USA > Ohio > Brown County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 75
USA > Ohio > Clermont County > History of Clermont and Brown Counties, Ohio, from the earliest historical times down to the present, V. 2 > Part 75
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After marriage Mr. Jones and his wife spent four years in Brown county, spent two years in Pike township, spent the two succeeding years .at Crosstown, Clermont county, and re- turned to Brown county. Eight years later they located at East Fork, Jackson township, Clermont county, remained there three years, and in March, 1909, moved to their present home on the farm owned by Samuel Pridmore, an uncle of Mr. Jones. He runs two hundred and nineteen acres of land, de- voted to general farming, and does well for himself and for the owner. He is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church. They have had five
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children, of whom three now survive, namely: Alma, born in Clermont county, September 22, 1888, died at the age of twenty-one months, and is buried in Brown county; Carroll, born in Brown county, in 1891, married Miss Florence John- son, of Clermont county, and they have one child, William; Etta, born in Brown county, in 1894, at home; Letha, born in 1896, died when two days old; Goldie Catherine, born in Cler- mont county, in August, 1910. The family have a wide ac- quaintance and many warm friends. . Anthony Wallace, the grandfather of Mrs. Jones, and her uncle, Jacob Wallace, served in the Civil war. John and James Jones, uncles of William H. Jones, also served in that war from Ohio.
DR. W. C. CROWELL.
Dr. W. C. Crowell, one of the rising young men of Bethel, Ohio, who is successfully engaged in the practice of denistry, with a well appointed office and liberal patronage, is a native of Kentucky, having been born at Maysville, Ky., April 27, 1887. He is a son of Simon and Mollie (Clinger) Crowell, who were both born in Mason county, Kentucky. The former is a house contractor and painter, and has made a name for himself in his business. The maternal grandfather Clinger was a Civil war soldier and was on the boat "Sultana," which was blown up on the Mississippi river. Mr. and Mrs. Simon Crowell were the parents of three children:
Dr. W. C., who is the subject of this sketch.
Lucile is at home with her parents, at Maysville, Ky.
Mabel is also at home with her parents.
The education of Dr. W. C. Crowell was received in the schools of Maysville, from which he was graduated with credit to himself and his teachers. After his graduation from the Maysville High School he continued his education at the Ohio Dental College of Cincinnati, finishing there in 1911. He then did some office work in Cincinnati, but shortly after be- gan practicing at Bethel. Before going to college he had spent some time in the dental office of Dr. R. C. Pollet. of Maysville, which proved of great benefit to him.
By reason of his intelligent and thorough knowledge of his profession, Dr. Crowell has established a fine business, al- though he has been in the town less than a year. His manly
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qualities and pleasing manner have won for him many friends and well wishers.
On October 15, 1912, Dr. Crowell moved to 308 West Fifth . street, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he has fitted up elegant parlors for his business.
J. R. JOHNSON.
J. R. Johnson, a retired farmer of Marathon, now engaged in real estate business, is a leader in every movement for the good of his community, and belongs to one of Clermont coun- ty's old families. He was born in Jackson township, Clermont county, in 1848, son of Benjamin and Senith (Tribble) John- son. Benjamin Johnson was born in New Jersey, and came to Clermont county in childhood, and his wife was born near old Clover, Williamsburg township, Clermont county. Both are buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Owensville. Their nine children were all born in Clermont county, namely : Anna, wife of Cornelius J. Works, of Williamsburg township; Cornelius Jefferson lives in Austin, Tex .; Jonathan, of Mon- terey, Clermont county ; J. R., subject of this sketch ; Alpheus, of Batavia ; Charles, of Hillsboro, Ohio; Harvey and Henry, twins, the former of Norwood and the latter of Hillsboro; Senith, wife of Coates Mckeever, of Williamsburg. The par- ents were Methodists and active workers in the interest of the church. The father held a church office most of his life.
Mr. Johnson was educated in Greenberry school and re- mained with his parents until 1871, when he married Miss Mary Anderson, born in Clermont county, in 1851, daughter of Peter and May (Smith) Anderson. Mr. Anderson was born in New Jersey and came to Clermont county as a small boy, and Mrs. Anderson was born in Clermont county. Both were buried in Owensville. Mr. Anderson's first wife was Cath- erine Hatfield, and by both marriages he had children, thirteen in all, as follows: Debby, wife of William Shin, and both she and her husband are deceased; Nathan, Josiah, Samuel and Catherine, all deceased ; all children of the first wife. By his second marriage there were: Elizabeth, wife of Louis Ellis, and both are deceased ; William, of Tennessee; Margaret and Harvey, of Marathon ; Martha, wife of Thomas Smith, of Wil- mington, Ohio; Addie, deceased; May, Mrs. Johnson. Mr.
