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 129

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 129

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Minor D. Stewart was the son of John and Mart Experience Stewart, the former born in 1793, near Port Elizabeth, New Jersey, and the latter, also born in New Jersey, four years later, in 1797. John Stewart was a farmer in New Jersey who emigrated to Ohlo in 1816, locating near where Lebanon is now situated. About 1820, he came to Clinton county and located in Marion township. In 1836, he moved to Jefferson township. Clinton county, and purchased the farm upon which his grandson. Philip A., now lives. The farm was in a virgin state at the time, and John Stewart cleared and drained the land. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. and lived until June 19, 1880. His wife had died, many years previously. April 16, 1802. They had eleven children, as follow : Mary Aun, who was born on July 29. 1817; William. August 4. 1819; Jonathan, October 20. 1821 : Rebecen. April 27. 1823: Joshua. May 4. 1826; Daniel. May 5. 1828; Abigail. April 4. 1830: John. March 12. 122: Susannah, February 8. 1834; Elizabeth, August 26, 1838 and Minor D., November 11, 1838. The father of these children was a Democrat in politics.

Minor D. Stewart, who was the youngest of these children and the father of Philip A., was eduented in the common schools of Jefferson township. In 1864, when still n young man, he enlisted in Company I. Thirty-eighth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He accompanied General Sherman on his march to the sea and took part in all the engage- ments of that army. He participated in the Grand Review at Washington, and was dis- charged on June 13. 1865. After the war he came back to Clinton county and farmed the rest of his life in Jefferson township, where be owned one hundred and thirty-six acres of land. On May 13. 1873, he was married to Amanda J. Mossman, who was born on February 1. 1856, daughter of George and Perscilla ( Fox) Mossman, of Clinton county. and the eldest of three children born to her parents. the other two being William and Mary. To this union ten'children were born. as follow : Phillip A., born on August 5. 1874; Alva, March 21, 1877: Maggie, who died In Infancy; Cora. August 30. 1850, died early in life: Nettie. December 13, 1882; John, October 16, 1884, who died on February 26. 1915: James, July 16, 1887; Mabel, April 18, 1891 ; Howard, May 22, 1896, and Frank. July 27. 1800, who died on March 12, 1912. Minor D. Stewart, the father of these chil-

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dren, was a Democrat and a member of the Friends church. He died on April 28, 1907, and since his death, his widow has joined the Christian church.

Philip A. Stewart, the eldest child in his father's family, was educated in the schools of Clinton county. and worked on the farm until attaining maturity, when he went to Clucinnati and there learned the carpenter's trade. He worked at the carpenter trade in Hamilton county for ten years, and was married in Hamilton ou April 10, 1909, to Leona P. Bobbitt, who was born on October 19, 1884, daughter of James and Della (Williams) Bobbitt, both natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Ohio, locating in Butler county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, both now being deceased. They were the parents of ten children, William R., Nannie J .. Carrie, Clarence E., Elizabeth, Alvin G., Leona P., Ethelyn, Leroy and Letha. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Stewart owned thirty-seven acres of land near the city, but upon returning to the old home place. purchased the same and now farms ninety acres of land. He and his wife are the parents of three children, namely : Gordon A., born on February 15, 1911; Verlin D., July 24. 1912, and Lois A., May 3, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are members of the Friends church and are held in high regard throughout the neighborhood in which they reside.

CHARLES E. JENKINS.

Charles E. Jenkins is a well-known and highly respected farmer of Sabina, this county, who manages the W. T. Mcclintock farm of six hundred and fifty-three acres and who, during the period of twenty years in which he has been in charge of this farm, has berome a well-to-do citizen.

Charles E. Jenkins was born on June 13, 1840, In Adams county, Ohio, the son of Josiah and Catherine (Middleton) Jenkins, farmers in various Ohio counties and in the state of Iowa. The father was born in Adams county in 1824 and died on September 10, 1914. The mother was born at Bainbridge, in Ross county, Ohio.

The late Josiah Jenkins was educated in the common schools of Adams county and, when a young man, engaged in farming in that county. He farmed there until 1859 and then lived two years in Bentonville. From Bentonville he removed to Fayette county, Ohio, where he lived from 1864 until 1880, in which latter year he moved to Logan county, where he remained about six years, at the end of which time he moved to the state of Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life. He and bis wife were the parents of ten children, whose names. in the order of their birth, are as follow: Lowell G., Charles E., Anna, Josiah, Lydia, Electris E., Martha, William, Jefferson L. and Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Joslah Jenkins were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a Dem- ocrat in politics.

