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 144

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 144

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Educated in the common schools of Concord township. Fayette county, Grant Martin beran farming when a young man, starting in Concord township, where he farmed for six years. In 1590 be purchased his present farm of one hundred and three acres and there he has been living since 1900. Before removing to the Richland township farm he operated a grocery store at Sabina for two years, and during one of these two

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years bought grain at Sablon. Since removing to his farm, Mr. Martin has been engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has dealt to a considerable extent in farm land and is a director of the First National Bank at Sabina.

Ou September 6, 1896 Grant Martin was married to Zephn Winters, daughter of Zephaniah and Margaret ( Edginton) Winters, who were the parents of eight children, as follow : William W .; Dellla, who married H. E. Kinenid: Sarah, who married James Sollars: Zepha, who married Mr. Martin: Charles, who is unmarried ; Ida, who married James Watson ; Leota, who is unmarried, and Edward, who married Mamie Fey, and who is a farmer in Brown county, Ohlo.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin have no children. He is a Republican, and Mrs. Martin is a member of the Friends church at Sabina. They live on their farm abont one mile east of Sabina, on the Washington pike.

CLAYTON A. THOMPSON.

Clayton A. Thompson is a well-known farmer Hring at Sabina, this county, who owns a tract of two hundred and fifty-two acres of land in Jefferson township, Fayette county, and a fine home in Sabina. He has achieved a marked success in the business world, and has arisen to an honorable position among the enterprising residents of Subina, His record, however, is rendered remarkable by no strange or mysterious adventure, no wonderful or lucky accident and no tragic situations. He is. nevertheless, a good man and a popular citizen in the community in which he lives.

Clayton A. Thompson was born on March 22, 1866, in Fayette county, Ohio, a son of John and Presocia Aun ( Sheley) Thompson. the former of whom, born on March 21. 1×32, in Fayette county, died on January 9, 1903, and the latter, born in 1832, in Greene county. Ohio, was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Gateb) Sheley, the former n native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Maryland. John Thompson was the son of James and Mary ( Boyd) Thompson, both natives of Virgina, and the parents of nine children. Roland, Joseph. Daniel, Jolin, Truston, Castle. Wade, Harriet and Catherine. James Thompson emigrated from the Blue Ridge region of Virginia and located near Buena Vista, in Fayette county. Ohio, where he became a prosperous farmer. He was a member of the Methodist church, and voted the Democratic theket.

Fluented in the common schools of Fayette county. Ohio, the Inte John Thompson. the father of Clayton A .. began farming in Fayette county, when a young man and fol- lowed that occupation all his life in that county, becoming the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of land in Jasper township, and was there engaged in general farming and stock raising. John Thompson and wife were the parents of eight children. namely: Ethel, who married Charles Harper: Harlan T., who married Etta Hydie; Clayton, the immediate subject of this review ; Addie, who married William Hatfield ; Charles M., who married Odie Coe: John F .. who married Dora Thornton : James Will- iam, married, and Daniel, who died at the age of twenty years. The father of these children was a Democrat and a member of the Methodist Protestant church.

Clayton A. Thompson received his education in the public schools of Fayette county, and In 1587 was a student in the Commercial College at Ada. Ohio. I'pon finishing his schooling he began farming it: Fayette county, and farmed there until 1892. when be removed to Van Wert county. Ohlo, where he lived until 1s05, in which year he removed to Mercer county, Ohlo, remaining there for nearly ten years, or until 1904. In the latter year he removed to Sabina, this county, where he has lived since. He erected the house In which he now Hves, a fine structure, loented in Sabina, in 1912. Mr. Thompson owns two hundred and fifty-two acres of land in Jefferson township. Fayette county, and personally manages the operation of this large farm, although the actual

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work is done by hired men. On this place he carrles on a system of general farming and stock raising, and bas been very successful.

On May 12, 1889, Clayton A. Thompson was married to Kittie Mathew, daughter of James and Abby ( Drake) Mathew, and to this union has been born one child, Golda Ethel, who was born on October 18, 1891, and who is a graduate of the Sabina high school and of Wilmington College. Miss Thompson finished the course at Wilmington College in 1912, and since that time has been engaged in teaching in the high school at Port William, this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the United Brethren church, while their daughter is a member of the Friends church. Mr. Thompson is a Democrat and has served as n member of the Sabina school board for a period of three years, and bas given general satisfaction in this office. He has a host of friends in and about Sabina, and is generally popular with all classes of people thereabout.

