The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 111

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1081

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WILLIAM HARRISON GREGG, tobacco-dealer, Springboro; born in Warren Co., Ohio, Dec. 5, 1840; is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Brandon) Gregg, he a native of Greeley, Penn., and she of Warren Co., Ohio; the pater- nal grandparents, Reason and Nancy Gregg, natives of Pennsylvania; Nancy Granf was born on Granf Run, which took its name from her ancestors, who came from Holland to America and located at that place; they emigrated to Ohio about 1812, and located on the place where Thomas Miller now lives, on Sec. 8, Clear Creek Township, and there opened out right in the woods, and there he died about 1830; she survived him till about 1858; she died in Spring- boro. He was a cabinet-maker by trade, which business he followed through life, supplying many a pioneer with cupboards and furniture. The maternal grandfather was Absalom Brandon, a native of New Jersey, but became an early settler of this county, and here he lived and died. Samuel Gregg was a child about 5 years of age when their family came to Warren County, and here grew to manhood, brought up to his father's trade; was married, Dec. 15, 1829,

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by Esquire Pence; they had seven children; three grew to maturity; two now survive-Mary Maria, who married Bowinan H. Githens; and William Har- rison. Mr. Gregg followed his trade the greater part of his life; was a man of firm character and principles, and was one of the active men in the organiza- tion and in the building of the Universalist Church in Springboro, of which he was a devoted member till his death; was also a member of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows at Springboro, and at his death was buried in the rites of that order; he died Feb. 1, 1854, aged 47 years; his wife died March 12, 1875, aged 66 years. The subject of this sketch was married, March 27, 1862, to Sarah Jane, daughter of John and Jane (Vandeveer) Crain; he was born in Cincinnati Feb. 19, 1798, and she in New Jersey; they had five sons and five daughters; seven now survive-Mary, now Mrs. Clevenger; Arthur D., Sidney, Sarah Jane, Jemima; Anna, now Mrs. William D. Welch; and John. For further ancestral history, see sketch of Stephen Clevenger. Sarah Jane was born in Montgomery County Oct. 25, 1837. Mr. Gregg and wife have had two daughters, one now living-Ida I., born Jan. 6, 1863. Mr. Gregg has given his main attention for several years to buying and dealing in tobacco; is an active, energetic man, never holds or desires office, but devotes his whole and undivided attention to business; a man of character and integrity, and one of the best of citizens; he and wife are members of the Universalist Church.

BENAJAH GUSTIN, farmer; P. O. Red Lion; born in Pennsylvania Dec. 23, 1797; is a son of Elkanah and Hannah (Morris) Gustin, natives of New Jersey. The grandfather, Jeremiah Gustin, was a resident of New Jersey, but removed to Pennsylvania and lived several years; thence, in 1798, he, with his family, moved into Ohio and located in Warren County, where he entered a section of land-Sec. 9, Clear Creek Township-and here opened out right in the woods, having to cut their way through the brush and timber for a road for their wagons to the spot where they cleared and erected a log cabin, with split puncheon floor, and began in true pioneer style; they had only one neigh- bor, Mr. Crane, nearer than two miles distant; here Mr. Gustin lived and labored till his death, Aug. 31, 1823, aged 93 years. Elkanah, the father of our subject, was married in Pennsylvania, and in the year 1800 he emigrated to Ohio and settled on a part of the land which his father had entered two years previously; he had four brothers and two sisters, who all located upon this sec- tion of land, and made quite a settlement of themselves; Elkanah resided here till about 1825; he removed to Indiana, where he died in 1852; his wife died about one year previous to Mr. Gustin's death; they had fifteen children, eight sons and seven daughters, as follows: The first seven children were sons, the next seven were daughters, and the fifteenth child was a son; of these, one son and two daughters still survive-Benajah; Margaret, now Mrs. Charles Wysong, living in Preble Co., Ohio; and Perninnah, now Mrs. Custis, living in Clinton Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch was about 3 years of age when his father and family came to Warren County; here he grew to manhood fully acquainted with the hardships of those early settlers; was married, Dec. 27, 1820, to Lydia, daughter of Jesse Newport, an early settler of Clear Creek Township; by this union they had eleven children; eight now survive -- Jesse; Hannah, now Mrs. Ireton; Jonathan and Isaac, twins; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Samuel Comer; Morris, Levi, and Lydia Ann, now Mrs. Swink. Mr. Gustin has spent his entire life upon the old home place, and within one mile of it, most of his life having been on the same section of land his grandfather entered; he has been a thor- ough, active business man; has dealt largely in hogs, and one season met with a heavy loss by the fall in the price of pork, which involved him quite heavily, but he knew no such word as " fail; " he located in Red Lion temporarily, and entered upon the mercantile trade and the keeping of a hotel; this was about

