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 92

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 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

J. J. CUSTIS, farmer, P. O. Reesville, is a son of W. H. Custis, Sr., whose sketch appears above. Our subject was born on the old home place in 1846. In the district schools he received a good common education, and remained at home with his parents until his marriage, which was celebrated in 1878, with Miss Francenia, the accom- plished daughter of Absalom and Mary Douglass, of whom mention is made in this . work. After the above event, J. J. settled where he now resides. He and his brother ·Cyrus own together 200 acres of excellent land, which is nicely improved. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Custis, viz., Walter Vernon. They are exemplary mem- bers of the Protestant Methodist Church, to which they have been connected several years. Mrs. Custis was born in the county in 1851.

DOUGLAS W. CUSTIS, retired, Sabina, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, in 1811, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Savage) Custis. They settled in the above county just previous to the birth of our subject. William Custis was twice mar- ried, and by the above lady, his first wife, had five children, viz., Sallie, John (deceased), William (deceased), Harriet (deceased) and Douglas W. His wife, the mother of the above children, dicd in 1812. By his second marriage he had three children, who came to this county with their mother, viz., Nancy, Margaret and Littleton. He (Will- iam) died in Scioto County about 1828. Mrs. Custis, his second wife, dicd in 1863, aged ninety years. Our subject was married to Pemia, the daughter of Elkany Gus- tin, November 19, 1835. After his marriage he settled on land now owned by Charles Vaniman. Since, he has lived in different places, but always in the township. To Mr. and Mrs. Custis were born the following children, to wit: William, Isaiah, Ann M., Hannah J., Levi, Mary M. and Rhoda. Mrs. Custis died September 7, 1881, aged, upward of seventy years. Their son, Isaiah, enlisted in 1862, in Capt. Giffin's com- pany of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After serving a short time he became disabled, and was discharged. Mr. Custis is a member of the Protestant Meth- odist Church, as was his deceased wife. T. L. Huffman, son-in-law of Mr. C's was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1847. and is a son of Thomas and Ruth Huffman, natives of the same county. Mr. Huffman came to Clinton County in 1869. He was married to Mollic M. Custis, the daughter of D. W. Custis, who has borne him three children, viz., Myrtie G. (deceased), Lorena T. and Leo C. Mr. Huffman owns forty acres of land where he lives, which is well improved. Mrs. Huffman was born in Clinton County in 1851.

WILLIAM CUSTIS, dealer in hardware, Sabina. The gentleman whose name

تل عدة

1092

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

precedes this sketch is one of the well-known citizens of this county, in which he was born in 1836. He is a son of Douglas Custis, an old settler. Our subject entered mercantile life in New Antioch, in which he did a dry goods and grocery business for several years, and in 1867 removed to Sabina, where he followed the same line of trade for fifteen years, and was successful. Lately he went out of the dry goods trade, and in its stead he added a large and complete stock of hardware, and is now doing a gen- eral and extensive business in each line. In 1857, he was married to Susan, a daughter of Daniel Drake, an old settler of Clinton County, who has borne him eight children, viz., Charles W., Franklin, Ida B., Anna, James, Levi D., Luna M. and Gracie. Mr. and Mrs. Custis are consistent members of the Methodist Protestant Church of Sabina, and are exemplary Christian people. He is also a member of the order of I. O. O. F., Sabina Lodge, No. 501. Mrs. Custis was born on Staten Island in 1830, and was but six months old when her parents came to Clinton County.

A. CUSTIS, of the firm of Messrs. H. H. Johnson & Co., dealers in furniture, Sabina, was born in Clinton County in 1843, and is a son of the old and well-known Littleton Custis. Our subject remained on the farm until August 2, 1862, at which time he enlisted in Company G, of the Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He partook of all the dangers of this noted and memorable regiment, and passed through many of the hard-fought battles of the war; was with Gen. Sherman's army to the sea, and was present with his regiment at the grand review at Washington in 1865, soon after which he was discharged. Upon his return to civil life, he located in Sabina, and engaged in the dry goods business, in partnership with the late H. H. Johnson, who afterward sold his interest to William Custis, and later they took in with them and the firm name became W. & A. & L. H. Custis. Afterward A. and L. H. bought out W., and soon after A. bought out the share of L. H., and continued the business until 1876, when he connected with D. M. Adams, who together did business till they sold to H. H. Tharp, when Johnson & Company bought out the furniture store they now operate. Mr. Custis is a member of the Sabina Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, No. 324. January 23, 1870, he was married to Sarah E., the daughter of Joseph Robinson, by whom he has had two children, viz., Effie and Frank. He and his amiable wife belong to the Friends' Church, to which they have been connected six years. He is Treasurer of the Corporation, and was formerly a member of the Town Council.

