USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 114
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J., June 14, 1849, now Mrs. Swigert; George W., June 30, 1851; Elizabeth, March 4, 1853, now Mrs. Pugh; R. Alice, Dec. 4, 1854, now Mrs. Allen, and Susan L., born Nov. 13, 1857. Mr. Read first located near Springboro. In February, 1870, he purchased and located upon the farm where his widow still resides, and here he died Sept. 8, 1880, aged 61 years. Mr. Read followed farming through life; he commenced in life poor, and, by his own industry and economy, made a good farm and home; was a kind neighbor and worthy citi- zen; a man of sound character and integrity and a devoted member of the Methodist Church.
GEORGE E. RILEY, farmer; P. O. Ridgeville; born in Warren County Sept. 29, 1845; is a son of Jacob and Ann (Thatcher) Riley, he a native of Maryland and she probably of New Jersey. Jacob was born in Maryland Sept. 15, 1809, where he was raised till 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Ohio and located in Warren County; was married and became the father of four children; two now survive-Mary, now Mrs. McEwen, and George E. Mr. Riley has made agricultural pursuits his business. In 1838 or 1839, he bought and located on Section 30, just east of Ridgeville, where he has since resided -a period of forty-two years. He started in life a poor orphan boy, his parents dying when he was but a child, and here in Warren County he commenced to gain a livelihood and a home. He had but a meager education, but, by close application and a good use of his time, and the few opportunities he had to attend the common schools, he obtained the rudiments of an education and be- gan his business life. His great activity, energy and industry have won for him a good competency with all its attendant comforts; he owns 196 acres of good land, with good improvements, which is an example of what a poor young man may accomplish by energy and industry. Mrs. Riley died Dec. 11, 1848, in her 37th year of age. Mr. Riley is now 72 years of age, and is quite sprightly and active and is a much respected citizen. The subject of this sketch was raised to farm labor, receiving a good common-school education; then he attended the South western National Normal School at Lebanon, intending to adopt some profession, but, being of a rather weakly constitution, and, by the advice of his physician, he adopted a rural and agricultural life; was married, Sept. 15, 1869, to Ada A., daughter of Benjamin A. and Maria Stokes, whose history appears in the sketch of B. A. Stokes. By this union, they have two children-Blanche A., born Oct. 25, 1875, and Pearl M., born Sept. 6, 1877. Mr. Riley lived on the home place of his father five years. He bought and lo- cated where he now lives and has since resided in the spring of 1876. Mr. Riley is one of the enterprising and prosperous farmers of Clear Creek Town- ship, a man of good natural abilities and attainments, a very social and congen- ial neighbor and a much respected citizen.
· LINDLEY M. ROGERS, farmer, P. O. Springboro; born in Fayette Co., Penn., near Ft. Red Stone. May 3, 1837; is a son of Nathan and Atlantic (Haines) Rogers, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Virginia. The grand- father was Philip Rogers, a native of Maryland, and subsequently became a resident of Pennsylvania. where he lived and died; he and wife were both firm and devoted members of the Society of Friends, in which she was an active minister for many years. They had six children, five sons and one daughter; four now survive -- Winston, David G., Philip and Elizabeth (now Mrs. Hill). The maternal grandparents were Eli and Ruth (Miller) Haines, natives of Vir- ginia and subsequently became residents of Pennsylvania, where his wife died. He subsequently came to Ohio and died in Columbiana County. Nathan Rogers grew to manhood and was married, May 3, 1832, and spent his entire life near his old home; he was a member of the Friends' Society till his death, and was, in his morals and Christian character, a more than ordinary man;
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had a well-balanced mind, was never out of humor or known to be angry, but was a model in temperament and very exemplary in his life, and was much honored and respected by all who knew him; he died Sept. 19, 1855, aged 50 years; his wife subsequently came to Ohio and died near Springboro, July 31. 1865, aged 60 years. They had six children; four now survive-Eli, Jonathan, Lindly M. and Mary (who married H. Jones). The subject of this sketch was raised and grew to manhood in his native State. In the summer of 1861, he emigrated to Warren Co., Ohio, and located near Springboro, where, on Aug. 1. 1861, he was married to Ruth, daughter of Thomas and Eliza Miller (see sketch of Thomas Miller). Mr. Rogers has devoted his life to farming, and since his marriage has resided near Springboro, with the exception of one year's residence in Montgomery Co., Ohio. He bought and located where he now lives in the fall of 1869, and here has since resided. Mr. Rogers and wife are firm and devoted members of the Society of Friends.
