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 67

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 67

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denomination. He had enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War, but the regiment was sent back in four days. Philip A. Snyder and wife were the parents of the following children : Henry, Gilbert, Mary, Sarah Jane, Lewis, Nelson, Warren, Giffon, Anna and Philip Edwin.

Philip Edwin Snyder received his education in the schools of Blanchester. In 1887 he entered the drug and hardware business, working with D. H. Moon. When he entered the business he had invested twenty-five dollars. In a short time afterward a hardware business was formed. In 1805 the big fire swept over Blanchester, burned the store and stock, and having lost the entire stock and the results of his hard labor in this fire. Philip E. Snyder revived the business with his savings of three hundred dollars. He opened a store on the street opposite his present location in a small shed which he erected. One year later he removed to the First National Bank building, and sluce to bis present location. He now utilizes over thirteen thousand square feet for his stock of hardware, paints, harness, buggles, china, ranges and five-and-ten-cent department. Hle now has one of the largest hardware stores in southern Ohto. When he undertook to revive the business which had been destroyed by the fire, he found to his great delight that his credit was unlimited, because he had always made it a point to be square in his dealings,

Philip E. Snyder was married in June, 1898, to Lucy Cooper, of Salisbury, Mary- land, and to this marriage have been born three children, Clarence, Harry and Isabel. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Snyder has taken a prominent part in the active work of the church, having served as a director for many years. He is a director In the Ohio Hardware Association, and one of its original members. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.

ALEX CROSSON.

Alex Crosson is one of the prosperous business men of Blanchester, Ohio, who is interested in the lumber business, in the operation of the Blanchester Flour Mill, and Is president of the Merchants and Farmers Bank.

Mr. Crosson was born within one mile of Blanchester, Ohio, on Lick run, July 14. 1844, the son of George and Charlotte (Morrison) Crosson, both natives of Marion township. His paternal grandparents were early settlers in Clinton county, the paternal grandfather having emigrated from Ireland to this country. The maternal grandmother of Mr. Crosson was the first person buried in the cemetery at Blanchester. Both the paternal and maternal sides of the family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both families entered land in Clinton county. Oblo.

The late George H. ('rosson, who received only a limited education, was a farmer by occupation and owned one hundred and thirteen neres of land near Blanchester. Eleven children were born to George and Charlotte ( Morrison) Crosson, five sons and six daughters, of whom one son. Edward, served as a soldier in the Civil War in the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Alex Crosson's early life was spent on the farm and he engaged In farming until five years after bis marriage, when he moved to Blanchester, and entered the meat business, In the fall of 1870 he "salted" one hundred hogs in partnership with Squire Rice, but this business was continued ouly a year and one-half. when Mr. Crosson sold out and engaged in the retail lumber and implement business. In 1883 he established a flouring-mill at Blanchester, and still owns and operates this mill. He was one of fourteen men to organize the Merchants and Farmers Bank, of Blanchester, and some years later he heente its president, and still holds this office. It is a private bank, and is now owned by Mr. Crosson and four others. He is also interested in the Starham

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Company, being president of it. He is also connected with a large mercantile store in Blanchester, and is acting as president of this business.

On January 1, 1866, Alex Crosson was married to Mary J. Leggett, and to this union two children were born, Emma and Lenna. In 1876, Mr. Crosson was married, secondly. to Mary E. Supinger, and to this union two children were born, Laura and G. R.

Mr. Crosson is prominent in the circles of Masonic lodge of Blanchester, being a member of both the blue lodge and the chapter.

ROBERT J. LACY.

The gentleman, whose life history is here given, is one of those strong, sturdy characters who have contributed largely to the welfare of the community where he lives, being a business man of more than ordinary sagacity and foresight, and as a citizen, progressive and public spirited in all that the term implies.

Robert J. Lacy is descended from sterling Virginian ancestry, his great-grandparents, John Johnson and Ruth (Clevenger) Lacy, both having been born in the Old Dominion, in which state also part of their children were born. In 1816 they drove through with wagons to Clinton county, Oblo, buying a tract of land near Cuba. He cleared and improved the place, but eventually claimants to the title of Mr. Lacy's land made their appearance and in court they defeated him and he died without much property. To him and his wife were born ten children, five sons and five daughters. Robert J. Lacy's paternal grandfather, Enos Lampkin Lacy, was born near Apple Pie ridge, Virginia, in 1806, and died on April 1, 1880, near Wilmington, Ohio. He always carried on farming and first bought one hundred acres of land near Burtonville, Ohlo, which he sold one year later and bought two hundred acres of timber land in Union township. Of this he cleared up one hundred and fifty acres and sold the remainder to bis brother. In 1860 he bought a tract of land just south of the city of Wilmington and lived there until his death, in 1880. He was prominent in the county and was an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, serving as county commissioner of Clinton county. He was interested in local affairs and served as a director of the First National Bank.

