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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS
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NOBLE COUNTY,
OHIO BIOGRAPHIES |
Source:
History of Noble
County, Ohio : with portraits and biographical sketches of some of
its pioneers and prominent men.
Chicago: L.H. Watkins & Co., 1887
For Reference: Noble County was formed in 1851
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Sharon Wick
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BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX> |
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DR. CHARLES SHRAEBER was a
German who located in Sharon prior to the formation of the
county and practiced there several years. |
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| In 1816 JACOB
SHRIVER, from Greene County,
Pa., came to Buffalo township and built a cabin. March
17, 1817, he arrived, with his family, on the place now
owned by Noah Shriver. He died in 1843.
His children were James P., John, Mary A., Jacob,
Elizabeth, Joseph and Noah. |
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DR. CHARLES PERRY SIMONS,
M. D., was born in Zanesville, Ohio, January 26,
1812. His father, John White Simons, was one of
the early settlers of Muskingum County, and was born near
Philadelphia, Pa., in 1819. He followed the vocation
of an iron worker, and removed to Zanesville in 1830.
He died in Cambridge in 1871. Dr. Simons
received an academical education, and studied medicine under
the tutelage of Dr. Andrew Wall, of Cambridge.
Completing his preparatory course he attended the Michigan
Medical College, graduating, however, from the Ohio Medical
College at Cincinnati in 1864. In the spring of 1862
he entered the army as assistant surgeon in the general
hospital at Camp Dennison, Ohio. After passing an
examination before the State board of medical officers, he
was commissioned assistant surgeon of the Ninety-eighth Ohio
Volunteer Infantry. His division joined Sherman's
command, and he followed the fortunes of this army from
"Atlanta to the Sea". At the close of the war he was
mustered out with his regiment at Cleveland, in 1865.
Flattering offers were made him to accept a position in the
regular army which he declined. Returning to Cambridge
he established himself in practice, making a specialty of
surgery and diseases of the eye and ear. In his
practice the doctor was highly successful, and soon attained
an enviable position among his professional brethren.
Aside from his professional duties he gave some attention to
political matters, and in 1881 received the nomination for
State senator. In 1883 he came to Caldwell, and
engaged in the drug business. Since this time he has
not been in active practice, giving his attention to special
cases only. In 1884 the doctor was married to Mrs.
Arrena Kells, daughter of Henry Teener,
of Caldwell. |
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DR. FRANCIS SLATER, a native of
England and an Edinburgh graduate, settled at Sharon in
1855. Though a man of unquestioned ability, he
obtained but a small practice here. At the beginning
of the war he was appointed by Governor Dennison assistant
surgeon of the Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and
his ability and skill soon brought him into prominence.
He served as surgeon-in-chief, Kanawha division, department
of Ohio; medical director, post of Chattanooga; medical
director, fourteenth army corps; medical director, cavalry
corps, and finally as medical director, department director,
department of Alabama. From 1868 to 1874 he was
medical referee in the U. S. Pension Office. He died
at Washington, D. C., in 1879. |
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ADAM
J. SMITH, from Muskingum County, studied law in
Caldwell, and was admitted to the bar about 1877. He
practiced here for a short time. He then removed to Kansas,
where he now holds the position of prosecuting attorney. |
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GEORGE A. SMITH, who for
many years was one of the prominent business men and
financiers of Caldwell, was born in Olive Township in 1835.
His father, Shobul Smith, came from
Martha's Vineyard in 1817, and was one of the pioneers of
the county. George A. was for a
number of years a merchant in Dexter City. In 1873 he
was elected county treasurer, and the year following came to
Caldwell. In 1878 he became the cashier of the Noble
County National Bank, which position he retained until
ill-health obliged him to retire. |
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WILLIAM SMITHBERGER
was born in the Rhine province of Prussia, Sept. 12, 1825.
