GOSHEN TOWNSHIP
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO
“History of the Upper Ohio Valley” Vol. II, 1890.
Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.
Pages 513-514.
JOHN W. BENTLY, a prosperous farmer of Union township, Belmont county, is a
descendant of one of the pioneer families of the valley. His grandfather
was one of the early settlers in West Virginia. His father, William, and
mother, Martha Bently, were residents of Ohio county, W. Va., where John W.
was born February 19, 1827, and when he was twelve years of age they
removed to Belmont county, where William Bently purchased 185 acres of
land. The father died in 1870, and the mother in 1884. They had five
children who are living: Mary, wife of John G. McConnell, of Muskingum
county; Solomon, who married Emily Smith, and now resides in Union
township; William, who married Mary Evans, of Marshall county, W. Va., and
lives near Barnesville; John W. and Thomas, who married Elizabeth Mitchell,
of Richland township. John W. was reared as a farmer, and is now the owner
of the homestead. A part of the house he occupies was built in 1815, and is
in a good state of preservation. He has been an industrious and hard working
man, and has the esteem and good words of all. He was married in 1874 to
Martha A. Gatts, of Moundsville, W. Va., who was born in 1837, of parents
who were natives of Virginia. By this union he has two children, Cora M.
and John H.
Pages 514-515.
ROBERT W. BONE, ex-soldier of the republic, and a worthy citizen of Goshen
township, Belmont county, is a son of Benjamin Bone, who was born in
Hampshire county, England, in 1814. In 1830, the latter came to America,
shipping at Portsmouth on a sailing vessel, and making a trip of six weeks
to New York. From there he proceeded to Deersville, Harrison county, Ohio,
and he subsequently learned the shoemaker’s trade at Cadiz, where he lived
four years. He then settled at Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson county, and became
foreman of the shop of John Hog. There he was married, in 1837, to Leonora
Evans, whose parents, of Welsh descent, came from Virginia, in 1814.
Benjamin Bone finally went into business with Livermore & Spencer, and at
the end of two years opened a shop of his own, in 1852, and managed the
same until his death, December 1, 1877. There were eleven children in his
family, all of whom are living; except Hannah, deceased, viz.: Sarah A.,
Josephine, Robert W., Pinkney, Benjamin F., Alfred E., Nora, Belle, William
H., Mary. Robert W. learned the trade of his father, but at the breaking
out of the rebellion he entered the Union service, first on the receiving
ship “Clara Dolson,” and afterward was on the gun-boat “Tuscumbia,” participating
in the running of the batteries at Vicksburg, and battle of Grand Gulf.
In January, 1864, he re-enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio
volunteer infantry, one of the finest regiments the state sent out, and
took part in the battles of Buzzard Roost, or Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca,
Dallas, New Hope Church, Atlanta, Eutaw Creek. He was then in the Hood
campaign, at the battles of Columbia, five days’ continual fighting,
Franklin and Nashville, and then followed Hood to the Tennessee river, took
a boat and came to Cincinnati, whence he went to Alexandria, and by ship to
Fort Fisher, where he participated in the capture of Fort Anderson, after
which he was in the battle of Old Town Creek, and at Wilmington, where his
division captured an entire brigade of confederates. He then joined in the
movement for the relief of Gen Cox, at Rinston, and then at Goldsborough
united with Gen. Sherman, whence they proceeded to Raleigh, and from there
the One Hundred and Fourth regiment moved to Greensborough, and was at
Johnston’s surrender. He was then transferred as mail messenger to the
One Hundred and Eighty-third regiment. On July 17, 1865, he was mustered
out at Salisbury, N. C., and discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, after which
he returned to Mt. Pleasant and worked at his trade eleven months. In
July, 1866, he enlisted in the regular army, and served twenty-five months.
In 1867 he had command of a squad of men who went to Texas and brought the
remains of Gen. Griffin, and Lieut. Griffin, his son, and Col. Taylor, who
died of yellow fever, to New York. In August, 1868, he was discharged for
disability and came to Belmont county, where he has since resided. He was
married, in 1871, to Huldah Dunn, by whom he has five children: Mary L.,
Nettie M., Frank L., Harry L. and Clara. Mr. Bone is a member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, of the Masonic order, and of Robert Hilles,
A. R., post No. 220, at Barnesville.
Page 515.
