The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 125

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

USA > Ohio > Miami County > The History of Miami County, Ohio > Part 125

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Digitized by Google

1 1

849

UNION TOWNSHIP.

JOSHUA PEARSON, farmer; P. O. West Milton ; born on the place on which he now resides, Nov. 7, 1834 ; is a son of Moses and Sarah Pearson. His father was born in Bush River, S. C., Dec. 27, 1798; his mother was born in Mon- roe Township, this county, Sept. 7, 1805. They were married in the above town- ship in May, 1823, and settled where our subject lives, in the same year. In 1837, he was sent by the annual meeting of the Friends' Church, as a missionary among the Indians on the Western frontier ; he took with him his wife and five children, of whom Joshua was the youngest ; in the missionary field, he remained three years, the appointed time, and for which he received $500 per year ; returning to his home, he again assumed the labors of the farm ; and on the 7th day of February, 1844, was called to mourn the departure of his wife, in the 39th year of her age. They were parents of eight children, four of whom are living, viz., Mahala, now Mrs. Jay ; Anna, now Mrs. Kelly ; Joshua and Abraham ; the deceased are Rhoda, Timothy, Nathan and Sarepta ; Abraham and Nathan were born on the missionary farm in the Missouri Territory, the former in July, 1837, the latter in June, 1840. Timothy was a member of the 5th Kan. V. I., and was also given charge of wagon teams, but on account of disability was discharged, returned to his home, and soon after died. Nathan was a member of the 44th O. V. I., was twice wounded, after which was stricken down with small-pox, at Knoxville Tennessee, from which he died; he entered the service as a private and rose to Color Sergeant, and was finally elected Captain, but did not live to serve. Abraham was in the 100-day service, and assisted in the capture of the notorious Morgan ; he now resides in Washington, Iowa, and has represented his county in the Legislature. Anna's husband, Kelley, resides in Parke Co., Ind., which he has represented. Mahala, Mrs. Jay, is a graduate of the Antioch College, having won the degree A. M .; she has been Principal of the Earlham College, at Richmond, Ind. Joshua spent one year in the Oberlin College, after which he entered the Antioch, and took the full En- glish course, fitting himself for the profession of teaching, which he followed for twenty years, beginning when he was 18 years old. His father was again married, to Emma Macy, by whom he had five children, of whom only one survives, viz., Obed A .; the deceased are Orlando, Hosea, Zimry and an infant. Mr. P. died July 19, 1874. In 1858, our subject was married to Susan E. Kessler; to them ten children have been born, eight of whom are living, viz., Florent J., Emma J., Martha M., Homer E., Charles L., Anna S., Mary H. and Dorcas ; Cordelia B. and Nathan deceased. Mrs. Pearson is a daughter of Henry and Sarena Kessler, who were among the early settlers in this county. Mr. Pearson owns an interest in 130 acres of land which is in a good state of cultivation and well improved. He and his wife have been members of the Christian Church for ten years.

ALFRED PEARSON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Troy ; born in the place where he now resides, in the year 1831 ; is a son of Robert and Mary Pearson. His father was born in Virginia, and with his parents came to Ohio in a very early day, being among the first settlers in this township. His grandfather settled in Newton Township, in which he resided till near his death, which occurred in this township when upward of 80 years of age. Robert Pearson settled on the farm, on which his son and our subject now reside, at a time when the magnificence and splendor of the great forest were unmarred. On this land Robert made his home till his decease, which occurred in 1852, at the age of 51 years. His wife is still living at the advanced age of 74 years. They were parents of eight children, three of whom are living, viz., Alexander, Alfred and Martha J., now Mrs. Dibra ; the deceased are Eliza, aged 10 months and 27 days ; David, aged 4 years 3 months and 14 days; Sarah, aged 4 years 5 months and 2 days; Abijah, aged 2 years and 26 days ; Carry, aged 27 years 11 months and 27 days. Mr. Pearson's early boyhood days were spent on his father's farm, on which he labored till he was 21 years of age, at which time his father died. He remained with his widowed mother for three years, and assisted in the duties of the farm. Jan. 25, 1855, he was married to Susanna Long, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living, viz., William L., Joseph L., Webster E. and Amanda ; Robert H. died Jan.

Digitized by Google

850

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

11, 1871, aged 15 years 2 months and 26 days. Mrs. Pearson departed this life Dec. 20, 1879, aged 42 years 3 months and 3 days. She was an exemplary mem- ber of the Christian Church, with which she had been connected sixteen years. She was a daughter of William and Elizabeth Long, both deceased. With the exception of one year, which was spent in Concord Township, he has lived exclusively on the old home farm, on which he now resides. He owns 120 acres of land, which is all in a good state of cultivation and well improved. He is a member of the Christian Church, with which he has been connected fourteen years. Mrs. P. was born Sept. 17, 1837.

