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 86
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James Morris, of Wayne Township, by whom she had two children, who survive their parents.
JESSE HINES KIRK, son of Mahlon and Sarah, was born July 11, 1836, in Ches- ter Township, Clinton County, Ohio. His home was always with his father's family, and he removed with thein to Liberty in 1850, where, upon the old farm he still re- sides, his mother making lier home with him. Although in his carlier years Mr. Kirk found plenty of work on his father's farm, and has since engaged to some extent in the mercantile field, he never lost sight of the fact that an education was the great desider- atum of a successful business man. The rudiments of one he received in the " little old brick schoolhouse " near the residence of T. W. McMillan, in Chester Township, enmmencing in 1841, and the last school in 1849. Among the teachers were Cheney Pyle, Esther Whinery, Mary Stroud, Nancy Dwiggins, Josephine Quinby, David and Israel Taylor, David McMillan, and Zimri Hodson. In the fall 1849, Mr. Kirk began attending the Oakland Academy, a select school of merit, taught by his cousin, I. S. Morris, now editor of the Miami Helmet, published at Piqua, Ohio. Among his teach- ers there was Charles Oren, who afterward fell at Petersburg, Va., while in command of a company of troops. In the winter of 1851-52, Mr. Kirk taught school in what was known as Quinby's District, near Ogden, and during the two succeeding winters he attended Center Academy, taught by Joseph Moore and R. E. Doan in the order named. During two winters following, he was again engaged in teaching, and in the fall of 1856 he attended Earlham College, near Richmond, Ind., where among his schoolmates were Madison Betts and Milton Taylor, of Clinton County. Mr. Kirk also attended two terms at the normal school in Lebanon in the winter of 1859-60. Since then he has been a member of the Board of Education in Liberty Township for eighteen successive years, commencing in 1863, that being the year in which was formed a new district from part of the old District No. 4, of Liberty, and fractional District No. 2, of Union. At present (1882), he is a member of the local board of District No. 4, of Liberty, with B. F. Wall and Hon. J. N. Oren. In 1864, Mr. Kirk saw four months' service in the field as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio Volunteers, which regiment had some sharp experience in the battle of Monocacy, losing about thirty men killed and wounded, and one hundred prisoners. After his return, Mr. Kirk took up the farin work which he had left. In 1878, he became one of the Directors of the Col umbus, Washington & Cincinnati Narrow Gauge Railway, holding the position two years and engaging with others in superintending the construction of the road, the credit for the final completion of which is undoubtedly due to him and the assistant di- rectors. This road was changed to a standard gauge in April, 1882, and connects with the Little Miami road four miles north of Waynesville. Mr. Kirk is a Republican in politics, and at the age of forty-six years is still a bachelor, although having by no means the crabbed nature and soured aspect of the ideal bachelor. In fact there are several of the brotherhood in northern Clinton County who with their genial natures are worthy the acquaintance and respect of all, and Mr. Kirk is not less genial than any of the others, while his avoirdupois indicates that he enjoys life well.
W. R. LEWIS, farmer, P. O. Port William, is a son of John Lewis, who was born in Virginia in 1799, and, when eleven years old, came with his parents to Clinton County, and located on Todd's Fork, where the parents died at advanced ages. John grew to manhood in the early days of Clinton County, and had but few school privi- leges. His nuptials were celebrated in 1830, with Sarah Rannells, who was born in Union Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, where they settled. His death occurred in 1871, being the father of nine children, of whom all are now living, as is the widow also. W. R., whose name heads this article, was born in Union Township, Clinton County, Feb- ruary 18, 1831. He is the eldest of the family, hence became his father's prime as- sistant in clearing up his farm. He remained at home until his majority, when he be- gan carpentering, which he followed a period of nine years, during which time, in De- cember, 1859, he married Mary Smith. She was born and raised in Wilmington. The issue of this union is three children, two daughters and one son. In the year 1870, he purchased his present farm, on which he has since resided. He is a liberal contributor
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to all enterprises, having for their effect the elevation of mankind and the com- munity.
