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 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107
909
UNION TOWNSHIP.
the farming community of Clinton County, and all he has was made principally by his personal exertions.
NATHAN STARBUCK, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 13, 1826. He is the son of Latham and Sarah (Milton) Starbuck, natives of North Carolina, of English de-cent. He was educated in the common schools and chose farming for a life occupation, but owned and conducted a saw-mill from 1866 to 1869. He is the inventor of Starbuck's Ditching Machine for cutting the trenches in which drain tile are laid. This machine is operated by two men and siz horses, and is capable of cutting forty rods of trenches per hour. It is a perfect suc- cess and has been awarded two medals for merit, but it has not as yet reached exten- sive sale on account of the inventor's farm operations preventing him front pushing it on the market. Mr. Starbuck was married in 1849 to Ruth Underwood, who died in 1854, leaving two children. He was again married in 1857 to Sarah Hoddy, by whom he has had three children, viz. : Samuel H., Clifford K. and Eddie L. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Christian Church, and he is a Republican. He was the seventh child of a family of twelve children.
JOSEPH N. STEVENS, Superintendent of the Clinton County Infirmary, Wilmington, was born in Marion Township, this county, September 15, 1833. He is a son of Jolin and Elizabeth Collins, natives of Virginia and of English descent. Mr. Stevens was reared on a farm in Marion Township, receiving a fair education in the public schools. He engaged in farming when young and followed that vocation until the fall of 1864, when he enlisted in Capt. Dennison's company, and served till June 13, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge. He was under Gen. Thomas, and was mostly engaged in guarding railroads. During his war service, Mr. Stevens suffered the loss of the fingers on one hand, which disabled him at the time. He was a mail carrier for eight years, and during this time (1876) his eldest son, Alva A., was drowned while crossing a swollen stream. In 1880, Mr. Stevens was appointed to his present position by the Board of County Commissioners. He is Republican in politics and has formerly officiated as Constable and Assessor of Marion Township. He now owns a good farm of 100 acres in Marion Township and a house and lot in Westboro. He was married in 1865 to Melissa M. Manker, born in Highland County, Ohio, February 15, 1834, and a daughter of Hiram Manker, of that county .: Six children have been given them, five living-Eberly C., Emma E., Effie A., Otto D. and Charles L. Mr. Stevens and wife are members of the United Brethren Church, in which denomination Mr. S. has been class teacher and Superintendent of Sunday school for a number of years.
FRANK STEPHENS, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Warren County, Ohio, June 30, 1842. He is the son of Obadiah and Susannah (Ireland) Stephens, He received his education in the common schools, and chose the occupation of farming which he still follows. He was married in 1867, to Sarah Gallaher, a native of Clin- ton County, and a daughter of an early Ohio settler. By this marriage four children were born, viz .: Charles M., Minnie May, John Hawey and Edwin Forrest. Mr. Stephens is a prominent Democrat and a successful farmer.
JOHN J. STEWART, dealer in fresh meats, corner Main and Mulberry streets, Wilmington, was born in Richland Township, Clinton County, Ohio, September 2, 1849. He is a son of Jacob Stewart, also a native of this county, probably Wilson Township. He was a farmer by occupation, but died when our subject was quite small. His mother was Mary Greer, a native of this county. Some time after Mr. Stewart's death, she married Joseph Wakefield, and now resides at Xenia, Ohio. Our subject was the youngest of three children, two boys and one girl, all of whom are living. When ten years of age, his mother married again, and he hired out to work on a farm, following that occupation for seven.or eight years. He then learned the trade of a brick mason, and worked at it in Washington Court House, Lebanon and Wilmington, for many years. In 1869, he permanently located in Wilmington, and in IS73 opened a meat shop and commenced present business. Although a young man, and having many ob- stacles to overcome, Mr. Stewart has been uniformly successful in business, and is now
910
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
enjoying a good trade. He is a member of the Wilmington Fire Department, and i, neutral in politics, always deeming it right to cast his vote for the best man, irrespective of party. In Presidential and State campaigns, he votes with the Republican party. Mr. Stewart was married in 1869, to Mary Davis, a native of this county. They have three children-Maria, Allen and Jennic, all attending the public schools. Mrs. Stew. art is a regular attendant on the services of the Society of Friends.
