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 65
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 65
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The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was Stephen Kitehen, who was born in the State of Penn- sylvania, near Hagersville, and was of English des- cent. He was a stock-dealer and farmer. In 1809 he located in Warren County, Ohio, removing to Clark County four years later, and in 1828, chang- ing his residenee to Illinois, where he died. ITis son Abraham, was born in Warren County, in 1809, and grew to manhood in Clark County, settling on and afterward purehasing a farm which had been entered by his father. He spent his days on that
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tract of land in Green Township, where he breathed his last June 28, 1888. Ilis faithful companion was born near Hillsborough, Highland County, and bore the maiden name of Martha M. Jones. Her father, Erasmus Jones, had come to this State from Pennsylvania.
To Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Kitchen four sons and four daughters were born, whose record is as fol- lows: Margaret A. is the wife of Jolin McCul- lough, deceased; the second child is the subject of this biographical sketch; Isaac M. now lives near Selma; Erasmus J. lives on a farm adjoining the old homestead; Mary J. married John Rife; Sarah E., who died at the age of thirty-two years, was the wife of George Elder; Jane V. died when fourteen years old, and Stephen K. in his sixteenth year.
Jonathan Kitchen has been a life-long resident of Clark County, his birth having taken place in Green Township, November 7, 1831. He remained on the home farm until twenty-two years of age, during this period having attended the district schools and spent one year as a student in Witten- berg College. He then turned his attention to farming and raising live stock, shipping the latter to Cincinnati. These two branches of agricultural work were carried on by him until he decided that he was entitled to a more quiet life, and gave np their active pursuit. Fortune had smiled upon him although her smiles were won by unflagging indns- try, prudent employment of his means, and close at- tention to his affairs.
The marriage of Mr. Kitchen and Miss Amelia Ridge, of Warren County, was celebrated Novem- ber 10, 1852. The bride was born in 1831, in the county in which her marriage took place and is a fit- ting companion for her husband, being intelligent, enterprising, and of estimable character. Her fa- ther, Simpson Ridge, was of English descent and a native of Bucks County, Pa. Her mother, Jemima Hisey, was of German ancestry and a native of Shenandoah County, Va. To Mr. and Mrs. Kitchen two children have been born, a son and daughter who are yet at home and who are named respectively, Alsa J. and J. Forrest.
Mr. Kitchen has filled various township offices, among them being those of Trustee and Justice of the Peace and he has also served as County Com-
missioner. He belongs to Clark Lodge No. 101, F. & A. M., and to the fraternity of the Knights of Honor. In politics he is a strong Republican. He is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church in which he now holds the office of Treasurer and Trustee.
AMES WALLACE POLLOCK. One of the finest estates in Greene County is that belonging to the gentleman above named, and occupying a favorable situation on the Xenia Pike, onc and a half miles from Cedarville. It comprises three hundred and sixty acres, one Indred of it adjoining the birthplace of Whitelaw Reid, the noted journalist. Mr. Pollock is a prom- inent agriculturist, belonging to the County and State Boards of Agriculture, and to other socicties in which farmers and stockmen are interested, while his reputation for integrity and uprightness is unimpeachable. Not only is he by these entitled to the estcem of his fellow-men, but he is a thor- oughly loyal citizen, who has suffered much in his country's eanse, not only enduring the ordinary trials of army life, its privations and dangers, but the horrors of a vile prison pen.
In . Washington County, Pa., Jolm Pollock was born and grew to manhood. In Westmoreland County, of the same State, lived Abraham and Jane (Johnson) Elder, of Scotch-Irish stock, to whom was born a daughter, Jane. The Elders removed to Logan County, Ohio, about the year 1820, where the husband and father became a man of note, es- teemed for his sterling character and sturdy, com- mon sense. He was elected onc of the first judges of the county, and served as such for many years. John Pollock having come to Logan County, Ohio, met Miss Jane Elder, to whom he became attached and after a successful wooing, the young couple were united in marriage in 1834. They built a home upon a piece of land near Huntsville, where they reared a family of eight children, the subject of this sketch being the third born, and having opened his eyes to the light January 12, 1840.
