrusive citizen of his remote country home, seeking only to follOW his vocation as a country merchant and to do his duty as a citizen ; but it was when the war broke out that the soul which was in him was disclosed to the world. He showed himself an ardent patriot. When government bonds were first offered, there were great doubts as to whether the war would be successful, and whether the government would ever pay them.

 

No doubt occurred to Mr. Wilson. He invested every dollar he had in them, and advised his neighbors to do the same. He said if the country went down, his property would go with it, and he did not care to survive it ; and if the war was successful, the bonds would be all right. As fast as he had any money to spare, he continued to invest it in government securities. In the summer of T861, he heard that Capt. E. M. DeBruin, now of Hillsboro, Ohio, was organizing a company for the Thirty—third Ohio Infantry Regiment, and he went over to Winchester and arranged with the Rev. I. H. DeBruin, now of Hillsboro, Ohio, that his only son and child, Spencer H. Wilson, then nineteen years of age, should enlist in the company, which he did, and was made its first sergeant, and died in the service at Louisville, Ky., March 4, 1862.

 

In the summer of 1861, Mr. Wilson determined that Adams County should raise a regiment for the service. He did not want to undertake it himself, but he believed that Col. Cockerill, of West Union, Ohio, would lead the movement ; it could be done and he sent Dr. John Campbell, now of Delhi, Ohio, to secure the co-operation of Col. Cockerill.

 

320 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

That was not difficult to do, as Col. Cockerill felt about it as Mr. Wilson. It was determined to ask Brown County to co-operate, and Col. D. W. C. Loudon, of Brown, was taken into the plan, and the Seventieth Ohio Infantry was organized in the fall of 1861. Mr. Wilson undertook raise a company for the regiment and did so, and it was mustered in Company E.

 

The captain, the Hon. John T. Wilson, was then fifty years of age and he had in the company three privates, each of the same age, and one of the age of fifty-five, so that the ages of five members of that company aggregated 225 years. Hugh J. McSurely was the private who was p fifty-five years of age when he enlisted in Capt. Wilson's Company. He is the father of the Rev. Wm. J. McSurely, D. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro, Ohio, and has a separate sketch herein.

 

Capt. Wilson's company was much like Cromwell's troop of Ironsides. It was made up of staid old Scotch and Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who went in from a sense of duty. Col. Loudon, of the Seventieth 0. V. I. says that Capt. Wilson did more to raise and organize the Seventieth Ohio Infantry than anyone else. At the time he went into the service, he was physically unfit, and could not have passed medical examination as an enlisted man. He had an injury to his leg, from the kick of a horse years before, that greatly disabled him, but he wanted to and felt he owed it to his friends and his country to go. He would n. consider his own physical unfitness.

 

He led his company into the sanguinary battle of Shiloh. His personal coolness and self-possession inspired his company, and he held together during the entire two days' battle.

 

During the march to Corinth, after Shiloh, he was taken down with the fever, and by order of the surgeon was sent north. At Ripley, Ohio was taken much worse, and lap there for weekS, delirious and unconscious, hovering between life and death. Owing to the most careful nursing, he recovered. He was not able to rejoin his regiment until September, 1862, at Memphis, Tenn.

 

Col. Cockerill was then in command of the brigade, and made him brigade quartermaster, so he would not have to walk ; but it was apparent that he was unfit for service ; and was imperiling his life for naught. Col. Cockerill and Lieut. Col. Loudon both told him he could serve his country better at home than in the army, and insisted on his resigning and going home. He resigned November 27, 1862. Col. Loudon says his record was without a stain, and none were more loyal than he.

 

Capt. Wilson was married in 1841 to Miss Hadassah G. Drysde There was one son of this marriage, Spencer H. Wilson, born September 13, 1842, and whom he gave to his country, as before stated. Capt. Wilson's wife died March 23, 1849, and he never remarried.

 

Captain Wilson not only invested his fortune in the war securities and sent his only son and child to the war, but went himself, and served as long as he could. Could any one have done more?

