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 140

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 140

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James E. Custis was renred on the farm, receiving his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood. Upon reaching maturity, he took up farming for himself in Green township. He has made many improvements on his farm In Green township, where he has lived for nine years.

On July 4, 1859, James E. Custis was married to Carrle Hildebrant, who was born In Green township. this county, the daughter of Jesse and Martha (Pyle) Hilde- brant, the former of whom was born near Snow Hill, In Green township, March 3, 1823, and the latter, in Centerville, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1827. Jesse Hildebrant was a son of Christopher and Elizabeth ( Crifestein) Hildebrant, both of whom were born in New Jersey about 1822. After coming to Clinton county they settled on the farm now occupied by Samuel Steele. Both died in Greent own- ship. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Custis were William and Mary (Ewey)

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Pyle. pioneers of Green township, who came to this county from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Jesve Hildebrant was the owner of three hundred and thirty-one acres of land. He was a Republican in politics, while religiously. he and his wife were earnest and devoted members of the Christian church. He died on August 15, 1905. His widow survived him less than three years, her death occurring on March 9, 1908. They had reared a family of nine children, of whom two. Louisa and Judson, are deceased: Avery lives at Webster, Illinois, and the others are Lou, Lizzie, Frank, Luther, Jennie and Carrie. Luther Hildebrant owns a good farm of two hundred and two acres near where Mr. Custis lives, He married Martha Custis, a sister of James Custis, Mrs. Luther Hildebrant was born on March 9. 1862, in Green township, and she and her husband are the parents of three children. Maud. Clarence and Ada.

To Mr. and Mrs. James E. Custis thirteen children have been born. of whom two, Claude and Willard, are deceased. Claude was born in May, 1800, and died on April 1. 1915. The other children are Durward, Laverne, Irene, Gladys. Fred, Jesse. Harold. Carl, Marion, Wynona and Pauline.

Mr. and Mrs Custis and family are attendants of the Christian church, in which they are actively interested. Mr. Custis is a Democrat in politics,

EPHRAIM H. U'RTON.

Ephraim H. Urton, a former commissioner of Clinton county, who is now the pro- prietor of "Clover Nook Stock Farm" in this county, is one of the best-known citizens of this section of the state. He was born on July 19, 1856, in Warren county, Oblo, the son of Daniel and Nancy A. (Brown) U'rton, the former of whom was born, October 20. 1819, in Virginia, and the latter, November 3, 1823, in Ohio. Mr. U'rton's paternal grandparents were John and Lucy (Weaver) U'rton, both of whom were born in Vir- ginia and who, in 1820, came to Ohio and took up land in Washington township. War- ren county, where both died. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Urton were Alex- ander and Lydia ( Hanks) Brown, pioneers of Warren county, where both lived and died.

The late Daniel U'rtou was reared on a farm and was educated in the public schools. Starting in life a poor boy, he accumulated land from time to time until he owned, at the time of his death, December 16, 1895, five hundred acres of land. He had located in Vernon township, Clinton county, in 1860, and there be lived until his death. He was a Republican in politics, but never aspired to office, His wife was a member of the Baptist church. They were the parents of eight children, Lucy, Lydia. Amanda, John (deceased ), Mary Elizabeth, Ephraim H., the subject of this sketch. Barbara Ellen (deceased ), and Emma Louisa.

Ephraim H. Erton was reared on the old homestead farm and was educated in the public schools and in Wilmington College. The old district school was located on his father's farm. After farming for about four years, early in life, he moved to Clarksville. where he engaged in the mercantile business for about twenty-five years. Mr. Urton still owns property in ('larksville. In 1009 he was elected county commis stoner of Clinton county and at that time, retired to the farm and built his present residence. He owns one hundred and five acres, a part of the old homestead, and is an extensive breeder of thoroughbred registered Percheron horses and Jersey cattle.

In 1879 Ephraim H. Urton was married to Viola Lewis, who was born in 1800 in Cincinnati, the daughter of Robert and Sarah Jane (Thompson) Lewis, of Cincinnati. They owned the Allee and Phoche Carey homestead, now the home of the blind and known as "Clover Nook." Mr. U'rton's farm is known as the "Clover Nook Stock Farm." To Mr. and Mrs. Urton have been born three children, Sherman Garfield, a farmer in partnership with his father. who married Louise Hadley, of Clinton county ; Virgil, who

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died at the age of four months, and Edith May, the wife of William Greathouse, of Warren county, Oblo, who lives on the Charley Hadley farm, and has four children, Virginia Meredith, Viola Josephine. Ruby Thelma and Ruth Evelyn.

