The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 122

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

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JOHN B. CRAWFORD, farmer; P. O. Foster's Crossing. The gentle- man whose name heads this memoir is a native of Deerfield Township, in which he was born in 1830. He is a son of Samuel Crawford, who was born Jan. 23, 1791. His grandfather was Samuel Crawford, who settled here previous to 1790. Samuel. father of our subject, was married to Charity Scofield Jan. 5, 1815; she was born in Deerfield Township in the year 1797. After their marriage, they located on the farm east of where our subject now lives. They were parents of eight children, of whom seven are known to be living, viz., Ruth, Oliver, Joseph, Thomas (whereabouts unknown), Sarah J., Samuel, John and Andrew. Mr. C. died Dec. 8, 1835. Mrs. C. died June 11, 1869. She was a life-long member of the M. E. Church and a consistent Christian woman. After her husband's death, she very heroically undertook the responsibility of bringing up the large family of children, whom she kept together and reared

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-- a rare instance of a mother's courage and fidelity to her offspring. Andrew, son of Samuel, was a soldier during the rebellion and served throughout the war. Our subject, at the age of 18, went to Mason, where he learned plane- making, which he followed twelve years, after which he went to Edgar Co., Ill., and farmed for two years, then returned to his native State, locating on the old home place. In 1865, he was married to Nancy J. Drake, of Warren County, who has borne him three children, viz., Lewis, Franklin and Harrison. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Mason Lodge, No. 209, which he joined in 1856; he is also a member of the Mason Horse Rangers, of fifteen years' standing. Mrs. C. is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a consistent Christian woman.

JOHN DILL, retired farmer; P. O. Mason; was born in Orange Co., N. Y., in 1799; is a son of John Dill. Our subject, in company with his brothers and sisters, viz., Alexander, Andrew, William, Polly, Sophia, Eliza and Char- lotte, came to Ohio in the year 1816 and settled in Deerfield Township, where John Hoff now resides, where they lived until one by one they married and went to homes of their own. Of these eight children, three now survive, viz., Eliza, John and Charlotte. Our subject was married to Catherine, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Hall, in 1833. To them nine children have been born. six living, viz., Thomas, John, Andrew, Lycurgus, Albert, Martha and Melissa After his marriage, he resided in different places till 1840, at which time he bought 213 acres of land, on which he has since lived. He and his son now own 222 acres, which is mostly in cultivation and well improved. Mr. Dill, some years ago, was one of the live, active business men of Warren County, being largely engaged in handling and shipping hogs, and has shipped pork to New Orleans and Natchez. Alexander Dill, brother of John, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was stationed on Staten Island. Mr. Dill is now (1881) in the 83d year of his age, and, though bowed down with the weight of these many years, his mind is yet unimpaired; his once strong frame is racked by the tortures of rheumatism, and he, like the oak, must succumb to the power that cannot be resisted. His aged wife is also in good health and able to per- form her household duties. Mr. Dill is a modest and unassuming gentleman- a man whose ways, whose deeds and actions, have always been formed from the principles of truth and justice, and, during his long and eventful career, no imputation of the taint of dishonor is traceable to any of his dealings, which have been extensive in the extreme.

COL. WILLIAM S. DODDS, retired; P. O. Mason; was born in Turtle Creek Township in 1808, and is a son of Benjamin and Martha (Drake) Dodds. He was born in Franklin Co., Penn., in 1775; she was born in Middlesex Co., N. J., in 1786, and came to Ohio with her mother, Mary (Sutton) Drake; she was married to a Mr. Van Pelt, and a son of this union married Thomas Cor- win's sister. Benjamin Dodds came to Ohio in 1799, and permanently located in this county. He was married in 1802 and resided near Lebanon till 1808, when he came to Deerfield Township. Eleven children were born to them, three sons living, viz .. Josephus, William S. and Joseph A. Mr. D. died Jan. 10, 1849; Mrs. D. died Feb. 13, 1866. His son, John A., was a member of the State Legislature for three terms. Josephus was Drum Major of an Ohio regiment and an aged man at the time. Benjamin, father of our subject, was a man of sound judgment and was often appealed to by those in trouble to ar- bitrate the difficulty. Our subject was reared on the farm till he was 17 years old, at which time from his circumstances he concluded to become a tailor, the decisive point being reached one cold morning, when his cold fingers and the bright glow of fire in a tailor shop helped him to come to the conclusion to ap- prentice himself to a tailor, for whom he worked four years and nine months as

