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 117

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 117

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Christopher MeVey was the son of James and Kezia MeVey, both of whom were natives of Ireland and pioneer settlers in Clinton county, where both died. They were the parents of five sons and four daughters, William, Edmund. Christopher, Robert. John, Catharine. Josephine, Jane and Kezia. To Christopher and Catharine (West) McVey eight children were born. Henrietta. James, Kezia, Robert. Benson, Edmund. Eliza June end Elkana. Christopher McVey was a farmer and owned about one hun. dred and eighty neres of land in Groene township. He was a Republican and a mem- ber of the Christian church. He died in 1895, his wife having preceded him to the grave In 1853. Catharine West was the daughter of Robert and Henrietta West, who mame from Pennsylvania to Clinton county in pioneer days and here they spent the rest of their lives. They had eight children. Nancy, Mary. Harrison. Benson, Eliza, Catherine and Saltle.

To James K. and Kezia (McVey) Bernard were born ten children, namely : John R .. born on July 23. 1862: George W., August 19, 18G3: Harriet C., August 6. 1864: Charles O. October 30, 1565; Martha Ann. February 23. 1867; James Edmund. April 11. 1568; an Infant. November 6, 1870: Christopher C., July 2, 1872: Cora E., February 22. 1876; Oscar E .. September 13. 1878. Of these children, all are living save the Infant.

James K. Bernard located in Wayne township shortly before his marriage, and shortly after his marriage, on March 10, 1862, moved to his farm in Greene township. where he had a fine home and was extensively engaged in farming. He owned at one

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time about sixteen hundred acres of land, which he divided among his children, leaving bis widow one hundred and eighty acres near New Vienna. Altogether, he had received from his father about twenty-five hundred dollars but aside from this help, accumu- Inted the money with which the sixteen hundred acres were purchased, by his own effort and his was regarded as one of the most remarkable examples of success from small beginnings ever witnessed among the farmers of Clinton county.

In 1903 Mr. and Mrs. Bernard removed to New Vienna, where they lived retired until Mr. Bernard's death in 1907. The Inte James K. Bernard was more than a suc- cessful farmer. He was a man of extraordinary vision, of Indefatigable industry and possessed a unique ability to concentrate his attention on a given focus or a given end. His mind, once settled ou the accomplishment of a definite goal, nothing could divert him from this purpose. Loved by his large family, honored by his neighbors and respected by the people of Clinton county, he died as only the man who has lived to good purpose can die, full of the honors of noble and useful service.

EDGAR CROSLEY.

Edgar Crosley is a prosperous young farmer of Marion township, this county, who was born in the county where he lives in 1884. He is the son of William and Carrie ( Wood) Crosley, the former born in Warren county, Ohto, on November 24, 1841, and the latter in Cincinnati in 1850.

William Crosley was the son of Isaac and Rachel ( Cook) Crosley, the former a native of Michigan, and the latter born near Lebanon, In Warren county, Ohio, of pioneer parentage. The paternal grandparents of William Crosley died in Michigan. Mr. Cros- ley's father located in Warren county in the time of his young manhood, and, after his marriage there to Rachel Cook, became a well-known and well-to-do farmer. He and his wife were the parents of four children, Samuel (deceased ), Andrew ( deceased ), William and Huston .. The latter served as a Union soldier during the Civil War. Mrs. Isaac Crosley died at Hopkinsville, in Warren county. After her death, Isanc Crosley was married a second time and had five children, four of whom are living: Emma ; Thomas, who is on the police force at Columbus, Ohio; John and Bell, the latter of whom lives in Cleveland. Isnac Crosley died in Columbus, Ohio,

William Crosley was reared on the farm and was educated in the public schools at Pleasant Plain, in Warren county. He is a farmer by occupation, who came to Clinton county in 1864, and owns a farm of fifty and one-half acres in Warren township. For many years he has been engaged in threshing. He is more or less Independent in politics. but generally votes the Republican ticket. Mrs. William Crosley is the daughter of Charles and Sarah ( Wallen) Wood, of Hamilton county, Ohio, who came to America from England. They were early settlers in Cleinnatt, where both died, the father at the age of eighty-four years. To William Crosley and wife nine children have been born, Perry. Lenna, Charles, Dolly (deceased), Martha, Mary. Ella (dereased ). Edgar and Roy.

