USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene 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 80
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838
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Millie Hargrave, a native of North Carolina, Jackson County, was born 1813, where she lived until twenty-one years of age, then came to Clinton County, Ohio, where she remained one year, and then came to this county where she has lived since. Was married December 4, 1834, to Herbert II. Hargrave. There were ten chil- dren of this marriage, of whom eight are living: Harriet, Rachel, John, William, James, Mary, Catharine, Lucinda, and Anna. Mr. Hargrave was born 1805, died September 8, 1869. He had a farm of three hundred and seventy-five acres of land, which after his death was divided among the children and widow. She has one hundred and twenty-five acres, well improved on which she lives. He came to Ohio at the age of twenty-one years, spent several years in traveling, ate dinner with President Jackson in the White House, who took pains to show him through the house, and the national relics. He, tired of traveling, bought the land where Mrs. Hargrave and family now live. Then there were but few houses in this locality. Jamestown had but one store. Xenia had about five hundred inhabitants. The only railroad seen in Mrs. Har- grave's journey from North Carolina, was in West Virginia. The village of Bowersville had but one house, that was owned by a Peter Bowermaster. The nearest church, was a log about four miles south of their home. They have heard the wolves howl around the house, and counted the wild turkeys as they passed. Mr. Hargrave went out one morning to find some strayed hogs, got lost on his own land, then almost an unbroken forest, and wan- dered through the woods all day but found his way home just at dark. The farming implements consisted of a wooden plow, wood harrow, cradle and sickle.
John Hargrave, farmer, was born in this county September 16, 1844, where he was reared, and married to Miss Emeline Glass, a native of the same county, March 20, 1872; three children is the result of this marriage, Lucian E., Jasper A., and Charles O., all of whom are living. Mr. Hargrave is a member of the Christian Church of Bowersville. He has a farm of one hundred and one acres, well improved, on which he lives, and farms chiefly to grain. This farm is a part of the land mentioned in his mother's biogra- phy. He is a son of Herbert Hargrave and Millie, whose sketches appear in this work.
Jamies Hargrave, farmer, is a son of Herbert and Millie, whose biographies appear in this work. The subject of this sketch was
839
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
born in this county, July 1, 1853, where he was married to Miss Maud J. Thompson, a daughter of Daniel and Tabitha; two chil- dren are the result of this marriage, Laumor, and Effie, both of whom are living. He has a farm of fifty-three and three-fourth acres, well improved on which he lives, farming to both grain and stock.
Calvin A. Hanghey, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of John and Patience (Studivan) Hanghey, who came to this township about the year 1810, where they lived the remainder of their lives. They were born, reared, and married in Grayson County, Virginia, being married at the respective ages of twenty-one and eighteen. Parents of twelve children, two deceased, Nancy and an infant; the others are all married, except Calvin, who has a farm of two hundred and forty acres, on which he has a good, large frame house, a good barn, and a large corn-drying house; his farm is in general good repair, and is located three-fourth of a mile south of the village of Bowersville, on the pike leading from Bowersville to Hillsborough. Farms chiefly to grain, and has made a specialty of raising sweet corn for the last few years, which he dries for winter use. Is a member of I. O. O. F. of Bowersville; united with this order in 1876 ; is also a charter member of the Patrons of Husbandry of Bowersville.
David P. Hanghey, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of J. Q. A. and Louvina (Paullin) Hanghey. David P. is a native of this county, and a brother of Calvin, whose biography appears in this work. Our subject was born in this township, January 19, 1856, where he was reared, and married Miss Rose, a daughter of Daniel Earley, whose biography also appears in this work. She was born October 28, 1859. They were married March 14, 1877; two children being the result of the union, Daniel A. and Lucinda, both living. Mrs. Earley has a farm of one hundred acres, on which they live. This is a part of the large tract of land formerly owned by her father, who gave it to her shortly after her marriage, and is situated on the Jamestown and Port William road, about three miles west of the village of Bowersville.
Andrew D. Hite, farmer, Jamestown, is a native of this county, and was born December 11, 1814, where he was reared and married, November, 1833, to Mary Meyers, a native of Kentucky. Nine children are the result of this marriage: James II., William, George A., Catherine, John, Allen, Cyrus M., Elizabeth D., and
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY. .
one who died in infancy ; James, George, and Elizabeth have died. Those living are married, save Catherine, who is at home with her parents. Mr. Hite has been a member of the Baptist Church for more than forty years, and was a minister of that denomination for many years, receiving his first license to preach in 1845, which position he occupied until quite recently, when he resigned. He served two successive terms as member of the board of education. Has a farm of ninety-seven acres, well improved, about eighty acres of which are in cultivation-the result of his and his wife's industry and good management.
