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 74
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 74
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
John Wright was twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Snyder, who bore him seven chil. dren, two of whom died in Virginia; the survivors were named respectively : Samuel, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Jane and Ellen. These all lived to mature years. Mr. Wright and his children removed to Clark County, this State, iu 1835, and located in Pleasant Township, where he improved one hun- dred and fifty acres of land. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died November 28, 1866. He was the son of Jobn Wright, whose family consisted of four children- John, Samuel, Elizabeth and William. His wife, Ruhama, died October 16, 1866, a few weeks prior to the decease of her husband. She was born in Pennsylvania, and by her union with Mr. Wright became the mother of three children-William E . John W. and Silas J.
ORENZO R. ST. JOHN. Among the pros perous farmers of Greene County may be properly mentioned Mr. St. John, who has a finely-located body of land, one-half mile south of the city. He is a native of this county, and was born in Cæsar Creek Township, August 8, 1851. To this region at an early day came his parents, Daniel W. and Eliza (Bone) St. John, who were likewise uatives of this State, and both born near New Lebanon. There also they were reared and marricd, and soon after settled upon a one hundred-acre farm in Cæsar Creek Township.
About 1863 the parents of Mr. St. John changed their residence to the place where he now resides, and which lies on the Wilmington Pike. There they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dy- ing in January, 1873, and the mother in April, 1874. Both were leading members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, in which Daniel St. John had officiated as a Class-Leader for many years. They were the parents of the following children, the eldest of whom, Cyrus B., resides near Albany, Jay County, Ind .; Joseph M. died after attaining to manhood; John Washington is a resident of this county ; William Harrison, deceased; Daniel Mor-
gan resides in this county; Sarah is the widow of James McNair, of Dunkirk, Ind; Jeniah F. is in this county; Eva J. is the wife of Frank Peterson, of Kansas; Isaac W. is a resident of Dunkirk, Ind .; and Lorenzo R., our subject. The father, in carly manhood, was a Whig and later identified himself with the Republican party.
Mr. St. John has resided upon his present farm since he was a lad of thirteen years. The associa- tions connected with it naturally make it far more valuable to him than any amount of money he could name. It is one hundred and thirty-seven acres in extent, embellished with substantial build- ings and is the source of a comfortable income. He brought a bride to the old roof-tree in 1873, being married May 28, that year, to Miss Alice M. Smith. This lady was born May 6, 1855, in Greene County, and is the daughter of Daniel and Lucinda (Sparr) Smith. the father being now de- ceased. Of this union there was born one child only, Myrtie L. Mr. St. John, politically, is a Republican, and both he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Ex.Governor St. John, of Kansas, was one of the offshoots of this branch of the St. John family.
ENRY H. CONKLIN. This name is famil- iarly known to the citizens of New Jasper Township, Greene County, as representing one of its most liberal and public-spirited men.
He is prominent in all the enterprises tend- ing to the moral advancement of the people around him, and who have shown him their confidence and esteem in many ways. For a time he was a member of the County Board of Commissioners, and has held various other positions of trust and responsibility. At the present time he gives his attention chiefly to farming pursuits, having two hundred and one acres of well-developed land, which, with its buildings and other appurtenances, contitutes one of the most desirable homes in this county. Mr. Conklin deals considerably in live stock, and has been uniformly successful.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Mr. Conklin was born in the town of Lumber- ton, Clinton County, this State, on the 16th of December, 1844, and is thus in the prime of life. He is the offspring of an excellent family, being the son of Harvey F. and Hannah (Noland) Conk- lin, who were natives respectively of New York and Virginia. They were married in Ohio, and were among the early residents of Clinton County, whence they removed to this county, where the father followed farming and blacksmithing com- bined. He died at Lumberton about 1882, but the mother died in this county in 1888. The pa rental household consisted of nine children, eight of whom are living. Henry HI. is the fourth in order of birth. He was quite young when the family came to this county, of which he has been nearly a life long resident. He acquired his edu- cation in the common schools, and remained under the home roof until reaching his majority. Soon afterward, August 23, 1866, he was joined in wed- lock with Miss Mary J. Hook, at the bride's home in Xenia Township. This lady was born Decem- ber 6, 1848, in Xenia Township, and is a daughter of Charles and Clarinda (Johnson) Hook, who were natives of this county, and whose family consisted of three children, Miss Mary being the second born.
