History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 69

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

USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 69
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 69

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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Soon after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ellsberry went to live with her parents and he worked in his father-in-law's sad- dlery shop. In the course of time they removed to the coun- try, about one mile from Bethel, where they erected a fine brick house. This house was erected some thirty years ago and some. fifteen years ago they put up a frame addition which makes it a very attractive looking home, and it has many modern conveniences. He has put up substantial barns and has added in many ways to the appearance and value of the place. They have one hundred and nine acres of good farm land and he and his wife have worked hard, hand in hand, to accomplish this result. She has been a good mana- ger and helpmeet and they are self-made, beginning in a small way and adding to their possessions and prosperity as they were able. He is a very quiet man, of domestic tastes, and he and his wife are enjoying the fruits of their earlier years of toil.

Three children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ellsberry, all born in the county: Frank Morris, born Sep- tember 22, 1868, married Miss Maude Prickett, and they live in Cincinnati, and have on child, Dorothy Melissa, born March 20, 1909; Edwin, born May 4, 1874, married Miss Alice Smith and they live with his parents; Ida May, born November 10, 1877. Miss Ida May is a very intelligent young woman, fond of historical works and family data, and proud of the part her ancestors have taken in the history of Clermont county. They are a hospitable family and stand well with their neighbors. They have a large circle of friends and are well known for the pleasant manner in which they treat all who pass over their threshold.

ISAAC N. CRAIN.

Isaac N. Crain, the well known owner of "Forest Farm," in Tate township, Clermont county, is a representative citizen, standing for all that makes for the good of his community and county. He is a progressive and enterprising farmer and has erected every building on his farm, which takes its name from the magnificent grove of maples which he planted in 1899, one of the finest wind breaks in the county. He was born near Mt. Sterling, Ky., in 1862, son of Richard M. and Elizabeth

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(Ketron) Crain, natives of Scott county, Virginia. His father was born in 1822 and died in February, 1897, and the mother, who was born in 1829, died in the same month and year as her husband. They died and are buried in Kentucky. They had thirteen children, all but the eldest born in Kentucky, as fol- lows: John, of Morgan county, Kentucky; James, born in Kentucky, lives in Bethel, Clermont county, Ohio; Andrew J. lives in Pendleton county, Kentucky; Sarah, married first James Gray, and second Oscar Watkins, and is now deceased ; Nancy Ann, wife of Francis Hall, lives in Pendleton county, Kentucky; Rev. William H., minister in a Methodist Epis- copal church of the same county; Rose E., wife of Thomas Hunter, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of Oliver Ford; Melissa D. died at the age of seven years; Isaac N .; Joseph S., the only one of seven brothers not now surviv- ing, died in Harrison county, Kentucky ; Charles S., of Belle- vue, Ky .; Dora S. died in infancy. Sarah Crain, who married James Gray, by him had a son, Dalbert, who served as a cor- poral in the Spanish war, took part in the engagement at San Juan and was there wounded. He became a member of the regular army. He lived with his uncle, Isaac N. Crain, after the death of his mother, and went from his uncle's home to the war. . A cousin of Mr. Crain, named Isaac H. Crain, served in the Civil war.

Mr. Crain was educated in Pendleton county, Kentucky, and remained on the farm until reaching his majority. On October 27, 1886, he married Miss Sallie H. Bonar, born in Pendleton county, in 1867, daughter of James I. and Eliza (Mattox) Bonar, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. Bonar was born in 1805 and died in 1887, near Butler, Ky., and Mrs. Bonar was born near Foster, in 1848, and died in 1888. They were farmers and had six children: Nancy, wife of Thomas J. Carnes, lives near Butler, Pendleton county, Kentucky ; Mrs. Crain ; Lizzie died in childhood; William M., living near But- ler, Ky .: Mary, wife of Clayton Glascow, lives in Cincinnati, Ohio: Gertrude, wife of Robert Carnes, of Oklahoma City.