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bound boy. At this point in his career, he began business "on his own hook," so to speak, and, by pushing matters, his business as a merchant tailor netted him cash, and, nine months after starting, had furnished a house, and, Sept. 6, 1832, was married to Sarah L., daughter of Abraham Lowe, and niece of Judge Lowe; she being the daughter of wealthy parents, had, as a matter of course, offers from wealthier suitors, and certain parties naturally objected to our sub- ject, because he was a poor working young man, and whose only recommenda- tion was health, strength, honesty and industry. These objections were re- moved by his marriage with the lady, and the time came when he had more wealth than those who opposed him. In his tailoring business he was pros- perous and his trade was so extensive he could scarcely attend to it. He kept a store in connection and employed hands to do his work. After sixteen years in this kind of trade, he abandoned it and engaged in merchandising; hand- ling real estate was his next venture, and he bought and sold a great deal of property and was very successful, making considerable money, and is now among the wealthy men of the county and a highly respected citizen. He is now re- tired from active business pursuits and is enjoying his declining years amid peace and plenty, and he feels that his life has not been altogether uneventful. He belongs to no sect, denomination or creed; this world, his home; his breth- ren, all mankind. His wife died July 16, 1879, aged 70 years, 5 months and 20 days; was born Jan. 21, 1809. To Mr. and Mrs. D. were born three chil- dren, two living, viz., Courtland and Adolphus. Oscar died Aug. 16, 1864, aged 26 years, 11 months and 23 days. He served some ime in the army as an Orderly; was taken sick, was brought home, returned again, was taken sick, returned again to his home, where he died.

JAMES H. FOSTER (deceased) was born in New Jersey (near Salem), and was a son of Henry and Hannah (Simpson) Foster. In 1820 or 1821, they emigrated to Ohio, at which time James was 7 years old. After residing a few years in Deerfield, they removed tu the Twenty-Mile Stand, where the remain- ing years of his (Henry) life was passed; he died Feb. 21, 1870, aged 90 years and 10 days. Five of his children grew to manhood and womanhood, and, at present, two survive, viz., Joseph M. and Emiline. The deceased are Thomas, James H. and Hannah. Our subject was reared to mercantile pursuits. He was married to Maria L., daughter of Col. George and Martha (Morrow) Ram- sey, of Clermont Co., Ohio, after which event he located at the Twenty-Mile Stand, in which place he clerked in his father's store. In 1841 or 1842, he came to Foster's Crossing, where he opened a store and did business till 1865, at which time he disposed of his stock and sought the shades of retirement in his home in the bluff, in which he lived five years, enjoying the fruits of his labor, before the final end came; his death occurred Jan. 14, 1872, aged 57 years, 7 months and 7 days. To him were born three children, two living, viz., William S. and Kitty L. (now Mrs. Cooling); Joseph G., deceased. Mr. F. was successful in his business transactions, and was virtually a self-made man. He was respected by all who knew him, and his death was a blow to the busi- ness and moral interests of the community. His son, William S., enlisted in 1862, in the 86th O. V, I., Company A, in which he was a 2d Lieutenant and served four months; in 1864, he enlisted in the 146th O. V. I., Company G, of which he was Captain, and served four months. Joseph G. was also a soldier in the war, and served in the regiment with his brother. Army life broke down his boyish constitution, and he returned to his home a mere wreck of his former self. He departed this life after a long struggle for life Jan. 30, 1875, aged 33 years, 5 months and 11 days. He left a young wife and four children to mourn his untimely death. His wife, however, did not long survive her hus- band, as one year later she died. The parents of Mrs. James H. Foster were

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born in Pennsylvania and came to Clermont County in a very early day. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; to them were born eight children, four living, viz., Marvin, Sallie, Mary and Jeremiah. The deceased are John, Martha, Frankie and Emma. Col. Ramsey died at his home Dec. 2, 1863; was born in Bedford, Penn., March 17, 1793; his wife died July 15, 1842. They were married June 8, 1820. Mrs. Foster was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, June 4. 1821.