Mr. and Mrs. Conklin, after their marriage, set- tled on a farm in the vicinity of Xenia, where they sojourned until removing to that which they now own and occupy. There have been born to them six children, the eldest being Cora E., who is the wife of James Albert Bales, and lives in New Jasper; Clyde, Laura C., Hattie P. and Hannalı M. are at home with their parents. One child died in infancy. Mr. Conklin was elected County Commissioner in the fall of. 1883, and served six consecutive years. He has held some of the school offices, and takes quite an active part in politics, giving his support to the Republican party. He has always been interested in educa- tional matters, and with his estimable wife is a member in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, to which they contribute a liberal support.
During the progress of the Civil War Mr. Conk- lin enlisted in the Union Army, in March, 1863,
and was occupied as a teamster a month, then on account of illness was obliged to accept his dis- charge. The following year, in April, he re-enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fifty-fourtli Ohio Infantry, with the one hundred days' men. He participated in the engagement at New Creek, W. Va., but aside from this saw no active service.
NIEL RODGERS. This sturdy veteran who is approaching the seventy. sixth year of his age, is known throughout the length and breadth of Greene County where he has spent his entire life. Here he was born and reared, first opening his eyes to the light .July 18, 1814, at the old homestead of his parents near Bellbrook, Sugar Creek Township. His father, William Rodg- ers, a native of Rockbridge County, Va., was born in 1784 and when a youth of eighteen years came alone to this county and in due time built a mill near Bellbrook on the Little Miami River. This was the first structure of the kind in that vicinity and he operated it successfully for many years. He married Miss Rebecca Lewis in 1809. She was a native of North Carolina and came to this region with her parents, about 1806.
After operating the mill above spoken of eleven years, William Rodgers resumed the trade of a gunsmith which he had learned in his native county. There were born to him and his estimable wife three children, a daughter and two sons. The daughter, Margaret, was born February 7, 1810, and died February 27, 1847, aged thirty-seven years. (The strange feature in the birth, death, and age of this lady is that all the dates and ages end with the digit 7). Lewis died in Xenia in 1856; Aniel, our subject, was the youngest born. The parents were members of the Associate Church in which the paternal grandfather of our subject officiated as a minister many years, in Rockbridge County, Va., at Timber Ridge Meeting House.
Aniel Rodgers came to Xenia in 1830 to serve an apprenticeship at bricklaying with his uncle, Daniel Lewis. He served out his time and in 1835
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
eommeneed as a journeyman, working two years and then began operating as a builder and eon- tractor. Many of the fine buildings standing in the eity of Xenia to day give evidence of his skill and handiwork. He was thus occupied for over half a century, only retiring a few years ago.
Mr. Rodgers was first married in Montgomery County to Miss Cynthia Popenoe and there were born to them five children, all of whom are de- ceased with the exception of one daughter, Jane, unmarried. His second wife was Miss Sarah C. Stilson and they were married in Oriskany Falls, N. Y., March 16, 1858. This lady was born in Woodbury, Conn., February 13, 1822, and is the daughter of Asahel Stilson who emigrated to Oneida County, N. Y., where Sarah L. lived under the pa- rental roof until her marriage.
Mr. Rodgers has oeeupied many positions of trust and responsibility since attaining to man- hood's years. He was for twenty-one years a Di- rector in the County Infirmary and is at present a Director on the Board of the County Work House. His earcer has been signalized by great energy and industry and he has uniformly lent his moral aid to the cause of temperanee and all the enterprises which tend to elevate the people. He has ever been distinguished as a man of sound sense and good judgment-one whose opinions are ever held in respeet. He identified himself with the Masonic fraternity early in life and enjoys the honor of being the oldest Mason in Greene County, having joined the fraternity here in 1846. He has held all the offiees of his lodge and has attained to the Royal Arch degree. Mr. Rodgers cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. William Henry Harrison and voted for John C. Fremont in 1856. He was promptly on hand at the polls to cast his ballot for the grandson of Old Tippecanoe in 1888.
