HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY

CHAPTER XXVIII.

good buildings, all gained by energy and good management, Mr. Blackwood commencing life by working for $10 per month; but by perseverance he has become one of the wealthiest men in the township. He was married Sept. 25, 1842, to Rachel Hill. They have seven children---Harvey L,. Phoebe S., Amanda R., Melissa L,. Lizzie R., Angie R., and Eva A. John Burson is a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, born June 16, 1830. When eight years of age his parents came to Lodi Township, Athens County, where he was reared and educa- ted. Feb. 25, 1855, he married Sarah C. Creamer, of Lodi Town- ship. They are the parents of two children---Mary Dell and Herbert S. In 1859 Mr. Burson opened a general store on rather a limited scale, but by his fair and honorable dealing he has se- cured the confidence of his patrons and now has a large trade, keeping a complete line of the best goods, including dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, and notions. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, being at present Recording Steward, and is one of the substantial citizens of Lodi Township. W. N. Burson, a native of Athens County, was born in Feb- ruary, 1852. He was reared a farmer and remained at home till of age. Jan. 16, 1872, he married H. C. Cather, a daughter of John Cather. In 1877 he opened a general merchandising store at Pratt's Fork, where he has since resided. He has a large stock of dry goods, groceries, boots, and shoes, notions, etc., and com- mands a good country trade. Quincy Cather, born in Lodi Township Athens Co., Ohio, May 10, 1848, is a son of John Cather, an early settler of this township. He was reared on a farm, receiving his education in the common schools. In May 1882, he opened a store of general merchandise, where he now has a large trade from the surrounding county. Nov. 10, 1870, he married Mary Peirce. They have three children---Edie, Emmett and Emily. Lucius Coe, son of Chester and Roxy (Eggleston) Coe was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in December, 1811. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother of Connecticut. When seventeen years of age he was employed as clerk in the grocery store of Nathaniel Eggleston; remained with him four years and then went to New York City, where he was a salesman in a va- riety store several years. In 1841 he came to Ohio and lived on a farm in Vinton County two years; then returned to New York City and remained till 1861, when he came to Lodi Township 799

where he has since resided. He now has a large stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, etc. He was married Sept. 27,. 1865, to Rebecca H. Sanders, a native of Carroll County, Ohio. They have two children---Harriet Jane and George A. Mr. Coe is a member of the Presbyterian church. David Cowan,son of John and Mary (Means) Cowan, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., Oct. 28, 1828. When he was eighteen months old his parents came to Ohio, locating in Guern- sey County, where he was reared and educated. In 1856 he came to Athens County and located on the farm where he still resides. He has 200 acres of well-improved land on section 33, Lodi Town- ship. He was married Jan. 16, 1859, to Mary E., daughter of Jacob Hank, of Lodi. Seven children have been born to them,. five now living---Martha, Eva E., Sarah M., Cora E. and John. Mary and Fannie are deceased. Mr. Cowan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican. Joseph Creamer, deceased, was a native of Somerset County, Penn., born in May, 1805. When eighteen years of age he com- menced to learn the tanner's trade, at which he worked the most of his life. When twenty-three years old he married Mary Mor- rison, also a native of Pennsylvania. They had a family of nine- children---Asbury, Frank I., Norman (deceased), Belinda C. , Sarah L., Mary A., S. M., Ella, Charles L. Mr. Creamer came to Athens County, locating in Lodi Township, in 1838. He held most of the township offices to the satisfaction of his constituents. He was a liberal supporter of the Methodist church, and it was mostly through his efforts that the church at Jerseyville was built. He was also largely instrumental in the building of the Jerseyville seminary. He died May 5, 1877, after a long and useful life. S. M. Creamer is a native of Athens County, Ohio, born Aug. 9, 1843. He received a common-school education, being reared a farmer. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, and served three years and three months. He was in the battles of Stone River, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Pulaski and Chattanooga. He married Hannah McClurg, a native of West- moreland County, Penn. Six children have been born to them--- Norman A., John L., Augustus B., V. May, Lulu B. and an infant. Mr. Creamer has a fine farm of 200 acres, and is extensively en- gaged in raising fine merino sheep. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Creamer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Abner Frost, son of Samuel and Esther Frost, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1821. He received but a limited educa- tion, his early life being mostly spent in helping to clear a tim- bered farm. When he first moved on his present farm it was wild land, but he has brought it under a good state of cultivation and now has one of the finest farms in the township. He has 184 acres, all well improved, with an nice residence, and the largest barn in the township. In June, 1869, he went to Iowa and remained fourteen months, but returned again to his old home. He was married March 18, 1865, to Mary A., daughter of John and Ruth (Cass) Secoy. They have two children---Lucy, born March 30, 1867, and Minnie H., born Aug. 12, 1878. Samuel Frost, deceased, son of Benjamin Frost, of English descent, was born Nov. 14, 1791. He was married Jan. 12, 1812, in Allegany County, N. Y., to Esther Miles, a native of Vermont. They came to Ohio in 1816, first settling in Meigs County. In 1825 they came to Athens County where he lived till his death. They had a family of eight children---Hiram, Miles, William, Abner, Luther, Rosannah, Elizabeth and Eunice. Mr. Frost was killed Dec. 14, 1855, by falling through the hatchway of a steam- boat at Cincinnati. Esther Frost remained with her son Abner until her death, May 7, 1882, she being nearly eighty-six years old. She was born May 22, 1796. Zimri Hoge, born Aug. 15, 1816, was the eldest of eleven chil- dren of John and Mary (Workman) Hoge, of Fayette County, Pa. His early life was spent on the farm and in attending school. When seventeen years of age he commenced to work at the car- penter's trade, following that occupation twenty years. In 1855 he moved on to the farm where he now lives, consisting of 150 acres under a good state of cultivation. He has a fine residence, furnished in accordance with the taste of a refined and cultured fam- 802

