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 85

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 85

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J. H. HOBLIT, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a grandson of Michael Hoblit, who was born in Germany, where he grew to majority and married Catharine Veigle. They came to the United States about the time of the war of Independence and located in Pennsylvania, where he devoted his time to the potter's trade through life. He died near the close of the last century. His widow married for her second husband William Cochran, and came to Clinton County, Ohio, where she died about 1820, and he several years previous. Jesse H. is a son of William Hoblit, who was born in Pennsylvania May 19, 1783, where he grew to manhood and nobly assisted his widowed mother. He depended largely upon his own resources, and at an early age went to Lexington, Ky., where he learned the tanner and currier trade. Thence came to 'Ohio in 1808, and settled in what is now Clinton County, where he was drafted in the war of 1812, but furnished a substitute. Soon after coming to Ohio, he erected a tannery on the farm now owned by George Hayworth, Jr., and opened business. While there engaged, he married Margaret Shields, and continued to conduct his tannery in that building until about 1815, when he located on the farm now owned by our subject in Liberty Town- ship, where he erected a tannery and resumed his business for many years. Success was his fortune and he became a large land-owner, endured many privations and hard- ships in clearing it up, but was nobly assisted by his industrious and obedient children. To his life is placed the credit of taking up a corner of the first log house erected in the present limits of Wilmington, and serving on the first jury that sat in Clinton County. The case was horse theft, tried in Jesse Hugh's barn in Union Township, and to the prisoner was given a number of lashes. These are notable events in the annals of this history. As a public man he filled many offices of trust, which were honorably filled.

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As a Christian and father he was firm and dutiful. He united with the Baptist Church in the year 1800, and was one of the few members that organized the church at Port William, then called Anderson's Fork. In 1809, he was elected Deacon, and in 1820 was one of the first subscribers to the Journal and Messenger. His death occurred December 13, 1870, after a long and useful life. Of him it could well be said, "A good man has fallen." His wife Margaret, who was a Christian companion and mother, died March 18, 1867. Their house was often the home of the pioneer ministers. They were the parents of twelve children, whom they raised in industry and virtue, eleven of whom still survive; all save one are members of the church of their parents, and one a minister of the Gospel. This noble family was blessed with health, as death never entered until it claimed Margaret for its own. Jesse H., whose name heads this biography, was born on the farm where he now resides, March 17, 1816; here he grew to majority through the early days of Clinton County, and endured all the privations subjeet to such a life. His time was devoted to his father's tannery and on the farm. His educational privileges were very much limited, but through industry and determina- tion he acquired sufficient education for teaching, in which occupation he was engaged for nineteen years with but three intervening winters. During this period, September 30, 1841, he married Mary A. Shrack, a sister of W. H. Shrack, whose biography ap- pears in this volume. Jesse H. and wife located on his farm which he had previously purchased, where they remained until 1864, when they removed to the farm where we now find them. Mr. Hoblit by name and principle is a Republican, by which party he has been elected to many township offices, which he has filled with ability and success. They are the parents of two children, viz., James H., who contracted consumption in the late war, from which he died, and Abbie A., now Mrs. J. W. Sanders.

JAMES S. HOBLIT, retired, Port William. He is a brother of Jesse H. Hoblit, whose biography appears elsewhere, and was born on the Haworth farm, in Union Township, Clinton, Ohio, August 28, 1811. He is the eldest son and devoted his minority years in his father's tannery and on the farm ; became an efficient tanner and leather finisher, and largely managed his father's farm. In 1832, he married Mary S. Hussey, and settled on his farm, but shortly afterward located in Port William and opened a general retail store, which he successfully conducted nearly thirty years, and while thus engaged,. he devoted some time to raising, buying and selling fine cattle. His store was the first of any eonsequence in the village of Port William. At organi- zation of the First National Bank of Wilmington, he became a stockholder, and has served as one of its directors several years. His political affiliations have ever been with the Whig and Republican parties, which have intrusted to his honor nearly all the offices of his Township, which he honorably and judiciously filled. Since the charter of the Railroad, he has been one of its stockholders. Mrs. Hoblit, was born March 23, 1815, and died May 18, 1873, in the full faith of the Baptist Church, in which she and her husband had been consistent members for many years, and he the greater part of the time, a Deacon of the same.

