USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 2 > Part 68
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JOHN B. PATTON, farmer, stock-grower and feeder; P. O. Springfield ; was born at Donnelsville, this county, Dec. 24, 1846. He is the son of John and Christina A. ( Bates) Patton, both natives of this State. His father was a physician, and died when our subject was 10 months old, leaving three helpless boys to the care of his mother; but his maternal grandfather, Henry Bates, afforded him, his mother and brothers thas aid and protection in life of which they had been deprived by death. A common-school education and a commercial term, were his scholastic preparations for the stern duties of life. At the age of 18 or 19, he commenced business for himself, and rented his grandfather's farm of 125 acres, paying his rent in a share of the crop. In 1878, he purchased his present farm of 160 acres, which he is bringing to a fine state of cultivation by the most approved methods of fertilization. He was married to Miss Carrie L. Brentlinger, daughter of Andrew Brentlinger of Montgomery Co., this State, March 2, 1871. To them four children have been given. Ahnost as soon as he attained his majority, he was honored and trusted by his people with office, and aniong others, he has honorably discharged the duties of Township Clerk and Assessor, and is at present Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace.
LEWIS SKILLINGS, farmer, stock-grower and feeder ; P. O. Springfield ; was born in Springfield Township, July 24, 1831. He is of Prussian descent ; his grand-
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father, Lewis Skillings, having been a native of that country, born in 1850. This grand- father, rather than serve as a hireling soldier against the American Colonies then struggling for liberty, deserted and settled in Maine, where he married Mary Blagaw. They left seven children, of whom Lewis, the father of our sketch, was the oldest. At the age of 22, he came West, landing at Cincinnati in 1810. He boated on the Ohio and Mississippi for a time, and then settled in Springfield Township, this county, where he died in 1869. Our subject has always followed farming. At the age of 20, though living in his father's family, he commenced business for himself, by dealing in live-stock on a small scale. When 25 years old, he left the parental household and engaged in business for himself, and, with his brother John, purchased 105 acres of land, where he now resides. Before the purchase money was fully paid, this brother died, and he com- pleted the purchase and became the sole owner of the property to which he has since added 3113 acres in the neighborhood. On Dec. 13, 1855, he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Calvin Hammond, of Harmony Township. To this marriage there have been given five children-Fremont, Laura, Rolley, Autice and Carrie, all living at home with their parents. Mr. S. has erected a fine brick residence, and a fine frame barn with stone base; all constructed, finished aud furnished in the most elegant taste, and of the most improved designs.
JOHN B. SPARROW, farmer, stock-raiser, and dealer in stock; P. O. Spring- field; was born in this county July 3, 1829; his father's name was John ; his education was that of the common schools, and his early life was spent, as his whole life has been, upon the farm. At the age of 21, he commenced farming for himself upon the Mar- quart farm, this township, where he has lived forty-one years. March 1, 1854, he married Miss Ann, daughter of Mark and Esther Johnson. Of this marriage, ten out of twelve children survive; two have married and left the parental home, and the remainder yet remain. April, 1879, Mr. S. bought 209 acres, part of the Marquart landed estate.
