DR. CAROLUS JUDKINS, the first resident physician in Barnesville, was born in North Carolina in the year 1767. Having studied medicine he located in Virginia, near the North Carolina line, where he soon received a very lucrative practice. But detesting slavery he determined to move to the then wilds of the great West. So in the year 1810 he came to Barnesville, opened an office and at once began his eminent career as a physician and surgeon. His brother Joel came with him and in the same year started the first hatter's shop in the town, on the lot where Thos. C. JUDKINS drug store now stands. The town was small and the country very sparsely settled; the roads new and but little beaten and many of them mere "bridle paths," rendering the cabins of the settlers difficult of access, but Dr. Judkins with that energy, perseverance and philanthropy which always so strongly marked his life, urged on in the prosecution of his profession until his business became remunerative. Besides his professional income, he had when he first came to town invested his surplus money in the cheap lands adjacent open to entry, and they were rapidly rising in value. The circuit of his general practice had a radius of twenty miles every way about the village; and he was often called in consultation to McConnellsville, Cambridge, and Mt. Pleasant.

About the year 1820, Dr. James STANTON, father of the late great war officer, Edwin M. Stanton, became his partner. The partnership continued two years, when Dr. Stanton located in Mt. Pleasant. While this partnership subsisted an incident occurred that finely illustrates the humanity of Dr. Judkins as a physician.

A yearly meeting of the Friends, of which denomination the Doctor was a member, was in progress at Mt. Pleasant, and as their patients were none of them dangerously ill, Dr. Judkins went to Mt. Pleasant to attend the meeting, leaving Stanton in charge of the sick. Now among the sick there was an old colored man named Robert PETERS, and who, when Dr. Judkins left, was in the worst condition of any of the sick. Dr. Judkins had not been in Mt. Pleasant forty-eight hours when near sundown of the second day Stanton put in an appearance. Judkins instantly asked him about the sick. "Oh, well," said Stanton "all out of danger but Peters and he'll died anyhow, so I thought I'd come to meeting too." Judkins without saying a word got his horse, mounted it and riding all night arrived at Peters' house at daylight. He found the old colored gentleman much worse; but by prompt treatment restored him to health.

In the year 1824, Joel, the son of Dr. Judkins, became associated with him in the practice of medicine and the people to distinguish him from his son called the father the "old doctor," and from that time on he was known by no other name.

Nicholas, another son of the "old doctor," having read medicine, in 1835 became associated with is father and brother in its practice. This partnership continued until the death of Joel in 1839; but the practice was carried on by the remaining members of the firm until 1840, when the "old doctor" withdrew from active service, leaving Nicholas alone to practice the profession. In 1845, Dr. Nicholas Judkins retired from the practice to devote his talents to other business.

Those Drs. Judkins were members of that family of Judkins scattered so numerously over the West and South. Many of that family have adorned and shed luster upon the medical profession, and all of which have been so successful in wielding the mysteries of the healing art that it has become a proverb among people - "that to be born a Judkins is to be born a doctor."

During the long professional career of the "old doctor" several other physicians located at Barnesville or "native to the manor born" rose up in her midst to practice medicine. All of them were greeted successively greeted with a kind and hearty welcome by the "old doctor" and his sons. Being conscious of their own abilities and secure in the confidence of the people and naturally above envy they extended a helping hand to all brother physicians who made their advent among them.

The "Old Doctor" was born in the Friends' Communion, and continued to fellowship with that sect until the division occasioned by Elias HICKS occurred. He adopted the views of Hicks, but ceased to worship with either branch of the divided denomination. He died October 24, 1854, in the 87th year of his age, and was buried at the Friends' Stillwater burial ground.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 316
Notable Men of Barnesville


G. S. WELLONS, M. D. - A son of Asa and Asenath Wellons, nee DAVIS, was born September 22, 1834, in Somerton, Belmont county, where he remained till his father bought and moved upon a small farm a mile and a half north of that place. He taught school from 1853 to 1856, after which he read medicine for two years with Dr. Wm. SCHOOLEY, of Somerton, and also continued teaching as a means of support. In 1858, he entered the office of Dr. J. W. WARFIELD, of Barnesville, with he remained five years, one and a half years as a student and the reminder of the time as an assistant in the practice. In the spring of 1863, he became a matriculant at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in July, 1863, and immediately afterward passed examination before the military board at Columbus.

