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 84
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JOHN L. CARLISLE, farmer, P. O. Port William, was born in the year 1830, ' at Steubenville, Ohio, where his boyhood days were spent; but during his minority his father settled in Greene County, Ohio, where he (the father) subsequently died, leaving John L. depending on his own resources. Having devoted his boyhood days in acquiring a fair education, he, at the age of sixteen, entered the store of H. K. Pier- son, of Jeffersonville, Fayette Co., Ohio. On September 4, 1855, he united in mar- riage with Sallie Earley, and one year later settled on the farm where he now lives.
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During the war of the late rebellion, he participated in the Morgan raid about one week. Since he located where we now find him, he has been engaged in farming, which is his chosen occupation. Mrs. Carlisle is a sister of John T. Earley, whose biography appears in this work. She was born in June, 1836, on the farm where they now live. She and husband are parents of the following children, viz .: Daniel W., Emily M., John L., David C. (deceased), Buddell (deceased) and Bryan B.
DAVID F. CONKLIN, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. To another of the well-to-do citizens of Liberty Township we are pleased to allot a space in this volume. The name is of Holland extraction, as the paternal great-grandfather came from there some time in the last century, and is supposed to have settled in York State, where the grand- father of David F. was born, his name being Carpenter Conklin. He spent his entire life in his native State, and died about 1842, having previously buried his wife, who is supposed to have been of French extraction. Of their thirteen children, five are now living, of whom Thomas B., the father of David F., is the second youngest, and was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., January 22, 1809. At the age of seventeen, he commenced the trade of wagon-making, which has been his live-long occupation. In 1834, he came to Ohio, located at Lumberton, Clinton County, and succeeded Samuel Woolman in wagon-making, which he followed until a few years since, and now lives retired in the village of Lumberton. In the year 1836, he married Elizabeth Faulk- ner, who was born April 2, 1815, in Greene County, Ohio. The issue of this union was eight children, of whom three died in early life and five are yet living, viz .: Hiram, David F., Lucinda, Mary L. and Eliza A. David F., whose name heads this article, was born May 27, 1839, in Clinton County, and remained at home until his majority; but in September, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in many of the hard-fought battles, of which we mention Chicka- mauga, Lookout Mountain and Resaca, remaining in service for three years, when he was honorably discharged September 17, 1864, and returned home. He again voluntarily offered his service, but was rejected on account of injuries received in former services. In October of the following fall, he married Mary J. Savill, who was born May 12, 1843, in Greene County, Ohio. To this union have been given four children, viz. : Elton S., Joseph B., Willis G. and Eva P. He is now on the meridian of life, and is well situated in the east edge of Lumberton, and was honorably elected Township Trustee in the spring of 1882 by the party of his choice-Republican.
JAMES CROPPER, retired manufacturer, Port William, is a .son of Edmond and Ann (Hoyle) Cropper, who were both natives of Rochdale, Lancashire, England. He was born February 22, 1798, and she in 1795. They were married in the year 1820, and he devoted his time to brick-laying. In the summer of 1847, they, with seven children, started for the United States, but unfortunately one died on the Atlantic, and six reached the American shore, having left one in a watery grave. They located at Lawrence, Mass., where he engaged in manufacturing woolen goods. Excepting two years, this claimed his attention until 1877, when he retired from busi- ness, and now resides in Mount Vernon, Mass., at the ripe old age of fourscore and four years. His wife died in 1879 at the age of eighty-four years, and was the mother of twenty children, of whom James is the second, and was born in the sauid town as his parents, February 6, 1822. His boyhood days were mostly devoted in the woolen mills, hence he had but few educational privileges. June 26, 1844, he landed in Boston. He soon after commenced work in the woolen mill in Andover, where he labored until 1847, in which year he married Ann E. Howarth, a native of Massachu- setts, but of English parentage. Soon after the marriage they located in Richmond, Va .; remaining only two years, he removed to Lawrence, Mass., and three years later returned to Andover, all the while engaged in woolen mills. On the 11th of April, 1856, he located at Port William, Clinton County, Ohio, and formed partnership with Joseph Noon in the Woolen mill. This partnership continued in Port William, until 1873, excepting two years in New Vienna. From 1874 to 1877, they engaged in the grist mill at Port William, since which he has been variously engaged. He is the present incumbent in the office of Township Treasurer, and has held it several previous
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terms. In name and principle, he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Cropper are both members of the Baptist Church. They are the parents of four children, of whom three survive and two are members of the church of their parents.
