History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources, Part 61

Author: Dills, R. S
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Dayton, Ohio : Odell & Mayer
Number of Pages: 1070


USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 61


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697


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


SIMON MOON.


Simon Moon, farmer, is a son of John Moon, who came to Ohio from North Carolina, in 1807, and located in Cincinnati, where he remained three years, and then came to this township, remaining here until his death, which occurred January 4, 1842, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was married to our subject's mother in North Carolina, who bore him eight children, and died, April 16, 1817, after which he married Mary (Lindsey) Clemance. There were five children by this marriage.


Our subject was born in this township, January 24, 1813, and re- members when there were but few settlements in this township, and the houses were all log. A few Indians were here, and the woods abounded with wild game. He has two mill-stones of a hand-mill, used in his boyhood, for grinding their corn and buck- wheat. His first school house was log, with puncheon floor and seats, and windows made of greased paper, pasted over a hole made in the wall by cutting a log out.


Our subject was twice married ; first, to Mrs. Martha (McKillip) Huston, September 20, 1835. Eleven children were the result of this union, nine of whom are living. Mrs. Moon died, January 24, 1859. He then married Nancy Hornbeck, March 21, 1861.


Mr. Moon has a farm of two hundred and seventeen and a half acres, well improved, situated six miles northwest of Jeffersonville. He had six hundred and fifty acres before he divided among his children. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. The children, except one, are members of the Christian, Methodist Episcopal, Methodist Protestant, and Disciple churches. He served twelve years as a member of the board of education of this town- ship some years since.


MARY S. PATTEN.


Mary S. Patten is a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Baughn) Bush. She was born in this county, where she was reared. November 7, 1840, she was married to William J. Patten. Eight children are the result of this marriage: Samantha S., Nettie W., Sarah E., Bathana W., Minerva R., Mattie V., Jessie L., and Richard E. Nettie, Jessie, and Richard, are deceased. Mr. Patten died, Janu-


48


698


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


ary 13, 1869, aged fifty years. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which faith he died triumphantly. Mrs. Pat- ten, and all the children, save Richard, who died at the age of eleven months, are members of the same church. She has a farm of one hundred acres, situated on the Jeffersonville pike, six miles northwest of Washington.


BENJAMIN H. PARRETT.


Benjamin H. Parrett, farmer, is a son of Joseph J. Parrett (bet- ter known as Tennessee Joe). He was born January 18, 1824, on the farm where he now lives, and where he was reared. April 21, 1853, he was married to Miss Nancy Allen. Five children are the result of this marriage : Seth E., Eva J., Oric V., Cora G., and Mary, all living. Seth and Oric are married. This entire family, save Oric, are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which faith the parents died triumphantly.


Mr. Parrett has a farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres, well improved, on which he lives, situated five miles southwest of Wash- ington, on the Jeffersonville pike. This family is well and favora- bly known, and have many friends.


MRS. ANN PARRETT.


Mrs. Ann (Fletcher) Parrett, is a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Higby) Fletcher. She was born in Pennsylvania, in 1811, and came to Ohio with her parents the same year. They located in Clermont County, where the parents died. She came to this coun- ty about 1820, and married George Parrett, son of John and Cath- arine (Windle) Parrett, March 4, 1828. Seven children are the re- sult of this union: Elmira, Thomas F., Mary C., Elizabeth E., Be- linda A., Susan L., and Lucy O. Susan E. died at the early age of fifteen months. Mr. Parrett died July 29, 1872, aged fifty-nine years. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church, in which faith he died triumphantly.


Mrs. Parrett has a farm of one hundred acres, well improved, sit- uated seven miles northwest of Washington, on the Jeffersonville pike. She and five of the children are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Elmira joined the Methodist Episcopal Church after marriage. This is an esteemed family.


699


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


GEORGE H. PATTON.


George H. Patton, farmer, is a son of John M. and Sarah (Little) Patton, and was born in Frederick County, Virginia, October 5, 1813, where he was reared. He came to Ohio when twenty-one years of age, and located near Jeffersonville, where he remained three years, and then removed to the northern part of the town- ship, remaining there until 1850, when he came to the farm where he now lives, and where the father died, at the age of seventy- seven years. Mrs. Patton died at the age of sixty-nine years.


Our subject has been twice married ; first, to Miss Lucinda Shee- ly, January 1, 1845. One child was the result of this marriage- John A., who lives on a farm adjoining his father's, on the south. He was married to Miss Martha Moon in December, 1871. They have one child-Edith.


