350 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. lower Scioto valley, they moved on to Highland county, where land. was bought about two miles east of the present village of Marshall. Among these immigrant children was John L. Hughes, born in the old country March 29, 1809, and consequently at the time of his arrival a bright Irish lad of some sixteen summers. This youngster had the natural Irish brilliancy of mind, united with the Irish energy of character, and was destined to make a name for himself in the long life which then lay before him. Before that life of activity terminated he had acquired 1,300 acres of land in Marshall township and had risen to be one of the leading public men of Highland. county. He was elected justice of the peace in 1843 and held that office almost continuously for nearly forty years. In 1857 he was elected to a seat in the state legislature and served the three following years; was again elected in 1867 and remained the representative of Highland county until 1870. In 1841 Mr. Hughes was married to Elizabeth Carlisle, born March 3, 1822, and daughter of Rynard Carlisle, an early settler from Virginia. The children of John L. and Elizabeth (Carlisle) Hughes were Hannah E., wife of J. N. Hogsett, now farming near New Vienna; James R., who died. in 1901, aged fifty-seven years ; Sinai C., widow of A. J. C. Blount, late superintendent of the Children's Home; Anna E., teacher in the Hillsboro public schools ; Laura E., wife of Dr. J. F. Blair, of Cincinnati, who died in. 1896 John N., who died in 1897 at the age of thirty-nine years; the subject of this sketch, and Sallie B., wife of A. A. Noble, who resides on the Hughes homestead. Oliver Hughes, next to the youngest of the above enumerated children, was. born in Marshall township, Highland county, Ohio, December 29, 1863. He attended the district schools, took a course at Hillsllstboro high school, studied law with De Bruin & Hogsett of Hillsboro, and entered the Cincinnati Law school, where he was graduated with the class of 1890. The death of his father having occurred February 2, 1891, shortly after his admission to the bar, Mr. Hughes took charge of the home farm and devoted some time to arranging and settling the affairs of the estate. In 1895 he opened a law office in Hillsboro, and he was elected probate judge November 18, 1896, taking charge of the office in February of the following year. Judge Hughes gave such satisfaction by his first term that in 1899 he was. honored with re-election for another three years. John Hughey, a well known farmer of Madison township, who for some years has enjoyed the title of Squire, is of staunch pioneer ancestry connected with the county's history from a very early date. His grandfather was Charles Hughey, whose parents came from County Donegal, Ireland, to the eastern shore of Maryland and thence to Pennsylvania. Charles Hughey went to Kentucky and became one of the band of hunters and fighters whose exploits figure BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 351 so conspicuously in the history of "the dark and bloody ground." He was a friend and follower of the famous Simon Kenton and often came over into Ohio with that bold borderer in pursuit of marauding and murderous Indians. While living in Kentucky he married. Nancy Records, and in 1803 he became a settler on Sunfish creek in Pike county, Ohio. Five years later he changed his location to Rattlesnake creek and in 1810 removed to Madison township, Highland county, where he died in 1816, leaving a widow and ten children. Among the latter was Josiah R. Hughey, who subsequently became quite prominent in the politics of the county, being an uncompromising Abolitionist and one of the leaders in the famous underground railroad device to assist runaway slaves. He held the office of justice of the peace for many years in Madison township and died there in 1862. In early manhood he married Sarah Parker, of Highland county, and reared a large family of children, all but two of whom have passed away. Two of the sons, Charles N. and James M., became soldiers of the Union army during the civil war, the former dying in a hospital and the latter serving over three years. After the war, James M. Hughey served two terms in the lower house of the legislature as representative from Highland county, was later elected to the state senate and died during his term of office. Nicy L., only surviving daughter of Josiah R. Hughey, is the wife of A. B. Butler of Highland county. John Hughey, the only son now living, was born in Madison township, Highland county, Ohio, March 16th, 1845, where in early manhood he engaged in farming and stockraising and has followed that business all his life. He inherited a taste for politics and always lends a hand to his party in the numerous and heated campaigns for which Ohio is noted. In recognition of his services, as well as his business ability, Mr. Hughey was chosen justice of the peace and by successive re-elections has held that office for the last five years. Like his father before him, he has proved a popular and efficient magistrate, dispatching business promptly, methodically and satisfactorily to all concerned. In 1875 he was married to Ellen Winegar, of Madison township, by whom he has had three children, the only survivor being Frank N., who assists his father in the management of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Hughey are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a class leader. Robert J. Jones, M. D., one of the popular and successful physicians of Greenfield, Ohio, is a native of Wales, from which country he emigrated to America in 1884. Though he attended school to some extent in the old country, his literary education was mainly received after coming to the United States. After this was achieved satisfactorily he entered the Cincinnati Medical college, from which he was graduated in 1895 with the degree of M. D. During the following year he held the position of interne in the Cincinnati hos- 352 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. pital, which is regarded as a. valuable post-graduate experience for young practitioners. In 1896 Dr. Jones located at Greenfield for the practice of his profession, where he speedily rose into notice and met with unusual success. He has built up as extensive a practice, both in medicine and surgery, as is enjoyed by any physician in that section of Ohio, his business embracing the town as well as a broad scope of the surrounding country. Dr. Jones is a member of the Highland county Medical society and often prepares papers for its edification which exhibit learning and advanced knowledge on his part in all branches of the profession. In 1898 he was married to Daisy Bowser, of Ross county. He is a master Mason and member of the First Presbyterian church in Greenfield. Eli P. Johnson, during his long and useful life, was one of the notable characters of that part of Highland county of which Leesburg is the center, being conspicuous for nearly forty years as merchant, banker and all around good citizen. Mr. Johnson was a contribution to Highland from Greene county, Ohio, where he was born in 1821 of that kind of parentage calculated to produce noble and high-minded sons. Nancy Morman, his mother, came of a staunch old Quaker family, and Pleasant Johnson, whom she married, was one of the earliest and worthiest of the pioneers of Greene county. The latter died in 1840, and his wife completed a life of self-sacrifice and devotion to duty in 1855, while a resident of Iowa. After the usual educational routine of boys with limited means, Eli P. Johnson took that excellent preparatory course involved in the teaching of a few terms of school. With this slight business training he turned towards the "wide, wide world," and resolutely faced its dangers while preparing to take advantage of its opportunities. It was in 1844 that the wanderer from Greene first made his appearance at Leesburg, then one of the most promising towns in the county of Highland. He was not overloaded with capital, nor was he backed by influential names or recommendations, but he had with him the hopeful courage of youth, a laudable ambition and a good supply of that American "grit" which usually enables its possessor to realize on expectations. As soon as he arrived in Leesburg, Mr. Johnson engaged as clerk for Eli Watson, who had been conducting a store there since 1835, and speedily showed his inborn talent as a merchant. The agreement was that he should receive one hundred and ten dollars per year, and •so quickly did he prove his efficiency and gain the confidence of his employer that at the end of the first year he was allowed to do nearly all the buying as well as the selling. At the end of the fourth year he took an interest in the store and received one-third of the profits for his services. In 1852, three years later, Mr. Johnson purchased Watson's entire interest and took as a partner his brother, Jarvis L. Johnson, who remained with him BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 353 three years. Mr. Johnson then purchased his brother's interest, continued alone until 1857, disposed of the entire establishment to A. E. Leverton, and rested from business one year. In the spring of 1858 he formed a partnership with