SOLOMON EARLEY, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a native of Jefferson Township, Adams County, Ohio, born October 29, 1801, and is a son of William and Eva (Thomas) Earley. IIe was a native of Ireland, from whence he came at an early age, and she a native of Pennsylvania. Their marriage occurred in Kentucky about 1782, and they came to Adams County, in 1799, where they lived and died at advanced ages. During the first few years in Ohio he 'experienced many difficulties with the red men, who have long since passed into the far West, and with the wild animals that then roamed the forests of Ohio, where in the latter part of the nineteenth century are annually seen fine fields of golden grain. He endured many privations that only those who passed through can describe. He and wife assisted in elevating the cause of Christianity, and both died in the faith of the Presbyterian Church, of which they had for years been consistent members.' They were the parents of fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, of whom only three now survive, viz .: Rachel Cruisenburg, Mary West, and Solomon, whose name heads this sketch. He grew to manhood in his native county and nobly assisted his father in opening up his farm, to which he applied himself very closely in its cultivation. His privileges for an education were nominal, but with all that he has managed business through life to a good advantage, and is a elose financier. In the winter of 1822 and 1823, he and his brother Daniel, cut in Adams County, and delivered 600 eords of wood on the Ohio River, at 663 cents per cord. They came to Clinton County the following spring and purchased respectively 250 acres of land, mostly with the money thus earned. Solo- mon soon had a rude log hut in which to shelter, and where he lived for twenty years, when he removed into his present substantial briek residence. His farm was all in the woods, where now are broad and open fields of fine productive land-the mark of the pioneer's hand and ax. During life he was blessed with good health, and pressed onward with a brave heart and willing hands, and now he can look with honor and pride on the days gone by. His strength and endurance were more than that of an ordinary man, having a wonderful constitution and lungs. When in prime of life he con- sidered a day's work to cut and pile five cords of wood, and other work in proportion. In the early days of the county he, and nearly all other settlers, made their own shoes, raised flax , and wool, spun, wove, and made their own clothing, of which the present generation knows but little. He has always been a law-abiding citizen, tending strictly to his own business, by which he has accumulated a fair compensation ; has liberally divided with his children, and still owns about 200 acres of good land. His first mar- riage was celebrated in 1820, with Rebecca Caseldine, who was born in Kentucky, and died ih Clinton County, Ohio, in the year 1868. She was the mother of seven children, of whom five now survive, and are all well situated in life. His second mar- riage occurred in 1869, with Rhoda Matthews, who was born and raised in this State. They are both followers of the Christian religion, and are liberal contributors to all causes elevating mankind.
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JOHN T. EARLEY, farmer, P. O. Wilmington. This sketch is devoted to the honor of a worthy pioneer, Daniel Earley, who was born in Kentucky January 10, 1798, but one year later his parents located in Adams County, Ohio, where he matured and married Rachel Caseldine in 1823, in which year he, in partnership with his brother . Solomon, eut and delivered on the Ohio River 600 cords of wood for $400, with which they purchased respectively 250 acres of land in Clinton County the same year ; where Daniel and wife soon settled with all the wilds of nature surrounding them, having . 'eleared the spot on which to build their cabin, it serving for their residence until 1840, when a large brick residence was constructed and occupied. With zeal and energy, coupled with good health and a strong constitution, he at onee began to fell the trees and open out a farm, which to-day shows indelible marks of his hands. He was a man of more than ordinary size, with strong and vigorous mind, though uncultivated in an educational sense, but managed business through life to a good success. He was
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always ready to discharge any duties that devolved upon him, though not a member of any church. He was a contributor to all enterprises having for their effect the good of humanity and the improvement of the country. During life, he became a large land- owner, but liberally divided with his children, who were four in number, but three only now survive. He avoided all public notoriety and was contented with the com- mon routine of farmer's life. He died a worthy citizen of Liberty Township, Clinton County, October 20, 1876, and his wife January 27, 1881, at the age of seventy-four years four months and eleven days. J. T., whose name heads this memoir, was born in Liberty Township, Clinton County, June 28, 1824, where he has ever since resided. In minority, he was a noble assistant of his father, attending strictly to clearing land and the farm duties. Owing to his limited school privileges, his education is ineager. He remained at home until 1848, but two years prior married Agnes Shinn, who was- born in Virginia in 1822, where she matured, but came to Ohio in 1840. The issue of this union were fourteen children, of whom nine are now living.