FREDERICK STOLTZ, a farmer of this township, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 28, 1849. He is a son of John and Fannie Stoltz, also natives of Germany. They came to America in 1851, locating in Adams Town- ship, Clinton Co., Ohio, and he still resides on a farm of his own. Mrs. Stoltz departed this life, in 1872. When young, Mr. Stoltz hired out to work on a farm for nine months at $14 per month. He then worked by the year, and subsequently rented land for five years. He now owns over seventy-two acres of land, the result of his own individual industry and economy. Mr. Stoltz is the proprietor of the Wilmington Eastern Dairy, and keeps an average of fourteen cows to supply his customers with pure, fresh milk. He is a Republican, and unmarried. His sister, Callie, resides with him, and takes charge of his household affairs.
FELIX G. SLONE, senior member of Slonc, Walker & Mills, attorneys at law, Wilmington, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, July 28, 1826. His father was William Slone, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, and a farmer by occupation. He came to Clinton County in 1850, and resided there till his death, in 1872. Mr. Slone's mother was Rachel Mann, who was born in Butler Co., Ky., November 2, 1800. She is still living and resides at Peoria, Ill. Mr. Slone came to this county when twenty years of age, entering Mayberry Academy, of the Society of Friends, at Martinsville. . and subsequently attending a select school, where his literary education was obtained. While going to school he commenced the study of law, and in 1855 passed examina- tion and was admitted to practice. He resided in Brown County, Ohio, engaged in the practice of his profession, until 1861. In that year, he enlisted in the Seventieth. Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and October 10, of the same year, was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant of Company K. On January 1, 1862, he was made First Lieutenant, and February 12 was made Captain of the company. He officiated in the latter capacity till 1864, when he resigned his commission. and came home (as he thought) to die. He had caught the ague in the trenches before Vicksburg. and for the next three years suffered from the effects of this exposure. It finally culminated in the asthma, from which Mr. Slone has been a constant sufferer since. Mr. Slone went t, Georgetown, Brown County, where he resided till 1865. He then came to Wilmington. and formed a partnership with T. O. Hildebrant, in the practice of law. This gentle- man was an old friend and schoolmate, and served as Captain of Company F, of the Twen- tieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, till 1865, when he was made Adjutant of the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1876, Mr. Slone formed a copartnership with Lewis J. Walker, and in February, 1880, F. B. Mills was admit- ted to the firm. Mr. Slone is a member of the Odd Fellow fraternity ; has been through the Masonic order, but is not now a working member of that body. Mr. Slone is a great reader, and has one of the best private libraries in Clinton County. He was mar- ried, August 28, 1848, to Kate Hodson, a native of this county. Six children have born to them-Margaret, Orville, Oliver P., Rachel, Anna and Lucy, all of whom have " passed to the other side." Mrs. Slone is a consistent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Slone is a strong Republican.
1
WILLIAM J. STRUBLE, Wilmington, Secretary of the Champion Bridge Com- pany of Wilmington, was born in Sussex County, N. J., September 19, 1831. His father, John D. Struble, was also a native of New Jersey, and during his life followed the several vocations of a merchant, mill owner and farmer. He departed this life May 21, 1875. Mr. 'Struble's mother was Mary Headley, a native of "Jersey," and at present a resident of Knox County, Ohio. Mr. Struble accompanied his parents to Knox County, Ohio, in 1832, where he was reared. He obtained a good education in Dennison University, at Grandville. He subsequently became a farmer, and afterward a
٦
911
UNION TOWNSHIP.