 

In the summer of 1863, he was nominated by the Republicans of that seventh senatorial district of Ohio, to the state senate without being a candidate, and without his knowledge or consent he was elected. 1865 he was renominated and re-elected to the same office, and sere-

 

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his constituency with great credit and satisfaction. In 1866, he was nominated by the Republicans of the Eleventh Ohio District for a member of congress, and was renominated and re-elected in 1868 and in 1870; though just before his congressional service, and just after it, the district was carried by the democracy.

 

When Mr. Wilson was first nominated for congress, it was not supposed that he was a speaker, or that he could canvass the district, but he made appointments for speaking all over the district, and filled them to the satisfaction of every one. He made a most effective speaker, and moreover, the farmers all over the district believed what he said, and were justified in doing it. He was never present at a convention which nominated or renominated him for office, and never in the slightest way solicited a nomination or renomination.

 

He was the most satisfactory congressman ever sent from his district. Every constituent who ever wrote him, got an answer in Mr. Wilson's own handwriting, which was as uniform and as plain as copperplate. The letter told the constituent just what he wanted to know, and was a model of perspicuity and brevity. Those letters are now precious relics to anyone who has one of them, and they are models of what letters should be.

 

If a constituent wrote for an office, he was sure to get an answer which would tell him whether he could get an office or not, and if Mr. Wlson told him he could get an office, and that he would assist him, he was sure of it. Mr. Wilson had the confidence of the President and of all the appointing officers, and if he asked for an office inside of the district, he usually obtained it, because he made it a rule never to ask for an office unless he thought he was entitled to it, and that it would be granted him.

 

Mr. Wilson retired from congress at the end of his third term with the good will of his entire district, and with the feeling that he had served their entire satisfaction.

 

On March 6, 1882, he gave Adams County, Ohio, $46,667.03 towards the erection of a Children's Home. The gift was really $50,000, but was subject to certain reductions, which vetted it at the sum first named. As the county built the Home, he issued his own checks in paymemt for it, until the entire gift was made. That Home is now one of the best and finest built institutions of the kind in this state. By his last will and testament, he gave to the Children's Home an endowment of $35,000 and $15,000 in farming lands. He also gave $5,000 towards the erection of a soldier's monument to the memory of the Adams County soldiers who had died or been killed during the Civil War. This monument has been erected in the grounds of the Wilson Children's Home, and occupies a site overlooking the surrounding country.

 

Mr. Wilson made many private bequests in his will, which it is not within the scope of this article to mention ; but to show his kindly disposition we mention that he gave $1,000 to a church in which he was reared and held his membership, and $1,000 to the church at Tranquility, where he resided. His housekeeper, a faithful woman, he made independent for life. As a residuary bequest, he gave to the commissioners of Adams County, $J5o,000 to be expended in the support of the worthy

 

322 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

It is to the interest of the state that every citizen should be law abiding ; that he shall faithfully follow some occupation and support himself and those dependent upon him ; that he shall accumulate and hold property to guarantee his own independence and that of his family, and that he shall be able to contribute to the needs of the state.

 

It is also to the interest of the state that, in case of war, its citizens shall place their entire property and their personal services fully at its disposal. A citizen who performs all these obligations is said to be patriotic, and the virtues of patriotism are more admired than any other, because what is given in that direction is given for the common good all the people of the country.

 

One may take the entire list of patriots, from Leonidas, the Spartan, down to Lincoln, the great war president, or in our country, from Gen. Warren down to the last man who fell at Appomattox, and none can be found who did more work for his own country than the Hon. John T. Wilson.

 

He periled his entire fortune; he gave the life of his only son, an he freely offered his own. What more could he have done?

 

Patriotism is and must be measured by the station in life which man occupies when his opportunity comes.

 

If each man does all he can, and offers or gives all he can he is as great a patriot as any one can be. Measured by this standard, Cap John. T. Wilson filled the full measure of patriotism.

