The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 63

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

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A. P. HIGGINS, retired farmer ; P. O. Fletcher ; was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, July, 1819, and is a son of John V. and Ann (Pendrey) Higgins ; he was a native of New Jersey, and she of Virginia ; now both are deceased. A. P. assisted . his father on the farm, and attended the common school ; at the age of 11 years he, with his parents, moved from Hamilton to Shelby Co., where he continued farming until 16 years of age, at which time he engaged in the cabinet-maker's trade, which remained his occupation until 1848, when he purchased a farm of 60 acres in Shelby Co .; he located there, and remained seven years, then sold out and purchased 90 acres in Spring Creek Township, where he remained until the spring of 1866, when he sold it; he purchased his present farm of 117 acres in Sec. 18, Brown Township, Miami Co., where he now resides, and is well situated ; he owns good, substantial buildings, located on the Piqua and Urbana pike. His marriage with Priscilla Mendenhall was celebrated Nov. 15, 1843 ; she was born in Miami Co., Ohio, July, 1825 ; they have seven children-Josephine and Joseph (twins, the latter died at the age of 9 months), John, William (who died in infancy), Charley W. (died at the age of 26, in 1878), Ellen R. (died in 1877) and Wilber, who is now occupied in teaching school, which profession he has been engaged in since 14 years of age.

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E. B. HOWELL, farmer; P. O. Fletcher; was born in Hunterdon Co., N. J., May 20, 1816, and is a son of Daniel and Hannah (Biles) Howell, who were both natives of New Jersey ; Daniel was born Jan. 4, 1781, and Hannah Sept. 25, 1773; their marriage was celebrated Dec. 13, 1814 ; Hannah passed away June 12, 1828, leaving two children; the following fall Daniel and his family came West, locating in Montgomery Co., where he married Alice Cavender; she was a native of that county ; in the fall of 1838 they removed to Miami Co., locating on Sec. 14, Brown Township, where they both died-Alice in 1840, and Daniel in 1852. Our subject, when a boy in his native State, had the privilege of the common schools, which was no longer enjoyed after coming West. From 1838, he was duly engaged in opening out the farm now owned by Joshua A. Duer, for which the compensation was the products for a limited number of years ; there he remained until 1843, when he engaged in farming rented land ; and various changes were made until he purchased his present farm of 30 acres, in Sec. 19, Brown Township, where he located in the spring of 1853; in 1856, he left his farm and engaged in keeping a toll-gate on the Piqua and Urbana turnpike, which he held thirteen years ; at this time he emigrated West to Han- cock Co., Ill .; not liking the country, he returned, in two and one-half years, and located on his farm, where he now resides. Dec. 3, 1846, he married Elizabeth Brelsford ; they are the parents of five children, of whom two died in early life, and three are now living, viz .; James A., George W. and Gilbert L., who has spent the last five years book-keeping in various places. He graduated at the Buckeye Business College, of Sandusky, Ohio, under Prof. Seele.

W. SCOTT JACKSON, farmer and stock-raiser; Allen's P. O .; was born in Ocean Co., N. J., July 11, 1845. and is a son of Edwin Jackson, who was born in Monmouth Co., N. J., April 26, 1790, and has; during life, been an industrious farmer. Soon after the war of 1812, he married Miss Irons, she was a native of N. J .; in 1820, she died, leaving a husband and three children to mourn her loss. He (Edwin) married for his second wife Mary C. Wilbur, who was born five years pre- vious to the death of his first wife; five children have been born to them, of whom three are now living. Our subject labored on the farm to the age of 19 years ; during his earlier years, he attended school about eight months each year, thereby receiving a good education and a thorough knowledge of book-keeping ; in 1864, he engaged as book-keeper with Messrs. Covert & Tallman, wholesale commission merchants, of New York City, where he remained five years ; after this he was variously engaged until 1875, when he began farming on his present farm, located on Sec. 1, Brown Township. June 16, 1872, his marriage with Mrs. Almira Bre- count was celebrated ; she was born in Brown Township Dec. 6, 1837; she is & daughter of William, Sr., and Clementina Graham, whose biography will be seen under William L. Graham's memoir, in some part of this volume.

