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700 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES April 7, 1884, Dr. Aiken began the practice of medicine at Felicity, Ohio, and has continued in this profession from that time to the present. He enjoys a large patronage, which claims his close attention. From 1894 to 1900, Dr. Aiken was associated with Dr. Witham and Dr. Ashburn on the board of pension examiners. In 1888, Dr. Aiken was united in marriage to Miss Anna H. Hodson, who was born in Westborough, Clinton county, Ohio, April 23, 1862, her parents being Simeon and Mary L. (Cunningham) Hodson, the father being born at Waverly, Ross county, Ohio, September 1, 1830, and died September 28, 1908. He was a farmer and also engaged in the commission business at the union stock yards, Cincinnati. The mother was born August Jo, 1829, at Monroe, Ohio, and died December 16, 1904, and both are buried at Westborough, Ohio., They were the parents of six children, four of whom lived to reach maturity. Florence H. is the wife of Dr. J. M. Austin, of Springfield, Ohio. Dr. Charles H., of San Diego, Cal. Etta, who became the wife of Williamson Botts, of Wilmington, Ohio, died April 28, 1911, and is buried at Westborough, Ohio. Anna, who is Mrs. Aiken. Dr. and Mrs. Aiken have had one son to bless their union : Hurdes H„ who was born August 20, 1891, is at home. Mrs. Aiken is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and Dr. Aiken is a member of the orders of Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed all the chairs of both of these organizations. In politics, Dr. Aiken favors the measures of the Democratic party and his popularity is evidenced by his nomination to the office of county auditor, to which he was elected by a large majority in November, 1912. In religious matters, Dr. Aiken is of the Swedenborgian faith, while Mrs. Aiken was reared by her parents in the faith of the Society of Friends. The life of Dr. Aiken has been a busy one, yet he has found time for many charitable deeds. His kindly spirit, genial disposition and honorable principles have greatly endeared him to those with whom he has been associated. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES O. F. RICE.- 701 Mr. O. F. Rice, the genial general merchant of Felicity, may be termed one of the self-made men of Clermont county, Ohio, for by his ambition, great integrity and honest dealings, he has reached the ranks of the well-to-do men of his village. He was born in Felicity, Ohio, July 12, 1867, and his parents were J. W. and Amanda (Lanham) Rice. Mr. J. W. Rice was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1838, and died in March, 1912. He was a stirrup maker early in life and later was a day laborer. He was a staunch Democrat and served as street commissioner in the corporation. He was a man of honorable character and industrious habits, considered one of the substantial citizens of Felicity. Amanda (Lanham) Rice was born in Clermont county in 1835 and is now residing in Felicity. Notley Lanham, a brother, was a gallant soldier in the Civil war. Mrs. Rice became the mother of eight children, six of whom are now living: Alice, died in infancy. Lewis, a resident of Felicity. Ada is the wife of Edward Melvin, of Cincinnati. Rebecca married Joseph A. Donnelly, both of whom are deceased. O. F., our subject. Bertie is the wife of C. W. Ross. Charles is a resident of Covington, Ky. Kate is the wise of Walter Scherar, of Cincinnati. Mr. O. F. Rice attended the public school of Felicity during the winter terms, leaving school in March of each year to engage in work on a farm, in this way assisting in the expenses of his education. For a period of two years, Mr. Rice was employed as a porter for Waterfield & Son, general merchants of Felicity. At this time he was promoted to a clerkship and in this capacity spent several years. He was also employed as clerk for M. Solomon and for W. G. Richey of Felicity. His next venture in the business world was for himself, when he opened a meat market, and in this business continued for one year, when he embarked in the grocery business in his present store room. In 1893, Mr. Rice, starting in on a larger scale, opened a general store in the same location on Main street. He has a splendid business and is well fitted for the occupation. On January 1, 1890, Mr. Rice was united in marriage to 702 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES Miss Bird Phillips, who was born in Clermont county in 1874, and is a daughter of John D. and Sarah J. (Bredwell) Phillips, the former was born in Tate township, and is now deceased. He was a retired farmer for several years prior to his death. He was a Democrat and was trustee of Tate township for a number of years. His wife was also born in Clermont county and is a resident of Bethel. She is in her seventieth year and is the mother of five children, four of whom are living: Granville resides near Mt. Orab, Brown county, Ohio. Georgia is the wife of E. L. Fisher, of Clermont county. Bird is Mrs. Rice. Pet is the wife of P. C. Morehead, of Bethel. Granville and George Phillips, uncles of Mrs. Rice, were soldiers in the Civil war, enlisting from Ohio. Mr. Rice is a Democrat in politics and has filled the responsible position of township treasurer, being appointed to the office. He possesses the genial manner and spirit of good fellowship necessary to a public life. Mrs. Rice is a member of the Bethel Baptist church, but attends the Christian church. She is an active worker in the church and both Mr. and Mrs. Rice give liberally of their means to the support of the denomination. Mr. Rice is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is active in all affairs of the order. The business career of Mr. Rice was started with no resources other than his good habits, energy and pluck, which are capital enough for any young man. He has accumulated a reasonable amount of worldly possessions, being the owner of his pretty home and the store building in which he conducts his general store. The building is a three-story red brick, which was erected in 1857. The third floor is occupied as a lodge room for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Rice has been ably assisted by his wife and they have worked together toward the same goal, and they are now enjoying many of the comforts of life which they so well deserve. AUGUSTUS F. KAYSER. Augustus F. Kayser is accounted one of the foremost citizens of Moscow, Clermont county, where he is identified with various enterprises. He is well known as secretary of the Clermont Distilling & Mill Company, and as assistant cashier CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 703 of the State Bank of Moscow. He is a native of Moscow, born on the place where he now resides, October 19, 1867, son of Charles and Caroline (Jungling) Kayser. His parents and grandparents, who came to Ohio from Germany, are mentioned at considerable length elsewhere in these volumes, in connection with the sketch of Charles Kayser, president of both the companies with which his son, Augustus, is identified. Mr. Kayser was educated in the public schools of his native place, and at once went to work for the milling company where he has since continued and has kept the books, being now treasurer and manager. The enterprise consists of a saw and planing mill and the manufacture of fruit brandy. They handle ice, and fruit brandy is sent in large quantities throughout Kentucky and other parts of the South. They have a local trade in lumber and a good business in custom sawing. They have built up their present large enterprise little by little, which is one of the most important enterprises in the county. Mr. Kayser is a Democrat in politics and is serving his third term as township treasurer, in which office he has given good satisfaction. He formerly served three years as township. clerk and has been a member of the Moscow school board for the past fifteen years. Fraternally he belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Eastern Star and Daughters of America. He is permanent secretary of the Odd Fellows, secretary of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, master of finance of the Knights of Pythias, financial secretary of the Odd Fellows, and encampment, and trustee of the Masonic lodge. He is an attendant and trustee of the Methodist church, a large contributor and interested in all its good work. On December 1o, 1890, Mr. Kayser married Miss Effie M. Howard, daughter of Abner and Mary A. (Stephenson) Howard, born near Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, January 12, 1864. Mr. Howard was born in Brown county July I 1, 1834, and for the last thirty years before his death lived in Washington township, Clermont county. He was a Democrat in politics, and died November 9, 1900, aged sixty-six years, two months and twenty-eight days. He is buried in Calvary cemetery. Mrs. Howard, also a native of Brown county, was born in 1836 and lives with her children in Cincinnati. Ten children were born to this couple : Charles A. married Miss Annie Bolender and they live in Felicity ; Marion S. married Ellie 704 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES Cashman, of Kansas, and died in June, 1893, being buried in Spokane, Wash.; Robert G. married Miss Lina Clark, died June 7, 1902, and is buried in Mount Zion cemetery ; Mrs. Kayser ; James M., born January 5, 1867, married Miss Katie Cavanaugh, of Goshen, Ohio, and they live at New Richmond ; Ada J., wife of B. F. Cushard, of Moscow, he being a brick mason ; Mary C., wife of August London, of Kansas City, Mo.; Zella G., unmarried, taught ten years in Clermont county and five years in the public schools of St. Bernard, Ohio ; John C., unmarried is superintendent of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, of Baltimore, Ohio ; Vincent F. died July 25, 1904, and is buried in Calvary cemetery. All these children except the two youngest were born in Brown county. The parents and all the daughters and one son, Marion S., became members of the Methodist church. Marion, James, Robert and Zella all taught school in Clermont county, and Marion graduated in pharmacy from Lewisburg, Kan., College of Pharmacy. Mrs. Howard is very active for a woman of her years and has a wonderful memory. She is cheerful and pleasant in manner and has many friends. Her youngest son, Vincent, was killed by a horse knocking him down and a load of hay passing over him, at Cedar Falls, Iowa, which was a great shock and sorrow to the aged mother, from which it is hard for her to recover. Mrs. Kayser is a member of the Eastern Star, also of the Daughters of America, and is active in both orders. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also her three sons. She has been a valuable helpmeet for her husband and both enjoy universal esteem, counting their friends by the score. Mr. Kayser is well known for a conscientious, thoughtful man in all ways, and is actuated by good principles. He is broad and liberal in his ideas and well qualified for the many positions of trust which he holds. They have three children, all born in Moscow : Elmer H., born February 12, 1893, a graduate of the Moscow High School, is taking a scientific agricultural course in the State University; Charles Frederick, born December 12, 1897, attends the Moscow High School ; Abner Merrill, born April 27, 1900, attending grammar school. Mr. Kayser lives in the old home, which his father built the year after the close of the Civil war, on the Ohio river pike. Christian Kayser, an uncle of A. F. Kayser, served in the CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 705 Civil war from Ohio, and his brother, father of A. F. Kayser, served as sergeant of Company M, Fourth Ohio cavalry, serving three years. An uncle of Mrs. Kayser, Dr. Amsey Stephenson, also served in the war. THOMAS J. MOYER. Thomas J. Moyer and wife are among the most highly respected residents of Clermont county, and belong to old families in that region. He is a gentleman of the old school, courtly in manner and kind of heart, and she is known for her good deeds and motherly feeling for the younger people of the community, who have great affection for her. Mr. Moyer is greatly respected as a veteran of the Civil war, and before retiring from active life was also a farmer and veterinary surgeon. He was born in Clermont county, in March, 1841, son of Philip and Mary (Moorehead) Moyer. Philip Moyer was born in Germany, in 1811, and came with his father, Jacob Moyer, and his four paternal uncles to America, settling in Pennsylvania. This was over one hundred years ago, and those five brothers settled in Franklin township, near Felicity, Ohio, becoming prosperous farmers. Philip Moyer was reared near Felicity, and as a young man became a farmer and blacksmith. In 1842-43 he entered land in Shelby county, Illinois, and there carried on farming and worked at his trade until his death, in 1845, being buried in Illinois. His wife, who was born in Clermont county, in 1809, died in 1857, and was buried near her birthplace. There were three children in their family, of whom Thomas J. is the only survivor. One son, Philip, went to Kansas in young manhood and died there some ten years since. He was born in 1845. Mrs. Moyer married (second) Henry Demaris and they had four children, of whom one son, James Demaris, is a farmer near Chilo. Mr. Moyer was educated in the public schools of Felicity and assisted his stepfather on the farm until he was twenty years old, when he removed to Illinois, and there carried. on farming- and practiced veterinary surgery in Shelby county, where he remained for a period of nineteen years. He was successful as an agriculturist and his services became in demand for veterinary practice. In the fall of 1879 he located in Moscow, Clermont county, Ohio, where he practiced his profession. He also engaged in farming in the vicinity. 