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 77

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 77

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Robert Hildebrecht, who was born ou April 26, 1974, and who died on June 13. 1914, was the son of Rudolph Frederick William Hlidebrecht, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this publication. He spent his early years on the farm on which he was born, this being in Vernon township, and was educated in the Clarks- ville schools. this including graduation from the high school. Choosing farming as his occupation, he cultivated the tract of seventy-two and one-half acres in that township. which has been the family home for years. While a successful farmer. he gave some attention to other matters, for he was road superintendent for several years.

On June 16. 1906. Robert Hildebrecht was married to Florence Starr, who was born In Highland county, this state, on January 23, 1582, the daughter of Daniel Alexander and Mary Malissa ( Swartz) Starr, both natives of the same county, the former born on September 4. 1844, and the latter on September 114, 1858, Daniel A. Starr was the son of Alexander and Martha (Johnson) Starr, pioneers of Highland county, and his wife was a daughter of Benage and Emily ( Hildebrecht) Swartz, who settled in High- land county when Its now prosperous and populous towns were mere settlements on the outskirts of the dense forests. He died, and his widow is now living in New Vienna. this county. Mrs. Hildebrecht's father Is a well-known farmer, and a member of the Democratic party. His wife attends the Christian church. They are parents of the following children : Katie Elizabeth, Florence Mary. Claudia May (deceased). Amanda Emma, Matilda Josephine. Homer Leslie. Lula Esther. Vera Marie, Frank Erwin, W. Alexander. Martha Gabrielle and Reba Bowena. Daniel A. Starr has been twice married, his first wife having been a Mrs. Johnson, to whom three children were born. Clarence ( deceased), Lafayette and John. Mr. and Mrs. Starr live on a farm near Clarksville, In Warren county, this state.

To Robert and Florence (Starr) Hildebrecht one child was born, a son, Carroll LeRoy, who was born on August 26, 1907.

The late Robert Hildebrecht worked for and voted with the Republican party. He was also greatly interested in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church. An estimate of Mr. Hllbebrecht's standing in the community may be gleaned from the fact that he was a man of influence in the Odd Fellows lodge, as well as the Knights of Pythias.

While the life of Robert Hlldebrecht was not spent in the busy marts of trade. nor yet where the battle of life rages flercest, it was faithfully and usefully lived, and thus contributed its share to the world's good. It. therfore, may truthfully be said of him: "The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green."

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SAMUEL CARPENTER.

Clinton county has many honorable citizens and successful farmers of southern birth, among whom is Samuel Carpenter, a retired farmer of Cuba, who owns a hundred and fifty acres of land in Washington township. He is well known to the residents of Wash- ington township for his long and honorable career.

Samuel Carpenter was born March 27, 1842, in Frederick county, Virginia. He is the son of John and Elizabeth ( Paton) Carpenter, both of whom are natives of the Old Dominion state. The former was educated in common schools of Virginia and farmed in Frederick county, Virginia, all his life, owning a tract of about forty acres in that county. He and his wife had ten children. of whom Samuel, the first born, is the subject of this sketch. The other children were: Anna Jane, Sarah C., Charles M., Virginia, Mary E., Bush, James W., John W., and George Wasbington. The parents were members of the Methodist church and the father was a Democrat politically.

Mr. Carpenter was educated in the common schools of Frederick county, Virginia, and early in life learned the blacksmith trade. During the Civil War he was attached to the Twelfth Virginia Regiment as a blacksmith. After the Civil War he operated a black- smith shop for a short time on his own responsibility. He then farmed a few years until March 16, 1874, when he left Virginia and came to Vanwert county, Ohio, locating near Convoy. There he worked on the farm until the spring of 1878, when he moved to Clinton county. In 1883 he began farming for himself on rented land in Washington township, and nine years later he purchased eighty-one acres of land, which he has since increased to one hundred and fifty acres. Mr. Carpenter was engaged in general farming and stockraising until his retirement in 1898, when he removed to Cuba. He still manages the farm, however, and enjoys its fruits.

Subject was first married to Elizabeth Gillen, in 1865, and they were the parents of three children, Thomas, Emily and Benjamin. She died early in life. Mr. Carpenter, on March 15, 1879, married Mary E. Berlin, and they were the parents of two children, Earl deceased, and Fred, who married Minnie Mart.

Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Universalist church. Fraternally be is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket.

FRANK D. HART.

Frank D. Hart, a well-known citizen of Liberty township, who owns a farm on the Port Williams pike, was born near Port Williams, Liberty township, Clinton county, Ohio, on January 11, 1851, the son of James and Mary ( Holloway ) Hart, natives of Virginia and Clinton county, Ohio, respectively. Mary Holloway was a daughter of Dayton and Cynthia Ann Holloway, the former of whom was a blacksmith and hotel proprietor in Port Williams. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Hart, who was Charles Hamlet Hart, was a native of Virginia, who, after his marriage, settled in Clinton county, where he engaged in farming. The late James Hart was educated by home study altogether. Hle was eight years old when his parents brought him to Ohio. For fifty years he was engaged in the undertaking business at Port Williams. During the Civil War he assisted In making gunboats and was a head man in the building of the "Monitor." He and his wife were earnest and devout members of the Quaker church, and were the parents of eight children. Elizabeth, Frank D., Charles H., J. W., Harry, Lavina, Cynthia and Alford. Elizabeth died at the age of one year, and Alford at the age of six years. Charles H. Is a resident of Dayton, Ohio, and married Orpha Turpin. J. W. is unmar- ried. Harry married Ellie Hiney and lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lavina became the wife of Abe Conklin, lives in Dayton, Ohio, and she and her husband, in partnership

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with her brother, Charles, operate the Manhattan hotel in that city. The father of these children died on September 3, 1899, at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother died on Septembr 27, 1908.

Frank D. Hart received his education in the common schools of Clinton county, Ohio, and was reared to maturity at Port Williams. He was married on September 21, 1874, to Mary E. Wall. a native of Clinton county, Ohio, a daughter of Absalom and Hannah Wall, who were farmers in this township. After his marriage Mr. Hart continued to live in Port Williams, where for twenty-five years he was engaged in the undertaking business with his father. Mr. and Mrs. Hart are the parents of two children, Elisha and Purilla, the former of whom is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land. Purilla is the wife of James Kibler. Mr. and Mrs. Hart own in their home farm forty-five acres. Mrs. Hart is a member of the Friends church, in which she takes an active interest. Mr. Hart is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

ALLEN C. WHINERY.

Allen C. Whinery, farmer and landowner of Liberty township, Clinton county, Oblo, is descended from Joseph Whinery, who was one of the first white children born in Clinton county after its organization. The county was organized on February 19. 1810, and on April 20, 1810, Joseph Whinery, the father of Allen C., and the second in the family, was born. His parents were Thomas and Ruth (Miller) Whinery, both natives of York county, Pennsylvania, the former having been born on October 5, 1779, the latter having been about seven years his junior. They lived in York county. Pennsylvania, during their early life, and in 1808 emigrated from Pennsylvania to Clinton county, Ohio. At the time they had one child, Phebe, who had been born in Pennsylvania. She died at the age of seven years from eating what was supposed to be polson-vine buds. The family settled within what are now the present limits of Union township, near the Center meeting house, where in time he owned one hundred and seventy acres of land. He was one of the hardy pioneers and adventurous set- tlers of this region, to whose calm endurance must be attributed the progress, growth, development and present prosperity of Clinton county.

In 1837, Ruth ( Miller) Whinery died of consumption. She was the mother of ten children, of whom eight were living at the time of her death. Only two, however, remained at home at the time. Thomas Whinery was married. secondly, to Mrs. Charlotte Hoddie, the widow of John Hoddie. Thomas Whinery died in 1856. Mrs. Charlotte Whinery lived to be more than seventy-five years old.

Joseph Whinery, father of Allen C., was reared in a log cabin amidst the wilds of nature. He enjoyed the average educational facilities of his day and generation. His first teacher was Robert Way, who taught a few pupils in a log hut in the neigh- borhood. He owned two hundred and seventy acres of land in Liberty township, and was a prominent member of the Quaker church. He was also prominent in the "under- ground railway" movement before the Civil War and his house was a station. In 1827 he was employed in driving a drove of cattle from Clinton county to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The journey was made on foot and took eleven weeks.