Young James Pollock was educated in the district schools, afterward taking up a course of study in
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the select school near his home. and remaining with his parents until after the breaking out of the Civil War. He then, on the 23d of June, 1862, at Huntsville, Ohio, enlisted in the Forty-fifth Ohio Infantry, being enrolled in Company D, and act- ing with the army in Kentucky. He took part in some of the principal engagements against Morgan, that of Somerset being the most important. At Philadelphia, Tenn., on the 20th of October, 1863, he was taken prisoner, and was removed to Atlanta and thence to Libby Prison, soon afterward being sent to Belle Isle, where he was held for four months. Thence he was conveyed to Pemberton, and after a short sojourn there, to Andersonville, where he spent six months during the worst days of that ter- rible prison pen. Imagination fails to picture the sufferings endured by its inmates, the most vivid description falling far short of the actuality. A few items regarding the experience of Mr. Pollock are all that we shall note.
During his confinement Mr. Pollock had charge of a mess of one hundred men, for whom he drew the miserable stuff they called rations. The Com- missary Sergeant of a small party of colored troops was brutally shot by the guard, and the rebels would not issue rations directly to the negroes, so it became necessary to have a white man draw their supplies for them. The position was not a pleas- ant one to hold, and few men cared to undertake it, but Mr. Pollock volunteered to take charge of them, and did so until his removal from the place. At one time the raiders became so numerous and bold in their depredations, even at times murder- ing the defenceless prisoners, that a committee was formed to remedy the evil. Our subject was one of the committee men and helped to bring the miscreants to justice, six of them being hung.
When captured Mr. Polloek weighed one lun- dred and seventy-three pounds, but under the pri- vations of prison life his weight was reduced to eighty-three pounds. When he had about made up his mind to die, he received a box from home in which a little food had been left, it having been filled with clothing and food, but all of the former and fully half of the latter having been taken out by the Confederates. The letter in which the re- ceipt of the box was acknowledged had of course
to pass through the hands of his captors, and he notified his sister that through the courtesy of the Confederate government he had received the box, and asked that one be sent him every two weeks until his relcase. He afterward received two boxes with a portion of their contents left in them, but all the boxes contained from that time was confis- eated by the rebels. A pound of sugar which came in one of the boxes was sold by Mr. Pollock for $1 per spoonfnl, and with the money thus obtained he bought a piece of blanket to throw over himself. But laying it down in the sun so that the vermin would come out of it, he left it for a short time, and on his return found that his comrade had traded it off for a few bites to keep him from starving.
From Andersonville Mr. Pollock was sent to Charleston, where a party of prisoners were kept under guard six weeks until the stockade at Flor- ence was completed, when they were sent there. On their way he and a comrade-Charles Hoffman, of Buffalo, N. Y .- made a break for liberty, jump- ing from the cars while in motion, and falling into a ditch of water. A few shots were fired at them, but they escaped in the darkness, traveling all nigit, but the next day, blood hounds being put on their trail, they were run down, and reached Florence but thirty-six hours behind the others. Mr. Pollock bears on his leg to this day the scars left by the bites of the hounds. After spendiag about ten weeks at Florence, the prisoners were exchanged in Charleston Harbor in December, 1864, and from there were sent home on furlongh.
Mr. Pollock rejoined this regiment April 5, 1865, and was mustered out of service with them at Camp Parker, near Nashville, June 19, following. Re- turning to Logan County, he entered Duff's Com- mercial College from which he was graduated the following year. He then adopted the drug busi- ness, in which he was busied for several years, during two years of the time carrying on a store in Cedarville and one in Xenia, for a considerable period. During his stay in Cedarville he became acquainted with Miss Nettie, daughter of Sam- uel and Jane (Townsley ) Anderson, of that place, to whom he became attached, and his regard being reciprocated, they were married on the 4th of No- vember, 1869. The father of Mrs. Pollock was
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born on the farm where our subject now lives, and lived upon it fifty-six years, dying in August, 1869. His widow. who is yet living, is a daughter of Sam- uel Townsley, one of the oldest settlers in this county.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Pollock comprises three daughters -- Edith, Jennie and Junia. The eld- est is now a student in Monmouth College, Ill., and expects to graduate in the class of '92. Miss Jen- nie has already been graduated from the Cedarville schools, and her parents intend to give her also a course at Monmouth, and to bestow the same ad- vantage upon the youngest daughter, who is yet attending the schools nearer home.
