USA > Ohio > Clark County > Portrait and biographical album of Greene and Clark counties, Ohio, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States > Part 38
USA > Ohio > Greene County > Portrait and biographical album of Greene and Clark counties, Ohio, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county; together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States > Part 38
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OSEPH B. CUMMINGS. The farming com- munity of Cæsar's Creek Township, Greene County, recognizes in Mr.Cummings a man of great industry, who by his diligence and perseverance has become well-to-do. Like many of the most solid residents of this county, he maintains his residence at the place of his birth, which oe- enrred May 31, 1841. The roof which sheltered him during the days of his boyhood and youth still remains over his head, and it is hardly necessary to say that the old homestead possesses for him a far more than moneyed valne.
The parents of our subject were Thomas B. and Mary (Boots) Cummings, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio and carly pioneers of this county. The father was a farmer by occupation and he is still living in this township. Their family consisted of eight children.
Mr. Cummings remained a member of the pa- rental household until the outbreak of the Civil War, and then, when a little over twenty years old, enlisted as a Union soldier September 22, 1861, in Company E, First Ohio Infantry. He went with his regiment to the front and participated in some of the most important battles of the war, being at Shiloh, Stone River, Perryville and Chickamauga at the outset. At the last mentioned place he was shot through the left lung and still carries the ball. Ile also received a wound in his right hand. Ile was confined in the hospital at Chattanooga until October 15, 1863, when he was brought home by his father and after good home nursing for a month,
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returned to Camp Denison, his furlough having expired March 24, 1864. He was then transferred to the invalid corps at Washington, D. C., and later was in the Veteran Reserve Corps, in which he was promoted to be First Sergeant. Later he was sent to Lockport, N. Y., to assist in guarding substitutes. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, he re- ceived his honorable discharge.
Returning now to his native township Mr. Cum- mings engaged in farming. He was married Febrn- ary 14, 1865, to Miss Ann Humston. This lady was born January 16, 1844, in Clinton County, and is the daughter of Strother G. and Elizabeth (Ford) Hninston. There have been born of this union three children, namely : May, Ina, the wife of Thomas O, Mason of Canton, Mo., and Thomas E. Mr. Cummings is the owner of one hundred and seventy acres of good land, in the cultivation of which he avails himself of modern machinery and realizes therefrom a handsome income. He has served as Township Clerk four years and in the spring of 1880 was elected Justice of the Peace, serving two rerms. In the spring of 1889, he was elected to a third term. In the fall of the same year he was elected Real Estate Appraiser.
DAM R. BICKETT, one of the leading men of Xenia, is the eldest son of William R. Bickett, a pioncer of Greenc County, and a man highly respected during his life for his sterling worth, by all with whom he came in contact. The father of our subject was born in Sone Valley, Pa., about the year 1798, and emigrated to Greene County, Ohio, during the early years of its settlement. He was accompanied by his mother, who was a widow. Their first home was on new land in the unbroken wilderness. After clearing sufficient space in which to erect the humble log cabin that was their temporary home, he set to work felling the trees and planting a crop to furnish them with provisions. His arduous toil was crowned with success, and he had the satisfaction of seeing what was once a dense forest, inhabited only by Indians and wild animals, con-
verted into a comfortable and prosperous farm, well fitted for the abode of civilized man. IIe was married to Miss Isabel Alcxander in 1827, and re- sided on the farm that he had been instrumental in clearing during the rest of his life. In politics, he was a Whig, but had no craving for political pre- ferment, being too busy with his private affairs to burden himself with public duties. During life he was a devoted member of the United Presbyterian Church, and died in that communion in full hope of a glorious life beyond.
The subject of this notice was reared on his father's farm, and attended school for three months during each year, spending the rest of the time in the various pursuits incidental to a life in the woods. Notwithstanding the short terms of school, our subject received a good practical education and improved his chances to the utmost. Being the eldest of the family, the burden of farm work fell early on his shoulders, and he became an adept in the mysteries of agricultural methods.