W. H. LAMB.

One may take his place in public life through some timely stroke which affects the public policy, and carve out for himself a fame that will endure. But to acquire a position of prominence and respect in a community by reason of an upright life and without craving for exaltation or popularity, is worthy of the highest praise and com- mendation. The late George Lamb, in his day a prominent farmer of Clinton county. and one of the public spirited citizens of this section of the state, was a man widely respected and honored during his life. Strong and forceful in his relations with his fellow men, he not only made his presence felt. but also won and held the good will and commendation of those people with whom he came into contact. At his death in 1908, he left four children, among whom was W. H. Lamb, now a prominent resident of Moose Jaw, Canada.

W. H. Lamb was born on February 29, 1868, in Clinton county, the son of George and Harriet ( Levergall) Lamb, the former of whom was born, December 28, 1837. in Clinton county, and the latter. April 28, 1840, in Ross county, Ohio, the daughter of William Levergall, a farmer of that county, who later moved to Clinton county and still Inter to a farm nenr Kokomo, Indiana. George Lamb and Harriet Levergall were married on February 23. 1860.

George Lamb was the son of Eri Lamb, by the latter's second wife. Eri Lamb was a native of North Carolina, who came to Ohio very early in the last century. By his first marriage, he had two children, Ison and Harriet. By his second marriage, he had four children, Lafayette. John, Finis and George. Of these children, Lafayette Lamb served as a soldier in the I'nion army during the entire period of the Civil War and survived the war. John and Finis Lamb also served as Union soldiers during the war and both died in the service.

The late George Lamb was educated in the common schools of Clinton county and was a farmer by occupation all of his life. He owned nine hundred and sixty acres of land. most all of which was located in Wilson township, and as a farmer, was well known among the leading agriculturists of this section. He was a devout member of the Society of Friends and remained loyal and faithful to this creed throughout his life. He passed away in May, 1908, and his widow some years later. March 15. 1915. They were the parents of four children, namely: Anna, born on December 11. 1860, who married Theodore Gray and is a resident of Fayette county, Ohio; Rebecca. December 22, 1862, who married James Thompson and lives in Lafayette, Indiana ; Blanche. September 18, 1874, who married Charles McCoy, and lives in Arkansas, and W. H .. the subject of this sketch.

W. H. Lamb was educated in the common schools of Clinton county and married (61)

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Belle Alexander, daughter of Robert Alexander, a farmer of Ross county and a promin- ent member of the Methodist Episcopal church in that county. Mrs. W. H. Lamb died In 1808. She was the mother of three children, George, Elmer and Hattie, the first named and the latter of whom are deceased. Elmer Lamb married Ella Thompson and they have one child, Hiawatha. They are residents of Wood Mountain, Canada.

In 1905, after the death of his wife, W. H. Lamb went to Canada, where he now holds a lease on ten sections of land at Swift Current, Alberta. He also has a home- stend of three hundred and twenty-one acres at Moose Jaw and owns the Hotel Empress at that place. Upon the death of bis mother, in 1915, Mr. Lamb was appointed adminis- trator of the estate and spent several months in Clinton county, making a legal distribu- tion of the property owned by his father and mother.

G. H. PLUMMER.

G. H. Plummer, a prominent citizen of Clinton county, and the present assessor of Wilson township, was born In September, 1856, in Adams county, Ohio, one of the seven sons of William Plummer, a farmer and minister of the Gospel, who lived and died in Adams county.