On May 23. 1833, when Joseph Whinery was twenty-three years old. he was mar- ried to Sarah Hiatt, daughter of Hezekiah and Anne (Perkins) Ilatt, who were farm- ers in Clinton county and prominent members of the Quaker church. She was born on April 7, 1811, in Union township, and was the eldest child born to her parents. The others were Isaac, Allen, Mary. Susan. Lydia, Narcessa, Phenia and Amos.

At one time the late Joseph Whinery served as trustee in this county and occupied other positions of trust and responsibility. He died in June, 1892, and his wife in (34)

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December, 1899. They had five children, Thomas, Ann, Ruth, Allen C. and Susan L, all of whom are deceased except Allen C., the subject of this sketch. Thomas, the first born, was the only one of the children, except Allen C., that ever married. He married Lucinda Couklin, and they had four children, Susan T., Joseph B., Frank C. and Charles D.

Allen C. Whinery was born in Liberty township on December 14, 1846, and was educated in the district schools and reared on the farm. He was married on November 17, 1868, to Louisa Haynes, the daughter of Allen and Amy (Guckley) Haynes, who were farmers in Clinton county and members of the Methodist church.

Mr. and Mrs Whinery had one child, Anna, married Charles H. Oren, who died on June 16, 1808, leaving two children, Frank C. and Ruth Amy. Mrs. Oren, since the death of her husband, has lived with her parents.

Allen C. Whinery owns six bundred and twenty acres of land in Clinton county, all in Liberty township. He has always been an extensive raiser of Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Whinery is a member of the Quaker church and has wife of the Methodist Episcopal church. Allen C. Whinery is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elk&

AMOS WARREN BRADY.

Notwithstanding the general gravitation of the population to the cities, there are those who still believe that the man who chooses to earn his livelihood by cultivation of the soil is not a subject for commiseration, but rather of sincere congratulation. Here, as everywhere in life. is operative the law of compensation ; for here, if anywhere, for every loss there is a gain. May it not truly be said that-

"Converse with men makes sharp the glittering wit, But God to man doth speak in solitude."

The man whose life In this county furnishes the theme of this sketch was one of those who found rent pleasure, as well as remuneration, from an agricultural environ- ment. Amos Warren Brady, who for many years was one of Clinton county's well- known farmers, was born on November 12, 1854, in Brown county, Ohio, the son of William and Phoebe (Colvin) Brady, both natives of that county, and died at his home in Vernon township. this county, on July 24. 1914. William Brady was born on January 1. 1825, his father having been a pioneer of Brown county. The internal grandfather of Amos W. Brady, Amos Colvin, and his wife. Mary, came to this county at an early date in its history and spent the rest of their lives here. William Brady was a well- known farmer, who died on September 24, 1898. His wife had preceded him to the grave many years before. her death having occurred on April 23, 1867. Both were stanch believers in the doctrines of Methodism. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, Mary (deceased). Amos Warren, John, Jane, Eva, Martha aud Lee.

Amos W. Brady received a public school education and upon reaching manhood followed the occupation of his father. In 1591 he bought three hundred and thirty-four aeres in this county, and later Increased his agricultural possessions by the purchase of one hundred and seventy-Ax acres in Vernon township. He did not, however, devote all of his attention to farming, for he served twelve years as township trustee, and was e'bool director for several years. A source of help and inspiration in all of his under- takings was his wife. On March 15. 1×3. Amos W. Brady was married to Louis Moore, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, on September 24, 1860, the daughter of Cury and Mary ( Suedaker) Moore, both natives of the same county, the former of whom was born on December 24. 1819, and died on January 8, 1889, and the latter of whom died in 1867. Cury Moore was the son of William and Julia (Cury) Moore. both of whom were born in Brown county, where their entire lives were spent. The nuternal grandfather of Mrs. Brady was William Snedaker. To Cury and Mary ( Sned-

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aker) Moore were born the following children : George, Emma, Ellen (deceased), Will- lam, India (deceased), Louisa and Albert.

To Amos W. and Louisa ( Moore) Brady five children were born, namely : Minnie, who married Clem Wells: Henry, who lives in Monroe, Ohio; Clarence, who lives on the home farm; Alma (deceased) ; Charley, who also is living with his mother on the home farm, one mile from Clarksville.

The late Amos W. Brady was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Clarksville, and also belonged to the Knights of Pythlas lodge at that place. He was affiliated with the Republican party, in whose principles he was a firm believer. His widow and chil- dren mourn the loss of a faithful husband and a loving father, and are blessed with the memory of his useful, industrious and unselfish life, their sorrow being shared by a large circle of friends.