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1849; there he continued in business about seven years, and paid off all his in- debtedness ($10,000); thence he sold out and moved back to the farm, where he has since resided, and has been a prosperous farmer; became owner of 600 acres of land, and all accumulated by the work of his own hands and good management, as he started in life with nothing-not even enough to furnish his house with the most common utensils for keeping house; and we must remark here, that, coupled with his energy and industry was a firm principle of temper- ance and sobriety, never using liquor or tobacco in any form from his child- hood to the present time; he is now 84 years of age, and has resided in this neighborhood over fourscore years; he joined the New-Light Church at the age of 22 years; has now been a member of the same sixty-two years, and has never sworn an oath during that period of time. This record, placed upon these pages, is that of one of Warren County's earliest pioneers, and whose life of rectitude, sobriety and success will stand for future generations as a shining example worthy of all imitation.

JOHN GUSTIN, farmer; P. O. Red Lion; born on the place where he now lives, Oct. 2, 1807; is a son of Samuel and Permelia (Morris) Gustin, he a native of New Jersey and she of Pennsylvania. The grandfather was Jere- miah Gustin, a native of Germany, who married Bethany Fuller. a native of Scotland; they emigrated to America in an early day; were married in New Jersey, thence located in Pennsylvania, thence, in 1798, became residents of Warren Co., Ohio. See sketch of Benajah Gustin. Samuel, the father of our subject, was born in New Jersey Nov. 30, 1867, but was mostly raised in Penn- sylvania; was married in that State, and, about 1791, came down the river to Cincinnati, and from this date made several trips up and down the river, and finally bought 80 acres of land upon which Cincinnati now stands, reported his purchase to his father, and received so strong a reproval that he sold it, which, had he kept, would have yielded him a fortune; on a subsequent trip, he brought his father to Cincinnati, who then and there entered Sec. 9, Clear Creek Township, Warren Co., where he and his children located, and here they lived the balance of their lives; they were among the earliest settlers of the county, and opened out and cleared up their farms right from the woods, and did a great amount of pioneer labor. Samuel was the father of thirteen chil- dren, four sons and nine daughters; four now survive-John; Permelia, now Mrs. Dearth; Hannah, now Mrs. Garrard; and Rachel, now Mrs. Trowbridge; the two latter reside in Indiana. Of those deceased, Margaret, the second daughter, was said to be the second white child born in Warren County. Mr. Gustin died April 15, 1852; his wife died in 1856. Mr. Gustin was a very industrious, hard-working pioneer; never held or desired office, but was one of the best of neighbors and a worthy citizen, being an earnest, devoted Christian the greater part of his life, he and his wife being members of the Christian Church for many years. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood fully in- ured to the hardships of those early days; was married, Nov. 1, 1846, to Han- nah Lewis, born in Warren County Sept. 29, 1823, a daughter of Alexander H. and Amy (Clevenger) Lewis, he a native of Philadelphia and she of Warren County; by this union they have two sons-Eri, born Sept. 4, 1847, married Laura Adella Wooley Feb. 14, 1871; they have one child, Dora Elva; and Lewis, born Aug. 30, 1849, married Eliza Jane Newcomb, Jan. 31, 1875; have one child, Lulie May. Mr. Gustin has been a resident of this farm since his birth, a period of seventy-four years, and, like his father, has been a very hard- working, industrious man, and a worthy neighbor and citizen; he and family are all members of the Christian Church, whose lives and deeds are worthy ex- amples for the rising generations.