JAMES A. BURSON, a prominent farmer of Goshen township, Belmont county,
was born in the same township August 9, 1844. He is the son of Cyrus
Burson, who was born in Loudon county, Va., in 1818. He came to this
county in 1838 and located on section 16, where he lived seven years,
then going to his native place, but in 1859, again making his residence
in Belmont county. He was married to Ann C. Ecton, of Maryland, and they
had eight children: John W., who married Nellie Davis, of Richmond, Va.,
and is a government clerk at Washington; Mary E., wife of John Dunn, of
Warren county, Iowa; Hampton C., of Warren county, Iowa; Margaret T.,
widow of Samuel Wright, of Iowa; Fannie, wife of Berry Hammontree, a
railroad superintendent living at Des Moines, Iowa; Howard, living with
his parents. James A., the subject of this sketch, was married to Martha
Jane Stewart, who was born August 4, 1843, daughter of William and Sarah
(Evans) Stewart. In 1862 he enlisted in Capt. Charlesworth’s company of
the Twenty-fifth Ohio regiment, and served three years. He was in the
battles of Bull Pasture, Cross Keys, Rapidan River, Second Bull Run,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, etc. At Bull Run he was taken prisoner,
and was confined two months in Libby prison and five and a half months
at Belle Isle. At the latter prison he was lost to the search of his
parents, but a brother, John, who was in the confederate army, found
him in an almost naked condition, and assisted him to the Union lines.
He was discharged at Hilton Heads in 1865. He was one of the last 500
men exchanged during the rebellion. Returning home he was engaged in
farming, an occupation in which he has prospered, and now has a comfort-
able home. He and wife are members of Christ’s church, in which he is
an elder. They have three children: Harry C.; Hattie S., wife of William
McKelsey, and Frank H.
Page 515.
SAMUEL DUNN – One of the prominent early settlers of Belmont county was
Samuel Dunn, who was born February 15, 1805, in Maryland. After coming to
Belmont county he took a contract on the construction of the National pike,
and after the completion of his work contracted for the supply of material
for the repair of the road, and was overseer of a gang of men until 1850.
He then settled in Goshen township, and purchased a farm of 108 acres two
miles south of Belmont, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying
in 1857. He married Catherine Vail and they had seven children: Nancy,
wife of John W. Fields, a large farmer of Logan County, Kas.; Mary, wife
of Joseph Henderson, of West Virginia; Jemima, deceased; Samuel, deceased;
Huldah, wife of Robert W. Bone; Taylor, deceased; and Stephen. Stephen Dunn
is now one of the prominent citizens of Goshen township. He was born in
Union township, November 4, 1838, and was reared as a farmer, which is his
present occupation. During the war he engaged in buying horses for the
government, and afterward he was occupied for eighteen years in shipping
stock and in the meat trade. He then bought his farm of forty-five acres
and has added to it until he now has a well-improved property of 120 acres.
He was married to Louisa Jane Hedges, who was born October 15, 1840, the
daughter of Darius Hedges, and his wife, Harriet Casey. Mr. Dunn has seven
children living: Charles, who married Estella Graham; Etta, wife of Jesse
Ramsey; Harry, a jeweler of Wheeling; Archie, Alva, Daisy and Olive. Mrs.
Dunn died March 16, 1885. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church,
of which he has been steward, classleader and exhorter, and is now district
class-leader, and has been an Odd Fellow since 1864, and has passed the
chairs of Belmont lodge, No. 277.
Page 516.
JEREMIAH FIELD, a venerable citizen of Belmont, Belmont county, Ohio, was
born in Lancaster county, Penn., May 19, 1818. He is the son of Vincent
Field, who was born in the same county, August 20, 1788, of Irish and
German descent. Jeremiah Field was reared in Lancaster county until he was
eighteen years of age, and then in company with his father, his mother
having died several years previous, he came to Ohio in the fall of 1837.
They came first to Belmont county, but subsequently removed to Guernsey
county, where the father purchased a tract of 100 acres of wild land. After
living there six years he sold that, and bought eighty acres partially
improved in Belmont county. In later years he kept hotel in Belmont at
about the time that the Baltimore & Ohio road was extended through the
county. Two other children were born to Jeremiah Field’s parents, a
brother and sister, now deceased. He also has a half-brother, now a farmer
and stock-raiser in Kansas. On February 2, 1841, Mr. Field was married to
Mary Bush, of Harrison county, who was born December 11, 1818, and eight
children were born to them, six of whom are living: Cassandra, Christina,
Sarah E., Caroline A., Isaiah A., William B., all of whom are residents of
Belmont. Mr. Field’s first occupation in youth was as an apprentice to a
carpenter for three years, and he subsequently followed that trade six year,
afterward engaging in farming until his health failed, since when he has
led a retired life.
