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 124
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John Mathew was born on October 16, 1866, at Centerville, in Clinton county, Ohio, the son of James and Abbie (Drake) Mathew, the former of whom, born on December 3, 1832, in Clinton county, Ohio, died In 1800, and the latter of whom, born on Staten Island, New York, was the daughter of Daniel and Ann ( Meusreau) Drake. James Mathew was the son of Jonab and Sarah ( Stokesberry) Mathew, the former born in Clinton county and the latter in Virginia. The Mathew family originally came from Virginia. Jonah Mathew subsequently became a farmer in Illinois, where he owned a hundred and sixty acres of land. He had elgbt children, James, Ell, Jobn, Minerva, Elizabeth, Eliza J., Rachel and Emily.
The late James Mathew received a good education and was graduated from the Hillsboro high school. When a young man be taught school in Clinton county for a few years, but Inter engaged In the mercantile business, first at Texas, Ohio, from which place, after being there for four or five years, he removed to Centerville, Ohio, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for twenty-two years About 1885 he retired from business, being at that time a resident of Octa, in Fayette county. He owned a small farm near Centerville.
To James and Abble (Drake) Mathew seven children were born, namely : Alphius A., who married Margaret Massie: Emma, who married Robert Maddux; Mary E., who married David Eliott; Anna, who married Charles Barnes; John, the subject of this sketch ; Kittie, who married Claton Thompson, and Rachel, who married Charles Stewart. Mrs. James Mathew was prominent in the affairs of the Methodist Protestant church. Politically, James Mathew was a Republican.
John Mathew was educated in the public schools of Wayne township, this county, and as a young man clerked in his father's store. In 1886 be removed to Octa, in Fay- ette county, and engaged in the mercantile business there on his own responsibility. Three years later he moved to Sabina, where he conducted a shoe store for a short time. In 1890 he removed to Ohio City, in Vanwert county, and while living there was occupied as a traveling salesman, spending most of the time out of town. Afterwards he engaged In the shoe and clothing business, in which he remained for about four years. About 1805 he engaged in the real-estate business and five years later returned to Sabina. where he engaged with Charles W. Custis in buying and selling stocks of merchandise, being thus engaged for four or five years. About 1905 he resumed the real-estate business and Is now thus engaged at Sabina. Mr. Mathew owns a farm of one hundred and elgbteen acres in Wayne township and another of one hundred and eleven acres in Wash- Ington township, both of which are rented.
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John Mathew has been twice married, the first time to Ada J. Sparks, the daughter of Silas and Christine Sparks, of Pierson Station, Fayette county. By this first marriage there were three children, two of whom, Verna C., the eldest, and Myrel, the youngest, died early in life, Mildred B. still living. By the second wife, who, before her marriage, was Edith Plymire, daughter of George and Elizabeth Plymire, there has been born one child, Helen E.
Mr. and Mrs. Mathew are members of the Methodist Protestant church and he is actively Identified with the Republican party. He takes a prominent part in the affairs of Sabina and vicinity and enjoys the confidence of all the people. Needless to say he has a host of friends, among whom he is held in the highest esteem.
CHARLES H. CAMMACK.
Charles H. Cammack, now a well-known and popular farmer of Liberty township. this county, was born in Orange county, Virginia, on November 8, 1872, the son of George Walter and Mary ( Pidgeon) Cammack, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively, the former having been born about 1835. Mary Pidgeon was a daughter of Charles and Catherine (Horney) Pidgeon, natives of North Carolina, and farmers by occupation, who came to Clinton county about the time of the Civil War, in order that Mr. Pidgeon might avoid service as a soldier in the Confederate army. He was a member of the Friends church and was very active in church work. He was the owner of a hundred-acre farm in this county, which he purchased and paid for after he was sixty years old. George W. Cammack was the son of William and Catherine ( Mason) Cammack, Carolinans, who moved to Virginia, where they were the owners of one hundred acres of land and prominent members of the Baptist church in their locality.
The late George Walter Cammack received his education in the common schools of Virginia, and lived in the Old Dominion state all his life, passing away In 1878. After his death his widow brought the family to Clinton county, locating near Wilmington, on a farm. After her family was reared to maturity, Mrs. Cammack returned to Orange county, Virginia, where she is now Hving.
