History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 24

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 24
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 24

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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as Colonial times, and for a time were in New Jersey. One of them, whose name is not now known, went to Pittsburgh, and some of his descendants live in Pennsylvania yet. It is also known that during Revolutionary times one held to the cause of England, and moved to Canada. The other one, Frederick Eveland, remained in New Jersey, where he mar- ried, and to him were born children, among whom was John Eveland, who was born there on January 3, 1753. One of his sons was Harmon Eveland, who was born in New Jersey, July 29, 1775. He married Esther Van Buskirk, who was born January 28, 1781. They lived at or near Elizabethtown, and there their son, Peter, was born, in 1808. In 1816 the family moved to Ohio, and settled in Clermont county, and it is from him that the Evelands of Clermont have come.

JACOB LOWELL ROUDEBUSH.

Jacob Roudebush was a great friend of the common schools. With the help of his near neighbors, the Marshes, Ferrees, Pat- tersons and Hills, a log school house was built on his farm near the present site of the school house in sub-district No. 1, Stone- lick township. This gave Ambrose an opportunity to attend school all of the time it was in session. Later he attended a school at Batavia taught by the late Charles Smith, for whom he had a high regard as an instructor and disciplinarian. He obtained a teacher's certificate at the age of eighteen and taught for eight years in Stonelick, Jackson and Wayne town- ships, with great success. By nature he had the instructing habit and what nature failed to do his own initiative supplied. During these years he farmed in the summer most of the time, clerked in a store one year, and was deputy sheriff for a few months. His integrity was manifest in all that he did. Com- mon honesty and intelligence are a strong combination and are always in demand. On the 28th day of February, 1851, he was united in marriage with Sarah Ellen Patchell, daughter of Edward Patchell and Sarah J. (Brown) Patchell. In this union four children were born: Jacob Lowell, March 6, 1852 ; Edward M., who died in infancy ; Clara Belle, Jan. 24, 1855 (she married S. A. Patterson and died Jan. 21, 1887, leaving one child, a daughter, Minnie, who married Albert Cook, and lives near Goshen, Ohio; and Ambrose Patchell, June 6, 1866,

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Lowell Bondebush .

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who was married to Lute S., youngest daughter of Isaac and Deborah (Lukemyers) Stark, February 23, 1887. He has two sons, John Lowell and Marshall. The former is married and resides in Cincinnati.

On the marriage of Ambrose Roudebush he purchased that part of the homestead now owned by John Barnacle, and took up the profession of farming. In 1867 he sold the farm on which he was born and moved to the one now owned by Am- brose P. Roudebush, which he had purchased in 1866, where, until his death, February 1I, 1875, he lived the happy and sim- ple life of a farmer, honored by his fellow citizens, respected by his neighbors, and loved by his family and relatives. He had ambitions but they were those of helpfulness. Because of his character, because of his superior judgment, because of his intelligence he could be helpful. He had the liter- ary bent of mind. Pure and high ideals were his in all the re- lations of life. He took up his burdens without a murmur. Though never physically strong, he did the hardest kind of manual labor, did it to set a good example, did it as he thought that his loved ones might not be compelled to labor as he had to do. In the minor public offices which he filled he was pain- staking and obeyed the law. He lived and died an honest man, a good citizen.

As already indicated, the subject of this sketch was born on a farm, where he did the many chores all the year and attended the district school until his sixteenth year. For a short period he was a pupil of Professor Stevens of Milford. In May, 1870, he attended the Northwestern Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, which in September of the same year, was changed to the National Normal University. He was a member of the Scien- tific Class of 1871, but in March of that year he was called home and did not graduate with his class, though his grades up to that time were exceptionally high. For short periods in 1872 and 1873 he attended the university, taking special work. At the University his standing as a debater was very high, as well as his general information. Few men cared to meet him in a public discussion, though he made no pretentions to ora- tory. From 1873 until 1879 he farmed during the summer and taught during the winter. in Stonelick, Union and Miami townships. From 1870 until the death of his father he took great interest in the geology of Clermont county and the work of the mound builders. Until the burning of his uncle's resi- dence, in which part of his collection was stored. in some re- spects, his was the finest collection in southwestern Ohio.