Pages 516-517.
JOSEPH L. HEED, a native of Belmont county, born August 14, 1845, is now
one of the successful farmers of that district, having his residence in
Goshen township. His grandfather, Jonathan Heed, of English descent,
emigrated to Belmont county from Pennsylvania in an early day. His son,
Thornton, father of the subject of this mention, was a prominent farmer
and stock dealer. He married Mary Ann Irwin, of Monroe county, Ohio, who
was of Irish descent, and they have had five children. One of these,
Jonathan, was a volunteer in the Forty-third Ohio volunteers, and was
taken sick at Pulaski, Tenn., and there died. The father of these
children died in 1856. Joseph L. Heed received a common school education
in his youth, and was for a time engaged in teaching. His life occupation,
however, has been farming, in which he has done well, having now a good
farm of over eighty-two acres in good condition and a comfortable home.
He is a worthy member of the Odd Fellows, and has passed the chairs in
his lodge. He is, in politics, a republican, and he has held some of the
township offices. Mr. Heed was married to Eliza Jane Porterfield, of
Belmont county, whose parents still live in the county, and by this union
he has five children: Dora M., Anna M., Charles C., Albert L., Royal.
Mrs. Heed is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Page 517.
NATHAN HUMPHREY, a highly esteemed citizen of Goshen township, Belmont
county, was born in Union township, that county, April 8, 1836. He is the
son of William Humphrey, of English descent, and his wife, Eliza Jones,
who died when her son Nathan was a small boy. The father is still living
upon a farm near Barnesville. These parents had seven children: James of
this county, Robert, Love, Eliza Jane, wife of Mr. Snellen, the last three
residents of Iowa; John and Nathan. Nathan engaged in farming in his youth,
and when the war broke out he became a volunteer in Company E, Ninety-eighth
regiment of Ohio volunteers, under Capt. Cordner and Col. Webster. He was
wounded at Perrysville, Ky., and after lying in the hospital five weeks,
was honorably discharged in the fall of 1862. He lost his arm in his
country’s cause, and receives a pension of $45 per month. On his return
home he engaged in farming and now owns a pleasant place of fifty-six acres,
well improved, with a good residence. He and family are members of the
Christian church, and he is in politics a strong republican. Mr. Humphrey
was first married to Ruth Palmer, of Monroe county, Ohio, by whom he had
four children: Chatwood, George, William and Herman. His present wife is
Sarah Jane Jump, daughter of early settlers of the county, and by his
marriage he has these children: Laura, Alice, Sarah E. and Nettie.
Pages 517-518.
THOMAS B. JACKSON, a prominent citizen of Belmont, Belmont county, Ohio,
and a gallant ex-soldier, was born at Centreville, Belmont county, August
9, 1836. He is the oldest son of John Jackson, who was born in Washington
county, Penn., in 1809, and brought by his parents to Ohio when eleven
years of age. He followed the trade of cabinet-maker at Centerville until
his death, October 21, 1876. By his wife, Rosanna Pierce, of Williamsport,
Penn., he had five children: Thomas B., Malvina, Geraldine, Mary, Vashti
and John McM. The mother died August 28, 1852. Thomas B. enlisted at the
age of twenty-five years in Company F, Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer
infantry, October 25, 1861, under Capt. Amos Glover and Col. Moses R.
Dickey, and served honorably four years and one month. He was with his
regiment in twenty battles, and was under fire five times as often. He
participated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth, Stone River,
where he was captured December 31, 1861, and confined in Libby prison
twenty-one days. On being paroled and sent to Annapolis, he and John
Piper and Lafayette Hess marched 200 miles over the mountains, took train
and reached home in February, 1863, surprising those who had thought him
killed at Stone River. Being exchanged he reported for duty joined his
command in June, and was in the battle of Liberty Gap, Tenn., June 25, 1863,
where his company lost ten killed and wounded and he was commended for
bravery by his captain. He was at the battle of Chickamauga, and with his
comrades withstood the terrible night charge of September 19, 1863. He was
in Chattanooga during the siege, took part in the battle of Orchard Knob,
was on the skirmish line in the battle of Mission Ridge, and was one of
the first two men to reach the rebels’ main works on the summit. He was
next at Knoxville, Tenn., then at Strawberry Plains, where he re-enlisted
as a veteran. After his furlough of thirty days, he returned to participate
in the Atlanta campaign, and was in the memorable fights of Rocky Face
Ridge, May 5-9, 1864; Resaca, May 12-16; Cassville, May 19-22; Pickett’s
Mills, May 27; the almost incessant battle at Kenesaw Mountain from June
9 to 30; Peachtree Creek, July 20, Atlanta, July 22; Lovejoy Station,
September 2-6; Franklin, Tenn., November 30; Nashville, December 15-16.