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Crain settled in Sandsuck pre- cinct, near Butler, Pendleton county, and remained on a farm there five years. They then removed to Brown county, Ohio, and spent eight years on a farm there, coming to their present location in November. 1899. They purchased thirty acres of land. erected a very pretty cottage of eight rooms, and have put in good fences and other improvements. He has planted

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a fine orchard and is now erecting an ice house. He and his wife have worked hard and have won success by careful plan- ning and great ambition. He is accounted one of the substan- tial men of the community and has many friends. He is a Re- publican in politics and his wife belongs to the Baptist church. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. He is a man of quiet man- ner, but genial and prepossessing, having a kind heart and generous nature. He is proud of his home and his family, as he has every reason to be.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crain, viz .: Jo- seph L., born in 1889, graduated from Bethel High School, took the Federal examination in 1910, and is now employed as time keeper for the Cincinnati Milling Machine Company ; Roscoe, born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1895, is in the soph- omore class at Bethel High School; Carrie B., born in Cler- mont county in August, 1900, attends the local school; Effie Fay, born in Clermont county in 1905. Roscoe was a delegate for the State Agricultural Association to the State Fair sent by Clermont county, which had two delegates. Mr. Crain is much interested in raising corn, in which industry he is an adept. He is president of the Tate Township Corn Associa- tion. He and his wife have met with some reverses, but have forged steadily ahead and have been generally successful in their enterprises.

'Larkin Crain, brother of Isaac N. Crain's father, of Vir- ginia, served in the Confederate army, and his son, James Crain, fought in the Union army. A cousin of Isaac N. Crain, Joseph Crain, also served in the Union army. Several rela- tives of the mother, Elizabeth Ketron, Crain, also served in the Civil war.

WILLIAM E. WISE.

Wiliam E. Wise, a prominent and successful farmer and stockraiser of Tate township, was born near Higginsport, Brown county, Ohio, November 8, 1861, on the same farm where his father first saw the light of day in 1837, and is a son' of George F. and Mary Ellen (Jennings) Wise. The father died in 1906, and the mother, who was born near George- town, Brown county, Ohio, April 22, 1835, died June 7, 1863. He was buried in Felicity and she in Georgetown. The par- ents had a good farm in Brown county and were lifelong

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Presbyterians. He held office most of his active life. The father of George F. Wise came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1802, at the age of two years, and his wife's father, Mr. Jen- nings, came to Ohio from the same State in 1800, when six years of age. They came down the Ohio river in flat boats. They endured many hardships and privations, but by dint of hard work and perseverance won positions of comfort and prominence. George F. and Mary E. Wise had three chil- dren : Henry, of Point Isabel; William E .; one child died in infancy. George F. Wise married second Mary Rebecca Bar- ber, of Clermont county, and they had four children: Frank, living near Williamsburg, in Clermont county ; Josie died at the age of three years ; Ray lives near Batavia ; Maud lives near Williamsburg.

Mr. Wise was educated in the Brown county schools and re- mained at home until he reached his majority, then worked for uncles for three years. On November 18, 1886, he mar- ried Miss Maggie Heizer, born November 19, 1863, daughter of John and Margaret (Kanary) Heizer. Mr. Heizer was born in Augusta county, Virginia, December 9, 1805, and died March 10, 1895, and his wife, born in Brown county, April 5, 1821, died October 26, 1891, both being buried in Brown county. They were successful farmers and had six children. By her former husband, Martin Miller, who died of cholera in 1849, Mrs. Heizer had two children: Granville Miller, who died of cholera at the same time as his father; Lizzie, the wife of Arthur Wise, of Felicity. Mr. and Mrs. Heizer had the following children: Joseph, of Covington, Ky .; William, a farmer of Williamsburg; Josephine, deceased; Sallie, de- ceased; Addie, wife of Will C. Sargent, living near Chilo; Mrs. W. E. Wise, who was born near Higginsport, Brown county.

After marriage Mr. Wise continued farming at the home of his uncle, Andy Wise, in Franklin township, Clermont county. In 1892 he purchased sixty-seven and one-half acres of land in Tate township, where they located in 1893, and he has re- paired the house and other buildings, and in many ways added to the value and appearance of the place. He is a progressive farmer and is the kind of man who succeeds in any under- taking. He is a quiet, intelligent citizen, pleasant and hos- pitable, making no pretensions. He works in a manner which shows he has carefully planned his activities, and has the co- operation of his wife in his undertakings. Both come of good families and have numerous friends in the community.

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M. J. GROPPENBACHER.

M. J. Groppenbacher, a progressive and successful farmer of Tate township, is largely self-made and has reached pros- perity by the industry and thrift of himself and his wife. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1866, son of Mack and Anna (Dart) Groppenbacher. Mack Groppenbacher was born in Germany in 1822 and came to the United States about 1858 and became a farmer in Brown county, where he died in 1870. His wife was born in Germany and died in 1897, at the age of seventy-three years. They had nine children: Lena, wife of Daniel Roth, of Cincinnati ; Barbara, wife of Samuel Ryan, of Cincinnati; Jacob, of Brown county; Laura, wife of Jacob Trees, of Bethel; Matilda, wife of Peter Hartmetz, of Cler- mont county ; Katie, wife of George Wurm, of Norwood; Gus, of Brown county ; M. J., subject of this sketch, and Lewis, of Clermont county.

