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 57
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all thereabout, the two being held in the very highest regard throughout the entire countryside.
Mr. Hair did well his duty to the public during his long service as a teacher, many former youngsters in this county, now grown to useful manhood and womanhood, acknowl- edging with gratitude the great debt they owe to the early instructions of this conscien- tious teacher ; and in his later years be is doing equally well his duty toward the body politie by continually advocating all measures designed to promote the welfare of all the people, his sage counsels receiving the most respectful consideration on the part of his neighbors, who repose the utmost confidence in his judgment in matters relating to the common welfare.
PROF. EDWIN P. WEST.
Edwin P. West was born in Martinsville, Clark township, Clinton county, Ohio, February 2. 1551. He is the second son of James H. and Helena ( Jackson ) West.
James H. West was a man of strong intelligence and fair education, first a teacher and then a farmer, distinguished for firmness of conviction and integrity of character. His father, Peyton West, was a man of affairs In the early history of the county, was county surveyor from 1840 to 1846, county treasurer for a period, and had a large share in the larger land transactions of that period in his part of the county. Peyton West had learned the surveyor's art from his father. Owen West, a cousin of Benjamin, the artist. who had emigrated from eastern Pennsylvania into Pittsylvania county, Virginia, and thence to Ohto about 1905 and settled on the East fork of the Miami river a few miles southeast of Martinsville. James IL., when a boy of eighteen, was one of the chain carriers for his father when he surveyed Jefferson township in the winter of 1539. James H. West died on June 28, 1903.
Helena Jackson. mother of Professor West. was a daughter of Josiah and Ruth ( Hiatt ) Jackson, and was born near Martinsville on October 4, 1825. and died on October 19. 1804. Josiah Jackson was a son of Jacob Jackson, the first minister of Clark town- ship, whose brother, John Jackson, was the first settler in Wayne township. this county. in 1802. Another brother. Samuel Jackson, built the first cabin in Jefferson township in 1812. Samuel was a famous hunter in his day and was characterized as a second Daniel Boone. He was a typleal frontiersman and finally found his way to Cass county. Texas, where he died about a quarter of a century ago, at the age of one hundred years. These brothers are said by Judge Harlan, in his excellent sketches of Clinton county history, to be probably first cousins and Intimate friends of President Andrew Jackson, whose father In 1765 came from the same locality in north Ireland, as did their ancestor, Isane Jackson, a few years earlier. These brothers were sons of Samuel Jackson, a son of the aforesaid Isane Jackson, who was a descendant of Ralph Jackson, who was burned at the stake as a martyr at Stratford, England, in 1556. Isamme's father and uncle, Anthony and Richard Jackson, had gone with Cromwell from England into Ireland, had become followers of George Fox. and founded the first Friends church in Ireland, with which Andrew's progenitors were evidently not affiliated.
Professor West considers himself fortunate in having an ancestry, a childhood home and community in which education was accorded a supreme value. Martinsville was noted for its educational spirit and the excellence of its schools before other communities of the county had achieved this distinction. Milton Hollingsworth, of Richmond, Indiana ; Amos Hockett, Professor Adams and his wife, from Oberlin College; Charles and Sattie Oren, fresh from Antloch College and the inspiring influence of Horace Mann. Thomas J. Moon and others established and fostered an educational regime there that made it an Intellectual Meera for able and ambitious young men and women of this and adjoining counties,
Professor West received all his early education in those schools, and after completing
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the course there. attended the National Normal University at Lebanon, when Its students numbered a thousand and more. After teaching four terms in the rural schools of the county be entered Wilmington College during the presidency of Benjamin Trueblood, and was graduated in the class of 1878, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, However, he ascribes his education more to a lifelong hablt of reading the books of the world's intel- lectual masters in the lines of literature, history, wience and philosophy.