George Walter and Mary (Pidgeon) Cammack were the parents of six children, of whom Charles H. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being William, Flora, Nellie, Cornelia and J. W. Of these children, Flora and Nellie are deceased; William is I resident of Orange county, Virginia, and J. W. Cammack, who is a Baptist minister, of Richmond, Virginia, is also associate editor of the Religious Herald.
Charles H. Cammack was only seven years old when his mother moved from Vir- ginia to Clinton county, Ohio. He was educated in the country schools and reared on the farm, and in 1905 was married to Anna Oglesbee, who was born in this county, the daughter of Franklin and Ruth (Hadley) Oglesbee, prominent farmers of their com- munity and members of the Friends church. Franklin Ogleshee died on April 16, 1914. One year after his marriage, Mr. Cammack moved to the farm where he now lives in Liberty township. Mr. and Mrs. Cammack have no children. They are active members of the Friends church at Wilmington and fraternally, Mr. Cammack belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife own the farm of one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land, where they live and where Mr. Cammack carries on a general system of farming and stock raising, with very gratifying success.
The Oglesbee family, of which Mrs. Cammack Is a member, Is one of the oldest and for many years, one of the most Influential in Clinton county. The Oglesbees had their beginning in this county in 1817. in which year Isaiah Ogleshee, a native of Virginia. of Scottish extraction, emigrated with his family to this section of the state, locating one and one-half miles east of Lumberton, where both he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, proving very influential factors in the early development of that section of
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the county. Isalah Oglesbee died about the yenr 1840, his widow surviving him about three years. Both were devoted members of the Friends church, Their son, John Oglesbee, married Sarah Stump in Virginia on September 4, 1809, to which union three children had been born before the famlly emigrated to this county, the eldest of whom was Amos, born in 1810, father of the late Franklin Ogleshee, father of Mrs. Cammack. John Oglesbee, upon locating in Clinton county, bought two hundred acres of land in the then wilderness and this he converted into a well-cultivated place, becoming one of the leading landowners as well as one of the most worthy citizens of the county. He died ou July 12, 1840, and his widow survived him many years, ber death not occurring until on February 5. 1573. They were the parents of eight children and, as members of the Baptist church, reared their children in the same faith.
Amos Oglesbee, as the eldest son in this pioneer family, shared with his father the herculean task of clearing the wilderness in which their home was made and remained at home until 1835, when he married Anna Huffman, sister of Solomon Huffman, an early settler of Chester township. this county. She was born in 1814 and came to this county with her parents when a small girl. Soon after their marriage Amos Oglesbee and his wife settled on the farm later owned by their son, Franklin, where they spent the remainder of their lives. They were members of the Reformed church and were useful in all good works in the neighborhood of their home. Amos Oglesbee died on December 31. 1851, his widow surviving until June 25, 1875. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the late Franklin Oglesbee was the eldest, five of whom are still living.
Franklin Oglesbee was born on the farm mentioned above on September 4, 1836, and as his father's eldest child became his most valued assistant. He remained with his widowed mother until 1863, when he enlisted in Company H. Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, serving until the close of the Civil War. Though he received no wounds in battle, exposure so badly impaired bis health that he never afterward was in perfect physical condition. Upon returning from the war, Franklin Oglesbee resumed farming, which received his attention until December. 1903, at which time, on account of growing physical disability, he disposed of the old homestead, invested otherwise, and with his family moved to Wilmington, where he spent the rest of his days, his death occurring on April 16, 1914.
On January 2, 1873. Franklin Oglesbee was united in marriage to Ruth Hadley, who was born in this county in 1854. the daughter of Eli L. and Theodosia Hadley, prominent pioneers of this county, and to this union but one child was born, a daughter, Anna T., born on December 1, 1873, who married Mr. Cammack. Franklin Oglesbee was an excellent citizen and was held in the highest regard by many friends, who sincerely mourned his death. He was converted and joined the church when a young man, his life ever being an exemplary one. He was a great reader and was well informed on many 'topics, but his favorite book was the Holy Bible, which he had read. from cover to cover, fifty-five times.
MICHAEL CLEMENT.
The I'nion soldier, during the great war between the states, builded more wisely than he knew. He offered his life freely as a sacrifice, not only for the union of the states, but for the freedom of the individual, and thousands were killed in this gigantic struggle. Many of the young men who enlisted for service in this grent war suffered the horrors of prison pens, wounds from which they never recovered and the ravages of disease, whose traces remained in broken constitutions and impaired health. Michael Clement, whose father was a native of Belgium, was a soldier in that grent war.
