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 94

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 94

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Col. Owen West was born on March 4, 1835, in Clark township, the son of James and Elizabeth West. In the veins of this family flows the warm and ardent blood of artistic temperament which gave to the world the celebrated artist, Benjamin West, who gained an international fame in his day and generation.

Before the year 1716, John W. West, who had married Sarah Pearson, came from England and settled in Pitts county, Pennsylvania. They had seven children : Joseph, Mary, William, Sarah, Samuel, Rachel and Benjamin. Benjamin, the youngest child of this family, was an artist heretofore referred to, whose work was well known on two continents. Joseph, the eldest, married Jane Owen, the daughter of John Owen, and they had nine children : Isaac, Tacy, Owen, Jobu. Sarah, Joseph, Hannah, George and Benjamin. About 1750, Owen West, the third child of this family, and the nephew of the celebrated Benjamin West, was born. He married Elizabeth Martin and moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia and later from Virginia to Clinton county, Ohio. He and his wife had thirteen children : Nancy, Jane, William, Mary, Susan, Owen, Thomas, James, Payton, Elizabeth, Amelia, Rebecca and John. Of this family, James, the eighth child, whose wife was Elizabeth West, was the father of Col. Owen West. The grandfather, Owen West, came to Ohlo from Virginia and located in the valley of the East fork of Little Miami river, where be purchased nineteen hundred acres of government land, all in Clinton county and nearly all in Clark township, where he and his wife died. James West, their son, was a farmer during his life and remained on the old estate, adding to his inheritance until he owned one thousand acres of the original nineteen hundred. He and his wife died on the old home estate. For nine years he was a justice of the . peace in this county.

Col. Owen West. farmer, manufacturer, inventor and soldier, was reared to man-

COL. OWEN WEST.

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hood on his father's farm and educated in the Martinsville schools and at Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. For twelve consecutive years, with the exception of two years in which he was engaged in the mercantile business at Morrisville, he was engaged in teaching. During the War of the Rebellion. he assisted in the organization of the Cincinnati Home Guards, and in 1863 he was chosen their major-general. In the early part of 1864, he was given the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regimental Battalion of Ohio National Guards. He had commanded them for one year while at Fort Federal Hill and Baltimore, Maryland, and in the battle of Monocacy. In September, 1864, he and his regiment were honorably discharged for valuable services rendered to their country.

At the close of his military services, Colonel West returned home and resumed farming and lumbering. For some time he owned and operated two saw-tuills, each with a capacity of five thousand feet a day. In 1914, after five years' labor, he placed on the market the West tile ditching machine of his own Invention. He manufactures this machine at bis factory on his farm just out of Lynchburg. The company is incorporated as the West Tile Ditching Machine Company. Some years ago he also invented a fence and a gate which were successes In their day. He operates three hundred acres of land which he has reclaimed by dikes and which includes considerable bottom land. Colonel West has also been a contractor and builder and there are many buildings standing now In Lynchburg and vicinity which he erected. He has also operated a brick and tile plant on bis farm and is the present president of the Lynchburg Exchange Bank.

On September 20. 1855, Colonel West was married to Elizabeth A. Roberts, the daughter of James and Hannah E. Roberts, a native of Washington township, who was born on December 23, 1835. Nine children were born to this unlon ; Margaret. James W .. Anna M., Owen A., Hannah E., Amos F., Charles H., Laura E. (deceased), and Mary I. (deceased). Margaret married Rev. McLean Simington; Owen A. is a physician at Sabina, Ohio; Laura E. and Mary I. are deceased. Mrs. West passed away on February 1, 1879.

Colonel West is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a stalwart adherent of the principles of the Republican party and supports its candidates.

Colonel West married, secondly, September 19, 1882, Frances Alta Kelly, daughter of Rollin and Sarah Kelly, who are natives of Highland county, Ohio. To this second marriage the following children were born: Martha, who lives at home; George, who operates the home farm : Sylvia, a teacher at Lynchburg. Highland county, Ohio; Frances, deceased; Manetta, deceased, and Benjamin, who lives at home.

GEORGE P. WORRELL ..

George P. Worrell, the proprietor of one hundred and eleven acres of good farming land in Clark township, and a brother of James G. Worrell, of this township. was born on August 10, 1888, in Mason county, West Virginia, the son of Granville and Louisa ( Hubbard) Worrell, both natives of the eastern part of West Virginia.

