Abraham Reid Alkire

As printed in 1906

ABRAHAM REID ALKIRE.

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Armster, William and Benjamin. Nine children were born to our subject's parents, namely: Mary, who died at the age of 13 years; Newton, who with his wife, Mary Jane Caldwell, is now deceased; Warren, who mar- 1 ried Virginia Glasscock, his cousin, and now lives in Missouri; Margaret, whose husband, Allred Stump, is now deceased; Sarah, who married Darius Shockley; Martha C., who married Rev. Robert W. Peters, a minister of the Baptist Church; Thornton, the subject of this sketch; and Alice, wife of Richard R. Leach, of Darby township — all born in Virginia; and William, the only member of the family born in Ohio, who married Ella Balia. > Both parents died in 1895, the mother on February 4th and the father on November 18th.

Thornton Glasscock was eight years of age when the family located permanently in Ohio. Several years before, however, his parents with some of the children came to Ohio, but remained only a short time, when they returned to their old home in Virginia. Later all the members of the family came to Ohio, lived here two years and then started for Missouri. The family and goods were loaded * into three wagons, one of them being a four-horse team driven by Thornton and his sister Sarah. The family did not long remain in Missouri, however, but returned to Ohio and located in what is now Darby township, Pickaway County, where Thornton Leach, the maternal grandfather of our subject, had purchased a tract of 600 acres of forest land. The country was quite unsettled at that time. Thornton Leach had made a clearing on this tract and here had built a rude log house, with a stick chimney and a luncheon floor, and with a quilt hung up for a door. It was amid such surroundings that William Glasscock, the youngest member of the family, was born.

On August 2i, 1866, Thornton Glasscock was married to Frances Rush, daughter of John W. and Nancy (Yocham) Rush. Mrs. Glasscock's mother died in June, 1906. Besides Mrs. Glasscock, there were five sons and two daughters in the family of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Rush, namely: William, who was twice married and both of whose wives, Sarah Worthington and Jennie Watson, are deceased; Jesse, deceased, who married Fidelia Seeds; John, also deceased, who never married; Nelson, who is single; Dennis, deceased, who never married; Sarah, who married George Burgett; and Alice, who married Theodore Shockley.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thornton Glasscock, as below: Laura, who married John Gillen; Milton, deceased at the age of 24 years, who married Julia Johnson; Effa, who married Herman Matthews — both died within four months of each other, the latter on November 22, 1894, and the former on March 22, 1895, at about the age of 30 years, leaving three children (Harry. Alta and Laura), who are living with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glasscock; John R., a resident of Oregon, who is the father of one child; and Sarah, who married Nelson Martno, and has had seven children — Dennis (deceased), Francis, Rush, May, Ruth. Lewis and Edna.

Although the old family homestead was killed to Mr. Glasscock by his father, he came into possession of it before the latter’s death. It consisted of 52 acres, besides which he inherited another farm of 27 acres. He purchased other tracts of land, his wife came into possession of landed property, and the result is their ownership, as stated, of 167 acres in Darby township. Mr. Glasscock has devoted the bulk of his time and energy to the care and improvement of his property. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and keeps.in intelligent touch with the questions of the day.

IILLIAM HARVEY: ALKIRE. vice-president of The Citizens’ Bank at Mount Sterling, Madison County, may justly be regarded as one of the leading financiers and capitalists of this section of Ohio, as well as a most worthy and prominent representative of one of the old and important families of

Pickaway and Madison counties. Mr. Alkire honorably perpetuates a name which has been an American one since the days of Lord Baltimore’s coming to the English colony now known as the State of Maryland, in the days of James I., of England. Since 1800 the family has been established in Ohio, and in this State, on the old homestead farm in Pleasant township, Madison County, William Harvey Alkire was born on July 20, 1857. His parents were Abraham Reid and Mary Jane (Tanner) Alkire.