 

When he came to the last of earth, he not only remembered those upon whom the law would have cast his estate, but he devoted the greater part of it to public benefactions and especially to the relief of the innocent unfortunates who were not responsible for their own misfortunes.

 

In his public duties as captain in the line, as brigade quartermaster and as a representative in congress, he performed every duty apparent to him honestly and conscientiously, and in the very best manner which it could be done. His entire life consisted in the performance each and every duty as he saw it at the time. He never did anything for effect, or for show, or to be spoken of and praised by his fellow men. In size, he was like Saul, head and shoulders above his fellows, ov six feet high, but with a most kindly disposition. His features were attractive and commanding. He was willing to meet every man, to estimate him according to his manhood, and to bid him God-speed, if he deserved it.

 

He never tried to do anything great, but his punctuality to every duty before him, from day to day, made him known of all men. He simply tried to do right, and, this simple devotion to duty in war and peace, in public office and as a private citizen, cause his memory to be revered as a perfect patriot so long as his good deeds shall be remembered.

 

Lawrence Talbot Neal

 

of Chillicothe, Ohio, was born at Parkersburg, Virginia (now West Virginia), September 24, 1844; was educated at the Asbury Academy at that place; removed to Chillicothe in 1864; studied law there and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Ohio, in 1866; was solicitor of the city of Chillicothe from April, 1867, to April, 1868, and declined

 

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re-election ; was elected to the Ohio legislature in 1867 and served two years and declined re-election; was elected prosecuting attorney of Ross County in 1870 and held that office until October, 1872, when he re-signed and was elected to the forty-third congress as a Democrat, receiving 13,379 votes against 12,106 for John T. Wilson, Republican. He was re-elected in 1874. He was the Democratic candidate for governor in 1893 and defeated by about 80,000 plurality.

 

Mr. Neal is noted for his devotion to his party. He is a lawyer of respectable attainments and is now residing at Columbus, Ohio. He was not engaged in the Civil War and is unmarried.

 

Henry L. Dickey

 

of Greenfield, Ohio, was born in Ross County, Ohio, October 29, 1832; received an academic education ; studied civil engineering, and, subsequently the law, and is a lawyer by profession; was a member of the Ohio house of representatives in 1861, and of the Ohio senate in 1867 and 1868; was elected to the forty-fifth congress in 1876 as a Democrat, receiving 14,859 votes against 13,518 votes for A. Brown. He was re-elected to the forty-sixth congress in 1876, but in a different district. His father resided in Washington C. H., until our subject was fifteen years of age, when he removed to Greenfield, Ohio, where Mr. Dickey resided ever since. He was, as a youth, a civil engineer on the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad during its construction. He resigned the position in 1855 and began the study of law with his father, who was a eminent lawyer and common pleas judge of ability. He was admitted the bar in 1857. He afterward attended law school in Cincinnati and 1859 he formed a partnership with Judge JameS H. Rothrock, afterward supreme judge of Iowa.

 

On January 2, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary L. Harper.. He was defeated for a second term in the lower house in 1863. From 1870 to 1872, he was chief engineer of Highland County in the construction of ,turnpikes.

 

John P. Leedom

 

was born in Adams County on December 20, 1847, and received a common school education. He graduated at the Smith Business College in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1863. He then taught in the public schools. He was elected clerk of the courts in Adams Co., in '74, and re-elected in '77. He was a member of the Democratic state committee in 1879; was elected the forty-seventh congress as a Democrat, receiving 17,375 votes to 15,663 votes for the Republican candidate. In this congress, he served on the committee on territories. He was a candidate for the forty-eighth

congress, but was defeated by John W. McCormick, of Gallia County, a vote of 15,288 to 13,037. He was elected sergeant-at-arms of the forty-eighth congress ; also of the forty-ninth and fiftieth congresses. The defalcation of a trusted subordinate broke him down financially, and in health and spirits. He left Washington in October, 189o, and was never well afterwards. He had suffered much before with acute attacks of kidney trouble, and he died at Toledo, Ohio, March 18, 1895, and is interred in the Odd Fellow's cemetery at Manchester. He was married in 1869 to Ruth Hopkins, of Adams County. His children are Mrs.

