Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 352
Warren Township

JOHN McCALL was born August 21, 1808, on the farm upon which he now resides. He assisted his father in clearing the land; carried their guns out into the clearing as well as their axes, both being very essential in an early day. At the age of twenty, he commenced the tanner's trade. After serving a full apprenticeship he started for himself, on a very limited means. To aid the enterprise along he raised tobacco and sold it, and in this manner got a fair start. He carried on a shop for about twenty-five years. After the demise of his father he purchased the old homestead and engaged in tilling the soil, which he has followed ever since.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 373
Union Township Bios

HON. BENJAMIN RUGGLES - United States Senator and second President Judge of the Third Circuit of Ohio, was born at Woodstock, Windham county, Connecticut, February 21, 1782. This town was originally named Roxburry. His father was a farmer in moderate circumstances, who intended that his son should be educated for the ministry. This intention was thwarted by the loss of his property. He became surety for a neighbor and by the default of the latter his means were all swept away. He died when Benjamin was eight years old, leaving his family in straightened circumstances. Benjamin studied at the Brooklyn Academy, and after his graduation from this institution he read law with Judge Peters, of Hartford, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar of that city. In 1807 he moved to Ohio, settling in Marietta, Washington county where he pursued with great success the practice of his profession. His profound learning, his skill and care as a counselor, his power for rapid analyzation and conclusive argument at once commanded not only professional but public attention, and he carved his way quickly to the front rank of the jurists of the day. In 1810 he was elected by the Republicans in the Legislature to succeed Calvin Peas as President Judge of the Third Circuit, and was the second incumbent of that judicial office. Shortly after he moved from Marietta to St. Clairsville, and in the year 1812 he went to Connecticut, where he was married and brought his wife to Ohio. She died in 1817 and in 1825 he was again married. He lacked the gifts of an orator and failed to make that impression of substantial ability as successfully in open court as in chambers. He was not distinguished as an advocate, but as a consulting attorney he had, perhaps, few superiors in the country. In 1815 he was elected by the Legislature to the United States Senate and resigned the office of Judge after having ably filled it for five years to enter upon his new duties. Being very popular with his large constituency in Ohio he was twice re-elected to the United States Senate, and during his career in that body he rendered valuable if not brilliant services both to his state and the nation. He was president of the caucus held in Washington that nominated William H. Crawford, of Georgia, for the Presidency at the time when Clay, Adams and Jackson were in the field. At that period Martin Van Buren and Judge Ruggles were political friends; and quite an extensive correspondence was carried on between them during the campaign. The Judge was for a long time Chairman of the Committee on Claims in the United States Senate, and was favorably spoken of in 1840 for the Vice Presidency, being strongly supported by several journals throughout the country. When fifty years of age he retired from political life and gave his attention to his farm, and more especially to the cultivation of fruit. He was instrumental in introducing to the growers of that section some of the choicest varieties.

For a time after the expiration of his last term as Senator, he was president of the bank of St. Clairsville. He died after a brief illness at his residence at that place on September 2, 1857. Judge Ruggles enjoyed in an eminent degree the confidence of the Senate, and was greatly respected in his professional and private career. He was a firm believer in the great truths of Christianity, and exerted wherever he went, or wherever he was known, an excellent moral influence. He was liberal in his views and generous in his impulses, and contributed to the advancement of all worthy improvements in the interests of the well-being of his fellow citizens. When he died the state lost an able man and society a beloved member.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 239
St. Clairesville Bios

