(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 700 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. financial institutions in this part of the state, and it is undoubted that Mr. Penn's services with the bank during the past twenty-five years or more have done much toward establishing the institution so firmly in the favor of the people. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Penn gives much attention to farming and is the owner of a fine farm adjoining the village of New Vienna. On October 10, 1889, Burch T. Penn was united in marriage to Louise Miller, who was born in this county, daughter of Zadock and Emily (Hodson) Miller, the former of whom is now dead and the latter of whom is living in Los Angeles, California. To this union three children have been born, Marjorie. who married H. Lee Sullivan, of Ashtabula, Ohio; Howard, a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, of the class of 1915, and Burch T., Jr., who is a student in the schools of New Vienna. Mr. Penn is a Republican and has given close attention to the political affairs of the county, being looked upon as one of the leaders of his party in that part of the county. For twenty years he served the people of New Vienna as treasurer of the village. He is a member of Dalton Lodge No. 578, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a member of the chapter, council and commandery of that order. Alert, active and enterprising, an excellent banker and a good citizen, Mr. Penn commands the highest respect of the entire community and enjoys the full confidence of commercial and financial circles hereabout, his business associates paying him the compliment of their most cordial esteem. JOSEPH KUEBLER. Joseph Kuebler, who owns one hundred and eleven acres of land in Adams township, this county, where he is a successful farmer, was born on October 15, 1863, at Wittenberg, Germany, the son of Valentine and Catherine (Tren) Kuebler, both natives of Wittenberg, the former born on Febuary 14, 1834, and the latter born on May 21, 1838. Katherine Thren was the daughter of Joseph Thren, a native of Germany, who spent his entire life in his native land. He was a member of the Catholic church. Valentine Kuebler, after coming to America from Germany in 1867, first located in Massachusetts and later emigrated to Brown county, Ohio, where he purchased seventy acres of land. After living in Brown county for thirty years, he moved to Clinton county and settled in Adams township, where he purchased one hundred and eight acres, on which farm he spent the remainder of his life. He was a member of the Catholic church. He died on March 21, 1909. His wife died on February 2, 1897. They were the parents of nine children, Joseph, Caroline, Michael, Frank, Katherine, Frances, Anna, Peter and John. Of these children, all are living in this county except Katherine and Anna. Joseph Kuebler was three years old when the family came to America. He was educated in the common schools of Brown county, Ohio, and on October 25, 1904, was married to Julia Keefe, a native of Clinton county, born on. May 8, 1867, the daughter of James and Ann (Shea) Keefe, both natives of Ireland, the former born on November 16, 1844, and the latter on June 4, 1844. She was the daughter of Michael Shea, a native of Ireland and a member of the Catholic church, who came to this country about 1850, locating in Warren county, Ohio, where be became the owner of two hundred and seventy acres of land, and where he spent his last days. Mrs. Kuebler's paternal grandfather was John Keefe, a native of Ireland, who married Johanna Creedon, also a native of Ireland. They came to America in April, 1858, and located on a farm in Clinton county. near Wilmington, where they spent the remainder of. their lives. They were the parents of six children, Timothy, Mary, James, Patrick, Hannah and Julia. Of this family, Patrick and James, the latter of whom is the father of Mrs. Kuebler, were soldiers in the Civil War, Patrick having died during the service. James, who was twelve years old when his family came to America, served about three years in the Seventy-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was for many years engaged in farming CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 701 but has been retired for twenty years and is now living in Wilmington. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church. They are the parents of five children, of whom Mrs. Kuebler is the eldest, the others being John, Mary, Nora and James M., all of whom are living in this county. After his marriage, Mr. Kuebler located on the farm of one hundred and eleven acres in Adams township, where he built a pleasant home, where he and his wife now live. They have no children. Mr. and Mrs. Kuebler are members of the Catholic church at Wilmington. JOHN T. HUMPHREYS. In analyzing the career of the agriculturist, it is invariably found to be true that unless he is the recipient of estates, his success is the natural outcome of hard work and careful management. While this is so in the case of the gentleman above mentioned, his has not been a selfish attention to his vocation, for he has ever borne in mind the fact that society had claims upon him, and to this demand he has responded with an altruism that makes the community his debtor. John T. Humphreys, now a well-known farmer of this county, was born on July 8, 1851, in Warren county, Ohio, the son of John L. Humphreys, a brother of David A. Humphreys, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume, and is thoroughly identified with the history of Vernon township, having located there with his parents in 1856, when he was but five years of age. He pursued his studies in the public schools of the township, and in early manhood devoted himself to the cultivation of the soil. He prospered and at the present time owns thirteen hundred and thirty-nine acres in Vernon township, part of this holding being the farm which belonged to his father, and which he bought. On January 31, 1879, John T. Humphreys married Jennie M. Hartman, who was born in this county on April 22, 1860, the daughter of James and Allie (Townsend) Hartman. James Hartman was born on November 22, 1821, the son of Gaynor Hartman, a pioneer of Clinton county. He died on June 21, 1908. His wife, who was born on August 3, 1832, also is deceased, and Mrs. Humphreys died on May 24, 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys were born five children, Arthur (deceased) ; Everett, Charley, Fred and Ruth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys were for many years active in the social life of the community in which they lived. Mrs. Humphreys was a Baptist in faith, while her husband attended the Methodist Episcopal church. As to the phases of his social and political life, Mr. Humphreys always has taken keen interest in the success of the Republican party, for whose welfare he works. He is a believer in fraternal orders and their purposes, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias. The present sketch forms an appropriate part of this county history, for it concerns a man of sterling qualities, of strong, interesting personality, and one whose career has been of quiet usefulness. JESSE H. ALLISON. Jesse H. Allison. a well-known and prominent citizen of New Vienna, this county, who served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, was born on December 26, 1839, in Rush county, Indiana, the son of John and Eunice (Hunt) Allison, the former of whom was- born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1807, and the latter in the same county four years later. John Allison was the son of William and Nancy Allison, pioneers of that county, where both died. Eunice Hunt was the daughter of Asa and. Marian Hunt, also pioneers of that county, where they spent practically all of their lives. John Allison was a farmer, who emigrated to Rush county, Indiana, in 1835, and later to the Wabash country, near Lafayette, where he died in 1844. Later, his widow 702 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. and family returned to Rush county, and after being there for three years, came to Clinton county, settling near New Vienna. Mrs. John Allison died in Rush county, Indiana, in 1901. They were the parents of six children, Asa H., Achasa, Isaac R., Jesse H., Thomas G. and William G. Of these five sons, all served as Union soldiers during the Civil War, except William, and all are now deceased, except Jesse H., the subject of this biographical sketch. In September, 1861, Jesse H. Allison, then twenty-two years of age, enlisted in the in the Forty-eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served, successively, as a private, sergeant and lieutenant. For a time he commanded his company. During the Vicksburg campaign, he was an' aide-de-camp, attached to the brigade staff. Among the more noted engagements in which he participated were the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg and Jackson. He received his honorable discharge in 1864. After coming home from the war, Mr. Allison engaged in business at New Vienna, where, for many years, he conducted a hardware and agricultural implement store, doing a very successful business. In 1869, Jesse H. Allison was married, in New Vienna, by the Rev. Charles Bowers, minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the Rev. John Henry Douglas, the Friends minister, to Sarah Charity. Miller, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1844, daughter of Samuel and Charity P. Miller, who emigrated from Columbiana county, to Clermont county, this state, and then to Clinton county. Their remains are buried in the cemetery at New Vienna. To Jesse H. and Sarah Charity (Miller) Allison the following children have been born: Frank 0., Veda Henrietta, William Logan, Mary A., of Detroit, Michigan; Jessie Augusta, who died at the age of nine years; Earl M. and Harry J., who died early in life, the latter having been drowned. Mr. Allison was an Abraham Lincoln Republican until the campaign of 1896, when he became a William Jennings Bryan Democrat. He served as treasurer of Green township and as corporation treasurer, also as a member of the school board for a number of years. He is a member of Carey Johnson Post No. 405, Grand Army of the Republic, and was commander of the post for some years. Mr. and Mrs. Allison are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at New Vienna. FRANCIS MARION IRELAND. Having been a resident of this county since he was two years old, the subject of this biographical sketch, a prosperous and substantial farmer of Washington township, is one of the best-known men in the county. Though having passed the three-score-and-ten milestone in the journey of life, Mr. Ireland retains the liveliest interest in current affairs and is still regarded, as he has been for many years, as .one of the most influential men in his neighborhood; his voice ever having been raised in behalf of all good things thereabout. Though his farm is not as large as those of some of his neighbors, its well-tilled fields and admirable appointments, fine residence and ample farm buildings, display unmistakable evidences of careful management and prudent, energetic and thrifty husbandry ; creating the presumption that its owner has so ordered his affairs as to be in no present fear regarding provision for the remainder of his mortal pilgrimage. Francis Marion Ireland was born on a farm. in Warren county, Ohio, on June 17, 1844, son of John C. and, Emma (Baker) Ireland, the former of whom was the son of 'Frank Ireland, a native of Scotland, who emigrated to .America in the closing years of the eighteenth century, locating in Warren county, this state, where he engaged in farming and became a substantial, citizen: Frank Ireland was a soldier in the army of his adopted country during the War of 1812 and, was a man who was held in the very highest regard among his pioneer neighbors in Warren county. John C. Ireland was reared on the paternal farm in Warren county and married Emma Baker who was born in that county, daughter of Abram Baker and wife, Vir- CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 703 ginians, who located in that section of Ohio at: an early day and became, prominent citizens, of Warren county, and it was there that Francis Marion Ireland was born. ,.In 1846 John C. Ireland and his family came to Clinton county, locating in Washington township, where Mr. Ireland and his wife spent the rest of their lives. John C. Ireland bought