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 78

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 78

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THOMAS R. NORDYKE, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, November 20, 1839, is a son of Henry and Phebe Nordyke, whose history and that of the ancestors, is fully given in this work. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood brought up on the farm of his father. Was married October 31, 1861, to Elizabeth A. Gifford, a daughter of Andrew and Sarah Gifford, he a native of North Carolina and she of New Jersey, but who became carly settlers of Ohio. By this union they had two children-Mary I., born December 29, 1862; and Clayton B., February 17, 1864. Mrs. Nordyke died in October, 1868. On February 22, 1869, he married for his second wife Mary Ann Mory, who was born in Clinton County, August 22, 1847, a daughter of Dr. D. B. Mory, of Wilmington. By this union they have four children-William M., born December 25, 1870; Herbert H., February 12, 1873 ; Inez M., December 3, 1876; and Alice, born July 27, 1880. Mr. Nordyke has spent all his life in Clinton County but two years, 1862 and 1863, during which he resided in Indiana. The place where he now resides he purchased of William Noble in the fall of 1864, which joins his father's farm just north of New Vienna, and here he has now resided eighteen years. Mr. Nordyke is a member of the Society of Friends, and, like his father and grandfather, sustains a high moral and Christian char- acter, and is a worthy and respected citizen.

GEORGE A. PENDELL, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Adams County, Ohio, January 10, 1852, is a son of Isaac and Rebecca (Boyd) Pendell, natives of Adams County. The grandparents were John and . Margaret Pendell, he a native of

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New York State, and she of Ohio. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and lived and died in Adams County. Isaac married and settled in Adams County, where he still lives, and is one among the leading farmers of that county. They have twelve children-David, Jonathan, Margaret, Nathan, Nancy, George, Hannah, Isaac, Thomas J., John, William B. and Robert D. (twins). The subject of this sketch grew to man- hood in Adams County, and at nineteen years of age came to Clinton County ; was married September 23, 1875, to Caroline Johnson, born January 26, 1852, a daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Achor) Johnson, he a native of Kentucky, and she of Clin- ton County, Ohio. The grandparents were Scarlet and Nancy Johnson, natives of Virginia, but became early settlers of Kentucky; thence of Ohio about 1812, living for awhile in Clermont County ; thence in Highland, and finally in Clinton County, where they died. Scarlet Johnson served in the war of 1812. Thomas Johnson Wax but seven years of age when they came to Ohio, and here grew to manhood and mar- ried, and to them were born three children, one only now living-Caroline. Mr. John- son was a chair-maker by trade, which business he followed many years, until the time of his purchasing the farm where our subject now lives, which was about 1848, thence he gave his attention to farming and remained here till his death, August 23, 1878, in his seventy-third year ; his wife still survives, aged sixty-nine years. Mr. Pendell and wife have two children-Elmer Elsworth, born July 3, 1877, and Lennie May, born April 23, 1880. Mr. Pendell and wife settled on the old home place of her father, where they still reside.

JESSE W. POND, stock dealer, New Antioch. The subject of this sketch, one of the prominent, active business men of Clinton County, is the son of William and Mary Pond. The grandparents were Griffin and Mary Ann Pond, and Griffin was a son of John and Sarah Pond, who lived and died in North Carolina. He served seven years in the war of the Revolution. Griffin, the grandfather, was born in North Caro- lina ; had one brother who died young, and four sisters who grew to maturity, and, it. is believed, removed to Indiana, where they died-three of them unmarried ; the other married Absalom Holman. Griffin was the eldest of his father's family ; was married in North Carolina, and in the fall of 1823 emigrated, with his family, to Ohio, and settled in the cast part of Washington Township, Clinton County. He landed here with $7 in money, which he at once laid out in a small black cow and calf. At the same time he bought two dressed hogs, for which he was to pay 1} cents per pound, to be paid for in trade. They lived in a small cabin till the spring of 1824. In the mean time he effected an arrangement with one Edward Bond, who owned 1,200 acres of land, to deed him fifty acres of land in consideration of his clearing other fifty acres for the said Edward Bond. This he did, fulfilling his contract to the letter. And at above date (1824), erected a cabin on his fifty acres for his new home, and moved into the same, where he resided till his death. Before his death, he and his family had the farm well cleared up, and a good hewed-log house added to his first cabin, and everything around him quite pleasant and comfortable-greatly in contrast to what it was when they first located in the vast woods. His wife died, and he subsequently married, for his second wife, Sallie Ruse, by whom he had one son-Sampson. Mr. Pond died in June, 1866, in his ninety-eighth year. By his first wife he had twelve children, five now survive-Mary, born 1807, wife of Henry M. Green; Griffin, born in 1810; Will- iam, born in North Carolina June 2, 1812; David, born in 1814; George W., born in 1816, and Sarah, born in 1818, wife of Harley Clevenger. Mr. Pond was a man well educated and of general information for that carly day. He taught school consid- erably in his early manhood, and to the time of his death, even in his advanced years, was of more than common intelligence, and sprightly and active to the last. Willian, the father of our subject, was in his twelfth year when, with his father's family, he came to this county, and here was reared in the log cabin, and grew to manhood fully inured to the pioneer work and life of those days; was married, February 21, 1833, t. Mary Licurance, born in North Carolina March 18, 1815, a daughter of John and Rebecca Lieurance, also natives of North Carolina, but who became settlers of Clinton County about 1816, and subsequently removed to near Peru, Ind., where he died at

