USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 66
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 66
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On August 13, 1903, Mr. Stratton was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Carr, born near Neville. November 4, 1864, daughter of James and Melvina (Howell) Carr. Mr. Carr was born above Moscow, February 25, 1817, and died October 12, 1893, and Mrs. Carr was born near Neville, July 16, 1832, and died July 21, 1908, both being buried at Moscow cemetery. Both the Howells and Carrs were among the earliest settlers of their part of the county and had to clear . land for their homes. Mr. and Mrs. Carr had five children, all born near Neville, namely: Elizabeth, Mrs. Stratton, was a teacher and before her marriage taught in Bracken and Pendleton counties, Kentucky, and one year in Tennessee ; John is a street car conductor in Dayton; Kilby is a motor- man of Dayton ; Samuel is a coroner's constable and is in the insurance business in Dayton ; Ella taught one year in Neville public school, died July 20, 1894, at the age of twenty-one years and is buried near Moscow. Mr. and Mrs. Carr were both members of the Methodist church and were highly re- spected members of their community. Mrs. Stratton also belongs to the Methodist church and to the Daughters of America.
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Mr. and Mrs. Stratton have lived in their present home on Main street since November, 1904, and they have many friends. Both are natives of the county and well known, being mem- bers of old and substantial families. Four half-brothers of Mrs. Stratton-Alonzo, Greenberry, William, and Barton- served in the Civil war, the first three in the Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry and the last named in the navy, all being from Clermont county. Barton was taken prisoner and was incarcerated for seven months in Andersonville prison. A half-brother of Mr. Stratton, Theodore Stratton, served in Company H, Thirty-fourth Ohio volunteer infantry. Andrew Jackson McGuire, a brother-in-law, served in Company C, Twelfth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was killed in the battle of Winchester, 1864.
THOMAS J. HOUSER.
Probably no man in Clermont county worked harder to gain a start in life on his own account, and none are held in higher respect by his neighbors and associates. By the help of his noble wife he has been able to reach comfortable cir- cumstances and become the owner of a nice farm. He is a substantial citizen and wide awake to the best interests of the community and county. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, September 4, 1860, son of William and Sarah (Love) Houser, also natives of that county. William Houser was born June 27, 1827, and died May 13, 1864, and his wife was born De- cember 2, 1832, and died November 26, 1875. Both buried in Hoovers cemetery. The father was a farmer by occupation and spent his entire life in Brown county. There were six children born to him and his wife: Alexander and Martin, of Brown county; Emma, wife of William Carter, of Brown county ; Anna married Harvey Lanham and died about 1890; Thomas; Addie married Lewis Rice and they live in Cincin- nati.
Mr. Houser was educated in the public schools near his father's home and remained on the farm until his mother's death. Being left an orphan at the age of fifteen years, he worked by the month for the next seven years at farm work, and, in 1883, was married and located on a farm near George- town. A year later he and his wife moved on a farm near
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. Ripley, where they remained three years, then returned to the neighborhood of Georgetown. In 1890 they became residents of Washington township, Clermont county, where they pur- chased ninety-four and one-half acres of good farm land. They own another farm of one hundred and seven acres close by and both are in a high state of cultivation. The house has been improved, new barns have been erected and the place put into first-class condition. Mr. Houser carries on general farming and pays considerable attention to stock raising. He raises considerable tobacco and finds this a paying in- dustry. He began operations in a small way and has pros- pered by dint of industry and perseverance.
January 31, 1883, Mr. Houser was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Jennings, a native of Brown county, born September 15, 1855, daughter of John A. and Sarah (Carter) Jennings, also reared in that county. Mr. Jennings was born in Sussex county, Delaware, in 1831, and died in 1900, and Mrs. Jennings was born February 24, 1831, in Brown county, Ohio, and died February 1, 1908, both being buried in Brown county. Mr. Jennings came to Brown county when he was four years of age with his father, who was a farmer. He was drafted for service in the Civil war, but hired a substitute. He and his wife had the following ten children, all born in Brown county: Mrs. Houser; Martin, Grafton and Levi, of Higginsport, Brown county; Luella, wife of Alva Bolander, of Brown county; George. also of Brown county; Elizabeth, wife of James Ware, of Augusta, Ky .; Adeline, wife of Charles Shinkle, of Brown county ; James and John, of Brown county. Mr. Houser is a Democrat in politics and was a can- didate for county commissioner in 1912, being elected by a large majority. He has never been an. office seeker, but be- lieves it every good citizen's duty to see that the affairs of the town and county are well taken care of. Mrs. Houser is a member of the Christian church at Feesburg. Mr. Houser began life on his own account with nothing whatever in the way of worldly possessions, and when he had been able to save some money and marry he and his wife worked side by side to better their condition. They count their friends by the hundred and are most highly respected as members of the community.
