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 74
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LEWIS DRISKILL, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Highland County, Ohio, April 13, 1818; is a son of John and Catharine (Morris) Driskill, natives of Mary- land, who emigrated to Ohio among the early pioneers, probably about 1312, and located in Highland County, where he opened out right in the woods, not a stick . amiss, built a log cabin, and commenced to clear up his land and make a home and a farm ; and there he spent a long and industrious life, and died on the farm where he first loented. . He died March 1, 1857, in his eighty-ninth year. His wife died Nov- ember 10, 1855, aged seventy-fivo yours. Mr. Driskill lived a long and laborious life in this wilderness of a country, but he lived to possess a farm well improved and brought under good cultivation, till it was one of the best farms in this vicinity. They had twelve children. Three only now survive-Allen, Nancy (wife of Thomas Hum- phry and residing in Oregon) and Lewis. The latter is the youngest of the surviving children. Ile grew to manhood accustomed to the hardships of the carly settlers ; was married September 1, 1841, to Sinia Brewer, daughter of Isam and Farabee Brewer, he a native of North Carolina and she of Tennessee. By this union they had ten children. Four now survive-Simon, John H., Cynthiann (wife of Marion Standforth) and Milton. Mrs. Driskill died December 19, 1861.' On June 27, 1862, he married, for his second wife, Maria, a sister of his first wife. By her he had two children. One only survives-Laura, born November 28, 1866. Mr. Driskill, after his marriage,
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located upon his father's farm, where he took care of his father and mother through their last years. He bought out the other heirs, and continued to reside there till the fall of 1871, when he sold the home place and bought the farm where he now lives and i.as since resided. Mr. Driskill grew up with no education, having obtained what little he now possesses since he was married. He started with but little means, and by his own industry and economy has obtained a good competeney. Mr. Driskill and wife are worthy members of the Baptist Church, to which church they have belonged for many years, and are highly esteemed and respected by a large eirele of friends and acquaint- ances.
JOHN W. DURHAM, milling, New Antioch, born in Virginia October, 1833 ; is a son of George and Rosanna (Ambrose) Durham, natives of Virginia. The grand- parents were Joseph and Frances Durham, he of Scotch descent and she born in Vir- ginia. He was one of three brothers, married, and lived in Virginia till 1845 or 1846. He removed to Illinois and died in Bureau County, that State. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Was the father of four sons and two daughters. The two daughters, Julia Ann and Mary, still survive, and are residents of Virginia. George was the eldest of his father's family ; grew to manhood, married and resided in his native State till his death in 1846, aged thirty-eight years. He was a shoemaker by trade, which, in connection with farming, he followed through life. His wife subsequently removed to her friends in Illinois, where she died in December, 1867, aged sixty-one years. They had six children, five now living-John W., George W. (deceased), William W. (a resident of California), Frances (wife of William Hotsenpillar), Martha Jane (wife of Wash- ington Dawson), and Sarah Elizabeth (now Widow Hefner). These three daughters now reside in MeLean County, Ill. The maternal grandfather, Mathias Ambrose, was of German descent, but probably born in Virginia, and lived and died in that State. Mr. Durham, our subject, was brought up to farm labor. In the fall of 1855, Mr. Durham emigrated to Ohio and spent the first winter in Miami County ; thence, in the spring of 1856, he came to Clinton County to visit friends and acquaint- ances, and by them was persuaded to locate here, and soon after entered upon the mill- ing business. On September 11, 1862, he was married to Esther Ann Murphy, born in Clinton County, Ohio, April 16, 1840, a daughter of David and Isabel Murphy. By this union they have had five children, four now survive-Elma Althea, born October 22, 1866; Ira Denver, born May 31, 1870; Lucy Frances, born June 14, 1872, and John William, born October 3, 1879. Mr. Durham has made milling his business since his location here. He has erected two mills since his residence here, the first in 1872, which was destroyed by fire in 1878, and immediately cleared away the rubbish and erected his present mill, combining a grist and a saw mill. Mr. Durham is doing a good business both in the grist and saw mill, and is one of the leading busi- ness men of New Antioch, and in character and integrity stands in high esteem. and commands the respect of his community. He and wife are devoted members of the Seventh-Day Adventists, to which they have belonged four years.