James W. H. Rodgers, the eldest son of our sub- jeet, was like his father born and reared in the city of Xenia, and married Miss Imogene Hyde, whose birthplace was near Sandusky, Ohio. To them there were born four children, three of whom died young. The survivor is a daughter, Sally B., a resident of Toledo. This son was the business partner of his father until 1877, when he was stricken down by death at the early age of thirty-
two years. Miss Elizabeth Rodgers became the wife of David Voorhes of Centerville, Montgomery County, and died in 1883, leaving a family of nine children, seven of whom are living, viz .: Lucy, Charles, Joseph, Luther, Hazard, Edgar and Arthur. They are all residents of this county. The deceased are Nellie, who died young and an infant who died unnamed.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Rodgers, a native of Seotland and born in 1745. He came to the United States as a missionary for the Associate Church in 1770 and settled in Penn- sylvania. He was married in his native land to Miss Irene Russell. He spent his entire life after coming to this eountry in the Master's service, be- ing pastor of the Timber Ridge Church in Rock- bridge County, where he spent his last days. He was the father of seven sons whose united height aggregated over forty-two feet and their weight fourteen hundred pounds. Three of them eame West and one settled in Monmouth, Ill., one near Niles, Mieh., and another in Gallipolis, this State.
Asahel Stilson was born in Connecticut and was there married to Miss Hannah Hull, of Oxford. He followed farming and dealt quite extensively in live stock. He emigrated to New York State about 1830. His wife was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church while Grandfather Stilson was an Episcopalian in religious belief.
R OBERT R. KNOWLES. As one of the prominent business men of Xenia and a citizen held in high esteem, Mr. Knowles is worthy of special mention. He was educated in the profession of law, but is now pro- prietor of the Pioneer drug store, which is located at No. 33 East Main Street. He has been a resi- dent of this county since 1880, and has made for himself a good record in the line of trade, and as a member of the community.
Mr. Knowles is a native of the Buekeye State, having been born at Williamsport Station, Deer Creek Township, Pickaway County, March 14, 1855. His father, Robert Knowles, a native of
I
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Sussex County, Del., came on horseback to Ohio when a youth of nineteen years, and for a time was engaged in buying horses for the East. He finally decided to turn his attention to farming, and purchased, at $7 per acre, a tract of timber land in Deer Creek Township. The following year, at the age of twenty, he was married to Miss Emelinc Rector, of Pickaway County. The bride was a maiden of fifteen years, and they became acquainted while attending a country school, and she pursned her studies thereat after her marriage.
The young couple in due time settled in a log cabin on their land, but subsequently removed to another farm, upon which they made their home for a period of twenty-three years. They finally removed to Ft. Scott, Kan., but in 1875 returned to Pickaway County, Ohio, whence later they went back to Kansas and settled in Eldorado, where the father engaged in stock-raising and where they still live. The elder Knowles from the time of his majority until 1860, affiliated with the Demo- cratic party, then wheeled into the Republican ranks, where he remained until 1872. At that time his warm interest in the temperance movement led him to identify himself with the Prohibitionists, and he now gives his support to this party. Ile and his estimable wife are members in good stand- ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Knowles formerly officiated as Class-Leader, and was a chief pillar. The nine children born to them are all living, presenting an interesting fam- ily group unbroken as yet by the destroying hand of death.
The subject of this notice remained a member of the parental household until 1875, acquiring his education in Ft. Scott, Kan., and Xenia, Ohio. For two years he taught school in his native county, and later attended the Normal School at Xenia. After the removal of the family to Kan- sas he studied law at Eldorado, and was admitted to the bar at Wichita in June, 1880. In Xenia lie afterward read law with Messrs. Nesbitt & Martin, and after passing a thorough examination in the Supreme Court at Columbus, was admitted to practice in the courts of Ohio, which he followed in Xenia for two years. Later he was awarded the contract of compiling the index of land records
of Greene County, at which he was occupied four years, completing, in 1887, a fine set of Indices. After this he engaged in the drug business, and this being really more congenial to his tastes, lie purchased, in July following, his present business, in which he has built up an extensive and lucrative trade. He is a sound Republican, politically, and for two years was Chairman of the Republican Central Committee and a member of the Execu- tive Committee. Otherwise he has held aloof from the responsibilities of officc. Socially, lie belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Chapter, and he is also identified with the Red Men. In his religious views he coincides with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he is connected in Xenia.