Enos L. Lacy married Sarab Wright, who was born in Clinton county, Ohio, In 1808 and died in 1862. She was the daughter of Abel and Sarah Wright, who were natives of Pennsylvania and became early settlers in Washington township, Clinton county. where the father followed farming. To Enos I .. and Sarah Lacy were born the following children: Joshua, who is now eighty-seven years of age; Elijah, who is deceased and who was a prominent farmer in Clinton county and the father of Robert J., and Peter, who was a retired lumberman and lived In Knoxville, Illinois, where he died on July 26, 1915, at the age of eighty-four. Joshua now lives on the site of his father's old home on the south edge of the city of Wilmington. Joshua Lacy was mar- ried on March 12. 1850, to Ruth C. Bankston, who is still living. Joshua Lacy owns many acres of land and is numbered among the prosperous men of his locality.

The maternal grandparents of Robert J. Lacy were residents of and died in Indiana and there his mother. Sarah Jane Lea, was born on January 21. 1827. Her death occurred in Wilmington, Ohio, in 1804. On November 8, 1852, she was married to Elijah Lacy, who was born In Clinton county, Ohio, on April 22, 1829, and who died on October 31, 1901, in Wilmington, Ohio. Elijah Lacy was reared and lived on the home farm until 1889, when he retired and moved to Wilmington. He was a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations and was a man of splendid personal character. To him and his wife were horn four children: Augusta, who died in 1884, and who was the wife of Doctor Connard, of New Vienna, Ohio; A. Wulbur, a retired farmer, who lives in Wilmington : Mary E., who died on February 25. 1914, and who was the wife of Dr. George W. Wire, of Wilmington ; and Robert J., who is the subject of this sketch.

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Robert J. Lacy was reared on his father's farm and secured a good practical edu- cation In the public schools. He remalued on the home farm until about thirty years of age and then moved to Wilmington and engaged in the livery business for several years. He had taken a deep interest in public affairs and his ability and interest were recognized In 1899, when he was elected sheriff of Clinton county. This was a marked evidence of his popularity, for, although a Democrat, he was elected in a county which has for many years been known as "rock-ribbed" Republican, he being the first Demo- crat to hold a county office for over thirty years. Mr. Lacy's residence is at 228 North South street. Since the expiration of his efficient term, he has been giving his attention to his private business affairs and the management of bis farms. Mr. Lacy was one of the founders and has served as president since its organization of the Clinton County Mutual Insurance Company. A man of good business judgment and forceful personality, be has made his presence felt in local business circles and is numbered among the good business men of his community.

On May 13, 1800, Robert J. Lacy was married to Loule A. Evans, who was born in Greene county, Ohio, near Spring Valley, the daughter of Isaac and Matilda Catherine (Stump) Evans. Isaac Evans now lives retired in Xenia, Ohio, and his wife died In 1897, at the age of sixty-two years. Matilda Evans was the daughter of Jonas and Prudence (Smalley ) Stump, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Clinton county, Ohio. Mrs. Stump's parents had come to this state from Pennsylvania. her father being one of the first settlers of Clinton county. Isaac Evans' parents were Robert and Sarah (Copie) Evans, both natives of Carolina, who came to Greene county. Ohio, in the early days. Here Mr. Evans had a mill on the Miami river. They were Quakers in religious belief.

CAREY A. HOLLADAY.

Men who begin the duties of life under serious handienp and without the patient and affectionate guidance of parents of their own flesh and blood are entitled to the profound respect of the community for whatever they accomplish in life. Carey A. Hol- laday, a prominent undertaker of Wilmington, Ohio, was adopted by a family without children when he was one and one-half years old, and, taking their name at that age, never knew any other than his foster-parents', who were Louis and Nancy ( Cartwright) Holladay, both natives of Highland county, Ohio, and both now deceased. While his early life was protected, in so far as foster-parents are capable of guarding and protect- Ing the Interests of a child, yet from the time he was ten years old Carey A. Holladay was compelled to shift, for himself. That he succeeded unaided in his personal efforts is a great tribute to his personal energy and worth.