706 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES In May, 1862, Mr. Moyer enlisted for service in the Civil war in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-fifth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and was mustered out in 1864. He participated in the battles of Cedar Creek, Harper's Ferry, Georgetown and others. He won a good record as a soldier and performed every duty which came to him in this connection. In 1859 Mr. Moyer was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Brown, who was born in Muskingum, Ohio, in 1841, daughter of Michael Brown, a native of Ohio and a colonel in the Mexican war. There were three children in the Brown family, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. Moyer died in Ohio, in 1879, and is buried in Clermont county. She left six children, all of whom survive, as follows : James, Mary L., Alice, Annie, William and Lulu. James, the eldest son of Thomas J. Moyer and wife, was born in Shelby county, Illinois, and now resides in Nebraska. He married Myrtle Hickox and they have ten children, all born in Nebraska, among whom are Lula, who married Harry Harris and lives in Nebraska, Alva, Bessie, Enos, Anita, Kern, Elsie and Margaret. Mary L., the second child, was born in Illinois. She married Thomas Snead and they live at Neville and have a son, Clarence. Alice, the third child, was born in Illinois. She married Samuel McFarland, lives in Kansas and has had ten children, seven of whom are living, namely : Lawrence, Lulu, Sarah, Joseph, Thomas, Clifford. Annie, the fourth child, was born in Illinois. She married Volly Schofield, lives in Kansas and they have three children, namely : Roy, Alice, and the youngest. William, the fifth child, was born in Illinois and is married. He lives in St. Louis, Mo., where he is employed as a shipping clerk for a lime and cement factory. Lulu, the sixth child, was born in Missouri and is the wife of Charles Whitford, of Moscow, Ohio. They have three children : Otto, Ritchull and Mary Alice. In 1881, Mr. Moyer was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Pribble, a native of Clermont county, born in 1839, daughter of Nathaniel and Melinda (Jones) Chapman, both also born there. Both are deceased, she having died before her husband and he having passed away some twenty years ago. They lived near Felicity, were farmers and had twelve CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 707 children, of whom we are able to give the following account : John Chapman lives at Higginsport, Ohio ; Rachel, widow of John Collier, of Cincinnati ; Susan, wife of Austin Miller, lives at Truesville, Ky.; Thomas lives near Utopia. By her first marriage Mrs. Moyer had six children, namely : Jennie, at home with her mother ; Mary is the wife of Lawson Hayden, of Felicity ; Nora died at the age of fourteen years and is buried near Felicity ; Nathaniel married Miss Eleanor Hickox ; Ellie died at the age of ten years and is buried in Mt. Pleasant cemetery near Felicity ; Albert died when about two years old. Mrs. Moyer's grandfather, Nathaniel Chapman, came from Pennsylvania to Clermont county about the game time the Moyers came, and they lived on neighboring farms. The region was a wilderness and they cleared and improved their farms, made their own knives and forks, boiled down maple sap for sugar, and followed the lives of pioneers. Mrs. Moyer's father, Nathaniel Chapman, died in 1872 and was buried near Felicity, and his wife, who died in 1864, was also buried there. They had twelve children, all born in Clermont county, of whom six now survive : Mary died in 1865 the wife of. Thomas Campbell, of Clermont county ; Abraham lives in Ripley, Ohio ; William, of Levanna, Ohio ; Mrs. Moyer ; Sarah, who married James Dunham, of Levanna, died in February, 191a; Katherine, who married Jefferson Flaugher, died about five years ago ; Matilda, wife of George Vermillion, died soon after the war ; Nelson went West and has not been heard from by the family for twenty-five years ; Nathaniel lives near Felicity ; Hattie, wife of William Hick, lives at Levanna. Mr. and Mrs. Moyer are devout members of the Christian church and he is one of the trustees. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics is a Democrat. He served some years as deputy sheriff under Henry Speidel and for eight years was constable of Washington township. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows. Mr. Moyer owns thirty acres of good farm land on the New Richmond pike. Mrs. Moyer's grandfather, William Jones, was an orderly sergeant in the Mexican war, and her cousins, Samuel and Abraham Chapman, served in the Fifty-ninth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. Mrs. Moyer's brothers, Abraham and William, also served in the Civil war, the former in the Fifty-ninth regiment and the latter from Brown county, Ohio. 708 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES CHARLES KAYSER. Charles Kayser, one of the old substantial business men of Clermont county, and well known as president of the Clermont Distilling Company and the president of the Moscow State Bank, is a self-made man and has won his present position and success through untiring energy and industry. He has the respect of his fellow townsman and his keen business sense is well recognized. He is a native of Hornberg, Baden, Germany, born June 21, 1842, son of Frederick and Rosina (Stortz) Kayser, natives of the same place. His father was born in 1807 and his mother was born in 1808 and died November 9, 1888, and both are buried in Moscow cemetery. They brought their family to America, in 1850, and first located in Newtown, Ohio. Later cow, where the father was a cooper until his death. They had five children, all born in Germany, of whom two now survive : Frederick, born in 1841, died in 1861 ; Charles ; Rosina, wife of Charles Baumann ; Christian, served eleven months in the Union army from Ohio and is now connected with the Lion brewery in Cincinnati ; Augustus died in 1910 and his family resides in Cincinnati. Mr. Kayser began his education in Cincinnati and continued it at New Richmond, and his first work was in the cooper shop kept by his father, where he learned the trade and remained until he was eighteen years of age. He then worked in Cincinnati until 1862, when he enlisted in Company M, Fourth Ohio volunteer cavalry, for three years, participating in the battles of Murfreesboro, Atlanta, Nashville and Macon, taking part in a raid at the latter place. He returned to Ohio and worked one year for his brother-in-law at New Richmond. In 1866 he started a brewery in Moscow, conducted it two or three years then started distilling fruit brandy. He owned a plant in Moscow and added a lumber mill, in 1886, for local trade and custom sawing. He built his distillery in 1876. He also deals in ice. He has been active in various other local business enterprises and was elected president of the bank in 1904, through the general confidence in his integrity and probity. His name is an asset to the institution and he directs its affairs with discretion and good judgment. He is a Democrat in politics and has been township trustee several years. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 709 On December 6, 1866, Mr. Kayser married Miss Caroline Juengling, who was born in Germany, August 4, 1845, and came to America as an infant. She is a daughter of Jacob and Christiana (Hertzer) Juengling, natives of Wurtemburg, Germany, he born March 1, 181o, and she September to, t816. They came to America in 1846, locating a mile from Point Pleasant, Ohio, where they carried on farming until the death of Mr. Juengling, in 1884. The mother died in 1876 and was buried in Moscow cemetery. They had eight daughters and one son, namely : Katherine, widow of Philip Weber, of Cincinnati ; Dorothy widow of Joseph Pingel, lives near Point Pleasant ; Louise, deceased, was the wife of John Greenwald and lived in Toledo, Ohio ; Mrs. Kayser ; John, on the old home place ; Christina, widow of John Greenwald ; Mary, wife of John Glaser, of Moscow, and Matilda, deceased, were twins ; Pauline, unmarried, lives on the home place at Point Pleasant. Mr. and Mrs. Kayser have five children, all born at Moscow : Augustus F., a sketch of whom also appears in this history, lives in Moscow ; Rose, wife of Stanley Fenwick, of Seattle, Wash.; Tillie, wife of A. E. Buchanan, on part of her father's farm, and they have four daughters—Helen, Vera, Catherine and Margaret ; Charles married Miss Ida Weber and they live in Cincinnati; Mary, wife George P. Lakin, a ranchman, of Revere, Wash. In 1884 Mr. and Mrs. Kayser came to live in their present home in the eastern suburbs of Moscow, where they have seventy-nine or eighty acres of land and -a well improved house. They are members of the Lutheran church, of New Richmond, and active in its work. They are well known in Moscow, where they have many friends. They have reared a fine family and worked hard for their start in life. LEVI JARMAN (Deceased). Although Levi Jarman died a quarter of a century ago, he is well remembered by many residents of Clermont county. He was a self-made man, successful in his life work, and held the highest principles of honor. He stood for all that was best in the conduct of local affairs„ and was a man of broad sympathies and kindly nature. He was born near Neville, Clermont county, October 21, 1838, son of Azariah and Martha (Kelsey) Jarman, and belonged to an old family in the region. 710 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES His father was born in Philadelphia, March 21, 1793, and died June 17, 1879, and his mother, born near Cleves, Hamilton county, Ohio, February 6, 1802, died June 27, 1846. The father was a glass blower and blacksmith and came to Ohio at an early day and located at Moscow, Clermont county, for a short time. He was married, November 16, 1823, and soon afterward located on a farm near Neville. He had nine children, all deceased except one : Harriet married Harvey Wood, lived near Neville, and died February 27, 1845, her husband also being dead; John lived near Neville and died October 4, 1910; William lived near Neville, but died November 24, 185o; Elizabeth is the widow of William Hughes, of Adams county-, Ohio, and is mentioned at some length in connection with the sketch of Dr. William J. Hughes, of Moscow, a sketch of whom appears in this work ; Mary married James Snyder, lived in Ripley, Ohio, and died July 20, 1869; Benjamin died at the age of twenty years ; Levi, whose name stands at the head of this biography ; George married Miss Alice Rose, died October 19, 1879, and is given a sketch in this publication; Hannah, died in infancy, March 3, 1846. Levi Jarman was educated in the Neville public schools and remained at home with his parents until 1867. On September 23d of that year he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Belle McClain, who was born near Chilo, Clermont county, November 12, 1848, daughter of Jesse and Eleanor R. (Sargent) McClain. Mr. McClain was born in Virginia and died in 1891, and Mrs. McClain was born in the same place as her daughter (Mrs. Jarman) and died January 20, 1907. Part of the house where Mrs. Jarman was born was erected before Ohio became a State, being put up by her great-grandfather, who came from Maryland. The grandfather, James Sargent, was a member of the first constitutional convention of Ohio and a member of the State legislature when the capital was at Chillicothe. They were among the oldest families in the State and James Sargent and his wife gave part of their farm to the county, where they are buried. The McClain family also was prominent in Clermont county. Jesse McClain and wife had four children, viz.: Mrs. Jarman ; Edward S., unmarried, living on the old home farm ; Mary, wife of Frank Kehoe, of Portsmouth, Ohio ; Eeanor died in 1891, and is buried beside her father in Woods cemetery. Mrs. McClain was a Methodist. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 711 After marriage Mr. Jarman located on the farm where his widow now resides in Washington township, which contains one hundred and fifty-three acres of choice farm land. He became a general farmer, made many improvements on his place and put up a good tenant house. He was a Republican in politics and took an active interest in public affairs, but did not care to hold office himself. Mrs. Jarman belongs to the Presbyterian church. Mr. Jarman passed away February 7, 1889, and is buried in the Odd Fellows' portion of Vesper cemetery, near Neville. Mr. and Mrs. Jarman had six children, all born in Clermont county : Mary, wife of Fee Naylor, lives near Batavia and they have one son, Jarman. Edward died at the age of seven months. Eleanor attended school at Portsmouth and Delaware, Ohio, and is at home with her mother. Margaret attended the Moscow High School and is now at home. Clara, wife of Thomas Jefferson Davis, of Duquesne, Pa., has three sons, Frank Reynolds, William Jarman and Thomas Jefferson. Frank, on the home farm. The daughters are members of the Order of Eastern Star. The family have a beautiful home just across the creek from Moscow, in Washington township, and they are among the most prominent people of Moscow. HENRY D. HAHN. Henry D. Hahn belongs to one of Ohio's very old families and is very well known in Clermont county, where he has resided many years. He is a veteran of the Civil war and for some years past has been retired from business life. Mr. Hahn is a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, born June 28, 1845, son of John and Nancy (Martin) Hahn, the former a Mexican war soldier, and later a plasterer and brick mason by trade. John Hahn was a son of Samuel and Hetty Jane Hahn, who were among the oldest residents of Hamilton county, where they located about 1775. At that time there was a fort between Mount Washington and Cherry Grove, and when the 712 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES Indians were making raids on the settlers the latter took refuge in this fort until the danger was past. At one time the Indians fired the fort, but rain began to fall and saved the fort and the lives of the occupants. They endured all the hardships and privations of a pioneer existence and became prominent in the affairs of the community. They came to Ohio from Pennsylvania. John Hahn died soon after the close of the Mexican war and his wife, a native of Hamilton county, born in 1812, died in 1859. Her parents were also very early settlers of Hamilton county, coming from Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn had nine children, all born in Hamilton county, and all deceased except Henry D. Mr. Hahn finished his education in Mount Washington Academy, and in 1861, when he was about seventeen years old, he enlisted in December, 1861, from Hamilton county, in Company D, Seventieth Ohio volunteer infantry, serving until honorably discharged, in February, 1863. He participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing and numerous skirmishes, including one at Corinth. He contracted a disease at Memphis, Tenn., on account of which he was discharged. Returning to Hamilton county, he remained at the home of an uncle, John H. Gerard, near Mt. Washington, for a short time, finally locating at Neville, Ohio, in August, 1863. For a number of years he worked as clerk for Daniel McMillan, then worked for John Prather, another merchant, after which he engaged in farming in Washington township, Clermont county. He followed farming until 1881, then built his home in Neville, which he has occupied ever since. He has been successful in his various enterprises and is a self-made man, energetic, upright and genial. He retired from active life some years ago and is now enjoying the fruit of his earlier years of toil. He is a Republican and much interested in politics, though he has never aspired to office. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic and well known in the organization. On February 6, 1870, Mr. Hahn married Miss Sarah McMath, born in Neville in 1848, daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Clark) McMath. Mr. McMath was born in Pennsylvania September 25, 1812, and died in 1907, and his wife was born in Georgetown, Ohio, in 1817, and died in March, 1889, both being buried in Vester cemetery at Neville. Mr. McMath CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 713 was a merchant in Neville and later engaged in buying tobacco, being the pioneer tobacco buyer of the county. He was one of the best known men in the vicinity and held in high esteem by all. He was a Republican in politics. He and his wife had seven children, all born in Neville : Mary, wife of William Rust, and both she and her husband are de- deceased, having spent their married life in Neville ; Hannah, widow of J. W. Webb, of Vanceburg, Ky. ; Nancy married A. R. Brown, of Manchester, Ohio, lived in Chilo for years, and is now deceased ; Jane, widow of William Drake, lives at Walnut Hills, Cincinnati ; Mrs. Henry D. Hahn ; Lysle, wife of M. C. Garrett, of Walnut Hills ; Charles lives in Neville. At the time Mr. McMath came to Neville. in 1818, there were very few houses there, and he was one of the earliest settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn are devout members of the Methodist church. He is one of the trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school, and she is a teacher in the Sunday school and a steward. Both are enthusiastic members of the Epworth league. They have many friends and are in demand for various social functions, as well as church activities. A cousin of Mrs. Hahn, William Hobbs, participated in the Civil war, as well as an uncle, John McMath. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn appreciate the part taken by their parents and grandparents in the early development of the State of Ohio, and are worthy representatives of their families. Mrs. Hahn is a charming woman and their father spent eighteen years in the lovely Hahn residence in Neville. WILLIAM A. SHINKLE. William A. Shinkle is one of the most successful general farmers in Franklin township, Clermont county, and has won success through his own efforts, being a self-made man. He is a native of Higginsport, Brown county, Ohio, born July 4, 1855, and is a son of Isaac and Maria Jane (Lamberts) Shinkle. The father was born at Shingles Ridge, Brown county, in 1827, and died in 1905, and the mother, born in the same place as the father, in 1829, died in 1899. Both parents are buried in Bethel, Clermont county, Ohio. He was a Republican in politics and a substantial citizen. He and his wife 714 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES had ten children, all except one born in Brown county, and all except one now surviving: Lewis, of Chicago ; William A., of this sketch; Ida, wife of Walter Jennings, living near Cynthiana, Ky.; Minnie married Scott Beach and died, leaving one son, Isaac Earl, of Chicago ; Abbie Lee, wife of John Yeardsley, of Cynthiana, Ky.; Isaac N., of New Bethel ; Jemimah, wife of Andy Dean, lives in Bethel, Ohio, and they have one child ; Letitia, wife of Ed. Wilson, of New Bethel ; George, of Denver, Colo., and Fannie, wife of Charles George, of Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Shinkle received his education in the public schools of Brown county and remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years old. He has always carried on farming and is progressive in his ideas and methods. He was married on December 5, 1878, to Miss Anna Gill, born in Brown county, Ohio, May 3, 1859, daughter of J. M. and Sarah (Buckner) Gill. Her father was born in 1823 and died in November, 1908, and the mother was born October 16, 1825, and died in 1902, both natives of New Brookville, Ky., and both buried in Ripley, Ohio. Mr. Gill was a Republican in politics, and a farmer and trader by occupation. He moved to Brown county in 1857-58 and there spent the remainder of his life. He had nine children, of whom six now survive : Lucy, wife of Benjamin Craig, of Augusta, Ky., died in 1898; Addie B., wife of J. E. Mefferd, of Lexington, Ky.; S. Belle, wife of William J. Mertin, of Sharon, Ky.; Anna M., Mrs. Shinkle ; William W., of Ripley ; Minerva, wife of John Day, lives near Ripley. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shinkle located on a farm in Bracken county, Kentucky, where they lived for fifteen years. They then removed to Lexington, Fayette county, Kentucky, in the Blue Grass region, where they lived fifteen years. They located in Chilo, Clermont county, in February, 191o, and there have forty-nine acres of good farming land. Philip Buckner, great-grandfather of Mrs. Shinkle, was one of the first settlers of New Augusta, and was the first governor of Kentucky. He owned many hundreds of acres of land, all of Bracken county, and often sold ten acres or more of it at a time for almost nothing. Mr. Shinkle is a Republican in politics and he and his wife belong to the Baptist church. They have four children, all born in Bracken county, Kentucky : Wilbur G., born October 18, 1879, is employed by a railroad company and lives in Northern Ohio. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 715 W. Francis, born July 22, 1881, married December 24, 1912, Miss Lolo L. Denniston, daughter of Henry W. Denniston, of near Chilo, Ohio, and they are living near Chilo. Archie E., born October 8, 1883, married Miss Lilly Wag, ner, lives near Midway, Ky., and they have one son, Earl. Jennie May, born April 14, 1887, married George Popham, lives in Lexington, Ky., and they have two sons, Charles Frank and Edward G. Mr. and Mrs. Shinkle are pleasant neighbors and have many friends in the community. They are much respected and are known to be hard working and industrious. Mrs. Shinklels brother-in-law, Benjamin Craig, served through the Civil war. Francis Shinkle was in Fort Thomas three years. ELDA W. HOWE. Mr. E. W. Howe, a dealer in general merchandise and manager of the Chilo Fuel Company, is one of the leading citizens of Chilo, Clermont county, and is popular wherever known. He is .upright and reliable and is an enterprising, careful merchant, watchful of the interests of his customers. He is well known for his broad views and cheerful, obliging manner, which makes friends for him wherever he goes. He is a native of Chilo, born March 27, 187o, son of Henry and Carrie (Foster) Howe. The father, also a native of Chilo, was born February 23, 1846, and the mother, who was born in Germany, came with her parents to Glendale, Ohio, at the age of eight years. Both her parents died on the old home place near Chilo. The father served in the Civil war in Company K, Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, being wounded at the battle of Stone River. He served about four years in the army and won a creditable record. He and his wife had three children, all born in Chilo : E. W., of this sketch ; Clara, wife of Charles Hendrickson, of Hulington, Clermont county ; E. F., who makes his home with his parents, travels for J. Henry Koenig Company, of Cincinnati. After completing the course offered by the public schools of Chilo, E. W. Howe attended Nelson's Business College, of Cincinnati, and his first work afterwards was in the capacity of clerk in the old Indiana House, in that city, where he remained one year. He then took a position in the employ of 716 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES J. Wilder, of Cincinnati, in whose interests he traveled seven years. During this time he made his home at New Richmond for a few years, and in 1897 came to Chilo and opened up a general merchandise establishment in Chilo, which enterprise has been very successful. He has also been postmaster in the village since July 17, 1899, and is a prominent figure in general affairs. He is a Republican in politics, and fraternally belongs to the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and United Commercial Travelers. On September 24, 189o, Mr. Howe was united in marriage with Miss Anna Hall, who was born near Chilo, October 9, 1871, daughter of William and Harriet (Sargent) Hall, natives of Chilo, the father born in 184o and the mother in 1842. They were farmers, but now reside in Chilo. Mr. Sargent and his wife belong to old families of the region and he served in Company K, Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry. He and his wife had six children, all born near Chilo : George and William, of Chilo ; Lena, wife of Matthew Spurlock, of Cincinnati, died in 1897; Mrs. Howe; Etta, wife of Charles Wrigglesworth, living near Chilo ; Florence died at the age of six years.  Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Howe, namely : Elsie M., born at New Richmond, August 14, 1892, at home; Mabel L., born in Chilo, October 18, 1894, attending school ; Viola B., born February 9, 1897, at Chilo, also in school ; Hurdes H., born at Chilo, February 18, 1899; Harold T., born July 10, 1904. Mr. Howe erected his present substantial store in 1900 and has a beautiful home, modern in every respect, and the finest in the city, located on Washington and Hamilton streets, which was built in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Howe belong to the first families of the region. His grandfather, who came from a family of blacksmiths, followed the same trade, and came to Chilo, where he was one of the earliest settlers, from Pennsylvania. Mrs. Howe's grandfather was also one of the first settlers of Chilo. CHARLES W. STRATTON. Charles W. Stratton, a retired carpenter and a veteran of the Civil war, lives in one of the oldest places in the village of Neville, Clermont county, and belongs to one of the oldest families of the county. He was born in the village, June 12, CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 717 1846, son of Aaron and Mary (Thomas) Stratton. His father was born in New Jersey, December 25, 1810, and came to Clermont county in 1823, settling in Neville, where he and his father, John Stratton, cleared land for a home. The father served in Company B, Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was wounded at Pittsburg Landing. The mother was born along the Wabash river in Indiana, in 1823, and died in 1858. The father died in 1882 and both parents were buried in Neville cemetery. They had seven children, all horn in Neville, but two of whom now survive : Charles W., of this sketch, and Rebecca, widow of Daniel Loyd, of New Jersey. Mr. Stratton was educated in the public schools of his native village and there grew to manhood. His father was in business there for many years, ran the ferry and had a cooperage and grocery business combined. He sold the ferry in 1857 and in 1862 sold the cooperage business. After leaving school Charles W. Stratton worked away from home, first in a still-house, and in 186o learned the trade of cooper, which he followed until 1904, when he retired from active life. He has been a lifelong resident of Neville and has done considerable carpenter work. He erected several houses in the village and also did considerable repairing and contract work. He worked some time as a journeyman in Kentucky and was a good workman in every way. In 1863, Mr. Stratton enlisted in Company K, Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and remained seven months in service. In 1864 he enlisted a second time, in Company K, One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and participated in the battle of Winchester. He had a good record and performed well the duties that came to him. Mr. Stratton is a Republican in politics and has held some of the town offices of Neville, having served as marshal and road commissioner, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. He is honest and upright, largely a self-made man, and one of the jolliest men in the neighborhood. He has a large number of friends and is much respected as a public-spirited citizen. He and his wife are intelligent and progressive and are active in many circles. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Stratton has a queer-shaped ax that he dug up, which he believes to have been made by the Indians. 718 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES On December 1, 1867, Mr. Stratton was united in marriage with Miss Elmira Camery, born in Moscow, Ohio, in 1844, daughter of John and Mary (Redmond) Camery, the father being a native of Pennsylvania. Her mother died some fourteen or fifteen years ago and her father some thirty years ago. They had nine children, five sons and four daughters, namely : Lewis lived in Kentucky and died there ; William, of Neville ; Elmira, Mrs. Stratton ; Jacob, of Cincinnati ; John, of Neville ; Samuel, of Cleves ; Nettie, wife of John Singer, of Hamilton ; Melissa, of Dayton ; Mary, deceased, was the wife of George Farlay. Stratton died September 16, 1902, leaving three children, all born in Neville : Jesse A., born January 29, 1869, married Laura Philips. They live at Newport, Ky.; Maude, wife of Robert Devine, died January 27, 1892, leaving one son, Terrence, who runs a Government boat and lives with his grandfather, who reared and adopted him ; Carrie B., widow of Edward Donovan, lived in Foster, Ky., and they had six children-Helen (deceased), Hazel, Elmira, Myrtle May, Jessie and Grace. After the death of her husband Mrs. Donovan later became the wife of Frederick Hancock and they reside near Cedar Grove, Ind. Mrs. Stratton was buried in Neville cemetery. On August 13, 1903, Mr. Stratton was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Carr, born near Neville, November 4, 1864, daughter of James and Melvina (Howell) Carr. Mr. Carr was born above Moscow, February 25, 1817, and died October 12, 1893, and Mrs. Carr was born near Neville, July 16, 1832, and died July 21, 1908, both being buried at Moscow cemetery. Both the Howells and Carrs were among the earliest settlers of their part of the county and had to clear land for their homes. Mr. and Mrs. Carr had five children, all born near Neville, namely : Elizabeth, Mrs. Stratton, was a teacher and before her marriage taught in Bracken and Pendleton counties, Kentucky, and one year in Tennessee ; John is a street car conductor in Dayton ; Kilby is a motorman of Dayton ; Samuel is a coroner's constable and is in the insurance business in Dayton ; Ella taught one year in Neville public school, died July 20, 1894, at the age of twenty-one years and is buried near Moscow. Mr. and Mrs. Carr were both members of the Methodist church and were highly respected members of their community. Mrs. Stratton also belongs to the Methodist church and to the Daughters of America. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 719 Mr. and Mrs. Stratton have lived in their present home on Main street since November, 1904, and they have many friends. Both are natives of the county and well known, being members of old and substantial families. Four half-brothers of Mrs. Stratton-Alonzo, Greenberry, William, and Barton-served in the Civil war, the first three in the Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry and the last named in the navy, all being from Clermont county. Barton was taken prisoner and was incarcerated for seven months in Andersonville prison. A half-brother of Mr. Stratton, Theodore Stratton, served in Company H, Thirty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. Andrew Jackson McGuire, a brother-in-law, served in Company C, Twelfth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was killed in the battle of Winchester, 1864. THOMAS J. HOUSER. Probably no man in Clermont county worked harder to gain a start in life on his own account, and none are held in higher respect by his neighbors and associates. By the help of his noble wife he has been able to reach comfortable circumstances and become the owner of a nice farm. He is a substantial citizen and wide awake to the best interests of the community and county. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, September 4, 186o, son of William and Sarah (Love) Houser, also natives of that county. William Houser was born June 27, 1827, and died May 13, 1864, and his wife was born December 2, 1832, and died November 26, 1875. Both buried in Hoovers cemetery. The father was a farmer by occupation and spent his entire life in Brown county. There were six children born to him and his wife : Alexander and Martin, of Brown county ; Emma, wife of William Carter, of Brown county ; Anna married Harvey Lanham and died about 189o; Thomas ; Addie married Lewis Rice and they live in Cincinnati. Mr. Houser was educated in the public schools near his father's home and remained on the farm until his mother's death. Being left an orphan at the age of fifteen years, he worked by the month for the next seven years at farm work, and, in 1883, was married and located on a farm near Georgetown. A year later he and his wife moved on a farm near 720 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES Ripley, where they remained three years, then returned to the neighborhood of Georgetown. In 1890 they became residents of Washington township, Clermont county, where they purchased ninety-four and one-half acres of good farm land. They own another farm of one hundred and seven acres close by and both. are in a high state of cultivation. The house has been improved, new barns have been erected and the place put into first-class condition. Mr. Houser carries on general farming and pays considerable attention to stock raising. He raises considerable tobacco and finds this a paying industry. He began operations in a small way and has pros pered by dint of industry and perseverance. January 31, 1883, Mr. Houser was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Jennings, a native of Brown county, born September 15, 1855, daughter of John A. and Sarah (Carter) Jennings, also reared in that county. Mr. Jennings was born in Sussex county, Delaware, in 1831, and died in 1900, and Mrs. Jennings was born February 24, 1831, in Brown county, Ohio, and died February 1, 1908, both being buried in Brown county. Mr. Jennings came to Brown county when he was four years of age with his father; who was a farmer. He was drafted for service in the Civil war, but hired a substitute. He and his wife had the following ten children, all born in Brown county: Mrs. Houser ; Martin, Grafton and Levi, of Higginsport, Brown county; Luella, wife of Alva Bolander, of Brown county ; George, also of Brown county ; Elizabeth, wife of James Ware, of Augusta, Ky. ; Adeline, wife of Charles Shinkle, of Brown county ; James and John, of Brown county. Mr. Houser is a Democrat in politics and was a candidate for county commissioner in 1912, being elected by a large majority. He has never been an office seeker, but believes it every good citizen's duty to see that the affairs of the town and county are well taken care of. Mrs. Houser is a member of the Christian church at Feesburg. Mr. Houser began life on his own account with nothing whatever in the way of worldly possessions, and when he had been able to save some money and marry he and his wife worked side by side to better their condition. They count their friends by the hundred and are most highly respected as members of the community. Three children blessed the union of Thomas J. Houser and wife, namely : Archie C., born July 4,. 1884; John W., born CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 721 July 4, 1886, married Miss Eunice Wile, and they reside in Washington township ; Roy J., born January 29, 1888. The oldest and youngest sons are at home and carry on the farm. All three were born in Brown county and are exemplary young men and a credit to their parents. JAMES HARVEY DAY. James Harvey Day has one of the prettiest homes in Washington township, well located and well kept, and his barn is one of the finest in the county. He has a genial heart and disposition and is entirely a self-made man. He has a refined, nice family, and is well regarded by the whole neighborhood. Mr. Day was born three miles from his present farm, April 7, 1852, son of John and Sarah (Beckelhymer) Day. The father died when James was an infant and the mother, who was a native of Washington township, was born in 1832 and died in 1877. The father was buried in Brown county and the mother in Washington township. In the family were the following three children, all born in Washington township : James Harvey, Matilda Olive, wife of Joseph Manning, of Tate township ; Florence May, wife of Ed Canter, of Tate township, the last two children being of the mother's second marriage, to Mr. McPheeney. His father had been married before and had four children by his first marriage. Mr. Day attended school in Washington township and remained with his mother until she died, working for her and sometimes on neighboring farms. In 1877 he married Miss Hester Trees, who was born in Washington township, in 1852. She was the daughter of James and Paulina (Sapp) Trees, natives of Clermont county and farmers of Washington township. The grandfather, John Trees, had twelve children, namely : William, John, Jacob, Perry, James and Wesley, all deceased ; Jackson, of Kansas ; Marion, of Washington; Polly, deceased, was the wife of John Allman ; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Eli Annacost ; Caroline, wife of Jerry LeMar, also deceased ; Eveline, wife of John Whidmire, is also deceased. James Trees was married twice and by his two wives he had fifteen children, eight of whom are deceased. Mrs. Day died October 13, 1882, and is buried in Point Isabel cemetery. She is survived by one son, Charles 722 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES born in Franklin township, October 3o, 1880, who married Miss Daisy Brady, on October 21, 1906, and they have three children: George Harvey, born September 9, 1907; Mabel Bell, born October 3o, 1908, and Harley Wilson, born July. 24, 1912. On September 9, 1886, Mr. Day married (second) Miss Emma F. Purkhiser, who was born on the farm where she and her husband now reside, although the house in which she was born burned down. She was born June 25, 1862, and is a daughter of John S. and Sarah L. (Sells) Purkhiser. Mr. Purkhiser was born in Washington township, May 29, 1819, and died January 14, 1900, and his wife, who was born in Lewis township, Brown county, December 2, 1822, died No-, vember 29, 1884, and they are buried in Calvary cemetery. The family were among the earliest settlers of Clermont county. They had six children, all born on the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Day now reside, namely : Michael Henry, deceased, was born November 20, 1844; William McKendry, deceased, born May 3o, 1851 ; Mary Elizabeth, deceased, born September 28, 1855 ; Lorenzo Gilbert, deceased, born February 18, 1859, died in June, 188o ; Emma Florence, Mrs. Day, the only one of the children now surviving, and she cared for her father the last ten years of his life. After marriage Mr. Day carried on farming in Franklin town: ship some twelve years, and in 1890 came to Washington township, erecting his present beautiful home some time later. He has been very successful as a tobacco raiser and makes a specialty of stock raising. He is an enterprising and progressive farmer and has been quite successful. The farm contains a fine spring of water that is never dry. Mr. Day is a Democrat in politics and has served as school director, and he and his wife take great interest in the affairs of the community. He belongs to the Christian church and she to the Methodist church. They have had three children: The first born, a girl, died in infancy ; Sarah May, born in Franklin township, January 30, 1890, has been a music teacher and lived at home. She was married on March 5, 1913, to John D. Bee, of Tate township. He is a farmer ; John Foster, born in Washington township, July 4, 1894, lives at home and helps carry on the farm. Mr. Day had several relatives who served in the Civil war from Ohio. Michael, James M., George and Jackson Beckelhymer served, the first three (the elder) in Company B, Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and Jackson in the CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 723 three months' service. An uncle of Mrs. Day, Michael Gilbert Purkhiser, was a Methodist preacher. Both Mr. and Mrs. Day belong to old families of the region, having lived all their lives in the community in which they now live. They are well known and have many friends. MARK D. ROSS. One of the extensive farmers and large stock raisers of Clermont county, Ohio, representing a family that is most highly respected and one that has been prominently identified with the growth and progress of the county for many years, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Mark D. Ross is the owner of a beautiful farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres and the substantial buildings and the comfortable modern home indicate great energy and thrift, combined with a love of the beautiful. Mr. Ross makes a specialty of fine horses, handling only the very best bred stock which he sells at his home. Mr. Ross is a son of Abner and Mary (Day) Ross, and was born in Lewis township, Brown county, Ohio, in 1844. Abner Ross was born near Georgetown, Ohio, and was a son of William and Katie (Harper) Ross, the latter of Harper's Ferry, Va., and the former a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early date and settled in Brown county. He was by trade a cabinet maker, which he made his life occupation. He had brothers who served in the War of the Revolution. Abner Ross died in 1884 in Missouri, after an active, useful life. Mary (Day) Ross was a native of Brown county and was several years younger than her husband. To their union were born the following named children : William, who was a trader and farmer of Missouri, died in 1911. Rebecca, who became the wife of Samuel Cooper, died in 1887. Sinaellen married Henry Wells, and both are deceased. Melvina married George Jennings, and both are deceased. Mary, who became the wife of Hampton Norris, is deceased, as is her husband. Susan, who is the widow of Mr. McAndra, is a resident of Enid, Okla. 724 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES Eliza, who married Lafayette Rhorer, is a resident of California. Elizabeth, who is the wife of Andrew Ritchie, is a resident of Oklahoma. Mark D., the subject of this mention. Isaac is a resident of Missouri. Utter, deceased. Clark F. is a resident of Missouri. Abner Harper, deceased. Mr. Mark D. Ross was educated in the schools of Lewis township, Brown county, and enlisted in the army of the Civil walk, in Company K, Ohio volunteer infantry, returning home in less than one year. In 1866 Mr. Ross was united in marriage to Miss Wealthy A. Waterman, who was born near Georgetown, Ohio, in 1845, her parents being Wilson and Narcissa Jane (Kendell) Waterman, the father being born in Brown county in 1818, and died in 1888. The mother was born in Lewis township, Brown county, in 1826, and died February 17, 1889. Both are buried in Brown county. They became the parents of the following children : Wealthy A., became the wife of our subject. Lucy married Jasper Jacobs, of Georgetown, Ohio. Henrietta is the wife of William White, of Portsmouth, Ohio. Solomon J. has been deceased since 1904. Elizabeth Monticello, the wife of Matthew Van Harlington, died June 17, 1909. Matthew Van Harlington is also deceased. After his marriage Mr. Ross settled on a farm in Brown county, until the year of 1872, when he removed to his present home and then began the improvements which now give to the farm an appearance of prosperity and care. He is a practical farmer and scientific stock raiser. Of the seven children born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ross, the oldest three were born in Brown county, the others in Clermont county. Their names are as follows : Jennie, who is the widow of Charles H. Gregg, is a resident of Felicity, and has four sons, Virgil, George Ross, Hugh Marshall, and Dale. Charles W. is a resident of Franklin township, and is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Nellie is the wife of William Pangburn, of Georgetown, and has one child, Vivian. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 725 Wealthy Ann is the wife of Alfred Trisler, of Franklin township, and they have three children, Harold Wilson, Wealthy Ann, and Hiram Mark. Mrs. Trisler was formerly a teacher in the schools of Clermont county. Lucy is at home. Wilda is also at home. Abner Ray is a farmer living near his father. He married Daisy Waterfield and has no children. Mrs. Ross's parents were descendants of the Watermans of Pennsylvania, who came to Brown county in its early history and raised a large family, which has since been prominently connected with the affairs of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Ross started out on life's journey together with little capital, but strong and willing hearts and hands, and by years of good and careful management have accumulated a comfortable amount of this world's goods. Mr. Ross is broad and liberal in all his views and everything around him indicates his progressive spirit. For many years Mr. Mark D. Ross has been prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party and has served his fellow citizens in a number of local offices ; for years clerk of the township and township trustee. He is also interested in all that tends to promote education and general culture, and has served with much credit on the school board. Mr. Ross has affiliations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. In these organizations he is held in great esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the Christian church, and give largely to the support of that denomination. The cause of moral development in his community is a matter of great interest to Mr. Ross. Mr. Ross is pleasant and agreeable in manner and has a wife whose kindly spirit and generous disposition have made her esteemed throughout the community, while Mr. Ross is held in high respect. CHARLES WILSON ROSS. Charles Wilson Ross, a well known representative of the agricultural interests in Clermont county, Ohio, is a typical citizen of this section of the country, alert, enterprising and progressive. Mr. Ross is a practical farmer and devotes a great amount of 726 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES his attention to the raising of standard bred horses and registered Jersey cattle. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, September 8, 1869, his parents being Mark D. and Wealthy (Waterman) Ross, of whom a record appears on another page of these volumes. Charles Wilson Ross was reared to young manhood on the parental farm and pursued his education in the schools of Franklin township, later attending the business college of Lexington. He is one of a family of seven children: Jennie is the widow of Charles H. Gregg, of Felicity, Ohio. Nellie is Mrs. William Pangburn, of Georgetown, Ohio. Charles Wilson, the subject of this sketch. Wealthy, the wife of Albert Prisler, of Felicity. Lucy Wildey, at the parental home. Ray is married and lives on the home farm. The marriage of Mr. C. W. Ross to Miss Bertie Rice, of Felicity, occurred in January, 1893. She was born in Felicity, July 1, 187o, and is a daughter of Wesley and Amanda (Lanham) Rice. The mother was born in Franklin township in 1835 and is now residing with Mrs. Ross. The father was born in Felicity, Ohio, in 1838, and died in March, 1912. He was employed in a stirrup shop, during his active period, but was retired some years before his demise. They were the parents of eight children : Louis Rice, of Franklin township. Addle is the wife of Edwin Melvin, of Cincinnati. O. F. Rice, of Felicity, mentioned in this history. Mrs. Ross, wife of the subject of this mention. Charles Rice, of Covington, Ky. Kate, the wife of William Schraer, of Cincinnati. Rebecca, formerly the wife of Joseph Donley, her death occurring in her forty-second year. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ross they located on his father's farm, east of Felicity, where they carried on general farming for three years. At that time they purchased the present home farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres south of Felicity. For sixteen years this place has been their home and many improvements have taken place during their residence. They have remodeled and rebuilt the home and have improved all the outbuildings, and it is in many respects a model property. Mr. Ross takes pride in keeping everything around his home in excellent condition. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ross are three children : CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 727 Harry Pitman was born July 28, 1896, and is a senior in the Felicity High School. Ara Carr was born September 5, 19o1, and is attending the Felicity school. Charles Byron was born October 21, 1907. Mr. C. W. Ross is an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and takes an active interest in all political issues. He has served his party as township treasurer for two terms and for two terms he has filled the office of township assessor, and at present is a member of the school board. The fraternal associations of Mr. Ross are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he has always been active in the work of the order. In religious matters Mrs. Ross has membership with the Methodist church, while her husband is an active member of the Christian church, having filled the various offices. As one of the self-made men of the passing generation, Mr. Ross possesses the respect of the community in which he has spent his life thus far, to an uncommon degree, for his manly qualities and upright character are not questioned. He has mastered the true principles of successful business life and well deserves his present prominence in business circles. PETER C. SMITH. Peter C. Smith is one of the most substantial farmers of Franklin township, Clermont county, and raises a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs. He is a native of the county, born on Big Indian creek, Washington township, in 1837, son of Israel and Elma (Camerer) Smith, also natives of the county. The father was born in Franklin township, October 5, 1813, and died in Iwo, and the mother was born in Washington township, October 5, 1812, and died in 1886. Both are buried in Felicity. He was an extensive farmer and land owner in Franklin and Washington townships and belonged to one of the earliest families to settle in Clermont county. He was always an industrious and upright citizen and representative of the best interests of the community. He and his wife had ten children : Barbara Ellen died in infancy ; Peter C. ; Sarah Jane, who died in 1860, was the wife of J. W. Wedding ; Elizabeth Ann, wife of A. B. Armacost, of Franklin township ; Phoebe 728 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES Margaret, widow of E. R. Wills, of Felicity ; Laura, widow of Lewis Winters, of Tate township ; William Henry died at the age of two years ; J. M., of Franklin township ; Oliver, of Washington township ; Addie Virginia, married Chalfant Hardy, who now lives in Oklahoma, and died in 1885 ; Edwin Wells served two years as a member of the Tenth Kentucky cavalry during the Civil war. Mr. Smith attended the schools of Washington and Franklin townships and remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age. On December 24, 1862, he married Miss Mary Jane McKibben, born in Felicity, Ohio, in 1843, and died in 1875. She was a daughter of S. Parker and Hannah (English) McKibben. Mr. McKibben was a native of Franklin township and died there several years ago. He was a plasterer and brick mason by trade and an industrious citizen. Mrs. McKibben was born in New Jersey and came to Clermont county in childhood with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith lived on his father's farm in Franklin township until 1872, when they came to the farm where he now resides, and on the latter place he eventually built a nice house. Mrs. Smith was a good wife and mother and had many warm friends. She was highly regarded for her many good qualities, and was a member of the Methodist church. She bore her husband five children, namely : William Henry, born July 8, 1864, married' Etta Trees, lives in Franklin township, and they have one child, Samuel Parker, born July 27, 1897 ; Frank Edwin, born July 14, 1867, died at the age of twenty years ; Cora Elma, born September 29, 1870, married Charles Hawk, and died in 1910, having borne her husband three children-Oliver, born November 4, 1902, and two died in infancy ; Lulu May, born September 30, 1873, and died about eighteen years ago, was the wife of Philip Lippert and left one child, Philip Edwin, born November 15, 1895 ; Mary Belle, born April 24, 1875, married William Johnson, and they live in Franklin township, and to them was born one child, Hazel, who died at the age of two years. Mrs. Smith was buried in Felicity cemetery. In 1877 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Maxwell Barkley, who was born in Washington township in 1843, daughter of Joseph and Florilla (Wood) Barkley, both natives of Clermont county. Her parents were farmers and died over thirty-eight years ago. They had twelve children, of whom CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 729 but three now survive : Mary, widow of Harvey Hanna, of Washington township ; Selina, wife of Dr. A. B. McGill, of Cincinnati; Laura Florilla, wife of Smith Ike, who lives in Missouri. Mrs. Smith died July 8, 1908, sadly mourned by all who knew her. She had been a kind friend and neighbor and was an earnest member of the Methodist church, carrying out its teachings in her daily life. She was a good helpmate for her husband and did her duty in all things. She was buried in Calvary cemetery. By his second marriage Mr. Smith had three children, namely : Sadie F., born February 7, 1878, married W. A. Wedding, of Cincinnati, and they have two children, Ralph, aged seven years, and Marjorie, aged one year ; Laura A., born April 3, 188o, taught school in Franklin township for five years, but is now at home ; Jessie L., born in October, 1884, married G. E. Denniston, of Chilo, November 28, 1912. Upon coming to his present place Mr. Smith first purchased seventy-six acres of land, adding forty acres at a later date, and in 1886 he erected one of the prettiest homes in the township. He has put up good, substantial barns and other farm buildings and keeps everything in excellent repair. He keeps a high grade of cattle and sells them on the market, and also sells colts in the local market. He has always been industrious and a good manager, being practically self-made. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served in various minor offices, such as school director and supervisor. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows, and he belongs to the Christian church at Point Isabel. His farm is a model of neatness and thrift and is a true index of the manner in which he carries on his work. CHARLES A. LANHAM. The name of Lanham is closely associated with the early history of Clermont county, where members of the family were among the earliest settlers. Charles A. Lanham was born within a half-mile of the farm where he now lives, in Franklin township, Clermont county, on December 19, 1854, son of Green- berry and Rachel (Griffing) Lanham. His father was born in the county, April 24, 1805, and died April 1, 1861, being buried in Johnson cemetery, Franklin township. His mother was born 730 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES near Trenton, N. J., January 25, 1819, and died February 1, 1896, being buried in Calvary cemetery. The grandfather Lanham was one of the first settlers of Franklin township and purchased the farm where Charles A. Lanham was born, and which at the time the latter left it had been in the Lanham family over one hundred years. Greenberry Lanham was born on the Lanham farm in Clermont county and followed agricultural pursuits all his life. He and his wife had two children,, namely, George W.„ a sketch of whom also appears in this work, and Charles A., whose name heads this sketch. Mrs. Lanham had been married before her marriage to Greenberry Lanham, to Thomas Lawson Wedding, by whom she had three children: Loretta, widow of John Nichols, lives in Felicity, Ohio ; Harriet, widow of John Brannen, lives at Nicholsville, Monroe township, Clermont county ; Martha, widow of Newton Brannen, also resides at Nicholsville. Before her marriage Mrs. Wedding's name was Rachel Griffing. Mr. Wedding's mother was an Eberhardt before her marriage and her ancestors lived in beautiful palaces and were rulers in Wurttemberg, Germany, generations back. Later generations lived at Stuttgart, Germany, and several of the family came to America in early days in the history of our country. Greenberry Lanham and wife were members of the Methodist church and were highly respected members of the community, being identified with various measures for the good of the township and county. Charles A. Lanham received his education in local schools and early took up farm work, as his father died when he was a child of five years, and he and his brother found it necessary to give their mother all possible assistance. He lived with his mother until reaching his majority, then worked by the month for various farmers in the vicinity until he was thirty-four years old, and then married. In 1886 he was united in wedlock with Miss Alice Wedding, who was also born in Franklin township, the date of her birth being March 8, 1856, and she is a daughter of William and Sarah (Smith) Wedding. Mr. Wedding was born in Maryland, November 3o, 1825, is now eighty-seven years of age and retired from active life, and he and his wife reside at Felicity, Ohio. Mrs. Sarah (Smith) Wedding was born in Franklin township, March 3, 1839, and died September 12, 1860, having borne her husband three children, two of whom now survive : Mrs. Lanham, and Mary, wife of G. W. Can- CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 731 ter, of Mount Olive. Mr. 'Wedding was a farmer in Franklin township until he retired and moved to Felicity. The Weddings and Smiths were among the earliest settlers of Clermont county, and all were highly respected and thrifty farmers. After the death of his first wife Mr. Wedding married Miss Maria Camerer, and they became parents of three children, of whom but one now survives, Della, wife of W. N. Nichols, of Los Angeles, Cal. He was a prominent Clermont county citizen, but removed to Los Angeles, where he is an expert glazier in a large planing mill. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have one son, Lawrence, who married Miss Mabel Gray, and had one daughter, Barbara. Mrs. Nichols, before her marriage, taught school in Clermont county, and was located nine years at Batavia and seven years at Felicity. She is now one of the Senior A class English teachers in a Los Angeles high school. She is a woman of high culture and refinement and keeps abreast of the times in all ways. She has great ability in her chosen profession and has won a high reputation in this field. She and her husband own a beautiful home and have a large circle of friends. Mr. Wedding and wife are members of the Methodist church. After renting the farm where he now resides for a period of four years Mr. Lanham bought it. There are one hundred acres of land and he lived in the old' house until erecting the present home, in 1908. He follows modern methods in his farm work and now has a very pleasant modern house, well located and well planned. Like his grandfather and father before him, he plans and executes with foresight and good judgment. C. A. Lanham erected big barns and a good summer kitchen, all the buildings being a credit to the neighborhood and to the builder. Mr. Lanham and wife had three sons, namely : Peter C., born September 5, 1891, works with his father ; Edwin I., born July 22, 1893, is also at home ; Archie G., born October 9, 1896. Mr. Lanham is a Democrat and a member of the local school board. He and his wife are members of the Christian church at Point Isabel and he is a trustee. They are held in high esteem by their friends and neighbors and both have social gifts. Their children were all born on the farm where they now reside and are a credit to their parents. Mr. Lanham has practically made- his own way in the world, having won success through untiring energy and hard work. 732 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES GEORGE W. LANHAM. George W. Lanham is one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers of Franklin township, Clermont county, where he has spent practically all his life. He was born near his present home, September 1, 1853, son of Greenberry and Rachel (Griffing) Lanham. The parents are mentioned at some length in connection with the sketch of Charles A. Lanham, which appears in another part of this work. The father was a successful farmer of Clermont county and was respected for his worth and integrity. Mr. Lanham received his education in the schools of his native township and took up farming as a young man. He worked for his mother in boyhood, his father having died when the son was a small boy, and worked for farmers by the month three years before his marriage, which occurred February 1, 1877, when he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Nichols ; also a native of Clermont county, born May 31, 1855, daughter of John S. and Martha (Turner) Nichols, also natives of that county. Mr. Nichols was born in 1832 and died February 13, 1878, and the mother died when Mrs. Lanham was a small child. They were old settlers of the county, but the grandparents came from Maryland and settled on land in Franklin township, where they developed farms. Four children were born to John S. Nichols and wife, of whom but two survive : Mrs. Lanham and Sarah Caroline, wife of Benjamin Fisher, residing near Calvary church. After marriage Mr. Lanham settled on his father's old farm, which his grandfather had purchased on first coming to the county. This was their home twelve years, then they purchased one hundred and forty-five acres of fine farming land near Felicity, Franklin township, and began to further improve and develop it. He rebuilt the house and barn, erected a nice summer house, and in many ways added to the beauty and productiveness of the place. He and his wife are highly respected in the neighborhood and are recognized as being desirable neighbors. They have been very industrious and thrifty and are now able to enjoy many comforts denied them in earlier years. Both belong to well known families and have many friends and acquaintances. Their pleasant home is the scene of pleasant hospitality and they take an active part in various movements for the good of the community. Mr. Lanham is a Democrat in politics and has served in local offices, such as road commissioner CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 733 and school director. He and his wife belong to the Christian church, of which he is a deacon. He is a member of the Masonic order. One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lanham, a daughter, born on the same farm as was her father, now Mrs. Etta Nichols Gardner, wife of John Gardner, who lives with her parents. Mr. Gardner helps carry on the farm and they have two children, Mary Florence, born March 6, 1908, and Ruth Marie, born on April 20, 1913. Mr. Gardner was born in Clermont county, April 1I, 188o, and is a son of B. E. Gardner, a sketch of whom appears on another page in this work. He is an able and energetic farmer and has a good standing with his neighbors and associates. JAMES HARVEY GATES. James Harvey Gates, a retired farmer of Washington township, is one of the oldest residents in the county. He is entirely self-made, having begun life on his own account with nothing, and won a competence by his industry and energy. He is the oldest Odd Fellow in the county and has a fine memory for old times and events. He is a native of the county, born in Monroe township, September 30, 1826, son of James Henry and Margaret (McMichael) Gates. The father was born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, near Petersburg, in 1790, and died in 1876, and his mother was born in Londonderry, County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1783, and died in the same year as the father. His mother moved to Mason county, Kentucky, where she lived from 1789 to 1794, during which time she lived in a fort, as there were many Indians in the region. James Henry Gates was one of the earliest settlers of Clermont county, Ohio, and had to clear land for a farm. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and came to Monroe township in 1815. He was a farmer in Monroe township, but spent the last three years of his life with his son, both parents dying in the latter's home. They were Methodists and active in church work. They had seven children: Maria Jane, wife of James Hunt, both being deceased ; Sarah B. married Joseph Dawson and both are deceased ; Mary A. married Isaac Bainum and both are deceased ; Paulina W. married Samuel West and both are deceased ; Louisa V. married David Bainum and both are 734 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES deceased ; Margaret married James Dixon and both are deceased ; J. Harvey. The father and mother were both buried in Laurel cemetery. James Gates Dawson, son of Joseph and Sarah Dawson, served in the Civil war from Ohio, in the Eighty-ninth regiment. After attending the common schools, Mr. Gates took a course at Parker's Academy, entering the latter institution the age of thirteen years, in 1839, and being the first pupil enrolled there. He remained with his father until 1859. In 1849 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elvina Simmons, born in Monroe township, Clermont county, in 1824, daughter of Leonard and Elizabeth (Pollard) Simmons. Mr. Simmons was born in Pennsylvania and died in 1835 and his wife was born in Maryland and died in 1855. They were farmers of Monroe township and had twelve children, all of whom are now deceased : Pollard, Wesley, James B., Sanford, Willis, Milton ; Julia, wife of Samuel Bettie ; John A. ; Nancy. wife of Sam Buchanan ; Eliza, wife of Dixon Buchanan ; B. H. ; Mary Elvina, who married Mr. Gates. A grandson of Leonard Simmons and wife, John W. Simmons, served from Ohio in the Civil war. After marriage Mr. Gates remained on the farm with his father ten years, then moved to Indian Creek, Washington township, where he purchased a farm. He began with one hundred and twenty-five acres of land and has added to it until he now has two hundred acres. He cultivated his farm himself until about fifteen years ago, then retired from active life, for some time making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Abrams. He is well known throughout his part of the State as an old member of the order of Odd Fellows, having joined Mistletoe Lodge at New Richmond and later transferred his membership to Point Isabel, where he became a charter member. He has served as noble grand of the lodge. He can remember much of conditions in early days and looks back on a long life of industry and toil, during which time he was always a progressive and useful citizen and interested in whatever affected the welfare of his community. Mrs. Gates died November 30, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Gates had thirteen children, namely : Margaret Elizabeth, born in Monroe township, married L. H. Padgett, lives in Kansas, and has five childen : Jessie, wife of Emmett Philips, of Batavia, has three children, Margaret, CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 735 Homer and Arlyn ; Mary Elvina, wife of Andy Phillips, lives in Kansas and has two children, Lena and Frances ; Angenette, wife of Martin Edwards, of Kansas, has two children, Martin and Marguerite ; Harvey Gates Padgett married Effie Grace Fox, lives in Kansas, and they have three sons, Glen, Paul and James ; Susan Alice married Simpson Foster, of Kansas, is deceased and left one son, Gerald. James Henry, born in Monroe township, married Miss Jennie Florence Hill, lives in Washington township, and they have three children : Allen Thurman married Emma House, lives in Moscow, and has two children, Homer and David Russell ; George Frederick, of Moscow, married Lellie Roush and they have one child, William Frederick ; Mabel Alice, wife of Jesse Prible, lives in Washington township. Luella J., born in Monroe township, wife of Thomas G. Hill, of Washington township, has had six children, four of whom survive : Nichols H., deceased ; Edna Florence ; Peter C. ; Robert married Miss Josephine Castleberg, lives in Kansas, and they have a son, Thomas ; Bertha is the wife of Francis O'Neil, of Washington county, Ohio, and they have a son, Milton. Mary Ann, born in Monroe township, died in 1891, and is buried by the side of her mother. Julia Virginia, born in Monroe township, married McClellan Reed, lives in Colorado, and they have five children : Anna, wife of William Toner, of Colorado ; Royal, John, Alice and Enoch. John Simmons, born in Washington township, lives at Salina, Kan., married Mabel Simmons. Emma Louisa, born in Washington township, married Charles J. Pealtz, of Tate township, and they have four children : Minnie, wife of Glen Hill, of Tate township ; Louise, Gladys and Naomi. Harriet Elvina, born in Washington township, married Frank Buchanan, and died in 1892, being buried in Calvary cemetery. Alice C., widow of Markley Abrams, who was also born Washington township, in 1867, son of James and Emeline (Bunton) Abrams, was a farmer and died in 1906, being buried in Calvary Cemetery. Mrs. Abrams has two children, born in Washington township, Emeline May and Clara Elizabeth. The other four children born to J. H. Gates and wife died in infancy. 736 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES SAMUEL A. CANTER, M. D. Dr. Samuel A. Canter, of Point Isabel, Clermont county, is a broad minded, liberal thinker, highly respected and enjoying the benefits of a good practice. He is a man of recognized ability in his profession and is doing very good work in his chosen field. He has been identified with Clermont county all his life and is well known in various circles. He was born in Tate township, Clermont county, March 16, 1846, son of Stephen and Keturah (Altman) Canter, also natives of Clermont county. The mother was born in Tate township July 24, 1827, and died November 13, 1902, and the father was born in Washington township, November 6, 1822, and died November 2, 1866, both being buried in Bethel, Ohio. The father was a good mechanic, but was very fond of agricultural pursuits and became an excellent farmer. He and his wife had nine children, six of whom grew to maturity and four of whom now survive : Dr. Samuel A., the oldest ; William T., born October 3, 1849, resides in Tate township ; Nelson E., born November 4, 1851, died in 1902; John R., born September 16, 1853 ; Thomas A., born January 20, 1859, died at Williamsburg, Ohio, November 23, 1897 ; Orlando R., born in Tate township, May 31, 1863, lives in Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from Clermont Academy, Samuel A. Canter attended the College of Medicine and Surgery, of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in March, 1879. He began practice at Point Isabel, where he has remained ever since, the only physician and surgeon in the village. He has built up a large practice and has won the confidence of the community. He takes a genuine interest in his fellowmen and has many sincere friends. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as township trustee and as a member of the blind relief committee of Clermont county. He has belonged to the Masonic order since attaining his majority and is also an Odd Fellow. On April 1, 1875, Dr. Canter was united in marriage with Miss Harriet M. Parrish, born in Tate township February 22, 1848, daughter of Stephen and Missouri (Davis) Parrish, her father a native of Kentucky, and her mother of Clermont county, and both now deceased. They lived for many years in Clermont county and were prominent farmers of Tate township. They had nine children, of whom Rebecca, wife of William McChesney, lives in Tate township ; B. F. lives on CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 737 the old home place in Tate township ; Elizabeth was the wife of Joseph L. Canter, both deceased; Mrs. Canter, wife of Dr. S. A. Canter, of this review. Dr. and Mrs. Canter have a very pleasant home on Main street, where he has his office. This has been their residence for a great many years. She is a member of the Methodist church, and he of the Christian church. Two children blessed their union, both born in Washington township : Walter E. died at the age of one week ; Lena D., born January 16, 1881, died May 3o, 1907. Both are buried in Bethel cemetery. The daughter was a great worker in the Order of the Eastern Star, and for several terms was matron of the local organization. Dr. Canter has won success by his own unaided efforts, for he is self-educated and made an independent start in life at an early age. He belongs to a very old family of the county through his mother, whose parents came to Clermont county from Pennsylvania. His father's parents were of Scotch-Irish descent. The grandfathers of Dr. Canter were named Thomas Canter and Samuel Altman, both well known names in the county's early history. JOHN J. BOLENDER. John J. Bolender, a progressive fruit grower and farmer of Franklin township, Clermont county, has made a favorable impression on all who have had dealings with him and has a large number of warm friends. He belongs to an old family in Clermont county; of which he is a native, born near Felicity, son of Joel and Melissa (Trisler) Bolender. The father was born near Felicity in 1824 and died in 1908, and the mother was born in 1830 and died in 1904, both being buried in Zion cemetery. The Bolenders came from Pennsylvania to Clermont county at a very early day and always held a respected place in the community. Joel Bolender spent all his active life farming in Franklin township, except for two years, when he was engaged in mercantile business. John Trisler, father of Joel Bolender's wife, died on December to, 