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 75

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 75

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JOSEPH A. GRAVATI, druggist, of the firm of Gravatt & Moon, New Vienna, was born at New Lexington, Highland Co., Ohio, July 11, 1835 ; is a son of Peter R. and Charity (Tilton) Gravatt, natives of New Jersey. The grandparents, Robert and Mary Gravatt, natives of New Jersey, emigrated to Ohio and settled near New Lexing. ton, Highland County, where they resided about eighteen years, thence removed to Waynesville, Warren County, where she died about 1857, and he in 1858. The mater. nal grandfather, Sylvester Tilton, a native of New Jersey, became a resident of Ohio about the same time as the Gravatt family, and died near New Lexington, Highland County, about 1847. Peter R. Gravatt was a young single man when he came to Ohio with his father in 1831, and soon after married and entered the profession of teaching, which occupation he followed the greater part of his life. In the spring of 1849, he removed with his family to Dayton, Ohio, where, during the great cholera epidemic of that year, he took the disease and died, aged forty-five years. He was twice married, first to Charity Tilton, by whom he had three children, one only now surviving, Joseph A. She died in 1838; subsequently, he married for his second wife, Rachel Purneo, of Warren County, Ohio, by whom he had two children, one now survives, Henry P., now editor of the Wayne County Democrat, at Wooster, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was but three years of age when his mother died, and at fourteen years of age he lost his father, and was thus left an orphan and thrown upon the world to make his own livelihood. After working on a farm for a short time, he learned the carpenter trade, obtaining a limited education in the common schools. He followed his trade about nine years. In 1861, September 9, he enlisted in the defense of his country, in Company A, Forty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and soon after, was ap- pointed Hospital Steward, in which capacity he served till mustered out of service Janu- ary 17, 1865. After his return home, he engaged again in the carpenter trade, and in the manufacture of doors and sash for two years; thence entered as clerk in the drug store of C. C. Bowers, and continued as elerk about three years, when he bought out the interest of Mr. Good, of the firm of Johnson & Good, druggists, in New Vienna. This partnership continued about two years, when the firm changed to Nordyke & Gra- vatt ; thenee, in February, 1881, the firm became Gravatt & Moon, under which title the business is still conducted. They have a large and fine stoek of drugs, and are doing a prosperous trade ; second to none probably in New Vienna. Thus, Mr. Gra- vatt has arisen from a poor orphan boy to a prominent and leading business man of the town, being a worthy example to the rising generations, of what may be accomplished by energy and close application to business, coupled with good management and econo- my. On September 29, 1859, Mr. Gravatt was united in marriage with Virginia A., daughter of James and Ellen Evans, he a native of Virginia and she of Delaware. By her he has had seven children, five now survive-Charles, Eugene, Anna, Ellen and Henrietta.

LEVI GREGORY, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, born on the place where he now resides April 5, 1839; is a son of Levi and Catharine Gregory ; the grandfather was George Gregory, who lived and died in Fayette County, Penn., and there Levi, the father, was born October 2, 1792; he had two sisters, Jane and Ellen. The former married a man by the name of Osborn, and lived and died in her native State; the lat- ter married a Mr. Leonard, and settled in Illinois, where she died. The maternal grandparents were Robert and Nancy Walker (see sketch of R. B. Walker). Levi Gregory, the father of our subject, the only son of his father, was but four years of

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age, when his father died. IIc was raised by his uncle, Gideon Jackson, who about 170S emigrated to Ohio, and settled near New Market, in Highland County, where Levi, our subject, arrived at his majority. In the meantime, he served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in Gen. Hull's army at their surrender at Detroit. Thence he became a resident of Clinton County, married and settled on the place where our subject now lives, and here remained till his death. They had ten children, seven now survive-Nellie (wife of David Pond), Robert, James, Nancy, Elizabeth (wife of Alphonzo McDaniel), Servetus and Levi. Mr. Gregory, though a man of limited edu- cation, having, when young, had few advantages of schools, yet was a very active, industrious and prosperous farmer, and accumulated a good competency ; a man of wund integrity, of high moral and Christian character, a worthy and active member of the Christian Church, in which he became an exhorter. He died January 19, 1880. His wife died May 29, 1874. Our subject was married, December 24, 1881, to Cyn- thia Ann Morton, born in Clinton County September 4, 1843, a daughter of Richard and Lucinda Morton, he a native of Kentucky and she of Ohio. He came from Ken- tacky when young, and married and settled here; thence he removed to Iowa, where his wife died in August, 1862, aged forty years. Thence Mr. Morton returned to Ohio, where he has since resided. They had eight children-William, Sarah Jane (wife of Servetus Gregory), Cynthia Ann, John H., James Madison, Richard R., Elizabeth (wife of Elihu Thomas) and Mary Bell. Mr. Gregory remained with his parents, and took care of them till their death, and has taken the home place, where he has lived from his infancy, a period of forty-three years.