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Anderson was a Presbyterian and his second wife was a Meth- odist. The Andersons and Smiths were among the very early settlers of Clermont county, and were representative of the best interests of their communities.
After marriage Mr. Johnson and his wife located on a farm in Jackson township, where they lived many years, rearing their children there. Some twelve years since he retired from active life, and they now live on a very pretty place of seven acres on the Chillicothe pike, Marathon, just over the edge of the county line, and in Brown county. He is engaged in real estate business to some extent, although he does not carry on this line very aggressively, for he has well earned a rest from great activity. He is well known throughout Clermont county and has a host of friends and acquaintances. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held various township offices. He was appointed to fill a vacancy as county commissioner, serving eight months, and served two terms of three years each, by . election. His service in this office was most satisfactory, and he is held in respect by one and all. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church, and he has held office in the church for many years until recently. He has spent prac- tically all his life in Clermont county, and his integrity and good citizenship are well recognized there. He is proud of the part taken by his ancestors in the early affairs of the county, and has been a worthy representative of his family. He is progressive and liberal in his views in general and is a man of considerable influence. He and his wife have a comfortable and very tastefully furnished home and she is a woman of rare good judgment and refinement.
Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, as follows: Carrie, widow of G. R. Christy, by whom she had one son, Johni, married William Leeds and they now live in Jackson township; Dr. Frank married Miss Julia Day, and they live at Fayetteville, Brown county ; Edward married Eva Smith, lives in Danville, Ill., and they have one child, May ; Jessie married Edward Grey, of Toledo, and they have one child ; Margaret ; Katie, deceased; Martha is now a kindergar- ten teacher in Toledo; Grace is a music teacher in Marathon. Mr. Johnson began life on his own account with almost noth- ing in the way of wordly goods, and he and his wife worked side by side, with industry and energy, to build up their pros- pects, with very good results.
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DAVID S. McPHERSON.
Mr. David S. McPherson, familiarly known as "Dave" Mc- Pherson, is among the most progressive and enterprising of Brown county farmers, and is a representative of one of the earliest of pioneer settlers. He was born on his present home farm, which has been in the family since the year of 1832, and which consists of two hundred and fourteen acres. The date of his birth was January 1, 1862, and his parents were James and Elizabeth (Hopkins) McPherson.
James McPherson (formerly spelled McFerson) was born in Byrd township, near the corners of Byrd, Jefferson and Union townships, Brown county, in April, 1815, and his death oc- curred in May, 1898, after a useful, honorable and upright life. His, occupation was that of farming and stock raising, and the success which he so well deserved was due to his untiring energy and careful management. He was a member and elder of the Red Oak Presbyterian church, and was active in all af- . fairs of that denomination. James was a son of David and Anne McPherson, who were of Scotch parentage.
Elizabeth (Hopkins) McPherson was born in Union town- ship, Brown county in November, 1821, and passed from this life in August, 1909. She was a daughter of Robert Hopkins, a pioneer settler of Brown county. In religious faith she was a member of the Presbyterian church.
David S. McPherson is the eighth child in order of birth of. a family of nine children : Frances Ann, died in 1866, at the age of twenty-two years ; Robert H., was born in 1846 and died in January, 1853; William A., born in April, 1848, is a resident of Byrd township; Louisa J., born in April, 1850, died in Jan- uary, 1910, the wife of Joel Morrow, of Russellville, Ohio; Milton C., who was born in November, 1851, married in March, 1880, to Hannah Fenton, and died about 1905; Samuel Lewis, born in March, 1854, passed away in August, 1881 ; Agnes, born in June, 1856, married in 1878, Ackles Culter, and are residents of Russellville; David S., our subject ; Edward P., who was born in January, 1864, married Louise Beaty in Sep- tember, 1892, and resides at Evanston, Chicago, Il1.
The marriage of Mr. D. S. McPherson took place in May, 1891, and his union was with Miss Ella Mccutchen, who was born and reared at Manchester, Ohio, a daughter of John and Eliza Mccutchen, the former of whom was for a number of years a farmer, but is now a merchant of Manchester.
