USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 53
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 53
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In 1856, Mr. Abbott was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Davidson, who was born in White Oak, Brown county, in 1831, daughter of William and Katherine (Knouse) Da- vidson, who lived three miles from Higginsport and were suc- cessful farmers. Mr. Davidson was born in Brown county, in 1784, and his wife in Pennsylvania, in 1793. He died in 1839 and she in 1859. He was a millwright by trade and he and his wife had ten children, all now deceased, Mrs. Abbott, 'the last survivor having died January 2, 1913, lacking from January until June of being eighty-two years old. The grand- father of Mrs. Abbott, Joshua Davidson, served in the Revo- jutionary war and lived to be nearly one hundred years old.
Six children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Abbott, all born in Pleasant township: Flora, wife of Isaac M. Rainey, who lives on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres near where her father was born, and they have one child, Paul Reese ; Charles W .. who married Miss Mary Ellis, who died, and he later married Ella McBeth, and they have three children, Mal- colm. Agnes and Ruth, and live on his grandfather's old farm;
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Henry T., of Lafayette, Ind., who married Miss Emma Jane Wilson, and they have two children, Corwin C. and Eva; Frank P., of Los Angeles, Cal., who married Miss Ruth Han- selman, and they have two children, Ray and Mildred; Alice is at home with her father; Lena May is the wife of John F. Burris, of Norwood, Ohio, and they have four children, Ger- trude, Carl, Virgil, and Beatrice. Mrs. Abbott was a member of the Methodist church and Mr. Abbott formerly belonged to the New Light church, until it was discontinued. In June, 1912, Mrs. Abbott fell and broke her hip, which resulted in her death, in January, 1913. She was a great sufferer from this cause, but bore her pain with great fortitude and bravery of spirit. Mr. Abbott is largely self-made and comes of good old pioneer stock, for his parents and grandparents had to clear the land for their farms and were very industrious and thrifty people.
REV. LEWIS RICHEY.
Rev. Lewis Richey, of Georgetown, deputy county auditor, is descended from two of the oldest families of Brown county. He is one of the most competent of officials, is courteous in his dealings with the public, and is well and favorably known throughout Brown, Adams and Clermont counties as a minis- ter of more than ordinary gifts. He was born in western Brown county, January 7, 1851, son of John Laken and Eliz- abeth (Trout) Richey, prominent farmers and prominent members of the community. John L. Richey was born in eastern Clermont county, in 1824, and died in 1890, and his wife was born in 1826 and died in 1902. She was born in western Brown county and both she and her husband are buried in Georgetown. The father was a Democrat in poli- tics and took an active part in local affairs, serving as township trustee and assessor. They had twelve children, all born in Brown county, of whom seven are now living: William Lee, of Denver ; Rev. Lewis ; Tilghman, of Maple, Clermont county ; Sophia, wife of Frank Hanna, of Norwood, Ohio; John Sey- mour lives in Maple on the line between Brown and Clermont counties ; Augusta, wife of Oscar Dougherty, of Morrow, War- ren county ; O. F., of Feesburg. Ohio. The parents .were orig- inally Methodists, but later joined the Christian Union church. Both belonged to families who settled in Brown county in
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an early day and were representative of the pioneer stock that made the early history of the region.
Rev. Richey began his education in the country schools and at Felicity, and for fourteen years taught school winters and did farming in the summer months. He then conducted a saw mill four years. These activities were carried on in Brown and Clermont counties, and in 1886 he was chosen deputy treasurer of Brown county. In January, 1890, he was appointed deputy sheriff and in October of the same year was appointed deputy auditor, holding the three positions named for a period of one year-an unprecedented record in the State. Hle was in the auditor's office until 1893 and the following year served as tax inquisitor in Adams and Pike counties. In 1895 he was appointed to a clerkship in the postoffice at Georgetown, and in 1900 was appointed an express messenger on the Cincinnati, Georgetown & Portsmouth railway. He was appointed deputy auditor of Brown county on January 1, 1902, since which time he has well and faithfully performed the duties of the office, which is an important one. There are many difficult problems to be solved in the course of the routine, which he is well prepared to solve, and his training has fitted him in many ways to deal with the public to their general satisfaction. Although a Democrat in political views he is independent of party prejudices in general dealings, and appreciates the worth of a man, whatever his party may be. He is popular with all and has scores of friends in every com- munity where he is known.
