USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 47
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 47
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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
Jonah Cadwallader was born at Lynchburg, Va., in 1816, and when two years of age was brought by his parents to Highland county, Ohio. where he was reared and educated.
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He became a teacher, which profession he followed for thirty- five years. He was a thoroughly self-made man and was a great student and reader. He filled the position of principal of the Lynchburg schools for several years. He died at the age of fifty-nine years, in 1875, and his wife, who was born in 1831, departed this life in 1874. They were members of the Methodist church and were active in all worthy, enter- prises.
Mr. W. K. Wilson was born December 30, 1865, and was a son of Cornelius and Josephine (Games) Wilson, the former of whom is deceased and the latter is now the widow of the late Thomas Bick. She resides at the home of Mr. Homer Wilson, in Huntington township.
W. K. Wilson was an extensive stockman and gave espe- cial attention to the raisi ng of fine draft horses. He resided at the Cornelius Wilson homestead until about eleven years prior to his demise. He was a Democrat and took a citizen's interest in political affairs. He favored the Christian church and gave liberally to the support of that denomination.
Mrs. Wilson's first marriage occurred on November 3, 1889, to Mr. John H. Dragoo, son of John M. and Amanda J. (Hiett) Dragoo, both of old families mentioned elsewhere. To this union were born two children, one of whom died in infancy, and Frank C. is at home. Mr. Dragoo was a success- ful farmer and owned a large part of the old Hiett farm in Huntington township, and it is still owned by Mrs. Wilson and her son, Frank C. Dragoo. Mr. Dragoo was a member of the Odd Fellows and belonged to the Hiett Chapel Church. He was a grandson of Samuel Dragoo.
The union of Mr. W. K. and Ida Wilson was blessed with one son, Edwin Glenn, who is still at home.
Mrs. Wilson is well known in Huntington township and enjoys the respect and esteem of a large host of friends who admire her for her sterling qualities.
HOMER G. WILSON.
Mr. Homer G. Wilson may be classed among the most prominent and enterprising young farmers of Brown county, Ohio, where he owns and operates a finely improved farm about three-quarters of a mile east of Hiett's Chapel, in
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Huntington township. Mr. Wilson is a native of Brown county, his birth having occurred on the old home farm, January 3, 1874, a son of Cornelius and Josephine (Games) Wilson.
Cornelius Wilson was born in Huntington township, Jan- uary 29, 1829, and departed this life April 3, 1894. His par- ents were Stephen and Mary (Laney) Wilson, both natives of Virginia, where they were married and were among the first of the early settlers of Brown county, locating in Hunt- Ington township, where they resided the remaining years of their lives. Cornelius Wilson was a successful and progres- sive farmer and business man and owned two hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which he put into a high state of cultivation. His marriage to Miss Josephine Games occurred in 1858, and they resided mainly on the farm in Huntington township. He was a member of Hickory Ridge Christian- Church and was a man of sterling worth.
Josephine Games was born in Huntington township, May 27, 1843, a daughter of John W. and Sarah (Haynes) Games. natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. John W. Games was born March 22, 1785, and died August 22, 1856. His wife, Sarah, was born December 27, 1803, and passed from this life January 4, 1874. Seven children came into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Wilson :
Lillie Lee, born November 21, 1859, became the wife of Charles Howland, and her death occurred March 1, 1897, leaving seven children.
Sallie Mary, born August 25, 1861, died at the age of eleven months.
John M., born August 12, 1863, died August 5, 1909, leav- ing a wife, nee Miss Sallie, and three children, now of Cleve- land, Ohio.
William K., born December 30, 1865, died in March, 1908, leaving a widow, Mrs. Ida Dragoo Wilson, and one son, Edwin, a sketch of whom will be found on other pages of these volumes.
Annie L., born April 8, 1868, is now in California.
Lucinda R., born January 3, 1871, died August 20, 1896. Homer G., our subject.
Mr. Homer G. Wilson spent six years in Warren county, but most of his life thus far has been spent in Brown county on the farm. He received a good common school education and has devoted most of his attention to the pursuits of agri- culture.
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The marriage of Mr. H. G. Wilson to Miss Essie Geeslin occurred October 22, 1905. She is a native of Byrd township, Brown county, her natal day being January 20, 1876, and her parents being Albert A. and Phoebe (Milligan) Geeslin, who reside near the Campbell school in Byrd township. In the family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are two children :
Howard Jennings, born April 4, 1908.
Woodrow, born November 2, 1912.
