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 133

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 133

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The paternal grandparents of John C. McFadden were John and Sophia (Kelly) McFadden, both natives of Ireland. John McFadden, the father of John C., received very little education, his father having died when he was a mere lad. When a young man, be worked on the Ohio river and a few years after his marriage, moved to a farm of two hundred and fourteen neres in Green township. this county, which he subsequently owned. He cleared most of this land and became quite well-to-do. Earlier in his life, he had been a pumpmaker and was very successful at that trade. Jobn and Elizabeth (Newcomb) McFadden were the parents of ten children, Jehu, Mary Ann, Charles, Har- rison W., Rebecca Jane, William N., John C., Sophia, Thomas and Hannah. Of these children, Charles was wounded during the last charge at Lookout Mountain and died as a result of his wound. Harrison W. and William N. were also Union soldiers during the Civil War. John McFadden and wife were members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. He voted the Republican ticket and served as trustee of his township for about twenty years.

John C. McFadden was educated in the common schools of Green township and began life on the farm. After farming in Green township for six years, he moved, in 1880. to the farm which he now occuples in Wayne township. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, adjoining the little village of Centerville in Wayne township. and erected all of the buildings now standing on the farm. He has also done a great denl of clearing and ditching.

On October 28, 1870, John C. McFadden was married to Lydia Alice Hodson, who was born on February 22. 1855, and who died on August 18, 1912. She was the daughter of Cyrus and Phoebe ( Davis) Hodson. To Mr. and Mrs. McFadden one child was born, Eva, born on September 25, 1872, who married Philip Morton, to which union five chil- dren have been born. namely : Albert, who died at the age of two years; Frank, who died at the age of fourteen; Allce: Elizabeth, who died on March 20, 1908, and John. It Is doubtful if there are any instances of a more ardent and devoted affection between father and daughter in all Clinton county, than the affection between the venerable John C. McFadden and his daughter, Mrs. Eva Morton.

The McFadden family are members of the Christian church and John C. McFadden has served as a trustee of that church for a number of years, Mr. McFadden votes the Republican ticket.

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EMERSON B. WEST.

Emerson B. West, a well-known farmer of Green township, this county, was born in Clinton county, June 16, 1861, a son of George and Matilda A. (Radcliffe) West, the former of whom was born in Clinton county on April 10, 1815. and the latter, in High- land county, August 18, 1828.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. West were Henry and Nancy (Terrell) West, both natives of Virginia, and pioneers in Clinton county, where both spent the most of their lives, their last days having been spent in Clark township. Mr. West's maternal grand- parents were John and Elizabeth (Garner) Radcliffe, early settlers in Highland county, Ohio, who located in that county when Mrs. George West, the mother of Emerson B., was an infant six months old. Mrs. West's mother had come to Clinton county with her parents, James Garner and wife, who had previously lived in North Carolina. In 1811 they left that state and settled near Snow Hill, in this county.

The late George West was a carpenter by trade, but owned a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres, including that where his son, Emerson B., now lives. He died on this farm, October 21, 1888, and his widow survived him a few years, her death occur- ring on October 30, 1892. He had been an adherent of the Republican party, but during the later years of his life had become independent In his political views. Of the five children born to George and Matilda West, three-Sarah Elizabeth, Mary Jane and Stella May, are deceased. The living children are Emerson B. and Florence Emma. George West had been previously married to Samantha McMain, and to that union there were born three children, two of whom died in infancy, Hortense and au Infant son. The third child was a daughter, Annetta.

Emerson B. West spent his boyhood days on the old homestead farm. He attended the public schools of his home neighborhood, and nasisted his father with the work of the farm. After leaving school he took up farming on the old home place and there he has lived ever since. Mr. West and his only living sister, Florence, make their home on the old farm. They opened their home to a twelve-year-old child from the children's home, Bessie Kidd, whom they have reared to womanhood.

Mr. West has an excellent farm of ninety-two acres where he lives, and where he carries on a general system of farming and stock raising. He is a Republican in politics, and while living in Clark township, served as trustee of that township for four years. Fraternally, he is a member of Martinsville Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons.

PATRICK REGAN.

I'atrick Regan, a pleasant and successful farmer of Wayne township, this county, is recognized as one of the well-known men of that township. By his enterprise and his progressive methods he has contributed in a material way to the general advancement of the locality where he lives. In the course of an honorable career, he has been suc- cessful in many lines, and enjoys a peculiar prestige among the representative men of his community.