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After the death of his father he and his mother managed the farms, and out of a natural liking and a great necessity, he took up the study of agricultural chemistry, soils and plants. During this period he wrote quite a number of articles for the county papers on agricultural practices and the early history of the county. In November, 1878, he began work on a his- tory of Clermont county. In January, 1879, he sold his manu- scripts to Louis H. Everts & Co., of Philadelphia, getting credit for the chapters and townships, in which he did all the writing, which by no means represented all his contributions. This work speaks for itself. In March, 1880, he went to Colo- rado and during the next ten years he traveled from Old Mex- ico to the Arctic regions. He was a miner, prospector, explor- er, bank cashier, bookkeeper, contractor, agricultural writer, and school teacher, teaching with marked success in Barry county, Missouri, and Harper county, Kansas. From the lat- ter place he returned to the old homestead rich in experience and observation, poor in dollars and cents, strong in character and determined in will. No bad habits had been formed, hence he was not ruined in body, mind or morals.

He was now thirty-eight years of age and unmarried. He purposed to make agriculture his profession. He again took up the study of agricultural. chem- istry, soil fertility, and entomology. He did the first spraying of fruit trees in his township. In 1894 he went to live with his uncle, E. C. Patchell. working on the farm in the day- time, studying along the line of his chosen profession at night. In 1895 he was appointed a farmers' institute lecturer, but did no work until February, 1896, since which time he has worked each year, and in all, in ten different states from the Atlantic to the Pacific, including Maine and Washington. In March, 1900, he was asked to assist in the Entomological De- partment of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station at Wooster. In May of the same year he was made State Horti- cultural Inspector. After serving three months he resigned in favor of Prof. F. M. Webster, by whom he was employed for six months.

On the 27th of March, 1901, he was married to Mrs. Mary A. (Corbin) Jackson, widow of Andrew Jackson, who died De- cember 14, 1896. She was the only daughter of N. D. and Elizabeth (Steelman) Corbin, sister of Clayton H. Corbin, and first cousin of the late Lieutenant General Henry C. Cor- bin. By her first marriage she had one son, Raymond H. Jack-

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son, born October 16, 1888, who is unmarried and lives in Cin- cinnati. To the homestead, which has been named Spring Grove Farm, there has been added an equal number of acres besides houses and lots in the village of Nicholsville. He now owns one of the largest orchards in the county.

Lowell Roudebush, as he now signs his name, lectures not only on farm topics, but on other subjects. His Uncle Sam's Land of the Midnight Sun, is quite popular. He is a Repub- lican in politics since 1896, a Baptist in faith. He is a member of Hamer Lodge, No. 228, F. & A. M., of Lindale Grange No. 248, Ohio State Academy of Science, State Horticultural So- ciety, and numerous other secret and public organizations. He is a contributor to leading agricultural papers and does more experimental work than any lecturer on agriculture in his State. He has a large library, not only on agricultural sub- jects, but along general lines. Of him a friend of long acquaintance said : "As a citizen he is fearless, as a public speaker forcible, as a farmer up-to-date-legacies of his father, long since dead, and of his mother, now four-score," whose home is now with her younger son, Ambrose P.

JOSIAH C. LITTLE.

Josiah C. Little, formerly superintendent of schools at Love- land, Ohio, now superintendent of schools at Fosters, Warren county, Ohio, resides at his comfortable home in Loveland, his home for the past fifteen years.

Mr. Little was born at Edenton, Clermont county, Ohio, in 1851, his parents being James and Delia (Wainwright) Little, both members of old Clermont families.

James Little was born at Edenton, 1827, and died, 1910, after having spent practically his entire life in this vicinity, where he was occupied as a farmer. He was a son of David Little, who came to Clermont county from Furquier county, Virginia, and located at Edenton. He followed the occupation of farming and reared a large family.

Delia Wainwright was born at Edenton and died in 1866. She was a daughter of Vincent Wainwright, a native of Scot- land, and settled in Wayne township early in the history of the county of Clermont. His death occurred in 1844, in his sixty-eighth or sixty-ninth year.

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Josiah C. Little is the eldest of nine children. The others are :

Vincent W., a contractor of Greenfield, Ind.

Jehu, a painter and paperhanger of Lapel, Ind.

George M., of Lapel, Ind.

Chester, a farmer, of Knoxville, Ill.

Miss Jennie, of Edenton, Ohio.

