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 58
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. classes in music. In the spring of 1862, he located again at Wilmington, and since 1865 has devoted his entire time and attention to his business. Mr. Osborn is a well-known citizen of Wilmington and Clinton County, and honored by all for hi- high business qualities and warm, social nature. He enjoys a birthright in the Society of Friends, and, politically, is Republican. He has been married three times. The maiden name of his present wife was Rebecca A. Randolph. Mr. Osborn has three children living-I. R. Osborn, with Lyon & Healey, of Chicago ; Clarence W., resid- ing on a farm near Lincoln, Neb., and Jennie E., at home.
GEORGE W. OWENS, Solicitor, Wilmington, was born in Bedford County, Va .. August 26, 1832. His father, Toliver Owens, was also a native of the " Old Dominion," and a miller by trade. He resided in Virginia till his death, in 1848. His mother Was Permelia Tucker, a native of Virginia. She departed this life in 1866. Our subject resided at home until 1850, when he was eighteen years of age. He then went to Crittenden, Ky., and engaged in the manufacture of woolen rolls. A year later, he went to Cincinnati, and engaged in farming near that city. He next. removed to
Miamiville, and engaged in the milling business with Mark Buckingham. He re- mained there six years, two years of which he was a partner of a man named Ballard. in the painting business. Mr. Owen's next venture was at Mainville, Warren Co., Ohio, where he followed painting until the war commenced. . He enlisted as a musician
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in the Second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served as such until Congress passed an act disbanding the band at Nashville, Tenn. This was in 1862. Soon after, Mr. Owens went to Camp Dennison, and became a member of the post band. He re- mained there until his enlistment in Company II, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, being again detailed for band service. He was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn., and paid off at Columbus, Ohio. After the war, Mr. Owens returned to Mainville, and soon after to " Twenty-Mile Stand," where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a year. He then purchased property of William Baxter, at " Sixteen-Mile Stand," and remained there, in the same business, two and a half years. In 1871, he came to Wilmington, and opened a grocery store, remaining in that business till 1873. He subsequently purchased the stock and trade of J. Kimbrough, at Ogden, in Adams Township, where he remained nearly three years, during which time he served as agent for the " Pan Handle " R. R., and the Adams Express Company. He then came once more to Wilmington, purchasing the "Jenkins property " on South South street, where he now resides. Of late, Mr. Owens has been a solicitor in the insurance busi- ness, in which he has met with good success. Mr. Owens is a member of Star of Hope Lodge, No. 127 (I. O. O. F.), and has lately become a member of Hiawatha Encampment, No. 70. He is liberal in politics, and is an attendant on the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Owens commenced life a poor boy, but by con- stant toil and economy, has succeeded in acquiring a gratifying competency. He. was married, November 28, 1865, to Mrs. Maggie ( Irvin ) Chamberlain, a native of Warren County, Ohio. They have two children-Robert L. and Jesse T., both attending the public school. Mrs. Owens is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
THOMAS PENDREY, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Union Town- ship, August 13, 1832. His parents were William and Sarah A. (Custis) Pendrey, natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia, and of English ancestry. Mr. Pendrey grew up on his father's farm, and upon the death of the latter, received $100 as his share of estate. With this sum of money, he commenced active life, and has succeeded in ac- cumulating a farm of sixty-six acres. He was married, in 1858, to Mary E. Lewis, a daughter of John Lewis, of Union Township. They have been blessed with four children-Clara Eva, Cora Elma, Rose Belle and Charles Arthur. Mr. Pendrey is a Republican. Mrs. Pendrey is an earnest member of the Christian Church.
JOHN R. PENDREY, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Union Township, January 3, 1828. He is a son of William Pendrey, a native of Ohio, who located in Clinton County at an carly day. He was a successful farmer of Union Township for some years, and departed this life in 1832. Mr. Pendrey's mother was Sarah A. Cus- tis, also a native of Virginia. Mr. Pendrey's father dying when he was but four years of age, he grew up under his mother's care, and when old enough assisted in the support of the family. He has remained a farmer through life, and by hard work has succeed- ed in becoming the owner of 103 acres of good land. Politically, his views are Demo- cratic. He has served his neighbors as School Director and Road Supervisor. Mr. Pendrey was married, August 3, 1854, to Miriam Jenkins, a native of Union Town- ship, and a daughter of Evan Jenkins, a native of Virginia. They have eight children -Ida, wife of James Bennett, a farmer of this township; William A., Frank J., Ella M., Albert A., Nettie E., Retta C. and Dora E.
