USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 74
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 74
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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
WILLIAM CRAVER.
Mr. William Craver, conducting a profitable general store at Quaver, Clermont county, Ohio, has various other inter- ests, including farming and trucking, operating several wagons. His intense and well directed activity has merited the success that has come to him. He was born on the farm on which he now resides, and which was purchased by his father in the pioneer days of the county, in Stonelick township, in 1868, and is a son of John Peter and Johanna (Cullen) Craver.
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John Peter Craver was born in Germany in 1846 and came to America when a very young man. He located in Cler- mont county soon after his arrival, where he kept a hotel and farmed at Perintown, in addition to his hotel interests. He had been a farmer of Clermont county for forty-four years when his death occurred in 1904.
Johanna (Cullen) Craver was born in Ireland in 1834, and passed from this life in 1894. To her union with John Peter Craver were born the following named children :
Mary died at the age of five or six years.
Cecelia died at the age of eighteen years.
Ellie, who became the wife of Charles Goman, died about 1896.
Christopher died at the age of twelve years.
William, of this mention.
Louis lives at Owensville, Ohio.
Carrie is the wife of Augustus Calier and resides at Batavia.
James, a resident of Allensburg, Ohio.
Gilbert is in the navy.
John Peter and Johanna (Cullen) Craver were devout mem- bers of the Catholic church, being pioneer members in this section.
The education of Mr. William Craver was obtained in the Mt. Zion school in Stonelick township and acquired experience in the huckster business by running the wagon for his father until he became twenty-three years of age.
The marriage of Mr. William Craver to Miss Josephine Gomen took place in 1891. She was born at Olive Branch, Ohio, in 1870, a daughter of Michael and Mary Ann Gomen, both parents being natives of France, the former having been born in 1821 and died in 1886. Mrs. Gomen lives with her son at Madisonville, Ohio. They were the parents of seven chil- dren. all born in Clermont county.
William, of Norwood, Ohio.
Louis, makes his home with Mr. Craver.
Aim is a resident of Illinois.
John is a resident of one of the suburbs of Cincinnati.
Josephine, Mrs. William Craver.
Bert is a resident of Newtown, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Gomen were devoted members of the Cath- olic church.
After his marriage Mr. Craver purchased the old home farm of one hundred and ten acres in Stonelick, which he has im-
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proved and modernized to suit himself and the family .. In ad- dition he is engaged in running the huckster wagon, raising the supplies on the farm. In 1892, he purchased the store which he is now operating, from his father, and enjoys a fine patronage.
Mr. and Mrs. Craver are the parents of seven children, all born in Stonelick township:
Marie, born in 1892, is at home.
Ethel, was born in 1894, and is a graduate of the Owensville High School, and of the Wilson Business College, having graduated in short hand. She is also at home.
William, who was born in 1897, is a student of the Owens- ville school.
Leon, born in 1899, is attending school at Mt. Zion, in Stonelick township.
John, born in 1902, is a student at Mt. Zion.
Alice, born in 1905, is attending school at Mt. Zion.
Alvin, born in 1906, attends school at Mt. Zion.
In politics, Mr. Craver is a Democrat, voting for the men and measures of the party, but he has never had political as- pirations for himself, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. He has served on the board of edu- cation for a number of years.
Mr. Craver is largely self-made and has made the most of each opportunity as it presented itself and through persever- ance has worked his way to the ranks of the well-to-do of the community in which he lives. By his honest dealings he has won the respect and high regard of his fellow citizens. He is well informed and is broad and liberal in his views on all questions.
BENJAMIN E. CURLIS.
Among the successful and enterprising young business men. of Clermont county, Ohio, are many who are born and reared on the farm and spent their boyhood days gaining a founda- tion for a life of activity and energy. Such a man is Mr. Benjamin E. Curlis, a son of Joseph and Eliza (Watson) Curlis. He is the owner and proprietor of a profitable saw mill at New Marathon, and is conducting his business in ac- cordance with the progressive ideas of modern times. His concentration on his business interests has brought to him
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prosperity and substantial advancement. He was born in Paloski, Ky., December 15, 1883.
Joseph Curlis was born near Afton, Ohio, in 1855, and Eliza (Watson) Curlis was born in 1855. They are resident farm- ers of Brown county, living near Fayetteville, Ohio. They became the parents of three children :
Benjamin E., the subject of this mention.