Mr. Urton votes the Republican ticket. He bus held, besides the office of county commissioner, several other positions of trust and responsibility. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Clarksville and also of the Knights of Pythlas at the same place.

RODNEY T. THORPE.

In a brief sketch it is difficult to do a living citizen exact and impartial justice, not so much from lack of space or words to set forth the passing events of his per- sonal history as for want of the perfect and rounded conception of his whole life which grows and develops and ripens, to disclose its truest and best flavor when it is mellowed by time. There is nothing in the life of Rodney T. Thorpe of Sabina, Ohio, that is startling. Nevertheless, his career has been marked by patient and un- remitting endeavor and he has earned and won a substantial reward for his long and patient application to business.

Rodney T. Thorpe was born on January 3, 1870, at Bloomington, this county. the son of Edman B. and Emlly (Culberson) Thorpe, the former of whom was born on March 23, 1540, near Bloomington, in Clinton county. and the latter. in Fayette county. the daughter of George and Priscilla (Stewart) Culberson. FAlman B. Thorpe was the son of Joshua and Nancy B. ( Fiers) Thorpe, both natives of Virginia, the former of whom was born in 1708, and the latter, in 180G. Joshua Thorpe was a farmer In Southampton county, who came to Clinton county in 1832, locating in what is now Wilson township, on a farm of about seventy-five acres, where be farmed the re- mainder of his life. It may be said, In passing, that Mr. Thorpe left Virgnila as a result of a negro uprising in 1831, when the slaves grew rebellious and slaughtered many of the whites. The spring following the insurrection the Thorpe family came to Ohio, settling in Clinton county.

Joshua Thorpe's father was born in England and came to Amerien as a British soldier during the American Revolution. When peace was declared he decided to remain In America and married and a few years later settled in Virginia. The late Edman B. Thorpe was educated in the common schools of Clinton county and taught school when a young man. Later he engaged in the mercantile business at Bloomington. and still Inter practiced Inw there, although he was never admitted to the bar. Edman B. and Emily ( Culberson) Thorpe were the parents of five children, as follow : Edna. who died early in life: George, who married Bessle Easts; Norman B., who married Emma Channell; Rodney T., the subject of this sketeb, and Ollie G., who married Seigel Wieol. Mr. Thorpe's parents were members of the Universalist church and the Methodist Episcopal church, the father having been identified with the former and the mother with the latter. Edman B. Thorpe was a Democrat and for many years was a justice of the peace in Wilson township.

Rodney T. Thorpe was educated in the public schools of Bloomington, this county. and when a young man worked as a farm hand. In 1891 he went to Sabinn, this county. and there was engaged In the livery business for two years, at the end of which time he sold out and engaged in the retail grocery business. During the past thirteen years he has prospered largely and owns elghty-four and one-half acres in Wilson town- ship. He is also an extensive property owner in Sabina. Mr. Thorpe married Kattie B. Barnhart, the daughter of John and Jane Barnhart. of Greene county, Ohio, and to this union four children have been horn, Alfred E., Lawrence R., Maynard B. and Florence C.

The Thorpe family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are held

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in high esteem in Sabina and throughout that part of the county. Mr. Thorpe is a Democrat, and for years has given a good citizen's attention to the political affairs of the county.

JOHN R. ROLSTON.

One and one-half miles from New Antioch is a splendid farm of one bundred and sixty-four acres, belonging to John R. Rolston, one of the most successful farmers in Green township, this county.

Mr. Rolston is a native of Ireland, where he was born on May 12, 1863. He immi- grated to America with bis parents, Robert and Anna ( Wallace) Rolston, when seven years old and was reared on a farm near New Antioch, receiving his education in the publle schools. He has been engaged in farming all of his life, his course being marked by energy and enterprise, and it is not a matter of very great surprise that be bas made a magnificent success of his cbosen vocation.

On December 24, 1800, John R. Rolston was married to Dellie Green, who was born in Green township, this county, in 1870, daughter of George W. and Nancy (Curtis) Green, both of whom are deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Rolston two children have been born, William (deceased ) and Clifford, who is a student In the Wilmington high school. Mr. and Mrs. Rolston also have a foster-daughter, Ethel Collins, who married Edward Welton, of Springfield, Ohio, and lives on the farm belonging to Mr. Rolston. To Mr. and Mrs. Welton one child has been born, Anna Louise.