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sixty-six years of age, and she at seventy-five years. They had five daughters and three sons ; two now survive-Mary and Elizabeth, the latter now Widow Kizer. Mr. Lieurance was an carly settler here, and cleared up a great amount of land ; resided here about forty-four years, raised his family, and all but one were married prior to his removal to Indiana. Mr. Pond and wife have had twelve children-cight now survive -John J., Jesse W., Mary Jane (wife of Thomas Bloom), Rachel Ann (now Widow Lieurance), Sarah M. (married John R. Anson, and has three children-Cora Elva, Elza C., Milton W.), William A., Martha E. (wife of R. E. Hunt), and Lina (wife of Nova V. Murphy). Mr. Pond and wife started in life with nothing, working by the day at 25 cents, laboring through many years, clearing up their land from the woods; making and selling sugar for 3 cents a pound ; butter, 3 cents a pound ; sold eggs 12 to 3 cents per dozen, and chickens for 37 cents a dozen. Now, Mr. Pond owns nearly 300 acres of land, with fine improvements, has a good competency, and every comfort and con- venience, quite in contrast to their early life. This may show to the rising generations what may be accomplished by industry, economy and earnest labor. The subject of our sketch, being the second child of his father, was brought up to hard pioneer labor, receiving a fair common school education, and, possessing an active business mind, soon started out into active life, and for several years has carried on a large and exten- sive trade in stock. He is now a partner with John W. Lawhcad, in whosc biographical sketch is given something of the magnitude and extent of their business. Hc has also served as a Justice of the Peace, is a man of sound judgment and firm principles, and, as a neighbor and citizen. is one of Clinton County's most worthy mcn.

JOHN C. ROUTH, of the firm of Routh & Livzey, dealers in grain, lumber and agricultural implements, New Vienna, was born in Clinton County, near Martins- ville, July 2, 1834. Hc is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth Routh, the father being a native of Highland County, Ohio, and the mother of Hamilton County, Ohio. The grandparents were John and Jane Routh, natives of North Carolina. The great grandparents were Joseph and Mary Routh, he a native of North Carolina and she of Scotland. He lived and died in North Carolina, but his wife subsequently came to Indiana and died in Wayne County of that State. The grandparents came to Ohio and settled near Martinsville, Clinton County, about 1809, and there remaincd till his death in 1835, when he died with cholera. They had five sons and eight daughters ; seven now survive-Isaac, Joseph, Daniel, Jesse, Sarah (wife of Wesley Smithson), Charlotte (wife of John Brown), and Irena (wife of John Deacon). Mrs. Routh subse- quently married for her second husband John Dingy, with whom she lived till her death, about 1855. Mr. Routh was one of the pioneers, and bore his full share of the burdens of those early days, and was one of the leading business men. He held many of the offices of his township ; was Township Clerk many years, and a Justice of the Peacc twenty-one successive years ; was a devoted member of the Baptist Church from his young manhood, and was Deacon of the same for many years, holding that office to the time of his death. Isaac Routh, the father of our subject, was born May 9, 1810; grew to manhood near Martinsville. Was married, April 22, 1829, to Elizabeth Cherry, who was born October 16, 1807, a daughter of John and Rebecca Cherry, natives of Pennsylvania. By this union they have had ten children, six now living -Silas, Rebecca (wife of Selby Johnson), John, Nancy (wife of Isaac R. Allison), Sarah (wife of William W. Ingold) and Henry M. Mr. Routh located near Martins- ville, engaged in farming. He resided on three different farms in Clinton County nine- tcen.ycars ; thence located on a farm in Highland County, where he resided thirty- three years, when, in August, 1881, he sold his farm, and, in November of same year, moved to the town of New Vienna, where he now resides, retired from all active labor. Mr. Routh, like his father, is an carnest and worthy member of the Raptist Church, and has been Deacon of the same for over a quarter of a century. Mr. Routh and wife have now journeyed together in life for fifty-three years, a period reached by but .. few. The subject of this sketch was married, February 28, 1873, to Miss Jennie Scwell, who was born August 24, 1855, a daughter of George and Sarah Ann Sewell, natives of Clinton County. By this union they have had two children, both deceased.