Oscar, of Marathon, has a small interest in the mill.
Nellie is at home.
Joseph is a son of John Curlis, a veteran of the Civil war.
The educational privileges of Benjamin E. Curlis were those afforded by the public school system of Brown county. He remained at home on the farm until 1894, when he was united in marriage to Miss Mollie Morgan, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1883, and is a daughter of Joseph and Mar- garet (Malott) Morgan, the former of whom was born in Brown county in 1846, and the latter also a native of Brown county, was born in 1867. They are prosperous farmers of Brown county, and in their family have been seven children : Addie, at home.
Ella, the wife of Mack Hessler, residents of Brown county. Mollie, who is Mrs. Curlis.
Allen, of Bethel, Ohio.
Lee, at home.
Bertha, is also at home.
After his marriage, Mr. Curlis located on a farm in Brown county, near Fayetteville, and there his early training along agricultural lines assisted him greatly in the management of his farming interests. He spent seven years on this farm and at the end of this time removed to their beautiful new home on the Milford and Hillsboro pike, west of Marathon. This farm consists of one hundred and sixty-eight acres of highly cultivated land and the home is modern in every respect.
. In 1903, Mr. Curlis added to his agricultural interests, those connected with the saw mill business, and now has in his em- ploy from ten to twelve men, and is doing a splendid business.
Mr. and Mrs. Curlis have had two children to bless their union :
Joseph Ralph, aged three years.
Mildred, born February 23, 1912, died June 9, 1912.
Mr. Curlis is a man of broad outlook, readily recognizing opportunities and bringing to bear the practical in the accom- plishment of the ideal. In business transactions he is the soul
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of honor and deserves all the praise called forth by the term self-made, for it is by his own efforts that he is enjoying his present prosperity.
Mr. Curlis exercises his right of franchise in support of men and measures of the Republican party, with which he has affiliated since reaching his majority.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Curlis is one of the pleasant, re- fined homes of the county, and there hospitality and good will abound. Mr. Curlis has accomplished much during his short business career and the family is well known in the com- munity, and the members of the household enjoy an enviable position in social circles.
W. H. LEEDS.
Mr. W. H. Leeds is one of the most popular, energetic and progressive farmers of Clermont county, Ohio, and is held in ยท high esteem by the citizens of this community for his many sterling qualities and excellent traits of character. Mr. Leeds resides on his handsome farm of ninety-eight acres in Jack- son township, known throughout the county. Mr. Leeds de- votes his land to general farming and stock raising, giving much attention to pure blood Jersey cattle. He also owns forty acres of good land near Marathon, Brown county, which he devoted entirely to pasture. Mr. Leeds was born in Sterling township, Brown county, Ohio, in 1874, and is a son of Moses and Emily (Simpkins) Leeds.
Moses Leeds was born in Williamsburg township, Clermont county, Ohio, January 18, 1838, and is at present a resident of Brown county, where he is living in retirement, after an ac- tive life as a farmer. He gave three years and three months time to his country at the time of the Civil war, enlisting in Company B, Fifth Ohio cavalry. He was in the engagement at Pittsburg Landing, Bull Run and others. He was one of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and the six sons and the six sons-in-law were all soldiers in the war. The six sons were: Lafayette, Gorham P., Frank, Lewis, Andrew and Moses, the father of our subject. The six sons-in-law were : Frank Code, Walter Beell, John Fields, Sam Rambaugh and two others. Several of these were killed in action. Andrew Leeds and John Fields were in the same company and regi-
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ment with Moses Leeds. The widow of Lewis Leeds is still a resident of Williamsburg, Ohio.
Emily (Simpkins) Leeds was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1844, and resides at the home in Brown county. A brother, Enoch Simpkins, was in the same company and regiment as Moses Leeds during the Civil war. To her union with Moses Leeds were born twelve children, eight of whom grew to ma- turity, and of those six still survive :
Margaret, became the wife of Charles Cowdry, of Cincin- nati.
Elizabeth, who married T. W. Twicher, of Cincinnati.
Lulu, died at the age of nineteen years.
W. H., the subject of this review.
Blanche, who is Mrs. George Fingstag, of Cincinnati.
Roy, who has not married, and is at home.
Grace, at home.
Beausie, died at the age of eighteen years.