ily. He was married March 24, 1842, to Margaret Brill, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio. They have five children---Melissa, Mary, Emeline, Eunice and Rosa. William Howard, born in Holmes County, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1820, a son of Zadock Howard, a native of Greene County, Pa. When seventeen years of age he went to Morgan County and resided there about nine years. He was married April 14, 1840, to Sarah Ann Hutchinson, daughter of Richard Hutchinson. From this union there were six children---Nancy Jane, Fanny, McDonald, William Jasper, Mary Ellen and Sarah Elizabeth. They are all alive but Mary Ellen. He came to Athens County in 1846, and located on the farm where he still resides. He has 262 acres of well-improved land and a good residence. By industry and good management he has gained a comfortable home. His wife died June 30, 1859. He was married to Elizabeth Gaston, Oct. 17, 1861. From this union were two children--Elmer Elsworth and Annie May. Elmer is dead. Hiram L. Hull, son of S. T. Hull, was born in Lodi Township, Athens County, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1848, and was reared and educated in his native township, residing at home until he arrived at man- hood. March 24, 1866, he married Mary E. Smith. Seven children have been born to them, five living---Florence, Samuel, Charles, Lucy and Hattie. Allie and Absalom are deceased. Mr. Hull has a farm of 120 acres, under a good state of cultivation. S. T. Hull, born in Delaware County, N. Y., July 16, 1819, was the youngest of ten children of Samuel and Rachel (Bostick) Hull. When he was four years of age, his parents moved to Ul- ster County, N. Y., where he was reared and educated, living there till he was twenty years of age. In 1839 he came to Athens County, locating in Lodi Township. He was married March 10, 1842, to Maria Witham. Five children were born to them, only four liv- ing---Augusta,. Hiram S., Adaline and Jessie B. Samuel is de- ceased. S. T. Hull enlisted in November, 1861, in Company K, Seventy-third Ohio Infantry. He was in the battles of Cross Keys, Gettysburg, Lookout Valley, Mission Ridge, Chancellorsville, Re- saca and Dallas. At the latter place he was wounded May 27, 1864, losing an arm. He was discharged Aug. 1, 1865, being mustered out as Sergeant. He lived eight years in Washington County, Ohio, and one year in Kansas, then returned to Lodi, where he still re- sides. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace five years. 803