Mr. Plummer received his education in the common schools of Adams county, Oblo, and was reared to the life of a farmer. After leaving school he engaged in that voca- tion on his own account. He married Clara Matthews, who was born In this county, daughter of Silas and Mary (Gallimore) Matthews, farmers, both of whom are now deceased. Silas Matthews was a large landowner in this county, especially in Wilson township, To Mr. and Mrs. Plummer three children have been born, namely : Grace. who married M. W. Anson, of Greene county, and has one son, Charles; Wyema, who married Isnac Kersey, a farmer of this county, and bas two children, Harold, (deceased) and Albert, and Raymond, who was married on August 16. 1906, to Stella Early, and has one son, Adrian, who was born on January 28, 1908. Raymond Plummer and his wife live on the home farm. renting it of his father. This farm consists of about seventy-five acres of land. Raymond Plummer also owns seventeen acres of land in Wilson township. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally, she belongs to the Royal Neighbors of America. Mrs. Stella (Early) Plummer is a daughter of Elias and Sarah E. (Thompson) Early, who were farmers of this county, and the owners of about three hundred acres of land.

In 1800 G. H. Plummer erected a new and comfortable house on his farm, and in 1912 he also built a large and commodious barn. On December 23. 1592, Mrs Clara (Matthews) Plummer died, sincerely mourned by all who knew her, and her loss was keenly felt by her friends and neighbors, as well as by her family.

WILLIAM D. NIBLE.

Willlam D. Nible is a progressive young farmer of Washington township, this county, who was born on February 15, 1869, near Edenton, in Clermont county, Oblo, the son of David and Sarah E. (Smith) Nible, the former of whom was born near Morristown. In Warren county, in January, 1844, and the latter of whom was the daugh- ter of George and Margaret Smith. David Nible was the son of William Nible, a native of Germany, who came to Amerien when a young man, about 1840. He and bis wife settled in Warren county on a farm, where both died of cholera about 1850.

David Nible, who was educated in the public schools of Clermont county, began farming near Edenton when a young man, but in 1992 moved to Vernon township, this county, where he has lived and farmed ever since, and is a well-known and highly- respected citizen of that township. To David and Sarah E. Nible eight children were

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born, namely : Ada, who married W. D. Jones; William, the subject of this sketch; Frank C., who is a farmer; Mary L., Enis H., and George C., all of whom are decensed ; Cecil, who married Gladys Heistand, and Sarah S., who is the wife of William Rey- nolds. The mother of these children died in 1889. The father is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a man of deep religious con- victions and an ardent church worker.

Educated in the common schools of Wayne township. Clermont county, Ohio, William D. Nible drove n huckster wagon for about ten years during the early part of his life. In 1900 he took up farming in Washington township, this county, and has been engaged in this occupation since that time.

Mr. Nible has been twice married. His first wife was Ida M. Stouder. the daughter of Benjamin Stouder. To this union there were born two children, Frank R. and Russell JA. In 1901 Mr. Nible was married to Mrs. Jennie (Moon) Brown, widow of H. C. Brown, who is a member of the Universalist church and owns a splendid farm near Cuba.

The Nibles are well-known citizens of Washington township and highly respected by all of the people who live in that community.

CHARLES WADE.

Charles Wade, who is a prosperous farmer owning one hundred and sixty-seven neres of land one mile from Melvin, in Wilson township, this county, was born in l'ulon township, Clinton county. August 20, 1886. son of James B. and Martha C. (Sherman) Wade, the former of whom was born in Union township, this county. April 15. 1843, and the latter. niso a native of Clinton county, was the daughter of William and Sarnh Bell ( Hester) Sherman, early settlers in Clinton county and the owners of about five hundred acres of land. James R. Wade was the son of George Wade, a native of Virginia, who, after his marriage, emigrated to Ohio, and became the owner of a section or more of land In Clinton county, being one of the pioneers of this section. He and his wife were the parents of six children, Robert, Washington, Clark, James, Frances and Liza, all of whom are now deceased.

The late James R. Wade was educated in the common schools of Clinton county and was engaged in farming during his entire life. He owned about four hundred acres of land and was active in local public affairs. He died on June 28, 1901, and his widow survived him several years, her death occurring on March 17, 1912. They were the par- ents of seven children, namely : Seymour. who married Ollle Hawes, and lives at Jamestown, Ohio; Charles, the subject of this sketch: Joseph, who married Odle Snod- grass and lives in Greene county ; William, who married Susie Humphries and lives in Wilson township: Laura E., who married Ephraim Thompson, of Richland township; Carrie F., wife of John Hoover, of Wilmington, and Cora E., who has been twice mar- ried. her first husband being Henns Hall, after whose death she became the wife of David Rogers.

