The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 125

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

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CLARKSON BURGESS, farmer; P. O. Harveysburg ; born on the farm where he now lives, Nov. 4, 1844; is a son of Jesse W. and Elizabeth (Harvey) Burgess, he a native of Virginia and she of Ohio; the paternal grandparents were Thomas and Betty Burgess, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Virginia. Thomas was a son of Joseph Burgess, and he a son of Samuel Burgess, who emigrated from England to America and settled in a very early day, and is said to have lived for a time in a cave. Thomas Burgess, while a young man, emigrated with his parents from Pennsylvania to Virginia, where he married and resided till about 1813; emigrated with his family to Ohio, and located in Highland Co, and resided till in the fall of 1835; he removed to Harveysburg and resided till his death in the summer of 1836, aged 73 years ; his wife died at the home of one of her children in Indiana. They had four sons and four daughters, four now survive-Elizabeth, now Mrs. Mendenhall, living at Indianapolis ; Joseph, in Iowa; Moses, in Kansas; and Tacy, now Mrs. Hadley, in Indiana. Jesse W. was about 8 years of age when brought to Ohio by his parents; was raised to farm labor, and grew to manhood, receiving a good common school education, and entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. Jesse Harvey, in Clinton Co .; in 1831, 1832 and 1833, attended medical lectures at Cincinnati, and graduated in the latter year ; he entered upon the practice of his profession in Highland Co .; thence located at Harveysburg. But Mr. Burgess had more pleasure and relish in farming than for his profession, and

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he soon gave his leading attention to the occupation of farming. In 1835, the farm where Clarkson and his mother now live was purchased, and in 1838 he and his fam- ily moved on to the farm ; here he spent the balance of his life, engaged mainly in the management of the farm, but was forced to continue his practice more or less, as many of his friends placed such confidence in his skill and knowledge that in severe and crit- ical cases of sickness he was sure to be called upon to treat these patients. But the brightest and most shining trait in the Doctor's character was the great interest he took in the subject of education. He was the active man-the motive power-in every step of progress in his neighborhood and community, in elevating the standard of schools and teachers; was School Director for many years; he also filled most of the offices of his township during his life. He gave all his children a thorough education, and most of them became graduates of college. In his death the community lost a most worthy citizen, and the family a kind father and a devoted husband. He died Dec. 19, 1868, aged 63 years ; his wife is still living on the old homestead, where she resides her son Clarkson. They had eight children, five now survive-Thomas H., residing in the State of New York ; Martha Ann, now Mrs. Anderson, living in Iowa; Mahala L .; William H., residing in North Carolina; and Clarkson ; Mary Emily, (deceased) was more than an ordinary woman and scholar; was a teacher of great repute in the Female College at College Hill, Cincinnati, and died there Dec. 20, 1854; Anna M. (deceased) was a teacher at Friends Academy, Union Springs, N. Y., where she was held in high es- teem by both faculty and pupils of that institution ; she died at Union Springs, Feb. 28, 1868. Isaac T. (deceased) the youngest child, had a very bright and energetic mind, was a devoted Christian, whose life was cut off at the early age of 13 years, Oct. 21, 1866. Clarkson, now in charge of the home place, is a graduate of the college at Union Springs, and studied law, intending to make that his profession, but after the death of his father he gave up that profession and took charge of the farm, and to it is . now giving his exclusive attention. He, like his father, is a great advocate of educa- tion, and is active in all general public improvements and progress, has acted as a Not- ary Public many years. Mr. Burgess was married Oct. 11, 1876, to Miss Mary, daughter of Dr. William Owens, a native of Pennsylvania, and he was a son of Robert Owens, who came to Ohio with his family when William was but a boy ; here he grew to manhood, studied medicine and became a practicing physician, which profession he followed through life. During the war of the rebellion he enlisted in the service, and while fortifying near Corinth he became overheated by work, from the effects of which he died, in 1862, having been in the service about nine months. The Doctor's family were remarkably patriotic-four of his brothers and three of his sons enlisted in the 'army, and served through the war, all returning safely home. Mary's mother was Elizabeth Whetzel, a daughter of William Whetzel, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio and settled in Clinton Co., in 1818, and soon after removed to Warren Co., where he died, aged 85 years. Elizabeth is still living in Clinton Co. Dr. Owens and wife had eight children, seven now survive-George, now in Kansas; Abi; John; Asa, now a Methodist minister; Mary, Daniel and Martha. Mrs Mary Burgess is a graduate of the Na- tional Normal school, Lebanon, and was a successful and popular teacher for several years. We have here given a somewhat extended sketch of the Burgess family and ancestors, but we are conscious we have hardly done them justice in the brief space we have to devote to them, as they are numbered among the early pioneers, and from their intelligence and high moral standing ; their activity and usefulness, have ranked among the best citizens in the community in which they lived ; and if their descendants will follow their ex- ample, and keep up the high moral standard of intelligence, Christian character and usefulness, then their lives and examples and their history . will not have been in vain.