JOSEPH PETERS, Wilmington, of Fulton, Crane & Peters, the most prom- inent hardware firm of this county ; was born in Lehigh Co., Penn., near Allentown, Oc- tober 14, 1818. His father was Abraham Peters, who departed this life when our sub- ject was quite small. Mr. Peters' mother was Elizabeth Frizinger, of German parentage. Mr. Peters resided in Pennsylvania, among the Germans of that region. and spoke nothing but that language till twenty-four years of age. He early learned the black- smith trade, and when twenty-one years of age went to Springfield, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for twenty years. He then removed to Lyndon Station, Ross Co., Ohio, where he " farmed it" for three years. He afterward removed to Lynchburg, High- land Co., Ohio, where he took charge of a stock of hardware owned by S. Q. Fulton. In 1872, they sold out the stock and removed to Wilmington, where they have since been
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engaged in business. Mr. Peters was formerly Democratic in politics, but from 1860 to 1880 voted with the Republican party. Since 1880, Mr. Peters has cast his vote and influence with that steadily increasing band of Prohibitionists, who are striving with hopes of final success in overthrowing " King Alcohol." Mr. Peters has been a mem- 'ber of the Odd Fellow fraternity for over thirty years, and of the Methodist Episcopal denomination for about the same time. In the latter body, he has served as both Trustee and Deacon. Mr. Peters was married, September 5, 1848, to Maria E. Richards, a native of Virginia. They have two children-Sarah J., wife of S. Q. Fulton, and Ed- win K., of Fulton & Peters, grocers of Wilmington.
EDWIN K. PETERS, Wilmington, of Fulton & Peters, one of the most enter- prising grocery firms of Wilmington, was born at Springfield, Clark Co., Ohio, Sep- tember 11, 1851. His father, Joseph Peters, is a native of Pennsylvania, and senior member of the firm of Fulton, Crane & Peters, the largest dealers in hardware in Clin- ton County. Mr. Peters' mother's maiden name was Maria E. Richards, a native of Vir- ginia. The subject of this sketch resided at Springfield till ten years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Lyndon Station, Ross Co., Ohio. Ile subsequently attended South Salem College, being under the tuition of Prof. Lowes, and where he obtained a good literary education. Mr. Peters afterward went to Lynchburg, Highland County, Ohio, where he resided six years, being engaged principally as a clerk in a hardware, and subsequently a drug store. Tiring of this, he went to Chillicothe and obtained em- ployment as a brakeman on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. He remained in the employ of this company for two years, a portion of the time serving as train baggage- man. Mr. Peters soon after came to Wilmington, and was employed by the firm of Fulton, Crane & Peters for some time. In June, 1880, he entered into partnership with Robert S. Fulton, in the grocery business. Both members of the firm are young men, but by energy, perseverance and an enterprising spirit they have succeeded in building up a large and profitable trade, which is steadily increasing. Mr. Peters is connected with the I. O. O. F. fraternity, and politically is a stanch Republican. He is a member of the Society of Friends. Mr. Peters was united in marriage October 8, 1874, to Eveline, daughter of Zimri Haines, a prominent citizen of Wilmington, formerly of Union Township. They have an infant daughter-Edith M.
LEVI N. PIKE, farmer, was born in Highland County, Ohio, May 27, 1818. He is a son of William and Lucy (Butler) Pike, natives of North Carolina, and of En- glish ancestry. Mr. Pike received a good education in his native county, and early learned the blacksmith trade, which vocation he followed till 1879. Since then he has been engaged in farming. He now owns sixty-four acres of good land. He was mar- ried, in 1841, to Sarah Smith, a native of this county. She departed this life in 1875. In 1876, Mr. Pike married Mrs. Ann J. Fife, widow of William Fife, who died in 1870. She had two children by her first union-Sarah, wife of Matthew Irvin, a farmer of Union Township, and David Maxwell, also a farmer. Mr. Pike has one son-William A. Pike, who is also married. Mrs. Pike is a native of Ireland, and accompanied her parents to America in 1840. She is a member of the United Brethren denomination. Mr. Pike is a Republican.