S. B. GREELY, proprietor Little Miami Mills, Foster's Crossing. The above-named gentleman was born in Hamilton Township. Warren Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1821; his parents were Seth and Jane (Boardman) Greely, natives of the State of Maine, where reared and married. About the year 1817, they emigrated to Ohio and settled in Hamilton Township, Warren Co., near the vil- lage of Maineville, where they lived and died. Mr. Greely was greatly inter- ested in educational matters, and was a leading spirit in the erection of the academy at Maineville. A fair and self-made scholar himself, he fully realized the necessity of education. Early in life, both himself and wife united with the Baptist Church and were consistent members of the same till their death. To them were born nine children, six of whom are now living, viz., Andrew M., Seth B., Walter K., Fanny J., Elias H. and Enos M. The deceased are Elmira H., Richard D. and Eliza Ann. The father died on the farm, near Maineville, Aug. 16, 1850, and the mother July 15, 1867. He was a successful business man, and owned property to the extent of about $10,000. The early life of our subject was passed on the farm, where he resided with his parents until of age. His edu- cation was limited, attending the district schools only; however, his younger brothers received academic educations. In 1857. he left the farm, going to Foster's Crossing, and purchased from Francis Phillips the mill site on which stood an old saw-mill; he rebuilt the mill that year, and the year following, in connection with James Atkinson, erected the flouring-mill now operated by him. In the year 1862, he purchased his partner's interest, and has since con- ducted the mill himself. In the mill are five run of buhrs, three of which are used for wheat and two for corn, the former having a grinding capacity of 125 bushels per day. His saw-mill, too, does quite an extensive business. Mr. Greely was united in marriage March 5, 1843, with Martha J., daughter of Asher Cynthia Shawhan, of Warren County, who bore him six children, three of whom are living, viz., Elmira, Franklin and David. The deceased are Fran- cis A., Mary E. and Marshall. Mrs. Greely died Aug. 29, 1855, in the 32d year of her age. On the 5th of April, 1856, Mr. Greely was married to Al- mira, daughter of William and Catharine Fouche, of Millgrove, Warren Co., and to them were born six children, as follows: Albert, Emma, Mattie, Clara. Flora and Laura.

REUBEN HOFF, retired farmer; P. O. Mason; was born in Huntington Co., N. J., July 26, 1803; he is a son of John and Ruth (Fields) Hoff; he was born in 1775; she, Dec. 2, 1778; they were married in their native State in 1800, and, in 1804, with their family of two children, came to Ohio and settled in what is now Union Township, which at that time was Deerfield Township. John Hoff, Sr., was a shoemaker by occupation, but at the time of his settle- ment he bought 12 acres of land, which, when his sons became old enough, was attended to by them. In the place he settled, they lived till their death, his occurring Nov. 12, 1853; she departed this life Dec. 1, 1857; to them were born seven children, three now living, viz., Catharine, Amelia and Reuben. The deceased are Enoch, Sliesman, John and Eliza. When Mr. Hoff first came, he and his brother William built a saw-mill on Turtle Creek, which they operated for a time, then disposed of their property and returning to their respective pursuits. Our subject was raised on the farm, and his education was

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received in the subscription schools. In 1830, he was married to Deborah, daughter of Albert and Nancy (Stout) Monfort, by whom he has had ten chil- dren, nine living, viz., Ruth, John, Ellen, Eliza J., Rosetta W., Margaret, Phoebe, Elbert M. and Reuben A. Martha, deceased, aged 9 months. After his marriage, he located where he now lives, renting the land for a time, and eventually bought 87 acres, to which he has added and now owns 163 acres of choice farming land. Albert and Nancy Monfort, parents of Mrs. Hoff, were born in New Jersey and came to Ohio in 1816, locating in this township, where they lived till death; he died in 1830; she, in 1874, at the age of 80 years. They were the parents of five children, three living, viz., Andrew S., Ellen and Deborah; the deceased, Margaret and Eliza. Mr. Monfort was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Hoff was born in New Jersey in 1811.

WILLIAM JACKSON, Overseer of the Mason Cemetery, Mason. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Washington Co., Penn., in 1830; his boyhood was passed on his father's farm and in the district schools received an ordinary education. He, with his parents, James and Ann (McDonald) Jackson, came to Ohio in 1836. They first located near Sharon, in Hamilton County, where they resided until 1842, at which time they re- moved to West Chester, Butler County, where they resided until 1855, in which year both died. William followed the fortunes of the farm during his early life. Aug. 24, 1852, he was married to Mrs. Altha A. Sharp, of Butler Co., Ohio. After his marriage, he removed to Darke County, where he resided five years on the farm. In 1857, he returned to Butler County, in which he resided till 1874, and during that time was engaged in manufacturing brooms. In the spring of the above year, he came to Mason, and, on account of his par- ticular qualifications for overseer of the cemetery grounds, the people of Mason gave into his keeping the ground where sleep those who belong there. Just previous to his coming to Mason, the new cemetery was organized, and to his management and control is due the present beautiful sight that greets the eye of the visitor at every turn. The care of the grounds shows his adapt- ability for the position, as the Mason Cemetery is one of the best kept in the country, and for a certainty reflects much credit on Mr. Jackson. To Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have been born six children; two of them, Charles and Will- iam P., are tonsorial artists in Mason, and their business shrewdness is shown by the fact that they operate in different shops in either end of town, thus neutralizing and controlling the trade. The other children are James A., Archibald F. R., Sarah A. and Mollie (now Mrs. Brady). Mrs. Jackson had by her first husband three children, viz., A. L. Sharp, an attorney, in Bluffton, Md .; Calvin Sharp, killed at the battle of Witchata River, in the Indian Territory, in 1866; he belonged to the 7th U. S. C .; Xemenia, deceased.

