Gabriel “Gabe” Johnson was born a slave in Spottslyvania County, Virginia on November 24, 1824. Johnson was a barber by trade and was freed in 1827. At the age of 24, he cam to Ironton, Ohio.
Gabe, like many freed men, became a part of the Underground Railroad. In Gabe’s case, he was a conductor and lead runaways to safety. Gabe often worked with James Ditcher. Gabe, also, worked in the Underground Railroad in Cincinnati from 1854 to 1855.
William Alexander Julian was born on a farm near Frankfort, Kentucky. Although he had a humble beginning, he was a successful life. He was the Treasurer of the United States for sixteen years, starting in 1933. W.A. was also the shoe manufacturer of the Queen City and president of the Queen City Trust Company of Cincinnati. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Julian to overhaul the nation’s fiscal system during the depression. He did have one failure. He lost a race for the U.S. Senate in 1920.
Ironton A. Kelley was born on April 4, 1849 to William Dollarhide and Sarah Austin Kelley. Ironton was named for his hometown, a new city built by the local iron masters. His father, William Dollarhide Kelley, actually owned the land where Ironton was built. However, his name is not the only link Ironton has with the new city. He was the first male child born in the town he was named after.
Lindsey Kelley was born in May 1842 on the Austin Farm near Hanging Rock. His parents were William Dollarhide and Sarah Austin Kelley. He was a brother to Ironton Kelley. During his youth, his family moved to a brick house on North 2nd Street in Ironton, Ohio. This home was torn down for improvements to the Goldcamp Mill. Then, they moved to the Old Kelley Homestead, which became the Charles S. Gray Deaconess Hospital.
The only child of Lindsey and Nannie Honshell Kelley, Lindsey was to a wealthy family. He attended a military school in Heights Town, New Jersey. Unfortunately, he was stricken with rheumatism at an early age.
Luke Kelley was born on April 3, 1757 in Shenandoah County, Virginia. Not much is known about his parents. It has been suggested they died during an Indian raid in Virginia, but concrete proof has not been found. We do know Luke was orphaned at a young age. He had one known brother, James.
Born on January 13, 1815, William Dollarhide Kelley was the son of Joseph and Kitty Dollarhide Kelley. He was, also, the grandson of Luke Kelley. When he was five years old, Joseph moved the family to the Etna Furnace area, which at that time was a wilderness. Joseph raised cattle on the land. The family lived there until Joseph sold the land to James Rodgers and others, who built the Etna Furnace in 1832.
Lester Keller was born in Cadmus, Ohio. He was a graduate of Gallipolis High School. In 1883, he received his medical degree from Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He opened his first practice in Gallipolis, Ohio.
On June 16, 1883, Dr. Lester Keller married Mary Allen. Mary was born in Ironton, Ohio on July 22, 1860. Her father was Judge Allen. She was raised and educated in Ironton.
William C. Lambert was born on August 18, 1894 to William G. and Mary Lambert. At the age of ten or eleven, he received his first aviation experience. An aviator came to Ironton for a 4th of July Celebration. The aviator brought a Wright Flyer with him. A Wright Flyer was modeled after the Wright Brother’s first airplane. Young Lambert was given a ride by the aviator and allowed to handle the controls.
Sarah “Saide” Lowry was born on March 17, 1873. The actual place of her birth is not clear. According to her obituary, she was born in Fayette County, West Virginia, but according to her death record, she was born in Greantin County, West Virginia. Her parents, Lee and Mary Patterson Lowry, would have a total of four children.
