Scioto County, Ohio - Chapter 7, 1903 (part 8 of 8)

was born June 6, 1817. His father was Francis Valodin and _ his mother's maiden name was Nancy Slater, the second wife of his father. He was born in the French Grant, on the lot granted to his father. At the age of fourteen, he was bound out to learn the saddler's trade with a Mr. Burke at McArthur, Ohio. His master neglected to teach him and he could not read. He concluded to run away and did so. He went to Greenup and finished learning his trade and there attended school. He devoleped quite an aptitude for learning and began his career as a school teacher in Greenup Countv, Kentucky. 'The second and third schools he taught were in Nile Township, in Judge Moore's District. He taught a school in the.

first school house erected where the Elm Tree school house now stands, and was thus engaged up to December 24, 1844, when he married Mary Jane Moore, a daughter of Judge Joseph Moore and of Mary Lawson, his wife.

He and his wife went to housekeeping in Rome, Adams County, Ohio, and lived there for three years. While there, he worked at his saddler's trade. In 1847, he went to Harrisonville, Scioto County, Ohio, and sold goods until 1850. In that year, he went to Turkey Creek and kept a store for a short time. In 1851, he moved on the Judge Moore farm and farmed for eight years. In 1859, he became a teacher in the public schools of Portsmouth, and taught until 1863. At that time, he was compelled, on account of the condition of his health to give up teaching, in which he had been eminently successful. He became a book-keeper and kept books for several firms until 1866, when he bought a grocery on the corner of Sixth and Chillicothe streets and conducted it until 1870. From that year until 1883, he was a book-keeper and collector for different business houses. In the latter year, he removed to the Judge Moore farm and remained there until his death on January 28, 1886.

Mr. and Mrs. Valodin had nine children: Susan Alice, now the wife of John Cooper, resides near Vanceburg; Mary Agnes died at eight years; Sarah Ellen, deceased. Laura Esther died at six years; Minerva Moore died at eighteen months, and Joseph Moore died at three years; John Moore born April 15, 1859, is still living unmarried, with his mother on the home farm, the old Judge Moore farm; William Francis died in his sixteenth year.

Mr. Valodin was a member of the Methodist church. From 1850, he was a Whig so long as that party was in existence, and after the dissolution of the Whig party, he became a Democrat and remained such during his life. Mr. Valodin was a master of arithmetic. He was very fond of mathematics. He was 'a man very strong in his likes and dislikes. There was no limit to either; withal, he was a very good citizen. Had he had a complete college education and followed teaching, he would have gained distinction in that profession, as his natural bent was in that direction.

was not one of the regular listed French emigrants. He was born in France in 1765, but was without property or education. He seemed to have been left upon his own resources. When he was 26 years of age, he wanted to go to the Northwest Territory; and having no means of going or-enlisting himself regularly among the emigrants, he slipped on board one of the ships and secreted himself. He was not found until the vessel was out on the ocean some days. When the ship in which he sailed reached Alexandria, he was sold out for a year to pay, his passage, and he worked out his time very cheerfully.

After this, he walked to the colony at Gallipolis and cast his fortunes with them. He managed to be counted in as one of the French emigrants when the land deal came up, and he received a patent for lot No. 5 of the French Grant. After obtaining his lot in the Grant, which was one of the very best and part of which is now the homestead of Peter F. Boynton, he cleared up the land and planted fine orchards of peaches and apples. He even went so far as to plant a peach orchard on the slope of the river from the top bank to the water. He was about the first of the French settlers to distill peaches and apples, and he sold great quantities of peach and apple brandy. He was also an excellent gardner and reared vegetables for the boating trade.

In addition to his Jot of 217 acres, he made the following purchases in the Grant. In 1807, he bought of Anthony L. Carpenter, 75 acres of French Grant lot No. 14 for $255. It was from the original French Grant lot granted Louis Cei. About the same time. he bought lot No. 4, of 15 acres of the little Grench Grant of Mons. G. C. Laforge, who at that time resided in New Madrid, Mo. He paid $400 for this. On December 11, 1816, he bought lot No. 21, in the French Grant of Joseph W. Devacht, for $605. September 8, 1817, he bought lot No. 12, of the French Grant of Louis Berthe. Jr. The reader will understand that a lot in the French Grant proper was always 217 acres, and a lot in little French Grant 150 acres. His last purchase was 10 acres lying on the river front for $200 of John Fitzer and wife.

In 1800, he married a French woman, his first wife, Madame Gabrielle, from New Madrid. She was 20 years of age and he was 35, She lived but four years, and died on the 1oth of September, 1804. There were two children of that marriage, Francis and Agate.- For his second wife, hé married an American woman, Nancy Slater, and she died Dec. 31, 1825, at the age of 41. Her children were: Adell, Ducuttee, Alexandre, Oriet, Hester, Dennis and Henry. -

He took pride in educating his children and sent them away from home for that purpose. He never learned to read and write, but he wished his children to have all the advantages which he had been denied. He was a man of great prejudices, of strong loves and strong hates, a trait which he transmitted to his descendants. He kept quantities of fine liquors in the cellar and dispensed them to his friends. He was very fond of card playing and drinking. _He was in the habit of going to the town of Greenup and engaging in card playing and

Greenup playing cards with a party of friends, and at the conclusion of the games he determined he would cross the river in a canoe. In Jeaving the house where he had met his friends, he fell over the river bank in the darkness, and so injured himself that he died within a few hours, in his 61st year. He had an iron will, indomitable perseverance, and left quite an estate to his children. He had the vivacity of the French, and the energy and industry of his Yankee neighbors, and so prospered more than the majority of the original French emigrants.

son of Christian. M. and Elizabeth Eagon Varner, of Scotch-Irish descent, was born in Stainton, Augusta County, Virginia, August 17, 1824. He came to Portsmouth, Ohio, with his parents in the spring of 1838. The journey over the mountains was made in company with two other families in wagons.

September 28, 1861, Colonel Varner enlisted in the 56th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for three years. He was made Major of the regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, April 6, 1863. In 1864, he was assigned to command the post at Algiers, Louisiana, opposite New Orleans, and on the eve of his departure, after four months service there, the citizens of the southern citv presented him publicly with a sword and sash as a testimonal of their regard. This is said to be the only instance during the great Civil War when a conquered people united to do honor and compliment to their conqueror. Colonel Varner left Algiers in July and was discharged from the service November 14, 1864.

_In private life he was a brick mason. He had become a large manufacturer of brick and a flourishing contractor when the war broke out. He was one of the organizers and for a time superintendent and-director of the Portsmouth Horse Car Company. He served sixteen years as a member of the City Council of Portsmouth. In 1874, he was an Independent Candidate for County Commissioner, but was defeated.

He was married November 26, 1848, to Maria Louise Huston, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Huston, two of Scioto County's pioneers. They had six children, William Eagon, now deceased ; Mrs. Ella L. Brown, of Youngstown, Ohio; Mrs. Anna M. Sanford, of Cincinnati; Frank Floyd and James Huston of Cincinnati, the latter connected with his brother-in-law in the firm of Sanford, Storrs & Varner. The youngest daughter, Mrs. Bessie C. Adams, resides in Portsmouth.

Colonel Varner passed away suddenly on the morning of June 5, 1877, of heart disease. A whole city mourned the loss of one who was a public as well as a private benefactor. He was a natural lead- -er. With limited school opportunities, his habit of reading useful hooks enriched his mind and his store of information, his genial disposition, kindly nature and rare conversational ability rendered him attractive to old and young.

was born August 9, 1814, in Caroline County,"Va, a son of John and Catharine (Mason) Vaughters. "The family was English. The form of the name as used in Virginia was Vawter. Among the Revolutionary Continental Land Warrants issued from the Land Office at Richmond, Va., was one to William Vawter for 2,666 2-3 acres of land, another to Benjamin Vawter for 200 acres. 'These are believed to be members of the same family. Our subject's father died in Virginia, and his mother moved with her family to Ohio, and located in Ross County in 1830; but in 1831, removed to Coalton, Jackson County. His mother died in 1833.

Our subject had no means, but he had a good constitution and a wonderful quantity of energy. He and his brother came to Scioto County in 1844, and for a number of years he was a tenant farmer. In 1849, he began to purchase land. By industry, thrift and economy, he prospered and at his death his farm was one of the largest and best kept in the Ohio Valley. At that time he was the owner of 503 acres of valuable Ohio river bottom land in the upper part of Nile Township, about seven miles from Portsmouth.

