USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 44
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 44
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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
Charles is a resident of the South.
Walter, of Columbus, Ohio, is interested in a sanitarium at that place. He married Amelia Hoelcher and they have one son, J. Morton.
Viola, of Cincinnati.
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Nina is a bookkeeper for the Citizens' Telephone Company, of Lawrenceville, Ill.
Watts is at home.
Robert, Clarence and Paul, all have passed away.
In politics, Mr. Mckibben is a Progressive Republican and cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and for all the Republican candidates. In fraternal organizations, his son, Walter, has membership with the Odd Fellows, of Co- lumbus, and the Masonic lodge. James W. Mckibben and his estimable wife are members of the Christian church, of Mt. Zion. They are people of integrity, intelligence and high moral standing.
WILLIAM O. ROBINSON.
William O. Robinson, the enterprising and energetic mer- chant and postmaster of Perintown, Ohio, was born in Ba- tavia township, Clermont county, Ohio, March 20, 1862, his parents being Oliver and Laura A. (Lytle) Robinson.
The boyhood days of Mr. Robinson were spent on the farm and he was educated in the country schools of the county. He then taught school one term, after which he went to Lebanon, Ohio, where he attended school in the summer, but taught during the winter terms in the country schools. He kept this up for three years, having for a teacher, "Daddy" Holbrook." He continued teaching, later attending the summer school at Valparaiso, Ind., for two summers. By constant application to his work, Mr. Robinson earned a first class life certificate to teach, in which profession he was engaged for twenty-one years in Clermont county.
In 1904, Mr. William Robinson desiring a change of occu- pation became an employee of the Union Central Life Insur- ance Company, when Mr. John G. Pattison was its president, and at the time the latter was elected governor of Ohio. After spending three years in the insurance business Mr. Robinson came to Perintown, where he purchased a stock of merchan- dise and was appointed postmaster.
In 1864, when Mr. William O. Robinson was two years of age, his father died. leaving two children, our subject and a sis- ter. Lillian. His mother married again and her second hus- band was James Hitch. To this union two children were born. Harriet and Frank. The stepfather being an invalid. it became
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necessary for William to help in the support of the family when he was quite young, which he did by teaching.
Lillian and Harriet became teachers, the latter following the profession until her marriage to Monroe Wiseman, of Iron- ton, Ohio. She has two children, Franklin and Robert. The half-brother, Frank, is a graduate of the State University, and is city engineer of New York City.
The mother and step-father of Mr. Robinson are still living in Batavia, Ohio.
Mr. William Robinson is not only a staunch Democrat, but has been a delegate many times to the various conventions, and refused the office of county treasurer in 1912. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist church, and has for many years been a teacher of the Bible class. He is well known in the fraternal circles of the county and State, holding membership in the Free and Accepted Masons, and is past worshipful master, representing his lodge at the grand lodge for two years. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Amelia, No. 99, being past grand and representing his lodge for three years at grand lodge. He was district deputy for two years, installing officers all over the district, including Cler- mont and Brown counties.
Mr. Robinson is not only a self-made man, but he has been the main support of the family as they grew up, helping ma- terially in educating those younger than himself. He yet contributes to the needs of his mother and step-father, and to any who are in need of assistance. He has been a great benefit to the young of his locality, is very well read, and is informed on all the subjects of education and political interest.
HORACE J. BECK.
In Mr. Horace J. Beck we find a splendid representative of the self-made man, a man who without any special pecuniary advantages has worked his way steadily upward in the com- mercial world. Mr. Beck was born in the house which is his present home, at Bethel, Ohio, July 9, 1837, his parents being John D. and Eliza (Edwards) Beck, the former a native of Ohio. He was a blacksmith at Bethel and died in 1861, aged fifty-two years. Eliza (Edwards) Beck was born in Essex county, New Jersey, and died in 1889, aged eighty-four years, and to this union were born ten children :
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Timothy E. was a resident of near Bethel, Ohio, until his death.
William Gerard remained with his father in the shop until his death.
Caroline C. was the wife of Miller W. Fagely, of this county. Horace J., our subject.
Marcus A. died at Bethel and was a blacksmith.
Samantha, deceased, was the wife of Reuben White.
Amos, deceased, was a farmer in Illinois.
John H. is a resident of Amelia, Ohio.
Moses died when a young man, at Bethel, Ohio
Edwin, passed away at Bethel, Ohio.