Mr. Groppenbacher was educated in Higginsport, Brown county, and remained on his father's farm until he was of age. He then engaged in farming on his own account and in Jan- uary, 1893, was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Boggess, of Clermont county. She is a daughter of William and Susan (McClain) Boggess, and was born in Clermont county in 1870. Mr. Boggess was born in Clermont county in 1828, and died in 1900 and his wife was born in Kentucky in 1847, and now re- sides in Clermont county. Mr. Boggess was a farmer of Tate township and his parents were early settlers of Clermont county. The family were highly respected and substantial people. There were four children in the family: Ida, wife of Lewis McNutt, of Clermont county ; Hattie, Mrs. Groppen- bacher ; Mary, wife of George Fagley, of Tate township; Mel- lie, wife of Harry Floyd, of Tate township.

Mr. and Mrs. Groppenbacher lived one year on a farm near Higginsport and came to their present farm in 1894. They purchased one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, erected the house and remodeled the barns. It is an ideal location for a home and the grounds are beautiful. Mr. Groppenbacher is a Republican and much interested in public affairs. He and his wife have worked hard many years to gain their present prosperity and are highly esteemed by all. Their home shows the result of thrift and orderliness inside and out, and has many modern conveniences. Probably no other woman in the county is able to do nicer work with a crochet needle than Mrs.

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Groppenbacher. Mr. Groppenbacher's step-father, Lewis Wolf, served in the Civil war from Ohio, and performed most creditably in this respect.

Two children, who are a credit to their parents, have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Groppenbacher, William Earl and Susan Annabell. William Earl was born May 2, 1894, grad- uated from the Bethel High School and is now taking a post- graduate course there. Susan A., born July 25, 1897, attends the district school near home. They are bright young people and are being well reared.

WILLIAM HEINY.

William Heiny is a representative German-American citizen of Pierce township, Clermont county, Ohio, where he is en- gaged in farming and stock raising. He was born in Ger- many, October 13, 1869, son of Stephen and Frances (Doll) Heiny. The parents were natives of Germany, the father born in 1841 and the mother in 1850, and they came to America in the spring of 1880. They located on a farm in Pierce township and have since resided there. They were parents of seven- teen children, of whom seven now survive: William, whose name heads this sketch; Stephen and Otto, of Pierce town- ship; Mary, at home; August, of Pierce township, is em- ployed as a fireman on a dredge boat ; Leo is also employed on a dredge boat ; Lawrence lives in Pierce township. The par- ents of these children became successful farmers and took an intelligent interest in local affairs. They are members of St. Peter's Catholic Church, of New Richmond.

Mr. Heiny received a public school education in Monroe township and at New Richmond, and as a young man joined the regular army of the United States as a member of Troop G, Fourth cavalry, serving six years, being discharged with the rank of sergeant. He served in the Spanish-American war. While living at Walla Walla, Wash., he attended night school for a time. For seven months he was employed as an attendant at Longview Hospital for the Insane at Cincinnati, and later for eight years worked on a government dredge boat. For the last three or four years he has been engaged in farming and has been successful in this enterprise. He is regarded with respect and confidence and is a broad, liberal-

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minded and upright citizen. He and his family stand high in the community and have a pleasant and well located home.

In January, 1909, Mr. Heiny was united in marriage with Mrs. Clara (Wolf) Werner, widow of Ferdinand Werner, and a daughter of Nicholas and Roselia (Schwey) Wolf. She was born in Clermont county in 1877 and is a descendant of an old family in Ohio. Mr. Wolf was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1857 and Mrs. Wolf in Paris, France, in 1847, and they are now residents of Pierce township. There were eight children, namely: George Longhouser, a step-brother of Mrs. Heiny ; Andrew L. Longhouser, of Pierce township; Mrs. Heiny; Jacob, of Hamilton county; Mary, wife of Joseph Greis, of Cincinnati; Barbara, wife of George Brailer, of Pierce township; Charles, of Pierce township; Henry, of Norwood. Ferdinand Werner was born in Germany in May, 1838 .. The Werners were old settlers of Clermont county. He was a son of Frank and Agnes (Keller) Werner, and died in May, 1907, leaving a farm to his widow. He and his wife had two chil- dren, Frank, now aged seven, and Ferdinand, five years old October 5, 1912.