188o, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Coffman, aged ninety years, eleven months and eleven days. He was born near Hagerstown, Md., December 31, 1789, youngest of the four children of Michael Trisler. Michael Trisler 738 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES moved to Lexington, Ky., when John was ten years of age, and died soon thereafter, leaving John and his brothers to support themselves and their mother. In 1811 John Trisler married Miss Fannie Reid and moved to Lewis township, Brown county, Ohio, which was then an unbroken wilderness, the habitat of deer, elk and bears, and the home of the Indian. They made their home near Feesburg, and in company with a few others, Mr. Trisler erected a little stone church at Shinkle's Ridge, where they met to worship. In June, 1825, his wife died, and he subsequently married Catherine Gray and moved to Tate township, Brown county, where he became one of the charter members of the local church, and where he remained until 187o, at which time he retired from active life and thereafter lived with his children. At the time of his death he had thirteen children, ninety-two grandchildren, over one hundred great-grandchildren, and six great- great-grandchildren. He was the fathaer of eighteen children, and he lived to see fifteen of them married, and with families. Three died in infancy. On the filth of December, 1880, the remains of "Grandfather Trisler," as he was affectionately known by all, were conveyed to Mt. Zion church, where Rev. J. Lowell delivered an appropriate sermon, which touched the hearts of the assemblage of relatives and friends come to pay their last tribute of respect to the pioneer and friends who was revered and loved by all. His body was then consigned to the grave in the cemetery near the church, there to await the coming of Him upon whose name he delighted to call. Thus closed a beautiful life and the entire community felt the loss of this kindly old man. Joel Bolender and wife had eight children, all born in Clermont county : Martha married Samuel Ross and both are deceased ; Daniel lives near Felicity ; William lives in Brown county ; Susan married Tilman Richie and resides in Brown county ; John J. is the subject of this sketch ; Albert died at the age of six months ; Wright is deceased ; Lottie, the wife of Frank McGahan, lives in Franklin township. In boyhood John J. Bolender attended the local schools and learned the rudiments of farming. He well remembers his old school days in Benton school house, near his father's farm. He remained with his father until his marriage, in December, 1887, to Miss Sylvia Hill, who was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on August 6, 1868, daughter of Warren and Anna Allen Hill, both natives of Ohio and farmers of Fayette county, CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 739 that State. Mr. Hill was born in Fayette county, September 3o, 1847, and died March II, 1871, at the age of twenty-three years, eleven months and five days. He served six months in the last call for men during the Civil war. His wife, Alma L. Allen, was born near Georgetown, Brown county, May 17, 1849, and died October 13, 1885, aged thirty-six years, four months and twenty-six days. After the death of Mr. Hill his widow lived for a time in Fayette county. The only child of this marriage was Mrs. Bolender. Mrs. Hill was married (second) to David Draper, and by this marriage there were five children, three of whom are now living : Minnie, wife of Sherman Wilson, of Indiana ; George lives at New Castle, Ind., and William at Benton Harbor, Mich. Mrs. Bolender's great-great-grandfather, Alexander Hill, father of Arnold Hill, was born in Maryland and moved thence to Pennsylvania, later to Kentucky, and eventually to Brown county, Ohio. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Kelly, was born in Ireland. James K. Hill, Mrs. Bolender's great-grandfather, was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Brown county, Ohio, when his son, John A., was but fourteen years of age. His wife, Amelia, was a daughter of John and Elizabeth Arnold, and was born in Virginia. The ancestors of the Hills were people of good circumstances, all having good homes and many of them wealthy. They were well known for their frugality, industry, honesty and integrity. The Arnolds were all honest and industrious, well-to-do, and noted for neatness. John A. Hill, who was the grandfather of Mrs. Bolender, was the eldest child of James and Amelia Hill and inherited the qualities of both families in a marked degree. John Arnold and Abby C. (Leach) Hill were the parents of Warren Hill. She was the third daughter of Walter and Elizabeth Leach, and was born in Maysville, Mason county, Kentucky, her father being a native of Indiana. Walter and Elizabeth Leach moved to Mason county, Kentucky, and in 1816 came to Brown county, Ohio, buying a farm at Georgetown. John A. Hill was born in Ripley, Ohio, married Abby C. Leach, November 27, 1832, and moved to Fayette county, Ohio, in 1834. He and his wife were members of the old school Baptist church, which he joined in 1843, and she in 1844. Their hospitable home in Jasper township, Fayette county, seven miles from Washington Court House, was the scene of many gatherings. Mrs. Hill's father, Walter Leach, was a fine man, very handy at most kinds of work, 740 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES and was able to do all kinds of odd jobs, such as making baskets, etc. He was a man of good principles and highly regarded. He was born in Maryland, December 28, 1773, moved to Kentucky with his parents, and married Elizabeth Francis, daughter of Thomas and Tabitha Francis, who was born in New Jersey in 1784 and died in 1843. He built a fine two- story house after locating near Georgetown, Ohio, in 1816, as before mentioned, and this old home, about two and one-half miles from the town, is still occupied. Mr. and Mrs. Bolender made their first home on one hundred and twenty acres of land, where he now lives. For a number of years they raised corn and tobacco principally, and eighteen years ago set out their first fruit trees, consisting of apple and peach trees. The following year he added one hundred and fifty pear trees, and later added plums and quinces. He has become an extensive fruit grower and ships all his choicest fruit to Cincinnati. He has been successful in raising a high grade of fruit and has found a good market for his product. In 1911 he erected an elegant modern home, well arranged and one of the finest in the county. He has put up substantial barns and other buildings and keeps his place in an excellent state of repair. He stands high with his neighbors and fellow citizens, and is regarded as a useful member of the community. He was reared a Democrat and in spite of the fact that he votes for the men he considers best fitted for office, he is a Democrat in principle today. He has never aspired to office. He and his wife are members of the Apostolic Holiness church, and their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Felicity, Ohio. The family is one of refinement and culture and worthy to represent the best type of America. They are all proud of their ancestry and interested in the earlier history of the community, with which many of their forebears were closely associated. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bolender Josie M., Herbert J. and Harry H., all born on the home farm. Josie M. was born August 2, 1889, and after graduating from the Felicity High School spent one year at Miami University at Oxford. She is now teaching her fourth year in the school near home and boards with her parents. Herbert J., who was born August 13, 1893, graduated from the Felicity High School, taught two winters in Clermont county, and assists his father on the farm. Harry H., born September 29, 1896. is now a student at God's Bible School, Cincinnati, Ohio. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 741 J. C. GINNINGS. J. C. Ginnings belongs to one of the older families of Clermont county and is well known for his former business activities and connections. He has retired from active life and resides in Felicity, where he was born in 1847, son of Joseph M. and Mary A. (Young) Ginnings. The father of Joseph Ginnings was a soldier in the Revolution and his wife's father served in the War of 1812. Mr. Young started for New Orleans, but as he heard of the victory of General Jackson, he returned to Virginia. Joseph Ginnings was born in Virginia in 1808 and died in Clermont county in 1894. His wife was born in Virginia in 1812 and died in Clermont county in 1882. Both are buried in Felicity cemetery. He came to Adams county, Ohio, with his parents, about 1820, and soon afterwards the family located in Clermont county. The Youngs also came to Clermont county at an early day. Joseph Ginnings was a Democrat in politics, and served as assessor and constable when a young man. He became prominent in local affairs and was a man of influence. In 1849 he went to California, one of the first from Clermont county to make the trip, and seek for gold. He remained there with advantage for four years, then returned to Felicity, where he spent the remainder of his life. He and his wife had nine children, all born in Clermont county, five of whom grew to maturity : Melissa C., married John Walker and died in 1893 ; Margaret E., married Louis Miller, of Franklin township ; Mary A., is the wife of J. A. Smith arid resides at Fullerton, Cal.; Joan B., wife of B. F. Moreland ; J. C., whose name heads this sketch. In boyhood Mr. Ginnings attended Felicity public schools and later worked for a time in the local tobacco houses. Later he was employed as clerk on a steamer on the Ohio river for some nine years. He then became bookkeeper for the Globe Tobacco Warehouse in Cincinnati for six years, after which he returned to his birthplace. He has since been retired from active life. He is largely self-made and became successful through energy, uprightness and industry. He is much respected as a progressive citizen and has many friends, among whom he is very popular for his pleasant manner and kindly spirit. He has recently purchased an automobile, which affords him much interest and pleasure. For many years he was a director in the Traction Railroad Company, which con- 742 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES structed a line to Felicity, and was a charter member and secretary until 1912, when he resigned. In 1878, Mr. Ginnings was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Gill, a native of Felicity, born in 1852, daughter of John and Maria (Lawson) Gill, both natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Ohio in the early 40's. Mr. Gill was a tailor by trade and he and his wife have been dead many years. They had five children : George, of Indiana ; Mary, wife of Frank Lanham, is deceased ; Rannie M., Mrs. Ginnings ; Julia, widow of E. Prather, of Felicity ; Annie, widow of Charles Adams, of Felicity. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Gill married Thomas Simmer non, and by this union there were four children : Thomas L., of Pleasant Ridge, Hamilton county, Ohio, where he is principal of the schools ; E. A., also a teach-. er of Hamilton county ; Fred H., of Felicity, a druggist ; Margaret, deceased, was the wife of C. E. Day. Mr. Ginnings is a Democrat in politics, and although Much interested in public affairs, is not an office seeker. Fraternally he is a Democrat. Mrs. Ginnings was a devout member of the Christian church and was an exemplary wife and mother, striving to do her duty in all relations of life. She died in 1879, deeply and sincerely mourned by her family and her many friends, and was buried in Felicity cemetery. DANIEL BOLENDER. Daniel Bolender is one of the substantial citizens of Franklin township and belongs to an old family of Clermont county. He is a native of the township, born November 5, 1849, son of Joel and Melissa (Trisler) Bolender. A sketch of Joel Bolender, also a native of the county, is given at some length in connection with the sketch of John J. Bolender, which appears in this history. The Bolenders and. Trislers were early comers to Clermont county and influential in the early history of Ohio. They are old American families and people of industry and integrity. The children of Joel Bolender and wife are mentioned in connection with the sketch of J. J. Bolender, mentioned above. In boyhood Daniel Bolender attended Benton school in Franklin township and remained on the home farm until his marriage, November 24, 1874, to Miss Ida Wells, born in CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 743 Franklin township, April 5, 1855, daughter of James C. and Sarah (McMurchy) Wells. Mr. and Mrs. Wells were born in Clermont county and their parents came from Scotland. They were farmers of Franklin township but both are now deceased, the father having died some twenty years ago and the mother when Mrs. Bolender was a small child. They had six children : Edwin R. and Charles J., deceased ; James C. lives in Arkansas ; Ida E., Mrs. Bolender ; Milton, deceased ; a daughter who died in infancy. Three children were born to Mr. Bolender and wife : Jessie Wells, born November 17, 1879, married Harley 0. Hanna, lives in California, and has one daughter, Elizabeth Lou, aged one year ; Norman J., born March 19, 1882, married Nellie, daughter of Dr. Trout, and they live in Columbus and have one daughter, Helen Marie, six years of age ; Ida Blance, born September 4, 1888, wife of Stanley Manchester, of Feesburg, Brown county, and they have one son, Herman. The mother of these children died September 14, 1888, and is buried in Mount Zion cemetery. On October 8, 1889, Mr. Bolender married (second) Miss Lucy Owen, born near Georgetown, Lewis township, Brown county, daughter of George and Mary Bole Owen. Her parents were. natives of Brown county and the mother died when' Mrs. Bolender was a small child. Mr. Owen lives in Fees- burg and is now eighty-four years of age. He served in the Mexican war and was a farmer of Brown county. There are only two veterans of the Mexican war now living in Brown county or State of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Owens had nine children : Joseph lives in Brown county ; Charles died in Missouri ; Martha, wife of William Slack, of Hamilton, Ohio ; Lee, of Brown county; Ella, wife of Oliver Hendrickson, of Brown county ; Edward, deceased ; George W., of Clermont county ; Jennie, wife of Charles Bryant. of Cincinnati ; Mrs. Bolender. The Owen family came to Brown county in an early date and were members of the Methodist church. After marriage Mr. Bolender located on a farm in Washington township, which he purchased, and this was the home for four years. Later he moved to his father-in-law's place in Franklin township, the latter moving to Felicity at that time. After residing there four years Mr. Bolender moved to his present farm of two hundred and six acres, and in the fall of that year erected the elegant home which they have 744 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES since occupied, and which is one of the best in the county. It is located on a good road, near a school house, and is convenient to church and the town. About 1880 Mr. Bolender put up one of the best barns in the county, thirty-six by sixty feet, and he built all the outbuildings and fencing on the, farm. This is one of the best kept places in the county and its appearance is a true index of the thrift and industry with which the work is conducted in general. Mr. Bolender is a man of energy and foresight, managing his affairs with business acumen and ability. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as school director. He and his wife are devout members of the Benton Christian church, he being a charter member. They are much interested in its work and he has been an elder for many years. He is a worker in the Sunday school, has been superintendent many years and is now assistant .superintendent. He is a man of simple tastes and is very fond of his home and family. He is self-made man, having won success through long years of hard work. Mr. Bolender and wife have two children, born on the present farm : Eibert Owen, born December 20, 1891, is a graduate of Felicity High School and is now attending the State University at Columbus, and Homer Wright, born June 1I, 1897, attends Felicity High School. GEORGE WASHINGTON HALSE. George Washington Halse is one of the most industrious and progressive farmers and has one of the nicest homes in Tate township. He is a native of that township, being descended from two of the oldest families of the region. He was born October 12, 1846, son of William and Margaret Lucetta (Bredwell) Halse. William Halse was a son of George Halse, who came to Clermont county from England in 1818 and became the owner of some six hundred acres of land there. The latter was a carpenter as well as a farmer. William Halse was born in Tate township, August 26, 1824, and died June 22, 1904, and his wife was born in Tate township, November 15, 1824, and lives in Tate township, where she has resided continuously since 1865. She is active and in good health and has a large number of friends. Her grandparents, Elventon Bredwell and Catherine Collins Bredwell, came from CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 745 Kentucky to Clermont county in 1806-07, and her parents were Thomas Bredwell and Mary Willis Bredwell, and they had fifteen children. There are four sisters and two brothers of Mrs. William Halse now surviving, namely : Mrs. Mary D. Malick, of Amelia, Ohio ; Mrs. Rachel Sapp, of Bethel ; Mrs. Josephine Phillips, of Bethel ; Elizabeth 0. Canter, of Point Isabel ; Thomas S. Bredwell, of Blanchester, Ohio ; Dean M. Bredwell, of Bethel, Ohio. Another sister, Mrs. Lydia Willis Dean, died September 5, 1912, and was buried on the 8th, in Bethel cemetery. She was the mother of Thomas Albert Dean; of Fremont, Ohio, who was elected to the Senate of the Seventy-eighth General Assembly as a Democrat, and reelected to the Seventy-ninth General Assembly. William Halse applied for enlistment in the army at the time of the Civil war, but was rejected on account of poor health. He and his wife had children as follows: George Washington, of this sketch ; Sarah Catherine, wife of William A. Aultman, of Mt. Orab, Ohio ; Thomas Lewis, living on Rural Route No. 4, Bethel ; Miss Mary Ann, of Columbus, who is the general manager and secretary treasurer of the Felber Biscuit Company. Mr. Aultman served in the Civil war in an Ohio regiment. The early boyhood of George W. Halse was spent on the home farm, but his education was received away from home, for he had the sad misfortune to lose his speech and hearing. He entered the School for the Deaf in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated with honors in 1869. His grandfather, George Halse, gave each of his daughters a farm of one hundred acres, and to his grandson, George W., in consideration of his misfortune, gave the nice farm of seventy-seven acres where the family now reside. There was a nice house on it, which George W. Hake later remodeled, and his parents lived on the place while he was away from home. After graduating, he taught in the Columbus school for a period of twenty-two years, and at Salem, Ore., nine years. In October, 1909, he returned from Oregon, and has since been operating his farm, which lies two miles southeast of Bethel. Mr. Halse is a Democrat in politics, but takes no very active part in public affairs and he belongs to no secret societies. He and his wife are active members of the Bethel Baptist church. On July 26, 1876, he was married to Adeline Trunkey Evans, and in May, 1898, she passed away. She was a graduate of the Columbus (Ohio) School for the Deaf, where she after- 746 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES wards taught for five years. She was a daughter of Harvey Trunkey and Ann Rell Trunkey, of Burgh Hill, Ohio. Her grandfather Trunkey helped to fight with Lafayette in the Revolutionary war, after which he, with his wife, lived in the State of Connecticut to the end of his life. Harvey Trunkey was for a period of thirty-two years a justice of the peace of Vernon township in Trumbull county, Ohio, and was often called to act as judge in the courts of that county. On September 3, 1902, Mr. Halse was united in marriage with Beulah B., daughter of Willard D. and Cordelia J. Crout, born in Fulton county, Ohio, November 28, 1867. Mr. Crout was born March 12, 1838, and died in October, 1902, and her mother, whose maiden name was Hodge, was born August 29, 1842, and died in March, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Crout had children as follows : Mrs. Ella Shadle, of Wauseon, Ohio ; Mrs. Ida Borton, of Toledo ; Ora E., of Wauseon, Fulton county ; Beulah C., Mrs. Halse ; Ray D., of Ironton, Ohio, Who is now the principal of the high school. Mrs. Halse was educated in the School for the Deaf in Columbus, from which she graduated in 1884, and after her marriage spent seven years teaching and supervising the small boys in the school at Salem, Ore. Both she and her husband are well read and take an intelligent interest in the topics and issues of the day. She is a distant relative of Lafayette, a famous French military officer and statesman. Mr. and Mrs. Halse own a house and lot in Columbus, Ohio, and have one hundred and five acres of fine farm land in Tate township, all under cultivation except twenty-five acres of timber land. He is very handy in making improvements on his place and has done considerable carpenter work. He has also done a great deal of cement work and at present is laying cement walks all around the house and wherever needed. His wife as well, is an ambitious worker in improving her home, and has done all the papering and painting on the house, both inside and out. The home is modern in every way and most convenient. Mr. Halse's mother resides with them. He inherited some land upon the death of his father. The family are very fond of reading and are examples of happy and devoted members of a well regulated household. The mother, although eighty-eight years of age, retains great interest in her family and friends, and has a good memory of old days in the township and county. Mr. Halse has been undaunted by the misfortune which befell him and has always made the CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 747 most of his opportunities, with upright and ambitious effort making light of every difficulty. He has accomplished a great deal and if he had been able to hear and speak would undoubtedly have made a brilliant career for himself. He and his wife have one child, Hazel Durand, born in Salem, Ore., February 19, 1909, also partly deaf. Mr. Halse continues to do a great deal of good for his deaf friends and hearing ones and has held services in churches. He took a regular course in a business college in Columbus, Ohio. Besides her children, his mother has nine grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grand-child. CHARLES J. POELTZ. One of the most progressive farmers of Clermont county is Charles J. Poeltz, of Tate township. He and his family are interested in the advancement of every good cause and are devout and earnest workers in the Methodist church. They have a very pleasant home and the farm buildings are kept in good repair, giving the whole place an air of prosperity and thrift. Mr. Poeltz is a native of the county, born in 1862, son of Julius E. and Wilhelmina (Knull) Poeltz, both born in Germany, the mother in 1826 and the father in 1827. The father died in 1885 and is buried in Laurel, Mt. Carmel cemetery, and she lives with her son, Charles J. They brought two children to America, in 1854, and settled in Madison, Ind., coming from there to Clermont county, where Mr. Poeltz spent the rest of his life in agricultural operations in Monroe township. He lived near the present farm of Charles J. Poeltz. He was in Capt. John McNeil's Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio volunteer infantry Julius Poeltz and wife had four sons and four daughters, all of whom had reached maturity by the time of the father's death, and all now surviving save one. They are : Edward, of Adams county ; Ida, wife of Philip Nort, of Clermont county ; Rosa, who died in 1885 and was buried in Carmel cemetery, was the wife of Dan Bohl ; Annie is the wife of John Marsh, of Oklahoma ; John lives in Brown county ; Charles J. is the subject of this sketch ; Frank is a hardware merchant of Russellville, Brown county ; Lyda is the wife of Almedia Marsh, of Clermont county. The parents were de- 748 - CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES vout Methodists and during most of his lifetime the father served as a steward and trustee, keeping this post until his death. He was an enterprising and progressive farmer and an excellent citizen. He was one of the best bass singers in the county and was in much demand at revival meetings to lead the chorus. After his death his widow at Laurel put in a memorial window in the church in affectionate remembrance of his good life and earnest work for the cause. His widow is a great worker in the church and was a class leader for eight years. She is a woman of superior intelligence and has many firm friends. Mr. Poeltz attended the public school at Laurel and was reared to farm work. At the age of twenty-one years he began working away from home and was employed four' years on the farm of David Y. Fisher, an old and influential member of the Methodist organization, whose father was an early preacher in Clermont county. On December 28, 1887, Mr. Poeltz was united in marriage with Miss Emma Gates, also a native of Clermont county, born October 28, 1862, and daughter of James Harvey Gates, a sketch of whom is to be found elsewhere in this work. The Gates family have a high standing in Clermont county, where they were early settlers. After marriage Mr. Poeltz spent three years on a farm north of Moscow, then lived for a time near Calvary. After they had rented land five years they purchased a farm near Pekin, where he lived fourteen years. In November, 1907, they moved to their present farm in Tate township, where they have one hundred and twelve acres. They have repaired and improved the buildings and have erected a good barn and henhouse, as well as other farm buildings. Mr. Poeltz carries on general farming and stock raising and follows modern methods in his enterprise. The place is known by the pretty name of "Maplewood Farm." Mr. Poeltz is well known and is very popular with all, for he is broad and liberal minded and a good friend and neighbor. He loves his home and his domestic life is very happy. He is a "dyed-in-the-wool" Republican and has served as road supervisor and several years on the school board and treasurer of the same. He and his wife are earnest members of and workers in the Methodist church and for ten years he was superintendent of the Sunday school, during which time he was never late for service and missed but eight Sundays. He is a trustee and steward in the church fourteen years. CLERMONT AND BROWN COUNTIES - 749 Mr. and Mrs. Poeltz had five daughters, all born in Clermont county : Minnie, born October& th, 1888, wife of Glen Hill, of Tate township, whose farm adjoins her father's ; Mary Elvira, born January 27, 1890, died July 7 of the same year and is buried in Carmel cemetery ; Anna Louise, born July 26, 1891, taught school two years at Macedonia and now teaches in the home school, Crane District, No. 4; Gladys Armilda, born August 6, 1893, has prepared for teaching and holds a certificate ; Lydia Naomi, born October 23, 1895. The three first named are graduates from the high school at Bethel and the youngest expects to complete the same course. They are four charming young ladies and help to make the home a very happy one. Mr. Poeltz is a self-made man, for when he left home he owned nothing but a horse, on which he owed $70.25, and now he is one of the most substantial farmers in his township. His wife has worked intelligently and earnestly as his faithful helpmeet and his daughters have been an inspiration to both, as well as some practical help. All know how the comforts they now enjoy have been earned and appreciate them for what they are worth. Mr. Poeltz is a genial, pleasant man to meet and is well read. B. F. ELLSBERRY. Clermont county has no more respected citizen than B. F. Ellsberry, who belongs to a fine old family of the region and is a man of liberal ideas and broad sympathies. He is reasonably proud of the part taken by his parents in the early history of the county and has followed in their footsteps by becoming himself actively interested in the public welfare. He is a native of Bethel, Clermont county, born March 24, 1842, son of John and Sarah (Carter) Ellsberry. The father was born July 12, 18o6, in Tate township, Clermont county, and the mother was born May 17, 1814, in New Jersey. He died on August 10, 1888, and she in 1895. He was a Democrat in politics and held township offices for many years. He was a member of the school board, for many years justice of the peace, and for several terms was county treasurer. They had ten children, all born in Clermont county : Aurealius, Thomas Benton and Isaac, deceased ; B. F., of this sketch ; George, deceased ; Darius, a retired blacksmith of Bethel ; John, deceased ; Mary