 

324 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

Eva Bundy, wife of Col. W. E. Bundy. of Cincinnati, United States attorney for the southern district of Ohio; Mrs. Effie Dugan, widow of the late Jesse Dugan, and a son, Wilbur H. Leedom, now a law student at Manchester. Mr. Leedom was a man of fine appearance and pleasing address, and was popular as a public officer. He made a good impression wherever he went. Ill health and misfortune—the misfortune of trusting too much to others—cut short a most promising career.

 

John W. McCormick

 

of Gallipolis, represented in the forty-eighth congress, the district consisting of Adams, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Scioto and Vinton counties. He was born in Gallia County on December 20, 1831. He was brought up on a farm and educated at the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and at the Ohio University at Athens, Ohio. On leaving school, he engaged in farming and was elected delegate to the Ohio constitutional convention in 1873 and was elected to the forty-eighth congress as a Republican, receiving 15,288 votes against 13,037 votes for John P. Leedom, Democrat.

 

William W. Ellsberry

 

represented the forty-ninth congress for the eleventh district, composed of Adams, Brown, Highland and Ross counties. He was born at Newhope, Brown County, Ohio, December 18, 1833; received a good education in the public schools of his native county, finishing at a private academy in Clermont County. After having taught school for two years, he began the Study of medicine with his father, Dr. E. M. Ellsberry, a noted physician of his time. He attended medical lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, graduating there, and some years later he attended a full course at the Ohio Medical College, adding its diploma to the former. He continued in the successful practice of his profession until his election to Congress. He was appointed superintendent of the Central Insane Asylum, of Columbus, Ohio, in 1878, but declined to serve. He was three times chosen county auditor. At the outbreak of the war, he was one of the county military board. He was a member of various medical societies, including the American Medical Association. He was always a Democrat and was a delegate to the national convention, which nominated Hancock in 1880, and he was elected to the forty-ninth congress as a Democrat, receiving 15,251 votes against 14,841 votes for Hart, Republican.

 

Hon. Albert C. Thompson

 

On February 14, 1894, the legislature passed an act to apportion the state of Ohio into congressional districts, and amended the act of April 17, 1882. Under this statute, Ross, Highland, Brown and Adams counties composed the eleventh district, and Vinton, Pike, Jackson, Lawrence and Scioto counties composed the twelfth district. Under this law, the fall of 1884, Albert C. Thompson was elected congressman for twelfth district. and W. W. Ellsberry, of Brown, was elected for eleventh district. On May 18, 1886, by act of that date, congress

 

POLITICS AND POLITICAL PARTIES - 325

 

reapportioned into congressional districts. and the eleventh district was composed of Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson and Vinton. In this district A. C. Thompson was elected to the fiftieth congress, and re-elected to the fifty--first congress, and represented Adams County as Congressman.

 