Mrs. Patton died September 29, 1846. He then married Miss Elizabeth Ragan, October 25, 1849. They have one child, Genetta, who married Eli S. Parret, December 25, 1873. They have two children : Earle E. and George.


Mr. and Mrs. Patton are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, of Pleasant View. When Mr. Patton came to Ohio he had but a few cents in money ; but by his industry he has accumu- lated sufficient means to live at his ease in his declining years. He has a well-improved farm of two hundred and eighteen acres, on which he lives, and has given each of his children fifty acres.


THOMAS RANKIN.


Thomas Rankin, West Lancaster, is a native of this county, in which he was reared. He was married to Miss Viletta Sanderson, June 20, 1854. One child, Leander, is the result of this union. Mr. Rankin was engaged in the mercantile business in this place from 1856 until 1873, except comparatively a short time. He served in Company H, 60th O. V. I., and was captured at Harper's Ferry, in September, 1862; also at Cynthiana, Kentucky, June 11, 1864, then captain of Company H, 168th O. V. I. He is now assist- ing his son, who is a natural mechanic, and does the best work in blacksmithing, wagon-making, painting, and trimming carriages. In fact, he is a natural genius; never served an apprenticeship at


700


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


any trade, and does all the business that the capacity of his shop will permit. He was married to Miss Julia A. Acton, February 6, 1878, and has two children : Esther and Harry Mc.


Mrs. Rankin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is a member of Jeffersonville Lodge No. 454, I. O. O. F.


WILLIAM S. REID.


William S. Reid, farmer. His parents came to Ohio from Mary- land, in 1825, and located in Ross County. They came to Fayette in 1832, where the father died, in February, 1881. They joined the Methodist Protestant Church in 1840. The family consisted of nine children.


Our subject was married to Miss Caroline Creamer, daughter of David Creamer, January 29, 1861. Five children are the result of this union: Wallace C., Charles A., Howard, Arthur H., and Wil- liam E., all living. Himself, wife, and two eldest sons, are mem- bers of the Methodist Protestant Church. He has a farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres, well improved, situated eight miles northwest of Washington, and is a member of the Patrons of Hus- bandry.


JAMES S. ROBINSON.


James S. Robinson, farmer, is a son of John P. Robinson, whose father, Thomas, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to Ger- many about 1780, where he married our subject's grandmother, Rebecca Coons, and came to the United States in 1797, locating near Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained until 1820, when he re- moved to Washington, D. C., remaining there until they reared their family of eight children, and then came to Washington C. H. The grandfather died in Ross County, Ohio, and the grandmother in Miami County, Indiana. Our subject's father remained in Wash- ington C. H. several years, when it had but one business house, and this county was almost an unbroken forest. He went to Indiana, and remained several years, then returned to Ohio. Went to Illin- ois in 1875, where he died, March 2, 1878, aged seventy-eight years.


Our subject was married to Anna C. Smith, daughter of Samuel Smith, of this county, January 6, 1866, who bore him one child,


701


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


Elda J., and died July 15, 1868. He then married Mary E. Tor- bitte, of this county, August 8, 1871. He is a member of James- town Lodge No. 181, I. O. O. F., and served two years in Company C, 114th O. V. I. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.


HORNEY ROBISON.


Horney Robison, farmer, is a son of William Robison, who came to Ohio in 1803, and located in Greene County, where he remained until 1805, when he came to Fayette, and located where our subject now lives. He was married in Virginia to Hanna Horney, our sub- ject's mother. Then this county was very thinly settled by white men. The Indians helped him to raise his first cabin, as there were not enough white men to do it.


Our subject was born, September 14, 1835, on the farm where he now lives, and owns one hundred and sixty-five acres, well im- proved, situated two and a half miles northwest of Jeffersonville. He has his farm rented, and lives with the renter, as he is not yet married. He is a member of Jeffersonville Lodge No. 468, F. & A. M., joining about 1866.


JOHN W. ROEBUCK.


John W. Roebuck, grain and lumber dealer, Jeffersonville, is a son of Hugh and Liddie (Farmer) Roebuck. He came with his parents to this state, when at the age of six months, located in Ross County, and remained nine years, then removed to this coun- ty, located near Bloomingburg, and remained until 1851; then removed to the northern part of this township where the father died, in 1864. Mrs. Roebuck was born in this county, in 1803. They were married in 1826, and had nine children-our subject being the seventh-of whom four are living.


Their house was a place for holding religious services for years, as there were no churches in the neighborhood. They were mem- bers of the Methodist Church, in which faith they died.


