the logs of sugar-maple. The family came in wagons, through the trackless woods, following along the following along the ridges. John Noble, Sr., was an industrious honest man and a worthy citizen. He died in 1831 at the age of sixty-eight years. His widow died in 1849. They were the parents of seven children-James, Elizabeth (Reed), Sarah (Barlingame), Mary (Bates), Samuel, Rachel (Reed) and John, all now dead except John. James, the oldest son, was a man of great force of character, and was a pronounced anti-slavery man, when the word "abolitionist" was regarded only as a term of reproach.

John Noble, son of the pioneer above mentioned, was born in Washington County in 1802, and is today one of the best informed men regarding pioneer events that it has been the pleasure of the writer to meet. He is a remarkably wellpreserved man, and in spite of his four-score and five years, is still as active as many a man of sixty. Having been accustomed to hard work from boyhood, even now he busies himself chiefly in the performance of self-imposed tasks about the farm.

He ranks among the best of the many excellent farmers in Noble County. Mr. Noble has lived in three counties-Guernsey, Morgan and Noble, without moving from the homestead to which he came in 1812. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners elected in Noble County in 1851, and has always been an active, public-spirited citizen. In his dealings with his fellow men he has

always been found obliging, upright and honest. His thrift and diligence have gained for him a competency, and throughout his long life he has enjoyed that greatest of human possessions-an unsullied reputation. Mr. Noble was married in 1825 to Rebecca, daughter of Robert Caldwell, a prominent early settler. After more than half a century of happy wedded life, Mrs. Noble quitted the scenes of this earthly career in October, 1878. Two children were born of this unionSamuel, now a resident of Richland County, Wis., married to Miranda Ackley, daughter of an early settler of this county; and Martha J., now Mrs. James Carr, residing on the homestead.

JAMES CARR, the subject of this notice, was a leading farmer and a prominent and successful business man. James Carr was born in Brooke County, W. Va., in 1824. He was the second child and the oldest son of a family of eight children. His father's name was Joseph Carr and the children were Mary (Wheeler), James, Joseph (who died in West Virginia), Eliza J. (Hearld) whose husband died at Pittsburg Landing while in the service of his country; Sarah A. (Kirk), Parmelia (Wheeler) and Maria (Morgareidge). The mother, whose maiden name. was Eliza McCleary, died in 1833, and Mr. Carr afterward married Nancy Wheeler, by whom he had seven children: Elizabeth, Lemuel N., Ellis C. (deceased), Julia A. (Koons), Henrietta (Gallatin), Taylor and Ethelinda (Balderson). Of

the sons, Lemuel, who now lives in Cumberland, Ohio, was a soldier in the One Hundred and Twentysecond Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was a prisoner at Andersonville for eight months. Ellis was also in the service and received a wound from a piece of shell. Although he served through the war, he died immediately after reaching home.

The Carr family came to Ohio in 1835, settling in Bristol Township, Morgan County. The father was a farmer, and died in 1878. His widow is still living with two of her children upon the homestead. James passed his boyhood upon the farm until 1842, when he started out to make his own way in the world. He went first to Belmont County and thence to Allegheny City, Pa. He remained in Pennsylvania two years, driving through the country selling clocks and "Bee-palaces." In 1844 he got the "western fever," and emigrated to Iowa and from there to California. He located at Sigourney where he was engaged in the mercantile business and the loaning of money, doing a very successful business. Here, in 1847, he married Miss Helen L. Pinkerton, who bore three children, Inez Iowa (deceased); Charles S., who is married and resides in Nelsonville, Athens County; and Helen S. (Boyd), Sharon Township. Mr. Carr's first wife died January 20, 1856.

In 1857 Mr. Carr returned to Ohio, and bought the farm now owned by Mr. Lovell, in Malta Township, Morgan County. In the following year he married Miss Martha J.

Noble. They continued to reside in Morgan County until 1868, and from that time until his decease made their home with Mrs. Carr's father, the venerable John Noble.