In 1847, he married Mary Dortch of Kentucky. They have five children, two of whom lived to maturity: Mrs. Harry S$. Grimes, of Portsmouth, Ohio, and George A. Vaughters of Chillicothe. Mrs. Vaughters died in April, 1860, and in December, 1861, he married Mrs. Ada J. Brouse, who had two children: Mrs. Chancey M. Holcomb of Gallipolis, and Mrs. W. C. Brouse of the West Side. Mr. Vaughters was always a Republican. He was a man of the most remarkable energy and strict integrity. He was more successful than either of his brothers in accumulating property. He died April. 14, 1891, honored by all who knew him.

was born in Caroline County, Virginia, in 1817, the third of a family of four sons: John, Thomas G., and Richard M. and one daughter, Mary L. In 1831, his father settled in Ross County, and in the same year in Jackson County. In 1838, he moved to Scioto County. In 1842, he married Miss Sophia Graham, by whom he had two sons and one daughter: John of the West Side, Thomas of Wetmore and Mary Margaret in Illinois, all married. In 1850, he married Mary Bryson by whom he had five children, four sons and a daughter: Richard, William, Carey, Sherman and Ella. He died July 26, 1880. His wife survived him. He was a Republican and served two terms as Infirmary Director from 1871 to 1874 and from 1875 to 1878. In 1871, the vote stood: Vaughters, 2,546; Luther Jones, 2,387; majority, 159. "In 1875 he received 2,203 votes 'to 2,989 for his opponent, C. F. Bradford, majority 304. He was a

In about thesyear 1800, the family emigrated from North Carolina to Fleming County, Kentucky, using three horses, the mother rode one carrying one child, two children rode another, and the third was used as a pack horse. The father walked.

The boyhood, youth and young manhood days of our subject were spent on the farm in Fleming County, Kentucky, where the father also conducted a still. William Veach had a fair education, derived principally from his father, and he as well as his brothers, five in all, did land surveying in their neighborhood. In 1822, he was married to Miss Ruth Burris, and came immediately with his bride to Scioto County and settled in Nile Township. After the marriage of his son, Thomas Veach moved to Lewis County, Kentucky, where he died in 1848. William Veach was Justice of the Peace for Nile Township July 20, 1863 for three years. From 1855 to 1861, he was a County Commissioner for Scioto County.

On May 2, 1864, when he was seventy years of age, but giving his age as sixty-eight, he enlisted in Company I, 140th O. V. L., for one hundred days, and served until September 3, 1864. In addition to having served in the Civil War himself, he had five sons and one grandson who served in the same war.

In politics he was a Whig, but sympathized with the Know Nothing party while it lasted and became a Republican at the founding of that party. He was a live politician and with great energy worked for his party's interest. He sought to see justice done every man. He was a member of the Methodist Church, at Friendship, although he believed in the creed of the Christian church, of which there was no organization in his locality. He had thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, of whom but seven, Nathan Thomas, Horatio C., Harriet, Charles Wesley, George W., Mary and Robert P. grew to womanhood and manhood. Of these, Charles Wesley and Mary are now living. Harriet. married William Canada Worley and resided and died in Scioto County, Ohio. | Mary married Murtaugh Lodwick and resides in Portsmouth, Ohio. Charley Wesley resides at Kingston, Ross County, Ohio. William Veach died of cholera, August 4, 1866, and is buried at Friendship, Scioto County, Ohio.

Jordan Vigus was a type of the true American, a unit of that great body which makes our country of the highest citizenship of any on the globe.

S8D4 History Of Sciqto County

Ile was noted for his upright character in youth and in manhood, Ile was born September 6, 1814, in Adams County.' His father was Paul Vigus and his mother's maiden name was Mary Ann Seaman, daughter of John Seaman, one of the pioneers of Adams County. Hle received his education in the Adams County schools. When of a suitable age, he learned the trade of the stone and brick mason, In 1834, he came to Portsmouth, saw the future possibilities of the town and decided to make this his home.

In 1836, he marricd Miss Hannah Caroline Ripley, daughter of William Plum Ripley and Cynthia Spencer Ripley. Seven children were born, four of whom, died while quite young'; Sylvester Warren, Lewis 'Taylor, Amanda Hmmeline and George Oscar, 'The surviving children are: Mrs. Hannah C. Edgington, Ada C. and Kate L., a teacher in the public schools in Portsmouth,

Our subject was always anti-slavery in his views and acted with the Republican party, When the war broke out, he desired to enlist in the military service and would have done so, except that he was a sufferer from asthina, which rendered it impossible for him to pass the physical examination necessary for him to become a soldier. His heart was for the Union and there was no more loyal citizen in the country, When the news came, that the rebel, General Morgan, had entered Ohio, it was supposed for a time that he would come through Portsmouth, Mr, Vigus had a flag floating from a staff on the top of his house. Some of his neighbors suggested that he should take it down because if Morgan passed through he would burn his house. Mr. Vigus replied, "That flag shall not come down, I will show my colors, and if Mr. Morgan comes this way, he can do his worst."

About 1877, he removed to a small farm on Dry Run, Washington 'ownship, Scioto County, to improve his health, but the disease from which he had suffered all his life, obtained the mastery, and he died March 21, 1881.

In early life, he united with the Methodist church, and was ever faithful to the doctrines of that denomination, He believed in the gospel of honesty and integrity and lived up to it all his life. As a citizen, a husband, a father, he was a model. 'To support him all his life, he had the sympathy and co-operation of a model Christian wife, - She was born in Cattarangus County, New York, on April 3, 1812. She came to Portsmouth, with her parents, in 1833. She was a woman most highly esteemed by all who knew her, and was a living example of all the Christian virtues, was born in Gentilly, France, one league south of Paris, October 13, i772. Tis parents were Bourgeois and in easy circumstances. 'They were devout Catholics and set apart their son for the priesthood,

He was educated for this purpose. He studied Latin and Greek. In his boyhood, he was a chorister in one of the churches near his home. When the time came for him to take orders, he had become somewhat tinctured with the freethinking ideas of that period, and did not feel that he could take the vows. This was a great disappointment to his parents, but he took it philosophically, and for immediate employment went to work in a calico factory. Soon after this he went into the service of a wealthy jeweler, Antionme.

The latter saw and appreciated the signs of the coming Revolution, and determined to leave France. He solicited Vincent to accompany him. 'The latter, being of an adventurous disposition, consented, and they sailed from Havre de Gras to the United States in the vessel bringing the Gallipolis colony. During the long voyage young Vincent studied English and learned to read and write it.

On his arrival at Alexandria he tried to speak it, but found he could not make himself understood, and that he had to learn to speak the language as well as to read and write it. After arriving at Alexandria, they concluded to cast in their fortunes with the French colonists with whom they came, and so went to Gallipolis. They reached Gallipolis but found it was no place for Mons. Antionme's business. The latter then determined to go to New Orleans with his stock of goods and after trading them to return to France. Vincent was to have a part and share in the venture but was to remain behind his partner to attend to some business and to follow him to New Orleans when he had cleared up the business matters.

Antionme built a fine pirogue, loaded on his stock of jewelry and watches, and put a regular arsenal of fire arms on board.to protect his goods. He hired two men, of whom he knew nothing, to row the boat and made his start. It was in the fall of 1791, at the outset of the Indian war. At the mouth of the Big Sandy they encountered a party of Indians in canoes. One canoe, with some of the Indians approached Antionme's pirogue and he prepared to shoot. The two men forbade Antionme to shoot, as it was not certain the Indians were hostile. Antionme studied a moment, and then shot himshelf through the heart. The Indians hearing the discharge started to row away and Antionme's companions called them back. The Indians then took such of the cargo as they saw fit, threw the remainder in the river with Antionme's body, and let the cowardly white men go, giving them a blanket and loaf of bread each. It is a great pity the Indians did not kill them instanter, as could Antionme have appreciated the situation, he would have done that meritorious act himself, and could have proceeded safely to Limestone or Ft. Washington, and there could have secured proper escort and proceeded on his voyage. 'The moral of Antionme's story is always to kill the other fellow first, and take your chances of his kill-

Mons. Vincent had all of his capital in Antionme's goods, and Antionme's suicide caused him to remain in the New World instead of returning to France. He had nothing left but himself and he went to work. He raised chickens, he taught the American children French, etc., but he felt that it was best for him to be among Americans, and he went to Marietta and obtained such employment as he could. Here on the 23rd of January, 1799, he married Mademoiselle Flore Emilie Berthelot. He was then twenty-seven years of age and she was sixteen. She was born November 14, 1783, at Sevres near Paris.

One month after his marriage he made a trip from Marietta to Belpre in a canoe alone. He fell into the river and came near drowning. He managed to get to shore almost exhausted and before he could obtain assistance he came near dying of cold and exposure. This incident caused the first joints of his fingers to stiffen permanently, so that he could never follow his trade, or play the flute afterwards. He regretted the loss of ability to play the flute more than the loss of ability to follow his trade.