Three children blessed the union of Thomas J. Houser and wife, namely: Archie C., born July 4. 1884; John W., born
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July 4, 1886, married Miss Eunice Wile, and they reside in Washington township; Roy J., born January 29, 1888. The oldest and youngest sons are at home and carry on the farm. All three were born in Brown county and are exemplary young men and a credit to their parents.
JAMES HARVEY DAY.
James Harvey Day has one of the prettiest homes in Wash- ington township, well located and well kept, and his barn is one of the finest in the county. He has a genial heart and disposition and is entirely a self-made man. He has a refined, nice family, and is well regarded by the whole neighborhood. Mr. Day was born three miles from his present farm, April 7, 1852, son of John and Sarah (Beckelhymer) Day. The father died when James was an infant and the mother, who was a native of Washington township, was born in 1832 and died in 1877. The father was buried in Brown county and the mother in Washington township. In the family were the following three children, all born in Washington township: James Harvey, Matilda Olive, wife of Joseph Manning, of Tate township; Florence May, wife of Ed Canter, of Tate town- ship, the last two children being of the mother's second marriage, to Mr. McPheeney. His father had been married before and had four children by his first marriage.
Mr. Day attended school in Washington township and re- mained with his mother until she died, working for her and sometimes on neighboring farms. In 1877 he married Miss Hester Trees, who was born in Washington township, in 1852. She was the daughter of James and Paulina (Sapp) Trees, natives of Clermont county and farmers of Washing- ton township. The grandfather, John Trees, had twelve children, namely: William, John, Jacob, Perry, James and Wesley, all deceased; Jackson, of Kansas; Marion, of Wash- ington; Polly, deceased, was the wife of John Allman; Eliz- abeth, deceased, was the wife of Eli Annacost; Caroline, wife of Jerry LeMar, also deceased; Eveline, wife of John Whid- mire, is also deceased. James Trees was married twice and by his two wives he had fifteen children, eight of whom are deceased. Mrs. Day died October 13, 1882, and is buried in Point Isabel cemetery. She is survived by one son, Charles.
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born in Franklin township, October 30, 1880, who married Miss Daisy Brady, on October 21, 1906, and they have three children: George Harvey, born September 9, 1907; Mabel Bell, born October 30, 1908, and Harley Wilson, born July 24, 1912.
On September 9, 1886, Mr. Day married (second) Miss Emma F. Purkhiser, who was born on the farm where she and her husband now reside, although the house in which she was born burned down. She was born June 25, 1862, and is a daughter of John S. and Sarah L. (Sells) Purkhiser. Mr. Purkhiser was born in Washington township, May 29, 1819, and died January 14, 1900, and his wife, who was born in Lewis township, Brown county, December 2, 1822, died No- vember 29, 1884, and they are buried in Calvary cemetery. The family were among the earliest settlers of Clermont county. They had six children, all born on the farm where Mr. and Mrs. Day now reside, namely: Michael Henry, deceased, was born November 20, 1844; William McKendry, deceased, born May 30, 1851; Mary Elizabeth, deceased, born September 28, 1855; Lorenzo Gilbert, deceased, born February 18, 1859, died in June, 1880; Emma Florence, Mrs. Day, the only one of the children now surviving, and she cared for her father the last ten years of his life.
After marriage Mr. Day carried on farming in Franklin town- ship some twelve years, and in 1890 came to Washington town- ship, erecting his present beautiful home some time later. He has been very successful as a tobacco raiser and makes a specialty of stock raising. He is an enterprising and pro- gressive farmer and has been quite successful. The farm con- tains a fine spring of water that is never dry. Mr. Day is a Democrat in politics and has served as school director. and he and his wife take great interest in the affairs of the com- munity. He belongs to the Christian church and she to the Methodist church. They have had three children: The first born. a girl. died in infancy: Sarah May, born in Franklin township, January 30, 1890, has been a music teacher and lived at home. She was married on March 5. 1913, to John D. Bee. of Tate township. He is a farmer: John Foster, born in Washington township. July 4. 1894. lives at home and helps carry on the farm. Mr. Day had several relatives who served in the Civil war from Ohio. Michael, James M .. George and Jackson Beckelhymer served, the first three (the elder) in Com- pany B. Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and Jackson in the
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three months' service. An uncle of Mrs. Day, Michael Gilbert Purkhiser, was a Methodist preacher. Both Mr. and Mrs. Day belong to old families of the region, having lived all their lives in the community in which they now live. They are well known and have many friends.
