GREENE TOWNSHIP - 975
GREENE TOWNSHIP.
EDWIN ARTHUR, cashier New Vienna bank, New Vienna, born in Cincinnati February 2, 1822, is a son of Pleasant and Agnes (Timberlake) Arthur, natives of Campbell County, Va. The grandfather, Benjamin Arthur, was also a native of Virginia, and lived there many years, but finally became a resident of Highland County, Ohio, where he died. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Pleasant Arthur grew to manhood in his native State, and about the year 1806 he removed to Ohio, locating in Highland County, where he married; subsequently he became a resident of Cincinnati, where for a few years be followed his trade, that of a carpenter; thence returned to Highland County, where he resided till, the spring of 1842, he removed to Iowa, where he died, aged sixty-five years; his wife died in October, 1840. They had eleven children, nine now survive---Mary (who married John M. Keen), Elizabeth (who married Mahlon Van Pelt, and resides in Nebraska), Edna (married Elijah Yost, and resides in California), Edwin, Emily (now Widow Folsom, residing in Iowa), Elva (married Harrison Johnson), Charles R. (now resident of California), Christopher (residing in Portland, Ind.), and Pleasant A. (also a resident of Portland). Mr. Arthur was a very prominent, active man through life, and acquired quite a large property, being at the time of his death owner of 600 acres of land. He served as County Commissioner for several years. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor, and grew to manhood in Highland County, and made farming kis principal business till 1865, and became one of the prominent and leading men of his county ; he served as Township Clerk for fifteen years. In the fall of 1864, he was elected Auditor of Highland County, which office he filled two terms, or four years. Soon after the expiration of his term of office, Mr. Arthur with other citizens, organized the Citizens' Bank of Hillsboro, now known as the Citizen's National Bank. In 1871, the same parties organized the New Vienna
976 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Bank, of which Mr. Arthur was made its Cashier, which position he has since held. The stock of the bank, however, soon after its organization, was purchased and owned by Mr. Arthur and other citizens of New Vienna and vicinity. This bank is now a leading institution of the town, and a great convenience to the community. The business of the bank is extensive. and well and carefully managed, and stands in credit as one of the most solid institutions of the county. Mr. Arthur not only fills his position in the bank with fidelity and to the satisfaction of the stockholders, but as a gentleman and a citizen, is held in high esteem by a large circle of acquaintances. In October, 1842, Mr. Arthur was united in marriage with Miss Ann, daughter of Joseph and Rachel Larkin, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia, who first became residents of the eastern part of Ohio, and subsequently of Highland County, where he died in October, 1841 ; his wife died about 1875. They had three sons and one daughter, all deceased. Mrs. Arthur died October 9, 1878, aged fifty-five years. She bore him five children-Laura E. (married Daniel B. Jones), John (now Assistant Cashier of the New Vienna Bank), Mary E. (married. Samuel Engle), Emma E. (married Thomas Ashdill), and Martha A. (who married Charles L. Kelly).
SILAS BAILEY, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, was born in New Jersey April 3, 1811, is a son of Asa and Annis Bailey ; he a native of Connecticut, and she of New Jersey. The grandfather, Nathaniel Bailey, was also a native of Connecticut, but his ancestors came from Ireland. Nathaniel Bailey emigrated to New Jersey with his family about 1785, where he died. Asa, his son, and the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut July 3, 1873, and was twelve years of age when they removed to New Jersey, where he grew to manhood, and married Annis Vreeland, who was born February 21, 1782; they were married May 20, 1802, and resided in New Jersey till the spring of 1839, when they removed to Ohio, and settled in Clinton County, where their first purchase of land was the place where our subject now lives, and here they resided till their death. When they came to this place, there were about forty acres under fence and partly cleared. .His wife died February 23, 1858. Mr. Bailey died August 24, 1859. They had nine children-Mary, born January 11, 1803, died in the fall of 1880 ; Amos, born August 24, 1805, died July 2, 1819 ; Lydia, born September 20, 1808, died September 13, 1842; Silas, Elizabeth, born August 20, 1813; Asa, born September 3, 1817 ; Nathaniel, born May 24, 1820 ; Elmira, born November 1, 1832, and John, born May 28, 1825, died December 26, 1841. Silas, our subject, was married in New Jersey to Eliza Stone, a native of that State. They were married in June, 1832, and in 1839 removed to Ohio, and settled with his father as above stated, and have since resided on the same place, a period of forty-three years. Mr. Bailey has a good farm of 158 acres now well improved, and is now one of the oldest settlers of this neighborhood. His wife died in July, 1874. They have had nine children, seven now living-Lydia Annis, wife of David Hook; Asa Elmira, wife of William Cantrill ; Elizabeth; Sarah Ellen. wife of James Spears; Eliza Jane, wife of Nelson Hildebrant ; Maria, wife of Rest Hildebrant ; and Catharine, wife of George Elliott.
DR. D. MORROW BARRERE, physician, New Antioch, was born in Highland County, near New Market, April 22, 1850; is a son of Hazard P. and Eliza (Morrow) Barrere, natives of Highland County. The grandfather, George W. Barrere, it is believed, was born in France, emigrating to America with his parents when a child, locating in Kentucky among the early settlers of that State. In 1801, he became a pioneer settler of Highland County, Ohio, where he resided the balance of his life. He was a practical surveyor, and surveyed a great amount of land in this then new country. In the war of 1812 he took an active part; was Captain of a company and served through the war. He was a leading, prominent man in the organization, growth and progress of Highland County, and was the first, or one of the first Judges of the county. Of his children, John, the eldest, was a very active and prominent man in his county; was a member of the Masonic Fraternity of high standing. having taken all the degrees of the order. In the war of the rebellion, he was Adjutant in the Sixtieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and at the battle of Harper's Ferry lost his left arm. After
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 977
the war, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Hillsboro, Ohio, which office he held till his death May 17, 1880. Nelson, the third son, became a prominent lawyer, and in the last effort of the Whig party, as a political organization, was their candidate for Governor of Ohio, but of course was, under the waning powers of the party, defeated. He was elected to Congress and served his constituents with honor and ability. Benjamin, the fourth son, is President of the First National Bank of Hillsboro, having held that office for many years. Hazard P., the father of our subject, was the fifth and youngest son ; was a merchant in New Market, and a general business man in that town for many years, but was attacked with typhoid fever, and though his life was spared, it left him a confirmed cripple for the balance of his days, since which be has lived retired from all active business. He is the father of six children; three now sur vive-Marietta, Magnolia and D. Morrow. Of the deceased, Hazard P. enlisted in the late war, in Company H, First Ohio Cavalry, and was killed in battle at Cleveland, Tenn., in November, 1864. Our subject was the youngest son of his father. At the age of seventeen years, he commenced teaching school, which occupation he followed five years ; thence in 1875 he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Whisler, of New Market, and graduated from the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, in the spring of 1878, and immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Sardinia, Brown Co., Ohio. In October, 1879, he removed to New Antioch, Clinton Co., where he has since continued his profession, and has a good and growing practice. The Doctor is a congenial gentleman, well qualified for his profession, and of his future success as a practitioner, there is no doubt.
GEORGE E. BARROW, Postmaster and real estate and insurance agent, New Vienna, born in Highland County, Ohio, June 22, 1834, is a son of Eleazer and Mary Ann Barrow, natives of Frederick County, Va. The grandfather, John Barrow, was also a native of Virginia, and served as a Captain in the war of the Revolution. In 1818, he with his family removed to Ohio, and settled in Highland County, where he died. He was the father of six children by two wives, three by his first, and three by his last, all now deceased but Eleazer, the father of our subject, who was born in Virginia June 4, 1800, and was eighteen years of age when the family came to Ohio; here he married Mary Ann Pulse, by whom he had eight children, five now survive-Eleazer, Lydia E. (wife of Eli B. Selph), David L. (now a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and resides in Wisconsin), George E. and Mary A. (wife of J. N. Glaze). Mrs. Barrow died February 20. 1850 ; subsequently, Mr. Barrow married for his second wife Elizabeth Robb, by whom he had two children-Charles R. and Catharine R. His last wife died in November, 1868. Mr. Barrow is now eighty-two years of age, having spent his life in Highland County since eighteen years of age. He is now remarkably spry and active, and can walk ten miles without apparent fatigue. The subject of this sketch was the youngest son of his father by his first wife that is now living; was brought up to farm labor; was married October 20, 1862, to Rebecca Spears, by whom he had one child, deceased. Mrs. Barrow died May 23, 1873. On March 1, 1875, he married, for his second wife, Mary Frances Black, a native of Rockingham County, Va., by whom be had three children-Ads L., born June 10, 1876 ; Ernest M., born November 11, 1878, and Maud, born April 1, 1880. Mr. Barrow started out in life depending upon himself when quite young, devoting himself assiduously to the work of getting an education ; thence he entered upon teaching, which he followed winters, and prosecuted his studies summers, and thus continued for ten years ; thence he turned his attention to reading law with Judge Mathews, of Hillsboro, with whom he continued two years; thence he entered upon mercantile trade in New Vienna in partnership with Robert T. Polk. In this enterprise they did a prosperous business; thence they associated with their business the buying of wool, which the first year proved a success, but the second year, entering in more largely than ever; the war of the Rebellion closed, and prices dropped enormously, and they were prostrated under the financial pressure. Thence his partner withdrew from business, and entered upon the study of the ministry, and Mr. Barrow was left alone to meet all the contingencies and settle up the affairs. With his unflagging perseverance and energy, and the encouragement of his many friends,
978 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
he continued his business, and finally paid all indebtedness in full with 10 per cent interest. He then sold out, and was engaged in various enterprises in New Vienna till November 2, 1871, he received the appointment of Postmaster, which office he has since held. In connection with that office he is a Notary Public, conveyancer, real estate and insurance agent, and has been Township Clerk, Mayor and Clerk of New Vienna. Mr. Barrow in his past life has shown an enterprise and integrity that places him among the most reliable citizens of New Vienna.
AMOS BEARD, merchant, New Vienna, born in Virginia October 1, 1830, is a son of Jacob and Rosanna (Windle) Beard, who it is believed were natives of Virginia, but who, about 1832, emigrated to Ohio, and soon after located in Clinton County, and opened out right in the woods; he however lived but a few years; he died in March, 1839; his wife survived him till in 1866, being in her eightieth year. They had six children -Lucinda, married George Floyd and resides in Iowa; Susanna, married George W. Garrison; Jacob, Samuel, Catharine, now Widow Oxley, and Amos. Mr. Beard was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The subject of this sketch was but a child of two years when brought to Ohio, and but nine years of age when his father died; his mother, however, managed to keep her family together till the children could make their own way through life. Our subject was brought up to farm labor, and by working out by the month when he arrived at his majority, he had managed to save a little money. He then commenced in a small way in the mercantile trade, which business he has followed through life; has been in business in New Vienna since 1855. From a beginning with a small store at a cross-roads in the country, he has enlarged and in. creased his business, till now he is second to none in the hardware and grocery trade in the town. He is also owner of 143 acres of good land, all of which he has acquired by his own industry and good management, showing a very prosperous business life. Mr. Beard, though quite reserved in his habits, never holding or seeking office, yet, as a neighbor and a business man and a citizen, is very highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of acquaintances. He takes a lively interest in all the public improvements of the town, and through his recommendation and influence, as a member of the School Board, was erected in 1878, the large and substantial Union School Building which now adorns the village. On October 25. 1855, Mr. Beard was married to Miss Rachel A., daughter of Augustus and Sarah Brown, by whom he has had eight children, six now survive-Frank, Charles, Oscar, Hattie E., Leroy and Judon. Mr. Beard and wife are worthy members of the Baptist Church, of which he has been a Deacon for fourteen years.
GEORGE W. BERNARD, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, was born in Goochland County, Va., September 13, 1799; is a son of Thomas and Mary Bernard, natives of Virginia. The grandfather, William Bernard, was a native of England, and married Mary Fleming. They became early settlers of Virginia, where he became owner of 3,000 acres of land; also became a large wholesale merchant of Richmond, and during the war of the Revolution his store was robbed of nearly all of his goods. They resided in Virginia till their death. Thomas was born in March, 1756, and grew to manhood in Virginia, and served as a soldier through the war of the Revolution ; was engaged in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point and others. He married Mary Hicks, and in 1807 removed from Virginia to Ohio, and settled in Highland County, near Clinton County line, and there opened out right in the woods. Wolves and deer were in abundance, and one morning he heard a loud bleating near his cabin, which he thought was one of his calves in the merciless clutches of a wolf; hurrying to his cabin door, he beheld a wolf fast hold of a deer; the wolf at once loosed his prey and fled, and the deer escaped in an opposite direction. In 1832, they removed to Leesburg, where he died June 11, 1833. His wife survived till May 22, 1847, when she died, then a resident of Clinton County. They had three suns and five daughters; two now survive-George W. and Nancy, wife of Thomas Riley. Our subject was about eight years of age when brought to the wilderness of Ohio, and here grew to manhood fully accustomed to pioneer life. On March 28, 1831, he married Harriet McConnell, who was born in Brown County, Ohio, October 12, 1810, a
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 979
daughter of James and Sallie (Downing) McConnell, natives of Pennsylvania, who became early settlers of Brown County, and removed to Clinton County about 1821. They had four sons and five daughters, four now living Thomas, Betsey (wife of Isaac Wilson, and residing in Illinois), Harriet and Joseph M., the latter resides in Oregon. Mr. B. and wife have had eleven children, nine now living-Thomas F., James K., Mary E. (wife of Joshua Wilson), John W., Matilda Jane (wife of Edmund West), George W., Charles B., Martha H. (wife of Edward McVey), and Elijah M. In 1832, Mr. Bernard located on the farm where he now lives and here has made a continued residence of half a century. This place had twenty acres cleared, and the balance of his large farm he and his sons have cleared from the woods. He is now probably the oldest man in Greene Township; has lived to see all his children married and settled in life, all doing well and generally becoming wealthy. In early life Mr. Bernard obtained but little education, as there were but few advantages of schools in those days. But by energy, industry and economy, he has acquired a large property. He and his sons now own over 1,300 acres of land; and now in his advanced years he can enjoy the fruits of his many labors, and rejoice with his children in their prosperity and the advantages they now enjoy.
JAMES K. BERNARD, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County June 19, 1835; is a son of George W. and Harriet Bernard, whose history is given in sketch of George Bernard. Our subject was married, October 19, 1861, to Miss Keziah McVey, who was born in Clinton County January 19, 1838, a daughter of Christopher and Catharine McVey, he a native of Fayette County, Ohio, and she of Brown County. They were married in Wayne Township, and settled there, where they have since resided. They have eight children now living James, Henrietta, Keziah, Robert, Edmund, Benson, Eliza Jane and Alkany. Mr. Bernard and wife have had ten children; nine now survive John R., born July 23, 1862; George W., August 14, 1863; Harriet C., August 16, 1864; Charles 0., October 30,1865; Martha Ann February 23, 1867; James Edmund, April 3, 1868; Christopher C., July 2, 1872 ; Cora Etta, February 22, 1876, and Oscar, born September 13, 1878. Mr. Bernard first located in Wayne Township, and, on March 10, 1862, he located on the place where he now resides, and has since resided a period of twenty years. On this place, he has erected all the buildings, and has a fine home and farmer's residence. Mr. Bernard started in life with but little means, but with a determination to make money ; has made farming his chief business. He now owns 575 acres of excellent land, and the greater part of it in cultivation. He has received aid from his father to the amount of.$2,500. The balance he has made by his own labor and good management, and now ranks among the most prominent farmers of Greene Township, and is one of the most remarkable examples of success from a small beginning, rarely witnessed among men in agricultural pursuits, and is worthy a place in this work to be handed down, and read and known by future generations.
WILLIAM P. BERNARD, proprietor of hotel, New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 10, 1824, is a son of Thomas J. and Mary Bernard. He was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio when but a child of about four years, and here grew to manhood and married Mary McConnel, who was probably born in Kentucky. He located on Cowen's Creek, and spent the greater part of his life in Clinton County, devoted to farming. He lived a few years in Brown County, thence moved to near Lynchburg, where he died in February, 1868, aged sixty-seven years ; his wife died in 1838, aged thirty-two years. They had five children, four now living William P., Sarah (wife of William Elliott), Nancy and Thomas J. Mr. Bernard was twice married; his second wife was Mrs. Eliza Atkinson, by whom he had six children who grew to maturity, four now living-Mary, wife of Henry Brown; Caroline, now married; Serelda and Grafton W. The subject of this sketch was the eldest child of his father; was raised to farm labor, and, on August 19, 1845, was married to Asenath Johnson, who was born July 16, 1821, in Highland County, near New Vienna, daughter of James and Elizabeth Johnson, natives of Maryland. The grandparents were Smith and Sabra Johnson, natives of Maryland, but became early settlers of Kentucky
980 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
about 1810; he served in the war of 1812. About 1816, they came to Ohio and set tled in Highland County, where they died. James Johnson was raised in Maryland, and married in Kentucky; thence moved to Ohio about one year after his father came to this State. They resided in Highland County about twelve years ; thence moved into Clinton. where they lived till their death. Mr. Johnson was a farmer by occupation, a man of great integrity, honest and upright in all his dealings, and one of our county's beat citizens. He died February 18, 1876, in his eighty-seventh year ; his wife died September 9, 1878, aged eighty-six years. They had ten children; seven grew to maturity-Amanda S., now Widow Roush ; Asenath, Elizabeth, Sabra and Salina (twins); the former is the wife of Allen Dennis; James F. and Selby H. Mr. Bernard and wife have had four children-Thomas J., born July 1, 1846 ; Mary Elizabeth and Benjamin Franklin (twins), born June 8, 1848, the former wife of William P. Elliott; and John William, born May 26, 1851. The three eldest are now residents of Illinois. Mr. Bernard has spent nearly all of his life as a farmer, and mostly in Clinton County. In March, 1877, they moved to New Vienna, where they have since resided engaged in keeping a boarding house and a hotel. In April, 1880, Mr. Bernard took charge of the Miller House, which he has successfully conducted to the present time. Here the traveler and the stranger find a welcome, a table spread with all the comforts of life, and a landlord and landlady always courteous and kind, who never fail to make their guests feel satisfied and at home.
CORNELIUS C. BLOOM, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, was born in Greene Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, August 29, 1841 ; his father, Jacob, was born near Trenton, N. J., and in 1814, came to Ohio with his father, William Bloom, who emigrated that year with his wife, Catharine (Bowman) Bloom and their children. They settled in Highland County, but in 1824, removed to Clinton County, where they remained until their death; he in 1851 and she in 1838. Our subject's father Jacob, remained with his father on the farm, and married Mary Ludinton, of Kentucky, by whom they had seven children, five sons and two daughters. Our subject was raised on the farm, and attended school at New Antioch; he remained on the farm until he married and commenced life for himself; he has always lived in this township, with the exception of one year, during which he operated a: mill at Reesville ; he was married, February 11, 1864, to Eliza E. Truitt, daughter of George W. and Abigail (Applegate) Truitt. She was born November 22, 1845, and by her Mr. Bloom has had five children, viz., Carrie J., Myrta S., deceased, Charles E., Clinton R. and Thomas J. Mr. Bloom is a representative farmer of the county, and now owns the farm on which he was born, and which he purchased of the heirs at the death of his father in March, 1882.
WILLIAM D. BOATRIGHT, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Rockingham County, Va., March 16, 1829, is a son of Jonas and Mary Boatright, natives of Virginia. The grandfather was Valentine Boatright, who was an early settler in Virginia, and lived and died there. He had four sons and two daughters who grew to maturity Medder, Valentine; Jonas and Daniel were the sons. The two first mentioned married and reside in Virginia. The two last mentioned emirated to Ohio and settled in Highland County- Jonas in 1833 and Daniel in 1835 ; the latter subsequently removed to Iowa, where he lived till his death. The two daughters, Rebecca, and one whose name is now unknown, married and also reside in Virginia. Jonas remained in Highland County till his death, January 25, 1871. His wife died January '35, 1867. They bad eight children-Egbert G., William D., Martha (married to Abraham Roush), and residing in Kansas, Mary E. (married to A. Spickard), Tandy A., George W. (who resides in Kansas), Roxaline (married to Joseph Kirkhart), and James M. The subject oŁ the sketch was four years of age when brought to Ohio, and here grew to manhood, was married September 19, 1860, to Margaret Spear, who was born in Clinton County, December 24, 1839, and whose ancestral history is given in sketch of Zephaniah Spear. By this union they have two children-Clara E., born July 30, 1861, and Laura J., born November 24, 1863. Mr. Boatrigbt in early life engaged in partnership with his eldest brother in mercantile trade in Fairview, Highland County ; they also ran a store at Russell Station at the same time. This business they conducted
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 981
with success for twelve years. Thence Mr. Boatright removed to Knox County, Ill., and purchased land and entered upon farming, remaining there four years, when he exchanged his farm for the one where he now lives, on to which he moved in the fall of 1867, and here he has since resided. This place was then known as " the Dove farm." Here Air. Boatright erected all the buildings on the place, has good improvements, constituting a pleasant home and farmer's residence. He is a man of good business habits, great integrity and high moral character. He is a worthy member of the I.O.O.F., and as a neighbor and citizen is highly esteemed and respected.
LAFAYETTE BORING, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Harrison County, Va., a son of Thomas and Ruth Boring, natives of Maryland. The grandparents were Absalom and Sarah Boring, also natives of Maryland, but who subsequently settled in Virginia, where Mrs Boring died, but Absalom removed to Ohio, and died in Clinton County at the advanced age of over eighty years. Thomas and Ruth were married in Maryland, and resided several years in that State; thence removed to Harrison County, Va.; thence about 1830, removed to Ohio and settled on the place where Lafayette, our subject, now lives, and here opened out right in the woods, and continued their labors till their death. They had nine children, all believed to be deceased but our subject. He was a young single man when their family came to Clinton County. Here, about 1840, he married Ailsey Collett, who was born in Kentucky, a daughter of John Collett, a native of Pennsylvania or Virginia, but who emigrated to Kentucky in an early day, when the Indiana were very troublesome, and by whom one of his brothers was killed. They lived and died in Kentucky. Mr. Boring and wife have had six children, four now survive - Elizabeth, Ruth Ann, John and Absalom. Mrs. Boring died, and subsequently Mr. Boring married for his second wife Mrs. Polly Lieurance, a daughter of Tilman and Betsey Hall, natives of North Carolina. By her he has four children-William, Mary Alice, Eliza Jane and Susan. Mr. Boring, after his marriage, located on the old home place of his father, where he still resides, having now made a residence here of fifty years. He now owns 148 &eras of good land, well improved, with large and commodious buildings, with every comfort and convenience around him, quite in contrast from what it was half a century ago when they began rigbt in the woods. Although Mr. Boring is a man of no education, he has by industry and economy become one of the prominent farmers of Greene Township, and now has a beautiful farm and home.