WILLIAM BERLIN.

The history of Clinton county could not well be written and leave out of Its pages the name of such a man as William Berlin, who was born and reared in the county and who has been one of its most useful and worthy citizens.

William Berlin was born on August 22, 1847, near Cuba, in Washington township. Clinton county, Ohio, the son of Henry and Hannah ( Crouse) Berlin. To Henry Berlin's parents three children were born, as follow: Henry. the father of the subject of this sketeb; Willlam, who died in Clinton county, and Emily, who married Ezra Hays, and who, with her husband. is now deceased, Mary Berlin, the mother of Henry Berlin, died at the home of Henry Berlin. Henry Berlin was born in 1824 and died in 1908. Hannah (Crouse) Berlin was born in 1818 and died in 1901. She was the daughter of John and Rhoda Crouse, who were both born in Virginia, and at an early date came to Clinton county and located on a farm in Washington township, where they spent the rest of their lives, both dying about 1880. Henry and Hannah (Crouse) Berlin were the parents of the following children : Mary, who married Samuel Carpenter and who lives on a farm near Cuba, this county ; William. the subject of this sketch; John, who died in 1895; Jacob, who was killed by a falling tree about 1885; James, a farmer, who lives near Ogden, Ohio; Charlie, who lives on a farm in Washington township, this county, and Emma, who lives in Cuba, the widow of George Kearns.

Henry Berlin, as a boy, worked on a big slave plantation in Virginia, but later. after his father's death. he came, with his mother and her two other children, to Ohlo, locating In this county. After coming to Clinton county he worked for a time on the Jobn Crouse farm. where he met and married the daughter of his landlord. For a while after his marriage he continued to work the farm for his father-in-law until he purchased a seventy-nere tract of his own near Cuba, on which he located. He continued to own and farm this land until the death of John Crouse, when he sold his seventy acres and bought the entire Crouse estate of two hundred and forty acres, where he lived until 1895. when he decided to retire from farming and moved into Cuba, where he died in 1908. Both he and his wife were members of the Universalist church at Cuba and he was a life-long Democrat. About a year after the death of his first wife, which occurred in 1901. he married, secondly. Mary Pope, who is still living.

William Berlin, the subject of this sketch, attended the district schools at Burton- ville, and at Cuba, but being the eldest child, was compelled, early in life, to labor hard on his father's farm. He helped his father pay for the big farm, and later he and his brother, John, rented the farm and ran it for awhile for themselves. his brother, Charlie. Jater taking. the place of John until. finally. William rented and operated the farm on his own account until his father's death and afterwards untl) 1911, when he purchased seventy-five acres of the Probasco farm on the Prairie road, in Union town- ship. He still lives on this latter place and rents other land.

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On September 1, 1893, William Berlin was married to Cora Collins, who was born in Vernon township, this county, a daughter of John and Sarah Collins, who were farmers, but who are both now deceased. To this union have been born the following children : Emily Rowena, Mary Ellen, George Ray, who died of scarlet fever at the age of fourteen months on March 24, 1804; Nola Alice and William Espey.

William Berlin is not only an industrious farmer, but he is firmly conscious of bis political and social and religious obligations. He is an active worker in the Democratic party, is a faithful member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and bis family are faithful members of the Friends church at Wilmington.

JAMES HANNAH.

James Hannah is a well-known farmer of Washington township and a resident of Cuba, who was born on March 1, 1849, in Clermont county, Ohio, near Moscow. He is the son of Fulton and Almeda ( Bryant) Hannah, the former of whom was born on February 6, 1819, in Brown county, near Georgetown, and the latter the daughter of Josiah and Sarah (Gool) Bryant. Fulton Hannah spent all of his life as a farmer in Brown county, Oblo, and passed away there at an advanced age in 1898. Fulton and Almeda Hannah had ten children, of whom James, the subject of this sketch, was the third. The other children in the order of their births were: William H., Josiah, John, Jesse, George, Edward, Martha, Sarah and Ruhamah. During his entire life, Fulton Hannah was identified with the Democratic party. His father was James Hannah.

