History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 98

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680

USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 98

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

and emigrated to Jefferson county, Indiana, in 1816. She died at the homestead May 9, 1878. Of her seven children there are living only the subject of this sketch; Robert B., born March I, 1830; and Susan B., born August 19, 1831. John received a good common school education and learned the tanners trade with his father. John and Robert have never married. They are both true blue Republicans.

William S. Dean was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, August 3, 1840. He is the oldest of the family of Argus and Abigail Dean, which consisted of six children. He received his edu- cation in the common schools of Jefferson county. In the month of August, 1862, he enlisted in com- pany A, Eighty-second Indiana; was in the Army of the Cumberland till July, 1864. On his return he engaged in fruit culture. Has added to his orchards from time to time till now he has eight thousand peach trees bearing fruit and five thou- sand young ones, and some two thousand apple trees. A part of his fruit each year is manufact- ured into butter. He is also engaged rather ex- tensively in general farming. On the 11th day of March, 1869, he married Elmira Richardson, daughter of John H. and Rebecca Richardson, of Kentucky. She was born in Bartholomew county, Indiana, June 5, 1846. They have a family of three children-Alice, aged ten; Albert H., aged eight, and an infant. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dean are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Dean belongs to that party which saved the Union.

William Abbot was one of the very earliest set- tlers of Bethlehem township, he and his wife emigrating from Kentucky at an early period. Asa Abbott was the fourth son of William, and was born in Clark county, September 20, 1808. Was educated in the common schools and was a teacher by occupation during his younger days; and from the time of his marriage till 1856 he engaged in the mercantile and wood business in Bethlehem. He married, November 1, 1828, Miss Anna Baker, a native of Charlestown. She was the daughter of Barzilla and Nancy Baker. She was born October 25, 1811. They had but one child-Athanathice O., born August 10, 1830. Asa Abbott was for many years one of the county commissioners, and was foreman of the grand jury when he was taken with an illness which terminated his life, November 18,

1872. He was a consistent Christian and very successful business man, always proving that honesty was the best policy. His estimable wife died May 8, 1875. Athanathice married Isaac Ross on the 7th of December, 1850. He was a Kentuckian by birth. Their family consists of three children-Asa Phillip, Anna Bell, Charles G. The sons are residing with their mother. Anna Bell married A. W. Shidler, and died in 1862.

'Squire S. G. Consley was born in Clark county, Indiana, January 24, 1827. He is the oldest child of John Consley, who was born in Kentucky March 6, 1800. When he was ten years old his parents emigrated to Jefferson county, Indiana. He was educated in the log school-houses of pioneer days. Has made farni- ing his life occupation. On the 13th day of March, 1823, he married Elizabeth Giltner, daughter of Jacob, a pioneer who came to this State in 1808 from near Lexington, Kentucky, though formerly a resident of Pennsylvania. Their family consisted of six children, four of whom lived to maturity. The subject of this sketch was educated at the same school and has followed the same occupation as his father. On the 27th day of March, 1849, he married M. Henderson, a native of Decatur county, Indiana. She was a daughter of William and Martha Henderson. She was born April 28, 1824. Their family now consists of five children, hav- ing buried four. They are all members of the Presbyterian church. Before the war Mr. Cons- ley was a Democrat, but since that date has been a Republican, but never a politician. He has been the justice of the peace many years, and is now serving in that capacity in Bethlehem township.

William Boyer, son of Jacob Boyer, was born March 27, 1839. He was educated in the com- mon schools and reared on a farm, and has been engaged in that avocation all his life until within the last year, when, on account of failing health, he engaged in the mercantile business in Otto, where he is now postmaster. On the 2d of Feb- ruary, 1875, he married Annette E., daughter of 'Squire S. G. Consley, of Bethlehem township. She is a native of Clark county. He is a Re- publican, though never has sought or held office. Both are members of the Presbyterian church. Their family consists of three children.