DAVID F. EACHUS, farmer. P. O. New Antioch, born in Clinton County December 5, 1804; is a son of Robert and Phebe Eachus, he a native of Philadelphia, and she of Virginia. Robert emigrated first to Virginia, where he married, and about 1802 emigrated to Ohio and settled near Waynesville, Warren County ; thenee about two years later removed to near Wilmington, and settled on Todd's Fork, where they resided till his death. He located right in the woods, and lived the real log-eabin life ; no roads then existed, nothing but blazed paths through the dense wilderness ; deer and turkeys were in abundance; also Indians were frequent visitors to their cabin. He was one of the prominent leading men of the county of that day. He served as County Treasurer and Assessor, and was a Justice of the Peace for many years. A further account of his life and works are given in the general history of the county. He died March 24, 1829, aged sixty-six years. His wife died September, 1843, aged about seventy-three years. They had six children-Esther, Mary, Elizabeth, John, Julian and David F., all now deceased but the latter, who was married, December 2, 1838, to Mrs. Jane Huls, a daughter of James and Eleanor Savage, natives of Virginia. By
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this union they have had five children-Robert, John, Squire, Phebe Ellen and Will- iam, all deceased but John, who was born July 28, 1841. Mr. Eachus first located in Wilmington, where he was Clerk in the Auditor's office ; thence in the Recorder's office ; thence was elected Constable and served as such ten or twelve years ; thence was Deputy Sheriff two terms; thence entered upon farming in 1848 upon the old home place of his father on Todd's Fork ; thence he bought and located on the farm now owned by William Ward, and, in 1869, exchanged that farm for the one where he now lives, and has sinee resided. JJohn, the only brother of Mr. Eachus, studied law under the Hon. Thomas Corwin, and subsequently located at Henderson, Ky., where he married and practiced his profession till his death, caused by injuries sustained by being thrown from his buggy by his horse running away while returning to his home from attending a session of court. Ife had practiced but a few years, being just in the prime of life, with the prospect of a successful future. He left one child-Eliza J., who died Feb- ruary 1, 1881. Mr. Eachus was Trustee of Greene Township for several years, a man of undoubted integrity, an active and useful citizen, and highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
TIMOTHY D. EDWARDS, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born in Hamilton County, Ohio, July 1, 1838; is a son of Samuel and Mary Edwards, he a native of Hamilton County, and she of Clermont County, Ohio. The grandparents were Isaac and Rebecca Edwards, natives of New Jersey, but who emigrated to Ohio and settled in Clermont County near Newberry, about 1805; thence two years later removed to Hamilton County, where he died about 1823. Samuel grew to manhood and married Mary Sutton, of Clermont County. and settled in Hamilton County and engaged in farming, where he still resides. His wife died about 1857, and he married for his third wife Mrs. Catharine Edwards, with whom he still lives. By his first wife, Elmira Day, he had one child, Serena, wife of Presley B. Hutchinson. By his second wife, Mary, he had eleven children, seven now survive-Salina, wife of Stephen Coddington ; Tim- othy D .; Isaae K .; Nancy, wife of James Coddington; Laura, wife of Philip Turpin ; George S. and Samuel M. By his last wife he has two children-Mary and Helen. Mr. Edwards ranks among the best farmers of Hamilton County, and in integrity of charac- ter, as a neighbor and citizen is highly esteemed and respected. Timothy D., our sub- jeet, grew to manhood brought up to farm labor; was married, January 1, 1862, to Mary Jane Demar, who was born in Hamilton County, March 15, 1844, a daughter of James and Jane Demar, natives of Maryland, but who became residents of Ohio, about 1831, where they have sinee resided. They have had ten children, five now living- William M., James T., George W. and Mary Jane (twins), and Zachary T. Mr. Ed. wards and wife have had eight children, seven now survive-Harry D., born April 5. 1863; Estus T., February 22, 1865 ; Eugene, November 17, 1867 ; Lella, August 11. 1869 ; George, May 25, 1871 ; Blanche, April 12, 1873, and James W., born Febru- ary 17, 1882. Mr. Edwards has made farming his business through life. He resided in his native county till March 11, 1872 ; he removed to Clinton County and located where he now lives and has since resided. This farm consists of 195 acres of well-im- proved land. Mr. Edwards is one among the best farmers of Greene Township, and ax a neighbor and citizen has been a good acquisition to the large number of reliable and enterprising farmers of Clinton County.