a farm of one hundred and seventeen acres in that township and became one of the best-known farmers of that section. This farm is now owned by James B. Ireland, brother of the subject of this sketch. At the time his parents moved to, Clinton, county, F. M. Ireland was but two years of age, consequently he has spent practically all his life in this county. He was reared on the Washington township farm, receiving his education in the neighboring district school and has always lived in that neighborhood, his well-appointed farm of something like seventy-five acres adjoining the paternal farm, being separated from the latter by the highway, he and his brother, James B. Ireland, thus remaining close neighbors. In 1872, Francis M. Ireland Was united in marriage to Rhody Ellen Crouse, who was born in Washington township, this county, daughter of Emerson Crouse and wife, prominent pioneers of that section. Additional details regarding the Crouse family in this county are set out in the biographical sketch relating to J. W. R. Crouse, a cousin of Mrs. Ireland, presented elsewhere in this volume. To the union of Francis. Marion Ireland and Rhody Ellen Crouse three children have been born, Virgil, Verda and Stella. Mr. and Mrs. Ireland are genial, hospitable and generous; charitable in their relations with their neighbors and for many years have taken a prominent part in all good works in that neighborhood, being held in the highest esteem by all persons thereabout. Mr. Ireland is a good citizen, having performed well his duties to his fellowmen, and may safely be said to be approaching the "sunset time" of his life with few regrets and certainly with no reasonable complaint concerning the manner in which he has fared along the way. ROBERT TURNER STANFIELD. The name of Robert Turner Stanfield is one familiar to the residents of Vernon township, this county, as that of a hard-working, energetic and neighborly farmer, whose toil in the cultivation of the soil has brought him a competence, but who has not limited his activities to one occupation. Mingling with men, he has found other lines of work equally as absorbing, and for years has served the public in the capacity of assessor, an office which he has filled most, creditably. Robert T. Stanfield was born in Greene county, Ohio, on March 22, 1855, the son of James and Mahala (Turner) Stanfield, both born in the same county, the former in 1824, and the latter four years later. James Stanfield was the son of Samuel and Massey (Kennedy) Stanfield, the former, Samuel, was a native of North Carolina, whose father, William .Stanfield, was a pioneer of Greene county, this, state, where he died after a worthy and useful life. Massey Kennedy Was barn in Georgia in 1901. She died in Greene county, this state, in 1873, having ,outlived her husband nearly twenty years, his death having occurred in 1854. Mahala Turner was the daughter of Robert and Christena (Hegler) Turner, the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Robert Turner was quite a young ,man when he migrated to Greene county, where he afterwards married. After the death of his wife in 1868, when they still resided in the above-named county, he moved to Warren county, to make his home with his daughter, and there he spent the rest of his life, living to the extraordinary age of ninety-seven years, his death occurring in 1892. James Stanfield came from Greene county to Clinton county in 1876 and soon afterwards, purchased. farm across the line in Warren county, near the present home of the subject of this sketch. This piece of land consisted of one hundred and ninety-five acres. He passed away in Vernon township, in 1905, his wife's death following "five years 704 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. later. They were the parents of ten children, as follow : William, John (deceased), Christina (deceased), Robert T., Frank, Elva, Aaron (deceased), Samuel, Sarah and Mattie. Robert T. Stanfield was born and reared on the farm of his father, receiving the usual common-school education, after which he was privileged to attend the Spring Valley high school. In 1876 he began a residence in Warren county which lengthened into twenty years, after which he and his family removed to this county, and the following year, he bought the farm of fifty acres which he still owns and on which he has become a successful stock raiser. In 1881 Robert T. Stanfield was united in marriage to Florence E. McCray, who was born in Clarksville, this county, in July, 1855, daughter of Joseph and Amanda (Seaver) McCray, who had lived in this county since its early days. Joseph McCray died in 1897, having been a widower since 1877. To Robert T. and Florence (McCray) Stanfield two children have been born, Zula M. and Albert H. The former married Charles Camp and has four children, Leland, Leona (deceased), Nina and Evelyn. Albert H Stanfield married Mary Pagenkopf, of Wisconsin, and has four children, Virgil, Virgene, Augusta and Neda. The man who can remain in one public office for fifteen consecutive years must be a man of sterling worth; otherwise, keen competition would see to it that he took up another line of work. Robert T. Stanfield has been township assessor of Vernon township for this length of time and has fulfilled the obligations of the office in such a way as to win the respect and confidence of the public. Having lived in the county for so long a time, he is one of the best-known farmers in the vicinity, and has a great many warm friends. RICHARD C. GREENE. The early surroundings of the man whose name appears as the theme of this biography were not propitious from the world's viewpoint, and yet, the success of his subsequent career shows that there were even in his boyhood the stalwart elements which go to make up strength of character and the sort of persistence that the world admires. Through strenuous work and fidelity to an ideal of personal excellence, Mr. Greene has risen in importance and usefulness in his community, he has been elected county treasurer, has won the respect of his fellow-citizens. Richard C. Greene was born on April 18, 1857, on the farm in Wayne township, Clinton county, on which his father was born, and Which his grandfather settled. He is the son of Hazael and Millie (Chern) Greene. Hazael Greene was the son of Isaac Greene, who came to Wayne township when most of it was in forest, and it might be said of him, as it has been said of others, "Men who plant civilization in the wilderness, who organize backwoodsmen into communities, and throw around them the protection of the law, should not be forgotten. They render mankind a priceless service, and those who come after them and enjoy the fruits of their labor and their sacrifices should never tire of honoring their memory." The farm which Isaac Greene developed from its primal raw condition has remained in the family ever since, with the exception of a period of two or three years Hazael Greene died in Wilmington at the age of seventy-eight. His wife, Mrs. Millie (Cherry) Greene, died in 1860, when Richard C. was three years of age, Richard C. Greene received his elementary education in the public schools in the country. He afterwards was graduated from high school, and later went to the Wilmington. College for two years. Mr. Greene was a teacher in the public schools for several years, after which he devoted his time to the management of the home farm. .After taking up his residence in Wilmington, about 1901, Mr. Greene engaged in the CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 705 insurance business for a number of years. being manager of one of the largest and most successful agencies in the town. On February 26, 1880, Richard C. Greene was united in marriage to Sadie M. Davis, a daughter of Jordan and Phebe Davis, and a native of Highland county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Greene three children have been born, as follow : Grace, married Chester Sanders, of Dayton, Ohio; Mary, married Russell D. Jay, of Xenia, Ohio; and Charles Herbert Greene, of Dayton, married Ada Antram, a daughter of Frank and Belle Antram, natives of Clinton county, Ohio. Mr. Greene is a Republican and takes an active interest in the affairs of that party. In 1912 he was elected treasurer of Clinton county, and re-elected in 1914. Mr. Greene has the qualities that would make him a power for good in any community. He has energy, judgment self-reliance, and that sterling characteristic called integrity. In all of the relations of life, he has been honest fair and helpful. Such a man is an asset to any community. HUBERT J. DERIVAN. Hubert J. Derivan, a well-known merchant and farmer of New Vienna, this county, was born there on August 12, 1856, the son of Hugh and Bridget (Foley) Derivan, both of whom were natives of Ireland and who were married in their native land. Three children were born to them in the old country, Maria, Anna and Patrick, the last two of whom are deceased. Leaving these children in their native land, they dame to America in 1855 proceeding to Ohio, locating at New Vienna, this county, and two years later the children came alone to America, the voyage and trip requiring three-months, at that time the children being ten, eight and six years of age, respectively. The late Hugh Derivan was a laborer, a Democrat in politics and a member of the Catholic church. Another child was born to Hugh and Bridget (Foley) Derivan after coming to this county. Hubert J., the subject of this sketch. Maria, the eldest child, married Adam Clark and they later settled in Tecumseh, Nebraska.- There Mr. Clark died, leaving his widow with five children, Lucy, Clara, Anna, Mary and Ethel, who later moved to Lincoln, where they now live. Two sons, Frank and Hubert, had died in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Hugh Derivan died on March 19, 1884, and his wife on March 2Z of the same year. Their remains are buried at Hillsboro, Ohio. Hubert J. Derivan was educated in the public schools at New Vienna and learned the blacksmith's trade as soon as he was old enough to begin work. Afterward, however, he gave up this trade and for fourteen years was engaged in the implement business, but on February 6, 1912, he took up blacksmithing again, in connection with the implement business. He handles farm implements, seeds of all kinds, fence posts and drain tile, besides doing a general business in blacksmithing. Mr. Derivan owns his own business building in New Vienna, in 1912 having bought out Eugene Edwards, who owned the building. On February 5, 1890, Hubert J. Derivan was married to Susan Irene McCabe, who was born in Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of James and Mary McCabe, both deceased, to which union five children have been born, namely : Joseph, who was graduated from the veterinary department of Ohio University in June, 1914; Harry, of the 1916 class in civil engineering at Ohio State University; Mary, a student in the normal school at New Vienna, who is a graduate of the New Vienna high school and has taught at New Vienna, Cuba and Martinsville; Hubert, Jr., a student in the New Vienna high school, and John, a student in the public schools. Mr. Derivan owns a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Green township, which he himself has bought and paid for with his own earnings and savings. He also owns (45) 706 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. several pieces of property in New Vienna, besides his residence. He is a Democrat and has been a member of the board of public affairs for five years and a member of the council for six years. Mr. and Mrs. Derivan are, members of the Catholic church and their children have been reared in that faith. HENRY CLAY WISBEY. The life of the subject of this short biography is instructive in that it indicates what can be done by the determined will, the resolute purpose, and the ability to concentrate one's powers upon a worthy object in life and work until that object is attained. Henry Clay Wisbey is the son of Lewis and Agnes (Clark) Wisbey, referred to, in the sketch of George M. Cole in the present volume, and was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on. August 20, 1858. He received his early education in the Cincinnati schools, and in his sixteenth year went to Illinois. After a year's residence there, he came to Clinton county, rented a farm and lived there for the next forty years. In 1905 he bought the farm of one hundred and ten acres, and thus saw the result of almost a life-time of strenuous