ELI McCONKEY, a native son of
Holmes
County, was born Apr. 22, 1828, the
youngest of four sons of Thomas and
Rachel (Nipton) McConkey. His father,
who was a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer,
came to Ohio
when a young man, and here bought eighty acres of land, which is now the
homestead of James Dye. He died when but thirty-two years of age.
Eli McConkey was left an orphan at an
early age, and was reared by a great uncle, remaining with him until twenty-one
years old. When he started in life for
himself he had no means, but was economical, and by saving his earnings bought
fifty acres of land. This he improved and
has since added to until he now owns 175 acres, all well improved. Mr.
McConkey is one of the well-to-do farmers of
Ripley Township,
and his success has been due to his industry and good management, aided by his
economical and hard-working wife. He was
married in 1850 to Eliza Jarvis of Holmes County,
and they had a family of four children, but one of whom,
Mrs. Josephine Griffey, is living. In politics
Mr. McConkey is a Democrat, and he has served his township as trustee.
~ Page 808 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of
Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, Illustrated – Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
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DAVID McCULLOCH
is a retired farmer, residing on Section 1,
Prairie Township. He was born in
Cumberland County, Penn., Dec. 20,
1808, a son of Huey and Elizabeth
(Gilson) McCulloch, natives of Scotland,
who came to Holmes County,
Ohio, in 1811, arriving here April 14,; both died in this county,
the mother June 10, 1814, and the father in 1836.
They reared a family of eight sons and one daughter, five of whom are
living.
David McCulloch was reared a farmer,
and has devoted the most of his time through life to that pursuit. He got his first start by selling
fanning mills, which he continued six summers.
Finally he bought seventy-six acres of land, which he improved and has
added to until at one time he owned 400 acres of valuable land. A part of this he has sold, but still
owns his homestead containing 200 acres.
He was married in 1842 to Nancy
Wolgamott, who was born in Holmes County
in 1818, and they had a family of eight children, viz:
John G.; Elizabeth, wife of Jacob Huffman;
Josephine, wife of Samuel Sterling;
Huey B.; Zadock; Sarah, wife of Marion Grover; Martha, wife of William Grover,
and Jeremiah. Mrs. McCulloch died in 1880,
leaving her husband to spend his latter years alone.
Mr. McCulloch is a Republican, and
held the office of justice of the peace several years, also filled other offices
of minor importance. Although not a
member of any religious denomination he is a liberal supporter of the gospel; he
contributed a third of the amount required for the building of the Presbyterian
Church at Holmesville.
~ Page 811 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of
Wayne and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated – Publ. Chicago: J. H.
Beers & Co. 1889
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REV.
ABRAHAM MAST, one of the most influential farmers of Walnut
Creek Township, was born in that township, Dec. 31, 1820. His
father, Jacob Mast, of German descent, born in Somerset
County, Penn., was a shoemaker by trade. His first wife was
Miss Mary Yoder, and after her death he married Miss
Magdaline Miller, both of whom were natives of Somerset County,
Penn. In 1812 Mr. Mast, removed his family to Ohio, and
entered a quarter-section of land in what is now Walnut Creek
Township, Holmes County. He became one of the wealthy men of
his township by his energy, frugal habits and good management; he
was a prominent member of the Amish Church, and in politics a
Republican. He died September 1, 1868. Five of his
children are still living: Joseph, in Indiana; Abraham,
our subject; Noah, in Tuscarawas County, Ohio; Rachel,
wife of Benedict Miller, in Oregon; and Sarah,
wife of David Stitzmon, in Nebraska.