ISAIAH W. QUINBY, attorney at-law, Wilmington, was born on the 5th day of May, 1837, in Chester Township, Clinton Co., Ohio. The log house in which he was born is still standing on the farm of Mahlon Wall, and has been used as a dwelling until quite recently. His father was born in Bucks County, Penn., and his mother in Chester County, same State. Both parents were members of the Society of Friends, They came to Ohio in 1826, landing from an open boat at Cincinnati, and afterward . made their residence in Warren County for a few years, and then removed to Clinton. His mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Moore. Mr. Quinby's father's family, when he was two years of age, left Chester Township and moved to Adams Township, his
. father having purchased a farm there. He was the seventh child of a family of nine children, four girls and five boys. During his childhood and early manhood years, he worked on his father's farm, as usual with farmers' sons, and attended school through the winter months, probably averaging not more than four months' schooling each year,
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until seventeen years of age. Soon after he was seventeen he left home by parental consent to . learn the trade of a carpenter, and worked for several months at So per month, giving entire satisfaction to his employer. Afterward, having a desire for a better education, he spent a year at school near Annapolis, Parke Co., Ind., largely paying his own expenses for board, tuition, books and clothing from his own carnings This school was under the management of the Society of Friends, and the superintend. ency of one of Indiana's most noted teachers, B. C. Hobbs, assisted by an efficient corp, of teachers, of whom Mr. Quinby's sister, Josephine, was one. Here he acquired knowledge rapidly, had a good standing in his classes, and was a favorite with his class- mates. He was robust and active; but few excelling him in a game of foot-ball. It was while he was attending school at that place that the struggle was in progress in Kansas to make it a free State, and about this time his political opinions and thought, were crystallized into shape. His sympathies were on the side of those who were en. deavoring to keep slavery out of the Territories lying north of the Missouri Compromise line, and although not a voter by several years, he took his place in the ranks of the then young Republican party that was rapidly forming throughout all the North. At the close of the school year in 1855, he was selected as one of the four students to dis. cuss the following question : " The Dissolution of the Union is Preferable to the Exten. sion of Slavery." He was assigned to the negative of the question, in the discussion of which he acquitted himself creditably. At the age of eighteen he began teaching, and for twelve years there was not one but he taught more or less of the time-mostly through the fall and winter months. When not engaged in teaching for the next three years, he was working at carpentering, attending school or working on his father's farun. About this time he commenced reading law, thus occupying all his leisure hours. In the spring of 1860, he came to Wilmington, where he pursued his studies until August 21, of that year, when he was admitted to the bar by the District Court theo in se -- sion. His means being limited, he did not attempt to engage in the practice of his profession until some years afterward, but continued teaching. In October. 185S. he cast his first ballot, voting for the Hon. Thomas Corwin for Congress. In the fall of 1860, the political excitement then running high, Mr. Quinby made his debut as a polit- ical speaker, participating in public speeches and discussions in both Clinton and Cier. mont Counties. He cast his first vote for President the following November, adjour ::- ing his school. and riding twenty miles to vote for Abraham Lincoln. and to attend the polls on election day. On January 12, 1862, he was married to Hannah Scott, the daughter of James Scott, who resided in Warren County, a few miles from Butlervill ... He was then teaching at Deerfield, Warren County. Soon after, he was employed to teach at Mason, Warren Co., where he began housekeeping, and taught for a year. In April, 1865, having returned to Clinton County, he was elected one of the Justices of the Peace in Adams Township. He served for one year, and then, being about to remove to Wilmington, resigned. On March 1, 1867, Mr. Quinby opened a law office at Wilmington, where he has practiced since. About this time, he was appointed one of the Board of School Examiners of Clinton County, serving for two years as its able Secretary. His influence and acquaintance with the teachers of the county was large, having been for so many years a teacher himself. In April, 1867, he was elected Jus- tice of the Peace of Union Township, where he served for three years, declining a re-election. In 1870, he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, Sixth Ohio District, for Clinton County, and. collected the revenue due the Government und !! the revenue tax law was abolished. In 1875, he was the nominee of his party at the primary election as candidate for Representative, over six competitors, and was electe : by over 1,000 majority. In 1877, he was again the nominee of the Republicaus of Clinton County for the House of Representatives, and elected, receiving a few votes more than the candidate for Governor on the same ticket. Mr. Quinby commenced life quite poor, but by industry, economy and temperate habits, he has acquired a fair share of this world's goods, although he is not wealthy. . He made a very valuable mein- ber of the House, being diligent in every work committed to his care. He was careful in the votes he cast, and in every measure adjudicated upon was governed in his
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actions by what his conscience dictated to him to be right and proper. He was the author of the Quinby Local Option Bill, and the careful attention which he gave, not only to the bill, but to all questions of temperance, gained for him a State reputation as a friend of the temperance cause, and made him well known throughout the State. He labored with indefatigable energy to make his measure a success, but he was doomed to see his bill defeated on its passage, although he had the satisfaction of seeing the Republican party committed to the measure, and voting for its passage. His efforts on behalf of his bill awakened a strong public sentiment throughout the State in behalf of temperance legislation, that had long been dormant. Others who have since been members have introduced from time to time somewhat similar temperance measures, until it may be said that the great political party of which Mr. Quinby is an honored member is committed to the procurement of additional temperance legislation in Ohio, by constitutional amendment or otherwise, as is shown by the record of the party in the halls of legislation, and by the resolution relating thereto in the platform adopted at the Cleveland Convention in June, 1881. Mr. Quinby made many warm and attached friends during his two terms, not only among those of his own political faith, but of those who antagonized him in political creed. After his second term, Mr. Quinby declined a renomination, and has since engaged in the practice of his profession. He is the author of the History of Adams Township in this volume, and for its excellence we publicly extend him our thanks. I. W. Quinby is well known throughout Clinton and adjoining counties, and the esteem in which he is held can best be portrayed in the fol- lowing sentence : He has honestly and concientiously tried to do his duty in all his acts, public and private.