The paternal grandparents of Charles E. Jenkins were Electris V. and Lydia Jenkins, the former of whom was born near Harper's Ferry, Virginia. He came from Virginia to Oblo in 1810, making the journey in an ox cart. His family located near Sinking Spring. In Adams county, where they lived until 1850. when they moved to Bentonville. and there he died. They reared a family of twelve children.

Charles E. Jenkins also was educated in the common schools of Adams county and began farming in that county. Later he farmed in Fayette county for about twenty-five years. In 1804 he enme to Clinton county and located in Richmond township, on the W. T. MeClintock farm of six hundred and fifty-three acres. Although Mr. Jenkins removed to Sabina in 1914. he continues to manage the farm and is engaged somewhat in stock raising in connection with the rising of cereals. He has a beautiful new home in Sabina and has the privilege of enjoying all the comforts of life.

In 1870 Mr. Jenkins was married to Elizabeth Snider, daughter of Alfred L. and Sarah ( Kneddler) Snider, the former a native of Highland county, Ohio, and the latter a native of Fayette county, the daughter of George Kneddler. Alfred L. Snider came from Virginia to Fayette county in 1808. He was the son of William Snider. a native

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of Pennsylvania, a farmer and carpenter by occupation, who migrated to Highland county, this state, in pioneer times. Sometime before the Civil War he emigrated to Jowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. George Kneddler was the son of Peter Kneddler, a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War.

To Charles E. and Elizabeth (Snider) Jenkins eight children have been born, namely : Anna A., who died in her youth; U'na, who also died young; Frederick L., who married Maud Persinger and has three children, Hazel L., Wayne and Elizabeth; Austa, who died at the age of twenty-one; Orval, who married Mary Baker: Crayton Earl, who mar- ried May Green; Dow, who married Florence Howard, and Ruth, who is unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins are members of the Methodist Protestant church. He is Democrat and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. No resident of Sabina is more highly respected by his fellow townsmen than he and he enjoys the cou- fidence and esteem of all.

DANIEL O. KESTER.

Daniel O. Kester, a well-to-do farmer of Clark township, Clinton county, Ohio, was born on October 19, 1870, within one mile of his present home. He is the son of John and Mary M. (Johnson) Kester, the former of whom was born in Clark township, Sep- tember 24. 1939, and the latter of whom was born on January 8. 1847, in Highland county, Ohlo. John Kester was the son of Daniel and Elizabeth Kester and was reared on n farm. He was educated in the Martinsville high school and, having learned the car- penter's trade, worked at it for many years with his father. Afterward, he was engaged in the live stock business and in threshing in Clinton and Highland counties. In December, 1877. he bought a Cooper steam traction engine, the first in ('linton county. His wife was the daughter of C. H. and Sisley Johnson, of Martinsville. They had five children, of whom three, Oriand W., Daniel O. and Stanley, grew to maturity. The parents were members of the Friends church and Mr. Kester was a Republican In politks.

Daniel O. Kester was educated in the public schools of Clinton county and In the Martinsville high school. Subsequently. he was a student for some time in a business college at Delaware, Ohio, but has always followed farming in Clark township, where he owns eighty acres of land.

On August 19. 1897. Daniel O. Kester was married to Mary Fisher, the daughter of Eli and Rebecca Jane ( MeFadden) Fisher, the former of whom was born in Clinton county, Ohlo, June 27, 1842, the son of Cepbas and Jane ( Leech ) Fisher, and the latter born in Clinton county. November 28, 1841. the daughter of John and Elizabeth McFadden. Ell Fisher grew to manhood on a farm in Green township and. when twenty years of age. enlisted on August 15. 1862. In Company G. Seventy-ninth Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, serving until his honorable discharge, June 17. 1865. He was married to Rebecen Jane McFadden on February 1, 1866. They had two children, Charles, born on December 29. 1866, and Mary. December 25, 1871. Eli Fisher was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the encampment.

Of the remote ancestry of Mrs. Kester, her great-grandparents were James and Jane Fisher. natives of Pennsylvania, who Immigrated to Tennessee soon after 1800 and about 1804 moved to Highland county, Ohlo, settling near Monroe, where he and his wife lived until their death. Cephas Fisher was a young man when his father's family moved to Tennessee. He was twice married. the first time to Rachel Stanfield, who died on May 5. 1844. leaving eight children, among whom were Rebecca, who married Isaac Atkinson, of Story county, Iowa ; Cephas, Jr., of Henry county, Iowa ; and Jobn. Mr. Fisher Inter married Mrs. Jane Atkinson, whose maiden name was Leech, and to them were born one child, Eli, the father of Mrs. Kester. Cephas Fisher, Sr., died on December 30. 1862.