JOSEPH C. CARROLL, farmer; P. O. Harveysburg ; born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, May 1, 1833, is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Ellis) Carroll, he native of Antrim Co., Ireland. The grandparents, Edward and Mary Carroll, emigrated to America with their family in 1799, and located in Columbiana Co., Ohio, where they resided till their death. They had five sons and five daughters, all now de eased. Thom-

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as Carroll, the seventh child of their family, died in Cincinnati about 1871. He was a practicing physician in that city for many years, and was one of the most noted of his profession ; was a Professor in the college for a long time and author of a large and popular treatise on the practice of medicine. His son, Robert R. Carroll, is now one of the leading publishers of the subscription book business of Cincinnati. Joseph Carroll, the father of our subject, was the oldest child of a family of ten children ; was about 18 years of age when he came with his parents to Ohio. He obtained his natu- ralization papers in October. 1816. He became a nail manufacturer, making them by hand, which business he followed for some time ; then he entered upon the milling business, which he followed most of his life. In 1836, he moved into Belmont Co., and about 1840, to Highland Co., where he died in February, 1843, aged 62 years. In fall of 1843, Mrs. Carroll and family moved to Indiana. They had ten children, six now survive-John ; Eliza Ann, now Mrs. Ireland, residing at Ithaca, N. Y. ; Rebecca, now Mrs. Murry, living in Indiana; Joseph ; Sarah, now Mrs. Housefelt, and Solon. In 1845, Mrs. Carroll married for her second husband William Birdsal, and, in March of the same year, moved to Clinton Co., Ohio, where she died in August, 1869, aged 73 years. Our subject. was in his 10th year, when his father died, but was raised to 16 years of age by his mother and stepfather. At 17 years, he learned the carpenter trade, which business he followed thirteen years; then entered upon farm- ing which he has since followed. He bought, and located upon, the place where he now lives, in spring of 1866. Mr. Carroll was united in marriage Oct. 4, 1860, with Mary, daughter of George and Lydia Bailey, natives of Clinton Co., Ohio. George was a son of Daniel Bailey, native of Virginia; Lydia was a daughter of William Shields, native of Tennessee, the ancestors being from Ireland; the Bailey ancestors were from Wales. George and Lydia Bailey had seven children, three now survive-Mary, Josiah and Enos P. Mary was born, in Clinton Co., Nov. 22, 1839. Mr. Carroll and wife have five children-Anna B., born July 27, 1861; Rose E., born May 16, 1863 ; George E., born March 9, 1865 ; John Q., born Jan. 3, 1861, and Carrie E., born Sept. 23, 1872.

GEORGE T. CHAMPLIN, farmer ; P. O. Harveysburg; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, Aug. 9, 1838; is a son of Joshua and Hannah (Martin) Champlin, natives of Rhode Island. They emigrated to Ohio in spring of 1832, locating first at Cincinnati ; thence, in the fall of the same year, located in Clinton Co., where his wife died, in fall of 1839; he died Sept. 5, 1864, aged 70 years. They had seven children, six now survive-Joshua; Samuel; Moses; John ; Edward and George T. Mr. Champlin was a sailor on the seas for twenty-five years, several of which he served as a Captain, and was engaged as a Privateer in the war of 1812. His father followed the seas through life, and died on the ocean while out on a four years cruise, dying when on his way home, and was buried in the ocean. After Mr. Champlin settled in Clinton Co., he followed farming; was a very prosperous farmer and a leading man in his community, and held most of the offices of his township during his life. Our subject remained with his father till his death ; was married March 5, 1867, to Caroline, daughter of Jehu Mulford, a native of New Jersey. Mr. Champlin after marriage located in Warren Co., where he has followed farming. In 1871, he purchased the place where he now lives, and moved on to it in 1872, where he has since resided ; this farm he bought of the Hadley heirs ; it consists of 111 acres of good land, mostly in cultivation.