Mr. Carr was prospered admirably in his business relations, his good judgment, courage and tact serving him in good stead. Although he was an invalid for several years before his death, he maintained his native cheerfulness undisturbed. Thankful for the favors which fortune granted him, he rejoiced that he was no longer under the necessity of a continual striving after the "almighty dollar." He was one of the prine movers in organizing and securing a charter for the Noble County Bank, and was identified with other important home enterprises. He was a man of good general information, a fluent conversationalist and of agreeable social qualities. He died January 31, 1887, and was buried with Masonic honors.

REV. SPARROW NICKERSON.- Col. Hugh Nickerson, the father of the venerable pioneer whose name heads this article, was of Irish descent, and was born in Chatham, Barnstable County, Mass., in 1782. He was a man of intelligence and ability, and during the War of 1812 commanded a regiment of infantry. The Nickerson family at this time were seafaring people, an occupation to which Mrs. Col. Nickerson was very averse, and fearing that her sons, as they grew up, would resort to that occupation for a livelihood, persuaded her husband to immigrate to Ohio. In the spring of 1817 the family,

consisting of the parents and five children― Mahala, Eliza, Sparrow, Lurana and Joseph-left their native town by vessel for Baltimore, Md.; thence they came by teams across the mountains to Pittsburgh, Pa., where they embarked on a flat-boat for Marietta. The journey was without incident worthy of mention, and on their arrival, the boat was traded for a Chickasaw horse. From Marietta they came to Mrs. David McKee's, where the family remained until a rude cabin was prepared for their reception on the farm now owned by his son, Sparrow. They had to find their way by blazed trees, and dur ing the winter suffered greatly from exposure and poverty. The cabin was without a chimney, door, loft or floor, and frequently wild animals would come close to the house. Their surroundings were such that had it not been for the mother, who was a resolute woman, the family would undoubtedly have returned to their eastern home. The return of spring brought partial release from pioneer hardships. The father found employment at his trade, that of a carpenter, in Zanesville, and in this way supported his family and paid for his land. He built for Augustus Hoskins the first frame house erected in what is now Noble Township. He was a man of force and stamina, and identified himself with early church history. He was a Methodist in belief, and was one of the organizers of the Methodist Protestant church, and with others, founded the Brookfield library, which was probably the first in the county.

His wife, nee Rebecca Blanchard, was born in Boston, where she lived until her marriage, in 1803. Her children, aside from those above mentioned, were Hugh, Rebecca, Simon and Celestia. The father died in 1846; his wife in 1835. Rev. Sparrow Nickerson was born in Chatham, Mass., March 7, 1812. He was reared on the homestead farm, and being the eldest son, was denied the limited advantages for education afforded by the occasional subscription schools of that day, but in that other school, in which the teachers are observation and experience, he has been an apt pupil. By extensive reading, aided by a retentive memory, he has acquired a fund of valuable knowledge. In political belief Mr. Nickerson was originally a Whig, and advocated the election of James G. Birney for President. Next he became a "Free Soiler," and was nominated, in 1845, for lieutenantgovernor of Ohio. On the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks. He is now, however, a Prohibitionist, and has been the candidate of this party for senator and representative. In ante bellum days he was an abolitionist, and on that ticket ran for State treasurer. In 1850 he was ordained for the ministry, and for two years was a circuit preacher. In 1835 he married Miss Helen Byers; by this marriage there were three children: Joseph, Thomas and John; the latter was a member of the Thirtieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served through the war. His second wife, Miss Betsey Sawyer, was born near

St. Albans, Vt., in 1815, and came to Ohio in 1823. She is the mother of six children: Elizabeth (Allen), Levi M., Sarah M. (Bell), Simon S. Hannah R. (Love) and Hugh G. Sarah M. is deceased.

Mr. Nickerson is a typical pioneer, and but few men have attained to a greater share of public esteem than he. He is now enjoying the full fruition of a well-spent life, and in a few more years will leave to his family that priceless legacy, an unspotted reputation.