CHARLES H. HARRIS, farmer and dealer in agricultural implements, P. O. New Vienna, born in New Antioch October 1, 1835, is a son of Handy and Eleanor (Iluls) Harris. He was born at Morgantown, Clinton Co., Ohio, December 4, 1809, and she in Clark County, Ky., January 12; 1812. The grandparents were Charles and Catharine Harrris, natives of Maryland, who, in 1805, emigrated to Kentucky, and in 1806 removed to Clinton County, Ohio, and located where Jonathan Leeka now lives, and there opened out right in the woods. He resided there fourteen years, and cleared up seventy acres of land ; thence he located on the place where Elisha Harris now resides, and here again opened out right in the woods, and here, in connection with farming, he kept a tavern for the accommodation of travelers. His first log cabin proving inadequate to the demands, he built an addition of a brick house of four rooms, which he then thought would be sufficient ; but this was entirely inadequate, and he entered upon the erection of the large and commodious house which still stands upon the place. Here Mr. Harris remained till his death, January 27, 1854, aged seventy- five years ; his wife died July 8, 1835, aged sixty-two years. They had eight children, all now deceased but one, Elisha. The maternal grandparents, Paul and Elizabeth Iluls, natives of Kentucky, but who became early settlers of Clinton County, locating near New Antioch, their nearest neighbors being at that time Mr. Harris and Mr. Van Meter, about four miles distant. Here they lived and died, and their remains now rest in the cemetery at New Antioch. Mr. Handy Harris grew to manhood fully inured to the hardships of the early settlers of this county. Was married, and became the father of three children-Paulina (deceased), Elijah B. (deceased), and Charles H. Mr. Harris settled on the place now owned by James Higgins, and there he met his early death by cholera, July 22, 1835, and his remains rest with those of his two chil- dren in the burying-ground at Morgantown. Mrs. Harris subsequently married for her second husband Squire G. Harris, by whom she had three children-Sarah E., now wife of Samuel T. Anderson ; Salathiel L .; and Elizabeth L., wife of Henry L. Miller, residing in Hillsboro. Squire G. Harris was twice married; his first wife, Sarah, daugh- ter of Charles and Elizabeth Harris ; she died and was buried at Morgantown. Mr. Harris was a man of great integrity of character, and highly esteemed and respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mrs. Eleanor Harris died October 11, 1880, and the remains of both herself and her husband rest in the cemetery at New Vienna. The subject of our sketch was married May 9, 1858, to Mary E. Littler, born near Centerville, Highland Co., Ohio, May 26, 1838, a daughter of John and Nancy

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Littler, he a native of Nashville, Tenn., and she of Grayson County, Va. They were married in Highland County, and settled there and resided till his death, May 31, 1855. aged fifty-five years ; his wife still survives, aged seventy-eight years. They had nine children, six now survive-Eliza J. (wife of W. W. Barnes, of Kokomo, Ind.), Walter B., John M., William, James H. and Mary E. Mr. Harris and wife have five children -S. Grant, born August 12, 1859; Charles H., September 18, 1862 ; Ivolue B., May 15, 1872; Harry L., January 4, 1874 ; and Bessie M., June 27, 1876. They have also raised a young lady, Luticia Marlatt, who came to live with them when fifteen years of age, who has now been as one of their family for nine years, and is much endeared to every member of the family. In the fall of 1858, Mr. Harris engaged in mercan- tile business in New Vienna for three years, as dealer in dry goods and groceries; then became dealer in drugs, groceries, hardware and agricultural implements for seven years ; then he entered upon farming where he now lives in 1868, and hero has since resided. In connection with farming, has continued his trade in agricultural implements ; the latter he has made a leading business for many years, and there are few farmers in Clin- ton and Highland Counties unacquainted with Mr. Harris. Though often solicited to accept office, he refuses all, as uncongenial to his tastes. In integrity of character and as a business man, Mr. Harris sustains a high reputation, and is one of Clinton County's best citizens. He and wife have been members of the Universalist Church many years. Ile is also a member of [. O. O. F., to which he has belonged twenty-seven years, and about eighteen years he has been in the Encampment.