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Mr. Routh was raised to farm labor, and continued at that business till in January, 1870, when he entered into partnership with William B. Livzey, of New Vienna, and are dealers in grain, lumber and agricultural implements, which business they have now carried on twelve years, and have a large and inercasing trade, and are one of the most active and useful business firms of Now Vienna.

WILLIAM J. SEWELL, teacher, New Antioch, born in Vernon Township, Clinton County, October 1, 1849; is a son of John and Abigail (Fordyce) Sewell, also natives of this county. The grandparents were Ezra and Sarah Sewell, who were early settlers of Clinton County, Ohio, and whose history will be further given by A. R. Sewell, his- torian of Vernon Township. John Sewell grew to manhood, brought up to farm labor, married and settled and has always resided in Vernon Township. He is the father of four sons and four daughters-Sarah J., wife of James Humphreys, and resident in Illinois ; William J., Ezra M., Susan M., Jacob, Alice, Silas G. and Luella. Mr. Sewell is well known as one of the prominent farmers of Vernon Township, and is highly esteemed and respeeted by a large cirele of friends and acquaintances, where he has lived so many years. IIe has served as Township Trustee for several years. The subjeet of this sketch was brought up to farm labor, receiving a good common-school . education ; thenee he attended the college at Wilmington, where he graduated in June, 1880. In 1871, he commeneed teaching, and has since spent most of his time in teach- ing and in college. He has taught eighteen terms of school, and all within this county. In one distriet, adjoining his home, he taught ten terms, which is indicative of his success as a teacher. In September, 1881, he took charge of the school at New Antioch, where he is now employed. On August 18, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mills, who was born in Clinton County, Wilson Township, July 1, 1858, a daughter of Jonathan and Rhoda Mills-he a native of Wayne County, Ind., and she of Clinton County, Ohio.

ZEPHANIAH SPEARS, retired farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Westmore- land County, Penn., August 12, 1807, is a son of Robinson and Elizabeth ( Bryan) Spears, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandparents were John and Mary Spears. He emigrated to America when but a boy and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married his wife, who was of German descent. He lived and died in Pennsylvania, but his his widow subsequently came to Ohio with her son Robinson, and died in Brown County. Robinson Spears grew to manhood brought up to farm labor in his native State, and married there. In June, 1817, he with his family removed to Ohio, and first settled in Ross County ; thenee, in 1821, he removed to Brown County; thence, in 1827, removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he died in 1850. His wife sur- vived him till the fall of 1873, aged ninety-two years. Mr. Spears was one of the pioneer farmers of Ohio. When he settled in Brown County, he purchased 300 acres of land, nearly all of which was in the woods, and there he labored six years, clearing up a large portion of his land; but, as the country was level and quite wet in that day, he desired a more hilly and drier country ; hence he sold out and removed to Gueru- sey County, Ohio, as above stated. He was the father of eleven children, all of whom but one grew to maturity, married and settled in life. Five now survive-Zephaniah; Elizabeth, now Widow Oliver; Ellen, now Widow Stewart; Jane Ann, now wife of John Willis, and Prudence, wife of William Willis. Zephaniah, the subject of this sketch, was the third child of his parents, and was about ten years of age when his father came to Ohio, and here grew to manhood. At nineteen years of age, he went to learn the blacksmith trade, which he followed ten years; thence he entered upon farming, purchasing the farm where he now lives, then known as the " Morgantown farm," in 1836, having carried on blacksmithing upon the place eight years previous to his purchase. Henee he has been a continued resident upon this farm fifty-four years -more than half a century. On September 20, 1829, he was united in marriage with Lovina Mathews, a daughter of Joel and Phebe Mathews, natives of North Car- olina. By this union they had nine children ; six now survive-Mary Jane, wife of M. L. Turner ; Washington ; Margaret, wife of William Boatright ; Thompson, James A. and Jefferson D. When Mr. Spears settled upon this farm, there was but little im-