Mr. Rolston is identified with the Republican party and takes a good citizen's part in the political affairs of the county. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. Mr. Rolston is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at New Antioch and of the Modern Woodmen of America at Sabina. He also belongs to the encampment and to the Daughters of Rebekah at Wilmington. Oblo. The Rolston family are well known in Green township and are among Its most highly respected and valued citizens.

FRANCIS DANIEL MULFORD.

Among the enterprising farmers of Vernon township, this county, Is Francis Daniel Mulford, who was born in that township on April 16, 1875, the son of Joseph Martin and Amanda (Urton) Mulford, the former, a native of Warren county, Ohio, born ou March 6, 1844, and the Intter. March 6, 1849. The paternal grandparents were Harvey and Eliza Ellen (Doctor) Mulford, both natives of Virginia, the former of whom dfed on January 20, 1861, at the age of forty-seven years, and the Intter, born on January 20, 1819, died in 1906.

The maternal grandparents were Daniel and Nancy (Brown) U'rton, the former born in Virginia In 1819, and the latter, in Ohio, In 1823, were early settlers in War- ren county, Ohio, who, in 1861, came to Clinton county, where he died in 1896, and she, In 1899. They had eight children, of whom. Amanda, the third born, was the mother of Mr. Mulford. The other children were, Lucy, Lydia, John William (decensed), Mary Elizabeth, Ephraim H., Barbara Ellen (deceased) and Emma Louise.

The Inte Joseph Martin Mulford was a farmer by occupation, who removed from Warren county Ohio, to Vernon township. Clinton county, where he bought a farm and where he spent the rest of his life. His widow is now living in Clinton county. Joseph Martin and Amanda (Urton) Mulford had three children, of whom Francis Daniel, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. Minnie is the wife of James Villars and they have one child, Homer. Pearl is the wife of Edwin Van Dervort and they have two children, Nellie Elouise and John Paul.

Francis Daniel Mulford was reared on a farm and was eduented in the public

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schools. He owns a good farm in Vernon township, and is engaged in farming and stockraising.

In 1897 Mr. Mulford was married to Mary Crosley, daughter of William and Carolin ( Wood ) Crosley, the former of whom was born in Warren county, Ohio. November 24. 1841, and the latter, in Cincinnati, in 1850. William Crosley was the son of Isaac and Rachael (Cook) Crosley, natives of Michigan and Warren county, Ohio, respectively, both pioneers in Warren county and both of whom died there. Carolin ( Wood) Cros- ley was the daughter of Charles and Sarab (Wallin) Wood, of Hamilton county, Ohio, but who had come originally from England and who were early residents of Cincin- unti. Both are now deceased. Mrs. Mulford is one of nine children born to ber parents, the others being Perry, Lenna, Charles, Dolly (deceased), Martha, Ella (deceased), Edgar and Roy.

To Mr. and Mrs. Mulford two children have been born: Dorothy Pearl, born on September 11, 1898, and Joseph W., who died in infancy.

Mr. Mulford is a Republican, but has never aspired to office. He is an up-to-date progressive farmer and has made many improvements in recent years on the farm where he now lives. Ile Is a member of the Masons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knight of the Maccabees of the World.

ZEPHANIAH UNDERWOOD.

Among the names of large landowners and men of prominence In their generation in Clinton county, that of the late Zephaniah Underwood is held in plensant remem- brance throughout this whole section. Mr. Inderwood was a man of large influence for good in his community; diligent in business and ever mindful of the public good, so that at his death there was felt a real loss in the hearts of all who had known him during his unusually long and active life. Living to the great age of eighty years, Mr. Underwood had been a witness to the amazing transformation which took place in the general conditions underlying the social and economic life of the people of this section during the last century and had done well his part in helping to bring about better conditions in all the varied relations of his fellow men.

Born in the year 1820, on the eastern edge of Ohio, Zephaniah Underwood enme to Clinton county with his parents when he was but five years of age and became one of the best-known men in this section of the state. He was particularly active In behalf of the cause of temperance and for years was one of the most influential workers in the ranks of the Prohibition party hereabout, the liquor traffic having no more uncom- promising foe than he in this county. and in all other ways he stood unflinchingly and determinedly as a righteous advocate of things of good report. A birthright men- ber of the Friends church, he and his family were devoted to all works in this com- munity and occupied a very firm place in the regard of all with whom they came In contact. The death of Mr. I'mderwood in 1900 was widely mourned. for he was a man who had done well his part in life.