ROBERT V. PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. West Milton; born in this county in the year 1833; is a son of Enoch Pearson, who was also born in this county ; his boyhood days were spent on the farm, but not under the guidance of parents, having been bound out when quite young to Elisha and Rebecca Jones, with whom he remained till he was 23 years of age, though his time expired when he was 18. In consquence of this and the scarcity of school privileges in his day, his education was limited. In 1857, he was married to Mary A. Kendall, and has one child, viz., Loraine A., born Oct. 18, 1858; he has taken great pains with his son's education, he being a graduate of Covington High School, and a very promising young man. .He owns 78 acres of land, 65 of which is in cultivation, and neatly improved ; he is a descendant of the first pioneers in this county, of whom more than a passing notice is taken, both in the historical and biographical departments of this work. Mrs. Pearson is a daughter of John and Eunice Kendall, whose sketch appears in the pages of Union Township history.

WILLIAM S. PEARSON, deceased ; born in this township the 7th day of the 9th month, 1833; was a son of Benjamin and Dorcas Pearson. Our subject was reared a farmer's boy, and labored for his father on the farm till his marriage with Mahala McDonald, which was celebrated the 27th day of the 10th month, 1853. To them nine children were born, six of whom are living, viz., Horace M., Jasper N., Ada J., Mary E., Herbert R. and Martha A. The deceased are Laura E., Rachel E. and William S. Mr. P. departed this life the 12th day of the 5th month, 1871. From his marriage till his death, his home was on the farm where his widowed wife and children now reside. He was a member of the Friends' Church, and lived a life of scrupulous Christian fidelity. Mrs. P. was born where she resides, the 9th day of the 1st month, 1838, and is a daughter of Joseph and Tem- perance (Elleman) McDonald. Her father was born in South Carolina May 23, 1787, her mother in Tennessee, Jan. 2, 1798 ; her father died in 1849, aged 62 years, her mother died Nov. 9, 1855. They were parents of ten children, of whom only two survive, viz., Rachel and Mahala. The deceased are Enos, Isaiah, William, Elizabeth, Mary, Denis, Phoebe and Aaron. By her father's first marriage with Sarah Mote, he had three children, two living, viz., John and Charles. Mark, deceased. Truly, death has been a frequent visitant to this family-has removed and consigned to the tomb many of its members with frightful rapidity. Mrs. P. is a member of the Friends' Church, and is a most consistent and exemplary Christian woman ; she has 98 acres of land highly improved.

ELIHU PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. West Milton ; he was born in this town- ship, on Sec. 8, in 1843, and is a son of Benjamin and Dorcas Pearson, whose sketch appears in this work. Our subject was reared upon his father's farm, where he labored until his 23d year. His marriage with Anna Fisher, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Fisher, was celebrated in November, 1866; their parents were born in South Carolina, and emigrated to Ohio in an early day, and lived here till their decease ; Mr. and Mrs. John Fisher have four children living, viz., William, Anna, Mary and Louisa ; Mary A. and Anna reside in Miami Co., the others in Kansas. After his marriage, our subject engaged in farming, and in sight of his birthplace has a nice little home of 49} acres, all in a good state of cultivation, with No. 1 buildings erected thereon ; he was reared under the influence of the Friends' Church, and is one who is always found at the post of duty, willing and ready to perform every Christian act ; his amiable wife is also

Digitized by Google

851

UNION TOWNSHIP.

a member of the same church, and a consistent Christian lady ; six children have been given to their union, all living, viz., Warren, Edith, Emily, Omar, Mary and Ella ; Mr. Pearson only had the advantages of the common school, but is well qualified to discharge the business cares of life.

PAUL PEARSON, farmer ; P. O. West Milton ; he was born in Monroe Township, this county, in the year 1833, and is a son of Benjamin and Anna Pearson ; his father was born in South Carolina, his mother in the State of Ten- nessee ; when a child, Benjamin Pearson came with his parents to this county, where they settled in the year 1808, in Monroe Township, living there till their decease; Benjamin, father of Paul, made the same locality his home, reared his family, and in 1845, departed this life, aged about 42 years ; they were parents of nine children, two of whom are living, viz., Rachel and our subject. Mrs. Pearson was again united in marriage, to Enoch Pearson, who is also deceased ; she is living and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Stickle. Our subject was reared on the farm where he labored till his father's decease. In 1855, he was married to Rachel Perry, by whom he has had five children. all living, viz., Lycurgus, Willis, Walter, Elmer and Valeria ; Mrs. Pearson is a daughter of Amos and Rachel Perry, who were among the early settlers in this county ; he was born in South Carolina, she in the State of Kentucky ; in 1859, he purchased 140 acres of land, on which he moved in 1860, and here has resided since.

