USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 29
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 29
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Mr. Jacob K. Myers was a second time married-to Miss Elizabeth Wheeler, and to their union were born four children :
Orlando O., of Defiance, Ohio.
Alvaro P., of Defiance, Ohio.
Eliza Ada May, is married and lives at Defiance, Ohio. William A. Henry, died at the age of sixteen years.
Jacob K. Myers passed from this life in 1904. in Defiance county, Ohio, where he had been a resident since 1850. He was an active Democrat, and served as justice of the peace in Defiance county. He was also postmaster for three years at Ayersville. Ohio, and served as vice-president of the agricul- tural society.
Mr. Sumner B. Myers was reared to young manhood on the farm of his grandfather from infancy, and obtained good com- mon schooling.
In 1870. Mr. Myers was united in marriage to Miss Mary Irwin, who was born and reared in Goshen township, a daugh- ter of Harvey and Elizabeth (Hand) Irwin, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Myers's two brothers, David R. and R. B., farmers of Goshen township. and one sister are living.
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The family of Mr. and Mrs. Myers consists of two sons and three daughters:
Effie, who is now Mrs. Lee Hill, of Stonelick township.
John H., a lawyer of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Clifford I., of Oklahoma City, Okla., is in the real estate business.
Mabel, is Mrs. Yeoman, of Oklahoma City.
Mary H. is at home.
Mr. Myers started out in life for himself on his present farm and has followed the vocation continuously to the pres- ent time. While he is a general farmer and cultivates nearly all the productions common to Clermont county soil, he has also given considerable time to the raising of stock.
In politics, Mr. Myers is an advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and has served as township trustee, being at present a member of the school board. He was county commissioner from 1903 to 1906 and was nominated and elected to the office in 1912. In all offices of public trust, Mr. Myers has been faithful and his services have been satis- factory.
The fraternal relations of Mr. Myers include the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Masons and the Encamp- ment of Goshen. In all of these orders he is held in high esteem.
Mr. and Mrs. Myers embrace the belief of the Methodist church, and both are generous contributors to all charitable institutions and benevolent movements.
The Myers families from the very earliest of Clermont county's history have been noted for their industry, thrift, business standing and high social position.
CAPT. ROBERT B. SIMPSON.
Capt. Robert B. Simpson, of 2653 Melrose avenue, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, is a first cousin of Gen. Ulysses Simpson Grant, and has been in the United States revenue service for the past forty-two years. That he has performed his duties in an acceptable manner is evidenced by the length of time he has been in the government employ.
Robert B. Simpson is a native of Clermont county, Ohio, his birth having occurred in Tate township, in the home where
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the marriage of General Grant's mother was celebrated. His parents were Samuel and Elizabeth (Griffith) Simpson.
Samuel Simpson was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, October 4, 1796, and came to Clermont county, Ohio, in 1818, locating in Tate township, where he purchased a farm. The journey from Pennsylvania to Ohio was made with a four- horse team, in company with his father. John Simpson, who purchased some seven hundred acres of land in Tate town- ship, after which he returned to Pennsylvania, to sell out his property at that place. His father, John Simpson, Sr., was a Revolutionary soldier, being a member of a battalion of the Philadelphia county militia. Samuel was an only son, but had the following sisters :
Mary, who married James Griffith, is the grandmother of Judge Perry Griffith, of Batavia, Ohio.
Hannah, who married Jesse R. Grant, was the mother of U. S. Grant.
Sarah, died in young womanhood.
Ann, a half-sister, married James M. Ross, the pioneer gun- smith of Bethel, Ohio.
Elizabeth (Griffith ) Simpson was born in Bucks county. Pennsylvania, in 1790, a daughter of Thomas Griffith, an early resident of the county. She was the grandaunt of Judge O. P. Griffith, of Batavia. She and Samuel Simpson were devout members of the Presbyterian church.
Capt. Robert B. Simpson is the fourth of seven children :
Sarah E., the widow of William Elrod, of Centralia, Ill.
Melissa J., the widow of George S. Gatch. of Milford, Ohio.
Amanda P., married B. L. Winans, of Bantam, Ohio, and died in 1906.
Robert B., of this sketch.
John, a retired army officer. with the rank of brigadier- general, and makes his home with his daughter, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Mary, is the wife of Walter E. Burroughs, of New Rich- mond. Ohio.