JOHN KOHL, carriage manufacturer, Mason; was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, in the year 1837; his trade was learned in his native country under his father, Lewis Kohl. He followed his trade in Germany until 1865, when he emigrated to America and located in Cincinnati, where he worked for four years. In 1869, he came to Mason, and, for three years, he worked at his trade for J. Bursk, after which he started a business with two other gentle- men, whom he afterward bought out, and now owns and controls the entire business. He gives employment to about ten hands, who turn out from about thirty-five to forty first-class new jobs every year. By honest work, he has built up a business which reaches out over the surrounding country. He is master of his business in every particular, and keeps only skillful men, who turn out the best of work. He was married, in 1871, to Mena Webber, who has borne him four children, viz., John L., Frederick W., John H. and Anna L. Mr. K. belongs to the I. O. O. F., Mason Lodge, No

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209, and is also a charter member of the Knights of Pythias, Favorite Lodge, No. 118. He and his wife are members of the German Protestant Church, to which they have belonged since childhood. For six years, he was connected with the German army.

JACOB AND MARY (JACKSON) LE FEVRE, Oxford. These two settlers were among the earliest and most useful of the pioneer settlers of Ohio; both were born in Frederick Co., Md .; Mr. Le Fevre, Feb. 14, 1785, and Mrs. Le Fevre, Dec. 24, 1784; the father of the latter was Henry Jackson, who was born and educated in London. England; her mother, Rebecca Pope Jackson. was born in Maryland, of French parents, who, during the persecution of the Huguenots by the Roman Catholics, were driven from a happy and prosperous home in their beloved France, to the strange and wild lands of America: they chose exile, rather than disloyalty to conscience and religious belief. Jacob Le Fevre claims a similar interest in the Reformation; his mother was German and his father a Frenchman and a Huguenot; in the history of the French Reformation, the name Le Fevre is an honored one among the Protestant heroes. Our subjects were married May 1, 1804, and, in the spring of 1807, with their oldest child, Mary, aged 1 year, they emigrated to Ohio. They came in wagons to Pitts- burgh, and from there to Cincinnati in a flat-boat, which they sold in the latter town for $10, the purchaser using it for a dwelling house, as was the custom. Mr. Le Fevre was offered land at a very low price in the vicinity of Cincinnati, but he would not purchase it because it seemed so worthless for farming pur- poses. He came out with his family to the southern part of Warren County: he bought land adjoining that on which Socialville was afterward built, three miles south of the present town of Mason, and known as the Thompson land. He finally owned 200 acres in all, and here they lived happily and prosperously for thirty years, until Mr. Le Fevre's death, in 1837. Mr. Le Fevre and family were most earnest and active supporters of church, school and every worthy en- terprise. With money and labor, they helped to build the old Presbyterian Church at Pisgah, and assisted greatly in supporting its religious services afterward. Among the ministers who preached at Pisgah at that early day were Rev. Peter Monfort, Dr. Lyman Beecher, Dr. Henry Little, Rev. Benja- min Graves, Rev. Andrew Morrison and other home missionary workers. Mr. and Mrs. Le Fevre were actively interested in the cause of education. Before the time of the free school system, they took a prominent part in organizing and supporting subscription schools. They raised ten children, four sons and six daughters, all of whom have filled useful positions in life; these children all lived to raise families of their own, but two of the sons and four of the daughters are now dead. The names of the ten children, with their husbands and wives, are as follows: Mary and James Baxter, Matilda and Josephus Dodds, Elias and Henrietta Ingersoll, Catherine and Gilbert Barton, Henry and Ellen Monfort, Rebecca and Thomas Moore, Mercy and Nimrod Duvall. Sarah and Milton Coulson, Jacob and Elizabeth Belch and Nimrod and Re- becca Tobias. Their mother, Mrs. Mary Jackson Le Fevre, is still living, and is now (1881) in her 97th year. She enjoys good health and the use of all her faculties, except that of hearing. She remembers quite distinctly the events of her pioneer life; among her early neighbors in Deerfield Township were John Wylie, David Slayback, Nimrod Duvall, Abraham Probasco. Roland Ken- dall. Zebulon Eynons, Nicholas Dawson, Ezekiel Blue, Jacob Hercules, Isaac Phillips, Daniel Stout, Ezra Van Fossen and others. After many years of toil and hardship as a pioneer, Mrs. Le Fevre is now taking life easily; she is making her home at present with her daughter, at Oxford, Ohio. She has fifty-one grandchildren living and a number who have died. She has about 300 descendants altogether. A great many of these took a loyal and active

