Hocking County, Ohio Biographies

Biographies of Hocking County Residents

SAMUEL RIGGS, son of Noah and Nancy (Shepler) Riggs, was born in Washington County, Pa., May 22, 1828. When an infant his parents removed to West Virginia, and lived near Wheeling till he was seventeen years of age. In 1845 they located in Guernsey County, Ohio, where they lived nine years, when they moved to Hocking County, where they resided till their death. Our subject was married on Dec. 25, 1856, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Samuel Johnston, one of the first settlers of Hocking County. They have ten children - William J., married to Laura Wright, and residing on a part of the farm; Charles W., Elizabeth, Mary J., Orlando A., Louisa B., George W., Samuel G., Noah F. and Ethel M. After marriage Mr. Riggs moved to his farm in Washington Township, where he resided for twenty years. In 1876, he purchased his present residence adjoining his farm. In his business career he has been very successful, having begun life without anything, but by his industry and careful management he has at present an excellent farm of 567 acres. He has been connected with the Methodist church for twenty-two years, being at present a member of Mount Pleasant church. Politically he is a Republican, having always been a strong supporter of that party. Mr. Noah Riggs is a native of Washington County. He died in 1871. His wife, Nancy (Shepler) Riggs, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., died in 1862. They reared a family of eight children, two sons and six daughters, our subject being the fourth child.

From: History of Hocking Valley Ohio pp. 1084-1085, pub. 1883

Contributed by: Jane Shute

ISAAC MATHIAS, breeder and dealer in short horn cattle and chester white hogs, Enterprise, Hocking Co., Ohio, eldest son of Abraham and Christina (Zeller) Mathias, was born in Falls Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1827. He lived with his parents till manhood, receiving a common-school education. At the age of twenty-two years he purchased the farm first settled and cleared by his grandfather, Jacob Zeller, who settled on the land in 1805. On this farm is an apple-tree of the Penick variety transplanted in 1808, which measures ten feet in circumference five feet from the ground; a pear-tree planted at the same time now measures six feet seven inches in circumference five from ground. These trees are regular bearers of fine fruit at the present time. In April, 1850, Mr. Mathias removed to the farm where he now resides. He also owns other lands in this township. In April, 1850, he married Margaret A., daughter of John and Mary (Havener) Lanham, of Falls Township. They have five children - Lewis A., a physician; William P., a school teacher and member of the Board of County School Examiners; Sarah E., Joel B. and Edward S. at home. Mary E. died at the age of twenty-six years; Amos L., in his second year, and a son and daughter died in infancy. Mrs. Mathias died Jan. 6, 1878, in her fiftieth year. She was a member of the United Brethren church. April 27, 1882, he married Mrs. Martha Amerine, widow of Joseph Amerine and daughter of Jacob and Martha (Kelley) Reddick, of Washington Township. Mr. and Mrs. Mathias are members of the United
Brethren church.