Judge Thompson was born in Brookville, Jefferson County, state of Pennsylvania, January 23, 1842. He was two years at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, his course ending with the freshman year. He was a student at law when the Civil War broke out. On April 23, 1861, he enlisted in the Union Army. and served as second sergeant of Company I of the Eighth Pennsylvania, three months troops. regiment served in Maryland and Virginia under General Patterson. On the twenty-seventh of August, 1861, he enlisted for three years in Company B, 105th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was made orderly sergeant of the company, and in October, 1861, was promoted to second lieutenant and on the twenty-eighth of November, 1861, he was transferred to and promoted to the captaincy of Company K of that regiment. On the thirty-first of May, 1862, he was severely wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, and was again wounded on the twenty-ninth of August, 1861, at the second battle of Bull Run. The last wound was a serious one. A musket ball entered his right breast, fracturing his second and third ribs, and lodging in the lungs where it remained. He was confined to his bed by this wound for ten months. In June, 1863. he entered the invalid corps, but resigned in December, 1863, and resumed the study of law. He was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania on the thirteenth of December, 1864. In 1865 he removed to Portsmouth, Ohio. In 1869 he was elected probate judge of Scioto County and served from February 9, 1870, to February 9, 1873, and was not a candidate for re-election. In the fall of 1881 he was elected one of the common pleas judges of the second subdivision of the seventh judicial district of Ohio, and served until September, 1884, when he resigned to accept the nomination of his party as a candidate for congress to which he was elected and served as above stated. After he retired from congress he was appointed by Gov. McKinley, chairman of the Ohio Tax Commission which made its report in December, 1893. He was chosen a delegate to the Republican national convention at St. Louis in 1896. In January, 1897, he was appointed chairman of a commission created by congress to revise and codify the criminal and penal laws of the United States, and served as such until he was appointed by President McKinley, United es district judge for the southern district of Ohio. He entered upon the discharge of his duties as district judge on the twenty-second day of September, 1898. After his appointment as United Sates district judge emoved to Cincinnati, where he has resided since the first of November 1898.

 

During Judge Thompson's first term in congress he was a member of the committee on private land claims, of which committee he was a valuable member. In the fiftieth congress he served upon the invalid pension committee, and in the fifty-first congress upon two of the most inept and important committees, namely, judiciary and foreign affairs. As a member of the first committee the judge was made chairman of the sub-committee to investigate the United States courts in

 

326 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

various parts of the country. The report which ne submitted to congress as chairman of that sub-committee was among the most valuable of the session. It was during the fifty-first congress that the famous McKinley Tariff Bill was formed, and in the construction of that important measure Judge Thompson took no inconsiderable part, being frequently, called into the councils of his party. Judge Thompson's career in congress was of material benefit to his adopted city. as it was through his efforts that a public building was erected in Portsmouth costing $75,000., The bill providing for this building was vetoed by President Cleveland in the fiftieth congress, but became a law by the President's sufferance in the fifty-first congress. A dike, knOWn as the Bonanza dike, built in the Ohio just about that time, was also provided for through the same instrumentality, at a cost of $75,000, and three ice piers built just below, were added at a cost of $7.500, apiece. The city of Portsmouth also received the boon of free mail delivery through the same source.

 

As a member of the Ohio Tax Commission he took a conspicuous part in its labors, and its work is now bearing fruit in the legislation of the state on this subject. The report of this committee received the highest praise from contemporaneous journals of political science.

 

As a lawyer Judge Thompson was well read in his profession, and was a diligent and constant student. He was painstaking, industrious, and energetic. He brought out of a case all there was in it, both of fact and law. His Opponent in any case could expect to meet all the points which could be made against him, and would not be disappointed in this respect.

 

As a common pleas judge he gave general satisfaction to the bar and public. He was one of the ablest who ever occupied the common pleas bench in Ohio, and there was universal regret when he left the bench for Congress. As a federal judge, he has received many compliments, and it is believed by those who know him best, that he will make a reputation as such equal to any who have occupied that position in our . state.

 

John M. Pattison

 

was born in Clermont County, Ohio, June 13, 1847. He entered the army in 1864 at the age of sixteen. He was admitted to the bar in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1872. He was elected to the state legislature from Hamilton County in 1873. He was vice president and generals manager of the Union Central Life Insurance Company in 1881 and was elected president in 1891. He was elected state senator in 1890 in the Brown-Clermont District to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Q. Ashburn. He was elected to the fifty-second congress on the Democratic ticket by 16,110 to 13,157 for D. W. C. Loudon. After his congressional career, he resumed his connection with the Union Central Life Insurance Company and is now its President.