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at the age of eighty-four. Mrs. Cephas Fisher was a member of the Friends church and the Fishers helped to establish a church at Fairview.

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Kester were John and Elizabeth (Newcomb) McFadden, the former of whom was born in Mason county, Kentucky, September 23. 1808, the son of John and Sophia ( Kelly) McFadden, natives of Ireland, who came to America about 1500 and settled at Marietta, Oblo. They later moved to Mason county, Kentucky. On a trip down the Mississippi river, John McFadden, Sr., was taken with yellow fever and died at Natchez, Mississippi. About 1811 the widow and her family moved to Brown county, Oblo, and in 1821 to Clinton county, locating near Centerville. She died in 1830. John McFadden, Jr., was married on May 1, 1834, to Elizabeth New- comb, a native of Pennsylvania, born on October 26, 1810, the daughter of William and Anna Newcomb, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter a native of New Jersey. Ten children were born to this union, among whom were Jehu, Mary Ann, Harrison W., Rebecca J., William N., John C., Sophia, Thomas X. and Hannab E. Charles, another son, died of wounds received in the battle of Lookout Mountain, Decem- ber 27. 1863. He was a member of Company B, Fortieth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. John McFadden, Jr., served as school director in Green township for thirty- one years and as township trustee for fourteen years. He was a worthy member of the Christian church and active for more than forty years.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel O. Kester, namely : Warren, born on December 1, 1898: Donald. July 14, 1903; and Edith, March 9, 1905, all of whom are living at home.

Mr. Kester is a Republican. The Kester family are all members of the Friends church and active in its work.

LEMUEL A. JOHNSON.

Lemnel A. Johnson, a farmer of Clark township, was born January 31, 1866, the son of Jeptha Jefferson and Rebecca Jane (Drais) Johnson, the former of whom was a native of Clinton county, Ohio, and the latter of whom was a native of Highland county. Ohio.

Jeptha Johnson, who was a son of Anderson and Judith Ann (Vance) Johnson, was educated in the pioneer schools of Clinton county. He was a soldier in the Civil War, and at the close of the war returned to Clark township. Clinton county and now lives retired In Lynchburg. To Jeptha J. and Rebecen J. (Drais) Johnson were born four children, Lemuel. Florence, Angie Elzina and Jesse J.

The paternal grandparents were Anderson and Judith Ann (Vance) Johnson, the former of whom was born in September, 1816, and the latter of whom was born in 1928. in Lynchburg, Virginia, Judith Ann Vance enme to Clinton county, Ohio, with her par- ents, Jacob and Lucy Vance, at the age of six years, Jacob Vance was a native of Wurttemberg. Germany. He was a blacksmith by trade, and worked at his trade in Clinton county after emigrating to this state. Anderson Jobnson was a son of Ashley and Sarah ( Walker) Johnson, the Intter of whom lived to be one hundred and seven years old. Both were early settlers in Clark township and prosperous farmers of Clin- ton county. Anderson Johnson became a great apiarist in bis section of the country. where he owned one hundred and twenty acres of land.

Mr. Johnson's maternal grandparents were J. B. Drais and wife, natives of Bain- bridge. Ohio. J. B. Drais was a blacksmith by trade and a carpenter. He was also a veterinary surgeon in the early days He was a man of most generous impulses, and although he was sole heir to his father's estate of two hundred and forty acres, divided, it among his brothers and sisters. He died on the old farm in Highland county at the age of seventy-five years.

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Lemuel A. Johnson received his education In the public schools of Clinton county, and has always engaged in farming. In 1910 he purchased the old home farm and has added to it until he now owns eighty-five acres.

Lemuel A. Jobnson was united in marriage to Jennie Garner, a daughter of Silas and Julia (Starr) Garner. Mrs. Johnson was born in Clinton county. August 30, 1872. and is a cousin of Jesse Garner, represented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of one daughter, Pearl Lucile, still at home. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, white her daughter is affiliated with the Presbyterian church. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.

HUGH MCCOY.

The gentleman whose sketch follows, is one of the successful, well-to-do farmers and stockmen of I'nion township, this county. His honest dealing and integrity have won for him the admiration and confidence of those with whom he has business transactions, and his host of good, substantial friends bear witness to the fact that he believes in the old maxim of "live and let live."