. WILLIS H. JOHNSON, carpenter and farmer, Conover ; was born in Brown Township, Miami Co., Sept. 12, 1828, and is a son of Giles and Airy (Parson) Johnson, whose history will be seen under the sketch of H. P. Johnson, in some part of this work. The early days of our subject were spent in farm labor, and his education secured in common schools ; since his majority he has been engaged in self duties, and has, by industry, accumulated a small farm of 25 acres in Sec. 5, Brown Township, Miami Co., where he is now situated; he has, since 1849, done considerable carpentering, which occupation he is now engaged in. Dec. 25, 1855, he married Mary A., daughter of Isaac and Margaret Merritt. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have lived together almost a quarter of a century.

HIRAM P. JOHNSON, farmer ; P. O. Conover ; was born in Lost Creek Township, Miami Co., near where Casstown is now located ; his birth occurred Sept. 12, 1817, and he is a son of Giles Johnson, who was born in Southampton Co., Va., July 12, 1787, and during life was a devoted farmer. Shortly before the war of 1812, emigrated West, stopping temporarily in Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he pressed onward to Lost Creek Township, where he entered one-fourth of Sec. 30 ; soon after he enlisted as a patriot of that war under Capt. Buchanan; he was in service three months and ten days, and while out he was engaged mostly at

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Greenville, Ohio. After his return, he married Airy Parson, who was a native of Ohio and several years his junior ; they settled on the farm in Lost Creek Town- ship in pioneer style, and at once commenced to improve it; there they remained until 1819, when he traded it for a quarter of Sec. 6, Brown Township, after which several changes were made ; Airy died in Brown Township March 10, 1859, and Giles in St. Paris, Champaign Co., in 1876; the fruits of their union were eight children, of whom five are now living. Our subject being the eldest, he was raised to farm labor, and obtained such education as could be secured in the public schools of pioneer days. In 1840, he began life for himself, and, on June 11 of the same year, his nuptials were celebrated with Hannah, daughter of Jacob and Lydia Lane. Hannah was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, December, 1816 ; they, by this union, have five children, of whom one is now living. Mr. Johnson is now located on his farm, in Sec. 5, Brown Township, Miami Co., Ohio.

CHARLES C. JONES, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Fletcher ; was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Oct. 13, 1837, and is a son of Solomon and Mary (Tuley) Jones ; she is a native of New Jersey and Solomon of Shelby Co., Ky. ; they had born to them four children, of whom three are now living. Charles is the eldest ; he was brought up to the duties of farm life; his education was procured in the district school ; in 1854, he entered the path of life for himself by cultivating his father's farm of 154 acres, in Secs. 23 and 24, Brown Township, which he now owns. Here he continued until Aug. 22, 1862, at which time he enlisted in Co. E, 110th O. V. I., to battle for his native country, passing through the battles of the Wilderness, Winchester, Locust Grove, Kelley's Ford, and others of less import- ance ; he served three years, lacking one month, when he returned home. He has since been farming, and has one of the best farms in the township. May 28, 1874, he married Jeannette Reynolds, who was born in Urbana Sept. 27, 1856; they have three children, viz., Fredl, Edith C. and Thomas E. Jones.

CHARLES H. KELLER, farmer ; P. O. Fletcher ; is a son of Adam and Maria L. (Beckenbaugh) Keller, both natives of Maryland, where Maria passed from the stage of life ; she was the mother of ten children, of whom seven are now living ; Adam married for his second wife Mary A. Duvall, of Annapolis, Md. Our subject was born in Frederick Co., Md., March 28, 1832, where he had the advantages of town and city life ; early in life he acquired a liberal education ; when he was a boy of 14, he commenced the printer's trade, which ill health after- ward necessitated him to forsake ; he then engaged in the carpenter's trade, but this he followed but a short time only. In the fall of 1852, he came to Miami Co., and the following winter was engaged in teaching here ; in the spring of 1853 he returned to Maryland ; one year later, he started for California by the Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis, and up the Missouri River to Independence, from where they traveled in private conveyance to the intended destination ; this was at last reached, and he was there engaged six years as a gold miner ; not deeming it prudent to remain longer in the far West, he returned to his native State. In November, of 1860, he came to Miami County and married Ann S. Doup, native of Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Keller has, since his marriage devoted some time to travel- ing, of which one trip was directed to his former mining region ; since 1865, he has been a permanent resident of Brown Township, Miami Co., where he owns 84 acres of land in Sec. 30. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Keller are Ella M., Loro C., Henry D., Mary E. and Ann M.