Sarah, the wife of Warren W. Whitaker, a farmer of Mon- roe, Ohio.

Rachel, wife of Emmerson Crossen, an expressman, of Nor- wood, Ohio.

Florence. wife of D. M. Ferree, superintendent of schools of Waverly, Pike county, Ohio.

Mr. Little enjoyed the educational privileges of the Na- tional Normal School, of Lebanon, Ohio, where he acquired an academic, a stenographic and commercial education. He began his career as a teacher at the early age of sixteen years. and has spent over forty years in the profession, teaching at Loveland, Mt. Carmel, Edenton, Woodville, beside the coun- try schools of Clermont county and for six years taught at Mainville, Warren county, Ohio; the past year, he has taught at Fosters. Warren county, because of the convenience of this school to his home at Loveland.

school to his home at Loveland, and is now assistant post- master at that place.

During his early life. Mr. Little learned photography and still continues to do a great deal of this interesting work. In his vacations and at other periods. Mr. Little has been as- sociated with the Hudson School Furniture Company.

In 1906, Mr. Little was united in marriage to Mrs. E. L. Dillon, nee Emma Williamson, born at Loveland, Ohio, in 1860, a daughter of Monroe and Hester E. ( Eveland) Wil- liamson. The following excerpt from the "Daily Sun," of Portland, Ind., at the time of the death of the former. April 26, 1912, is a fitting tribute to the memory of the aged attorney.

"Pushing out upon the sea of existence on May 19. 1832. at Germantown, Ohio, his bark of life rode the waves with viking pride, weathering the storm of adversity through many a fierce and relentless gale. into a calmer sea. The span of boyhood days opened into manhood with the passing events that clus- tered about the country lads of that period. Inclination led the way to the school room, where pedagogy became the occu- pation through the long winter months, soon to be abandoned

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for the profession of the law. Donning the cap of alma mater in 1859, he at once laid aside the robe of graduation and em- barked with confidence upon the practice of his chosen pro- fession.

"As he roamed the vineclad hills of Goshen with youthful heart tinctured with the nectar of love, he wooed and won to the bosom of connubial bliss the affections of womanly grace and virtue, linking his life with Hester Eveland. To this union there came, mewling into the nurse's arms, eight children to gladden and brighten the home with childhood's cheer and laughter.

"On April 25, 1884, when silvery threads streaked with whit- ened strands, the raven locks, his affections were plighted to the companion of his declining years, and Marie L. Fogleman, of Loveland, received from his brow the message of the heart throbs that coursed with animated love, consummating the mar- riage vow. To this union there came the infant cry and a son and a daughter fruited the vintage of the marriage manor. The son, ere his years had ripened into youthful force, was gathered to the God that gave him ; while the daughter, Adah Ione Wil- liamson, survives her aged parent, soothing his declining years with her gentle nature, cheering his faltering footsteps with fidelity, purity and virtuous womanly grace.

"To dwell upon the character of the deceased opens a thres- hold of splendor and magnificence beyond the pale of human delineation. His thirst for knowledge lured him into the fields of research and countless volumes of lore, ancient, mediaeval and current were mastered and treasured until his mind be- came an immeasurable magazine of historical, canonical and biographical wealth. One could scarcely suggest the event of interest, the name of some long forgotten sage or prophet, ere there gushed forth from his lips, description and detail, at which his auditors marveled in wonderment.

"In the realms of religion, he entered the mystic labyrinths of doubt and prophecy, carrying with him his pugnacious in- clination, but in spite of dogma and doctrine he saw through the mists of hope an undiscovered religion, where he might enter into a land not circumscribed by fear and ignorance, where he might dwell in peaceful harmony with an intellectual presence endowed with a broader than human understanding."

Mrs. Little has three brothers and two sisters living :

Albert, a commission merchant of Denver, Colo., was for years proprietor of the old Planters' Hotel, at Denver, and on the present site of the Union depot.

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George, an engineer on the Colorado Southern Railway.

Harvey E., proprietor of a hotel at Pagosa Springs, Colo.

Florence, wife of A. C. Chamberlain, an electrician of Den- ver, Colo.

Minnie C., wife of Charles Blackman, a furniture dealer of Denver.