FREDERICK ROSNAGLE, farmer; P. O. Springboro; born in Phila- delphia April 30, 1814; is a son of John and Mary (Joyce) Rosnagle, he a na- tive of Germany and she of Pennsylvania. Mr. Rosnagle emigrated to America when a young man, about 1808; was married, in 1809, and located in Phila- delphia. During the war of 1812, he was drafted and served through that war. After a short residence in Philadelphia, by misfortune he lost his property, and removed to Union County, where he resided till his death, in 1828. They had nine children, six sons and three daughters ; five now survive - Frederick, James, now a resident of Roseburg, Oregon; Mary, now Mrs. Hentz, residing in Philadelphia; Solomon, and Isaiah, a resident of Cincinnati. Mrs. Rosnagle subsequently moved to New Jersey, where she lived three years; thence moved to Philadelphia, where she died, in October, 1847. The subject of this sketch was 14 years of age when his father died; then he bound himself to Abraham Keller in a carding factory, to remain till 18 years of age, and was to have four months' schooling and $50 in money; he failed to get but three months' school- ing, and received extra wages instead. He then worked for Mr. Keller till he was 21 years of age, at $8 per month; also would work in harvest and reap with the sickle at 50 cents per day. Thus was the beginning of life with Mr. Rosnagle. After he was of age, he improved his winters and all the opportu- nities he could get to obtain an education. In the winter of 1835, he taught school among the Dunkards and "boarded around," and says he learned more that winter than in the same length of time anywhere else in his life. In De- cember, 1843, he was married to Catharine, daughter of John and Margaret (Null) Kesling, natives of Virginia. They had seven sons and seven daughters; nine now survive-William, George, Abraham and Isaac (twins), John, Samuel, James, Mary and Julia Ann. Mr. Rosnagle and wife have had five sons and two daughters, who grew to maturity-John W., Mary M., Rufus M., Edmond J., Simon P., Edith Ann and Alfred. His wife died in September, 1856, aged 35 years. In May, 1839, Mr. Rosnagle landed in Ohio, having come over the mountains the entire distance in wagons, and located in Warren County, in Clear Creek Township, and has ever since resided in the limits of this town- ship. For several years, he followed the carpenter trade. In 1852, he bought and located upon the farm where he now lives and has since resided. When he bought this place, he went largely into debt; then after four years, lost his wife, but, notwithstanding all these difficulties, Mr. Rosnagle's energy, industry and good management carried him through and now he has a good farm of 118 acres with good buildings and improvements. This is a worthy example of success under difficulties, and a life of honor and integrity. He is a worthy member of the Universalist Church and an Elder in the same.