Mr. W. H. Leeds was educated in the Salem school, near Williamsburg, in Brown county, and after his school days were over, he entered the employ of Mr. James McKever, and for eight years worked at farm labor, by the month. At the expiration of this period, he assisted his father on the home farm for four years, and in 1904 purchased the present farm, beginning life for himself.
The marriage of Mr. Leeds to Mrs. Carrie Christie was celebrated in 1904, and her parents were J. R. and Mary (An- derson) Johnson. She was born in Stonelick township, in 1872, and was married to Mr. Christie, and by this first mar- riage she had one son, John G., who was born in 1897, and is attending school at Hillsboro, Ohio. Mrs. Leeds' father was born in Jackson township, about 1847, and her mother in Goshen township about 1852, and both are living in Brown county and are retired farmers, who are enjoying the fruits of the former years of industry. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are living:
Carrie, who is now Mrs. Leeds.
Dr. F. A., of Fayetteville, Brown county, Ohio.
E. T., is a dentist of Danville, Ill.
Jessie, who became the wife of E. W. Gray, of Toledo, Ohio.
Martha is a kindergarten teacher and makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Gray, of Toledo, Ohio.
Grace, who is an instructor in music, is at the parental home.
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The union of Mr. and Mrs. Leeds has been blessed with one child, Martha Isabell, who was born in Jackson township, September 7, 1909.
Since the purchase of the present home farm, Mr. and .Mrs. Leeds have greatly improved it and today it is excelled by few in the township. They have rebuilt the house, making it one of the prettiest in the county, which, with its delightful surroundings, good buildings and well cultivated fields add much to the general air of prosperity to this section.
In addition to the raising of the pure blood Jersey cattle, Mr. Leeds also raises and ships great numbers of hogs. He has a fine lot of chickens, horses and cattle, and has all the conveniences for the care of all of his stock.
Mr. Leeds is a Democrat in politics, although he does not as- pire to office.
Mr. and Mrs. Leeds are active workers of the Methodist church, and well deserve the respect and esteem of those with whom they are associated. The present comforts of the fam- ily are due to the persistent effort and careful management of his business affairs, combined with strict honesty and in- tegrity of Mr. Leeds. He is genial and pleasant and by his affable manner has won many friends.
JOHN D. WHITE.
The name of White is well known in Brown county and brings to mind one of the finest families in the region. They have long been identified with the best interests of the county and State, and have held many offices of trust and confidence. John D. White is well known as mayor of Mt. Orab, also as a successful attorney and a patriotic citizen. He was born in Georgetown, Brown county, June 6, 1854, son of Chilton Alden and Fannie E. (Boyle) White. The father, also a lawyer in profession, took a prominent part in the affairs of Brown county and was born near Maysville, Mason county, Ken- tucky, in 1823, and died in November, 1900. His wife was born at Fayetteville, Brown county, Ohio, in 1826, and died in 1882, both she and her husband being buried in Brown county. He practiced his profession at Georgetown for many years and was active in the interest of the Democratic party. Soon after his admission to the bar he was elected prosecuting
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attorney of the county. This was but a stepping stone to higher things and later he served the county in the State legis- lature two terms, in the Senate two terms, in the National Congress two terms, and in 1882 served as a member of the constitutional convention from Brown county. He was an important factor in these august bodies and served on many important committees. He made his influence plainly felt wherever he was, and was closely identified with other well known public men, two of the most notable being George H. Pendleton and Clint L. Vollandingham. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow and was buried by the two orders. He was an active member of the Christian church and his home was always hospitably opened to entertain ministers. He was a pioneer of the Sunday school and a trustee of the church, being active in the interests of erecting their church building. He and his wife had three children, born in Brown county, namely : Edward B., of Cincinnati; John D .; Mary Isabel, wife of Dr. E. Whitaker, residing in Maysville, Ky. The father served in the Mexican war in 1847, with Thomas B. Homer, with whom he studied law. He was a schoolmate and warm personal friend of Gen. U. S. Grant, who once offered Mr. White a place on the Supreme bench for life if he would give the General his support. However, Mr. White could not see his way clear to do so, being fully convinced of the justice of the principles of the Democratic party. Mr. White was one of the leading men of Georgetown, and one whom his fellow townsmen were glad to honor and pleased to call friend and neighbor.
