History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, Part 108

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 108

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).

MR. AND MRS. JAMES E. SMITH.

Digitized by Google

721

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

Review at Washington, D. C., at the end of the war. He was a sergeant when discharged and had been wounded in the arm by a canister ball during service. Among the engagements in which he participated were the following: Mill Springs, Kentucky, January 19, 1862; Corinth, Mississippi, May 17, 1862; Chickamauga, Georgia, September 19 and 20, 1863; Resaca, Georgia, May 14, 1864; Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 18-24, 1864; Savannah, Georgta, December 21, 1864; and Raleigh, North Carolina, April 13, 1865. Joseph H. Smith was the second child born in his father's family.

The eldest child in the family of Daniel and Anna Mariah Smith was George H., who was a farmer in Vernon township, who was elected sheriff of Clinton county and who died in office. George H. was also a soldier in the same company and regiment as his brother, Joseph, and was in the same engagements. John C. Smith, who died on July 12, 1913, while living in Wilmington, had also served two terms as sheriff of Clinton county and bad later served as postmaster. John C. was also a soldier, enlisting in 1863 and serving till the close of the war in the same company and regiment with his brothers. His widow is still living. James E., the fourth child, is the subject of this sketch. Mary E., who was born in 1854, died in 1863.

James E. Smith attended the public schools of Adams township and helped his father on the farm during his boyhood and youth. He also learned the carpenter's trade, remaining at home until his marriage, renting the home farm.

Mr. Smith was appointed superintendent of the Clinton county children's home, September 1, 1896, nearly twenty years ago, and has been continually at the head of this home since that time. The public generally is aware of the responsibility which attaches to a position of this sort. No greater evidence of the standing of James E. Smith in the community where he lives, in Clinton county, could be given than his long tenure in this responsible and delicate position.

In 1909 Mr. Smith purchased fifty-eight acres of land, which he sold in 1914, and he then purchased ninety-six acres in Chester township.

On November 29, 1877, James E. Smith was married to Mary E. Osborn, a native of Adams township, born in 1856, the daughter of Peter and Eliza Ann Osborn, both of whom are deceased. He was a farmer and a minister in the society of Friends. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married on Thanksgiving Day. They have had two children, both of whom are living; Ella, born In 1879, who married Robert White, a resident of Union township; and Lena, born in 1882, who married Levi M. Hawkins, and lives on her father's farm in Chester township.

Aside from his present position of trust and responsibility, Mr. Smith at one time ,served for six years as township trustee of Union township. He is identified with the Republican party and he and his family are members of the Friends church. Mr. Smith is an elder in the church.

HENRY MOLYNEAUX BROWN, M. D.

Dr. Henry Molyneaux Brown, a well-equipped and popular young physician of New Vienna, this county, is the son of a distinguished physician of Clinton county, who has been in the practice of medicine at New Vienna since his graduation from the Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia in March, 1879. Henry Molyneaux Brown, after being graduated from the New Vienna high school, took a preparatory medienl course at the University of Cincinnati and was graduated from the Ohio Miami Medical College in 1913. Afterwards he spent one year as an interne in the · Jewish hospital at Cincinnati and on July 1, 1914, established himself in the practice of medicine in his home town, where he has already acquired a flourishing practice. Ile is a member of the Clinton County Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Sur- elety and the American Medical Association, and is popular In Clinton county, a young

(46)

722

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

man for whom a fine future is predicted. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at New Vienua.

Henry M. Brown was born on March 13. 1800, in New Vienna and reared in that city. He is the son of Dr. Edward W. and Olive (Spear) Brown, the former of whom was born at Oxford, in Butler county, Ohio, October 21, 1856, and the latter, near Snow Hill, in Clinton county, the daughter of Washington and Lydia (Roush) Spear. Washington Spear was the son of Zephaniah Spear. a pioneer in this county. Mrs. Lydla Spear is deceased but Washington Spear is still living.