He then went with his command to San Antonio, Texas. In route he camped
on Jackson’s old battle ground below New Orleans, went by way of the
Gulf to Indianola, and marched the night of July 10, 1865, to Green Lake,
during which movement hundreds of men died for want of water. He was dis-
charged at San Antonio, Texas, November 21, 1865, was paid off at Columbus,
and arrived at home December 31, broken down in health. He determined to
qualify himself for teaching, and took a commercial course at Lebanon,
Ohio, receiving his diploma from A, Holbrook. He taught school some fifteen
years in West Virginia and Ohio, and being a good mechanic, devoted much
of his leisure time to cabinet making and carpentry. Being active in
politics as a republican he received, in 1883, the republican nomination
for auditor of Belmont county, but was defeated with the state ticket and
much of the county ticket, on account of a prohibition amendment to the
constitution being advocated by the party. Mr. Jackson subsequently engaged
in office work, book-keeping and insurance, and on June 25, 1889, took
out a patent on a fire place heater of his own invention, intended to
secure the advantages of a hot air furnace capable of heating several
rooms from an ordinary grate. Mr. Jackson is a member of the G. A. R.
post at Barnesville. He was married October 11, 1871, to Henrietta E.
Fletcher, and they have had two children: Florence W., and Clarence W.
Mrs. Jackson and son are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Pages 518-519.
JOHN LINDER, a respected resident of Belmont, was born in Muskingum
county, Ohio, January 28, 1820, the son of George and Margaret
(Shepherd) Linder, early settlers of that county. His father was born
in Westmoreland county, Penn., in 1788, and came to Muskingum county
in 1812. He and his brother James each bought 320 acres of land, and
about three years later, George Linder was married and made his home
in a little log cabin in which the subject of this mention was born.
The father lived there several years and then removed to Guernsey
county, in 1832, whence in 1836, he came to Goshen township. Belmont
county (where he resided ten years, and then removed to Richland
township, Belmont county), where he bought a farm of 182 acres, and
resided there until his death, in 1873. His wife died some years
before, being then in her seventy-fourth year. They had eight
children, of whom three are living: Artemisia, who married Benjamin
Watkins, of Guernsey county, and now resides on the homestead in
Richland township; Kesiah, who lives with the latter; and Jacob.
Jacob was married in 1868, to Rosanna Egy, who was born in this
county in 1834, of parents who immigrated from Pennsylvania, and they
have one daughter, Mary. Jacob Linder began his career by teaching
school, and two years later, began clerking in a general store at
St. Clairsville, and remained there fifteen years, after which, he
dealt in stock for several years, and then in 1869, bought a farm, on
which he resided four years. He then removed to Belmont, but in 1885,
bought his present farm of eighty acres, upon which he has a pleasant
and comfortable home. He also owns property in Belmont, where he still
resides. His wife and daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal
church.
Page 519.
CLARK H. MAYHEW, a prominent citizen of Belmont, Belmont county, was
born in Smith township, of that county, February 19, 1830. He is the
son of Amos Mayhew, who was born at Winchester, Va., August 4, 1793,
and was there married to Lorinda Hall, the mother of the subject of
this mention. In 1822 they removed to Belmont county, and took part
in the pioneer life there. The father, who was of English descent,
was a shoemaker by trade. During the war of 1812 he served in the
army of his country, and was stationed at Baltimore at the time of
the death of the English general, Ross. His wife, a native of
Dartsville, W. Va., was a member of the Society of Friends in early
life, but after marriage joined the Methodist Protestant church.
Clark B. Mayhew, son of the above, was reared and educated in Belmont
county, where he has always made his home. By trade he is a shoemaker,
and of well-known skill in that calling. He was formerly a member of
the Odd Fellows. In politics he is a prohibitionist, having previously
been independent in his party action. His life is without reproach and
he is highly respected. On December 30, 1862, he was married to Jennie
Adams, of Wheeling, W. Va., and they have two children, Harry and
Virgil, both of whom are engaged in cigar making.
Pages 519-520.