CHARLES C. BOWERS, attorney, New Vienna, was born in Monmouth County, N. J., November 7, 1818. His parents, John and Sarah (Bound) Bowers, natives of New Jersey, were parents of ten children, all of whom grew up, the first to die being nineteen years of age. They came to Ohio in 1841, and, after a two years' residence in Highland County, located in Greene Township, Clinton County, near the village of New Vienna. The father died in Indiana while visiting his son, and the mother died in Highland County while visiting a daughter. Our subject received a very limited education in the common schools, and worked at the carpenter trade, which he learned in New Jersey until 1853, when he embarked in mercantile pursuits. In 1864, he commenced the practice of law, at which he now continues. He was married, in 1841, to Mary S. Turner, daughter of Apollo and Catharine (Cook) Turner, natives of New Jersey, who came to Ohio soon after oar. subject's family. By this union, three children were born-James F., a practicing physician, whose biography appears in Liberty Township sketches; Gilbert Henry, who died at six months of age; and S. Catharine, the wife of Hiram Witter, a real estate broker of Denver, Colo. Mr. Bowers has served as a Justice of the Peace in this township twenty-one years. His paternal ancestors were from Wales, and his maternal from England. His great great-grandfather, Joseph Bowers, was the first of the name to come to America. Subject's father was a soldier in the war of 1812, sad his great-grandfather in the war of the Revolution. On the day preceding the battle of Monmouth, N. J., our subject's grandfather, then a boy of sixteen years of age, was at home taking care of his father's family, when a band of Hessians stopped at their farm. The Hessians took a colt and two cows from the farm, drew the well dry and appropriated to their use any other plunder M
982 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
that happened to catch their eye, and then departed. Young Bowers followed them all that day and through the night, and early in the morning of the following day, when the Hessians became engaged in the battle of Monmouth, be succeeded in rescuing the stolen live stock and driving them home. He took great pleasure in after life relating this incident to his progeny.
DR. EDWARD W. BROWN, physician, New Vienna, born in Oxford, Ohio, October 21, 1856; is a son of Samuel R. and Sarah (Duvall) Brown; he a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and she of Highland County, Ohio. The grandparents were Allen and Margaret Brown, natives of Ireland. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and she a descendant of the French Huguenots. In the days of the French Revolution, there was s family of Huguenots, by the name of Mollyneaux, who were all killed but two sons, named 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 seacoast, and secreted themselves in a vessel that was about to set sail, they knew not where; but they were landed in Ireland, it is believed at Belfast. From one of these brothers Mrs. Margaret Brown descended. She was a lady of fine education and attainments and possessed of a remarkably strong and active mind. About 1824, Allen Brown, with his family, emigrated to America, and located at Point Pleasant, Ky. ; thence, after a few years' residence, removed to Highland County, Ohio, near where Buford now stands, on the old Cincinnati and Chillicothe stage route. There he erected a large two-story log house, in which he kept tavern, and there resided till his death, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife survived him several years, and died in her eighty-fifth year. He was a man of great energy of character, and did a prosperous business in his tavern, and had a farm of 300 acres of fine land. They had five sons and one daughter. Four sons now survive--Judge Thomas, John (who resides on the old homestead), James and William. Samuel R., the father of our subject, was about seven years of age when they landed in Kentucky, he being the eldest of the family, and there he grew up under the sturdy influences of the surroundings in those days. There he was a playmate of the boy who subsequently became Gen. Grant, and there, in his boyhood days, he plied his oar in rowing his skiff across the Ohio, transferring people from. one shore to the other. He acquired a good education for those days, and when nineteen or twenty years of age taught school, and continued to apply himself to that vocation till he acquired some means, when he entered upon the mercantile trade in Buford. There he continued several years, where was fully manifested his skill and general business tact and prosperity, which continued to grow with the man as he advanced in years. He soon required a larger room for his increased and growing business. He purchased a property upon which was a large and commodious building, in which he continued business, and married Sarah Duvall, a daughter of Judge John Duvall. Mr. Brown continued at Buford several years, having a very prosperous business. Thence he exchanged his store and stock of goods for 300 acres of land, and after one year's residence on his farm he removed to Oxford, Ohio, and again entered into mercantile trade, in partnership with Newton, under the firm name of Newton & Brown. This partnership continued doing a very profitable and extensive business till in 1864, when Mr. Brown concluded to return to his farm, and he sold out his interest in the store to Mr. Newton. He now gave his especial attention to farming, entering largely upon raising and dealing in fine improved stock. He now had a farm of 600 acres, having added 300 acres by purchase while at Oxford. He erected one of the largest and finest barns in the county; also erected a fine, commodious house, and now had one of the finest stock farms in the county, and supplied it with the best improved stock. Mr. Brown's entire life had been marked with great financial success; but death had fixed upon him as a shining mark, and he was taken suddenly away by heart disease on December 22, 1881, in his sixty-fifth year of age. Thus suddenly passed away one of the most active business men of the county, and one whose character and integrity stood untarnished and whose death was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Brown's wife died December 13, 1880. They had eight children. Seven now survive-Maggie (now Widow Sinks), John A., Anna
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 983
(married to Dr. S. S. Salisbury, of Washington C. H.), Charles E., Edward W., James D. and Mary Bell. The subject of this sketch assisted his father in business till sixteen years of age, receiving a Limited common-school education; thence attended the high school at Hillsboro two years, after which he continued on his father's farm till nineteen years of age; thence he entered upon the study of medicine under Dr. S. S. Salisbury, at Washington C. H. In September, 1877, he entered the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he graduated March 10, 1879; and in June of the same year, he located in New Vienna, and entered upon the practice of his profession, where he has since continued and has established a very good practice. The Doctor is a very pleasant, congenial gentleman, and with the ample preparation he has made for his profession and with his energy and devotion in keeping up with all the improvements and progress of the medical sciences, we can safely bespeak for the Doctor a successful future.
WILLIAM L. CANTRILL, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Greene Township, Clinton County, January 19, 1840; is a son of David and Elizabeth Cantrill, he a native of Kentucky and she of this county. Mr. Cantrill was raised to manhood in Kentucky, and when a young man came to Ohio, and married Alvira Brown and settled on Caesar's Creek; thence located on the place now owned by John Stackhouse ; there his wife died, leaving two children-Jane and Elizabeth. He married for his second wife, Elizabeth Bowers, a daughter of Jacob Bowers; by her he had three children, two now survive-Hannah, wife of John Woodmansee, and William L. His second wife died in February, 1840. He married for his third wife, Susan Bean, a daughter of Adam Bean. She was born in New Jersey. By her he had seven children, six now living-James, John, now a resident of Kansas; Rebecca, wife of James Souder, and residing in Jay County, Ind.; Squire, also now in Kansas; Ella, wife of Waldo Burris ; and Alvira, wife of Charles Shoemaker, and residing in Indiana. Mr. Cantrill died in the fall of 1873, aged sixty years. He was one of the early pioneers, locating here when it was mostly a wilderness. It is said, he cleared up and caused to be cleared, 264 acres right from the woods; there being few men his equal in the use of the ax, and surely few men ever accomplished more hard pioneer work than Mr. Cantrill. The subject of this sketch was raised to farm labor; was married, June 26, 1863, to Almira Bailey, daughter of Silas and Eliza Baily, natives of New Jersey. By her he had five children, four now survive-Robert M., born June 21, 1864 ; Joseph F., November 13, 1865 ; Olive, February, 1868, and Luther, born July 4, 1870. His wife died June 9, 1872, aged thirty-two years. On March 6,1877, Mr. Cantrill married Mary E. Rawlings, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, March 14, 1845, daughter of William S. and Elizabeth B. Rawlings, he a native of Maryland and she of Ohio. By this union they have two children-Alva E., born January 28, 1878, and Elizabeth M., born September 1, 1879. Mr. Cantrill has spent all his life in this county, and near the place of his birth. He located on the place where he now lives in March, 1872. This place was purchased of Elisha Harris; it consists of fifty-six acres, nearly all in cultivation. Mr. Cantrill has also done much hard pioneer work, having cleared fifty acres right from the woods himself. And of the Cantrill family we may say, this county owes much to them for the transformation of a large amount of land from the dense forest to fine cultivated fields.
SYLVESTER CLARK, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Hamilton County, Ohio, November 4, 1832; is a son of James and Sarah Clark, natives of Ohio. They resided in Hamilton County, Ohio, till the death of Mrs. Clark, September 6, 1852. Mr. Clark removed to Indiana, and the last known of him was a resident of Brown County. They bad but one child-Sylvester, who was raised and grew to manhood in Hamilton County ; thence removed to Butler County, where he was married, October 17, 1854, to Sarah Ann Gerrard, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, December 13, 1835, a daughter of David and Anna Gerrard, also natives of Hamilton County. The grandparents were William and Mary Gerrard, natives of New Jersey, but who became among the early settlers of Hamilton County, where he died; subsequently she removed to Butler County, where she
984 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
died. The ancestors trace back to the same from whom Stephen Girard, of Philadelphia, descended. John Gerrard, of Cincinnati, so well known in former years as a pork and commission merchant, was a brother of William Gerrard. The maternal grandparents, John F. and Fanny Stites, were natives of New Jersey, but became early settlers of Hamilton County, where Mrs. Stites died; subsequently he removed to Butler County, where he died at a ripe old age. Both the grandfathers, Stites and Gerrard, were soldiers in the war of 1812, and the former took an active part in the early improvements of the country and in quelling the troubles with the Indians. He helped to cut through and lay out the great State road from Chillicothe to the Northwest under Gen. Wayne; also helped to build Fort Recovery, and was a very active and efficient man in those early pioneer days. Mr. Clark and wife have had five children ; four now survive-Theodore, born September 25, 1858; Ella, born July 4, 186'2, wife of David A. Murphy ; Julia Ann, born July 25, 1866 ; Maggie May, born April 9, 1869; and George Everett, born September 10, 1871, died October 19. 1872. Mr. Clark settled first to Butler County, and engaged in farming till the breaking--out of the war of the rebellion, when, on October 8, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served three years, and received his discharge November 4, 1864. His service was in the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. Thomas. He experienced many of the trials and hard fought battles of the campaign. They had many forced marches, traveling many days over almost incredible distances, the result of which was the breaking down of Mr. Clark's health and constitution, from which he has never recovered, and never will. Here we have another example of a true patriot, who not only left all the pleasures of home to serve his country against her foe, but sacrificed his health, and, to a great extent, his future pleasures of home and comforts of life. In the spring of 1865, Mr. Clark removed to Clinton County, and located on the place where he now lives and has since resided.
JAMES M. CLINE; farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County September 8, 1834, is a son of Richard and Prescilla (Cowgill) Cline, he a native of New Jersey and she of Virginia. The grandfather was Ephraim Cline, who lived and died in New Jersey. The maternal grandfather, Henry Cowgill, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Ohio with his family in 1813 and settled in Clinton County, near Morrisville, where he remained till his death. Of the Cline family, three brothers, Charles, Richard and Jesse, emigrated to Ohio, and all settled in Clinton County on the same tract of land where our subject and his brother Samuel still reside. They located here about 1822, and here they remained till their death. Richard was a young single man when he name to Clinton County, and here married and became the father of three sons and two daughters, four now survive-Rebecca J. (wife of Blackburn Holmes), James M., Mary Ann (wife of Bryant Robinson), and Samuel H. Mr. Cline devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, and as a farmer was very successful and became owner of 441 acres of land. The land he first purchased was nearly all in the woods. He was a man of great integrity, of high moral and Christian character and a worthy and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and as a neighbor and citizen was highly esteemed and respected. He died February 1, 1881, in his eightieth year. His wife still survives, aged seventy-one years. The subject of this sketch was married August 18, 1859, to Salinda Smith, who was born in Highland County, Ohio, September 26, 1840, daughter of Raleigh and Rebecca N. Smith, he a native of North Carolina and she of Virginia, but who became early settlers of Clinton County, Ohio. They have only one child living-Salinda. Mr. Cline and wife have had five children, four now survive-Edward W., born October 5, 1861; Anna B., born November 26, 1863; Harry M., born August 14, 1871, and Charles W., born April 2, 1874. Mr. Cline after his marriage located on a portion of his father's home place where he now lives and has ever since resided except about thirteen months' residence in New Lexington, Highland County. He erected all the buildings on his place, has good improvements and a good farm of eighty-five acres. Mr. Cline is one of the substantial farmers of this community, a man who lives and acts upon principle in all matters,
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 985
whether political, secular or religious. He and wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years.
SAMUEL H. CLINE, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born where he now lives March 20, 1843 ; is a son of Richard and Priscilla Cline, whose history is given in sketch of James Cline. Our subject was married October 2, 1867, to Euphemia M. Holmes, born in Highland County, Ohio, September 17, 1846, a daughter of James R. and Mary Holmes, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Kentucky. They were married in Highland County, and settled there, where he resided till his death in August; 1874, aged seventy-five years. His wife still survives, and now resides in New Lexington, Highland County, aged sixty-seven years. They had nine children, five now survive-Alfred, Martha, wife of D. Ockerman; Ann, wife of David Morris; Euphemia, and Katie (wife of William Riley). Mr. Holmes devoted his life to farming; was a man of integrity, honest and upright, an excellent neighbor and citizen. Mr. Cline and wife have three children--Wilber P., born November 15, 1868; Lillie A., born June 21, 1872; and Elbert Walter, born July 23, 1874. Mr. Cline located upon the old home farm, where he has lived from his infancy to the present time, where all the memories and scenes of his childhood still cluster about him. Mr. Cline, during the war of the rebellion, enlisted in the 100-days service, in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; served out his time and was discharged; was engaged in one quite brisk fight at Monocacy Junction ; having but a small force to contend against a much larger force of rebels, they were finally routed and driven back into the woods, where they remained about four days on very short rations, but finally escaped, as the rebels were driven back by Gen. Sheridan and his forces. . Mr. Cline and wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which they have belonged sixteen years.
DR. GEORGE R. CONARD, physician, New Vienna, born in Lancaster County, Penn., January 5, 1842; is a son of Benjamin and Eliza (Roberts) Conard, natives of Chester County, Penn. The grandparents, Cornelius and Susanna Conard, were also natives of Pennsylvania, where they lived and died. Their ancestors were from Germany. The maternal grandparents were George and Alice Roberts, also natives of Pennsylvania. They were of Welsh descent. They were farmers by occupation, and when advanced in years removed to Wilmington, Del., where they died, he at the age of eighty-four years, and she at eighty-six years. Benjamin Conard grew to manhood, and married in his native State, where they resided till the spring of 1850. They removed by private conveyance to Ohio, and located in Highland County, where he bought a farm and resided till 1865, when he sold oat and moved to Hillsboro, and in 1866, purchased a queensware store, where he has since continued business. Mr. Conard is in religion a Hicksite Quaker, and in character and integrity is held in high esteem, and is much respected by a large circle of acquaintances. Though taking no active part in political matters, and never desiring nor seeking office, yet by the wishes of the people he has been Township Trustee many years, and has served as Treasurer of the Building and Loan Association, and in other positions of trust. He never attended school but three months in his life, and yet is a good scholar, and is strictly a self-made man, and one who socially and morally has few superiors. He has been thrice married, first to Mary Ann Moore, by whom he had one child; died in infancy, she dying very soon after. By his second wife, Eliza Roberts, he had eleven children; seven now survive-Almira (married William Cary), Cornelius (resides at Carthage, Mo.), Alice (married Cyrus Johnson, resides at Hot Springs, Ark.), George R., William, Elwood H. (resides in Chester County, Penn.), and Mary (who married Emil Mente, and resides at Cumminsville, a tobacco dealer in Cincinnati). Mrs. Conard died in April, 1852. For his third wife he married Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson (nee Hussey), by whom he has one child-Emma. Our subject was eight years of age when his father and family came to Ohio, and here grew to manhood, brought up to farm labor, but when quite young, about sixteen years of age, he became tired of the routine labor of the farm, having a special thirst to obtain an education. By urgent demand upon his father he was granted six months' schooling each year till nineteen years of age. The
986 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
war of the rebellion having begun, he went forward at his country's call, and, on September 9, 1861, enlisted as a private in Company A, Forty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and on the 18th inst. was appointed Corporal, which office he held till his discharge, July 11, 1862, by reason of a gunshot wound in the ankle received at the battle of Shiloh April 6, 1862. After a long and severe sickness from his wound, barely escaping death from gangrene and army diarrhoea, he finally recovered, and, in September, 1862, still on his crutches, he entered college at the Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, where, in July, 1863, he graduated. Thence he entered upon the study of medicine under Prof. W. W. Dawson, of Cincinnati; thence, after attending one course of lectures was appointed Medical Cadet in the West End Hospital, serving as such three months; thence was appointed as Assistant Physician at the Tennessee Hospital for the Insane, holding said position four months; -thence resumed his former position as Cadet in the hospital at Cincinnati, and also took his second course of lectures at the Ohio Medical College, from which, on March 2, 1865, he graduated; thence he passed an examination before the Army Board of Medical Examiners, and received the appointment as Acting Assistant Surgeon of the United States Army March 14, 1865, which position he held till November 14, 1865, when the war being ended, his services were no longer needed. During this time he served in the hospitals at Knoxville, Riceville and Chattanooga. In December, 1865, Dr. Conard located at Peru, Ind., where he practiced in his profession till November, 1875, having established a valuable practice, but from the ill health of his family he removed to New Vienna, Clinton County, Ohio, where he has since continued the practice of his profession. On February 28, 1866, he married Miss Martha E., daughter of Charles and Betsey Good. She died May 1, 1877. By her he had five children; four now survive- Helen, Harvey E., Elms and Robert R. On September 24, 1879, the Doctor married for his second wife Miss Augusta L., daughter of Elijah and Sarah Jane Lacy, who reside near Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio.
DAVID CURTIS, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Virginia, November 7, 1826, is a son of Christopher and Sarah Curtis, natives of Virginia, and his grandfather was Christopher Curtis, who came from Germany when a young man and married Catharine Engle, of Pennsylvania; and soon afterward settled in Bedford County, Virginia, where they died. Christopher, the father of our subject, was born in Bedford County, near Liberty Court House on the Blue Ridge, July 19, 1801; married Sarah J. Turpin in 1820. In October, 1833, they removed to Ohio and settled in Highland County. In March, 1835, they removed into Greene Township, Clinton County, where they lived till their death. His wife died June 17, 1861. By her he had eight children, four now survive Martha Ann, wife of Richard Morton; David; Sarah Jane, wife of Lewis Oatswarth, and reside in Jay County, Ind., and James C. In 1864, Mr. Curtis married for his second wife Emily Adams, by whom he had four children, three now living-Thomas, Alexander and Sophronia. Mr. Curtis, when he arrived in Highland County, had only 50 cents left. He had intended to settle in Indiana, but his money gave out and he settled as above stated, and at once commenced in this then new country to make a living and home for his family, and by diligence and economy he succeeded well, and before his death owned 163 acres of land, well improved, with the general comforts of life. He died July 7, 1876. Mr. Curtis was a man of undoubted integrity, and a devoted member of the Baptist Church. He and his first wife joined the Blue Ridge Baptist Church in 1825, and in 1839 joined by letter the Baptist Church of New Vienna and were among the constituent members at its organization. He made the shingles for the roof of the church as his portion in its erection. He died in triumphs of faith, declaring, near his last moments, "My way is clear." David, our subject, was a lad of seven years when his father settled in Ohio, and here grew to maturity; was married February 2, 1854, to Martha Jane Truitt, born in Clinton County, Greene Township, September 6, 1836, a daughter of George W. and Abigail Truitt, he a native of Kentucky and she of Clinton County, Ohio. By this union they have had nine children, seven now survive-Allen A, born January 28, 1855; William H., January 14, 1858; James E., July 8, 1863; Frank, May 6,
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 987
1866 ; Lulie, March 2, 1871 ; George, November 22, 1873. and Lucy, born April 17, 1876. Mr. Curtis first located on the old Truitt farm; adjoining where he now lives. He has made his entire residence since in Greene Township, except one year (1865), during which he lived in Wayne Township, this county. In the spring of 1868, he located on his present place, where he has since resided. In 1874 and 1875, he erected his present substantial buildings and moved into the new house in May, 1875. He has a fine farm and a good home and residence. He now owns 375 acres of some of the best land in Greene Township. In 1854, when they commenced in life and started to housekeeping, they were in debt $50. Their present possessions have all been made by their own industry, except $750 received of their parents-thus showing a life of diligence and economy with their sure result, worthy of imitation.
CLARK A. DIXON, general merchandise, New Vienna, of the firm of C. A. Dixon & Son, was born in North Carolina October 25, 1818 ; is a son of Thomas and Hannah (Stinson) Dixon, natives of North Carolina. The paternal grandfather Joseph Dixon, was a native of North Carolina and lived and died there. The maternal grandfather; Robert Stinson, was also a native of North Carolina, and died in his native State. In the fall of 1824, Thomas Dixon, with his family, left their native county and moved up into forks of the Yadkin River, where they located and remained till the next fall, when they again started for Ohio, pulling over the mountains and through the wilderness into Kentucky with one horse and cart their few effects, reaching a point some forty miles south of Maysville, when he had exhausted both his means and his one horse with which he moved his effects. He then obtained a cabin into which he moved his family, and Mr. Dixon then pushed forward to Ohio, where were some half brothers who had proceeded him, from whom he obtained assistance and a team and returned to Kentucky and brought his family and effects to Clinton County, Ohio, where they arrived about the 1st of November, 1825, and located near where Westboro now stands. His wife had been taken sick while on the journey, and died in December, about six weeks after their arrival. Mr. Dixon was now left with five small children, and no means to provide for their necessities, and his children were scattered here and there wherever they could find homes. Subsequently, Mr. Dixon married for his second wife Elizabeth Driskill. By his first wife he had seven children-John, Polly, Brantly J., Alvira (who married Alfred McDaniel), Clark A., Joseph and Melinda (now Widow Lieurance). The first two remained in North Carolina and died there; the next two removed to Illinois, of whom nothing further is known; the others reside in Ohio. By his second wife Mr. Dixon had a large family of children, of whom several are deceased, and those who now survive are scattered over the country in various localities, of whom but little is now known. Mr. Dixon followed farming through life, and died near Willettsville, Highland Co., Ohio, June 10, 1871, in his eightieth year. The subject of this sketch, after his mother's death, lived with his uncle Raleigh Smith, two years; thence worked here and there on farms by the month ; thence learned the cooper trade ; and finally the carpenter trade ; the latter he followed about fifteen years ; thence he rented a stone quarry of Elizabeth Thornburg, which he worked eight years. Thence in September, 1877, he purchased the stock of groceries of Harvey Beard, of New Vienna, and has since been engaged in that business. In the summer of 1881, he erected a large two-story brick building 70x40 feet, with two business rooms below, one of which is occupied by George Haynie in the dry goods business, and the other Mr. Dixon & Son occupy with a fine and complete stock of groceries, hardware and queensware, and are doing a large trade. On March 7, 1839, Mr. Dixon was married to Nancy, daughter of John and Isabel Cashatt, he a native of North Carolina, and she of Ohio. By this union they have had eight children, five now survive. Sarah A., married to Cyrus Nordyke; Samantha J., married to James H. Nordyke; Margaret I., married to Joseph Gomy ; Luthera A., married to J. W. Clark, and Charles E., now in partnership with his father. John Riley, the eldest child in the family, enlisted in the war of the rebellion in Company G, Eleventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was engaged in the severe battles of South Mountain, Mission Ridge, and several others up the Kenawah Valley, and was taken sick and died of chronic diarrhoea is
988 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
camp, near Carthage, Tenn., April 11, 1863, aged twenty-three years. Mr. Dixon is now one of the prominent leading business men of New Vienna, having arisen from a poor, homeless boy, by his own energy and industry, and now holds the confidence and respect of the community in which he lives. Has served as Assessor of his Township two terms; is a member of the Christian Church, and a member of the Order of A., F. & A. M., of thirty-four years' standing.