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MAHLON T. JANNEY, retired farmer; P. O. Springboro; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., Feb. 11, 1814; is a son of Stephen and Letitia Janney. The paternal ancestors for many generations were Friends, and exemplary members of that society. The earliest of whom there is any authentic account was Thomas Janney, of Cheshire, England; he became a member of the Friend's Society in 1654, when the society first arose in that country; the next year, being 22 years of age, he entered upon the Gospel ministry, was faithful to his trust, and became an earnest promoter of the cause of truth. In his native country he suf- fered great loss of goods and imprisonment for his religious testimony. In 1683, he emigrated to Pennsylvania with his family and settled in Bucks County; this was during William Penn's first visit to America; he served as a member of the Governor's Council, and in letters of William Penn is men- tioned in terms of regard; he traveled extensively as a minister of the Gospel in Ireland and England, prior to his emigration to America; and after his arrival in this country visited the churches of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Long Island and Maryland. In 1695, he, with Griffith Owen, returned to England to visit the brethren there, where, after about eighteen months' service in the work of the Gospel, he was taken ill and died Dec. 12, 1696, aged 63 years, having been a minister forty-two years. Of the issue of Mr. Janney and his wife, Margery, his fourth son, Joseph Janney, married Rebecca Biles, in 1703, who, it is believed, lived and died in Pennsylvania. Of their children, Jacob Janney married Hannah Ingledue and settled in Loudoun Co., Va, in 1745, being one of the earliest settlers in that neighborhood, where Goose Creek Monthly Meeting was afterward established; he was an Elder of the meeting; he died August 3, 1786; his wife survived him many years, and died at the advanced age of 93 years. Of their family, seven sons and two daughters attained maturity, of whom Joseph Janney was the grandfather of our subject; he married Mary Holmes, by whom he had five sons and four daughters; he died in July, 1829. Of his sons, Stephen Janney was the father of our subject; he married Letitia Taylor, and in the fall of 1831 they emigrated to Ohio and located in Warren Co., near Springboro, where he died in October, 1863, aged about 84 years; his wife died in the fall of 1875, in the 88th year of her age; they had nine children; seven now survive; Hannah, now Widow Hurst, living in Greene County; Mary, now Widow Bailey, in Indiana; Oliver; Mahlon T .; Rachel, now Widow Russel, living in Indiana; Jesse, and Susan; J., now Mrs. Dean, residing in Greene County. Mr. J. was a man of great energy and activity, though not of robust health; yet he was diligent in business and a fervent mem- ber of the Society of Friends, always prompt in all his dealings, and sustaining through life an unblemished integrity. Mahlon T. Janney, the subject of this sketch, was about seventeen years of age when they came to this county. On May 12, 1842, he was married to Frances, daughter of Benjamin and Rebecca (Sidwell) Taylor, who became settlers of Warren County about 1821; Mr. Jan- ney and wife have had eleven children; nine now survive -- Richard; Joseph; Rebecca, now Mrs. Hiatt, living in Indiana; Benjamin T .; Mary E., married Leander M. Gregg; Hannah, Annah E., Jesse S. and Nellie L. Mr. Janney has well sustained the general high character and integrity of his ancestors; has always followed the honest occupation of farming, and, with his diligence, industry and economy, accumulated a good competency, and now, in his declin- ing years, is able to live in the enjoyment of the fruits of his and his compan- ion's united labors; they have raised a large family of children, who are all doing well in life and promise to give honor, credit and comfort to their parents in their old age.

NAPOLEON JOHNSON, plasterer, Springboro; born in Dinwiddie Co., Va .. April 16, 1820; is a son of Embra and Polly Johnson, natives of Vir-

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ginia. The grandfather was Thomas Johnson also believed to be a native of Virginia, and lived and died there under the bonds of slavery. The maternal grandparents were Stephen and Judy Mathus, he a native of Spain and she of the Cherokee tribe of Indians. They both lived and died as slaves in Virginia. Embra, the father, was born in slavery about 1780-82, and under that institu- tion grew to manhood; was married and became the father of ten children. Four sons and four daughters grew to maturity; two of these were sold and taken South, and nothing has since been known of them; three of them died in Virginia; and two, the last known of them, lived in Virginia; Robert, and Mary, who married Nelson Branch. Mrs. Johnson died in 1842. Mr. John- son lived in Virginia the last known of him, which was at the close of the war of the rebellion. He, like Moses of old, was favored to live to see " the promised land" of freedom, and further was permitted to go in and possess it; after a long life of bondage, he saw the "the shining light" of freedom, and knew and realized the favors which were thus vouchsafed to his children and chil- dren's children with all of its glorious privileges. Napoleon, our subject, was raised and kept in slavery till 1847, when his master, James Epps, emanci- pated him with thirty-nine others-all he had -- and gave them the full liber- ties of a free land, which, by nature, was their right from birth. In 1847, Mr. Johnson came to Jefferson Co., Ohio, where he remained till November, 1848. when he came to Springboro, Warren Co. On Feb. 14, 1849, he married Mrs. Celia Anderson, daughter of Humphrey and Lucy Bobson, natives of Virgini .. who were also slaves, but were finally freed by the Quakers. He died in Vir- ginia. Mrs. Bobson came to Ohio and died at Springboro in 1857. Mr. Johnson and wife have had three children, one now living -- Maria, who mar- ried Abraham Wheeler; had one child, Benjamin. Mr. Johnson served one year in the war of the rebellion: enlisted in Co. G. 16th U. S. C. V. I., on Jan. 19, 1865, and was discharged January, 1866. With this exception, he has been a resident of Springboro since his first location in 1848, a period of thirty-three years; is a reliable and respected citizen and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