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SOLOMON ROSNAGLE, farmer; P. O. Springboro; born in Union Co., Penn., Dec. 17, 1824; is a son of John and Mary Rosnagle, whose ancestral history is given in the sketch of F. Rosnagle. The subject of this sketch was about 3 years of age when his father died; he was then "bound out " by the Overseers of the Poor to John Keller till 21 years of age. Mr. Keller proved a "hard taskmaster," but Solomon endured it till 14 years of age, when his brother applied to the court to appoint a guardian for Solomon, and, after some difficulty, Frederick Rosnagle was appointed and took Solomon to New Jersey, where they remained till 1839; thence came to Cincinnati, thence to Warren County, thence, in his 19th year of age, he went to Cincinnati and lived four years and learned the carpenter trade with T. M. Bodley; thence re- turned to Warren County and worked at his trade till 1855, when he bought the farm where he now lives, erected all the buildings with his own hands and here he has since resided; has a good farm of 60 acres with good improve- ments, constituting a pleasant home and farmer's residence. This is an ex- ample of a truly "self-made man," rising from a poor boy bound out by the Overseers of the Poor, passing through many trials and difficulties, becoming one of the substantial farmers of Warren County and honored and respected in the community in which he lives. On Oct. 13, 1847, he was married to Re- becca. daughter of John and Margaret (Null) Kesling, natives of Virginia. whose father. Teter Kesling and family, became settlers of Warren County on the farm where Adam Blose now lives, in 1797, being the first settlers between Lebanon and Montgomery County. There was at that time one settler in Leb- anon-Ichabod Corwin. Here Mr. Kesling lived and died. The maternal grandfather was Henry Null, Sr., a native of Virginia, who settled in Warren County soon after the Kesling family. The grandparents, Teter and Mary Kesling, had a large family of children, one only now living-Mary, now Widow Armentrout, residing in Indiana. John and Margaret Kesling had seven sons and seven daughters; nine now survive-William, George, Mary, Abraham and Isaac (twins), John, Julia, Samuel and James W. Mr. Kesling died in the fall of 1844, aged 63 years; his wife died April 23, 1876. Mr. Rosnagle and wife had four children-Charles W., now a resident of Washing- ton Territory; Francis E., Ellen E. and Benjamin F. Mrs. Rosnagle died Aug. 25, 1870, aged 47 years.
JOSEPH STANTON, farmer: P. O. Springboro; born in Dinwiddie Co., Va., Aug. 6, 1812. The earliest information obtained of the Stanton family dates back to three brothers who came from England to America in 1640; one settled in New England, one in Virginia and one in North Carolina. From the North Carolina family descended Edwin M. Stanton, former Secretary of War. From the Virginia family descended the subject of this sketch. It is well established that James Stanton, born in Virginia, in 1690, was a grandson of the first progenitor, who settled there in 1640. James was the father of eight children, of whom Sampson Stanton was the grandfather of our subject, and was born in Virginia Aug. 7, 1736; he married Ruth Winburn, by whom he had three sons and one daughter-James, born Jan. 9, 1771, died July 18, 1827: John, born Sept. 28, 1772, died April 1, 1827; Sarah, born March 20, 1774, died April 13. 1813, and Daniel, born May 25, 1776, died April 13, 1806. John was the father of our subject; was married, in Virginia, to Lydia Butler, a daughter of John Butler. a native of Virginia, who lived and died in his native State; by this union they had nine children; six grew to maturity -Elizabeth. Jonathan, Edna, Deborah, Joseph and Mary, all now deceased but the subject of this sketch, who, when his father died, was about 15 years of age. In the spring of 1828, he with his brother Jonathan came to Ohio and located in Warren County: here he grew to manhood. On Feb. 1, 1837, he was
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united in marriage with Catharine A., daughter of James and Ann (Jones) Stanton, he a native of Virginia and she of North Carolina. The grandparents were James and Ann Stanton. The maternal grandparents were Lemuel and Catharine Jones, born in North Carolina, and who lived and died in their na- tive State. The parents of Mrs. Stanton (James and Ann), came to Ohio in the fall of 1825, and, in the spring of 1826, located on the place where our subject now resides and here lived till their death; he died Jan. 3, 1852; his wife died May 22, 1844; they had three children-William R., now residing in Michi- gan; Catharine Ann and Deborah J., who married Samuel Lloyd and now re-
sides in Kansas. Catharine Ann was born in Virginia Jan. 27, 1820. Mr. Scanton and wife have had six sons and six daugthers, eight now living-Lydia B., married Walter Moore and resides in Washington Co., Ind .; John F. mar- ried Emily Hadley and resides in Indianapolis; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Charles F. Chapman; Thomas E. married Phoebe Jane Schenk; Mary Emma; William Edward married Juliet Keever, and is a practicing physician at Ridgeville; Ellen J. and Walter C. who reside at St. Paul, Minn. Mr. Stanton's married life has all been spent in Clear Creek Township; he bought and located upon the place where he now lives in the spring of 1852, where he has since resided; this was the old home place of Mrs. Stanton's father, where he settled in 1826. Mrs. Stanton's father, James Stanton, was a strong Abolitionist and rendered assistance to the slave to gain his freedom wherever it was possible to be ob- tained.
