HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "L"
LARIMER, J. B., proprietor of hotel and postmaster, Junction City, Ohio; was born in Jackson township, this county, in August, 1836; is a son of William and Margaret (Brown) Larimer; followed carpentering until 1861, after which he enlisted in Company C, Sixty-second O. V. I., and served until November of 1864, during which time he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant; after the war he followed his former occupation until June, 1880, when he commenced his present business; was married in 1860 to Miss Lizzie, daughter of Josiah and Catharine (Thorn) Jones; they are the parents of six children,viz.: Chas. J., Catharine, Margaret, Mary, Gertrude and Alice; Mr. Larimer is a kind, genial, accommodating landlord, and keeps the best hotel in Junction City. LARZELERE, BENJAMIN, farmer and stock raiser; post office, Roseville; born in Pennsylvania in 1803; settled in Perry county, Ohio, in 1837; son of Benjamin and Sarah (Brown) and grandson of Nicholas Larzelere and of Joseph Brown; married in 1835, to Miss Mary Daymond, who died in 1877. They have seven children, viz.: Sarah P., G. W., Robert A. G., Mary E., John Q. A., Julia D., Morgan R., five of whom are married. G.W. and Robert A., enlisted in the war of the Rebellion; G. W., in the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Regiment; Robert in the Thirty-second. He was in the battle of Cheat Mountain, where he was taken prisoner. LATTA, ALBERT G., farmer and stock raiser, Rehoboth post office, Clayton township, Perry county, Ohio; born in this county, in 1848; son of Isaac B. and Nancy (Welsh) Latta; grandson of George Latta, and of Henry and Mary Welsh; married in 1869, to Miss Lizzie Brown, daughter of William and Mary (Haworth) Brown; they have but one child, Calia M. LAVERTY, ADAM, farmer and miner, New Straitsville, Ohio; was born Jan. 4, 1834, in Cullybackey, a little village three miles west of 458
Ballymena, county Antrim, Ireland; son of Archibald and Mary (Killen) Laverty. Mr. Laverty was raised in his native country, and remained in Ireland until 1866, when he emigrated to America, and with his family, has resided in Coal township, this county, since 1872. Mr. Laverty's father was a native of Ireland. His mother was born in Ireland, of Scotish parentage. Mr. Laverty, the subject of this sketch, was married June 5, 1862, to Miss Ellen Lynch, of Greenock, Scotland, daughter of Thomas and Jane (McGuire) Lynch,who were formerly of Londonderry. They are the parents of seven children, viz.: Mary Ann, Archibald, Adam J., Ellen, Thomas Philip, Theresa and Clara. LAZIER, ELZA, potter by trade, Buckeye Cottage post office, Ohio; born in this county in 1852; son of Isaac and Clara (Kelly) Lazier. The former emigrated from Maryland. Grandson of John Lazier, and of James and Nellie Kelly. Married in 1857, to Miss Pheobe J. Brooks, daughter of Hiram and Sarah A. (Cline) Brooks. They have nine children, viz.: Hiram H.; Chas. Henry, deceased, Rosanna, Isaac, Ella E., Myrtle A. and two infants. Mr. Lazier's grandfather was in the War of 1812. LEAMAN, WASHINGTON, carpenter and wagon maker, post office Gore, Hocking county, Ohio; was born January 22, 1824, in Montgomery county,Maryland; son of Daniel and Jane (Sibley) Leaman. At an early age, he went as an apprentice to the carpenter and wagon maker's trades, which he learned; came to Ohio with his parents in 1835, and remained four years in Pike township, when they came in 1839 to Monday Creek township, where he has since resided. Was married May g, 1843, to Hannah Massey, who died in 1845. Was married the second time May 11, 1847, to Susan, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (Valentine) Cavinee. They are the parents of nine children, viz.: Daniel, died in infancy;John, Eliza, Mary J., George, Sarah C., Martha A., Matilda, died in infancy, and Samuel. LEHEW, J. O., teamster, Shawnee, Ohio; was born November 3, 1850, in Morgan county, Ohio, and son of Samuel and Temperance (Beall) Lehew. Mr. Lehew was raised a farmer, and followed agricultural pursuits up to the age of twenty-three years. He farmed in Athens county, about seventeen years; in Morgan county, two years, and in Wood county, West Virginia, two years; he began teaming while in Virginia, and followed it there about seven years, and in Athens county, two years, and in Morgan county, eight months, when he went to Shawnee, Ohio, where he has remained up to the present time, and