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

George Giltner was born in Clark county, In- diana, June 3, 1818. He is the third child and oldest son of Jacob Giltner, Sr., who was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania. He went to Kentucky when a young man and settled in Fayette county, where he soon married Eliza- beth Donacan. She was born in Pennsylvania April 27, 1780. To him she bore three children -one son and two daughters. Several years prior to the birth of George they moved to Bethlehem township, Clark county, Indiana, and settled upon the farm upon which he was afterwards born, and has since lived. Jacob, Sr., was a farmer by occupation, a member of the Lutheran church, and in politics, a Demo- crat. He died September 14, 1857. His wife died November 24, 1857. Jacob, Jr., had brothers, John, Andrew, and David, who are old residents of the county. John was educated in common schools and is by occupation a farmer. On May 7, 1858, he married Sarah J. West. She was born March 31, 1838, and is the daugh- ter of Thomas and Ann West. Their family con- sists of nine children, four sons and five daugh- ters. He is a member of the Christian church, and is politically a Republican.

J. M. Stewart was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, May 12, 1839. He is the fifth child of a family of six. His father's name was Jabe Stewart, a native of Rising Sun, Ohio, who was born in 1806. By occupation he was a farmer, and moved to Indiana in 1827 to engage in farming. He married Priscilla Stewart, daughter of Stephen Stewart. She was born in 1808. Their family consists of six children. John, one of the family, has a good education and is en- gaged in the mercantile business in Bethlehem, Clark county. He is doing a good business and constantly adds to his trade. On the 4th day of August, 1861, he married Massy Brown, daughter of Joe and Nelly Brown. She was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, September 10, 1837. They have had five children, four of whom are living-Estella, Julia, Mathew, and Josie. He is a member of the Methodist church and is a Republican.

Dr. S. L. Adair was born in New Washington, Clark county, Indiana, December 8, 1842. He is the seventh child of the late Dr. Samuel Lowery Adair, who was born in Virginia in 1798. He was well educated and a graduate

of the Cincinnati School of Medicine. He came to Indiana when he was twenty-four, and began the practice of medicine at New Washington. On November 29, 1827, he married Eleanor, daughter of William Roe, of his adopted home. He was the father of nine children, of whom three sisters and the subject of this sketch are living. Isabella A. married Dr. L. E. Eddy; Maria J. married Dr. T. W. Field, of Louisville; and Mary T. married Dr. R. B. Eddy, of Otisco, In- diana. The father of these children was the first physician of central Clark county, and a gentleman whose long career brought only honor and respect. He died in 1852. Dr. S. L. Adair, Jr., was educated in the common schools, early embraced the profession of his father, and in 1868 graduated from the Kentucky School of Medicine, receiving also a diploma from the Hos- pital School of Medicine. He located at New Washington, where he has practiced with suc- cess to the present time. In 1873 he mar- ried Sarah J. Shrader, by whom he has three children-Mary E., Fannie Belle, and Samuel Lowery. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

Alexander Montgomery was born in Clark county, Indiana, on August 2, 1808. He was the youngest of thirteen children of William Montgomery, who came to the county a short time before the birth of Alexander. He entered a large tract of land, which he cleared, lived, and died upon. His wife was Mary Johnson, and both lived to a ripe old age. All of their chil- dren lived to maturity, and all now have passed away. Alexander received a pioneer boy's edu- cation and training, and always lived upon the homestead, working at farming. In about 1828 he married Catharine Baker, who was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, June 2, 1807. They had ten children, all but one living to ma- turity. He died in 1870, leaving a wife, who yet survives him.

Dr. W. W. Britan was born in Leominster, Mas- sachusetts, February 22, 1814. His father was William Britan, a native of Massachusetts, a clothier during his earlier life and then a farmer. He married Eunice Newton, by whom he had seven children. W. W., the fourth of these, was educated in the Teachers' seminary of his native place. After spending three years at this insti- tution he came to' Jeffersonville, Indiana. After

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

engaging for over a year at teaching he attended lectures at Cincinnati, remaining from 1837 to 1840. He then taught two years at Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio, and then began practicing medicine at New Providence, Indiana. Here he remained but one year, when he went to Martins- burg, Washington county, where he remained twelve years; thence to New Albany for two years, and then moved upon his farm and home in Washington township, Clark county, Indiana, where he now resides. On February 20, 1840, he married Jane A. Dickey, a daughter of Rev. John M. Dickey. Her mother was Margaret Steele, of Kentucky, and her father of South Carolina. He was the pioneer Presbyterian minister of southern Indiana, arriving at the scene of his labors and triumphs in 1815. Mrs. Jane Britan was born September 8, 1819. She is highly educated, and was for a time one of the successful teachers of the county. She is the mother of eleven children, of whom Annie L., George W., Waldo A., Willis W., Harlan N., and Nellie A. are living. Both parents are steadfast members of the Presbyterian church.