A. T. QUINN, physician and surgeon, Wilmington, was born in Highland County, Ohio, December 16, 1837. His father, Isaac Quinn, was a native of the " Old Dominion." In early life, he became a minister of the Gospel of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and in 1829 or 1830 located in Highland County, Ohio. He there became a student of medicine, and finally a licensed M. D., thus ministering both to the spiritual and physical wants of his patients. In the early part of his ministerial labors, he traveled a great deal, but after becoming a physician, confined his labors to certain localities. He died in 1844. Dr. Quinn's mother was Cynthia Witten, also a native of Virginia. She departed this life at Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio, about 1867 or 1868. Dr. Quinn was reared in Highland County, and obtained a classical education in the University of Ohio, at Athens, graduating in the class of 1859. He subsequently attended a series of lectures at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, graduating from the latter insti- tution in 1862. The same year, he was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the United States Army, and assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, wherein he served till the fall of 1864. After being discharged, he came to Wilmington, and has since been en- gaged in the practice of his profession. His success has been very fair. Dr. Quinn is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Star of Hope Lodge, No. 127 (I. O. O. F.), and of the great Republican party. He was married, in 1869, to Mary Fisher, a native of this county. Dr. Quinn and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal denomina- tion.
W. H. RANNELLS, Wilmington, the leading clothier of Clinton County, was born in Union Township, near Wilmington, September 1, 1846. His father, Thomas G. Ran- nells, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation. He came to Ohio in 1814, locating in Union Township, where he still resides. Mr. Rannells' mother was Massa J. Rannells, also a native of the Keystone State. . Mr. Ranuells was reared a " farmer's boy," obtaining his education in the district schools, and subsequently at Wilmington College, where he remained two years. He then attended a Commercial College at Oberlin, Ohio, as a student, and afterward as a teacher in penmanship for about one year. He graduated in the class of 1867, and then returned to Wilmington. Shortly after, he engaged in his present business, and in April, 1871, George P. Dunham be- came a full partner, the firm remaining as Rannells & Dunham until February, 1832, when Mr. Dunham was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue of the Sixth Ohio Dis- trict, and disposed of his interest to Mr. Rannells. The firm of Rannells & Dunham
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built up the largest clothing trade in this county, and to Mr. Rannells is due much of the success which the firm attained, and the trade of which he still holds. He is one of Wilmington's youngest and most prosperous merchants, and a man well respected by one and all. Politically Mr. Rannells is an ardent Republican. He was married, July 3, 1872, to Luella, daughter of John Matthews, Probate Judge of Clinton County. They have one daughter, Clara L.
