The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 130

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

USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 130

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DR. JOHN T. COUDEN, physician, Morrow, son of John and Susan Couden, was born in Washington Township, Warren Co., Ohio. He is the youngest of a family of five sons. When an infant his father met his death by the fall of a tree, while clearing out his farm. He worked on the farm with the rest of the family and attended the district school. In the year 1845, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. Scott, then practicing in Roachester ; he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, and in the spring of 1848, commenced practice with his preceptor in the village of Morrow. On Dr. Scott's removal from here in 1852, he succeeded to a large practice, in which he has been actively engaged to this time.

S. BELLE GEOPPER, farmer ; P. O. Morrow ; a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio, born July 23, 1834. She was educated in the common and graded schools of that county, and at 18 years of age was married to Dr. Leopold Geopper, a native of Ger- many. The following children were born to them ; Mary and Clara, twins; Edwin S .; Victor H., deceased; Charlotte, deceased ; Jefferson, deceased; William, Ephraim and Albert. Alexander Pendrey, the father of Mrs. Geopper, was a native of Virginia, born Sept. 7, 1781. He was a resident of Hamilton County for over sixty years. He mar- ried Mary Ledlow; she was born in November 1791, being the first white child born in Cincinnati. He died April 8, 1866, and his wife Feb. 18, 1854.

ENOCH A. HILL, farmer ; P. O. Morrow; this esteemed citizen is a native of this county, born Aug. 17, 1834. He received the usual common school education in the rural districts of his neighborhood. He was married, March 2, 1859, to Miss M. J. Mount, born Jan. 9, 1840, and is also a native of this county. These parents have the following children : Alva V., born Dec. 12, 1850, died in September, 1862 ; Dora A., born Feb. 19, 1862, married to William Keller; Charles A., born Sept. 23, 1865; Bertha, born June 16, 1863, and Josiah T. and William D., twins, October, 1876. Mr. Hill is of Democratic proclivities, but has never been an aspirant for office. He owns a valuable farm of 192 acres of choice land, which is well improved. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is considered one among the honest and in-

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dustrious citizens of the community in which he resides. The history of his parents are given elsewhere in this work.

HUSTON HOPKINS, merchant; Morrow, Ohio; for many years a prom- inent merchant of Morrow, is the descendant of one of the pioneers of the county ; his father, John Hopkins, a native of Rockbridge Co., Va, emigrated to Ohio with his parents in the year 1806, and settled on what is known as the "Ridge," two miles south of Lebanon. He was born Nov. 6, 1789, and just prior to the war of 1812, in the county of Warren, was united in marriage to Susan Branstator, a native of Maryland. On the breaking-out of that war, as did Cincinnatus of old, he left his plow and tendered his services to his country, volunteering in an organization known as the " Mounted Rangers," which rendezvoused for a time at Lebanon, and of which company he later was appointed Lieutenant and finally acted as Captain. He figured extensively throughout the war, serving until peace was declared, when he again re- turned to the plow, and soon moved to the vicinity of Hopkinsville, which village was named for the families of that name settling in the same vicinity. Mr. Hopkins was an early merchant of that village and became a prominent and influential man of the county, serving as one of its early Sheriffs, and, for a period of nearly thirty years, a Justice of the Peace. He represented the people of Warren twice as Representative in the Legislature, and served one term as State Senator. His death occurred March 6, 1875, near Hopkinsville, where the greater part of his life was passed. Our subject was born on the " Ridge," in sight of Lebanon, Dec. 13, 1812, and was the eldest of nine children ; his early life was spent on the farm and in the district schools of that vicinity, and in Lebanon received his education. Early in life, he embarked in the mercantile business with his father and has continued therein for a period of fifty years, saving the two terms of service as County Treasurer. May 24, 1840, Mr. Hop- kins was married to Nancy, oldest daughter of Providence Mounts, and to them have been born four children, namely : Mary L., Marshall M., Winfield S. and George. The wife died Jan. 29, 1853.