CHARLES C. DRISKILL, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Highland County, Ohio, April 22, 1830, is a son of John and Phebe Ann (Woodmansee) Driskill, he a native of Maryland, and she of New Jersey; both emigrated to Ohio when quite young with their parents, and settled in Highland, where they grew to maturity, were married, and had seven children, four now survive-Charles C., John W., Thomas J. (who now resides in Iowa) and Ivan D. (who resides in Illinois). Mr. D. was a brick mason by trade, and followed that occupation in connection with farming through life. He died February 26, 1850, aged forty-nine years. He was a very hard-working, industrious man, and sustained an unblemished character, economical in his habits, yet honorable in all his dealings and a very worthy citizen. His widow still survives and resides on the old home place, now aged eighty years. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood brought up to farm labor; was married, in August, 1865, to Mary Jane Curran, born in Ireland, June 26, 1851, a daughter of John and Sarah Curran, who lived and died in Ireland, their native land. The children subsequently emigrated to America, the last of them coming over in 1860, and settled in Highland County, Ohio. James, the eldest of the family, now resides in Illinois. John, Robert, Joseph, Nancy, Margaret and Sarah, all reside in Nebraska, and all are married except the latter. Mr. Driskill and wife have had seven children, six now living - Lorenzo, born January 6, 1868; Noah, born December 25,1869; Sarah A., June 27, 1871 ; Bertha, September 8, 1873 ; Stella, August 12, 1878 ; and Hallie, born June 27, 1881. Mr. Driskill resided in Highland County till March, 1875, when he purchased the farm where Alfred Powell now lives in Greene Township, Clinton County, and there resided three years; thence he located on the farm where be now lives and has since resided. This place he bought of Edward Thornburg; it consists of 103 acres of land, all in cultivation but twenty acres. Mr. Driskill is one of the reliable farmers of Greene Township, a moral, upright man, and an excellent citizen. We should have added above, that Mrs. Phebe Driskill was twice married, first to Dr. Charles Conway, a practicing physician of New Lexington, Highland County, where he died about 1827. By him she had four children-Joseph P., now a practicing physician in Tennessee; Sarah, wife of Isaac Cox ; James, and George W. who resides in Illinois.
LEWIS DRISKILL, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Highland County, Ohio, April 13, 1818; is a son of John and Catharine (Morris) Driskill, natives of Maryland, who emigrated to Ohio among the early pioneers, probably about 1812, and located in Highland County, where he opened out right in the woods, not a stick amiss, built a log cabin, and commenced to clear up his land and make a home and a farm; and there he spent a long and industrious life, and died on the farm where he first located. He died March 1, 1857, in his eighty-ninth year. His wife died November 10, 1855, aged seventy-five years. Mr. Driskill lived a long and laborious life in this wilderness of a country, but he lived to possess a farm well improved and brought under good cultivation, till it was one of the best farms in this vicinity. They had twelve children. Three only now survive Allen, Nancy (wife of Thomas Humphry and residing in Oregon) and Lewis. The latter is the youngest of the surviving children. He grew to manhood accustomed to the hardships of the early settlers ; was married September 1, 1841, to Sinia Brewer, daughter of Isam and Farabee Brewer, he a native of North Carolina and she of Tennessee. By this union they had ten children. Four now survive-Simon, John H., Cynthiana (wife of Marion Standforth) and Milton. Mrs. Driskill died December 19, 1861. On June 27, 1862, he married, for his second wife, Maria, a sister of his first wife. By her he had two children. One only survives-Laura, born November 28, 1866. Mr. Driskill, after his marriage,
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 989
located upon his father's farm, where he took care of his father and mother through their last years. He bought out the other heirs, and continued to reside there till the fall of 1871, when he sold the home place and bought the farm where he now lives and has since resided. Mr. Driskill grew up with no education, having obtained what little he now possesses since he was married. He started with but little means, and by his own industry and economy has obtained a good competency. Mr. Driskill and wife are worthy members of the Baptist Church, to which church they have belonged for many years, and are highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOHN W. DURHAM, milling., New Antioch, born in Virginia October, 1833; is a son of George and Rosanna (Ambrose) Durham, natives of Virginia. The grandparents were Joseph and Frances Durham, be of Scotch descent and she born in Virginia. He was one of three brothers, married, and lived in Viginia till 1845 or 1846. He removed to Illinois and died in Bureau County, that State. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Was the father of four sons and two daughters. The two daughters, Julia Ann and Mary, still survive, and are residents of Virginia. George was the eldest of his f'ather's family ; grew to manhood, married and resided in his native State till his death in 1846, aged thirty-eight years. He was a shoemaker by trade, which, in connection with farming, he followed through life. His wife subsequently removed to her friends in Illinois, where she died in December; 1867, aged sixty-one years. They had six children, five now living-John W., George W. (deceased), William W. (a resident of California), Frances (wife of William Hotsenpillar), Martha Jane (wife of Washington Dawson), and Sarah Elizabeth (now Widow Hefner). These three daughters now reside in McLean County, Ill. The maternal grandfather, Mathias Ambrose, was of German descent, but probably born in Virginia, and lived and died in that State. Mr. Durham, our subject, was brought up to farm labor. In the fall of 1855, Mr. Durham emigrated to Ohio and spent the first winter in Miami County ; thence, in the spring of 1856, he came to Clinton County to visit friends and acquaintances, and by them was persuaded to locate here, and soon after entered upon the milling business. On September 11, 1862, he was married to Esther Ann Murphy, born in Clinton County, Ohio, April 16, 1840, a daughter of David and Isabel Murphy. By this union they have had five children, four now survive-Elms Althea, born October 22, 1866; Ira Denver, born May 31, 1870; Lucy Frances, born June 14, 1872, and John William, born October 3, 1879. Mr. Durham has made milling his business since his location here. He has erected two mills since his residence here, the first in 1872, which was destroyed by fire in 1878, and immediately cleared away the rubbish and erected his present mill, combining a grist and a saw, mill. Mr. Durham is doing a good business both in the grist and saw mill, and is one of the leading business men of New Antioch, and in character and integrity stands in high esteem, and commands the respect of his community. He and wife are devoted members of the Seventh-Day Adventists, to which they have belonged four years.
DAVID F. EACHUS, farmer. P. O. New Antioch, born in Clinton County December 5, 1804; is a son of Robert and Phebe Eachus, he a native of Philadelphia, and she of Virginia. Robert emigrated first to Virginia, where he married, and about 1802 emigrated to Ohio and settled near Waynesville, Warren County ; thence about two years later removed to near Wilmington, and settled on Todd's Fork, where they resided till his death. He located right in the woods, and lived the real log-cabin life; no roads then existed. nothing but blazed paths through the dense wilderness ; deer and turkeys were in abundance ; also Indians were frequent visitors to their cabin. He was one of the prominent leading men of the county of that day. He served as County Treasurer and Assessor, and was a Justice of the Peace for many years. A further account of his life and works are given in the general history of the county. He died March 24, 1829, aged sixty-six years. His wife died September, 1843, aged about seventy-three years. They had six children-Esther, Mary, Elizabeth, John, Julian and David F., all now deceased but the latter, who was married, December 2, 1838, to Mrs. Jane Huls, a daughter of James and Eleanor Savage, natives of Virginia. By
990 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
this union they have had five children-Robert, John, Squire, Phebe Ellen and William, all deceased but John, who was born July 28, 1841. Mr. Eachus first located in Wilmington, where he was Clerk in the Auditor's office ; thence in the Recorder's office; thence was elected Constable and served as such ten or twelve years ; thence was Deputy Sheriff two terms; thence entered upon farming in 1848 upon the old home place of his father on Todd's Fork; thence he bought and located on the farm now owned by William Ward, and, in 1869, exchanged that farm for the one where he now lives, and has since resided. John, the only brother of Mr. Eachus, studied law under the Hon. Thomas Corwin, and subsequently located at Henderson, Ky., where he married and practiced his profession till his death, caused by injuries sustained by being thrown from his buggy by his. horse running away while returning to his home from attending a session of court. He had practiced but a few years, being just in the prime of life, with the prospect of a successful future. He left one child-Eliza J., who died February 1, 1881. Mr. Eachus was Trustee of Greene Township for several years, a man of undoubted integrity, an active and useful citizen, and highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
TIMOTHY D. EDWARDS, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Hamilton County, Ohio, July 1, 1838; is a son of Samuel and Mary Edwards, he a native of Hamilton County, and she of Clermont County, Ohio. The grandparents were Isaac and Rebecca Edwards, natives of New Jersey, but who emigrated to Ohio and settled in Clermont County near Newberry, about 1805; thence two years later removed to Hamilton County, where he died about 18.'33. Samuel grew to manhood and married Mary Sutton, of Clermont County, and settled in Hamilton County and engaged in farming, where he still resides. His wife died about 1857, and he married for his third wife Mrs. Catharine Edwards, with whom he still lives. By his first wife, Elmira Day, he had one child, Serena, wife of Presley B. Hutchinson. By his second wife, Mary, he had eleven children, seven now survive-Salina, wife of Stephen Coddington ; Timothy D.; Isaac K.; Nancy, wife of James Coddington; Laura, wife of Philip Turpin, George S. and Samuel M. By his last wife he has two children-Mary and Helen. Mr. Edwards ranks among the best farmers oŁ Hamilton County, and in integrity of character, as a neighbor and citizen is highly esteemed and respected. Timothy D., our subject, grew to manhood brought up to farm labor; was married, January 1, 1862, to Mary Jane Demur, who was born in Hamilton County, March 15, 1844, a daughter of James and Jane Demar, natives of Maryland, but who became residents of Ohio, about 1831, where they have since resided. They have had ten children, five now living William M., James T., George W. and Mary Jane (twins), and Zachary T. Mr. Edwards and wife have had eight children, seven now survive-Harry D., born April 5, 1863 ; Estus T., February 22, 1865 ; Eugene, November 17, 1867; Lella, August 11, 1869; George, May 25, 1871 ; Blanche, April 12, 1873, and James W., born February 17, 188'2. Mr. Edwards has made farming his business through life. He resided in his native county till March 11, 1872; he removed to Clinton County and located where he now lives and has since resided. This farm consists of 195 acres of well-im proved land. Mr. Edwards is one among the best farmers of Greene Township, and as a neighbor and citizen has been a good acquisition to the large number of reliable and enterprising farmers of Clinton County.
W. S. FARABEE, physician, New Antioch, was born in Washington County, Penn., July 5, 1833; his grandfather, Thomas Farabee, moved from the southeastern part of Bucks County, Penn., to Washington County, Penn., with his wife, Jane (McCaffee) Farabee. and four children; here they had four more children born, and both parents died aged about eighty years. Their elder son, William, was the father of our subject; he was born in Bucks County September 4, 1794, and married Sarah Hougland, a daughter of Benjamin Hougland. In 1838, they moved to Lee Township, Athens Co., Ohio, where they died, he in 1876 and she in 1849. Our subject's maternal grandparents were Benjamin and Catharine Hougland, who were married in New Jersey. They had seven children, of whom Sarah, our subject's mother, was the third. Mr. Farabee, whose name heads this sketch, emigrated to Athens County, Ohio, with
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 991.
his parents in 1842, and on March 24, 1854, married Martha Tom, with whom he moved to Indiana, in October of the same year. In November, 1856, he returned to Athens County, and in March, 1857, he took a trip across, the Western plains, returning in the following July. n the fall of 1857, he commenced reading medicine, and in 1863, entered the army, serving- as a Surgeon at Nashville, Tenn. He returned home in the same year, and remained until May, 1864, when he went with the "hundred days' men," being detailed as Assistant Surgeon at Baltimore, Md. Being again discharged, he entered the Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he returned in June, 1865, and commenced practicing his profession in partnership with Dr. Thomas Farabee, with whom he remained until January 1, 1866 ; he located at New Antioch January 3, 1866, and has since remained there, practicing his profession. His wife died January 14, 1861, leaving two children, Sarah A., born in Indiana, August 15, 1856, and Laura, born in Athens County February 2'2, 1859. On the 7th of January, 1866, Mr. Farabee was again married to Sarah Arnold, by whom he has had two children-Ells, born November 2, 1866, and Leona, born September 6, 1868. Mr. Farabee is a physician of ability, as his success in life indicates. He is a good citizen, and stands high in the estimation of the people of his vicinity.
JOHN FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Highland County October 29, 18'20, is a son of Cephas and Rachel Fisher, natives oŁ Pennsylvania. The grandparents were James and Jane Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania ; they emigrated to Ten nessee soon after 1800, and about 1804 removed to Highland County, Ohio, and settled near Monroe, where they lived till their death. Cephas Fisher had arrived nearly at manhood, when with his father's family he removed to Tennessee. Mr. Fisher was twice married ; his first marriage it is believed occurred in Tennessee, where he was united to Rachel Stanbury, and soon after removed to Highland County ; thence about 1837 removed to Clinton County, and settled on the farm where our subject now lives; subsequently he moved to the place where Jane Fisher now lives, and there resided till his death. His wife died May 5, 1844. By her he had eight children, three now survive-Rebecca, wife of Isaac Atkinson, and resident in Story County, Iowa ; Cephas, who resides in Henry County, Iowa, and John. Mr. Fisher married for his second wife Mrs. Jane Atkinson, whose maiden name was Leech; by her he had one child Eli ; she, by her her first husband, Mr. Atkinson, had five children, two now survive Hannah and Rebecca Ann, the latter wife of David Brewer. Mr. Fisher died December 30, 1862, aged eighty-four years. His widow still survives, now seventy-seven years of age. The subject of this sketch was about seventeen years of age when his father and family settled in Clinton County. He was married; September 25, 1845, to Hannah Atkinson, who was born in Clinton County June 2, 1827, a daughter of John and Jane Atkinson, he a native of Ohio, and she of Pennsylvania. The Atkinson family were among the pioneers of Ohio. John Atkinson died in April, 1839. Mr. Fisher and wife have had ten children, nine now survive-Amos, born April 1, 1846 ; Amy, born December 30, 1849, wife of William McFadden; Harriet Ellen, born September 10, 1851; Joseph, born April 22, 1853; Phebe Jane, born April 9, 1855, wife of William F. Waddle; Thomas, born May 16, 1857 , Rachel Alice, born July 7, 1859 ; William Henry, born May 7, 1861, and Azariah, born June 19, 1865. Mr. Fisher has spent his entire married life on this and his adjoining farm; has been very hardworking, industrious man, and by his own efforts has become the owner of 368 acres of land, most of which he has accumulated by his own labor and that of his family. He has erected a fine largo brick house, and other improvements in good order, constituting a pleasant home and farmer's residence. Mr. Fisher and family are members of the Society of Friends, as were also their ancestors, and are among our beat and most respected citizens.
ELI FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, June 27, 1842; is a son of Cephas and Jane (Leech) Fisher, whose history and that of Weir ancestors is fully given in a sketch of John Fisher. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the old home place where his mother, Jane Fisher, still resides. When twenty years of age, on August 15, 1862, be enlisted in the defense of his country in
992 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
the war of the rebellion, in Company G, Seventy-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served through the war, receiving his discharge June 17, 1865. He served in the Army of the Cumberland under its various commanders, and with Gen. Sherman on his march through the South to the sea, and saw very active service; was slightly wounded twice, yet was never in an ambulance, or a hospital, or lost a single day from duty while in the service, which, perhaps, is unparalleled by any soldier in the service. Mr. Fisher was married, February 1, 1866, to Rebecca Jane McFadden, born in Clinton County, November 28, 1841, a daughter of John and Elizabeth McFadden, by whom he has two children-Charles, born December 29, 1866; and Mary, born December 26, 1871. Mr. Fisher purchased the place where he now lives and has since resided, of John W. Smalley ; it consists of thirty-one acres, upon which he has erected all the buildings and made all the improvements, and now has a very pleasant home. Mr. Fisher is a member of the I.O.O.F., also of the Encampment, and has passed the highest degree in both. As a neighbor and a citizen Mr. Fisher is highly esteemed and respected.
AMOS FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born on the place where his parents, John and Hannah Fisher, still reside, April 1, 1846. The ancestral history is given in sketch of John Fisher. Our subject, who arrived at manhood, brought up on his father's farm, was married, January 15, 1874, to Ruth Ann Terrell, born in Wayne Township, Clinton County, November 8, 1844, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Terrell, natives of Highland County, Ohio. The maternal grandparents were William and Phebe Williams, natives of North Carolina, but who became early settlers of Highland County, Ohio, and lived and died in that county. John and Elizabeth Terrell had seven children, six now survive-Hampton W., Ruth Ann, Phebe, Jane (wife of William Huff), David E., Mary Edna (wife of Wm D. Thompson), Flora A. (wife of Dennis Cook), and Pleasant M. (deceased was married to Alice Malone, and left one child, Hezzie). Mr. Fisher and wife have three children-Elver J., born April 30, 1875; Lena May, born January 11, 1878, and Amos Clyde, born June 29, 1880. Mr. Fisher, after his marriage, located on the place where he now lives, and has since resided. This place he purchased of his father, which was known as the Curtis farm; it now consists of 115 acres, of which eighty-five acres are in cultivation. Mr. Terrell and wife are members of the Society of Friends, as were their ancestors for several generations, and in integrity of character, are among the best citizens of the county.
GEORGE W. FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, October 13, 1826; is a son of David and Hannah Fisher, natives of Virginia. David lost his parents when a child, and was bound out to Thomas Thatcher, who emigrated to Ohio when David was a boy of fourteen, coming through with a four-horse team and one of the Old Virginia wagons, and on arriving at the Ohio River, the ferryman being on the opposite shore was bailed, and, not giving a very satisfactory reply, Mr. Thatcher determined to swim the river with his team, and he drove right into the stream, his family in his wagon, Mr. Thatcher on the near lead horse and the boy, David, on the off horse, the people on the shore expecting to see them all carried down the stream and drowned, but the noble horses carried them safely over, while some one on the housetop waved a flag, directing Mr. Thatcher to the right or to the left as safety indicated. This was a feat never before accomplished, and never since such a thing known in history. They settled in Clinton County near Cuba, and here David grew to manhood, married and became the father of thirteen children, ten now living-Samuel, John, Andrew J., William, George W., James, Thomas, Eliza Ann, Maria and Elizabeth. Mr. Fisher lived in this county till about 1858, when he removed to Illinois, and about 1862 or 1863, died of the cholera, aged sixty-seven years; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was one of the troops surrendered by Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and shared with many others their hatred of Hull for that uncalled-for surrender. George W., our subject, was the fifth son of his father now living, and on arriving at manhood was cast upon the world without means, and left to fight his own way through life; he entered upon the trade of brick-making, which business he followed fifteen years in Cincinnati, Shelbyville, Ind., in this county, and in other places;
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 993
thence, in the spring of 1857, he entered upon farming, purchasing seventy-five acres, a part of the tract of land where he now lives. Mr. Fisher and wife have continued their united labors, and from time to time have added more land by purchase, till now they own 235 acres of excellent land with good buildings and improvements, and clear of debt. Thus we have a living example of what energy and industry can be made to accomplish. The noble wife above spoken of, who has proven so worthy a helpmeet, was Martha Fife, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, August 20, 1828, and with her parents, David and Nancy Fife, came to Philadelphia in 1840, and a few years later carne to Clinton County, Ohio, where her mother died. Subsequently. he removed to the State of Illinois, where he died. Mr. Fisher and wife were married February 15, 1850; and unto them have been born eight children--Jennie, born June 21, 1852; David F., July 18, 1854; John W., September 11, 1856; George L., November 8, 1858 ; Thomas, December 29, 1860 ; Matthew, January 17, 1865, and died December 29, 1881; Maggie L., April 23, 1869, and James, born July 25, 1873. During the war, Mr. Fisher was a member of the Ohio National Guards. In the spring of 1864, when their services were deemed necessary at the front, he left his plow in the furrow, and, instead of hiring a substitute to represent him in war, the substitute took the plow and our subject went to the front, serving under Capt. Wilson, in Company " K," One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio National Guards. It was in May that Mr. Fisher enlisted, having just planted thirty acres of corn, which was to be cultivated by the home substitute, but not long after Mr. Fisher's absence, it occurred to the wife of Fisher that the substitute's presence was needed more by the Government on the field of battle than among the peaceful fields of growing crops, and he, too, was permitted by this patriotic woman to go to the front, and to her was left the care of the farm; and well fitted for that care, too, was she, for with only the assistance of a son and daughter, aged nine and eleven years respectively, she plowed and cared for the thirty acres of corn, besides attending to the many duties of the house.
LEWIS FRAZIER, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born on the farm where he now lives April `34, 1836, is a son of Abraham and Margaret Frazier, he a native of North Carolina, and she of Tennessee. The grandfather, William Frazier, emigrated from North Carolina to Tennessee, where he lived and died, at the ripe old age of nearly ninety years. Abraham Frazier was but an infant child when his father moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, and there he grew to manhood. In 1812, he came to Ohio, and settled in Clinton County adjoining his brother Eli, who had settled here one year previously. Here Abraham purchased 100 acres of his brother, and remained one year, then returned to Tennessee, and married Margaret Coppock, of Strawberry Plains. Thence he took his wife on horseback, with a feather bed and a few effects for housekeeping, and thus journeyed all the way through the wilderness to his new home in Clinton County, Ohio, and here commenced right in the woods, and lived the true log cabin life, enduring all the hardships of those days. He was an industrious, hardworking man; though a man of no education, yet he was a man of great integrity of character, and lived a very quiet and upright life; was never sued in law, and never sued any man, and died highly esteemed and respected. He died March 22, 1862, aged seventy-seven. His wife died June 29, 1845, aged fifty-two years. They had nine children, six now survive-William, Madison, Eliza (married to Jacob Quigley), Lewis, Margery A. (married to Abraham Skeen), and Aaron ; the latter resides in Ore gon. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the farm where he was born, and where he still lives; was married May 28, 1853, to Margaret A. Quigley, who was born in Berkeley County, Va., December 24, 1832, a daughter of Michael and Margaret Quigley, he a native of Lancaster County, Penn., and she of North Carolina ; they had nine children, six now survive-Jacob, Mary Ellen (married to William Tarr), Margaret A., Michael, Jane (married to Simeon Pennington, and resides in Indiana), and Alice Virginia (married to Peter Malott). Mr. Frazier and wife have eight children-John W., born April 18, 1854; Abe, born December 2, 1855; Alpheus, born August 25, 1858; Albron Gage, born February 12, 1861, Carrie Ella, born July 27,
994 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
1863; Maggie Oral, born August 27, 1866; Aaron J., born April 27, 1869, and Mary Lizzie, born July 27, 1877. Mr. Frazier has spent his entire life upon the old home farm, which has now been in possession of the Frazier family for seventy years. This place, which in 1812 was one unbroken forest, is now nearly all in fine cultivated fields with good improvements, and now Mr. Frazier is very comfortably situated, and ranks among the "well-to-do " farmers of Clinton County; is a man of integrity and high moral character, and like his father was never sued and never sued any man, and was never called before a court as a witness-a remarkable incident for a man of his age
JOSEPH A. GRAVATT, druggist, of the firm of Gravatt & Moon, New Vienna, was born at New Lexington, Highland Co., Ohio, July 11, 1835 ; is a son of Peter R. and Charity (Tilton) Gravatt, natives of New Jersey. The grandparents, Robert and Mary Gravatt, natives of New Jersey, emigrated to Ohio and settled near New Lexington, Highland County, where they resided about eighteen years, thence removed to Waynesville, Warren County, where she died about 1857, and he in 1858. The maternal grandfather, Sylvester Tilton, a native of New Jersey, became a resident of Ohio about the same time as the Gravatt family, and died near New Lexington, Highland County, about 1847. Peter R. Gravatt was a young single man when he came to Ohio with his father in 1831, and soon after married and entered the profession of teaching, which occupation he followed the greater part of his life. In the spring of 1849, he removed with his family to Dayton, Ohio, where, during the great cholera epidemic of that year, he took the disease and died, aged forty-five years. He was twice married, first to Charity Tilton, by whom he had three children, one only now surviving, Joseph A. She died in 1838; subsequently, he married for his second wife, Rachel Purneo, of Warren County, Ohio, by whom he had two children, one now survives, Henry P., now editor of the Wayne County Democrat, at Wooster, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was but three years of age when his mother died, and at fourteen years of age he lost his father, and was thus left an orphan and thrown upon the world to make his own livelihood. After working on a farm for a short time, he learned the carpenter trade, obtaining a limited education in the common schools. He followed his trade about nine years. In 1861, September 9, he enlisted in the defense of his country, in Company A, Forty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and soon after, was appointed Hospital Steward, in which capacity he served till mustered out of service January 17, 1865. After his return home, he engaged again in the carpenter trade, and in the manufacture of doors and sash for two years; thence entered as clerk in the drug store of C. C. Bowers, and continued as clerk about three years, when he bought out the interest of Mr. Good, of the firm of Johnson & Good, druggists, in New Vienna. This partnership continued about two years, when the firm changed to Nordyke & Gravitt; thence, in February, 1881, the firm became Gravatt & Moon, under which title the business is still conducted. They have a large and fine stock of drugs, and are doing a prosperous trade; second to none probably in New Vienna. Thus, Mr. Gravatt has arisen from a poor orphan boy to a prominent and leading business man of the town, being a worthy example to the rising generations, of what may be accomplished by energy and close application to business, coupled with good management and economy. On September 29, 1859, Mr. Gravatt was united in marriage with, Virginia A., daughter of James and Ellen Evans, he a native of Virginia and she of Delaware. By her he has had seven children, five now survive-Charles, Eugene, Anna, Ellen and Henrietta.