GEORGE W. EARLEY, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a son of Anthony Earley, who was a son of William Earley, who is mentioned in Solomon Earley's biog- raphy. Anthony was born near Maysville, Ky., in the year 1795 ; four years later, his parents settled in Adams County, Ohio, where he grew to maturity and assisted in clearing up his father's farin. During the war of 1812, George, the brother of An- thony, after whom our subject was named, was in Gen. Hull's surrender, where he was stabbed, from the effects of which he died. In 1817, Anthony was united in mar- riage with Catharine McIltree, remaining in Adams County until 1824, when he came to Clinton County, where he purchased land and settled three miles cast of Port' William. He was one of these determined pioneers, possessed with good health, and he soon made an opening in the forest, and the result of their labor should to-day stand as a monument to their lives. From 1834 to 1844, he was a non-resident of the county, but at the latter date returned from Putnam County, and took up his residence in Clinton County, where he died September 29, 1852; the widow still survives at the age of fourscore years and over. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom eight are now living. George W. is the third child, and was born in Adams County, Ohio, October 28, 1822, but from two years of age grow to manhood in Clin- ton and Putnamn Counties, returning to the former in 1844, where he married Serelda Vanniinmum in 1850. In 1855, they settled in her native county (Greene), where she was born in 1830, but returned to Clinton County in 1865, where they have ever since resided. He devotes his time strictly to farming, through which he has amassed a fair compensation entirely by his own efforts, and is now well situated in life. Mr. and Mrs. Earley are the parents of ten children, of whom nine are now living.
G. T. EWBANK, physician, Port William, is of English extraction, and was born in Dearborn County, Ind., May 5, 1840, where he grew to maturity and acquired his primary education. He began the study of his chosen profession in the year 1857, with the late Dr. J. M. Flood, under whose able direction he made very satisfactory progress. In 1864, when the last call for three-year troops was given, he enlisted in Company D, Fifty-second Indiana Veteran Volunteers, and was mustered into service at Indianapolis February 23 of the same year. He served as a private until the close of the war, participating in many of the hard-fought battles-Old River, Lake of Arkansas, Tupelo, Miss., Hurricane Creek, Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Blakely and others. At one time he marched 780 miles in fifty consecutive days. He returned in September, 1865, having received no serious injuries, and soon after entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1869. Prior to this, he located in Port William, and commenced the practice of his profession, where he has since resided. His practice has been of a very successful nature, and he has handled some very critical cases of tetanus and other diseases of equal severity with efficiency and satisfaction. His nuptials were celebrated with Cornelia E. Flood July, 1860, who was born in Shelby County, Ohio, July, 1841. . To this union have been given three children-Mary O., born January 15, 1862, and died August 16, 1871 ; Morton, born July 18, 1863, now a student in Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio; and Ralph,
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born January 1, 1878, and died March 26, 1881. Mrs. Ewbank is a daughter of Dr. J. M. Flood, who was for many years a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, and while thus engaged he filled many places of more than ordinary importance. He also devoted twenty-three years to the practice of medicine. He was one of the carly workers of the underground railway. His death oeeurred at Catawba, Clark Co., Ohio, July 21, 1881, at the age of threeseore years and seven months.
W. H. FISHER, farmer, P. O. Port William. He is a son of Asa and Franees (Williams) Fisher, who were both natives of Virginia, where Asa died in 1846, but the widow still survives at the age of seventy-two, a resident of Clinton County, Ohio. They were the parents of ten children, of whom six grew to maturity and still survive. W. H., whose name heads this memoir, was born in Virginia July 21, 1841. He was reared in his native State, and devoted his time to the duties of a farmer's son. His limited education was acquired in subseription schools, through his own exertions and the assistance of his widowed mother. In 1863, he became a resident of Ohio, and in 1875 located where we now find him, a Liberty Township farmer, well situated in life, and willing to encourage publie improvements. On January 27, 1875, he married Mary M., sister of Daniel Henry, whose biography appears in this volume. She was born in Warren County, Ohio, December 29, 1843. The issue of this union is two daughters and one son.