After taking a course in local schools, John D. White at- tended Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and in 1874 began reading law in his brother's office in Cincinnati. He was admitted to the bar in Georgetown in :875, and went into partnership with his father and W. W. McKnight, then prose- cuting attorney of the county. He has continued in active practice 'ever since, with unqualified success. He remained twelve years in Georgetown, and in 1887 came to live in Mt. Orab. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held various offices. He was justice of the peace in Georgetown one year, then resigned the office, and after living in Mt. Orab a number of years returned to Georgetown temporarily, again serving as justice of the peace there two years. He removed thence to Greenfield. Ohio, then returned to Mt. Orab permanently. He was elected mayor in November, 1910, and still holds the
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office. He is also notary public and his office is located in the city building in Mt. Orab. He has the confidence and esteem of the entire community and stands well in professional cir- cles. He has an excellent memory and feels proud of his father and family. The father's old home in Georgetown op- posite the old General Homer (or Harner) home, and is oc- cupied by Col. U. S. G. White, a cousin of John D. White. This old place, on North Main street, is a landmark of George- town, being one of the older buildings there.
In 1888 Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Mary Tucker, who was born near Mt. Orab in 1870, daughter of Frank and Margaret (Smith) Tucker. Mr. Tucker and his wife were born in Brown county, he in 1842, and she in 1847, and they now reside in Illinois. He was a farmer in Green township, Brown county, and served in the Forty-eighth Ohio volunteer infantry during the Civil war. He removed to Illi- nois several years ago. He and his wife had six children, born in Brown county, namely: Henry, of Green township; Mrs. White; Sallie, wife of Philip Vilvans, lives near Fayetteville ; Elizabeth, unmarried, lives with her parents; Ora and James, of Green township, Brown county.
Mr. and Mrs. White have five children, the two youngest born in Brown county: Fannie, born in Mt. Orab, married Henry Cade, resides at New Vienna, Clinton county, Ohio, and they have two children, Austin and Henry; Minnie, born in Mt. Orab in 1891, married Grant Kibler, and they live near New Vienna, and have one child, Howard; Ethel, born at Mid- dletown, Butler county, in 1894, is at home; Robert Emmett, born in Fayetteville in 1896, attends school; Edna, born in Georgetown' in 1903, attending school. The Whites have a pleasant home in the eastern part of the village.
WILLIAM HENRY HOBSON.
The Hobsons were among the earliest families in Clermont county and have always stood for progress and good citizen- ship. William Henry Hobson is a worthy representative of the family, and is much respected as a veteran of the Civil war and for his liberal views and personal qualities. He is popular with all and is a man of genial nature, enjoying the. companionship of friends. He was born at Marathon, Decem -.
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ber 8, 1844, son of William and Elizabeth (Prindle) Hobson, natives of Clermont county. The father was born in Mara- thon in 1820, and was killed September 22, 1863, at the battle of Chickamauga. The mother was born near Marathon in 1824 and died in 1907. She was buried at Clearwater, Kan., and he at Chickamauga. They carried on a farm in Clermont county, where all save one of their six children were born. In 1856 they moved to Indiana and the father served two years in Company I, Thirty-eighth Indiana volunteer infantry. His children were: William Henry, the eldest ; R. H., of Kansas; Rosanna, wife of George Carter, of Williamsburg; Wooster, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of William Seigfried, of Spring- boro, Ohio; Jacob, deceased, was born in Indiana.
Mr. Hobson received most of his education in Marathon, but attended school some after the family's removal to Indiana. He remained with his parents until, at the age of seventeen years, he and his brother, R. H. Hobson, enlisted in Company D, Sixty-sixth Indiana volunteers, and served two years and eight months. Neither of the two ever missed a roll call and they participated in many important battles, including Mays- ville, Atlanta, Richmond, and more than a dozen others. He won.a most honorable record, of which he has every reason to feel proud, but the father and husband did not return, and in his death the family received a severe blow. Two of his brother's sons also served in the war. After William H. Hob- son returned from his military service, his mother decided to return to Clermont county, where she could live among old friends, and he lived with her in Marathon until his marriage, in 1869, to Miss Adeline Applegate, who was born near Mara- thon, in 1846, daughter of William and Nancy (Fox) Apple- gate, natives of Ohio, and both deceased. The father served in the Civil war and he and his wife had six children, of whom four now survive: Mrs. Hobson, who died in 1876; William, of Newtonville, Ohio; Sarah A., wife of Gordon Joy, of Day- ton, Ohio; Lydia Bell, wife of Samuel Davidson, of Lerado. Mr. Hobson carried on farming near Marathon until the spring of 1910, when he purchased his present farm of one hundred and thirty acres of choice farm land in Jackson township, where he has a very pretty and comfortable home. He is a Republican in politics and has at various times served as school director. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is prominent in the local organization.