Abraham Mast, the subject of this sketch, was
reared on the homestead far, and received both an English and a
German education. He early took an active part in the affairs
of the Amish Church, having been elected a minister of the same when
twenty-seven years of age, and has since served the church in that
capacity, although he has followed farming as a livelihood, and now
has one of the best homes in the township. Mr.MAst
married Miss Annie, daughter of Moses Beachy, of
Walnut Creek Township, and their family consists of eight sons and
eight daughters, viz: sons, Dr. Jacob A., Aaron, Benjamin,
Abraham, Moses, Joas, David and Adam; daughters,
Catherine (wife of Abraham Harshberger), Elizabeth (wife
of Noah Mishler), Susan( wife of David E. Stutzman),
Sarah (wife of Aaron Yoder), Lydia (wife of
Benedict Miller), Annie (wife of L. J. Bachler), Amanda
(married to Stephen Stutzman, in Seward Co., Neb.), and
Melinda (single, living at home). Magdaline, the
eldest married Jonathan Miller, and is deceased, as is also
an infant daughter. All the living are residents of Walnut
Creek Township, except as follows: Joas, in Berlin;
David, in Kansas; Susan, in Nebraska; Sarah, in
German Township, and Amanda, in Nebraska. Mr. Mast
in politics is a Republican, and is one of the most active workers
for his party in the eastern part of the township. |
JACOB A. MAST, M. D.,
one of the most successful physicians of Walnut Creek, where he has practiced for
twenty years, is a native of that township, born Nov. 27, 1841, a son of
Rev. Abraham and Annie (Beachy) Mast. He received a common-school education
and in his youth worked on a farm, but choosing the profession of medicine as
his life-work he began reading under the instruction of
Dr. Yoder, of Berlin. He then
attended lectures at the Western Reserve
Medical College, Cleveland,
Ohio, from which he graduated in 1869. He immediately located at
Walnut Creek, where he has since lived and
built up an extensive practice.
Dr. Mast was married in 1861 to
Miss Catherine, daughter of
John Rose, of
Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and they
have a family of seven children:
Elizabeth, at home;
Elmira,
wife of William Weiss, in Charm;
Lucinda, wife of
Moses I. Miller, in Walnut Creek; Susan, wife of John Lantzer, in Walnut
Creek; Ella, Florence and
Sophia, at home.
Dr. Mast has always taken an active
interest in politics, affiliating with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Holmes County
Medical Society, an organization in which he is much interested. In 1886 he took into his office, an
assistant, Dr. E. J. Luke, a young
physician whose prospects for future prosperity are promising. The Doctor and family are members of and
active workers in the German Reformed Church.
~ Page 805 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of
Wayne
and
Holmes,
Ohio, Illustrated –
Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 |
MAYERS
FAMILY. The history of every county is made up of a
multiplicity of lives, all more or less prominent for the part they
have played in the drama of its development. But here and
there we find individuals or families who impart to the scene an
especial brilliancy by the earnestness and zeal which they have
displayed in its early founding. Such, indeed, is the
Mayers family of Millersburgh.
No man in his day was more prominently identified with
the business interests of Holmes County during its early days of
prosperity, or was of a more progressive spirit, than Lewis
Mayers. He was born on the River Rhine, in the kingdom of
Bavaria, Germany, in October, 1811. His early life was spent
in his native country, and, his parents being poor, his advantages
were indeed limited. But he had heard of the "land of the
free," where the poorest might live in abundance, and in 1836 he
emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, where he remained a
short time, working at whatever employment he could find. From
there he went to Illinois, where he worked at farm labor, and in
1837 came to Millersburgh, where he began his business career in a
grocery store, and later on, in 1844, embarked in the dry goods
business, which gradually grew until it became the largest and most
prominent business establishment in the town. Mr. Mayers
was a man of sound business judgment, great energy, strict
integrity, and no man in the place had greater influence or was more
universally esteemed than he. In 1875 he was succeeded in the
business by his sons, Samuel E. and Horace C. In
1874 the Mayers Exchange Bank was organized, although for
years previous to this Mr. Mayers had done a private banking
business, and to-day, although the original founder has passed to
the great beyond, the bank still exists as part of the estate, and
is recognized, as it has always been, as one of the soundest
business institutions in the town. Mr. Mayers was
sole proprietor until his death, his son, Charles, being
cashier.
Mr. Mayers was married in 1838, to Miss Sarah,
daughter of Anson Wheaton, whose ancestors for several
generations were natives of Massachusetts. The Wheatons
were a prominent family, and were among the pioneer of Holmes
County. They have been patriots from an early day, teh
great-grandfather, grandfather and father of Mrs. Mayers
having been soldiers in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812 and of
the Rebellion, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer had
born to them a family of eleven children, viz.: Rachel (wife
of Robert Camern), Anson M., H. L. (a minister of the
Presbyterian Church), Samuel E., Horace C., W. J., Mrs. Mary L.
