USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 19
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 19
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
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College, of Midway, Ky .; Virginia Belle, born in 1898, at- tends Felicity High School. Mrs. Adams has given her chil- dren excellent education and has carefully reared them to honorable and useful manhood and womanhood.
Mrs. Adams is a music teacher of high standing and is be- lieved to be the ablest member of the profession in Clermont county. She has some thirty pupils in Felicity, and teaches in other villages in that part of the county. She is a woman of culture and refinement, and is well liked for her pleasant man- ner. She owns a farm of seventy-five acres near Felicity, which she rents. She has shown excellent judgment and in- telligence in managing her affairs.
CHARLES A. FAGLEY.
Charles A. Fagley is the most extensive land owner of Tate township, Clermont county, and has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser. He is a native of the county, born at Bethel, in 1855, son of Lewis and Mary (Fox) Fagley. His father was born in Germany in 1802, and died in 1882, and his wife, a native of Ohio, was born in 1812, and died in 1876, both being buried at Bethel. He was but two years old when brought to America by his parents, who located in Cincinnati, where there were but two brick houses in the town, and when the Indians were frequently to be seen on Vine street. He came to Clermont county in 1851 and engaged in farming in Tate township. He and his wife had twelve children, nine of whom grew to maturity, and seven of whom now survive: W. H., deceased ; M. W., of Bethel; Sallie, wife of R. B. Simp- son, of Walnut Hills, Cincinnati ; Keziah, wife of P. D. Milner, of Tate township ; W. C. is deceased ; Harriet Ann, wife of J. R. Barns, of Forestville; Charles A .; E. J. lives at Reading, Hamilton county, and the eldest, Mrs. Eva McHenry, lives at Dayton, Ohio.
Mr. Fagley was educated in Bethel school, remained on his father's farm until he reached his majority, then went to Ne- braska and remained six years. He then returned to his father's farm and remained until the latter's death. In 1887 he was united in marriage with Miss Louise Iden Stone, who was born in the house that is now the Fagley home, in 1855. She is a daughter of Herman and Julia (Iden) Stone. Mr.
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Stone was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1828, and died in 1875, and Mrs. Stone was born in Tate township, Clermont county, in 1833, and died in 1897. They had the fol- lowing four children: Mrs. Fagley, who was the eldest ; William H., of Minnesota; Mary, wife of E. L. Harmon, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; one child died in infancy. Mr. Harmon is a member of the Harmon Real Estate Company. Mr. Fag- ley purchased the Iden farm in 1899 and sold a portion of it later, at a good profit. This farm had been in the Iden family for nearly one hundred years and its original owners were very early settlers of the township. The Stones were also early comers to Clermont county, and both families were promi- nent in its early history. The Fagleys came to Clermont county at a somewhat later date, but all three families have al- ways stood high in public opinion and their members have been well liked.
Mr. Fagley came to his present farm of three hundred acres in Tate township in 1898 and is regarded as a progressive citi- zen and an industrious farmer. He has fine grounds, his house is located on a beautiful building site, and he has very sub- stantial barns and other farm buildings. He has recently erected a new barn. He is popular with his neighbors and has many friends, who appreciate his sterling qualities. His es- timable wife has helped greatly in building up the family fortunes, and is much respected by all. Mr. Fagley was reared a Republican, but is now a Progressive, for he believes in reform and other principals of the new party. He served five years as a member of the school board and for some time was turnpike superintendent. His wife is a member of the Chris- tian church, and he formerly belonged to the Wesleyan de- nomination.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fagley: Wal- ter, twenty-three years of age, born February 16. 1889, attends Moore's Hill College in Indiana, from which he expects to graduate in 1913; Robert, born November 27, 1890, being now twenty-one years of age, is a graduate of Bethel High School, and is now in the employ of the Globe-Wernicke Company, of Cincinnati ; Albert, born January 31. 1893, is a graduate of Bethel High School; Herman, born December 11, 1898; Can- dace Louise died at the age of ten years, and is buried in Bethel cemetery. Although but thirteen years of age, the youngest son, Herman, is in the junior year at Bethel High School.
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Mr. Fagley's brothers, Will and Millard Fagley, served in . the Civil war from Ohio, the first as a captain and the sec- ond as a private. His brothers-in-law, T. B. Miller and Rob- ert Simpson, also served in that war.
ROBB FAMILY.
