History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 17

Author: Byron Williams
Publication date: 1913
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 925

USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 17
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 17

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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and Caroline (Duckwall) Witham. Dr. James Witham prac- ticed medicine many years in the vicinity of the village of Withamsville, which was named in honor of his father, Mau- rice Witham.

The boyhood days of Franklin Pierce Witham were spent in his native village, where he received a good common school education. At the early age of fourteen years he began to aid his father by driving for him and looking after his collec- tions. When eighteen years of age he commenced reading medicine with his father, later entering the Ohio Medical Col- lege at Cincinnati. Following his graduation he at once en- tered upon the career of physician in his native village, prac- ticing with Dr. James Witham as senior partner. For eight- een years this association continued, being severed by the death of the elder gentleman.

On January 18, 1874, Dr. Witham was married to Miss Lenora Laycock, of New Richmond, the ceremony taking place at Mt. Washington, Ohio. She is a daughter of Reuben and Nancy (Medaris) Laycock. Her parents were successful farmers living near Mt. Pisgah, Ohio, where she received a good education.

Dr. Franklin P. Witham is the oldest of three children, the others being :

George W., who was a graduate of the Lebanon, Ohio, Normal School, after which he received a State life certificate to teach. He followed the vocation for fourteen years at Mil- ford, Ohio. He was married to Miss Nannie E. Ellis, daugh- ter of Rev. John Ellis, of Mt. Vernon, Ill., and to their union were born three children, two of whom are residents of Los Angeles, Cal. George W. died September 22. 1907. and his widow resides at Los Angeles.

Olive K., who is Mrs. Frank P. Higdon. of Hyde Park. Cin- cinnati, has one daughter. Mabel.

Dr. F. P. Witham is a life-long Democrat and. though not an office seeker. he was appointed pension examiner by Grover Cleveland. in which capacity he served through President Mc- Kinley's administration. Ile has served his party in the local offices of township committeeman and chairman of the county central committee. In addition to these offices he has been a member of the school board for a number of years.

When the Amelia State Bank was organized. in 1900. Dr. Witham was made a director and became a large stockholder in the organization. He held the office of secretary of the

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banking concern until in 1911, when he was elected president.

There is, perhaps, no one in Clermont county who is more widely known in fraternal circles than our subject, he being affiliated with the Eureka Lodge, No. 447, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Withamsville, of which he has held all the various offices. He has been the representative of the four- teen lodges of his district at the grand lodge of the State. He is also a member of the J. B. Covert lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Tobasco, and is now serving his fourth term as worshipful master and has represented his lodge at the grand lodge. He is a member of the Royal Arch Masons, No. 112, of Batavia, Ohio. In addition he also holds membership with the Knights of Pythias lodge, at Mt. Washington, Ohio, and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics at With- amsville, and is treasurer of the building committee to raise money for the hall at Withamsville.

Dr. F. P. Witham is a trustee and a devoted member of the Baptist church, as is also his wife. He is a member of the Baptist Association of Clermont county.

In his busy life Dr. Witham finds time to give each of his varied interests proper attention, even in detail, and it is due to his unusual capacity and ability that he has been able to accomplish so much.

LOUIS MISCHLER.

Louis Mischler, son of Wendell and Caroline (Dietz) Mischler, was born in Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, May 4, 1863. His father, Wendell Mischler, was born in Bavaria in 1829, and after receiving his education served three years in the German army and traveled extensively in Germany and France and was located for a number of years in the city of Lyons. The mother of our subject was born in Belgium in 1825. They came to America about 1856 and located in Can- ada, where they remained for several years and then removed to Cincinnati, where they remained but a short time, and then moved to Ripley, where Mr. Mischler died, April 3, 1872. and was buried in Maplewood cemetery. During the Civil war he served in the Forty-third Illinois regiment and was dis- charged at Corinth. Miss. The mother died August 22 at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and is buried in St. Mary's Catholic cemetery. To them five children were born : Alexander, Carrie, Louisa, Louis and Wendell W. Alexander died in infancy.

