History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 43

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 43
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 43

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).

James H .. who was a lawyer by profession, died in Omaha, Neb. He was prominent in politics, having served his party in the State senate of Nebraska.

Kate, who is the wife of Dr. Joseph T. Ricker, of Mt. Car- mel, Ohio.

Wheelock, who is the father of the subject of this sketch, is retired from active labors and is a resident of Lindale, Ohio.

George, who was formerly a farmer near Buffalo, N. Y., where he now resides. is also retired from active life.

Maria, married J. W. Moss, a druggist of New Richmond, Ohio.

John, is in the real estate business in Cincinnati.

Ellen ( Rowe) Winspear was born in London, England, and came with her parents to America when she was fourteen years of age, the family settling in the vicinity of Cincinnati. Three

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J. B. WINSPEAR

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brothers served in the Federal army, two of whom were lost on the Magnolia, and one died in Andersonville prison. One brother is still living, and is a resident of Princeton, Ind.

John B. Winspear has one brother and four sisters :

Wheelock, Jr., a farmer and dairyman of Pierce township, this county.

Minnie, the wife of Clifford White, of New Richmond, Ohio.

Nellie, married Elton Montjar, who is in partnership with her brother, Wheelock Winspear, in the dairy business.

Marie, is Mrs. Wiley Riffle, of Cleveland, Ohio.

Catherine, makes her home with her father at Lindale, Ohio. She has for several years taught at Middletown, Ohio, and is now teaching at Norwood, Ohio.

John B. Winspear acquired his education in the school at Mt. Carmel, from which he graduated. Following his grad- uation, in 1891, he taught in the schools of Clermont county for thirteen years, the last two at Point Pleasant, his present home.

On December 27, 1899, occurred the great event of his life, when he was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Armacost, a daughter of Ephraim and Martha (Cooper) Armacost, the lat- ter born in Monroe township, Clermont county, in 1839, and died February 20, 1913, a daughter of John Cooper, also born near Point Pleasant, a merchant and postmaster of that place over forty years, his death occurring in 1899. His father, James Cooper, was a resident of Monroe township for many years, and was born in Ireland, coming here as a young man. He was a farmer by business and farmed near Clermontville, where he met with great success. He passed away at Jeffer- sonville, Ind., where he is buried, and where he spent the latter years of his life. Ephraim Armacost was born in Monroe township, 1841, and died in 1893, being buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery. He was a boat owner and operated on the Ohio river. He was a son of John Armacost, a pioneer settler of Clermont county.

Mrs. Winspear has two brothers :

Robert, of Greenville, Mich., is in the commission business. He married Miss Edith Wells.

Ernest, of Point Pleasant, married Miss May Shaw, a daugh- ter of the late Jonathan Shaw.

To the union of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Winspear have been born two children, and their family circle is as yet unbroken by the hand of death. They are :

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Gertrude Elizabeth.

Edith May.

In political matters, Mr. Winspear favors the Republican party, and has served as township clerk of Monroe township for the past seven years. He has been postmaster of Point Pleasant, since commissioned, July 27, 1908.

Socially, he holds membership in the Masonic lodge of Tobasco, the Knights of Pythias, of Milford, and the Junior Order of American Mechanics of Moscow. The religious faith of both Mr. and Mrs. Winspear is demonstrated by their mem- bership in the Methodist church at Point Pleasant ..

Since 1904, Mr. Winspear has devoted his time to the store which Mrs. Winspear started the year previous, while he was employed in the profession of teaching. In addition to the gen- eral merchandise business Mr. Winspear is a large manu- facturer of elm blocks for wagon and carriage hubs, employing from twenty-five to thirty men and putting out from two hun- dred thousand to three hundred thousand blocks annually, which he supplies to the various manufacturers. He has ample warehouses, in which the blocks are stored and sea- soned.

It was due to his initiative and management, incurring the expense of freight, that the fine fourteen-foot cannon was shipped from Philadelphia and installed in the street on Big Indian creek, directly in front of the site where General Grant was born. The cannon was dedicated October 2, 1907, at the time of the "Home Coming" celebration, attended by nearly ten thousand people, including the late Gen. Fred D. Grant, the late Lieut .- Gen. Henry S. Corbin, U. S. A., the retired Governor Harris, of Ohio, Congressman Nicholas Longworth and many other notable men and citizens. The inscription on the cannon, in large raised type, is as follows :

Ulysses Simpson Grant, Lieutenant-General United States Army, and twice elected President of the United States, was born on April 27, of the year 1822, in a home located on this spot.

