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 73
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Henry H. and Mary (Paxton) Moon were well-known in their community. Henry HI. Moon, who was a farmer, died in 1881, three years after the death of his wife, who passed away on July 3, 1879. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a Republican. Their family was large, according to present-day standards, consisting of eleven children, as follow : Renben P., deceased : Jeptha Davis, deceased : Sylvester B., M. D., of Wilmington, eighty years of age; Darius Hoffman, the subject of this sketch ; Frances Marion ; Milton W .; Lydia M .; William, deceased : Lawson P., and two who died in infancy.
Darius Moon spent all of his early life on his father's farm, this comprising a period of twenty years, during which time he learned the carpenter's trade. When war was declared. he was among the brave youth who enlisted. being enrolled in Company B .. the One Hundred and Tenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served for two years and seven months. He was of the famous Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac. being first and second lieutenant of his company. He was in the battles of Winchester.
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the first and second Wilderness campaigns, and Cedar Creek, and was wounded at Manassas Junction, Maryland. During bis long period of military service, Mr. Moon was popular both with officers and men.
At the close of the war, Mr. Moon purchased a drug store, and engaged in this bust- ness for the following thirty-four years, being successful enough to retire about thirteen years ago. Mr. Moon owns the valuable property on the corner of Broadway and Main streets, besides other houses and lots.
Darius H. Moon was married to Osee Frances Strawn, who was born on August 24, 1845. in Lebanon, Warren county, Oblo, the daughter of Thomas S. and Margaret ( Williams) Strawn, pioneers of Warren county. Mrs. Moon's grandfather, Enos Will- Jams, has the distinction of having been the first tencher in the township in which Lebanon is situated, having also held the position of county auditor, as well as other public offices in the county. The father of Mrs. Moon was a Republican, and formerly a Whig. He died in 1886, his wife living three years longer, and passing away at the age of seventy-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Moon are the parents of an only sou, Alden M., who is a druggist of San Antonio, Texas. His wife was Pearl Scott, a daughter of David Scott, an attorney of Blanchester. Alden M. Moon and wife have one son, Marvin Scott.
Mr. Moon has been for many years, a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and has been a Mason for fifty years. He is a man of estimable character, a citizen whom his city is proud to honor, a business man of striet adherence to principle, and n friend deserving of friendship.
W. L. DOWDEN.
From the time of Tubal Cain, the artificer in iron has been one of the most Impor- tant factors in civilization. He it was who forged the first implements of the field and the weapons of war. The iron worker made possible the mail-clad knights of the middle nges, and later the cannon which changed the whole course of civilization. In all the communities of Ohio the blacksmith has made the tools the farmer used. the axes, the saws, the hoes and the horseshoes. No community could dispense with the services of the blacksmith for these reasons, and too much respect cannot be accorded this impor- tant vocation. W. L. Dowden, familiarly known to his friends as "Mont." is a well-to-do blacksmith at Sabina, this county, and the owner of a good farm in Fayette county.
W. L. Dowden was born in Fayette county, Ohio, on January 14, 1857, the son of Ashford and Elizabeth (Rowe) Dowden, the former of whom was a native of Ohio, born in 1835, and died in 1911, and the latter of whom also was born in 1835, and died in 1911. She was a daughter of John and Lydia Rowe. Mr. Dowden's grandfather, Thomas Dowden, married Lucinda Stewart, and was a pioneer blacksmith in the early days of Ohio. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom Ashford was the eldest. the others being James, Jane, Otho. Reece, John, Sarah and Samuel.
Ashford Dowden, the father of W. L., worked on his father's farm while he was a young man, and also learned the blacksmith's trade, working in Buena Vista. Ohio. While living in Fayette county. he was superintendent of the Fayette county Infirmary for six years. In 1881 he moved to Sabina. this county, and there followed his trade as a blacksmith, practically until the time of his death. He was mayor of Sabina for twelve years and was prominently identified with the Republican party. He and his wife were earnest and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, while be was fraternally connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His denth ocenrred in 1911. Ashford and Elizabeth (Rowe) Dowden were the parents of four children, of whom W. L. was the eldest. The second born was A. N., and the third in order of birth was Ida J., who became the wife of Charles Hough, of Washington (. H., Ohio, while Thomas, the youngest, also lives in Washington C. H.