William M. Hite, farmer, is a son of Andrew and Mary Hite, whose biography appears in this work. He was born February 14, 1839, near Xenia, where was reared, and was married, March 19, 1861, to Miss Sarah L. Dalby, of this county, where she was born, in December, 1843. Six children are the result of this marriage- Mary E., Alpheus, Charlie, Oscar, Maud, and Mertie, all of whom are living. Our subject is a member of the Odd-Fellows lodge of Bowersville, uniting with the order in November, 1873; was elect- ed township trustee in 1876, and served one term; elected again in 1880, and holds the office at this writing; has been a member of the board of education for several years; has a farm of one hun- dred and thirty-two acres, on which he lives, having a fine, large brick house, and other buildings necessary to a well improved farm. This property is the result of good managenient, and is one of the best farms in the township, located about four miles south of Jamestown. Mrs. Hite's father, Jesse Dalby, was born October 3, 1815, and died October 1, 1845, and was married in October. Her mother is still living, having married Mr. James Tuttle, of Illinois, and is now living in Logan County, that state.
Joseph P. Hollingsworth, farmer, is a native of this county, and was born May 20, 1833; was reared and educated here, and was here married to Miss Martha Bales, in February, 1860. Five chil- dren are the result of their marriage-Emma E., Alonzo, Marion, Charlie, and Hattie, all of whom are living. Our subject has a farm of seventy-four acres, on which he lives, farming to grain and stock. Is a brick mason by trade, learning the trade in this coun- ty, which he began about 1848, and has worked at that trade a great portion of the time since then. Is a member of Bowersville Lodge No. 559, I. O. O. F., having united with that order in 1864.
Joseph Huffaker, farmer, was born in Illinois, in February, 1835,
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
where he was reared and educated, and came to this county in 1861. Left Illinois about 1854, and went to Texas, where he remained about six years; thence to Missouri ; thence to Cincinnati; thence to eastern Ohio; thence to this county, where he married Miss Evelyn Hussey, a daughter of Christopher Hussey, the second one of the name, and a son of the first settler of this township, which marriage was consummated in October, 1863. They have five chil -. dren, all living: Frank, Daisy, Mary, Warren, and Elsie. Our sub- ject has a farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, well improved, on which he lives. To the passer-by, his farm speaks of its owner as a man of ingenuity and enterprise. The fences are in good re- pair, many of them having living stakes, such as are calculated to save repair on account of decay. The implements are kept in or- der by his own hands, and many of them are made by him. He makes his own gates in such a convenient way that they are opened without getting out of the wagon. In fact, the farm indicates that an enterprising man is possessor of it. He joined the Masonic fraternity of Jamestown in 1872, and is also a member of the Pa- trons of Husbandry of Bowersville.
Joseph H. Hussey, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of Christopher Hussey, who was the first permanent settler of this township. He came here in. 1806, and located on the farm where our subject, with his wife, mother, and sister Catharine, now live, and where the family of twenty children were born. Mr. Hussey was twice married. First, to Margaret Hanghey, by whom he had nine chil- dren : Christopher, Stephen, Thomas, John, Elijah, Mary, Joseph, Nancy, and one who died in infancy. Of these children four are living. Christopher, Stephen, Nancy, Joseph, and an infant, de- ceased. All were married, except Joseph and the infant. After Mrs. Hussey's death, he married Miss Catharine Lockart. Eleven children are the fruits of this union : Narcissa, Henry M., Lydia, Evaline, James W., Albert, Flora, Joseph, and Catherine, living, and Emaline and an infant, deceased. Mr. Hussey was born in Tennessee, June 12, 1794, and died March, 1873. Joseph was born August 31, 1856. Was married to Anna Hall, of Clinton County, Ohio, December 17, 1879. IIe has a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which he lives. This farm is part of the large tract of land formerly owned by his father.
