USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 99
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Rachel Jessup, wife of Cary Johnson, was born in 1787 in the State of New Jersey, and came with her parents to Springfield township in the year 1794, coming from Pitts- burgh to Cincinnati on a flat-boat. The farm on which the family first settled had been selected some time previous by an older brother, Stephen Jessup, who came from Pennsylvania on foot to seek more suitable and produc- tive lands. Stephen Jessup was grandfather to the noted poets, the Cary sisters.
Reuben S. Compton was born in Colerain township, Hamilton county, in the year 1804. His business was farming. His wife, Bathsheba Laboyteaux, was born in 1806. The members of his family still living are An- drew Jackson, Alexander, Chrystalina, Emeline, Eliza, Cornelia and Oliver. The last named was born at the old homestead in Colerain township in 1826. He re- mained with his parents until he attained his majority. He married, on the thirteenth of April, 1854, Miss Eliza- beth Voorhees, of Warren county. They have three children-Flora Ellen, Laura Francis, and Alfred R.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Compton belong to the Christian Church, to which they give their constant support. His father is buried in a private burial-place on the old Comp- ton homestead.
Benjamin Walden was born in 1757, in the State of Virginia. As early as 1805 he came to Springfield town- ship from Kentucky, and died in 1842. His business was farming. Hannah, his wife, was born in 1757, and died in 1840. The only survivor of his family is William, the youngest son. He was born in 1808, on the farm where he now lives. In the year 1842 he was married to Miss Charlotte Joselyn, who bore him ten children -- George W., William, Benjamin, Marcus, Edward J., Josephine, Nancy O., Charlotte, Emma, and Sarah. Mr. Walden is one of the best men of the township and county. With his wife, he has long been connected with the Presbyterian church. He has gradually acquired a competency, and is now is the enjoyment of cheerful surroundings and a comfortable home.
Jacob Hoffner was born in the year 1765, in Burke county, Pennsylvania, and from this State he emigrated to Ohio and settled in Springfield township in 1805. His death occurred at Mount Pleasant in 1845. While in Pennsylvania he followed the business of wagonmaker, but was a farmer in Ohio. Mrs. Magdalen Hoffner, wife of Jacob Hoffner, was born in 1768, and died in 1840. The members of the family now alive are Eliza Johnston, a resident of Cumminsville; Samuel, who lives at In- dianapolis; and Thomas, the third son, and subject of following sketch.
Thomas Hoffner was born in Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, in the year 1796. He came with his parents to Hamilton county in 1805, he and his brother Jacob walking the entire distance, and crossing the river at Wheeling, Virginia. Although but a youth of sixteen, he enlisted in the War of 1812. After an absence of six months, he returned to the parental roof unhurt, and crowned with all the honors to which our brave sons were justly entitled. After the close of the war he re- turned and aided his father in the cultivation of the pioneer home. In 1815 he was married to Miss Sarah Bolser. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoffner were born eight chil- dren-one son and seven daughters: John C., Catharine, Rebecca, Eliza, Elizabeth, Amanda, Sarah, and Mary. Eliza, Amanda, and Mary are dead. In the year 1824 the wife also died. He was married again in the year 1836, to Miss Abigail Smith. They are both active members of the church of United Brethren and have always been among its most staunch supporters. In the year 1827, he aided his father in carrying on the farm, and in 1839 returned to Massachusetts, and brought back with him Miss Sarah Adams, whom he soon after married, and who is now his companion. His first purchase was made in the woods, with no improvements whatever to give evidence of his ever having had a pre- decessor. Here he began life in reality. As time wore on, six children were born to this pioneer couple-four sons and two daughters: Thomas, Charley, Cynthia, Joseph, Isaac, and Ella. Thomas and Charles are now deceased. The sympathies of Mr. and Mrs. Weston
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
have ever been with the Universalist church, to which they give their support.
John C. Hoffner, youngest child of Thomas and Sarah Hoffner, was born in the year 1833, in the old Hoffner homestead. At the age of nineteen he went as a clerk to Cincinnati with the firm of Canfield & Moffett, grocers. In the year 1860 he returned to the farm where he has ever since resided. He married in the year 1855, Miss Zorada Harrison, whose father was an early settler of Cincinnati and a noted river pilot. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoffner were born twelve children, six of whom are now living: Valleria W., Mary E., Ada Estella, Rebecca, John H., and William Allen. Mr. Hoffner comes from a family whose record is spotless. He has reached the zenith in Odd Fellowship, having been a member for thirteen years.