While Vincent had not originally been one of the Gallipolis colonists, and had not intended to remain with them, in order to make as good a showing as possible, John Gabriel Gervais put him down as one, and in the allotment of lots he drew one in the hills, number 54, and sold it to Jean Baptist Gobeau for $200. It lies near the Giant Oak Mills. On March 6, 1801, he bought of Stephen Monot four acres, part of the Little French Grant, lot number 6, on the bank of the river. The deed was acknowledged April 2r, 1801, before John Belli, a Justice of the Common Pleas Court, and was recorded in Adams County. He located on this land in thé fall of 1801. On October 6, 1805, he bought twenty-five acres of lot number five for $200 of Anthony Magnet, and on November 1, 1822, he bought the remaining 125 acres of lot five for $900 of the same party. 'The same land is now owned by his grandson's wife and has increased in value about eight times over what he paid for it. Madame Vincent received 'an inheritance from her mother's estate in | France of about $3,300, and this was invested in land in the French Grant. The correspondence in obtaining this inheritance from France is yet preserved, and-in the hands of Dr. J. L. Taylor of Wheelersburg, a grandson of Mons. Vincent. Albert Gallatin our minister to France, attended to it, and the money was transmitted through John Jacob Astor. Mons. Vincent was naturalized August 31, 1803. He kept a fine garden on his first purchase, but did not hasten to clear up his latter purchases.

In 1821, he walked to Gallipolis and back in forty-eight hours to consult a French doctor about his family, four of whom were sick. He disliked horse-back riding, and traveled afoot. He walked to Gallipohs and back in 1837, when he was in his sixty-fifth year. He was an excellent gardener, and kept a vineyard and made wine. He raised tobacco and made cigars. He was a great reader, and C. A. M. Damarin was accustomed to furnish him with books. He took life easy and never hurried himself about anything.

He had all the passion of the traditional Frenchman, and could get towering angry and hiss sacre through his teeth whenever occassion required. If a neighbor wished to borrow anything that Vincent had, he would lend it cheerfully, but with the stipulated proviso that it be forthwith returned in good condition - failing in which, that neighbor was never accomodated the second time. 'The salient feature of Vincent's character was reliability. His word once being given, there was no evasion or quibbling. It was a prime article of his faith that a promise must be kept sacred at all hazards, and his word had for him as binding an obligation as a bond.

was born March 22, 1811, at West Chazy, New York, on the shore of Lake Champlain. His family record will be found under the title of the Wait family. Benjamin Wait, his father, and family came to Ohio in 1814, from Vermont. The emigrants came by wagons to Pittsburg and on to Portsmouth by river and settled at what is now Wait's Station. His wife's maiden name was Lavina Heaton. She was born June 26, 1775. John H. married Malvina Sikes, Septem- Der 12; 1830.

When our subject was a youth, he decided to learn the trade of cabinet making and went to Pittsburg for that purpose. He remained there about two years, then went to Cincinnati and completed his course, after which he went back to visit his folks and decided to work at his trade-at that place. He was a very skillful workman and his cleverness in designing and constructing furniture was a great source of pleasure to his friends, and some of them lamented the fact that soon everybody would be supplied and he would have nothing to do.

In the year 1838, he moved to Portsmouth and opened a small shop on Market street. The next year, he bought.a lot on Jefferson street and built a combined shop and dwelling. Here he made furniture, chairs and coffins for many years, doing all the work by hand. Some of the finest mahogany goods in the way of sideboards, tables and parlor chairs were made here and they were so well made by his superior skill that some of them are in use to this day. Later on he used horse power, the best of that day, and about the year 1850, built a steam factory, one of the first along the river, between Pittsburg and Cincinnati. In 1866, he was joined in business by his son, Gilbert D., and it was conducted under the style of J. H. Wait & Son up to 1884, when he retired from business. His name in business stood for honesty and integrity and the goods he constructed proved the sincerity of his purposes.

His children were: Isabella, Gilbert, Emma, Fannie, Sarah and John, all living except Isabella. In politics, he was first a Whig, afterwards a Republican. He was a member of the Bigelow Methodist church for many years. He died in Portsmouth, October 10, 1897, aged over eighty-six years. His wife died March 5, 1898.

brother of George A. Waller, was born Feb. 7, 1805, the'son of Dr. Thomas Waller. He grew up in Portsmouth, and became a dry goods merchant, and was in partnership with Jacob McCabe, as Waller & McCabe.

For a considerable time he and Samuel Coles conducted a mill at Unionville in Washington Township. From 1830 to 1834, he was Treasurer of the county. In 1847, he was one of the County Commis-' sioners, and served one term. He was a good citizen and a good business man. He was never married.

is descended from Charles Waller who came to Virginia in 1820, in the ship Adelaide, a single man. He married a Miss Allen in Virginia, a native of Liverpool. His son William Waller married a daughter of George Allen whose mother's maiden name was Withers. William Waller's son John was the father of Dr. Thomas Waller, father of our subject. George Allen Waller was born August 24, 1817, on Front street inthe city of Portsmouth, in a house which stood just below where Dr. 'Titus now resides, which was moved to Fifth street below Court where it now stands. His father, Dr. Thomas Waller died July 23, 1823, and his mother, Elizabeth Macfarlane, two years later.

He was reared by his eldest sister and brother William. He went to school in Portsmouth until his seventeenth year, when he went with his brother-in-law Captain Cleveland, to locate a canal from

George Allen Waller

Indianapolis to Evansville, Ind. In 1836, he returned to Portsmouth and clerked for his brother William in his office of Canal Collector at Portsmouth. In the spring of 1837, he went to Indiana to superintend the building of a canal and was gone till the close of the year. In 1838, he engaged in store boating on the Ohio river. A boat was built and a store placed on it and floated from town to town along the river. The store boat would be kept at each point as long as it was deemed profitable. In 1839, he carried on wagon-making at Portsmouth with Samuel Peebles. In 1840, he went on the river and spent most of the time as a flat boat pilot until the spring of 1849. In this time he was clerk and captain of a steamboat, though most of the time a pilot. At that time pilots were not licensed.

In the fall of 1848, he was elected Auditor of Scioto County on the Whig ticket, defeating Thomas Kendall on the Democratic ticket. He was re-elected in 1850, defeating James Thoroman. In 1852, he was elected to a third term as Auditor, defeating Thomas Kendall. In 1856, he engaged in the hardware business in Portsmouth and continued in it for a period of over thirty years. In 1857, he was the financial agent of the Buckeye furnace. In 1859, he was Republican candidate for State Senator in the Seventh District, and was defeated by William Newman. In 1861, he was again the Republican candidate for State Senator in the Seventh District, and was defeated by Gen. B. F. Coates by 126 votes. He was a Whig so long as the Whig party lasted. In 1852, he was a delegate to the Whig National Convention at Baltimore, Md. When the Whig party went out he became a Republican and in 1854, he voted for Lincoln for President three times, first as a delegate to the National Convention which nominated him, second at the Presidential election as a voter, and third as a Presidential elector for his District. He became a Democrat in 1866, and remained with that party.

He was eleven years on the Board of Education of Portsmouth, six years from 1857 to 1863, when the Board was composed of three, and afterwards served five years when the members were elected by wards. During his membership the Fourth street, the High school, the Colored school and the Union street building were erected, and he was on the building committee, and was its chairman. He was for twelve years a member of the town and city council. In 1872 and until 1876, he was President of the Iron National bank. He was candidate for Treasurer of Scioto County against Mark B. Wells and was defeated. In 1880, he was elected Mayor of the city, and served one term. In 1893, he was appointed a member of the County Board of Elections and served four years. In 1897, he was appointed a member of the City Board of Elections for four years. He died November) 27, 1900,

In all public positions, Mr. Waller has been known for his excellent judgment, and for his integrity. While on the School Board, his fellow members nearly always followed the course advised by him. In school matters, he studied what was best, advocated that, and his fellow members necessarily followed him. But he was wrong in retiring Prof. E. E. White, as circumstances afterwards demonstrated.

was born in Georgetown, D. C., Feburary 14, 1813. In 1818, his parents moved to Pickaway County, Ohio. At the age of 18, he went to Perryville, Ind., and began blacksmithing. He may be said to have hammered out his fortune on an anvil and it was a good one. In 1832, he went to New Orleans as most young men of his time did and was there during the prevalence of the cholera. He returned to Lancaster, Ohio, and went to blacksmithing.

In 1835, he came to Portsmouth, which then had a population of: 400 to 500. In 1836, he and Thomas Wilbahn went into partnership in blacksmithing at the south-east corner of Second and Jefferson streets. They continued in business until 1846, when Wilbahn withdrew and the next year Andrew Applegate came in. - In 1843, Ward bought out Applegate and continued in business alone. At the same time he enlarged his business and made plows and wagons. At the same time he conducted a livery stable on Second street in the 'rear of the Hotel Portsmouth.