Edgar Crosley, the eighth born in the family of his parents, who lives on the home farm of his father. was born in Clinton county in 1884, and was educated in the publlc schools, for some time attending a school taught by Jerry Fisher, a former auditor of Clinton county. Mr. Crosley is a farmer and thresher.

On February 25, 1909, Edgar Crosley was married to Estella Fox. of Clinton county, but a native of Highland county, Ohio, who was born on August 5. 1584, and the daughter of Ashley Fox. now deceased. To this union two children have been born, Richard Iloward, who was born on February 17. 1910, and William Robert, January 21, 1912.

Edgar Crosley votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Blanchester, and he and his wife are members of the United Brethren church.

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CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

LEWIS M. RILEY.

The tried and true pioneers of Ohio are often considered the greatest assets in the building up of the state's position in the nation. As a purely native product of Oblo soil, few are found whose ancestry is more wrapped up in the earlier history of Ohio than that of our subject, Lewis M. Riley, for as far back as Mr. Riley can trace bis ancestors, both paternal and maternal, they were native Ohloans.

Lewis M. Riley was born in Warren county on December 28, 1849, the son of James and Catherine S. (Kephart) Riley, both natives of that county. James Riley was a son of Richard Riley, a pioneer of Warren county, who died there. Catherine S. (Kephart) Riley was born in 1823 and died in 1912. She was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Skinner) Kephart, also natives of Warren county, who lived and died there. James Riley was a cooper by trade and followed that vocation the larger part of his life. He was a Whig in politics, and to him and Catherine S. (Kephart) Riley were born the following children : Cornelius B .; Henry C., who was killed in the second battle of Bull Run in 1862, and Lewis M., the subject of this sketch. After the death of James Riley, his widow married Edward Crosson, and to this second union was born one child, a daughter, Addle.

Lewis M. Riley was educated in the public schools of Warren county, and came with his mother and step-father to Clinton county in 1862. For a time he engaged in farming then entered on a position as clerk in a dry-goods store in Blauchester, which position he held for fourteen years, or until he was appointed postmaster of Blanchester by President Mckinley, and was reappointed by President Roosevelt, holding the position for eleven years. After he left the postoffice he engaged in the grocery business for three years.

Lewis M. Riley is a Republican, a member of the school board. and an active member of the Masonic order, being a Royal Arch Mason. He was married In 1876 to Carrie M. Aupperle, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and to this union have been born two children, Henry and Julia.

Few men in Clinton county are better known or more highly respected than Lewis M. Riley, a man who has made his way to a position of trust and honor in his neighbor- hoed. Courteous and affable, he always has a smile for everyone, and is held in high regard by his many friends in the Blanchester neighborhood.

ORA M. BRINDI.E.

Ora M. Brindle, who is engaged In the operation of the elevator at Reesville, this county, in partnership with W. A. Ewing, was formerly connected with the elevator at Melvin, this county. He is a well-known citizen of Richland township, and a man who thoroughly understands the business with which he is connected.

Ora M. Brindle was born on January 23, 1866, in Clinton county, the son of J. W. and Sarah (Forman) Brindle, the latter of whom was a daughter of Abraham Forman, a farmer of Clinton county, who owned one hundred and fifty acres of land in Washing- ton township. Sarah ( Forman) Brindle was the second wife of J. W. Brindle.

The paternal grandparents of Ora M. Brindle were Jacob and Elizabeth (Stone) Brindle, natives of Pennsylvania, and Highland county, Ohio, respectively. Jacob Brindle came to Ohio before his marriage and was a tinner by trade, living in Wilmington. Jacob and Elizabeth (Stone) Brindle were the parents of three children, J. W., Phillp and Mary, the last two named now being deceased. Jacob Brindle was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and active in church work.

J. W. Brindle was educated in the Delaware Normal School, and was twice married. By his first marriage there were no children, and to his second marriage there were born four children, T. E., Ora M .. W. K. and F. L. Of these children. T. E. married Olive Mann, and is a resident of Wilmington. W. K. and F. L., twin brothers, married

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of Mary E., the eldest sister of W. W. Burk. Claud Eichelberger was born in 1880 and that same year his father died and he lived with his mother until her death, in 1806, since which time he has made his home with Mr. Burk. After graduating from the high school at Blanchester, Claud Eichelberger took a course and was graduated from the Clark School of Embalming at Cincinnati, and then, when he was twenty-one years old, entered into partnership with W. W. Burk.