Probably no other person in the history of the county has served its educational interests for so long a period or aided more in the development and efficiency of its schools than has Professor West. He began teaching in September, 1871, in the Nauvoo district, south of Clarksville, and has taught continuously since that time, with the omission of three years spent in Wilmington College. He taught his second rural school at Beech Grove, two miles east of Martinsville, his third at Hale's Branch, near Westborn, and the fourth at Sharp's, south of Sabina. In one of those schools the enrollment renched eighty-three, and in none did it fall below forty -eight. He was superintendent of the Martinsville schools for seven years, including the entire township for one year, and was the first to establish a modern high school there. He was superintendent at New Vienna for fourteen years, at Dayton. Kentucky, for four years and bas had charge of the Wil- mington schools for the past eleven years and has just been re-employed for three years more.
The WUmington schools now require twenty-eight teachers and enroll nine hundred pupila, The high school has grown under his administration from about one hundred puplis to more than two hundred and is necredited by the North Central College Associa- tion of the I'nited States and recently by Pennsylvania University. Professor West bas graduated more than five hundred young men and women and, so far as he knows, prac- fleally all have turned out to be useful and successful citizens.
For a dozen years Professor West conducted summer schools for teachers, was minny timex president of the County Teachers' Association, taught and lectured in the annual Institutes of Clinton and other counties, made numerous educational and some political addresses and was for some years a member of the American Economic Association. He obtained a professional life certificate from the state board of examiners in 1886. He has served for twenty-four years and six months as a member of the Clinton county board of school examiners and was secretary for one year of the Ohio association of county and city examiners. He was a member of the first school book board of Ohio, by appointment of Governor Campbell, who was its chairman, and although not a candidate, received the vote of bis congressional district for state school commissioner, at one of the state con- ventions. He is now a member of the Clinton County Teachers' Awwwiation, the Central Ohio Teachers' Association, the state and national associations.
Professor West is a clear and forcible writer and an efficient public speaker and enjoys the confidence of his constituents and fellow workers in his city, county and state. Professor West is a Republican. He is a Masem, an Elk and a Knight of Pythlas, In «burch affiliation, he is a member of the society of Friends.
On April 17, 1844, Edwin P. West was married to Josephine Walker, daughter of W. W. and Mary Hackney Walker. of Martinsville, member of old and respected familles of the county, Mrs. West taught for three years before her marriage and two years after. They have two daughters. Vivien and Mary, both horn in New Vienna. Vivien on August 25, 1587, and Mary on March 20, 1NM.
Vivien, after graduating from the Dayton. Kentucky, high school, attended Cin- cinnati I'niversity for a year and is a graduate of the Oxford College for Women, in the class of 1907. In 1911 she was married to Floyd C. Williams, a son of Captain Williams. of Portsmouth, Ohio, and a graduate of Miami University. They have one son, William West Williams, who was born on April 23. 1913. They reside in Hyde Park, a beautiful suburb of Cincinnati, in which city Mr. Williams is engaged in the practice of law.
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Mary, the youngest daughter, is a graduate of the Wilmington high school. Wilmington College and of Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, the largest and one of the best girls' schools in the world. graduating from last named institution in the class of 1910, soon after her twentieth birthday.
J. W. B. CROUSE.
Among the members of that considerable army which the impoverished Duke of Hesse sold to the government of George III of England, for use against the American colonists during the long struggle of the Intter for independence, was one Joba Crouse, who, following the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, declined, along with hundreds of others of the Hessians, to return to his native land, preferring to put in his lot with those valiant patriots against whom his reluctant arms had been turned. John Crouse settled in Virginia and soon became a person of substance. There he married and reared n family, his descendants today being numbered among the most patriotic and loyal citizens of this great republic. One of John Crouse's sons, John, married Rhoda Matson, of Vir- ginia, member of an old colonial family, and, about the year 1818. emigrated with his family to Ohio, loenting in the neighborhood of Cuba, in this county, where he soon became one of the most substantial and influential citizens of that vicinity. John Crouse. Jr., was an energetic and forceful man, full of enterprise and push, and presently was known as one of the large landowners of Clinton county, he being the possessor of approximately six hundred acres of excellent land, which he brought to a fine state of cultivation. He lived to a ripe old age and in 1851 erected the fine old home which still stands on the Crouse farm. He and his wife reared a large family, only one of whom is now living, the venerable Mrs. Nancy Thatcher, of Wilmington, this county.