JOIIN T. STEWART (deceased). There is perhaps no family in Clark Co. who are more widely known than the descendants of John T. Stewart, and most of his sons are leading business men of the community in which they reside, and a credit to their deceased father. The family are of Scotch origin, and went to Ireland about 1661, changing their name from Stuart to Stewart, to avoid persecution. In 1735, the grand- parents of John T., viz., Samuel T. Stewart and wife, came to the American Colonies, and with them came the father of John T., viz., Samuel Stewart, a native of' Belfast, Ireland, the family settling in Pennsylvania. The subject of this sketch was the fifth son of Samuel Stewart. and was born in Dauphin Co., Penn., March 3, 1781, and there grew to maturity, his father dying in that county Sept. 19, 1803. In the autumn of 1806 he, with his brother, Samuel, came to Ohio, and purchased 500 acres of land in Sec. 15, Town 5, Range 8, which was then a part of Greene Co., but now lays in Green Township, Clark Co., Ohio. About 1815, they divided the land, John T. receiving the southern portion in the division then made. He was married near his home, March 2, 1815, to Miss Ann Elder, third daughter of Robert and Ann Elder, natives of Dau- phin Co., Penn., who settled on See. 10 of the same township in the spring of 1813. Mrs. Stewart was born in her parents' native county. May 19, 1798, and had the fol- lowing children by this union : Juliana, Perry, Elder R., Samuel, Charles, James M., Thomas E., Oscar N., William C. and Harriet, all of whom are living but the last- mentioned, who died in infancy. John T. and wife resided with his brother, Samuel. until he built a house on his own place, whither they removed in the fall of 1816. In 1813, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held until 1836; he was the first Clerk of the Clifton Presbyterian Church, which was organized in 1811; was the first Clerk of his Township, and served as Associate Judge one term. lle continued to reside on the old homestead until his death, April 16, 1850, his widow surviving him thirty years, dying Sept. 24, 1880. Both were life-long members of the Presbyterian Church, and went down to the grave with a strong faith in a blissful immortality. John T. Stewart was a man of ability and intellectual worth ; of the strictest temperance views, and can be truly called one of the pioneer temperance men of Clark Co. He
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was a rank Abolitionist, and early took strong grounds against slavery, and believed that nothing but a war would be able to strike the shackles from the slave, which demon- strates that he possessed a discerning, far-seeing mind, much in advance of his time. He was one of the most energetic. successful farmers of Clark Co., and accumulated an estate worth, at the time of his death, $40,000, which was considered wealthy in those days. He was a man honored and respected by all classes of society, and has left a name that his descendants can point to with just pride. His portrait appears in the pages of this work, having been inserted by his children, who yet love and honor his memory, and who believed that it was their duty to represent him in this history, where he justly deserved a place.
PERRY STEWART, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Springfield ; was born in this township June 6, 1818, and was the eldest son of John T. and Ann Stewart ; raised to farm life, he has always pursued it. His early education was such as the common schools of the country afforded during his boyhood; but a close observation of and a large experience with the ways of mankind and the business world, have given his mind a cultivation and finish that fit him for the duties and stations in life far above the humble though honorable one of his choice. Of Scottish descent, his ancestry having first removed from Scotland to the northern part of Ireland, thence to Pennsyl- vania, and thence to Ohio. To perseverance, pluck, industry and economy, he adds liberality, generosity and hospitality. Oct. 15, 1844, he married Miss Rhoda Wheeler, daughter of Ebenezer, who was born Dec. 31, 1824, in this township also. Of this marriage ten children, five sons and five daughters, were born, all of whom survive ex- cept one daughter, and many of them grown to manhood and womanhood, fill honora- ble stations in life, while the remainder are yet in the family household. Upon his marriage, he commenced farming for himself on a farm of 130 acres, where he now lives, and to which he has added until this farm embraces 340 acres, and his entire. landed possessions embrace over 600 acres in the vicinity. That he is an enterprising and successful farmer not only the width of his acres, but their state of cultivation and the improvements upon them, leave no room for doubt. In 1862, when rebellion threatened the destruction of our civil government and the spoliation of our Union, he left his family of wife and eight children, his farm and stock, aided in recruiting Co. A, 94th O. V. I., was commissioned Captain of it, and led it into the field. After eighteen months' service, the privations of camp life and the exposure and hardships of it brought disease and disability, and compelled his resignation and a return to civil life. In 1865, he was chosen County Commissioner of his county, ind in 1867 a Represen- tative of his district in the General Assembly of his state, both of which offices he discharged the duties of to the satisfaction of his constituents.
DAVID STEWART, farmer; P. O. Clifton; was born on his present farm in 1833, and is a son of James and Jane (Elder) Stewart. He was reared to farin life. his youth having been given to the cultivation of the homestead farm, under the instruc- tion of his father until in 1859, when he married Miss Laura MeKehan, a native of Maryland, born in 1837, who came West with her parents at the age of 13. Here she matured into womanhood, married as above, and in October, 1873, died. After the marriage of David, he engaged in farming for himself upon his father's farm of 130 acres, of which he is now the owner, and to which he has added until it embraces 210 acres of well-improved land in an excellent state of cultivation. He, for six years has been, and now is Township Trustee; has three daughters and two sons, all of whom are yet with him in single life. The residence of his birth he yet lives in, and has enlarged, repaired and improved in the most modern style of architecture until it, in size, finish and appearance, compares favorably with any in the neighborhood.