GEORGE WILLIAM GATCH.

Mr. George William Gatch, one of the native sons of Cler- mont county, who has sought occupation in other fields, is a mail carrier of Cincinnati, residing on Cleveland avenue, Mil-

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ford, Ohio. He is a son of Rev. George Gatch and was born on the old Gatch farm, near Milford, Ohio, November 6, 1842. He is also a grandson of the Rev. Philip Gatch, whose life record appears in these volumes.

The children of the Rev. Philip Gatch were:

Precosia, whose first marriage was to Mr. Garland. She was again married to a Mr. Osburn.

Conduce, married Peggy McGrew.

Thomas, married first, Miss Barber, and second, Miss Lu- cinda McCormick.

George, married Sarah Jones.

Ruth, married Michael Swing, and a son of theirs, Philip B., became United States district judge.

Elizabeth, became the wife of Aaron Matson.

Philip, first married Miss Dimmitt, and second Miss Susan Ulrey.

George Gatch, the father of our subject, was born on a farm near Fredericksburg, Va., and was two years of age when his father, the Rev. Philip Gatch, came to Ohio, making the trip from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati on a flat boat. He was reared and educated in the schools of Clermont county, where the family finally located, and when quite young began his life in the ministry as a circuit rider. He married Miss Sarah Jones and settled on the "Old Gatch Farm," becoming a local preacher. He was the father of the following children :

John Jones, who died at the age of twenty-two years.

Asbury Phillip, married Etta Hopper, and died in 1911, leav- ing two children. He was a captain in the Ninth Ohio cavalry during the late rebellion, and served until the close of the war, going with General Sherman to the sea.

Rachel, passed from this life at the age of twenty-two years. Elizabeth, died in early life.

Virginia, married Charles J. Buckingham, and died in 1868, at the age of thirty-five years.

Precosia, passed away in early life.

George William, the subject of this mention.

Mahala, married Charles J. Buchingham, and died when a young woman, leaving two children.

Samuel, married Lillian Wiggs. They live in Los Angeles, Cal., and have one child.

George William Gatch grew to young manhood on the home farm and received a good common school education, learning the details of farm life. November 30, 1871, he was united in

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marriage to Mary E. Boyer, of Milford, who is a daughter of Thomas Wallace and Eunice (Condit) Boyer. They have had two children born to their union :

Fannie B. is at home.

George W., married Miss Emma Vogt, and is a farmer of Montana. They have two sons, George Albert and Wallace B.

From the "Old Gatch Farm," George William inherited one hundred and sixty-six acres on which was the house built by his grandfather, Rev. Philip Gatch, and was the first frame building in this part of the country. It was used as a meeting place for the Methodists believers and sheltered many of the circuit riders of that day. In 1885, Mr. Gatch sold all of this farm with the exception of forty-six acres surrounding the home, and in the same year received an appointment as carrier of the mail in Cincinnati, and is still in the service.

Mr. Gatch was reared a Republican, but has taken no active part in politics. He and his charming wife are active mem- bers of the Methodist church of which Mrs. Gatch has taught in the Sunday school for many years, and has been most suc- cessful in this line of church work, she being popular with the young people. In 1867, Mr. Gatch became a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, of Milford, Ohio, and has filled all the chairs of his local lodge. In the latter years of the late war he joined the army, enlisting in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and was in the service of his country until the close of the war. the librarian.

ABRAM BROWER.

One of the best and favorably known ctizens of Milford, Ohio, who for years has been identified with the business af- fairs of Clermont county, belongs to one of the pioneer fami- lies of the county and is now retired from active life. His home is on Mound street, where he is spending his declining years.

Mr. Brower was born at Montgomery, Hamilton county, Ohio, April 3. 1838, and is a son of Charles H. and Anna B. (Branch ) Brower, the former of whom was born at Brunswick, New Jersey, February 22. 1812. He came with his parents, Dr. Abram and Elizabeth (Stoutenburg) Brower to Ohio, when they were quite young. The journey was made from Bruns-

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wick to Pittsburgh by teams, and from there to Cincinnati by flat boat, soon after settling at Montgomery, Ohio, where Abram became a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church. He later moved to Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, where he was very active in church work, and his demise occurred at Lawrenceburg, at a ripe old age of eighty-six years.