Mr. Pollock is a Republican, and a stalwart anti- saloon man, and is now the nominee on the Repub- lican ticket for County Commissioner. In addition to the agricultural boards of which he is a member, he is one of the charter members of the American Devon Cattle Club, and also one of the founders of the Ohio Spanish-Merino Sheep Breeders' Asso- ciation. These associations were formed for the purpose of improving the grade of stock. Mr. Pollock has a thorough-bred herd of sheep and of Devonshire cattle, all being well housed in two large stock barns on the home place. He belongs to the United Presbyterian Church, and holds the office of Elder. It might be said that his religious belief was born and bred in him, as for many gen- erations it has been that of the family.
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D R. ALEXANDER W. LAYBOURN. Al- though owning and residing upon a farm in Springfield Township, Clark County, the above named gentleman devotes his attention to the practice of his profession, in which he has been actively engaged since June, 1854. He enjoys a large practice, and his reputation as a successful physician extends over a wide territory, while his long life in the county would alone entitle him to the knowledge of a large circle of acquaintances. He was born in Harmony Township, October 3, 1818, acquired a good common-school education,
and began his carcer in life as a farmer. He began reading medicinc, however, with Dr. Berkley Gil- lett in 1846, and attended lectures at Sterling Medical College, Columbus. It has been his aim to inform himself regarding all the later discover- ies in medical science and to keep thoroughly abreast of the times in his professional knowledge. That he has succeeded in his efforts and that he makes a wise use of remedies known to the medical world, is abundantly proved by the fact that he has not been pushed aside by younger physicians.
The father of Dr. Laybourn was born in York- shire, England, was christened Elisha, and when old enough became a farmer. Having come to America and to the Buckeye State, he made the acquaintance of Miss Abigail Wood, a native of Warren County, and of English and German an- cestry. In Springfield Township, Clark County, they were united in marriage, settling in the west- ern part of Harmony Township, although the hus- band afterward bought a small tract of land in Springfield Township, upon which he settled and where he died March 8, 1861. His widow survived until March 20, 1877. They were the parents of four children, three of whom died when quite young, leaving our subject as the only representa- tive of the family. He remained with his parents until grown to manhood, when he married and set- tled on the old homestead adjoining his father's home. He now owns two hundred and fifty acres of land on section 9, which he rents to his son.
The first marriage of Dr. Laybourn took place in Harmony Township, his bride being Miss Susan E. Moore, who died in Springfield Township. The union was a childless one. The second wife of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Jane Thomas, her birth place being Hull, England. She was removed by death September 15, 1849, leaving two sons: Elisha and John. The first-born is carrying on the farm and John is a railroad engineer.
The present Mrs. Laybourn bore the maiden name of Mary J. Wood. She was born near Ca. tawba, Pleasant Township, and ably presides over the home, surrounding hier family with the comfort which results from woman's taste and careful over- sight of household affairs. She is the mother of four daughters: Ellen, Florence, Maggie and' Ida;
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Mary A Hodge
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James. Olle. Hodge
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the eldest is now the wife of Frederick White, but the others still brighten the home by their presence.
Dr. Laybourn has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has been for over twenty years. He has held some of the school offices but prefers to devote his time entirely to his profession, feeling that thus he can do more for his fellow-men than in any other line of work. While performing some chemical experiments on May 22, 1872, he had the misfortune to lose his right hand. The accident has not prevented his continuing his studies and investigations, nor les- sened his usefulness to any perceptible degree.
AMES M. HODGE. Clark County is the home of a number of men who are not only fine representatives of the farming commu- nity, but have done much to improve the grade of stock in the county by introducing and breeding blooded animals of various kinds. Among these gentlemen is James M. Hodge, of Moorefield Township, who has made several trips to Kentucky, to buy fine Short-horn cattle. He now has about seventy-five head of these, and raises Poland-China hogs, Merino sheep and improved draft horses. His beautiful home is located on section 33, and the estate comprises over five hundred acres of land, the most of which is under excellent cultiva- tion. With the exception of one hundred and eighty acres received from his father's estate, the property has been accumulated by his own efforts.