From: History of Hocking Valley Ohio pp. 969, pub. 1883

Contributed by: Jane Shute

EGGLESTON, HON. BENJAMIN, Merchant, Legislator and Newspaper Proprietor, was born at Corinth, Saratoga county, New York, January 3d, 1816. He grew up and was educated in that historic locality, but in 1831 his parents removed to Hocking county, Ohio, where he engaged in commercial pursuits, and was connected for some years with the business of the Ohio Canal, then the sole means of transportation from the Ohio river to the great Lakes. He removed to Cincinnati in 1845, and associated with James Wilson, a leading merchant of that city. The firm of James Wilson & Co. continued their successful career until the death of James Wilson in 1867, when he was succeeded by his sons, and the style of the firm was changed to Wilson, Eggleston & Co., which still holds the prestige and reputation it has so long sustained. He has been identified with nearly every measure for the promotion of the public weal, during the twenty-five years of residence in the Queen City, and has been the recipient of unusual marks of esteem from hi fellow-citizens. Among other positions of trust and honor, he has been Chairman of the Board of Public Improvements, Chairman of the Finance committee, President of Council, State Senator, and Representative in Congress. The coal famine of 1857 occurred during his term as Chairman of the Finance Committee, and with his usual humanity and energy he proceeded to secure an appropriation of $100,000 to relieve the distressed, which he obtained despite the most determined opposition of interested parties, and reduced the price of coal from eighty cents to twenty-five cents per bushel. In 1863 there occurred a repetition of this circumstance, and again our subject became the champion of the oppressed, and secured a like appropriation, thus averting the threatened calamity. Again during the prostration of all branches of industry incident to the outbreak of the war of rebellion, when the families of men who had gone forth in response to their country's call were left dependent upon those who remained at home, he devoted himself assiduously to the succor of these women and hapless innocents from their impending peril, and having secured an appropriation of $100,000 from Council, he was privileged to disburse to some 3700 families the means to preserve them from actual want until employment could be obtained. During his official term in the Senate, a bill was presented in January, 1862, levying a tax of three-quarters of a mill for the relief of the families of Ohio volunteers. Opposition was made, and in the warm discussion which followed he took a leading part, and urged its passage in his usual eloquent and forcible style, winning high encomiums from the loyal press for his unflinching patriotism. It was due to his efforts, too, that the Legislature ceded to Cincinnati that portion of the canal extending from Broadway to the Ohio river, and City Council appropriately recognized this service by unanimously naming it Eggleston avenue, in accordance with a suggestion coming from the Legislature. In 1864 his name was brought before the Republican Convention of the First District for the Congressional nomination, as the competitor of the late Hon. Salmon P. Chase, and, having been nominated, defeated his Democratic opponent, Hon. George E. Pugh, by over 3000 majority, though the district had been considered Democratic. Being unanimously renominated in 1866, he was triumphantly re-elected over Hon. George H. Pendleton. His career in Congress was characterized by the same fearless ability which he had exhibited in the discharge of his other official duties. He drew and obtained the passage of the bill making Cincinnati a port of entry, and secure the first national appropriation for the enlargement of the Louisville Canal. During the impeachment of Andrew Johnson he stood firmly by his conviction of right and justice, and throughout his career was the arduous supporter of measures to secure the back pay of soldiers and the pensions of the widows and orphans of those who had sacrificed their lives for the preservation of the Union. He was renominated by the Republicans in 1868, and though his Democratic opponent, Gen. Peter W. Strader, bore off the palm of victory, he did no cease his efforts for the promotion of the interests of his former constituency, and by his influence at Washington prevented the obstruction of navigation on the Ohio by the erection of a low bridge, the company being required to build it one hundred feet above low water mark. He was largely interested in the Cincinnati Chronicle, previous to its purchase of the Cincinnati Times in 1872, and consequently became a heavy stockholder in the Times Company, of which he was elected President on its organization. He was re-elected to the Board of Councilmen in 1875, and is one of the most active members of the Chamber of Commerce, being one of its representatives to the National Board of Trade. He is still engaged in active business, where his sterling worth and integrity have won for him the unqualified esteem of his business associates. His intercourse with his fellow-men is characterized by that frank and generous manner that leaves no doubt in the minds of any as to his real feelings and motives. He was married in 1837 to L. M. Wagar, of Cleveland, Ohio, who deceased in 1864, leaving him two children. In April, 1867, he married Mary E., daughter of the late John H. Davis, of Cincinnati, and this union has been sealed by the birth of four children.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century, published 1876, Galaxy Publishing Co., Cincinnati & Philadelphia, pp. 77-78