John Hussey, jr., farmer, Bowersville, a son of Christopher Hussey, and the third of the name, was born February 9, 1842, in
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
this township, where he was reared and educated. Was married, May 22, 1869, in Miami County, Kansas, to Miss Rosa Beason, a native of Iowa. They have one child, Laura Estella, born April 23, 1879. During the rebellion, Mr. Hussey served about three years, enlisting August 11, 1862, and was discharged June 5, 1865. Was in several heavy battles, among which were Tate's Ferry, Chappel Hill, Stone River, and Chickamauga. After his arrival home, he remained with his father until February, 1866, when he went to Kansas, and engaged in mercantile persuits for about two years and a half, after which he returned to this state, where he has since remained. Has a farm of twenty-seven acres, well im- proved, upon which he resides.
William Hargrave, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of Herbert II. and Millie Hargrave, whose biography appears in this work, and was born in this county, October 5, 1847, where he was reared and married to Miss Minerva Thompson, of this county. Two chil- dren are the result of this union, Leota and Oscar, both living. He has a farm of seventy-nine acres, well improved, on which he lives; farms to both grain and stock. Mrs. Hargrave is a daughter of Daniel and Tabitha, who are natives of Fayette County, but re- side in this county at present.
W. H. Johnson, wagon and carriage maker, Bowersville, is a native of Ross County, and came to this county with his parents in 1849, where he has since resided, except five years which he spent in Indiana. William and Margaret (Cox) Johnson, his parents, were married in Ross County; he was a native of Ohio, where he died, she of Indiana, where her parents died. They owned the land where Indianapolis now stands. There were nine children of this family, eight living: Elizabeth, Malinda, Martha, Mary, John, Maria, William H., and Elijah; Melissa died about 1860, aged about thirty-five years. Our subject was married, August 15, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth F. Stevens, of Xenia; one child, Melvin S., who was born May 1, 1879. Mr. Johnson is a good workman, and does a thriving business. The receipts for work done in his shop last year amounted to about $3,000.
Robert Johnson, farmer, Bowersville, is a native of this town- ship, where he was reared, and married Miss Eliza J. Ogan. Ten children were born to them: Fadona, Solomon, Euphemia, Elma, Victoria, Ida May, Alonzo, Lora and Cora; Victoria and Ida, de- ceased. Mr. Johnson's father, Thomas, was born in Maryland,
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JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
September 5, 1781 ; his mother, Margaret (Stewart), in West Vir- ginia, in 1790, where they were married. Of this family there were six children : William S., Elizabeth J., Robert, and Mary A., living; Joseph and Margaret, deceased. Mr. Johnson came to this county in 1814; he and his wife died here, and were interred in Bowersville cemetery. Mrs. Johnson jr.'s parents, Evan and Su- sanna (Wikel) Ogan, were natives of West Virginia; he died in Missouri, she in Illinois. They were parents of eighteen children, all living ; the youngest is about thirty years of age. Mrs. John- son, the oldest, was born April 6, 1825. Our subject has a farm of eighty acres, well improved, on which he lives, situated one and one-half miles northwest of Bowersville. He had, at one time, two hundred and eighty acres here, but lost two hundred acres through the failure of a brother.
Simon L. Kline, farmer, Bowersville, is a native of Virginia, where he was reared and educated. Was born in 1836, and came to Ohio in 1858, locating in Clinton County, where he remained until 1867, when he came to this county, and married Miss Sophia J. Early, April, 1865. Three children are the result of this mar- riage: Asa C., Orie C., and Minnie A., all living. He has a farm of one hundred and twenty-two and one half acres, on which he lives. His mother is living in Virginia, aged eighty-eight years; His father died there in February, 1868. There were twelve chil- dren of his father's family, of whom eleven are living, one younger than Simon. Mrs. Kline's parents were natives of this county ; she is a grand-daughter of Benjamin Vannienam, an early settler in this township. Mr. Kline is a member of Bowersville Lodge No. 559, I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church of Bowersville. He went as a substitute to the rebellion, in Company C, One Hundred and Forty-Ninth Ohio National Guards, being in the service four months.
George Perrill, farmer, a native of Fayette County, Ohio, was born August 11, 1856, is a son of John and Margaret (Sparks) Per- rill, who were married in 1855. He is a native of Pike County, Ohio, she of Kentucky. There were eleven children of this family, nine of whom are living, George being the oldest. He is also the oldest of eighty-four great grandchildren. He was married in this county, March 14, 1878, to Miss Elizabeth Vanniman, a daughter of Stephen and Rebecca J. Vanniman, whose biographies ap- pear in this work. One child is the result of this marriage: Edith
844
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
May, who was born November 17, 1879. They have a farm of one hundred and eighty-nine acres well improved, farms chiefly to grain. Mr. Perrill is a member of the Odd-fellows of Bowersville Lodge, No. 559, joining September, 1880. Mrs. Perrill is a men- ber of the Methodist Protestant Church of Bowersville.