JOHN D. CLEAVER, retired; P. O. Harveysburg ; born in Warren Co., Feb. 12, 1820 ; is a son of Peter and Sarah (Crew) Cleaver ; he is a native of Pennsylvania, and she of North Carolina. The paternal grandparents, Ezekiel and Abigail Cleaver, were natives of Pennsylvania, and emigaated from there to Ohio, and located in War- ren Co., near the mouth of Caesars Creek in 1805, being among the early settlers of that section of the County, opening out right in the woods, and enduring the hardships of the true pioneers of the county, and here they lived and died. They had four sons and three daughters. Mr. Cleaver first bought 240 acres, where he located, and which constituted the homestead farm ; after which he purchased 500 acres about three miles east of his home farm, in what is now the southern portion of Massie Township ;

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this last purchase he apportioned to his children, settling his eldest son the first or western 100 acres, and the second son on the next 100 acres, and so proceeded till five children were settled ; the youngest two children to have the homestead place ; thus providing all with a farm. Peter, the father of our subject, was the fourth child of his parents, married and settled on the 100 acres given him by his father-it then being all in the green timber, and here he began to make a home and a farm, erected a cabin and commenced to transform the vast forests into cultivated fields. But he was not permitted to carry out his full plans, as the messenger death came early and cut short his career ; he died in 1832, aged 35 years, just in the prime of life. His widow is still living, now past 80 years of years, and has lived a life of wodowhood of almost half a century, and has continued her residence to the present time on the old home place. They had four sons, three now survive-John D., Nathan and William, (deceased, Levi L). Our subject was 12 years of age when his father died, and the other children still younger, which brought a great care upon the mother, but she faith- fully discharged her duties and raised them all to manhood. John D. was married in November, 1843, to Catharine Tiger, by whom he had three children, two now sur- vive-Peter Benton and Charles ; one daughter, Harriet, died in early childhood ; his wife died in 1852. On May 10, 1854, he was united in marriage with Lucinda, daugh- ter of John B. C. and Elizabeth ( Hart) Reed, he a native of Scotland, but was brought to America when 3 years of age. She was a native of Pennsylvania, where they were married, and became settlers of Warren Co. about 1815, where she died ; he died near Dayton in Montgomery Co., Ohio. By his last wife Mr. Cleaver had one child- May (deceased). Mr. Cleaver followed farming till 1870, when he retired from active labor, and located in Clarksville, Clinton Co., where he resided four years; thence located in Harveysburg, where he has since resided. Mr. Cleaver is one of the promi- nent men of Massie Township, and has held the office of one of the Trustees for many years; is a man of undoubted integrity, a kind and sociable neighbor and universally respected throughout his community.

WILLIAM H. CLEAVER, farmer, P. O. Harveysburg; born in Warren Co, Aug. 18, 1830, is a son of Peter and Sarah Cleaver, whose history and that of their ancestors is written in sketch of John D. Cleaver. The subject of this sketch was only two years of age when his father died; then he was cared for by his mother and older brothers till his majority. He was married Jan. 12, 1853, to Martha A., daughter of John and Sarah Reason ; by her he had two children-Sarah Bell (deceased) and Mary Elizabeth, born March 16, 1857; his wife died March 20, 1857, aged 24 years. On April 15, 1863, he was united in marriage to Mary Jane, daughter of John and Eliza- beth Sears, whose history is given in sketch of John Sears. Mary was born July 8, 1838. By this union they have had five children-Martha A., born Oct. 11, 1865; Anna C., born Dec. 2, 1867; Lutie A., born Nov. 18, 1868 (deceased) ; Willie E., born July 22, 1871 (deceased), and Warren M., born Aug. 3, 1872. Mr. Cleaver after his marriage located on the farm where he now lives and has since resided, a period of twenty-eight years. Mr. Cleaver is one of the substantial farmers of Massie Townsnip; a man of integrity, a kind neighbor and a good citizen : has been Township Trustee four years.

WILLIAM J. COLLETT, farmer; P. O. Harveysburg; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, June 30, 1838, is a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Mckay) Collett, natives of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Daniel Collett, was born in Maryland, but his father was a native of England, and whose parents emigrated to America when he was but an infant, and his father died on the voyage and was consigned to an ocean burial. This left the mother with the full responsibility of the care of her infant son and were thus thrown into this new country among strangers early in the 17th century. Here this infant son grew to manhood, married and became the father of the above mentioned Daniel Collett, the grandfather of our subject, and from him have descended the numerous families bearing the name of Collett. Daniel married in Virginia, and raised a family of eight children-Moses, Joshua, Isaac, Jonathan, Benjamin, Aaron, Mercy, and Daniel. The family resided in Virginia for many years, till becoming completely