work. Henry C. Wisbey has been twice married. His first wife was Ida Cole, a daughter of Benjamin and Martha Cole, mentioned elsewhere in this work, who died four years after her marriage, in 1881, leaving two children, Charles and Cassie May, the latter of whom died in infancy The former was born on January 2, 1882, and married Anna Garrison of Vernon township, this county, to which union were born three children, Mabel May, Walter and Ralph, all of whom are living. On March 13, 1890, Mr. Wisbey married, secondly, Ida Espey, the marriage taking place in Blanchester, this county. She was born in Union City, Indiana, on February 22, 1868, the daughter of John and Nancy (Wittaker) Espey, the former a native of Union City, and the latter of Darke county, Ohio. John Espey died at Rochester, Warren county, Ohio, in 1911, at the age of seventy-five. His wife had died near Union City in 1871. They were the parents of two children, Edgar and Ida. By his second wife who was Hannah Lyons, and to whom he was married in 1873, John Espey had six children, Burt Elmer, Charles Tilden, Estelle, 011ie Jane, Bessie and Celia. To Henry C. and Ida (Espey) Wisbey two daughters have been born, Bessie, who died while quite young, and Vinnia, who recently married Edward Blatt, of Newport, Kentucky. Mr. Wisbey has taken keen interest in political affairs, and has always voted the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Odd Fellows. The life here briefly outlined furnishes an example of what persistent effort will accomplish; and as the present publication is devoted to a review of those citizens of the county, who by their integrity and ability, have won a place of prominence in the community, it is but fitting that the present sketch should appear. Mr. Wisbey is a man, who as husband, father, neighbor and citizen, is worthy of emulation. RAYMOND J. HUMPHREYS. Raymond J. Humphreys, an intelligent young farmer of Vernon township, this county, was born in that township on February 21, 1879, the son of David A. and Callie (Goodwin) Humphreys. He was reared on a farm and was educated in the public schools of the county, having been graduated from the Blanchester high school with the class of 1899, since which time he has been engaged in farming. Mr. Humphreys owns one hundred and forty acres of land in Vernon township and is a general farmer and stockman. David A. Humphreys, subject's father, was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of Pansy, in Marion township. Mr. Humphreys has always been engaged in farming. At the present time, he owns approximately three hundred acres CLINTON COUNTY; OHIO - 707 of land, but also formerly owned one hundred and thirty-five acres which now belong to his son, Raymond J. Besides his extensive interest in farm land, Mr. Humphreys is a director of the First National Bank, of Blanchester, and of the Farmers National Bank, of Clarksville. In December, 1877, David A. Humphreys was married to Caroline Goodwin, who was born in. Indiana, and who is the daughter of James Goodwin, a brother of Levi Goodwin, mentioned elsewhere in the sketch of E. NI. Goodwin, of Marion township. James Goodwin was a farmer by occupation, who lived in Warren county, Ohio. He is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. David A. Humphreys have two children, Raymond J., and Vance, who was born in 1866. On October 28, 1903, Raymond J. Humphreys was married to Nora Nicholson, who was born in Warren county, Ohio, on September 12, 1880, daughter and only child of John and Susan (Penquite) Nicholson, both natives of that county. John Nicholson was born on January 9, 1855, and his wife on June 30, 1855. They now reside on a farm in Washington township, Warren county. To Raymond and Nora (Nicholson) Humphreys two children have been born, Clarence Edwin, born on July 27, 1904, and Helen Lavonne, June 9. 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys are prominent citizens of Vernon township, Mr. Humphreys being one of the trustees of that township. He is now president of the farmers institute at Clarksville, and, as the head of that organization, is contributing in a large measure to the spread of interest in this community in scientific farming 'He is a Republican and has served as a member of the school board; Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Blanchester. WALTER G. RICHARDSON. Walter G. Richardson, now a well-known and prosperous young farmer of Vernon township, this county, was born on August 2, 1870, in the township where he is still living, a son of the late Charles Pierson and Jane (Villars) Richardson, the former born in Cincinnati, on March 15, 1840, and the latter on the old Villars homestead in Vernon township, on December 7, 1832. Charles Pierson Richardson was widely known during his life as one of the successful farmers of Clinton county. He began life with one hundred acres of land inherited by Mrs. Richardson, and gradually added to this tract until at the time of his death on July 12, 1894, he was the owner of four hundred and thirty-five acres of splendid land in Vernon township. He was a son of Pierson Jackson and Elizabeth (Skillenger) Richardson, the former born in 1815 in Genesee county, New York, who died on December 17, 1902, and the latter born on April 27, 1814, in Cincinnati, Ohio, who died on October 3, 1883. Her parents were natives of Germany. Charles Pierson Richardson was a farmer and specialized in pure-bred live stock and kept road-bred horses of the Wilkes and Hambletonian breeds. He also made a specialty of raising Shropshire sheep and Shorthorn cattle. After his death his widow moved to Wilmington, where she now resides with her daughter, Bessie. Before her marriage, Mrs. Richardson was Jane Villars, the daughter of James and Frances (Gregg) Villars, the former of whom was born on October 28, 1800, in Jefferson township, Greene county, Pennsylvania, and died in June, 1890, and the latter of whom, her mother having died when she was a child, was reared by Mrs. Woodmansee. She was a daughter of George and 'Margaret (Wiley) Gregg. Charles P. Richardson was married to Jane Villars on October 3, 1865. James Villars was a son of James and Rebecca (Davidson) Villars. Charles P. Richardson and wife were the parents of nine children, three of whom, Howard, Horace and Lillie, are deceased. The living children are: James Pierson, Jr., Charles Hinkle, 708 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. Walter G., Frances Elizabeth, Herman and Bessie. Mrs. Richardson is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. Walter G. Richardson was reared on his father's farm, receiving his education in the public schools and in the Wilmington high school, from which he was graduated in 1895. He is a farmer by occupation and lives in Vernon township on his mother's farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres. He is a well-known breeder of Shorthorn cattle. On January 29, 1903, Walter G. Richardson was married to Edna Hadley, who was born on March 28, 1873, in Adams township, this county, daughter of Harlan H. and Susannah (Kimbrough) Hadley, the former of whom was born on October 21, 1833, in Adams township, and the latter, on November 15, 1836, on Cabin creek, in Indiana. Mrs. Richardson's paternal grandparents were Jonathan and Rebecca (Harvey) Hadley, the former of whom came from North Carolina in 1810, and who died in Vernon township in 1879, at the age of eighty-seven. His wife died in 1876, at the age of eighty, three. Mrs. Richardson's maternal grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth (Hiatt) Kimbrough, pioneers in Clinton county, the former of whom came from North Carolina and the latter, from Virginia." He died in 1883, at the age of eighty-three, and his wife lived to be the same age, her death occurring in 1885. Mrs. Richardson is one of five children born to her parents, the others being Ella Bevan, Atwell Miller, Isaac Parker, and Horace Allen. To Walter G. and Edna (Hadley) Richardson three children have been born, Ruth Eleanor, born on July 21, 1904; Horace Hadley, June 4, 1908, and Esther Rebecca, October 5, 1911. Mrs. Richardson's maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Hiatt, came on horseback from Virginia to this county in 1812, with her parents, Jesse and Martha (Stuyvesant) Hiatt. Her paternal grandfather, Jonathan T. Hadley, came on horseback from North Carolina in an early day and entered land from the government in Clinton county: Walter G. Richardson is a Republican, but he has never taken an active interest in political affairs. He and his family are earnest members of the Methodist Protestant church, in which they are actively interested. JAMES W. BABB. One of the best-remembered farmers and business men of the past generation in Clinton county was the late James W. Babb, who at the time of his death owned and lived on a farm on the Vienna pike in Union township. Of Mr. Babb it may be said that he was a man of strong and active sympathies. His temperament was warm and ardent, his feeling deep and intense. These and other attractive characteristics unconsciously drew him an unusual number of devoted friends, upon whom under all circumstances he could rely and who, now that he has passed from earth, revere his memory. He is remembered today as a manly man, of pleasing and dignified presence, influential in the circles in which he moved and cordial, friendly and kind in all the relations of life. He stood as a conspicuous example of symmetrically-developed American manhood, James W. Babb was born on May 8, 1837, at Xenia, Ohio, and died on November 30, 1896. He was the son of James M. and Hannah (Smith) Babb, the former of whom was born on January 7, 1811, and the latter of whom was born on June 4, 187, both in Frederick county, Virginia. James M. Babb was the son of Henry Mercer and Grace (McCool) Babb, and Henry was the son of Thomas and Blanche (Mercer) Babb, who were off-shoots of an old English family in Virginia. Hannah (Smith) Babb was the daughter of. John S. and Susan (Crouse) Smith. James M. and Hannah (Smith) Babb were married on August 14, 1834, in Virginia, and immediately after their marriage made the journey to Xenia, Ohio, their wedding trip. They began housekeeping at Xenia, where he became a carpenter and an influential citizen. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and lived and died in CLINTON. COUNTY, OHIO - 709 Xenia. They had six children, all of whom are now deceased, namely : John Henry, who was born on May 19, 1835, died on May 30, 1835; James W., was the second born; Mary Jane, 1839, died in 1841; Thomas M., April 8, 1842, died on March 14, 1895, and was for many years a partner of his brother, James W., in the saw-mill and building business; George H., February 22, 1844, died on February 15, 1915, made his home with his brother, James W., until, the latter's death and afterwards lived with Mrs. Babb until his death, in the spring of 1915; Charles S., May 30, 1836, died in 1894. James M. Babb was married, secondly, to Susan McCreary on February 16, 1853, and they had three children, all of whom are living, as follow: Leonidas, is a resident of Xenia, Ohio, and a carpenter by occupation; Grace, married David McClellan, of Greene county, Ohio; Eliza, married John McLean, and they reside near Jamestown, Ohio, on a farm. James W. Babb was first married to Angeline Hays, February 11, 1858. She died, however, July 7, 1862, and he was married, secondly, on June 11, 1863, to. Louisa Lacy, who is still living. Louisa Lacy was born on June 29, 1835, in Washington township, Clinton county, Ohio, the daughter of John Johnson, who was familiarly known as "Jack," and Ruth. (Brown) Lacy. Mrs. Babb's father was born on December 25, 1810, in Washington township, Clinton county, and died on March 1, 1892. The mother was born near Morrisville, in Washington township, Clinton county, Ohio, in 1811, and died in 1875. The late "Jack" Lacy was the son of J. Johnson and Ruth (Clevenger) Lacy, natives of Frederick county, Virginia, where they were married early in the last century. They came to Ohio in 1809 and settled in the present limits of Clinton county, where the village of Cuba now stands. Here the elder Lacy kept a tavern for several years, finally settling in Washington township, where he died about the time of the breaking out of the Civil War, his wife \having died some years previously. His family consisted of .,ten children, of whom "Jack" Lacy was the eldest. He received a limited education in the primitive schools of 'the day and purchasing land in Washington township in 1838, located on it in the fall of 1840. In 1855 he purchased a small tract of land, which became the nucleus of a five-hundred-and-twenty-three-acre farm, which he later owned. He married Ruth Brown, in October, 1833. They had eleven children, as follow : Mrs. Louisa (Lacy) Babb was the eldest; Henry, died in 1910; David Bell, born in December, 1840, married Mary Jane Crouse, is a farmer of Union township; Susan, married George Olvis, of Burtonville; Mary, married Clay Olvis, of Burtonville; Florence, married John Gray, of Wilmington; Sarah, died unmarried, at the' age of twenty-seven; Finley.' is a resident of New Vienna ; Levi, lives near Lytle, Ohio, where he is a farmer ; Leroy, lives near Harveysville; one child died in infancy. Mrs. Babb's mother, who, before her marriage, was Ruth Brown, was the daughter of David Brown, one of four brothers, who settled early in Washington township. David, Asa, Elisha and James Brown were natives of Massachusetts, born during the War of Independence, and who at the close of the war removed with their father to. 