WILSON HUNNICUTT, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a son of Thomas Hunnicutt, whose name is seen under Thomas E.'s sketeh. He was born in Liberty Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, August 18, 1846, and is the eighth child of a family of twelve children. He was reared to farm life, and acquired a common school education, which he improved at Spiceland Academy, Indiana, aud Martinsville High School. Ile remained at home until his majority, when he took personal responsibilities and farmed the home farm until August 3, 1871, at which date he married Miss Mary M., daughter of Elisha Gallemore, one of the pioneers of Wilson Township The same fall of his marriage, he settled on his present farm of 152 acres, which is under good cultivation, he being one of the well-to-do farmers of the township. During the year 1880, he ereeted his present residenee, which, together with his other surroundings, forms a desirable and pleasant home. Mrs. Hunnicutt, is a sister of Thomas E.'s wife, and was born November 8, 1848, in Wilson Township, where she grew to maturity, and received the benefit of the common schools. The children of Wilson and wife, are, viz. : Franklin, Ella N. and an infant.

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DAVID HUNNICUTT, farmer, P. O. Port William. The name Hunnicutt is one of special mention in Liberty Township. David, whose name heads this sketch, was born in this township August 15, 1838, and is a brother of Thomas E. and Wilson, whose biographies appear next. From eight years of age he was raised on the " home farm " now occupied by Thomas E. David is the eldest son of the family and has ever devoted his life to farm duties, obtaining what education was accessible in the common schools. He remained at home until his majority, and in May, 1865, he mar- ried Martha A. Ross, a native of Illinois, born September 1, 1838, but at an carly age . her parents removed to Highland County. Ohio. The issue of this union is six children, viz .: Irena, born April 27, 1866; Charles, August 16, 1867; Thomas E., October 3, 1868; Elizabeth, April 12, 1870; Almira, September 5, 1871; Eva, February 26, 1875. Mr. Hunnicutt is one of the well to do. farmers of his township, owning 194 acres un- der a fair state of improvement. He is favorable to all improvements pertaining to the

good of the county.

THOMAS E. HUNNICUTT, farmer, P. O. Port William, is of Scotch descent. His great-grandfather, Hunnicutt, was a native of Scotland and emigrated to America about the middle of the last century, and located on the James River, Virginia, where he devoted his time to farming and where his earthly career ended. The grandfather, Thomas Hunnicutt, was born, raised, and died in Virginia, and but little is known of him. Thomas Hunnicutt, Jr., the father of our subject, was also born in Prince George County, Va., July 10, 1811, and died in Ohio, April 10, 1876. At the age of six- teen years, he came to Liberty Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, with his mother (who died in Ohio), two brothers and two sisters, one of whom still survives, Mrs. Martha J. Oren. He made advancement and in a few years purchased sixty acres of land in Liberty Township, which he took from the wilds of nature to a good state of cultivation. Prosperity seemed to be with him, and at one time he owned six hundred acres of land, and was one of the prominent citizens of the township, and had bestowed upon him the office of Trustee several terms. His marriage was solemnized October 22, 1835, with Susannah Bailey, who was born in Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, February 9, 1810, and is the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Haworth) Bailey, the former a native of Old Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. They were married in Clinton County (limits) in 1807, where they endured many privations and hardships. Daniel died . July 12, 1844 and Mary July, 1867. Thomas E. Hunnicutt, the subject of this sketch, is one of twelve children, of whom seven survive with the widowed mother. He . was born in Liberty Township, May 28, 1848, and was raised to farm life and received a common school education. His attention has ever been given to farming, though re- cently coupled with breeding fine hogs and buying and selling hogs and sheep. He is. at present one of the Township Trustees, is nicely located one and one half miles from Port William, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of Liberty Township. His marriage was celebrated September 29, 1874, with Miss Anna E. Gallemore, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, June 22, 1856. The issue of this marriage are two sons, viz .: Orville B. and Harley D.