Michael Clement was born on March 1, 1843, in Wayne township. Clinton county,
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Oblo, and after completing his education in the schools of Wayne township. enlisted. just after reaching his majority, March 22, 1864, in the Thirteenth Oblo Cavalry. Assigned to Company H, he participated in the battles around Petersburg and the blowing up of the fort, the Weldon railrond fight, the battle of Ream Station, Poplar Grove church, Pegram Farm, Hatcher's Run, Stony Creek, Dinwiddie Court House and Appomattox. His regiment was the last engaged with the army of General Lee before the latter's surrender at Appomattox, and he was at Petersburg when Sherman's army reached that polut. He received his honorable discharge on August 9, 1805.
Mr. Clement's parents were Hubert and Victoria ( Bigonville) Clement, both natives of Belgium. Hubert Clement came to America before his marriage and lived for a time in Kentucky, where he worked as a rond builder. After six years, he returned to bis native land, married and brought his bride back with him to Kentucky. After living in Kentucky a few years, he came to Clinton county, locating in Wayne township on a farm about one-half mile east of the farm now owned by his son, Louis, and at the time of his death owned one hundred and seventy-eight acres of land. He and his wife reared a family of eight children, Paul, Michael, Mary Catherine, Mary Jane. Victoria, Hubert, Jr., Louis and Rosa. The father was a Democrat and both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church.
After the close of the Civil War, Michael Clement returned to Wayne township and began farming and there he has lived most all his life. In 1885 he purchased the farm of one hundred acres, where he now lives, at seventy-five dollars an acre. Some years ago be remodeled his house and barn. Most of the improvements have been placed upon the farm by his hand. In 1800, however, Mr. Clement retired from active farming and moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he lived until 1896. He then moved back to the farm and resumed its management until 1905, when his son, Frank, took charge of the land.
Mr. Clement's wife, who, before her marriage, was Mary V. Dabe, died In March, 1903. She was the daughter of Francis and Julia ( Luiso) Dabe. She bore Mr. Clement four children : James H., who died at the age of one year: Alvin, whose biographical sketeb is presented elsewhere in this volume: Frank, who married May Luiso and has four children, Dona and Donald (twins), Dell and Elnora, and Josephine. who died small. Donald, the son of Frank, is deceased.
The Clements family are members of the Catholic church at Wilmington and Mr. Clement votes the Democratic ticket. He is a citizen of whom Wayne township has every reason to be justly proud, because he has done his full duty to his country, his neighbors, his family and himself.
DANIEL W. HALIL
Among the good farmers of Wilson township is Danlel W. Hall, who was born in Clinton county on January 20. 1855. Mr. Hall's parents were Harrison and Harriett (Custis) Hall, the latter of whom was the second wife of Harrison Hall, and who was born in Clinton county, the daughter of William Custis, a brother of Levi Custis, whose biographical sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume, gives the Custis family history.
Harrison Hall was the son of Richard and Rebecca ( Whitsite) Hall, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky and the latter of whom lived to be ninety years old. After the death of Richard Hall, who was a farmer in Kentucky. Mrs. Rebecca Hall enme with her children to this county. Richard Hall had been a private in the War of 1812 and his widow drew a pension for his services in that war. They were the parents of nine children. Henry, Richard, Harvey. Harrison, Hiram, Daniel, Huldab, Rebecca and Elizabeth. all of whom are decensed.
The late Harrison Hall was educated in the common schools of Kentucky, and. after
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removing to Clinton county and attaining maturity, became the owner of one hundred and forty-two acres of land in Richland township. He was an elder in the Christian church and prominent in the activities of that church throughout bis life. He also took a prominent part in local affairs. He first married a Miss Leuch, but she bore him no children. Afterward be married Harriett Custis, by whom he had seven children, Daniel W., the subject of this sketch, Harriett E. (deceased), Wilbur E., Mariab May, Carrie (decensed ), Leota and Harrison. Both the father and mother of these children are deceased.
Daniel W. Hall, who was eduented in the common schools of Clinton county, has been a lifelong farmer. He owns ninety-two acres of land in Wilson township, which he purchased in 1808. In 1898 he remodeled bis house, and the next year remodeled his barn. The farm is well kept and highly productive.
