The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 100

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2 > Part 100

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WILLIAM R. BROWN, stock raiser and shipper, Morrisville, a prominent hog- shipper, is a son of David and Rebecca Brown. He was born in Washington Town- ship August 22, 1844. His father was born in 1813, and died April 26, 1879; and Mrs. Brown was born December 25, 1817. They came to Clinton County at a very early day. Mr. Brown, our subject, has for the last sixteen years been engaged exten- sively in shipping hogs. In 1881-82, he, in company with his brother, George Brown, with the style of their firm W. R. Brown & Co., shipped about 33,700 head of hogs. Mr. Brown winters about 100 head every season. He is also engaged in breeding Po- land-Chinas, and Short-Horn cattle. He owns ninety-six acres of the original home- stead, which has very good improvements. He was Trustee of Washington Township for two terms. In politics, he is Democratic. He was married September 9, 1871, to Miss Martha A. Mckibben, daughter of John and Matilda Mckibben. They have three children-Otto G., born August 22, 1872; Oceus D., born February 26, 1874, Oma D., born April 16, 1876.

SYLVESTER BROWN, carpenter, Cuba, was born in this township September 8, 1846. He is a son of John Brown (deceased) and Sarah Clevenger. His father en- listed in defensc of the Union August, 1862, in Company C, Seventy-ninth Regiment. . On Sunday morning, May 1, 1864, when in a charge in the second day's fight at Resaca, the fatal ball came, and he was mortally wounded, with the bleeding, half-slain heroes. He died in the field hospital May 15 following, and now sleeps with his patriotic comrades in the National Cemetery, in Chattanooga. Sylvester, the oldest of his father's three children, was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and received his training in the common schools. In early life, he learned the blacksmith trade with his father, and followed it for a time. The avocation of farming was his business up to

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1875, when he learned the carpenter trade, which he still follows. He was married October, 1865, to Miss Harriet Byard, daughter of Thomas and Louisa Byard. Two daughters were born to bless this union-Mary Netty, born September 5, 1866, and Minnie May, born June 18, 1868. Mr. Brown is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment. Politically, he is Democratic.

GREEN B. BUSTER, farmer. P. O. Cuba, a Quartermaster Sergeant in the civil war, was born in Wayne County, Ky., May 6, 1838. His father, Garrett Buster, was born in Wayne County in December, 1804, and was a slave under old Gen. Bus. ter for forty-two years. His mother, Sophia Hudson, was born in the same county, January 3, 1809, and served as a slave for thirty-four years. They were married December 25, 1835. In 1846, Mr. Buster, the father of our subject, worked and bought himself, paying $700. He then worked industriously, prompted by the spirit of freedom, and rescued from bondage his wife and three children, paying therefor upward of $4,000. In 1861, Mr. Buster removed with his family to Xenia, Ohio. September 28, 1864, our subject enlisted in the One Hundred and First Regiment of Colored Troops, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, to help defend the "flag of liberty." At Nashville, Tenn., he was chosen Corporal of his Company, and subsequently was elected Quartermaster Sergeant, and served in that capacity with ability till the war closed. He received an honorable discharge September 28, 1865. He then returned to Greene County, Ohio, and resided there till the spring of 1881, when he purchased his present farm. He was married August 10, 1865, to Mildred Johnson, a native of Montgomery County, Tenn .; she was born September 10, 1847, and served under the yoke of bondage until 1863. They have had ten children, nine are living-William, Garrett, Lizzie, Charles C., Paul, Rufus, Green B., Squire and Sadie ; Ivie is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Buster are devout members of the Church of Christ. In politics, Mr. Buster is a strict Republican. He owns a valuable farm of 125 acres, and is engaged in farming and stook-raising. Mr. Buster has by his genial, honest disposition, and upright business principles, won the good-will of the entire community, and well deserves their estcem.