Charles Wade received his education in the common schools of his home neighbor- hood, and has been engaged In farming during his entire life. Mr. Wade located on his present farm many years ago, and in 1908, built a large and commodious barn on the farm. On August 2. 1890. he married Mattie Mannahan. a native of Adams county. Ohio, daughter of Sampson Mannahan, who was a carpenter by trade, and to this union have been horn three children. Lawrence A., Mary Ruth and Harold Millard, all of whom are unmarried and living at home with their parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Wade and family are earnest and devoted members of the Methodist Protestant church. Charles Wade has always been a hardworking man and his snc- cess in life is due, perhaps, as much as anything else. to his persistent industry and determination.

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HENRY DRAKE.

Henry Drake is a well-known farmer of Liberty township, this county, where he owns one hundred and eleven acres of land. He was born in Richland township, this county, the son of John S. and Rebecca (Ford) Drake, the latter of whom is the daugh- ter of Robert and Eliza Ford. His maternal grandfather was a farmer of Clinton county and a member of the Methodist Protestant church, and his paternal grandfather, Daniel Drake, was a native of New York state, born on Staten Island, who moved to Clinton county and engaged in farming.

John F. Drake was educated in the common schools and was a contracting carpenter and builder. He was also a farmer and owned considerable land in this county. He Was active in the affairs of the Methodist Protestant church, of which he was a mem- ber, and was a successful business man. He died in 1853. His widow is living at Melvin, this county.

Henry Drake, who was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools of Clinton county, was married on November 8, 1894. to Bertha Beckett, who was born in this county, daughter of Isaac and Emma ( States) Beckett, of Starbucktown. Isaac Beckett was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War and served for three years in that great struggle between the states, and he and his wife lived in Starbuck- town practically all of their lives and were members of the Methodist Protestant church. Isaac Beckett was a son of Joseph Beckett. a native of Indiana who served in the War of 1812 and who, subsequently, engaged in farming near Elwood, Indiana.

After his marriage. Henry Drake hxated near Melvin. this county, and later took up farming. He purchased the farm where he now lives, in February, 1914, and expects to make many improvements on the farm in the next few years. The place consists of one hundred and eleven acres and in time should be made one of the best farms in the county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Drake have been born two children. Lawrence and Inez. Mrs. Drake is a member of the Christian church at Bloomington.

JACOB STOLTZ.

Jacob Stoltz is a well-known retired farmer of Sabina, who owns a farm of two hundred neres one and one-half miles from Sabina, where he has built a comfortable home, and where he has lived for some time. He was born on February 20. 1848, In Germany, son of John and Francena Stoltz, both natives of Wurtemburg, Germany. the former of whom, born on December 25. 1812, died in February, 1895. while the latter died in August, 1872. at the age of fifty-six years, John and Francena Stoltz were married in their native land, where they were engaged in farming. When they came to Amerien they had five children. Rachel, Dora. Frederick. John and Jacob, of whom the two eldest. Rachel and Dora, are now dereased. After landing in New York City, they came directly to Ohio, and settled in Adams county, where John Stoltz became the owner of two hundred and fifty acres of land. He sold this farm, however, and came to Clinton county about 1881, In which year he purchased one hundred and fifty neres of land. and spent the rest of his life there. Six more children were born to John Stoltz and wife after coming to America, as follow: William, Christopher. Fannie. Callle, Elizabeth and Mary, the last two of whom are deceased. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Stoltz. Frederick married Mollie O'Neal, and lives at Wilmington. John married Dean Bigley and lives in Greenfield, Ohio. William, who lives in Verona, Ohlo, married Ellle Oldaker. Christopher, of Antioch, Ohio, married Elizabeth Finner. Fannie, who is unmarried. Ives in WUmington with Elizabeth, who is the wife of R. M. MeCoy.