In 1867 our subject and Miss Agnes Wright, of Xenia Township, werc united in marriage. The union resulted in the birth of three children, named respectively: Clinton W., Mary B .; and Lydia C., who died in 1889 at the age of seventeen years. Mrs. Agnes Bickett was a daughter of John B. Wright, who still lives in Xenia Town- ship. She died in May, 1879, deeply lamented by her sorrowing family and a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
January 18, 1882, our subject was again mar- ried, taking for his wife Miss Ruth A. Kylc, a daughter of Joseph Kyle, of Cedarville Township, of which he was a very old settler and a highly- respected citizen. Mrs. Bickett is well worthy of the universal respect in which she is held by all who have the privilege of knowing her. Mr. Bick- ett bought his farm of nearly two hundred acres of land before his first marriage, and has improved it himself. He has now one of the best places in the township, all well fenced and under superior cnl- tivation. He erected one of the largest, most convenient and handsomest houses in the town- ship in the year 1885, and lives in it with his de- voted family. Although our subject does not seck office, yet he has been persuaded to serve his neigh-
b. J. Johnson
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bors as Supervisor, and gave excellent satisfaction, and he has also held the office of School Director. In all walks of life he has made friends, and enjoys the respeet and esteem of all who know him. He is a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church, and his outward life gives ample evidence of the depth of his religious convictions. The Bickett name is honored and loved by all in Xenia, and elsewhere where known.
C LARK T. JOHNSON. This name for many years was a familiar sound to the older resi- dents of Jamestown and vicinity, among whose people Mr. Johnson moved in and out for nearly a lifetime. After an honorable and useful career he was gathered to his fathers April 22, 1888, when nearly seventy-seven years old. He was born in Highiland County, this State, Jannary 4,1811, and was the son of James L. and Susannah ( Moorman) Johnson, who were born and reared in Campbell County, Va. Both were the representatives of fine old families of Englishi extraction and honorable antecedents.
The Johnson family was an offshoot of one to which the famous Ben. Johnson belonged. After their marriage the parents of our subject settled on a farm in their native county, where they lived a few years and then in the early part of the present century came to Ohio and began life as pioneers among the wilds of Highland County. They built up a comfortable home from the wilderness, but about 1820 left the farm and removed to Xenia. Later, after becoming old people, they were taken into the home of Clark T., our subjeet, and died at lis residence in Jefferson Township, Greene County, when ripe in years. They were people greatly re- spected wherever they had lived and nearly all their lives were consistent members of the Church of Christ (Disciples).
The subject of this notice was the oldest son and second child of his parents who reared a large family of sons and daughters. He was a lad of five years when his parents settled in Highland County, this State, and removed with them to Xenia where
he attended the city schools and developed into manhood. When nearly thirty-three years of age he was married, near Bowersville, to Miss Sarah Vanniman, whose parents were from New Jersey and in early life settled upon a large traet of new land in Jefferson Township where they lived until death overtook them.
Miss Sarah Vanniman obtained the best education possible at that time and in that place. She de- parted this life at her home in Jamestown in 1875. She was a lady of unassuming manners and a con- sistent member of the Church of Christ. Of this union there were born three children of whom Miss Carrie Johnson is the only survivor, who with the present Mrs. Johnson, lives in Jamestown, and is a young woman of more than ordinary in- telligence, and a member of the same church to which her mother belonged.
The subject of this notice followed farming nearly all his life and during the last years of his active labor was largely interested in stock-raising. He was successful in the accumulation of this world's goods and after his removal to JJamestown was largely instrumental in the organization of the People's Bank in 1886 and of which he was a di- rector and large stoekholder. Prior to this he had been connected with the Farmers' & Traders' Bank nineteen years and was one of its main stays. Later there seemed to arise the necessity for a new bank and Mr. Johnson was looked to as one in whom the people had abundant confidence to establish it. He proved himself worthy in all respects of the trust which had been placed in him.
Politically, Mr. Johnson was a sound Republican. During the administration of President Lincoln he was a Revenue Assessor, discharging the duties of the office with great eredit to himself and satisfac. tion to all coneerned, notwithstanding the " But. terunt" element sought to annoy him in every way possible and to loosen his hold npon the confidence of the people. IIe also served as Justice of the Peace and Assessor of Jefferson Township. IIe was a man loyal to al! good principles, to his coun- try and his church, and his death was not only deeply mourned by his family and his friends, but the entire community.