WILLIAM IRELAND, farmer; P. O. Morrow ; one of the pioneers of the county, being born in Salem Township Aug. 15, 1811. He received the usual educa- tion peculiar to the days of long ago, which were rather limited. He was united in marriage Aug. 30, 1831, to Jemima Jackson ; these parents had a family of fourteen children ; James, born Jan. 14, 1833; Mary J., born Aug. 24, 1834; Francis A., born Feb. 10, 1836, died June, 1880; Nancy H., born Dec. 3, 1837, deceased ; Anna, born Nov. 28, 1839 ; Martha, born March 30, 1842, deceased; Sarah, born June 3, 1844, deceased ; Elizabeth, born Nov. 16, 1847, deceased ; Thomas T., April 18, 1846, deceased ; Emeline, born June 27, 1849 ; Dekin, born April 23, 1851, de- ceased ; Laurilla, born Feb. 22, 1853; Franklin P., born Feb. 15, 1856 ; and Eva, born July 1, 1858, deceased. Mr. Ireland is a Democrat of the old school, and has held the office of Land Appraiser for one term. He owns a farm of good land, in a high state of cultivation, with pleasant surroundings. His father was Thomas Ireland, a native of Shenandoah Co., Va., born Nov. 20, 1776. He married Sarah Clevenger, of his own native State, one year his junior. They came to Warren Co., this State, in 1805, settling near Morrow. They were the parents of nine chil- dren, three sons and six daughters. He died Dec. 18, 1858, and she November, 1862. William Jackson, the father of Mrs. Ireland, a native of New Jersey, born about 1777. He went to Virginia when quite young; he married Miss Hannah Bennett, a native of Maryland, born Dec. 25, 1779. They came to this State in 1828 ; they were the parents of eleven children, among whom was the Rev. W. B. Jackson, of the Cincin- nati Conference.

W. H. McKINNEY, farmer; P. O. Morrow. This worthy and intelligent cit- izen is a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and was born March 31, 1828. He came to America with his parents at 6 months of age, landing at Quebec, Canada. About 12 months afterward, the family settled at Malone, N. Y. He received a common-school education, being under the tutorship of the late Vice President Wheeler a portion of the time. At 20 years of age, he began railroading, finding employment on the New York & Erie line;

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afterward he worked on the Pennsylvania Central, assisting in erecting the famous bridge across the Susquehanna River. He was also Superintendent of construction on New Orleans & Great Northern, Little Miami and Ohio & Misssissippi Railways until the year 1854. September 27 of that year, he was united in marriage to Mary J. Whitacre, a native of this county and township, born Aug. 29, 1824. Their mar- ried life proved a happy one, and the following interesting children were born to them and adopted. Misza Whitacre (adopted son), born June 4, 1849 (married Anna D. Spring) ; Clara, born Dec. 17, 1855 (married to Julius D. Beckette) ; Cora, born Dec. 5, 1859 ; William H., Jr., born May 3, 1862 (now at the University of Columbus) ; Mary, born March 1, 1866; and Ada, born May 7, 1869. Mr. Mckinney is a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and is an ardent Mason. He is well informed in the order, being a member of Morrow Lodge, No. 265; Chapter, No. 143; Miami Commandery, 22, and Lebanon Council, No. 21. He espoused the Union cause during the late war, being a member of Company F, 146th O. V. I. He has engaged in farming since 1854, and owns a good farm of 178 acres of choice land. His chief crop is sweet corn, of which he produces 250 barrels annually. His crop is of a fine quality, and always finds a ready sale. His home is a model country residence, being furnished with all the modern conveniences, books, newspapers, music and pictures, which, together with its lady hostess, make it a desirable place for friends to call. It is an ideal rural home. His father was Thomas Mckinney, born April 17, 1800, in county Cavan, Ireland ; he married Mary Davisson in 1825; they settled at Malone in 1829, and, after making some changes in location, they removed to Wisconsin in 1856, where he died in March, 1876, his aged companion still surviving him. Andrew Whit- acre, the father of Mrs. Mckinney, was a native of Loudoun Co., Va., born August, 1790; he married Mary Kelley, born in South Carolina, Nov. 22, 1789. The Kelley family settled at Waynesville, this State; the Whitacre family at the mouth of Todd's Fork. The latter family was among the first families to settle near Morrow. These parents had a family of six daughters and one son ; they are well and favorably known.