DANIEL HENRY, farmer, P. O. Wilmington. He is a son of John Henry, who is mentioned in Joshua Henry's sketch. Daniel was born October 7, 1836, in Warren County, Ohio, where he was raised to farm life. His father became crippled when Daniel was but a lad, which increased his duties as an obedient son and the eldest of the family. IIe remained at home until his majority, when he engaged in carpenter- ing ; this he followed three years, when, on November 22, 1860, he married Lydia Hoskins, born in Clinton County, Ohio, February 24, 1838. Soon after this union, they settled in Wilson Township, and up to 1875 were variously located, when they came to their present home, which consists of seventy-two and one-half acres of land, which receives his daily labor and attention. He is one of the liberal and well-to-do citizens of the township, willing to assist in furthering all enterprises having for their objeet the advancement of the country. The children of this union are J. H. and Clara E. Mr. and Mrs. Henry are both members of the Christian Church.
JOSHUA HENRY, farmer, P. O. Wilmington. Among the descendants of the pioneers of Clinton County, we find the name of the above, who is a son of John Henry (deceased), and was born in Union Township, Clinton County, August, 1855. His minor years were devoted to tilling the soil of his father's farm in the summer months, and his winter months to school. His nuptials were celebrated in June, 1878, with Lina Carns, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1858. During single life, Joshua had become the owner of a farm, whereon they settled and remained a short time, when he purchased and located on his present farm in Liberty Township of 107 acres, where he is well situated in life, which is largely due to his own legitimate and untiring efforts. Mr. and Mrs. Henry have one child-Ira Allen. Mrs. Henry died in the year 1882.
ISAAC HIATT, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. The Hiatt family were among the worthy pioneers, who are of English extraction, and to whom we are pleased to allot a space in the columns of the Clinton County history. Isaae is a son of Hezekiah Hiatt, who was born in Guilford County, N. C., March 22, 1786. When he was but a child of four years, his father, Solomon, died, leaving him fatherless, and inany responsibilities resting upon his widowed mother, who bore the task well and reared Hezekiah with honor and respect to both. In the year 1809, he emigrated West, locating in the present limits of Clinton County, Union Township, where he pur- chased fifty acres of land, to which he added during life until he became one of the prominent land-owners of the county. Soon after his settlement, the war of 1812 naturally threw in his way many difficulties and unpleasantness, and near the close of that struggle he was drafted, but never entered upon service. He was one of the hardy pioneers and adventurous settlers, to whose courage and calm endurance must be
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attributed the after prosperity of the county. The marks of those early settlers and finely developed country should be regarded by after generations as monuments tu their lives. He married, in the year the county was organized, 1810, Ann Perkin .. who was born in the same State, county, and the same year as he. She came to Ohio in 1806, and first settled near Waynesville, but at the date of her marriage lived in the present limits of Union Township, Clinton County, where her father and step-mother both died, her mother having died in her native State. Hezekiah and wife trod th. path of united life for over three score years, when her death in June, 1872, severed them ; but two weeks later he, too, entered his final rest. After having been long and useful members of the church of their choice, " the Friends," they spent a long and an eventful life in this county, such as is worthy of the imitation and admiration ot future posterity. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom grew to ma- jority, and seven are now living, Isaac being the second eldest, and was born January 4, 1813, in Clinton County, where he has ever resided, and is one of its oldest native- born citizens. He was reared amid log huts and unbroken forests, which have becu replaced by fine dwellings and outstretched productive fields. He received an educa- tion as times afforded, and has by energy and self-appliances acquired sufficient knowl. edge to carry him successfully through life, and is now one of the leading landholder- of his township. He is nicely located in Lumberton, with all the surroundings that constitute a comfortable home. Though time has wrinkled his brow and silvered his hair, he has withstood the storm of many a day, and for many years a member of the church of his father. His marriage was celebrated September 5, 1844, with Phebe Oglesbee, with whom he has had seven children ; five are now living. Mrs. Hiatt way born January 18, 1823, and is a daughter, of John and Sarah Oglesbee, who were among the early pioneers of the county.