CHRISTOPHER HUFFMAN, farmer, P. O. Mckay's Station. The gentle- man whose name heads this sketch is of German extraction and a descendant of a worthy pioneer family of Chester Township, Clinton Co., Ohio. The paternal grand- father Huffman came from Germany about the middle of the last century, and settled in Virginia, where he died and where his son, Daniel, the grandfather of our subject, was born, reared and married. In 1822, he emigrated to Ohio by the aid of a five- horse team, driven by his eldest son, Solomon. Daniel and wife (Rosannah Petterson) subsequently located in Clinton County, Ohio, where he purchased 500 acres of land, at $2.50 per acre, which was all in the wilds of nature; but, considering his ill-health, he accomplished a wonderful amount of labor, though in his earlier life he was of strong mind and limb. He and wife trod the path of life until December, 1846, when her death severed the union, and he, too, followed in 1848. Their children were six in number, of whom Solomon is the eldest, and was born in Hardy (now Grant) County, W. Va., February 24, 1801, where he attained his manhood, but, as above stated, in

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.1822 drove his father's five-horse team to Ohio; since which time he has been a resi . dent of the county, and watched its progress, growth and development for over three- score years, and was one of the instruments in developing the present favorable con- dition of the county. In 1828, he returned to his native State, and married Christina Armstrong, who was born in Virginia February 25, 1805. Immediately after the consummation, they, on horseback, started for Ohio, where his father gave him a farm in Chester Township, Clinton County. Here he endured many privations and hard. ships, taking his land from its primeval to a fair state of cultivation and improvement. He still survives, at the age of fourscore years, and possesses good health and appetite. He buried his first wife May, 1832, but January 19, 1837, married Amie (Kelsey) Luca, a native of Warren County, Ohio, born February 26, 1803, and died February 26, 1878. Solomon and first wife had born to them two children, viz .: Christina A., who died March 24, 1854, and our subject Christopher, who was born August 27, 1829, and is the only surviving child of his father's family. He was raised in Chester, his native township, and gave his father his labor until his majority, when he married, February 2, 1851, Harriet A. Middleton, who was born, October 29, 1832, in Greene County, Ohio. They lived in Chester Township until 1867, when they came to Lib- erty, where he now owns a fine farm of 186 acres and the same amount in his native township, and other land in the county. He is one of the enterprising and well-to-do farmers, willing to encourage all local enterprises and public improvements. He has never had any political aspirations, but has been contented with the quiet routine of a farmer's life. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are nicely located, with all that constitutes a neat and comfortable home, and are the parents of three children, viz .: Amy C., wife of B. F. Wall; James M .; and Angeline A., now Mrs. R. R. Hiatt. Mrs. Huffman is a daughter of James and Angeline Middleton, who were pioneers of Greene County, Ohio, where the mother died November 19, 1868. The father still survives, at the . age of seventy-nine years.

JAMES M. JOHNSON (deceased) was born in Virginia October 14, 1812, and was one of two children whose parents, Micajah and Margaret (Parson) Johnson, brought them from Virginia on horseback in 1815. He was raised principally in and about Port William, Liberty Township, Clinton Co., Ohio. His early life was devoted to milling, carpentering and farming. When nineteen years of age, he became the subject of Divine grace, and soon united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He loved the church of his choice for its republican principles. For many years, he was a Class Leader at Port William, and for several years a local minister. To many of the annual conferences of Ohio he was a delegate, and served on most of their important committees; was also a number of times a member of the General Conference. His religion controlled his daily walk; he was a man of decision of character, sterling integrity and upright in principle. During his life, he held many offices bestowed upon him by the people, which he impartially and ably filled. In 1865, he was elected Sheriff of his county, and for his promptness and efficiency was acknowledged to have , had few superiors. He was a noble worker in all causes having for their effect the good of humanity. His marriage with Polly Johnson was celebrated March 31. 1833. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom still survive. His death occurred October 4, 1881, after a long and useful life, in Clinton County. Polly is a daughter of John Johnson (deceased), (no relation to J. M.), who was born in Virginia 1777, where He matured and married. He was a man of limited means, and labored for his livelihood. This class of people could obtain nothing but oversee the slaves, and that he did not like. For this reason, he came North, and settled in the present limits of Liberty Township, Clinton County, Ohio. Early in the present cent- ury (about 1807), he entered the land now owned by Silas Matthews. He, wife and three children settled in the deep, unbroken forest, where nothing but the wilds of nature abounded. Their first winter was spent in what is now commonly called a sugar camp tent, warmed by a large log fire in front. He took his farm to a good state of cultivation by the assistance of his noble family, which consisted of eleven children, of whom four still survive. He was a man of noble character, rugged consti- tution, and withstood the pioneer privations with great fortitude.