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W. L. Dowden was educated in the public schools of Buena Vista, Ohio, and when he was still a young man learned the blacksmith's trade, beginning his career as an artificer in iron in Sabina in 1853, more than thirty years ago, and during these three decades he has endeared himself to the hearts of the people of this community and prospered in a commercial and business way. Until 1896, W. L. Dowden was in partner- ship with his brother, A. N. Dowden, and since that time has operated a shop of his own. Mr. Dowden also owns one hundred and thirty acres of land In Jasper township, Fayette county, Ohio, which he rents out to reliable tenants. A. N. Dowden is also a blacksmith at Sabina, and is engaged in general blacksmithing. He was married in 1885 to Carrie B. Culberson, the daughter of William and Ann Culberson, and to this union were born four children, May Opal. Hazel (deceased ), Louis and Evelyn.
W. L. Dowden was married in 1880 to Amanda Henkle, the daughter of Ephraim Henkle, and to this union have been born three children, two of whom, an uunamed infant and Earply E., are deceased. The latter died at the age of ten years. Leon B., the first born, married V. R. Day, and they have one child, Corwin Elson.
Both the Dowden families are members of the Methodist Protestant church. W. L. Dowden is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He served one term as a member of the Sabina school board, and one term as a member of the Sabina town council. Politically, be is a Republican. His brother. A. N. Dowden, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and owns bis blacksmith shop, as well as town property in Sabina.
ELLIS A. LEWIS.
Great achievements always excite admiration and men who perform large deeds are those whom the world delights to honor. The man of Initiative is the one who forges to the front in the commercial and financial world. Among the distinctive captains of industry, farmers and financiers of Clinton county, Ohio, a place of priority must be accorded to the venerable Ellis A. Lewis, of Sabina, who is president of two private banks; who owns one thousand acres of splendid farming land in this county, and who is descended from a very eminent family in this section. He is, in the fullest sense of the term, a progressive, self-made American, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the advanced age in which he lives. He is careful and systematic in his business affairs and has not permitted the accumulation of fortune to effect in any way his actions toward those less fortunate than he. He is a most sympathetic and broad-minded man and bas a host of warm and admiring friends
Ellis A. Lewis was born on April 6. 1542. at New Vienna, Clinton county, Ohio. . He is the son of Isaac and Mary J. (Hoskins) Lewis, the former of whom was born on March 25. 1821. in Green township, Clinton county, and the latter of whom was born in 1820 in what is known as the Hoskins settlement of Green township, and who is the daughter of John and Hannah ( Hocket ) Hoskins, They were married In 1840.
The grandparents of Ellis A. Lewis were Amos and Phoebe ( Nordike) Lewis the former of whom was born in 1795 in Virginia and who, in 1812, left the Old Dominion state on horseback, crossed the mountains at Wheeling. West Virginia, and from there took a flatboat to Cincinnati. After remaining in Cincinnati about four months, during which he helped to build a small brick church on Fourth street, the Arst brick church ever erected in Cincinnati. he came to Highland county. Ohle. In 1813. the next year. he was married to Phoebe Nordike. They lived In Clinton county until 1862. at which time they moved to Harrisburg. Jinols, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Amos Lewis died at the age of seventy-three after having reared a family of six chil- dren : Lemuel, Isaac, Sarina, Priscilla. Aquilla and Acenth. All of the members of this family were Identified with the Friends church.
Educational advantages were somewhat limited during the boyhood and youth of
CLINTON COUNTY, OHIO.
W. I. Louder was minated in the public schools of Buena Vista, Ohio, and when was still a suone man learned the blacksmith's triple. beginning his career as at ainter in from in Sabina in 1 % more than thirty years ago, and during these three Coudes he has oudeured himself to the hearts of the people of this community mind ship with his lecture. A. N Dowden, and share that this has operated a sheep of his own. Mr. Dos len who owns one hundred and thirty seres of land in Jasper township, Fayette county, Offe, But be really out to reliable than A. N. Dowden is also a blacksmith At Nthing nud @ engaged in general blacksmithing. He was married in Issa to Cartle 1. Ontberen, the Daughter of Withham and Jan Culberson, and to this union were born for children. May Opal. Buzet (decenami). lamis aud Evelyn.