Hugh MeCos was born on May 23. 1850, on Cowan's creek, I'nion township. this county. a son of Robert and Sarah ( Fife) McCoy. He attended the public schools In Union township, and later attended Wilmington College. As a small Ind, he helped his father on the farm. being the eldest son. He remained with his father until he was married, when his father gave him fifty acres, and he bought fifty acres more on the "mud road" in Union township, where he lived until 1806, In which year he moved to n new house on his farm. He later bought two hundred and seven acres, making his land holdings in all, three hundred and seven neres, Mr. McCoy raises and sells, annually, several carloads of cattle, hogs and sheep. He is a Republican, and both he and his wife are members of the Friends church, in which they are both elders. He is n director in the Citizens' National Bank at Wilmington, and also serves as director in the Clinton County Mutual Insurance Company.

Robert Meloy. father of the subject of this sketch, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. In 1819, and died on February 12. 185. His wife, who was born also in County Tyrone, Ireland, in May, 1821, died on March 28, 1904. She and her cousin. James Doan. immigrated to Philadelphia about 1840, and It was there she met and married Mr. Mel'oy. He grew up on a farm in Ireland, and about 1839. Immigrated alone to Philadelphia. where he joined his father's sister, who had married Mack Fife, who had prior to that time located in Philadelphia and operated a box factory. As a young man, Mr. MeCoy was employed in his uncle's box factory for nine years, and while there, about 1848, he was married. About the year 1849, he emigrated to Ohio and rented a farm for a few years in I'nion township. Clinton county, and Inter on. bought one hundred acres in I'nion and Green townships, to which he subsequently added another farm on the west. and adjoining his home place, on which he lived until the time of his death, which occurred when he was sixty-four years of age. When he died, be owned over five hundred acres of land. He served as school director, and in polities, voted the Republican ticket. He and his wife belonged to the I'nited Presbyterian church. Robert McCoy was a general farmer. and was thrifty and strong. He started with no money, but was wealthy at the time of his death. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, Hugh, Margaret J., David, Robert, William, Charles B., and James, Margaret became the wife of Isaac Wood, and is now dend. They lived on a farm in I'nion township: David lives at Wilmington, where he runs the "La Mar" theater: Robert M., lives at Wilmington, and is a retired farmer : William lives on a farm in U'nion township; Charles B. lives at Fayetteville, Arkansas, and is an electrician : James lives on a farm in I'nion township.

Hugh McCoy's paternal grandparents were Hugh and Margaret McCoy, who lived and died in Ireland. the wife dying when the children were small. They were both Preshy-

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terian& The maternal grandparents were David and Nancy Fife, both born in County Tyrone, Ireland. They were farmers, and belonged to the Presbyterian church in Ire- land, the former dying in Ireland, after which the widow Joined her children in this county, where she spent her last days.

On October 31, 1877, Hugh McCoy was married to Margaret Ellen Oren, who was born in Clinton county, and by whom he has had five children, as follow : Ollver R., who lives on a farm in Green township, married Elizabeth Barrett aud bas two children. Richard Hugh and Margaret B .; Ethel, who is still at home; Leo J., who is cashier of a bank at Richwood, Ohio, married Elizabeth King and has two children, Elmore King and Gertrude Ellen ; Mary Elsie, a teacher of Latin in Wilmington College, is a graduate of that college, who received her master's degree from Oblo State University and taught in the University of Kansas before taking up her work at Wilmington, and Arthur, unmarried, who is assisting in the operation of the home place.

ALTON L. SNOWDEN.

Clinton county Is remarkable for the many old families which reside within its borders; remarkable for the number of worthy citizens whose ancestry is traceable directly back to the earliest colonial days. No class of people have bad a greater influence in shaping the destiny of this county, in determining the status of its religious, moral' and social life than the members of the Society of Friends, of whom Alton L. Snowden. a well-known resident of Wilmington, is a worthy representative. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors have been prominent Quakers in different parts of the country for centuries. Of the former It may be said that the family was well established in America by bis great-grandfather, the proprietor of Snowden manor, near Baltimore. On the maternal side the famlly goes back to the coming of Samuel Littler, one of the immigrants who accompanied William Penn to America.

Alton L .. Snowden was born in Union township, Clinton county, Ohio, August 8. 1888, the son of Charles Edward and Rachel ( Linton) Snowden, the former of whom, born in October, 1835, in Maryland, died in 1892, and the latter of whom, born in Union town- ship, Clinton county, Ohio, in 1850, died in August, 1912.