GEORGE W. LINKHART, farmer, P. O. Port William. Among the well-to-do farmers of Liberty Township, we are pleased to yield a space to the gentleman whose name heads this sketeh. George W. is a son of Thomas Linkhart, who was born No- vember 11, 1802, in Frederick County, Va., and was the eldest of his father's family. Thomas was raised to manhood in his native county, where he acquired a limited edu- eation. His marriage occurred April 19, 1822, with Ellen Fisher, also a native of Virginia, and two years his senior. They came to Ohio in 1824, and settled in Union Township, Clinton County ; during life he was variously located, and a part of the time in Greene County, but mostly and lastly in this county, owning at his death, in Liberty Township, 200 aeres of land. His death occurred November 13, 1874, and his widow survived until October 18, 1878, when she, too, passed away. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom five only survive, and our subject is the youngest. He was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 5, 1843, but from the age of three years he has been a resident of Clinton County. He acquired a common school education in winter months, and devoted his summers to farming, which has been his chosen occupation, and now owns a good farm of 212 acres under good cultivation and well improved. He was united in marriage with Mary C. Anderson November 1, 1874 ; she was born in Greene County, Ohio, April 25, 1841. The issue of this union is two children, viz., Katie and Charlie. Mrs. Linkhart was the widow of James Linkhart, with whom she had six children, viz., Albert E., Louisa L., Laura E., Frank S., Emma B. and Annio D. James Linkhart was born in Clinton County December 22, 1830, and died May 16, 1872, having been almost a lifelong resident and farmer of his native county.
WILLIAM F. McKAY, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. Among the pioneer families of Clinton County, we find the Mckay's should not be omitted, hence, we here, for the benefit of the family and completion of the work, place upon record the following: Moses Mckay, the grandfather of W. F., was born in Virginia about the time of our coun- try's independence. He grew to manhood and married in his native State, where he re- mained until about 1818, when he, wife and eleven children came to Ohio, leaving one son in Virginia. They settled in Warren County, where he became a land-owner, and remained until his death, about seven years after locating; his wife died near the same time. Their privations in the West were of short duration, but required wonderful endur- anee. George, the third of Moses' children and the father of W. F., was born in Vir- ginia in 1800, but from eighteen years of age grew to manhood in Ohio. He was mar- . ried, soon after his majority, with Mary M. Furguson, who was a native of Virginia, and in youth rode on horseback to Ohio. This union settled in Chester Township, Clinton County, where he, with little or no means but a fortune of integrity and indusr try, amassed a fair competeney and was the owner of broad aeres. He and wife were among the pioneer laborers, and to-day, several hundred aeres, which was unelothed from its deep foliage, mark the honorable result of their hands, worthy of the imitation and admira- tion of after generations. After having been a resident until 1850, he slept the sleep of death, and the widow survived until 1878. Their children were ten in number ; all grew to majority, and eight are now living, of whom William T. is the sixth one, and was born January 12, 1833, in Chester Township, where he matured, and in 1856, married Elizabeth Peterson, and in the following year located in Liberty Township, where he now lives and owns 350 aeres of land, which is well improved and under good cultivation. These together constitute a comfortable and desirable home. Considerable of the tillable land on his farm has been made thus by his own hands, he being one of the live, practical farmers, and reaps good harvests. Ho is a public spirited man, will- ing to encourage all public improvements. The children of W. F. and wife are six in number, viz., Azel P., Jacob B., George E., Ulysses G., Arthur F. and Beatrice A. Mrs. MeKay is a daughter of Jacob P. and Mary A. (Boblet) Peterson, who were pio- neers of Greene County, Ohio. She was born in the last named county in 1835, and grew to maturity in the same county and married.
ALFRED MOKAY, farmer, P. O. Mckay's Station. The gentleman whose,
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name heads this sketch is one of the well-to-do farmers, and a descendant of a worthy pioneer family, mentioned in William F. MeKay's sketch. Alfred was born June 29, 1835, in Chester Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, where he devoted his summer months to the farm and winter months to school, whereby he acquired a fair education, but busi- ness transactions and publie cares have since greatly improved the foundational ideas. He remained at home until twenty-six years of age, except what time he devoted to teach- ing school, during which time he studied surveying, and which profession he largely followed during the meridian of life, but has withdrawn from it within the past few years. He settled on his present farm in February, 1862, where he has ever since re- sided, and is one of the leading land-owners of his township. His conduet and juris- diction has given him rank among the leading citizens of the county, and, in 1876, was elected as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, which term expired in 1879. In the fall of 1875, the Narrow Gage Railroad, known as the Waynesville, Port William & Jeffersonville division, was agitated, in which he was one of the ruling spirits and a charter member. For two years, he was honored with the second highest office (Vice President) of the road, and during its entire existence under that name one of its directors, but has held no official position since March, 1881, when the road changed hands. He now devotes his time to the farm, dealing in and raising cattle, hogs and sheep, which is an evidence of his enterprising spirit. He is finely located a half mile south of Mckay's Station, and is willing to aid and encourage all public im- provements, having for their effeet the good of the community. His marriage was celebrated November 7, 1861, with Miss Sarah L., daughter of Samuel and Hannah Miars. She was born October 12, 1841, and raised in Union Township, Clinton County. The issue of this union is two children, one daughter and one son, viz., Es- tella and Ray.