His career in public office began in 1843, when he was elected a Councilman from the first ward. In the same year he was a school Trustee. From 1844 to 1849, he was a Trustee of Wayne Township. From 1849 to 1852, he was a member of the town and city Council and one of the Committee on Claims. Hence, he was one of the aristocrats of the town and in that period he governed it and did it well. He always had the affection and good will of the fire laddies and was always trying to do something for them. So much did they think of him in 1859, he was made Fire Chief. From 1859 to 1863, he was Sheriff of Scioto County, and F. C. Searl, then a verdant and unsophisticated country school teacher was his deputy. Searl was an apt pupil in the school of experience and soon learned to be as good a politician as Ward. 'The latter may truly be said to have been the founder of Judge Searl's fortunes. The Judge admits it himself and hence, no proof is necessary. While Ward was Sheriff there was a remarkable friendship between Ward and Searl, which only terminated with Ward's death. It was a stronger case than that of Damon and Pythias. Ward was much the older man, but the confidence he placed in Searl proved to be well bestowed and it lead to making the political and private fortune of Searl. From the Sheriff's office, John L. Ward went into the Treasurer's office and served there two terms, 1864 to

John L. Ward

1868. In 1852, with D. N. Murray and George Stevenson he undertook to manufacture engines and machinery. The firm was Ward, Murray & Stevenson, and it made the machinery for the .Burgess mill.

In 1855, he sold out of the machine shop and went into the Burgess mill as a part owner, but did not give the business his personal attention and this venture of his very nearly proved his undoing. In 1862, he was a gavernment tobacco inspector and U. S. Provost Marshal. In May, 1863, he performed the pleasantest duty of his life. The city of Portsmouth prepared a carload of provisions, clothing and hospital supplies for the 56th O. V. I, and he-and Daniel Mc- Intire went down into the swamps of Louisiana with the goods and delivered them to the soldiers. The trip took them several weeks. The soldiers were much rejoiced to be remembered and unanimously sent back a vote of thanks to the city Council in which Messrs. Ward and McIntire were most highly spoken of. The Council also passed resolutions thanking them for their services in making the trip.

In 1855, he engaged in the hardware business with Joseph Cone as Ward & Cone. After some time George A. Waller was admitted as a partner and the firm was Ward, Waller & Cone. In 1875, Mr. Ward sold out the entire interest to George A. Waller, Cone having previously retired. . When the lower mill failed, Mr. Ward apparently to himself was financially ruined, but he made no sign. He sacrificed his property and went on. He retrieved his fortunes and died leaving a fine estate and owing no man a dollar. After he retired from the Treasurer's office he purchased two good farms in Green- Township and became a farmer.

In 1871, he was tempted to go into politics, and became a candidate for County Commissioner.' "That year the candidates submitted their claims to a vote at the primaries and the poll stood William Kinney 665, John L. Ward, 663; so Mr. Ward continued his farming.

_ Mr. Ward was not a religious man. An occasional oath to him acted as a safety valve to express his feelings or opinions which were always strong, but if probity and integrity are religion, then Mr. Ward was remarkably religious. 'The following occurrence will show Mr. Ward's characteristics. A few years prior to his death he determined to put up a monument in the cemetery, and made a contract for the design in granite. having an anvil at the top, which now stands guard over his grave in the cemetery. He was notified that the monument was ready for inspection and acceptance. His neighbor, John F. Gerding was coming to town in an express behind a pair of mules and invited Ward to go with him. Ward accepted, and to reciprocate the favor, told Gerding to put the mules up ih his stable on Sixth street. Capt. Isaac Miller warned Ward not to go near the mules in the stable, but Ward, did not think he needed any advice from his son-in-law about mules, and went into the stable. One of them kicked him in the face and knocked out two teeth, disfigured Ward's face very much and he lay unconscious for a half hour before he was discovered, When Ward was brought back to this world he said, he thought etermity had come and the mule was the messenger to notify him. When shown the teeth the mule had displaced, he said they would do for corner stones to the proposed monument. | Further commenting on the affair he said, 'I have lived 72 years, and the idea of being kicked by a d-d old mule at my age is more than any constitution can bear." He, however, admitted that Captain Miller knew more about mules than he did, and that he ought to have listened to his advice,

We do not write this merely for the sake of giving a biography of John L,. Ward. What is the lesson of his life? How many blacksmiths die leaving $80,000? How many of that trade rise above the anvil? How many men who are financially ruined at the age of 47 ever regain their fortunes? John L,. Ward was a man of iron nerve and remarkable will power. When he determined on anything it was as good as accomplished. He would not undertake anything but what he believed he could do, and when he undertook it, it was done. The life of John L. Ward is a noble lesson and example to all young Americans, if they can walk in the path he followed. If a motto was made to illustrate his life, it would be "Nil desperandum." was born February 2, 1808, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His par+ ents were Germans. 'There he learned the tailoring trade, which he followed during his life. When a young man, just of age, he left Philadelphia and went to Washington city, and engaged in business for himself for a year. He enjoved a very fashionable trade in his business. In 1828, he came to Wheeling, and then to St. Clairsville, Ohio, and from there to Portsmouth, where he located in 1820, His grandson was a member of Congress from the Bedford, Pennsylvania, District, in the early history of the Republic. When he first came to Portsmouth to reside, he lived in a small house on Front street, between Washington and Chillicothe. From there he moved to Court street in the Scott property, between Fourth and Fifth streets, and then to the old homestead opposite Lynn's livery stable, where he died.

He was married to Eliza Gibson, daughter of William Gibson, in 'the year 1834. Mr. Gibson had been a blacksmith in Washington's Army, and kept a tavern at Bedford, Pennsylvania. William Wertz and wife had six children: Hattie, married to George Dennison, of

Milford, Ohio; Ambrose, who died in young manhood; Orliff, who resides in Portsmouth, and is better known as '"Buddy;' Mary, married to William Love, of Philadelphia; Wilbur, who is a brick contractor, and Ida, who died in childhood. Mr. Wertz worked a great deal of his time in the latter years of his life for Stephen D. Bishop. He was well up in his trade and could have made a fortune at it, had he tried. He was highly respected wherever he was known.

was born January 25, 1797, in Hampshire County, Va., the daughter of John and Elizabeth Timbrook near Romney. Her mother was a daughter of Lieutenant Lane, a soldier of the Revolution. Mrs. Lane was one of the ladies who strewed flowers in the pathway of Gen. Washington. The Timbrooks family resided in the Little Cabin valley. When a child she was chased by wolves, and rescued by her parents. In 1857, her mother died in her ninety-first year. Her brothers and sisters were as follows: William, died at Fort Wayne, Ind., aged 86; John, died near Portsmouth in 1840; James, died in the suburbs of Portsmouth in 1865; Rebecca, who married Samuel C. Briggs, died in 1840.

In the fall of 1815, Judith Timbrook married Thomas Bates Watkins. In March, 1821, she and her husband, her mother, sister Rebecca and brother James, with a wagon started west. At Brownsville, Pa., they purchased a flat boat. They laid by, nights and Sundays. 'They reached Portsmouth in April, 1821. They were laid up at Portsmouth with high winds. The people of Portsmouth tried to induce them to stay, and they sold their boat, bought horses and started for Chillicothe. The roads were so bad, that they gave up and located on the John Orme place, north of Portsmouth, where they raised a garden and Watkins teamed. Their flour was $5.00 per barrel, ham 5 cents per pound, eggs 5 cents per dozen, and all other articles in proportion.

When the Scioto was high, flat boats came down manned by as many as twenty-four hands. Thos. .B. Watkins farmed the bottoms for years and then removed to the brick house which formerly stood on Lincoln street north of Robinson avenue. In 1825, just after he went into partnership with Samuel C. Briggs, he was in the bottoms cutting wood when a large dead limb fell on him and paralyzed him. He lay helpless. for six weeks. After recovering, he started a grocery where the Second street school house now stands. He remained there till just hefore the flood of 1852, when he went to Lucasville and kept a tavern. Charles Mastin kept a store there, and the residerts there were David Jones, father of Luke; Henry Roush, who also kept a tavern, and Dr. Watkins. A great many teamsters from Lancaster made Watkins' hotel their stopping place, and sometimes there were as many as 20 wagons in front of the hotel at night.