Our subject was born in this county, March 12, 1841, where he was reared and educated, and taught school two terms. He was married, October 30, 1866, to Miss Martha J. Conner; seven chil- dren being the result of this union: Frank L., Harry S., Joe B., Lynn L., Ida A., Elba F. and an infant, who is deceased.


702


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


Mr. Roebuck is a member of the Masonic fraternity, of Jeffer- sonville, having joined, the order at Washington, in 1864. He is a charter member of the Jeffersonville Lodge No. 468, and served as Master three years. He was a citizen of Alabama two years, and during that time was a member of the State Board of Regis- tration. He served seven months as a volunteer in the Union army, Company H, 60th O. V. I., and was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, September 16, 1862, and discharged before his time expired. While in Alabama, he was appointed as postmaster of the Calhoon postoffice, on the Alabama and Florida Railroad.


SAMUEL M. SANDERSON.


Samuel M. Sanderson, farmer, West Lancaster, is a son of James and Sarah (Newman) Sanderson, who were married, in 1812, and had a family of twelve children, our subject being the ninth ; they are all living. The parents came to this county, in 1812, and re- mained through life. Mr. Sanderson died, in 1867, aged seventy- seven years. Mrs. Sanderson is living, is eighty-nine years of age, and is in good health considering her age.


Our subject was born, January 12, 1829, and was reared in this, his native county, where he married Miss Mary Gray, daughter of Charles and Rebecca Gray, December 26, 1853, who has borne him five children : Rebecca J., Sallie N., Lucy J., Charles B. and Lillie C. Charles died, August, 1864, aged eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson are members of the Methodist Church, with which they united years ago.


He has a farm of forty acres, situated three-fourths mile east of West Lancaster, on the Washington pike. He served about four months in the late war, Company G, 168th O. N. G., and is a Re- publican. When a young man, he taught school about six years, and is a highly respected citizen.


JOHN C. STAUBUS.


John C. Staubus, farmer, Edgefield, is a native of Virginia, where his parents, Jacob and Rachel (Swatzel) Staubus now live. The father is a native of Germany, and came to the United States when three years of age. The mother is a native of Virginia where they were married, and reared a family of five children, John C. being the oldest.


703


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


Our subject was born February 2, 1843, and came to this state, in 1866, where he was married by Rev. R. Rose, to Miss Margaret Brock, daughter of Richard R. Brock, of this township, December 17, 1867 ; five children are the result of this union : Clem J., Luellu, Benjamin F., Jessie and James G .; all living.


Mr. Staubus has a farm of one hundred and twelve acres, well improved, situated one-half mile north of Edgefield, and farms to both grain and stock. He served four years in Company D, V. I., under Stonewall Jackson. His grandfather, Swatzel, served in the war of 1812.


JAMES STRALEY.


James Straley, grocer and grain dealer, Jeffersonville, is a son of Joseph Straley, and was born December 21, 1829, in this township. Though the educational facilities were limited then, he, in his boy- hood, attained a good common school education, and began teach- ing at the age of sixteen years, and continued ten years. He was married, February 21, 1850, to Miss Nancy A. Hogue, the only daughter of James Hogue, of Jasper Township, this county, who bore him two children: Margaret E., who married B. F. Coffman, of this county, and Benjamin F., who married a Miss Boyer of Kansas, Illinois. Mrs. Straley died, July 20, 1854. He then mar- ried Nancy Robison, December 15, 1855 ; seven children are the result of this union, two are living: Sarah E., who married Albert Booco, December 2, 1879, and James A., who is at home.


Mr. Straley has lived in this county all his life, and has been an officer of county or township for many years. He has held town- ship offices of clerk and trustee of townships, and was elected county sheriff, in 1864, served two successive terms, and is a well and favorably known citizen who has many warm friends.


SAMUEL B. STRALEY.


Samuel B. Straley, farmer and tile maker, Edgefield, is a son of Joseph Straley, who was born in Louis County, Virginia, December 10, 1796, where he was reared and lived until twenty-six years of age, then came to this county, and located one mile east of West Lancaster, where he lived an exemplary life, and where religious services were held at least twenty years, when there were no


704


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


churches near. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and died triumphantly July 31, 1849. He and our subject's mother, Elizabeth B. Hamilton, were married April 30, 1818, and they both joined the church that year. They had a family of fourteen children, eleven living. Mrs. Straley died, May 24, 1877.