On January 20, 1877. Daniel W. Hall was married to Sophia Evans, who was born in this county, daughter of Stephen and Mary ( Wilson) Evans, to which union five children have been born. Harrison E .. Stephen M., Perril W., Stella and Fay Mettil. Harrison E. Hall, who married Cora E. Wade, died, leaving no children. Stephen M. Hall has been married twice, the first time to Audra Lawrence, by whom he had one child, Dorothy May. He married, secondly. Nancy Hoppes. Perril W. Hall was drowned in the river at Columbus, Ohlo, at the age of twenty years. The last two children, Stella and Fay Mettie, are unmarried and live at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Christian church at Sabina, regular attendants at Sunday school and are prominent In the social and religious life of Wilson township.
THEODORE GIFFIN.
Theodore Giffin, of Wayne township. this county, is not only a keenly intelligent farmer who has been very successful in his chosen vocation, but who occupies a dis- tinctive position as one of the leaders in promoting the advancement of education in Clinton county, especially in Wayne township. The schools of Wayne township are now completely centralized and altogether rank as high as those of any township in the state of Ohio. For the past nine years. Theodore Giffin has been a member of the Wayne township school board, but, more than this, be has been one of the leaders of the board of education and to him as much as to any other man, the people of Wayne township are indebted for the present high standard of education prevailing in that township.
Theodore Giffin was born in Illinois on January 7, 1858, the son of Stewart and Sarah ( Reeves) Giffin, the former of whom was born on January 1. 1826, in Virginia, and the latter. at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1836, the daughter of Jonathan Reeves.
Stewart Giffin, who was educated in the Virginia schools, was about ten years old when his parents started from Virginia to Ross county, Ohio. They rode horseback and the children walked. Having swum the Ohlo river on horses and reached Ross county, the family settled on a farm. A little later Stewart Gitfin's father suffered an Injury to his shoulder and for six months that member was out of place. He traveled to Cincin- pati hy stage, had the shoulder set and was there put into a hot bath to relax the muscles. The shock of the operation killed him. His remains were laid to rest In the cemetery at Cincinnati. The large family was left in humble circumstances.
After the death of his father. Stewart Giffin went to Illinois, where he homestended one hundred and sixty acres of land. He remained there one year and then returned to Ross county. After a year of sickness, he began working on a farm of five hundred acres as a laborer and later purchased this same farm for thirty thousand dollars and there he spent the remainder of his life. Stewart Giffin made many trips from Bainbridge, Ohio. to Baltimore, Maryland, swimming the Ohio river with cattle and hogs.
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Five children were born to Stewart and Sarah Gitlin, of whom Albert, the eldest, who never married, is deceased, the others being Theodore, the subject of this sketch; John, who married Carrie Shepherd; Anna, who is the wife of William Ingersoll, and Rosa, who married liuvello Hughey. The family were members of the Methodist church and active workers therein. Stewart Giffin voted the Democratic ticket.
Theodore Giffin was educated In the common schools of Bainbridge, Ohio, and began his life on a farm in Ross county. After his marriage, he moved to Wellston, Ohio, where he became a contract plasterer and where he worked a force of fourteen men for ten years. Later he moved to a farm near Bainbridge, upon which he lived for one year. In 1896 he moved to the farm in Wayne townshlp, this county, where be now lives. He now owns five hundred acres of land in Ross county and a farm in Louisiana. Ha rents about seven hundred acres of land in Wayne township and is considered one of the most progressive farmers of Clinton county. He is a large stockman and an extensive cattle feeder and knows how to make these operations pay. For some time he has been enthusiastic in the work of reclaiming land along the gulf coast in Louisiana.
Theodore Giffin married Laura Walley, the daughter of David and Melissa Walley, of Ross county. Ohlo, and to this union eight children have been born, namely : Ethel, who married Bernard English, and has one child, Lenore; Clark, who was killed on March 14, 1907. on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton rallroad, where he was working as an engineer; Myrl, who is the wife of Charles Hauck, and has two children, Helen and Dorothy J .; Floyd, who married Marie Vioska, and has two children, Clark and Floyd, Jr .: Sarah, who married Fred Smith: Theodore, Jr., who married Imo Leverton, and bas one child, Vivian : David and Helen, who live at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Giffin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Giffin votes the Democratic ticket.
HENRY A. WOODS.