Benjamin Heller, bought the dry goods, business of John M. Keen and for three years thereafter conducted the same together. They divided up stock and accounts in 1861, and Mr. Johnson continued alone until 1875, when he sold his dry goods store and started a grocery, with William J. Holmes as a clerk. In the spring of 1880 he disposed of all his mercantile interests, after an unusually successful career of thirty-five years, and did not re-enter that field. In 1876 Mr. Johnson assisted in organizing the Leesburg bank, the first in that part of Highland county, and was chiefly instrumental in the construction of the old bank building. He was elected president of this financial institution and served in that capacity until his death, which occurred October 10, 1883. In 1849 he was married to Marietta, daughter of William and Jane Johnson, a highly respectable family of Fayette county, Ohio. Everad M. Johnson, cashier of the Farmers' Bank at Highland, is a popular representative of the latest generation of a family which has been identified with Highland county from the time of its organization. The oldest inhabitant cannot remember when one or more of the Johnsons were not connected with the affairs of Fairfield township. It was a Johnson who laid out the town of Leesburg, and others of the name furnished subsequent additions. A glance over the old records will show that the Johnsons held various offices connected with the towns and township, and were among the most active of the earlier citizens in all public matters. Moorman Johnson, one of the most enterprising of the name, became prominent as a drover and shipper and died in 1863. He married Mary Connell, of Highland county, and by her became the father of Albert E. Johnson, who was born in 1847, and is now one of the well known farmers of Fairfield township, residing near Highland. He served as a soldier in the Eleventh regiment of Ohio cavalry during the last year of the civil war, and in 1867 was married to Lorena Davis. Everad M. Johnson, a son by this marriage, after the usual attendance in the common schools, entered Wilmington college, where he completed his education in 1890. For some years thereafter he taught school and in 1896 held the position of superintendent of schools- in Wayne township, Clinton county. He resigned this office for the purpose of accepting the position of cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Highland, which he has since retained and filled most acceptably. He is one of the public spirited men of his community and figures actively both in its social and business life. He holds membership in the Masonic fraternity and is prominent in all matters connected with H-23 354 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. that order. In 1895 Mr. Johnson married Rena Vaughan of New Holland, Ohio, a lady of unusual business qualifications. The officials of the Highland bank appointed her assistant cashier and she discharges the duties connected therewith in a manner entirely satisfactory to all concerned, being one of the few women of the state holding a position of this kind. Lucille, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, died in 1899. Eugene S. Judkins, M. D., of Highland, Ohio, is the latest representative of a distinguished family of physicians who have been known for more than a century in different states. The records do not mention a time when there was not a physician in the family and there has been a Dr. Judkins at Highland since the second decade of the nineteenth century. For the purposes of this sketch the ancestral tree will be traced no farther back than to James Judkins, who was born April 8, 1760, in Northampton county, N. C. When fourteen years of age he was placed with Sampson Stanton of Southampton county, Va., to learn the hatter's trade, and while there became acquainted with a young girl named Martha, a grand-daughter of Sampson and daughter of Sylvanus Stanton, whose wife was a member of the noted Virginia family of Stewarts. October 19, 1783, James Judkins and Martha Stanton were married, after which event the husband returned to his native state and began business as a hat manufacturer. After becoming the mother of six children, Mrs. Judkins died at her North Carolina home, October 14, 1799, and being a member of the Society of Friends, her remains were deposited in the burying ground of that order at the town of Rich Square. January 21, 1801, James Judkins was married to Abigail Parker, and five years later located at Mount Pleasant, Ohio, where he lived until his death in November, 1823. By his second marriage he had seven children, including Robert Peel Judkins, who was born in North Carolina, September 9, 1812, and became in later life one of the eminent physicians of his name. He graduated at the Jefferson Medical college of Philadelphia, the most famous institution of its kind in the country at that time, and in 1832 migrated to Ohio in search of a location. After spending a. few years at Mount Pleasant he arrived at the village of Highland, Ohio, July 3, 1832, and next day was drafted into service to help celebrate "the glorious Fourth" by reading the declaration of independence. Previous to this time, however, the honor of the profession and the family name had been maintained for some years at Highland by Dr. Stanton Judkins, a half-brother of Robert P. The latter lost no time in entering business at his new home and practiced his profession there continuously, with increasing popularity, both professional and personal, until the time of his lamented death, which occurred January 9, 1864. December 26, 1841, he was married to Anna B., daughter of Charles BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 355 and Sarah Robbins, by whom he had four children. Gertrude, the eldest, was born November 7, 1842, married Henry W. Rayburn, a farmer now living near Chetopa, Kansas, and has five children. Emma, born in 1847, married William Harlan, a druggist of Barnesville, Ohio, subsequently removed to Kansas and has three children. Etta Bell, the youngest child of Dr. Robert P. and Anna B. Judkins, was born in 1864 and died in early life. Eugene S. Judkins, the second child and only son, was born at Highland, Ohio, in 1845, and was attending the Wesleyan university at Delaware, when his studies were interrupted by the outbreak of the civil war. Too young to be aecepted as a soldier in .the earlier years, he nevertheless chafed for action, like other young patriots of that day, and eventually succeeded in seeing service, which may be described as brief but brilliant. He enlisted in the One Hundred Seventy-fifth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, which was organized in October, 1864, and sent directly to Tennessee in time to take part in the operations against Hood, which involved some of the hardest fighting of the war. The regiment lost heavily* at the bloody battle of Franklin and also took part in the severe engagements at Spring Hill, Thompson's Station and Nashville. In the fall of 1865, Dr. Judkins began reading medicine under the guidance of his uncle, Dr. Jesse P. Judkins, of Cincinnati, and continued the same under other professional friends after his uncle's death. In the autumn of 1867 he entered the, Miami Medical college at Cincinnati, and was graduated with the class of 1870. He first located at Toledo, but after a brief sojourn there returned to his native place, where he has since remained in the enjoyment of a large and steadily increasing patronage. When he "hung out his shingle" at New Lexington, the young doctor established himself In the old building so long occupied by his uncle, Stanton Judkins, which is one of the landmarks of the place, having been built in the first quarter of the century. The ancient door-mark, so long used by the Judkins family, now ornaments the office door of Dr. Judkins and is prized as a precious heirloom. The doctor is a prominent member of the Highland county, Medical association and has done much to strengthen its efficiency and usefulness to the profession. He is not only popular in a professional way but is an influential factor in all public movements affecting his town or township, and it is not too much to say that no family in Fairfield has done more for its development than that of Dr. Judkins. A good citizen, kindly and skillful practitioner, and man who advocates progress in all departments of human endeavor, it is but a fair summary of the truth to say that Eugene S. Judkins is a worthy son of a long line of worthy sires. The father of Dr. Judkins was one of the charter members of Chosen Friend lodge, No. 45, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which was instituted at Highland, June 21, 1845, and Dr. E. S. Judkins himself has long been a member of the 356 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND.   same fraternity. He is also connected with the Masonic order and is one of the most esteemed comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic. October 4,. 