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 83

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 83

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(Barrere) Van Winkle, and a grandson of the late Hon. John M. Barrere, of Highland County. Dr. Van Winkle's parents were both natives of Highland County. His father was born February 10, 1819, and his mother May 15, 1825. In 1856, they removed to Powesheik County, Iowa, and in 1865 returned to Highland County. Dr. Van Winkle passed his early life on his father's farm, and received his classical training in the common schools and Hillsboro High Schools. In April, 1874, ho commenced reading incdicine, under the instructions of Dr. Henry Whisler, of New Market, with whom he pursued his studies four years. He attended the Miami Medical College, of Cincinnati, at the sessions of 1876-77 and 1877-78, and graduated with high honors as Doctor of Medicine, on the 27th of February of the last session. April following, he came to Westboro, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profes- sion. He has by his thorough medical skill met with enviable success, and has built up a very lucrative practice. Dr. Van Winkle is connected with both the Clinton County and Highland County Medical Associations. He is a gentleman of honest convictions, and his candid, upright walk, has won for him a host of friends.

LEWIS B. WHITACRE, Trustce and Justice of the Peacc, Clinton Valley. . was born in Warren County, February 5, 1843. His father, George E. Whitacre, was born in Loudoun County, Va., October 28, 1799. His parents, Enoch and Nancy Whitacre, settled in Warren County in 1807. Our subject's mother, Rebecca Bald- win, was born in Frederick County, Va., February 22, 1802. His parents removed to Marion Township, this county, in 1865, and his father died October 5, 1877. Mr. Whitacre, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood. He followed railroading for several years. In 1870, he came to Clinton Valley, and in 1878 was elected Justice of the Peace and re-elected in 1881. In April, 1879, he was elected a member of the Board of Trustees, and has since been a member of that body. He has also served three years on the Township Board of Education. December 29, 1867, he was married to Mary L. Hall, daughter of James and Priscilla Hall. Mrs. Whitacre was born in Martinsville, August 31, 1846. They have two children-Emmett B., born Junc 17, 1869, and Gertrude, born July 3, 1881. Mrs. Whitacre is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. Mr. Whitacre is identified with the I. O. O. F. Society, and Republican party.

REV. S. WICKERSHAM, manufacturer, Westboro, senior member of the. firm of S. Wickersham & Son, proprietors of Westboro Woolen Mills, was born in Highland County, Ohio, April 26, 1816. His parents, Isaac and Susan (Lindscy) Wickersham, of Berkelcy County, Va., came to Highland County prior to the late war with Great Britain. His father was the owner of a woolen mill, so at an early age our subject was apprenticed to the business. He followed it at Rainsboro till in April, 1874, when he sold out and purchased the Westboro Mills. June 8, 1843, he was united in marriage to Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Furneau. Mrs. W. was born in Pike County, Ohio, February 1, 1821. This union bore five children. Four are living-James HI., Isaac M., Joel C. and Mary E. John M. is deceased. Mr. Wickersham and family have long been identified with the United Brethren Church, in which Mr. Wickersham has been an earnest exhorter since 1857. He has labored with much success in the divine calling of the Master. Mr. Wickersham's two eldest sons- James HI. and Isaac M .- were members of Company F, of the Second Regiment Heavy Artillery, in the late war, and won the laurels of two noble and brave patriots. Ilis youngest son, Joel C., a partner with him in the woolen factory, was born in Pike County, Ohio, June 15, 1850. He served an apprenticeship in the woolen factory when young, and he has since been in charge of such industries-superintending. In 1874, he came with his father to Westboro, and became a member of the firm. For two years, he has been associated with J. M. Boyd & Son, of Hillsboro, in buying and . shipping wheat. March 11, 1869, he was married to Miss Alice Conner, who died in December, 1874, and left three children-Horace G., John E. and Isaac N. Mr. W. was married the second time, July 4, 1878, to Sarah E. Jackson, daughter of William and Mary Jackson. Mrs. W. was born in Vernon Township November 18, 1853. Of the two children by this union, one-Walter-is living.,