BENJAMIN A. STOKES, farmer; P. O. Ridgeville. The family of which we now write, and whose history forms an extensive link in the history of Warren County, we are able to trace to Thomas Stokes, a native of London, England, a biscuit-maker by trade, who emigrated to America at a very early day and settled in Burlington, N. J. He was one of the grantees to whom New Jersey was ceded by the crown of England. He had four sons, of whom John, the youngest son, married a young woman by the name of Green, the reputed owner of a farm on the north bank of Rancocas Creek, about one mile below the forks, and there they settled; but soon afterward, her brother came with power of attorney from her father in England, and took possession. John and his wife then moved on to an adjoining farm, which has ever since re- mained in the family, having been handed down by will, never having been sold, the like of which was, perhaps, never known in American history. They had one son and several daughters. This son's name was also John, who married Hannah, a daughter of Jarvis Stockdale, who, it is said, was a preacher among the Friends and came to this country with William Penn. Mr. Stokes had three sons-Jolin, David and Jarvis; the latter married Elizabeth, daughter of William Rogers, of English descent. They had fifteen children; thirteen grew to maturity, of whom William, the second son and fourth child, was born in Burlington Co., N. J., Jan. 14, 1779, and was the father of our subject. He was married, April 8, 1798, to Hannah Hatcher, of the same county. They had seven sons and five daughters; six now survive-Granville W., born Sept. 23, 1810; Benjamin A., Sept. 3, 1812; Caroline, Oct. 1, 1814, now Mrs. J. Gra ham; Elizabeth A., Feb. 23, 1816, now Widow McCowan; Hannah, Jan. 6, 1823, now Mrs. Simonton, and William H. Mr. Stokes and family came to Ohio in 1817, and arrived at Lebanon July 4 and settled on a farm in the southwestern part of Clear Creek Township, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a strong, robust man, weighing about 200 pounds; he was an energetic, active man, prompt in all his transactions, and possessed a high social nature, full of mirthfulness and wit, and was the life of every circle in which he moved. He died Aug. 17, 1838; his wife died in April, 1858. Granville W. Stokes married Jane Robinson, who was born in New Jersey May
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8, 1820. They had three sons and five daughters; five now survive-Adaline. Virginia P., Francis J., Jefferson F., Alice and William E. Mr. Stokes re- ceived his primary education in the log schoolhouse; then he attended the South Hanover College, Indiana; then he read law with Thomas Corwin and Phineas Ross, and graduated at the Cincinnati Law School and was admitted to the bar March 2, 1839; was Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Warren County five years. In 1852, was a member of the Electoral College of Presi- dent Pierce; from 1853 to 1855, he represented the people of Warren and But- ler Counties in the Ohio Senate. He then retired to his farm, but, on the breaking-out of the rebellion, though a Democrat, vigorously supported the ad- ministration by stirring recruiting speeches. He had previous to the rebellion been commissioned by the Governor of Ohio as Brigadier General in the militia for Southern Ohio, but, from a disabled limb, did not enter the service. Mr. Stokes was also a member of the Greeley Electoral College. He is a man of more than ordinary natural ability, has been a close observer and a hard stu- dent. Few men possess a more extensive fund of general information than this gentleman. He has in his possession a musket that belonged to Edmond Robison, Mrs. Stokes' grandfather, which was carried by him through the Revolutionary war; also, a brick out of the first brick house built by William Penn, in Philadelphia, which was made in London; also, a six-pound cannon- ball presented to him by Gen. De la Marr, Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. Dr. W. H. Stokes, the youngest son of William Stokes, received a thorough education at the Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, and from private instruction at Lebanon from Prof. Bronsal. In November, 1844, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. M. H. Keever, of