USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 20
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 20
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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the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati. After the death of Mrs. Evans he returned to his parents' home with the babes. He then studied medicine with Dr. Denham S. Guthrie, at Aberdeen, until his enlistment in the army of the Civil war.
On April 12, 1862, Dr. William Evans entered the army in Company E, Eighty-ninth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and was appointed duty sergeant in the organization of the regiment. He was sent to the front and was active in numer- ous engagements up to August 14, 1863, when he was com- missioned hospital steward of the regiment. He participated in thirty-one battles and skirmishes, his regiment being organ- ized with the First brigade, Third division, Fourteenth army corps, under Generals Thomas and Sherman. Dr. Evans en- gaged in the famous "March to the Sea," and the engagements included Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face, Tun- nell Hill, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and others. He was never injured seriously nor suffered from any illness to interfere with his duties. On December 24, 1864, he was detailed hospital steward of the Fourteenth corps, remain- ing in Savanah until the following March, then rejoined the regiment at Goldsboro, N. C., remaining there until Johnson's surrender. The regiment then marched to Washington City, where, on June 7, 1865, he received an honorable discharge. He participated in the Grand Review at the capital, after which he returned to his home.
Returning to Aberdeen, Ohio, after the close of the war, Mr. Evans resumed his medical study with Dr. John W. Guthrie, continuing until the October following. when he entered the Charity Hospital Medical College, of Cleveland, Ohio, and at- tended the lectures of Prof. R. N. Barr. then surgeon-general of Ohio. On February 21, 1866, he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine and at once began the practice of his pro- fession in Huntington township, removing to Hiett, on Sep- tember 30, 1868.
The marriage of Dr. William H. Evans to Maria Power Games occurred on December 5. 1867. She was born in Hunt- ington township, Brown county, Ohio, February 25, 1853, a daughter of Hon. John F. and Amanda (Earley) Games. Seven children have been added to the family of Dr. and Mrs. Evans, two of whom are deceased, Wylie and Nellie H., the latter of whom died in infancy. The others are as follows:
W. T. Sherman and P. H. Sheridan, twins, who were born October 1, 1868. The former resides at home and is an at-
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tache of the State hospital at Dayton, Ohio, which position he has filled for the past seven years. The latter is an attache of the hospital of Columbus, Ohio. He married Miss Agnes Shewmaker.
Esther Early, born August 22, 1874, is the wife of William N. Campbell, of Union township, near Ripley, Ohio. He is a grandson of the late Dr. and United States Senator Campbell. of Ripley. They are the parents of five children-Nellie B., Leora N., William Richard, Edwin A. and Evelyn E.
Minnie Myrtle, born February 16, 1876, is the wife of Edwin B. Kinkead, a farmer of Union township. They have two chil- dren, Esther Marie and William Glenn.
Wylie Weber, born November 30, 1878, died at Ripley, Ohio, June 24, 1894.
Edwin Glenn was born January 21, 1894. He is at home with his parents.
Dr. and Mrs. Evans reside at their comfortable home at Hiett. Dr. Evans joined the Christian church at Bethlehem, in 1856, being the first of the family to become a member. He was licentiate minister of the Ohio Christian conference for twelve years, when he resigned. Mrs. Evans is also a member of that denomination.
In politics, Dr. Evans has always been an advocate of the principles of the Republican party and has always taken an intelligent interest in all public affairs. He was Republican nominee for sheriff in 1870, and was also nominee for State Senator in the the Fourth district, but was defeated owing to the heavy Democratic plurality.
For a period of four years, Dr. Evans was chairman of the I'nited States board of pension examiners, with headquarters at Maysville, Ky., under President Harrison.
Socially, Dr. Evans is a member of W. Wirt Liggett Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Ripley, Ohio. He served as chaplain and also a surgeon. He served as an officer of the Ohio State organization, department of Ohio.
Dr. Evans has successfully practiced his profession for forty- five years at Hiett, Ohio, and is most highly esteemed as a physician and as a citizen by a very large circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances. He is also widely known as a well informed authority on matters historical.
Benjamin Evans, an uncle of our subject, was justice of the peace for many years, and also served in the capacity of coun- ty auditor of Brown county, and later served as State Sena-
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tor. A son of his, Andrew Evans, has served as representative of Atchinson county, Kansas.