The paternal grandfather of George P. Worrell was James Worrell, who spent all his life in Virginia. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Worrell was Samuel Hubbard, who lived and died In Mercer county, West Virginia.

Granville Worrell was educated in the early subscription schools of Carroll county, West Virginia, and, after his marriage there, moved to Gallla county, Ohio, during the Civil War, living there until 1870. when he returned to West Virginia and settled on the Kanawha river. He died in Nicholas county, West Virginia, as did also his wife. During the Civil War, he was drafted In the Confederate army but later deserted and. upon immigrating to Ohio, joined an Ohio regiment of the Union army and served until

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the close of the war. He was a drummer in his regiment and during his entire service was not wounded nor taken prisoner. He and his wife had twelve children .. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

George P. Worrell was educated in the schools of West Virginia and began life on his own responsibility. by working by the month in Clinton county, Ohio. On March 4. 1904, be purchased que hundred and eleven acres of land in Clark township, where he now lives.

George P. Worrell was married on December 9, 1896, to Magnolia Emma Emery, of Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of John Emery, a farmer of Highland county. Jobn Emery was born near New Market. Highland county. March 27. 1819, a son of Samuel and Sarah ( Anderson) Emery. early settlers of Highland county. They came to Highland county. likely, from Pennsylvania. The former was a farmer and was edu- cated in the early schools of Highland county. John Emery became a farmer also and owned fifty acres of land. He was married on March 25, 1852, to Barbara Emery, the daughter of William and Phoebe Emery, of New Market. William Emery, who was, for some time, a resident of near New Market, later moved to Missouri, where he and his wife died. John Emery died in 1910, on the farm. His wife had dled previously, in 1897. They had eleven children. During the Civil War he served for one hundred days in the Union army. Hle and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

To Mr. and Mrs. George P. Worrell have been born three children, Chester Emery, Lura Evelyn and Raymond Harold. The Worrell family are all members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

ORLAND TOWNSEND.

Orland Townsend, a well-known farmer of Clark township, was born on January 18, 1860, at Martinaville, Ohio, the son of Josiah M. and Esther J. ( West) Townsend, both natives of Clinton county. Josiah M. Townsend was born in 1832, and received a Hmtted education in the schools of this county and Hamilton county, Ohio.

After removing to Hamilton county at the age of thirteen years, Josiah M. Town- send drove a milk wagon. Previously he had worked on a farm in Clinton county at n dollar a week. About 1850, Josiah M. Townsend engaged in the dairy business in Ham- ilton county, and was engaged in this business intermittently untti thirty-seven years of age, at which time he purchased the farm in Clark township, upon a part of which hla son, Orland, now lives. He purchased four hundred acres, comprising the old West homestead. He was a general farmer and stockman, and lived on this farm until his death. He and his family were members of the Friends church. Josiah M. Townsend was honored by the people of Clinton county by an election to the office of county com- missioner, a position which be filled creditably for three years. He was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Josiah M. Townsend and wife were the parents of nine children, two of whom died in infancy.

Orland Townsend received his education in the public schools of Clinton county. and aside for a year spent in working at the carpenter's trade, he has been engaged in farming all his life, He owns one hundred and ninety acres of the old home place.

In October, 1852, Orland Townsend was married to Mary Leaf, the daughter of John 'T. Leaf, and to this union have been born two sons, Horace and Lloyd. Horace married Mary Hazard, and they live at Ashtabula, Ohio, aud Lloyd married Ada Nofts ger, the daughter of G. B. Noftsger, of whom a biography is presented elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Townsend are the parents of one son, William Eugene. Orland Townsend and wife are members of the Friends church, in whose welfare they are actively Interested.

George Alfred Townsend, a brother of Orland Townsend, is also a native of Clark township, born on the home farm, July 15, 1873. The paternal grandparents of George

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and Orland Townsend were Josiah and Abigal (Holloway) Townsend, natives of Cape May county. New Jersey, and Virginia, respectively. They were married on November 14, 1818. The maternal grandparents of George A. and Orland Townsend entered the homestead where the two brothers now live. The maternal grandfather was Peyton West. a surveyor by occupation.

George and Orland Townsend were two of nine children born to their parents, of whom Orland was the eldest. and George was the seventh in the order of their birth. The other children were Clinton, Josiah, Cammie M., Sarah E., Herbert H., Melville W. and May.