GEORGE S. HAYNIE, morchant, New Vienna, born near Wilmington, Clin- ton Co., Ohio, March 14, 1841 ; is a son of Thomas B. and Charlotte (Thatcher) Haynie, he a native of Winchester, Va., and she of Clinton County, Ohio. The grand- parents were Charles and Sarah Haynie, natives of Virginia. The paternal ancestors were of English descent, the maternal of German descent.' About the year 1830, Charles Haynie with his family emigrated to Ohio and settled in Union Township, near Wilmington, where he lived till his death. In his early life, while a resident of Virginia, he was employed as an overseer, having charge of quite a number of slaves. After his arrival in Ohio, his life was devoted to the occupation of farming, and was vory strongly opposed to slavery. He was a very reserved, unpretentious man, never holding nor seeking office, but a kind neighbor, and a highly respected citizen, of excel- lent Christian character, and died mourned by a large cirele of friends and acquaint- ances. Thomas B. Haynie, the father of our subject, was twelve years old when they came to Ohio; was brought up to farm labor ; was married, and followed agricultural pursuits nine years ; thence he entered upon mercantile trade, first in Burtonville ; thence removed to New Antioch, where he continued the business till 1873, when he retired from all active business. Mr. Haynie has been a man of great energy and busi- ness tact, cautious and correct in all transactions, yet decided and active, always buying for cash, thus avoiding any after pressure. Hence, his entire career of business life, a period of nearly a quarter of a century, was one of success, and he retired with a good competency. Few men have exhibited a life of success financially which has been marked by greater integrity, accompanied with a firm Christian character. They had nine children ; seven now survive-George S., Martha A. (married J. W. Bond), Lydia E. (married P. D. Barrett), Thomas F., Mary E. (married HI. G. Vandervort), Emma J. and Garrio. The subject of this sketch was brought up and educated to the mer. cantile trade, receiving a fair common school education. At twenty-six years of age, he entered into partnership with his father, which continned till 1873 ; thence he bought . out his father's interest and conducted the business very successfully till April, 1879, when, from failing health, he sold his stock of goods, and in the fall of the same year, he entered upon a manufacturing business at Geneva, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, engaged in the novel work of manufacturing wood tooth picks, splints, lamp-lighters, etc., being one of four such establishments known in the world. . This business he carried on about . one year, Mr. Haynie acting the part of traveling salesman for the purpose of recruiting his health. In this business, like all others of his life, he was successful, but from ill health of his wife, caused by the influences of the lake, he sold out and returned to

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Clinton County, and for two years, engaged in contracting for and the building of turn- pikes. In January, 1882, having regained his health, he purchased the stock of dry goods, boots and shoes and notions, of Ashdill & Co., of New Vienna, where he is now engaged once more in the business of his early years. Mr. Haynie's life, like his father's, has been one of success, and his activity and upright dealings have won for him the re- spect and confidence of his wide and extended circle of acquaintances. Not only has Mr. Haynie made a success in business, but at the same time, he has been a close stu- dent, and devoted largely his attention to the study of medicine, and also theology; in fact, is a man of general information, and intellectually is truly a self-made man, affable and social in his nature, correet in business habits, and of high moral and Christian worth, constituting Mr. Haynie one of our county's best citizens. On June 1, 1860, Mr. Haynie was united in marriage with Elizabeth, a daughter of Harvey and Elizabeth Rannells, natives of Pennsylvania. By this union they have five children- Lenora E. (married D. F. Fisher), Ella May, James E., Harry H. and Earl Russell.