SAMUEL KIRBY, farmer; P. O. Pekin; born in Warren Co., Nov. 27. 1828; is a son of Samuel and Mary (Miller) Kirby, he a native of Warren County, and she of Virginia. The grandfather was Richard Kirby, a native of New Jersey but who became a resident of Warren Co., Ohio, where he lived and died. Samuel, the father, grew to manhood on the home place of his father in Turtle Creek Township; was married to Mary, daughter of Jacob Mil- ler, and located on the home place where he lived and died. He died in the prime of life, aged 36 years; his wife survived him till August, 1879, aged 72 years. They had seven children, five now survive -- Cordelia, now Mrs. Shrinp; Elizabeth Ann, now Mrs. Braden; Mary Ellen, now Mrs. Davis; Ecick and Sam- uel. The subject of this sketch was but a small child when his father died. but remained with his mother till 12 years of age, when he started out in the world for himself and worked here and there as he could find work and a home till 24 years of age; was married, March 3, 1852, to Sarah, daughter of Francis and Cas- sie Graham, natives of this county, by which union they have five children -- Arsamus, born Oct. 31. 1853; Horace, Jan. 30, 1859; Niles, Aug. 15, 1860; Lamar, Jan. 7, 1867; and Jennie, Jan. 1, 1872. Mr. Kirby after his marriage resided two years on a portion of the old home farm; thence three years on Dr. Keever's place; thence, in 1857, he bought and located on the William Kirby farm. In 1869, he bought the farm where he now lives, of the heirs of Henry King, and in spring of 1870 moved on to it; here he has erected all the buildings on the place and now has a fine home and residence. Mr. Kirby is an energetic, active man, and by his industry and general business taot has

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become owner of two farms, embracing 155 acres of good land, and is now well situated to enjoy the comforts of life.

HARRISON KIRBY. farmer; P. O. Dodds; born on the old Kirby farm, in Clear Creek Township, Dec. 6, 1836; is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth Kirby, natives of New Jersey, and were among the early settlers of this county, locating here about 1813, and here resided till their death. Harrison was mar- ried, Oct. 1, 1860, to Rachel, a daughter of Arthur and Sarah Venable, natives of New Jersey. Rachel was born in Warren County Dec. 19, 1840; by her Mr. Kirby has had four children, two now survive-Ura Alice and Moses E. His wife died in October, 1876. On Feb. 7, 1878, he married for his second wife Elizabeth A., daughter of David and Sarah (Spraight) Wills, natives of Warren Co., Ohio. The grandfather was James Wills, a native of New Jersey, but who emigrated to Ohio and settled in Warren County prior to 1800, being one of the early pioneers. David Wills died in January, 1875, aged 75 years; he was the father of five children, four now survive-Unity, Elizabeth, Hannah Jane and James B. Mr. Wills was twice married; by his first wife he had one son, who is now living-William, married Hannah Venable, by whom he had six children, five now living-Hannah, Unity, Charles, Ada and Myrtle. His wife died in June, 1880. James B. Wills, youngest son of David and Sarah Wills, married Florence Crane, by whom he has three children-Mattie Mary. David L. and Joseph Walter. Mr. Kirby, after his marriage, located on the old home place, where he lived five years; thence located on the place where he now lives and has since resided. Mr. Kirby has made farming his business, and like most of the Kirby family, has never held or sought office, but they are among the "well-to-do" and substantial farmers of Clear Creek Township, are kind and accommodating neighbors, and among our county's best citizens.

NATHAN E. LUPTON, farmer; P. O. Ridgeville; born in Frederick Co .. Va., Oct. 1, 1833; is a son of Amos and Hannah (Janney) Lupton, natives of Virginia. The grandparents, Joshua and Lydia (Reese) Lupton, were also natives of Virginia, and lived and died in that State. Joshua was a man of more than ordinary ability and education, and one who occupied a high posi- tion, commanding the confidence and respect of his community; was an excel- lent penman, and was extensively employed in writing deeds and other legal papers throughout his circle of acquaintances. He resided upon the place where he was born, till his death, a period of eighty-eight years. He was a prom- inent and devoted member of the Society of Friends, of which he was the head Elder for many years. Amos Lupton grew to manhood, married, and settled upon the home place of his father, where he passed his entire life, and died in 1843, aged 52 years; his wife died a few weeks prior to his death, aged 47 years. They had five children, four grew to maturity, three now survive- Mary J., Nathan E. and Henry R; the first resides in Virginia, the latter in Cambridge, Ohio. Mr. Lupton was an active, energetic man, social and jovial in his nature, and possessed quite an inventive genius. It was said that he was the inventor of the first "Spike Threshing Machine;" was a zealous advo- cate and promoter of improvements and progress in agriculture, and obtained several prizes from the Agricultural Society for raising the largest and best crops to the acre, and some of these prizes of fine silverware are still in posses- sion of his children. The maternal grandparents were Joseph and Mary (Holmes) Janney, whose ancestral history is given in sketch of M. T. Janney. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Virginia. In the fall of 1856 he emigrated to Illinois, and located at Morris, and engaged in buying and shipping grain. In August, 1862, he entered the army as a sutler; a few months after his goods were captured by John Morgan; he, escaping capture, returned to Ohio a poorer, but perhaps a wiser man, and settled at Barnesville,