ROBERT E. STEWART, farmer and stock-grower; P. O. Springfield; son of Samuel Stewart, who immigrated to this township from Pennsylvania, and settled here in 1806; was born in this township in 1811, and has since resided therein. His early years were spent, upon the farm, and his early education that of the country subscription schools of that time. In 1845, he was married to Miss Mary Jane MeClung, daughter of Mathew and Elizabeth McClung, of Preble Co., Ohio. After a united journey in
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life of but four years, she was called away from him in death, leaving two helpless infants to his care. Of these, Mathew S. Stewart manages his father's farm ; and Mary F., wife of Solon Stratton, resides in Bloomington, III. Mr. S. purchased his present farm of 120 acres, in 1865; has lately built an elegant residence, and otherwise greatly improved it.
OSCAR N. STEWART, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Springfield ; one of a numerous and prominent family of that name in this locality; was born in this town - ship, Feb. 5, 1833. He was the son of John T. Stewart; was brought up upon the farm, and received a common-school education. At the age of 23 he commenced farm- ing for himself upon a part of his father's farm, where he now resides, and where he has surrounded and provided himself with all the comforts and conveniences of farm life. In January, 1862, he married Miss Rachel Nichelson, daughter of Andrew Nich- elson, now deceased, an early settler and much-esteemcd citizen of Harmony Township. Of this marriage, three children survive-Herbert P., Ralph N. and Frank C., all liv- ing with their parents, by whom neither pains or means are spared to educate and fit them for the duties of life. To the 140 acres originally owned by Mr. Stewart, he has added from time to time, until his acreage in the vicinity reaches 513, besides 150 acres in another locality, all valuable lands in an excellent state of cultivation. He combines stock-growing with farming, and thus turns the products of the farm to greater account, and thereby enhances his profits.
WILLIAM C. STEWART, farmer and stock-grower; P. O. Springfield ; young- est son of John T. Stewart, and one of a numerous family always found at the front in every good work ; was born in this township Oct. 27, 1835. Like that of nearly all young men of his youth, his early training was upon the farm, and his early educa- tion was that of the public schools of his youth. His father dying when he was 14 ·years old, the management of the Stewart homestead fell upon him at an early age -- a responsibility which he did not evade, but well discharged. This farm was one of the earliest settled in the township, and is now occupied and owned by the subject of this sketch, who has added to it until his lands embrace 486 acres of the best quality of farms and lands in the locality. His mother, surviving the death of his father, con- tinued in control of the homestead household until June, 1880, when advancing age and ill-health compelled her to quit her home of long years, of much joy and some sorrow, for the kind care and attention of a daughter. The subject of this sketch, mindful of Glial duty, remained single so long as this dear mother remained in the old homestead. On Sept. 9, 1880, he was joined in marriage to Miss Lizzie T., an accomplished lady, daughter of Albert and Harriet Sellers, of Greene Co., this State. May their united years be as joyous as the writer's wish.
E. R. STEWART, miller ; P. O. Clifton; was born Jan. 20, 1821, in this township. Reared in farm life, he continued it with his parents. John T. and Ann, until in 1846, when he commenced farming for himself two miles from the homestead. In 1848, he formed a co partnership in the milling business with John H. Jacoby. a brother-in-law. In 1852, this was dissolved, and he went into merchandising with his brother Samuel, and continued until 1860, when he returned to farming. In 1864, he and Mr. Jacoby bought the Clifton Mills which, in 1865, were destroyed by fire. They rebuilt, and continued the business until 1872, when the co-partnership was dissolved by Mr. Stewart purchasing Mr. Jacoby's interest. He has since continued the business himself. The mill is a four run of 100-barrel daily capacity, and is kept running night and day. On Oct. 8, 1846, he was united in marriage to Rachel F., daughter of Henry and Rebecca Curry Jacoby, who still is on the journey of life with him. The issue of this marriage has been four girls and two boys, all of whom are living except one boy. Mr. Stewart is one of those enterprising and fair-dealing busi- ness men in whom the people of his neighborhood have the utmost confidence, and for whom all have a profound respect.