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Mr. McPherson has always given his attention to his chosen calling and is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has made many improvements on the farm property, including a comfortable new home in the place of the old one, which he had torn down in 1911. The home was com- pleted in 1912, and is one of the most modern farm houses in the county.
Mr. McPherson takes an intelligent interest in politics, and his study of the questions of the day has led him to give his support to the Republican party and he has served in the various township offices.
In religious matters, Mr. and Mrs. McPherson hold member- ship, and he is on the board of trustees, of the Red Oak Presbyterian Church. He is well known in his locality and is highly regarded as an honorable man and a first class citizen.
JOHN C. FLOWERS.
John C. Flowers belongs to an old and well known family of Brown county and he and his wife count their friends by the hundreds. He is a man of quiet, modest demeanor, and every- thing around his home shows him to be a progressive, up-to- date farmer. He is broad and liberal-minded and favors every cause he believes will benefit the township and county. He was born at the Brown county infirmary, in Pleasant town- ship, in 1859, son of Davis and Catherine (Kier) Flowers. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1829 and died in Brown county March 4, 1910, being buried in the cemetery at Georgetown. He served three years in the Civil war, first in Company K and later being transferred to Company C, Fifty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry. He participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and many others. He was a Republican in politics, and for five years had charge of the county infirmary, this time including his service before and after the war. He and his wife had to pro- vide all the help in the institution and conducted it in a man- ner that did credit to them and to the county. They had three children : Namon D)., of Lewis township .; William Henry died in Colorado some twenty years ago, and John C. The mother
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was born near Fincastle, Brown county, in 1828, and now lives with her son, the subject of this sketch. Her parents came to Brown county from Pennsylvania among the earliest settlers and Mr. Kier cleared land for a farm. He and his wife lived to the ages of ninety-three and one hundred and three years, respectively. Mrs. Flowers was a Methodist in earlier life, but is now too feeble to attend services, although she is much in- terested in the work of the church. Mr. Flowers spent most of his life farming in Lewis township and raised garden truck.
Mr. Flowers, of this sketch, attended the Blue Bird school, and after leaving school worked for various farmers by the month for some ten years. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Letitia Drake, who was born on White Oak creek, Lewis township, in 1861, daughter of John and Eliza- beth J. (Newland) Drake, who were early settlers of Brown county. The Drakes originally came from England. John Drake was born in Pennsylvania in 1808 and died on February 12, 1873, and Mrs. Elizabeth Drake was born in Brown coun- ty in 1828 and died August 17, 1911. Both are buried in Hig- ginsport, Ohio. They had a farm in Lewis township and were the parents of eight children, all born in the county, and seven now surviving: Hannah J., widow of George Watson, of Portsmouth; Sabina A., wife of Rufus Dugan, of Higgin- sport ; Jacob W., of Washington State; Phoebe E., wife of John A. Stephens, of Straight Creek ; Rebecca, widow of Ben- jamin White, lives near Higginsport ; Ruth Mary Ellen, wife of Mirian Fry, of Milford, Clermont county ; Mrs. Flowers; Martha C. died some thirty years ago. The Drakes were mem- bers of the Baptist church. Jacob Newland, Mrs. Drake's father served in the Revolution.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Drake spent four years on a farm on White Oak creek, Lewis township, then they lived in Pleasant township, and in 1899 purchased the fine farm of one hundred and eight acres where they now reside. He erected a comfortable eight-room farm house and suitable out build- ings, and has in other ways improved the appearance and value of the place. He carries on general farming and raises hogs, horses and cattle. His tobacco crop is a good one, and he raises considerable grain and hay also. In politics he is a Democrat, but in local affairs votes for the man rather than for party. He and his wife formerly were members of the Christian church at Higginsport. They had two children,
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Arminda Ellen, who died in 1883, at the age of eleven months and eight days, and is buried in Georgetown, and William David, born in 1885, a graduate of the Georgetown High School. The latter married Miss Gertrude Alma Brown and they reside on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Flowers have worked together since the time they joined hands in the marriage knot, and began with debts on all sides, but have prospered and now have a nice home and good prospects. They have given their son all advantages for fitting himself to take his place in the world, and have won a very good standing with their neighbors and associates. Their success is self- made, for they began with very little and have added to their possessions from time to time and bit by bit. They enjoy many comforts and have well earned them. In the summer time they keep city boarders with good success.