Harriet. married C. W. Burroughs, and died about 1902.
The education of Robert B. Simpson was received in the schools of Clermont county, after which he followed the occu- pation of farming until January 17. 1805. when he enlisted in Company I. One Hundred and Eighty-fourth regiment, Ohio viunteer infanty, serving until September 20, 1865. He was mustered out as first sergeant of his company.
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After his return from the war, Mr. Simpson resumed farm- ing as soon as his health would permit, residing at Bethel until he accepted a position in the United States revenue ser- vice, when he removed to Dayton, Ohio, June 1, 1869. He re- mained at Dayton for six years, and since 1875 has been in Cincinnati, serving continuously for forty-two years, in the government service. For the past twenty-eight years he has resided in his present home.
On November 22, 1860, Robert B. Simpson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Fagely, a sister of M. W. Fagely, whose sketch appears elsewhere in these volumes. She was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, but was reared and educated in Clermont county, Ohio.
In the family of Captain and Mrs. Simpson have been born five children, one of whom is deceased. They are:
William H., vice-president of the Central Trust & Savings Bank of Cincinnati. His first wife was a daughter of the late William Shaw. Her death occurred March 23, 1892, leaving an infant child. The second wife was Laura P. Cole, of Springfield, Ohio. They are the parents of three daughters, Eleanor, Virginia Grant and Dorothy.
Ida, died at the age of two years.
John E., living at Los Angeles, Cal. He married Miss May Phelps, and has two sons, Robert P. and John W.
Louise, the widow of LeRoy Hahn, has one son, Wilson.
Edith, is Mrs. Clarence W. Hahn, of New York City, where her husband is a professor of biology. They have one daugh- ter, Sarah Catherine.
By his study of the political questions of the day, Captain Simpson favors the principles of the Republican party. In social affairs, he is a member of the Fred C. Jones Post, No. 401, Grand Army of the Republic. of Walnut Hills, and has filled all of the various chairs of the organization. Mrs. Simp- son is a member of the Julia Ward Howe Club, and of the First Presbyterian Church, which the family attends.
SILAS WARBINGTON.
The name of Silas Warbington has been associated with the farming interests of Clermont county, Ohio, for many years. and is a name that stands for honesty and integrity, in both business and social circles. His present home is in Miamiville,
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this county, where, after a life of activity, he is practically living in retirement. His birth occurred one mile from his present home. on February 22, 1842. His father, James War- bington, died when a young man, before the Civil war, and his mother passed away during the war period. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters, Silas being the only one still living.
Silas Warbington attended the schools of the district until he was thirteen years of age, spending the next five years at Clinton, De Witt county, Illinois, returning at the age of eighteen years.
In response to the call of his country for volunteers in the army of the Civil war, he enlisted in 1862, in Company A, Eighty-fourth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, serving three months and twenty days.
In 1890, Mr. Warbington married again, and his present wife, who was Beulah Fitzwater before her marriage, is a sec- ond cousin of his first wife. She was born in Miami township, Clermont county, in 1842, and is a daughter of John and Nancy (Vandervert) Fitzwater.
Returning from the war, Mr. Warbington was united in marriage to Miss Eliza S. Fitzwater, who was a daughter of John Fitzwater, a resident of Miamiville, he being a cooper by trade. The family came to Clermont county from Penn- sylvania. Mrs. Warbington passed from this life many years ago, leaving three children :
Emma, who married Lawrence Woodruff, is deceased, leav- ing six children.
Doyt, a resident of Cincinnati, is married and has three children.
Alice. is the wife of Ed. Drake, residing at Miamiville. They have one child.
In 1864 and 1865 he served in the United States navy, on the gunboat "Benton." the flagship of Commodore McCul- lough. In all of his service he was never wounded.
Farming has been the principal occupation of our subject in connection with which he has also been a shoe maker. For twenty-two years he was the sexton of the cemetery and of later years has engaged in truck gardening.
Mr. and Mrs. Warbington have a pleasant home in the vil- lage of Miamiville, which is situated on an acre of land. Mrs. Warbington owns a finely improved farm two miles from the village. They are devoted members of the Christian church,
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and socially Mr. Warbington is a member of the S. R. S. West Post, No. 544, Grand Army of the Republic, at Milford, Ohio. He is a staunch Democrat, although not an office seeker.