I. J. POTTS, eldest son of Lewis R. POTTS, was born on the farm on which he now resides in York township, Belmont county, on the 19th of February, 1825. His father was the first miller at Captina mills, built by Judge DILLON, in 1822. About the year 1832, his father removed to West Wheeling, where our subject obtained a common school education. He worked with his father in West Wheeling mills until 1841, when he returned to Captina and hired with Michael and L. R. DORSEY, which continued ten years, when L. R. DOTSEY retired. The firm of DORSEY & POTTS then continued until 1872, when Mr. Potts purchased Dorsey's interest, and the business has since been carried on in the name of I. J. POTTS & SONS. A dry goods store was carried by the firm in connection with the mills, and is now continued by Mr. POTTS & SONS. On the 17th of October, 1849, Mr. Potts was married to Mary J. BRYSON, of Captina. They are the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter. For about thirty years Mr. Potts has made the milling and mercantile business a success. In the fall of 1875, he was elected commissioner of Belmont county, and served until 1878, when he was re-elected and is filling the office at present. He is recognized as a prudent, able and popular official.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 420
York Twp. Bios

HON. ISAAC WELSH was born in Belmont county Ohio, July 20, 1811. His parents were Pennsylvanians, and his father, Crawford WELSH, was one of the pioneer settlers of the county. His father being a farmer, he pursued that calling until shortly after he became of age. He then married Mary A. ARMSTRONG, daughter of Thomas ARMSTRONG, and then removed to Beallsville, Monroe county, Ohio. Here he entered into mercantile pursuits, and as was the custom with many merchants at that time, was also engaged in the purchase, preparation and shipping of tobacco. In this business he was very successful, but he preferred the life of his earlier years, and in 1854, he retired from merchandising and purchased and removed to a farm on Captina creek, where he subsequently resided and where he died. In early life Mr. Welsh was a Whig, but on the dissolution of that party in 1854, he united with the Fillmore Party and supported that gentleman for the Presidency. He was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1857, by the united vote of the Americans and the Republicans, and re-elected in the same manner in 1859. At the expiration of his term of office he was chosen State Senator from the Belmont and Harrison district and served in that body two years.

In 1868 he was Presidential elector for the Sixteenth District and was chosen to carry the vote of Ohio to Washington. He was elected Treasurer of State in 1871 and held the office for two terms. His death occurring just six weeks before the expiration of his second term, his son Leroy WELSH, discharging the duties of the office until the incoming of the new treasurer. Mr. Welsh was strongly opposed to the extension of slavery, and during the war his entire sympathy and support were given to the Republican party. While residing at Beallsville he wrote a series of articles in defense of the State Bank of Ohio, which attracted a great deal of attention and were extensively published and noticed. He also wrote an essay on the "Agricultural and Mineral Resources of Belmont county," for which a prize was awarded him by the State Agricultural Society. He kept fully up with the times in which he lived; was a ready, careful writer, and frequently employed his pen in the discussion of current topics. Although never in any sense an office seeker, he became closely identified with the politics of his time at the bidding of the people who knew him to be a man of the strictest integrity and unblemished character. In legislation he was practical and displayed common sense in his views on all subjects. As a speaker he made no pretensions to oratory, yet his presentation of a subject under discussion commanded universal attention for its fairness and practicability. He was a Cumberland Presbyterian, and by his death the church lost one of its strongest supporters. He died at his home in Washington township, Belmont county, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1875.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 415
Washington Twp. Bios

MICHAEL DANFORD, Farmer. He was born in Wayne township, Belmont county, in 1803. In 1831 he married Miss Mercy DANFORD. Their union resulted in nine children - six boys and three girls, only three of whom are living. In 1870 his wife died at the age of fifty years. She was a member of the Christian church at Hunter. In 1873 he was married again. His second wife was Catharine BERRY. She was born in 1828. They are both members of the Christian church. In 1854, he was elected to the office of County Commissioner. Was followed farming all his life.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 412
Wayne Twp. Bios