Solomon Flowers, an uncle of Mr. Flowers, was killed at New Orleans during the Civil war.
CHARLES HARLOW.
Charles Harlow, superintendent of the Marathon schools, and a resident of Jackson township, belongs to one of the old- est families of Clermont county. He was born in Jackson township in 1887, son of Cornelius W. and Anna E. (Stark) Harlow. Cornelius W. Harlow was born in Jackson town- ship in 1853, and still lives there, and his wife was born in Stonelick township, Clermont county, also in 1853. He is one of the most progressive farmers of the region, devotes con- siderable attention to stock raising and is a man of influence and high standing. He is a Democrat in politics and has held several township offices. There were four children born to him and his wife, namely: Edwin died at the age of six years; Jesse also died when six years old; Charles, the only surviving son; Addie C. is a teacher in the public schools of Clermont county, but is taking a rest at the present time. Miss and Mrs. Harlow are devout members of the Methodist church.
Cornelius W. Harlow is a son of Jeremiah and Emeline (Johnson) Harlow, his father born on the Cornelius Harlow farm in 1818 and died in 1890. Mrs. Emeline Harlow is de- ceased and both are buried in Bloom Rose cemetery, Brown
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county, Ohio. Jeremiah Harlow was a miller in Jackson town- ship, where he had a saw and grist mill and afterwards carried on farming. He and his wife were the parents of thirteen chil- dren, of whom seven now survive: Rachel lives with her sister, Mrs. Hamilton, of Jackson township; Mary, widow of Mont Ferce, has two children, Orie, who married Miss Thersa Curtis, lives near Batavia, and has two children (Orie and Mary Helen), and Clara, widow of Homer Mahon, living on a farm near Afton, has one child, Beatrice; Cornelius is the father of the subject of this sketch ; H. W., Oliver J. and Sam- uel, of Jackson township ; Julia E., wife of Alvin Hamilton, of Jackson township, has two children, Lena; aged sixteen years, and Harlow, aged thirteen. The Harlows were very early comers to Jackson township and cleared their land, a little at a time, and always taking great interest in the general wel- fare and progress of the county. They purchased two hun- dred acres of land at two dollars per acre, which is still in the family. An ancestor of Cornelius W. Harlow, Cornelius Washburn, was known as the Indian hunter. The Indians had killed his mother and he had vowed that he would hunt the particular tribe that had perpetrated the deed, but they finally killed him. He had served in the War of 1812 and his father in the Revolution.
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Charles Harlow graduated from the Williamsburg High School, and took a post-graduate course in agriculture under Prof. J. R. Rounds, superintendent of schools in Hocking township, Fairfield county, Ohio. He entered upon his pro- fession by teaching one year in Perry township, Brown county, then taught four years at Greenberry, Clermont county. In 19II he was appointed superintendent of schools at Marahon, and teaches all subjects and grades. He is well prepared for his work and keeps in touch with modern methods and ideas. During the summer of 1912 he taught in the Boys' Industrial School at Lancaster, Ohio. He is well known in Clermont county, where his family is prominent. He is a Democrat in politics and fraternally is a Mason, being affiliated with the Blue Lodge at Marathon, and the Royal Arch Chapter at Ba- tavia. He holds office in his lodge. He gives good satisfac- tion in the performance of his duties and is popular as a young man of genial and courteous manner. He lives with his parents on the old home farm. He is proud of the part taken by his ancestors in the public affairs in the early days of Clermont county.
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An ancestor of Mr. Harlow, Cornelius Washburn, was a colonel and led the whites against the Indians, near Mara- thon, Clermont county, where the first bloodshed occurred in the first battle fought on Ohio soil between the Indians and whites.
ELIJAH G. PENN.
Elijah G. Penn, deceased, died June 27, 1910, at his home in Amelia, Clermont county, Ohio. He was born near Point Isabel, in this county, June 28, 1835, son of Elijah T. and Philena (Walroven) Penn. The parents were both natives of Maryland and drove to Ohio at a very early day. The father was in the flour milling business in early life, but later owned and operated a large farm. Our subject was the next youngest of their eleven children, of whom but one is now living, in 1912, viz., their ninth child, William W., who married Mona Sargent (deceased), and resides at Moscow, Ohio. The others were: Mary ; Sarah, married the late Judge Thomas Q. Ash- burn, extended mention of whom appears on other pages of these volumes ; Anna S., married the late John Holter ; George W. was a Civil war soldier and married Margaret Gilfillen, now the widow of Rev. W. H. Southerland; Julius A., first married Miss Minor, deceased, and second Mary J. Brock, also deceased ; John D., whose widow was Charlotte Ashburn, now residing at Wilmington, Ohio; Joseph W., who first married Caroline Sargent, deceased, and second Viola Nichols, who, as his widow, resides at Amelia; Benjamin F. married . Mahala Foster, deceased, and Milton, who married Susan Berger, now deceased.