In 1829, they removed to Waverly and kept a tavern there. They entertained Duncan McArthur, Robert Lueas and other distinguished men. In 1851, they returned to Portsmouth, and kept a tavern on Front and Massie streets where Reitz's office now is. Mr. Watkins afterwards kept a tavern known as the 'Travelers' Home" which stood east of Chillicothe in the middle of Sixth street in front of the church. Mr. Watkins had always been a Democrat, but he voted for Mr. Lincoln in 1864. .He had served in Captain Sealy's Company in the war of 1812. He died November 16, 1884. Mr. Watkins wore the first blue jeans made in Scioto County, and of it mitts were made for Dr. Waller, John Orme, Daniel Noel, and other residents. . His children were Mrs. S. H. Holmes, Thomas B. Watkins, James, Captain of the Anchor line steamer of St. Louis, Jefferson L., John Watkins, and, Mrs. H. Densmore. Her son, William, died in 1865 and her daughter, Mrs. Thomas Beatty, in 1865. Mrs. Watkins drew a pension on account of her husband's service in the war of 1812. It was granted under the law of March, 1878. She died April 15, 1885.

Peter Weaver was a colored man born in 1748, an attache of the Court House and a well known character in the town. He was the first boot black in the town. He went to the taverns, shops and stores on Saturday afternoons and blacked shoes and boots. | He had customers by the month and by the quarter. He lived on the site of the National Hotel. On April 23, 1825, he was allowed $3.00 for waiting and attending on the Court. On August 6, 1825, for attending on the court for six days, he was allowed $4.50. November term, 1827, he was allowed for waiting on the court, $3.75. For waiting on the court at the march term of 1820, he was allowed $3.75. Samuel M. Tracy had $33.33 1-3 for his services at the same term, On December 30, 1830, he was allowed by the county $4.00 for digging the grave of Mahala Murphy, an insane woman, who died in jail.

Peter Weaver was a member of the. First Presbyterian church and prided himself on the fact. The colored churches did not suit him. He always wore a silk hat, usually furnished second hand from some friend in the church. In his latter days, Mr. Robert Bell furnished him in silk hats. In the latter part of his life, Peter lived on the present site of the Sixth Street Methodist church. His wife, Charlotte Weaver was a character. She was a midwife and a factotum about the town. No child could be born, no woman buried and no social function be given, without her assistance. She was born in 1778, on the south branch of the Potomac river, a slave, and at ten years was sold to a master named Walker, who took her to Kentucky. There she married Peter Weaver, who had had two wives before, and was 3 years older than she. Weaver worked and bought his own freedom. 'Then he borrowed $1,000 and bought his wife's freedom, but was unable to buy that of his child by her. They came to Portsmouth before the town was located and built a cabin. They continued to live in Portsmouth till he died in 1865, at the age of 117 years. She survived until September 12, 1883, when she died in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 105 years. She had never been sick and was found dead in her bed.

located in Portsmouth, in 1819. He had a good education and was very expert in figures. From 1815 to 1819 he was clerk of Wayne Township. From 1817 to 1821 he was Sheriff of Scioto County; at the same time he was collector of taxes. In 1820 he took part in the famous Fourth of July celebration. He was one of the marshals of the procession and Gen. William Kendall was the other. 'There was a public dinner and he responded to two toasts. On July 17, 1820, he issued an address to the electors of Pike, Scioto and Lawrence Counties as a candidate for Legislature, and while he led the poll in Scioto County, he was not elected. David Mitchell and William Miller were elected. 'The vote stood as follows: Nathan Wheeler, 465 ; Caleb Hitchcock, 431; David Mitchell, 200; Miller, 151. This was before the time of political conventions and when each man determined his own candidacy. He had a brick yard in the east end of Portsmouth and made brick there. In December, 1820, he went into partnership with Arnold G. Sergeant, as a watch repairer, silver and gun-smithing. He was the first person who ever made building bricks in Portsmouth.

On May 4, 1817, John Brown resigned as councilman and Nathan Wheeler was appointed in his place. In 1819, he was Road Supervisor of Portsmouth. He died about the year 1826, but the exact date is not known, neither is his place of burial.

emigrated to Blennerhasset Island in 1801. She died at Ceredo, West Virginia, in June, 1869, in her 77th year. Nathan Wheeler was a public spirited citizen. He was ever ready to take part in any public function, whether as a marshal, speaker, or otherwise. He was well liked by his contemporaries. He was industrious and active and a suitable man to aid in building up a city or county. His residence while in Portsmouth was on the north side of Second street, near the Scioto river bridge, and it is said that he kept a ferry there part of the time.

Amos Wheeler served in the Revolution (see Revolutionary soldiers) and was an eye witness of the execution of Major Andre, the famous British spy, at Tappan, N. Y., October 2, 1780, being one of the horse guard at the time.

After the Revolution, he moved to Bethlehem township, Grafton, County, New Hampshire, and married Elizabeth Snow at Bath, N. Y., October 11, 1788. His wife was the daughter of a sea captain, who spent a great many years on the ocean, and who wrote a book on the Millennium. Amos Wheeler believed with the Declaration of Independence, that all men should be treated alike, and tried to be sociable and friendly with the poorest and most ignorant as*well as with the wealthy-and educated. He was major in the militia, and a Presbyterian. His wife was a Free Will Baptist, aristocratic, choosing her associates among' the wealthy and refined, but always treating the "back woods" people kindly. Although they differed in religion and politics, there never was any quarreling between them.

The family relations were unusually congenial because the children were carefully taught to respect each other's rights and feelings. So peace and kindness reigned in spite of all irreconcilable opinions.

In 1808, Amos Wheeler together with his family, which then consisted of his wife, two sons, and three daughters, moved from New Hampshire, and settled in the town of Wheelersburg, Scioto County, Ohio. Amos was accompanied to Ohio by his father Nathan Wheeler, an old man who loved to tell war stories, and to sing war songs to the boys. He died in 1812 lacking but two weeks of being go years old. During the war of 1812, Amos Wheeler offered his services to his country, and it is believed took part in the expedition against the British and Indians at Vincennes, Ind.

July 17, 1818, while yet a resident of Scioto County he applied for a pension, which was granted and continued until his death. About 1822, he sold his place at Wheclersburg to the Rev. Dan Young who also was from New Hampshire, and moved to Marion County, Ohio. Amos was tall and fair with curling hair, and grew bald as he grew older. He died March 27, 1827, aged 66 years and 6 months, and was buried at Marion, Ohio.

His wife, Elizabeth, who was born on December 16, 1771, was small and her eyes and hair were very black. She was a very hand- © some woman and used to in the earliest days, wear high-heeled shoes, and hoops so large that she had to tilt them to pass through a door. To the very last she used her face powder, and was fond of fine caps, and was dainty and precise in her dress and manners. She had something of a military spirit, for she walked with much spirit and precision in all her movements, something like a trained soldier, even to the last years of her life. She was so. well acquainted with the

Scriptures, - book, chapter and verse - - that her son-in-law, a minister, when hurried, consulted her rather than turn to the concordance. She was very helpful to him in his ministry, which was a widely successful one. She was in her 73rd, year when she died. Elizabeth Wheeler, drew a pension as widow of a Revolutionary soldier, until the time of her death which occurred in June, 1843 at East Liberty, Ohio, where she made her home during the latter part of her life with her eldest daughter, Elizabeth, then the wife of Rev. David Dudley.

Amos and Elizabeth Wheeler weré the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters. The five eldest children were born in New Hampshire, and the youngest Horatio Nelson was born at Wheelersburg, Ohio, August 4, 1811.

It might perhaps be interesting to note in this connection that a number of the grandsons of Major Wheeler took part in the Civil War, among them being Lieut. Edward D. Wheeler who graduated from West Point on June 13, 1864, served during the siege of Petersburg, Va., and was at the action of Laurel Hill and was Asst. Adj. General of the 25th Army Corps when Grant entered Richmond, and who served for many years in the regular army. Lieut. Amos Wheeler, a man 'in every way worthy of his namesake, took part in many hard fought battles, and accompanied Sherman to the sea. David Thompson, son of Mahala (Wheeler) Thompson, second daughter of Major Amos Wheeler, entered the army as a Second Lieutenant, in the 82nd Ohio, and was rapidly promoted to Colonel. He was wounded at the battle of Dallas, Ga., and again at Averysboro, N. C., for his services in which he was brevetted, Brigadier General, to date, from March 13, 1865. For his bravery at the battle of Gettysburg he was presented with a magnificent sword by the privates, and non-commissioned officers of the 82nd Ohio regiment.

was born in Salisbury, Conn., June 25, 1777. His father was Christopher Whitney and his mother, Mary Ticknor of Sharon, Conn. His great-great-grandfather, John Whitney, of Watertown, Mass., located there from London, England, in June, 1835, coming on the ship "Elizabeth and Anne.'' He was soon admitted as a freeman and for twenty years was selectman, constable and town clerk. The founder of the family in England was Turstin the Fleming, or Turstin De Wigmore, or Sea Rover, whose distinction between meuwm and tuum were of the vaguest character and who with other gentlemen (?) of his kind followed in the wake of William, the Conqueror, from Normandy and England, for anything which might turn up.

