OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 59 Today's Topics: #1 HENRY P. MCGHEE - History of Ohio [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #2 MILTON BROOKS SCOTT - History of O [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #3 STEPHEN D. MCLAUGHLIN - History of [AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M RE] #4 FRANCIS C. SESSIONS [LeaAnn ] ------------------------------ X-Message: #1 Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 22:41:14, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: HENRY P. MCGHEE - History of Ohio HISTORY OF OHIO - The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925 Volume V, page 151 HENRY P. MCGHEE, a merchant for many years at Wellston, represents a pioneer family of Southern Ohio. The McGhees, sometimes spelled McGee, came to Ohio from old Virginia, settling in Jackson County early in the last century. The grandfather of Henry P. McGhee was John McGhee, a native of Virginia. The late John S. McGhee, father of Henry P., was born in Jackson County, October 21, 1823, and lived to a venerable age. During his early years he had a working experience at salt works, teaming, railroad construction and furnace work. He was superintendent of some of the old time furnaces of Southern Ohio. In his later years he devoted his time to the management of his extensive farm, including a large amount of coal land. He became a coal operator, and was also a speculator in cattle and real estate. He held the office of county commissioner six years, and was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and the Methodist Church. John S. McGhee was twice married. His second wife was Electa Phillips, daughter of Henry and Phoebe Phillips. John S. McGhee died in 1911, and his wife, nine months later, in the same year. They were the parents of five daughters and four sons: Henry P.; Eliza, deceased, by her marriage to John Lockard has six children named Clyde, John, Carrie, Lillian, Arthur and Lorie; Susan, who married David Walker and had a son, Guy; Ophelia, who married Frank Carrci; Lincoln, who died in boyhood; Miss Sallie; Katheryn B., who was married to Will Gettels; Grant, who married Daisy Walton and had two children, John and Ruth; and William, who married Phoebe Massie. Henry P. McGhee was born in Jackson County, March 31, 1858, and grew up on his father's farm. He attended the public schools at Wellston and at Dayton, and finished a commercial course in the Wilt and Sutherland Business College. For a time he worked in a general store, and for upwards of forty years has been in the hardware business as a merchant at Wellston. Mr. McGhee has been satisfied to give his chief service through the efficient conduct of his business. While he has been interested in republican politics he has never permitted his name to be placed on the republican ticket, though frequently urged to do so. He is a Royal Arch and Council degree Mason, a member of the Elks and Knights of Pythias and the Methodist Episcopal Church. On march 31, 1893, on his thirty-fifth birthday, he married at Wellston, Miss Elizabeth Lockard, daughter of Henry and Sarah (Tiller) Lockard. Her father, who died in 1921, was an Ohio soldier in the Civil war. Mr. and Mrs. McGhee have one daughter, Gladys, wife of Ora C. Wills, and they are the parents of one son, Richard Henry. ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 22:41:23, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: MILTON BROOKS SCOTT - History of Ohio HISTORY OF OHIO - The American Historical Society, Inc., 1925 Volume 5, page 213-214 with photo MILTON BROOKS SCOTT, a retired merchant now living at Milford, is a former mayor of that little city in Hamilton and Clermont counties, and he is generally credited with having been the chief factor in the modern development of this community. He was born November 23, 1864, in the Village of Fincastle, Eagle Township, Brown County, Ohio, son of William H. and Adeline Scott, both natives of Ohio. Milton Brooks Scott attended public schools in his native village, and as a young man engaged in the general merchandise business there. From that point he removed to Newport, Adams County, where for a number of years he conducted a store. Following that he became traveling representative for the Sterns Coal and Lumber company, and then for several years was connected with the Norfolk and Western Railway. For three years he was manager of the Portsmouth Hat and Glove Company. Mr. Scott was vice mayor of Milford in 1918-1920, and owing to the illness of the mayor he became active mayor in 1920. While mayor he was approached by the state prohibition agents relative to the trial of liquor cases arising from arrests in Hamilton and Clermont counties, Milford being situated as the dividing line between the counties. His statement was that if the arrests were made legitimately and with positive proof and evidence he would permit the cases to be tried in his court. In the fall of 1921 he was elected mayor for a period of two years. While he was in office as acting mayor or mayor he collected in fines for the town of Milford over $325,000, and out of more than 1,500 cases that came before him his decisions were reversed by the higher courts only five times. People interested in the prosecution of liquor cases and the maintenance of the proper respect for law wrote him letters of commendation from all over the United States, and he was frequently asked for information regarding his policy and system of conducting his village court for the benefit of similar courts elsewhere. His term as mayor had many important results, not the least among which are the remodeled city building, the modern fire apparatus and other improvements for the village. Mr. Scott is a member of the Knights of Pythias, belongs to the Association of Descendants of Daniel Boone, is a Methodist and an independent democrat. He married Miss Ora H. Hilling, daughter of Richard R. and Mary Hilling. She is a descendant of Betsy Ross, who made America's first flag. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scott take an active part in the social life of Milford. They have a family of six children; Ruby Scott, born in 1893, connected with the Building and Loan Association of Milford; Phyllis, born in 1897, a graduate of the Shuster-Martin School of Cincinnati; Wilmar L., born in 1899, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and manager of a hotel at Yorktown, Virginia; Donna, born in 1902, a graduate of Miami University of Oxford, Ohio and a teacher; Geneva, born in 1904; and Glen Everest, attending the Milford High School. ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 22:41:36, -0500 From: AUPQ38A@prodigy.com (MRS GINA M REASONER) Subject: STEPHEN D. MCLAUGHLIN - History of Ohio HISTORY OF OHIO - The American Historical Society Inc., 1925 Volume 5, page 145 STEPHEN D. MCLAUGHLIN. Admitted to the bar more than thirty-five years ago, Stephen D. McLaughlin is one of the senior members of the Pike county bar, and has rendered a long and notable service in his profession and in public affairs in that section of the state. He was born in Jackson County, Ohio, December 22, 1858, son of Aaron and Hiley Ann (Corn) McLaughlin. Both his father and mother were left orphans when children, and his mother was reared in Ohio by a family named Grabill. Aaron McLaughlin was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, of a family that first located in New England, and some of them remained there, while others went into Virginia and North Carolina. Aaron McLaughlin was born August 15, 1818, in Greenbrier County, Virginia, and was left an orphan when five years old. The public authorities had to find homes for the several children, and Aaron was taken into the family of a German named Jacob Molar. Jacob Molar finally moved out of North Carolina to Ohio, bringing with him his family, his live stock, his grain and even seeds for apple trees, so that he was completely equipped for establishing a new farm. He located in Jackson County, where he acquired a large acreage and developed a very fine estate. Aaron McLaughlin was reared with the Molars, was always treated as one of the family, and while Mr. Molar was a strict, hard-working man he was exceedingly honest. On reaching his majority Aaron McLaughlin left home and took a contract for getting out cord wood for the Charcoal Furnace. After being away a short time Mr. Molar hunted him up and requested that he return, since he found it impossible to get along without the young man's assistance. He offered Aaron McLaughlin $100 a year and his clothes and washing, bed and board, terms which were accepted. Aaron McLaughlin then returned and took charge of the farm for Mr. Molar, bought some land adjoining, and also some from Mr. Molar himself, and remained with the later until after his marriage and after he had built a home of his own. Finally the Molars, husband and wife, came to live wiht him and he took care of them until their death. In the course of time he acquired the Molar homestead and became a man of great good fortune. Mr. Molar was a wagon maker, and had the distinction of building the first wagon in Jackson County. Aaron McLaughlin was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He and his wife had ten children, and from the name he bestowed upon some of his sons he was evidently a staunch democrat. These children were: William A., James K., Andrew Jackson, Minerva, Selelda, Franklin Pierce, Aaron E., Stephen D., Charles and Oscar. Aaron McLaughlin was very active in public affairs, and was once a candidate for state representative. Stephen D. McLaughlin grew up at the old homestead, attended the district schools, and as a youth secured a certificate and for seven years taught in rural districts. He began the study of law under John T. Moore, and after examination was admitted to the bar in 1886. For a number of years he has held qualifications for practice in the Federal District courts and the United States Supreme Court. He began practice in Pike County, and in the fall of 1887 was elected prosecuting attorney and by reelection served two terms. In 1893 he was elected mayor of Waverly and served two terms of two years each. He also became candidate for Congress, and was a member of the Ohio College of Electors who cast the vote of the state for President Wilson. Mr. McLaughlin prosecuted one very notable criminal case, against a man who deliberately shot his companion to secure $300 or $400 possessed by him, made his escape, was captured after a long hunt, brought back and Mr. McLaughlin secured his conviction and sentence to be hanged. The criminal secured a reprieve, and finally a change of his sentence to life and finally a complete pardon, all this occurring within five years from the date of murder. On the 21st of August, 1924, Stephen D. McLaughlin was appointed by Governor Donahey Judge of the Common Pleas Court for Pike County to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge L. G. Dill, and he is now serving in that capacity. Mr. McLaughlin in April, 1888, in Jackson County, married Miss Julia A. Alexander, daughter of Caleb and Mary (Callahan) Alexander. Her father lived to the age on ninety-six and her mother to ninety-three. There were eight children in the Alexander family: John C., William, Monroe, Sarah, Elizabeth, Jennie, Mrs. McLaughlin and Orpha. Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin have three sons: Arthur, in the insurance business at Waverly; Harold D., a practicing attorney at Portsmouth; and James E., who is still in school; and also two daughters, the eldest, Edna, the wife of Levi Maxwell, who resides at Epworth, Iowa, and Mabel, who married Robert Wynn, of Piketon, who is the present representative from Pike County in the Legislature. Two grandchildren bless the homes of each of these daughters. Mr. McLaughlin is president of the official board of the Waverly Methodist Episcopal Church. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America, and the Pike County Bar Association. ------------------------------ X-Message: #4 Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 23:29:26 -0600 From: LeaAnn Subject: FRANCIS C. SESSIONS History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio Pub. by Williams Bros., 1880 FRANCIS C. SESSIONS, merchant and banker, was born in South Wilbraham, Massachusetts, on February 27, 1820. His grandfather, Robert Sessions, was a clerk in Boston in 1773, and was one of the "forty or fifty" men whose exploit at the celebrated Boston Tea Party is thus described by Bancroft: "on an instant a shout was heard at the porch (of the Old South Church) The war-whoop resounded; a body of men, forty or fifty in number, disguised as Indians, passed by the door, and encouraged by Samuel Adams, Hancock and others, repaired to Griffin's wharf.......took possession of three tea ships, and in about three hours, three hundred and forty chests of tea, being the whole quantity that had been imported, were turned into the bay, without the least injury to other property." His ancestor, an officer in the revolutionary war, was subsequently called to fill important official positions. He married Mary Ruggles (whose brother, Benjamin, was United States Senator from Ohio, during three terms, eighteen years, being first elected in 1815) and died at the age of eighty-five. Darius Sessions, another of his ancestors, was Governor of Rhode Island at the beginning of the Revolution. The historian, Bancroft, says of him: "In the burning of the "Gaspe" (an affair like the Boston Tea Party) Darius Sessions and Stephen Hopkins were the two pillars on which the liberty of Rhode Island depended." The father of Francis C. Sessions, Francis Sessions, was born in South Wilbraham, Massachusetts; married Sophronia Metcalf, of Lebanon Connecticut, and died at the age of thirty. His widow lived to be eighty years old, and was a woman of remarkable physical and mental vigor, which she retained almost to the last. Francis C. Sessions father died when he was about two years, and when old enough to work on a farm, received from his uncle Robert, with whom he lived, his first wages, the amount received being twelve dollars for four months work. He worked on the farm summers and attended common-schools winters, until he commenced preparing for college, and attended, in succession, the academies of Suffield, Westfield, Wilbraham and Monson. The failure of his health preventing him from entering college, as he had intended doing, he visited Ohio in the fall of 1840, and the following year accepted a clerkship in a store in Columbus. In 1843, he entered into a co-partnership, under the form of Ellis, Sessions & Co., in the dry goods business. Purchasing the interest of his partners, after two years, he continued the business on his own account, until 1856, when he disposed of his store and engaged in the wool trade. In 1869 he became one of the proprietors, and the president of the Commercial Bank. Throughout the whole term of the late civil war, Mr. Sessions spent a large part of his time in the service of the sanitary commission. He made the memorable trip to Fort Donelson, and to quote from the records of the commission concerning him, "went to Pittsburg Landing, immediately after the battle, where he was connected with the great work accomplished in the care of the sick and wounded during the spring and early summer of 1862. He went with Dr. Smith to Murfreesboro, upon the occasion of the battle of Stone river; visited Virginia during the second campaign in that State, as well as most other important points in our field of operations, always as an earnest, hard-working, good samaritan." The report of the commission further records that "the establishment and success of the Columbus (Soldiers) Home are in a large degree, due to the efforts of Francis C. Sessions, a member of the Columbus branch of the Sanitary commission, a gentleman who was one of the earliest volunteers in the cause of humanity called out by the war, and who, during its entire continuance, by his labors in battle-fields, in camps and hospitals, while he sacrificed his personal interests and his health, won for himself the admiration and respect of all who knew him." His name frequently appears on the records of the work of the Sanitary commission at the West, in which, though an unpaid, he was a most earnest and faithful worker. Throughout the existence of the Home at Columbus, Mr. Sessions gave it his constant supervision, and was in fact, its outside superintendent and manager. Mr. Sessions has held many benevolent and educational trusts; has been a trustee of Marietta and Oberlin colleges, of Wiberforce University, of the Columbus Medical college and Home for the Friendless, and of the Ohio institution of the Blind. The erection of the magnificent new blind asylum was intrusted to Henry C. Noble and himself. He has contributed not a little to the growth of Columbus in the building of business blocks and numerous houses. He has, at different times, acted as director and president of manufacturing enterprises. He was one of the original members of the Third Presbyterian church, and subsequently of the First Congregational church of Columbus, in which he has been an officer from the first. He has contributed very largely of his labor and treasure to the prosperity of both. He was for many years an enthusiastic and successful superintendent of the Sunday-school of the latter church, and long acted as a trustee of its ecclesiastical society. The truth of the scriptural declaration, "There is that scattereth and yet increaseth," has been vindicated in his history; for while he has constantly practiced the most munificent liberality, he has accumulated a large fortune. Mr. Sessions married, August 18, 1847, Mary Johnson, daughter of Orange Johnson, of Worthington. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #59 ******************************************