He was the youngest child of Johannes and Anna Maria
Smithberger. He had three brothers:
Nicholas, John and Peter, and
three sisters: Elizabeth, Catharine
and Margaret. His mother died when he
was six years old. In 1840 his father emigrated to the
United States. All the children, except
Nicholas came with him. They came to
Pittsburgh about the 1st of August, William
being at this time fourteen years of age. In the same
year he was apprenticed by his father for a term of three
years to James and John Smith,
machinists, of Pittsburgh; after serving about nine months
he learned that a machinist must have considerable capital
to set up a shop of his own; that there were other trades
fully as lucrative and which required much less capital; he
therefore engaged with a cabinet-maker, who failed seven
weeks after, his employes losing their wages. In the
meantime his father had charge of a flock of sheep belonging
to a Mr. Spriggs, who had a slave
plantation near Wheeling, W. Va. William
visited his father, who advised him to go to Elk Township,
Monroe County, Ohio, at which place his father owned eighty
acres of land, which he had entered some time before at the
government land office. The following spring he came
to Ohio, as did his father, brother John
and a sister. William
helped to fell the first tree and assisted in building a
dwelling-house; "then came hard times," says Mr.
Smithberger. "Brother John
and I often carried a half bushel of corn to a mill located
three miles from us, and ground it by hand. In our
straitened circumstances corn bread was a luxury."
During the first year on the farm, John
married, and William, not liking the rough
life afforded by the backwoods, begged his father to allow
him to go back to Pittsburgh; permission being granted, he
engaged in the city with Harmer Dennie, as
gardener. One day, while walking along the street, he
met his old boss of the machine-shop, to whom he had been
apprenticed, and endeavored to pass him without attracting
his notice; but it seems toe recognition was mutual, for
coming up he accosted William, inquiring
where he had been and what he was doing.
William made a clean breast of it, recounted his
wanderings and hardships, and finally consented, after many
solicitations, to go back to the shop; here he remained till
1847. In the spring of 1847 he entered into
partnership in the retail grocery trade with his
brother-in-law, Jacob Rothfuchs, the firm
being Rothfuchs & Smithberger, on the
corner of Seventh and Smithfield streets, Pittsburgh, and
continued in the business till 1853. In May, 1849, he
married Terrece Fauth, by whom he ahs
twelve children: William G., married
Catharine Burkhart, is a farmer and resides
in Elk Township, Noble County; Anthony,
married Mary Epler, lives in Monroe County,
and is a farmer; Terrece married
Peter Zwick, a Monroe County farmer;
Justina married Matthias Zilles,
Apr. 12, 1887, a merchant of Lebanon, Monroe County;
Thomas J. is in Dakota; Isadore
married Terrece Burkhart, is a farmer of
Noble County; Adaline A., Martha M., Edward W., John
S., Alexander D. and
Gregory are still at home. In 1853,
on account of failing health, Mr. Smithberger
was advised to move on a farm; accordingly in 1853 he came
to the farm upon which he has since resided, clearing the
land and adding fine improvements as circumstances made it
possible, until it is now one of the best improved farms in
the township. He began packing tobacco in 1861, and
has handled about seventy-five hogsheads a year, and has now
on hand some $5,000 worth. He has nearly six hundred
acres of good agricultural lands, mostly in Noble County, on
which are three good dwelling-houses, besides barns,
tobacco-houses and numerous other outbuildings necessary to
carry on his business and in which to store his grain; he
has been engaged in merchandising since 1874; he has a good
store-room filled with a fine selection of goods.
Mr. Smithberger is a member of the Catholic
church. He took an active part in building the
Catholic church near Harriettsville, contributing liberally
of his means to this purpose and in support of its society.
In politics he is a Democrat. The esteem in which he
is held by the people of Elk Township is evidenced by the
numerous positions of trust they have conferred upon him,
viz.: School director and member of the board of
education since 1858, township trustee, twice clerk of the
township, treasurer of the township for five years, assessor
of personal property for two terms, and land appraiser of
the township in 1870, and justice of the peace for thirty
years.
His has been a busy and
useful life. A poor boy, without money and without
influential friends, by his energy, industry and
perseverance he has overcome the many difficulties to
prosperity, and attained not only with but the respect and
confidence of his fellow-men, and now, seated under his own
vine and figtree, he dispenses a free-handed hospitality to
all.
~ Page 528 (Portrait) |
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DR. JOHN BELTON SPARLING,
son of Wyndham Sparling, of Sparling, of Marion
Township, was born in Ireland, and graduated as a surgeon in
that city. On obtaining his diploma in 1851, he went
as surgeon of Her Majesty's vessel, carrying Sir John
McDonald as governor to Sierra Leon. He landed at
Charleston, S. C., and came thence to his father's where he
soon had a large practice. Falling into the temptation
of drink, a career that might have been useful and brilliant
was ruined. He was probably the best read physician
ever in this county. He died in April, 1868, leaving a
family of five young children. |
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HON. BENJAMIN F. SPRIGGS, for
many years a prominent lawyer of Noble County, died at his
residence in Sarahsville, Jan. 17, 1879. He was born
in Washington Count, Pa., in 1828, and in 1844 came with his
parents to Guernsey County. AT the formation of Noble
County in 1851, he lived in that part of Guernsey which was
annexed to the new county. Mr. Spriggs taught
school in early life, studying law in his spare time.
