The biographical encyclopœdia of Ohio of the nineteenth century:

,BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPZEDIA.
native of Poultney, Vermont, a daughter of Jonas Safford,
whose ancestors came from Ipswich, England, in colonial
times. They-were generally distinguished for intellectual,
moral and religious culture. Dr. Safford became a resident
of Gallipolis in I 8I I, and during his lifetime was the leading
physician of that section. htis daughter Lydia was born
April 5th, I8oi; married Henry H. Neal December I9th,
1822; and died April 9th, I834. She was a noble Christian
woman, first in every good word and work, and did much
towards preparing the subject of this sketch for a life of usefulness and worth. He was early taught moral and industrious habits, and through his own energy and determination, seconded by the aid of his liberal-minded father,
acquired a liberal education, graduating at Marietta College
inl I847. Shortly after, he commenced the study of law
under the supervision of the Hon. Simeon Nash, then and
since one of the most distinguished lawyers and jurists of
southern Ohio. He pursued his studies with great energy
and assiduity for the period of three years, when he was
admitted to the bar in I85 I, and shortly afterwards removed
to Ironton, Ohio, where he' has since resided, engaged in
the practice of his profession. He soon attained a leading
position at the bar, and is noted for his irreproachable integrity, sound judgment, and legal acquirements. In i86i
he married Mary J. Campbell, eldest daughter of Hon. John
Campbell, of Ironton, an extensive ironmaster, and one of
the most remarkable business men of that section. In the
same year he was elected to the Senate of Ohio, serving in
that capacity for a period of four years, with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. In I869,
on account of impaired health, he sought an appointment in
Europe from President Grant, and was sent as Consul to
Lisbon, Portugal. Shortly after arriving out, the legation
became vacant by the resignation of the Minister Resident,
and Mr. Neal was appointed Charge d'Affaires ad int er itnm.
The duties of this office he discharged so acceptably as to
receive the special thanks of the Secretary of State. These
offices he resigned for the reason that his health was not
improved, and he could neither benefit himself nor serve his
country usefully, and returned to Ironton, where he resumed
the practice of his profession. On three different occasions
he was appointed to investigate Indian frauds. His reports
on the files of the Interior Department testify to the thoroughness of his work. In 1873 he was elected without
opposition to the Ohio Constitutional Convention, and upon
the floor of the Convention, and also as a member of the
Judicial Committee, he took a prominent part in the labors
of that body. Politically he is a Republican of Whig antecedents, and an earnest friend of the "American system"
so ably advocated by Henry Clay and other distinguished
statesmen, of "protection to American industry," believing
that the prosperity of the industrial interests of this country
largely depend upon the continued embodiment of that
policy in our political economy. He has strong religious
convictions, being a member of the Presbyterian Church,
USS, ROSS C., M.D., was born in Brown county,
Ohio, April 9th, 1834. He was the youngest
child in a family of seven children whose parents
were Matthew Russ and Sarah (Welsh) Russ.
(i A) His father, a native of Westmoreland county,
Virginia, was engaged through life in agricultural
pursuits. He moved from his native State to Kentucky,
and thence at a later date removed to Ohio, settling in
Brown county, near Georgetown, where he resided until his
death in I866. He was an officer in the war of I812, and
the son of a colonist who took part as a patriot in the revolutionary struggle. He was a man of sound judgment and
unquestionable integrity, and a true Christian gentleman.
The mother of Ross, a native of Mason county, Kentucky,
was a daughter of Thomas Welsh, one of the early pioneers
of that county. Her forefathers also had been identified
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but is not sectarian in his feelings, and regards with special
interest all sincere efforts from every quarter to enlarge the
Master's kingdom. He is of social habits, and enjoys the
confidence and respect of all good men. -
s
EDRETTI, FRANCISCO, Fresco Artist of Cin cinnati, was born in Lombardy, Italy, June 22d,
iS-29. He early exhibited a taste for painting,
and his parents judiciously took steps to develop
his artistic talents. He was accordingly placed
under the instruction of Professor Pietro Mariani,
of Milan, and afterwards continued his education at the
academy at Brera. Ii-i i848 lie left his native country oli
account of the revolution then in progress, and after a year's
residence in Switzerland, emigrated to America and settled
in New York in 185 1, - where his skill as an artist and
originality as an ornamental designer soon secured him- a
high standing, and a continued demand fbr his services
from all portions of the country. In 1853 he removed to
Buffalo, remaining but two years, after which he located at
Cincinnati, where be has since resided. The latter city has
been the scene of a remarkable professional success, which
has extended over eighteen States of the Union. In these,
evidences of his ability as a fresco artist everywhere abound,
and many of the most noted and beautiful structures in the
country bear upon their walls the added graces of his facile
pencil. He is devoted to his art and has done more to
elevate it in public estimation than perhaps any other painter
in the country, and in fixing a higher standard for artistic
excellence in his special branch has necessitated his cornpeers to follow in the pathway indicated,,is the price of
success. He is ali honorary member of'tbe Cincinnati
Chapter of Architects, and is widely known and admired
for his genius, and universally respected as a useful private
citizen.
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