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JOSEPH T. ARNOLD, manufacturer of and dealer in boots and shoes, Port Will- iam. Port William like all villages of its size is represented with various branches of industry, among which we mention a brief sketch of our subjeet and father in that line. J. T. is a son of A. J. Arnold, who was born in Virginia, where he grew to manhood. At an early age, he was bound to the appenticeship of the shoe trade, which he followed mostly through life. He emigrated to Ohio in 1827, and located in Liberty 'Township, Clinton County. Ilere he opened a pioneer shoe shop, and supplied the surrounding country with his work. As his business inereased he employed additional help, and it finally grew to considerable magnitude. He was married to Rebecca MeVey, and soon after purchased fifty aeres of land near the village above mentioned, and devoted some time to its cultivation. He and wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were liberal contributors to all religious and moral enterprises. His death occurred in March, 1861, and his wife is still living, bearing the name of her departed husband, at an advanced age. Their children were eight in. number, of whom four survive, Joseph T. being the eldest; he was born in Port William May 28, 1839, and . raised mostly in his father's shoe shop, where he thoroughly learned the trade, which he followed until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in service at Camp Dennison on the 20th of the same month. He was engaged in the battles of Resaca, Ga., Burnt Hickory, Peach Tree Creek, and others of less importanee. While engaged in the last named battle, July 20, 1863, he lost his right eye ; henee was discharged in November of the same year. He endured many hardships connected with military life, and for the suppression of the late rebellion suffers inconveniences to-day. On his return home, he resumed his trade in which he is still engaged. It has been of a successful nature, and he is now the only representative in his line in Port William. His nuptials with Sarah J. Bevan was cel- ebrated Decomber 22, 1859. They have had born to them three children, of whom two are now living.

JOSEPH BALLARD, retired, Port William. This branch of the Ballard fam- ily seems to be traced to Virginia, where David, the grandfather of Joseph, was born near the middle of the eighteenth century. He grew to majority in his native land, and married several years prior to the independence of our country. Soon after the year 1800 he emigrated to Ohio, loeating within the present limits of Wilmington, where he purchased a military land warrant, which was all in the wilds of nature. He was of strong will and endurance to withstand the involving duties in unelothing the land of her deep foliage, where in a few years the then embryotie county seat stood. He was one among, if not the first minister of the Friends' Church in this region. In this capacity he served locally for many years, and at his death, about 1820, it could be truly said " a good man has fallen." The work of those noble pioneer Christians has been cherished and cultivated until it has grown to considerable magnitude. The wife of David preceded him to her eternal home ; she was the mother of seven children, of whom all grew to maturity, and six married, and one died unmarried. John Ballard, the son of David, and father of Joseph, was born either in Pennsylvania or Virginia about 1770, and married Dinah Piekrell April 20, 1798, but in the year 1809 they came to Clinton County, where he endured the privations five years, when death seized . him May 13, 1814. He was the father of seven children, who were left in a widowed mother's care, who reared them with respect, but she married for her second husband John Whitson, a native of Pennsylvania. This union existed only through about twelve years, when her death June 7, 1835, severed it. Joseph Ballard, whose name heads this sketch, is " one of three " who were born April 29, 1812, in Clinton County,

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Ohio, and comes from a hearty ancestry. He has passed through nearly three-fourths of a century in his native county, and seen it change from an unbroken wilderness to broad, open and productive fields, and from rude log cabins to mansions for dwellings. Upon March 12, 1835, he married Susanna G. Stillings, born June 24, 1817, and a native of Virginia, but in 1826 she with her parents, Abrahan and Sarah, came to Clinton County, where the latter died at advanced ages. They were the parents of' six children, of whom Susanna is the youngest, and now the mother of five children, three of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Ballard have enjoyed a united life for nearly half a century and have been many years members of the Friends' Church. When Joseph commenced in life he had an heirship of $80, but by his own industry and. the assistance of his noble wife, he has swollen his taxes from 18 cents to nearly $200, and has assisted his children. With his success he has always had coupled good health, and has yet the first time to call for himself a family physician. He is public spirited, and willing to aid all enterprises having for their effect the elevation of the people.

A. S. BALLARD, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. This name is one among the earliest in the limits of Clinton County which is fully seen by gleaning the sketch of Joseph Bal- lard above who is a father of our subject. A. S. Ballard was born in Union Township, this county, January 14, 1838. IIe was raised, and has ever devoted his time to husbandry which he now makes a success. He remained at home until his nuptials, September 12, 1861, with Mary J., sister of Hon. Jesse N. Oren. She is a native of Liberty Township, born in April, 1838. Soon after the marriage above mentioned, they settled on their present farm, the original plat being fifty acres, to which he has added twenty-five acres. When moving here it was all in an unbroken forest, but with brave heart and willing hands an opening was soon made which now constitutes a part of a fine farm under good cultivation which is the result of his own energy and industry. Mr. Ballard is one of the enterprising farmers of Liberty Township and willing to en- courage all local and public enterprises. He and wife have had born to them three children, viz., Clara B., Charles A. and Joseph F.