David L. Reaves, farmer, is a son of George and Mary, who were married about 1817. He was a native of Vermont, and went to Tennessee with his parents, Asher and Diana, when at about the age of four years, where he remained until 1811, when they came - to Ohio and spent the remainder of their lives. George, David's father, died in 1854, aged fifty-nine years. Mrs. Reaves is still liv- ing with her son David, the subject of this sketch. She is eighty- one years of age, and enjoying good health. Our subject was born October 1, 1822, in this county, where he has resided all his life, except two years of his youth spent in Madison County, Ohio, and about two years in Clinton County, then went to Illinois and spent about seven months. He was thrice married, first to Mary A., Stew- art of this county, in 1843 : three children by this marriage, Mary E., James W., and Rachel A., two of whom are living. James died at the early age of about six months. Mrs. Reaves died May 15, 1849. Mr. Reaves married Edna E. Short, of this county, De- cember 1, 1853; no children. She died July 22, 1854. He then married Mary E. Pownall of Highland County, Ohio, December 14, 1858, six children is the result of this marriage: Martha E., Edson C., Morris C., Jonathan P., two died in infancy. Mr. Reaves's second wife, was a member of the Wesley Methodist Church. At present, he owns no land except two lots in Port William, having sold his farm of sixty acres, which is well improved, but is about buying another. Mary E., and Rachel are married; the others are unmarried and at home with their parents. Mr. Reaves was elected assessor, in 1846, served two successive terms, was re- elected, in 1853. Was elected treasurer of the township, in 1875, and has served several terms as township trustee. He was elected assessor, in 1863, again in 1867, and in 1877. His father was a Baptist minister and known over a great portion of the state. He was captain of a military company in this county. He was finally elected mayor. His first school house was of logs with paper win- dows, the fire place was in the end of the house, seats were made of puncheon, etc.
Mathew F. Ross, farmer, is a native of West Virginia, where he
845
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
was partly reared, and came to this state with his parents, in 1847, where he has lived since. Was married April 3, 1856, to Miss Mary L. Blane of this county; two children are the result of this union, Oscar M., and Robert E., both of whom are deceased. Oscar was born August 27, 1861, died August 27, 1862. Robert was born September 8, 1863, died July 8, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the Christian Church of Bowersville. Her father came to Ohio, in 1818, where he married Miss Elizabeth Lockhart, (Mrs. Ross's mother) about the year 1831, and where they lived the re- mainder of their lives. Mr. Ross has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, well improved, on which he lives, and farms to both grain and stock. Of his stock, he makes rather a specialty of mer- ino sheep. Mrs. Ross has thirty-two acres of land adjoining his on the east.
William R. Ross, farmer, is a native of West Virginia, where he was reared and educated. Came to Ohio with his parents when he was nineteen years of age, and married Miss Rachel Moon, Febru- ary 25, 1864, and four children are the result of their union : Clem- ent, Susanna J., Mary F., and John Quincy, all living, and none married. Our subject has a farm of two hundred and thirty acres, well improved, resides on it, and farms to grain and stock, making a specialty of sheep raising, keeping from two hundred and fifty to three hundred all the time, of good stock. Mrs. Ross' father is a native of New York; born February 29, 1844; came to Ohio, and . married Jane Turner, Mrs. Ross' mother, who died July 26, 1854. He is yet a resident of this state.
John A. Ross, farmer, is a son of Robert and Susanna (Alexan- der) Ross, who came from West Virginia in 1847, and died in this state. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. He was born January 17, 1827, and united with that church at the age of nineteen, and came to Ohio with his parents, where he has a farm of two hundred and forty-two acres, well improved, residing on it, and farms to grain and stock, dealing largely in sheep, keeping from two to three hundred head of good stock all the time, some thoroughbred; also handles hogs, mostly of good stock. Is yet unmarried, lives in a pleasant place, and is, perhaps, as happy as if he had a family.
Elizabeth Osborn Sheely was born in Clermont County, Ohio, October 31, 1816, where she was reared; came to this county in 1833, and was married to William Sheely, November 14, 1841.