1880, he was married to Mary A., daughter of John and Esther (Bankson) Savage, by whom he has an only child, Robert John Judkins, born May 5, 1887. Joseph B. Juvenile, the well known house-painter of Greenfield, has long been connected actively with the political and industrial life of the city. His father, Madison Juvenile, was a. native of Ross county, and was for many years engaged in the milling business in Clinton and Highland counties. He married Sarah Ann Higgins of Highland county, by whom he reared a family of eight children: Thomas, of Columbus, Ohio Henry, of Greenfield Belle, wife of Charles Hitchcock of Akron, Ohio; John and George, painters of Greenfield; Annie, at home, and Jennie, wife of George Reed. Joseph B. Juvenile, the other son, was born in Highland county, Ohio, in 1841, but reared partly in Highland and partly in Clinton county. The civil war began when he was about nineteen years of age, and July 9, 1861, he joined Company G, Eleventh regiment Ohio infantry, with which he served throughout the war. This command was first sent to West Virginia and participated in the campaigning of that state, later taking part in the battles of Second Bull Run and Antietam. Some time after the last mentioned engagement, the regiment was sent west to join the army operating in Tennessee. It took part in the great battle of Chickamauga, and was in the famous campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta, winding up with Sherman's memorable march to the sea, the trip up the coast, and the grand review at Washington and the final discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, July 20, 1865. This constituted a long and arduous service of hot fighting and hard marching, the record of which is highly honorable to all the veterans who took part in it and one which they are entirely excusable for recalling with a feeling of pride. Mr. Juvenile was once captured while campaigning in the vicinity of Carthage, Tenn., but was fortunate enough to be paroled without much delay and thus escape the horrors of the southern prison pens. As soon as released from the service he returned home and resumed his old business of house-painting, which has been his employment during all the working years of his life. He takes a lively interest in local politics and for eight years past has been the representative of his ward in the city council. He holds membership on the water works and electric lighting boards, and altogether is a useful man in the conduct of municipal affairs. On the social and fraternal side of life he is equally enthusiastic, being a member of the Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order United Workmen and Gibson post, Grand Army of the Republic. In 1867 he was married to Emeralla Maddox, of Highland county, by whom he has five children : Fred and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 357 Maud; Mary, wife of Willis Harper; Charles, an electrician, and Howard. Joseph Karnes, owner of a fine farm of five hundred acres in Paint township and extensively' engaged in the live stock industry, is a member of one of the old and representative families of Highland county. As early as 1815-16 grandfather Henry Karnes made a trip of observation from Greenbrier county, W. Va., to spy out the land in the Western country with a view to settlement. With a party of emigrants he stopped at Maysville, Ky., and from there came to New Market, subsequently inspecting various portions of Highland county. He selected what he regarded as a desirable spot and in 1818 brought his 'family to Paint township, establishing them temporarily about one mile east of Rainsboro. He then bought from John C. Lipp, a well known blacksmith of that period, one hundred and sixty acres of land at the place he had previously chosen, and in 1819, moved with his family to this new home. It was better improved than most of the purchases of that day in Highland, inasmuch as it was equipped with log cabin, pole stable, blacksmith shop, well and orchard. Only some twenty or twenty-five acres were cleared, however, and it took a great deal of work to get this heavily timbered tract in suitable condition for agricultural purposes. Grandfather Karnes passed away in 1846 at the age of seventy-six years, and the property descended to his son, John, born in Virginia March 23, 1811, who made large additions to the area of the farm besides greatly improving it in other respects. John Karnes was married in 1840 to Eliza Hartman, whose father, Isaac Hartman, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and had come from Rockbridge county, Va., to the falls of Paint creek and later settled in Highland county before the coming of the Karnes family. Mr. Hartman died in 1843 and his wife in 1854. John Karnes and his wife lived happily on the homestead farm many years. He was killed May 14, 1877, as the result of a team running away with him, and his wife expired January 26, 1897, in the seventy-ninth year of her age.. Their only child, Joseph Karnes, was born on the parental farm in Paint township, Highland county, Ohio, October 24,- 1841, and inherited the 500 acres of land which his father owned at the time of his death. On this farm he was reared to manhood, here he received his education in the neighboring schools and here he has spent all the days of his life. For many years after reaching maturity he carried on the farm work in conjunction with- his father and he was married November 29, 1871, to Gertrude Miller, a native of Illinois. This lady's father, Dickinson Miller, was a brave Union soldier who suffered imprisonment in the horrible den at Andersonville and died later as the result of his hardships. Two of his sons also served in the Union army, one of them being killed on 358 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. the skirmish line at the battle of Peachtree Creek, near Atlanta. Mr. Karnes, besides general farming, pays especial attention to live stock, buying and feeding cattle, and raising Poland—China hogs. His land is well improved and equipped with all the requirements of progressive agriculture and he is justly regarded as one of the representative farmers of his township. He served five years as trustee of Paint township and has been a member of the school board for fifteen years, holding the position of president for one-third of the time. He is a member of the Friends church, of which he has been an elder for five years. Mr. and Mrs. Karnes have eight children : Harry, John, Joseph, Frank, George, Clyde, Nellie and Clarence. Isaac Kaufmann, a public-spirited citizen of Hillsboro, is of German nativity but decidedly American in his manners and methods. He combines the German level-headedness and prudence with the American push and originality, a combination that has enabled him to succeed and thrive, no matter what the obstacles might be. He is a son of Benjamin and Helena (Meyer) Kaufmann, and was born in Germany, March 3, 1847. Twenty-three years afterward he emigrated to America and with numerous other enterprising Hebrews located at Charleston, W. Va., where he engaged in the grocery business. After an experiencefive yearsears he disposed of his interests at that place and in 1875 cast his lot with the enterprising capital of Highland county, with whose growth he has since been prominently identified. Soon after his arrival in Hillsboro, Mr. Kaufmann embarked in the liquor trade in the storeroom adjoining his present location on West Main street. In 1880 he associated with himself his brother-in-law, Aaron Baer, since which time the business has been carried on under the firm name of Kaufmann & Baer. About ten years ago the three story brick storeroom now occupied by the firm was purchased, and this building contains a large wholesale and retail stock, including everything needed for the trade in this part of the State. An extensive addition was made to the rear of the building, which greatly increased the storage capacity and general accommodations of the premises, which have been occupied since 1899. The firm also has a large wholesale store in Cincinnati, where Mr. Kaufmann's son looks after his father's interest. November 7, 1878, Mr. Kaufmann was married to Sarah, daughter of Feis and Babet (Strauss) Baer of Germany, and their children consist of one son and a daughter. Benjamin, the only son, is a native of Hillsboro, and a young man of fine business promise, being a graduate of the high school and bookkeeper and general manager of his father's store in Cincinnati. Helena, the only daughter, is a graduate of the Walnut Hills high school at Cincinnati and a young lady of many accomplishments. Mr. Kaufmann and his family are members of BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 359 the Plum Street temple, a Hebrew congregation in the Queen City. He owns the fine residence on North High street in Hillsboro, where the family reside, and, is recognized as one of the city's progressive and enterprising men. James P. Keech, and descendants. See Franklin, Major Anthony. Ezekiel Kelley, a native of Maryland, who came to Ohio among the early settlers of Ross county, was one of the notable pioneers of Highland, coming in about 1797, carrying one end of a chain in the first survey all the way around the county, and receiving for his services, $10.50. Later he bought a farm, which is yet in the possession of his descendants. He was married in Virginia to Susan Stitt, and they made their home on Little Rocky fork, three miles south of Hillsboro. In 1807 he helped raise the first log cabin in the town of Hillsboro. At this pioneer home