Stephen W. Hull, son of Wakeman and Jane (Stewart) Hull, was born in Meredith, Delaware Co., N. Y., Jan. 13, 1818. May 29, 1836, he started for Athens County with a team, and arrived at Lodi Township, June 19. In 1836 he settled on the farm where he now resides. He has eighty-two acres of land, and a good resi- dence. He has held several township offices, and was Postmaster one month under Buchanan and Lincoln's administrations. He has been married three times: the first time Oct. 19,1839, to Mary P. Masters. They had two children---W. B. and N. N. Aug. 1, 1849, he married Nancy Wilmarth. One child was born to them---Edgar E. Aug. 20, 1874, he married Mary Elizabeth Jennings. They have two children---Nora Ann Elizabeth and Phoebe Lucinda Jane. Mr. Hull is an Elder in the Presbyterian church. George Jeffers, son of ‘Squire William Jeffers, was born in Lodi Township, Oct. 21, 1842. His early life was spent on the farm and in attending school. In August, 1860, he went to Mississippi and remained till the breaking out of the Rebellion. The day after the firing on Fort Sumter he took passage on the steamer West Moreland for the North, having agreed to volunteer in the South- ern army in order to get away. In June, 1863, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry, for six months, but served nine months, being discharged in March, 1864. He returned home and remained on the farm with his father till Aug. 4, 1864, when he again enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Seventy-fourth Ohio, and served eleven months. He was in the Nashville campaign under General Thomas, and participated in many hard-fought battles. He was discharged July 28, 1865, as Sergeant. Mr. Jeffers was married Jan. 18, 1868, to Elizabeth M. Burley, of this township. They have four children ---Florence, Ida M., Mary M. and P. J. Mr. Jeffers owns a farm of 181 acres of well-improved land and is engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising. He is one of the most successful farmers of his age in the township. Politically he is a Republican. George W. Jeffers was born in Carthage Township, Athens Co., Ohio, Jan. 19, 1825. When he was a child his parents moved to Lodi Township. His father died when he was small and he was obliged to rely on his own resources. He never had shoes to wear till he was eight years old. When nine years old he left home and lived with strangers three years. He then returned to live with his mother, and when only twelve years old commenced clearing heavily timbered land for the purpose of setting out an 804

John Kelley, son of J. L. and Joanna Kelley, was born in Meigs County, Ohio, in November, 1824, and came to this township with his parents when an infant. He was married July 28, 1844, to Matilda Price. They have nine children---John L., Ivy, Adaline, Joseph, Joanna, Levi, Harriet, Charles and Effie. Mr. Kelley has served two terms as Justice of the Peace, and as Township Trustee. He is a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Kelly’s grand- mother, Margaret Snowdon, was the first white woman in Athens County. J.L. Kelly, deceased, son of E. and Silence (Edmunds) Kelly, Was born in Cayuga County, N. Y. His father came to Athens County, Ohio, with his family, and was one of the first settlers of Carthage Township. There was a family of four sons and two daughters. J. L. resided at home until nineteen years of age. When twenty-four he was married to Joanna Price, who was born in the block house at Marietta, Ohio. He lived in Meigs County two years, and in 1825 located in Lodi Township. He had a family of eleven children---John, Louisa, Perilla, L. E., Louis, Silence, Lu- cinda (deceased), Jane, Olive, William and Joanna. John L. Kelly, son of John and Martha (Price) Kelly, was born June 18, 1845, in Lodi Township, where he was reared and edu- cated. June 20, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twen- ty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and served a year. He was married Dec. 806

21, 1868, to Lydia Burley, who died leaving one child---Rosa. Dec. 25, 1876, he married Susan Tower. They have three children--- Maud, Lucas and Dessie. Mr. Kelly owns a farm of eighty acres, well improved. John Kincade was born in 1815 in Clarksburg, Pa., a son of Joseph and Sarah Kincade. His parents came to Athens County when he was small, first settling in Guysville. He worked with his father in the mill and on the farm till manhood, then worked three years in the Coolville Mill. He then moved on the farm now called the Chalker farm; lived there a while and then went to Guysville and worked in the mills there three years; the moved one mile above Guysville and built the Kincade Mill, where he lived about thirty years. In 1881 he rented the Shade Valley Mills two years. He now is in Harmony. He was married April 1, 1840, to Harriet Hale. They had four children, only two now living---James Edwin and Justina. Mrs. Kincade died July 22, 1851. Jan. 1, 1852, he married S. E. Kelley. They have had eight children born to them---Mary Irena, John William, Laura A., Charles Ellsworth, Melville, Izetta May, Emma Dell and Edna Matilda. Politically Mr. Kincade is a Democrat. He has been a member of the Baptist church thirty-four years. 807

