Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Flushing Twp. bios
page 379
HON. JOHN DAVENPORT - Among the old citizens of Barnesville who took a leading part in conducting its affairs, and whose lives have impressed the town and community for good, Hon. John Davenport stands, perhaps, the most conspicuous. Mr. Davenport was born January 9, 1788, in Jefferson county, Virginia. Having received only a common English education, he was put in training for the trade of a merchant at Winchester, Frederick county, Virginia. On the 31st of March, 1808, he married a Miss Martha COULSON. In May, 1812, he entered into the mercantile business with one George ORRIEK, at Winchester, Virginia. The partnership lasted about two years, when it came to an end by the appointment of Mr. Orriek as cashier of the Valley Bank of Virginia, and Mr. Davenport as superintendent of a new woolen factory, then just started on the Opequan creek, about six miles from Winchester. Here Mr. Davenport remained until the time of his coming to Barnesville in the fall of 1818.
Immediatley on his arrival at Barnesville, he began the mercantile business in a room now a part of the "Frasier House." Shortly afterwards he united with himself in partnership Mr. John GIBSON, a native of Scotland, with whom he had formed an acquaintance at Opequan factory. Mr. Gibson had just then inherited a patrimony in his mother country. In the year 1824, Mr. Davenport was elected representative for Belmont county in the Ohio Legislature. In the fall of 1826 he was elected to Congress for the two years ending 4th of March, 1829. While in Congress he was a warm friend of Harry CLAY's high protective tariff bill, and gave his vote for its enactment. He was in 1828 a candidate for re-election, but Jacksonism carried him under, and his opponent, Hon. William KENNON, elected. In 1830 Mr. Davenport was elected to the Senate of the State, and there by his vigilance secured the election of Hon. Thomas EWING, United States Senator. The vote on joint ballot, a strict party one, was so close that a vote changed from one party to the other elected this or that man. Mr. Davenport detected an error in tallying the vote, which, if it had passed unnoticed, would have elected the opponent of Mr. Ewing. He called the attention of the joint convention to the error, which was promptly corrected and Mr. Ewing declared elected. At the next Legislature Mr. Davenport was elected an associate judge for Belmont county, which office he filled for the full term.
In the year 1848, Mr. Davenport removed to Woodsfield, Monroe county, O., where he began merchandizing once more. He continued in active business until two or three years before his death.
While Mr. Davenport resided in Barnesville, he dealt very extensively in leaf tobacco. He also bought large quantities of ginseng, which he classified and shipped to Baltimore. It was on his advice that Mr. John D. PRICE began the cultivation of tobacco at Barnesville. Although Mr. Davenport's time was so taken up with business affairs, he did not neglect to take an active part in the religious and educational training of the people. For many years he was the chief pillar of support to the M. E. Church; was the first superintendent of the first Sabbath-school of Barnesville, and more than any one man helped to lay the foundation of that church here broad and deep. It was chiefly by his influence that the first public school house was erected. And by aiding poor worthy men to procure lands, he gave speed to the settlement of the country and importance of the village.