merchant at Fredericktown, Ohio. In 1865, he removed to Genesco, Henry Co., Ill., and resided on a farm near that place four years. In 1869, he came back to Ohio, and operated a saw and grist mill at Fredericktown for some time. Desiring to experi- ment in Southern farming, he purchased a tract of land in Lewis County, Ky., in 1875, where he resided till the fall of 1878. In the latter year, he came back to this State, and engaged in the real estate business. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Struble became a member of the Champion Bridge Company, and soon after was elected its Secretary, now serving in that position. Mr. Struble has always shown an absorbing interest in mat- ters pertaining to the religious growth of the community in which he may reside, and is now a Trustee of the Baptist Church of Wilmington, and Superintendent of its Sabbath School. He is Democratic in his political faith, but a firm believer in Prohibition. While a resident of Fredericktown, Ohio, he officiated as Mayor, also Justice of the Peace for two or three years. Mr. Struble was married, January 11, 1857, to Mary U. Beers. Of the six children born to them, four are living-Flora, Mary A., Burr B. and Charles H. Mrs. Struble and two children are members of the Baptist denomina- tion
GEORGE B. TALBERT, engaged in buying and shipping walnut lumber. Wilmington, was born in Greene County, Ohio, August 8, 1837. His father was Addison Talbert, a native of Virginia, and a school teacher by profession. He came to Ohio about 1829, locating in Greene County, where he resided till his death .. March 30, 1848. His mother was Elizabeth Schnebly, a native of Maryland, who ac- companied her father to Ohio when but a child. Five children were born to them- two now living-our subject and John, the latter a farmer residing in Greenwood County, Kan. Mrs. Talbert died in 1858. The subject of this biographical sketch was reared in Greene County, Ohio, and when young learned the carriage maker's trade of Bell- brook, in his native county. He remained at that trade about ten years, and then com- menced dealing in lumber at Xenia. After a two years' stay at the latter place, in 1872 he came to Wilmington and commenced dealing in pine lumber. He ran the lumber yard now owned by Alpha Gallup until 1880, when he sold it to Mr. Gallup. Since then, Mr. Talbert has been engaged in buying walnut logs, sawing them and shipping the lumber to dealers and manufacturers in Toledo, Indiana and New York. Mr. Tal- bert is a member of Wilmington Lodge (Masonic), No. 52, and of the Republican party. He was married in 1874 to Martha H., daughter of Jonas Stump, of Warren County, Ohio, and a grand-daughter of William Smalley, an early pioneer hunter of Southern Ohio, and a contemporary of Boone and Kenton. Only two children of William Smalley are living to-day, Mrs. Stump and her sister, Mrs. Steans, both residing in In- diana. One son, Freeman Smalley, was a Baptist minister, and removed to Illinois, and subsequently to Texas, where he was living at the commencement of the rebellion. He was a stanch Union man, which position soon caused him much annoyance and trouble. He was threatened with death, but exhibited such a bold front that the rebels feared to touch him. By the request of his children, he finally removed to Kansas, where he lived till his death, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Talbert is a consistent member of the M. E. Church.
HENRY C. TAYLOR, Wilmington, engineer of Fulton, Crane & Peters' grist- mill, was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, November 15, 1849. His father, John Taylor. was a native of England, and an engineer by trade. He followed the sea for thirteen years, and was engineer of the first steam vessel that plied between Dover and Calais, in the English Channel. He came to Ohio at an carly day, and is now residing at Coshocton., in his eighty-third year. Mr. Taylor's mother was Maria Kelshaw, a native of England. She is living, now in her seventieth year. John Taylor was the father of twenty-four children, twelve now living, and nine being full brothers and sisters of our subject. One sister, Maggie, was the fiancee of Prof. Washington Donaldson at the time of his fatal balloon ascension from Chicago, in 1875. Our subject, when six years of age, went to Kentucky, to reside with an uncle. Three years later he went to Mellville, Ohio ; thence to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Altona, Parker's Landing, in the oil regions of Penn- sylvania. At New Philadelphia, Ohio, he engaged to fire an engine. He learned the
-
M
912
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
machinist trade at Lockport, N. Y., and built the engine now used in running the press of the Wilmington Journal From Lockport, he went to Dayton, Ohio ; thence to Covington, Ky., and Cincinnati, Ohio, working at his trade at different shops in those cities. He was in the boiler explosion at Coshocton, Ohio, in 1873, but suffered no serious injury. On April 3, 1874, Mr. Taylor came to Wilmington, and ran a machine shop one year. He was then employed by the Champion Iron Bridge Company two and a half years, and in 1878 accepted his present position. He is a firm Republican in politics. Mr. Taylor was married in 1874, to Jennie O. Tucker, a native of Spring- field Center, near Otsego Lake, Otsego Co., N. Y. They have one- son-Harry M. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