he reared a large family of children: Ezekiel, Michael, John, James, William, Aaron, Thomas, Poky, Peggie and Betsy. His death occurred at eighty years of age, and his wife's at about the same age. Thomas Kelley, son of the foregoing, was born at the North Fork farm in Liberty township, in 1798, and in early manhood married Helen Higgins. Then he made his home in New Market township, where he bought one hundred acres of wild land. There he worked with such devotion that he died at the age of fortyfive years, leaving his wife and three children: Susan, now living in New Market township Anna. Eliza, deceased, and Charles R. The latter was born in New Market township June 14, 1833, and passed his youth in the toilsome work of the pioneer farm. On attaining manhood he married Sarah Vanzant, daughter of William Vanzant, and they lived for seven or eight years in New Market township, and then removed to Washington township, later to Jackson, and finally back to Washington, where Charles R. Kelley is yet living. Of his eight children, Warren and Thomas live in Washington township, Francis in Clinton county, Ellen at Sabina, Susannah at Lynchburg, John in Paint township, Charles at Lynchburg, and Effie in Paint township. Charles R. Kelley deserves honorable mention as a soldier of the Union. He enlisted July 15, 1863, in Company B, Second battalion Ohio cavalry. After being mustered in at Camp Green, at Xenia, Ohio, he rode with his command in pursuit of the rebel raider, General Morgan, and was present at his capture, after which the battalion was mustered out of active service. He has held the office of constable three years, and has led an active and honorable life, but is now retired. Warren L. Kelley, of Washington township, eldest son of the foregoing, was born in Newmarket township, June 8, 1856, was educated in the district school, and at eighteen, years of age took up the profession of teaching, to which he yet 360 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. devotes the winter months. He is the owner of 330 acres of valuable land, and is not only successful in the general pursuits of agriculture, but in the raising of Shropshire and Southdown sheep and Clayford horses, and in dealing in livestock. Besides teaching for thirty successive years, he has held the office of township treasurer eight years, and clerk one term. For fifteen years he has been an elder of the Presbyterian church at Belfast, and superintendent of the Sunday school, and he is one of the trustees of the church legacy of that church. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. On September 9, 1880, he was married to Florence, daughter of Abraham and Lucinda Hurst, and they have three children : Walter. C., Madge M., and Homer H. The eldest is a graduate of the Hillsboro high school, and the second a student there. Mr. Kelley is entitled to unrestrained commendation for his marked success in life, which has depended upon his own energy and sterling character, without the aid of ancestral wealth. Jeremiah Kerr, of Greenfield, is a native of Ross county, where he was actively engaged for many years in the live stock industry as a buyer and shipper. His father, James Kerr, was born in Franklin county, Pa., in 1786, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and took part in the early settlement of Buckskin township, in which section of Ross county he arrived from Chambersburg, Pa., in 1815. All that part of the country Was as yet virtually a wilderness, there being but sparse population and few improvements. James Kerr, however, with the resolution that distinguished the pioneers, set to work without delay in cutting, hewing, and clearing until in the course of years the wilderness was changed to a fine farming community. On his farm he toiled and planned after the manner of farmers, reared a large f amily and fulfilled all the duties of a good citizen until his death, which occurred in 1870. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. A number of years before he came to Ohio, there had arrived in Buckskin township from Pennsylvania a pioneer named Robert. Cunningham, who bought land and ranked as one of the first settlers. Among his children was a daughter named Nancy who became the wife of James Kerr and by him the mother of a large family, among them Jeremiah Kerr, who was born on the old farmRossRdss county, attended the neighborhood schools between bueasonspas- and was still a boy when the civil war cloud burst over the country. In August, 1863, he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Ohio independbattal-ttal ion, with which he served until it was mustered out in March, 1864. The command saw service in Eastern Kentucky, Western Tennessee and Southwestern Virginia with headquarters at Cumberland Gap. After his release from military service, Mr. Kerr returned to his BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 361 Ohio home. Tn 1875, he was married to Clara B., daughter of Dr.. Robinson Smith of Highland county, and they have four children.. Henry Kibler, a retired farmer of Union township residing near Willettsville, has had an experience almost coeval with the existence of Highland county, as his birth took place only fourteen years after its organization. As its chief growth and development have taken place since Mr. Kibler came upon the field of action he has been in close touch with the chief events of the county's history, especially those relating to agricultural progress. Frederick Kibler was a Virginian who came to Highland county, we are told, in what is colloquially termed "an early day." It would be safe to say that he arrived in Highland county during the first decade of the nineteenth century. Having received a government warrant for services in the war of 1812 he utilized it in locating land in White Oak township. After he was settled lie took a wife in the person of Leah Wilkin, a native of the new county of which he had become a citi- zen, and they had ten children equally divided as to sex, of whom three sons are living. Among the latter is Henry Kibler, who was born in White Oak township, Highland county, Ohio, June 2, 1819. He has known no other occupation throughout life than that of f arming, to which he was early introduced and has since adhered to without deviation. He had little to depend upon except his own efforts, but has made his way, acquired possession of 130 acres of good land and in other ways enjoys the comforts of life. About 1847 he was united in marriage with Nancy J. Sparks, born in Adams county, Ohio, December 15, 1829. This lady's mother, whose maiden name was Betsey Cowan, had two daughters by her first husband and after his death was married to James Davidson, to whom she bore three children. Henry Kibler and wife had a family of six children of each of whom a brief biographical sketch is here given. Elizabeth, born in 1849, was married in 1871 to Lewis W. Foreman, born in Clinton county, December 23, 1843, son of George and Saluda (Morris) Foreman, who came to Highland county, where the father died March 13, 1900; paternal grandparents, John and Catherine (Rhinehart) Foreman were Virginians who ended their lives in Clinton county ; Lewis W. Foreman was township clerk four years and has three children, Jessie, Estella and Grace. Abner S. Kibler, second of the family, was born June 29, 1851, was married April 15, 1875, to Luella, daughter of Barton Dean ; she died in same year and he married Mary E. McDaniel, and has had six children, Charles, Frederick (deceased), Luella, Cathie, Lettie and Henry. John Kibler, third of the children, was born September 10, 1853, married Mary E. McDaniel, by whom there is one daughter, Maud ; owns 120 acres of land in Clinton county. Anna Kibler married Jonah Britton, a well-to-do farmer of Union township, 362 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. who owns 1,000 acres of land in Highland county and property in Texas. William F. Kibler, fifth of the family, was born November 13, 1860, and in 1891 married Stella J. Britton, by whom he has one son, Stanley H. In partnership with his brother, Abner S., he owns 130 acres of land which they cultivate. Charlie C. Kibler, youngest of the children, died at the age of fourteen years. Joseph Barrett Kleckner, M. D., one of the leading physicians and business men of Lynchburg, comes of a family long identified with the industrial development of Ohio. His great grandfather, John Kleckner, who was a Pennsylvanian, had two sons named Joseph and Solomon, the former of whom served as a captain in the war of 1812 and married Mary Langabaugh, of German descent. In 1816 Joseph Kleckner migrated to Ohio and established himself four miles south of Canton, where he acquired foundry interests and mills,. the products from which were sent clown the river on flatboats to the New Orleans market. Of his three children, Jeremiah died while serving as a soldier during the Mexican war and Daniel located near Akron, Ohio, where he subsequently died. George Kleckner, third of these brothers, was born in Starke county, Ohio, March 29, 1818, and in the year that he reached his majority became a citizen of Felicity in the county of Clermont. He was engaged at that place forty-five years in the hat and fur trade and rose to a position of prominence and