During his residence in the county, Mr. Warbington has witnessed many changes in the moral, social, and material con- ditions, which show a wonderful advancement and progress in the life of the community. It is a great satisfaction to him that he and his family have contributed largely to these improvements.
AQUILLA D. BARROW.
Mr. Aquilla D. Barrow, who owns and operates his finely improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Union town- ship, near Perintown, Clermont county, Ohio, was born near Newtown, Hamilton county, Ohio, March 18, 1843, and is a son of Bennett and Hannah (Durham) Barrow, the former of whom was a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky, where he was born July 30, 1809. He was a blacksmith by trade, which he followed in connection with farming. His death oc- curred April 15, 1890, in Clermont county, Ohio, at the home of his son, Aquilla D. Barrow. Hannah (Durham) Barrow was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, October 8, 1813, and passed from this life on August 18, 1884. She was a daughter of Aquilla and Harriet (Thompson) Durham. The founder of the Durham family in America was Samuel, who was born in the city of Durham, Durhamshire, England, in 1699, and left England in 1722 for America, settling at Baltimore, Md. He was a ship carpenter of great ability and became very wealthy. His wife was Eleanor Smissen, and one of their sons, Joshua, was given a large plantation, which he sold in 1783, and start- ing westward resided some years about sixty miles east of Philadelphia. In the fall of 1795, Joshua Durham flat boated from Pittsburgh down the Ohio river to the mouth of the Little Miami river, landing May 13, 1796, and died on a farm near there in 1829.
Aquilla, a son of Joshua and Harriet Durham, was born in Hartford county, Maryland, in 1779, and in 1804 married Ilar- riet Thompson, who was a daughter of Barnard Thompson, a soldier in the War of the Revolution. In 1807, they re- moved to the Little Miami Bottoms, above Newtown, Ohio, and were among the founders of the Universalist church at
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Newtown. Harriet (Thompson) Durham passed from this life in 1868, and her husband, Aquilla, followed her in 1870.
Aquilla D. Barrow, the subject of this review. was reared on the home farm near Newtown, Ohio, and received the usual education given to the young of those days. He became ex- perienced in the business of farming, in which he has been very successful.
His marriage to Martha J. Marriott occurred October 31, 1871. She was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, near New- town. May 12, 1845, and is a daughter of George and Bar- bara (McAdams) Marriott, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania, and the latter a native of Ohio. Mrs. Barrow was reared in Hamilton county to the age of fifteen years, coming to Clermont county in 1860.
Mr. and Mrs. Barrow have had eight children :
Miss Dollye E., at home.
Bertha, who became the wife of William Whitehead, of Norwood.
Howard C., of Milford, Ohio, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work.
Frances, who is the wife of R. E. Hicks, of Wheeling, W. Va.
Lyman K., a farmer, is at home. He married Lelah Tone. Bessie J., is the wife of Fred Donley, of Norwood, Ohio.
Bennett T., died in December, 1891, at the age of fifteen years.
Eva B., died in 1891, at the age of three years.
Mr. and Mrs. Barrow are members of the Universalist church, although three of the daughters are members of the Methodist church. In political views, Mr. Barrow votes the Democratic ticket. He is justly classed with the representa- tive farmers of Clermont county, and has a wide and favor- able acquaintance with the leading citizens of this part of the State.
DANIEL TURNER.
One of those honest. self-made men of our country. who by their industry and judgment have overcome all difficulties. and risen from poor circumstances to fortune and eminence was Daniel Turner, who was born in Bedford county. Penn- sylvania, March 25. 1806, and was the youngest of four chil-
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dren, who were brought with their parents, Michael and Eliza- 'beth (Beltz) Turner, to Ohio in 1808.
Michael and Elizabeth (Beltz) Turner left Pennsylvania in the year of 1808 and came down the Ohio river in a flat boat to Columbia, then the most noted place for eastern emigrants to disembark. Michael passed away January 16, 1856, in his seventy-fifth year, and his wife, Elizabeth, passed away Sep- tember 1, 1824, in her forty-third year. Of their twelve chil- dren, the first four were born in Pennsylvania, the rest in Ohio.
Sarah, married Uriah Baldwin and later Henry Leaf.
John, the second in order of birth.
Elizabeth, married William Dumford.
Daniel, the subject of this mention.
Polly, married Henry Leaf.
Anna, married Samuel Perry.
Lewis, died at the age of eight years.