George Townsend received his education in the common schools of Clinton county. and the Normal School at Lebanon, where he spent two years, and also at a business college in Cincinnati. For fourteen years he was engaged in the live-stock business at Lynchburg, but In August, 1908, he removed to the farm where he now lives, and which is a part of the old home place. He is the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of land and is engaged in general farming and stock raising.

In 1897, Mr. Townsend was married to Jessie Thompson, of Highland county. Ohio, and to this union two children have been born, Vivian, who died at the age of nine months, and Harry T. In 1903. Mr. Townsend was married, secondly, to Hattie M. Thompson. a sister of his former wife, and to this marriage there have been born three children. Floyd E .. Dana G. and Harold E. Mrs. Townsend is an adherent of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, while Mr. Townsend's family are members of the Friends church.

George Townsend is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, at Lynchburg. He has served as treasurer of Dodson township, as councilman of Lynchburg, and as a justice of the peace in Highland county, Ohio.

J. FRANK WEST.

Clinton county has been fortunate in the character of ber farmers and much of the material prosperity of the county can be attributed to the fact that the farmers have kept abreast of the times. The farmers are an index to the civilization of any commu- nity and if they are progressive and up-to-date, it follows that the standard of living in the community will be high. The business men of the towns are drawing the men from the country and everywhere it is noticed that men rising to prominence in the various activities of life were born and reared on the farm. Clinton county has long been known as one of the best farming counties of the state and Its excellent farmers have been one of the big factors in the material advancement of the county. Among the excellent farmers of Clinton county Is J. Frank West, the scion of an old and dis- tingutshed famlly of this county.

J. Frank West was born on August 1, 1852. in Clark township. Clinton county. Ohio. the son of James M. and Amy ( Chaney) West, the former a native of Clark township and the latter a native of Highland county, having been born near Dunns chapel.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. West were James and Elizabeth (Leggett) West. the former of whom was a native of eastern Virginia, who came to Ohio very early in Ufe. His maternal grandparents were Joseph and Sarah ( Richner) Chaney : the former of whom was a native of Maryland, born near Hagerstown In 1777, who came to High- Innd county, Ohio, early in life. and died there on April 18. 1862, and the latter was a native of Pennsylvania, born near Philadelphia in March, 1785, and died on October 31. 1859. In Highland county, Ohio,

Among the celebrated men whom the West family of America has given to this country and to the world is the celebrated artist. Benjamin West. Reverting to the earlier ancestry. it may be said that about 1716 John W. West, who had married Sarah Pearson, came from England and settled in Pitts county. Pennsylvania. They had seven children, Joseph, Mary. William, Sarah, Samuel, Rachel and Benjamin. Benjamin, the

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youngest child in this family, was the first great American artist and his work came to be known not only in America, but in the fashionable salons of Europe. Joseph, the eldest child in this family, married Jane Owen, the daughter of Jobn Owen, and they had nine children, Isaac, Facy, Owen, John, Sarah, Joseph, Hannah, George and Benja- min. Owen West. the third child of the above family, was born about 1750. He mar- ried Elizabeth Martin and they moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia, and later from Virginia to Clinton county, Ohio. He and his wife had thirteen children, Nancy, Jane, William, Mary, Susan, Owen, Thomas, James, Payton, Elizabeth, Emily, Rebecca and John. James, the eighth child in this family, married Elizabeth Leggett and they were the paternal grandparents of J. Frank West.

James M. West, the father of J. Frank, was educated in an old log cabin school house, the frame of which is now a part of the garage on the farm of J. Frank West. He became a farmer on land adjoining that now owned by his son and owned altogether about eight hundred acres. His family were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 'To James M. and Amy West were born nine children, among whom were five sons.

Educated in the public schools of Clinton county, J. Frank West engaged in farming In Clark township upon attaining his majority. He owns two hundred acres of land and, for the past twenty-six years, has lived where he now resides. With the exception of the house, Mr. West has erected all of the buildings now standing on bis farm.

On October 4, 1853, J. Frank West was married to Elva Leaf, who was born on March 6, 1859, a native of Clinton county, and the daughter of John T. and Belinda (Dumford) Leaf. They have been the parents of three children: Carl J., who is an Instructor in mathematics in Ohio State University ; Grace B., who is now a post-grad- uate student in Ohio State University ; and Howard R., who Is a student in the Cincin- nati Academy of Fine Arts.