HENRY J. PEARSON, physician and surgeon ; was born near West Milton, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1842 ; his early education was mostly obtained in the common school, with a short tuition in Antioch College, Indiana ; at the age of 19, he began teaching school and taught several terms, during which time he read medicine under the guidance of the late Dr. Tenny ; after attending lectures, he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, May 27, 1867 ; having practiced a short time in Winchester, Ind., and Hollands- burg, Ohio, he settled in March, 1868, in his native village, where he assiduously applied himself for the ensuing five years, to the duties of his chosen profession ; he then withdrew from business for one year to devote himself entirely to study, during which time the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery conferred on him their diploma of graduation ; returning then to his former practice, he has ever since, with a few exceptions, devoted his whole time to the demands of a large practice ; his wife, Jennie Arnold, a lady of culture and refinement, he married May 3, 1865; she is a daughter of James and Elizabeth Arnold, residents of Montgomery Co., where she was born June 22, 1847. Alvick, son of H. J. Pear- son and wife, was born Nov. 27, 1868. Benjamin H. Pearson, the father of Dr. Pearson, was a pioneer in this county, brought when a child from South Carolina by his parents, John and Ruth Pearson ; he was born June 26, 1806, and died Feb. 4, 1880, having lived the long period of 70 years on his homestead, near West Milton, where his declining years were passed ; he lived a life of scrupu- lous fidelity to every conscious duty ; a man of judgment to decide and persever- ance to perform, one of nature's noblemen, who left the indelible stamp of his opin- ion upon all who knew him ; he was decided, yet unassuming, modest, yet perfectly balanced; his thoughts, his deeds and his actions were his own, formed from the feeling of his heart alone ; his wife, Dorcas, is the daughter of Wallace and Rachel Jones, who emigrated here in 1806 from South Carolina, with many others who washed their hands from the curse of slavery which was darkening the South ; she was then a little child, and, owing to the long. heavy roads and the crowded condi- tion of their wagon, she was carried nearly all the way in the arms of her parents, they relieving each other by turns ; she still lives on the old farm where most of life's sunshine has seen her untiring energy spent for the good of her family.

JOSEPH PEMBERTON, farmer and minister ; P. O. West Milton ; born in this township in 1836 ; is a son of Isaiah and Elizabeth Pemberton, who were born in North Carolina, emigrated to this county in a very early day and settled on Sec. 7 in this township, their home being in the heart of a wilderness, which was cleared up and improved, and on which he lived all his life with the exception of

Digitized by Google

Nur

. be

leis

th the lived

bis life

852

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

a year he spent in Indiana on the Wabash ; he departed this life when 67 years of age ; his wife died on the old home farm, at about the age of 66 years ; they were the parents of fifteen children, of whom only five are left, viz., John E., Isaac, Joseph, Rhoda and Elizabeth ; the deceased are Esther, Thomas, Susanna, Isaiah, David, Enos, Margaret, Hannah, Lurania and Temperance. Our subject was reared on the farm and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits till his 25th year, when he began life for himself. His marriage with Snydine Pearson was celebrated in 1862 ; she is a daughter of Benjamin and Dorcas Pearson, who were among the early settlers in this county ; their sketch appears in connection with that of Dr. Pearson, in this work ; they were the parents of nine children, of whom six are living, viz., Rachel, Margaret, Snydine, Henry, Elihu and Anna; the deceased are John, William and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton are the parents of five children, viz., Amy E., Benjamin A., Anna M., Elmy I. and William H. After his marriage, our subject settled on land in Sec. 8, where he lived seven years, then removed to Sec. 7, and to the place on which he now lives, in the fall of 1879 ; he owns 118 acres of fine land, all in cultivation and well improved. He was reared in the Friends' Church, and for nine years has labored faithfully in the ministry, discharging the many responsible duties of the calling with credit to himself and satisfaction to the church ; his wife was also reared in the same church, and is a co-worker with her husband, a consistent, exemplary Christian woman.