Christopher Whitney was a Revolutionary soldier. In 1790, he went to the western part of New York, to take up land as a reward for his military services in the Revolution.

1800, Ruluff Whitney married Susan Glenny of Virgil, New York. In 1806, he was a Justice of the Peace of histownship. He lived at Dryden Corners, Cayuga County, New York, until 1816. There was a frost every month that year and he determined to go further south. He started with his family for New Orleans. They went in wagons to Pittsburg, Pa. The party was composed of himself, wife and eight children. At Pittsburg he invested most of his money in goods for trading down the river. 'These goods were lost in a storm in the river. The family stopped at Pomeroy, Ohio, and Mr. Whitney bought coal land. After remaining here a year or so, he loaded a boat with coal and started with his family to New Orleans, but went to St. Louis. He left his family at St. Louis. and took up a claim and built a cabin in Illinois. | Coming back to St. Louis to renew his journey to New Orleans, some of his children had been attacked with yellow fever but recovered.

This induced him to give up the voyage to New Orleans and as soon as his children recovered, he took his family on a steamboat to go up the Ohio and return to his old home in New York.

On the boat going up the Ohio, he fell in with a citizen of Portsmouth, who persuaded him that one of the poles of the earth came out there. He was so charmed with what he had heard of Portsmouth that he determined to stop there and did so-in January, 1821. He never left the town and is buried in its cemetery. In 1825, he was Coroner of the County. In 1829, he bought the lot known as the Whitney corner where the Washington hotel now stands. He built a part of the building first placed on the lot and moved another part, from Jefferson street. He gave $111.82 for the north one-half of inlot No. 2, feet on the northwest corner of Second and Market streets and bought of Hugh Cook. He gave Mercy Cook, the wife, $5.00 extra to release her dower.

He got coal off his lands in Meigs County, Ohio, and sold it in Portsmouth. The coal first burned in the court house at Portsmouth, was sold to the County, December 6, 1831, at. 1614 bushels for fifty cents. Our pioneers were desperately reckless about spelling and in entering the transactions on the Commissioners' Journal, they spelled coal, "cole." Moses Gregory, then Auditor, will have to stand responsible for this error as he was Auditor at that time. Mr. Whitney had a coal yard on Jefferson street north of Second and later on his lots opposite the court house on Sixth street.

In 1837, he burned and furnished the brick for the present court house. He first used the entire Whitney corner building for a residence. Then he kept a grocery there. In 1837, he went into the ' pork packing business and built the brick house on Market street so long used by Maxwell as a feed-store.

ed as Health Officer. In 1836, he was elected clerk of the market at $15.00 per year. He declined to accept the office, at that compensation, and Thomas Ferrin was elected at $30.00 per year and accepted.

Ruluff Whitney was a large, portly man, lacking one-fourth of an inch of six feet, with florid complexion, light hair and blue eyes. His wife was under size, plump and with very black eyes and hair. After he had bought the Whitney lots on Sixth street near the court house, he tried to-have the street laid out east, in a straight line until it struck Lawson's Run, but the men in Portsmouth who made it their business to block streets, and in each generation got in their work, said he was entirely selfish in the matter and his plan was defeated.

His wife was a Presbyterian all her life. He attended that church with her, but later he attended All Saints church. He died at his residence on the Whitney corner August 8, 1846. His wife died a year previous. A few years before their death they together made a long visit to their friends and old home in New York. They are buried in the old Funk graveyard in Kinney's Lane. Their children were eight in number. John resided on the corner of Sixth and Court streets. He was married twice and had two sons, John Nesbit and James Glenny; Mary Ticknor, a daughter, married Hannibal H. Hamlin and resided in Cincinnati. She had five children who attained maturity: Ruluff Whitney, Jr., a son, died in Portsmouth in 1824; Susan Whitney, a daughter married Elisha G. Stone and lived in Cincinnati; she had five children to attain maturity. Sarah Whitney, a daughter married Andrew Rowan Harden and resided in Cincinnati; she had five children to attain maturity. William Glenny Whitney, a son, resided in Portsmouth all his life, and has a sketch below. Minerva Whitney married Abjah Curtis of Connecticut and was childless. Olive Whitney married Col. Allen Campbell MeArthur of Chillicothe, Ohio. They had five children.

Ruluff Whitney, our subject, has sixty-eight grand-children and eighty-seven great-grandchildren, all of whose names and addresses are known to Miss Belle Whitney of Portsmouth, Ohio.

was born April 11, 1811, at Dryden's Four Corners, Cayuga County, New York. It is now in Tompkins County. He was the third and youngest son of Ruluff Whitney and Susannah Glenny. His mother was the daughter of John and Nancy Nesbit Glenny of Virgil, New York. The Glennys emigrated from. Newry, County Down, Ireland, in 1795. Ruluff Whitney was a_ descendant of John and Eleanor Whitney, who emigrated from England, and settled at Watertown, Mass., in 1635.

Mr. Whitney resided with his parents as long as they lived. Until he was about six years of age, they lived in Dryden and vicinity. In the year 1817, they went to Pomeroy, Ohio, where they resided until 1820, In 1821 they settled in the town of Portsmouth. . Our subject attended school three months in the winter~in town. The teacher was paid by the parents of the pupils. One of his teachers was in the habit of taking a long nap in the afternoons and it was a favorite amusement for. the boys to try which could approach close enough to shake a fist under his nose and regain his seat without arousing him. We are not informed who thar teacher was, but it may have been William Jones. However, William G. Whitney was disposed to learn and kept his books and slate for study and studied at every opportunity. He was quite a reader of the English classics.

In 1830, he and his brother, John, bought out the father's business and conducted it under the name of J. & W. G. Whitney. They engaged in forwarding freight on the canal and were part owners of the steamboat "Olive," plying between Cincinnati and Portsmouth. William G. was the Captain.

On January 22, 1831, our subject was commissioned Ensign of the First Regiment, Second Division, Second Brigade State Militia. He was qualified July 11, before Silas Cole, Adjutant. He was called Captain because he became Captain of a militia company in Portsmouth.

Mr. Whitney was twice married. His first wife was Miss Melvina Fleming, whose parents came from~Pennsylvania. There were | four children of this marriage: Ruluff, who lives at 419 Arch street, Cincinnati, Ohio; Susan, wife of Johm $. Womble, of Oviedo, Orange County, Florida; William Fleming and James, an infant who was killed by a fall when he was two "days old, the mother following four days after, April 29, 1847.

In 1837, 1838 and 1840, Wm. G. Whitney was overseer of the poor of Wayne Township. From 1840 to 1844, he was town street commissioner of Portsmouth. In 1842, he succeeded Jacob Offnere as town Treasurer and was elected annually until 1845 when he was succeeded by John Waller. He was a communicant of All Saints church and from 1847 to 1851, he was a vestryman. In 1850, he was on the building committee.

In 1850, Mr. Whitney was married to Miss Eley F. M. Voorhees, daughter of Isaac Voorhees and his wife, Isabella McCormack. Mr. Voorhees came to Ohio from Brownsville, New Jersey, a son of Jacob Van Voorhees and his wife, Hannah Sickles. Jacob Voorhees, his father, was a Revolutionary soldier, and: descended from a Stephen Coerte Van Voor Hees, who emigrated from the province of Drenthe, Holland, April 1660, on the ship "Bontekoe," meaning "spotted cow," and settled at Flatland, Long Island. ~The children of our subject's marriage were; Isabella Olive, Mary Jane, married Charles Edwin Jewell, died at Toronto, Canada, June 14, 1880, leaving three children; Elsie G., Martha W., who died in infancy, and Teresa, who married Allen Campbell McArthur, of Circleville, Ohio,

Simeon Wood

In 1851, the partnership with his brother John was dissolved John W. took the Sixth street property, and William G. took the Second and Market street corner. Later, he took into partnership his wife's brother-in-law, James D. McLean. In 1859, the firm abandoned the grocery business and confined themselves to commission and to transporting freight on the canal. The business of freighting on the canal was very lucrative during the Civil War. Mr. Whitney's business required him to spend much of his time traveling the country between Portsmouth and Columbus, which he did in a buggy built by John L. Ward. It is said he brought the first locomotive for the Hamden Branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad by canal.

In 1870, James D. McLean, Mr. Whitney's partner, retired from the business and it was conducted by him alone. He was a town guard in Portsmouth in 1875.