L. D. REED, Wilmington, Treasurer of Clinton County, is a life resident of this coun- ty. He was born November 2, 1837, and is a son of William Reed, a prominent native farmer of this county, who died in 1864. Mr. Reed's mother was Mary-Douglass, also a na- tive of this county. She departed this life in 1842. Mr. Reed grew up on a farm, re- ceiving a good education at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio, where he remained four years, taking a scientific course. After leaving college, he taught school three or four years in this county, and was subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits four years. His political views had always been decidedly Republican, and in 1869 he was elected Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Clinton County, taking his office in February, 1870. He was re-elected and filled the office for six years. He then went to farming, which vocation he successfully followed till 1879, when he was elected to his present position. He was re-elected in the fall of 1881, and commences his second term this fall (1882). Mr. Reed is a member of Wilmington Lodge, No. 52. (Masonic), also of the Chapter, No. 63. He was united in the bonds of holy wed- lock, in 1861, to Mary C. Marble, a native of this county. They have two children- Anna B. and Frank R. Mrs. Reed is a faithful member of the Christian Church. Mr. Reed has made a good public officer, and his popularity among the people is unques- tioned.
JONATHAN M. RICHARDSON, dealer in black and white walnut, and all hardwoods, Wilmington, was born at Dayton, Ohio, July 19, 1826. His father was Jacob W. Richardson, a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio in 1802. In early life. he was educated at Annapolis, Md., and subsequently studied medicine with Dr. Brady, of Pennsylvania. He first located at Dayton, Ohio, and in 1832, at Xenia. In 1835. he came to Wilmington, but went West the following year. He returned to Wilming- ton in 1845, where he practiced his profession till 1853. In the latter year he went West again, but came back again and subsequently located in Tennessee. In 1863, he re- moved to Grant County, Ind., where he still resides. He married Margarett Harwood, a native of England, who accompanied her parents to Ohio when quite young. Four children were born to this union, two now living-John W., a physician of Highland County, Ohio, since 1840, and our subject. Mrs. Richardson departed this life at Dayton, Ohio, in 1832. In 1836, his father married Charity Johnson, a native of this county, who is still living. The subject of this notice was reared mostly in Fay- ette County, Ind., and when twenty years of age came to Wilmington, assisting his father in a drug store one year. He then engaged as second clerk on the old J. M. White, plying between St. Louis and New Orleans. In January, 1847, in company with his father, he started East, with a drove of fifty-four horses, for the market. He followed the wagon road, going via Zanesville, Wheeling, Washington (Penn.). Fredrickton, Md., Washington City, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Keyport, N. J., thence by vessel to New York City. During this long and wearisome journey, they crossed no railroad, and saw but one train of cars. That was a freight train on the road be- tween Philadelphia and New York. Mr. Richardson stayed in the city twenty-four days, disposing of all but eleven head of horses. These he brought back to Philade !- phia, where he sold nine, and came back by way of Chambersburg, arriving at home June 9 of the same year. He next entered his father's office and practiced medicine for three years. The life of a practitioner he did not like, and he therefore learned the carpenter trade (about 1851). He followed contracting and building till 1875, erect- ing some of the finest public and private buildings in the county. While working at his trade, he commenced buying and shipping cherry lumber, and subsequently made a contract to supply Mitchell & Rammelsburg, of Cincinnati, with walnut lumber. This business he has since followed, shipping to them as much as 200,000 feet at one time,
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and one season selling to all parties $63,000 worth. During the last ten years, he has handled not less than from 200,000 to 300,000 feet of walnut lumber per annum. His Burvest market is in the East. Mr. Richardson owns 163 acres of good land in Union Township, near Wilmington, and eight acres in the corporate limits of the village. In the fall of 1881, he commenced the erection of a fine brick residence on West Locust -treet. The foundation is out of the " Clinton group" of rock found on Todd's Fork. The building is of brick, with a veranda entirely of cut stone. The window and door wisings, also the main stairway, are from New York City. The wainscoting is of fine walnut, and the window glass imported directly from France. Mr. Richardson has one room fitted up especially for himself. He is a great lover of archaeology, and takes a remarkable interest in the preservation of fossils and relies. He has opened fifty-six mounds in the State of Ohio, one of which has cost him $222 simply for excavating. His collection of curiosities and relics is one of the largest and finest in the State. HIe has also a very fine and valuable collection of coins. Mr. Richardson has been a member of the Odd Fellow fraternity since 1854, and is connected with Star of Hope Lodge, No. 127. He is neutral politically, always deeming it best to vote for those who will best serve the interests of the community. He was united in marriage Sep- tember 7, 1847, to Mary J. Davis, a native of this county. They have two sons- James E., in business with his father, and Frank, who resides on the farm. In 1879, in company with Dr. L. B. Welch, Mr. Richardson issued " An Illustrated Description of Pre-Historic Relics Found near Wilmington, Ohio," which work gives an interest- ing account of the mound explorations made by the compilers in this county.
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