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ISAAC KISER, farmer; P. O. Fletcher. Peter and Catherine (Young) Kiser were both natives of Virginia, and immigrated to Ohio in 1806, and located where the village of Fletcher now is situated ; they passed many days of the early part of the nineteenth century there, but in after years removed to Shelby Co., Ohio, where they both passed from the stage of life. John Kiser, the father of Isaac, was born in Virginia, in 1785, and came with his parents to Ohio, where he nobly assisted in clearing away the forest and opening up a farm, which only time and health were needed to complete ; about 1809, he married Barbara Simmons, after which they began life in the pioneer-time manner ; he was in the Indian

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struggle of 1812, under Capt. Hilliard, and after his return settled down with his family ; they ever after their marriage were residents of Brown Township until their decease. Their children were ten in number, one of whom, Isaac, was born November, 1810, and raised on the farm, which was cultivated with comparatively rude implements ; school advantages in his boyhood days were very imperfect, therefore the education obtained was limited ; he has, since his majority, through his straightforward business habits, been elected to, and held, some of the most important offices of the township, which he has filled with benefit to the community where he lived ; he now resides in the west end of Fletcher on his farm, which is nicely located and well improved. In June, 1832, he married Sarah Luce, who was born in this county in June, 1813, and departed this life August, 1866; they were parents of six children, of whom two died in infancy, and four are now living. In April, 1867, Isaac K. married for his second wife Mrs. Mary Cory, widow of Joseph Cory ; one son has been born to them, viz., Harrison N. Kiser.

ALBERT H. LANE, teacher, Fletcher ; is a grandson of Peter Lane, who was born in New Jersey, June 7, 1795, where he grew to maturity, and learned cabinet- making. He was one of the patriots of the war of 1812, passing through many of its privations for nearly two years. On conversing with him to-day, the scenes seem fresh in his memory, though in the 85th year of his age; he came to Warren Co., Ohio, in 1817, and in 1835 removed to Miami Co. Albert H. is a son of Charles H. and Elizabeth (Smalley) Lane. Their children are Mary A., Lucinda, Ada, Albert H., and John F. Our subject was born Oct. 24, 1857, was raised mostly to farm life, and enjoyed the advantages of the schoolroom most of his boy- 'hood days ; his education has been improved at the Holbrook's National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio ; in the summer of 1879, he commenced teaching, in which profession he is a promising young man.

JACOB LONG, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Conover ; was born in Pike Township, Clark Co., Ohio, April 13, 1839, and is a son of Joseph Long, a native of Maryland, who married Miss Ollera Clyne ; she was a native of Ohio, now deceased ; Joseph still lives at the ripe old age of 77 years. Jacob was raised to farm labor, which has always been his occupation, and thereby has accumulated some wealth ; he now resides on Sec. 5, Brown Township. In 1865, he married Lettitia Clyne, who was born in Elizabeth Township, Miami Co., on July 23, 1840, and departed this life, Feb. 19, 1875, leaving a husband and three children, viz., Elizabeth A., born Dec. 10, 1865, who, like her father before her, is a devoted mem- ber of the Baptist Church ; Roberta E., born Feb. 24, 1873 ; and William Albert, the second son, was born May 28, 1869. Of him we record the following interesting facts on the pages of this history, that the future generations may look back over the same and read the history of the family. Even though he is what we may term a dwarf, his height twenty-seven inches and weight twenty-seven pounds at the age of 11 years, he is of good human form, of pleasant countenance and appearance, playful and cheerful ; he is an ornament to the family, where he is kindly cared for by his step-mother. She was formerly Mrs. Frances Mathews, whose marriage with Mr. Long was celecrated April 6, 1876. Mrs. Frances Long was born in Miami Co., Ohio, March 27, 1836, and is a daughter of Nezer S. and Pris- cilla (Sayers) Yates. Nezer S. was born at Cape May, Nov. 20, 1801, and his wife in Pennsylvania, March 6, 1807 ; their marriage was celebrated April 24, 1825 ; their children were eleven in number ; she passed from the stage of life, May 31, 1847. Mr. Yates married for his second wife, Pamilla Reed, who was born in Ohio, Dec. 13, 1825, and died Dec. 6, 1864, he dying in 1874. The last named were of the early pioneers of Miami County. Nezer S. Yates' parents, Thomas and Phebe (Smith) Yates, were also of the first settlers of this county. Mrs. Long, in her childhood days, received such education as could be obtained in that day and age ; she remained at home with her parents until March 24, 1853, when her mar- riage was celebrated with Rev. William Mathews ; he was born in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1827; he was baptised under the auspices of the Baptist Church about 1850, and underwent the ordination for the work of the Christian ministry of the same at