LEVI GREGORY, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born on the place where be now resides April 5, 1839; is a son of Levi and Catharine Gregory; the grandfather was George Gregory, who lived and died in Fayette County, Penn., and there Levi, the father, was born October 2, 1792; he had two sisters, Jane and Ellen. The former married a man by the name of Osborn, and lived and died in her native State; the lat ter married a Mr. Leonard, and settled in Illinois, where she died. The maternal grandparents were Robert and Nancy Walker (see sketch of R. B. Walker). Levi Gregory, the father of our subject, the only son of his father, was but four years of
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 995
age, when his father died. He was raised by his uncle, Gideon Jackson, who about 1798 emigrated to Ohio. and settled near New Market, in Highland County, where Levi, our subject, arrived at his majority. In the meantime, he served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in Gen. Hull's army at their surrender at Detroit. Thence he became a resident of Clinton County, married and settled on the place where our subject now lives, and here remained till his death. They had ten children, seven now survive-Nellie (wife of David Pond), Robert, James, Nancy, Elizabeth (wife of Alphonzo McDaniel), Servetus and Levi. Mr. Gregory, though a man of limited education, having, when young, had few advantages of schools, yet was a very active, industrious and prosperous farmer, and accumulated a good competency; a man of sound integrity, of high moral and Christian character, a worthy and active member of the Christian Church, in which he became an exhorter. He died January 19, 1880. His wife died May 29, 1874. Our subject was married, December 24, 1881, to Cynthia Ann Morton, born in Clinton County September 4, 1843, a daughter of Richard and Lucinda Morton, he a native of Kentucky and she of Ohio. He came from Kentucky when young, and married and settled here; thence he removed to Iowa, where his wife died in August, 1862, aged forty years. Thence Mr. Morton returned to Ohio, where he has since resided. They had eight children-William, Sarah Jane (wife of Servetus Gregory), Cynthia Ann. John H., James Madison, Richard R., Elizabeth (wife of Elihu Thomas) and Mary Bell. Mr. Gregory remained with his parents, and took care of them till their death, and has taken the home place, where he has lived from his infancy, a period of forty-three years.
CHARLES H. HARRIS, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, P. O. New Vienna, born in New Antioch October 1, 1835, is a son of Handy and Eleanor (Huls) Harris. He was born at Morgantown, Clinton Co., Ohio, December 4, 1809, and she in Clark County, Ky., January 12, 1812. The grandparents were Charles and Catharine Harris, natives of Maryland, who, in 1805, emigrated to Kentucky, and in 1806 removed to Clinton County, Ohio, and located where Jonathan Leeks now lives, and there opened out right in the woods. He resided there fourteen years, and cleared up seventy acres of land; thence he located on the place where Elisha Harris now resides, and here again opened out right in the woods, and here, in connection with farming, he kept a tavern for the accommodation of travelers. His first log cabin proving inadequate to the demands, he built an addition of a brick house of four rooms, which be then thought would be sufficient; but this was entirely inadequate, and he entered upon the erection of the large and commodious house which still stands upon the place. Here Mr. Harris remained till his death, January 27, 1854, aged seventy-five years ; his wife died July 8, 1835, aged sixty-two years. They had eight children, all now deceased but one, Elisha. The maternal grandparents, Paul and Elizabeth Huls, natives of Kentucky, but who became early settlers of Clinton County, locating near New Antioch, their nearest neighbors being at that time Mr. Harris and Mr. Van Meter, about four miles distant. Here they lived and died, and their remains now rest in the cemetery at New Antioch. Mr. Handy Harris grew to manhood fully inured to the hardships of the early settlers of this county. Was married, and became the father of three children-Paulina (deceased), Elijah B. (deceased), and Charles H. Mr. Harris settled on the place now owned by James Higgins, and there he met his early death by cholera, July 22, 1835, and his remains rest with those of bit; two children in the burying-ground at Morgantown. Mrs. Harris subsequently married for her second husband Squire G. Harris, by whom she had three children-Sarah E.', now wife of Samuel T. Anderson ; Salathiel I..; and Elizabeth L., wife of Henry L. Miller, residing in Hillsboro. Squire G. Harris was twice married; his first wife, Sarah, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Harris; she died and was buried at Morgantown, Mr. Harris was a man of great integrity of character, and highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mrs. Eleanor Harris died October 11, 1880, and the remains of both herself and her husband rest in the cemetery at New Vienna. The subject of our sketch was married May 9, 1858, to Mary E. Littler, born near Centerville, Highland Co., Ohio, May 26, 1838, a daughter of John and Nancy
996 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Littler, he a native of Nashville, Tenn , and she of Grayson County, Va. They were married in Highland County, and settled there and resided till his death, May 31, 1855, a aged fifty-five years; his wife still survives, aged seventy-eight years. They had nine children, six now survive-Miza J. (wife of W. W. Barnes, of Kokomo, Ind.). Walter, John M., William, James H. and Mary E. Mr. Harris and wife have fire children -S. Grant, born August 13, 1859; Charles H., September 18, 1862 ; Ivolue B., May 15, 1872; Harry L., January 4, 1874 ; and Bessie M., June 27, 1876. They have also raised a young lady, Luticia Marlatt, who came to live with them when fifteen years of age, who has now been as one of their family for nine years, and is much endeared to every member of the family. In the fall a 1858, Mr. Harris engaged in mercantile business in New Vienna for three years, as dealer in dry goods and groceries ; then became dealer in drugs, groceries, hardware and agricultural implements for seven years , then he entered upon farming where he now lives in 1868, and here has since resided. In connection with farming, has continued his trade in agricultural implement, the latter he has made a leading business for many years, and there are few farmers in Clinton and Highland Counties unacquainted with Mr. Harris. Though often solicited to accept office, he refuses all, as uncongenial to his tastes. In integrity of character and as a business man, Mr. Harris sustains a high reputation, and is one of Clinton County's best citizens. He and wife have been members of the Universalist Church many years. He is also a member of I.O.O.F., to which he has belonged twenty-seven years, and. about eighteen years he has been in the Encampment.
GEORGE S. HAYNIE, merchant, New Vienna, born near Wilmington, Clinton Co., Ohio, March 14, 1841 ; is a son of Thomas B. and Charlotte (Thatcher) Haynie, he a native of Winchester, Va., and she of Clinton County, Ohio. The grandparents were Charles and Sarah Haynie, natives of Virginia. The paternal ancestor, were of English descent, the maternal of German descent. About the year 1830, Charles Haynie with his family emigrated to Ohio and settled in Union Township, near Wilmington, where he lived till his death. In his early life, while a resident of Virginia, he was employed as an overseer, having charge of quite a number of slaves. After his arrival in Ohio, his life was. devoted to the occupation of farming, and was very strongly opposed to slavery. He was a very reserved, unpretentious man, never holding nor seeking office, but a kind neighbor, and a highly respected citizen, of excellent Christian character, and died mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Thomas B. Haynie, the father of our subject, was twelve years old when they came to Ohio; was brought up to farm labor; was married, and followed agricultural pursuits nine years; thence he entered upon mercantile trade, first in Burtonville ; thence removed to New Antioch, where he continued the business till 1873, when he retired from all active business. Mr. Haynie has been a man of great energy and business tact, cautious and correct in all transactions, yet decided and active, always buying for cash, thus avoiding any after pressure. Hence, his entire career of business life, a period of nearly a quarter of a century, was one of success, and he retired with a good competency. Few men have exhibited a life of success financially which has been marked by greater integrity, accompanied with a firm Christian character. They bad nine children; seven now survive-George S., Martha A. (married J. W. Bond), Lydia E. (married P. D. Barrett), Thomas F., Mary E. (married H. G. Vandervort), Emma J. and Garrie. The subject of this sketch was brought up and educated to the mercantile trade, receiving a fair common school education. At twenty-six years of age, he entered into partnership with his father, which continued till 1873; thence he bought out his father's interest and conducted the business very successfully till April, 1879, when, from failing health, he sold his stock of goods, and in the fall of the same year, he entered upon a manufacturing business at Geneva, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, engaged to the novel work of manufacturing wood tooth picks, splints, lamp-lighters, etc., being one of four such establishments known in the world. This business he carried on about one year, Mr. Haynie acting the part of traveling salesman for the purpose of recruiting his health. In this business, like all others of his life, he was successful, but from ill health of his wife, caused by the influences of the lake; he sold out and returned to
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 997
Clinton County, and for two years, engaged in contracting for and the building of turnpikes. In January, 1883, having regained his health, he purchased the stock of dry goods, boots and shoes and notions, of Ashdill & Co., of New Vienna, where he is now engaged once more in the business of his early years. Mr. Haynie's life, like his fathers. has been one of success. and his activity and upright dealings have won for him the respect and confidence of his wide and extended circle of acquaintances. Not only has Mr. Haynie made a success in business, but at the same time, he has been a close student, and devoted largely his attention to the study of medicine, and also theology ; in fact, is a man of general information, and intellectually is truly a self made man, affable and social in his nature, correct in business habits, and of high moral and Christian worth, constituting Mr. Haynie one of our county's best. citizens. On June 1, 1860, Mr. Haynie was united in marriage with Elizabeth, a daughter of Harvey and Elizabeth Rannells, natives of Pennsylvania. By this union they have five children - Lenora E. (married D. F. Fisher), Ella May, James E., Harry H. and Earl Russell.
JOHN M. HUSSEY, publisher, New Vicuna. The Hussey family came into England in 1066, during the Norman conquest with William the Conqueror, with whom they claimed blood alliance For several centuries, they were closely identified with the government of England, several having been members of Parliament. Sir William Hussey was Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, and was summoned to Parliament under Henry VIII. His son John was made Chief Butler of England. In 1316, Sir Hugh Hussey went to Ireland, and from him descended the family of Husseys in that country. Capt. Christopher Hussey came from England to America in 1630, in company with Stephen Bachelder and others and settled in Nantucket, and afterward married Martha, daughter of Stephen Bachelder, from whom descended the family of Husseys in the United States; and Christopher, Stephen and Martha have been family names ever since. Some of their descendants went into Pennsylvania. Christopher Hussey removed from Bucks County, Penn., to North Carolina with his two sons, Stephen and Christopher. Stephen married in North Carolina, and had four sons-Christopher, Stephen, Joshua and William ; the latter remained in his native State, while the father, with his three elder sons, came to what was then Highland County, Ohio. About 1807, Stephen Hussey settled on the site where New Vienna now stands, and his son Joshua adjoining him on the south. Joshua had four sons, two of whom were born in North Carolina, vie., Thomas, born in 1800, and Stephen, born October 22, 1804 (the father of our subject), and William and Nathan, born after they came to Ohio. Thomas Hussey subsequently came in possession of the farm formerly owned by his grandfather, and laid out the town of New Vienna in the spring of 1827. He and his father built a flouring mill in the year 1825 in what was afterward the east ern part of the village. In the spring of 1828, Stephen Hussey, father of our subject, and William Reece opened the first store, and the former sold the first dress pattern ever sold in the village to Miss Nancy Harris, of Snow Hill. In the fall of 1829, he was married to Rachel Thornburg, and then removed to his farm just east of the village, where he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits during the active portion of his life. About the year 1868, he sold his farm and removed to town, where he has since lived retired, and invested his money in stock of the New Vienna Bank, in which he has held the place of a Director since. He is an earnest and consistent member of the Society of Friends, in which church he has been an Elder for more than twenty-five years. They had five children, three of whom died in early life, leaving one daughter--Martha Ann, born January 15, 1834, and one son, John M., born February 6, 1838. In the spring of 1865, Martha Ann was married to Daniel Hill, who, in connection with John M. Hussey, opened a dry goods store in New Vienna in 1866, and continued the same until 1870, when they disposed of their stock of goods, and then started a publishing house, where the periodicals of orthodox Friends are published. After continuing this business for two years, it was turned over to Mr. Hussey, who continues the publication of the three church papers, vie., Christian Worker, Olive Leaf and Bible Lesson Leaf, and a local paper known as the New Vienna Record. In addition to the above, he prints the Messenger of Peace and a large amount of tract work for the Peace Associs -
998 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
tion of Friends, of which Daniel Hill is Secretary. In the spring oŁ 1879, J. M. Hussey formed a partnership with Dr. A. H. Lindley for carrying on a general drug business in New Vienna, which, at the end of two years, had been sufficiently prosperous to justify them in establishing two branch houses, one at Centerville, in Clinton County, and one at Leesburg, Highland County. He has also been for several years past identified with the banking interest of the place. On December 2'2, 1864, Mr. Hussey married Anna R. Fall, who was born in Wabash County, Ind., October 2, 1843, a daughter of John and Anna Fall, he a native of Preble County, Ohio, and she of Virginia ; they became among the early settlers of that county, where they still continue to reside. They had six children; five now survive-S. Martin, Daniel, Anna R., Jacob and John. Mr. Hussey and wife have two children-Homer F., born June 8, 1869, and Mary Inda, born June 17, 1876. Mr. Hussey is an active, earnest worker, and in the business interests of New Vienna and in the growth and prosperity of the town has been one of her leading citizens. His printing establishment is one of the largest and most completely furnished of anything of the kind outside of the large cities.
DANIEL HILL, minister and editor, New Vienna, born on the western bank of White Water, at Richmond, Ind., November 18, 1817, a few days after his parents had reached Richmond, having emigrated from Randolph County, N. C.; is a son of Henry and Achsah Hill ; the paternal grandfather was Jesse Hill, and the maternal grandfather Abraham Peacock, both of whom removed from Randolph County, N. C., to Randolph County, Ind., where they died at a good old age. In the fall of 1818 the father of our subject, Henry Hill, removed to Randolph County, Ind., about twenty-five miles north of Richmond, and five miles east of Winchester, the county seat of Randolph County. That country was then an almost unbroken forest ; Indians were frequently seen in those days, and deer, wolves and wild turkeys were in abundance. There were then no schools or meeting houses any where in that region of country. He had a birthright membership in the Society of Friends, his ancestors on both sides for generations back being members of that society. There were then no public schools in the country. The Friends built a little log meeting house about one-half mile from his father's residence, when his son, our subject, was about seven or eight years old. They soon started a little school in the meeting-house where Daniel learned his A B C's. His education consisted of what he could learn from very poorly qualified teachers during the three winter months of each year, until he was nearly grown, the remainder of each year being spent in hard work upon the farm, and in clearing up the forests. His mother died when he was about twelve years of age. He had from boyhood a great taste for reading and study. There were no newspapers nor light literature in that part of the country at that time. His early reading consisted of the Bible and such books as were then found in a small Friends' Library, and these were all substantial and instructive reading, and no doubt contributed largely to the moral and noble character which his manhood has since exhibited. In the autumn of 1840, he was married to Arcadia, daughter of Benjamin and Ann Thomas, of Wayne County, Ind., with whom he lived happily till the fall of 1863, when she died, leaving no issue. In politics Mr. Hill was first a Liberty Party man, with Whig predilections; thence a Free Soiler ; thence a Republican, and lastly a Prohibitionist with Republican predilections. In 1856, he was elected as a Senator in the Legislature by the Republican party, representing the counties of Randolph and Jay, and served through three sessions of the Legislature-two regular and one extra sessions. In 1863, be was recorded a minister of the gospel in the Society of Friends by New Garden monthly meeting. Wayne County, Ind. In 1864, he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, having been appointed Superintendent of the Children's Home, then just organized on Park street, below Third street. In the spring of 1865, he was again married to Martha Ann, daughter of Stephen and Rachel B. Hussey, of New Vienna, Clinton County, Ohio, by whom he had four children-three sons and one daughter. Two of the sons died in early childhood, and two children still survive. In the spring of 1867, Mr. Hill resigned his position of Superintendent of the Home and removed to New Vienna, where he
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 999
has since resided. In the sprint; of 1872, his second wife died of congestion of the lungs after a brief illness. In 1867, he was appointed President of the Peace Association of Friends in America, and in 1869 was transferred front the Presidency to the Secretaryship of said association, and in 1870 commenced the publication of The Messenger of Peace, a monthly journal advocating; the views of the association on the subject of Pace and War. The same year he also became editor of the Christian Worker, a weekly paper published in the interests of the Society of Friend$, which position he has since occupied. In the autumn of 1873, he was again married to Tamar, daughter of William and Rachel Thorn, whose residence was near Selma, ('lark County, Ohio. Since Mr. Hill's connection with the Children's Home he has taken a special interest in the religious instruction of the young, and has frequently held religious meetings especially for children. Besides his zeal as a christian worker he is as a neighbor and citizen greatly esteemed and respected.
BLACKBURN HOLMES, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Belmont County, Ohio, November 2, 1820, is a son of Isaac and Ellen Holmes, natives of Pennsylvania, but who were among the early settlers of Belmont County; thence, about 1830, they removed to Highland County; thence, a resident of Clinton County, where he died in July, 1860, aged seventy-one years; his wife survived him till 1863, aged seventy-one years. They had ten children, nine now survive-Shepley, Catharine (married to Henry Johnson), Ann (married to Henry De Long), Lucinda, Blackburn, Isaac, William, Obadiah and Elizabeth (married to Washington McKibben). Mr. Holmes was a blacksmith by trade, which, to some extent, he followed in connection with farming for many years. He served as Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace, besides filling other minor offices. He was a man of undoubted integrity, of high moral and Christian character, and was a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. The subject of this sketch was raised to farm labor, was twice married-first, September 30, 1847, to Eliza Cowgill, a daughter of Henry and Mary Cowgill, by whom he had six children-four now survive-Alice J., born August 8, 1848 (married to Wyatt Lieurance, and resides in Kansas) ; Henry C., born June 2, 1850, also resides in Kansas ; Mary E., born October 3, 1853 (married to Frank Harris), and Marley C., born December 2, 1857 (married to Charles Miller). Mrs. Holmes died January 10, 1859, aged thirty years. On October 8, 1865, he married for his second wife, Rebecca J. Cline, who was born in Clinton County, October 2, 1832, a daughter of Richard and Priscilla Cline, whose history is given in sketch of James Cline. Mr. Holmes and wife have one child-Frank, born August 5, 1870. Mr. Holmes has devoted his life to farming. He first located in Clark Township, this county, on the farm now owned by William Mann, where he resided till about 1854, when he purchased the farm where he now lives and has since resided, a period of twenty-eight years. This place he bought of Job R. Haynes ; he has cleared up from the woods a large portion of the farm and erected the large brick house that now adorns the place, and all other buildings and improvements, such that it is now one of the prettiest farmer's residences in this neighborhood. During the war of the rebellion, although Mr. Holmes did not enlist as a soldier, he gave freely of his means by hiring two substitutes to help break down that heinous rebellion. Mr. Holmes and wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and as a neighbor, a citizen and a Christian, he is held in. high esteem by his large circle of friends and acquaintances.
ASA HOOK, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, April 6, 1836, is a son of Joseph and Rebecca Hook, natives of Virginia. The grandparents were William and Mary Hook, natives of England, but became early settlers of Virginia, and lived and died in that State. The maternal grandparents, Jacob and Mary Bowers, emigrated from Virginia to Ohio, and settled in Highland County in 1804, being among the pioneers of that county ; thence, they removed to Clinton County and located near Snow Hill, where they remained till their death, and their remains now rest in the burying ground at Morgantown. Joseph Hook resided in Virginia till twenty-eight years of age; thence, about 1826, he emigrated to Ohio, and married Rebecca Bowers, and settled in Clinton County on the place where Asa Hook now
1000 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
lives, and here remained till his death, August 7, 1852, aged fifty-four years. His wife still survives, now eighty years of age. They had six children-five now survive -David, Robert, Asa, Jacob and Mary Ann (wife of Levi Decker, and residing in Kansas). Mr. Hook started in life a poor man, but, by his own energy and industry, obtained a good competency. He was a very active business man ; was not only a farmer, but carried on a variety of businesses. He had a store, a shoe shop, a blacksmith shop, and also that which was very important in those pioneer days, be had a " horsemill" for grinding corn and wheat, to which the neighbors, from far and near, came with their sacks of grain on horseback to get their grinding done. At the time of his death he was in the midst of his activity and usefulness, being widely known and much esteemed and respected. Our subject grew to manhood under the careful training of his active and noble father ; was married November 19, 1869, to Mary H. Johnson, born in this county December 31, 1847, a daughter of Michael and Nancy Johnson, natives of New Jersey, but who became residents of Clinton County, Ohio, about 1845. They have ten children-Celia, Joel, Mary H., William, Edward, Caroline, Martha J., Frederick, Alice and Elizabeth. Mr. Hook and wife by their union have had six children-five now survive-Frank, born August 31, 1870; Leota, born December 3, 1872; Emma, born December 31, 1874; Fred, born April 2, 1877, and one infant., born January 19, 1882. Mr. Hook, at thirteen years of age, learned the shoemaking trade, which business he followed till of age; thence, he entered upon the saw-mill business, which he followed fourteen years; thence, entered upon farming, to which he has since devoted his life. He has never held office, having no aspirations in that way, but, like his father, he sustains an unblemished integrity of character, and stands high in the confidence and estimation of his community.
WILLIAM HOSKINS, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Guilford County, N. C., March 7, 1808; is a son of John and Hannah Hoskins, whose history is given in sketch of John Hoskins. The subject of this sketch was but a small child when brought to his county by his parents, and here grew to manhood; being the second child and eldest son of his father, he realized and experienced the full hardship: of the first settlers. He was married, December 13, 1833, to Mary Ann Kirby, born in Virginia, October 11, 1816, a daughter of John and Eliza Kirby, natives of Virginia, but who became early settlers of Kentucky, and subsequently removed to Ohio and settled in Clinton County when Eliza was but a child; here he died in September, 1856, aged sixty years. His widow still survives, and is in her ninetieth year. Mr. Hoskins and wife have had four children, two sons (now deceased) and two daughters -Cynthian, wife of William Horseman; and Martha Ann, wife of Joseph V. Brewer Mr. Hoskins, after his marriage, located on the place where he now lives and has since resided, a period of forty-nine years-nearly half a century. This place he took right in the woods, and has cleared up every acre of his farm, consisting of seventy acres, and made all the improvements on the place; the house and barn he built with his own hands. Now he has a good farm, and he knows how he made it. Now he is old and quite broken down, but he will leave to his descendants the works of his bands, the fruits of which they may enjoy for ages to come. Mr. Hoskins and wife are worthy members of the Society of Friends, as were their ancestors back for several generations.