The subject of this sketch is a grandson of Andrew Ilodge, who, when a single man, was a companion of Daniel Boone, the noted Kentucky frontiersman. Andrew Hodge was a native of Virginia, and to him and his wife, Isabel Hodge, were born six children, namely : William, John, Eli, James H., Sarah and Jane M. James II., the father of our subject, was born in the first year of the present century, and was about eight years of age when his parents crossed the Ohio River, set- tling in Pleasant Township, Clark County. Here grandfather Hodge bought land from the Govern- ment, and began his labors as one of the earliest
settlers of the township. The family tented dur- ing the first winter and afterward built a log cabin, still later erecting a second and larger log house.
Here James II. Hodge grew to manhood, doing the usual amount of pioneer labor in developing the land, and receiving but a limited education, for the advantages afforded in this section at that time were very meagre. He became an extensive stock-raiser, as well as the owner of a large landed estate, and is numbered among the best pioneer workers of the township. He died September 23, 1878, when he had reached the age of nearly four- score years. . His wife, known in her girlhood as Elizabeth Sailor, survived him some time, dying August 10, 1883. She was a native of Virginia, and a worthy companion and helpmate. To them were born six children, of whom the following sur- vive: Samuel M. and John H. live in Champaign County, Ohio; the next is the subject of this notice; Sarah J. lives in Pleasant Township, this county.
The natal day of James M. Hodge was May 2, 1837. He grew to manhood in his native county, where he has continued to reside, continuing the labors in which his ancestors were engaged. Dur- ing his earlier years he bore a share in developing the section from the somewhat primitive condition of those days, and in the meantime took advantage of the opportunities afforded in the common schools to acquire as good an education as the circum- stances would warrant. He keeps himself well informed regarding current events and general topics of interest, especially those which relate to his life work. In politics, he is a sturdy Repub- lican, and is a member of the Grange Lodge. He is recognized as one who possesses progressive ideas, and is interested in all movements which tend to advance the prosperity and elevate the society of his native State, and whose private character is such as to give him good standing among his fellow-men.
Mr. Hodge chose for his companion in life Miss Mary A. Hunter, a native of Pleasant Township, with whom he was united in marriage March 15, 1864. Mrs. Hodge is a daughter of Lemuel and Nancy (Marsh) Hunter, who are still living in Pleasant Township, where they settled many years
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ago. She is a woman of intelligence, housewifely ability, and many sterling traits of character. To her and her husband eight children have been born, those who are yet spared to them bearing the names of Asa W., Ida M. and Anne I. Three children died in infancy, while Emma and Lewis S. passed away in later years.
In connection with this sketch the reader will be pleased to notice lithographie portraits of Mr. Hodge and his estimable wife.
ICHAEL LEFFEL. Among the old set- tlers of Clark County, Michael Leffel is numbered, and his name will be held in remembrance wherever the frontiersman's work is known and appreciated. His parents came to this county in an early day, and labored ardu- ously among the pioneers, while their son, our subject, born and reared amid scenes of a much more primitive nature that those which now meet his eye, has worked as assiduously as they to still farther develop the resources of the county.
In Botetourt County, Va. James P. Leffel and Elizabeth Miller were born. Both had become residents of the Buckeye State early in the history of Clark County, and in it they were married, set- tling in Bethel Township. They afterward re- moved to Mad River Township, where Mr. Leffel built a flouring- mill, which he carried on for sev- eral years. IIe then gave it up and returned to Bethel Township, three years later removing to Springfield Township, where he spent the remain- der of his life, his death taking place two miles south of the city of Springfield.
Our subject is the eldest in a family of ten chil- dren. and was born March 20, 1822, in Bethel Township, Clark County. He lived with his father until he was twenty-three years old, and then set- tled on a farm in Springfield Township, where he now lives. Eight years were spent by him in Miami County, but with that exception he has been a continual resident on his present estate since he first took up his abode there. The farm con-
sists of two hundred and ten productive acres on section 7, furnished with the usual farm buildings and conducted by one who has always been a farmer, is well and carefully managed, and proves a remunerative piece of property.