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part in the civil war; some arose to places of eminence, and some sacrificed their lives in the noble work of defending our flag and nation. The offspring of such ancestors as are herein mentioned should indeed be loyal to the truth, always and everywhere, that they may honor and carry out their teachings of those ancestors who toiled and suffered so nobly for the cause of right.

JOSEPH McCLUNG, retired farmer ; P. O. Mason. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is the oldest living person in Deerfield Township. He was born in Baltimore Co., Md., in 1789: he was raised on his father's farm, where he labored till he was 18 years old. At this age, be learned the carpenter trade, which he followed till 1812, when he was drafted, but hired a substitute to serve in his stead. In 1815, he came to Ohio and bought 172 acres of land, and afterward returned to Maryland, where he resided some years, when he returned, in 1823, and, in the spring of 1824, purchased 200 acres where he now lives. His farm at present consists of 255 acres of choice land. With the exception of a small start he received from his parents, he has, with the assistance of his wife, made his large property. Nov. 23, 1815, he was married to Charity Hair, of Maryland, who has borne him five children, viz., John and James; three died in infancy. Mrs. McClung is a member of the M. E. Church, to which she has belonged for many years, and is a consist- ent Christian lady. They have lived together for sixty-six years- - a length of time few live to tread the pathway of life as man and wife. She was born in 1798, and their youngest son is now (1881) past 60 years of age.

JONAS MCCURDY, grocer, Mason; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., May 18, 1810; he is a son of Daniel and Catherine McCurdy; his father was born in Ireland, and when a boy came to America-to Lancaster Co., Penn .. where he was reared among the German families. In the home of his adoption. he married, lived and died. To him were born nine children, of whom only two survive, viz., George and Jonas; the latter learned to be a weaver, an oc- cupation he followed till 1837. when he came to Lebanon; here he engaged in a woolen manufactory, where he worked till 1848, at which time he engaged in merchandizing. In 1855, he moved to Mason, since when he has been en- gaged in the grocery business. He has been twice married-first, in 1842, to Phoebe Simonton, who died in 1844, leaving one child, viz., Sarah J. Second- ly, he was married to Mrs. Mariah Gooch, who died in 1870, aged 53 years. Mr. McCurdy has been Treasurer of his school district and manager of the corporation funds of Mason. He is a member of the Mason Lodge, I. O. O. F .. No. 209, and also of the Masonic Lodge since 1859. He is a member of the Universalist Church and a gentleman highly respected in his community.

EPHRAIM L. MEHAN, retired; P. O. Mason. The above gentleman was born on the dividing line between the counties of Warren and Butler, in 1814. Patrick and Abigail (Littie) Mehan were his parents. He (Patrick) was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and when 10 years of age came to America with his relatives. His boyhood was passed in Alleghany Co., Penn., where he lived till he was married, at which time (in 1802) he came to Ohio and set- tled in Columbia. In 1805, he came to Warren County and located in Deer- field Township. During the war of 1812, he operated a distillery on the Little Miami River for Hunt & Lowe, a business he followed for some years in War- ren County, being the proprietor of the business. A greater part of his land was in Warren County, but his residence was in Butler County, where he re- sided till his death. During the "Old Muster Days," he was Captain of a mili- tia company and a stanch Jackson man; he died in 1844, aged 64 years; his wife departed this life in 1838 or 1839. They were parents of twelve children, of whom seven are now living, viz., Lucinda, Clarrisa, Mary A., Ephraim, Amos, Eliza and John. The deceased are William, Elias, Thomas, Joseph and

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 122

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