After Mr. Davenport removed to Monroe county, he was elected an associate judge for that county, and remained in that office until the new Constitution did it away. He died on the 18th day of July, 1855, and was buried in the graveyard of the M. E. Church at Woodsfield.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
"Notable Men of Barnesville"
page 316
MATTHIAS GROVES, deceased, was born in Frederick county, Va., in 1784. He was reared a farmer, and followed that as his occupation through life. He married Sarah COBLIN, of the same county, in 1804. He migrated to Belmont county, Ohio, with his family, and located in Kirkwood township, one half mile east of where Hendrysburg is now situated, in 1808. He and his wife died many years since. He reared a family of six children - Lovina, Susan, William, George, Margaret and James, all of whom grew to be men and women, married and reared families. At present only three of the number are living, George, Margaret and James.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Kirkwood Twp. bios
page 366
ELIHU HOLLINGSWORTH was the son of Levi Hollingsworth, and first
saw the light in a small log house one and a half miles west of
Flushing January 12, 1813. At the age of 18 Elihu went to learn
the trade of hatter with his brother. Remained three years. July
11, 1839, he married Lydia Ann FISHER, and set up business on his
own account in the town of Belmont. Children born: Mary L., March
20, 1842; David A., November 21, 1844; Lovina A., March 2, 1849;
Benjamin F. born April 21, 1840, and died June 1, 1863. He removed
to Flushing May 1, 1847, where he followed his business three years,
and then engaged in general merchandising. In 1867 he retired from
business, and now lives on his income, having during his active life
by industry and energy, accumulated a competence. Mr. Hollingsworth,
with commendable zeal and a public spirit, has kept a meteorological
record from April, 1857, up to the present time.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Flushing Twp. bios
page 380
L. W. INGLEBRIGHT - This gentleman is at present one of the proprietors of the ferry of this town. He came to Martin's Ferry in the spring of 1866. The ferry was then owned by PRICE & JINKINS. The former gentleman, wishing to dispose of his interest, sold it to Mr. Inglebright, who has been connected with it ever since, under the name of Jinkins and Inglebright. Capital invested, $24,000. Four trips across the river are made hourly during the day. Two good steam ferry-boats are used - one, which is large and very durable built, is intended for high waters, and winter use, and the other for summer or low water. Both are well managed, and always kept in good repair. His partner, Mr. Jinkins, died in the spring of 1879, and his widow still retains her interest in it.
Mr. Inglebright was born in Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 21st day of May, 1840. He is a son of William and Sarah Inglebright, nee Lytle, and is of German extraction. His father followed merchandising
and carried on what is known as the "upper ferry" at that place for a number of years. Here our subject was sent to school, and rendered such assistance to his father as was in his power, until in the spring above alluded to. On the 13th of December of the same year, he was united in marriage to Mary A. ORR, of Brooke county, West Va. Mr. Inglebright and family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is also a member of both the Masons and Odd-Fellows' societies. Residence on Fourth street; this is one of the finest buildings
in the town, and was erected by him at a cost of $4000. A fine engraving of it will be found among the illustrations of this work.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Pease Twp. bios
page 302
KERSEY K. KIRK, second son of Joshua Kirk, was born June 28, 1849.
At the age of two years his father moved to Flushing and engaged
in blacksmithing, the son learning the trade in his father's shop.
He married Miss M. L. WILSON, October 13, 1871. His children's names
are as follows: Walter J., born August 16, 1872; Bessie, born December 4, 1874, and Annie G. Kirk, born December 9, 1876. Mr. Kirk still carries on the business of blacksmithing in the village of Flushing and is known as an industrious and competent workman.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Flushing Twp. bios
page 379
CONRAD LONG was born April 27, 1836, in Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, where he lived until the twentieth year of his age, when he emigrated to America, Landing in Baltimore, Maryland. He remained there about three months, then came to Wheeling, and worked at the tanner's trade, which he learned in the old country. He remained in Wheeling only two years, then moved to Martin's Ferry, hired himself to Mr. W. B. DUNLEVY, for whom he worked three months, and on the 1st of March, 1858, he purchased his employer's tin store. The following, copied from a public print, will best explain the character and progress of his business:
"Martin's Ferry Enterprise - On the 1st day of March, 1858, Conrad Long purchased the tin shop of W. B. Dunlevy, which was located on Second street, near Washington. The cash capital of Mr. Long on that eventful day was two dollars; and this, no doubt, represents the tools, stock in trade and good will of the business purchased, as it was a very small affair. But nothing daunted; our hero went to work with a will, determined to supply all demand for goods in his line, in consequence of which determination it was no unusual thing for him to work industriously all day, and to continue his labors till midnight and after. "Spare no labor to fill an order or supply a customer," was his motto. Pursuing this course his business so increased that his quarters became too small, and in the following year he purchased the DAKIN property, now occupied by him, and after his removal he enlarged his facilities by the purchase of new and improved machinery, ever keeping pace with all the improvements in the copper, tin and sheet iron business, and making a specialty of tin roofing.