Henry Rogers, sr., settled in Mill Creek township in the year 1806. He was born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, in 1752, from which State he moved to Pennsyl- vania, and thence to Ohio. He died in Cincinnati in 1839 or 1840. During the Revolutionary war he was a soldier in the American army. By occupation he was a weaver. His wife, Phœbe Bennet, was born in 1766, and died some time during the War of 1812. Their de- scendants were Elizabeth, Sarah, Hannah, Phœbe, Jemi- ma, Amos, Samuel, Nancy, Henry, and Maria-all dead except Henry, Amos and Samuel dying in infancy. Elizabeth married Thomas McFeely, of Virginia; Sarah, Michael Burge ; Hannah, Zebulon Strong, of Vermont; Phœbe, Jonathan Holden, of Vermont; Jemima, Rich- ard McFeely ; Nancy, Cyrus Brown, of Ohio; Maria, Levi Pinney, of Ohio ; Henry, Miss Rachel Maria Hill, daughter of Jedediah Hill, of New Jersey. Henry, the only survivor of this large family, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and came with his parents to Hamilton county, Ohio, the fall of the same year. When seventeen years of age, he left his home and went out, a poor boy, to fight the battle of life alone. His life has been occupied in various pursuits. He first learned the trade of cabinetmaking, for which he soon acquired a distaste and gave it up. For a time after this he worked out by the month whenever work could be obtained. In the year 1828 he engaged with Jedediah Hill, who after- wards became his father-in-law, in operating his flouring mill and cultivating his farm. He married in the year 1832, September 22. To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers was born one son, Wilson T. He married, March 15, 1866, Mary Jane Chadwick, who has become the mother of two sons. Our subject now owns and occupies the old Hill home- stead. Mr. Rogers is not associated with any church or- ganization, but his wife is a devout Christian, a member of the Baptist church, and has always been one of its best supporters.
John M. Wozencraft came to Cincinnati in 1806. He was born in Wales, but emigrated to the State of Ohio from Baltimore, Maryland. In his sixty-fourth year, while in South Carolina and on his way to England, he died. His wife, Hannah, lived to be nearly ninety-two years of age. Her death occurred in San Vermideno, California. Of this family there now remain Dr. O. M.
Wozencraft, of San Francisco, California-a man of great professional prominence; and Captain J. J. Wozen- craft, who was born in Cincinnati August 6, 1807. Prior to his marriage he was with his father in business. At the age of seventeen he learned the tinner's trade with Mr. Norman Bird, and remained ten years. After com- pleting his trade, his faithful and prompt attention to his employer's wishes was so appreciated that he was given the position of superintendent. In 1828 he married Miss Olivia King, daughter of Alexander King, the first deputy sheriff of Hamilton county. Four sons and three daughters were given them: John M., Anna E., William A., ex-mayor of Paris, Illinois; Oliver, who was killed by the explosion of an engine; Edwin D., who was band master for three years during the late war; Martha M., and Mary Ellen, now wife of John Fisher, an extensive manufacturer of carriages in Cincinnati. The life of our subject has been one of position and prosperity. For eleven successive years he was elected commander of the Fire Company No. 5, of Cincinnati. He was the first grand worthy chief Templar west of the Alleghanies, besides holding other honorable places. He has ever been an active leader in advancing and improving society, and a firm advocate of law and order. His estimable wife has always been a devout Christian. They have acquired a good property that now enables them to live at ease. Their home is at Mount Pleasant.
Mr. Jacob Skillman, with his family, made his first settlement in Springfield township, in 1806. He was born on Long Island, but emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio. . In the Revolutionary war he was a recruiting officer. After coming to Ohio he cleared the farm now owned by his grandson, Henry. His children were six in number: Isaac, Benjamin, Jacob, Thomas, and Abra- ham, all now deceased. Henry, second son of Abraham and Abigail Skillman, was born in the Skillman home- stead in the year 1824. He was married in 1857, to Miss Augusta Foster, daughter of one of Hamilton county's earliest families, which came to Ohio prior to 1800. Four sons and one daughter were afterward born: Albert, George, Harry, Frank, and Emma. George and Harry have died. Both parents belong to the Pres- byterian church, and have always been among the leading and most reliable members.