has done all the teaming for the XX Furnace since he came to this place. Mr. Lehew was married April 8, 1872, to Hannah, daughter of Jacob and Jane (Lafevre) Martin, of Hocking county, Ohio. They are the parents of three children, viz.: Charles, Samuel and John. LEHMAN, CHRISTIAN, was born in 1802, in Juniatta county, Pennsylvania; he was a son of Jacob Lehman; his mother's maiden name was Hannah Peterson. These pioneers came to Perry county, in 1806, with eleven of their twelve children, comprising eight sons and four daughters. He bought eighty acres of land in Jackson township, resided for several years in Rushville, and finally settled on the farm where Christian 459
now in his eightieth year, resides, and where his father Jacob, died in the ninetieth year of his age. A sister of Christian Lehman, Betsey Turner, wife of Joseph Turner, is yet living in Rushville with her son, Abraham, in her ninety-sixth year. Christian was married in 1824, to Rebecca Siple, daughter of Frederick and Barbara Siple, then of Fairfield county. Their children are Richard, a blacksmith, Avlon post office, who, in 1857, was married to Eliza, daughter of Moses, a brother of Jacob Petty. Richard has two sons, Christian, a blacksmith,who is offered $14 per week for horse-shoeing in Columbus, and Clinton, younger and at home. The daughters are, Miss Eva and Martha, two sons and two daughters, from eight to twenty years of age. Hannah Lehman, wife of George Houtz, daughter of Christian and Rebecca Lehman, resides in Missouri, post office Hamburg, Iowa. John L. Lehman, architect and contracting carpenter, married to Sally Vandermark, daughter of Rev. Mathias Vandermark, residence, Columbus, Ohio. Mary Levina, wife of Robert Hill, residence at the homestead of her father, where, since the death of her mother, she presides as chief of the household, post office Avlon, Ohio. LEHMAN, RICHARD, eldest son of Christian, has acquired a comfortable home, which his strong arm at the anvil has beautified with a new and neat dwelling. He was a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment,O.V.I., Captain Yontz, attached to the famous Sixth Corps, which saved the day at Cedar Creek, after the rout of the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps, and thus saved, also, the valley of the Shenendoah from again falling back into the hands of the enemy. He served to the end of his enlistment, and was honorably discharged, when he resumed his occupation at the anvil and his place in that family circle, which had prayed for his safe return. LEMERT, RICHARD D., engineer at mine No. 13, Corning, Ohio; was born April 19, 1852, in Crawford county, Ohio; son of Joshua and Caroline (Blackwell) Lemert. Richard D. Lemert was brought up on a farm until about the age of fourteen years; at eighteen began braking on the railroad, served four years, then fired two years, then took an engine and ran as railroad engineer two years. He took his present position in November, 1881. Mr. Lemert was married January 6, 1881, to Annie, daughter of Augustus and Mary Ucker, of Columbus, Ohio. They are the parents of one child, Maud Lemert. LEWIS, GEORGE, engineer, Shawnee, Ohio; was born August 1, 1832, in Cardiff, South Wales; son of George and Mary (Lewis) Lewis; was raised in Cardiff, where he lived until 1868, and served his apprenticeship of five years at machinist's trade with Taff Bale Railroad, building engines. After completing his apprenticeship he ran an engine on the railroad three years; at this time he began work for Mr. Booker, running an engine for tin and sheet-iron works about five years, up to 1861. He was next employed in putting up the Grangetown Iron Works, and was overseer of the engine at this place for seven years, until 1868, at which time he came to America, landing in New York, and from thence to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was employed at the Superior Iron Mill and Furnace as engineer for five years; at the end of this time he went to Newark, Ohio, where he was engaged in the Rolling Mill as engineer, for about two years, when he 460