 

Gen. William H. Enochs

 

represented the tenth Ohio district in the fifty-third congress, of which Adams County was a part. While he was only Adams County's representative from March 4, 1893, till his death, July 13, 1893, yet he was well

 

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known in the county and had canvassed it for the nomination to congress 1890, when Judge Thompson obtained his third term. He is a good example of what the ambitious American boy can make of himself. He was born in Noble county, Ohio, March 29, 1842. His parents were

Henry and Jane Miller Enochs. They removed to Lawrence County when he was a child.

 

He had the advantages of a common school education and was attending the Ohio University at Athens when Fort Sumpter was fired on. He at once enlisted in Co. B, 22d Ohio Volunteers and was made a sergeant. Col. Wm. E. Gilmore, of Chillicothe, was colonel of this regiment Hon. Thaddeus A. Minshall, now Supreme Judge of Ohio, was its sergeant major. Judge Guthrie, of Athens, was captain of the company and W. H. H. Minton, of Gallipolis, the banker, its first sergeant. This regiment was mustered in April 27, 1861, and mustered out August 19, 1861. Young Enochs was afraid the war would be over before he could get in again, so he swam the Ohio River and enlisted in the 5th Virginia Infantry. At that time he did not believe he could get into an Ohio Regiment, so he enlisted in Virginia. In October, he was elected captain of his company, but owing to his youth, his colonel refused to issue the commission and made him a first lieutenant. He was recommended to be major of the regiment in 1862, but owing to his youth, was commissioned a captain. As such, he was in the battles of Moorfield and McDowell and of Cross Keys. He was in Cedar Mountain and the Second Manassas, and at the latter had command of his regiment, although junior captain. He was also in the battle of Chantilly. In

1863, the regiment was transferred to West Virginia. On August 17, 1863, Captain Enochs was commissioned lieutenant colonel. His regiment was in the Lynchburg Raid, which was a campaign of "marching, starving and fighting." In 1864, his regiment was in the battles of Bunker Hill, Carter's Farm and Winchester, Halltown and Berryville. At the battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864, Colonel Enochs was severely wounded by being struck on the head by a musket ball, and was supposed at first to have been instantly killed. At Fisher's Hill, September 22, 1864, he displayed great bravery it. leading his regiment to the attack and for this, was brevetted brigadier general. His regiment and the northwest Virginia were consolidated and made the 1st West Virginia Infantry. Near the close of the war, his regiment was sent to Cumberland, Maryland, where he was assigned to the command of the troops in that part of Maryland, and on March 13, 1865, was made a brigadier general. In the fall and winter of 1865 and 1866, he studied law in Ironton and was admitted to the bar in April, 1866. He located

at Ceredo, West Virginia. After remaining there a year or more he removed to Ironton. He at once acquired a large and lucrative practice. For a long time he was general counsel for the Scioto Valley Railway Company.

 

In 1871 and 1872, he represented Lawrence County in the house of representatives of the Ohio legislature. In 1875, he was married to Miss Annis Hamilton, of Ironton. They had one son, Berkley, who was educated at West Point and is now a first lieutenant in the 25th U. S. Infantry and is with his regiment in the Philippines. During the Spanish he served with his regiment in Cuba.

 

328 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY

 

Gen. Fnochs always had an ambition to represent his district in congress. This desire was gratified when, in 1890, he was elected to congress from the twelfth district, composed of Athens, Meigs, Gallia, Lawrence and Scioto. In I892, he was re-elected to congress from th tenth district composed of Adams, Pike, Scioto, Jackson, Lawrence and Gallia. On the morning of July 13, 1893, he was found dead in his bed from an attack of apoplexy. A most promising career was cut short, He was the idol of the people of his county and respected, honored an beloved by the people throughout his district.