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TILGHMAN MCKAY, farmer, P. O. Mckay's Station. To another of the well-to-do farmers and stock-raisers of Liberty Township this sketch is dedicated. He is a brother of Alfred Mckay, whose name appears in the biographical pages of this volume. He was born November 7, 1830, in Chester Township, Clinton County, Ohio, where his early life was devoted to the interest of his father. He received the rudiments of an education in the public schools, but, in 1853, married Sarah Medsker, a native of Highland County, Ohio, born June 7, 1830. Her early childhood was spent in her native county, but she matured in Greene County, Ohio, where her nuptials were celebrated. Soon after this marriage, they settled on their present farm, where they have ever since resided, and have had born to them eight children ; the second, Oliver E., died March 25, 1864, and seven daughters now survive. Mr. MeKay is the owner. of 240 acres of land, and has taken considerable of it from its primeval state to a fair degree of cultivation and improvement, which, under his practical supervision, produces fair annual yields. He has his farm furnished with a fair quality of stock, and many of the latest improvements, which are both ornamental and useful. These are marks of his enterprising tastes. He is one of Liberty Township's genial, social and affable- farmers, willing to encourage all that tends to elevate the community in which he lives. His knowledge and correct views gave him rank among the citizens of the township, by whom he was elected Trustee several times during life.
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JOSEPH NOON, grain-dealer, Port William, is a son of John and Jane (Throsby) Noon, who were both natives of England, where they lived and died. John devoted his time to the woolen factory. Joseph Noon, whose name heads this article, was born in Leicester City, England, in 1826. His educational privileges were limited, but through his own exertions he procured a fair knowledge of the primary branches while in his native country. When sixteen years of age, he emigrated to America, landed in New York, but soon after engaged in a woolen-mill in New England. In 1856, he came to Port William, Clinton Co., Ohio, where he has since principally re- sided. Here he engaged in the woolen mills in partnership with James Cropper, whose biography appears in this volume. Here they conducted the business until 1872, when they purchased the Port William Grist Mill, and conducted it five years, since which the attention of Mr. Noon has been turned to buying and shipping grain. His political
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affiliations have ever been with the Republican party, who, in 1861, elected him Town- ship Assessor, in which capacity he served three successive years. Since 1864, he has held the office of Township Clerk seven years ; as Justice. he has filled the office for the period of nine years, and is the present incumbent. He has been twice married ; his first nuptials were celebrated in Lawrence, Mass., on October 5, 1854, to Miss Eliza J. Heath, who was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born July 22, 1834, in New Hampshire, and died in Port William, Ohio, April 28, 1876. She was the mother of four children, of whom one, Clara L., survives, and is now engaged in teaching. Mr. Noon married for his second wife Emma Athey, March 22, 1879 ; she is a daughter of Robert and Ann Athey, who were carly settlers in Warren County, Ohio. Robert died April 22, 1865, and Ann March 15, 1879. Of their nine children, five survive.