W. J. leiden was warrant in Isso to Ammanada Benkle, the daughter of Ephirions Henkin, And to this union have been born three children. iwo of whom, at anusted Infant and Harply F ... are decorated. The latter died at the age of ten years Lawn B. the first born, married V. R. Dms, and they have one child, Corwin Elsdi.
Both the Dowden familles are members of the Methodist Protestant church. W. L. Howder is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellowes. He served on Form as a haber of the Sabina s bout iward, and one term as a member of the Nabius town
the Masem freternity. att owns ti- blacksmith shop, as well as town property in Sabin ..
ELLIN A. LEWIS.
. ments always excite admiration and then why perform large deals are world delichis to homar. The man of Initiative is the one who forced to commercial and themetal world. Among the distinctive captains of * appt Maandlers of d'union county. Ohio, a place of priority thus to
.. . Hostin more of splendid farming land in this county, and who Trong a combinar format in this section. He is in the fullest sense of 4. Self-made American thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of
al Mary J. | Hoskins Lewis the former of whom was born
After condining in theunit about four months. during belek mich on Fourth street, the first brick church
mariapure, Ill mode, where they lived the recumitder of their lives pun of seventy three after having teared a family of ax ul fromhim. Selim a Seventh. All of the members of time
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Isaac Lewis, the father of Ellls A., and his schooling was confined to a limited attend- ance at subscription schools in Green township, where for a short time, he was enrolled about three months euch winter. School houses in those days were built of logs, the win- dows consisted of oiled paper and books were very few. As a young man, Isaac Lewis learned the tanner's trade and engaged in this business for twelve years at New Vienna, after which he took up farming on the old home farm in Green township, where he farmed until 1885. After that time, he lived with his son. Ellis A., passing away in February, 1005, at the age of eighty-four. He and his wife bad only three children : Ellis A., who was the eldest ; Emily, deceased, who married William T. Haydock; and Hannah A., who married Seth Smith and lives at Selma, Ohio. All of the members of Isaac Lewis's family were identified with the Society of Friends. He was an ardent Republican.
Ellis A. Lewis received his education in the public schools of Green township and when a young man, he worked on his father's farm while not attending school. By the time he had reached his majority, he was taken into full partnership with his father In farming and stock dealing. This partnership lasted until the spring of 1878. Five years previously they became stockholders in the New Vienna Bank and Ellis A. bad become assistant cashier of the bank. In 1877 he severed his connection with the bank except, however that he retained bis stock. On February 13. 1875. he came to Sabina. Ohio, and opened the Sabina Bank as president and two years later became cashier with his father as president. After remaining cashier for several years, he again beenme president of the same bank and still holds this position. It was established and is still maintained as n private bank. When the bank was established, it had a capital of only ten thousand dollars but, at the present time, its general business amounts annually to about three hundred thousand dollars. In 1800 Mr. Lewis established a private bank at Glouster. Ohio, and is now president of this Institution. For a period of twelve years he was connected with a brick plant at Glouster. He built his home In Sabina In 1×55 and 1886 and at the present time owns about one thousand acres of land in Clinton county, most of which is rentel. Mr. Lewis also has extensive coal mining Interests at Gionster.
In 1877 Ellis A. Lewis was married to Emma Hadley, the daughter of Samuel and Ruth (Smith) Hadley, who hore him eight children: Mary Ruth, who is a practicing physician at Swarthmore College and has her office with Doctor Grin, of Philadelphia ; Flora H., who married Walter W. Jacob, of Mooreland, Pennsylvania, a druggist in the firm of Jacob Brothers, and has one son. Ellis Lewis: William E., who is a real estate dealer, married Anna Tanner and has two children, Emma Jane and William; Robert I., who is a salesman and treasurer of the Athens Brick Company at Athens, Ohio. married Edith Rannels and has two children. Allen R. and Robert Ellis; Samuel Hadley, who was superintendent of the Wassel Brick Company and who was killed on June 25, 1913, married Leona Smith and had one daughter. Mary Hadley : Isaac, who is n farmer near Bay City. Texas. married Ethel Burnett and has two children. Elizabeth and Richard: Ralph, who is assistant cashier of the Sabina Bank. married Catherine MeKinstery: and John C., who is assistant cashier of the Glouster State Bank of Glouster. Olio.