Mr. and Mrs. Heiny located on the farm of eigthy-one acres, which had been left to her by her first husband, and there have since resided. Mr. Heiny is a Democrat in politics and he and his wife are devout members of the Catholic church. They have three children, Alberdina, born October 15, 1910; Clarence William, born March 13, 1912, and Helena Clara, born March 18, 1913. Mrs. Heiny is well known in the com- munity, as is her husband. Her grandfather, Jacob Wolf, served in the Civil war from Ohio.

JOHN LUSH.

John Lush, a progressive farmer and fruit raiser of Pierce township, is serving as township treasurer and is well known and popular in his community. He is upright and liberal minded and he and his wife have a very pleasant home, which is known for its pleasant hospitality. He was born in Ger- many, in 1840, son of Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Linedecker) Lush, also natives of that country. His father, born in 1810, died in 1868, and his mother, born in 1811, died in 1881. Ferdi- nand Lush and wife came to America in 1853 and located in

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Pierce township, Clermont county, Ohio, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were parents of five chil- dren : John, of this sketch; Christine, wife of Louis Rath, is deceased; Annie married Clement Taphorn and both are de- ceased; Margaret, wife of Thomas Spencer, of Locust Cor- ner, Ohio; Nicholas, of Arkansas.

Mr. Lush began his education in Germany and after his parents brought him to Clermont county attended school for a time at Locust Corner. He remained with his parents until the date of his enlistment in Company C, Twelfth Ohio vol- unteer infantry, for three years. He participated in battles at Carnafax Ferry, Clyde Mountain, Fayetteville, W. Va., Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, and several minor engage- ments. He made a good record as a soldier and at the close of his term of service returned home, remaining two years longer with his parents.

In 1866 Mr. Lush married Miss Nancy J. Ward, who was born in Pierce township in 1847, daughter of Sanford and Elizabeth (Short) Ward. Mr. Ward was born in Madison- ville, Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1810 and died in 1882, and Mrs. Ward was born in Amelia, Ohio, in 1818, and died in 1884. They were farmers in Pierce township and had nine children : William P. and Adeline, deceased; Hulda, wife of Seymour Olmsted; Mrs. Lush; Martin Luther, of Pierce township; Mary, wife of Frank Holderfield, of Dayton, Ohio; Asenath, wife of James Bennett, of Pierce township; James H., of Cincinnati; Charlotte, wife of Aurelius Tuttle, of Cin- cinnati. Mrs. Ward had six brothers in the Civil war: Isaac, Elijah, John, Ephraim, Levi and Abraham Short. Mr. Ward's brother, Elijah, also served in the war. The six Short broth- ers enlisted from Amelia, Ohio.

Mr. and Mrs. Lush located on a Pierce township farm after marriage and a few years later moved to their present place of forty-two acres, where he erected a nice house and built suitable farm buildings where they were needed. He has kept the place in first-class condition and has a well-kept space of ground around the home. He and his wife have worked hard and have won their present success through their united efforts, starting out in a small way and perse- vering in their work. Both are in good health and do not show the years they have reached. They are now able to enjoy many comforts and luxuries they could not afford in earlier life. He is a Democrat in politics and has held many

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township offices, having been trustee, school director, infirm- ary director, and so on, and is at present giving very able and efficient service as township treasurer. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife is a member of the Methodist church.

Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lush, namely: Frank A., born in 1867; Charles Everett, born in 1870; Frederick B., born in 1878, and Annabel, born in 1886. Frank A., the eldest, is a dentist and practices in Madisonville, Ohio. He married Miss Maude Peak and they have two sons, Alviere and Harold. He graduated from Amelia High School, also Lebanon University. Charles Everett, the second son, married Miss Grace Patterson and they live in Cincinnati. He graduated from Batavia High School and for the past twenty- three years has been connected with an art firm in Cincin- nati, now having an interest in same. He is a very bright man and has made a good start in life. Frederick A., a dentist who practices in Cincinnati, married Miss Edna McAlister, resides at Madisonville, Ohio, and they have one son, Edgar Burr. Annabel is the wife of George H. Madison, of Pierce township. These children were given good educations and all are a credit to their parents and to the various communities in which they reside.