In August, 1863, he received a commission as first assistant surgeon of the 91st Ohio volunteers, and remained in active service with the medical branch of the army till June 31, 1865, at which date the regiment was mustered out of service. He was associated with the management of the hospitals at Cloyd, Cedar Creek, Winchester, the Sheridan field hospital, the Cumberland general hospital, the post hospital at Martinsburg, and other points.

Since his return to Barnesville his practice has been largely in the line of surgery, as well as in general practice. He has been for several years the surgeon for this section, of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company. He was married on the 8th of September, 1859, to Anna, daughter of Jesse GRIFFIN.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 326
Barnesville Bios


DR. NICHOLAS JUDKINS - Our subject is the son of Carolus Judkins, M. D., who located in Barnesville in 1809 and was the first medical practitioner in this portion of Belmont county. His history is given under the caption of the notable men of Barnesville, in another portion of this work.

Nicholas was born in Barnesville in 1815. He read medicine with his father for three years and commenced to practice at the age of twenty-one. In 1845, in connection with his brother Jesse, he opened a dry goods, grocery, drug and variety store, the drug department being the first drugstore in the city. This firm continued in operation for ten years. Since that period he has not been engaged in active business.

Dr. Judkins has been thrice married; first in 1847, to Margaret WHITE, daughter of William White, of Belmont county, who died in 1849, leaving one child, John William; second in 1851, Rhoda, daughter of Asa CRAFT, of Guernsey county who died in 1851; third, on the 2d of January, 1862, to Julia, daughter of Leven and Juliet FOWLER, nee HARRISON.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
page 326
Barnesville Bios


W. C. ROBERTS was born in Wellsburg, Brooke county, W. Va., July 11, 1827. In 1833, his parents removed to Steubenville, Ohio. Here he received a common school education and learned the tinsmith's trade, where he worked a number of years. In 1848, he married Mary A. KLINE, of Steubenville. He organized White's Band, one of the best, if the very best organizations of the kind that ever was in the city of Steubenville. In 1873, he came to Bellaire and located at 135 North Belmont street and engaged in the house furnishing goods trade; also manufactures tin, copper and sheet iron ware. Roofing and spouting made a specialty.

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


ZACHARIAH PUMPHREY, a son of G. W. and Mary A. Pumphrey, was born in Wheeling, Va., in 1854. He learned the butchering business with his father, who carried it on in that city. In August, 1877, Mr. P. removed to Bellaire and started a meat market, which he still conducts.

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


REV. J. B. JOHNSTON - Rev. John B. Johnston, one of the oldest ministers now residing in Belmont county, was born in what is now Indiana county, Pa., on the 13th of March, 1802. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and without an allusion to his ancestors this sketch would be incomplete. The early ancestors of our subject were sufferers from religious persecution in Scotland, prior to the reign of Oliver Cromwell, and although relieved in a great measure during that period, they preferred to emigrate to America, where religious freedom was promised a greater and more permanent security. In the subsequent periods of American history there were many important events with which they were identified. The great-grandfather and great-grandmother of our subject were massacred by the savages during the French and Indian war at their residence, seven miles from Shippensburg, Pa. The Indians had been penetrating the settlements and committing depredations, and were then lurking in the neighborhood. As a precaution against an attack in the night, the children had been sent to sleep in the hay-mow. Our subject's grandfather, being the eldest, was then a boy a twelve years. Early in the morning he was aroused from his slumbers by the crack of a gun. Looking out from the hiding-place he saw his mother come to the door of the cabin, when she was instantly shot down and scalped by the savages. His father had been shot while getting water at the spring. Remaining in his hiding-place until the Indians had departed, he ran to arouse the neighbors and acquaint them with the depredation. It is not surprising that such a scene should inspire in the mind of such a youth a revenge for Indian blood. After he grew to manhood he removed to the foot of the Allegheny mountain in Westmoreland county. During the Revolution he was a lieutenant in charge of a fort in that county, and on one occasion he held as a prisoner in the block-house the notorious Simon Girty. On another occasion he led a party of volunteers from the fort in pursuit of a band of Indians who had been committing depredations upon the whites, and after following the trail all night through the snow, came upon the savages about three o'clock in the morning. His men attacked them as they lay around the fire, killed and wounded a considerable number, and scattered the remainder in all directions. The fleeing Indians were pursued by the men and a number killed with tomahawks. Lieutenant Johnston himself tomahawked one, and took off his powder-horn and shot-pouch, which are to this day preserved in the family as a relic. After this he pursued another and followed him a long distance, but only succeeded in getting close enough to wound him on the heel.

