Horace McCord
Among the old residents and prominent farmers of Scioto Township, Pickaway County, we are pleased to mention the esteemed citizen whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Albemarle County, Va., July 16, 1825, and his father, James McCord, was born in the same county, June 10, 1802. The grandfather, William McCord, was American-born, but his father was a native of the Green Isle of Erin, who became a true and loyal citizen of America, and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War before he was eighteen years old, continuing in service through most of the war, and being in the battle of Brandywine. He was still living when the father of our subject was in his thirteenth year.
James McCord was both a farmer and carpenter, and when he came to Ohio in the fall of 1834, he sold his farm of forty-eight acres in Virginia, and made iiis way across the mountains with team and wagon, a journey of six hundred miles, being three weeks on the way. He settled first in this township, but a year later moved to Franklin County, where he remained for four years, and then returned to settle in the woods in Scioto Township, and made his home in a log cabin. He first bought one hundred and fifteen acres, and at his death owned an estate of four hundred and fourteen acres. He was a hard worker and a good business man, and did an immense amount of clearing. He was a Methodist in his religious views, and a Democrat in politics. His wife, whose maiden name was Sydney Brown, was born in Albemarle County, Va., in March, 1807. Her seven children were: Horace, Isabel, William (who died at the age of eight), John, Andrew (who died in his second year), Mary (Mrs. Brown), and James A. The father of this household died in February, 1875, and the mother lived until July, 1884. They were Methodists in their religious belief.
The subject of this sketch was nine years old when he came to Ohio, and well recollects the long and tedious journey. He had attended school only some six months while in Virginia, and here he entered the log schoolhouse, and out of school worked on the farm, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He then engaged to work for a neighboring farmer, and earned his first money by cutting corn at two cents a shock, a shock comprising an area twelve hills square. After this, he worked for five seasons, at $10 a month, for his father, and was married March 26, 1857, to Mary Callahan, who was born in this township, and who died March 8, 1867, leaving no children.
Mr. McCord was again married, January 21, 1871, this time to Elizabeth (Wade) Denheen, who was born in Knox County, Ohio, January 13, 1839. Their five children are Harry L., Laura, Chauncy, Miner and Daisey. Harry died when eleven months old. Laura is now from home studying at the Central Academy. The parents of Mrs. McCord were Abner and Anna (Terrell) Wade, who were natives of Knox County, Ohio, and Greene County, Pa., respectively, and who came to Ohio in their early childhood. The father was a farmer and still lives with his children on the farm in Franklin County, where he settled during the days of the Civil War. He is now seventy-eight years old, and in early times was noted as a great hunter as well as a worker, and be did much to clear up the country. He reared fourteen children: Elzy, Joseph, Elizabetli, Mary, James, Emeline Tillie, Anthony, William, Josephine and Joseph; three died in infancy.
Our subject first bought fifty acres of land north of his present farm in 1850, and, having bought and sold several times, finally purchased one hundred and twenty-four acres across the line in Franklin County, in 1834. After living there for three years, he sold that property in 1871, and bought two hundred and seven acres, after which he sold fifty acres of that land and bought his present farm. He has two hundred and fifteen and a half acres of vvell-improved land, and carries on mixed farming, raising grain and stock, and fattening some cattle and a large number of hogs. He built his commodious and comfortable brick residence in 1883, moving into it in August, 1884, and his large frame barn was erected in 1883, Mrs. McCord is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. McCord is, in his political views, a Democrat, although he pays little attention to politics, and has never aspired to office. He has seen most of the development of this country, and has been remarkably successful in his business.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]