Alexander Robb and his wife, Barbara (Light) Robb, came to Clermont county, Ohio, in 1804, from Pennsylvania. They settled three miles north of what is now New Richmond. Mrs. Robb had been previously married to a Mr. Williamson, who had been killed in Pennsylvania by the Indians. By this mar- riage there were four children, of whom there are a number of descendants ir. Ohio. The present sheriff of Clermont coun- ty, Charles Williams, is a great-grandson. The Robb's chil- dren who grew to maturity and married were six in number- four sons and two daughters:
James Robb, the oldest, was born near Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1788. He died in Highland county, Ohio, July 5, 1863. He had married Catherine Husong, by whom there were seven children who grew to years of maturity. Of these all married except Louisa, the youngest, who died at nineteen years of age. Andrew, the oldest, was a physician in Ohio for fifty years.
The second son, Isaac, was both a farmer and amateur law- yer, who was ready at any time to come to the defense of anyone he thought was about to be wronged.
Charles, the third, is mentioned in another part of this work.
Lucian B., a son by a second marriage of James Robb, is a resident of East Cincinnati, where he has been identified with the drug business for the last fifty years. He has also been in the real estate and building and loan associations many years. He married Miss Clara Carver. No children. They have cared for several of other people's children in a parental way.
Andrew Robb is survived by an only daughter, Mrs. Clara R. Smith, who, with her family, now resides at Montrose, Colo.
Isaac, the second son, died August 14, 1893. He left a widow and five children.
The oldest daughter, Mrs. M. L. R. Hutchinson, with her family, four in all, is a resident of Clermont county.
The second daughter, Georgia R. Brachman, with three of her family, lives at San Diego, Cal.
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The third daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth J. R. Selph, died Novem- ber 19, 1905. She left a husband and six children, two sons and four daughters.
The youngest daughter, Mrs. Dollie M. R. White, resides on Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband, and an only daughter.
Lucian B. Robb (before mentioned) is the only one of the third generation now bearing the name of James Robb's branch of the family, and the youngest member of the family, Dr. Isaac Robb, who lives in Tacoma, Wash., is the only one of the fourth generation to bear the name of the same branch. The founder of the family was of Scotch-Irish parentage, and in religion a Presbyterian.
There were two authors among the descendants, one of the third generation and one of the fourth, the latter being the late Eliza Archard Conner.
EDWARD H. PATTISON.
Prof. Edward H. Pattison, superintendent of the public schools at Owensville, Ohio, is a man of broad literary attain- ment and the impress of his individuality is felt in all the de- partments of the school. A portion of his time is devoted to the supervision of the schools and the remainder of the time is given to teaching. The birth of Edward H. Pattison oc- curred in 1877, near Bethel, Ohio, his parents being John S. and Mary (Manning) Pattison, the former of whom was born near Point Isabel in 1847, and died September 23, 1906. He was a successful farmer of Tate township, practically all of his active life. His wife was born near Bethel in 1849, and is now making her home with her son, Edward H.
Mr. Pattison is one of seven children, all born in Clermont county, Ohio, and are as follows :
Clarence, is a teacher of Van Wert, Ohio.
Myrtle, who is the wife of William Reinhardt, is a resident of Branch Hill, Ohio.
John Ross, of Covington, Ky., is a wood carver by occupa- tion.
Walter Clifton is a resident of Cincinnati.
Dale is employed in Cincinnati.
Frank is a teacher of Stonelick township. Clermont county.
Prof. Pattison obtained his education in the various smaller
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schools of the county, later becoming a student of the Bethel High School. He continued his studies at the Amelia High School, from which he graduated, remaining under the parental roof until he had reached his majority.
Mr. Pattison entered the Spanish-American war at the age of twenty-one years and gave five months' service to his country in her time of need. After his return from the war, it became necessary for him to spend a year in Colorado to recuperate his health, which had become impaired by the ex- posure and hardship during his service.
Returning to Clermont county after his western trip, Mr. Pattison was united in marriage, in 1900, to Miss Irene Mc- Kibben, who was born at Flags Springs, Ky., April 18, 1883, a daughter of Albert and Theresa (Ross) Mckibben. The father was born in 1857, in Clermont county, Ohio, and the mother was born near Laurel, Ohio, in Clermont county. They are residents of Moscow, Washington township, Clermont county. In their family were six children, all natives of Cler- mont county.