JOHN M. HUSSEY, publisher, New Vienna. The Hussey family came into England in 1066, during the Norman conquest with William the Conqueror, with whom they claimed blood alliance For several centuries, they were closely identified with the government of England, several having been members of Parliament. Sir William Hussey was Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench, and was summoned to Parliament under Henry VIII. His son John was made Chief Butler of England. In 1316, Sir Hugh Hussey went to Ireland, and from him descended the family of Husseys in that country. Capt. Christopher Hussey came from England to America in 1630, in company with Stephen Bachelder and others and settled in Nantucket, and afterward married Martha, daughter of Stephen Bachelder, from whom descended the family of Husseys in the United States; and Christopher, Stephen and Martha have been family names ever since. Some of their descendants went into Pennsylvania. Christopher Hussey removed from Bucks County, Penn., to North Carolina with his two sons, Stephen and Christopher. Stephen married in North Carolina, and had four sons-Christopher, Stephen, Joshua and William; the latter remained in his native State, while the father, with his three elder sons, came to what was then Highland County, Ohio. About 1807, Stephen Hussey settled on the site where New Vienna now stands, and his son Joshua adjoining him on the south. Joshua had four sons, two of whom were born in North Carolina, viz., Thomas, born in 1800, and Stephen, born October 22, 1804 (the father of our subject), and William and Nathan, born after they came to Ohio. Thomas Hussey subsequently came in possession of the farm formerly owned by his grandfather, and laid out the town of New Vienna in the spring of 1827. He and his father built a flouring mill in the year 1825 in what was afterward the cast- ern part of the village. In the spring of 1828, Stephen Hussey, father of our subjeet, and William Recee opened the first store, and the former sold the first dress pattern ever sold in the village to Miss Nancy Harris, of Snow Hill. In the fall of 1829, he was married to Rachel Thornburg, and then removed to his farm just east of the village, where he devoted himself to agricultural pursuits during the active portion of his life. About the year 1868, he sold his farm and removed to town, where he has since lived retired, and invested his money in stock of the New Vienna Bank, in which he has held the place of a Director since. He is an earnest and consistent member of the Society of Friends, in which church he has been an Elder for more than twenty-five years. They had five children, three of whom died in early life, leaving one daughter-Martha Ann, born January 15, 1834, and one son, John M., born February 6, 1838. In the spring of 1865, Martha Ann was married to Daniel Hill, who, in connection with John M. Hussey, opened a dry goods store in New Vienna in 1866, and continued the same until 1870, when they disposed of their stock of goods, and then started a publishing house, where the periodicals of orthodox Friends are published. After continuing this busi- ness for two years, it was turned over to Mr. Hussey, who continues the publication of the three church papers, viz., Christian Worker, Olive Leaf and Bible Lesson Leaf, and a local paper known as the New Vienna Record. In addition to the above, he prints the Messenger of Peace and a large amount of tract work for the Peace Associa-

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tion of Friends, of which Daniel Hill is Secretary. In the spring of 1879, J. M. Hussey formed a partnership with Dr. A. HI. Lindley for carrying on a general drug business in New Vienna, which, at the end of two years, had been sufficiently prosper- ous to justify them in establishing two branch houses, one at Centerville, in Clinton County, and one at Leesburg, Highland County. He has also been for several years past identified with the banking interest of the place. On December 22, 1864, Mr. Hussey married Anna R. Fall, who was born in Wabash County, Ind., October 2, 1843, a daughter of John and Anna Fall, he a native of Preble County, Ohio, and she of Virginia ; they became among the carly settlers of that county, where they still continue to reside. They had six children ; five now survive-S. Martin, Daniel, Anna R., Jacob and John. Mr. Hussey and wife have two children-Homer F., born June 8, 1869, and Mary Inda, born June 17, 1876. Mr. Hussey is an active, earnest worker, and in the business interests of New Vienna and in the growth and prosperity of the town has been one of her leading citizens. His printing establishment is one of the largest and most completely furnished of anything of the kind outside of the large eities.

DANIEL HILL, minister and editor, New Vienna, born on the western bank of White Water, at Richmond, Ind., November 18, 1817, a few days after his parents had reached Richmond, having emigrated from Randolph County, N. C .; is a son of Henry and Achsah Hill; the paternal grandfather was Jesse Hill, and the maternal grandfather Abraham Peacock, both of whom removed from Randolph County, N. C., to Randolph County, Ind., where they died at a good old age. In the fall of 1818 the father of our subject, Henry Hill, removed to Randolph County, Ind., about twenty- five miles north of Richmond, and five miles east of Winchester, the county seat of Randolph County. That country was then an almost unbroken forest ; Indians were frequently scen in those days, and deer, wolves and wild turkeys were in abundance. There were then no schools or meeting houses any where in that region of country. He had a birthright membership in the Society of Friends, his ancestors on both sides for generations back being members of that society. There were then 'no public schools in the country. The Friends built a little log meeting house about one-half mile from his father's residence, when his son, our subject, was about seven or eight years old. They soon started a little school in the meeting-house where Daniel learned his A B C's. His education consisted of what he could learn from very poorly qualified teachers during the three winter months of each year, until he was nearly grown, the remainder of each year being spent in hard work upon the farm, and in clearing up the forests. His mother died when he was about twelve years of age. He had from boyhood a great taste for reading and study. There were no newspapers nor light literature in that part of the country at that time. His early reading consisted of the Bible and such books as were then found in a small Friends' Library, and these were all substantial and instructive reading, and no doubt contributed largely to the moral and noble character which his manhood has sinee exhibited. In the autumn of 1840, he was married to Areadia, daughter of Benjamin and Ann Thomas, of Wayne County, Ind., with whom he lived happily till the fall of 1863, when she died, leaving no issue. In politics Mr. Hill was first a Liberty Party man, with Whig predilections ; thence a Free Soiler ; thence a Republican, and lastly a Prohibitionist with Republiean pre- dilections. In 1856, he was elected as a Senator in the Legislature by the Republican party, representing the counties of Randolph and Jay, and served through three ses- sions of the Legislature-two regular and one extra sessions. In 1863, he was recorded a minister of the gospel in the Society of Friends by New Garden monthly meeting. Wayne County, Ind. In 1864, he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, having been appointed Superintendent of the Children's Home, then just organized on Park street, below Third street. In the spring of 1865, he was again married to Martha Ann, daughter of Stephen and Rachel B. Hussey, of New Vienna, Clinton County, Ohio, by whom he had four children-three sons and one daughter. Two of the sons died in early childhood, and two children still survive. In the spring of 1867, Mr. Hill resigned his position of Superintendent of the Home and removed to New Vienna, where he