DR. JOHN CAMPBELL was the eldest son of James CAMPBELL, who migrated from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Ohio about 1803, and located on section 26, R. 4, T. 8, which had been entered several years previously by his father (a Revolutionary soldier). Here James CAMBELL (a captain in the war of 1812) lived and died, and here John CAMPBELL was born November 21, 1804. At the age of fifteen he left home to attend school at New Athens, Ohio, where he remained 5 years, then went to St. Clairsville and studied medicine under Dr. John McCRACKEN two and half years. Was licensed to practise medicine in November, 1827, at Barnesville, Ohio; came to Uniontown March 5, 1828, where he commenced practice. Married May 11, 1830, to Jane IRWIN. Names and ages of his children are as follows: Mary, born January 24, 1833; Margaret A., born Febrary 17, 1836; James B., born November 14, 1839; Rachel J., born April 14, 1842; Maria L., born March 29, 1848; Martha E., born January 18, 1852. Dr. CAMPBELL joined the Presbyterian church in 1833, and was elected a ruling elder in 1840, which position he has held ever since. Was elected twice to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian church, viz: 1843, at Philadelphia, and in 1877, at Chicago. Was nominated in 1840 for the Legislature in opposition to Judge COWEN, but as the Democracy to which the Doctor belonged was in the minority, he was of course not elected. Dr. CAMPBELL has practiced medicine continually for 51 years in the same locality to the satisfaction of all, and still looks after the physical welfare of his patients.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 384
Wheeling Twp. Bios

GEORGE H. MUTH, son of John MUTH, was born in Germany, and migrated to America in 1834, settled in Wheeling, where George was born, May 10, 1837. He received a common school education and learned the butchering business with his father and uncle. In 1849, he came to Bellaire and was for a number of years engaged on the river. In 1855, he commenced in the butchering and provision business, which he has carried on with success ever since. During the war he had a government contract and for three years and accumulated money rapidly. He then engaged in the pork packing business and met with some heavy losses. On the 13th of May, 1858, he was married to Miss Charlotte AMBLER, daughter of Isaac and Catharine AMBLER. Their union resulted in eight children --- six living.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 273
Bellaire Twp. Bios

JAMES McKINNEY, the father of Mrs. TIDBALL , was a major in the Revolutionary army. He came from Bedford county, Pa., to Belmont county, Ohio, in 1805, and on the 13th of June of the same year, married Ann, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth FLETCHER. The latter, a widow with three children, came to Union township, Belmont county, with Duncan MORRISON, a son-in-law, in 1803. James McKinney and bride returned to Bedford county, Pa., and in 1814 again removed to Belmont county, locating in Kirkwood township. He died in 1826, nearly seventy-eight years of age; his wife in 1859 nearly eighty-nine years of age.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 325
Barnesville Bios

ISAAC HOLLOWAY, the only son of Nathan HOLLOWAY, of Stafford county, Va., was born December 27, 1805. Removed to Belmont county, Ohio, in December, 1827. On his arrival he engaged in teaching, which he followed fifteen months, and then engaged in general merchandizing, which business, together with farming, has occupied his time and attention until the present. He married Miss Harriet SHEETS in April, 1831, by whom he had four children, three of whom are still living, viz.: Otho S., born January 30, 1832, living in Flushing township and practicing law; Annie M., born December 25, 1833, married Thomas ATCHISON, and removed to Iowa about 1868. Nathan, born October 6, 1837, engaged in mercantile business in Belmont county, Ohio. Mrs. HOLLOWAY died in 1847, and Mr. H. married Ann Eliza NORTON in May, 1850, who still shares his fortunes with him. He served as justice of the peace fifteen years and one term in the State Senate in 1858-9. He is now in his seventy-fourth year, and is regarded as one of the solid men of the county. He has in Flushing township 1,400 acres of land under cultivation, and in Belmont county 2,300 acres; also 1,000 acres in Iowa. Has at present time 2,600 head of merino sheep, and ships annually from 10,000 to 11,000 pounds of wool.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 379
Flushing Twp. Bios