MARK D. ROSS.
One of the extensive farmers and large stock raisers of Cler- mont county, Ohio, representing a family that is most highly respected and one that has been prominently identified with the growth and progress of the county for many years, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. . Mr. Mark D. Ross is the owner of a beautiful farm of one hundred and forty- seven acres and the substantial buildings and the comfortable modern home indicate great energy and thrift, combined with a love of the beautiful .. Mr. Ross makes a specialty of fine horses, handling only the very best bred stock which he sells at his home. Mr. Ross is a son of Abner and Mary (Day) Ross, and was born in Lewis township, Brown county, Ohio, in 1844.
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Abner Ross was born .near Georgetown, Ohio, and was a son of William and Katie (Harper) Ross, the latter of Har- per's Ferry, Va., and the former a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio at an early date and settled in Brown county. He was by trade a cabinet maker, which he made his life occupation. He had brothers who served in the War of the Revolution. Ab- ner Ross died in 1884 in Missouri, after an active, useful life. Mary (Day) Ross was a native of Brown county and was sev- eral years younger than her husband. To their union were born the following named children :
William, who was a trader and farmer of Missouri, died in 1911.
Rebecca, who became the wife of Samuel Cooper, died in 1887.
Sinaellen married Henry Wells, and both are deceased.
Melvina married George Jennings, and both are deceased.
Mary, who became the wife of Hampton Norris, is deceased, as is her husband.
Susan, who is the widow of Mr. McAndra, is a resident of Enid, Okla.
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Eliza, who married Lafayette Rhorer, is a resident of Cali- fornia.
Elizabeth, who is the wife of Andrew Ritchie, is a resident of Oklahoma.
Mark D., the subject of this mention.
Isaac is a resident of Missouri.
Utter, deceased.
Clark F. is a resident of Missouri. .
Abner Harper, deceased.
Mr. Mark D. Ross was educated in the schools of. Lewis town- ship, Brown county, and enlisted in the army of the Civil war, in Company K, Ohio volunteer infantry, returning home in less than one year.
In 1866 Mr. Ross was united in marriage to Miss Wealthy A. Waterman, who was born near Georgetown, Ohio, in 1845, her parents being Wilson and Narcissa Jane ( Kendell) Water- man, the father being born in Brown county in 1818, and died in 1888. The mother was born in Lewis township, Brown county, in 1826, and died February 17, 1889. 'Both are buried in Brown county. They became the parents of the following children :
Wealthy A., became the wife of our subject.
Lucy married Jasper Jacobs, of Georgetown, Ohio.
Henrietta is the wife of William White, of Portsmouth, Ohio.
Solomon J. has been deceased since 1904.
Elizabeth Monticello, the wife of Matthew Van Harlington, died June 17, 1909. Matthew Van Harlington is also de- ceased.
After his marriage Mr. Ross settled on a farm in Brown county, until the year of 1872, when he removed to his present home and then began the improvements which now give to the farm an appearance of prosperity and care. He is a practical farmer and scientific stock raiser.
Of the seven children born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ross, the oldest three were born in Brown county, the others in Clermont county. Their names are as follows :
Jennie. who is the widow of Charles H. Gregg. is a resident of Felicity. and has four sons, Virgil. George Ross, Hugh Mar- shall, and Dale.
Charles W. is a resident of Franklin township, and is men- tioned elsewhere in this work.
Nellie is the wife of William Pangburn, of Georgetown, and has one child, Vivian.
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Wealthy Ann is the wife of Alfred Trisler, of Franklin town- ship, and they have three children, Harold Wilson, Wealthy Ann, and Hiram Mark. Mrs. Trisler was formerly a teacher in the schools of Clermont county.
Lucy is at home.
Wilda is also at home.
Abner Ray is a farmer living near his father. He married Daisy Waterfield and has no children.
