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 142

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 142

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In December. 1877. David A. Humphreys was married to Caroline Goodwin, who was born in Indiana, daughter of James Goodwin, a brother of Levi Goodwin, men- tioned elsewhere in this volume in the biographical sketch of E. M. Goodwin, of Marion township. James Goodwin was a farmer by occupation, who lived in Warren county, Ohio, and who is now decensed. To Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys two children have been born, Raymond J., who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and Vance,

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born in 1886, who was educated In the Blancbester high school and is a farmer by occupation. He married Ona Haines and has one child, U'hlan.

Although identified with the Republican party in political matters, Mr. Humphreys has never aspired to office and has never been especially active in politics. He has always stood foremost in the ranks of those who favor public improvements and bas done much for the material development, not only of Clinton county, but especially of the community in which be lives.

JOHN QUINCY SMITH.

Jobu Quincy Smith was born in Wayne township. Warren county, Oblo, November 5, 1824, son of Thomas and Mary ( Whitehill) Smith, Thomas Smith was born in Powhatan county, Virginia, in 1783. the son of Rev. James and Elizabeth ( Porter) Smith. James Smith's father was Thomas Smith, and his mother Magdalen (Trabue) Smith, she being a daughter of Sir Antoine Trabue, who fled from France about 1685. during the persecution of the Huguenots, and came to America about 1700.

Thomas Smith, born 1719, died 1786, the father of James, was of English descent. being a son of George Smith, and Ann ( Bailey) Smith, They lived in what is now Powhatan county, Virginia, early in the 18th century. Mary ( Whitehill) Smith, born 1788, deceased 1849, was a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Kennedy) Whitehill, who lived in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The Whitehills were a Scotch-Irish family who settled in that part of Pennsylvania about 1720. This branch emigrated to Ohio in 1815, settling near Lebanon. Warren county. Thomas Smith and Mary Whitebill were married on February 6, 1817.

The Rev. James Smith, grandfather of John Quincy Smith, was a farmer and slave- holder in Virginia, but being very much opposed to the institution of slavery, freed his slaves and removed to the territory northwest of the Ohio river, In the fall of 1798, where he died of a fever soon after their arrival. His widow, Elizabeth (Porter) Smith and her family of nine children removed to their farm near the mouth of Caesar's creek. Warren county, where she died in January, 1825, and where Thomas and Mary ( Whitebill) Smith lived and reared their family.

John Q. Smith, the subject of this sketch, attended the neighborhood schools, and for a short time, Miami U'niversity, from which he was recalled by the death of his father, in 1941. He lived at the family home until his marriage, in 1852. His wife, Lydia Emma ( Evans) Smith, born near Lebanon, September 4, 1834, was a daugh- ter of Charles and Susannab (Throckmorton) Evans. The Evanses were of an old New Jersey family, belonging to the Society of Friends. who emigrated to Warren county. Ohlo, about 1809.

The Smith family were Whigs, but John Quincy Smith Identified himself with the Freesoilers at an early date and Inter with the Republican party at its formation about 1856. He served as state senator and representative in the Ohio Legisinture, 1860-3: was a member of Congress. 1573-4; United States Commissioner of Indian affairs, 1875-7. and consul general of the United States in Canada, 1878-82. Shortly after his return from Canada he identified himself with the Democratic party on the tariff issue, being an earnest believer in free trade. For more than fifty years he was active in the political affairs of his state and country, as a writer and speaker. In 15H he moved to a farm near Oakland, Chester township. Clinton county, where he died on December 30. 1901. bis widow surviving him until June 16. 1906.

Of the three children of John Q. and Lydia E. (Evans) Smith now living, Mrs. William C. MeCune, lives at Kokomo, Indiana, and Miss Ellen H. Smith, at Wilming- ton. Ohio. The eldest son, Horace Whitehill Smith, born October 2. 1853, is one of the leading citizens and business men of Clinton county. He was married in 1877, to Mary

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Eva Campbell, of Chester township, daughter of James W. and Mary Elizabeth (Brown) Campbell, to which union three sons have been born, Irving, Quincy and Edwin.

One sou of John Q. Smith and wife, Kennedy, died in infancy. Another, Charles T., a young man, died In Georgia. Another son, Prescott, died in 1912, a judge of the superior court at Cincinnati.