Zephaninh Spear, the grandfather of Mrs. Brown and the great-grandfather of Dr. Henry M. Brown, was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, August 12. 1807. the son of Robinson and Elizabeth (Bryan) Spear, natives of Pennsylvania. Robin- son Spear was the son of John and Mary Spear. the former of whom immigrated to America when a mere lad and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married a woman of German descent. He lived and died in Pennsylvania, but his widow subsequently came to Ohio with ber son, Robinson, and died in Brown county. Robinson Spear grew to manhood and married in Pennsylvania. In 1817 he and his family moved to Ohio and settled first in Ross county. In 1821 they moved to Brown county and in 1827 to Guernsey county, Ohio, where he died in 1850. His wife survived him, passing away in 1873 at the age of ninety-two years. Robinson and Elizabeth (Bryan) Spear were the parents of eleven children. all of whom, except one, grew to maturity, mar- ried and settled in life. among these being Zephaninh, Mrs . Elizabeth Oliver. Mrs Ellen Stewart, Mrs. Jane Ann Willis and Mrs. Prudence Willis. Zephaniah was the third child born to his parents. He followed the blacksmith's trade for ten years and after- wards engaged in farming. He was married on September 20, 1829, to Lovina Mat- thews, a daughter of Joel and Phoebe Matthews, natives of North Carolina. Nine chil- dren were born to this union. of whom six grew to maturity : Mary Jane. the wife of M. I .. Turner: Washington: Margaret. the wife of William Boatwright : Thompson ; James A. and Jefferson D. Washington Spear became the father of Mra, Olive Brown. Starting In life without a dollar of capital, Zephaniah Spear became the owner of four hundred acres of land and was one of the substantial farmers of Clinton county. He served as trustee and treasurer of Green township for several years and was a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Lovina ( Matthews) Spear died on Mareb 14, 1875. in her sixty-fourth year. Washington Spear and Lydia Roush, daughter of George and Rachel Roush, of Illghland county, were married on December 1, 1859. and were the parents of three children, Ivy, Olive and Ellsworth.

Dr. Edward W. Brown is the son of Samuel R. and Sarah (Duval) Brown. the former of whom was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and the latter of Highland county, Ohio, Dr. Edward W. Brown's grandparents were Allen and Margaret Brown, natives of Ireland, the former of Scotch-Irish descent and the latter of French Huguenot descent. In the days of the French persecution, there was a family of Huguenots by the name of Molyneaux. all of whom were killed except two sons, John and William, who hung out of the windows by their hands and by that means were unobserved by the soldiers. Subsequently, they escaped to the sea coast and secreted themselves in a vessel that was about to set sail. they knew not where ; but they were landed in Ireland, prob- ably at Belfast. From one of these brothers, Mrs. Margaret Brown was descended. She was a lady of splendid education and attainments and possessed a remarkably strong and active mind. About 1524 Allen Brown, with his family, Immigrated to America and located at Point Pleasant, Clermont county, Ohio. After a few years of residence there. they moved to Highland county. Ohio, where Buford now stands, on the old Cincinnati and Chillicothe stage route. There Allen Brown erected a large two-story log house in which he kept a tavern, where he resided until his death at the age of eighty-four years. Ilis wife survived him several years and died in her eighty-fifth year. Allen Brown was

728

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

a man of great energy and did a prosperous business in his tavern. He also bad a farm of three hundred acres of fine land. He and his wife were the parents of five sons and one daughter. Four sons were living in 1882, Judge Thomas, John, who lived on the old home place. James and William. Samuel R., the father of Dr. Edward W. Brown, was about seven years old when the family moved to Ohio, and, being the eldest in the family, grew up under the sturdy Influences of pioneer life. He was a playmate in the Brown county home of General Grant. Later he entered the mercantile business at Buford, where he acquired a prosperous business. He married Sarah Duval, the daugh- ter of Judge Jobn Duval and, after continuing in business at Buford for several years, exchanged his store and stock of goods for three hundred acres of land. After one year's residence on his farm, he moved to Oxford, Ohio, where he again entered the mercantile business in partnership with a Mr. Newton, under the firm name of Newton & Brown this partnership continuing until 1864, when Mr. Brown moved to Hillsboro, baving soid out bis Interest In the store to Mr. Newton, and resided there till 1869, when he returned to his farm. He owned a farm of six hundred acres, having added three hundred acres by purchase while at Oxford. He erected one of the largest and finest barus in the county and a fine, commodious house. He died suddenly of heart disease on December 22, 1881. in his sixty-fifth year and, at his death, there passed away one of the substantial and honorable business men of Brown county; one whose character and integrity stood untarnished. His wife died on December 13, 1850. They were the parents of eight children, seven of whom grew to maturity, namely : Mrs. Maggie Sinks, John A., Anna, who married Dr. S. S. Salisbury, of Los Angeles, California ; Charles E., Edward W., James D. and Mary Belle.