After the death of his first wife Mr. Johnson
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was married January 2, 1879, in South Charleston, Clark County, to Miss Rebecca Hodges. This lady was born in Jamestown, in 1832, to Nathaniel and Malinda (Campbell) Hodges, who were natives respectively of Norfolk County, Va., and Maysville, Ky. On both sides of the house she sprang from noted families. Mr. Hodges was of English an- eestry and the son of Mathias Hodges, likewise a native of Virginia, but whose parents were born in England. The latter emigrated to America at an early day, settling in Virginia where Mathias was reared to manhood and became owner of a large plantation in Norfolk County, this being worked by slaves. He became a prominent and wealthy man and died at a ripe old age.
Nathaniel Hodges was reared to manhood in his native county of Norfolk, Va., but even at the early age of eighteen years he contracted such a dislike of the peculiar institution, that he left his home and went to Maysville, Ky., where soon afterward he enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812. Peace, however, was declared before he had the opportunity of engaging in active service. Soon after reaching his majority he settled in Aberdeen, Ohio, where he engaged in general merchandising and was married to Miss Melinda Campbell. His wife was born and reared in Kentucky and was tlie daughter of Matthew Campbell, a native of Argyle- shire, Scotland. Mr. Campbell emigrated to America at an early day, settling in Maysville, Ky. He was a brother of the well-known Col. John Campbell and a elansman, if not kinsman, of Alexander Campbell, D. D.
Matthew Campbell beearre a prominent man in the State of Kentucky where he spent his entire life. Elis three sons, Evan, James and John, bore worthily the mantle of their honored father and like him had no little to do in forming the history of their native State. They were prominent both in military and eivil eireles and were looked upon as representative men of Maysville. Col. John Campbell, the younger, especially distinguished himself as a military man. Matthew Campbell married Miss Sarah Shelby, who was of English and French aneestry.
After their marriage Nathaniel Hodges and his wife lived in Aberdeen, Ohio, until 1829, and were
also prominently known to many of the citizens of Maysville, just across the river. Nathaniel Hodges was a Mason and belonged to the Lodge in Maysville, Ky. During the year mentioned they changed their residence to Greene County, lo- eating at Jamestown, where Mr. Hodges established an old style woolen-mill which he operated sueeess- fully for a number of years. Finally he went to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Steele, of Xenia, and died there in April, 1859. Hle was then in the seventy-first year of his age. Politically, he was an old line Whig, a strong anti-slavery inan and a devoted member of the Church of Christ. The wife and mother died at Jamestown in April, 1845, at the age of forty-seven years. She sympathized with her husband in his political views and belonged to the same eliurch.
Mrs. Rebecea (Hodges) Johnson was the young- est of five daughters and one son born to her parents, of whom she and her sister, Miranda, a resident of Jamestown, are the only survivors. All the children received a good education and Mrs. Jolinson completed her studies at Eminenee Col- lege, Ky., from which she was graduated in the class of 1860. She subsequently engaged as a teacher in her alma mater and other places, follow- ing this profession for the long period of twenty years. She is a devoted member of the Church of Christ, a very amiable and intelligent lady who has seen much of life and learned well from a large experience. Of her union with Mr. Jolinson there were born no children. In collecting the names of the early and honored residents of Southern Ohio, that of Mrs. Rebecca Jolinson and her stepdaughter Miss Caroline Johnson should oceupy a place in tlie front rank.
OSEPH HICKS. In the city of Springfield, to which he retired a few years ago that he might spend his later years in the enjoy- ment of the reasonable recreations which a eity affords, Mr. Hieks is well-known and highly respected. He was but ten years of age when he came to this eounty with his widowed mother and
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has lived within its bounds almost continuously since his arrival. He was born in Reading, Berks County, Pa., September, 5, 1833, and in the same county two generations of his progenitors had opened their eyes to the light. The paternal an- cestor who preceded them was a native of England, who had emigrated to America in Colonial times. Ilc was a blacksmith by trade and his son Michael Hicks carried on the business for some years. The latter then built a distillery on his farm three miles from Reading, and operated the estate and dis- tillery until his death.