In politics, Mr. Wilson is in favor of the men and measures of the Democratic party.
JOHN BURBAGE.
Mr. John Burbage, one of the extensive stock raisers and farmers of Brown county, owns a beautiful tract of two hun- dred and ninety-six acres on Hickory Ridge, near Fellowship Chapel, in Huntington township. He raises a great deal of stock and has two hundred and fifty acres in fine pasture. Mr. Burbage was born in Adams county, Ohio, near Decatur, March 14, 1871, and is a son of Stephen and Lydia (Reeves) Burbage, both residents of Decatur, where they are conduct- ing farming and stock raising, the former born in 1846 and the latter in 1848.
John Burbage is the eldest of three children, the others be- ing: James F., who was born February 29. 1875, is a farmer of Adams county, Ohio; Mary, who was born in 1873, married first, John Rickey, and later married again and resides at De- troit. Mich.
Mr. Burbage spent his boyhood and youth on the farm of his parents, remaining at home until he had reached his twen- ty-first year. When he had reached mature years, he was united in marriage to Miss Bettie Jenkins, the ceremony being solemnized on the 18th of January, 1893. She was born on the farm which is her present home, and is a daughter of William and Eliza (Butts) Jenkins.
William Jenkins was born in Pennsylvania, March 27, 1818, and at the age of four years came with his parents, William and Hannah (Jury) Jenkins, to Ohio, where they located in Huntington township. The father and mother conducted a farm in connection with a hotel on Hickory Ridge. William Jenkins, Sr., donated the first acre and his two daughters the
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remainder of the Hickory Ridge cemetery, which is well cared for and kept up by a cemetery association.
Eliza (Butts) Jenkins was born in Jefferson township, Brown county, June 16, 1835, and died February 12, 1910. She was a daughter of Aaron and Betty (McCarthy) Butts, the latter of whom was born in 1804, and died in January, 1896. Eliza Butts married first, Mr. Eli Carter, and to their union was born one child, Ida, who is now Mrs. George Morris, and is residing near West Union, Adams county, Ohio.
Aaron Butts was born in 1814, and resided with his father, Samuel Butts, and the family, near Georgetown, Ohio, where the latter owned a farm. Aaron Butts died in February, 1894, having followed farming as an occupation all of his active life.
Mrs. John Burbage had nine half-brothers and sisters, of whom six are living. Her father's first marriage was with Olivine Redman, and their children are as follows: William, deceased ; Martha J. (Bowman), of Adams county, Ohio; Lu- cinda, deceased; Maurice L., of Huntington township, Brown county ; Bell (Brumley), of Liberty township, Adams county, Ohio; Henry, of Huntington township, Brown county, Ohio; Olivine (Adamson), of Spriggs township, Adams county, Ohio; Abner, of Adams county, Ohio; and Minerva, deceased. Mrs. Burbage is the oldest of the second family and was born July 29, 1874; Aaron, born October 10, 1876, died February 16, 1879; and Edgar, born July 8, 1877, died September 28, 1883.
Mr. and Mrs. Burbage have resided at their present home farm since their marriage, and to their union have been born eight children, of whom six are now living, the names being as follows :
William Arthur, who was born May 7, 1894, died July 29, 1895.
Le Roy, born October 22, 1895.
Etta Mirl, born February 6, 1898.
George Ernest, born April 4, 1901.
Ruth Ellen, born August 16, 1904.
Thomas J., born October 3, 1906.
Eldon Lloyd, born July 10, 1909.
Morman, born June 12, 1912, died June 15, 1912.
Wayne F., born June 24, 1913.
Mr. Burbage votes for the men and measures of the Dem- ocratic party, and served as land appraiser in 1910. He ap-
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praised Huntington township, which was the first appraise- ment in ten years.
The social relations of our subject are with the Masonic order of Aberdeen, the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fel- lows, also of Aberdeen, Ohio.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Burbage attend the Christian church, he giving generously toward the support of that de- nomination.
Mr. John Burbage is recognized in his locality as an author- ity on stock raising, his success in this line of business has been so very marked.' He is a good citizen, and takes an active interest in all that tends to promote the welfare of the community.
WILLIAM M. GARDNER.
Mr. William M. Gardner, one of the prominent and reliable farmers and raisers of fine stock in Brown county, is a resident living near Decatur in Byrd township, on a farm which has been in the possession of some member or descendant of the Henry family since 1854. Mr. Gardner is an energetic and representative agriculturist and is well and favorably known throughout this section of the county. He was born in Union township, Brown county, September 18, 1868, and is a son of John W. Gardner, whose life record appears on another page of this work. .