W. S. FARABEE, physician, New Antioch, was born in Washington County, Penn., July 5, 1833 ; his grandfather, Thomas Farabee, moved from the southeastern part of Bucks County, Penn., to Washington County, Penn., with his wife, Jane (Me- Caffee) Farabee. and four children ; here they had four more children born, and both parents died aged about eighty years. Their elder son, William, was the father of our subject ; he was born in Bucks County September 4, 1794, and married Saralı Houg. land, a daughter of Benjamin Hougland. In 1838, they moved to Lee Township, Athens Co., Ohio, where they died, he in 1876 and she in 1849. Our subjeet's maternal grandparents were Benjamin and Catharine Hougland, who were married in New Jer- sey. They had seven children, of whom Sarah, our subjeet's mother, was the third. Mr. Farabee, whose name heads this sketch, emigrated to Athens County, Ohio, with
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his parents in 1842, and on March 24, 1854, married Martha Tom, with whom he moved to Indiana, in October of the same year. In November, 1856, he returned to Athens County, and in March, 1857, he took a trip across the Western plains, return- ing in the following July. In the fall of 1857, he commeneed reading medicine, and in 1863, entered the army, serving as a Surgeon at Nashville, Tenn. He returned home in the same year, and remained until May, 1864, when he went with the " hun- dred days' men," being detailed as Assistant Surgcon at Baltimore, Md. Being again discharged, he entered the Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he returned in June, 1865, and commenced practicing his profession in partnership with Dr. Thomas Farabee, with whom he remained until January 1, 1866 ; he located at New Antioch January 3, 1866, and has since remained there, practicing his profession. His wife died January 14, 1861, leaving two children, Sarah A., born in Indiana, August 15, 1856, and Laura, born in Athens County February 22, 1859. On the 7th of January, 1866, Mr. Farabee was again married to Sarah Arnold, by whom he has had two chil- dren-Ella, born November 2, 1866, and Leona, born September 6, 1868. Mr. Fara- bee is a physician of ability, as his success in life indicates. He is a good citizen, and stands high in the estimation of the people of his vicinity.
JOHN FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Highland County October · 29, 1820, is a son of Cephas and Rachel Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania. The grand- parents were James and Jane Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania; they emigrated to Ten- nessee soon after 1800, and about 1804 removed to Highland County, Ohio, and set- tled near Monroe, where they lived till their death. Cephas Fisher had arrived nearly at manhood, when with his father's family he removed to Tennessee. Mr. Fisher was twice married ; his first marriage it is believed occurred in Tennessee, where he was united to Rachel Stanbury, and soon after removed to Highland County ; thenec about 1837 removed to Clinton County, and settled on the farm where our subjeet now lives ; subsequently he moved to the place where Jane Fisher now lives, and there resided till his death. His wife died May 5, 1844. By her he had eight children, three now survive-Rebecca, wife of Isaac Atkinson, and resident in Story County, Iowa ; Cephas, who resides in Henry County, Iowa, and John. Mr. Fisher married for his second wife Mrs. Jane Atkinson, whose maiden name was Leech ; by her he had one child- Eli ; she, by her her first husband, Mr. Atkinson, had five children, two now survive -Hannah and Rebecca Ann, the latter wife of David Brewer. Mr. Fisher died December 30, 1862, aged eighty-four years. His widow still survives, now seventy-seven years of age. The subject of this sketeh was about seventeen years of age when his father and family settled in Clinton County. He was married, September 25, 1845, to Han- nah Atkinson, who was born in Clinton County June 2, 1827, a daughter of John and Jane Atkinson, he a native of Ohio, and she of Pennsylvania. The Atkinson family were among the pioneers of Ohio. John Atkinson died in April, 1839. Mr. Fisher and wife have had ten children, nine now survive-Amos, born April 1, 1846 ; Amy, born December 30, 1849, wife of William MeFadden ; Harriet Ellen, born September 10, 1851; Joseph, born April 22, 1853; Phebe Jane, born April 9, 1855, wife of William F. Waddle; Thomas, born May 16, 1857 ; Rachel Alice, born July 7, 1859 ; William Henry, born May 7, 1861, and Azariah, born June 19, 1865. Mr. Fisher has spent his entire married life on this and his adjoining farm; has been very hard- working, industrious man, and by his own efforts has become the owner of 368 aeres of land, most of which he has accumulated by his own labor and that of his family. He has erected a fine large brick house, and other improvements in good order. constituting a pleasant home and farmer's residence. Mr. Fisher and family are members of the So- ciety of Friends, as were also their ancestors, and are among our best and most respected citizens.