Ridgeville; at- tended lectures at Dartsmouth, N. H., then at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, at which institution he graduated in the spring of 1848; thence practiced with Dr. Keever till the spring of 1861; thence engaged in agricul- ture, which he has since followed and for which he has a special taste. The Doctor has been elected and served two terms in the Ohio Senate. He was married, Jan. 31, 1849, to Susanna Throckmorton, by whom he has had thirteen children; eight now survive-Rush, Mott, Meigs, Stella, Eva, Locke, Lee and Marietta. Benjamin A. Stokes, the subject of this sketch, obtained his educa- tion in the log schoolhouse of the pioneers; was married, March 31, 1841, to Miss Maria Mulford, who was born in Warren County, a daughter of Joseph and Rhoda Mulford, natives of New Jersey. By this union, they have had ten children, eight now living-Ann Eliza, born Jan. 30, 1842, mar- ried C. H. Eulass; Adella, Nov. 21, 1843, married Wallace Tibbals; Ada A., Oct. 23, 1845, married George E. Riley; Thomas H., March 28, 1848; William W., Dec. 8, 1849; Mary S., July 29, 1353; Lelia M., Nov. 8, 1858, and Horace B., born Oct. 24, 1860. Mr. Stokes is a man of more than ordinary financial ability; from his start in life in limited circumstances, he has arisen to wealth and affluence by his industry and financial ability, especially by the latter. AJ- though never holding or desiring office to any great extent, he has served as a Justice of the Peace nine years, and was a director of the Orphan Asylum and Children's Home. He has given great attention to the educational interests of his township, and has attended to a great amount of public business in settling up estates; is now a director in two national banks and is in full possession of the confidence of his community, and is recognized as one of Warren County's best financiers and a most worthy citizen.
JOHN STROOP, farmer; P. O. Springboro; born in Reidheim, County of Bownziller, Germany, Feb. 28, 1821; is a son of Michael and Margaret (Huff- man) Stroop, natives of Germany, but who emigrated to America about 1828 and landed at Baltimore and resided there about one year; thence moved to
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near Hagerstown and lived nearly two years; thence removed to Ohio and lo- cated near Dayton; thence to Greene County, on Beaver Creek, and resided three years; while living there, his wife died, and was buried in the graveyard at Byron. After her death, Mr Stroop married Mrs. Betsy Wissinger and re- moved to Dayton; thence to Miami Co., Ind., where he died. By his first wife, he had six children; four now survive-Michael, living in Miami Co., Ind .; John; Barbara, now Mrs. Anderson, living in Miami Co., Indiana, and Jacob, who resides in Wells Co., Indiana. By his last wife, he had two sons and one daughter; Moses and Lovina now survive; the latter married John Clippinger and all reside in Miami Co., Indiana. John
Stroop, the subject of this sketch, was about seven years of age when they came to America, and here grew to manhood, and was married, in Greene Co., Ohio, July 1, 1847, to Sarah, daughter of Henry and Catharine Getterd, natives of Maryland, but who became early settlers of Warren Co., Ohio, locating here about 1811, and both died in Greene County; he died in February, 1873; she died in August, 1851. They had nine children; eight now survive-Mary, Margaret, Rachel, Elizabeth, Barbara, John, Sarah and Adaline. Mr. Stroop and wife have had six children; four now survive-Adaline J., born July 16, 1852, now Mrs. Martin Tansy; John Henry, Sept. 25, 1858; William, May 17, 1861, and Harry Ellsworth, born July 15, 1866. Mr. Stroop, after his mar- riage, lived about five years in Greene County; thence moved into Warren County, where he has since resided. He bought the farm upon which he now lives in the fall of 1858, and moved on the same in the spring of 1859. This place he purchased of the heirs of Abraham Surface; here he has erected all the buildings on the place and made other improvements till he now has a pleasant home and residence. Mr. Stroop commenced in life a poor man, and, by his own industry, economy and good management, has become one of War- ren County's substantial farmers, whose character and integrity are undoubted and is truly a self-made man.