JOHN TAYLOR, farmer; P. O. Springfield ; son of Casper Taylor, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in Franklin Co., Penn., April 9, 1808. His education was that of the subscription schools. At the age of 18 he was apprenticed to a millwright ;
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but his master quitting the trade after two years, his apprenticeship was released and be thereafter worked at the trade for a period of about nine years. In 1839 he removed to Ohio, arriving at Springfield on May 4, where he went into partnership with Lucius Muzzy, millwright. After two years, this co-partnership was, by mutual consent, dissolved, and Mr. Taylor carried on the business himself until 1851, when he quit the trade. In 1855 he purchased his present farm of 854 acres from one William Hunt- ington, where he has since resided and intends to reside until his years are closed on earth. He was married May 2, 1841, to Miss Catharine Kirkpatrick, daughter of Hugh Kirkpatrick, late of Springfield. She is a native of Kentucky, and still journeys through life with him. Of this marriage three children out of six survive, as follows: Nathan K., Martin B. and Rachel C., all of whom have arrived at maturity, and but one of whom, the first, resides with his parents. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live with and care for the subject of this sketch and his wife.
ROBERT TINDALL, farmer, stock-dealer and shipper; P. O. Selma. It is eminently proper that many of the most prominent descendants of the pioneers should be fittingly mentioned in the history of the county in which they were born and reared ; representing, as they do, the names of those whose memories will live as long as time shall last, and there is, perhaps, no man in Green Township who better deserves a place in the pages of this work than Robert Tindall. He was born in Green Township, Clark Co., Ohio, June 25, 1825, and is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Waller) Tindall, natives of Yorkshire, England, who came to Clark Co. about 1819, settling in Green Township, where they resided until death. Thomas Tindall was born in 1786, and his wife in 1793, and were married in 1814, the former dying in June, 1856, and the latter in August, 1872. To them were born nine children, viz .: George, Charles, Nancy, John, Margaret, Robert, Susan, Mary and Ellen, all living but George and Susan. The subject of this sketch grew up in his native township, with a very limited chance to obtain an education, having to work hard and constantly for his livelihood, with no time to devote to other pursuits, but he was possessed of a determined energy, and a restless ambition, which was bound to carry him onward to success. He was married, April 12, 1865, by the Rev. Mr. Campbell. to Miss Mary Abia Hartwell, daughter of William and Abia Hartwell, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Tindall was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, close to Cincinnati, Sept. 21, 1839, and had born to her six children, as follows : Herbert D., Carrie A., Olive, Lucy, William and Robert A., all of whom are living. For eleven short years she watched with a fond wife's and loving mother's care over her household, when that dreaded monster death, che se her for a victim, and June 20, 1876, she passed away, a sincere member of the M. E. Church, leaving behind an affectionate husband and six small children to mourn an almost irreparable bereave- ment. Politically, Mr. Tindall has always been a Republican, and on the breaking-out of the rebellion took active sides with the Government in the vigorous prosecution of the war, sending a substitute for three years, one for the one hundred days' service, and one to repel the "Morgan raid," and was also one of the patriotic " Squirrel Hunters, " who went out like the " Minute Men, " of Revolutionary fame, in response to the Governor's call to fight Kirby Smith, which demonstrates that his heart was with the old flag. Beginning in life poor, his success has been marked from the first, and he is now the possessor of 640 acres of fine land-all the legitimate result of his own indomitable pluck and energy, and is at present erecting a brick residence, modern in design and finish, which will be one of the finest farm residences in the county. He devotes his whole time to his farm and stock business, dealing extensively in that line, and, in fact, is the largest individual stock trader and shipper in Clark Co., no other single shipper doing as large a business. He is now one of the District School Direc- tors, and is a man whose promises are inviolable, whose honesty and integrity of purpose is admitted by all good citizens, and who has won and retained the respect of all who know him.