James D. Robison was born in Clark county February 23, 1812. He is the oldest child of Joseph and Christena Robison. His father was a native of Ireland, born in 1783. James' grand- father first settled in Pennsylvania, and when Joseph, the father of James, was about seventeen he removed to Kentucky. James D. has fol- lowed farming almost within a "stone's throw " of the place where he was born. In 1832 he married Sarah, daughter of Lewis Fouts. She was born February 18, 1816. She is the mother of two children, William M., and Albert N .; the former resides on the home place and the latter in Jennings county. Mr. and Mrs. Robison have for nearly forty years been members of the Presbyterian church, and they are conscientious and Christian people. Mr. Robison is a man of intelligence and remarkable memory. He is one of the old and highly esteemcd residents of Washington township.

McGannon Barnes was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, July 29, 1809. He is the old- est son of John Barnes, who was a Virginian. He married Sarah Law, a Kentuckian. They had seven children. He moved into Jefferson county about the year 1807, where he died. McGannon first farmed for himself on his father's

place, but from the time of his marriage until nineteen years ago he 'has lived on the farm he now occupies. He married Rebecca Fouts De- cember 26, 1833. Her father was born October 17, 1775. He came to Clark county in 1805. His first wife was a Mrs. Dongan, and his sec- ond was Susanna, daughter of Jacob Fouts, Sr., and a sister of Captain Jacob Fouts. By the union of McGannon Barnes and Rebecca Fouts there were ten children born, of whom eight lived to maturity. Mr. Barnes is one of the pio- neers of the county, a practical farmer, and a gentleman of worth and intelligence.

James M. Staples was born in Jefferson coun- ty, Indiana, September 3, 1814. His father was a Virginian, and a brickmaker by trade. He made the first brick burnt in Jeffersonville. He was the father of thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity .. Jac. b received his ed- ucation in the old-fashioned log school-house, and has followed farming. He was married Jan- uary 23, 1851, to Julia H. McGannon, a daugh- ter of John McGannon, a native of Culpeper county, Virginia. He was born February 9, 1793. He removed to Jennings county, Indiana, in 1820, where he married Mary Carney. He had a son, James, who was killed by the Indians. He died May 25, 1875, in Meeker county, Min- nesota. He was a worthy man and highly re- spected. Mr. James Staples and wife are Bap- tists, and are people of strict integrity, respected and honored by all who know them. They have had nine children, four of whom are living- John F., Thomas J., Carney M., and James H. Mrs. Staples was born July 10, 1826.

Jacob Ratts was born in Rowan county, North Carolina, April 14, 1806. He removed to Indi- ana in 1824, where he remained until 1837. When a young man he learned the hatter's trade, but never followed it after his removal to Indi- ana, but engaged in farming. His father, Colonel Henry Ratts, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was by trade a hatter. His wife's maiden name was Barbary Wyngler. They had nine children, all of whom are dead except Jacob. Colonel Henry Ratts was a military man of some note. He was a justice of the peace for many years and was highly respected. Jacob was married December 24, 1829, to Cynthia Fouts. She was born in Washington township February 14, 1810. They have six children living-Thomas, David,

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

Henry, Mary, Sarah, and Maggie. Mr. Ratts and wife have for almost half a century been members ot the Christian church, but believe that Christ was the Saviour of all mankind. He was originally a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party has acted with it. He is a great reader and a man of intelligence. He is respected and honored by all who know him.

Mrs. Mary Walker was born in Clark county, Indiana, February 12, 1811. She is the daughter of William Provine, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky. He came to Clark county in 1806, and settled on the place where his daughter now lives in Kentucky. July 30, 1801, he was mar- ried to Mary Buchanan, a native of Virginia. Their family consists of five boys and two girls. He was a farmer and a miller. He accumulated a good property through industry and thrifty management. During the War of 1812 he was twice returned from the service, as he could best serve his country's interests in the mill, which was the only one this side of the river. He died October 9, 1815; his wife died July 30, 1847. William C. Walker, of Kentucky, was born August 25, 1802 ; he married Mary, daughter of William Provine, April 7, 1839. Mr. Walker was a carpenter by trade, and after 1830 managed the mills on his place. He died December ro, 1870. For thirty-five years he was an elder and a member of the Presbyterian church. He was an intelli- gent man, and for over twenty years was a justice of the peace. He was the first school teacher in this part of the county. His widow is a lady of intelligence, and highly respected and honored by friends and neighbors.