came to Shawnee, Ohio, where he has been with the XX Coal and Iron Company, as engineer up to this time. Mr. Lewis was married March 8, 1855, to Joan, daughter of Evan and Ann Thomas, of Cardiff, and niece of the manager of Booker's Furnace. They are the parents of six children, viz.: Eugenia, Frank, Henry, Edwin, Mary Ann and George, living, and five dead, Thomas, Mary, George, John and Herbert. LILLY, REV. H. F., the present President of St. Joseph Convent and House of Studies of the Dominican Order in the United States, is distinguished not only as such, but for his executive ability in advancing the interests, the usefulness and the fame of his Alma Mater. This institution was founded in 1818 by Rev. Edward Dominic Fenwick, after- wards first Catholic Bishop of Ohio and the North West; the first priest after Father Fenwick, was his nephew, Rev. M. D. Young, who departed this life so recently as November 1878; associated with Father Young were Fathers Martin, De Rymacher, O'Larey and Hill. These Rev. Fathers resided at St. Joseph's, and performed missionary duty inside of a circle of one hundred miles. As a house of education, properly so called, the date is 1840, where students began to be received and a faculty of distinguished professors were engaged. Prior to this date no instructions were given in theology, or physics, but since then there have always been from ten to thirty students of philosophy and theology. The College was opened in 1851 for youth not aspiring to the Priesthood. It deservedly bore a high reputation as a seat of learning, and was attended by students from all sections of the United States. It was closed in the first year of the war, chiefly on account of the withdrawal of its southern patronage. The Presidents were in order as follows: Rev. James Whelan, to 1854; Rev. P. D. Noon, to 1856; Rev. J. A. Kelly, to 1858; Rev. M. D. Lilly, to 1860, and the last President was Rev. J. A. Rochford; the last three are still living. The College Building was one hundred and twenty by forty-five feet, of brick, three stories high and was torn down in 1880, when the material was used in the construction of the New Convent Building, which was dedicated, March 19, 1882. This magnificent edifice is one hundred and thirty-five by forty-five feet; of brick, three stories and basement of stone, with slate roof; located a few miles south of Somerset. In solidity, elegance and fitness for the purpose intended it is unsurpassed in the United States. There is a hall in every story, and these halls lead to not less than seventy rooms or apartments, and are heated by a furnace below. Gas and water supplies are carried to all parts of the edifice, and the whole is completed with elevators and all the modern improvements. The Library is one of the most interesting features, rich in ancient and modern works and contains about seven thousand volumes, some of which were printed prior to the discovery of America. There are manuscripts dated in the thirteenth century, some of which are magnificently illustrated on envellum. Among its principal contributors were Bishop O'Finan, of Ireland, and Father Thomas Martin, already mentioned. The officers of the Convent at present, are in order of rank as follows: Prior, Rev. H. F.Lilly, Rev. A. V. Higgins, Rev. Stephen Byrne, Rev. P. V. Keogh, Rev. J. C. Kent, Rev. T. A. Scallon, Rev. 461
J. F. Colbert, and Rev. E. F. Flood; at this writing, December, 1882, there are twenty students. LINVILLE, JOSHUA, born in 1823, in Richland township, Fairfield county, Ohio, on the farm now known as Foresman's; his father was the late venerable and much esteemed Joseph Linville, who came to Ohio from Rockingham county, Virginia, some years prior to 1820. The grandfather of Joshua was Benjamin Linville, who died in Virginia. The grandmother, wife of grandfather Linnville, was Ann Matthews. Their sons were Joseph, the father of Joshua; Benjamin, still living in Salem, Fairfield county, at the advanced age of ninety odd years; Solomon, William, and Hugh Foster Linville. The mother of Joshua Linville, was Margaret, daughter of Samuel Parrot. There were born to her and her husband Joseph Linville, Bruce and Samuel, in Virginia; Joseph, Ann Armstrong, Sarah Eynman, Joshua, Delilah Coulson and Benjamin Linville, in Fairfield county. Bruce Linville, went to Edina, Knox county, Missouri, in charge of a stock of goods sent there by his patron and friend, a Mr. Cooney, formerly of Somerset; he there rose to wealth and influence, became the treasurer of the county, and engaged in banking; Benjamin is in Circleville, Ohio, and Joseph is one of the solid farmers and cattle dealers of Fairfield county. In 1850, Joshua became the husband of Ann Louisa Rissler, daughter of an esteemed farmer, Thomas Rissler, whose wife, the mother of Ann, was Marry Daily. The farms of Thomas Rissler and of the Linvilles join, though