William Hicks, son of the Michael Hicks above mentioned, learned the trade of a stair-builder, at which he worked in Reading, Philadelphia, and other places. He came to Lancaster, Ohio, on a visit, during which he was attacked by cholera and dicd, leaving a widow and five small children. His wife had borne the maiden name of Elizabeth Eberly and wasa native of the same county as him- self. She was a daughter of George Eberly, a German who came to America when seventeen years of age. Ile married Mary Shaffer who was of German ancestry, but a native of Pennsylvania. They came to Ohio in 1846, settling at Lagonda, where Mrs. Eberly died. The widower afterward made his home with his children and breathed his last with his daughter, in Dayton. Their daughter, Mrs. Hicks, came to this State after the death of her husband and is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Hawker.
The gentleman of whom we write being the old- est of the parental family, began work as soon as he could carn money and assisted his widowed mother in rearing the younger children. At the age of seventeen years, he began to learn the trade of a carpenter which he followed until 1864. He then went to Ogle County, Ill., and located on a farm, upon which he resided thirce years and a half, when he returned to this county and purchased a tract of land on section 7, Springfield Township, which he occupied and operated until 1887. He then left his son in charge of the estate and became a resident of the county seat, where he owns seven lots and four houses.
At the home of the bride, August 2, 1858, Joseph Hicks was united in marriage with Emily Sheaff,
an estimable young woman who comes of a good fan.ily and was well reared by worthy parents. She was born two miles from Springfield, her par- ents, John and Nancy Sheaff, having been pioneers in this county. Both were born in York, Pa., and her father is numbered among the most prosperous citizens of the county. He is a brother of Leonard Sheaff whose sketch appears elsewhere in this ALBUM. To Mr. and Mr. Hicks two sons and two daughters have been born, named respectively : John W. and Joseph Edward. Ella E. and Carrie E., the danghters, are deceased.
W ILLIAM BROCK is one of the large land- owners of Greene County, in which his long life has been almost entirely spent and where he is well known as a reliable and trust- worthy citizen, a man of enterprise in worldly affairs and of consideration and kindly feeling toward his fellow-men. His reputation extends far beyond the limits of the county and the name which he represents has been honored in other sections of Ainerica. He was born in Madison County, January 8, 1818, but was brought to this county when but five years of age, and reared in the neighborhood of Iris present home.
The parents of our subject were Francis and Sarah ( Harper) Brock, the former of whom was born in North Carolina. Mrs. Brock was a daughter of John Harper for whom Harper's Ferry was named. When Francis Brock moved on to his place in Greene County there were but ten acres cleared. The balance of the seven hundred which he owned was cleared during his life which ceased October 10, 1857. His wife survived several years, dying October 9, 1865. Their family comprised five sons and two daughters.
The gentleman with whose name this sketch is introduced passed his early years in what was almost a wilderness, secing the parental estate gradually assume a more cultivated look as the forest gave place to fields of waving grain, and the early dwell- ing of the family was replaced by one of the first brick houses erected in the county. The school
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which he attended was two and a half miles from his home. When he grew to manhood he bought two hundred and fifty acres of land, which was mostly in brush and woods. This he put under good cultivation, cre long having a well improved and attractive estate which produced abundantly of first-class crops. In 1859,'a commodious and well- designed briek residence was erected, which is one of the finest on the Federal Pike east of Xenia. Among the features of the home estate is a large orchard which is well kept and furnishes an abun- dance of luscious fruit. Mr. Brock has owned as high as thirteen hundred aeres of land, his home farm now consisting of two hundred and ten acres. In addition to this property Mrs. Brock holds in her own right two hundred and forty-six acres in Fayette County, which came from her father's estate.
The marriage of William Brock and Sydney Hidy was celebrated at the bride's home in Fayette November 30, 1845. Mrs. Brock is a daughter of Joseph. Hidy who was born near Philadelphia, to which place his father, John Hidy, had come from Germany. Upon leaving the parental roof Joseph Hidy went to Hardy County, Va., coming thence to Fayette where he married Mary, daughter of Mar- tin Carr. Their daughter Sydney is a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, having taken ad- vantage of everyopportunity to inerease the knowl- edge which she obtained in early life. She possesses refined tastes, being especially fond of flowers by which her home is beautifully adorned. Her char- aeter is a noble, motherly one, and wins respeet from all who know her.