Horace J. Beck was educated in the schools of Bethel and assisted his father in the shop for a time, after which he ac- cepted a position as clerk in the general store of Sinks & Clare, at Bethel, and was thus employed for some thirteen years.
In 1880, Mr. Beck was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Winterrowd, who was born in Indiana in 1852, and is a daugh- ter of Peter and Elizabeth (Hagerman) Winterrowd, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They were the parents of eight children, four still living:
Phoebe, Mrs. Beck.
Peter is operating the old home farm in Indiana.
Clara is the wife of George Muck, of Indiana.
Julia is Mrs. Charles Klein, of Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Horace Beck have had four children, all being born in the same home in which their father first saw the light of day. They are:
Estel, whose birth occurred in 1882, lives next door to his father in a substantial brick home. He is an employee in the shoe factory at Bethel, Ohio. He married Louise Reed and has one son.
Angie C. is the wife of Oliver House, a brickmason, of Cin- cinnati. Her birth took place in 1884.
Clara was born in 1886 and is Mrs. Allen Harris, living near Bethel, Ohio.
Florence was born in 1888 and lived but four months.
For the past fifteen years Mr. Beck has been engaged in the insurance business, representing the Phoenix Insurance Com- pany of New York, with office in his home. He has a nice farm of eighty-seven acres near Bethel, which he has kept rented.
In religious matters, both Mr. and Mrs. Beck are consistent
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members of the Baptist church, of which he has for many years been a deacon, also superintendent of the Sunday school, until he was unable to attend to the duties of that office.
JOHN H. BECK.
John H. Beck, retired, residing in the village of Hamlet, Clermont county, Ohio, is a native of this county, born Jan- uary 1, 1845, son of John D. and Eliza (Edwards) Beck. The father was a blacksmith at Bethel for years, being a son of Levi Beck, a veteran of the war of 1812. John D. Beck died March 29, 1861, while Mrs. Beck passed away June 12, 1889, she being the last representative of the Edwards family in this section. The Becks are of English descent.
The maternal grandfather of our subject, Capt. John Ed- wards, was a Revolutionary soldier and lived and died in New Jersey. He was a warm personal friend of Gen. George Washington, who often dined at the Edwards home. A son, Timothy Edwards, accompanied by his wife, nee Martha Miller, came from New Jersey to Ohio very early in the nineteenth century, settling on the Miami river. Later re- moved to a farm near Bethel, in Clermont county.
John H. Beck is one of twelve children, of whom but one other is living, Horace Beck, of Bethel, Ohio. Mr. Beck received his schooling at Bethel and before coming of age enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty-fourth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, spending a year with the Army of the Cum- berland. Returning to Bethel, he attended school for a time and then engaged in farming with one of his brothers. Was married, November 21, 1877, to Miss Alice S. Gardner, born December 16, 1851, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Ep- pert) Gardner, both natives of Clermont county.
The Gardners are of Welsh descent, while the Epperts are of Pennsylvania German extraction. Mrs. Beck's grand- father, Samuel Gardner, was born July 22, 1785, and died in 1879, aged ninety-four. He came to Ohio while the Indians were still plentiful, being on friendly terms and trading with them, also hunting a great deal. His parents, Nathan and Pattie Gardner, lived to be one hundred and three and one hundred and one, respectively. George Gardner was born near Mt. Pisgah, May 6, 1824, and died August 13, 1908, while his widow, who resides at the old home in Mt. Holly,
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was born April 20, 1834. He enlisted, in November, 1861, in Company K, Fifty-second Indiana infantry, being dis- charged from hospital in 1862. A brother, Nathan G. Gard- ner, served in the army, also three brothers-in-law-Samuel Eppert, who died in Andersonville prison, Madison and Perry Eppert, besides several cousins. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner were members of the United Brethren church. Ten children were born to them, of whom six are living: Alice S., wife of our subject : Carthena, wife of Uriah Butler, residing at Mt. Pis- gah, Clermont county ; Martha, now Mrs. Lewis Furlong, of Newtown, Ohio; Laura, Mrs. Harmon Fagin, of Plymouth, Ill .; Edgar B., of Terre Haute, Ind .; and Elmer C., who re- sides at Los Angeles, Cal.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. John H. Beck settled on a farm near Bethel, their home for twenty-four years. Then Mr. Beck purchased the pretty home at Hamlet, on the Ohio turnpike, where they have since resided. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and a Prohibitionist. He and Mrs. Beck are both members of the Baptist church, of Amelia, Ohio, of which Mr. Beck is now serving as a trustee. Their four children, all born in Clermont county, are living : Elsie V., born January 31, 1879, was married May 24. 1900, to J. Paris Goodbar, and they have one son, Paul Beck Good- bar, born September 4, 1908, and their home is in Dallas, Tex .; Gordon C., born June 20, 1881, a graduate of Bethel High School and of Dennison University, taught a year at Pin Hook, Clermont county and is engaged in real estate business at Pittsburgh, Pa .; Ellsworth, born September 16, 1884, is an artist residing at Westerville, Ohio, having been with the Culver Art and Frame Company the past nine years-married Miss Lenore Jenkins, July 28, 1907, and they have one son, Marston Keith, born January 28, 1913; and Miss Ethel May, born May 16, 1887, is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Beck are enjoying their comfortable home, which is one widely known for its hospitality and pervading spirit of good cheer. They number their friends by the score.