Born on March 13, 1848. In County Kerry, Ireland, Patrick Regan is the son of Bartholomew and Julia (Dowling) Regan, both natives of the Emerald Isle. His paternal grandparents were John and Catherine (Caln) Regan, also natives of Ireland, who were the parents of five children, Timothy. Catherine, John, Bartholomew and Honora.

Of Mr. Regan's father it may be said that Bartholomew Regan received his educa- tion in the schools of his native land, and was married there, and after coming to America when a young man, located in the little town of Waynesville, in Warren county, Ohio. Fifteen years later he came to Clinton county, locating on a farm in Liberty township, where he lived for four years. He then moved to Wayne township. this county, where he spent the remainder of his life. Bartholomew Regan and wife were the par-

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ents of eight children, of whour six are living, as follow: Patrick, the subject of this sketch ; Johanna, Thomas, referred to elsewhere in this volume; Catherine, Timothy C. and Mary. The deceased children were John and William. Bartholomew Regan and family were devout members of the Catholic church, and in politles Mr. Regan voted the Democratic ticket.

Patrick Regan attended school one year in Ireland, and after coming to America with his parents, pursued his education in the common schools of Warren county, Ohio. Ile began life on his own responsibility as a farmer in Warren county, but in 1864, went to Cincinnati, where he worked for a transfer company, remaining in that city until 1870. In that year he returned to Wayne township, this county, and after living at home for two years, removed to the farm where he is now living, comprising one hundred and forty-three acres. The house In which Mr. Regan and family are now lying was built in 1903. while the barn was erected in 1911. Mr. Regan has a beautiful country home and n splendid and well kept farm.

Mrs. Regan, before her marriage, was Mary Reardon, the daughter of Michael and Mary Reardon. She died In 1880, leaving two children, Thomas N. and Matthew. Thomas N. Regan was graduated from the Indianapolis Law School and is now engaged in managing his father's farm. Matthew is a graduate is Wilmington College, and is now professor of science in the schools at Helena, Montana.

The Regan family are all members of the Catholic church, and politically, Mr. Regan is an adherent of the Democratic party.

ELIJAH VAN PELT.

Reserved and unassuming. Elijah Van Pelt is one of the splendid farmers and pleas- ant citizens of Wayne township. this county. He not only rents five hundred and forty acres of land, but he owns a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in Wayne town- ship and personally supervises the work of all this land. As a member of the board of education of Wayne township, no man has done more than he to raise the standard of the public schools and to provide educational advantages for the children of that town- ship second to none in the state.

Elijah Van Pelt, the son of Ryan and Rebecca ( Milner) Van Pelt, was born on March 10, 1858, In the township where he lives. His father was born on August 28, 1822, at Richmond, Indiana, and his mother was born on March 7, 1825, In Highland county. Ohio. His paternal grandparents were Moses and Sallie (Slaughter) Milner, the former a native of Halifax county, Virginia, who immigrated to Highland county, this state. from the old Dominion state, when a young man. A few years later he returned to Virginia, married and then came back to live permanently in Highland county. Moses Milner was the son of Beverly Milner.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Van Pelt were Elijah and Lucy ( Bethel) Van Pelt, the former a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, born on September 19. 1794. and the latter, May 14. 1798. In 1849 Elijah Van Pelt came to Clinton county and in time came to own one hundred acres of land. Elijah Van Pelt and wife were the parents of four children : Ryan, the father of Elijah; John, born on June 20, 1820; Lydia, June 14, 1843. and Abigail, August 1, 1825, who died in infancy. The parents of Elijah Van Pelt were Jacob and Sarah (Ryan) Van Pelt, the former of whom, born on August 12. 1759. died on August 3, 1831. and the latter, born on September 22, 1761, died on August 20. 1831.

Ryan and Rebecca (Milner) Van Pelt were the parents of five children. of whom Elijah was the fourth, in order of birth. The others were Albert, born on January 31, 1851: Lydia Ann, April 17. 1853. who died on March 16, 188] ; Milner, March 6. 1855. and Lucinda, December 3. 1864. who is unmarried.

Elijah Van Pelt began his education In the common schools of Wayne township and

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later attended the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. After finishing bis education, he taught school for two years and then spent two years in Kansas in the office of a county surveyor. Hie then returned to Ohio and began farming in Wayne township, this county, where he has become a well-known farmer and stock raiser. In 1900 he moved to the farm known as the O. B. Savage farm, comprising five hundred and forty acres, which be rents. Besides renting this land, where he lives, he owns one hundred and seventy-five acres In Wayne township. He keeps a tenant upon the farm, but manages it himself.