WILLIAM B. TELFAIR. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest and most respected members of the Clinton County bar. He was born at Hillsboro, High- land Co., Ohio, June 16, 1829. His father, Isaiah Telfair, was a native of Kentucky. In early life, he became a midshipman in the United States Navy, and was with Com- modore Decatur during the famous " Algerian expedition." He subsequently became an honored member of the medical fraternity, and located in Highland County, Ohio, about 1827. Some years after (1838), he came to Clinton County, where he was en- gaged in the practice of his profession until 1872, the year of his death. In the early part of his medical career he served as assistant physician of the Virginia Insane Asy. lum, at Stanton, and while a resident there became acquainted with, and married, Jane A. Boys, a native of Stanton. W. B. Telfair was reared in this county, and when fourteen years of age was sent to school at Washington College, Washington, Penn., when the Hon. James G. Blaine was also a student at that institution of learning. Mr. Tel- fair graduated in the regular course, in 1848, and then returned home. Resolving to follow a professional career, he selected the practice of law as his future life-work, and immediately entered upon its study. A year later, he went to Chancellorsville, Va., where he entered the Law Department of the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1851. He returned to Ohio, and was admitted to the bar at Chillicothe in the spring of 1852. He commenced the practice of his profession at Cincinnati, and soon after became a member of the Cincinnati Literary Club, then numbering among its members Stanley Matthews, Manning F. Force, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Spofford, present Librarian of Congress; Blackwell, who subsequently married Lucy Stone; and others of equal celebrity. A few months after locating at Cincinnati, Mr. Telfair came to Wilmington, and formed a law partnership with Judge Hinkson, with whom he re- mained two years. He then retired from active practice for awhile, but resumed his practice with Benjamin Fuller, the law firm being Fuller & Telfair. In 1853, he mar- ried Elizabeth Peyton, and soon after removed to Virginia, the native State of his wife, where he resided some years. After his return to Clinton County he " farmed it " one year, but once more resumed his practice (1858), to which he has since given his en- tire time and attention. He was in partnership with Judge Robert B. Harlan from June 1, 1869, to 1871, and subsequently with Judge James Sloan, of Hillsboro, which relationship continued until the latter's death, September 18, 1873. The firm of Tel- fair & Hayes (Melville Hayes) was formed May 18, 1874, and dissolved October 11. 1875. Since then Mr. Telfair has been alone in his practice. Mr. Telfair is a strong Democrat, and has been an able warrior in the contest for party rule. While a resident of Madison County, Ohio, he ran for Congress against the old veteran, Tom Corwin, but the large Republican majority in the district, and the undoubted popularity and political strength of his opponent, proved the contest to be almost a one-sided affair, although our subject polled the entire Democratic vote. At present, Mr. Telfair is president of the School Board of Wilmington, and was formerly a Councilman. He has been an active member of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and is a trustee at present writing. Mr. Telfair is the oldest ex-Prosecuting Attorney of Clinton County, and a man well respected by all. Of the four children born to him, three are living- William, an attorney, Susan and John. Ann is deceased.
D. B. VAN PELT, a member of the law firm of Mills & Van Pelt, is a life resident of this county. He was born April 26, 1851. His father, Cyrus Van Pelt, was a na-
Г
913
0
UNION TOWNSHIP.
tive of Highland County, Ohio, and a farmer by occupation. In the fall of 1864, he entered Company G, Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry as a private soldier to assist in suppressing our monstrous rebellion, and died in the hospital at Nashville, Tenn., from consumption contracted while in the service, at the age of forty-three years and three months. The mother of Mr. Van Pelt was Mary A., daughter of Gideon Fuller, an honored pioneer of this county, and a sister of William and Benijah Fuller, at one time prominent attorneys of the Clinton County bar, but now deceased. Mrs. Van Pelt departed this life March 15, 1867. The subject of this sketch attended the pub- lic schools in early life, and subsequently the National Normal School, at Lebanon, Ohio, graduating from the scientific course in the summer of 1874. Having resolved to make the practice of law his future work during life, he commenced its study, and for two years read with Bolton & Schauck, of Dayton, Ohio. On April 10, 1878, he was ad mitted to practice, and immediately opened an office at Wilmington. In August of the same year he formed a copartnership with Levi Mills, which relationship has continued to the present time, and has proven mutually agreeable, both socially and financially. Mr. Van Pelt has always taken an active interest in educational matters, and at present is connected with both the county and village Boards of School Examiners. Politically, his faith is placed in the Republican party. He was married July 27, 1876, to Flor- ence, daughter of James W. Farrand, one of the oldest pioneers of this county. They have three children-Stanley F., Paul J., and Mary A. Mrs. Van Pelt is a member of the Christian Church.
CALVIN R. VANTRESS, P. O. Wilmington, is a rising young farmer of this township, and a life resident of Clinton County. He was born June 8, 1842, and is a son of Richard and Deborah ( Howland) Vantress, natives of Dutchess County, N. Y., and of English parentage. Mr. Vantress was raised like the average farmer boy, and obtained the rudiments of a good English education in the district schools of the neigh- borhood. He has been a farmer through life, and owns a good farm in Iowa. Mr. Vantress is in sympathy with the principles of the Republican party, and is a School Director in his district. He was united in marriage September 27, 1866, to Nancy Haines, a native of Union Township. They have six children - four daughters and two sons-Ida O., May Emma, Calvin, Lydia D., Nancy A., and an infant son, Wil- liam R. Mr. Vantress and family are members of the Friends' Church. He is a young man of more than ordinary executive ability, and highly esteemed by all.