Henry Crouse, one of the sons of John and Rhoda ( Matson) Crouse, received a lim- ited education in the schools of his home neighborhood, being trained in the ways of successful agriculture by his energetic father, on whose place he remained until 1867, in which year he bought a small farm of ninety acres in the eastern part of Washington township, where he spent the rest of his life. This farm is now owned and occupied by one of Henry Crouse's sons, Isaac T. Cronse. Henry Crouse married Elizabeth Penn- ington, who was born in Washington township, this county, daughter of Isnac and Eliza- beth (Burk) Pennington, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Clinton county in an early day in the settlement of the county, locating in the Cuba neighborhood. Isaac Pennington was a thrifty man, possessed of keen business sense, and in his day was regarded as one of the wealthy men of the county, bis extensive intersts in this county not being confined wholly to his fine farm of two hundred aeres in Washington town- ship. To the union of Henry Crouse and Elizabeth Pennington seven children were born. Ave sons and two daughters, Henry Crouse and his wife were members of the Christian church and did well their part in the development of the best interests of their com- munity, rearing their children in the Christian faith, from which they have not departed. Henry Crouse was an excellent citizen, upright and honorable in his dealings with his fellowmen, and was held in high regard throughout that community. a regard to which his neighbors gave ample expression when they elected him to the important position of township trustee, an office which he held for some years, during which time he was able to exert a fine Influence In the way of advancing the public welfare.
J. W. Crouse, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Pennington) Crouse, was born on the old Crouse farm in Washington township and received his education in the district schools of that vielnity. Reared to the life of the farm, he has continued farming all his life and his industry and enterprise have been properly rewarded, he now being very well circumstanerd as regards the goods of this world, his fine farm of two hundred and three acres, twenty-seven acres of which is in his wife's name, being regarded as one of the most productive farms In the neighborhood. Mr. Cronse has given much atten-
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tion to stock raising and has been particularly successful as a feeder of hogs. In 1901 he erected a fine new barn, at the same time remodeling the old barn, and is well equipped for carrying on his farming operations according to the most approved system of modern agriculture.
On December 21, 1876. J. W. B. Crouse was united in marriage to Clarinda Baker, who was born on the farm where she and her husband now live, daughter of William Baker and wife, Kentucklans, who settled on this farm in 1835. To J. W. B. and Clarinda (Baker) Crouse, two children have been born, namely : Bruce B., who lives on the home place, married Jennie Rhodes and has one child, a son. Burdette R. ; and Mabel V., who married Guynn Shelton and died, leaving one child, a daughter. Mabel V.
Mr. and Mrs. Crouse are members of the Christian church and are warmly concerned in the various beneficences of the congregation to which they are attached, being promin- ent in all good works thereabout, and are highly esteemed by all. Mr. Crouse is an Odd Fellow and is much Interested in the affairs of that popular order.
MATTHEW IRVIN.
Born in Ireland, a descendant of one of those zealous Scots colonists whom Crom- well hurled across the Irish sea with the avowed purpose of Protestantizing Ireland, the subject of this brief biographieal review has lived In Clinton county since he was eleven years of age and has done well his part in the affairs of his community. Prosper- ing with the years, he now is in a position to take his ease In "the sunset time" of his life. he now being well past the three-score-and-ten stage of his existence, and is living quietly and contentedly in his pleasant home in Unlon township, enjoying the confidence and regard of his neighbors and the entire community.
Matthew Irvin was born In County Down, Ireland, on August 15, 1842. son of Henry and Mary ( Wiley) Irvin, both natives of the same county, members of old Scotch families therein, the former of whom was born in 1788 and died at his home in this county on October 18, 1869, and the latter of whom was born In 1798 and died on November 13. 1869.