SIMEON S. CAST, P. O. Wilmington, a leading farmer of Washington Township, born in Vernou Township January 7, 1828. His father, William Cast, was a native of Kentucky, and came with his parents, Ezekiel and Mary Cast, to this county at a date in its early history. His mother, Elizabeth Smith, was brought to this county by her parents, Ephraim and Sarah Smith, in 1818. When a boy of four years, Mr. Cast's father died, leaving him with his mother in limited circumstances. He remained with his mother till he was fourteen years old. Having an insatiable desire for knowl- edge, he sought about for an education, which he finally acquired in Lebanon Normal, Miami University of Oxford and Woodward College, under Prof. Ray. He followed teaching at intervals from 1844 to 1856. In 1851, having accomplished his collegiate course, he engaged as clerk in a hardware store. The year 1852 he was engaged in the mercantile business in Claysville, Ind., with Joseph Claypool, of Cincinnati. Subse- quently he went to Cincinnati and clerked in a hardware establishment for a time. Ile then taught school and traveled till October 11, 1856, when he was married to Miss . Mary B. Villars, daughter of James and Frances Villars, of Vernon Township. Mrs. Cast was born in the township of her father's residence October 6, 1834. Of eleven children born to this union nine are living, viz., Frances A. (wife of Joseph M. Bulla. of Richmond, Ind.), Eva, Emma L. (wife of William Smith), Ulysses S., Ella J., Ethel, Eugenia, Charles E. and Estella R. John W. and Eldridge J. are deceased. Mr. Cast is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics his views are Republican. He settled on his present farm in 1859, and owns 400 acres of well-improved and highly cultivated land. Mr. Cast is by occupation an agriculturist and stock-raiser, which he carries on with excellent success. Mr. Cast is a man of abounding enterprise and an ex- teemed citizen.

PETER CLEVENGER, farmer, P. O. Cuba, a representative citizen and author of the history of Washington Township, was born in the township of his residence February 2, 1833. His parents, Enos Clevenger and Christina Krouse, were natives of Frederick

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County, Va. His father was born October, 1800, and his mother 1803. They were married in Virginia in 1824, and came to this county in the fall of 1825. Mr. Clevenger came to Clinton County in 1824 on horseback, but remained only a short time. The year of his settlement in Washington Township (1825) he bought a farm of seventy- five acres on J. Blackwell's Survey, No. 1,382. Mr. Clevenger was a man prominent in his day. For twelve years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and as Trustee of the township for several terms, besides various local positions. He died October, 1867. Mrs. Clevenger departed this life September, 1871. They had eight children, of whom our subject is the second son and fifth child. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and educated in the country schools. He is of English progeniture on his father's side and of German by his mother. His paternal great-grandfather and brother emigrated from England with Lord Fairfax's colony about 1738-39, and served in the French, Indian and Revolutionary wars, and was present with the victors at York- town. Our subject's maternal grandfather, John Krouse, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution on the British side and was captured at the surrender of Yorktown, and with other prisoners was taken to Win- chester Barracks. In 1853 and 1854, Mr. Clevenger took a course of instructions in surveying and civil engineering. He has been engaged in the former department since 1856 and the latter since 1868. He has been employed as engineer by the County Commissioners more or less since 1868. February 21, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Mitchell, daughter of John and Mary Mitchell, and a native, of Washington Township, where her birth occurred October, 1837. They have one child-J. Randolph. He was born June 19, 1857. Mr. Clevenger owns a valuable farm of 532 acres, located in Washington, Vernon and Marion Townships. His farm near Cuba is adorned with a substantial frame residence, built in 1876 at a cost of $3,000. Its neat and well-arranged lawn and surroundings plainly indicate that a first- class farmer resides there. Mr. Clevenger superintends his farm and rearing stock, and has been very successful in financial pursuits ; 1871-72 and 1873, he was engaged in the mercantile business with Mr. S. T. Moon, of Cuba. Mr. Clevenger is identified with the I. O. O. F., and in politics is Democratic. He has occupied various official rela- tions in his township. He has been Township Clerk since 1865 and Justice of the Peace since 1866. Mr. Clevenger is one of the leading and most influential citizens of Washington Township, and a personal sketch of him in this volume is eminently ap- propriate.

WILLIAM CLEVENGER, farmer, P. O. Cuba, third son of Enos and Christina Clevenger, was born in Washington Township April 30, 1836. He was reared to manhood on a farm, and received his educational acquirements in the common schools of the country. When he arrived to his majority, he engaged in farming and followed its pursuits for nine years, then embarked in the mercantile business and continued in that line two years, and returned to his former occupation, which he has followed ever since. 1879 and 1880, Mr. Clevenger was employed by the County Commissioners to plat all the townships in the county for the re-appraisement of real estate in 1880. April, 1869, he was elected a member of the Board of Township Trustees, and has since been a useful member of that body. He served on the Township Board of Education for fifteen years. September 13, 1862, he was married to Martha Comp- ton, daughter of Ephraim and Elizabeth Compton. Mrs. Clevenger was born in Indiana January 8, 1845. This marriage was given five children, of whom four are living-George M., born November 10, 1863; Frank 'M., born March 8, 1865; Will- iam . W., born May 21, 1869; Homer E., born May 23, 1879; Luther E., born August 18, 1866, and died December 23, 1870. Mrs. Clevenger is a consistent mem- · ber of the M. E. Church. Mr. Clevenger is connected with the society of the I. O. O. F. In politics, he entertains Democratic views. During the late rebellion, Mr. Clevenger was Captain of Company K, Second Regiment Clinton County Militia. He was commissioned by Gov. Tod. He was called out once during the Kirby Smith threatened invasion on Cincinnati. Mr. Clevenger owns seventy-two acres of the original homestead; it is well improved and cultivated.