Carey A. Holladay was born at Sabina, Clinton county, Ohio, September 7, 1865. His foster-father died on June 25, 1899, and his foster-mother died on July 4, 1910. The former was a farmer nenr Sabina and an ardent Republican politically, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He and his wife had no children of their own.

Educated in the public schools of Sabina, Ohio, In 1875, at the age of ten years, Carey A. Holladay came to Wilmington, and for the next eight years worked at what- ever he could find to do. In 1883 he began working for C. A. Marble, a well-known under- taker, and learned the business from him. Subsequently, he attended a professional school at Columbus, Ohio, and on January 1. 183, bought out Mr. Marble, and after that, until April 4, 1903. he was in partnership with Frank MeDonald in the undertak. ing business. On the latter date be purchased the interest of Mr. MeDonald and since that time has carried on the business alone. In 1997 Mr. Holladay and Mr. McDonald pur- chased the Thomas Carruthers corner in Wilmington and he still lives in that home.

In October, 1888, Mr. Holladay was married to Margaret Smith, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, and the daughter of Austin and Martha Smith, both of whom are now

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deceased. He was a farmer in Union townshlp. Mrs. Holladay died on February 15, 1905. leaving only her husband in her immediate family.

Carey A. Holladay is a member of the Presbyterian church and a Republican in polities. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles and the Junior Order of I'nited American Mechanics.

Mr. Holladay is a man of generous and humane impulses, charitable to a fault, hon- ored and respected by his fellow townsmen, and worthy of their highest commendation and praise. Needless to say that he is the recipient of their respect and esteem, freely conferred upon him in bountiful measure.

WILLIAM H. CARNAHAN.

The earliest Carnahans known In America were two brothers, who came from Ireland, one of whom took a claim where Washington, D. C., now stands. The other located in Pennsylvania. It is from the brother who located on the site of the capital that William H. Carnahan is descended. Later he removed from Washington, D. C., to North Carolina, and became the father of Anron Carnahan, the great-grandfather of William H. James, the brother who located in Pennsylvania, was either a captain or lieutenant in the War of 1812, and after the close of that war was drowned in the Susquehanna river.

William H. Carnahan, a well-known merchant of Blanchester. Ohlo, and dealer in farm Implements, was born near Cuba, Clinton county, January 17, 1849, the son of David and Deborah (Thornhill) Carnahan, the former a native of Somerset, Kentucky, and the latter a native of Tennessee.

David Carnahan carried a chain on the survey of the road from Goshen, Indiana, to Martinsville, Ohio. He was born in Kentucky in 1812, the son of Aaron and Alvira (Mitchell) Carnahan, who, in 1831, settled in Washington township. Clinton county, Ohio, where they acquired a farm and where they subsequently died. David Carnahan was educated in the pioneer schools of his home neighborhood, and after his marriage rented a farm in Washington township, receiving as his share all that he raised. After his father's death he lived with his mother for a time, and then removed to Marion township, where he purchased fifty acres of land. This tract had a double log house upon it. but in 1856 he built a two-story brick house, which is still standing. Subse- quently, he added forty-six acres to his original holdings, and owned at the time of his death ninety-six acres of excellent land. Mr. Carnahan's wife, the mother of William H., was Deborah Thornhill. who was born In Ohio in 1914, the daughter of Barnett and Ruth (Jones) Thornhill. natives of Kentucky, and early settlers in Washington town- ship. Clinton county. Ohio, where they engaged in farming. David Carnahan and wife were the parents of ten children, of whom four sons, Jobn. Fergus, Barnett and Auron, were soldiers in the Civil War. John was a member of Company C. Fifty-fourth Regi- ment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a regiment of Zouaves. Fergus was a soldier in the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regiment, Oblo Volunteer Infantry. Barnett was a member of Company C. Seventy-ninth Regiment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and Aaron also served in the same company as his brother. Barnett. The latter was on the march from Atlanta to the sen with General Sherman, and when the regiment participated in the Grand Review at Washington, only twenty members of his company were left. Barnett, however. was not in a hospital nor an ambulance during his entire service. The other members of this family were Ruth, Harvey, William H., James, Mary and Louisa. Mrs. David Carnahan died at the home of her daughter. Mra. Mary Trovilo. at Blanchester.