Mr. Van Pelt is not married. He has always been interested in public affairs and worthy public enterprises. He has taken a special interest in educational matters. The people of Wayne township owe much to Elijah Van Pelt and are very ready to acknowledge their indebtedness to him.

H. B. ELLIS.

Among the prosperous farmers of Liberty township, this county, and among the young men who are most widely known in this township is II. B. Ellis, who has a well- kept. fertile and highly productive farm of three hundred and sixty-four acres, and 18 engaged in general farming.

H. B. Ellis was born in Greene county, Ohio, on February 7, 1871, son of Joshua and Rachel A. (Murphy) Ellis, both natives of Greene county, the former born in Jefferson township ou September 28. 1847, and the latter, In 1848. Reared on his father's farm, and educated in the country schools, H. B. Ellis was married, in 1590, to Katie A. Link- hart, who was born in Clinton county, daughter of George W. and Mary C. Linkhart, and to this union one child has been born, Orville C., who is now sixteen years old. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are prominent members of the Friends church at Dover and are regular attendants at services.

George W. Linkbart, father of Mrs. Ellis, was born in Greene county, this state. on April 5. 1843. At the age of four years he came to Clinton county with his parents and here he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on September 1, 1908. He was a son of Thomas and Eleanor Linkbart and was the youngest of a family of eleven children, all of whom are now dead. His widow is still living on the old home place. at the age of seventy-four years, her only son. Charles Linkhart, only brother of Mrs. Ellis, also making his home there.

Reverting to Mr. Ellis's ancestry, it may be said that his father, Joshua Ellis, was a son of Samuel and Keziah ( Woolman) Ellis, the former of whom was born in Winchester, Virginia, October 4. 1800, and the latter, June 17. 1817, In Greene county. Ohio. Joshua Ellis was educated in the common schools and at the age of thirteen, in 1859. left home and went to Bowersville, where he entered the employment of J. C. Early. He remained there until 1861. when he enlisted in the Thirty-first Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. At the thue he was only fourteen years old, and his father objected to his enlistment and succeeded lu having it cancelled. He again enlisted, Ju 1863, under Captain Ary of the Sixtieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the end of the war. He was mustered out at Washington, D. C., and received his honorable discharge at Cleveland, Ohio, August 7. 1865. He owns one hundred and nine acres of land in Greene county and seventy acres in Clinton county. He was married on September 23, 1867. to Rachel A. Murphy, who was born in Greene county, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Davis) Murphy, farmers. Jacob Murphy was also a blacksmith by trade. He and his wife were prominent members of the Methodist church and very active In church work. They were the parents of five children, namely : William A .. horn on February 2 1840; Harvey C., June 18, 1841 ; Israel A., 1845; Rachel A .. 1848, and James I., August 3. 1857. Joshua and Rachel A. (Murphy) Ellis had two children, Harley B., the subject of this sketch and Veturrab, who was born on August 25, 1873. She was married on November 25. 1596, to George Lee Linkhart, who was born on December 5,

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1870, and who died on August 28, 1908, leaving one child, Nora A., born on October 31, 1897. Mrs. Veturrab Linkhart lives at home with her parents. Joshua Ellis is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Fort William, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. For some time he has been operating a motion-picture house at Port William.

Mr. Ellis's paternal grandfather, Samuel Ellis, who died on December 11, 1880, at the age of eighty years, two months and seven days, was married three times, first to Elizabeth Oglesbee, a native of Greene county, Ohio, by whom he had the following chil- dren : Mary Ann, Silas, Joseph, Almira and Isalah. By his second wife, Keziah Woolman, Mr. Ellis's father's mother, there were born seven children, as follow : Susan, born on September 1, 1837; Eli, December 19, 1841, was a member of Company B, Fortieth Regi- ment, Oblo Volunteer Infantry and was fatally wounded in Georgia; Sarah J., January 19. 1843; Simon P., March 15, 1845, was a soldier in Company F, Sixtieth Regiment, Ohlo Volunteer Infantry, and was held eleven months as a prisoner in Libby Prison ; Samuel N., a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fiftieth Regiment. Ohlo Volun- teer Infantry, served one hundred days; Joshua, HI. B. Ellis's father, already referred to, and Martha, who died at the age of thirteen days. The third wife of Samuel Ellis was & Mrs. Providence, of Greene county.