Mrs. Little was married first in 1881, at Loveland, to I. E. Dillon, a Quaker, and a native of Belmont county, Ohio. Mr. Dillon spent four years and nine months in service during the Civil war, participating in many hard battles and skirmishes. He was railway postal clerk for thirty years, and his death occurred in 1899, at the age of fifty-five years. To this union were born four children, all of whom are deceased.

By a former marriage with Ida B. Marsh, of Edenton, Ohio, Mr. Little has two children:

Vincent Edward, in the traffic department of the Cincin- nati, Hamilton & Dayton Railway Company, and resides in Norwood, Ohio. He is the father of three children.

Mae, the wife of Carl W. Fox, a teacher at Blanchester, Ohio, formerly on the police force of Dayton, Ohio. They have two children.

Mr. Little is a staunch Democrat, and has taken an active interest in politics, having been a member of the campaign committee in 1912, assisting in the election of Hon. E. E. Ertel. Governor Cox and others.

Socially, Mr. Little is a member of the Masonic order, and is past master of the Edenton and Loveland lodges, Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Little is a member of the Rathbone Sisters, withdrawn from the lodge at Carthage, Ohio.

Mr. Little has always been loyal in citizenship, co-operating in many measures for the general good, and his aid can always be counted upon where the general welfare is concerned. His life has been active, his actions manly and sincere, and he is justly classed with the honorable and prosperous business men of Loveland.

F. E. SWING.

Mr. F. E. Swing, the highly esteemed and popular principal of the Clifton public school, Cincinnati, was born at Bethel, Clermont county, Ohio, in 1854, and is a son of Charles W. and Anna Swing.

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Charles W. Swing was born on the old Swing homestead, near Bethel, in 1827, and died in 1905. He was a son of Law- rence Swing, and chose for his life occupation that of farming, in which he met with a measure of success. He was ever active in educational matters, ready always to assist any one desiring an education. Mr. Charles Swing was an active mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and filled the various offices.

To the union of Charles W. and Anna Swing were born six sons .:

F. E., the subject of this mention.

C. J., a farmer near Bethel, Ohio.

Louis J., of Bethel, Ohio.

William J., a farmer near Bethel, Ohio.

Albert F., also farming near Bethel, Ohio.

Dr. Frank U., an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, of Cin- cinnati, whose offices are in the 'Livingston Building, at the corner of Seventh and Race streets.

The farms of the four brothers all join and are located in the old Swing neighborhood.

F. E. Swing was a student of the schools of Bethel, Ohio, and later attended Hanover College. He further pursued his education at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Mr. Swing taught several terms of school. He spent two years in the schools of Bethel, Ohio, as superintendent, three years as superintendent of schools at Mt. Washington, three years at Mt. Auburn, as first assistant, and is now in his six- teenth year as principal of the Clifton schools, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mr. Swing was married in Indiana to a daughter of the Rev. G. P. Riley, a former Clermont county teacher, and later a minister of the Methodist church. Rev. Riley served in the Civil war, first as chaplain and later entered the ranks as captain, and came out a colonel. He is now living at Marion, Ind., at the advanced age of ninety-one years.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Swing has been blessed with three children :

Mrs. Raymond Tasker, of Tusculum, Cincinnati.

George B. is at home.

Mary, is also at home.

Socially, Mr. Swing has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. and Mrs. Swing are active members of the Methodist church.

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SAMUEL R. S. WEST.

For over a third of a century no citizen of Clermont county, Ohio, was more widely and favorably known than Major Samuel Robert Strong West, whose life exemplified true manhood, kindness of heart and Christian sympathy. He was the only son of Rev. Samuel and Rebecca (Strong) West. and was born January 9, 1820, in Chillicothe, Ohio, where his father was presiding elder of the Scioto district of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

Maj. Samuel R. S. West acquired a finished educataion, receiving instruction under the celebrated Prof. Joseph Ray, of Cincinnati, with whom he was a great favorite and subse- quently became a student of Meadville (Pennsylvania) Uni- versity, where he completed his academic studies. He was a student of Latin and Greek from his eleventh to his fourteenth year, and in these ancient language he became very pro- ficient.

On December 12, 1838. occurred the marriage of Mr. S. R. S. West to Miss Harriet Newell Huber, daughter of the noted Jacob Huber, of Williamsburg, Ohio, who was one of the early settlers of that town and one of the most famous aboli- tionists of Ohio. To this happy union were born the follow- ing named children :

Thomas Owens Edwards, who died October 23. 1841, at the age of one year, eleven months and nineteen days.