Mary is the wife of Thomas Peterson, of Point Pleasant, Ohio.
Emma became the wife of Charles Hirsh, and is deceased. The parents of Mr. Hirsh purchased the old Grant home at Point Pleasant, and .Mr. Charles Hirsh was born in the same room in which General Grant first saw the light of day.
Albert is a resident of Point Pleasant, Ohio.
Pearl, who has never married, is at home.
Irene, is Mrs. Pattison.
John, at home.
Mrs. Pattison's mother was a playmate of General Corbin, and her Grandfather Ross was a native of Germany, who came to this country when quite young. Her grandfather, George Mckibben, and his four sons, J. W. Mckibben, Frank Mc- Kibben, W. T. Mckibben, and David Mckibben, all served as soldiers in the Fifty-ninth regiment of Ohio volunteer infan- try in the Civil war.
In the family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Pattison are two children :
Stanley E., who was born March 17, 1902, at Lindale, Cler- mont county, Ohio.
Thelma M., born in Clermontville, Ohio, July 21, 1903.
The Pattison family were originally from the east and set- tled in Clermont county, Ohio, when it was very thinly settled.
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The late Governor John M. Pattison was a distant relative of Mr. E. H. Pattison, and was one of the first of the family to change the spelling of the name from Patterson to the pres- ent Pattison.
Since his return from Colorado, Prof. Pattison has followed the profession of teaching in Clermont county, and in 1910 was elected to take charge of the schools at Owensville, as superintendent of schools. He has a contract to fill this posi- tion for three years, from 1912 to 1915, and is perhaps the youngest superintendent in the county. He also enjoys the distinction of being the only teacher in the county who is drawing a pension for services in the Spanish-American war. It is also a matter of some note that four of the family of seven children born to the parents of Mr. Pattison are, or have been, teachers in the county. Mr. Pattison now holds both common and high school State certificates, granted by the State of Ohio.
Mr. Pattison purchased his pleasant home on Broadway in 1912, and all that he has accumulated has been through his own efforts. He has become a factor in educational circles of the county and has discharged the duties of his present posi- tion with a promptness and fidelity that has left no question as to his ability and personal worth.
In politics, Prof, Pattison gives his support to the Demo- cratic party, and while he does not seek office, he takes a great interest in all questions that affect the public good of the community in which he lives. Mr. Pattison attends the Methodist church, of which Mrs. Pattison is an active member.
HENRY O. PURKHISER.
Mr. Henry O. Purkhiser owns and operates his finely im- proved farm of seventy-five acres, which is located on the Lin- dale Pike in Monroe township, Clermont county, Ohio. His progressive ideas and earnest industry are indicated by his beautiful and substantial home. His life has been one of con- tinuous and well directed activity, and he is classed among the leading agriculturists of the county.
Mr. Purkhiser was born in Monroe township, south of Nicholsville, Clermont county, Ohio, March 8. 1852, and is a son of Lorenzo Dow and Eliza ( Brannen) Purkhiser, the lat-
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HENRY O. PURKHISER
LAURA C. (HANNA) PURKHISER
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ter of whom was a native of Clermont county, having been born in Washington township in 1816 and died in Monroe township in 1891. She was one of nine children, including : Newton, John, Harvey, Milton, Sarah, Mary, Dorcas and Martha.
Lorenzo Dow Purkhiser, the father of our subject, was born in Washington township, Clermont county, June 16, 1815, and passed away November 15, 1887, after spending his entire life in the county of his nativity. He was a farmer and stock raiser of great business ability, being thoroughly familiar with all the details of general farming. He served in school and local offices of the county, doing his duty by all. He was a captain of the militia in the early days. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Purkhiser, who were married Novem- ber 23, 1812, were probably both born in Clermont county, their home being in Washington township. Elizabeth was a daughter of Michael Gilbert, a Clermont county farmer. They were the parents of six children :
Lorenzo Dow, the father of our subject, John, Gilbert, Col- lins, Nancy, and Catherine.
Mr. Purkhiser acquired a good common school education, deciding early in life to follow the occupation of farming and to this end learned from his father all that is essential to suc- cess in that line.