"In 1863 Mr. Long purchased the adjoining property, known as the RICE store room, which was fitted up for his residence. The next two years were years of progress, and in 1866 a peddling wagon was started, which supplied the retail dealers of Belmont and the surrounding counties with a superior quality of the products of the Martin's Ferry shop, which enabled them to defy competition.
"In 1872 he added 75 feet to his store room, making it 95x20, with a large sky light in the centre, and a shop in the second story sufficient to afford ample accommodations for six workman, and in 1876 a fill line of hardware, house furnishing goods, queensware, a full line of table and pocket cutlery, farmers utensils of all kinds, and he has obtained the sole agency in town for the Oliver Chilled plow, and has from time to time added stoves, till at the present time his assortment of cooking stoves, office stoves, parlor, and in fact all varieties of heating stoves, is complete.
"Of the superior and beautiful stoves manufactured at Akron, Ohio, Mr. Long has the sole agency for this county. In house furnishing goods it is not too much to say that in variety of style and completeness of assortment, the establishment of Mr. Long is not surpassed, and here we might have supposed he would stop, prepared as he is, to supply the necessities and luxuries of life to the men and women of the community - but no, the little folks must not be forgotten; and the toy department of his immense establishment has grown from a small beginning a few years since, till now, in this, as in other lines, he is ahead of all competitors."
Mr. Long was married September 1st, 1858, to Miss Kate CLARK. His place of business is at Nos. 53 and 55, Washington street.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Pease Twp. bios
page 302-303
ELI TAYLOR was born in Chester county, Pa., October 13, 1793.
He came to Belmont county, Ohio, and located in Kirkwood township
in 1815. He married Lydia SHEPPARD, (born June 24, 1795) daughter
of John Sheppard, deceased, in 1817. He settled on the farm now
owned by James Sheppard, section 23, Kirkwood township, and followed
farming during life. They reared a family of six children - Barnet,
Guly M., Abijah F., Silas, Talithacumi, and Mary J., all of whom
grew to be men and women, married, and reared familes. They were
members of the M. E. Church. He died in November, 1852, and his
wife died in February, 1872.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Kirkwood Twp. bios
page 366
GEORGE E. TOPP merchant tailor of Clarington, was born at Wheeling, West Virginiam Oct 18 1856, and came to Monroe County with his parents August and Elizabeth (Messerly) Topp, in 1866. He married at Powhattan, Ohio September 14, 1879, Kate M. McGrew, daughter of Archibald and Lydia (Campbell) McGrew (the latter deceased), who
settled in this county in 1875. Mr. Topp's father was quite an early
settler in Belmont county, a miller by occupation, and operated a grist-mill for a number of years at Wegee, Belmont county. Mr. Topp and his father are among the enterprising business men of Clarington, and carry on a large merchant tailoring business. He had two brothers in the war. William was in the 1st Virginia
Cavalry, was taken prisoner, escaped, and served during the war. Charles was killed in the service. Address, Clarinton.