Isaac, who became a Baptist minister, died in Illinois.
Andrew J., died about the age of eighty years.
William, died about the age of twelve years.
Julia Ann, died at an advanced age.
Amanda, married Harrison Carpenter.
Daniel received the ordinary education of the district schools so poorly afforded in the days when he was a boy, and worked on a farm. He started in life with no capital, but his strong muscles, untiring energy and an honest heart. When fifteen years of age, in 1821, Daniel came to Clermont county and on October 10, 1827, married Susan Malott, daugh- ter of Peter and Martha Malott, who was born January 27, 1811. When they were married all the capital in their pos- session was one horse. About 1831, Daniel purchased twelve acres of land, and from time to time added to his first purchase until he owned at one time, eight hundred and fifty acres of the best bottom lands on the East Fork, in Clermont county, eleven hundred and sixty acres of choice land in the southern part of Clinton county, and two hundred and thirty-three acres in Highland county, in all two thousand and forty-three acres. In later years he built a fine residence at Perin's Mills, on the Milford and Chillicothe Pike, in Miami township. Be- sides being a large land owner he traded extensively in horses and hogs.
While a member of no denomination he and his family at- tended the Baptist church and for over a third of a century
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he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the Clermont Lodge, No. 49, at Milford. He was a strict and positive Democrat in politics, but always refused public office. He frequently served as school director, he, having a large family, was interested in all educational affairs. For two and one-half years he was interested in what is now the Norfolk & Western Railway Company, being a director and extensive stockholder.
Of the nine sons and four daughters who were born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Turner, but three are now living: Benjamin C. and Peter, of near Lynchburg, Highland county, Ohio, and Mrs. John G. Ragland. Twelve of the children grew to maturity. Mrs. Turner passed from this life in April, 1900, in her ninetieth year, her husband having gone on before, October 26, 1880.
DR. JOHN GEORGE ROGERS.
Dr. John George Rogers was one of the most noted of the physicians and surgeons of the pioneer days of Clermont coun- ty, Ohio, who practiced at a time when it was necessary for great sacrifice of personal comfort, for the taking of long, arduous rides over poor roads in sparsely settled districts. The birth of Dr. J. G. Rogers occurred near Camden, New Jersey, April 29. 1797, his parents being Dr. Levi and Anna (George) Rogers, who came to Clermont county in 1804. settling first at Williamsburg. In 1810, the family removed to Bethel, where the father died, April 4, 1815, in his forty- seventh year, and his wife, who was a native of New Jersey. passed away at Batavia October 13, 1856.
After having acquired the knowledge usually taught in the schools of his day. John George Rogers was placed under the instruction of his rather at home. where he received most of his literary education, and where the deep and broad foun- dations of his professional life were laid. His father, having a large practice, was often away from home and many of the duties were placed on his son, who in boyhood acquired great dexterity in extracting teeth, bleeding and many of the opera- tions of minor surgery, as well as dispensing medicine in the absence of the father. When fourteen years of age. William Goble, a farmer near Bethel, Ohio, was severely and thought
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to be fatally wounded by a cut from a scythe upon the back and shoulder, which in the absence of his father, the boy was compelled to attend. He took eleven stitches, an inch and one-half apart, in the wound, with such success that the next day, upon examination, his father pronounced a perfect sur- gical job.
Upon the death of his father, Dr. Rogers applied himself closely` to the study of medicine, under the instruction of Dr. William Wayland, for two years, receiving instruction also from Dr. David Morris. He spent two years reading medicine with Dr. Zeno Fenn, an eminent physician of Clermont county. At the age of twenty years, Dr. Rogers settled at New Rich- mond, June 11, 1818, where he soon became a noted and suc- cessful physician.
In 1824, he was appointed by the General Assembly, with others as a censor, to organize the First District Medical So- ciety of Ohio, composed of the counties of Clermont and Hamilton. When the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati was fully organized, in 1825, Dr. Rogers attended the lectures by Professors Morehead, Slack, Cobb and Whitman, graduating with the highest honors in 1826. He was the main instru- ment in the organization of the Clermont County Medical Society, on May 11, 1853, and was its first president, in which capacity he again served in 1859 and 1867. He was a mem- ber of the Ohio State Medical Society and attended many of its annual meetings, and took an active part in the famous meeting at White Sulphur Springs. He was a member, also, of the American Medical Association, attending the sessions at Washington, Baltimore, Louisville and other points. He performed many important surgical operations, for which he was commended by the medical journals. He was the family physician of Jesse R. Grant and officiated at the birth of Ulysses S. Grant.