Abiezer Miles settled in Springfield township in 1807. He emigrated from the State of Pennsylvania, where he was born in the year 1768. He was at different times farmer and shoemaker. During the War of 1812, he helped carry the dead from the battlefield. His wife, Judith Miles, was born in 1775, and lived until 1839. His death took place at the old home in the year 1832. The children are Hannah Robinson, living at Batavia, Clermont county, and John J. The latter was born in Pennsylvania in 1801, and came with his parents to Springfield township. The farm now owned and occu- pied by him was the first permanent place of settlement made by the father. As he was prospered he gradually improved the pioneer home, till it became one of the pleasantest places in the township. John J. resided with his parents till their decease, when he became owner of
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
the farm. He was twice married, first to Miss Margaret Skillman, October 24, 1822. To them were born nine children: James, Jacob S., John S., George, Sarah, Ju- dith, Susan R., Phoebe, and Mary. Sarah, Margaret, Phobe, Mary, James and John are dead. In 1845 the wife died. The following year he was married to Miss Matilda Jessup, who afterward was the mother of five children: Margaret and Israel, who have died, and John B., Ella, and Emma. The last two are twins. Mr. and Mrs. Miles' are devoted members of the Christian church.
William McLean came from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and settled in Springfield in the year 1807. The surviv- ing members of the family are John, Betsey, Sallie, and Samuel. Samuel, the oldest son of William and Isabella McLean, was born in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1799, and came with his parents to Hamilton county in the year 1807. The family for a while was obliged to occupy the old block-house at Columbia, so hostile were the red men just at that time. The family located in Springfield township, where the father died shortly after, leaving Samuel to superintend the farm. At the age of thirty he married Miss Elizabeth Whitlock, by whom he had seven sons: Jerome B., Jasper, Sylvester, Loami, Arthur, now deceased, John and Stephen. Ar- thur was a prominent attorney of Cincinnati, and after- wards a lieutenant in the War of 1861. Here his health became impaired, and he returned to his home and soon after died. Our subject was one who led an active busi- ness life, a man of whom his neighbors could boast. He took a very active part in the militia musters, of which our older citizens have vivid recollections. He occupied the position of colonel and general, and became every- where known as Colonel Samuel McLean. After living a life of usefulness, he departed in the year 1872. He is buried beside his parents in the burial place at Spring- dale.
Samuel Johnson, sr., first settled, in the year 1807, in Springfield township. He was born in 1788, in New Jersey, and from that State he emigrated to Ohio. His death occurred in 1878, at his home in Mount Pleasant. He pursued the business of farming, and his first pur- chase was the farm now owned by the Riddle heirs. His wife, whose name was Phobe Jessup, was born in 1793, and died in 1865. She came to Ohio with her parents in the year 1797. The names of surviving members of the family and their places of residence are John, Lydia, Abigail, Jane, Dale, and Samuel. John and his sister Jane reside in Texas. Samuel and two sisters, Lydia and Abigail, reside on the old homestead in Mount Pleasant, which is also owned by them.
Major William Cox came from New Jersey to Hamil- ton county, Colerain township, in 1809. He was a stone mason, and was out in the War of 1812, where he ac- quired his military title. He had but two children, Tunis and Martha. The former settled in Springfield, near New Burlington, where he kept the old Eleven-mile House, or Farmer's Rest, on the Hamilton pike, which was known as one of the best hotels of the county out- side the city. He had twelve children, evenly divided
as to sex, among whom was George Washington Cox, now of Loveland, next to the youngest of the family. He was born December 27, 1837, at New Burlington, and was brought up at the hotel and on the farm con- nected with it. In 1874 he removed to Lockland, where he is now engaged in keeping a livery stable. He was married December 10, 1858, to Rebecca Ayres, of Springfield township, and again, after her death in 1864, to Mrs. Hartin (Hole) Smith, widow of Oscar Smith, January 22, 1868. He has three children, one, Lenroy, now twenty years old, by his first wife, and the others, twins, by the second wife, Elva, a son, and Idella, a daughter, eleven years old.
Elisha C. Walden was born in the year 1800, in the State of Kentucky. He came to Hamilton county when quite a small boy. He was twice married, first to Miss Nancy Ogle, who died about the year 1840. He was married again in the year 1843, to Miss Julia L. Kitchel, daughter of an old family, her parents being Samuel and Margaret Kitchel. The life of Mr. Walden was devoted to various pursuits. At first he was a merchant in Darr- town, and in later years he occupied and superintended the farm in Springfield township, where his widow now resides. He is spoken of by neighbors and friends as a most excellent citizen, a gentleman respected and es- teemed wherever known. Years before his death he associated himself with the Presbyterian church, of which his wife has long been a member. He departed this life in the fall of 1876, after several years of severe affliction.