WILLIAM NICHOLS, a native of Loudon county, Va., now a retired farmer
and prominent citizen of Belmont, was born in the year 1814, the son
of Isaiah Nichols. The latter a native of the same county, started
in 1825 with his family for Belmont county, but died on the way at
the foot of the Allegheny mountains. Their money was kept in a
bandbox in the wagon, but was all lost at the time of his death. The
family then returned to their home, and two years later the children
were brought by the mother, Sarah (Hollingsworth) Nichols, to Belmont
county, where she bought a farm of thirty acres, with a log cabin and
barn. In this family there was one daughter and three sons, of whom
but one other than William survives, viz., Isaiah, who lives on the
homestead. William Nichols was reared on the farm, and in 1840,
was married to Elizabeth Dillon, who was born in December, 1821.
Her parents also came from Loudon county, Va. Mr. Nichols began married
life as a farmer on rented land, and then bought a farm of fifty-six
acres, which he sold in 1882 and came to Belmont and purchased a home
which he has since occupied. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church, and is highly esteemed. He has one child, Minerva D., wife of
Oliver Wright, by whom she has two daughters.
Page 520.
JAMES V. STILLWELL, postmaster at Pleasant Grove, Belmont county, and
for many years a merchant at that place, was born in this county,
February 20, 1824. He is the son of Elias Stillwell, who came to Belmont
from Hancock county, Md., in the early part of this century, and
settled near the place now known as Kidd’s Station. Here, twelve years
after the birth of his son James, Elias Stillwell died, and left his
wife and family dependent, in great part, upon the exertions of his
twelve-year-old son. His early years were consequently actively employed,
although he found time to obtain a common school education. In 1850 he
opened a store at Pleasant Grove, and he has there ever since continued
in business, having occupied the same building since 1858. He has been
prominent in township affairs, having served as township trustee, and
has filled the positions of school director and commissioner of the
Bridgeport free turnpike. He is now acceptably discharging the duties
of postmaster at Pleasant Grove. He is a republican in politics, and is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Stillwell was married
May 4, 1848, to Mary, daughter of James McAvoy, then a farmer of Colerain
township. Eight children have been born to this union, one of whom is
deceased. One daughter is the wife of a prominent farmer of Colerain
township, another resides in the state of Washington. John is a wealthy
commission merchant and mine owner in Denver, Col. Elias is a merchant
at Peublo, and Henry is also in the west.
Pages 520-521.
BENJAMIN WHITE, a venerable resident of Belmont, Belmont county, is one
of the few worthy pioneers living who have witnessed the wonderful
development of the country during the present century. He was born in
Pennsylvania (Fayette county), April 7, 1806, the eldest son of John
White. The latter, who was of Irish ancestry, died when his son was
four years old. His wife was Mary Minton, who came with her parents
from Sweden in an early day. They had two children besides Benjamin,
viz.: John, a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, and William V., a black-
smith by trade, who lives in Washington county, Iowa. Benjamin White
began working in childhood on a farm, and at sixteen years of age was
apprenticed to a tanner for four years. Subsequently he carried on his
employer’s business four years and then engaged in the business on his
own account, though with little capital, and is now carrying on the
tannery business for his son at the age of eighty-four years. He is a
member of the Christian church, of which he has been an elder for many
years. He has been thrice married; first to Rebecca Sidwell, by whom
he had four children, of whom two are living, Rebecca and John. The
second wife was Margaret E. Phipps, of Smithfield, by whom the following
children are living: Lydia A., John, Regina, Albert, William and Benjamin.
His present wife is Elizabeth Stonebraker. William H. White, son of the
above, was born in Belmont county, September 6, 1841. In his twentieth
year he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-fifth regiment Ohio volunteers,
under Col. Jones, and Capt., afterward Col., Charlesworth, and left
for the front in June, 1861. He served gallantly three years, participating
in the battles of Cheat Mountain, Green Brier, Camp Baldwin, Bull
Mountain, Freeman’s Ford, and the second Bull Run, and then after being
detained some time in hospital at Alexandria, was with his regiment at
Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg, where he was wounded. He was then
sent to Camp Chase, and transferred to the invalid corps at Indianapolis,
where he was mustered out in June, 1864. Returning to Belmont county,
he was in 1867, married to Laura J. Widdoes, of this county, and they
have five children: Clayton L., Anna L., Lizzie J., Dora M., and Walter
Mr. White is engaged in business as a tanner, and is also occupied
as a mason. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church,
of which he has been class-leader, and both are highly esteemed by the
community.