William Blackstone, M. D., eldest son of John and Jemima Blackstone, came of English-Welsh ancestry. He was born in Botetourt County, Va., May 24, 1796. John Blackstone was a native of Kent County, Md., born March 9, 1772, and Jemima (King) Blackstone was a native of Virginia, born Sept. 19, 1773. When but a few years old William Blackstone was brought by his parents to Pickaway County, Ohio. Remaining there but a short time, the Blackstone's removed to Ross County, where they set- tled and made a farm near Bainbridge. On this farm the early years of William Blackstone were passed. Few indeed were the advantages offered the youth for obtaining an education, but young William's innate thirst for learning conquered adversity, and when he arrived at an age when he began teaching he was the most thor- ugh scholar of any teacher in the pioneer schools of Southern Ohio. His first teacher was White Morgan, who taught in a log school-house in the Demitts Bottom, some two miles from the Blackstone cabin. When William had arrived at the age of about twenty-four his literary attainments and exemplary habits attracted the notice and admiration of Dr. Benjamin Doddridge, of Bain- bridge, Ohio, himself a classical scholar, who taught him Greek and Latin and gave him a very fair education in the classics. During this time he also read medicine with Dr. Doddridge, from whom he obtained sufficient knowledge of the science of medicine to engage in the practice. Having received an offer from Dr. Luckey, of Circleville, Ohio, he went to that place and formed a partnership with him. He continued with Dr. Luckey about a year when he removed to Bloomingburg, Fayette County, and began the practice of medicine alone. About one year later he attended a course of lectures at Transylvania Medical College, at Louisville, On his return from Louisville he stopped at Bain- bridge, Ohio, to participate in that most important and happy event in any man's life, his own marriage, On the 28th day of April, 1824, he was united in marriage with Julia M. Doddridge, eldest daughter of Benjamin and Sophia Doddridge, of Bainbridge, Ohio. She was born in Brook County, Va., Nov. 16, 1806. Her father, Dr. Doddridge, was a fine classical scholar, and graduate of Yale College. He came to Ohio as early as 1810, and was widely known and highly esteemed as an able physician and schol- arly gentleman. Ohio at so early a period in its settlement as 1810 contained few such men of letters and polished physicians as Benjamin Doddridge, After their marriage Doctor and Mrs. 811

Blackstone went direct to Bloomingburg where the Doctor resumed the practice of medicine. About two years later they removed to Clarksville, Ohio; from there they removed to Piketon, Pike County, thence to Richmondale, Ross County; from there they went to the then new town of Waverly. In none of these places did they remain but two or three years at most, the Doctor all the time con- tinuing the practice of medicine. During their stay at Waverly the Doctor attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he graduated with honors in 1834. In 1839 Dr. Blackstone came to Athens, fresh from his graduation at Cincinnati, and being a fine literary scholar and learned in medicine he took rank at once among the very best physicians in all the Hocking Valley region. Of the eight children resulting from the union of Will- iam Blackstone and Julia Doddridge, but two survive---Doctor Benjamin Doddridge Blackstone, a practicing physician of Mar- tinsville, Ind., and Doctor John King Blackstone, practicing at Hebron, Ind. The deceased were Julia M., wife of Dr. W. P. Johnson, of the Surgical Institute at Indianapolis, Ind.; Adaline O., died in infancy; William, Sophia Adela, Elizabeth Lillian and William Victor. In the pure moral life of Dr. Blackstone there is much to admire, much that is worthy of emulation. His profes- sional life extended over about a half century, and during all these years of devotion to his profession he practiced medicine, not for the attainment of mercenary ends, but for the relief of suffering humanity. A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Ath- ens, he was ever willing to lend his name or his influence to every moral enterprise. Doctor Blackstone died suddenly in his office at Athens, March 17, 1879. Mrs. Blackstone resides in her own quiet home in Athens, in the enjoyment of many devoted friends. She is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which she is an earnest, enthusiastic worker for the advancement of every worthy Chris- tian enterprise. 812

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