The subject of this notice was united in wed- lock with Miss Mary J. Stevenson, May 13, 1880. This lady was born in Xenia Township June 20, 1858, and is the daughter of James S. and Jane (Knox) Stevenson, who are numbered among the pioneer settlers of Greene County. The mother is now deceased and the father resides in Greene County. The three children born to our subject and his wife were named respectively : James Rob- ert, Helen and Lester. They form a bright and interesting trio, and are being trained and educated in a manner suitable to their position in life. The family residence is pleasantly located at No. 332, East Market Street, of the city, and Mr. and Mrs. Knowles occupy a good position among the best social elements of Xenia and vicinity.
AMES HARBISON. A beautiful and well- improved farm comprising one hundred and fifty-six acres in Cedarville and Miami Townships, Grecne County, is the liome of the gentleman above named, who lias since his thir- teenth year been a resident of this Statc. He was born in Chester District, S. C., near the Catawba River, and with his parents left his native State October 9, 1826, for a home north of the Ohio River. Their journey was made in a covered wagon and six weeks were consnmed on the road,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
their arrival at their destination being on Novem- ber 26. Settlement was made on Clark's Run in Miami Township, where Robert B. Harbison now lives, and where the parents of our subject spent the remainder of their lives.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were James and Elizabeth (McElroy ) Harbison, the latter of whom was a native of Virginia and the foriner of Ireland, and of Scotch descent. After their marriage they made their home in South Carolina, where botlı died. There their son John was born during the Revolution, February 27, 1782, his death taking place just after the opening of the Civil War, in April, 1861. His wife was Jane, daughter of James Bigham, who emigrated from Ireland to the United States and died in North Carolina. Mrs. John Harbison survived her husband's death two years. The subject of this sketch now has a Bible in which the family record is kept, the volume be- ing one hundred and thirty-two years old, printed in Old English and having been brought from Ire- land by his grandfather.
The youth and early manhood of James Harbi son were passed at the parental home in Miami Township. He was married to Miss Sarah Miller, who died leaving one child, who died a few days later. He subsequently, in 1852, became the hus- band of Miss Margaret, daughter of John and Helen (Aird) King, her father being a son of Mark King of Jedbury, Scotland. When our subject and his wife began housekeeping they occupied his brother's house, and they then built a log cabin in the woods a short distance north of where they now live. In 1876, Mr. Harbison bought the piece of land ad. joining liis place of residence and crected a fine large frame house, facing the Clifton and Xcnia Pike. Here he has since made his home, thoroughly cultivating the fine land which he owns, securing a comfortable maintenance for his family, and living an upright and useful life in the midst of his fellow- men. The farm is now carried on by his only child, Jolin A. Harbison, and the parents are enjoying the rest which should follow industrious and well-spent lives.
Mr. and Mrs. IIarbison having but one child, have reared an orphan whom they took to their home when she was five years of age, Miss Maud
Harbison, whose surname by birthright was Im- boden, is now a young lady and is greatly loved by the family and respe. ted by all who know her. The son of our subject married Miss Ella Reid, who died December 8, 1887, and after her death he returned to his father's home. His wife was a daughterof Jolm and Hannah Reid and a cousin of Whitclaw Reid, whose name is so well known throughout our country, and whose fame as a journalist has ex- tended to other lands. Her father lost his life dur- ing the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Harbison are members of Dr. Morton's church, the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Although he was brought up to believe in the principles of Democracy, Mr. Harbison has been a Republican for the past thirty years.