William H. Carnahan received the rudiments of an education in the common schools of Marion township, and in the village schools of Blanchester. During the early years of his life he was engaged In farming, a vocation which he followed for twenty-

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six years on the old home place. In 1877 he entered the farm-Implement business, and has been continuously in this line since. He gives all his time and attention to It and has been very successful In his operations.

In 1883 Mr. Caruahan was married to Ella Wood, of Blanchester, and to this union have been born two children, Lula and Bessie.

Mr. Carnahan is a member of the time-honored order of Free and Accepted Masons. He is a well-known citizen of Blanchester, and one who enjoys the confidence and esteem of all the people of this community, where he has lived for so many years.

ODOS L. HAWORTH.

The late Odos L. Haworth was a well-known business man of Blanchester, this county, a prominent restaurant keeper of that town. He was born at Wilmington, this county, the son of Thomas and Mary (Drake) Haworth, and died on September 22, 1912. Thomas Haworth was born on June 19, 1844, and died on March 28, 1909. He was married on March 5, 1872. to Mary Drake, who was born on September 16, 1848, the daughter of Daniel and Ann ( Messereu) Drake. Thomas Haworth was engaged in farming all of his life in Clinton county and owned seventy-three acres of land in Union township. He and his wife were the parents of four children, of whom Odos L. was the eldest, the others being Ralph W., Clarence L. and Edith D., wife of Orvall Wall. Thomas Haworth was the son of Richard M. and Elizabeth ( West ) Haworth, the former of whom was a native of Clinton county, born at Dover in 1824, and one of the early farmers of this county. He was the son of Mahlon and Phoebe ( Frazier) Haworth, the former of whom was born in Frederick county, Virginia. on October 23, 1775, later emigrating to Tennessee and still later coming to this county, locating at Dover about 1803.

Odos I. Haworth entered the Star restaurant with his father in Sabina in 1896 and was in business tt that point for about two years, moving to Blanchester in 1898, where he continued in the same business the rest of his life. The business is now conducted by his widow. At the age of nineteen years, Odos L. Haworth took up the study of telegraphy at the Clucinnatt & Muskingum Valley railroad station at Wilmington and after having berome proficient as a telegraph operator, worked at Roseville, Washington and Wilmington, becoming express agent, with William McMillan, at the latter point and was twenty-one years old when he entered into partnership with his father in the management of the Star restaurant.

On April 22, 1804. Odos L. Haworth was married to Ada R. Staubus, who was born at Wilmington, daughter of Jouis J. and Mary J. (Clark) Staubus. Louis J. Staubus was born on March 2. 1SI9, in Augusta county, Virginia, and was married on December 22. 1870, to Mary J. Clark, who was born in Augusta county, Virginia, on June 19, 1849, daughter of William D. and Rachel R. (Miller) Clark. Louis J. Staubus was the son of Jacob Staubns, a native of Germany, who came to America with his parents at the nge of four years, locating in Augusta county, Virginia, where he became a farmer and where he and his wife. Regina Swatzel, died. They were the parents of five children. John C., William. David, Louis J. and Ellen. Louis J. Staubus was educated in the common schools of Augusta county, Virginia, and came to Ohio when a young man. After Hving in this state for several years he returned to Virginia, where he was married, and about 1874 he and his wife moved from Highland county, Oblo, to Reeves- ville. He has been a contract plasterer all of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Staubus are the parents of nine children, namely : Cora, who married George Bernard ; Ada R .. who married Odos I .. Haworth: Leona E., who died at the age of six years; Worthy. who married Olive West : Sammel P., who died in infancy; Lottie Ire, who became the wife of James Bernard; Anna L., who is the wife of Harry Brook: Emma, who married

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Granville Gano, and Royal D., who married Gayle Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Staubus are members of the Methodist church, and he votes the Democratic ticket.

To Odos L. and Ada R. (Staubus) Haworth were born two children, Leah Rannells and Dorothy Virginia.

Odos L. Haworth was a well-known citizen of Clinton county, a man who was honorable and upright In all of the relations of life, who was admired by his fellow townsmen and respected for his cordial and friendly attitude toward the public at large, and his death in 1912 was mourned by many friends.

MILTON L. HUNT.