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disgusted with the institution of slavery, they determined to try and find a country and a home free from its pernicious effects, and in pursuance of this idea, in 1810, Moses, the eldest son, with his family, emigrated to Ohio and located in Greene County in 1811. Jonathan followed his brother to Ohio and remained here about two years, during which he was pressed into the service in the war of 1812, serving a short time; in 1813, he re- turned to Virginia, and brought his father and family to Ohio and they located in Clin- ton County ; here the grandfather, Daniel, died about 1836, aged 84 years. He was a man who possessed a mind of high order ; was noted for his excellent Christian and moral character, which, in those days of pioneer roughness, was of the greatest impor- tance to mold the character of the people of those early settlements. Joshua, the second son of Daniel, arose to great distinction and held the office of Circuit Judge many years, for full information of which see in general history of the county. Daniel Collett was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, serving through the entire conflict. Jonathan, the father of our subject, was married in Warren County, and located in Clinton County, on a part of the land of the large purchase of 4,000 acres made by his father when they first came to the State, and there he spent his entire life. He died in October, 1865, aged 70 years ; his wife died in 1852, aged about 55 years. They had ten children, seven now survive-Ann, now Mrs. McCune: Moses; Benja- min; Martha, now Mrs. Denny ; William J .; Robert and Azel. Mr. Collett in his life and character was a fac simile of his father, noted for all those noble principles which made him so useful and beloved, and at his death the loss was mourned by all who knew him, but to love and respect him. Our subject remained with his father till 26 years of age; was married Dec. 7, 1864, to Elizabeth D. Macy, whose ancestral history is contained in sketch of E. L. and J. G. Macy. By this union they have had three children, all deceased. Mr. Collett after his marriage, bought and located upon the place where he now lives and has since resided ; has a fine farm and a pleasant residence situated half a mile west of Harveysburg; is one of the prominent farmers of Massie Township, and well sustained the good name and character of his noble ancestors; has the entire confidence of his community, and has held many offices ; was Township Trustee for twelve years, and has been a Director of the Orphan Asylum and Children's Home at Lebanon, by appointment of the Court since 1875.

ISRAEL D. COMPTON (deceased) was born in Manchester, Adams Co., Ohio, May 12, 1829; he was a son of Stephen W. and Harriet (Donaldson) Compton, na- tives of Adams Co., Ohio. The maternal grandfather, Israel Donaldson, was a native of Virginia, but emigrated to Kentucky, locating at Maysville; thence removed to Adams Co., Ohio, where he was one of the earliest settlers; there he married and settled, at Manchester, and, it is said, built the first brick house in that county. His last years were spent with his son, in Brown County, where he died in February, 1860, aged 94 years. Stephen W. Compton grew to manhood and married in Adams County, where he resided many years ; thence removed to Highland County ; thence to Harveysburg, where they lived about five years ; thence removed to Rome, Adams County, where they have since resided. He is now 81 years of age, and she 77 years. They have traveled the journey of life together, bearing its sorrows and enjoying its pleasures for fifty-five years. They have had seven children, six now survive-Harriet Ann, now Mrs. Crissman, residing in Adams County ; Samuel W., living in Minnesota ; Mary Caroline, now Mrs. Patton, residing in Arkansas ; Joseph, now in the Post Office Department at Washington, D. C .; and John D., residing in Cincinnati. Israel D. Compton, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest of his father's family ; was raised in Adams County, and married in Highland County in February, 1859; to Mrs. Margaret Ellis, daughter of Ezekiel and Elizabeth (Carr) Cleaver, natives of Virginia, who were married Feb. 23, 1825 ; they had eleven children ; five now survive-Margaret, now Widow Compton ; Abigail, now Mrs. Boatman, residing in Illinois ; Mary C., now Mrs. Reason, also in Illinois ; and James. Four of their sons served in the army during the rebellion-David, Robert, James and Empson ; Robert and Empson died in the service ; David and James served through the war. Margaret Cleaver was born June 68

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18, 1826. Mr. Compton and wife had one daughter-Ida Bell, born July 9, 1880. Mr. Compton was a teacher of music for several years; after his marriage, he gave his main attention to farming, till the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, 79th O. V. I., and, at the organization of the company, he was elected 1st Lieutenant; he served but the brief space of less than five months, when, at Gallatin, Tenn., he was stricken down by sickness and died Dec. 31, 1862. His remains were brought home and now rest in the cemetery at Harveysburg. He also had three brothers, who served through the war, and came safely home. Mr. Compton was a very worthy man and citizen, an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and Superintendent of the Sunday school; and in his sudden death the community lost a good citizen, the church a great worker, and his family a kind father and devoted husband. Mrs Compton has been twice married; first, to John Ellis, by whom she had four children, one only now living-Olive A., now Mrs. Law- rence. Mr. Ellis died May 14, 1855, aged 45 years.