William M. Gardner resided at the home of his father until his marriage, and thus obtained a good education in practical farming, which has been of great help to him in his occupation of farmer.
Mr. William M. Gardner was united in marriage on Decem- ber 7, 1904, to Miss Agnes Stevenson, who was born in 1874, her parents being John and Mary Adeline (Henry) Steven- son, the latter of whom was born in Brown county in October, 1834, and died in June, 1908, a daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Moore) Henry, the former of whom was born in 1798, and died in July, 1864, and the latter of whom was born in 1808, and died in September, 1892. She was a daughter of William and Mary (Curry) Moore.
John Stevenson was born near Decatur, Ohio, April 3, 1834, and departed this life February 19, 1903. He was a man of more than ordinary literary ability and was a contributor
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to the "Ripley Bee" for over forty years, under the non-de- plume of "You Bet!" He was prominent in public life in Brown county for many years, and was well versed in the law, although he did not engaged in the practice of the pro- fession. He served for years in the capacity of justice of the peace in a most satisfactory manner. September 16, 1861, found Mr. Stevenson a member of Company C, Fifty-ninth regiment, Ohio volunteers, and for three full years he served his country faithfully and well. In 1865, he united with the Presbyterian church, and became one of its most active and useful members. He was a son of Joseph and Nancy (Geeslin) Stevenson, the latter of whom was born in 1812, on Lee creek, near Washington, Mason county, Kentucky, and came with her parents to Ohio, in 1818, where she died in 1898.
Joseph Stevenson was born in Brown county in 1804 and died in 1882. He was a merchant and postmaster of Decatur and was the youngest son of Robert and Elizabeth (Baird) Stevenson, the former of whom was born in Maryland in 1759, and the latter of whom was born in 1761. They came to Brown county from Hagerstown, Maryland, and settled near Decatur, bringing with them one child, the others in the fam- ily being natives of Brown county.
Mrs. Gardner has the following named brothers and sisters : Luella, who married Charles Henry, resides in the home erected by Samuel Henry, although there is no relationship ; Helen, who married C. P. Neel, he being deceased; Samuel Henry ; Joseph, of near Decatur; John W .; and Phoebe, wife of Earl Jackson, of Morocco, Ind.
JOSEPH A. DYER.
Among the prominent and energetic farmers of Sterling township, Brown county, Ohio, none is more deserving of honorable mention than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Dyer owns a well improved farm of one hundred acres, which he has put in a splendid state of cultivation. He was born on this same farm, December 3, 1862, a son of Ben- jamin and Jane (Addenbrook) Dyer.
Benjamin F. Dyer was born in Henry county, Virginia, in 1836 and died December 1, 1894. He was reared until the age
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of sixteen years in Virginia, and there acquired a good com- mon school education. He then ran away from home, joining the John Robinson circus, with whom he traveled for a period of four years. He finally tired of this life and located on a farm adjoining the Addenbrook farm, and there met and mar- ried, in 1861, to Miss Jane Addenbrook. He followed the occu- pation of general farmer and stock raiser, being also a turn- pike, bridge and mail contractor. From January, 1879, to May, 1880, he filled the office of warden of the Ohio peni- tentiary, and served again from 1890 to 1892, under Governor Campbell. He served in the capacity of treasurer of Brown county from 1882 to 1886, and his residence during the terms of office was at Columbus and Georgetown, Ohio. His de- clining years were spent at Georgetown, where he rested from active labors until his decease. Benjamin F. Dyer was a Democrat in politics, and fraternally was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was in favor of the faith of the Baptist church, and was in every way a most highly esteemed citizen of the county.
Jane (Addenbrook) Dyer was a native of Brown county, her birth occurring in 1839, and her death in 1900. She was a daughter of Henry and Louise Addenbrook, both of whom were natives of Staffordshire, England, where they were mar- ried. About 1830, they left the home of their nativity and coming to America located on what is now Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, where they secured one hundred acres of land. He sold this property for two thousand dollars-now worth many hundred times as much. He invested in this farm in Sterling township, Brown county, Ohio, and the land has since been in the family. Mr. Addenbrook followed the occupation of gen- eral farming during his active life, and met with a good de- gree of success. He was a consistent member of the Christian church, and was active in all worthy enterprises.