Zephaniah Underwood was born in Columbiana county, Ohlo, on November 10. 1820, son of Amos and Mary (Shirk) Underwood, the former of whom was a native of York county, Pennsylvania, born on August 3. 1786, son of Zephaniah and Rebecca Underwood, prominent residents of that section.

Amos l'uderwood was reared on a pioneer farm and received the rudiments of an education in such neighborhood schools as were provided in the days of his youth. In the year 1812 he was united in marriage to Mary Shirk, who was born on Sep- tember 16, 1791, daughter of John and Barbara ( Hoover) Shirk. and to this union eleven children were born, namely : Reuben, born on October 17. 1814: Isaac. Sep- tember 30, 1816; John. October 20, 1818; Zephaniab, the immediate subject of this (59)

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memorial sketch; Amos, March 5, 1823; Lewis, March 16, 1825; Senath, April 25, 1827; Thomas E., August 22, 1829; Priscilla Jane, December 15, 1831; William June 20, 1834, and Elihu, February 17, 1839, all of whom are now deceased save the latter, who is a well-known and highly respected resident of this county. Amos Underwood and his wife were earnest and devoted members of the Friends church and their children were renred in accordance with the strict tenets of that simple faith, becoming useful men and women in the several spheres of life to which they were called. The mother of the above children died when well past middle age and Amos Underwood married, secondly, Priscilla Lewis, of Highland county, this state, to which latter union there was no issue.

Atnos L'uderwood was a man of much strength of character and became a fine force for good in Chester township, where his later years were spent. He came to this county from Columbiana county in the fall of 1825, settling in Liberty township, about three miles south of where Port Willlam is now situated. where he remained for three years, at the end of which time he bought a farm in that locality. where he made his home until 1854, In which year he bought the farm in the southwestern portion of Chester township where he spent his last days and where bis sou, Zepbaniab. the subject of this memoir, also made his home during the remainder of his life.

Zephaniah Underwood was reared on the farm and in bis boyhood received a limited education in the pioneer schools of that day, but in after years acquired con- siderable self-culture and education. U'pon reaching manhood's estate he entered seri- ously upon the duties of the farm and from the very start of his agricultural operations prospered, gradually adding to his land holdings until he became the owner of four hundred and twenty acres in Chester township and seventy-eight acres in Warren county, this state, all of which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He was one of the most extensive growers of fruit in this section of the state and at the time of his death had an excellent orchard of one hundred acres. His activities were not confined to the locality of his home and he also owned considerable land In the South and West, being accounted one of the wealthy men of this county. In 1880 Mr. Under- wood was elected president of a Southern railroad company, and in other ways dis played much activity in various business enterprises. As an Instance of the varied character of his operations, it is recalled that at one time he bought one thousand buffalo robes, for which he found a ready market among his friends and neighbors In this county. Reared as a Whig. Mr. Underwood became a Republican upon the formation of the latter party and was active in the local councils of that party until the organization of the Prohibition party in the eighties, after which he cast the full force of his political and personal influence on the side of that new party, ever having been an earnest advocate of temperance and an uncompromising foe of the liquor traffic. believing that national prohibition was the livest issue before the people of the United States.

On December 27, 1871, Zephaniah Underwood was united in marriage to Matilda J. Downing, who was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1851, the daughter of Jacob aud Jane ( Underwood) Downing, to which union five children were born, as follow : Ruth Anna, born January 2, 1873, married Alva C. Tomlinson on June 16, 1898, and bad, Paul (deceased), Ruth, Matilda, Custis Paul and Faith Marion; Zephanlah, July 5, 1875, married on February 19, 1910, Dale Williams, daughter of Dr. A. J. and Eliza (Menies) Williams, who died on January 20, 1011; Joseph Miles, May 24. 1878. married on September 28, 1910, Myrtle Kibler, daughter of Samuel and Eliza (Snow) Kibler, and has one child, Vivian: Olive, March 23, 1881. who died on October 27. 1×52, and Jane Eva, February 6, 1888, married on February 12, 1010, Cor- win Haines, son of Thadeus A. and Eliza ( Hiatt) Haines, and has one child, a son, Elvin.