William Walter Burk is an active worker in the Democratic party. He was elected to the office of mayor of Blanchester on that ticket and served with honor and distinction for a term of six years He has been president of the school board of Blanchester since 1906. Hle is a faithful and active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the encampment of that order. Claud Elchelberger is a Mason and a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.

In 1881 William Walter Burk was united In marriage to Addie B. English, of Dear- born county, Indiana. There were no children born to this union, but Mr. and Mrs. Burk have proven father and mother to their grand-nephew since, at the age of eight, he came to live with them. Mr. and Mrs. Burk are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Blanchester, and are active in all good works thereabout.

In outlining the life of William Walter Burk, the biographer is led back in thought to that early time when Grandfather Burk left his native land of Scotland and braved the sea to seek a new home in a new, almost unexplored country; flighting the fight of the average early pioneer, to leave a heritage in such progeny as the subject of this sketch, who has proved useful and helpful in all forward movements in this county.

HAROLD E. KATZENMEYER.

Harold E. Katzenmeyer, one of the best known and most progressive business men of Blanchester, this county, is the son of Jacob and Rebecca (Foltz) Katzenmeyer, the former of whom was born in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1847, the son of Peter and Barbara ( Bickelhupt) Katzenmeyer. Peter Katzenmeyer, with two brothers, Michael and Adam, came to America In 1848, Michael settling in Toledo. Adam in Upper Sandusky, while Peter located In Wyandot county, Ohio, where he spent the rest of his days, his death occurring in 1907, at the age of about eighty-nine years, while on a visit to the home of his daughter, who resided in Toledo. His wife, Barbara, was born in Germany and died in Wyandot county.

Rebecca ( Foltz) Katzenmeyer was the daughter of Philip and Margaret ( Hiestand) Foltz, both natives of Germany, who settled in Virginia upon coming to this country, but later enme to Ohio, and settled near Basel, where Rebecca Foltz was born. Later they went to Hancock county, where they entered a homestead and there they spent the rest of their lives. Philip Foltz died In 1891, and his wife died several years earlier. He was a very prominent citizen in his locality.

Jacob Katzenmeyer. in his younger days, was in the leather business and Inter became superintendent of a stave company in Wyandot county until the time of his marriage. after which he went to North Baltimore, Wood county, where he established grocery business, which he conducted until 1891, in which year he went into the drug business and was thus engaged for a number of years. He is now Hving retired at Tremont, Ohio. His wife died in 1909, at the age of sixty-three years. They were the mirents of the following children: Harold E., the subject of this sketch ; Lillian G .. George W., Estelle M. and Earl, all of whom are living.

Harold E. Katzenmeyer was reared in North Baltimore. Ohio, and was educated in the public schools of that city, being graduated from the high school of that place in 1890. He later attended the pharmacy school of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in 1895. He then took a position with his father in the latter's store until the store was sold, In 1900. In 1901 he went to Blanchester and took a position in

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the drug store of W. F. Warning, of that place, acting as a clerk in that store until 1910, when he bought the store from Mr. Warning, since which time he has operated the business himself, with much success. In 1908 he was elected a member of the board of public affairs of Blanchester, and has been clerk of that board ever since.

On February 25, 1898, Harold E. Katzenmeyer was united in marriage to Harriet M. Shaffer, of North Baltimore, Oblo, daughter of Norman and Jane M. Shaffer, who now reside In Oklahoma, where Mr. Shaffer bas the management of a considerable oil field. To this union has been born one child, Mabel R., who was born on May 2, 1899.

Harold E. Katzenmeyer Is a citizen of sterling worth and character, who is active in every movement for the betterment of his community. He is a stanch Democrat, but has never been a seeker after office. He is a faithful and devoted lodge man, a member of the Masonic order, and past master of his local lodge. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He occupies a prominent position in the business life, not only of Blanchester, but of the county generally, and is held in high regard in commercial circles hereabout, being regarded generally as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen.

WOODSON OGLESBEE.