Henry Irvin was the son of William Irvin, a stanch Presbyterian of County Down, member of a family that had been represented in that county since the time of the Cromwellian colonization of that section of Ireland, who was a shoemaker by trade. He was a large, strong man and he and his wife reared a considerable family. Henry Irvin grew up in County Down, working on a farm. He married Mary Wiley, a neighbor girl. daughter of Matthew Wiley. a member of another of the many Presbyterian families in that section, to which union were born four children, all of whom are now dend. all having died at their respective homes in this county, save the subject of this sketch, the youngest of the family. namely : William, who died in 1915 at his home in Sabina, this county : Mary, now deceased, who married George Gumley, a well-known farmer of this county : James, who died at the age of eighteen, and Matthew, the immediate subject of this sketch.
In 1849 William Irvin, eldest of the children above named, emigrated to America. coming at once to Ohio and locating in Chester township, this county. The letters he wrote home Inspired his parents to follow him and in 1853 they and their other children came to this county, remaining here the rest of their lives. Henry Irvin became n tenant farmer and he and his family associated themselves with the U'nited Presbyterian church. In their later years Henry Irvin and his wife made their home with their son. Matthew, and there their last days were spent.
Matthew Irvin was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents to their new home In this county. The journey across the water was made in the sailing vessel. "Gilbert." the voyage requiring five weeks and three days. During his early youth, Matthew Irvin aided his father in his work on the farm, later working for other farmers
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"by the day." He was industrious and frugal and in 1887 found himself in a position to buy a farm of his own. This farm of one hundred and one acres in U'nion township was covered with virgin forest, with the exception of twenty acres. He cleared off the tim- ber, drained the soil and brought the place to an excellent state of cultivation. He married in 1×72 and continued to live on this farm until 1854, in which year be bought a farm of seventy acres near Bartonville, moving onto the same, and has since lived there, though still owning the original farm. From the very start of bis agricultural operations, Matthew Irvin recognized the possibility of proft in raising hogs and early became a large feeder of hogs, his money being made in this manner, all the grain he raised being fed to his hogs. For some time past Mr. Irvin has been practically retired from the active work of the farm, having turned the management of his two farms over to his sons, though be still takes a personal Interest in the farm operations, and is taking things easy in his later years.
On December 24, 1872. Matthew Irvin was united in marriage to Sarah Ann Fife, who was born in I'nion township, this county, daughter of William N. and Jane ( Fife) Fife, both natives of County Tyrone. Ireland, who were early settlers in this county, and to this union six children were born. as follow : Heury. born on January 2, 1874, lives on one of his father's farms; Minnie, October 11, 1876. married Jobn Stephens, upon whose death she married, secondly. J. C. Clevenger and lives in Washington township. this county : Dr. James Irvin. December 4, 1550, a prominent practicing physician, of Durant. Iowa : William M .. August 21. 123. who died at the age of one year and five days; Frank. July 20, 1556. a well-known farmer of Vuion township, and Fred. September 3, 150, who lives on the home farm, married L. Dora McMillan and has one child, a daugh- ter. Cleo, aged three years. The mother of these children died on November 13. 1914.
Mr. Irvin is a member of the Central Christian church at Wilmington and ever has been interested in good works and largely influential therein. He is a Democrat and while giving a good citizen's attention to politient matters, never has been regarded as an netive worker in politics, though his Influence ever has been exerted on the side of good government and right morals. He has many friends in the neighborhood in which he has lived so long and in and about Wilmington and is held in the highest regard by all who know him.
HON. FRANK M. CLEVENGER.
The force of heredity is not always so ensily traced in the lives of public men as In the career of the Hon. Frank M. Clevenger, one of Wilmington's best known attorneys and a man of interesting and forerful personality. The fact that his grandfather was Justice of the peace for many years, and his father postmaster, at least shows a pre- disposition in the family for public service, as well as the possession of those personal qualities which are necessary to merit the public confidence. For three generations, this noted family have won the respect of their fellow-countrymen, evidenced by honors which, perhaps, reached their culmination in the election of Frank Clevenger to the state Senate to represent two districts. Mr. Clevenger is now associated with Simeon G. Smith in one of the best-known law firms in this section of the state. He is the son of William and Martha (Compton) Clevenger, and was born on a farm in Washington township. Clinton county, Ohio, on March 8. 1865.