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EDWARD M. CHAMPLIN, farmer, P. O. Cuba, son of Joshua and Hannah E. Champlin, was born December 8, 1836. He was reared on a farm till seventeen years of age, when he went to Cincinnati and served an apprenticeship of three years at the printer's trade, in the office of the Commercial. He then engaged in the retail grocery business with his brother, John M. Champlin, in the city, and did business in that line four years; then returned to this township and after spending one year, made a trip westward. He returned to Clinton and remained till the opening of the rebellion. September 15, 1861, he joined Company F, Seventeenth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served under the gallant commander Gen. Thomas. He participated in the battles of Wild Cat, Somerset, siege of Corinth, Perryville. Hoover's Gap, Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. He veteranized and subsequently joined Sherman, and was active in the engagements of Resaca, Kene- saw Mountain, Jonesboro and Atlanta. He went on the famous "march to the sea," and was discharged with worthy honors at Camp Chase, Ohio, July 17, 1865, holding rank of Adjutant of his regiment. July 25, 1864, he was appointed First Licutenant, and finally was promoted to Adjutant. At the end of the war, he returned home and engaged in farming, which he has since followed October 5, 1865, he was married to Sarah E. Bates, who was born in Warren County August 30, 1841. She died Febru- ary 20, 1873, and left two children -Perry M. and Minnie A .; George and Edward B. are deceased. Mr. Champlin was married the second time, June 18, 1874, to Mary E. Ireland, daughter of John C. Ireland, of Wilmington. Mrs. Champlin was born in Warren County, Ohio, October 20, 1842. Two children-Emma B. and Lena, were given to this union. Mr. Champlin is connected with the I. O. O. F. society, and is a Republican. He served his township as Trustee for two terms. He owns a one- half interest in a finely improved farm of 180 acres.

HENRY COWGILL, deceased, was born in Berkeley County, Va., December 20, 1781. He was a son of John and Catharine Cowgill, who were natives of Europe. The former served in the Revolutionary war. Our subject was reared on a farm to man- hood, and married, December, 1803, to Catharine Stricland, who died in the latter part of 1804. In September, 1806, he again married. This time to Mary A. McDonald, daughter of William McDonald, and a native of Berkeley County, Va. Her birth took place in May, 1787, and she died October 29, 1842. In 1812, Mr. Cowgill came to Clinton County, and settled in Washington Township. He purchased a farm in 1811, prior to his settlement. In 1818, he adorned his farm with a substantial brick residence, which was the first in Washington Township. Mr. Cowgill was one of the organizers of' Washington Township, and filled many official positions. He cleared up a large farm. and was active in . many prominent public improvements of his township. He died April 5, 1855, a member of the M. E. Church. He was a man of public enterprise, and was very instrumental in organizing and founding Bethel Society. His house was the home for the itinerant and was used for many years as a "house of worship." He was a man of sterling integrity and uncompromising honor, and eminently deserves this tribute of respect. He had a family of ten children, of whom three are living, viz , Priscilla A., widow of Richard S. Cline; Susanna, wife of Samucl Hohms; and James, who was born July 25, 1826, was married November 11, 1862, to Mary E. Perley, who died July 27, 1880, and left one child-Effie A., born October 1, 1867. Mr. Cowgill, our subject, again married March 30, 1843, to Susan Perley, by whom he had four children-Henry C., Albert G., Amos T., and Clara D., wife of I. M. West. Mrs. Cowgill died February 16, 1877. .

HENRY CROUSE, farmer, P. O. Burtonville, is a son of John and Rhoda Crouse, and a grandson of John Crouse, Sr., who came from Germany soon after the close of the American Revolution. His father, came to this county at the youthful age of eighteen years, and subsequently settled on the farm now owned by James Skim .. ming. He died August, 1868, and Mrs. Crouse died in January of 1869. Our mul. ject was reared near Cuba, and was educated in the common schools. In the fall of 1868, he moved to his present location, and has since pursued the avocation of farming. He is the possessor of about eighty-eight and a half acres of highly cultivated land. He

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was married, February 25, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Pennington, daughter of Isaac and Sarah Pennington, by whom he has had seven children; of these five are living-John W. B., Mary J. (wife of David Lacey), Isaac T., Joseph F. and Orley; Frank J. and Sarah A. are deceased. Mr. Crouse and wife are members of the Christian Church; he is a Democrat, and served his township as Trustee two terms.