Mr. Whitney was a Whig and later a Republican in his political views. However, he had a strong dislike to party slavery. While at least after middle age, not an active politician, he always informed himself of the party candidates and never hesitated to scratch from his ticket, the man whom he knew to be unfit for office. Mr. Whitney was essentially a refined man, disliking roughness and coarseness in reading or companionship. While alive to business opportunities, he had no taste for going beyond in a bargain or shoving another man aside. He never used tobacco in any form. He died February 9, 1889, and is interred in Greenlawn cemetery.

came to Ohio from New Jersey and located on government land, on the site of the town of Alexandria. He had a family of nine children: Frank, William, Joseph, Peter, James, Thomas, Margaret, Anna and Sarah. He died in 1812. His wife, Martha (Fort) Williamson died in 1834. Both are buried in Washington township. His son, Joseph was the father of George Williamson of Dry Run, who has a sketch and picture herein.

was born February 7, 1819 in Flat Woods, West Virginia, near Louisa, Kentucky. He was the son of Hiram and Mary (Swearingen) Williamson. His father died when he was only fifteen and left several children, of whom he was the eldest. His first employment away from home was on the steamboat 'Transit' as a deck hand at $15.00 per month. She was a side-wheeler built by Samuel J. Huston and owned by Captain James W. Davis and Luke P. N. Smith. She ran from Portsmouth to Cincinnati and made two trips a week. She was too tons burden. He worked on her until he was made mate at eighteen and then went on the "Ashland," a stern-wheel | steamboat owned by the same parties. She ran from Portsmouth to Cincinnati. Captain Tinker was the master. Our subject was mate for ten years on these two boats or until 1847. After the "Ashland" was built, the pilot, steward, engineer and mate all got $1.00 per day. They served some time at this rate and then all who had been receiving $1.00 per day were raised to $40.00 a month, except our subject. . He determined not to stand it and left the boat at Cincinnati. All of the crew wanted him to remain but he refused and returned to Portsmouth on a Pittsburg boat. In the six weeks following his leaving the "Ashland" it had five mates successively. They lost money, anc Captain Davis offered Williamson $75.00 per month to go back' on the boat, but he declined. They had 'paid $60.00 for a mate after. he left.

. December 22, 14841, he was married to Sarah Ann Gharky, daughter of David Gharky. After he left the "Ashland," he engaged in building flat boats for David Gharky and saved $300 from his labors. He bought a canal boat and four horses for $600 paying $300 down and the remainder at $50 per month. He ran the canal boat for ten years and regards this as the pleasantest part of his life. He carried passengers and furnished meals and carried all freight which offered. The rates of fare were $3.00 to Columbus, $1.00 to Waverly and $1.50 to Chillicothe, including meals and lodging and the boats crew and passengers lived on the fat of the land. He ran to Columbus and return and made one trip a week. The boat carried a double crew and ran the whole 24 hours. He cleared $7,500 in four and one-half years. For eight years he used horses, but the last two years he was on the canal, he ran a propeller. He bought it for $2,500 and sold it to a southern man for $5,000.

He went to St. Joseph Missouri, for eighteen months, and there ran a ferry boat which he had purchased at Portsmouth and taken out with him. The boat was a steamboat named 'General Gaines." He and his partner, a Mr. Knight, cleared $600 in 46 days by ferrying emigrants on their way to California. He traded the boat for 160 acres of land two miles back of St. Joseph. He gave $10 per acre for this land, held it three years and sold it for $25 per acre.. The Captain thinks it was the mistake of his life in not holding on to this land, as it is now in the center of the city of St. Joseph, a city in 1870, of over 52,000 people. The Captain was like everyone else who has ever lived in Portsmouth, he had a longing to come back, and he did come back. He built two steamboats: the 'Cotton Valley" and the "Bedford." He sold the "Cotton Valley". and sunk the "Bedford" at Tower Island, ninety miles below St. Louis. He - got $670 out of the wreck of the "Bedford" and bought the 'Fashion" and paid $1,200 for her. He ran her from Portsmouth to Rome. 'The "'Fashion'' was sadly out of repair and after repairing her a number of times, he rebuilt her and changed her name to the

He and Captain Pres Lodwick bought the propeller, "W. F. Gaylord," and on Noy. 16, 1881, she was run down by the towboat " - D. T. Lane," and sunk at Ashland, Ky. All the crew were saved except the cook, Elizabeth Meade. 'The "Gaylord" was going to land and the "Lane" had a fleet of empties. Captan John N. Lodwick was aboard the "Gaylord" as a guest and was in bed when the crash came. He secured two wooden life preservers and the boat sank under him. He floated down the river, and was rescued by the "Nellie Brown" after he had been in the water about-thirty minutes. Captain John N. Lodwick had been blown up four times, sunk three times and run over by a railroad train once.

Captain Williamson is one of the best illustrations of "pluck" who ever lived in Portsmouth or anywhere else. He has made and lost fortunes. He has all the bad luck any one possibly could have. He is badly crippled up and has to go abroad with a crutch under each arm, but nevertheless, he goes about and attends to any business he can do just as though he were young. He goes to church every Sunday and attends to every duty and obligation just as though he had a grant of life for 100 years to come. Whenever Captain has been called on to go through a season of adversity, like Mark Tapley, he always "comes out strong.'' He is never dismayed, never overcome. If the British gave him the task of subduing the Boers in South Africa, he would undertake it and do it, too, if he lived long enough, even if he had to go about on trestle work like he does now. He has clung to the Ohio river and is known by everyone on its banks fromy Portsmouth to Cincinnati, and they are all his friends. If he were in that trade again, he could carry every pound of freight which could be loaded on his boat.

better known as "Rocky" Williams was born in Scioto County near Rarden, September 25, 1830. His father was Matthew Williams, an early settler, and his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Jones. The only education he had was that of the common schools of the vicinity. He was a tall, slender built man, with very black hair, and was the most popular man who ever lived in Brush Creek Township. For sixteen consecutive years, he was Assessor of his township, and was also township Treasurer for two or three terms. In his politieal views, he was a Democrat. His occupation was a farmer, but at the same time his.energy was such that he engaged in buying and selling lumber.

He married Saloma Ann Hibbs, daughter of Samuel Hibbs, in 1862. Mr. Hibbs' mother's maiden name was Sarah Catherine Tener. Three) children were born to them: Eliza, the oldest, was mar- ried to John Newman, of Rarden, September 29, 1888, and is the mother of four sons: Charles was born September 8, 14875. He is the agent of the N. & W. Railroad at Mineral Springs, and Della Pearl, who died July 29, 1891. He was one of the best business men in his township. 'There was no new enterprise project in his community in his period of business activity which covered all his life from the age of twenty, in which he did not have a part. He promoted all public enterprises. He was a man of very firm purposes and good judgment. He had most excellent qualities of mind and heart, and when he died he was more generally missed by the community than any man who ever lived in it before, or in his time.

was born November 5, 1820, at Harrisonville. Scioto County, Ohio, and is of German, French and English descent. He is the son of Asher Winkler and Rebecca Rockwell, his wife. His great-grandfather Winkler, whose father went to England from Germany emigrated thence to Maryland. His father with his parents moved to New York and settled near Elmira. Here his father married Rebecca Rockwell, who was of French and English descent. She was a daughter of Job Rockwell, a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Winkler's uncles, James and John W., fought in the war of 1812. On July 5, 1816, his parents landed in Ohio, having floated from the source of the Alleghany to just below Wheelersburg. ;

The country at that time was practically a wilderness. They purchased the land on which Harrisonvillé was afterwards built. Here they lived for several years, but the land not being very productive, they sold it and bought another farm near Lucasville which proved to be as poor as the other. They lived here two years and then sold again this land, purchasing land back of Wheelersburg. But on account of the unhealthfulness of the country, they were not satisfied and determined to try it further west. Having some friends near Piqua, Ohio, they sold out and gathered together their household effects and set out thither.

Our subject was then a sturdy lad of twelve, and was the proud possessor of a yoke of calves which his father had given him. His father wished to sell the calves before setting out, but the boy would not have it. So he rode in his cart and drove his calves all the way to Piqua. His father. having refused to feed the calves the following ~ winter, he was compelled to seek work to get feed for them. He secured work in Piqua for himself and his calves, and thus at the age of thirteen, was begun a career which ended in a modest fortune.

His parents returned to Wheelersburg in 1834, and this year marks the close of his schooling. At the age of seventeen, he began work for himself at La Grange furnace. When he commenced ore ing, he vowed he would not touch strong drink, nor gamble, nor as- sociate with those who did and that he would save enough by the time he was twenty-one to keep him from working for a daily pittance. He quit La Grange furnace when he was twenty. He had saved $600 and had also gained a reputation for honesty and uprightnes of character.

Buying some oxen, he commenced dragging rock for the locks which were being built at the falls of \the Licking river. Here he labored until he was twenty-one. Faithful to his vow, he had saved $1,630, and had four valuable yoke of oxen. Turning his paper scrip into gold in Cincinnati, he walked and drove his oxen home.