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has since resided. In the spring of 1872, his second wife died of congestion of the lungs after a brief illness. In 1867, he was appointed President of the Peace Asso- ciation of Friends in America, and in 1869 was transferred from the Presidency to the Sceretaryship of said association, and in 1870 commeneed the publication of The Messenger of Peace, a monthily journal advocating the views of the association on the subject of Peace and War. The same year he also became editor of the Christian Worker, a weekly paper published in the interests of the Society of Friends, which position he has since occupicd. In the autumn of 1873, he was again married to Tamar, daughter of William and Rachel Thorn, whose residence was near Selma, Clark County, Ohio. Since Mr. Hill's connection with the Children's Home he has taken a special interest in the religious instruction of the young, and has frequently held religious meetings especially for children. Besides his zeal as a christian worker he is as a neighbor and citizen greatly estcemed and respected.

BLACKBURN HOLMES, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Belmont County, Ohio, November 2, 1820, is a son of Isaac and Ellen Holmes, natives of Pennsylvania, but who were among the carly settlers of Belmont County ; thence, about 1830, they removed to Highland County ; thenee, a resident of Clinton County, where he died in July, 1860, aged seventy-one years ; his wife survived him till 1863, aged seventy-one years. They had ten children, nine now survive-Shepley, Catharine (married to Henry Johnson), Ann (married to Henry De Long), Lucinda, Blackburn, Isaae, Will- iam, Obadiah and Elizabeth (married to Washington Mckibben). Mr. Holmes was a blacksmith by trade, which, to some extent, he followed in connection with farming for many years. He served as Township Trustee and Justice of the Peace, besides filling other minor offices. He was a man of undoubted integrity, of high moral and Chris- tian character, and was a class leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. The subject of this sketch was raised to farm labor, was twiee married-first, September 30, 1847, to Eliza Cowgill, a daughter of Henry and Mary Cowgill, by whom he had six children-four now survive-Alice J., born August 8, 1848 (married to Wyatt Lieurance, and resides in Kansas) ; Henry C., born June 2, 1850, also resides in Kansas ; Mary E., born October 3, 1853 (married to Frank Harris), and Marley C., born December 2, 1857 (married to Charles Miller). Mrs. Holmes died January 10, 1859, aged thirty years. On October 8, 1865, he married for his second wife, Rebeca J. Cline, who was born in Clinton County, October 2, 1832, a daughter of Richard and Priscilla Cline, whose history is given in sketch of James Cline. Mr. Holmes and wife have one child-Frank, born August 5, 1870. Mr. Holmes has devoted his life to farming. He first located in Clark Township, this county, on the farm now owned by William Mann, where he resided till about 1854, when he purchased the farm where he now lives and has since resided, a period of twenty-eight years. This place he bought of Job R. Haynes ; he has cleared up from the woods a large portion of the farm and erected the large brick house that now adorns the place, and all other build- ings and improvements, such that it is now one of the prettiest farmer's residences in this neighborhood. During the war of the rebellion, although Mr. Holmes did not enlist as a soldier, he gave freely of his means by hiring two substitutes to help break down that heinous rebellion. Mr. Holmes and wife are earnest members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and as a neighbor, a citizen and a Christian, he is held in high esteem by his large circle of friends and acquaintances.

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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 75

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