Rev. Richey preached for many years, from 1870 to Septem- ber, IQII, and in 1910 and 1911 officiated in two different churches, one in Adams and one in Clermont county, of the Christian Union faith. However, on account of failing health, the work proved too arduous and he had to give it up, to his own regret and that of his parishoners. He is a member of the Masonic order and has attained the office of high priest, the highest in the Chapter. He has a very nice home, having erected the first residence at Harmon Heights, a recent addi- tion to Georgetown. He is largely self-educated and self- made and is well fitted for the posts he has held. He received a good general and business education and has by private study gained his theological education and training. By untir- ing energy and a worthy aim in view. he studied and thought with such success that he is well known in his part of the State for his clear, concise expression of his deductions on im-
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portant questions. His mind is trained to deep thought and he has worked hard in his chosen field. He frequently preached a fine sermon in the morning, ministered to the needs of an- other church in the afternoon, after driving many miles, and in the vening delivered a lecture on some important subject connected with theology. He has radiated a pure and refined influence in his daily life and is naturally modest and retir- ing in disposition. However, he is well prepared to stand be- fore the public when he feels it is his duty to do so, and his business ability ranks with that of anyone in the county.
On January 24, 1874, Rev. Richey was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Dixon, born in Felicity, Ohio, in 1850, daughter of.Thomas and Rachel (Lawson) Dixon, and by this union there was one child born, Joseph Orville, who died at the age of thirteen years. Mrs. Richey died in 1879 and both she and her child are buried in Mount Zion cemetery.
On December 24, 1887, Mr. Richey married (second) Miss Sarah Frances Potts, born in Clermont county, near Bethel, in 1853, daughter of Landon and Serena (Wilson) Potts, and a distant relative of the newly elected President of the United States. The Wilson family are of an old and honored race and originally descended from George Wilson, who was a colonel in the French and Indian war. He had four sons, two of whom were killed in the Revolution, and one of the surviv- ors was appointed Commissioner of War by Gen. George Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Potts were born in Virginia, he in 1813 and she in 1821. They removed to Kentucky and later to Ohio and located eventually in Tate township, Clermont county, where they carried on farming. Mr. Potts and wife were parents of eight children, five of whom survive, namely : Noral, of Tate township, Brown county ; Barton H., of Brown county ; Sebastian, of Newark, N. J .; Seymour L., of Brown county, and Sarah Frances, Mrs. Richey. Rev. and Mrs. Richey have been blessed with two children: John Leroy, born De- cember 7, 1888, and Clinton Elwood, born March 5, 1890, both born in Georgetown. John L. graduated from Georgetown High School, attended the Young Men's Christian Association Law School one year, then studied law with a private tutor in Cincinnati and passed the State examination for admission to the bar, in 1911. He is now practicing his profession and is a member of the firm of Freiberg & Richey. of Cincinnati. Clinton Elwood graduated from Georgetown High School and works in the office of the Louisville & Nashville railroad in
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Cincinnati. They are young men who make the hearts of their parents glow with pride and gratification.
Rev. Richey organized the first men's Bible class in the Georgetown Presbyterian church and was the first teacher of the Men's Bible Class in the Methodist church there, and both he and his wife are enthusiastic workers in the Methodist · church, she being especially in the Sunday school work, where she has a class of school teachers. They hold membership in the Christian Union church at Benton, Clermont county. David Miller Richey, an uncle of Rev. Richey, served in the Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry during the Civil war, and his son, John Wesley Richey, also served in that war as did also William S. Trout. Through Mrs. Richey's mother her children are entitled to belong to the Sons of the American Revolution, as she is in like manner eligible to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.
FRANK X. FREBIS.
One of the youngest men who ever held an important office in Brown county, Ohio, is Frank Xavier Frebis, who has served most efficiently as prosecuting attorney of the county for the past three years. He is a native of the county and be- longs to one of its oldest and most respected families. He was born at Ripley, May 7, 1883, son of Frank X. and Ida M. (Schweitzer) Frebis. The father was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, January 14, 1850, and died in 1897, and Ida M. Schweit- zer, the mother was born in Bracken county, Kentucky, July 27, 1858.