Jacob Stoltz received his education In the schools of Adams township. and was

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reared to the life of a farmer. He was married in 1884 to Annn Pavey, who was born in Clinton county, daughter of William and Mary A. (Kirby) Pavey, the former of whom was born in Fayette county, Oblo, September 4, 1833, the son of William and Anna (Johnson) Pavey, and the latter of whom was the daughter of William and Jordena Kirby. Mrs. Mary A. ( Kirby) Pavey was the second wife of William Paves, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz are the parents of two children, Fay and Alma, both of whom are unmarried and living at home. The family are all earnest and consistent members of the Methelist Protestant church. Mr. Stoltz was formerly a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and remained a member until the lodge at Sabina dis- banded. In 1910 he built a new house in Sabina, to which place he had moved about . fifteen years ago.

JOHN J. POLK.

Improvement and progress may be said to form the keynote in the character of John J. Polk, a prosperous and influential farmer of Wilson township. Not only has Mr. Polk been interested in advancing his own personal affairs, but bis influence has been felt in the community where he lives. It was his early ambition to study Inw. but he was unable to carry out his youthful design and. instead. buckled down to farming, in which vocation he has made a rather large success, a fitting result of his energy, foresight and good management, and each year has found him further advanced, more prosperous and with a larger circle of friends.

John J. Polk was born on May 3, 1869, in Wilson township, this county, the son of William H. and Mary M. ( Prunk) Polk, the former of whom was born on a farm south of Wilmington, in Clinton county, and the latter, in Bureau county, Illinois, daugh- ter of Daniel and Catherine ( Hammond) Prunk, of that state. Daniel Prunk was born ou July 21, 1796, in Virginia, and was married to Catherine Hammond, who was born on November 22, 1797, and to this worthy couple twelve children were born 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 26, 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. July 31, 1843.

Mr. Polk's paternal grandparents were William and Hannah ( Hobson) Polk, both natives of Tennessee, who were the parents of seven children, of whom Martha, the youngest. is living at Muncie, Indiana, at the advanced age of ninety-six years, the others having been, Sallie, John, James, William H., Robert and Nathaniel. After his marriage in 1775, William Polk moved to Obio 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, but later moved to Wilson township. Hla remains are buried on the farm owned by his grandson. Edward Polk, brother of John J. He was a Baptist preacher and prominent in the pioneer life of this county. He died about 1825.

William H. Polk. the father of John J., received only a very limited education. attending school altogether only about six months, but nevertheless he became a very wellread man and was 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 Innd in Clinton county, and was an extensive stork raiser. Hle imported a thirty-thousand-dollar Shorthorn bull from England and this animal was the first 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.

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and at the time the Baltimore & Oblo railroad was constructed through Clinton county. gave five hundred dollars towards Ite construction.

To William H. and Mary M. (Prunk) Polk were born eight children, namely : George, who married Deborah Freewan and died at his home in Springfield, Illinois; William P., who married Allce Thompson and lives in Oregon; Daniel, who died In infancy ; Lillie, who married Joseph Reynolds, and died in Clinton county; Mary, who married S. T. Groves and lives in Sabina; Edward and David K., who married sisters, Bertha and Ada Ray, and live In Clinton county, and John J., the subject of this sketch.

Jobn J. Polk received his early education in the common schools of Sabina, this county, and completed his educational training In the high school at Muncie, Indiann. Upon the death of his father he was compelled to return to the farm. While attending school, it was his earnest desire to study law, and he still wishes that he had been able to do so. While he was a student in the high school at Muncle, be became acquainted with Eva Wilson, the daughter of Levi and Julia ( Priest ) Wilson, farmers near Muncie, and subsequently married her. Mr. and Mrs. Polk are the parents of four children, Levi Roy, Margaret, Claudia and Pauline.

Mr. Polk owns one hundred and five acres of good land in Wilson township. In 1012 he built a commodious barn on his place, and has but recently erected a new home, equipped with all modern conveniences. He is engaged In general farming, making a specialty of the breeding of Shorthorn cattle, and expects gradually to take up the breeding of only thoroughbred stock. His whole farm is well equipped for stock raising.

Mr. and Mrs. Polk are members of the Baptist church of Sabina, and take an active Interest in the affairs of that denomination. Fraternally, Mr. Polk is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Including the subordinate lodge and the encampment. Ile is also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, the Royal Neighbors and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Polk is also a member of the Daughters of Rebekah and of the Royal Neighbors.

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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 144

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