GEORGE E. GEDDES.-This gentleman, one of the prominent citizens of Noble Township, was born in Manchester Township, Morgan County, Ohio, March 6, 1833. His father, James Geddes, was one of the early settlers of this township, was born in Philadelphia County, Pa., in 1788, moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, about the year 1800, and from thence to Morgan County, Ohio, in 1817. He was of Scotch parentage, and was a soldier of the War of 1812 with Great Britain. He served under Gen. William H. Harrison, and died in 1853.

George E., the subject of this narrative, started in life a poor boy, with poor health, having inherited by nature a very frail constitution. By industry, economy and good business habits, he has placed himself among the most successful farmers of the county. He received a good English education, having studied surveying and the higher mathematics; followed teaching from 1854 till 1862; was elected justice of the peace in Noble Township in

1859, and re-elected in 1862. On July 4, 1863, he was commissioned, by Gov. Todd, captain of Company H, First Regiment Ohio Militia, and on September 4, 1863, was commissioned as lieutenant-colonel, by Gov. Todd, of the First Regiment Ohio Militia. In 1878 he was the Greenback candidate for Congress in the Fifteenth Congressional District, composed of the counties Monroe, Morgan, Washington, Athens and Noble.

His name has frequently been mentioned in connection with offices of trust and responsibility in the county. In 1855 Mr. Geddes was married to Miss Mary A. Brown, a lady of rare good common sense, and of excellent family, but handıcapped, like her husband, with a frail and weak constitution. Her father, Edward G. Brown, came from Rhode Island. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Geddes: James Kennon and Edmond Burns. James K. married Miss Irene Young, of Chandlersville, Ohio; Edmond B. married Miss Effie M. Rummer, of Lowell, Ohio. Both of these young men are surveyors and civil engineers, who have become conspicuous in their profession. George E. was raised and educated a State-rights Democrat, but the late civil war, with its threatened disintegration of the Union, revealed to him the fact, that the right of a State to withdraw from the Union at pleasure, was fatal to a general government. He is now a strong Protectionist, believing it to be the duty of the general Government to foster, encourage, develop and protect our home industries.

He is an extensive reader, well versed in the politics of our country. Progressive in thought, he stands well abreast in all the political, social and religious reforms of the country. Though raised a Methodist, he believes strongly in the decrees and ordinations of God. Socially, Mr. Geddes is gentlemanly and agreeable.

GEORGE ALONZO MCCLURE.-George McClure, father of the immediate subject of this biography, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1823; his father, William McClure, was a soldier in the War of 1812 and his paternal grandfather served in the War of the Revolution. He was a staff officer and distinguished himself in many of the hard-fought engagements of that great struggle. After the war, Congress gave him, in consideration of his service, a tract of land, where Frankfort, Ky., now stands. This land was occupied by squatters, who disputed his claim. Serious complications arose and he finally lost the property.

William McClure immigrated to Ohio in 1827, and settled near Gays port, Muskingum County, where he resided until his decease in 1837. He was twice married; his first wife was a Miss Anderson; two children were born of this union: George and William. William went to California in an early day; he was a thrifty business man and acquired a large property in real estate. George was

born in Pennsylvania and came to Ohio with his parents. He was reared in Muskingum County and when a boy entered the employ of Chapman & Stevens, with whom he remained several years. In 1847 he came to Hiramsburg and engaged in merchandising under the firm name, Stevens & McClure. The firm did a successful business until 1855 when Mr. Stevens retired.

In 1869 he was succeeded by his son, George G. McClure, who has since that time done a highly successful business. George McClure was a thorough business man and a valuable citizen. He was twice married; his first wife was Miss Susan T. Gibbs. Two children were born to them: Francis L., who died young, and George Alonzo. He was born in Hiramsburg, October 13, 1851. He grew up in his father's store, and received a thorough education in books, and a practical business education. He is one of the rising young business men of the county, and is highly esteemed not only for his sterling honesty and business enterprise, but the advanced position he takes on all questions in which the moral or religious welfare of his community is involved. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, in religion a Methodist. He married, in 1872, Miss Mary B. Davidson, granddaughter of Philip Burlingame, a pioneer settler of Rhode Island; they have two sons and three daughters.