JOHN MANLE - The subject of this sketch was born May 15, 1806, in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, about twelve miles from the limits of Philadelphia, at that time. His parents' names were Jacob and Jane MANLE. His father was a farmer, and John worked on the farm till he was sixteen or seventeen years old, when at his own request, he was apprenticed to Oliver KINSEY to learn the blacksmith's trade - or more properly to learn the manufacture of edge tools, such as axes, hatchets, &c., as it was practiced in those days. Soon after the commencement of his apprenticeship, his employer, Mr. KINSEY, removed to Maryland and settled some four miles from Baltimore, where John went with him and served out his apprenticeship, till he was twenty-one. He then returned to his father's, where he worked partly on the farm and partly in the shop until the spring of 1831, when he removed to Colerain township, Belmont county, and settled where he still lives. He here commenced a small business in company with Stephen K. REYNOLDS, who had been an apprentice in the same shop. In a short time they dissolved partnership, and Mr. MANLE soon had considerable business at making edge tools. He put up a steam engine to grind and polish the work. This was a new thing in this section, probably the first manufactory in this part of the country that finished edge tools ready for use. He found ready sale for his work in Wheeling, St. Clairsville, and other adjacent towns, which continued for a few years, but the progressive spirit of the age was rapidly extending, and improved machinery added facilities to make cheap productions. The eastern states, with their abundant capital, cheap water power, railroad facilities for obtaining coal, iron, steel, &c., could manufacture much cheaper than could be done in the west. Mr. MANLE finding himself unable to compete with these heavy establishments, was compelled to abandon his business and resort to other means for support. He entered into a copartnership with Asa TRAHERN, who had a patent for manufacturing threshing machines, and together they engaged in their manufacture, which was carried on in Mr. MANLE's shop, for a few years, when the same causes - superior advantages for manufacturing at other places with large establishments, improved patents, &c. - made this business also unprofitable. They also sustained heavy losses on the sales of the threshing machines in Illinois and Missouri by the financial disasters of 1837-40. Mr. MANLE was again compelled to seek some other business whereby he might repair his losses and make an honorable living. There appeared to be an opening, and he engaged in store-keeping in a small way. This proved safe, and as it was carefully and industriously managed by himself and family, it gradually increased for some years, yielding an income sufficient for a comfortable living, and also enabling him to pay his indebtedness. The business has continued moderately and fair through all the changes and vicissitudes of the times for forty years or more. In January, 1871, he suffered the bereavement of the death of his wife, a woman of inestimable worth, who had been his faithful companion through life, and who had encouraged and aided him by her wise counsels to retrieve disasters. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and they were married in 1832. They had a family of three children all sons. The oldest died when about twenty-five years of age; he had been married six months. The youngest died at the age of four years. Jacob, the only son living, is a merchant. After the death of his wife, Mr. MANLE relinquished his business to his son, having acquired a competency sufficient to keep him comfortably the remainder of his days. In 1852-3 a company was organized and built a plank road from Wheeling to Cadiz, a distance of some twenty miles, passing Mr. MANLE's house. He took an active part in the enterprise, and did what he could for it, but it proved unprofitable and left the company in debt. The stockholders made an assessment on themselves and honorably paid all their liabilities. In a few years the planks were worn out, thrown away, and a good turnpike made upon the grade, the money being raised by taxation. Mr. MANLE's father died at the old home near Philadelphia, aged over ninety years, and a few years after his mother followed at nearly the same age.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 388
Colerain Twp. Bios

JACOB YOCUM was born in Berks county, Pa., Dec. 12, 1802. Came to Belmont county, in 1805, and to Goshen township in 1810, near where BURTON's station now stands. There were but few settlers in the township then. He was married September 23, 1823, to Miss Lydia WADE, at the Quaker church at Somerton, according to the rules of the church. He lived with this wife nine or ten years when she died, leaving five children, three sons and two daughters, of who two have since deceased, one son and one daughter; the other three still survive. He was married to his second wife, Miss Sarah VAN HORN, June 11, 1833, and by her has had twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Of these twelve children, but five survive - three sons and two daughters. The three sons all served in the Union army and participated in many of the hard fought battles of that war. Mr. YOCUM remained a member of the Quaker church till about 1828, when he withdrew from it. In 1835 he united with the Disciple church and engaged in its ministry. There being no church edifice to hold meetings in services were performed at the private residences of the members. He continued in this field of labor till the infirmities of age compelled him to relinquish it, and now in the evening of life, is enjoying the respect and confidence of all who know him.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 405
Goshen Twp. Bios