Mrs. Ellis A. Lewis, the mother of these children. died on February 5. 1508, and on July 31, 1007. Mr. Lewis was married to Mrs. Anna (Mills) Sewell, the daughter of Jonathan and Rhola Mills, of Wilson township. Mrs. Lewis' first husband, William J. Sewell, was a graduate of Wilmington College, superintendent of the Sabina schools and county examiner.
No man living in Clinton county today is more highly respected than Ellis A. Lewis. Few men are better known in this section of Ohio than he and few bave done more to promote the development of this great county.
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ALBERT H. MILLS.
Albert H. Milis is a well-known rural-mail carrier of Sabina, this county, and one of the highly-respected citizens of Richland township. He was born on October 25. 1852. in Wilton township, this county, the son of Jonathan and Rhoda (Peelle) Mills, the former of whom was born on June 6, 1520, at Richmond, Indiana, and the latter on August 20, 1815, in Wilson township. They were married on November 23, 1844. Rboda Peelle was the daughter of John and Lydia (Bundy ) Peelle, the former of whom was a native of North Carolina and a farmer by occupation. He was an early settler in Wilson township, a large land-owner for the time in which he lived, and he and his wife were active members of the Friends church at Grassy Run, being also active in local affairs generally in their day and generation. Seven children were born to John and Lydia Peelle, William, Reuben, Mark, Emuma, Rhoda, Mary and Lydia, all of whom now are deceased.
The paternal grandparents of Albert II. Mills were Hezekiah and Dorcas ( Bentley) Mills, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. They were married In 1813 and had eleven children, of whom only three, Jonathan, Rebecca and John, are now living. The deceased children were Benjamin, Joseph, Jesse, William, Hannah. Thomas, Mil- ton and Melinda. Hezekiah Mills and wife came to Obio shortly after their marriage, in 1813, and purchased fifty acres of land in Wilson township, this county, later emi- grating to Indiana, where they lived for a short time, after which they moved to Neoga. in Cumberland county, Illinois, where they spent the rest of their lives. Hezekiah Mills taught the first school in Wilson township, this county. He was a member of the Friends church and was very active in the affairs of that church.
Joseph and Hannah (Morris) Mills, the paternal great-grandparents of Albert H Mills, were natives of North Carolina, the former of whom was the son of Jobn Mills, also a native of that state. They were the parents of six children, Hannab. Jane, Jonathan, Hezekiah, John and Joseph. After their marriage they immigrated to Ohio and settled in Clinton county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Hannah Mills living to be ninety-eight years old.
Jonathan Mills, the father of Albert H., was educated in the common schools of Clinton county at the time when only three books were generally used in the schools- a primer, a spelling-book and the Bible. Jonathan Mills moved to Clinton county in December. 1844, and settled on one hundred and ten acres of land. He built a house of howed logs immediately after moving here and another house in 1854. He and bis wife were always active in the Friends church, which held meetings in this community twice a week, and were regular attendants at the services. They were the parents of Ove children, Calvin. Lewis, Albert H .. Elias and Anna. Of these children. Calvin. n resident of Illinois. married Fannie Janes, who later died, and after her death he mar- died Jennie Jones. Lewis married Emma Bevan, of Wilson township. Ellas, who lives on the home place, married Emma Fellers, and, after her death, Mertie Rayburn. Anna, who is a resident of Sabina, this county, married Prof. J. W. Sewell, and, after his death, married Ellis A. Lewis
Albert H. Mills was educated in the common schools of Wilson township and in the normal school at Lebanon, Ohio. He taught four years in all, one year in the common schools of Clinton conuty and three years in Greene county, this state. On December 30. 1879, Mr. Mills was married to Anna Burris, the daughter of James L. and Amanda ( Hall) Burris, of Clinton county. James L. Burris was a farmer, who owned about nine hundred acres of land at one time in Clinton and Fayette counties, He was an active member of the Friends church, a member of the Masonic lodge, and was also active In the Grange. He died on June 5. 1912, and his widow lives at Sabina. They were the parents of eight children, John H., Elizabeth Ellen, Anna. William, Emma,
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Harvey, Bert and Berdette, the latter deceased. John H., who lives in Sabina, is unmar- ried. Elizabeth E. married G. A. Pavey, of Sabina. Anna is the wife of Mr. Mills. William, who is also unmarried, lives at Sabina. Emma married Paul Palmer, of Washington C. H., Oblo. Harvey married Addie Mckay, of Fayette county, and Bert married Rose Ellis, of Clinton county.