Mr. Lush raises some especially fine pears, peaches and apples in his orchard, having some of the finest trees in his section of the county. He has reason to be proud of his fruit and has spent considerable time and attention in improving his farm in all ways since first locating on it.

MARION BUTLER,

Marion Butler is a native of Clermont county and belongs to one of the old and prominent families there. He was born in Pierce township, January 26, 1847, son of Ferdinand and Nancy (Dawson) Butler. The father was born at Hamlet, Pierce township, in 1820, and died in 1895, and the mother was born March 19, 1826, and died May 17, 1875, both being buried at Lindale. There were four sons and four daughters in the family, namely: Uriah B., of Mt. Pisgah ; Marion, subject of this sketch; Julia Ann and Luella died young; Ann Eliza was the wife of Darius Welch and is deceased ; Mary Elizabeth, de-

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ceased, was Mrs. George Myrick; Alonzo died in the fall of 1911; Abner lives near Bantam, Ohio. The parents of Ferdi- nand Butler came from Martha's Vineyard to Clermont county at a very early date.

Mr. Butler was educated in the public school at Ten Mile and was reared to farm work. He remained with his parents until nearly thirty years of age, then for a year was a huck- ster, working up a good trade in this line and living where his business demanded. In 1879 he married Miss Susan J. Towns- ley, who was born near Nicholsville, Clermont county, No- vember 23, 1855, daughter of John and Lucinda (Tompkins) Townsley, both natives of the county. Mr. Townsley was born near Locust Corner and his wife near Nicholsville. He partici- pated in the Civil war four years and spent some time in the infamous Andersonville prison. Both belonged to the oldest Clermont county families and they were farmers of Pierce township. Mr. Townsley died in 1899 and Mrs. Townsley in 1890 and they were buried in Ten Mile cemetery. They had four sons and two daughters, namely: Rose, widow of Peter Walters, of Silverton, Ohio; Mrs. Butler; Frank, deceased ; Albert, of Louisville, Ky .; Stanley, of Silverton, and Charles, deceased.

Mr. Butler and wife located on a farm at Ten Mile and later located near Concord School at Hamlet. They spent eighteen years near Lindale, but returned to their farm and erected a larger house. They traded their house for a store property and a residence adjoining, in 1907, and have the only mercantile establishment at Span, or Ten Mile. They have enjoyed a lib- eral patronage in the community and stand well in various cir- cles. He is a Democrat in politics. They are self-made and worked long and hard for the property and success they now enjoy. Both are well known and represent some of the old- est families of the county. They are representative of the best interests of the community and have an excellent reputation. Albert Townsley, Mrs. Butler's brother, served in the Spanish- American war and went to the Philippines. He is a wealthy contractor and builder and now resides in Louisville, Ky ..

Mr. and Mrs. Butler became parents of three children, all born in Clermont county: Raymond, born in 1880, married Miss Mary Price, of Mason, Warren county, Ohio, and they live at Sixteen-Mile Stand, Hamilton county, Ohio; Wayland S., born in 1882, graduated from the Locust Corner school,

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and when preparing to teach school died suddenly, in 1903, being buried at Mt. Pisgah; Miss Ethel M., born in 1895, grad- uate of Locust Corner High School, stays with her parents and helps her father in the sore. She is a young woman of pleasant manner and is an excellent clerk.

EBEN S. RICKER.

In the antiquity and celebrity of its honored lineage and in honorable association with the material growth, political de- velopment and literary and social culture of the county, no family in Clermont has ever surpassed that of Ricker, which has always been in the foreground of all movements for the advancement of the county materially, as well as in every- thing pertaining to educational progress. The Ricker family is found very early in the Puritan settlements on Massachu- setts Bay, and occupies a prominent place in the annals of New England in its early history and all through the colonial period, in which great struggle it was found battling on the side of humanity and the rights of the people. In Great Britain it is traced through a remarkable and distinguished pedigree back to the time of William the Conqueror, and its achieve- ments adorn many pages of English history. This famous family descended through the Wentworths, illustrious per -. sonages on the pages of English annals, sprang from Rynold (or Reginald) de Wynterwood, a baron of great wealth, high renown and strong power, who lived at the zenith of his great- ness in 1066, at the time of the invasion and conquest of Eng- land by William, Duke of Normandy. The next seven suc- ceeding heads of this famous family were Henry Wynterwood, Richard de Wentworth, Hugh Wentworth (who died in the year 1820 A. D.), and William Wentworth.

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History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2, Part 69

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

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