Submitted by: Carol J. McGrew
From "History of Monroe County", Ohio, H.H. Hardesty & Co Pub. 1882
ANDREW BURRIS was born in Belmont county, November 18, 1822. He was
reared a farmer, and when twenty-one years of age married Jane KEYSER, who was born September 15, 1817. They are the parents of but one child, a daughter. After his marriage he located in section 15, where he remained two years, and then purchased a farm in section 8, Mead township, where he yet resides. He and his wife are members of the old Wegee M. E. Church.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Mead Twp. bios
page 393
CHARLES W. SCHUMACHER, son of Christopher Schumacher, was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, April 29, 1831. He attended school until fourteen years of age when he began the trade of butchering; emigrated to America with his parents in September 1848, and located in Wheeling W. Va. Here he did an extensive business at butchering, stock dealing, &c., till 1855, when he removed to Belmont county, Ohio, and located on little McMahon's creek, and in 1867 came to his present location, two miles east of St. Clairsville, on the national pike. Married Christine BAYHA, April 2, 1850. His son Jacob is a corporal in the regular army, in which he has served for four years. In 1855 he planted three acres in a vineyard. This was the third one in the county of any importance; and he was therefore one of the first to begin the grape culture in this locality. He makes a considerable quantity of wine of superior quality. His house is a great resort for market people on their way to Wheeling.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Richland Twp. bios
page 252
MRS. ELIZBETH WELCH - John BARRY, the father of this excellent and
esteemed lady, was born in Loudon county, Va., where he married
Miss Catharine HORNER, and removed to near St. Clairsville, where
the subject of this sketch was born, September 16, 1802. She married, November 19, 1820, John CARTER, who died May 12, 1826, aged forty-six years, eight months and three days. By this marriage she had one child, a daughter, named Mary Ann, who was born October 14, 1822, and was married November 21, 1839, to Benjamin WILSON, who died August 6, 1857. Mrs. Carter married for a second husband, James WELCH, November 18, 1828, who died December 18, 1833, leaving no children. The subject of this sketch united with the Disciples church at Beallsville in 1829, of which she has been a steadfast and devoted member ever since, and now lives near Burr's Mills with her widowed daughter, enjoying the kindest respects of the entire community.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Goshen Twp. bios
page 406
HENRY WILEY, youngest son of Hans Wiley, deceased, was born in
Smith township, Belmont county, Ohio, on the farm where he is
now living, May 17, 1807. In 1845, he married Margaret JOHNSTON,
of Pennsylvania, who was born in 1812. They settled on the old
home farm, where they are now living. They have a family of five
daughters. He has followed farming as his vocation.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Smith Twp. bios
page 399
HENRY M. SCHMUESER, was born in Dresden, Muskingum county, Ohio,
April 2, 1847. At the age od sixteen, he enlisted in Company "K"
51st O. V. I. under Col. McLEAN, and served two years. Was in the
following battles: Resaca, Altona, Rome, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Columbia, Franklin, Nashville and other smaller engagements. Was discharged in November, 1866. Returned to Ohio and learned the harness business which he followed three years. In 1875 he removed to Temperanceville, Belmont county, Ohio, and worked at his trade two years. Married Mary GALLAGHER, May 7, 1873, and lives on a farm south of town. Follows farming in summer and harness making in winter. Has two children - Milton, born February 3, 1874, and Nicholas Schmueser, born July 16, 1875.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Somerset Twp. bios
page 409
HANS WILEY was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1760. In 1778,
he migrated to America and located in Fayette county, Pa., where
he married Susan IRWIN. In 1800, he with his wife and five children,
came to Belmont county, Ohio, residing in Richland township until
1805. They they entered, made improvements and settled on a part of
section six, in Smith township, where they lived during the remainder of their days. He died in 1835; his companion died in 1838. They brought up a family of eight children, viz: Joseph, Archibald, John, William, James, Henry, Eleanor and Margaret; all are deceased except three, John, James and Henry.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Smith Twp. bios
page 399
JESSE B. MAGEE, was born in Richland township, November 15, 1819.
His father was a cabinet maker by trade, and in 1801 located in
St. Clairsville, being the first one in the town of his occupation.
Married Miss Elizabeth COLEMAN of Richland township, who was a
native of Kentucky. They were the parents of twelve children, of
which our subject was the third son. In about 1808, Mr. Magee
located on the farm where our subject yet resides. There was then
a small cabin, and small tract of land cleared. Our subject received
a common school education, and on September 30, 1847, he was married to Miss Catharine S. LANK of Brooke county W. Va. He has always resided on the farm where he was born.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Richland Twp. bios
page 252
JAMES BRANNEN and wife migrated from York county, Pa., in about 1826
and settled in Belmont county, O. They purchased a tract of land and
commenced clearing it. He reared a large family, and died in 1831.