Loos, Mrs. Lucy E. McClerken, Charles R., A. W. and Bessie.
The father died Aug. 1, 1883, and in his death Millersburgh lost
one of its most energetic, enterprising citizens. Commencing
life's journey at teh foot of the ladder, Mr. Mayers,
unaided, and by his own perseverance and ability, worked his way up,
until he stood at the top, in point of wealth, influence and
prominence in the county. Mrs. Mayers still resides at
the homestead, her son, A. W., and daughter Bessie
constituting her family. Of the sons, who are prominent
business men of Millersburgh, something more should be said.
ANSON M., the eldest son, was
born in 1844,and was married in 1886 to Miss Louisa, daughter
of Samuel Lamberson, of Coshocton County, and they have one
child, Julia M. He is one of the most extensively
engaged men in the town, being interested in various enterprises.
SAMUEL E. was born Dec. 30, 1847,
and was married in 1878 to Miss Luia M., a daughter of
Thomas Magee, of Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They have had
four children, three of whom are living; Mildred M., Irene H.
and Lawrence H.
HORACE C. was born in 1851,
and was married in 1875 to Miss H. E., daughter of Henry
Wolgamot, and they have three children: Karl Lewis, Mary
Louis and Horace C. Jr.
W. J. was born in 1855, and
was married in 1878, to Geneva L. Mulvane, daughter of
Jenkin Mulvane, and they have two children: Kenneth
(deceased) and Margery.
CHARLES R. was born in
1860, and was married in 1883 to Libbie L., daughter of L.
L. Taylor. THey have one daughter, Urania B.
Charles R. is cashier of the Mayers Exchange Bank, and is
one of the prominent young men of Millersburgh.
S. E., H. C. and W. J. Mayers compose the
present firm of Mayers Brothers, drygoods merchants of
Millersburgh. These brothers have shown by their remarkable
business successes that they have inherited all the push, enterprise
and tact of their deceased parent, and under their most efficient
management, the business which formerly was large, has grown to what
may well be called colossal proportions, considering the size of the
town and the population of the county. Where some years ago
stood the old business house, now towers a handsome and commodious
brick, elaborately finished inside, both for beauty and convenience.
Their sales undoubtedly exceed $100,000 per year, which of itself is
an evidence that their stock in trade is kept fresh and fully
abreast of the requirements of fashion. The business is
conducted in a most systematic manner, and with its various
departments of general dry goods, carpets, cloaks, millinery, and
one of the best groceries in the city, all fitted out with
cash-railways and attended by numerous clerks, gives to their store
an air decidedly metropolitan and quite in advance of those usually
seen in our small cities.
This family of children were all born in Millersburgh,
and all stand high in both business and social circles. They
are members of the Disciples Church; in politics the sons have
affiliated with the Democratic party, as did their father. |
ABRAHAM
MELOTT is a prominent and influential citizen of Knox
Township, Holmes County. His father, John Melott, was
of French descent, but was a native of Germany, from which country
he came to the United States when young. In Lancaster
County, Penn., he married Miss Catherine Bittner and from
there they removed to Centre County, same State. Of their ten
children, Abraham was the ninth, born March 17, 1812, near
Howard, Centre County, Penn. The father, John Melott,
died in 1815.
In 1832 the subject of our sketch, with one other,
started on foot for Ohio, which was then the "far West," bringing
his property in a valise strapped on his back. He landed in
Nashville, Holmes County, and in the spring of 1833 commenced in the
boot and shoe trade, which he followed for forty-five years.
February 9, 1837, he was married to Miss Margaret Siggafoos,
with whom he lived most happily for thirty years, when she died and
went to meet three of the nine children who had been given them.
The eldest son, Sylvester C., who had been a member of
Company I, One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, died at
Russellville, Ky., while defending the flag of his country.
Mr. Melott was again married, on this occasion, in 1869, to
Mrs. Lucy Ann Sill, widow of Cook D. Sill, and daughter
of Jonathan Harriss. Mr. Melott is now in his
seventy-eighth year, and is engaged in the nursery and small fruit
business, to which he has devoted his farm fo 120 acres for the past
twenty-five years.
While not rich, the Lord has favored him and given him
a long life, good health and enough of wealth to supply all desires.
In January, 1841, he was converted, and gave his name to Rev.