HORACE M. HALL.

Horace M. Hall is a successful contractor and builder of Blanchester, this county. He was born on December 10, 1805, in Preble county, Ohio, the son of Andrew J. and Martha A. ( Elliott) Hall, the former a native of Clinton county, and the latter a native of Preble county. The paternal grandparents of Horace M. Hall came from the French frontier in Europe, and, after coming to America, located in Clinton county, where they were early settlers, The maternal grandparents of Horace M. Hall were William and Mary ( Hall) Elliott, natives of Virginia. William Elliott died in that state and after his death, his widow came to Ohio, passing away in Preble county, Ohio, in 1872. William Elliott was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Andrew J. Hall, the father of Horace M., a native of Clinton county, was edu- ented in the common schools of this county but left Clinton county some time before the Civil War and settled in Preble county, where he enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, In which he served three years and four months. In the battle of Chickamauga he was twice wounded, a bullet passing through bis shoulder and another through bis hip. Four children were born to Andrew J. and Martha A. Hall, Charles, Horace M., Prudence and Alice.

Horace M. Hall, who was educated in the common schools of Preble county, learned paper-making in Middleton, and followed this occupation for about five years. Later he learned the carpenter's trade at Cincinnati and has been engaged in this trade ever since, having moved to Blanchester in 1805, just after the town was destroyed by fire. It is an Interesting fact that the first bouse be built after arriving in Blanchester is the one in which he now lives. For many years he has been a con- tractor and builder and has erected many buildings in that part of the county.

On September 22, 1896, Horace M. Hall was married to Cora Willoughby, of Blanchester, who bas borne him three children, Corliss, Mary and Marjorie.

The Hall family, with the exception of Mr. Hall, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hall is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has served as councilman of Blanchester and is now a member of the board of public affairs, Formerly, he served as deputy assessor of that township. He is a man who performs his duties conscientiously. whether those duties be public or private, and has many friends in that section of Clinton county.

GIDEON MOODY FULLER.

Gideon Moody Fuller and his wife. Amy Solomon Fuller. came to Clinton county from North Carolina. In 1811, and settled on Wilson's run, about three and one-half miles from Wilmington. These were pioneer days and their nenrest neighbor was two miles away and they had to go to Waynesville for their groceries. As soon as the sun went down, the wolves would begin to howl and would come right up to the house. whereupon the pioneers would have to bar the doors. There were no such things as locks then In Clinton county, merely a wooden Intch. with a string, "which always was out." The only way these pioneers bad to get to Cincinnati was by wagon, through the woods most of the way. Most of the roads were marked through the country by "blazing" trees. This procedure consisted of scalping off the bark until the white wood shone. By following this trail repeatedly. in time, the pioneer wayfarers created a road.

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Mr. Fuller afterward bought the farm known as the Fuller farm. one mile from the court house, on the old Cincinnati road and in 1831 built a brick house, considered a mansion in that day. It still stands in excellent condition.

Benjamin Fuller, a Revolutionary soldier, came to Clinton county in 1826 and lived with his son, Gideon. He died In 1848 and was buried In the old Methodist graveyard.

Gideon Fuller's children were, William, John. Warren, David, Benajal, Mary Ann, Louisa Jane and Milton Riley.

Judge D. B. Van Pelt. of Dayton: Cyrus M. Van Pelt, a Methodist minister, of Madisonville, and Mary I .. Geffs, of Denver, are children of Mary Ann Fuller Van Pelt and Cyrus Van Pelt. Amy F. Hale and Lulu F. Huffman. Wilmington, and Mary L. Wright, of New York, are daughters of Milton Riley Fuller and Margaret Rose Gaither Fuller.

JOB CLARK.

Seven years of faithful service as township trustee of Green township. this county. during which the affairs of that office were administered with the highest regard for the best interests of the public, proved most excellent training for the proper performance of the broader duties of the more important office of county commissioner, which office Job Clark is now filling with equal regard for the wider Interests of the whole county. Mr. Clark not only is a member of one of Clinton county's old families, but he ever has taken a most hearty Interest in the general advancement of his home county nlong all Hines of human endeavor. Diligent in business, he has prospered in his own affairs; enterprising and publie spirited, he brought to the duties of the office of township trustee of Green township the same degree of diligence and attention to business details which had insured success in his personal career, and now, in the administration of the affairs of the county commissioner's office is serving the public in the same diligent and public- spirited manner. his services having proved very satisfactory to all acquainted therewith.

