The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 124

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

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on his own land. After that his principal oeeupation was farming, and a very sac- eessful one, owning at one time in Washington Township 760 aeres of land. He com- meneed life here with about $100. He was the father of twelve ehildren, nine sons and three daughters, three sons and one daughter now living (July, 1881). Mrs. Cornelia Kelsey, with two daughters and the assistance of the youngest son, continues to farm the homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey were both members of the Sugar Creek Old School Baptist Church. Mr. Kelsey united with the church January 26, 1858, Mrs. Keisey about one year afterward. The daughter, Eliza Melissa, is also a member of the same ehureh. A request of Mr. John S. Kelsey on his death bed was that his widow purchase and give to each one of the children (exeept Charles), a family Bible, as near. like the present one as she ean proeure, and after her death Charles to have the present one.

JAMES MILTON KELSEY, farmer. This well-known gentleman was born in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, June 11, 1831, and is the son o: Jesse and Hettie ( Marsh ) Kelsey, early settlers of this eounty. His father was borr in 1783, and died in 1857. His mother was born in 1791 and died in 1845.

James M. grew to manhood in his native township, receiving a limited education ir the sehool of his neighborhood, and January 26, 1853, he was married to Mary Wilson daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Allen) Wilson, also a native of Washington, born May 19, 1833. Her paternal grandfather was a native of Pennsylvania, but her parent:

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were born in this county. William Kelsey has had five children, viz. : Sarah E. (the wife of Richard Hatfield), Flora J. (wife of George Mull), Mary E. (wife of David Eagle), Effie J. and Nannie. Mr. Kelsey was raised a Baptist but in 1858 he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a Trustee some six years, and is one of the Stewards at the present time. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party. He purchased and moved to his present beautiful home in 1858, where be owns 138 acres of finely improved land, and is recognized as one of the leading farmers, of this portions of Montgomery County.

WILLIAM MARSH KELSEY, farmer, P. O. Centerville. William Marsh Kelsey son of Jesse and Hettie ( Marsh) Kelsey, was born January 5, 1814, in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio. His father being a farmer the son was also trained to it from early boyhood. His education was received in the pioneer log school- house, to which place he was guided through the dense forests by the blazed trecs (a blazed tree is one from which the bark is chipped off of on opposite sides). David Watkins was the name of his first teacher. The branches then taught were reading, writing, arithmetic and geography. A scholar's copy-book was made by sewing a few sheets of plain fools-cap paper together, and the copies set by the teachers. The scholar was expected to provide himself or herself with a lead pencil and ruler for lin- ing the copy-book, and manufacture his own ink. Gold and steel pens were not then in use, but the scholars provided themselves with goose-quills, out of which the teacher manufactured the pens. Mr. Kelsey received his last schooling the year he attained his majority. Being the eldest son it fell to his lot to assist his father in clearing up his land ready for farming. He remembers his first plowing was done with the wooden mold-board plow and followed up for a series of years. The wearing apparel in his boyish days was principally of home manufacture, flax-linen for summer and linsey for winter wear. At that time it frequently fell to his lot to assist in pulling and dressing the flax, shearing of the sheep, and in fact almost everything appertaining to a farmer's life, which he has followed or has carried on to this time. ( He is now the owner of three farms in this township). Milling he did then on horseback, going as far as the Little Miami River. Frequently he would go with his father to Cincinnati market's, trading their produce for all kinds of groceries and other articles needed for family use. Wheat was then cut entirely with the sickle; after a while came the grain cradle; which was looked upon as a great improvement over the sickle, being more expeditious ; next came the McCormick Reaper, when it was thought all the improvements had come for the cutting of grain, but since that Mr. Kelsey has seen many very decided improvements in the machines, and now sees the self-binder. He also remembers when thrashed grain was cleaned with a sheet being operated by a man at each end and jerk- ing vigorously, created the wind which cleaned their grain, poured out by the third man from a measure or scoop shovel. The first horse-power thrashing machine was a sta- tionary one, operated by four horses, only doing the thrashing, the cleaning done after- ward with the wind-mill. His parents were both members of the regular Baptist Church, and attended at the pioneer log meeting-house; one-half mile north of Center- ville. There he has heard John Mason and other pioneer preachers. Phebe Carver, born January 30, 1832, married to William Marsh Kelsey, December 14, 1852. From this union were three children, the two eldest living-Mary Elizabeth, born September 29, 1853, married to Perry Hatfield, February 3, 1876; Annie Kelsey, born January 12, 1857, married March 12, 1876, to B. F. Vaughn ; Mabel Lucasta Kelsey, born February 6, 1863, died September 11, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey are both members of the Regular Baptist Church, of Centerville.