M. M. DAKIN, grocer, Sabina, was born in Wilson Township, this county, in 1844, and is a son of O. H. P. Dakin (deceased), of whom mention is made elsewhere. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and in the district schools obtained a practical education, which was developed by a term of study in the Lebanon Normal Institute. He remained on the farm until 1866. In 1868, he went to Iowa, and in 1870 returned to Sabina, where he has since been engaged in the grocery business and prospered. In 1874, he was married to Ella Kelso, by whom he has one child, viz., Willie. Mr. Dakin is an acceptable member of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, belonging to the Sabina Lodge. In politics, is a Republican.

L. C. DAKIN, druggist and grocer, Port William, was born in Richland Township in the year 1847, and is a son of O. H. P. Dakin, of whom mention is made in this work. His early life was passed on the farm, and the common schools afforded him his education. November 10, 1863, he enlisted in Company G, Seventy-ninth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry ; he was immediately transferred to the front, and was in all the battles in which the regiment took part (thirteen in all) from Resaca to the close of the war. Was with Sherman on his memorable march to the sea, and was on the grand review at Washington, after which was transferred to Company H, of the Seventy-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was made First Corporal. He was discharged at Camp Den- nison. Upon his return to civil life, he began farming again, from which he went into the drug business in Sabina. In 1882, he removed to Port William, where he established himself in his present business. In 1870, he was married to Susan Beard, who has borne him three children, viz., Florence, Perry E. and Nina F. Mr. and Mrs. Dakin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he has been connected since his boyhood.

1093

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

B. J. DARBYSHIRE, farmer, P. O. Sabina. Mr. D. is another of the old and well-known citizens of Clinton County. He was born in Fayette County, Penn., November 7, 1823, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Darbyshire, natives of the above county, where they were reared and married. In 1830, they settled near Wil- mington, this county, purchasing at the time eighty-three acres, which now is the Poor House Farm. Here they lived for twenty-eight years. Sold out and went to Port William, where he had traded for another farm, on which he made a permanent home. He died in 1872 or 1873 at about the age of seventy-two years. They were members of the M. E. Church, and were moderately successful.' Nine was the number of their children, five of whom are living-B. J., James (in Clinton County), Thomas (resides in Muncie, Ind.), Samuel (in Illinois), and John (in Kansas). By his second mar- riage he had six children-Maggie E., Morris, Mary A., Letitia, Joshua and Xenophon. Our subject was reared on the farm, and in the district school received but a limited education, which was good considering the advantages and opportunities of that day. He followed teaching during the winter months, and as a teacher was a success. He has been largely engaged in contracting and building, and at one time stood at the head of this enterprise in the county. The schoolhouse and college in Wilmington were built by him. He owns 249 acres of most excellent land, which he cultivates in connection with his other business. He has been engaged in mercantiling in Sabina at intervals since 1875. Has served as Township Clerk five years and as Trustee one year. Belongs to the Sabina Lodge of I. O. O. F., No. 501, and also to the Encamp- ment, 182, of which he is a charter member. He was married, in 1852, to Maria L., the daughter of John Moore, of Fayette County, Penn. Seven children have been born to them, five of whom are living-Alexander, Lydia, Frank, Olive and Ona; Maggie and James E., deceased. He served four months in Company B, One Hun- dred and Forty-ninth Ohio National Guards, and was First Sergeant.

JAMES P. DARBYSHIRE, brick-maker and mason, Sabina, was born in Clin- ton County, Union Township, in the year 1836, and is a son of John Darbyshire, of whom mention is made in B. F. Darbyshire's sketch. Our subject was brought up on the farm and received no more than a common school education. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company B of the Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was immedi- ately transferred to the front and took a part in the Kentucky campaign, and was under the command of Gen. Garfield, and the regiment under Col. Cranor. He saw active service throughout the war, and participated in a number of the hard-fought battles. He escaped wounds, was never captured, and at the expiration of his time in November, 1864, was honorably discharged. Upon his return to civil life, lie settled in Sabina, where he has since been employed in making brick and doing a general building busi- ness. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Martha E. Clark, who has borne him six chil- dron-Elsio D., Ruth E., Oscar C., Eva M., Evalena and Ernest C. Mr. D. is a member of the F. & A. M. Lodge of Sabina, No. 324.