Job Clark was born on the farm in Green township. Clinton county, Ohio, on which he still lives, on March 8, 1872, son of Cary and Rebecca J. ( Hildebrand) Clark, both natives of the same township, the former of whom was the son of Benjamin Clark. a Virginian. one of the early settlers of that part of the county. and the latter a daughter of Christopher Hildebrand, also a Green township pioneer.

Cary Clark, who was born on a pioneer farm in Green township, this county, was renred to the life of the farm and received his education in the early schools of that time. About the year 1849 he bought a small tract of fifty acres at the point where his son. Job Clark, now Ives and by industry gradually acquired a farm of three hundred and thirty acres, Cary Clark was an energetic, enterprising citizen and early became one of the most influential men in the county. For years he served his township as trustee, his efforts in connection with the administration of the uttairs of that office undoubtedly having been productive of large results in the way of the rapid advancement in educa- tlona! and other standards thereabout. Then for twelve years he served the county us county commissioner from his district, his Influence in that office, covering the period from 1873 to 1885. ever having been directed toward the advancement of the county's best interests, so that he left a name that is indellbly written fair on the records of Clinton county. Cary Clark was a Republican and for many years was regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county. his sound judgment and thorough acquaint- ance with lora! conditions giving unusual weight to his counsels in the deliberations of the party managers, He and his wife were members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. the family being one of the most active supporters of the church in that neighborhood. Cary Clark was a member of the Masonic lodge at

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New Vienna. to the affairs of which he for years directed his most intelligent attention and was looked upon by the Masons throughout the county as one of the most active members of that ancient fraternity in this county. He and his wife were the parents of the following children : Alfred, Salina, Ida, Frank, Jefferson, Etta and Job.

Job Clark was reared on the paternal farm and received his education in the district school in his home neighborhood and in the high school at New Vienna. U'pon complet- ing his studies he entered seriously upon the life of a farmer and has given his most futelligent and indefatigable efforts to his life work, prospering accordingly. He owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres of the old home place and has a delightful home, where be and his pleasant family live In much comfort. In addition to general farming, Mr. Clark has given much attention to the raising of hogs and has found considerable profit in that line. A valuable feature of his farm is a fine sugar-maple grove, from which, in season, Mr. Clark secures a superior quality of maple syrup.

The deep interest Mr. Clark ever has taken in public affairs and his ardent desire to see the largest advancement of the public interest. early was recognized by his neighbors and years ago he was elected to the office of township trustee, a position which he filled with the most gratifying results for a period of seven years. About one year later he was elected to the office of county commissioner from his district, on the Republican ticket, and entered upon the duties of that important office on September 15. 1013, and is still serving in this enpacity, performing faithfully his highest duty to the public.

On April 4, 1896, Job Clark was united in marringe to Mary McMahon, of Hillsboro, Ohio, daughter of Michael McMahon, and to this happy union two children have been born, Geneva and Clay Richard. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are members of the Christian church at New Vienna, and are deeply interested in all good works in the community, being regarded as leaders therein, and are held in the very highest regard throughout that section of the county.

Mr. Clark has proved himself a faithful public official, devoted to the welfare of the county, and in all circles is considered a valuable factor in the development of the best interests of the community as a whole, in consequence of which he possesses the full confidence of all.

MARGARET E. McCOY.

The subject of this brief and modest biographical sketch. Mrs. Margaret E. McCoy, was born in this county on September 10. 1855, daughter of John A. and Johanna ( Bailey ) Oren. Mrs. McCoy Is a very earnest member of the Friends church in this county and for the past ten years has been an elder in the same. She was one of the first students to enter Wilmington College, which she attended in the years 1874-75, and she also was a student in Earlham College. Her father, John Adkinson Oren, was born near Spring- field, In Clark county, this state, on October 2. 1818, son of James and Margaret (Adkin- son) Oren and a grandson of John Oren, who was a son of Jesse and Abigail (Kirk) Oren. The senior John Oren was born in Yorktown. York county. Pennsylvania, in 1756 and grew to manhood in that vicinity. He married Ruth Lousier, of the same place. and was the father of sixteen children and lived to greet the coming of one hundred and five grandchildren. He was a consistent menther of the Friends church and took n prominent part in the work of establishing the church at Dover, near his home. His death occurred in 1845. John A. Oren, father of Mrs. McCoy, was a birthright member of the Society of Friends and was honest and upright in all his dealings with his fellow men. without which he believed no man conld be a true follower of Christ. In his younger manhood he was a carpenter, but after his marriage turned his attention to farming and was quite successful. His death occurred at his farm home near Highland, in Highland county. this state, on February 12. 1888.