ALBERT W. FRANCIS, M. D.
Dr. Albert W. Francis, a prominent physician and surgeon of Ripley, Ohio, associated with Dr. Robert T. Prine, is not only eminent in his profession, but has been closely identi-
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fied with the city's material development since 1889. Dr. Francis was born at Russellville, Brown county, Ohio, and is a son of Wilson W. and Hannah (Bower) Francis.
Wilson W. Francis was born at Ash Ridge, Brown county, Ohio, about 1823, and died in 1890. He was a son of Edward and Jane (Wilson) Francis, both of whom were natives of county Caven, Ireland, and who came to America about 1816, bringing several children with them and locating at Ash Ridge, Ohio, where they resided until their deaths. Wilson W. Francis was a farmer and a substantial citizen, who filled many offices of trust in the township and county. He gave his services to his country in her time of need, during the Civil war. He was a member and an elder of the Presby- terian church, of Russellville, for many years before his de- cease.
Hannah (Bower) Francis was born near Russellville, in Brown county, Ohio, in 1825, and died in 1892. She was a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Smith) Bower, the latter born in Pennsylvania and the former was born in county Down, Ireland, and he came to America about 1799. He was a successful farmer and owned large property in the vicinity of Russellville, where they resided for the greater part of their lives. They were staunch members of the Presbyterian church.
Dr. A. W. Francis is the fifth of seven children, namely : Mrs. Eleanor Kendall, a widow, resides with Dr. Francis. Mrs. James Porter, who died at Russellville, Ohio, in 1888.
William, a contractor and builder, of Wichita, Kan. He is married and has a family of two children.
Charles W., a painter and decorator, of Shreveport, La. Dr. A. W.
Two others died in infancy.
Dr. Albert W. Francis received his early education in the Russellville schools and later at Lebanon, Ohio. He then taught school for six years in Brown county, after which he studied medicine with Dr. J. N. Salisbury, of Russellville, and then entered the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in 1889. He entered upon his pro- fessional career at once, associating with Dr. W. A. Dixon, of Ripley, and this connection continued for eleven years. Since 1899 Dr. Francis has been associated with Dr. R. T. Prine.
Dr. Francis is a man of progressive ideas and professional ability. He is vice-president of the Ripley National Bank
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and president of the People's Building and Loan Association. For the past sixteen years he has served his towns people on the school board.
Fraternally, Dr. Francis is the high priest of Ripley Chap- ter No. 82 and is a member of Union Lodge No. 71, Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of Ripley Lodge No. 84, Knights of Pythias.
The religious connections of Dr. Francis are with the Presbyterian church.
Dr. Francis is a member of the American Medical Asso- ciation, of the Ohio State Medical Society, and has just re- cently retired from the office of president of the Brown County Medical Society, having served in that capacity for a period of seven years. He has contributed articles and papers to the county and State societies.
Dr. Albert W. Francis is very highly esteemed by his fel- low citizens, which fact is evidenced by the extensive prac- tice he has obtained in this vicinity. Possessed of all the qualities which go to make a useful life, Dr. Francis has added the graces of culture and professional attainment, which have brought to him much personal affection.
ROBERT T. PRINE, M. D.
Dr. Robert Tomb Prine, of the firm of Francis & Prine, physicians and surgeons, who has been a resident of Ripley, Ohio, since 1899, is engaged in the general practice of his profession, in which he has attained unusual prominence. He is a native of Ripley, Brown county, Ohio, his birth having occurred October 13, 1875, his parents being Robert T. and Anna (Sutherland) Prine.