JOHN C. PEMBERTON, farmer ; P. O. Laura ; born in this county in the year 1811 ; is a son of Isaiah and Elizabeth (Elleman) Pemberton ; his father was born in South Carolina in the year 1790, and came, with his widowed mother, to Ohio in a very early day ; she purchased 240 acres of land, on which she settled her sons, and resided in the home of her adoption till her decease, which occurred when at an advanced age. On the land his mother gave him. Isaiah lived till his death. He was married to Elizabeth Elleman, by whom he had fourteen children, of whom five are living, viz., Isaac, John, Joseph, Rhoda and Elizabeth ; the deceased are Temperance, Enos, Margaret, Hannah, David, Hettie, Susanna, Isaiah and Luana. Isaiah, Sr., departed this life in 1862 ; his wife, Elizabeth, died in 1861, and was born in 1795. John was reared on his father's farm, where he lived until his 20th year, at which time, in 1830, he was married to Susanna Coppock, by whom he had eight children, five of whom are living, viz., William, Martha, Isaiah, Betsy and Susanna ; the deceased are Moses, Rebecca and Ann. Moses was a member of Co. B, 110th O. V. I., but only served three or four months, when he took the mea- sles and soon after died, aged 21 years ; his father had his remains removed to Union Cemetery, where they were interred beside his mother and grandfather. Mrs. Pemberton departed this life in 1846, aged 35 years. His second marriage was cel- ebrated in 1848, with Sarah Allison, a daughter of James and Sarah Allison. who were born in Pennsylvania ; her father died in his native State; her mother with her family came to Ohio, but only lived nine months after her arrival, and is interred in the West Branch Cemetery ; they were the parents of fourteen children, seven of whom are living, viz., Elizabeth, Sarah, Thomas, Benjamin, James, Rebecca and Priscilla ; the deceased are Jonathan, Andrew, Ann, Caleb, John, and two in in- fancy. After his first marriage, he settled on land belonging to his father, on which he lived a couple of years, then purchased 80 acres of land where he now resides, and on which he has lived since. He has assisted his children to good homes, and yet owns 60 acres of good land. He was reared in the Friends' Church, from which he has never strayed, and is an exemplary member of the church from whose peo- ple came the first notes of the Gospel in this locality, in a day when churches were unknown ; the woods and each other's cabins were the shrines in which they wor- shiped. His son Isaiah was born in 1838, and was reared on his father's farm. He was married in 1859 to Dorcas Coate, born in 1838, and a daughter of B. J. and Mary Coate, who were natives of Miami Co. ; Mr. C. died in 1870, aged 57 years ; they were the parents of twelve children, eleven of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton are the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living, viz., Mary E., Aaron E., Sarah E., Rosella, Fanny, John and Levi E. ; three died in infancy. Mr.

Digitized by Google

853

UNION TOWNSHIP.

Pemberton owns 90 acres of good land, which is well cultivated and improved. He and his wife are members of the Friends' Church.

ZENAS PIERCE, farmer and contractor ; P. O. Troy ; born on the place where he now resides the 17th of 4th month, 1834 ; is a son of Samuel Pierce, wwho as born in Virginia, and Milly Pierce, a native of North Carolina. Our subject's father located in West Milton in 1809, where he lived three years, occupied in cabinet- making ; in 1812, he purchased 160 acres of land, on which Zenas now resides, 80 acres of which were purchased for $348; his mother, Milly Iddings, with her parents, came soon after, and located near by in Newton Township ; they were married here, and resided till their death ; his father was born the 15th of 10th month, 1785, died 23d of 9th month, 1863 ; his mother was born on the 15th of 8th month, and departed this life in the 4th month, 1867 ; they were parents of thirteen children, eight of whom are living, viz., Gainor, William R., Elmira F., Samuel, Hannah C., Jolin, Clarkson and Zenas ; the deceased are Ruth, Margaret, Melinda, Mary B. and Benjamin. Our subject's boyhood days were spent on his father's farm and in attending the usual district school, in which he received his education ; at the age of 18, he began his struggle with the world, and engaged in farming. On the 6th of 9th month, 1854, he was married to Eliza A. McCormick, by whom he has had seven children, six of whom are living, viz., Hannah M. (now Mrs. Burkett), John T., Samuel, Abraham L., Zenas K. and Rollin N .; the deceased, Clarkson P., aged 4 years ; Mrs. Pierce departed this life Sunday, May 2, 1880; she was the daughter of Jacob and Hannah McCormick, once residents of Indiana, now deceased ; her father died 15th of 2d month, 1872, aged 60 years 1 month and 4 days ; her mother departed this life the 22d of 11th month, 1872, aged 61 years ; they were parents of thirteen children, nine of whom are living, viz., Lucy A., Nancy, Eliza A., Robert H., William H., Elizabeth A., Lewis J., Hannah J. and Margaret ; the deceased are Amy, Sylvania, Rohanna and Aaron. After his marriage, Zenas began life on the old home farm, on which he has since resided; he now owns 160 acres of land in this township and 60 lying opposite in Newton Township ; his land is all in a good state of cultivation and well improved. He has been a life-long member of the Friends' Church, and his deceased wife had been a member for many years ; she was born in Indiana, the 8th of 10th month, 1837.