On June 8, 1878, Mr. Hobson was united in marriage with
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Miss Ada Luella Hensel, born in Indiana in 1859, daughter of Thomas and Sarah A. (Highland) Hensel. Her father was born near Owensville, Ohio, in 1833, and lives in Clermont county, and her mother, who was born at Milford, Ohio, in 1835, has been dead over thirty-seven years and is buried in Owensville cemetery. Her father served in the One Hundred Day Service during the Civil war and received three discharges altogether. Mr. and Mrs. Hensel had six children, of whom five now survive: Bertha, wife of George Snell, living near Franklin, Ind .; Mrs. Hobson, who was born in Indiana ; Ethel, widow of Charles Hathaway, of Indiana ; Emma, wife of Frank Snell, living near Lockland, Ohio; Cora lives with her father; Edith, wife of Raper Moore, died in 1910. Mrs. Hobson's uncles, Wesley, William, George, Jasper, Joe and Courtland Hensel, also her father, served in the Civil war from Indiana.
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hobson, all in Cler- mont county : Amanda, wife of George Conover, of Jackson township, has a daughter, Elizabeth; Luella, wife of Walter Shuff, of Hamilton county ; James Arthur married Miss Myrtle Moyer and they live near Blanchester, Ohio; William H. mar- ried Coral Harlow, lives in Brown county, and has one daugh- ter, Edith Lucile ; Cora Viola, wife of George Felter, of Brown county, has one son, Clifford; Beulah, graduate of Marathon grammar school and Owensville High School, lives at home; Charles Harner married Ethel Martin and they live near New- tonville ; Frank Lloyd is at home with his father; Hazel May, who lives at home, has passed the Pattison examination ; and Thomas Milton, at home. This is a family of culture and re- finement, representative of the best interests of Clermont county. The Hensels, as well as the Hobsons, were early comers to Clermont county, and both families have always stood high in the esteem of their fellows.
WILLIAM H. JONES.
William H. Jones is a substantial farmer and stock raiser of Jackson township, and is respected as an upright citizen. He is largely self-made and has made his way in the world through energy and hard work. He is an intelligent and pro- gressive farmer and successfully follows approved modern methods in his operations. He was born in Sterling town-
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ship, Brown county, Ohio, September 20, 1869, son of Levi and Sarah (Doris) Jones, natives of Clermont and Brown coun- ties, respectively. The father was born near Goshen in 1845, and now lives on the farm in Brown county, where all his children were born. He served from Ohio in the One Hun- dred Day Service, and by trade was a mechanic, carpenter and chair maker, following these occupations for a number of years. The mother was born in 1845 also. They had four chil- dren: Etta, wife of Harvey Cregar, deceased; Almeda, wife of Charles Patton, of Clinton county, Ohio; William H., and George C., of Brown county.
Mr. Jones attended school in Sterling township, Brown county, remaining with his father until attaining his majority. On March 19, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss Minerva Wallace, born near New Hope, Scott township, Brown county, June 14, 1870, daughter of Nichols and Martha (Brown) Wallace, natives of Brown county. Mr. Wallace . was born in 1848 and his wife in 1850, and they now live in Clermont county, although for many years they carried on farming in Brown county. They had fifteen children, born in the two counties just mentioned, namely: Four who did not reach maturity ; Sarah, wife of Adam Morse, living near Edenton; Ella, wife of Allen Malot, of Brown county; Mi- nerva, Mrs. Jones; Zerelda, wife of Walter Henderson, of War- ren county, Ohio; Addie, wife of Gus Hulick, of Batavia, Cler- mont county ; Laura and Lena, twins, the former living in Cin- cinnati, and the latter the wife of Richard 'McElfreth, and is now deceased; Levi, of Clermont county, married Gertrude Turner; Goldie, wife of Quinn Leonard, of Owenton, Ky .; Eli, at home with his parents; Zetta, wife of Jacob Lang, of Cincinnati. Both the Jones and Wallace families were among the very early settlers of Brown county.
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