Robert T. Prine, Sr., was born in Flemingsburg, Fleming county, Kentucky, in 1835, a son of Henry Prine, who located at Russellville, Ohio, before the Civil war, and there con- ducted a hotel for many years. Robert T. Prine, Sr., was for twenty years engaged in the banking business at Ripley, being associated in the First National Bank, now the Ripley National Bank. His death took place in 1882.
Anna (Sutherland) Prine. a native of Brown county, Ohio, died in 1905 at the age of nearly sixty-two years. She was a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (McConaughy) Sutherland, both
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of whom came to Brown county when young. Mrs. Prine was a devout member of the Presbyterian church.
Dr. Robert T. Prine is an only child and was reared in Rip- ley, where he attended the public school and graduated there- from. After completing his preliminary education he entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, graduating in the class of 1897. He then practiced his profession near Cincin- nati until 1899, when he located in Ripley, and the present partnership was formed.
Dr. Prine chose for his life companion Miss Bessie Garoutte, a native of Eaton, Ohio, and a daughter of Rev. C. W. and Elizabeth (Sheldon) Garoutte, the former a minis- ter of the Christian church, of Ripley, Dayton, and elsewhere. Mrs. Garoutte was a sister of Dr. S. B. Sheldon, of Five-Mile, Ohio. Both Rev. and Mrs. Garoutte are deceased.
Politically, Dr. Prine is a staunch Republican and has served as councilman, and is at present a trustee of the water works committee. He was also candidate for State representative.
Fraternally, Dr. Prine is present master of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Union Lodge No. 71, of Ripley, and is a member of Ripley Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 82. In addition, he has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past noble grand of Lamartine Lodge No. 118, and a past chief patriarch of Ripley Encampbent No. 295.
Dr. Price is a member of the Ohio State Medical associa- tion and of the Brown County Medical Society.
Religiously, Dr. Prine is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Dr. Prine is a man of Statewide reputation in medical circles and has always been a constanat student and keeps thor- oughly abreast of the times, and there are few engaged in gen- eral practice with so broad and comprehensive a knowledge of the medical science in its entirety.
MICHAEL GERMANN.
Mr. Michael Germann, for many years prominently iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Brown county, has been a resident of Ripley, Ohio, since 1906, and is enjoying the re- tirement from active labors, surrounded by all that tends to
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make the evening of life often the most pleasurable. Mr. Ger- mann was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 12, 1834, a son of George and Mary (Mathias) Germann, the former of whom was a maker of wooden shoes and passed away in 1838, aged thirty-two years, and the latter of whom was about fifty years of age at the time of her death, in 1860, at Boston, Mass.
Michael Germann is one of four children, whose names are as follows: Barbara (Hoover) died at Cincinnati in 1911 ; Eliz- abeth (Heitz), a widow, of Cincinnati; Mary (Lang), a widow, residing at Ripley.
In company with his sister, Barbara, Michael Germann set out for America in 1852, and, settling at New York, he learned the trade of a wagon maker. Three years later the rest of the family came to New York, and soon after their arrival they re- moved to Boston, the home of our subject until 1862, when he located at Ripley, Ohio.
His marriage occurred at Boston on the 4th of May, 1858, his union being with Miss Frances Thrane, who was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, March 9, 1836, a daughter of Joseph and Barbara (Beier) Thrane, both of whom died in Germany, the former being a tailor by business. Mrs. Germann is one of six children, all of whom are deceased: Frank; Joseph ; Christoff ; Barbara, and Kate. Mrs. Germann came to America when eighteen years of age, with her brother, Christoff, and remained a short time in New York and Buffalo, after which they came west to Boston, Mass., where she was married. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Germann have been ten chil- dren, of whom nine are living: Frank and George, of Ripley, Ohio; Frances. wife of Frank Schwalia, a farmer of Union township; Lizzie (Lang), farmers; William died in the fall of 19II at the age of forty-three years; John. a farmer; Katie (Haucke), farmers; Lawrence, a farmer; Michael, Jr., and Miss Anna, at home.