846
HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Eight children are the result of this union: Preciosa A., Sallie M., David, Isaac, Moses, and Lydia, all living except Moses, who died at the early age of two weeks. The others are all married except Lydia, who is at home with her mother. Mr. Sheely was born Oc- tober 24, 1811, and died May 21, 1870. Mrs. Sheely's father was one of the pioneers of this county. Philip Gatch, her grandfather, was a noted minister of Ohio, and a very successful evangelist. He and his friend William Waters attended the first Methodist Con- ference held in the United States, which was held at Philadelphia, in May, 1774. He was elected associate judge of Clermont Coun- ty Court in 1808; was president of the board of associate judges. Judge Scott, of the Supreme Court of Ohio, said: "My personal acquaintance with Judge Gatch commenced the 1st of September, A. D. 1802, when he and the late Mr. James Sargent presented their election as delegates from Clermont County to the convention then, assembling in the city of Philadelphia, to form a constitution and state government." He was judge twenty-one years. There was a church in Maine, known as the " Gatch Church," which building he erected, and where he organized the society. That building stood until a few years since, when it gave place to a new one. The posts of the altar of the old church were worked into canes, and distributed among the descendants of the builder of the church, which was built in 1772. Mr. Gatch's son George was a ยท minister, doing all the good he could, as did his father.
Thomas Smith, farmer, is a native of this county, where he was reared, educated, and married to Mary Hussey, a native and resi- dent of the same county. Ten children are the result of this union : Alexander, Mary, Nancy J., Christopher H., Zenas, Margaret J., William, John, Thomas, and Catharine; Nancy and Catharine de- ceased. Alexander, Mary, and Zenas are married, and Christopher is in Colorado, on a tour for his health. Our subject has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he lives. Himself, wife, Alexander, Mary, Christopher, Zenas, and Maggie are members of the Christian Church of Bowersville. His father, Jeremiah, was married about the year 1822, to Jane Thornburg, Thomas' mother, a native of Tennessee, and had eleven children by this marriage, five of whom are living. He died in December, 1848, aged fifty- six years, and was a member of the Christian Church, dying in the triumphs of a living faith, and is evidently enjoying the happiness that awaits the "pure in heart." He came to Ohio about the year
847
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
1816, where he resided until his death. His wife is still living; is seventy-seven years of age, and enjoying good health.
Andrew J. Stephens, farmer, Bowersville, is a son of John and Eleanor (Hanes) Stephens, who were natives of Virginia. His father was born in 1790, and came to this county in 1808, and re- mained here through life, with the exception of six years spent in Clermont County, this state, and two years in Indiana, where he died. Mrs. Stephens was born about 1786, and died about 1866, aged eighty years. There were nine children of this family, our subject being the fifth one. He was married, May 24, 1840, to Miss Susanna Beason, of this county. Nine children are the result of this union : John T., Mary L., Kesiah J., William C., Phoebe, Ed- ward L., Amasa, Martha E., and Hiram A., all living, and all mar- ried, except Hiram, who is at home with his parents. Mr. Steph- ens lives two miles west of Bowersville, on the Bowersville and Xenia pike. Mrs. Stephen's parents, Thomas and Kesiah (Turner) Beason, were born in Tennessee. He died in 1866; she is living in Jasper Township, this county. Of this family there were four- teen children, seven of whom are living. Our subject is a well re- spected citizen, of whom his neighbors speak highly.
Benjamin S. Stewart, farmer. Bowersville, is a native of Maine, where his parents, Joseph and Sallie (Snow) Stewart, were born. He was reared, educated, and married in his native state. Was married, to Mary A. Goodwin, of Maine, born November 8, 1824, died January 28, 1865. May 17, 1866, he married Anna M. Story, of this county. He came to this state in 1865, stayed until the fol- lowing winter, then returned to Maine, where he remained until April, 1866 ; returned to Ohio, where he has since resided. Has a farm of ninety-eight acres, on which he lives. Is a charter men- ber of Bowersville Lodge No. 559, of Odd-fellows. Also a member of the Patrons of Husbandry. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bowersville, and are consis- tent Christians, walking humbly before God and man. He is a local minister ; has been class leader at least twelve years. His first wife was a member of the Christian Church of North Fairfield, Maine, in which she died triumphantly, bidding the messenger. of death a glad welcome. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have adopted two children, one of whom is living and is married ; the other, Etta L. Johnson, died February 3, 1877.
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