On November 27, 1878, was celebrated the marriage of Henry O. Purkhiser to Miss Laura C. Hanna, who was born February 14, 1856, in Illinois, and is a daughter of Charles and Elmina L. (Breadwell) Hanna, who were residents of Tate township, Clermont county, Ohio, for many years. El- mina L. (Breadwell) Hanna was one of eight sisters, all of whom lived to an advanced age, and three brothers, one of whom died recently, while the other two are living. The old- est now living is over ninety years of age and the youngest is over eighty years of age. Mrs. Hanna died in 1908, in the eigh- ty-first year of her age. Charles Hanna was a captain of militia in the early days and served through the greater part of the Civil war, being killed in battle.
Mrs. Purkhiser is one of nine children :
David's death took place when he was sixteen years of age.
Mary, married John Porter, of Tennessee.
Saphronia, is the wife of Charles Calkins, of Tennessee.
Lydia, is Mrs. Marion Davis, residing in Illinois.
Mrs. H. O. Purkhiser.
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Thomas B., of Peoria, Ill., is in the grocery business, and is secretary of the Retail Grocers' Association, of that place.
Clara, married John Barrett, of Indianapolis, Ind.
Charles, a resident of New York City, is inspector of the glucose factories for a large corporation.
Belle, is Mrs. John Hill, of Peoria, Il1.
Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Purkhiser have had seven children born to their union, of whom two died in infancy. The others are :
Allen C., born December 10, 1882, and died September 7, 1885.
Howard Guy, whose birth occurred June 8, 1887, is a resi- dent of Idaho.
Roy C., born February 25, 1889, is attending the Ohio State University, studying civil engineering.
Miss Louise, who was born February 12, 1894, is a graduate of the Batavia High School. .
Miss Mary D., born December 16, 1895, attending Batavia High School.
Mr. Purkhiser has one brother and two sisters living:
Martha, who is the widow of Dr. George L. Zugg, is a resi- dent of Hyde Park, Cincinnati.
Annie, who was the wife of Dr. J. P. Richardson, died at Chicago in 1907.
Emma Caroline and Mary D. died in infancy.
Lorenzo B. resides in Idaho.
Arabella was Mrs. Dr. Charles L. Kennedy, of Laurel, Ohio. Her death occurred in January, 1912.
Miss Ella B., of Hyde Park, Cincinnati.
Mr. Purkhiser votes for the principles of the Democratic party, but is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. He keeps well informed on all the questions and issues of the day and is loyal to the principles in which he believes. He is in- terested in the schools of his vicinity and has served on the school board. He holds membership in Amelia Blue Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and both he and Mrs. Purkhiser are devoted members of the Presbyterian church, giving lib- erally to all worthy causes.
It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Purkhiser has many warm friends and admirers in the county, owing to his rare insight into human nature, and his just dealings with all. His natural adaptability and constant attention to the details of his agricultural business have made of him a pronounced suc-
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cess. He has been aided by his estimable and efficient wife, who has devoted her life to the best interests of her husband and children.
WILLIAM H. EVANS, M. D.
William H. Evans, M. D., who for nearly a half of a century has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Hiett, in Hunt- ington township, Brown county, Ohio, is a man of remarkable personality and signal achievement and the life of one so closely connected with professional, religious and literary movements of any community is generally invested with much interest ; and a short sketch of such a life cannot but prove in- structive to the careful reader of history.
For the past fifty-two years Dr. Evans has been a contribu- tor to the "Ripley Bee," writing under the nom de plume of "Barlow." His war record brought him into honorable prom- inence also, for with that spirit of bravery and duty which has ever characterized him, he offered himself to his country, for service, early in the siege of the Civil war.
The birth of Dr. William H. Evans occurred on the land settled by his grandfather, in 1800, in Huntington township, Brown county, his natal day being October 8, 1835, having a twin brother, Abraham F., who in later years was also an emi- nent physician, who died in 1862. The parents of William H. Evans were Hon. Andrew and Mary (Hiett) Evans.
Hon. Andrew Evans was born at the old home, two miles below Hiett, on the East Fork of Eagle creek, December 12, 1809, and passed from this life at the same home, on Septem- ber 12, 1879. He was a successful farmer and skilled me- chanic, having a shop on the farm, near the mill which his father built and operated, as did Andrew and others of the family. He was a Democrat until 1862. He was elected to the Ohio legislature from Brown county, serving one term. He was recognized as a leading politician and as a strictly hon- orable and able citizen. He was a son of John and Mary (Housh) Evans.