Dr. William H. Evans is always in touch with the progress of the times in business life, in political thought, in religious sentiment, and in the general movement of the world toward a higher civilization. He is a useful and forceful factor in mold- ing public thought and opinion, leaving the impress of his in- dividuality for good upon many lines of thought and activity. In purity and strength of character, whether as a private citi- zen or a public servant, he has few equals.
THE JOHN JENKINS FAMILY.
John Jenkins, a native of England, immigrated to New Jer- sey and settled near Little Egg Harbor, where Tuckerton now stands. Here, he reared a large family, among whom were the sons, Uriah, Isaac, and John, men of sterling worth. Isaac and his wife, Hannah, were noble types of New Jersey Meth- odism. Isaac was for many years mail contractor and stage owner on the route between Tuckerton and Philadelphia. This couple lived to a good old age, leaving a large property. for that day, his nephew, John Jenkins, of Ohio, being one of the beneficiaries of his will. One daughter of the emigrant John Jenkins married Joseph Adams, a son of whom came to Cler- mont county. Another married a Mr. Penn. Her life was the tragedy of the family. for becoming insane. in one of her fren- zies, she killed her husband. The youngest daughter. Rebecca. married George Peterson. Their bodies lie in Williamsburg cemetery.
John Jenkins, son of the English emigrant, who was born November 20. 1764, and died July 12. 1830, was married to Catherine Vaughan, of Philadelphia. She was of French de- scent, beautiful in feature, graceful in form, sweet-spirited and gentle, possessed of energy and courage fitting for pioneer times, and a strict Methodist, always wearing the "Methodist bonnet." In 1805 John and Catherine Jenkins came with their eight children to find a new home in the far west, traveling in wagons over the Alleghany mountains, shooting game and catching fish for much of their subsistence, by the way. Some- times the wagons were separated for days, and even weeks, causing delays and anxiety. Reaching the Ohio river they
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floated down on a flat boat, sheltered by a tent for cooking their food, and to furnish their sleeping arrangements. Land- ing at the mouth of Bullskin creek, they journeyed northward to Bantam, near Ulrey's Run, where they were entertained at the home of David and Nancy White, the latter being a sister of Catherine Jenkins, until their own cabin was prepared. Here, with marvelous energy, they began home making. By their strenuous efforts, they soon became independent, getting their farm in order and, later, building a substantial two-story frame house, which was the pride of the neighborhood. Here their nine children, one born in their new home, grew to lives of usefulness and honor. They were devout Methodists, and were largely instrumental in building the society and the church home called Collin's Chapel, in honor of the pioneer preacher, Rev. John Collins. The name was later changed to Bethel, then to Old Bethel. The old cemetery there con- tains a monument which marks the burial place of Rev. John Collins. John and Catherine Jenkins are buried there, he dy- ing July 12, 1830, and she July 15, 1840, aged seventy-two years. The children of John and Catherine Jenkins were : Zephaniah, Mary, Elizabeth, Thomas, Susanna, John. Joseph, Rhoda, and Nancy. Zephaniah's first marriage was to Nancy Burnett, and second to Perine Guinup. Mary married Robert Cazel. Elizabeth's husband was Benjamin Barton. Thomas married Permelia Anderson. Susanna's first husband was Robert Wright and second, George Peterson. Joseph mar- ried Susan Fisher, niece of Hon. David Fisher. Rhoda mar- ried Samuel Cordry, and Nancy married John Harvey.
John Jenkins, third son of John and Catherine Jenkins, was born March 9. 1800, and came with his parents to Ohio in 1805. He made fair proficiency in the meager schools of the time, and, by capability and integrity was, through life, called to fill many places of trust. He lived for a time in the family of the noted Rev. John Collins, for whom and his excellent wife, he ever held the highest esteem, as friends and counselors. On August 23, 1825, he was married to Eliza Homan. They bought a farm near Williamsburg, where they reared their family. He was a true patriot, and was noted as a champion for the abolition of slavery, and for temperance. He died July 15, 1873.