separated by the Perry and Fairfield line, and Mrs. Linville, when married moved to the adjoining farm, where she yet remains with her husband, having lived all her life in sight of her paternal acres. Their children are Mary Alice, wife of Monroe Andrews, post office, Rushville; Marge Ann, wife of Rezin Baker, a druggist of Thornville, Ohio; Thomas R., husband of Clara, daughter of Alfred Melick; Carey, Martha, Coulson, James R., William and Benjamin F. Linville. Joshua Linville, the father of these children, became the owner of the Linville homestead, to which he has added not only in area, but in substantial improvements and the yielding capacity of his acres. He and his wife are strict members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and enjoy the confidence and social consideration due to virtue and considerate hospitality, linked with social standing, belonging to the oldest families of this vicinity. LITSINGER, JOHN PURCEL, was born August 27, 1847; his father was John Litsinger, and his brothers are Peter, Jacob, Albert and William; his sisters are Isabel, single, living at home, Sarah, married to Joseph May, and resides in Reading township. All the brothers are living in the township of Reading, Perry county, where they were born, except Albert, machinist, married to Maggie Quill, residing in St. Paul, Minnesota; his grandfather was Jacob Litsinger, who settled here in an early day and was the father of John and Jacob, and Appie, who married Miles Clark, and is now deceased. John Litsinger, at the age of fourteen, went to Henry county. Indiana, and worked on a farm for twenty months. His wages were eight dollars per month for the first eight months, when his wages were raised to twelve dollars per month. He returned to Somerset and engaged with Jacob Grimm to learn the art of carriage blacksmithing, boarding with his mother and receiving 462
three dollars per week, for three years, mainly under the instruction of Lewis Chilcote. He then worked in Logan at twelve dollars per week; then at Saltillo for about a year; then again at Somerset for Albert Grimm; then for Grimm & Bowman; then for Grimm & Gallin, and finally In 1876, he became a partner with Thomas Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Litsinger, who have ever since carried on an increasing and satisfactory business as carriage and buggy manufacturers, employing six hands, in addition to themselves. He was married in the year 1870, to Martha Smyrr, a step-daughter of R. M. Barber; their children are Flora Alice, Mary Laura, Elizabeth Gertrude and John Orlistus. The firm of Smith & Litsinger carried on business on one of the backstreets of Somerset, where the buildings became too small and the location too obscure for their business, and they erected a new factory on Main street upon the site where Enzer Chilcote, in his life time resided, but which was visited by the fire, which destroyed the Russel hotel, the old Exchange, Mrs. Filler's residence, a buggy factory, and the old residence of Dr. Pardee, afterwards that of R. S. Cox and John Motz. LLOYD, JOHN, JR., manager of the mercantile department of the New York and Straitsville Coal and Iron Company; Shawnee, Ohio; was born March 27, 1848, in Carnarvanshire, North Wales, son of John and Jane (Williams) Lloyd. When Mr. Lloyd was three years old his father emigrated to America, settling at Utica, New York, remaining about one year, and went to Nelson Flats, Madison county, New York, remaining about nine years, from where he Went to Palmyra, Portage county, Ohio, living there four years, when he moved to Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio, where his son, the subject of this sketch, began the business of clerking in the wholesale and retail grocery store of Shriber & Silverman, which he continued over one year, when he was employed as clerk in the Coal Company store of E. L. Williams, remaining a number of years, and was employed as a clerk in the Pomeroy Coal Company store; soon after which he became a junior partner, in which position he remained until 1868. At this date he sold out his interest in the company store and entered into partnership with his father, in a general merchandise store, in the same place, and was married June 28, 1869, to Miss Mary A., youngest daughter of Morgan and Elizabeth Reese, of Palmyra, Ohio. They are the parents of one child, viz.: Laura Eva. After continuing four years in the mercantile business they sold out and came to