The union of Benjamin F. and Jane (Addenbrook) Dyer was blessed with four children, of whom Joseph A., of this mention, is the oldest : Mary L., wife of William M. Thomp- son, a lawyer and ex-State Senator, residing at Columbus, Ohio: Thomas H., of Allegheny, Pa., is associated with the Nelson-Morris Packing Company, and married Miss Eva Yohe, and Hattie, who married first Dr. J. A. Parker, who died in 1900, and she married a second time, and is now re- siding in Columbus, Ohio.
ยท Mr. Joseph A. Dyer received a good education in the high
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schools of Williamsburg and Columbus, Ohio. He spent most of his active life in Brown county, thus far, and by his study of the political issues of the day has always taken an active interest in politics. He served as deputy county treasurer from 1882 to 1886, under his father, Benjamin F. Dyer, and has also filled the various township offices, including the county blind commission. He was associated with the Swift Company from 1892 to 1894, and for the past eighteen years he has given his entire attention to the management of his farm and the raising of a good grade of stock.
Mr. Joseph A. Dyer married in Clermont county, Ohio, Miss Emma Britton, who is a native of Brown county, and a daughter of Burwell Britton, a prominent lawyer and farmer. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Dyer has been born one daugh- ter, Clara A., wife of Homer A. Martin, residing on the home farm. They have an infant son, Joseph Dyer Martin, born April 7, 1913.
The improvements on the farm of Mr. Dyer were made by his maternal grandfather, and the barn, which was erected in 1837, is in fine condition. He is interested in various enter- prises, including a directorship in the First National Bank of Williamsburg.
Socially, Mr. Dyer has membership with the Clermont So- cial Lodge, No. 29, Free and Accepted Masons, of Williams- burg. Mr. Dyer and the family attend the Methodist church.
Mr. Dyer is thoroughly practical in his methods and under- stands his business in every particular, hence meets with suc- cess. He is a useful citizen and an honorable man and enjoys the high regard of all with whom he is associated.
JAMES A. CUMBERLAND.
Among the successful citizens of Brown county, Ohio, whose prosperity is due largely to their own energy and per- severance, are James A. Cumberland and wife, who own and operate a well cultivated farm of four hundred and fifty acres in Pike township, In connection with his business as gen- eral farmer Mr. Cumberland gives much attention to the rais- ing of good grade stock, more especially to Shropshire and Delane sheep. He was born in Highland county, Ohio, near Sicily, January 5, 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Starr) Cumberland.
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Thomas Cumberland was born in Highland county, Ohio, January 15, 1817, and died November 23, 1863, after a useful and active life as a general farmer, in which business he met with well deserved success. He was a staunch Republican in politics and was a devout member of the Presbyterian church. He was a son of Thomas Cumberland, who was born in western Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, and came to Brown county before 1800, residing on Red Oak creek for a time, then removing to Highland county, where he lived until his death, in 1857, at the age of about eighty-three years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a son of the first of the name in America, his father having been born in Ireland, settling first in Pennsylvania.
Sarah (Starr) Cumberland was born near Hillsboro, High- land county, Ohio, in 1821, and died in her native county, July 14, 1898. She was an earnest member of the Presby- terian church and was a daughter of John and Rebecca (Walker) Starr, both natives of Greenbriar county, Virginia. They came to Ohio in youth, in 1818, with their parents and grandparents, and their marriage occurred at Hillsboro, High- land county. John Starr was a son of Aleck Starr, whose wife was a daughter of Alexander Hanson, who also lived in High- land county. Sarah (Starr) Cumberland was one of eight children, one of whom, Mrs. Julia Garner, of Lynchburg, Ohio, is living.
A brother of Aleck Starr owned some six hundred acres of land situated on the site of the present city of Baltimore, Md. He leased this land for ninety-nine years, about 1804. After the expiration of the lease the courts advertised for heirs and thousands of "Stars" responded.
In the family of Mr. Thomas and Sarah (Starr) Cumber- land were eleven children, whose names are as follows :
William, of Mobile, Ala., aged seventy-two years.
John, of Salina, Kan., is sixty-six years of age.
Joseph, of Lynchburg, Ohio, is sixty-four years of age.
James A., the subject of this mention, is sixty-two years old.
Granville B., of Columbiana county, Ohio, is sixty years old.
Samantha, aged sixty-eight, is the widow of Riley Hall, of Sardinia, Brown county, Ohio.
Sarah Belle, aged fifty-seven, is the wife of Robert Peddi- cord, of Sicily, Highland county, Ohio.
Mary, widow of Dr. M. W. Hayes, resides at Norwood, Ohio, and is fifty-one years of age.