Charles H. Brower, the father of our subject, grew to man- hood on the home farm at Montgomery and there married the daughter of Joseph Branch, a native of Western New York, who purchased six hundred acres of land in Clermont county in the early days. While a new house was being erected on the home farm, the Branch family lived at Montgomery, and there the marriage of our subject's parents took place. The father of Mrs. Brower, Joseph Branch, died of that dread disease, cholera, and "Branch Hill" is named for him. They remained at Montgomery until 1838, when they removed to Branch Hill, where the mother had inherited a portion of the Branch estate.

Abram Brower remained at the home farm of his parents at Branch Hill until he reached the age of twenty-three years, receiving a good common school education and good practical experience in the business of agriculture. His first venture in the business world was in the employ of W. W. Glenn & Com- pany, wholesale grocers. He was thus occupied about one year, when he resigned from this company to accept a position with W. W. Hanley, wholesale grocer, and was with this com- pany two years.

In 1861, Mr. Brower enlisted in the One Hundred Day Ser- vice, in Company E, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh regi- ment, Ohio volunteer infantry, and although his regiment was ordered at once to the front at Petersburg, they went into quarters at Baltimore, and was mustered out at Camp Den- nison.

Mr. Abraham Brower was married at Branch Hill, to Miss Anna M. Armstrong, on February 12. 1868. She was a daugh- ter of A. E. and Priscilla (Skillinger) Armstrong, and was born at Cincinnati, where she received a splendid education for her day. Soon after their marriage they moved to a farm in Warren county, Ohio, where they carried on general farming for four years. About the year of 1873, Mr. Brower pur- chased a farm at Mt. Repose. Clermont county, Ohio, residing there for about six years, after which they lived at Branch Hill for a period of three years, moving to Milford in 1881. He then entered the employ of the Russell & Morgan Printing

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Company, of Cincinnati, remaining in that establishment for six years, which was his last active position.

To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brower have been born three children :

William W., whose home is in Milford, Ohio.

Alice E. became the wife of F. D. Balshiser, resident of Milford, Ohio.

Arthur Howard is in the office of the Adams Express Com- pany at Cincinnati.

Mr. Brower was reared a Republican, but by his study of the political questions of the day he became a Democrat, and cast his first presidential ballot for, Steven A. Douglas. He has served at different times as township trustee and has at- tended the various conventions as a delegate. He has filled the various chairs of the Knights of Pythias organization, of which he has been a member for many years, representing his local lodge at the grand lodge a number of times. He is a member of the S. R. S. West Post, Grand Army of the Re- public, serving as adjutant of the post for several years. He has attended the reunions at Columbus, Ohio, and a number in Indiana. He is by birthright a Presbyterian, having mem- bership at Milford, Ohio, and has served as trustee and as elder.

HARRY S. STEVENSON.

Mr. Harry S. Stevenson is one of the prominent attorneys of Clermont county, practicing in State and Federal courts, chiefly at Cincinnati. Mr. Stevenson is self made, having fought his way up from his early youth, occasioned by the loss of both his parents, and deserves much credit for his present enviable position in the professional circles of Clermont, Ham- ilton and Warren counties.

John Stevenson, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Ireland and a lieutenant in the Irish army. He came to America as a refugee, leaving Ireland on the day Robert Em- mett was hanged, settling in Adams county, Ohio. He had twelve sons, who became prominent men of affairs in south- ern Ohio.

Harry S. Stevenson was born in Adams county, Ohio, ne .. " Manchester. June 20, 1866, and his parents were David and Elizabeth ( Halbert ) Stevenson, the former of whom was born

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in Adams county, where he grew to maturity, becoming a farmer.

The education of Mr. H. S. Stevenson was acquired under difficult conditions. He was employed as a section hand, deck hand and farm laborer until he became of age, and he was forced to work his way through school. He walked to and from West Union for a teacher's examination, the dis- tance being thirteen miles. He taught school for ten years. Mr. Stevenson graduated from the National Normal Univer- sity at Lebanon, Ohio, class of 1899, holding the degrees of Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws.

At one time in his life the subject of this article was a min- ister of the Methodist church and would have made this his life work, but being too liberal in his views he thought best to give up that profession and to take up instead the profes- sion of law.