JOSHUA OGLESBEE, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. There was many a heroic pioncer in the settlement of Clinton County of whom little has yet been said, but to whom this local history is meant to do justice, in relating the progress, growth, devel- opment and present prosperity of the county, largely due to their energy, foresight and calm endurance. Among this class of people we are pleased to consecrate a space in this volume to the name Oglesbee, which seems to be of Scotch extraction, but as to the time of becoming known in America is not definite. The paternal grandfather, with one or more married children and a family by the name of Stump, emigrated from Vir- ginia to Ohio in the year 1817. The grandfather, Isaiah Oglesbec, settled in Clinton County one and a half miles east of Lumberton, where he and wife both entered their final rest, the former about 1840, and the latter three years later. Both were members of the Friends' Church. They endured many privations during the short period they resided in this county. The parents of our subject were John and Sarah (Stump) Oglesbee, both natives of Virginia, where they matured and married. They were joined together September 4, 1809, and to the date of coming to Ohio had boru to them three children. They settled in Greene County, Ohio, but subsequently in Clin- ton County, purchasing 200 acres of land, where W. F. Oglesbee now resides, which was clothed with nature's own production. By energy, perseverance and wonderful endur- ance, they grew from small beginnings to be among the leading land-owners as well as worthy citizens of the county, which was accomplished in the short space of about twenty - years, as the death messenger called him hence on July 12, 1840. But the widow sur- vived, bearing the name of her departed husband until February 5, 1873, when she, too, was called hence. Both were members of the Baptist Church. Their children were eight in number, and Joshua, whose name heads this memoir, was born July 29, 1825, in Liberty Township, where he bas always resided. He received the rudiments of an education in the common school. Remained at home and gave his widowed mother his time until his majority when he entered the arena of life for himself, and on March 11, 1855, was married to Mary M. Mckay, sister of W. F., whose biography appears in this township. She was born September 27, 1837, in Chester Township, Clinton County. To this union have been given three children-Sally M., Alonzo and Horace. Soon after the above marriage they settled on their present farm, which consists of 356 acres, which is under cultivation and improvement. This farm receives his entire time. believing that a successful farmer can consume all the time profitably at home, hence we see he has no political aspirations and is contented with the common routine of a farmer's life. The maternal grandparents of Joshua were Daniel and Mary Stump, also natives of Virginia, where they married, but came to Ohio the same time as the Oglesbees. They settled near Harveysburg, where they both died at advanced ages.
WILLIAM F. OGLESBEE, farmer, P. O. Mckay's Station. He is a brother of Joshua, whose biography appears above. William F., is one of the native-born citi. zens and was born July 22, 1832, on the farm where he now resides, having spent a half a century on his birthplace, watching the rise and progress of his mother home for fifty years, during which many changes have taken place, but he can still look back with a realizing thought as to the surroundings when in childhood days and see the land clothed with dense forests where now are seen valuable and productive fields. He gave his widowed mother his time until November 5, 1857, when he married Mary J. Mints,
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after which he entered upon personal responsibilities and cared for his mother until her death. He took charge of the home farm, which he now owns and is well situated in life. Among the well-to-do farmers he may readily be classed, and as willing to encourage local enterprise which perpetuate the names and deeds of our worthy pioneers. The children of this marriage are three in number, viz .: Luella B., wife of Orville E. Peter- son ; Granville M., and Emma H. Mrs. Oglesbee is a daughter of Samuel and Hannah Miars, who were among the pioneers of Clinton County, where they came in an early day and where both died, he at about seventy-five, and she seventy years of age.
MANLEY OGLESBEE, farmer, P. O. Lumberton. Among the pioneer list of Clinton County we find the name of Manley Oglesbec, who is a son of John Oglesbee, mentioned in Joshua's sketch. Manley was born in Frederick County, Va., June 5, 1815, but in the fall of 1817 his parents settled in Greene County, Ohio, and in 1820 in Clinton County as above given. Since the last date mentioned, he has been a resident of Clinton County, watching its rise and progress for over threescore years, and now owns in Clinton, one among the leading counties in the State, over three hun- dred acres of land, which is the result of his own and his forefathers' unswerving energy amid environing difficulties. He has passed quietly through life and desires no notoriety; hence is contended with the tasks of a common farm life. He remained at home until April 10, 1845, when he married Phenia, youngest daughter of Hezekiah Hiatt, men- tioned in Isaac Hiatt's biography in this volume-Liberty Township. She was born April 13, 1825, in Union Township, Clinton County. Before this marriage, Manley had erected a house on his present farm, a part of which is to-day standing and forms a part of his present dwelling. His residence was surrounded with the wilds of nature, but with strong hands and willing heart he has from time to time taken it to a fair de- gree of improvement and cultivation. He and wife are the parents of thirteen children, of whom two died in early life, and eleven are now living to read the record and pioneer hardships of their ancestors.