ELI FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, June 27, 1842; is a son of Cephas and Jane (Leech) Fisher, whose history and that of their ancestors is fully given in a sketch of John Fisher. The subject of this sketch. grew to manhood on the old home place where his mother, Jane Fisher, still resides. When twenty years of age, on August 15, 1862, he enlisted in the defense of his country in
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the war of the rebellion, in Company G, Seventy-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and served through the war, receiving his discharge June 17, 1865. He served in the Army of the Cumberland under its various commanders, and with Gen. Sherman on his march through the South to the sea, and saw very active service; was slightly wounded twice, yet was never in an ambulance, or a hospital, or lost a single day from duty while in the service, which, perhaps, is unparalleled by any soldier in the service. Mr. Fisher was married, February 1, 1866, to Rebecca Jane McFadden, born in Clinton County, November 28, 1841, a daughter of John and Elizabeth McFadden, by whom he has two children-Charles, born December 29, 1866; and Mary, born December 26, 1871. Mr. Fisher purchased the place where he now lives and has since resided, of John W. Smalley ; it consists of thirty-one acres, upon which he has erected all the buildings and made all the improvements, and now has a very pleasant home. Mr. Fisher is a member of the I. O. O. F., also of the Encampment, and has passed the highest degree in both. As a neighbor and a citizen Mr. Fisher is highly esteemed and respected.
AMOS FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born on the place where his parents, John and Hannah Fisher, still reside, April 1, 1846. The ancestral history is given in sketch of John Fisher. Our subject, who arrived at manhood, brought up on his father's farm, was married, January 15, 1874, to Ruth Ann Terrell, born in Wayne Township, Clinton County, November 8, 1844, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Terrell, natives of Highland County, Ohio. The maternal grandparents were William and Phebe Williams, natives of North Carolina, but who became early settlers of Highland County, Ohio, and lived and died in that county. John and Eliza- beth Terrell had seven children, six now survive-Hampton W., Ruth Ann, Phebe, Jane (wife of William Huff), David E., Mary Edna (wife of Wm D. Thompson), Flora A. (wife of Dennis Cook), and Pleasant M. (deceased was married to Alice Malone, and left one child, Hezzie). Mr. Fisher and wife have three children-Elver J., born April 30, 1875 ; Lena May, born January 11, 1878, and Amos Clyde, born June 29. 1880. Mr. Fisher, after his marriage, located on the place where he now lives, and has since resided. This place he purchased of his father, which was known as the Curtis farm ; it now consists of 115 aeres, of which eighty-five acres are in cultivation. Mr. Terrell and wife are members of the Society of Friends, as were their ancestors for sev. eral generations, and in integrity of character, are among the best citizens of the county.
GEORGE W. FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, October 13, 1826 ; is a son of David and Hannah Fisher, natives of Virginia. David lost his parents when a child, and was bound out to Thomas Thatcher, who emi- grated to Ohio when David was a boy of fourteen, coming through with a four-horse team and one of the Old Virginia wagons, and on arriving at the Obio River, the ferry- man being on the opposite shore was hailed, and, not giving a very satisfactory reply, Mr. Thatcher determined to swim the river with his team, and he drove right into the stream, his family in his wagon, Mr. Thatcher on the near lead horse and the boy, David, on the off horse, the people on the shore expecting to see them all carried down the stream and drowned, but the noble horses carried them safely over, while some one on the housetop waved a flag, directing Mr. Thatcher to the right or to the left as safety indicated. This was a feat never before accomplished, and never since such a thing known in history. They settled in Clinton County near Cuba, and here David grew to manhood, married and became the father of thirteen children, ten now living-Samuel, John, Andrew J., William, George W., James, Thomas, Eliza Ann, Maria and Eliza- beth. Mr. Fisher lived in this county till about 1858, when he removed to Illinois, and about 1862 or 1863, died of the cholera, aged sixty-seven years; he was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and was one of the troops surrendered by Gen. Hull, at De- troit, and shared with many others their hatred of Hull for that uncalled-for surrender. George W., our subject, was the fifth son of his father now living, and on arriving at manhood was cast upon the world without means, and left to fight his own way through life ; he entered upon the trade of brick-making, which business he followed fifteen years in Cincinnati, Shelbyville, Ind., in this county, and in other places;
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thence, in the spring of 1857, he entered upon farming, purchasing seventy-five aeres, a part of the tract of land where he now lives. Mr. Fisher and wife have continued their united labors, and from time to time have added more land by purchase, till now they own 235 aeres of excellent land with good buildings and improve- ments, and clear of debt. Thus we have a living example of what energy and industry can be made to accomplish. The noble wife above spoken of, who has proven so worthy a help-meet, was Martha Fife, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, August 20. 1828, and with her parents, David and Naney Fife, came to Philadelphia in 1840, and a few years later came to Clinton County, Ohio, where her mother died. Subsequently, he removed to the State of Illinois, where he died. Mr. Fisher and wife were married February 15, 1850, and unto them have been born eight children-Jennie, born June 21, 1852; David F., July 18, 1854 ; John W., September 11, 1856; George L., No- vember 8, 1858 ; Thomas, December 29, 1860 ; Matthew, January 17, 1865, and died December 29, 1881; Maggie L., April 23, 1869, and James, born July 25, 1873. During the war, Mr. Fisher was a member of the Ohio National Guards. In the spring of 1864, when their services were deemed necessary at the front, he left his plow in the furrow, and, instead of hiring a substitute to represent him in war, the substitute took the plow and our subject went to the front, serving under Capt. Wilson, in Company " K," One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regi- ment Ohio National Guards.