Philander Allen settled in Cincinnati in 1811. He was born in Cornwall, Connecticut, in 1779. His wife's name was Hannah Foster. She was born in 1782. The four surviving children are Samuel S., Harriet Townley, Sarah Hilts, and Edward P. Samuel S., fourth son of Philan- der and Hannah Allen, was born in Hamilton county in the year 1820. He made his home with his parents un- til the time of their death. He was married in 1849 to Miss Emeline Riddle, daughter of one of the pioneers. There were born to them seven children-four sons and three daughters. Their names are Mary, Jacob, Charles, Henry, George, Anna, and Carrie-all living but Jacob, who died at the age of two years. Our subject resides on and is the owner of the old homestead. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church in Spring- dale.
Daniel Brown settled on section fifteen of Springfield township in 1812. He was born in the year 1779, at Hagerstown, Maryland, but emigrated into Ohio from Pennsylvania. While in the latter State he worked as a mechanic, but his life in Ohio was that of a farmer. His wife was Elizabeth Bahn. He died at his home in 1853, and his wife lived but nine years longer. The surviving children are: William, now living in Illinois; Isaac, in In- diana; Mrs. McGilliard and Mrs. Yerkes, both living in Springfield township; and John, who remains on the old Brown homestead. He was born in the year 1812, and came with his parents to Ohio in the same year. He was married in 1839 to Miss Harriet McCoy. They have nine children, six sons and three daughters. Mr. Brown is one of the substantial and enterprising farmers of
MUSS. FNC.COM
Gary Johnson
Cary Benson Johnson resides at the ancestral home, three-quarters of a mile west of Mount Pleasant. He is the fourth son of Cary Johnson, born March 28, 1781, in Somerset county, New Jersey, and died at his home farm near Mount Pleasant February 15, 1866, and buried at Burlington cemetery. Cary was the oldest son of Abner Johnson, who died January 14, 1832, in Colerain township, and who was the son of Samuel, who died May 14, 1808, and was buried in Basking Ridge cemetery. They were all of Scotch ancestry, and all at some time residents of Basking Ridge, Somerset county, New Jersey; and they were all brought up as members of the old Presbyterian church, whose building (of 1839) still stands at Basking Ridge, upon the site of the log church put up for the society near the beginning of the seventeenth century. Cary Johnson was the first of the family to come to Hamil- ton county. He immigrated on horseback in 1804, a young carpenter of twenty-three, making his beginnings in the world. His father (grand- father of Cary Benson Johnson) had been a wagoner in Washington's army near Morristown, where it spent two winters and lost many men from small-pox and other causes. He received his pay in land warrants covering a half-section of land, which he sent out by Colonel Ludlow, with instructions to locate them favorably within eight or ten miles of Cincinnati. The colonel located with them the west half of section thirty-two, adjoining the present village of Mount Pleasant. Mr. Johnson sent his son Cary to view the tract and improve it; and he, after staying for a short time in Cincinnati, pushed his way through the woods to the site of the property, where he built a log cabin, about one hundred and fifty yards northwest of the present homestead. It stood until 1880, when it was torn down. Its appearance, however,
is preserved quite faithfully in the engraving accompanying this notice. An old well, still used, marks the hallowed spot where it stood. Mr. Johnson pursued with energy the clearing and improvement of the place, which was deeded some time afterwards by the father to him and his brothers Samuel and Andrew, who also came out in 1807 and settled their places. When the elder Johnson came, in 1813, he set- tled at the former site of Dunlap's station, in Colerain township, near the famous ancient work in the bend of the river, which contains the old cemetery in which Abner Johnson lies buried.
Cary Johnson, his son, married Rachel, daughter of John Jessup, of Mill Creek township, September 12, 1805. Mrs. Johnson was an aunt of Mrs. Robert Cary, mother of the famous Cary sisters. Her grandfather, Stephen Jessup, was a weaver's apprentice in England, but ran away from a hard master and came to the new world in the early part of the eighteenth century. He lived a long time in a log cabin on Long Island, and moved thence to Cumberland, Deerfield township, New Jersey, where he accumulated property and made his will February 17, 1757-a curious old document, now in possession of his great-grandson, Cary B. Johnson. He had three sons, John, Isaac, and Daniel; and two daughters, Sarah and Abigail. John was grandfather of C. B. Johnson. Daniel was father of Daniel Jessup, jr., who became known as "Indian Daniel," from the fact of his cap- ture by the Indians. Isaac went south, and from him was reputed to be descended General Jessup, of the United States army. Abigail came to this county, where she married a Mr. Gallagher, and became the mother of the celebrated poet and magazinist, W. D. Gallagher, thus confirming the notion of the poetic strain in the blood suggested
Rachel Johnson
by the talent of the Cary sisters, who were also, on their mother's side, of the Jessup stock.