The subject of this sketch attended the Catholic school in Ripley for six years and graduated from Ripley High School, in 1901, after which he attended Ohio State University three years, graduating from the law department June 22, 1904. He was admitted to the bar on June 22d of the same year, at Co- lumbus, and practiced his profession in Georgetown the follow- ing three years. He practiced .the next three years at Rip- ley. In 1910 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Brown county and was re-elected in 1912 for two years. ' In perform- ing the duties of his office he ever has the interests of the pub- lic at heart and is well qualified to give satisfaction. He is pleasant and accommodating wherever he finds it possible to
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be so, and is very popular, having friends by the hundred. From 1904 to 1909 he was chairman of the county central committee of the Democratic party. He now resides on East State street, Georgetown.
On March 25, 1908, Mr. Frebis was united in marriage with Grace M. Thompson, daughter of W. J. and Rebecca (Metz- gar) Thompson. Mrs. Frebis is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her great-grandfather, John ' Thompson, having enlisted for service in the Revolutionary war at the age of sixteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Frebis have one daughter, Sara Frances, born June 19, 1909.
WILSON W. GRIMES.
Mr. Wilson W. Grimes, deceased, formerly a prominent farmer and highly esteemed citizen of near Decatur, Brown county, Ohio, was born near Decatur, Ohio, May 16, 1843, and was a son of John and Mary (Geeslin) Grimes.
John Grimes was born in Brown county, Ohio, September 29, 1803, and died March 17, 1862. He was a farmer by occu- pation and he and his wife, who was born in Virginia, June 4, 1800, died December 11, 1883, in Brown county, Ohio, were the parents of twelve children. Those living are:
Melcina, widow of James Burbage, lives near Decatur, Ohio. George resides at Ripley, Ohio.
William, lives near Decatur, Ohio.
Alice, widow of James Frances, lives in the West.
Wilson W. Grimes obtained his education in the district schools of Brown county, remaining with his fataher at home until the latter's death. Upon reaching his majority, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Heizer, on October 2, 1873. She was born at Center Point, five miles from Ripley, Ohio, October 21, 1857, and is a daughter of George and Mary Ann (De Moss) Heizer.
The great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Grimes was Valentine Heizer, who was a native of Germany and was killed there by being thrown from a horse on the race track. His son, John Heizer, was born in Germany, March 17, 1746, and immigrated to America, where he engaged as a soldier in the War of the Revolution. He was wounded in the thigh and died June 26, 1837, at the advanced age of ninety years, three months and
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nine days. His wife, Elizabeth, (Mowery) Heizer, was born May 10, 1764, and died November 14, 1847, aged eighty-three years, six months and four days. Their son, George Heizer, the grandfather of Mrs. Grimes, was born March 1I, 1799, and died October 7, 1889, aged ninety years, six months and twen- ty-six days. His wife, Margaret (Right) Heizer, was born Oc- tober 15, 1805, and died June 23, 1876, at the age of seventy years, nine months and eight days. Their son, George W. Heizer, the father of Mrs. Grimes, was born October 27, 1828, and his wife, Mary Ann (De Moss) Heizer, was born October II, 1830, and passed away November 1, 1874: Mr. George Heizer was a local preacher and teacher and farmer, teaching school and preaching during the winter months and farming in summer. He also held revival meetings and taught his last school in Highland county, Ohio, at the age of sixty years. He died October 21, 1891. They were the parents of ten children, and those living are: James Heizer, of Chicago, Ill .; Mrs. W. W. Grimes; John Wesley, of Chicago; Elizabeth, wife of William Sumner, living in Michigan, and Martha, wife of Al- fred Smith, living in Nebraska.
Afther their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Grimes settled on a farm near Decatur and devoted their attention to the pursuits of agriculture. They remained at their first home farm until after the death of Mr. Grimes, May 18, 1910. In 1911 Mrs. Grimes and son, Otha, removed to Georgetown. Mr. Grimes gave especial attention to stock raising in addition to general farming. He and his wife became the parents of seven chil- dren, their names as follows:
Cora D., who attended the College of Music of Cincinnati, and taught music throughout Adams and Brown county for a number of years. She became the wife of John Moore, a successful farmer and stockman, and resides near Decatur.