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It was in May that Mr. Fisher enlisted, having just planted thirty acres of corn, which was to be cultivated by the home substitute, but not . long after Mr. Fisher's absence, it occurred to the wife of Fisher that the substitute's presence was needed more by the Government on the field of battle than among the peaceful fields of growing crops, and he, too, was permitted by this patriotie woman to go to the front, and to her was left the care of the farm; and well fitted for that care, too, was she, for with only the assistance of a son and daughter, aged nine and eleven years respectively, she plowed and cared for the thirty acres of eorn, besides attending to the many duties of the house.
LEWIS FRAZIER, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born on the farm where he now lives April 24, 1826, is a son of Abraham and Margaret Frazier, he a native of North Carolina, and she of Tennessee. The grandfather, William Frazier, emigrated from North Carolina to Tennessee, where he lived and died, at the ripe old age of nearly ninety years. Abraham Frazier was but an infant child when his father moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, and there he grew to manhood. In 1812, he came to `Ohio, and settled in Clinton County adjoining his brother Eli, who had settled here one year previously. Here Abraham purchased 100 acres of his brother, and remained one year, then returned to Tennessee, and married Margaret Coppock, of Strawberry Plains. Thenco he took his wife on horseback, with a feather bed and a few effects for house- keeping, and thus journeyed all the way through the wilderness to, his new home in Clinton County, Ohio, and here commenced right in the woods, and lived the true log- cabin life, enduring all the hardships of those days. He was an industrious, hard- working man; though a man of no education, yet he was a man of great integrity of character, and lived a very quiet and upright life; was never sued in law, and never sued any man, and died highly esteemed and respected. He died March 22, 1862. aged seventy-seven. His wife died June 29, 1845, aged fifty-two years. They had nine children, six now survive-William, Madison, Eliza (married to Jacob Quigley), Lewis, Margery A. (married to Abraham Skeen), and Aaron ; the latter resides in Ore- gon. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the farm where he was born, and where he still lives ; was married May 28, 1853, to Margaret A. Quigley, who was born in Berkeley County, Va., December 24, 1832, a daughter of Michael and Mar- garet Quigley, he a native of Lancaster County, Penn., and she of North Carolina ; they had Dine children, six now survive-Jacob, Mary Ellen (married to William Tarr), Margaret A., Michael, Jane (married to Simeon Pennington, and resides in Indiana), and Alice Virginia (married to Peter Malott). Mr. Frazier and wife have eight ehil- dren-John W., born April 18, 1854 ; Abe, born December 2, 1855; Alpheus, born August 25, 1858 ; Albron Gage, born February 12, 1861 ; Carrie Ella, born July 27,
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1863; Maggie Oral, born August 27, 1866; Aaron J., born April 27, 1869, and Mary Lizzie, born July 27, 1877. Mr. Frazier has spent his entire life upon the old home farm, which has now been in possession of the Frazier family for seventy years. This place, which in 1812 was one unbroken forest, is now nearly all in fine cultivated fields with good improvements, and now Mr. Frazier is very comfortably situated, and ranks among the " well-to-do " farmers of Clinton County ; is a man of integrity and high moral character, and like his father was never sued and never sued any man, and was never called before a court as a witness-a remarkable incident for a man of his age.
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