Mrs. Ross's parents were descendants of the Watermans of Pennsylvania, who came to Brown county in its early history and raised a large family, which has since been prominently connected with the affairs of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross started out on life's journey together with little capital, but strong and willing hearts and hands, and by years of good and careful management have accumulated a com- fortable amount of this world's goods. Mr. Ross is broad and liberal in all his views and everything around him indicates his progressive spirit.
For many years Mr. Mark D. Ross has been prominent in the ranks of the Democratic party and has served his fellow citizens in a number of local offices; for years clerk of the township and township trustee. He is also interested in all that tends to promote education and general culture, and has served with much credit on the school board.
Mr. Ross has affiliations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. In these organ- izations he is held in great esteem.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the Christian church, and give largely to the support of that denomination. The cause of moral development in his community is a matter of great interest to Mr. Ross.
Mr. Ross is pleasant and agreeable in manner and has a wife whose kindly spirit and generous disposition have made her esteemed throughout the community, while Mr. Ross is held in . high respect.
CHARLES WILSON ROSS.
Charles Wilson Ross, a well known representative of the agri- cultural interests in Clermont county, Ohio, is a typical citizen of this section of the country, alert, enterprising and progressive. Mr. Ross is a practical farmer and devotes a great amount of
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his attention to the raising of standard bred horses and regis- tered Jersey cattle. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, Sep- tember 8, 1869, his parents being Mark D. and Wealthy (Wa- terman) Ross, of whom a record appears on another page of these volumes.
Charles Wilson Ross was reared to young manhood on the parental farm and pursued his education in the schools of Frank- lin township, later attending the business college of Lexington. He is one of a family of seven children:
Jennie is the widow of Charles H. Gregg, of Felicity, Ohio.
Nellie is Mrs. William Pangburn, of Georgetown, Ohio.
Charles Wilson, the subject of this sketch.
Wealthy, the wife of Albert Prisler, of Felicity.
Lucy Wildey, at the parental home.
Ray is married and lives on the home farm.
The marriage of Mr. C. W. Ross to Miss Bertie Rice, of Fe- licity, occurred in January, 1893. She was born in Felicity, July I, 1870, and is a daughter of Wesley and Amanda (Lanham) Rice. The mother was born in Franklin township in 1835 and is now residing with Mrs. Ross. The father was born in Felicity, Ohio, in 1838, and died in March, 1912. He was employed in a stirrup shop, during his active period, but was retired some years before his demise. They were the parents of eight chil- dren :
Louis Rice, of Franklin township.
Addie is the wife of Edwin Melvin, of Cincinnati.
O. F. Rice, of Felicity, mentioned in this history.
Mrs. Ross, wife of the subject of this mention.
Charles Rice; of Covington, Ky.
Kate, the wife of William Schraer, of Cincinnati.
Rebecca, formerly the wife of Joseph Donley, her death occur- ring in her forty-second year.
After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ross they located on ·. his father's farm, east of Felicity, where they carried on gen- eral farming for three years. At that time they purchased the present home farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres south of Felicity. For sixteen years this place has been their home and many improvements have taken place during their residence. They have remodeled and rebuilt the home and have improved all the outbuildings, and it is in many respects a model property. Mr. Ross takes pride in keeping everything around his home in excellent condition.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ross are three children :
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Harry Pitman was born July 28, 1896, and is a senior in the Felicity High School.
Ara Carr was born September 5, 1901, and is attending the Felicity school.
Charles Byron was born October 21, 1907.
Mr. C. W. Ross is an advocate of the principles of the Dem- ocratic party and takes an active interest in all political issues. He has served his party as township treasurer for two terms and for two terms he has filled the office of township assessor, and at present is a member of the school board.
The fraternal associations of Mr. Ross are with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and he has always been active in the work of the order.
In religious matters Mrs. Ross has membership with the Meth- odist church, while her husband is an active member of the Chris- tian church, having filled the various offices.
As one of the self-made men of the passing generation, Mr. Ross possesses the respect of the community in which he has spent his life thus far, to an uncommon degree, for his manly qualities and upright character are not questioned. He has mas- tered the true principles of successful business life and well deserves his present prominence in business circles.
PETER C. SMITH.