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Carrie became the wife of Charles C. Zeller, who for many years and until his death was the manager of the piano de- partment of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Music Company, Cincin- nati, Ohio. To them were born six children: Louis, Charles, Ada, Albert, Lorena and Clarence. The first two named died in infancy. Ada is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of music, having for her teacher Albino Gorno, and is a pianist and teacher of considerable note. She has a studio at Seventh and Elm streets, Cincinnati, Ohio. Albert is also musical and is at present in charge of a music store in Los Angeles, Cal. Lorena is a graduate of the Foley School of Voice and is a singer of rare talent. She is also a pianist and teacher. Clar- ence is connected with the brokerage firm of Weil, Roth & Company, Cincinnati, and is at present in charge of their Chi- cago branch. Louisa, the third child, died at the age of six years.

Louis, the subject of our sketch, was born in Ripley, Ohio, May 4, 1863. He attended the public and Catholic schools of Ripley, after which he worked for three years in the Valley Gem Piano factory. He then accepted a clerkship, which posi- tion he held until 1897. when he was elected treasurer of Brown county on the Democratic ticket, in which capacity he served for two terms. After his term of office he associated with W. J. Jacobs in business, purchasing what is known as the Georgetown Coal and Lumber Company. in which busi- ness he is still engaged. While at Ripley he was a member of Gen. Jacob Ammon Camp, No. 410. Sons of Veterans. He was united in marriage to Miss Tressa Jolly February 28. 1897. They have two sons: Louis Harland, born January 1. 1808. who is in the third year of high school, and is very tal- ented in music, playing the piano and cornet. James Jolly. born January 24, 1002, attends the public school and is also a pianist and talented in music.

Wendell W. fifth child, was born in Ripley, Ohio. No- vember 5. 1865. He graduated from the Ripley high school and lated attended Nelson's Business College. Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a stenographer for a number of years in the employ of the Car Service Bureau, Cincinnati, and in 1896 he successfully passed a civil service examination and was ap- pointed to a position in the quartermaster general's office in the war department. He remained here until the Spanish- American war broke out. when he was taken into the office of the Secretary of War and remained there during the terms

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of Secretaries Alger, Root and Mr. Taft. When Mr. Taft was elected President he appointed him one of his aids. He has accompanied him in all his travels and has taken in short- hand every public speech Mr. Taft has made from the time he entered the war department until his retirement from the presidency. He is now Mr. Taft's private secretary at Yale. His wife was Miss Marie Moore; of Hot Springs, Ark. Their only child died in infancy.

Thomas and Mary Jolly, great-grandparents of Mrs. Louis Mischler, came to Ohio from Maryland. They had four chil- dren, viz .: Samuel, John, Susan and Mary. John married Cassandra Smith, Susan married John Savage, Mary married John J. Newman. All lived in Cincinnati and are buried there.

Samuel Jolly, son of Thomas, was born in Maryland March 8, 1794. He served in the War of 1812. He built the elegant home, now known as the Wiles homestead, in East Ripley. He was among the first members of the Methodist church. He died January 1, 1864, and is buried in Ripley. He was mar- ried to Susanna Creekbaum July 30, 1816. To them were born five children, viz .: Alexander, Mary, Catharine, Ellen Marie and Samuel Francis. Mary and Catharine died in infancy. Ellen Marie married Benjamin F. Johnson and lived in and near Ripley all her life. They are both buried in Ripley. Alexander married Martha Culter. He was for many years a prominent merchant in Ripley. Later he removed to Cham- paign, Ill., where he died and is buried there. Samuel Francis, the father of the wife of our sketch, was born in Ripley, Ohio, July 24, 1824. He lived in Ripley all his life. In his early years he was connected with the river traffic and his father and he made many trips to New Orleans, trading extensively along the towns and plantations of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, as was the custom in those early days. Many thrilling experiences did they have in their journeys down these rivers. Later father and son engaged in the glass and queensware business and for many years were among Ripley's most pros- perous merchants. In his later years Samuel Francis engaged in the sugar business at St. Paul, Minn. He died July 7. 1993. and is buried in Ripley. He was married July 20, 1834, to Har- riet Anna Glasscoe, daughter of Alfred and Lorenda Glasscoe and granddaughter of John and Susan (Bennett) Glasscoe. They were farmers and came to Clermont county at an early date. Lorenda Glasscoe was the daughter of John and Mary Bennett West and granddaughters of Thomas and Elizabeth

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West. John West was a farmer. Thomas West came from Virginia to Tate township, Clermont county, soon after 1801, and bought a large tract of land southwest of Bethel which he divided among his children. He died an old man. He had five sons and two daughters: George, Hugh, William, John and James. The daughters married Samuel .Bennett and Ste- phen Burke. The West family was highly respected. They were Methodists.