WILLIAM F. BANGHAM, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, the son of Jonathan Bangham, who was born in Liberty Township, Clinton County, Ohio, April 14, 1820. He attained his majority, married, lived and died in his native county. His boyhood days were spent amid many of the pioneer difficulties, and but when on the meridian of life he was called hence, May 16, 1855, having lived a life in accordance of the Friends' Church, and beloved by all. His marriage with Jane Fawcett, a resident of Greene County, Ohio, was celebrated, and after a union of a few years she entered the valley of death, and he married for his second wife, Martha Walthall, who was born in Dinwiddie County, Va., in 1816, but came to Ohio in 1830 with her parents and settled in Clinton County where she married in 1849. She still bears the name of her departed husband, and is the mother of three children, two of whom now survive. William F., whose name heads this memoir, was born in Liberty Township, Clinton County, Ohio, February 26, 1852, and raised to the duties of farming, which vocation he still follows. He re- mained at home until his majority, and was a valuable assistant to his mother. On December 30, 1874, he united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Gertrude H. Hoag, a native of Vermont, born April 10, 1851, but from one year of age she was raised in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Bangham are the parents of three children, viz .: Laura .1., Thomas L., deceased, and an infant also deceased. W. F. is a nephew to T. E. Bang- ham, whose sketch appears next. The grandfather Bangham occupies a liberal space in the general history of this township.

T. E. BANGHAM, farmer, P. O. Port William. Among the descendants of the early pioneer settlers of Clinton County we find the name of T. E. Bangham, whose parents Benjamin and Lucy, are recorded on the pages of this history as pioneer representatives. Our subject was born in Liberty Township, Clinton County, Ohio, April 24, 1825. He was reared amid the earlier part of the present century when the county was clothed in the wilds of nature, but as age crept on and time elasped the country as well the child's mind became more developed, but being deprived of all, save meager school privilege, his education was accordingly limited, but by self culture and business experi-

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ence he has amassed sufficient to carry him through life. His marriage was celebrated December 18, 1851, with Harriett Vandervort, a native of Warren County, Ohio, born December 9, 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Bangham soon after their marriage settled on their present farm, which he had previously purchased, and where he has ever since resided. He owns a fine farm of one hundred and eight acres with good improvements and fine maple orchard of about eight hundred trees, which, is annually opened and produces a lucrative income. The family are enterprising in their way and ready to assist in time of need. Their children have been eleven in number, of whom cight are now living, viz., Agnes, John, Loren E., Lewis G., Robert E., Albert, Ada and Clyde.

JOHN BEAL, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a son of Jacob Beal, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1799, where he grew to majority, devoting his time mostly to team- ing. Early in the present century, he came to Ohio, but soon returned to his native State, remaining until 1817, when he came to Greene County, Ohio, where his father had previously settled. In 1819, he purchased the farm on which John now resides, at $3 per acre. Two years later, he married Margaret McIntosh, who was born near Cin- cinnati, Ohio, February 27, 1801. Soon after the marriage, they settled on their farm, in a small log hut, and with brave hearts and willing hands at once commenced to clear away the heavy forest which completely covered their land. By having good health and indomitable perseverance they soon made an opening on which to raise a few neces- . saries of life. They toiled on together and left many marks as the result of their hard labor until March 28, 1850, when death severed the union and claimed Jacob for its own, leaving a widow who still survives at the age of eighty-two years. The issue of this union was eleven children, six of whom are still living. John, the eldest, whose name heads this sketch, was born on the farm where he now lives November 4, 1823. He was of great assistance to his father in elcaring up the farm, to which his time was largely devoted, hence he obtained few school privileges. His marriage was celebrated in 1851 with Sarah J. Cline, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1826. They began housekeeping on his father's farm, where they have ever since resided. His en- tire life has been given to farming, which is his chosen occupation. The issue of this union was seven children of whom five are now living. Mrs. Beal is a daughter of Jacob and Abbie (Wilson) Cline, both natives of Berkeley County, W. Va., and came to Ohio in 1825.