In 1851 he served as deputy clerk of courts in Noble County.
He was also one of the school examiners. He was
admitted to the bar in 1851, and soon rose to prominence in
his profession. Starting as an old-school Democrat, he
soon become a leader in the then Democratic party in the
county. For some years he was editor of the
Democratic Courier, published at Sarahsville. In
1858 he was nominated for Congress, and was defeated by only
a few votes. In 1871, he was nominated for
representative to the legislature, David McGarry
being his opponent. A very spirited campaign ensued,
resulting in a tie vote. A new election being ordered,
Mr. Spriggs was elected by a considerable majority.
He took an active part in local and national politics, and
was one of the most effective and earnest workers for his
party in the county. In 1876 he was a delegate to the
St. Louis convention, which nominated Samuel J. Tilden
for the presidency. During the war he was a member of
the military committee of the county. He was a good
lawyer, quick in debate, and a fluent talker. He was
warm in his friendship, and, though always an earnest
partisan, he retained the respect and good will of his
political adversaries, and was esteemed as a citizen. |
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DAVID S.
SPRIGGS, one of the leading lawyers and prominent
citizens of Noble County, was born in Centerville, Belmont
County, Ohio, January 10, 1835. He passed his boyhood
on a farm, receiving only a good common school education,
which he made useful to himself and others by engaging in
the work of a teacher. He also studied surveying.
While teaching he pursued the study of law in his spare
time, and at the age of twenty-one entered the law office of
his brother, Hon. B. F. Spriggs, of Sarahsville.
He was admitted to the bar in 1859, and from that time until
1866 he was alternately engaged in teaching and the practice
of law, meantime serving three years as school examiner.
In 1866 he removed to Caldwell, where he has since had an
extensive law practice, ranking among the leading
representatives of the profession in this locality. He
served as prosecuting attorney from 1872 to 1876. In
1875 he was a candidate for representative to the
legislature from Noble County. James M. Dalzell,
the Republican nominee, was elected by a majority of five
votes. Mr. Spriggs has at various times been
nominated for other responsible offices, but has been
defeated, his party being greatly in the minority.
Since 1863 he has taken an active interest in politics, and
has been a prominent worker on the Democratic side in
political campaigns. In 1885 he was appointed
postmaster at Caldwell, which position he still holds.
In 1857 he married Nancy Windom, a cousin of Senator
Windom, of Minnesota. She is a native of
Belmont County. Mr. and Mrs. Spriggs have two
sons and one daughter. |
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DR. WILLIAM S.
SPRIGGS, M. D., is among the old and reputable
physicians of Noble County. For nearly a quarter of a
century he has devoted himself to the practice of his
profession in Sarahsville and vicinity. He was born in
Belmont County, Ohio, in 1837. His father, Morris
Spriggs, was one of the early settlers of the county,
and the father of eight children who grew to maturity.
Benjamin F., the
elder, was one of the leading lawyers of the county; John
P. is an attorney of Monroe County;
David S. is a prominent member
of the Noble County bar; J. W. is a lawyer and
a leading citizen of Salem, Oregon; Dr. William the
subject of this notice; Dr. Alfred R., of Illinois;
and Eliza and Sarah R. The
family are a race of teachers, and in early life all
followed that vocation. William S. received a
thorough common-school education, and at the age of twenty
began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. John
Kellar, of Mt. Ephraim, Ohio. Completing his
preparatory course he entered the Starling Medical College.
The following year he began practice at Mt. Ephraim, and in
the comparatively short time was in the possession of a
remunerative business. His attention, however, was
diverted from his professional duties by the stirring scenes
that were then being enacted, and, in company with others,
he recruited Company H, of the One Hudnred and Sixteenth
Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Upon the organization of the
regiment he was elected first lieutenant of this company.
He served under General Milroy in the Valley
campaign; was at the battle of Winchester, and was with the
regiment until 1864, when he resigned his commission,
returned to his home and resumed his practice at Mt.