'Owen county, Kentucky, where they grew to manhood. Between 1807 And 1810 all removed from Owen county, Kentucky, to somewhere within the present limits of Washington township, purchasing land in Steel's, Carrington's and Johnsons's surveys, where they all resided for many years, rearing large families. Asa died in 1843; David, 1844; Elisha, 1856, and James, 1863. David Brown and his wife, Jane Brown, were members of the Christian church. James W. Babb grew up in Xenia, Ohio, and became a carpenter by occupation and later a building contractor. Subsequently, he operated a saw-mill at Paintersville, in Greene county, in partnership with his brother, Thomas M., for several years. In 1894 he removed to his farm on the Vienna pike, in Union township, and in that year built a 710 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. house. Two years later he died. His widow, Mrs. Louisa (Lacy) Babb, still lives on the farm. While living at Paintersville, Mr. Babb served as justice of the peace for several years. He was an uncompromising Republican. He and his wife were active members of the Christian church. They had no children, but two children had been born by Mr. Babb's former marriage. One of these children, Amanda E., born on January 30, 1862, died on February 22, 1881, unmarried. Mary E., the eldest, born on December 24, 1858, married John Leininger, a farmer of Union township Mrs. Louisa (Lacy) Babb is a well-known woman, well informed, cultured and refined. She is highly respected by the people of this township. MILNER VAN PELT. Milner Van Pelt is a very successful farmer of Wayne township, who is sprung from a fine old family, whose ancestry goes back to the Old Dominion state. Several generations of the family have been prominent in the religious and political life of Clinton county, and Milner Van Pelt himself is a man of established worth as an enterprising citizen. Milner Van Pelt was born on March 6, 1855, in Wayne township, this county, the son of Ryan and Rebecca (Milner) Van Pelt, the former of whom was born on August 28, 1822, at Richmond, Indiana, and the latter, March 7, 1825, in Highland county, Ohio. Mr. Van Pelt's maternal grandparents were Moses and Sallie (Slaughter) Milner, the former a native of Halifax county, Virginia, born on July 4, 785, whose death occurred on January 16, 1864. Moses Milner was a son of Beverly Milner and emigrated from the Old Dominion state to Highland county, Ohio, in 1807, when a young man. A few years later he returned to Virginia, where he married, and then came back to live permanently in Highland county, locating near the village of Leesburg. Sallie Slaughter was also a native of Virginia, born August 23, 787; was married in her native state to Moses Milner, in October, 1807, and died on April 19, 1885. Beverly Milner, the father of Moses, was born on March 22, 756, in. Halifax county, Virginia, and came to Ohio in the spring of. 1807. He married Olive Anna Hendricks, who was also a native of Virginia, born in 760, who died in 1828. Beverly Milner died on January 10, 1843, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Van Pelt were Elijah and Lucy (Bethel) Van Pelt, the .former a native of. Loudoun county, Virginia, born on September 19, 1794. 'He came to Clinton county, Ohio, in 1847, and was a pioneer farmer in Wayne township, where he owned one hundred acres of land. Elijah Van Pelt and wife were the parents of four children, namely: Ryan, the father of Milner; John, born on June 30, 1829;. Lydia, June 14, 1843, and Abigail, August 1, 1825, who died in infancy. The parents of Elijah Van Pelt were Jacob and Sarah (Ryan) Van Pelt, the former of whom was born on August 12, 1759, and who died on August 3, 1831, and the latter, born on September 22, 761, died on August 29, 1831. Ryan Van Pelt received a good education in the public schools of Highland county, . Ohio, and became a farmer in Wayne township, this county, where he purchased one hundred acres of swamp land. This land he cleared, drained and improved, and there he spent the remainder of his life. On October 18, 1849, he was married to. Rebecca Milner, to which union five children were born, of whom Milner was the third in order of birth, the others being: Albert, born on January 31, 1851; Lydia Ann, April 7, 1853, who died on March 16, 1881; Elijah, March 10, 1858, and Lucinda, December 3, 1864. Elijah and Lucinda are unmarried. Milner Van Pelt, after- completing his education in the schools at Highland, began farming in Wayne township, and has lived there all his life. In 1879 he inherited thirty-seven and one-half acres of land, and ten years later he added forty acres to this CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 711 tract, being now the owner of a farm of seventy-seven and one-half acres of fine land, on which he makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mr. Van Pelt married Ella Hodson, the daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Lamb) Hodson, and to this union have been born four children, namely: Cora, born on February 3, 1878, married Quincy Morris, and has two children, John Ryan, born on July 24, 1909, and Helen, May 4, 1915; Ola, November 22, 1882, died on March 24, 1906; Royal, August 31, 1884, died on January 10, 1896; Arametha, May 18, 1901, is living at home with her parents. From 1904 until 1910 Milner Van Pelt served as county commissioner of Clinton county, having been elected to this office on the Republican ticket, he being an ardent Republican, as was his father. The Van Pelt family are members of the Methodist church at Memphis, and Mr. Van Pelt is a trustee in the church, as well as superintendent of the Sunday school. He takes a worthy pride in his farm and the improvements which he has made upon it. In 1913 he built a new and commodious country home on his farm and has improved and developed the place in many ways. FRANK HOGGATT The history of a county or state, as well as that of a nation, consists principally of the records of those men and women who have served society. While the quality of statehood is determined by the character of the rank and file of its citizens, it is obvious that the state itself or any part thereof becomes known to the world by the lives and deeds of those citizens who have risen above the general average. In point of service to the community, it is a question whether any should receive more honor than he who has taught its young. While the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article is now a justice of the peace, he, for twenty years was a teacher, and as such, should be considered as one deserving of honor and appreciation by those whose personal and community interests he has served. Frank Hoggatt was born on a farm near Westboro, in Jefferson township, this county, on December 22, 1867, son of Alexander and Mary (Rhonemous) Hoggtat, well-known and respected residents of that neighborhodo. Alexander Hoggatt was horn in Greene county, Tennessee, in 1822, and his wife was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1824. He was the son of Nathan and Mary (Babb) Hoggatt, natives of Tennessee, who came to this county in 1830, settling in Jefferson township. The grandmother died, about the time of the Civil War and the grandfather lived until 1880, at the time of his death being eighty-five years of age. Mary Rhonemous was the daughter of Jacob and Sophia Rhonemous, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, who, soon nfter the states of the Middle West began to attract Eastern inhabitants, transferred their home from Pennsylvania to this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Alexander Hoggatt was a Whig and, a member of the Universalist church. He became a member of what was then known as the Know-Nothing party, later joining forces with the Republicans. He died on his farm in Jefferson township. in 1900, two years after his wife died. Their children were, Susan, Joel, Leander, Jacob, Lavine, and Frank. After, completing his studies, in the district schools, and the New. Vienna high school, Frank Hoggatt began his career as teacher, a career which lasted for twenty Years, ending in 1914, since which time he has given all of his attention to farming In 1915 he and his wife, who has been, since 1900, a true help-mate, took much, pleasure in the erection of a beautiful residence. Before her marriage, Mrs. Hoggatt was Jessie Greenwood, of Xenia, Ohio. Her parents are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hoggatt have one child, a daughter, Vera, whose birth occurred on, December 13, 1903. The confidence in which Frank Hoggatt, is held by his neighbors and townspeople is indicated by the fact that for eight years he has been justice of the, peace, an office 712 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. which he has filled most creditably. He is a Republican, and a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Clarksville. From the time when he determined upon an education more advanced than that which was usual in his day, until the present, Mr. Hoggatt has been guided by high ideals, which he has faithfully sought to impart to the younger generation who, as pupils, came under his influence. The good accomplished by a man of this type is incalculable, and a community can never adequately pay for the service such a man has rendered. ENOCH L. CAREY. Enoch L. Carey is one of the more extensive farmers of Union township, Clinton county, Ohio, and a man who, for many years, has been conspicuous in the religious, educational and civic life of Clinton county. He comes from an old family of this section and has filled many important offices within the gift of the people of Union township, having served as township trustee for a period of seven years, a, part of one term by appointment and later two terms by election. He is an elder in the Chester meeting of the Friends society and for the past eight years has been trustee of Wilmington College. He also helped to organize the Clinton Mutual Insurance Company and has been one of its trustees and directors since its organization. In addition to all of this, Mr. Carey is perhaps best known as a skillful, scientific farmer. He is proprietor of a magnificent farm of three hundred and fifteen acres in Union township. Enoch L. Carey was born on April 12, 1859, at Martinsville, in Clinton county, the son of John and Elizabeth (Lundy) Carey. John Carey was born on August 6, 1826, in Highland county, and died in 1909. Elizabeth Lundy was born in Union township, on the farm where her son now lives, in 1828, and died on August 23, 1889. Mr. Carey's maternal great-grandparents were James and Elizabeth Lundy, both of whom came to Clinton county- from Virginia about 1810, and settled on a farm in Liberty township, now owned by Charles McKee. They brought their birthrights in the Quaker church and first affiliated with the Center meeting and later, when the Chester meeting was found, they affiliated with that. For a number of years James Lundy sat at the head of that meeting. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Carey were Enoch and Charlotta (Green) Lundy, the latter of whom was born in 1804, and when twelve years of age came with her parents, John Green and wife, from near Hillsville. in Grayson county, Virginia. They purchased one hundred and eighty-five acres of land in Union township, where Enoch L. Carey now lives. Charlotta Green, Mr. Carey's grandmother, grew up on her parents' farm in Union township. Enoch Lundy was a lad when his parents came to Clinton county in 1810. He grew up and married in Liberty township and was killed by a falling tree three months before his daughter, Elizabeth, was born. He had two children: Alice, who died at the age of fourteen, and Elizabeth, Mr. Carey's mother. The paternal grandparents of Enoch L.' Carey were Samuel and Anna Carey, both natives of Virginia, born near the Pennsylvania line. They- grew up and were married there and later moved to Grayson county, where they became acquainted with the Greens. In 1818 they settled on a farm in Highland county, Ohio, now owned by Zimri Carey, who founded Careytown, Ohio. They were ardent Quakers. He died at the age of ninety-three, in 1874, and his remains were buried at Martinsville, Ohio. She died in 1808. Although- he lived on a farm, he was a blacksmith by trade and his boys operated the farm while he worked at his trade. Most of the sons, however, learned the blacksmith's trade. He had eight children, of whom only one is now living, Rachel, who married Charles West: John Carey learned the blacksmith's trade from his father and early in his life and built a house and shop in Martinsville and followed the trade. He was married at the age of thirty years, and four years later purchased a farm and began farming. He CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 713 traded, farms several times and finally ,purchased the farm owned, by Grandmother Lundy and her two sisters, comprising ninety-two acres in Union township. In 1886, when his son, Epoch L., was married, he moved to Wilmington, where his wife died in 1894. He married, secondly, Mrs. Mary Thomas, and both are now deceased; she died in 1900, and he died on April 9, 1909. He and his wife belonged to the Friends church and he was an elder and a minister in the church for a time. They had three children, of whom Enoch L. was the eldest. The others are Samuel F., who has a blacksmith shop on the Xenia pike and lives at Wilmington, Ohio; and Nathan H., who lives at La Habra, California. Enoch L. Carey attended the public schools of Martinsville until he was eight years old, and then became a student in the Guerneyville public schools. Later he attended the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, for ten weeks and this completed his educational training. From the time he was ten years old, he had active charge of the management of his father's farm, his father doing very little farm work. When Mr. Carey was grown he purchased his father's interest in the farm and subsequently,` iii partnership with his brother, Nathan. purchased ninety-three acres of the old. Lundy place, on which he now lives. Later he added thirty-three acres farther east and still later purchased his brother Nathan's interest. He now owns in all three hundred and fifteen acres and has a productive farm. On January 21, 1886, Enoch L. Carey was married to Jane McMillan, who was born in Chester township, the daughter of Josiah and Rebecca (Whinery) McMillan, the former of whom is a prominent farmer in the eastern part of Chester township, and is a recorded minister of the Friends society since 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Carey have had four children: Dallas, born on March 14. 1887; Mary, May 7, 1888; John, June 16, 1891; and Esther, November 11, 1899. Dallas is a blacksmith and lives in Guerneyville. He married Buelah McElwee and has one son, Harold. Mary married Raymond Thornburg, and lives on a farm in Union township. John married Louise Bevan, and lives on a farm adjoining his father's. Esther is at home. Prominent as he is in the religious, educational, political and civic life of Clinton county, Enoch L. Carey is a highly-respected and widely-honored citizen. He is a man who has always been straightforward in all of his business dealings, and being possessed of friendly and affable manners has a host of friends in this county, where he is so well known. DAVID E. SUMMERS. David E. Summers, a prosperous farmer of Green township, this county, who owns one hundred and fifty-one acres of the old Summers homestead, was born on February 12, 1871,,a son of John Jackson and Hannah (Hoskins) Summers, the former of whom was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, on November 21, 1825, and the latter, in Clinton county, Ohio. in October, 1827. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Summers were John and Mary Summers, both natives of the Old Dominion state, who in 1837, moved to Franklin county; Ohio, and about eighteen months later to Leesburg, Highland county, Ohio. where they lived until 1835,. at which time they removed to Green township. this county. John Summers died in Henry county, Ohio, his wife having died previously on the old home farm in this county. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Summers were George and Mary (Hodgson) Hoskins, pioneers in Clinton county, where both died. John J. Summers was a farmer and a carpenter by occupation. In 1840 he purchased a farm of one hundred acres in Green township, for twelve hundred dollars, and, and there he lived for about fifteen years. He traded the land for a farm near Wilmington, but he never moved to this second farm, afterwards exchanging it for a farm in Green township, consisting of two 714 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO hundred acres, on which farm he died on April 1, 1907. His wife's death occurred on August 5, 1900. John J. Summers was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Protestant church. He and his wife were the parents of fourteen children, namely : Wesley, living in Illinois; Mary Elizabeth, a resident of Sedgwick City, Kansas; Samantha, of Wayne township; Caroline, deceased, as are Eliza and Ella; Ruth, a resident of Kansas; Lewis and John, both deceased; Joseph, of Green township, this county; Ida, of Green township; Margaret, a resident of Trumbull county, Ohio; David, living on the home farm, the immediate subject of this review; and Isaac, who is the owner of one hundred acres of land in Green township, where he is living. David E. Summers was reared on the home farm, which he now owns. He received his education in the public schools of Greer) township, and after leaving school took up farming for himself, and is engaged in general farming and stock 'raising, in which he has made a very gratifying success.. On February 11, 1890, David E. Summers was married to Lina Rolston, who was born in this county on August 29, 1871, a daughter of Robert and Anna (Wallace) Rolston, both natives of Ireland, who came to Clinton county, after their marriage, and after the birth of four children in the old country. They now live >retired in Green township. Mr. and Mrs. David E. Summers are the parents of four children: Carrie, born on January 10, 1891, is the wife of Alonzo Curtis, and they have two children, Donald and Charles Glenn; Eva, August 26, 1898, married Clyde Steele, and they are living with Mr. and Mrs. Summers; Mary, who died in infancy, and Martha May, May 15, 1900, who is at home with her parents. David E. Summers is a Republican and prominent in the local counsels of his party. Mr. and Mrs. Summers and family are members of the Christian church. W. F. HILDEBRECHT. One of the former large land holders of this county, and a man well known during his life-time was Rudolph Frederick William Hildebrecht, who was a native of Germany having been born in the city of Berlin on February 4, 1848. His parents were Theodore and Henrietta Hildebrecht, both natives of Germany, who, in 1849, crossed the ocean in order to find their home in the New World, of which they had heard wonderful accounts. Landing in New York, they soon decided to come West, and remained in Cincinnati until 1873, in which year they came to this county, locating in Vernon township, where they bought two hundred and sixty-five acres of farm land, and there they made their home. To this farm they later added, by purchase, thirty-two acres, making two hundred and ninety-seven acres in all. In 1896, the family moved back to Cincinnati, where, five years later, Theodore Hildebrecht died, at, the age of seventy-five. The following year his wife passed away, she being at that time seventy-one years of age. Theodore Hildebrecht was a cabinetmaker and during his residence at Cincinnati was foreman of the Mitchell & Raumelsburg Furniture Manufacturing Company. Ile voted the Republican ticket. Both he and his good wife were members of the Lutheran church. Their children were Rudolph F. W. (deceased), Matilda, Otto, Lena and Theodore, the latter, of whom died in infancy. Rudolph F. W. Hildebrecht was reared and educated in Cincinnati. When it came time for him to select an occupation, he became a blacksmith, adopting that vocation byfore he was of age. During the Civil War he was engaged in shoeing, government horses, later taking employment with the George Miller Carriage Company at Cincinnati. During a time of business depression, he left this employment and, taking his blacksmith hammer, started to, travel through Mexico and South America. He was gone for nearly two years, during which time, he traveled over almost all of the southern continent. Upon the removal of his parents to this county in 1873, he accompanied them and the rest. of his life was spent here. In the year 1897 he bought the home farm CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 715 in Vernon township, later adding thirty-two acres to the Same, and it was there that he passed away in 1902. His widow still lives on the farm. She was, before her marriage to Mr. Hildebrecht, Clara Reuter, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on January 27, 1854, daughter of Rudolph and Minnie Reuter, both natives of Germany, who located in Cincinnati about the year 1851, living there the remainder of their lives. Their children were Frederick, Minnie, Clara and an infant, of whom only Clara is living. Rudolph Hildebrecht allied himself with the Republican party. He was much inter ested in school affairs, and was for several years, treasurer of the school board. He was interested also in the purposes and work of secret orders, and was a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, having attained the encampment degree of the first-named order. Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrecht were blessed with a large family of children, whose subsequent history may be of interest to the reader. Robert, who was born in 1874, was educated in the public schools of Clarksville. His wife was before her marriage Florence Starr. She is now a widow, her husband having died on June 13, 1914. Their only child is Carroll LeRoy. The second child born to Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrecht was William F , born on June 6, 1876. He was educated in the Clarksville schools and was graduated from the high school. Since taking up farming as an occupation, he has been very successful, owning seventy-nine acres of splendid farm land. His prominence in political affairs is indicated by the number of official positions he has held of a more or less political nature, all of which offices he has held as -a Republican. He is, at present clerk and treasurer of the school board, and has been a member of the Republican central committee of Vernon township, as well as trustee of the same township, and trustee of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery Association. He is a member of the' Odd Fellows lodge at Clarksville, having joined that order ten years ago; is a member of the encampment at. Wilmington and of the Knights of Pythias at Clarksville. For eight years he has been secretary of the Odd Fellows lodge at Clarksville. On August 10, 1888, William F. Hildebrecht was married to Mary Winfield, of Adams township, and to this union four children have been born, Dewey, Rudolph, Louise and Herschel. The third child of the Hildebrecht household was Henrietta, who was born in 1878, and who lived to be only four years of age. The next born was Emma, who was born in 1880. Sheds now the wife of Albert Urton, son of Thomas Urton, of Blanchester, this county, having married soon after her graduation from the Clarksville high school. The next child born in the Hildebrecht family was Florence, the year of whose birth is 1883. She, too, graduated from the Clarksville high school, after which she studied bookkeeping at Dayton, Ohio. She then went to Washington, D. C., entered Garfield hospital as a student nurse; graduated from that institution, and is now nursing in Chicago. After his high school course was completed, Theodore Henry, born in 1885, became a merchant in Texas, and later went to Dakota and Wisconsin. At one time, he was a thresher, working with Albert Urton in this county and Warren county. He died in 1912 at Blanchester, and was buried with honors by the Free Masons and the Odd Fellows, to both of which orders he was' attached. Frederick Rudolph Hildebrecht was born in 1889, and after completing the course of study in the Clarksville high school, entered a business college at Cincinnati. He lives at present in Dakota. Clara M., who was born on October 24, 1898, spent her childhood and youth in Clarksville, where she was graduated from the high school, winning the scholarship to Cedarville College. She is now living at home with her mother. It is rare indeed that parents of so large a family of children find it possible to give their children the educational advantages which Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrecht gave to theirs. And it is a matter of common observation that often when the means are available, the desire for intellectual attainment is lacking. Therefore it would seem: 716 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. that in this home, there was much in" the early training and in the general atmosphere to encourage the pursuit of studies beyond the usual curriculum, for both ambition, and studious habits are evident mental characteristics of the entire family. The mother took enough time from arduous household duties to teach, her little brood to read good books, and thus very early encourage those mental habits which afterwards made it Possible for her children to attain scholarship which reflected credit upon their home and their parents, as well as upon themselves. Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrecht gave their children an inheritance which cannot be estimated except in spiritual values; and in so doing, they gave also to the community of the richness of their lives. They found their best work in enriching the lives of their children, and of them it may be said as of others, "Blessed is that man who has found his work." Mr. Hildebrecht as a public official was honorable and square in all of his dealings, winning not only the respect of those with whom he came in contact,, but also their regard, for he was strong, and at the same time, kind. He was of a genial nature, and conscientious in all that he undertook to do. The schools, under his tenure of office, Improved in efficiency, and to them he gave his best thought and effort. The community owes him a debt of gratitude for his efficient 'public service. JAMES CHRISTOPHER WEBB. As with growing civilization and increasing limitations upon individual initiative. the problem of living becomes more and more complex, the term "self-made" becomes a badge of honor, and he who wears it an object Of emulation. He who has achieved a successful and honorable career out of difficulty, has worked while others have slept, and to him should come unstinted reward and praise. A brief study of the life of James Christopher Webb will reveal the fact that from early childhood, it was his purpose to succeed; and that in order to do so, he was willing to forego some of the pleasures and many of the extravagances which in so many lives prove the rock on which their boat is wrecked. James C. Webb was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on December 14, 1869, the son of John Wesley and Elizabeth (Bonecutter) Webb, both of whom were born in above-named county. John W. Webb was the son of Burt Webb, who was born in Virginia, as was his wife, who Was a Redish. Burt Webb and his wife were early settlers in Fayette county, Ohio. The former passed away near Sabina, this county, while the latter died near Washington. in Fayette county. Mr. Webb's maternal grandparents, Christopher and Charlotte (Heffley) Bonecutter, both were natives of Ohio and early settlers in Fayette county. John W. Webb was reared in and attended school in the county of his nativity, and was a farmer all of his life. He voted the Republican ticket, attended the Methodist Episcopal church, and was the father of eight children, May Jane, Annie, Armanda, James Christopher, Oliver, William Edward, Harvey, Charles Thomas. He died in June, 1912, and his widow makes her home with, her children. The early training of James C. Webb was not different from that of other youths who were born and reared on a farm, and his first venture in the outside world only served to confirm his hive 'of the life and wholesome work of the farm. After five years as an employee of the street railway company at Erie, Pennsylvania, he went to Greene county in 1874, later coming to this county, where he bought the farm which he now owns, this consisting of one hundred and five acres in Vernon township. He then went to Erie, Pennsylvania, to work for the street car company, and returned to his farm in 1910, since which time he has made many improvements and has become well-known as a breeder of Duroc-Jersey swine. In 1899 James C. Webb. was united in, marriage to Mary Stewart, who was born near Waterford, Pennsylvania, on October 4, 1866, daughter of Aaron and Rebecca Gillespie) Stewart. both natives of Belfast, Ireland. After living for some time in CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 717 Erie county, Pennsylvania, the Stewarts moved to Highland county, Ohio, where Mrs. Stewart died in 1871. Mr. Stewart then went to Wilmington, Ohio, and the rest of his life was spent there, his death occurring in 1896. Their children were Robert, John, William, Mary, Aaron (deceased), and Victor. Mr. Stewart married again and to the second umon five children were born, Rosa, Lee, George, Ida and Charles (decesaed). Mr. Webb is a Democrat and is a member of the Methodist Protestant church. It is such painstaking work as his that commends itself to the student of human nature and human affairs. Mr. Webb was willing, in order to get his start in life, to work by the day for six years; and for two years he worked by the month, thus laying the foundation for a later life of thrift and industry which should result in land ownership. He has taken great pride in the scientific development of his land, and is respected and esteemed by all who have the pleasure of knowing him. SEYMOUR CURTIS MORRIS. Among the many small, intensively cultivated farms in Washington township, this county, few receive more careful attention than that which is owned by S. C. Morris, one of the best-known farmers of that township. Having given close study to modern methods of intensive farming, Mr. Morris is obtaining results from the cultivation of his small farm which are proving not only personally gratifying to himself, but which offer an excellent object lesson to others who, perhaps, are getting fewer returns from a much larger acreage. In addition to his farm in Washington township, this county, where he makes his home, Mr. Morris also owns a farm of fifty-eight and one-half acres in Jay county, Indiana, where he formerly lived, which now is in the hands of a capable and responsible tenant. Seymour Curtis Morris was born in Union township, Highland county, Ohio, on December 16, 1860, son of Avery and Lydia (Jackson) Morris, the former born in Adams county, this state, and the latter, in Highland county. Avery Morris was the son of William Morris, a native of Scotland, who emigrated in his young manhood, coming to Ohio and locating in Adams county, where he remained until his removal to this county in 1865. He settled in Washington township, where the rest of his life was spent. William 'Morris married Depsey Bales, a native of Alabama, who came north with her parents and located in Adams county, Ohio, and to this union several children were born, whose descendants today are numbered among the most substantial residents of this section of the state. William Morris lived to be ninety-eight years of age and was held in high respect hereabout. Avery Morris, son. of William and Depsey (Bales) Morris, was reared in Adams county, this state, and in 1867 began farming in Highland county, later coming to this county, where he became a large land-owner, owning, at the time of his death nearly three hundred and fifty acres of land, about equally divided between two farms in the same vicinity of this county. Avery Morris married Lydia Jackson, daughter of Joseph and Lydia Jackson, early settlers of Highland county, to which union six children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Morris, were members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. Additional details regarding this family are set out in a biographical sketch relating to Frank H. Morris, presented elsewhere in this volume. Seymour Curtis Morris was eight years of age when his parents moved to the Morrisville neighborhood and he received his education in the excellent schools of that village. Upon reaching manhood he moved to Jay county, Indiana, where he bought a farm of fifty-eight and one-half acres, and there he lived for fourteen years, at the end of which time he returned to Clinton county, though still retaining his farm in Indiana, and, in 1905, bought the farm of sixty-two and one-half acres on which he now lives and where he is doing well. On March 16..1889; Seymour C. Morris was united in marriage to Flora, Haines, 718 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO who was born near Westboro, in this county, daughter of James Haines and wife, well-known residents of that neighborhood, and to this union one child has been born, a (laughter, Leora, who married Harley Batson, a well-known young man of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are members of the. Christian church, in the various beneficences of which they are deeply interested in and in which they take an active part, being also concerned in all good works in their community, and are held in the highest regard by all who know them. Mr. Morris is a member of the Masonic lodge at Martinsville and takes a prominent part in the affairs of that order. He is public spirited and energetic and possesses the entire confidence of his neighbors, who hold him in the highest esteem. FRANK W. HADLEY. Frank W. Hadley, who for more than a quarter of a century, has been engaged in the mercantile business in Clinton county and who is now the proprietor of a hardware and grocery business at New Vienna and vice-president and director of the New Vienna Bank, was born in Clark township, this county, May 19, 1865, the son of William and Rebecca Jane (Hunt) Hadley, both of whom also were born in Clinton county, the former near Sligo on March 14, 1832, and the latter, near Martinsville. William Hadley was a farmer and merchant of Wilmington and for many years was in partnership with Mathew Fife. He died in Clark, township on October 8, 1900. His wife is also deceased. He was a Republican and he and his wife and family were members of the Friends church. They were the parents of four children, of whom Ida B. died at the age of seventeen years; Emma S. is the wife of S. C. Haines, of Detroit, Michigan; Frank W. is the subject of this sketch and Anna died in infancy. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Hadley were Jonathan and Margaret Hunt, who were early settlers in Clark township, but who later moved to near Richmond, Indiana, where both died. Born and reared on a farm and educated in the public schools of Clinton county, especially in the Martinsville public schools and in the high school at that place, Frank W. Hadley taught school for several years. Later he attended the Cincinnati College of Pharmacy and was engaged in the drug business at Martinsville, this county, for eleven years, beginning business there in 1890, operating a general store in connection with the drug business. In 1901 he moved to New Vienna and engaged in the hardware and grocery business, his store occupying a double room with a fifty-foot front. On June 20, 1894, Frank W. Hadley was married to Winna Woodmansee, of New Vienna, daughter of Robert J. and Caroline (Hussey) Woodmansee, to which union one child has been born, Miriam, born on July 4, 1899. Robert J. Woodmansee, the father of Mrs. Hadley, was born on June 4, 1845, in Highland county, this state, three miles east of New Vienna, where he now lives. He is the son of Joseph and Abigail (Jeffries) Woodmansee, the former of whom was born at Toms River, New Jersey, in 1806 and who died in 1868, and the latter born at the same place. Mrs. Hadley's paternal great-grandparents were Francis and. Hannah Woodmansee, natives of Toms River, New Jersey, who migrated to Highland county, Ohio, about 1839, Francis Woodmansee and his only son, Joseph, purchasing land there in partnership. The former engaged in the brick business and erected a magnificent house on the old Woodmansee homestead, which is still standing. Joseph Woodmansee, the father of Robert J., owned sixteen hundred acres of land in Highland county and was a member of the Methodist church. He was educated in New Jersey and after coming to Ohio about 1839, farmed in Highland county the remainder of his life. He owned two hundred and sixty acres of land and a grist-mill at New Vienna for four or five years. He also owned a saw-mill at New Vienna. To Joseph and Abigail (Jeffries) CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 719 Woodmansee six, children, were born, Alice, Francis, Jesse, Adolphus, Robert J. and Alonzo. The family were ,members of the Methodist church, and Joseph Woodmansee voted the Republican ticket. Robert J. Woodmansee, has been a farmer all of his life, but has lived most of the time in New Vienna, having gone there with his father in 1859. He owns two hundred acres, of land in Highland county, where his son, Brent, now ,lives. He married Caroline Hussey, daughter of Nathan Hussey, to which union three children were born : Fred, who married Jennie Clark and, has one, daughter, Jennie May; Brent, who married Maud Hunt, and Mrs. Hadley. Robert J. Woodmansee and wife are members of the Methodist church. He votes the Republican ticket and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Hadley is also a Republican in politics, but has never, aspired to public office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order, of, Odd. Fellows, including the subordinate and the encampment branches. Mr. and Mrs. Hadley are members of the Methodist church at New Vienna. REV. JESSE H. HARVEY. Rev. Jesse H. Harvey is descended from a splendid old Quaker family of Clinton county, whose father was born on the farm now occupied by his worthy son, more than a century ago, and whose grandfather, like so many of the members of, the Society of Friends, of one hundred years ago, came to Clinton county from North Carolina. Recorded a minister in the Friends church in 1878, Rev. Jesse H. Harvey has been pastor of the Springfield church ,since 1895 and is, therefore, well known in Clinton county. Born on the farm where he now lives in Adams, township, April 10, 1849, Rev. Jesse H. Harvey is the son of Isaac and Sarah (Edwards) Harvey, the former of whom also was born on this farm, on November 27, 1809, and who died on August 11, 1883. On November 2, 1831, he was married to Sarah Edwards, who was born on November 10, 1812, the daughter of Nathaniel and. Mary (Hadley) Edwards. The paternal grandparents of Rev. J. H. Harvey were Caleb and Sarah (Towel) Harvey, natives of North Carolina, the former born on December 21, 776, the year in which the Declaration of Independence for the American colonies was proclaimed, who came to Clinton county in 1806 and located in Adams township, where he owned two or three hundred acres. Caleb and Sarah Harvey were the parents of seven children, namely: Joshua, born on November 24, 1803; Isaac, November 27, 1809; Hannah, June 26, 1806) Elizabeth, November 4, 1816; Doctor Jesse, November 26, 1801; Eli, December 12, 1808, and Rebecca, April 11, 1813. Caleb Harvey, the son of William and Elizabeth (Carter) Harvey, was a very active worker in the Friends church and held all of the important offices in the church. During the late years of his life he was identified with the Republican party. Of Isaac Harvey it may be said that he received the rudiments of an education in the common schools of Adams township and that he supplemented this education by wide and extensive reading and became a well-informed man. He began farming after reaching maturity and followed this occupation all his life. He owned about two hundred acres of land and a saw-mill which was located on the farm. He took a great interest in the activities of the Friends church and devoted all of his spare time toward promoting the growth of the church. Politically, he was a Republican. Isaac and Sarah Harvey had nine children: Caleb J., born on November 7, 1832; Elizabeth, March 6, 1835; Mary Jane, August 22, 1836, who died on February 11, 1906; Rebecca, July 24, 1839; who died on September 21, 1902; William, May 22, 1841, who died in November, 1913; Nathaniel, June 30, 1843; Abigail, June 11, 1846, who died on June 18, 1846; Jesse H., April 10, 1849; and Enos Francis, February 2, 1853, who died on October 10, 1871. Elizabeth also is deceased. His education began in the common schools of Adams township and Jesse II. Harvey 720 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. later attended school at Greensburg, Indiana. After finishing his education, he taught for one year, after which he took up farming in Warren county, where he remained for two years. About 1872 he moved to the old home farm, where he has since followed this occupation and here he owns one hundred and fifteen acres of land. Rev. Jesse H. Harvey was married on October 20, 1870, to Lucy C. Hadley, who was born on June 22, 1851, the daughter of Simon and Rachel (Bangham) Hadley, to which union four children have been born, one of whom, Olive Etta, died on October 7, 1903. The living children are: Lizzie V., who married William P. Hadley and has six children, Naomi, Willard J., Loren S., Robert E., Olive A. and Wendell Deane; Elsie R., who is at home, and R. Myra, who is also at home. Before the Civil War was fought, the Society of Friends was opposed, to slavery and many members of this denomination joined the Republican party at its formation in 1856. The members of the Friends church, generally speaking, have remained Republican to this day and Rev. Jesse H. Harvey is no exception to the rule. JAMES E. SMITH. A man's reputation is the property of the world, for the laws of nature have forbidden isolation. Every human being either Submits to the controlling influence of others or wields an influence which touches, controls, guides or directs others. If he be honest and successful in his chosen fields, investigation will brighten his fame and point the way along which others may follow with like success. The reputation of James E. Smith, one of the leading citizens of Clinton county, has been of the very highest order and he is today filling one of the responsible positions in this county, having been appointed nearly twenty years ago as superintendent of the Clinton county children's home. James E. Smith was born on March 27, 1847, at Hawes Chapel, Union township Clinton county, Ohio, the son of Daniel and Anna Maria (Hartman) Smith, the former of whom was born on April 15, 1899, near. Chatham,, North, Carolina;, and died on March 30, 1880, and the latter of whom was born in 1815, in West Virginia, and died in 1888. The parents of Daniel Smith were Conrad and Elizabeth Smith, the former of whom settled on the Smith farm, in Gates' survey, about 1815. Conrad Smith's wife, before her marriage, was Elizabeth McDaniel. They had five children: John, George, Daniel, Abigail and Susanah. John married Mariah Smith, Abigail married Samuel Wingfield, and Susannah married Aquilla Reese. Conrad Smith and his wife were highly-respected residents. Their remains were interred in the cemetery at Lytle's creek. They owned one hundred acres of land at the time of their death. Anna Maria Hartman was the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Hartman, who were natives of West Virginia, born about 1820. After coming to Clinton county, they located near Starbucktown, in Union township, where he was a blacksmith. He was tall and a very strong man physically. Late in life he immigrated to Jay county, Indiana, where he purchased a farm. He and his wife died in Jay county. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Daniel Smith was nine months old when the family came to Clinton county, Ohio. He learned the blacksmith's trade and the cooper's trade from Jonathan Doan. Eventually, he purchased the interests of the heirs in his grandfather's farm in Adams township, where he died. Both he and his wife were members of the Friends church. They had five children. Of these children, Joseph H. Smith, a retired farmer of Wilmington, was a soldier in the Civil War. He enlisted on September 12, 1861, in Company G, Seventeenth Regiment, Ohio Volunter Infantry. This regiment was attached to the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, and was mustered out on July 25, 1865, and discharged at Columbus, Ohio. Joseph H. Smith participated in the Grand CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 721 Review at Washington, D. C., at the end of the war. He was a sergeant when discharged and had been wounded in the arm by a canister ball during service. Among the engagements in which he participated were the following: Mill Springs, Kentucky, January 19, 1862; Corinth, Mississippi, May 7, 1862; Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19 and 20, 1863; Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 18-24, 1864; Savannah, Georgia, December 21, 1864; and Raleigh, North Carolina, April 13, 1865. Joseph H. Smith was the second child born in his father's family. The eldest child in the family of Daniel and Anna Mariah Smith was George H., who was a farmer in Vernon township, who was elected sheriff of Clinton county and who died in office. George H. was also a soldier in the same company and regiment as his brother, Joseph, and was in the same engagements. John C. Smith, who died on July 12, 1913, while living in Wilmington, had also served two terms as sheriff of Clinton county and had later served as postmaster. John C. was also a soldier, enlisting in 1863 and serving till the close of the war in the same company and regiment with his brothers. His widow is still living. James E., the fourth child, is the subject of this sketch. Mary E., who was born in 1854, died in 1863. James E. Smith attended the public schools of Adams township and helped his father on the farm during his boyhood and youth. He also learned the carpenter's trade, remaining at home until his marriage, renting the home farm. Mr. Smith was appointed superintendent of the Clinton county children's home, September 1, 1896, nearly twenty years ago, and has been continually at the head of this home since that time. The public generally is aware of the responsibility which attaches to a position of this sort. No greater evidence of the standing of James E. Smith in the community where he lives, in Clinton county, could be given than his long tenure in this responsible and delicate position. In 1909 Mr. Smith purchased fifty-eight acres of land, which he sold in 1914, and he then purchased ninety-six acres in Chester township. On November 29, 1877, James E. Smith was married to Mary E, Osborn, a native of Adams township, born in 1856, the daughter of Peter and Eliza Ann Osborn, both of whom are deceased. He was a farmer and a minister in the society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married on Thanksgiving Day. They have had two children, both of whom are living; Ella, born in 1879, who married Robert White, a resident of Union township; and Lena, born in 1882, who married Levi M. Hawkins, and lives on her father's farm in Chester township. Aside from his present position of trust and responsibility, Mr. Smith at one time served for six years as township trustee of Union township. He is identified with the Republican party and he and his family are members of the Friends church. Mr. Smith is an elder in the church. HENRY MOLYNEAUX BROWN, M. D. Dr. Henry Molyneaux Brown, a well-equipped and popular young physician of New Vienna, this county, is the son of a distinguished physician of Clinton county, who has been in the practice of medicine at New Vienna since his graduation from the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia in March, 1879. Henry Molyneaux Brown, after being graduated from the New Vienna high school, took a preparatory medical course at the University of Cincinnati and was graduated from the Ohio Miami Medical College in 1913. Afterwards he spent one year as an interne in the Jewish hospital at Cincinnati and on July 1, 1914, established himself in the practice of medicine in his home town, where he has already acquired a flourishing practice. He is a member of the Clinton County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and is popular in Clinton county, a young (46) 722 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO man for whom a fine future is predicted. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at New Vienna. Henry M. Brown was born on March 13, 1890, in New Vienna and reared in that city. He is the son of Dr. Edward W. and Olive (Spear) Brown, the former of whom was born at Oxford, in Butler county, Ohio, October 21, 1856, and the latter, near Snow Hill, in Clinton county, the daughter of Washington and Lydia (Roush) Spear. Washington Spear was the son of Zephaniah Spear, a pioneer in this county. Mrs. Lydia Spear is deceased but Washington Spear is still living. Zephaniah Spear, the grandfather of Mrs. Brown and the great-grandfather of Dr. Henry M. Brown, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1807, the son of Robinson and Elizabeth (Bryan) Spear, natives of Pennsylvania. Robin-son Spear was the son of John and Mary Spear, the former of whom immigrated to America when a mere lad and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married a woman of German descent. He lived and died in Pennsylvania, but his widow subsequently came to Ohio with her son, Robinson, and died in Brown county. Robinson Spear grew to manhood and married in Pennsylvania. In 187 he and his family moved to Ohio and settled first in Ross county. In 1821 they moved to Brown county and in 1827 to Guernsey county, Ohio, where he died in 1850. His wife survived him, passing away in 1873 at the age of ninety-two years. Robinson and Elizabeth (Bryan) Spear were the parents of eleven children, all of whom, except one, grew to maturity, married and settled in life, among these being Zephaniah, Mrs .Elizabeth Oliver, Mrs. Ellen Stewart, Mrs. Jane Ann Willis and Mrs. Prudence Willis. Zephaniah was the third child born to his.parents. He followed the blacksmith's trade for ten years and afterwards engaged in farming. He was married on September 20, 1829, to Lovina Matthews, a daughter of Joel and Phoebe Matthews, natives of North Carolina. Nine children were born to this union, of whom six grew to maturity: Mary Jane, the wife of M. L. Turner; Washington; Margaret, the wife of William Boatwright; Thompson; James A. and Jefferson D. Washington Spear became the father of Mrs. Olive Brown. Starting in life without a dollar of capital, Zephaniah Spear became the owner of four hundred acres of land and was one of the substantial farmers of Clinton county. He served as trustee and treasurer of Green township for several years and was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Lovina (Matthews) Spear died on March 14, 1875, in her sixty-fourth year. Washington Spear and Lydia Roush, daughter of George and Rachel Roush, of Highland county, were married on December 1, 1859, and were the parents of three children, Ivy, Olive and Ellsworth. Dr. Edward W. Brown is the son of Samuel R. and Sarah (Duval) Brown, the former of whom was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and the latter of Highland county, Ohio. Dr. Edward W. Brown's grandparents were Allen and Margaret Brown, natives of Ireland, the former of Scotch-Irish descent and the latter of French Huguenot descent. In the days of the French persecution, there was a family of Huguenots by the name of Molyneaux, all of whom were killed except two sons, John and William, who hung out of the windows by their hands and by that means were unobserved by the soldiers. Subsequently, they escaped to the sea coast and secreted themselves in a vessel that was about to set sail, they knew not where; but they were landed in Ireland, probably at Belfast. From one of these brothers, Mrs. Margaret Brown was descended. She was a lady of splendid education and attainments and possessed a remarkably strong and active mind. About 1824 Allen Brown, with his family, immigrated to America and located at Point Pleasant, Clermont county, Ohio. After a few years of residence there, they moved to Highland county, Ohio, where Buford now stands, on the old Cincinnati and Chillicothe stage route. There Allen Brown erected a large two-story log house in which he kept a tavern, where he resided until his death at the age of eighty-four years. His wife survived him several years and died in her eighty-fifth year. Allen Brown was CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO - 723 a man of great energy and did a prosperous business in his tavern. He also had a farm of three hundred acres of fine land. He and his wife were the parents of five sons and one daughter. Four sons were living in 1882, Judge Thomas, John, who lived on the old home place, James and William. Samuel R., the father of Dr. Edward W. Brown, was about seven years old when the family moved to Ohio, and, being the eldest in the family, grew up under the sturdy influences of pioneer life. He was a playmate in the Brown county home of General Grant. Later he entered the mercantile business at Buford, where he acquired a prosperous business. He married Sarah Duval, the daughter of Judge John Duval and, after continuing in business at Buford for several years, exchanged his store and stock of goods for three hundred acres of land. After one year's residence on his farm, he moved to Oxford, Ohio, where he again entered the mercantile business in partnership with a Mr. Newton, under the firm name of Newton & Brown this partnership continuing until 1864, when Mr. Brown moved to Hillsboro, having sold out his interest in the store to Mr. Newton, and resided there till 1869, when he returned to his farm. He owned a farm of six hundred acres, having added three hundred acres by purchase while at Oxford. He erected one of the largest and finest barns in the county and a fine, commodious house. He died suddenly of heart disease on December 22, 1881, in his sixty-fifth year and, at his death, there passed away one of the substantial and honorable business men of Brown county ; one whose character and integrity stood untarnished. His wife died on December 13, 1880. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely : Mrs. Maggie Sinks, John A., Anna, who married Dr. S. S. Salisbury; of Los Angeles, California; Charles E., Edward W., James D. and Mary Belle. Edward W. Brawn assisted his father in business until sixteen years of age, receiving a limited common-school education. He attended the high school at Hillsboro for two years and then worked on the farm until nineteen years of age, after which he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. S. S. Salisbury, at Washington C. H., later entering Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated, after which he began the practice of his profession at New Vienna, where he has continued ever since. To Dr. Edward W. and Olive (Spear) Brown four children have been born, namely: Bernice L., born on April 3, 1883, who died in August, 1913; Howard E., June 20, 1885, who was graduated from the New. Vienna high school and is now located at Frankfort, in Ross county, this state, where he is the manager of the telephone plant; Helen Duval, who is now a student at Ohio University at Athens, and Dr. Henry M., the immediate subject of this sketch. JOHN J. GEORGE. John J. George, joint owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Adams township, this county, is another one of the successful sons of Nicholas George, and was born February 25, 1879, in Perry county, Indiana. He has succeeded in accumulating a most satisfactory competence by his own toil and his own frugal living. Mr. George's parents were Nicholas and Catherine (Lawrence) George, the former of whom was born in 1836, at Hachy, Belgium, and who died on July 12, 1890. The mother was born in Belgium ni 1840, and was a daughter of Lewis Joseph and Antonetta (Spewizer) Lawrence, who came with their family to America in 1855 and located in Perry county, Indiana. Educated in the common schools of Belgium, Nicholas George left his native land for America when a young man, and after arriving in this country, settled in Iowa, from which state he enlisted as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, serving a little more than three years. At the close of the war he located in Perry county, Indiana, where his marriage occurred. Eight children were born to Nicholas George and wife, of whom John J. was the sixth in order of birth, the others 724 - CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO. being, Peter, Lewis, Sarah, Edward, Jane, Mary and August. Sarah became the wife of Paul Clements. Edward is a farmer of Adams township. Jane is the wife of Frank Kibler. Mary died at the age of eight years, and August married Ethel Tuttle. The paternal grandparents of John J. George were Peter and Margaret (Devillez) Gorge, both of whom were natives of Belgium, the former born at Hachy in 1804, and the latter born at Nobresart, June 2, 1804. The grandfather died in 1882, the grandmother dying four years later in 1886. The latter was a daughter of Henry Devillez, who married a Miss Hannen. Peter George was a son of Henry and Mary (Adam) George, the former of whom was a native of Nobresart, Belgium. Henry and Mary (Adam) George never left their native land. John J. George, who has achieved a definite and satisfactory measure of success in agricultural lines, received his early education in the common schools of Perry county, Indiana, and after his removal to Clinton county, he attended the township schools of Wayne township. He began life on his own responsibility as a farmer in Wayne township, where he remained until 1906, when he and his brother, Peter, purchased a farm in Adams township, Clinton county, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, where John J. now lives, and where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising. On November 25, 1903, John J. George was married to Magdalena Mahoney, who was born on October 26, 1878, daughter of Cornelius and Margaret Mahoney, and to this union have been born five children, Dorothy, Matthew, Mary E., Elizabeth and Lauretta. The George family are earnest and devout members of the Catholic church, in whose faith they are deeply interested. Politically, Mr. George is a Democrat. PETER D. LEAMING. No product of agriculture has ever come from Clinton county which has had more to do with the revolution in corn growing in the state of Ohio and, in fact, in the Middle West, than Learning's corn, which was originated by the late Jacob Spicer Learning, father of Peter D. Learning, the subject of this sketch. The tremendous influence of this splendid variety is realized when the claim is considered that practically all of the yellow corn grown in the United States today has been developed from the variety known as Learning. Whether this is true or not, it is a fact that the corn bearing this name is more widely distributed than any other variety. Careful inquiry through agricultural colleges and experiment stations and through farmers, warrants the statement that from twenty to thirty per cent. of the yellow corn grown in the corn belt is of the Learning variety, while if that grown under local names, but which is undoubtedly of Learning origin, is considered, the per cent. would be even larger. The history of the origin of this variety is an interesting story. One autumn in 1855 the father of Peter D. Learning was driving in his wagon along Bullskin run, in Hamilton county, and, having neglected to bring feed with him for his horses, stopped at a wayside corn field and asked the men husking in the field to sell sufficient corn for this purpose. He was so much impressed with the beautiful yellow color of the corn and also with the maturity, as indicated by its sound, hard condition, that when leaving he took with him a bushel of this corn for seed. The following year he moved with his family to Clinton county, purchasing a farm two miles from Wilmington, where he lived until his retirement in 1884. The corn which he had brought with him from Hamilton county was planted in the spring of 1856. As the consequence of a favorable season and painstaking cultivation it yielded an excess of one hundred bushels to the acre. This was a phenomenal yield for that day and the fame of "Learning's corn" was spread broadcast. In a large measure Peter D. Learning, who was born on November 18, 1856, on the farm where he now lives, on the Martinsville pike, in Union township, has inherited the fame which his father richly earned as a corn grower. His father was born on April 2,