Mrs. Catharine G. Graham was born in Clark county, Indiana, July 30, 1823. Her father's name was Robert Patterson, a native of Penn- sylvania, who moved to Kentucky during the early time, and then to this county. His first wife's name was Henderson, and his second Mary Fisher, by whom he had one child-the subject of this sketch. October 13, 1840, she was married to William Graham, who was born in Pennsylvania, June 17, 1817. His father, Jonas, moved to Ohio and thence to Jefferson county, Kentucky, by flat-boat, where he died. William was a farmer, a member of the Presby- terian church, a man respected by all for his in- tegrity and worth. He died May 12, 1873, leav- ing a wife and family to mourn his loss. The

family consisted of seven children-Mary L., Emma D., Robert L., a resident of Kentucky, Dr. Thomas A., of Jeffersonville, James M., John A, a druggist of Jeffersonville, and Oliver P. James M. and Oliver P. reside on the home place. Mrs. Graham is a member of the Pres- byterian church, a lady much esteemed and respected.

Andrew Bower was born in Rowan county, North Carolina, February 11, 1799. He is the son of Andrew Bower, Sr., who was a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, but moved to North Carolina before his marriage. He married Mar- garet Fisher, of North Carolina, by whom he had a large family, eleven of whom grew to ma- turity. When Andrew, Jr., was sixteen his father emigrated to Clark county, and settled in Wash- ington township. His father was educated in the common schools, and was a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. He worked at his trade after coming to this county. He was a member of the Baptist church at the time of his death, which occurred September 6, 1858; his wife died June 5, 1860. They were among the pioneers of the county, and were widely and favorably . known. Andrew, Jr., began farming for himself about the year 1821, and has lived upon his present farm since 1833. In 1820 he married Mary Lawrence, a native of North Carolina, whose father, William Lawrence, came to Clark county about the year 1810. She died May 11, 1839. In 1842 he married Mary Feefer, a native of North Carolina, and a daugh- ter of Walter Feefer. He is a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian church, an industrious, active man of strict integrity, and a highly re- spected and honored neighbor.

Naman Hooker was born November 15, 1817. He is the second child of Jacob Hooker, a native of North Carolina, who came to this State with his father when about twelve years old and set- tled in Washington township, Clark county, In- diana. Jacob was educated in the common schools, but had but little time to avail himself of an education. He married Elizabeth Pool, a native of North Carolina, by whom he had seven sons and four daughters. Soon after his marriage he moved to Scott county, where he lived on his father's place, and when Naman was about eleven years old he came to Clark county (Washington township), where he spent

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

the remainder of his days. He died at New Washington in his sixty-fifth year. Being a farmer's son Naman never had excellent oppor- tunities for an education, and, like his father, has always been a farmer. He has lived on his present farm some seventeen years. October 1 I, 1848, he married Catharine Graves, daughter of David Graves, of Clark county. She died in the year 1855. January 12, 1866, he married Martha Dongan, daughter of Thomas Dongan. By this wife he had one son and a daughter. Mr. Hooker is an old and respected citizen, a kind husband and father, and a man whose character stands untarnished. The present Mrs. Hooker was formerly the wife of Jefferson Graves. She was born November 20, 1833.

John Calvin Fouts was born in Clark county November 28, 1828. He is the youngest child of Captain Jacob Fouts, who was born in Ran- dolph county, North Carolina, January 14, 1782. He was a farmer. Soon after his marriage, in January, 1806, he, with his bride, emigrated to Clark county and entered and bought three hun- dred and sixty-two acres of land, on a part of which the subject of this sketch now lives. The Indians at this time were still numerous in this section. The land was densely covered with heavy timber, but by the Ist of July he had cleared and planted a number of acres of corn. He was a hard worker, a practical farmer, and one of the very earliest and best known citizens in that part of the county. For a great many years he was a justice of the peace. He united with the Universalist church in 1845. He mar- ried Mary Dongan October 2, 1806, who was the daughter of Thomas Dongan, a native of North Carolina. She was born March 19, 1788, and died in October, 1869. She was the mother of nine children. Jacob Fouts died October 25, 1860. He was endowed by nature with more than ordinary strength of mind and body, and having used the powers of the former to the study of the Bible he became so familiar with it that he was known as the "walking concordance." He lived an irreproachable life and had a blame- less and spotless character. The oldest child of Jacob Fouts died in infancy. The rest of the children grew to maturity. John Calvin was educated in the common schools of New Wash- ington, attending the Dunnery high school. He has always followed farming upon the old home-

stead, and overseeing a saw-mill for some six years, which he erected on his place. December 1, 1857, he married Hester A. Prather, of Clark county. She was born near Jeffersonville August 15, 1836, and is the daughter of Isaac Prather and sister of Calvin Prather, a merchant of Jef- fersonville. They have had five children. Mr. Fouts and wife are members of the Universalist church and are highly respected and esteemed by their friends and neighbors.