Edward W. Brown assisted his father in business until sixteen years of age, receiv- ing a limited common-school education. He attended the high school at Hillsboro for two years and then worked on the farm until nineteen years of age, after which he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. S. S. Salisbury, at Washington C. H., later entering Hahnemann Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated, after which he began the practice of his profession at New Vienna, where he has con- tinued ever since. To Dr. Edward W. and Olive ( Spear) Brown four children have been horn, namely : Bernice L., born on April 3, 1833, who died in August, 1913: Howard E., June 20. 1885, who was graduated from the New Vieuna high school and is now located at Frankfort, in Ross county, this state, where he is the manager of the telephone plant ; Helen Duval, who is now a student at Ohio University at Athens, and Dr. Henry M .. the Immediate subject of this sketch.

JOHN J. GEORGE.

John J. George, joint owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Adams township, this county. is another one of the successful sons of Nicholas George, and Was born February 25. 1870. in Perry county, Indiana. He has succedeed in accumulating n most satisfactory competence by his own toil and his own frugal living.

Mr. George's parents were Nicholas and Catherine (Lawrence) George, the former of whom was born in 1836, at Hachy, Belgium, and who died on July 12, 1800. The mother was born in Belgium af 1840, and was a daughter of Lewis Joseph and Anto- netta (Spewizer) Lawrence, who came with their family to America in 1855 and Jo- cated in Perry county, Indiana.

Educated in the common schools of Belgium. Nicholas George left his native land for America when a young man, and after arriving in this country, settled in Iowa, from which state he enlisted as a soldier in the I'nion army during the Civil War, serving a little more than three years. At the close of the war be located in Perry county, Indiana, where his marriage occurred. Eight children were born to Nicholas George and wife, of whom John J. was the sixth in order of birth, the others

724

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

being, Peter, Lewis, Sarah, Edward, Jane, Mary and August. Sarah became the wife of Paul Clements. Edward is a farmer of Adams township. Jane in the wife of Frank Kibler. Mary died at the age of eight years, and August married Ethel Tuttle.

The paternal grandparents of John J. George were Peter and Margaret (Devillez) George, both of whom were natives of Belgium, the former born at Hachy in 1804, and the latter born at Nobresart, June 2, 1804. The grandfather died in 1882, the grand- mother dying four years later in 1886. The latter was a daughter of Henry Devillez, who married a Miss Hannen. Peter George was a son of Henry and Mary (Adam) George, the former of whom was a native of Nobresart, Belgium. Henry and Mary (Adam) George never left their native land.

John J. George, who has achieved a definite and satisfactory measure of success in agricultural lines, received his early education in the common schools of Perry county, Indiana, and after his removal to Clinton county, he attended the township schools of Wayne township. He began life on his own responsibility as a farmer in Wayne township, where he remained until 1906, when he and his brother, Peter, purchased a farm in Adams township, Clinton county, comprising one hundred and twenty acres, where John J. now lives, and where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising.

On November 25, 1908. John J. George was married to Magdalena Mahoney, who was born on October 26, 1878, daughter of Cornelius and Margaret Mahoney, and to this union have been born five children, Dorothy, Matthew, Mary E., Elizabeth and Lau- retta. The George family are earnest and devout members of the Catholic church, in whose faith they are deeply interested. Politically, Mr. George is a Democrat.

PETER D. LEAMING.

No product of agriculture has ever come from Clinton county which has had more to do with the revolution in corn growing in the state of Ohio and, in fact, in the Middle West, than Leaming's corn, which was originated by the late Jacob Spicer Lenming. father of Peter D. Leaming, the subject of this sketch. The tremendous influence of this splendid variety is realized when the claim is considered that practically all of the yellow corn grown in the United States today has been developed from the variety known as Leaming. Whether this is true or not, it is a fact that the corn bearing this name is more widely distributed than any other variety. Careful inquiry through agricultural colleges and experiment stations and through farmers, warrants the statement that from twenty to thirty per cent. of the yellow corn grown in the corn belt is of the Leaming variety, while if that grown under local names, but which is undoubtedly of Leaming origin, is considered, the per cent. would be even larger.