J. L. MOUNTS, M. D., Morrow, was born in Hamilton Township, Warren Co., Ohio, on the old Mounts farm, Aug. 19, 1831, and was the seventh in a family of eleven children. At the age of 2 years, he went to live with his uncle, Matthew Leonard on an adjoining farm, and there remained until he was 21 years old. He attended the dis - trict school in the winter; attended the Lebanon Academy in the winter of 1849-50, and one year at the Ohio Wesleyan University. He taught school one year at the Zar Schoolhouse. In 1852, he commenced the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. J. T. Couden ; he attended lectures at the Starling Medical College, at Colum- bus, Ohio, where he graduated. He at once entered upon the practice in partnership with his preceptor, in Morrow, which partnership has continued until the present time, except during his absence in the army. Dr. Mounts was Assistant Surgeon of the 31st O. V. I., from August, 1861, to February, 1863, when he was appointed by Governor Tod to look after the sick and wounded Ohio troops; he was afterward appointed Sur- geon of the 144th O. V. I., and was discharged at the expiration of the regiment's term of service, in August, 1864. He was Postmaster at Morrow, from April, 1861, until Oct. 6, 1879, when he resigned. On Oct. 12, 1879, he was elected State Sen- ator from the Warren and Butler district, and served in that office a full term. De- clining a renomination, he has since devoted himself actively to the duties of his pro- fession. Dr. Mounts has been Vice President of the Ohio Medical Society, and several times President of the Lebanon Medical Society.

GILBERT MOUNT, farmer; P. O. Morrow ; born May 1, 1838, in this county, and received a common school education, and choose the occupation of farming. He has been married twice, first, Dec. 16, 1860, to Nancy J. Ireland; their children are James F., Allison, William E., and Carrie, Mary (deceased), and Eva. His wife died April 30, 1879, and in June, 1880, he was again married to Sallie E. Lucas, born in the year 1850. His father, Allison Mount, was a native of Ohio; he married Mary Kelley, of this county.

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WILLIAM T. MOUNTS, farmer; P. O. Morrow. The history of the Mounts family is so well known, and so closely connected with the interests of this county that any extended notice of it here would be superfluous, as it will appear else- where in this work. The subject of this sketch is a native of this county, and was born in Hamilton Township Oct. 31, 1841 ; he was educated in the public schools of this State, and Illinois, and was married in January, 1864, to Harriet Couden. This union proved a happy one and was blessed by the birth of two sons-Charles S. and John H., the former born June 18, 1865, the latter Oct. 10, 1869. Mr. Mounts was a farmer until 19 years of age, when he engaged in the drug business. In this new enterprise he was pre-eminently successful; having a fair commercial education, and of a genial, obliging disposition, his trade gradually increased to a large business. After continuing in the drug trade for some four years, Mr. Mounts returned to the farm, where he has since labored. He has a well-cultivated farm, on which is produced the best of grain, his principal crop being sweet corn. He is now engaged in building a fine residence, where the remainder of his days will no doubt be spent pleasantly.

SAMUEL REED NICKERSON. The subject of this sketch was born in the eastern part of Clinton Co., Ohio, on the 14th day of June, 1823. His father Artemas Nickerson was born in Putnam Co., N. Y., in 1796, and emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1805, landing at Lebanon this county on the 4th of July of that year, and finally settling on the banks of Todd's Fork, in what was then a part of Warren County. His mother Elizabeth Reed was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., in the year 1798, and emigrated with her parents to the eastern part of Clinton County in 1811. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents and labors on the farm, receiving only a slight education, such as the pioneer was able to give until the winter of 1844-45, when he attended an Academy at Waynesville, in this county, returning to his occupation as a farmer until the year 1846, when he married a Miss Humphrey, the daughter of James Humphrey, another of the pioneers of Warren County, who emigrated to this county from the State of New Jersey in 1815. Soon after Nickerson was married, he settled on a farm two miles south of Wilmington in Clinton County, where he had reared him a cabin in a dense forest, where he remained until the year 1850, when he removed to Wilmington, following different occupations until 1860, when he, in company with L. C. Walker, now one of the Judges of the Superior Courts of Indianapolis, Ind., I. W. Quinby, late a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, and John H. Kirk, a member of the Clinton County bar, was admitted to the practice of law in August, 1862. He entered the army as a private in Company C, of the 79th O. V. I., and was discharged from the service in February, 1864, by reason of a broken arm received while in said service. In April, 1864, he removed to Blanchester, Clinton Co., Ohio, where he entered into the practice of law until the 1st of March, 1870, when he com- menced editing the Blanchester Herald, a paper which he and his two sons started at that time, selling out the office to James L. Turk in October, 1871. In 1873, being com- pelled to take possession of the printing office again, removed the material to Sabina, Ohio, where, with his son, A. R. S., he commenced the publication of the Sabina Tele- gram which he continued to edit until in the year 1875, when they sold out to one E. E. Man, who also failed to pay for the office, thus compelling him again to resume the editorial chair, this time as editor of the Morrow Telegram which he commenced De- cember, 1876, and continued to manage until the 1st of January, 1882, when they sold the office and good will to Wm. H. Sanders, of the Sabina News, and who this time clinched the trade by paying for the same at the time of taking possession.