William A. Pearcy was born in Virginia, Sep- tember 6, 1816. He is the fifth child of Edward Pearcy, who was a farmer by occupation, and who emigrated to Clark county in 1819. He first settled in New Washington, and in 1836 bought the farm on which his son now resides. He married Margaret Kelly, a Virginian, by whom he had eleven children, nine of whom lived to maturity. He died in 1844, and his wife in 1847. William A. Pearcy was educated in the old log school-houses, which were used in those early times, and taught one term in one of these primitive buildings in 1848. He is a farmer by occupation, and having a good musical talent, has paid some attention to the teaching of music. He commenced life with but little capital, but by industry and strict attention to business he has accumulated a large and fine property. In 1850 he married Rebecca Bu- chanan, a native of Clark county, and a daughter of William Buchanan, of Charlestown. They have six children living, and two dead. Silas is a college professor. Ella, Lizzie, Jennie, and Allen are all teachers. Mr. Pearcy is the lead- ing Democrat in his part of the county. He has been a justice of the peace since 1865, and for over forty years an active member of the Chris- tian church. He is a gentleman of determina- tion and intelligence, of strict integrity, and highly respected by all who know him.

Tobias Bower is of German descent, and was born in North Carolina, July 3, 1810. He is the sixth of twelve children, and the son of Andrew Bower, who came to Clark county, Indiana, in 1820, and settled on the place where the widow of Tobias Bower now resides. He had three brothers, Andrew, John, and Edward, and six sisters. He was educated in the com- mon schools, and followed farming as an occupa- tion for over forty-five years. January 10, 1833, he married Mary A. Pearcy, a native of Virginia,

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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.

and daughter of Edmond Pearcy, who came to Clark county about 1820. She was born Nov- ember 25, 1810. They have had ten children, seven of whom are now living: Silas, Caroline, Julia, Jane, John, Belle, and Mary Alice. Mr. Bower was a consistent member of the Christian church for over forty years, a kind husband and father, and respected by his neighbors. He died February 9, 1878, leaving a wife and family to mourn his loss.

J. H. Pottorff was born September 25, 1822, In Clark county, Indiana, on the place where he now resides. He is the youngest child of Jacob Pottorff, who was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, February, 1786, but when Jacob Pottorff, Sr., was six years old his father, Martin Pottorff, emi- grated to Beargrass creek, Jefferson county, Ken- tucky, where he procured five hundred acres of land which he cleared and moved upon, and lived there for many years. Jacob Pottorff, Sr., being a pioneer, did not have the advantage of even a good common school education. He com- menced life without anything, and when a young man worked a small farm in Oldham county, Kentucky, where he remained until 1815, when he moved upon the farm where his son now re- sides. By industry and sobriety he accumulated a large property. May 12, 1805, he married Rhoda Allen, a daughter of William Allen, a Virginian, who came to Nelson county, Ken- tucky, in 1781, and afterwards was a resident of this county. They had six children. Mr. Pottorff died July 12, 1870, and his wife February 17, 1879, at the remarkable age of over one hundred years. She was born January 28, 1779. They were both consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and highly respected. Jacob H. Pottorff was educated in the public schools of Clark county, and by occupation is a farmer, having tilled the same farm all his life. Febru- ary 8, 1849, he married Mary Jane McGee, daughter of Robert and Rebecca McGee, who were pioneers in this county, coming from Washington county, Pennsylvania. Of this union there were four children. December r, 1862, his wife died, and March 2, 1875, he married his present wife, by whom he has had two chil- dren. Mr. Pottorff is one of the old pioneer stock, and an honest, upright, and respected cit- izen.

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History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II, Part 98

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co. Number of Pages: 680

Author: Williams, L.A., & Co., Cleveland
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : L. A. Williams & Co.
Number of Pages: 680