To Mr. and Mrs. Jolly were born twelve children, viz .: Charles, Susanna, Ellen, Ida Lulu, Bacha, Monarch, Lelia, Anna Lorenda, Hattie, Tressa, and John. Only four of the James was a tobacco merchant and a talented musician, twelve children are living. Susa became the wife of Dr. Samuel Spees, a prominent physician of Decatur, Ill. To them one son was born, Clifford, who is at present in the editorial department of the Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune. Hattie, the wife of H. R. Maris. They have two sons, John and Har- land. They are both graduates of the Decatur, Ill., high school. John, of Decatur, Ill., married Mrs. Pollie Snell and is engaged in the insurance business. Tressa, the wife of our sketch, was born in Ripley, Ohio, October 13, 1869, attended the public schools of Ripley and remained in her native city until she became the wife of our sketch and with him removed to Georgetown after his election as county treasurer, where they still reside with their two sons in their comfortable home on West State street.

The Jolly family are of French Huguenot descent and trace their ancestry back to 1541. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes part of the family left France. going to Scotland and England. They were early identified with the Presby- terian church of England. Rev. Thomas Jolly was pastor of a church at Altham and after his death a chapel was erected to his memory. The English branch of the family immi- grated to America in 1749 and settled in Maryland. A few years later they branched into Virginia and Pennsylvania. Three of the family were soldiers in the war of the Revolu- tion. In 1796 they were among the first settlers of Chilli- cothe. Ohio, and in 1805 they left Chillicothe and branched into Highland. Hamilton and Brown counties. David. James. William and Mary, with their families, moved into Hills- boro. David helped to build the first Presbyterian church and was elected elder. John W. Jolly moved to Cincinnati with his family. Thomas and Alexander Jolly, with their

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families, were among the first settlers at Ripley, Ohio. By reading the following histories the Jolly family can be easily traced, viz .: New England History, Volume 60; History of Early Settlement and Indian Wars of Western Virginia, by William De Hass; Historical Collections of Pennsylvania : History of Panhandle.

JOSEPH G. HEIZER.

Joseph G. Heizer, a successful farmer and stock raiser, of Pleasant township, Brown county, Ohio, belongs to one of the oldest and most respected families of the county. He was born in that township, March 31, 1863, and is a son of John and Mary (Frost) Heizer. His father was born in Union township, Brown county, Ohio, in 1838, and his mother in Pleasant township in 1837. John Heizer, now retired from active life and residing on his farm in Pleasant township, is a son of Edward and Iva (Dugan) Heizer, and a grandson of John Heizer, Sr., a native of Virginia, who immigrated to Brown county, Ohio, in December, 1807, and settled on a track of land on Strait creek, near the Ohio river. In keeping the custom of his Dutch ancestors, he was taught the trade of carpentering, which he followed until he immigrated to Ohio. He raised a large family and he became an influential man in the new community, and his home was the scene of many public meetings in the early days. His creek was often used as a baptismal fount, and he was always ready to do anything he could for the promotion of the welfare and progress of the community. His great-grandson, the subject of this sketch, prizes very highly two of the original tools used by him in his carpentering work, one of which, the foot adze, still has the same wooden handle it had over one hundred years ago. He lived to a good old age.

Edward Heizer was born on the old homestead in Union township, in 1808, some fifty yards from the place he died, in 1899, and his wife, Iva Dugan, was born in Pleasant town- ship, and died in middle life. They were the parents of five children, Joseph, Louis, John, Deborah and William, all of whom are dead except John, who resides on his farm three miles south of Georgetown, Ohio.

John Heizer, father of Joseph G. Heizer, was educated in I'nion and Pleasant townships, mostly in the latter. and re-

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mained on the home farm until his marriage, November 3. 1858. to Mary A. Frost. daughter of Josiah and Margaret (Armstrong) Frost, farmers of Brown county. Mr. and Mrs. Frost had five children, Jane. James, Mary A., Ellis and Cyn- thiana. all deceased except Mary A., the mother of this sketch. Josiah Frost was one of the original tobacco and pork mer- chants of Brown county. John Heizer and wife located on the farm which has been divided into two farms, and has resided in his present location over fifty years. He engaged in gen- eral farming, and was largely successful. He is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife belong to the Christian church, he being one of the promoters and builders of Olive chapel, which stands near his home. They had four children, all born in Brown county: Cora B., at home with her parents; Jo- seph G., whose name stands at the head of this sketch; Wil- liam E., of Texas, and a daughter who died in infancy. The father and mother are well preserved for their years. They are held in high regard by all, and have worked hard for their success in life. They have erected a pretty home on one of his farms.