FRANK M. CUNNINGHAM, teacher, Harveysburg, was born near Loveland, in Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 22, 1849 ; is a son of Frederick and Sarah P. (Mc- Donald) Cunningham ; he was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, May 4, 1821, and died, July 8, 1852 ; she was born in Cincinnati, Oct. 8, 1824. They had three children- Josephine, Frank and Alice, all now living. The paternal grandparents were John and Catharine Cunningham, both deceased. The maternal grandparents were John and Maria McDonald, the former is deceased. The subject of this sketch spent his child- hood days on the farm, receiving a good common school education at the country schools; then he took a two years' academic course and spent a short time at the Na- tional Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio. At the age of 21 years he commenced teaching, which profession he has since followed, and is now (1881) Principal of the Harveysburg Schools. He read law with J. W. O'Neall, Probate Judge of Warren Co., and was admitted to the bar in 1878.

JOSEPH J. DOWNING, artist, P. O. Harveysburg; born in Center Co., Penn., Oct. 20, 1858 ; is a son of Jacob and Jane (Underwood) Downing; he a native of Center Co., and she of York Co., Penn. The paternal grandparents, Thomas and Rebecca (Starr) Downing, were natives of Pennsylvania, and lived and died in their native State. Thomas was a farmer by occupation, and when he started in life he purchased land the title to which proved defective, and he had to pay for his land a second time, which was a heavy burden in the commencement of his business life, but notwith- standing this drawback he became a very prosperous farmer, and by industry and en- ergy became possessed of a good competency. He died aged 69 years; his wife died July 15, 1819, aged 59 years. Jacob Downing was raised to manhood in Pennsylvania ; married and became the father of nine children, five now survive- Hannah M., Rebecca S., Maria M., Matilda J. and Joseph J. Rebecca S. (deceased) married Jeremiah Fravel, by whom she had three sons and two daughters. Maria M., married Jesse Romine; Matilda J., married Zephaniah Underwood, and have two sons and two daughters. Mr. Downing died June 9, 1862, aged 55 years. He was a farmer, but had very poor health, caused, it is believed, in a great measure, from the care, labor and watching over his father during the last years of his life. The maternal grandparents, Zephaniah and Hannah Un- derwood, were natives of York Co., Penn., where they spent most of their lives, but died in Center Co., Penn. They had six children, four sons and two daughters, five now sur- vive-Charles ; Rebecca, now Mrs Perry John, living in Pennsylvania ; William, John and Jane. The ancestors of both the Downing and Underwood families were from England. William Underwood emigrated to North Carolina, and located at Elizabeth City, where he still resides and where he has made himself quite popular by his energy and enterprise in public improvements, and the aid he gave in building up the city, which was so badly destroyed during the war of the rebellion ; and as a token of their appreciation of his services, they presented him with a fine gold-headed cane. Mrs. Downing and her family, in the spring of 1878, emigrated to Ohio and located where they now live and have since resided. Joseph, our subject, was raised to farm labor,

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but early manifested a great taste and talent as an artist, and although opposed by his kindred and friends from pursuing that line of business, yet he continued to prosecute his scheme of painting and pencil drawings till his natural genius manifested itself so overpoweringly that it overcame all opposition to his plans, and he began to systematize his ways and means to acquire some scientific knowledge of the art. Mr. Downing then embraced the opportunity to learn some of the principles and rules of portrait paint- ing under Prof. Southworth, who was then teaching the art to a class in Lebanon ; was under his instructions about five weeks when the Professor gave him notice that he could teach him no more, as it was evident to him as also to the general critics of the art that Mr. Downing was excelling him in the perfection of his paintings. Mr. Downing has continued the practice of the art; has executed many portraits, and has received the highest encomiums from the press, as well as from those whose work he has executed with so much skill. Every life-like expression seems to flow from his pen- cil as if by magic, and when his hand gives the finishing touch there appears before you a far more life-like picture than any photographer can possibly execute. Mr. Down- ing is strictly a self-made man, and we have no hesitancy it predicting that, if his life and health are spared, he will, as he already does, excel in the art; and will arise to notoriety and distinction in this beautiful and God-given science.

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 125

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