James and Joseph Brannen, sons of the above, are now living in Pultney township, five miles west of Bellaire, on the Bellaire and Jacobsburg road; own 244 acres of land in a good state of cultivation, with good fruit, and well watered, & sixty head of cattle and five head of horses. Joseph Brannen married Harriet SHAHAN in 1852.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Pultney Twp. bios
page 282
JACOB KEYSER was born in Mead township, Belmont county, Ohio,
July 7, 1836. He was reared a farmer and miller. He performed
labor for his father till 1857, when he married Mary L. MEEK,
who was born July 23, 1838. They are the parents of five children;
four are living. After his marriage he located in Monroe county,
near Beallsville, where he followed farming and milling for nine
years. He then removed to Cameron, West Virginia, where he resided
four years, again returned to the vicinity of Beallsville; remained
till 1873. He then returned to Belmont county and located on a part
of section 9, township 5,range 3. Here he still resides. He and his
wife are members of the M. E. Church at Wegee.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Mead Twp. bios
page 393
JOHNSTON L. JONES was born near Proctor, Virginia, November 25,
1811. When he was about two years old, his parents emigrated to
Monroe county, Ohio. His father was a miller and fuller, and his
son was early taught the same. After he arrived at the age of
majority he had sole control of a mill, and followed the business
for twenty-five years. Mr. Jones claims to have helped erect the
first brick building of Monroe county. He married Elydia SCHOFIELD
April 17, 1838. She was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1812,
and died January 6, 1853. For a second wife he chose Rebecca M.
MORRIS, only daughter of Allison Morris, June 25, 1854. She was
a native of Virginia; was born March 15, 1828. They have two children
- Frank M., born February 1, 1857, and Grace C., Born August 16,
1867. In 1858 he removed to Moundsville, W. Va., where he remained
till 1867, when he purchased a farm in Dille's Bottom, Belmont county, where he still resides. He served as justice of the peace for six years, having been elected in 1863. Mr. Jones is a consistent member of the Universalist church.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Mead Twp. bios
page 393
JOSEPH McNICHOLS - Nathaniel and Martha McNichols, parents of Joseph
McNichols, emigrated from Frederick county, Va., October 18, 1807,
and settled on land south of Burr's Mills, part of which now is
within the limits of the village. Their son Joseph was born on
this farm, August 6, 1808. The father died when the son was only
five years old. Here Mr. McNichols grew to years of manhood and
helped clear up the farm. He was married in May, 1833, to Miss
Charity NEWSOM, who died in October, 1860. He married for a second
wife, Miss Adelaide HOLLINGSWORTH, February 8, 1862, who still
survives. Mr. McNichols followed gunsmithing twenty-six years of
his life, then purchased a farm, on which he has since lived. He
has always lived a peaceful, quiet life - never served on a jury
in a county court, nor never gave evidence in any court, in all
his life; neither has he ever failed to pay promptly any debt as
promised - or failed in a promise for work, or anything else in
the whole course of his life. As a recompense for his promptness
and punctuality in his business transactions through life, he is
blessed with an abundance of this world's goods, which now in the
evening of his life he is quietly and peacefully enjoying with the
confidence of an entire community.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Goshen Twp. bios
page 406
JAMES WILEY, a son of the above named Hans Wiley, was born in Richland township, Belmont county, Ohio, June 26, 1802. Although reared on a farm, he was one of the early teachers in Smith township, having taughtseveral terms of school between the years of 1825 and 1840. He married Mary A. WORKMAN, daughter of William Workman, deceased, in 1840. They settled near Centerville, remained two years and in 1842, they moved on the farm where they are now living, it being a part of his father's farm. They have a family of six children, four sons and two daughters.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Smith Twp. bios
page 399
LEWIS ROCKENSHOUSEN was born in Germany, June 7, 1825, and came to
the United Sates in 1842, first landing in New York. He learned the
cabinet trade in that city, and worked at the business five years,
when he removed to Pittsburgh and continued the same occupation. In
1867 he came to Bellaire and engaged in the coal business. He is
now member of the firm of Rockenshousen and Sterritt, proprietors
of the Pittsburgh Coal Works. He was married in 1848 to Martha E.,
daughter of Martin SWETZER, of Allegheny county, Pa. They have
seven children, two sons and five daughters.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Pultney Twp. bios
page 282
OLIVER P. BARNES, son of Thos. H. Barnes of Somerset township, was born December 25, 1838. Early in 1861 he went to Barnesville, Ohio, with the intention of fitting himself for college but the rebellion breaking out he enlisted in April, 1861, in Company "B" 3d O. V. I., under Col. I. H. MARROW and served under Gen. Geo. B. McCLELLAN in West Virginia. Was in the battle of Rich Mountain and other engagements. From West Virginia he went to Kentucky. Was at "Bridgeport" "Perrysville," "Stone River" and other battles. Went south under Col. A. D. STRAIGHT, of Indiana, and
participated in all the stirring scenes of that campaign. August 4, 1862, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant and in April, 1863, was promoted to First Lieutenant. Was taken prisoner at Rome, Georgia, May 3, 1863, and committed to Libby prison at Richmond. Remained there one year and was then transferred to Camp Oglethorpe, near Macon, Georgia, where he remained about three months and was then removed to Charleston, South Carolina, to be "put under fire." The rebel authorities not daring to put this threat into execution, the Union prisoners were taken to Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he was exchanged March 1, 1865.