The father and grandfather came from Westmoreland county to Jefferson county, Ohio, in the year 1806, when our subject was four years of age. They crossed the Ohio river on the old ferry then at Steubenville, which was at that time a frontier village, and settled in what is now Green township, Harrison county. In those days the schools were held in the primitive log school house, and children had to travel a distance of three or four miles. The first church of which our subject has any recollection was known in those days as the Beech Spring Presbyterian Church, near Hopedale, Harrison county. It was an old- fashioned log building, but one of the best in those primitive days. His father attended there with his family, and the minister then in charge was Dr. John REA, whom our subject well recollects. One of the features of early worship was that communions and general meetings were held out in tents or the open air, and were attended by large crowds of people, some of whom would travel long distances.

Our subject's grandfather on his mother's side, James BLACK, was in the war of the Revolution, fought at the battle of Germantown under Washington, and his brother, John BLACK, for whom our subject was named, fell in that engagement. The Blacks were also of Scotch-Irish descent and came to Ohio at the same time and settled in the same locality as the Johnstons. Soon after his settlement there, James BLACK was chosen elder of the Presbyterian church at Beech Springs, near Hopedale, and served in that capacity during his lifetime. At his death he was succeeded by his son, John Hervy BLACK, who now resides at the same place, so that the eldership of this church has been filled by the family through three generations.

Our subject was sent to college at Cannonsburg, Pa., as soon as he arrived at the age of twenty-one, and graduated at Franklin College, New Athens, Harrison county, Ohio, in the year 1829. He then went to Pittsburgh, studied theology and entered the ministry, being licensed in 1832. In 1833, he settled in Logan county, Ohio, and took charge of a church located at what now is the village of New Geneva. He opened a classical school there about the year 1841, which was the basis, or origin, of the college which was founded at that place in 1845. Mr. Johnston also founded the female seminary at that place with the aid of ex-Governor Benjamin STANTON, Hon. William LAWRENCE, Judge W. H. WEST and other prominent gentlemen of Bellefontaine. After having been the pastor of that congregation for a period of twenty-five years, he severed his connection with the Reformed Presbyterian church in 1858, associated himself with the United Presbyterian Church and came to St. Clairsville, Belmont county in 1859. He has resided here ever since and served as the pastor of the congregation at this place until the year 1874, when he resigned on account of failing health. In December, 1870, he was appointed Postmaster of the village of St. Clairsville, and has held it until the present writing.

As an author, our subject deserves more than a passing notice. He is the author of two interesting little works - one entitled "The Prayer Meeting," and the other "Psalmody, an Examination of Authority for Making Uninspired Songs, and for Using them in the Formal Worship of God." The first is a work of 360 and the latter 172 pages, are well written, and the subjects ably treated.

Mr. Johnston had two sons in the war of the rebellion. The elder, James R., was a member of the 7th Kansas Cavalry, and had charge of the contrabands on President's Island, in the Mississippi river, where he took sick and died. The other son, David R., was a member of the 17th O. V. I. - three months service. After the close of the war, he was sent as a medical missionary to Egypt, by the board of Foreign Missions of the U. P. Church, and remained there seven years. He is now a druggist in Mansfield, Ohio. His daughter, Eliza, has also been in the missionary service in Egypt, and his son, J. A. Johnston, Esq., is a practicing lawyer in Cambridge, Ohio.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
St. Clairsville bios
page 240


JAMES FINNEY was born in Ireland, August 18, 1827, and when about nine months old his parents emigrated to America and located in Morristown, Belmont county, Ohio, where they remained but a short time and then came to their present location, three and one-half miles east of St. Clairsville. They settled on 240 acres, on which there were no improvements but an old log house and a very small piece of land cleared. There were seven children, four sons and three daughters, four of whom are living. In September, 1851, our subject was married to Miss Martha HINKLE. On December 23, 1874, he was left to mourn the loss of his wife. In 1843, his father died, aged seventy-nine years. His mother still lives and is in her 90th year.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Richland Twp. bios
page 252