W ILLIAM L. HOUSTON occupies a promi- nent position among the farmers and stock- raisers of Pleasant Township, Clark County, lis abundant means, large landed cstate and per- sonal character alike entitling him to the rank which he holds. The farm which he occupies com- prises seven hundred and fifty broad acres upon which all adequate improvements have been made, and many of the conveniences not always to be found in rural homes, are to be secn. Mr. Houston raises cattle, sheep and hogs. His present herd of cattle includes two hundred head, of hogs over four hundred head, and he usually kceps a flock of about fifteen hundred sheep.
Before proceeding to give the main facts in the life history of Mr. Houston, it will not be amiss to devote a brief space to the family from which he is descended. His grandfather, Joseph Houston, who married a Miss Fisher, was one of the earliest set- tlers near Springfield. He improved about two hundred acres of land where he lived on Buck Creek. He and his wife died at South Charleston at an advanced agc. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children were Mary, William, Eliza, Vilaton, Nancy, Priscilla, Louisa J., Robert, Asbury, Maddox, James T. and Thomas F. Robert and James T. are physicians, the latter now living in Iowa ; Maddox is a farmer,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Thomas F. Houston was born four miles east of Springfield, October 7, 1818. When twenty-one years of age lie went to Springfield and learned the trade of a harness-maker, after which he located in Charleston, carrying on a shop in connection with D. O. Heiskell, a well-known horseman. After a time the connection was dissolved and Mr. Houston continued the business alone until the spring of 1862, when he removed to a farm in the extreme eastern part of Pleasant Township. From the pro- ceeds of his business he had been able to purchase about seven hundred acres of land there and he afterward with his son, our subject, bought two hundred more. In the fall of 1867, he removed to Springfield and engaged in the saddle, harness and collar business with S. T. Irvine. This connection continued until his death, June 30, 1874.
Mr. Houston possessed a more than ordinary de- gree of business ability which was proven by his success, he having started in life without a dollar. He was zealous in his advocacy of all public im- provements, such as churches, schools, roads. etc., and foremost in prosecuting all movements which would effect them. He drew up and presented the first petition which was ever laid before the com- missioners of this county under the Free Pike law. He and his wife were active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was a Class-Leader. In politics, he was a Whig and Re- publican. During the war he contributed liberally to the support of the Union cause and in clearing his township from draft.
The wife of Thomas F. Houston was Rachel A. Delashmutt who was born in Madison County, Christmas Day, 1823. She lived until November 8, 1886, when she entered into rest. She was the mother of eleven children, as follows: Catherine, deceased ; Leon, at South Charleston; William L. of this notice; Emma C., Mrs. Yeazel ; Charles C. who died in Cedarsville; Elissa J .; Edwin D .; Thornton, deceased; Howard, who died in childhood; Foster, and Maria who died in infancy.
The gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch was born on Christmas Day, 1843. IJe was reared in Charleston until eighteen years of age. receiving an excellent education in the com- mon schools, and unexcelled home training. Ac-
companying his father to the farm he remained upon it after the latter had removed to Springfield, continuing the work which they had previously been carrying on together and adding to its extent from year to year. The stubborn persistence which is one of the qualities which he inherited from his English ancestors, has made of his business per- ceptions a lever with which to move circumstances around him to his own good.
The mind and character of Miss Mary J. Bales, daughter of Calvin and Julia (Rigdon) Bales of Madison County, won the affection of Mr. Houston and his wooing proving successful, she became his wife June 1, 1871. The happy union has been blest by the birth of three children-Lawrance C., Maurice C. and Stella B. Mr. Houston has been quite active in the political field, formerly as a member of the Republican party and more recently as a Prohibitionist. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was one of the foremost and largest contributors in building the new church ( Nation Chapel) and has filled the offices of Steward, Trustee and Sunday-school Su- perintendent, ever since its erection.
W ILLIAM BURNS who has for many years been connected with the business interests of Springfield, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, June 20, 1833. His parents were Thomas and Bridget ( Murray) Burns, the former of whom died in his native Emerald Isle. Late in life the widowed mother came to America bringing her children of which our subject was one. and breathed her last in Yates County, N. Y . in 1$74. The pa- rental family comprised thirteen children of whom the son William was next to the youngest. The parents being poor he received but limited advan- tages in the way of schooling and quite early in life was thrown upon his own resources.
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