Contributed by: Stacy Whitney

Jeremiah Iles, farmer and minister of Falls Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, sixth son of John and Elizabeth (Saunders) Iles, was born in Falls Township, Nov. 25, 1828, and lived with his parents until manhood, working on his father's farm and receiving a common-school education. His mother was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1794, and his father in Rockingham County, VA., in 1784. His mother moved with her parents to Hocking County and his father to Licking County, Ohio, among the first settlers, and about the year 1811 were joined in marriage and settled on a portion of uncultivated timber land along the Hocking Valley, three miles west of Logan; consequently they toiled hard in clearing off the land and endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life and became acquainted with the ways and doings of the red man; they were both favored with more than ordinary strength and ability to undergo these difficulties. They became members of the church at an early day, when services were held in cabin houses, and remained members till death. As the fruit of their marriage there were born unto them twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, four of whom (three sons and one daughter) are still living. Jeremiah remained with his parents until their death; his mother died Oct. 19, 1844, aged fifty years and thirteen days; his father died Nov. 16, 1851, aged sixty-seven years, nine months and eleven days. Their remains are sleeping in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Marion Township, Hocking Co., Ohio. He then at the age of twenty-two years, began farming for himself, having inherited a portion of his father's farm. At the age of twenty-three years he joined the United Brethren church at Pleasant Hill chapel, and soon thereafter was licensed to preach, and in the year 1857 was appointed by the United Brethren Conference to Pickaway Circuit of Pickaway County, and the following year was appointed to a traveled the Gibisonville Circuit. He then traveled six months for his health through portions of New York, Canada, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri, and through the then unsurveyed portions of Kansas on foot. After his return home he was engaged in local ministerial work and farming until 1863. He was then appointed to the Portland Circuit in Meigs County, and preached eight months. His health having failed he returned to his farm and has been engaged in local ministerial work, farming and wool growing to the present time. March 30, 1880, he married Miss Lida, daughter of George W. and Mariah J. (Eaton) Gray, near Circleville, Ohio, who is also a member of the United Brethren church. In 1804 Mr. Iles's grandfather, Peter Saunders, first settled on the farm now owned by Wm. Westenhaver, including the present site of the fire-brick works, gas works, warehouse and furniture factory of Logan. Peter Saunders died April 5, 1834, in the seventy-first year of his age, and his wife, Elizabeth Saunders, died Jan. 19, 1831, in the fifty-ninth year of her age. They had two children - Elizabeth and Nancy. Their remains now rest in the cemetery at Logan. His grandfather, Henry Iles, was born and reared in England, and in the Revolutionary War was compelled to fight in favor of the British Government, and was taken as a prisoner of war in New York. Not being in sympathy with the British in opposing the liberty of the American people, and through his kindness to the guards of the prison he obtained their good will, and was thereby enabled to make his escape and went on foot to Rockingham County, Va. He married Miss Mary M. Stine, of Reading, Pa.; as the fruit of their marriage there were born unto them ten children, eight sons and two daughters. About the year 1802 they moved to Licking County, Ohio. His occupation was that of tailoring. He died Jan. 14, 1814, in the fifty-sixth year of his age, His wife, Mary M. (Stine) Iles, was born in Reading, Pa., and died Feb. 14, 1832, in the sixty-ninth year of her age. Their remains rest in the cemetery in Bennington Township, Licking Co., Ohio.

From: History of Hocking Valley, pp. 960, pub. 1883

Contributed by Dwight Iles

GEORGE AMERINE

George Amerine, born in Belmont County, Ohio, July 11, 1820, is the son of Peter and Nancy (McConett) Amerine, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1833 his parents moved to Perry County, Ohio, and in 1845 he came to Hocking where, with exception of six years,he has since resided. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the county schools, paying his own tuition. The first farm he bought was in Vinton County, at that time part of Hocking, but little more than a wilderness. In 1855 he sold that farm and bought the one then known as the Adams Brown farm. He has always been a hard-working man, and by his good management has now a fine farm of 180 acres. He has had eight children born to him, two of whom are dead. Three are married and are making for themselves good homes. Mr. Amerine has been a member of the Methodist church since nineteen years of age.

ELI J. DENNIS

Eli J. Dennis, son of Elias and Matilda (Walters) Dennis, was born Feb. 23, 1834, in Perry County, Ohio. When he was six months old his parents came to Hocking County, where he was reared and educated. June 6, 1858, he married Mary M. Poling, daughter of Abraham Poling. After his marriage he rented land for three years, and then took a lease for some land of Simon Deaver, remaining on it for nine years. In March, 1870, be bought eighty acres in Benton Township, which he has brought to a good state of cultivation. Besides being a farmer he is by trade a stone-mason, and is one of the best inthe county. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis have had fourteen children, twelve of whom are living - Mary C., Allie A., David, Barbary, Vance, Cynthia, George, Jacob, Denona, Effie, Henry and James H. One son, Vance has had the spinal meningitis twice, and is now a cripple, probably for life.

From History of Hocking Valley 1883, pg 1094

Contributed by Dolly L. VanMeter Rardain

Hocking County, OHGenWeb Project