ALLEN BEAL, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a brother of John Beal, whose biography appears in this township, and was born August 8, 1842, on Anderson's Creek, Liberty Township, Clinton Co., Ohio. Here he matured and enjoyed only the com- mon school privileges. He married, February 2, 1871, Eliza J. Fisher, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1838. They began housekeeping in Greene County, where they remained until 1873, when they removed to their present location. He is by . occupation a farmer, which is his chosen vocation. He is a man of fair health, dark hair and eyes, and weighs about 180 pounds. To this union have been given four chil- dren-Orpha E., Elsie D., Lula D. and Bertie F. Mrs. Beal is a daughter of Lewis and Hannah Fisher, who were both born in Virginia in 1795, where they grew to maturity and married in 1828. They came to Ohio in the eventful year 1833, and settled on Todd's Fork, where they lived until 1838, when he purchased 100 acres of land in the eastern portion of Liberty Township, and where they devoted their time and endured many privations and hardships until 1863, when death released his earthly cares ; but Mrs. Fisher still survives, bearing the name of her departed husband. He was a man of strong constitution. His jurisdiction and industry gave him rank among the best of citizens. Mrs. Fisher was twice married. Her first husband was Henry Smoke, who was a native of Virginia, where he died at the age of forty-two years, and was the father of five children, of whom four are now living. The two children by Mrs. Fisher's last husband are both living.

JOHN R. BORTON, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. To one of the prominent pio- neer families of Clinton County this sketch is dedicated. John R. is a grandson of Josiah and Margaret (Sharp) Borton, both natives of New Jersey, where they married. During the war of 1812 they, with several children, came to Ohio, locating on the farm.

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now owned by W. A. Haines, in Liberty Township. In this vicinity, ho purchased several hundred acres of land and was its first white inhabitant, taking many acres from its primeval state to a fair degree of cultivation, which tasks he nobly bore with others, among which was, soon after the war of 1812, the death of his first and pioneer com- panion. His second marriage occurred prior to 1820. with Hannah Fairfield, « native of New Jersey also. But in a few years she too was called hence, and then he married his third and last companion about 1824, whose name was Sarah Thornburg, who sur- vived at his death about 1840, but shortly before the late rebellion she was called to her final rest. Josiah was the father of fourteen children, twelve by the first and two by the second wife. George Borton, the father of our subject and eldest child of his father's family, was born November 17, 1801, in New Jersey, where he grew to the age of twelve years, but from that age matured in Clinton County, Ohio. He was one of the race of hardy pioneers and adventurous settlers to whose courage and calm endurance must be attributed the after prosperity of the county. At a reasonable age, he married Mary Summers, with whom he was only permitted to live the short space of one year, when she was called hence, but on December 30, 1824, he was united with Mary Miller, who was born February 26, 1796, and died April 3, 1863, being the mother of five children, four of whom are now living. George took unto himself his third com- panion, Charity Whicker, who still survives, but his carthly carcer ended in December, 1881, after having been a long and useful pioncer of Clinton County. Of his children, John R. is the second eldest, and was born January 29, 1828, in Clinton County, Ohio, where he has ever since resided and now owns a good farm of 127 acres, and is well situ- ated in life. He remained at home and gave his father his services until twenty-four years of age. Upon August 19, 1852, he married Eleanor Adams, who was born in Virginia in 1830, but from 1840 has been a resident of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Borton have three children-Levi, Mary J. (wife of Henry W. Gorman) and Susan A.

JOB BORTON, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. History is a plain unvarnished statement of facts. There was many a hero in the war of the late rebellion, of whom little has been said, or to whom history has not done justice. We here inscribe, in the biographical pages of this volume, a sketch of the above gentleman. He is a brother of John R. Borton, and the fourth child of George Borton, and was born January 7, 1831. on the farm where he now resides, in Liberty Township, where he grew to manhood; but, in 1852, he located in Indiana, where he buried his wife in 1855. She was the mother of two children, both deceased. His second wife, Sarah Harris, is a native of Virginia, with whom he has had nine children, seven of whom are now living. In August, 1862, when the war of the late rebellion clouded our country, he enlisted in Company D, Seventy-third Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years, and participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Perryville, Ky., and all through Col. Straight's raid, in which he was severely wounded by one of his own company, the ball taking effect on the upper right side of the head, which now shows its mark by a line of snow-white hair, contrasting strongly with the remainder. After his return from the war, he remained in Indiana until 1876, when he returned to Liberty Township, Clinton County, Ohio, where he owns a farm of sixty-two acres, and is in fair circum- stanees.

