BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 602-603.


BENJAMIN F. OGLE was born in February 28, 1822, in Mead township, Belmont
county, Ohio, and was a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Fletcher) Ogle,
natives of Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. His early life was
spent at home acquiring an education from the limited resources at that
time at command, and in assisting his foster parents on the farm. At
about the age of fourteen, becoming tired of the quiet and disagreeable
life led here, he ran away and from that time forth carved his way alone.
From here he worked at different occupations until about 1836, when he
engaged in boating on the Ohio, from the source to its mouth and on many
of its tributaries. Here he worked at many different phases of steam-boat
life until finally having by industry, patience and perseverance,
acquired a knowledge of the channels of the stream over which he had
been boating, he was employed as pilot on the Ohio, between Pittsburgh
and Louisville, in 1839. His life as pilot was begun in a very humble
way, but by the industry and perseverance which have always marked his
career he soon rose in his profession until in or about 1849, when he
was considered one of the best pilots on the Ohio, and from that time
until the time of his retirement held many places of trust and great
responsibility. On the breaking out of the war Mr. Ogle was engaged on
the steamer "Unis," between Pittsburgh and Louisville, under Capt. T.
McClure, of Wheeling, but after the outbreak was, by reason of his
knowledge of the river channels, made a government pilot, and while here
in this position saw many important engagements and had many narrow
escapes. He was engaged in piloting dispatch-boats, gun-boats, transports,
etc., and necessarily saw much fighting. He was from the opening to the
close of the war engaged in the government service, and some of the
more important engagements in which he participated were, Fort Donnelson,
Pittsburgh Landing, Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, and many smaller
engagements. At the close of the war Mr. Ogle again returned to the
service of the different steam companies operating on the Ohio. In
1885, having been for many years in the boat service and having acquired
a small competency, Mr. Ogle retired from active life and now resides
in Bellaire, Ohio, with his wife and son. Mr. Ogle was married in May,
1845, to Miss Julia McElvaine, a daughter of James McElvaine and Mary
(Vinzandt) a descendant of Scotland, but a native and resident of
Pennsylvania, and a farmer of Lawrence county. They are the parents
of three daughters and two sons, all of whom are still living: Cordelia
A., now Mrs. Hibbard, of Barnesville; Alexander C., married and living
in Bellaire; Mary A., now Mrs. Mary Lille, of Bellaire; Ella V., now
Mrs. Shoemacher, of Massilon, Ohio; Theodore D., still un-married and
resides at home with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Ogle are members of the
Disciple church of Bellaire, and are strong, workers for its interests.
Benjamin Ogle, Sr., was born in the east, and at the time of his death
was engaged on the Ohio in flat-boating, and on one of these trips met
his death. His death occurred some three or four months previous to
the birth of his son, and after the birth of the son he, the son, was
bound out to a farmer residing near them, and it is a praiseworthy
thing to notice that Benjamin Ogle, Jr., has risen from what we term
poverty and obscurity to a position of independence and respectability,
solely through his own exertions. After the father's death the mother
re-married, and thus severed her connection with the Ogle family. The
ancestry of the family dates back many years, but owing to limited ways
can not be accurately followed. The grandfather was the man who, with a
relative, settled at Dillie's Bottom, in Mead township, and the present
family are direct descendants of Gov. Ogle, who reigned over the
extensive territory of Maryland, in 1735, and many years ago the family
was one of the most prominent in America. Another was governor of Delaware
in 1750, both of whom secured their commissions from King George of England.