Ephraim. Shortly after he removed to Sarahsville,
where he has since remained, giving his time wholly to his
professional duties, and it's but just to say that no
physician in the county has attained a more enviable
position in the practice than he, or enjoys a greater degree
of confidence and esteem of the people. While he has
devoted himself assiduously to his practice he has
interested himself in all matters pertaining to Sarahsville,
especially in the advancement of its educational interests.
In political belief he is a Democrat, and while he is not a
politician in the ordinary sense of the term, has identified
himself prominently with local politics. In 1859 the
doctor was married to Miss Matilda Gant. She
died in 1878, and in 1879 he was again married to Miss
Ida Hickle. By the first marriage there were three
children - Edgar, Ethelind and Clement D.; by
the second, Frank, Sadie and Ernest. |
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DR. A. A. STAATS, of
Summerfield, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1838.
He attended school in Sarahsville, and was for a time a
student at Marietta College. In 1864 he enlisted in
the Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until
mustered out July 3, 1865. In 1866 he began the study
of medicine under Dr. R. C. Downey, now of Caldwell.
He attended medical lectures at the Starling Medical College
one term, and in 1868 graduated at the Cincinnati College of
Medicine and Surgery. After a short residence in
Sarahsville, he located at Summerfield in 1869, where he is
still in practice. |
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ROBERT STEPHENSON, M. D., a
prominent practitioner of Centreville, Iowa, was born in
Ohio September16, 1841. He studied medicine with his
father and graduated from the Iowa State University in 1867.
September 17, 1861, he enlisted as a private soldier in
Company D., Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment
made famous by its gallant commander, General
James A. Garfield. He served with credit until his
discharge from the service as first sergeant, September 30,
1864. The following year he removed to Iowa, where he
married Miss Ruth E. Pennington, a native of
West Virginia. The doctor is in possession of an
extensive and lucrative practice, and, although a young man,
has attained an enviable position among the physicians of
the State. In 1883 he was elected to the chair of
demonstrator of anatomy and gynecology, in the College of
Physicians and Surgeons at Des Moines, Iowa. He is now
making a specialty of surgery and gynecology, his practice
taking him to all portions of the State. He is local
surgeon for the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific, and the
Kansas and Missouri Railroads. He is a prominent
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the
Masonic order occupies the position of Captain General of
St. John's Commandery, No. 21. He is a member of the
State Medical Society, also the Des Moines Valley Medical
Association, and the Appanoose County Medical Society.
He takes a deep interest in the welfare of the Grand Army of
the Republic, and is prominently connected with that
organization. In his religious affiliations he is a
Presbyterian. He has four children, Ralph O.,
Robert, Glenn and Bessie B. |
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DR. JESSE M. STONE, a native of
Harrison County, began practicing at Hiramsburg, and prior
to 1848 located in Sharon, where he remained some years.
He afterwards practiced in other parts of the county.
He removed to Tennessee and died there. Dr. St one was
a prominent politician of the Democratic party, and was once
an aspirant for member of Congress from this district.
He was elected associate judge of Morgan County, under the
old constitution, while Sharon was a part of Morgan County.
He was moderately successful as a doctor. |
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DR. REUBEN P. SUMMERS
was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1818. In 1822 he
came to Ohio with his parents. His father was a
prominent farmer in Harrison County, where he died in 1856.
He reared a family of four children. Reuben P.
Summers passed his early life on the farm, receiving a
good common-school education. At the age of twenty he
began the study of medicine under Dr. Enoch Thomas,
of New Athens. On removing to Summerfield he began the
practice of his profession, in which he was highly
successful; but owning to ill-health he abandoned his
practice and began the mercantile business. During the
war he was engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods.
From 1865 to 1871 he was a tobacco merchant. In 1871
he came to Caldwell, and engaged in the boot, shoe and
leather trade which he still follows. He married
Violet A., daughter of Alexander Franklin.
He is the father of five sons and six daughters. He is a
Republican in politics, and in early years was connected
with the Underground Railroad movement. |
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RUSSELL W. SUMMERS, son of Dr. K. P. Summers, was born
near Summerfield in 1854. After receiving an academical
education he began the study of law in the office of Belford
& Okey, and in September, 1878, was admitted to the bar. He
began to practice, in Caldwell, in 1879. He married Miss
Lillie Moore, of Benrock, Noble County. |
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