The great grandfather of H. B. Ellis was Christopher Ellis, who was born on Janu- ary 11. 1763, a native of Pennsylvania and a farmer by occupation, who came to Ohio in 1807, settling in Greene county, where he entered eight hundred acres of land. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. After his marriage In Pennsylvania, he moved to Frederick county, Virginia, and after a few years came to Greene county, this state, where he died in 1836. He bad a brother, Abron, who came to Clinton county, in 1806. settling on the Anderson farm. Christopher Ellis married Eliza Carvery, who was born on September 5, 1709, and who died on September 5, 1822. The Jand owned in Greene county by Joshua Ellis is a part of the land originally owned by Christopher Ellis. By his first wife, Christopher Ellis had the following children : Catherine, Jacob. Abraham, Isaac, John. Samuel, William, George, James. Mary, Joseph, Christopher and Elizabeth. By his second wife, who was Nancy Overly, there were four children, Martha. Tilden, Angeline and Daniel. Christopher Ellis's father was John Ellla, a native of Germany who Immigrated from his native land to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1726.

WILLIAM B. STEELE.

William B. Steele, a well-to-do farmer and unassuming Christian gentleman of Wayne township, this county, was born on the farm where he still lives on July 9, 1860, the son of Absalom C. and Mary J. ( Moorman) Steele, the former of whom was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, December 28, 1826, and the latter, the daughter of Thomas E. and Sabina Moorman, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky.

Absalom C. Steele was the son of Jehu and Jane (Brown) Steele, natives of North Carolina. The maternal grandparents of Absalom Steel were James and Hannah (Clark) Brown, also natives of North Carolina. James Brown died in that state and his widow subsequently became a resident of Clinton county, where she died. William B. Steele's great-grandfather, John Brown, was a native of Scotland and his great-grandparents, Clark, were natives of England, who came to Amerien in pre-Revolutionary days Mrs. Clark was a witness of the battle of Guilford Court House during the war of the Revo- lution when sixteen years of age. Jehu Steele died in his native state when his son, Absalom, was but a child. Subsequently, abont 1832, Mrs. Steele and several of the uncles of Absalom Steele, with others, immigrated to Obio in wagons and located in Highland county about two miles from New Vienna, there being at that time but one

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house on the present site of that town. It was in that house that Absalom Steele grew to manhood. About 1846 he and his mother moved to New Vienna, where she died on May 25, 1869. Absalom C. Steele was married on January 9, 1851, to Mary J. Moorman, who was born in this county on February 15, 1833, one of elght children born to her parents. Her mother died in August, 1852, and her father died on October 11, 1866.

To Absalom C. Steele and wife were born thirteen children, namely : Sabina Jane, on October 17, 1851; Thomas E., October 5, 1854; Jehu, January 14, 1856; Martha A., February 13, 1858; William B., July 9, 1860; John C., January 0, 1862; Alice E., March 15, 1864; Absalom C., Jr., April 27, 1866; Rosa B., May 5, 1868; Nettie D., May 4, 1870; Frank B., May 9, 1874; Anthon F., January 10, 1877, and one who died as an infant. Mr. Steele was a stone and brick mason by trade. He located in Wayne township on January 9, 1853, and there spent the rest of his life.

William B. Steele was educated in the public schools of Wayne township and when a young man, began farming on land adjoining the home farm. In 1912 he moved to the farm where he now lives. He owns eighty-five acres of land altogether.

To Mr. and Mrs. William B. Steele have been born six children: Harry D., who married Mary L. Rouse; Elijah M., who married Ann Lawrence; Samuel L., who mar- ried Edith Rouse; William R., who married Hattie Morris; Mary E. and Fred A., both of whom are at home. Mrs. Steele, before her marriage, was Rachel A. Mathew, the daughter of E. H. Mathew.

Mr. and Mrs. Steele are members of the church of Christ and are devout in the faith of that church. Politically, Mr. Steele is a Democrat and has filled several posi- tions of public trust, including the offices of Justice of the peace, road supervisor and member of the school board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America.

MARK CLARK.

Among the successful farmers of Green township, this county, is Mark Clark, who owns one hundred and thirteen acres of land in that township, two miles from New Vienna.

Mark Clark was born on September 22, 1858, in Union township, Highland county, Ohio, the sou of Isaac and Elizabeth (Hildebrant) Clark, the former born in Green township. this county, on May 11. 1830, and the latter born near Snow Hill, in this county, October 28, 1837.