CHARLES H. ARRICK was born in Richland township, May 9, 1825. His father was a native of West Virginia, came to Belmont county about 1810-12, locating in Richland township, and in August, 1822, he was united in marriage to Miss Ann DIXON, an adopted daughter of Charles HAMMOND. In 1826 he located on the northwest quarter of section 21, where he passed the remainder of his days. In the year 1845, while out in the field at his work he suddenly expired, aged forty-five years. His wife died in 1837. Our subject was reared a farmer and was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E. COLLINS of St. Clairsville, on June 2, 1846. After his marriage he lived in St. Clairsville for a few years, then returned to the farm where he was born, and yet resides. He owns 285 acres of the Charles HAMMOND entry. His principal business is sheep raising. His father was one of the first dealers in fine sheep in the country. Had the pure Saxons, and at the time of his death owned 800 head. This breed has been kept by them for fifty years. Mr. A. has thirty acres on which grow a great variety of fruit trees, 1,000 apple, 200 crab apple, 150 cherry, 200 pear, 150 peach trees and a variety of small fruits. In a vineyard of nine acres he has 17,500 bearing vines. His greatest crop was in 1875, from which he realized $2,500.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Richland Twp bios
page 252


EDWARD S. ARRICK was born in Richland township, February 26, 1836. Was educated in common schools and reared a farmer. November 17, 1857, he married Miss Jerusha J. BELL, daughter of John BELL. After his marriage he lived for one year on the farm where he now resides. He afterwards removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he remained five years, then returned to the old homestead. This farm was first settled by William BELL, a native of Ireland, who emigrated to America in 1784, and in 1794 bought 114 acres in Richland township. The brick house in which Mr. Arrick resides was built in 1825. It was one of the first built in that locality.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Richland Twp. bios
page 252


A. H. CALDWELL, ESQ., is a native of Belmont county, and the date of his birth, is the 23d of September, 1831. When a youth he lived with Jacob WORLEY, on McMahon's creek. At the age of twenty he married Miss N. S. DANFORD, of Belmont county, who was born September 30, 1825.

They reared a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. In 1857 he was elected a Justice of the Peace in Washington township, and has served in that capacity ever since. He also filled the office of township Treasurer since 1870. At present he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Bellaire & Southwestern railway, which position he has held since the company's organization. He has been conspicuously identified with this enterprise from the beginning, and has aided materially in its success. Mr. Caldwell has been a successful farmer, and has one of the best improved farms in Belmont county. He is widely known as an enterprising business man and an estimable citizen.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Washington Twp. bios
page 416


ALBERT W. LEE - William Lee emigrated to Ohio in 1817 and located in Cadiz, Harrison county, where he resided until 1845, when he removed to New Athens, where Albert W. was born February 1, 1840. At the age of nine his mother died and he went to live with Rev. Dr. CLARK, president of Franklin College, and remained with him till the age of sixteen, attending the college in the meantime. Assisted his father on the farm until April, 1861, when he enlisted in Company "K.," 17th O. V. I., three months men. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, he volunteered for three years, August 30, 1861, in Company "E." 15th O. V. I., and served about one year. Was in the battle of Pittsburgh Landing; was at Corinth, Iuka, Tuscumbia and Florence, Alabama; taken sick and discharged at Nashville, Tennessee, on account of disability. During the summer of 1863, raised a company of volunteers, and in the fall attended Duff's Mercantile College in Pittsburgh, where he graduated with honor in April, 1864. In May, 1864, entered the United States service as captain of Company "E." 170th O. V. I., and was mustered out in September of the same year. Was revenue assessor in connection with A. P. MILLER, in 1865. Married Sarah LEE, daughter of William LEE, Jr., of St. Clairsville, Ohio, November 23, 1865. Four children were the fruit of this union --- William D., born April 3, 1867, Annie M., August 11, 1869, Charles P., April 8, 1871 and Robert V. LEE, born January 2, 1875. Was elected a trustee of Franklin College, New Athens, Harrison county, Ohio, in 1876, which office he still holds. Captain Lee now resides on a farm, and devotes his time to wool growing, the popular occupation of Belmont county farmers.