Joseph G. attended the local schools, and engaged in com- mercial traveling for a short time. Since then he has devoted his time to farming, in which he has been successful. Since his marriage he located on Home Lawn Farm, two miles south of Georgetown, which farm now contains two hundred and sixty-five acres. He is self-made. having earned his own way in the world from young manhood. and is industrious and enterprising. He is very fond of reading and keeps well abreast of the times. He is held in general respect and has a large number of friends, among whom he is popular. He is a Republican in politics and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.

On December 21. 1899. Mr. Heizer was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. McConaughy, who was born in Union township, in 1863, daughter of John C. and Ellen Jane ( Hodg- kins) McConaughy, the parents also natives of that township. Mr. McConaughy was born in 1837 and lives in Clermont county, and the mother in 1840. They are both well pre- served for their age. He was a successful farmer and oper- ated farms in Illinois and Ohio, retiring from active life some five years since, and moving to his present farm. They had seven children, namely: Laura, lives at home: Mary. Mrs. J. G. Ileizer; W. O., of Clermont county : J. A., of Dayton;

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W. M., of Cincinnati; F. E., of near Milford, Ohio; the fourth child, Rhoda, died in infancy.

The old homestead on Strait creek has changed hands only three times since 1807, from John, Sr., to Edward; from Ed- ward to Deborah ; thence that part in Union township to Clara, daughter of Joseph, and that part in Pleasant township to Joseph G., the subject of this sketch.

J. W. DeVORE.

J. W. DeVore, a well known general farmer and stock raiser of Franklin township, Clermont county, belongs to an old Ohio family, and is a good example of a successful self-made man. He was born in Pleasant township, Brown county, Ohio, February 14, 1850, son of Abner and Louisa Maria (Gardner) DeVore, both of whose fathers were preachers of the Christian church. Abner DeVore was born in the same township in June, 1825, and resides in Lewis township, Brown county. Mrs. Louisa Maria De Vore was born in Union town- ship, Brown county, about 1827, and died in 1862. She was a daughter of Rev. Mathew Gardner, who founded most of the Christian churches in Southern Ohio, besides a great many in Indiana and Kentucky. He preached for over sixty years and labored faithfully in the vineyard. He was an able and con- vincing speaker and debated with all the leaders of the Camp- bellite church, when those two denominations were greatly at variance. He was an earnest speaker, droll and witty, with a dry humor that greatly appealed to most people. He was a good business man and a good manager, and came to Ohio 'when the country was new, so that he had good opportunities to make profitable investments. He prospered in his under- takings and left an estate of some $80,000. He was especially well known for the promptness with which he began all ser- vices at the appointed hour, even if there were no congregation to hear. On one occasion, when he began services before the arrival of any of the congregation, they came in and saw he was alone and said, "We have got here at last." Rev. Gard- ner replied dryly, "I think it is at last." This was considered a great rebuke as coming from him, for he was of a gentle nature. He wrote a most interesting autobiography, which was published, and which was very instructive along the line

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of the teachings and doctrines of the New Light religion. There has never been a stronger or abler preacher of this faith in Ohio than Rev. Gardner, and he was very well known for the forecful manner in which he met the arguments of the preachers of the Campbellite church, for he invariably won in his debates with them. His face, and especially his forehead, showed him to have a strong intellect, and he was a very deep thinker. Although he had strong convictions, he had a tender, loving heart, and in his preaching and labors touched the heart strings of thousands. He was born in New York, and died in U'nion township, and his wife, whose maiden name was Beasly, was born in Ohio, in Union township, and died at her home.

The children born to Abner DeVore and wife were as fol- lows: B .F., who died in August, 1910; Julia B., widow of Rev. Godfry Godfrey, of Indiana ; J. W., of this sketch ; L. G., of Georgetown, Brown county; G. W., who died in Kansas; C. M., of Kentucky ; Charles Peter, deceased. All were born in Brown county. A brother of Abner De Vore, Peter De Vore, served in the Civil war from Ohio, and lives in Illinois.