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Mrs. McCoy's mother, Johanna (Bailey) Oren, was born on a farm four miles north of Wilmington, this county, which farm now is owned by W. A. Starbuck, on May 12, 1820, daughter of Daniel and Mary (Haworth) Builey, who came to this section of Ohio from Virginia in 1804 and also took a promluent part in the work of estublishing the Dover church. Daniel Balley was the son of Abidan Bailey and was born in Virginia. lie was active in all bis relations to his church and was a consistent member of the sume all his life. His death occurred in 1844. He and his wife were the parents of eleven children, those besides Mrs. McCoy's mother having been, Mrs. Martha Oren. George Bailey, Mrs. Susanna Hunnicutt, Mrs. Sarah Hunt, David Bailey, Josiah Bailey, Rebecca Bailey, Elizabeth Bailey, Daniel Bailey, Jr., and Mrs. Mary Hornida, all of whom married and settled near their father's home, except Elizabeth, who spent all her life at the home place, and Rebecca, who died at the age of eighteen years.

THOMAS E. CRAIG, M. D.

Dr. Thomas E. Craig is one of the leading physicians of Sabina, this county, and, in a county which takes just pride in the personuel of its professional men, especially its physicians, he has won for himself an honorable position in the hearts of his fellow townsmen. Good Intellectual training, thorough professional knowledge and the pos- session and utilization of these qualities and attributes have made Doctor Craig locally eminent in his life calling.

Thomas E. Craig was born on October 26, 1865, at Stanton, in Fayette county, Ohio, the son of Thomas J. and Susannah J. ( Rosebrough) Craig, the former of whom was born at Greenfield, in Highland county, Ohio, and the latter a native of Fayette county, the daughter of John Rosebrough, who married a Miss MeDaniels. The grandfather of Doctor Craig was James Craig, who emigrated from New Jersey to Highland county. this state, and who married Sarah Ann Cooley. They had six children : John, Williams, Thompson, David, Mary and Thomas J.

Thomas J. Craig was educated in the common schools of Highland county, Ohio, and when a young man worked on a farm. Later be operated a wholesale notion wagon between towns, also owning a general store at Stanton. During the Inter years of bis life he lived on his farm of fifty acres. Thomas J. and Susannab J. Craig had nine children, as follow : John, who enlisted in the Civil War from Iowa, where he was living, died on a forced march and was buried at Little Rock, Arkansas; Nancy, who married George Rowe: Josephine, who married I. N. Rowe; Williams, who died young; Mary Allce, who married S. 8. Cockerelle; Parthenia, who became the wife of J. L. Linea: Eliza, who is the wife of Eldridge Cockerelle; David S., who married Grace Wilcox ; and Dr. Thomas E., the subject of this sketch. The father was an ardent Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Thomas E. Craig began his pursuit of an education in the common schools of Stanton, Ohio, and when a young man taught school, later attending the normal school nt Ada. ['pon reaching his decision to become a physician, be entered Starling Medical School at Columbus, Ohio, and later was a student at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, Maryland, from which latter institution he was graduated with the class of 1892. He began practicing in Sabina in July, 1892, and has practiced there ever since.

In 1893 Doctor Craig was married to Mary A. Adams, daughter of Elias and Sarab B. ( Bentley} Adams, and to this happy union have been born three children, Sarah Helen, Thomas Eugene and Carl.

Politically, Doctor Craig is a Republican. He and his wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of the Ohio State Medical Asso- ciation and of the Clinton County Medical Society.

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DAVID KING POLK.

A prosperous farmer of Wilson township, this county, David King Polk, owns one hundred and twelve acres of land in that township, comprising a fertile and productive farm. He Is interested in Shorthoru cattle and for many years has been engaged in raising them for the market.