influence, served as mayor of the city and occupied other places of trust such as are conferred only upon those who enjoy the public confidence. He first married Louisa Reddick and to this union was born a daughter, Mary F., and February 25, 1851, he was united in wedlock with Caroline, daughter of Benjamin and Nancy (Blackwood) Dailey, early settlers of Clermont county, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. George Kleckner, who for some years past have resided at Lynchburg, in Highland county, have the following named children: Joseph B., Georgia Florence, who is the wife of Dr. Edward Peters, a physician and surgeon in the insane asylum at Jacksonville, Ill. Carrie Belle, wife of T. J. Lafferty, a merchant of Carrollton, Illinois and Bertha, wife of Charles B. Linton, a merchant of Wellington, 0. Dr. Joseph Barrett Kleckner, one S of the above enumerated children, was born in Felicity, Ohio, December 21, 1851, was educated in the schools of his native place, and after he grew up assisted his father some years in the mercantile business. In 1878 he took a course at the Eclectic Medical institute in Cincinnati, after which he practiced medicine a couple of years and completed his education at the American Medical college of St. Louis, where he obtained a degree in 1883. Seven years later, Dr. Kleckner rounded out his professional studies by a course at the post-graduate Medical college of New York city, after which he resumed at Lynchburg the practice BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 363 taken up on his return from St. Louis. August 15, 1880, he was married to Miss Eva Patchell, of Clermont county, a lady whose ancestry is honorable and distinguished. Her father was a son: of Edward and Sarah (Brown) Patchell. The Patchells were descendants of the French Huguenots by that name. Her mother was Susannah, daughter of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (West) Hayworth, of Clinton county, Ohio. The last named was a descendant of the Hayworths who emigrated to America with the celebrated William Penn and took a prominent part in the colonization of the Keystone state. Edward and Susannah (Hayworth) Patchell, parents of Mrs. Kleckner, were married in 1860 and had five chil- dren, as follows: Eva M., Owen W., Edward W., Charles M. and Albert. Dr. and Mrs. Kleckner have three unusually promising children. Miss Edith M. graduated with honor at Wittenberg college at Springfield, Ohio, in 1901; Ralph E. is a graduate of the Lynchburg High School in class of 1902, and Joseph B., Jr., is still a student. Dr. Kleckner has taken an active interest in the business development of Lynchburg, having erected a handsome business block and several residences which constitute an important improvement to the business architecture of the town. The doctor's fraternal associations are numerous, he being connected with the Masons,. Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias. Julius N. Knauer, now living in retirement at Danville, after a long and industrious career, is a sample of the good German citizen turned American, so familiar and so much esteemed throughout the West. He has been in the United States more than half a century, and has long since become thoroughly Americanized and in every way identified with our institutions. His father was judge of the court of appeals in the county of Saarbrucken, Rhenish Prussia, and Julius N. was the eldest of his eight children.. He was born in the Rhine province of Prussia, Germany, August 16, 1826, and had just reached, his twenty-first year when in 1847 he embarked on a sailing boat bound for America. Ocean voyaging in such vessels was slow and tedious and it was thirty-five days before he reached the shores of the Great Republic. After landing at Castle Garden he made he way with as little delay as possible to Columbus, Ohio, going first to Cleveland and thence by canal-boat to the state capital. The changed condition of travel is well illustrated by the fact that a trip now made in a few hours by rail then consumed at least a week on the canal. After short visits of observation at Columbus and Cincinnati, be located in Clermont county, Ohio, where he obtained regular employment. Before leaving the old country he had mastered the tanner's trade, which now stood him in good stead and was his main reliance for some years after his arrival in the United States. He also learned the cooper's trade and, with 364 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. the thrift characteristic of his countrymen, could turn his hand to various kinds of occupation as opportunity offered. After residing some time at New Boston, he went to Batavia, Ohio, where he secured employment as a tanner and remained several years. May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-third regiment Ohio national guard, with which he was sent to West Virginia, where they did guard duty for some time along the lines of railroad. Being discharged from the service in October, he returned home and in the spring of 1865 was elected assessor of Batavia township. In 1868, he removed to Hillsboro, where he worked at the cooper's trade, and in 1870 bought property at Danville where he has since made his home. He has held the office of assessor three terms in succession, was justice of the peace twenty-four consecutive years and is holding that office at the present time in Hamer township. November 11, 1852, while residing at New Boston, he was 'married to Elizabeth Krieger, a native of Germany, who was brought to America when two years old. They have had eight children, all of whom are residents of Ohio. George is in Fayette county, Frank at Batavia, and John with his parents at Danville, Charles is a citizen of Dayton, Caroline is the wife of J. M. Davidson, of Highland county, William and Anna are at Danville, and Edward at Cleveland. Mr. Knauer is a member of the Reformed church, and enjoys general respect in the community where he resides. Norton M. Knotts, a popular farmer of Liberty township, is one of the younger members of a large family of children whose parents settled in Highland county over sixty years ago. In the latter part of the eighteenth century there lived in Pennsylvania two brothers,. named James and John Knotts, the latter of whom served several years in the Revolutionary army and became noted as an Indian fighter. James had a large family, among them being his son Solomon, who was born in 1788, married Mary West, and after several years in Fayette county joined the tide of immigrants seeking settlements in the rapidly developing valley of the Ohio. In 1840 he found a permanent location in Highland county, where he cultivated the soil, reared a numerous family and ended his days in 1850 at the age of sixty-two years. The children of this Pennsylvania couple were James, who married and lived for a while in Highland county, later moving to Champaign county where he died ; Eliza both married Lewis McCain of Pennsylvania, and later lived twenty years near Perintown in Clermont county, where both died ; Benjamin, after spending many years in Liberty township, removed to Iowa and died there in 1890 ; Mary Ann, who married Alexander McConnaughey, has been dead thirty-five years ; Enos, Franklin and William resided awhile in Highland county and removed to Iowa,. where the last mentioned died and the other two have not been heard BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 365 from for many years. Norton M. Knotts, third, from the youngest of the above enumerated children, was born in Pennsylvania July 10, 1832, and was consequently about eight years old when his father reached Highland county. After attaining his majority he spent three years in Clinton county learning the blacksmith's trade, after which he returned and has since made this county his home. June 18, 1856, he was married to Mary J., daughter of Samuel and Cartharine (Carr) Edingfield, also settlers from Pennsylvania state. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Knotts in 1861 adopted Emma Sexton, then seventeen months old, and she remained as a member of the family until married in November, 1879, to Richard Cook. Grace, one of the five children by this union, born July 10, 1881, was taken to the Knotts home when sixteen months old to fill the place left vacant by her mother's departure, and since then has been a much prized inmate of her foster-parents' household. Jonathan Ladd, a retired farmer living near Leesburg, Ohio, belongs to a, family connected with the growth and development of Highland county for nearly a hundred years. In the beginning of the nineteenth century there was a settlement of Ladds on Chowan river in North Carolina, descended from Welsh immigrants and professing the religion of the Society of Friends. Like many others in the South of the Quaker faith, they found the institution of slavery so repugnant to their notions of justice that they determined to seek residence in a free state. In 1808, Gerrard Ladd left his home in the Old North State, bound for Highland county, Ohio, where others of his faith had preceded him and found homes. When near Chillicothe he died, but his wife Margaret and several children continued the journey to Fairfield township where they made permanent settlements. Among these children was one named Jacob who became the parent stock of the Ladds ,that subsequently figured so extensively in Highland county. He vas in 1767 and married twice, his second wife being Elizabeth Reams, who accompanied him on his migration to Ohio. He settled first about two miles north of Leesburg, on the site of Roney's mill, but in 1811 bought of Isaac McPherson a farm one mile south of Leesburg near the Fairfield meeting-house. There he remained until his death, which occurred in 1850 when he was eighty-three years of age. By his wife Elizabeth he had twelve children, the oldest of whom was born in North Carolina in 1795 and named Asa. In the same year that the Ladds came to Highland county there arrived from Grayson county, Virginia, William and Ruth (Hunt) Chalfant, also members of the Society of Friends. They were valuable additions to the little\ colony, as William understood the business of wagon-making, blacksmithing and milling which he, carried on to the great benefit of the pioneer settlers, besides cultivating the five hundred 366 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. acres of land which he had taken up under a warrant. He died in 1840, leaving a large family of children, and among the number a daughter named Mary, who subsequently became the wife of Asa Ladd. The latter was blessed with a numerous progeny, including Jonathan Ladd, the subject of this sketch, who was born near Leesburg, in Highland county, Ohio, December 20, 1831. He has spent his entire life in the peaceful pursuit of agriculture and has been a worthy member of the family which has furnished so many high-minded, upright and industrious citizens to Highland county. One of his brothers served several terms as township trustee, and another held the offices of trustee, treasurer and county commissioner. His father died in 1864, after a life of usefulness, lamented as one of the most blameless of the county's citizens. In fact, from their advent in 1808 the family of Ladds, especially the descendants of Jacob, have figured conspicuously at all periods of the county's history as factors in its industrial, agricultural, civil and moral development. In 1859 Jonathan Ladd was married to Eliza, daughter of John Lazenby. This union was blessed with one son, Everett J., who married Rosa, daughter of Robert and Martha Cox, and resides with his father on the old homestead. Wesley Lafferty, a substantial farmer of Salem township, has well earned all his present comforts by a life of labor which had very unpromising beginnings. Even as a lad only ten years of age he knew what hard work was and had to "keep his nose to the grindstone," as the saying is, in order to obtain for himself the ordinary means of livelihood. His father was James Lafferty, a shoemaker by trade, who married Mary Snyder and lived for some years at. West Union, Ohio, subsequently spending a short time at Lynchburg and then moving to New Vienna where he died about 1840. Shortly after this event, his widow came to Highland county and located in White Oak township, where a few years later she was married to John Heckerthorn. With him she spent the remainder of her days and reached the extreme age of over ninety-five years before her death. There were eight children by her first marriage, of whom John, Absalom, Rebecca, Eliza and Amanda are dead. The three living are William, of Paint, and Quincy of Salem township, besides the subject of this sketch. Margaret and Ella, the only two children by Mrs. Lafferty's second marriage, have both passed away. Wesley Lafferty, fifth of the first set of children, was born November 16, 1830, while his parents were living at West Union, Ohio, and was still quite young when brought by his widowed mother to Highland county. Even as a child, however, he was ambitious. to "do for himself" and early conceived a. desire to go to work and become a man of independent means. He commenced carrying out this resolve at the age of ten, when most boys are still engaged in playing marbles BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 367 or robbing birds-nests, and many weary years of drudgery passed before he succeeded in establishing himself on a firm basis. His work was mostly on farms at monthly wages, which were distressingly small at first, but grew better with age and experience, and eventually he felt sufficiently independent to choose a wife. He was married to Mary, daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Sprinkle, of Highland county, and settled temporarily on a rented farm in Salem township. By industry and economy he had saved enough money by 1860 to purchase a small place of thirty acres, which has since been increased to 104 acres and constitutes his present residence. He has farmed and raised stock in the usual way, depending on gradual increase from regular industry rather than on speculation or fancy schemes of any kind. In this way he has accumulated a comfortable home while rearing and educating his children to be useful men and women. He is a member of the Dunkard church and his political affiliations have always been with the Democratic party. His six children are Samuel, Henry W., Eliza B. and Lydia, at home; Lieuphenia, wife of Mander Stevens, of Hillsboro ; and Clara, wife of V. Stroop, of Salem township. Mrs. Lafferty died in 1892, since which time the children have been keeping house for their father. John Charles Larkin, M. D., one of the popular physicians of Hillsboro, who has gained many friends during his six years' residence, comes of a long and highly esteemed line of Quaker ancestors. Dr. Larkin possesses a chronology which directly traces his ancestry back two hundred and fifty years to John Larkin, who located in Prince Ann county, Maryland, in 1650, and afterwards in Pennsylvania. The most of the Larkin family came to this country with William Penn, and were identified with Penn in establishing a set-dement near Chester, Pa. They became allied by marriage with John Salkeld, who was one of the founders of the Quakers and a noted preacher in his time in England. The chronology also traces direct descent from Queen Ann of England. The Ohio branch originates from Joseph Larkin, a native of Chester county, Pa., who married Rachel Reece of the Winchester (Va.) neighborhood, and migrated to the West during the first quarter of the nineteenth century. He located first in Harrison county, Ohio, but in 1837 removed to Samantha, in Highland county. The children of this Pennsylvania couple, all now dead, were Reece, who moved to Iowa; John S., Joseph and Ann, the latter wife of Edwin Arthur. John S. Larkin, the second of these children in order of birth, married Sarah, daughter of Michael and Rachel Yost, of Harrison county, Ohio, and the result of this union was a large family as follows : Isaac, a resident of Hillsboro ; Mary Ann, widow of William Hussey ; Elijah H. ; Margaret E., wife of William Polk ; Rachel E., wife of Samuel Polk of New Vienna ; Martha K., wife of F. M. Miller, 368 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. 1: residing near Hillsboro ; John, who died at the age of fourteen years; and William, who resides at Hillsboro. By a second marriage to Mrs. James Hussey, nee Edwards, John S. Larkin had two additional children, whose names were Charles and Alice. Elijah H. Larkin, third of the first family of children, was born March 6, 1838, at Samantha, Highland county, Ohio, where his father kept tavern many years. In 1867 he was married to Rebecca, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Gibson) Stafford, and descended from one of the earliest settlers of the county. Her grandfather, Shadrick Stafford, was a native of Virginia who came out and built a fulling mill in Liberty township as early as 1805 and next year brought his family for permanent residence. The children of Elijah II. Larkin by his first wife were John Charles, the subject of this sketch, and Leoto, a teacher in the public schools at Muncie, Ind. In 18'72 Mr. Larkin contracted a second marriage with Susan, daughter of Brice Cooper, by whom he had the following named children: Adima, teacher in the Hillsboro schools ; McShurley, bookkeeper in Cleveland ; Dora, exchange clerk at the Merchants National bank ; and Fred W., a student in the Hillsboro schools. John Charles Larkin, eldest of his father's children, was born at Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, June 1, 1868, and as he grew up obtained the best education that could be afforded by the schools of his native city. After finishing a four years' course in the Hillsboro high school he took charge of one of the district schools and followed the occupation of teaching from the years 1888 to 1893, inclusive. In the leisure hours before and after school and on holidays, the young teacher devoted most of his time to reading with a view to educating himself as a physician. In the fall of 1893 he matriculated at the Medical college of Ohio, where he finished the course in 1896 and had the honor of being appointed speaker for the class which graduated that year. Shortly after obtaining his diploma, Dr. Larkin formed a partnership with Dr. Truman Holmes for the practice of medicine at Hillsboro, which association continued until the removal of Dr. Holmes to Washington in November, 1900. Since then Dr. Larkin has been alone, and has