On August 10, 1899, Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage to Anna M. Dunlap. Miss Dunlap was born and reared in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Henry B. and Mary E. (Crawford) Dunlap. She was a teacher in the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' School at Chester Springs, Pa., holding one position continuously ten years, and while attending the normal school at Lebanon met Mr. Stevenson. She holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson is one son, David H., who was born at Lebanon, Ohio, December 24, 1900.

Mr. Stevenson graduated from the law school at Lebanon, Ohio, in 1901, and in 1903 moved with his family to Love- land, where he has resided ever since.

Although reared a Democrat, by his study of the political issues of the day Mr. Stevenson votes for Republican princi- ples. He has served his party in various local offices and was nominated for prosecuting attorney of Clermont county in 1912. Fraternally, Mr. Stevenson is a Mason, Odd Fellow and Junior.

There is particular satisfaction in reverting to the life his- tory of Mr. Stevenson because of the untiring energy and courage displayed in overcoming difficulties and obstacles in fulfilling his ambition to follow the profession that ap- pealed to him. His loyalty to his friends is one of his most engaging qualities, and his character is beyond reproach. He has established a large clientele and his constant attention to business has made him a pronounced success.

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THOMAS H. FLINN. 1

Thomas H. Flinn, one of the successful and highly pro- gressive young business men of Loveland, Ohio, is senior member of the well known firm of Flinn & Ertel, grocers,' whose up-to-date and thoroughly equipped place of business is located at the corner of Broadway and Railway avenue. was born at Loveland, February 28, 1882, his parents being Stephen and Susan (Terrill) Flinn, still residents of this village.

Stephen Flinn, for the past twenty years watchman and flagman at the Baltimore & Ohio railroad crossing at Love- land, during which time he has never been suspended nor has anyone been injured at this point, was born in county Meath, Ireland, near the city of Dublin, May 25, 1847, son of Thomas and Margaret (Melady) Flinn, who came to America in 1856, when Stephen was about nine years of age. The sailing ves- sel on which they took passage was nine weeks on the ocean and encountered a severe storm before landing at New Or- leans. They came to Cincinnati, and on to Loveland. Thomas Flinn was a stonemason, and after a time entered the employ of the old Hillsboro railroad, building stone bridges, and later worked in Loveland and vicinity, finally becoming a con- tractor. Subsequently he purchased lots in Loveland, on which he erected houses, selling the properties to incoming residents. He lived to the age of seventy-four, while his widow survived him some fifteen or sixteen years. Both are buried at Milford.

Stephen Flinn received a fair common school education and worked on the farm in his youth, also starting in to learn the . shoemaker's trade. During the Civil war, at the time of Kerby Smith's raid. he was called out and served for ninety days, receiving an honorable discharge, and afterwards spent nine months more in the Government service as a teamster. Shortly after the close of the war he entered the employ of the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad, now the Baltimore & Ohio, working on the section for years, finally becoming a section foreman. His marriage to Miss Susan Terrill was solemnizel at Loveland. she being a native of Perry county, Ohio. 'Their two children are: Thomas H .. of this review, and Margaret, who is the wife of Charles Roush. of Nor- wood. Ohio.

Thomas H. Flinn graduated form the Loveland High

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School in the class of 1901 and for one summer was employed as a book solicitor, in which he proved himself a success, in- cidentally receiving a training useful in after life. Was for a short time engaged as bookkeeper at King's Mills, in War- ren county, Ohio, resigning to accept a position as assistant agent for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Loveland. One year later he resigned, and on February 28, 1903, formed the present partnership with Hon. Earl E. Ertel, the present representative from Clermont county to the Ohio Legislature. The business of this firm has been most satisfactory, having grown rapidly under their progressive management.

Mr. Flinn was married at Cincinnati, February 12, 1907, to Miss Nellie M. Daly, who was born, reared and educated in the Queen City, a daughter of Timothy and Mary (Linsky) Daly, residents of Cincinnati. Both are natives of Ireland, coming to America prior to their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Flinn have two children: Roland Earl and Thomas Charles.

Although reared a Democrat, Mr. Flinn is a staunch Re- publican and cast his first Presidential ballot for Theodore Roosevelt in 1904. He was reared in the Catholic church, be- ing confirmed at fourteen under Bishop Elder. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he served as clerk for three years and for six years as a member of the official board of the local camp.