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I. M. JOHNSON, farmer, P. O. Port William. He is a son of John HI. John- son, whose birth occurred in New Jersey five days prior to the celebration of our nation's freedom. He grew to majority in his native State. About the year 1800, he with, his parents settled in the present limits of Cincinnati, Ohio. On June 7, 1810, he married Christina Curle, who is supposed to have been a native of Virginia, born October 18, 1791. They settled in Union Township, Clinton County, Ohio, in the year 1812, and ever after remained a resident of the county, but, about 1830, pur- chased the farm now owned by our subject. John H. was one of the early pioneers of Clinton County, and endured the hardships as such ; he was a patriot in the Indian war of 1812. He was a man of strong and portly frame, robust constitution, and able to bear all the duties that devolved upon him. The marks of those pioncers' hand and ax should to-day be regarded as monuments to their lives. His death occurred Aug. ust 7, 1853, and his wife, too, followed December 22, 1856. Thus ended the carthly career of two noble pioneers of Clinton, the mother county of Isaiah, one of eleven children, of whom five are now living, and who was born February 28, 1824, in Union Township. He was raised on his father's farm, but subsequently learned carpentering, to which his time has since been largely given, though living almost entirely on a farm. In carly life, his school privileges were very much limited. In the year 1857, he mar- ried Miss Deborah Ferguson, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1838. They are the parents of six children. The political affiliations of Mr. Johnson have ever been with the Whig and Republican parties, which have intrusted to his honor the office of Township Trustee soveral terms, which duties he has faithfully and impartially discharged. He is a man of large stature, and has possessed fair health, but time and hard labor have silvered his hair and left their mark upon his frame. His grand- father, Cornelius Johnson, was a patriot in the war which resulted in our free and independent government.

HON. D. S. KING, ex-legislator, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Port William, was born on the farm where he now resides, February 1, 1822: He is a son of John and Ann (Shields) King, who were both natives of Tennessee, John born in Washing- ton County October 4, 1788, and Ann in Greene County October 12, 1793. They both reached majority in their native State, but came to Clinton County, Ohio, in 1819, and were married May 1, 1821. They settled in Liberty Township in an unbroken forest, anticipating many hardships, which they knew were in future for all pioneers ; but alas in a few years hisearthly career was ended, and his companion deprived of her husband, who was a noble citizen, a kind and grateful father; his death occurred Jan- uary 7, 1829, leaving wife and five fatherless children. The widow survived till Febru- ary 20, 1863, when she, too, was called hence. Hon. D. S. was the eldest of the chil - dren, and as is seen, he was at an early age thrown largely upon his own resources. As time elapsed and age came on, he was enabled nobly to assist his widowed mother, who was left with ninety-five acres of land, almost entirely in the wilds of nature ; this was through their energy and perseverance taken to a high state of cultivation. As is evinced by the foregoing, the school privileges enjoyed by our subject were very meager. He has lived to see the surrounding country grow from a deep and dense forest to a finely improved county. The condition of his well-improved farm is the result of his own wise management, coupled with hard labor ; he now owns 325 acres of land well stocked with fine sheep, hogs and Short-Horn cattle. Of the latter he has produced as fine a herd as were ever exhibited in Ohio, some of which were superior show ani- mals. More recently he has turned considerable attention to breeding fast horses, and at present owns a grandson of " Rysdick's Hambletonian." which promises to be of good speed. The political affiliation of Mr. King has ever been with the Whig and Repub- lican parties, who have intrusted to him many offices of trust and honor. In 1850, he was elected Township Assessor, which he filled until 1853, when he was made Justice of the Peace. In this capacity, re-elections followed until 1857, when he resigned to accept the office of Probate Judge. His services were thus devoted until 1863, when he returned to the farm resolved within his own mind never to become a candidate for or accept any office of public trust; but in 1878, at the solicitation of some personal