HENRY BORTON, saw-miller, Lumberton, is a brother of John and Job Bor- ton, whose names are found elsewhere. He was born October 10, 1825, in Clinton County, and raised to farm life in his native township, Liberty, where he has ever since resided. He remained at home until September, 1848, when he married Mary Buntain, who was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1828, but was mostly raised in Clinton County. They are the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living. Mr. Borton has, during life, been engaged in farming, but at present owns a saw-mill near Lumberton, which receives a part of his attention.

JAMES F. BOWERS, M. D., physician, Port William, was born at New Lex- ington, Highland Co., Ohio, April 3, 1841. His parents were Charles C. and Mary S. (Turner) Bowers, of whom a sketch is given in the biographies of Greene Township, this work. . They were both natives of New Jersey, but married in Ohio. Our subject

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received his rudimentary education in the public schools of New Vienna. He read medicine with Dr. A. T. Johnson, of New Vienna, and attended lectures at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, graduating from this college in 1869. He first located in Michigan, where he remained two years, after which he moved to New Lexington and remained four years ; he then was obliged to go to Colorado ou account of his health, and, after two and a half years spent in the rarefied air of that health-giving State, he returned to the East, with greatly benefitted health, and located in Port William, where he has since remained. He was married, in 1868, to Blanche Giles, a daughter of Ed- ward and Susan (Johnson) Giles, of Michigan. By her he has had three children, . viz., Katie W., Edward K. and Charles K. In June 3, 1861, Mr. Bowers enlisted in Company B, Twelfth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served, with that gallant regiment through all the memorable engagements in which it was engaged. He is one ' of the very few survivors of that brave and well-known command. He received two wounds while in the service. The first was a flesh wound received at the second battle of Bull Run, and the second a gunshot wound in the right arm, received at Fisher's Hill, where his command was under Sheridan, in his march through the Shenandoah Valley. The Doctor is a Republican, a member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife a member of the Methodist Protestant Church. He is well spoken of, and stands high in the community in which he dwells.

WILLIAM BROWN, farmer, P. O. Port William, was born October 12, 1839, in Greene County, Ohio, and was raised to farm life near Painterville, acquiring a common education only. On October 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Seventy- fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry at Xenia, but soon after was removed to Columbus, and subsequently to Stone River, Tenn., after which he participated in the battles of Mission Ridge, Chatahoochee River, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro and others; then engaged as teamster with Gen. Thomas' train, in which capacity he served until the close of the war, enduring many privations which can only properly be described by those who have passed through them. But on July 18, 1865, he was honorably discharged for his valiant services rendered in days of deepest need to our nation. He returned home with no injuries save rheumatism contracted by ex- posure. On January 11, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Stin- son, and in the year 1875 located on his present farm of forty-four acres, and is reason- ably well fixed for a man on the meridian of life. Mrs. Brown was born in Greene County, Ohio, September 4, 1843. Mr. Brown is a member of the I. O. O. F., and willing to assist charitable institutions. He is the son of Joshua and grandson of Richard Brown, the latter being born in Virginia, near the close of the last century, . and served as a patriot in the war of 1812. He married Elizabeth 'Pickern, also a native of Virginia. Some time prior to 1812, he settled in Belmont County, Ohio, , where Joshua, the father of William, was born. While residing in Belmont County, he buried his wife, and married a distant relative to his first wife, viz., Mary Pickern, with whom he located in Greene County, Ohio, in 1843, and followed farming until his death in 1850, and his widow survived until February, 1870, when she, too, passed away. Five children were the result of each marriage of Richard, Joshua being the eldest, and was born and reared in Belmont County, Ohio; his birth occurred in 1814. He married Margaret Oglesbee, March 29, 1838, a native of Greene County, Ohio, where she died July 12, 1862, and was the mother of seven children, five of whom are now living. Joshua married for his second companion, Mary J. Stinson, January 28, 1864, by whom he has had five children. In the year 1874, he located in Clinton County, where he is a large land-owner.

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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 83

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