JOHN HOSKINS, farmer, P. O. N w Vienna, born on the place where he now lives September 13, 1813; is a son of John and Hannah Hoskins, natives of North Carolina. The grandfather, Moses Hoskins, a native of North Carolina, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution; he emigrated to Ohio, it is believed, about 1810, and was among the early settlers of Clinton County; he subsequently removed to Illinois, where he died. John, the eldest child of Moses Hoskins, was raised and grew to manhood in North Carolina, married there, and, in 1810, with his father came to Ohio and located on the farm where our subject now lives, and here remained till his death. When he settled here, he took the place right in the woods, no settler nearer than Snow Hill three miles distant; no road in any direction, only as they cut their way through the dense wilderness. Deer and turkeys were in abundance, and occasionally a bear
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1001
was killed, and the nights were made hideous by the howling of wolves. These were the real pioneer days, and these men and women endured many hardships of which the present and future generations can have no adequate knowledge. Mr. Hoskins died December 13, 1846, aged sixty-one years. His wife died September 18, 1876, aged ninety-one years. They bad seven children - Fix now survive-William, Isaac, John, Hannah, Mary Jane and Elizabeth. John Hoskins was the fourth child of his father, grew to manhood and was married to Leatha Burns, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Burns, who also became settlers of Clinton County, where he died; his wife subsequently removed to Iowa, where she died. Mr. Hoskins and wife had four children ; two now survive-Sarah Jane Emily, wife of Thomas J. Bernard, and reside in Illinois; and John W., born February 20, 1852, married Maria J. Reed, daughter of Samuel P. and Nancy Reed, of Clinton County, both now deceased. John W. and wife have two children-Raymond R. and Birtsil Q. Mrs. Leatha Hoskins died March 15, 1852, aged twenty-eight years. Mr. Hoskins has spent his entire life upon the old home place-a period of sixty-nine years. He is a member of the Friends' Society, a man of high moral and Christian principles, and is one of Clinton County's upright and substantial farmers.
JOHN HYATT (deceased). Mr. Hyatt was born in Fayette County, Penn., July 21, 1804, was a son of Noah and Sarah Hyatt, natives of Maryland, but who removed in an early day to Pennsylvania and located in Fayette County, where they lived and died. He served through the seven years war of the Revolution, coming out of the war unharmed, and followed farming the balance of his life. They had seven sons and three daughters, all now believed to be deceased. John Hyatt, the youngest of his father's family, was raised and grew to manhood in his native county ; was married twice; first on August 3, 1826, to Nancy Lawhead, by whom he had seven children; five now survive-Mary A., wife of Lafayette Skinner; Sarah Jane, wife of Elisha Stackhouse, John H., George W. and Noah. Marshall I. (one of the deceased) served three years in the war of the rebellion, enlisting in Company B, Fortieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and while in the army took the measles, and from exposure took cold, which settled on his lungs, which was the cause of his death, January 20, 1877. In January, 1833, Mr. John Hyatt, with his family, removed to Ohio, and settled in Clinton County, on the farm where he lived till his death. His wife died October 1, 1848. On July 2, 1851, he married for his second wife, Mrs. Myra Winpiglar, a daughter of James and Hannah Hanly, natives of New York State; his ancestors came from Ireland. James and Hannah Hanly had seven children, three now survive -Myra, Susan and Jane. Mr. Hanly served three years in the war of the Revolution, contracting consumption, which finally terminated in his death. He studied medicine, intending to enter upon practice as a physician, but his health would not permit; he died in October, 1829. His wife survived him till August 5, 1870, aged seventy-five years. Mr. Hyatt, by his last wife, had three children-Louis H., born June 30, 1852; Barnett, born November 10, 1855, and Clara E., born January 7, 1861, now Widow Hodgson. Mrs. Hyatt, by her first husband, Isaac Winpiglar, had five children, two now living. Martha Helen, wife of George Robinett, and Rachel, wife of N. W. Vandervort. Mr. Hyatt died October 6, 1876. He was a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.He started in life a poor man ; when he landed in this county, he had but 25 cents left in money, with a wife and three children depending upon him for support. He located upon the place where his widow and two children still reside; there was but one acre cleared, all around was a wilderness. Here he labored through life, and by industry and economy, made his way through all discouragements and hardships, and before his death saw his farm cleared up and in good cultivation, with good improvements. He was upright in all his dealings, a man of character and integrity, and died esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOHN W. LAWHEAD, fainter and stock-dealer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Clinton County, Ohio, September 24, 1835; is a son of William and Elizabeth Lawhead, natives of Pennsylvania, who, about 1830, came to Ohio and settled in Clinton
1002 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
County. Here they resided till the year 1855. They removed to Iowa, where he died about 1874. His wife still survives, now aged seventy-nine years. They had five children, all sons; four now survive: John W., James M., Alfred and Jonah. The eldest son, Henry, enlisted in the war of the rebellion, and died of sickness at Little Rock, Ark. James M. and Alfred were also in the war. The former served three years, and the latter through the entire war. The subject of our sketch grew to manhood in Clinton County, and when twenty years of age, with his parents moved to Iowa and lived two years; thence returned to Ohio, and. on November 26. 1857, was married to Cynthia A. Canny, born in Clinton County April 6, 1839, a daughter of Robert D. and Rachel B. Canny, he a native of Athens County, Ohio, and she of Clinton County. Robert D.. who was born in 1807, was. but a child when, with his father's family, he came to Clinton County, where he grew to manhood, married and spent his entire life in this county. His wife died in the fall of 1864, and he died in the fall of 1865. They had one son and two daughters, one only now living Cynthia A. Mr. Lawhead, after his marriage, returned to Iowa, where they resided two years ; thence returned to Clinton County, where he has since spent his life. In February. 1869, he located on the farm where he now lives, and has since resided. Mr. Lawhead followed farming as his leading business till about 1877. During the last five years, he has given his principal attention as a stock dealer. He carried on the business by himself till the fall of 1880, when he formed a partnership with Jesse W. Pond, which partnership has since continued, and as stock dealers are doing the largest business of any firm in the county, and perhaps as much as all others combined. During the past year, their sales of stock from all sources and transactions have not been less than $200,000. They are stirring, active men of undoubted integrity, and well qualified for the business in which they are engaged, and are well suited as partners, Mr. Lawhead being one of the best buyers and financial managers, while Squire Pond is one of the best salesmen known. Mr. Lawhead and wife have had five children, four now living -Robert C., born August 29, 1860; James W., September 10, 1862; Rachel Ann, September 22, 1864 (deceased), Mary E., January 10, 1870, and Althea M., May 29, 1876.
JONATHAN LEEKA, farmer. P. O. New Vienna, born in Greene Township, Clinton County, July 8, 1822; is a son of Philip and Elizabeth Leeks, whose history is given in a sketch of Matthew Leeka. Jonathan Leeks, was married, August 14, 1845, to Mary Hockett, who was born in this, Greene Township, July 24, 1821, a daughter of John and Martha (Cox) Hockett, natives of Randolph County, N. C. John was a son of Joseph Hockett, also a native of North Carolina, but who emigrated to Ohio and settled on the place now owned by John Hoskins about 1815, being one among the early settlers of Clinton County. John Hockett was born in 1788, and was a young single man when their family came to Ohio, and here married, settled, lived and died in Greene Township. Mrs. Hockett died August 24,1870; Mr. Hockett died March 31, 1871, aged eighty-three years. They had six children who grew to maturity, two sons and four daughters, three now survive-Thomas. Elizabeth (now widow Van Winkle), and Hannah (wife of Moses Edwards). John and Martha Hockett were member's of the Society of Friends, unassuming in their habits, but possessed of the utmost integrity, and were most worthy neighbors and citizens. Mr. Leeks and wife have had six children, five now survive-Sarah Elizabeth, born December 29, 1847, wife of S. P. Mason; Harvey Milton, born September 26, 1850 ; Alpheus, born May 15, 1853; Sylvanus, born June 10, 1857 ; and Martha Ellen, born April 13, 1864. Mrs. Leeka died March 26, 1880. Mr. Leeks has spent his life in Greene Township devoted to the business of farming. He bought and located upon the place where he now lives in the fall of 1853, where he has now resided a period of twenty-nine years. This place he purchased of Isma Harris' heirs. To this tract of land Mr. Leeks has from time to time added more by purchase, till be now owns 333 acres of good land. The home place is beautifully situated with good building and improvements. Upon this place he has erected a large, fine barn, said to be one of the best in the county. He also owns some property in New Vienna, and is one
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1003
of the prominent farmers of Greene Township. When he commenced in life, he started poor, his resources being his strength and industry; thus his property and wealth are acquired by his own unaided efforts. He has been Trustee of Greene Township twelve successive years, and a School Director many years. He is a member of the Society of Friends. In conclusion, we may truly say, Greene Township has few better or more worthy citizens.
MATTHEW LEEKA, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, December 25, 1837, is a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Hodson) Leeks, he a native of Virginia, and she of North Carolina. The paternal grandparents were Christian and Elizabeth Leeks, he a native of Germany, and she of Pennsylvania. He came to America during the Revolutionary war as a soldier under the King of England, but the war soon came to its close and he was never brought into any active service, and after peace with the United States was declared, he remained in this country, married and settled in the western part of Virginia; thence, about the year 1805, he removed into Tennessee; thence in the fall of 1815, removed to Ohio and settled in Clinton County. Here he opened out right in the woods, this country being then mostly an unbroken forest, with here and there a settler just commencing to open out to make a home and a farm. Here Mr. Leeka labored for several years in his pioneer work, and died aged about sixty years. His wife survived him till the summer of 1861, aged ninety-six years. They were parents of seven children; two now survive-Philip and John the latter being now a resident of Iowa. Mr. Leeks was a Tailor by trade, and after settling in this county, still followed his trade more or less during most of his life. He was quite celebrated in that day for his power over many diseases, being often called upon to use his power in relieving pain and suffering of the afflicted. Philip Leeks grew to manhood under the sturdy influences of pioneer life, was married in this county and has spent nearly all his life as a farmer and weaver in Clinton County. They have had ten children; nine now survive-Jonathan, Sarah, Hannah (who married Joseph A. Hartsell and resides in Iowa), Jesse (who resides in Indiana), Henry, Mary (now Widow Ingold), Matthew, John Wesley (who resides in Kansas), and Martha E. Mrs. Leeks died about 1841. Mr. Leeka has been a hard-working, industrious man; has never held or sought office, is a man whose character and integrity is un doubted, and is one of Clinton County's substantial and worthy citizens. The subject of this sketch was raised to farm labor, which occupation he followed till, in the summer of 1877, he entered upon the grocery trade in New Vienna; this business he sold out in the spring of 1880. He was united in marriage, December 24, 1867, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of Elisha and Rhoda Buttler, natives of Virginia, but became settlers of Ohio; thence about 1836; they removed to Hancock County, Ind., where he died about 1843. They had five children; two now survive-Elisha and Lucinda. Mrs. Buttler married for her second husband Samuel Nixon; they removed to Wayne County, Ind., where she died in the fall of 1857. Mr. Bottler was twice married, and by his first wife there is one son now living - George W. Mrs. Leeka was born in Hancock County, Ind., March 20, 1836. Mr. Leeks and wife have one child-Atilla K., born March 17, 1871. Mr. Leeka, wife and daughter are worthy members of the M. E. Church.
DR. ALFRED H. LINDLEY, physician and druggist, New Vienna, born in Morgan County, Ind., July 26, 1843 ; is a son of David and Mary (Hadley) Lindley, natives of Greensboro, N. C. The paternal grandparents, Aaron and Phebe Lindley, were also natives of North Carolina. The great grandparents were Thomas and Ann Lindley, he a native of England and she of Scotland, who became settlers of North Carolina prior to the Revolutionary war, and lived and died in that State. Aaron Lindley, with his family, emigrated from North Carolina to Indiana, in 1832, and located in Morgan County, where he resided till his death, in 1857. He was the father of thirteen children, who all new to maturity, three now survive-Ruth, who married Robert McCracken ; Phebe, married Abner Sanborn ; and John. David Lindley was born in North Carolina in 1796, and there grew to manhood and married. In the fall of 1830, he came to Clinton County, Ohio, and taught school that following
1004 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
winter; thence, in the spring of 1831, he removed to Indiana to Morgan County, where he remained till the fall of 1865, when he removed to Harding County, Iowa, where he died in January, 1878 ; his wife still survives and resides tin the home place in Iowa. They had thirteen children, seven now survive-Milton, Matilda (who married Caleb Baldwin), Elwood, Cyrus, Addison, Naomi (married Ira. Edwards) and Alfred H. Mr. Lindley in early life followed the profession of teacher for several years; thence devoted the balance of his life to firming. He was a devoted member of the Society of Friends, and whose life was marked by the strictest integrity, and as a neighbor and citizen was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He gave all his children a good education, all of whom have been teachers. His son, Cyrus, is a graduate of Harvard University, and served two years as Superintendent of the Freedmen's Schools through the South, under the direction of a committee at Philadelphia. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor; at thirteen years of age he entered the drug store of Sidney H. Johnson, where he gave his attention to learning the drug businesa and attending school till sixteen years of age; thence attended the Bloomingdale Academy two years, thence taught school two winters. In the spring of 1861, he commenced the study of medicine at Danville, Ind., under Dr. A. Furnas. In 1864 and 1865, he attended the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, graduating in the spring of the latter, and at once commenced the practice of his profession in Hardin County, Iowa. In the fall of 1869, he entered the Bellevue Hospital at Philadelphia as Assistant Surgeon, which position he held three years; thence engaged in practice at Charlotte, N. C. In the fall of 1877, he returned to Philadelphia, and in the fall of 1878, he removed to Clinton County, Ohio, and in the spring of 1879, the present firm of Hussey & Lindley was established which has continued to the present time, and is doing a very prosperous business, having extended their business by establishing branch stores in Centerville and Leesburg. The Doctor has devoted himself closely to the study of medicine and diseases; has possessed many advantages in his practice in the hospital and elsewhdre; and, as a result of his acquirements he has established " Dr. Lindley's Fit Cure and Nerve Tonic," a preparation which he has used in his practice for several years with great success, and which be is now offering to the public with entire confidence in its power and efficacy to prevent and cure the terrible disease of "Falling Fits." The Doctor was united in marriage, May 21, 1867, with Miss Miriam, a daughter of Josiah and Mary Newby, natives of Clinton County, Ohio, by whom he has one daughter-Lillian Steele, born January 7, 1876.
JOHN H. LOWMAN, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, was born in Morgan County, Va., May 15, 1836, and with his sister, Eliza, emigrated to Ohio and located in Seneca County in 1853; thence, in the spring of 1854, moved to Indiana; thence, in the fall of the same year returned to Seneca County, Ohio; thence, the same fall, came to Clinton County, where he has since resided. He was married, February 18, 1858, to Rebecca Ann Swingley, who was born in Clinton, County, Ohio, February 9,1840, daughter of Peter and Mary Swingley, natives of Virginia, whose ancestral history is given in sketch of Henry Swingley. By this union they have two children-Anna Bell, born October 10, 1863, and Rosa Florence, born June 28, 1872. Mr. Lowman has made farming his business through life; be bought and located upon the place where he now lives in the spring of 1864, where he has since resided. He had, however, rented and lived on the place four years previous to purchasing it, so that he has resided here since 1860, a period of twenty-two years. This place consists of 234 acres of good land, with good improvements. The original home place consisting of eighty-four acres he purchased of John Baschore, to which he has since added by purchase, till his farm now consists of the above amount, 234 acres. Mr. Lowman started in life with $36 and a limited education, and by his industry and economy has acquired a good competency ; has been assisted by a good and frugal wifb, who was early left an orphan. Her father died in January, 1842, when she was but two years old; and her mother died in August, 1849, when she was nine years of age ; thence she was raised by John Baschore, living with them twelve years, till her marriage, and still lives in sight of her adopted home, and the schoolhouse and scenes of her childhood. This is a brief sketch of Mr.
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1005
and Mrs. Lowman's lives, struggles and successes of which their children and descendants may well feel proud, and from whose example they may safely pattern.
JOHN McFADDEN, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, was born in Mason County, Ky., September 23, 1808; is a son of John and Sophia (Kelley) McFadden, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America about the year 1800, and settled at Marietta, Ohio; thence removed to Mason County, Ky., and while residing there he started on a trip down the river for New Orleans with two boat loads of meat, lard, hemp and tobacco for the market and was taken six with yellow fever and died at Natchez Miss. About 1811, the widow and her family removed to Brown County, Ohio; thence, in 1821, they removed to Clinton County, and located near Centerville, on the place where Edmund West now lives, and there they resided till her death, in 1830. They had three sons and three daughters, two now survive-Hugh and John. The latter, our subject, who was thirteen years of age when the family located near Centerville; there grew to manhood, being raised under the care of his mother and his older brother Hugh ; was married May 1, 1834, to Elizabeth Newcomb, born in Pennsylvania, October 26, 1810, a daughter of William and Anna Newcomb, he a native of Pennsyl vania and she of New Jersey. By this union they have had ten children, nine now survive-Jehu, born March 20, 1835; Mary Ann, August 10, 1836, wife of John J. Grove; Harrison W., November 13, 1839; Rebecca J., November 28, 1841, wife of Eli Fisher ; William N., June 9, 1844; John C., August 18, 1846; Sophia, August 3, 1848. wife of Eli Hodson ; Thomas M., October 6, 1851, and Hannah E., March 22, 1855, wife of Thomas Hodson. Charles (deceased) was born December 3, 1837. He enlisted in the defense of his country in the war of the rebellion in September, '' 1861, in Company B, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was wounded in the battle of Lookout Mountain, just as they had won the victory. He was carried back to Tullahoma, Tenn., where he died in the hospital from the effects of his wounds December 27, 1863. His remains were brought home by his father, and now rest in the cemetery near Centerville. Mr. McFadden located on the place where he now lives in May, 1834, when it was all in the woods but about four acres, and here he has resided since, a period of almost half a century. Now he has a good farm, of which 190 acres are in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, which has been accomplished by his own bands and the help of his family. His wife died June 9, 1880. Mr. McFadden is now one of the oldest and most respected citizens of Greene Township. He has served as School Director thirty-one years, and as Township Trustee fourteen years. He is a worthy member of the Christian Church, to which he has belonged over forty years. In morals and integrity, as a neighbor and a citizen, he is greatly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
WILLIAM N. McFADDEN, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, June 9, 1844; is a son of John and Elizabeth McFadden, whose history, and that of the ancestors, is given in sketch of John McFadden. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood brought up to farm labor; was married April 11, 1867, to Amy Fisher, a daughter of John and Hannah Fisher, whose ancestral history is given in sketch of John Fisher. By this union they have bad six children, five now survive-Levi, born June 6, 1868; Alba, born July 20, 1870; Ida, born, October 26, 1872, and died March 5, 1873; Flora, born January 19,1875; Jennie, born June 25, 1877, and Thomas W., born September 17,1880. Mr. McFadden, after his marriage, located on the place where he now lives and has since resided. This place was purchased of a Mr. Brown, of Kentucky. It consisted originally of eighty-eight acres, to which he and his brother have since added more by purchase. Mr. McFadden has always made farming his occupation. He and with are members of the Christian Church of Centerville. During the war of the rebellion, January 29, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served one year, in the Cumberland army in Tennessee and Georgia, and was discharged January 25, 1865. Mr. McFadden is a man of integrity and high moral character, and a worthy neighbor and citizen.
HARRISON W. McFADDEN, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Clinton
1006 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
County, on the farm where his father still resides, November 13, 1839 ; is a son of John and Elizabeth McFadden, whose history is given in a sketch of John McFadden. Our subject was married, January 27, 1870, to Mary Catharine Fisher, who was born in Clinton County, Union Township, December 5, 1853, a daughter of William and Margaret Fisher, whose ancestral history is given in a sketch of George Fisher. William and Margaret Fisher are now residents of Dayton, Ohio, where they are engaged in keeping boarding-House. They have had seven children, six now living-Mary Catharine ; Samuel E.; Isabel, wife of Cyrus Bartlett, and resides in Indianapolis, Ind.; Emma Jane, wife of Daniel Hier, of Dayton; Eva C., wife of Smiley Duke ; and Lizzie, wife of Evans Egbert, of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. McFadden and wife after their marriage, located on the place where they now reside. This farm consists of ninety-one acres, upon which he has erected all new buildings, and has a pleasant home and residence. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. McFadden enlisted, September 17, 1861, in Company B, Fortieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served more than three years, receiving his discharge November 29, 1864. He was first in Eastern Kentucky and Virginia; thence in the Cumberland army, and was with Gen. Garfield in the battles of Sandy River, Ky., and at Chickamauga and others. He also had two brothers in the army, of whose service, see sketch of his father. This patriotic family whose father was one of the early settlers of Clinton County, are as neighbors and citizens highly esteemed, and are worthy of record in their country's history, to be read and known by the future generations. Mr. McFadden and wife are members of the Christian Church at Centerville, to which they have belonged for many years. He is also a member of Stickney Lodge, No. 298, I. 0. 0. F., of New Antioch ; also of the New Vienna Encampment, No. 81. His wife is a member of the Rebecca Lodge.
JOHN M. McKIBBEN, farmer, P. O. Farmers Station, born on the farm where be still resides June 6, 1844, is a son of James and Lucinda McKibben, he a native of this county, and she of Virginia. The grandparents, Joseph and Hester McKibben, came to Ohio and settled in Clinton County, on the place now owned by William Stockwell, about 1802, being one of the pioneers of this county, and here opened out right in the woods, and lived and died within one mile of his first location. They had seven sons and five daughters ; all grew to maturity, seven now living-John, Jane, Josiah, Hester, Nancy, Washington and Louisa. James was born September 22, 1806. Was married March 24, 1835, to Lucinda Turner, who was born in Bedford County, Va., November 16, 1807, a daughter of Meador and Piety Turner, natives of Virginia, where Mrs. Turner died about 1808. Subsequently Mr. Turner married for his second wife Catharine Wilson. In 1830, they removed to Ohio and settled in Preble County; thence, in the fall of 1844, they removed to Clinton County, where he died July 7, 1853; his wife died August 5, 1872. Mr. Turner, by his first wife, had seven children, three now survive-Lucinda, Sarah, wife of C. Beason, and resides in Clark County, Ohio; and Albert, who resides in Page County, Iowa. Mr. McKibben and wife had four children, one only now survives, John M., our subject. Mr. McKibben followed farming through life. When be started out in life, he was given by his father a horse, saddle and bridle, and from thence fought his own way through life. He was a man of energy, industrious and economical, and a good manager, and before his death he owned 255 acres of land with good improvements, the result of his own and his family's labors. He died May 27, 1879, esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances; an active member of the Baptist Church thirty years, and Trustee in the same twelve years. The subject of this sketch, the only surviving child of his father, was married December 31, 1873, to Eva Turner, who was born in Illinois, August 3, 1854, a daughter of James and Margaret Turner, he a native of Virginia, and she of Highland County, Ohio. They had seven children, six now living-Charles, Eva, Flora, Ollie, Jennie and Willie. Mr. Turner served three years in the war of the rebellion; enlisted in August, 1862, in Company D, Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. Mr. McKibben and wife have had two children--James Cleo, born March 4, 1877, and died November 12, 1878; and Flo
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1007
E., born July 16, 1881. Mr. McKibben located on the old home farm of his father, where he still resides, and is one of our county's much respected and reliable farmers; has a good farm and a pleasant home and farmer's residence.