ARTEMAS REED NICKERSON was born in the town of Wilmington, Clin- ton Co., Ohio, June 22, 1853, residing with his parents and receiving a fair com- mon school education until the year 1870, when he entered the office of the Blan- chester Herald as a typo, where he worked under a foreman for near eight months, when in connection with his brother William, took entire control of the office and job work; removing with that office to Sabina, he commenced as publisher of the Sabina Telegram, and continued the same until it was sold in 1875. Removing to Morrow, Ohio, he commenced the publication of the Morrow Telegram, as proprietor and pub-

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lisher, until that office was sold to William H. Sanders in January, 1882. Resides now in Indianapolis, Ind., and is engaged as a compositor in the Journal office of that city.

JOSEPH C. NEWPORT, farmer ; P. O. Morrow. No one is more entitled to mention in the history of Warren Co. than Mr. Newport ; he was born in Turtle Creek Township in the year 1816 ; he was educated in the common schools of this county, and although not completing any course of study, he has gained much information by reading and observation. When quite young he learned the carpenter trade, at which he labored for a number of years. In May, 1838, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Montgomery, a native of the State of New Jersey, and born in July, 1818. Their children are-Mary J. (born April 3, 1840, married to J. R. Stephenson), Keziah (born Aug. 21, 1842, married to J. B. Ross), Clarissa C. (born May 19, 1844, married to Joseph Luce), William J. (born Feb. 27, 1846, was a member of the 2d Ohio Heavy Artillery during the late war), Susia (born March 6, 1848, married to Z. C. Dunham), John B. (born July 28, 1852), Laura B. (born July 7, 1855, mar- ried F. M. Cunningham), Cortland (born March 11, 1858), and Harry (born July 9, 1862). His father, James T. Newport, was a native of Fayette Co., Penn., born in the Old Red Stone Fort Dec. 12, 1792; he married Mary Corwin, a native of Bourbon Co., Ky., born October 16, 1795 ; she was well connected, being a near relative of the Corwin family of this county. They were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters. After a life of usefulness, he died Aug. 2, 1873, and she May 12, 1866. William Montgomery, the father of Mrs. Newport, was born in Ireland, about the year 1791 ; he married Jane Patterson, of his own native land; she was about his own age ; both deceased. Mr. Newport is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace of his township for over nine years. He owns a good farm of 153 acres of land, and is considered an honest, upright citizen.

JOHN SCHEER, brewer, Morrow, was born in Baden, Germany, April 17, 1824. He emigrated to America in 1844; landed in New-Orleans, where he remained until August, 1845, when he pushed on up the river to Cincinnati, where he lived until 1854, when he removed to Warren Co., Ohio, and built a brewery, hav- ing learned to brew while in Cincinnati ; is now and has been running the brewery since it was built. Although a brewer, he abhors drunkenness, and will not allow any one about him that will get drunk. He was married June 20, 1850, to Magdalena Sanger, who was born Nov. 4, 1828, in Sorbog, a department of France, but which was afterward ceded to Prussia. She emigrated to America with her parents in 1846, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she lived until her marriage to Mr. Scheer. Of Mr. and Mrs. John Scheer's eight children but five are living, three boys and two girls. Mr. Scheer's parents came to America in 1851, and located in Morrow, Warren Co., Ohio. His mother died in 1855 and the father in 1861. Mrs. Scheer's father died on the ocean during their voyage to America. Her mother lives with her and is 76 years old. Mr. Scheer is a member of Morrow Chapter, No. 143, R. A. M. ; also a member of Morrow Lodge, No. 116, I. O. O. F. He is a generous, wholesouled man, and never turned the cold shoulder in case of charity.

JOSEPH G. SELLEW, farmer ; P. O. Morrow ; a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio; born May 26, 1840 ; he was educated in the graded schools of Cincinnati, Ohio, and was married Aug. 31, 1864, to Catharine Finch, born Oct. 24, 1842. She was a native of Hamilton Co. also, and was the mother of five children-Alice G., Osman, Fredie E., Warren and Timothy G. His father, Osman Sellew, is a native of Connecticut, born June 1, 1810; he married Miss H. Goodrich, a native of the same State, born about the year 1819. He settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, about the year 1832; he is still liv- ing; she died May 7, 1847.