The following is a memorial sketch of Mrs. Phebe Kelscy, read at her funeral February 22, 1882 :

Mrs. Phebe Kelsey was born January 30, 1832, and died of consumption January 31, 1882. at 6:15 A. M., aged fifty years. She was married to William M. Kelsey, December 14, 1852. To this union was given three daughters the youngest of whom (Mabel Lucasta) preceded the mother to the eternal world September 11, 1880. Mother Kelsey united with the Primitive Baptist Church, at Centerville, Ohio, about 1855.

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She was baptized and received into said church by Elder Samuel Williams. Her last siekness was attended with much severe pain and prolonged suffering ; but she was re- signed to the will of God, and her condition, and henee, bore her sufferings with Chris- tian fortitude. During the last few days of her sickness, she experieneed the fact that she was being " made perfeet through suffering." Yet while she was being thus tried in the furnace of the Lord, she did not ecase to pray, but repeatedly asked the Lord to give her dying graec. When she first began to enter " the valley of the shadow of death," about nine days before she passed over the Jordan of death, she told the writer that it looked dark, that her pathway was not all light. But he direeted her to some of the promises of God's word, and told her to lean on Christ, and light would be given her for each step. The former proved to her a rod, and the latter a staff, for soon after the valley was lighted up, and she eould sing with us,

" Oh, how happy are they," etc .;

and we knelt by her bedside, in the dark morning hour, and prayed with her. But for nine long days she continued to travel through the valley, in the midst of severe sufferings, yet supported by the strong arm of her Savior. She had a longing desire to depart and be at rest, and many times did she repeat the invitation of Jesus " Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Often was she heard to say " Let me go; let me go." She has at last entered into that "rest that remaineth for the people of God." Doubtless she will be missed by those who knew her best in the community in which she lived; missed by the church to which she be- longed ; missed by her pastor ; missed by the large cirele of friends and aequanitances, who had often shared of her hospitalities in her home, and received her charities ; but missed, most of all, by her husband, her remaining children and her aged mother, but we hope to all meet again bye and byc.

Funeral serviees at the O. S. Baptist Church, Centerville, Ohio. Sermon preached by the pastor, Elder John M. Thompson. Text, 2 Cor., v, 4.

WILLIAM J. LAMME, miller and farmer, P. O. Carrolton. William Latime and family emigrated from Kentucky to the Miami Valley, Montgomery Co., and with- in the original limits of Washington Township, Ohio, in the fall of 1802, with a family of wife and five children, settling on the land he had previously purchased, and erected his cabin. David, the eldest son, then aged about eighteen years, was put to clearing up the land, while his father, quite early, proceded to erect a grist-mill on Hole's Creek ; the building was made of round logs and covered with clapboards put on with wood pins, a square of this roof was in a pretty good state of preservation but a few years ago, also portions of the old water wheel. This was the first mill built in Washington Township ; here the pioneers had their grinding done for many years, and David, the boy, afterward the prominent man, was educated to the milling business. He was married August 7, 1804, to Miss Margaret Dodds, daughter of Gen. William Dodds. From this union there were ten children, two sons and eight daughters ; two only are now (August, 1881) living, viz., William J. and Katie Eliza Lamme. Mrs. Lamme was a native of Pennsylvania, and emigrated with her parents to Ohio about the time the Lammes did. Her bridal dress was an embroidered muslin, and the groom's coat, calico. They commenced housekeeping in a eabin situated in the woods, where they remained for some years, when an exchange of property was made and they moved a little south where their days were ended. In 1842, he took down the old mill on the farm, to make room for a more commodious building to meet the requirements of the trade. The grinding was principally done for toll, and when a sufficient quantity had accumulated, it was ground and wagoned to Cineinnati, until the Miami Canal was fin- ised from Cincinnati to Middletown ; from there it would go on the canal to Cineinnati. David Lamme was a Justiec of the Peace many years, and in 1840 was elected a Rep- resentative to the Legislature from Montgomery County. He was also one of the County Commissioners, under whose directions the present court house in Dayton was ereeted. He was prosperous in his business and always kept things around him up to the times. David Lamme, better known throughout the country as Squire Lamme, was emphatically " a gentleman of the old school, " as the phrase goes. Born in Ken-