Shawnee, Ohio, at which place he engaged as clerk with Frank L. Krumm, in whose employ he remained only a short time, when he accepted the position of superintendent of the store of Huston & Hamilton, which he also held but a short time, when he, with J. B. Hamilton and James Ash, formed a copartnership under the firm name of Ash, Lloyd & Co. In a short time Ash withdrew and James Finley was taken in, and the firm name became Finley, Lloyd & Co., which proved short lived, Mr. Finley withdrawing. In his stead Mr. Joseph Cratty was associated; firm name, Hamilton, Cratty & Lloyd. This firm continued business for some time, when Mr. Shields was taken in; firm name, Shields, Lloyd & Co. After continuing business for some time Mr. Lloyd withdrew and formed a copartnership with Joseph Vilas, A. H. Blood, and George A. Blood; 463
firm name, Vilas, Blood & Co., and conducted store for New York and Straitsville Coal and Iron Company. In this relation they did business for eighteen months, when they sold out to the company, and Mr. Lloyd became manager. Mr. Lloyd has previously been elected, and is now, a member of the city council. He is now a member of the school board, having served three years; the first year as treasurer, second and third as president. LONGSHORE, THOMAS, post office, Moxahala, Pleasant township; born June 8, 1812, in Belmont county, Ohio; son of Amos and Ann (Cox) Longshore. His mother was of English and his father of Welsh extraction. Thomas Longshore spent his younger days in the vicinity of Zanesville. In 1836 he married Mary Ann Evans. They are the parents of the following named children: William H.,born February, 1841, married Emily Rodgers in 1857, and now resides in Kansas; George W., born September 27, 1842, married Sarah Rose, and resides in Kansas; Isaac, born October 17, 1844, married Elizabeth Griggs, and lives in Franklin county; Mary C., born November 7, 1846, deceased; Charles H., born June 29, 1849, married a Miss Holcomb, and resides in Kansas; Albert died in infancy; Howard, born January 1, 1860. LONGSTRETH, M. H., farmer and dealer in live stock, post office, Rendville, Pleasant township; born in this township in 1840; son of James and Elizabeth (Hanesworth) Longstreth; maternal ancestors were English and paternal ancestors were Scotch and Irish. His father came to the United States when quite young, and came to this township in 1836. April 3, 1864, the subject of this sketch married Elizabeth P. Osburn, of Millerstown. She was of English descent, and died February l, 1877. They are the parents of the following named children: Mary, Cary Erastus, who died April 12, 1866; Elmore S., Edgar O., Viola P., who died October 25, 1876, and Clara E. Mr. Longstreth enlisted July 17, 1863, in Company K, 129th O. V. I., and remained in the service until March. He afterwards served four months in the one hundred day service. LOVE, DAVID, was born Jan. 24, 1852, in Reading township, Perry county, Ohio. He is a son of William Love. His mother was Miss Emily Church, daughter of the late venerable David Church, of this county. He is the eldest of four brothers and two sisters. He was reared a farmer and grazer of stock, and also became qualified to teach the schools of his neighborhood, requiring, at his time of life, superior attainments in the fundamental branches. He now resides on a farm of two hundred acres, cut in twain by Rush Creek, and, because of its fertility and supply of everlasting water, pre-eminently adapted to cattle grazing and sheep husbandry. David Love is not only a working man, but a reading man as well. He was also a reading boy, and found at home abundant material to gratify his mental nature. His father often said David was too fond of newspapers to be most useful as a helper on the farm. At the age of twenty-four he was united in marriage to Lydia J., daughter of John Fisher, deceased, a native of Kentucky, who inherited a number of slaves, lost by the war, was a dealer in horses, and a man of business capacity. Her mother, Susan Mitchell sister of Mr. Frank Mitchell, wholesale grocer of St. Louis, Missouri, 464