J. W. POINCE, blacksmith, of the firm of Poince & Bro., Fidelity; was born in the renowned Shenandoah Valley, Va., Berkeley Co., in 1849; his brother, D. W., in 1853. They are sons of John H. and Mary E. Poince. Their father was born in Franklin Co., Penn., in 1818; their mother was born in the place of their nativity about 1824 or 1825. They removed from Virginia in 1874, and located in Frede- rickstown, this county, in which place they now reside. They are the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz., Charles O., George W., W. S., Mary C., Margaret and our subjects, J. W. and D. W. They learned their trade in their native State, which they followed there for four years. J. W. has traveled over thirteen of the States of the Union, and in all has done something at his trade; he came here in 1870, and engaged in business, and soon after associated his brother with him in business. Both are well versed in their trade, understanding fully every particular of the business, always giving their customers satisfaction, which commands for them a liberal portion of the public patronage. Their parents are members of Christian Churches and take an interest in the promotion of the cause.

I. A. RANDALL, merchant, West Milton; is another pioneer, and one of Miami's permanent settlers. He was born in Maryland, in 1816, and is a son of Jonathan and Masser (Jarvis) Randall. His father was born in Maryland Aug. 19, 1782, and departed this life March 23, 1855, aged 72 years 7 months 4 days. His mother was born in Pennsylvania Jan. 3, 1792, and departed this life Nov. 25, 1869, aged 77 years 10 months and 22 days. They lived many years near Elli- cott's Mills, in Baltimore Co., Md., and emigrated to Ohio in 1828, settling in West Milton, where they lived till their decease. They were the parents of eleven chil- dren, of whom six are living. viz., Aquilla, Israel A., Elizabeth, Jonathan, Sarah

Digitized by Google

ST df

tled Fred

be fal 1 Ha in the dit to march 1 the

at n

61.

reurs df her mane :. Isur.

ho rat

MAPEDts

854

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

and Margaret ; the deceased are John, McClain, William, Jackson, Joseph and Samuel. Our subject was early placed on the bench, and for thirty years was con- tinuously engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, having learned his trade in this town. In 1840, he removed to Montgomery Co., where he followed his vocation for fourteen years, and then returned to West Milton, where he has been actively engaged ever since. In 1862 or 1863, he abandoned the bench and embarked in the mercantile business, in which he is still engaged. He carries a tasty and complete stock of goods, consisting of everything usually found in a retail house. His long and honest business career in the town has established a reputation above reproach, and he is a strong competitor in the business circles of the village, always dealing out his full share of goods to the buying public. He has been prominently identified in the offices of the township, having served as Treasurer for a period of four years, and is the present Treasurer of the corpora- tion ; these, with other local offices, the duties of which he has ably discharged, fully demonstrate his executive ability. He has been twice married ; his first marriage, to Jane Randall, was celebrated in 1839, and to their union five children were given, of whom only one is living, viz., Edwin, born Dec. 5, 1848 ; the deceased are McClain, born Oct. 21, 1842, died June 5, 1843 ; John W., born May 3, 1844, died March 26, 1846 ; Joseph, born June 29, 1846, departed this life Jan. 9, 1851 ; Isabelle, born Jan. 31, 1851, died Oct. 13, 1862 ; William B., born Oct. 6, 1853, died Jan. 5, 1858. Mrs. Randall departed this life Oct. 26, 1855, and was born in Pennsylvania Oct. 12, 1818; his second marriage was celebrated with Mary A. Werts, Sept. 29, 1857; eight children are the fruits of this union, of whom six are living, viz., Tolbot A., born Jan. 19, 1859 ; Clara C., born Sept. 13, 1861; Oscar E., born March 18, 1867 ; Walter V., born May 16, 1872 ; Leo C., born Oct. 22, 1874; Lulu M., born Nov. 10, 1869 ; the deceased are Josie E., born July 29, 1864, died June 30, 1876 ; one in infancy, June 19, 1877. Mr. Randall is one of our self- made men, having begun life without capital, but, by energy and good management, he has overcome the obstacles met with in life. He owns a half-interest in 12 acres of land, within the corporation, and a third interest in 15 acres, also within the limits. Mrs. Randall is a member of the Christian Church, and an exemplary Christian woman.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 125

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051