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and engaged in the tanning business one year; thence removed to Stafford, Ohio, and carried on the same business three years. In the fall of 1867, he came to Warren County, and located on the farm where he now lives and has since resided, engaged in agricultural pursuits. On Oct. 1, 1861, he was united in marriage with Cornelia B., daughter of Dr. Moses H. and Juliet D. Keever, he a native of Warren County, and she of Loudoun Co., Va. The grandparents were George and Abigail Kesver. George was born in Maryland, March 15, 1781; his wife, Abigail Bunnel, was a native of New Jersey, to whom he was married March 4, 1808. They had two children-Martha and Moses H. Mr. Keever died April 7, 1845; his death was caused by being thrown from a sulky; his wife died Oct. 25, 1852. He was quite a skillful performer upon the violin; he devoted his life to farming; was a man of kind, congenial nature, and a highly esteemed citizen. Martin Keever was the father of the above George Keever, and was born in Maryland in 1727, and came to Ohio and settled in Warren County, one among the first settlers of the county; was one of the first to purchase land in Clear Creek Township, settling on Sec. 30. He was mar- ried at 37 years of age, and died Aug. 10, 1824, aged 97 years. Christena was his faithful partner and companion through the numerous scenes of danger, suffering and privations, which she endured with the fortitude of a heroine. Upon one occasion she did not see the face of a human being for the period of three weeks, Mr. K. being absent on a hunting expedition. She died Nov. 24, 1837, aged 100 years. Mr. Keever, when 30 years of age, was taken prisoner by Indians, with whom he remained two years, and shortly after his marriage was shot in the side, near the falls of the Ohio River, by the Indians, from which he finally recovered. He retained wonderful vigor and strength to near the time of his death. Three months prior to his death he walked eight miles to Lebanon and back the same day, and carried a large clock, and five days be- fore his death he walked three miles to a neighbor's and back again. He was a medium-sized man, and very straight and erect to the time of his death. Dr. Moses H. Keever was born in Warren County, April 28, 1810. At the age of 16 years he attended the Miami University at Oxford, and subsequently a Col- lege at Augusta, Ky. At 19 years of age he commenced reading medicine with Dr. Joshua Stevens, of Monroe, Butler Co., Ohio, where he continued three years. He graduated at the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati, in the spring of 1834, and in the fall of the same year commenced practice near Ridgeville. On June 19, 1838, he married Miss Juliet D. Janney, who was born Sept. 22, 1817. They had ten children, two sons and eight daughters, seven now sur- vive-Cornelia B., Abbie E., Mary A., Juliet J., Hannah A., B. W. Dudley and Eloise J. For thirteen years Dr. Keever was associated in practice with Dr. W. H. Stokes. He had a number of medical students under his instruction, among them Dr. A. Patton, William Dickey, N. B. Kelsey, James R. B. Johns and William Stanton. From September, 1865, to January, 1873, he was asso- ciated with Dr. J. B. Hough, now a practicing physician in Waynesville. Dr. Keever located and remained on the old home place of his father till his death, a period of forty-four years. He died April 7, 1878, aged 68 years. He pos- sessed a remarkably strong physical frame, six feet one inch high, and weighed 275 pounds. His death was sudden and unexpected, dying, as was supposed, of heart disease, while at the breakfast table. He was a man eminent in his profession, ever keeping pace with the improvements and progress of medical science, and was remarkably successful and commanded a large and extended practice. He was kind and considerate to the poor, his whole life being marked with a magnanimity and zeal rarely witnessed in the profession. He was a devoted member of the Universalist Church, and one of the main pillars in the church at Ridgeville. being one of the prime movers in the organizing and

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 111

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1081

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1081