ELIJAH H. MATTHEWS, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Highland County, Ohio, October 20, 1826; is a son of John and Mary Matthews, he a native of North Carolina, and she of Tennessee. The grandparents were John and Rebecca Matthews, natives of North Carolina, but of Scotch descent. They emigrated from North Carolina to Ohio and settled near New Market, Highland County, in 1807 ; and in 1808 located about four miles north of Hillsboro, on Clear Creek, and there remained till their death. John, the father of our subject, was born in March, 1774 ; was married in Highland County and located on his father's farm, where he remained through life. They had ten children, seven sons and three daughters, eight now survive-John, Albert G., Christopher, Elijah, Joel, Susan (now Widow Brown); Mary (wife of J. Chapman), and Eliza Jane (wife of Wright Hicks, and residing in Kansas). Mr. Matthews was a prominent man of Highland County; was County Commissioner two terms and Associate Judge of that County twenty-one years. being elected three consecutive terms of seven years each, besides holding minor offices. He died in August, 1848, aged seventy-four years; his wife survived him till April, 1864, aged seventy-four years.. The subject of this sketch, who grew to manhood on the old home farm in Highland County, was married, January 25, 1849, to Ellen Elliott, who was born in Clinton County, November 28, 1832, a daughter of William and Susan Elliott who became early settlers of Clinton County, were married, lived and died here. They had four children-Thomas G., who resides in Mercer County, Ohio; William; Ellen; and Eliza Jane, wife of Valentine Cox, and residing in Van Wert County, Ohio. By this union, Mr. Matthews and wife have had ten children, nine now survive-John W., born December 27, 1850 ; Susan, May 29, 1853, wife of Levi West; Mary Elizabeth, June 20, 1857, wife of David Matthews; Sarah E., October 7, 1859, wife of Lafayette West; Kate G., February 10, 1862, wife of Abraham Frazier; Rachel Ann, April 13,1864; Ollie M., June 10, 1869; Clara E., December 25, 1870; and Oscar L., born December 28, 1874. Mr. Matthews resided in Highland County till in 1850, when he removed to Clinton County, and located four miles east of Wilmington, and has since been a resident of this county. He purchased the farm where he now lives in 1871, and moved onto it in December, 1875, where he has since resided. Mr. Matthews when young, engaged as clerk in a store in Buford, Highland County, and subsequently he and his brother Christopher carried on a general store in the same village seven years.. Thence he came to Clinton County and ran a peddler's wagon two years; thence, as a farmer, has spent the balance of his life. He now owns two good farms, embracing 280 acres of land with good improvements, and is one of the prominent farmers of Greene Township; has held many of the offices of his township; was Mayor of New Vienna two years, a Justice of the Peace ten years, and is now Township Trustee; was also, in 1880, Assessor of the Third Division of Clinton County, embracing the Townships of Greene, Wayne and Richland. Mr. Matthews is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity, a man of undoubted integrity, and a highly esteemed and respected citizen.
WILLIAM W. MOORE, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Clinton County March 24, 1833, is a son of William and Susan (Childs) Moore, natives of Virginia. The grandfather, John Moore, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Kentucky, and settled in Bourbon County about 1787, being one of the early settlers of that county, where he remained till his death. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, of great firmness of character, a very industrious, hard-working man, and who acquired a large amount of property, which gave his children a good start in life. He was a man of high moral and Christian character, and a Deacon in the church. William, the father, was but a child, less than two years of age, when his father settled in Kentucky, and there he grew to manhood. About 1815, he removed to Ohio, and settled in Clinton County, on the place where his son, Samuel J. Moore, now lives. He married Susan Childs, of Highland County, by whom he had eleven
1008 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
children, seven now survive John, James, Margery (who married James Patton), William W., Sarah (wife of Elijah Heyworth), Thomas C. and Samuel J. Mr. Moore, when he settled here opened out right in the woods, not a stick amiss, and here he spent his entire life; he did a great amount of bard work, and became owner of 942 acres of land, being one of the largest land-holders of Clinton County. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm ; was married April 3, 1856, to Lydia, daughter of Elijah and Lucinda Van Pelt. By this union they have had eight children, four now living -Cassius M., born August 18, 1859 ; America, born June 2, 1866; Jesse, born October 17, 1869 ; and Elwood Austin, born May 12, 1871. Mr. Moore has devoted his life to farming, and raising and dealing in stock ; he is giving great attention to improved and fancy stock. He now has six sheep which were imported from England in July, 1881, for which he paid $585. Mr. Moore is one who realizes the advantage and profits of fine improved stock. And it is to be hoped that. the farmers of Clinton County may be led to take a greater interest in the improving of their stock. Mr. Moore now owns 244 acres of good land, and the attention be is giving to improved stock, places him among the leading and substantial farmers of the county. He is also giving attention to the raising of deer, and intends to make this an important branch of the business, expecting it will be both pleasant and remunerative.
W. D. MOORE, minister, New Vienna, was born in Winchester Township, Adams Co., Ohio, August 11,1824. He was the eldest of a family of fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters. His father, Joseph Moore, was the sixth child and fifth son of Hon. Aaron Moore, a pioneer of Ohio, who came from Washington County, Penn., as early as 1793, and settled in Adams County, Ohio, about three miles west of the county seat, on the waters of Eagle Creek. He remained on this farm till 1814, when he sold it and purchased a tract of about thirteen hundred acres of land about four miles north of Winchester, Adams Co., Ohio. Here he remained till his death in 1834. On this land, W. D. Moore was born and partly raised. His mother, Sarah Moore, was a daughter of Ralph and Susannah Peterson, who came from West Virginia early in the Nineteenth Century, and settled on the waters of East Fork (of Ohio) Brush Creek, about ten miles north of West Union, the county seat of Adams County, Ohio. Sarah Moore, wife of Joseph Moore, and mother of W. D. Moore, died March 27, 1830, when W. D. Moore, her eldest son, was less than six years old. Before she died, she taught her son to spell, and had impressed him with high moral and religious sentiment. Between the ages of seven and fourteen, he went to school about twenty months, and learned to read and write, and gained some knowledge of arithmetic. Here his school-going stopped on account of the misfortunes and ill health of his father. But though thus cut off from the advantages of schools, and for several years devoted to hard labor for the maintenance of his father's large family, yet he devoted all his leisure hours in reading such books as the meagre libraries of generous neighbors afforded. And thus before he was grown, he had acquired a moderate knowledge of both ancient and modern history, both general and biographical, especially the history of the United States, and the biographies of her great men. He read few works of fiction. This course of reading laid the foundation of all his after success and usefulness. It should not be overlooked that he had, at an early age, made himself familiar with the Bible, to which, more than to anything else, he owes the direction of his life. He made a religious profession when but little past fourteen years of age. This early acceptance of the lordship of Jesus the Christ, did mach to save him from the temptations of early years. Naturally sensitive, he often felt most keenly the jeers of young people among whom he moved. His inability to dress in fine and fashionable clothes was often the occasion of much apparent merriment by a class of young people who judged from external appearances. Greatly energized by such conduct, he attempted to repair the fortune of his family, and succeeded in helping them touch. At twenty-one, he married Miss Sarah Ann Wick, whose father and mother had immigrated from West Virginia and settled in Highland County, Ohio, in 1817. About fifteen months after his marriage, overwork and extreme exposure to the inclement weather which never stopped him in his busi-
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1009
ness, his health gave way to such a degree that he was unable to continue at hard work. This made it necessary to engage in other business. At this time, the school law of Ohio allowed certificates to be granted for reading, writing and arithmetic, and through the intercessions of the School Board of a district in Scott' Township, Adams Co., Ohio, he obtained such certificate and commenced his first school December 2, 1846, at $11 per month; $28 of the 833 which he was to receive was all the public funds the district had on hand, the other $5 were raised by a pro rata tax, part of which has never been paid. During this year, Mr. Moore completed the study of arithmetic, and commenced English grammar and geography, and in 1848 received a certificate for those branches, as well as those he had studied before. In 1848-49, he studied algebra and natural philosophy, and had them added to his certificate. Then he commenced the study of geometry, Latin and Greek. These and other studies, such as anatomy and physiology, geology, botany, chemistry, rhetoric, logic, etc., have kept him employed ever since. As early as 1851, he had wade so much progress in his church work that. the church of which he was a member induced him to undertake the work of evangelizing in which he continued for a while, but at last, he settled for a time at Russelville, Brown Co., Ohio, and preached and taught school. Since then, he has, at times, evangelized, but for the most part he has been at work for some church or churches as pastor and teaching school. Mr. Moore has held sixteen public discussions on various topics, as Capital Punishment, Man's Future Destiny, Human Depravity, Baptism, Subject, Action and Design, Human Creeds, Spiritism, Materialism, etc. He has resided above eight years in New Vienna. Clinton Co., Ohio. He has raised and educated eight daughters, of whom six have been, and some of them are still, teachers. The chief thing to be noted in this sketch, is the fact that a man can, if he wills it, make himself a scholar without the advantages of schools. Mr. Moore has arisen unaided. to be one of the most thoroughly educated and popular preachers of this vicinity, and is highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, a purely self-made made.
ISAIAH M. MORTON, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born on the place where he now lives, May 17,1832; is a son of Joab and Jane Morton, natives of Kentucky, but who removed to Ohio about 1820 and located on the place where our subject now lives, there being at that time about eight acres partly cleared, the balance of the place being all heavily timbered, and here they continued their labors till their death, opening out and clearing up the farm and doing a great amount of pioneer work. He died August 18, 1846; his wife died August 8, 1869. They had seven children, five now living-Richard, John, Lucinda (wife of William McKenzie), Isaiah M. and Betsey (wife of Eli Carson). Mr. Morton was a soldier in the war of 1812; he was a member of the New-Light Church at Antioch, which faith he maintained till his death. Isaiah, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the farm where he still resides. Was married, in November, 1854, to Jane Lieurance, born in Clinton County May 4, 1833, a daughter of Henry and Sallie Lieurance, he a native of North Carolina and she of Ohio. They had ten children, six now survive-John, David, Jane, James, Parker and Harvey. Mr. Morton and wife have had ten children, eight now survive-Sarah Emily, born July 7, 1855; Henry, April 17, 1857; James, December 20, 1859; Durias, November 25, 1862; Lucinda, October 20, 1864; Louisa Jane, January 22, 'I867; Cora, September 16, 1869, and Benjamin, born February 5, 1872. Mr. Morton settled upon the old home farm of his father, where he has spent his entire life from his infancy, a period of half a century. The place has now been in possession of the father and himself sixty years. It now embraces 111 acres of land with good improvements, and is a pleasant home and residence.
ASA NORDYKE, farmer, P. O. New Vienna. In the history of the Nordyke family, one of the pioneer families of Clinton County, we trace them to one Stephen Henry Nordyke, who was born in Holland and lived and died there. His death occurred in this wise : He had taken a contract of improving the harbor or landing place of vessels, by blasting and clearing away the rocks under the waters, and while engaged in this work, by one of these blasts he was killed. Of his children, three sons, Abraham,
1010 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Isaac and Jacob, emigrated to America in an early day, prior to the Revolution, while young, single men, and it is believed that Jacob died unmarried, and that all of the Nordyke families have descended from these two brothers, Abraham and Isaac Nordyke. They settled, it is believed, near Philadelphia, as two of these brothers built a vessel at that place, and it was named the "Two Brothers." Abraham and Isaac married, and became settlers of Virginia, and the latter subsequently became an early settler near Cincinnati, where the town of Fulton now stands, and some of his descendants are known to still be residents of Clermont County, and some of Indiana. Abraham became father of six sons and two daughters. Of these, Micajah was the fifth child and fourth son, who was born in Stafford County, Va., March 8, 1871, and .when about four years of age removed with his father's family to Georgia, where they remained a few years, and while residing there had many dangers from the Indians. Aden, the eldest son, was shot through the arm and badly wounded, but recovered, married, and raised a large family of children, and' subsequently became a settler of Indiana, where he died. Micajah also, when but a young child, ran a narrow risk from the Indians, who came to his father's house with murderous intent, but were observed while at a distance, and Micajah was taken by his father out at the back door and away into the woods, where they secreted themselves, and remained there all night, though it was quite cold and frosty, and the next day returned to the house. They subsequently removed to North Carolina, and thence to Tennessee, and in the spring of 1806 Micajah removed to Ohio, and settled in Clinton County, one of the true pioneers. Here he soon after purchased 300 acres of land of the Buford survey, lying north of New Vienna, embracing a portion of the ground upon which the town is now built. This land was all in the woods, and the log cabin life and early scenes of the pioneer life of Mr. Nordyke are related in the history of Greene Township. Suffice it to say this family endured all the many hardships and deprivations of those early times. Micajah was married in Jefferson County, Tenn., April 4, 1798, to Charity Ellis, who was born at Martinsburg, Va., October 4, 1779, a daughter of Nehemiah and Sarah Ellis, who also became early settlers of Clinton County, Ohio, and died here, and their remains now rest in the Friends' burying-ground near New Vienna, on the piece of ground which Micajah gave the society as a permanent burial-place. Abraham and Mary Nordyke also became residents of Ohio soon after their son Micajah, and here they died, and were buried in the Friends' burying-ground. Micajah and Charity Nordvke had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters; all grew to maturity, married, and had families ; eight now survive--Sarah, now Widow Thomas; Isaac; Mary, married to Jonathan Beckett and resides in Indiana; Henry, Samuel, David, Asa and Lewis; the deceased, Phebe, who married Amos Lewis; Ellis, Jesse, and Hannah, married Stephen Peebles. Mrs. Nordyke died June 5, 1854; Mr. Nordyke died July 6, 1857. Henry Nordyke was born in Clinton County, May 16, 1809; married Phebe Rich, born in Clinton County, Ohio, November 26, 1813, daughter of Thomas and Ann Rich, also early settlers of this county. By this union, they have had seven children, four now survive-Thomas R., Aaron B., Edith H. (married James H. Terrell), and Callie E. Asa Nordyke was born in Clinton County October 25, 1817. Was married in 1842, to Mary James, a daughter of David and Mary James. By her he had one child-Ellen C. (deceased) ; his wife died July 29, 1844. On September 26, 1850, he married for his second wife Almedia Bailey, born in Virginia June 12,1822, a daughter of David and Silvia Bailey, who settled in Clinton County in 1827. By this union they have three children-Mary F., Michal E. and Edgar M. Henry and Asa Nordyke still reside on portions of the old home-place of their fathers, having been born and raised and spent their entire lives here. They are worthy members of the Society of Friends, to which their ancestors for several generations also belonged. They are among the substantial farmers of this community, men of high moral, Christian character, constituting them among the most upright and reliable citizens of the county.
CYRUS NORDYKE, livery, New Vienna, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, August 3, 1826; is a son of Benajah and Ann (Johnson) Nordyke, he a native of
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1011
Tennessee and she of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Israel Nordyke, came from Tennessee to Ohio, and settled in Clinton County, one among the pioneers, and lived and died near New Vienna. Benajah was a young single man when he arrived here in the wilderness of Ohio; was married here and became the father of ten children ; five now survive-Eliza (married to G. W. Mathews), Cyrus, Rebecca (married to Judge John Mathews), Elijah and Margaret (married to G. W. Mowry). Mr. Nordyke was a farmer during all the early part of his life, and performed much pioneer work, as when they located here there were but three cabins between here and Wilmington ; then they had to go many miles to the Little Miami River on horseback to get their milling done; then they would go ten to fifteen miles to assist their neighbors at their log rolling, and often as far to borrow a hoe or some implement with which to do a little work. Those were the times of bard work and hard fare; but all were sociable, honest and happy. Mr. Nordyke in his later years moved to New Vienna and engaged several years in the mercantile trade. Mr. Nordyke was born January 10, 1795, and died in New Vienna June 13, 1867. His wife is still living, now in her eighty-third year. She was born in Virginia September 12, 1799. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood, brought up to farm labor till sixteen years of age, after which for several years he followed a variety of business, such as would pay him best. On April 18, 1848, he was married to Jane Beals, a daughter of Jesse Beals; by her he had six children, four now survive James A., born September 29, 1849; Lycurgus F., born October 9, 1853 ; Charles B., born January 12, 1857, and Harry D., born December 1, 1860. Mrs. Nordyke died November 11, 1861, in her thirtieth year. On November 12, 1861, Mr. Nordyke married for his second wife Sallie Dixon, born March 1, 1842, a daughter of Clark A. Dixon, whose family history is given in this work. In the spring of 1854, Mr. Nordyke entered upon the livery business in New Vienna, and was the pioneer in that line of business in this place and is still engaged in that business, and now is running two livery stables in this town, having now carried on the business for a period of twenty-eight years. When he commenced, he was employed to run an engine in a woolen mill at $12 per month ; he bought a horse and spring wagon and began his livery business. This was the "day of small' beginnings," but it supplied the demand of that day. Now he keeps from twelve to fifteen horses and about twenty vehicles, and these are generally well employed. Mr. Nordyke is now widely known as a livery man of New Vienna, and has his business well established by experience, ability and a thorough acquaintance with the people, and is one of the prominent business men of New Vienna.
THOMAS R. NORDYKE, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, November 20, 1839, is a son of Henry and Phebe Nordyke, whose history and that of the ancestors, is fully given in this work. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood brought up on the farm of his father. Was married October 31, 1861, to Elizabeth A. Gifford, a daughter of Andrew and Sarah Gifford, he a native of North Carolina and she of New Jersey, but' who became early settlers of Ohio. By this union they bad two children-Mary I., born December 29, 1862; and Clayton B., February 17, 1864. Mrs. Nordyke died in October, 1868. On February 22, 1869, he married for his second wife Mary Ann Mory; who was born in Clinton County, August 22, 1847, a daughter of Dr. D. B. Mory, of Wilmington. By this anion they have four children-William M., born December 25, 1870; Herbert H., February 12, 1873; Inez M., December 3, 1876; and Alice, born July 27, 1880. Mr. Nordyke has spent all his life in Clinton County but two years, 1862 and 1863, during which be resided in Indiana. The place where he now resides he purchased of William Noble in the fall of 1864, which joins his father's farm just north of New Vienna, and here he has now resided eighteen years. Mr. Nordyke is a member of the Society of Friends, and, like his father and grandfather, sustains a high moral and Christian character, and is a worthy and respected citizen.
GEORGE A. PENDELL, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Adams County, Ohio, January 10, 1852, is a son of Isaac and Rebecca (Boyd) Pendell, natives of Adams County. The grandparents were John and Margaret Pendell, he a native of
1012 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
New York State, and she of Ohio. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived and died in Adams County. Isaac married and settled in Adams County, where he still lives, and is one among the leading farmers of that county. They have twelve children-David, Jonathan, Margaret, Nathan, Nancy, George, Hannah, Isaac, Thomas J., John, William B. and Robert D. (twins). The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Adams County, and at nineteen years of age carne to Clinton County ; was married September 23, 1875, to Caroline Johnson, born January 26, 1852, a daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Achor) Johnson, he a native of Kentucky, and she of Clinton County, Ohio. The grandparents were Scarlet and Nancy Johnson, natives of Virginia, but became early settlers of Kentucky; thence of Ohio about 1812, living; for awbile in Clermont County; thence in Highland, and finally in Clinton County, where they died. Scarlet Johnson served in the war of 1812. Thomas Johnson was but seven years of age' when they came to Ohio, and here grew to manhood and married, and to them were born three children, one only now living-Caroline. Mr. Johnson was a chair-maker by trade, which business he followed many years, until the time of his purchasing the farm where our subject now lives, which was about 1848, thence he gave his attention to farming and remained here till his death, August 23,1878, in his seventy-third year; his wife still survives, aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Pendell and wife have two children-Elmer Elsworth, born July 3, 1877, and Lennie May, born April 23, 1880. Mr. Pendell and wife settled on the old home place of her father, where they still reside.
JESSE W. POND, stock dealer, New Antioch. The subject of this sketch, one of the prominent, active business men of Clinton County, is the son of William and Mary Pond. The grandparents were Griffin and Mary Ann Pond, and Griffin was a son of John and Sarah Pond, who lived and died in North Carolina. He served seven years in the war of the Revolution. Griffin, the grandfather, was born in North Carolina ; bad one brother who died young, and four sisters who grew to maturity, and, it is believed, removed to Indiana, where they died-three of them unmarried ; the other married Absalom Holman. Griffin was the eldest of his father's family; was married in North Carolina, and in the fall. of 1823 emigrated, with his family, to Ohio, and settled in the east part of Washington Township, Clinton County. He landed here with $7 in money, which he at once laid out in a small black cow and calf. At the same time he bought two dressed bogs, for which he was to pay 11 cents per pound, to be paid for in trade. They lived in a small cabin till the spring of 1824. In the mean time he effected an arrangement with one Edward Bond, who owned 1,200 acres of land, to deed him fifty acres of land in consideration of his clearing other fifty acres for the said Edward Bond. This he did, fulfilling his contract to the letter. And at above date (1824), erected a cabin on his fifty acres for his new home, and moved into the same, where he resided till his death. Before his death, he and his family had the farm well cleared up, and a good hewed-log house added to his first cabin, and everything around him quite pleasant and comfortable-greatly in contrast to what it was when they first located in the vast woods. His wife died, and he subsequently married, for his second wife, Sallie Ruse, by whom he had one son-Sampson. Mr. Pond died in June, 1866, in his ninety-eighth year. By his first wife he had twelve children, five now survive Mary, born 1807, wife of Henry M. Green; Griffin, born in 1810; William, born in North Carolina June 2, 1812; David, born in 1814; George W., born in 1816, and Sarah, born in 1818, wife of Harley Clevenger. Mr. Pond was a man well educated and of general information for that early day. He taught school considerably in his early manhood, and to the time of his death, even in his advanced years, was of more than common intelligence, and sprightly and active to the last. William, the father of our subject, was in his twelfth year when, with his father's family, he came to this county, and here was reared in the log cabin, and grew to manhood fully inured to the pioneer work and life of those days; was married, February 21, 1833, to Mary Lieurance, born in North Carolina March 18, 1815, a daughter of John and Rebecca Lieurance, also natives of North Carolina, but who became settlers of Clinton County about 1816, and subsequently removed to near Peru, Ind., where he died at
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1013
sixty-six years of age, and she at seventy-five years. They had five daughters and three sons; two now survive-:Mary and Elizabeth, the latter now Widow Kiser. Mr. Lieurance was an early settler here, and cleared up a great amount of land; resided here about forty-four years, raised his, family, and all but one were married prior to his removal to Indiana. Mr. Pond and wife have had twelve children-eight now survive -John J., Jesse W., Mary Jane (wife of Thomas Bloom), Rachel Ann (now Widow Lieurance), Sarah M. (married John R. Anson, and has three children-Cory Elva, Elza C., Milton W.), William A., Martha E. (wife of R. E. Hunt), and Lina (wife of Nova V. Murphy). Mr. Pond a and wife started in life with nothing, working by the day at 25 cents, laboring through many pears, clearing up their land from the woods; making and selling sugar for 3 cents a pound ; butter, 3 cents a pound; sold eggs 1 1/2 to 3 cents per dozen, and chickens for 37 cents a dozen. Now, Mr. Pend owns nearly 300 acres of land; with fine improvements, has a good competency; and every comfort and convenience, quite in contrast to their early life. This may show to the rising generations what may be accomplished by industry, economy and earnest labor. The subject of our sketch, being the second child of his father, was brought up to hard pioneer labor, receiving a fair common school education, and, possessing an active business mind, soon started out into active life, and for several years has carried on a large and extensive trade in stock. He is now a partner with John W. Lawhead, in whose biographical sketch is given something of the magnitude and extent of their business. He has also served as a Justice of the Peace, is a man of sound judgment and firm principles, and, as a neighbor and citizen is one of Clinton County's most worthy men.