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Three children died in infancy.
James A. Cumberland was reared to farm life, and as the years passed, became proficient in the labor of the fields. He remained at the parental home in Highland county until his marriage, which occurred in 1876, after which event he re- moved to Brown county. The union of Mr. Cumberland and Miss Caroline Dunn was solemnized in Brown county, where she was born, February 20, 1856, her parents being James H. and Elizabeth (Day) Dunn, both early residents of Brown county and both now deceased. Mr. Dunn was born in north- eastern Ohio, in 1808, and died at the age of ninety-one years .. Mrs. Dunn died at the age of seventy-seven years and was a native of Clermont county, Ohio.
Mrs. Cumberland is the youngest of eleven children, all of whom lived to a marriageable age and all had families before the death of either parent. They are as follows: Ira died re- cently at the age of seventy-eight years; Abbie (Calvin) re- sides at Mt. Orab at the age of eighty past; Julia (Tracy), aged seventy-eight years, resides at Georgetown, Ohio; Eliz- abeth (Courts), aged seventy-three years, died near George- town, Ohio, in 1912; Perry T. died in 1911, about seventy years of age, near Mt. Orab, Ohio; Orman, of Georgetown, is sixty- nine years old and is retired ; Ellen (Vance), aged sixty-seven, resides at Macon, Brown county, Ohio; James, who is sixty- five, years of age, resides at Washington Court House, Ohio; John, who is sixty-two years of age, resides in Sardinia, Ohio; Joseph, aged sixty years, resides at Georgetown, Ohio; and Mrs. Cumberland, wife of our subject.
Mr. and Mrs. Cumberland have three children :
Vida Belle, wife of Charles Muir, of Indianapolis, where Mr. Muir is a wholesale milliner. They are the parents of two children, Dwight and Dorothy.
Fannie, wife of W. L. Plummer, a druggist of Sardinia, Ohio. They have one child, Thomas.
Clark D. is a farmer and is associated in the operation of the home farm. His wife was formerly Miss Alice Hauk, who died in 1912, leaving one daughter, Virginia Ruth, aged four years.
In this sketch are mentioned seven generations.
When Mr. Cumberland came to Brown county, in 1876, he had very little capital with which to begin farming, but his wife inherited two hundred and fifty-eight acres of land, to which they have added at different times until they now have
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a fine farm, which Mr. Cumberland has greatly improved. He has devoted his entire time and attention to the business of an agriculturalist and is recognized as a first-class farmer and stock raiser.
Politically, Mr. Cumberland is an old-line Republican and has served on the school board, being interested in educational matters, having taught school in Highland, Adams and Brown counties in his younger days.
Socially, Mr. Cumberland is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 434, of Mt. Orab, and is past master. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, also, at Mt. Orab.
Religiously, Mr. Cumberland embraces the faith of the Presbyterian church, while Mrs. Cumberland believes in the creed of the Methodist church.
S. B. SHELDON.
S. B. Sheldon, M. D., one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of Brown county. Ohio, and one who has reached this position through manly endeavor and a most strenuous life, is a citizen in which Brown county takes great pride. Dr. Sheldon has practiced his profession at Five-Mile, Sterling township, Brown county, for the past forty-four years, and by his skill, attention and fidelity, he has endeared himself to all with whom he has been associated. The birth of Dr. Sheldon took place at Bantam, Clermont county, and his natal day is December 16, 1842. He is a son of Thomas and Eliz- abeth (Bradbury) Sheldon.
Thomas Sheldon was a native of New Jersey, his birth hav- ing occurred August 11. 1807, and his death on the 31st of March. 1884. He came west when about the age of seventeen years, locating at Cincinnati for a time, and later removed to Bantam. Clermont county, Ohio, where he read law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession in the county court ; was one of the three judges of the county court for some. two terms. Mr. Sheldon was a minister of the Chris- tian church for many years and held the office of clerk of the Southern Ohio Christian Conference for over thirty years, the oldest clerk in the State at the time. He removed to Brown county, in 1853. and purchased a farm in Sterling township, his home until his decease. He was a Whig and an old-line
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Republican in politics and held the various offices in the town- ship, including justice of the peace. He was a son of Thomas and Mary (Burr) Sheldon, who came from New Jersey to Darke county, Ohio, where Thomas Sheldon, Sr., conducted a grist and saw mill at Eaton, Ohio, until their passing. The Sheldon family is of English descent, three brothers of the name coming together to America from England. The Shel- dons in America are all related and all had large families.
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