Peter C. Smith is one of the most substantial farmers of Franklin township. Clermont county, and raises a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs. He is a native of the county, born on Big Indian creek, Washington township, in 1837, son of Israel and Elma (Camerer) Smith, also natives of the county. The father was born in Franklin township, October 5, 1813, and died in 1900, and the mother was born in Washington township, October 5. 1812, and died in 1886. Both are buried in Felicity. He was an extensive farmer and land owner in Franklin and Washington townships and belonged to one of the earliest families to settle in Clermont county. He was always an industrious and upright citizen and representative of the best interests of the community. He and his wife had ten chil- dren: Barbara Ellen died in infancy; Peter C .; Sarah Jane, who died in. 1860, was the wife of J. W. Wedding; Elizabeth Ann. wife of A. B. Armacost, of Franklin township; Phoebe
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Margaret. widow of E. R. Wills, of Felicity ; Laura, widow of Lewis Winters, of Tate township; William Henry died at the age of two years ; J. M., of Franklin township; Oliver, of Wash- ington township; Addie Virginia, married Chalfant Hardy, who now lives in Oklahoma, and died in 1885; Edwin Wells served two years as a member of the Tenth Kentucky cavalry during the Civil war.
Mr. Smith attended the schools of Washington and Franklin townships and remained with his parents until he was twen- ty-five years of age. On December 24, 1862, he married Miss Mary Jane Mckibben, born in Felicity, Ohio, in 1843, and died in 1875. She was a daughter of S. Parker and Hannah (English ) Mckibben. Mr. Mckibben was a native of Frank- lin township and died there several years ago. He was a plas- terer and brick mason by trade and an industrious citizen. Mrs. Mckibben was born in New Jersey and came to Clermont county in childhood with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Smith lived on his father's farm in Franklin township until 1872. when they came to the farm where he now resides, and on the latter place he eventually built a nice house. Mrs. Smith was a good wife and mother and had many warm friends. She was highly regarded for her many good qualities, and was a member of the Methodist church. She bore her husband five children, namely: William Henry, born July 8. 1864. married Etta Trees, lives in Franklin township, and they have one child, Samuel Parker, born July 27. 1897; Frank Edwin. born July 14. 1867, died at the age of twenty years; Cora Elma, born September 29, 1870, married Charles Hawk, and died in 1910. having borne her husband three children-Oliver. born November 4. 1902, and two died in infancy: Lulu May. horn September 30, 1873. and died about eighteen years ago. was the wife of Philip Lippert and left one child, Philip Edwin, born November 15, 1895; Mary Belle, born April 24, 1875. married William Johnson, and they live in Franklin town- ship, and to them was born one child. Hazel, who died at the age of two years.' Mrs. Smith was buried in Felicity cemetery.
In 1877 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Maxwell Barkley, who was born in Washington township in 1843. daughter of Joseph and Florilla ( Wood) Barkley, both natives of Clermont county. Her parents were farmers and died over thirty-eight years ago. They had twelve children. of whom
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but three now survive: Mary, widow of Harvey Hanna, of Washington township; Selina, wife of Dr. A. B. McGill, of Cincinnati; Laura Florilla, wife of Smith Ike, who lives in Missouri. Mrs. Smith died July 8, 1908, sadly mourned by all who knew her. She had been a kind friend and neighbor and was an earnest member of the Methodist church, carrying out its teachings in her daily life. She was a good helpmate for her husband and did her duty in all things. She was buried in Calvary cemetery. By his second marriage Mr. Smith had three children, namely: Sadie F., born February 7, 1878, mar- ried W. A. Wedding, of Cincinnati, and they have two children, Ralph, aged seven years, and Marjorie, aged one year ; Laura A., born April 3, 1880, taught school in Franklin town- ship for five years, but is now at home; Jessie L., born in October, 1884, married G. E. Denniston, of Chilo, November 28, 1912.
Upon coming to his present place Mr. Smith first purchased seventy-six acres of land, adding forty acres at a later date, and in 1886 he erected one of the prettiest homes in the town- ship. He has put up good, substantial barns and other farm buildings and keeps everything in excellent repair. He keeps a high grade of cattle and sells them on the market, and also sells colts in the local market. He has always been industrious and a good manager, being practically self-made. He is a Dem- ocrat in politics, and has served in various minor offices, such as school director and supervisor. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows, and he belongs to the Chris- tian church at Point Isabel. His farm is a model of neatness and thrift and is a true index of the manner in which he carries on his work. .
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