JOHN C. ROUTH, of the firm of Routh & Livzey, dealers in grain, lumber and agricultural implements, New Vienna, was born in Clinton County, near Martinsville, July 2, 1834. He is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth Routh, the father being a native of Highland County, Ohio, and the mother of Hamilton County, Ohio. The grandparents were John and Jane Routh, natives of North Carolina. The great grandparents were Joseph and Mary Routh, he a native of North Carolina and she of Scotland. He lived and died in North Carolina, but his wife subsequently came to Indiana and died in Wayne County of that State. The grandparents came to Ohio and settled near. Martinsville, Clinton County, about 1809, and there remained till his death in 1835, when he died with cholera. They had five sons and eight daughters; seven now survive-Isaac, Joseph, Daniel, Jesse, Sarah (wife of Wesley Smithson) Charlotte (wife of John Brown), and Irena (wife of John Deacon). Mrs. Routh subsequently married for her second husband John Dingy, with whom she lived till her death, about 1855. Mr. Routh was one of the pioneers, and bore his full share of the burdens of those early days, and was one of the leading business men. He held many of the offices of his township; was Township Clerk many years, and a Justice of the Peace twenty-one successive years; was a devoted member of the Baptist Church from his young manhood, and was Deacon of the same for many years, holding that office to the time of his death. Isaac Routh, the father of our subject, was born May 9; 1810; grew to manhood near Martinsville. Was married, April 22, 1829, to Elizabeth Cherry, who was born October 16, 1807, a daughter of John and Rebecca Cherry, natives of Pennsylvania. By this union they have had ten children, six now living -Silas, Rebecca (wife of Selby Johnson), John, Nancy (wife of Isaac R. Allison), Sarah (wife of William W. Ingold) and Henry M. Mr. Routh located near Martinsville, engaged in farming. He resided on three different farms in Clinton County nineteen years; thence located on a farm in Highland County, where he resided thirty-three years, when, in August, 1881, he sold his farm, and, in November of same year, moved to the town of New Vienna, where he now resides, retired from all active labor. Mr. Routh, like his father, is an earnest and worthy member of the Baptist Church, and has been Deacon of the same for over a quarter of a century. Mr. Routh and wife have now journeyed together in life for fifty-three years, a period reached by but few. The subject of this sketch was married, February 28, 1873, to Miss Jennie Sewell, who was born August 24, 1855, a daughter of George and Sarah Ann Sewell, natives of Clinton County. By this union they have had two children, both deceased
1014 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mr. Routh was raised to farm labor, and continued at that business till in January, 1870, when he entered into partnership with William B. Livzey, of New Vienna, and are dealers in grain, lumber and agricultural implements, which business they have note carried on twelve years, and have a large and increasing trade, Rod are the of the most active and useful business firms of New Vienna.
WILLIAM J. SEWELL, teacher, New Antioch, born in Vernon Township, Clinton County, October 1, 1849; is a son of John and Abigail (Fordyce) Sewell, also natives of this county. The grandparents were Ezra and Sarah Sewell, who were early settlers of Clinton County, Ohio, and whose history will be further given by A. R. Sewell, historian of Vernon Township. John Sewell grew to manhood, brought up to farm labor, married and settled and has always resided in Vernon Township. He is the father of four eons and four daughters-Sarah J., wife of James Humphreys, and resident in Illinois; William J., Ezra M., Susan M., Jacob, Alice, Silas G. and Luella. Mr. Sewell is well known as one of the prominent farmers of Vernon Township, and is highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, where he has lived so many years. He has served as Township Trustee for several years. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor, receiving a good common-school education; thence he attended the college at Wilmington, where he graduated in June, 1880. In 1871, he commenced teaching, and has since spent most of his time in teaching and in college. He has taught eighteen terms of school, and all within this county. In one district, adjoining his home, he taught ten terms, which is indicative of his success as a teacher. In September, 1881, he took charge of the school at New Antioch, where he is now employed. On August 18, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mills, who was born in Clinton County, Wilson Township, July 1, 1858, a daughter of Jonathan and Rhoda Mills-he a native of Wayne County, Ind., and she of Clinton County, Ohio.
ZEPHANIAH SPEARS, retired farmer, P.O. New Vienna, born in Westmoreland County, Penn., August 12, 1807, is a son of Robinson and Elizabeth (Bryan) Spears, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandparents were John and Mary Spears. He emigrated to America when but a boy and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married his wife, who was 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 Spears grew to manhood brought up to farm labor in his native State, and married there. In June, 1817, he with his family removed to Ohio, and first settled in Ross County ; thence, in 1821,1e removed to Brown County ; thence, in 1827, removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where be died in 1850. His wife survived him till the fall of 1873, aged ninety-two years. Mr. Spears was one of the pioneer farmers of Ohio. When he settled in Brown County, he purchased 300 acres of land, nearly all of which was in the woods, and there he labored six years, clearing up a large portion of his land; but, as the country was level and quite wet in that day, he desired a more hilly and drier country ; hence he sold out and removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, as above stated. He was the father of eleven children, all of whom but one grew to maturity, married and settled in life. Five now survive-Zephaniah; Elizabeth, now Widow Oliver; Ellen, now Widow Stewart ; Jane Ann, now wife of John Willis, and Prudence, wife of William Willis. Zephaniah, the subject of this sketch, was the third child of his parents, and was about ten years of age when his father came to Ohio, and here grew to manhood. At nineteen years of age, he went to learn the blacksmith trade, which be followed ten years; thence he entered upon farming, purchasing the farm where he now lives, then known as the "Morgantown farm," in 1836, having carried on blacksmithing upon the place eight years previous to his purchase. Hence he has been a continued resident upon this farm fifty--four years -more than half' a century. On September 20, 1829, he was united in marriage with Lovina Mathews, a daughter of Joel and Phebe Mathews, natives of North Carolina. By this union they had nine children; six now survive-Mary Jane, wife of M. L. Turner; Washington ; Margaret, wife of William Boatright; Thompson, James A. and Jefferson D. When Mr. Spears settled upon this farm, there was but little im-
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1015
provement, he having cleared up right from the woods the greater portion of his now fine cultivated farm, erected Iris present fine brick dwelling, and all the other buildings upon the place, which now constitute a beautiful home and farmer's residence. Mr. Spears started in life without a dollar of capital, and, by his own industry and economy, became owner of 4511 acres of land, awl one of the most substantial farmers of the county. His first purchase of land was 250 acres at &12 per acre; his second purchase was 200 acres at $44 per acre. Now it is all worth $100 per acre. Mr. Spears has served as Trustee and also Treasurer of his township several years ; has been a worthy member of the Christian Church for forty years. His long life and residence here have been marked with such integrity and high moral and Christian character that he h is won the confidence and respect of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances, and his life will ever stand forth to the ribing generations as a bright and shining example of industry and financial success, coupled with a high standard of moral and Christian excellence. Mrs. Spears died March 14, 1875, in her sixty-fourth year. She bore her full share of the toils and labors of their early life, and was a true helpmeet and companion, and a devoted wife and Christian mother. Washington Spears, the second surviving child of Zephaniah and Lovina Spears, now has the home place of his father, with whom he now lives, retired from all active labor. Washington was married, December 1, 1859, to Lydia Roush, daughter of George and Rachel Roush, of Highland County. By this union they have three children - Ivey, Ollie and Ellsworth. Mr. Spears, like his father, is possessed of a high moral and Christian character, and is highly respected by all who knew him.
JOHN STACKHOUSE, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Warren County, Ohio, May 9, 1816, is a son of Joshua and Charity (Townsend) Stackhouse, natives of Bucks County, Penn. The grandparents were John and Anna Stackhouse, who, it is believed, were natives of Pennsylvania, and his father, Thomas Stackhouse, was a native of England. John Stackhouse, the grandfather, lived and died in Bucks County, Penn. Of his children, Joshua, John and Elisha became residents of Clinton County, Ohio. Elisha never married and died of consumption. Joshua and John married and raised families and died in this county. Joshua was the father of eight children. Three now survive-John, Joshua and Elisha. Mr. Stackhouse was raised in the Quaker faith and became an excellent scholar, and was considered one of the best penmen of his clay and was employed to do a great deal of writing for his neighbors; was often asked to accept offices of public trust, but always refused them, and spent his life in the honorable occupation of farming, and was a very intelligent and useful member of society. Mr. Stackhouse emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1815, and located in Warren County, remaining there but a few months, when he removed into Clinton County and located four miles west of Wilmington. In the spring of 1829, he removed to a farm which he purchased, two and a half miles east of Wilmington, where he died on December 24, of the same year, of that fell destroyer, consumption, aged forty-five years. His wife survived till 1853, aged sixty pears. Our subject was the eldest of the surviving children, and grew to manhood in this county; was married August 4, 1839, to Lucy Burton, who was born in Highland County, February 22, 1831, daughter of Peyton and Martha Burton. He was born in Ohio, or came from Tennessee when a small child, and became one of the early settlers of Highland County, where he died September 11, 1880, aged nearly eighty-two years. His wife died September 10, 1877, aged seventy-three years. They had seventeen children. Ten now survive Elizabeth, Lucy, Martha, Margaret, James, Mary, David, Lydia, Joseph and Daniel. John and Lucy Stackhouse have had seven children. Five now survive-Mary Jane (now Widow Clevenger), Albert T., Jesse H., Joshua T. and Martha E., wife of F. E. Williams. The three eons all enlisted in the war of the rebellion, in the one hundred days' service, in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in May, 1864, and saw very active service in Maryland and Virginia; were in the fight at Frederick City and several others, but passed through their term of service without a wound; were discharged and returned lately home. Mr. Stackhouse has made farming his business through
1016 - BIOGRAPHICAL. SKETCHES.
life. His first tract of land he purchased was all in the woods. He commenced in a log cabin. He paid $4 per acre for his laud. On this he labored till he cleared 107 acres, and he added more land by purchase. In 1874, he sold his farm for $75 per acre, bringing him nearly $11,000. He then moved to New Vienna, intending to live retired from active labor, but not feeling contented in town, he purchased seventy-six acres, where he now lives, erected a good brick house, and here has since resided, having a very pleasant home, one mile east of New Vienna. Mr. Stackhouse started in life without capital, and by his own industry and economy has acquired a good competency and has given his children a good start in life. he has never held nor sought. office, but always refused the many solicitations of his friends to accept office. He and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church, to which they have belonged thirty years.
HENRY SWINGLEY, farmer, New Vienna, born in Berkeley County, Va., March 6, 1816, is a son of Michael and Nancy Swingley, natives of Virginia, where they resided till her death, which occurred about 18'33. In 1835, Mr. Swingley with his chil dren, emigrated to Ohio, and located in Clinton County, where be resided till his death, October 16, 1854, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. They had five children-George and Hannah; who prior to the war were living in Virginiu and Maryland, since which nothing has been heard of them; Elizabeth, married George Hooten, and the last known of her was residing in Iowa; Peter (deceased), and Henry, our subject, who was about nine years of age when the family came to Ohio, and here he grew to manhood ; was married April 28, 1842, to Elizabeth Gillespie, who was born in Clinton County June 19, 1816, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Gillespie, who emigrated from Kentucky, to Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by our subject about 1810, being one of the pioneers of the county, and here lived and died. Tey had seven children, two now survive-Catherine and Elizabeth. Mr. Swingley and wife have had six children, five now survive-Michael, born April 27, 1843; Susannah, born October 16, 1845 ; Thomas, born November 11, 1847; John, born June 15, 1851, Hannah E., born November 11, 1854, deceased; and Kate, born October 13, 1857, wife of Thomas C. Bond. Mr. Swingley located after his marriage near where he now lives; he started in life without means, and here has labored through life, and by his own industry and economy has become possessed of much wealth; is now owner of 1,100 acres of good land, and the greater portion of it is in good cultivation, constituting him the largest land-owner in Greene Township. Mr. Swingley first purchased a piece of land right in the woods for $'3.37 per acre, and performed a great amount of pioneer labor, and from time to time purchased more land, till he now owns as stated above. Mr. Swing lay has never held or sought office, but has devoted his life to business, and as a successful farmer, obtaining wealth by his own industry, business tact and good management has shown a skill, and success having few parallels in the history of our pioneers.
JAMES H. TERRELL, farmer and breeder of thoroughbred stock, born in Highland County, Ohio, March 29, 1846; is a son of Israel and Sidney (Huff) Terrell. The paternal grandparents came from Bedford County, Va.; the maternal grandparents came from North Carolina and Tennessee. The ancestors of our subject for several generations have been farmers and consistent members of the Society of Friends. When our subject was two years of age, his parents moved to Clinton County and settled on an improved farm in the southern part of Wayne Township. Mr. Terrell's education was obtained in the public schools and Earlham College, Indiana. Failing to complete his collegiate course on account of ill health, he entered upon travel through the Eastern and New England States. Before he became of age, he served three years as Deputy Treasurer of Clinton County. On December 13, 1871, Mr. Terrell married Miss Edith Nordyke, of New Vienna, who has borne him five children-Tessie, Eva, Berths, Mary Jane and Gurney. For several years, he gave vigilant attention to the improvement of his farm and live stock ; but his health again failing, he spent one winter in England and Ireland visiting most of the places of note and examining the fine herds of cattle, sheep and swine throughout those countries. His knowledge and sagacity in the breeding of thoroughbred live
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1017
stock have placed him at the front of the breeders of Clinton County. For two years he was one of the directors of the Short-Horned Breeders' Association of Ohio. He has been lamely identified with the educational interests of his township and county, and has been one of the Trustees of Wilmington College for several years. Mr. Terrell is a member of the New Vienna Lodge, No. 160, of F. &, A. M., also of the Hillsboro Chapter, No. 40, R. A. M., and Highland Commandery, No. 31, K. T.
ISAAC THORNBURG (deceased) was born in Guilford County, N. C., August 19, 179'2 ; was a son of Joseph and Rachel Thornburg, he a native of Guilford County and she of Randolph County, N. C: The grandparents were Joseph and Nancy Thorn burg, who were among the early settlers of that State, their parents being of German birth, emigrating in an early day to Ireland ; thence to America, and settled in Pennsylvania. Joseph and Nancy Thornburg lived and died in North Carolina. Joseph and Rachel Thornburg emigrated from North Carolina to Ohio and settled near Lexington, Highland County; thence removed to Indiana, where they died. Isaac, the subject of this sketch, was the youngest of seven children, and at the time of his father's removal to Ohio was attending school to acquire his education; hence, he remained in North Carolina till through his studies. Mr. Thornburg visited Ohio two or three times in an early day, and returned to North Carolina to settle up some business matters. He Became a permanent settler at Lexington in 1826. He first engaged in teaching school to gain his start in life, as when he landed in Ohio he bad but 50 cents left. Subsequently, he entered upon the mercantile trade at Lexington, and thence at New Vienna, being one of the first merchants of the latter town, and was one of the leading men of that day. He was Postmaster of New Vienna for several years, also a Justice of the Peace, and held most of the important offices of his township. In 1844, he was elected Probate Judge of the Court of Clinton County, which office he filled with credit till 1850. He purchased 180 acres of land just west of New Vienna, where his widow still resides. He also dealt quite extensively in town lots in New Vienna, and we may be justified in saying that in the growth and prosperity, and in the general public interests of this community, he was one of the leading, active men of those days. He was an active member of the Society of Friends, and as a man of high moral character and integrity was, perhaps, surpassed by few, if any, in this community. On November 3, 1853, he was married to Elizabeth Hiatt, who was born in Guilford County, N. C., February 3, 1817, a daughter of Christopher and Sarah Hiatt, natives of North Carolina, whose ancestors came from England. They remained in North Carolina till their death. They had eight children, four sons and four daughters, three daughters now survive-Elizabeth, Mary A. and Letitia, who married William W. Patterson; the last two reside in North Carolina. Mr. Thornburg and wife bad two children-Christopher H., born September 24, 1854, and Sarah Jane Letitia, born June 14, 1859. Mr. Thornbury died July 6, 1866, aged seventy-four years.
JOHN TRENARY, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, December 15, 1818 ; is a son of Thomas and Susannah Trenary, natives of Virginia. Thomas came to Ohio and to Clinton County when about sixteen years of age, which was about 1811, being one of the early settlers of Clinton County ; here he was married and resided till his death in 1855. This country was then nearly all in the woods, with here and there a cabin. where persons like himself had settled to make a home and a farm, and here they endured the many hardships of those pioneer days. They had nine children, five now survive-John, Richard, William, Samuel and Hannah, the latter now the wife of Drummond Smithson. Mrs. Trenary still survives, and resides with our subject, now at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The subject, of this sketch has spent his entire life in this county from his birth. Was married June 28, 1840, to Isabel Coshatt, who was born in Highland County, Ohio, September 14, 1818, a daughter of Joseph and Nancy Coshott. He was a native of North Carolina, but came to Ohio when young, and here married and became the father of nine children, of whom eight are supposed to be living, and settled in various States from Ohio to California, of whom but little is now known. Mr. Coshatt and wife finally removed to Iowa, and died in that State. Mr. Trenary and wife have had seven children, four
1018 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
now living-Thomas B., born November 7, 1841 ; Martha Ann, May 3, 1843 ; Nancy Jane, February 18, 1816 ; and John A., October 5, 1861. Mr. Trenary has followed farming through life. He located on the place where he now lives in the winter of 1854-55, which is the, old homestead place of his father, and where he died, and liere Mr. Trenary bas since resided.
RODNEY T. TRIMBLE, M. D., physician, New Vienna. The history of the Trimble family of Ohio is known for a period of time reaching back prior to the Revolution, and is traced to the colonial days of Virginia under Spotwood and Dunmore. Capt. James Trimble came as a pioneer to Kentucky in 1783 ; thence to Ohio, in 1804; was a native of Augusta County, Va., born near Staunton, in 1756. At the age of ten or twelve years, his father, John Trimble, was killed by a band of Shawnee Indians, and his only son, James, and half-sister, Mrs. Edmonson, a young married lady, made prisoners. The Indians were pursued over the Laurel Mountains more than one hundred miles, and the captives recovered by Capt. Moffett's company of twelve men, and the Indians defeated, with the loss of several of the marauders. At. the age of eighteen, young Trimble was with the Virginians under Gen. Lewis at the celebrated battle of the Point, the most sanguinary in the annals of Indian warfare. Cornstalk, the famous chief of his tribe, and 1,200 warriors, were defeated and driven back to their home on the Scioto, pursued by Gov. Dunmore's regulars, and a treaty of peace made at Fort Charlotte, near the present site of Circleville. Young Trimble being with this expedition, was thus familiar with the Northwest Territory thirty years before Ohio became a State. At the opening of the Revolution, he was a young and ardent patriot, and participated in the seven-years conflict, having under Washington the important command of a company of rangers and picket guards against the Northwest Indians. At the close of the war, he married Jane Allen, of Augusta County, Va., whose father, James Allen, and two brothers, John and Hugh, were active and energetic defenders of the civil, religious and political liberty as pronounced by the patriotic citizens of Virginia. Lieut. John Allen in Washington's command, was killed in 1754, at Braddock's defeat. His brother Hugh, a Lieutenant under Col. Charles Lewis, fell at the battle of the Point, October, 1774. Thus, from the ancestors on both aides was Capt. Trimble imbued with a spirit of energy and patriotism which was in the war of 1812 fully illustrated in the character and conduct of his sons old enough to participate in that struggle In 1783, Capt. Trimble, with his wife and two children removed to Woodford County; Ky., then the dark and bloody ground of Indian conflicts with the pioneers Loan and Bootie for the supremacy of that. charming and lovely country, now the Blue Grass Region of Fayette, Woodford and Jessamine Counties. The Indians had laid siege to Bryant's Station (now Lexington), and were retreating when the company of Virginia emigrants of 300 men, women and children, under the guidance and protection of Captains Trimble, Allen and Moffett, were approaching their future homes, fighting their way from the Cumberland. In the following year, we find these colonists with Boone, Logan and Steele at the sanguinary battle of the Blue Licks, where a brother of Daniel Boone was killed or captured. This was the last raid of the Indians, and Wayne's victory at Fallen Timbers and treaty at Greenville restored peace to the borders until the war of 1812. Kentucky was now rapidly advancing in wealth, population and social refinement, under the auspices of her distinguished statesmen, when Capt. Trimble's scruples and convictions as to the policy and benefits of slavery induced him to seek a new home for his growing family in the wilds of the Northwest Territory. With this view, in company with his eldest son, Allen, he crossed the Ohio River, and explored the highlands and the rich valleys of Paint and Scioto as early as 1801. He selected large tracts of land in Highland, Ross, Adams and Scioto Counties, returned to Kentucky, and sold his property preparatory to removal. In 1804, with his son James H. and " ° Tom," a colored of same age. he started on horseback for Ohio with a selection of fruit trees fbr all orchard, which was, perhaps, the first planted in Highland County. They spent the summer and fall in clearing up the forest, erecting a large hewed-log double cabin, planting a crop of corn. Leaving the premises in charge of his nearest neighbor and
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1019
friend, Judge Joseph Swearingen, they returned to Kentucky. The fatigue and exposure brought on an attack of malarial fewer, and the hardy and energetic pioneer was thus prematurely cut off, at the age of fifty-five years, from the accomplishment of his hopes. The home thus prepared for his family was on Clear Creek, three miles cast of Hillsboro. Allen Trimble, being, the eldest son, became administrator of the estate, and, with characteristic energy and devotion to the wishes of his father, took the responsibility of conducting the disconsolate widow and a portion of the family to their new home in the wilds of Ohio. Three brothers, William A., James A. and Cary H., were left at school and college in Kentucky, and a young; sister, Mary Lewis, at Mrs. Beck's Seminary at Lexington. Margaret C., the eldest sister, and the younger brothers, Cyrus W. and John H., accompanied and shared with their devoted mother the toils, hardships and exposures incident to a life in the forests. That heroic and accomplished woman possessed all social, moral and religious virtues which fitted her as a guide, counselor and guardian for the trust, and a long and eventful life attested her rare worth and refinement. Allen Trimble married Margaret McDowell, of Kentucky, daughter of Gen. McDowell, of North Carolina, and soon took an active part in the organization of Highland County, for further account of whom see history of the Governors of Ohio. William A. Trimble, a student at Transylvania University at Lexington, went to Paris, Ky., and became a law student with his relative Judge Robert Trimble. His brothers James and Cary followed the family to Ohio in 1807, and William in 1808, bringing his young sister Margaret with him. The family were then united in this rustic home on Clear Creek, in 1808. In the summer of 1810, William decided to visit the law school at Litchfield, Conn., to complete his studies, and took with him over the mountains his brothers Cary and John to a select school near Philadelphia, at the Falls of the Schuylkill. The outfit was a one-horse' gig, and they had a tedious journey of two weeks. William graduated in 1811, and returned to Ohio to enter upon his profession, when he was appointed Major of Col. McArthur's regiment of volunteers, and marched with that ill-fated army under Hull to the surrender at Detroit, in the war of 1812. He then received the appointment of Major of the Twenty-sixth Regiment of the United States, and procured the appointment of his brother Cary A. as Lieutenant of the some regiment. They served with great credit, and William distinguished himself for his gallants at Fort Erie, Buffalo, and at the " sortie " under Gen. Brown, was severely wounded, and promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the Nineteenth Regiment August 17, 1814. He was retained in the service with same rank in the United States Infantry, and served with Gen. Jackson in his Seminole and Pensacola campaign, in 1817. He resigned his commission in 1818, and was elected to the United States Senate, serving until December, 1821, when he died at Washington City from the effects of his old wound, aged thirty-six. He was a soldier, citizen and scholar of rare and excellent worth, and his early and premature death was a public loss and a social calamity. His favorite brother, Capt. Cary A. Trimble, died at Hillsboro the same year, aged twenty-six. Cyrus W. Trimble, the fifth son, was educated at Dickenson College, Penn.; studied medicine, and took his diploma from the Pennsylvania Medical College of Philadelphia in 1819. He practiced one year in Cincinnati. In 1822, be removed to Chillicothe, where he won a very successful practice and early fame asa surgeon. He was soon a victim of the malaria of that locality, and died at the age of twenty-four years. John A. Trimble, the youngest eon of the family, is the only survivor. He engaged early in life in mercantile pursuits with his brothers Allen, James and Cary. Upon the death of the latter, in 1821, he took his position in the store; served as Postmaster at Hillsboro eighteen years. He was an active, enterprising and successful produce and shipping merchant to New Orleans for many years. He married early in life Lavinia V., daughter of Dr. William Roys, of Staunton, Va. Of a family of eight children, two only survive, a son and a daughter; Jane St. Clair, Cyrus Boys, Mary, Ella, Rosa Augusta and John Alexander died young. The eldest son, Cyrus Boys, was a bright and brilliant youth, highly educated at the Hillsboro Academy under Prof. Sands, and a graduate of Center College, Ky. After leaving college, he studied law with his relative, Judge. Boys, of Hillsboro, and
1020 - GRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
was assistant to his father as Clerk of Highland County. e was admitted to the bar at an early age, and formed a partnership with R. A. Harrison, of London, Ohio, and as entering upon his profession when he was cut down by typhoid fever. The promise of a brilliant career, sustained by learning and a high-toned moral and manly deportment, was thus withered in the bloom and buoyancy of early manhood social calamity and a public loss. The neat brother, John Alexander, lost his health while a student at Hillsboro. He visited Virginia for his recovery, and was among relatives and friends there at the opening of the war. He espoused the cause of Virginia, and Gen. Imboden offered him a position on his staff as a cavalry officer. He served the lost cause to the close, and was known as the " active, vigilant and intelligent soldier boy of the brigade." He only survived to get home and be at rest with those he loved. Rodney Telfair and Alice M. are the surviving ones. The former the fourth son and the subject of this sketch, was born at Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio, October 13, 1846. He received his early education at the high school of Hillsboro, and, at an early age, entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. W. W. Shepherd, of Hillsboro. In the fall of 1866, be attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati. In fall of 1867, he entered the Medical Department of University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia; also while there, took a course in the Philadelphia School of Anatomy. He graduated from the University March 13, 1868. Thence, he entered on the practice of his profession at Hillsboro. In July, 1871, he located at New Vienna, Clinton County, where, with earnest work and devoted zeal in the profession, and amid strong competition with old and established physicians, he was secured a large and steadily increasing practice. He is an earnest and active worker in the cause of medical science, a free, fearless and eloquent debater and defender of "the faith," a fluent speaker and popular lecturer on all questions touching the general weal of the public. In June, 1881, he became a member of the Ohio State Medical Society. If health and longevity be exended to the Doctor, he will doubtless ascend high up the hill of fame and usefulness.