In Mad River Township, June 6, 1844, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between our suh- ject and Miss Elizabeth Cosler. Mrs. Leffel was born in Montgomery County, September 5, 1821, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Meyers) Cosler, natives of Pennsylvania. She is a fine ex- ample of Christian womanhood, is a member of the Methodist Church, and has conscientiously discharged her duties as wife, mother and neighbor. The union of herself and our subject has been blessed by the birth of eight children, two of whom have been called hence.
The first-born was Xarisa, who became the wife of James Drake, and died in Springfield Township; the second was James H., who died when about thirty-two years old. The oldest of the surviving children is Winfield, who is living at home; the next is Anna, wife of Joseph Kist; the next Leoni- das, who is a farmer in Mercer County; following him is Mary, the wife of Milton Crabill; Addison is a farmer in Greene County; Elizabeth is the wife of William McCreery.
Mr. Leffel is a believer in and supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has held the office of School Director, discharging its duties in a manner which reflects credit upon him- self and those whose interests he serves. He has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church since he was nineteen years old, and has endeavored to manifest in his life the principles in which he believes.
h ENRY OTSTOT. This young gentleman is the owner and occupant of a beautiful farm in Clark County, and is classed among the most progressive farmers and stock- raisers of the section. His estate is located on section 30, in the northwestern part of Harmony Township, and consists of one hundred and sixty-
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one broad and fertile acres which have been im- proved in every way proper to a model farm. The finest Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs are raised and the crops produced are in quality and quantity equal to the best.
The gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch is a son of William M. and Rebecca (Knaub) Otstot, of Springfield Township, and was born two and a half miles southeast of the county seat, December 14, 1862. He was reared on the parental estate receiving his education in Congress Hall schoolhouse, and remaining with his parents until his marriage, when he located on the farm where he now resides.
The wife of Mr. Otstot is a young woman whose intelligent mind, pleasing manners, and estimable character have endeared her to many friends. She was known in her maidenhood as Miss Fannie Yea- zell, and was born in Mechanicsburg, July 3, 1866. She is a daughter of John A. and Mary Ann (Baird) Yeazell, her parents being natives of Pleas- ant and Harmony Townships respectively. Her grandfathers are Jacob Yeazell and William Baird both well known in the localities in which they re- side.
The rites of wedlock were celebrated between Mr. Otstot and Miss Yeazell, January 26, 1888. They are numbered among the most highly re- spected members of the community, the intelli- genee, enterprise and steadfast character of the husband assuring to him the friendship of his associates. The future is bright with promise to the young couple whose influence will doubtless extend as years go by.
ENRY STICKNEY. Although the life of a farmer does not present the salient points that are found in the experience of a city resident, it is not therefore devoid of in- terest, nor unworthy of being preserved in a vol- ume of this nature. Many years spent in the quiet and consistent performance of the daily duties of life is certainly sufficient to cutitle any man to a place in the memory of his fellow-citizens, and
when an intelligent mind, an active public spirit, and agreeable manners are added, the esteem is deepened and influence widened. Of such a nature and character is the subject of this sketch whose life has been spent in Clark County and who is well known to her citizens as a man of honor up- rightness and wide information.
John Stickney, the father of our subject was born in Hemingborough, Yorkshire, England, mar- rying Sarah Cook, a native of the same shire. They emigrated to America in 1819 and having chosen a location in the Buckeye State, made it their home until death. They located upon a tract of land in Springfield Township, Clark County, where the father breathed his last March 6, 1850, the mother surviving until April 17, 1867.
The subject of this biographical notice is the fourth in a family of five children, and was born on his father's farm November 26, 1821. IIe has always resided in the immediate vicinity, his own farm on section 3, being quite near the home of his boyhood. The estate which he now owns com- prises three hundred and sixty broad and fertile acres, so managed that a visitor, however unlearned in farm life, would be struck by its appearance of fertility and thrift. A fine set of farm buildings has been erected, the dwelling being particularly attaactive, its outward appearance not belied by the comfort which is discernible upon crossing the threshold.
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