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Zephanlab Underwood died on April 17, 1900, in the eightieth year of his age, having been for many years one of Clinton county's most Influential citizens, and his memory is cherished throughout this whole region. His widow has been an active minister in the Society of Friends since 1885, and Mr. Underwood took great pleasure In traveling with ber in the work. She, who survives him, together with his children, are held in the highest esteem throughout the county.

DAVID A. MURPHY.

David A. Murphy is a well-known farmer of Green township, this county. He was born In this county in 1860, the son of David and Hannah (Dennis) Murphy, the former of whom was born in Berkley county, Virginia, July 31, 1816, and the latter, in Clinton county, Ohio, September 1, 1831.

The paternal grandparents of David A. Murphy were Jacob and Mary (Lohman) Murphy, both natives of Virginia. The paternal grandfather was born on March 4, 1791, and the paternal grandmother, March 9, 1793. They came to this county in 1826 and settled west of Wilmington. In 1834 they removed to Green township, settling where Isaiah Murphy now lives, and there the grandfather died on December 29, 1871, and the grandmother, January 26, 1873. Jacob Murphy and wife, who were married on April 20, 1813, reared the following children : Rebecca J., David, William, Susannah, John, Catherine, Abraham, Nancy, Isaiah and Mary Ann. Jacob Murphy and his wife were members of the Christian church and Mr. Murphy was a Democrat. The maternal grandfather of David A. Murphy was Richmond Dennis, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

David A. Murphy was reared on the farm and received his education in the public schools. He took up farming as a vocation after leaving school and now rents sixty- eight acres of land In Clinton county, belonging to his aunt, Sarah Fenner, and is there engaged in general farming and stock raising.

In 1881 David A. Murphy was married to Ella Clark, of Butler county, Ohio, a daughter of Sylvester and Sarab Aun (Gerard) Clark. Sylvester Clark, who served for three years in the I'nion army during the Civil War, died at New Antioch, this county, in 1xSS, and his widow still survives him, at the advanced age of eighty years To Mr. and Mrs. Murphy six children have been born, Hamilton C., Leona, Walter, Preston, Norval Clifton and Sarab Frances, all of whom are living.

CLAYTON A. TRIBBET, M. D.

Among the prominent physicians of this county and the well-known citizens of Westboro, is Dr. Clayton A. Tribbet, the president of the Clinton County Medical Society and a member of the Ohio State and National Medical Associations. He has been a practicing physician in Westboro for nearly thirty years.

Dr. Clayton A. Tribbet, who was born near Goodhope, in Fayette county, Ohio, October 8. 1854, is the son of James and Elizabeth Ann (Dick) Tribbet, the former a native of Ross county, Oblo, and the latter of West Virginia. The paternal grand- father of Doctor Tribbet was Joseph Tribbet, who immigrated to Ohio in pioneer times and from Obio immigrated to Iowa, where he died. His removal to Iowa followed the death of his wife, when he went to the Hawkeye state to bring back with him his sister, who was to return as his housekeeper. The maternal grandfather of Doctor Tribbet was Jobn Dick, a native of West Virginia, who Immigrated from that state to Wabash county, Indiana, where he engaged in farming and where he died.

Left an orphan at a tender age, James Tribbet, the father of Dr. Clayton A. Trib- bet, was reared by friends of the family in Ross county and later in Fayette county and finally in Highland county, Ohio. Subsequently, he moved to Clinton county, in

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1880, and located one and one-half miles east of Westboro, where he followed farming. To James and Elizabeth Ann Tribbet were born eight children, of whom Clayton A. was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Mary Jane; Dr. Jobn C., who for thirty years. was a practicing physician at Montezuma, Iowa, but who is now deceased; Lemuel. Glendora. James M., Elsworth and Elmer, the latter of whom is general manager of the American Inundry Company, of New York City.

Clayton A. Tribbet received the rudiments of an education in the country schools and in the Greenfield high school, where he pursued his education for a period of five years. He also took in addition to this work, a course in Greek. Later he was a student at the South Salem Academy for two years, and then taught school for seven years, six years of which were spent in Fayette county, Ohio. During his last year in the school room, Doctor Tribbet was principal of the Westhoro high school. After finishing seven years in the school room, he entered the Miami Medical College of Cincinnati, and was graduated, with high honors, with the class of 1886. In April, 1887. he took up the active practice of his profession at Westboro, and since then, a period of almost thirty years, has established an enviable reputation as a physician and surgeon, and is highly respected as a man and a citizen in the community where be has lived so long.

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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 140

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