A. J. DARBYSHIRE, manufacturer of tile and brick, P. O. Sabina. The above gentleman is the son of the well known B. J. Darbyshire, an old settler, whose sketch appears above. A. J. was born in Clinton County in 1857, in which he. las since lived. In 1881, he founded his present extensive business, and his kiln has a ca- . pacity equal to any in the county. Recently he has put in an auger mill, which bores the tile, instead of plunging them. He is prepared to take contracts on all kinds of brick work, and guarantees satisfaction in all particulars. He is a worthy and accept- able member of the subordinate Lodge of the I. O. O. F. of Sabina.

B. E. DAUGHTRY, farmer, P. O. Sabina, was born in Southampton County, Va., in 1808, and is a son of Etheldred and Mary Daughtry. He was a native of Vir- ginia, she of North Carolina. They lived and died in Virginia. Our subject was brought up on the farm. In 1832, he, with a company of others, among whom were the Thorps, came overland to this county, and he returned the same year. In 1847, he was mar- ried to Mrs. Harriet (Story) Wilson, the daughter of Jesse and Patsey (Nubit) Story, of North Carolina. In 1854, he returned to Clinton County and purchased land. In 1872, he bought fifty-one acres, where he now lives, which is in good cultivation and

1094

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

well improved. He superintended the construction of some of the pikes in this town- ship, and when living in Wilson Township served as Constable. Two children have been born to them, viz., Thomas D. and James C.

THOMPSON DOUGLASS, farmer, P. O. Sabina, is a son of James and Mary (Taylor) Douglass, and was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, April 2, 1808. His father and mother were born in York County, Penn., he, October 8, 1769, and she November 28, 1773. His (James') father, William Douglass, was born in Ireland in 1725, of Scotch parentage, and was an only son of William Douglass. The former (Will- iam) came to America when a youth and settled in Chester County, Penn., and, June 21, 1753, was married to Elizabeth Matthews, of York ; settled there and had ten children, namely, David, Mary, Rachel, Martha, Elizabeth, William, John, James, Mary and Rebecca. Both lived to a good old age, she dying in 1820, over ninety years of age. She was a Scotch woman, small, quick of thought, of wonderful consti- tution, and plain of speech. James was the cighth child, a farmer of medium educa- tion, obtained at the common schools of the day. His father had a good farm of about four hundred acres of land, but a large family, consequently his mind was directed to the West at an early day .. October 27, 1795, he married Mary Taylor, daughter of James and Martha (Steel) Taylor, of York County, Penn. Hc (James Taylor) was born in Chester County, Penn., of Irish parentage, January 5, 1745, and she in New- ark, N. J., of American parentage, and married in Chester County, Penn., February 10, 1773, and removed to York County, and were parents of cleven children, namely, Mary, born November 28, 1773; David, Jane, Elizabeth, James Steel, Reuben, Jemi- ma, Deborah, Enoch, Elijah and John ; and died in Columbiana County, Ohio, he at eighty-six and she seventy-nine years of age. James Douglass and family, after the birth of the first child, Levi, together with the Taylor family, removed West to the Ohio River, opposite Wellsville, on the Virginia side, in 1801. There Elizabeth was born, and, in 1802, removed to Columbiana County, Ohio, the year of its organization. There Absalom, Jeptha, Thompson, Stecl and Milo A. were born. He then kept a tavern on a leading road from the Ohio River to Lake Erie until 1815, and there Levi died in 1812. He then, in 1815, went down the Ohio by Cincinnati to Warren County, near Union Village, for one year. Seymour A. was born there, and, in April, 1816, moved to Richland Township, Clinton County, Ohio, over sixty-six years ago. Mary, the youngest of nine children, was born there. He bought 234 acres of land of Col. Thomas Hinkson, in Eggleston Survey No. 888, on Anderson's Fork, but, from some defect in the title, he had to buy over from William R. Cole, of Wilming- ton, and lost the first money-a common event with the first settlers in the Virginia Military District. He was a pioneer in both settlements, experiencing all the hardships and privations incident to new beginners. He had a large family, limited means, and in a strange land. He and wife belonged to the Presbyterian Church, and James and William Dickey, Samuel Crothers, Burgess Gilliland preached for years in their log. cabin. Having bought more land, in all 400 acres, he died in 1835, aged sixty-six years, and his wife in 1854, aged eighty-one years. He never used whisky, tobac- co nor belonged to secret societies, and was a Republican. Thompson Douglass, the present subject, was eight years old when his parents settled in Richland Township, and was raised in nature's school, with plenty of hard work and little display. The old subscription school in winter was the only hope, and then from want of clothing. books, and other causes, he went but little. The sugar making, clearing up corn and other causes prevented him from more than reading, writing and arithmetic to the Rule of Three. After the farm was opened, he worked at stone-cutting during a part of the years of 1826, 1827 and 1828, first on the Miami Canal at Franklin, and then Scioto Canal at Circleville. His first wages were $8 per month, and ending at $25 per month. He was an expert workman. In the winter of 1828-29, he taught his first school, on the Galtaher farm, for six months at $12 per month and boarded himself, iu which he succeeded only by the closest study, Then engaged for twelve months at $10 per month and boarded around, as it was called, and learned more of human nature and dispositions of mankind than ever before. He studied close and hard, and,