Elijah T. Penn was four times married. His second wife was Mrs. Margaret Nichols ; his third was Miss Lizzie Sargent, while his fourth was Mrs. Caroline Corbin, an aunt of the late General Corbin, mentioned elsewhere.
Mr. Penn, of this review, attended the common schools of Clermont, later taking a business course at Bartlett's Business College. Upon leaving college, he went at once to Warsaw, Mo., where he was most successfully engaged in the real estate business until 1859, when he returned to Clermont county and was married by the Rev. John Fowble, at 7:30 p. m., November 9th of that year, to Miss Mary A. Foster, born .
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May 5, 1842, near Batavia, Ohio, only child of Joseph R. and Susan (Ricker) Foster, who were married at 12 o'clock noon, July 13, 1837, by Rev. Robert Cheeney. Joseph R. Foster, who was born in 1816, and died September 17, 1871, was a cousin of the late Bishop Randolph Foster, and both were edu- cated at Augusta (Kentucky) College. He was a farmer and an active Republican, serving as justice of the peace some seventeen years. He and his wife were members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was an officer many years and until his death. She was born in 1822 and died May 26, 1891 ; her brother, the late Maj. Elbridge G. Ricker, served in the Civil war, as did also his son, Benjamin J. Ricker. Adeline (Ricker) Frazee, widow of Benjamin Frazee, is now aged eighty-eight years, and is an aunt of Mrs. Mary A. Penn and residing at the latter's home, is the only survivor of that generation of the Ricker family.
After marriage, our subject and wife settled in Batavia. He served as county clerk and later removed to Amelia, where he engaged in real estate business until he volunteered and en- listed, October 3, 1861, as first lieutenant in the Fifth Ohio cavalry, serving until discharged, October 20, 1862. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Methodist Episcopal church. Following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. E. G. Penn: Susan Foster, wife of Frederick Harting, a newspaper man of Portland, Ore., was a pupil at Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio; and Miss Philena M. Penn, a graduate of the Amelia High School, and who also took a business course at Cincinnati, is a teacher in the public schools of Clermont county.
Mrs. Penn was educated at Hillsboro, Ohio, Female Col- lege. under tutelage of Prof. J. McDowell Matthews, noted `scholar and instructor. She is general pension attorney, since 1892, and is a woman of rare business qualifications. The first Clermont county institute was organized and held at Mrs. Penn's home, headed by Prof. John Hancock. Her home is historical, formerly owned by the Hopkins family, bought by Mr. Foster, who remodeled and left it to his daughter. Her parents are buried in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows cemetery, where rest four generations, including a grandchild of Mrs. Penn, the lot marked by a beautiful monument. She has the discharge papers left by her father at a little historical legacy, the document being signed in General Grant's own hand writing.
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Mr. Penn was of a highly refined and intelligent nature, well informed on all subjects and a man very highly respected in Clermont county, while Mrs. Penn is quiet and graceful, pos- sessing those charms which make it a real pleasure for one to meet ; thus the Penn home has ever been pervaded by a spirit of true hospitality. This spirit is inherited by their daugh- ter, who evidenced her devotion by giving her father every attention possible, and is now showing every consideration for her mother. Both ladies are members of the Methodist church.
FRANCIS MARION EDWARDS.
Mr. Francis Marion Edwards, who has passed the eighty- fifth milestone on life's journey and is therefore living retired, owns, however, ninety-eight acres of valuable land in Batavia township, Clermont county, and his possessions are such as to bring him a very desirable income, so that he is enabled to en- joy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He was born in Bird township, Brown county, May 27, 1827, and his parents were John and Demiah (Jones) Edwards, the former of whom was born in Brown county and the latter was born in Kentucky. Both have been deceased for many years. They had six children, all being deceased but Mr. F. M. Edwards.
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