Samuel Urety, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which
church he has consistently belonged for over forty-eight years, most
of the time as an official member. |
GEORGE
W. MILLER, farmer and stock raiser, Prairie Township, is the
youngest son of Martin and Eliza (Cavenee) Miller. His
father was a native of Virginia, of German descent, and in his youth
came to Wayne County, Ohio, where he was married, in 1845, to
Eliza Cavenee, a native of Harrison County, Ohio, to Scotch
Irish descent. They came to Holmes County in 1856, and were
among the pioneers of Prairie Township. Martin Miller
commenced life a poor boy, his first land purchase being but
eighteen acres, and this he bought in partnership with a brother.
Although poor, he was ambitious, which, added to industry, frugality
and good management, made him successful, and at his death, in 1878,
he owned 196 acres of fine land, all well improved. He was a
good citizen, a kind neighbor and a considerate and indulgent
husband and father. His widow is still living on the
homestead, and is the owner of 116 acres of land, which, at her
death, will belong to her son George, who now has charge of
the farm. They had a family of five children: Albert
W. and James W., both farmers of Prairie Township;
Martha J., wife of James Coddington, of Colorado;
Sarah A., wife of John Riley, of Holmesville, and
George W.
George W. Miller was born on the farm where he now
lives July 1, 1856, and all his life has been identified with the
interests of his native county. He was married, in 1879, to
Harriet E. Davis, a native of Holmesville, born in 1857, a
daughter of Andrew J. and Sarah (Flack) Davis. They
have a family of three children: Arthur M., Ida E. and
Andrew F. Mr. Miller was reared in the faith of the
Disciples Church, and both he and his wife are active members of
this denomination of Christians. |
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ROBERT
J. MILLER, dealer in general merchandise, Holmesville, is
a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born Sept. 27, 1848, a son of
Andrew and Jane (Lemm) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania,
former of German, latter of Irish descent; the father is dead,
the mother is still living in Wayne County.
Robert J. was reared on a farm, remaining with
his parents until 1881, when in company with Joseph Cameron
he came to Holmesville and entered mercantile business.
Two years later he bought his partner's interest, and conducted
it alone about a year. In 1884 he admitted T. B. Lemon
into partnership, and increased the scope of his business.
In 1886 his brother, Leander, was admitted, the firm
changing to Miller Brothers, and together they now carry
a good stock valued at $3,000, consisting of dry goods, boots,
shoes, clothing, groceries, builders' hardware, notions, etc.,
their annual sales amounting to about $10,000, and their trade
constantly increasing. Mr. Miller is an
enterprising young man of good business ability, and has by his
own efforts been successful. Besides his mercantile
interests he owns eighty acres of land in Kansas, an interest in
teh homestead farm, and has $3,000 in cash out at interest.
He was married in 1883 to Miss Mary Kidd, a
native of Holmes County, born in 1862, a daughter of Samuel
and Delilah (Yager) Kidd, and they ahve one child, Mabel
M. Mr. Miller has served Prairie Township two years as
trustee, a position he has filled with efficiency and to the
best interests of the township. In politics he is a
Democratic.
Source: Biographical Record of Wayne & Holmes Co. - Publ.
Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889 ~ Page 817
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WILLIAM H. MILLER,
farmer and stock raiser, Prairie
Township, is a native of Holmes county, born May 29, 1846, the second son
of Jacob and Hannah (Harrison)
Miller, well known among the early settlers of this county. He was reared on the farm of his
parents, was given good educational advantages, and since attaining his majority
has devoted his attention to farming and stock raising on his own account. He has been industrious and
successful and now owns a good farm of 238 acres, well improved. He deals extensively in stock, buying
and shipping to the Pittsburgh
markets.
Mr. Miller was married Apr. 9, 1867,
to Sarah Painter, a native of
Holmes
County, born in 1850, and a daughter of
Peter and Sarah (Albertson) Painter. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have seven
children: Painter A., Jacob E., William
O., John C., Sarah M., C. J. and Paul H. Mr. Miller has a fine residence,
built in 1885 at a cost of $3,000.
In politics, like his father, he is a Democrat.
~ Page 812 – Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of
Wayne and
Holmes, Ohio,
Illustrated – Publ. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1889
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