The history of the origin of this variety is an interesting story. One autumn in 1855 the father of Peter D. Leaming was driving in his wagon along Bullskin run, in Hamilton county, and, having neglected to bring feed with him for his horses, stopped at a wayside corn field and asked the men busking in the field to sell sufficient corn for this purpose. He was so much impressed with the beautiful yellow color of the corn and also with the maturity, as indicated by its sound, hard condition, that when leaving he took with him a bushel of this corn for sred. The following year he moved with his family to Clinton county, purchasing a farm two miles from Wilmington, where he lived until his retirement in 18$4. The corn which he had brought with him from Hamilton county was planted in the spring of 1856. As the consequence of a favorable season and painstaking cultivation it yielded an excess of one hundred bushels to the acre. This was a phenomenal yield for that day and the fame of "Leaming's corn" was spread broadcast.

In a large measure Peter D. Leaming, who was born on November 18, 1556, on the farm where he now lives, on the Martinsville pike, in Union township, has inherited the fame which his father richly earned as a corn grower. His father was born on April 2,

725

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

1815, and died on May 12, 1885. His mother, who, before her marriage, was Lydia Ann Van Middlesworth, was a native of New Jersey, born on November 1, 1817. She died on March 21, 1890.

The parents of Jacob Spicer Leaming were Christopher and Margaret Leaming, who came to Ohio from Cape May county, New Jersey, early in the last century. The family is of English origin. The first of the name to arrive in America was a Christopher Leaming, who came to Boston in 1670. Later the family moved to Long Island and still later to New Jersey, where it became prominent in provincial history. Christopher Leaming, II, the father of Christopher Leaming, who immigrated to Ohio, and grand- father of J. S. Leaming, served for twenty years as a member of the provincial assembly. Christopher Leaming, III, was much more than an average farmer, and as early as 1825 his son, Jacob, a lad of ten years, was acquiring corn inspiration through the medium of a hoe handle in the Langdon bottoms along the Little Miami river in Hamilton county.

The parents of Jacob Spicer Leaming's wife were Tunis and Ellen Van Middlesworth, both natives of New Jersey, and of Dutch descent. About 1825 they removed by wagon to Hamilton county, Ohio, purchasing a farm at the edge of Cincinnati. Tunis Van Middlesworth owned a large farm between what is now East Norwood and Oakley, suburbs of Cincinnati. They had ten children.

Jacob Spicer Leaming attended the district schools and obtained a good education, after which he taught school for a time. He became a great reader and an able writer. At the beginning of his active career he rented a farm and operated a bus line between Madison and Cincinnati. In the spring of 1856, as heretofore noted, he removed to Clinton county and rented a farm from his elder half-brother, Christopher Leaming, in Union township. Later he purchased the farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres from his brother and still later added to the farm until he owned one hundred and sixty- five acres. Subsequently, be purchased fifty-three acres additional on the edge of Wil- mington, and there spent the last years of his life. He was prominent in the politics of his day and generation and served as township trustee for some time. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church.

The name of Jacob Spicer Leaming will go down in the history of Clinton county as the most noted corn producer in the United States. He soon began shipping seed corn to all parts of the I'nited States. His son, Peter D., and the latter's brother, J. S. Leaming, Jr., still continue this industry. In 1884 Jacob 8. Leaming received a large silver medal as first prize for seed corn awarded at the Paris corn show. In 1900 Peter D. Leaming received a fine bronze medal at the Paris Exposition for his seed corn.

Peter D. Leaming, early in life, learned the principles of the proper selection of seed corn from his father, and has been able to carry on the industry successfully since his father's death. Jacob S. built the second pike ever constructed in Clinton county. In 1809 he contracted for and built three miles of the Martinsville pike and in 1870 he built five miles of the Cuba pike. He was considered a nexcellent road builder.

Jacob and Lydia Ann (Van Middlesworth) Leaming had nine children, namely ; Tunis, lives in Ft. Wayne. Indiana, where he is a farmer; Christopher, lives in East Norwood, Ohio, and is also a farmer; Ell, is a resident of Columbus, Ohio, and is a carpenter : Ella, married Thomas M. Babb, and is deceased; Jacob, lives in Denison, Texas, where he is a gardener and truck farmer: Joseph, Hives at New Burlington, Ohlo; Jennie, lives in Dayton, Ohio: Peter D., was the eighth child ; George S., is a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is in the dairy business and engaged in truck gardening.