A. C. HIATT, miller, Lumberton: To another of the native-born and worthy pioneers this sketch is consecrated. A. C. Hiatt is the youngest of a family of ten children, of whom seven are now living, and a brother of Isaac, whose biography appear, in this volume; was born June 28, 1827, in Union Township, Clinton County, Ohio, where he was raised to farm life and obtained a common school education, but by energy '. and industry he became self-educated, and is well fitted for his business. During life, he has been principally engaged in farming, but in 1870 he engaged in his present voca- tion, and is now' the senior member of the firm of Hiatt & Wall, proprietors of the Lumberton Grist Mill, elsewhere mentioned in this volume. Mr. Hiatt's political affilia- tions are with the Republican party, who have entrusted to his honor and ability the office of Justice of Peace three terms. In the year 1849, he married Louisa Babb, a native of Clinton County, and one year his junior. The issue of this union is six children, four of which are now living, viz., Robert R., William R., Hattie E. and Zenna. Mrs. Hiatt is a daughter of Thomas and Mary Babb, who came from Virgina in 1811, and settled in Union Township, where they endured some of the pioneer privations, and where both died at medium ages.
ALLEN HIATT, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. The progress, growth, development and present prosperity of Clinton County are unquestionably due to the enterprise. energy and foresight of her pioneers, and few of this class are more kindly remembered in Union and Liberty Township than the Hiatt family, whose genealogy and history largely appear in the above sketch of Isaac Hiatt. Allen Hiatt was born Decemla. 15, 1814, in Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, where he spent his early life, and in fact giving his father the benefit of his time until twenty-seven years of age, when he entered upon the duty of life for himself. He settled on his present farm of 250 arres, in 1855, and now owns two other good farms in the county. He is well situated in life, and possesses all that is essential to a neat, comfortable and desirable home. He is a practical and successful farmer, believing in doing all things well, and is surrounded by a fair selection of stock and farm implements. His interest in the welfare of all public improvements has well spoken for itself, during his life in Clinton County He remained in single state of life until October 12, 1854, when he united in marriage with Mrs. Susan B. (Folger) Johnston, who was born August 25, 1823, in Cincinnati,
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Ohio, the then embryotic city and present metropolis of the Central States. To this union have been given four children, all now living. To Mrs. Hiatt and her first hus- band, James M. Johnston, were given three children, who were raised by her and Mr. Hiatt in Clinton County. One of her sons, Albert Johnston, in 1861 responded to the President's call for troops and enlisted to defend our country, for which he fought until life was extinct. On December 31, 1861, while engaged in the battle of Stone River, he was reported wounded, but was never discovered. Mrs. Hiatt is a daughter of John W. and Emma (Swain) Folger, who were both natives of Nantucket Island, and were distantly related to the maternal ancestry of Benjamin Franklin. 'John W. and Emma came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in an carly day, where they matured and married, and he for many years followed New Orleans trading, but about the middle of the present century he buried his wife and married his second companion, who with him subsequently re- moved to Hennepin, Ill., where he died, and the widow still survives at the age of four- score years.
G. M. HINEY, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a son of Henry Hiney, who was born in Rockingham County, Va., January 10, 1788, where he grew to maturity and learned the milling trade, which he followed while in his native State. In 1820, he came to Ohio, spent one winter at Xenia mostly in sporting ; thence was employed in a dis- tillery until 1822, in which year he married and purchased 100 acres of land, now owned by G. M. Here he and wife located where all the wilds of nature abounded, and took it to a fair state of cultivation and added fifty acres more. His stature was rather small, only five feet high, black hair and eyes, and weighed 130 pounds, and . possessed indomitable perseverance. He was for many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which faith he died September, 1870. Seven years later, his wife, too, passed away in the same faith. Their children were eight in number, of whom three still survive; G. M. being the middle one now living, and was born on the farm where he now lives, in 1829. Here he grew to maturity and nobly assisted his father in opening out the farm. In his boyhood days the school privileges were limited, hence he obtained a very meager education. His entire life has been devoted to tilling the soil on the farm where he was born. He is a man well known in his township, and has held the office of Trustee several terms and is the present incumbent. In the year 1850, he married Maria Miller, who was born in Virginia, 1830. The issue of . this union is eight children, of whom three only survive.
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