long since demonstrated that .he was destined to be one of the most popular and successful physicians in the Highland capital. In 1896 he was appointed coroner of Highland county and gave such satisfaction that at the expiration of his term he was elected to serve two additional years. He is local surgeon for the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad company, examiner for several life insurance companies, and member of the county, state and American medical associations. Dr. Larkin's fraternal connections are numerous and he is regarded as one of the most popular and attentive fraternity members in the city. At present he is worshipful master of Hillsboro lodge, No. 38, Free and Accepted Masons ; exalted ruler of lodge No. 361, Benevolent and BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 369 Protective Order of Elks, and medical examiner of Buckeye lodge, No. 17, Ancient Order United Workmen. David N. Lawson, of Brush Creek township, an energetic and valued citizen, was born May 28, 1841, on the farm now owned by James M. Lawson, in that township. He is the son of James Lawson, born in Virginia in 1802, who was orphaned by the death of his father at seven years of age, and was reared by John Palmer. At twenty-five years of age James Lawson married Mary Hammond, a native of Brush Creek township, and they began housekeeping on the farm now owned by their son, James M., and were the parents of eleven children: John, living in Adams county ; Alfred A., in Kansas; Josiah, deceased ; David N. ; James M. ; Sarah A., wife of B. Cravens, of Illinois; Lucinda E., wife of James Woods, of Iowa; Lucilla, Jemima and Agnes, deceased; and Mary, wife of James A. Taylor, of Brush Creek. James Lawson lived to the age of sixty-eight years, and had an honorable and fairly successful life, acquiring a comfortable property, although he began poor, and he was honored among his associates in the Universalist church, of which he was one of the trustees and staunchest supporters, and honored also by the people of the township, who made him township treasurer and trustee. David N. Lawson, son of the foregoing, started out at the age of eighteen years to make his own way in the world, working by the month at farming, but soon the great war came on, and he volunteered in defense of the nation he loved, becoming a private soldier in Company I of the Twenty-fourth regiment Ohio infantry. His first active service -was in the West Virginia campaigns, fighting at Greenbrier and Cheat. Mountain. Early in the spring of 1862, being transferred to the west, he was in the great battle of Shiloh, and after that he was in the campaigns under Buel and Rosecrans, participating in the great march from middle Tennessee to Louisville and back, and fighting at Crab Orchard, Perryville, and Stone River. In the Chickamauga campaign he was in numerous engagements, including the great battle of September 20th, 1863, when he with many others were made a prisoner of war. Then followed a long period of confinement in the southern prison pens, at Libby prison, Richmond, where he was held four or five months ; Danville, Va., a like period ; Andersonville prison, four or five months ; and several months at Charleston, S. C., and Florence. Toward the close of the war, early in 1865, while being transferred to Raleigh, N. C., he escaped by jumping from a moving railroad train, and had the good fortune to reach the Union lines at Smithland. Being sent to Annapolis, he was given a furlough to visit his home, and was soon afterward honorably mustered out at Columbus. Since then Mr. Lawson has been a worthy citizen of Brush Creek township, H-24 370 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND for some time farming rented places, at one of which, the Hizer farm, he remained for twenty years, and is now the owner of a valuable farm of 129 acres. He has also for eight years been engaged in operating a threshing machine, and is the owner of a saw mill. He is a member of the Grand Army post at Sinking Spring, and of the Threshers National Protective association ; and has served twelve or fourteen years as supervisor and constable. After the war he married Louisa Hatter, and they have two children: Agnes M., wife of S. West, of Brush Creek, and Laura J. John O. Lemon, a well-to-do farmer of New Market township, is one of the many descendants of an old pioneer who joined the rapidly increasing army of Highland county settlers in 1814. Samuel Lemon, a native of Pennsylvania, was a shoemaker by trade and after his arrival in Ohio drove a thriving business by making boots and shoes for the inhabitants of his bailiwick. His custom was to ply the awl and thread during the inclement season of winter and devoting time to farm work in summer, in this way earning a comfortable living and laying up some store for the future. He bought and settled on a farm two and a half miles north of the town of New Market and there spent the remainder of his days. Samuel Lemon's marriage proved fruitful and was blessed with twelve children, of whom John, Adam, James M., Samuel, George, Perry, William Isaac, Isaiah, Catherine and Anna have passed away. The only one living is Eliza J., who married Thomas Peal of Lynchburg. James M. Lemon, third of the children in age, was born in New Market township, June 16, 1816, and as he grew up acquired knowledge of the chairmaker's trade. He worked at this in Hillsboro for a while before his marriage to Mary, daughter of John and Mary Chapman, old settlers of New Market. township. He located with his bride on the farm now owned by Mr. McKee and shortly afterward engaged in general mercantile business at what is now known as Shackelton. This he followed several years, meantime continuing to make chairs during his hours of leisure, and altogether between merchandising, farming and chairmaking he did a thriving business. He became a man of considerable local influence, having held all the important township offices and reached the age of eighty-two before his death. The children of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Lemon were Rachel, wife of Robert Purdy of New Market township; John 0., subject of this sketch ; Laura, deceased, and Charlie, a resident of Hillsboro. John 0. Lemon, second of the family, was born near New Market, Highland county, Ohio, March 16, 1847, and remained with his father on the farm until he reached his majority. About that time he was married to Miss Frances, daughter of William and Lucinda Strange, of Hamer township. The first. ten months of their married life was spent on a farm, from which they removed to BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 371 occupy a place purchased on the Cincinnati pike. Here they lived about fourteen years, when they took up quarters at the old homestead for the purpose of caring for Mr. Lemon's aged parents. After the death of the latter, he bought the home place and has since resided there, being now owner of 146 acres which he cultivates with the usual crops and raises considerable. stock. Mr. Lemon has been township trustee six years, also school director. His.children, two in number, are Alvin, a resident of Union township, and Walter, who remains at home. The family are communicants of the Christian church. Charles M. Lewis, an estimable citizen of Concord township, resides upon the farm purchased in 1818 by his grandparents, Lewis and Abigail Lewis, who came to Ohio from Bucks county, Penn. They bought three hundred acres of wild land, much of which they cleared and improved, and Lewis Lewis came to be one of the leading men of his township, successful as a farmer and stock raiser, and active in politics, holding the office of justice of the peace for many years. His home was a polling place for many elections. The children of these grandparents were William., Clinton, Lewis, Judah, Milton, Celia and Alford. Milton was born in Bucks county, Pa., July 1, 1814, and reared from four years of age in Concord township. In early manhood he married Catherine, daughter of Campbell Nance, a lady born in Virginia and reared in Highland county, and they began their married life and filled out their lives on the old home place, the husband dying at eighty-three years of age and the wife at seventy-two. Both are buried in the Lewis cemetery on the home farm. It can be said in memory of Milton Lewis that he was one of the leading men of the township, being honored with many local offices which he honorably filled, and that he prospered in business, becoming an extensive dealer in live stock. At one time he owned over three hundred acres of land in the township. His five children are : Martha, wife of Godfrey Wilkins Jennie, wife of Joseph Burns Allie, wife of William Stewart, of Greenfield Ella, widow of Daniel Butters, of Marshall, and Charles M., the subject of this sketch. The latter was born in the house where he now lives, February 23, 1862, was educated in the district school, and in early manhood was married to Elizabeth, daughter of James R. Shannon. One child has been born to them, a daughter, May. Mr. Lewis is an affable, courteous man, as well as of business habits and industry, and is notably popular throughout his vicinity. He is the owner of nearly two hundred acres of well-improved land, and his residence and farm buildings