Peter D. Leaming attended the Burtonville district school and grew up on the farm. After his father moved to Wilmington he worked the farm on the shares and after his father's death he purchased the home place, going heavily into debt, but he has

726

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

paid the indebtedness off and is now financially independent. He is a genial, business- like, up-to-date farmer.

In 1890 Mr. Leaming built his present splendid home. It is an attractive place and one of which he has every reason to be very proud. He set out the pretty trees that decorate the place. He carries on general farming, but still makes a specialty of raising and selling Jeaming seed corn.

On December 2, 1890, Peter D. Leaming was married to Emma Skimming, who was born near Burtonville, in Union township, Clinton county, and who is the daughter of Robert and Mary E. Skimming, whose complete family history Is contained in the sketch of S. H. Skimming, a brother of Mrs. Leaming, presented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Leaming have had two children, Grace Anna and Robert Russell.

Mr. and Mrs. Leaming are members of the Baptist church of Wilmington. Mr. Leaming is a Republican. In a very large measure Peter D. Lenming has carried forward the work of his worthy father, whose name was presented "as the first candidate for Ohio Farmers' Hall of Fame."

ISAAC R. SUMMERS.

Isaac R. Summers, a native of Green township, this county, and a prosperous farmer and stockman, was born on January 28, 1875, a son of John Jackson and Hannah ( Hoskins) Summers, natives of Hampshire county, Virginia, and Clinton county. Ohio, respectively, the former born on November 21, 1825, and the latter in October. 1827.

Mr. Summers' paternal grandparents were John Wesley and Mary (Parks) Sum- mers, both natives of the Old Dominion state. In 1837 they migrated to Franklin county, Ohio, and eighteen months later removed to Leesburg. in Highland county, where they lived until about 1845, when they removed to Green township. this county. John Wesley Summers died in Henry county, Ohio, while his wife died on the old bome farm in Green township. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Summers were George and Mary ( Hodgson ) Hoskins, pioneers of this county, who spent most of their lives here.

The late John Jackson Summers was a farmer and carpenter by occupation, and also a minister in the Methodist Protestant church. In the early forties he bought one hundred acres of land in Green township, for twelve hundred dollars. He lived on that farm for about fifteen years, and then traded it for a farm near Wilmington. He never Mved on the latter farm, however, trading it for a farm in Green township, consisting of two hundred acres. Later he sold fifty acres of the third farm, and died on that place in April, 1907. His wife had died previously, August 25. 1900, Politically, John J. Summers was a Republican, and took an active interest in local public affairs. John J. Summers and wife were the parents of fourteen children. namely : Wesley, a resident of California ; Mary Elizabeth, living at Sedgwick City, Harvey county, Kansas; Samman- tha, a resident of Wayne township; Caroline, Eliza and Ella, deceased; Ruth, living in Kansas; Lewis and John, deceased; Joseph, a resident of Green township; Ida, of Wash- ington township; Margaret, living in Trumbull county, Ohlo; David E., living on the home farm, and Isane R.

Isaac R. Summers was reared on the old home farm in Green township, and received a good education in the common schools of his home neighborhood. Mr. Summers owns one hundred acres of land which he purchased on February 5. 1904, and where he has lived since that date. Not only is he engaged in general farming, but he is an extensive stock breeder, and has specialized in Shorthorn cattle.

On June 21, 1504. Isaac R. Summers was married to Sophronia Jarrells, who was born in Wayne township, this county, on May 5, 1877. n daughter of Benjamin and Sully ( Massey) Jarrells, natives of Orange county, Virginia, and Highland county, Ohio, respectively. The former came from the Old Dominion state and was married after coming to Ohio. He and his wife settled in Richland township, this county, but later

Digitized by I V)

727

CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

moved to Wayne township, where Benjamin Jarrells died on April 12, 1900. His widow is now living at Lee's Creek, this county.

To Isaac E. and Sopbronia (Jarrells) Summers three children have been born, Lottie, born on March 12. 1897, who died on January 3. 1900; Winnie Ellen, January 23, 1902, and Martha Hannah, November 21, 1904.

Mr. Summers is a Republican but has never taken a very active part in politics, his agricultural interests demanding all his time and attention. He and his wife are earnest and devoted members of the Christian church.

JOHN W. MATTHEWS.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, Part 108

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1108

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108