SEYMOUR C. FARREN, farmer, P. O. Morrisville, son of J. W. and Jemima Farren, was born in Washington Township December 30, 1832. He was reared and brought up on a farm, and obtained an academic education in Parker's Academy, of Clermont County. He was a colleague with Charles and Frank Browning, of Wilming- ton, and Thomas Paxton, lawyer of Cincinnati. Mr. Farren was married, January 29, 1859, to Eliza J. Hardesty, daughter of Hezekiah and Sarah Hardesty. Mrs. Farren was born in Union Township December, 1838. Three sons and three daughters were given to bless this union-Dora, John F., Jemima, James L., Louisa and William H. Mr. Farren located on his farm in Washington Township in 1861. It contains 313 acres of excellently improved land. In March, 1882, Mr. Farren removed to Wilming- ton, that his children might enjoy better educational privileges. He and family are members of the Christian Church. Politically, he is Democratic. He was Trustec of Washington Township two terms, and is a man of -much enterprise and moral worth.

ELIAS FISHER, deceased, a son of Thomas and Margaret MeKey Fisher, na- tives of Frederick County, Va., was born August 31, 1801. Thomas and Margaret Fisher had the following children : Berick, Elizabeth. Robert, John, Thomas, Elias, Joseph, Jonathan, Samuel, Louis, Mary, Margaret and Sarah. The subject of our sketch was married to. Margaret, daughter of Joshua and Margaret Nesbit Mereer, on New Year's Eve, 1826. Moved to Clinton County, Ohio, in 1828, and located in Ver- non Township, where they remained seven years. In 1836, he purchased 140 acres in Washington Township, where he and his estimable wife lived the rest of their days. They had seven children-Mary, Margaret, Ellen, Hannah, Jonathan (deceased), Parker and Ruth (deceased). Mr. Fisher was an excellent farmer, and had a nice home. He departed this life August 22, 1880. Mrs. Fisher was born October 10. 1804, and died March 2, 1877. Joshua and Margaret Mercer were natives of Penn- sylvania, where they were married, afterward emigrating to Frederick County, Va. They were the parents of the following children : Daniel, John, William, Thomas, Mary, Hannah, Elizabeth, Margaret, Lydia, Nancie, and one who died in infancy.

JAMES FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, son of David and Hannah (Clevenger) Fisher, was born in Washington Township April 30, 1829. He was reared and brought up to the occupation of farming, and has always followed its pur- suits. During the latter part of the war, he was a member of Company K, One Hun- dred and Forty-ninth Regimental Battalion of Ohio National Guards. He was active in the battle of Frederick, Md., and was discharged August 10, 1864. His mar- riage took place in August, 1864, with Miss Elizabeth Horsman, daughter of Amos and Polly Horsman. Eight children were the fruits of this union-Araminta, Thomas J., Charles W., Clara J. (wife of George Foland), John A., Cora A., Frank U. and Homer C. Mrs. Fisher died June 11, 1872, and Mr. Fisher again married August 1, 1874, to Eliza J., daughter of Eli and Melvina Jones. Three children were given to this union- Augusta E., Harry C. and Pearl. Mr. Fisher owns a good farm of one hundred acres, and is engaged in stock-raising, in connection with agriculture.

ABRAHAM FOREMAN, farmer, P. O. Morrisville, was born in Frederick County, Va., March 5, 1809. He is a son of John and Catharine Foreman, whose parents came from Germany prior to the war of the Revolution. Mr. Foreman's par- ents came to Clinton County in 1826, and settled in Union Township, and in 1828 re- moved to Washington, where they both died. Mr. Foreman, our subject, is the second son and third child of a family of eight children. He was reared to manhood.on a farm. January 11, 1838, he was married to Anna Shields, daughter of George and Ann (McDaniel) Shields, who came to Clinton County in 1816. Mr. Shields died December 12, 1848. Mrs. Shields is still living. She was born October 28, 1791. Mrs. Foreman was born in Warren County, April 20, 1814. Four children were

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added ; of these, two are living, viz., David E., born October 28, 1838, married Ann Campbell, and Sarah M., born January 14, 1843, wife of John W. Brindle, of Wil- mington. George W. and John W. are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Foreman are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Foreman is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in polities is a Republican. Mrs. Foreman owns one hundred and twenty- two and one-half acres, where they roside, and Mr. Foreman owns one hundred and fifty-one acres in the eastern part of Washington Township. When a young man, Mr. Foreman learned the carpenter and joiner trade, which he followed up to 1840, and since that, farming.