Henry A. Woods is a good substantial citizen of Wayne township, this county, a good farmer and an interesting man to know. Although he is firm in bis convictions, yet he is not narrow in his attitude towards the opinions of others and has had no small part in the agricultural development of Wayne township, where he has lived for nearly forty-five years.
Henry A. Woods was born on February 14, 1858, in Washington township. Highland county, Ohio, the son of Joseph and Rachel (Stout) Woods, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of John Stout. Joseph Woods. the grandfather, and his wife, Jane, were married In Ireland and came to America about 1833, locating in Highland county, near Sugar Tree Ridge, in Concord township. The senior Joseph Woods was a school teacher in his native land and after coming to America became a successful farmer, owning a considerable tract of land in Highland county. He and his wife were the parents of four children. Alexander, John, William and Joseph.
Joseph Woods, Jr., was educated in the common schools of Highland county, Ohio. and farmd practically all his life in that county. He owned one hundred and fifty- eight acres of land and he and his wife, who, before her marriage, was Rachel Stout. were the parents of eight children. William. Henry A., Benjamin, James, Frank, Charles. Luventa and Joseph, Jr. The Woods family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Woods was a Republican In politics.
Henry A. Woods, the second child in his father's family. received his education in the common schools of Washington township. Highland county, and when a young man began farming in Wayne township. He removed to Clinton county in 1875, and after coming here worked ten years as a farm hand in Wayne and Green townships. He then
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purchased ninety-two acres of land. to which farm he moved in March, 1887, and has lived there ever since. Mr. Woods is engaged in general farming and stock raising and all of the improvements on the farm he owns he has made and paid for himself.
In 1886, about the time he purchased the Clinton county farm, Harry A. Woods was married to Sarah Lieurance, the daughter of William and Mary ( Hall) Lieurance, who were the parents of four children : Avery P., Hiram, David and Sarah. William Lieu- rance was a well-known farmer in Green township, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods three children have been boru, Etta May, who married Oliver Dabe; Eva and Bertha-a splendid famlly, who were reared to honorable and useful lives and who are well performing their duties as citizens of a great county and state. Mr. Woods is identified with the Republican party, but he has never been an aspirant for office and has never been especially active in politienl affairs. He is well known in Wayne township and is popular with all his neighbors, all of whom hold him and his family in the highest regard.
JOHN SYMONS.
In the memorial annals of Clinton county there is one name that will long be held in remembrance in that section of the county in which the possessor of the name lived for years and in which he did well his part in life. The late John Symons, for many years one of the best-known residents of Jefferson township, this county, was a veteran of the Civil War and had an honorable record as a soldier in the Union army during that memorable struggle between the states. Though a native of another country, there was no more patriotic American than John Symons. U'pon the close of the war, John Symons returned to the peaceful pursuit of farming and became one of the most pro- gressive and prosperous farmers in Clinton county. As an agriculturist he gave more than ordinary attention to the details of his vocation and it Is undoubted that his careful and studious methods did very much toward elevating the standards of agriculture in the community in which he lived. Both as a soldier and as a citizen, John Symons bad performed faithfully and well all the duties which devolved upon him and at his passing, In 1896, there was wide mourning throughout the Jefferson township section, as well as throughout the county generally, for he was a man whom all his neighbors and all who knew him held in the profoundest respect.
John Symons was born in Devonshire, England, on December 25, 1844, son of William and Mary (Cleve) Symons, both natives of the same shire. He came to this country in his youth and on May 2, 1864, before he was twenty years of age. enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regiment, Ohlo Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War, and was mustered out on September 7, 1864. Politically, Mr. Symons was affiliated with the Republican party and for years was an active coun- sellor in the affairs of that party in this county. He was greatly interested In the cause of education and was active in advancing in every way possible the Interests of the schools in his home neighborhood, he having served for some time very acceptably as a school director for his district. As a farmer, there were few men in Clinton county who were better trained in the science of agriculture than he, and he was generally regarded by his neighbors as being quite far in advance of his day in the practice of scientific farming. Enterprising and energetic, he had brought his fine farm in Jefferson town- ship to an excellent state of cultivation. This farm, which was highly developed and improved, was located on the pike midway between the villages of Westboro and Midland and was widely known for the fine crops raised there. Mr. Symons was the first man in that neighborhood to raise potatoes on a large scale, and his hogs were regarded as the best in the community.
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