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Honey Creek, Ohio, seven years after, to the day. Previous to his death, which occurred May 17, 1862, he labored as a pious and devoted Pastor in Lena and Covington Churches, rendering entire satisfaction. to his congregations ; none doubting his pious consecration to the cause of Christ. In 1860, he began to suffer from affected lungs ; this bodily suffering he patiently endured for two years ; then he died in a full hope of a happy immortality beyond the grave, leaving a widowed mother, wife, four fatherless children, affectionate sisters, and a large circle of friends ; at his request, he was buried with the usual ceremonies of the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member ; the funeral services were conducted by Rev. D. E. Thomas, of Piqua, who is now deceased ; the sermon was an interesting and an appropriate one ; the funeral of the deceased was attended by a large concourse of his relatives, members and friends. Thus ended the earthly career of one of the best of men, peaceable, loyal and consecrated to the welfare of his race. Of the children left are John, William C., Ora, Alice, and Nezer Y., of whom all are mem- bers of the church of their father and mother, and the last named has received a good education and is now engaged in the ministerial profession of the Baptist Church.

JEREMIAH McKEE, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Conover ; was born in Warren Co., Ohio, October, 1811, and is a son of William and Elizabeth McKee, whose decease occurred in Lost Creek Township, Miami Co .; his father now sur- vives in Illinois, at the prime old age of 97 years ; they were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine are now living, of whom Jeremiah is the fourth. He' was brought up to agricultural pursuits and received a limited education ; a short time previous to his majority he engaged in the brick-mason's trade, which he followed many years in connection with farming. In 1829, he emigrated to Miami Co., locating on what is now known as the Elnathan farm, in Lost Creek Town- ship, where he remained until the spring of 1840, when he removed to his present farm, in Sec. 5, Brown Township. The farm at that time consisted of 50 acres, but he has since added to it by purchase, until he now owns 110 acres in Seos. 5 and 11; when coming here his farm was uncleared, but he has since, by great industry, converted it into a well-improved farm. In 1834, he married Miss Hannah Hayhurst, who was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1813 ; their children were four in number, of whom two are now living, viz .: Nancy A., now Mrs. John S. Myers, and Miriam, now Mrs. George H. Wiland. Mrs. McKee's first husband was John Cromer ; two children were the fruits of that union.

CLARKSON MANNING, retired farmer ; Allen's P. O .; was born in Warren Township, Somerset Co., N. J., Aug. 15, 1794, and was raised to farm labor ; their school being two miles distant ; he received a limited education. In September, 1814, he was drafted, served as a private under Capt. John Logan, and remained in service until December of the same year, when he was discharged in Jersey City ; he has since obtained land warrant 13,337 for 40 acres, and also 28,839 for 120 acres, obtained by Squire Duncan, of Fletcher. Upon March 18, 1818, Mr. Manning married Phebe Cory, who was born in New Jersey, Jan. 7, 1791 ; June 2, 1818, they started in a two-horse wagon for Ohio, when time and perseverance were needed to reach their destination, which was Lebanon, Warren Co. ; there they stopped for a short time, and then went to Middletown, where they remained until April, 1819, when they emigrated to Miami Co., and entered land in Sec. 3, Brown Township ; leaving his family and goods at his nearest neighbor's, a distance of four miles, he commenced the task of opening a road to his newly entered farm; this he completed and looked up a suitable place to erect a hut, where he cleared away the timber, and built a log cabin 18x20; this was finished in eight days ; they took possession, storing away their household goods, which were all comprised in one small wagon load ; for a few days their cooking was done by a large stump, until they could prepare a place in their hut for such work; they soon began to fell the trees, cut and clear a spot on which to raise a few vegetables and other necessaries of life ; thus they continued for several years, and at that time had but two neighbors within a distance of two miles; after many years' hard and toilsome .