The late Milton I. Hunt, a former well-known banker and merchant of Martins- ville, this county, was born on February 2, 1836, in Clinton county, a son of Jesse and Anna (Moon) Hunt, the former a native of Grayson county, Virginia, and the latter a native of Clark township, this county.

Like most boys born and reared on the farm, Milton L. Hunt attended the country school, but pursued his education further In the high school at Martinsville and in the normal school of Lebanon, Oblo. After finishing his education, he was engaged for eight years in teaching school, during the last three years of which time he was principal of the Martinsville public school. He then became a book-keeper in the Clinton County National Bank of Wilmington, a position which he occupied uutil October, 1867, when he engaged in the mercantile business at Martinsville, with Larkin Cleland, under the firm name of Cleland & Hunt. About six years later this firm succeeded Moore & Hunter in the Farmers Bank, and Mr. Hunt was engaged in the banking business until his health failed. in 1896. After retiring from business, in that year, he continued to live at Martinsville until his death, in 1907.

Having begun life with very limited means, Milton L. Hunt succeeded in a large measure as a teacher, merchant and banker, and, at the time of his death, few men living in Clinton county were more widely known or more highly respected than he. For sixteen years be served as township treasurer of Clark township and as treasurer of the special school district and corporation for the same length of time. For five years he was a member of the board of school examiners.

On November 1. 1866. Milton L. Hunt was married to Sarah E. Wright, daughter of James and Mary Jane ( West) Wright, who was born in Clark township, this county, on September 29, 1845. Mrs. Hunt's father, James Wright, was born in South Carolina in 1804. the son of John and Sarah ( Haworth) Wright, prominent members of the Society of Friends in South Carolina. About 1808 John Wright entered land on the present site of Martinsville and eventually became the owner of a large tract of land, including a farm that Mrs. Hunt now owns. John Wright erected his first house where Mrs. Milton LA. Hunt now lives in Martinsville, but in that time there were no neighbors for miles around and the land was a dense wilderness. He and his wife were descendants of good old Quaker stock and were devoted members of the Friends church. James Wright's wife, who, before her marriage, was Mary Jane West, was the daughter of James West, who was the son of Owen West, one of the ploneer settlers of Clinton county. James and Mary Jane ( West) Wright had only two daughters, one of whom died early in life, the other being Sarah E., who is now the widow of Milton L. Hunt.

To Milton L and Sarah E. (Wright) Hunt were born two sons, James Wright Hunt and Reid Hunt. The former was graduated from the Harvard Law School, and Immediately after his graduation began the practice of his profession at Duluth. Minne- sota, and has become one of the successful lawyers in the great northwest. He married Hildegard Pearl, a native of Texas, July, 1901. Reld Hunt, the other son, who is a well-known pharmacologist, was born on April 20, 1875, at Martinwe'lle. The following account of him is condensed from "Who is Who In America :" "He received the

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Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns-Hopkins University in 1801, the Pb. D. degree in 1896. Later he was a student at the I'niversity of Bonn, Germany, and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore in 1896. On December 12, 1008, he married Mary Lillie. daughter of Haunis Taylor, minister to Spain during the two administrations of President Cleveland. He has successfully been a tutor in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, pro- fessor of pharmacology in Jobus-Hopkins, chief of the division of pharmacology in the United States public health and marine hospital service, and is the author and joint author of a large number of technical works on medicine and pharmacology." Reid Hunt is now professor of pharmacology in Harvard Medical School.

The late Milton L. Hunt was a prominent member of the Society of Friends, and his widow is also a member of the Friends church.

JAMES F. FITZHUGHI.

Few men in Clinton county are better known or more generally popular than the gentleman whose name forms the caption of this biographical review. On both the paternal and maternal sides of his family James F. Fitzhugh is a sclon of distinguished families in this section of Ohio, pioneers who exerted a powerful influence in the forma- tive period of this favored region. His father was a second cousin of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the leader of the Confederacy, and he was connected with the Washington family through his grandmother. Anne Ashton, who was a daughter of Augustine Washington, brother of George Washington: while his mother was the daughter of one of the fore- most pioneers of southwestern Ohio, her father having been one of the first two lawyers who began practice in Xenia, and for many years was a prominent member of the Ohlo General Assembly. It is a pleasure on the part of the biographer to here set out some of the salient points in the interesting career of Mr. Fitzhugh, who stands in the fore- front among the citizens of the city of Wilmington.

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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 67

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