Our subject was born, June 27, 1823, in Virginia, and came to this county with his parents in the same year. He was married, April 20, 1843, to Miss Julia A. Hidy, who bore him eight children, and died, April 17, 1861, a member of the Methodist Church. He then married Lydia A. Creamer, February 22, 1862; six children are the result of this union; five living.


Mr. Straley was elected justice of the peace, in 1846, served three years, also served about four years as trustee of Jasper Township. He served four months, in Company G, 168th O. N. G., as lieuten- ant. He and his second wife are members of the Methodist Church.


He has a farm of fifty-eight acres, two miles west of West Lan- caster, and has the oldest tile factory in the county on his farm. His brother, Jasper, was born in this county, December 3, 1835, where he was reared, educated, and married Miss Athaliah Ellis, May 14, 1857 ; nine children are the result of this union, eight living. Mrs. Straley died, January 30, 1881. They too were mem- bers of the Methodist Church. He served four months in the same company and regiment, as sergeant, that S. B. did.


He has a farm of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, three miles west of Jeffersonville, on the Jamestown pike, where he has a new tile factory. All the family are Republicans.


EMILY W. TERRELL.


Emily W. (Parmer) Terrell, Jeffersonville, is a daughter of Will- iam and Margaret (Whitsite) Parmer, who came to this county from Kentucky in 1814. Mr. Parmer was a native of Virginia, and died December 31, 1865, aged seventy-five years. Mrs. Par- mer was a native of Kentucky, and died March 13, 1863, aged sixty-four years. They were members of the Universalist Church.


Our subject was born (January, 1815) in this county, where, on the 2d of January, 1834, she was married to Gilbert Terrell. He was engaged in the mercantile business in Jeffersonville for several years, after which he retired from active life. He was born Octo-


705


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


ber 1, 1808, and died August 18, 1874; having been a hale and hearty man all his life, up to the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Terrell were worthy and consistent members of the Universalist Church, in which she still holds membership, strong in the faith. She has a farm of ninety-six acres, one-half mile west of Jeffer- sonville, and one of one hundred and thirty-five acres two and one-half miles west of town.


JAMES VANNORSDOLL.


James Vannorsdoll, farmer, Jeffersonville, was born in this township, September 10, 1831, and has resided here all his life.


September 4, 1853, he was married to Miss Susanna Horney, daughter of Jefferson and Margaret Horney. Twelve children are the result of this union : Clarelda J., Lucy A., Garrett O., Frank C., Mary M., James H., Forest A., Lillie B., Effie F., Ernest E., Herbert, and one who died in infancy. Mary M. died at the early age of fourteen. Mr. and Mrs. Vannorsdoll are members of the Methodist Protestant Church, of Pleasant View.


He has a farm of three hundred and twenty-nine acres, well im- proved, situated four miles west of Jeffersonville, on the state road, and ninety-eight acres two miles west of town; also, one-half in- terest in the home farm of one hundred and forty acres, situated one mile southeast of Jeffersonville.


He has served several consecutive years as trustee of this town- ship. He has been successful in his business, and is well and favorably known throughout the township. When a young man he taught four terms of school.


WALTER S. WRIGHT.


Walter S. Wright, farmer, Jeffersonville, son of M. B. Wright, (whose history appears in this work,) was born in this township, March 28, 1832. On the 15th of April, 1860, he was married to Miss Nancy Allen. Four children are the result of this union : Olive M., Almer A., Lucy R., and one who died in infancy.


In August, 1862, Mr. Wright enlisted in Company K, 44th O. V. I., at Washington. In 1864 the entire company enlisted in Com- pany K, O. V. C., and served until the close of the war, when they were honorably discharged. He received an injury while in the


706


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


service that will be a detriment to him through life. Has a farm of sixty-eight acres, well improved, situated one and three-fourth miles north of Jeffersonville.


JOHNSON W. WRIGHT.


Johnson W. Wright, farmer, Jeffersonville, is a son of James and Nancy (Johnson) Wright, who were natives of Virginia. They were married in Ross County, this state, about 1802, and remained there a short time, and then removed to Pike County, where Mrs. Wright died in 1845, aged sixty-eight years. Mr. Wright died in Illinois in 1842, aged about seventy-two years. They had a family of nine children, all of whom lived to maturity.


Our subject, who is the youngest, was born August 15, 1825, and has been twice married. December 22, 1852, he was married to Miss Mary E. Wright, who bore him one child, Charles W. She died March 15, 1866. On the 22d of June, 1868, he was united with Miss Mary F. Carr. Two children are the result of this marriage : Amy A. and Isy G .; the latter died June 11, 1871.