LEWIS STIBBS, farmer; P. O. Morrow ; this enterprising young gentleman is a native of Salem Township this county, bern March 21, 1856 ; he is the second child of Henry and Sidney (Jennings) Stibbs ; the former, born in this county, Feb. 17, 1832, the latter, also born in this county, Feb. 8, 1835. The following children constitute the family, Sarah, born Feb. 24, 1854 ; Lewis, already mentioned ; Charlie, born Nov. 5, 1858; Clifton, born June 10, 1862 ; Clyde, born April 29, 1865; Jennie, born March 1,

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1868; John, born Aug. 26, 1870 ; and Harry Aug. 30, 1873. The Stibbs family were originally from New York of which John Stibbs was the pioneer in this county; he was born March 1807; he married Maria Hulse, of New Jersey, three years his junior ; he came to this county at five years of age, and was the father of twelve children. She died Oct. 13, 1859, and he Aug. 12, 1873.

ROBERT WHITACRE (deceased). Robert Whitacre, one of the earliest set- tlers in the southern part of the county, emigrated to and settled near the mouth of Todd's Fork, in the year 1805 ; he was of English descent, his father, John Whitacre, having emigrated from England about the year 1750. Robert was married three times ; first, to Sarah Roach, by whom he had one son, Jonas ; second, Hannah Young, who died without issue; third, Patience Mckay, by whom he had seven children- Andrew, John, Priscilla, Jane, Aquilla, Rhoda and Moses. He took up 4,000 acres in what is now known as Survey 1,494, it being an old military claim, deeded to Rob- ert Whitacre by Burr Powell, he trading for it from a Capt. Hamilton, of Revolu- tionary fame. Mr. W. was a stirring business man, dealing largely in stock, which he marketed in Baltimore, driving them there on foot ; to his efforts was due the erection of the first bridge across the Miami, in this vicinity ; to his energy and untiring zeal, many of our pioneers owe the foundation of their future success. Upon his death, Sept. 18, 1828, Warren Co. lost a man who had largely contributed to its future great- ness. The family, of seven children, located and built their homes upon tract taken by their father, and upon which four of them lived and died ; to-day (excepting three farms) the entire survey of 1494 is still held by the Whitacre descendants. Moses Whitacre, born 1804, youngest son, succeeded to the old home of his father ; his early days were passed in agricultural pursuits; at an early age, he evinced a desire to gain an education, which advantages were not to be gained in that day without the most earnest exertion upon his part ; this he exhibited and soon reached the then pin- nacle of fame-a school teacher-which avocation he followed some length of time. In March, 1826, he was married to Miss Priscilla Thomas, of Belmont Co., Ohio (her parents, natives of Georgia, who emigrated to the aforementioned county at an early day) ; to them were born seven children, of whom but two arrived to the age of matu- rity-William, and Sidney T., now Mrs. Prather. Moses Whitacre was a generous, whole-souled, public spirted man who furthered all enterprises tending to the culture and benefit of his fellow-man ; a man of great energy, imbuing all with whom he came in contact with the same spirit. At the age of 38 he was called from his sphere of use- fulness by the angel of death, departing this life Jan. 8, 1842, his faithful wife follow- ing him July 16, 1847. William Whitacre, born Jan. 17, 1835, succeeded to the old home of his father and grandfather (which he at this writing occupies), beautifully located upon the second level, lying between Todd's Fork and the Little Miami River, overlooking the thriving little village of Morrow. His early days were passed without event otherwise than those known to the school-boy, until he arrived at the age when he had to enter the arena of life; before so doing, he concluded to complete his studies by a course at the Richmond Academy, Indiana, founded by the Society of Friends ; completing his course, he returned home and engaged in general dealing until the spring of 1861, when he entered the mercantile and real estate business, lotting up from his farm what is now known as East Morrow. In the struggle of the great re- bellion, he took an active interest in the cause of the Union, expending liberally for the cause which he supported, besides his services in the call for 100-days men, and the Morgan raid. On the 22d of May, 1866, he was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Lownes (see history of Josiah Lownes); to them have been born six children- Walter L., Horace J., Marion, Frank T., William H. and Mariana. Mr. W. has served his township in nearly all of its official capacities ; was Clerk when it was first organized, and to day officiates as one of its Trustees; retiring from mercantile pur- suits to his farm, his active life would not allow him to give alone his entire attention to that pursuit, therefore, he has added the coal and lumber business. Quiet and unas- suming in manner and speech, connected with habits of industry and integrity, has won him the esteem of his fellow-men and makes him one of the foremost citizens of Warren Co.

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 130

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