Returned to Ohio, March 25, and was married November 15, 1865 to Frances E. CATER, daughter of John Cater, of Somerset township, Belmont county, Ohio. To them were born children named as follows: Edwin F., Charles S., Oneaba and Abbey R. Mr. Barnes has a good farm and devotes himself to its cultivation.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Somerset Twp. bios
page 409
P. R. CHAPMAN, M. D., was born in Washington county, Pa., November 5, 1815; educated in the same county; attended Washington College in 1834-5. In 1836 he went to Jefferson county, Ohio, where he studied medicine under Dr. LESLIE. In 1839 returned to Washington county and taught school in the neighborhood of West Middletown. Located in Hendrysburg in March, 1840, to practice medicine. In the fall of 1841 he was married to Miss Sarah GROVES, daughter of Joseph Groves, near Egypt, Belmont county. In 1863 he removed to Pennsylvania, where he resided on a farm. In 1865 he moved to Morristown, and continues the practice of medicine. He has been a successful
practitioner. His family consists of four sons and one daughter. Two of his sons married.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Union Twp. bios
page 374
ROBERT BOYD was born in Belmont county November 30, 1802. He engaged
in farming and coopering. In 1831 he was married to Miss Matilda BAGGS. They had twelve children, seven boys and five girls. Three of the children are dead. His death occurred June 8, 1872, aged 70 years. He and wife (who is still living) belonged to the U. P. Church.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Union Twp. bios
page 374
WILLIAM A. DOWDELL - The subject of this sketch was born in Loudon
county, Va., August 9, 1808, where he resided till 1832, receiving
a good common school education. In that year he emigrated to Belmont
county, and settled on a farm a mile and a half west of Morristown.
In December, 1834, he married Miss Rebecca TAYLOR, daughter of Noble
Taylor, Esq., a pioneer who came to Belmont county in 1881. His wife
died in 1871. He has four children, two sons and two daughters. The
sons live in Belmont county, one daughter is in Missouri, and the
other died a few years since. He married a second wife, Artemissa
BURNS, in November, 1872. In his earlier years he taught school, and
after his marriage taught in winter and farmed in summer. He united
himself to the M. E. Church in Loudon county, Va., September 30, 1832, and afterwards engaged in the ministry of that church, and is still recognized as such. His eyesight, which was always weak, gradually failed, and for the last eighteen years he has been unable to read. Devotedly attached to the principles of human rights, he was an anti-slavery man from conviction, and in 1836, fully identified himself with the great anti-slavery movement that finally convulsed the nation and overthrew the institution. Mr. D. has always been prompt and decided in his ideas of truth, of justice and of right, and never flinched in expressing them on all proper occasions, and although he may occasionally in the heat of a discussion have engendered bitter feelings in an opponent, yet when the impulses of the moment have given way to the cooler judgment of his adversary, all feelings of anger have given place to a respect for the sterling integrity and honest sincerity of Mr. Dowdell. Although far past the meridian of life, he is still as active in mind and body as ever, and takes a lively interest in all that pertains to the welfare of his county and to the common good of his fellow man.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Goshen Twp. bios
page 406
WILLIAM BOYD, a native of Maryland, was born July 3, 1789. His father migrated to Pennsylvania when our subject was but four years of age. In 1800 he migrated to Belmont county, arriving on the 31st of October, on the farm now owned by Robert Boyd, about a mile from the place where he died. He was a cooper by trade. He married Miss Agnes PATTERSON, who bore him ten children, viz: Mathew, Margaret, Mary, Ann, Clark, William, Robert and Nancy. Mr. B. died in his eighty-eighth and his wife in her seventy-second year. Mr. Boyd was a soldier of the war of 1812 and witnessed the surrender of Detroit by General Hull to the British, August 6, 1812.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Union Twp. bios
page 374
WM. C. SHIELDS was born in Berkeley county, Virginia, in 1814.