WILLIAM V. UTTER, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Hamilton County, Ohio, January 3, 1815, is a son of Robert and Susan (Van Winkle) Utter, natives of New Jersey. The grandparents, Benjamin and Rachel Utter, were also natives of New Jersey, their ancestors being from Holland. Benjamin Utter died in New Jersey, and his wife subsequently married James Watkins, who in 1800 emigrated to Ohio and settled near Cincinnati, where they died at a ripe old age. The maternal grandparents were William and Mary Van Winkle; his father also came from Holland. William and Mary Van Winkle were married in New Jersey, where they resided a few years; thence they started for the West, but his wife, whose health was very delicate, died on the way in Pennsylvania. Afterward he and family came to Ohio and also settled near Cincinnati, and was married three times while living in Ohio, being very unfortunate in the death of his wives. He spent the balance of his life in Hamilton and Highland Counties, and died in the latter at a very old age. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution while a young man residing in New Jersey. Robert Utter was but a child when they come to Ohio in 1800, and at that time there was but one brick house in Cincinnati. Mr. Catkins engaged in the manufacture of augers and nails; was said to be the first manufacturer of " cut nails" west of the Alleghany Mountains. Here Robert grew to manhood, brought up to his father's trade, and when a boy would pack the nails to town on horseback, in saddle bags, and sell them at 25 cents a pound, they being then all made by hand. Our subject now has in his possession some of the nails which were made about 1804. Robert then engaged in farming in Hamilton County. After a few years he moved to Kentucky, thence to Jefferson County, Ind. Finally in his old age he sold out and retired from active labor and he and wife lived the balance of their lives with their children. They died in Clinton County at the residence of our subject. Mrs. Utter died December 26, 1864, aged seventy-six years; Mr. Utter died November 16, 1866. aged seventy-two years. They had three children, two now living-William V. and Araminta, wife of Dr. S. A. Butterfield, of Indianapolis, Ind. Mr. Utter was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was under Hull at his
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1021
surrender at Detroit. Mr. Utter was a member and active worker in the Christian Church for many years. William, our subject, was raised to farm labor; was married, August 6, 1840, to Alvira Rogers, who was born in Kentucky, September 16, 1816, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Rogers, he a native of Virginia, and she of Kentucky. They removed to Ohio, but finally returned to Kentucky, where they died. ,Mr. Utter and wife have had ten children, seven now survive-Araminta and Sophronia (twins), born March 14, 1842. the latter deceased; David Newton, March 21, 1844 ; Robert B., March 18, 1849 ; Samuel R., January '20, 1851 ; Mary Evaline, December 27, 1553; William Seymour, September 2, 1856, and James W., December 28, 1859. Mr. Utter first located in Jefferson County, 2nd. In September. 1853, he removed to Clinton County, Ohio. and located where he now lives and has since resided. Ile commenced life poor; but by his own industry, essisted by a frugal wife, has obtained. a good competency. He now owns 280 acres of good land, 200 of which are in cultivation, with good buildings and improvements, and is one of the prominent and substantial farmers of Greene Township, and sustains an unblemished character for boner and integrity. He and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church to which they have belonged since 1840.
NICHOLAS W. VANDERVORT, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born near New Antioch, this county, May 31, 1835, is a son of Nicholas and Nancy Vandervort (see sketches of Paul H. Vandervort and Jonah S. Vandervort). The subject of whom we now write was brought up to farm labor, receiving a good common school education, with some advantages of the High School at New Vienna. At eighteen years of age, its commenced teaching school. In the fall of 1855, he went to Illinois, near Bloomington, where he taught till the summer of 1857 ; then returned to Ohio. In 1858, he attended a select school in New Vienna, to qualify himself in some of the higher branches. Thence, he continued his work of teaching till 1878, having, during this time, been employed in the schools of Wilmington. Sabina and New Antioch, embracing the long period of twenty-five years, during which time he was devoted to the arduous yet important work of teaching. Since above date (1878), Mr. Vandervort has given his attention to farming. On December 31, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Rate Winpiglar, an accomplished lady, who was also a teacher for many years. She was born at Martinsville, Clinton Co., Ohio, August 13, 1845, a daughter of Isaac and Myra (Haply) Winpiglar, he a native of Virginia, and she of Clermont County, Ohio. He became an early settler in Ohio, married and located at Martinsville, where he died in 1848. He was the father of five children-two now survive-Helen, wife oŁ G. W. Robinett, and Rate. Mrs. Winpiglar subsequently married, for her second husband, John Hyatt, by whom she had three children-Louis H., Barnett B. and Clara E., now Widow Hodgson. Mr. Hyatt died in October, 1876. Mrs. Hyatt still survives, now aged sixty-three years. Mr. Vapdervort bas served the county long and faithfully in its educational interests, having been a leading and prominent teacher in her schools for so many years; has also been a member of the Board of Examiners several years. He is a member and earnest worker in the Christian Church at New Antioch, to which he has belonged fbr many years, and is one of Clinton County's most esteemed and useful citizens.
PAUL H. VANDERVORT, retired farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born near Starbuck Town, Clinton County, Ohio, January 1, 1815; is a son of Jonah and Jane Vandervort. The grandparents, Nicholas and Martha Vapdervort, natives of New York State, became residents of Virginia; thence they emigrated from Virginia about 1800, the objective point being on Green River, Ky., and on their way down the Ohio River, arriving at Columbia, near Cincinnati, they anchored their flat boat for the night, during which a large limb from a tree overhanging the boat broke and fell, injuring the boat so badly that it was unfit to proceed fartber with safety. After some investigation of the surrounding country, they became so well pleased with it that they concluded to settle there, and, it is believed, the grandparents of our subject died there. The maternal grandparents were John and Mary Tibbs, natives of Ireland. The latter, when a girl, was kidnaped and taken. on board a vessel and brought to America, and
1022 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
here grew to womanhood, was married and they became residents of Virginia; thence emigrated to Columbia, Ohio, where she died. He subsequently moved to Starbuck Town, in Clinton County, where he died. Jonah and Jane Vandervort resided at Columbia till 1809, when they removed to Clinton County and located on Todd's Fork, where they lived six years ; thence removed to near New Antioch, where they resided the balance of their lives. Here they were among the earliest settlers, and in the organizing and establishing of the Christian Church at Antioch they were leading, active members financially, and, with their moral and Christian influence, became the great strength of the church. He was a very upright, industrious man, of sound judgment, and was one of the first jurymen of Clinton County, a man bight; esteemed and respeoted and deserves to be handed down on the pages of history to posterity as one of the honored pioneers of Clinton County. They had six sons and five daughters, of whom Paul H., our subject, is the only surviving one. Mr. Vandervort died in Jan uary, 1842; his wife died in 1845. The subject of this sketch was two months old when his parents moved to near New Antioch, where he was raised and grew to manhood and spent his entire life till, in August, 1879, he retired from the farm and located in New Antioch. Mr. Vandervort has now lived sixty-seven years right here in sight of New Antioch. In his younger years, he experienced his full share of pioneer work, and has witnessed the great changes that have taken place around him, in the transformation of the vast forests into fine cultivated fields, and the rude log cabins replaced by good frame and brick houses, and instead of the hardships and scarcity of those early days, comfort and plenty now cheer the hearts of her citizens. Mr. Vandervort has been one of the prominent and useful citizens of this community; has been Commissioner of the county twelve years; was one of the managers of Clinton County Agricultural Society thirteen. years, and President of the same for several years, and has held many other minor offices. He has been a leading member and active supporter of the Christian Church. At the death of his father, he was elected to fill his place as a Deacon in the church, which office he filled. twenty-five years; then he was made an Elder, which office he has since held. As a neighbor, a citizen and a Christian, Mr. Van dervort is held in high esteem and respect throughout the community. He has been twice married; first, October 19, 1836, to Matilda McKenzie, daughter of John and Isabel McKenzie, natives of Kentucky, who became residents of Ohio, and died in Clinton County, and were interred in the cemetery at New Antioch. By this union they had four children-Mary Emily, wife of E. W. Marble; Alpheus, who served three years in the war of the rebellion, enlisting in Company B, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in December, 1861, and engaged in the battles of Chickamauga. Lookout Mountain and others, and was under Gen. Garfield in his celebrated conquest on the Big Sandy and through Eastern Kentucky; Samantha, wife of Dr. W. W. Canny, of Camden, Preble Co., Ohio ; and John W. Mrs. Vandervort died June 20, 1876. On August 26, 1879, Mr. Vandevort married for his second wife Mrs. Mary Ann Mitchell, a daughter of James and Mary Fleming, natives of Pennsylvania, but who settled in Clinton County in July, 1828; he died in 1836; his widow still survives and resides near Wilmington, aged eighty years. Few men have lived a long and active life with a greater degree of integrity, moral and Christian character than Mr. Vandervort, who was never sued in law, neither has he ever sued any man, and is truly an example of one who °' lives at peace with all men" as far as to possible.
JONAH S. VANDERVORT, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born one mile from where be now lives June 6, 1838, is a son of Nicholas and Nancy Vandervort; he was born at Columbia, near Cincinnati, in 1803 ; she was born in Warren County, Ohio; the further history of the ancestors is given in sketch of Paul H. Vandervort. Nicholas Vandervort was six years of age when brought to Clinton County, and here grew to manhood, married, and devoted his entire life to the honorable occupation of farming, and, like his father, was a member and earnest worker in the Christian Church, and lived a long and useful life, having at his death been a resident of this county sixty-four years; his death occurred June 23, 1876; his wife died Jan-
GREENE TOWNSHIP. - 1023
uary 14, 1873. They had eight children; five now survive-James M., Thaddeus H., John M., Nicholas W. and Jonah S. Two sons (deceased), Paul C. and William V., enlisted in the war of the rebellion in Company B, Fortieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in September and December respectively, 1861. The former died of typhoid fever at Catlettsburg, Ky., February 8, 1862. The latter was but a youth of sixteen years when he enlisted and became a drummer boy, and served through the war; was discharged at Atlanta, Ga., in December, 1864 ; came home, wag married, and died April 14, 1880, leaving four children-Louie, Jessie, Mendel and John. Our subject was the youngest son of his father's family now surviving; was married, July 26, 1860, to Angeline J. Walker, who was born in Clinton County June 19, 1840, a daughter of Nathan and Jane M. Walker, natives of Kentucky. The maternal grandparents were Dr. Joshua Phillips and Lucinda Phillips. The maiden name of Mrs. Phillips was Lucinda Irvin, who was born in Bedford County, Va., May 11, 1783. Her father, Andrew Irvin, served in the war of the. Revolution, and afterward finally came to Clinton County, Ohio, where he died in 1830, aged eighty-two years. His wife died in 1843, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, and were both buried at New Antioch. Lucinda Irvin was taken by her parents to Kentucky when a mere child. She was married to Dr. Joshua Phillips at Millersburg, Ky., January 21, 1808. Dr. Phillips was born in Baltimore, Md., and served in the war of 1812 as Captain of a ` company, and was a personal friend of Gen. Harrison. He died in Kentucky September 19, 1820, aged thirty-six years, and his remains were interred at Charleston, Ind. Mrs. Phillips was left with three little girls-Eliza, Nancy and Jane M., whom she raised to womanhood. She brought them, in 1823, to Clinton County, where she lived till her death May 25, 1869, having been a widow forty-nine years. She died at the ripe age of eighty-six years. Of the three girls only one, Eliza H. Van dervort, is now living, and resides at Fair Haven, Stearns Co., Minn., now seventy years of age. Jane M., another of her daughters, and the mother of Angeline Vandervort, wife of our subject, was born in Bath, Ky., July 21, 1815, and was married to Nathan Walker March 22, 1832, by Elder Samuel Rogers. They resided nearly all their lives in Clinton County, Ohio; she died February 8, 1866; he died September 1, 1876. They had eight children ; five now survive-Elvira J., wife of James A. Hogan; Angeline J., Henry R., Maria E., wife of J. W. Van Dervort, and Nathan W. Mr. and Mrs. Vandervort have two adopted children they have taken to raise-Gertie L. and Joseph W., son and daughter of Isabel J. Robinson, wife of Dr. R. K. Robinson, a daughter of Nicholas and Nancy Vandervort. She was married to the Doctor in April, 1866, and moved to Xenia, Miami Co., Ind., where she died March 13, 1876. Mr. Vandervort early turned his attention to teaching school; then he gave especial attention to the study of medicine for one year, and, for this purpose, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the fall of 1865, and was matriculated in the Miami Medical College, of which Dr. Mendenhall was then Dean, but, before the close of the term lectures, he was taken sick, and was compelled to leave the college. Upon the the restoration of his health, the lecture course having terminated, he turned his attention to the farm and his former profession of teaching school, from which he has never been divorced. Mr. Vandervort is among the most reliable and respected citi zens of this community; has served as Assessor of the township. He is a worthy and active member of the Christian Church at New Antioch, and has followed well the footsteps of his worthy ancestors.
ROBERT B. WALKER, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born on the place where he now lives September 1, 1838, is a son of William and Mary Walker, natives of Kentucky. The grandparents were Robert and Nancy Walker, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia. They were married in Virginia, thence came to Ohio and located in Clinton County on the place where Isaiah Morton now lives; they lived in this county till his death ; subsequently, his wife lived with one of her daughters in Highland County, where she died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Their remains now rest in the cemetery at New Antioch. Of their children, two yet survive-Nancy Barrett and Sarah Lytle. The maternal grandparents were Asa and
1024 - BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Anna Brown, he a native of Massachusetts and she of Kentucky. Mr. Brown, when young, emigrated to Kentucky, and about 1811-12, removed to Ohio and settled in Clinton County, near Morrisville, where they lived and died, being, numbered among the pioneers of the county. William Walker was born in Kentucky in 1802; and was a boy of some fourteen years when they came to Clinton County, and here grew to manhood and married Mary Brown, who was born in Kentucky December 22, 1806. They had six children ; four now survive-Robert B., Asa W., Anna E., wife of Daniel Fenner, and Nancy E., wife of G. H. Ellis. Mr. Walker, in fall of 1831, hought and located on the place where our subject now lives, and here remained till his death, June 18, 1858; his wife still survives, now aged seventy-five years. Mr. Walker was a man of undoubted integrity, who, it is said, never swore an oath in his life, and was a devoted member of the Christian Church of Antioch for many years; was a prominent man of the county, and served as Assessor of the county four years, and in all his public and private life was a very upright and worthy citizen. Our subject was married June 12, 1879, to Mary Esther Mitchell, born in New Antioch April l, 1852, a daughter of William and Mary A. Mitchell, natives of Ohio. They had three children-Mary Esther, Oliver A. and Kate F. Mr. Walker and wife have one child-Mary Augusta, born August 11, 1881. Mr. Walker located upon the old home place of his father, where he has spent his life from his infancy. This place has now been in possession of the Walker family for half a century. Mr. Walker served in the war of the rebellion four months, enlisting in the 100-day service in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio National Guards. He is a member of Antioch Christian Church, and is a highly esteemed and respected citizen of Clinton County.
WILLIAM WARD, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Hamilton County, Ohio, November 21, 1829, is a son of George and Letitia Ward, he a native of New Jersey, and she of Hamilton County, Ohio. The grandparents were Israel and Sarah Ward, natives of New Jersey, but who emigrated to Ohio in October, 1811, and settled in Hamilton County, near Madisonville, and there remained till their death; he died at the ripe age of eighty-four years; his wife survived him a short time, and died at nearly the same age. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. George was in his ninth year when they came to Ohio; he was the youngest child of a family of six sons and one daughter, of whom only one now survives-John C., who resides near the old home place. George married and settled on the home farm, where he remained till his death, October 28, 1877. His wife died November 7, 1840. They had four children,.two now survive-William and Matilda, wife of James Porter. Mr. Ward was thrice married; by his second wife, Mary Lester, he had eight children, five now living-Caroline, Isabel, Marietta, Sarah and Franklin. Mr. Ward followed farming through life, and was one of the prominent and prosperous farmers of that county, a man of the highest character and integrity, honest in all his dealings, and much esteemed and respected throughout his community. William, our subject, was the eldest of his father's family, and was married in Hamilton County February 2, 1851, to Mahala Noftsger, who was born in Brown County April 2, 1833, a daughter of John and Nancy Noftager ; he was born near Harrisburg, Penn., and she at the Fort, in the Red Stone country. Penn., while her parents were on their way to the West; they were married in Brown County, where they lived several years ; thence moved into Hamilton County, and finally became residents of Clinton County, where they died. They had ten children, five now living-Leah Jane, now Widow Carver ; Naaman, Sus annah, wife of Charles Spelman ; William and Mahala. Mr. Ward and wife have bad eight children, five now survive-Mary Olive, born June 12, 1856, Wesley, August 1, 1858; William, November 8, 1863; Matilda Jane, November 24, 1869; and Cornella May, born August 18, 1870. Mr. Ward resided in Hamilton County, near the old home place of his father till the spring of 1868, when they moved to Clinton County, and located on a farm now occupied by David Curtis. In the spring of 1870, he bought and located on the farm where he now lives, and has since resided. This place he purchased of Richard Vandervort; it consisted of 122 acres, upon which are
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. - 1025
good improvements, and is a pleasant home and farmer's residence, situated just east of is the village of New Antioch. Mr. Ward has a fine farm, and is one of the reliable and prominent farmers of Greene Township.
ROBERT WHEATLEY, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Hamilton County , Ohio, October 28, 1823, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Wheatley, he a native of Pennsylvania, and she of Virginia. The grandparents were Robert and Elizabeth Wheatley, he a native of New Jersey, and she of North Carolina. Robert, when a young man, removed to Bucks County, Penn., where he was married, and about 1800 removed to Ohio, and settled in Hamilton County, being one among the early pioneers, and there resided till about 1835, when he removed to Jackson County, Ind., where he died about 1837. Thomas, the father of our subject, was but a small child when his father came to Ohio, and here he grew to manhood, and October 5, 1817, married Elizabeth Gwaltney, by whom he had three children, one only now survives; Robert our subject. His wife died November 5, 1827. On October 29, 1836, he married for his second wife Alethea Barrow; by her he had two children, both deceased. His second wife died February 11, 1842. On November 17, 1857, he married for his third wife Abigail Frazier. Mr. Wheatley remained a resident of Hamilton County engaged in farming till about the spring of 1862, when he removed to Iowa, where his wife died May 23, 1866, soon after which he returned to Ohio, and died while living with our subject-May 8, 1871, aged seventy-four years. Our subject was married in Hamilton County August 9, 1846, to Maria Barrow, who was born in Montgomery County, Ky., April 25, 1826, a daughter of Archibald and Martha Barrow, natives of Kentucky. The grandparents were Nathan and Judith Barrow, natives of Virginia, but who became very early settlers of Kentucky, where he died, but his wife subse quently died in Hamilton County, Ohio. Archibald Barrow, with his family, removed from Kentucky to Ohio, and settled in Hamilton County about 1828, where his wife died. He subsequently married for his second wife Celia Bunton. She died in summer of 1856. He died January 30, 1873. He was a blacksmith by trade, and an excellent workman; was a large fleshy man, and died very suddenly of neuralgia of the heart. He had by his first wife two daughters-Sarah (now widow Campbell) and Maria. By his second wife he had six daughters, one only now living-Jane (wife of Frank Merritt). Mr. Wheatley and wife have bad four children-Alexander, born April 25, 1848; Jennie born November 11, 1849 ; Martha, born December 16, 1852, wife of Henry Hart; and Elmira, born January 8, 1855. Mr. Wheatley resided in Hamilton County until in March, 1864, when he removed to Clinton County to his present place of residence, where he has since resided, a period of eighteen years. Mr. Wheatley is one of the much esteemed and respected farmers of Greene Township. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity of New Vienna, also of the Clinton Lodge, No. 92, I.O.O.F., of New Vienna.