1095

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

with but little aid, completed the common English branches of a fair education. As his practice increased his wages increased to $40, $50 and $60 per month, with regular employ at home. He spent three summers in the Western prairies-the summers of 1838-39-40. April 26, 1840, he married Ann Coulter, the daughter of John and Margaret Coulter, an old schoolmate, born March 22, 1811, and raised on an adjoining farm, and has lived in Richland Township all her life. IIer father and mother were born in Ireland, he in county of Antrim July 18, 1777, and she in Fermanagh County September 22, 1784. After serving in the army a term, he came to America in early life, and the Gibson family having come over to Cincinnati in 1790, hc and Margaret Gibson were married at Cincinnati January 11, 1807. John Coulter had five broth- ers and one sister. All emigrated to America, and James, John, William and Mary settled in Richland Township. Mary married John Watson, of New York. James first married in Ireland, and afterward, Betsey Barton, of New York, and William married Mary Bloomer. All had families, and settled and died in Richland. There were nine in the Gibson family who remained at Cincinnati. . John Coulter removed to Clinton County in November, 1809. They were parents of twelve children, namely, James, William, Ann, Elizabeth, Mary, Elizabeth, John, Janc, Alexander, Alfred, Sarah and George. John and George remain on the old home farm. The father, by industry and economy, acquired a large property, was a reed-maker by trade, but made made most by breeding mules and other stock. He was a warm and zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with itincrant preaching at his house for years, and afterward building the Coulter Chapel principally of his own means, was a Democrat all his life, and an advocate for schools, liberty and equality in its most liberal sense. He died in 1857, nearly eighty years of age, and his wife died in 1876, aged over ninety-one years. T. Douglass and wife are parents of six children. The two eldest, Albert and Sarah Jane, died; the former at the age of ten and one-half years, and the latter at twenty-two years of age. John James, Florinda Ann, George Thompson and Mary Arminda are living. November 19, 1840, he bought 120 acres of land near Sabina, Ohio, and improved it by teaching in the winter and working on the farm in the summer, and afterward added to it the amount of 300 acres of good land. Office he never sought, but rejected it often, except School Examiner of the township, School Director, Township Clerk and County Commissioner. He has been an Abolitionist from early life, and a conductor on the "underground railroad " toward the north star, with sable passengers at midnight hours. In temperance, " dyed in the wool," and a strong advocate for " female rights " in education, occupation and position in society. He is President of the Pioneer County Association, and spares all time to gather the history and incidents of the first settlers, and in Sunday schools there are few better workers as Superintendent or teacher. He was a Whig, and is a Republican. He has voted at fourteen Presidential elections, lost six and gained eight. He uses neither whisky nor tobacco, nor is he a friend to secret organizations. He says: "If there is any good in them let the light be manifest, not put under a bushel; not debar the in- valid and needy." Believing in a free republican government in both church and State, where the ministerial and lay element should have equal rights and voice in her governmental `policy, he and wife chose the Methodist Protestant Church because of her liberal principles and her representative polity, etc. They joined in the year 1860, since when they and family have retained their membership. He has been a delegate to many annual conferences, and all of general conferences 'and conventions of the church during his membership except one, namely, General Non-Episcopal Con- vention in Cincinnati in November, 1862, and in May, 1866, the General Conference at Allegheny, Penn. ; also in Cleveland in May, 1867; in Pittsburgh, Penn., in May, 1871; in Princeton, Ill., in May, 1875; in Baltimore, Md., in May, 1877. He has contributed of his means in support of the church in all her departments of college, press, mission, ministerial, education and the home itinerant. His house has been the home of the weary, worn pilgrim for many years.