HIRAM OGLESBEE, farmer, P. O., Port William, is a son of Eli Oglesbee, who was born in Virginia October 5, 1806, and died in Clinton County, February 28, 1870. He came to Ohio when about eleven years old, with his father, Isaiah Oglesbee, mentioned in Joshua Oglesbee's sketch. Eli grew to manhood in Liberty Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, and acquired a limited education in the pioneer days. He endured many privations that can only be told by those who passed through them, in clearing . away the dense forest. He married Rebecca Mann, a native of Ohio, born in 1807, and died in 1831, with whom he had one child, Lydia, now Mrs. William Cornell, of Dayton, Ohio. Eli married for his second companion, Lucinda Fawcett, a native of Belmont County, Ohio, born July 4, 1810, and died in Clinton County, Ohio, September 14, 1877. She was the mother of three children, viz : Our subject, Rebecca (wife of A. J. Van Pelt), and Woodson. Eli, through his energy and wonderful endurance, acquired a fair amount of property, which is now in the hands of his children, the eldest of whose name, heads this article; he was born where he now resides, August 4, 1834. Here he matured on the farm, and being his father's eldest son, there were many duties pressing themselves upon him that the younger did not undergo. He acquired a common school education and gave his father the benefit of his time until August 2, 1858, when he married Susan Buser, who is a native of Greene County, Ohio, and reared in Xenia ; her birth occurred in 1835. To this union have been given six children-Louie B., Charles H., John W., Horace C., Edward F. and Amos L. In 1859, he located on his farm in Greene County, where he followed his childhood oceu- pation (farming) a period of ten years, when he moved to Xenia, and in partnership with D. B. Dubois, engaged in the stove, tin-ware and agricultural implement trade. This received his attention until the death of his father, when he located on the "home" farm with his mother, and the following fall. removed to the farm now owned by Joshua Brown, where he remained until 1874, when he returned to Xenia, and engaged in the furniture trade in which he was successful ; but in the Centennial year, he purchased the home farm where he is now engaged in farming and is comfortably situated. He is of Scotch extraction and is of a worthy pioneer family.
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WOODSON OGLESBEE, farmer, P. O. Port William. Woodson, whose name appears above, was born June 21, 1839, in Liberty Township, ncar where his present house stands. He is a brother of Hiram, whose sketch appears above. Our subject grew to maturity in his native township, where he has since lived. He remained at home, giving his father the advantage of his time until twenty-two years of age, when he married Mary E. Haines, who was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1841, and died in May, 1879, leaving husband and four children. The latter are, respectively, Charles A., Alden M., Mary E., and Hiram J. Afterward Mr. Oglesbee married for his second companion Lucy M. Fawcett, of Clinton County, Ohio. He is one of the well-to-do farmers of Liberty Township, and owns 174 acres of land in Clinton and Greene Counties, under good cultivation and improvement. He gives his entire time to farming and caring for his stock.
FRANKLIN OGLESBEE, farmer, P. O. Mckay's Station. Hc comes from the Isaiah Oglesbee who is mentioned in Joshua Oglesbee's sketch. He is a great grandson of Isaiah, grandson of John, and a son of Amos, who was born in Virginia in 1810 and came to Ohio in 1817, and from 1820 matured in Clinton County. He was the eldest .son of his father, and naturally endured many privations not subjected to by the younger ones. Ile remained at home until 1835, when he married Anna, sister of Solomon Huffman, mentioned in Christopher Huffmann's biography. She was born 1814 in Virginia, and came to Ohio with her parents soon after the war of 1812. Soon after this marriage they settled on the farm now owned by Frank, where he cleared consider- able of it, and finally, on December 31, 1851, after having been a long and useful pio- neer and for many years a member of the Reformed Church, he entered his final rest. ITis widow survived until June 25, 1875, when she, too, passed away. Their children were nine in number, of whom eight are now living, and our subject is the eldest, and was born September 4, 1836, on the farm he now owns, and as his father's eldest child became his most valuable assistant. He remained with his widowed mother until 1863, when he enlisted in Company H, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, serving until the close of the war ; received no wounds, but through exposure has impaired his health. Upon his return he resumed farming, which has since received his attention, and now owns a farm of 110 acres, well improved and under good cultivation. His nuptials were cele- brated January 2, 1873, with Miss Ruth Hadley, who was born in Clinton Connty, Ohio. in 1854, she being the daughter of Eli L. and Theodosia, who were pioneers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Oglesbee are the parents of one child-Anna T., born Decet- ber 1, 1873.
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