Enos Clevenger. grandfather of our subjert. was the type of pioneer who leaves his Impress upon his times. Born and renred in Frederick county, Virginia. he remained there until after his marriage to Christina Cronse at Winchester. Virginia, in 1824. Soon after this event, they packed their srant household goods on horses, and started northward, penetrating the forests of the new country. The young wife, being of German extraction, bad the racial qualifications of the helpmeet of a pioneer, for she had love of home. courage, contentment and faith, all of which were needed in the trying years that
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followed. Traversing miles of attractive country, the horses of these early settlers were not stopped except temporarily, until they reached Clinton county, Oblo, which became the future home of the family. Here Enos Clevenger became one of the influential men of the community, and was justice of the peace during nearly all of bis residence in the county. He died near Wilmington in 1867, his widow passing away three years later. Both the subject of this sketch and his father were born on the farm on which the old pioneer settled.
William Clevenger, although seventy-nine winters have passed over bis head, is now, and has been for the past twenty-three years connected with the Irwin Auger Bit Company of Wilmington. From 1555 until 1590, he was postmaster of the town, and served with antisfaction to both his own and the opposing political party. During these years, the devotion of his faithful wife, who was a native of Indiana, was no small element in either his happiness or his success. Their five children are all boys. The eldest. George, is now living near North Yakima, Washington; Frank was the second- born ; William W. resides in Santa Anna, Callfornia ; the two youngest died at the ages of four and seven, respectively.
The career of Frank M. Clevenger is of more than ordinary interest, because it records activity in the great world of affairs; it registers the thoughts and deeds of n man who has helped to mold public opinion, as well as the laws effected thereby. Although born on a farm, he did not remain there after his eighteenth year, when, with an ambition which presaged well for his future, he took up his residence In Wilmington in order to attend school. Graduating with honors from the high school in Isso, he began the study of law the following year, was admitted to the bar in 1590, and has been in active practice since that time. For six years, he had his own law office, then establish- ing the firm of Slone, Martin & Clevenger. he practiced with them until 1899. In November, of that year. he went into partnership with Simeon G. Smith, and together, these noted lawyers have made their firm one of the strongest and best known in this jurt of the state.
Mr. Clevenger. while attending to professional duties, has always been an active politician, and as sueb. has made his influence in the community felt. From 19009 to 1911 he represented the fifth and sixth districts in the Ohio state Senate, these districts comprising the counties of CHuton. Fayette, Greene, Ross and Highland. While serving his constituents in this capacity. he was the author of a number of important bills, and was chairman of the special committee appointed to investigate the subject of taxation In Oblo, which investigation resulted In the present law. Although Mr. Clevenger filled the office of state senator with credit both to himself and to the Republican party, under the present system of "rotation of office." now existing, he was not a candidate for re-election.
Notwithstanding his busy professional life. and his public services, Mr. Clevenger has been true to the religious training of his God-fearing parents, and both he and Mrs. Clevenger have been active in the work and worship of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the former Is a trustee. Realizing. too, the benefits to be derived from organization on the social side of life. Mr. Clevenger has allied himself with a number of fraternal organizations, these including the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks lodge. In all of these, affiliation has meant to the noted Inwyer not merely membership, but helpful co-operation.
Mary H. Robinson, a native of Frederick county, Virginia, became the wife of Mr. Clevenger in August. 1590, the ceremony having been performed at her home in Win chester. Virginia. In their home two children have been born, Agnes Virginia and Russell Robinson. MIrs. Clevenger has been a devoted wife and mother, and the circle of friends and acquaintances gained through her husband's prominence In public life. has only added to the number of those who respect and admire her.
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Mr. Clevenger is considered one of the ablest lawyers in the state of Oblo. His keen insight, his ability to strike the correct theory of a case, bis power of logical thought, and of facile expression, all go to make up what is known as "the legal mind." And the crowning tribute to such a man as he, is that his gifts have not been limited to the furthering of personal desires and interests, but have been considered by him in the nature of a trust to be used for the common good. With what success this ideal bas been attained may be judged by bis usefulness and prominence in the community in which the name of Clevenger has been honored in the past, as well as in the present generation.
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