Charles W. is a graduate of the Ada (Ohio) Law School, and for a number of years was engaged as teacher in Brown county. He assisted in the normals in Adams county at West Union. He married Miss Josephine Templeton, and resides at Tulsa, Okla. They have three sons, Philo W., Park T .. and Oscar L. Mr. Grimes is now engaged in his profession of law, and also has extensive interests in oil.
William B. is engaged in the real estate business, and also in oil, of Tulsa, Okla., and married Miss Lydia Bloom.
Maggie J., wife of Rev. Glassburn, of Hancock, Iowa, is the mother of one son, Hugh Stuart. She attended the schools
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of Decatur and for three years taught in the schools of Adams and Brown county, Ohio. She is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute, of Chicago, and a graduate of the Northwest- ern University of Evanston, Ill., taking a four-years theolog- ical course and receiving a degree of Bachelor of Divinity. · After her marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Glassburn spent six months in Iqueque, Chili, but returned on account of Rev. Glassburn's health. She has often filled the pulpit of her husband and is a bright and intelligent lady of much culture.
Archie E., a successful farmer, married Miss Mae Plummer and resides near Decatur, Ohio. They have one child, Eveline Lucile.
Nellie E. makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Glassburn.
Otha H. is attending high school at Georgetown.
Mr. Grimes was a good citizen and a kind and induigent hus- band and father. He was a man of upright life and enjoyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him. In politics he voted for the issues of the Democratic party. He was a de- vout member of the Methodist church, as is also his wife and family.
SIDNEY CORWIN GORDON, M. D.
Dr. Sidney C. Gordon, retired physician of Georgetown, Ohio, is a prominent citizen of Brown county, whose long and patriotic services during the Civil war of themselves entitle him to the esteem and admiration of his fellow citizens. His birth took place December 29, 1840, in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, and he is a son of Dr. Thomas Winslow and Minerva Elvira (Scoville) Gordon, a sketch of whom appears with that of Mr. Byron Winslow Gordon, of Georgetown, Ohio, a brother of Dr. Gordon.
The education of Dr. S. C. Gordon was acquired first in the schools of Trumbull county, Ohio, later attending the schools at Niles, Ohio, at the same time as President McKin- ley. He came with his parents to Georgetown upon their removal from Trumbull county and at once entered the Georgetown school. After finishing the Georgetown school, Dr. Gordon entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery and both before and after his graduation from this institution, read medicine with his father at Georgetown, until he entered the army of the Civil war.
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In 1861, Dr. Gordon enlisted in the Fifty-ninth regiment, Ohio volunteers, Company C, as first sergeant, and was later appointed as assistant surgeon of the post at Camp Kenton, Ky., by General Nelson, and was later commissioned assistant surgeon of the Fifty-ninth Ohio. He served his country in this regiment until November, 1864, when he was mustered out with the regiment. In March, 1865, he was commissioned sur- geon of the One Hundred and Eighty-ninth regiment and served until the close of the war. In the first enlistment, he had charge of the regiment in the battle of Chickamauga, and at Stone River; in the battle of Stone River one of the attend- ants was killed and one wounded in the shoulder.
After the close of the war, Dr. Gordon took up the practice of his profession with his father at Georgetown, but, on ac- count of his impaired health, removed to the country, turning his attention to the pursuits of general farming and stock rais- ing. He purchased a farm of one hundred and sixteen acres in Franklin township, where he remained until 1902, when he retired from active life and is now making his home in George- town, Ohio, renting his farm in Franklin township.
In February, 1872, Dr. S. C. Gordon was united in marriage to Miss Olevia Marshall, who was born in Bethel, Ohio, in June, 1846, and is a daughter of William S. and Sophia Ann (Smith) Marshall.
William S. Marshall was born in Youngstown, Ohio, March 6, 1818, and died near Georgetown, Ohio, December 13, 1902. He was a saddler by trade, but, on account of his wife's health, removed to a farm in Scott township. He was a great worker in the cause of Prohibition, and was a Douglas Democrat dur- ing the war.