The venerable Woodson Oglesbee, of Liberty township, who has spent all of his life in Clinton county and who is now afflicted with the infirmities of age, was born in Liberty township, Clinton county, June 21, 1839, the son of Eli Ogleshee and his second wife, who, before her marriage, was Lucinda Fawcett. The former was born in Virginia on October 5, 1896, and died on February 28, 1870, and the latter born in Belmont county, Ohio, on June 4, 1810, and died on September 14, 1877. The paternal grandfather of Woodson Oglesbee was Isninh Ogleshee, who was born In Frederick county, Virginia, and whose wife was Phoebe Oglexbee. They settled in Clinton county, about one and one-half milles east of Lumberton, where they died, Isaac Oglesbee about the year 1840 and his wife about three years later. Both were members of the Friends church. They had nine children. Elias, Jacob, Jonathan, Isaiah, David, Ell, Phoebe, Ellis, and one whose name is lost to the present chronicler. The Oglesbee family is of Scottish extraction, but it is uncertain at what time the family was established in America.

Eli Oglesbee, the father of Woodson Oglesbee, was born in Virginia on October 5, 1806, and came to Ohlo wben about eleven years old with his father. He grew to man- hood in Liberty townsbip and acquired a limited education. He married Rebecca Mann, a native of Ohio, born in 1807, and who died in 1831. To this marriage there was born one child, Lydia, who married William Cornell, of Spring Valley, Ohio. Eli Oglesbee married, secondly, Lucinda Fawcett, a native of Belmont county, Ohio, to which union three children were born, Hiram, Rebecca (deceased) and Woodson. Hiram Oglesbee was born on August 4, 1834, and grew to manhood on a farm. On August 2, 1858, he married Susan Buser, who was born in 1835, a native of Greene county, Ohio, to which union were born six children, Louie B., Charles H., John W., Horace C., Edward F. and Amos I .. Hiram Oglesbee was a farmer early in life, but subsequently engaged in the bard- ware and implement business at Xenia, Oblo. Still later he was engaged in the furniture business at Xenia. but finally settled on the old home farm, where he still lives. Rebecca. the second child born to Eli and Lucinda ( Fawcett) Oglesbee, married A. J. Van Pelt, a resident of Port William, and is now deceased.

Woodson Oglesbee was educated in the common schools. He grew to maturity in Liberty township and has spent all of his life there. At the age of twenty-two years he was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Haines, who was born In 1841 and who died in May. 1879. To this union four children were born, namely : Charles A., who married Ella Christy and lives at Spring Valley, Ohio; Alden M., who married Alta Beal, and lives at Jackson, Mississippi: Hiram Jacob, who married Pearl Jessup and lives in

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CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.

Liberty township, and Mary E., who married Thurman Early, and died in Liberty town- ship.

After the death of his first wife, Mr. Oglesbee married, secondly, Lucy M. Fawcett, who was born on May 27, 1860, and to this union two children were born, Blanche, who married Clyde Banghan, and has two children, Lucy Pauline and Ruth Agnes, and Walter, all of whom live on the home place.

Woodson Ogleshee owns one hundred and seventy-four acres of land in Liberty township. this county, and in Greene county. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Protestant church at Port William. Ohio. He has spent all of his life in general farming and stock raising and has a wide acquaintance throughout the county, where he is held In the highest esteem by all.

FRANK O. ALLISON.

Frank O. Allison,'who for years has been the popular station agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company at Blanchester, this county, was born in New Vienna, Clinton county, on June 27, 1872, a son of Jesse Hunt and Sarah ( Miller) Allison, the former of whom was born on December 26, 1839, in Rush county, Indiana, and the latter in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1844.

Jesse Hunt Allison is the son of John and Eunice (Hunt) Allison, both natives of Highland county, Ohio, the former born in 1807, and the latter in 1811. John Allison was a son of William aud Nancy Allison, pioneers of Highland county, where they both died. Eunice Hunt was a daughter of Asn and Marlon Hunt, also pioneer settlers of Highland county. John Allison emigrated to Rush county, Indiana, In 1835, and later to the Wabash country, near Lafayette, where he died in 1844. Later his widow and family returned to Rush county, Indiana, and after being there for three years, came to Clinton county, settling near New Vienna. Mrs. John Allison died in Rush county, Indiana. In 1901. She and her husband were the parents of six children, Asa H., Ashala, Isaac R., Jesse H., Thomas G. and William G. Of these six sons all served in the Civil War, except William, and all are now deceased, except Jesse H., the father of Frank O.