John Evans was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, No- vember 17, 1770, and his death took place in Brown county, Ohio, April 27, 1862. In the year of 1792, John Evans left the State of his nativity and settled near Blue Lick. Springs in Kentucky, where he had a residence for some eight years. In 1800, he came to Brown county, Ohio, where he purchased
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five hundred and thirty-five acres in the central part of Hunt- ington township. Later, in 1826, Mr. Evans erected a grist mill on the Little East Fork of Eagle creek, which was in operation for many years. He was a staunch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and was one of the first county commissioners of Brown county. He was a gallant soldier in the War of 1812, and served in the ranks of the privates. In religious faith, he was of the Quaker persuasion, while his wife was of the Episcopalian belief. She was born in Pennsylvania, where they were married and her mother was of German birth. John Evans was a son of John, Sr., and Han- nah (Griffith) Evans, both of whom died in Maryland. John Evans, Sr., was a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Evans, of Welsh descent; they settled in Philadelphia county, Pennsyl- vania, near New North Wales.
Mary (Hiett) Evans was born in Huntington township, Brown county, Ohio, April 21, 1815, and departed this life August 10, 1892. She was a daughter of William and Mary (Daniels) Hiett, both of Fairfax county, Virginia, who came to Brown county after their marriage, about 1806. Two of their children, Nellie and Samuel, were born in Virginia. and the others were born in Brown county. Mary Hiett was the youngest of eight children, including John, James, Lettie, Isa- bella and Elizabeth.
A brother of William, John Hiett, came to Brown county in 1812, and it was his son. John K., who was the largest con- tributor to the building of John K. Hiett's chapel, that build- ing being named in honor of him. This chapel was erected in 1870, and is located in the western part of Huntington town- ship, on Eagle creek, on the North Pole pike. leading to Rip- ley. William and John Hiett were sons of Simeon and Polly ( Providence ) Hiett, both of whom were born in Fairfax coun- ty, Virginia. where they also died.
Dr. William H. Evans is one of eleven children, of whom one brother and three sisters are living :
Samuel, born April 18. 1834, and died May 27. 1910, at his home on the old home place. in Huntington township.
William H., and his twin brother. Abraham F .. born Octo- ber 8. 1835. the latter of whom died on May 4. 1862, at his home at Aberdeen, Ohio .. He was also a physician and had practiced some years before his death at Pleasant Hill, Ind.
Indiana, born November 3. 1837. married Mr. George W. Early, September 3. 1857, and her residence is at Columbus,
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Ohio. Her son, Dr. Louis Mortimer, died in the spring of 1912 and Mr. Early is also deceased.
John B., born March 12, 1841, died May 27, 1863. He was a member of Company F, Seventieth Ohio volunteer infantry. His death was the result of an illness, contracted in the ser- vice.
Amos A., born April 2, 1843, and died November 24, 1864. at home. He was a clerk in the war department for some time.
Mary, born September 30, 1845, married February 6, 1873, to Mr. Walter Grierson, and they reside at Hiett, where they own a store, which they have conducted for some time.
Isabella E., born March 25, 1849, married on March 28, 1872, to John F. Hawk, of near Ripley, on the Russellville Pike. Her son conducts a livery at Ripley.
Ann Delia, born October 24, 1851, died January 25, 1866.
Joseph H., born February 15, 1854, and married Louisa B. Dragoo. His death occurred August 1, 1892, and his widow lives in Union township.
Lee Andrew, born October 16, 1858, is a resident of Los Angeles, Cal., where for the past six years he has been engaged as a veterinary surgeon.
in both professional and business life have grown up on farms, and such was the case of Dr. Evans. When he had reached school age, he also assisted his father on the farm, and in the mill, and after completing the district schools, he entered a local grammar school, in company with his twin brother, Abraham F. In this way he acquired a good common school education, which in later life enabled him to broaden his knowledge along other more congenial lines.
On the 23d of September, 1857, William H. Evans was united in marriage to Amanda, daughter of Robert and Jo- hanna (Cooper) Scott, of Brown county. Mrs. Evans died November 1, 1860, at the age of twenty-two years, five months and thirteen days, leaving two children: Samuel Walter, who was born July 12, 1858, died October 6. 1861, and Andrew,
It has often been remarked that most of the successful men who was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, October 19, 1860, and died September 19, 1861.
In 1860, Mr. Evans removed from Huntington township, Brown county, to near West Point, Tippecanoe county, Indi- ana, where he engaged in farming for one season, and also read medicine with his twin brother, who had graduated from
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