was therefore a daughter of Randolph Mitchell. Lydia Fisher lost her mother by death in St. Joseph, Missouri, when an infant only three months old. She was taken to the home of her grandmother--- Mrs. Randolph Mitchell, of New Reading---where she was tenderly reared and educated. It is a comforting reflection to Mrs. Love, that she had it in her power to return this affection by assistance and kindness to her aged grandmother, the only mother she ever knew. Mrs. Love has one brother, John Breckinridge Fisher, who is yet unmarried and unsettled in life. David Love and his wife Lydia have one son, Lestie, and one daughter, Emma, now living. Their home overlooks the valley of Rush Creek. LOWRY, A. A., farmer, post office, New Lexington, Pike township, Ohio; was born February 12, 1853, in Pleasant township. Perry county; son of Joseph and Eliza (Pence) Lowry; was raised a farmer, and has followed farming to the present time. At the age of twenty- one years he began teaching school in winter season, and farming during the summer season, which he continued for about three years, teaching at Miller's school house, in Bearfield township, four months; in Richfield township, Henry county, about seven months; and in another district, same township, Barnhill school house, about eight months. Returned to Perry county, and has been engaged in farming since that time, on the home place about two years, and the Wesley Moore farm one year, when he, in partnership with his mother and sister, bought the farm they now live upon. Mr. Lowry's father was a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and went to California in 1854, where he died in the year 1864. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio about 1822. LUCA,. A. THEODORE, merchant, Rendville, Ohio; was born July 22, 1842, in New Haven, Connecticut; son of Alexander C. and Luzetta (Lewis) Luca. Mr. Luca was brought up in his native city, where he lived until about 1867 or 1868, when he came to Ohio, where he has remained up to this time. At his home, New Haven, he attended school, and from 1860 to 1865, he was on the Island of Hayti, as a cotton speculator. Since he came to Ohio, he learned the shoemaker trade, which he made his business for twelve or thirteen years, when he entered his present business in this place in 1881. Mr.Luca is a son of Alexander C. Luca, Sr., musical director of the Luca Family of musicians who have won many encomiums in the United States, both collectively and individually, in vocal and instrumental music. His brothers, Cleveland C., Alexander C., Jr., and John W., with their father, were the Luca Family. That this family was possessed of rare musical genius, will be clearly evinced by a perusal of the book, "Music and Some Musical People," by Trotter. LUTZ, MICHAEL, farmer, born September, 1836; son of David Lutz, and grandson of Michael, the progenitor of the very numerous and respectable connection bearing the name of Lutz, who came from the State of Maryland. He was of German and Lutheran extraction, and landed in Perry county in 1814. His sons were, Jacob, George, John, Samuel and Michael; and his daughters were, Rebecca Stimel, Sarah Ann Souslin, Betsy Spohn and Katharine Sours. He died on the farm where his son Michael died, in sight of Somerset, and where 465
Michael Lutz, a nephew, succeeds not only to the name but the ancestral acres, derived from his uncle Michael, who was a bachelor, a Democrat, and one of the best farmers of the county. The farm, to-day, maintains its reputation for fertility and thrift, and certifies that it has not fallen into unworthy hands. Michael Lutz and his wife, Rebecca (Sours) Lutz, have two children, Mary Katharine, the wife of Jacob Shough, and John A., just coming into manhood, and who will soon assume the cares and responsibility of keeping the old farm up to the standard of its merited renown. LYON, JEROME BONAPARTE, physician and surgeon, New Straitsville, Ohio; was born October 10, 1853, in Hocking county, Ohio; son of James and Margaret (Shelhammer) Lyon. Was raised a farmer, until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to high school in New Lexington, Ohio, where he spent about four years, during part of which time he taught school in Hocking, Perry and Fairfield counties; in all about two years. At the expiration of this time he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. R. Richards of New Lexington, Ohio, and studied about four years with him, attending lectures at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, graduating with the class of 1879 and 1880, in the old school of medicine, after which he came directly to this place and began his practice. Was married April 25, 1881, to Miss Etta R. Smith, born August 2, 1861, in Athens county, Ohio; daughter of Charles and Susan (King) Smith. 466
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