JOHN JONES, Farmer - Born in Pennsylvania, April 25, 1774. Obtained a common school education. In 1794, he married Miss Lily BENJAMIN, a native of the same state. Their union resulted in four children, two sons and two daughters. In 1801, he migrated to Licking county, and located on a farm and commenced clearing. He was the first man to plow a furrow in that county. About 1803, he was called to mourn the loss of his wife, leaving him with four small children to care for. Shortly after this he moved to his father's, near the Ohio river, in Monroe county. On the 17th of October, 1806, he married Miss Sarah HURD, who was born August 13, 1781. Their union resulted in seven children, three sons and four daughters, two of whom are living, O. J. Jones, residing in Illinois, and J. L. Jones, in Belmont county, near the Ohio river, in Dille's Bottom. After his last marriage, Mr. Jones moved to Virginia, near Proctor, and there built a grist mill, saw mill and stillhouse, which he operated about ten years. He then sold out and moved to Monroe county, and located up Sunfish, where he built mills and carding machines, which he operated till quite old. His son J. L. Jones took charge of these mills and continued in the business for twenty-five years. Our subject built the first brick house in Monroe county, and was a judge of the court for seven years in the same county. Died, August 12, 1858, aged 79. His wife died in 1843, aged 55.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 392
Mead Twp. Bios

SAMUEL PERKINS, third son of Thomas Perkins, was born in Prince George county, Maryland, in 1788, and came with his parents to Belmont county in 1805. He was reared a farmer, which occupation he followed throughout his life. He served eight months in the war of 1812. In 1810, he married Elizabeth HART and settled on his father's farm, where he resided until his death. There were nine children born to them - Rebecca, Delila, Maria, Casander, Nelson, Jonathan, William, Lethe and Moses, four of whom are still living - Rebecca, Jonathan, William and Moses. The other five died during the winter of 1842-3, of scarlet fever. Mr. Perkins and his wife were consistent members of the M. E. Church, and esteemed by all who knew them. Mr. Perkins died, April 27, 1861, and his wife, April 13, 1875.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 366
Kirkland Twp. Bios

JOHN ARMSTRONG. --- The subject of this sketch is a native of Ireland, where he was born in February, 1806, and emigrated to America in 1837. He proceeded to Pittsburgh and engaged as a bookkeeper in several business houses, the latter being R. E. SELLER's & Co.'s wholesale drug establishment,where he continued until 1845. At this date he came to Wheeling and kept books for several firms, and then became bookkeeper for the Missouri Iron Works, now known as the "Top Mill" of that city. But the company failed, and our subject then kept a grocery store during the war of the rebellion, doing a successful business for some ten years, when he sold out and removed to Martin's Ferry, where he purchased the RICE property. For the last eight years he has been a bookkeeper for the Benwood Iron Works, of which he is a large stockholder. Our subject has been twice married - his first wife being a Miss ARMSTRONG, who died, as also did her two children. For his second wife he married Miss Jane HUNTER, of Pittsburgh, in October, 1856. Mr. Armstrong has been a stockholder in the Ohio City Bank since its organization, and two years ago became its vice president.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 301
Pease Twp. Bios

DAVID WORKMAN. --- This gentleman is the oldest citizen of Belmont county. He was born in Allegheny county, Maryland, in 1789. He came with his parents to the then Northwest Territory and settled in what is now Pultney township, Belmont county, in 1799, locating about five miles west of Bellaire, near McMAHON's creek. In 1812 his father purchased and settled upon the farm that has since been his home. At the time of their settlement the country was a dreary and lonely wilderness, with only here and there a hunter's cabin. He was brought up amid hardships and privations so common with the pioneers. In 1813 he was united in marriage to Sarah PENROSE, of Morgan county, Va. This union resulted in eleven children, five of whom are dead. He owns 117 acres of land. Mr. W. is now in his 91st year, still in the enjoyment of comfortable health and is living on the same farm where he helped to clear the land and build the first rude cabin.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 281
Pultney Twp. Bios

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