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labor, they opened out a good farm. In 1824, there was a prospect of having a county road laid out, which would pass by Mr.' Manning's farm ; upon the hope of this, he erected a hewed-log house on the supposed line, which road was granted as soon as they could produce a sufficient number of petitioners ; the log house was said to be the second best in the territory of what is now Brown Township; this was their residence until 1833, when Mr. Manning erected his present house (brick), on what is now the Lena Pike. Mr. and Mrs. Manning are the parents of seven children, viz., Parkhurst, Elsyanna, Isaac A., Johanna, Mary J., John C. and David ; of the above, three are now living. Mr. Manning has nobly assisted his children in acquiring property. Our subject and wife have trod the path of mar- ried life three score and two years, and now both enjoy good health. April 22, 1878, on looking from their window they beheld carriages, buggies, etc., concentrated at their gate, filled with friends and relatives from far and near ; all coming with baskets well filled ; this was for the sixtieth wedding day, but, owing to the bad weather in March, the celebration had been deferred until now ; the parties entered the house and the tables were soon spread with the many substantial viands and delicacies, which kind hands had brought ; when everything was in readiness, all surrounded the table and Rev. Lippincott offered appropriate thanks ; after which the repast was abundantly enjoyed, and the balance of the day was spent in social entertainment.

DAVID C. MANNING, farmer; P. O. Fletcher; who was born in Brown Township, Miami Co. Ohio Feb. 3, 1835, is a son of Maj. Manning, whose biog- raphy will occupy a space in this enterprise. David was raised to farm labor, and obtained his education in the common schools of Brown Township ; near the age of 20, he took a trip through Northern Indiana, Southern Michigan, Central Illinois and Iowa, looking for a location on which to settle; he purchased some land in Benton Co., Iowa, but, not seeing fit to move on, sold it some time after ; during the late rebellion he took another trip East, overseeing a few loads of stock, and also visited some friends who reside in Plainfield, N. J., after which he engaged in farming, and at present owns 77} acres, in Sec. 23, Brown Township, where he now resides and is well situated. In 1856, he married Miss Caroline Throckmorton, who was born in this township in 1838 ; they have two children, viz., George D. and Charlie E .; Mrs. Manning is a daughter of George Throckmorton, whose sketch also appears in this volume.

DAVID S. MANSON, retired farmer ; P. O. Fletcher ; was born on the farm he now owns in Sec. 23, Brown Township, July 2, 1817 ; his father was born in Pennsylvania, June 5, 1782, and emigrated to Ohio early in the nineteenth century ; he was one of the patriots of the war of 1812; at the surrender of Gen. Hull he was taken prisoner by the Indians, who took him to Canada, where he afterward was released ; he then returned to Miami Co., and in after years became the owner of a farm in Sec. 23; in 1816, his marriage occurred ; when David was but 10 years of age, his father died, and the care of the family devolved exclusively upon the mother, who now survives at the advanced age of 83. David S. was brought up on the farm in the pioneer days, when log huts were called houses, and rude log cabins were the only schoolhouses ; the term of school was very much limited, as were the branches and modes of teaching. Mr. Manson is the oldest man liv- ing in the township who has never made a permanent change in his place of resi- dence. Jan. 23, 1840, he married Bathsheba Robbins, who was born in Mont- gomery Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1821, and died April 24, 1845, leaving two children, of whom both are now living, viz., Phebe, born March 26, 1841 ; William, born Nov. 26, 1842.

M. W. MATHERS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Conover ; was born on his present farm in March, 1832, and is a son of David and Margaret (Williams) Math- ers ; he is a native of Ohio, and his wife of New York. They were married in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1821, and, in 1826, came to this county, settling on the southeast quarter of Sec. 9, which had been entered by his father a short time previous ; here they cultivated and improved the farm ; the father died in 1850 or

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1851, in the 53d year of his age, his wife surviving until 1875, when she, too, passed away, in the 77th year of her age. Our subject was raised to agricultural pursuits, and nobly assisted his father in clearing and improving his present farm, which he began to purchase about 1860 ; at intervals, he has added to it, until he now owns the full quarter in Sec. 9. In 1859, he married Miss Catharine Moore, who is a native of Champaign Co., Ohio, and is nearly six years his junior ; by this union they have had four children, of whom three are now living, viz., Luella, William C. and John H.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 63

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