J. W. DeVore was educated in the country schools of his native county and remained with his parents until he was twenty years of age, then went west with a prospecting mo- tive. He returned to Ohio and carried on his Grandfather De- Vore's farm, and the following year his father's farm. On March 28, 1872, he married Miss Lucity Dean, a native of Brown county. Ohio, born in 1849, daughter of William and Sarah (Wiles) Dean. Mr. Dean was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1827, and died in 1904, and Mrs. Dean was born in 1840 and died in 1902, both being buried near Bethel. There were ten children in the family, namely: Slathiel lives in Cler- mont county ; Mary E. died about thirty-five years ago, at the age of nineteen years; Marcellus married Jane Kellum, and they live in Brown county ; Thomas married Miss Ollie Gravit and resides in Clermont county : Sullivan, also a resident of Clermont county. married Belle Bear; Andy married Miss Hun Shinkle: Dora lives near Bethel with her sister. Jennie Brooks; Jennie, wife of William Brooks, lives near Bethel : Albert married Myrta Ellis and lives in Bethel.

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. DeVore located near George- town. Brown county, and remained on this farm thirty-four years. They were successful in their operations and in 1906 were able to better their prospects, purchasing a pretty place

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of one hundred and sixty-three acres of good farm land in Franklin township, Clermont county. Mr. DeVore has a large number of hogs, sheep, cattle and horses, and ships his stock to the Cincinnati market. He is an energetic and am- bitious farmer and conducts his affairs in an able and intelli- gent manner. He is very proud of the part taken by his grandfathers in the early history of the region, as he has rea- son to be, and also respects the worthy parents who reared him to an honorable manhood, fitting him for the duties and responsibilities of life. His father has favored the Republican party since its inception, but our subject is a strong Demo- crat in politics, believing the principles of this party especially favor the needs of the common people, and the interest of the majority of our country's citizens. He has served as school director and has always taken great interest in local af- fairs. He and his wife belong to the Methodist church. They had six children, all born in Brown county: Eva Lou, born September 6, 1873, married James Neal, of Brown county, and they have one son, Roland, born October 1, 1904; William Edgar, born December 28, 1874, married Miss Mattie Cahall, lives in Brown county, and has one daughter, Louise, born De- cember 25, 1897; Cora Belle, born September 16, 1876, wife of Harry Hatfield, of Georgetown, has two children, Glen, born in October, 1899, and a daughter, Roberta, born June 15, 1912; Samuel J., born July 5, 1878, married Miss Anna Smith and resides in Clermont county ; Addie Lizzie, born February 7, 1880, wife of Jessie Utter, of Brown county, has two daugh- ters, Mildred and Ruth, aged eight and seven years, and one son, William Earl, born October 11, 1912; Lewis Abner, born April 28, 1884, married Stella Shaw, lives in Clermont county. and has one child, Herbert, born March 17, 1906. Mr. and Mrs. De Vore have worked together for the promotion of their interests, and are much respected for their many good quali- ties. They have a large number of friends and are active in various circles in the community. They are genial and hos- pitable, refined and intelligent, and those who enter their home are well entertained.

FRANK M. DUDLEY.

Mr. Frank M. Dudley, vice-president and secretary of the J. H. Day Company, of 1144 Harrison avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, is a native of Clermont county, Ohio, his birth having

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occurred at Williamsburg, June 22, 1867. He is a son of Mr. Otis Dudley, of whom mention is made elsewhere on these pages.

Frank M. Dudley enjoyed the educational privileges of the public schools of Clermont county, and was reared to farm life. His business career began May 1, 1888, as office boy for the firm with which he has been associated continuously since. He has filled the various position of the company, be- coming vice-president at the time of the incorporation of the company, in 1902, and since 1910 has served as secretary also.

The company was founded by the late Mr. J. H. Day, about 1887, starting with six men employees, which has now a pay roll of about five hundred men. The plant was first at Court and Broadway streets, and the present fine plant was erected in 1897, and has a floor space of five acres. The building is of brick and is fully equipped with all modern machinery. The company manufactures special machinery and the development of the business has been rapid and steady. Mr. Dudley is one of the principal owners of the stock of the company, and de- votes his entire attention to the business.

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History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 17

Author: Byron Williams Publication date: 1913 Publisher: Number of Pages: 925

Author: Byron Williams
Publication date: 1913
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 925