Matilda Hasselman, passed from this life in the fourth year of her age.

Samuel Adams, whose record appears on another page of these volumes.

Rebecca Strong. who became the wife of Dr. R. C. Belt. of Milford, Ohio.

Anna Maria, who married Thomas A. Lloyd, of Milford, Ohio.

John Kugler, who for many years operated the homestead.

Harriet C., who married Joseph A. Sanders and resides at Milford.

A few years after his marriage, Maj. Samuel R. S. West re- moved to a fine farm near Olive Branch, which was his home until his death. He took great interest in the agricultural, horticultural and mechanical development of Clermont coun- ty; and was instrumental in the removal of the Clermont County Agricultural Society's fair to Olive Branch, on his

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grounds, where the exhibitions were held from 1857 to 1864, he being the president of the society, also later being marshal.

In 1847, he raised a detachment of troops for the Third Ohio regiment, for the Mexican war, and was elected first lieutenant; but in the consolidation of the Brown and Cler- mont county companies he was left out in order to secure the quota of the former, this being done against his bitter pro- test. He was subsequently a captain in the militia and com- manded and drilled the crack company of the county. When the dark cloud of the late Rebellion overcast our National horizon, he left his comfortable home and his loving family and marched to the music of the fife and drum to the deadly conflict. He helped to organize the Thirty-fourth Ohio volun- teer infantry (first zouave regiment), recruited a company and went to the front as its captain, and for meritorious services was promoted to the rank of major. This regiment was camped on his farm while its ranks were being filled at Camp Piatt. He bravely stood the hardships of the doubtful army tent for many years in the society of soldiers who loved him for his friendship and respected him for his courage, and no Union soldier served his country more gallantly and faithfully. In the battle of Winchester, Va., July 20, 1864, he commanded the "Old Thirty-fourth Ohio," and while the Union forces, overpowered in numbers, suffered a defeat, he valiantly com- manded the rear guard in the retreat. On his death, at a large reunion of his old regiment, resolutions of respect were adopted, showing no soldier in that gallant organization was held in higher regard for his bravery and endearing qualities than Major West.

For many years Major West held membership in the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a charter member of Batavia Lodge, No. 136, instituted October 10, 1849, and was its first noble grand. He received degrees in the Milton lodge, No. 99, at Amelia, and was a representative to the grand lodge of Ohio. He was also prominent in the Oleander Encampment, No. 44, of Batavia, Ohio. Post No. 544, Grand Army of the Republic, at Milford, was named in his honor.

Major West was an old-line Whig until the dissolution of that party and naturally went with the Republican party upon its organization, and was a consistent and active worker for this party until the time of his decease. He was never an as- pirant for office, but worked for the party's good, being one . of its most trusted and ablest counselors.

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A firm believer in the truths of the Christian religion, Major West would never rent any of his property, either in Cincinnati or Clermont county for places of selling intoxicat- ing liquors, neither would he sell any of his grain or farm products to a distillery.

Maj. Samuel R. S. West was possessed of acute intellect and sound judgment, added to which were the qualities of truth, and kindly sympathy for the sufferings and distress of others. He was a man of fine physique, being six feet and two inches in height, a pleasant and clear conversationalist, and his life left a deep impress on the community.

John K. West, son of Maj. S. R. S. West and Harriet N. West, and grandson of the Rev. Samuel West, was born and lived all his life in the old West home. He was prominent in the county for many years, being the leader of his party in his township. Few men enjoyed in a higher degree the loving re- gard of their fellow men. A cheerful companion, a firm friend, and a manly man. The chief elements of his character were generosity, that exceeded the limits of prudence ; a loyalty to friends and party that was true as steel-questioned not, doubted not, failed not ; a charity broad, a disposition forgiv- ing ; he treasured no animosities, sought no reprisals, indulged in no revenges ; gentle in manners, quiet in tastes and habits, affectionate and tender, he went quietly on his way, with a smile for those who laughed, a tear for those who mourned, a word of cheer and comfort for the weary and faint-hearted. He was a good man. He loved his neighbor as himself; what was his was his neighbor's.

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History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 24

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

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