He came to Belmont county with his parents when two years of age.
At the time he came to this county it was mostly a wilderness,
with here and there a log cabin. He was early inured to the toil
and privations of a pioneer life, grew to manhood amidt the exciting
scenes and incidents of the early settlers, and has lived to see the
"wilderness blossom as the rose." Mr. Shields owns 238 acres of excellent land, upon which he has lived for thirty-eight years. He has paid considerable attention to sheep raising, and in fact was the pioneer sheep grower in Pultney township. Married his wife, Sarah, daughter of James HUFFMAN, of Belmont county, in 1840, who died. His second wife was Hannah, daughter of Andrew McFARLAND, whom he married in 1876.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Pultney Twp. bios
page 282
WILLIAM DUNN was born in Lancaster county, Pa., October 7, 1774.
He married in 1799. He had a family of none children, five boys
and four girls. He migrated to Belmont county, Ohio, in 1802,
settling in Union, on section eleven; served his county in the
legislature nearly twenty years; elected justice of the peace
for his township a number of years. He served both positions
with honor, and dischgarged his duties with fidelity. He died
on the 27th of January, 1858, and his wife, January 21, 1865.
He was aged eighty-four and his companion eighty-six. Mr. D. was
also a general in the militia and served two years in the state
senate.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Union Twp. bios
page 374
WILLIAM STANTON - Enoch Stanton was one of the first settlers of
Somerset township, locating near where the village of Somerton
now stands, in the year 1814, and being a member of the Society of
Friends he assisted in organizing the first church on that part of
the country. His son, William Stanton, was born in 1816, and has
lived all his life at Somerton. In the year 1837, he married Catharine THOMAS, with whom he lived happily fourteen years, when she died, leaving him with two boys. He was again married in 1853 to Sarah BARR, who died in 1868. His third and present wife was a Mrs. STEELE, daughter of George BENTON. At the age of thirty, Mr. Stanton learned the cabinet making trade with a Mr. PRICE, of Somerton, became a partner in the business, and afterwards bought Mr. Price's interest, and still carries on the business. One of his sons assists in the shop, and the other is bookkeeper for H. and F. BLANDY, Zanesville, Ohio.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Somerset Twp. bios
page 409
DR. WILLIAM T. MITCHELL, son of Edgar and Delilah Mitchell, was born
in Monroe county, Ohio, March 5, 1847. He was reared a farmer, and
attended Franklin College, at Athens, O., for three years. In 1864
he began as a day laborer on the farm in Belmont county and taught
school for eight winters. In 1872 he began the study of nedicine with Dr. PIPER, of Glencoe. He attended both the Starling and Columbus Medical Colleges of Columbus, Ohio, graduating at the latter in 1876, and began his practice in March of the same year as a partner of his old instructor. On June 6, 1878, he married Alice M. AULT, of Belmont county, Ohio.
Submitted by: Bonnie Burkhardt
From "History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, OH" by Caldwell, pub. 1880
Richland Twp. bios
page 252
Click here to return to biography index.