In tracing the Alkire family from its earliest settleron the American shores, the line is followed from Maryland to Virginia, thence to Kentucky, and thence, in the time of our subject’s grandfather, to Ohio. The family history is traced to Holland, where, in 1626, according to records at The Hague, there lived near Arnheim on the Rhine a family known from their baronetcy as Algire, which family bore a coat farms given by William II., Prince of Orange. The arms were on a silver shield, signifying distinction, and may be thus described: Crest, a falcon; red beak and feet; bunch of grapes and wineglass; pike and cross sword; with the motto — "Cum Saltis.” In religious belief the Algires were Lutherans. It is presumed that the falnily removed from Scotland to Holland, probably on account of religious persecution, though possibly for more worldly considerations. In the 17th century one Almonas Alkire accompanied Lord Baltimore to America and settled on Albemarle Sound near the Virginia shore. He assisted the Governor in various campaigns against the Indians. In 1720, near Moorefield, Virginia (now West Virginia), the great-great-grandfather of our subject, Almonas Alkire by name, was married to Mary Crayman. The names of their four children have been preserved and are as follows: William, born in 1724; Deborah, born in 1728; Almonas, Jr., born in 1730; and Sarah, born in 1732.

William Alkire, the eldest son of Almonas Alkire, was probably reared in Virginia, where he was married to his first wife, Elizabeth Moore, who died later than 1797. She was the mother of 12 children, namely: Mary Ann, born October 5, 1781, who married Courtney Tanner; Robert, bom October 3, 1783, who married Elizabeth Douglass; John, born December 17, 1785, who died in infancy; Margaret, born in 1786, who married James Denison; Jacob, bom April 1, 1787, who married Mary Phebus, who died March 20, 1842, his death following on June 5, 1847; Isaac, bom October 12, 1788, who married Mary Graham; Abraham, bom August 6, 1790; Lydia, bom January 3, 1792, who married John Graham; Harmon, bom February 10, 1794, who never married; John (2), bom October 15, 1795, who married Susan Mantle; Delilah, born in 1796, who married John Metz; and William, born in 1797, who married Hannah Osborn.

William Alkire married, for his second wife, Temperance Clay, and had two sons by this union — Henry Green Clay and Joseph. Mrs. Alkire was a sister of the distinguished statesman, Henry Clay, for whom she named her eldest son, who was born May 25, 1807, and died July 23, 1863. He married Elizabeth Neff.

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Abraham Reid Alkire, father of William Harvey Alkire, and son of Abraham, was born on the old Alkire homestead, in Pleasant township, Madison County, Ohio, on February 27, 1830. His father had settled in this section of Ohio in 1800, acquiring a very large body of land, which included part of the present site of Mount Sterling and which was inherited by his children. Mr. Alkire was a man of intelligence, industry and foresight. Possessing much land, his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits in large measure. He was one of the directors of the toll road running from Mount Sterling to Harrisburg, a distance of eight miles, which was sold about 1883. He was one of the founders of The Citizens’ Bank at Mount Sterling and was also president from the date of its organization, June 1, 1891, to the time of his death. In his death, on February 12, 1902, Madison County lost an exemplary, honored citizen. On October 18, 1855, he married Mary Jane Tanner, who was a daughter of Harvey and Hester Ann (Neff) Tanner. Harvey Tanner Was born November 25, 1805, and died December 18, 1865; his wife was born March 11, 1811, and died October 31, 1864. Four children were born to Harvey Tanner and wife, namely: Rachel (Darst), who died aged 19 years, 9 months and 22 days; Abraham, who died at the age of 16 years, 5 months and 28 days; Courtney, aged 50 years; and Mary Jane (Alkire) mother of our subject, who was born February 22, 1839, and died October 10, 1886.

Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Reid Alkire had these children: William Harvey; Charles Francis, born March 4, 1860; Abraham Scott, born October 7, 1861; Corban Grant, born May 26, 1863; Tully Smith, born March 1, 1866; and Lillie Annie, bom June 20, 1869. Charles Francis lives just outside the corporation of Mount Sterling. He is a stockholder in The Citizens’ Bank and a member of Talmage Lodge, No. 194, Knights of Pythias. On December 7, 1882, he married Flora Heath; they have two children: William Reid, born January 29, 1885; and Abraham Clyde, both September 12, 1886. Abraham Scott lives in a beautiful home on his grandfather’s homestead, in the corporation of Mount Sterling. He is a director in The Citizens’ Bank and a member of Talmage Lodge, No. 194, Knights of Pythias. From 1891 to 1894 he was a member of the firm of Beale & Alkire, dealers in hardware, at Mount Sterling. He is president of the Mount Sterling Building & Loan Company, a member of the Board of Education of Mount Sterling (of which he has been a member for the past 18 years with the exception of two terms) and was a member of the Council of Mount Sterling corporation for about 10 years. On December 17, 1884, he was married to Flora Augusta Beale. This union has been blessed with four children, namely: Coral, born September 22, 1885; Abraham Ross, born November 20, 1889; Mary Jane, born September 14, 191; and Florence Amanda, born September 11, 1899. Corban Grant, who is a resident of Mount Sterling, was married, on June 29, 1898, to Clara Liggett, who was born April 22, 1868, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is a daughter of the late Col. John B. Liggett. They have no children. Tully Smith resides near Mount Sterling and is a stockholder in The Citizens’ Bank and a member of Talmage Lodge, No. 194, Knights of Pythias. He was married on September 2, 1891, to Elizabeth Morris. Lillie Annie was married to Charles Edgar Zahn on March 23, 1891. Three children have been born to them, of whom two are now living. The record is as follows: Paul Alkire, born

June 20, 1894; May, born December 18, 1896, deceased August 15, 1898; and Charles Ewin, born March 27, 1898.

On January 29, 1889, Abraham Reid Alkire married, for his second wife, Mrs. Flavilla (Coalton) Tenny, who died January 16, 1899, without issue. Mr. Alkire and family belonged to the First Christian Church of Mount Sterling.

William Harvey Alkire was reared on the old homestead farm in Pleasant township, Madison County, and received his education in the local schools. In 1880 he formed a partnership with John W. Graham, which business association continued to 1884, in which period they engaged extensively in buying and shipping hogs to Eastern markets. In 1885, in partnership with William Taylor, he engaged in shipping hqgs and cattle to Eastern markets and Columbus, Ohio. Six years later, in 1891, he entered into partnership with his brother, Tully S. Alkire, and Robert H. Deyo, and en-

Googl( gaged in shipping hogs and wool. In 1892 the firm of Deyo & Alkire (Tully S. Alkire havingretired) rented the elevator of C. Tanner & Company at Palestine, which had been built four years before by the following 12 farmers — Courtney Tanner, Sr., James B. An- I derson, John \V. Graham, William Davis, Milton J. Tootle, Charles A. Wilson, Robert H. Deyo, Peter J. Dick, William Denison, James Stone, Abraham Scott Alkire and W'william Harvey Alkire. The last named was president of C. Tanner & Company from the time the elevator was built until it was sold to Joseph Smith, of Circleville, in 1897. Mr. Alkire is the owner of a large amount of valuable land both in this and other counties, aggregating 868 acres in Pickaway and Madison county ties, with a 230-acre farm* in Vinton County, which has a 40-acre orchard on it. His brother, and sister also own a large amount of valuable land in Pickaway and Madison counties. Mr. Alkire has one of the most beautiful homes in the eastern section of Madison County. It is a well-proportioned brick residence, situated on an eminence just out of Palestine, not far from Mount Sterling, the farm being known as “Deer Creek Farm." From the hospitable entrance of this home the surrounding country for miles around may be viewed as a beautiful picture. The disastrous wreck of 1891 on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad occurred not far from Mr. Alkire's residence, and quick and generous assistance was lent to the sufferers from the mansion on the hill.

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Mr. Alkire is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He has long been connected with The Citizens' Bank at Mount Sterling, both as a member of the board of directors and also as its vice-president. He is also a director of the Mount Sterling Building & Loan Company. He has other interests, both commercial and social, and is a citizen who is thoroughly representative of the best residents of this favored part of the great commonwealth of Ohio, which his forefathers helped to ‘develop.

Portraits of William Harvey Alkire and his father, Abraham Reid Alkire, accompany this sketch.

As printed in History of Pickaway County, Ohio and Representative Citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.