Eliza Jenkins, the daughter of David and Rachel Davis Homan, was born in Camden, N. J .. November 17, 1805. When not more than six years old, she lost her mother, and then
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lived for a short time with an aunt in Philadelphia, then came west with her father, who died soon after, leaving her de- pendent upon her own exertions. Her schooling was a term of six weeks, the "quarter" of a subscription school being divided between her and a step-brother. In this time she learned to read and write, all other knowledge of books being acquired alone while working bravely for her own support, and helping a younger brother. She was of modest and retiring nature, possessing strong common sense, was earnest and forceful in her purposes of right and duty. She died November 7, 1879.
Their children were four. George Peterson, born May 22, 1826, after leaving district school, was a student in Rev. Gaines' Select School, in Williamsburg. He began teaching early, and later conducted May Seminary, in Bantam, where he met and married Caroline, daughter of John and Nancy Simmons Hitch. After teaching a high school for sometime in Connersville, Ind., he entered the Southeast Indiana Con- ference, as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. Here he labored many years, rising to a first class place in the conference, was given the title of Doctor of Divinity, served as pastor of circuits and stations, as presiding elder and dele- gate to general conference. The last three years of his active life he was president of Moore's Hill College. Broken in health he retired to his home in Greencastle, where he died. April 1, 1897. The older son of George P. and Caroline Jen- kins, Oliver Peebles Jenkins, born November 3, 1850, is a graduate of Moore's Hill College, a post-graduate of North- western University and of Johns Hopkins University. He for a time conducted the Indiana State Normal, was a professor in DePauw University, and he entered Stanford University, California, at its institution, as professor of natural sciences, which chair he still fills. He is the author of two text books on physiology. which were adopted in the Indiana public schools, and is an authority on other scientific subjects. Clara, only daughter of George P. and Caroline Jenkins, was born January 26, 1853. and is the wife of Rev. Alfred Kummer, D. D .. of Oakland. Cal. Wilbur Olin, younger son of George P. and Caroline Jenkins, born December 28. 1861. is now a leading physician in Terre Haute, Ind.
Joseph. second son of John and Eliza Jenkins, born Feb- ruary 26, 1830. attended May Seminary, taught a number of years, and was married. April 23, 1857. to Elizabeth, daughter of Orson and Hannah Burnett Young. and bought a farm
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near Williamsburg, to which he added until it became so large as to claim his whole attention the balance of his life. He pos- sessed more than ordinary mental power, with keen insight, good judgment, and unflinching integrity, he filled many posi- tions of trust. He served as justice of the peace for many years, and was a valued advisor in law and other matters. He died July 28, 1890. Of his children, Mary was born Septem- ber 26, 1859, and is married to James, son of Joseph and Jane Glancy, and lives at Afton, Ohio. Harvey Edgar, born June 8, 1865, at present owns and conducts a feed mill and store in Williamsburg. Albertine, born April 14, 1873, married Wil- bur, son of Frank and Sarah Slade Duckwall, of Batavia, and died at their home in Salina, Kan., April 25, 1912.
Anna, daughter of John and Eliza Jenkins, born January 14, 1834, after leaving public school, attended May Seminary and the Spofford Select School of Williamsburg, taught in Cler- mont, Brown and Montgomery counties, filling at different times every department in the Williamsburg schools, includ- ing superintendent, the only woman who has filled that duty in Clermont county. This life work has included more than forty years of successful labor. Late in life, she was married to Dr. Charles Parker Dennis, son of James and Sarah Parker Dennis, formerly of Batavia. He was born April 8, 1833, at Batavia, Ohio, and died August 5, 1908, at Portsmouth, Ohio. His principal education, after leaving common schools, was at Miami University. While there, he enlisted in Company D, Forty-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, as a private, and was promoted to second lieutenant, Company D, December, 1861, and first lieutenant, Company B, December, 1862, and to captain, November 26, 1864, but was not mustered. He was discharged by expiration of term of service, November 18, 1864. He served as assistant inspector on the staff of General Ewing, and in division headquarters on the staff of Gen. M. L. Smith. He was in a number of battles, and was wounded four times. He was graduated from the Ohio Dental College and finally located in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was a member of Bailey Post. Grand Army of the Republic, and of the Loyal Legion of the United States. At the time of his death, he was serving on the city board of review of Portsmouth. The home of Anna Jenkins Dennis is now in Williamsburg, Ohio.