STEWART HOPPING.

Among the younger business men of Loveland, Ohio, is numbered Mr: Stewart Hopping, who, although not long a resident of the county, is one of the substantial and energetic men of the village where he now resides. He is considered one of the best auctioneers in this section. He is a native of Greene county, Ohio, his birth taking place at Clifton on the 24th of August, 1881, his parents being David R. and Flora C. (Campbell) Hopping.

He grew to manhood in his native county, attending the public schools and graduating from the high school at James- town, in the class of 1900. His business life began when thir- teen years of age, in the employ of a cider mill company, and at the age of eighteen engaged with a telephone company as trouble shooter, and for nine years he continued in this busi-

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ness. He was made manager at Jamestown and held this po- sition for twenty-eight months, after which he took up con- struction work in Ohio and Kentucky, becoming very proficient in all lines of the telephone business so that he could con- struct and operate a new line.

However, he tired of the telephone business, and concluded to fit himself for the auction business, and to this end took a regular course in auctioneering at Chicago, where he worked his way through the Jones National School of Auction, and graduated in 1909. In January, 1910, Mr. Hopping came to Loveland and on March 17. 1910, was united in marriage to Peari Timmons, of Rensselaer, Ind., where she was born and reared. She is a daughter of Joseph and Ellen (Payne) Tim- mons.

In politics, Mr. Hopping votes the Republican ticket. He was reared in the United Presbyterian church and is a mem- ber of the church at Sycamore, and his wife was reared in the Methodist church, but both attend the Presbyterian church. As one of the reliable and honorable men of this section, Mr. Hopping commands the respect of all who know him, and his success in this locality is assured.

JAMES WESLEY MCKIBBEN.

Mr. James Wesley Mckibben, an honored veteran of the Civil war, is living retired fro mthe active duties of life, in his home in Monroe township, between Clermontville and Point Pleasant, which consists of some four acres on the Ohio river. He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, March 5, 1842, and is a son of George and Emeline (Fisher) Mc- Kibben.

George Mckibben was born along the Little Muskingum river in 1813 and died in Clermont county, May 9, 1895, at the age of eighty-two years. He came to this county as a young man and settled in Monroe township, where he con- ducted a wood yard. He served in the Civil war. enlisting in Company B. Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, serving as a private for two years. He was a Republican and for- merly a Whig. His father was Joseph Mckibben, who was a native of Scotland. and came to America when quite young. He passed away on his farm on the Little Muskingum river.

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George Mckibben had several brothers and sisters, all of whom are deceased.

Emeline (Fisher) Mckibben was born in Clermont county, in Washington township, in 1818, and died in September, 1902. She was a daughter of Peter Fisher and wife, whose parents were natives of Germany, and who came to Clermont county from Pennsylvania. Peter was a son of Adam Fisher and a brother of the late David Fisher, formerly police judge and hotelman, of Cincinnati. Other brothers of Peter were ministers. of the Christian church. Emeline (Fisher) Mc- Kibben had the following brothers and sisters, all now de- ceased except one sister, Mrs. Lizzie Corbin, residing in Mon- roe township :

David, Samuel and Ben, all resided at Moscow, Ohio.

Peter died at Covington, Ky., in 1912.

Mrs. Polly Tattman lived at Moscow, as did Mrs. Lovina Armacost.

James Wesley Mckibben is the eldest living of nine chil- dren : David, James W., Mary, George, Frank, Albert, John, William Tell, Belle, Jane.

James W., the second child, was born and reared in Monroe township and with the exception of the years spent in service in the Civil war has always lived in the county. He enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Ohio volunteer infantry, and later in Company K, One Hundred and Tenth regiment, Ohio vol- unteers, being three years in service. He was mustered out as sergeant of Company C, Twelfth Ohio volunteer infantry, at the close of the war. He received wounds near Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley, and has been more or less disabled since that time.

James W. Mckibben was united in marriage, in January, 1869, to Miss Mary E. Keplinger, who was born in Crawford county, Illinois, October 7, 1848, a daughter of Noah and Mary (Watts) Keplinger, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, and the latter of Illinois. The education and early training of Mrs. McKibben was received in Illinois, where she resided until a short time prior to her marriage. She is the mother of eight children :

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History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 43

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

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