have been remodeled and improved until they are among the most attractive and convenient in the township. In addition to farming and the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, Mr. Lewis gives much of his time to the introduction of the Page wire fence 372 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. in his neighborhood, and whatever he undertakes is likely to meet with success. He is a member of the school board of the township, is a communicant of the Church of Christ, and is firmly allied to the Republican party, with which his family has long been identified. Milton E. Lewis, notable among the leading men of Concord township, is a grandson of Lewis and Abigail Lewis, early settlers of the township, of whom, a sketch is given in the foregoing. His father was William Lewis, born in Chester county, Pa., December 24, 1810, eight years before his parents came to Ohio. In youth William Lewis found employment in the work of pioneer farming with his brother Judah, in, Concord township, was a teamster in the days of forest roads before the era of canals or railroads, hauled pottery from the Concord township pottery to various parts of the county, and made one trip down ate Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the fiat boats of that day. Meeting with success in his efforts he was able to buy a farm of 10.6 acres, and then married a Miss Williams, a native of Highland county, and settled down to farming, varying his employment with work as a carpenter for a good many years. His industry and business instinct made him a well-to-do man in his time, and he -was the owner of 212 acres. He passed away at the ripe age of eighty-nine years, survived by several of his. children. These were, Cecilia, deceased ; Phoebe A., wife of William Ridings, of Kansas ; Elizabeth, deceased ; Nancy, wife of William Link, of Concord ; Anna, deceased ; Milton E., subject of this sketch; Clinton, deceased ; William, of Clinton county ; John, deceased ; Thomas, of Concord township ; Edward, living on the old homestead. Milton E. Lewis was born near Fairfax, Ohio, November 28, 1846, was reared on the farm and educated in the district school. When seventeen years of age he began work on the farm for his uncle, Milton, which continued four years ; after that he followed the carpenter trade for six years, and then spent a short time in Iowa. Coming back to Taylorsville, he succeeded J. T. Potts as a general merchant, but did not remain in business long, leaving it to engage in farming on a place that he traded the store for. On securing, this home he married Levinia Hetherington, daughter of William Hetherington and descended from one of the pioneer families of the township. A year later they changed their home to the farm of 126 acres where they now reside, but have disposed of some of the land. They have one child, Eva Alice, wife of James Shannon, of Washington township. Mr. Lewis is quite successful as a farmer and breeder of live stock, and is held in high esteem by his neighbors. For six years he has served as a member of the school board. He is a valued member of the Methodist church and in politics a Republican. He has made all the improvements now to be seen on his attractive property. and has one of the best equipped farms in that region. With a com- BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES - 373 mendable spirit of enterprise he was one of the principal promoters of the Concord pike, No. 49, and Rural free delivery, No. 2, and he is one of the stockholders in the -Merchants National bank of Hillsboro. Christopher Lewis, proprietor of the famous farm in Penn township known as Flora Vale, is the principal living representative of one of the oldest and most honorable families in Highland county. They came originally from Wales. According to the carefully preserved records it was in the year 1682 that three brothers emigrated to America and fixed their abodes in different parts of the colonial settlements along the Atlantic coast. Two of them were lost to sight, so far as subsequent history is concerned, and it is not known whether they left descendants or what. became of them. Evan Lewis, second in age of the trio, settled in Philadelphia and became the progenitor of the family subsequently sa well known in the West. Among his children was a son named Jehu, born in 1723, who afterward settled in Chester county, Pa., and remained there until the close of that century, when he removed to Bedford county, Va. He married Alice, daughter of George and Hannah Maris, and their nine children were as follows: Jesse, born in 1750 ; James, in 1751; Elijah, in 1752 (these three died young) ; Joel, in 1755 ; Hannah, in 1757 ; Evan, in 1760 ; Jesse (named from the eldest, who died), in 1763 ; George, in 1765 ; Ann, in 1767. Jehu Lewis died in 1804 and his wife, who was born in 1726, died in 1820, both being buried in Friends' graveyard, Goose Creek meeting house, in Bedford county. Their son Joel, accompanied by his brothers Evan and Jesse and sister Ann, migrated to Ohio in 1814 and settled first on the Little Miami, near Millgrove, where he remained until 1822. In that year Joel removed to Highland county, where he purchased a farm in the southern part of what is now Penn township. March 9, 1786, he was married to Sarah, daughter of William and Esther Daniel, of Loudoun county, Va., and his four children were : Jehu, born in 1791, and died in 1875, at State Center, Iowa; Daniel, more fully noticed below ; Sarah, born in 1797 ; and a second daughter who died on day of birth in 1802. Joel Lewis died at his home in Penn township November 30, 1829, after which his widow was tenderly cared for by her children and grandchildren until her death, which occurred June 23, 1840, in the eighty-second year of her age. Her remains were deposited in the cemetery of Clear Creek by the side of those of her husband which had been left eleven years before in the same place of final rest. Daniel Lewis, the second son of this pioneer couple, was born in Bedford county, Va., in 1794, and after coming to Ohio with his parents in 1814, taught school several years in the counties of Warren, Clinton and Highland. In 1825 he bought of Gov. Allen Trimble the farm in the northwestern part of 374 - THE COUNTY OF HIGHLAND. Penn township now known as Flora Vale and owned by his son. At the time of the purchase this land was covered by an unbroken forest, which disappeared in the course of years before the woodsman's ax and pioneer fortitude and eventually emerged as one of the handsomest estates in the county. In 1825 Daniel Lewis married Priscilla, daughter of Christopher and Sarah Hussey, and the eight children resulting from this union were as follows : Charles D., born in 1829; Christopher, fully sketched below ; Sarah A., born in 1835 ; Albert, in 1836; Alvah, in 1839 ; Mary B., in 1841; George, in 1843 ; and Rachel, in 1845. The father of. this family died November 28, 1847, his widow surviving him many years and passing away in May, 1885. Charles D. Lewis, their oldest son, was a young man of great promise and had entered upon a career that promised most fruitful results but which, unhappily, was cut short in the prime of life by a railroad accident July 4, 1857. At the time of his death he was professor of chemistry and pharmacy in the Eclectic college of medicine at Cincinnati and had exhibited remarkable versatility of talent, as well as much force of character, during his brief but brilliant life. Christopher Lewis, second in age of the eight children of his parents, was born on the homestead farm in Highland county, Ohio, September 16, 1831, and has devoted his entire life to the quiet pursuits of agriculture. Under his skillful management and endless industry the place has been steadily improved and is now almost ideal both in its external and internal appointments. In the fall of 1825 his father built a comfortable hewed-log house, which gave place in fourteen years to the present neat dwelling-house where Mr. Lewis and his family have so long resided. In 1870 several additions and tasteful improvements were made by the proprietor and it would now be difficult to find a prettier place than Flora Vale, with its lovely lawns, choice shade trees and shrubbery, highly cultivated fields and other concomitants of rural repose. In fact, the contrast between "pioneer days," as exemplified by Mr. -Lewis' father, and twentieth-century civilization, as witnessed by Mr. Lewis himself, can nowhere be seen in more force than at this luxurious country home in Highland county. September 22, 1859, Mr. Lewis was married in Philadelphia to Louisa K., daughter of Joseph and Esther C. Hallowell of Chester county, Pa. Shortly after this event, he began purchasing the interests of the other heirs in his father's estate, which was kept up from time to time until 1865, when he obtained and has retained full possession of this desirable property. The farm, consisting of a hundred acres, is situated in Penn township on what is now known as the Carey-town pike, about three miles and a half southeast of New Vienna. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have three children of whom Eugene C., the oldest, was born June 20, 1860. Walter H., the second son, was born November 17, 1862, and married April 19, 1888, to Maude K.