Cary and Rachel Johnson had children as follows:
Drusilla, born February 14, 1807; married Samuel Weston October 25, 1828; died September 16, 1849.
Jemima Hampton, born August 16, 1810; married Isaac Weston (brother of Samuel) in May, 1829; died July 11, 1831.
Jane, born Angust 26, 1813; married George W. Rice September 26, 1833; died March 19, 1849.
John, born April 29, 1815; died July Ist of the same year.
Abner, born September 6, 1816; was married November 16, 1843, to Mary C. Moran, of Livingston county, Missouri, where he died De- cember 8, 1846.
Sarah A,, born November 8, 1819; married Joseph E. Munger Octo- ber 27, 1841, and residing at Maquoketa, Iowa,
Hampton, born March 21, 1824; married Harriet Freeman May 22, 1850; died September 17, 1869.
Augusta L., born November 1, 1828; died Angust 4, 1831.
Cary Benson, born at the homestead near Mount Pleasant July 10, 1832; married Sarah L. Jackson, daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Rid- dle) Jackson, September 21, 1859, and residing still at his birth-place.
Mrs. Rachel Jessup Johnson was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 7, 1787, and came to the Miami country with her parents about six years afterwards. She remained united in wed- lock to Mr. Johnson through the long period of nearly fifty-eight years, when, January 15, 1863, she departed this life in hope of a blessed immortality. Her husband died February 15, 1866. He, as
also his wife, was a member of the Universalist church. In the year 1813 he made a notable improvement in the building of a large barn upon his place, which was then one of the most capacious in the county, and is still used, with additions, by his son. Seven years afterwards he built the mansion occupied by Cary Benson Johnson, from brick burned by him upon his farm, in the identical shape and interior arrangement in which it now appears, in an excellent state of preservation in every respect. Some of the more difficult portions of the work, as the sash of the windows, were executed by Mr. Johnson himself.
Their youngest child, Cary B. Johnson, came into the possession of the paternal homestead upon the death of his father and that of his brother Hampton (in 1869), who was co-heir with him under the will. His uncle Andrew's former homestead has also come into his posses- sion by purchase. He has remained from childhood at the old home, engaged in the peaceful pursuits of the farm, unvexed by political or official life. He took an active part in the extension of the College Hill Narrow Gange railroad to Mount Pleasant, and was mainly in- strumental in securing it. For this purpose he gave the right of way through a mile of his landed possessions and a thousand dollars in cash.
He, although of Democratic stock, turned to Republicanism during the early part of the war of the Rebellion, and has since voted steadily with the party of that faith. About 1871 his health was permanently affected by falling from a load of lumber upon his head, which came near costing him his life, and paralyzed him for some time. His gen- eral health is otherwise excellent. His married life has been childless.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Hamilton county. By hard labor and wise economy he has acquired a comfortable home. He has occupied va- rious positions of honor and trust that the appreciative people of his neighborhood thought best to confer. He and Mrs. Brown are both earnest members of the Chris- tian church.
Joel Brown, the eldest son of Aaron and Cynthia Brown, was born in the State of Connecticut, in 1808. He came with his parents to Ashtabula county in 1814. Here the family settled immediately, in the woods, with no improvements whatever to give evidence of their having a predecessor. Our subject resided with his father. In clearing up the pioneer home much devolved upon him, he being the eldest. At the age of seventeen he began the trade of carpenter and joiner, which occu- pation he has industriously and successfully pursued for more than twenty years. In the year 1829 he married Miss Anna Wright, of Ashtabula county, whose parents were quite prominent in the early settlement of that county. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born eight chil- dren-five sons and three daughters-Alphonso, Alonzo, Lorenzo, Alvin, Lovisa, Emma, Alexis, and Emma. Al- phonso, Alonzo, Lorenzo, Alvin, Lovisa, and Emma have died. Mr. Brown is one of the substantial and thrifty farmers of the township. While he is not associated with any church organization he ever favors what is good and true. He and his estimable wife live at ease in a pleasant home in Springfield township.
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