History of Saint Clairsville, (Belmont County) Ohio United States of America

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Biographies:

James Cauldwell Brown, clergyman, was born at St. Clairsville, Ohio, Oct. 5, 1815. After his graduation from Jefferson college in 1835, he went to Allegheny, Pa., where he remained until 1837, studying at the Western theological seminary, and then taking a two years' course of study at the theological seminary, Columbia, S.C. After being licensed by the presbytery of Harmony, S.C., he began his work as a missionary in Indiana. He was an earnest worker, and was especially successful as an organizer. Many active and prosperous churches owe their origin to him. For many years he preached in Valparaiso, Ind., was for a short time connected with the theological seminary of the northwest in Chicago, as general agent, and was instrumental in founding a Presbyterian seminary. In 1862 he was chosen chaplain of the 48th Indiana regiment, but died in Paducah, Ky., while in camp, July 14, 1862.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Jacob Lentz, representative, was born near St. Clairsville, Ohio, Jan. 27, 1856; son of Simon and Anna (Meyer) Lentz, and grandson of John Lentz, of Bavaria, Germany, and of Jacob Meyer, of Monroe county, Ohio. He attended the district schools and the St. Clairsville high school; was a teacher for four years, and was graduated from the National Normal university at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1877. He studied at the University of Wooster, 1877-78, and was graduated from the University of Michigan, A.B., 1882, and from Columbia college, N.Y. city, LL.B., 1883. He was admitted to the bar in October, 1883, and practised at Columbus, Ohio. He was teachers' examiner for five years of the city of Columbus; a trustee of Ohio university; was elected national president of the American Insurance union, September, 1896, and repeatedly reelected; and was a Democratic representative from the twelfth district of Ohio in the 55th and 56th congresses, 1897-1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Thompson Eckert, telegrapher, was born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, April 23, 1825. He learned telegraphy as a boy and when appointed postmaster of Wooster, Ohio, in 1849, he established a telegraph office in that city. In 1852 he constructed a telegraph line between Pittsburg and Chicago, and was made its superintendent. After the line was absorbed by the Western Union telegraph company his duties were greatly increased. In 1859 he resigned the position to manage a gold-mining company in Montgomery county, N.C. His operations there were stopped by the civil war and he then became head of the U.S. military telegraph, established by General McClellan at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1862 he was transferred to the department of the Potomac with the rank of captain and assistant quartermaster. In September, 1862, he was promoted major and was directed to establish military telegraph headquarters at the war department, in Washington. In 1864 he received the brevets of lieutenant-colonel and brigadier-general and was appointed by President Lincoln assistant secretary of war. In 1866 he resigned the secretaryship and his position in the army to assume the general superintendency of the eastern division of the Western Union telegraph company. In 1875 he organized and became president of the Atlantic & Pacific telegraph company, and in 1880 was elected president of the American Union telegraph company. When these companies were consolidated with the Western Union telegraph company in 1881, he became vice-president and general manager of the latter company and in 1893 was elected to the presidency to succeed Dr. Norvin Green, deceased.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Lawyer and Jurist, Benjamin S. Cowen was born, September 27th, 1792, in Washington county, New York, where he was also educated. He removed to Ohio in 1825, and settled in the village of Moorfield, Harrison county, where he practised medicine for a short time, but subsequently studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1830. He shortly afterwards was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Monroe county. In 1832 he formed a legal partnership with William B. Hubbard, and removed to St. Clairsville, where he resided until his death. In 1840 he was elected to the Twenty-seventh Congress, where he was made Chairman of the Committee on Claims. In 1844 he was chosen to the State Legislature, and was there recognized as the acknowledged leader of the Whig party in the lower House. He was elected in 1847 a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and was on the bench until 1853. He took a leading part in the founding of Brooks' Institute and Seminary, of St. Clairsville, where his two sons, D. D. T. and B. R. Cowen, received most of their education. He was married, in Washington county, New York, to Anne, daughter of Judge Wood, of that county. He died on his birthday, September 27th, 1869, at the ripe age of seventy-seven years, respected and beloved by all who knew him.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.