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tucky, and a mere boy when his family came to Ohio, he seems to have had the charac- teristic Kentucky hospitality inborn, for there was not a private residence in southern Montgomery more celebrated for social and friendly gatherings of the very elite, so to speak, of the country than Squire Lamme's. He was a large man, dignified, but very agreeable and genial in his manners. No one felt the least trepidation in his presence, he was equally benevolent, and the poor of the sections of country about the " old mill" will never forget the many acts of charity donc to their families by Squire Lamme and his estimable wife ; she was just suited to him, a fit companion. Long may the mem- ory of these grand old pioneers of Ohio, be kept green in the minds of the generations to come. What has been said of the parents applies also to the family ; of whom most were daughters, only two sons, one of whom died in youth ; the other, the Major and one sister, Miss Katy, are the only surviving members of the once populous family ; all the girls were possessed of more than ordinary personal attractions and were, besides very lively and intelligent, which, as a matter of course, attracted a large retinue of young gentlemen, but the tax on Squire Lamme's resources, by the amount of company en- tertained by him at his residence never made him grumble nor find fault with his chil- dren ; he was above littleness in any form. David Lamme died August 22, 1855 ; his wife, Margaret died December 28, 1868.

HORACE MCEWEN, farmer, P. O. Centerville. Horace McEwen, son of Rob- ert G. and Elizabeth McEwen, was born March 7, 1840, on a farm three quarters of a mile south of Centerville; has always lived on a farm and in his native township. His boyhood was all spent with his parents on the farm which was carried on exten- sively by his father. Horace was married March, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth E. Norris ; from this union have been born two sons and one daughter. Mrs. McEwen was born in Centerville, Ohio, February 14, 1848. After marriage, they moved onto the McEwen homestead, and have continued to reside there ever since. Horace is now the owner of ninety-three acres of that farm as a legacy, with the exception of about $2,000. Received his education in the common district school. Robert G. McEwen, born in Williamsport, Penn., January 25, 1806; came with his parents to Centerville, Mont- gomery Co., Ohio, about the fall of 1817; he then had more of an education than the majority of boys at that time, yet he was kept in the neighborhood schools as long as it was thought he could be advanced any. About this time Noah and Ann Leeds, of Philadelphia, moved to Springboro, Warren Co., Ohio, and opened a select school. The principals being fine scholars, they prepared their pupils for college. Robert was one of their scholars, and, after attending the school awhile, was sent to Oxford Col- lege, where he finished up his education. Losing his father about this time, he went into the harness and saddle shop with his brother, William, who also died pretty soon. The family was then reduced to three in number, viz., the mother, one sister and Rob- ert. Notwithstanding he had received a liberal education, more than was then given boys, unless they were intended for some of the learned professions, he made choice of manual labor for his profession, or, as he used to call himself, a plow boy. He pretty soon started a team on the road, doing considerable amount of hauling; it proving more profitable than the shop, he closed it up, purchased another team and went driving it himself; he was prosperous. His first trade for real estate he turned two calves in as part payment. In his real estate transactions, was very successful; he used to say it was his intention to leave a farm to each of his children; at his death, he owned 440 acres of land. In his farming operations he kept things moving; his boys were not allowed to go fishing every Saturday. He delighted in dealing in stock, always had some on hand for sale or trade, and, if a bargain was offered, he was prepared to buy. He served some time as Township Clerk. In 1838, was elected County Assessor ; filled that office one term. In 1859, was elected to the Legislature, served one term, and declined a re-nomination. In the Military Peace Establishment, he rose from the ranks to a Lieutenancy, then Captain, then Adjutant of the regiment, which office he held at the final break-up of militia training. In early life he took quite an interest in debat- ing societies, which were formed in almost every school district; this early habit lasted him through life. In manhood after doing a hard day's work teaming, he would ride any

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reasonable distance to participate in a debate. Blessed with a good memory, he retained his reading. Was a Jacksonian Democrat and quite a politician. Married February 28, 1833, to Miss Elizabeth Morris. Died September 3, 1877.