Mr. Michael Germann opened a wagon shop at Ripley. in 1862, making the first spring wagon in Brown county. He continued in this business until 1865, when he sold out to Mr. Reinert and purchased a small farm in Huntington town- ship. He sold this farm and bought another, a larger one, and until 1906 he carried on general farming at this place. which he still owns. Removing to Ripley. he purchased the Renolds home on Third street. which was erected in 1855.
In politics, Mr. Germann votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of St. Michael's German Catholic Church, of Ripley, and to this denomination he gives a generous support.
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Mr. and Mrs. Germann have fifty-six living grandchildren, and three besides this number are deceased.
Mr. Germann and his family are much respected and es- teemed by all with whom they are associated, and are in every sense good citizens.
.
JOSEPH H. EVANS.
Mr. Joseph H. Evans, deceased, was long connected with the agricultural interests of Brown county, Ohio, and was one of the most highly esteemed and substantial citizens. He was born on the Evans homestead in Huntington town- ship, Brown county, February 15, 1854, a son of the Hon. Andrew Evans, extended mention of whom is made on an- other page of these volumes.
Joseph H. Evans attended the school in his neighborhood and remained under the parental roof until his twenty-second birthday, and under his father's instructions grew into a thoroughly practical farmer, able to cope with almost any agricultural situation. For years he was considered one of the best farmers in his locality.
Mr. Evans was united in marriage on his twenty-second birthday to Miss Louisa B. Dragoo, who was born March 22, 1857, a daughter of Samuel and Amanda (Day) Dragoo, of Union township. One year after his marriage Mr. Evans removed to the farm, where Mrs. Evans still resides, and which consists of two hundred and sixty-nine acres. This farm Mr. Evans improved and cultivated during his life and the family continue to keep it in excellent condition. The home is in Union township and was built in 1821.
Four children were added to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Evans, whose names follow :
Charles P., born November 9, 1876, is operating the home farm. He married Miss Audrey Shank, who died October 14, 1901, leaving one son, Richard N., thirteen years of age. Mr. Evans is a member of Lamartine Lodge No. 118. Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
Ross H., born March 17, 1879. is in the United States mail service and resides at Kansas City. Mo. He married Cordie Christopher.
Archie L., born June 18, 1881, is a jeweler of Kansas City. Mo. He married Sadie Marshall.
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Estelle V., born August 10, 1855, and is the wife of Evert R. Fennan, a farmer of Jefferson township, living near Rus- sellville, Brown county.
Mr. Joseph Evans and his family are members of the Pres- byterian church, and he was a man of integrity of character, and honorable and upright in public and private life, he was highly respected by all who knew him.
He was a member of Union Lodge No. 118, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Ripley, Ohio.
THE MEFFORD & GRIM COMPANY.
The Mefford & Grim Company, furniture dealers, funeral directors and embalmers, of Ripley, Ohio, is the largest and most widely known furniture and undertaking establishment in Brown county. The company has done a large business in Brown and Adams counties in Ohio and also in Kentucky, and is incorporated for ten thousand dollars.
The business was established about 1876 by Mr. L. Grim, Sr., as a general store and funeral directory, in the present location, the coffins and furniture being manufactured in the same building, which has since been remodeled. Later the firm name was changed to L. Grim & Son, and in 1906, when Messrs. Harry L. and Thomas L. Mefford became interested in the company, the firm name was changed to the Mefford & Grim Company, by which it has since been known.
Mr. Grim has retained his interest in the business, but it is managed by the Mefford brothers. The business has steadily increased during the past few years and the building has been remodeled and modernized to take care of the extensive trade.
It is interesting to thus note the gradual growth of a large enterprise and it is easy to feel enthusiasm for the minds who have not only the ability to plan, but also to execute so great an undertaking. The firm was doing a very nice business prior to the time the Mefford brothers became interested, but upon entering into the firm they combined youthful energy and persevering activity with rare administrative skill and thorough knowledge, which has made possible a larger increase. The mutual confidence and esteem which has always existed among the members of the firm has had its influence, and all are men of highest business integrity as well as commercial perception.
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FRANK E. BOYD.
Mr. Frank E. Boyd, general manager of the People's Coal Company, of Ripley, Ohio, has occupied the present position since July, 1910, to the entire satisfaction of his employers. The company is owned by Mr. J. T. Hatfield, of Covington, Ky., Mr. Fred Eversbach, of Pomeroy, Ohio, and Mr. Gott- lieb Hardwig, of Cincinnati, and does the largest retail busi- ness on the Ohio river, with the exception of the cities.
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