Mr. Wright has a farm of forty-five acres, well improved, situ- ated one and one-half mile north of Jeffersonville. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity of Jeffersonville. His second wife was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church.


REBECCA WRIGHT.


Rebecca (Carr) Wright, Jeffersonville, was born in this county, March 29, 1813. On the 2d of January, 1830, she was married to Mathias B. Wright, who, with a Mr. Horney, bought the land where Jeffersonville now stands, and laid out the town in 1830. Mr. Wright died July 3, 1876, aged sixty-eight years. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, and came to this county with his parents when about nine years of age. They had a family of ten children : Walter S., Mary E., Amanda J., Mathias K., Ruhama A., John M., William C., Sarah E., Frank M .; and one who died in infancy. Mary E., William C., and Amanda J., are deceased. The surviving ones are all married.


Walter married Miss Nancy Allen, of this county, and had four children, three living.


Mary E. married Johnson W. Wright, of this county, and has one child.


707


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


Ruhama married Joseph W. Haymaker, of this county, and has five children.


Mathias K., born September 6, 1838, married Miss Maria L. Hooker, of Fairfield County, (born June 9, 1841,) on the 18th of April, 1861. He has a farm of one hundred acres, situated one- half mile north of Jeffersonville. He is one of Fayette County's prominent stock dealers, and deals largely in Poland-China hogs, and fine sheep. Has taken several premiums at county fairs; also at the Tri-State Fair, Toledo, and the Southern Ohio Fair, Dayton.


John M. married Miss Catharine Milburn, of Greene County. They have four children.


Sarah E. married Peter T. Wigginton, of this county, and has five children.


Frank married Miss Laurinda Jackson, of this county. They have two children.


Mrs. Wright lives in Jeffersonville. She and Mr. Wright were members of prominent pioneer families. The family is of good repute, and highly respected. Mrs. Wright, John, and Amanda are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Mr. Wright and M. K. were members of the Universalist Church, where M. K. still retains his membership.


JASPER TOWNSHIP.


By reference to another part of this book, the specific history of the organization and boundary of Jasper Township will be found. Therefore, we shall begin with the original settlement, and trace its history through all its transitions from the first log cabin in the woods, to its present flourishing condition, with its system of drainage, excellent schools and splendid turnpikes.


The first settlement of this territory took place in 1809. In the spring of this year, Jacob and Joseph Coile emigrated from Pen- dleton County, Virginia, and located on a military claim, consisting of two thousand acres, belonging to their father, Gabriel Coile, who was a revolutionary soldier. Both Jacob and Joseph were married before leaving Virginia ; the former married a Miss Cullop, and the latter Sophia Roof. In 1814, both families removed to Indiana, near Indianapolis.


JACOB HERSHAW.


In about the same year, (1814,) Jacob Hershaw came from Vir- ginia to this township, and located on the Coile claim, having traded a farm in Virginia for one hundred and sixty acres of this land ; the larger portion of which is within the present limits of Jasper Township, now the property of Wayne Wright. In 1818, he removed to Indiana and settled on land owned by his father-in- law, Cullop.


ROBERT BURNETT.


Robert Burnett came from Pendleton County, Virginia, in 1810, and being a single man worked by the month till 1812, when he married Susan Bush, and squatted on government land. Six sons and five daughters blessed this union : Henry, John, Jesse, Elihu, Absalom, Mary, Jane and Susan.


708


709


JASPER TOWNSHIP.


He was a soldier in the war of 1812, belonging to a volunteer rifle company, whose captain was a Mr. Flesher. Mr. Burnett after- wards served as captain of a militia company.


After the organization of Jasper Township, he was elected to several of its offices, serving both as clerk and trustee. He subse- quently was appointed road viewer by the county commissioners. His first wife dying in 1839, he, some time subsequently, married the widow of Jacob Coler. Captain Burnett was by profession a surveyor, and many of the county and township roads were laid out by him.


In 1813, after his first marriage, he leased a tract of land, of Mr. Bush, in Union Township, where he resided till 1821, when he re- moved to wild land which he had purchased of a Mr. Pendleton, of Virginia.


Captain Burnett enjoyed the distinction of being one of the most excellent and peaceable citizens, never having, at the age of eighty-three, indulged in a quarrel with a neighbor, or been a party to a law suit. He was a man of good habits, and his great longev- ity may have been due to some extent, to the fact that he never used tobacco in any form, and extreme moderation in the use of ardent spirits.




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