On October 19, 1820, he was married to the accomplished daughter of United States Senator Thomas Morris, Julia Morris, by whose death he was left with five small children, who were Eliza H .. Levinia. Lydia Ann married Jacob Eber- sole, Rachel M. married Thedore Griffis, of Connersville, Ind., and Dr. Levi M.
The second marriage of Dr. Rogers occurred November 19, 1833, to Sarah Ann Molyneaux. of Scotch-Irish parentage, born at County Antrim, Ireland. Her family sprang from the French Huguenots, who escaped from France to Ireland
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after the terrible massacre of St. Bartholomew. Her parents immigrated to America about 1820, settling at Point Pleasant, Clermont county, Ohio.
Dr. Rogers was a member of Clermont Social Lodge, No. 29, of Williamsburg, Free and Accepted Masons. He was a member, as was his excellent wife, of the Presbyterian church, and throughout his long and eventful life was identified with all movements for the advancement of Christianity.
In politics, he was originally a Jackson Democrat, but in his later years was identified with the Republican party. Al- though he never held office he always endeavored to advance the moral and educational interests of the community in general.
Dr. Rogers was one of the most influential and unflinch- ing opponents of slavery and lived to see his cherished anti- slavery principles adopted and carried out by the government. During his long and honorable career he was an advocate of morality, religion, education, humanity and science and a man worthy of the proud line of which he was an illustrious descendant.
J. D. SORRELL.
Mr. J. D. Sorrell, formerly one of the representative farmers of Clermont county, now engaged in the real estate business, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, November 28, 1851, a son of Elisha and Eliza (Mccullough ) Sorrell.
Elisha Sorrell, who was in sympathy with the North at the time of the Civil war, was forced to flee from Kentucky in 1863, his property being destroyed, and he was left penniless. Arriving in Brown county, near Feesburg, in the fall of 1863, Elisha began to work for eighty cents per day to endeavor to support his large family of two sons and five daughters. At that time wheat was $3.00 per bushel. flour $12.00 per barrel, pork 20 cents per pound, in fact food stuffs were high and scarce, likewise wearing apparel, etc. His wife being ambi- tious, with the help of the children, pulled the wool from the dead sheep found in the neighborhood. which they carded and made into yarn for the stockings and mittens of the children. exchanged for groceries and drygoods at the country stores. By all working together they managed to exist until they were enabled to rent a farm. In 1869. the mother laid down the
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J. D. SORRELL
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burden of life and passed to her eternal reward. Two years later, the father, Elisha Sorrell, sold what he had of this world's goods to the children and returned to Kentucky, where he re- sided mainly until his death.
J. D. Sorrell received a limited education and after his father returned to Kentucky, he, with the sisters, carried on general farming until his twenty-third year, when he became united in marriage to Miss Lizzie C. Reece, the ceremony taking place on December 15, 1874. Miss Reece was born in Brown county, Ohio, and is a daughter of William and Caroline (Savage) Reece. In 1875, all of the family removed to Bracken county, Kentucky, where they farmed for two years. During the time spent in Kentucky, Mr. Sorrell lost three sisters and his only brother by death. A little later he moved to Brown county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm of seventeen acres, which he sold four years later at a profit. For the next four years, Mr. Sorrell rented a large tobacco farm in Hamilton county, near Camp Dennison. The next move of Mr. Sorrell proved very satisfactory and he purchased one hundred acres of land near Loveland, where he remained for many years, making improvements in the home.
There being a valuable stone quarry on his new purchase, Mr. Sorrell engaged in the shipping of building and macada- mizing stone. He leased other stone land along the Obanion creek, thus being able to enlarge his shipping business. In ad- dition to this line of enterprise, Mr. Sorrell became interested with C. W. Stokes, a son-in-law, in a grocery and meat market at Loveland. This company purchased cattle by the car load and fattened them on the farm for butchering. When Texas began to boom, Mr. Sorrell added another line of business to his already varied interests, engaging in the selling and trading of gulf coast land. In 1907, he removed with his family to Loveland, where he carries on the real estate business, under the firm name of Hopping & Sorrell, Mr. Stewart Hopping be- ing a partner.
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