MONROE SWENY, tile manufacturer, Red Lion; born in Warren Co., Ohio; is a son of Col. James and Clarissa (Coffeen) Sweny. The grand- parents were William and Sarah (Steele) Sweny, natives of Pennyslvania, and William was a son of Robert Sweny, who, in the spring of 1780, with several others started on an expedition into Kentucky, where they intended to avail themselves of grants of lands to those who would make certain improve- ments thereon. They selected their lands and began improvements on the same, and in the meantime had to protect themselves against the In- dians. Soon, other parties stepped in and claimed their lands, and, in that day, having no recourse by law, by which they could repel their claims, and the Indians being troublesome, Mr. Sweny and his party started to return to Pennsylvania by way of Virginia, there being no other route on account of the Indians. While on their way, at a point some two or three days' journey from any white settlement, they were attacked by Indians, some of their party were wounded and a large part of their baggage captured and burned by the savages. It was a desperate encounter and Mr. Sweny and party barely escaped with their lives. The balance of his life Mr. Sweny spent in Pennsylvania. It is not now known that Mr. Sweny had but one child-William, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1770, and who at 10 years of age accompanied his father on the above-mentioned expedition to Kentucky, and returned with him to Penn- sylvania, where he grew to manhood and married Sarah Steel, who was born in 1772, by whom he had nine children -- Robert, Martha, James, Mary, Rachel, Betsey, Eli and Nancy, of whom Eli is the only surviving one. Mr. Sweny with his family emigrated to Ohio and settled in Clear Creek Township, War- ren Co,, on Section 3, Town 3 east, Range 4 north, being the same place where
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his son Eli now resides; here he opened out right in the woods-his neighbors few and far between; he erected a rough log cabin and began in true pioneer style. In 1811, he burnt brick for a house, which he erected during 1812 and 1813. He died Feb. 22, 1848; his wife died in 1838. Mr. Sweny was one of the honored pioneers of the county, a substantial and reliable man, who had the full confidence of his community and filled many of the offices of his town- ship. He was an earnest, religious man, being in early life a Methodist, but later, he espoused the Swedenborgian faith, which was his belief the balance of his life. Robert, his eldest son, served in the war of 1812, and was at the sur- render of Hull's army at Detroit. Col. James Sweny, the second son and third child, was the father of our subject; was born near Brownsville, Penn., Sept. 21, 1796, and came with his father's family to Ohio in 1799. On March 31, 1824, he married Clarissa Coffeen, who was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 16, 1802. They had three sons and two daughters; one daughter died in in- fancy; one is now Mrs. Dr. Thomas G. Farr, of Clark Co., Ohio; Clinton married Nancy J. Stein, and resides in Delaware Co., Ind .; Edwin married Dorcas Redman. Mr. Sweny served in the Ohio militia some ten years -- first, as Lieutenant, then promoted to Major, then to Colonel. Mr. Sweny and wife traveled the journey of life together nearly fifty-five years. £ On March 31, 1874, was celebrated their "golden wed- ding," on which occasion were assembled many friends of former years, with most of their children and grandchildren of this venerable pair. Music, songs, hymns and anecdotes enlivened the occasion; a sumptuous dinner was served with neither whisky or wine, but the native spirits glowed as if the old gray heads were no longer gray, and within them beat the bursting heart of buoyant youth. Mr. Sweny was a much honored and respected citizen of Warren County. In religious faith, he was a Swedenborgian. He died in February, 1879; his wife still survives, in her 80th year, and resides on the old home place. The subject of this sketch, the youngest child of Col. James Sweny, was married Nov. 6, 1856, to Miss Clara, daughter of Job and Catha- rine (White) Mathews; he was born in New Jersey, Monmouth County, in 1789; they were married March 27, 1817, and emigrated to Ohio the same year and settled near Utica, in Warren County. They had four sons and seven daughters. Mr. Sweny and wife have three sons and four daughters-Mary, born June 4, 1858; Hellen, born June 8, 1859; James, born Aug. 23, 1860; Kate, born Aug. 7, 1862; Lucy, born Sept. 23, 1864; Edward, born May 14, 1866, and Karl, born July 10, 1876. Mr. Sweny located where he now lives in 1857, where he has since resided; has a fine farm, upon which he has erected a good house, and has a pleasant home and residence. In 1874, he purchased the machinery and commenced the manu- facture of tile and is doing a good business and is a much respected citizen of Clear Creek Township.
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