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


CHARLES ECKELS, son of John G. Eckels, was born on the 24th of December, 1826. His grandfather, whose name was Charles Eckels, came to Wheeling about the year 1790, and married Mary GILKESON, who was in the fort at Wheeling during the Indian hostilities. J. G. Eckels, our subject's father, died in 1877, aged 75 years. Our subject was married to Miss Arabella CONNELL, who died. He then married Mrs. Nancy Eckels, nee STEPHENS. Mr. Eckels is a miller by occupation.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Colerain Twp. bios
page 389


EVERHART PERKINS, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania. He came with his parents to Belmont county in about 1798, and located on Captina creek, where they resided a number of years. From this point they removed to Cat's run. In 1802, our subject married Miss Hannah NICHOLSON. He reared a family of nine children. His wife died in 1852. He lived until he reached the 103d year of his age. He early united with the Friends' church. It is said that in his young days, when game abounded plentifully in the forests, he delighted in hunting and used to take a faithful animal of his with him, which he would load down with game and then let it loose, when it returned home to his cabin door and awaited for some one of the family to relieve it of the burden. He entered over seven hundred acres of land in Washington township.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Washington Twp. bios
page 416


JOHN DUBOIS - He was born in county Antrim, Ireland, June 7th, 1798, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth Dubois. He was married to Elizabeth DOUGLAS, in 1823; she died in 1863. They had born to them nine children, but of this number only two are now living - Joseph, and John, Jr. Joseph served five years in the late war, and rose rapidly in promotion until he obtained the position of Colonel. He is now located in Kansas City, Mo. The other son, John, resides in Bellaire, Ohio. John Dubois, Sr., came to Ohio in 1834. He now owns three fine farms, and although 81 years of age, he is still able to look after his business without assistance.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Colerain Twp. bios
page 389


JOSIAH PERKINS, a son of Everhart Perkins, was born November 29, 1822. In 1846, he married Sarah A. PHILLIPS, who was born in March, 1831. By her he reared a family of six children - five sons and one daughter. Soon after his marriage he removed on a farm in section 28, where he has since resided and engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife is a member of the Christian church.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Washington Twp. bios
page 416


REUEL P. JOHNSON was born in Richmond, Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1827. He learned his trade, woolen manufacturer, in the Wells and Dickinson mills, of Steubenville, where he worked for three years. He was engaged in various mills in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and followed his trade until 1874, when he came to Powhatan Point, and entered into the business with the BOGER brothers, which he has continued till the present time. In 1858 he was married to Miss Mary A. VARNEE, of Freeport, Pa. They have five children living, three sons and two daughters. Mr. Johnson's grandfather was a soldier in the revolution; was one of the first settlers in Jefferson county, and lived to the advanced age of 110 years and five months.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
York Twp. bios
page 421


SAMUEL CARPENTER was born October 8, 1846, in Belmont county, Ohio; assisted his father on the farm until twenty-five years of age. On the 24th of February, 1872, he married Miss Jemima PUGH, who was born November 28, 1845. They had a family of five children, one son and four daughters; but three living. Soon after his marriage he located on section 32, where he still resides. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace of York township, serving in that capacity three years. He and his wife are members of the Christian church.

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


SAMUEL KOCHER was born in Belmont county, January 8, 1832; followed farming until 1864, when he enlisted in company C, under Captain GLOVER, in the 170th O. V. I.; was in five engagements in the same year. After being discharged from the army, he returned home and went to farming. He married Miss Elizabeth CRICKBURN, who was born May 16, 1840. He is now living on the old farm owned by his father.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
York Twp. bios
page 421


THOMAS HALL, ESQ., was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1831, and is a son of Thomas and Mary Hall. His father was born in the year 1788, in North Carolina, and emigrated to Jefferson county, Ohio, about the year 1801, settling in the same locality where he now resides. Our subject was married to Miss Hannah WEBSTER, in 1856, and has raised a family of four children, all still living. He was educated in the common schools and at Mt. Pleasant boarding school, then under the control of the Society of Friends.

Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Colerain Twp. bios
page 389


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