TIMOTHY DOAN, farmer, P. O. Sabina, was born in Indiana in 1814, and is a son of Joseph Doan, who settled in this township in 1818, on fifty acres of wild land,

-- ---

1096

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

which he cleared up and lived on till his death, which occurred in 1825. He was the father of seven children, of whom only two are living. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, taking more than ordinary interest in all matters per- taining to religion. Mrs. D. was again married to Elkany Jacks, by whom she had seven children. She died in 1880, aged eighty-six years. Catherine, mother of our subject, was a daughter of Timothy Bennett, who settled in this county when Indians were numerous, and of whom proper mention is made elsewhere. Our subject was mar- ried to Mary, the daughter of Robinson Custis, who has borne him twelve children, nine of whom are living. Mr. D. began life a poor boy, and through his long life of earnest toil, in which he has been assisted by his noble wife, has suceceded in accom. plishing the great objeet in life, i. c., made a good home. He came to his present home in 1837, at which time it was densely covered with heavy timber. This, he cleared off, and now (1882) almost the last vestige, as a relie of pioneer days, has been obliterated. and a well-improved farm, with highly eultivated fields, adorns the work of transforma- tion that has been ereeted by his own hands. Mr. D. has been a consistent and exem- plary member of the Primitive Methodist Church of Sabina for a period of forty years, and is ardently attached to the cause of Christ and his preached word.

DAVID EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards & Lewis, dealers in hardware and groceries, Sabina. Mr. Edwards was born in Warren County, Ohio, in the year 1843, and is a son of John D. and Eliza Edwards. John D. was a son of Archibald Edwards, of North Carolina, who settled near Sligo, this county, and afterward removed to Massie Township, Warren Co., Ohio, where he made a permanent home, purchasing there about 1,000 acres of land. He was successful in his undertakings, and, at his death, left his children well off. John D. Edwards was married to Eliza G. Turner, of Parke County, Ind., who bore him six children, viz., William H., David, Harlan, Edith A., Mary E. and Milton J. Mr. E. died in 1864, aged fifty-five years. Mrs. E. departed this life in 1857, at about the age of thirty-six years. They belonged to the Friends' Church, in which both were reared. Our subject was brought up on the farm, and re- ceived a good common school and business education. In 1862, he enlisted in Com. pany B, of the Eighty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was largely on guard duty at Columbus and Cincinnati. He saw active service during his term of enlist. ment, and was discharged in July, 1865. Upon his return to civil life, he followed the for- tunes of the farm for three years, two of which were on the old homestead, and one year of land he purchased after selling the old home place ; after which, he went to Covington, Ky., where he became interested in a Commercial College, and afterward was book-keeper for the firm of Briant & Hasty, of the same place. In 1875, he came to Sabina, where he organized a bank, of which he became Cashier. He went out of the banking business in 1877, and into the grocery, grain and coal trade with J. Pew, and the following yest, bought his partner's interest, and continued the business alone until 1879, when B. J. Darbyshire took an interest in the business, and they together, beeame successom to Fulton & Crane in their hardware trade. In 1881, Mr. D. sold out to Mr. Clark E. Lewis, of Illinois, who is his present partner. Mr. E. was married, in 1864, to Mis Mattie J., daughter of Jabez Turner, of Warren County, Ohio. Two children hare been born to them, viz., Nettie and Lydia E. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Sabis. Lodge, No. 324. He and his estimable wife belong to the Friends' Church, in which they were reared. He has been a member of the School Board for several years, and entirely successful in business.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 92

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