JAMES H. MUNGER, farmer, P. O. Centerville. Jonathan Munger, with his brother Edmund, and Benjamin Maltbie, with their families, left Middlebury, Vt., for the territory northwest of the Ohio River in 1797 ; came to Marietta, Ohio, and from there to Belpre ; at Marietta they raised a crop of corn, 1799. In 1800, they reached what is now known as "Yankce street " in this township. Their nearest neighbors were then from two to seven miles distant. Jonathan Munger was a pensioned Revolu- tionary soldier ; like all of that profession, he had personal incidents to relate. He has often been heard to say that the sweetest night's sleep he ever had was on a pile of cannon balls with his feet in water up to his ankles; at another time, he and half a dozen comrades called at a house for a night's lodging ; it proved to be the dwelling of a Tory ; the woman had just scrubbed the floor, but said it was good enough for them and they might thank God and her for it; the soldiers said they thanked no one, but they were going to stay all night. Harvey Munger, son of above-named, Jonathan and Elizabeth Munger, was born in Addison County, Vt., October 2, 1790; came West with his parents and assisted in raising the crop of corn at Marictta as above referred to. Married, February 8, 1812, to Miss Catharine Gray ; from this union were thirteen children, of which five are now living (July, 1881). In the war of 1812, he was a teamster, hauling flour to the army lying at St. Mary's. In stature, he was five feet ten inches; small bone inclined to corpulency. Died July 22, 1859. His wife, Catharine Gray, was born May 10, 1791, and died in 1836. She was the daugh- ter of Daniel and Phebe Gray. In stature, she was below the medium size. Socially, it was said that wherever Katy Munger was there was good company. Her father was a pensioned Revolutionary soldier. James H. Munger, subject of this sketch, and son of Harvey and Catharine Munger, was born in Clear Creek Township, Warren County, Ohio, February 12, 1816; his school privileges were not extensive, as he says his last summer's schooling was in the second story of a weaver's shop in 1825; after that, would get from two to three weeks' during the winter season, depending upon the weather and work to be done. The first religious meetings he recollects of attending were held in Gen. Munger's barn ; everything about the building was in perfect order corresponding with the occasion ; rakes and forks were all hung up out of the way. Raised a farmer. he has always adhered to it. With no political ambition, has lived at his present residence, on Section 28, since 1849. Married, March 15, 1840, to Miss Lydia A. Wright, who died July 9, 1865. Second marriage, January 1, 1870, to Mrs. Anna R. Chambers, whose maiden name was Linton. She was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1824, her parents, William and Hannah Linton, natives of Pennsylvanis, settling in that county in 1814. Mr. Munger is one of the leading farmers of his township.

JOSEPH NUTT, farmer, P. O. Centerville. The eldest of the two children (Jo- seph and John) of Aaron and Martha Nutt, was born in Centerville, Ohio, December 11, 1818. Parents both natives of New Jersey ; his father was the son of Levi Natt, and he the son of Adam Nutt, a native of Wales, who landed in New Jersey early in the last century. Aaron, ou his mother's side, was the grandson of Barzilla Ivens, a noted merchant of his day; he was also a noted man for the size of his family ; he was married three times and was the father of twenty-one children, who were all able at one and the same time to set at the table and help themselves to a square meal. Joseph's mother was the daughter of Isaac and Hannah Pedrick, of Pedricktown, N. J .; she em- igrated with them to Waynesville, Warren Co., Ohio, in 1806, remaining there a brief period ; her father purchased a farm near the present village of Clio, Greene Co., Ohio, and removed to it. The family were all worthy members of the Society of Orthodox Friends. The subject of this sketch can't quite claim to be anything more than the son of pioneers (for date of father's arrival see brother's biography) ; never had any land to clear or brush to pick ; never assisted in building the pioneer cabin with its cat and clay chimney, clapboard-roof held on with weight poles, or in laying down the solid puncheon