Jesse H. Allison was married in 1869 to Sarah Miller, a daughter of Samuel and Charity P. Miller, who emigrated from Columbiana county, Oblo, to Clermont county, and afterwards to Clinton county, and whose remains are buried In the cemetery at New Vienna. To Jesse H. and Sarah (Miller) Allison the following children were born : Frank O., Veda, Henrietta, William Logan, Mary A., Jesse Augusta, who died at the age of nine years, and Harry J. and Fred D., who died early in life, the former having been drowned. Jesse H. Allison was a soldier in the Civil War, having served in the Forty- eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, successively as a private, surgeon and lieuten- ant. He was discharged in 1804, and is now living retired in New Vienna, Ohio. He is a Democrat in politics, and has held various political positions of trust and responsibility, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He and his good wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various beneficences of which they are actively Interested.

Frank O. Allison was reared in New Vienna and was educated In the public schools there, finishing bis educational training in the high school at New Vienna. He was station agent at New Vienna for several years for the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company, but In 1908 was transferred to Blanchester and since then has been station agent at the latter place.

In 1905 Frank O. Allison was married to Clara Driscoll, of New Vienna, a daughter of Charles and Mary Jane (Curren) Driscoll. Charles Driscoll traveled overland to California during the time of the "gold fever" in 1849, and had several narrow escapes from capture or death by the Indians. He died in 1912, at the age of eighty-two years,

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and his widow died in 1914, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. and Mrs. Frank O. Allison are the parents of two children, Gaylin Dean and Thelma Louise.

Although Mr. Allison is actively identified with the Republican party, he has never aspired to office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Wood- men of America and the Sons of Veterans. Mr. and Mrs. Allison are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in all good works in and about Blanchester, where they are held in high esteem by many friends.

GEORGE R. CONARD, M. D.

Dr. George R. Conard, a pioneer physician of New Vienna, this county, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on January 5, 1842, son of Benjamin and Eliza ( Roberts) Conard, the former of whom was born at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 14, 1810, and the latter, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, also in 1810.

Benjamin Conard was a son of Cornelius and Susannah (Chalfont) Conard, both natives of Pennsylvania, the former descended from an immigrant who settled in Pennsylvania, in 1628, after coming to America from Holland. Cornelius Conard was a member of the Society of Friends, and lived at Valley Forge at the time Washington camped there. Eliza Roberts was the daughter of George and Alice (Fell) Roberts, both natives of Chester county, Pennsylvania, the former of Welsh descent. They were farmers by occupation, and, when advanced in years, removed to Wilmington, Delaware, where they died, he at the age of eighty-four years and she at the age of eighty-six.

Benjamin Conard was reared to manhood in his native state. He was a profound student and became a very well-informed man. A farmer by occupation, in 1850, he emigrated to Highland county, Ohio, where he purchased a farm at twenty-four dollars per acre. In 1865 he sold the farm at eighty-five dollars per acre, and moved to Hills- boro, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for several years, conducting a queensware store. He retired from business at the age of eighty years, and died, in November, 1902, at the age of ninety-two years, The late Benjamin Conard was a Repub- lican in politics, and active in temperance work during the latter years of his life. He was a member of the Hicksite branch of the Friends church, and, for a number of years, served as townshlp trustee. He also served as the treasurer of a building and loan association and in other positions of responsibility and trust. Benjamin Conard was married three times. By his marriage to Mary Ann Moore, one child was born, who died in Infancy, the mother dying soon afterwards. By his marriage to Eliza Roberts, eleven children were born: Almira Carey, Cornelius, Alice Roberts, George Roberts, Granville, William, Benjamin R., Rachael, Elwood, Mary Meute and Elizabeth. . Of these children, Granville, Benjamin R., Rachael and Eliza died in infancy. William and Cornelius served as Union soldiers during the Civil War. The former died on Febru- ary 18, 1915. Cornelius served three years during the war and was promoted to first lieutenant in the signal service. He died at Carthage, Missouri, about 1907. Elwood, another son, lives in Philadelphia. After the death of Mrs. Eliza Conard, on April 29, 1.4. at the age of forty-five years, Benjamin Conard married Mrs. Elizabeth ( Hussey) Johnson, by whom he had one child, Emma.

George R. Conard was eight years old when his father's family came to Ohio and he grew to manhood on the farm. I'pon completing the course in the public schools he attended the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio, after a course at which he entered Miami University, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science, with the class of 1863, among the members of this class there having been such well-known men as Calvin Brice. Charles Fisk and Dr. James Whitaker. On September 9, 1861, he had eniisted in Company A, Forty-eighth Regiment, Ohto Volunteer Infantry. He was wounded on April 6. 1862, at Shiloh, and on July 11, 1862, was discharged on account

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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 117

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