James Hannah, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of Brown county, Ohio, and began life as a farm hand in his native county. In 1895 he came to Clinton county and located in Vernon township, where he farmed for three years, at the end of which time he moved to Washington township, where he now lives. Mr. Hannah bas his home in Cuba and goes back and forth from his home to the farm. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising.

On June 13, 1878, Mr. Hannah was married to Eva L. Work, a native of Brown county, born near Russellville, the daughter of Elijab and Melinda Brown. Mr. and Mrs. Hannah have had two children, Albert Ix and Florence E. The latter married Ernest Hirt and has one child. James Edwin. Albert L. is an undertaker at Blanchester, Ohio. He first married Blanche Urton, who is deceased. Then married Arena Jay, and they have one child, David Benjamin.

The Hannah family are members of the Friends church and take a prominent part in the affairs of this congregation. For several generations the various members of the family have been people of strong religious impulses, who have lead honorable and up- right lives. For many years Mr. Hannah bas voted the Probibition ticket and he is an implacable foe of the liquor traffic and the licensed saloon.

A. J. DARBYSHIRE.

A. J. Darbyshire, of Sabina, Ohio, was the pioneer manufacturer of Clinton county, but he is now engaged in farming.

A. J. Darbyshire, the eldest son of B. J. and Marla ( Moore) Darbyshire, was born on November 22, 1857. His father, who is now living at Sabina at the age of ninety- two, was born on November 7. 1823, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was married on April 6, 1851, to Maria Moore, who died on August 17, 1805. She was the daughter of John P. and Margaret (Large) Moore, who were farmers of Fayette county, Penn- sylvania. B. J. Darbyshire was also a brick manufacturer back in the days when brick were made by hand. Later he became a well-known brick contractor, and erected the college at Wilmington. and also the school building at the same place. I'ntil nine years ago the father lived on the farm. At that time he deeded two hundred and

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MR. AND MRS. JAMES HANNAH.

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seventy-six acres of land to his children and removed to Sabina. A. J. Darbyshire is one of seven children born to his parents. The others were B. F., Oliver M., Lydia, Oma, Maggie (deceased), and James (deceased).

At the age of fifteen years A. J. Darbyshire began his apprenticeship under Dar- byshire & Sanders in the manufacture of brick by hand, near Sabina. Five years later, at the age of twenty years, he began the manufacture of brick on his own responsibility. In 1881 be added the manufacture of tile to his business, and in 1896 began the manu- facture of stiff-mud brick by new machinery. In the meantime he had constructed many houses and other buildings in Clinton county. Mr. Darbyshire moved his factory In 1902 to the farm known as the Ellas Roberts farm, because it had grown beyond its earlier quarters. At the time, the factory had forty thousand square feet of floor space. At present Mr. Darbyshire is living in Sabina and looking after his farming land in Richland and Wilson townships. Besides his farm real estate, he owns the hardware building and the home in Sabina.

A. J. Darbysbire was married to Rosa A. Morrow, who was born near Sabina, a daughter of W. M. and Sarah ( Smith) Morrow, of Sabina. The former is a well-known farmer of Clinton county. He and his wife had eleven children, John, Addie, Mary, Martha, Charles, Ellsworth, Clinton, Josephine, Minnie, Rosa M. and William:

To Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Darbyshire have been born four children, Porter M., Hor- tense A., Affa Arlene and William Benjamin, all of whom are single and are living at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Darbyshire are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Derbyshire is a member of the Odd Fellows. He is a member of the local school board and has been a member of the town council.

HARRY GASKILL.

In all the great list of county officials who have held offices in the Clinton county court house since the creation of this county away back in 1810, it is doubted that any were more popular among the fellows of their own day than is the present county auditor of Clinton county among the fellows of his day. For twelve years previous to bis elec- tion to this important and responsible position, in 1012, Harry Gaskill served as deputy nuditor of Clinton county, during which time be made so fine an impression upon all who had business about the court house that, upon receiving the nomination of his party for auditor. his election was taken for granted, his popularity with all classes making the same well nigh a foregone conclusion. And so It proved. In discharging the duties of this office as chief, where before he had been merely a deputy, Auditor Gaskill further demon- strated his fine abilities in this direction, creating so favorable an impression upon the publie that his re-election in 1914 seemed assured. And so it proved, again, he being returned to his present office without opposition.

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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 77

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