John Harvey, third son of John and Eliza Jenkins, born July 30, 1839, was a student in May Seminary. He taught two years, and was looking forward to education for the ministry,
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when the shock of the Civil war came. He answered Lincoln's first call for volunteers, on the fall of Fort Sumter, enlisting in Company E, Twenty-second regiment, Ohio volunteer infan- try. After that service of three months, he enlisted for three years, in Company B, Eighty-ninth Ohio regiment. He had served half that time, when he received his death wound in the battle at Tunnel Hill, just after passing through the conflict of Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. He enlisted as a private and was promoted, a lieutenant's commission coming to him on his deathbed. He died in Chattanooga Hospital, March 16, 1864. His remains rest in Concord cemetery. He was tried and true. His now aged comrades in arms still speak of him with tears of love and sorrow. In honor of his name, the Wil- liamsburg Post, No. 242, Grand Army of the Republic, bears his name.
HUGH L. NICHOLS.
Hugh L. Nichols, Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, was born at New Richmond, Clermont county. March 25. 1865. He is the eldest son of the late Judge Perry J. and Mrs. Jeannette (Gil- more) Nichols, and through his father a descendant of Col. Jonathan Donham, a man prominent in the early days of the county. Ilis great-uncle, P. J. Donham, was for years recog- nized as one of the leading and most successful lawyers in Cincinnati, and other members of the family achieved distinc- tion in other lines. Up to his fourteenth year the subject of this sketch lived with his parents in New Richmond, and be- gan his schooling there and even at that carly age by pro- ficiency in his studies, gave evidence of his possession of that strong mentality which has been so fully manifested in his later career. Removing with his family to Batavia in 1879, where his father went to assume the duties of the office of probate judge, he completed his common school course in that village, graduating from the high school in the class of 1883.
The year after his graduation he matriculated as a student at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he remained for a year. but desiring to complete the study of the law, which he had already taken up, he entered the Cincinnati Law School, and in due course was admitted to the bar, in 1880. Entering into a partnership with his father. under the firm name of Nichols
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& Nichols, he soon demonstrated his ability in the hard con- tests of actual practice, taking up almost from the beginning, the trial of the cases of his firm. He has perhaps tried more cases in court in the past twenty-five years than any contem- porary member of the local bar. About 1900 his brother, Allen B. Nichols, was admitted to the partnership, which continued until dissolved by the death of Judge Nichols, in 1908.
The firm which enjoys a large and lucrative practice, is made up of the two brothers, Hugh L. and Allen B. Nichols. Few cases of great importance have been tried in the Clermont courts for years in which Governor Nichols did not appear as. one of the leading counsel. Adhesion to the Democratic faith in politics is a tradition in that branch of the Nichols family to which the Governor belongs, and his interest in public af- fairs and in politics was early manifested. The qualities of his mind especially fitted him for political management and lead- ership, and his abilities in that direction first had scope in the campaign of 1890, in which year the Clermont Democracy achieved one of its greatest victories. A result which was justly largely attributed to the efforts of the young leader. Never seeking office for himself, he was nominated and elected as a member of the Ohio State Senate in 1897, and served with distinction, but declined a re-election.
His service and abilities then attracted to him the notice of men of affairs, and in 1898, when only thirty-three years of age, he was made the nominee of his party for supreme judge of Ohio. After this campaign he devoted his attention for several years to the practice of his profession, until called upon by Governor Harmon, in 1910, to take charge of his campaign for re-election. His work in that campaign, when he mar- shaled the Democratic force of Ohio to their greatest victory, is now a matter of history.
On the election of Lieutenant-Governor Pomerene to the United States Senate, Governor Harmon's tender of the ap- pointment to the vacancy to Governor Nichols, was a graceful acknowlegment of the debt which he felt he owed his man -. ager. During the session of the legislature which followed, he presided over the deliberations of the Senate and showed not only his skill in guiding a turbulent assembly, but also his de- votion to those progressive principles to which his party is now so completely committed.
When Governor Harmon cast about for a manager for his
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presidential campaign the splendid service rendered by Gov- ernor Nichols in the campaign of 1910, pointed to him as a fitting man. His work in that contest from the opening of headquarters until the last ballot was taken at Baltimore, dis- played the energy, ability and loyalty to his obligations which are marked features of Governor Nichols's character. While he did not win in the sense of nominating his candidate, he showed those; qualities which deserve success.