Sophia Ann (Smith) Marshall was born in Russellville, Brown county, Ohio, January I, 1824, and died June 23, 1854. She was a granddaughter of Rev. Charles Smith, who was familiarly known in this section of the State as, "Uncle Charlie" Smith, and daughter of William Smith, a prominent merchant in Russellville, Ohio. "Uncle Charlie" Smith was. born November 25, 1765, and married his cousin, Lucy Bur- gess. His father gave him negroes and several hundred acres of land in Kentucky, but, as he did not believe in slavery, he gave the slaves their freedom and came to the free territory of Ohio, where he farmed near Arnheim, in Brown county, until 1831, when he removed to New Market, Highland county, Ohio, where he died, November 25, 1844. He was a minister
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of the Baptist church for nearly fifty years. He is buried in the Baptist churchyard on Straight creek, Brown county, Ohio. His wife died January 1, 1852, at the home of her son in Russellville. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall had born to them two children, Mrs. Gordon and Patience Elizabeth, who passed away August 18, 1908.
To the union of Dr. and Mrs. Gordon five children have been born:
Eleanor is a graduate of the Georgetown High School and inherits much of her grandfather Gordon's literary talents, having written a number of beautiful poems. She is first vice- president of the Epworth League and secretary of the Dorcas Society, and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and historian of Taliaferro chapter.
William Winslow, who was born December 13, 1875, is a resident of Florida, where he has a thriving truck garden. He is a member of the Methodist church, and is active in politics.
Claribel, commonly known as Clara, graduated in 1908 from the Huntington (West Virginia) Training School for Nurses. She is a post-graduate of Manhattan (New York) Hospital, in eye, ear, nose and throat. She is a post-graduate of the Hillcrest Surgical Hospital of Pittsfield, Mass. She is a very brilliant lady and is busy all the time. She is a member of the daughters of the American Revolution and has held four hospital positions. She is a member of the State Asso- ciation of Graduate Nurses, of West Virginia and Ohio. She is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Sophia Scoville died in 1898, when eighteen years of age.
Hugh Byron was born March 23, 1882, and attended the district school of the county, after which he taught school for three years. He then entered the Miami University, from which he graduated with honors in 1908. In 1912 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from the University of Illinois, at Urbana, Ill. He passed the civil ser- vice examination, No. 8, in a class of several thousand, and later held a government position as assistant chemist in the agricultural department in Chicago, Ill., and later a teacher of chemistry in the University of Oklahoma, at Norman, Okla.
Dr. S. C. Gordon is a Republican in politics, and is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic.
In religious belief, Dr. and Mrs. Gordon are members of the Methodist church, of which he is one of the stewards. Mrs. Gordon is president of the Ladies' Bible class; president of
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the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and first vice- president of the Research Club. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mrs. Gordon has a great-aunt, Mrs. Iley Lawson Hill, whose father was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, as was also her grandfather, William Lawson. Mrs. Gordon is a second cousin to General Grant, and her daughter, Clara, is a life member of the Grant Family Association.
Dr. Gordon is a charter member of the Brown County Medical Association, formed in 1860, and is the only charter member now living.
BYRON WINSLOW GORDON.
Mr. Byron Winslow Gordon, a retired farmer residing at Georgetown, Ohio, was born March 5, 1847, in Trumbull county, Ohio, a son of Dr. Thomas Winslow and Minerva El- vira (Scoville) Gordon.
Dr. Thomas Winslow Gordon was born in Trumbull coun- ty, Ohio, September 23, 1819, and his death occurred at Georgetown, Ohio, April 21, 1900. Winslow is a family name ; the maternal grandfather of Dr. Thomas Winslow Gordon be- ing Seth Winslow, a native of Massachusetts, who removed to Naples, New York, and a direct descendant of Edward Wins- low, one of the immortal pilgrims who crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower. Mrs. Gordon, mother of Dr. Thomas Wins- low Gordon, died in Warren county, Ohio, in 1849. Dr. Gor- don came to Georgetown, Ohio, in 1850, and practiced medi- cine. He was a very scholarly man, having studied and read law, but not intending to practice this profession, he did not qualify for admission to the bar. He was a noted literary man also, and wrote many articles for the papers and maga- zines. In the autumn of 1854, he took the editorship of "The Independent American," a weekly literary and political paper published in Georgetown, Ohio. Many of his literary. and scientific articles appeared under the non de plume of "Orion." He was, for several years, president of a literary club formed by writers of Brown and Clermont counties, called the "Poet- ical Union." Dr. Gordon was the first president of Brown County Academy of Medicine, and was a member of the first meteorological society formed in the West. This society was possibly the first formed in the United States. Dr. T. W.
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