'The family of our subject and wife comprises four children. A sketch of the oldest child, Owen, is to be found elsewhere in this volume. Lonisa is the wife of L. S. Carper, and mother of three children-Idella, Annie and Willie; the family live in a part of the dwelling of our subject, and Mr. Carper works a portion of the estate. Joseph is married and living on a farm of his own in Fayette County ; he has seven children-Estella, Burton, Frank, Ethel, Joseph, Earl and Floy. Frank, who is now living in California, is unmarried.
Mr. Broek has held the office of Trustec and has been a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Com- missioner. He is a sturdy Democrat whose de-
votion to his party has been manifested for many years. For years lic has served as School Director faithfully endeavoring to advanee the cause of edu- eation. He and his wife belong to the Universalist Church, while their daughter, Mrs. Carper, is a member of the Christian Church.
OHN McKNIGIIT. The biographer in mi- grating among the farming community of Spring Valley Township, Greene County, notiecd particularly the homestead of Mr. McKnight, who is one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of this region. His farm lands lie on section 2, east of the village of Spring Val- ley on Cæsar's Creek, and comprises two hundred and twenty six well-tilled acres, wliose general ap- pearanee indicates the industry and enterprise of the proprietor. Mr. MeKnight, although seventy- nine years old, is remarkably hale and licarty, bright and intelligent, retaining much of the vigor of his younger years. He looked upon this section of the country when it was in its infancy, and while growing with its growth, physically and finaneially, has contributed his full quota to bring about its present prosperity.
The subject of this notice was born April 17, 1811, at the homestead where he now resides. His parents were William and Jane (Fulton) McKnight, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of Samuel MeKnight on another page in this ALBUM. The fine brick residence which Mr. MeKnight now occupies, was put up in 1828, upon the site of the first cabin whieli was built by his father when the country was practically a wilderness. It has been subjected to various remodelings"and improve- ments, and now constitutes one of the substantial and commodious farm residences of the township.
Mr. MeKnight pursued his first studies in a log schoolhouse with punchicon floor and slab seats, and under the method of instruction, corresponding with bis surroundings. He was taught to make himself useful at an carly age, and assisted his father in the development of a farm, growing up into a strong and vigorous manhood, fully able to
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cope with the common difficulties of life. Upon reaching his majority, he identificd himself with the old Whig party, and upon its abandonment cheerfully wheeled into the Republican ranks. He was a Union man during war times, a strong Abo- litionist, and exercised no small influence in shap- ing the opinions of men around him.
Mr. MeKnight was joined in wedlock withi Miss Sarah B. Davis, June 12, 1876, at the bride's home in Spring Valley Township. This lady was born in Spring Valley Township, May 12, 1842, to Na- than L. and Harriet (Mercer) Davis, the former of whom was a native of Winchester, Va., and was brought by his parents to this county, when an in- fant of nine montlis. His wife, Harriet, was born June 26, 1813, in Spring Valley Township. Mr. Davis was a lifelong farmer, and rested from his earthly labors December 6, 1881. He served as Township Trustee, and was a deeply religious man, · belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he was Trustee many years, and he was also for twenty-one years President of the Spring Val- ley Bible Society. There were born to him and his estimable wife, three children-William Ed- ward, Sarah B., and LeRoy S. The latter during the Civil War enlisted in the Seventeenth Ohio Battery, and died at Milliken's Bend, Miss.
The paternal grandfather of Mrs. McKnight was William Davis, who married Miss Rachel Gorthrop, a native of Virginia, like himself. Grandfather Davis was a professional wheelwright, and left the Old Dominion in 1817, coming to this county and settling one and one-half miles northeast of Spring Valley. He was born October 25, 1770, and his wife, August 6, 1783. They were the parents of seven children, viz: James, Hannah, Nathan L., Mary, Jonathan, William, and Jacob. With the exception of Jacob, all are deccased; he is a resi- dent of Des Moines, Iowa. Grandfather Davis was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which all his children were members. In poli- tics he was originally a stanch Whig, and later a Republican. He departed this life at his home in Spring Valley Township, January 22, 1868, having survived his wife nearly four years, her death tak- ing place February 9, 1864.
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