When the Ohio Democratic State convention met, in 1912, Governor Nichols, yielding to the persistent demand by his party associates in the State, consented to accept the nomina- tion for lieutenant governor, as the running mate of Governor Cox. At the ensuing election, he ran third on a ticket contain- ing ten names, and his majority was over one hundred and fifty thousand.
As these lines are written, he is presiding over the State Senate at Columbus. Governor Nichols was a delegate from the Sixth district to the Democratic National convention in 1900, and in 1912 a delegate at large from the State of Ohio to the Baltimore convention, where he appeared as the per- sonal representative of Governor Harmon on the floor.
His political career has been a brilliant one, and those who know the man and his ability and have watched his career, do not doubt that the future holds greater honors in store for him.
The true estimate of a man is made by those who for years have come in contact with him in his daily life and judged by this test, Hugh L. Nichols comes up fully to the highest con- ception of citizenship and manhood. The esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and the wide popularity which he enjoys is based not only upon pride in his recognized ability, but in the feeling akin to affection born of a knowledge of his kindly impulses, his quick and sympathetic heart and his generous and unostentatious charities, which are limited by neither creed, condition, nor color. Governor Nichols has been a member of the Presbyterian church since boyhood, wand is prominent in its work and faithful in his attendance on its services. His discharge of every duty, public and private, which has devolved upon him has born the impress of that high-mindedness which is a distinguishing feature of his char- acter. Governor Nichols was married in 1887 to Miss Louise Dean Stirling, a daughter of the late W. B. C. Stirling, an amiable and accomplished woman, and their beautiful home on Wood street in Batavia is a center of social activities and the seat of a refined and generous hospitality.
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LEONIDAS S. FRIDMAN.
The name which appears at the head of this biographical mention is worthy of a place in these volumes as a represen- tative of a family widely known in connection with the im- portant business interests of Clermont county, Ohio, a fam- ily which in its history illustrates those qualities of enterprise, sound judgment and unwavering integrity, which has won rec- ognition in the county of their nativity because of the busi- ness acumen of many who have borne the name.
One of the most versatile of the sons of Franklin Fridman, Sr., is Leonidas S. Fridman, whose varied interests have made him an important figure in the business circles of this locality. He is secretary and treasurer of the Fridman Lumber Com- pany, vice-president of the First National Bank, of New Rich- mond, succeeding his father as director in 1895, secretary and treasurer of the Fridman Seating Company, and is a director of four other incorporated companies, being president of two of them and vice-president of another.
Leonidas S. Fridman was born at Clermontville, Ohio, Au- gust II, 1868, and was reared and educated in the schools of Monroe township, after which he became a student of the noted Parker's Academy. In 1888, he took a business course at the Eastman Business College, of Poughkeepsie, New York, graduating in March, 1889.
At the age of eleven years, Mr. Fridman displayed great ambition toward a business career, which he began by clerking in his father's store at Clermontville. At the age of sixteen years he turned his attention to agricultural matters and as- sisted in the operation of the home farm, following this line of business until 1888. After his return from business college, he accepted a position with the Fridman-Roberts Company, which he held for six months, resigning to become second clerk on the steamer "Tacoma," which plied the Ohio river from Cincinnati to Chilo. In November, 1891, Mr. Fridman resigned this position to accept a clerkship on the steamer "Bonanza," which was owned by the Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Big Sandy & Pomeroy Packet Company, continuing until June, 1892. He then became associated with the Fridman- Roberts Company, and in March, 1893, purchased the interest of Mr. Roberts, the corporation becoming the Fridman Lum- ber Company, with our subject as treasurer, which position he held to January, 1896, when he was elected secretary and treasurer, which position he has held continuously since.
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From 1901 to 1911, Mr. L. S. Fridman owned and operated a store at Wyatt, Mo., in Mississippi county, and together with his brother, William M. Fridman, bought small tracts of land, adding to until they owned several hundred acres of the best Missouri land, which they finally sold out at a handsome profit, in December, 1910. Mr. L. S. Fridman sold his store and stock in November, 1911, and has since been interested in other and larger enterprises.
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