 

In the spring of 1893, he was full of projects for the benefit of his district and particularly for the improvement of the Ohio River. Had he lived, he would doubtless have had as many terms in congress as he desired and would likely have been governor of the state. He had the happy faculty of making all whom he met feel that he was their friend. He had some subtle unknown charm, of which he was unconscious, but which made him friends everywhere and attached them to him by in dissolvable bonds. His patriotism during the war was ardent, and never failed. It was just as strong in peace. All he achieved, all he accomplished in his brief career was his own. He had no rich or powerful family friends. He had no aid or assistance whatever and his friends were all made on his own merits. He was generous beyond all precedents, and any one deserving sympathy received the greatest measure from him. Once your friend, he was always such, and he made you feel he could not do too much for you. He believed in the brotherhood man. His death at the time was a public calamity. He received a pu. lic congressional funeral and persons attended from all parts of the surrounding country. His funeral was the largest ever held in Ironto He left the memory of a career of which every young American can feel proud and feel glad that a countryman of his had so distinguished himself in the Civil War, at the bar and in the National legislature.

 

Lucien J. Penton

 

was born on his father's farm near Winchester, May 7, 1844. The family were of Fnglish ancestry. Mr. Fenton's great- grandfather, Jeremiah Fenton, emigrated from Yorkshire, England, in the early part of the eighteenth century. He was a prominent and active patriot during the Revolutionary period. His son, also named Jeremiah Fenton was born in Frederick County, Virginia, and died in Adams County, in 1841, at the age of seventy-seven years. Benjamin Fenton, the father of our subject, was born near Winchester, August 31, 1810, and died August 13, 1870. His wife, Elizabeth Smith, was born in Pennsylvania December 19, 1813, and died at Winchester, Ohio, November 5, 1892.,

 

Mr. Fenton was a student at Winchester when the war broke out On the eleventh of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, 91st Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was with his regiment until September 19, 1864. He was wounded at the battle of Opequan Creek, Virginia, the ball lodging in his shoulder. He was sent to the hospital at York, Pennsylvania, and was not discharged until May, 1865. He returned home in the fall and began a normal course at the Lebanon chool, where he remained for three terms; He taught school for several years. In 1869, he en=

 

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tered the Ohio University at Athens, and took a Latin-Scientific course, leaving that institution one year before he would have graduated in order to accept the principalship of the Winchester schools, which position he held for two years. He then conducted the West Union schools for one year and the Manchester schools for five years, but he resigned in 1880 and was appointed clerk in the custom house at New Orleans. He was transferred, at his own request, from the custom house of New Orleans to the treasury department in Washington, D. C., March 15, 1881, in the office of the supervising architect. He remained in government service until October 18, 1884, when he resigned and returned home. The Winchester Bank was organized at that time, and its original officers were as follows : George Baird.. president, J. W. Rothrock, vice president, and J. Fenton, cashier.

 

Mr. Fenton is still cashier of the bank. Mr. Fenton is a trustee of the Ohio University at Athens. In 1892, was a delegate to the Republican national convention at Minneapolis. In 1894, he was elected to the fifty-fourth congress and in 1896 was re-elected to the fifty-fifth congress by over 10,000 plurality. He was a member of the house committee on military affairs during the Spanish:. merican War.

 

On May 22, 1872, he was married to Miss Sarah B. Manker. They have three children, Alberta F., Clifton L., who was a captain in the Spanish-American War, and Mary E.

 

He served on the staff of the Ohio Department Commander of the G. A. R. in 1893, and on the staff of the National Commander of the G. . R. in 1896.

 

As a soldier and patriot Mr. Fenton has an honorable record. As a teacher he won and held the high esteem of all the teachers of this county; as a banker and business man he has shown a high degree of ability and has the confidence of the community ; as a citizen he has the respect of all who know him: He is an excellent example or what the ambitious young American may attain.

 

Hon. Stcphen Morgan, M. C.,

 

a Republican, of Oak Hill, was born in Jackson County, Ohio, January 25, 1854; was reared on a farm and educated in the country schools and at Worthington and Lebanon, Ohio ; taught in the public schools of Jackson County for a number of years; was school examiner for nine years, and principal of the Oak Hill schools for fifteen years; was elected to the fifty-sixth congress. receiving 19,297 votes, to 13,769 for Alva Crabtree, Democrat. On April , 1900, he was renominated by his party for a second term.