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provement, he having eleared up right from the woods the greater portion of his now ane cultivated farm, erected his present fine brick dwelling, and all the other buildings upon the place, which now constitute a beautiful home and farmer's residence. Mr. Spears started in life without a dollar of capital, and, by his own industry and econ- . my, became owner of 450 acres of land, and one of the most substantial farmers of the county. His first purchase of land was 250 aeres at $12 per acre; his second pur- chase was 200 acres at $44 per aere. Now it is all worth $100 per acre. Mr. Spears has served as Trustee and also Treasurer of his township several years ; has been a worthy member of the Christian Church for forty years. His long life and residence here have been marked with such integrity and high moral and Christian character that he has won the confidence and respeet. of a very large circle of friends and acquaintances, and his life will ever stand forth to the rising generations as a bright- and shining example of industry and financial success, coupled with a high standard of tooral and Christian excellence. Mrs. Spears died March 14, 1875, in her sixty- fourth year. She bore her full share of the toils and labors of their early life, and was a true helpmeet and companion, and a devoted wife and Christian mother. Washing- ton Spears, the second surviving child of Zephaniah and Lovina Spears, now has the home place of his father, with whom he now lives, retired from all active labor. Washington was married, December 1, 1859, to Lydia Roush, daughter of George and Rachel Roush, of Highland County. By this union they have three children- Ivey, Ollie and Ellsworth. Mr. Spears, like his father, is possessed of a high moral and Christian character, and is highly respected by all who know him.

JOHN STACKHOUSE, farmer, P. O. New Vienna, born in Warren County, Ohio, May 9, 1816, is a son of Joshua and Charity (Townsend) Stackhouse, natives of Bucks County, Penn. The grandparents were John and Anna Stackhouse, who, it is believed, were natives of Pennsylvania, and his father, Thomas Stackhouse, was a native of England. John Stackhouse, the grandfather, lived and died in Bucks County, Penn. Of his children, Joshua, John and Elisha became residents of Clinton County, Ohio. Elisha never married and died of consumption. Joshua and John married and raised families and died in this county. Joshua was the father of eight children. Three now survive-John, Joshua and Elisha. Mr. Stackhouse was raised in the Quaker faith and became an excellent seholar, and was considered one of the best penmen of his day and was employed to do a great deal of writing for his neigh- bors; was often asked to accept offices of public trust, but always refused them, and spent his life in the honorable occupation of farming, and was a very intelligent and useful member of society. Mr. Stackhouse emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1815, and located in Warren County, remaining there but a few months, when he removed into Clinton County and located four miles west of Wilmington. In the spring of 1829, he removed to a farm which he purchased, two and a half miles east of Wilmington, where he died on December 24, of the same year, of that feil de- troyer, consumption, aged forty-five years. His wife survived till 1853, aged sixty rears. Our subjeet was the eldest of the surviving children, and grew to man- hood in this county; was married August 4, 1839, to Luey Burton, who was born in Highland County, February 22, 1821, daughter of Peyton and Martha Burton. He was born in Ohio, or came from Tennessee when a small child, and became one of the carly settlers of Highland County, where he died September 11, 1880, aged nearly

eighty-two years. His wife died September 10, 1877, aged seventy-three years. They had seventeen children. Ten now survive-Elizabeth, Luey, Martha, Margaret, James, Mary, David, Lydia, Joseph and Daniel. John and Luey Stackhouse have had seven children. Five now survive-Mary Jane (now Widow Clevenger), Albert T., Jesse H., Joshua T. and Martha E., wife of F. E. Williams. The three sons all enlisted in the war of the rebellion, in the one hundred days' service, in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in May, 1864, and saw very active service in Maryland and Virginia; were in the fight at Frederick City and sev- eral others, but passed through their term of service without a wound ; were discharged and returned safely home. Mr. Stackhouse has made farming his business through