David King Polk was born on November 11. 1872. In the township where he lives, the son of William H. and Mary M. ( Prunk) Polk, the former of whom was born south of Wilmington, in Clinton county, and the latter in Bureau county, Illinois, daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Hammond) Prunk, of that state. Daniel Prunk was born on July 21, 1796. in Virginia, and was married to Catherine Hammond, who was born on November 22. 1797. This worthy couple reared a family of twelve children, whose names in the order of their birth are as follow : Martha, born on November 11. 1818; James, June 2, 1820; John, February 19. 1822; Hammond, April 8, 1824; Madison, April 23. 1826; Maggie, January 20, 1828; Daniel, November 3, 1829; Leander, August 15, 1830; George, February 3. 1834; Washington, March 21, 1836; Catherine, May 15, 1841, and Mary M., the mother of Mr. Polk, June 31. 1843.

Mr. Polk's paternal grandparents were William and Hannah ( Hobson) Polk, natives of Tennessee, who were the parents of seven children, of whom Martha, the youngest, is living at Muncle, Indiana, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. The others were Sallie, John, James, William H., Robert and Nathaniel. After his marriage, in 1775, William Polk moved to Ohio from Tennessee, and located in Clinton county, near where the city of Wilmington now stands. He entered one hundred and fifty-six acres of land from the government in that vicinity, but later moved to Wilson township. He died about 1825, and bis remains are buried on the farm now owned by his son, Edward Polk, brother of David K. Polk. He was a Baptist minister and prominent in the pioneer life of this county.

William H. Polk, the father of David King Polk, received only a very limited education, attending school altogether about six months. Nevertheless, he was a well- read man and a man of strictly moral habits. During the Civil War he furnished, free of charge, food and supplies for many widows and orphans. He owned three hundred and seventy-three acres of land in Clinton county, and was an extensive stock raiser. He imported a thirty-thousanddollar Shorthorn bull from England, the first animal of the kind in this part of the country. He also kept mules and Cotswold sheep. William H. Polk was very active in the affairs of the county, and at the time the Baltimore & Ohio raliroad was constructed through Clinton county he gave five hundred dollars towards Its construction.

To William H. and Mary M. (Prunk) Polk were born eight children, namely : George, who married Deborah Freeman, died at his home in Springfield, Ohio; William P., who married Allee Thompson, lives In Oregon: Daniel, who died in infancy : Lillie, who married Joseph Reynolds, died in Clinton county ; Mary, who is the wife of S. T. Groves, lives in Sabina ; Edward, who married Bertha Ray; John J., who married Eva Wilson, owns one hundred and five acres in Wilson township, and David K., the subject of this sketch.

Born and reared on the farm and educated in the country schools of Clinton county. David King Polk lived at home with his parents until his marriage on February 25. 1903. to Ada Ray, daughter of Collins Ray. who for twenty-five years was the section foreman for the Baltimore & Ohlo railroad at Sabina. Mr. Ray was a very devout member of the Christian church.

To Mr. and Mrs. Polk three children have been born. Mary Magdalene, Elizabeth and Sampson, Mrs. Polk is a member of the Christian church at Subinn, and one of the netive workers in the church. Fraternally. Mr. Polk is a member of the Independent

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Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America, as well as of the Daughters of Rebekah. He is a Republican and has served as judge of the elections in Wilson township for three years.

In 1911 Mr. Polk built a modern and full-equipped country home on his Wilson township farm. Mr. and Mrs. Polk are popular in Wilson township. They believe in enjoying life and in getting out of it all that may be bad in the way of enjoyment.

JOHN DENNEHY.

The venerable John Denehy, of Wilson township, is one of those thrifty sons of the Emerald Isle who have found comfortable homes and snug fortunes in America. Mr. Deneby is a highly respected citizen of his community and a man who believes in helping worthy publie movements. He was born in Ireland. December 8, 1844, the son of Jeremilah and Johanna ( Dineen) Deneby, both natives of Ireland. Mr. Deneby's paternal grandfather was John Denehy, Also a native of Ireland, a farmer by occupation and n devout C'atholie.

Jeremiah Deneby, the father of John, was also a farmer and a member of the Catholic church. He died in ISE's In his native land. He and his wife were the parents of three children, John. Jerry and Honora, all of whom came to America and of whom the two last named now are deceased.

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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 142

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