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friends, he consented to become a candidate for Clinton County as Representative, and was honorably elected to the Sixty-fourth General Assembly of Ohio, in which capacity he served until January 1. 1882. While in that distinguished body, he served on three standing committees, viz., Temperance, Pikes and Public Roads, he being a strong ad- vocare of temperance ; he during the regular session of the General Assembly presented a local option bill, which bill had been largely petitioned for by the State of Ohio. The assembly took action on it, but was not carried. He then drew a new bill and presented it to the adjourned session the next year, which was also acted upon, but failed to pass. These facts are self-evident of the temperance spirit of Judge King, as he is called. His nuptials were celebrated April 3, 1849, with Nancy E. Smalley, who was born near Clarksville, Clinton County (in the edge of Warren Connty), December 20, 1825; she is a grand-daughter of William Smalley, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio: he was captured by the Indians near Pittsburgh, Penn., in an carly day, but escaped and was re-captured, but finally escaped, came to Fort Washington, and at a later date settled where Nancy E. was born.

JESSE II. KIRK, farmer, grain and stock-dealer, P. O. Mckay's Station. This gentleman is a grandson of Ezekiel Kirk, who was born in Wales in 1758, and, at an carly day, emigrated to America, and located in Center County, Penn. In 1812, Ezekiel Kirk removed to Clinton County, Ohio, settling in the northeast corner of the township of Chester, where he died about 1824. His children-Ezekiel, Josiah, William, Jona- than, Mahlon, Caleb, Timothy, Sarah, Deborah, Rachel and Hannah-all came with him from Pennsylvania, and located in Chester. Timothy, William, Hannah and Sarah subsequently changed their abiding place to Indiana. Mahlon Kirk, youngest son of Ezekiel, and father of Jesse HI., was born in Center County, Penn., October 22, 1802, and was therefore ten years of age when the family removed to Ohio. He was a farmer during his life. He inherited the home farm in Chester Township, upon which he resided until 1850, when he moved upon a farm of 100 acres in Liberty Township, which he had purchased of Jesse Green, in 1848, for $2,000. He had, about 1838, purchased 122 acres in the same township of a man named Thornburg : also, 108 acres in Union Township, formerly owned by Amos Davis, and 112 acres in Chester Town- ship of Jacob Taylor, besides a farm of ninety acres a mile out of Wilmington, on the Xenia Road, now owned by John M. Kirk. Hc resided on the place he bought of Green, in Liberty Township, until his death, which occurred April 16, 1881. Mahlon Kirk was married, December 1, 1830, at Center Meeting, to Sarah (Stanley) Hines, daughter of Anthony Stanley, and widow of Jesse Hines. To Mahlon and Sarah Kirk were given six children-Nathan, now of Bangor, Marshall Co., Iowa; John M., attorney at law in Wilmington, Ohio; Jesse H., of Liberty Township; Ezekiel W., residing in Union Township, on a farm near Gurneyville; Isaac, now deceased, and Isaiah, owning the old farm in Chester, and residing on an adjoining one formerly owned by his grandfather Kirk. Sarah (Stanley-Hines) Kirk, was born in Guilford County, N. C., May 3, 1807, and came to Clinton County, Ohio, about the year 1813, with her father, Anthony Stanley, who settled in the northwest part of the township of Union, near Gurneyville, on a farm now (1882) owned by Jerry Morris. His children were William, John, Micajah, Sarah, Ruth, Elizabeth, and Rebecca, and with nearly all of them he afterward removed to what is now Iroquois ( then Vermillion) county, Illinois. Isaac subsequently went to Oregon, and John to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he was one of the first settlers. Micajah was the only Democrat in the family, but was very popular on account of his ability and good qualities, and was several times elected to the Illinois Legislature from Iroquois County. He was also chosen Sheriff of that county, and at a recent date was elected Mayor of Watseka, a strongly Republican city. Sarah Stanley was married according to the ceremony used by the Friends, to Josse Hines, in Chester Township, in 1826, and by him had one daughter, Hannalı, born December 25, 1827, who in 1844 became the wife of Edwin Whinery, of Union Town- ship. Jesse Hines died about three years after his marriage with Miss Stanley. To Edwin Whinery and wife were born three children-Zimri, Albert and Sarah. Mr. Whinery died subsequent to 1850, and his widow was some time later married to

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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 85

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