He then began taking contracts for digging and delivering coal and ore at the furnaces in Scioto and Lawrence Counties. He was thus employed at Franklin Furnace for eleven years, at Junior Furnace, one year, at Ohio Furnace one year, and at Union Furnace two years. © He also worked at Harrison Furnace and was manager there for some time. From there he went to Boone Furnace in Greenup County, Kentucky, where he was manager for a time.

With this, he ended his furnace career, and was worth $20,000. He met with some severe losses during his time, by fire and water, but not by his own mismanagement. He then bought the farm at Haverhill where Samuel Krickenberger now lives and has farmed ever since. His success at farming has been no less phenomenal than his furnace career, having more than doubled the fortune he had at that time. He has made most of his money at farming, by taking advantage of.a low price and selling at "an advance, also in raising stock. Recently he has made a division of his property among his children, saving enough for his own comfort while he lives.

He was a Whig, until the breaking up of the party, and then he became a Republican, and is still with that party. He has been a member of the Methodist church at Haverhill for thirty-six years, a greater part of which time he has held office in the church. On March to, 1842, he married Cynthia Chandler, whose grandfather was English and moved to Ohio in 1802. 'Their family consisted of five sons and six daughters, of whom three sons and four daughters are now living. 'They are as follows: Mary, the wife of Claudius Cadot, died July 12, 1901; Ruby, the wife of John Oakes; Emma, the wife of Samuel Krickenberger; Silenda, the wife. of Frank Seamen; Stephen, residing near Hanging Rock, O.; John, and George are en- - gaged in the lead business in Missouri.

was born September 7, 1804, in Cayuga County, New York. His father was Abner Wood, and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Campbell. His father was born in 1766. His father and mother had sixteen children and reared twelve of them. Abner Wood emigrated to Ohio when our subject was four years of age. His father died in

1882, and his mother died April 18, 1853, in the eightieth year of her age. Both are buried in the cemetery in the rear of the Scioto church, a mile below Harrisonville on the road to Sciotoville. Abner Wood when he first landed in Scioto County settled in Alexandria in the year 1808. He then settled in the Scioto valley on the east side; but the family suffered so with fever and ague that he moved to the Little Scioto in 1812.

He was reared a Presbyterian. His son Simeon, at the age of twenty-eight, connected himself with the United Brethren church on Little Scioto, because there was no Presbyterian church near. He married Emeline White, daughter of Daniel White. She was born Nov. 9, 1815, in Greenup County, Kentucky. They were married Oct. 31, 1852. They went to housekeeping on a farm at Little Scioto where they spent their lives. They had the following children; Martha, born November 30, 1833, died January 1, 1834; Elizabeth, born July 31, 1835, married James Sampson, and died July 19, 1897. He resides in Harrisonville; Sarah, born December 14, 1837, married Milton W. Brown; Ruth, born March 17, 1841, died February 18, 1858. The mother died December 1, 1875.

While the Whig party lasted, Simeon Wood was nominally a Whig; but in reality he was the strongest kind of abolitionist. He had learned the carpenter's trade. He worked for Dan Young, and helped build Franklin and Junior furnaces. - He also helped build Scioto furnace. There was a life-long friendship between him and Dan Young. He was a great admirer of Dan Young's prominent traits.

Simeon Wood was a man of strong convictions on every subject. He made it a rule to always be in the creditor class. He abhorred debt and always liked to have a surplus on hands. He followed the carpenter's trade as it suited his convenience. He had advanced ideas on the subject of temperance. In the year 1843, he built a barn. At that time it was customary to furnish liquors to be drank at all raisings. He said he would break the custom; he would raise his barn and there should be no liquors used on the occasion. | He kept his word - and managed to have his barn raised, but his neighbors did not believe he could do it. He died in December, 1896, at the advanced age of ninety-two, in the enjoyment of all his faculties, respected and honored by all who knew him.

son of William and Letitia (Hammond) Yoakley, was born in Dublin. Ireland, in 1817. He emigrated to this country in 1838, first lo- - cating at Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained but a short time. He then removed to Portsmouth, and accepted a position in a banking house of which Peter Kinney was President. After serving in this position for several years, he resigned, and embarked in the business

Mr. Yoakley was a musician of fine attainments, both as a composer and teacher, and for thirty-three years was organist of All Saints church, of which he was a consistent member. He resigned as organist May 30, 1877. He came from a family of musicians, his father and two brothers being quite noted composers.

Mr. Yoakley was married in 1847, to Susan St. John, daughter of Ralph and Lillian St. John, of Grayson, Kentucky. The children born of this union were: Lucy Howe, now Mrs. R. L. Cannon of Cincinnati, Ohio; Letitia Hammond, wife of Charles Kinney, of Columbus, Ohio; Lillian St. John, now Mrs. Lillian S. Gunn, and John Yoakley of Cincinnati, Ohio, the latter of whom inherits his father's great musical talent. Mrs. Yoakley died August 14, 1862, her husband surviving until 1877. He was a prominent Mason. Mr. Yoakley was a man of high character and gentle disposition, beloved by all who knew him. He was one of the few, of whom it may be truthfully said, that the world is better because of his having lived in it. :

This lodge was instituted September 21, 1818. The charter members were Ezra Osborn, Samuel Gunn, Nathan K. Clough, W1ldiam Dailey, George Clark, Robert Scott, Silas Cole and William Oldfield. Grand Master Henry Brush instituted the lodge. It met in the McDowell building on Front and Market streets. Ezra Osborn was Worshipful Master; Nathan K. Clough, Senior Warden; George Clark, Junior Warden; William Dailey, Treasurer; Jacob Evans, Secretary; Silas Cole, Senior Deacon; Floyd Talbot, Junior Deacon; Robert Scott, Tyler. On September 24, 1818, these officers were publicly installed at the court house, then on Market street.

It worked under a dispensation till 1820, and was granted a charter, December 26, of that year. The following officers were elected: 5. S$. Wilkinson, .Worshipful Master; G. S. B. Hempstead, Senior Warden; William Oldfield, Junior Warden; Jacob Offnere, 'Treasurer; Marcus Bosworth, Secretary; James Abbott, Senior Deacon; Wilson Gates, Junior Deacon; James Hummell, Tyler.

The lodge occupied the McDowell building till 1831. From 1831 to 1843, it met in James Lodwick's house on Front street, between Madison and Massie on the corner of Pine alley. In 1843, it removed to the Whitney building where James A. Maxwell had a feed store: 'The Lodge then took quarters in the Cook building on the west side of Market street between Second and Third, in 1854.

On May 18, 1855, a move was made toward the erection of the present Masonic building. Thomas G. Lloyd, George Stevenson, J. J. Appler and $. 5S. Fuller were appointed a committee to carry on the work. James Lodwick subscribed $250 and Jacob Offnere, $300. $4,885 was raised for building purposes...On August 6, 1855, plans were ordered and on November 24, 1855, contracts were ordered. Appler and Varner did the brick work; Fuller and Carre, the woodwork, and James Grimes, the iron-work. The work was commenced in May, 1856. June 18, 1856, the corner stone was laid. Grand Master, William B. Dodds, of Cincinnati officiated. Rev. Nicholls, Grand Orator, delivered the address. In 1857, work was suspended at the second story and in the summer of 1857, the building was closed. In the fall of 1858, a five year lease was made of the second floor part to the Hebrew Congregation and it paid two years in advance. In December, 1858, the Lodge took the south room on the second floor. In 1859, the Lodge borrowed $4,000 to complete the building and owed Thomas Dugan $2,700 besides. He sold the north half of the lot, first and second floor, to the Hebrew congregation and satisfied his claim. The south one-half of lot and first floor he sold to a Building Association, but it was re-purchased by the Lodge in 1885. On November 19, a move was made to finish the third floor and $3,438.37 was raised which finished it.

The principal early workers in the Lodge were: Samuel Gunn, William Dailey, Dr. Thomas Waller, Nathan K. Clough, Dr. G. S. B. Hempstead, Hiram Wilson, Silas Cole, Wilson Gates, Marcus Bosworth, Ezra Osborn, Robert Scott, Moses Gregory, Dr. Jacob Offnere, Rev. Stephen Lindsley, David K. Cady, James Lodwick, C. A. M. Damarin, Murtaugh Kehoe, William Hall, William Salter, Jacob P. Noel, Robert Lucas, Arthur C. McArthur, Joseph Waddle, Jonathan Cutler, Josiah Shackford, Dr. Erastus Burr, William Oldfield and Washington Kinney. Jacob Offnere gave the Lodge $500 by will and William Salter gave it $1,000. The Past Masters are as follows:

James Lodwick was Treasurer from 1852 to 1879, twenty-seven years. Francis Cleveland was Secretary from 1852 to 1872, when he was paralyzed.