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life. His first tract of land he purchased was all in the woods. He commenced in a / log cabin. He paid $4 per acre for his land. On this he labored till he cleared 107 acres, and he added more land by purchase. In 1874, he sold his farin for $75 per acre, bringing him nearly $11,000. He then moved to New Vienna, intending to live retired from active labor, but not feeling contented in town, he purchased seventy-six acres, where he now lives, erected a gook brick house, and here has since resided, hav- ing a very pleasant home, one mile east of New Vienna. Mr. Stackhouse started in life without capital, and by his own industry and economy has acquired a good compe- tency and has given his children a good start in life. He has never held nor sought office, but always refused the many solicitations of his friends to accept office. He and wife are worthy members of the Christian Church, to which they have belonged thirty years.

HENRY SWINGLEY, farmer, Now Vienna, born in Berkeley County, Va., March 6, 1816, is a son of Michael and Nancy Swingley, natives of Virginia, where they re- sided till her death, which occurred about 1822. In 1825, Mr. Swingley with his chil- dren, emigrated to Ohio, and located in Clinton County, where he resided till his death, October 16, 1854, in the sixty-sixth year of his age. They had five children-George and Hannah, who prior to the war were living in Virginia and Maryland, since which noth- ing has been heard of them ; Elizabeth, married George Hooten, and the last known of her was residing in lowa; Peter (deceased), and Henry, our subject , who was about nine years of ago when the family came to Ohio, and here he grew to manhood ; was married April 28, 1842, to Elizabeth Gillespie, who was born in Clinton County June 19, 1816, a daughter of Thomas and Hannah Gillespic, who emigrated from Kentucky to Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by our subject about 1810, being one of the pioneers of the county, and here lived and died. They had seven children, two now survive-Catharine and Elizabeth. Mr. Swingley and wife have had six children, five now survive-Michael, born April 27, 1843; Susannah, born October 16, 1845; Thomas, born November 11, 1847; John, born June 15, 1851 ; Hannah E., born November 11, 1854, deceased; and Kate, born October 13, 1857, wife of Thomas C. Bond. Mr. Swingley located after his marriage near where ho now lives; he started in life without means, and here has labored through life, and by his own indnatry and economy has become possessed of much wealth ; is now owner of 1,100 aeres of good land, and the greater portion of it is in good cultivation, constituting him the largest land-owner in Greene Township. Mr. Swingley first purchased a piece of land right in the woods for $2.37 per acre, and performed a great amount of pioneer labor, and from time to time purchased more land, till he now owns as stated above. Mr. Swing. ley has never held or sought office, but has devoted his life to business, and as a success- ful farmer, obtaining wealth by his own industry, business tact and good management, has shown a skill, and success having few parallels in the history of our pioneers.

JAMES H. TERRELL, farmer and broeder of thoroughbred stock, born in Highland County, Ohio, March 29, 1846; is a son of Israel and Sidney (Huff ) Ter- rell. The paternal grandparents came from Bedford County, Va .; the maternal grandparents came from North Carolina and Teunessce. The ancestors of our subject for several generations have boon farmers and consistent members of the Society of Friends. When our subject was two years of ago, his parents moved to Clinton County and settled on an improved farm in the southern part of Wayne Township. Mr. Terrell's education was obtained in the public schools and Earlham College, Indiana. Failing to complete his collegiate course on account of ill- health, he entered upon travel through the Eastern and New England States. Before he became of age, he served three years as Deputy Treasurer of Clinton County. On December 13, 1871, Mr. Terrell married Miss Edith Nordyke, of New Vienna, who has borne him five children-Tessie, Eva, Bertha, Mary Jane and Gurney. For several years, he gave vigilant attention to the improvement of his farm and live stock ; but his health again failing, he spent one winter in England and Ireland, visiting most of the places of note and examining the fine herds of cattle, sheep and swine throughout those countries. His knowledge and sagacity in the breeding of thoroughbred live

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stock have placed him at the front of the breeders of Clinton County. For two years he was one of the directors of the Short-Horned Breeders' Association of Ohio. He has been largely identified with the educational interests of his township and county, and has been one of the Trustees of Wilmington College for several years. Mr. Ter- rell is a member of the New Vienna Lodge, No. 160, of F. & A. M., also of the Hills- boro Chapter, No. 40, R. A. M., and Highland Commandery, No. 31, K. T.

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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 78

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