Mr. Snowden's paternal grandparents, Richard and Mary (West) Snowden, were natives of Anne Arundel county, Maryland, where representatives of the family had been established long before the time of Richard Snowden. He was an iron manufacturer aud Snowden manor was a great estate near Baltimore, which Richard Snowden's father owned. His family were Hicksite Quakers About 1836 Richard Snowden and his family came to Clinton county and first lived on Mr. Wall's farm, Chester township, but he finally purchased a farm in Chester township, and later removed to Union township, where he died. His family also were Quakers.

Of the maternal grandparents, it may be said that Rachel Linton was the daughter of Seth and Sarah Ann ( Moore) Linton, orthodox Quakers, the former born on October 10. 1812. in Union township, Clinton county, Ohio, and the latter. December 7. 1819, in Clinton county. Seth Linton was the son of Nathan and Rachel (Smith) Linton, the Intter of whom, born on January 18, 1790, died on April 4, 1850. Rachel ( Smith) Linton was the daughter of Seth and Elizabeth ( Littler) Smith, the former of whom. born on May 19, 1761, died on April 1, 1837. and the latter, born on April 9, 1769, died on July 7. 1842. Elizabeth ( Littler) Smith's father was Samuel Littler, who emigrated to America with William Penn. Seth Linton grew up in Clinton county, and was well versed in pioneer history. He was educated in the subscription schools of the county and in the school taught by his father in the milk-house on their farm. After finishing his education he assisted his father on the farm, and when still a young man purchased two hundred acres of land for five dollars an acre. This land be Improved and afterwards sold for fifty dollars an acre.

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Early in life Seth Linton began to familiarize himself with the nursery business and this business occupied a large share of his time. He owned two hundred and thirty-three acres of land, on which was located a nursery consisting of the best varieties of fruit, ornamental trees and shrubbery. He also owned an orange grove of ten acres in Florida. On September 21, 1836, Seth Linton was married to Sarah Ann Moore, at Lytle's Creek meeting. She was the daughter of Joshua and Nancy ( Stratton) Moore, the former of whom, born on October 10, 1791, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, died on February 7, 1874, and the latter, born on November 16, 1797, died on December 19, 1881. Joshua and Nancy ( Stratton) Moore were married at Springfield meeting and had twelve chil- dren, nine sons and three daughters.

By his marriage to Sarah Ann Moore, Seth Linton had six children, namely : Nathan M., who was born on March 18. 1838, is an attorney and a member of the Ohio Legis- Inture; Nancy L., January 3, 1840, is the wife of Thomas MeMillan, a farmer; Rachel, October 8, 1841, married C. E. Snowden, a farmer; Joshua, April 2, 1843, married Olive Hadley and had six children; Oliver, August 15, 1845, married Sarah Hiat, and Amanda, November 11, 1848, married Jacob Lewis, a farmer.

Mrs. Seth Linton was an ordained minister of the Society of Friends, the orthodox branch, and attended each yearly meeting held in the United States with the exception of one beld in Kansas. She traveled many thousands of miles during her ministry, always paying her own expenses. She was well known throughout Clinton county and the state of Ohio, and was highly respected. Mr. Linton was very liberal with his chil- dren, and gave each a large sum of money when they attained their majority. He was strongly opposed to the use of tobacco and all Jutoxicating liquors and in politics was u Prohibitionist. He and his family were members of the Society of Friends, as had been their ancestors for two centuries.

The late Charles Edward Snowden was an infant when the family came to Clinton county. He grew up in Chester township, and subsequently was married. Two years after his marriage he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in Union township, two and one-half miles from Wilmington, and lived there until his death. He owned a nice home, but spent a few winters in Florida for the benefit of Mrs. Snowden's health. In 1876 he planted an orange grove in Orange county, Florida, and owned this grove at the time of his death. He was a member of the board of trustees of Wilmington Col- lege, and president of the Clinton County Farmers Institute for several years. Early in life he had been identified with the Republican party, but later became a Prohibitionist. He and his wife were members of the Center meeting of the Quaker church, and attended services there regularly. He died on his farm. Charles Edward and Rachel ( Linton) Snowden were the parents of four children, of whom Mary, the eldest died at the age of twenty-one in 1885: Alton L, was the second born: Seth lives on a farm In Unlon town- ship: Sarah married Carl Lukens and they live In Wilmington.

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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 129

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