Mr. and Mrs. West and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Not only are they prominent in the church, but they are prominent in the social life of this township and are highly-respected citizens.

BERNARD Y. COLLETT.

The Collett family in America is of French Huguenot origin and is perhaps derived from one of three brothers of that faith, who, about 1660, fied from France on account of religious persecution. One fled to the mountains with a number of other people of bis faith : one fled to England, from which either he or his descendants eventually immi- grated to America. A third, with his wife, embarked on a ship to America and, during the voyage, the mother gave birth to a son and a little later died and was buried at sea. The child lived and was named Stephen and eventually located in Maryland near where Baltimore now stands. He married l'lizabeth Armstrong, who was born on August 18, 1725. and they had eight children. Five of these children are unaccounted for. Practic- ally the whole family. however, moved to Jefferson county, Virginia, about the time of the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. Daniel, the third child in the family of Stephen and Elizabeth Collett, who was born on February 2, 1752, was a soldier in the Continental army and a prominent judge in Virginia. About 1780 he married Mary Haines, who was born on October 10, 1753, and they had eight sons and a daughter, who, with his brother. John, and his sister, Sarah, are the ancestors of all of the Colletts in Clinton and Warren counties. Among these sons was Jonathan, who hauled the stone and also a part of the lumber and timber used in the construction of the United States arsenal nt Harpers Ferry.

Bernard Y. Collett, one of the widely-known and highly-respected farmers of Chester township, is the grandson of Jonathan Collett, the great-grandson of Daniel and Mary ( Haines) Collett and the great-great-grandson of Stephen and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Collett. Bernard Y. Collett was born on August 7, 1853, near Harveysburg, in Warren

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county. His parents were Benjamin and Sarah (Yeo) Collett, the former of whom was born in Chester township, August 26, 1829. She was the daughter of Joshua and Allle (Duffey) Yeo. They were married on October 3, 1850.

Jonathan Collett, heretofore referred to as the son of Daniel and Mary ( Haines) Collett, was married on April 80, 1823, to Sarah Mckay, a representative of the famous Mckay family of this county, who was born on November 11, 1799, in Warren county. und whose parents, who had come originally from Virginia to Warren county, settled in Clinton county as early as 1814. Jonathan and Sarah ( Mckay) Collett had ten children, namely : Ann, born on March 14, 1824, who married William McCune; Moses, June 7, 1825; Benjamin, December 18, 1826; Francis, May 17, 1820; Martha, February 1, 1881; Aaron, October 19, 1832; George, December 21, 1894; William, June 30, 1838; Robert, December 27, 1840; and Azel Waters, September 17, 1842. The family were all mem- bers of the Baptist church. It was with the money obtained from work on the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry that Jonathan Collett was able to buy a large tract of land.

Jonathan Collett's father, Daniel Collett, was a devout Episcopalian, who entered the Revolutionary army under Captain Wright, of Martinsburg, Virginia, and served at Valley Forge, White Plains and at the defeat of General Gates. He also served when the Virginia volunteers were encamped in Pennsylvania, and also fought at the battle of Monmouth. He resided in Virginia for forty years and for many years was a justice of the peace, being appointed as they were . in that day In Virginia for life or during good behavior. He held his court monthly and it is said that there was more dignity attending the justices' courts in those days than is to be seen today in the higher courts of Ohio. On one occasion the judge of the court of Jefferson assessed a fine upon each of the justices of that county for neglect to provide suitable steps to the jail at Charles- ton. Mr. Collett paid his fine and then took the contract for erecting the stone steps which now grace the front of that historie editice.

Of the ten children born to Jonathan and Sarah (McKny) Collett, Benjamin Col- lett, the father of Bernard Y., was the third. He was educated in the common schools of Chester township and began his life as a farmer in Warren county, but after a few years returned to Chester township, where he remained the rest of his life on a farm of one hundred and fifty acres. Benjamin and Sarab (Yeo) Collett had four children : Alley, who died small; Bernard Y., the subject of this sketch; Mary, who died at the age of nine years; and Anna M. The father of these children died on October 12, 1892, and the mother in 1907. They were members of the Baptist church. He was a Repub- lican in politics. During the Civil War, he served as captain of the home militia and was later promoted to colonel. At one time, he was paymaster of the local militia.