Mrs. Mills's father, James Burris, married Amanda Hall, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Harvey and Nancy ( Vanbook) Hall, the former of whom was born in Kentucky, a farmer by occupation, who moved to Obio about sixty-five years ago and settled in Wilson township. this county, where he became an extensive stock raiser. He was an active member of the Christian church. The grandparents of Mrs. Mills were William T. and Elizabeth ( Arnold ) 'Burris, natives of North Carolina and Fayette county, Obto, respectively. William T. Burris came to Ohio before his marriage and became the owner of about four hundred acres of land in this section of the state. being also an extensive dealer in live stock. He and his wife, prominent members of the Friends church, were the parents of three children. John A., James L. and Hannah. After Mr. Mills's marriage he located at Sabina and has been living there ever since. He is the inventor of a rack used in the postoffice, which is especially efficient for han- dling mail.
To Albert H. and Anna (Burris) Mills have been born two children. Pearl and Elby R. The former married Luella Keller and is employed by the Standard Oil Com- pany at Cincinnati. The latter is unmarried and is the proprietor of a garage at Sabina. Mr. and Mrs. Mills are members of the Friends church and active in church work. They own property in Sabina and Mr. Mills bas been a mail carrier on Route No. 1 out of Sabina for the past twelve years.
JOHN H. NORMAN, M. D.
There is no other profession in which the vital Interests of a community are so at stake as that of the physician. He must stand ever in readiness to serve his people at any and all times regardless of race or caste, poverty or riches, and this service must at all times be both honest and skilled. To have served a people well in such a capacity for over forty years is not only a mark of good service but it is a mark of honor of the highest order, and the subject of this sketch, Dr. John H. Norman, has performed just such a service as this and truly deserves the honor and distinction in which he is held by a whole community.
John H. Norman was born in Warren county. near Blanchester, on November 10. 1951. He was the son of Enos E. and Elizabeth ( Watkins) Norman, Enos E. Norman was born in West Virginia on April 18. 1826. He was the son of Bailey and Tacy (Tyson) Norman who were both natives of Harrison county, West Virginia, who, after their marriage, came to Warren county and settled on a farm in 1831, where they lived until their deaths. They were both members of the Free Will Baptist church.
Enos E. Norman was educated In the public schools of Warren county and remained on the farm until at the age of forty he left the farm and moved into Blanchester where he engaged in the undertaking business until 1908, when he retired from active life. He is a Republican in politics and an active member of the Free Will Baptist church.
Elizabeth (Watkins) Norman, the wife of Enos E. Norman, and the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born on October 5. 1828, and died on March 26. 1913. She was the daughter of Harrison P. and Mary (Collins) Watkins both of whom came from Pennsylvania to Warren county and settied on a farm. He was a member of the Baptist church and she was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
John H. Norman remained on the farm until he was sixteen years of age. He was educated in the public schools of Warren county and afterwards was gradnated from the Lebanon (Ohio) Normal School, after which he taught in the public schools for a period
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of five years and then attended the Eclectic College of Medicine at Cincinnati and gradu- ated from that Institution in 1875. He then took up the practice of medicine in Eden- ton, in Clermont county, where he remained for sixteen years, after which time he came to Blanchester, where he has been a practicing physician for twenty-five years. He is a member of both the County, State and National Medical Associations. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a mem- ber of the Junior Order of American Mechanics. He is also a member of the Free Will Baptist church.
In August of 1878, John H. Norman was married to Mary Weller, of Hamilton county, Ohio, a daughter of Phillip Weller, now deceased. To this union were born three children as follow : Omar, who is deceased: Orris, who lives in Blanchester ; and Edna. who is the wife of James P. Britton of Chillicothe, Ohio.
Few men in this exacting profession have ever been more faithful to their obligations than Dr. John H. Norman.
CHARLES F. ALLEN.
By his indomitable enterprise and progressive methods. Charles F. Allen has come to be one of the most successful business men of Sabina. Clinton county, Ohio. He is 8 mn1 of most genial nature, but nevertheless painstaking and careful in his business relations and today is one of the most prosperous citizens of the community.
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