JESSE GRAHAM, farmer, P. O. Cuba. One of the old and respected pioneers of Clinton County is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Tennessee January 16, 1805. He is a son of Enoch and Rachel (Jackson) Graham, of North Carolina. They were married and removed to Tennessee about the elose of the eighteenth eent- ury. Mr. Graham died there, and, in 1807, Mrs. Graham, with her family, migrated to Ohio and settled near Lexington, and in 1810 removed to Clark Township, and sub- sequently married to Christopher Hussey, and died in Highland County. Mr. Graham, our subject, is next to the youngest of a family of five children. At an early age, he entered the family of Curtis Jackson, with whom he remained till of age. In 1827, he purchased a small farm in Washington Township. Subsequent purchases make him now a farm of one hundred and thirty-seven acres, besides one hundred and twenty aeres in Jefferson Township. The home farm, which is now well improved, was at the date of his settlement a mass of woods, wholly destitute of improvements. By Mr. Graham's indomitable energy and perseverance, he has obtained valuable property, and achieved a worthy success. He celebrated his first marriage March 4, 1827, with Phobe Wright, a daughter of John and Sarah Wright, old pioneers of Clark Township. Mrs. Graham died March 12, 1859, and in March, 1860, he again married. This time to Rachel Batson, a native of Washington Township, and a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Batson. Mr. Graham' has made farming and stock-raising his life-work, and has proved himself master of the vocation. His political opinions are Democratic.

JONATHAN HAYS, farmer, P. O. Cuba, was born in this township June 10, 1819. He is a son of David and Mary (Horsman) Hays, the former a native of Delaware, was born June 6, 1766, and the latter, of Frederick County, Va., was born January 21, 1782. They were married in Virginia and migrated to Harrison County, Ohio, at the beginning of the war of 1812. The following year they came to Clinton County and settled on the farm now occupied by our subject. Mr. Hays was one of the organizers of Washington Township and aided in many of its prominent im- provements. He died April 30, 1844. His father came from Wales several years before the American Revolution. Mrs. Hays died July 12, 1838. Jonathan is the youngest son of his father. He was born and reared on a farm. He Was married the first time, February 13, 1845, to Elizabeth Fleming, a daughter of James and Mary Fleming. Mrs. Hays died March 8, 1873, and left one child- Mary E. She was born May 31, 1846, and married George Brown January 20, 1874. Mr. Hays celebrated his second marriage with Miss Naney J., daughter of Anthony and Mary Skimming. Mrs. Hays was born in. Alleghany County, Md., October 10, 1825. She is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Hays is in polities Democratic. He filled the office of Township Treasurer from 1861 to 1867. He owns a farm of one hundred and one acres with excellent improvements, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He ranks with enterprising farmers of Washington Township.

NATHANIEL B. HUNTER, farmer, P. O. Cuba, son of James and Harriet A. (Neal) Hunter, was born near Cuba, December 8, 1833. Mr. Hunter was reared and brought up to farming and has made that his life-work in connection with other pursuits. In 1861, he removed to Richland County, Ill., where he was engaged in his former occupation, and dealing in live stock till, 1866, he returned to his native place. He was married November 9, 1858, to Miss Sarah A., daughter of Impsil and Mary Bales, who were natives of Alabama and Virginia, respectively. Mrs. Hunter was born in Clark Township December 25, 1842. Of five children that had been blessed thein,

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two are living, viz., James I., born November 9, 1868, and Harley, born February 10, 1877. Minnie B., born November 8, 1859, died February 8, 1861 ; Emma J., born March 24, 1861, died July 26, 1862; Artemisia, born December 10, 1863, and died January 27, 1865. Mrs. Hunter is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Hunter is Democratic in his views. He owns a valuable farm of one hundred and seventy- seven and one-quarter acres and pursues agriculture and live-stock-rearing. He is a law-abiding citizen and a good neighbor.

JAMES B. IRELAND, farmer, P. O. Cuba, son of John C. Ireland, of Wil- mington. was born in Washington Township August 16, 1856. He was reared to manhood on his father's farm, and was educated in the common schools. He attended Dayton Commercial College, and graduated in July, 1875. He then clerked about eight months in W. C. Hadley's dry goods store, of Wilmington, and six months for H. and M. Katz; then returned to farming, which he still follows. He was married September 23, 1880, to Miss Jennie M. Hunt. Mrs. Ireland is a daughter of Frank and Mary L. Hunt, and a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, where she was born De- cember 5, 1860. Mr. Ireland is an enterprising young man.

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The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 100

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410