W. BRAND TODD, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. O. Clifton. The grandfather of this energetic farmer, James Todd, was a native of Ireland, who came to the Amer- ican Colonies before the dawn of freedom, settling in Massachusetts, and on the break-
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ing-out of the Revolutionary war, he gave his services to help crush the hereditary foe of his native land. When the Colonies shook off the tyrant's grasp and breathed the air of freedom, he located close to Philadelphia, Penn., where he was married to Mary Brand, to whom were born seven children, James Todd, the father of W. Brand, being the fourth in the family. He was born near Philadelphia, Penn., Oct. 22, 1797, and in 1806 the whole family came West, settling, finally, in Warren Co., Ohio, building their cabin close to a small branch of the Miami River, which yet bears the name of " Todd's Fork." His mother died there, and his father was again married to a Mrs. Neely, to whom was born two children, and there his parents resided until death. James Todd grew to manhood in this portion of Ohio, and Jan. 28, 1819, was married, in Green Township, Clark Co., Ohio, to Elizabeth Garlough, daughter of John and Mar- garet Garlough, he a native of Germany and she of Maryland. Mrs. Todd was born in Maryland, Jan. 12, 1799, and her husband, after marriage, settled permanently in the northern part of Green Township, where he followed the peaceful avocation of a farmer until his death, Dec. 29, 1863. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which denomination his widow still adheres; and now, in her 83d year, in the enjoy- ment of good health, with a figure as straight as an arrow, she pursues the even tenor of her way, surrounded by her descendants, passing the few remaining days of her life in peace and happiness. James Todd was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison, and the subject of this sketch has now the rifle, powder-horn and bullet- pouch which his father carried throughout that struggle. To James and Elizabeth Todd were born nine children, W. Brand being the fifth in the family. He was born on the old homestead, in Green Township, Aug. 20, 1829, and there grew up, following the general routine of a farmer's son. His early education was obtained in the neigh- borhood subscription school, but general reading and experience has given him a knowledge and intelligence that could not be acquired in the schools of any period. Until the age of 33, he remained with his parents on the farm, with the exception of the summer seasons of eight years, during which he worked with his father at millwright- ing. He was married, May 26, 1863, to Miss Rebecca Wilkinson, daughter of Joseph Wilkinson, of Madison Township, Clark Co., Ohio, to whom has been born two chil- dren, one of whom is living, viz., Charles E., a bright. intelligent boy, whose future prospects are indeed promising. In 1870, Mr. Todd purchased his present farm of 100 acres, located one mile east of Clifton, which he has since brought to a high state of cultivation. Politically, Mr. Todd is an ardent Republican; has been Township Trust- ee five years, Assessor ten years, and a member and Treasurer of the Clifton School Board five years, all of which offices he has filled with honesty and capability. He is a well-informed, agreeable gentleman, and is respected by the people throughout his township.
JOHN WELLER, farmer; P. O. Clifton; son of Joseph Weller, a native of Maryland, was born Dec. 11, 1817, at Augusta Co., Va .; his early years being mostly required in the maintenance of his father's family, his opportunities for the develop- ment of his mind in youth were limited to occasional attendance at subscription schools : but a large experience with the world and its business affairs, has made ample amends for this, and given his country a citizen who respects its laws, acts well his humble part in its growth and development, and cherishes its fundamental principles of government .. In 1830. with his father's family, he removed to this township, where they settled on the east branch of the Little Miami, and in 1836 his father settled on his present farm of 160 acres, which he afterward, on April 10, 1851, purchased. Jan. 9, 1845, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wyant, daughter of John Wyant, of Champaign Co., this State. Of this marriage, two children were boru ; a son, John A., who assists on the farm, and a daughter, Sarah Jane. wife of John E. Johnson, a neighbor.
GEORGE S. WILSON, farmer; P. O. Selma; son of Dr. J. S. Wilson, of Xenia, Ohio, was born at Medina, Ohio. in 1830. He was educated in the common school. At the age of 20 years, he felt and showed a preference for agriculture as a pursuit in life, adopted it as his choice, and commenced farming upon his father's farm, where the village of Selina now stands. Here he lived fifteen years, and in the mean_
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time became the owner of this farm, which, in 1865, he sold, and bought and occupied a farm between Xenia and Dayton, where he resided about ten years, when he sold this and bought his present farm of 212 acres, which embraces the Robert Hatton farmu and other lands adjoining. On Feb. 22, 1852, he married Miss Harrison, daughter of Seth Harrison, of Madison Township. Of this marriage there is issue-Florence P., Fred M., W. Harry, Stella, Maud and Elsie, all with parents except the second, who has commenced business for himself. Of those remaining, Harry is especially deserv- ing of particular mention as a young man of good parts, and full of promise. The farm always seems to revert to the Wilson family, of which it seems to be the destined heritage, having time and again been in the possession of some member of this family for a period of fifty years.
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