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floor ; or in erecting the sweep at the well for the " old oaken bucket; " but have worn buckskin pantaloons, leather-crown hat and thread shirt-buttons. His father was a tai- lor by trade, and was an experienced hand in manufacturing buckskin into wearing ap- parel. The last pair of buckskin pants he made was in the summer he was eighty-one years of age. Mr. N. V. Maxwell, one of our present worthy citizens, was then carry- ing on tailoring, and took in the job conditionally, viz., if he could get " Uncle Aaron" Nutt (by which familiar title he was well known) to make them he would do so, as for himself he frankly admitted he could not make them ; they were made and all parties satisfied with the job. Mr. Maxwell, to this day, takes delight in referring to that job, and saying " Uncle Aaron " was the oldest journeyman he ever employed. He was also a good hand with a sickle in a harvest field ; the summer he was eighty years old, he lead the reapers once through in his son Aaron's wheat field. He was also an excellent auctioneer, if not the first, he certainly was among the first ; had quite a patronage in Montgomery, Warren and Greene Counties. Before the subject of this sketch was large enough to put a collar on the horse, he commenced driving the cart and doing small jobs about town and working on the small farm. When in his twelfth year, he hauled in the cart all the stone making a complete pavement from the schoolhouse, one-fourth mile north of town, to the Baptist Church on the west side of town. His father and Joseph Beck laid the walk, which did good service many years. For its protection, the Town Council made it a finable offence to ride or drive on it. So carefully was it guarded that the school teacher has been known to leave his school on seeing a traveler on the walk, and hurry up to town and have a warrant in the hands of the Marshal by the time the offending party would reach the village. The 28th of April, 1834, he went as an ap- perntice to the chair-making ; served three years faithfully ; made the trade his principal business up to the spring of 1844; then went to New Burlington, Clinton Co., Ohio, and sold goods for Israel Harris, Jr., and Samuel Lemar, nearly six years. In January, 1850, went into the employ of John Grant, Esq., the principal merchant then in New Burlington ; remained with him until April, 1857. Mr. Nutt was married, January 29, 1856, to Miss E. A. Weaver, of New Burlington. May, 1857, moved to Chicago ; re- mained there until August, 1858, returning to New Burlington, and remained there un- til the spring of 1861; then removed to Centerville on the old homestead, where he now lives, becoming the owner thereof by half purchase and half legacy, and one of the few men in the township owning the land originally purchased by the father from John C. Symmes, but the deed was made by James Madison, President of the United States. There are other tracts in the township deeded by the President to the heads of some of the families now living thereon, but they are mostly second-hand purchases.

When Aaron Nutt with other men were in consultation with Judge Symmes, or- ganizing a pioneer company, one of them said to the Judge, " You will not take that man, will you ? " pointing to Aaron Nutt. " Why not ? " said the Judge. "Why," said the man, "he is a Quaker, and will not fight the Indians." "Just the man I want," said the Judge ; " I want. a peaceable colony." Aaron Nutt was never a mem- ber of any religious society, but his religious sentiments were in full accord with the Or- chodox Friends, wore the garb and used the plain language of that society. The follow- ng incident shows the respect the Indians have for the name of William Penn. Some- ime after Aaron Nutt had settled here and Dayton something of a place, he was going up there one morning, when he met a company of Indians. After passing them, he ound a sack of roots and herbs in the road and readily concluded it belonged to the Indians just passed. So he would carry the sack into town and leave it at the store of H. G. Philips, who told him he knew the Indians, they had been in the store that morn- ng, and on their next visit he would hand over the sack, and did so, saying to the In- lian that-" It was a William Penn man that had found it." " Ugh," said the Indian, the good man ; he good man." The subject of this sketch is now the oldest native born itizen on the town plat ; never loaded a gun, pistol or fircarm of any description, have ulled the trigger a few times making one shot that would be creditable to any sports- pan. Mr. Nutt is the father of five children, as follows : Anna, Laura, Samuel Weaver, William Pedrick, Clarence Emory Nutt, of whom only two are living, viz., Samuel W. and Clarence E.

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JOHN NUTT, M. D., Chicago, Ill. John Nutt was the younger of two sons, Joseph and John, and only children of Aaron and Martha (Craig, formerly Pedrick) Nutt, and was born on the old homstead in Centerville, Montgomery Co., Ohio, March 3, 1823. His parents were natives of New Jersey, and were respectively widower and widow ; at the time of their marriage, January 11, 1818, by James Russell, Esq., of Centerville. Aaron Nutt was left fatherless at an early age. His mother marrying again, the boy, Aaron, was apprenticed to John Lippencott, a tailor of 1776, for a term of seven years, serving his employer nearly that time on the tailor-board. At about this period, the armies of the Revolution, under the command of Gen. Wash- ington, were very active in the State of New Jersey, and as these were indeed trying times for our country, and soldiers were much needed, both old and young were earnestly solicited to join the American forces. It was at this juncture that Lippin- cott was drafted into the military service, and Aaron Nutt's apprenticeship about to expire, that Lippencott made this proposition to him, that if he would enter the army and serve his, Lippencott's time out, he would in turn set him free. The proposition was accepted, and Nutt joined a military company commanded by his cousin, Capt. Israel

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 124

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214