JAMES M. VERNON, P. O. Wilmington, was born near Zanesville, Ohio, June 5, 1849. He lived on a farm until sixteen years of age, but spent about six months out of each year, after he was twelve years of age, in study and preparations for college, under the direction of a private instructor. In 1866, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, as a student, and remained in that institution four years. In 1870, he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Zanesville, Ohio, and in 1871 removed to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where he continued his business career. In July, 1872, he was granted a patent on a compensation journal, which was his own invention, and which is now largely used in most of the leading sewing machines. In the spring of 1874, he went to Pittsburgh, Penn., to accept a situation on the Pitts- burgh Daily Gazette as a reporter. In the fall of 1875, he resigned his situation on the Gazette to accept the financial and commercial editorship of the Pittsburgh Daily . Dispatch. In 1876, he started the Sewing Machine Gazette, which paper he conducted in addition to his work on the Daily Dispatch. In the fall of 1876, the Dispatch added to its columns a River Department, and Mr. Vernon was placed in charge of the department, in addition to his other work on the paper. In the spring of 1877, he resigned his situation on the Dispatch, to accept the editorship of the Wilmington (Ohio) Journal, of which John Tudor was the proprietor. In February, 1880, he bought a half-interest in the Journal, and in December of the same year he purchased the other half of the paper, and is now both its editor and proprietor. In 1877, when Mr. Vernon moved to Wilmington, Ohio, he took with him the Sewing Machine Gazette, which paper he has continued to publish regularly, and of which he is also the editor and proprietor. Mr. Vernon was married to Lena B. Tudor, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, April 14, 1875.
914
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
GEORGE WADE, JR., P. O. Wilmington, an old settler of Union Township, was born in Western Virginia in April, 1824. His parents were James and Susannah Wade, natives of the " Old Dominion." Mr. Wade was reared on a farm, and has con- tinued in that business through life. He received a fair education in the public schools of West Virginia and Ohio, coming to Clinton County in 1836. He located in the timber of Union Township, but has his land now very well improved. Mr. Wade was united in marriage in 1873 to Mrs. Mary J. (Carter) Holley. They have three children-Cyrus, Lydia E. and Carrie Etta.
ABEL WALKER, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, July 28, 1819. He is the son of Azel and Hannah (Jackson) Walker, natives of Frederick County, Va., who immigrated to Ohio in 1804, and located in Union Township in 1805, where they raised a family of ten children .. Our subject has devoted his life to farming, in which occupation he has met with good success, being now possessed of a fine and well improved farm upon which he resides. He was married in 1869 to Miss Mary J. Patterson, a native of Greene County, and daughter of Thomas and Rebec. ca Patterson, he a native of Pennsylvania and she of Ohio. Five children were the issue of this marriage, viz .: Hannah, Tacy P., Sarah H., Louise C. and Elizabeth A. Mrs. Walker previous to her marriage was a teacher in the common schools. Her father came to Clinton County in 1818, and died in 1874, at the residence of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Walker take great pride in the cultivation of their children's minds, and in giving them an education suitable to their station. Mrs. Walker is a Baptist, and her husband a member of the Society of Friends.
SAMUEL WALKER, farmer and stock-dealer, P. O. Wilmington, is the son of Azel and Hannah (Jackson) Walker, native of Frederick County, Va. He was born in Union Township, this county, and received his education in the schools of the town- ship. He has chosen farming for his occupation, and now owns 246 acres of land, where his parents located when they came to Clinton County, in 1805, and where they lived until their death, the father in 1835 and the mother twenty years after. Our sub- ject is the youngest of ten children. He is a man of more than ordinary literary attain- ments, and manages to keep himself thoroughly posted on all the topics of the day; he is a great reader, and has in his possession, a copy of every paper ever published in Wilmington, with one exception ; he is, perhaps, the best-posted man in the county, es- pecially in matters relating to the history of the press and the Agricultural Society of the county. His farm is well improved, well stocked and thoroughly equipped withf modern conveniences. He is a Republican, unmarried, and a member of the Society o Friends.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.