Isaac Ciark was reared in Green township and was educated In the public schools. He owned a farm of one hundred and sixteen acres in Union township, Highland county, and also a farm in Green township of one hundred and sixteen acres and a small farm of seventy five acres, which he bought about two years before his death and which was located near Snow Hin. He also owned property in New Vienna. He was married on March 18, 1855, to Elizabeth Hildebrant, who was the daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth (Crifessteen) Hildebrunt, the former born on February 16, 1794, and the latter on March 27, 1796, In New Jersey, who came to this county in pioneer times. Christo- pher Hildebrant died on August 6, 1868, and his widow on November 1, 1882. He was a farmer by occupation and he and his wife were the parents of eleven children, namely : Ralph. born on December 28, 1816; Catherine, December 2, 1818, who died on July 21, 1858; Margaret, February 25, 1821, who died on May 12, 1868; Jesse, March 3, 1823, who died on August 15. 1905; Hezekiah, December 11, 1824, who died on September 18, 1898; Elisha, March 16, 1827, who died on January 8, 1906; Isaiah, April 15, 1829, who died on September 18. 1884; Jefferson, February 10, 1831, who died on August 9, 1910; Rebecca Jane, May 8, 1893, who died in 1010; Austin W., August 2, 1835, who died on December 24, 1863; and Elizabeth, October 28, 1837, who died on March 15, 1915. Of these children, Austin W. was a soldier in the Civil War. He was appointed sergeant on April 10.

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1862, in Company G, Eleventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, by Captain P. P. Lane, at Summersville, Virginia.

To Isaac Clark and wife were born nine children, as follows: Columbus H., born on April 21, 1856; Mark, September 22, 1858; Mary Frances, December 24, 1859; Saman- tha, April 15, 1802, who died on April 30, 1562; Grant, August 23, 1863, who died on May 3, 1880; Marley, November 22, 1865, who died on August 14, 1878; Louie, December 12, 1867, who died on July 14, 1883; Hannah, March 27, 1871, and Austin, October 28, 1878, who died on January 19, 1800. Of these children, Grant was appointed postmaster of New Vienna in November, 1897, and began serving on January 1, 1898. He served in this position until his denth on May 3, 1899. His sister. Hannab, was appointed post- mistress on May 16, 1899, and held the office until February 28, 1905. The father of these children, Isaac Clark, was a Republican in politics and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows His wife was a member of the Christian church. He died on February 25. 1903, and his widow on March 15, 1015.

Isaac Clark was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Miller) Clark, who were early settlers in Green township, where both died. Elizabeth Miller was the daughter of Isaac and Polly (Stewart) Miller, both natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, the former born on February 5, 1777, and the latter in 1787. Isaac Miller was the son of Peter Miller, who married Catherine Rhodes. He was born in Wales in 1740 and his wife in the United States. They were the parents of five children, John, Jacob, Abra- bam, Isaac and Elizabeth. Peter Miller came to the United States when a young man, and was married near Philadelphia. He and his wife moved to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and he served in the Revolutionary War. Although he died in the war, the place of his burial is not known nor is the place of his wife's burial known. Isane Miller was bound out to John Mckibben and, when ten years old, went to Kentucky. In 1801 he enme to Clinton county with a son of Mr. Mckibben and they kept a bachelor's house. John Mckibben was the owner of one thousand acres in Clinton county and he gave one hundred acres to Isaac Miller, who bought one hundred acres from Mr. MeKib- ben. Isaac Miller cleared most of the land and Jobn Fletcher Miller, his son, now owns a part of It. He was a Democrat in politics and be and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, joining the first church in the county, at Snow Hill. He married in Warren county, near Morrowtown, about 1803, and lived in Clinton county until his death on January 5, 1857. His widow survived him but twenty-one days, ber death occurring on January 26, 1857. They were the parents of eleven children, William, Elizabeth, Polly, Isaac, Jane, Catherine. Hannah, James, Jobn Fletcher, Milton and Margaret. Polly Stewart, the wife of Isaac Miller, was the daughter of William and Jane (Armstrong) Stewart, the former of whom was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1757. He attended the public schools in Dublin, Ireland, and, when a young man, came to America, locating at Philadelphia. He was pressed into the service during the Revolutionary War and was wounded by a bayonet. He was taken to the hospital at Philadelphia, where he met Jane Armstrong, who was his nurse, and whom be later married. They proceeded in a wagon to Fort Pitt, now Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and later to Columbia, a suburb of Cincinnati, in Hamilton county. He bought a farm in Warren county near Morrow and there they both spent their last days To them were born eight children, Samuel. Willlam, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Anna. Jane and Hannab, William Stewart's wife, soon after their marriage, was captured by the Indians. She was taken to Detroit, Michigan, and there exchanged and returned to her husband after being gone one year.

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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 133

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