Bernard Y. Collett, the second child born to his parents, received his education in the schools of Chester township and at Harveysburg. He has been a farmer practically all of his life. He and his sister have a farm of three hundred and thirty acres which is highly improved.

On December 23, 1874. Bernard Y. Collett was married to Emma Shidaker, who was born on October 16, 1856, and died on November 27, 1903, leaving one child. Edith, who married Shirley Scott, of Milford, Ohio.

Bernard Y. Collett was elected as a delegate from Clinton county to the constitu- tional convention of 1912. He is a Republican.

In 1914 the Collett familles in Clinton county celebrated the one hundredth anni- versary of the coming of the family to this section. One hundred and one members of the family were present at this reunion. During the last forty-nine years, the Collett and Mckay families have held a family picnic every year without exception, and in all of this period Bernard Y. Collett has been a regular attendant. The forty-ninth annual reunion was held on Saturday, August 14, 1915.

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GEORGE M. DENNY.

George M. Denny, of Chester township, is an unpretentious, unassuming man, who has had a large success in agriculture and who is well known throughout Clinton county. Mr. Denay was born on February 11. 1571. in Chester township, on the farm where he lives.

The parents of George M. Denny were John P. and Martha (Collett) Denny, the former of whom was born on July 4, 1823. near Lebanon, in Warren county, and the latter was born on February 1, 1831, the daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Mckay) Collett. On his mother's side, therefore. Mr. Denny is connected with two of the very oldest families in Clinton county. His grandfather on his paternal side, John Denny, married Hannah Leap. He was born on December 22, 1782, in New Jersey, and died on September 3, 1:53, and his wife was born on October 13. 1792, in New Jersey, and died on March 28. 1870. They came to Ohio after their marriage and located In Warren county. After moving to this county and settling in Chester township, they lived on a farm all of their lives. Eleven children were born to John and Hannah Denny : Thomas, born on January 12. 1813; Martha, September 18, 1814; Peter, January 10, 1×16: Faithful. August 20. 1818; Hannah, February 7. 1821 ; John P., July 4, 1823; Sarab, August 21, 1825: Elizabeth, October 17. 1827; Joseph, November 23, 1829; Samuel, March 31. 1832; and Abigal. September 26, 1835.

John P. Denny was a farmer in Chester township, where he spent all of his life and where he owned four hundred and twenty-eight acres of land. He owned the farm upon which his son. George M., now lives and he erected all of the buildings which now stand on this farm. George M. Denny was one of two children born to his parents, the other being Anna C., who is unmarried.

George M. Denny was educated in the common schools of Chester township and has spent his entire life on the farm. He is one of the most extensive farmers of the town- ship. he and his sister owning five hundred and forty-three acres of land at the present time.

On October 24, 1894, George M. Denny was married to Mary Antram, the daughter of Ansalem and Louisa (Dakin) Antram. To this marriage two children have been born : John A., born on October 23. 193; and Ruth Mckay. August 7, 1913.

Mr. and Mrs. George M. Denny are members of the Jonas Run Baptist church and Mr. Denny, like his father before him, votes the Republican ticket. In this section of Clinton county, few families have occupied a position of greater prominence during the just half century than the Dennys,

ELMER CARTER.

Elmer Carter, a farmer of Clark township. Clinton county, Ohlo, was born on Octo- ber 31, 1869, in Adams county, Ohio, a son of William Jasper and Mary Elizabeth ( Storer) C'arter. both of whom were natives of Adams county.

William Jasper Carter was born on January 31, 1845, in Adams county, Ohio, and was married on October 21. 1868, to Mary Elizabeth Storer, who was born on March 7. 1847. in Adams county, and was a daughter of George and Miriam ( Ramsey ) Storer. William Jasper Carter's father was Leander Carter, who was born on September 15. 1818, in the Old Dominion state, and who married Elizabeth Beaty. Leander Carter and wife came to Ollo immediately after their marriage and loented In Adams county, Ohto, where they lived the remainder of their lives. There they owned eighty-seven neres of land and were farmers by occupation. They were the parents of nine children. Susannah V .. Sarah E., William Jasper, Margaret Jane, Francis M., Martha Aun, Mary R., Laura, Emma. Of these chidren, Mary R., is deceased. The grandfather's family were members of the Methodist church, and he voted the Republican ticket.

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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 94

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